Ignatus His Conclave
By John Donne
1611
... In the twinckling of an eye,
I saw all the roomes in Hell open to my sight.
And by the benefit of certain spectacles, I know not of what making, but, I
thinke, of the same, by which Gregory the great, and Beda
did discerne so distinctly the soules of their friends, when they were discharged
from their bodies, and sometimes the soules of such men as they knew not by
sight, and of some that were never in the world, and yet they could distinguish
them flying into Heaven, or conversing with living men, I saw all the channels
in the bowels of the Earth ; and all the inhabitants of all nations, and of all
ages were suddenly made familiar to me. I thinke truely, Robert Aquinas
when he tooke Christs long Oration, as he hung upon the Crosse, did
use some such instrument as this, but applied to the eare: And so I thinke did
he, which dedicated to Adrian 6, that Sermon which Christ made in prayse
of his father Joseph: for else how did they heare that, which none
but they ever heard? As for the Suburbs of Hel ( I meane both Limbo
and Purgatory ) I must confesse I passed them over so negligently, that
I saw them not: and I was hungerly caned, to find new places, never discovered
before. For Purgatory did not seeme worthy to me of much diligence,
because it may seeme already to have beene beleeved by some persons, in some
corners of the Romane Church, for about 50 yeares ; that is, ever since
the Councell of Trent had a minde to fulfill the prophecies of
Homer, Virgil, and the other Patriarkes of the Papists ;
and beeing not satisfied with making one Transubstantiation, purposed
to bring in another: which is, to change fables into Articles
of faith. Proceeding therefore to more inward places, I saw a secret place,
where there were not many, beside Lucifer himselfe ; to which, onely
they had title, which had so attempted any innovation in this life, that they
gave an affront to all antiquitie, and induced doubts, and anxieties, and scruples,
and after, a libertie of beleeving what they would ; at length established opinions,
directly contrary to all established before. Of which place in Hell, Lucifer
affoarded us heretofore some little knowledge, when more than 200 yeares since,
in an Epistle written to the Cardinall S. Sexti, hee promised
him a roome in his palace, in the remotest part of his eternall Chaos,
which I take to bee this place. And here Pope Boniface 3, and Mahomet,
seemed to contend about the highest roome. Hee gloried of having expelled an
old Religion, and Mahomet of having brought in a new: each of them
a great deluge to the world. But it is to be feared, that Mahomet will
faile therein, both because hee attributed something to the old Testament,
and because he used Sergius as his fellow-bishop, in making the
Alcoran ; whereas it was evident to the supreme Judge Lucifer,
( for how could he be ignorant of that, which himselfe had put into the Popes
mind? ) that Boniface had not onely neglected, but destroyed the policy
of the State of Israel, established in the old Testament,
when he prepared Popes a way, to tread upon the neckes of Princes,
but that he also abstained from all Example and Coadjutor, when he took upon
him that newe Name, which Gregorie himselfe ( a Pope neither very foolish,
nor over-modest ) ever abhord. Besides that, every day affoords new Advocates
to Boniface his side. For since the Franciscans were almost
worne out ( of whome their General, Francis, had seene 6000 souldiers
in one army, that is, in one chapter ) which, because they were then but fresh
souldiers, he saw assisted with 1800 Divels, the Jesuits have much
recompenced those decayes and damages, who sometimes have maintained in their
Tents 200000 schollers. For though the Order of Benedict have ever
bene so fruitfull, that they say of it, That all the new Orders, which in
later times have broken out, are but little springs, or drops, and that Order
the Ocean, which hath sent out 52 Popes, 200 Cardinals, 1600 Archbishops, 4000
Bishops, and 50000 Saints approved by the Church, and therefore it cannot
be denied, but that Boniface his part is much releeved by that Order ;
yet if they be compared to the Jesuits, or to the weake and unperfect
Types of them, the Franciscans, it is no great matter that they have
done. Though therefore they esteeme Mahomet worthy of the name of an
Innovator, & therein, perchance not much inferiour to Boniface,
yet since his time, to ours, almost all which have followed his sect, have lived
barren in an unanimity, and idle concord, and cannot boast that they have produced
any new matter: whereas Boniface his successors, awakened by him, have
ever beene fruitfull in bringing forth new sinnes, and new pardons, and idolatries,
and King-killings. Though therefore it may religiously, and piously be beleeved,
that Turkes, as well as Papists, come daily in troupes to the
ordinary and common places of Hell ; yet certainly to this more honourable
roome, reserved for especiall Innovators, the Papists have more frequent
accesse ; and therefore Mahomet is out of hope to prevaile, and must
imitate the Christian Emperours, and be content to sit ( as yet hee
doth ) at the Popes feet. Now to this place, not onely such endeavour to come,
as have innovated in matters, directly concerning the soule, but they also which
have done so, either in the Arts, or in conversation, or in any thing which
exerciseth the faculties of the soule, and may so provoke to quarrelsome and
brawling controversies: For so the truth be lost, it is no matter how. But the
gates are seldome opened, nor scarce oftener then once in an Age. But my destiny
favoured mee so much, that I was present then, and saw all the pretenders, and
all that affected an entrance, and Lucifer himselfe, who then came
out into the outward chamber, to heare them pleade their owne Causes. As soone
as the doore creekt, I spied a certaine Mathematitian, which till then
had bene busied to finde, to deride, to detrude Ptolomey ; and now with
an erect countenance, and setled pace, came to the gates, and with hands and
feet ( scarce respecting Lucifer himselfe ) beat the dores, and cried ;
“Are these shut against me, to whom all the Heavens were ever open, who was
a Soule to the Earth, and gave it motion?”
By this I knew it was Copernicus. For though I had never heard ill
of his life, and therefore might wonder to find him there ; yet when I remembered,
that the Papists have extended the name, & the punishment of Heresie,
almost to every thing, and that as yet I used Gregories and Bedes
spectacles, by which one saw Origen, who deserved so well of the
Christian Church, burning in Hell, I doubted no longer, but assured
my selfe that it was Copernicus which I saw. To whome Lucifer
sayd ; “Who are you? For though even by this boldnesse you seeme worthy to enter,
and have attempted a new faction even in Hell, yet you must first satisfie
those which stand about you, and which expect the same fortune as you do.” “Except,
O Lucifer”, answered Copernicus, “I thought thee of the race
of the starre Lucifer, with which I am so well acquainted, I should
not vouchsafe thee this discourse. I am he, which pitying thee who wert thrust
into the Center of the world, raysed both thee, and thy prison, the Earth, up
into the Heavens ; so as by my meanes God doth not enjoy his revenge
upon thee. The Sunne, which was an officious spy, and a betrayer of faults,
and so thine enemy, I have appointed to go into the lowest part of the world.
Shall these gates be open to such as have innovated in small matters? and shall
they be shut against me, who have turned the whole frame of the world, and am
thereby almost a new Creator?” More then this he spoke not. Lucifer
stuck in a meditation. For what should he do? It seemed unjust to deny entry
to him which had deserved so well, and dangerous to graunt it, to one of so
great ambitions, and undertakings: nor did he thinke that himselfe had attempted
greater matters before his fall. Something he had which he might have conveniently
opposed, but he was loath to utter it, least he should confesse his feare. But
Ignatius Layola which was got neere his chaire, a subtile fellow, and
so indued with the Divell, that he was able to tempt, and not onely that, but
( as they say ) even to possesse the Divell, apprehended this perplexity in
Lucifer. And making himselfe sure of his owne entrance, and knowing
well, that many thousands of his family aspired to that place, he opposed himselfe
against all others. He was content they should bee damned, but not that they
should governe. And though when hee died he was utterly ignorant in all great
learning, and knew not so much as Ptolomeys, or Copernicus
name, but might have beene perswaded, that the words Almagest, Zenith,
and Nadir, were Saints names, and fit to bee put into the Litanie,
and Ora pro nobis joyned to them ; yet after hee had spent some time
in hell, he had learnt somewhat of his Jesuites, which daily came thither.
And whilst he staied at the threshold of Hell ; that is, from the time
when he delivered himselfe over to the Popes will, hee tooke a little taste
of learning. Thus furnished, thus hee undertakes Copernicus. “Do you
thinke to winne our Lucifer to your part, by allowing him the honour
of being of the race of that starre? who was not onely made before all the starres,
but being glutted with the glory of shining there, transferred his dwelling
and Colonies unto this Monarchy, and thereby gave our Order a noble example,
to spy, to invade, and to possesse forraine kingdomes. Can our Lucifer,
or his followers have any honour from that starre Lucifer, which is
but Venus? whose face how much wee scorne, appeares by this, that,
for the most part we use her aversly and preposterously. Rather let our
Lucifer glory in Lucifer the Calaritan Bishop ; not therefore
because he is placed amongst Heretiques, onely for affirming the propagation
of the soule ; but especially for this, that he was the first that opposed the
dignity of Princes, and imprinted the names of Antichrist, Judas, and
other stigmarique markes upon the Emperour ; But for you, what new thing
have you invented, by which our Lucifer gets anything? What cares hee
whether the earth travell, or stand still? Hath your raising up of the earth
into heaven, brought men to that confidence, that they build new towers or threaten
God againe? Or do they out of this motion of the earth conclude, that there
is no hell, or deny the punishment of sin? Do not men beleeve? do they not live
just, as they did before? Besides, this detracts from the dignity of your learning,
and derogates from your right and title of comming to this place, that those
opinions of yours may very well be true. If therfore any man have honour or
title to this place in this matter, it belongs wholly to our Clavius,
who opposed himselfe opportunely against you, and the truth, which at that time
was creeping into every mans minde. Hee onely can be called the Author of all
contentions, and schoole-combats in this cause ; and no greater profit can bee
hoped for heerein, but that for such brabbles, more necessarie matters bee neglected.
And yet nor onely for this is our Clavius to bee honoured,
but for the great paines also which hee tooke in the Gregorian Calender,
by which both the peace of the Church, & Civill businesses have beene egregiously
troubled: nor hath heaven it selfe escaped his violence, but hath ever since
obeied his apointments: so that S. Stephen, John Baptist, & all
the rest, which have bin commanded to worke miracles at certain appointed daies,
where their Reliques are preserved, do not now attend till the day come, as
they were accustomed, but are awaked ten daies sooner, and constrained by him
to come downe from heaven to do that businesse ; But your inventions can scarce
bee called yours, since long before you, Heraclides, Ecphantus, & Aristarchus
thrust them into the world: who notwithstanding content themselves with lower
roomes amongst the other Philosophers, & aspire not to this place, reserved
onely for Antichristian Heroes: neither do you agree so wel amongst
yourselves, as that you can be said to have made a Sect, since, as
you have perverted and changed the order and Scheme of others: so
Tycho Brachy hath done by yours, and others by his. Let therefore this
little Mathematitian ( dread Emperour ) withdraw himselfe to his owne
company. And if heereafter the fathers of our Order can draw a Cathedrall
Decree from the Pope, by which it may be defined as a matter of faith:
That the earth doth not move ; & an Anathema inflicted
upon all which hold the contrary: then perchance both the Pope which shall dec’ree
that, and Copernicus his followers, ( if they be Papists ) may have the
dignity of this place.” Lucifer signified his assent ; and Copernicus,
without muttering a word, was as quiet, as he thinks the sunne, when he which
stood next him, entred into his place. ...
... I came backe againe, to spie
( if the gates were stil open ) with what affection
Ignatius, and they who were in auncient possession of that place, behaved
themselves towardes one an other. And I found him yet in the porch, and there
beginning a new contention: for having presently cast his eyes to the principall
place, next to Lucifers owne Throne, and finding it possest,
he stopt Lucifer, and asked him, who it was that sate there. It was
answered, that it was Pope Boniface ; to whom, as a principall Innovator,
for having first chalenged the name of Universall Bishop, that honour
was affoorded. Is he an Innovator thundred Ignatius? shall I suffer
this, when all my Disciples have laboured all this while to prove to the world,
that all the Popes before his time did use that name? And that
Gregory did not reprehend the Patriarch John for taking to himselfe
an Antichristian name, but for usurping a name which was due to none but the
Pope. And could it be fit for you, Lucifer, ( who in this were
either unmindfull of the Romane Church, or else too weake and incapable
of her secrets and mysteries ) to give way to any sentence in Hell,
which ( though it were according to truth, ) yet differed from the Jesuites
Oracles? With this Ignatius flyes upwardes, and rushes upon
Boniface, and throwes him out of his Seate: And Lucifer went
up with him as fast, and gave him assistance, least, if hee should forsake him,
his owne seate might bee endangered. And I returned to my body ; which
“As a flower wet with last nights dew, and then
Warm’d with the new Sunne, doth shake of agen
All drowsinesse, and raise his trembling Crowne,
Which crookedly did languish, and stoope downe
To kisse the earth, and panted now to finde
Those beames return’d, which had not long time shin’d”
was with this returne of my soule sufficiently refreshed. And when
I had scene all this, and considered how fitly and proportionally Rome &
Hell answered one another, after I had seene a Jesuit turne the Pope
out of his Chaire in Hell, I suspected that that Order
would attempt as much at Rome.
Source: Victor Harris – Itrat Husain:
English
Prose 1600–1660. New York: Holt, Reinhart and Winston, Inc., 1965. 259–264. p.
