as I think not fit to name : nor are these mentioned with an intent to fix a fcandal upon any calling; for holiness is not tied to ecclefiaftical orders, and Italy is obferved to breed the most virtuous and most vicious men of any nation. These two having been long complained of at Rome in the name of the state of Venice, and no fatisfaction being given to the Venetians, they seized the persons of this Abbot and Canon, and committed them to prison. The juftice or injuftice of fuch or the like power, then ufed by the Venetians, had formerly had fome calm debates betwixt the former Pope Clement the eighth and that republic: I fay, calm, for he did not excommunicate them; confidering, as I conceive, that in the late council of Trent it was at laft, (after many politic disturbances and delays, and endeavours to preserve the Pope's present power,) in order to a general reformation of those many errors, which were in time crept into the church, declared by that council, "That though discipline and especial ex VOL. I. M 66 com "communication be one of the chief fi"news of church-government, and in"tended to keep men in obedience to it; "for which end it was declared to be 66 very profitable: yet it was alfo de"clared, and advised to be used with "great fobriety and care, because expe"rience had informed them, that when it "was pronounced unadvisedly or rafhly, "it became more contemned than fear"ed." And, though this was the advice of that council at the conclufion of it, which was not many years before this quarrel with the Venetians; yet this prudent, patient Pope Clement dying, Pope Paul the fifth, who fucceeded him, (though not immediately, yet in the fame year,) being a man of a much hotter temper, brought this difference with the Venetians to a much higher contention; objecting those late acts of that state to be a diminution of his just power, and limited a time of twenty-four days for their revocation; threatening, if he were not obeyed, to proceed to the excommunication of the republic, who ftill offered to fhew both both reafon and ancient cuftom to warrant their actions. But this Pope, contrary to his predeceffor's moderation, required abfolute obedience without difputes. Thus it continued for about a year, the Pope ftill threatening excommunication, and the Venetians ftill answering him with fair fpeeches, and no compliance; till at last the Pope's zeal to the Apoftolic fee did make him to excommunicate the Duke, the whole fenate, and all their dominions, and, that done, to fhut up all their churches; charging the whole clergy to forbear all facred offices to the Venetians, till their obedience should render them capable of abfolution. : But this act of the Pope's did but the more confirm the Venetians in their refolution not to obey him and to that end, upon the hearing of the Pope's interdict, they presently published, by found of trumpet, a proclamation to this effect: "That whofoever hath received from Rome any copy of a papal interdict, M 2 "pub P 1 66 published there, as well against the law "of God, as against the honour of this "nation, fhall presently render it to the "Council of Ten, upon pain of death. "And made it lofs of eftate and nobility, "but to speak in the behalf of the Je"fuits." Then was Duado their ambaffador called home from Rome, and the inquifition presently fufpended by order of the ftate; and the flood-gates being thus fet open, any man that had a pleasant or fcoffing wit, might safely vent it against the Pope, either by free fpeaking, or by libels in print; and both became very pleasant to the people. Matters thus heightened, the state advised with father Paul, a holy and learned friar, (the author of the Hiftory of the Council of Trent,) whofe advice was, "Neither to provoke the Pope, nor lofe "their own right:" he declaring publicly in print, in the name of the state, "That the Pope was trusted to keep two 66 keys, one of prudence, and the other of "power: 66 power: and that, if they were not both "ufed together, power alone is not ef"fectual in an excommunication." And thus thefe difcontents and oppofitions continued, till a report was blown abroad, that the Venetians were all turned Proteftants; which was believed by many, for that it was observed that the English ambaffador was so often in conference with the fenate, and his chaplain Mr. Bedel more often with father Paul, whom the people did not take to be his friend: and alfo, for that the republic of Venice was known to give commiffion to Gregory Juftiniano, then their ambassador in England, to make all thefe proceedings known to the King of England, and to crave a promise of his affiftance, if need fhould require and in the mean time they required the King's advice and judgment; which was the fame that he gave to Pope Clement, at his firft coming to the crown of England; (that Pope then moving him to an union with the Roman church;) namely, "To "endeavour the calling of a free council, M 3 : "for ✓ |