Footnote 2:[(return)]
One note may be thought to be characteristic. In the table occurs, "Many think their sins are pardoned, because it is but little they are guilty of." The general has interlined, "A pistol kills as well as a cannon."
"CONSILIUM DELECTORUM CARDINALIUM."
(Vol. ix., pp. 127. 252.)
I have before me a copy of this very interesting document, together with an Epistole Joannis Sturmii de eadem re, ad Cardinales cæterosque viros ad eam Consultationem delectos, printed at Strasburg ("ex officina Cratonis Mylii Argentoraten.") A.D. 1538. The report of the Committee had reached Sturmius in the month of March, 1537-8; and his critique, addressed especially to Contarini, bears the date "tertio Non. Aprilis." As it is a somewhat scarce pamphlet, two or three extracts may not be unacceptable to the readers of "N. & Q."
"Rara res est et præter omnium opinionem oblata occasio, pontificem datum orbi talem, qui jurejurando fidem suorum sibi ad patefaciendam veritatem astrinxerit, ut si quid secus statuatis quam religio desideret vobis ea culpa non pontifici præstanda videatur."—C. 2.
"At si diligenter et cum fide agatis, vestra virtute, florentem Christi rempublicam conspiciamus; si negligenter et cupide, ut cujus rei adhuc reliquiæ nonnullæ supersunt, illæ continuo ita tollantur, simul ac calumniari ac male agere ceperitis, ut ne vestigia quidem ullius sanctitatis apud vestras quidem partes posteris nostris appareant."—C. 4.
He then passes to other topics, where he has to deplore the little sympathy evinced by the Cardinals for Luther and his party, e.g. on the subject of indulgences:
"Quid de illa ratione quam pœnitentibus præscribitis, nonne falsa, nonne perversa, nonne ad quæstum magis et ad tyrannidem quam ad vitæ emendationem, et correctionem spectans? Et qui remedia contra hos morbos quærunt, eos vos ea ecclesia ejiciendos putatis, et condemnatis hæreseos, qui restituere pristinam puritatem religioni conantur; eos illam tollere, qui ceremonias purgare, eos perflegare qui auctoritatem ecclesiasticam recuperare atque confirmare, eos imminuere et labefactare clamatis."—D. 4.
Charles Hardwick.