heard afore that we taught other wyse As to the thirde quoth Beza we graunt that there is great difference betwixt common water it wherwith we are washed in Baptisme betwixt breade and wyne whyche we vse commonly and those which we receiue in the Lordes Supper For the water in Baptisme and bread and wyne in the Lordes Supper be Sacramentes that is to wyt visible signes and testimonies of the body and bloud of our Lord. But this chaūge we do not admit in the nature of the elementes But in thys that they are seuered to an other vse farre distant from it whereto naturally they be appoynted For whereas naturally they serue to the nourishment of the bodye when they become Sacramēts they represent that whiche spiritually fedeth and refresheth our soules Furthermore this sacramentall chaunge we attrybute neither to the Vertue of the worde whiche any mā pronounceth neither to his purpose intention as they terme it but to the power and vertue of god Whose wil ordināce is declared to vs by his worde In that respect therefore that the thinge signifyed is offered and geuen vnto vs of the lord and that as trulye as the signes therof are geuen vnto vs in that respect and no other we acknowledge the coniunction of the signes which y◠thinge signified And so also we saye that the body and bloud of Iesus Christ in that they are truly geuen vs and cōmunicated vnto vs to be trulye present also in the vse of his supper neither yet is it therfore to be sayde that that body is ether vnder the bread or in the bread or with the bread or in any other place than in heauen to the whiche Christ ascended Wher accordīg to his humane nature he remaineth till he shal come to iudge the quick and the dead Then the Cardinall once agayne affirmynge that he forced not Transubstanciatiō sayde that Christ in deede was to be sought in heauen Neuertheles he mixed therwith somewhat of the locall presence of Christe the opinyon of certayn Germans therof And so confounded these matters together that it well appeared he had not bin muche occupied in that article Which he him selfe witnessed also saiyng that he had spente the most part of his tyme in other businesse I graunt ye quoth Beza that we agre not with certayne of the Germans in this third article But in this one thing the grace of god is fauorable to vs al a like that with on consēt we condemne Transubstanciation and whatsoeuer dependeth thereupon And all alyke graunt and confesse the liuely communicating of the body and bloude of Christ Graūt ye then quoth the Cardinall that we in the supper do truely and substanciallye Cōmunicate with the body bloude of Iesus Christ that remainth quoth Beza For the fourth poynte We do saye in effect That the visible sygnes which naturally are eaten and dronken are touched with our sences but the thing signified namely the body and bloud of Christ truely and wtout any coloure or deceit is offered to al men but can not otherwyse be receiued but spiritually by fayth For thei be not receiued with one hande or mouth Yet neuerthelesse thys communicating is so certayn that it which we see wyth our eyes touche with our hāds cā be no surer Although the misery of this cōmuniō of the vertue of the holy ghost nether cā by sence be perceiued nor by the cōpasse of oure wit comprehended The Cardinall affirmed that he was satysfied wyth these reasons And that openly testifyed to the Queene Geuing good hope that there shoulde ensue some happye ende of thys conference He entreated also and desyred Beza that he would oftener talke and conferre with him of these matters that so at last they myghte make some waye to peace and concorde So those that heard thereof were in greate hope of better successe But therewithall some came to the Cardinall willing hym to cōtinue in hys first purpose easely suspecting that which afterwards happened For the next day there was a rumour spred not only in the court but also in Poyssye yea and afterwardes caryed into farre countreyes that at the fyrste meting Beza was ouercome cōuerted by the Cardinals labour And to cōclude that we had now taken the foyle These and diuers suche other tales as custome is were forged spred abrode which although they might be cōfuted with the witnesse of many credible persons yet now at last in tyme prouing themselues lyes to their great shame y◠first fayned them are vanished awaye Whē as the tyme was thus prolonged and no answer made vnto vs we came to the nobles of the realm and earnestly desyred thē that we myght be heard Least in ouerpasting so mete an occasion those by whō we were sent mighte seme to sustayne any shame or reproch But chiefely we required that those cōditions which we first proposed might be obserued and that we myght not otherwise couple with our aduersaries But chefely that they might not be their owne iudges in the matter And that whatsoeuer shuld happen might hereafter appeare more certain we required an answere in writing Which whē it was denied vnto vs we came to the Queene desiring and beseching her to graunt to our requestes There wer present the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde the admiral the Chancelour The Queene answered that the Bishops shuld in no wise be our iudges And that such thigs as wer done one of the kinges secretaries shuld register which was one of thē whō we call secrytaryes of cōmaundements And if we would our selues pen our disputatiōs we might lawfully doe it And whereas in decreeing of doctrines we would groūde only vpō the authority of the Scriptures that we might opēly proteste And that the kyng which had takē vs into hys tuycyō would be present at it with the rest of the nobility But she cōmaunded vs to do al thyngs moderatly and wisely respecting onely the glory of God of the aduauncement wherof she thought vs desyrous But that these thinges should be geuē vnto vs in writinge she thougth it was not expediente for many causes Neuerthelesse she promised we shoulde haue it if we had nede thereof Willing vs to credite no lesse her worde thā her writing Forasmuche as if she meante to deceiue vs her writing could not let her Immediatly after our departure came the doctours of the Sorbonistes desiring the Quene that she woulde not vouchsafe to heare vs. But if she were determined to heare vs at the least that she should not suffer the kyng to be present therat For that it was great perill as they sayd least the king in this his tender age shoulde be seasoned wyth vnsounde doctrine from the which afterwardes he should hardly be withdrawen And that we forasmuchas we were already condemned of heresye were not to be heard at all Then the Queene aunswered that she woulde doe nothing withoute her councell Whereby they well perceiued that
to conclude that onely God knowes his elect chosē Yet neuerthelesse we beleue that ther is a holy church whiche is conceiued imagined and beleued not seene For if we shuld otherwise saie thereof would ensue that whiche is most repugnaunt to reason For if the churche be vnknowen vnto vs to what flock shal we stickto be pertakers of saluation when to the Church only Christ extendeth his power saluatiō we say therfore that althoughe that Churche can not be discerned by sight yet when we seeke to what flocke and companye we ought to assocyate oure selues ther be certayne notes wherby we may know discerne yesame namely the pure worde of god and the syncere administration of the sacraments These be the cleare and euident marks thereof neither is there any doute but whatsoeuer these be ther is also the true Church of god Furthermore we say That al those that professe true religiō are charitablye to be counted amonge the number of the faythful vnlesse the lorde do playnely detest their hipocrisy and dessemblynge Whereof Paule giueth vs a manifest president callinge the Corinthians and Galathians faithfull i. Cor. ii a and applying to them the general name of the churche albeit in thē there was great imperfection aswel of learning as life whiche in diuers places he himselfe complaineth For all those that haue any foundation doe not alwaies builde on the same golde siluer and pretious stones onely but also oftentimes hey chaffe and sedge i. Cor. ii c xii In this maner and sort therefore we vse to speake of the church least we should seme to appoint any fantasticall thing or that should consiste in imaginations onely or least we mighte geue any colour to ill disposed persones to deeme vs suche as were in times past y◠Canthares and Donatistes and in this our age are the Anabaptistes against whō we haue oftē reasoned about this question Nowe let vs come to the markes and signes of the true churche whiche is necessary to be discerned knowen sith out of her is no saluation And for that cause Sathan that olde enemye of man hath attempted by all meanes possible to disguise and counterfayte her to chaunge her auncient sygnes and fayne newe in their places Her vncertaine and vndoubted markes we haue sayde to be two that is to wēte the pure preachyng of the woorde and administration of the sacramentes Hereto doe some adioyne ecclesiastical discipline and fruites of fayth And trulye it is necessary that euery flock should haue some head and guyde whō they oughte to obey yf they mynde to liue in safetye but forasmuche as oure owne iniquities often tymes are the cause that we wāt the two last markes let vs content our selues with the fyrst Therefore that the worde of god is the certayne sygne of the churche herby it appeareth that bothe Christe and Peter compare the same to seede Mat. xiii a. iii iiii xi i. Pet. i. d. For the whiche cause also Paule sayth that he begat the Corinthians in Christ by preachyng the worde i. Cor. iiii c. xv Therefore in dyuerse places it is called one foode and nouryshemente this also Christe hymselfe witnesseth to pertayn to his shepe saying that they heare his voice and no others Iohn x. We adioyne hereto the Sacramentes also for that Christe woulde not onelye to oure eares but also to our eyes and the reste of oure bodylyesenses wytnesse his grace And therefore he ordeyned the Sacramentes to be certain and visible signes both of oure vnion with hym and also of charitye and loue among oure selues For that cause duryng the olde Testament it was sayde that they shoulde be banyshed the companye of the faythfull whiche had not the sygne of cyrcumcision And furthermore decreed that all householders shoulde thrice in the yere appeare before the Lorde at Ierusalem by common sacrifyce to testifye the vnitye of fayth and religion Exodus xxxiiii d. xxiii Afterwardes the Vyneyarde beyng spoyled the Gentyles grewe in one bodye with the Iewes not onely by preachyng the woorde but also by the Sacramentes of Baptysme and of the bodye and bloude of oure Lord. Yea and Christe commaunded his Apostles so to dooe saying goe ye and teache all nations Mat. xx ◠xix This is the doctryne of the woorde to the which he foorthwith adioyneth the Sacramentes saying Baptysing in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost For to baptisme also must we applye that which Paule writeth of the supper saying that what he receiued of the Lorde he deliuered to vs. i. Cor. xi c xxxii And thesame he testifieth in an other place also Namely that the Churche is founded vppon the foundation of the prophetes and the Apostles Ephe. ii d xx that is to wete vpon Iesus Christ who is the summe substaunce of all the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophetes So also must we vnderstande another texte of the same Apostle Where he sayeth that the Churche is a piller of the liuing God a bolster of truthe i. Timo. iii. d. xv Whiche meaneth that the woorde of God whiche is the truthe it selfe dothe staye and vpholde the church or els is placed in the church as in an open and sure fortresse for y◠in her god extendeth his power health to all beleuers Rom. i these are the true and visible signes of the churche Whiche therefore is called the mother of the faithfull for that they wer begotten in her by incorruptible seede and nouryshed and fed with the same fode If the preaching of the woorde and the true administration of the sacramentes be necessarily required in the churche thē muste there needes be pastours teachers to execute thesame As the holye scriptures sufficientely witnesse but chieflye Paule writyng to the Corinthians and Ephesians this was the cause that this thirde marke was adioyned hereto i. Cor. xii d. xxviii Ephe. iiii vi xi i. Timo. iii. a Ti◅ i. a vi Namely ordinary succession from the time of the Apostles Hereto we aunswer that such succession is muche to be esteemed if it be wel considered and applied after the example of the auncient fathers who groūded thereon against heretikes there newe opinions As Tertulian Ireneus and Austine againste the Maniches and Donatistes but because many lay the same against vs as though we had cōueyed into the churches new scismes and heresies it is necessarye that we should shew our minde herein We say therefore that there is one succession of doctrine an other of persōs Doctrine we graunt to be the true and vndoubted mark of the churche as it hath bene already saide For although the doctrine of the Gospell bee not therefore the more to be credited for that it is the auncientest of all other thoughe it happen many tymes for oure synnes that thesame seeme so new straunge to menne as it ought to bee familiar and vsuall yet neuerthelesse the witnesse of the continuall
Lordes wordes This is my body whē he asked what we thought was meant by thys pronoūe hoc we aunswered that bread was meant therby and that the body was speken therof so y◠therby we might wel perceine y◠the bread is a signe of the body They on the contrary syde Sayd y◠this pronoūe Hoc is of the neutre gender can not by the rules of Grammer be referred to the bread but was induuduum vagum And onely to note the body as if a man should saye This is oyle This is hony Thys is a building And suche lyke Therein imitating Durand Whom Gardyner also an open enemye of the Ghospell and alleaged by them dyd folowe We shewed that that repugned wyth the nature of a Sacramente forasmuche as if it lacke a signe if it be brought to nothynge or made as nothyng it ceasseth to bee a Sacrament And it is a great maruell that none of the olde fathers could see thys fiction of induuduum vagum But thys satisfied them not And therefore repeating thesame continually wyth great cryes they ceassed not after the maner of the Sorbonistes to babble til nyght Yea and one of them foolishlye impudently threatned Beza Saying Oh I would we had thee within oure colledge We in the meane tyme eyther helde our peace or modestly obiected certayne argumentes til the noise wer whusshed but bicause they wuld nedes eyther wynne or seeme to wynne with trifeling or loude crying we preuayled nothyng Wherefore to be shorte we sayd that all the auncient fathers made with vs and we woulde be iudged by them Neither did we depart tyll the Cardinal pronused vs to sende vnto vs the authoritie of Austene other auncient fathers whereby oure opinion is condemned But we could neuer haue them He meant hereafter to conferre by wrytyng bicause he saw that by our talke God opened the eares of many but chiefely of the nobles Afterwardes the order of our disputatiō was altered For there were fyue chosen to conferre with vs and those such as passed all the reste in learning witte and modestye Monluke the Byshop of Valētyne Calius Sigensis an other Bishop the Abbot of Saligne the Abbot of Botillery and doctor Spensa Agaynst those wer chosen on our part doctor Peter Martir Theodore Beza Augustine Harlorate Iohn Spina Nicholas Gallasius We agreed of the order place tyme and secretaryes whyche shoulde regyster the questions proposed and the reasons on eyther part And then the selfe same day which was the last of September we began to deliberate with what order we should begin the disputation We wished and desired that we might orderly prosecute euery article of our confession Whiche request to be reasonable they thēselues confessed saying that they coulde not allow that prosperous order that began at the last yet bicause we were alreadye entred into that article they thought it good to finish it afore we came to the rest Therfore the next daye at oure returne we entreated of the presence of the body of Christ in his Supper The Abbote of Saluine brought forth a place out of an auncient Greke copy of Cirilus a Bishop of Ierusalē wherof there was no long reasoning bicause it made much with vs. At the last after muche alteration we concluded thus That in that respect that fayth makes those thynges presente that are promysed that same fayth doth moste truely receiue the body and bloud of our Lorde Iesus christ by the vertue of the holy gost in that respecte we confesse the presēce of his body and bloude in his holy supper in the whiche he offereth giueth and exhibyteth trulye the Substauce of hys body and bloude by the operacion of hys holye Spirite And we doe receiue eate spyritually and by sayth that very body whiche dyed for vs y◠we may be bones of hys bones fleshe of his fleshe that therby we may be quickned receyue whatsoeuer is necessary to our saluatiō A copye of this conclusion those that cōserred with vs gaue to the rest of the byshops and doctours y◠were at Poyssye But they alowed it not wherefore the nexte daye another was proposed vs wherein there was somewhat chaunged For that whiche we attribute to fayth it attributed to the worde That when we perceiued was done of purpose y◠it beyng left doubtfull euery man might interprete the sense therof at his plesure least any mā should therby be deceiued we woulde by no meanes admitte for forasmuche as we came together there to prouide for the quietnes of our conscience we endeuoured as muche as laye in vs to withstand all error and doubte Neuertheles least we should seeme to stick vppon wordes we were contented that they shoulde chaunge the forme of the wryting so they altered nothing of the sense This forme therfore that folowes they thought better and promised to moue all the byshops to agre there to We doe confesse that Christe in hys holy supper doth truly offer gyue exhibite the substance of hys body and bloud by the operacion of the holy ghost and that we receyue and eate sacramentallye spirytually and by fayth hys bodye that died for vs that we may be bones of his bones and fleshe of his fleshe That there by we maye receyue lyfe and whatsoeuer pertayneth to our saluaciō But forasmuch as faith groūded vppon the worde of god doth make those thyngs presente whiche are promysed by thys fayth we acknowledge that we trulye and verelye receyue the true and naturall bodye of oure lorde Iesus Christe by the vertue of the holy ghost In this respect we cōfesse the presence of the bodye bloude of oure lorde sauioure Iesus Christ in his supper All thoughe thys forme litle differed from the other yet they hoped that it woulde be better alowed of the lordes And therfore they toke it with them to communicate vnto them We sayde that we woulde in lyke maner communicate it with oure brethren and reserue oure selues libertye either to adde or expoūd any thinge therin as we should thinke good When the Cardinalles had sene this forme some of thē allowēd it very well reioyced as though we were tourned to them And diuerse tales were therevppon sprede of vs. But when it was perused by the doctours as well Sorbonists as others they lightly chaūged their opinion They added therto therfore as we here say their opynion whereby they shewed what they thought wanted in it or wherefore they thought it was not to be allowed Also thei made almost a Tragedy betwixt the bishops and those which had conferred with vs and had put in y◠forme of this agremente of this article among thē ▪ as thoughe they did either agree with vs or mocke with them But bycause it is no part of my purpose to writ their cōtentions I will willingly leaue it And now I come to the declaration of oure opynion as concernynge the presence of the body of Christ in his supper which we reserued free to our selues least any doubtfulnes bycause of the shortnes of our fyrst writing myght breed any doubte or error We affirme that no distāce of place may let our coniunction with the body and bloude of Christ bycause the Lordes supper is a heauenly thinge And althought in the earthe we receiue with the mouthe of oure body the breade wyne the true Sacraments sygnes of the body and bloud of Christ yet by fayth the helpe of the holy ghost our mindes to whom this foode doth chiefly belonge caried vp to heauen feede on the present body bloude And in this respecte we saye also that the body is ioyned with the breade and the bloude with the wyne But no other wyse thā sacramentally that is to say not accordīg to place or situatiō but bycause they do effectuously signify y◠God giueth it to those that faythfullye communicate they trulye receiue it by faythe Hereby it appereth in what sorte we thinke of the presence of the bodye of Christ in the Vse and Ministration of his Supper For we admytte neither Transubstantiation nor Consubstantiation Yea we refuse all maner presence wherby Christes body is thought to be in the earth without quātity or is affirmed to be any otherwher than in heauen We vse the name of substaunce to signifye that we meante not our fayth of anye fayned bodye or phantasme neyther of the vertue only of Christs passion or his merites only which neuerthelesse we confesse to be the spirituall catyng of Christes fleshe but euen of the true and natural bodye of the sonne of God which he toke of that virgin Mary and afterwards was crucified and raised again for vs and now resteth in heauen till suche tyme as yt shal com to iudge the quick the dead And this was the ende of the Conference For they that conferred with vs beyng yll intreated of they re fellowes came not agayne Neyther were anye other chosen in theyr roomes Neyther since that tyme dyd the Bishoppes signefy any thing vnto vs but though we oftentimes desired that we myght goe forwardes handle the rest that wer yet vntouched we could vnderstād nothīg of their mindes therin but that they minded to depart wer desirous to referre all thinges to the councell of Trente Therefore ordre being taken for the leauiyng of a subsedy wherof perhaps they were more careful than of anye thing els deliuering vp to the King the articles whereof they had agreed among themselues not making anye accompte of vs but leauing vs in the court they al repaired to their homes Finis ¶ Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Luke Harryson
yet we counted it better to for beare than to be counted lyke to suche trouble some talkers At this alteration the Cardynall stepped in and as though this question had ben sufficiently debated made an end therof Or rather wheÌ„ he coulde no longer beare the proud insoleÌ„t talke of XaÌ„tus he brake of his talk Hereof neuerthelesse the Sorhonists as if the mater had ben coÌ„cluded or seÌ„tence geuen on theyr side w e vain arrogaÌ„ce peâ—…waded theÌ„selues that they had won the victorye Neither is it any marueyle for neither could we answer many of theyr reasoÌ„s which they spake all at once so that we could not vnderstand theÌ„ nether would we interrupt the Cardinal in his talke But he taking on him the part of a iudge dyd closelye conclude that whatsoeuer is written ought to be referred to the authoritie of the charch that her tradytions wer in all pointes to be obserued Afterwardes he turned his talke to the Lordes supper affirming protestyng that he woulde goe no farther tyll we agreed of that article For this sayd he is the controuersye that troubles most men And sayd further that we had necessarily coÌ„pelled him to talke therof For yâ— in our fyrst metyng we had plainlye fhewed our mynde therof which nowe filled al Fraunce with diuers daungerous rumour and farther was imprinted and sette abrode He obiected vnto vs the confession of Awgspurge asked whether we wold subscribe ther to We asked agayne whether they woulde bee contente to allowe it in all pointes then they beganne to trifle Furthermore they obiected other opinioÌ„s of certain ministers of the Germans which they said wer seÌ„t vnto theÌ„ neither wer they ashamed to desyre intreate vs to subscribe vnto theÌ„ But that was done for a pollicy to thintente that if we denied so to do he might set vs at strife with the Germans and make vs to be hated of them And if we did agre then they as conquerours shoulde tryumph ouer vs and make a commoÌ„ iest of vs as of light and vndiscrete persoÌ„s and so coÌ„demne our opinion To auoid this doubt we answered that we came thither to defende the confession of oure faith and had no other commauÌ„demeÌ„t or authoritie of our churches â–ª Therfore we required that we might folowe the order of our confession and that euerye article might be seuerally and distinctly weyed so that it mighte plainlye appeare wherein we agree and wherein we disagree For bothe the order of nature and also the waye to concorde requireth that those thinges whiche be playnest and easiest should first be haÌ„dled â–ª Furthermore forasmuch as the sacramentes depend vpon the doctrine It is most necessary first to reason of it With al this we nothing preuailed For the Cardinal continued in his purpose We saw also that he attempted this that we with inequall hande might departe the conferre that yesame might seeme to be broken of by our stubbornesse Which we thought good by al meanes to preueÌ„t Therfore we desired to haue their writing to the which they would haue vs subscribe that we might deliberate therof Ther with all they brought forth a copie of the article of the lordes supper takeÌ„ as they said out of the confession of Awgspurge But differing neuerthe lesse much therfrom as it may wel appeare by the reading thereof For this it was with a stedfast faith we coÌ„fesse that in the most reuerend sacrament of the Lordes body and bloud truly really and sacramentally the true bodye bloude of Christ is offred to the coÌ„municantes and receiued by them Herto they added the confession of certayne ministers of Wittenberge set forth 〈…〉 the yere of our of our lord god 1559. So we departed for that day and the matter was deferred till the morowe Wherfore when we perceiued that by this requeste they minded to driue vs to this inconuentence that eyther we should denie our own confession or els breake of the conference returnyng at the last and calling on the name of god we determined rather to take the most vnequall and bniust conditions that could be offred than to geue any occasyon wherby it might seme that we fled the conference Therfore the nexte day we prepared our selues to aunswere waytyng alwayes when we should be commaunded to come when it was sygnyfyed to vs from the Queene that thesame was deferred for twoo dayes In the meane tyme diuers tales were spred of vs as that we were ouercome and could not proue our ministery lawfully and our aduersaries reioyced as conquerors as though our hearts fainted to be short thei criuÌ„phed afore the victory But this theyr myrth coÌ„tinued not loÌ„g For ii daies after at oure returne we brought forth an aÌ„swer more at large more perfect to those things which afore wer ouer passed vsed such meanes as we could to auoid the pollicy of oure aduersaries It Beza rehersed in wrytig The effect of it was this That we greatly maruelled yâ— wheras of late we had so aboundantly shewed what is the church what be her marks how great her autority that any reasonable manne might be satisfied ther wt. Yet neuer the lesse nothing was saide against it but onely demaunded of vs by what power we do administer the worde of GOD sacrameÌ„ts And yet nothing ouerpassed yâ— might make our cause odious hateful For to what purpose it was spoken we could not as yet wel perceue bicause we came not thither to administer the word or sacraments But if an accompt shal be demauÌ„ded of vs of those thinges which her to fore we haue don thei must understaÌ„d the emoÌ„ges vs there are two sorts of ministers One of those that teach in foren couÌ„treys in the which theyr calling is allowed And of those it cannot iustly be demauÌ„ded here wherfore they be ministers Another sort is of theÌ„ whiche teach the gospel in this realm whom we thought not to be seÌ„t for hyther to geue an accompt of their callig but only to coÌ„fer dispute of doctrine Otherwise they might seme to bee sent for to plead their cause as for som crime Which we cannot think that the Queene or nobles in any wise minded And yf the same be required vnder the colour of coÌ„ference reasoning it is verye far froÌ„ the meanes of coÌ„cord reconcilement For we cannot enter into such questions demaundes with out the greate offence of the bishops other the Lords of spiritualtie But none of vs all at anye time minded it but purposed onelye to prosecute this holy purpose I pray you if two parties agree to conferre afterwardes the one demaunde of the other By what nower do you this must it not needes ensue that by suche questions they shal fall at bariance As for example setting a part the bishops and other the spiritualtie of this realm whoÌ„ we are lothe to offende let vs admytte that some straunge byshop enquireth of vs by what authoritye we minister the woorde and
for religion To your highnes therfore I haue dedicated the same that forasmuch as you are muche enflamed with the desire of godlinesse religion and wish the banishment of error and deceit you may hereby plainly se how the lord worketh in our realme of Fraunce howe the gospel encreaseth ther with what patieÌ„ce modesty we suffred our aduersaries and also what hope we may conceue of thinges to come Neither can I wyth silence ouerpasse how much the example of the happy and quiete gouernmeÌ„t of this flourishing realme and the authoritie of all the nobles of this realme that fauoure the gospell and chiefly of the moste noble and gracious Queene Elizabeth hath ayded vs to stoppe the mouthes of our aduersaries which are alwayes wont to obiect that with the chaunge of religion the chaunge and disorder of the realme will likewise ensue For bothe hye and lowe would laye vnto them the example of this floryshing realme whose state hath neuer ben more quiet than since the times that the most noble Queene Elizabeth restored religion defaced by her sister to the auncient puritie and sinceritie For what may more winne the fauour of the people to the Prince than pure religioÌ„ and zele of truthe Then at the last doe men perfectly knowe theyr duetyes to their Princes when first they knowe their duetye to God by whom Princes are appointed as vicars or lieuetenaÌ„ts And those thynges whiche your honor yet sayde and reasoned touchyng thys argumente and the mayntaynyng of true religion when you were sent into Fraunce to congratulate oure Kyng yet sticke imprinted in the mindes of many Neyther haue ye left any suttle spurres or prouokementes to vertue in the mindes of suche as are Godlye with the president of youre vpryght lyuing gentlenesse liberalitie and youre true and sincere Zele whereby when I perceiued that thei prouoked and encouraged wished so well to your honor as they ought I thought I should pleasure them also if to you whome I knowe to embrace and defende al godlinesse I should present these newes whiche bothe to all men but chiefly to such as are patrones and defenders of yâ— truth ought well to bee knowen ¶ The proclamacion of summons and saue conduit to the generall consultation of the clergy in Fraunce TraÌ„slated out of Frenche into Englishe CHARLES by the grace of God king of Fraunce to al our Baylis Stewards Prouostes Iudges or their Lieutenauntes other oure Iustices officers to whoÌ„ it shal apertaine Greting Forasmuch as in the generall assemblie whiche we presentely cause to be made of the Prelates of our Realme for the causes conteined in the Letters which we haue heretofore written vnto them it hath semed to vs right requisite that al our subiects which concernyng the same causes shall haue any thinge to saye or that will be heard in the same asseÌ„blie may there be and appere in all safetye for the hope that we haue by this meane to receiue a good and holy resolution For thys cause we by the aduise of our most honored Lady and mother the Queene of our moste dere and moste beloued vncle the king of Nauarre of the princes of our bloud and other Lordes of our Counsell haue permitted doo permit by these presentes to all our said subiects of what estate qualitie or coÌ„dition soeuer they be whiche shall haue as is abouesaid any thing to shew may safely freely and without any feare come appere and be heard in the said assemblie which we make to be holdeÌ„ here nere vnto vs in our town of Poyssy and there to tary and soiourne so long as the same shall endure and afterwarde to returne and depart in like safety libertye where and as to theÌ„ shall seme good And to this ende we haue by these presentes geuen doo geue to them good and lawfull surety most expressly coÌ„maundyng all persones whatsoeuer they be our subiectes or other not to misdo or missay in dede nor in worde in any sort whatsoeuer it be to them that shall come as is aforesaid to the said assemble vpoÌ„ peine of the * with Enioyning likwise to those our said subiectes which shall come for this entente that vpon like paines they behaue and order theÌ„selues mildely modestly without stirring vp any troubles or seditions And to the ende that this our preseÌ„te permissioÌ„ will and entent may be open manifest to all men we will coÌ„maund you by these preseÌ„tes that vpoÌ„ receite therof ye cause the same to be red and published in all places of your assemblies accustomed to make cries and proclamacions to the end that no man pretend excuse of ignorance and that they which shal haue cause to be at the said asseÌ„bly may be appere there in tyme. Geuen at Sainct Germaines in Laye the .xxv. day of Iuly in the yeare of grace M. D. Lx. I. and of our reigne the fyrst By the King Roberteâ—… ¶ A briefe rehersal of the doings at Poyssye betwixt the Lordes of the spiritualty and the Ministers of the Gospel Set forth by M. Gallasius WHereas there hath bin in FrauÌ„ce these many yeares great strife and contentioÌ„ for religioÌ„ the which hath caused muche cruelty to be exercised towardes many at the last when the authors thereof perceiued that their punishmentes little profited and that thintentes of such as were Godly were therby neyther altered nor diminished they wer compelled to assaye more gentle meanes farr vnlyke the first Therefore in the yeare of our Lord God 1561. Charles the ninth of that name a Prynce of synguler towardlynesse and of great hope then reigning the peres of the realme mynded tymely to withstande the peril likely to ensue in so great a discorde For now their number encreasing whyche professed the gospel many yll disposed persons began newe tumultes and to moue seditioÌ„ Yea and many opeÌ„ly put theÌ„selues in armour Some of yâ— realme would haue the gospel opeÌ„ly preached Some other would haue that doctrine as newe and hurtfull to be condemned and abolished The first sort desyrous of freedom and quietnesse complayned of their soÌ„dry banishments murthers imprisonments and their most miserable estate wishing the shame and reproche wherwith there by they were stayned at laste to be purged The others coÌ„trarywise wishe their punishmentes double the sharpenesse of thesame encreased and all their goods committed to fyre and sweard And to proue their good wyll by their dedes they brake into their coÌ„gregatioÌ„s wheÌ„ they could they robbed their howsen and finally exercised all kynde of cruelty towardes theÌ„ Which vnlawful vnbrydeled lust when those that professed the Ghospel perceiuedâ— they did more stroÌ„gly prepare to withstande them And many tymes wyth armed force resisted their inuasyons And thou greater deceites they vnderstode were layed for them the greater troubles and persecutions that they felt the greater alwayes grew their courages thinking that they ought to withstande the furious rage of their enemies with patience and stoute sufferaunce They