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.

A Decree for Suspending the Council.

THE thrice holy, Oecumenick and General Council of Trent, lawfully assem∣bled in the Spirit of Holyness, the most Reverend Lords, Sebastian, Arch∣bishop of Sipont, and Aloysius, Bishop of Verona, Apostolick Nuncio's presiding therein, as well in their own name, as that of the most Reverend and most Illu∣strious Lord Marcellus, by the Title of S. Marcellus Cardinal of the Holy Church of Rome, Legate of Creseon, absent by reason of his great Indisposition, does not doubt, but that every Christian knows, that this Oecumenick Council of Trent was first call'd happily and gather'd together by Paul III. afterwards by our most holy Lord Julius III. at the request of the most August Emperor Charles V. for this cause principally recall'd, that it might re-establish Religion in its pristine State, divided into divers Opinions in many parts of the World, especially in Germany, and amend Abuses and the most corrupt manners of Christians; And seeing very many Fathers for this end, without any respect had to their pains or danger, had chearfully flock'd hither from divers Countries, that the matter might, with a great concourse of People, be strenuously and faithfully carried on; and there was no small hope, that those of the German Nation, who had raised up these Novelties, would come to the Council; hoping also that they would unanimously acquiesce in the true Reasons of the Church: Lastly, Heaven seem'd to favour our Undertakings, and the Christian Commonwealth that before was forlorn and afflicted, began to lift up its head; when those Tumults on a sudden, and those Wars, by the cunning craftiness of the Devil broke out, so that the Coun∣cil, sufficiently to its disadvantage, was forced to hesitate and put a stop to its procedures, and all hopes of farther progress was now taken away; and the holy Synod was thereby so far from healing the Evils and Differences among Christians, that it irritated rather than appeased the minds of many, contrary to the expectation thereof: When therefore this holy Synod saw all places, and es∣pecially Germany, to be embroil'd in Arms and Discords, almost all the German Bishops, especially the Electoral Princes, left the Council to consult the Good of their Churches; It decreed that such a Necessity was not to be striven with, but that it should be hush'd till better times; That the Fathers, who were not at that time able to act, might return to their Respective Churches to take care of

their Flocks, that they may not spend their time at both places to no purpose. And therefore, the condition of the Times so requiring it, it does Determine, the progress of this Oecumenick Council of Trent shall be suspended for two Years, as by this present Decree it doth suspend it; but with this Proviso, That, if the Difference be composed sooner, and our pristine Quietness be returned, which it hopes will not be long, through the Blessing of the great and good God, then from the very time the Council may be deem'd to have its full force, strength and vigour as before: But if (which God forbid) the foresaid lawful Impedi∣ments, at the end of two years, shall not be removed, as soon as ever they shall cease, such suspension may be understood eo ipso to be void, and its strength and vigor restor'd to the Council, and may be understood to be without a new Con∣vocation thereof, the Consent and Authority of his Holiness and of the Apostolick See being had in this Decree.

In the mean time the said Holy Synod doth Exhort all Christian Princes, and all Prelates, to observe, and respectively to cause to be observed, by all that are under their Jurisdictions, in their Kingdoms, Dominions, and Churches, all and singular the things, that have been hitherto appointed and decreed by this Holy Oecumenick Council of Trent.