CErtaine Italian gentlemen , who , for the better attainement of militarie skill , serued in the Armie of the States in the Low Countries , did , the Holy weeke last past ( which is the weeke of preparation before Easter ) present and prostrate themselues before a Confessor in the towne of the Haghe , that so they might reueale their sinnes , and from him receiue absolution . But the Priest , that was thus by them elected for their Spirituall Father , denyed absolution vnto them all .

Nothing may bee said to be light or of small estimation , where matter of Religion and of Conscience is handled , but rather to bee held full of moment and consideration : especially ought those points to bee so reputed , which treate of remission of the transgressions committed against the Maiestie of God , and of the meanes to receiue spirituall consolation from the most holie Sacraments of Penance and Communion . And certaine it is , that if the Confessor shall proceed vniustly by a pertinacious refusall of Absolution to him vnto whom it doth belong , he tyrannically vsurpes vpon the Soule , deeply offends the diuine Maiestie , abuses the spirituall authoritie committed vnto him , and doth intollerably violence the Holy Church and his Neighbour .

Touching this successe , I being to make an answere , and to shew what is consonant to diuine and humane Reason , and conformable to the sacred Theologie , and to the Canons of the holy Catholike Church , that my proceeding may bee with order and cleerenesse ; I hold that the action of the Confessor in refusing absolution to his Ghostly Penitents , cannot flow but from one of these Heads , or from many of them in vnion and concurrence together .

For the first , It is cleere amongst Diuines primarily , and then amongst Canonists and Professors of Cases of Conscience , That the errour of the mind , concerning humane actions , which judgeth of them sinisterly , and is called an erronious Conscience , is ligatorie : whence it followeth , That if those Penitents haue before their Confessor made it a matter of Conscience , and haue confessed their dwelling and seruing as souldiers , as a sinne , and cannot calme and dispossesse their Consciences of that errour , the Confessor might and ought by the rules of Conscience , to deny them absolution : because whosoeuer actually doth perseuere in his sinne , and is persuaded by his Conscience ( albeit erronious ) that hee doth sinne , and will not abstaine from it , hee may not be absolued .

But this cannot be in our Case , because it is knowne expressely , that the Confessor was he who raised the scruple in his Penitents , of a matter which they neuer held to be a sinne : and it came to such termes , that hee denied them the spirituall comfort of absolution , vnlesse they would promise to depart from those countries . And this is easily euicted by argument : For if it had beene a scruple of the Penitents , it is not probable , that the same should haue happened vnto them all , and after the same manner , as that all should frame and fancie to themselues an incapacitie of absolution . And albeit all of them had fallen vpon the very same scruple , yet did the Confessor know , whether it were a scruple of reason and foundation , or whether it were deuoide both of reason and ground . Whether or no it were reasonable shall herafter be demonstrated , and proofe made , that it cannot hold water . If it be without the ground-worke of reason , then was he obliged by the tyes of Conscience , to informe them , and to procure them to lay aside their errour . Neither is it likely that all of them after the same manner , and as if they had had but one braine in common amongst them , should remaine incapable of reason , and should bee so obstinated in an erronious conscience , that for this respect it should be thought fit to denie them after one and the same Tenor , the benefit of Confession . Moreouer , it would haue beene ( as a great Doctor said , but to another purpose ) an Afinine ignorance , and a Hare-like fearefulnesse , if all those Gentlemen , after that they had a long time aduised with their friends and kindred in their countrie , to imploy themselues in warre , and had deliberatly made election of a countrie so remote , with so much perill and expence ( because it is the learnedst Schoole for that kind of discipline , that at this time is in all Europe , yea in the whole world ) should all of them as it were by consent , haue waited together a whole yere to raise a scruple of Conscience of that tenacitie , that the rationall persuasions of their Spirituall Father should not bee able to obtaine so much vpon any one of them , as to remoue him from that fancie & to re-estate & place him within the boundaries of reason . And hence it appeares that this Head is totally excluded .

Concerning the second : It is long since that the Fauourers of the Court of Rome , and those that are dedicated to promote the Spanish Monarchie , did with such subtiltie , and so vniuersally vpon all aduantages serue their turne with the Pretext of Religion , that there is nothing by them left vnattempted , where they may with the specious Mantle , and couerture of Religion ( a way among men most powerfull ) bring vnto their part any profit , aduance their owne interests , and aduantage themselues in their vast pretentions . One way they haue opened , and still beat it as much as may be , and that is this : A custome hath beene introduced by a necessitie of the Common good , and by the iust and legitimate interest of State and good Gouernement , and by the rules of their owne peculiar preseruations , as it is by all Lawes most warrantable , That many both great & petty Catholicke Princes maintaine Embassadors , Secretaries , and other their Ministers , to bee neere those Princes , and Potentates , who , although Christians , yet are not in vnion with the Apostolike Romane Sea , and doe not yeeld , no not in Spirituall matters , the obedience which it desireth . As soone as they vnderstand that an Ambassador is chosen , they presently hunt about to know what Priest hee intends to take along with him to administer the holy Sacraments vnto him in those Countries where he is to be imployed ; and hauing penetrated what he is , they instantly assault him with powerful offers and offices of loue ; with large promises and hopes , and ( according the quality of the person ) with threats and terrors of Conscience , with apparant arguments of the seruice of God , and of aduancement of the Catholike Religion , which is euer the Garrison or Centinell , to warne & induce them to receiue their instructions , and to hold intelligence with them ; and they are made to promise , and to sweare too , that they will follow their directions with all care & punctualitie . And as in this manner they infallibly attempt all , so haue they happily preuailed with some ; in so much that Embassadours thinking to carry Priests with them , who may haue care of their Soules , and of their Families , haue giuen salaries vnto persons that obserue with all exquisitenesse the interests of the Courts of Rome and Spaine , and do vsually transmit vnto those Courts , all Relations and Reports ; so as in steede of attending on the Soules committed vnto their charge , they become the Priests and Pretors of other mens subiects , to the no small distast of those Princes with whom the Embassadours endeauour to preserue , and , for the common defence , to augment all good correspondence . Hence spring the continuall doleances of those Princes , that , from such as these , their subiects are debauched in their Allegeance , and in their Consciences contaminated ; that from hence Seditions are raised , Rebellions machinated , Conuenticles and vnlawfull Assemblies celebrated . And these Princes are powerfully persuaded , that their care for Religion is least in their thoughts , which meerely serues them for a colour : but that their reall and true end is , to make a muster and take a suruey of all persons malecontented with their Gouernement , and of all correspondents with strangers by way of clandestine intelligence ; and so vnder this couert to designe and practise against the State . And they thinke that they haue great reason to be jealous , and to haue vehement suspition thereof ; because the greatest part of Conspiracies , Machinations and Rebellions , haue had their spring from the like pretexts and practises . And to this purpose doe those Princes euer record the Leagues in France , the attempts vpon the liues of so many Princes , the Powder-treason of England , the reuolt of the Valtellina , and other semblable combinations . And in this discourse of Chaplains , it is fresh in memorie , that a certaine Embassador thinking to take along with him a Chaplaine of good learning and of great aduisednesse , before he departed from his Countrie , he had him so well mannaged and instructed at all points by the Ministers of the aboue recited Courts , that afterward in his charge he lost the name of Chaplaine , and was inuested with the titles of the Intelligencer and Gazettist of Rome and Spaine . And another did put his Patron into so many disguisements , that it lost him the name of Embassador , and gained him the appellation of Archbishop , which yet stickes vpon him with the Nation where hee was imployed . And that neither Conscience nor Zeale was the true cause of this , they thinke they haue sufficient proofe , because some one of these did conuert to his owne vse a huge summe of Donatiues , consigned ouer vnto him , or by him craftily extorted , to make an offering in the Holy house of Loretto : and that the Confessions , Reconciliations , and exercises of Religion , were now changed into so ordinarie and so quotidian procurements of wantonnesse , and entertainements of pleasures , that the scandall of these defamatorie doings is not yet layd or extinguished . Whence proceedeth this ill issue and detriment , euen to Religion it selfe , that whereas to the House and Residence of Embassadours , a good number of the Catholickes of that Countrey were accustomed to repaire , that they might there partake of Diuine Seruice , and receiue the Holy Sacraments after the manner of the Church of Rome ; this sacred custome was as it were vtterly abandoned , which tended so highly to the seruice of God , and honour of the Embassie .

These disorders haue constrained Embassadours who are deputed for such Residences , to apply their cogitations and solicitously to prouide , that the Priests assumed by them for such a charge , should not goe with them but vpon resolution to gouerne themselues with befitting modestie , without exceeding their limits ; and to further the Seruice of God , and aduancement of Catholicke Religion , but with Prudence and Moderation .

And in this I could giue many instances of conspicuitie and note , that diuers Embassadours without any disgust or giuing iust subiect of complaint , haue for certaine done greater Seruice to the Catholicke Religion , by the modest retirement and moderate temper of their Priests , than those Busibodies , or as the French haue it better , those Remuant spirits , that out of heat and hast to doe much , haue rather defaced than built . And a demonstration of this may be drawne from the good effect which hath followed thereupon , and euery day increaseth , that without any occasion of querimony or exception , the same or greater concourse of Catholickes is present at the Diuine exercises of the Catholicke Roman Réligion than was before , to the considerable aduancement of the Seruice of God and of Religion , which ought to be the principall obiect of humane actions .

It is not improbable that the Confessor , of whom wee speake , may haue amongst his Instructions this also expressed , Not to absolue such Jtalian Penitents as reside in those Countries . For a matter of that importance , as is the exclusion of men from the participation of the Sacraments , would not bee vndertaken by a priuate Priest , without great motiues from abroad ; especially , since it is an action not onely repugnant vnto Pietie , but to Wisedome also ; that when with so much art , they labour the reduction of any from the Protestant vnto the Catholicke Roman Religion ( of which the best proofe is to bring them to receiue the Sacraments ) they should notwithstanding exclude those from the participation of them , who from their infancie haue made profession of being Catholicks . And put case that the Priest haue receiued no such Jnstructions from Jtaly , nor by any letters or faculties , ( which is the vsuall and easie way ) yet may hee bee induced to such a resolution , in the very Low Countries themselues , because it is an indubitable truth , That the Nuntio who resides in Bruxels , doth manage all the practises appertaining to Religion in the Low Countries , and there hee appointeth his Ministers and Emissaries , who vnder other pretences and habits , promote that worke , which wee call the Conuersion vnto the Catholike Faith , and Protestants tearme the Seminarie of Sedition against the State . Neither doth the Nuntio want bold and potent instruments , which are diuers disguised and masked Jesuits , and other Religious persons also .

It was in times past an vse , and the practise thereof still continueth , That Bishops , and principally the Pope of Rome , were procurers of many expeditions , sending Religious persons into Regions inhabited by Infidels , with most ample Spirituall authority , to absolue from Cases reserued , to dispence with Vowes , to grant Indulgences and Graces , and to doe all that which was necessary or opportune for the Conuersion of Infidels to the holy Catholicke Faith , or for the corroboration and comfort of those beleeuers , which were still to bee found in those parts , from whence Christian Religion , and the free profession thereof had , by the Infidels , beene formerly discarded . The Sea of Rome in times past was for the most part wont to steede it selfe with the endeauours of the Minor obseruant Fryers ; concerning whom , we may reade in sundrie Pápall Constitutions , the Priuiledges and ample Concessions which they had , with power also to create titular Pastors of those Countries where they did exercise the workes of so much deuotion . But after , the Fathers the Jesuits grew great ; and besides , the fourth Vow ( which specially concerneth Missions ) tooke into their secret Institutions a particularitie of their owne , to receiue power to lay aside their habits , and to take those whereunto they had the greatest fancie ; so that they could metamorphise themselues into Souldiers , Marchants , Courtiers , and into any other Trade or Profession , and counterfeit themselues to bee of any Sect or Religion , Gentile , Turke , Iew , Hereticke , or any other which they should conceiue propitious vnto the ends that they propose vnto themselues ( so that from hence it might bee , that Father Aio sayd , Iesuita est omnis homo ) the Missions for the most part ( especially in the Countries where Protestants doe rule ) consisted of Iesuits , who leaue vnto other Religious Orders onely those Missions where there is the slenderest hope of gaine , and the greatest feare of danger . And these swarme ouer England , Germany , and indeed euery where , and now lately more than euer , since the erection of the new Congregation in Rome , which is conspicuous alreadie both for the greatnesse of their riches , and for the multitude of Ministers to be imployed by them : and it goeth vnder the title De propaganda Fide . Of these such as are sent into the Low Countries , besides the Instructions which they carry along with them from Rome and from their Superiours , receiue also directions from the Popes Nuntio resident at Bruxells . Whence it may be certainly conceiued ▪ that this Confessor had some such commands laid vpon him , and such like seedes sowne into him , from whence these fruits doe grow , which haue so strangely disturbed the Consciences of those Gentlemen , that did so little expect in this kind to bee disquieted . Therefore as the introduction of these Missions had in their origine the respect of Deuotion and Zeale of Religion , for their motiue and princ●pall obiect , together with a burning desire to conuert and saue Soules , so is it sure that afterward they degenerated into humane affections and interrests : and these expeditions haue onely serued to spie into Temporall Gouernements , into the strength of States , into the factions of Countries , into the deficiencies of Policie , into the wayes and meanes how to debilitate Gouernement , how to sow ciuile Discord , how to diminish the reputation of Princes , or to bring it into contempt , how to corrupt and entice from them their Souldiers of account and conduct : Nay , they are passed on so farre , as to blowe the coales of Sedition , to foment the Malecontents , to make set and formall leagues against Princes , to manage Conspiracies , & other like scandalous actions , which haue so foulely denigrated the beautie of these holy Missions , that they haue made them to bee esteemed no better than the sending forth of Bloody , Trecherous , and Insidiarie persons , and haue caused them to bee branded by the Aduersaries with those abhominable attributes which Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romanes in the end of the first Chapter doth accumulate on those that are of a reprobate minde . Yea the Catholickes themselues haue beene greatly ashamed of the villanies that are sprung from these moderne Missions . And although the fruit of such detestable seede is in these dayes but too rife and plentifull , yet now that the war is kindled against the Protestants , the fertilitie is much greater than formerly it was . So that at this present when so formidable a warre is waged against the States of the Low Countries by the King of Spaine , no maruell if the Emissaries of the Popes Nuntio in Bruxels ( who swarme in disguises through those Prouinces ) doe straine a point beyond their vsuall manner . To this ought the Confessor to haue had some regard , and by considering , that hee was thus strictly appointed , Not to administer absolution to those that fought for the defence of the Hollanders ; he should thence haue inferred , That the Catholick Religion was the pretext onely ; but the end is the interest of factions , the which haue nothing to doe with Religion ; neither haue the Antients euer taught that it should by such meanes bee ampliated . Further , hee ought to haue taken into consideration , that hee is not depending on the authoritie of the Nuntio , or of any deputed from him that is not his Ordinarie : neither doth hee receiue authoritie from him to heare Confessions , and that these secret iuglings are odious before God , and that it is an adulterated Zeale which vnder the mantle of Religion couereth humane passions and ends . And it would bee too great an inconuenience , that when Embassadours and their Families ( as good Authours doe maintaine ) are not assubiected to Princes where they reside , but by the Law of Nations are exempt and free , and onely owe submission vnto their naturall Lords , yet hee which attendeth them for the administration of the Sacraments , should take law from one that is an Alien to that Countrey , yea and serueth such a Prince as maketh warre against it . Who can doubt , but that such a one will trie to doe all the mischiefe hee is able , especially by disbanding the souldiers that serue the other side , as is apparant in this very Case ? yet it cannot without horror be conceiued , how great an iniurie is done to the Maiestie of God , and to Religion , to make it like vnto Medusas Head , a Bug-beare to scare and intimidate mens Consciences , for ends meerely mundane , and peraduenture for designes that tast of tyranny and iniustice , as to seise vpon and take away Countries from those persons vnto whom God hath giuen them . For conclusion then of this Head , it was not Iustice , and it is contrarie to Religion , that the Confessor did follow the directions of a professed enemie to those States by vertue of a blind obedience : and hee ought not to haue done so notorious a wrong and iniurie to those Gentlemen , without examining first , Whether it were iust or vniust to denie such a Penitent , absolution . For I would see great and euident reason , before I would exclude any man from the participation of the Sacraments , which is a bond of grieuous preiudice . And , as Saint Ierome writes , Priests ought not to put on a Pharisaicall superciliousnesse , as if it lay in their power to binde and loose , but they are to consider the Conscience of the Penitent , and the merite af the Cause . So that you see , all is reduced to the two last Heads , which remaine to bee examined , because in them lyeth the pyth and point of the cause . Of which :

The third is , Whether the Confessor had iust cause to denie these Gentlemen absolution for this respect , That they could not liue in the Low Countries without sinne , as beeing to conuerse with those who acknowledge not the Pope of Rome for Head of the Church , and refuse to yeeld vnto him obedience ; and , For that there is not in those parts , the publike exercise of the Catholick Romane Religion .

This reason in times past would haue receiued no shew or colour , but now , some shadow of doubt may bee put , since that Clement the eight tooke on him to bee the first that euer made any step and pretention in this matter . For in the yeare 1595 , hee published a Constitution , That no Italian should or ought to goe for any cause whatsoeuer , no not for trafficking and marchandise , to any place where there was not a Parochiall Priest and a publike Church wherein the Romane seruice was celebrated , except he first should obtaine leaue from the holy Office of the Inquisition or from the Ordinaries , binding also those that should trauell with such licences , to send yearely to the Inquisitors , letters of authenticall credence , that they had confessed and communicated . Peraduenture this might bee the cause why the Confessor , and he who mannaged him , did deale so roughly with their Penitents .

But withall you must know , that this Papall Constitution was neuer entertained or put in execution by any Prince , but contrariwise totally excluded as if it had neuer bin ordained . And to confirme this , it is the receiued Position of Canonists and Ciuilians , and of the Popes themselues , and it is a Doctrine also consonant both to Diuinitie & Nature , That all humane positiue Lawes ( vnder which kind no Catholick Doctor doth denie that such like Constitutions are comprehended ; neither can he , vnlesse he will make a man a God , nay aboue God ) are iust so much in force as they are in vse , and by not beeing receiued , or by an application of them vnto a contrarie vse , they loose all their vertue obligatorie , and are as if they had neuer beene ordained . And if it should bee otherwise , there would bee nothing but confusion in Gouernement , and destruction of good Policie : and Popes should not onely bee Patrons of all States and Dominions , and Lords of all matters of Iudicature , and of all Tribunals , but the very facultie and meanes to thinke of any question , would bee idle and out of vse : for what matter is there , that the Popes in some past ages till now , haue not themselues decreed , or else commanded their determinations ? But Iurisdiction is not acquired by commaundements , but by commanding iustly , and by being obeyed . So that no foundation must bee layd on this Constitution , which was abortiue in the birth , reiected in the first beginning , opposed by all , receiued by none ; and by the Declaration of some Princes against the very Pope that made it , it is apparant that it ought not to be receiued : so that it hath had no obseruation at all , but hath remained as if it had not beene made ; and that with the knowledge of the Ecclesiasticks , and of the Popes themselues , yea and of the very person that made it .

And so it ought to bee in reason , because the Pope extended his power to the restriction and confinement of that libertie which God and Nature , all Lawes diuine and humane , and the practise in the generall course of all times from the beginning of the World vntill the yeare 1595 , haue giuen and granted vnto the Faithfull . Whosoeuer hath any insight into the Sacred Stories , knowes that after the Creation of the world , there was a diuision of Religion in the very sonnes of Adam , and that some worshipped the true God with pure and lawfull Adoration , as was requisite ; others became Idolaters , and yet he will not finde that the Faithfull ( I speak not of the separation of Nations , but of particular diuisions , for that was a Case reserued to God alone ) euer receiued prohibition to inhabit those places where men of impure or false Religion did dwell , but the true worshippers of God did alwaies enioy the freedom of going , staying , & dwelling there where their best commoditie did inuite them . The same is obserued to haue continued all the while that the Iewes did dwell amongst the Gentiles and in the cities of Idolaters , as serued best for their ease and purpose . And this remained constant and vninterrupted , vntill the comming of our Lord into the World , in which tim it apapereth by the Scripture of the New Testament , That the true Beleeuers , which then were the Hebrewes , were dispersed and scattered in the Countries of Asia , Affricke , Europe , and dwelt in Rome it selfe . And in those dayes there was amongst the Iewes a Sect called in the Gospell , The Heresie of the Saduces ; who denied that there were any spirituall Creatures , or Angells , or Soules , or Resurrection of the dead ; and yet they dwelt with the rest , and they with them : neither did any then euer pretend to reprooue this libertie , or to prohibit men from going or abiding where they themselues best liked .

And after the publication of the Holy Gospell , the same libertie remained in all ages , neither shall you find that euer any did pretend to the contrarie , vntill Clement the eight . And yet there were in the Church so many Sects , Diuisions and Heresies , of that power as that they filled whole Cities , Countries , Kingdomes and Empires : Witnesse the Arians in particular , who seemed to haue taken possession of the whole Earth , in so much as Jerome with great bitternesse sayd of them , That the World was amased to finde it selfe turned Arian . And these with the Princes of this Sect held the Easterne Empire , Affricke , and a great part of Italy ; and yet it will not bee proued that euer it was endeauoured , that the libertie of Catholicks should bee taken from them , so that they might not trauell , abide , inhabit , or traffike where it should seeme best vnto them . And if there appeared danger to any particular man , to him in particular did they apply admonitions and persuasions by their friends and ghostly Fathers , but neuer durst they forme a generall Command for the people of a whole Nation ; and of this there can be no example alleadged . But you will finde the Apostolicall Doctrine of Saint Paul , to the contrarie ; that , if of two ioyned together , the one shall be a Beleeuer , and the other an Infidell , and this shall consent to liue with the Beleeuer , let the Beleeuer liue with him , and not abandon him . And thereupon the Canonists haue framed a Rule , with this exception onely , That the seperation is commanded then meerely , when they cannot Cohabit without iniurie vnto the Creator . And this Rule will by reason of this restriction , so much the more serue for our purpose . The Cannons of seperating a mans selfe from hereticall or excommunicate persons , doe likewise make for our Case ; because it is one thing to abstaine from the conuersation of a particular person that is censured by the Church , and another thing not to remaine in a Countrey that is diuerse in Faith from vs : for so , that which is done against an Hereticke in fauour of Religion , might be turned to the disfauour and disaduantage of the libertie of a Beleeuer and a Catholicke ; concerning whom , none will say that he cannot so dwell without an iniury done to the Creator : For otherwise all the Catholickes of England , Jreland , and Scotland , and of other Kingdomes too , should bee bound to auoid their Countries .

And therefore to goe , to stay , to inhabite , to trafficke , and to serue in war are all ciuile actions , and not spirituall . And if any could or ought to frame commaundements on them , it is an office that belongs to Secular Princes , vnto which the Ecclesiastickes can make no pretension , vnlesse they will arbitrarily vsurpe vpon others authority , without Law or Scripture , nay rather against all Law and Scripture .

But in the meane time , all the other countries of Christendome doe enioy this freedome , so that neither Pope nor Prelate forbids the Spaniards , French , Germanes , nor Polackes , that are Catholicke , to goe and abide where they will ; what reason then is there that onely Jtalians should finde worse Conditions , and that this bondage should bee imposed on them alone ? Either this matter concernes Saluation , or no ; if it doe not , why then should the Ecclesiasticks thrust their sickle into other mens corne ? If it concerne Saluation , in this , neither the Scriptures nor holy Apostles , euer knew distinction of Nations or people . Neither would they now giue authoritie vnto any Ecclesiasticke to make decrees in the like matter , although in some sort it might bee thought expedient and conducing to saluation . For the Canonists themselues , who giue power to the Prelate indirectly in temporall things , haue not yet dared to passe further , except as the power in Temporals concerneth saluation , out of necessitie onely , and not out of congruitie , or for bettering the state of Saluation . For otherwise Ecclesiasticks might in all things command absolutely : as , it may bee , they might thinke it profitable for the saluation of many persons , that some should build Churches , others should giue all they haue vnto the poore ; that some should not marry , that others should bee clad rather after one fashion than another , that some should leaue marchandising , that a Prince should renounce his Kingdome and turne priuate man , that others should lay aside the art which they professe . And by this meanes would they become the absolute Masters of all wealth and of all States ; and , which is more , of the very thoughts . But if the indirect cannot bee meant , vnlesse it bee for the necessitie of the Spirituall , it will lye on him who pretends to giue such commands , to shew how this restraint of the Italian Nation onely , is necessary to saluation , and not of others too ; and why Italians alone cannot attaine to their saluation if they dwell in such like Countries : and if it really bee an impediment to saluation , how may it bee taken away by a peece of paper that containes the Licence which they are to carry with them ? Besides , if Superiors doe send Priests into the Protestant Countries , that vnder other shewes , they may administer the Sacraments vnto such , as albeit they liue vnder Protestant Princes , are notwithstanding , in Religion Catholicks ; doe they not thereby conceiue and approue , that saluation may there bee had without abandoning those Countries ? If so , then may Italians obtaine the like , and that with lesse impediment , because they beeing strangers may lawfully make publike profession in the Houses of Embassadors , of the exercise of Catholicke Religion : so that the Priest cannot hereupon constraine them to depart from thence , although hee should iudge it to be more commodious for them to liue in Italy . Therefore as it hath beene shewed , necessitie only doth grant vnto them indirect authority in Temporals , euen by the opinion of the Canonists : otherwise , if it should bee iudged better for Catholick Religion , That the Pope should in Temporals bee inuested with the Kingdomes of France , Spaine , and Germany ; they might ordaine that those Countries should , by the renunciation of the possident Princes , be deliuered vp vnto him . And wee see that our Blessed Sauiour himselfe would haue things that are not necessary , but only profitable & helpfull to saluation , left to Counsell , & not circumscribed in precepts . How much lesse then can Ecclesiastickes vse their power in Temporall matters , when there is no necessitie thereof , but onely because it may peraduenture conduce vnto saluation ? And in this case least of all , because we vnderstand not for what such power may bee profitable , vnlesse it bee for the aduancement of the interests of their temporall Greatnesse . And this difference touching Italians , which cannot indeed bee admitted in temporall matters , in which Saint Paul knew no diuersitie of Iew , Greeke , or Barbarian , hath beene found out by some shrewd and experienced braines , who by obseruation of former times , and comparing them with this , know that the Ecclesiastickes haue mightily diminished their authority in Tramontane Countries , and therefore doe procure in Italy intensiuely , that which hath extensiuely beene lost in other places ; and to this end they imploy all their art and force , and draw euery matter to the head of Spiritualitie or Religion . Vnto this , Soueraigne Princes ought to haue great regard , as they haue had by the exclusion and inobseruance of the foresaid Constitution . Notwithstanding which , the Italians who are subiects to the most renowned Republicke , to the Dukes of Sauoy and Tuscany , doe repaire where they see cause for matter of marchandise , and for any other concernement that belongs vnto them . They frequent England , Germany , and Cities that are subiect to Protestant Princes , and all places else whereunto their interests doe draw them . And therefore it is lawfull by an vniuersall consent of all Catholicke States , to persist in that libertie which God and Nature haue granted , and which is independent of the will of Ecclesiastickes , as being a matter that toucheth not spirituall Saluation , at the least not by a necessary connexion .

But the importance of this action requireth further consideration , because the offences of Princes are of greater moment than the faults of priuate persons . And this attempt is a beginning of notable vsurpation and perturbance in ciuile Gouernement . For it is to be held as a constant Tenet ( as already wee haue touched ) that where any matter is handled concerning the saluation of Soules , in which the Ecclesiasticall Prelate hath authority to make orders & to command , there can no distinction or difference of persons bee admitted . And therefore Pope Clement the eight in the Constitutions aforesayd , commands in generall without exception either of Persons or Causes , That none without licence of the ordinary Inquisitors should presume to go into such parts , where there is not a publike Church , Priest , & exercise of the Romish Rites and Seruice . So that by vertue of this Constitution , a Prince should not send Embassadors ordinary or extraordinary into the Countries that are held by Potentates diuided from the Sea of Rome . And if an occurrence or Case should happen , that out of the emergency of Reason , or out of necessitie of good Gouernement , it should bee held expedient to send a secret person to act some negotiations , which it were inconuenient that the Ecclesiastickes should know , yet notwithstanding , all must bee reuealed vnto him , or men must fall into censures , and bee made obnoxious vnto the Inquisition . These inconueniences are so cleere and so vsuall , that they doe sufficiently declare the apparancy of the vsurpation . And it would be too great an aduantage , that the Pope and Spaine may ( as dayly they doe , and examples hereof are actually practised ) send into the Countries of Protestants ( where there is publikely , neither Romish Church nor Priest ) Iesuits , and some of other Religious Orders in disguise , and in more priuate restriction too , whether for businesse , or for guile , or for exploration , euery man speaketh after his owne fancie , and that it should bee vnlawfull for other Princes to send any person without their leaue or knowledge . And in the Leuant too , where the very Soule of trafficke breathes , there is scarce a place conuenient for trading , that hath the benefit of a publike Church : so that here likewise , if this Rule should hold , there is no abiding without licence . And if Princes must in their interrests depend thus on others , and submit the ground-worke of good Gouernement , and the necessitie of their defence and préseruation to other mens ends and arbitrements , they are no longer absolute Princes ; and farewell Soueraignetie , if it be once brought to such a descent , as to render an account vnto any but to God , and to receiue Laws of what it ought to doe , or not to doe , from any power but Diuine .

But it exceedes all beleefe and Christian charitie , to obserue the course which hath bin taken with these Gentlemen . The time comes that a Gentleman , out of compunction for his sinnes , goes to reconcile himselfe to God by Confession , and then is hee intreated with such strange and intollerable rigor , that the spirituall comfort of absolution is denied him ▪ And yet we are impatient to heare it maintained by such as are seperated from the Church of Rome , That Confession is become the very path through which ( insteede of comforting mens Soules ) the interrests of the Courts of Rome and Spaine are conueyed , to the detriment and disaduantage of other Potentates ; and that it is distorted from the originall and pure Institution , and made to pry into mens actions , to debauch the allegeance of subiects , to instill affections , to augment partialities and sidings , and such like things as these .