The Brutish Thunderbolt, Declaration 1 · Part 22
The crime of Rebellion.
THe fourth crime followeth, whereof we ſaid the pope of Rome was long ago not onelyonly accuſed by the moſt part of Chriſtendome, but alſo conuict and condemned. We call the ſame rebellion, that is, factions procured with an enuious mind to ouerthrow the ſtate of al common wealths that are in Chriſtendome. But bicauſe this our diſputation was principally appointed for our country of France; it ſéemeth to be ſufficient for this preſent, if from it alone, and ſo from the freſh remembrance of thoſe factions, we fet teſtimonies of that crime. It is now thrée and twentie yéeres, during which our France hath béen pitifully vexed in a maner with continual ciuil wars: do I ſay with wars? Yea with butcheries, and furious and cruell ſlaughters. They that hauehave diligently numbred thoſe which were ſlaine in thoſe wars, doe finde them to be no leſſe than twelue hundred thouſande French men borne. Is there any in the Parleament of France either preſident or Senator, that dare from his hart ſweare, that the pope of Rome was not the Alaſtor * of or prouoker.ſo great euils, that he was not the principall brand of ſo great a fire? That he did not continually ſend cardinals or biſhops, and others of his crue and retinue as meſſengers to the court of France, that they might inflame the minds of the kings (like euill angels) to theſe deadlie and bloodie wars, to theſe butcheries, and to lay waſte the realme of France? When as in the meane ſeaſon he like a bloodie maiſter of fence, hauing ſet theſe ſwaſhbucklers by the eares togither, did behold theſe bloodie plaies from the top of his caſtell of Saint-angell: or like another Nero did from his tower looke vponupon the citie, which he himſelfe had fired: and did féede his eies with theſe doleful ſpectacles, and did couet to ſatiſfie his cruell mind? But if we will record thoſe things which hauehave happened in this our realme in the remembrance of our fathers, we ſhall firſt finde this: that Lodwik the 12. (alas, what king? Which obtained the name of the father of the countrie with the great conſent of all good men) did make ſubiect to pope Iulius the ſecond ſome cities of Italie, which he tooke in war. That the pope after a few moneths did repay this thanks to the king for the benefit receiued, that he did not onelyonly pronounce him to be a ſchiſmatike and heretike, he proſcribed him, he procéeded againſt him with the fearfull thunderbolts of excommunications: but alſo he cauſed all the French men to be tormented like enimies, and to be ſlaine: he did alſo promiſe reward to the murtherers, forgiuenes of all their ſins, and fréedome from puniſhment, if any man could murder euen but ſome one French man any maner of way. What is it to be a rebell, or rather to ſurpaſſe rebels in all crueltie and wickednes, if not this? But it is woorth the labor to ſet downe ſomewhat more plainly all that whole tragedie. That pope was of a cruell nature, and ſo fierce, furious, and turbulent, that his companions in robberie and murder the biſhops and cardinals could not abide him, but to the kings and princes he ſéemed altogither intollerable. Therfore with the full conſent of al, there was a Councell called at Piſa a citie of Italie, that by common councel they might preuent thoſe euils that did hang ouer the Church of Chriſt by reaſon of him. And how wiſely, and lawfully, and ſolemnely that Councell was called, appéereth by the hundred fiftie one Councell of Philip Decius a moſt famous lawier in thoſe daies, which he wrote and publiſhed againſt that pope at Mediolanum. The furious pope did foorthwith diſturbe that aſſemblie with war and weapon. Wherefore it was tranſlated by the authoritie of our king firſt to Mediolanum, and then to Lyons, where after the matter was heard and examined, pope Iulius was ſuſpended from his popedome: that is, he was for a time put from the adminiſtration of the papacie. Wherof when Iulius heard, he was ſo incenſed with ſorrow and anger, that he did not only forbid all French men fire and water, but alſo he commanded that eueryevery of them that was met, ſhould be murdered: alſo he prouoked cut-throtes and murderers with rewards, as I hauehave alreadie ſaid. Which madnes or rather furie of his, bicauſe William Budeus of Paris, a man no leſſe louing to his countrie, than learned and ſkilfull, hath couragiouſly and ſharply proſecuted in his bookes De Aſſe, it ſéemeth to me moſt fit to ſet downe all that whole complaint of that couragious man and good ſubiect, to be read not onelyonly of the Senators of our Parleament, but alſo of all men of all ſorts and orders: eſpecially ſéeing that all hiſtoriographers in generall do woonderfully agrée with him in ſetting downe that complaint. For this is Iulius the ſecond, concerning whom both Arnoldus Ferronus, a man very learned, and an hiſtoriographer of our country of France, and Burdegalenſis ſometimes a Senator of the Parleament, and many other hauehave written: that as he came out of Rome againſt France hauing gathered an armie, hauing his minde inflamed againſt our king, as he led his armed bands out of the citie ouer the bridge of Tiber being himſelfe armed, in the hearing of many thouſand men, he vttered theſe words: Séeing Peters keies helpe vsus nothing, go to let vsus draw Pauls ſword: & foorthwith he threw the keies which he brought with him into Tiber, and he drew his ſword. Touching which we know that old verſe: in Engliſh thus:
Pope Iulie as the fame doth go,
Gainst France did cruell wars prepare:
His armed band then foorth he brought,
And in his hands the keyes he bare.
A ſword hang by his ſide, which out
Couragiouſlie foorthwith he drew:
And Peters keyes into the deepe
Of Tiber flood withall he threw.
Then blustering out theſe words, he ſaid:
If Peters keyes cannot preuaile:
Then with the ſword of Paul we will
Our cruell enimies aſſaile.
But now let vsus come to Budeus his complaint which he ſetteth down at large in his fift booke De Aſſe: The bloudie maſter of the cleargie casting off all feare of God, ſent cruell nations against the Lords people, & accurſing thoſe that tooke part with the french and their fautors, he raiſed with more than tragicall wickednes, almost the whole world being looſed from religion againſt thoſe that were accurſed. Do we not remember that time when Peter and Paul, and their followers, the principall builders of the church, were not giuen to fight battels being infected with the cōfidence of gliſtering weapons, but trusting to bloud and innocencie, and being otherwiſe vnarmed, they were ſtirred vp with the trumpet of most hot louelove, to defend the tents of Christ in the tumult? Now they are made onelyonly bare names, after ſo long time, though the holie principall orders of the prieſts do ſhadow and cloake their pride with the people onelyonly with their maiesty. O harde and monſtrous blockiſhnes of moſt holie power! For who did euer in minde conceiue ſo great wickednes, that the Top of prieſts, the master of the cleargie, that the principall worker of holie things, ſhould abide to arme his hallowed hands that are yet hot with working at the altar, against the Lords familie! that with a mind more thā murderous he ſhuld ſeeke to put out the top of the christian name, namely a most christian king, in the blockiſh world! and that he ſhould ſomtimes ſhake that mysticall ſword edgeling and foyningly in his angrie purpoſe as we thinke: that he ſhould ſometimes borrow of Mars that bloudy ſpeare or iauelin, and ſhould alſo ſeeke to put thoſe to death whom with cruell curſes he had cast down, which peraduenture did turne vponupon him? Lo what hands, what feet, thou dost willinglie kiſſe, from which thou oughtest to plucke backe thy mouth though bloudie and polluted. O wretch that thou then art, Iulius, and carried with distemperature, which thoughtest that thou oughtſt to obey thy blind anger ſo far forth that thou wast carried with furious blindnes of minde? and not to reſpect either thy ſelfe, or the comelines of most bleſſed maiestie through hatred, but carrieng headlong with thee against their will for the most part, and euen murmuring against thee, that most honourable order, that reuerend ſenate, being famous with chiefe reuerence, the glorie of Libanus, thou ſhouldeſt ſeeke to oppreſſe vsus with the fall of the tower of the church, and ſo conſequently thy ſelfe? that thou ſhouldest alſo change in a maner the whol world, being ſhaken with thoſe thunderbolts which thou hast rayſed and ſhot againſt it, that thou ſhouldest behold vsus with theſe firie eies, which are inflamed with hatred and enuie, and alſo burne with fire, & ſhouldest not now ceaſe, but fall vponupon our king as he did burne, thou hauing obtained thy purpoſe? O immortall God! was it lawfull for wickednes perſwading euill things, to throw downe by right or wrong from the top of the ſanctuarie ſo great a man, being euen ſtung with the waſpe of reuenge more than that of Atrius? that he ſhould hasten to destroy euen his bodie and ſoule in the graue of his enimies. Was it not ſufficient for his most furious wrath to hauehave driuen vsus backe againe into our owne coasts, being terrified with a thunderbolt, departing from the poſſeſſion of Italie which we deadlie loued, and that with griefe and ſorrow, vnleſſe he ſhould moreouer hauehave made vsus fight for our altars and fires (as they ſay:) and finallie to feare most extreme examples? When as in the meane ſeaſon vnderunder that bloudie fenſer almost all this whole countrie did fight with vsus with a most deadlie enuious minde: where was then that zeale of the Lord, which is iust anger reuenging the maieſtie of God, being hurt or diminiſhed? For it is lawfull for the holie armies to go into the battell with this ſtanderd-bearer alone, if at anie time it be lawfull. Did he then, I praie you, fet aide out of that tower of LoueLove, or chappell of Faith, or croſſed ſtanderds? Was he anie whit aſhamed to call himſelfe, the Seruant of the Seruants of God, when as he did boast that he made France which was alwaies the beautie of Christians, and temple of the popes, and fortres of religion, famous with the graues of french men? Seeing that a priest being ſeauentie yeeres of age, the ambaſſadour of Chriſt, the authour and parent of peace, did offer ſacrifice to Bellona the goddeſſe of war: to whom he ſtroue to offer ſacrifice with great loſſe of mankinde. And euen at ſuch time as the profane multitude did make their praiers before the altars of peace and concorde with a pitifull ſhew. Surely a ſpectacle woorth the beholding: To ſee a father not onelyonly most holie, but alſo reuerend in reſpect of his age and white haires, ſtirring vp his ſoldiers whom he had called out with the fame of Bellona, as it were to procure tumult in France: not reuerently attired in his kirtle, and carrieng his gorgeous armes, not holie with his pontificall mace or ſcepter, but clad with a mantell, and in barbarous attire: but girt with furious boldnes, that I may ſo call it, glistering with theſe beaſtly and vaine thunderbolts, hauing the crueltie of his ſpirits appeering in his ſterne countenance and apparell. Vndoubtedly we hauehave ſeene in a few yeers manie things, which our posteritie will thinke to be incredible. The ioints of eccleſiastical authoritie and diſcipline being diſſolued in this winde and tempest, how ſhould the right faith hauehave continued, vnleſſe it had been faſtened with the iron and eternall pins, and vnleſſe it had once been affirmed and establiſhed in the holie moniments? Thus far goeth Budeus, a man, as I ſaid before, that loued his countrie, and which deſerued al praiſe. Who though he knew not as yet fully what difference there was betwéen Chriſt and Antichriſt, yet could he not being inforced with louelove of his countrie, but ſet downe in writing that crueltie and barbarous fiercenes of the pope, to the eternall reproch of the papacie: that al poſteritie might vnderſtand with how enuious and rebellious a mind our *Alastor was the companion of Sarpedon king of Lycia, whome Vliſſes ſlew at Troie. Alastores wer alſo certaine fiends that did ſowe plagues, famin and calamitie among men.Alaſtors raged in the time of Budeus in France. Go to: let vsus heare another teſtimonie of the ſame rebellion againſt the kings of France, being not a little more ancient. No man is ignorant that almoſt halfe the realme of France was in times paſt in the poſſeſſion of the kings of England for the ſpace of more than thrée hundred yéers. When as king Philip who was afterward ſirnamed Auguſtus, did ſéeke to recouer that region in war, it cannot in words be expreſſed how prowdly and furiouſly pope Innocentius the third did ſet himſelfe againſt him. We do not thinke that any man is ſo void of humanitie, that he is ignorant that in times paſt this was the policie of the Romans to bring vnderunder them other nations, that if they did perceiue any contention to be riſen amongſt neighbors, or kings, or people, they did carefully nouriſh the ſame, and did offer friendſhip & felowſhip to the one partie by the moſt honorable decrées of the ſenate, and did alſo promiſe that partie aide againſt the other. After that by theſe ſhifts they had ouercome and ſubdued the one ſide, they found afterward within ſhort time very eaſie opportunitie to opprèſſe the other. Our people (ſaith M. Tullius) De Repub.hath now gotten the whole world by defending their companions. The popes following this ſelfe ſame way of their anceſtors, that is (as Iohn the munke a noble Canoniſt doth interpret it) the way and footeſteps of rouers and murderers, ſo ſoone as they know any diſcord ariſe among kings and princes that were neighbors, they began to increaſe and nouriſh the ſame by their meſſengers the cardinals: and alſo to couenant with the one of them, that if by their meanes they could obtaine the kingdome of their aduerſarie, then they ſhould confeſſe that the ſea of Rome was the author of ſo great a benefit: and that they ſhould be ſworne to them, to do homage to them, and alſo pay a yéerelie tribute to the ſea of Rome, for the kingdome newly gotten. When this couenant and conſpiracie was concluded, foorthwith the prince that held on the other ſide was proclaimed an heretike and ſchiſmatike: and his kingdome was adiudged to him that did firſt get poſſeſſion thereof. By which ſhifts, it cannot be told, how manie fires the popes hauehave kindled in all parts of Chriſtendom within theſe fower hundred yéeres: how many kings and princes they hauehave made vaſſals, tributaries, and ſtipendaries to them and their filthie ſtinking ſea. Concerning which matter bicauſe we hauehave ſpoken at large a little before, it ſhall be ſufficient to ſpeake of thoſe two kings of France and England. Therefore when there aroſe contention betwéen them, pope Innocentius the third ſent firſt from his conſiſtorie into France two legates, that they might both terrifie the king with threatening curſes, and that they might raiſe his ſubiects to rebell againſt him, and that they might ſecretly conſult and talke with the biſhops and prieſts of France. That done, he did ſo quickly and ſharply raiſe the emperor Otho the fourth, and alſo Ferdinandus earle of Flanders, and many other princes of other countries, to beare armes againſt the French king, that vnleſſe he had happily with a valiant and ſtout hart contemned thoſe threatenings and beaſtly buls of that pope, he had loſt not onelyonly that part of his kingdome, but alſo in a ſhort time all the reſt. The remembrance whereof is extant, not onelyonly in our French chronicles, but alſo in the Canoniſts *. For that decretall ſhall be a in c. nouit. 13. extra de iudic.perpetual moniment of the popes hatred and rebellious mind againſt our kings and countrie.
Therfore we ſuppoſe that it is apparent to all men by theſe things and other that we hauehave ſhewed before, what authoritie the orders and Counſellers of the realme of France ought to giuegive to this declaration of pope Sixtus: whom we hauehave prooued by moſt manifeſt teſtimonies to hauehave béene not onelyonly accuſed by the moſt part of Chriſtendome of moſt notorious crimes, but alſo to hauehave béene conuict and condemned. But if happily there be anie that diſpute, that like as bicauſe two parts of thrée parts of Europe, hauehave put downe the pope, the third part muſt giuegive him none authority: ſo ſéeing two parts of thrée parts of France would hauehave his authority reſerued to him, it is méete that his authoritie be preſerued in France: we hauehave a double anſwer in readineſſe. The firſt bicauſe out of that number of French men which taketh part with the pope, all cardinals, archbiſhops, biſhops, prieſts, innumerable crues of munks and clerks, and other ſharuebugs of the ſame ſort, the popes vaſſals, finally all dogs, which licke the popes tribunal ſeat, muſt be culled out: bicauſe of the rule of the law wherein we ſaie, In what buſines ſoeuer any mans matter is handled (bicauſe in ſome reſpect §. ſed ne que Inſt de testam. ordi. l. nullus, 10. D. de teſt. l. omnibus, 9. C. eodem. l. 1. §. in propria, D. quand. appell. ſit.it concerneth him) he is not a méet witnes in that buſines. The ſecond is, that when as theſe are culled out of the number, no ſmall part of the reſt which follow the old cuſtome of religion in France, do that not with iudgement and willingly, but being compelled with threatenings and terror: that they are no more to be numbred amongſt the clients of the papacie, than (as the lawiers ſay) witneſſes or Gardans retained in any buſines by violence and feare, are numbred among fit witneſſes and authors, of whom Vlpian writeth finely, thoſe that are preſent at any act or l. 1. §. vltim. D de tutel. l. qui testament. 20. §. vlti. D. qui teſtamen. fac. l. nouiſſ. 7. §. 1. quod falſ. tutor auctor. l. 2. D. de iud.buſines againſt their will, they ſéeme to be no more preſent, than if they had béene in that place being aſléepe, or oppreſſed with the falling ſicknes. Finally, all men perceiue, that if the French men had like libertie to vſe and exerciſe both religions, ſcarce the fourth part of the people of the realme would continue in the religion of the ſea of Rome. In which place it liketh vsus wel to recite that old ſaieng of Bartholus, who in the preface of the Digeſts *, num. 14.where diſputing about Conſtantines donation, and rekoning vp the opinions of other doctors, when he commeth to his owne, he ſaith thus: Lo: we are vponupon earth of the church, (for he taught at Bononia) and therefore I ſay, that that donation was of force. Where notwithſtanding he writeth many things afterward flatly againſt that donation. And in like ſort when the canoniſtes did diſpute that it was not lawfull for the emperor to condemne any man of rebellion, that did follow the popes faction: Bartholus making mention of the ſentence of Henrie the emperor, wherein he had condemned Robert king of Sicilia of rebellion, and of the contrarie ſentence of pope Clement the fift, whereby he had abſolued the ſame Robert: he ſheweth ſurely that he dare not oppoſe himſelfe againſt the pope. But he diſſembleth not to allow the emperors ſentence: with which Bartholus the canoniſts were therefore greatly diſpleaſed, which vſe that verſe of the pope and Caeſar, calling the pope their Iupiter:
Caeſar with Iupiter doth diuide,
The empyre reaching far and wide.
Moreouer Bartholus diſputeth in the ſame place, that it was ſo far off, that Robert was the popes vaſſall, as the pope auouched againſt the emperour: that he teſtifieth that when Robert was dead Aloyſius his heire did ſweare alleagance to the emperor in the name of Sicilia, in the city of Piſe, he being there preſent. Concerning which matter we muſt repaire to the conſtitution of Henrie, Ad reprimendam, Qui dicant rebel. and the contrary In Clem. Paſtoralis, de iud.conſtitution of the pope, abrogating and reprochfully reuerſing that. But if we thinke it méete to ſpeake any thing of the eccleſiaſticall rebellion of popes, it ſhal not be amiſſe to bring to light the teſtimony of one that was ſomtime a moſt famous Senator of Paris, called Coſma Guymerius: who vpō the preface of the pragmatical decrée writtē at Bituriga, the author wherof was king Charles the ſeuenth, reckoneth vp ſome things which are greatly appertinent, to know the madnes of theſe Romiſh Alaſtors. About the yeere of our Lord, ſaith he, M. cccxxc. after the death of Gregorie the eleuenth, when the cardinals were to proceed to chooſe another to ſucceed, they were threatned by the Romanes, that they ſhould die, if they would not chooſe ſome Italian. Therfore they choſe the archbiſhop of Bare, who was then at Rome, making knowne to him that they choſe him to auoide danger, or rather they did feigne that they did chooſe him: but afterward, when opportunitie was offered they did freelie intend to chooſe another. Therefore when they had choſen him that was called Vrbane the 6. he ſaid that if they would chooſe him, that they did chooſe him, bicauſe he did intend to be pope. Notwithstanding thoſe cardinals departed from him after a while, and flieng to the citie of Funda, they choſe another, who was called Clement the 6. he tranſlated his court to Auenion, and France, Spaine, Catalonia reuerenced him for pope. And to the other did Italie, Almaine, and Hungarie cleaue obediently, and this wicked ſchiſme continued aboue xxx. yeeres. During this ſchiſme, after Ʋrbanus ſucceeded on that ſide Boniface the 9. After Boniface came Innocentius the ſixt. After Innocentius ſucceeded Gregory the 12. On the other ſide after Clement came Benedict the 13. who was called Peter de Luna, or of the Moone, vnderunder whom was kept a counſell at Piſe: anno 1410. wherein after they were depoſed, Alexander was choſen who was called Peter of Candie, in whoſe roome came Iohn the 23. by reaſon whereof aroſe another ſchiſme. At length when there was a Councell gathered at Constance, by the emperor Sigiſmunde, the ſaide Iohn the 23. and Gregory the 12. agreeing togither, and the cardinals of the Lord Benedict being there alſo, Gregorie the 12. gaue place there, and the other two were depoſed for their ſtubburnnes, and to appeaſe the ſchiſme. Thus writeth Guimerius. Now let vsus heare another teſtimonie of this out of the ſame booke. Martin, ſaith Fol 5. col. 2.he, was choſen pope by the Councell of Conſtance, the other that did contend being depoſed, who did long time cauſe a ſchiſme. And he commanded that there ſhould a Councell be held at Baſill, where he was not by reaſon he was preuented by death. Yet he ſent Iulian thither, then his legate, of the title of Saint-angel in the eleuenth yeere of his popedome: the first of Februarie, to keepe the Councell: and after him ſucceeded Eugenius the fourth, who thogh he had approoued the Councell of Baſill, and had ſent the foreſaid legate to Baſill the day before the Calends of May, the first yeere of his popedome, and had alſo reuoked the diſſolution of the ſaid Councell being attempted by him, ann. 1433. and in the third yeere of his popedome, in his publike ſeſſion kept at Rome in S. Peters, the 17. day before the Calends of Ianuarie, in the ſame yeere, and had by his buls patents promiſed from that time forward to obey the ſaid Councell, confeſſing that the ſame Councel was alwaies truly continued. Yet would he not afterward keep the decrees of the Councell of Constance, neither obey the Councell of Baſill, affirming that he ought rather to do the contrarie, and he diſſolued the ſame againe, and tranſlated it to Ferrarie, for the bringing backe of the Grecians, and thence to Florence, bicauſe of the plague that began there. Wherupon aroſe great ſtrife among thoſe that wrote touching this matter. For one ſide ſaid that the pope is aboue the Councell: the other, that the Councell is aboue the pope. Therefore he was cited by the Councell of Baſill the last of Iulie, in the yeere 1437. he was ſuſpended from the administration of the papacie the eleuenth day of the Calends of Februarie, 1438. and was alſo depoſed the ſeuenth before the Calends of Iulie, in the yeere 1439. into whoſe place the Councell of Baſill choſe Amedaeus, the duke of Sauoy, being afterward called Felix the fift. But Eugenius regarded it not, for which aroſe a ſchiſme, which continued nine yeers, and euen vntill the death of Eugenius. Into whoſe roome was choſen in the citie Nicolas the fift, to whom Felix gaue place, bicauſe he fauoured the vnitie of the Church. Pope Pius the ſecond, who was before called Aeneas Syluius, who was preſent at the Councell of Baſill made a treatiſe for the authoritie of the Councell of Baſill: but when he was made pope, he reuerſed the ſame. Thus far goeth Guimerius ſometimes a Senator of Paris as we ſaid: that the Senators of this age may more attentiuely perceiue with how great ambition, contention and madnes, the champions of Rome hauehave vſed rebellion in the Church, and how furiouſly they went by the eares togither among themſelues, how manie fires they hauehave kindled in all parts of Europe, that they might ſatiſfie their owne ambition. Moreouer, how ancient and old this madnes of theirs is, we may know by the hiſtorie of Ammian Marcel. a man expert Lib. 29.in Chriſtian religion. Whoſe words are theſe. Damaſus and Vrſicinus being inflamed aboue mans meaſure or capacitie to catch the biſhops ſea, being diuided in ſtudies they made manie ſharpe conflicts with danger of death and wounds, the aide of both going forward: which when Viuentius the gouernor of the citie could not redreſſe nor mollifie, being inforced with great violence he departed into the ſuburbs, and in the conflict Damaſus gat the vpper hand, that ſide which did fauour him being instant. And it is manifest in the church of Seruinus, where there is an aſſemblie of the Christian rite, that in one day were found one hundred and ſeuen and thirtie carcaſes of dead men: and that the outragious multitude was hardly afterward appeaſed. Neither do I deny, conſidering the ostentation of citie affaires, that thoſe that are deſirous heereof, ought to chide with all their might and maine, for obtaining that after which they long: ſeeing that after they hauehave obtained that, they will become ſo ſecure, that they are inriched with the oblations of matrones, and come abroad in their coches brauely apparelled, giuing themſelues to prodigall banqueting, ſo that their banquets ſurpaſſe the banquets of kings, who might indeed be bleſſed: if deſpiſing the gorgiouſnes of the citie, which they ſet against vices, they would liue like certaine prouinciall biſhops: whom ſlender diet, and moderate drinking, alſo baſenes of apparell and countenances looking downe to the ground, do continually commend to God and his true worſhippers, as pure and chaste. Thus writeth Ammianus: whereby it plainly appéereth how ancient this ambition and deſire to beare rule, which was and is in the biſhops of Rome, was, which was alſo coupled with fiercenes and crueltie. But to omit old things, and to come to touch thoſe things which touch vsus and our countrie of France more néere: is there any of ſo great a number of the kings Senators that is ignorant, how manie wars the popes of Rome hauehave raiſed in Europe among chriſtian princes within theſe fiftie yéers, either to defend or elſe to amplifie their power? The firſt was that of Heluetia, wherein they ſet at variance moſt peaceable cities, which were linked togither not ſo much by moſt néere league, as by mutuall louelove, and deſire to preſerue their common countrie. Then followed the war of Germanie, and after it that of England and of Scotland, which alſo euen at this day the ſame fiends and champions go about to renew by their meſſengers the ſquibbiſh Ieſuits, being moſt aſſured firers of Chriſtendom. What ſhal we ſay of our ciuil and deadly wars of France? For firſt of al the popes of Rome did earneſtly deſire Francis the firſt, that if any would imbrace the reformed religion, they might be burnt aliue hauing their toongs cut out, and hauing fire put vnderunder them. Among the king of France his conſtitutions, there be extant the edicts of that king, publiſhed in the yéere 1534. and alſo in the fortieth, and againe in the 42. by the authoritie whereof the Senators of the Parleament ſhed ſo much blood, and yet with ſo great godlines and conſtancie of the martyrs, that it ſéemeth that the poſteritie will ſcarce beléeue it. What theſe helliſh fiends gained by this crueltie, it is woorth the knowing by the teſtimonie of him, thā whom no more plentifull witnes can be brought foorth in this kind. That is, king Henrie the ſecond, the father of theſe latter kings, a prince (as moſt men may remember) moſt famous both at home and in war. For his edict written at Caſtrobriant in the monethmonth of Iune, 1551. is extant, the words wherof are theſe: All men might ſee before this with what ſtudie, and with how great contention our father (whom God abſolue) king Francis, being a most Christian king, and most catholike, endeuoured greatly during all his life time, to roote out hereſies which budded out in his realme againſt our holie faith and catholike religion: and how manie lawes and constitutions the ſame king with the ſame mind and purpoſe did publiſh: as the varietie and neceſſitie of times did require. Notwithstanding that ſo great ſtudie and indeuour did no great good. For that diſeaſe was ſo ſpred through al the moſt noble families of our realm, that it did infect like a certaine contagion the families of all ſorts and orders. Thus ſaith he in his edict, which containeth ſix and fortie articles, being all of them written moſt bitterly and ſharply to ſtop the courſe of that religion. Moreouer, ſhortly after, that is in the yéere, 1547. there was another edict publiſhed by the ſame king, wherin by name he profeſſeth in manie words, and doth plainly denounce, that he hath omitted no labour, no indeuor, no diligence in ſuppreſſing that religion. OnelyOnly ſo? Nay ſurely (ſaith he) the more carefully and painfully we labored to do this, ſo much the more that doctrine gat the vpper hand. Surely we may coniecture what was his indeuor and trauell, euen by that, that all men know, that there died of that miſerable and bitter kind of puniſhment a great number of all ſorts of men. There ſuccéeded theſe kings, to wit, the grandfather and father, king Francis the ſecond: his edicts, to wit, ſixe in number, were moſt ſharpe and vehement, beſides innumerable broad ſeales and letters patents, which he ſent continually through all parts of his kingdome with ſo great heate of mind and ſtomach, that aboue thrée hundred men were in leſſe than thrée moneths ſpace tormented, ſcortched, burnt and (as it was commonly written in the decrées of the ſenate) brought into aſhes, by the decrées eſpecially of the ſenate of Paris and Tholoſa. This ſo great abundance of blood that was ſhed, might peraduenture ſatiſfie euen the moſt bloodie tyrants: ſuch as the report goeth Cyclops, Buſiris, Siron, Phalaris, Tython, Gyges, were in times paſt. But ſo great crueltie cannot ſatiſfie the pope of Rome, whom we may rightly tearme a rebell againſt mankind. It is woorth the hearing what good he did. For there is extant a decrée of the ſame king Francis the ſecond, publiſhed at Amboſia, in the monethmonth of March, anno 1559: in theſe words, which we would hauehave the kings Counſellers to read very attentiuely, and to conſider of what weight it is. We to the end we might anſwere and ſatisfie our princely office, were inforced to vſe diuers kinds of puniſhments and paines, as the ſtate of things and times did require. But by the instruments of criminall cauſes it is knowen and reuealed, that a great number of men, women, ages, kinds, and of all orders were preſent at vnlawful and priuy ſermons, ſuppers, baptizings administred by thoſe for whom it was not lawfull to do that. But and if euerie one of theſe ſhould be put to torture, as the rigor of our authoritie and lawes doth require, there ſhould woonderfull much blood be ſhed, of men, women, virgins, yong men of floriſhing age, whereof ſome being induced and ſuborned, other ſome being perſuaded through a certaine ſimplicitie and ignorance, other ſome inticed rather with a certain curioſitie, than of malice, hauehave fallen into ſuch errors and diſcommodities. Which things if it ſhould come to paſſe, we ſhould be greatly and continually ſorie: neither ſhould that well agree either with our age or nature: both which do inuite vsus to vſe clemencie, gentlenes, and merciemercy in this kinde. Therefore we will hauehave all men know, that when this whole matter was in due time handled by our Counſellers in our preſence, we are not determined to leaue this firſt yeere of our reigne famous to our posteritie, as cruel, bloodie, and full of the murders of our ſilly ſubiects: though they had greatly deſerued this: yea after the example of our heauenly father, we are determined to ſpare the blood of our people, and to bring backe our ſubiects to the way of ſaluation, and to preſerue their life: hoping that through the Lords merciemercy it will come to paſſe, that we ſhall do more good by the way of gentlenes and clemencie, than by the rigor of puniſhments. Therefore according to the opinion of our foreſaid Counſellers, we ſay, appoint, ordain, that heerafter our ſubiects be not molested for the cauſe of crimes that are paſt, which concern faith & religion, by our iudges of what ſort and condition ſoeuer they be, neither in iudgement, nor without iudgement. Moreouer, we declare that we grant to our ſubiects a general pardon, remiſſion, & abſolution for ſuch crimes as concerne faith & religion. And ſhortly after: By the authority of the king who was chiefe in this counſel: & according to the ſentēce of the lords cardinals of Bourbon, of Lorraine, of Chastillon, the dukes of Montpenſier, of Guiſe, of Niuernois, and of Aumale. Thus far goeth Francis the ſecond: plainly, as it appéereth, declaring and teſtifieng, that the tortures and puniſhments of former times did nothing at all auaile to extinguiſh this religion. What did then the fiends and enimies of mankinde, the popes of Rome? What did they? So ſoone as they perceiued that ſome of the nobles of that realme, and furthermore that ſome of the princes of the blood roiall had taſted of that religion, and had reiected the deceits of Bernardo and Dominick: ſo ſoone as they foreſaw that France would by little and little winde hir ſelfe out of the bondage of the papacie into Chriſtian libertie: finally, ſo ſoone as they ſaw that ſo fat a praie would be taken out of their iawes, they began to caſt new firebrands of ciuill war throughout all parts of France. That done, when this would not ſerue they appointed furious maſſacres and butcheries to the euerlaſting diſcredite of the name of France: laſt of all when they perceiued that euen this way they could do no good, there aroſe a Franciſcan frier our Sixtus the fift, who truſting to his whooriſh and munkiſh impudencie, did proſcribe our moſt excellent Princes, and commanded the moſt mightie king of France, to purſue them with force, arms, and camps, and that he ſhould afreſh fill his realme with murders, ſpoils, and burnings. But me thinks we hauehave already ſpoken ſufficiently of the furious rebellion of the helliſh Champions of Rome.