ing the doctrine proposed, by examining the articles of the heretics drawn up on the subject; and after some formality in answering a petition, it was taken into consideration what should be done, in consequence of the prevailing disease in the city of Trent.

The writer of the Diary, who is evidently not one of the pontifical party, represents the affair thus. Many of the prelates and their domestics were at this time indisposed, either from the indulgences of the carnival, or the humidity of the atmosphere. The cardinal del Monte employed persons to inquire of the physicians, whether there was any danger of contagion, who dropping an ambiguous word, a general panic ensued, which was justified by the recent death just mentioned *; and, as the disease increased, the legate ordered the procurator of the council to institute a process concerning it. It was reported that the neighbouring towns, and Verona in particular, had suspended all intercourse with the infected place; so that a congregation was held on the 9th of March, where the legates published their faculty for transferring the council. The imperialists protested, that there was no just cause for the measure, and afterwards the congregation inquired and found that it was a pretence and a concerted thing t.

Massarelli records the congregation of the 9th, and states, that after examining the doctrinal point, on which they were engaged, the cardinal del Monte proposed to the fathers to consider what course should be taken, since so many of their body had withdrawn, and others continued to withdraw, from the city. To avoid the dissolution of the council in this way the opinions of the fathers present were

There were several others.

There is a very curious document in Le Plat, iii. 590, &c. derived from Martene's collection, Acts in the translation of the Council to Bologna, with the Depositions of the Physicians at length concerning the disease, which is said to be vulgarly called petecce. The Latin epithets are ponticularis and lenticularis. It appeared to be eruptive and contagious.

desired: but their sentiments were so various, that the determination was adjourned till the next day.

They then met, being the 10th of March, and the greater part agreed to transfer the council to Bologna. The formal resolution, however, to that purpose they reserved to a public session, which was fixed by the president for the very next day, the 11th of March.

The business of this session was very summary: it consisted simply in reading the decree for the translation of the council, which was no more in effect than the question, whether, considering the nature, prevalence, and danger of the distemper at Trent, the fathers did not think it necessary for their safety, that the council should be transferred for a time to Bologna, as more healthy and commodious, appointing the 21st of April ensuing for the next session in that place, and there to remain until the council thought it best to return and chuse a third place, after the council had communicated with the sovereigns. The greater part of the session approved.

Massarelli does not enable us to judge of the proportion, having made but one list, of the members present; but from the catalogue, which is adopted in Le Platt's edition of the canons and decrees, it appears that the two legates with the prelates and generals, and abbats, who were for the translation, made 42; and the cardinal Pacecco, with the prelates for remaining at Trent, made 18. It is due, however, to the candour, as well as accuracy, of the secretary to add, that the names of those who remained at Trent, to the number of 13, are recorded afterwards. There is one remarkable circumstance in that list-none of the generals of orders or abbats are included: they all adhered to the legates.

SESSION IX.-BOLOGNA I.

PREPARATIONS-SESSION.

Prorogation of Session.

THE presidents of the council, and the fathers who agreed with them as to the translation of the council, took their course on the very next day after the session towards Bologna *. The non-contents, to the number of 13, who are expressly named by the secretary, remained at Trent. The legantine company reached Bologna on the 20th, and were received there with great honour and joy.

They lost no time, but immediately set to business; for on the 25th of March, the presidents exhibited to the theologians a copy of 14 articles extracted from the books of the modern heretics on the sacrament of penance, or penitence. The articles are transcribed at length. On the 29th the divines assembled in the first congregation at Bologna in the house of the Campeggi, and the principal residence of the first president the cardinal del Monte. They discussed the above mentioned articles; and, if the dates of our secretary are correct, they continued so employed from the day then present for one entire month, to the same day, the 29th of April.

In the mean time, on the 12th of April, the presidents

* In the valuable collection of documents in MS in the different libraries of Spain, published by Dn. J. L. Villanueva in his Vida Literaria, at the end of the second volume, there is a letter by Juan Paez de Castro, dated April 3, 1547, which gives some account of this departure of the legate and their adherents. On the day chosen for determining upon the translation of the council, the gospel of the mass had in it the words, 'cast off the dust of your feet,' &c., which was a kind of execration of the city; when they started for Verona some looked back, saying, ' There you may stay, ye swine!' Some Italians said of the Spaniards, that having spent two years in a land of heretics, they were not disposed to go to that of Christ; and the written protests of the latter were strewed on the floor, of which the authors repented, and strove in vain to recover them. The emperor sent to Rome to expostulate with his holiness, who sware, that he was not aware of it, and was sorry, but threw the whole upon the council, by whose resolution he would abide.

issued letters to the prelates who remained in Trent. The first, to Cardinal Pacecco, relates their arrival in Bologna, and the very honourable and cordial reception which they had received from all ranks; blessing God, that in so just and necessary a change of place they had selected one which had every recommendation for beauty, opulence, and abundance of provisions; and where the council might be prosecuted with all peace, liberty, and security; and closing with the announcement of the day of the next session, the 21st of April. The date is April 11, 1547.

There are three other letters of precisely the same import, written each to several of the prelates jointly; and of the delivery of all of them there is a formal attestation.

From the historian, as he may be called exclusively of the council, the accurate Fra Paolo, we supply the defect of our manuscripts in this place, by the information, that the fathers, who remained at Trent, according to the known and expressed wish of the emperor, who was highly averse to the translation, were at a difficulty how to act. They resolved, however, to abstain from any synodical act, lest they should thereby create a schism; and contented themselves with pursuing their studies on the points before them.

The first general congregation at Bologna was held on the 19th of April; and it was concluded, that, on account of the paucity of attendants, no decree should be then made on the subject of the Sacraments and Reformation *; but that, at the ensuing session, nothing but the usual ceremonies should take place. By another congregation, the day after, the next session was appointed for the immediately succeeding day, the 21st, and the one after that for the 2d of June.

On the 21st of April, therefore, the Ninth Session of the council, and the first at Bologna, was celebrated.

It is to be observed, that the secretary, whose summary

* Confirmation is written, although there were canons on it in the last session. It is evidently a mistake for Reformation.

we are following, and which is highly valuable on account of its minuteness and presumed accuracy, having accompanied the major and Italian part of the council to Bologna, gives the whole history of its proceedings with a detail and apparent interest, which plainly exhibits the more distinct feeling of rivalry. Where the parties were mingled in one enclosure the same feeling operated in a desultory and undefined manner: but when they were separated they stood opposite to one another, visibly to themselves and the world, in hostile array.

A

The secretary commences his account of the session by calling it the First Public Session of the holy Ecumenic and General Council of Bologna-not the Ninth of Trent, as if it were hoped, that that place would not again be thought of as the future seat of the council. They met in the collegiate church of St. Petronius of Bologna. solemn mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated. An indulgence, then, according to custom, was published by the deacon; and Caterino, bishop of Minori, clothed in his pluviale and mitre, ascended the altar, and delivered a pious and luminous oration. This being finished, the presidents received their robes, and the eighty-fourth psalm was chanted. The first president then approached the high altar, where he performed the usual prayers and ceremonies, and litanies were sung, &c. The second president followed, and in the same place implored the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and other offices succeeded. They then, both sat down before the high altar, with canopies over their heads; and with their faces towards the assembled prelates; when the decree was received from their hands by the archbishop of Naxia, who, ascending a pulpit, read it with a loud and intelligible voice.

The decree, with the usual verbosity, for substance, simply declares, that the council having been transferred to the present place, for good and urgent reasons, and that, from different causes, too small a number were assembled for the due discharge of their important undertaking; there