A text-book of popery; comprising a brief history of the Council of Trent, a translation of its doctrinal decrees, and copious extracts from the catechism published by its authority; with notes and illustrations: to which is added, in an appendix, the doctrinal decrees, and canons of the Council of Trent, in Latin, as published at Rome, anno Domini 1564: the whole intended to furnish a correct and complete view of the theological system of popery

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Preface

Mr. Butler maintains, in his ''Book of the Roman Catholic Church," that, "in every religious controversy between Protestants and Roman Catholics, the follow* ing rule should be rigidly observed: — ^That no doc-^ trine should be ascribed to the Roman Catholics as a body J except such as is an article of their faithV'"^

Protestants have no objections to meet their oppo* nents on their own terms. The articles of faith of the Roman Catholic church are to be found in its accredited creeds, catechisms, formularies, and decrees. These received the finishing touch at the council of Trent. The doctrinal decisions of that assembly are held sacred by every Roman Catholic, in every country.

In compiling this small volume, the author has aimed to delineate the theological system of the Romish church, as definitively and authoritatively settled at Trent, and exhibited in the decrees of the council, its catechism, and the creed of Pope Pius IV. He has also endeavoured to render the v/ork interesting to general readers by interweaving historical sketches, illustrative of the spirit and tendency of the sentiments maintained by Roman Catholics. The whole is intended to present a picture of Popery as it is^ fairly and faithfully drawn.

Si, Peterh, Isle of Tfiamt, May 20, 1831.

1*

J. M. C,

CONTENTS,

Chapter I. Introductory Sketch

State of Religion and Morals in Europe at the Commencement of the Sixteenth Century — Rise of the Reformation — Luther's Appeal to a Comicil — His Condemnation by Leo X. — Diet of Worms — Adrian VI. and the Diet of iNuremburg — The Hundred Grievances — Clement VH. — Diet of Augsburg — Expectation of a Council — Peace of Nuremburg — Paul HI. — A Council summoned — Its Postponement — Commission of Cardinals to inquire into Abuses — Their Report — Convocation of a Council at Trent — Its Suspension — Diet of Spire — Re-assembly of the Council at Trent .....Page 13

Chapter II. The Church

Description of Trent — Progress of the Reformation — State of parties — Character of the Legates — Intentions of the Emperor — Fears of the Pope — Opening of the Council — Bishop of Bitouto's Sermon — Measures taken by the Pope to manage the Council — Various Disputes — Second Session — Exhortation of the Legates — Discussions on the method of procedure — The plan adopted — Third Session — The Creed Recited — Marks of the Church enumerated — Infallibility — Exclusive salvation 28

Chapter III. The Rule Of Faith

Rejection of the Council by the Protestants — Discussions on the Canon of Scripture — Tradition — the Vulgate Version — and the Right of Interpretation — Fourth Session — Decree on Scripture and Tradition — Manner in which it was received by Protestants- Explanatory Observations and Reflections ..,'.... 48

Vm -- CONTENTS,

Chapter IV. Original Sin

Debates on the Right of the Regulars to preach and dehver Lee lures — Treatment of the Bishop of FsesuU — Debates on Original Sin — The immaculate Conceptionof the Virgin — Fifth Session — Decree on Original Sin , Page 69

Chapter V. Justification

Alliance between the Pope and Emperor against the Protestants — Discussions at Trent, on justification, free will, and predestination — Negotiations for the transfer of the Council — Episcopal residence considered — Sixth Session — Decree on Justification, and on Episcopal Residence — Manner in which the decree on Jusr tification was received by the Protestants — Observations on it — Publications of Catharine; Soto, and Andrew Vega 8^

Chapter VI

THE SACRAMENTS. — BAPTISM. CONFIRMATION.

Discussions on the doctrine of the Sacraments, and on baptism and confirmation — Debates on pluralities — Memorial presented by the Spanish bishops— Seventh Session — Decreeonthe sacraments, and on baptism and confirmation — also on reform, chiefly plurali^ ties — Infectious fever at Trent— Resolution taken to transfer the Council to Bologna — Eighth Session — The Spanish bishops refuse to leave Trent — Observations on the transfer — Indignation of the Emperor — Proceedings at Bologna — Ninth and Tenth Sessions — Diet of Augsburg— Submission of the Protestants procured — The Pope refuses to restore the Council to Trent —The Emperor protests against it — The interim — Suspension of the Council — Death of the Pope. , , . . , 119

CHAPTER Vn.

THE EUCHARIST.- — TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

Election of JuUus III. to the Papal chair — Negotiations between the

Pope and the emperor respecting the resumption of the council

Publication ofthe bull—Objections of the Protestants — The council re-opened — Eleventh Session — Twelfth Session Exhortation of the Legates — Protestation of the King of France—^ Debates on the Eucharist, and on appeals to Rome — Thirteenth Session— Decree on the Eucharist — Postponement of certain articles till the arrival ofthe Protestants— Safe conduct granted them •-AmbasfladorB from the Elector of Brandenburg . . , , 148

CONTENTS. IX

Chapter VIII. Penance

Rejection of the Safe-conduct by the Protestants — Discussions oii Penance---Opposition to Reform— Affair of the Bishop of Verdun — Arrival of Protestant ambassadors from Wirtemburg, Strasburg, &c. — Fourteenth Session — Decree on Penance — Reflections thereon — Detection af error in the Decree after its publication , , 179

Chapter IX. Extreme Unction

Decree on Extreme Unction^Reflections— Decree on Reformation — Arrival of ambassadors from Maurice of Saxony — Negotiations respecting a new Safe-conduct — Refusal to meet the wishes of the Protestants — The Protestant ambassadors admitted to audience — Defeat of the Legate's project to estabhsh the uncontrolled despotism of the Pope — Fifteenth Session — Insolent Sermon preached by a Monk — Six Protestant Divines arrive at Trent — Their ineffectual attempts to obtain a hearing — War between Charles V. and Maurice of Saxony — Sixteenth Session — Suspension of the Council , 210

Chapter X. Communion In One Kind

Abortive project of reform at Rome — Death of Julius III. — Election of Marcellus II. — His death — Election of Paul IV. — Peace of Passau — Arrogant behaviour of the Pope — His pretended anxiety for reform — Proceedings of the Inquisition in Italy — State of affairs in Europe in 1559— Death of Paul IV. — Election of Pius IV. — Re-assembly of the Council projected — Negotiations on that subject — Nuncios sent to Germany and other countries — Appointment of Legates — Re-opening of the Council — Seventeenth Session — The prohibition of books considered — Historical notices — Eighteenth Session — Decree on prohibited books — Safe-conduct issued to the Protestants — Debates on the divine right of residence — Nineteenth Session — Arrival of the French ambassadors — th^lr reception — Treatment of the reforming bishops — Twentieth Session — Debates on Communion in one kind, and the concession of the cup to the laity — Efforts of the Bavarian, Imperial, and French ambassadors to procure that privilege — Postponement of the question — Twenty-first Session — Decree on communion in one kind — Observations — Decree on reform . .237

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XL

THE MASS.

Discussions on the Mass — Debates on the concession of the cup to the laity — Division on that question — Subsequent determination to refer it to the Pope — Twenty-second Session— Decree on the Mass— Reflections 264

CHAPTER Xn.

THE PRIESTHOOD.

Determination to close the Council — Debates on the sacrament of orders, and on the divine right of episcopacy and of residence — Arrival of the cardinal of I.orraine, and the French prelates — their views and intentions — Fears of the papal party — Miscellaneous historical notices — Frequent prorogations of the session — Twenty-third Session — Decree on the sacrament of orders — View of the spiritual and temporal power of the Pope — Decree of reformation. , \ 287

CHAPTER Xin.

CELIBACY OF THE PRIESTHOOD MONASTICISM.

Crafty policy of the Legates with respect to reform — Twenty-fourth Session — Decree on Matrimony — Doctrine and practice of the Church of Rome in regard to the cehbacy of the Clergy — Monasticism, and its effects — Decree respecting the Monastic Orders 317

CHAPTER XIV.

PURGATORY INDULGENCES.

Haste to finish the Council — News of the Pope's illness — Twenty-fifth AND LAST SESSION — Dccrec on Purgatory — Further illustrations of the sentiments and practice of the Roman Catholic Church on that subject — Doctrine of Indulgences explained — Decree — Institution and effects of Jubilees — Roman Chancery— -Decree qn fasts, feast-days, &c, — Observations. 333,

CHAPTER XV.

AND IMAGES.

Decree respecting the invocation of Saints — Relics — and linages —

Facts and Observations relative to each— Worship of the Virgin

I

CONTENTS. Xi

CHAPTER XVI.

THE INDEX THE CATECHISM.

Decrees of reformation — Acclamations of the fathers at the dose of the council — Index of prohibited books — Rules of the congregation of the Index — Account of a Spanish Index Expurgatorius — Pub* lication of the Catechism — Remarks on a recent translation of that work ♦ . .367

CHAPTER XVn.

POPE Pius's CREED CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

Decree respecting the observance of the enactments of the council — BuU of confirmation — Pope Pius's creed — Concluding observations—Popery and Christianity contrasted 384

Appendix

No. I. Decreta et Canones Concilii Tridentini 401

II. Acclamationes Patrum 445

III. Regulae Indicis 446

IV. Pope Pius's Creed (in the original Latin) 450

TEXT-BOOK OF POPERY-

Chapter I Introductory Sketch

State of Religion and Morals in Europe at the Commencement of the Sixteenth Century — Rise of the Reformation — Luther's Appeal to a Council — His Condemnation by Leo X. — Diet of Worms — Adrian VI. and the Diet of Nuremburg— The Hundred Grievances — Clement VH. — Diet of Augsburg — Expectation of a Council — Peace of Nuremburg — Paul IIL — A Council summoned — Its Postponement — Commission of Cardinals to inquir© into Abuses — Their Report — Convocation of a Council at Trent *-Its Suspension — Diet of Spire — Re-assembly of the Council ^t Trent.

The state of religion and morals in Europe, at the Commencement of the sixteenth century, was truly deplorable. In the general depravation of manners that prevailed, the ecclesiastics, even of the highest order, largely participated. The murmurs and complaints of all Christendom, frequently and unequivocally expressed, verify this fact beyond the possibility of contradiction. It is also confirmed by the reluctant admission^ of the parties themselves.

History bears ample testimony to the truth of these remarks. The writers of the period above-mentioned agree in confessing that gross immorality and cruel oppression distinguished the priesthood, and justly exposed it to the contempt and hatred of the community. A volume might be compiled from the statements of unexceptionable witnesses, who possessed personal knowledge of the facts which they relate. From such sources we learn the following facts : — that the forced celibacy of the priests produced among them unbridled and shameless licentiousness, concubinage being generally practised ; that they had contrived to obtain pos*

H INTROBtcTORY SKETCTf.

session of so much wealth, that in Germany more thari one half of the national property was in their hands ; that by their fees and exactions, often wrung from the people by vile imposture, they impoverished every Christian country, while they refused to share the burden of taxation ; that they claimed exemption fro-m the jurisdiction of the laity, and could therefore commit crime with comparative impunity, in which they were further indulged by the easy terms on which pardon or dispensation could be procured at Rome ; that the venality of the pontifical court was so' notorious that the sale of offices was open and public ; that the detestable traffic in indulgences gave rise to the most scandalous impositions, and legalised every species of avarice and fraud; that by reservations, appeals, expectative graces, annates, &c. the Popes had subdued to their will the wholeJiierarchy, leaving to the bishops little more than the shadow of power, and exalting above them the monastic orders, their sworn and faithful vassals ; and that those same pontiffs, so far from being examples of virtue and religion, were generally destitute of both, and too frequently patterns of the most horrible vices. ^

It must not be forgotten, that with these abuses were connected the most awful corruptions in doctrine and worship. Human merit was substituted for justification by faith. Fastings, penances, idle ceremonies, and the opus operatuni of the sacraments, were instead of sanctification by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The

1 Consnlt every part of the Work entitled, Fasciculus Rerum Expetendarum et Fugiendarum, "a collection of things to be desired and of those to be avoided :" " a Bull of the Devil, in which the father admonishes his Pope, and instructs him in what manner he ought to conduct himself in governing the Roman church and the whole world^^ — a rare tract, without name, date, or place, but evidently the* production of the early part of the sixteenth century : ** Antilogia Fapce, Reply of the Pope ;" concerning the corrupt condition of the Church and the perverseness of the whole Romish clergy, &c. Basiled, 1555. Referring to this period, Bellarmine says, " There was no restraint in morals, no acquaintance with sacred literature, no respect paid to holy things, in a word, hardly any Religion." Opera, tom. vi. col. 296. Edit. Colon. 1G17, quoted by Gerdesius, in his <*Historia Evang. Renovati," tom. i. p. 25. Edit. Groningse, 1744. The English reader may consult Bower's Lives of the Popes, Mosheim's Eccl. Hist. Cent. 16. sect. 1. chap. 1. and Robertson's Charles V. book 2.

Virgin Mary and the saints had in great measure supplanted Jesus Christ, and robbed him of his honours. The Scriptures were studiously withheld from the people, and little studied by the priests, many of whom were, in fact, totally ignorant of the word of God. Worship was performed in Latin, which scarcely any understood] Incense perfumed the air ; gold, and jewels, and magnificent pageantry, dazzled the eyes ; melodious sounds of music fell upon the ear ; but the mind was unenlightened, and the heart unimpressed. Faith had to do with little else than the ''lying wonders" by which a system of impudent trickery was upheld ; hope rested on the intercession of saints, the power of priestly absolution, and the efficacy of prayers for the dead ; charity was reserved for those, and those only, who bowed the hnee before the "man of sin."

For a century past, all Europe had felt the necessity -of reformation, and groaned with impatience under the -galling yoke. Several attempts at improvement had -been made. The Councils of Constance^ and Basle^ boldly asserted their superiority to the Pope, and avowed their intention to effect a reform '' in the head and members," as it used then to be expressed. But means were always found by successive pontiffs to evade the just demands of an indignant people. Corruptions and abuses were defended with such tenacity, and the intrigues of the Romish Court were so successfully employed, that remonstrances, memorials, the requests of princes, the decrees of councils, and even the general -voice of the church, were unavailing.

In the year 1517, Luther commenced that series of attacks on the papacy which issued in the great event usually denominated '' The Reformation." At first, indeed, he thought of nothing less. He was a good subject of Leo X., and would have submitted to his decrees, even after his public opposition to Tetzel, had the pontiff promptly interfered to check his progress, or adopted mild and conciliatory measures.^ His mind

4 See his Letter to the Pope. The concluding words are truly remarkable : '' Wherefore, most holy father, I cast myself at the feet of thy holiness, and offer up there all that I am, all that I possess.

was solely engaged with the doctrine and abuse of in-* dulgences, and against them all his efforts were directed. Had the Pope yielded to his remonstYances, and either suppressed or modified that nefarious traffic, it is probable that the world would have heard no more of the troublesome monk of Wittemburg. But, by the good providence of God, the '' spirit of slumber" fell upon Leo ; he let Luther alone till it was too late to think of crushing him, and when he did interfere, he employed means which rather tended to further, than to stop the dreaded reform.

Maximilian I. was then Emperor of Germany; a man of small talent, but firm in his attachment to popery, and fearful of all innovation. He persuaded Leo to cite Luther to Rome; but by the interference of Frederic, Elector of Saxony, the cause was committed to Cajetan, the papal legate, who had come into Germany to attend a diet of the empire at Augsburg. With him the reformer had three conferences ; it is not surprising that they were entirely unsatisfactory. Unshaken in his opinions, Luther was prevailed on by his friends to leave Augsburg, but not till he 'had appealed from the Pope, ill informed as he then was, to the same Pope when he should better understand his cause. — Shortly afterwards, understanding that the legate had written to Frederic, soliciting him to withdraw his protection, and suffer him to be given up to the Pope, and hearing also that he had been already condemned at Kome, he appealed to a general council. «

In this appeal Luther was doubtless influenced by the prevailing opinion respecting such assemblies. Councils had been long held in the highest veneration, and the universal church submitted to their decisions. Many causes, probably, conduced to this veneration ; such as the reputation and official dignity of the ecclesiastics who were convened on those occasions, their number, and the presumed infallibility of their decrees, secured by the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit himself!

Give me life or death, call, recall, approve or disapprove as it may please thee, I will acknowledge thy comman Is — the commands of Christ ruling and speaking in thee, &c. Le Plat, ii. 1 — 4. Milner^ iv. 357.

^Experience, it is true, was little in their favour; for it was notorious that thej were managed by imperial or papal influence, that contention and discord commonly marked their proceedings, and that the decisions of one age were not unfrequently reversed in the next. Notwithstanding, when dissensions arose, or supposed heresies appeared, men regarded a council as their dernier resort, the panacea for all their woes, the forlorn hope of the church.^

Leo, engrossed by his pleasures, suffered the year 1519 to pass away without any vigorous endeavours to revive the declining interests of the popedom. Meanwhile, the reformation continued to proceed; Zuinglius was labouring in Switzerland, and Luther daily discovered fresh evidence of the errors and abominations of the papal system, and failed not to announce to the world the results of his inquiries, with his characteristic ardour and ingenuousness.*^ At length, June 15, 1520, after some warm discussions in the consistory, a bull was issued, condemning forty-one propositions drawn from the writings of Luther, as heretical, scandalous, and false; ordering all his books to be burned; enjoining him and his followers to renounce their errors within a limited time; and threatening, in case of obstinacy, the severest censures and punishments. ^ But so little effect was produced, and so completely was a large portion of Germany estranged from the Roman See, that Luther ventured to burn the bull, together with the famed decretals of the canon law, in the presence of an immense concourse of people, without the walls of Wittemberg:^ at the same time he again appealed to a general council. So bold a measure could not fail to draw upon him the vengeance of Rome; accordingly,

6 Grier's " Epitome of the General Councils of the Church" is a useful book for general readers.

7 Seckendorfs incomparable volume ("Historia Lutheranismi,") comprises every thing important relative to Luther. The best account of the Reformer's rehgious sentiments, and the gradual progress of his convictions, in our own language, is contained in the last tv^o volumes of Milner's History, and the first of Scott's " Continuation" of that work.

2* another bull was issued, denouncing all the penalties of the greater excommunication on Luther and his adhe* rents, and giving them up to the secular power as incorrigible heretics. ^ ^

Maximilian I. died Jan. 13, 1519, and was succeeded by Charles V., then in the twentieth year of his age. The new emperor soon perceived that the affairs of Germany required prompt attention. He summoned a diet of the empire, which met at Worms in April, 1521. The Pope saw the importance of this assembly, and appointed two nuncios, Martin Carracioli and Jerome Aleander, to attend it. Aleander was particularly zealous in carrying into effect the denunciations of the late bull. At Cologne, at Mentz, at Treves, and many other cities and towns, he persuaded the civil authorities to burn the writings of Luther ; he even proceeded so far as to take them from private libraries for that purpose. ^ ^

Luther appeared before the diet, and manfully de» fended his opinions. The nuncio, on the other hand, in a speech of three hours' length, urged the princes to act as dutiful sons of the church, by proscribing the obstinate reformer. He prevailed: the decree of tho diet declared Luther and his adherents to be notorious heretics; forbade any to receive, defend, or support them ; ordered them to be seized and imprisoned, and their goods to be confiscated ; and prohibited the printing, vending, or reading any of Luther's books. '2 it ig well known that the reformer was preserved from the effects of the edict by the opportune intervention of the Elector of Saxonj^, and that in his retirement he translated the New Testament into the German language, directed the movements of his friends, and wrote several of his useful and valuable works. The edict of Worms was almost wholly a dead letter; for some of the princes and states were unable, and others disinclined to execute

11 Pallavicini laments the frequent failure of his endeavours, as many noblemen persisted in retaining Luther's publications in their libraries. Even at this early period they were translated into Spanish, and had become a profitable article of trade to the Flemish merchants. Pallav. Hist. lib. i. c. 24. s. 1, 7.

INtRODIJCTORY SKTCIIES. 19

it. la fact, the desire for a council began at this time pretty generally to prevail. It seemed to offer the only means by which existing controversies could be decided, and grievances redressed. Civil governors hoped to set bounds to the overgrown power of the prelates and othei ecclesiastics, and to restore the ancient discipline, which was fallen into decay : the sacerdotal order wished to prevent the Pope from usurping their rights ; and the middle ranks of the community ardently longed to be relieved from the oppressive burdens of ecclesiastical taxation, which well nigh swallov\^ed up all the fruits of their industry, and served only to administer to the pleasures of an indolent and sensual priesthood.

Affairs were in this state when Leo X. died. ' ^ His successor, Adrian VJ., a well-meaning, honest man, but ill fitted for the intrigues and duplicity of the Court of Rome, thought to quell the German rebellion by interminglfng concession with severity. He avowed himself favourable to reform ; instituted inquiry into alleged abuses ; endeavoured, though inefrectually, to introdace some salutary emendations ; and despatched Cheregate, his nuncio, to attend a diet of the empire at Nuremburg, in November, 1522.^* The nuncio met the assembled princes, and addressed them at great length. He reproached them for their remissness, in suffering the edict of Worms to be neglected, and strongly urged them to adopt prompt and decisive measures for the punishment of the heretics — as Dathan and Abiram, Ananias and Sapphira, were smitten of God for their disobedience-— as the Christian emperors of Rome had in after-ages put to death obstinate schismatics — and as John Huss and Jerome of Prague, who seemed to live again in Luther, were punished by the Councils of Constance and Basle. He could but confess that the general complaints against corruptions and abuses were not wholly v/ithout foundation : the pontiff, he said, saw and lamented them, and was fully resolved on reform: but the evils were of such a kind as required much time for their removal, and none ought to be surprised that the progress of reformation was slow ^ 5 In reply, the diet informed the nun-

15 Similar statements were given in a letter to the diet, delivered so INTRODTTCTORY SKETCH.

cio, that in their opinion the best remedy for existing evils would be the convocation of a free general council in Germany, within a year. Their proceedings were afterwards published, and a long memorial was subjoined, entitled '^ Centum Gravamina" — the hundred grievances. It contained an ample exposition of the grievances suffered from the tj^ranny and rapaciousness of the priesthood, and the corrupt state of the Court of Rome, ^couched in strong, firm, but respectful language. In the conclusion the Pope was assured, that unless immediate and effective attention was paid to these complaints, they would be compelled, however reluctantly, to take the business of reform into their own hands, for that the people neither would nor could endure such oppressions and abuses any longer. ^ ^

Adrian's public career was short and disturbed : he died Sept. 14, 1523.^'^ Roman Catholic wrhers speak highly of his personal excellences, but depreciate his official character, and for obvious reasons. Clement Vll. his successor, was every way fitted for his office, as the prevailing maxims at Rome required it to be administered, A profound dissembler — a practised politician — subtle — cautious — evasive — he was admirably qualified for that management which the Popedom needed. He seemed to have an instinctive horror of a council, and the history of his pontificate records little more than repeated attempts on the part of the German States to procure one, and his successful opposition to their wishes. Diets of the Empire were held nearly every year, and they scarcely ever closed without a strong expression of anxiety for the assembling of a council, which the continued progress of the reformers rendered increasingly necessary. The Emperor, too, became very desirous for the adjustment of the religious

by the nuncio. Adrian promised reform, but said that it must be *^ pedetentim'^ — step by step — by slow degrees. ''Step by step, indeed," said Luther, who published the letter, with notes of his own, "he means that between each step there shall be an interval of centuries." Sleidan, lib. iv. p. 54. edit. 1559.

17 His epitaph is a striking lesson to the ambitious: '* Hadrianus Papa VI. hie situs est, qui, nihil sibi ipfelicius in vit^ duxit, quam quod imperaret." Onuphrius Panvin. in Adrian.

differences that agitated Germany, but could obtain nothing from the pontiff except a promise to employ all the machinery of spiritual i(?rror, if he on his part would unsheath the sword, and save himself the trouble of convincing heretics by destroying them. During all this time Luther and his coadjutors were diffusing their opinions with remarkable success, and evangelical religion daily gained new triumphs, in Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and even in Italy and Spain. ^ « At a diet held at Spire in 1529, the reformers acquired the name of "Protestants," from their 'protesting against an iniquitous decree which declared unlawful all changes in doctrine or worship, which should be introduced previous to the decision of a general council. ^^

The Emperor left no means untried to restore the Protestants to the church of Rome. At the diet of Augsburg, in 1530, they presented their confession of faith, written by the elegant pen of Melancthon. It was read in the presence of the Emperor and the assembled princes. The Roman Catholic divines replied to it : conferences were held ; but it was now evident that a re-union of the parties was no longer to be expected, as the points of difference were held hy each to be of vital interest. Charles was enraged at the result. '' In compliance with his opinions and remonstrances, the diet issued a decree, condemning most of the peculiar tenets held by the protestants ; forbidding any person to protect or tolerate such as taught them, enjoining a strict observance of the established rites ; and prohibiting any further innovation under severe penalties. All

18 See Dr. M'Crie's two interesting volumes, containing the his* tory of the progress and suppression of the Reformation in Spain and Italy.

19 Le Plat, ii. 301 — 321. The princes who entered this protest were John, Electoi;of Saxony, George, Elector of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francis, Dukes of Lnnenbiirg, the Landgrave of Hesse, and the prince of Anhalt. They v,^8re joined by thirteen imperial towns, viz. Strasburg, Ulm, Nuremburg, Constance, Reuthngen, Windsheim,Memmingen,Nortlingen, Lindaw,Kempten, Heilbron, Weissimburg, and St. Gall. Pallavacini remarks that by '* Protestants," was meant " enemies both to the Pope and the Emperor.^* Hist. lib. ii. c. 18. s. 6. This is a stale calumny: see Amos vii. 10 j John xix. 12 ; Acts xvii. 7.

orders of men were required to assist, with their persons and fortunes, in carrying this decree into execution ; and such as refused to obey it were declared incapable of acting as judges or of appearing as parties in the Imperial Chamber, the supreme court of judicature in the empire. To all which was subjoined a promise, that an application should be made to the Pope, requiring him to call a general council within six months, in order to terminate all controversies by its sovereign decisions." ^ o

In pursuance of this promise, Charles corresponded with the Pope respecting a council Clement, as usual, hesitated and objected. Still the emperor urged the matter, and at length the Pope signified that he was willing to convene the long -desired assembly, on the following conditions ; — that the objects for which it should be called should be, to obtain subsidies against the Turks, restore the Lutherans to the faith, suppress heresies, and punish the refractory, but not a word about reformation ; that the emperor himself should be present; that it should be holden in Italy, at Bologna, Placentia, or Mantua ; that none should have the right of suffrage but those who had enjoyed it by prescription ah'eady; and that the Lutherans should both desire it and engage to obey its decrees.