and grieuance of the Guises Furthermore we will declare what great alterations came to passe after this the yong King Charles comming to the Crowne As the great peace and tranquilitie giuen and graunted to the Churches by the benefite of the Kings Edictes the daily increase of the faithfull the flourishing of the Gospell in euery place the defacing of the Popes doctrine by solemne Court of Parliament the truth also embraced of many of the Nobles And here we will shewe what séedes of dissention were sowne by the subtile practises of the Guises betwéene the Nobles Then I will speake somewhat of the Actes of the parling of Possiacen Last of all I will declare the summe of the Edict of Ianuarye by which greater libertie was graunted to the Churches And bicause about that time there were great troubles of warres I will there make an ende of thys booke leauing the declaration of the rest vntill a more conuenient time Notwithstanding part thereof that is to say the explication of the first Ciuil warres shall be declared in our thrée latter bookes we looking to haue occasions offered to describe other matters which are behinde The booke of Commentaries concerning Religion vnder the reignes of Henrie the seconde Fraunces the seconde and Charles the ninth THe doctrine of Religion which in our time is amended and reformed came at the last into Fraunce But they were hardly delt withall which receyued that doctrine they were banished burnt and with all maner of torments vexed they were also called Lutheranes which name then was made a common reproch to the godly Notwithstanding all this that doctrine did more largely and vehemently spreaâ—…e it selfe abroade and the more that men were toriâ—…ented the more they came â—…o the same by flocks Many to the end they might escape the crueltie of their punishments â—… might enioy the frée vse of religioÌ„ weâ—…t vnto those places â—…n the which y same was purely publikely set forth amâ—…ng which the greatest part went to Geneua From whence many bookeÌ„s and letters being written a great number were brought to the knowledge of that doctrine The which dailie increasing more and more great matters afterwardes came to passe those things which were done in the beginning with feare and secretely were afterwarde frée and common for euery man to vse vntill such time as punishments being repressed torments taken away and the fierie flames quite extinguished that doctrine was receyued of noble men of Gentlemen and of all estates but on the other side the aduersaries of the reformed religion Resisting y same there arose great tumults which by mortall and ciuill warres vexed and much endamaged the great and noble kingdome of Fraunce But these first beginnings are particularly touched in other bookes in the which the noble and excellent triumphes of Martyrs are described I will therfore begin at that yeare since the which matters of Religion being more opeÌ„ly set forth and more vehemently againe resisted haue more happily and euidently appeared And then this was the state of the kingdome After sundrie and long warres betwéene Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce and Charles the fyfth Emperour at the length both their Legates wheÌ„ they could not by peace ende the controuersies which were betwéene them concluded a truce or peace for fyue yeares the which being shortly after broken by the Cardinall of Lorraine the warre began a freshe betwene the two kings And Fraunces Duke of Guise taketh his iourney into Italie with a great armye And Philip king of Spaine and sonne of the Emperour Charles goeth into Picardie who making hast to the towne of Sanquintine gaue the Constable which came out to mete him a great ouerthrow and toke him with a great number of Gentlemen This ouerthrowe and great slaughter of men was called Laurence day bicause it chaunced at the feast of S. Laurence â–ª After this Sanquintine was taken and certaine cities nere vnto the same So that what with the rumor of the sodeine slaughter what with the feare of the enimie which now approched to Paris the chiefe citie of the kingdome all men were wonderfully afrayde While these things were thus a working there began to be a great fame and rumor of the increase of the Lutheranes by reason whereof there followed a notable persecution against them which by the popular and vulgar name is called The winning of S. Iames streete and it was so called for this cause When the faithfull perceyued the great perill and dauÌ„ger that hong ouer the whole kingdome of France by reason of this newe plague and punishment they gaue themselues to prayer and therfore congregated themselues togither by a great number the fourth daye of September in certaine houses of S. Iames stréete in Paris and that in the night for in the daye time they might by no meanes come togither minding to heare the worde preached and to haue the supper of the Lorde celebrated But they being bewrayed the common sort of people with weapons in a great tumult ranne with all haste to this stréetâ—… of S. Iames where the faithfull were assembled who being in those houses before mentioned and séeing themselues to be compassed on euerye side with the furor and rage of the multitude had small hope to escape howbeit part of them when they sawe a waye to be made for them through a certaine gate which wonderfully opened for the safegarde of many when the houses on â—…uery side were beset repeated their former prayers and escaped by flight without harme euen as though God himselfe had gone before them the greater part were taken of the Magistrates among whom were many noble women and women of great parentage and as they were led away by the officers were shamefully intreated and vnhonestly handled of the people Now the matter being in question concerning this asseÌ„bly it was first founde that when the people were assembled togither there was a Lecture of the holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue secondly that all the congregation knéeling prayers were made by the Minister thirdly that the Minister expounded the place of the eleuenth Chapter of S. Paules first Epistle to the Corinthians in the which the vse of the Lords supper is declared fourthly that then prayers were made for the King for Princes Magistrates for all estates of people for peace and quietnesse of the kingdom and last of all that the breade end wine of the Lords supper was communicated and giuen to those which were not iudged vnworthie For these offences they were taken Being therefore taken and cruelly intreated of the people by the way were notwithstanding very vâ—…courteously delt withall in prison For théeues and murtherers and such as by the lawe deserued to die were taken out of their colde and noysome prisons and these men put into the same in their steade all men forbidden to haue any recourse vnto them Notwithstanding it was brought to passe by the singular prouidence of God bicause
in euerye place and herevpon followed an infinit number of mischiefes He intreated therfore that the same authoritie might be restored againe to Ecclesiasticall persons and that the king woulde take away no more the reuenewes of Churchmen for that they were consecrated and halowed and coulde not be taken away withoute some manner of sacrilege séeyng that men of the Churche ought carefully to be fed and maintained This thing if the king would doe after the ensample of Charles the great he should get a most glorious name and at the length be called Charles the greatest And last of all he made petition that al the Clergy might neither pay tribute nor tax for that was the prorogatiue of the Church which oughte not to be taken from it For saith he it is the chiefest part of the Kings duetie to defende the Christian faith and doctrine and to maintayne Ecclesiasticall persons The whiche if he did he sayde that he promised vnto hym in the name of the Clergye all prosperitie in thys worlde and in the worlde to come euerlastyng lyfe Thus much concerning his oration which we haue trulye reported according to the written coppie of the same Many maruelled what he ment so vndiscretely to inueye against the protestantes of the reformed Church seing that he him selfe sometime had approued the same and for that cause was constrained to depart from Pictauium Moreouer bycause he wished them to be taken and punished as newe Heretikes which shoulde offer supplications to the King all men at those words loking vpon the Admiral as though he had openly noted him the Admiral made complaint hereof to the king and Quéene Therfore Quintinus was called to come before the king to gyue an accounte of that which he had spoken Who excusing him selfe by the instructions gyuen to hym of the Clergye promised that he would openly in the assembly or courte aske the Admirall forgiuenesse the whiche also he performed But after thys ballets and scoffing Libelles were set vp agaynst him in manye places in so muche that he was openlye derided Wherevpon at the length partlye by the impaciencie of these contumelyes and reproches and partlye by the griefe of hys owne mynde for his euill déede he fell into a sickenesse and gaue vp his life After this there beganne to aryse certayne quarels complaintes and controuersies againste the Guyses For the Burgeses of the Parliament that were chosen for Burgundy and Dolphiny of the which Prouinces the two brethren the Guyses were gouernours and chiefe went aboute to bring to passe that the Guyses mighte be counted as honorable as anye of the Princes the Kings neere kinsmen were to the whyche notwythstandyng the greateste parte of the Burgeses of other Prouinces woulde in no wyse consent At the whiche the Guises beyng offended called those that hindered their estimation sedicious persons They on the other side misliking to be so called complayned therof to the Queene who onely gaue them this aunswere saying that the Guises did so call them adding this condition that if the Burgeses did enterprise any thing against the kings Maiestie and not otherwise and thus by and by they were sent away Then were there certaine dayes spent in bringing the assembly of the Parliament together againe and in debating of diuers matters At the length by earnest sute of manie the Parliamente was proroged vntill another time namely vntill the first day of May nexte following And so with thankes giuen to the king and Quéene the Parliament brake vp Then commaundement was giuen to all the prelates of the French Church That they shuld prepare themselues for the Counsell Also that all Magistrates shoulde set them at libertie both in body and also in goods which were kepte in prison for Religions sake And that no manner of punishement or iniurie shoulde be offered for Religion or factious names Then when the rumour and fame of Religion increased dayly more and more the Constable attended with all diligence vpon the king of Nauarre in so much that he was seldome from him In the meane time the Bishop of Rome hearing of the kings pleasure concerning the calling of a Nationall councell and fearing least the same woulde be hurtful vnto him vrged by and by that there mighte be a generall Counsell holden at Trent summoning the same incontinent and declaring it by publique writing Against the which one Paulus Vergerius sometime a Bishop a notable papist but at the length for taking the Popes doctrine became a member of Christs Church This Paulus I saye wrote letters in the Italian toung to the Bishops of Italy In the which he declared that the Pope had giuen forth a Bull for the calling of a generall Councell the which Bull when he had séene he had great sorrow and griefe of minde and that for waighty causes Namely for that the Pope went about to disperse and scatter and to ouerthrow destroy the Churches of Christ and to bring the same againe to the former state of desolation Adding herevnto that the Pope was greatly offended with the light of reformatioÌ„ which God had caused to shine in earth the space of these fortie yeeres to men that were blinded and ouerwhelmed in thicke darknesse of errors As though sayth he you Bishops were iudges shoulde be vmpires in the Counsel to determine and ende matters So soone as ye be come to Trent ye shall heare some profouÌ„d disputation or other by Monkes but ye shall heare no man that dare truely reply against them Then shall be song very soleÌ„ne songs of ceremonies ye shall be brought into the Temple of S. Vigill ye shall haue faire and sumptuous clothes of Tapisery hong before you ye shall haue Miters put on your heades ye shall sit vpon maruelous faire chaires which the Cardinal of Trent brought from Millaine And being there thus placed ye shall heare solemnly read out of a Pulpit the decrées which the Pope an vnlearned and foolishe man with the helpe of some one monke or other hath deuised But as for you ye must doe nothing but howe downe your mytered heads to the Pope and say to whatsoeuer you heare Placet very well and so to approue the same as thoughe at the first sight you dyd vnderstand and consider of the matter very well Then will the Pope euery where publishe abrode That the Bishops of the Catholike Church haue iudged the Lutherans to be Heretikes Whereas you neuer so determined or iudged of theÌ„ but he alone which sitteth in Peters Chaire And yet notwithstanding ye shall be the cause of all these euâ—…ls Also shal that be called a general couÌ„sell in the which neither we our selues whose cause is in hande are hearde neither yet the Bishops that are present do any thing of theÌ„ selues but stande onely for sifers in agram And the Pope will sende the Canons which were made at Rome to Trent that they may be counted the decrées of the generall Councel And to the
troubles bothe wyth his presence and authoritie and also woulde bende all his Counsell wisedome and power to finde oute remedyes for the same On the one parte he might set before his eyes the infinite multitude of soules which runne headlong as it were into destruction bycause they knowe not well the waye of saluation On the other parte he might sée part of the kingdome to be distracted and drawne away from the communion and fellowship of the Churche whiche consisted of the greatest part of the Nobles of learned men of the best citizens and most ciuil sorte of the common people who wante neyther force nor counsell or any other meanes to atchieue their purpose séeing there are among them men of great wealth and riches which will not let to spend their goods and substance in their cause Furthermore such is the concord consent and vnitie among them that it is wonderful to sée how carefully one of them doe defende an other in somuch that they can neither be drawne from that concord neyther can they be ouercome by force of armes And without present perill this kingdome can not be cast into those straites whiche threaten vnto the same no doubte greate ruine and extreme destruction Seing therfore the matter standeth thus and séeing ther is a manifest token of great troubles as haÌ„d the number of those men increasing and waxing strong euery day more and more she also being persuaded that the holie Father being myndefull of those benefites which he had receyued of the Frenche kings would carefully indeuoure himselfe to prouide remedies to ease these troubles for this cause she was boldâ—… to flee vnto him as to a refuge that he woulde apply all his counsell wisedome and power to procure the vnitie of the Church It may please him therfore to vnderstand that this thing might the more easyly be brought to passe bicause by the goodnesse of God there are not in the whole realme of France any Anabaptistes heretikes or any that speake against the Christian Articles of the faith nor yet against the declaration of those Articles made by the sire generall Councels And she sayd this was the opinion and iudgement of certain lerned men with whom she had conferred that the holie Father might receyue them which confessed that catholike profession of the faith plainly confirmed and expounded by those sixe generall Councels into the Communion felowship of the Church although they were of diuers opinions And that other opinions can not let the vnion of the Churche euen as in tyme past the diuersitie in celebrating the Passeouer the diuers and sundrie obseruations of fastings and rites in sacraments and other partes of diuine seruice did nothing at all hinder the vnion of the Churche and that the same waye then vsed should be very profitable now to stay the controuersies of the Latine and Gréeke Churche Therfore they trust the controuersies being at an end that God wil be with them and that the darke mistie cloudes being driuen awaye at the length he will shewe the true and perfecte lyghte of the truth And sayth she if this generall waye shall not be approued and allowed although it oughte to be referred to a generall Councell yet notwithstandyng it is necessarie that the holie Father do prouide a spéedie remedie before that time considering the present necessitie For delay will bring such greate inconueniences with it as can not easily by any meanes be recouered againe But the remedie séemeth to consiste in two thinges First that they which haue alreadie separated themselues from the CoÌ„mmunion of the Churche might be called and brought to the same agayne Secondly that they which as yet haue not withdrawne themselues might be kept in this communion still To winne the first it may séeme very necessarie to vse often admonitions and to haue mutual and quiet conference on bothe partes Bishops and their ministers muste diligently preache Gods worde and exhorte the people to mutuall peace and concorde and names of reproche on bothe sydes muste quyte be taken awaye The whyche she hoped was a speedie waye to bring concorde and loue The whyche also she sayd she had giuen in commaundemente to those that were separated from the Churche and was hytherto obeyed But as touching those whyche as yet hadde not separated them selues from the Communion of the Churche there are many sayeth she whiche as yet purpose not to departe from the same and yet notwithstanding they stande continually in doubte and specially in these thrée principall poyntes The first is that they vnderstande that the primitiue Churche had no images They knowe that God hathe expressely forbidden to worshyp them or to set them in those places where they maye be worshipped They know also that Gregorie hath foribdden the same and that diuers good men in lyke maner whiche synce that tyme receyued them into the Churches expressely declared that they were ordeined for no other vse than to put the ignorante people in mynde of their Gods whiche were absente Notwithstanding many errours deceytes and lyes haue preuayled and crepte into this kingdome and realme of Fraunce and many deceyuers contrarie to the doctrine of the auncient Fathers haue moste wickedly abused the worshipping of images to their owne lucre and gaine in so muche that the cousciences of many men for this cause are greately offended and therefore will not come into the Churches least they shoulde bowe theyr knée before the Images The matter therefore béeing well examined if on the one parte the inconueniences whyche may aryse héereof and the fruites and commodities whyche are lyke to come bee wyâ—…ely wayed it shall bée founde that it is better to remoue them than to woorship them with offence of many specially seeing the same is neyther the commaundement of God nor yet hath bene receyued of the Churche vpon any necessitie Therefore to cut away all occasions of slaunderous reporte and to keepe those still of whome we speake in the fellowship of the Churche lette it be considered if it bée profitable to remoue these Images from the Altars and to place them aboute the Temple eyther within or without the causes béeing declared namely that certaine vngodly men séeking theyr owne gayne on the one parte and on the other part certaine ignorant and vnskilful men also wil bring to passe that the people shall abuse them against the ordinaunce of the Churche 2 The second principall point is concerning the administration of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper In the administration of Baptism it seemeth strange to many good and godly men that Exorcismes and many formes of prayers should be vsed the which may somwhat profite those that vnderstande them but séeing the greatest parte of the people doe not vnderstand them it séemeth better to omit them And where as it is beléeued and taughte that these things are necessarie to be done before Baptism they say that
to vse in stéede of blowes woordes and writings omitting all force warres sheding of blood The which peraduenture will so prouoke God and his vengeance to fal that the papists and priests thēselues which might quietly enioye their offices liuings shal be the first that shal féele the furour and madnesse of the people To be short the protection of the Suppliantes cannot chuse but bring great trouble and garboyle vnto them But when they may be assured of this that they néed not without they will themselues be endāmaged neyther in body office nor goods haue they iust cause to complayne except peraduēture they will say that they were carefull and sory for the losse of our soules But what hath made them so sodenly so carefull when as neyther any one Bishop Curate or popish priest hath laboured or takē any maner of paines to that end Séeing therfore we neuer intended to hurt any of thē what néed was there to bring them into this contention and to pretende the name of the Church Is not this too set one against another and to cause the people whiche before could not abyde those priests to hate thē the more Was there euer a more sorowfull sight séene in thys Realme Can there be any profit benefite or good turn so great that it maye make a sufficient mennes for so great destruction Can the Popes pardones and Indulgences restore the bloud that ▪ is shed for this cause These Suppliantes maye one day say vnto the Kinge that they to defend that which no man gainsayed and to preserue the Romish religion which no man wente about to hinder haue lost or went about to loose the one half of his nobilitie and chiefest of his subiectes Then and that truely it shal be obiected vnto them that as by their fayned and dissembled opinions concerning Religion they had brought the Realme of Scotland into great perill of destruction and caused much bloud too bée shed euen so by the same opinions counsayles and Instruments great discord hath ben sowen in this realm and ▪ both sortes of men set togither as it were by the eares in such sort that they may iustly hereafter amōg all posterities be sayd to be the authours and causes of all mischéeues and calamities which shall happen to the men both of the reformed also of the Romish Religiō And to cause more trouble they would haue all the Kings officers and all Ecclesiasticall persones to professe the confession of their faith and that such as should denie or refuse so to do should be depriued if they were temporall men of their offices if they were priests then to loose their benefices For this is the other Edicte of those thrée Suppliants against the receyued approued lawes of the king For there is no man that can remēber neither hath it ben heard of that any king that hath ben heretofore hathe constrayned hys true Subiectes to receiue any other confession of faith than that which is in the Apostels Créede Let that Lawmaker by whose craftie and subtill witte these their supplications were made bring forth but one only example The which truely he cannot do except hee will bring into this Realme the Inquisition of Spaine the which by the iudgement of all other Nations is counted so wicked that they all reiect the same These are the very same trappes and snares which they layd at Aurelias otherwise called Orleans a little before the death of Kyng Fraunces the second and which cannot chuse but bring the extreame ruine and destruction of the kyngs subiectes For those Suppliants know that there are ten thousand Noble men and a hundered thousand souldiours which neither by authority nor by force will forsake that Religion which they haue receiued and wyll not suffer the preaching of the woord and the administration of the Sacraments according to the forme of Religion which they professe to be taken from them and will defend themselues with the sword against them which abuse the aucthoritie of the Kings name That great number cannot be ouercome and destroyed which God forbid without the anoyance and ruine of those that shall set vppon them And to conclude the matter briefely I saye and affirme in the name of the Noble men Gentlemen and of many others which are here with me that this Decrée is made by thrée priuate men which by their authoritie peruert the kynges Edictes and make no accompt of them and to put their decrée in execution before they made the Kyng and Quéene acquaynted with their doinges they put themselues in armour and tooke them both captiue I say and affirme that the same Decrée is against the lawes of this Realme against all Christian order against the State against the Edict of January which was only made for this cause against the dignitie safetie of many of the kings subiects whose enemies they openly shew themselues to be whose goods and life they séeke to take away and all vnder the pretence of Religion conscience This decrée also taketh away the liberty of going to a Counsaile the which should haue ben considered by that subtill counsayler For if it be decréed that the same confession which they call the confession of the Faith shal be receiued of all the inhabitants of this Realme that is to say if all men be constrained to receiue the Popes doctrine and ceremonies this must néedes be a plaine sentence of condemnation against the reformed church neither is it then lawfull for our Ministers or for the Ministers of forreine Nations imbracing the same doctrine to go vnto a Counsaile when as they being not heard are condem ned But before the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother bring forth the decrée concerning the confession of the Romish faith let them renounce denie many speciall poynts of the confession made at Ausburge which when they were at Sauern they said thei imbraced promised to one of the Princes of Germany that they would cause them to be obserued in Fraunce It is néedfull also that the Cardinall of Loraine should declare by open writing whether he do persist in that opinion which sometime he said to the Quéene before a great many witnesses concerning Transubstantiatiō concerning the carying about of the Sacrament concer ning Iustification Inuocation of Saints Purgatory Images and concerning many other speciall points also of which he spake plainely against the iudgment of the Catholique and Apostolique church of Roome 6 ▪ Furthermore in that supplication straight after this they call to mind the throwing downe of Images require that the same Images be repayred and the breakers of them be punished But thervnto I make this answere The punishments wherwith I punish them which brake downe Images first in diuers places at the last in Orleans shall witnesse before God men that this misdemeanor of the rash multitude al wayes displease me both for that it was contrary to the Edict of
we think also that the manifest true knowlege of these thinges is loked for of many meÌ„ of forein nations that the first beginnings of those things in these our Commentaries shal not be read of them without some frute Neither do we dout but that many when they haue gotten peace and tranquilitie after troubles will behold our miseries not as thoughe thei themselues were quite out of danger of the like but being moued with the féeling of our afflictions will truly bewaile our estate For whose sake also we haue writteÌ„ these things in Latin that they by some means at the least may be generally vnderstoode of all those which séeke the glorye of God and the preseruation of his Church â–ª Wherfore we trust if we be accused of rashnes as though we had vnaduisedly set forth these things which should haue bin deferred till more conuenient and better occasions wée haue to answere for our selues and to make vs cleare from that faulte For if in a matter commendable and deseruing praise simple and small diligence ought not to be blamed this may be a iuste defence for vs against learned and indifferent meÌ„ namely to wil is sufficieÌ„t in matters of weight It shal be no reproch or shame to vs at all that there be controllers of a learned perfect story But this is the summe of our whole desire that the very truth of those things which were done in Fraunce for religion might be knowne to all men as what is the goodnesse of the cause of the Faithfull and true churches and what is the iniquitie and iniustice of their aduersaries Let al meÌ„ know for a suretie that the Churches of France are not guiltie of sedition and rebellion but are so called by the enimies of the truth and pure doctrine for defending the libertie of the Gospell Let all men know that many thousandes of faithfull Christians being spoyled of their goodes haue like banished meÌ„ forsaken their houses and countrey let them knowe that by warre and by other meanes they haue become true martyrs and by the fraude and deceyte of the Antichristian Guyses are dayly martyred who violating and breaking the moste strayte lawe and faith of promises haue abused the kings name and authoritie to exercise their tirannie and wickednesse To be shorte let al men know that Fraunce is falne into these ciuil wars through the wickednesse of aliens not through the fault of the faithfull Moreouer gentle Reader whiche desirest to be satisfyed in the truth we testifie and affirme thus muche for our selues that we haue written all things truly simply and vprightly without anye manner of parcialitie not gathering any thing by rumours or reportes but by certaine and vndoubted arguments in so much that we are not afrayde to appeale to those that are yet alyue as too eye witnesses yea and to the very time it selfe Farewell â–ª Edward Grant Schoolemaister of VVestminster to the Booke WHo lists to lern the blustring broyles fraÌ„ticke fumes of France The troublous times in three kings raignes that dolefully did chauÌ„ce May here suruey a perfect platt of pageants plaide in vewe That will enforce eche Christian harte most ruthfully to rue To see and heare the true discourse of superstitious tymes That shattered pure Religion with spytefull cankred crimes VVhere errour blind and ignorance true Christians did suppresse And armed all her lungish loutes the godly to distresse To rage and fume against the Church that lurking lay in feare VVith spitefull hate and infamies of those that did it teare Christes faithfull spouse not suffered through furious foes to shine Through rancour lodgd in Princes heads that did from truth decline Gods chosen sheep and vassals true raisd vp to doe his will In puritie him for to serue proud papistes sought to spill Their throates to cut their heades to poll their corpes in fier to caste That to Gods pure Religion came flocking wondrous faste Some choackt with gibbets gabbet at some murdred spitefully Some stabbed in with goting blades and daggers wilfully And all for hating Romish rytes and Belials bragging broode For cleauing to the Chrrstian church that sore astonyed stoode Among the superstitious troupes of Antichristian foes Starke blinded with the Popes delights behedgd with wailsul woes Starte vp some chosen chieftaines stoute of Christes disperpled band That did defie such beggeries in Fraunce that famous lande â–ª VVhich few at first did more allure vnto their sacred sawes To serue the Lord in Hymnes and songes according to his lawes And secretly to pray and preache to set foorth his dew prayse In corners and in hidden holes for feare his trueth to rayse Vntill the rage of hellish hagges the common blinded crew Dyd spye and spite their godly wayes and many of them slew Accused them as Lutherans before the Peeâ—…es and Kings Of Luther that reuin'd the same with fond inuented things Hereof came sectes and taking partes the people censt with rage By might mayntaynd did spoyle the iust the godly â–ª and the sage Edictes were made to staye such broyles and Parliaments were held To let the faithfull be at rest but yet the enemie sweld And daily raged more and more till faithfull did encrease And this reform'd Religion some noble minds did please VVhom God raisde vp to ayde his flocke his chosen sheep to garde Against th â–ª assault of waspishe wolues when their loud cryes he hard For whose defence rose ciuill warres and many a bloudy day The Popish crewe by force did seeke Christes pacient sheepe too slay To roote out this Religion that planted lurking lay And feared not the skalding threates of th' antichristian route But paciently abyde the crosse of Christ with courage stout Though Antichrist the Popes proud grace did rage and fume his fill And all his cankred Cardinals did ioy their bloud to spill They dread not all the Guisian gardes that fierce and mighty be And perfecutors of the trueth that pyne and poute to fee Such valiaunt Captaynes of Christes bande that doe the truth defend And with the gaging of their bloud their frendly ayd doe lend A princely part here Conde playd a prince replet with grace And all his house trew Souldiours stoode the trueth still to embrace Burgeus suffred losse of lyfe and feared not the fier For Gospels sake and truthes defence a lew of his desire Suruey his lyfe and trayning vp his constant faythfull harte His zeale and stout confession he playd a martyrs parte Chatillon shrinke not here a whit a chieftane of the troupe Of Gods dispersed faithfull flocke that made their foes to stoupe Three tymes for this rife ciuill warr the papistes shewd their spight The true and trustie protestants stood stoutly in the right Their cause they manfully mayntaynd Christ Iesus was their shield Sometimes thei foyld their fretting foes that gainst them rose in field Some Nobles slayn and valiant Knights cast downe before their time And all in fence of Christ his cause accused thus
which we haue spoken before and that they shoulde first of all deale with matters concerning religion The company therfore being asseâ—… â–ª bled called togither the Kings Solicitor propounded vnto them these matters First that there were diuers opinions in matters that coÌ„cerned Religion founde lately in the Senate disagréeing and contrarie one to another as when lome condemned heretikes to be burnt other some woulde not haue them to be burnt but mittigated the paâ—…ne by banishment the which woulde redounde to the reproche and shame of the Senate Wherefore he required that their sentences and iudgements might be conformable and agréeing euer hereafter with the prescript and tenure of the Edictes which appointed the punishments of death The which in déede was the most speedie and readie way to detect those Iudges that were suspected of religion as after truly it came to passe For when euery man fréely vttred his minde and opinion as the custome is there were diuers iudgementes some woulde haue no punishment by death but banishment other some before any thing was determined woulde haue it knowne whether they were heretikes in déede which were counted heretikes Also he sayd that it was the Kings will that heretikes shoulde be punished and the office of the Senate to sée and finde out who they were that were guiltye of heresie And for this cause he willed them to make supplication vnto the King that according to the first article of the peace concluded he woulde cause a lawfull Councell to be assembled to iudge of these controuersies and that they shoulde in the meane time leaue off to punishe But some sayde that it coulde not be hidde but was apparant for all men to beholde what greate corruptions had inuaded the Church and howe néedefull and requisite it was a reformation to be had and that by the worde of God which is the onely rule of veritie and not custome antiquitie or the opinions of men Furthermore they added that there was daunger and therefore great héede to be taken least while they whome they called Lutheranes were condemned Innocentes also shoulde be put to death For say they the Lutheranes as we terme them haue probable reasons to defend their doctrine withall whose life is irreprouable and without blame vsing themselues oftentimes to praye deuoutly and zealously to God as it hath well appeared to the Senate to be short such is their constancie that thereby they shew themselues not to be such maner of men as they are sayde to be among the common sort of people Thus at this time some spake one thing some another howbeit the greatest part would haue either the punishment to be mittigated or else the men to be quite discharged Many feared least this sentence and determination of those that spake in the behalfe of the Lutheranes shoulde take place wherevpon two of the Councell as it is credibly reported namely Egidius and Minardus went to the King and declared the matter wholy vnto him before the Court had concluded what shoulde be done against both lawe and auncient custome saying vnto him that the matter was nowe come to such a straite that great remedie must be prouided for the same otherwise great perturbations and trouble would ensue adding moreouer that the boldenesse of some was such that they durst arrogantly deride the auncient religion and as for the Edicts of the King they made no account of them at all The King being inflamed and greatly stirred with this newes came the next day into the senate where he declared that he hauing now obtained at the handes of God the most excellent benefit of peace confirmed the same with the societie sure knot of matrimonie there waÌ„ted yet one thing which he greatly desired namely the setting of matters coÌ„cerning religion in a good vniforme order for this cause he said that he came into the Court namely to vnderstand both in what state the matter stoode also to coÌ„fort incourage them by his presence And so he signified by the kéeper of the seales that he would haue them to follow that order which they had begon in shewing their opinions Therefore of theÌ„ which resisted some were more colde fearing some subtill practise to be in hand other som notwithstaÌ„ding â–ª spake their fantasies and opinions with no lesse boldnesse than they did before especially concerning the lawfull calling of a CruÌ„cel or Parliament And among others Anoas Burgaeus a man very godly wel learned when he had first of al giueÌ„ thaks vnto God that he had so wrought in the hart of the Prince that he would be a witnesse indifferent Iudge of so weightie a matter and when he had exhorted the King to bend his minde and giue good eare to so great vrgent cause being in deede the cause of our Lord Iesus Christ which â—…ught to be defended by the patrocinie garde of Kings very boldly and fréely vttered his minde affirming at the length that he dâ—…d wholy giue his coÌ„sent agrée that there should be a couÌ„cel called that the punishments then vsed toward the Lutheranes for that time should surcease Others also after him affirmed the like When the King had heard thefe men he making first his preamble said that to his griefe and sorow he saw corruption to be crept in eueÌ„ into his Court being very sorie that any of his Nobles should be stayned therwith the good he knew as for the others he said he wold â–ª so punish that he would therby extirpe quite pull vp by â–ª the rootes that mischief which was now a growing These threatnings ended talking a while with those that stoode with him he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that Annas Burgaeus Lodouicus Faurus should be takeÌ„ y which his coÌ„mandement was streightway executed by MoÌ„gomerie Captaine of the Garde After this others also were taken as Fumaeus Foixius many others And those that were of these opinions loking to be handled as they were got theÌ„ out of the citie but afterward they were opeÌ„ly proclaimed About the same time almost a Synode was helde at Paris many ministers of the Churches which were theÌ„ called the reformed Churches being then called togither for thys matter in the which both the doctrine of the faith and also Ecclesiasticall discipline were copiously largely intreated of â–ª truly as the time required the forme of discipline which was alredy appointed which was also afterward by many Synodes and Councels inlarged and examined by the rule of Gods word and the approued â–ª customes of the auncient Church brought much profit all which matters here to declare is not our purpose Howbeit these thinges following were the principall points thereof 1 First it is agreed that the confession of the doctrine which may testifie â–ª the coÌ„mon consent of the Churches be registred to the ende that no straunge opinions craftily be conueyed in 2 That all things be done in order in the Churches 3 That so often
as might conueniently there shoulde be Councels Synodes or Parlings of those Churches that were not farre oft 4 That there be diligent eye and heede giuen specially to the doctrine and also the maners of Ministers 5 That no Minister vsurpe superioritie or principalitie by any maner of meanes among his fellowe Ministers but that all things bee done indifferently and soberlye among them 6 That all offences and stumbling blocks be taken away 7 That the faithfull be taught their dutie and also instructed in the puritie of the worde and in the chaste rule of discipline ▪ 8 That nothing in this discipline be rashly altered by one man or by one Church without the authoritie of the generall Councell But now when the most excellent and famous Princes Protestantes of Germanie vnderstoode of the great punishments and intollerable afflictions layde vpon the faithfull for the Gospels sake they sent their Ambassadours wyth their charge and letters vnto the King beséeching him that he woulde inhibite and staye those grieuous persecutions of the which their letters this was the effect and summe as followeth When they vnderstoode and weyed with themselues that men in all ages estates and times suffered imprisonment and bondes for professing the doctrine of the Gospell which is contrarie to those superstitions which are of the most part obserued and that for the same cause onely they were extréemely punished both in body and goodes they also knowing themselues to be members of the same heade Christ with them whome they hearde to be so cruelly handled and being perswaded that they were bounde in conscience to helpe them so much as they might they thought good for these causes to sende their Ambassadours vnto the King with those letters And that the King might not thinke that the matter is not throughly considered off of them they signifie vnto him that they knowe for a suretie that those men which were restrained from their libertie did maintaine or defende no seditious opinions nor any thing else that is contrary to the true and Apostolicall articles of the Christian faith And bicause they themselues did take no lesse labour and paine than the King himselfe to roote out and abolishe all those things which were against the glorie of God and did onely desire to defende the true inuocation of his holy name and the syncere doctrine of the Catholike Church contained in the writings of the Prophetes Apostles and Fathers and also did seuerely punishe the maintainers of false doctrine and men of impure and vnhonest lyfe and to be short bicause they themselues did acknowledge and worship one God as the hyest and Lorde of all these were the causes which had moued them to write those letters of intreatie for the releasing of those captiues out of miserie whose doctrine they knewe to be farre from all falshoode heresie and sebitious opinions the which thing might euidently appeare by their confession the which they sent vnto the King to that ende There is no man but he will confesse that many corruptions are crept into the Church and haue preuayled partly by error and partly by couetousnesse to roote out the which saye they that diuers good and godly men haue taken great paine of late and that not long since also certaine vertuous and singular learned men in the vniuersitie of Paris as VVilliam of Paris Gersone VVestelus and others had done the like and also that they themselues haue reformed errours in their dominions for the which they are not a little ioyfull Moreouer that his father king Frances of happie memorie a Prince of singular wisedome and vertue purposed to haue made the like reformation folowing herein the examples of his auncelors the Kings of Fraunce who woulde oftentimes themselues finde out the controuersies that happened in the Church The which waye he ought to followe in ending these matters rather than to suffer the crueltie of manye against their brethren and his subiectes assuring himselfe of this that he shoulde so smallye preuayle in suppressing the doctrine of the Gospell by those sharpe and cruell punishments that contrarywise the bloude which was shed for the same shoulde be the séede more and more dailye to increase the number of christians and furthermore ▪ that by this meanes namely by shedding of bloude he shoulde haue the greatest part of his faithfull subiectes cut from him Eeside all this that God doth threaten to take vengeaunce of the bloude of Innocentes vniustly shedde and will seuerely punishe those which shall reiect the perfect knowledge of his doctryne and truth Moreouer they signifie vnto the King in their letters that they did of late sue vnto him and require the selfe same thing of him that they doe nowe by their letters then and Ambassadours also and were almost perswaded by his aunswere againe that he woulde neuer more suffer the miserable Christians so to be afflicted and appressed with those iniuries Notwithstanding that they vnderstoode that the same affliction by all maner of punishment was as great in his kingdome as euer it had bene before Insomuch that in this poynt they did greatly bewayle so much as Christian Charitie required the state and condition of his good and faythfull subiectes who for this cause were onely afflicted for that they followed that doctrine which they retayned sure and firme in their Churches and in the which they grounded their fayth The which wonderfully grieued them not onely bicause they sawe that it was preiudiciall and hurtfull to them but chiefly bicause they perceyued the glorie of the most mightie God to be defaced and as it were derided And bicause Charitie with the which his subiects were beloued of men did prouoke them also to wishe their peace and tranquilitie and aboue all things to desire that the King might behaue himselfe in that thing which appertained to the glorye of God and soules health that he might not prouoke the wrath of God against him they most hartily beseech hym that he woulde prudentlye expende and weigh all the circumstances of this facte and specially that he woulde consider the causes why his miserable subiectes shoulde be so greatly troubled and that he woulde endeuour himselfe that the Church of God might be pourged from all these corruptions with the which it had bene a long time contaminated and infected in so doing he shoulde satisfie the honest desire of a great number in this poynt And bicause he coulde not come to the knowledge of those things which were of so great weyght without the hearing of the iudgementes of godlye learned men they perswaded him so call vnto hym out of hande men expert in knowledge and desirous of Gods glorie after the ensample of his Elders by whome the matters nowe in controuersie might be vprightlye and peaceably decided and determined by the rule of holye Scripture Also that whyle these thinges were in hande and vntill it were fully concluded of the matters in controuersie his subiectes which followe the doctrine agréeing
whom it pleaseth God to giue the same that the faithfull might haue nothing in them selues to boast of wheÌ„ as rather they are two folde more bound to God than others in that they are preferred before others Also we beleue that faith is giuen to the electe not that they should once onely walke in the right way but rather to coÌ„tinue in the same al the dayes of their lyfe bicause as the beginning is of God so is also the ende 22 We beleue that we which are by nature the seruants of sinne by the same faith are regenerate into a new life For by faith we receiue grace to lyue a holy and godly lyfe wheÌ„ we imbrace that â—…uangelicall promise that the Lorde will giue vnto vs the holy Ghost Therfore faith is so far from taking away the desire to leade a godly life that it doth rather inflame the same in vs from whence good workes necessarily do follow But although God doth regenerate vs to the ende he might fully saue vs notwithstanding we affirme that the good workes which we do by the assistance of Gods holy spirite are not so regarded of God that we shuld be iustified by them or deserue to be counted the sonnes of God bicause we shoulde alwayes doubte and feare if so be that we had not that satisfactioÌ„ by which Christ Jesus hath deliuered vs from all harme 23 We beleue that all the figures of the law are taken away by the comming of Christ although we know that the truth and substaunce of them remaine in him in whoÌ„ they were fulfilled Howbeit we must vse and exercise the Law and the Prophets both for the framing of our life and also that we may be the more confirmed in the promises of the Gospell 24 We beleue that seing Jesus Christ is giuen to vs to be our onely aduocate who also commaundeth that we should boldly come to the Father in his name and seing it is not lawfull for vs to pray in any other order and forme than in that which God him selfe hath appointed in his word what soeuer men haue deuised concerning the intercessioÌ„ of dead Saintes it is nothing else but the deceite and crafte of Sathan to drawe men from the right and true forme of prayer We doe also reiect all those meanes whatsoeuer that men haue inuented to delyuer them selues from the wrath of God for so muche as they doe derogate so much from the death and sacrifyce of Jesus Christ as men gyue and attribute vnto them To coÌ„clude we thinke that Purgatory is a fable brought forth of y same shop froÌ„ wheÌ„ce also came Monastical vows pilgrimages prohibitioÌ„ of Matrimonie the vse of meates the ceremoniall obseruation of certaine dayes Auricular confession Iuduigences and suche like abhominations by which some thinke that they merit grace and saluation All which things we do reiecte not onely for the false opinion conceyued of meriting adioyned vnto them but also bicause they be the inuentions of men and a yoake layde vpon consciences by the authoritie of men 25 We beléeue bicause we can not obtaine Christ but by the Gospell that the holy and inuiolable discipline established by his authoritie in the Churche ought to be obserued and that therefore Pastours ought to be in the Church to whom appertaineth the office of preaching the worde and the ministration of the Sacramentes whom men ought to honor and reuerently heare if they beyng lawfully called discharge their dutie not that God of necessitie néedeth such inferior helpes but rather bycause it thus seemeth good vnto him to rule vs as it were with a bridle And therfore we do detest all those fanaticall persons which so muche as in them lyeth séeke to abolishe the holy ministerye that is to say the preaching of the worde and the administration of Sacraments 26 We beléeue therefore that it is lawfull for no man to withdrawe himselfe from the Congregation and to trust in himselfe but is rather the duetie of all men to defende and kéepe the Unitie of the Churche submitting them selues to the common Institution and yoake of Christe wheresoeuer God hath appointed the true and Ecclesiasticall discipline althoughe the Edictes of Magistrates be against the same from the which order whosoeuer separate them selues they resist the ordinance of God. 27 We beléeue that with great diligence and discretion the true Church must be discerned by the name whereof many are too much abused Therfore we affirme out of the worde of God that the Churche is a company or congregation of the faithfull which do agrée in following the word of God and in imbracing true Religion in the which also they dayly profite and go forward grounding and confirming one another in the feare of God who although they receiue neuer so great profite yet must they daylie of necessitie seeke for remission of sinnes And yet for all this will not denie but that manye hipocrites and reprobates are mixed with the faithfull but yet their wickednesse can not take awaye the name the Church 28 Therfore in beléeuing of this thing we also openly affirme that where the worde of God is not receiued nor no profession of that obedience shewed that belongeth thervnto nor no vse of the Sacraments there to speake properly we can Iudge no Church to be We therfore condemne the Papisticall Church bicause the pure truth of God is banished out of the same in the which the Sacramentes of faith are corrupted falsified or else quite abolished in the which all superstition Idolatry is to be founde And therfore we thinke that all they which do ioyne themselues to such actions and do communicate with them doe separate them selues from the body of christ Nothwithstanding bicause in the Papacy remaineth some Imitacion of the true church and specially the substance of Baptisme the efficacie wherof dependeth not vpon him that ministreth the same we graunt that they which are baptized in the same Popishe Church haue no néede to be baptized againe howbeit bycause of the corruptions with the which Baptime is there mixed no man can offer his childe to be of them baptized but he must pollute him selfe 29 We do beléeue that the true Churche oughte to be gouerned with that discipline which our Lorde Iesus Christ appointed and to haue in the same Pastors Ministers and Deacons that the pure doctrine of the Gospell may be preached vice bridled and poore afflicted persons so far as nede shall require comforted 30 We do beléeue that all true Pastors wheresoeuer they be placed haue power and authoritie all a like vnder that onely head and chiefe vniuersall Bishop Iesus Christ And therfore that it is lawfull for no Church to chalenge vnto it selfe imperie or rule ouer another 31 We do beleue that it is vnlawfull for anye man of his owne authoritie to presume to take vpon him the gouernment of the Church but ought rather to
be chosē to the same by lawfull election if so be the same may be had We adde this if bicause sometime as in oure time also when the Church hath bene troubled and persecuted many haue béen constrayned without ordinarie callyng by the motion of Gods holye spirite to take vpon them to repaire the ruinousnesse of the decayed Church notwithstanding howsoeuer the matter be we doe beléeue that this rule ought to be followed that all pastors and ministers maye haue sufficient testimonie of their calling 32 We doe beléeue it to be necessarie that they which are chosen to be the chiefe ouerséers of some one Churche doe diligently waye and consider among them selues by what waye or meanes the whole body of the same Churche may be best gouerned Notwithstanding so that they swerue in no poynt from that which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath appointed And this letteth not but that certaine places maye haue their peculiar and speciall institutions to them appertaining as it shall séeme best 33 And we doe exclude all humane inuentions and lawes whiche vnder the pretence of the worshippe of God doe bynde the consciences of men and we doe onely admit and alow those which tend to the maintaining of concord the keping of euerye one in due obedience in the which thing we thinke it méete to follow that which our Lord sauiour Christ appointed concerning excommunication the which with the circumstances also we allow thinke necessarye 34 We doe beléeue that there are Sacramentes ioyned to the woorde for further confirmations sake as pledges and seales of the grace of God by which our infyrme and weake faith may be stayed and holpen For we confesse these externall signes to be such that God by them worketh with the power of his holy spirit that nothing there might be set before vs in vaine Notwithstāding we doe thinke that al the substance veritie of them resteth in Christ Iesu frō whō if they be separated they are nothing but vayne shadowes 35 We doe confesse that there belong onely two Sacramentes to the whole Church of the which the first is Baptisme giuen vnto vs to testifie our adoption bycause thereby we are grafted into the body of Christ as beyng washed with his bloud and are also renewed to holynesse of life by his spirite This also we affirme that although we are but once baptized yet notwithstanding the fruite of Baptisme doth appertaine to the race of our whole life to the ende that this promise mighte be sealed in vs by a sure and certaine seale namely that Christ will be alway our sanctification righteousnesse and redemption Furthermore althoughe Baptisme be a Sacramente of fayth and repentaunce yet notwithstanding seyng God doth recken and accounte the children wyth the parentes to be of his Church we affirme that infantes borne of holy and godly parents ought by the authoritie of Christ to be baptized 36 We affirme that the holy Supper of the Lord which is the other Sacrament is a testimony vnto vs of our vnion with our Lorde Iesus Christ bicause he did not thinke it sufficient for vs onely to dye and to be raysed agayne the third day for our sinnes but also féedeth vs still ▪ and nourisheth vs with his fleshe and bloude that being made one with him we maye be partakers of life with him For although he be now in heauen and shall abide there vntill he come to iudge the worlde yet notwithstanding we beleue that he doth by the secrete and incomprehensible power of his spirite nouryshe and quicken vs wyth the substance of hys fleshe and bloude apprehended by faithe And we saye that this is done spiritually not that we go about to put fantasie and imagination in steade of efficacie and veritie but bicause this misterie of our vnion and knot made betwene Christ and vs is sodaine and far paste our reache that by no meanes we are able to comprehende it To be shorte séeing it is a thing so diuine and heauenly it can not be by any meanes apprehended but by faith onely 37 We beléeue as it is saide before that the Lord as well in the Supper as in Baptisme doth giue vnto vs in verye déede that is to saye truely and effectually whatsoeuer is therin figured Sacramentally and therfore we ioyne with signes the true possession and fruition of that thing which is so offered vnto vs Therfore we affirme that they which bring a pure fayth as a vessell with them to the holy table of the Lorde doe verily receiue that which the signes doe there testifie for the body and bloude of Iesus Christ is no lesse meate and drinke to the soule than bread and wine is the sustenance of the body 38 In like maner we saye that the element of water although it be corruptible doth truely testifie vnto vs the inward washing of our soule in the bloude of Iesus Christ by the efficacie of the holy Ghost And therefore we reiecte all those fanaticall persons which reiect these outward signes when as our Sauiour Christ him selfe spake these wordes saying This is my Body and This Cup is my Bloud 39 We beléeue that it is Gods will that the world shoulde be ruled and gouerned by lawes and politique gouernement that there may be some meanes by which the immoderate desires of the worlde may be bridled and restrained and that therefore he hath appointed kingdomes common weales and other kindes of dignities whither they come by inheritance or otherwise and not onely that but whatsoeuer pertaineth to right and equitie the author whereof he himselfe woulde be counted Therefore also he hath put the swerde into the hands of Magistrates to punishe offences not onely against the seconde table but also against the first Wherefore we must for his sake which is the author of this order not onely suffer that they may rule whome he hath set ouer vs but also honour and reuerence them as his Ministers appointed by him to take that lawfull and holy office vpon them Therefore we affirme that lawes and statutes ought to be obeyed tribute and taxes payed and all other burthens discharged and voluntary subiection yelded to magistrates yea although they be infidels so that God be not dishonored Therefore we detest all those that denie rule and gouernment and refuse to obey desiring a confusion and to haue all things common and going about to ouerthrow all lawe and good order This therefore was the plaine and simple confession of the faythfull Christians of the reformed Churches of Fraunce and a plaine explication of that Doctrine for the which they were so greatly persecuted by the Popishe Bishops Thus endeth this first Book ¶ The seconde Booke of Commentaries of the state of Religion in the kingdome of Fraunce IT was prouided and appointed as we haue shewed before by the kings Edict that there should be a Parliament by which the great perturbations which at that time all men sawe
him to be a King to this ende that he might kéepe the people vnder the knowledge feare and obedience of God that he might gouerne them by good and wholesome lawes and also to saue and defende them from the enimie and in all thinges to shewe himselfe so studious and carefull for the common wealth that he may be honoured and be beloued as a father of the people For this is the onely difference betwéene a King a Tyrant The King reigneth and ruleth with the good will loue and consent of the people but the tyrant ruleth by violence and force In a King therefore a man may behold the ordinance of God the author and preseruer of Common welthes and humaine societie In the tyrant the force and violence of the Diuel who goeth about to peruert that ende to the which God hath ordeyned Kings and Potentates Herevpon it commeth that as the King is loued of all men and hated of none but of wicked men and Rebels so the tyrant is feared of all men without exception and therefore hated of all according to the olde Prouerbe Quem metuunt oderunt him whome men feare they hate Therefore if the King will be loued and obey the commaundement of God and retaine the obedience and loue of his subiectes he must of necessitie stablishe Religion he must heare the complaintes of the people and must prouide for them remedies as a father prouideth for his children séeing that he is set in the kingdome to that ende neyther can he doe otherwise except he will make himselfe vnworthy of the grace of God by which he confesseth that he doth reigne as both examples of holy Scripture and domesticall examples also do plentifully declare The first bond therfore which confirmeth knitteth and retaineth the obedience of kings is Religion the which is nothing else than to know God as it becommeth vs that is to say according to his prescript wil. And now séeing we ought to acknowledge him to be the creator author preseruer of all things it must néedes folow that al our actions ought to tende to the setting forth of his glory Whervpon it cometh to passe that Religion which is that most assured bonde of humane actions and of the true obedience of subiects towards their Kings ought to be reformed preserued maintained But bicause that bonde is dissolued and broken in these our dayes both by the malice wickednesse of some and also by the doting madnesse and folly of other some and by the corruption of our time it is no doubt an euident demonstration and token of the wrath of God which threateneth vnto vs great destruction not farre hence vnlesse it be prouided for out of hande For besides the varietie of doctrines who euer sawe the ancient discipline of the Church so miserably abused contemned and deiected errors so dispersed and rooted euery where offences and stumbling blockes so common the life of Priests so corrupt and so much to be reprehended and also so many and great tumultes among the people The way to remedie this great euill and mischiefe is a generall Councell the only ancient vsuall meane but as it plainely appeareth that is not to be hoped for and that for two causes The one is It is not in our power to bring to passe that the Pope the Emperour the Kings and the Germanes shoulde by by agree of the time the place and maner of holding of a Councell in which things there are oftentimes great coÌ„trouersies The other cause is this Such is the disease and mischief it so grieueth euery part of the kingdome that there is small hope of any remedie Like as if a man troubled with a coÌ„tinuall feuer or with some other grieuous disease which requireth letting of bloude or some other present remedie cannot tarie to haue the Phisitions help which dwelleth farre of bicause of the great vncertainty of his coÌ„ming Therfore we must bring to passe to call a couÌ„cel of our Nation as it was before concluded the which also the King hath alredy openly promised And this parliament must of necessitie be called both for the necessitie which so vrgeth the miserable Church being brought to so great extremities also for the kings estimation and credit who by his owne letters hath openly giuen forth declared y same but specially bicause there hath nothing happened since that time which might let or hinder the same but on the contrarie part there grow new things occasions daily which do vrge and driue vs to séeke to call a Parliament vnlesse we could be contented to lose all that we haue The Emperour Charles the vâ—…lately deceased wheÌ„ he came to Bononia and had conferred with Pope Clement concerning matters of the Church he willed his Chauncelor to talke with that Pope concerning the calling of a CouÌ„cell both to reforme the maners of Church men and also to establish the doctrine which was in controuersie The Pope vehemently withstode this thing affirming that there was no néede to call a Councell neither for doctrine séeing that al new opinions are refuted condemned of the ancient Councels neither yet for Ecclesiasticall discipline which was so wel appointed that it was sufficient only to obserue kepe the decrées written concerning the same But the Emperour being not satisfied with this answere replied againe that it coulde not be but that the great assembly of the generall Councell shoulde bring great profit doe much good both to cut off that euill which daily increased more and more and also to repaire and confirme those things which were very well already receyued and allowed to hinder cut off that which might abolishe them by discontinuance and want of vse And in this minde concerning the procuring of a Councel he continued so loÌ„g as he liued In the which matter he founde no greater aduersaries than those who shoulde haue set him forwarde in so commendable an enterprise Our auncetours were woont euery fiue yeares to call generall Councels as it is to be séene in the decrees But as touching priuate Councels or Councels assembled out of our owne Nation we shall find in the histories of the Kings of Fraunce that they were called in euerye Kings tyme beginning at the raigne of Clodouaeus vntill the tyme of Charles the great and so forth vntill we come to Charles the feue uth his dayes The which Parliamentes or assemblies were sometimes gathered togither from euery part of the whole kingdome sometimes from one halfe of the Realme sometimes but out of certaine Prouinces onely By which Parliaments it was sildome séene but that there ensued great fruite and profite to the reformation both of doctrine and maners Let vs not staye therefore any longer at the matter but followe the examples and wayes of our elders and let vs not be afrayde to be accused to be bringers in of newe customes séeing that we haue so many examples to followe but
end that ye might not doubt of this what say ye to that which was don by Pope Paule iij. and also by Pope Iulio iij. Of the which matter I my selfe can be a sufficient witnesse and my testimonie the more worthye to be receyued for that I my selfe for bewraying this coloured deceite was constrained to depart from Trent Who knoweth not that here vpon came this prouerbe The holy Ghost is brought from Rome in a Cheste I my selfe was once a Bishop as ye be and that waye bent that ye are vntill I forsoke the Pope and got me to the Church of Christ. The which I count the greatest benefite that euer I receyued But truely those toyes and deceitfull fleightes are appointed now out of tyme in these dayes soing the cléere light of the Gospel so brightly shineth throughout the whole worlde and séeing the deceites of the Pope are so openlyâ—… knowne Is this your generall Counsell from the which we that are the contrary part and for whose cause y same is assembled are excluded Is this I say the order of your generall Councell that the Pope shall commaund Patriarkes Archbishops Bishops and Abbates to be at the Councell shall exhort Kings and Princes also to sende their Clergye and prelates thither which are our aduersaries and seclude vs which ought to make answere before we be condemned And wheras the Pope woulde séeme greatly to desire that Kings and Princes shoulde either they themselues be presente or else their Legates and Ambassadors what a ieste and ridiculous thing is that seing they haue no definitiue voyce in the Councell but are onely lookers on Therefore in your Councels not wisedome not godlynesse not grauitie giue Councell but your Miters This and muche more he wrote which for breuities sake we omit Thus the Pope went aboute to bring to passe to haue a Councell at Trident. And now at this time the Electors and Princes of Germanie which were protestants met togither at Numburgh that they might deliberate and consulte of the Confession made at Augusta and offered to Charles the fifth in the yeare of our Lord god M. D. XXX and that bycause they heard that they were many wayes misreported of before the Emperor Ferdinando And writing letters to the Emperour they declared that they did hold fast embrace with one coÌ„sent that confession made at Ausburgh that they were ready to giue an account of the same confession out of the word of God. While the Princes were thus occupied there came two Legates from the Pope to intreate the Princes of Germanie to come to the generall Councell The which two declared their message as followeth The one of them began thus saying That the most high bishop so soone as he was called to the most holy reuereud office of gouerning the Churche to the end he might do the dutie of a true pastor he had this care aboue al others to correct and amend whatsoeuer was amisse that the Church mighte be quiet that all nations might be of one consent minde and embrace one doctrine To bring the which thing to passe séeing he saw no better way or remedie than an assembly of a generall Councell by due aduise deliberatioÌ„ by his own authoritie also which he hath froÌ„ God hath ordained appointed a councel which shal be holdeÌ„ at the feast of Easter next coÌ„ming And that the Princes might be the more fully certified of this matter to the end they ioyning their indeuor with the Popes carefulnesse might be willing diligent to procure the tranquillitie peace of Germanie they said that his holinesse greatly desiring seking the peace quietnesse of the countrey of Germanie had sent his legates to pray exhort all meÌ„ to come to y holy assembly in the which it should be lawfull for all men to speake what they would Also they intreated those Princes by name that they woulde not by any meanes hinder that godly zeale and peace of the Church the most holy Father being ready to giue vnto all men a most large Charter of the publique faithe and most solemnly to be bound to performe the same his holynesse exhorting al Princes to send their Ambassadors to that holy counsell with their commissions to the ende the controuersies of the Church in the which there are so many opinions as there are heads and so many Gospels as there are teachers maye by their industry and diligence be spéedily ended and that they also giuing that honor which is due to the Church one Faith may be kepte and one God alone adored and worshipped Thus when the first Legate had very copiously vttered his mind the other also begaÌ„ in maner forme following saying that he would not repeate those things whereof his fellow before him had spoken séeing that they had all one charge and commission from the holy Father There is no man sayth he that can be ignorant of the most greuous calamities of the Church and into what miserie the same is cast one euill and mischiefe following another occasioÌ„ being giuen to the enemies of Christes name to calumniate and speake euill of the same Insomuch that of necessitie so great confusion must be prouided for a remedy sought For the dangers do require these things the oportunitie of the time persuadeth to the same and the clemencie and godly zeale of the holy Father allureth men therevnto so that there could neuer be a better consent and a more fitte occasion offered the Christian common welth being pacifyed Gods grace so plentifully being giuen to y most holy father who is not only very careful for Princes but also for souls helth the peace tranquilitie of the church Thus they both made an end of their Oration to whom this answere was gyuen The moste honorable Electors Princes Ambassadors and Counsellers of the moste sacred Empire of Rome make this answere to the proposition of the Legates namely that they doubt not but that a great sorte of learned godly and wyse men of all ages and conditions haue wished a long tyme that the Churche might be in better state praying that at the length the pure doctrine of the Gospell might be restored and that the wicked errors might be takeÌ„ away Of the which matter Byshops of Rome ought to haue a speciall care for that they haue of long tyme attributed to themselues the tytles of Pastors of the Church but say they experience hath hytherto declared that they haue bene rather occupyed in establyshing of their Tyranny and in bringing errors into the Church than in amplyfying and setting foorth the glory of God and in curing the diseases of the Church The which truly is most manyfest by too too many sorrowfull effectes as the best friendes that the Pope hath cannot but confesse if there be any shame in them Also they sayd that they did not a little maruel what moued the Pope and what hope he
had of them that he sente his embassage vnto them and that he woulde call them to this Councell as though he were ignorant what Religion the States of the Empire followed who of late that they might reforme their Churches according to the true doctrine of the Gospell were constrayned to plucke their neck out of the Popes yoake that is to say to separate theÌ„selues from their fellowshippe which went about to oppresse and destroy the true doctrine of the Gospell We woulde therefore say they to the Legates that ye should knowe for a suretie that the most noble Princes of Germany will by no meanes obey the Pope nor acknowledge that he hath any power either by Gods lawe or by the lawe of man to call a Councell specially being such a one as maketh dissention strife in the Church and most cruelly warreth against the truth Furthermore they affirmed that they were misreported of slaundered as though they retained no certaine faith but that there were now among them So many heads so many opinioÌ„s So many Gospels so many teachers wheras they retained the plaine and manifest confessioÌ„ made at Ausburgh and offered to the Emperour Charles the. v. in the yéere of our Lord god M. D. XXX in the which not only all the principall grounds of faith are distinctly contained but also y celestial truth manye wayes therby set forth and published Also they said that the generall complaints of all meÌ„ did sufficiently declare with what errors the Church of Rome was filled and with what filthy superstitions the Gospell was there suppressed in so much that the same is rather like to the traditions vaine inuencions of heathen men than Christian Religion Wherfore say they bicause we haue of late separated and deuided our selues from the Churche of Rome not by anye rashnesse or vaine curiositie or being led by any leude affections but by the only commaundement of God which willeth all meÌ„ to flee Idolatry we protest that we wil so abyde most constaÌ„tly and not be subiect any maner of waye to the Pope For we acknowledge no maner of iurisdiction besides the iurisdiction of the most renoumed Emperour Ferdinandus And as touching the two Legates the Princes saide that were it not for the Popes ambassage on which they came they being worshipfully borne in Venice they would shewe vnto them so great courtesie fauour and friendship as might be both for that they loued the countrey of Venice and also bycause the Legates themselues by the dignitie of their birth were worthy as they thought to be well entertained And thus the Popes Legates with lost labour retourned from Germanie againe Then beganne Religion and the great number of the faythfull to increase more throughout euerye prouince of the kingdome of Fraunce but the deuill enuying that notable increase there were then many perturbations and troubles raised vp in many places In Prouince whiche was sometimes called Narbon there was great a doe and much trouble And the Gospell beyng much preached in the region of Langres almost in euery citie with great assemblies of people to heare y same at the laste ensued great affliction by the Earle Villarius Daulphenie also which is called the RegioÌ„ of Sauoy embracing y same doctrin felt the like persecutioÌ„s And by the meanes of one Mottaegondrinus who was Lieutenant to the Duke of Guise there was grieuous persecution at Valentia in so much that a Minister of Gods word and certaine honest citizens with him were beheaded Moreouer garrisons of souldiers were placed throughout euerye citie to the great anoyance and detriment of the faithfull who notwithstanding wonderfully increased both in number in zeale daily The Prince of Conde beyng sente for of the King came to hym to the Courte which was at Fontisbellaquaeums with a fewe onely attending vpon him The daye following he was called before the priuie Councell and beyng come he openly demaunded of the Chauncelor if he had any thing to saye against him who answered that he had nothing to obiect againste him the like answere also made all the reste And then he sat hym downe in his accustomed place Then the King declared before all the assemblye that the Prince of Conde had giuen vnto him due proofes and testimonyes of his innocencie for as we declared before by the practises of the Guises he was accused of treason the which he saids he dyd in no wise doubte of And therfore he gaue commandement to the Senate of Paris to giue leaue to the Prince of Conde to haue larger testimonyes of his innocencie And to the ende the Iudgement of the priuie Councell mighte be knowne to all men commaundement was giuen that the same shoulde be registred in the Register of the Senate and sent also to the Ambassadors of other Nations Therefore for bycause of these things the Prince of Conde went to Paris In the meane time there arose new contâ—…tions betwéen the Quéene and the King of Nauarre he complaining to the Queene that he was not well delt withall for that he was ill requited for that great good will and courtesie which he shewed towardes the Quéene in yéelâ—…ing vnto hir the gouernment of the Realme the Duke of Guise being in office and authoritie aduaunced before him who had not onely the keyes of the Tower to kéepe but also by the Quéenes will did what him liste Saying also that the matter was very ingratefully handled that he which had béen alwayes his enimie euen in the dayes of King Henrye and Frances shoulde as yet be aduaunced before him Also that if he were contented for the Quéenes sake to dissemble all things and not to bewray his griefe it was the more vnméete that he for his facilitie and tractablenesse shoulde be abused by hir In fine he saide that either he or else the Duke of Guise must néedes forsake the Court adding also that he coulde by no meanes abide with the king except the Guise departed To this the Quéene made answere that she did meane to gratifie the king of Nauarre so much as she might and so much also as equitie shoulde require but seing as then she sawe no iust cause she saide that she woulde in no wise expulse the Duke of Guise from the King bicause those offices that were committed vnto him of necessitie required his presence aboute the king She sayde also that she well perceyued that these complaints of the king of Nâ—…uar were continual and that one thing being graunted she must dayly graunt more and more and that there shoulde neuer be any measure or end of these complaintes â–ª Notwithstanding for his sake and to yelde vnto his complaintes she said that she would giue coÌ„maundement that the keyes of the tower mighte be deliuered vnto him although they pertayned to the Duke of Guise bycause he was Lord great Master as maye appéere also by the example of the Constable who heretofore bare the same office To this the King of
thus Trâ—…aeus hauing no hope to preuaile by wars against these meÌ„ certified the Duke what a hard matter he had taken in hand Afterward the men of the valleys were called to parley with whom these couenantes were made namely That they shoulde vse their accustomed exerciâ—…es of Religion that they should by no maner of meanes be accused or called to account for this warre that they shoulde haue free libertie and intercourse to bie and sell through all parts of the Dukes dominion that they shuld render vnto the Duke all dutie and obedience belonging vnto him that they also should liâ—…e without offence There were diuers other particular matters which because they serue not for our purpose we omit While these things were thus handled Philip King of Spaine on the other side left nothing vndone to punishe vex with all maner of torments so many as imbraced the Gospel in any part of his dominioÌ„s but specially in Spaine Belgio the murdering inquisitioÌ„ in euery place most cruelly was executed the houses in the which the faithfull came together were burned they which were taken were spedilye put to death some being burned some drowned some tormentes with new kinds of death yea there was no respect of persoÌ„s had were he poore or rich gentlemaÌ„ or noble maÌ„ he was not frée froÌ„ these torments The king being greatly inflamed pricked forward herevnto by the Cardinall Granuellan who a little before was made Cardinall in Belgio at the creation of new bishops Neuerthelesse the faithful of the pâ—…rsecuted churches offer their confessioÌ„ to the king of Spaine and publish the same euery where abrode by publique writing open their cause to the magistrates shew how iniurious a thing it is to condemne a man before his cause be heard beséech that they might haue libertie to be heard that their confessioÌ„ might be read which would manifestly declare that they were vniustly condemned these troubles say they do arise of two sorts of men The first are such as are led by rashe vndiscrete zeale to defend their errors which haue long time continued in the Romish Church The second are such as are afeard to haue the Gospell preuaile bicause they know that the doctrine therof reproueth their wicked doings affections It is great arrogancie to condemne those that leane to the worde of God to prefer the inuentions of meÌ„ before the same Wherfore they desire that before they be coÌ„deÌ„ned they might be coÌ„uinced by the word of God that the disputatioÌ„ might not be with fire and sword for say they the word of God is the vndoubted certaine rule of truth But this was the sum of their confession We beleue in one true God which by his glorious names titles may be discerned froÌ„ false counterfeite Gods which may also be knowne by that most mighty worke of the whole world but specially by his word we also imâ—…race receiue the only word of God by faith not so much bicause the Church receiueth the same but bicause it is sealed in the hartes of the faithful by the holy ghost We beleue that one God in esseÌ„ce is distinguished into thrée persons which are the father the sonne the holy Ghost reseruing notwithstanding to euery persoÌ„ his special propertie We beleue that God which hath created the worlde doth gouerne preserue the same by his prouidence We beleue that he created man after his owne image liknesse that is to say holy good perfect that he fell by his owne faulte hath wrapped his prosteritie in y same giltinesse of sinne corruptioÌ„ that he him selfe was in We beleue that Iesus Christ both God and man in one person is a true mediator the onely meane way to saluation We beleue that he beyng promysed long before vnto the Fathers and represented and shadowed vnder the Ceremonyes and fygures of the lawe came in his time and fulfilled all things that pertayned to oure saluation and that withoute greate sacrilege and robbing him of his honor no other meane can be taken also that the faithful are partakers of these benefites which are the Church of God which is gouerned by the holy ghost and not tyed to places or perfons We beléeue that the pure and sincere preaching of Gods worde the pure Ministration of the sacraments and the discipline by the which the Churche is gouerned according to the rule of Gods worde are notes and markes of the visible Churche We beléeue that the Sacraments were ordained to confirme our faith and doe then profite when they are ioyned to the power of the holy Ghost We beléeue that there doe belong onely two sacraments to the Church namely Baptisme which is a seale of remission of sinnes and of our regeneration and therefore a testimonie of our entrance into the Churche And the Lords supper which signifieth that we are truely made partakers of the body of Christ and of all his graces and benefites that is to saye that oure soules are nourished to euerlasting life by his fleshe and bloude euen as our bodyes are nourished with breade and wine but we muste bring faith to receiue the truth of that Sacrament that is to say Christ therefore we beléeue that the Lords Supper doth only profite the faithfull bringeth to the vnworthie that is to the vnbeléeuing condemnation We beléeue that God to defende and preserue the societie of men hath ordayned lawes and pollitique gouernement which al men ought to obey that tributes custome and other taxes ought to be payed to Magistrates who ought to be reuerenced and for whome we ought to pray vnto God. We beleeue also that Christ shall come againe with al power maiestie and glory in the latter day to iudge the quicke and the dead Thus much concerning their persecution But now to returne to our selues againe When the Duke of Guise had bene at no small variance with the Prince of Conde he purposed with himselfe partlye by his owne mind in hope of profite partly by the Counsel of his friends to come into his fauour and friendship again the Quéene and the Constable exhorting him ther vnto and helping him to haue hys purpose Therefore the King when he had called the Prime Councell together and all the Princes beyng present he called both of them before hym and when the matter was opened he commaunded the Duke of Guise to declare the whole matter to the Prince of Conde The which the Duke of Guise did protesting that he neuer caused nor counselled the King which was departed to apprehend the Prince of Conde To which the Prince of Conde answered that he did counte him a wicked and naughtie person which wente aboute to worke him that mischiefe what so euer he was The Duke of Guise sayde that hée thoughte him in lyke manner to be no lesse but he coulde not helpe it At the length by the Kings
summe besides towardes the maintayning of garrisons of souldiers the fortifying of Cities and other such lyke vses to the great profit and commoditie of the people They made Supplication in like maner that the Edict of Iuly of the which we made mention before and in the which the faithfull were forbydden to assemble themselues together might be taken awaye that also there might be vsed peaceable and quyet meanes in matters of Religion and yet notwithstanding that no Heretikes Libertines Anabaptistes Atheistes and suche lyke seditious persons might be borne withal And that there might be called out of hand a Nationall Councell to reforme the errors of Ecclesiasticall persons Furthermore they requested that the King with his kinsmen the Princes woulde be at the counsell that all men might haue frée libertie vnder the kings warrant to come to that conuocation that they might haue Churches for the administration of their doctrine and Sacramentes graunted vnto them which affirme that they cannot with safe conscience come to the Ceremonies of the Romishe Churche that they mighte openly and plainely professe and maintayne their Religion and put awaye all occasions of slaunder and reproche Last of all they required that all iurisdiction mighte be taken away from Ecclesiasticall persons and restored to the King to whome the same truely appertayned that Ecclesiasticall persons myghte haue no place in the Ciuill assemblyes of Parliamentes and also that Ciuill or temporall persons mighte not haue benefices or spirituall promotions These things were spoken by the orators and speaker for the States according to their commission Moreouer at the length motion was made vnto them â—…o helpe to confirme the couenant made betwéene the Quéene and the king of Nauarre concerning the gouernement of the kingdome To the which they answered that it seemed vnto them verye vnmeete and strange that a woman should rule the Realme of Fraunce which was plaine againste the lawe therof called the lawe Salic After long contention by the earnest persuasion of the king of Nauarre who sought to haue the Queenes fauour and sayd that he did willingly giue place vnto hir the speakers answered that if the king of Nauarre woulde departe from his right and that the king and Quéene could so agrée they would not be against it nor hinder it But it was sayde that those speakers dyd not well in that they swarued from their Commissions and therefore that theyr assente to be voyde and of none effecte neither was the facillitie and myldnesse of the King of Nauarre well lyked of Nowe the Pope feared as we sayde before that Nationall Councell which the king had promysed least it woulde be greatly hurtfull vnto him therfore so muche as he could he made haste to haue a generall Councell And for thys cause he sente the Cardinall of Ferrer to the king Thys Romishe Cardinall called hym selfe the Protector of the Churches of Fraunce for the which names sake manye presents and giftes were giuen to him in Fraunce At the nexte comming together of the States it was concluded that the Pope should neuer afterward haue authoritie to giue anye benefice or spirituall promotion in Fraunce Therefore the Cardinall when he was come woulde haue vsed his accustomed power and authoritie but beyng let by the newe decree of the States or Parliament he rayled vp great controuersies Then the Chauncelor 〈◊〉 affirmed that it was a thing not to be suffered that so newe a decrée of Parliament shoulde be infringed and broken Notwithstanding the matter came to that pasâ—…e by the daylye complayntes of the Cardinall that the king gaue straighte commaundement to the ChauÌ„celor to seale his letters The Chauncelor sayde that it was against lawe and equitie so to doe howbeit he sealed his letters with the kings seale and subscribed these wordes with his owne hande without my consente and will. Then these letters according to custome were sent to the Senate of Paris that they also myght confirme them But when the Senate had read these wordes of the Chauncelor they made this answere They cannot neither oughte they to be receyued Which wordes they alwayes vse when they meane to note any vnlawful or vniust matter Therfore Cardinall Ferrar was without hope of his letters and was very sore agréeued to sée the Popes authoritie so sore diminished and shaken in Fraunce besyde this ballets and rymes were made â—…f hym and hauing his Crosier goyng before hym as the manner is he was deryded of boyes and chyldren that followed him also pretie Libels were set forthe agaynst hym and the image of Pope Alexander his grandfather finely paynted with a liuely description of his wickednesse oute of the wordes of the Poet Pontanus was helde forthe in euerye mannes hande againste him The Cardinall taking this in very euill parte departed out of FrauÌ„ce loking for better occasions to haue his purpose the which in deede he gat afterward But shortlye after thys the Popes authoritie was cut off more and more in Fraunce and all the people almoste euerye where sayde that nowe the authoritie of men must not be wayed but the substantialnesse of reason and truth that the great errors whych long ago were growne were nowe spredde abroade that the Couetousnesse and Luxurie of the Churche men was insatiable that they were more outragious and cruell agaynste those whiche followed the contrarye opinion in Religion All estates and degrées had these and the like communications oftentunes in their mouthes yea and they which as yet were on the Popes side came not so often to their owne Churches as they had wonte but came often to the sermons of the refourmed Churche kepte companye with the faythfull and had often conference with them concerning Religion and sayde that for this cause there ought to aryse no trouble nor breache of friendship or brotherly loue They which more obstinately leaned still to their olde opinions kepte theÌ„selues so cloose within their dores that they scarce durst to come in anye companye Many were dayly alured to the companye of the faythfull in so muche that the alteration of Religion séemed nowe withoute all doubte to be at hande The greatest parte of the Nobilitie also embraced the doctryne of the Gospell And the Queene séemed to prefer Religion verye muche and openly to fauour those of the refourmed Religion whether to please the king of Nauarre or to serue the tyme I knowe not and wrote verie earnestly to Pope Pius the fourth desiring him that he would prouide remedies to stay those troubles And when the time of the parley appointed was rome she wrote very large letters to him the fourth of August to this effect as followeth If sayth she the state of the Kingdome of Fraunce maye be expressely described to the holye Father for so she was wonte to call hym in what and howe manye straites and perills the same was by reason of the diuers opinions of Religion he would prouide with al spéede for it and would helpe to staye these
dispute on both parts of the principall poyntes of Religion nowe in controuersie â—…bertie was graunted vnto all 〈◊〉 of the reformed Church freely to come to heare 〈◊〉 samâ—… and that vnder safe conduct by the kings 〈◊〉 Certain men were chosen to be of that Councel â–ª 〈◊〉 of the râ—…rmed Churches â–ª being 〈◊〉 conducted at the kingâ—… coÌ„manâ—…ment by his gard from Paris to the towne called Sangeiman â–ª Among whome the principall were these namely Peter 〈◊〉 â—…rofessor of diuinitie in the Tygurâ—… Churche and The â—…tore 〈◊〉 â—…ho were chiefe in this disputation 〈◊〉 of Gods word â—…t Geneua whâ—… were procured to 〈◊〉 thither by the kyng of Nauarre and by the reformed Churches â–ª There were also â—…icolaus Gelaâ—…us Augustinus Marloraâ—…us Iohannes 〈◊〉 â–ª Franciâ—…cus Morellus and Iohannes â–ª Malo wyth whomâ—… also came 〈◊〉 a lesrâ—… man whiche a little before abjuring and forsaking the Popes religion imbraced the doctrine of the Gospell They therfore to begin the matter offer to the king a supplication in the which they desire that this disputation might be begon forthwith by his authoritie and that these might be the conditions to be obserued in the same Firste that those prelates which were of the contrarie opinion might not be set as chiefe Iudges in this disputation but that the king with his Counsellours shoulde by his authoritie moderate and rule the whole matter Secondly that all controuersies should be referred and ended by the word of God only Thirdly that what soeuer should be determined and concluded in that disputation shuld be registred in the kinges publike commentaries by his notaries To the whiche the kyng made answer that he woulde consult of this matter with his councel that if it might be al the matter might by some meanes with the consent of the Prelates quietly be ended But the Prelates complayned and sayd that this libertie of disputing oughte not to be graunted vnto them which were long agoe condemned Whervpon they deferred the matter for certayn dayes béeing busied in the mean time to â—…ynde out the scruples and doubtes of these questions namely concerning the dignitie of Cathedrall Churches Concerning Regulars and their exemptions Concerning Cures and their ordinarie presentation Concerning the excéeding number of inferiour Priestes Concerning the reformation of Monasteries Concerning pluralities of Benefices and such like seeking to helpe the disordered Churche in due time with these inquisitions But this one thyng they specially pretended that they should haue great iniurie if authoritie to iudge were taken from them But nowe it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to make mention of certayne communication had betwéen the Cardinall of Lorayne and Theodore Beza before the solemne diâ—…putation began Certayne communication betweene the Cardinall of Lorrain and Theodore Beza Minister of Geneua BEza came into the bedchamber of the king of Nauarre being so commaunded by him to the intente he might salute the Quéene And at that tyme there was also the Cardinall of Lorrain Then the Quéen began to talke with Beza concerning his bookes Upon which occasion the Cardinall then sayd to Beza as foloweth Card. Lorrain I haue séene a booke the author wherof you are sayd to bée in the whiche are contayned these wordes Chryst is to be sought in the Supper after the same manner that he was before he toke vpon him our flesh I haue heard also that you haue written another moste absurde saying which is that Christe must be sought for in the Supper as in the myre and dirte At the whiche saying the standers by greatly maruelling Beza answered Beza If the bookes were here I could the better tel whither they were myne or no but concerning the first saying it may séeme very absurde as you repeate it but the place being diligently wayed it shall be founde to be moste true As for the seconde it is blasphemous and wicked neyther shall it bée founde written in myne or in anye of oure bookes Card. Lorrain No doubte I maruell that any man dare affirme that we haue no more than the auncient Fathers had iâ—… the tyme of the lawe and how could they speake of the flesh of Chryste which as yet was not Beza Do ye thinke that there was alwayes a Churche from the first creation of the worlde Do ye thinke that the Church which was from the beginning of the world was called a Churche by him whiche was a Mediator betweene God â—… men And do ye thinke that Iesus Christe was that Mediatâ—…ure Card Lor. It is my opinion Beza Therefore the communion of the faithfull wyth Christ oughte not to be restrained to that tyme when he ioyned his diuinitie in verie déede to our nature â–ª for y which was not as yet by the order of nature was notwithstanding alwayes by the force and efficacie of faithe Is it not sayd that Abraham sawe the day of Christ and reioyced And Paule sayth That the fathers did eate the same spirituall meate and did all drink of the same spiritual drink whereof we haue droonke namely Christe Card. Lor. It is verie true For he is the Lambe that was stain from the beginning of the worlde After this when Beza had brought in manye places concerning the difference betwene the olde and newe Testament there began a newe disputation concerning the presence of the bodie and bloud of Christ in the Supper Card. Lor. We do disagree in the explication of these words This is my bodie Beza We disagrée in very déed for which we ar very sory Car Lo. I teach the children of my dioces wheÌ„ they are demauÌ„ded what the bread in the Supper is to answer that it is the bodie of Christ do ye disalowe this Beza No truly for they are the very wordes of Chrisâ—…e But I demaund how the bread is called the body of Chrisâ—… For all that is is not after one fashion or manner But the Cardinall vrged these wordes The rocke was Christe whiche wordes Beza had cited before agaynst the which he set these wordes of S. Iohn The worde became flâ—…she To the which Beza answered Beza There is great difference betwéen that substantial communion and the Sacramentall communion And this question sayth he doth consâ—…st of foure principall 〈◊〉 The first is of â—…gnes the second of the thing signified the third of the coniunction of signes the thing signified the fourth is of the participation of signes and of the thing by them signiâ—…ied Concerning the first we differ in this that you apoint in the Supper only accidâ—…nts for signes but we for signes put the substaÌ„ce of breaâ—… and wine as the nature of Sacraments doth require and the Scripture vniuersallye teache Heere the Cardinall interrupting Beza in his talke sayde Card. Lor. I thinke truly that I am able to proue desend Transubstantiation but I thinke that the same was not greatly néedefull to be founde oute by the diuines neyther doe I thinke that there oughte to be in the
Thus far Beza procéeded in his oration who with his fellowes fell on their knées and standing vp straight way againe offred vnto the king the confession of the Churches of Fraunce and then he spake thus vnto him We beséeche your Maiestie not to regarde oure rude and barbarous speache but our well wishing mindes wholy consecrated to obedience But bicause the principall pointes of oure doctrine are more plainly and copiously contained in this confession of our faith we beséech your Maiestie to receiue the the same and we trust by the leaue of God it will come to passe that when we haue conferred together with all sobrietie and reuerence we shall come to some agréement But if our iniquities be the cause that we may not obtaine so greate a blessing we doubte not but your Maiestye will consyder of all thinges and prouide for them accordingly without preiudice of any partie And here wée thinke it not good to let one thing passe namely that when Beza intreated of the Lords supper and spake these wordes As touching the distance of places the bodie of Christ is so far from the bread and wine as the heauen is higher than the earth the Prelates were so moued that by and by they began to make disturbance and to murmur but this being somewhat quieted Beza made an ende of his oration After whom the Cardinall of Turnon hauing great indignation and shaking and trembling for very anger began in the name of the Popishe Prelacie of which he was chiefe to declare vnto the king that the Cardinall Bishoppes and the reste of their fellowship by reason of the kings commaundemente gaue their consente that the newe Euangelistes for so he termed the menne of the refourmed Churches shoulde be hearde what they coulde saye but notwithstanding not withoute some offence of their consciences bycause they perceyued that they myghte speake manye things not méete for a Christian Prince to heare which might also and that not withoute cause offende the mindes of many good men â–ª Therfore he sayd that the Prelates suspecting that it woulde so come to passe had giuen hym commaundement to intreate the King that if any suche matters fell oute he woulde not in any wyse beléeue their wordes And that therefore he would reiect both the wordes and sentence of that fellowe that had spoken in the name of those of the new Religion staying and suspending his iudgement vntill the Prelates hadde otherwyse opened the matter the which if it might please him he trusted that both the king and the whole assembly shoulde vnderstand see â–ª what diffenreÌ„ce there was between the truth and a lye He required also that he might haue a daye giuen him to answere Adding that had it not beene for the regarde they hadde vnto the King and to his commaundementes they would not at the hearing of those horrible and abheminable wordes which that other fellowe vttered haue suffered him to haue procéeded any further At the length he beseeched the King that he would follow the faith and footesteps of his auncestors the whiche he prayed all the Saintes in heauen and the Uirgin Mary to graunt To this the Quéene answered that nothing was doone in this matter without due aduice and counsell by the deliberation of the Princes and the priuie Councell and by the iudgement and consent of the Senate of Paris The whiche she sayd was not done to alter any thing in Religion but to quiet the troubles that were rysen through the diueâ—…sitie of opinions in Religion and by these means to bring those that were gone astraye into the way againe Which sayth she you and your fellowes ought to séeke specially at this time by vsing good and strong argumentes Thus the mynds of the Popishe Prelates being galled and very much grieued at the first méeting with the words of Theodore Bâ—…za the daye following he writ vnto the Quéene saying bycause he feared that she was not fully satisfied by reason of certen words wherat the Prelats were offended therfore he earnestly desired of hir that he might haue libertie more plainly largely to discourse that matter which then he could not copiously declare The occasion therfore saith he of those words by me vttered was the opinion of certaine men which not wel vnderstanding our mindes thought that we went about to exclude Christ froÌ„ the Supper the which to doe were manifestly wicked seing we haue the contrary to be found in the word of God namely that that precious Sacrament was therefore ordayned by the sonne of God that he might make vs more and more partakers of the substance of his verye body and bloude whereby we might more straightly be vnited vnto him and mighte growe to euerlasting life And vnlesse it should be so it were not the Supper of Iesu Christ. And therefore it is so far from vs that we should say that Christ is absent from the Supper that none of all others more resiste that blasphemie than we But we saye that there is great difference betwéene these to say that Iesus Christ is in the Supper in that he gyueth truely vnto vs his bodye and bloude and to say and affirme that his bodye bloude is ioyned to the bread That first I haue affirmed bicause it is the principall chiefe the seconde I haue denyed bicause I thinke it to be repugnant to the truth of Christ his nature and to the article of the ascention as it is in Scripture and as the ancient fathers expounde the same This sentence and opinion gyueth more dignitie and authoritie to the worde of God thaÌ„ that which teacheth that Christe is really and corporally ioyned to signes This therefore is the declaration meaning of that which we spake which I desyre may satisfie you being ready to be taught if better be shewed To this also he added certaine testimonies of the Fathers As of S. Augustine writing vpon the. 5. Chapter of S. Iohn where he saith VVhen our Sauiour Christ saide ye shall not haue me alwayes with you he spake of the presence of his bodie For according to his Maiestie prouidence and inuisible grace that which he promised in another place is fulfilled I will be with you to the ende of the world But according to his humane nature which he toke according to that that he was borne of the virgin Mary that he was crucifyed buried and rose againe it is said Me ye shall not haue alwayes VVherfore Bicause according to his body he was conuersant with his disciples fortie dayes and as they wentâ—… wyth him ascended from them into heauen neither is heere any more Also the same Saint Augustine saith writing to Dardanus As he is God he is euery where As he is man he is in heauen And Vigilius whiche wrote againste Eâ—…yches in the yeare of our Lorde God. 500. sayth The sonne of God in respecte of his humanitie is departed from vs but in respect of his diuinitie he saith I am with
you to the end of the world He is with vs and he is not with vs for he hath not forsaken those in respecte of his diuinitie whome he hath forsaken and from whom he is departed in respecte of his humanitie Moreouer he sayth VVhen his fleshe was in earthe it was not truely in heauen but nowe bicause it is in heauen it is not no doubte in earth Againe he sayth The onely sonne of God which was also man is contayned in one place according to the nature of his fleshe And is not contained in any place according to the nature of his Diuinitie Nowe in the meane time while these things were thus a working the Prelates came together and certaine of the Pâ—…pisticall doctours of the Canon lawe beyng made acquainted wyth the matter did deliberate and consults together what answere they were beste to gyue to the refourmed Churches Here it is reported that the Cardinall of Lorayne sayde I would to God that eyther he were dumbe or else wee deafe and coulde not heare The matter beyng diuersely reasoned and considered of on bothe sides at the laste it was concluded that answere shoulde be made to tâ—…o speciall pointes of the oration the firste poynt concerning the Churche and the seconde poynt concernyng the Lordes Supper They did also deliberate whether it were not good to haue a confession made which shoulde be offered to the protestants but if their chosen men which were appointed to dispute for them had denied to imbrate the same that then they should haue the sentence of condemnation proncuÌ„ced against them as heretikes so the disputation shâ—…ld ende But this their deuise was not fully concluded vpoÌ„ for that many of them woulde not agrée vnto the same And when the ministers of the reformed Churches heard of this deuise they complained to the king Queene that the matter was not indifferently handled beseching them that the fruit and profite of the conference might not be hindred by these plat formes and subtill deuises Therfore the conference began againe the sixtene day of September the king Quéene the king of Nauar and the Princes the kings kinsmeÌ„ being preseÌ„t And here the Cardinall of Loraine first of all spake very largely in the behalfe of the Prelates concerning the obedience of his fellowes towards the king the which they acknowledged to owe vnto him by the commaundement of God confessed that they wold gladly giue the same vnto him Notwithstanding that the king ought to haue great care to defend the Church not as heade but as a member of the same and that in those things which appertaine to doctrine he ought to be subiecte to the Church and to the ministers thereof as the expresse testimonies of scripture and the examples of the ancient fathers doe declare Therefore saith he we doe make this the grounde of all our reasons that all obedience ought to be giuen to the king But comming more neere to his matter he declareth that the assembly whose cause he had in hand did consist of Archbishops of Bishops ordinarily made of Priests of Canons of a great nuÌ„ber of others Whose legâ—…te saith he I am this is the sum of my imbassage Wher as many to my great griefe were fallen from the Church not long a go professing the contrary Religion neither submitting theÌ„selues to their owne constitutioÌ„s being within these few dayes called thither by the kings coÌ„maundemeÌ„t had declared some good will to profite if they would come againe into their cuntrey and into the ancient house of the Fathers they shall be receiued and haue nothing that is past cast in their téeth if so be that they wil shew themselues penitent and will become obedient children to the Churche Therefore I will frame my selfe according to their infirmities being glad that they professe with vs the articles of our faith and I hartely wishe that as in words so in iudgement we maye agrée together Therefore I will answere them in the spirite of loue and modestie But I will handle onely two articles bicause it will be to tedious to intreate of euery one of them particularly And the two articles whereof I will speake are concerning the Churche and concerning the Lordes Supper Wherfore concerning the firste it is not true I hat the Church doth consist only of the Elect bicause in the Lords barne the chaffe is mingled with the wheate and yet notwithstanding the Church cannot erre But if some part of the Church shoulde erre the whole body ought to be preferred before one corrupte member if any euill should créepe in then we muste haue recourse to antiquitie and muste haue respecte to the chiefe and principall Churches among which the Church of Rome hath had alwayes the principall place If any thing were founde to be amisse in some perticular place of the Church we must set against the Ignoraunce of a small number of men the decrées of the auncient and of the generall Counsels But if this thing maye not suffice we muste diligently séeke for the iudgements of the approued fathers of the Catholique Churche notwithstanding we must specially giue place to the testimonies of Scripture being expounded by the true voyce and interpretation of the Church least heretikes shoulde bragge and saye that they alone haue the worde of god For the Catholique Churche must giue authoritie to the word of god The which order bicause the Arrians kept not they fell into great mischiefes into which destruction they also are like to fal which seyng not the beame in their owne eyes are very busie to plucke out the moate in other mens eyes As touching the seconde pointe which concerneth the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper I must néedes confesse that I and the whole Clergie are greatly gréeued to sée that the blessed Sacrament of the Euchariste which the Lorde left vnto vs to be a bonde and pledge of peace and vnitie should by curiositie of searching out of déepe matters be after a sort an occasion not onely of infinite controuersies but also of forsaking the truth which maye scarcely be kepte among these controuersies For in the Eucharste we ought to consider foure things The firste is the vnion and concorde which ought to be among the faithfull according to that which the Apostle saith that VVe are one body and partakers of one cup. The second is the vnion with Christ Iesus as it is sayd He which eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloude abideth in me and I in him The thirde is remission of sinnes which is purchased by the effusion of Christe his bloude The fourth is the hope of euerlasting life according to that which is writteÌ„ He which eateth this btead shall liue for euer But the contrary doth happen in this disputation namely distractions and diuisions in the Church the separation from God the losse of remission of sinnes of the hope of euerlasting life Diuers and sundrye are the
controuersies of oure aduersaries concerning this matter of the which there are eight in number It is better to abide in the approued opinion and iudgemente of the Catholike Church which is that the very body of God of our Lord Iesus Christ his very bloude also is present and receiued in this Sacrament according as it is sayd This is my bodie The which wordes excepte they be in déede of as great force as they sounde and séeme to be why are they so diligently repeated in like wordes of all the Euangelistes and of the Apostle Paule also Why did not the other three Euangelistes the Apostle Paule which wrote after Mathew writ after that maner that our Sacramentaries would write specially seyng in a matter of lesse waight they doe one of them expounde another and that which one of them setteth forth obscurely another plainely declareth This is the mynde of the Testator which by no maner of meanes ought to be disalowed or violated This is also the iudgement and doctrine of all the ancient writers that not onely the breade is giuen by the Priest but also the very body of Christ really Therefore I imbrace this stable hole some opinion and I doe abhorre with all my hearte the curious opinions and sayings of these newe men which seme so to represent Christe as if they shoulde bring him forthe in a Tragedie or Comedie As thoughe it were not better to retaine and kepe the simple wordes of our Lorde and saâ—…iour than the false imaginations of men seyng that this is most firme and certaine that we are not onely ioyned to Christe by faithe but also by the force and efficacie of the Euchariste beyng rightlye worthily and really receyued yea and to speake more playnelye Substantially Naturally and Corporally And here he alledged many things out of the ancient fathers and plainely reprehended Beza bicause he vsed the words of Austen in his epistle to Dardanus in this matter of the Sacramentes seyng in that epistle he intreated nothing at all of the Sacramentes also bicause he had condemned the opinion of certaine Germaines concerning Consubstantiation contrarye to his owne opinion And then he concluded his oration with these wordes I come yelde sayth he to your opinion of the Sacramente excepte ye thinke that Iesus Christe as touching his fleshe is in this world from the time of his ascention and that more nowe than he was before he toke vpon him our fleshe excepte ye thinke that Christ hath some other bodye than that whiche is visible excepte ye thinke that he is otherwise in the Sacrament than in the preaching of the worde if ye thinke it to be all one to put on Christ in Baptisme and to eate his body and bloude and to be shorte if ye thinkâ—… that he is so in heauen that he is not in earth also and that he is no otherwise in the Supper than he is in the Myer we which are taughte that the Supper is not in heauen but celebrated in earth and which are not so curious that we woulde by ingenius and wise speculations bryng and separate Christe from the Supper â–ª to answere you fullye affirme that we are so far from your opinion as the heauen is hyer from the lowest parte of the earth Let them therefore sée and consider which iudge and examine oure Religion not by Philosophie but by Diuinitie which of vs two doe attribute more to the power of God and to Iesus christ And so praying to God to roote out these daungerous and deadly opinions and not to suffer these controuersies to be in his Churche he exhorted the king and the Quéene that they woulde take vpon them the patrocinie and defence of thys matter and protested in the name of the Prelates of the French Churche that he would liue and die in the defence of this doctrine which he had set forth After this all the Prelates which were present rose vp and came néere vnto the king and in their name the Cardinal of Turnon protested that this was the confessioÌ„ of their faith which they woulde seale with their owne bloude being the vndoubted truth of the holy mother the Church The which the king oughte to imbrace and followe according to the manner and example of his elders But if they whiche had separated themselues from the Churche of Rome would subscribe to that confession then they shoulde be receyued and be heard more fully in other articles in the which they sayde they woulde be satisfyed otherwyse they oughte not to be hearde at all And it is the Kinges parte to banishe them oute of his Realme the which he must earnestly desired him to doe Then Beza vehementlye desired of the King by and by leaue to make answere oute of hande to the oration of the Cardinall of Loraine For the ministers feared that they shoulde haue no more leaue to come together againe fame reporting euery where that the prelates had determined from that day forward to deale with them no more but by excommunications Notwithstanding thoughe the Ministers that day could obtaine no leaue to answere yet obtained they another day the which neuerthelesse by reason of diuers rumors was deferred vntill the day following Bicause of these detractions of times the ministers fearing that the disputation shoulde be ended they determined to offer vnto the King a supplication praying him that for so much as at his commaundement they were come thether from so far countreys quietly to confer with the Prelates for the rooting out of errors which so manye yeares had oppressed the Church they mighte haue leaue to confer together and to declare their cause that he him selfe woulde take vpon him the defence of Religion whiche they sayde was the meane and way to raygne and rule himself and to preserue his kingdome in peace and tranquillitie When they had offered this Supplication oftentymes to the King at the last they obtayned leaue to haue the conference continued not in publique but in priuate place Therefore at the length the assembly was renewed agayne which a long time was broken off a small number of men the King and Quéene the king of Nauarre the Prelates and twelue chosen Ministers and a few others being only present Then the Cardinall of Loraine began to shew that this assembly was gathered togyther that the Ministers might be heard what answere they would make to those things which he had lately expounded Beza therfore in the name of his fellowes began thus saying When we haue called vpon the name of God that he woulde aide and assist vs in a matter of so great waight and would bring to passe that this assemblie might be gathered together to the glory of his name to your dignitie and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of the king and Quéene of the whole Christian common wealth and kingdome we will briefelye answere to that which was lately propounded by the Lorde Cardinall of Loraine concerning
the two principall poyntes of our confeâ—…ion namely concerning the Church and the Supper of the Lorde But if we mighte haue had leaue to answere at the first out of hand when those things that were spoken were yet freshe in memory we mighte haue bene able more aptly and distinctly to haue made answere But notwithstanding we will speake as God shall make vs able that it may be vnderstande in what things we agrée and in what also we doe disagree of the which I woulde to God there mighte be made a perfecte vnitie and concorde Therefore concerning the first principall poynt which is of the Church we will declare thrée things First what the Church is Secondly what are the markes of the Churche and thirdlye what is the authoritie of the same There is no doubte but that this name Church was dâ—…riued of the Gréeke worde which signifieth to call from one place to another But in the Scripture there are found two kindes of callings The one conioyned with the efficacie of the holy Ghost of which there is mention made in the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romaines in these words Those whome God hathe iustified he hathe called The other although it be allone with the first as touching the externall matter yet notwithstaÌ„ding it is of no efficacie as touching saluation not that God is to be blamed therefore but thorough mens default which will not heare the word of god Of this thing the Lorde speaketh when he saythe Manye are called but fewe are chosen Herevpon it commeth that the name of the Churche which is a congregation of men gathered together by the voyce of God which calleth them is taken two maner of wayes For if it be taken generally for all those which doe externally professe that they doe answere to Gods calling then there is no doubt but so many reprobates and â—…ipocrites are comprehended And thus truly haue we alwayes both writteÌ„ and taught with one consent seyng that matter is very common in the Scriptures But if this worde or name Churche be taken more properlye and strictlye as oftentimes it is then we saye that it onely comprehendeth those that are predestinate and chosen of god And to the ende men maye perceiue that wee haue not deuised nor inuented this phrase of speache and much lesse this doctrine when it is sayde That the Church is the bodye of the Lorde bones of his bones and fleshe of his fleshe how can the reprobates be comprehended in this number seing they are the members of the Deuill For these two things cannot agrée together To be a member of Christ and a member of the Deuill also the which S. Augustine well vnderstoode This same distinction of the Churche that Author also vsed writing vpon the sixtie foure Psalme when he sayth The Churche fignified by Hieruâ—…alem began at Abel and Babilon at Caine. And yet notwithstaÌ„ding in this first booke of Baptisme against the Donatistes the sixtene chapter taking the name of Churche more generally he saythe He which begat Abel Enoch Noah Abraham the Prophets begat also Cayne Ismael Dathan and such others In fine therfore let vs take that which the same Saint Augustine hath written in the forenamed booke where it is sayde that there are two sortes of men as touching the Churche For sayth he some are the members of Christe and of the true Churche and so of Gods house that they are euen the house of god But other some are in the house of God but are not the house of god For they are as the chaffe with the wheate But hereof there séemeth to aryse a question whether the Churche be inuisible the which séemeth of necessitie to be concluded for so muche as God onely knoweth his electe seing also we confesse that we beléeue the holy Church And that which is beléeued is not séene But hereby maye come great inconuenience if we haue not a more depe consideration of this matter For if the matter be so into what assemblie can we come Where shall then be the waye of our saluation except the Churche be knowne that we may cleaue vnto Christe Iesus seyng that he doth declare his vertue and sauing health in one Churche Therefore wée saye that althoughe the Churche in consideration of those things whereof we spake euen nowe can not be séene of men yet notwithstanding we haue certain notes to know to what Churche we oughte to ioyne oure selues namely the pure worde of God and the sincere administration of Sacramentes The which notes are so plaine and manyâ—…est that wheresoeuer they shall be wée oughte to be oute of all doubte that there is the Churche of God in so muche that by the rule of Charitie we oughte to account all those for the faythfull Children of God which professe the pure Religion excepte God shall reueaâ—…e their hipocrisie And of this matter Saint Paule hathe giuen vnto vs a playne example when he calleth the Corinthians and Galathians Saints attributing also vnto them the name of the Church althoughe there were greate errors among them both in corruptions of doctrine and also of manners The which also he hath shewed in another place when he sayth If anye man build on this foundation Golde Siluer Precious stones Tymber Hay or Stubble c. Thus therefore we speake of the Churche not transformyng the same into fantasticall imaginations neyther yet as it séemeth vnto vs doe wée giue occasion to aâ—…ye man to counte vs in the number of suche as are fantasticall as the Catharistes the Donatistes and those furious Anabaptistes also that were in our time with whome diuers of our brethren oftentimes haue contended Nowe therefore I come to those notes and badges of the Churche the which we must diligently beholde seing out of the same there is no saluation neither anye manner of thing which Sathan our auncient ennme hath not gone about at all times to counterfaite and falsifie I sayde that there were two certaine and vndoubted markes namely the preaching of the word and the sincere administration of Sacramentes There are some also which adde Ecclesiasticall discipline and the fruite of the preaching of Gods worde But bicause our iniquities will not suffer these two notes to appeare therefore let vs contentour selues with those two first That the word of God is a true badge and marke of the Church it may hereby appeare that the word is compared vnto seede Therefore Paule sayth that he had begotten the Corinthians in the Lorde that is to saye by the preaching of the worde And therefore in manye places it is called meate and foode according to the saying of the Lorde My sheepe heare my voyce but they knowe not the voyce of a straunger Also the sacraments are a true note of the Church bicause the Lord would instruct vs not onely by the eares but also by the eyes and other corporall senses in so much that he would haue
the Sacramentes to be manifest testimonies and certaine and visible notes of the vnion of the faithfull first with him and secondly betwéene themselues Therefore it was sayde in the time of the olde Testament Let the man that is vncircumcised be thruste oute from among the people and therefore the maister of euery house was wont thrice euery yeare to present themselues in Hierusalem that they mighte testifie the vnitie of faith and Religion by those sacrifices Afterward the vayle being taken away and the cloase shut gate being broken open the Iewes and the Gentils grewe into one bodye not onelye by the preaching of the worde but also by Baptisme and by the holy Sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christe And according to this Christ sayd to his Apostles Go and preache to euery creature baptizing in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Whereby both the word and Sacraments are noted For that is to be ioyned with baptisme which Paule speaketh of the Supper saying that He gaue that which he receiued of the Lorde And this is also the verye same whiche is saide in another place That the Church is founded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles that is to say vpon Christ Iesus which is the heade corner stone that is to say the matter and substance of the propheticall and Apostolical doctrine And thus the other place of the same Apostle oughte to bée vnderstoode that the Churche is the strength and piller of truth that is to say the word of God and the same truth of God as S. Ihon sayth doth sustayne and holde vp the Church as also Chrisostome interpreteth it These are the true and visible notes of the Churche the which Church bicause it bringeth forthe the faithfull and nourisheth them with the heauenly incorruptible meate is called their mother and Nource But and if the worde be preached and the Sacramentes ministred it must néedes followe that there be pastors and teachers to whom those offices may be committed as the scriptures in diuers places testifieth and the Apostle Paule also Herevpon it commeth to passe that many adde a thirde note namely ordinarie succession from the time of the Apostles To the which we answere that suche succession ought to be greatly estéemed so long as it is rightly considered and applyed euen as the Fathers often times vsed the same against heretikes as it is to be séene in Tertulliā Irenaeus and in Augustine against the Maniches and Donatistes But bycause they set that buckser againste vs as bringers in of newe things it is necessarie that we declare what we thinke of this thing We say that there is one succession of doctrine and another of persons The succession of doctrine we acknowledge for the true and vndoubted marke of the Churche according to those things whereof we haue spoken before For althoughe the doctrine of the Gospell is neuer a whit the more worthy to be beleued for antiquitie although it commeth to passe by the iudgement of God for oure iniquities that the same is counted sometimes so newe vnto men when it shoulde be familiar and knowne yet notwithstanding the auncient continuall succession doth greatly preuaile with men euen to the farther confirming of the authoritie of the same As touching the succession of persons we acknowledge the same but vpon that conditiō that it be ioyned with the succession of the Prophetes Apostles specially in the substantiall and principall points of faith not otherwise But waye and consider that I speake of doctrine not of manners For although the integritie of doctrine of life be here vnto required that a man shoulde be counted for a good and true pastor yet notwithstanding we do not reiecte a pastor for ignorance or the diuersitie of opinions in smal matters of doctrine and for maners if so be that he kepe the foundation Thus are we taught of Christ who sayth So far forth as the Scribes and Pharisies sit vpon Moises chaire doe that which they teach and not as they do The which place S. Augustine writing vpon Ihon saith ought to be vnderstande of hirelings which neuerthelesse retaine sound doctrine not of false pastors of whō Christ speaketh saying Beware of the leuen of the Phariseis Bycause sayth S. Augustine they sit vpon Moises chaire they teache the lawe of God so God speaketh by them but if they will teach their owne doctrines ye shall neither heare nor do that which they teach Therfore to come to the matter bycause false prophetes may succéede true prophets wolues the true shepheards this truely is a sounde and manifest reason wherefore we thinke that personall succession ought not onely not to be receiued but also vtterly to be cōdemned bicause it giueth place to that which is false craftely coloureth the same least the succession of doctrine should be laid for the foundation Furthermore if personall succession should simply be taken for a true note of the Churche we muste bring forth and shew a certaine sure promise of God by which he hath bounde his grace to certaine definite places and Regions the which we thinke can in no wyse be shewed oute of the newe Testament seyng this is rather manifestly declared that there is a certain catholique or vniuersal Church bycause the particular members thereof are dispersed thoroughout the whole world euen as it pleaseth God to shew forth his iudgements vpon those whō he hath vtterly caste off or whō he chastiseth for a time and to shewe his mercy and blessings vpon those whom he preserueth or whom he newly bringeth to the knowledge of him For God shewing his vengeaunce in certaine places séemeth to abolishe atl things in so muche that there is no manner of signe of the Church left as it is come to passe in all Africa Greece in the whole East part of the world But sometime that personal succession doth decay only for a little while as it happened at Antioch in the time of Samosatene at Alexandri in the exile of Athanasius in many other Churches also so long as there were heresies among them And to be short personall succession ceassed in the time of Honorious who was condemned in the yeare of oure Lorde god D. LXXXI for the execrable doctrine of Eutiches and in the time of Iohn the xxii of that name who was condemned of Heresie excepte we shoulde saye that manyfest Heretikes maye be true pastours I omitte to speake of those things which happened in the tyme of that womā Pope IOANE and of the manifolde tumultes of the false vsurping Popes which the histories make mention of These things therfore cōsidered I conclude that if we wil rightly knowe the Churche we muste not haue regarde to personall succession but to the puritie of doctrine to the sincere administration of the Sacraments in so much that we must counte them for the true successors of the Apostles which being rightly
called do build vpon their foundation and do first of all set forth the word of God in certaine places whether the succession of persons be perpetual or whether it decay or ceasse for a time Wheras on the contrary parte they which either preach not the word of God at all or else preache their owne doctrine in stéede of the Apostles doctrine althoughe they alledge and bring in for them selues a thousande continuall successors are not to be hearde as pastors but to be shunned as wolues according to the expresse commaundement of Christ Iesus and of his Apostles But some man will obiect and say is it lawfull then for euerye man to preache the worde and to minister the Sacramentes No truely it ought not so to bée For al things muste be done in the Churche of God as the Apostle saith in order Who are then true Pastors surely suche as are lawfully called It resteth therefore now to consider what is lawfull calling that this speciall matter also may be vnderstoode We say that there is one forme and maner of ordinary calling and another of extraordinarie calling That is ordinarie calling in the which the order appointed of GOD in the Church is obserued In this order the first thing is The examination of doctrine and maners the seconde lawfull election and the laste imposition of handes These thrée things may be gathered approued by diuers testimonies of Scriptures as by the election of Mathias and of the seuen Deacons in the Actes of the Apostles and also by those things which Paule writeth in his Epistles to Timothie to Tâ—…tus This is the descriptioÌ„ of ordinarie calling Wherby it maye be gathered that the same is an extraordinarie calling in the which although it be lawful by Gods authoritie either one of these two things or both or else all are wanting The which kinde of callings God hath ofteÌ„times vsed as in the Scriptures appeareth For who layd hands on Moyses to dedicate Aaron Who annointed the Prophetes Esayas Daniel Amos and many others Therfore when they which had authoritie abused the power of ordinarie calling then I saye it was necessarie that the Lorde should vse extraordinarie meanes not to bring in confusion but to refourme those which had peruerted and depraued al things in the Church vnder the colour and pretence of ordinarie succession And that the matter standeth thus the writings of the Prophetes which specially inueye against the Priestes do manifestly declare If any man obiecte and say that they had extraordinarie testimonies of their calling confirmed with certaine miracles we answere That this is so far true in some that in other some it is starke false except we shuld speake of those things of the which there is no testimonie And truely I cannot tell whether there be many Prophetes to be found of the progenie of Aaron vpon whome hands were laide after an ordinarie maner If in like maner it be alledged that they contented themselues with the office of reprehending and reprouing and exercised not the office of sacrificing we answere first of all that this is not founde euery where to be true For Samuel which was not of the familie of Aaron but of Chore sacrificed in Mispa And Elias in Carmel Secondly we answere that it ought not to séeme straunge that the prophetes at that time extended not that extraordinarie office to the doing and fulfilling of ceremonies seing that the same office did appertaine by inheritaunce to the kindred and stocke of Leui which at this day is out of vse Thus far therefore concerning these speciall pointes what is the Church what are the markes of the same what is the vocation of Pastors we haue spoken oure iudgement The which things if ye meane to call in question to séeke and trie whether they be in oure Churches or in oure persons we trust by the helpe of God to bring suche certaine reasons that no maÌ„ can doubt that we haue the true Church and that our calling is lawfull Now let vs come to the third principall point which concerneth the authoritie of the Church It is manifest by those things wherof we haue spoken already that we do derogate nor take away none of those precious magnificeÌ„t notes with the which the Church is beautified But we say that it is the body of the Lord that as yet it is a pilgrime in this world loking for the fulnesse of the head that is Christ. This is the house of the Lord which is dayly builded erected by little little which is gouerned by the holy Ghost but as yet fighting against the fleshe it is purified but so that by little little it may be brought to the perfectioÌ„ of that beautie cleannesse in the which there is neither spot nor wrinkle it knoweth God but in part To be shorte we confesse that out of the Church there is no saluation seyng there is life no where else thaÌ„ in Christ Iesus who exerciseth his quickning lyfe in no other than in his members the vinion and coagmentatioÌ„ wherof is called the Church But in this all the whole controuersie consisteth namely whether the Church maye erre in this world whether it be subiect vnto the scripture or the scripture vnto it To the which I answere that it is out of all controuersie doubt that the particular members of the Church may erre do dayly erre both in doctrine in maners according to this place of the Apostle Paule saying VVe know in part And S. Ihon sayth If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues If any man would go about to exempt the ancient fathers from that nuÌ„ber he shall not be offended if we beleue not his words For it were an easie matter sauing y reuerence which we owe vnto theÌ„ to note many blemishes spots eueÌ„ in the greatest most ancient fathers but we wil not stand in repeating of them both for the honour which they worthily deserue also for that the Lord Cardinall if I wel remeÌ„ber his words thinketh not that they ought rashly and indifferently to be receiued This is our opnion concerning the particular meÌ„bers of the church whose perfectioÌ„ notwithstaÌ„ding is no such cause or let but that the Church may consist of them For the faithfull profit by litâ—…le and little both in the knowledge of God and also in the perfection of maners But and if the meÌ„bers of the Church be considered more generally as they be distributed into diocesses prouinces shal we say that they may erre Moreouer if I be not deceiued my Lorde Cardinall thoughte of late that particular Churches and prouinciall councels may erre and haue oftentimes erred And truely this thing is confirmed by so long experience that I thinke not that any man in his right wittes will denie the same It remaineth therfore that we consider the whole Church vniuersally But
to be buried forgotteÌ„ but there shall be alwayes one or other of his seruaunts which shal know that which ought to be knoweÌ„ shal follow that which ought to be followed as we see it happened to Helias in time of the captiuitie of Babilon in Israell in the time of Christ his coÌ„ming when as there was scarsly left one Zacharias one Elizabeth one Ioseph one Uirgin Mary one Anna the Prophetesse which among so many corruptioÌ„s of the Scribes Phariseis Saduceis had the true vnderstanding of the Prophecies concerning the coÌ„ming of christ These interruptioÌ„s therfore lets which fall into the Church of God are as it were a certaine tempest cloude which God driueth away by the coÌ„ming of his Sonne that is to say of his word according to the dispensing of the secretes of his iudgementes mercies May we not condemne general councels God forbid For ye know that if we shall go about to reforme or ameÌ„d any thing by them ye shall chaunge and alter manye more things thaÌ„ we in the which not long ago ye trauelled Notwithstanding we require this thing at your hande that the worde of God may be as a touchstone that whatsoeuer is eyther spoken or done in the Churche maye be tried by the same If this thing séeme strauÌ„ge vnto you I pray you my Lordes consider that noble place of Augustine where he writeth to Maximinus Arrianus being in the seconde booke and fourth chapter saying Is there a more approued Councell than the firste Nicene Councel None I beleue VVhat was the councel of AriminuÌ„ It was reiected condemned and that iustly But whereof doth S. Augustine intreate in that place Surely of one of the principal articles of our faith so oftentimes concluded coÌ„firmed namely of ConsubstantiatioÌ„ of the SoÌ„ne of god Neuerthelesse S. Austine confesseth that he wil neither be tried by the couÌ„â—…el of Nice nor by the couÌ„cel of AriminuÌ„ but by the scriptures which he calleth indifferent witnesses for both partes But if here we will obiecte say that the scriptures are harde and obscure we must confesse with Saint Paule that the carnall man doth not vnderstanâ—…e the things that are of God and with the Apostle Peter that the scriptures haue not a priuate explication And if the obscurenesse of the Scriptures be such that they cannot manifest themselues vnto vs why doth not Christe sende vs to some other thing rather than to them when he saith Search the Scriptures Furthermore what did they which vsed onely the writings of the Apostles before there were any commentaries of the Doctors I remember my Lorde Cardinall that ye saide that the firme and vndoubted interpretation which was alwayes in the Church euery where and of all men receiued oughte to be imbraced But who will certifie vs of those thrée principall pointes Furthermore if we come to these wordes Alwayes and Of all men at what time shall we begin but onely at the Apostolicall Churche And who shall be counted the first but the Apostles theÌ„selues whose stories Luke hath so faithfully described and are also to be séene by their writings Therefore bicause all truth dependeth vpon God which hath made the Prophetes and Apostles to be interpreters of our saluation we alwayes come to this foundation of Scriptures And yet neuerthelesse we reiect not the iudgementes of Councels and of the Fathers so that they agrée with the Scriptures the which as S. Austine saythe are so tempered and placed by the holy Ghost that the same which in one place is spokeÌ„ obscurely in another place is more plainly vttered Notwithstanding here remayne certaine doubtes to be opened and expounded For there are many which thinke that the will of God as touching our saluation is not fully contained in the writings of the Apostles But I pray you consider with your selues if this be graunted what a way is made to all errors And truely by this way Sathan hath greatly broken into the Lordes vineyarde Neuerthelesse we doe not denie that God before Moyses time ordered and taught his Church by visions and reuelations and that the Apostles builded the Churches with their owne voyce before they had written any thing But why would God the number and wickednesse of men increacing haue this doctrine to be described which was preached and knowne to all men for this cause truly that he might preuent their subtill craftes which colour all their doings wyth the names of tradition of reuelation and of custome But if this doctrine be onely written in part what shall this remedie profite Ihon truely speaketh not thus of the Scriptures wheÌ„ he sayth These things are written that ye mighte beleeue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of God and that in beleeuing ye might haue life the which no doubt should be false if there were any other doctrine necessarie to saluation In like manner the Apostle Paule expounding the vse of doctrine and in the person of Timothie instructing all the ministers of the Churche had not sayd that The Scriptures make the man of God that is to say the minister and euery faithfull man perfecte and fully giuen to all good woorkes if any thing oughte to be ioyned to the same Notwithstanding we doubte not but that there haue bene alwayes from time to time vnwritten traditions as touching the order and maner of doing But bycause manye of late dayes do abuse this worde Traditions we will shewe what Traditions oughte to be receyued The which shall be easily done if these two things be considered namely if the doctrines be conformable and fyt to edification For this is alwayes firme and certaine that the Apostles and true shepeherdes neuer appointed rites either dirictly or inderectly contrary to holesome doctrine or other things which might in any point or â—…ot draw men from the spirituall worship of god Therefore when this rule shall be obserued and kept it will be an easie matter to discerne true doctrine from traditions and true traditions from those that are false You also may remember how greatly Tertullian in his tractation of the Scriptures condemneth those which sayd that the Apostles lefte somewhat obscure not sufficiently expounded which appertained to our saluatioÌ„ I will say more namely that the same which the Apostles haue done here is not perpetual not as though they were not by al exception the greater witnesses but bicause they did beare somewhat with the infirmitie of the Iewes by the rule of charitie as in willng them to abstaine froÌ„ things offered to Idols from strangled and in that also which Paule did in Timothe in himself the which things at this day ought to haue no place but onely by a generall rule of indifferent things which of themselues are neither good nor euill in which things we ought to applye our selues to the infirmitie of our brethren These things also may be gathered of the rytes which agréed with their times as the
maner of kissing one another in going bareheaded in signe of authoritie which is coÌ„trary to the common custome of many people All these things therfore ought to be considered before a custome be established as apostolicall least the Apostolicall authoritie and custome be abused to the disturbing of the churches as it came to passe after the Apostles tyme for the feast of Easter and in the Apostles time for the authoritie of the Church of Hierusalem as appeareth by Luke How then shall we thinke that the Apostles founde oute so many ceremonies in which afterwards was placed remission of sinnes when as plainely they haue testified the contrarie Augustine complained of these things long ago and there is no doubte but that if he had bene in these our dayes he shoulde haue had greater occasione to complaine To be short therfore we wishe that the Scripture which is very plaine in these matters maie Iudge betwene traditions that are good and euil betwéen holy and prophane betwene profitable and hurtful and betwene such as are necessary and those that are super flucus The which being graunted this question may easily be resolued namely VVhether the Church be aboue the scripture The which questioÌ„ semeth so absurde vnto me as if a maÌ„ shuld demaund whether the father were inferior to the sonne or whether the wife were aboue the husband or maÌ„ aboue God. And truly the true Church neuer complaineth and murmureth against God in this matter but alwaies modestly submitteth it self vnto him Neither maketh it any matter that the Church was before the Scriptures For that word which was afterwardes written is more ancient thaÌ„ the Church seing of the same the Church was conceiued begotten brought forth hath also of the same his denominatioÌ„ And to disproue this the saying of S. Austine is brought against vs when he saith I would not beleue the scripture were it not that the authoritie of the church did force me thervnto But we must consider that S. Austine speaketh here in the person of Manichaeus For wheÌ„ two meÌ„ do contend about the truth of some instrument to whom in the end shal they go but to the Scriuener or Notary that hath the first draught or couÌ„terpane of the same Notwithstanding it doth not here vpoÌ„ folow that the authoritie of the instrument doth depend vpoÌ„ the person of the Notary the which should be no lesse firme and strong althoughe the Notarie being aliue woulde refuse to giue testimonie of the same The same answere muste be made to those whiche thinke the authoritie of the Canonicall bookes of scripture to depende vpon the determination of the Church But I will content my selfe to adde vnto that wherof I haue spoken before one only argument confirmed by the authoritie of certaine approued Fathers The argument is this Christe him selfe did so muche estéeme of the doctrine of the Prophet that he sought to confirme hys doctrine by their testimonies After the same maner the Apostle Paule went about to confirme the Thessalonians in his doctrine Peter also the Apostle commendeth vnto vs and alloweth this order of teaching Therefore it is not méete that they which call them selues Christ his vicars and the successors of Paule Peter shuld refuse the same condition Furthermore thus sayth Saint HieroÌ„ The error either of the fathers or of the elders ought not to be followed but the authoritie of Scriptures And Chrisostome sayth He which will knowe which is the â—…ue Church of Christ Howe shall he knowe the same in so great confusion of likenesse but by the Scriptures Also in the same place he sayth Let them whiche are in Iudea flee into the mountaines that is to say They which are in Christianisme let theÌ„ busie themselues in the Scriptures But why would he haue all Christians at that time be occupied in the scriptures Bycause so soone as heresie hadde entered into the Churches there coulde not be had a true probation of Christianisme neither can they which would knowe the truth of faith finde any other refuge than the holy scripture Whosoeuer therefore woulde know the true Church of Christ how shuld he know the same but by the Scriptures In like maner the Lorde knowing that there should come so great confusion in the latter dayes commaundeth Christians which will haue the assurance of true faith to haue no other refuge than the holy Scripture otherwise if that they seeke for other meanes they shall be offended and perishe not vnderstanding what is the true Church and so shal fall headlong into the abhomination of desolation which is placed in the holye place of the Churche Also Basill sayth If whatsoeuer be not of faith be sinne as sayth the Apostle and faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God then whatsoeuer is beside that worde giuen by diuine inspiration is sinne Also in the sermon of the confession of Faith he saith If God be faithfull in all his woordes and if all his commaundementes be firme and certaine for euer framed in truth and righteousnesse it is a forsaking of the faithe and a poynt of arrogancie to retect any part of those things which are written or to bring in any thing not written Thus far O Quéene we haue answered copiouslye according to our knowledge to the first principall point of the Oration made by the Prelates concerning the authoritie of the Churche being readie paciently and quietly to heare whatsoeuer shall be shewed contrary to that which we haue spoken There remaineth yet to be spoken of the Article of our Lords Supper the which if it seeme good vnto your Maiestie I will nowe pretermit both for that I haue heide you and the whole companie ouer long and also bicause we desire to haue this conference hereafter framed in better order NotwithstaÌ„ding if it shal séeme good vnto your Maiestie that wee procéede anye farther we are readie to vtter those things which the Lorde shall put in oure heartes alwayes submitting our selues vnto those things which shall be obiected vnto vs oute of the Scriptures moste humblye praying and beseeching your Maiestie O Queene to be fully persuaded in this one thing that nexte vnto the glorye of oure God wée wishe and desire nothing more vehemently than the dignitie of your Maiestie and the peace tranquillitie of the Realme After that Beza had thus ended his oration then the Cardinall beckning to Claudius Espensius a Sorbonist willed him to make his oration TheÌ„ Espensius beginning to shew that not long agoe he had wished to haue this mutuall conference and that he alwayes vtterly abhorred those cruell punishmentes which were vniustlye vsed againste those which imbraced the ReligioÌ„ he sayd that those things which were alreadie spoken of the Church and of the markes and succession of the same were in his iudgemente verye true adding herevnto that if this way had been taken in hande at the first all controuersies had been by this
time ended But as touching that principall poynte of the Succession of the Churche I haue sayth he oftentimes maruelled with my selfe by whose authorite and by whose calling ye are entered into the Church and haue taken vpon you the office of teaching seing that ye are not come in by the ordinary way nor by such as haue ordinarie authoritie nor haue not receiued of theÌ„ the impositioÌ„ of hands Here vpoÌ„ he gathered that the ministers of the reformed churches were not true lauful pastors for so much as they could not say that they were come in by ordinarie successioÌ„ much lesse by extraordinarie bicause extraordinarie vocatioÌ„ ought to be coÌ„firmed by miracles eueÌ„ as Moises being raised vp of God to deliuer the people was established by extraordinarie miracles or else truly these extraordinarie callings ought to be coÌ„firmed by some expresse testimonie of scripture as the calling of Ihon by the testimonie of Malachy Both the which seing they lacked he coÌ„cluded that their calling ministery was not lawflul As concerning traditions the interpretatioÌ„ of scripture if ther shal happeÌ„ to be any disputatioÌ„ about theÌ„ theÌ„ we must run haue regard to ordinarie successors as to those to whom the holy Ghost is promised who were ordained to that end purpose as it is manisest by the example of the Leuites with whom in time past meÌ„ ought to consult from whose iudgement it was not lawful to decline Many things yea eueÌ„ those that are most certaine farthest from all doubt are retained by traditioÌ„ As the the father is not begotteÌ„ that the sonne is of like substance with the father that infantes ought to be baptized y the virgin Mary was a pure virgin after the birth of Christ so remained such like the which being receiued from the fathers although they be not plainly writteÌ„ in the word of God the is to say in the bookes of the prophets Apostles yet notwithstanding they are not of lesse credit and authoritie Moreouer he said the whatsoeuer was coÌ„cluded determined by generall couÌ„cels were ought to be accounted most certaine true seing the councels coulde not erre in those things that appertained to doctrin For the which saith he you haue alledged out of S. Austin that one couÌ„cell was correâ—… 〈◊〉 proued by another couÌ„cell following neuer came to passe in those things which appertained to ReligioÌ„ For there were only thrée councels in the time of S. Augustine namely the couÌ„cell of Nicene against the ArriaÌ„s the couÌ„cell of Constantinople against the MacedoniaÌ„s the Ephesine councel specially against Nestorius none of the which were afterward reproued ameÌ„ded That which you brought in coÌ„cerning Paphnutius it is neither certainly true nor yet doth it appertaine to the purpose Here vpoÌ„ he repeated that which was spoken coÌ„cerning the Supper disputing a little about the corporall presence he alledged many things out of the books of a certaine author which as he saide the ministers could not refuse meaning Caluine one of whose bookes he brought forth It was said that Espensius at the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of the Cardinal of Loraine of purpose begaÌ„ to reason concerning the Supper to the intent he might finde conuenient occasion to breake off the conference While Beza was about to make answer to that which EspeÌ„sius had said a certain Sorbonist a white monke whose name was Xainctius being fully bent to dispute rose vp making a long tedious repetitioÌ„ of those things which were spokeÌ„ by Espensius before said that traditions had a more firme foundatioÌ„ than the scripture it self bicause the scripture might be drawen euerye waye by the varietie of interpretations for the which cause he saide that Cyprian contended with many Affricans affyrming that Christ said not I am custome but I am the way the truth the life The which sentence froÌ„ that time forward was many wayes wrested traÌ„sformed To the same effect he cited the testimonie of TertulliaÌ„ in his booke of prescriptions of heretikes said that Beza had spoken very stately sending him to the same place of Tertullian to reade it more diligently Who saythe Quoth the Monke that Heretikes bring in the scriptures and do leade the ignorant into error beyng moued by the authoritie ther of And thus he concluded that the Scriptures ought not to be vsed and that from them simply we ought not to take weapons to conuince heretikes for bicause of thynges so vncertaine the certaine victory of truth cannot be gotten At the last he obscurely sayde that God beside his Councell had giuen vnto vs his doctrine in writing saide that Chrisostome was the author of this saying Here Beza made answere that those long tedious words of the Monke were very impertinent to their conference and nothing helping to that peace and concorde which they wished and directing his oration to the Quéene he did besech hir to prouide that they might neuer afterward swarue fall into perturbations troubles not seruing to the purpose Therefore sayth he that I may answere to the firste doubt of Espensius from whence the Ministers of our Churches had their calling seing they were not called by ordinarie meanes neither had receiued the imposition of handes know ye that Imposition or laying on of handes is not the speciall note of lawfull calling for the principall and substantiall notes are the Inquisition of maners and doctrine and Election from the which two if imposition of handes shall be wanting yet we muste not thinke the calling to be any whyt the lesse lawfull We are elected Ministers and approued of our Churches which with one consent haue allowed our Ministerie But wheras we haue not had imposition of handes nor appointed by those whome ye call Ordinaries that oughte not to séeme straunge seing that in so greate confusion of all things in the Churche of Rome wée would not receiue imposition of hands of those whose vices superstition and false doctrine we disalowe for that they were open enimyes to the truth It is out of all doubte that the Prophetes in olde time had no greater aduersaries than the Priestes whiche reiected sounde doctrine and neglected their office and duetie Did the Prophetes therefore at any time which were raised vp of God to be enimies vnto them desire the confirmation or approbation of their offices vnto the which they were called and appointed of God And yet notwithstanding who will say that they did intrude themselues into those offices which they executed and discharged faithfully with great perill and daunger of their life The which also we ought to do at this time And it ought not to be said that Myracles are necessarily to be required to extraordinarie callings for that which is written concerning the calling of Moyses is not common to all For by what Myracles were the callings of Esayas Daniel and Zacharias confirmed Did the Apostle Paule
loke for imposition of handes of the Phariseys that he might execute that office which God had committed vnto him And when he woulde confirme his Apostleship he speaketh not onely of the Myracles whiche he had done but also of the fruites of his preaching The which also we may say of so many kingdomes and prouinces which haue receiued the Gospell by our preaching notwithstanding so many lettes and impedimentes to hinder the same and we thinke that there cannot be required of vs a more firme confirmation of oure Ministerie seyng the vertue and power of God is manifest in vs the which neither bondes neither imprisonment neither fire neither banishments nor death could let Albeit sayth Espensius bring ye me one onely example done a thousand fiue hundred yeare agone like vnto yours Al things sayth Beza that haue happened are not put down in histories but howsoeuer the matter be it doth not folow that this our example is not manifest inough and set forth of God in his due time who went not about to giue a new Gospell but ment to renewe that olde Gospell which was exquisitly written by the Apostles and sufficiently confirmed by Miracles And so by a certain vnwonted and singular meane or way he caused that bright light to shine But concerning Traditions what foolishe madnesse is it to make them either equall with the Scripture or else more certaine than the same bicause of the diuersitie of interpretations For what shall be the staye and foundation of oure faith if we stande in vncertaine opinions But what so euer men do this notwithstanding is most certainely to be imbraced That truth shall be most firme and constant although for a time it seme neuer so obscure and although heretikes do abuse it yet neuerthelesse ought we alwayes to leane to the same Also touching the place of Tertullian which Xainctius willeth me so diligentlye to consider I haue so certainely considered the same as I am sure he hath falsely cited Chrisostome in whom that shal neuer be founde which he hath falsely fayned We will not denie but that Tertullian was deceyued in certayne places and yet notwithstanding the place cited beyng rightly vnderstoode and the ende thereof considered it shall be verie easie to be expounded For it was his purpose to declare that we muste not dispute in vayne against heretikes but as the Apostle Paule sayth they beyng once or twice reprehended must be reiected But shewe vnto vs with what Heretikes he had to doe surely euen with those whiche being conuicted by the worde of God obstinately thrust in certaine testimonyes of scripture transformed to maintaine their errors Against these men Tertullian bringeth in the traditions of the Churche the whiche he sheweth ought to be of greater waight than the new deuises of many men First of al therfore it is méete that we should be conuinced by the word of God that we may be brought from error For if we should simply leane vnto traditions which are neither Apostolical nor agréeing to their doctrine we should set open a way to a thousand deceites and at length peruert and ouerthrow the certaintie of the Scripture And why dothe Tertullian cast the heretikes in the â—…éeth saying that They contrary to Scripture doe beleeue without Scripture but onely to teache them that they must leane and cleaue to the certaine truth of the Scriptures and by them conuince errors But if the traditions and ceremonies which are at this daye obiected vnto vs of our aduersaries were Apostolicall and alwayes vsed of the Churche we might otherwise thinke and determine but seyng we can shew their beginnings it followeth that they are not come from the Apostles And truely Tertullian dothe greatly reprehende them which thought that all things whiche appertained to saluation were not put downe to vs by the Apostles Therfore when truth comes in question we must haue recourse to the Apostles whom Christe hath sent to teache the Churche But how shall we agrée of the Apostles doctrine but by their writings For therefore were they called of God to that office that they might plainely teache and instructe vs in all things that appertained to our saluation After the same maner also the place of Chrisostome may be explaned in the which we haue these words Christ lefte nothing to the Apostle in writing did he therefore forbyd them to leaue anye thing in writing No truely But he dyd rather illuminate them by his holy spirit to the ende his doctrine being put in writing mighte abide for euer Howbeit the Apostles taughte certayne things which they haue not written We denie it not But we say that those things whiche they haue not written doe not appertaine to oure saluation For those things whiche mighte appertayne to certaine rytes profitable for that time and to the order and gouernement of the Churche they haue shewed and declared by woorde of mouthe But bycause those things are of suche condition that they maye be diuersely altered accordyng to the circumstaunces of the place tyme and persons therefore they neither oughte nor can bynde the consciences of men And as concerning these wordes Not begotten Consubstantiall Trinitie and suche like althoughe they be not to be founde so expressely in the Scripture yet notwythstanding their sense effect and meaning is plentifully to be founde therein Wherevpon afterwards to auoyde the subtil â—…lightes of heretikes these and such like wordes were founde out and receiued of the ancient fathers Thus Beza answered to those obiections that white Monke 〈◊〉 in the meane time crying out against him interrupting him and still inculcating this thing that neither the virginitie of the virgin Marie nor the baptizing of infantes coulde be proued by testimonies of Scripâ—…ure And thus crying and exclaming still after the manner of scholes he was verie troublesome to the whole assembly At the last after this confused disputation to and fro the Cardinall of Loraine perceiuing the inciuâ—…litie of his fellowes as it may seeme least they should be reprehended of the Quéene he himselfe ended this controuersie as though the question had ben sufficiently handled Upon which silence the Sorbonistes afterwards persuaded them selues to haue gotten the victorie Then the Cardinall began to speake concerning the Lordes Supper protesting in the name of al the Prelates that they woulde procéede no further vntill that question were fully determined and answered both for that it was the principall pointe of all controuersies and also bycause the Ministers hadde so playnely declared their opinion and iudgement concerning the same in that their first OratioÌ„ that the rumoure thereof is gone thoroughout the whole Realme Therefore he demaunded of the Ministers whether they woulde receiue and imbrace the Augustane Confession And the Ministers on the contrarie part demaunded if they also would receiue the same The Cardinal faring as though he woulde answere to this demaunde began to bring for the the iudgement of certaine Ministers of
Germanie concerning the Lords Supper the whiche he sayde was sent by them to him out of Germanie But herein he played the craftie Foxe to the ende that if they had openly denyed this thing he mighte haue set them and the Ministers of Germanie togither by the eares but if they had imbraced the same that then hee mighte tryumphe ouer them as if they had gotten the victory Beza to auoid this Dilemma and subtill traine answered That he and his fellowes came thyther to defende the confession of their owne Churches whiche they were onelye by them inioyned to doe So that he desired that the order of the disputation might be framed vpon the forme of their confession to the end that they might gather thereby bothe the greater fruit and also come into a more perfect concord For the order of nature doth require that firste of all those things which are more easie shoulde be handled and we must first of all dispute of doctrine bycause the Sacramentes doe depende of Doctrine Notwithstanding the Cardinall did with no lesse vehemencie still vrge the matter Therefore the chosen men of the Churches fearing least by this meanes occasion mighte be taken to breake off the conference and that the blame thereof shoulde be layde vpon them they desired to haue leaue to vewe and consider that writing whereto the Prelates wente aboute to make them to subscribe and so they woulde deliberate together what they were best to doe Then was broughte for the a fourme of the article concerning the Lords Supper written as the Cardinall said oute of the Augustane confession thus VVe doe Confesse that the very body and bloud of Christ Iesus is truely really and Sacramentally in the Supper of the Lorde and is so giuen and receiued of those that doe communicate There were also broughte forthe manye opinions of the Saxone Ministers concerning this matter written in the yeare of oure Lorde 1559. And thus was the assembly dismist vntill another day In the meane time newes was broughte that the writing exhibited by the Cardinall of Loraine was by the industrie of one Frances Balduine sente with letters whiche signifyed that he woulde come verie shortly and bring certaine ministers with him out of Germanie which shoulde dispute and contend with Beza and with the rest of the challengers of the reformed Churches Balduine therfore came to Poossiac in the time of the conference leauing notwithstandyng behynde him those ministers of Germanie making the more haste to the intent he mighte offer vp a certayne Latine booke intituled The office of a godly man among the controuersies of Religion perswading himselfe by this meanes that he shoulde please all men specially the Byshoppes And this Booke he highlye commended and bragged of as a certaine singular meane and waye to worke peace and vnitie the author of the which booke the miserable ambitious man partlye affyrming and partlye denying hymselfe to be by vayne dissimulation the name of Cassander beyng suppressed and quite taken awaye whiche had patched the same together would that all men should haue counted hym to bée the authour thereof perswading hymselfe hereby to wyn greate fame But his expectation for all this was deceyued for he was called of neyther part into the conference for that all men feared his inconstancie and lighte rashenesse whiche he had all his lyfe time shewed by manyfest proofe and shewe of his subtill and false minde But his hatred for this matter was wholly kindled against the Ministers of the reformed Churches whom he thought to be the cause that he was not called to the conference Afterwardes he inueyed againste Caluine and Beza who by theyr answere agayne declared by euident argumentes that he was giltie of a lye of falsehoode and of impietie That is to saye Balduine not long agoe â—…ayned to loue the Gospell and declared the same also by setting forthe of bookes and was conuersaunt in the refourmed Churches whereby among good men he had gotten a good reporte notwithstanding chaunging oftentymes his Religion one while he séemed to imbrace the doctrine of the Gospell going to those places in the whiche the same was publiquely preached another whyle he wente to the Papistes seeming to lyke of their seruice whereby at the last all men iustly Iudged hym to bée of a wycked and vnconstant mind Therefore after he hadde experience and proofe of diuers Religions shyfting oftentymes from one to another the subtill fellowe thought that he had at the last founde oute a certayne vndoubted fourme of Religion and reported abroade that he knewe a sure meane or waye to appease all controuersies for Religion And beyng broughte vnto the King of Nauarre by the practise of the Cardinall of Lorayne hée made hym to haue a wonderfull opinion of him And whilest the King of Nauarre was greatly disturbed with the fayre promyses of the Pope of the whiche wée wyll speake anon thys fellowe dayly called vpon him who also bringing forthe argumentes oute of certayne auncient notes and abbreuiations whiche he sayde hee hadde founde by chaunce he put the Kyng of Nauarre in suche hope to get the Kingdome of Nauarre that his loue and zeale towardes the Gospell waxing colde by little and lyttle at the laste he vtterlye renounced and forsoke the Gospell to the greate detrimente and hurte of the reformed Churches and of the whole Realme of Fraunce in furtheryng whereof before tyme he had notwithstandyng béene very diligent Balduine for brynging these things to passe receiued for his reward a great summe of money and had also committed vnto him the charge to bryng vp the kyng of Nauarres bastard for which he receiued a stipend But nowe againe they come to the Conference so that when they were all assembled togyther and leaue giuen to the Ministers to speake Beza pronounced this Oration before the Quéene We declared of late before your Maiestie noble Quéene according to our skil our opinion concerning the Article propounded vnto vs of the Church and of the markes and authoritie of the same in opening of the which things we haue so followed the word of God that we trust no man hath had iust occasion to complaine of vs But for so muche as those things which haue bene opened by vs ought either to be approued or else to be reprehended by the worde of God it was euen nowe demaunded of vs by what authoritie wée would preach the worde of God and minister the holy Sacramentes in the which demaunde to make our cause to be hated there was lefte nothing vndone We knowe not to what end these things haue bene propouÌ„ded For first of all we came not hyther eyther to preach the word or to minister the Sacraments So that it séemeth superfluous to demaund of vs by what authoritie we would doe this thing If answere be made vnto vs that this was therfore demauÌ„ded that we might giue account of those thinges whiche we haue done afore time it was to be coÌ„sidered that this
assembly doth consist of two sorts of men For some are Ministers of other Cuntreys in such places in whiche their calling is approued Of these men ye haue nothing to do to take an account of their offices Other some there are here whiche preach the word of God in this Realme but ye haue not called these men before you to constraine them to make an account of their calling but to conferre with them concerning doctrine otherwise they mighte séeme after this manner to be brought to iudgement the which we thinke O Quéene not to be your will or meaning But if ye did it for disputatioÌ„s sake by your leaue I must say that it was not meete to moue any such talke openly to answere the which we had no good occasion offered vs excepte we woulde offende the mindes of the Prelates the which to doe we would be verie loth least we might seme to be the cause that the conference should be broken off And least we may séeme to speake without reason consider that so often as two partes come together to conferre or to dispute If the one parte demaunde why do you this and the other parte also demaunde the same thing saying why do you this it cannot be but in these questions reiterated there shall discention arise But omitting the Prelates of this Realme whome we will not offende let vs imagine with our selues that there were here a certaine Bishop which should demaund of vs saying by what authoritie doe ye preache and minister the Sacramentes And we in like maner should demaund by what authoritie he did the like that is to saye whether he were elected by the Seniors of his Churche in the which he is Bishop whether the people desired to haue him and whether his life maners and doctrine were firste examined He would answere that he was in that order called but the contrary is manifestly knowne and we call the conscience of those to witnesse that heare vs knowe how y matter standeth If he should saye vnto vs ye are no ministers bicause ye haue not the impositioÌ„ of haÌ„ds we in like maner would answere neyther are ye Bishops bicause in your institution the principall and most substantial matters commaunded by the worde of God are lacking If the disputation procéede farther we maye vse these wordes ye haue but one onely thing which is required in the right institution namely laying on of handes If the lacke of this one thing make as you thinke that we are not ministers 〈◊〉 must néedes the lacke of the other two namely the election by Seniors and the triall of life and doctrine proue you to be no Bishops The Councell of Chalcedone euen one of the firste vniuersall Counsels appoynted that the ordering and appoynting of a Prieste shoulde be voyde whiche was not doone by the Ministerie of some one Churche A greate deale more might we say to the Byshoppe disputing with vs séeing that two principall and substantiall thinges are wanting to him centrarie to the commaundemente of the Apostle There is also an other thing whiche we speake agaynst our will and yet notwithstanding we must speake it that all the whole assembly maye euidently sée that this question concerning Uocation is full of perill and 〈◊〉 If ye shoulde demaunde of that Byshoppe of whome he hadde receyued imposition of handes and for howe muche he hath bought the same what woulde he saye Surely he woulde make aunswere that he hadde receyued imposition of handes of Byshoppes and that he hadde not bought the same but that he gaue for it so many thousande Crownes whiche is as muche as if he shoulde saye I haue not bought the breade but I haue bought the wheate If this disputation verily shoulde be iudged by the Counsels and Canons of the Church it woulde make many Byshoppes and Curaâ—…es ashamed Into the whiche Disputation we woulde not willingly enter leaste we shoulde offende any man But take not this to be spoken to the ende we might enter into that disputation or to the intent we myght render quid pro quo or check for taunt but to the end you might vnderstand O Quéene that we did therfore very vnwillingly touche the matter leaste the peace and concorde a working might be hindered As touching the Article of the Lords Supper we would of late speake no further of the same bycause we hadde regarde to many men of this assembly whiche neuer hearing of any suche matter before mighte easily haue béene there at ofâ—…ended as at some newe thing We hadde rather that they shoulde heare the wordes of the aunciente Fathers of the Church than ours for somuche as the Cardinall of Loraine by open promise bounde himselfe to persuade and satisâ—…fie 〈◊〉 in this principall point of doctrine by the proper words of the fathers the which thing we greatly desired To satisfie this our desire and the expectation also of a great manye men the article of the Lordes Supper was put forth decided out of many and verie necessarie articles of the fayth and it was sayd vnto vs Either subscribe vnto this or else we wil proceede no farther If ye were oure Iudges and had authoritie to sit vpon our liues ye woulde not say Subscribe vnto this but VVe condemne you Your office leadeth you to another maner of speache and willeth you to shewe vnto vs our errors if there be anye in vs and to instructe them in the doctrine of truth which are readie to giue an account of their faith by the word of God. We are here before you O Quéene that for two speciall causes The firste is that we maye giue an account of our faith to God to you to the whole world The seconde is that we may obey God the king you so much as in vs lyeth to the pacifying of those troubles which are raised vp for Religions sake If ye had to do with vs onely which are here ye might the more easily haue yâ—…ur wils and purpose but hehold we represent a great number of men which are not onely in this kingdome but also in the chiefest partes of Heluetia Polonia Germanie England Scotland and Flanders and which long to see to what ende this conference will come But they shall vnderstande that in steade of the determination of a free and generall Conference the tenth parte of an Article was exhibited and that it was sayde Eyther subscribe vnto thys or else wee will proceede no farther And admit we should subscribe herevnto what were ye the better They whiche haue sente vs hyther wyll knowe whether by constrainte against our wils or else by force of good and holesome Argumentes we haue subscribed Therefore O Quéene we most earnestly beseche you that so good and godly a worke be not brokeÌ„ off and that ye will vouchsafe to graunt such men vnto â—…s which will not disdaine peaceably and soberly to conferre and dispute with vs otherwise you may consider with your selfe what great
in the same opinion in the whiche they concluded with the Ministers of the reformed Churches that they had made a compacte and agréemente with the Ministers and therefore they were not suffered to conferre or dispute any more after that Therfore the ministers hauing occasion offered sente this explication of that article vnto the chosen men that disputed for the Prelates VVe affirme that no distance of places can let the communicating which wee haue with the body and bloud of Christ bycause the Supper of the Lorde is a heauenly thing And althoughe we receiue in earthe with oure mouthe the breade and wine beyng true signes of his body and bloud yet notwithstanding by faithe and by the operation of the holye Ghost our myndes of which this is oure speciall meate being lyfted vp to heauen doe receine there his bodye and bloude And in this respecte wee saye that the bodye doth truely ioyne it selfe to the breade and the bloude to the wyne and yet notwithstanding no otherwyse than after a Sacramentall manner that is to saye neyther locally nor naturally but bycause they effectually signifie and declare that God doth giue them faithfully and without all doubt to the communicants who do truly and certainely receiue them by faith This therefore is the plaine opinion and iudgement of the reformed Churches concerning the presence of the bodie and bloud of Christ Iesus in the sacrament of the Supper But there were nowe come certaine ministers oute of Germanie by the meanes of Baâ—…duinus as we sayde before But they bewraying the councell and purpose of the Cardinall of Loraine by whose practise these things were spedely brought to passe returned home again with losse of their labour and their expectation being deceiued The purpose and practise of the Cardinall was to bring these ministers and the other into one disputation and contention and so contending and striuing together he might cause the conference to cease and make them to be a laughing stocke to all men The Prelates doubting of the fayth and trust of their men which they had chosen to dispute for them as we said before woulde haue no conference after this with the ministers wherevpon the conference brake vp the â–ª xxv day of Nouember And this was the ende of the Conference of Possiac manye being gathered together for the same the space of thrée monethes â—…fter the whiche there ensued not onely no profyte but also great trouble and motions of warres Thus the conference being ended withoute fruite there was no waye founde for peace and concorde but rather the mindes of both parts beyng exasperated there insued great quarels and discentiens So that great discorde rose dayly betwéene the Papists and the Protestants more and more some complayning and finding fault with the Prelates for their disordered departing from the conference the which in deede sufficiently declared the weakenesse of their cause and other some misliking of the authoritie of the Generall Councell shortly alter to come and of the Churche of Rome Neither were these dissentiâ—…ns onely among the common people but also among the Peeres Nobles of the realme mens mindes being distracted and drawne into manifest factions whiche foreshewed not onely bare contentions of wordes but also greate and mortall warres at hande For the compactes and manifest practises of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshall of Santandra were well ynough sene Yet notwithstanding their purpose and indeuour was very muche let and hindered at that time by the authoritie of the King of Nauarre whome they thought good to assay by all meanes possible to the entent they myghte drawe him from taking part with the Protestantes In the which matter the Cardinal of Ferrer of whom we spake before being the Popes Legate in Fraunce take verye muche paines promising vnto the king of Nauarre in the Popes name the full possession of the kingdome of Nauarre affyrming that the Pope should easily obtaine this thing of king Phillip for that he already promised to doe the same for the Catholique Churches sake Moreouer the Cardinall of Towers the Bishop of Ansseren and Escarsius also certaine of his houshoulde confirmed him in this matter and vsed dayly persuasions being wicked men and set on for money by the Cardinall of Loraine Among whom also was that Frances Balduine of whome mention was made before as diligent and busie as the best to bring the matter about whereby he thought he shoulde reape no small gaine This man forging a new Gospell caused the king of Nauarre to hate both the doctrine and also the men of the reformed Churches So that now he began to hang betwene diuers opinions to forsake the loue of Religion openlye to shew himselfe an enimie to the reformed Churches to bée more coâ—…uersant and familiar with the Guises to giue him selfe to lightnesse filthy pleasure also to go to the Masse and to the Popishe Churches When the Duke of Guise had deliberated and consulted of the matter with the Constable and the Marshall of Santandre and willing them to gathered vnto them forthwith so great power as they could he departed from them leauing them in Fraunce and came to Imuilla in the moneth of Nouember and after he had taryed there certayne dayes he wente to the Cittie Tabernas whiche bordereâ—…h vpon Germanie to prouide for his businesse and to consult with many of the Princes of Germanie about this matter Notwithstanding the number of the faythfull dayly more and more encreased and was wonderfully confyrmed a great part of the Nobles comming to the reformed Churches Therefore there were assemblies and congregations in great number almost in all the noble Cities of the Realme in the whiche the worde of God was openly preached and the Sacramentes ministred notwithstanding the Edict of Iuly of whiche we spake before Wherevpon notwithstanding there arose oftentymes greate discâ—…ntions and of those seditions ensued great perils For they whiche were grieued and offended at these assemblies of the faythfull made exclamation that Edictes were broken and did so prepare themselues to trouble the faythfull that there séemed to be present occasions of great mischief whiche brake foorthe in many places but specially at Paris For the faithful being gathered togither the. 26. day of December to heare the word of God in Paris in the suburbes of Sanmarcellus a place specially appointed vnto them by the King for the same purpose the Priestes of the Temple of Sanmedardus hard by in the time of the Sermon caused such a noyse to be made with ringing of bels that the voyce of the Preacher coulde by no meanes be vnderstoode Whervpon two of the Congregation men vnarmed and without weapon came to these Popishe Priestes and beséeched them that they woulde not make suche a dynne with ringing their Belles that so greate a companie of menne shoulde be lette from hearing the woorde of God. The Priestes hauing with them diuers other men began to abuse them and
by manye of the nobles was not altogether hidden but euidently ynonghe appeared to all men that woulde sée the same FINIS The translator to the Reader THus gentle Reader endeth the firste part of these CoÌ„mentaries faithfully collected and gathered by that singular learned man Petrus Ramus of Fraunce who himselfe bycause he was a zealous professor of the Gospell and an enimie to Antichrist was slaine in this last horrible butcherly murther in the yeare of our Lorde God. 1572. The speciall cause that moued the sayde Petrus Ramus to spende his trauaile in penning these Commentaries in the Latine toung was as you maye perceyue by hys preface in the beginning of this Booke that all Christian Realmes might be certifyed of the true originall and cause of all the warres troubles and sheding of Innocente bloude that haue beene from the yeare of our Lorde God. 1557. vntill this present daye To the ende therefore that his desire might be the better satisfyed when I had considered the worthinesse of his trauaile and what great fruite woulde spring of the same to al that will vouchsafe to spende sometime in reading of this worke for that all men vnderstande not the Latine toung I thought good to translate the same into Englishe that none of our Countreymen might be stayed from the taste of such fruite as will growe thereof And as I haue spente sometime in translating this firste parte so I meane God willing to goe forwarde with the other two partes the seconde beeing nowe in hande and shall bee printed if God permitte against the nexte Terme In the meane tyme I beseech thee right Christian Reader contente thy selfe with this accept my labor and requite my good will with diligent reading of the same Before the which I shall desire thee to correct with thy pen suche faults as I haue here caused to be noted In so doing no one sentence I trust shal seeme obscure vnto thee Faultes escaped in Printing Line 2. Page 9 For it reade he Li. 19. pa. 12. for might defende reade might séeme to defend Line 18. pag. 17. reade acknowledging of the truth Line 16. pag. 40 for other wile reade otherwise Line 22. pag. 43. reade as though it had bene Line 5. pag. 73. read we will not deny Line 8. pag. 73. reade name of the Church Line 4. pag. 76. for is sodaine reade is so highe Line 31. pag. 112. for there reade Then. Line 3. pag. 124. reade must not therefore Line 25. pag. 125. in these words and if that leaue out if Line 23. pag. 164. bring in these words might be solde from them Line 32. pag. 194. for Prophetes reade properties Line 5. pag. 167. for although reade as though Line 1. pag. 239. for only thee reade only thrée Line 18. pag. 235. for they shall reade shall they Line 20. pag. 235. for doth reade doth not NOte here good Reader that these faultes escaped in Printing are not so escaped in al the Bookes of this impression but in some Least therefore they to whome those should happen might be troubled in the reading with obscure sense I thought good to make a generall note of all THE INDEX A. Affliction of the Churche after the death of King Henrie 47. Affliction rysing of false reportes 50 Affliction somewhat ceaseth 61. Agronia assaulted 161. Ambaxian Tumult 2. Andelot put in pryson 23. Andelot answereth 23. Andelot escapeth pryson 110. Andelot in fauour againe 24. Annas Burgeus defendeth the gospell in the Parliament house 26. Annas Burgeus caryed to pryson by Mongomerie 27. Annas Burgeus examined 32. Annas Burgeus condemned 33. 39. Annas Burgeus disgraded 35. Annas Burgeus confession 36. Annas Burgeus taketh his iudgement thankfully 39. Annas Burgeus Oration 4. Annas Burgeus burned 43. Annas Burgeus bringing vp 44. Angell speaker for the Comminaltie 121 Apologie for the faythfull Captiues 9. Arrogant threatnings of the Constable 11. Augusta a cittie in Germanie 131. Authoritie of Godâ—… worde 199. Authoritie of the Church 227. B. Baptisme 75. Beza his prayer 189. Bishoppe of Nauntes author of the Tumult 17. Bishoppes of Rome sowers of discorde 82. Bookes of sclaunder 100. Brosaeus Generall of the Armie that went into Scotlande 61. C. Cardinall of Loraine an enemie to Burgeus 39. Cardinall Poole 95. Cardinall of Loraine seeketh to get fame by keeping Lybelles of reproch 104. Cardinall Ferrer sent from Rome to hinder the Nationall Councell 166. Calabria persecuted 63. Christ our righteousnesse 68. Christ God and Man. 68. Christ hath two natures 69. Christ dyed for sinne 69. Christ our Aduocate 71. Church what it is 72. 217. Churches denyed to them of the reformed Religion 124. Commendation of the protestantes 25 Communion with Christ and the Fathers vnder the law 18â—… Comparison betwene the doctrine of the Gospel and papistrie 37. CoÌ„fession of the french church 63 Confession of Annas Burgaeê° 36. Confession of the church of Flanders offered to king Philip. 166. Confirmation 204. Constable proudly threatneth 11. Constable drawne away from the Prince of Conde 140. Constable misseliketh of the profession oft he Admirall ibidem Controuersie betwene Charles the fifth and Pope Clement 91. Contention betwene the Queene and the king of Nauarre 136. Consubstantiation 203 Couetousnesse the beast of Babylon 93. Couetousnesse of Priestes 122. D. Democharis the inquisitour sitteth vpon Burgaeus 32. Democharis a slanderous inquisitour 50. Denises to abolishe the Gospell 1. Discipline of the Church 73. Disputation at Posiat 179. Doctrine of the lawe 71. Duke Arscotus a Brabantine 8. Duke of Guise an enimie to the Andelot 23. E. Earle Villarius an enemie to the Admirall 141. Ecclesiasticall Disciplne 72 Edict of Castellobrian 24. and. 12. Edict of Iuly 150. Election diuine 67. Election of Ministers 74. Example of two false brethren very notable â–ª 48. Excommunication 74. F. Factious names 118. Faith and good vvorkes 167 Faith coÌ„meth by the holy Ghost 70. Faith attaineth righteousnesse 70. Faithfull sclaundered 7. Figures of the Lawe 71. Forewarnings of desolation 92. Fruites of Popishe Sermons 22. G. Geneua a Sanctuarie for the Godly 4. Generall Councell not looked for 90. Generall Councell a vayne remedie 187. Georgius Gluchus Ambassadour out of Denmarke 139. God omnipotent 65. Gospell hath diuers professors 85. Good workes 71. Guises rule the Realme 50. Guises persecutors of the Gospel 51. Guises no Princes 60. Guises make claime to the crowne of England 62. H. Huguenotes a name giuen to the faithfull 59. I. Iacobes slaughter at Paris 1. Iacobus Sillius speaker for the Nobilitie 122. Ianus Contachus moueth controuersies 45. Ignorance of Priestes 122. Iniuries done to the faithfull 17. Innocencie of the Prince of Conde 147. Inquisitors of Fraunce called Flies 50. Intercession of Saintes 71. K. King Hentie the second set against the Protestantes 26. King Henrie threatneth Burgaeus 27. King Henrie slayne 34. Kinges duetie 100. King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde sent for to the King. 107. King Fraunces dyeth 112. King of Nauar yeldeth his authoritie to the Queene
read it is Page 51. line 20. for do read to The fourth Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of the common wealth and Religion of Fraunce in the raigne of Kyng Charles IX THe Edict of Ia nuary whereof mention is made in the end of the third Booke goinge before being at the last after the delayes of the Senate of Paris published proclaymed at Paris and in the whole Kingdome made a ioyful and prosperous end of all troubles the Gospell had peaceable passage throughout all the dominions all most of Fraunce and the faythfull according to the tenure and prescript of the Edict gladly leauing the Churches and places which were within the cities flocked together in great assemblies without the Cities insomuch that all men greatly delighted to looke vppon them But Sathan enuying that peace and tranquillitie caused after a while not only priuate perturbations and troubles betwéene man and man but also open and Ciuill warres by the deuises and practises of the aduersaries to the great hurt of the Realme The which things as briefely euen so truely will we declare in this historie In penning whereof we know into what sundry hap and hazard of iudgements we are in what a large scope wée haue to set forth diuers matters and also what hatred and perill we bring vnto our selues But the truth shal defend it selfe and shall also take away all sclaunder reproche Many gréeued and repined at the increase and good successe of the reformed Churches greatly misliking of the Edict of January for that it tended much for their peace and quietnes which fauored the Religion Of these repyning enemies there were two sortes The first sort were such as had their liuing by the Benefices reuenewes and spirituall promotions of Priestes and of these many were gentlemen and men of high calling who perceiuing that the greatest part of their substance came vnto them by the sayd Benefices thought that they should sustaine great hinderance and losse if so be they of the reformed Religion should obtaine and enioye the benefite of the Edict The second sort were such noble men as being inriched not onely with those great and huge sommes of money which came to them by the yerely reuenewes of those Benefices the fatte wherof they reserued to them and theirs but also with the innumerable giftes of King Henry the second and Fraunces the second feared least they being called to giue vp their accompts according to the custome of the Realme should be found giltie of extorcion Among these latter sort the chiefe were the Guises the fatall destruction of the kingdome of Fraunce who also as yet were to make their accoūt for great sommes of money taken out of the Kings Treasury for common affaires and other waightie matters in the time of King Fraunces the second and also of their euill demeynor wherof they were playnely accused vnder the raigne of Kyng Henry the second Also the great losse of that high auctho ritie which almost they alone had during the minority of King Fraunces the second and with the same losse the feare foreséeing the great euilles to come pinched them euen to the hart and gréeued them to the very gall To these also was ioyned the Martiall of S. Andrew a man full of all subtiltie guile and mischief who being out of measure riche with the great giftes which he receyued of Kyng Henry for his euill and cruell seruice was pricked in conscience for spoyling by sinister meanes diuers noble men of his familiar acquayntāce By the practise and endeuour of this Martiall the Constable Momorentius as we sayd in our other Booke a little before a mortall enemie to the Guises hauing diuers times experience of their hatred was brought to the familiaritie and friendship of the Guises And to the intent they might winne the Constable wholely vnto them by a new benefite they graunted franckly vnto him the dominion of Dammartine for the which afore time there had bene great contencion betwéene them Therefore the daily adhortations of the Martiall of S. Andrew and the Duches of Valence beside the domesticall and daily perswasions of his wife and of the Earle of Uillars greatly vrged and pressed the Constable as that the ancient and catholique doctrine was abolyshed that the common wealth was disturbed that they of the reformed Religion did plainly threaten to bring such as had bene officers of the kings afore time to giue vp their accoūts that those mē sought only by lit tle and little to place them selues in authoritye and to abase those that serued and had borne office vnder the kings in time past and to haue the spoil of their goods that the Queene Mother was led away with their perswasions and that shée being an effeminate weake woman would incline to that parte which was moste strong also that it was manifest that shée did fauoure those of the reformed Religion for the king of Nauar hys sake who séeketh all that he can to haue the Religion altered being thervnto prouoked by the Prince of Conde to spight those which are suspected to be the authors that he was cast into prison And therfore that they if they might bring al things to passe after their owne desire as to haue their enemies subdued and the state of the kingdome and of Religion altered would bring the Constable him selfe to their owne bent and wil wold in like manner call him to account These perswasions being oftentimes inculcated and beaten into the Constables eares being rather an enemy to Religion drewe him quite away at the last to the contrary part and so by little and little for saking the king of Nauar and the Prince of Conde he openly shewed his displeasure and choller against the Chastilions Therfore now began to be manifest familiarity and frendship betwéene the Constable and the Guises in so much that they bāketted one another and had oftentimes secreate conference betwéene them selues Wherfore at y last they conspired together namely that the Duke of Guise as a Prince of aliance to the king and Lord great master of Fraunce the Constable as chéefe officer vnder the king and the Martiall of S. Andrew as head Martiall should bend their whole endeuors in this that no parte of the ancient and Catholique Religion might be altered And because notwithstanding the constitutions and Edictes of the former kings a new Religion was brought in they would indeuor them selues with all their force and might that those hereticall doctrines might be quite abolished and destroyed And also that they would not suffer newe Decrées to be made concerning the state of the realme and the willes of the former Kings to be disproued that they would openly declare them selues to be enemies to all those which would go about this thing And finally that in this cause they wold do what they could euen to the spending of their goods and liues To performe the which they swore solemnely one to
the true Religion with holines of life least in the middest of these troubles of warres the care of true godlinesse be quight extinguished The best weapons that may be had to fight against our enemies is holines of life and godly prayers If these be wanting our words shall runne through our owne sides And because saye they we sée before our eyes such horrible calamities we following the approued custome of the Church haue appoynted by a common decrée of all men that in all congregations their should be fasting and sollemne prayers for certaine dayes which we admonish you to vse modestly deuoutly and godly and also that God should be prayed vnto publiquely and priuatly to send a happie successe of all these troubles to the glory of his name and to the peace and tranquillitie of his Church They wrote letters also in the name of the whole Synode to Frederike County Pallentine at Rheine whom the refourmed Churches of France had found alwayes in time of cruell persecution a fréend and ready to helpe at néede This was the coppie of their letters We are not ignorant that the basenes of our condition is such that we should not trouble you with our letters but notwithstanding both the experience which we haue had of your singuler clemency and humanitie and also the waight and sharpenes of our miseries and calamities do constrayne vs in these our extremities to flée vnto you for ayd séeing that of long time you haue professed the trueth and haue had a singuler care to pro mote the glory of God and to mayntaine and defende those which professe the trueth of the Gospeel in what place soeuer they are First of all therfore we pray vnto God omnipotent and to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which will haue Kings and Princes to bée Nourses of his Church that he will vouchsafe to confirme and strengthen your highnes in true fortitude constancy by his holy spirit which fortitude you haue hitherto aboundantly shewed with great commendation in setting forth and promooting the woord of God in your Churches And we giue you most harty thankes for those benefites which we receyued of you within these few yeares oftentimes intreating our kynges on the behalfe of our bretherne which were afflicted for the doctrine of Christ. And now we being gathered together of late out of all partes of the Realme for a common Counsell or Synode gladly call to mind the benefits which you haue shewed vppon vs and so much the more willingly also because at this time the truce being broken by which we began to enioye the benefite of the Kinges Edict we stand in great néede of your clemency We foresée the great tempest and calamities of our Churches like to ensue the state of your Churches of Germany in that Ciuill warre comming into our mind the which troubles and calamities being ended by God so happely who hath promised without all doubt to helpe his seruants there is no cause why we should feare Notwith standing we cannot chuse but be very carefull for our flockes commited to our charge But to make the matter more playne because we know that ye vnderstand already our care by certaine Noble men we will not be tedious vnto you Thus much we ad concerning our Churches namely That there is such a conspiracy made against our Churches that except God in his mercy do prouide for the same there is like to ensue no lesse calamitie and confusion than there hath happened long agoe to the Orientall Greeke and Affrican Churches For to conclude the matter in few wordes when the Duke of Guise and they which haue conspired with him perceyued that by the Edict of Ianuary men had leaue fréely and openly to preach the Gospell and that they were restrayned of crueltie which till that time they had declared by all maner of punishments many of the Kinges officers Noble men imbracing the doctrine of the Gospell they made a conspiracie with the enemies of the true Religion to kill in euery Citie the professors of the Gospel Of which their conspiracy we haue had manifest arguments First by the horrible slaughter committed at Uassi it may appeare and then by the cruell and bloudy murther of the men of Sens the Bishoppricke wherof pertayned to the Cardinall of Guise so great slaughter of them being made that for the space of fower dayes there was such killing and steying of men women children without any respect of person that the only remembraunce therof cannot but cause teares to bée shed Yea the dead bodies of such as were slayne came swimming down the Riuer of Seine to Paris requiring as it were their buriall and complayning of this tiranie or rather calling for vengeanee of God and man And now although we know it rather to be our dutie to pray for our enemies and for those which do persecute vs than to accuse them yet notwithstanding we trust that you will interprete to the best these complaints of our iust grief of our manifold calamities And for so much as those our aduersaries to leaue no thing vndone that might be to our destruction haue required your Realme of Germany to ayd and assist them we earnestly pray and beséech you for the loue which you beare to the Church of Christ that you will bend all your might to withstand and put away this euill least Germany imbracing the same truth of the Gospell which we do be euill spoken of for séeking to hurt and anoye vs And we intreat your honour by the tender mercy of God that you will vouchsafe to be a meane for vs to the King and Quéene that there may be some consideration had of our Churches and that you would helpe to mayntayne and defend so iust a cause the time requiring the same Concerning the Letters which the Prince of Conde sent to the refourmed Churches of Fraunce we haue spoken before in the which he willed them when they sawe warres to begin to prepare themselues to the warre with a good courage Whereuppon in many places they obeyed his commaundements some prospering very well in their affayres othersome not hauing so good successe They fortefyed with men and munitiō so much as they could the Cities And after the inhabitants of Towers of Blais and of Angewe had so done also the men of Poicters did the like and then the Normans which fortefied diners Cities tooke their chiefe Citie called Roane But at Burdeux and almost through but Gascoyne except in certaine meane townes the faith full were molested by Monsiere Monluce the Lieutenant who delt very cruelly with the faithfull euery where but specially at Bourdeux By the meanes of this Monsire Monluce there was a great slaughter committed vppon the faithfull at Tholoz and the rest of the multitude which were many in number and had escaped this gréeuous murther brake out of the Citie being a necessary place of refuge both for them and also for
haue sought to the vtmost of our power the aduauncement of your dignities for the mayntenance whereof next to the glory of God we will spend our liues and all that we haue we pray and most humbly beséech you that ye will vnderstand our very purpose and meaninges which we wholely and truely declare vnto you in this Supplication to the end also we might declare the causes why we came vnto you and why also we are with you as yet and why we do thinke in our conscience that we ought not in coÌ„sideration of the offices coÌ„mitted vnto vs to depart from you except we woulde incurre the daunger of perpetuall oprobry and shame both to vs and our posteritie as carelesse and vntrustie seruants to you and as despisers of the glory of God the safetie of the Kyng and of the common peace and tranquillitie of the countrey the which wée sée in most gréeuous perill at this time of ineuitable destruction vnlesse it be holpen in time by the only remedies of these Edictes which we hope you will preferre and which ought to be confirmed by all Parliaments but specially by the Parliament or Court of Paris The which remedies we propound here before your Maiestie with all obedience and reuerence in manner and fourme following First we thinke it necessary not only for our conscience sake but specially for the conseruation of the Kynges dignitie and for the defence of that othe which the Kyng tooke at the time of his coronation by which he bound him selfe to mayntaine the peace tranquillitie and safetie of the whole Realme least the Lawe both of GOD and also of man should be confounded whereby the perturbation and vtter destruction of all Realmes Kingdomes and Monarchies must néedes follow For these causes it is necessary that the Kyng declare by and euerlasting Edict that hee will not suffer hereafter diuersitie of Religion and of Churches diuers doctrines and sundry fashions of administrations of Sacraments and of Ecclesiasticall rites nor the Ministers of such in his Realme But that he would will and commaund one Catholike Apostolique and Romish church which he and the Kyngs his Auncetors before him had receyued to be retayned kept throughout his whole Realme forbidding all other assemblies or congregations to set forth and teach any thing to the contrary That all such as beare any office in this Ralme as Iustices Treasurers or any other such like officer vnder the King be coÌ„maunded to imbrace and follow this only Religion and openly to professe the same and such as should denie or refuse so to do by any maner of waye to be depriued of their offices Prouided notwith standing that for the same thei be indammaged neither in body nor in goods so that they be found not to be the auâ—…thors of troubles of Seditions and of forbidden assemblies That all Prelates of what state or condition soeuer they be of make the same confession of faith of Religion and such as shall disobey this to lose their spiritual promotions and the profites therof to go to the kings treasury or els to place fit men ordinarily called in their roomes That all temples and churches throughout the Realme which were violated spoyled broken downe and defaced to the dishonour of God the contempt of the church and of the king and the manifest breaking of the wholsome lawes made both of late and also aforetime should be reedefied repayred restored to the former comlines deceÌ„t beauty that it euer at any time had that the breakers of the Kings Edicts shuld be punished according to the prescript of the kings Edicts That all maner of men what state or condition so euer they were of throughout the Realme or what couler or pretence soeuer they had should put of their armoure except they had put on the same by the expres coÌ„maundement of the king of Nauar the kinges visegerente of the whole Realme and if any refuse so to do that then they bee proclaymed and accompted of all men for Traitours Rebels enemies to the king the whole Realme That it may be lawfull for the king of Nauar the kinges deputy or for whom soeuer he shall appoint to haue bandes of armed Soldiers for the orderinge of these things and such other like which shal séeme mete for the conseruation of the king and quéene That those Armies which were gathered togither at the Kinges coÌ„maundement for the causes afore sayd may be maintayned for certain monethes in the which space there is great hope that there wil spring some frute of these remedies and that we shal sée publique peace Other matters and necessary Cautions for the workinge of thys peace shal be supplied and put in by the counsell iudge ment of the highe courte of parliment in Paris These things without the which we must néedes looke for the destruction of the Realme being thus ordered and appointed we are euery one of vs ready not only to go home to our houses if it so séeme good vnto you but also to be banished for euer into the vttermost parte of the world wée being fully perswaded that wée haue gyuen vnto God to the king to our countrey and to our selues that honour obedience loue natural affection which wee owe vnto them in so great perill and daunger as is now to auoyd the which wée are ready to spende our lyues and whatsoeuer els wée haue in this world The which we signifie to you and to the king of Nauar both to the end ye may be Iudges witnesses to vs of these thinges and also that ye may apply these conuenient re medies to those inconueniences And wée testifie protest before God and you that we only séeke the safetye peace of your dignities and of the whole Realme And we trust that all they which séeke the same will gladly yéeld vnto the things contayned in this Supplication which we wishe to take effect for the duties sake which wée owe vnto God and you This was the summe of their Supplication To which the King and Quéene made answer that it was not their willes that they should departe thence to any other place Therefore the same day they offered another supplication to the Quéene to this effect Beside those things which wée haue already offered to your Maiesties in writing that ye might plainly vnderstand that wée will submit our willes and opinions to your Iudgements after we hearde that it was your pleasures that we should not depart to any other place wée thoght good to make this offer namely That if they which were at Orleans laying asyde their armour and yéelding vp to the King the Cities and Townes which they had taken would be sworne to shewe all obedience toward the King as to their soueraigne Lorde would also obey the Kings Edictes which were al ready made and shal be made hereafter by our coÌ„sent and confirmed by the Senat of Paris we would depart of our
those their subtil flightes haue once had good successe and haue bene by them abused to the destruction of many if God had not prouided for the same they wold now put them in prac tise againe although there is not one of those which taketh our part which would not willingly spend bestowe all that he hath his life to in the seruice of the kyng yet notwithstanding they call â—…e Rebelles the kynges enemies There is I say not one of vs which would not most gladly for the preseruation of our king whom we alone singularly loue serue reuerence as the only gift of God spend bestowe his life There is none of vs which hath put him self in armour to requier any thing of the Quéen or of the king of Nauar. We require no other kyng whom we may acknowledge reuerence as our liedge Lord Soueraigne Neither do wee require to haue him and his authoritye in our hands We desire not to haue tributes customes taxes other payments due to him to be made to be eased diminished nay on the contrary part we not only haue not refused to beare any burthen that hath ben layed vp pon vs but do also now of our owne accord promise vnto the king to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he wil require so far forth as our goodes wil extend The Cities which are blamed as Rebelles haue not forsaken or changed their Soueraigne they gladly acknowledge al obedieÌ„ce to the kyng They haue not put themselues in armoure against the King such wickednes be farre from them neither haue they sought by force to make the King and his authoritie subiect vnto them But they we haue put our selues in armour against the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew that with such discre tion modesty that we séeke neither their bloud goods nor offices Therfore they which shall say that we haue put our selues in Armour against the kyng shall impudently lie or els those Suppliants attribute to them selues the kyngs name dignitie But they which shal counsell perswade the king to giue vnto them his authority souldiers money although warre were enter prised against him shal truly one day make an accoÌ„pt of those their couÌ„selles shall declare who hath caused the king the Realme to contend who also hath spent the kings money contrary to the lawes of the Realme And I trust it will so fall out that the goodes which they haue taken out of the Kings treasury to mayntain warres wil be one day repayed againe out of their substance both to the profite of the Kyng and also to the easing and disburthening of the people 11 Last of all they protest that they are ready to goe home to their owne priuate houses yea to the vtmost partes of the world if néede should require and to the end we should not be ignorant they assigne the time of their departure saying When these thinges are fulfilled and brought to passe that is to say When the Edict of January by their priuate authoritie is openly broken when the reformed Religion is wholy abrogated with the preaching of the word of God and the administration of Sacraments when our consciences shal be subiect to the vexatioÌ„ of straunge doctrine wheÌ„ al they that haue im braced the reformed ReligioÌ„ shal be put to sileÌ„ce made subiect to the furor outragions madnes of their enemies being in dauÌ„ger of their liues if they liue otherwise than they would haue them and to vse their owne wordes if they shall liue without offence that is to say if they will come to Masse and to other popish ceremonies this they call to liue without offence These are the conditions which we may looke for at their handes This is their discréete counsaile ¶ But let vs now procéede a little farther and let my petition be ioyned and compared with theirs which I now make as followeth I require the obseruation of the Edict of January they on the contrary part would haue the same abolished They desire the subuersion ruine of many Noble families and of others also I desire that al the kings subiects of what estte or condition soeuer they be of should be in safty stil inioye their goodes liuinges and to be deliuered from all iniury violence and oppression They goe about to kyll and destroye all those of the reformed Religion I séeke to preserue them vntill the Kyng shall come to ryper age to iudge and determine of the whole matter as shall séeme best vnto him and in the meane time I desire that both parts may liue quietly that the papistes may enioy their liuings reuenewes with safety They séeke to deale by open violence not caryng to begin ciuill warre séeking by forrayne ayd to destroy vs spending the kings treasure to the destruction both of the king and also of the realme wherby we are constrayned to defend our selues I neyther desire warres neither do I spend the kinges treasure neither do I séeke the helpe of straungers nay I re fused them alwais hitherto when they haue offered me their seruice so wil I doe still except I be thereunto greatly constrayned by these authours of warres I desire to haue armour put of on both partes do promise that all those which are of my part shal be obedient and that loue and the reuerence which we owe to the king shal more preuail with vs thaÌ„ force of armes for whose preseruation we are ready to spend all that we haue They desire that we may be counted rebells and open enemies our cause not heard yea they séeke our bloud our offices our goods and our consciences We neyther séeke their bloud their offices their goods nor their consciences This only we séeke for at their hands to whoÌ„ wée will be bound that they and wée will go home euery man to his own house according to the tenor of those conditions which we haue more copiously declared in the Instrument which we sent to the King and Quéene con cerning this matter Neyther can they complayne say that they are hereby dishonored séeing that we submit our selues to the same conditions Our peticion is alike without any manner of inequalitie we desire nothing but that which is indifferent for both partes séeing that they theÌ„selues came otherwise then they ought to haue come to the king and were the causes of these troubles by their vntimely vsurping of armour And they haue violently assaulted so many good men that although our petitions are not alike and so indifferent yet notwithstanding it should be expedient for the peace tranquillitie of the realme to haue rather regard consideration of many men than of a few least the whole kingdome for these causes be brought into peril of ciuill warres But although there be no comparison betwéene these two peticions séeing the one is iust and equal but the other vniust and violent
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantâ—…s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre â—…acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ—… frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌ„scur Anuil who by and by coÌ„maunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the â—…earefull Protestanteâ—… of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ—… armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌ„mon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌ„suer Anâ—…ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ„ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniâ—…ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger â–ª Whereby it came to passe that â—…he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
both before and in the time of the late troubles Diuers other places also were spoyled of this frée vse of their Religion who notwithstanding had it the. vii of March at the earnest entreatie not onely of certaine Nobles who were méere Lordes of those places but also of suche as were onely gouernours substituted and put in truste by your highnesse grace and fauour which is nothing else but a â—…lat breach of the Edict The Edict without any distinction or difference gyueth frée libertie of Religion to All men in euery place but by the interpretation of Rossillon al they he or she who came from any abbeyes or Nunryes are debarred from his fréedome compelled to returne to their Cloysters and there to liue according to the Canons of popishe traditions and yet the preface of that interpretation saith it was not made to derogate any thing froÌ„ the Edict the wordes of the exception be these That all Priestes and all other men or women that haue receiued the orders of Monachisme and forsaking that estate haue maryed wyfes eyther in the time of the former broyles or after the pacification therof be compelled to forsake and renounce those Mariges and to returne to their former kynde of liuing and therein to lyue accordyng to the rules and orders appoynted â—…or them Which thing besides that it dothe manifestly violate the Edict whiche permitteth euery man to liue according to his own conscience doth flatly repugne stand against the commandement of almightie God who is author and fautor of Matrimonie It woulde also bréed great strife and dissention in the Monasteries and religious houses In the declaration of RosilloÌ„ is also adioyned an interdict and prohibition of Synodes not onely contrarie to the Edict but also flat against diuers others of your Maiesties letters and commaundementes For althoughe the Edict doe not expresely make mention of them nether doth flaâ—…ly forbyd them yet doth graunt the vse of such religion as is reformed it muste néedes follow that it doth permit them especially for that they doo appertaine to that religion and are not onely as accidents and things belonging to it but are also the very maintayners and as it were the synewes wherewith that religioÌ„ is gouerned This kind of Synodes the auncient fathers in olde tyme dyd vsâ—… very often before generall Councels were knowen And surely the vse of them is so necessarie bothe for the rooting vp of Heresies and corruptions of liuing whiche doe dayâ—…y créepe into the Churche and also to â—…epe awaye and debarre al wicked and vngraciâ—…us persons from the communitie of the Sacramenâ—…es and other godly ceremonies that without them it is impossible euer to 〈◊〉 vnto anye true and sincere puritie either of life or doctrine and yet we doe not meane that any vnlawfull or to high authoritie should be practised in them Neither is there anye thing that we more earnestly desire then that your Maiestie woulde appoynte certaine men at your graces discretion to be presente with vs at those our Synodes and so shoulde all suspicion of false and cauilling opinions be quite taken away Besides these violent wrestings and breaches of the Edict which are the only cause of all sedition those that did make and frame them haue perswaded your highnes that it was necessarie for the better obseruation of them to appoint and set downe penalties for all such as did violate them and yet made proâ—…estation in their pre faces that those interpretatioÌ„s were not made to derâ—…gate any thing from the Edict where as it is most manifest that no more effectuall and forcible way could be inuented quight to abolish and ouerthrow it Confiscation and losse of goodes house and land is appointed for them as though they were rebelles and traitoures to your grace Whereby it is euident that these fellowes which do abuse your maiesties name and authority are most wickedly bent to destroy your highnes subiectes and vtterly to deface and raze the noblest and most honorable families of your kingdome to the great decay and ruine of your faithfull and loyall subiectes which when they haue done it will be to late to repent And as for my self and all other of the reformed religion wâ—…e are so fully perswaded of your maiesties goodnesse and clemencie towardes vs that we do not thinke it to bee your wil and pleasure that such sharpe and seuere punnishmentes should be executed vpon vs But such is the wilfull and outragious lust of many your graces Lieuf tenantes and officers that they bestowe wholy al their traâ—…aile and diligence both of body and mind to se these clauses and interpretations obserued and only endeuoring themselues to destroy vs will and doe thinke this occasion good enough by examination of our doinges to trouble and endaunger vs If so bee they can but espie the protestants resorting to make their praiers to God or els to heare his holy woord in any other places then those that be appointed for them or if they go to any other Noble mannes house then his whose subiectes and seruantes they be Which certainly doth make nothinge either with or against the duty they owe to your maiestie or the coÌ„mon publique vtility of the Realme But when as they sée before their faces slaughters seditions and most daungerous and â—…amentable occasions of new tumults and breach of peace then they turne their backes and winke at them in such manner deale with vs that they had rather graunt commission of enquirie out against them that were spoyled and are plain tife then once to make proffer that they are willing to administer Iustice equally to all men for the restraint of the cruell rage of so bloudy murtherers who as it is manifest by the impunitie of all outrages coÌ„mittd vppon vs â–ª are defended maintained and set on by them as thoughe we were abhorred detested of your highnesse and not in the nomber of your faithfull subiectes And how true this is dayly examples do make to euident Newes commeth euery day of slaughters and seditions out of all quarters of your kingdome but no word of ani punishment executed for them And besides infinite murthers and hauocke made in other Prouinces vppon the faithfull your maiestie may behold those which were coÌ„mitted at Creuan in Maynes in Prouance in Aquitaigne in Puy and that lately done at Tours For which wee neuer to this day could procure any kind of redresse may so vnpossible it is to geâ—… remedy that in diuers places commandement was giuen that such mat ters should not come in question and trial yea which is more the commissioners did sit against those that were spoiled which thinge did not only greuously trouble theÌ„ that had sustained damage and iniurie but did also encourage and enbolden the hartes of the seditious And diuers other that might haue bin repressed with litle labour were by this example animated and hartened to perseuer in all kind of violence and rapine Wherefore ii
also in the laste rising as soone as was offered to the sayd prince and other Lords and gentlemen of his company the reestablishment of the exercise of religion notwithstanding their greate troupes and strength of straungers ioyned with them and vpon the very point to assaulte the towne of Chartres in the view and face of the enemyes campe which was for the most disordered if at the onely sounde and pronouncing of peace made by a Trumpet sent vnder the name of your maiestie the sayde prince did not onely forbeare y assault but also raised forthwith his siege and retired his army reping notwithstanding of so readie obedience but a bloudy peace and promise full of infidelitie if also during the same sturre the morrow after the battaile at Sainct Denys where both the prince had the better and the Constable principall leader of the army was slaine The sayde Prince dispatched to your maiestie the Lord de Theliguy aswell to warne you of the ruine and desolation threatning from the instaunt your Realme if the straungers were suffered to enter houering there vpon the frontiers as also to mediate and sollicite in meanes and remedyes to knit an absolute peace only in the cause of religion if in short your Edicts haue bene alwayes published and the peace accorded at suche tymes as they of the religion if they would haue abused the opinion of your purpose might in respect of their forces persuade and beléeue that aswell in all your parleyes and treaties of peace there was no other mention than of the matter of religion as also that their enemyes haue not bene brought to it but by necessitie being vnable by open force to mayntaine any longer against them in what conscience or with what face or countenance may it be sayd that these troubles moue continue for the matter and cause of religion And yit neuerthelesse the more to choke and conuince the Cardinall of Lorraine and other his adherentes of their lies and slaunderous impositions which they publish daily the said Princes Lordes Knightes gentlemen and others of their companies forgetting the infidelitie and all disloyall attemptes heretofore conspired agaynst them declare and protest this daye both before God and your Maiestie that what so euer hath ben don or offered to them in euill from the beginninge to thys houre thei neither haue nor wil once impute it to your Maiestie as knowing your nature to be nothing touched with such iniust seuerities whereof you haue gyuen so many publique experiences that there is nowe no cause of doubte neyther haue or do they thinke to chaunge or diminish in any respect their duetye and naturall regard which they haue alwayes bent to the true aduauncement of your greatnesse and Royall estate wherein and also in so many effectes aforesaid if it bée both knowne and séene that they entertayne no other purpose nor meaning than vnder the obedience and authoritie of your Edictes to serue God according too his will and as they are instructed by his holy woorde with desire to be maintayned with equall care as your other subiectes in their honours liues and goods they are now ready to giue such further manifest proofe and witnesse as their most enemies shall haue least cause henceforth to doubt them And that neither to enter into any iustification of their actions passed as their innâ—…cencie and iustice of their cause béeing sufficientlye known to your maiestie and all other Kings princes and potentates what straungers so euer they be if they be not of the faction and partie of Spaine much lesse to séeke to capitulate with your maiestie knowing god be praysed what is the dutie of good and faythfull subiectes to their soueraigne Prince and naturall Lorde But Sir in respect of the large peny worthes and coÌ„mon marchandise which heretofore hath bene made of the faith and word of your maiestie which aboue all ought to be holy sacred inuiolable and withall with what vnséeming boldnesse your authoritie and name hath ben abused to the extréeme periâ—… of all your people of the reformed profession it néed not séeme straunge if the said Princes with their consociates doe humbly beséeche you to declare by an Edict solemn perpetual and irreuocable your resolute will in a libertie exercise of their Religion to the ende that by the same suche as heretofore at two seuerall times both rashly and with all impunitie haue infringed and violated your former constitution in that cause may by this thirde be more brideled and restrayned wherein because such as were not able to endure the vnitie and vniuersall rest maintayned amongst your people by the good obseruation of your Edictes haue taken occasion to alter and corrupt them by new constructions and modifications contrary to the true substaÌ„ce of the same and sincere meaning of your maiestie And that also the sayde Princes with the reste of their faction confesse to haue borne a most iust iudgement of God in more sortes of afflictions in tyme of peace than when it was open â–ª warre as in con senting too easely to the treatises of peace whiche haue ben made the same prouiding a generall contentment on all sides that God should be serued onely in certayn places of the Realme and by certain persons as though in a sound conscience there belonged no other thing to the seruice of God. They most humbly beséeche your maiestie to accord and graunt generally to all your subiectes of what qualitie and condicion so euer frée vse of the sayd Religion in all Cities villages and boroughes all other places and corners of your Realm and countreys within your obedience and protection without any exception reseruacion modification or restraint of persons tymes or places and that with suerties necessary in so hyghe a cause and besides to ordeyne and enioyne to make manifest profession of the one or other religion to the ende to cut of hereafter all meanes and occasions to many who abusing such benefite and grace are flipt into Atheisme and carnall libertie and who standing vpon no exercise and profession of religion desire nothing more than to sée an vniuersall confusion in this Realme and all order pollicie and Ecclesiasticall discipline reuersed and abolished a thing so daungerous as not to be tollerated in any Christian state And because Sir wée doubt not at al that those who hetherunto haue pitched the foundation of their deuises vppon slaunderous reproches impudently published to make vs hatefull eueÌ„ to such as God be praysâ—…d be frée from the seruitude tyrannie of Antichrist will not sticke to impose vppon vs an inciuiâ—…e obstinacy rather to defend without reason that we haue once resolued to beléeue touching the Articles of Christian religion than to correct or retract our erroures We declare and protest as herevnto we haue done that if in any pointe of the confession of faith heretofore presented to your maiestie by the reformed Churches of your Realme it may be founde by the word
vs to God and that their Reliques ◅re to be worshipped That the commaundemēts and traditions of the Catholike Apostolike and Romishe Churche as well they which pertaine to the forme and ceremonies of diuine ◅ruice and to assist the same which I thinke bee too drawe Christian people to pi◅ie and turning to their God as fasting absteyning from meates obseruation of holy dayes and ecclesiasticall pollicie according to the tradition of the Apostles and holye Fathers continued since the primitiue Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of councels receyued in the same of long and auncient time or of late be good and holy to the whiche I wil and ought too obey as prescribed and appointed by the holye ghost the author and directer of that which serueth for the keping of christian religion and of the catholike Apostolike and Romaine church I beleeue also and accepte all the articles of originall sinne and of Iustification I affirme assuredly that we ought too haue and kepe the images of Iesus Christ of his holye mother and all other saincts and do honor and reuerēce vnto thē I confesse the power of indulgence and pardōs to be left in the church by Iesus Christ the vse of thē to be very heathful as also I cōfesse the church of Rome to be the mother and chief of al churches and cōducted by the holy Ghost and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same come of the suggestion of the Deuill the Prince of di◅ention which woulde separate the vnion of the mysticall body of the sauiour of the worlde Finally I promise straightly too kepe all that was ordained at the last general councel of Trēt and promise to God and you neuer more to depart from the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church and if I do which God forbid I submit my selfe to the penalties of the canons of the sayd Church made ordeyned appointed against them which fall backe intoo Apostasie The which Abiuration and Confession I haue subscribed THE KINGS LETTERS TO M. DE GVISE and other Lieutenantes and Gouernors of his Prouinces by the which he wholly abolisheth and subuerteth al the Edictes of Pacification and willeth that onely the Romish Religion should take place in his Realme THe King knowing that the declaration which he made vpon the occasions which lately cha◅ced in the Citie of Paris the remembrances and instructions of his will which he sent rou◅d about to all Gouernours of his Prouinces and Lieutenants generall therin and particular letters to the Seneshals and his Courts of Parliament and other officers and Ministers of Iustice cā not hitherto staye the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this Realme to his Maiesties great displeasure hath aduised for a more singular remedie to send all the sayd Gouernours into euery of their charges and gouernements assoring him selfe that according to the qualitie and power which they haue of his Maiestie they can well followe and obserue his intent the which more fully to declare his Maiestie hath caused his letters patentes to be dispatched which shall be deliuered them Besides the contentes wherof M. de Guise the gouernour and Lieutenāt generall for his Maiestie in Champaigne and Brye shall call before him the gentlemen of the newe Religion abyding within his gouernement and shal tell them that the Kings will and intent is to preserue them their wyues children and families and to maintaine them in possession of their goods so that on their parte they liue quietly and render to his maiestie obedience and fidelitie as they ought in which doing the King also will defende them that they shall not be molested or troubled by way of Iustice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles before the Edict of Pacificatiō of August 1570. And afterwardes he shal louingly admonish thē to cōtinue no longer in the errour of the new opinions and to returne to the Catholike Religion reconciling themselues to the Catholike Romish Church vnder the doctrine and obedience wherof Kings his predecessors and their subiects haue alwayes holily lyued and this Realme hath bene carefully conducted and mainteyned Shewing too them the mischiefes and calamities which haue happened in this Realme since th◅se newe opinions haue entred intoo mens spirites Howe manye murders haue bene caused by such which haue fallen from the right waye holden by their Auncestors First they made them separate themselues f◅om the churche then from their nex◅e of kinred and also to be estranged from the seruice of their king as a man may see since his raigne And although the authors and heades of that side would haue couered their doings vnder the title of Religion and cōscience yet their deedes and workes haue shewen wel inough that the name of religion was but a visarde to couer their driftes and disobedience and vnder that pretence too assemble and subborne people and too make and compel them to sweare in the cause vnder the title of disobedience and by suche wayes to turne them from the naturall affection whiche they owe to the King and consequently from his obedience being notorious that what commaundement so euer the King could make to them of the newe Religion they haue not since his raigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads And contrariwise when their sayd heads commaunded them to arise and take to their weapons too set vpon Cities to burne churches too sacke and pill to trouble the Realme and fill it with bloud and fire they which went so astray to followe them forget all trust and duetie of good subiects to execute and obey their commaundements VVhich things if the gentlemen wil wel consider they shall easely iudge how vnhappie and miserable their condition shall bee if they continue longer therein For they may well thinke of them selues that the King being taught by experience of so greate a daunger from the which it hath pleased God too preserue him and his estate and hauing proued the mischiefes and calamities which this Realme hath suffered by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherentes and complices that he wil neuer willingly bee serued with any gentlemen of his subiects that be of any other religion than the Catholike in the which also the King following his predecessors wil liue and die He willeth also to take away al mistrust amōgst his subiects and to quench the rising of discordes and seditions that all they of whom he is serued in honorable places and specially the gentlemē which desire to be accōpted his good and lawfull subiects and would obtaine his fauour and be employed in charges of his seruice according to their degrees and qualities to make profession hereafter too liue in the same Religion that he doth hauing tryed that discords and ciuil warres will not cease in a state where there be many Religions and that it is not possible for
the same in declaring that he commaunded those murders too bee committed hauing also made protestation before that it is too his greate griefe and done by the outrage and violence of those of Guise against whome he was not able to make speedie resistance in tyme as his Maiestie desired And in this quarell wee the Gentlemen Capitaines and other that make you this answere are readie to trie it by combat man to man or otherwise to maintaine the honour of our King against all those that so p◅ophane holye things and as much as in them lyeth doe by such wordes and titles vilainously defile the excellence of his Maiestie and of the noble Princes of his bloude VVhich wee maye right well coniecture and estimate by the slaughters that are yet in doing as well in the towne of Paris as else where vpon so manye noblemen gentlemen and other men women and children and vpon a greate number of yong scholars the maintenance vnder God of Realmes and common weales in time to come and by many other barbarous vnnaturall and vnmanly actes generally committed VVe think therfore and iudge that herein treason is enterprised against the person of his Mai◅stie and of my Lords his brethren and that the Guisians meane to inuade the Crowne of the Realme as they haue of long tyme practised and how so euer it be we say that his Maiestie is forced by the power that they haue taken vpon them and vsurped by meane of the rebellious stirre of the commons of Paris As for that which they saye that the Admirall and those of the Religion had conspired against the Kings Maiestie and his brethren these be allegations of as greate truth and of as good likelyhoode as their maner of proceeding in Iustice hath bene orderly beginning at execution before examination of the fact But it is now no neede to tarrie for tyme too discouer it for the matter is plain to bee seen with eye and groped with hand and all those of the Romishe Religion that haue remaining any droppe of nature of man doe confesse it and holde downe their heads for shame cursing both with hart and mouth the cruel executers of this abhominable enterprise and the wicked disturbers of common quiet which can yet no more suffer than they hetherto haue done that this poore Realme shoulde long enioye the benefite of that peace which the King alone next vnder God had wisely caused to be made and to bee accordingly obserued whereof this Realme began to feele the good taste to the greate contentement of all persons except the enimies of peace and of this Realme namely the Guisians Finally when his Maiestie being out of their handes and power shall declare what is his pleasure wee will endeuour vs to obey him in all things wherin our consciences which are dedicate to God alone shall not be wounded in which case wee will rather forsake the earth than heauen and our frayle and transitorie houses rather than the heauenly mansions But hetherto the lawe of nature and the duetie that we owe to our naturall Prince to the preseruation of his Crowne and to the safetie of our lyues oure wiues and children doth commaund vs to stand vpon our garde and not to put vs in the mercie of those that haue receyued the same bloudy commission from the Guisians vnder the pretended name of the King to vse vs in the same manner as they haue wickedly tr◅itorously and vnnaturally done to those about his Maiestie and as it were vnder his wings and vnder the skirtes of his robe which the traitors strangers haue stained with the true French bloud without that his Maiestie hath bene able to remedie it nor too staye their cursed at◅emptes so much lesse is he able now so farre off to defend vs as he would which his Maiesties good wil being knowne vnto vs doth arme vs for our defence and for the safegarde of our liues and of the priuileges which he hath giuen vs vntil such tyme as he shall be able by himself to defend vs against his enimies and ours FINIS Iohn Sleidan Iacobs slaughter at Paris Newe deuises to abolishe the Gospell The tumult of Ambaxian The king◅ Edict of pardō Sodeine alteration by the death of king Fraunces The Kings Edict cōmonly called the Edict of Ianuarye The name of Lutheranes Geneua a sanctuarie for the godly Great persecution in the Church of Paris Anno domini ▪ 1557. Wicked slaunders deuised against the faithfull Duke Arscotus a Brabantine An apologie for the faithful captiues The arrogant threatnings of the Constable Anno domini 1558. Certayne examples of Gods vengeance shewed vppon diuers persecutors of the Church Persecution stayed for a time Examples of iniuries done to the faithful 16. leafe The fruites of the sermons of the Papistes The parliament at Paris Foixius The first synode of the Churches of Fraunce The summe of the letters of the Princes of Germanie sent to the King. Annas Burgaeus examined condemned and iudged to dye The death of king Henrie The summe of the confession of Burgens A comparison betvvene the doctrine of the Gospell and the Romishe doctrine 2. Thes. 2. 3. The sentēce of death against Burgaus By the tyrant Phalaris he meaneth the Cardinall of Loraine Great afflictiō of the Church after the death of king Hērie An example of two false brethren Grieuous affliction Margaret Riche The descriptiō of the tumult of Ambaxia Villemongius he Kings ◅rs of par◅n Spirituall ◅ guenotes a Temporall Huguenote The names of Princes did not appertaine to the Guises in the kingdome of Frāce Afflictions after a sort cease A description of the Scotres warre for Religion Calabria a countrie ioyning to Naples The Scripture The worde The three Credes The Trinitie Man. Originall sin ▪ Election Christ. God and man. Two natures in Christ. The death of Christ. The Sacrifice of Christ. Remission of Sinnes Faith. The grace of the holy gost Newnesse of lyfe Good works The figures of the law The doctrine of the law One onely aduocate Intercession of saintes Purgatory Ecclesiasticall discipline The vnitie of the Church What the Church is The Papacy Discipline of the Church The lawful election of mi nisters Excommunication Sacraments Baptisme The Lords Supper Magistrates The supplications of the faithfull deliuered by the Admiral to the King. The sentence of the Bishop of Valentia Bishops of Rome Lawyers Bishop◅ Curates He speaketh to Queenes namely to the Kings mother and the Kings wife The singing of Psalmes The seconde remedie to appease troubles The example of the kings Carolus Magnus and Lodowicke The Gospell of diuers men diuersly receyued With what weapons in time past the Bishops resisted heretikes The oration of the Bishop of Vienna Two pillers of the kingdome The office of a King A Tyrant Religion Why a generall Councell is not to be looked for A Parliament The controuersie betwene Charles the v. and Pope Clement Forewarnings of delolation to come Couetousnes the Babilonicall beast Math.
of God comprehended in the Canonical bookes of the holy scripture that we swarue from the doctrine of the prophets and apostles we will forthwith lend our handes and giue place to such as will instruct vs better in the word of GOD if we erre in any article than we haue bene from the beginning for which cause and the better to effect so happie a purpose we desier nothing more than a conuocation of a counsell frée and generall and lawful ly called wherein as euery one may haue hearing and scope to reduce his reasons at large so the same to be eyther confirmed or conuinced by the only woord of God the true meane vsed in al times of antiquitie vpon like ocâ—asion By which meane Sir also it is not to be doub ted that God by his speciall grace will not vnseale the eyes of your maiestie and so giue you spéedye and true sight into the hartes and willes of your subiects reconciled and knit with an indissoluble bond your Realme returned into his first estate beawty and dignitie to the shame and confusion of yours and our coÌ„mon enemies who by their subtill and priuie intelligences wyth the house of Spayne haue with sinister pollicyes translated the late storme and tempeste of the lowe Countreys to your Realme and almost thundered it vpon the type of your crowne humbly desiringe your maiesty to enter precise consideration and iudgement whether it be better to expecte of two armies already assembled within your realme a firy and bloudy victory yéeldinge equall frute to the conquerour and he that is ouercome or else to employe them togyther in the seruice of your maiestyes affayres in so many goodly occasions presently offered importing no lesse the rest and aduauncement of your crowne and realme than any that euer happened in your tyme returning also by that meane the storme to the place from whence it came wherin the said princes Lordes Knightes Gentlemen with all the rest of their companyes be vnfaynedly resolued as in all other thynges tendinge to the greatnesse of your Noble estate to employ their liues goods with al other meanes wherewith God had endued them euen to the last drop of their bloud acknowledging in this world no other so ueraintie or principalitie than yours in whose obedyence and subiection they â—…o desire to liue and dye The same being also such and al that a soueraigne and naturall Prince is to exspect or desire of his faithfull louing subiects and seruants This request thus deuised and written the Princes sent a trumpet to the catholikes camp to obtayne passeport for a Gentleman to go to his maiestie which being refused the Admiral found meanes to send a coppie of it to the Marshall Montmorancy to present to the King who about the xix of Iulye following returned a messenger to the Admirall to let him knowe that he had presented the requeste to his maiesty who would not looke on it sayinge he would neyther heare nor sée any thing comming from him afore he had put himselfe in obedience and fauour of his maiestie who then assured him to receiue and embrace him when and as often as he would put himselfe in endeuour To this message by letter the Admirall aunswered the. xxvi of the same moneth that séeinge his maiestye would not receyue the said request he could not otherwyse chuse than leaue the matter to the iudgement of al christian Princes not touched with passion or partial affection whither they vsed not indeuour to come vnder the dutifull obedience of his maiestie or not labouringe for their part by all their possible meanes to quench the manifold calamities houering to ouerwhelme the whole realme and so sette themselues within the fauour and grace of the king But now séeinge that there be some will not spare the vniuersall destruction of the realme onely to rauishe their lyues and erercyse of theyr religion they would looke more neare than afore for the remedy The Kinges brother being at Lohes had aduertisement of the sieege of Luzignan dispatching with all diligence the Duke of Guyse to get within Poictiers as well to hinder the taking of the towne as to turne the siéege from Luzignan notwithstanding he was ther no sooner than the castell was rendered The Duke of Guise arriued at Poytiers with the Mar quise du Meine his brother on Fryday xxii of Iuly entring by the Bridge Anioubert with his companies which were about fiftéene hundreth horsemen amoÌ„gst whom were foure hundreth Italians gouerned by the lord Paule Sforce brother to the Counte de Sainct Fiour and one Cornet of Reisters These succoures assured greatly them within the Towne who otherwayes might happely haue treÌ„bled at the comming of the Princes campe There were within Poyctiers afore the Guyses comming the Counte du Lude his thrée brethren de Chastel liers de Sautere and de Briançon the Lordes de Ruffec de la Riuiere Boisequin de Ferraques d' Argence de Rouet other lordes and Knights of the Order and Captaynes of horsemen with part of their companies There were also of footemen the companies of the Captayne 's Passac la-Prade la Vacherie d' Arsac le Lis Bois-vert Boneau Boulande Iarrie with certaine other besides vi companies of footemen raysed by the inhabitants of the town The generall number of Catholike Souldiours of all sortes as well footemen as horsemen straungers as townesmen during this siéege whereof shall be spoken hereafter were v. or vi thousand meÌ„ they had vi péeces of Artillerie as two or thrée meanes and certeyn lessâ—… péeces in the Castell The Princes after the rendering of Luzignan and afore they besieged Poyctiers tooke Monstruel Bonyn Bouché Sansay Viuone with other little Castelles about Poyctiers thereby to hold the Catholiques more strayt In which meane while the princes horssemen made ordinarie roades euen to the gates of Poyctiers burninge many Abbayes Priories and Temples The 24. day the said horsemen as wel French as Allemans presented theÌ„selues in battayl before the town on that side which is aboue the Abbay of S. Cyprieâ—… vntill very néere S. Benoit being deuided into two great hostes Certeyn horsemen of the town issued out at the gate toward the bridge Anioubert with certayn numbers of shot on foote who without any thing dooinge retired into the towne and the horsemen of the Religion into their seuerall quarters The 25. day of the same moneth the Princes foot meÌ„ and horsemen presented agayne before the town about noone The footemen gaue a hoat charge vppon the suÌ„burbes de la Cueille where the Capteyne Bois-vert with hsi companie lodged behind a little trench makinge negligent watch were sodenly set vpon and the moste part killed the rest being forced to retyre more lowe to the suburbs S. Ladre were valiantly followed by them of the religion euen to the postes and houses ioyning to the gate of the suburbes There began a hoat skirmish which lasted almost fyue houres vntill the night deuyded them they of the