The canons and decrees of the Council of Trent celebrated under Paul III, Julius III, and Pius IV, Bishops of Rome / faithfully translated into English.

The Safe Conduct given to Protestants.

THe Thrice Holy, Oecumenick and General Council of Trent, lawfully as∣sembled in the Spirit of Holiness, the said Legate and Nuncio's of the Holy Apostolick See presiding therein, for the confirming of the Safe Conduct granted in the last Session save one, and for the enlarging of it according to the Tenour following, doth grant unto all and singular the Priests, Electors, Princes, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Barons, Noble-men, and unto all other men whatsoever, Military or Popular, of what State, Condition or Quality soever they be, of the German Province, and Nation, in the Cities and other Places of the same, and to all other Ecclesiastick and Civil Persons, especially those of the Augustan Con∣fession, he or she together with their Retinue that shall come, be sent, about to come, or already come unto this General Council of Trent, by what name soever they are called, or may be called, by the Tenour of these Presents, Publick Faith, and most plenary and full Security, which they call Safe Conduct, freely to come to the said City of Trent, and to stay, stand, tarry, and abide in the said City, and to propound and speak, together with the said Synod, of the businesses there to be discoursed, examin'd and discuss'd; and freely to alledge all things whatsoever they please, and, to lay open any Articles, as well by Writing as by word of Mouth, and to declare them, build on them, and perswade to them, from the Holy Scriptures, and the Words, Sentences, and Reasonings of the holy Fathers, and, if need be, to answer to the Objections of the General Coun∣cil, and, to dispute with those that are elected by the Council, or charitably to Discourse without any Impediment; Disgraces, Reproaches, and Contumelies, altogether laid aside; And that which is the cause of the Controversy shall be signally handled in the aforesaid Council of Trent, according to Holy Writ and Traditions of the Apostles, approved Councils, the Consent of the Catholick Church, and the Authorities of Holy Fathers. Moreover it doth allow and grant that none under pretence of Religion, may be punished for Offences com∣mitted or to be committed about it. So also that they do not by any means cease from Divine Offices in the said City of Trent, by reason of their pretence, neither in their Journey, or in their going to, abiding in, or returning from any place. And that, whether these Things be Finished or not, whenever they please, or with the command and assent of their Superiors, they shall desire to return to their proper places; or any one of them shall desire it, presently without any Resistance, Stay, or Delay, their Affairs, as likewise their Honour, and Persons being safe, they shall on the contrary, at their own pleasure, freely and securely return; yet with the knowledge of those who are to be deputed by the said Synod; that so their safety, without Guile, or Deceit, may be opportunely provided for.

Also the said Holy Synod in this Publick Faith, and, Safe Conduct, Willeth, that all Clauses whatsoever, be Contained, and Included, and so accounted, which may, for their full, efficacious, and sufficient Security, either in going, staying, or returning, be necessary, or fit. Expressing also this for their greater security, and the good of Peace and Reconciliation, That if any one or some of them, should either in

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their Journey to Trent, or their stay there, or return from thence, act, or com∣mit any Enormous Crimes, (which God forbid) by which the Benefit of this Publick Faith or Security may be Nulled or made Void, It willeth, and granteth, that being taken in this like Wickedness, they shall presently be punished by such alone, and not by others, with a condign Animadversion, and sufficient amend∣ment as shall be deservedly approved of, and allowed by part of this Syno••; the Form, Conditions, and Matter of their Security remaining wholly untouch'd. In like manner also, It willeth, That if any or some of the said Synod, either in their Journey hither, abode here, or return, shall act, or commit any Enormous crime, (which God forbid) by which the Benefit of this Publick Faith or Secu∣rity, may be Violated or any ways taken away, that being taken in this kind of Wickedness, they be presently punished by the same Synod only, and by no others, by condign Animadversion and sufficient Amendment, deservedly allowed and approved of by part of the German Lords of the Augustan Confession, then here present; the manner, conditions, and forms of their Security remaining untouch'd. Also, the said Synod, Willeth, That it be Lawful for the Ambassa∣dours themselves, all and each of them, as often as they see fit or necessary, to go out of the City of Trent to take the Air, and to return again to the same; as also freely to send, and order their Nuncio, or Nuncio's, to any places, for the setling their necessary Businesses, and he or they being so sent or order'd to receive as of∣ten as they shall see convenient; so that one or more may be appointed by the Deputies of the Council who may provide for their Security. Which said Safe Conduct and Securities ought to stand and abide, and from time to time after they shall happen to come under the Tuition of the said Council, and be brought to Trent, and all the time of their abode there; and after sufficient Audience had, the space of twenty days being premised, when they shall desire it; or the Coun∣cil, such Audience had, shall order their Departure, will set them again, with Gods leave, from the City of Trent, even unto any safe place each one shall chuse for himself, all Deceit and Guile being utterly excluded. All which this Council doth promise, and in good earnest ascertain to be inviolably observed for all and singular Christ's Faithful, for all Princes as well Ecclesiastical as Secular whatso∣ever, and for all other Persons Ecclesiastick or Civil of what state or condition soever they be, or by what name soever named.

Furthermore, all Craft and Deceit set aside, it doth promise in real, good Ear∣nest, That the said Synod shall seek out for no occasion openly, or occultly, or by any Authority, Power, Right, or Statute, by Privilege of Laws, or Canons, or Councils whatsoever, especially of Constance and Siena, in what form of words soever express'd, by any means, use, or sufferance, to use any thing prejudicial to this Publick Faith, and most plenary Security, and publick and free Audience, granted to them by the said Council, whereby it does in this behalf derogate herefrom. But if this Holy Synod, or any particular Person thereof, of what condition, state, or preheminence soever he be, shall have in any point or clause violated the Form and Matter of the aforesaid Security and Safe Conduct (which yet Almighty God avert) and sufficient satisfaction not immediately be made, and such as shall be well approved of and commended by them at their plea∣sure, they may and shall esteem the Synod to have faln under all the Penalties,

which, by Law divine, or Humane, or by Custom, breakers of such like Safe Conducts may incurr, without all excuse, or any manner of Contradiction in this behalf.