Nevves from Rome, SPALATO's Doome.
CHAP. I.
Shewing how M. ANTONIVS de Dominis, Arch-bishop of Spalato, arrived in England, Anno Dom. 1616. and of the large protestation he made of his Conversion to the true and Protestant Religion.
REctumest Index sui & obliqui: True levell laid to a crooked worke, discovereth what is out of order. The old Proverbe saith, It is good to expect the lame Post, and the last newes are ever truest. We ought not to beleeve every spirit, but the spirits must be tried, according to S. Iohn. For Truth is the daughter of [Page 2]Time. It cannot bee denied but that England hath beene gulled by a Dalmatian Bishop, whom time hath discovered to be the only Ecebolius of our daies, unsavourie salt, a man of no Religion, a Run-away from the Truth.
He came from Venice (where hee had made some time of abode) into England, Anno 1616. where being arrived, hee pretended hee was sent from God to judge, to reforme, and to reunite the Christian world. He likened himselfe to Abraham, in leaving at the voice of God his house, his parentage, and his countrey. He familiarly compared himselfe with S. Paul, in his former zeale against the true Religion, as he said, in the manner of his Conversion miraculously effected, in receiving his Gospell, as he would have it seeme, not from man, but immediatly from God, in being an universall Apostle, as hee pretended, and sent unto all Nations: and lastly, in that high degree of Love, whereby he offered himselfe to bee made an Anathema for his brethren. By tongue and pen, by word and writing upon his afore-said arrivall, he expressed all these Characters of a miraculous inspired Convert. But this Mountebanke in fine proved as a gilded pill composed of these two Ingredients, Dishonesty and Dissimulation. The Herodians, and Pharisees [Page 3]servants came to Christ with many fawning insinuations, telling him that he was the plaine truth, that he taught the way of God truly, that hee regarded no mans person, when as indeed their thoughts were otherwise, their purpose was to intangle him in their words, that they might catch advātage against him, & so cut his throat. This aforesaid Dalmatian Bishop came into our kingdome with infinite protestations of sincere dealing, confessing that our Religion was the Truth and none other; professing that our Church of England was the most Orthodox and true Church in the world. But (saith Salomon) as if thou wouldest adorne an earthen vessell with drossie silver, Pro. 26.23. so were his swelling lips joyned with a most wicked heart.
To bee the better welcome into our kingdome, he bedecked himselfe with the partie-coloured feathers of all other Moderne Religions: yet before his departure, some worthy and learned men of our Church well observing his pidecoat, having pluckt him like Aesops Crow, shewed him to be naked without any Religion at all; apt enough, upon occasion, to be circumcised and deny Christ Iesus. Yet I wi [...]l not here passe by certaine Dispositions of his, which hee saith prepared his minde to the change of his former [Page 4]Religion, and to become a Protestant. Secondly, the Reasons which hee laid downe, moving him to a stedfast imbracing of the said Protestant Religion.
CHAP. II.
Certaine dispositions that prepared the Arch-bishop of Spalato his minde, and strong reasons that moved him (as he protested upon his comming over into England) to become a Protestant.
FOr the better unmasking of this egregious Hypocrite, and (as he after proved) impious Apostate, I will not omit those particulars, which he set downe with his owne hand, as occasioning his comming into this kingdome, and his change of Religion.
Somewhat a farre off (as he said) disposed his minde: As first, that from a Boy, hee was much troubled with a vehement suspition that the Roman doctrine was not true, which suspition he ever resisted.
Secondly, this suspition was much increased in him, because hee saw that neither Students were permitted to reade such Writers, as were contrarie to the doctrine of Rome (being inforced [Page 5]to beleeve, that the opinions of those Writers were truly delivered unto them by their masters) nor such as had heard their Divinitie, and were preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignitie, could be allowed to reade any such Authors.
Thirdly, he saith, that from the first yeere of his clergie, he had nourished in himselfe an inborne desire of the union of all Christian Churches, inquiring what might be the cause of their Schisme, which did excruciate and torment his minde, and did still consume and waste him with such griefe and sorrow as was wonderfull.
Fourthly, that being made a Bishop, and falling to reade bookes of printed Sermons, Quadragesimals, and others, for the exercise of his Episcopall function in preaching, he found great abuse of Scripture in them, Apocryphall and ridiculous examples, Inventions of Avarice and Ambition, not without superstition, wherewith the people were deluded.
Fiftly, that in reading the Fathers, he observed that his Masters had taught him many things against them, and that the Ecclesiasticall discipline of the Church of Rome, did differ verie much from the ancient practise thereof.
These considerations he called Dispositions, which somewhat prepared his minde (as well [Page 6]they might) to make mutation of Religion, because (as he said) they made him to see a farre off, all was not well with the Church of Rome. It followeth to consider what (he said) moved him directly to leave the abomination of the Romish religion.
He saith, that of a Bishop, being made an Archbishop, two accidents fell out that compelled him to studie these matters more earnestly and eagerly than before he did, and made him turne over more than once or twice the Fathers, the Canons, the Councels, and ancient Records of the Catholike Church.
The first was, that the Court of Rome and his Suffragan Bishops that were under him, began to perturbe his Metropolitane rights.
The second, that after the Interdict of Venice, there came books from Rome, strangely taxing the Bishops of the Venetian state who did not obey.
Thirdly, Bishops now adaies under the Pope have but the name of Bishops, all their Iurisdiction is taken from them, and are subject not only to the Pope, but also to Cardinals, Congregations, Legates, Inquisitors, and innumerable Orders of Religious men, who now have greater faculties than Bishops, and drowne their authoritie.
Fourthly, the Pope is now a temporall Monarch, and the Church is become a Vineyard, to make him drunke, and a flocke to feed him with her owne bloud.
Fiftly, his eyes being opened, he saw easily, plainly and perfectly, that the Churches whom Rome had made her enemies, did differ little or nothing from the pure doctrine of the ancient Church.
Sixtly, in Rome are coined every day innumerable Articles of faith, without any foundation, with extreme violence.
Seventhly, Rome hath puld out the eyes of the Church of Christ by suppressing the sacred Councels.
Eightly, the Catholike Church is now confined to be made the Court of Rome.
Ninthly, in the Church of Rome, nay in the Pope alone, the whole spirit of Christ, promised to the Catholike Church, is beleeved to reside.
Lastly, whatsoever hath beene spoken heretofore in honour of the universall Church, is now most wrongfully inforced upon the Court of Rome alone, whereof it followeth, that the soules of men being thereby miserably deceived and blinded, they fall together with their blinde guides into the pit of perdition.
The aforesaid Motives were forcible enough to have drawne his feet out of the mire of Babylonish error, and to set him in the right path and way of godlinesse. And he began well to consider thereof: Who hindered him that he did not persevere? Praestat nunquam incepisse quam turpiter in medio defecisse: It had beene better indeed he had never come from the fen of Rome, than to have returned as he did with the dog to his former vomit, and with the Sow to the wallowing in the mire. Aug. lib. de [...]ita beata. Multi usque ad virtutis ianua pervenêre & redeunt, nec domum virtutis intrant: Incipiunt sed non perficiunt, sicut Moses qui terram sanctam è monte Nebonate viderunt, sed non intrarunt▪ Many (saith S. Augustine) have come as farre as the doore of Vertue, and yet forthwith become retrograde: Many like Moses see the holy Land a farre off from the Mount Nebo, but wil not enter; they had rather (as Spalato did) to returne to the flesh-pots of Aegypt, than to remaine in a land of peace.
CHAP. III.
Containing the life and behaviour of the said Archbishop of Spalato whilest he remained in England.
THe Archbishop of Spalato having after his comming into England by the aforesaid pretended dispositions and motives made verball profession of his true Conversion, it pleased our most gratious Soveraigne, the incomparable patterne and patron of piety and religion, to advance him to such Ecclesiasticall dignitie in our Church, that his Adversaries might have no cause to scoffe at his low dejected estate, or himselfe discouraged for want of competencie to maintaine his continued Prelacie. Hee had therefore conferred on him the Mastership of the Savoy, the Deanrie of Winsor, and the Parsonage of West-Ilslye in Barkshire; The two former places of great honour and credit, and the latter of no lesse benefit. The worst of the three too good for this undeserving Mountebank; who hath since proclaimed himselfe unto the world a knave in graine, a [Page 10]man of cauterized conscience, prostituted honestie, and meretricious impudencie.
As for some turpitude of his (when he lived here, which was kept a while very covert) I had rather it should be buried still, than desile my pen, my selfe, and the world with the discoverie of it, except I should be inforced to it. For alas, the the judgement of God hath overtaken him, and that which he feared is come upon him. Yet I will indite him as guilty of these foure: An arrogant Impostor; an irreligious Sycophant; a luxurious glutton; a perjurd Apostate. Pride being linkt with Imposture, Irreligion with Slander, Lechery with Gluttony, and Periurie with Apostasie.
And first I arraigne him for an arrogant Impostor, guilty of palpable lying, which was the very foame of his Pride and Arrogancie. For proofe of his lying, I alleage these particulars.
He became indebted to us, upon his comming over, ten great Volumes to be written by himselfe against the Romanists; yet he missed his time of payment, and hath since proved plaine bankrupt. He boasted that the revenues of his Dalmatian Bishopricke amounted to the value of foure thousand pounds per annum, and yet since have I conferred with one that well knowes the place and profit of that Bishopricke, who affirms [Page 11]that Spalato might have cut off from his account three thousand & eight hundred pounds of his former reckoning. He reported he heard with great delight and content one of the Canons of Windsor preaching before the Kings Majesty, maintaine, that there was no cause why every man might not turne himselfe unto his Angell keeper, and say, Holy Angell keeper pray for me, avowing that ridiculous Romane doctrine and practise of praying unto Saints and Angels in time of need: which was as false an Imposture as this lying Impostor; who professeth to have heard that which he could not understand. The Sermon was in English, and he ignorant of that language; as much unskild in it as in Irish or the Virginian Mattoakan tongue, except carptim & sparsim, it may be now and then, here and there a word. Lastly, this idle Lozell would undertake Reconciliation betwixt Protestant and Papist, Rome and England; whereas what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? what peace can be had with wicked Iebusites, prophane Gibeonites, idolatrous Romanists, who have no peace with God? But these and many his like fabulous figments, which I could name, were nothing else but the very froth and foame of pride, which is said to be the [Page 12] Tympanie of the soule: Now it was observed by divers, that this Monster of men did swell, and was puffed up no lesse in heart and minde, than he was in bodie. Part. 1. qu. 63. art. 2. Thomas Aquinas hath observed, that howsoever all sinne may be said to be in the Devill, secundum reatum; yet onely pride and envie is in him secundum affectum: and so though this titular Bishop were guiltie (as is well knowne) of many other capitall sinnes, yet this one only of pride came so neere his soule, that it stirred up almost all the rest. Vna superbia excitat omnia. But alas, (Pride going before destruction) his high aspiring thoughts have since bred his ruine; he being now miserorum miserrimus, lower than the lowest, as I shall hereafter shew.
2. This miscreant as he was guiltie of Pride and lying, so likewise of Slander and Irreligion. Slāder is Denigratio alienae famae, the smutting of a mans good name, or the wounding a man in his good name by a false report. As flatterie dawbes white upon blacke, so slander sprinkles blacke upon white. This SPALATO was observed to have beene of a very envious detracting minde. Had any learned man of our kingdome discoursed with him, and began to sift and sound of what spirit he was of (there being indeed alwaies great cause of jealousie) hee would smite them [Page 13]with the weapon of his tongue, and presently grow into passion, and say, That such a one were obesae naris, nullis disciplinarum ornamentis cumulatus, parum eruditus, with many the like keene and cutting reproaches. Soone after his comming into England, he made a voyage to the Vniversitie of Oxford, where hee was received with much honour and respect; his conversion gratulated with the tongues and phrases of the most elegant perpolite Orators of that famous Academie, saluted with the Stentorian voice and noise of Doctors; his great, greazie, filthie, foggie paunch cheered with the daintiest cates the time could afford: yet after this nastie lubber his departure, he shamed not to report, that the Vniversitie knew not (forsooth) how to entertaine such a worthy Gentleman as he was: hee spake disgracefully of their Act, unworthily of those reverend Doctors, who as farre exceeded him for learning, as a burning Torch outshineth a little candle, or the light of true fire, excelleth any false, foggie, vaporous Ignis fatuus whatsoever. As for Religion, I thinke hee had never any in him: For one that lived in the house with him, and tooke speciall notice of his actions, reported that he knew not him goe privately to his devotions in a halfe yeere together; but said [Page 14]he would often sweare and curse fearefully: one of his oathes was, The pretious bloud of God poison me, as an Italian, who was often in companie with him, told me: And Let me never see Christ Iesus (he would say) if such a thing be not true, when oftentimes it was most false and untrue. And before his departure, Pro. 18.13. being come to the profoundnesse of iniquity, he would familiarly speake Blasphemie. Oh impious, irreligious wretch! How hath thy mouth abounded with evill, and thy tongue contrived fraud? Sitting thou didst speake against thy brother, and didst give scandall to the sonne of thy mother.
3. But I must here likewise accuse him, and that justly, for a luxurious Glutton: His Guet I must needs say was a Gulfe, Laert. in vita Diog. Charybdis, as Diogenes upon the like occasion spake very aptly. The Babylonians used daily to sacrifice to their Bell, he to his Belly, making it his god, Philip. 3.19. and his lungs the Temple, his paunch the Altar. Oh brutish Sacrificer. I could here speake much of this Belly-god; that he would often drinke usque ad ebrietatem, till hee were drunken. So that I cannot better compare him than unto a furnace, whose mouth is Gluttony, whose flame Pride, whose steame Luxurie, the sparkles filthy words, the smoake an evill name, the ashes have beene [Page 15] Povertie, and the end of all, Shame.
4. Lastly, the end of him was a most perjured Apostate. Apostasie is of three kinds, Perfidiae, Inobedientiae, Irregularitatis, of Misbeleefe, of Disobedience, of Irregularitie. Whether with Iulian he were guiltie of the former I know not, but I must and may not without cause accuse him of the two latter. He read the Articles of 1562. in West-Ilsly Church in Bark-shire, upon his Induction to that Benefice, and in the presence of divers witnesses subscribed to them: Since he professeth that he did it against his conscience (as also the taking of the oathes of Alleageance and Supremacie) the more dishonest, lewd, perjured knave he. Belike he thought still to make use of his Iesuited trickes of Equivocation, Collusion, Mentall Reservation, &c. he having beene once a member of that Societie; and as himselfe reported, he read Mathematickes, Rhetorick, Logick, and Philosophie to them, preached often amongst them, and did other domesticall service, for the which they were very sorie to leave him.
CHAP. IV.
Shewing how this Dalmatian Mountebancke, M. ANTHONY, came to be fully discovered by the practise of the L. Gundamar, Embassadour from the King of Spaine.
IT is an old saying, Proditoris proditor, one knave most commonly will finde out another; Birds of a feather doe not not alwaies flie together, but Aegyptians will be set against Aegyptians; Moechus contra Moechum, Latro contra latronem, a theefe against a theefe, a destroyer against a destroyer, a drunkard against a drunkard, one Mountebanke against another. Right so it fared with Spalato and Gundamar, they alwaies fought one against another, yet not alwaies after the same manner: Sometimes they warred openly, sometimes covert and secretly.
One while Gundamar shoots at Spalato with the great Canon of Irregularitie and Degradation, saying, that the Popes Holinesse had sentenced the Bishop for foure notorious and capitall Crimes, to wit, Incest, Simonie, Drunkennesse and Bloud-shed, Grandia quidem peccata.
First, he accused him for having had three bastards with his sisters daughter; a businesse that might well make him (if any thing) inegular.
Secondly, hee charged him for Simoniacally attaining to, and leaving his two Bishoprickes of Segnia and Spalato.
Thirdly, he vrged against him, that the Religious men in Segnia, Dalmatia, and the Citie of Venice, had all written unto his Holinesse, that he was very scandalous, in regard of company keeping and usuall drunkennesse.
Fourthly, he accused him for a most bloudie treacherie against the Isocchi, many of whom the Venetians by his meanes slew.
The whole Information delivered under the L. Gundamars hand, translated into English, followeth.
GVNDAMARS Jnformation against SPALATO.
AForlorne fellow there is of late come into England, one MAR. ANTHONIVS de Dominis, who being adjudged by his brethren worthy to suffer death and to be burnt, suddenly and secretly fled to Venice, where hee was impiously and unjustly protected. This said [Page 18]MARC. ANTHONIVS was first one of the Order of the Societie of Iesus, the most absolute Order of all others the Iudgements of God have beene many and wonderfull upon those that have Wrought themselves out of their Company, and yet this Societie may fitly becompared unto the Sea, that casteth forth the dead bodies, or to a vessell of new wine, which purgeth all the trash and corrupt matter which is mingled with it, and therefore they easily permit such as are not fit for them (such as Mar. Anthon. de Dominis) to depart from them, lest by staying amongst them, being stopt up like corruption close with the pure wine, they should breake the vessell wherein they are inclosed. Marcus Anthonius was not more willing to leave them, then they of the Societie of Iesus desirous to be rid of him. For Hee having vowed Obedience and Povertie, did notwithstanding aspire to a Bishoprick, and by Simony he at length attained to the Bishoprick of Segnia. You shall therefore understand that Segnia is a little Citie, but most impregnable upon the confines of Germany and Italy; the people whereof (commonly called Isocchi) doe neither plow nor plant for their sustenance, nor card nor spin for their clothing, nor trade with other Nations by way of merchandize, but live [Page 19]altogether vpon spoile, either of the Turks, which is their profession, or else of Christians, when they please to mistake the one for the other. In which respect it is easier to finde those that would refuse (if they were either wise or honest) then such as would willingly accept the Ecclesiasticall government of this Ecclesiastical people. But howsoever Marc. Anthonius de Dominis cared not so he might but get the windie title of a Bishop, how he came to it, or what it cost him.
Wherefore the Bishop of Segnia being slaine in some enterprise of warre, amongst certaine souldiers of the Emperour, with whom hee was in company, Marcus Anthonius de Dominis, who was then a Iesuite in profession, though not in purpose, but desirous to be at libertie, forged letters from the friends and kindred of the late Bishop to himselfe, as to their kinsman, (which he was not) signifying, that the Bishop was not slaine, but taken prisoner, and intreating him to come to Segnia, from whence he might worke some meanes to set him at libertie. Vpon the credit of which letters, his Superiours being willing enough to be rid of him, gave him leave to goe thither; where first hee obtained to supply the place of the late deceased Bishop, and afterwards by a great summe of money which he stole from [Page 20]the Iesuits, he came to be made Bishop himselfe. Which Episcopall function, as hee got by Simonie, Forgerie, and Apostasie from his owne Order; so he behaved himselfe accordingly in the Administration thereof. For he carried with him to Segnia his Sisters daughter, by whom, within short time, he had no lesse than three bastards: he became a pot-companion with them of the Citie, and in bowsing and gormandizing was nothing behinde any of them. Being then their Pastour and spirituall Father, he defrauded them of foure or five hundred crownes, which he got from them, under pretence of building a Quire in their Church, but converted the money to his owne use. And taking occasion to goe to Venice, hee wrote backe to the Isocchi, his ghostly children, that he had made their peace with the Venetians, and that they might safely faile in the Venetian Seas: vpon which assurance fortie of them sailing towards Turkie, were intrapped and slaine by the Venetian souldiers, at a certaine Iland, where they fell into the Snare, which their Reverend Father in God had laid for them. In recompence of this his service to the Venetians, the Church of Spalato was gotten for him by the State of Venice, though it cost thē deare in some respects. This said Bishoprick was but poore in [Page 21]revenewes, worth but about some two hundred pounds per annum, yet in respect of the Metropolitan dignitie, was fit to satisfie his ambition. This Bishoprick he kept but a little while, till he Simoniacally parted with it againe for a great summe of money, to a kinsman of his; having had some intelligence that His Holinesse the Pope would proceed against him for his lewd life, and degrade him, which accordingly was done; and if the Venetians had not protected him, hee had tasted of the fire according to his desert. This wicked wretch is since come into England, where hee will ere long begin to shew himselfe in the same colours as hee did at Segnia, Spalato, and Venice. In the meane while he will serve for a wonder to be shewed up and downe the streets for fooles and children to looke on.
Here was one volley of shot discharged against Spalato in this Information of the L. Gundamar. With many other horrid and horrible enormities did the L. Gundamar, opēly in every place where he came, charge the new-arrived, much admired Spalato. Yet all this was supposed to be nothing else but Iniquorum individua comes calumnia, the idle ejaculations of Envie and detraction; and therefore Gundamars word proved hitherto no Slander, though hee laid on load boldly: but [...] [Page 22]was beleeved that only the relinquishment of Romish Idolatrous impietie had gained the Dalmatian Bishop all these Reproaches.
But as he that layeth siege to a Citie, when he findeth that one stratagem will not availe his Invasion, presently deviseth another, or perceiving that open hostilitie will purchase him nothing presently, practiseth secret suffocation. So fared it with L. Gundamar (a shrewd Machiavillian) when one assault could not a vaile him, he presently putteth in practise another: when Martiall belligerating thundring Invectives served not the turne, forth with hee falles to secret undermining, and then acted his part, displayed his colours in manner following.
Pope Clement the eight (who Excommunicated Spalato) being dead, Simonaically succeeded him Paul the fifth, who in former times had beene of Spalato's familiar acquaintance, and from whom he might hope for extraordinarie favour and preferment if he should returne to Rome. Gundamar full of diabolicall craft and policie, thought he might best worke upon this advantage, saying to himselfe, (as did sometimes another his Satanicall brother) Plus lingua quam gladius, my tongue shall at length conquer, where my sword could not; and so comes to Spalato, [Page 23]and telles him, that though some unkindnesse had passed betweene them, yet at length hee would be his friend, and was sorie, considering his Learning and uncomparable deserving hee should live here in England, where bee assured him hee was much maligned, and used but as a Stale, hereafter to publish store of books in his name. He said hee would undertake hee should be made a Cardinall upon his returne into his owne Countrey, where many his friends bemoaned him, and Paul, the then Pope, would thinke it a great happinesse to see him. For saith hee) I can shew you a letter lately come to my hands from his Holinesse, who writes unto mee, desiring to be certified what is become of you, and if I speake with you, to signifie how much he desires your Good, and that hee will exceedingly further your preferment, if you shal come unto him; and for Gundamar drawes out of his pocket the pre [...]e [...]ded Letter sent him from the Pope, and bids him reade it; which containing many sugred promises of preferment, if Spalato should come to him to Rome: the Sun-shine thereof presently dazeled his eies, and the titular Dalmatian Bishop, who before like another Leviathan would drinke up Iordan, and overthrow the Popes Supremacie, now presently promiseth [Page 24]to joine forces with him: and told the L. Gundamar that if he meant well toward him, he would returne ho me to Rome. Gundamar all this while, like a craftie Hiaena, though he spake like a friend, devoured like a soe, and like Ioab the Captaine of the Hoast, though he spake kindly to Amasa, and kissed him, yet presently stabbed him; like the Harpie, though he carried a faire Virgin face, yet he had Vultures tallons. His plot was to bring him in disgrace here in England, and then to pack him over to Rome in a cloake-bag, where hee might live neere the fresh aire of the Inquisition. So that here was a dangerous Rocke hid under a calme sea, the Syrens song became the Sailours wreck, the Fowlers whistle was the birds death, a hidden bait was the great Dalmatian fish his bane.
Gundamar, that he might yet better unmaske this titular Bishop (who had all this while stalked up and downe in our Kingdome, with the visard of Hypocrisie on his face) caused him to write a letter to the Pope intimating his resolution to leave England, and come to Rome, which accordingly Spalato did; and no sooner had hee delivered his letter to Gundamar, to be sent to Rome, but Gundamar shewed the same to such of our kingdome as he thought fit the same should [Page 25]be discovered unto. Thus it happened Episcopo tepido, to this luke-warme Bishop; and thus, (as I told you before) Proditoris proditor, one craftie Impostor laid open the other.
CHAP. V.
Shewing how that SPALATO being discovered, he desired leave of his Majestie to returne into Italy, upon pretence to reforme and reunite the Christian world.
THe titular Dalmatian Bishop, M. ANTONIVS de Dominis, after his abode in England some three or foure yeeres, though much suspected, was not yet fully detected, till by his aforesaid friend, the L. Gundamar, who warily laying his bait, soone caught and intangled him like a Salmon in a net, which he would have broken thorow, but wanted might and sleight. Perceiving at length how hee was circumvented, he went unto his Majestie, desiring leave to returne unto his owne country, assuring him hee was the same in minde, opinion, and judgement, as he professed himselfe to be at his first arrivall in England. His Majestie, prudenti [Page 26]pectore & rerum usu longê maximus, being assuredly most wise, and knowing how to carry himselfe in this businesse, without any Italian or Spanish complement of inviting him to an Inquisition, gave him leave, so soone as he pleased, to be gone; and finding his levitie, was willing to be quit and freed of him; yet asked him what occasioned his so sudden desire of departure, and how he durst (if not altered in opinion) trust unreconcileable Rome, (his Majestie in truth plainly perceiving what would be the end of him.)
SPALATO his answer was thus, That no unbridled affection, no temporall necessitie, no strange event, nor grievous mischance did compell him to depart, but for that the then Pope was his former acquaintance & friend, he feared not the Ignatian furie, but would venture to visit Rome, or the Italian adjacent parts; his project being sage and considerate, his designement of no ordinarie consequent, but of this nature as followeth, viz. That he meant to reconcile and reunite the Christian world, which hee was sure hee could performe, having had a naturall and inborne desire of Vnitie from his Infancie: Herculeum opus; sure a hard taske. This Spirit of his being so contrary to the Spirit of the Church, to [Page 27]the Spirit of Christ himselfe, and in fine contrary to the very light of reason and humane understanding. What union and conjunction can there be of the East and West, North and South? Our Mother Eve, out of a vaine curiositie, Gen. 3.2. conferring with the Serpent, whom shee might thinke to be an Angell, fell into Heresie; but this man out of a curiositie more than monstrous, Ioh. 10.3.5. would perswade the sheepe of Christ to heare the voice of a stranger, and to conferre with that Serpent of Rome, whom in his bookes hee said he knew and confessed to be the Deuill: But it appeareth sufficiently that hee hath not followed those rules of discerning spirits, which with a little humility he might have learned in Scripture. For the Spirit which giveth true faith, is the Spirit of humilitie; which is testified by our Saviour, Matth. 18.3. The spirit of Pride, is the spirit of Heresie. The Fairie which led away the Dalmatian Bishop, was the spirit of Pride, which made him undertake that taske which is too hard for him, or for any the wisest man this day alive. But according to S. Bernard, Multi student plus alta, quam aptaproferre. The Wise-man therefore gives this counsell unto those fooles, whose curiositie transports their spirits after needlesse and unprofitable Inquisition: Altiora [Page 28]te ne quaesieris, & fortiora te ne scruteris. Seeke not for things that are too high for thee, nor search after things that are too mightie. Many (according to that of S. Paul, 1 Tim. 1.17. and it may well be applied to the Dalmatian Bishop) will be the Doctors of the Law, neither understanding what they say, nor whereof they affirme. Fulbert. Carnotensis epist. 1. In which sense, true is that of Fulbertus Carnotensis, that while they refused to become disciples, or schollers of the truth, they make themselves the Masters of errour.
CHAP. VI.
Shewing what entertainment MARCVS ANTONIVS de Dominis, the nominall Bishop of Spalato found upon his late returne to Rome.
SPALATO being on his journey betweene England and Italy, was so gogged with assured hopes of what supereminent preferment hee should have conferred on him by his old acquaintance, the Pope, upon his arrivall to Rome, that lower than a Cardinallship his aspiring thoughts could not or would not descend. But according to Aristotles rule, Frustra est illa potentia quae non reducitur ad actum, [Page 29]Vaine is that hope which endeth in nothing.
Whilest the tide of this Bishops Ambition carried him head-long into an Ocean of hoped preferment, hee suddenly became drowned in a verie gulfe of distresse. For as hee was about to land, and set footing within the Citie of Rome, he was received into a close Cell neere the Church of S. Laurence without Porta Esquilina: And there continued fourteene daies without receiving any message at all from his Holinesse. A cold welcome it was; but this was done to ease his heart after so tedious a journey. If hee had presently come amongst his old acquaintance, their many greetings might have done as much hurt as his trauailes.
After this he was sent to a cloister within the Church of S. Sebastian and Fabian, where there was appointed to attend on him for a weeke a Confessor, and he had certaine Articles delivered him, which he was advised to consider of, and to subscribe to them within three daies following. Then was sent unto him from his Holinesse the Bishop of Ancona, who was appointed to conferre with him about his voyage into England, and to signifie unto the Pope his sorrow [Page 30]and repentance for the same. This Bishop became his great friend, and soone after got leave of the Pope that Spalato himselfe might have accesse to him, and conferre with him.
Spalato being brought before the Pope, was not whispered in the eare with another Arch-bishoprick or Cardinall-ship, as hee expected, but advised by his Holinesse to make his peace with God and the Church, and then he should finde all lawfull favour at his hands. And so the Pope commanded him for a time to live a retired contemplative life in one of the Monasteries of Rome, and there betake himselfe to some Religious order. Accordingly, like a brute beast or Swine they shut him up in a stye, and immured him within the walles of a Cloister, neere the Church of S. Iohn de Lateran, and injoyned him, as part of his penance, to write a booke, wherein to give satisfaction for his former Apostasie and Revolt from them. Accordingly he performed his taske, and his spurious Pamphlet hath (I am sure) beene seene and read by divers in our Kingdome: wherein, without all modestie, he belieth our Church in generall, which he hath often publikely and privately commended and admired; and like a very loose Lozell, he causelessely complaineth of divers of most eminent [Page 31]place in our kingdome. Lastly, without wit or judgement, he bringeth a many base Invectives bumbasted out with foaming malice against himselfe: And hee graspeth together such an heape of confused matter, spun out and patched together in a company of darke sentences, that it will dazle any mans understanding to heare or reade it. For my part I had compassion of the poore mans simplicitie, when I beheld his book fraught with so many disadvantages against himselfe, wherein without further helpe he hath overthrowne that phantasticall tower of Babel, which before he was a building: and no neerer is he to the knowledge of the truth, from which he is fallen by his revolt from our Church, than the fall of Lucifer could end in heaven.
Besides the Penance injoined him, of writing his said selfe-accusing-condemning booke, hee hath since endured many mortifying passions, flagellant diseases which terminated in a mortall incurable consumption, he having (as is supposed) of late breathed his last in the Castle of Saint Angelo, neere the Popes Palace of S. Peters, where he found the case strangely altered, in regard of what his friend, the L. Gundamar, promised him here in England.
CHAP. VII.
Shewing the manner of the titular Arch-bishop of Spalato his commitment to the Castle of S. Angelo within the precincts of Rome, and the reasons of his said imprisonment.
I Could here expresse a whole Iliad of troubles that attended the Arch-bishop of Spalato upon his comming to Rome, Mala malis succedentia & agminatim ingruentia, One evill treading upon the heeles of another; Et dum advenit vnum non advenit solum. But of all terribles, the most terrible was his Commitment to the Castle of S. Angelo, (a place somewhat worse than the Inquisition) of which it may be said in some sort, as of the Lions den.
Multi te adversum spectantes, nemo retrorsum: Of those that are committed to this said Castle, few or none ever after see the sun-shine. They have an old saying in the Northerne parts of England, which is this, From Hell, Hull, and Holifax, good Lord deliver us; but at Rome the common saying is, From the Tower in Saint Angelo save us good Lord.
The Romanists speake much of their fained dreamed Purgatory, but where the place thereof is, none of their Purgatory Rakers or Proctors is able to declare: But I beleeve if there be any Purgatorie any where, it is in the vault of the Castle of Saint Angelo, which hath swallowed up many a man, who shall never be more heard of untill the day of Doome. This vault is reported to be twelvescore yards in depth, and into it are tumbled many men alive; there being a roome over it which hath a trap-doore or drawing floore: the person condemned to be throwne into this Purgatorian Vault, hath prepared for him, in the roome over, a kinde of little cage or boxe into which he is shut, and in which he may hardly turne him. Being once put into this coope, hee hath a Confessor that comes to him some halfe dozen times, and then when he little suspects or dreames of it, the forged floore or trap-doore is let downe by a device which they have, and then downe tumbles the poore prisoner into this almost on plummettable hole or gulfe; the boxe into which hee was shut remaining his coffin. And of the time when the condemned is thus let fall, none of his friends ever know, nor once heare of, but yet are assured that ab eo Purgatorio [...] est redemptio, from that not fiery, false and [Page 34]fained, but truly reall Purgatorie there is indeed no redemption; and therefore I conclude, istinc ut ab inferno libera nos Domine, from hell and thence good Lord deliver us. The Dalmatian Bishop hath (as some say) alreadie had his penance there: His perswaded assured hopes ended in a personall censure, to sinke in that bottomlesse, breathlesse Vault or Gulfe.
Yet within these few daies have I seene certaine letters from Rome, wherein was signified, that the Archbishop of Spalato hath had (since his former censure) another sentence pronounced against him, which hath beene put in execution, viz. to frie in the fire, and to be burnt flesh and bones to cinders, in the sight of many thousands of people.
The reasons of which condemnation and sufferings of his, were these that follow.
1. Spalato having beene for the space of a yeere shut up in a Monastery at Rome, petitioned unto the present Pope to have his enlargement, and for his health sake desired to travell to Naples. But the Pope perceiving how willing hee was to slip coller, and be ranging after his old guise and fashion, by no meanes would yeeld unto his said request, but became jealous of him. Whereupon Spalato full of discontent, uttered [Page 35]words against the discipline of the Church of Rome, preferring the discipline and gouernment of the Reformed Churches, farre before that of the Roman Catholike Chaire. This newes came to the Holy Father the Popes eares.
2. Then the Pope sent unto Spalato, Pater Lodozasques, to demand of him when he would give satisfaction to the Church for the bookes that he wrote in England, in which he accused his Mother, the Church of Rome, for a verie Strumpet or Harlot. Spalato replied that he grew ill and sickly, and was altogether unfit, in that regard, to undertake such an hard taske, as to answer those great Volumes of his own, except the Pope would give him leave to travell to a better aire than that of Rome, (which belike was too neere the Inquisition, which he doubted would at length stiffle him, except hee could by some wile get further from it.)
3. Vpon these passages and answers of his, the Pope & Conclave of Rome resolved they would soone sift & finde out Spalato's meaning, as concerning the premises. To which end they cunningly plotted and practised with one Camelo, a Monke, who had beene with Spalato here in England. They so tempered and wrought with this said Camelo, that he soone betrayed his Master [Page 36] Spalato unto them, which he performed in this manner.
First, he discovered unto them certaine Lutheran doctrines, which Spalato persisted to maintaine.
Secondly, hee got from Spalato certaine papers of his, lately written with his owne hand since his comming from England, in which he seemed, like a lustie stout valiant Pugill, by argument to maintaine his former Lutheran quarrell.
Thirdly, Camelo declared that Spalato had often plotted an escape from Rome, and had told him, there could be no safetie for him so long as he continued so neere the Popes nose.
These businesses thus informed against Spalato, wrought his destruction, and without more adoe, was upon the six and twentieth day of February last committed to the Castle of Saint Angelo, where he remained till the day that he was brought unto the stake to bee burned. Where, if his last end were no better than his former course and trade of life; he might well curse the wombe that bare him, and the pappes that gave him sucke.
Surely the infamous shipwracke whereinto hee fell, first of all Vertue, which is the merchandize; [Page 37]and secondly of Faith, which is the ship of eternall life; and lastly of all good name and common honestie (without the which this present life is far worse than any temporal death) hath made him a perpetuall and a most dreadfull example for all honest men, to take heed how they dally with God almightie, and be but lukewarme Gospellers, was this miserable titular Bishop at the best was. Againe, let men beware of Ambition, which was the morsell that choaked him, when he might have fared otherwise well enough here in England. Lastly, let every good Christian above all things care to keepe a good conscience, which hee neglecting, made shipwracke of his faith, and was therefore given over by Almightie God unto impenitencie and hardnesse of heart, to heape or store up wrath to himselfe against the day of wrath, and to increase the weight of his own damnation, against the time of the revelation of Gods just judgement, who shall render unto every man according to his workes.
Though this be a world of shadowes, a theater of disguises, a map of colours, a shop of complexion, a schoole of hypocrisie: yet a time will come when in the court of heaven, all maskes shall be put off, save the veile of righteousnesse, [Page 38]no sucus shall stay on, but the tincture of Christs bloud, no habit shall be in fashion, but a robe of Innocencie, no crafts-master shall get in, but a plaine Christian. And as for Rome, whosoever thou art, having separated thy selfe from her, maist yet be perswaded with Spalato, to returne unto her; assure thy selfe that it is most true which Theodoricus of Niem long since affirmed of her, that she is a cruell Dame, unjust, impious, unreconcileable, to be compared with Nilus, which bred monsters, and nourished Crocodiles.