blies, that some detail on the subject, as given by the most enlightened historian of the last General Council, will, it is presumed, rather gratify than fatigue the reader. It was in the seventeenth session of the Council, and the first under Pius IV., in the year 1562, that the prohibition of books came under its deliberate review. Two archbishops, Beccatelli and Selvaggio, deprecated the discussion of the subject, as calculated to impede the principal object of the council: since, Paul IV. having, with the counsel and assistance of all the inquisitors and many eminent men, formed a most complete catalogue, nothing could be added but books edited within the two years which had elapsed since its publication *-an act, undeserving of the labour of the synod. To reverse any condemnation in that Index would be to reflect imprudence on Rome; and while the decree detracted from the reputation of that work it would injure its own-new laws always degrading themselves more than the old ones. In the redundance of books since the invention of printing, it were better that a thousand innocent ones

* It may be desirable to adduce the original, as the estimation in which the Roman Index of 1559 was held by the best judges at the time, is ascertained by the passage. Poiche, havendo Paolo quarto, con conseglio di tutti gl' Inquisitori, e di molti principali, da' quali hebbe avisi da tutte le parti, fatto un catalogo compitissimo, non vi puo esser' altro d' aggiongervi, &c. Lib. vi.

should suffer than that one guilty should escape. Neither should reasons be given, which would provoke opposition, and impair the dignity of laws, which should rest simply upon their own authority. Correction and expurgation likewise were inexpedient, as inviting criticism and making enemies. Others joined in the same discouragement of a new Index. There was, however, one who thought the measure advisable, because the former Index, as proceeding from the Inquisition, and for its severity, was odious, and that practicable laws were to be preferred; that the work should be entrusted to a congregation for the purpose; that, with respect to the citation of authors condemned, those out of the pale of Rome were entitled to no consideration; and that, of her members, the living, in contradistinction from the dead, claimed some tenderness for their good name. It was urged, on the other hand, that the works even of Protestants should not be condemned unheard, as contrary to the practice of the law even in cases of manifest guilt: but this was considered a subtilty, and the council was advised, as a good physician, to act with severe decision *. A Decree was accordingly passed in

The Continuator of FLEURY, Hist. Eccles. liv. 158, sect. 13, 14, has drawn his account of this session chiefly from Pallavicino. He represents the Archbishop of Braga as recommending the work to the universities of

the next session, delaring that, as the disease of pernicious books had not yielded to the salutary medicine hitherto applied, it was deemed proper, that certain fathers should be appointed diligently to examine, and state to the synod, what was necessary to be done, respecting the censure of books; and that others who were qualified for the task should be invited to give their assistance. In its last session the Council referred what had been done to the judgment of the Pope, that it might be completed and published with his authority. The work was accordingly published, in 1564, with the following title-INDEX Librorum prohibitorum cum Regulis confectis per Patres a Tridentina Synodo delectos auctoritate Sanctiss. D. N. PII IIII., Pont. Max. comprobatus. Romæ. Apud Paulum Manutium, Aldi F. M.D.LXIIII.

In

Bologna in Italy, of Paris in France, of Salamanca in Spain, of Coimbra in Portugal. A great variety of opinions, besides those recorded by FRA PAOLO, is given; and the French translator of the latter, Le Courayer, has admitted the possible superior accuracy of the Cardinal in some particulars of minor moment. The following information from Monumentorum ad Hist. Conc. Trid. amplissima Collectio. Opera JUDOCI LE PLAT, 7 voll. 4to. Lovan. 1781-7, and from the VIIth., containing TORELLI PHOLE DE PUGGIO, Diarium Act. Conc.. Trid. Ps. ii. p. 170, may not be unwelcome. The day is Feb. 10, 1562. Deputati super indicem librorum prohibitorum. Eadem die [Martis 10] antequam dimitterentur patres a sacro-sancta synodo, deputati sunt infra scripti reverendissimi patres ad faciendum decretum super indicem librorum prohibitorum. Archiep. Jadrensis (Mutius Calinius Brixiensis); Ep. Mutinensis (Ægidius Fuscararius Bononien. Ordinis Prædicat.); Ep. Vivariensis (Jacobus Maria Sala Bononien.); Ep. Ilerdensis (Antonius Augustinus Hisp.)

Prefixed is a

ædibus Populi Romani; in 4to.* bull of the Pope, simply detailing the already mentioned circumstances, and adding his approbation and authority as desired, dated Rome, March 24, 1564. Then follows a Preface of FRANCIS FORERIUS, Secretary of the Deputation, by whom the Index was drawn up, referring to the last Roman edition by the Inquisitors, from which little variation was intended, as being, however, insufficient, because not generally received, and inserting some books which did not deserve to be prohibited; stating the determination of the fathers to frame certain Rules on the subject, which are subjoined, and explaining the triple division of the work. Then follow the Rules, Ten in number, which, as they are important in many respects, being the most deliberate proceeding of the Roman church, and almost universally received, as well as retained, by most of the

* Another edition perfectly identical, except in size, being 8vo., was published in the same year, place, and printer. One printed at Bononia in the same year, and in 4to., is in my possession, and has been mentioned before. The only addition and peculiarity is at the end—Habita prius facultate, et authoritate a Reverendo D.D. Leone de Lianoriis Canonici, et Generalis Vicarii Bonon. Ac insuper a R. P. Inquisitore. I have a small edition of the same Index printed the same year, Coloniæ, Apud Maternum Cholinum. In the title-page is the motto-Benedices coronæ anni benignitatis tuæ, Psal. 64-alluding to the circular device of a crown formed of a serpent with its tail in its mouth and ornamented: the common emblem of the year-in se sua per vestigia volvitur annus.

authorities in communion with her, to the present time, I subjoin them, with some slight variations, in English, (the Latin being inserted in almost every edition, foreign, as well as Roman,) from the valuable Illustrations of Biblical Literature, &c. by the Rev. JAMES TOWNLEY *.

RULES.

I. All books condemned by the supreme pontiffs, or general councils, before the year 1515, and not comprised in the present Index, are, nevertheless, to be considered as condemned.

II. The books of heresiarchs, whether of those who broached or disseminated their heresies prior to the year above-mentioned, or of those who have been, or are, the heads or leaders of heretics, as Luther, Zuingle, Calvin, Balthasar Pacimontanus, Swenchfeld, and other similar ones, are altogether forbidden, whatever may be their names, titles, or subjects. And the books of other heretics, which treat professedly upon religion, are totally condemned; but those which do not treat upon religion are allowed to be read, after having been examined and approved by Catholic divines, by order of the bishops and inquisitors. Those Catholic books also are permitted to be read, which have been composed by