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the Church was threatened, rendered the definition not only opportune but necessary.

The Church could not remain silent: she could not leave the faithful in uncertainty; nor could she consent that her doctrine should be abandoned as a prey to those who were plotting for its mutilation. She was forced to speak, and to speak in no hesitating tones; and her voice has been obeyed by every Catholic worthy of the name-foremost among them, the Bishops of the Church.

And those who had resisted the definition have not been satisfied with merely submitting to the decision of the Council: they have taken care, moreover, to set forth the grounds of their submission. "The plain truth," writes the Archbishop of Cologne, "is, that the unparalleled irreverence and bitterness of the calumnious and slanderous attacks aimed at the authority of the Supreme Head of the Church, whilst the deliberations of the Council were in progress, practically decided the question of opportuneness, and rendered the definition a matter of necessity. Besides, it became evident, especially during the discussions of the Council, that the overweening pride of intellect, which, in so many other matters had long since undermined and shaken every principle however certain, and all authority however venerable, has now asserted itself in religious matters, and prevails to no slight extent among Catholic scholars and men of learning, so much so that many nominal Catholics have come at length to believe that no authority but their own is to be recognised as infallible. Against this pernicious tendency, absolutely incompatible with the existence of supernatural faith, which can exist in the humble alone, the doctrine of the Infallibility of the Pope, defined by the Ecumenical Council, is a remedy peculiarly appropriate, and it cannot fail to prove itself as such."

It was precisely in this point that the Bishops who opposed the Definition differed from the fanatical opposition outside the Council; that whilst the Bishops felt themselves under an obligation to resist the Definition by bringing forward arguments which they regarded as conclusive, they did not fail from the beginning to urge upon the faithful who were committed to their care, the duty of submitting to the decision of the Church, whatever it might be, as they themselves were prepared to abide by that decision ; but the fanatical opposi

1 For instance, Mgr. David, Bishop of Saint Brieuc, in his letter to the Pope, to which his Holiness replied on the 12th of December, 1870. The Bishop of Mayence was equally explicit on many occasions, and in particular, in his answer to the letter of Dr. Döllinger's devoted adherent, Lord Acton. Nor were the declarations of the Archbishop of Cologne, and of the Bishop of Treves and Erneland less decisive. The same protestation is expressed in the pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Munich.

tion, superior in their own estimation to episcopal authority, never ceased, on the contrary, to declare, through their organs in the press, that they would submit to no decision unfavourable to their own view.

The position of those who persist in their opposition to the decrees of the Council is thus described by the Pope, in the Encyclical of the 28th of October, 1870, already quoted:"Those men, in fact, so far as in them lies, aim at nothing short of the overthrow of the Church, and of the Catholic faith, when in their pernicious writings they maintain, on calumnious and utterly futile grounds, that whether in the Decrees themselves, or in the manner in which they have been promulgated, especially that which regards the Infallibility of the Pope, something is wanting to invest them with the full authority of the Decrees of an Ecumenical Council. But, except on principles utterly subversive of that supernatural Infallibility, which is an essential property of the Church, they are unable to deny that this Sacred and Ecumenical Council acted under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

"No one can fail to see that the grounds on which they rely are precisely similar to those on which the decisions of former Councils have been impugned by those against whose errors they were published. Similar calumnies were circulated in reference to every Ecumenical Council from the earliest times, and, in particular, the Councils of Florence and of Trent were assailed with similar weapons by heretics and schismatics, to their own destruction, and the spiritual ruin of innumerable souls."

W. J. W.

ON

FATHER HENRY FITZSIMON, S.J.

(Continued from page 23, Vol. ix.)

N the 29th of September, 1600, Mr. William Nugent, an honorable and learned esquire, maintained at Mr. Rider's table, that there was no diversity of belief between Catholics of the present day and those who lived in the time of the Apostles. Mr. Rider maintained that the difference was as great as betwixt Protestantcy and Papistry.

Both agreed to abide a lawful resolution of the learned. A counterfeit letter, as if from Catholics doubtful towards six. articles therein specified, was written on the 21st of October, and required an answer within three months. It was couched in the following terms:

1 "Catholic Confutation of Mr. Rider's Claim to Antiquitie." Rouen, 1608. By FitzSimon.-Advertisement to the Reader.

"To the reverend Fathers the Holy Jesuits, Seminaries, and other priests that favour the holy Roman religion within the Kingdom of Ireland.

"Humbly praieth your Fatherly charities F. W. and P. D., with many other professed Catholics of the holy Roman religion that whereas of late they have heard some Protestant Preachers confidently affirm, and (as it seems unto our shallow capacities) plainly prove, that these six propositions, hereunder written, cannot be proved by any of you to be either Apostolical or Catholic, by Canonical Scripture, or the Auncient Fathers of the Church, which lived and writ within the compass of the first five hundred years after Christ's Ascension. . And thus, having shewed you our doubts, we desire your fatherly resolutions as you tender the credit of our religion, the convincing of Protestants, and the satisfying of our poor consciences. And thus, craving your speedy, learned, and fatherly answers in writing,1 at or before the 1st of February next, with a perfect quotation of both Scriptures and Fathers, themselves not recited or repeated by others, for our better instruction, and the adversaries' speedier and stronger confutation, we commend your persons and studies to God's blessed direction and protection."2

"To be brief, it was partly referred to me, and partly imposed, that I should decide this controversy, as well as one in prison, sequestered from all communication with my brethren, and divers other ways disabled and hindered, of my slender capacity in so short a time might accomplish.

"I accordingly dispatched brief collections of Scriptures, Fathers, and evidences of most principal Protestants as well of England as of other countries, and observed such order as from time to time I laid open before all beholders their evident demonstrations, that the cause of Mr. Nugent was most just, and the contrary altogether untrue. I sent them, the 2nd of January, 1601, in the name of the Catholic priests of Ireland, by my cousin, Mr. Michael Taylor, gentleman, who delivered them presently to Mr. Rider."

"He showed great contentment, great thanks, and gave great promises to reply with like expedition. He admits in his Caveat, that he received the answer-by a courteous gentleman,' whom he takes to be a priest-and he says it was subscribed by Maister Henry FitzSimon. But it was not subscribed at that time. For, on the 6th of January he

1 Rider was afraid of his presence and his power of speech.
Rider's "Caveat," p. 1; or in p. 23 of FitzSimon's "Confutation."

3 FitzSimon's "Confutation."-Advertisement to Reader.

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repaired to me in the Castle, applauding the aforesaid answer, and saying it was beyond his expectation, and that he would rejoin thereto, if it were approved by my name and subscription. Mistrusting bad measure by such a demand, I remained slack to condescend thereto. Manifold protestations were made on the spot, as also in his letter to that effect, of great good will to pleasure and benefit. Upon which flattering, but specially to honour my Saviour Jesus Christ and his invincible Church, I gratified him with my approbation and subscription, not fearing death or danger for my profession.

"Notwithstanding his promise of expedition, his reply came not in three months almost thrice tripled. Also, contrary to his promise, he published his reply on the 28th of September, 1602, before ever he had acquainted me therewith, in order that I might not have in readiness my answer to confront it. When at last every extended hand, yea many avoiding hands, were filled with his reply under the name of Caveat-then, in that liberal dole, I was presented with one copy. Whereat, considering the tenor thereof, I stood amazed like one that had seen a bear whelping. Within forty-eight hours I advertised himself, that, if he would adventure to purchase me liberty to consult books, a clerk to engross my writings, and communication with my brethren, I would join issue with him even before the Lord-Deputy and Council, yea, also before his own pew-fellows of the College; and that, if I did not convince his Caveat to be fraught with falsifications, depravations, corruptions, ignorance, and impiety, I would abide any penalty and punishment whatsoever.

"This sharp admonition urged him to propound the suit to the State. They of their bounty accorded that, at his discretion, books, access, and print should be allowed me. Books I confess to have had courteously from the College, a clerk also, and that only I obtained. Other communication, but especially the prints, was debarred me, notwithstanding all possible entreaty.

"He is one of those who are ever provoking to disputation, when they are sure they cannot succeed on account of impediments objected by themselves, furthering it with a finger, and hindering it with an arm, pretending treasons instead of reasons, trusting much more inclusions and exclusions than learned conclusions. By no possible means could they be induced to an encounter against myself (the meanest among a thousand) by all the vehemency I could invent to incense them.

"Here are some extracts from my letters, in which I tried to instigate them to come into a plain field:

"The kingdom of God is not in words but in virtue. Therefore I most earnestly crave, and instantly require you to come off to some plain ground by some commendable disputation. Yea, I adjure you by the confidence you have in your cause, that you neither decline nor delay. For my part, out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaketh, and from my heart to my hand, and from my hand to the eyes and ears, both of the most honourable Lord-Deputy, and of them of the College, I have exhibited my supplication to that effect.

"Again: But to urge you, Mr. Rider, the more, I undertake to maintain that you are wrongful to scriptures, next to your own fathers, and thirdly to ours, etc.

"Again: I briefly crave, all tergiversation set apart, that we defend, each of us, the truth of our professions.

"Lastly, on New Year's Day, 1604, I inserted these words: 'Like to this is your provocation, that I would come to issue. Is it not my demand to the Deputy and College? Did I ever encounter you or write to you, but that I required it? I therefore inform you that I covet with all speed it be effected.'"

However, Mr. Rider tells his story in these words: "Mr. FitzSimon promised a present confutation of my book if I would procure his nephew, Cary, to be his clerk, which I obtained of the Lord Lieutenant. Within fifteen days after I came to Maister FitzSimon, who showed twelve sheets, and promised a perfect copy of it within one month. He keeps it since from my view, though he offereth it to most men's sight, and proclaims still, with his stentorian voice, to every corner of the kingdom, that Rider is overthrown horse and foot. Which, when some of his best favourites had told me, I urged him more earnestly, assuring him unless he gave me a copy I would recall his clerk."

"Of all this," says FitzSimon, "nothing is true but that I promised a present confutation of his Caveat. Of the residue. part is improbable, and part impossible. It is improbable that I, being a close prisoner in the Castle of Dublin, should proclaim in a stentorian voice to every corner of the kingdom, that Rider was overcome. And how could Mr. Rider persuade himself that I together was in the Castle (from which he knew I never did in five years depart), and also abroad in every corner, he not being able to believe that Christ himself can together be in many places? Or was my voice there without. my person? Or were my agents for me, none having access, to know my mind. But this hyperbole of his came from fear 1 Rider's "Rescript," No. 2.

VOL. IX.

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