space of fortie yeares since or thereabouts by many Ministers of the same doctrine being men verye expert in the knowledge of holy Scripture who by their great modestie grauitie and godlynesse hating all vice and specially couetousnesse and contemning their owne life for the renseruation of their doctrine and hauing alwayes in their mouth that moste swéete name Christ Iesus finding also the people going astray without a shepehearde or guyde were easily hearde and receyued and brought great increase to their doctrine and no marâ—…ayle seeing they left nothing vndone that might be done eyther by preaching by writing or by any other meanes to publish and spreads the same abrode But to come vnto those vsurped meanes and wayes which were attempted to â—…ynder and suppressâ—… that doctrine if we shall begin first of all with the Bishops of Rome we shall find that they haue very diligently gone about to sowe discord and to make warre betwéene Kings and Princes But our Kings moued with godly zeale haue appoynted paynes and punishmentes by Edictes thinking by that meanes to driue awaye those opinions and to bring the people to one onely kinde of Religion but in vaine For the Iudges both greatlye abused those Edictes and also oftentymes executed them after their owne euill disposition and pleasure to gratifie those which craued the confiscation and spoyle of their goodes which were accused Of this matter we haue a manifest example shewed not long ago of a man of no meane calling which desired to haue the confiscation and spoyle of one which was accused of heresie whose iudgement he tooke vpon him to order and appoint If any Magistrate Counseller or Lawyer had bene an euill or wicked person to the intent he myght hide his former faultes and wickednesse his maner was by and by to séeke that these causes of Religion might bée brought before him and that he might be put in office and authoritie to deale in these causes the which authoritiâ—… when he had rashly abused vnder the colour of zeale he shoulde streight way haue a name and all that he had done before shoulde be forgotten and forgiuen as though that Religion ought to be defended by these supportations So that it ought not to séeme straunge vnto vs that these executions haue no better successe and also if the people cannot abyde and suffer such wicked and cruell practises On the other side the Bishops haue bene slouthfull and negligent and haue had no consideration and care to giue an account of their flockes committed to their charge but haue rather sought all that they coulde to maintaine and encrease their yerely reuenewes which they consumed vpon filthy vaine vnprofitable things insomuch that at one time forty Bishops togither were at Paris banquetting satisfying their filthy pleasures and liuing ydly while al disorder and wickednesse increased in their Diocesses Moreouer we know that Bishoprickes or the office of a Bishop hath bene bestowed vpon children vpon Infantes yea before they were borne vpon vnlearned and simple men also which neyther knewe howe nor woulde discharge their office And thus the eyes of the Churches that is to saye the Bishops were blynded and the pyllers of the Church cast downe to the grounde The Ministers therefore of this and that sect vsing the occasion of these perturbations and troubles haue omitted nothing to winne the people vnto them And as for Curates they are couetous vnlearned and conuersant in all things sauing in doing of their dutie and as the most part of them haue gotten their Priesthoode by wicked meanes so doe they most vngodlily retaine the same still for Cardinals and Bishops let not to make their seruaunts their Cookes and horsekéepers Priestes whereby Ecclesiasticall persons are become a ieast and laughing stocke to euery man But the onely meane and waye to prouyde for and to remedie these mischiefes is to flée vnto God who in his iust iudgement is wroth with Ecclesiasticall persons insomuch that he séemeth to intende their destruction as hée did once the destruction of the Iewes Also certayne godlye men must be sought for and called togither from all partes of the Realme to consider of these and the lyke wickednesses and to deuise meanes and wayes to extirpe and rootâ—… them out and the King for his part must sée with all diligence that the name of God be not polluted and blasphemed as it hath bene hitherto and that the holy Scriptures may be purely and plainly expounded to the people and also that they may haue daily in their houses godly sermons and exhortations the which shall be able to stop the mouths of slaunderous persons which shamefully sayde that God was not once named or spoken of in the presence of the King. And you sayth he O Quéenes graunt me this one thing I beséech you if I maye be bolde to beséech you that you woulde bring to passe that in steade of prophane and vnsemely songs all your traine and retinue maye sing godlye and vertuous Psalmes to the prayse of God Knowe ye for a suretie that God doth allowe or like of no companie or congregation in the which he is not praysed and extolled To this he added much more by which he proued â–ª that it was against reason that the singing of Psalmes shoulde be forbidden if the interpretation of them which was noted about them were not allowed he sayde it was better that the errors were noted than that the whole worke shoulde be so reiected And he shewed also that the Psalmes were made not only for the publike vse of Churches but also to be daily and priuately vsed And therfore in forbidding the singing of Psalmes there is iust occasion offered to seditious persons to calumniate and speake euill For nowe in this we striue not against men but against God whose prayses are so hindered and let The seconde remedie is a generall Councell the which the Fathers alwayes vsed as a remedie to pacifie and appease the dissentions of the Church I sée not howe the Popes conscience can be quiet nor to be in rest the space of one houre séeing he séeth so many soules to perishe through the diuersitie of opinions and yet for all that séeketh no meanes how to remedie the same But if it shoulde come to passe that the Generall Councell shoulde be let or hindered then the King shall doe his dutie in calling a Councell of his owne Nation after the ensample of his auncetors the Kings of this Realme as of Carolus Magnus and Lodowicke his sonne Nowe they must be called to be of this CouÌ„cell which are counted to be the best learned men among them of that sect and learned men of the contrarie part also that they maye dispute togither of the principall groundes of Religion nowe in controuersie Thus did Theodotius the Emperour at Constantinople against the Arrians and Macedonians although they were iustly condemned by the Councell of Nice and others and afterwardes the
is no doubt but that all their practises would be voide and frustrate which thinke it good and persuade themselues that it is necessary to haue a new alteration of the common weale and shoulde be a most spedie remedy to mittigate take away al perturbations The which one thing we muste with all diligence possible prouide for And thus he made an end of his oration In the repeating whereof we haue béene some what long but yet for all that the matter is worthy of repetition and not disagreing from our purpose The day following the rest declared their Judgementes and first began the Admirall and the Cardinall of Loraine made an ende But this was the sentence of the Admirall Shatillion â–ª namely that he would haue had that those supplications which he had offered to the king shoulde be subscribed of those in whose name they were put forthe who answered that they were readye either in a small or great number to subscribe those supplications which they had exhibited yea they sayde that they would assemble themselues together to the number of fiftie thousand before the kings Maiestie if so it pleased him But there can nothing be deuised more pestilent thaÌ„ the Prince to stand in feare of his subiectes to be in perill of them in like maner the subiectes to haue an euill opinioÌ„ of their Prince and to be suspected of their king Also he saide that it was ill prouided to bring vp a yong prince in that feare also to giue those occasions to the subiects of fearing At the last he concluded that his sentence was that the errors of the Church shoulde be taken awaye that the garde lately giuen to the king should be remoued and that there shoulde be called forthwith an assembly of the States Thus when the Admirall had made an ende the Duke of Guise taking occasion vpon that which he had spoken began thus saying that it was not wel saide of some that the king ought not to be so so brought vp when as he is so excellently ordered specially by the Queene his mother by whoÌ„ he is indued as it were with a certaine fulnesse of all vertues And as touching that which was spoken concerning the increasing of the Garde he said that he himself did mislike alwayes of the same vntill certaine did moue a sedition put them selues in armes which seemed to be entended altogether against the kings maiestie But wheras it is commonly reported that this sedition was not moued against the king but against manye of his ministers officers that is a vaine cloake nothing answering the matter For there is not any one of vs that euer hurt one of theÌ„ by priuate offences or harmes But they beare all that hatred against vs for the executing of our offices which we haue by the kings authoritie and leaue and therefore to speake more truely they hate not vs but the king Wherfore he said he sawe no reason why that number which was newly added to the Garde shoulde be remoued and taken away And as touching Religion he saide that he stoode to the Judgement of more learned men thaÌ„ he him self was how beit this one thing he would protest professe that no couÌ„cels at any time should so preuaile with him that they should bring him froÌ„ the ancient Religion of his elders specially froÌ„ his beliefe of the holy sacrament of the Altar Finally he said concerning the assembly of the States that he wholy referred the same to the kings maiesties will and pleasure to like or dislike of the same with him The Cardinall of Loraine begaÌ„ his sentence vpoÌ„ those confessioÌ„s which were offred to the king by the Admiral saying that they were nothing lesse thaÌ„ obedient faithful howsoeuer they boasted them selues For so long as the King will like of their opinions and sects or at least wise suffer them they will shewe them selues obedient to the king But I appeale sayth he to the Judgements of all men in this matter whether it be more méete to follow the opinions of these Jolly fellowes thaÌ„ the authoritie of the king To graunt them Churches were to allowe their Idolatry which the king could not doe without manifest perill of destruction And as concerning a generall Councell or a CouÌ„cell assembled together out of our owne NatioÌ„ I caÌ„ not sée saith he by any meanes how it should be necessarie seing that it should be called onely to reforme the maners of certaine ecclesiasticall persons the which might be done with lesse businesse a great deale namely by particular admonitions And as touching that which else appertained to Religion he saide that the same had bene so oftentimes established and confyrmed that he wished that onely to be followed which had béene hitherto obserued and appointed for so much as all assemblies of Councels whatsoeuer can appoynte no more than the obseruation of those things that haue béene kept alreadie And where as it was sayde that they which should subscribe their names to those supplications which they had put forth would assemble them selues together to the number of fiftie thousand to that he answered that the king might set against theÌ„ ten thousand meÌ„ of his Religion But it is manifest saith he of what minde they are by their railing libels which they scatter abroade in all places against euery man Among which great number of libels he saide that he had in his handes fiue and twentie which he diligently kept as a testimonie of great honour bycause he was euill spoken of by those villanous knaues trusting that they should be Monuments of his eternal and euerlasting praise Therefore he wished that those sedicious troublesome persons mighte be most seuerely punished and specially they which woulde put them selues in armes as many had begon But he said he thought it good that they should sustaine no punishment which frequented those sermons withoute armour and onely for consciencs sake of Religion which sang psalmes went not to Masse and such like Adding moreouer that he was very sorie for the sharpnesse and crueltie of those punishments which had béen hitherto vsed protesting that he would most willingly spende his owne life if it might doe any good to bring them into the right way Affirming also that Bishops and other learned men oughte to indeuour them selues to bring this thing to passe according to the commaundement of our sauiour Christ in the Gospell saying Reproue thy brother betweene thee and him c. Also he wished that the Gouernours and other Lieutenants of the Prouinces would diligently attend vpon their offices to see that none seditiously put theÌ„ selues in armor in like maner that the Bishops and curates and other Ecclesiasticall persons would haue a care and diligent eye to their charge to note and marke the abuses and errors of the Churche and to certâ—…e the King within the space of two monethes of those things
owne accorde To the which except they will graunt wée cannot in consideration of our office depart from the King except we would shew our selues to be carelesse in defending the King and the Realme in so great necessity But if they will yéeld vnto these conditions we are ready to get vs to our owne houses and to obey the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the King of Nauar. But we meane not hereby to seclude the Prince of Conde from the Kings company nay we wish rather that he were néere the King and that he were sent for to come from them with whoÌ„ he is now linked and to be daily with the King trusting that so worthy a Prince will do nothing but that which shall become him to doo After that these supplications of the Guise and his fellowes came to the eares of the Prince of CoÌ„de he made answer vnto them sending letters to the Quéene with his answer beseeching hir that she would also diligently wey and consider his reasons and that she would cause both his writing his aduersaries also to bée kept for a memoriall for euer that both their actions might one day be shewed to the king The aunswere which he made was to this effect Although saith he I haue heretofore oftentimes declared both by writing and also by other meanes why I haue put myself in armour and vppon what condicions I am ready to vnarme my self agayn and to go to my house yet notwithstanding I could neuer obtayne any thing at their handes which haue the King and Quéene in hold but threatnings contumelious wordes So soone as I came hither before they vnderstood any thing of me they sent letters such seuere sharpe commaundmente as though they had had to do with théeues the most wicked men aliue But nowe when they perceiue that I regarde not their impudent boasting proud threates that thei cannot stay me froÌ„ my purpose also that I coÌ„staÌ„tly perseuere in my lawfull request hauing no consideration of my selfe but of the libertie of the King Quéene and of the peace and tranquillitie of the realme they séeke to preuayle by other subtil wayes And this forsooth is their deuise they haue offered a certayne supplication to the king in the which they pretend al obedience submission reuereÌ„ce But if a man read mark the same well he shall find it rather a Decrée than a Supplication For it is a flat sentence and decrée made concluded vpon by these thrée namely by the Duke of Guise the Constable Momorencie and by the Martiall of S. Andrew with these also was the Popes Legate the seruants of straungers But they which for six monthes ago marked noted al their doings can testifie vpon what foundacions these conclu sions do stand not vpon zeale of Religion and fayth but rather vpon the fraude deceypt and ambition of those thrée who séeing theÌ„selues to be out of the court were offended not that thei had any iniurie offered them but because they could neuer yet abyde that the Prince being of the kings bloud should be about the king perceiuing also that the Quéene rather sought the Kings profite and the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme than to satisfie their willes they began to ioyne ano associate themselues togyther to recouer their former libertie againe to rule and gouerne all thinges as they list themselues And when they saw that they could not haue helpe of the Nobles nor of the common sorte of people to bring their matters to passe for the they were iustly hated of them they coloured their purpose wyth the pretence of Religion hoping therby that the popish priests and those that hoong vpon them would ayde assist them And thus winning so many to take their parte as they could and séeking to haue ayd by straungers of for reyne Nations they minded to come to the kinge and Quéene in such battayle aray that no man should once resist them And to the end they might haue better hope to rule thei tooke and kept the names of all those whom they thought or suspected would be hurtfull vnto them minding to kil some to banish other some and to spoyle and depriue many of their offices And among the principall number was Michael Hospital the Kings ChauÌ„celour diuers of the kinges counsell and many other good men set in authoritie and office vnder the Kinge There were also already some placed in their roomes which were eyther slaine or banished And truely they very well declared their iudgement of late in chosinge those six whom they appointed to be of the Kings counsel the matter being so ridiculouse that the people made a game or ieste of that choyce The Quéene was sent away to Câ—…enoncellum to busie hir selfe in gardening The Prince Rochsurion the kinges néere kinsman being a very wise and godly person was called away froÌ„ the King and in his place were set new Tutours that he might neuer heare any mention made of God or of any godlynesse nor any thing else which appertained to good education he being of himselfe of a good disposition and well inclined And that he might not bée taught to vnderstande his estate which the Quéene his mother went about to instruct him in teaching him to heare euery mans cause peaceably to make much of his noble men to estéeme the vse of armour for necessities sake to looke to iudgement to maintaine his people to be a gard to the afflicted to deliuer the oppressed and aboue al things to beware least he retayned any suche persons about him which vnder colour of frendship humility would take vpon him the kings office vse tyrannie against the kings subiectes These things I say were taught him of the Quéen his mother which these thrée Suppliants much mislike of who would haue the King frame himself to their bent disposition as to daunce cunningly to sit or ryde a great horse well hansomly to carry a speare to be a waÌ„toÌ„ louer to loue another mans wife more than his owne and to be short to bee ignorant of all honesty vertu For they say the it is not méet for a King to be occupied and troubled with suche hard matters But rather say they it is méete for a king to shewe him selfe very seuere towards his subiectes that come vnto him to enriche his housholde seruaunts and to commit the gouernement of the Realme wholy vnto them not to trouble himself in hearing mens causes in reading letters in setting too his hand and seale least their deceites which they vse vnder the coullour of his seale should be espied to fancy and fauour a few which coÌ„tend one with another who shal be the greatest theef to be liberall only to a few and to other some sparing hard and to dispoyle the people of their goods to sell the offices of Judges for money to simple and vnlearned men last of all to fill the Court full
end that ye might not doubt of this what say ye to that which was don by Pope Paule iij. and also by Pope Iulio iij. Of the which matter I my selfe can be a sufficient witnesse and my testimonie the more worthye to be receyued for that I my selfe for bewraying this coloured deceite was constrained to depart from Trent Who knoweth not that here vpon came this prouerbe The holy Ghost is brought from Rome in a Cheste I my selfe was once a Bishop as ye be and that waye bent that ye are vntill I forsoke the Pope and got me to the Church of Christ. The which I count the greatest benefite that euer I receyued But truely those toyes and deceitfull fleightes are appointed now out of tyme in these dayes soing the cléere light of the Gospel so brightly shineth throughout the whole worlde and séeing the deceites of the Pope are so openlyâ—… knowne Is this your generall Counsell from the which we that are the contrary part and for whose cause y same is assembled are excluded Is this I say the order of your generall Councell that the Pope shall commaund Patriarkes Archbishops Bishops and Abbates to be at the Councell shall exhort Kings and Princes also to sende their Clergye and prelates thither which are our aduersaries and seclude vs which ought to make answere before we be condemned And wheras the Pope woulde séeme greatly to desire that Kings and Princes shoulde either they themselues be presente or else their Legates and Ambassadors what a ieste and ridiculous thing is that seing they haue no definitiue voyce in the Councell but are onely lookers on Therefore in your Councels not wisedome not godlynesse not grauitie giue Councell but your Miters This and muche more he wrote which for breuities sake we omit Thus the Pope went aboute to bring to passe to haue a Councell at Trident. And now at this time the Electors and Princes of Germanie which were protestants met togither at Numburgh that they might deliberate and consulte of the Confession made at Augusta and offered to Charles the fifth in the yeare of our Lord god M. D. XXX and that bycause they heard that they were many wayes misreported of before the Emperor Ferdinando And writing letters to the Emperour they declared that they did hold fast embrace with one coÌ„sent that confession made at Ausburgh that they were ready to giue an account of the same confession out of the word of God. While the Princes were thus occupied there came two Legates from the Pope to intreate the Princes of Germanie to come to the generall Councell The which two declared their message as followeth The one of them began thus saying That the most high bishop so soone as he was called to the most holy reuereud office of gouerning the Churche to the end he might do the dutie of a true pastor he had this care aboue al others to correct and amend whatsoeuer was amisse that the Church mighte be quiet that all nations might be of one consent minde and embrace one doctrine To bring the which thing to passe séeing he saw no better way or remedie than an assembly of a generall Councell by due aduise deliberatioÌ„ by his own authoritie also which he hath froÌ„ God hath ordained appointed a councel which shal be holdeÌ„ at the feast of Easter next coÌ„ming And that the Princes might be the more fully certified of this matter to the end they ioyning their indeuor with the Popes carefulnesse might be willing diligent to procure the tranquillitie peace of Germanie they said that his holinesse greatly desiring seking the peace quietnesse of the countrey of Germanie had sent his legates to pray exhort all meÌ„ to come to y holy assembly in the which it should be lawfull for all men to speake what they would Also they intreated those Princes by name that they woulde not by any meanes hinder that godly zeale and peace of the Church the most holy Father being ready to giue vnto all men a most large Charter of the publique faithe and most solemnly to be bound to performe the same his holynesse exhorting al Princes to send their Ambassadors to that holy counsell with their commissions to the ende the controuersies of the Church in the which there are so many opinions as there are heads and so many Gospels as there are teachers maye by their industry and diligence be spéedily ended and that they also giuing that honor which is due to the Church one Faith may be kepte and one God alone adored and worshipped Thus when the first Legate had very copiously vttered his mind the other also begaÌ„ in maner forme following saying that he would not repeate those things whereof his fellow before him had spoken séeing that they had all one charge and commission from the holy Father There is no man sayth he that can be ignorant of the most greuous calamities of the Church and into what miserie the same is cast one euill and mischiefe following another occasioÌ„ being giuen to the enemies of Christes name to calumniate and speake euill of the same Insomuch that of necessitie so great confusion must be prouided for a remedy sought For the dangers do require these things the oportunitie of the time persuadeth to the same and the clemencie and godly zeale of the holy Father allureth men therevnto so that there could neuer be a better consent and a more fitte occasion offered the Christian common welth being pacifyed Gods grace so plentifully being giuen to y most holy father who is not only very careful for Princes but also for souls helth the peace tranquilitie of the church Thus they both made an end of their Oration to whom this answere was gyuen The moste honorable Electors Princes Ambassadors and Counsellers of the moste sacred Empire of Rome make this answere to the proposition of the Legates namely that they doubt not but that a great sorte of learned godly and wyse men of all ages and conditions haue wished a long tyme that the Churche might be in better state praying that at the length the pure doctrine of the Gospell might be restored and that the wicked errors might be takeÌ„ away Of the which matter Byshops of Rome ought to haue a speciall care for that they haue of long tyme attributed to themselues the tytles of Pastors of the Church but say they experience hath hytherto declared that they haue bene rather occupyed in establyshing of their Tyranny and in bringing errors into the Church than in amplyfying and setting foorth the glory of God and in curing the diseases of the Church The which truly is most manyfest by too too many sorrowfull effectes as the best friendes that the Pope hath cannot but confesse if there be any shame in them Also they sayd that they did not a little maruel what moued the Pope and what hope he
to vse in stéede of blowes woordes and writings omitting all force warres sheding of blood The which peraduenture will so prouoke God and his vengeance to fal that the papists and priests thēselues which might quietly enioye their offices liuings shal be the first that shal féele the furour and madnesse of the people To be short the protection of the Suppliantes cannot chuse but bring great trouble and garboyle vnto them But when they may be assured of this that they néed not without they will themselues be endāmaged neyther in body office nor goods haue they iust cause to complayne except peraduēture they will say that they were carefull and sory for the losse of our soules But what hath made them so sodenly so carefull when as neyther any one Bishop Curate or popish priest hath laboured or takē any maner of paines to that end Séeing therfore we neuer intended to hurt any of thē what néed was there to bring them into this contention and to pretende the name of the Church Is not this too set one against another and to cause the people whiche before could not abyde those priests to hate thē the more Was there euer a more sorowfull sight séene in thys Realme Can there be any profit benefite or good turn so great that it maye make a sufficient mennes for so great destruction Can the Popes pardones and Indulgences restore the bloud that ▪ is shed for this cause These Suppliantes maye one day say vnto the Kinge that they to defend that which no man gainsayed and to preserue the Romish religion which no man wente about to hinder haue lost or went about to loose the one half of his nobilitie and chiefest of his subiectes Then and that truely it shal be obiected vnto them that as by their fayned and dissembled opinions concerning Religion they had brought the Realme of Scotland into great perill of destruction and caused much bloud too bée shed euen so by the same opinions counsayles and Instruments great discord hath ben sowen in this realm and ▪ both sortes of men set togither as it were by the eares in such sort that they may iustly hereafter amōg all posterities be sayd to be the authours and causes of all mischéeues and calamities which shall happen to the men both of the reformed also of the Romish Religiō And to cause more trouble they would haue all the Kings officers and all Ecclesiasticall persones to professe the confession of their faith and that such as should denie or refuse so to do should be depriued if they were temporall men of their offices if they were priests then to loose their benefices For this is the other Edicte of those thrée Suppliants against the receyued approued lawes of the king For there is no man that can remēber neither hath it ben heard of that any king that hath ben heretofore hathe constrayned hys true Subiectes to receiue any other confession of faith than that which is in the Apostels Créede Let that Lawmaker by whose craftie and subtill witte these their supplications were made bring forth but one only example The which truely he cannot do except hee will bring into this Realme the Inquisition of Spaine the which by the iudgement of all other Nations is counted so wicked that they all reiect the same These are the very same trappes and snares which they layd at Aurelias otherwise called Orleans a little before the death of Kyng Fraunces the second and which cannot chuse but bring the extreame ruine and destruction of the kyngs subiectes For those Suppliants know that there are ten thousand Noble men and a hundered thousand souldiours which neither by authority nor by force will forsake that Religion which they haue receiued and wyll not suffer the preaching of the woord and the administration of the Sacraments according to the forme of Religion which they professe to be taken from them and will defend themselues with the sword against them which abuse the aucthoritie of the Kings name That great number cannot be ouercome and destroyed which God forbid without the anoyance and ruine of those that shall set vppon them And to conclude the matter briefely I saye and affirme in the name of the Noble men Gentlemen and of many others which are here with me that this Decrée is made by thrée priuate men which by their authoritie peruert the kynges Edictes and make no accompt of them and to put their decrée in execution before they made the Kyng and Quéene acquaynted with their doinges they put themselues in armour and tooke them both captiue I say and affirme that the same Decrée is against the lawes of this Realme against all Christian order against the State against the Edict of January which was only made for this cause against the dignitie safetie of many of the kings subiects whose enemies they openly shew themselues to be whose goods and life they séeke to take away and all vnder the pretence of Religion conscience This decrée also taketh away the liberty of going to a Counsaile the which should haue ben considered by that subtill counsayler For if it be decréed that the same confession which they call the confession of the Faith shal be receiued of all the inhabitants of this Realme that is to say if all men be constrained to receiue the Popes doctrine and ceremonies this must néedes be a plaine sentence of condemnation against the reformed church neither is it then lawfull for our Ministers or for the Ministers of forreine Nations imbracing the same doctrine to go vnto a Counsaile when as they being not heard are condem ned But before the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother bring forth the decrée concerning the confession of the Romish faith let them renounce denie many speciall poynts of the confession made at Ausburge which when they were at Sauern they said thei imbraced promised to one of the Princes of Germany that they would cause them to be obserued in Fraunce It is néedfull also that the Cardinall of Loraine should declare by open writing whether he do persist in that opinion which sometime he said to the Quéene before a great many witnesses concerning Transubstantiatiō concerning the carying about of the Sacrament concer ning Iustification Inuocation of Saints Purgatory Images and concerning many other speciall points also of which he spake plainely against the iudgment of the Catholique and Apostolique church of Roome 6 ▪ Furthermore in that supplication straight after this they call to mind the throwing downe of Images require that the same Images be repayred and the breakers of them be punished But thervnto I make this answere The punishments wherwith I punish them which brake downe Images first in diuers places at the last in Orleans shall witnesse before God men that this misdemeanor of the rash multitude al wayes displease me both for that it was contrary to the Edict of
good lucke at the first finally through the daunger of the pestilence a greate nomber of his Soldiers went a side and many quight forsooke him Then were fastinges and prayers solemnly proclaimed to be in the Church to the which the Prince of Conde came oftentimes in his owne person He exhorted also his soldiers to be of good courage and was very carefull for the preseruation of Orleans and he sent Monsuer de Subize a noble and wise man to Lyons to be Lifetenant of the same because Monsuer de Adretze séemed to be to rash hardy and aduenterouse in his doingâ—…s And he sent letters oftentimes willinge that there should be diligent héede and care had of Lyons Dolpheny and Languedoc Also because the enemies power dayly increased by the meanes of forreine aids and because they were the more stout and bould vpon hope of newe aide the Prince of Conde sent Monsuer de Stuard a Scot with letters to the Quéene of England requiringe at her handes ayde in his owne name and in the name of his fellowes And he wrote also diuers letters to the princes of Germainy that were protestants in the which he craued help at their hands the Andelot himselfe be ing sent for the same purpose the more spedily to bring the matter to passe The helpers in this matter were said to be the Lantgraue Hessus the County Pallatine and the Duke of Bipont About this time the Prince of Conde published a writinge by which he ment to put awaye those rumores which were spred abrode of him and of his frendes by the Guises as though they had bin the authors and defenders of new and monsterouse opinions The libell published was to this effecte following Because saieth he we heare daily that our aduersaries accordinge to their accostomed maner oh lying and maliciouse dealinge against vs do in euery place slaunder and speake euill of al our doinges one while laying to our charge that we are Atheistes and Anabaptistes that by this meanes they might withdraw from vs their good willes care which séeke with vs to defend and mainetaine the true and pure worshippe of God by the doctrine of the prophetes and Apostles we thought good ouer aboue the former declarations of our cause to propounde a briefe summe of our faith By which faith we woorshippe and cal vpon the liuing God in the name of his only Sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ abiding in his feare seruice by the ministering of his woord and holy Sacraments that is to say by the institucion of Baptisme and of his holy supper To be short we condescend to al the articles of the primitiue Church as to the only rules of our saluation being grounded vpon the bookes of the Prophets Apostles as it is set forth more at large in the confession of our faith confirmed with the whole consent of al the reformed churches within this realme the copie whereof we send out into al forrain Nations to take away those detestable and wicked sclaunders and lyes by which the enemies both of God and of thys our realm being voyd of al shame haue sought in their libelles sealed letters to sclaunder backbyte and defame vs Wherefore we humbly pray and beséeche all those that loue the pure and sincere doctrine of the Gospell and which are the faithfull seruaunts of God yea we require them in the name of the liuing God that they first of all set before their eyes the flowing streames of innocent bloud that hath bene shed throughout this realme crying both from heauen and from earth for vengeance And we require all such that they helpe and ayde vs and that they ioyne with vs in this cause which is not our cause alone but also the cause of all the faithfull to represse and asswage their cruell tyrannie which goe about to take from vs the perfect and frée libertie of our consciences the benefit wherof was grauÌ„ted vnto vs by our soueraign and leige Lord the Kings Maiestie and by the consent of all the states of the realm we being perswaded that we linked togyther in one religion and in one mind the most mighty and eternal God will stretch forth his gloriouse hande to saue hys Church and will also blesse our labour and indeuour to the glory of his and to the inlarging of the kingdom of his sonne Iesus Christ to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end The Prince of Conde also made answer to the Ordinance and decrée of the Senat of Paris by the which his Adherentes were condemned of treason First of al refusing all those of the College as the Iudges and Senatours to be men vnméete for this cause and writing the causes of their appeale he sent the same vnto them Their answer was in manner and forme following Although I and my friends and fellowes haue sufficiently declared the equitie of our cause which hath constrayned vs to put our selues in armour namely the libertie and authoritie of the King and the obseruation of the Kings Edictes for the maintenance of the libertie of our consciences the peace of the reformed churches Yet notwithstanding séeing the open and sworne enemies of the glory of God and of the common wealth doo dayly publish and send abroad new sclaunders and infamies to the obscuring of my innocency and the innoceÌ„cy also of my fellowes we thinke it moste necessary and méet that if wicked and vngodly men will not cease too withstand the trueth and all equitie no more should we be weary to defende and maintayne the same trueth For so much as therefore the XXUI day of Iuly there was an ordinance and decrée of Condemnation established in the Senat of Paris by which they make those to be gilty of RebellioÌ„ which haue borne armour to maintayne the authoritie of the King and his estates and against the tyrannie of the Guises and his adherents wée thinke it necessary that the Iustice of the sayde decrée should be declared and set forth not onely to the inhabitants of this Realme but also to other forreyne Nations and for an euerlasting remembrance to be coÌ„mitted to all posterities For it wil be an example worthy to be remembred in the which men may behold and sée into what Laberinthes of blind peruerse iudgements the enemies of God and his Church do fall and are so mad and blind that for truth they mayntaine falsehode iudging them to be sedicious who to the vttermoste of their power séeke the peace and tranquillity of the common wealth and pronouncing them to be Rebels who laying aside all care and consideration of them selues do both hazarde their goods and their liues to mayntaine the obedience belonging to the Kyng and the due and lawfull authoritie of the kynges Edictes And to the end the same proclamation of RebellioÌ„ may euidently appeare to be vnlawfull and vniâ—…st and râ—…ther a sclaunder of the enemie than
beginnings of the Church of Fraunce béeing as yet but of tender yeares as it were and in the fire or at least wise euen now by little and little coÌ„ming out of the fire Let the causes of the hatred and debate â–ª by these very few things be considered with the which the Bishop of Romes men so outragiously vniustly are inflamed against the faith full against the cause of the faithfull We must not looke here to haue a description of the faithfull and professours of Christ in armes as our aduersaries doe nowe obiect vnto vs but rather of the vnarmed naked members of Christ most cruelly afflicted onely for this cause bicause they preferre the true and pure doctrin of the Gospell now a growing before the auncient customes traditions of men The naked Church in time past was vexed and the Gospell dyd run as it were through the sides of poore men and broughte them to death then Christians were accouÌ„ted as lyers called heretikes and by al maner of meanes vexed oppressed then were they cast in prisons and in bonds then were they whipped then suffered they proscriptions and banishmeÌ„ts yea and cruell deathes without fauour But nowe when it pleased the omnipotent God to appoynte vnto his Church a more clears and beautiful estate and to qualifie and quenche those fierce fyres Sathan not forgetting hys olde subtilties and sleightes deuiseth a new accusatioÌ„ whispering into the eares of kings that the Gospell will plucke their Scepters out of their handes and bycause the faithfull throughout the whole kingdom of France defende their libertie graunted vnto them by the Kings Edictes and by all lawfull causes with force of armes a new crime is nowe layde to their charge namely Sedition rebellion and treason to the king and country these crimes are obiected agaynste the godly by those which abusing the Kings name and authoritie to exercise their own tirannie â—…éeke moste of all the destruction of the Kings maiestie and bicause they haue bene let of their purpose by the faithfull therfore do they spewe out all the poyson of their hatred against them By these beginnings it shall euidently appéere how obedient the Faithful haue bene alwayes to their Princes and Magistrates that this thing béeyng layde as it were the foundation it may plainly be séene who they be which are the true authours of so many troubles as haue flowed thorough this whole kingdome God truely hath armed and fortified his Churche at thys daye with many externall helpes and fortresses yet for all that the cause is not chaunged Christe is the selfe same Christe still the Gospell is not chaunged but it is the selfe same Gospell whiche was vnreuerently handled and dealt withall in the persons of the Faithfull by the sharpe punishementes of the wicked The Faithfull are the same men still in obeying their Magistrates and in reuerencing their Princes that they were before But they are rebells whiche abusing the name and authoritie of Princes and disloyally violating all Lawe persecute the Churche go about to extinguish the Gospel and as if they were Giants furiously fight with God. And by the reading of these Commentaries the Faythfull shall finde many things which they maye applye vnto themselues to stay and comfort themselues in the middest of these troubles In these lamentable tymes manye daungers of moste greuous calamities do compasse vs on euery side many difficulties and newe troubles do dayly burst forth also But if we consider weigh the times paste we shall in very déede haue a gesse nowe what wil come to passe hereafter in our tyme For séeing God hath afore time sette and placed hys Churche in a straunge and wonderfull order We maye gather that the same God being a perpetuall keper and defender of his seruauntes will applie his power and prouidence to dispatche vs out of these our troubles the whiche is a most firme and inuincible argument Let vs call to remembrance the thicke mistes and darke cloudes of the former night let vs sette before oure eyes in what state the Church was in the dayes of Francis the first Henry the second and Francis the second All thinges were then full of feare Infinite kindes of punnishmentes and paynes were layde vppon the Church as banishmentes proscriptions and burninges Then no man durst so much as name the Gospell without he would be counted a manifest heritike Fewe men or none and that of the meaner sort when they were in their secret corners durst not once mutter of the Gospell men coulde not then enioy the libertie of the Gospell except they woulde willinglye banishe themselues their countrey and wander into foreine Nations But who will not merueile herevppon at the issue and end of those afflictions Looke what thinges were then harde of a fewe did openly ringe in the eares of all men Looke what things were reiected in some places and greatly punished were publikely receiued of the greatest part of men yea there were many of the Nobles which sealed that doctrine with their bloud By the deathes of Kyngs the Gospell had passage victorie was gotten Triumphe was made and within fewe dayes the Gospell went through the greatest parte of the Kyngdome by open sermons by publique Disputations where most men were assembled together so that the Gospell had gotten many and singular witnesses The places which had séene the tormenting fyres and ashes of the Faithfull before sawe now great assemblies and multitudes of the Faythfull gathered together to heare the worde of God and the Kynges Edictes which were altogether made for the hurt and destruction of the faythfull were at the last for all that the aduersaries could doe made to preserue the faithfull To be short these Commentaries did bring to our remembraunce and consideration such wonderfull and straunge matters the like wherof wée our selues haue not safely séene that by the prosperous and happye issue and ende of these perturbations we oughte to conceyue a sure and vndoubted hope The matter was then tryed by fyre but now by force of armes he which quenched the flamyng fires by the death and destruction of those whiche were fully purposed vtterly to ouerthrow and destroy the Churche the same Lord of hostes graund Captain of battailes shall direct and order these warres to the libertie and peace of his seruants Therfore the examples of those things which wer done in time past do plentifully shew that whatsoeuer shall happen at the length which in déede is not to be measured by humane reason shall fall out for our health and welfare and that bicause God will not leaue his worke vnperfected Wherefore I truste it is euident by the consideration of the things which are set foorth in this Booke what great profite shal come to those whom the boisterous waues of these tempests haue touched And bicause this is not a priuate matter neither appertaineth to euery one man but common to the whole Church of God dispersed throughout the whole world
we think also that the manifest true knowlege of these thinges is loked for of many meÌ„ of forein nations that the first beginnings of those things in these our Commentaries shal not be read of them without some frute Neither do we dout but that many when they haue gotten peace and tranquilitie after troubles will behold our miseries not as thoughe thei themselues were quite out of danger of the like but being moued with the féeling of our afflictions will truly bewaile our estate For whose sake also we haue writteÌ„ these things in Latin that they by some means at the least may be generally vnderstoode of all those which séeke the glorye of God and the preseruation of his Church â–ª Wherfore we trust if we be accused of rashnes as though we had vnaduisedly set forth these things which should haue bin deferred till more conuenient and better occasions wée haue to answere for our selues and to make vs cleare from that faulte For if in a matter commendable and deseruing praise simple and small diligence ought not to be blamed this may be a iuste defence for vs against learned and indifferent meÌ„ namely to wil is sufficieÌ„t in matters of weight It shal be no reproch or shame to vs at all that there be controllers of a learned perfect story But this is the summe of our whole desire that the very truth of those things which were done in Fraunce for religion might be knowne to all men as what is the goodnesse of the cause of the Faithfull and true churches and what is the iniquitie and iniustice of their aduersaries Let al meÌ„ know for a suretie that the Churches of France are not guiltie of sedition and rebellion but are so called by the enimies of the truth and pure doctrine for defending the libertie of the Gospell Let all men know that many thousandes of faithfull Christians being spoyled of their goodes haue like banished meÌ„ forsaken their houses and countrey let them knowe that by warre and by other meanes they haue become true martyrs and by the fraude and deceyte of the Antichristian Guyses are dayly martyred who violating and breaking the moste strayte lawe and faith of promises haue abused the kings name and authoritie to exercise their tirannie and wickednesse To be shorte let al men know that Fraunce is falne into these ciuil wars through the wickednesse of aliens not through the fault of the faithfull Moreouer gentle Reader whiche desirest to be satisfyed in the truth we testifie and affirme thus muche for our selues that we haue written all things truly simply and vprightly without anye manner of parcialitie not gathering any thing by rumours or reportes but by certaine and vndoubted arguments in so much that we are not afrayde to appeale to those that are yet alyue as too eye witnesses yea and to the very time it selfe Farewell â–ª Edward Grant Schoolemaister of VVestminster to the Booke WHo lists to lern the blustring broyles fraÌ„ticke fumes of France The troublous times in three kings raignes that dolefully did chauÌ„ce May here suruey a perfect platt of pageants plaide in vewe That will enforce eche Christian harte most ruthfully to rue To see and heare the true discourse of superstitious tymes That shattered pure Religion with spytefull cankred crimes VVhere errour blind and ignorance true Christians did suppresse And armed all her lungish loutes the godly to distresse To rage and fume against the Church that lurking lay in feare VVith spitefull hate and infamies of those that did it teare Christes faithfull spouse not suffered through furious foes to shine Through rancour lodgd in Princes heads that did from truth decline Gods chosen sheep and vassals true raisd vp to doe his will In puritie him for to serue proud papistes sought to spill Their throates to cut their heades to poll their corpes in fier to caste That to Gods pure Religion came flocking wondrous faste Some choackt with gibbets gabbet at some murdred spitefully Some stabbed in with goting blades and daggers wilfully And all for hating Romish rytes and Belials bragging broode For cleauing to the Chrrstian church that sore astonyed stoode Among the superstitious troupes of Antichristian foes Starke blinded with the Popes delights behedgd with wailsul woes Starte vp some chosen chieftaines stoute of Christes disperpled band That did defie such beggeries in Fraunce that famous lande â–ª VVhich few at first did more allure vnto their sacred sawes To serue the Lord in Hymnes and songes according to his lawes And secretly to pray and preache to set foorth his dew prayse In corners and in hidden holes for feare his trueth to rayse Vntill the rage of hellish hagges the common blinded crew Dyd spye and spite their godly wayes and many of them slew Accused them as Lutherans before the Peeâ—…es and Kings Of Luther that reuin'd the same with fond inuented things Hereof came sectes and taking partes the people censt with rage By might mayntaynd did spoyle the iust the godly â–ª and the sage Edictes were made to staye such broyles and Parliaments were held To let the faithfull be at rest but yet the enemie sweld And daily raged more and more till faithfull did encrease And this reform'd Religion some noble minds did please VVhom God raisde vp to ayde his flocke his chosen sheep to garde Against th â–ª assault of waspishe wolues when their loud cryes he hard For whose defence rose ciuill warres and many a bloudy day The Popish crewe by force did seeke Christes pacient sheepe too slay To roote out this Religion that planted lurking lay And feared not the skalding threates of th' antichristian route But paciently abyde the crosse of Christ with courage stout Though Antichrist the Popes proud grace did rage and fume his fill And all his cankred Cardinals did ioy their bloud to spill They dread not all the Guisian gardes that fierce and mighty be And perfecutors of the trueth that pyne and poute to fee Such valiaunt Captaynes of Christes bande that doe the truth defend And with the gaging of their bloud their frendly ayd doe lend A princely part here Conde playd a prince replet with grace And all his house trew Souldiours stoode the trueth still to embrace Burgeus suffred losse of lyfe and feared not the fier For Gospels sake and truthes defence a lew of his desire Suruey his lyfe and trayning vp his constant faythfull harte His zeale and stout confession he playd a martyrs parte Chatillon shrinke not here a whit a chieftane of the troupe Of Gods dispersed faithfull flocke that made their foes to stoupe Three tymes for this rife ciuill warr the papistes shewd their spight The true and trustie protestants stood stoutly in the right Their cause they manfully mayntaynd Christ Iesus was their shield Sometimes thei foyld their fretting foes that gainst them rose in field Some Nobles slayn and valiant Knights cast downe before their time And all in fence of Christ his cause accused thus
whiche they knowe that thereby it may be knowne how necessary it is to haue either a generall counsell or a Nationall counsell For it is verye profitable to call and assemble all the states together that all men may perceiue and sée how wel the Realme is gouerned And thus he made an ende When they had thus vttered their sentences and minds the King and Quéene gaue thankes to the whole assembly whose Counsell they saide they were readye to followe graunting vnto them that whereupon they had concluded namely That all the states of the Realme should be assembled togither and that if there coulde not be a generall councell there shoulde be with all speede a Nationall Councell Therefore they determined and concluded that the states of the Realme should be at Meldis the tenth day of the moneth of December nexte comming excepte it shoulde please the kings maiestie to appointe some other place And that the States belonging to euerye prouince should make in their prouince an assembly and consultation particular before that time to the ende that those things which should be debated of in the general assemblies might be vnderstoode Also that bycause it was in a maner agréed of a generall Coūcell betwéene the Pope the Emperour and the Christian princes the Bishops should come the tenth day of Ianuary next comming to the king that they might agrée conclude of the sending to the generall Councel or else of the hauing of a particular and Nationall Councell And that in the meane time the Bishops should get them to their Diocesses both to prepare them selues and also diligently to note and marke those things which lacke reformation In like maner that the Ciuill and substituted Magistrates shoulde kéepe the people in peace and obedience sparing and omitting neuerthelesse paynes and punishmentes due to offenders excepte it be to suche as put themselues in armes and moue sedition and yet notwithstanding the King to reserue vnto him selfe his power and authoritie to punishe those which are counted the authors of seditions and tumultes This was the conclusion of that consultation the which shall appéere wonderfull if we consider the state of the former times For that libertie which as yet is but little but before lesse being restored frō fiery flames and from death it selfe so preuailed before the King that it increased more and more But for all that the aduersaryes ceassed not their wicked Councels and practises what faire and paynted wordes so euer they vsed who by and by againe burst forth shewed them selues by these occasions There was a certaine seruant belonging to the King of Nauar whose name was Sagua who being come to a place called Fontisbellaquaeum and méeting with a certain souldier called Banna talked with him earnestly persuaded with him that he would not serue vnder the Guises for sayth he there are wayes deuised to punishe and handle them as they haue deserued and at the laste made rehersal of certaine things more particularly Banna the souldier hearing this went and tolde the whole circumstance to Marshall Brissacus who exhorted him to goe to the Duke of Guise To him therfore he went and tolde him all the whole matter in order Then the Guise desired him to faine friendship and familiaritie toward this Sagua and to fawne vpon him often times to repeate their former communication also to shewe him to one of his householde seruants The which this Banna did And Sagua was apprehended by the Guise There were also taken in the hands of Sagua certaine letters of Monsier Vidam of Carnutum to the Prince of Conde in the which he declared That if the Prince would take any thing in hande worthy of kinglike seruice he was ready to serue him and for his sake to spende both goods and life Upon the onely occasion of these letters the king gaue commaundement that Monsier Vidā of Carnutū shuld be takē The which was with all diligence broughte to passe by the Guises In the meane time there came from Lions frō the Abbat Sauignius letters concerning the bewrayed frustrated practises of Malignius who was said to go about to take Lions Sauignius for his rewarde receiued the Archbishopricke of Orleans By the meanes of these newe tumultes the king came from Fontisbellaquaeum to the Citie Sangerman But the cause and mischiefe of all these things was layde vpon the Prince of Conde who was openlye accused to séeke the alteration of the state of the common weale and also to be the author of the tumulte of Ambaxian Then was Cursolensis sente to the King of Nauarre to commaunde him to come vnto the King and to bring his brother the Prince of Conde with him In the meane time Monsier Vidame althoughe he was very sicke yet was he very straitly imprisoned in so much that his owne wife might not come to visite him And being straitly syfted by those whiche were appointed to examine him concerning the meaning of his letters he still made this answere namely That he did write expresly of those things which appertained to the obedience of the king and of whatsoeuer else that shoulde be done by the kings commaundement Also he saide that he was a néere kinsman and friend of the Duke of Guises yet for all that if there were any priuate controuersie betwéene him and tho King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde he woulde rather take part with them thā with him in so much that for them two namely for the King of Nauar and for the Prince of Conde he would spend both life and goods On the other part the familliar friends of the Prince of Conde with whome he was thoughte to haue conference and consultation were dayly caste in prison and the suspicions of the Huguenotes dayly increased more more for by this newe and straunge name were the faithfull of the reformed Church then called Then was there a newe Edict made That no Prince or any other man whatsoeuer shoulde contribute money armor horses and such like to the setting forth of Souldiers and that he which shoulde be founde to doe this should be counted a Traitor to the King. There was yet a seconde messenger sent to the King of Nauar that he and his brother should come with all spéede This Messenger was Cardinall Burbonius their brother Publique supplicatiōs for the peace of the kingdome were euery where forbidden And wheras the assembly of States was determined before to be holden at Meldis it was now translated and remoued to Aurelias Marshall Termensis being sente with two hundred armed men to kepe the citie At the feast of Saint Michaels order Monsier Vidam being one of the foresaide order put vp a certaine supplication by the Cardinall of Loraine as by the Chauncelor of that order desiring that according to the auncient custome he mighte be iudged of all those that were of that honorable order of Saint Michael and that for those causes onely for