and his ferocious disposition. He had founded the order of the Theatine monks, an order distinguished for abstraction from worldly affairs, self-denying poverty, and zealous discharge of all priestly duties,* and he was therefore supposed to be the sworn enemy of all indulgence and display; hence the creatures of the court expected nothing less than a sweeping reformation. But no sooner had he ascended the pontifical chair than he laid aside his austerity and self-denial. When he was asked how he wished to be served, he replied, "splendidly, as becomes a great prince." His installation was unusually magnificent, and at all public solemnities he chose to appear with more than ordinary pomp."+ By the peace of Passau, confirmed by the decree of the diet of Augsburg, the Protestants of Germany were not only secured from molestation, but also acquired the complete recognition and establishment of their religious freedom. The struggles of the preceding twenty-five years had issued in the erection of this bulwark of their liberties, which, though it was not raised without great sacrifices, and the loss of much precious blood, was worth all that it cost, and happily proved firm and secure. It must be confessed, indeed, that the edict was far from being perfect, since it included in its provisions those Protestants only who followed the confession of Augsburg, and it may be doubted whether either party acted from enlightened views of the rights of conscience. But a great point is gained when opposing sects agree to let each other alone, whatever may be the motives by which they are influenced. Almost three centuries have passed away since this celebrated decree was published, and still there are those to be found who claim the privilege of dictation to their brethren, and deny to others the liberty which they demand for themselves. It will be a happy time for the Christian church when the apostolic law shall be universally obeyed-"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." (Rom. xiv. 5.) The Pontiff was excessively irritated at the result of the diet of Augsburg, and its "pernicious" decree, as he chose to * Mosheim, Cent. xvi. Sect. 3. Part 1. ch. 1. s. 17. Ranke's Histoire de la Papauté, tom. i. pp. 233–237. † Sarpi, ut sup. s. 15. A. D. 1552-1555. call it.* He expressed his dissatisfaction in the most violent manner, and even threatened the Emperor with excommunication, unless the decree were repealed. When the imperial ambassador urged the power of the Protestants, his master's late defeat, and the solemn oaths by which he was bound to fulfil his engagements, the Pope replied, that he would release him from those oaths, and command him not to keep them! All this was in perfect accordance with his known character. Few popes have had such high conceptions of the dignity of their office as Paul IV. He advanced the most extravagant pretensions, and supported them with a violence and haughtiness of demeanour that have been seldom equalled. He claimed absolute domination over all orders of men, civil and ecclesiastical, and the right to dispose of kingdoms. No prince, he said, should be his companion; he would be above them all, and (stamping on the floor, and thus suiting the action to the word) he would have them all under his feet.+ Paul IV. professed great concern for reform, and within a few months after his election had established a numerous congregation, consisting of twenty-four cardinals, forty-five bishops, and other learned men, amounting in the whole to a hundred and fifty persons. He charged them to inquire into the abuses connected with simony, and sent notifications of his proceedings to all the sovereigns of Europe, that they might procure the assistance and advice of the universities in an affair of so great importance. Not indeed, he said, that he himself needed instruction, for he understood all the commands of Christ; but in a matter of universal concern, he was desirous that it should be seen that he did not take everything upon himself. To this he added, that when he had reformed his own court, and thus prevented the application of the proverb, Physician, heal thyself," he intended to shew that simony prevailed also in the courts of princes, which he would take care should be reformed in their turn. the congregation were held, and various some thought that money might be taken church, provided that it was not received as the price of an office, but from some other motive; others judged it unlawful 66 Several meetings of opinions expressed : for the use of the * Le Plat, iv. p. 569. † Sarpi, lib. v. s. 17. under any pretence whatever. The Pope took the severest view of the subject, and declared it utterly unlawful to ask or receive a price, a present, or a voluntary alms, for any spiritual favour; abolished many abuses, the connivance at which had produced considerable gains; ordered the sale of offices to be discontinued; and restored, in his own court, the rigid observance of the rites of the church. Scarcely a day passed in which some reforming ordinance was not issued.* Some of the cardinals having ventured to suggest that these matters should be discussed in a general council, he flew into a violent passion, and said that he needed no council, for he was above them all. It was observed, that though a council added nothing to the authority of the Pope, it was useful in devising the means of executing his designs. Whereupon he replied, that if there must be a council, he would have it at Rome, and nowhere else; and that he would suffer none but bishops to attend it. He had always objected to Trent, because it was situated in the midst of heretics; it was a foolish thing to send some threescore bishops and forty divines among the mountains, and to suppose that they were better able to reform the world than the vicar of Jesus Christ, aided by all his cardinals, and prelates, and divines, the most learned in Christendom, who were always to be found at Rome in greater numbers than had ever assembled at Trent. He would have another council in the Lateran, and he enjoined the ambassadors at his court to send information of his purpose to their respective masters. How far he was sincere may be justly questioned; for while he avowed this intention in public, he was engaged in intrigues that involved almost all Europe in war, and entirely precluded the possibility of convening the projected assembly.† The resignation of the empire by Charles, in favour of his brother Ferdinand, afforded another opportunity for the display of the insufferable pride and haughty pretensions of the Pontiff. A meeting of the electors was held at Frankfort, Feb. 24, 1558, when the instrument of Charles's abdication was laid before them. Ferdinand was immediately chosen as Sarpi, ut sup. s. 22. Ranke's Histoire de la Papauté, ii. 89. his successor, and shortly after solemnly installed into office. But the Pope refused to admit the validity of the election, and never acknowledged the new emperor. He pretended that the empire ought to have been resigned into his hands, and that the appointment of a successor rested with him also; besides this, three of the electors were heretics, and therefore the whole proceeding was null and void."* But the fierceness of his anger was reserved for heretical pravity. It has been already shewn that the establishment of the inquisition in Italy was chiefly owing to his zeal. In full unison with the principles of that infamous tribunal, he issued a decree, (February, 1558,) by which all the ancient canons and edicts against heresy, of whatever age, were revived, with the censures and penalties enacted by his predecessors; obsolete and forgotten laws were renewed; and all prelates, princes, kings, and emperors, who should fall into heresy, were declared to be ipso facto deprived of their benefices, dominions, kingdoms, or empires, which his holiness bestowed on the first good Catholic who was strong enough to lay his hands on them.† Men smiled at the childish ravings of the old man ; but he seriously meant all he said, and those who were within reach of his power felt it to their cost. The congregation of the inquisition met every Thursday. On these occasions the Pope was always present; he would neglect any public business for that purpose; and exerted his utmost energies to keep the sacred office (as it is profanely called) in full activity. He instituted the feast of St. Dominic, (celebrated Aug. 4,) in honour of that sanguinary monk, the founder of the inquisition. During his government, the inquisitors found ample * Pallav. 1. xiv. c. 6. Sarpi, s. 37. ↑ Sarpi, s. 36. Raynald. ad An. 1558. s. 14. Ranke, ii. p. 92. The following prayers are offered on St. Dominic's day ::-" O God, who hast enlightened thy church by the eminent virtues and preaching of blessed Dominic, thy confessor, grant that by his prayers we may be provided against all temporal necessities, and daily improve in all spiritual good." " Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts we have offered thee; and by the merits of blessed Dominic, thy confessor, grant that they may be healing to us." Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who are oppressed with the burden of our sins may be delivered therefrom by the intercession of blessed Dominic, thy confessor."-Roman Missal for the use of the Laity, p. 633. 66 employment; the dungeons were crowded with prisoners, and the dreadful work of torture and death was plied with unremitting diligence. "The inquisition spread alarm everywhere, and created the very evils which it sought to allay. Princes, and princesses, priests, friars, and bishops, entire academies, the sacred college, and even the holy office itself, fell under the suspicion of heretical pravity. The conclave was subjected to an expurgatory process. Cardinals Morone and Pole, with Foscarari, Bishop of Modena, Aloysio Priuli, and other persons of eminence, were prosecuted as heretics. It was at last found necessary to introduce laymen into the inquisition, 'because,' to use the words of a contemporary writer, not only many bishops, and vicars, and friars, but also many of the inquisitors themselves, were tainted with heresy.'.... Such was the frenzied zeal of this infallible dotard, that if his life had been spared a little longer, the poet's description of the effects of superstition would have been realized, and one capricious curse enveloped all.'"* 6 The peace of Cambray (April, 1559) restored general tranquillity to Europe. By one of its articles, the contracting parties (the Kings of France and Spain) bound themselves to use their utmost endeavours to procure the resumption of the council. The execution of their design would probably have involved them in a quarrel with the Pope, since it is not likely that he would have met their wishes, either as to the place of meeting or the method of procedure. But his death removed every difficulty out of the way. At his advanced age, (he was upwards of eighty,) and in the shattered state of his health, which had been long declining, Paul was ill-prepared to struggle with disappointment and mortification. Several events occurred about this time that deeply affected his mind, filled him with anxiety and alarm, and ultimately brought him to the grave. At home, the popular discontent was daily increasing. The general distress occasioned by the late war, and the heavy taxes with which the people had been burdened in order to carry it on, together with the violent and sanguinary proceedings of the Pontiff, had completely alienated from him * M'Crie's History of the Reformation in Italy, p. 269. |