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
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
Nauar that the Constable didde it not vpon the same consideration aâ—…d in that order but in respecte of his office of the Câ—…nstableship the same thyng proprely appertayning to his office But herevpon was kindeled a more fyerie contention and sharpe and bitter wordes passed on bothe partes and in suche sort that the next day the king of Nauarre made himselfe readie to depart and his caâ—…iage and sumpter horsses béeing sent before he himselfe was now readie to mount on horsebacke and with him were readie to goe all the Princes the kings néere kinsmen the Constable the Chastillions and the greatest part of the Nobles the which if it had come to passe the Guises and they of their parte shuld haue ben left only with the king And the report was that they would go no further than Paris that there calling the assemblie of states together they might fully determine concerning the gouernment of the kingdome The Quéene béeing verie sorie for this sodaine intention and purpose by the aduise of the Cardinall of Turnon called vnto hir the Constable and to the ende she mighte stay and deferre hys going she brought to passe that king Charles hir sonne two Secretaries being called to make record commaunded and charged the Constable in this necessitie to abyde with him as one of the chiefe officers that might not be spared This charge so stayed the Constable that he neuer durst as hée had promised follow the king of Nauarre for all the persuasuasions that duke Momorencius could vse who persuaded him to the same Therfore the king of Nauar was let of his purpose But it was euery where reported that the Quene for the hatred she bare vnto the king of Nauar made muche of the Guyses The which rumour broughte to passe that they which should come to Paris to the particular assemblies of the States as in other prouinces of the realme they did also came the more spéedily In the whiche assemblie many things were moued concerning the order and maner of gouerning the realme as concernyng the remouing and placing some from and to the most honourable offices concerning the Guyses accompt to make of the money whiche was spent in the tyme of king Frances the seconde concerning their euill behauiour in the tyme of king Henrie and concerning their briberie and vnlawfull receyuing of money In the whiche crime also the Marshall Santandrae the Duchesse of Valentien and others were guiltie All whiche were forbidden to be of the Kings priuie Counsell vntill suche tyme as they had made their accompt Then they whiche were for this cause assembled togither at Paris as it is declared before were forbidden to doe any thing concerning the gouernment of the kingdom but they notwithstandyng go forwarde with that whiche they had begonne affirming that the same did specially appertayne to the assemblie of States to be talked of and not to be left to the determination and will of the Princes and kings kinsmen only When the Queene heard this she was oute of meaâ—…ure troubled and fynding no better way or remedie than to be reconciled to the king of Nauarre she desired the Constable that he woulde endeuour himselfe all that he coulde to bring the same to passe And at the length the Constable béeing a meane there was a newe couenaunte and league made betwéene them namely That the King of Nauarre shoulde bee taken for the Vicegerent or Regent throughoute the whole Realme And that the Queene neuer after would doe any thing withoute his counsell and will. This and the rest whiche tended to this effect were confirmed and fully agreed vpon both by words and writings and Registred by the Kings Secretaries in publike record These conditions beeing concluded and agréed vpon all the Princes the Kings kynsmen and the Prince of Conde being for this cause sente for from Paris subscribed to the same The Duke of Guyse in lyke manner subscribed with them promising from thence forwarde to shewe him selfe morâ—… obediente to the Kyng of Nauarre Then commaundemente was giuen to the Marshall Momorentius that he shoulde with all spéed cause the states particularly assembled at Paris to be reuoked and called backe agayn and that the same whiche was done at the first concernyng thâ—… order of gouerning the kingdome should be quietly amended and corrected The which thing was wysely brought to pâ—…sse by him to the great pleasure of the Quéene and also without any offence to the king of Nauarre Among the Ambassadoures of forreyne Princes and nations whiche came into Fraunce to gratifie the newe kyng Charles there was the Ambassadoure of Denmarke called Georgius Gluchus For this man the king of Nauarre made a feaste and desired him to tell his lorde the kyng of Denmarke that be would before a yeare came came about bring to passe that the Gospell should be openly and fréely preached thoroughoute the whole realme of Fraunce â–ª For the whiche thing when thankes was giuen to God and the good intent and purpose of the king of Nauarre commended Georgius Gluchus the Ambassadoure prayed him that hée woulde take héede that the doctrine of Caluine and of the Heluetians myght not be receyued in France but rather the doctrine of Martine Luther Whyche doctrine the king of Denmarke his Lorde and the kyng of Sueuia and many other kings and Princes whose dominion and power is no lesse than theirs whiche acknowledge the bishop of Rome and his Churche doo followe To this the king of Nauarre answered that Martine Luther and Iohn Caluine did wholly disagrée from the Pope in fortie Articles and of those fortie Articles they agréed betwéene themselues in nine and thirtie So that there is but one betwene them in controuersie Wherfore sayeth he both parts must endeuor themselues mutnally to beÌ„d their minds force first of al against the Pope that he being once ouercome they may seriously togither consider confer and come to agréement in that article in controuersie and so the Churche at the length may be brought to his former puritie But the Constable when the Quéene and king of Nauar were made frendeu obteyned great fauour on bothe sydis perswading himselfe that he had not ben a lâ—…ttle beneficiall to both of them by this meanes he was verie familiar with them bothe But when he saw that in Leâ—…t flesh was commonly eaten and openly vought and solde and that there were lermons openly preached in the prince of Condes chamber heard also the Quéen opeÌ„ly say that it was the kings pleasure and hirs also that there should be godly Sermons euery day in the kings house he began to suspecte that the king of Nauarre and the Quéen had secretly agréed together concerning religion And there preached before the Kyng one Ianuâ—… Monlucius Bishop of Valentine at whose preaching the Constable and the duke of Guise were â—…euer but once and the Constable being verie angrie with the bishop of Valentine sayde that it was inough for him to come once and no
to be The like words also he hath in his 112. Epistle Also in 37. cha of his second booke against Crescon In like maner S. Cyprian sayth VVe must not haue regarde what this or that man doth before vs but what Christe Iesus hath done who is before all Like vnto this is the rule whiche S. Augustine gaue to Hierome And in an other place also when hée disputeth againste those which woulde vse the Councell of Ariminum Neyther will I saith he alleage the Councell of Nice against you nor shall you alleage the Councell of Ariminum againste me By the authoritie of Scripture lette vs weye matter with matter cause with cause and reason with reason Chrysostome was of the same opynion as may appeare in his 49. Homely vpon Mathew For the Church is founded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes Apostles Therefore to conclude this matter we embrace the holy Scripture for the fâ—…l and perfect declaration of al things which appertayne to our saluation But as touching that which appertaineth to generall councels and to the bookes of the fathers we meane to vse them and we forbid not you to vse them so farre foorth as that which ye shall bring from them be not disagreeing with the worde of god But for Gods sake bring not in their bare authoritie vntill al thinges are examined by the Scriptures For we saye with S. Augustine in his seconde booke De doctrina Christiana the. 6. chapter If there bee any difficultie in the interpretation of Scriptures the holy Ghoste hath so tempered the Scriptures that what soeuer in one place is obscurely spoken in another place is more playnely and euidently reuealed And thus far concerning that Article the whiche I haue prosecuted the more largely to the endâ—… all men maye knowe that we are enimies neither to generall Councels nor yet to the auncienâ—… Fathers There remayne yet to speake of two articles namely concerning the Sacraments and Ecclesiasticall discipline The first truely deserueth a copious and long tractation by reason of the often and great controuersies euen at this day concerning the same but bycause it is not our purpose to dispute but onely to declare the speciaâ—…l pointes of our confession it seemeth enough to me to eâ—…plicate the summe of our faithe We agree as I thinke in the description of the name of the Sacrament namely that Sacramenteâ—… are visible signes by the meanes and helpe whereof the coniunction which we haue with our Lord Iesus Chryst is not only simply signified or figured but is also truely offered vnto God and is confirmed sealed and as it were grauen by the power of the holy Ghost in their mynds which with a true faith apprehend that which is so signified and offered vnto them I vse this word Signified not to weaken or abolishe the Sacramentes but to the ende I might distinguishe the signe from the thing signified Herevpon we confesse that it is alwayes necessarie in Sacramentes that there be a heauenly and supernaturall change for we say not that the water in Baptisme is simply water but a true Sacrament of our regeneration and of the washing of our soules by the bloude of Christe Neither do we say that the breade in the holy Supper of our Lorde Iesus Christe is simply breade but a Sacramente of the precious body of Christe Iesus whiche was giuen for vs and that the wine is not simply wine but a Sacrament of his precious bloud which he hath shed for vs Neuerthelesse we deny that there is any change made in substance of the signes but in the ende and vse for the which they are instituted We denie also that the same mutation is made by the efficacie of certaine wordes pronounced neyther by the intention of him that pronounceth them but by his wil only which hath ordeined this heaueÌ„ly and diuine action the institution also wherof ought euidently and playnly to be expounded in the vulgar tongue that all men might vnderstand and receiue the same Thus muche concerning externall signes Nowe to come to that which is shewed and exhibited by those signes We say not that which many do who not well vnderstaÌ„ding our myndes haue supposed that we haue taught namely that in the Lords supper ther is only a coÌ„memoration of the death of our Lord Iesus Christe Neither do we say that we are partakers of the frutes of his death passion onely in that thing but do ioyne the ground it self with the frutes whiche do come fro him to vs affirming with S. Paul â–ª The bread which we breake according to the Lords instiâ—…tion is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say the participatioÌ„ of the bodie of Christ which was crucified for vs The cup which we drinke is the participation of his very bloud which was shed for vs yea â—…ueÌ„ in the verie same substance which he toke in the wombe of the virgin which he caried vp into heauen Behold I pray you can ye fynd any thing in this Sacrament which we séeke find not But me thinks I heare some body make answer For many wold haue vs to confesse the the bread the wine are changed not into the sacraments of the body bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ but into the very bodie bloud of our lord Other some peradueÌ„ture wil not so vrge vs but wil haue vs coÌ„fesse that the body bloud is really corporally in with or vnder the bread wine But here my Lordes I pray you heare me paciently a little for a time suspend your iudgements If either of these opinions shall be proued vnto vs out of the worde of God to be true we are redy to imbrace it and wholly to reteine it But it séemeth vnto vs according to the measure of oure faith that this Transubstantiation cannot be reuoked or brought to the analogie substance of faith and to sounde doctrine bicause it is wholly repugnant to the nature of Sacramentes in which it is necessarie that there remaine substaÌ„tial signes that they may be true signes of the body blod of Iesu Christ. Furthermore it doth euert and confound the veritie of the humane nature in Christ of his ascentioÌ„ And as my opinioÌ„ is of TraÌ„substantiatioÌ„ eueÌ„ so is it also of ConsubstaÌ„tiatioÌ„ which hath no grouÌ„d in the words of Christe neither is it necessary to this that we be partakers of the Sacraments But if any man demaund of vs if we make Christ to be absent froÌ„ the supper we answer that we do not separate him from the supper But if we haue respect vnto the distaÌ„ce of places as we must of necessitie wheÌ„ we speake of his corporal presence of his humanitie distinctly considered wee affirme that his body is so far absent from the bread wine as the heauen is absent from the earth fâ—…r so much as we the sacraments are in earth but he is so glorified in heaueÌ„
with good will and by due and holesome counsel for the benefite of the whole Realme and standeth not in néede of a Monkes aduise Concerning the Lords Supper â–ª you haue so vâ—…reuerently spoken of the same that you make a playe of it in the which Christ shoulde be the speciall person the which is to childishe ridiculous and prophane And so Beza tournyng hym selfe to Espensius sayde Ye vrge the consente of the Euangelistes in the fourme of woordes in that they haue all sayde Thys is my bodye but remember that the Euangelystes haue also sayde This is my bloud of the newe Testamente And also This Cup is the newe Testamente in my bloud the whiche cannot be vnderstoode without a figure as I haue alreadie shewed that it is a sacramentall kinde of speache as Saint Austine expoundeth it in his Epistle to Bonifacius If Sacrament â–ª sayth he should haue no agreement with those things whereof they are Sacramentes then were they no Sacramentes for this similitude they oftentimes receiue the name of those things which onely they represent As therefore the Sacrament of the body of Christ in some respect is the bodie of Christ and the Sacrament of the bloud of Christ is the bloude of Christe euen so the Sacramente of fayth is sayth â–ª neither can there be a Sacramente withoute the figure Then saide Espensius if the case be so that oure Sacramentes are not withoute the figure they differ not muche from the Sacramentes of the olde Testament which were fâ—…guratiue For they were figures and shadowes of the truth which is now made manifest and fulfilled in Christ Otherwise we must say that they are figures of figures The Ministers denyed this consequence affirming that the Legall Ceremonies which were appointed by God had respect to the truth whereof also the ancient Fathers were partakers before the comming of Christ and we after his comming in which time we are not vnder ceremonies but yet notwithstanding we néede visible signes and sacramentes so long as we shall be in this world and yet for al that it doth not followe that we haue the lesse vnderstanding of the truth although we haue externall Sacramentes After this a certaine Sorbonist demanded of the ministers what the 〈◊〉 This in these wordes This is my bodie signified The Ministers answered That it shewed the bread and signified the body of Christ that it might be vnderstande that the breade was a signe of the bodye which they confirmed by the testimonies of the fathers On the contrarie parte the Popishe Doctors replyed that the Grammer rules would not suffer this woord This to be referred to the bread But the ministers sayd that this was repugnant to the nature of Sacramentes in the which it â—…ught not to be denied but that the signe is ioyned with the thing signified Thus these Rabbines and Sorbonistes making exclamations in all things and a confused noyse spent the day And one among the rest shaking his finger at Beza sayd if we had thée in oure schole At the laste the assembly was dismissed and the conference after this was no more kept in the same order and forme the Cardinall fearing as it was reported least by their disputation in the vulgar and knowne tong the matter might the more plainely appéere to the Princes and nobles that were there Therefore from that day forward the maner of the conference was altered fiue out of eyther part that is to saye fiue of the Prelates and fiue of the Ministers being chosen and appointed for this conference by whome all matters mighte be reasoned and disputed of peaceably and quietly The fiue that were chosen from among the Prelates were these Ianus Monlucius â–ª Bishop of Valentia Vallius Bishop of Seâ—…n Bottillerius an abbot Espensius a Sorbonist The fiue that were appointed out of the reformed Churches were these Peter Martyr Theodore Beza Nicolaus Gallasius Augustine Marlorate and Espensius Then they agréed concerning the order of the disputation the place the time and concerning the Notaries whiche shoulde note receiue the disputation And although it séemed méete and conuenient to all men that the confession of the reformed Churches shoulde by order be handled firste yet notwithstanding they began the disputation concerning the supper bycause they had before propounded the same in that article which concerneth the Lordes presence in the Supper and the matter being diuersely canuassed and handled betwéene them at the length both partes agréed vpon thys article following Forsomuche as Faith maketh things that are promised to be present and doth truely receiue the body and bloud of our Lorde Iesu Christe by the power of the holy Ghoste wee confesse the presence of his body and bloud in the Supper in the which he offereth gyueth and truely exhibiteth â—…nto vs the Substaunce of his bodie and bloud by the operation of the holy Ghoste in whome wee receiue and eate spiritually and by Faith the same body whiche was offered for vs that wee maye bee bone of his bones and fleshe of hys fleshe and maye bee quickened by him and maye also perceyue and vnderstande what so euer doth appartayne to our saluation The fiue disputers for the Prelates shewed this article vnto their fellowes which they wholly mislyked Therfore the daye following another Article was exhibited vnto the Ministers in their name in the which there was somewhat altered for that which the first article attributed vnto faith the seconde attributed to the worde This article for the ambiguitie therof the ministers would not receiue least it should be the cause of greater errors But least the contention myght seme to stand in words they al agréed with one coÌ„sent on both sides to put down the article in this form VVe confesse that Iesus Christ in the Supper offereth gyueth and truely exhibiteth vnto vs the substance of bis body and bloud by the operation of the holy Ghost that we do receiue and eate spiritually by faith the same body which dyed for vs that we might be bone of his bone and fleshe of his fleshe to the ende also we might be quickened by him and may vnderstand al things that appertaine to our saluatioÌ„ And bicause Faith beyng grounded vpon the worde of God maketh things that are promised and of vs vnderstode to be present by this faith we truly and effectually receiue the true and naturall body of Christ Iesus by the power of the holy Ghost In this respecte we confesse the presence of his body and bloud in the Supper These things thus determined the chosen men on both sides went to shewe the matter vnto their fellowes that both partes mighte freely shewe their opinion and iudgement At the first sight therefore many of the Prelates receiued this article But when the matter was communicated and declared to the Sorbonistes they did afterwardes with one consent reiect the same And layde vnto the charge of their chosen men that disputed for them and which continued
Wherfore they appointed the day to go vnto the King and because they might the more effectually declare the matter before the King and also escape the perill and lyinge in wayâ—…e of the Cardinall they determined to go with the greater number that armed to defend themselues Therefore a hundred and twenty noble men hauing the Prince of Conde theyr Captaine came to Mâ—…nceaux to talke with the King and to offer vp vnto him a supplication in the name of all the faithfull the suâ—…ine whereof was this That for so much as the King had made an Edict to kepe his subiectes in peace and concorde which was necessary both for them and his Realme they most humbly beséeched him that the same might bee better obseruid and kepte than it had bin aforetyme And forso much as vntill that same day they had made the same complaintes afore in vain and that often times they now at that time trusted séeing there were so manifest perill of such greate troubles at hand that he would effectually declare that he made account of the faithfull as of the rest of his subiectes who being abused and iniuried haue no other refuge to flée vnto in their extreame calamities than to his grace their soueraigne Lord and King. The Cardinall of Lorraine vnderstoode of the comming of the prince of Conde with the rest of the nobles declared vnto the King and Quéene what great perill and daunger it was vnto their persons for the Prince of Conde to come vnto them with so greate a power of men intending he sayde nothing else than to take the king his mother and his whole family that then he might doe what him lyst The King and Quéene beyng made afearde wyth these rumors remoued to Paris being garded with the bandes of the Switzers The Prince of Conde being sory for this feare of the King and Quéene stayed at Rozoi a village therabout to the which place the Marshall Momorencius was sent declaring vnto him the causes of his comming saying that he was very sory that he was fallen into so great suspition To whom the Prince deliuered a Supplication and prayed him to deliuer the same to the King and to certifie him of his whole intent and meaning Then he came to Clay whether the Kinge sente vnto him the Chauncellour Hospitall the Marshall Vielleuil Moruilliers to whome when he had more at large declared the cause of his comming he sent letters agayne to the King in the which he protested his fayth and reuerent mynde which he bare towarde the King refuted the sclaunders of his Aduersaries by which they wente about to make hym hated of the King declared also that he was readye to render all obedience to the King for whose sake he sayd he woulde spende his life and goods notwithstandyng he sayde he sawe wicked and vngodly men abusing both the Kinges name and also his age and will whome alone he thought to be the causers of all these troubles and therefore woulde gyue place to none of them vnlesse he ment to shewe himselfe a traytor to hys King and Countrey The Prince of Conde also declared his reasons more particularlye and put downe this in writing as the summe of all his petitions First That accordyng to the firste forme of the Edicte all other interpretations and exceptions taken awaye the faythfull maye enioye their Religion and that all the Kinges Subiectes what Religion soeuer they be of may accordyng to their degree and callyng beaâ—… office vnder the King and bycause both the people and the Nobles haue bene oppressed with tributes vve desire saythe hée that it maye please the Kynge to ease vs of the same After this he remoued from Clay to the Towne of Sandionyse bycause the same beyng néere vnto Paris he might the more conueniently haue conference with the king But all was in vayne the Cardinall of Lorayne inflaming the mindes of the King and Quéene against the Prince of Conde and agaynst the cause of the faithfull But bycause the Prince of Conde woulde if it myghte possible be bring somewhat to passe he made this last request of the King That it would please him to haue some consideration of peace and mens consciences and that all thinges hereafter might be ordered not at the pleasure of their aduersaries but by the Kings will but by a firme and infalliable Edict But the Papistes thinking the Protestantes to be quite done and out of harte with vnaduised rashnesse rushed to warre again the Constable very immodestly and contrary to his gray heares behauing himselfe at Paris euen as thoughe already they had gotten the victory Therefore besyde the Souldiours which they had alreadye gotten and prepared there was choosyng and mustering of men at Paris and manye were preste to the warre in so much that a man might thinke that the Prince of Conde woulde easily now be oppressed and ouercome hauyng so fewe men wyth him notwithstanding within fewe dayes a great number came to him oute of all partes of the Realme and the faithfull in all quarters armed and prepared themselues The. viii Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth WAR being thus a fresh begonne all men wayted and looked for new thinges to come to passe NotwithstaÌ„ding these affayres of warre in dyuers places had diuers successe The Catholiques had many mo Cities and Armies of souldiours than the Protestants had howbeit they agayne far excéeded the other in courage and boldnesse being as men after long oppression by iniuries brought into pâ—…rill of their lyues and goodes The Protestantes had but a few cities in their possession Lions a towne of notable force â—…ell from them which by the diligence of the Gouernour of the Towne was out of hand very strongly fortified with new garrisons of men Then went the faythfull to wracke being robbed spoyled and murthered the souldiour the townesman furiously running vp and downe the Citie ransacking the houses of the faythfull their Temples wer set on fire which were very costly builded in two conuenient places yea the honest Citizens went to wrack in euery corner of the citie Howbeit many escaped by the meanes of the castell of Sansebastian the which notwithstanding was appoynted for the destruction of the faythfull but the kéeper was their friend Geneua was their Sanctuarie and refuge in this extréeme tyme of trouble Notwithstanding diuers Cities tooke parte with the Nobles of the reformed Religion as in Dolpheny Ualencia Vienna Roman and Montill In Languedoc Nemaux Montpellier notwithstanding the papistes held the Castell of S. Peter but afterwards were dryuen out of the same by Monsieur Mouents Castra-Albien certaine Cities also of Rhodes of Seuenas and of the territorie of Viâ—…aretz also by the industrie of Uicount Burinquet they had Montaulban and all that bordered vppon the same Moreouer Orleans and the Cities and townes therunto adioyning was
troupes whiche taryed behynde at Iarnac with Briguemauld came to Beauuoire besyde the ryuer of Mate where the Duke of Aniou was with hys armie So soone as the prince of Conde sawe him he set his army in aray and commaunded certaine drummes to stricke vp behynde a lyttle hill harde by them in couert as if an Armye of footemen had bene there Notwithstandyng all that daye was spent wyth certaynâ—… small skirmishes The Duke of Aniou beyng driuen froÌ„ thâ—…nce which is a place of passage ouer the ryuer sought another way and certayne miles beyonde Engolesme he passed ouer the ryuer Charente with hys whole armie and in hys iourney he sodenly gaue assault vpon the citie of Mele and on the castell of Ruffec slewe the garrisons tokâ—… the same and after this also he toke â—…y surrender thâ—… citie of Chasteau neufe and there passed ouer the riuer â–ª Report hereof being brought to the Prince of Conde he perceiued well that there was no lingering of time he went therfore with his maine battaile from Saintes to Cognac and the Admirall came with the vaunt garde â—…o Iarnac The eleuenth day of this moneth the Duke of Aniou hauing commaunded a strong bridge to be made at Chasteâ—…uneuf came neare in the meane tyme vnto Cognac with the greatest part of his armies makinge a countenâ—…unce as though he would presently besiege the Citie The princes of Nauar and of Coude were then at Cognac their Armies being distributed lodged among the Uillages there aboutes Then by and by they sente word to the Admirall commaundinge him to come vnto them with al spéede The Admiral bicause it was nedefull for them to be at Iarnac sente his brother the Andelot to the princes to the ende they might both vnderstand the necessitie of his abiding still and also to deliberate with them what was néedeful to be done The Andelot was not so sâ—…ne gone but the Duke of Aniou with his whole army which was at Cognac rushed with great violence mindinge to recouer and get the bridge of Iarnac But beinge forced to retire by the Admiral they turned their backes and many of them and of the other part also at this conâ—…ict were slaine In the meane time the prince of Conde deliberating of the matter minded on the day followinge to remoue his army and he on the xii day came to Iarnac the Admirall remoued to Bassac And the same day the Admirall came with the Uauntgard before Chasteauneuf to viewe the place He knew that the enemy had made another Bridge of woode neare vnto the stone Bridge of Ghasteaunâ—…f that he might passe and repasse ouer them with his wholâ—… army the more spéedely And then hée â—…eturned to Bassac againe leauing there certain bandes for defence till he came backe againe But bycause of the incoÌ„modiousnes of the place which caused the army to be dispersed abroade the prince of Conde sent to the Admirall willing him to be with hym 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day earely in the morning and to bring wyth hiâ—… all his bandes and his ordinance and to sée that the horsemen were with him euen at the breake of the day So soone as the Admiral had receiued the message he sent word that night to euery captaine hereof But many of them were so slacke that they had the nexte day in the morning scarsly taken their iorney by nine of the clock The Admirall taryed their comminge at the Riuer to kepe the same with certaine bandes of Harguabuziers In the meane tyme the Catholiques Campe passed ouer the riuer of Charente all the night with as great spéede as myght be and were come before Bassac in the sight of the prince of Conde But bycause the said prince lacked the Lord Pluueaus horsemen and his regimen of footemen leaft as you haue heard behinde and were nowe comminge he had no intent as yet to fight The morrow after being the xiii of March the prince with his horsmen that were already arryued presented himselfe in the morning in order of battaile before the enemy aboue the Uillage of Bassac When all was arryued the said prince returned with the battaile drue to Mattâ— neare Saint Iean de Angelie which the Admirall did also leauing behinde to direct the retracte the Lord de la Noue who retiring a reasonable pase and yet not far of was charged with a great hoste of horsmen which forced him to take the charge and chased hym to Bassac where the Admirall was ready to resist and repulsed the catholiques vnto the other side of the Uillage In the meane while certayne troupes of shot of the Catholiques entered the said village sought to skirmishe with the Admirall who likewise droue them out of the village Notwithstanding they were reléeued by the reste of the Campe that folowed at hand and returned to the village The Lord Admirall séeing that the Catholiques were so nye sent a Gentleman with spéede to the Prince to aduertise him that the whole campe of the coÌ„trary side was there and almost at his héeles so that séeinge no meane to retire without fightinge desired him to aduaunce such powers as he had of the battaile Immediatly the prince reculed till he was very néere the Admiral ringing himselfs in battaile at the foote of a hill on the left hand The Admirall was in battaile raye on the right hand along a little Coppies lookings towarde Bassac He had about him the Lord Pluueaus regimen of fiue Enseignes of footemeÌ„ who made a long skirmish and séeing that the Catholiques in the meane while were readie to charge him comming betwéene the Prince him turned his face right vpon them and with certain Cornets which were with him pressed vppon them so whotly that he brought to the ground a great number and so passed further At the same instant the Prince when hée had mads his praiers vnto God went to battail with great corage vpon whoÌ„ rushed a great Squadron of Reisters or Germanes and set vpon him on the syde at which charge his horse was killed and fell vppon him and his horsemen put to the chase whom the Catholiques pursued Albeit as they passed further a French Gentleman named the Lord of S. Iean knew the Prince of Conde and also the Lord de Argence both which promised him to saue his life or else to leaue theirs in aduenture Where vppon as an Archer being descended on foote to helpe to shifte the prince of Conde from vnder his horse and had set him on his féete one named Montesquion who was thought to be the captain of the garde to the Kings brother knowing the Prince shot him thorough the head with a pistolet the shot entering behinde came forth vnder his eye of which he presently dyed They which were present were very sore offended for this deed but specially they which had giuen vnto him their faith to saue his lyfe This was the ende of the Prince of Conde a Noble Prince â–ª who hath left behind him
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.
notwithstanding being carefull to defend theÌ„selues euen now of late they had brought soldiours armour into the Citie In the meane time newes was brought to Lyons of the tumult of Valentia almost about that hower in which the sturre was there made Then wente Mongeron from Lyons and by and by Fame reported that Mottecondrin was slaine at Valentia Therefore the faithful thinking it best to behaue theÌ„ selues maÌ„ly they in the night time secretly placed diuers armed soldiers in soÌ„dry places of the coÌ„mon streates at the length when thei had gotten the Townhouse had fortified euery place of the Citie and had taken the Churches they came into Parley with the Brother hood of saint Jhons which were fat and rich priestes who had leaue giuen them to departe out of the Citie vnarmed And so the faithfull had the City to themselues placed certaine péeces of ordinaunce in diuers conuenient places fortified the City After those things they came to Saltain the Liuetenaunt and declared vnto him that they had not done these thinges eyther for contempt of the king or his magistrates but to defend the Citye froÌ„ iniuries of open enemies and to kepe it for the Kynge obeyinge as their dutye required the commaundemeÌ„ts of the Prince of Conde to whom the conseruation of the king and Quéen appertayned and therefore they willed him according to his accustomed maner to proceed in the gouernmeÌ„t of the citie But M. Saltain within a while after forsaking his office got him home to his own house And M. des Adretze in the name of the Prince of Conde tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Citie And when consultacion was made by the Citizens what were best to be done they agréed at the last vpon this That there shuld be chosen out two thousand men of the reformed Religion to kéepe the Citie and that they should be payed their wages both out of the common treasury and also out of Ecclesiasticall liuings That no man should be indammaged or hurt for his religion but that it should be lawful for euery one to liue with his conscience to him selfe Notwithstanding that there should no Masses or other rytes and ceremonies be vsed either within or without the citie That there should be twelue of the chiefest of the reformed Religion ioyned with the Consuls or Aldermen of the Citie And that it should not be lawefull for the Aldermen of the citie to do any thing without their coÌ„sent And thus Lions came wholy into the handes and power of the faithfull After this the people spoyled the popish churches brake the Images and pictures of saincts and other ornamentes belonging to the Masse And it is reported that there were only thrée slaine in the winning of thys so great a citie Lyons being after this manner brought into the handes of the faithfull they tooke also the greatest part of Burgundy Monsieur Tauuanes the Liefetenant séeking in vaine to hinder and let them The newes of these things thus prospering on the Protestants side being spred throughout Fraunce troubled the mynds of the Guises a new and encouraged the Prince of Conde and those of his syde to procéed in their purpose Notwithstandinge the Prince of Conde was very sory that the men of Valentia had slayne M. Mottecondrin and much discommended them for the same Neyther did the Prince of Conde allowe the breakinge downe of Images and the spoyling of other such superstitions the which notwithstanding hée him selfe could not staye when hée was at Orleans the people crying euerywhere that the Idolles which were the causes of all these troubles ought not to be spared and that séeing the defenders of them were so cruell that they would not let to kill liuing men is it not necessary then to ouerthrow those false worshippes of Idols that the Idolatrers themselues mai see their punishments for their abominable wickednesse And the people were not a little displeased with the Prince of Conde for that he seuerely forbad these things to be done Therefore vpon a certayne small rumour of the throwing downe of Idolles which were set vp in a certaine place in the suburbes the fame thereof was by and by spred throughout the whole citie in so much that all men ran to the churches some into one church and some into an other and made such a spoile of Images and other monuments of Idolatry as thogh it had ben so appointed by the kings commaundement or by an Edict this I saye they dyd notwithstanding that the seruauntes of the Prince of Conde did all that they could to staye them And least that the church called Holy Rood Church which was more beautyful should be thus serued and spoyled the Prince of Conde commaunded certayne souldiours to garde the same but they also shutting vnto theÌ„ the church doores began to pull downe the Images and to deface the pictures In the meane tyme the papistes being sorrowefull ran vp and downe the Citie cryed that the kings Edictes were broken At the last the faythefull of the Churche of Orleans where this broyle was with much a do obtayned leaue â—…f 〈◊〉 â—…rince of Conde to haue sermons in the citie yea with importunate sute they went about to obtayne at the laste leaue to haue their Sermons in those Churches in the which the Idoles were defaced But the Prince of Conde said that his purpose was not to deface Idoles but to see that nothing shoulde bée done contrary to the Edict of January for the breaking wherof his aduersaries he sayd being giltie were to be punished But the common voyce notwithstanding of the people was this to him againe Séeing say they the aduersaries of the trueth haue first begoone to extingnish the reformed Religion and to persecute the professors thereof why should we not destroy all false worship And why should they deale coldly which had taken vppon them the defence of the trueth and of the liberty of the Realme séeing that their aduersaries had proclaymed open warres against the truth the Kyng the Realme The affayres of the faythfull going forward as ye sée diuers rumors of them in the meane tyme being brought to the Court the Duke of Guise the Constable Momorencius and the Marshiall of Saint Andrew to the end they might make it séeme a matter of enuy that they were charged to put themselues in Armour to kéepe the Kyng and Quéen captiues as might appéere by the Letters of the Prince of Conde which were spred abrode to that effect they would haue all men they sayd to know that all thinges were done by the authoritie and will of the Kyng and Quéene and that therfore they were falsely sclaundered They offered therfore to the King and Quéene a Supplication to this effect following TO THE intent it may appeare vnto you to the whole worlde that we haue alwayes borne towardes you and towardes the kinges your auncetors of happy memory our soueraigne Lordes a faythfull and louing mind and
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