A RELATION OF THE STATE OF Religion: and with what Hopes and Policies it hath been framed, and is maintained in the several states of these western parts of the world.  
LONDON, Printed for Simon Waterson dwell dwelling in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Crown. 1605   

A RELATION OF THE State of Religion, and with what Hopes and Policies it hath been framed and is maintained in the several states of these western parts of the World.  
HAving now almost finished my intended course of travel, and coming to cast up (as it were) the short account of my labours, I shall here endeavour briefly to relate what I have observed in the matter of Religion, my time being chiefly employed (as was from the first my principal design) in viewing the state thereof in these Western parts of the world, their divided factions and professions, their differences in matters of faith, and their exercises of religion, in government Ecclesiastical, and in life & conversation, what virtues in each kind eminent, what eminent defects. Moreover, in what terms of opposition, or correspondency each standeth with other, what probabilities, what policies, what hopes, what jealousies are found in each part for the advancing thereof: and finally, what possibilities and good means of uniting, at leastwise the several branches of the reformed professors (if unity universal be more to be desired then hoped in such bitterness of mind, & equality of forces as leaveth on neither side, either disposition to yield, or doubt to be vanquished.)  
In the midst of these thoughts not intending to deliver a full report of all these points, which would too much exceed a reasonable proportion, but restraining myself chief to such parts and places as may seem most nessarie for one of my Country to know. 
The Roman Religion   
1 FIrst, the Roman Religion, framed in those middle times when there was no man to control them, did light into the handling of such men as made their greatness wealth and honour, the very rule to square out the Cannons of faith, and then did set clerk on work to devise Arguments to maintain them.  
2. This Religion seemeth notwithstanding at this day, not so corrupt in the very doctrine (and in their Schools, where yet manifold oppositions do hold them in awe, that hath caused them to refine it) as it is in the practice here of, and in the usage among themselves, wherein they are so gross: as that sundry men whom the reading of their Books hath alured, the view of their Churches hath averted from their party.  
3 I must omit an endless multitude of their superstitions and ceremonies, for they are enough to take up a great part of a man's life to peruse, being without uniformity, and different in divers Countries, and withal so childish and unsavoury, that as they argue seelinesse and rawness in their inventors, so can they bring no other than disgrace and contempt to those exercises of Religion wherein they are stirring.  
4 How they communicate divine honour to Saints & Angels, by building Churches, erecting Altars, commending prayers, & addressing vows unto them, in worshipping their Images, going in pilgrimage to their Relics, attributing all kind of miracles both to the one & to the other, I will in this place restrain myself especially to Itali●, where it hath wrought this general effect, that men have more affiance, and assume unto themselves a greater conceit of comfort in the patronage of the creatures and servants of God, then of God himself, the Prince & creator▪ And touching the blessed virgin, the case is clear, that howsoever their Doctrine be in schools otherwise, yet in all manner of outward Actions, the honour which they do unto her, is double, for the most part, unto that which they do our Saviour: where one professeth himself a devote or peculiar servant to our Lord, whole Towns sometimes, as Vienna, etc. are the Devoti of our Lady. The stateliest & fairest Altars are hers, for the most part, where one prayeth before the Crucifix, two pray before her Images, where one vow unto Christ, ten vow unto her, & not so much to herself, as to some particular Image of hers, which for some notable power and grace of operation of miracles they chief serve, as the glorious Lady of Loretto: the devout Lady of Rome: the miraculous Lady of Provensan●: the Annuntiata of Florence, all whose Churches are so stuffed with vowed presents and memories, as they are feign to hang their Cloisters and Churchyards with them. And such as their vows are, such are their Pilgrimages; and to nourish this honour, for one miracle reported to be wrought by the Crucifix, not so few, perhaps, as one hundred are voiced upon those other Images, neither will I omit this no less certain, though less apparent, that where one fasteth on Friday, which they account our Lord's day, many fast on Saturday which they account our Lady's day, in honour to her. In all which the people do but follow their guides; who, as in the measuring of their devotion by tale on beads, do string up ten salutations to our Lady, for one of our Lords prayers. So themselves also in their Sermons, make their entrance with an ave Maria, yea a solemn divine honour which they have, most commendable, if it were well used: that at Sun rising, none, and Sun setting, upon the ringing of a bell, all men, in what place soever, house, field, street, or market, do presently kneel down, and send up their united devotions to heaven. This honour is by them chief intended to our Lady, the devotion is the Ave Maria, and the bell that ringeth to it, hath also that name. They teach in pulpit, that nothing passeth in heaven without her express consent. That the style of that court, is, Placet Dominae, that matters of justice come properly from Christ, and matters of Grace from her, that it was the vision of a holy man, that certain that would have been condemned by Christ, in regard they were her servants, have been absolved by her intercession. So the principal streams o● affiance and love, are diverted from him, and turned upon those unto whom so great honour is not due, nor so undue honour can be acceptable.  
5 Their Liturgies being not understood by the people, are not able to hold them occupied with any spiritual contemplation: for supply whereof they hold them to their charming with their beads in the mean season, which being so unsavoury a food as it is, they use it accordingly: when they are weary of it, they entertain the rest of their time with talk and mirth, which their Priests themselves also at their leisures forbear not, not forgetting yet at certain pauses to show devotion, wherein their outward gestures are decent, reverend, and significant. And this honour is to be yielded to the Italian nation, that he is naturally not undevoute, were his devotion duly guided and cherished, and not starved and quenched in the dark mist of a language, which he neither understands what is said to him, not yet what himself sayeth.  
6 The best part of their exercises of Religion, are their Sermons, wherein much matter, both of faith and piety is eloquently delivered, by men surely of wonderful zeal & spirit, if their interior fervour were correspondent to their outward fervency; howbeit they are sometimes mingled with so palpable vanity (as besides their other poverties, as forced allegories, and unnatural interpretations, wherein they are fervent,) they have legends of Saints, and tales (at which children with us would smile) solemnly historized in their Cathedral Pulpits; yet what religiousness soever is the people's minds may wholly be attributed to their Sermons, whither the better disposed people do resort.  
This one thing I cannot but highly commend in that sort and order: they spare nothing, which either co●t car▪ perform in enriching, or skill in adorning the Temple of God, or to set out his service with the greatest pomp and magnificence that can be devised. And although for the most part, much baseness and childishness is predominant in the masters and contrivers of their ceremonies, yet this outward state and glory being well disposed, doth engender, quicken, increase, and nourish, the inward reverence, respect, and devotion which is due unto sovereign majesty and power. And therefore, howsoever some will not be persuaded in it, yet in the zeal of the common Lord of all, I choose rather to commend the virtue of an enemy, then to flatter the vice and imbecility of a friend.  
7 But to return to the Church of Rome, and to come to the consideration of their penance and confession, out of which, so great good is promised to the world, and the want thereof so much upbraided to their opposites. I must confess I brought with me this persuasion and expectation, that surely in this must needs be a very great restraint to wickedness, a great means to bring men to integrity and perfection, when a man shall daily, as it were, survey his actions, censure with grief, confess with shame, cure by council, expiate with punishment, extinguish with firm intent, never to return to the like again; whatsoever had defiled or stained the soul, (neither doubt I but it had this fruit in the first institution, & hath also with many at this day, yea and might perhaps have been restored better in reformed Churches, to there primitive sincerity, them utterly abolished, as in most places it is:) Notwithstanding, having diligently searched into the meaning thereof in those parts, I find, that as all things whereof human imbecility hath the custody and government, fall away, decaying by insensible degrees, from their first perfection and purity, and gather much soil & dross in using: so this as much as any thing. For this point of their religion, which in outward show carrieth a face of severity and discipline, is become of all others, the most remiss and pleasant, and of the greatest content to the desolutest minds, the matter being grown with the common sort to this open reckoning; What need we refrain so fearfully from sin, God having provided so ready a means to be rid of it when we list? yea, and the worse sort will say; When we have sinned we must confess, and when we have confessed, we must sin again, that we may also confess again, and with all, make work for new indulgences and jubilees; making account of confession, as drunkards do of vomiting: yea, I have known of those that carried show of very devout persons, who by their own report, to excuse their acquaintance in matters criminal, have wittingly perjured themselves in judgement, only presuming of this present and easy remedy of confession, and others of more ordinary note amongst them, who when their time of confessing was at hand, would then venture on those actions which before they trembled at, as presuming to surfeit, by reason of the neighbourhood of the Physician, which Physician also himself is perhaps more apparently infected with the noisome disease his patient discloseth, than the patiented, who is not any way bettered by the counsel which the Physician giveth.  
But this must be granted to be the fault of the people, yet a general fault is it, and currant without controlment; howbeit, neither are Priests, nor the people to be more excused on their part. The Priests will tell the penitent, that God is merciful, that whatsoever sins the penitent committeth, so long as he continueth in the Church, and is not a Lutheran, there is, good remedy for him.  
And for Penance, it consisteth ordinarily but in Ave-maries and Paternosters, with Almsdeeds by those that are able, and fastings by them that are willing; yea, I have known, when the penance for horrible, and open blasphemy, besides much other lewdness hath been no other, then saying of their Beads thrice over, a matter of some hours muttering; and which in Italy they dispatch also as they go in the streets, or as they 
Pardon and Indulgences.  ride, or do their business at home, making no other of it, then as it is, two lips, & one fingers work. But were the penance by the Priests enjoined, never so hard and sharp, the Pope's plenary pardons sweep all away at a blow: Now of these they have granted (and this man especially) so huge a number, as that there are few Churches of note in Italy, which have not purchased or procured a perpetual Indulgence, by virtue whereof, whosoever shall at certain set yearly days, being confessed, and having communicated, or as in some pardons, having but only an intent to confess and communicate in time convenient poureth out his devotions before some Altar in that Church and extendeth forth his hands in alms, in behalf thereof, (which clause in all former grants was expressed, but is now left out for avoiding of scandal but is still understood and practised accordingly) hath forthwith remission of all sin and punishment; yea, if the worst fall out, that a man be so negligent as to drop into Purgatory at the time of his decease, which but by very supine negligence can hardly happen; yet few Cities are there, wherein there are not one or two Altars privileged, Prodefunctis, where for every Mass, a soul is delivered, and so a great multitude of A●tisons must needs make their ware cheap. I will not here warble long upon this untuneable harsh string, neither will mention perhaps, the fourth part of that I have seen, much less rake old rusty stuff out of the dead dust and darkness, wherein time and shame hath suffered it to rest: only for example sake, and for verifying what I have said, I will set down some of that which is now in use at this day, which is printed on their Church doors, and proclaimed in their Pulpits.  
8 In the Ermitanes of Padua, their Preachers publish pardon of plenary indulgence from Baptism, to the last confession, with eight and twenty thousand years over for the time ensuing. The pardon of Alexander the sixth for thirty thousand years; to whom soever before the Altar of our Ladie●, shall say a peculiar Ave Marie. At the Sepulchre of Christ in Venice, is a stately presentation, whereon is wrtten, Hic situm est corpus Domini nostri jesu Christi; (yet inferring no real presence there as I take it) with verses annexed of, Conditur hoc tumulo, etc. There is hanged in a printed Table, a prayer of Saint Augustine's, a very good one indeed, with indulgence for fourscore and two thousand years, granted from Boniface the eight, and confirmed by Benedict the 11. to whosoever shall say it, and that for every day toties, quoties, etc. (which is somewhat worth) that in a few days a man may provide for a million of worlds, if they did last no longer than this did in Saint Francis Church. At Padua I heard a Reverend Father preach at large the holy history of the divine pardon of Sisa ab omni culpi & poena, granted by Christ in person at our Lady's suit, unto Saint Francis, extending to all such, as having confessed and communicated, should pray in Saint Francis Church there, yet sending him to his Vicar, Pope Honorius that then was to pass it, with many other apparitions and delectable strange accidents of great content to pleasant minded hearers, which pardon is since enlarged by Sixtus the fourth, and fifth (which both were Franciscans) to all lay brethren and sisters that did wear Saint Francis Cordon, in what place soever. Gregory the thirteenth hath granted to the Carmine at Syenna, for every Mass said there at the Altar of the Crucifix, the delivery of a soul out of Purgatory, to the Carmine at Padua more liberally, for to every one that shall say seven Aves, and seven Pater nosters, before one of their Altars on the Wednesday in Easter week, or kiss the ground before the Altar of the blessed Sacrament with the usual prayers for the exaltation of the Church, extirpation of heresy, and unity of Christian Princes, plenary Indulgence for himself, and the delivery of what soul out of Purgatory he pleaseth. To the fraternity of the Altar of the Conception of our Lady in Duamo, or the Cathedral Church in Padua, confessing and communicating at their entry into that society, full remission of their sins at the hour of their death▪ naming but jesus with their mouth, or if they can not, with their heart: the like is ordinarily granted to all other Fraternities. To every Priest as often as he shall say five printed lines, importing that he will offer up the precious body of our Saviour, so many fifty years pardon. By this Pope, this one amongst many others innumerable to the Friars, & lay Fraternities of both sexes of the Carmine in Syenna for every time that they are present at their solemn Processions, plenary Indulgengences for all their sins past, and 40 years, & 7 days over, to some for to come, & this for ever, with extent of like grace to all other, that by their presence shall honour those processions, but to last no longer then till the year of jubilee. Now besides these and infinite other of this style, there are Indulgences more free, and less restrained then for time, place, or duty, to give them by grant from Pope john the twentieth, every inclining of the head at the name of jesus, getteth twenty years pardon, a matter in Italy, no not at this time unpractised. And to grace that ceremony the more, I have heard sundry of their renowned Divines teach in Pulpit, that Christ himself on the Cross bowed his head, all Altars of station, which are in very great number, have their certain perpetual Indulgences indifferent for all times, sundry Crosses graven in Pavements of their Churches, have Indulgenges annexed for every time they are kissed, which is so often by the devouter sex, that hard Marble is worn with it. The third and fourth Mass (as they say) is a preservative and ransom of his parents from Purgatory, yea though they should be sung without any such intention, which causeth many wary men which would be sure from Purgatory, to make some one of their children a Priest always. The saying of the Beads over, with a Medal or other trinket of the Pope's benediction appendent, getteth plenary Indulgence and delivery of what soul out of Purgatory one pleaseth.  
9 For to speak also somewhat of their life and conversation, 
Their conversation of Italian Romanistes.  & as briefly as may be (being a theme Itake very small delight to handle) neither being of any great profit to be known & yet being known sufficiently to all men, too much to some, who not content to spot themselves with all Italian impurity, proceed on to empoison their Country also at their return hither, that we need not marvel if those rare villains which our ancestors never dreamt of, do now grow frequent, and such men as they would have swept out of their Cities and streets, as the noisome disgrace and dishonour of them, and confined to a Dungeon or other desolate habitation, do vaunt themselves now, & with no mean applause, for the only gallants and worthy spirits of the world.  
But to touch so much of their lives as shall be necessary for this purpose, and rather the causes then the effects themselves, it is not to be marveled, if the glory of their Religion, (consisting most in outward show, and the exquisiteness in the number of intricate dumb Ceremonies, if their devotions being not seasoned with understanding requisite, but prized more by tale then by weight of zeal, if as by the virtue of their Sacraments, of their acts of piety, being placed more in the very massy materiality of the outward work, then in the purity of the heart from which they proceed) it is not, I say, to be marveled though the fruits also of their conversation be like unto those roots, rather such as may yield some reasonable outward obedience to Laws, then approve that inward integrity and sincerity of that fountain from whence they issue. For although in their civil carriage one towards another, they have especial good virtues, well worth the imitating, being a people, for the most part, of a grave and stayed behaviour, very respective and courteous, not curious, or meddling in other men's matters, besides that ancient frugality in their diet, which to their great case and benefit they still retain.  
And there be also amongst them, as in all other places, some men of excellent and rare perfection, yet can it not be dissembled, but that generally the whole Country is strongly overflown & overcome with wickedness, with filthiness of speech, with beastliness of actions, both governors & subjects, both priests & Friars, each striving (as it were) with other in impudency therein, even so far forth, that what in other places would not be tolerated, is there in high honour, what elsewhere even a lose person would be ashamed to confess, their priests and Friars refrain not openly to practise, yea, if any man forbear the like, they find it very strange, & hold integrity for little better than seeliness or abjectness. I cannot here forget the saying of an Italian Gentleman of very good quality, but in faction Spanish, at my first entry into Italy: namely that the Italians were excellent men but for three faults they had: in their lust they were unnatural; in their malice unappeasable, and that they would deceive all men. Unto which he might truly have added; They spend more upon other men, then upon themselves, they blaspheme oftener than swear, and murder more than revile or slander: notwithstanding, this testimony I yield, not only willingly, but gladly to them: (for what joy could it be to the heart of any man, to see men fall irrecoverablely from the love and laws of the Creator:) That at one time of the year, (namely at Lent,) they are much reform, no such blaspheming or dirty speaking, their vanities of all sorts reasonablely laid aside, their pleasure abandoned, their apparel, their diet & all things else composed to austerity & state of penance. They have daily their preaching with collection of alms whereof all men resort: and to judge of them by the outward show, they seem to have generally a great remorse of their wickedness: in so much, that I must confess, I seemed to myself in Italy, to have learned the right use of Lent, there first to have discerned the right fruit of it, and the reason for which those sages at the first did institute it; neither can I easily accord to the fancies of such (as because we ought at all times to lead a life worthy of our profession) think it therefore superstitious, to have one time wherein to exact or respect it more than another: But rather do this conceive, that seeing the corruption of the times and wickedness of man's nature is now so exorbitant, that a hard matter it is, to hold the ordinary sort of men at all times within the lists of piety, justice, and sobriety, it is fit therefore that their should be one time at least in the year, & that of a reasonable continuance, wherein the season itself, the use of the world, and practife of all men (for even the jews and Turks have their Lent, though different) the commandment of superious, and in some the very outward face and expectation as it were of all things, should constrain men (how wicked and reckless soever) for that time to recall themselves to some more severe cogitations and courses, lest sin having no such Bridle to check it at any time, should at length wax headstrong and unconquerable in them; that on the other side being thus necessarily enured for a while, at least wise to make a bare show of walking in the paths of virtue, they might afterwards perhaps more sincerely, and willingly persist, or at least wise return more readily unto them some other time. And verily I have sundry times had this cogitation in Italy, that in great looseness of life, and decay of discipline in those parts, it was the special great mercy and grace of God, that the severity of Lent should be still preserved, lest otherwise the floods of sin growing so headstrong, and outrageous, and having no where, either bound or bank to restrain them; might plunge that whole Nation into such a gulf of wickedness, and bring them to that last extremity, which should leave them neither hope for better, nor place for worse: yea & I was so far from thinking the institution of Lent superfluous, or the restraint in it unprofitable, that I rather inclined to like the custom of the Greek Church, who besides their great Lent, have three other Lents also in the year, though the other neither so long, nor yet so strict a general observation. Two things are further to be added in the honour of Italy: Their Monasteries seemed, for the most part, to be greatly reform of that they have been, and of that they still are in France, and other places, where their looseness of government, and often scandalles ensuing, doth breed them a reputation clean contrary to their profession, and the reason is whi●● the Monasteries and Covent of Friars are not reform: there is a fear that the Pope hath, that overgreat severity would cause a great number to disfrier themselves, and fly to Geneva, upon hope of more liberty, which he esteemeth an inconvenience, more to be shunned, than the former mischief. another thing very memorable, and to be imitated in Italy, is the exceeding good provisions of Hospitals and houses of piety, for old Persons enfeebled, for poor folks maimed or diseased, for Gentility impoverished, for travelers distressed, for lewd women converted, for children abandoned, which the devotion of former times have founded and enriched, and this present age doth very faithfully & discretely govern, and if it were not for those houses, in the number, goodliness, and great revenues whereof, Italy exceedeth any one Country in the world, it might be said to be poor and miserable: for though it be incomparably the richest Nation in Christendom at this day in all the West parts, by reason of their long peace, and their neighbours long wars, yet considered that their wealth there, is so ill digested, and so unequally divided in the body thereof, by the infiniteness and eversucking veins of their taxes and customs, carrying all their blood to the higher parts, and leaving the lower ready to faint, starve, and whither, It is not untruly said, that the rich men of Italy are the richest, and the poor the poorest creatures, that any one Country can yield again, both which in a well pollicied state were to be avoided. Besides these Hospitals, they have their houses of free loan to the poor, which is sun help, seeing Italy of all other places is most infected with Usury▪  
But now to come to the view of their Ecclesiastical government, how it is referred to the conduct of souls to their true happiness (which should be the natural and proper end of that regiment, whereof I can say little,) and how it is addressed to the upholding of their worldly power, and glory of their Order, to the advancing of their part, and overthrow of their opposites, which I suppose to be the chief point they now respect; as I think it may be truly said, that there was never yet state framed by man's wit in the world, more powerful and forcible to work those effects, never any more wisely contrived and plotted, more constantly and diligently put in practice and execution, that if the foundation be free from untruth and dishonesty (for rottenness of heart is an infirmity which will ruin all strength builded thereon) their outward means were sufficient to subdue a whole world. Now as in every Art and Science there are some certain propositions, upon the virtue whereof all the rest depend, so in their Art also they have certain assertions which as indemonstrable principles they urge all to receive & hold in this manner. ● That they are the church of God, within the which there is great facility, and without which there is no possibility of salvation. 2 That divine prerogative is granted unto them abve all the people in the world, which doth preserve them everlastingly from erring in matters of faith, and from falling from God. 3 That the Pope being Christ's deputy, hath the keys of heaven in custody, to admit in by Indulgence, & shut out by excommunication, as he shall see cause. 4 That the charge of all souls being committed to him, he is thereby made sovereign prince of this world, exceeding in power and majesty all other princes, as far as the soul in dignity doth exceed the body, & eternal things surmount things temporal: and seeing the end, is the ruler and commander of whatsoever do tend unto it, and all things in this world are to serve but as instruments; and the world itself but as a passage to our everlasting habitation. 5 That therefore he that hath the managing of this high honour to be the supreme conductor unto it, hath also power to dispose of all things subordinate as may best serve to it, to plant, to root out, to establish, to depose, to bind, to lose, to alter, to dispense, as may serve most fit for the advancement of the church, and for the atcheving of the soul's felicity, wherein whosoever oppose against him, whether by Heresy or Schism, they are no other than very Rebels or seditious people, against whom he hath unlimited & endless power, to proceed to the suppressing, ruining and extinguishing of them by all means that the Commonwealth of God may flourish in prosperity, and the high way to heaven be kept safe and open for all Gods loyal and obedient people. In these points no doubts or questions are tolerable And whoso with them join in these, shall find great connivance, in what other defect or difference soever: this being the very touchstone by which all men are to be tried, whether they be in the Church, or out of the Church; whether with them, or against them: and by this plot have their wits erected in this world, a Monarchy more potent than ever any that have been before it: A Monarchye, which entitling them (de iure) to all the world, layeth a strong foundation thereof in all men's consciences, (the only firm ground of obedience in the world) and such a foundation, as not only holdeth fast unto them whatsoever it feazeth on, but worketh outwardly also by engines, to weaken, and undermine the states of all other Princes how great so ever, and that in such sort, as by possessing themselves of the principal places, the hearts of their subjects (as being those from whom they have their principal good, even the happiness of their souls) to incite upon every conscience a gainest their natural Sovereign at pleasure, and by a writ of Excommunication to subdue, or at leastwise greatly to shake whom they list, without fight a blow, without levying a Soldier; & lastly, a Monarchy which as it was founded by mere wit, needeth not any thing but mere wit to maintain it, which enricheth itself without labouring, warreth without endangering, rewardeth without spending, using Colleges to a great purpose, as others can fortresses, & working greater matters, partly by Scholars, partly by swarms of Friars, than else they could ever do by great garrisons & armies. And all these maintained at other men's charges, for to that rare point have they also proceeded, as not only to have huge rents themselves out of other men's states, but to maintain also their instruments out of other men's devotions, and to advance their favourites, under the fair pretence of providing for Religion, to the very principal preferments in foreign Prince's Dominions. That no man need find it strange, if finding the revenue of skill and cunning to be great, and their force mighty, especially what they work upon simplicity, and ignorance. They enclosed in times past all learning within the walls of their Clergy, setting forth Lady Ignorance for a great Saint to the Laity, and showing her unto them for the true mother of Devotion. And assuredly, but for one great defect in their policy, which was hard in regard of their own particular ambition, but otherwise not impossible to be avoided; That they choose their Pope lightly very old, and withal, without any restraint of all Families and Nations, whereby they are continually subject to double change of government: The Successor seldom prosecuting his Antecessors devices, but either crossing them through envy, or abandoning them upon new humour, it could not have been, but they must have long since been absolute Lords of all: which defects notwithstanding (so strong was their policy by reason of the force of their Cardinal foundation:) That no Prince, or Potentate ever opposed against them, but in fine, even by his own Subjects, they either mastered him, or utterly brought him to good conformity, by great loss and extremity, t●ll such time as in his latter age the bottom of the foundation itself being stoutly discovered, hath given them a sore blow, hath changed in great part the state of the question, and hath driven them to a re-inforcement of new inventions and practices.  
12 Howbeit those positions being the ground of their state, and the hope of their own glory, in them they admit no shadow of alteration, but endeavour still per fas & nefas, even by all the means in the world to strengthen them, and (amongst their manifold adversaries) hate them most of all other, who have laboured most in stopping of that foundation. And seeing that by reason of this bookish age, they have not that help of ignorance which in times past they had, they cast about greatly to soak and settle them in men's persuasions and consciences by another way: They tell men, that the very ground whereon we build our persuasion of the truth of Christianity itself, are no other than credible: That the proofs of the Scripture to be the word of God can be no other at this day than probable, only being impossible for any wit in the world to produce, exact, necessary, and infallible demonstrations: Either that the holy Apostle Saint Paul had his calling from above, or that those Epistles were of his writing, so likewise in the rest, and that the chief proof that we have thereof, is the testimony of the church, a thing which their very adversaries are forced to confess. Now that this probable persuasion of the truth of Christianity doth afterward grow to an assuredness thereof, this issueth from an inward operation of God's divine spirit, the gift whereof is faith; and that faith being a knowledge, not of bare science, but of belief, which searcheth not the particular necessity of the verity of things delivered, but relieth in general upon the approved wisdom, truth and virtue of him that doth deliver it. Then surely, whosoever will have necessary proof of the several Articles of Religion, doth but wittily deceive himself, and by overcurious endeavour to change his faith into science, doth lose that which he seeketh to perfect: If then without faith there is no possibly of Salvation, this surely must needs be the high way to perdition. Now seeing christianity to be a doctrine of faith, a doctrine whereof all men, even children are capable, as being gross, and to be believed in general: The high virtue whereof ●s in the humility of understanding, and the merit in the readiness of obedience to embrace it (for these have been always the true owners of faith.) And seeing the outward proofs are no other than probable, and of all probable proofs, the Church testimony is most probable: what madness were it for any man to tyre out his soul, and to waste away his spirits, in tracing out all the thorhy paths of the controversies of these days, wherein to err is no less easy than dangerous, what through forgery abusing him, through Sophistry transporting him, and not rather to betake himself to the right path of truth, whereunto God and Nature, Reason and Experience do all give witness: and that is to associate himself to that Church, whereunto the custody of this heavenly and supernatural truth hath been from heaven itself committed, to weigh discreetly which is the true Church, and that being once found, to receive faithfully and obediently without doubt or discussion whatsoever it delivereth. Now concerning the first point some doubt might be made, if there were any Church Christian in the world to be showed which had continued from Christ's time down to this age, without change or interruption, this only excepted: But if all other have had their end or decay long since, or their beginning but of late, if theirs be founded by the Prince of the Apostles, with promise by him, That hell gates should not prevail against it, but that himself would be assisting to it, until the consummation of the world, which hath continued on, now to the end of a thousand six hundred and four years, with an honourable and certain line of two hundred and forty Popes, all being Successors of Saint Peter; both Tyrants and Traitors, both Pagans, and Heretics, in vain wrestling raging barking, and undermining, if all the lawful Counsels that ever were in the world, being the general Senates of God's officers and Ministers have from time to time approved, obeyed, and honoured it; if God have so miraculously blessed it from above, as that so many sage Doctors should enrich it with their writings, such armies, yea millions of Saints with their holiness, of Martyrs with their blood, of Virgins with their purity, should sanctify and seal it; if their Church have been a ruin always to them that opposed against her, a stay, repose, and advancement to all her followers; if even at this day in such difficulties of rebellions and revolts of her nearest children, yet she stretcheth out her arms to the uttermost corners the world, embracing whole Nations into her bosom; If lastly in all other opposite Churches whatsoever, there be nothing to be found but inward dissension and contrariety, change of opinions, uncertainty of resolutions, robbing of churches, robellion against Governors, confusion of orders, nothing to be attended but mischief, subversion, and destruction (which they have well deserved, and shall assuredly have) whereas contrary, in their Churches, the unity undivided, the obedience unforced, the resolutions unalterable, the most heavenly order reaching from the height of all power, to the very lowest of all subjection, with admirable harmony, and undefective correspondency, all tending to the same way, to the effecting of the same work, did promise no other than continuance, increase, and victory. Let no man doubt to submit himself to this glorious spouse of God, ●● whose head is the blessing of God, in whose hand is the power of God, under whose feet are the enemies of God, & to whom round about do service all the creatures of God. This then being accorded to be the true Church of God, it followeth that she be reverently obeyed in all things, without further inquifition, having this warrant, That whoso heareth her, heaeth Christ, and whosoever heareth her not, hath no better place than a Publican or a Pagan. And what folly were it to receive the Scripture upon the credit of her authority, and not to receive the interpretation also upon her authority and credit? And if GOD should not protect his Church always from error, and peremptorily command all men to obey her, than had he made but slender provision for the Salvation of mankind, to whom error in matter of faith is certain damnation; which conceit of God (whose care of us, even in all things touching this transitory life, is so plain and evident) were ungrateful and impious. And hard were the case, and mean had been his regard of the vulgar people, whose wants and difficulties in this life will not permit; whose capacities will not suffice, to sound the deep and hidden mysteries of divinity, to search out intricate controversies, if there were not other, whose authority they might rely on: Blessed therefore are they which believe and have not seen, the guerite of whose religious humility and obedience, doth exceed perhaps in honour and acceptation before God, the subtle and profound knowledge of many other. And lastly, if any man, either in regard of his vocation, or reason of his leisure, list to study the controversies, let him take heed he come not with a doubtful mind unto them, (for diffidence is as the sin of rebellion) let him be steadfast in faith, let him submit his own reason to the Church's authority, being the house of God, the pillar and ground of truth, let him be fast and immovably built upon that foundation, and let his end only be this; to furnish and arm himself in such sort, as to be able to withstand and overthrow those heretics, when, they shall at any time chose or chance to encounter, This is the main course of of their persuading at this day, whereby they seek to re-establish that former foundation: In the unfolding whereof, I have been the longer because trial hath taught me that not by some men's private election, but as it should seem by common order▪ direction, or consent, they have relinquished all other courses, and do hold them to this as the most effectual means, by the way of persuasion to work this design. In considering whereof, there cometh to my mind, that diversity which a wise Philosopher hath intimated in the wits of men; That some are of so sharp, deep, and strange discourse, that they yield not their assent unto any thing until they have found out, either some proper demonstration for it, or some other certain proof whereon to ground it ●suredly, Others are so shallow and weak in that faculty, that they fear always error: and therefore do more willingly accord to whatsoever some of account for wisdom do barely affirm, then to any thing which this reason alone (which they suspect) inferreth. Now these latter exceeding the other, as far in number, as in worthiness and honour of nature, they are exceeded by them; the Romanist taking a course so fitting to the feeble and fearful humour of this sort, do greatly sway with them, whereas if they meet with one of the former, of more tough constitution, that will not be carried away with those plausible declamations, nor yield his consent in gross, without particular examinations, they bestow small cost on him as having small hope to prevail: wherein I hold them wise in the rules of policy; that having found by certain and unfaileable experience, that the ignorance of the Laity was the chiefest and surest finewe of their greatness and glory, they now being not able to keep them longer in that blind ignorance, do cunningly endeavour so to lead them out of the briers, as to enter them withal into a second kind of ignorance; that being not content to see utterly nothing, at leastwise they may be persuaded to resign up their own eye sight, and to look through such spectacles as they temper for them.  
13 This being the main groundwork of their policy, and these the general means to build and establish it in the minds of all men, the particular ways they hold to ravish all men's affections, and to fit each humour, (their jurisdiction & power being but persuasive & voluntary) are well nigh infinite, there being not any thing, either sacred, or profane, no virtue or vice almost, no things of how contrary conditions soever, which they make not, in some sort, to serve their turn; that each fancy may be satisfied, and each appetite find what to feed on; whatsoever either wealth can sway with the lovers, or voluntary poverty with the despisers of the world; what honour with the ambitious, what obedience with the humble, what great employment with the stirring metaled spirits, what perpetual quiet with heavy and restive bodies, what content the pleasant natures can take in pastimes and iol●itywhat contrariwise, the austere minds in discipline & rigour; what love, either chastity can raise in the pure, or voluptuousness in the dissolute; what allurements are in knowledge to draw the contemplative, or in actions of state, to possess the practic dispositions; what prerogative of reward can work with the hopeful; what terrors, doubts, and dangers with the fearful; what change of vows with the rash, of estate with the inconstant; what pardons with the faulty or supplies with the defective; what miracles with the credulous, what visions with the fantastical, what gorgeousness of shows with the vulgar & simple, what multitude of ceremonies with the superstitious, what prayer with the devout, what works of piety with the charitable, what rules of higher perfection with the elevated affections, what dispensing with the breach of all rules with men of lawless conditions: In sum, what thing soever can prevail with any man, either for himself to pursue, or at leastwise to love, reverence, or honour in another, (for therein also man's nature receiveth great satisfaction) the same is found with them, not as in other places of the world by casualty, blinded, without order, & of necessity; but sorted into great parts, into several professions, countenanced with the reputationn, honoured with prerogatives, & facilitated with provisions & yearly maintenance: and either as the better things advanced with expectation of rewards, or borne with, how bad soever, with silent toleration, what pomp, what riot, to that of the Cardinals,? what severity of li●e comparable to the heremites and Capuchins, who wealthier than their Prelates, who poorer by vow and profession, than their Mendic ants; on the one side of the street, a Cloister of Virgins, on the other a sty of Courtesans, with poblique permission: to day all in masks, with all looseness and foollery, to morrow all in processions, whipping themselves till the blood follow: upon one door, an excommunication, throwing down to hell all transgressors, on another, a jubilee or full discharge from all transgressions. Who more learned in all kind of sciences than their jesuits; who more ignorant than their ordinary Mass priests; what Prince so able to prefer his servants and followers as the Pope and in so great multitude; who able to take deeper or readier revenge of his enemies; what pride equal to his making Kings kiss his pantofles, what humility greater than his shriving himself daily on his knees, to an ordinary Priest, who more difficult in giving dispatch to the greater, who easier in giving audience to the meanest: where greater rigour in the world, in exacting the observation of the Church laws; where less care and conscience of the commandments of God: To taste flesh on a Friday where suspicion might fasten, were a matter for the Inquisition: whereas on the other side, the Sunday is one of their greatest market days. To conclude, never government, never state in the world so strongly compacted of infinite contrarieties, all tending to entertain the several humours of all men, and to work what kind of effects soever they shall desire, where rigour and remissness, cruelty and lenity are so combined, that with neglect of the Church to stir aught, is a sin unpardonable, whereas with duty towards the Church, by intercession for her allowance, with respective attendance for her pleasure, no Law almost of God or Nature, so sacred, which one way or other, they find not means to dispense with, or at least wise, permit the breach of, by connivance and without disturbance.  
But to proceed to their more particular projects, and more mystical devises, for the perpetuating of their greatness; there was never yet state so well built in the world, having his ground, as theirs hath, in the good will of other and notwithstanding by his own main strength & power, that could longer uphold itself in flourishing reputation and prosperity, than it could make itself necessary to them by whom it subsisted. All callings of men, all degrees in commonwealths, yea particular great personages, are then waning in their greatness, when they decay in their necessariness to them from whom they have it, which the Papacy nothing ignorant of, hath by secret cunning, so deeply engaged and interessed from time to time, the greatest monarchs in Christendom, in the upholding of his estate, that without the Papacy, sundry of them have no hope, and some no title to continue in their Dominion. For (to omit things more apparent and in the eyes of all men,) they have pretended authority to excommunicate and depose them, to discharge subjects of all oaths and bonds of obedience, to oblige them under pain of damnation to rise against them, to honour their murderers with the title of Martyrs (for to that degree of extremity hath some of their sect grown.) The effect of which proceeding, some Princes have felt, and most have 
Dispensing within degrees forbidden.  feared, and few at this day list to put it to adventure: the tempering with so unlimited power of Prince's marriages, by dispensing with degrees, by the law of God and the world forbidden, by losing and knitting marriage, by devise at pleasure; by legittimating unlawful and accursed issue, and thereby advancing into Thrones of regality, oftentimes base, sundry times adulterous, yea, sometimes incestuous, and perhaps, unnatural of springs doth not Reason foretell, and hath not experience thought, that both the parties in such marriages, and much more their whole issue, are bound in as strong a bond to the up-holding of the Pope's infinite authority and power, as the honour of their birth, and the title of their Crown are worth? It was a s●ely conceit in them which hoped that Queen Mary would not uphold the Pope's authority in England, by reason of her promise when a greater bond to her, than her promise did press her to it. What man ever in the world, stuck faster to his chosen friend, than the late King of Spain Philip did to the Papacy? (notwithstanding with the Popes themselves, his often jealousies and quarrels) who ordained moreover, that all his heirs and successors in the estate of the Low-countries, by virtue of his late transport, shall for ever upon their entry into those signiories, take an oath for the maintaining of the Papacy and that Religion. Is not the reason apparent, that if the Papacy should quail, his only son whosoever descend of him, is dishonured and made uncapable of those great Estates and Kingdoms which now he holdeth, yea and a fire kindled in his own house about the title to them? neither is it to be admitted into any conceit of reason, but that this young King will be as sure to the Papacy, as his father, being borne of a marriage prohibited by God, abhorred happily by Nature, disaproved by the world, and only by papal authority made allowable. For (for my part I hold not that opinion unprobable) that the marriage of Uncle and Ne●ce, (as it was in this case) was contrary to the law of Nature, and not to God's positive lawonely, seeing the Uncle hath a second right and place of a father. But howsoever that point stand, wherein I dare not affirm aught, it is creerely contrary to such a positive law of God, as the reason and cause thereof must needs continue unto the dissolution of the world, or overthrow of mankind. And therefore, in reason and law, no way agreeable or dispensable with, but by the same or higher authority, then that which first did make it: that the Pope need not think that they do him so apparent wrong, who invest him with the title of that man of power, who sitting in the temple of God, exalteth himself above God. For what may it seem else, bearing himself head of the Church, to take upon him to council, or authentically to allow of the breach of God's law, without having his express & precise commission for so doing: Though I am not ignorant, that they have distinctions for all this, which were a merry matter, if Sophistry were a proper science of shall vation. But by this & some other marriages, those straying relations of alliance have grown: that K. Philip (were he alive might call the Archd. Albert, both brother, cozen▪ nephew & son; for all this were he unto him, either by blood or affinity, being uncle to himself, cozen german to his father, husband to his sister, & father to his wife. & to come a step nearer home the same rule of Policy made me greatly fear (till now that god by death hath prevented the mischief) howsoever hitherto, what for fear of scandalising, what for other respects the Pope made show, not to be forward to consent to a intended marriage between a married K. & his Mistress, much less to legitimate the children adulterously begotten, by finding nullities on both sides in the former marriages things made of purpose, as he knoweth, to cloak a falsehood, that yet notwithstanding himself or his successors, would yield to it in the end, if any colour in the world could be laid up on the matter, to salve the credit of his not erring Sea: And he might see good hope for that race to prevail, deriving the succession also of his other great Kingdom upon issue, whose title must hold upon his legitimation he might be better assured of it, than he hath been hitherto, and have them ever firm and irreconcilable adversaries, to all those, whither subjects or neighbours, or whosoever, as should oppose against his Sovereignty and unstinted power. So searching and penetrant is that Sea, to strengthen itself more by the unlawful marriages of other men, that ever Prince yet could do, by any lawful marriage of his own,  
15 The dispensing with oaths, and discharging from them, especially in matters of treaty between Princes and Estates, is a thing so repugnant to all moral honesty, 
Dispensation with oaths.  so injurious to the quiet and peace of the world, so odious in itself, so scandalous to all men, that it may be, they adventure not to play upon that string in this curious age, so often as heretofore, for fear of discording all the rest of their harmony. Clear it is, that heretofore this made them a necessary help for all such Princes, as either upon extremity, were driven to enter into hard conditions, or upon falsehood and dishonesty, desired to take their advantage against their neighbours when it was offered: In which, Princes having no means to salve their credit with the world, but only by justifying the unholiness of the Art, by the Pope's holy authority interposed in it, were afterwards tied firmly to adhere unto them. And this was the cause that Francis the first of France, with whom (immediately upon his oath, given to Charles the fift, for performance of the articles, accorded at his delivery (Clement the 7. dispensed, and by probable conjecture, had promised to dispense with his oath, before he had made it upon hope whereof also he took it: the effect was for the Pope's behoof, that ever after there was strict love and amity between them testified finally to the world by that famous marriage between the son of the one, and the kinswoman of the other. And verily, though I hold in general too much suspiciousness, as great a fault, and as great an enemy to wisdom, as too much Incredulity (it doing oftentimes as great a wrong to friends, as the other doth receive wrongful hurt from dissemblers:) yet viewing the short continuance of sworn leagues at this day, the small reckoning that Princes make of oaths solemnly taken, whether to neighbours or subjects; not faith but profit being the bond of alliance and amity, which altering once, the other have no longer during: it maketh me think it not possible, that Pope's unlimited fingers may be stirring even at this day more often in secret, in untying those knots of the bonds of conscience than the world is ware of: at leastwise, that by authority and imitation of his example, Princes assume unto themselves a like faculty of dispensing with their own oaths, whensoever they can persuade themselves it is behooveful to their kingdom, as he when to his Church. But howsoever that standeth, this is very apparent, that by this Doctrine and policy, the Pope's opposices and enemies (especially the states and Princes of the reformed Religion) are inestimably prejudiced, being reduced hereby to a continual uncertainty and confusion in all their weightiest actions, counsels, and resolutions, there being a warrant for all men to break league and oath with them, and no need of particular dispensation from his holiness. Their Church long since by her rules, and some of great reckoning amongst them, more lately by their writings have published & preached to all the world, that faith given to heretics is not to be kept; that leagues with them are more honourable in their breaking, then in their making, denying that right unto Princes of Christian profession, which Christians unto Heathens, Heathens one to another, of how different religion soever; yea all honourable princes unto very traitors & rebels, have always kept unviolable. And finally, if father Parsons at his last coming to Rome, pretending to make peace betwixt the English scholars, & the jesuits (who were charged with too much indirect dealing, & large imblessing) & set●ing down certain indifferent Articles between them to that purpose, whereby each part should be bound to desist impugning of the other, did by handling the matter with such conveyance and cunning, (imitating therein a rule of fast on the one side, & lose on the other, in the ground of their order) as first to swear the Scholars, to observe that which was their part, & after to leave the jesuits unsworne to theirs, to effect his secret & ambitious intent; & to the great grief of the Scholars, made the jesuits their governors: what other account can be made of these leagues & pieces betwixt those of the Roman, & of the reformed religion, but that the one side being tied by oath, & the other left free, (for so are they taught) they shall so farforth have performance & continuance, as shall be to the advancement and profit of that party which esteemeth itself at liberty, the sacred, the sovereign instrument of all justice amongst men, what is it, what can it be in the world but an oath, being the strongest bound of conscience? This is the end of strifes particular; this is the sodder of public peace, & the sole assurance of amity between diverse nations, which being made here below, is enrolled in his high Court, whose glorious name doth sign it, who hath made no grant of access to his celestial palace, but to such as have sworn true, though it redound to their own damage, yet swerve not from it; that nothing but mischief can be presaged to the world, in this age most wretched, wherein Pe●iuty hath undermined the tribunals of judgement, which hath chased out true justice out of the world, & left no place for a just man where to stand against the crafty: But what may be said when he that sitteth in the Temple of God, shall so far advance himself above God; as to dispense with oaths made sacred by the most holy & high name of God? when he that professeth himself sole umpire & peacemaker of the world, shall cut in sunder those only finewes that hold peace together? when the father of Princes shall carry himself with so wicked partiality, and cast (by dissolving of oaths) affliction on the party he hateth, and making the other perpetually obnoxious to him to work his own certain advantage from both? and lastly, by making of that ancient bridle of the unjust, to be now an only snare to entrap the innocent, and impose that blemish upon Christianity, which the Pagans in their natural morality have abhorred?  
I will not here omit one other great help, which casualty rather than cunning may seem to have wrought, it falling out often in the affairs of men, that where wisdom hath furnished out sundry aids & instruments, there some also do frame themselves (as it were by chance) resulting out of the concurrence of divers accidents with the former, as at this day the greatness of the house of Austia, extending itself well nigh to all quarters of Europe, and confining with many of the Pope's principal adversaries, who having long since upon the rich purchase which they had of the Indies, devoured in assured hope and conceit, the Monarchy of our Western world, and finding no fit means to enlarge their temporal Dominions, than by concurring with the Pope, in restoring his spiritual, have linked themselves most fast with his Sea, and investing themselves voluntarily with an Office of their own direction, have taken upon them to be the executioners of his Excommunications, that having title from the Pope who giveth his enemies the foil by distracting their own Subjects from them, upon fear of his curse: the rest they may supply out of their own force and opportunities: having erected for this purpose that superpolitique and irrefragable order (as they count it) of the jesuits, who couple in their persuasions, as one God, and one Faith; so one Pope also, and one King, bearing the world in hand, and there is no other means in the world for the Church to stand, but by resting upon this pillar, and by uniting in this sort all the forces of the Christians: this the only means to vanquish the Arch-enemy of Christianity, that the Italians may not brag to have been the only men, who have subdued the world unto them by their wit, the Spaniards having proved so good Scholars in their Schools, that though they follow them in their grounds of pretending the advancement of Religion, and in their instruments of religious Orders, to practise men's minds with, yet in this they outgo them, that they use the Pope's weapons, lightnings and thunderings, and terrors for instruments of their own greatness, & his hope of re-establishing his spiritual reputation by them, to the immoderate increase of their secular power by him, that the Pope also himself must in the end be constrained to cast himself into their arms, and to remain at their devotion, acknowledging him henceforward for his good Lord & Patron, whom he hath heretofore governed & commanded as his Son, a point which as some of the ministers of Spain, in the height of their pride have not been able to hold in, but have braved the assembly of Cardinals to their beards, that they hope ere long to see the day that their master should tender half a dozen to the Pope to be made Cardinals at once, whereof he should not dare to refuse to choose any one. And the Cardinals themselves should as little da●e to choose any other Pope then whom he named, so their too important pressing of the Pope in these latter times to serve all their ambitious and raging turns▪ in the long prejudicing the liberty of the Conclave in their elections have given them good assurance, that they speak as they mean, that their brags are hopes & purposes, and these threatenings (being the natural fruits of the Spanish haughtiness & insolency, who in the pride of their Monarchy are grown now also to swear by the life of their king) have extremely perplexed some of the later Popes, and driven them to very extraordinary and desperate resolutions, which they have paid for dearly, & in general, have made it enacted for a rule in that sea, not somuch to seek the repairing of their foreign spiritual authority (if it cannot be done but by means of so huge inconvenience) as to strengthen and make themselves great in their temporal estate at home, yet seeing France,, beyond all hope of Man reunited within itself, and likely to flourish as in his former prosperity, whereby they shall be able to balance these Monarchies, as to make that part the heavier, to which they shall propend (an ancient rule and continual practice of that Sea) I should not greatly doubt, but that they will be content again henceforward, so long as matters stand in the terms they do, to entertain that good correspondency with the house of Austria, as to serve them with their Excommunications, that they may be served by them with their Executions. The sweetness whereof, as the Spaniard hath long since tasted, in effect (having seized on a Manor, by that only pretence, and of late times in high conceit and hope, trusting to have embraced both france & England by the same means) so I doubt not but that other branch of the house of Austria in Germany, which hath engrossed, and in a manner ●ntailed to their house, so many elective states; the Empires, the kingdom of Bohemia with his dependences, and of Hungary, and were likely also of late to have added the Princedom of Transilvania, whensoever they should att●ine quiet and security from the Turk, which hath no great unlikelihood to be compassed in short time, would take the same course against the Protestants of Germany, having so many Prelates and o●b●rs there to assist them, (who by rooting the Protestants out of all their estates have prepared a good ground for such a future exploit) howsoever the Pope himself doth yet forbear his thunders, having learned by his loss elsewhere, that it argueth in these actions, more courage than w●●te, to make noise before the blow be ready. Now, as these are the hopes of the house of Austria, for the enlarging of their estates, and molesting of their neighbours, so for the entertaining of perpetual unity and love amongst themselves they use the grand preservative and help of marriage, the only sure bond of amity in the world. Insomuch, that by continual inter-marrying amongst themselves, they remain still as brethren all of one Family, and as arms of the self same body: These take I to be the means whereby the Papacy hath assured so many of the greatest unto it.  
17 To descend from which, to those that are next to them in degree, as the nobility, and other persons of worth and quality▪ the Papacy is not unprovided of his Instruments to work upon these also; she hath her baits to allure them, her hooks to retain them▪ I will not stand much upon the benefit their confession doth herein yield them, whereby prying into the hearts and consciences of all men, they attain knowledge of the secrets, they sound the dispositions, they discover the humours of all the most respective and able persons, of what country, or calling, place, or quality soever▪ A matter of singular consideration in the managing of affairs, of principal importance for the well guiding of Councils: The ignorance whereof hath been the cause of error in the wisest deliberations, and of uncertain success in the most grounded resolutions: to omit the great wealth which they heap thereby, persuading their Penitents, especially in that only hour of agony and extremity, to ransom their sins committed against God, by consecrating their goods unto the Church of God, whereby they have prevailed in all places (so far the jesuits above all other, who are noted and envied by other orders of friars, for engrossing the commodity of being rich men's Confessors, when good is to be done, with whom their pranks in that kind have been so rare and memorable, that most states at this day have been forced, by public order, to limit the proportion of that kind of purchase) for in that case they can easily extenuate those other helps of Indulgence, and of Requiems, and their privileged Altars. And yet without touch of the Pope's omnipotency: They count them but simple folks, that cannot use their several devises, without crossing one of the other, how contrary soever. They can tell them, that it may be for want of contrition in themselves those sovereign pardons wanted a fit Subject to work on; and so for other after-helps, the want of intention in the Priest may frustrate the Mass of the prerogative of virtue, whereby their souls may perhaps fry in Purgatory, when their friends shall imagine they shine in Glory, that the only sure way of having good, is doing good. And what good to be done at his death, but by bestowing well of his goods? And where better bestowing them than upon him that gave them? And to GOD they are given, when they are given unto his Ministers.  
18 And here I will no other than mention only the 
Cardinals.  help which the choice of their Cardinals doth yield herein, whom they choosing a great part of the most noble and potent families, that either voluntarily desire it, or otherwise can be induced to accept it, they both give good satisfaction to all foreign Nations, and especially hold Italy to them in special devotion, and strengthen themselves with the favour and support of those men's kindreds, whom they have placed in the next step to the top of their glory; yea, and oftentimes by means of these Car, dinals (their assured instruments) they insinuate themselves into the swaying of the government of those estates, wherein, either by their Nobility, or other worth, they bear authority; A policy of long usage and observed by many.  
19 But jewels are rare, and for few men's wearing▪ the multitude and diversity of men of spirit requireth also store and variety of competent living and preferments to entertain them with good content and corespondencie; a thing in all estates of very necessary and chief regard, wherein, although the Papacy seem at the first blush to have no furniture extraordinary above other Princes, save only in one kind, for men of Ecclesiastical calling, by which he is able to advance men of learning incomparably above any other Prince in the world, as having wellnigh all the Archbishoprics and bishoprics in Italy, with other Church-livings almost half the benefices in Spain, very many Ecclesiastical preferments of all sorts in other countries at his bestowing. And if we look into the use and practise of these times, it will appear, that even by Ecclesiastical live, he partly accommodateth, and partly suffers to be accommodated, all professions and ages, though neither fit nor very capable of Ecclesiastical order, what by dispensations or tolerations to be administrators to Abbeys, bishoprics, and other benefices as is used in France. What (as in Italy and Spain) by assignations of yearly pensions out of their revenues, which being so great as they are, they may easily, and having hope of aspiring they may willingly bear: and most of this out of the dominions and territories of other Princes, and without any charging or impoverishing of his own: A choice and refined piece of high Quintessence of wit, which yet never State could distill out of their brains to aspire unto, besides the Papacy. To let pass the infinite number of Honours and livings, what Ecclesiastical, what subordinate, and ministerial to them, and what also in part temporal as belonging to the Knights of the holy Orders, which are many. All which, although not directly in his own donation, yet in that they have their right, either grounded, or greatly favoured and continued by his religion: And in decay of that (as experience hath showed) were likely to quail, are strong props to the upholding of the Papacy▪ arming so many tongues and hands in the defence thereof, as either are, or have hope to be advanced by it, each drawing his friends and followers with him. A sweet enchanter and deceiver of men, is the hope of honour and worldly profit, which lulling oft even in the better sort) the conscience asleep, doth awaken withal, and sharpen the wit, to find out arguments for the proving of that conclusion, which affection before hath framed, and by custom continueth, & engendereth in them a persuasion that they have done well, in that which at the first, their own knowledge could say otherwise; how powerfully them may it sway with that other sort of men, whose belly being their god, make their appetite their sole Religion? which if the experience of former times hath not sufficiently affirmed, it were to be wished perhaps, that more fresh proof might have been given thereof once again in this kingdom of France▪ where some of the wisest and chief have thought, that if the King hath accorded to the Clergies late supplication, to bestow Church-livings upon fit men, and only of Ecclesiastical calling, Those Princes & Peers, which n●w in regard of that particular commodity which they reap from the Church in terms as it standeth, would have unsheathed their swords in defence thereof, would soon have turned themselves another way, to the utter razing of it, that they might satisfy their greediness with the spoil of that state, whose pay they could no longer have.  
20 But for the Clergy themselves, who are in all places under the Papacy, great in number and power, they are most firmly assured to that Sea, what by the multitude of exemptions and prerogatives above the temporalty, which under the Pope's protection they securely enjoy, what with expecting no other than utter sacking & ●uine, if the opposites of the Popes should happen to prevail, so discreet & violent have been their carriage in most places, where they have been able, either to bring or to pull in their reformation: yea herein also it hath befallen, as in some other things, that not only casual, b●● even more cross accidents have redounded to the Pope's great advantage & benefit. The part which in this age hath ●●● raised against▪ having wrought this affect, to ●●●● the rest more firm, more serviceable, & more zealous towards him, insomuch whereas in France he was smally regarded of any, but stomached at by the Princes, impeached, abridged, & appealed from, by the Prelates; and lastly, either despised or neglected by the people, the hatred and rancour conceived against his enemies with eagerness of opposition, kindling, and having long continuance therein, hath strongly settled and produced effects of clean contrary nature; the Princes have joined in holy league, for the upholding of him, the people with all fury have raged, have fought against, have murdered and massacred his opposites in all places, and the clergy of France, which heretofore withstood him in many Counsels, doth now call mainly for his Council of Trent to be admitted A Council of all other most partial unto him, & carried by him with such infinite guile, and craft, without any sincerity, upright dealing, or truth, as that themselves will even smile in the triumphs of their own wits, (when they hear it but mentioned) as at a master Stratagem. Yea, so strongly hath this opposition fastened his Clergy unto him, that the name of a General Council is now the most plausible, which in former time was the most fearful thing to him in the world, and whereunto he was never brought with any better good will, than an old bitten Bear is drawn to the stake to be baited, by his enemies, who dare tug him in company, at whom in single they scarce durst bark: so powerful is the nature of all opposition to increase despite and hatred against the enemy, and to make friends, especially those that are interessed in the same cause, to cleave more close together. Yea rather, so wise is the ever admirable Creator, even in all his works, of what nature so ever, as to temper the very accidents in the life of man, with such proportion and counterpoise, that no prosperity without his inconvenience, no adversity without his comfort, to chase out of man's life security and despair, the only enemies of all virtuous & honest courses. To each thing hath the goodness of that Architect imparted a peculiar badge of honour, that nothing should be dispiseable in the eyes of other▪ the prince in majesty & sovereignty of power, the nobility in wisdom & dominative virtue, together with the instruments thereof, as riches, reputation, allies, and followers, & the people in their multitude are respectable and honourable, which multitude being of so great consequence in matter of state, the policy of the papacy hath not neglected, but provided both reasonable entertainment for them, and fit means also to practise and work upon them: here cometh in those heaps of their religious orders, and that multitude of Friars which abound in all places, but wherewith Italy above all doth swarm. A race of people in former times honourable in their holiness, now for the most part contemptible in their wickedness and misery; always praying, but seldom with sign of devotion; vowing obedience, but still contentious, chastity, yet most luxurious; poverty, yet every where scraping and covetous: which I speak not of them all, there being many among them of singular piety & devotion in their way, but a very small part as they generally reported where ever I have come. But to return to the aid which the Papacy do reap from them, the only▪ contentful care that the ordinary sort of men have in this world, is for the providing for their children, to leave them in good estate, & not inferior, but rather above their ancestors, which those that have many, not being able to perform, for all it is a great ease to them (and such an ease as even Princes & great Peers themselves sometimes disdain not, but are rather glad of) to discharge their hands of some of them, especially of such as by disgrace, or by defect of nature, are either more backward, or less lovely than other, at an easy and small ra●e, and yet with honourable pretence, namely by consecrating them wholly to the service of the Creator, and providing higher place for them in his celestial Kingdom. For such is their opinions of these orders of religious and Angelical perfection as they usually style them. The Friars also themselves, having names given them by their governors, each according to his merits, importing no less, and as they increase in their holiness, so proceeding in their titles, from Padre benedicto, to Padre Angelo, then Archangelo▪ Cherubino; and lastly Cerephino, which is the top of perfection: but for their own high conceit of their perfection and merits this example may serve. I have heard one of their most renowned Capuchins for zeal, sanctity, and learning, preaching in a principal place before the Bishop, in sharp reproof of their forsaken crew of blasphemous gamesters, pray solemnly to God (though acknowledging himself first in humility a great sinner) by his merits, and discipline, by the tears which his eyes had often shed, by those many sharp voyages, which for the love of God he had made, by that chastisement which he had often given himself, because they did grieve (animam pauperis which was himself) that if there were any, notwithstanding his admonitions, which should still persist in that wicked gamestry, he would strike them ere that day twelvemonth with some markable punishment. The same man at an other time in an ecstasy of charity, calling God, all his Angels, and Saints to witness it, to strip himself of all his merits, there before the little Crucifix, embracing, and kissing it, and to pray it to reward them, upon his dearly beloved Auditory, for whose sakes he was contented also to be reputed the greatest sinner of all the assembly: Such being their perfection then in desiring it, must needs issue of an honourable affection. Now although Italy being a thirsty Manager doth in his heart greatly repine at a custom which their Nunneries have of late brought up, being indeed constrained to it by the excessive multitude, which in the former respect are thrust upon them) which is, not receive any gentleman or merchants daughter, without the dowry of 200, crowns at least, and fifteen or twenty crowns yearly pension during her life, and ten yearly rent to their house for ever. Neither admit they of any man's daughter without some crowns also in name of a dowry at their spiritual marriage to God, and those shallbe but serving Nuns to the former. Yet finding two charges, this is far the easier, they are content to swallow down that, which by champing on the bit, they can not remedy. But the orders of religious men bring them an other ease also: It disburtheneth their country of an infinite number of discontented humours, and despairing passions, whosoever in his dearest loves hath proved unfortunate, whosoever cannot prosper in some other profession which he hath been set to, whomsoever some notable disgrace or other cross in estate hath bereft of all hope of ever rising in this world, whosoever by his miscarriage hath purchased so many enemies, as that nothing but his blood can yield satisfaction to their malice▪ All these, and many others reduced to like anguish of mind, and distress, or otherwise howsoever out of taste with the world, have this haven of content always open to fly to, when they can find no other place of repose to stand in: then resolve they to go Friars (as they phrase it) yea whosoever by his monstrous blasphemy or other like villainy hath deserved all the tortures and deaths in the world, if (before the hand of justice lay hold upon him) he voluntarily profess himself a Cap●●hine or Hermite, or of such like strict order, the Pope forbiddeth any further pursuit▪ as thinking his voluntary perpetual penance sufficient. And in this manner is the greatest sort of their gentry Capuchins, for so are the most of the order by birth. Neither is this religious life (save in some very few Orders) so severed from the world and the commodity thereof, but that it enjoyeth as many contentments as a moderate mind need wish & moderate affections can find means also to satisfy themselves at pleasure: In sum, they are rather discharged of the toil●s and cares, than debarred of the comforts and solace of this life. Neither is there almost so mean a Fria● among them, that hath not some hope to be Prior of his covent, and then perhaps of that resort or province, and lastly, not impossible that his good fortune may so accompany his merits, as to attain to be the General of all his Order. And the Generals are as likely to be made Cardinals as any men. And finally, sundry of them within the memory of man, have been advanced from the pre-eminences of the Cardinal's dignity, to the sovereignty of papal glory.  
Hope is a sweet and firm conpanion of man, it is the last thing that leaveth him, and the highest things it promiseth him, it maketh all toils supportable, all difficulties conquerable. Now the multitude of these Orders, and good provision for them being so great an ease to all sorts of men in their private estates, as they generally account it: It must needs be a great bond of their affection unto the Papacy, under which they enjoy it, as by whom alone those Orders are protected, and whom his adversaries do seek utterly to exterminate & ruin. I shall speak little of the particular persons that enter into those Orders who draw thereby their whole race the more to favour, that way (which in so infinite a number of them must needs be of great moment.) Against this might be objected with great reason, the inestimable damage which the public do thereby receive, as in Italy for example, perhaps half of the land in many places thereof, and generally a full third, besides their other veils, being appropriated to this sort of people, and other persons ecclesiastical, yea and of the people themselves, perhaps a quarter of a million at least in that one Country, having withdrawn themselves thereby from all service of Prince, or people, or Country, and confined themselves to their cloisters life, living only upon the honey, which the toiling Bee doth gather, with perhaps an other quarter of a million of an other sect (I may err in both numbers, but I aim as near the truth as by conjecture I can, proportioning the places where I have not been with those where I have been) who have abandoned themselves to another trade as idle, but more wicked, devouring with men's goods, their bodies and souls at once, which may be the cause that that country (though as populous as it can well bear, yet cometh manifold ways short of that strength which in former times it hath had, either for defence of itself, or offence of his neighbours; yet notwithstanding these are Theorems which few list to speculate. The whole world running mainly to things sensible and present, and to that which profiteth them in their own particular, though it bringeth with it a certain hurt and final ruin of the public, without the safety where of to them that judge things rightly, neither any particular estate can prosper, nor the most prosperous estate continue long.  
22 But the benefit which the Papacy doth draw from these Friars consisteth in this point, accommodating and yielding content. It stands in the multitude of hearts, of tongues, and pens (dispersed in all countries, but united in his service) of men of most fury, and furious zeal, who with incessant industry and resoluteness incredible, give over no travel, leave no exploit so difficult or desperate unattempted for the vphoulding of the Papacy, and advancing of that religion. On which all their comfort and credit in this life, all their hope of prerogative in the life to come dependeth, being of the other side esteemed for the most lousy companions, the most unprofitable drones, the most devouring locusts, the most reprobate, ignoble, ignominious, and wicked race, that ever the world was pestered with; in sum, more vile than the very mire they tread on. There was never yet state so well plotted in this world, or furnished with such store of instruments to employ in his service, as to be able to practise & persuade with the multitude (otherwise than in their public assemblies, or other meetings) the Papacy only excepted, who by reason of the infiniteness of these religious people, all made out of other folks stuff, and maintained at other folks charge, is able, and doth deal in public and private, as occasion requireth with men, women, & children, of how mean estate soever, instructing, exhorting, confirming, adjuring and kindling them in such sort, as maketh fittest for their dri●e: & for the end proposed, though there is difference in force of operation, between private persuasions, and those public preachings, where the hearers, according to the use of man's nature, neglect that in particular, which is commended to their regard in common, though easy to conceive; yet they only can sufficiently perhaps esteem who have seen a Friar, an abandon of the world, a man wholly rapt with divine affections and ecstasies, his apparel denouncing all earthly vanities, his countenance preaching severity, penance, and discipline, breathing nothing but sighs for the hatred of sin, his eyes lifted upwards, as fixed on his joys, his head bowed one the one side, with tenderness of love and humility, extending his ready hands to lay hold on men● souls▪ to snatch them out of the fiery laws of that gaping black Dragon, and to place them in the path that conducteth to Paradise. When such a man▪ I say, shall address himse●●e to a woman (whose sex hath been famous ever for devotion and credulousness) or to any other vulgar person, of what sort soever, persuading and beseeching with all plausible motions of reason, yea with sighe● of fear, and tears of love, instanting and importuning no other thing at their hands, then only this, to be content to suffer God to save their souls, and to receive them unto everlasting happiness, which they shall certainly attain by rancking themselves with the heavenly armies of God, (that is) by joining themselves to the Church of Christ, and his Vicar, And this again and again, are sundry times teached and pursued with show of incredible care of their good, without seeking other meed or commodity to himself, save only of being the instrument of a soul's salvation. Is it to be marveled, if such a man be received as an Angel of God, sent expressly for their salvations, to whom he cometh, though he prevail and possess them in such forcible sort, as that no access remain for any contrary persuasion; that nothing so violent which they will not attempt, nothing so dear, which they will not bestow for the advancement of that Church, by which themselves hope finally to be so highly exalted? And although all Friars (being of so diverse metal) are not able to play their parts so naturally, and with such perfection as some that I have seen, yet being trained up in the same school, they all hold one course: and certainly by their dealing with men at single hand in private by particular applied persuasions, (which though they use not continually▪ yet do they not neglect it whensoever ● opportunity doth require. They prevail as (experience doth daily show) exceedingly.  
23 What now may I say of their readiness to undertake, 
Bloody executi●ns by Friars & Priests.  and resoluteness to execute? what act how dangerous and desperate soever, that may tend to the advancement of their side and order. I need not seek far back, nor far off for examples. The late Henry of France, slain traitorously by a jacobin, & this King wounded by a Scholar of the jesuits, the one for want of zeal only in their violent courses, the other as misdoubted of sincerity in his conversion, may show what measure their professed enemies were to attend, if they could have as open and ready access unto them. Again, this King went in danger of his life, a long while sought by a Capouchin, having undertaken it (as it was said) at the instigation of certain jesuits of Lorreine, to dispatch him, whose picture being brought to Paris by the Marquis Du Pont, search was made for him, and at length he was taken, and executed, together with another jacobine for the same crime. And what may it be thought these men would not do, being commanded by their Generals, whom they have vowed to obey? And in the Pope's necessary service, and with his expressed desire, who are carried with so desperate rage and fury against whatsoever impediments their bare conceits, without warrant of higher authority present unto them, and is in violent attempts to be executed by themselves: they are men resolved, and hardly, as having no posterity to be oppressed by their ruin, (which of all other things doth most contain men in duty,) So in exciting the multitude of sedition or tumult in favour of their cause, and of their Catholic religion, they are as sedulous and secret, using opportunity of confession to practise the vulgar, with annexing such conditions to the absolutions they give them, as the turn they intent to serve, requireth. A point very memorable, in weighing the manifold fruits which at this day that Sacrament beareth for the Papacy, as hath been discovered at Paris that certain Confessors, having taken a solemn promise of their penitents, that they would live and die in the Catholic religion, yea and die for it also, if need shall require, have enjoyed them thereupon, to oppose by all means against the verefying of the King's Edicts for the Protestants. Soon after ensued a general rumour and terror of new massacres, though upon no ground that I can learn. 
The multitude of friars   
24 But amongst many other points to be regarded in these Friars, the very multitude itself seemeth to me to be one, not of the least confederation, if the Papacy being reduced to any terms of extremity, should resolve to put them in arms for their final refuge and succour. The Franciscans alone in the time of Sixtus Quintus, their fellow and Father, are said to have been found by survey to be thirty thousand. the Capuchins, a late branch of them, do vaunt to be eight thousand at this present. The Dominicans strive in competency with the Franciscans in all things. The jesuits being great statists, are withal, exceeding rich, and many: but for the greediness of wealth, and rare practices to get it, infamous in all places. The Garmelitanes and Augustine's, have their hives in every garden, and everywhere swarm. The other orders of Friars and Monks, being exceeding many, complain not of paucity in their several professions. In some other Countries they are sown, but Italy is thick strewed with this kind of people, whose number perhaps in the whole, may pass a million of men, of the which, one half at the least, either are, or would grow to be of lusty able bodies not unfit to be soon employed in any warlike service: if the Pope having played away the rest of his policies, were brought to his last hand, to set up his rest upon those men, what should hinder him from raising huge armies of them in all places? their course of life, perhaps their vows and profession, whereof himself hath the key to lock and open at pleasure may breed unwillingness of mind, or backwardness of such actions, which cannot be imagined to them that know their eagerness of spirit, and consider withal, their standing with his estate, and falling with his ruin. Then for their unaptness and undisposition of body, their fasting, watching, living on the ground, enduring cold, exact keeping of orders and obedience to their commanders, aught to make them fit to all military discipline. Then for the difficulty of assembling them in such case together. Hear needs must I speak of the exactness of their order and government, being such as needeth not yield to any. I know to that purpose, each order hath his General residing at Rome, for the most part, to advise with the Pope, and to receive his direction from him, which being men of great reputation & power, are chosen though in show indifferently by all the Masters, that is, Doctors of their order whatsoever: yet in election it is so finely and cunningly contrived, that the voices of Italy are far predominant, even as in the election of the Pope, the Italian Cardinals; so in their modern general counsels, the Italian Bishops do far exceed all the rest of Christendom; that so the safety of the papal sea, & the greatness of Rome, may rest assured.  
These Generals have under them their Provincials as Lieutenants in every province or state in Christendom. The Provincials have under them the several Priors of covents. And those their companies. A commandment dispatched away from the General, passeth roundly by the Provincials to the Priors with all speed, being received by the inferiors, they address themselves to the performance; yea though it command them a voyage to China or Peru, without dispute or delay they readily set forward. To argue or debate on their superiors Mandates, were presumption, proud curiosity to search their reasons; to detract or disobey them, breach of vow, equal to sacrilege; So that as in a well disciplined army, the General guiding, the Soldiers follow; he commanding, they obey, without further delay or question: So those have no other care than to perform with dexterity, what Mandate soever their General in the plenitude of his authority shall address to them. This order, this diligence, this secrecy, this obedience, in a people that may wander without suspicion in all places, and find good relief & aid in their passage, will answer the former objection. To add the good grace wherein they are generally with the vulgar, the means which they have to provide all things necessary with their repositories of Relics and silver Images, what with Church-place and treasure, wherein some of them are exceedingly rich, and daily increase, unless the world should with general consent bend against them, it may be (if the times should enforce such employment) they should be able (being associated with such friends as they should find) to make a very strong part in all places for the Pope, especially considering that these forces should be then raised out of their enemy's countries, and so weaken them, as blood drawn out of their own bodies. And that no man may deceive himself with that error: That in these professors of peace, there is no humour of war, that minds wholly possessed with sweet contemplations, can embrace no thought of bloody resolutions: let him but a little dive into the late French troubles, he shall find that the military companions of the leaguers, were oftentimes even stuffed with Priests and Friars, tall men and resolute, he shall find that of these people, there have served (what in field, what in garrison) at one time, sufficient to have made a great army of themselves only. He shall find, that at Orleans, a Capuchin being expressly sent to that purpose by his Prior, went up and down the streets with a wooden cross, crying, come forth good Christian, destroy the enemies of the Cross of thy Saviour: and therewithal put to the sword at sundry times, six score of the reformed religion, until he left none remaining. Lastly, he may understand, that more lately in Paris, some of them in their sermons have incited (not obscurely) to a new massacre, complaining that the body of the Realm is sorely diseased, being surcharged with corrupt humours, as not having been let blood this five and twenty years, as it ought. To conclude, I conceive this force of Friars, to be so great, (what in regard of their very multitude, what by reason of their deadly rage against their opposites) that it would be hard for any state to bring in the reformed religion, without discharging it first of this difficulty and burden. In Germany the first reformers of religion in this age, were friars themselves, who being men of great mark and reckoning amongst their own, drew their Covents and other troops of their Order with them, and thereby set the rest in such amazements, that the Pope grew into a general great jealousy of them all, doubting their universal revolt from his obedience. In England they were with great policy and practise dissolved, before any innovation in religion was mentioned, whereas to have done both together, had been perhaps impossible. But first clear preventing them of pretence of religion, & after finding their religion clear stripped of that Patronage, they were more quietly minded, and this more quietly reform. In France this king upon that outrage against his person, smoked the jesuits out of his nest, in most parts of his kingdom. If he had done the like to the Dominicans, (a most potent & flourishing order in Spain above all other) in revenge of the murder of Henry the 3. his predecessor, or if he would or could do it now to them, and to the Capuchins, (who at this day next to the jesuits, are of greatest renown) in punishment of their late practice, so fortnately discovered, & so chastise the schools always, when he took their scholars in so enormeous faults, there were great hope for the reformed religion in time to prevail, which is now prejudiced & persecuted by these Friars, that hardly can it keep foot on the ground it hath. Thus much of the strength which these religious orders do yield the Papacy.  
25 To this may be added the like invention of spiritual 
Invention of spiritual fraternities.  fraternities & companies, perhaps equaling, yea exceeding n number the very orders of Friars: in which▪ under the protection, & in honour of some saint, or of any other holy man or religious Minister, & oftentimes annexing themselves to some of the orders of friars, the lay people of all sorts, both men & women, both single and married, do enrol themselves into one or more of these societies, approaching so much nearer to the state of the clergy, unto which sundry of them are no other than annexaries & appurtenances, whereby, as they tie themselves to the orders of them, cosisting in certain extraordinary devotions & professions, bearing also certain times some badge of their company: so are they made partakers of all such spiritual prerogatives, either by partnership with other Church's merits, or interest in sundry Indulgences, some half plenary, some whole, some for the time past, some before hand for sundry years to come, & chief for the avoiding or speedy dispatch out of purgatory, as the Pope or his predecessors, for the encouragement & comfort of the Christian people in their devotion & charity, have thought good to grant unto them. These fraternities are not yet grown into any great request in other 
policies of the papacy against the opposites  places, howbeit in Italy they have so multiplied, that few (especially of that vulgar and middle sort of men, who affect any reputation of devotion) but have entered into some one of them, and sundry into many; the assurance of whom unto Papacy, must needs be doubled, since love groweth according to the proportion of hope.  
26 Now come I to the last rank of the Roman policies, arranged against their professed & feared enemies, whereby they do seek to re-enter where they have been disrooted and practise as well for the wasting away of their opposites where they are, as for shutting them & their doctrine out, where yet they have not been. I will not here exemplify upon things manifest and ordinary, being high ways, so plain that a guide were needless; their persecutions, confiscations, tortures, burnings, secret murders, general massacres, exciting of inward seditions & outward hostility against their adversaries, their oppressing & debasing of them where themselves are the stronger, are things whereof they were none of the inventors, though perhaps the commendation of the exact refining of them, of straining them to their highest note, of sedulity & perseverance, putting them in execution, may be more due & proper to them then to any other; neither yet will I meddle greatly with their Art of slandering their opposites, o● disgracing their persons, misreporting their actions, falsifying their doctrine & positions, (things wherewith their pulpits do daily sound & their writings swell again.) But they are not the first, neither, that have run this black course, no more than the former red: others have done it before them, ye the buying of men's consciences, by proposing reward to such as shall relinquish the protestant religion & turn to theirs, as in Ausbarie where they say there is a known price for it, of ten florence a year. In France, where the Clergy have made contributions for the maintenance of runagate Ministers, is a devise also ●●esh & of easy conceit. I will rather insist upon their inventions less trivial, and more worthy to be regarded. A wonderful thing it is to consider the great diversity of humours or tempers of mind, which this age hath produced in this one point we speak of, touching the means of growing onward upon the adversary part. 
Puritans  A sort of men there liveth in the world at this day whose leaders (whether upon extremity of hatred toward the Church of Rome, or upon self-liking and singularity to value their own wits and devises) did cut out in such sort, their reformation of religion, as not only in all outward religious services & ceremonies, in government, & Church discipline, they do strive to be as unlike the Papacy as is possible: but even in very lawful policies, for the advancing of their part, do disdain to seem to be imitators to them, whom they so much abhorred, much like stout ●arted, selfe-witted Captain, who scorns to imitate any stratagem before used by the enemy, though the putting of it in exploit, might give him assured victory: Neither do these men's 
Protestants  scholars, as yet one whit degenerate, yea perhaps that disease (if I may so censure it) hath tainted, in some degree, all the protestant party, who never could find the means in all this age, to assemble a general Counsel of all their side for the composing of their differences, and setting order in their proceed, for want I must confess of some opportunities, but of a great deal of zeal also in their governors, (as to me it seemeth:) neither yet have they in any one of all their Dominions, erected any college of more contemplative persons, to confront and oppose against the jesuits, but have left this weighty burden of clering the controversies, of perfecting the sciences, of answering the adversaries writings, (of exceeding huge travel) either upon their ordinary Ministers to be performed at times of leisure from their office of preaching, (& then is it done accordingly) or upon such as in Universities, having some larger scope, shall willingly and of their own accord undertake it for sometimes: whereas on the contrary side, the Papacy seemeth to me, very diligently and attentively to have considered and weighed, by what means chief their adverse part hath grown so fast, beyond either their own expectation, or the fear of their enemies, as in less than an age to have won perhaps the moiety of their Empire from them. And those very means, themselves have resolved hence-forwards to appy, in strong practice on their side also, that so, as by a countermine, they may either blow up the minds of their adversaries, or at leastwise give them a stop from any further proceeding, like a politic General, who holdeth it the greatest wisdom to outgo his enemies in their own devices, & the greatest valour to beat him at his own weapons. I will not here presume to press in with my determination upon this great difference and question, although it seem to me, to be no other than a plain quarrel, between stomach, and discretion: A small deal of wisdom, me think, might decide it, especially considering that all good things are from God, though they be found in his very enemy: & whatsoever is not unjust (being used in a good cause) is good.  
27 The first and chief means, whereby the reformers of Religion prevail in all places, was their singular assiduity 
Preaching.  & dexterity in preaching, especially in great cities, & Palaces of Princes, whereby the people (being ravished with the love & admiration of that light which so brightly shined unto them, as men with the Sun, who are newly drawn 
Publishing treatises of piety.  from dungeon) readily followed those who carried so fair a lamp before them. Hereto may be added their publishing of treatises of virtue, of piety, of spiritual exercises & devotions, which engendered a firm persuasion in the minds of men; that the soil must be sound, & good, from whence so sweet, wholesome, and heavenly fruits proceed. Now although the opinions of the Papacy, and of a great part of the reformed religion be as opposite herein, welnie as hot and cold, as light and darkness; the one approving no devotion severed from understanding, the other thinking the understanding to be a means, rather to divert & dazzle the devotion, then to direct and cherish it. And for preaching in like sort, the French Protestants making it an essential & chief part of the service of God, whereas the Romanists make the Mass only a work of duty, & the going to Sermons but a matter of conveniency, & such as is left free to men's leisures & opportunities, without imputation of sin: yet in regard of the great sway (which they have learned by their loss) that those carry, in drawing of men's minds & affections, they have endeavoured in all places in both those kinds, to equal, yea & to surmount their adversaries. For although in multitude of preachers they greatly come short, (being an exercise wherein the secular priests list not to distemper their brains much, but commend it in a manner wholly to their regulars & friars) & these (thinking the country capacities to blockish, or otherwise not worth bestowing so great cost on (do employ themselves wholly in cities & other places of great resort, all which they have great care to have competently furnished: yet in the choice of them whom they send out to preach, in the diligence & pains which they take in their Sermons, in the ornaments of eloquence & grace of action, in their show of piety & reverence towards God, of zeal towards the truth, of love towards his people, which even with their tears they can often testify, they match their adversaries in the best, & in the rest far exceed them. But herein the jesuits carry the bell from all other, having attained the commendations. & working the effect of perfect orators: And of those besides, certain drawn yearly by lot from their general residing at Rome: their choice preachers are sent abroad amongst Infidels & heretics; at Lent in especial they are sent out, one in each city in Italy with yearly charge, and the custom of Italy is for the same man to preach every day in the lent without intermission (if their strength do serve them) so as six days in the week to preach on the Gospel of the days, and on the S●terday in honour & praise of our Lady: so in every yearly change there is the delight of variety, & in the daily continuing of the same, the admiration of industry. Some such like course it is to be thought, that the jesuits hold also in other Countries, their projects being certain and exactly pursued. But wonderful is the reputation which redounds thereby to their order, & exceeding the advantage which it giveth to their side, for books of prayer & piety, all countries are full of them at this day, in their own language, to stop in part, the outcry of their adversaries against them, for imprisoning the people wholly in those dark devotions, & especially to win the love of the world unto them, by this more inward and lively show of sanctity & godliness. Yea, herein they conceive to have so far surpassed their opposites, that they forbear not to reproach unto them their poverty, weakness, & coldness, in that kind, as being forced to take the catholics books to supply theirs, which as in this it cannot altogether be denied to be true, so on the other side, it had been greatly to be wished, that these books of Christian Resolution & exercise, had been the fruits of conscience, rather than of the wits of those that made them, which in some of them, as father Parsons by name, have been otherwise, besides the rest of his actions unsuitable to those resolutions. Some of them also more zealous in their way have not forborn to confess, that by performing so good works with a good mind, to a good end, & conforming their own lives & demeanours accordingly, they might have prepared men's minds to an hope of a through reconciliation whereas now, by using holiness itself for a mere instrument of practice▪ & to win men to their party, they cannot but drive the world into such a labyrinth of perplexities jealousies, as to suspect always their policies & despair of their honesties.  
28 A second thing whereby the Protestant part hath so greatly enlarged itself, hath been, their well educating of youth, specially in the principles of Christian Religion & piety, wherein their care and continuance, is even at this day in many places very worthily to be commended of all, and imitated by them, who hitherto have been more remiss in education of youth, & sowing in those pure minds, seed of virtue and truth, before the weeds of the world do rancour and change the soil, being by the consent of the most renowned wise men of the world, a point of incomparable force and moment, for the well ordering and governing of all kind of states, and for the making of Commonweals ever happy and flourishing for all education conforming to the laws and customs in being, doth uphold states in the terms wherein they are. The first seasoning with opinions & accustomances whatsoever; being of double force to any second persuasions and usages: not comprising herein those nimble & quick-silvered brains which itch after change, liking in their opinions, as in their garments, to be noted to be followers of outlandish fashions, as being of a more refined & sublimated temper, then that their Country conceits can satisfy. Here in then the Papacy were taken short by the protestants (even as in the for mere) and mightily overonne e●e they were aware thereof: notwithwanding, as difficulties do rather kindle then daunt the generous spirits, & add that to their diligence, which was wantting in their timelines, so these men have bestirred themselves so well therein, to follow the trace which their adversaries had led them, that in fine they have in some sort outgone them in it, & quoted them in all, one only excepted, that they respect not much instruction of their children of the meaner sort as being likely to sway little, whereas the Protestants seem in religious instruction indifferent to both. But for the rest, what is it they have omitted, what Colleges for their own, what Seminaries for strangers, to support and perpetuate their factions & practices in their enemy's dominions have they not instituted almost in all parts in Christendom, and maintain still at their own and their favourites charge? Is it a small brag that some of their side do make, that their English Seminaries abroad send forth more Priests, than our two Universities at home do Ministers? Behold all the jesuits the great Clerks, Politicians, and Orators of the world, who vaunt that the Church is the soul of the world, the Clergy of the Church, & they of the Clergy, do stoop also to this burden, and require it to be charged wholly upon their shoulders, in all places wheresoever they can plant their nests, their open free schools for all studies of humanity. To these flock the best wits, and principal men's sons in so great abundance, that wheresoever they settle, other Colleges become desolate, or frequented only by the base sort, or those of the heavier metal. And in truth such is their diligence and dexterity in instructing, that even the Protestants themselves (in some places) send their sons to their Schools, upon desire to have them prove excellent in those Arts they teach▪ besides, being in truth but a bait and allurement where●vnto to fasten their final and principal hook, they plant in their Scholars with great exactness and skill the roots of their Religion, nourish them with an extreme hatred and detestation of the adverse party. And to make them for ever intractable to any contrary persuasion, they work into them by great cunning an obstinacy of mind, and sturdy eagerness of spirit, to affect victory with all violence of wit in all controversies, than which no greater enemy to the finding out of truth which (being pure and single in his own nature) appeareth not but to a clear and sincere understanding whom neither the fumes of fiery passion do missed, nor sinister respects or preiudices sway down on either side, from the pitch of just integrity, neither think I any unfitter sort of men in the world to be employed in the contemplation and search of truth, than these hot men and heady, who being sudden in their actions, seize lightly on that which cometh first to hand, and being stiff in their resolution, are 〈…〉 sported with every prejudicate conceit, from one error 〈…〉 another, having neither the patience they should, to weigh all points diligently, nor the humility to yield up their own fancies to reason; neither yet that high honourable wisdom as to know, that truth being the mark they profess to strive at, in the overthrow of their errors, they attain the sum of their desires, and remain conquerors, by being conquered: yea sundry times have I seen two eager disputers lose the truth, and let it fall to the ground between them, which a calm minded hearer hath taken up and possessed.  
But these jesuits (presuming perhaps of the truth before hand, & labouring no other thing than the advancing of the party) endeavour (as I said) by all means, to imbrede that fierceness and obstinacy in their Scholars, as to make them ho●● prosecuters of their own opinions impatient and intractable of any contrary considerations, as having their eyes fixed upon nothing, but only victory in arguing, for which cause (to strengthen in them those passions by exercise) I have seen them in their bare Grammatical Disputations, inflame their Scholars with such earnestness and fierceness, as to seem to be at the point of flying each into others face, to the amazement of those strangers which had never seen the like before, but to their own great content and glory as appeared. Over and above all this, they have instituted in their schools a special fraternity, a congregation of our Lady, with certain select exercises and devotions, into which (it being a reputation to be admitted) it must cause (in congruity) the forwardest of their scholars, to fashion themselves by all means as to content their humours, and so to be received (in show) into a degree of more honourable estimation (but in truth) into no other than a double bond of assurance.  
I shall not need to insert here their singular diligence, and cunning, in enticing (〈◊〉) the most noble of their Scholars, oftentimes the most adorned with the graces of nature and industry (especially if they have any likelihood of wealthy succession)▪ to abandon their friends and to profess their Order (a thing daily practised in ●ll places by them) yea wheresoever they espy any one of rare spirit, they will be tempering with him, though he be the only son and solace of his father, whereby (though they draw on them much clamour and stomach, yet do they greatly thereby enhance the renown of their society, by furnishing it with so many persons of excellent quality or nobility, whom afterwards they employ with great judgement, as they find them fittest. Neither yet do they here make an end with this part, but this Order hath also their solemn catechizing in their Churches on Sundays and Holidays, for all youth that will come, or can be drawn unto it, that in no point the diligence of their adversaries may upbraid them: But this point of their Schools in instructing youth, is thought of such moment by men of wisdom and judgement (being taught so by very experience and trial thereof) that the planting of a good College of jesuits in any place, is esteemed the only sure way to replant that religion, and in time to eat out the contrary. This course hold they in all Germany, in Savoy, and in other places, and the excluding it from France is infinitely disliked; and that which makes them uncertain what will become of that kingdom.  
29 A third course that much advantageth the Protestants 
Offers of disputation.  proceeding, was their offers of disputations with their adversaries in all places, their iterated and importunate suits for public audience and judgement, a thing which greatly assured the multitude of their soundness whom they saw so confident in abiding the hazard of trial being that, whereof the want is the only prejudice of truth, and the plenty, the only discovery & ruin of falsehood: they standing in like terms, as a substantial just man, and a facing shifter, where●of the ones credit is greatest there, where he is best known, and the other where he is least, And by reason the Romanists were not so cunning then in the questions, nor so ready in their evasions & distinctions, as they are now grown, the effect of these disputations (whether received or refused) was in most places such as to draw with them an immediate alteration of religion. Hereto may be added those admirable pains, which those first reformers undertook and performed, in translating the Scriptures forthwith into all languages, in illustrating all parts thereof with ample Comments; in addressing Institutions of Christian religion; in deducing large histories of the Church, from the foundation to their present times; in furnishing all common places of divinity with abundance of matter; in exact discussing of all controversed questions: and lastly, in speedy reply to all contrary writings, the greatest part of these labours tending to the justifying of their own doctrine, & to the discovery of the corruption and rottenness of the other, that they might overbear these with the streams of the evidence of Reason, by the strength of whose power they complained, to be overborne. There is scarce any one of these kinds of writings, (save the translating of the Bible into vulgar language) wherein the Romanists have not already, or are not like very shortly, either to equal, or to exceed their adversaries in multitude of works, as being more of them that apply those studies in diligence, as having much more opportunity and leisure in exactness, as coming after them and reaping the fruits of their travels, though in truth they come short, and in ingeniosity, being Truth's companion: But as for the controversies themselves, the main matter of all other therein, their industry is at this day incomparable, having so altered the tenors of them, refined the states, subtilized the distinctions, sharpened their own proofs, devi●ed certain, either answers or evasions already resolved on, for all their adversaries arguments, allegations, and replies; yea they have differences to divert their strongest oppositions, interpretations to elude the plainest text in the world; circumstances and considerations, to enforce their own seeliest conjectures; yea reasons to put life into their deadest absurdities: as in particular a very fair case in school-learning they have, to justify their Pope's grants of many score thousand years pardon, that in affiance of this furniture, & of their promptness of speech and wit (which by continual exercise they aspire to perfect) they dare enter into combat even with the best of their oppugners, and will not doubt, either to entangle them so in the snares of their own quirks, or at leastwise so put off his blows, with the wards of their distinctions, that an ordinary Auditor shall never perceive them to be vanquished, and a favourable Auditory shall report them vanquishers. Whereupon now to be quit with their adveisaries, and by the very same Art to draw away the multitude, they cry mainly in all places for trial by disputations. This Campion did many years since with us. This, as I passed through Turricke did the Cardinal Andrea of Constance, and his jesuits with their Ministers, being by ancient right within his Diocese▪ not long before, the same was done to them of Geneva. And very lately the Capuchins renewed the challenge, in which parts I observe this discreet valour on both sides▪ that as the Romanists offer to dispute in the adversary's own Cities, which they know their Magistrates will never accord; so the Ministers in supply thereof, offer to go to them to their Cities, and that is now as much disliked on the other side, each part being conte●ted that the fire should be kindled rather in his enemy's house then in his own: yea there are not wanting some ●●●peters amongst them, that have been talking a long while (whether out of their own dreams, or out of the desires of greater persons, which I half conjecture) of a general solemn conference to be sought and procured, of the choice and chief every way of both the sides, under pretence of drawing matters to some tolerable composition: But in truth (as I conceived) rather to overbeare and disgrace the contrary cause, with their variety of engines, and strength of wit to we●ld them at all af●aies at pleasure, than upon sincerity of affection, or probability of any unity or peace to ensue; so great is their hope of having cure by the weapons, from whence heretofore they have had their wounds.  
30 A fourth way that mightily afflicts the Papacy, & consequently advanceth the reformation & her proceed, was a course, in my opinion, surely more excusable, 
A discovering ●he blots of their opposites.  where it cannot, that commendable where it can be spared: and that is the discovery of the private blows of an enemy further than the question in hand doth constrain, howsoever the Protestants (at leastwise some of them) by example of those ancient and reverend Orators ripped up to the quick, the lives of their adversaries in their particular actions, especially of their Popes, and of their Prelates, as also of their Votaries of all sorts, and sexes, wherein the store of matter was huge, the quality of it so enormous, loathsome, ugly, and matchable in all kind of villainy, to the veriest monsters of the Heathen, the persons defiled with it, of so imminent place in the steering and upholding of their Church; and lastly the truth thereof, so undoubted and certain, being drawn in times passed out of their own stories and Authors printed and approved amongst themselves to be true, for that present, being, of things done ordinarily for the most part, and openly in the sight of all men in Rome, and in Italy, (even as they continue perhaps not much better in many things at this day,) that publishing and presenting it to the prepared minds of the world, besides an extreme horror and detestation which it brought, did work in them this persuasion also, that it could not be but Hell gates had prevailed against that Sea, whose Governors, whose Prelates, whose Priests, whose Virgins, had lived most of them so long time in the ●awes of the Prince of Hell: Neither that it was probable they had been careful in preserving the doctrine of Christianity, who had been careless of all parts of Christian life and honesty. And as in their lives, so in their writings also, of doctrine and devotion, and in the actions concerning them; their deifying of the Pope with most impious flattery; their abusing of the Scriptures, with all irreverence and profaneness; their juggling with their Images, to make them sweat, weep, and bleed, to ra●e in the people a devotion towards them of Heathenish Idolatry, their forging of Miracles, in exorcisms, in cures, in apparition of souls for their lucre and advantage, their granting of Pardons for some prayers before Images, for many thousand years, their Pardon for sins to come, before they be committed; their shameless ridiculous tales of our Saviour, and the holy and blessed Saints, making marriages here upon earth, between him and some of our women Saints, with infinite store of childish vanity and sottish absurdity, (as to their adversaries) though themselves seemed (I must confess) to conceive otherwise of them, some of their graver Doctors both preaching them in Pulpit, and publishing them newly in elaborate and ample Histories; their promising to the use of certain devotions to our Lady, to have a sight of her sometime before their dying days, and much more, their falsifying and forgeries in all matters of antiquities, thrusting in, cutting out, suppressing truth, suborning feigned writings, as their turns did require; all which, though being objected in this sort to themselves, they had either their allegations of good intent, to defend, or at leastwise the commiseration of human infirmity to excuse them, yet were they not so washed away from the minds of the people, who could not conceive this house to have been guided by the Spirit of God, wherein they saw so many foul spirits of pride, and hypocrisy, of lying and deceiving, to have borne so great office so long, and without controlment. These things being perceived by the favourites of the Papacy, to have made so deep impression in the minds of all men, and to have greatly prejudiced them in their more plausible allegations, men's hearts being already taken up and fraught with detesting them, they cast about for revenge and redress in the same kind, not as the plain blunt Protestant; who finding all the matters made ready to his hands, bestowed no other cost, but the collecting and setting it in some order together; but like a supernatural Artisan, who in the sublimity of his refined wit, disdains to bring only mere Art to his work, unless he make also in some sort the very matter itself. So these men in blacking the lives and actions of the reformers, have partly devised matter of so notorious untruth, that in the better sort of their own Authors it happeneth to be checked: partly suborned other Post men to write their Legends, that afterwards they might cite them as approved Authors, and Histories, as is evident in the lives of Calvine, and Beza, written by their sworn enemy Botsacke, the twice banished and thrice runagate Friar, and Physician, for those names his often changes, and hard chances have given him. This man being requested by their side to write thus, is in all their writings alleged as Canonical. But in this kind, surely methinks the conditions of those parties are too unequal, for the Protestant whatsoever he hath either in impeaching his adversary, or clearing his own actions, unless he can directly prove out of the adversaries own writings, it is with them as nothing, and nobetter than as are testes domestici in the law, whereas the Romanist whatsoever he slanderously surmiseth, unless the other party be able, by direct proof to disproove it, (which being to justify in the negative, is always very difficult, and for the most part impossible) he triumphs as in a matter of truth▪ not to be gainsaid. And whosoever maketh this account, that in these kind of blows, even where the wound is cured, the scar lightly contieth. At this present they give it out, that they have a book in hand of the lives of the Ministers of England; wherein it were to be wished, that some, who by their dissoluteness and corruption, have given occasion of offence against the order itself, might by their exemplary punishment with all expiate the reproach, though at these men's hands who in disgrace of our Prelates, have cited Marprelate in their late books for a great Author and witness, & others of like and less indifferency & honesty: the innocent and culpable are to expect perhaps like measure. Then for the measure and doctrine of the Protestants, the books of some of our own Countrymen, besides many other, are famous, who have taken a toil (how meritorious God knoweth) surely very laborious, out of infinite huge Volumes which that part hath written, to pick out whatsoever (especially severed from the rest) may seem to be either absurdlly, or falsely, or ●ondly, or scandalously, or dishonestly, or passionately, or sluttishly, conceived or written: for even in that kind, having the advantage of the homely phrase of our country, and namely in those times they have not spared, and these with their crossness; and contradictions one of another s●t cunningly together, they present to the view of the world, & demand whether it be likely that these men should have been chosen extraordinarily by God, to be the reformers of the church, & treasurers of his truth, who besides their virious lives, & hateful conditions; in their more sober thoughts, and very doctrine itself, were possessed with so fantastical, so wild, so contrary, so furious, so maledicent, and so slovenly spirits, wherein, as they do in some sort imitate their adversaries, so yet with this difference, that the one hath objected that which either (as being the approved doctrine of their church) was with such public authority delivered to the people, or else, which was so usual amongst their Canonists and Clergy, as might plead uncontrolled custom to show it lawful, whereas the other part finding very small store of that nature, have run for supply to every particular man's writings, wherein so huge a multitude of authors and works as this age over-rancke therein, and men's fingers ever itching have produced, it had been surely a great miracle, if they had not found matter enough, either worthy to be blamed, or easy to be deprav●d in their enemy's writings: One of the most renowned Sages and Fathers of the Ancients having found so much to condemn and retract in his own. And if the Protestants should list to requite them in that kind, they might perhaps find stuff enough (I will not say to lad an Argosy) but to overlade any man's wit in the world to reply unto. But verily these courses are base and beggarly even when singleness of mind and truth doth concur with them: and far unworthy of an ingenious & noble spirit, which soareth up to the highest and purest paths of verity, disdaining to stand raking in these puddles of obscurity, unworthy of that charitable and virtuous mind which striveth by doing good to all, to attain to the high honour of being an immitator of God, who is sorry of those very faults, which are in his enemies, & discloses them no further than is necessary, either for defence of impugned truth, or for warning to the world to avoid the contagion of the disease, or seducements by the deceased. But if to this baseness of discoveries other injustice be also added, if malice do prefer them, if sleight increase them, if falsehood and slaughter ●aint them▪ then do they not only abuse men from the dignity of their nature, but even associate them with the foul enemy and calumniator thereof, whose name is the slanderous accuser of his brethren. I suppose there was never man so patiented in the world (that pattern of all perfection, our Saviour Christ excepted) but if a man should heap together all the choleric speeches, all the wayward actions that ever scaped from him in his life, and present them in one view all continuate together (as is the fashion of some men) it would represent him for a furious and raving bedlam, whom displaying all his life in the same tenor it was led, the whole world might well count of his staidness, & admire him for his moderation & magnanimity. They that observe nothing in wisemen of virtue, but their fault▪ and imperfections (from which neither the wisest nor perfectest have been free,) what do they but propose them as matter of scorn, and abhorring whom God hath as it were marked out for patterns of honour to imitate? Yea this age hath brought out those cursed and these accursed wits, who by culling out the errors and shows of error, by formalizing the contrarieties, misinterpreating the ambiguities, entangling the obscurities, which in the most renowned Authors for human wisdom that were ever in the world, their envious and maliciously fine brains could search (imitating him therein, who by his Labours of the very same nature, though with less and no ground at all against the sacred Bible, purchased the infamous name of the enemy of Christianity) have done that hurt unto the studies of learning, which nothing but the utter extinguishing of their unlearned works can expiate.  
31 The last means I will hear speak of, were used in setting forward this reformation of religion, was the deligent compiling the histories of those times and actions, and especially the martyrology of such as rendered by their deaths, a testimony of that truth which was persecuted in them: These memories and stories presenting generally to the world, the singleness and innocency on the one part, the integrity of their lives, the simplicity of their devises, the zeal of their desires, their constancy in temptations, their toleration in torments, their magnanimity, & celestially inspired courage and comfort in their very agonies and death, yielding their bodies with all patience to the furious flames, and their souls with joy to the hands of him that made them. On the other side, representing a serpentine generation wholly, made of fraud, policies, and practices, men lovers of the world, and haters of truth and godliness, fighters against the light, protectors of darkness, persecutors of marriage, and patrons of brothels, abnegators and dispensers against the laws of God, but tyrannous importunators, and exactors of their own: men false in their promises, treacherous in their pretences, barbarous in their executions, breathing nothing but cruelty fire and sword against men that never offended them, save in their desire to amend them, which they could not endure (and much of this, set out in sundry places with pictures, to imprint thereby a more lively sense of commiseration of the one part, and detestation of the other) bred in men's minds a strong conceit, that on the one side Truth and innocency was persecuted, on the other violence and deceit persecuting, that the one part, contrary to all human probability, being nourished with the only dew of divine benediction, flourished in the flames, & as camomile, spread abroad, being troad under feet, the other, notwithstanding all human and infernal devises, yet cursed from above, faded, not unlike to come to ruin. The Papacy being nettled extremely with these proceed, hath resolved to give over the kindling any more of those unfortunate fires (save in some secure places, to maintain the usage of that law) the ashes of which they have perceived to have been the seed of their adversaries, but rather by secret making men away in their Inquisitions▪ and by general massacres to extinguish them. Then to affront them in the same kind of Martyro●ogies and Histories they have first caused stories to be written also in their favour. making in them a representation of authority, and justice proceeding by politic execution of Law, in the necessary defence of God Church, and of all Catholic States and Princes, against a company of base rebels, of vow-breaking-Friars, of Church-robbing politicians, & Church-raizng soldiers, of infected, and infecting, both Schismatics and heretics, innovators of orders, underminers of government, troublers of states, over-turners of Christendom; against whom, if they have not yet sufficiently prevailed, it is to be attributed only to the force of popular fury, and not to any strength and goodness of their cause, much less to any celestial and divine protection. Next for Martirologies, they have England for their field to triumph in, the proceed wherein against their late Papists and complices, they aggravate to the height of Nero's and Dioclesian's persecutions, and the sufferers of their side, both in merits of cause, in extremity of torments, & in constancy and patience to the renowned Martyrs of that Heroical Church age, whereof (besides sundry other books) they have published a great volume lately to the world in Italian, compiled with great industry, approved by authority; yea some of their books also with pictures illustrated: in sum, wanting nothing save only truth and sincerity. An easy thing it is without growing to the extreme impudence of palpable lying, by leaving out the bad on the one side, and the good on the other, by enforcing and flourishing all circumstances and accidents which are in our favour and by elevating and disgracing of all the contrary, by sprinkeling the terms of honour wholly on the one part, and of hatred and ignomy on the other, to make their tale turn which way shall please the teller. But writers of histories should know, that there is a difference between their profession and the practice of advocates, pleading contrary at the bar, where the wisdom of the judge, picks the truth out of both sides, which is entire perhaps in neither.  
32 And verily in this kind, both the Protestants and Papists seem generally in the greatest part of their stories, to be both too blame, though both not equally, having by their passionate reports much wronged the truth, abused this present age, and prejudiced posterity: insomuch, that the only remedy now seeming to remain, is to read indifferently the stories on both parts, to count them as advocates and to play the judge between them. But partiality seemeth to be the chief fault of the Protestant, love & dislike sometimes dazzling his eyes, drawing him from an Historiographers into an Orator's profession, though some of them have carried themselves therein with commendable sincerity, even as some also of the other part have discharged themselves nobly. But surely the Priests and Friars which have written in that kind, have strangely behaved themselves, and disclosed how small reckoning they make of truth in any thing, their devising, their forging, their facing, their piecing, their adding, their paring, having brought, not only their modesty, but their wits also in question, whether they forget not what it was they undertook to write, a work of story, or of poetry rather, which Arts though like yet (ought they to know) are different. And for these Martyrologies, to speak of England as they do, (let the truth of Religion be indifferent on whether side) unless difference be made between men, who suffer for their consciences only, their very adversaries having no other crime to object against them, and those who either in their own particular persons, or at least wise in their directors, whom they have chosen to follow, and vowed to obey, are convinced to have attempted against the Prince and state, and to have practised the alteration and ruin of both. If no difference be to be made between these men's sufferings, let all things be a like, let the persecuting of the sheep and the hunting of wolves be one. But enough, and too much perhaps of these comparisons and imitations.  
33 I will join only hereto their policy of news, 
Inventing of false n●we●,  for some kind of resemblance it hath with the former. It could not (I must confess) settle in my conceit of a long time, that men of their wisdom, so well furnished with better means, should descend to that base & vain devise of inventing and spreading false news in their favour, being an odious kind of abusing the world; and such also as in the end, being choked with the truth, redounds to the deep disgrace and discredit of the Authors, being accounted no other than the trick of a bankrupt. Howbeit, finding by experience that this is frequent amongst them in other places: at Rome above all other, it was almost their ordinary practice; from whence, during the time of my abode in Italy (besides other less memorabl) there came first solemn news that the patriarchs of Alexandria with all the great Church of Africa had by their Ambassadors submitted & reconciled themselves to the Pope, and received from his holiness absolution and benediction, there being no such matter as I learned afterwards of a great Bishop, who hath particular acquaintance and intelligence with that Patriarch. Another time that the King of Scots amongst many acts worthy a Christian Prince, had chased away the Ministers, yea and executed two of them, confiscating their goods, and bestowing them upon the Catholics, which news was soon after recalled from the same place. Not long after that, Beza the arch-heretic, and Calvines' successor, drawing towards his death, had in full Senate at Geneva, recanted his religion, exhorting them, that if they had care to save their souls, to seek reconciliation with the Catholic Church, and to send for the jesuits to instruct them. Whereupon, both himself by special commission from the Pope, was absolved by the Bishop of Geneva ere he died, and the City had sent an embassage of submission: the beginning of which news it was my chance to hear, as being whispered among the jesuits two months before it broke out. But when once it was advertised so solemnly from Rome, it ran over all Christendom, and in Italy was so verily believed to be true, that their were, as is said, who road on very purpose to see those Ambassadors of Geneva, yet invisible. And to make up the full measure of that worthy policy, being afterwards at Lions and understanding that the Post of Rome, who then passed by for Spain, gave confidently out, that he left the Queen of England's Ambassadors at Rome, making great instance for agreement and amity with his holiness, and to have her recatholised and absolved, news, as to me then seemed cut out purposely for Spain, & to comfort their favourers & affected adherents: finding also by the observation and judgement of some wise men, that the jesuits are the Masters of that mint, and that all the coins are of their stamp, yea, and that the glorious news of the miraculous proceed of the Fathers of their society in converting the Indies, are not thought much truer. And lastly, perceiving that the doctrine of all that fide in the cases of conscience, making it lawful for them to equivocate with their adversaries in their answers, though give upon their ●athes, whensoever their lives or liberties are touched; yet the jesuits are noted by some of their own friends to be too hardy equivocatory, and their equivocations too hard, whereof they give this example of a jesuite, who instructed, a maid servant in England, That if she were examined whether she knew of any Priests resorting to her masters house, she shoul● swear (if she were put to it) that she knew not of any, which she might do lawfully with this secret intent, that she knew not of any, (viz. with purpose to disclose them.) Though others defend this as a point of allowable wisdom, all these things considered, it hath made me to mitigate my former imagination, and to deem it not impossible, that this over politic & too wise order, may reach a note higher than our gross conceits, who think Honesty the best policy, and Truth the only durable armour of proof, and may find by their refined observations of experience, that news make their impression upon their first reporting, that then if they be good, they greatly raise up the spirit, and confirm the mind, especially of the vulgar sort, who easily believe all that their betters tell them: and afterwards when they hap to be controlled, men's spirits being cold, or not so sensible as before, they either little regard it, or impute it to common errors & uncertainty of things, yea and that the good news cometh to many men's ears, who never heard of the check it hath, and at leastwise it may serve their turn for some present exploit, as Merchants do with their news, (whether imitators or imitated of these men, I know not) who finding some difficulty in accommodating their affairs, have in use to forge letters, or otherwise raise bruits, either of some good success in their Prince's actions, (as our men they say at Constantinople) or of some great alterations in some kind of merchandise, (as certain not long since have done at Paris) which may serve for that present instant to expediate their business; yet surely methinks these learned fathers should consider that though lying be held for a necessary fault in Merchants, (if any fault be necessary, which for my part I hold not) yet it cannot be admitted for an allowable policy in Divines, being the offspring of that arch-enemy, both of the Deity and Divinity: and if a dead fly do vitiate a whole box of sweet ointment, so a little folly may blemish greatly a very wise man, and some falsehood discredit the delivery of much truth. Then verily I crave leave at their hands, of advancing them in the rest of their supersuttle inventions, I arrange this amongst the poor policies of the hospital of the desperate.  
Now these being weapons wherewith they fight against their adversary, they whet them, by framing an utter breach or separation in all religious duties between their party and their opposites, not only in such points as wherein they descent, (which is the part of all men which list not to wound their own consciences,) neither yet in all ecclesiastical duties alone, (which sundry other Churches, ancient and modern, have done, and still do,) as thinkking that the good things which heretics retain, are vitiated by those bad, wherewith either their faiths or functions are stained, though perhaps there be a dram more of zeal than charity, in the ingredience of that Canon, unless the heresy be capital and directly opposite to the glory of God, or honour of our Saviour. But the Church of Rome at this day hath strained that string, as to stretch it out to all divine duties whatsoever, though not Ecclesiastical, but performed by private persons, and in several, as occasion serves; neither to such only as faith hath revealed to us Christians, but even those which the light of Nature hath taught all men in the world; yea, Pagans and Barbarians as yielding glory to God, imploring his aid and favour▪ tendering him thanks for benefits, in none of which actions may they join with the Protestants, being so commanded by the sovereign Lord of their Church. If a Protestant begin to settle himself to pray, with that prayer which the lips of our Saviour hath sanctified and taught, it is now so polluted by passing through his lips, that a Roman Catholic may not stay in the room, if he use that voice which all the creatures of God in their several languages do daily sound forth and say; God be praised; or, Glory be to the Highest. The Romanist alone is silent, and may not join his assent, if at meat he yield thanks unto God for his blessings, be it but with Deo gratias, (which was ever in Augustine's mouth though this chaseth not a Catholic from his dinner, (which were to his loss,) yet must he forbear his Amen unto it.  
On the contrary side, some Roman Catholics will not say grace, though be at his own Table, when a Protestant is present, thinking it better to leave GOD unserved, then that a Protestant join in serving him, though the Custom of giving GOD thanks at meals, is generally amongst these Catholics grown clean out of use both in France and Italy, for aught I could see: as not knowing that the Pope's pardon is gained by the use of grace in cups. In sum, they are more averse to join with a Protestant in doing honour to GOD, than the very bruit beasts, if beasts by proper speech could sound forth God's praise, as the legends of their Saints in their favour do fancy, wherein how religiously they have proceeded for the amplifying and advancing of God's service, that GOD doth know: how politicly for the strengthening of their own part amongst their enemies, that the world may know by these few considerations; First by this course that they keep their lay followers in a perpetual dark ignorance of the Protestants faith and religion, having made it an high degree of deadly sin, either to read their books, or to hear their Sermons, or to be present at their Service, or any way to communicate with them in religious duties whatsoever. Whereby, whatsoever their lay multitude conceiveth of the reformed religion; or of the points of doctrine which therein are taught, is that only which the enemies thereof do tell them, who reports according to the disease of their own stomachs, and as I may represent it, in most odious and hideous form to the hearers.  
So that now no more marvel (which experience doth teach,) that seldom or never a lay Catholic can be found, that conceiveth rightly of any (almost) of the Protestants propositions, sith seldom or never was Roman Priest yet to be shown, that hath not falsified and depraved them utterly in reporting them. Whereas, if those lay Catholics should once open their cares to know the Protestants opinions from themselves, that hold them (which was the use of the old world in their ingenious simplicity and singleness of proceeding) they would not be found, either so absurd perhaps, but that a reasonable, or so wicked, but that a religious mind might embrace them.  
Then secondly▪ by this means they do knit their own fact on more fast together, and unite them more sound to the head thereof the Pope, sith no service of God, but in his communion, and with him no conjunction without utter separation and estranging from his enemies, whereas if his party should but join with the Protestants in such service of GOD, as are allowed by both, this concurring with them in some actions, might abate that utter dislike which they have of their whole way, yea and happily taking a liking of them in some things, they might be drawn still by degrees to other; and finally, step away or grow cold in their first affections. For factions, as by disparity of mind they are raised: so by strangeness they are continued and grown mortal; whereas on the other side, they are slaked by intercourse, by parley they are reconciled, by familiarity extingushed. A memorable example of the virtue of this policy our own Country in these latter times hath yielded, wherein the first reformation under King Edward, the Prelate's and Clergy having before discarded the Pope, did easily join with the Protestants, though not in their opinions, yet in the public service of God in the Churches, being indifferently composed, and offensive to neither part. And but that the Pope soon after upon extraordinary cause, was restored to his former authority by Queen Mary, that faction had in likelihood been long since ended. But after that the Pope was once again admitted, and had liberty to temper with his party at pleasure, in the second reformation by her Majesty, not a Bishop of his could be persuaded to come to our Churches but choosing rather loss of living; and the greatest part also of Recusants, which have since been continued by their followers to this day. Notwithstanding our service be less offensive to them, then in King Edward's, and in no part opposite to any point of their belief. But so it seemed good to their politic Governors, by this utter breach and alienation, to preserve and perpetuate the remains of their party, and that in the midst of their more potent adversaries, though armed with Laws, quickened with suspicions, yea exasperated by their often dangerous practices against them.  
Now in that they proceed also a step further, and inhibit their party, not only the reading of the Protestants books, and repair to their Churches, but also joining with them in any service of God, in whomsoever, or in how lawful sort soever performed, thereby do they engender in them an extreme hatred, and bitter detestation of their opposites. For if the Protestants, by reason of their enmity with the Pope, and swerving from his way, do stand in terms of so deep disfavour with God, that the prayer itself do turn into sin; that their humble thanks givings are abominable presumptions; that to join with them in praising the Creator of the world, is no better than treason to his Majesty: then surely, woe worth the hour wherein they were borne, and blessed be that hand that shall work their bane and ruin. Then no stay or doubt, but what the Pope directs, that boldly to be executed against these enemies of God: And this have they set up as a Crown, and accomplishment, to the rest of their practices against their adversaries: for now is their faction, not only kept on foot, and continually maintained without decay▪ but inflamed also with such hatred of their enemies▪ that they are ready to any violence, that opportunity shall devise. For as diversities of judgements do grow ●nto dislikes, and dislikes by oppositions do issue into factions; so hatred in factions doth break out into seditions▪ and attend only advantage to use force against these they hate: whereas on the contrary side the Protestants (being not armed, nor quickened up with such stings of hatred as his adversaries) is more cold and careless in his opposite desires, and exceeding inferior in all strong attempts and practices. But certainly howsoever in this crafty kind of policy, which hath too much bewitched the wits of this age, and doth too much tyrannize over that ancient true wisdom, wherewith the world in foretimes was more happily governed, these courses may seem very fine and effectual for the achieving of that end whereto they are framed; yet hard (I suppose) now it would be to be shown, how they can stand with the principles and rules of that Religion, whose rote is Truth, whose branches are Charity, whose fruits are good deeds, extending and ever offering themselves with cheerfulness unto all men, to the encouraging of friends, and reclaiming of enemies, to the amending of the worse, and the accomplishing of the better and noble minds, in the high virtuousness thereof, doth carry itself in all actions, with such moderation, and measure, as that it neither hate his enemy so much in regard of his wickedness, but loves that whatsoever in him hath resemblance of virtue; neither yet fear him, so much for his mischievous desires, as to rage and grow fierce upon him in his weakness, but contenteth itself so farforth only to repress him, as may dis-inable him thence forwards from doing hurt unto others, how much more may it seem reasonable, that the heavenly affections of a Christian rejoice for whatsoever goodness appeareth in any man, as finding there some lineaments of his Creator's Image, detest nothing but impiety and wickedness the worlds dishonour.  
And lastly, in the true and serious worshipping of God, do join when occasion offers, with whatsoever of his creatures in united affections, to cheer up his service, where scandal (by show of approving that which is evil in them) doth not hinder: But the world in the besenesse of his metal, now in the last and woo●st, and in the weakness of his old and decayed years, laying the ground of all his policy, in fear and jealousy issuing from a certain consciousness of his own worthlessness, and for want of virtue, holdeth this course for the best, which works with the greatest advantage, and most secret, against those which either are, or in time may become concurrants or enemies, letting pass with some terms of spiritual commendations, those ancient & more noble ways, which being derived from the high 
Policy whereby the Papacy doth exclude the sound of reformed religion.  governor of both the worlds: and having their ground in the immovable principles of true wisdom & virtue, must needs be of great force, both for the upholding and effecting of all worthy and honourable desires, were 
Spanish inquisition.  there afirme mind to pursue them, and a strong arm to wield them; both which to this weak world are wanting 
Council of Trent  but of this matter sufficient.  
It is now time to come to the view of those means which are used by the Papacy, for excluding of all access and sound of Religion, in those places where their power remaineth yet unabridged: wherein (as in other like cases before) I will lightly pass over that which is apparent to all eyes: and that is, what service their Inquisition doth therein, being in truth, the principal and most forcible engine in accomplishing that work, and such as wheresoever it, and the coundell of Trent can be thoroughly planted and established, (as in Spain and all Italy, saving only in the kingdomed of Naples, where the tyranny of Spain is an Inquisition sufficient (as the Inquisition is also of the two, the better) that it doth rid than of fear, and their adversaries of hope, of letting in the reformation unless perhaps in some universal deluge of war, when the execution of laws and such searchers shall be forced to cease. For this Inquisition being committed lighthly to the most zealous, industrious, and rigorous Frias that can be found in all places, who leave no one rule thereof unpractised, taking hold of men for the least suspicion of Heresy, or of affinity, or commerce with Heretics that may be, as the bare reproving sometimes the lives of the Clergy, or having any Book or edition prohibited (though yet with some regard of the nature and quality of the persons seeing many men make those octions suspicious, which otherwise would not make the man) discovering men, by the pressing of all men's consciences, whom they charge under an high degree of damnation (being a case reserved, and wherein not any under a Bishop or Archbishop can absolve them) as I have seen in their printed instructions at Sierra, to apeach even their nearest and dearest friends if they knew, or did but suspect them to be culpable therein proceeding against the detected, with such secrecy, and severity, as that first they shall never have notice of their accusers, but shall be urged to reveal their very thoughts, and affections: Secondly, if by long inquiry they be taken tardy in any one thing delivered in their opinions, or can be convicted thereof by any two witnesses, they are cast and gone.  
Thirdly, if nothing fall out to be proved against them, yet will they hold them in their holy house divers years, sometimes in great anguish and misery, for a terror to other, and for their exact trial. And lastly, besides all other tortures and scorns, if one be touched the second time, nothing but death without remission. This doth so sweep all the quarters and corners where it walks, that as a shearing wind it killeth all in the bud, no wit nor provision being possible to avoid it, yea, is such a bridle to the very freedom of mind, and liberty of speech which they of their own way would otherwise use, That many of their Catholics elsewhere who would die perhaps if need so were, for their religion, yet abhor the very mention and name of the Inquisition, as being the greatest slavery, that ever the world hath tasted: and that the Venetians themselves could never yet be brought to admit in other sort, then with certain very favourable exceptions for strangers (who are generally also in Italy little searched into their consciences, by reason of the gain that comes by their repair, but may pass well enough if they give no scandal) and with retaining the sovereign sway thereof in their own hands at all times. But to let the rack of men's souls thus rest as an invention, fit for the religion of Antiochus, and Domitian, or Mahomet's Alcheron, than for the clemency of his Gospel, who was Prince of mildness and mercy, it is a wonderful thing to see what curious order & diligence they use, to suffer nothing to be done or sprung up among themselves which may any way give footing to the Religion they so much 
Suppressing the holy Scriptures.  hate: And first for the scriptures, Forsomuch as the reformation seemeth grounded upon them, having striven to square it out wholly by that rule, as far forth as their understanding and wits could wade. And forasmuch as ●● is a thing which the Romanistes deny not, That a great part of their Religion hath other foundation, which seemeth in many points to swerve much, yea and plainly to cross the scriptures, as an ordinare Reader by his mere natural wit, not fashioned by their distinctions, nor directed by their glosses would expound it. For this cause though heretofore to stop their adversaries mouths, always yelping and crying with hateful sounds. That they would not suffer the poor people to hear GOD speak to them, that they starved and murdered their souls in ignorance, robbing them of the bread of life, the voice of Christ, and cramming and choking them with their empty superstitions, their poisoned Idolatries. That their scriptures would show them that their worshipping of Images was ever with threats prohibited in the law of God: That their praying in unknown languages, and by tale▪ is plainly reproved, their invocating and praying to saints, a matter there never heard of, that their ceremonies were vanities, their traffic for souls very sacrilege, their Miracles delusions, their indulgences blasphemies, that it would discover their Church to be the body strangely infected and polluted with foul and pestilent diseases, And finally, that their not erring and incon●oleable Lord of Rome was no other than that imperious bewitching Lady of Babylon: though, I say, as well to beat back these irksome outcries of their adversaries, as also to give some content & satisfaction to their own, that they might not think them so terrible afraid of the Bible, they were contented to let it be translated by some of their favourers into the vulgar, as also some number of Copies thereof to be saleable for a while at the beginning. Yet since having huisht that former clamour and taken better provision for the establishing of their affatres, they have called all vulgar Bibles straightly in again (yea the very Psalms of David, which their factious Preacher Bishop Pa●gorola translated) as doubting else the unavaleablenesse of those former inconveniences.  
To let pass these hard conceits which they breed in the multitude, as touching the inextricable obscurity of the scriptures, the easiness to mistake it, the dangerousness to err by it, having raised in some places such base and blasphemous proverbs concerning it, I would rather themselves would extinguish them, than that I list to give life by recording them in this place, neither yet in their very sermons, though they preach always in a manner of the Gospel of the day, do they read or any way recite the text, but discourse only on such points of it as they think fittest, without more solemnity, that no sound of Scripture may possess the people, although the use in France be otherwise for that matter, yea some parts of Scripture, as Saint Paul's Epistles they are so jealous of, and think so dangerous, that (as I have heard credible report, (for myself did not see it) some of their jesuits of late in Italy in solemn Sermons, and other their favourites elsewhere in private communication commending between them Saint Peter for a worthy spirit, have censured Saint Paul for a hot headed person, who was so transported with his pangs of zeal and eagerness beyond all compass in most of his disputes, That there was no great reckoning to be made of his Assertions, yea he was dangerous to read, as savouring of heresy in some places, and better perhaps he had never written▪ Agreeably to which I heard other of their Catholics deliver, that it hath been heretofore very seriously consulted among them, to have censured by some means, and reform the Epistles of Saint Paul, though for my own part, I must confess I cannot believe this point, as being an attempt too abominable and blasphemous, and for these times too desperate a scandal. But howsoever, he of all other is least beholding to them, whom of mine own knowledge and hearing some of them teach in the pulpit, not to have been secure of his preaching, but by conference with Saint Peter, nor that he durst publish his Epistles, till Saint Peter had allowed them, these orders they have taken to avoid danger from the written word, advancing in steed thereof, the amplitude, the sufficiency, and unfallible certainty of GOD'S Oracles and words not written, but delivered by the custody of his holy Church by speech only, which Church hath delivered her mind in the Council of Trent, whereto all those that are solemnly made Doctors in Italy must subscribe.  
35 And as in the foundation of the Reformation which is the Scriptures, so much more in the edifice itself, the doctrine and opinions they beat away all sound and echo of them, being not lawful there to allege them, no not to glance at them, nor to argue & dispute of them, no not to refute them: In ordinary matter of come munication to talk of matters of religion is odious and suspicious, but to enter into any reasoning, though for Argument sake, without other scandal, is prohibited and dangerous Yea it was once my fortune to be half threatened for no other fault than for debating with a jew, and upholding the truth of Christianity against him, so unlawful are all disputes of Religion whatsoever: And the Friars even in France, in their endeavours to convert other, will say it is lawful to persuade them, but not to dispute with them. But in Italy this is much more exactly observed, wherein their Divinity disputations in their Universities or Colleges (as some such disputations they have, but very sleight and unfrequent) I could not perceive that ever they debated any question at this day controversed otherwise than as ever among themselves, and between the Schoolmen. And which was more strange to me till I sounded the reason, in no place of Italy where ever I came, could I have any of their Preachers treat of any point in question between them and the Protestants save only at Padua, where, in respect there are always divers hundredth of strangers of the adverse part, it is otherwise practised. But in all other places, for aught I could perceive, either they mention now no adversaries, or if they do (which is very seldom) yet do they not unfold their opinions and arguments, but either from other chimeras of their own in steed of them, & so flourish about or two in canvasing their own shadows, as is usual in France also, or else dispatch them away with certain general reproaches, and then (as I have heard) some of them will formally conclude. But what do I name Heretics in an assembly of Catholics? Howbeit they are not so forgetful and careless of their cross neighbours, as this course might seem at the first blush to import; but those offices they do, they do them to the best purpose, teaching the people sometime in pulpit, much more in private conference, and in their confession, that the Lutherans and Calvinists, are blasphemers of God, and of all his Saints; and above all other, that they despise and vilify our Lady, saying plainly, she was no better than one of their own wives. That they abolish the Church Sacraments, the only means of salvation, that where ever they come, they either raze or rob Churches, & make stables of them, that in England they have neither Churches, nor any form of religion, nor serve God any way, that the English Nation (since their falling away from their Church) is grown so barbarous, that their students are very Cannibals, and eat young children, and that there is no kind of villainy, which is not currant amongst them. And that above all other places, Geneva is a very professed Sanctuary of Rogerie, giving harbour to all the runagates, traitors, rebels, and wicked persons of all other Countries: By which speech, very generally in Italy, spread and believed, some memorable accidents have at some times happened, Sundry of their prigging and lose Friars, hearing Geneva to be a place of good fellowship (and thinking the worse pranks they played with their own, ere they came there, to find the better welcome at their coming) have rob their Convents of their Church-plate, & repository, and brought away the booty in triumph to Geneva, 
Custom of Geneva.  under the colour of being reform in their Religion, where their advancement hath been strait to the Gibbet for their labour; a reward unexpected, and such as caused them to complain pitifully of their wrong information. For such is the extraordinary severity of that City, as to punish crimes committed without their estate, with no less rigour, then as if they had been done amongst them. And not many years since, it was the lot of a Spanish Gallant, who stood upon his State, and carried a Mint about him, to repair thither to have stamps made him for the coining of Pistolets. His defence was, that he understood that their City was free, & gave receipt to all offenders: but withal (said they) when they were come they punished their offences; a distinction which the poor Gentleman never before studied, & the learning of it than cost him no less than his headpiece. And as by those kinds of slanders, so also to harden men's minds, against them, they will tell of strange miracles have befallen them; a point wherewith the Pulpits of France do also ring daily, where in the siege of Paris, they were grown to that audaciousness, as to persuade the people there (who generally believed it) that the thunder of the Pope's excommunications had so blasted the Heretics, that their faces were grown all black & ugly as Devils, their eyes & looks ghastly, their breaths noisome and pestilent, much like to the Servide Madon & Bologna, whom I heard in Pulpit among a multude of modern miracles, which had fallen out to their punishments who were excommunicated (the continuing wherein a year without seeking absolution, incurreth suspicion of heresy) tell this also of an heretical gentleman of Polonia, who talking at a solemn dinner against the Pope, the bread of his trencher grew black as ink, & upon his repentance it returned to his former whiteness. A thing happened but lately, & reported by the Popish Ambassadors to a Cardinal, by the Cardinal to a Bishop, by this Bishop to this Friar, an imitation perhaps of that renowned miracle of eating tables for hunger, threatened by that winged Prophetess, with like deduction of credit, Quae Phaebo pater omnipotens mihi Phoebus Apollo Praedixit vobis furiarum ego maxima pando: And these things are in steed of refuting the Protestants religion, which are not in vain: for the vulgar sort of people, who believed (as they say) God and Pope, think all Gospel that their Friars tell them. And I have heard some conjecture at others to be Lutherans, only by reason that they were so monstrous blasphemers as they were; but all are not of that stamp, those Gentlemen and others that have traveled abroad, & those also at home, that are not paisionately blind, but discreet and inquisitive of the truth of all things, howsoever dissenting from them, yet have no such conceit of the Protestants opinions or actions. But the most strange thing (as to me it seemeth) of all other; is, that those principal writers, who have employed themselves wholly in refuting from point to point the Protestants doctrine, & arguments, are so rare in Italy, as by ordinary inquiry (I believe) are not to be found. The controversy of Cardinal Bellarmine, I sought for in Venice in all places, neither that, nor Gregory of Valenza, nor any of such quality, could I ever in any shop in Italy set eye on, but in stead of them, an infinite of mere invectives and declamations, which made me entertain this suspicious conjecture, that it might be their care, that no part of the Protestants positions and allegations should be known, they were so exact, as to make discurrent in some, even those very books, which were constrained to recite them, that they might refute them in such wise, as not to suffer them to be commonly saleable, but only to such, & in such places, as the superiors shall think meet: but the truth of this conjecture I leave to further inquiry. The conclusion is this, no sound of the reformed religion, either stirring in Italy, or by any human wit now possible to be raised, for to bring in from foreign places any heretical writing, though it were without malice, it were two years strait imprisonment (as they say) if he scaped so. So far are they from their adversaries, either simplicity, if their cause be bad, or honesty, if good, who not only in the most of their Replies, print both together, to give means of indifferency in judging to the Reader, but even permit their adversaries (yet unanswered) disputers to run current among them, so they be in the Latin, and not purposely written (as some are) misdrawing the multitude. It remained now to restrain the Italians from going abroad to foreign Countries where those contagious sounds and sights might infect them. Herein the nature of the Italian doth supply, who wonders at us Englishmen that come traveling so far thither, himself having no humour to stir one foot abroad. And indeed little need, considering how all nations in Christendom do flock to him, but not so for merchants, these fly abroad in exceeding abundance to all places, and in wealth (where ever they come) overtop all other, such is their skill, their wit, their industry, their parsimo nigh. Behold then this late Pope's exploit in that point, he hath, by his painted Bull, under pain of excommunication, forbidden them all repair for traffic to heretical countries, whereupon some (as I hear) are retired from England and other in other places are said to have importunated & obtained some out chapel to have their Mass in. Thus hath every gap his bush, each suspicion his prevention.  
36 One thing only remaineth as a garland to all the rest: It were a hard state and tyrannical, where the Superiors should assume to themselves all licence of doing, and not permit the inferiors, at least wise, liberty of speaking, which is but a slender revenge for so great a wrong as ill government; yet such as by giving vent to the boiling fumes of ha tread, doth evaporate and aslake that heat which otherwise would flame out into fire and mischief. For which cause the wisest men have been always pleased, that losers should have their words. And they that endeavoured to bridle men's tongues by sharp laws (whom they rather should have charmed and held in tune by their own integrity) have learned that things violent are seldom permanent, that the enjoying of too much patience, makes men break into madness. Yea, I have heard men of great experience and judgement say, that the best way to reconcile country enmities is, to let the good men chide a while hearty together, & their stomachs once being disgorged, a peaceable motion will find good audience, so necessary are these evaporations to the mind of the multitude, which may serve for a justification of the wisdom of the Papacy in those former free times when they; and others said, what each humour advised. But little was it then feared which since hath followed, little was it then imagined, that the time should come, when the world awakened by the cries of a Friar, should look so broadely about, and search so narrowly all the sleights and hid corners of the Papacy▪ what their doctrine had been, what their lives, what their scopes, what their practices. Not so many of the consecrated Divines, patrons of the Roman state, with thousands of prayers & vows daily adored: nor so many of their enshrined and myracle-woorking-Images, to whom such store of lamps and pure candles were daily burning, so much incense perfumed, so long journeys to pilgrimage performed, such abundance of gifts and glad offerings presented, One whom lastly, so many, so devout, so humble hung down heads, and bowed knees, and beaten breasts, and lifted up eyes attended, did ever foretell so notable a calamity. It was not then thought that their would arise a generation, who would allege in good earnest, that, divers hundred of years since, as also more freshly, sundry of their own Authors and followers, had (in bitter detestation of their monstrous abomination) described out the Pope for the antichrist foreprophesied; called Rome, the very Babylon and temple of heresies, the corrupter of the world, the hate of heaven, and in effect, the very gate or hieway to hell: that the lives of their Prelates, Priests, Friars and Nuns, (not for some particular offences which will always befall, but for the ordinariy tenor and course of conversation) had been so reported by men of their own religion, that an honest adversary cannot read them without sorrow, nor a modest, without shame and blushing: that the iniquity of their chief See hath been so exorbitant, as to have raised among themselves this saying, amongst other concerning it, engrossed in their own book; That the worst christians in Italy are the Romans, that of the Romans, the Priests are the most wicked, the lewdest Priests are preferred to be Cardinals, and the badest among the Cardinals is chosen to be Pope. Neither was it then foreseen that the world entering into these considerations, would think that they had reason, which called for a reformation, that it was not a fatal calamity of this age, but a supernatural blessing of God from above, after the kindling of many precursory lights of knowledge, and furnishing other instruments to serve thereto, to direct a mere accident of scandal of their part, namely, the undiscreet proclaiming and seal on their pardons (as the wisest and worthiest of their own Historiographers reports it) to the provoking of certain men of more zeal, & courage, than policy, or skill in conducting their actions; who without any such premeditated intent, yea and drawn into the lists, & held in them against their will, by the violent pressing and insulting of their adversaries, having been forced to sift thoroughly the Romish doctrine and practice, have discovered therein those errors and abuses, which it was high time to be swept and purged out of the Church, and that the establishing of this reformation, how unperfit soever, to be done by so weak and sinple means, yea by casual and cross means, against the force of so puissant and politic an adversary, is that miracle which we are in these times to look for; wherein it pleaseth God (whose goodness doth always speak out) to renown his higher wisdom, in guiding this untoward world by ordinary courses, as in foretimes his power by annexing therein his often extraordinary wonders. But the Papacy at this day, by woeful experience, what damage this licence of writing among themselves hath done them, and that their speeches are not only weapons in the hands of their adversaries, but eyesores and stumbling blocks also to their friends, under show of purging the world from the infection of all the wicked & corrupt books and passages, which are either against honesty or good manners; for which two purposes, they have their several officers, who indeed, blot out much impiousnes and filth, and therein deserve to be both condemned and imitated (whereunto the Venetians add also a third to let nothing pass that may justly be offensive to Princes) have in truth, pared, and lopped off all whatsoever, in a manner, their watchful eyes could observe, either free in disclosing their abuses & coruptious, or saucy in construing their drifts & practices; or dishonourable to the Clergy, or undutiful to the Papacy: these editions only authorized, all other are disallowed, called in, consumed, with threats to whomsoever shall presume to keep them; That no speech, no writing, no evidence of things past, no discourse of things present: in sum, nothing whatsoever may sound aught, but holiness, honour, purity, integrity to the unspotted spouse of Christ, & to his unerring vicar, to the mistress of Churches, to the father of Princes. But, as it falls out now & then, that wisdom & good fortune are the ruin of them, that too much follow them, by drawing men sometimes, upon a presumption of their wit & cunning in contrivements and of their good success withal in one attempt, to adventure upon an other still of yet more subtle invention, and more dangerous execution, which breaks in the end with the very fineness itself, & overwhelmes them with difficulties: So it is to be thought, that their prosperous success in pruning & pluming those latter writers affected with good ease, and no very great clamour, as having some reason, and doing really some good, was it that did breed in them a conceit, that it was possible to work the like conclusion in writers of elder times, yea in the fathers themselves. In all other monuments of reverend antiquity, & the opinion of possibility redoubling their desire, brought forth, in fine, that Index expurgatorius, whereof, I suppose, they are now not a little ashamed, they having by misfortune lighted in their adversaries hands (from whom they desired by all means to conceal them) where they remain as a Monument to the judgement of the world, of their everlasting reproach and ignomy. These purging Indices are of diverse sorts, some work not above 800. years upward, other venture much higher, even to the prime of the Church, the effect is, that forasmuch as there were so many passages in the Fathers, and other ancient Ecclesiastical writers, which their adversaries producing in averment of their opinions, they were not able, but by tricks & shifts of wit, to reply & to ease themselves, of that wit, labour, and quality, perhaps indeed, more commendable in some other trade than in Divinity, where Verity should sway, where the love of the truth should assubiect or extinguish wholly all other passions, and the the eye of the mind fixed attentively upon that object, should divert from the regarding of other motions whatsoever. Some assemblies of their Divines, with consent, no doubt, of their redoubted superiors and soveragnes, have delivered express order, that in the impressions of these authors, which hereafter should be made the scandalous places there named, should be clean left out, which perhaps (though in this present age would have finally prevailed to the reclaiming of their adversaries) it would have been great assurance to the retaining of their own, to whom no other books should have been granted; yea perhaps, Time & Industry, which eat even through marbles, extinguishing or getting into their hands all former Editions: and for any other new to be set ●u▪ by their adversaries there is no great fear, whose books being discurrant in all Catholics countries, their want of means requisite to utter an impression, would dishearten them from the charge, the mouth also of Antiquity should be thoroughly shut up from uttering any syllable or sound against them.  
Lastly, by adding words where opportunity and pretence might serve, and by drawing in the marginal notes & glosses of their friars into the text of the fathers, (as in some of them they have already very handsomely begun, for the mouth of antiquity should be also opened for them) Their remained then only the rectifying of S Paul, whose turn in all likeliehoode, (if ever) should be the next, and other places of Scripture, whose authority being set beneath the Churches already, it were no great matter to submit also to her censures, especially for so good an intent, as the weeding out of heresies, and the preserving of the Catholic saith in his purity & glory. But above all other, the second Commandment (as the Protestants, Grecians, and jews reckon it) were like to abide it, which already in their vulgar catechism is discarded as words superfluous, or at leastwise unfit or unnecessary for these times: and then, without an Angel sent down from heaven, no means to control or gainsay them in any thing. But these are the dreams, perhaps, of some over-passionate desires, at leastwise not likely to take place in our times. But what is it which the opinions of the not possibility of erring, of the necessary assistance of God's spirit in their Consistories, of authority unlimited, of power both to dispense of God's laws in this world, & to alter his arrests and judgements in the other (for thereunto do their pardons to them in Purgatory extend). What is it which these so high and fertile opinions are not able to engender, and powerfully to enforce, and to execute, carrying men away headlong with this raging conceit; that whatsoever they do by the Popes, they do by Gods own commandment, whose Lieutenant on the earth he is, by a commission of his own penning: that is to say, with absolute and unrestrained jurisdiction, that whatsoever they do for the advancement of his See and Sceptre, they do it for the upholding of the Church of Christ, and for the salvation of men's souls, which out of his obedience do undoubtedly perish. And verily it seems, no causeless doubt of fear, that these humours, so forward, so venturous to alter and chastise with palpable partiality, the works of former times in any age, which hath so many jealous eyes on their fingers, so many mouths open to publish their own shame, such store of copies to restore and repair whatsoever they should presume to maim or deprave that in former ages, when there were few copies, small difficulties, no enemies, as it is found by certain & irresragable arguments; that bastard writings were forged in their favour, and fathered on honest men, who never begat them. So also they might beside, by their chopings and change, puttings in, and putting out, suppress many good evidence which they perceived were not greatly to their purpose should be extant. But of all others, in reforming and purifying of Authors, the care and diligence of this Pope doth far exceed, who not content with that which hath been done in that kind before him, nor thinking things yet so bright as they should be, causeth much to be perused and scoured over anew; yea, and it is thought, will cassiere some worthy Authors, who as yet (though with cuts and gashes) hold rank amongst them. And for a further terror, not to retain books prohibited, I have seen in their printed instructions for confession, the hearing or reading of books forbidden, set in rank amongst the sins against the first Commandments. And for further provision, the jews (who have no other trades to speak of, than loan of money and old stuff) are inhibited in many places the meddling any more with books, for fear that through error or desire of lucre, they might do them prejudice. Neither is it lawful in Italy to carry books about from one place to another, without allowance of them from the Inquisitor, or search by their authorities, wherein as I confess, they have neglected nothing which the wit of man in this kind could possibly devise. So yet it may be doubted, that as too much wiping doth in the end draw blood with it, & soil more than before; so these too rigorous cutting off of all Author's tongues, leaving nothing which may favour any freedom of spirit, or give any satisfaction for understanding times past, may raise such a longing for the right Authors in the minds of all men, as may encourage the Protestants to reprint them in their first entireness, having hope given to vent them, although in secret. These have I observed for the complots and practices of the Roman Church and Papacy, not doubting but that they may have many more, and much finer than I can dream of: & yet in the surveying of these altogether, me thinks they are such, that it causeth me in generality of good desire to wish, that either the cause which they strive to maintain, were better, or their policies whereby they maintain it, were not so good.  
37 Now to take a view of the present state of the Papacy, or rather of some points therein more requisite to be known: First, to consider it in his own proper and peculiar Dominions, namely, in the signiories and Territories which the Pope holds in Italy, (for as for Avignon with his County Uenassive in France, by reason of the ill neighbourhood of the Protestants of Grange, it hath yielded him (I ween) in these latter times no great matter) yea, rather it hath been an overcharge unto him: for which cause, they like well to be under the Pope, as bringing more unto them, than he taketh from them. I take it at this day, of the four great States of Italy, (by reason of the access of the Dukedom of Ferrara, escheated to him of late) to be clearly the third at least, and to surmount the great Dukes, which it hath wellnigh surrounded also, yea, question might be made concerning the second place. For although the Venetians in amplitude of Territories far, and in greatness of revenues not a little exceed it: yet (besides other difficulties and charges of necessity, to which they are more subject) in military force they greatly come short, the pope's men retaining still the brave hearts of their ancestors, and breeding among them plenty of able leaders, whereof at this present, both the great Duke and Venetians, do serve themselves, whereas the Lumbards', wherein is the scum of the states of Venice, are as heavy and unwarlike, as their soil is deep and fat: inso much, that the Venetians are driven to seek abroad, and especially to the Grecians, from whom they are to have at all times, ten thousand at call. But on the contrary side, being to be alleged, that the venetians are by sea puissant, where the Pope can do nothing, I suppose they may still hold the second place of greatness. The first even in Italy without other respects, being incomparable due to the Spanish mightiness; and this in possession: Besides which, all Italy holding, partly of the Pope partly of the Empire, (save the City of Venice, who acknowledge no Lord) of the Pope the Kingdom of Naples and Cicile, with their dependents, the Dukedoms of Parma, Valencia, & Urbin, besides other less quillets of these. The Duchy of Urbino no great thing, but full of goodly men, and of some 100000. crowns revenues, is in great probability to devolve to the church ere long, the Duke being in years, and without heir, though as now unmarried, by his old wives decease of late. But the jesuits labour hard that he so remain, persuading him that Bigamy is not so acceptable an estate to God. Hear is also possibilities of the cheating of Parma and Placentia, there being but the young Duke, who remaineth still unmarried, being withstood, as it is thought, in his long love to Florence, both by Spain of old, and now by the Pope, (also beside, the great Duke is not hasty to forego his nieces portion) and the Cardinal Furnesy his brother, who in that case I believe, should find as difficult a suit at Rome for dispensation to marry, as the Duke of Ferrara did before him, for a transport of his tenure. Of Naples I can say nothing, either for probability or possibility, as things now stand, only it is apparent that the Popes have a very great desire unto it, and opinion of good title also even in present; but the unfortunate success and fearful example of Pope Sixtus Quintus doth fear them, who of a simple Friar, being advanced to the Papacy, by the favour of Spain, whom of long he had served, foreseeing very plainly the inevitable bondage, which together with all Italy, the very Apostolic Sea, and Lady Church did grow into, perceiving their irreligion in encroachmentes upon their Church-rights, their tyrannous importuning him to serve their turn and humours, their bravadoes, threats, insolencies, and lording over him. When his eyes did see this daily, and could not remedy it otherwise, being constrained by these imminent dangers and present indignities, he durst harbour in his mind the afflicted forsaken thoughts of Paulus Quartus his predecessor, and embrace a design of chase the Spaniards out of Italy, and especially of recovering the Realm of Naples to the Church, which hath now but a quitrent, of four thousand crowns out of it, being one of the richest places that is in the world. For the effecting of which purpose, by enhaunsing his impostes upon all commodities, after the example of the other Princes and states, his neighbours, and by other devises together, with good managing in short time, he raised five millions of treasure, a good ground of war. And moreover, after the example of the same Paulus Quartus, who brought into Rome itself, two thousand Almains Lutherans, to oppose against the Duke of Alva, King Philip's General in Italy, yea, and was content to endure quietly those abuses and despites which they daily offered to his Images and Sacraments, and sundry other devotions, as remaineth in a report of credit not to be excepted against. So this Sixtus began covertly to seek strength from the Protestants, propounding to favour this French Kingslabours, yea and desiring to entertain good correspondency with England, conunending her Maiestics government above all Princes in the world, by which neglect ●ee drew upon him so great offence of the Spanish party, and especially of the jesuits, from whom also as being too rich; for vows of poverty he took at one clap above 20000. crowns rend, and bestowed upon Saint Peter, as I have heard reported, as they have styled him an Avarist, that the devil, with whom he had intelligence, came and fetched him away, being in truth, one of the worthiest Popes this age ha●h seen. The unpropsperous events of these high endeavours, and his precipitated ruin, who dared to advance them, having been poisoned by Spanish practice, as the wisest there say (and whilst myself was in Italy, a Priest, one of the Pope's subjects, reported in secret, that there was lately a supplication pute up to his Holiness, by a person unknown, craving absolution at his hands, for making away of a Pope, which was thought could be no other than this Sixtus,) doth terrify them that come after from venturing themselves in the like, and for imitating his actions, whose end they have cause to tremble at.  
So Naples remaineth not in his view that hath most right to it, but in his hands and arms that i● strongest to hold it. And this for the Pope's temporal state, which may perhaps yield him now near two millions of yearly revenues, by reason of the great increase Ferrara hath brought, and be able to make at home for their own defence, some hundred thousand fight men, or thereabouts, if need were.  
Besides which rent arising at home at his own state, that which he sucketh out of foreign parts is not small even at this day, though nothing perhaps in comparison of those former rich times, when money came in daily so flush from all quarters, that there temporality, (which now they make their principal) was then but an accessary addition to their greatness. For among other blows which Luther hath given that See, it hath compelled them, besides the entire loss in Countries revolted, even out of those which stick to them, to draw more moderately than before, for fear of offending: yea, they have been also in these latter times, forced to share or yield up into the hands of great Princes (of France namely, and Spain, for the better assuring them) a▪ great part of those fleeces, which themselves were wont to share from the Clergy heretofore, without any partners: howbeit in Italy and some other places, their annuities and tenths, do still run currant, (besides the Spogly, as they term them, or strippings which they have of Clergy men at their deaths, unless in their lifetime, by some yearly pension they list to redeem) and amount (no doubt) to a good round sum. His gain out of Spain is thought matchable very near to that of Italy, which the Kings thereof do and will more contentedly endure, for the better assuring of the Papacy unto them, which otherwise were likely to run mainly with France; I would not report it, but that I have it from men good of place, that Pius Quintus, under pretences (after the Council of Trent) of reforming their Clergy and such like affairs, was complained on to the Counsel of Spain, to have drawn fourteen millions from them out of the Kingdom. what gains their pardons bring, I cannot estimate, they being not sold now to particular persons after their former usage, saving in Spain and the appurtenances to them, whereof also the late King himself was said to have the greater share and in regard thereof, to have pressed it mightily upon his people. It is to be presumed, that such a multitude of general, perpetual, and plenary indulgences, for all persons, times and offences, as are granted to the religious houses, and to some other Churches of Italy, and to sundry in France also, yield somewhat to the holy father, in way of thankful acknowledgement, considering that their gain by them is nothing.  
The Cordeliers at Orleans, at the publishing of one indulgence, picked up (as they say there) four thousand at a blow. But howsoever the mistress of that secret stands, this is plain and apparent; that the Popes are contented to use their religious houses, as very sponges, to drink what juice they can from the people, that afterwards, he may wring them out, one by one into his own cistern. The Covents have from him these indulgences of grace to remit sins, and free souls from Purgatory: at the yearly publishing whereof in their Churches, there stands in some convenient place, the box of devotion, with some poor begging crucifix likely before it, and two tapers of each side to see the chink to put money in. What man can be so unthankful, so stony, and dry-harted, as to give nothing to them, who have forgiven him so much, especially, there never being wanting some holy pretence to encourage, nor many an eye open to see their good doing;  
Besides this, the Pilgramages to their miraculous imager, which drew great commodities to their Cities also & states, wherein the people not ignorant thereof, help to set them a working: a consideration that brings contentment therewith no less to the Princes. So sweet is the taste of gain from whatsoever, the visiting of their holy relics, (both which have their offerings) the purchasiing of masses, both auxiliatory & expiatory, their rewards for praying, their collections for preachings, besides sund●y other duties, amongst which their obi●●s which are so beneficial, that their account is from a rich man, to draw viis & modis, some hundred at his funeral, or else it goeth hard: yea, this is so certain, and so good a rent unto them, that if any man should be buried without their solemnity, and some of their odours to accompany his coarse, he should be thought a very heretic, and to be sure to have some bad bruit set abroach concerning him; as fell out not long since to a wealthy Citizen of Lucca who willed by his testament, to be buried in the night, without their ringing, tapering, censing, attending, or singing, had a rumour soon spread on him by the belly devote Friars, whom hunger and loss of hope, have made wickedly ireful, that he was haunted and molested with rats on his death bed: these means extraordinary, be sides these ordinary revenues, increasing often by inheritance, descending upon them, which happen to any of their brotherhoods, goeth (to the convent for ever: such is the law of Italy) being granted or permitted by the Pope to the Friars, and all to enrich them. The law requires, reason and equity allows, and their vows of poverty adviseth, that when they grow too rich his Holiness should let them blood in their over-full veins, for his necessary sustenance, as did Sixtus, who pared away the superfluities of sundry rich Covents, as fit for his high estate and honourable designs, then for them, who had poverty in their vowed recommendations: This Pope dealeth more gently by way of loans, which may perhaps in the end come all to one reckoning. Besides the which, when war against the Turks, or Heretics, or other enemies of the Church, or any other great affairs requires employment of the Church treasure, then are taxes and subsidies imposed, or requested to a certain proportion, upon the revenues of all Abbeys, and other religious Covents in Italy, besides the rest of the Clergy, which can be no small matter, as was done these last years for the service of Hungary. I might add hereunto the toll of his foreign commodities, the fees of dispensations, chief in prohibited degrees for marriage, and infinite other expeditions, wherein his Papal authority doth accommodate, & is accommodated reciprocal of all Nations; but this is sufficient to verify that assertion, that even at this day those out-incoms are good helps for an extraordinary odd share when need is. And yet all this notwithstanding the treasure of the Church is small. Sixtus Quintus left five millions by his great reckonings & husbandry: his successor Gregory the 14 wasted four of them i●ten months & less, above his ordinary revenues, in pomp & riot. This man is very chary over that one remaining & disstilleth all other devices, rather than set finger to that string▪ which yet his late Prowesses have caused him to assay. But were the Church rend and gain how huge soever; two assidual Horseleeches which never leave sucking it, will never suffer it to swell overgreat in treasure. The first is the high place of honour, which he taketh far above all other Princes and Monarches in the world, which draweth him to inestimable charge in all places, to carry it wi●h countenance and comeliness requisite; being forced thereby in his own train, in the entertainment he giveth Princes, in the allowance he giveth his Legates, Nuntioes, and other Ministers, which according to his own greatness are sent into other Countries, and lastly, in furnishing out the multitude of his actions and practices over the world, do raise his charge, for the most part, according to the proportion of his high estate (for Honour and Frugality, are the unfittest companions that can be). It is Liberality and Expense, that both breeds and maintains honour; neither can a judicial man perhaps wish worse to his enemy, than to have an honourable calling, and a poor living.  
Another thing which keepeth the Papacy always so bare, yea, and makes their temporal state the worse, governed in Italy (for so it is counted) is their often change of Popes, by reason of their years, the infinite desire each hath to advance his kindred, his children first if he have any, as Paulus the third, who left his base issue no less than Dukes of Placentia, and Parma: Gegorius the thirteenth more lately, who made his base son Duke of Sora, and Castellane, of Saint Angelo. And if they have no children, or list not be known of them, than their Nephews and other kinsmen, which is common to them all: yea, it oft falleth out, that those Popes, who have not any known children of their own, by extending of their love larger to a great multitude of their Nephews, yet desiring for their own renown, and perpetuating of their own name, to raise them to a great estate and wealth as they can possibly) do consume more the goods and treasure of the Church, than those other, who have their loves though stronger, yet to fewer, as was apparent in the two Gregory, the thirteenth, with his few sons, and the fourteenth with the multitude of his Nephews and Kinsmen: and these men being raised often from the bottom of baseness to the height of pride and power, having no hold in their hand, nor scantling of their fortunes, as having never been in middle state, which is the measure of both extremities, do fall into riot, able to ruin a Prince, and rage and ravine in their Offices and Government, as they that knowing their time short, mean to use it to the full proof. The examples of both are many, and fresh, which for their foulness and baseness, I list not to repeat, for which cause it was a good help to Sixtus Quintus to be Pope, that he had small kindred, though the ground is mooveable, seeing pedigrees change (for the most part) together with men's fortune, which as a conscionable Arbirator, neither annoys the poor ever with multitude of kinsmen, nor discomforts th● rich with paucity.  
39 For the sta●e of the Clergy under the Papacy, it varies as the Countries. In Spain the Prelates are exceeding rich in revenues. The archbishopric of Toledo, not inferior to some Kingdoms; in Italy the live of Prelates a●e competent, considering the excessive multitude: yet with so great diversities, as some mere bishoprics are above two thousand Crowns rend, and other some under a thousand Crowns. But the custom of Italy which avoideth, yea, and blameth multitude of Servants, and great house-keeping in all sorts and degrees▪ makes 〈…〉 all matter sufficient, and a great superfluous. Besides, there to have many livings, is a matter of credit, and not of profit only, though as wise men as t●ey have thought otherwise of it, to be a private great burden, and a public great mischief. The Parish Priests in Italy, who have no● the tenths, which in a Country, whose soil yieldeth three harvestes in sundry▪ places, all in one year, would amount to an huge matter; and considering the great rents and racks would be unsupportable, but have in stead of them certain farms as glebe land appropriate, and some certain small quantity out of the increase of their neighbours, are so provided for, that the meanest lightly which are their Curates, have a hundred crowns a year, and the Piovatri which are Priests of mother Churches from two hundred, to five hundred & upwards sometimes, which they help out with masses as occasion serveth, which are still in Italy as cheap as a groat. In Germany the Prelates are lightly great Princes, and great Nobility is required to have those places. In France the Clergy hath been in foretimes most flourishing, their revenue amounting when land and all things were cheapest, to six millions in the whole, besides their great place in the state, and ample jurisdictions in their precincts: at this day they are fallen generally, especially the inferior part, into great misery, and beggary, accompanied with all base and wild conditions, whereby the common people is grown utterly also without knowledge of God, or sense of religion, being fallen into those terms, that plenty which should make men thankful, maketh them wanton, & affliction which should make men repentant, makes them desperate, and nothing can better them. The whole Realm in sum, hath been scourged with a three stringed whip, War, ill Government, & Injustice, whereof the two latter are likely to last still, whiles on the one side, the places of justice are sold, as by the Drum on the other side. The Church Prelacies, and other governments of souls, are made the fees and charges of their Courtiers, and soldiers▪ whose merits would have rewards, but suiting to their quality, which in such a realm as that, could not want, but for want of indifferency, and measure, heaping all upon a few, and most, where are less deserts: whereas these so unfit and ill suited recompenses, distemper that harmony which should be in ● flourishing state, and fill the land with all kind of corruption, and confusion.  
40 But to return to the Papacy, or rather to the Pope himself, and first to his election, the right whereof having been of old in the Clergy and people, and from thence transferred to the emperors nomination, is now wholly remitted to the college of Cardinals, so that two third parts of their voices that are present are requisite to him, that either by adoration or scrutiny shall carry it away which double proportion of voices to agree, maketh this election of greater difficulty, and giveth occasion of rarer devises in it, than I suppose are to be found in other parts of the world. I have heard that in these latter times a Cardinal of Sicily, whose holiness and learning advanced him to that dignity; (for of some, such always there is care to make choice for diverse considerations) entering the Conclave to an election, and expecting that by incessant prayer as in times of old, some divine inspiration should have pointed out Christ's vicar, But finding when he was there, nothing but practising, and canvasing, promising, & terrifying, banding, and combining, setting some up for stalls, only to ease passage for others, who were reserved unto the last course, when other men's hopes and angers being spent and evaporated, had abated the prime edge & strength of oppositions; In sum, being himself also assaulted by all means, yea tugged and haled now by one party, now by another; the good man aghast, as in a matter clean contrary to his foreframed expectation. Ad hunc modum (said he (fiunt Pontifices Romanis. There with all, so soon as the Conclave was broken up he retired to his country, and never saw Rome again. But the matter of greatest mark herein at this day, is the power of the K. of Spain in swaying those Elections, who by pensions, by perferments, by hopes of the highest, hath assured a great third part of the Cardinals to him: And to be always at his devotions in all Elections, whereby having the exclusive (as they term it) no Pope can be made but with his liking. He prodeeds on by his Ambassadors to name also some five or six unto them, whereof please they but to choose any, he shall rest well satisfied: which course though it mightily distaste the rest of the Cardinals, who are hereby for ever debased from their chief desire, yea and inwardly much afflict: the great states of Italy, who are loath to have their Pope of a Spanish Edition, yet there is no remedy, one of these in fine they must needs choose, the discretion they can have, is only this, to choose such of them as is like to prove least to his purpose.  
A memorable example hereof in the election of the said Gregory, where the greatest part of the Cardinals inflamed against the King, and banding against him, yet in conclusion, after two months imprisonment in the Conclave, were forced to relent, and to choose one of his nomination, or otherwise a clear case, no Election at all, which whether there were or no, made no matter to Spain who stands upon a sure ground in his exclusive obstinateness. The nessesitie of the Church, the state of the Papacy, their own present condition, the disorders of the city of Rome, and of all their territories which in want of a Pope, and this locking up of the Cardinals in a cellar, do swerve exceedingly, did mainly cry out to have some Pope or other, which at the last they yielded to, by consenting upon a favourite, yea a subject of Spain also, for such was that Gregory, howbeit the main matter runneth not with him so clearly, they being not the same men that are chosen, and that are Popes: But changing with their estates both name and nature also, yea sometimes not easier to find two diverse men of humours more different, than is the same man in his Cardinalship, and in his papality, whereof no better witness than Sixtus Quintus, the most crooching humble Cardinal that ever was lodged in an oven, and the most stout resolute Pope that ever aware Crown: in his Cardinalshipe, a mere vassal and slave of Spain, in his Papasie, the most dangerous enemy that Spain ever had in the world: in sum, who in his Cardinalship was scorned as a base Friar, in his Papacy was reverenced as a Prince of great worth and spirit; neither is there any marvel to be made of this difference, seeing the means of obtaining and maintaining the Papal honour are so clean contrary, seeing in the one state they fashion themselves to all other men's humours, in the other, they look all men should accommodate themselves to their honours. And lastly, seeing these Princes, whose favours are the only hopes to compass this place, and their power quelling down the estate. For this cause as in general the Cardinals do, in their heart's favour France above Spain, both as being the weaker part, and the further neighbours, & the only hope to maintain counterpose against the others greatness. So let the king of Spain make what choice among them of a Pope he can, he shall find that as long as these reasons continue, whosoever sits in the seat, will more respect his own safety, than the service of his preferrors, even as doth this very Pope, who for that cause is conceived to have made some alteration of inward friendships, though holding good terms of love and loyalty with both. But this uncertainty & mutability of the new Pope's affections doth cause both the K. of Spain & other princes of Italy, above all other things, to aim at a man of calm nature, & not of stirring metal, that if they cannot make any great account of his friendship, yet his natural disposition and temper may assure them, that he shall not be a raiser of new stirs in Italy, and divers of them to scamble somewhat for their own, have been as on the other side, a special good inducement to the Cardinals, in his age and sickness, that the place may be soon void again; for the gaining whereof there is always practising and plotting immediately upon the Election.  
41 Thus is the Pope made, who hath his council of cardinals to attend and advise him, he chosen by them. & they created by him, whose number may amount, they say to 72 but many places are kept void still, to serve for desperate bushes: for these there are some 20. being lightly the younger sons of Dukes and Princes, who) in case their Ancestors states should descend up on them, with dispensation from the Pope, may resign up their hats among the Cardinals for their own honour, and for the gratifying of the world,) are sorted out and divided, all the orders of religions, & all the nations of christendom, whereof they are appointed the particular protectors in the Court of Rome, As the Protector of England now is Cardinal Caietane, a very stout man of Spanish faction, who hath been Legate into France, and more lately into Poland, but now returned.  
42 Now for this Pope, who is by country & birth, a Florentine, was chased from thence with his father upon a conspiracy against Don Cosmito; I have little more to say, than what I have before touched, he is reputed to be a man of a good calm disposition, and not too crafty▪ yet close, and one that can hold his own well enough, kind to his friends, & devout in his wa●es, & thinks without doubt, that he is in the right: he will weep very often (some conceive upon a weakness & tenderness of mind, habituated therein by custom,) others say upon piety and godly compassion. At his mafles, at his processions, at the fixing up of his jubilees, his eyes are still watering, sometimes streaming with tears, insomuch, that for weeping he seemeth an other Heraclitus, to balance with the last Gregory another Democritus for laughing▪ Touching his secret life the Italians speak somewhat diversely, especially for his younger years. But men's tongues are always prone to taint their governors, and the worse men speak worse, in hope to lurk themselves under the blemish of their betters. For my part, hearing no extraordinary bad matter against him, but only by suspicion, I judge the best, and howsoever, I had rather preserve the credit of a bad man, than stain or impair it in a good. For his years, he doth not much exceed three score, but is troubled with the dropsy, and that caused (some say) accompanied with a thirsty infirmity, for a Prelate he hath good commendations, an enemy to the licentious lives of the Friars, yea to the pomp▪ also, and secular bravery of Cardinals, howbeit more desiring reformation in both, then daring to attempt it in either, for aught as yet appeareth. Very magnifical & ceremonial in his outward comportment, in his private, carriage humble, as his friends say, in managing the Church temporal goods, rather trusty than liberal, but of their spiritual treasure of supererogatory works large, bountiful in Indulgences and Pardons which they vse● not only as charitable reliefs of the needy, but as honourable gifts also to reward Princes that have presented him. In these I should think him very exceeding wasteful, but that where the treasure is infinite, there the spender in ordinary estimation cannot be prodigal. For a Prince he hath been somewhat defective heretofore, as being neither of deep resolution, nor of great spirit. But fortunate men are wise, and conquerors are valiant. And surely this man's projects and attempts have so well prospered, what in the matter of Ferrara, what in working the great peace, (the honour whereof by them oft is wholly attributed to the pope▪ though others say he was importuned to deal in it by the Spaniard, being so tired & wasted out with troubling his neighbours, that in fine he delighted not in any thing but in peace only,) that he hath purchased him the opinion not only of a fortunate and wise Pope, but of one who doth sincerely affect the quiet of Christendom, & thinketh nothing remaining to the height of his glory, but to be the Author of an universal league, and war against the Turk against whom he hath sundry times given aid already, & that for that end (notwithstanding his ability & opportunity, what by his excommunications, what by his ready army to have righted himself yet hath he laid by his own particular pretences, aswell against the great duke of Tusca for Burgo di San Sepulchre, which belongs to the Church, as also, and more principally against the Venetians for Romgo and the Polissina, which they have rend by war, and retain from farrara, not to mention that ancient quarrel touching the Patriarkship of Aqueileia, whose territory even all Friuli their state hath usurped, that no private nor temporal commodity of this Church and Sea, might give ●●pediment to the public good, in withstanding and repressing the grand enemy of Christendom. These thoughts surely are honourable, neither unnecessary for his own future safety, considering how near a neighbour the Turk is to him, and how often his state hath been afflicted by him and sometimes in hazard. But now for his near neighbours the great Duke, and the venetians as their States; so their loves and his, are but neighbourly, they thinking his growing to be their stop and endangering, But the venetians perhaps fear him, and the great Duke hateth him more. The venetians having still painted in their great Palace, and daily before their eyes, the extremity which former Pope's excommunications hath brought them to, having their state as ill seated▪ in regard of potent neighbours, who all gape after them upon any advantage, as any that I know again in the world. The Turk confining and bordering with them on the East; the King of Spain on the West; the Emperor on the North, and the Pope on the South, who can never want pretence, they holding that which they list not yield: besides some jealousies and discourtesies passed lately between them and the Pope and his Cardinals. The great duke, not only for that hereditary enmity first, and that personal discourtesy since, & what for effecting that title of King of Tuscanie, whereof his wife is written Queen by some already: and having gotten as is said the Emperor's liking, the Pope denied him in putting him off, with a distinction, that he was content he should be K. in Tuscanie, but not of Tuscanie which scholastical subtleties plain suitors love not, but much more care for the correspondency of conference & favour which is thought to be between the Pope, and those popular Florentines; who distasted with their home government, once free, now almost servile, live elsewhere abroad, and at Rome in exceeding store, specially seeing not only the Pope in the faction of his particular family, but all pope's in the affection which the Papacy both engender, do naturally more desire that their neighbour's states should be popular, as having the ground of their greatness in swaying the multitude. But generally the Duke of Tuscan will be always regardful to hold the best correspondency with the Popes that may be, as having their state very often to assault on that side, the rest being surrounded by the Apennine and the Sea. To conclude, this Pope, where there is no private cause of disfavoring his person, or disallowing his place, carrieth the name of a good Pope, and they which do subtly see the points of goodness, more than curiously, will say, that ●ius Quintus was a good Prelate, but no good Prince, that Sixtus Quintus was a good Prince, but no good Prelate. Gregory the 13. a good Prince and Prelate, but no good man, this Pope, both good man, good Prince, and good Prelate, and so I leave him (wishing his daily increase in all parts of true goodness, whereof his Church hath too little) and himself happily (as other good men) nothing too much: returning to the Papacy.  
43 The next point which cometh to be considered, is, 
The foreign strength of the Papacy.  what power it is at this day in this world, by reason of those nations, which either in whole or greater part still adhere unto it, which are Italy with his Islands, Spain with his Indies, Germany with his skirts, which I count the 17 provinces of the Low countries, on the one side, the 13 Cantons of Suizzers, and 3 leagves of Grisons on an other, and Bohemia with his Marquisate of Moravia & Slesia on the third. And lastly, the great united, well seated, fruitful, populous Kingdoms of France, with his neighbours of Lorraine and Savoy, whom though Princes of the Empire, whensoever themselves list, and find it for their profit, yet in regard of their greater affinity to France, both in language and fashion (which associate also affections) I annex unto it, of all which, some brief seemeth necessary to be taken. For as for Poland and Transilvania, with Valachia and the remains of Hungary, by reason of their near and dangerous confining with the Turk, together with the multitude of Religions, which are swarming in them, (in Poland especially, of which it is said by way of biword, That if a man hath lost his Religion, let him to go seek it in Poland, and he shall be sure to find it, or else make account that it is vanished out of the world,) there is no great reckoning to be made of their force either way. Then England, with the more North Kingdoms, Scotland, Denmark, and Sweden, (whose King notwithstanding is of the Roman faith now, but hath few there that follow him.) They are accounted to have wholly cast off the Papacy▪ for albeit they make reckoning of many savourers in them, as of four thousand sure Catholics in England, with four hundred English Roman Priests, to maintain that militia, who upon quarrel with the jesuits, affectors of superiority, & disgracers of all that refuse to depend upon them, have instantly demanded of late, a Bishop of the Pope to be cozen by them, and to be resident among them: yet this is so small a portion, being compared with the whole, as not to be esteemed, especially seeing in Italy counted wholly theirs, there are full four thousand professed Protestants, that have exercise of their Religion also in the valleys of Pimont, and Salusto, besides sundry Gentlemen who live abroad, and resort to them. In Lucca also a great part are thought favourites of the reformation: some of that sort there are scattered in all places, especially in Venice. But their paucity and obscurity shall enclose them in a Cipher: so that Italy we will account it to stand wholly for the Papacy, though the Princes, and other free States thereof, little like the Pope's enlarging his temporal Dominion at home, being already of a large size in proportion with theirs, and especially for those pretences, which his Sea never wants, and those extraordinary advantages with concurrence of his spiritual supremacy, do give him by interdictions, excommunications, discharging oaths of obedience, which above all other they have greatest cause to fear, both in regard of their huge company of Priests, Prelates, and Friars, wherewith he hath fortified himself mightily in their States; As also, for that discontent which their cruel impositions, extortions, and oppressions have bred in their own subjects, who wish rather, that all Italy were reduced into the hands of some one natural potentate, whose greediness, how great soever, they were able to satisfy, And of the Popes above all men, who promiseth much lenity by his late example at Ferrara, where he remitted many imposts which their late Dukes had raised, than to be thus daily racked and devoured by so many petty Tyrants, as it were with their prowling Gabil●ieres, whose ambitions and emulations, whose prides and pleasures, thirteen millions of yearly revenue which Italy now yieldeth them, is not able to satisfy; though I say for these causes the Princes and States of Italy no way favour the Pope's strength in his temporality at home, considering withal, what swelling and turbulent spirits mount sometimes into that Chair, have purposely set Italy on a flaming, for that in the sacking of many, themselves might get somewhat for the advancing of such as nature and blood did cause them to love best; yet on the contrary side, for his spiritual power and sovereignty abroad, they wish it upheld and restored (if it were possible) both for the honour of their nation (which is thereby their triumphant Queen of the world) and much more for the commodity, which by vicinity they and theirs reap thence in more abundance than all other together, what by sharings, as occasion serveth, in his booties abroad, what by being always in sight to receive favours at home, what by that which sticketh to them in very passing thorough their Territories.  
Then to exclude any innovation, the care of their own safety, and not quiet alone▪ persuades them, it being dangerous in a body so full of diseases and discontented humours to change or stir any thing, seeing all alteration sets humours on working, & one humour on foot, quickeneth up all other, what alured by Sympathy, what by Antipathy provoked, the end thereof is, either the dissolving of Nature by length of conflicts, or the disburdening of Nature, by expelling that which before did oppress it. For this cause no audience to be given to the reformation, as enemy to their peace, which is the Nurse of their riches, and sole Anchor to their safety. For it were but simplicity to think that conscience and love of truth did sway the deliberation, the World having in most places done Religion this honour, as to remove it out of those secret dark Cabinets of the heart, where the jealousy of some devout dreams of the Gardens of Paradise had imprisoned it, and advanced it unto the fairest sight and show of the whole world, even for to make a mask of it, or rather, a very vizard, with mouth, eyes, and nose, very fairly painted and proportioned to all pretences and purposes. And others yet of more gallant and free spirit, have given it general passage, to go whither itself listeth, so that it come not near them: It doth much grieve me to speak, yea the very thought of it must needs bring horror and detestation, what a huge multitude of Atheists do brave it in all places, and there most, where the Papacy is most in his prime: What renouncers of God, blasphemers of his only begotten Son, vilanisers of his Saints, and scorners of his service, who do think it a glorious grace to adore a King of a Country; But to name or to think reverently of the Creator of the World, to proceed from a timorous base-mindedness, and abjectness. Of so deep reach and judgement, are these peddlers in their proportions, who do know no other Magistrates, but those of their parishes. These men are favourable alike to all Religions, but can best endure that wherein they are least checked, and may range with most impunity.  
But for the Souldiarie of this age, a profession and an exercise, reputed in old time for an only School of Virtue, but now defamed with all manner of vice and villainy: in old time such, That the wisest Philosophers thought it reason sufficient, why the Lacedæmonians were more virtuous than other Nations, because they followed the wars, (at this day a cause of clean contrary effect) those desperate Atheisms, those Spanish renouncings, and Italian blasphemings, have now so prevailed in our Christian Cu●pes, that if any restrain them, he shall be upbraided as no soldier, nor gallant-minded man, that the very Turks have the Christian's blaspheming of Christ in execration, and will punish their prisoners sorely, whenas through impatience or desperateness they burst into them. Yea the jews in their speculations of the causes of the strange successes of the affairs of the world, assign the reason of the Turks prevailing so against the Christians, to be their blasphemies and blaspheamous oaths, which wound the ears of the very heavens, ann cry unto the high Throne of justice for speedy vengeance. As for Princes and great persons, it is a rare thing, and surely an happy, wheresoever it falleth out of them, that any of them hath any extraordinary store of religiousness of any sort. Their example (I do speak of many of them) which might be the sovereign restorers of virtue, & reestablishers of a happy world, with the endless bliss of many millions, now perishing through their default, is at this day the only ruin and despair of goodness, having forgotten whose lieutenants they are in the world, for what end they are placed, for what cause they are honoured; and most of all, what great account they have to pass at the last Audit, when their favourites and fancy- feeding flatterers shall all shrink from them, and nothing but their own deeds and deserts accompany them. But all of these, whether Atheists in opinion or conversation (between whom is small choice) being reckoned or let pass to make up the number; yet hold I that from Italy there are more wishes than other helps, to maintain the Papacy abroad, by reason of the partition of it in such a multitude of States, where the greater do nothing but Lymbic their brains in the art of Alchumie, & balancing▪ to enrich themselves: by the one, drawing gold out of all things, and by the other, to poised their neighbours, & to keep them of equal weight, their adding some help with their hand where the scales are lighter, & the lesser States fly most to the protection of the chief, as the cities of Genovay and Luca, the duke of Urbino, the signior of Prombino, with certain other, who all recognizing the king of Spain for their Patron, as casting by him to be sufficiently secure from the encroachments of those other three. And counting that from him the united consent of all the rest, will still preserve them to whom his greatness is fearful, and his growing would be pernicious. There have been of them also, as the last Duke of Ferrara, who hath entertained both amity and strait intelligence, with sundry of the Protestant Princes of Germany, upon purpose to hold their neighbours, and especially the Pope in, and off calling the Protestants to their succour, if they should either assail, or otherwise provoke them. And thus much for Italy.  
44▪ The next is Spain, reputed wholly the Popes also, as having been long time governed by the most devoted King, and longer kerbed by the most cruel Inquisition that ever the world had, for the upholding of that way, how be it the State of Spain is not to be passed so lightly over, wherein (although myself have never been) yet by manifold inquiry and information from some of their own and others, who have been in it, men of knowledge and credit. Thus much do I conceive as touching the state of their religion: that of a Nation that aimeth so apparently at the Monarchy of the whole west, it is at this day none of the most puissant to achieve the same, their Country being so generally exhausted of men, what eaten up by long war, what transported into their huge number of Indian Colonies, that their Cities remain now wholly peopled with women, having some old men among them, and many young children, whereof the grave attends the one, and foreign service the other: a fit state for an Amasonian Empire to be revived in. So likewise for a Kingdom that hath the surname of Catholic, none in greater danger in the world, either wholly, or in great part, to cast off Christianity, unless grace from above, and better wisdom do stay the increase of those pestilent ranks of Mahometisme, and judaisme, which threaten the final decay and eating out of Christianisme. And to carry this matter with an indifferent course of repose, neither aggravating so much as some do in their doubts & jealousies, nor yet extenuating it so much as othersome in their confidence and jollity, seeing fear casteth beyond lightly, and hope short of the very danger.  
There is in Spain a sort of people of the Mauran●, (as 
Ma●●●mi.  they term them) who are baptized jews and Moors: and many of them in secret, with all circumcised Christians, who are spread over the whole land, but swarm most in the South parts confining with Africa, and are in such store, as in many places (as some say) they exceed the true Christians by no small proportion. For as for the Inquisition, which was instituted of purpose against those apparel Christians, some hundred years sithence, at what time King Ferdinand, by chase the jews and Moors, and Arabians, out of the Realms of Spain, merited the name of King Catholic: great numbers of them chose rather to make change of their religion in show, then of their Country in deed, and consented to receive baptism, which in secret they polluted, or denounced by circumcision, or other superstitions, wherein the Arabians and Moors concurred with the jews, and so continued with a false face and double heart, and have transmitted both the one, and the other to their offspring to this very day. This Inquisition being first brought in to chastise these miscreants, and received in Arragon, (a freer State than the rest) for term of eighty years: (besides that, it is theirs in right, long since expired & holdeth only by title of the King's pleasure and possession: And the Portugals have now again renewed their old suit, together with their old offer of eighty thousand crowns, to buy it out in their Countries for their persons, which it is thought this young King hath meaning to accept) the eye and edge of it hath been so wholly of late times convetted to the rooting out of their form religion in all places that the other sort by neglecting them, have grown in strength, and by their strength now begin to despise their chastisers, whom fear (they say) enforceth often to wink at many things, which no eye open but needs must see. Thus fareth it with gardens wherein greater care is taken to pull up the suspected herbs, then to keep down the apparent weeds: what further hopes this sect may have I know not. This is clear, that a great part of the Spanish Nobility is mixed at this day with jewish blood; they which say least and speak favourably for the honour of Spain, will say, their are of them a hundred thousand families, in which at the least are a hundred thousand men able to bear arms, All which though conforming themselves in some sort and outward show to the Christian religion, yet are thought in heart to be utterly adverse from it, and to retain an inward desire to return to that superstition from which their ancestors by rigour and terror were departed.  
And the jews will say in Italy, that there come diverse Spaniards to them to be circumcised there, and so away to Constantinople: to plant in the East. The State of Spain is in often fear of those men's rebelling, and specially that they would join with any enemies that would invade them. For although they are forbidden to have any arms, and yearly search made for it over all Spain, in an unknown and least suspected instant, yet is there no doubt but armed they are, and have their secret caves and devises to conceal them. This sort continually growing by living quietly at home, and the other part decaying daily by foreign employment, what the issue may be, though reason may probably conjecture, yet time only and proof can give assurance, by marrying of their younger brethren with the jews, for wealths sake, upon whom in time, the elder failing, the honour and house hath descended. But to leave these Maurani, another pestilent sect there was not long since, of Illuminati in Arragon, whose founders were a hypocritical crew of their Priests, who affecting in themselves and their followers, a certain angelical purity fell suddenly to the very counterpoint of justifying bestiality. But these men and their light are quenched some while since. The last and obscurest sort, are the poor persecuted Protestants, against whom, all laws, and wits, all fortunes are strongly bend: all which notwithstanding, there are thought to be no fewer than twenty thousand in Civil itself, who in heart are that way: amongst whom, certain books of their religion being secretly dispersed, the Inquisitors for their number sake, who were to be touched, were required to forbear, and to provide some other way. In sum, I have heard some of their own Country and religion acknowledge, that among other things, the scandals of their Clergy, and Friars, especially in forging miracles in their spirits and images, doth draw the people to loathing and suspicion of their way. And were it not for the Inquisition, it is thought generally they would fall away, and turn Protestants in short time. They have in Spain (as is told me) a Crucifix, whose hair and nails fall agrowing now in this old age, as in a dead man executed, the rest not stirring: at which, the devout men of the Clergy girke up their eyes, and the wiser of the laity wag easily their heads. The holy Nun of Portugal, of whom the Spaniards taken prisoners in 1588. made so much talking of, who had the five wounds bleeding on her, and the print of the crucifix in the skin of her breast, to whom that invincible Army repaired for benediction to set forward their victory, is lately discovered and condemned for a Sorceress, by a general complaint of that whole sisterhood, who hating her for her arrogancy, and watching her fingers, in fine, discovered, that the one was but a forced rawness of the flesh, caused by fretting herbs and waters, when she went to show herself; and the other came by a continual binding of a little graven crucifix to that part which was so printed. The famous Lady Guadalupa, who transporteth through the air such prisoners in Africa as vow themselves to her, is said by some to have her credit impaired, by occasion of a fugitive servant, who being run from his Master, was suborned by the Friars to play that flying part, complaining that our Lady for the wickedness of this age, did restrain those graces, but yet that it was a godly act to maintain men in their devotions. In fine, he was disclosed and seized on by his Master. But this is more certain and of more general report, that for the weeping and sweating of their images, they have had a trick in all places to boar holes behind them, and put to them the new cut sprigs of a vine, which being of a bleeding nature, and dropping easily thorough the thin plaster, remaining unpiersed, make show of tears or sweat, as they list; yea, some of their Italian Friars have confessed withal, that their fashion is when their Gimmalls are all in tune, for a miracle to enjoin some silly old woman in her confessions, to say her devotions before the Altar, where the Image prepared to play a miracle doth stand, abusing the weakness of her sex and age, to report that confidently which her pronnes to think our Lady might extraordinarily love her, made her easily believe. Wise Gentlemen that have been at the exorcizing of spirits, have observed plain arguments of intelligence between the parties as in actors of Interlude, though this should away: and so were heard to avouch the multitude of the Indemoniati in Italy, (whereof most are women) being so huge, even as of witches in Savoy, of which some are daily cured in show by their Exorcisms: but for one that is helped, twenty is either past their curing, or otherwise, as in counterfeits unwilling to be cured. In sum, the falsehoods in all these kinds are grown so so ordinary and palpable to themselves, that some of their better Prelates have caused an Image of our Lady to be taken away off his place, upon the broaching of a report, that it discovered itself for a wonder-worker. So unsavoury is the food of fools, to the taste of wise men; and such is God's curse upon all forgery and falsehood, as in the end, to overthrow that which chooseth it for his foundation, as hath happened already in some places. and may with time in other.  
45 Touch Germany, I have seen an old estimate 
Germany.  of it by such as favoured the Papacy, that in the beginning of Ferdinand, there was not passed one twelfth part remaining Catholic, which now in my understanding must needs be otherwise. For comprehending in it Bohemi● with his appurtenances, I should think that near a sixth part were devoted that way, their number being increased, and perhaps doubled since that time, by the sedulity of many of the Prelates and other great Princes. The Dukes of Bavaria, who using the advantage of the Interim on their part, have forced those Protestants which were in their States to quit, either Religion or goods and Country. The same hath been attempted by the Arch Duke of Austria, and in some places, as in their Country of Firoll effected. But in Austria itself not so, wherein the number of Protestants exceeds and is fearful to their opposites, though the public exercies of their religion is restrained in some of the chief Cities, as in vienna; but the most part of the country are of it, so are half the nobility. The Duke of Cleves a third Prince, affected the same way, hath showed himself a little more moderate than some other, so advised by neighbourhood. The free Cities which are of very great number and strength, have all (save some very few) freed themselves from the Pope either in whole, or in greater part: the State of the Empire for that point, containing in it a very huge circuit of territories, full of mighty Princes, and well fortified cities: that if it were more strictly united under one Monarchy, and not rend into factions with diversity of religions, breeding endless jealousies, heart burnings, and hatreds, it needs not other help to affront the great Turk, and to repulse his forces to the security of Christendom.  
But in this so unequal proportion of adherents to the Papacy, two things there are which gives them hope of better, if prosperous success do second their well contrived projects. The one is the creating the Emperor always of their own party, whereof they assure themselves by these considerations; First the● is no house in Germany at this day, of that infinite greatness as is requisite to withstand the Turk in his encroachments, the house of Austria set aside, who by their alliance, or rather near entireness with Spain, and sundry elective Kingdoms which run necessarily upon them, shall be always able to make head against any power in the world. And by their own state, confining so immediately with the Turks, shallbe necessarily enforced to employ the uttermost drop of their blood to keep them off: next, whensoever the matter grows to the Election one of another new Emperor, they shall always have the casting voice with them or rather in them, having entangled the States of Bohemia in such bonds, and promises. Besides, there is no other whom they may make choice of, that they may make no other account of it, then as being half hereditary. And lastly, their late policy now strengthened, by usage of declaring a King of Romans in the emperors life time, whilst his presence and power may govern the action, do assure them, it shall always pass with them roundly and quietly.  
The other ground of their hope, is the division of the Protestants into their factions of Lutherans and Calvenist●, as they style them, wherein the Ministers of each side, have so bestirred themselves, that a coal which a wise man with a little moisture of his mouth would soon have quenched, they with the wind of others have contrariwise so inflamed, that it threateneth a great ruin and calamity on both sides. And though the Princes and heads of the weaker sides in those parts, both Palgrave, and Lansgrave, have with great wisdom and judgement, (to asslake those flames) imposed silence in that point to the Ministers of the one party, hoping the charity and discretion of the other sort would have done the like: yet it falleth out otherwise, the Lutheran Preachers rage hitherto in their Pulpits against the other as much as ever, and their Princes and people have them in as great detestation, not forbearing to profess openly, they will return to the Papacy, rather than ever admit that sacramentary and Predestinarie pestilence. For these two points are the ground of the quarrel, and the latter more scandalous at this day than the former. And some one of their Princes, namely, the administrator of Saxony, is strongly misdoubted to practise with the Emperor, for the joining of the Catholic and Lutheran sect in one, and by war to root out & extinguish the Calvinists, the most plausible motion of the Emperor that ever could happen. Neither is there any great doubt, but if any stay and agreement could be taken with the Turk, all Germany were in danger to be in uproar within itself, by intestine dissension: howbeit, all the Lutherans are not carried with this stern humour: but they only which are called Lutherani rigidi, the greater part, which are perhaps the Molles Lutherani, are quiet enough. Neither account they otherwise of the Calvinists, then as of erring brethren, whom the Rigidi have (as is said) threatened to excommunicate as Schismatics and Heretics.  
To this lamentable extremity hath the headiness of their Ministers on both sides brought it, whilst in the peremptoriness of their poor learning, they cannot endure any supposed error in their brethren, whereof themselves, even the best of them perhaps (if they were well sifted) would be found to be full enough: (such take I to be the condition of all men of this world, that in their ignorance of all actions, save of their Schools and books) make more account of some ill shaped syllogism, then of the peace of the Church, and happiness of the world, the end whereof will be, that their enemies shall laugh when themselves shall have cause to weep, unless the graciousness of God stir up some worthy Princes of renown and reputation, with both sides to interpose their wisdom, industry, and authority, for the uniting of these factions, or at leastwise, for reconciling and composing those differences in some tolerable sort. A work of immortal fame and desert, and worthy of none but them, of whom this wicked base world is not worthy. But hereof I shall have occasion to speak in his due place; for this place it sufficeth, that these intrinsical quarrels, are the hopes which make their enemies hold up their heads, and quickeneth their expectations to see the blades of these reformers drawn one against another, that themselves being called to the beating down of the one party, may afterwards in good time assail the other. In the mean season, planting in all places their Colleges of jesuits, as the only corrosive medicine to fret out their adversaries: Now on the other part, the hopes are also not few: beside, their overtopping of them so much in multitude and power.  
First the Germans bearing a natural stiff hate to the 
Hopes of the Protestants.  Italians for his winding and subtle wit, (which despiseth and would ransack him, but that he opposeth a proud stoutness, and intractable obstinacy, which serveth always as a wall of defence to simplicity) will hardly (what tempering soever the Princes make) be brought ever to reaffect the Papacy, whose sleights and devises they are thoroughly acquainted with, and have in more detestation, than any Nation whatsoever. And for their own inward dissensions, it is to be hoped, that though no courses were taken to compound them, yet never will they be so mad, as to decide them by a general open war, having on both sides, the Turk, Pope, and Emperor to join them in friendship. For although the contention of brethren be bitterest, yet a common strong enemy always maketh them friends again. And as for the Administrator so much suspected, who prowles, as some say, in the practices for his own greatness) his authority is but short, and expireth within three years.  
Then for having an Emperor of some more indifferent family, though their desire be in that point of all other greatest, yet their hope is (as I suppose) least▪ & that which is, seemeth to be grounded upon Electors of Collen, either if the old Elector Gerardu● Thrachesius should live so long, whom in that case they might by force restore to his place from which he standeth now by force rejected, yet retaineth his claim still, and style of Elector. Or if some other of that See, might be induced to follow the steps of two of their ancestors, who have turned Protestants, of which cause that place willbe always in danger, by reason of such vicinity and intermixing of their state with Protestant Princes. Besides, in Collen itself the religion hath already sooting, or at the leastwise might be drawn to that civil indifferency, as in preserving their freedom of election, to change once in an age that family of Austria wherein the Empire having continued these seven descents, may in time be established by prescription. And lastly, for the jesuits their great Patron and planter, the old Duke of Bavaria, having now retired himself into their College, and resigned his state to his Son Maximiliàn, who it is thought doth disfavour them, as much as his father doted on them. These and other such changes may give stay to their proceed. But to leave these hopeful speculations on both sides; and to take matters in terms they stand now, and may so continue. The benefit which the Papacy may expect from the Empire, is rather to keep matters in that stay they are, than any way to restore it where it hath been disposed. For although the Turkish wars should cease, which is not unlikely, considering the calm nature of both Emperors, who take more delight in Chambers than fields, yet shall our Christian Emperor be enforced still in fortifiing and maintaining Garrison all along his Frontiers and confines, so to exhaust his own treasure, and employ his people; so that he will not be able to do elsewhere any extraordinary matter, without help extraordinary, which is never over-readie. And time which may produce many accidents in his favour, may also produce in his disfavour as many. And by so many the more, as the ground out of which in those parts they may grow, is manifoldly larger against him then for him.  
Now for the low Countries, the Papacy hath two thirds with it, and of the Swissers and Grisons, two thirds, against it also. The Protestants are lightly the wealthier, 
the low countries swissers and grisons  and the Papists more warlike which may sufffice for those parts of France; how much the better is it known unto us at home, so much the less shall I need to speak much in this place. Neither is it very easy to proportion the parties, by reason they of the Religion are so scattered in all places; yet in Poicton almost all, in Gasconie an half; in Languedocke, Normandy, and other West Maritine Provinces, a reasonable strong part, as likewise in sundry mediterrane parts. But whatsoever is the proportion of the number to their opposites (which is manifoldly inferior, not one to twenty,) their strength is such, as the wars have witnessed. And specially at this day, notwithstanding such massacring them, so general arising of the whole realm against them, by the uttermost extremity of fire and sword, to exterminate them, they are esteemed to be stronger than at any time heretofore. In sum, so strong, that neither have their adversaries any great hope to win, and themselves not in fear to be borne down by wars; that their practice of peace (which hath sorely already bitten and afflict their states) by depriving them of place, of office, & honour in the realm, confining the exercise of their religion into chambers and remote corners, did not impoverish, debase, & does hearten the party, and so withdraw those from them that otherwise would stick to them. That is it which they misdoubted, and by the Edict now past and verified, have sought to remedy. But looking more attentively into this party, I find, that as conscience, in what religion soever doth even in the mists of error, breed an honestness of mind, and integrity of life and actions in whom it settleth: So divine and pure virtue, as the love of the Creator. which is the ground of all that merit the name of Religious; so also, that in them that affect the greatness singleness and in a manner, a very careless simplicity in their Religion, as contenting themselves with the possession of the rich treasure of truth, and for the preserving of it, or themselves, recommending those cares to God only, yet tract of afflictions, much miseries, often overreaching by subtlety of adversaries, doth finally purge out those gross witted humours, and doth engender a very curious and advantageous wariness in all their proceed, having learned by experience, the wisdom of the Aphorisine: That a small error in the foundation and beginning of all things, doth prove in the proceeding and end of them, a great mischief, as hath fallen out in their men, who do as far herein out go their opposites, in all civil policies, as in other places they of the Religion are lightly outgone by them, which next unto divine blessing which accompanieth good causes, where wickedness or wilful witlesnesse doth not bar against it, I account their chief reason of their present strength and assurance, by their providence in their capitulations, by their resolutions in their executions, by their industry, and dexterity in all occasions presented, they have possessed themselves of an exceeding great number of strong towns or places, there is scant any office or estate can fall void, but that they lay in by all means to get into it. They have Synods for their Church affairs, their conventions and counsels for their civil, their people is warlike▪ for leaders (a matter of main importance,) they are above their adversaries, having besides those three of principal and known name, other in Gasconie of less place and degree, but in skill and valour not inferior to the best. In fine, they have learned the wisdom of Spes sibi quisque, etc. the contrary whereof before, brought them so near to their ruin. But now touching the weakness of them of the Roman Religion, in comparison of that strength which their multitude should promise, much more may be said. First one great part of them are in heart with the reformed Religion, though for worldly respects they hold in with the other: also will begin to disclose themselves daily, those things being not settled in reasonable sort, which have hitherto been but in motion: Secondly, they are not all Papists that hold with the Mass; but the Catholics are here divided into as different opinions, and in as principal matters as the Protestants in any place that ever I heard of, although their discretion and moderation is such, as not to interrupt the common concord with private opinions.  
The ground of which disagreements in opinion (as I do take it) is the ancient diversity between the Roman Church & the Gallicane, which in many ceremonies differs much from the Roman Church, as (to omit sundry other) in the priests Lotions at the Mass, and in their walking hymns at Vespers, and in some of them rather runs with the usage of the Greek Church (as in their holy bread on Sundays for them that do not communicate) so also in the very head point of their ecclesiastical government, it holdeth the general Council to be above the Pope, which opinion is at this day very currant & strong, even among such Catholics as favour the Papacy, which I reckon for the first difference touching the estate of the Church, which calleth into question, in whom the very Sovereignty and Supremacy thereof is placed. another sort are there which hold their Church to be the true Church, although they acknowledge sundry errors of abuses of less importance, both in doctrine and practice. But for the the Pope they hold resolutely, that he is that Antichrist, which sitting in the Temple (that is in the true Church of God, for even by his very being Antichrist, some prove they are the true Church (doth advance himself above God, as they think apparent by his dispensing with the law of God, by the merchandising of souls, in his purgatory pardons, releasing them in an other world; whom divine sentence hath bound, as also by his Indulgences for great sums of money in this world. And not least of all by his arrogating the impossibility of erring, being a property peculiar unto God, and not communicated, but only at times to the extraordinary Prophets, as all Churches in the world besides the Roman acknowledge. This sort spreadeth far, and as themselves will say of the learned sort, three parts of four consent in this opinion. And they which are most devoted to the Pope, that in that respect do hate this realm above all other, confess that Lawyers are greatly infected; in which regard also some, term these the Parliament Catholics. The opinions thus prevailing among the Catholics of France, it is not to be marveled, 
France.  that the realm was so ready upon the Pope's refusal to rebless the king upon conversion to them, to withdraw utterly from the obedience of his Sea, and to erect a new Patriarch over all the French Church. The now Archbishop of Burges, who was ready to accept it; and but that the Pope in fear thereof did hasten his benedictionit had been effected, to his utter disgrace and decay: As the proffer and probability thereof will hold him in awe, and in good temper of carriage to his kingdom, and content to bear indifferent sway with them in any things; as on the contrary side, his great doubt of the French unsoundness to him at the heart, will cause him the less to favour any of their footings in Italy.  
Now these men, though they dislike also of the reformed religion, as having brought in an extreme innovation of all things, in stead of a moderate reformation of what was justly blamable, yet will carry themselves always in likelihood in an indifferent neutrality, rather than by extinguishing the one extreme to overstrengthen the other. A third part of this side we may make the Royalists, who as much as they dislike the attempts of the Protestants in alteration of religion, so much & more do they hate those mischevous courses taken by their adversaries against them, which have threatened so near ruin to the whole state of the kingdom, that it may show half a miracle that it hath ever recovered, being so long a time at the very point, either of shivering in pieces, (as hath happened heretofore in other countries in like case,) or of rendering itself into the servitude of that hateful name of their neighbours. This part having by experience learned the wisdom to know, that the quarrel of religion is but a cloak of ambition for the great ones. At this day many Traitors intents pass under catholic pretences; that the Protestants will be always a sure enemine to the Spaniard; and to all his favourites, partisans, & pensionaries: that whilst he may be suffered to enjoy liberty of conscience, without any disabling or disgrace in the state, he will be in all occasions ready to serve the King to his utmost, and forward by deserts to maintain his favour; that it is not so easy a matter to extirpate them, as some think, having so deep root in the realm as they have, besides the favour of so many great princes their neighbours abroad, who are engaged & embarked in the same very cause. And that although it were to be wished for the happiness of the kingdom (which during this diversity and dissension in religion shall breed greater security to their neighbours than to themselves;) that if it were possible, some course were taken for a final reuniting of all into one profession, yet this being not to he hoped for in this exasperation of minds on both sides, must be commended to time, which works out many things, which effecteth even wonders, on a sudden. And finally, to some general good way to be taken by the joint consent of wise and worthy princes for effecting like unity over all Christendom, if it may be: In these considerations, this part, which with his appurtenances is now the greatest, will never advise the King to become head of a party again, so long as he may be absolute commander of the whole having found the sidening course in such strength of both partts to be a false ground ruinous to them that take it. To these may be annexed those moral men (as they call them) who think not these diversities of opinions of any such moment, as that they ought to disjoin them who in the love of God, in the belief of the fundamental Articles of Christian faith, in integrity & honesty of conversation, (which are the greatest bonds) remain united, much less that they ought to enrage men's minds so far, as to cause them to take arms to decide the quarrel, which are not those Instruments wherewith either error should be razed, or ●ueth or religion planted. And finally, to this part may be added all those who affect a quiet world and peace above all things, which is the desire of those lightly, who in a middle degree of condition possess also a moderate temper of affections, which is ordinarily the greatest part in all well ordered commonwealths. And withal, far surest and firmest to the state. None of these will be easily drawn to enter into any violent course against those of the reformed religion, so long as they have discretion, by no jealousy to provoke them. The last part is indeed of the vowed and sworn enemies the Leaguers and rebels (as some name them) once the greatest and most favoured part of the realm, at this day not so; their plausible pretences being now dismasked, and their disastrous success in their disorderly actions, which hath brought things to the very counterpoint of that they aimed at, and left nothing but a memory of much trouble and misery, with the wasting of the people, the sacking of Cities, the harrowing and desolating of the Country, with imminent danger of utter overthrow for ever of the realm, making them hateful & despised in those very same minds, wherein they were erstwhiles enshrined with all dovotion, which reasons have so abated also the haughtiness of their hopeless heads, who lately breathed nothing but Crowns and Sceptres, but glory to their followers, and have turned their song of Sovereignty to a more peaceable & calm tune of, Nec veterum memini L●torve malorum, howbeit right zealous men of the base sort, lighty possessed with ●riars, who fill them with furies against their religion, are as malicious & rageful against the Protestants as ever; & thirst after nothing so much as to embrew themselves once again in their blood, which they stick not to profess, and indeed, had they heads and opportunities, would accomplish.  
46 The number of these is very great and desperate, but impuissant, base, & broken, with these in heart join in a manner all the Clergy, who count their religion and reformation their bane, & the very calamity of their estate for ever. Agreat error among other (as was observed by the worthy Chancellor monsieur W. L. Hospital) in the plots and proceedings of the first Protestants of France, to alienate so respected and potent a part of the Realm, by leaving them no hope of any tolerable condition, under the reformed state whom by following the wiser courses of their moderate neighbours they might have gained to them in greatest part as others did Now this part which are the only assured enemies of the Protestants, and of whom they make account that they will not fail them at a need doth come short of them perhaps in strength, though in multitude they far exceed them, whereas this is also not to be least considered that as in the body of a man the humours draw still to the sore; so in a state, all adverse and discontented persons do associate themselves lightly to the part grieved & persecuted. This take I to be the present estate of the factions in France: For matters of Religion submitting my opinion (as in all other things) to be censured & reform by whomsoever with more experience & deeper judgement shall have waded in & weighed these considerations. But to make any far reach or coniectnre for the time to come, that will not I be so saweie as to do in French affairs, whose Minds are so full of Quick silver that the ●imble wits would take it, perhaps in dudgeon, that any should presume to amagine they would plod on, in any tenor with that dull constance which their hevier metaled neighbours do use, beingable even in fresh experience to boast, that their lightness of spirit & mutability of resolutions, have suddenly recovered them from these terms of extremities whi●h in the hands of any constant nation in the world, had been a very long cure, if not desperate & cureless. But verily this dissension & diversity in Religion, is still a very great weakness & disease in their estate, and such as will be always a matter of jealousy amongst themselves, of assurance of their neighbours; of joy to their enemies: For Lorraine, & Savoy, with the Vallesi who confine on Savoy, they run wholly in a manner with the stream of the Papacy, though in both parts there be store of Protestants, and that the men of the better sort, but without any public show of their Religion, save only in some out Shires of Savoy near Berne, and Ceneva What Madam the King's sister may effect in Lorraine or contrariwayes, herself may suffer, time only by trial is able to ascertain. These particulars thus admitted, it will be to great diffcultie to make some comparative estimate of the whole strength of the Papacy, in respect of the Priests, being the part now only on foot against them. For as for the greek Church, the case is evident, that though it be granted, that they exceed any other, yet are they so oppressed under Turkish tyranny, or removed so far off, (as the Moscovite, and some others) that they come not into any account in the survey of the strength which now we speak of. But for Western and Latin Churches in the general division into the part reform, and part Papal admitting them in number and circuit of territories to be near equal As considering the huge compass of Germany, an Empire possessed so wholly in a manner by the Protestants, I can make no other exposition. In other points we shall find great odds and advantage, for strength indifferent, kind on both sides; First, the kingdoms and States of the Romish part, lying nearer the Sun, are not only in riches, both natural of their soil, and accessory, by great opportunity of traffic to all parts of the World, by manifold degrees superior to their Northern adversaries but also in a fineness and subtlety of wit, which having that other instrument of wealth to work by, doth far pass in all ordinary and orderly actions. That robustiousnesse of body, and puissance of person, which is the only fruit of strength, that those colder climates do yield, though sometimes extraordinarily, it is known and to be granted, that those Septentrional inundations by their very violence and multitude, as in people more generative, have so wholly diluviated over all the South, that as a raging tempest, they have ruined those powerful and flourishing empires, in the suddenness of an instant, which had been many ages in rearing and spreading itself over the world.  
37 But these have been no other than currentes, or brooks of passage, soon up, soon down, soon come, soon over-gone; neither have the Northern people ever yet for all their multitude and strength, had the honour of being founders or possessors of any great Empire, so unequal is the combat between force, and wit, in all matters of durable and grounded establishment. another point of great advantage ●n the self same side is the uniting of their forces into four heads, which uniting is a very redoubling of strength in all things, they have on either parts, first and principally the Pope himself seated royally and pontifically in the midst: and chiefest regarding the rich Sun in high glorious rising, and the Moon● in the height of her beautiful walk, on his left hand, the Emperor. The ancient Romans of honour, on his right hand: The King of Spain, the new planet on the West, at his back the French King, the eldest Son of the Church, mighty monarchs, opposed as brazen walls against his enemies on all sides about him: And the lesser Prince and States of Italy, as matter rather of solace and honour then otherwise, and to exercise himself as his humours of favours or displeasure shall advise, whereas on the contrary part the only puissant Prince, in any comparison with those other, is her Majesty of England, whose State is so divided from all the rest of the world, that it is the less fit in that respect for the rest to make head at. The other have the Pope as a common father, adviser, and conductor to them all, to reconcile their jars, to appease their displeasures, to decide their difference, and finally, to unite their endeavours in one course, to instance, to press them, to remove stops, to add encouragement by aid from himself above all things, to draw their religions by consent of Counsels, to an unity, or likeness and conformity. In all places a principal pillar or stay to the unlearned multitude, of glory to themselves, of upbraid to their enemies: whereas on the contrary side, the Protestants as severed bands, or rather scattered troops, each drawing adverse away, without any means to pacify their quarrels, to take up their controversies without any bond to knit their forces or courses in one: No Prince, with any pre-eminence of jurisdiction above the rest; no Patriarch, one, or more, to have a common superintendance, or care of their Churches for correspondency and unity, no ordinary way to assemble a general Council of their part, the only hope remaining ever to assuage their contentions, and the only desire of the wisest and best minds amongst them. Every Church almost of theirs, hath his several form and frame of government, his several liturgy and fashion of service. And lastly, some several opinion from the rest, which though in themselves they be matters of no great moment, being no differences essential, or in any part capital, yet have they been, are, and will be as long as they continue, causes of dislikes, of jealousies, of quarrels, and of danger.  
In sum, what unity soever is amongst them proceeds only from the mere force & virtue of verity which all persons seek for, which, though it be incomparably the best and blessedest, and which alone doth unite the soul with God; yet for order in the world, for quiet in the church, for avoiding of scandal, for propagating and increase, of what great power that other unity is which proceeds from authority, the Papacy which standeth by it alone may teach us. These than are the advantages on the part of the Papacy. But now one disadvantage (such is the nature of all things) impeacheth and diverteth all other their forces, & that is their vicinity with their grand enemy the Turk, who by land and Sea presseth hard both upon the Emperor, Pope, and the Monarchy of Spain, and driveth then oftentimes to such ecstasies of devises, that Spain hath no other shifts to clear himself, than by diverting him upon his own dear brethren of Austria, and causing him to fall foul upon his friend the Emperor, wherein he is driven yet to a twofold charge, both in bribing the Bas shawes, to draw their Lord into Germany, and in supporting their Emperor with money to withstand him. The Emperor on the other side calleth the Protestants for his aid, without whom the whole Empire were in danger to wreaking: The Pope, who of all other is in deepest fear, though not yet in the nearest, knowing that the final mark that the Turk shooteth at, is Italy, as thinking that to be the banner now only remaining to be set up for the accomplishment and the perfection of his Empire. And that the wars with the Emperor, are but to open that land passage, forasmuch as by Sea he hath always proved the weaker, bestirs himself on all sides in the best sort he is able, both in sending such aid as his proportion will bear and especially in soliciting of the Princes of his part to enter into a common league, and war against him, giving overture of like desire for the Protestants also▪ but the Protestants would know what security and quiet they shall have from himself first, their near and stern, and unplacable enemy, before they waste out themselves, in giving aid unto him against a common enemy indeed But one who is furthest off from them of all other▪ who as now is desirous enough to entertain friendship, and who at the worst hand carrieth no more cruel hate against them and their profession, neither condemneth their religion more than the Pope their fellow christian. Then for his Catholics and Polakers they clearly slip collar, both for the natural hatred they bear the Germans; & for that they are in peace and amity with the Turk, paying a certain tribute. And although his near neighbours, yet not in his way, which is not the North; but to the sun, and to the South parts, and mainly and plainly to the conquest of Italy. The Venetians are content also to live rather as free tributaries to the Turk▪ as they now are, than as slaves unto Spain, who in joining with them heretofore in league against the Turk, & Pope Pius Sixtus, did contrary to his oath & bond forsake them, & suffer them to be beaten, being left alone to the Turks fury. And all this to the end, that having their state utterly maimed and broken by the Turk; they might be constrained wholly to cast themselves, their sovereignty, & city, into the arms & embracements of Spain for safeguard. With this unchristian treachery have they charged him heretofore, though now all being quiet, they are content to put an unacceptable motion to silence, by demanding of impossible conditions of security. Then for France it is far off; & looks that the nearer be (as they ought) more forward first, and requireth also with reason some breathing time to revive himself after his weariness by his late pangs. Lastly, Spain hath so much to do with England, and the revoulted Provinces, that he thinketh the time gained that the Turk forbeareth him: So that in the end the whole burden must rest on the Emperor, with that small help that Italy and some others do yield him And were it not his good fortune, or rather, God's good providence, that the very same plagues that have ruined the glory & grace of Christendom, should now infect also the grand enemy thereof, namely, Effeminatensse and Avarice, whereof the one is the corrupter of all sound deliberations, & the other the quailer of all manly executions, which prevailing in his estate, as they do at this day give hope that his tyranny groweth toward his period, & for the present proved so, that a weak defendant may shift better, having no other than a cowardly assailant. This matter would have grown to that extremity by this time, as could have called the King of Spain with all his forces to some more honourable enterprises than he hath hitherto undertaken. And this is the bridle that holds in the Papacy with all her followers from any universal proceeding by force against the Protestants, who herein are greatly advantaged above them, in that either their oposites lie between them and the Turks, or in that their Countries coasting so much as they do towards the North are out of his way & no part of his present aim. But those advantages & disadvantages of the Papacy equally weighed, I suppose this disadvantage more mischievous for the present, as proceending from outward force in the hands of an enemy, and the other advantages more stable, as springing from the inward strength of their own wealth and order.  
48 This then being so, and that all things considered, there falleth out, (if not such in difference and equality, yet at the leastwise, such a proportion of strength upon both sides, as bereaveth the other of hope ever by wa●re to subdue them,) seeing (as the Proverb is) A dead woman will have four to carry her forth, much less will able men be beaten out of their homes, and seeing their is no appearance of ever forcing an unity, unless Time, which eateth up all things, should bring in great alterations: it remaineth to be considered, what other kind of unity poor Christendom may hope for, whether unity of Verity, or unity of Charity, or unity of persuasion, or unity of authority, or unity of Necessity, there 
A project of union.  being so many other kinds and causes of concord: A kind of men there are whom a man shall meet with in all countries, not many in number, but sundry of them of singular learning and piety, whose godly long to see Christendom reunited in the love of the Author of the name above all things, and annexed in brotherly correspondency and amity, as beseemeth those, who under the chief service of one Lord, in the possession of one ground and foundation of faith, do expect the same final reward of glory (which proceeding from the Father and Prince of Peace, rejecteth all spirits of contention, from ●●taining it) hath entered into a meditation, whether it were not possible, that by the travel and meditation of some calmer minds that at this day usually write, or deal on either side, these flames of controversy might be extinguished or as●aked, and some tolerable peace re-established in the Church again. The justness of their virtuous desires to see it so, hath bred in them an opinion of possibility that it might be wrought, considering first, that besides infinite other points not controversed, there is a full agreement in the foundation of religion, in those same Articles which the twelve Apostles delivered unto the Church; perhaps not an abridgement only of the faith, but even as a touchstone also of the faithful for ever: that whilst there was an entire consent in them, no descent in other opinions should break peace and communion. And secondly, considering also there are in great multitude on both sides, (for so are there undoubtedly) men virtuous and learned, fraught with the love of God and the truth, above all things, men of memorable integrity of heart and affections, whose lives are not dear unto them, much less their labours to be spent for the good of God's Church and people, by whose joint endeavours, and single and sincere dealings in common conference for the search of truth, that honourable unity of verity might be established. But if the multitude of crooked and side respects, which are the only olouds that eclipse the truth from shining more lightly on the face of the world, and the only pricks which so enfroward men's affections, as not to consider and follow what were for the best▪ do cause that this chief unity findeth small acceptation, as it is to be feared at leastwise, that the endlessness & ill fruits of these contentions which tend mainly to the increase of Athenisme within, of Mahomatisme abroad by which obstinacy the jews shake the faith of Christians, taint the better minds of acerbity, & load the words with poison, which break so out in their actions, which themselves think holiest, namely, the defence of God's truth, which each side challengeth; that in thinking they offer up a pleasing sacrifice to God, they give cause of wicked joy unto his & their enemies; that those woeful effects with very tedious weariness, may draw both parts, in fine to some tolerable reconciliation, or to some unity of charity: at leastwise, to some such as may be least to either's prejudice. Let the one side give over their worshipping of Images, and offfering supplication to Saints, their offensive ceremonies, their indulgences, their using of strange language not understood in their devotions; (all which themselves confess, not to be necessary orders of the Church and such as at pleasure she may dispense with) yea Pope Clement the seventh gave some hope to the French king, that he would not be stiff in things of this quality, and that the respect of time might justify the alteration; and some of the later Popes condescended to them of Bavaria, about the cup of the Sacrament, hoping that would have contented them, which since, they, or their successors have taken from them again: On the other part let the Protestants (such at leastwise, as seek to purge out that negative and contradictory humour, of thinking they are then rightest when they are unlikest the Papacy; & then nearest to God 〈…〉 furthest from Rome.) Let them, I say, look with the eye of charity upon them, as well as of severity, and they shall find some excellent order of government, some singular helps for increase of godliness and devotion for the conquering of sin, for the profiting of virtue: and contrariwise, in themselves, looking with a more single and less indulgent eye then they do, they shall find there is no such absolute perfection in their doctrine and reformation, as some dreamers in the pleasing view of their own actions do fancy: Neither ought they to think it strange, they should be amiss in any thing; but rather a very miracle, if they were not so in many; For if those ancient Fathers & Sages of the Church, who with greater helps, being nearer the time of purity, with equal industry, so spending their lives with less cause of unsincerity, having nothing to seduce them; notwithstanding, were not able in their weakness and blindness of their human nature in this world, to soar up so high always in the search of truth, as to find out her right State in the height of the heavens, but sometimes Error to be dwelling nearer them in steed thereof: How less likely that our age, more entangled with the world, further removed from those faultless institutions, and so bitterly exasperated with mutual controversies and conflicts, should attain to that excellency and perfection of knowledge, which (it may be) God hath removed from man's reach in this world, to humble him, and to increase his longing towards another world. And as the present time doth discover sundry errors in the former, so no doubt will the future in that which is now present: so that ignorance and error, which seldom go severed, being no other than unseparable companions of man, so long as he continueth in his terrestrial pilgrimage, it can be no blemish to them to revise their doctrine, and to abate the rigour of certain speculative opinions, especially touching the eternal decrees of God, the quality of man's nature, the use of works, wherein some of their chief Authors have come to such an utter opposition to the Romist doctrine, as to have exceedingly scandalised all oath Churches withal, yea and many of their own to rest very ill satisfied. The state of truth is aloft, that of virtue in the midst always; both places of honour, but neither truth nor virtue draw to an utter extremity. And as in some points of doctrine, so much more in their practice, in order of government and ecclesiastical degrees, in solemnities and stateliness in the service of God, in some exercise of piety, devotion and humility, especially in set fastings, accompanied with due contrition of heart & prayer. Besides, in many other ceremonies, they might easily with out offence of conscience at all, frame to draw somewhat nearer to their opposites then now they are, which yielded on both sides a general and indifferent confession and sum of faith, an uniform liturgy, a correspondent form of Church-government to be made of the points both should agree in, and to be established universally throughout all Christendom, that this all Christians should necessarily hold, and this their Divines in Pulpits should teach, and this their people in Churches should exercise: which done, the unity of communion should remain unviolated for all other questions to be confined to the Schools, the Counsels, and to the learned languages which are the proper places to try them; and it should be lawful for each man to believe as he found cause, not condemning others with such peremptoriness as is the guise of some men of overweening conceits: and all this to be done by some general counsel assembled and composed indifferently out of both sides, m●ns minds being before hand prepared and directed to this issue and conclusion.  
But now, if either the obstinacy of the Pope's ambition, or the wilfulness or scrupulosity of any opinionative Ministers should oppose against, and impeach the unity of Charity; then the unity of authority to be interposed to assist it. That is, the Princes of Christendom to press this agreement, to constrain the Pope to content himself with that temporal state which the skill of his ancestors have got, and left him. And for his spiritual, to be such as the ancient Counsels had limited. And for all other gainsayers to censure or punish them. Now for the Princes with joint assent to do this, how many have mighty motives to induce them. The service of Christ, the honour of Christian Religion; the peace of Christendom, the strengthening of Christians, the repulsing and overthrow of all Turks and Infidels: and these in general. In particular, the assuring of their own lives and persons, which so many, under pretence of Religion daily conspire against, the quiet and secure enjoying of their rich states, and kingdoms, the transmitting of them to their posterity, without question or opposition. And lastly, the delivery of their miserable subjects (which should be dear unto them as children) from those extreme vexations of spirit and body, and those inestimable calamities in their states and conditions, wherewith these dissensions in Religions and effects thereof do now afflict them. And this is in general, the sum of the discourse of that kind of people which do show them (and they are for the most part) Protestants though perhaps not running jump with their side in every thing: also many of the other part, are carried with the same good zeal and affection, to the like desire and intention. But these are of the moderate sort of the Catholics, and not of their Clergy. And such lightly as have but an indifferent conceit of the Pope's claim and proceed, of which sort, amongst the wise sort of the laity, are very many. But now in exacter consideration of this motion, there appears for the effecting of it, sundry difficulties, so great, that they draw to be next neighbours, to so many impossibilities, whereof I will mention only two of the chief. For as for the thing itself, I must confess for my own part, the greatest desire I have in this world, is to see Christendom reconciled in the badge of their profession, and that without the ruin or subversion of either part, which cannot be done, but to the unexpressible mischief and misery on both sides, and with the utter inhazarding both of Christendom and Christianity, and that any peace were better than those strifes, which did not prejudice that higher peace between God and men's consciences: then for the way they purpose, it seemeth for the generality of it, there is no other now lef● (seeing the opposition of extremes is no way peaceable) but by extinguishing the one, or drawing both to some more temperate and mild estate. But in this cause, two things do clean shorten this hope: The first is, the untractablenesse of Papacy to it, who in so many conferences as they have made in this age, have always ere they parted, plainly discovered, they came not with any such intent as to yield any thing for peace, much less for truth's sake, but only to assay, either by manifold persuasion and entreaty to reduce, or otherwise to entrap and disgrace their adversaries. And if some one of them have showed himself more flexible at any time, it hath been his utter discredit with his own party for ever after; a very stern proceeding of theirs, admitting the fundamental positions whereon the Papacy is built as good as necessary. For if divine authority do concur with them in all their ordinances, if God's spirit assist them in all their decisions, and all possibility of erring be exempted from their Pope and Church, what temaines there but only that they teach we believe, they command, and the world obey. Indeed in human governments, where reason is shut out, there tyranny is thrust in; but where God commandeth, to a ●e reason is presumption, to oppose reason, flat te●ellion. To this miserable necessity have their assertions tied them, which they have laid for their foundation, miserable to themselves, & miserable to the whole world. What can be more miserable to an ingenious good mind, then to have entangled himself in such a Labyrinth of perplexity and mischief, as to have left no place for the acknowledging of his errors, without ruining his estate, (when as error is only purged by acknowledging, and doubled by denyiing it?) And to what a miserable push have they driven the world, either in their plead against them with such force of evidence, or in their joining with them, as to stop the mouth of the one, and to hang the faith of the other, on this unnatural paradox; I and my Church cannot possibly err? And this you must take on our words to be true. For as for their conjectural evidence out of the Scriptures, there seem to be as much, or more for the King of Spain's not erring, as there is for the Popes, it being said, That the heart of the King is in the hand of God, a divine sentence is in his lips, and his mouth shall not transgress in judgement. But now, as by these means they have debarred themselves from acknowledging, and consequently from being controlled of error in matters of doctrine, so on the other side, to reform any great matter in their practice, were to open the eyes & mouths of all men against them, who now in the obedience of their blindness, stick fast unto them. Let them suspend from hence forwards, the worshipping of Images, the flecing to Angels and Saints by vows and prayers for pattonage, besides the great loss it would bring unto their train in their offerings; What a jealousy would it breed in the heads of their own, that they had led the world all this while on the blind side, and that other things perhaps were introduced for gain, and corruptly continued as well as these. Then for their adversaries, their own manner of saying is, yield one thing unto them, and yield all, sith all hang upon the same Prince, and by the same string that any one doth. So that it seemeth not to have been unwisely conceived by him, who said; that to persuade the Pope to any such reformation, was to persuade him to yield up his keys and Crown, and to return to the order of his predecessors and other patriarchs, which to do, as yet he showeth no intention. Than to hope, that though himself and his Sea should withstand it, yet the learned of his side might be induced in other places to some treaty of accord, they know them not, which would have that conceit of them.  
For though it were perhaps not untruly said of a great man of their own, that the Popes not erring was but an opinion of Policy▪ not of theology, to give stay to the Laiety, not stop to the Divines, of whom (in such infinite controversies and jarrings about interpretations of Texts and conclusions of Science, wherein many have spent a large part of their lives) Never any yet went to be resolved by the Popes, as knowing it to be true which their own Law delivereth, that in holiness many an old woman, & in knowledge, many a Friar might outgo the Pope, but in power and authority the whole world was under him: yet at this day they do so generally all cling unto him, and draw by his line, as having no hope, either of standing against their opposites, but only by him, or of unity amongst themselves, but only in him, that touch him, and touch them; yea, they think some of them, the name of Paptist to be as good and a more necessary name at this day then of Catholics, the one showing only their unity with their body, the other with the head of the Church, which is now more needful. It remaineth that Princes take the matter in hand, and constrain the Pope and other to yield to such accord as they should think reasonable. Indeed this were an only way to effect it: for Reason is a good Orator, when it hath force to back it. But where are those Princes? they dream of an old world, and of the heroical times, who imagine that Princes will break their sleeps for such purposes. If there were at this day, a DAVID in Spain, a JOSIAS in France, or Ezechias in Italy, a Coustantine in Germany, the matter were ended in a very short time. But take men as they are, and as they are like to be (being brought up in the midst of their factions and flatterers, where they seldom hear truth, and if a good motion, by chance be set on foot by one part, it is sure to be strait crossed, through the watchful industrious envy of the other), the world may hold itself reasonable happy and content, if the civil State be upheld in any tolerable manner, and not think that they should care greatly for reforming the Church, and much less for the uniting of the State Ecclesiastical, the dissensions whereof, have, and daily serve so many men's turns. And though it is to be acknowledged and thankfully commemorated, that this age hath not been so utterly ba●●en of good Princes, But some have deserved to have been enroled amongst these Worthies; yet the ambition and encroaching humours of certain, and want of corespondencie requisite in others, have stopped perhaps those honourable thoughts and designs, which had else been employed for the universal good of Christendom. In sum, there is small hope remaining in this part, the world having extinguished the care of the public good, by an over-care of their private, and each projecting to pass their own time smoothly over, in pleasure, and recommending posterity to the Stars and Destinies), these reasons, together with the long continuance of this division, whereby both parts are formalized and settled in their opinions: insomuch, that at this day there are but very few, (in comparison of former times) that are gained either way: do make me despair greatly of any success by that course, and so esteem of that plot, as an honest hearty desire, but no probable design, and as a cabinet discourse of speculative consideration, which practise in the world, and experience doth need to certify.  
The next point is, whether necessity (which overrules all frowardness and sturdiness of humours and passions) may not press them to some unity, if the Turk grow still great upon them, as hitherto he hath done, he shall leave no hope for Christendom to resist, But in their inward concord. True it is that a foreign enemy is a reconciler of brethren; and that common danger holds them together, as long as it lasteth, which else should fly asunder upon every light occasion. But herein me thinketh, it cometh first to be considered, whether the Turk be so fearful a Monarch as is commonly conceived, especially since his late so huge enlargement towards the East, that which most men esteem in him the grand cause ofterrour, seemeth to me a chief argument of the contrary at this present, and that is the hugeness of his Empire. For Empires are then at the strongest, when they are at their biggest, there being a certain due proportion in all things, which they breaking, the that exceed, as well as they that comeshort, may be accōunted huge add vast, but not great, since that is great properly which is great in the actions, which one as often impeacheth by unwildinesse in the big, as by weakness in the little. But if to this be adjoined, (as it sometimes fall out) that there be but a little soul to move this vast body, (which maketh some of the biggest men, to be neither wisest nor valiantest,) and that the government (which is the soul of the state) is scant & feeble, not able to embrace nor order so huge affairs▪ then is their no greater presage of ruin, than the very massiness itself, which every strong push or justle maketh reel and totter for want of that inward strength which were requisite to hold it steady. And this take I to be the state of the Turkish Empire at this day which being a mere tyranny as aiming only at the might tinesse and security of their great Lord, the sole absolute commander, without any respect to the benesite of the people under him, save only so farforth as may serve upon his greatness: and for that cause in his jealousy & distrust of his own, keeping territories half desolate, waste, and un-inhabited, his subjects without heads of Nobility to lead them; without hearts to encourage them to seek their liberty or delivery, abusing them by all kind of bestial education, and oppressing them by all sorts of extortion and outrage, giving the land where he conquereth to his Soldiers, & Timarri, which scattered over all parts of his ample Empire, are the only contented people, & strength (in effect) he hath, as being bound by their tenors to serve whither soever he calls them, & without his charge. This being his state, it is clear, that the wildness & lying waste of his Country, is to the great diminishing of his own wealth and revenue, which is less than some one of our christian princes be at this day, though his Empire be larger than all theirs together. The unpopulousnesse, together with the baseness & feebleness of such as are weak, that no one Country is a defence for himself, but must have the concourse of very many of the rest to assist it: And lastly, the huge circuit of his soil and confines, embracing (as is esteemed) eight thousand miles of land, and of sea, as many, is the cause, that his Timarri cannot assemble together▪ but in very long time, wherein opportunities are often lost, besides the trying both of themselves, & their horses, before they arm. And the truth here of is assured by fresh experience, he having done no great matter in all his wars of Hungary, to speak of, only Germany with some small help of Italy, being opposed against him: But if we consider the effeminateness of the education of their great Earls in these times: a thing which they are advised and constrained unto, even contrary oftentimes, to the manliness of their own natures, and all to keep the father from jealousy of his own son, whose braveness of mind, and warlikenesse, is still suspected, And use, having once soaked into their bones in youth, doth for ever after lose the sinews of manly dispositions, and assubiect them to the softness and baseness of pleasures: considering also the avarice and corruption which reigns there, all peace and war, all friendships and enmities, all favours and wrongs, all counsels and informations, being grown to be saleable. If these be as they are, the signs of the diseased, and prognosticators of a ●ying Monarchy, much more of a tyranny; then surely have we not now so great cause to dread him, as to blame ourselves, and our wrangling who choose thus in practising to exterminate each other, to trace out a dishonourable and fruitless life. At the end finding ourselves at the same, or worse terms than when we began, rather than establishing first a firm accord at home, to attempt with unity, zeal, love and forces, so just, so Christian, so honourable, so rich a war. And verily, if but Princes confining upon him (though agreeing among themselves for the most pat in Religion) were not so strongle infected with emulationand home- ambitions, as ●o condescend to pay Tribute to the Turk in several, for so do they as a redemption, each of them of their peace, whereof it hath no longer assurance than his pleasure, which with double as much underhand bribes and presents must be daily sweetened. And which is yet worse, when he list, cometh to invade any one of them (as he doth for his very exercise, & avoiding tumults at home) the rest do hold off from giving succours to their neighbours, for fear of drawing on revenge upon themselves some other time, which is the cause of the Polonians and Venetians at this present, who scarcely dare so much as pray against them in their devotios, otherwise then in their hearts, which I ween they do duly. where it not I say that their private ambitions, fears, and mistrustes did drive them to make so abject and unchristian choice, as to enthrall themselves into such bonds of tribute, and slavery, to so proud, and insolent, and wicked enemy rather than to join in one course, for the ●oo●ing of him & his tyranny out of this part of the world, it were not so much to be doubted, but the fear now of this side would soon turn to the other, seeing that one good blow to a body so built, & so full of distempers were able to put the whole in danger of ruining, and shivering. These reasons indu●e me not to think that the danger from the Turk should be so great, as to enforce the Christians to run mainly to an accord: and though it should, yet without other sounder working by perfect composing of all inward dissension, this would be but a civil accord, & only for this time, which (the fear once past) would dissolve of itself, and the former contentions revive as fresh as ever. For the bond of common fear, is the strongest indeed of all other, but the shortest withal, which nothing during the danger is able to break, and the danger once past, falls in sunder of his own unsoundness, howbeit if the Turk should set foot in Italy, and abate the Pope's strength, by possessing his State, then would I not doubt much, but that both himself would be content, and all other Princes forward, that some such unity, as is before spoken of, might be established. 
Unity of persuasion  But that is a case as unlikely in short time, as in tract of time not impossible to happen if some manly stow●e Turk, should succeed these womanish. There remains then, the unity by persuasion only, which both sides seem now to ●est on, each practising and hoping in tract of time to eat out the strength of th●ther, by his industry, in drawing away by persuasion his followers and adherents wherein the Protestant accounteth his advantage so much the greater, in that the unity of verity is it which he persuadeth; and truth being by so infinite degrees stronger than unarmeth, having God to bless it, heaven▪ and earth, and all the creatures of GOD to witness it; and falsehood itself (which is always his own cuthroat, by his crossing and contrariety) to yield confession unto it, unless the fault be exceedingly in the ●ādler and pleader, it must needs in the end maugre the malice of all enemies, and craft of all inventions, prevail and have the victory, although the utter abolishment of the Kingdom of Antichrist they refer with the prophecy to the appearance of our Saviour in judgement & triumph, now shortly approaching. On the other side, the Papists hope that their persuasion being seconded by so great Princes authority, and fathered, by so many collateral aids, of motives, and practices, leaving nothing unassayed which may prejudice, inflict, or annoy their opposite; and providing as they do, a perpetual succession of instruments to be employed in each kind over all parts of Christendom, they shall in the end tire, eat out, and utterly consume the strength and stomach of their unpolitique and divided adversaries. In the number whereof, though they score up all religions, especially christian, that acknowledge not the Pope, and the threefold plenitude of his supernal, terrestrial, and infernal power, extending to heaven in canonizing Saints, to the lower parts of the world in ●reeing from Purgatory, & over the earth in being the universal guide and pastor of all man, yet are they not affected to all their opposites in like sort (speaking of such as with whom they live and daily converse,) For, to omit the jew whom they mo●ke with their M●ssias so long in coming, as also the Grecian whom they pity with their Patriarch under the Turkish slavery, their hatred is to the Lutheran, the Author of their calamity. But hatred and fear both of the Calvinists only, whom they account the only growing enemy & dangerous of their state. For 
Lutherans in Germany.  as for the Lutheran he was long since at the highest, & if he fetch an inch forwards one way, for an ell he looseth an other, it is only by a kind of boisterous force and violence against the Ca●vinists as in Strasborough of late. The reason ●herof (besides the absurdities of the ●biquitary Chimaera) ●ath perhaps been in part, for that their opinion took up his seat in Germany, a stiff people, but on heavy, which will hold their own well, but gain little upon other men, whereas the other falling upon a livelier metal, 
Calvinists in France.  of the French especially, who are always stirring and practising upon their neighbous. And more vehement for the while in whatsoever they affect, hath had a very huge increase in latter time, notwithstanding those massacres which have been used to extinguish them, and still growing forwards in all places where once it taketh, and overtoppeth them now, from whose root at first it sprung. This therefore by all means they seek to repress, giving some blind hope to the Lutheran of quiet & toleration, so he will join against these a while the sretters out of both: But of all places, their desires & attempts to recover England have been always▪ & still are the strongest, which in their more sober moods, so many of them will acknowledge to have been the only nation that walk the right way of justifiable reformation, in comparison of other, who have run headlong rather to a tumultuous innovation (so they conceive it) whereas that alteration that hath been in England▪ was brought in with peaceable and orderly proceeding, by general consent of the Prince and whole realm representatively assembled in solemn Parliament a great part of their own Clergy according and conforming themselves unto it, no Luther, no Calvine, the square of their faith, what public discussing & long delberation did persuade them to be faulty, that taken away: The succession of Bishops, and vocation of Ministers continued, the dignity and state of the Clergy preserved, the honour and solemnity of the word of God not abused, the more ancient usages not canceled. In sum, no humour of affecting contrariety, but a charitable endeavour rather of conformity, with the Church of Rome in whatsoever they thought, not gain saying to the express law of GOD, which is the only approoveable way in all new reformations: yet notwithstanding, in regard of the power and renown of the Prince, and of their exemplary policy in government of the state, in regard that they concurring entirely with neither side, yet reverenced of both, are the fit and abler to work unity between them; and to be an umpire also & director, a swayer of all, whensoever there should be an occasion of assembling of their counsels, or conjoining their forces, for their common defence, and especially, for that it is the only▪ Nation of the Protestant party, able to encounter and affront their king Catholics proceed for the rooting out of heresy, as their actions both by sea and land have manifested. Of all places in the world they desire most to recover it, making full account that the rest would then soon follow and apply to them of their own accord one after another. But to as high a tide as they are risen in their desires thereof, to as low an ebb, are they fallen in their hopes, being less now (for aught I perceive) than ever, having seen her Majesty kept, and almost miraculously preserved, their treasons discovered, their excommunications vanished, their armies defeated, their cartels and books answered, their chief champions discouraged, wasted, deceased; those that remain, though many, yet few of ability, insomuch (were it not for some hope of reformation which time may bring) their founders were likely to withdraw from them ere long their stipends, which get them but a name of fruitless liberality. And this is all I can say for any hope or means of this general unity; and so much I leave and recommend it to God, as being both our best and now only remaining policy, to address our united and general supplications to his divine power & majesty. That it may please him, by that everspringing fountain of his goodness & gracious mercy, even beyond all human hope (if it master and so with his blessed will) and by such means as to his Divine wisdom are ever in readiness, to effect those things which to man's wit may seem impossible) to extend his compassionable and helping hand, over his miserable, defiled, and disgraced Church, persecuted abroad, and persecuting itself at home, confined by Tyrants into a corner of the world, and therein raging and renting itself into fitters to purge out of men's minds that ambition & vanity, which so bewitches them with the love of Pomps & glories of this perishing and ending world, which in the breathing of a breath they will loath and despise as nothing, and to graff in them a pure and single eye, to behold the eternal truth (which seen) breedeth love, and love, conducts to happiness; To root out all gall and acerbity on both sides, and to bend their hearts to charity, that being reunited in the pilgrimage of this life, this country of our terrestrial bodies, we may after our service & course therein accomplished, ascend under the conduct of our Saviour, before ascended to our everlasting rest, in the country of our celestial Souls, there in society & unity of Saints and Angels to enjoy the happy vision of the all glorious deity, and to sing his praise for ever.  
I should here make an end concerning the Church of Rome, but that a question incident to the matter, which last was spoken of, being moved by many, & diversely answered, doth summon me to deliver up my conjecture also; and that is, upon what ground of equity or policy the Pope should suffer both the jews and Grecians to have public exercise of their religion in Italy, yea in Rome itself, under his Holiness nose, and only the poor Protestant must be persecuted and chased, if it be possible, out of the world; no view of his religion to other, no exercise of it to himself permitted. For as for the Grecians they have a Church at Venice, with an Archbishop of Philadelphia, a bishop of O●igo, and sundry other Priests to govern it. And the Italians also do often repair unto their Mass. They have their Mass also in Greek with leavened bread & other schismatical ceremonies at Rome itself and in Naples they say their priests retain their wives still by permission from the Pope; in regard that in these places they acknowledge the Pops pre-eminence and power, which at Venice they do not, but a mere primacy of order, which the ancient Councils thought good to give him. No more do Grecians in Apuglia, and Calabria, about Otranto, and at Cassana, nor in Cortu, & other islands adjoining to that coast, being the old remains of the Occidental Grecians, and who have always, and do still follow the Greek Church in all things, though these in Calabria, and Apuglia be subject to the King of Spain, and in his power to root out when soever himself listeth. And yet even in Italy itself doth he suffer them and their Religion, who never could be induced to tolerate the Protestants in any the remotest corner of his huge scattered Monarchy, though the Grecians are condemned Heretics, even in matter of the Trinity, and perpetual oppugners of the Papal right and authority. Then for the jews, they even swarm in the most of the chief parts of Italy, at Rome specially where the least number I could ever hear them esteemed at, is ten thousand and upwards, though others say twice as many. They have there, at the least, four or five Synagogues, both there & elsewhere; their Circumcision, their Liturgies, their Sermons in public, and all that ●i●t may resort unto them: yea, in means of enriching themselves, they are so much favoured, that in all places they are permitted to strain up their usury to eighteen in the hundred upon the Christian, (for among themselves they no where use it) whereas also that sum in a Christian is not tolerated, which causeth many of the Christians to use these jews underhand, in improoving their unlawful rents to their utmost proportion. They have also in some places & it may be in all, a peculiar Magistrate, to decide any controversy between Christians and them, with particular direction to favour them in their trades. And lastly, where France hath banished that race, in Avingnon only the Pope's city are they harboured & retained. Some answer to this demand in defence of the Pope, that the Church hath no authority to chastise the jews, who never were within the Church, but are as enemies in even terms, whereas the Protestants are either unnatural or rebellious children, who have fling out of the Church; or the issue of such, against whom her authority is endless, & unrestrained, to take all courses possible to reclaim them for ever. This answer seems faulty, both as short of the question, seeing it extendeth not to the Grecians, who are in the very same role of Heretics, & Schismatics, flingers out of the Church; & for that there is difference between exercising jurisdiction in punishing an enemy, & not harbouring & cherishing him, and his unlawful and scandalous religion in our very bosoms, as is done in Italy, who have called the jews in thither, yea, & still do entice them whom France, England, & Spain, have banished from them long since. Others leaving these quirks of justice, hold by the text of Charity, That it is a Christian act to harbour a harmless enemy, & especially that it is of all other most befitting the Church, who hath hereby also better means to reduce them to the Faith: And so in fine to save their souls, which is the sum of their endeavours. And in fortifying this answer, there is to be alleged for the first point, that the jews have their Service in Hebrew, and the Grecians in Greek, which Italy understands not, yea, and that they have purged the Hebrew Liturgy from all points wherein they did impugn or scandalise Christianity. And for the second point; that the jews are bound to repair at some times to the Christian Sermons by which means some few of them have been converted and more may be when God shall please so. But neither seems this answer so perfect as were requisite, for the jews do make their Sermons or expositions of the Law in the Italian language, though the text of Scripture they cite in the original. And although they have purged their Liturgies, as they say, yet leaving them Circumcision, they tolerate that which is now intolerable. And as for their gaining of any souls among them, if they gained not more Crowns, that reason would not stand: for if any credit may be given to the Hebrews themselves, as many Friars become jews, as jews become Friars, of both sorts some, but few of either. But of the good provision they have taken to convert them, and of the fruits thereof I shall speak hereafter: In the mean time, this I ask: would they suffer the English Protestants to have an English Church there, none understanding their language, neither in service, nor Sermons, yea and purging their liturgy of whatsoever may seem to impugn or deface their religion (if there be any thing in it of that offensive quality) as for my part I know nothing, but think rather, with great judgement it was purposely so framed out of the grounds of Religion, wherein both sides agree, that their very Catholics might resort to it, without scruple, or scandal, if faction more than reason did not sway. Then for repairing to their Sermons they know by experience they will not be backward, especially having the opinion of great men (as some say) that it is not unlawful. And lastly, what reason why they should not be as hopeful to gain English men's souls as jews? yes, their hope is greater, else would they not be at such cost upon the one abroad, and bestow so little labour upon the other at home. To this question they would answer; first, that there were more danger of flocking away their people, if they should have but once a bare view of our Churches, as being more infectious, therefore no policy. And secondly, to what purpose the making of any such motion, what need unto us, and unto them what profit? This answer deduced from policy and profit I take to be the right answer. Also to the first principal question, and neither of the former drawn from justice or Charity; For there is no cause of any fear at all, either of the oppressed Grecian, or of the obstinate jew, bearing a mark of ignominy and reproach in all places, yea, they remain the rather as examples, and spectacles among them, of contempt and misery; the one for the ungrateful refusal of Christ himself; the other for his sedition against the Vicar of Christ, as they infer against him: whereas to give the Protestant any foot amongst them, were the next way to leave themselves no foot to stand on: On the other side, by extending pity towards the afflicted, and dismayed Grecian, whom the very hand of God hath laid as low as the very dust, they saw some hope of regaining him again under their subjection, which were to them a reputation and strength inestimable, and such as they cunningly by false bruits, cause the wicked daily to feed on. Then for the jew, the profit by him is exceeding great, and greater in proportion of number then by the very Courtesans, and that as well to the Pope, as to other Princes of Italy, to whom they pay a yearly rent for the very heads they wear, besides other means, to rack, and wrack them in their purses at pleasure: which gain, as it is a piece of a cause why the beastly trade of the one; so it is the entire reason why the cruel trade of the other is permitted: they being used as the Friars, to suck from the meanest, and to be sucked by the greatest; insomuch, that the Pope besides their certain tribute, doth sometimes (as is said) impose on them a subsidy for ten thousand crowns extraordinary for some service of state.  
52 Now to consider a little, what probability of their conversion there is in these parts. And by the way to touch somewhat of their religion, and usage. Thus standeth their case; they have a religion, though something strange to our conceits, as being framed, not only out of the law of the old Bible, but also out of sundry capricious fancies & fables of their Rabbins, yet so handsomely peeced and glued together, that one part seems to hang to the other not absurdly. And that which they hold, they are so perfect in, that they will give both a probable account of it out of certain Moral Philosophy, & reason, (wherein they are well seen) as also make some show for it out of the Bible itself, wherein they are the skilfullest men (I believe) in the world. And needs must they be so, setting their children to the Hebrew language at three years old, and following no other study save of the Bible, and writings upon it all their life long, except some few that betake themselves to Physic. Touching God and his nature: Their opinions are for the most part very honourable and holy, save that they deny the trinity. Touching Angels, but weak, and soiled with much Poetry, Touching the nature and condition of man, very exquisite, and for the most part, drawing near unto truth. But for the three states of the soul of man, they run some more strange courses, holding the creation of them altogether with sundry of the ancient, and others, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Pythagoras (though not to different species) and Plato's Purgatory of Virtue and Vice, and man's course; in both they think not much amiss, so that to the expiation of sin, they hold nothing necessary but the repentance of the sinners, and the mercy of the Forgiver, which in that case is always ready; For reward, that it cometh wholly from the bounty of God, without desert, yet different in degree, according to the works of each man. That the general law of all men is the law of nature only, which who so keeps, it shall lead him to bliss, in what Religion soever, though the Hebrews, unto whom the law of Moses was peculiarly given, by observing it shall have a prerogative of glory.  
They prefer the civil life before the solitary, and Marriage before Virginity, as being to Nature more agreeable, to mankind more profitable, and consequently to God more acceptable. Their belief of the end of the world, of the final judgement, of the restoring of men's bodies, and of their happiness everlasting in the height of the heavens, is good in the general: But as they think it a bad opinion which some men seem to hold, That God in his everlasting and absolute pleasure should affect the extreme misery of any of his creatures, for the showing of his justice and severity in tormenting them; Or that the calamity, casting away, and damnation of some should absolutely and necessarily redound more to his glory than the felicity of them all, considering that his nature is mere goodness and happiness, and hath no affinity with rigour or misery: so contrariwise they think with Origen, That hell, in the end, shall be utterly abolished: And that the Devils themselves after a long course of bitter repentance and punishment shall find mercy at his hands that did create them, That the World may be entirely restored unto that purity wherein Almighty God at the first did make it. And to that perfection and happiness whereto each part of it in his several degrees was destined by him, from whom nothing but goodness and blessedness could proceed: Their liturgy in the kind of it, is not much different from ours, consisting in Psalms, and Prayers with sundry short Hymns and Responds of Lessons: One out of the Law, and read by some chief person, an other out of the Prophets, correspondent unto the former in Argument, but is read by some boy or mean companion; For they will in no sort do honour, neither attribute they that authority to any other part of the Bible that they do to their Law, which they do usually carry about their Synagogue at the end of their Service in procession, with many ornaments of Crowns and Sceptres, the children kissing it, as it doth pass by them. And sometimes do they make proclamation, who will give most to their treasure, to have the honour of that time of taking out of the Law. But for the manner of performing their service and their behaviour thereat, it is different from all other that ever I saw; They chant it in a strange wild hallowing tune, with imitating sometimes trumpets, and echoing one to another, and winding up by degrees from a soft or silent whispering to the highest and loudest notes that their voices will bear, with continual great wagging of their bodies, and exultation, as it were, in some savage and raging solemnity, sometimes all springing up lightly from the ground, and with as much variety as wild work will receive, They wear certain Ornaments of embroidered linen, cast mantle-wise about their shoulders, which are their phylacteries edged with knotted, fringe, according to the number of the Commandments, and serving as local memories of the Law. The reverence they show, is in standing up at times, and the gesture of adoration in bowing forwards of their bodies; for kneeling they use none, no more than do the Grecians; neither stir they their bonnets in their Synagogue to any man, but remain still covered: They come to it with washed hands, and in it, they burn Lamps to the honour of God: but for any show of devotion, or elevation of spirit, that, yet in jews could I never discern; but they are as reverend in their Synagogues, as Grammar boys are at School, when their master is absent: in sum, their holiness is the very outward work itself, being a brainless head and soulless body. For circumcision they use it to the dead aswell as to the living, yet no way think it necessary for the infant's salvation: They are a subtle and advantageous people, and wonderful eager or gain, insomuch, that whoso deals with them, needs let his wit go with his belief, or else his findings shall come short to his expecting; as earnest to make Proselits as ever were their ancestors, and as obstinate against Christ as the Priests that condemned him. In other points they are, perhaps, rather to be commended than otherwise. Their care of avoiding fornication is such, that they do marry their sons at eighteen years: but adultery they would pupunish with death, if they had liberty; when they break the Law, they come to their Rabbi for punishment, yet without any particular disclosing of their fault: they keep their fasts and feasts very duly: But as the Christians fast the night, so they the noon always: They are charitable among themselves, leaving no poor unrelieved, no prisoner unransomed, which maketh them good price upon every pretence. And although for their usury and guileful dealing they are generally hated there, and handled like very dogs, yet some of them I have known m●n of singular virtue and integrity of mind, seeming to want no grace but the faith of a Christian: Each Synagogue hath his Rabbi to expound their Law, to instruct their children, to decide their differences. For their Massias, they say now, seeing he stays so long, he shall be a forerunner of the end of the world, and shall gather by his power, all nations into one fold, and so resign them up into the hands of that eternal Pastor. But it doth seem they expect him out of the East, whither the Spanish jews fled, and have exceedingly multiplied, for those do they hold to be of the Tribe of juda, and the other in Germany and in Italy to be of the Tribe of Benjamin, who in honour of the more noble Tribe, and to correspond with them the better, do learn the Spanish tongue which those still retain.  
53 But now to come to the point which I principally intended, which is, what probability there is of their conversion 
Touching the jew conversion.  in Italy: Three great impediments, besides their natural and inrooted obstinacy I suppose there are which hinder it. The scandals of the Christians, the want of means to instruct them, & the punishment or loss which by their conversion they incur. A scandal it is to see man's law 
Scandals given ●o the jew.  preferred before Gods, to see so great a matter made of eating flesh upon a friday: and that adultery should pass for so ordinary a pastime; a scandal are all these blasphemies darted up with hellish mouths against God and our Saviour, so ordinarily and openly, that some of them are become very Interjections of speech to the vulgar, and othersome mere phrases of gallantry to the braver: a scandal is the forging and packing of miracles, wherein the Friars and jews concur in equal diligence, the one in contriving, the other in discovering them. And surely this is an exceeding great scandal to them; seeing truth is of so pure and victorious a nature, that it refuseth to be in league with any falsehood in the world, much more disdaineth to be assisted by it: neither can there be a greater wrong done to a true conclusion, then to endeavour to prove it by an untrue allegation: a scandal is the alterations which they are forced by the inquisitors to make in their Authors and monuments of antiquity, thinking that these devises are our best evidences. But of all these alterations, they keep a note for a time: A scandal is the vowing and praying to Angels and Saints, which they hold to be the duties peculiar to God only, and so hath it been esteemed among them in all ages: yea, and they note that the Christians pray more often and more willingly unto Christ's mother, then unto Christ himself, or to God. But the greatest scandal of all others, is their worshipping of Images, for which both jews & lurks call them Idolatrous Christians. Now this is so much the greater, & of more indignity, for that they generally conceive it to be a thing which Christ himself expressly commanded, and that in the Gospel of Christ, written by the Evangelists themselves; that the Decalogue should be recited with omission of the second Precept, as one of their greatest Rabbins contested with me, being induced into that error by some Catechism of the Christians, which he had seen with that fault. Now when they come to conference with the Priests & Friars, (as sometimes they do), they upbraid this as a peremptory exception against Christ: those good men deny it not for fear of scandalising their own, but letting it pass for currant; that Christ, whom the jews call a Carpenter's son, was an Image-maker: or howsoever, an Author of the worshipping of them, seeking to sa●●e up the gash which they have made in the plain words of that Law which was written by the finger of God, with their speculative plasters of distinguishing between the Image of the true God, and the Idols of the false gods, of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of intention instrumental, & final in worship; all which are the unfavorest dregs to the jew in the world, who faith; there was never yet Nation in the world under the Sun, so blockish as to worship a stock and stone, as a final object, but only as a representer of some absent divinity, and that the heathen themselves call them the Effigies and symulacra of other; yet such Effigies, as that the divine power by his virtue, did sometimes inhabit & work miracles by, even as our Lady doth in her images in diverse places of Christendom; whereby, if the poor idiot were deceived among the Pagans', to think sometimes that very image some diviner person, as clear it is, that the like befalls infinite simple christians, seeing their images either to groan or to weep and bleed, as they do often, and so infinite cares wrought by viewing and touching them: And for their degrees of worship between God's image & the Saints, they cannot perceive them, they kneel to them alike, they pray to them alike, they vow to them alike, they incense them alike, they burn candles to them alike, they cloth them alike, they offer gifts to them alike: the difference (if it be any) is in their mental affections, which whether the blunt and undistinguishing wits of the vulgar do observe, they suppose a small measure of discretion may conjecture. In like sort, for their distinction between the images of the true God, 〈…〉 of the false gods: they tell them that in other cases that might have his place; but now in this law, it being expounded in other places as prohibiting this base & sensual seducing kind of worshipping God himself by an image (if any image of God were possible to be made) That thus the law itself doth plainly deliver: thus they which received the law understood it, thus all their holy ancestors & learned doctors have still interpreted it▪ and thus hath their nation in all ages believed: and therefore they say, for their coming to the Christians sermons; that as long as they shall see the Preacher direct his speech and prayer to that little wooden crucifix that stands on the pulpit by him, to call it his Lord and Saviour, to kneel to it, to embrace it, to kiss it, to weep upon it, (as is the fashion of Italy) this is preaching sufficient for them & persuades them more with the very sight of it, to hate Christian religion, than any reason that the world can allege to love it: and those be the scandals which I heard themselves allege they take on that side, besides their Transubstantiation, which they can at no hand digest: The particular scandals from the Protestants, is their mutual dissensions which they hold to proceed from the want of the unity of truth in their foundations, otherwise save for their general exceptions against Christianity, they hold their religion very conformable to the law of Nature, which they account the principal. But were all the unneedefull scandals in those parts removed, yet is their no good means there of the jews conversion used. They complain first, that the new Testament, being the ground of our religion, they cannot see it. That Italian translation which they had, is called in, and taken from them, it is printed in Hebrew letters, but not in Hebrew language, at leastwise, not in such as they can understand. With Greek and Latin their nations never meddled: besides which, the Inquisitors have inhibited and taken from them, all books that were ever published in that theme on either side, as well those that have been written in defence of christian religion, as also the contrary against it, alleging they will have no disputing in matter of religion either way, much like to an Edict set up at Dola, in the french County, where the jesuits reside, forbidding any talk of God, either in good sort, or in bad. Then lastly, for those few sermons they are bound to repair to, seldom are they directed to the points they stick on, but hold on their usual tenor, as respecting merely the Christians. The last discouragement to men, especially of their metal, is, that at their conversion to Christianity, they must quit their goods to the Christians. And the reason is, for that in baptism they re-renounce the devil and all his works, part whereof, are the jews goods being gotten, either of themselves, or of their ancestors by usury. Now this is such a cold comfort to a man set on the world, (as that Nation is wonderfully) that for my part I have not hard of any converted in those parts, save some Physicians, with some of their children, who by friendship to the Pope, have obtained dispensation to retain their goods still, in as much as they were gotten by their honourable profession. But if on the contrary fide, the Christians would again in their charity, give somewhat for the competent entertainment of such as for God's sake did give up their own, I could not but well commend that rigour of justice, which the bountifulness of this mercy did mitigate and asweeten. But being no such matter, there remains nothing for a jew converted, but to be friared, a trade which of all other they lest can fancy, as being contrary (as they allege to Nature itself) which hath made man sociable, and each helpful to other in all civil duties, a trade never commanded or commended by God, never practised nor counseled by their renowned ancestors, who received continual instruction and inspiration from above, which none of their Patriarches or Prophets hath given example of. Only in three or four thousand years, Elias and some one other, hath been found, upon very extraordinary cause, to have taken also an extraordinary course of life, though of other nature, and to other purpose then the votaries of our times. And these are the terms that the jews stand on in those parts: and so must I leave them to the merciful care of God, an unblessed and forsaken people, obstinate within, and scandalised without, indefatigable in their expectations, untractable in persuasion, worldly, yet wretched, received of their enemies, but despised and hated, scattered over all countries, but no where planted, daily multiplying in number, but to the increase of their servitude, and not to their power. In sum, a long continued and marked example of God's just severity to abate their pride, that glory even as they in their ancestors and founders, God's Temple, and Oracles, promises, and many prerogatives, long continuance in honourable estate and glory, (which things, if they were sufficient to preserve any seat in the world, even their seat had been preserved by them) and to proclaim to the whole world, that there is no assurance of the favour, protection, and assistance of God, (without which all falls to ruin) but in believing in his Son, and in keeping his commandments. And this also may serve touching the Church of Rome sufficient. 
The Greek Church.   
Next followeth the Greek Church enthralled (all in a manner save the Muscovites and Candians, with some few other of no great name or number) under the Turkish tyranny: of which Church, as their far distance from us requireth not to speak much, so their uniformity in misery, yieldeth not much to be spoken for their Religion, except only their ancient error, touching the proceeding of the Holy Spirit from the Father alone, wherein they have long dissented from all Latin or West Churches. In other points they seem to stand in some middle terms of opinion, between the Romish and the Protestants, in the more weighty, or at the leastwise in the dominative. With Rome they concur in the opinion of Transubstantiation, and generally in the service, and whole body of the Mass, in praying to Saints, in auricular confession, in offering of sacrifice, and prayer for the dead, and in these, without any, or with no material difference. They hold Purgatory also and the worshipping of pictures: but for images, they will not so much as endure them in their Churches. As well for the proclivity they have to train away the ignorant into the crime of Pagan errors, as also to avoid that similitude between their Churches and Heathenish Temples of Idols, which imagery doth cause. And for their pictures, they kneel to two only, to Christ, and our Lady: the rest they pass over with an ordinary reverence. For Purgatory they hold none, in hell, or in the skirts thereof, or by any outward torment, but that the souls of the faithful are not received into glory, till by an extreme compunction and anguish of mind, they have worn out those stains with which the same, and the pleasures thereof in this life, defile them. In sum, those opinions which grew into the Church before that separation between the Greeks & the Latins, and all those ceremonies which were common unto both, they still retain, as their cross, and tapers, with certain other. But for these superstitions which have crept in fresh memory, or which were as ancient, yet not so currant; and in general, all those Canons of the Romish faith, which have been thrust on the Church in those times, by the unaccountable power & pride of the Papacy, tending to the advancement of their own Sea, and to the exempting of their Church & doctrine from trial, by those anabaptistical fancies of the spirit, that man's them, and protecteth them from error in their consultations or resolution touching matter of faith, extenuating the sufficiency and authority of the Scriptures in comparison of their spirit, or Church guided by it; all these things they abhor no less than the Protestant: they hold understanding requisite to concur with affection, for the accomplishment of devotion in praying to God. And although their Liturgies be the same that in the old time, namely; Saint Basil's, Saint Chrysostom's, and Saint Gregory's translated, without any bending of them to that change of language which their tongve hath suffered, yet do they say, that alteration is not so great, but that their people with small accustoming, understand the language well enough. But by praying with Saint Dominickes round counters, they esteem of it no better than those heathenish repetitions, and unnatural lip-labour which our Saviour censureth: neither can they believe that the Apostle james the lesser, who is painted under the Papacy with his great beads at his girdle, even as Mary Magdalen lightly praying before a crucifix, was Saint Dominicks disciple, but a wiser man's far, & one that introduced a better fashion of praying, if the world would have been contented to have followed his prescripts. In like sort, for the holy water so much used under the Papacy, they believe no such fear, that the devil should have of it, nor such force in it as to purge sin as their neighbours do teach: they repute it a very vain opinion, that the Church cannot err, both in the whole, & in every part thereof: and consequently, that their neighbours of Rome had bestowed their pains better, which they have spent, in proving & persuading that they cannot err, in providing & caring more not to have erred. They acknowledge that there is sufficient doctrine in Scripture for salvation, though to the ancient usages of the Church, & writings of the fathers, they yield due reverence. Three things in the Pope they condemn, especially his pride, in arrogating of so exorbitant a jurisdiction over all Churches, contrary to the decrees of antitient Counsels, & upon no shadow of right or good foundation, but chief in usurping that temporal tyranny over Princes & the States, in deposing of the one, & disposing of the other at his absolute pleasure; his cruelty in persecuting other Christians with such extremity (for their different opinions) his presumption in mounting to the seat of God, by dispensing with the law of God & granting pardon for sin, & liberty out of Purgatory, which they accounted to be of those royal prerogatives incident to God only. For as for the doctrinal foundations of these indulgences, the overplus of merits & satisfactions, in some being more than they needed, or then were to be required of any joys of heaven, in their particular persons, & consequently remain as a perpetual treasure to the Church, to be conferred by the Pope, on his weaker & lesser deserving, or rather less satisfying children (for so is their opinion) so far are they from prising m●●ts at such an estimable value, that contrariwise they concur in assertion with the Protestants, that it is impossible for any creature to merit, as by way of right, the least dram of reward at, his Creator's hands; the service of ten thousand millions of worlds, being not able to add any shadow of perfection to him, who is perfection itself, having whatsoever is good or desirable within himself, even from all eternity, in infinity of degrees & with impossibility of any the least addition. But whatsoever reward is bestowed upon the Creature, floweth forth from the mere bounty & graciousness of the Creator, who as in goodness alone & mere grace did make him, so also in mere grace doth advance him to that high happiness. That service intermedial which he requireth, is a gracious disposition of sweetest harmony, from the inexplicable wisdom of a Lord & Father, still abounding & enlarging his hands in all bounty & goodness towards his sons and servants, & destined to no others than to the creatures mere benefit & advancement only; that by his requisite endeavours in those honourable ways of wisdom & virtue, of love & thankfulness, & of imitating of his Maker in doing good in the world, he may grow to a higher degree of glory, which is proposed & reserved by that great rewarder in the height of the heavens, as a full & final accomplishment of his whole deserts, as the Crown of his celestial blessedness. Now, as in this opinion they agree in general with Protestants doctrine, so do they mightily descent from that doctrine, touching the eternal counsels of God, which Calvine (as some conceive) first revealed or rather introduced into the world. And since, some of his friends and fellows have seconded, as thinking it very injurious to the goodness of God, & directly & immediately opposite to his nature, in regard whereof, one of their Bishops hath written a book against it, which hath been sent to Geneva, and there received. Thus much of their doctrine, which though it may better and fuller be taken out of their Books, yet have I thought not inconvenient to deliver this in brief, how I have found them also in speech and conference affected.  
55 Their Liturgies, for the most part, are those three I have named, all which they use for variety's sake in the several feasts and times allotted for them. For the form and ceremonies, they much resemble the Latins, though of the two the French Mass more than the Italian, not only in their holy bread, but especially in their Altar, which with great mystery (as is said) they both enclose from the people, that the Arcana of those their ineffable cross and converting, may not be prostituted and Polluted by unsanctified view, whereas the Romans lie open on all sides to all eyes. In their host they use leaven, which the Latins avoid. They elevate it forward, which the Latins do backward, and near the body of the Church, which the other do at the Altar. In their cross they are very plentiful, but herein swerving from the Latins. The Greek, who is more nimble therein, beginneth his cross on the right side, and the Latins on the left, each with his several mystery. They have also a shifting▪ in one, and the same Mass, from one Altar to another, which the Latins have not, who contrariwise have in a Church a dozen Masses, sometimes all going at once at several Altars, which the Grecians use not for aught I could see; they have much ado with their lights, in putting them out, and in again, at several times and parts of their service, & their Liturgy is much intermeddled with singing performed in a tune, neither artificial nor altogether neglected, but grave alternated & branched with divers parts. At the Creed the Priests come forth to the door of the chancels, & hold up a little embroidered picturé of Christ, towards which they do reverence, and pronounce their be lief. Their gesture, or reverence, are the very same with the jews, standing up and bowing forwards their bodies at times; for kneeling they use none, save only (as they say) one day in the year. At there coming, they bow themselves thri●e toward the Altar, and three times cross themselves at their departure, having taken their holy bread with kissing their Prelates hands, from whom they receive it, they finally salute the pictures of Christ, & our Lady, kissing their hands which are plated over with metal for wearing. But the Grecians pictures of Christ, & of our Lady, are nothing like the Latins, but as different as any two ordinary faces that a man shall see. The most uniformity therein that I have seen, is with us in England, For in Italy there is little, especially of our Lady, whose very pictures, which they say S. Luke himself partly did draw, & partly begun, & an Angel did finish, may argue more devotion towards her in the drawer, than acquaintance, unless her face were very variable or their skill very slender. somewhere, as at Loretto, she is painted like a Blackmore: In sum, they have so little knowledge of her countenance and favour, that in some places they will assemble divers of their fairest Courtesans, to draw the most modest beauty of a Virgin, out of the flagrancie of harlots. But to return to the Grecians, and to come now to their government, which is ancient, by patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops, with other orders inferior, unto whom the people carry exceeding respect, as it were, to the public fathers, and heads of their nation; notwithstanding that calamity wherein the tyranny of the Turk hath plunged them. They have also a religious order amongst them, of S. Basill, the great founder of the East Monks; and S. Benedict of the West. These only have their vows of chastity & austerity, and may not marry, which to the rest of their Clergy is not prohibited; they have also their proper habit, but shaved they are not, for aught I could discern; no more are their Priests, being a ceremony so bald, that some Priests in France are ashamed of the mark, and few of them have it that can handsomely avoid it. But as in the multitude of their religious orders, they differ much from the West Church, the Grecians having only this order of S. Basil, & the Latins having multiplied therein to greater store & variety, then are professions in a common wealth, or trades in a city, so also in their use & course of life. For the Roman monks by withdrawing themselves from the society of other men, and living and dying within their Cells, do bereave the world of that benefit, and of that duty and service wherein each man is bound to the behoof of other, alleging in place thereof the blessings which by their assiduity and fervour in prayer not interrupted nor cooled by secular commercements, nor drawn down upon the world, do grow unto the Church, whereas the Grecians continue that more approved institution of them by spiritual meditations, and exercises, and by severity to make themselves fitter to serve in the Church of God, in ecclesiastical calling with exemplary holiness. And accordingly their Prelates and other principal priests are chose in many places out of one of their order, & in greatest part these guides of their Church, have a wonderful care, and are continually pricked with the motion of much fear and grief of heart, lest their persecuted flock, gasping in helpless and comfortless exreamitie of all misery, having famine of soul, and great blindness within, for lack of a Pastor, & means to maintain them, without, seeing nothing but triumphs over Christ, and scorners of his religion, insolencies, and violences against their persons, oppressions, and extortions upon their goods, rapines, and murderings upon the very souls of their children; (a case to be bewailed with tears of blood by all Christian hearts that knew it, hearing the only anchor and stay of their souls (which is the expectation of the coming of Christ, and of future salvation) daily derided and blasphemed by the pride of the mighty. And finally, seeing no shadow of any hope of delivery from this calamity, (under the burden whereof they groan) should in the end fall away, and revolt to turcism, inviting them thereunto with so many baits of pleasures, of freedom, and of worldly glory. In which fearfulness of mind, the only remedy remaining, is the virtuousness of their own example, in constancy and patience, and avoiding of all scandal to their people, which is the cause that they will not hear of any reformation of any thing: not, I suppose, for any presumption or obstinacy of mind, as disdaining reformation, but all trembling at alteration which must needs accompany it, lest their people perceiving how they had been amiss in something, might suspect the possibility of like error in the whole, & fall mainly whither the force of power, & worldly prosperity (a chief argument to the vulgar mind) should sway them: & on the other side, their doubt of further exasperating the Turk in his cruelty against them (considering that in Greece and in all those parts of Europe, the Christians under the Turk, do very manifoldly exceed in number the Mahometitians themselves) may be a cause, why in their general they hold so small intelligence, and correspondence with the West Church of one side or other, and are like to continue so, whilst their thraldom and cause of that fear shall last, though in their particular, they will declare a brotherly affection of both, and desire of the unity of all in one truth. But for the Turk himself, he maketh full account, that whensoever the West Christians should shortly invade him, these Christians under him would run to their aid, if they saw any likelihood that they should prevail. And this hath been seen already more than once by example, and he provideth accordingly.  
The Moscovites are a great Church, a free and puissant, not Schismatics from the other Grecians (as some in disgrace 
Moscovites.  of both deliver) though, perhaps, not concurring fully in all points, neither is it true which other of a contrary conceit have rumoured, that the Patriarch of Constantinople had removed his Seat to Moscow, whither he went, only to erect that See into an archbishopric, which before it was not, & returned. But the Turk to keep the Moscovites from stirring against him, causeth the Tartarians to make often incur sions & roads into their country, that so being held always in awe on one side, they may have less stomach on the other to embrace any thoughts or designs of interprising or combining with other Christians against him. It were needless now to enter into any view of their lives, neither could it serve either way to their honour, or reproach of their Religion and government, being maimed, interrupted, or stopped in his operations, of what quality soever, through his tyranny, who strives to plant barbarousness among them, as knowing, that neither civility founded his Empire, nor with civility could it long continue. But the case is general, and experience shows it in all places, that the afflicted in all religions, how contrary soever, are, for the most part, men of conscience and honesty, save only where hopes draw other humours to them. For it cannot come from less than a virtuous affection, to prefer the sincerity of conscience before worldly glory, howsoever it may be stained with erroneous opinions: as on the contrary side even the purest religion in prosperity draws it to an infinity of timeservers, who being trained up in the exactions of cup discipline, make their Rendezvous where the best cheer is stirring, and follow Christ upon a sharp devotion, but to his bread, not to his doctrine. In which regard, the fruits of life in diverse religions and governments are not to be compared, but where their prosperity and adversity are equal; So falls it out in this particular we now speak of, where the Grecian who is counted by the corruption of his country, to be naturally a crafty merchant, a seditious person in all kinds of government, is now become humble, obedient, and peaceable; and at divine service gives show of more devotion than the Romanist in any place, for aught I have yet seen. But the lamentable calamity of this afflicted & distressed Church once flourishing in all worldly glory (now such as it hath pleased the wild boar to leave it) is able to dissolve a marble heart into streams of tears, & causeth me, in true sense of compassion of their misery, to wish with the humble petition of a mind pierced with grief, to the just judge of the world, redeemer of mankind, and saviour of his people, to cast down his pitiful eyes upon them; to behold on one side his triumphing fierce enemies persecuting without measure; on the other, his poor servants trodden down & persecuted without help, hope, or comfort; to dissolve the pride and power of the one, to comfort the astonished and wasting weakness of the other, with some hope of succour and final delivery; to inspire the hearts of Christian Princes, (their neighbours) compounding or laying aside their endless and fruitless contentions, to revenge their quarrel against their unjust oppressor; to deliver now, at length, the Church of that bane, the world of that ignominy, mankind of that monster of Turkish tyranny, that hath too long reigned and laid the earth desolate: A small thing were it, if this revenue and treasure were only supplied and maintained out of their goods and labours, or if their bodies and lives were only wasted and worn out in his works & slaveries, it might be suffered, for goods are transitory, and death the end of all worldly miseries: But to be forced to pay a tribute also of souls to his Mahomet, to have their dearest children snatched out of their bosoms, to be brought up in his impious abomination, and to be employed in murdering them that begat them, and in rooting out of the faith, wherein they were borne and baptised, and which only were able to bring their souls into happiness. This surely is a calamity insupportable, and which crieth out unto God in the heavens for relief. How long shall that hateful name of that cursed seducer upbraid the glorious & lovely name of our Saviour? How long shall his falsehood insult over our faith? how long shall his barbarism oppress our civility, & his tyranny affront the true honour of all lawful government? but how long soever, this stands firm for ever, that the judgements of God are just, & directed in his sharpest chastisements to the benefit of the world and instruction of men, & sound to us: that if those people amongst which our Saviour himself conversed, at what time his beautiful steps honoured this world, with those Churches which his Apostles so industriously planted, so carefully visited, so tenderly cherished, instructed, & confirmed, by so many peculiar Epistles, and for whom they sent up so many servant prayers; yea, to whom are remaining those particular letters which the spirit of the highest indicted in the very heavens, and sent down unto them. Aforewarning of that plague which is since befallen them, if besides these spiritual prerogatives and graces, the puissance and glory of the great empire of the world; the christian empire of Rome being translated unto them, & seated in their lap and with promise of perpetuity to their present prosperity, such than was the strength thereof: Notwithstanding when they fell away from their first zeal & charity, when knowledge, the right mother of humility, made them swell, when they envied each others graces, which they ought to have loved, when abundance of all things bred wantonness instead of thankfulness. In fine, when they forgot the Author of all their bliss, and fell to snarling and biting one another, instead of putting up and forgiving of offences, if not for the name of Brotherhood, yet for his sake, who was father and equal lord of both: it pleased God to suffer a base thief and a wicked, with a train of vagabonds (to the eternal reproach of all their wisdom and policy) to advance himself so by his industry and their security, and to grow to such an height in his successors and followers, as to be a terror and amazement to all the world, and to themselves an unexplicable & unsuccorable calamity to strip them of all those graces and blessings which ungratefulness would not acknowledge, pride and wantonness did abuse: And to heap on them as much misery, as the cruelty of a barbarous and merciless tyrant can inflict upon such as have no means to appease him, save their calamity alone, or to withstand him, besides their patience, then surely we who come short of them so far in pledges of favour, and equal them in our faults, And they who have had in particular the like threatening caveats of cutting off: notwithstanding the virtues of their honourable ancestors▪ may think it high time to enter into a more serious cogitation of their ways, to turn all their policies & contentions against others, into an humble and sincere examination of ourselves, that repentance and amendment may prevent those punishments which our wickedness hath deserved, and obstinacy now highly doth provoke.  
58 It remaineth that I should proceed to the churches reform, of which there are many things also to be said; But my length in my former (drawn on by multitude and variety of matter still freshly presenting itself contrary to my intention) doth cause me to defer the rest till some other occasion. In the mean while it doth humbly and gladly submit itself to be censured and controlled by those of wisdom, experience and judgement. For howsoever, I have waded herein with that uprightness of mind, which becometh a lover and searcher of truth: And have also to my best, avoided that rashness and lightness in belief, which they that are subject unto, shall swallow down many a morsel, which will fill them with wind instead of good juice & nourishment: yet viewing on the other side in such a multitude at this day, perhaps with like integrity, equal wariness, more diligence, and manifoldly more means of certain informations, have delivered either histories, or other particular relations, how few there are that have not stumbled upon many an error, where they thought was nothing but plain ground and truth: I cannot have any affiance or presumption of my good fortune, as to hope to be the man alone that should hit truth in all things, But rather as foreseeing almost an impossibility of not often erring in matter.  
FINIS.