In divers Papers formerly printed, mention was made of
the endeavours of the present Pope, to bring about a general
Peace among the Princes addicted to his party; as also, that
to this end he had written Letters to the Kings of France and
Spain. Since which he hath written a Letter also to all the
Popish Clergy throughout Christendom, to stir them up to
use all means to procure a settlement of the said Peace. Which
Letter here followeth according to the original in Latine, together
with a translate of it into English.
Venerabilibus fratribus Patriarchis, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis,
Clero, Religiosis viris, & omnibus Christi Fidelibus Ecclesia
Catholice.
ALEXANDER PARA VII.
VEnerabiles Fratres, Dilecti filii salutem, & Apostolicam
benedictionem. E[unr]summo Apostolatus fastigio Orbem
universum nostras. Videlicet curas, sollicitè circumspicientibus
Nobis, misera sanè, luctuque plena se offert Christianæ
Reipublicæ facies. Sortem enim Domini, atque ipsius hæreditatem,
veris ejectis filiis, alieni [unr]bi diripiunt. Gentes, quas pro
Pontificia charitate, in nostrum, hoc est in veræ fidei sinum
traducere, arctissiméque complecti voluiffemus, hunc ipsum
Sinum dilaniare conantur, & ruptis maris, atque ultimis terrarum
claustris, in Christi gregem effunduntur. Malè denique
concordes Catholici Principes in seipsos feruntur, & (quæolim
ex[unr]rema minatus est Deus inimicis nostris, atqueiis, qui
insurgunt adversùs Nos) se invicem depascuntur, & proprio
sanguine, quasi musto inebriantur. Hæc cadem jampridem
cùm tacitè nobiscum doleremus, visum est ei, qui facit magna
& incomprehensibilia, quorum non est numerus, invitos, trepidantesque
vocare Nos ad Ecclesiæ gubernacula, atque inclinare
in Nos onus immensum, humerisque quamvis firmissimis
formidandum. Testes autem mœroris nostri sunt publicæ
supplicationes, quas ubi primum Summo Pontificatui admoti
sumus, universis indiximus; testes literæ, quas ad charissimos
filios, non solum Ferdinandum Hungariæ & Boemiæ Regem
illustrem, ac in Romanorum Imperatorum electum, verumctiam