dispute on both parts of the principall poyntes of Religion nowe in controuersie â—…bertie was graunted vnto all 〈◊〉 of the reformed Church freely to come to heare 〈◊〉 samâ—… and that vnder safe conduct by the kings 〈◊〉 Certain men were chosen to be of that Councel â–ª 〈◊〉 of the râ—…rmed Churches â–ª being 〈◊〉 conducted at the kingâ—… coÌ„manâ—…ment by his gard from Paris to the towne called Sangeiman â–ª Among whome the principall were these namely Peter 〈◊〉 â—…rofessor of diuinitie in the Tygurâ—… Churche and The â—…tore 〈◊〉 â—…ho were chiefe in this disputation 〈◊〉 of Gods word â—…t Geneua whâ—… were procured to 〈◊〉 thither by the kyng of Nauarre and by the reformed Churches â–ª There were also â—…icolaus Gelaâ—…us Augustinus Marloraâ—…us Iohannes 〈◊〉 â–ª Franciâ—…cus Morellus and Iohannes â–ª Malo wyth whomâ—… also came 〈◊〉 a lesrâ—… man whiche a little before abjuring and forsaking the Popes religion imbraced the doctrine of the Gospell They therfore to begin the matter offer to the king a supplication in the which they desire that this disputation might be begon forthwith by his authoritie and that these might be the conditions to be obserued in the same Firste that those prelates which were of the contrarie opinion might not be set as chiefe Iudges in this disputation but that the king with his Counsellours shoulde by his authoritie moderate and rule the whole matter Secondly that all controuersies should be referred and ended by the word of God only Thirdly that what soeuer should be determined and concluded in that disputation shuld be registred in the kinges publike commentaries by his notaries To the whiche the kyng made answer that he woulde consult of this matter with his councel that if it might be al the matter might by some meanes with the consent of the Prelates quietly be ended But the Prelates complayned and sayd that this libertie of disputing oughte not to be graunted vnto them which were long agoe condemned Whervpon they deferred the matter for certayn dayes béeing busied in the mean time to â—…ynde out the scruples and doubtes of these questions namely concerning the dignitie of Cathedrall Churches Concerning Regulars and their exemptions Concerning Cures and their ordinarie presentation Concerning the excéeding number of inferiour Priestes Concerning the reformation of Monasteries Concerning pluralities of Benefices and such like seeking to helpe the disordered Churche in due time with these inquisitions But this one thyng they specially pretended that they should haue great iniurie if authoritie to iudge were taken from them But nowe it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to make mention of certayne communication had betwéen the Cardinall of Lorayne and Theodore Beza before the solemne diâ—…putation began Certayne communication betweene the Cardinall of Lorrain and Theodore Beza Minister of Geneua BEza came into the bedchamber of the king of Nauarre being so commaunded by him to the intente he might salute the Quéene And at that tyme there was also the Cardinall of Lorrain Then the Quéen began to talke with Beza concerning his bookes Upon which occasion the Cardinall then sayd to Beza as foloweth Card. Lorrain I haue séene a booke the author wherof you are sayd to bée in the whiche are contayned these wordes Chryst is to be sought in the Supper after the same manner that he was before he toke vpon him our flesh I haue heard also that you haue written another moste absurde saying which is that Christe must be sought for in the Supper as in the myre and dirte At the whiche saying the standers by greatly maruelling Beza answered Beza If the bookes were here I could the better tel whither they were myne or no but concerning the first saying it may séeme very absurde as you repeate it but the place being diligently wayed it shall be founde to be moste true As for the seconde it is blasphemous and wicked neyther shall it bée founde written in myne or in anye of oure bookes Card. Lorrain No doubte I maruell that any man dare affirme that we haue no more than the auncient Fathers had iâ—… the tyme of the lawe and how could they speake of the flesh of Chryste which as yet was not Beza Do ye thinke that there was alwayes a Churche from the first creation of the worlde Do ye thinke that the Church which was from the beginning of the world was called a Churche by him whiche was a Mediator betweene God â—… men And do ye thinke that Iesus Christe was that Mediatâ—…ure Card Lor. It is my opinion Beza Therefore the communion of the faithfull wyth Christ oughte not to be restrained to that tyme when he ioyned his diuinitie in verie déede to our nature â–ª for y which was not as yet by the order of nature was notwithstanding alwayes by the force and efficacie of faithe Is it not sayd that Abraham sawe the day of Christ and reioyced And Paule sayth That the fathers did eate the same spirituall meate and did all drink of the same spiritual drink whereof we haue droonke namely Christe Card. Lor. It is verie true For he is the Lambe that was stain from the beginning of the worlde After this when Beza had brought in manye places concerning the difference betwene the olde and newe Testament there began a newe disputation concerning the presence of the bodie and bloud of Christ in the Supper Card. Lor. We do disagree in the explication of these words This is my bodie Beza We disagrée in very déed for which we ar very sory Car Lo. I teach the children of my dioces wheÌ„ they are demauÌ„ded what the bread in the Supper is to answer that it is the bodie of Christ do ye disalowe this Beza No truly for they are the very wordes of Chrisâ—…e But I demaund how the bread is called the body of Chrisâ—… For all that is is not after one fashion or manner But the Cardinall vrged these wordes The rocke was Christe whiche wordes Beza had cited before agaynst the which he set these wordes of S. Iohn The worde became flâ—…she To the which Beza answered Beza There is great difference betwéen that substantial communion and the Sacramentall communion And this question sayth he doth consâ—…st of foure principall 〈◊〉 The first is of â—…gnes the second of the thing signified the third of the coniunction of signes the thing signified the fourth is of the participation of signes and of the thing by them signiâ—…ied Concerning the first we differ in this that you apoint in the Supper only accidâ—…nts for signes but we for signes put the substaÌ„ce of breaâ—… and wine as the nature of Sacraments doth require and the Scripture vniuersallye teache Heere the Cardinall interrupting Beza in his talke sayde Card. Lor. I thinke truly that I am able to proue desend Transubstantiation but I thinke that the same was not greatly néedefull to be founde oute by the diuines neyther doe I thinke that there oughte to be in the
to be The like words also he hath in his 112. Epistle Also in 37. cha of his second booke against Crescon In like maner S. Cyprian sayth VVe must not haue regarde what this or that man doth before vs but what Christe Iesus hath done who is before all Like vnto this is the rule whiche S. Augustine gaue to Hierome And in an other place also when hée disputeth againste those which woulde vse the Councell of Ariminum Neyther will I saith he alleage the Councell of Nice against you nor shall you alleage the Councell of Ariminum againste me By the authoritie of Scripture lette vs weye matter with matter cause with cause and reason with reason Chrysostome was of the same opynion as may appeare in his 49. Homely vpon Mathew For the Church is founded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes Apostles Therefore to conclude this matter we embrace the holy Scripture for the fâ—…l and perfect declaration of al things which appertayne to our saluation But as touching that which appertaineth to generall councels and to the bookes of the fathers we meane to vse them and we forbid not you to vse them so farre foorth as that which ye shall bring from them be not disagreeing with the worde of god But for Gods sake bring not in their bare authoritie vntill al thinges are examined by the Scriptures For we saye with S. Augustine in his seconde booke De doctrina Christiana the. 6. chapter If there bee any difficultie in the interpretation of Scriptures the holy Ghoste hath so tempered the Scriptures that what soeuer in one place is obscurely spoken in another place is more playnely and euidently reuealed And thus far concerning that Article the whiche I haue prosecuted the more largely to the endâ—… all men maye knowe that we are enimies neither to generall Councels nor yet to the auncienâ—… Fathers There remayne yet to speake of two articles namely concerning the Sacraments and Ecclesiasticall discipline The first truely deserueth a copious and long tractation by reason of the often and great controuersies euen at this day concerning the same but bycause it is not our purpose to dispute but onely to declare the speciaâ—…l pointes of our confession it seemeth enough to me to eâ—…plicate the summe of our faithe We agree as I thinke in the description of the name of the Sacrament namely that Sacramenteâ—… are visible signes by the meanes and helpe whereof the coniunction which we haue with our Lord Iesus Chryst is not only simply signified or figured but is also truely offered vnto God and is confirmed sealed and as it were grauen by the power of the holy Ghost in their mynds which with a true faith apprehend that which is so signified and offered vnto them I vse this word Signified not to weaken or abolishe the Sacramentes but to the ende I might distinguishe the signe from the thing signified Herevpon we confesse that it is alwayes necessarie in Sacramentes that there be a heauenly and supernaturall change for we say not that the water in Baptisme is simply water but a true Sacrament of our regeneration and of the washing of our soules by the bloude of Christe Neither do we say that the breade in the holy Supper of our Lorde Iesus Christe is simply breade but a Sacramente of the precious body of Christe Iesus whiche was giuen for vs and that the wine is not simply wine but a Sacrament of his precious bloud which he hath shed for vs Neuerthelesse we deny that there is any change made in substance of the signes but in the ende and vse for the which they are instituted We denie also that the same mutation is made by the efficacie of certaine wordes pronounced neyther by the intention of him that pronounceth them but by his wil only which hath ordeined this heaueÌ„ly and diuine action the institution also wherof ought euidently and playnly to be expounded in the vulgar tongue that all men might vnderstand and receiue the same Thus muche concerning externall signes Nowe to come to that which is shewed and exhibited by those signes We say not that which many do who not well vnderstaÌ„ding our myndes haue supposed that we haue taught namely that in the Lords supper ther is only a coÌ„memoration of the death of our Lord Iesus Christe Neither do we say that we are partakers of the frutes of his death passion onely in that thing but do ioyne the ground it self with the frutes whiche do come fro him to vs affirming with S. Paul â–ª The bread which we breake according to the Lords instiâ—…tion is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say the participatioÌ„ of the bodie of Christ which was crucified for vs The cup which we drinke is the participation of his very bloud which was shed for vs yea â—…ueÌ„ in the verie same substance which he toke in the wombe of the virgin which he caried vp into heauen Behold I pray you can ye fynd any thing in this Sacrament which we séeke find not But me thinks I heare some body make answer For many wold haue vs to confesse the the bread the wine are changed not into the sacraments of the body bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ but into the very bodie bloud of our lord Other some peradueÌ„ture wil not so vrge vs but wil haue vs coÌ„fesse that the body bloud is really corporally in with or vnder the bread wine But here my Lordes I pray you heare me paciently a little for a time suspend your iudgements If either of these opinions shall be proued vnto vs out of the worde of God to be true we are redy to imbrace it and wholly to reteine it But it séemeth vnto vs according to the measure of oure faith that this Transubstantiation cannot be reuoked or brought to the analogie substance of faith and to sounde doctrine bicause it is wholly repugnant to the nature of Sacramentes in which it is necessarie that there remaine substaÌ„tial signes that they may be true signes of the body blod of Iesu Christ. Furthermore it doth euert and confound the veritie of the humane nature in Christ of his ascentioÌ„ And as my opinioÌ„ is of TraÌ„substantiatioÌ„ eueÌ„ so is it also of ConsubstaÌ„tiatioÌ„ which hath no grouÌ„d in the words of Christe neither is it necessary to this that we be partakers of the Sacraments But if any man demaund of vs if we make Christ to be absent froÌ„ the supper we answer that we do not separate him from the supper But if we haue respect vnto the distaÌ„ce of places as we must of necessitie wheÌ„ we speake of his corporal presence of his humanitie distinctly considered wee affirme that his body is so far absent from the bread wine as the heauen is absent from the earth fâ—…r so much as we the sacraments are in earth but he is so glorified in heaueÌ„
that his glorie as S. August saith hath not takē away the veritie of his bodie but the infirmitie of his bodye If any man herevpon gather that we separate Christ frō the Supper he gathereth amisse For we do bring this honor vnto God that although the body of Iesu Christ be in heauen no where else and we in earth no where else yet notwithstanding we are no lesse partakers of his body bloud by a certaine spirituall maner instrumēt of faith than we truly sée with our eyes the sacramēts touch thē with our hands tast them with our mouthes are nourished sustained in this corporal life with their substance This truely in fewe words is our faith in this point that which we thinke is not repugnant to the words of Christ nor to the Apostle Paule destroyeth not the humane nature of Christ neither the article of the ascention nor the sacramentall institution it giueth no occasion to bring in curious obscure questions it doth by no meanes derogate frō the coniunction which we haue with Christ which is the speciall end of ordaining of sacramēts not to the end that it might be either worshipped laid vp caryed about or to be offered vnto God for a sacrifice to be short excepte we be deceiued it giueth more to the power and to the wordes of the Sonne of God than their opinion which thinke that his body must be really ioyned with signes to the ende we might be partakers of him But concerning the administration of Baptisme we say nothing at all For I beléeue that there is none of you that accounteth vs in the number of Anabaptistes bycause they haue no greater enemies against them thā we As touching certaine other particular questions in this argument of Sacramentes we trust God willing that the speciall articles being brought to some order by this modest and quiet conference the rest shall of themselues easily followe As touching the other fiue Sacraments as ye call them thus wee thinke that vntill we be better taught by the Scriptures they cannot be called by the name of Sacraments but notwithstanding we think that we haue broght in the true cōfirmation which standeth in this that so many as are baptised in their infancie and all others whatsoeuer before they come to the Lordes Supper ▪ maye be instructed in the Cathechisme We teach also true repentance whiche consisteth in the true acknowledging of sinnes and in satisfaction either publiquely or priuately of the parties offended also in absolution whiche we haue in the bloud of Iesus Christ and in amendement of life We do allowe Matrimonie according to S. Paule in all those whiche haue not the gifte of continencie and wée thinke it vnlawfull for any man to bynde himselfe with a perpetual vowe to leade a continent life and neuer to marry and we condemne all fornication lightnesse in word gesture and deede We allowe the degrees of ecclesiasticall offices euen as God hath ordeined them in his house We allowe visitation of sicke persones as the speciall parts of the Ministerie of the Gospell We teach with S. Paule that no man ought to be iudged for choyce in days meats for the kingdome of God doth not consiste in those corruptible and externall thinges The last point to speake of is of external order and gouernement of the ecclesiastical State of the which we think it lawful for vs to say by your leaue that all things are so corrupted that very hardely the notes and printes of that auncient buylding very well ordered appointed by the Apostles can be seene Of the which matter you your selues maye be witnesses whiche toke some paines not long agoe herein But we omitte these matters the whiche we thinke better not to disclose than to vtter And to conclude this Oration we proteste before God and his Angels before your Maiestie moste Christian king and before this honorable assembly that our purpose and meaning is nothing else but to bring the state of the Church to that puritie and perfection in the which it so greatly florished in the Apostles tyme and that so many of those additions as should be found either superstitious or else manifestly against the worde of God might quite be abolished and counted superfluous also that all thinges might be taken awaye whiche experience teaching bring men to superstition But if certaine thinges be founde profitable and necessarie to edification firste consider of them wisely by the auncient Canons and authorities of the Fathers then let them be obserued and kepte as it shall be thought expedient and méete for the times places and persones that so with one consent God maye be worshipped in spirite and truth vnder your obedience O King and the obedience of those whome God hath appointed to your Maiestie to gouerne the Realme For if there be any yet whiche thinke that the doctrine which we professe dothe withdrawe men from their dutifull obedience to Kinges and Magistrates we haue to answere them For this we teach that the firste and principall obedience is due vnto God whiche is King of Kings and Lord of Lordes But if our writings may not suffise to cleare vs of that crime layd to our charge we wil bring forth many examples of principalities of rules and of kingdomes that haue bene reformed by the prescript of our doctrine which may be sufficient witnesses of our innocencie To be short in this point we say with S. Paule Let euery soule submit himself to the authoritie of the higher powers ▪ Yea and Chrisostome writing vpon that place faith Yea let him submit him selfe though he be an Apostle or Euangelist bicause that subiectiō doth not derogate from the glory of God. Wherefore if it shall come to passe hereafter that any man falsely professing oure doctrine shall be found to rebel but against the least of your officers we protest before God and your maiestie O King that such kind of men shall not be of vs neither shal they finde more mortall enimyes against them than we Therfore O king our desire to aduance the glory of God our obediēce loue which we owe to your Maiestie our loue also towards our cuntrey specially to the Church of God haue brought vs into this place trusting that the most mighty God according to his accustomed mercy and goodnesse will blesse you no lesse thā he did the yōg king Iosias that by your most happie gouernmēt O Quéene by your coūsels most honorable Princes coūsellers the ancient memory of the famous Quéene Clotilda shal be renued whose diligence the Lord vsed as a meane to make himself knowne throughout this Realme This is our hope most mightie king for the which we are readie to spende our liues that obeying your maiestie in this so godly a matter we may sée the golden world where oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ raigneth with all honour and glory for euer and euer
inconueniences will hereof arise Notwithstanding least we might séeme to want an answere wée affirme that we doe receiue all those things which Espensius hath alleaged and brought out of the booke of Caluine But the article exhibited by the Cardinall is onely a portion of the Augustane confession In the which matter many things are to be coÌ„sidered First the whole confession should be propounded vnto vs for it is not méete to set before vs one verse â–ª and to omit the rest Then we must sée whether the Cardinall doth this thing of him selfe or in the name of all the Prelates For herevpon we should giue thankes vnto God that they them selues do confesse themselues to be ouercome in the Article of TransubstantiatioÌ„ the which truely is condemned by the consent of all the reformed Churches of Germanie and of others And if it be méete for vs to subscribe then is it méete for them to subscribe also that our Churches may vnderstand what wée haue done But if they wil thus come to the whole confessioÌ„ of the Germanes wée trust we shall come into a very good waye to haue concord and vnâ—…tie In the meane time O Queene we do affirme that Iesus Christ is present in the vse of the Supper in the which he offereth giueth â–ª and truely exhibiteth vnto vs his body and bloud by the operation of the holy Ghoste but we eate and drinke the same body that died for vs the same bloud that was shed for vs spiritually by faith that we may be bone of his bones and fleshe of his fleshe that by him we may be quickned and may perceiuâ—… whatsoeuer pertaineth to our saluation And if this be not sufficient as it is a daungerous and hard matter to speake of so great a mistery in so fewe woords if it seme good vnto the Cardinall that we search and confer together the Scripture and the writinges of the aunciente Fathers as hee hath also promised and if it may please you O Quéene to make a conuenient forme of collation and to cal Notaries whiche may receiue our disputations we trust you vnderstaÌ„d that we came hither not to bring disorder and trouble but peace and quietnes For this one thing we wishe that both to this doctrine and also to the Sacramente the verye natural and proper integritie and perfection it selfe may be restored In the which matter we dedicate and wholly giue our selues to God to your Maiesties to the whole Christian commoÌ„ wealth and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme Thus far procéeded the oration of Beza But the Prelates toke it very haynously that Beza had thus spoken of their vocation Therefore the Cardinall swelling with anger saide that the Quéenes Maiestie was dishonored with these wordes into whose hands the righte and libertie of election was giuen and by whome they themselues were elected Adding that the ministers spake of that wherof they were ignorant not knowing that the Prelaâ—…es the people being called at the sounde of a bell are elected Beza answered that he was altogether giltlesse of this fault saying that Kings had taken vnto theÌ„selues that libertie authoritie bicause Churchemen had so filthily abused the same As touching Election no man is ignorant that they make as it were a play or enterlude of it I speake not this of purpose saith he but am constrained therevnto to the defence of our Ministerie and to the intent also I might declare what maner of calling it is the which notwithstanding without cause is contemned To this the Cardinall answered That Beza first began to offer iniurie and not he without the hauing of anye regarde of the reuerence due to the kings willing him and his fellowes to loke vnto that which appertained to themselues for that they were not bothe of them in one condition This talke being ended he presently demanded of them why they refused to subscribe to the Augustane Confession The ministers answered that they knew net whether they were required to subscribe by a generall consent or whether he did it in his owne name My brethren that are here saith the Cardinall câ—…n witnesse with â—…e that I do it with coÌ„mon coÌ„sent Notwithstanding ther was not one among them which declared whether he consented or no notwithstanding that the Cardinall loked vpon them to the ende they might confirme that which he had spoken Then saith Beza for so much as ye require not this thing it is not méet that we should doe it This comunication being done the Cardinall of Loraine called in question the article of the Lords Supper euery prelate obiected against the Ministers all the doctors Câ—…nons they had Then sayde Espensius we cannâ—… receyâ—… Christ except we receiue him with the breade â–ª And therefore it is that Caluine saithe VVe receyue the substance of the body of Christe The Ministers to this answered that they doe willingly agree with Caluine Saying that by this word Substance was not ment a corporall and grosse eating but that the spirituall and true eating was discerned from that which was by imagination aâ—…d phansie To the which effâ—…ct Peter Martyr spake very much in the Italian â—…oung bycause he coulde not speake french And as he proâ—…éeded all men giuing good heede to that whiche hée spake and hauing him in greate admiration the Cardinall of Lorayne interrupted him adding this reason that he wold not dispute with men that spake in a straunge toung not that he him selfe vnderstoode not the Italian toung or that manye coulde not vnderstand Peter Martyr Then Espensius stoode vp and gaue him this commeudation before them al That no Deuine in their time had so plainely and distinctly spoken of the Sacrament as he had done Then starte vp a certayne Spanishe Monke a Iesuite whiche hauing obtayned leaue to speake did nothing but poure out contumelious and reprochfull sentences against the Ministers calling them vnconstante craftie deceitefull Wolues and Apes which he sayde oughte to be shunned and auoyded And beginning to speake of the Lordes Supper he would shewe and manifest the Corporall presence of the Lorde by this stmilitude Euen as saythe he the King hauing gotten the victorye ouer his enimyes to celebrate the remembrance thereof ordaineth certeine playes of the which he maketh him selfe chiefe ouerséer euen so Christ intending to make the remembrance of his death euerlasting by the institution of the Supper is also himselfe present at the same At the last exhorting the Quéenes maiestie to be an enimie to the ministers by his foolishe madnesse and madde folly he moued the most parte of them that were present both to laughter and also to indignation euen together Then Beza aunswered the Monke saying that he dealte with them as though they were alreadie condemned of heresie which was not done but saith he I wil reserue your contumelious iniuries and railing sentences for you and your companioÌ„s And as for the Quéene she wil do al things
with good will and by due and holesome counsel for the benefite of the whole Realme and standeth not in néede of a Monkes aduise Concerning the Lords Supper â–ª you haue so vâ—…reuerently spoken of the same that you make a playe of it in the which Christ shoulde be the speciall person the which is to childishe ridiculous and prophane And so Beza tournyng hym selfe to Espensius sayde Ye vrge the consente of the Euangelistes in the fourme of woordes in that they haue all sayde Thys is my bodye but remember that the Euangelystes haue also sayde This is my bloud of the newe Testamente And also This Cup is the newe Testamente in my bloud the whiche cannot be vnderstoode without a figure as I haue alreadie shewed that it is a sacramentall kinde of speache as Saint Austine expoundeth it in his Epistle to Bonifacius If Sacrament â–ª sayth he should haue no agreement with those things whereof they are Sacramentes then were they no Sacramentes for this similitude they oftentimes receiue the name of those things which onely they represent As therefore the Sacrament of the body of Christ in some respect is the bodie of Christ and the Sacrament of the bloud of Christ is the bloude of Christe euen so the Sacramente of fayth is sayth â–ª neither can there be a Sacramente withoute the figure Then saide Espensius if the case be so that oure Sacramentes are not withoute the figure they differ not muche from the Sacramentes of the olde Testament which were fâ—…guratiue For they were figures and shadowes of the truth which is now made manifest and fulfilled in Christ Otherwise we must say that they are figures of figures The Ministers denyed this consequence affirming that the Legall Ceremonies which were appointed by God had respect to the truth whereof also the ancient Fathers were partakers before the comming of Christ and we after his comming in which time we are not vnder ceremonies but yet notwithstanding we néede visible signes and sacramentes so long as we shall be in this world and yet for al that it doth not followe that we haue the lesse vnderstanding of the truth although we haue externall Sacramentes After this a certaine Sorbonist demanded of the ministers what the 〈◊〉 This in these wordes This is my bodie signified The Ministers answered That it shewed the bread and signified the body of Christ that it might be vnderstande that the breade was a signe of the bodye which they confirmed by the testimonies of the fathers On the contrarie parte the Popishe Doctors replyed that the Grammer rules would not suffer this woord This to be referred to the bread But the ministers sayd that this was repugnant to the nature of Sacramentes in the which it â—…ught not to be denied but that the signe is ioyned with the thing signified Thus these Rabbines and Sorbonistes making exclamations in all things and a confused noyse spent the day And one among the rest shaking his finger at Beza sayd if we had thée in oure schole At the laste the assembly was dismissed and the conference after this was no more kept in the same order and forme the Cardinall fearing as it was reported least by their disputation in the vulgar and knowne tong the matter might the more plainely appéere to the Princes and nobles that were there Therefore from that day forward the maner of the conference was altered fiue out of eyther part that is to saye fiue of the Prelates and fiue of the Ministers being chosen and appointed for this conference by whome all matters mighte be reasoned and disputed of peaceably and quietly The fiue that were chosen from among the Prelates were these Ianus Monlucius â–ª Bishop of Valentia Vallius Bishop of Seâ—…n Bottillerius an abbot Espensius a Sorbonist The fiue that were appointed out of the reformed Churches were these Peter Martyr Theodore Beza Nicolaus Gallasius Augustine Marlorate and Espensius Then they agréed concerning the order of the disputation the place the time and concerning the Notaries whiche shoulde note receiue the disputation And although it séemed méete and conuenient to all men that the confession of the reformed Churches shoulde by order be handled firste yet notwithstanding they began the disputation concerning the supper bycause they had before propounded the same in that article which concerneth the Lordes presence in the Supper and the matter being diuersely canuassed and handled betwéene them at the length both partes agréed vpon thys article following Forsomuche as Faith maketh things that are promised to be present and doth truely receiue the body and bloud of our Lorde Iesu Christe by the power of the holy Ghoste wee confesse the presence of his body and bloud in the Supper in the which he offereth gyueth and truely exhibiteth â—…nto vs the Substaunce of his bodie and bloud by the operation of the holy Ghoste in whome wee receiue and eate spiritually and by Faith the same body whiche was offered for vs that wee maye bee bone of his bones and fleshe of hys fleshe and maye bee quickened by him and maye also perceyue and vnderstande what so euer doth appartayne to our saluation The fiue disputers for the Prelates shewed this article vnto their fellowes which they wholly mislyked Therfore the daye following another Article was exhibited vnto the Ministers in their name in the which there was somewhat altered for that which the first article attributed vnto faith the seconde attributed to the worde This article for the ambiguitie therof the ministers would not receiue least it should be the cause of greater errors But least the contention myght seme to stand in words they al agréed with one coÌ„sent on both sides to put down the article in this form VVe confesse that Iesus Christ in the Supper offereth gyueth and truely exhibiteth vnto vs the substance of bis body and bloud by the operation of the holy Ghost that we do receiue and eate spiritually by faith the same body which dyed for vs that we might be bone of his bone and fleshe of his fleshe to the ende also we might be quickened by him and may vnderstand al things that appertaine to our saluatioÌ„ And bicause Faith beyng grounded vpon the worde of God maketh things that are promised and of vs vnderstode to be present by this faith we truly and effectually receiue the true and naturall body of Christ Iesus by the power of the holy Ghost In this respecte we confesse the presence of his body and bloud in the Supper These things thus determined the chosen men on both sides went to shewe the matter vnto their fellowes that both partes mighte freely shewe their opinion and iudgement At the first sight therefore many of the Prelates receiued this article But when the matter was communicated and declared to the Sorbonistes they did afterwardes with one consent reiect the same And layde vnto the charge of their chosen men that disputed for them and which continued
commaundement for those of the newe opini◅n or those which made practises and deuises for them or those which might haue had intelligence of the sayd conspiracie His Maiestie declareth that he meaneth not of things done and past during the troubles which were before the Edict of Pacification in August 1570. and that there shall be no inquisition thereof and none shall bee troubled in goods or person therfore but for that respect they shal inioy the benefit of the Edict of Pacification but that the sayd wordes extend only to those which be found to be giltie or accessarie to the last conspiracie done against his Maiestie and estate and that other which are imprisoned shall be set at libertie And as touching them which will make profession of their faith and returne to the Catholike Religion his Maiestie desireth that his gouernours and officers shall excyte and conforte them as much as they can too that effect and execution of that good will and that their friendes and kinsfolkes should also bee exhorted too doe the like for their parte And if any should hurt them in goods or body his Maiestie willeth readie and speedie execution too bee done on them And too the intent that they maye followe the fourme which hath bene kept in professing the faith which they doe make that returne to the Apostolike and Romishe Church there is sent herewith a memorie thereof From Paris the. xxij day of September 1572. Signed Charles And beneath Pinart THE FOVRME OF ABIVRATION OF HE resie and confession of faith which they which haue swarued from the faith and pretende to be receyued into the church ought to make THIS IS THE ABIVRATION VVHICH they caused al of the Religiō to make in Fraunce to saue their liues Printed at Paris by Nicolas Roffet dwelling in the new streat of our Ladie at the signe of the Mower with the Kings Priuilege FIrst they whiche haue swarued from the fayth and desire too returne intoo the compasse of our holye mother Church ought too present themselues to their Curates or vicars to bee instructed of that which they ought to doe that done they shal bee sent vnto the reuerend Byshop of the dioces or his Chauncellour or officiall too make the sayd Abiuration and confession in maner and former following IN. borne at c. in the dioces of c. and dwelling c. acknowledging by the grace of God the true faith Catholike and Apostolike from the which I haue through my fault gone astray and separated my self since c. and desirous to returne to the flocke of Christes true shepefold which is the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church confesse to haue abiured and cursed all the errours and heresie of the Lutherians Caluinistes and Hugonotes and all other heresie whatsoeuer wherwith I haue heretofore bene diffamed or touched and I agree to the fayth of our holy mother the Church and desire you in the name of God of his sonne Iesus Christ and of the glorious Virgin his mother Marie and of all the Sainctes of Paradise that it would please you to receyue me into the flocke and shepefold of Gods people which liue vnder the obedience of the Pope ordayned our Sauiour Iesus Christs vicar in the sayd Church submitting my self paciently to abyde and willingly to do the penance which it shal please you to enioyne me for the absolution of my faults committed whilest I was in the foresayd sectes wherof I aske and require pardon of God and of his sayd Church and of you that be appoynted my pastor by God the Creator absolution with such penance as you shal iudge to be holsome for the satisfaction of my sinnes offences And to the intent you should knowe that I haue and do make this abiuration frō my heart I confesse moreouer before God you that I beleeue that which is contayned in the Simbole or Creede of the Apostles and Athanasius and other confessions of saith made approued by the whole councels of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish church that is I beleeue in one only God the father almightie Creator of Heauen and Earth and of all things visible and inuisible and in one L. our Lord Iesus Christ the only sonne ongendred by God the father before the constitucion of the world God of God Light of Light true God of true God engendred not created Consubstantiall with the Father by whom all things were made who for vs mē and for our saluation descended from heauen c. as in the belief of morning prayer I beleeue likewise acknowledge and confesse al that which is contayned in the bookes as well in the olde as of the newe testament approued by the sayd holye and Apostolike church of Rome according to the sense and interpretation of the holy Doctours receyued by the same reiecting al other interpretation as false and erroneous I acknowledge the seuen Sacramentes of the sayde Catholike Apostolike and Romish church that they were instituted by our L. Iesus Christ and that they be necessarie for the saluation of mankind although that al of them are not of necessitie to be conserred too all that is to saye I confesse that the sayde seuen Sacramentes are these Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist ▪ which is the Sacrament of the altar Pen◅nce extreme vnction Order and Mariage and that the sayde Sacraments confer grace and that of them Baptisme Confirmation Order can not be reiterated without sacrilege That the sayde Sacraments haue the effect which the sayde church teacheth and that the forme and vsage wherwith they be ministred too christians is holye and necessarie I acknowledge also that the holye Masse is a sacrifice and oblation of the verye bodie and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ vnder the forme of bread and wyne mingled with water whiche substances of bread and wyne vnder the sayde formes are in the Masse by the wordes whiche serue for consecration sayd and pronounced by the Priest transubstanciated and transformed intoo the substance of the sayde bodye and bloud of Iesus christ Notwithstanding that the qualities and accidentes remayne in the sayde formes after the sayde consecration and that the Masse is holesome and profitable as well for the quicke as the deade I acknowledge and confesse the concomitāce that is to say that in receiuing the body of Iesus Christ vnder the forme of bread alone I likewise receiue the blood of Iesus Christ. I confesse that Prayer and interc◅ssion of Sainctes for the quicke and the dead is holie good and he◅thfull for Christians and is not contrarye for any respect to the glorie of god That prayers made in the Churche for the faythfull which are dead do profit them for the remission of their sinnes and lessening of their paines incurred for the same That there is a Purgatorie where the soules abyding are succoured by the prayers of the faythfull I confesse that we muste honor and call vpon the sainctes which raigne with Iesus Christ and that they make intercession for
séene and the eating of breade in déede euen as if a man shoulde not receyue that wholsom medicine giuen vnto him for his health but should cause it verie sumptuously to be caryed vp and down the chamber They saye also that Paule sayd not Carie this bread about the stretes but VVhosoeuer eateth of this bread and drinketh of this wine Furthermore they say that Christe is in heauen and that therfore there is onely required a spirituall worship Wherevpon they say that great iniâ—…rie is done to him by those corporal and externall worships seing he exalted 〈◊〉 from earth to heauen to the end he might be worshipped and adored with true and spirituall honor And last of all they say that this rite of carying the Lords bodie vp and down was brought in and by little litle established not by any authoritie of Scripture but by the deuotion of some singular man Also that neither Clement nor Gregorie bishops of Rome whiche appointed the same to be a solemne feasâ—…e haue not spoken one worde of that deambulation and that therefore our sacrifiâ—…ing Priests do erre and offende against their will and institution seing that no other day hath such fréedome and libertie to commit all kinde of wickednesse as that hath the whiche truly is not the waye to knowledge and worshippe Christ seeing that he requireth of his disciples purenesse and newnesse of lyfe and in his holy worde vtterly detesteth all sinfull libertie The which things séeme hurtfull not onely to those whiche haue separated themselues from our felowship but also to those which will not leaue the same They doe perceyue that herevpon many things are done amisâ—…e as the pollutiâ—…n of the Sacrament against the word of God and the approued customes of the Church Also that by the occasion of this day many men are aâ—…used and led to commit wicked and horâ—…ible things and that the same day is a verâ—…e prâ—…uocation of most 〈◊〉 sedition as we hitherto to our great griefe haue felt Therefore except this thing be foreseene and a remeâ—… prouiâ—…d for the same at the length experience will shewe that it is better to séeke a more deuoute way to worship God withall than to refeyne kepe this ryte to the hurt and offence of many The Masse also is an other greate cause of offence All men crie out that the Masse is a great offence slumbling block to the Church the same being sold of ignorant dissolute and most vngodly Priests and yet no man seeketh to reforme and amende the same This thing truly hath of late diminished the deuotion of the people very muche yea and many of our felowship do proceed further also â—…o doubt of the Masse both touching the substance and also touching the forme In the subsâ—…aÌ„ce they doe note that the Churchemen afâ—…irme that the priestes do offer Christe and do more esteeme of their owne sacrifice than they dâ—…e of the sacrifice of Christe And that certaine of the Doctours doe saye that the same sacrifiice whiche the Priests offer is onely a monument and signe of the true sacrifice whiche Christe offered for vs once for all but the ignoraÌ„t people are taught by ignorant priests that he ought to be counted for an heretik which thinketh otherwise The which truly seeing it seemeth to be most absurd it giueth great occasion to the aduersarie to speak euil But in the forme of the Masse they note foure principall things First that all things are done in the same in a strange an vnknowne tong the which in déed is vnprofitable and dangerous séeing no fruite commeth thereof vnto the people but are onely fed with certaine outward shewes Wheras on the contrarie part say they it is necessarie that the confession of the faith shoulde be plainly and euidently vnderstode of all men and séeing the Latine tongue muste needes be vsed let the same yet be expounded into the mother tong that it may of all men be vnderstode And seing the prayers which are there made appertaine to the common profit of all the hearers who vnderstanding not what is spoken shall aunswere Amen Furthermore they saye that the consciences of the Clergie doe accuse them and tel them that they doe amisse séeing no part of the vse of their Masse is declared without the which notwithstanding the administration of the Sacramente seemeth to be but vaine Thirdly séeing those things which are spoken in the Masse doe belong to the whole congregation and not to the Priesâ—…es alone and specially those things whiche concerne the Communion and yet neuerthelesse one Priest only communica 〈◊〉 the people sâ—…anding by and looking on it séemeth iusâ—…ly to be verâ—…e farre out oâ—… order and not agréeing to the truthe Wherfore they thiâ—…ke it 〈◊〉 that it shoulde be reduced and brought to the ancient maner of the church agréeing to the first institution â–ª Fourthly they misâ—…yke the order of the diuine seruice In the which is to be coâ—…idered what great profiâ—… the singing of Psalmes and the maâ—…ing of Prayers in the vulgar tong hath brought in tyme paste And truly our aduersaries of late days vsing these meanes haue allured and drawne many vnto them Wherefore let the holy Father consider if it shall not be best to giue libertie to haue the Psalmes soong and Prayâ—…rs also made in the vulgar toung that they maye be 〈◊〉 of all the people These are the principall poyntes whiche they saâ—…e are needfull to be amended â—…en they which haue separated themselues from our felowship which they 〈◊〉 to haue taken in good part seeing they goâ—… not about to violate the Apostoliâ—…ie authoritie of the holy father and 〈◊〉 perâ—…ct in these two things namely that nothing be altered â—…n dâ—…ctrine And also that if the Minisâ—…ers of the Churche doÌ„ offende in any thing the Ministeâ—…e therefore shoulde nâ—…t be taken away but the authoritie thereof alwayes to remain preserued and safe These two things being firmely holden they thinke it no absurditie if diligente inquiâ—…ition be made of other matters which haue neede of reâ—…ormation Therefore she dothe humbly beséeche the holye Father that he woulde prouide for these thinges for that greater inconueniences no dout woulde folowe if so be that there were not remedie prouided in tyme As for other thinges the Quéene promiseth that she hir selfe with the counsell of good men and with hir diligence and iâ—…deuour will looke vnto so muche as she maye both for the peace and quietnesse of the Church and also for the dignitie of the Popes holynesse These thinges haue ben by vs faithfully gathered out of the Copie of hir owne letters ¶ The thirde Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and or the common vvealth of Fraunce IN the meane season the Prelaâ—…es and Clergée came from all partes of the realme to a towne called 〈◊〉 néere to Sangeiman at the â—…ay appointed in the moneth of August to reason and fréely to
churches any diuisions for this matter Then Beza proceeding with his former purpose sayd Beza Concerning the seconde we doe not saye that the mâ—…rites of the death and passion of Christ are onely signified by the outward signes of bread and wine but also that the verie bodie of Christe which was cruâ—…ified for vs his bloud which was shed for vs is by them represented Also that Iesus Christ very God and perfect man is offered vnto vs by visible signes that our myndes being lifted vp by faith to heauen wher Christ now is may spiritually behold him receiue enioy all his graces to euerlasting life and that so certainly and truely as we sée and receyue and eate and drinke the corporall and visible signes To this the Cardinall of Loraine agreed affirming that he was glad to heare those wordes for so muche as he perceiued that the doctrine of the Faithfull was otherwise than he thought it to bée Beza Concerning the thirde there is greate difference betwéene common water and that with the which we are washed in baptisme betwéene the bread and wine whiche we dayly vse and that whiche is vsed in the Supper For the water of Baptisme the breade and wyne of the Supper are Sacramentes that is to saye visible sygnes and Testimonies of the bodie and bloud of the Lorde But we denie saith he that there is any such mutatioÌ„ in the substaÌ„ce of the Elements but we affirme that the change is in this that they are applyed to an other vse than that which is naturall bycause they seruing of themselues by their owne nature for the nutriment of the body being Sacraments they signifie that thing whiche doth feede our seules Furthermore we doe not assigne the cause of this mutation to the words or to the mynd and purpose of him that pronouÌ„ceth them but to the vertue and power of God whose will is reuealed in his word Therfore bycause the thing signified is offred vnto vs and so truly giuen vnto vs as the signe it selfe we muste also acknowledge by the same reason the coniunction of signes with the thing signifyed And by this meanes the body and bloude of Iesus Chryste in that they are truely giuen vnto vs are in the administration of the Supper and not with vnder or in the breade or in any other place than in heauen where as he is â—…an he is contained vntill he shall come to iudge both the quicke and dead The Cardinal also agréed to the same and affirmed that he did not allow Transubstantiation but thought rather that Chryste shoulde be sought in heauen Notwithstanding as one in dout he added other sayings of certayne Germanes to the end he might therby séeme not to haue greatly trauelled in this matter excusing himselfe to be let from the same by other businesse Then sayde Beza I graunte that we and certaine Germanes doe disagrée in this thyrde Article but in this notwithstanding we agree that we altogyther ioyntly with one consent denie your Transubstantiation Card. Lor. Doe ye confesse that we are truely and substancially partakers of the body and bloud of Chryst Beza This is the fourthe principall poynt whiche before I noted and resteth to be declared In suÌ„me therefore we do affirme that the visible signes whiche are naturally eaten and dronken are touched with the handes that the matter of the Sacrament that is to say the body bloud of Chryst Iesus is offered truely and without deceyte to all men that the same is receyued by faythe and not by naturall reason but yet that the same is so truely giuen vnto vs by faythe as if we were naturally ioyned with Chryst. Then the Cardinall affirmed that Beza hadde satisfyed him in this poynte and very friendly and louingly desired Bâ—…za that he might haue conference with him Notwithstanding it was reported that the Cardinall had confuted Bâ—…za by these firste small tryalles and assayes And so they fully persuaded themselues to haue the victorie But when they which were the chosen meÌ„ of the Churches to dispute lawe that new delayes were founde out day by day they vrged that their petitions whereof we spake before might be graunted vnto them and they desired also to vnderstande the Kings mynde in writing At the length they receyued this answere of the Queene that the Prelates shoulde not be their Iudges but that there shoulde be graunted vnto them certayne of the Kings Secretaries that the matter should be ruled wholy by the word of God and that the King with the Princes his kinsmen woulde be at the disputation And herewith she admonished them to behaue themselues modestly and to seeke onely the glorie of GOD whiche she thought she sayde they greatly desired But to graunt them any thing in writing she thought it not expedient séeing their wordes might serue well inough When the chosen men of the Churches hadde receyued this answere and were departed there came strayght way vnto the Queene certaine Papistes beseeching hir that she woulde not heare these men of the newe religion and if she were mynded to heare them that she would at the least beware and sée that the yong king came not to their disputations bycause it was daungerous least hée in his yong and tender yeares shoulde be taken and snared therewith For say they it is not meete that they shoulde be hearde which not long agoe were conuicted of heresie To whome the Quéene onely answered that she woulde doe nothing without due Counsell and aduise and that they shoulde well vnderstande that the matter shoulde not be handled after the wil and pleasure of those men of the new doctrine as they termed them The next daye after which was the ninth day of September was the time appoynted to begin the disputation Therefore the King and the Quéene his mother the Duke Aurelian the Kings brother Margareâ—… his Sister the King and Queene of Nauarre the Prince of Conde with the reste of the Princes the Kings kinsmeÌ„ and the Priuie Counsel and a greate number also of Noble men and Gentlemen were assembled together in a verye large hall which men commonlye call the Hâ—…ll of the holye Virgins of Posiac Hyther came also the Popes chiefe Prelates the Cardinals the Archebyshoppes and Bishoppes to the number of fiftie beside a great many substitutes and deputies in the places of those that were absent a great many diuines and men of learning counted standing about them In the highest place sat the King and harde beside him according to custome the Princes his kinsmen the Bishops sitting all a long on both sides the hall vpon gréeces one aboue another Then were brought in the chosen men for disputation of the reformed Churches which were twelue Ministers and twentie others which were sent also of the same Churches whom the Kings Gard at the commaundement of the king had brought from Sangerman thyther least there should be some tumult raised against them When euery man
controuersies of oure aduersaries concerning this matter of the which there are eight in number It is better to abide in the approued opinion and iudgemente of the Catholike Church which is that the very body of God of our Lord Iesus Christ his very bloude also is present and receiued in this Sacrament according as it is sayd This is my bodie The which wordes excepte they be in déede of as great force as they sounde and séeme to be why are they so diligently repeated in like wordes of all the Euangelistes and of the Apostle Paule also Why did not the other three Euangelistes the Apostle Paule which wrote after Mathew writ after that maner that our Sacramentaries would write specially seyng in a matter of lesse waight they doe one of them expounde another and that which one of them setteth forth obscurely another plainely declareth This is the mynde of the Testator which by no maner of meanes ought to be disalowed or violated This is also the iudgement and doctrine of all the ancient writers that not onely the breade is giuen by the Priest but also the very body of Christ really Therefore I imbrace this stable hole some opinion and I doe abhorre with all my hearte the curious opinions and sayings of these newe men which seme so to represent Christe as if they shoulde bring him forthe in a Tragedie or Comedie As thoughe it were not better to retaine and kepe the simple wordes of our Lorde and saâ—…iour than the false imaginations of men seyng that this is most firme and certaine that we are not onely ioyned to Christe by faithe but also by the force and efficacie of the Euchariste beyng rightlye worthily and really receyued yea and to speake more playnelye Substantially Naturally and Corporally And here he alledged many things out of the ancient fathers and plainely reprehended Beza bicause he vsed the words of Austen in his epistle to Dardanus in this matter of the Sacramentes seyng in that epistle he intreated nothing at all of the Sacramentes also bicause he had condemned the opinion of certaine Germaines concerning Consubstantiation contrarye to his owne opinion And then he concluded his oration with these wordes I come yelde sayth he to your opinion of the Sacramente excepte ye thinke that Iesus Christe as touching his fleshe is in this world from the time of his ascention and that more nowe than he was before he toke vpon him our fleshe excepte ye thinke that Christ hath some other bodye than that whiche is visible excepte ye thinke that he is otherwise in the Sacrament than in the preaching of the worde if ye thinke it to be all one to put on Christ in Baptisme and to eate his body and bloude and to be shorte if ye thinkâ—… that he is so in heauen that he is not in earth also and that he is no otherwise in the Supper than he is in the Myer we which are taughte that the Supper is not in heauen but celebrated in earth and which are not so curious that we woulde by ingenius and wise speculations bryng and separate Christe from the Supper â–ª to answere you fullye affirme that we are so far from your opinion as the heauen is hyer from the lowest parte of the earth Let them therefore sée and consider which iudge and examine oure Religion not by Philosophie but by Diuinitie which of vs two doe attribute more to the power of God and to Iesus christ And so praying to God to roote out these daungerous and deadly opinions and not to suffer these controuersies to be in his Churche he exhorted the king and the Quéene that they woulde take vpon them the patrocinie and defence of thys matter and protested in the name of the Prelates of the French Churche that he would liue and die in the defence of this doctrine which he had set forth After this all the Prelates which were present rose vp and came néere vnto the king and in their name the Cardinal of Turnon protested that this was the confessioÌ„ of their faith which they woulde seale with their owne bloude being the vndoubted truth of the holy mother the Church The which the king oughte to imbrace and followe according to the manner and example of his elders But if they whiche had separated themselues from the Churche of Rome would subscribe to that confession then they shoulde be receyued and be heard more fully in other articles in the which they sayde they woulde be satisfyed otherwyse they oughte not to be hearde at all And it is the Kinges parte to banishe them oute of his Realme the which he must earnestly desired him to doe Then Beza vehementlye desired of the King by and by leaue to make answere oute of hande to the oration of the Cardinall of Loraine For the ministers feared that they shoulde haue no more leaue to come together againe fame reporting euery where that the prelates had determined from that day forward to deale with them no more but by excommunications Notwithstanding thoughe the Ministers that day could obtaine no leaue to answere yet obtained they another day the which neuerthelesse by reason of diuers rumors was deferred vntill the day following Bicause of these detractions of times the ministers fearing that the disputation shoulde be ended they determined to offer vnto the King a supplication praying him that for so much as at his commaundement they were come thether from so far countreys quietly to confer with the Prelates for the rooting out of errors which so manye yeares had oppressed the Church they mighte haue leaue to confer together and to declare their cause that he him selfe woulde take vpon him the defence of Religion whiche they sayde was the meane and way to raygne and rule himself and to preserue his kingdome in peace and tranquillitie When they had offered this Supplication oftentymes to the King at the last they obtayned leaue to haue the conference continued not in publique but in priuate place Therefore at the length the assembly was renewed agayne which a long time was broken off a small number of men the King and Quéene the king of Nauarre the Prelates and twelue chosen Ministers and a few others being only present Then the Cardinall of Loraine began to shew that this assembly was gathered togyther that the Ministers might be heard what answere they would make to those things which he had lately expounded Beza therfore in the name of his fellowes began thus saying When we haue called vpon the name of God that he woulde aide and assist vs in a matter of so great waight and would bring to passe that this assemblie might be gathered together to the glory of his name to your dignitie and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of the king and Quéene of the whole Christian common wealth and kingdome we will briefelye answere to that which was lately propounded by the Lorde Cardinall of Loraine concerning
the 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
of the sworde He made manye incursions into Poytou and anoyed them with such generall perill that the princes to ouercome him this troupes dispatched thither the Lord de la Rocheâ—…ard with vii cornettes of horsemen and the regiments of footemen of the L. la Mousson Saint Magrin Montamma whose strength and trauell was to small purpose bicause the enemye had a speciall saüetie in hys singular swiftnesse as knowyng well the straites and compasse of that countrey The princes being at Sainctes got intelligence of the enterprise whiche the Kings brother mente to execute within Angoulesme and therevpon knowing also that he was vpon his waye thyther dispatched to intercepte that purpose the CouÌ„tie Montgomery with ten cornets of horsemen ouer and besides the regimen of footemen of the Lord Montbrun and Mirabel sent thither all readie The Montgomery the better to execute his charge in the beginning of Aprill sommoned the sayd ten cornets of horsemen to be before him at Pons the monday being the fourth of April in the euening At his coÌ„ming he founde onely vi cornets with whom he departed after some expectation for the other whiche were not yet come he trauailed all that night and the next morning was receyued within the towne of Angoulesme without any let or impediment by the way the other fower cornets comming somwhat late to Pons hasted on the way after their copanie albeit as they were neere Chasteauneuf neither fearing nor for séeing any perill they were charged by a great troup of horsemeÌ„ layd of purpose in ambâ—…h to intercept theÌ„ â–ª so pursued as the chase came to Coygnac from whence they returned and found safetie in the swiftnesse of their horsses At this encounter the L. de Chaumont captaine of one of the sayde cornets with certaine other common souldiers were takeÌ„ prisoners and about xxx or xl slaine The Countie Montgomery was no sooner within Angoulesme than he begaÌ„ to deuise and prouide for the safetie of the towne wherein for his first pollicie he surueyed the wardes and warders of the towne And bycause that those which afore made the view and search of the towne passed not by the Parke which is a newe building ioyned to the towne which cut of all aduertisment of any thing done there the place it selfe also not vnapt to receiue companyes foysted in by night without knowledge to them of the towne The said Montgomery made pierce the walles and open the gates of that syde towardes the parke so that alwayes after the searchers of the towne passed and visited the gardes of the same He remoued also the Captaine of the sayde Parke to auoyde treason with order that euery nyght the warders of that place should be changed The Duke de Roauois beinge led prisoner as you haue heard to Rochell and there continuing til the moneth of Ianuary was deliuered vpon this promis to pay within thre mo nethes after twentie thousand frankes to raunsome or in default of eyther the time or summe to returne prysoner to Rochell Hee failed and therefore was sommoned to make good his worde which he refused clearing himselfe by the death of the prince of Conde to whom as he had giuen his faith so his death acquited his promise â–ª The Kinges brother kepte still about Angoulesme al be it vnderstandinge of the precise direction of the Montgomery gaue ouer his further attempt and depar ted from thence the xii of Aprill taking his way to Perigueux and passing by Aubeterre he tooke the castle by composition â–ª for whose garde the L. of the place did entertaine about a hundered men who enduring only cer tayne shot of the cannon yéelded themselues their liues saued wherein notwithstanding they were abused for that dyuers were killed and the L. of the place arested as prisoner from Aubeterre he drue to Mucedan a town of Perigueux afore the which as the Lord de Montlue attended him with his forces so the army being arryued they began to batter with such furie as a breach was spéedely enforced There were within the towne seuen or eyght score popular Souldiours who dispairing eyther to fill up the breach or to kepe it longer in respect chiefly of their small nombers abandoned the Towne and closed themselues within the castle being sufficient ly strong the catholikes being within the towne bent their batterye against the castle where they had no sooner battered a breache than they cryed to the assaulte They within susteined the first assault and likewise ii others in the necke of it repulsing at last the catholiks wherof a great nomber left their dead bodies in paune then the Kings borther vnder their word of assurance came to Parle with them wherein he so preuailed as they yéelded reseruing only their liues which notwith standinge were violently taken away from them all without exception â–ª contrarye to his faith and woorde of honour hee loste at these assaultes a great company of souldiours with sundry Lords and captaynes of choice amongest which was the countie Brissac striken with a harquebush shot in the left chéek he was a gallant gentleman and of great hope amongest the people of xxv yeares of age when he died and of great calling function in France For first he was Knight of the order cap taine of fiftie men at armes of the Kinges allowance Colonell general ouer the french footemen in the Kinges campe and gouerned also in this iorney a regimen of xl ensignes of footeman his brother succéeded him in most of his charges sauinge the estate of Colonell generall which was giuen to the Lorde of Strossie there dyed at that slege the contie Pompaden with many other to the number of v. or vi hundred Mucedan being taken in this moneth of Aprill â–ª the Kinges brother toke way againe to Angoulmois the Lorde of Montluc returned to his gouernemente and charge The Princes horsmen being thus viewed and mustered they would also suruey their footemen in which businesse the d' Andelot was chiefly vsed and theréfore immediatly dispatched to the end he might puruse the garrisons in euery towne of their obedience he began his first trauaile in this charge vppon the end of Aprill following the garrisons and mustring them in his own presence In the beginninge of May hee returned to Sainctes féeling himselfe somewhat sicke the same growing so vpoÌ„ him as he dyed the Sarterday the seuenth of the same 1569. to the lamentable griefe and displeasure of the whole army as being noted a most wyse and valeant Gentleman called commonly the knight with out feare his office of generall Colonell of the Frenche footemen was giuen to the Lord d' Acyer â–ª his company of men of armes since his death hath bin gouerned by the Lord of Beauuais his Lieuftenant It was thought he was poysoned and the phisitions that viewed his bo dy were of the same opinion Immediately after in the same moneth and at the same place dyed the Lord of Boccarde hauing lyne long