the Sacramentes to be manifest testimonies and certaine and visible notes of the vnion of the faithfull first with him and secondly betwéene themselues Therefore it was sayde in the time of the olde Testament Let the man that is vncircumcised be thruste oute from among the people and therefore the maister of euery house was wont thrice euery yeare to present themselues in Hierusalem that they mighte testifie the vnitie of faith and Religion by those sacrifices Afterward the vayle being taken away and the cloase shut gate being broken open the Iewes and the Gentils grewe into one bodye not onelye by the preaching of the worde but also by Baptisme and by the holy Sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christe And according to this Christ sayd to his Apostles Go and preache to euery creature baptizing in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Whereby both the word and Sacraments are noted For that is to be ioyned with baptisme which Paule speaketh of the Supper saying that He gaue that which he receiued of the Lorde And this is also the verye same whiche is saide in another place That the Church is founded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles that is to say vpon Christ Iesus which is the heade corner stone that is to say the matter and substance of the propheticall and Apostolical doctrine And thus the other place of the same Apostle oughte to bée vnderstoode that the Churche is the strength and piller of truth that is to say the word of God and the same truth of God as S. Ihon sayth doth sustayne and holde vp the Church as also Chrisostome interpreteth it These are the true and visible notes of the Churche the which Church bicause it bringeth forthe the faithfull and nourisheth them with the heauenly incorruptible meate is called their mother and Nource But and if the worde be preached and the Sacramentes ministred it must néedes followe that there be pastors and teachers to whom those offices may be committed as the scriptures in diuers places testifieth and the Apostle Paule also Herevpon it commeth to passe that many adde a thirde note namely ordinarie succession from the time of the Apostles To the which we answere that suche succession ought to be greatly estéemed so long as it is rightly considered and applyed euen as the Fathers often times vsed the same against heretikes as it is to be séene in Tertulliā Irenaeus and in Augustine against the Maniches and Donatistes But bycause they set that buckser againste vs as bringers in of newe things it is necessarie that we declare what we thinke of this thing We say that there is one succession of doctrine and another of persons The succession of doctrine we acknowledge for the true and vndoubted marke of the Churche according to those things whereof we haue spoken before For althoughe the doctrine of the Gospell is neuer a whit the more worthy to be beleued for antiquitie although it commeth to passe by the iudgement of God for oure iniquities that the same is counted sometimes so newe vnto men when it shoulde be familiar and knowne yet notwithstanding the auncient continuall succession doth greatly preuaile with men euen to the farther confirming of the authoritie of the same As touching the succession of persons we acknowledge the same but vpon that conditiō that it be ioyned with the succession of the Prophetes Apostles specially in the substantiall and principall points of faith not otherwise But waye and consider that I speake of doctrine not of manners For although the integritie of doctrine of life be here vnto required that a man shoulde be counted for a good and true pastor yet notwithstanding we do not reiecte a pastor for ignorance or the diuersitie of opinions in smal matters of doctrine and for maners if so be that he kepe the foundation Thus are we taught of Christ who sayth So far forth as the Scribes and Pharisies sit vpon Moises chaire doe that which they teach and not as they do The which place S. Augustine writing vpon Ihon saith ought to be vnderstande of hirelings which neuerthelesse retaine sound doctrine not of false pastors of whō Christ speaketh saying Beware of the leuen of the Phariseis Bycause sayth S. Augustine they sit vpon Moises chaire they teache the lawe of God so God speaketh by them but if they will teach their owne doctrines ye shall neither heare nor do that which they teach Therfore to come to the matter bycause false prophetes may succéede true prophets wolues the true shepheards this truely is a sounde and manifest reason wherefore we thinke that personall succession ought not onely not to be receiued but also vtterly to be cōdemned bicause it giueth place to that which is false craftely coloureth the same least the succession of doctrine should be laid for the foundation Furthermore if personall succession should simply be taken for a true note of the Churche we muste bring forth and shew a certaine sure promise of God by which he hath bounde his grace to certaine definite places and Regions the which we thinke can in no wyse be shewed oute of the newe Testament seyng this is rather manifestly declared that there is a certain catholique or vniuersal Church bycause the particular members thereof are dispersed thoroughout the whole world euen as it pleaseth God to shew forth his iudgements vpon those whō he hath vtterly caste off or whō he chastiseth for a time and to shewe his mercy and blessings vpon those whom he preserueth or whom he newly bringeth to the knowledge of him For God shewing his vengeaunce in certaine places séemeth to abolishe atl things in so muche that there is no manner of signe of the Church left as it is come to passe in all Africa Greece in the whole East part of the world But sometime that personal succession doth decay only for a little while as it happened at Antioch in the time of Samosatene at Alexandri in the exile of Athanasius in many other Churches also so long as there were heresies among them And to be short personall succession ceassed in the time of Honorious who was condemned in the yeare of oure Lorde god D. LXXXI for the execrable doctrine of Eutiches and in the time of Iohn the xxii of that name who was condemned of Heresie excepte we shoulde saye that manyfest Heretikes maye be true pastours I omitte to speake of those things which happened in the tyme of that womā Pope IOANE and of the manifolde tumultes of the false vsurping Popes which the histories make mention of These things therfore cōsidered I conclude that if we wil rightly knowe the Churche we muste not haue regarde to personall succession but to the puritie of doctrine to the sincere administration of the Sacraments in so much that we must counte them for the true successors of the Apostles which being rightly
and grieuance of the Guises Furthermore we will declare what great alterations came to passe after this the yong King Charles comming to the Crowne As the great peace and tranquilitie giuen and graunted to the Churches by the benefite of the Kings Edictes the daily increase of the faithfull the flourishing of the Gospell in euery place the defacing of the Popes doctrine by solemne Court of Parliament the truth also embraced of many of the Nobles And here we will shewe what séedes of dissention were sowne by the subtile practises of the Guises betwéene the Nobles Then I will speake somewhat of the Actes of the parling of Possiacen Last of all I will declare the summe of the Edict of Ianuarye by which greater libertie was graunted to the Churches And bicause about that time there were great troubles of warres I will there make an ende of thys booke leauing the declaration of the rest vntill a more conuenient time Notwithstanding part thereof that is to say the explication of the first Ciuil warres shall be declared in our thrée latter bookes we looking to haue occasions offered to describe other matters which are behinde The booke of Commentaries concerning Religion vnder the reignes of Henrie the seconde Fraunces the seconde and Charles the ninth THe doctrine of Religion which in our time is amended and reformed came at the last into Fraunce But they were hardly delt withall which receyued that doctrine they were banished burnt and with all maner of torments vexed they were also called Lutheranes which name then was made a common reproch to the godly Notwithstanding all this that doctrine did more largely and vehemently spreaâ—…e it selfe abroade and the more that men were toriâ—…ented the more they came â—…o the same by flocks Many to the end they might escape the crueltie of their punishments â—… might enioy the frée vse of religioÌ„ weâ—…t vnto those places â—…n the which y same was purely publikely set forth amâ—…ng which the greatest part went to Geneua From whence many bookeÌ„s and letters being written a great number were brought to the knowledge of that doctrine The which dailie increasing more and more great matters afterwardes came to passe those things which were done in the beginning with feare and secretely were afterwarde frée and common for euery man to vse vntill such time as punishments being repressed torments taken away and the fierie flames quite extinguished that doctrine was receyued of noble men of Gentlemen and of all estates but on the other side the aduersaries of the reformed religion Resisting y same there arose great tumults which by mortall and ciuill warres vexed and much endamaged the great and noble kingdome of Fraunce But these first beginnings are particularly touched in other bookes in the which the noble and excellent triumphes of Martyrs are described I will therfore begin at that yeare since the which matters of Religion being more opeÌ„ly set forth and more vehemently againe resisted haue more happily and euidently appeared And then this was the state of the kingdome After sundrie and long warres betwéene Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce and Charles the fyfth Emperour at the length both their Legates wheÌ„ they could not by peace ende the controuersies which were betwéene them concluded a truce or peace for fyue yeares the which being shortly after broken by the Cardinall of Lorraine the warre began a freshe betwene the two kings And Fraunces Duke of Guise taketh his iourney into Italie with a great armye And Philip king of Spaine and sonne of the Emperour Charles goeth into Picardie who making hast to the towne of Sanquintine gaue the Constable which came out to mete him a great ouerthrow and toke him with a great number of Gentlemen This ouerthrowe and great slaughter of men was called Laurence day bicause it chaunced at the feast of S. Laurence â–ª After this Sanquintine was taken and certaine cities nere vnto the same So that what with the rumor of the sodeine slaughter what with the feare of the enimie which now approched to Paris the chiefe citie of the kingdome all men were wonderfully afrayde While these things were thus a working there began to be a great fame and rumor of the increase of the Lutheranes by reason whereof there followed a notable persecution against them which by the popular and vulgar name is called The winning of S. Iames streete and it was so called for this cause When the faithfull perceyued the great perill and dauÌ„ger that hong ouer the whole kingdome of France by reason of this newe plague and punishment they gaue themselues to prayer and therfore congregated themselues togither by a great number the fourth daye of September in certaine houses of S. Iames stréete in Paris and that in the night for in the daye time they might by no meanes come togither minding to heare the worde preached and to haue the supper of the Lorde celebrated But they being bewrayed the common sort of people with weapons in a great tumult ranne with all haste to this stréetâ—… of S. Iames where the faithfull were assembled who being in those houses before mentioned and séeing themselues to be compassed on euerye side with the furor and rage of the multitude had small hope to escape howbeit part of them when they sawe a waye to be made for them through a certaine gate which wonderfully opened for the safegarde of many when the houses on â—…uery side were beset repeated their former prayers and escaped by flight without harme euen as though God himselfe had gone before them the greater part were taken of the Magistrates among whom were many noble women and women of great parentage and as they were led away by the officers were shamefully intreated and vnhonestly handled of the people Now the matter being in question concerning this asseÌ„bly it was first founde that when the people were assembled togither there was a Lecture of the holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue secondly that all the congregation knéeling prayers were made by the Minister thirdly that the Minister expounded the place of the eleuenth Chapter of S. Paules first Epistle to the Corinthians in the which the vse of the Lords supper is declared fourthly that then prayers were made for the King for Princes Magistrates for all estates of people for peace and quietnesse of the kingdom and last of all that the breade end wine of the Lords supper was communicated and giuen to those which were not iudged vnworthie For these offences they were taken Being therefore taken and cruelly intreated of the people by the way were notwithstanding very vâ—…courteously delt withall in prison For théeues and murtherers and such as by the lawe deserued to die were taken out of their colde and noysome prisons and these men put into the same in their steade all men forbidden to haue any recourse vnto them Notwithstanding it was brought to passe by the singular prouidence of God bicause
how For if we beholde the same in the representation of a certain general Councell first it is not likely that all the force and vertue which the holy Ghost hath powred out vpon the Church is restrained to a certaine number of prelates which are oftentimes neuer the more learned nor any whit the better although they represent all those of whoÌ„ they are sent For how ofteÌ„times may it come to passe that some one man altogether vnlearned shall haue more wisedome thaÌ„ all the learned of the whole coÌ„pany beside Ane therfore is it writteÌ„ in the Glose Thou hast declared concerning elections that one priuate faithfull maÌ„ which bringeth better reasons ought rather to be beleued than the whole couÌ„cel the Pope But rather in the great Nicene couÌ„cell who did let that law of chastitie which from that time brought so manie corruptions into the Church that it might not be established One onely Paphnutius not greatly learned as the storie maketh mention Furthermore at what time was there euer so generall a Councell gathered together but that not onely the greatest part of learned men and of godly men but also of Prelates was left behind And who will denie but that they which are absent haue oftentimes had the more sound and better iudgement thaÌ„ those that were present Beside these things ye also my Lordes doe know what great confusion raigneth in the Church and specially in the greatest offices of the Prelacie in so much that we may say The greatest corruption hath bene in that part which ought to haue béen more perâ—…ect and sounde Of late we had many examples and the holy Bishoppes haue fet suche déepe sighes for these things that the sounde of them is hearde as yet And truely the saying of S. Bernard is no lesse knowne than true when he sayth Oh Lord they which loue the hyest romes and desire principallitie are the first which persecute thee they haue taken mount Sion they haue taken the arke of the couenant and by force haue set fire on the whole Citie But let this be spoken my Lordes not that I touche or meane any of you but onely to declare that seyng the principall vocations in the Churche are so fowly corrupted it cannot be that the generall Councels after so long time established by a multitude of such wicked men should be so gouerned by the holy Ghost that it cannot erre A certaine ancient Priest prophecied also although he were vngodly and wicked but it was the holy Ghost that prophecied in him being ignorant what he sayd being driuen to speake by the contrarie spirit that is to say by the spirit of the Deuill in appointing to kill an innocent namely Christ Iesus the sonne of God. Furthermore if a general Councell haue this priuiledge that it cannot erre neither in the rule of doctrine nor in the forme of maners we demaunde when and at what time it obtained this priuiledge For there was neuer at any time but one faith one Church And the Prophetes do plainly declare and the histories doe euidently confirme the same that the ancient Church in the tyme of the olde Testament hath erred All the beholders thereof are blinde sayth the Prophet they knowe nothing they are dumbe dogges And the Prophet Ieremie sayth From the Prophet to the Priest all haue gone astray And least this should be restrained to the life of singular men it is expressely sayde in the fourtene chapter of the same Prophet They prophecie lyes and set forthe a false vision Also the Prophet Esay sayth The wisedome of the wyse shall perishe and the intelligence of those that vnderstand God shall put out the eyes of the prophetes Moreouer in Ezechiel it is sayde The lawe shall departe from the Priest. But who slewe the Prophetes who put the sonne of God to death who coÌ„demned the Apostles but onely the Prelates and hie Priestes of the Iewes If any man obiect and say that these things happened in the time of the olde Testamente we reply that this is no answere for bicause it shal be alwayes a strong conclusion that the congregation of the Prelates or Papistes of the Church although it be vniuersal at the last is gouerned rather by the spirite of error than by the holye Ghoste Secondly if we come to the newe Testament hath not the Apostle Paule plainely admonished the Churche in the person of the Ephesians that wolues shall come forthe from among the shepeherdes and also that the sonne of perdition shall sit in the Temple of God And certainely yf the councels be compared one with another manye contrarieties shall be found in them in so much that we must néedes confesse that they were not alwayes led and ruled by the holy Ghost but rather that Sathan hath transfigured himselfe into the lighte of the generall Councels to couer and hide his lye and error There is also another place of S. Augustine in the which he hath these words The Epistles of particular Bishoppes are corrected by prouinciall Councels and the Epistles of prouinciall Councels by generall Councelles when as by experience that which was before hidden is now manifest and knowne This place I alledged before in my firste oration to the which my lord Cardinal made answere that it ought to be vnderstoode of external matters which might ought to be altered as necessitie shuld require But y who le matter being more diligently considered it shal appéere that the worde corrected which Austine vseth doth presuppose some error which was afterward amended And S. Austine in that place dothe not intreate of externall discipline but of one speciall point of doctrine namely of the sentence of Ciprian and of the councell of Africa which concerned Rebaptizing If also this place be obiected against vs as where our sauiour Christ saith that He will be in the middest of two or three that are gathered togither in his name hereby to proue that this promise doth appertaine rather to a general councell than to a fewe men We answere that we may thus thinke of this promise but there is great difference betwéen our imagination a most certaine knowledge For seyng the wickednesse of men is growne to that passe that it abuseth the name of God to a lie there may be some which hauing the name of God in their mouth carry his aduersarie the Deuill in their heartes we do affirme that in so great infirmitie of humane wit amidst so many troublesome desires he is in gret dauÌ„ger to be deceiued which only leaneth to meÌ„s iudgements and to the external shew of a councell What theÌ„ shal we say that the doctrine of the Church seing the Church may erre is vncertaine Nothing lesse For we confesse that although we sée in part as S. Paule saith and so error may be ioyned with the truth yet notwithstaÌ„ding God wil not suffer the knowledge of the principal grouÌ„des of our saluatioÌ„
time ended But as touching that principall poynte of the Succession of the Churche I haue sayth he oftentimes maruelled with my selfe by whose authorite and by whose calling ye are entered into the Church and haue taken vpon you the office of teaching seing that ye are not come in by the ordinary way nor by such as haue ordinarie authoritie nor haue not receiued of theÌ„ the impositioÌ„ of hands Here vpoÌ„ he gathered that the ministers of the reformed churches were not true lauful pastors for so much as they could not say that they were come in by ordinarie successioÌ„ much lesse by extraordinarie bicause extraordinarie vocatioÌ„ ought to be coÌ„firmed by miracles eueÌ„ as Moises being raised vp of God to deliuer the people was established by extraordinarie miracles or else truly these extraordinarie callings ought to be coÌ„firmed by some expresse testimonie of scripture as the calling of Ihon by the testimonie of Malachy Both the which seing they lacked he coÌ„cluded that their calling ministery was not lawflul As concerning traditions the interpretatioÌ„ of scripture if ther shal happeÌ„ to be any disputatioÌ„ about theÌ„ theÌ„ we must run haue regard to ordinarie successors as to those to whom the holy Ghost is promised who were ordained to that end purpose as it is manisest by the example of the Leuites with whom in time past meÌ„ ought to consult from whose iudgement it was not lawful to decline Many things yea eueÌ„ those that are most certaine farthest from all doubt are retained by traditioÌ„ As the the father is not begotteÌ„ that the sonne is of like substance with the father that infantes ought to be baptized y the virgin Mary was a pure virgin after the birth of Christ so remained such like the which being receiued from the fathers although they be not plainly writteÌ„ in the word of God the is to say in the bookes of the prophets Apostles yet notwithstanding they are not of lesse credit and authoritie Moreouer he said the whatsoeuer was coÌ„cluded determined by generall couÌ„cels were ought to be accounted most certaine true seing the councels coulde not erre in those things that appertained to doctrin For the which saith he you haue alledged out of S. Austin that one couÌ„cell was correâ—… 〈◊〉 proued by another couÌ„cell following neuer came to passe in those things which appertained to ReligioÌ„ For there were only thrée councels in the time of S. Augustine namely the couÌ„cell of Nicene against the ArriaÌ„s the couÌ„cell of Constantinople against the MacedoniaÌ„s the Ephesine councel specially against Nestorius none of the which were afterward reproued ameÌ„ded That which you brought in coÌ„cerning Paphnutius it is neither certainly true nor yet doth it appertaine to the purpose Here vpoÌ„ he repeated that which was spoken coÌ„cerning the Supper disputing a little about the corporall presence he alledged many things out of the books of a certaine author which as he saide the ministers could not refuse meaning Caluine one of whose bookes he brought forth It was said that Espensius at the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of the Cardinal of Loraine of purpose begaÌ„ to reason concerning the Supper to the intent he might finde conuenient occasion to breake off the conference While Beza was about to make answer to that which EspeÌ„sius had said a certain Sorbonist a white monke whose name was Xainctius being fully bent to dispute rose vp making a long tedious repetitioÌ„ of those things which were spokeÌ„ by Espensius before said that traditions had a more firme foundatioÌ„ than the scripture it self bicause the scripture might be drawen euerye waye by the varietie of interpretations for the which cause he saide that Cyprian contended with many Affricans affyrming that Christ said not I am custome but I am the way the truth the life The which sentence froÌ„ that time forward was many wayes wrested traÌ„sformed To the same effect he cited the testimonie of TertulliaÌ„ in his booke of prescriptions of heretikes said that Beza had spoken very stately sending him to the same place of Tertullian to reade it more diligently Who saythe Quoth the Monke that Heretikes bring in the scriptures and do leade the ignorant into error beyng moued by the authoritie ther of And thus he concluded that the Scriptures ought not to be vsed and that from them simply we ought not to take weapons to conuince heretikes for bicause of thynges so vncertaine the certaine victory of truth cannot be gotten At the last he obscurely sayde that God beside his Councell had giuen vnto vs his doctrine in writing saide that Chrisostome was the author of this saying Here Beza made answere that those long tedious words of the Monke were very impertinent to their conference and nothing helping to that peace and concorde which they wished and directing his oration to the Quéene he did besech hir to prouide that they might neuer afterward swarue fall into perturbations troubles not seruing to the purpose Therefore sayth he that I may answere to the firste doubt of Espensius from whence the Ministers of our Churches had their calling seing they were not called by ordinarie meanes neither had receiued the imposition of handes know ye that Imposition or laying on of handes is not the speciall note of lawfull calling for the principall and substantiall notes are the Inquisition of maners and doctrine and Election from the which two if imposition of handes shall be wanting yet we muste not thinke the calling to be any whyt the lesse lawfull We are elected Ministers and approued of our Churches which with one consent haue allowed our Ministerie But wheras we haue not had imposition of handes nor appointed by those whome ye call Ordinaries that oughte not to séeme straunge seing that in so greate confusion of all things in the Churche of Rome wée would not receiue imposition of hands of those whose vices superstition and false doctrine we disalowe for that they were open enimyes to the truth It is out of all doubte that the Prophetes in olde time had no greater aduersaries than the Priestes whiche reiected sounde doctrine and neglected their office and duetie Did the Prophetes therefore at any time which were raised vp of God to be enimies vnto them desire the confirmation or approbation of their offices vnto the which they were called and appointed of God And yet notwithstanding who will say that they did intrude themselues into those offices which they executed and discharged faithfully with great perill and daunger of their life The which also we ought to do at this time And it ought not to be said that Myracles are necessarily to be required to extraordinarie callings for that which is written concerning the calling of Moyses is not common to all For by what Myracles were the callings of Esayas Daniel and Zacharias confirmed Did the Apostle Paule
THE Three Partes of Commentaries Containing the whole and perfect discourse of the Ciuill warres of Fraunce vnder the raignes of Henry the second Frances the second and of Charles the ninth With an Addition of the cruell Murther of the Admirall CHASTILION and diuers other Nobles committed the 24. daye of August Anno. 1572. Translated out of Latine into English BY THOMAS TIMME MINISTER Seene and allowed DEVTERON 32. Remember the dayes of olde consider the yeres of so many Generations aske thy father and he will shew thee thine elders and they will tell thee IMPRINTED AT LONdon by Frances Coldocke ANNO. 1574. R Regard not worldly wealth I In Christ repose thy trust C Consider well thy finall end H How thou art but dust A Aske mercy for thy sinne R Reioyce in vertues lore D Detract no time for to atchieue B Beatitudes in store A Aboue where Christ doth raigne K King of imperiall power E Eche Angell his triumphant praise R Resounding euery hower T. T. To the right worshipful Sir Richard Baker Knight Thomas Tymme wisheth desired health and prosperitie with full perfection of Christian vnderstanding and godlynesse IN all Ages and times there haue bene some godly and well disposed Fathers that imployed theyr tyme and trauayle in describyng the State of Christes Churche and of the common wealth of the Lordes Israell As for example In the tyme of the law before Christ Moses Samuel Esras Nehemiah and others After the law since Christ S. Luk Theodoret Sozomenus Epiphanius Nicepho rus Iohn Sleidan and in our time Maister Iohn Foxe oure Countrey man whose godly labour hath deserued great coÌ„mendation As these fathers and godly learned men in their times by occasion haue labored and trauailed to benefite the Church of Christ which through ignorance hath bene much endamaged euen so that notable graue godly learned Father Petrus Ramus the Authour of these Commentaries of the state of the Common wealth and Religion of Fraunce whereof this booke is but the first part hath taken no lesse paines to the same ende and shall profitte in deede no lesse than the trauaile and paine of others taken that way For in his Commentaries beside the godly lessons both concerning doctrine and manners and otherwise are conteined manye notable examples of Gods great mercyes in defending and preseruing the Christian professors of his name in Fraunce in extreme perils and also diuers experimentes of his seuere iudgements in ouerthrowing the cruel tyrants and in punishing the persecuters In consideration wherof I thought is good to translate the same into our English toung both for that I thought it should generally profit our countreymen and not those alone which vnderstand the Latin toung as your worship doth and also for that I thoughte it a meete occasion wherby I might testifie my good will and meaning towardes your worship for the freendly inclination and willingnesse to benefit me that I haue heretofore found in you Desiring you to accept the dedicatioÌ„ hereof though not for the worthinesse of the thing giuen yet as a sure testimonie of such a well willing mynd as by this which he here presenteth declareth what he would do if he had any thing of more price to giue and also to suffer my trauaile to passe forth vnder your fauourable protection and garde to the common profitte of our countreymen and the glory of God who send you long life increase of worship and the perfect felicitie of the life to come Your worships Thomas Tymme The Authors Preface to the Reader WHat a great businesse and much adoe there was of late yeares for Religion that in the Kingdome of Fraunce there is no man but he knoweth â–ª yea all men sée the same to be such that it ought with diligence to be Cronicled for euer and to be sent to the borderers of the vtmost part of the earth for all posterities But he which hath taken this labour in hand of good will desireth earnestly that it may generally take effect and turne to the profit of all men For so farre as I know there is nothing extant to be read but certaine writings which were put forth and set abrode as the matter required and certaine Commentaries in the French toâ—…gue and if there be any thing it is so obscurely written that the same of all men can not be vnderstoode And truly there are certaine reasons which stayed mamy men of great wisedome and experience in these matters from that publique writing For who not knowing as yet what would come to passe dare take vppon him to set foorth openly a whole Tragedie or Comedie without manifest daunger to loose his labour or at the least to séeme to lose it Furthermore who séeth not that it is a thing at this time full of perill and procuring enuie and displeasure And beside all this such laboure at this time séemeth almost vnprofitable For those matters are as yet freshe in memorie and more sensibly felt of a great manie than were to be wished and are noysed abroade by others in forreine Nations To conclude this thing séemeth almost hurt full For when as these controuersies haue ben stirred vp tho rough diuers opinions of religioÌ„ which controuersies burst forth into so great perturbations and troubles the rehersall now of these thinges shall not only séeme pernicieus but also vntimely and out of order The which also séeme to bée other causes which haue discouraged learned men who no doubt did diligently note and marke the reasons and falling out of those matters which wonderfully hapned in these our dayes from labouring to set forth this history For either the hast is vnprofitable or else the vntimely comming forth ridiculous of this so spéedie vnseasonable labor Therfore least any man should thinke that it is our purpose to write and sette foorthe a iust and true Historie of the state of the Churche of Fraunce wée giue to vnderstand that it is neyther our purpose nor yet agréeing to the time Howbeit hereafter more copions and plentifull woorkes of better learned menne so soone as the troubles and lettes of these times bée taken awaye will come abroade and will also committe to those that shall come after a perfecte and full memoriall and Chronicle of matters Let this now bée our beginning and entrance and a certaine declaration of a greater worke that we may shewe some part of that large and ample argument and that we may reduce into these Commentaries a certaine Uiew of the seuerall times of our Churches both that we may stirre vp such of greater learning and experience as may happily hereafter take this matter in hand more fully to handle the same and also that in the meane time wee may giue some fast of the greatest matters to Christian men desirous to know the truth of this thing and to men of forreine nations bewayling our estate and condition And in these thrée first Bookes of our Commentaries we set forth vnto the reader the first
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
euery man could not haue a prisoÌ„ by himself that some of them were thrust togither into one prisoÌ„ so it came to passe that one of theÌ„ receiued comfort of another in somuch that the prison in the which they were souÌ„ded with the prayers Psalmes vttered song by them But to make these men the more to be hated diuers rumors were euery where spred namely that the Lutherans did assemble themselues togither in the night and being on a heape togither without candle light did fulfill their wandring lusts one with another killed their yong infants and committed other wickednesses The Monkes they made exclamation of this thing in euery place to inflame the people to reuenge the same And not only the common sort of people were stayed with these rumors but the same also of these things came eueÌ„ to the eares of the Péeres of the realm in so much that one of the Inquisitors or Commissioners durst auouch before the King that Tables spred and great prouision of daintie cheare was founde in that place where the faythfull had assembled themselues The which report so inflamed the Kings minde that he sought nothing more than the destruction of the faithfull yea and the mindes of all men did so boyle in hatred against them that he thought himselfe to excell that coulde best conspire the death and destruction of the faithfull At the last a coÌ„maundement was giuen by the king that some méete man should be chosen to knowe consider their causes which were taken Nowe at Paris there was a Magistrate a Citizen called Munerius a man as it was commonlye reported verye apt for all maner of fraude and deceyte At thys time this Munerius was as a Batte in the night and did seldome openly shewe himselfe bicause he was accused of falshood in the matter of the Countesse of Senigana or Seniguen the which he pretended to haue committed that Duke Arscotus who was then takeÌ„ and in hold might escape Notwithstanding to this man this office was committed And bicause by this meanes he hoped to haue pardon and shoulde be restored to his former dignitie he was so forward in his businesse that within fewe dayes many of their causes which were taken prisoners were brought to haue sentence and iudgement In the meane time those reliques which remayned behinde of that vaste and great shipwracke of the faithfull were cast into great distresse and sorrowe notwithstanding they thought it not good to faynt or quayle in those extremities For they which were the chiefe gouernours of the Church went about euery mans house exhorted euery one to be of good chéere perswaded that nothing had happened without the singuler prouidence of God by which also it came to passe that many escaped that daunger moreouer they sayd that they remained to defende the other partes of the Church which were left and that this calamitie shoulde not be the ruine and quite ouerthrow of the Church and on the other side that the same is the waye to increase and inlarge the Church which God both by his word hath shewed and also by experience approued for the gathering togither of the Church And thus when they had exhorted and comforted one another and had committed themselues and all things else to the prouidence of God first of al they appoynted that in euery house there should be extraordinary praiers made and that those faâ—…e rumors shoulde be put away by Apollogies and aunsweres of defence and also that the brethren which were taken should be confirmed and strengthned so often as might be with letters and also with wordes Therefore they write letters vnto the king and bring to passe to haue them caried secretly into the Kings chamber by which they ment to pacifie the kings minde to remooue the same from the euill opinion which it had conceyued of them and to obtaine the hearing of their cause They affirme in their letters that they are falsly accused and slaundered with such slaunders as are not newly deuised but with such as long before had bene obiected agaynst the Church by which Satan went about to make Kinges and Princes to hate the same and are now againe put forth by those only which desire to haue the truth oppressed to the ende they may fréely enioy the riches and goods which they haue vsurped and wrongfully gotten by wicked deceit And that be ought to séeke to haue sure and vndoubted proues of euery matter specially in businesse of so great weight For if it were sufficient to condemnation to accuse who shoulde then escape an innocent Wherfore if he would vouchsafe diligently to search out the truth of this matter it shoulde well appeare that they assembled themselues togither for no other ende and purpose than to praye vnto God for his prosperitie and the peace of the kingdome Also that their doctrine did not maintaine sedition neyther was an enimye to the obedience of Magistrates the which thing they had alway hitherto shewed neuer refusing to obey although they were many in number when they were euill intreated onely for following the worde of god And that thys was their onely desire that Christ might appeare to be the chiefe and heade alone and that the inuentions of men being abrogated God might be obeyed and serued according to his prescript will. Wherefore if it woulde please him to vnderstande their cause he might if he woulde make some publike disputation betwéene some one of those that were in prison and the Sorbonistes or others which might dispute of those things now in controuersie In the ende they doe pray and humbly beséech him that he woulde not suffer the innocencie of good men their cause not being hearde to be condemned séeing that wicked men and such as do most déepely transgresse obtain so much libertie as to shew their cause and aunswere for theÌ„selues These letters were read before the king and those also which were then present but small fruite or profite came thereby certaine of the Cardinals then crying that they were lyes and tales so that notwithstanding their reasonable suite and request they had not so much graunted vnto them as libertie to aunswere for themselues After this there was yet another letter sent to the king the effect wherof was that all men did confesse that these calamities with the which the christian coÌ„mon welth was vexed procéeded of the iust iudgement of God being offended that so many he resies and corruptions shoulde take place But the greatest offence to consist in this thing namely that none of those to whome the care and charge of the Common welth was committed had any regarde at all to discerne heretiques by the worde of God from Christian maintayners of the truth And yet notwithstanding that it did belong vnto the King to applie himselfe to know this thing according to the example of the good Kings Ezechias and losias And after certaine notes put downe of true and false religion
gift of God. 10 We beleue that all the progenie and ofspring of Adam is infected with this contagion the which we call originall sinne the which commeth by propagation and not of imitation as the Pelagians haue thought all whose errors we do detest abhorre Neither do we thinke it necessarie to enquire how this sinne may come from one to another by propagation For it is sufficient to know that whatsoeuer God hath giuen to Adam was not giuen to him alone but to all his posteritie and therefore we in his person are spoyled and bereft of all those benefites and are fallen into all this miserie and malediction 11 We beleue that this deprauatiō or corruptiō is very sin maketh al men yea the very infants as yet in the wombes of their mothers to be giltie of euerlasting death before god We do also affirme that the same after Baptisme is ministred is very sin in respect of fault how beit they which are the children of God shal not be cōdēned therfore bicause God of his frée mercy goodnesse doth not impute the same vnto thē Furthermore we say that this euil doth alwayes shew forth some fruits of wickednesse rebellion in so much that they which are the most holy althoughe they doe resist the same yet neuerthelesse so long as they liue in this worlde they are defiled with infirmities and offences 12 We do beleue also that out of this corruption vniuersal dānatiō into the which al mē by nature are cast drowned God hath takē some namely such whō he hath elected and chosen by his eternall purpose and euerlasting counsel of his owne mercy goodnesse in his sonne Christ without any respect of their merites And othersome he hath lefte in that corruption and damnation in iustlye condemning of whome when time commeth he will shewe his iustice euen as he declareth the riches of his mercye vpon others For some are not better than other some vntill God make the one to be knowne from the other by that his euerlasting purpose which he determined in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world neyther can any man by his owne strength attaine vnto that blessednesse since that by nature we haue no good motion neither are we able to thinke a good thought vntill God by grace assist vs and guideth vs vnto that which is right and good 13 We beléeue that whatsoeuer is requisite and necessarie for our saluation it is offered giuen to vs in Jesus Christ alone who is giuen to vs to saue vs and is also made vnto vs or for vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption in so much that whosoeuer forsaketh him forsaketh the mercie of the Father that is to saye our onely refuge 14 We beléeue that Jesus Christ the wisedome and euerlasting sonne of the Father toke vpon him our nature in so much that in one person he is both God and man a man passible both in body and soule and in all things like vnto vs sinne onely excepted whose fleshe is very séede of Abraham and Dauid although by the secrete and incomprehensible power of the holy Ghost he was in his time conceiued in the wombe of the virgin Mary And therefore we detest and forsake all those heresies with the which the Churches in time past haue béene troubled as most contrarie to the truth and namely those diuelish Imaginations of Seruettus attributing to our Lorde Jesus Christ a phantasticall deitie and such like 15 We do beleue that in one persō which is Jesus Christ those two natures are so truelye and inseparably conioyned that they are vnited together in one and yet both of thē retaine still the distincte propertie of their natures in so much that as in this coniunctiō the diuine nature of the word retaining his properties abode vncreate infinit and replenishing all things euen so also the humane nature abode shall abide for euer comprehensible hauing his naturall forme measure and propertie from whom the resurrectiō and glorification or assumption to the right hand of the father shall not take away the veritie of his humane nature Therefore we so consider of Christ in his Deity that we spoile him not of his humanitie 16 We beleue that God hath shewed his vnspeakable loue and goodnesse toward vs in this that he hath sent his sonne to dye and to rise againe and to fulfill al righteousnesse that he might purchase for vs euerlasting life 17 We beleue that by that only sacrifice which Jesus christ offered vpon the Crosse we are reconciled vnto God and are counted iust in his sight bicause we cannot be acceptable vnto him neither obtaine the fruite of our adoption excepte we haue forgiuenesse of sinnes at his handes Therfore we affirme that Jesus Christ is our full and perfecte redéemer in whose death we haue full satisfaction by which we are deliuered from all our sinnes and from the which we can be absolued by no other meanes 18 ▪ We beleue that all oure righteousnesse is placed in the remission of our sinnes the which as the Prophete Dauid testifieth is our onely felicitie Therefore we reiect openly all other waies and meanes by which men thinke that they maye be iustified before God and laying aside all trust of our owne merites and righteousnesse we rest and stay our selues wholy vpon the obedience of Jesus Christ the which is imputed vnto vs both that all our sinnes may be thereby couered and also that we may attaine grace in the sight of god To be shorte we beleue that if we decline neuer so little from this foundation we can not finde where to rest but shal be rather alwayes vnquiet bicause we cā not haue peace with God vntill we are certainely perswaded of this that we are loued in Jesus Christ bicause in our selues we are worthy of all hate 19 We doe beleeue that by this onely meanes we haue libertye to call vpon God with certayne truste that hée will declare him selfe to bee our Father For we haue no accesse vnto the Father but by the meanes of the mediator 20 We do beleue that we are made partakers of this righteousnesse by faithe onely as it is written that he suffered to saue vs that whosoeuer shal beleue in him might not perish And it is thus appointed to this ende bicause the promises of life offered to vs in him are then applyed to our vse and profite and are made effectual to vs when we imbrace thē nothing doubting of the hauing of those things of the which we are certified by Gods owne mouth Therefore the righteousnesse which we obtaine by faith dependeth vpon the frée promises by which God testifieth and declareth that we are beloued of him 21 We beleue that we are endued with the light of faith by the secrete grace and working of the holy ghost the which faith is the frée gift of God proper to them alone to
whom it pleaseth God to giue the same that the faithfull might haue nothing in them selues to boast of wheÌ„ as rather they are two folde more bound to God than others in that they are preferred before others Also we beleue that faith is giuen to the electe not that they should once onely walke in the right way but rather to coÌ„tinue in the same al the dayes of their lyfe bicause as the beginning is of God so is also the ende 22 We beleue that we which are by nature the seruants of sinne by the same faith are regenerate into a new life For by faith we receiue grace to lyue a holy and godly lyfe wheÌ„ we imbrace that â—…uangelicall promise that the Lorde will giue vnto vs the holy Ghost Therfore faith is so far from taking away the desire to leade a godly life that it doth rather inflame the same in vs from whence good workes necessarily do follow But although God doth regenerate vs to the ende he might fully saue vs notwithstanding we affirme that the good workes which we do by the assistance of Gods holy spirite are not so regarded of God that we shuld be iustified by them or deserue to be counted the sonnes of God bicause we shoulde alwayes doubte and feare if so be that we had not that satisfactioÌ„ by which Christ Jesus hath deliuered vs from all harme 23 We beleue that all the figures of the law are taken away by the comming of Christ although we know that the truth and substaunce of them remaine in him in whoÌ„ they were fulfilled Howbeit we must vse and exercise the Law and the Prophets both for the framing of our life and also that we may be the more confirmed in the promises of the Gospell 24 We beleue that seing Jesus Christ is giuen to vs to be our onely aduocate who also commaundeth that we should boldly come to the Father in his name and seing it is not lawfull for vs to pray in any other order and forme than in that which God him selfe hath appointed in his word what soeuer men haue deuised concerning the intercessioÌ„ of dead Saintes it is nothing else but the deceite and crafte of Sathan to drawe men from the right and true forme of prayer We doe also reiect all those meanes whatsoeuer that men haue inuented to delyuer them selues from the wrath of God for so muche as they doe derogate so much from the death and sacrifyce of Jesus Christ as men gyue and attribute vnto them To coÌ„clude we thinke that Purgatory is a fable brought forth of y same shop froÌ„ wheÌ„ce also came Monastical vows pilgrimages prohibitioÌ„ of Matrimonie the vse of meates the ceremoniall obseruation of certaine dayes Auricular confession Iuduigences and suche like abhominations by which some thinke that they merit grace and saluation All which things we do reiecte not onely for the false opinion conceyued of meriting adioyned vnto them but also bicause they be the inuentions of men and a yoake layde vpon consciences by the authoritie of men 25 We beléeue bicause we can not obtaine Christ but by the Gospell that the holy and inuiolable discipline established by his authoritie in the Churche ought to be obserued and that therefore Pastours ought to be in the Church to whom appertaineth the office of preaching the worde and the ministration of the Sacramentes whom men ought to honor and reuerently heare if they beyng lawfully called discharge their dutie not that God of necessitie néedeth such inferior helpes but rather bycause it thus seemeth good vnto him to rule vs as it were with a bridle And therfore we do detest all those fanaticall persons which so muche as in them lyeth séeke to abolishe the holy ministerye that is to say the preaching of the worde and the administration of Sacraments 26 We beléeue therefore that it is lawfull for no man to withdrawe himselfe from the Congregation and to trust in himselfe but is rather the duetie of all men to defende and kéepe the Unitie of the Churche submitting them selues to the common Institution and yoake of Christe wheresoeuer God hath appointed the true and Ecclesiasticall discipline althoughe the Edictes of Magistrates be against the same from the which order whosoeuer separate them selues they resist the ordinance of God. 27 We beléeue that with great diligence and discretion the true Church must be discerned by the name whereof many are too much abused Therfore we affirme out of the worde of God that the Churche is a company or congregation of the faithfull which do agrée in following the word of God and in imbracing true Religion in the which also they dayly profite and go forward grounding and confirming one another in the feare of God who although they receiue neuer so great profite yet must they daylie of necessitie seeke for remission of sinnes And yet for all this will not denie but that manye hipocrites and reprobates are mixed with the faithfull but yet their wickednesse can not take awaye the name the Church 28 Therfore in beléeuing of this thing we also openly affirme that where the worde of God is not receiued nor no profession of that obedience shewed that belongeth thervnto nor no vse of the Sacraments there to speake properly we can Iudge no Church to be We therfore condemne the Papisticall Church bicause the pure truth of God is banished out of the same in the which the Sacramentes of faith are corrupted falsified or else quite abolished in the which all superstition Idolatry is to be founde And therfore we thinke that all they which do ioyne themselues to such actions and do communicate with them doe separate them selues from the body of christ Nothwithstanding bicause in the Papacy remaineth some Imitacion of the true church and specially the substance of Baptisme the efficacie wherof dependeth not vpon him that ministreth the same we graunt that they which are baptized in the same Popishe Church haue no néede to be baptized againe howbeit bycause of the corruptions with the which Baptime is there mixed no man can offer his childe to be of them baptized but he must pollute him selfe 29 We do beléeue that the true Churche oughte to be gouerned with that discipline which our Lorde Iesus Christ appointed and to haue in the same Pastors Ministers and Deacons that the pure doctrine of the Gospell may be preached vice bridled and poore afflicted persons so far as nede shall require comforted 30 We do beléeue that all true Pastors wheresoeuer they be placed haue power and authoritie all a like vnder that onely head and chiefe vniuersall Bishop Iesus Christ And therfore that it is lawfull for no Church to chalenge vnto it selfe imperie or rule ouer another 31 We do beleue that it is vnlawfull for anye man of his owne authoritie to presume to take vpon him the gouernment of the Church but ought rather to
had of them that he sente his embassage vnto them and that he woulde call them to this Councell as though he were ignorant what Religion the States of the Empire followed who of late that they might reforme their Churches according to the true doctrine of the Gospell were constrayned to plucke their neck out of the Popes yoake that is to say to separate theÌ„selues from their fellowshippe which went about to oppresse and destroy the true doctrine of the Gospell We woulde therefore say they to the Legates that ye should knowe for a suretie that the most noble Princes of Germany will by no meanes obey the Pope nor acknowledge that he hath any power either by Gods lawe or by the lawe of man to call a Councell specially being such a one as maketh dissention strife in the Church and most cruelly warreth against the truth Furthermore they affirmed that they were misreported of slaundered as though they retained no certaine faith but that there were now among them So many heads so many opinioÌ„s So many Gospels so many teachers wheras they retained the plaine and manifest confessioÌ„ made at Ausburgh and offered to the Emperour Charles the. v. in the yéere of our Lord god M. D. XXX in the which not only all the principall grounds of faith are distinctly contained but also y celestial truth manye wayes therby set forth and published Also they said that the generall complaints of all meÌ„ did sufficiently declare with what errors the Church of Rome was filled and with what filthy superstitions the Gospell was there suppressed in so much that the same is rather like to the traditions vaine inuencions of heathen men than Christian Religion Wherfore say they bicause we haue of late separated and deuided our selues from the Churche of Rome not by anye rashnesse or vaine curiositie or being led by any leude affections but by the only commaundement of God which willeth all meÌ„ to flee Idolatry we protest that we wil so abyde most constaÌ„tly and not be subiect any maner of waye to the Pope For we acknowledge no maner of iurisdiction besides the iurisdiction of the most renoumed Emperour Ferdinandus And as touching the two Legates the Princes saide that were it not for the Popes ambassage on which they came they being worshipfully borne in Venice they would shewe vnto them so great courtesie fauour and friendship as might be both for that they loued the countrey of Venice and also bycause the Legates themselues by the dignitie of their birth were worthy as they thought to be well entertained And thus the Popes Legates with lost labour retourned from Germanie againe Then beganne Religion and the great number of the faythfull to increase more throughout euerye prouince of the kingdome of Fraunce but the deuill enuying that notable increase there were then many perturbations and troubles raised vp in many places In Prouince whiche was sometimes called Narbon there was great a doe and much trouble And the Gospell beyng much preached in the region of Langres almost in euery citie with great assemblies of people to heare y same at the laste ensued great affliction by the Earle Villarius Daulphenie also which is called the RegioÌ„ of Sauoy embracing y same doctrin felt the like persecutioÌ„s And by the meanes of one Mottaegondrinus who was Lieutenant to the Duke of Guise there was grieuous persecution at Valentia in so much that a Minister of Gods word and certaine honest citizens with him were beheaded Moreouer garrisons of souldiers were placed throughout euerye citie to the great anoyance and detriment of the faithfull who notwithstanding wonderfully increased both in number in zeale daily The Prince of Conde beyng sente for of the King came to hym to the Courte which was at Fontisbellaquaeums with a fewe onely attending vpon him The daye following he was called before the priuie Councell and beyng come he openly demaunded of the Chauncelor if he had any thing to saye against him who answered that he had nothing to obiect againste him the like answere also made all the reste And then he sat hym downe in his accustomed place Then the King declared before all the assemblye that the Prince of Conde had giuen vnto him due proofes and testimonyes of his innocencie for as we declared before by the practises of the Guises he was accused of treason the which he saids he dyd in no wise doubte of And therfore he gaue commandement to the Senate of Paris to giue leaue to the Prince of Conde to haue larger testimonyes of his innocencie And to the ende the Iudgement of the priuie Councell mighte be knowne to all men commaundement was giuen that the same shoulde be registred in the Register of the Senate and sent also to the Ambassadors of other Nations Therefore for bycause of these things the Prince of Conde went to Paris In the meane time there arose new contâ—…tions betwéen the Quéene and the King of Nauarre he complaining to the Queene that he was not well delt withall for that he was ill requited for that great good will and courtesie which he shewed towardes the Quéene in yéelâ—…ing vnto hir the gouernment of the Realme the Duke of Guise being in office and authoritie aduaunced before him who had not onely the keyes of the Tower to kéepe but also by the Quéenes will did what him liste Saying also that the matter was very ingratefully handled that he which had béen alwayes his enimie euen in the dayes of King Henrye and Frances shoulde as yet be aduaunced before him Also that if he were contented for the Quéenes sake to dissemble all things and not to bewray his griefe it was the more vnméete that he for his facilitie and tractablenesse shoulde be abused by hir In fine he saide that either he or else the Duke of Guise must néedes forsake the Court adding also that he coulde by no meanes abide with the king except the Guise departed To this the Quéene made answere that she did meane to gratifie the king of Nauarre so much as she might and so much also as equitie shoulde require but seing as then she sawe no iust cause she saide that she woulde in no wise expulse the Duke of Guise from the King bicause those offices that were committed vnto him of necessitie required his presence aboute the king She sayde also that she well perceyued that these complaints of the king of Nâ—…uar were continual and that one thing being graunted she must dayly graunt more and more and that there shoulde neuer be any measure or end of these complaintes â–ª Notwithstanding for his sake and to yelde vnto his complaintes she said that she would giue coÌ„maundement that the keyes of the tower mighte be deliuered vnto him although they pertayned to the Duke of Guise bycause he was Lord great Master as maye appéere also by the example of the Constable who heretofore bare the same office To this the King of
troubles bothe wyth his presence and authoritie and also woulde bende all his Counsell wisedome and power to finde oute remedyes for the same On the one parte he might set before his eyes the infinite multitude of soules which runne headlong as it were into destruction bycause they knowe not well the waye of saluation On the other parte he might sée part of the kingdome to be distracted and drawne away from the communion and fellowship of the Churche whiche consisted of the greatest part of the Nobles of learned men of the best citizens and most ciuil sorte of the common people who wante neyther force nor counsell or any other meanes to atchieue their purpose séeing there are among them men of great wealth and riches which will not let to spend their goods and substance in their cause Furthermore such is the concord consent and vnitie among them that it is wonderful to sée how carefully one of them doe defende an other in somuch that they can neither be drawne from that concord neyther can they be ouercome by force of armes And without present perill this kingdome can not be cast into those straites whiche threaten vnto the same no doubte greate ruine and extreme destruction Seing therfore the matter standeth thus and séeing ther is a manifest token of great troubles as haÌ„d the number of those men increasing and waxing strong euery day more and more she also being persuaded that the holie Father being myndefull of those benefites which he had receyued of the Frenche kings would carefully indeuoure himselfe to prouide remedies to ease these troubles for this cause she was boldâ—… to flee vnto him as to a refuge that he woulde apply all his counsell wisedome and power to procure the vnitie of the Church It may please him therfore to vnderstand that this thing might the more easyly be brought to passe bicause by the goodnesse of God there are not in the whole realme of France any Anabaptistes heretikes or any that speake against the Christian Articles of the faith nor yet against the declaration of those Articles made by the sire generall Councels And she sayd this was the opinion and iudgement of certain lerned men with whom she had conferred that the holie Father might receyue them which confessed that catholike profession of the faith plainly confirmed and expounded by those sixe generall Councels into the Communion felowship of the Church although they were of diuers opinions And that other opinions can not let the vnion of the Churche euen as in tyme past the diuersitie in celebrating the Passeouer the diuers and sundrie obseruations of fastings and rites in sacraments and other partes of diuine seruice did nothing at all hinder the vnion of the Churche and that the same waye then vsed should be very profitable now to stay the controuersies of the Latine and Gréeke Churche Therfore they trust the controuersies being at an end that God wil be with them and that the darke mistie cloudes being driuen awaye at the length he will shewe the true and perfecte lyghte of the truth And sayth she if this generall waye shall not be approued and allowed although it oughte to be referred to a generall Councell yet notwithstandyng it is necessarie that the holie Father do prouide a spéedie remedie before that time considering the present necessitie For delay will bring such greate inconueniences with it as can not easily by any meanes be recouered againe But the remedie séemeth to consiste in two thinges First that they which haue alreadie separated themselues from the CoÌ„mmunion of the Churche might be called and brought to the same agayne Secondly that they which as yet haue not withdrawne themselues might be kept in this communion still To winne the first it may séeme very necessarie to vse often admonitions and to haue mutual and quiet conference on bothe partes Bishops and their ministers muste diligently preache Gods worde and exhorte the people to mutuall peace and concorde and names of reproche on bothe sydes muste quyte be taken awaye The whyche she hoped was a speedie waye to bring concorde and loue The whyche also she sayd she had giuen in commaundemente to those that were separated from the Churche and was hytherto obeyed But as touching those whyche as yet hadde not separated them selues from the Communion of the Churche there are many sayeth she whiche as yet purpose not to departe from the same and yet notwithstanding they stande continually in doubte and specially in these thrée principall poyntes The first is that they vnderstande that the primitiue Churche had no images They knowe that God hathe expressely forbidden to worshyp them or to set them in those places where they maye be worshipped They know also that Gregorie hath foribdden the same and that diuers good men in lyke maner whiche synce that tyme receyued them into the Churches expressely declared that they were ordeined for no other vse than to put the ignorante people in mynde of their Gods whiche were absente Notwithstanding many errours deceytes and lyes haue preuayled and crepte into this kingdome and realme of Fraunce and many deceyuers contrarie to the doctrine of the auncient Fathers haue moste wickedly abused the worshipping of images to their owne lucre and gaine in so muche that the cousciences of many men for this cause are greately offended and therefore will not come into the Churches least they shoulde bowe theyr knée before the Images The matter therefore béeing well examined if on the one parte the inconueniences whyche may aryse héereof and the fruites and commodities whyche are lyke to come bee wyâ—…ely wayed it shall bée founde that it is better to remoue them than to woorship them with offence of many specially seeing the same is neyther the commaundement of God nor yet hath bene receyued of the Churche vpon any necessitie Therefore to cut away all occasions of slaunderous reporte and to keepe those still of whome we speake in the fellowship of the Churche lette it be considered if it bée profitable to remoue these Images from the Altars and to place them aboute the Temple eyther within or without the causes béeing declared namely that certaine vngodly men séeking theyr owne gayne on the one parte and on the other part certaine ignorant and vnskilful men also wil bring to passe that the people shall abuse them against the ordinaunce of the Churche 2 The second principall point is concerning the administration of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper In the administration of Baptism it seemeth strange to many good and godly men that Exorcismes and many formes of prayers should be vsed the which may somwhat profite those that vnderstande them but séeing the greatest parte of the people doe not vnderstand them it séemeth better to omit them And where as it is beléeued and taughte that these things are necessarie to be done before Baptism they say that
kepte sylence the King spake in maner and fourme following All men sayth he know well enoughe what and how great perturbations and troubles are in the Realme for the which cause I haue appoynted you to come together at this time that those things which ye knowe haue néede of reformation maye quietly of you be declared without any maner of affection hauing no consideration or care for any thing but for the glorye of God and the peace and quietnesse of consciences The whyche thing I greatlye desire in so much that I haue determined not to suffer you to departe hence before you haue made some ende of all controuersies that at the length all dissentions being taken away mutual peace and concord may be had among all men This thing if ye bring to passe ye shall giue me occasion to maintayne and defende you with no lesse care than those kings my auncestours that haue béene before me haue done Then he commaunded his Chauncelor to declare his minde more at large The Chauncelor therefore began to shew that the kings will was according to the wils of his predecessors that had béene before him in staying the controuersies of Religion the which when those Kings of happie memorie went diligently aboute to bring to passe they had in their labors very small successe in so much that daylie more and more new troubles arose wherfore he would that all men should the more diligently wisely to apply theÌ„ selues to pacifie in time these troubles for the which cause he had caused them to come togither and minded in his royall person to accompany them that disordered matters in Religion which concerned both doctrine and maners might be reformed he vnderstanding that this was the onelye cause of all troubles woulde diligentlye prouide for them as his office required The remedie which nowe he intendeth to vse séemeth to be a present remedie as it was of late deliberated and considered of in the most noble assembly of the Princes CouÌ„cel namely that by this peculiar and particular conference the matters of Religion in controuersie betwéene both parties might be quietly reasoned and disputed of â–ª But to loke or séeke for remedie by a general Councel it is euen as vaine as if a man hauing good and sufficient remedie at home shoulde notwithstanding trauaile to the Indyes to séeke the same For sayth he we our selues shall better prouide remedyes for oure selues than men of strange and forraine countreys can doe which know neither the state of our cause nor the condition of our people of which kinde of strangers notwithstanding the generall Councell shall consiste Greater fruites and profite haue often times come by Nationall Councels than haue come by generall Councels As may appeare by that generall Councell of Ariminum the which Councell openly fauouring and maintaining the secte of the Arrians was reproued and corrected by particular Synodes Also in this our realme of Fraunce Hilary Bishop of Pictauia by his industrye and faithfull dealing in Synodes banished the heresie of the Arrians out of these partes Therfore sayth he there is no doubte but that there shall aryse great profite and commoditie by this assembly specially seing it pleaseth the king to take such paines himselfe who no doubt wil helpe both with his power authoritie Wherfore he wished the disputers on both partes onely to be carefull to doe their duetie both of them ioyntly to seke concorde the greater part not to despise the lesser not to vse curious disputations without profit and to iudge examine al matters by the word of God only which being wel vnderstoode fewe other authours shall serue also that they which say they followe the newe doctrine woulde not counte the prelates of the contrarye parte for their enimyes séeyng by Baptisme they retaine the name of Christians For the king sayth he hath therefore giuen you leaue to come together that men mighte sée what reasons you haue and that the Prelates on the Popes side might séeke by strong arguments to confute theÌ„ that the disputation at the length beyng published abrode all men may euidently sée that they are condemned for iust causes and not by the vaine authoritie of men Therefore take héede in any case that you do nothing ambitiously know ye that ye are not iudges and indeuour yourselues to finde out and manifest the truth So shall you both glorifye God and also profite your countrey and God himselfe shall blisse your indeuours and the moste constant minde of the king in this matter The matter being thus propounded by the Chauncelor the Cardinall of Turnon in the name of the Prelates gaue great thankes to the king to the Quéene and to the Princes that it pleased them to come to this holy assemblye and for that the Châ—…uncelor by the kings commaundement had put forth these matters the which he desired to haue giuen vnto him in writing that they mighte deliberate and consider what was néedefull to be done in these things Then the Chauncelour saide that he woulde not giue the matter in writing seing it was plainely enough declared And thus they coulde get nothing at the handes of the Chauncelor althoughe the Cardinall of Loraine required the same Then the ministers which sat oueragainst them hauing leaue to speake Theodore Beza began thus Seing that all things O king both great small specially those things which belong to the worship of God and which doe far surmounte oure capacitie doe depende vpon the same God we thinke it not troublesome to your maiestie if we begin with prayer vnto god When he had spoken these wordes he falling on his knées with the rest of his fellowes beganne to pray vnto God in that forme of confession of sinnes which is vsed in the refourmed Churches pronouncing the same with a loude voyce and that done straight way he added vnto the same these wordes For so much as O God thou hast bene so fauourable this daye to thy vnworthye seruauntes as to graunt them leaue to professe the knowledge of thy truth before their King and this most honorable assembly we moste humbly beseeche thee O father of lightes that it may please thee according to thy accustomed goodnesse so to illuminate our mindes to gouerne our affections and to make them apt to be taughte so also to direct oure wordes that whatsoeuer knowledge of thy truth thou shalt giue vnto vs according to our capacitie we may both with hearte and mouthe vtter the same to the glorye of thy name to the profit and prosperitie of our King and of all his subiects and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of this Christian common wealth realme WheÌ„ Beza had thus ended his prayer turning his speach to the king he vttered these wordes in manner and forme following They which doe faithfully serue and obey their Princes most noble King doe thinke themselues moste happie in this thing aboue al other if so
worde out of the bookes of the Prophetes and Apostles be made insufficient he is spoyled of his prophèticall office if newe lawes be made and layde vpon the consciences of men hée should be depriued of his kingly maiestie And if he be offered again for remission of sinnes other ways also be found out to pacifie the wrath of God althoughe it shoulde not be sufficient to haue one Aduocate and Mediator in heauen betwéene God meÌ„ he should be defrauded of his Priesthood Thirdely we agrée not neyther in the defiinition neither in the original nor in the effectes of faythe which by the authoritie of the Apostle Paule we call Iustifying by whiche only we affirme that Iesus Chryst with all his graces is made ours As touching good workes if there be any that thinke we contemne them they are vtterly deceyued For we separate no more fayth from loue than we separate lighte heate from fire And with Iohn we say He which sayth hee knoweth God and keepeth not his commaundementes is a lyer But in these thinges we confesse we disagrée in thrée speciall poyntes First of all in the originall of good woorks that is to saye from whence they come Secondely what those good workes are And thirdely to what vse they are good As touching the first principall pointe we finde no other fréewill in man than that whiche is made frée by the grace of Chryste and we affirme that our nature being in that state into the which it is falne hath néede not onely to be holpen and susteined but rather to be mortified and as it were killed by the power of the holy Ghost which founde our nature not only weakned in grace but also destitute of all strength and enemie to all goodnesse and deade yea and putrified in sinne and corruption And this honor we giue wholly vnto God neither do we think that in this matter we ought in any wise to be ioyned with god For we assigne to his grace and mercie the beginning the middle and the ende of working in vs Concerning the seconde pointe We acknowledge no other rule of righteousnesse and obedience which may stande before God than his commaundements whiche are faithfully described and put downe to vs in his worde to the whiche we thinke it not méete that any creature should adde any thing that apertaineth to the building of mens consciences or detract from the same Concerning the thirde point namely to what vse these good works are profitable We confesse that so far forthe as they come from the spirite of God working in vs hauing their beginning from so good an originall they are good and ought to be called by that name howbeit if God would examine theÌ„ according to the rigour of his iustice he should finde many things in them worthy of condemnation We say also that they are profitable for an other vse bycause by them our God is glorified men brought to the knowledge of him but we are persuaded that for so much as the holy Ghost is within vs for he is certainly knowne by those effects we are of the number of his elect and of those that are predestinate to saluation But for so much as it coÌ„meth in question to knowe by what title the kingdome of God appertayneth vnto vs we say with S. Paule Eternal life is the free gift of God and not a due reward of our merits For by this means Christ Iesus doth iustifie vs with his righteousnesse onely which is imputed vnto vs sanctifieth vs with his holynesse only giuen vnto vs redéemeth vs with his only sacrifice imputed vnto vs by true liuely faith of the grace liberalitie of our god Al these riches treasures are giuen vnto vs by the power of the holy Ghost vsing the preching of Gods word the administration of the sacraments to this ende not as though it hath néed of those means for God is omnipotent but bicause so it pleaseth him to apply coÌ„form him self vnto vs by these ordinarie meanes to create nourish in vs y most precious gift of faith which is as it wer at hand to apprehend take hold of those gifts as it were a veâ—…ell to receiue Christ with al his riches to saluation Moreouer we receiue only imbrace for the word of God the doctrine contained in the bokes of the Prophets Apostls called by the name of the old new Testament For who can assure certifie vs of our saluatioÌ„ but they which without exception ar the gretest witnesses And as touching the authoritie of the doctors of ancient time general couÌ„cels before they be receiued without any examination first they shuld be compared with the scriptures then theÌ„selues with theÌ„selues for so much as the holy ghost is by no means contrarie to himself The which my Lords I think ye wil neuer take in hand if ye do giue vs this leaue that we may sée the matter before if we beleue that ye wil not do it But what Are we of the progenie of that wicked Cham which vncouered the priuities of his father Noe Do we think our selues to be better learned than so many gréek latine doctors Are we so wise in our own conceites that we think that we are the first which haue opened the truth Are we so arrogant as to condemne the whole world of error God forbid yea that be far from vs notwithstanding my Lords we trust you will graunt vs this that euery ancient councel euery doctor ought not to be receiued rashely for so much as there haue ben long ago many false prophets in the church of God as the Apostle in many places techeth vs SecoÌ„dly as touching those doctors which ar to be receiued seing al truth which may be found in theÌ„ necessarily ought to be drawn from the scripturs what sounder way shall we finde to profit in their writings than to examine all things by that touchstone namely by the welwayed resons coÌ„sidered testimonies of scripture by which we ought to interpret theÌ„ No maÌ„ truly can giue vnto them more thaÌ„ they wold giue vnto theÌ„selues And these are the very words of Hierom writing vpoÌ„ the Epist. of the Gala. The doctrine of the holy Ghost is that which is contained in the Canonical bokes of scripture against which to decree any thing by couÌ„cels is not lauful And S. Aug. writing to Fortunatê° saith we must not so much esteme of the disputations of meÌ„ although they be catholike of great authoritie as we must esteme of the Canonicall Scripture except it bee lawfull for vs sauing the reuerence due to those men to mislyke and reiect somewhat in their writings if it be founde that they haue iudged otherwise than the truth will beare which wee or any others by the grace of God do knowe This is myne opinion in other mens wrytings and such do I wishe the readers of my works
to be buried forgotteÌ„ but there shall be alwayes one or other of his seruaunts which shal know that which ought to be knoweÌ„ shal follow that which ought to be followed as we see it happened to Helias in time of the captiuitie of Babilon in Israell in the time of Christ his coÌ„ming when as there was scarsly left one Zacharias one Elizabeth one Ioseph one Uirgin Mary one Anna the Prophetesse which among so many corruptioÌ„s of the Scribes Phariseis Saduceis had the true vnderstanding of the Prophecies concerning the coÌ„ming of christ These interruptioÌ„s therfore lets which fall into the Church of God are as it were a certaine tempest cloude which God driueth away by the coÌ„ming of his Sonne that is to say of his word according to the dispensing of the secretes of his iudgementes mercies May we not condemne general councels God forbid For ye know that if we shall go about to reforme or ameÌ„d any thing by them ye shall chaunge and alter manye more things thaÌ„ we in the which not long ago ye trauelled Notwithstanding we require this thing at your hande that the worde of God may be as a touchstone that whatsoeuer is eyther spoken or done in the Churche maye be tried by the same If this thing séeme strauÌ„ge vnto you I pray you my Lordes consider that noble place of Augustine where he writeth to Maximinus Arrianus being in the seconde booke and fourth chapter saying Is there a more approued Councell than the firste Nicene Councel None I beleue VVhat was the councel of AriminuÌ„ It was reiected condemned and that iustly But whereof doth S. Augustine intreate in that place Surely of one of the principal articles of our faith so oftentimes concluded coÌ„firmed namely of ConsubstantiatioÌ„ of the SoÌ„ne of god Neuerthelesse S. Austine confesseth that he wil neither be tried by the couÌ„â—…el of Nice nor by the couÌ„cel of AriminuÌ„ but by the scriptures which he calleth indifferent witnesses for both partes But if here we will obiecte say that the scriptures are harde and obscure we must confesse with Saint Paule that the carnall man doth not vnderstanâ—…e the things that are of God and with the Apostle Peter that the scriptures haue not a priuate explication And if the obscurenesse of the Scriptures be such that they cannot manifest themselues vnto vs why doth not Christe sende vs to some other thing rather than to them when he saith Search the Scriptures Furthermore what did they which vsed onely the writings of the Apostles before there were any commentaries of the Doctors I remember my Lorde Cardinall that ye saide that the firme and vndoubted interpretation which was alwayes in the Church euery where and of all men receiued oughte to be imbraced But who will certifie vs of those thrée principall pointes Furthermore if we come to these wordes Alwayes and Of all men at what time shall we begin but onely at the Apostolicall Churche And who shall be counted the first but the Apostles theÌ„selues whose stories Luke hath so faithfully described and are also to be séene by their writings Therefore bicause all truth dependeth vpon God which hath made the Prophetes and Apostles to be interpreters of our saluation we alwayes come to this foundation of Scriptures And yet neuerthelesse we reiect not the iudgementes of Councels and of the Fathers so that they agrée with the Scriptures the which as S. Austine saythe are so tempered and placed by the holy Ghost that the same which in one place is spokeÌ„ obscurely in another place is more plainly vttered Notwithstanding here remayne certaine doubtes to be opened and expounded For there are many which thinke that the will of God as touching our saluation is not fully contained in the writings of the Apostles But I pray you consider with your selues if this be graunted what a way is made to all errors And truely by this way Sathan hath greatly broken into the Lordes vineyarde Neuerthelesse we doe not denie that God before Moyses time ordered and taught his Church by visions and reuelations and that the Apostles builded the Churches with their owne voyce before they had written any thing But why would God the number and wickednesse of men increacing haue this doctrine to be described which was preached and knowne to all men for this cause truly that he might preuent their subtill craftes which colour all their doings wyth the names of tradition of reuelation and of custome But if this doctrine be onely written in part what shall this remedie profite Ihon truely speaketh not thus of the Scriptures wheÌ„ he sayth These things are written that ye mighte beleeue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of God and that in beleeuing ye might haue life the which no doubt should be false if there were any other doctrine necessarie to saluation In like manner the Apostle Paule expounding the vse of doctrine and in the person of Timothie instructing all the ministers of the Churche had not sayd that The Scriptures make the man of God that is to say the minister and euery faithfull man perfecte and fully giuen to all good woorkes if any thing oughte to be ioyned to the same Notwithstanding we doubte not but that there haue bene alwayes from time to time vnwritten traditions as touching the order and maner of doing But bycause manye of late dayes do abuse this worde Traditions we will shewe what Traditions oughte to be receyued The which shall be easily done if these two things be considered namely if the doctrines be conformable and fyt to edification For this is alwayes firme and certaine that the Apostles and true shepeherdes neuer appointed rites either dirictly or inderectly contrary to holesome doctrine or other things which might in any point or â—…ot draw men from the spirituall worship of god Therefore when this rule shall be obserued and kept it will be an easie matter to discerne true doctrine from traditions and true traditions from those that are false You also may remember how greatly Tertullian in his tractation of the Scriptures condemneth those which sayd that the Apostles lefte somewhat obscure not sufficiently expounded which appertained to our saluatioÌ„ I will say more namely that the same which the Apostles haue done here is not perpetual not as though they were not by al exception the greater witnesses but bicause they did beare somewhat with the infirmitie of the Iewes by the rule of charitie as in willng them to abstaine froÌ„ things offered to Idols from strangled and in that also which Paule did in Timothe in himself the which things at this day ought to haue no place but onely by a generall rule of indifferent things which of themselues are neither good nor euill in which things we ought to applye our selues to the infirmitie of our brethren These things also may be gathered of the rytes which agréed with their times as the
maner of kissing one another in going bareheaded in signe of authoritie which is coÌ„trary to the common custome of many people All these things therfore ought to be considered before a custome be established as apostolicall least the Apostolicall authoritie and custome be abused to the disturbing of the churches as it came to passe after the Apostles tyme for the feast of Easter and in the Apostles time for the authoritie of the Church of Hierusalem as appeareth by Luke How then shall we thinke that the Apostles founde oute so many ceremonies in which afterwards was placed remission of sinnes when as plainely they haue testified the contrarie Augustine complained of these things long ago and there is no doubte but that if he had bene in these our dayes he shoulde haue had greater occasione to complaine To be short therfore we wishe that the Scripture which is very plaine in these matters maie Iudge betwene traditions that are good and euil betwéen holy and prophane betwene profitable and hurtful and betwene such as are necessary and those that are super flucus The which being graunted this question may easily be resolued namely VVhether the Church be aboue the scripture The which questioÌ„ semeth so absurde vnto me as if a maÌ„ shuld demaund whether the father were inferior to the sonne or whether the wife were aboue the husband or maÌ„ aboue God. And truly the true Church neuer complaineth and murmureth against God in this matter but alwaies modestly submitteth it self vnto him Neither maketh it any matter that the Church was before the Scriptures For that word which was afterwardes written is more ancient thaÌ„ the Church seing of the same the Church was conceiued begotten brought forth hath also of the same his denominatioÌ„ And to disproue this the saying of S. Austine is brought against vs when he saith I would not beleue the scripture were it not that the authoritie of the church did force me thervnto But we must consider that S. Austine speaketh here in the person of Manichaeus For wheÌ„ two meÌ„ do contend about the truth of some instrument to whom in the end shal they go but to the Scriuener or Notary that hath the first draught or couÌ„terpane of the same Notwithstanding it doth not here vpoÌ„ folow that the authoritie of the instrument doth depend vpoÌ„ the person of the Notary the which should be no lesse firme and strong althoughe the Notarie being aliue woulde refuse to giue testimonie of the same The same answere muste be made to those whiche thinke the authoritie of the Canonicall bookes of scripture to depende vpon the determination of the Church But I will content my selfe to adde vnto that wherof I haue spoken before one only argument confirmed by the authoritie of certaine approued Fathers The argument is this Christe him selfe did so muche estéeme of the doctrine of the Prophet that he sought to confirme hys doctrine by their testimonies After the same maner the Apostle Paule went about to confirme the Thessalonians in his doctrine Peter also the Apostle commendeth vnto vs and alloweth this order of teaching Therefore it is not méete that they which call them selues Christ his vicars and the successors of Paule Peter shuld refuse the same condition Furthermore thus sayth Saint HieroÌ„ The error either of the fathers or of the elders ought not to be followed but the authoritie of Scriptures And Chrisostome sayth He which will knowe which is the â—…ue Church of Christ Howe shall he knowe the same in so great confusion of likenesse but by the Scriptures Also in the same place he sayth Let them whiche are in Iudea flee into the mountaines that is to say They which are in Christianisme let theÌ„ busie themselues in the Scriptures But why would he haue all Christians at that time be occupied in the scriptures Bycause so soone as heresie hadde entered into the Churches there coulde not be had a true probation of Christianisme neither can they which would knowe the truth of faith finde any other refuge than the holy scripture Whosoeuer therefore woulde know the true Church of Christ how shuld he know the same but by the Scriptures In like maner the Lorde knowing that there should come so great confusion in the latter dayes commaundeth Christians which will haue the assurance of true faith to haue no other refuge than the holy Scripture otherwise if that they seeke for other meanes they shall be offended and perishe not vnderstanding what is the true Church and so shal fall headlong into the abhomination of desolation which is placed in the holye place of the Churche Also Basill sayth If whatsoeuer be not of faith be sinne as sayth the Apostle and faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God then whatsoeuer is beside that worde giuen by diuine inspiration is sinne Also in the sermon of the confession of Faith he saith If God be faithfull in all his woordes and if all his commaundementes be firme and certaine for euer framed in truth and righteousnesse it is a forsaking of the faithe and a poynt of arrogancie to retect any part of those things which are written or to bring in any thing not written Thus far O Quéene we haue answered copiouslye according to our knowledge to the first principall point of the Oration made by the Prelates concerning the authoritie of the Churche being readie paciently and quietly to heare whatsoeuer shall be shewed contrary to that which we haue spoken There remaineth yet to be spoken of the Article of our Lords Supper the which if it seeme good vnto your Maiestie I will nowe pretermit both for that I haue heide you and the whole companie ouer long and also bicause we desire to haue this conference hereafter framed in better order NotwithstaÌ„ding if it shal séeme good vnto your Maiestie that wee procéede anye farther we are readie to vtter those things which the Lorde shall put in oure heartes alwayes submitting our selues vnto those things which shall be obiected vnto vs oute of the Scriptures moste humblye praying and beseeching your Maiestie O Queene to be fully persuaded in this one thing that nexte vnto the glorye of oure God wée wishe and desire nothing more vehemently than the dignitie of your Maiestie and the peace tranquillitie of the Realme After that Beza had thus ended his oration then the Cardinall beckning to Claudius Espensius a Sorbonist willed him to make his oration TheÌ„ Espensius beginning to shew that not long agoe he had wished to haue this mutuall conference and that he alwayes vtterly abhorred those cruell punishmentes which were vniustlye vsed againste those which imbraced the ReligioÌ„ he sayd that those things which were alreadie spoken of the Church and of the markes and succession of the same were in his iudgemente verye true adding herevnto that if this way had been taken in hande at the first all controuersies had been by this
loke for imposition of handes of the Phariseys that he might execute that office which God had committed vnto him And when he woulde confirme his Apostleship he speaketh not onely of the Myracles whiche he had done but also of the fruites of his preaching The which also we may say of so many kingdomes and prouinces which haue receiued the Gospell by our preaching notwithstanding so many lettes and impedimentes to hinder the same and we thinke that there cannot be required of vs a more firme confirmation of oure Ministerie seyng the vertue and power of God is manifest in vs the which neither bondes neither imprisonment neither fire neither banishments nor death could let Albeit sayth Espensius bring ye me one onely example done a thousand fiue hundred yeare agone like vnto yours Al things sayth Beza that haue happened are not put down in histories but howsoeuer the matter be it doth not folow that this our example is not manifest inough and set forth of God in his due time who went not about to giue a new Gospell but ment to renewe that olde Gospell which was exquisitly written by the Apostles and sufficiently confirmed by Miracles And so by a certain vnwonted and singular meane or way he caused that bright light to shine But concerning Traditions what foolishe madnesse is it to make them either equall with the Scripture or else more certaine than the same bicause of the diuersitie of interpretations For what shall be the staye and foundation of oure faith if we stande in vncertaine opinions But what so euer men do this notwithstanding is most certainely to be imbraced That truth shall be most firme and constant although for a time it seme neuer so obscure and although heretikes do abuse it yet neuerthelesse ought we alwayes to leane to the same Also touching the place of Tertullian which Xainctius willeth me so diligentlye to consider I haue so certainely considered the same as I am sure he hath falsely cited Chrisostome in whom that shal neuer be founde which he hath falsely fayned We will not denie but that Tertullian was deceyued in certayne places and yet notwithstanding the place cited beyng rightly vnderstoode and the ende thereof considered it shall be verie easie to be expounded For it was his purpose to declare that we muste not dispute in vayne against heretikes but as the Apostle Paule sayth they beyng once or twice reprehended must be reiected But shewe vnto vs with what Heretikes he had to doe surely euen with those whiche being conuicted by the worde of God obstinately thrust in certaine testimonyes of scripture transformed to maintaine their errors Against these men Tertullian bringeth in the traditions of the Churche the whiche he sheweth ought to be of greater waight than the new deuises of many men First of al therfore it is méete that we should be conuinced by the word of God that we may be brought from error For if we should simply leane vnto traditions which are neither Apostolical nor agréeing to their doctrine we should set open a way to a thousand deceites and at length peruert and ouerthrow the certaintie of the Scripture And why dothe Tertullian cast the heretikes in the â—…éeth saying that They contrary to Scripture doe beleeue without Scripture but onely to teache them that they must leane and cleaue to the certaine truth of the Scriptures and by them conuince errors But if the traditions and ceremonies which are at this daye obiected vnto vs of our aduersaries were Apostolicall and alwayes vsed of the Churche we might otherwise thinke and determine but seyng we can shew their beginnings it followeth that they are not come from the Apostles And truely Tertullian dothe greatly reprehende them which thought that all things whiche appertained to saluation were not put downe to vs by the Apostles Therfore when truth comes in question we must haue recourse to the Apostles whom Christe hath sent to teache the Churche But how shall we agrée of the Apostles doctrine but by their writings For therefore were they called of God to that office that they might plainely teache and instructe vs in all things that appertained to our saluation After the same maner also the place of Chrisostome may be explaned in the which we haue these words Christ lefte nothing to the Apostle in writing did he therefore forbyd them to leaue anye thing in writing No truely But he dyd rather illuminate them by his holy spirit to the ende his doctrine being put in writing mighte abide for euer Howbeit the Apostles taughte certayne things which they haue not written We denie it not But we say that those things whiche they haue not written doe not appertaine to oure saluation For those things whiche mighte appertayne to certaine rytes profitable for that time and to the order and gouernement of the Churche they haue shewed and declared by woorde of mouthe But bycause those things are of suche condition that they maye be diuersely altered accordyng to the circumstaunces of the place tyme and persons therefore they neither oughte nor can bynde the consciences of men And as concerning these wordes Not begotten Consubstantiall Trinitie and suche like althoughe they be not to be founde so expressely in the Scripture yet notwythstanding their sense effect and meaning is plentifully to be founde therein Wherevpon afterwards to auoyde the subtil â—…lightes of heretikes these and such like wordes were founde out and receiued of the ancient fathers Thus Beza answered to those obiections that white Monke 〈◊〉 in the meane time crying out against him interrupting him and still inculcating this thing that neither the virginitie of the virgin Marie nor the baptizing of infantes coulde be proued by testimonies of Scripâ—…ure And thus crying and exclaming still after the manner of scholes he was verie troublesome to the whole assembly At the last after this confused disputation to and fro the Cardinall of Loraine perceiuing the inciuâ—…litie of his fellowes as it may seeme least they should be reprehended of the Quéene he himselfe ended this controuersie as though the question had ben sufficiently handled Upon which silence the Sorbonistes afterwards persuaded them selues to haue gotten the victorie Then the Cardinall began to speake concerning the Lordes Supper protesting in the name of al the Prelates that they woulde procéede no further vntill that question were fully determined and answered both for that it was the principall pointe of all controuersies and also bycause the Ministers hadde so playnely declared their opinion and iudgement concerning the same in that their first OratioÌ„ that the rumoure thereof is gone thoroughout the whole Realme Therefore he demaunded of the Ministers whether they woulde receiue and imbrace the Augustane Confession And the Ministers on the contrarie part demaunded if they also would receiue the same The Cardinal faring as though he woulde answere to this demaunde began to bring for the the iudgement of certaine Ministers of
should séeke to escape by flight crying out moste outrageously against theÌ„ and incouraging his soldiers to the slaughter Who making a violent assault fell vpon the fearefull and trembling multitude and suche as sought to escape by flight or by climing vp to the top of the house they slew without pity or mercy yea whomsoeuer they met withall were they men or wemen olde or yong they put them to the sword most cruelly against all humanity making hauocke of them all together In the meane time the clamors howlings and pitifull cries of these innocent shéepe appoynted to the slaughter were not ceased but were made wyth the sound of the trumpet whych blew all the time of the flanghter to be more dolefull and terrible to all those that hearde the same Wher vpon the Duches of Guise the Dukes wife walking by chaunce by the walles of the citye and hearing this feareful noise was abashed therat In so much that shée sending straight way a messenger to her husband earnestly desired and beséeched him to cease and makâ—… an ende of that miserable slaughter least wemen great with childe in the city hearing that fearful noise should be deliuered before their time Therefore the Duke of Guise being troubled and somewhat terrefied with hys owne horrible and wicked enterprise commaunded a retreit to be blowne And then was brought to hym the Preacher whom he miscalled and reuiled at hys pleasure and then committed him to the charge and custody of a souldier But yet for all this the soldiers ceased not to slay and kill committing murder in diuers places of the citye and defiling the streates wyth bloude yea with the bloud of innocents to describe the whych as it was don in déede by these bloudy butchers it wold abhorre any christian heart to heare At the last when they had made an ende of killing and slaying they searched throughoute euery corner of the place where the people had assembled them selues together they ouerâ—…hrew the seates and benches that were therein and brake them to péeces they did cut the holy Bible in péeces yea and the rascall soldiers spake thus of the same What shal I do with this word of God I passe not for it I can make no money of this geue me therefore the golde the siluer and apparell It cannot be vttered with what and howe many blasphemies the gospell was blasphemed The Cardinall Guise also had in his hande a certaine Bible which was found in the pulpet Of him the Duke of Guise demauÌ„ded what booke it was The Cardinall answered that it was the holy scripture What holy scripture is it sayeth he and loking vpon the first leafe of the booke he sayde that that booke was not made aboue two yeres since shewing by hys warlike rudenes and ignorance what litle knowledge and vnderstanding he had of the word of God. At the last euen as if the city had ben ouer runne and vanquished by the forraine enemy the lackeis and seruing men fayning the voyce of a Crier sold gowns coates cappes and wâ—…mens apparell to the popish sort of the towne which greatly scorned derided the faithfull The houses also of the outdwellers and borderers vppon the citie were despoyled and many by the waye as they went were euill intreated and slaine Then the Duke of Guise commaunded the kéeper of the Castell to come before him whome he sharply reprehended because he knew of those sermons that were made in the Citie and threatned to punish him commaunding him to follow him Many also of the townesmen were led away with them bound The Minister or Preacher of whom we spake before being sore mangled and wounded and lying groueling vppon a Ladder was so caried by the commaundement of the Guise to a towne called Sandiser being derided miscalled and euill intreated as he went. Now the fame of this horrible act and butcherly slaughter was brought by and by to the Churches bordering therabouts and thereof also diuers rumâ—…rs and reports arysing it was diuersly reported in the Kyngs Court and sodenly astonished and amazed all those that heard of the same vntill within few dayes after certaine messengers came from Vassi and from certaine of the Churches thereabouts certifying the truth of the matter and complayning of the horrible fact eâ—… the Gui ses and making humble supplicatioÌ„ that remedy might be prouided for so great a mischiefeâ—… adding hereunto that the true subiects of the King could not beare any longer the great crueltie and iniuries of the Guises being straungers The matter being thus reported séemed to all men very presumptuous rash Insomuch that the Prince of Conde the Chastilons the Chauncelour others cried out against the same saying that it was a wicked and horrible act and against the Edicts and lawes of the Realme and that therfore it was nedefull to prouide a present remedie Notwithstanding the dayly rumors of the comming of the Guises to Paris caused al meÌ„ to feare foreséeing diuers great troubles and calamities like to ensue At this time the King was at Monceaulx a house belonging to the Quéen his mother who was there also accompanied with the Prince of Conde But the King of Nauar the Martiall of S. Andrew the Brissac were at Paris to whom straight waye also came the Constable Now the Duke of Guise was come to Nantuille a place of his dominion and it was reported that he woulde come the next daye to Paris The Prince of Conde much marueiled at this sodaine and hasty comming of the Guises to Paris after the comitting of so wicked presumptuous a déede against the kyngs Edict He went therfore to the King and Quéene and declared that the matter was such that except a remedie were prouided in time great destruction would fall vppon the whole Realme Wherfore he wished that so great a mischiese might might procéede no farther For saith he if the Duke of Guise come to the Citie there will followe present perill of most gréeuous calamities The Quéene the Kinges mother liked well of this aduise of the Prince and agréed to the same Therfore she wrote to the kyng of Nauar exhorting him according â—…o his office to sée that the kinges Maiestie and the Realme also fell into no perill and chargeth the Guise also by her letters not to come to the citie but to come him self to the King with a few only wayting vpoÌ„ him To the which the Guise aunswered that hée was busie in entertayning his fréendes and could not come Whereuâ—…pon the Quéene wrote her letters againe but in vaiâ—…e Therfore after deliberation had the Duke of Guise came to Paris the twenty day of March with his brother the Duke of Aumal the Martiall of Saint Andrew which came to him to Nantueile and with a great many noble men more and with a great Armie of horsemen also And entering into the citie there went to méete and entertayne him the chief master of the marchaunts a man of great
the true Religion with holines of life least in the middest of these troubles of warres the care of true godlinesse be quight extinguished The best weapons that may be had to fight against our enemies is holines of life and godly prayers If these be wanting our words shall runne through our owne sides And because saye they we sée before our eyes such horrible calamities we following the approued custome of the Church haue appoynted by a common decrée of all men that in all congregations their should be fasting and sollemne prayers for certaine dayes which we admonish you to vse modestly deuoutly and godly and also that God should be prayed vnto publiquely and priuatly to send a happie successe of all these troubles to the glory of his name and to the peace and tranquillitie of his Church They wrote letters also in the name of the whole Synode to Frederike County Pallentine at Rheine whom the refourmed Churches of France had found alwayes in time of cruell persecution a fréend and ready to helpe at néede This was the coppie of their letters We are not ignorant that the basenes of our condition is such that we should not trouble you with our letters but notwithstanding both the experience which we haue had of your singuler clemency and humanitie and also the waight and sharpenes of our miseries and calamities do constrayne vs in these our extremities to flée vnto you for ayd séeing that of long time you haue professed the trueth and haue had a singuler care to pro mote the glory of God and to mayntaine and defende those which professe the trueth of the Gospeel in what place soeuer they are First of all therfore we pray vnto God omnipotent and to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which will haue Kings and Princes to bée Nourses of his Church that he will vouchsafe to confirme and strengthen your highnes in true fortitude constancy by his holy spirit which fortitude you haue hitherto aboundantly shewed with great commendation in setting forth and promooting the woord of God in your Churches And we giue you most harty thankes for those benefites which we receyued of you within these few yeares oftentimes intreating our kynges on the behalfe of our bretherne which were afflicted for the doctrine of Christ. And now we being gathered together of late out of all partes of the Realme for a common Counsell or Synode gladly call to mind the benefits which you haue shewed vppon vs and so much the more willingly also because at this time the truce being broken by which we began to enioye the benefite of the Kinges Edict we stand in great néede of your clemency We foresée the great tempest and calamities of our Churches like to ensue the state of your Churches of Germany in that Ciuill warre comming into our mind the which troubles and calamities being ended by God so happely who hath promised without all doubt to helpe his seruants there is no cause why we should feare Notwith standing we cannot chuse but be very carefull for our flockes commited to our charge But to make the matter more playne because we know that ye vnderstand already our care by certaine Noble men we will not be tedious vnto you Thus much we ad concerning our Churches namely That there is such a conspiracy made against our Churches that except God in his mercy do prouide for the same there is like to ensue no lesse calamitie and confusion than there hath happened long agoe to the Orientall Greeke and Affrican Churches For to conclude the matter in few wordes when the Duke of Guise and they which haue conspired with him perceyued that by the Edict of Ianuary men had leaue fréely and openly to preach the Gospell and that they were restrayned of crueltie which till that time they had declared by all maner of punishments many of the Kinges officers Noble men imbracing the doctrine of the Gospell they made a conspiracie with the enemies of the true Religion to kill in euery Citie the professors of the Gospel Of which their conspiracy we haue had manifest arguments First by the horrible slaughter committed at Uassi it may appeare and then by the cruell and bloudy murther of the men of Sens the Bishoppricke wherof pertayned to the Cardinall of Guise so great slaughter of them being made that for the space of fower dayes there was such killing and steying of men women children without any respect of person that the only remembraunce therof cannot but cause teares to bée shed Yea the dead bodies of such as were slayne came swimming down the Riuer of Seine to Paris requiring as it were their buriall and complayning of this tiranie or rather calling for vengeanee of God and man And now although we know it rather to be our dutie to pray for our enemies and for those which do persecute vs than to accuse them yet notwithstanding we trust that you will interprete to the best these complaints of our iust grief of our manifold calamities And for so much as those our aduersaries to leaue no thing vndone that might be to our destruction haue required your Realme of Germany to ayd and assist them we earnestly pray and beséech you for the loue which you beare to the Church of Christ that you will bend all your might to withstand and put away this euill least Germany imbracing the same truth of the Gospell which we do be euill spoken of for séeking to hurt and anoye vs And we intreat your honour by the tender mercy of God that you will vouchsafe to be a meane for vs to the King and Quéene that there may be some consideration had of our Churches and that you would helpe to mayntayne and defend so iust a cause the time requiring the same Concerning the Letters which the Prince of Conde sent to the refourmed Churches of Fraunce we haue spoken before in the which he willed them when they sawe warres to begin to prepare themselues to the warre with a good courage Whereuppon in many places they obeyed his commaundements some prospering very well in their affayres othersome not hauing so good successe They fortefyed with men and munitiō so much as they could the Cities And after the inhabitants of Towers of Blais and of Angewe had so done also the men of Poicters did the like and then the Normans which fortefied diners Cities tooke their chiefe Citie called Roane But at Burdeux and almost through but Gascoyne except in certaine meane townes the faith full were molested by Monsiere Monluce the Lieutenant who delt very cruelly with the faithfull euery where but specially at Bourdeux By the meanes of this Monsire Monluce there was a great slaughter committed vppon the faithfull at Tholoz and the rest of the multitude which were many in number and had escaped this gréeuous murther brake out of the Citie being a necessary place of refuge both for them and also for
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
kinges Edictes and therefore not to declare and shewe forth my innocency as I would for these causes I am compelled to take the sworde in hand as the only and last refuge The which séeinge I haue taken into my handes both at the commaundement of the King and Quéene and also for my office and callinges sake which I am of in this Realme I protest that I am in the same mind that I wil neuer lay away the same vntill such time as my soueraigne Lord the King be of all men peaceably obeyed his Edictes obserued my innocency the innoceÌ„cy also of the rest of my fellowes be made euident plain to all men The glory of God my duty perswade me herevnto I cannot chuse but publish the same Therefore I and my fellowes proteste before God him selfe before the kings maiesty before al people nations to whom the knowledge of these things may come that we are most obedient loyall and faithful subiects seruants of the kings maiesty our soueraine and léege Lord and that we do beare our armoure not againste him but against his aduersaries and enemies Whom we call Rebels seditiouse and Traitoures because they haue peruerâ—…ed the lawes and institutions of the Realme broken the Kinges Edictes impudently violated the authority of the estates of the Realme and besides this they haue thrust theÌ„selues into the Kings counsaile beinge forbidden before by the decrée of the states after which time they troubled and vexed many faithfull and good men of the Kinges priuie Counsaile And also because they hauing taken the King into their handes do depriue him of his liberty do abuse his name authoritie to satisfie their insatiable couetouse and cruell desiers and do dayly make conspiracies and consultations both for the kepinge of that which they haue vsurped also to destroy the greatest part of the Kings true and faithfull subiectes specially for this cause that they may banish the pure sincere preaching of the Gospell out of Fraunce and may quight destroy the louers professors of the truth Therefore only againste those men and for those causes especially I and my fellowes proteste that we haue taken the swerde in hand and that constrained by extreme necessitie seing that we haue no other way to defend maintain the King the authortie of the Kings Edictes the firmity of the Kinges dignity the state of the whole Realme the goodes and liues of many of the Kinges subiectes and the pure woorshiping of God and the King established by Edictes throughout the whole Realme The waight of which thinges do so touch our mindes that when we considered the horrible calamitie and destruction which through murders bloudshed rapines and such kinde of mischieues is like to come vpon the whole realme if they go forward as they haue begon for the space of these fyue monethes we haue determined for the auoyding of such euilles to shunne no perill and for the safetie of the Kinges subiects and the tranquility of the Realme to aduenture our liues and loose our goodes And as for that wicked and false iudgement of Rebellion we feare it not at all but do account the same a false slaunder impudently deuised and published by our aduersaries And truly séeing we do oppose and set our selues against the same we protest that we do not in any point withstand the Kinges will nor the ordinance and decrée of the Parliment lawfully made but the robbery oppression open violence which our aduersaries shew against our liues and goodes Wherfore I pray and beséech not only all the inhabitantes of this Realme which are willing to yelde all obedience vnto the King but also all forreine Princes which loue equyty and right to ioyne with me againste those that vse violence iniury and oppression against the King be ing yet a Childe Whose vertues appearing in this his tender age do put vs in good hope that when he shall come to his ripe perfite age he wil giue harty thanks to the ayders and assisters of him in his great necessityes And specially I pray beseech all forrein Germans and Swysers which are come already and are daily loked for to come to helpe my aduersaries that they will call to their remembraunce that good name renowne and equity which their Elders had alwaies in estimation and reuerence least they do that which shall afterward turne to their reproch shame because they shal fight in the defence of an euil and vniust cause against a good and iuste cause for the Kinges enemies againste the Kings faithfull subiectes for forreine Prnces agaynst a Prince that is the Kings neare kinsman for Papistes and main tainers of the Church of Rome against those which professe the sincere truth of the Gospel And here I call the consciences of all those straungers before the iudgement seate of God which professe purity of the Gospel that they take héede that they be not helpers of our aduersaries to expell and banish the Gospell out of the Realme and all the godly and Christian professors of the same I also pray them to note and marke the pur pose of my aduersaries who although they pretend the name of rebellion and go aboute to lay the same to me and to my fellowes charge yet notwithstanding seke to suppresse the Gospell being contrary to their ambition and cruelty and that therefore I am molested by them because I séeke to defend and mainetaine the libertie of the Gospell graunted by the Kinges Edicte Therefore those forreiners which imbrace with vs the pure and sincere doctrine of the Gospell ought not to giue to my aduersaries occasion to laugh them to scorne as though they could bring to passe by their money which they already boast of that they which had defended the Gospel in their owne countrey should come to warre againste the Gospell in Fraunce I admonish them also to haue farther regard to the matter and to feare that if those enemies of the truth destroye the professoures of the truth of the gospel in France they will also war against the inhabitants of Rheyne to the end thei by the league made with the Pope and other forreyne Princes maye set vppon them also beinge in their houses professinge the same doctrine that we do And although for my part I haue refrayned vntill this day to séeke the helpe ayd of straungers yet notwithstanding séeing my aduersaries haue begon to call straungers to assiste theÌ„ in their euill cause I protest that I will not let hereafter to vse their helpe to defend my cause because the coÌ„seruation of the king standeth thervpon And because this warre which dayly increaseth more more cannot choose but bring great calamities with it I and my fellowes protest before God and men that we are not the causes of those calamities but they which haue stirred vp caused these garboiles that is to say my enemies that they may beare the blame of all
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantâ—…s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre â—…acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ—… frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌ„scur Anuil who by and by coÌ„maunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the â—…earefull Protestanteâ—… of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ—… armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌ„mon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌ„suer Anâ—…ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ„ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniâ—…ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger â–ª Whereby it came to passe that â—…he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
long before to talke of the murthering of the Guâ—…se and yet it appeareth by his owne sayinge that I neuer spake vnto him or had any knowledge of him before the time that he brought Monsieur Subize his letters vnto me VVhere vppon I may truly conclude that it is neyther true nor like to be true that I should be the author of that thinge which he long before had conceiued and purposed in his mind Moreouer where as Merae was very nere of kinne to M. Rainold whom the Duke had caused to be slaine it was likely that he was enflamed and stirred vp againste the Guise by some priuate quarell and speciall hatred And as I haue declared beefore euen so of a truth the case standes vvhereby me thinke it is euident and plain that they who perswade themselues that I was the author and procurer of this murther besides that they vse very fonde and childishe reasons to proue the same do not know my nature for if so be I had charged him to doo any more then that I haue before declared I would not feare to confesse it with like franknes and boldnes And truly I would gladly aske this question of them whether they imâ—…gin that there was any other cause why I should cause my other answer to be published then that I desired the matter might be vnderstanded of all men And it there were any thing else why should I dissemble why should I cloake it why should I not confesse it who euer was a more deadly and open enemie vnto mee than the Duke of Guise for what other cause did he besiege Orleans but that he might vtterly destroy and cast awaye mee my wyfe and children and whatsoeuer else I held as deare and precious vnto mee yea there are men of great credite that can and will testifie that he vsed often to bragge and make his vaunts that whensoeuer the Citie were taken he would spare none neyther man woman yong nor old Neyther needeth any man to doubt that amongest all them that were in the battayle at Dreux it was he I sought for and chiefely he with whom I wished to meete And certaine it is that if I myselfe could haue discharged anie shot at him I would ful glad ly haue done it yea truely if I had ben Captain ouer ten thousand gunners I would haue charged them that they should euery one haue leueled and shot at him alone To be short I would haue left no deuise that might stande with the law of armes vntried so that I might by any meanes deliuer my selfe from an enemie so spightfull and deadly against mee and myne all good men And last of all I protest before God and his Aungelles that I commaunded nothing else but that which I haue declared in these my writings If there be any man that desiteth to knowe more let him repaire too mee and I will make him aunswer Whilest these things happened in Fraunce the Popish Prelates sat still at Trent labouring very diligently to prouide and establish the estate of Poperie with a long rable of Decrées the exact rehearsall whereof being at large already set out in a booke for that purpose shall not be néedfull to be brought in here in these oure Commentaries especially for that our onely purpose intent is briefly to shew the estate and condicion of the faithfull in Fraunce and how thei were troubled vexed in the time of Truce and how afterward they were enforced to breake out into open warre The Councell of Trent therefore did very carefully trauell in maintayning and defending the Popes authoritie and dignitie in the kingdome of Fraunce and this matter as a thing of greatest waight and importance was thorowly and most earnestly laboured of all sides And the great and large reuenew that came out of Fraunce whiche thing did chiefely enflame the zeale of those reuerend Fathers and the great daunger and present hazard they were in to loose them if the reformed Religion had preuayled did make them busily to besturre them and to take the matter in hand There was present at the Councell the Cardinall of Lorraine hauing great knowledge and experieÌ„ce in the affaires of Fraunce and a subtill and sleighty old coygner of new fetches and besides that the matter for hys owne cause stood him vppon he was also incensed with an outragious hatred and malice against the men of the reformed religion and chiefly against the trueth it self which he both knew and renounced At his request and setting on they began to consult how they might vtterly deface and roote vpp the reformed Religion out of Fraunce the readiest and fittest waye for that matter that they could deuise was that there should be a league made betwixt the King of Spayne and the King of FraÌ„ce and that the King of Spayne because it was a thing of great difficultie and could not without much a doe bée brought to passe should helpe the French Kinge at all tymes with such ayde as should be néedfull and that all wayes and meanes should be sought to abolish and disannull the Edict wherin was graunted the libertie and vse of the reformed Religion This league which was made for the rooting out of true religion the holy fathers of the Councell of Trent dyd call the Sacred and holye League The Cardinall of Lorayne doth promise all possible diligence and trauaill in this matter and that hée will perswade the King to finish the league and as for the Quéene being of herselfe prone enclining to their parte and the consents of the Nobles he accounted him selfe sure of them As the Cardinall a most bitter enemie to the reformed Religion did what possible he could for the accomplishement of these matters in the Councell at Trent the enemies of the Gospell were not idell at home in Fraunce in defacing and putting downe the Edicte and the Quéene was not onely euery day more wayward disliking of the reformed religion but was also very furiously incensed against it and dyd by all meanes shée could denise goe about to engraffe and so we hatred and malice in the tender mind of the yong King against religion that then he might proclayme perpetuall and euerlasting warre against al the reformed Churches in Fraunce The Constable Momorencie was also very forward in this matter and was very maliciously bent againste the truth bicause he purchased so great infamy and dishonour in the former warres So that the Edict had in France enemies both many in nomber and greate in power and authoritie About this time the Kinge being of the age of xiiii yeres was declared to be of ful lawfull age by the decrées and iudgemente as the maner was of all the high Courtes of parliament and within few dayes after was according to the custome solemly crowned and all such estates as had to do with the administration of the Realme as vicegerents and protectours and such other were displaced very profitablie fitly both
workmanship of man But seeing we are in hande with the affaires and actes of the low Countrey let vs first compare the state thereof with the condition of the Church of Fraunce As both Churches are in mighâ—…ye Monarchies so â—…ad they for their aduersaries mighty Monarchies being vexed with the furies of Cardinals both of them in the beginning very small but in the end great and mighty both troubled with great conflictes Amidest the cruell tormentes and bloudy murthers of the Inquisition of the newe Byshops the number of suche as acknowledged and professed the truthe of the Gospell wonderfully increased Insomuche that at the length by the example of the Frenchmen who by the Kings fauour had gotten some libertie to vse the reformâ—…d religion the matter beganne to be handeled more freely and openly a certaine forme of confession of their faith and religion being published But the Cardinall Granuel on the contrary part against the mindes of those Noble men which were appoynted by King Philip went about earnestly to afflict Andwerpe with the Inquisition of the newe Byshops which notwithstanding was exempted from the burthen of the same by speciall priuiledge After thys he being complayned of by those Noble men was put quit out of his authoritie and sent for by the Kings letters to come out of Flaunders But he he had so prouided before his departure and the King was so affected at the instante sute of the Spanâ—…she Inquisitors that their Inquisition was the more seuerelye executed in Flaunders yea all things were done in the absence of Granuel as he would haue them And among all other Cities at Andwerpe great crueltie was shewed against the faythfull one of the Ministers of the reformed religion called Christopher Smith being cruelly slayne the people so much disdayning thereat that they were lyke to cause a daungerouse tumult This was in the yeare of our Lord M. D. lxiiii at what tyme the kingdome of Fraunce was greatly vexed and depriued of the benefite of the Kings Edict Notwithstanding the Churches of the low countrey dayly more and more encreased many of the noble meÌ„ imbracing and professing the truth whiche euen vntill that time had bene enimies to the same Insomuch that certaine Noble men set on fire with the loue of the truth notwithstanding the they sawe themselues to be in great perill of the Inquisitors therefore determined to make a league among themselues That they would endeuor themselues all that they coulde by all lawfull meanes to helpe one another for the auoyding of perill and to certifie one another of the attemptes of the aduersaries Thus when they had made this agréement they went aboute to ioyne and wyn vnto them others that were inflamed and bent against the reformed religion Insomuch that a man might sée openly a great many noble men with the greatest part of the people both to detest Popish superstitious and also receiue and embrace the reformed religion But in the meane time the thunder clappes of the new Byshops made suche a stoure that the faythfull beyng no more so subiecte to iniuries as they were before it was to be doubted least while they went aboute to resiste the violent force and crueltie of the Inquisitors great vexations and troubles woulde arise At this time the Duches of Parme vnder the Kyng had she gouernment of the whole region Therfore she at the Admonition of the rulers of those partes foreséeing the perill to come by their aduise and authoritie sent Egmond to Philip Kinge of Spaine to declare vnto him the great perill and daunger which hoong ouer the whole low countrey of Flaunders and to certifie him that so great troubles coulde not be preuented vnlesse both the seueritie of the Edictes and also the bouldnes of â—…ertaine men outragiously abusing and violating theÌ„ were restrayned yea and that all sortes of men were so sore offended thereat that vnlesse there were some spéedy remedye out of hande prouided there was great perill of great troubles and garboyles To this Egmond the King gaue a gentle answere saying that he had a care for the affaires of the lowe Countrey and that he would endeuour himselfe that all things might be done there peaceably and orderly Then he commaunded the Duches â—…f Parme to take order as necessitie required with the aduise and Counsaile of good and wise men by which she might prouide for so great inconueniences and yet retaine safe the catholiâ—…e Religion The Duches of Perme when she had receyued the Kinges commaundement by Egmond shee by the aduise of the rulers caused a solemn assembly in the which there were thrée Byshops thrée learned Diuines thrée Canons Lawers thrée skilful Ciuillians to whoÌ„ shée committed the ordering of the whole matter They then deuised and put downe an order tooke such paines for the Inquisition that the same could not be more conueniently established For though the forme of wordes were chaunged yet the matter it selfe was more seuerely ratifyed confirmed the terrible worde of Inquisition being mittigated by calling the same a visitation In stéede of burning they vsed hanging as we will hereafter declare more at large Notwithstanding it did not satisfie Granuell and the Spanish inquisitoures as though this kind of most cru ell death had not bin sufficient they being such kinde of men as were accustomed to shewe open cruelty without shame They brought the matter therefore before the King they said that there was a way made to the vâ—…â—…er subuersion of Religion â–ª askinge whether the â—…inge should be afrayd to make open profession of his Religion Moreouer by their meanes the Popes legates perswaded with the King by threatninges shewinge that not only the name of the Catholiques should decay but also that he himselfe should be vtterly ouerthrowen excepte he sought with all spéede to deface and vtterly to destroy euen the least remnantes and reliques of the new Religion in the lowe Countrey the which coulâ—… not be done without the benefite of the inquisition Therefore King Philip reiecting that order of gouernement which the Duches had takeÌ„ by the aduise of those graue and learned men of whom we spake before sent at the length letters vnto the saide Duches of Parme That the Inquisition should be stablished throughout al the lowe Countrey of Flaunders that the inquisitours should haue certain counsellers out of the chiefe senate ioyned to them to euery prouince by whose helpe they might be furthered in doing of their office that the auncient Edictes might euery where be obserued and kepte that Bishoppes should be consecrated in all places that the decreese of the counsaile of Trident should be euery where proclaimed and that by all manner of meanes the Doctrine of the Gospell and the professoures thereof should in all places be persecuted and afflicted This came forth in the yeare of our Lord M. D. L. X. U. and in the moneth of December These letters of the King being made openly knowen by the
kéepe their Souldiours with in their Campes and said that he would come by and by with the reste of the army This aduise pleased the captaynes very well â—…auing onely Monsieur Mouents who vaunsing his Enseignes willed them to followe him Monsieur Pierregorde the reste of the Captayne 's fearing least by this destruction of the bandes ther should be a way made to the enemie to anoy them and protesting that the whole blame hereof should rest on him they also with their bandes marched forward But they were not scarsly gone out of the village when they saw Duke Monpensier comming with a great army of horsmen Then with spéed he prepared himselfe and choose out fyue hundred harquebuziers to be in the first front who straytway discharged a great peale of shot against the launces on horse but they presently charging their launces ran with such violence vppon them that they brake the ray of Mouents souldiours so ensued a sore skirmishe and when they had resisted a while the whole army of Mouents tourned their backes and fled the two Captaynes also themselues being slayne namely Pierregorde and Mouents and the reste whiche fled were for the most part slayne by the Inhabitantes of those quarters notwithstanding many escaped and ame to Monsieur Acier in safety In this skirm ishe there were slayne and wanting of Monsieur Aciers soldiers siâ—…e hundred and of Monpensiers side certaine horsemen of great name After this Monpensier gaue no other attempt but retourned to the Citie Perigeux and Monsieur Acier wheÌ„ he had gathered togither all his souldiers and the remnant of the souldiours of Mouenes came the next day to a village called Aulbeterre The Prince of Conde hearing of the comminge of Monsieur Acier after he had wonne Engolesme prepared himselfe to take his iorney and to méete him The Quéene of Nauarre in the meane tyme dealt very substantially at Rochel and had appointed certain Shippes to kéepe the hauens mouth belonginge to the same and also to the end shée might haue the more easie passage into England which was a great friend and fur therer of the Protestants cause Therefore the Quéene of Nauarre sente letters to the Quéene of Englande by Mousieur Shastiller a Noble man whom shée had made Generall of that Nauy and when shée had declared the causes of the warre begonne shée commended her self and her cause vnto her as followeth Beside the great good will and desire moste Noble Quéene which I always had to abyde in your fauoure there is also at this day occasion offered the which truly would greatly accuse me if I shoulde not by letters declare vnto you what causes haue led mée my children whom God hath lent vnto me hyther And my faulte should be so much the greater by how much hée according to his infinit goodnes hath bestowed so many and so great benefits vpoÌ„ you and hath geuen vnto you such a zeale for the aduauncement of his glory namely to you O Quéene whom he hath choosen to be a â—…ngular Nource of his Church By good right therefore are those things referred and brought before you which doo appertayne to this defence of the trueth of the church of god And truly as I know that you vnderstand the generall state of our affaires most noble Quéene so I pray and beseeche you perswade your selfe that there are thrée causes of the which the least ought to be sufficient which haue constrayned me to forsake my owne Dominion and to come hyther The first cause therfore is RELIGION the which would haue ben oppressed in this our Realme of FraÌ„ce by the olde and barbarouse tyrannie of the Cardinall of Lorrayne and of those which take his part that I should no doubt haue ben ashamed of my selfe and myne and to haue had my name reckoned among the faythfull if so be to withstand this error and horror and to defend the trueth I had not sought all meanes possible both by my goods and also with perill of my lyfe and except also my Sonne and I had ioyned our selues with this so honorable a company of Princes and Nobles All the which are with me determined and fully purposed by the helpe of the lord God of hoastes not to spare in thys cause by any maner of meanes neither lyfe nor goods nor any thing else which God had lent vnto vs. The seconde cause whiche also dependeth vpon the first is our obedience to the King bicause the ruyne of religion is also the ruyne of the King for the preseruation whereof we are straitly bounde And bicause my sonne and I haue obtained at the hands of God this honour and dignitie that we are so néere of bloude to the King this also most Noble Quéene hath constrayned vs to make haste and to set oure selues against those which abusing our Kings name and facillitie doe make him the author of his owne detrement and harme and althoughe of himselfe he is moste faithfull and sure of his promises the breaker of his faith and promises and that by those subtill meanes and wayes whiche they haue deuised to breake the Edicte of pacification The which Edict as it caused maintayned peace betweene the king and his good and faithfull subiectes so long as it was obserued and kepte so the same beyng broken calleth and prouoketh the fidelitie of the subiectes to lamentable and pitifull warre so coacted and constrayned that there is neuer a one of vs whiche is not violently and againste his will drawne therevnto The thirde cause moste Noble Quéene is peculiar to my Sonne and me namely for that we sée the olde and sworne enemyes to God and to our sâ—…ocke and kynred with deadly and impudent hatred to go about and séeke to rase and vtterly to destroy vs and our familie wheÌ„ as also my brother the Prince of Conde to auoyde the practises and conspiracies againste him and his was constrained with his wife and children to séeke a place of refuge and securitie the mother great with childe the children being in so pitifull a cace that I cannot repeate the same without teares besyde this also that I was certifyed knew the same for a suertie that some were appoynted to steale and violently to carry away my sonne from me With these reasons and causes we beyng moued could not chuse but come together to the ende that we beyng ioyned in one mighte lyue and dye together as also the bonde of consanguinitie wyth the which we are mutually knit together dothe bynde vs herevnto that it dothe commaunde vs to doe no lesse These are the thrée causes O Quéene which haue vrged me to take the sworde in hande We doe not as the good catholiques lay to our charge warre against God and oure King we thanke God for it there is no suche treason to be layde to our charge but are faithfull seruauntes and subiectes both to God and oure king Of the which I moste humbly pray and beséeche you
haue the matter quieted or thei which had rather bring al things into present peril daunger than to forsake their armour which most vniustâ—…y they haue put on and to followe peace which they haue vngodly forsaken Iudge I beséeche you if thâ—… matter came thereunto that they had destroyed them whom they perceyue to resiste their ambition in what state should the kingdome then stande the kéeper protector wherof you are and of what power you should be of to defend and preserue the same If the matter ' concerne your dignitie you may call to mind what manner of persons they are which scarce two yeres since were not contented not only to take away your dignitie but sought your life also And whether they haue since that time chaunged their mindes I cannot tell time truely will reueale but thus much I protest for my selfe that the obedience which I owe vnto you I will performe shew while life doth last vpon condicion that he may bée made equall with those which are neither so néere vnto you by bloud nor yet so borne to obey you as hée is Neuerthelesse you shal graunt me leaue to be ignorant how they can be your friends who are not content agayn to séeke to put your brother to death except thye make you the minister and instrument of their hatred But wey consider that I haue spoken these things not for myne own cause but for the glory of Gods sake for the loue of my countrey and in respect of you before you procéed any further to set vpon him which by the bond of nature is no lesse carefull and louing vnto you than you are to your self for as by the leaue of God hée wil neuer cease to doe his dutie vnto you euen so hée had rather suffer death than to wishe those calamities which will follow this contention which way soeuer the victory shall encline But and if the authours of these troubles which ought to submit them selues to reason and equitie doe prosecute their counsells being not restrayned by you to whom God hath giuen authoritie we trust by the help of God the defence of whose glory wée will séeke to the shedding of the last drop of our bloud that you shall behold that euent which shall euidently declare vnto you the endes of all their counsails and shal also certifie you how faythfull a harte not only I but this whole assembly also haue borne to you next vnto God and the King and Quéene The Prince of Conde sent with his letters also the summe of his petitions briefly contayned in writing in maner and forme following I think saith he that these are conuenient and necessary meanes and waies to auoyd the perturbations and troubles which hange ouer the realm the which I propound by the leaue of the King and Queen For so much as before thei began their counsail which were the first that put themselues in armour and which as yet kéepe the Kinge in their custodie by force of armes all thys whole realme began to enioy peace and tranquillitie concerning religion men of both sorts of religioÌ„ thinking themselues in very good case by the benefite of the Edicte made in the moneth of January last past with the aduise and consent of the Princes the kings kinsmen of the Kings Counsaill and by the consent of all the most notable men of all the kingdome and experience will shewe that without the obseruation of that Edict there cannot be peace and concord kept among the kings subiectes First of all I require this that the same Edicte of January according to the forme thereof be obserued and kept without alteration of the same vntill the determination of another Parliament or vntil such time as the King himself by lawfull age shal be able to take vpon him the gouernement of the Realm and to order the matter according to his owne discretion to whome I and my CoÌ„federates doo yéeld ourselues in such wyse to obey that if it should please the King to take from vs the benefite of the reformed Religion we would also alter our purpose and obey Secondly that al violent actes on both partes coÌ„mitted since the time that they put themselues in armour may be punished and that whatsoeuer hath bene done and constituted since that time may be quite abolished and taken away because the mindes of the Kinge and Quéene were and are captiued by the Guises And because the coÌ„ming of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshal of S. Andrewe into the Court and many of their déedes which they did are the only causes of these tumults I can sée no other way to bring peace and concord then to haue theÌ„ to depart from the court The which I desire not for that I for my owne parte beare vnto theÌ„ any euill will but to the end the King Quéene may haue their liberty that the Quéene may haue her authority in gouerning the kingdome that the Edictes may be obserued that there may be some con sideration regard had of mée of those which attend vpon me of all the reformed Churches which otherwise stand in great feare I desire therfore that the Guises the Constable and the Marshall of S. Andrew may laie aside their armour and that they may go home to their owne Lordships vntill the kinge come to more perfite age And I promise that I and they which are with mée shall do the like And to the end the matter may be sene to be spoken in good faith I wil giue my Eldest Sonne in hostage and al the rest of my children to be most precious pledges of my faithfull meaning These are the most equall and indifferent pledges that I could deuise And I protest that I will put away all causes of debate and enmity that appertayned to me and the Guises for the kinge and Quéenes sake The which Conditions if they be reiected I sai and affirme the which also I haue oftentymes protested that not I but they are the authours of al those calamities and miseries which by reason of all these Ciuill warres haue happened vnto mée who haue reiected these conditions to the present peril of the kingdome ¶ The fyfth Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of the common wealth and Religion in Fraunce vnder the raigne of King Charles the ninth THESE peticions and admonitioÌ„s of the Prince of Conde to coÌ„corde tooke no place but were lightly regarded whereby the matter daylye waxed worse worse The quene could neyther retaine her authoritie neyther did shée care at the length to haue the same And whereas at the first shée was drawne away from the Prince of Conde through feare shée became now through effeminate rashnes and inconstancy a bitter enemye to him and his cause The Kinge of Nauar being vtterly blinded and bereâ—…t of iudgement was so inflamed with wrath and greate indignation against his brother and his adherents also against the reformed Churches as
though he had neuer heard any thing concerning the truth neyther yet had had experience of the mindes of the Guises Therfore he was wholely led and caried by the Guises whethersoeuer they would haue him who to make him more sure on their side insâ—…ared him with harlots and with other intiseing vaine pleasures in the which they perceiued the King of Nauar to haue most delight He therefore fulfilling the minds of the Guises in euery point stoutly thondred out the Kings authority against the Prince of Conde and his fellowes These were the first beginninges of this Ciuill warre the kingedome and the Church of God being cast into great extremities â–ª So greatly may the subtil deuises of vngodly men disturbe the societie of the godly vnlesse the prouidence of God do gouern the euent and pronide a prosperouse ende amiddest so great outrage There were certain letters brought in the kings name to the Prince of Conde to his fellowes the which promised peace vnto them after a sort vpon these coÌ„dicions namely If the Prince of Conde and his fellowes according to their former coÌ„maundement froÌ„ the king wold out of hand vnarme themselues and would yéeld vp into the Kings power their cities The which if thei wold doo the Guises the Constable the Martial of S. Andrewe promised as they had also done before that they would go home to their houses Also that the King of Nauar should haue at his commaundement all maner of Artillery and should take and chuse out of the armye of the Prince of Conde for the vse of the King and the realme whatsoeuer séemed good vnto him To these thinges if they would yéeld and graunt the King would forgyue pardon their offence in putting themselues in armour and would leaue to euery man the frée vse of Religion so that euery man should liue peaceably at home without receyuing of any hurt for Religion This was don the twelueth day of June the Martial Vielle and the aarle Villarius being sent with the letters for this matter To these letters the Comparteners of the Prince of Conde made this aunswer First We render all humble thanks to your Maiestie for that you seeme to haue so great a care and coÌ„sideration for our peace and safety But whereas it is thought that the putting of our armour would be a great cause of the same it séemeth too vs otherwise for that you stand in néed of our ayd against those which séeke the destruction of you of your realme and of your faithful subietces For by these meanes we may séeke to restore your Maiestie and your mother too that liberty authority which ye had before the Duke of Guise came into the court It séemeth vnto vs at this time that neyther you nor your mother are at libertie as may be perceyued by the effects This we request that the Edict of January may be generally obserued kept throughout the Realme that in certayne places in the which there is most daunger of sedition the faithful mai haue leaue to haue their Temples within the Cities that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew may depart from the Court and that they come not into the same agayn nor haue any maner of gouern ment of the kingdom during the Kings minoritie Also that whatsoeuer hath ben done by the kings counsaile from that time since the which the Guises haue kept the King and Quéen in their custody by force of armes may be boyd and of none effect Furthermore wée request that the Cardinall of Ferrar a prâ—…uoker and mouer of warres may forthwith depart the Realme and spéede him to Rome and that he certefie the Pope that if hée will appoint a common counsell either at Lions Auinion or Bezance they were ready by the Kinges leaue to come to that Counsell But whereas it is sayd that wée shall haue pardon for putting on armour there séemeth to vs no cause why we should need any pardone Since we haue not horne armour against the king but for the King yea wée are sofarre fâ—…om deseruing blame herefore that wee rather deserue all commendation prayse and rewarde Which shall well appeare to the Kinge when hée commeth to that rypenesse of yeares that he may iudge of our merites and well deseruing vntill which time we desire that the writings of the Prince of Conde and of the Triumuiri might be registred in all the Courtes of Paris Moreouer it séemeth not necessary vnto vs that any manner of artillerie should be taken awaye onely it is necessary to bring to passe that the Triumuiri which are the authours and causes of the war and these troubles do lay asyde their armour for wée desire nothinge more than peace As for the Cities which we haue fortified we doe and will euer acknowledge them to be the Kings And wée vtterly mislike that the Triumuiri sould bring into the Realme any forrain power Wherefore we desire not that the armies of forrein Princes be brought into the realm but that they would only be suerties for the performance of the Condicions Therefore we desire the Emperour the Princes Electors the Quéenes of England and Scotland the King of Spaine the common wealth of Vennize and the Switzers to giue their warrantise and suertiship for the performance of these condiâ—…ions These thinges notwithstanding were attempted in vayne mens myndes on both sydes béeing inflamed to warres The Prince of Conde and those of his syde trusted to the goodnesse of their cause howbeit they sought all that they coulde for peace and concorde althoughe both in number and also in courage they farre excéeded their aduersaries perswading themselues to haue the victorye The Guises and hys fellowes greatly leaned to the Kinges authoritie and had in their custodye the Kinges treasure So that what with their own subtill practises and what with the helpe of the Kinge of Nauar they brought many things to passe For the kings name and authority carieth with it such a maiestie and reuerence throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce as euer the name of a king hath done or may in any Kingdome the subiectes hauing in them a certaine naturall loue as it were ingraffed By which name how greatly the Guises haue preuailed experience hath taughte The Guises also were holpen by the Spaniards by the Italians and by the Swizers whâ—…se helpe the Guises required euen wheÌ„ they tooke their couÌ„saile first to begin warres The Guises had also on their part the Citie of Paris the Senate the people and many other great and mightie Cities So that they were very strong on both partes insomuch that all thinges considered it was not easie to be diâ—…erned which was the stronger part At this first beginning the Prince of Conde his part were both in number and courage far surpassing the Guises but the Guises and his adherents excéeded the other part in pollicie and subtill sleightes Notwithstanding God did so moderate