The reformed politicke. That is, An apologie for the generall cause of reformation, written against the sclaunders of the Pope and the League VVith most profitable aduises for the appeasing of schisme, by abolishing superstition, and preseruing the state of the clergie. Whereto is adioyned a discourse vpon the death of the Duke of Guise, prosecuting the argument of the booke. Dedicated to the King by Iohn Fregeuille of Gaut.

TO THE KING.

DIuers men finding them selues in like daunger, may better iudge each of o∣thers case, then any one that hath not experimented the like, as for example, no mā can better iudge of the charges and expences that a man hath bene at in the pursute of some processe, then he that hath bene at the like.

This doe I say, Syr, sith there is nothing more daunge∣rous then sclaunder, and that no man can better iudge of the peruersnesse thereof, then such as haue both tasted and tryed it. So it is that the Reformed Princes haue bene sclan∣dered by the Pope, vvho hath noted them of heresie: and in my opiniō your Maiestie cā best iudge of the iniurie done vn∣to them, as hauing in your selfe tried the sharpnesse of the dartes of sclander, for your Maiestie haue vvith the like dartes bene atteinted, no lesse pernitiously and maliciously then the Reformed Princes, cōsidering that the sclander rai∣sed vpon your Maiestie, vvas both vndirect and secret, but the same vvherevvith the Reformed Princes are charged, is open. Novv is it a plaine case, that a secret enemy is more daungerous then an open, and so consequently they that haue touched your Maiestie vvith such a sclander, bearing you invvard malice, are most daūgerous enemies. The sclander vvherevvith the Pope hath charged the Reformed Princes

is vvell enough knovven, and the aunsvvere thereto, to∣g••ther vvith their iust defence, shall in my opinion, be peremptorily enough intreated of in this present Treatise. But the sclaunder vvherevvith the Pope doth charge your Maiestie deserueth the laying open, because that being both secret and indirect, it hath neuerthelesse a more venimous tayle then the tayle of a Scorpion, and of the same nature: for the vvound can hardly be cured, but by the death of the by∣ter. If the Pope could haue burdened your Maiestie vvith heresie, it is euident that he vvould not haue spared you: but your Maiestie, haue alvvayes bene so good a Catholick, that he could not accuse you of heresie, but he must first haue con∣demned him selfe, and therefore seeing that vvay vvould not serue, he hath sought out an other: for vnder hand he hath spread abroad sundry brutes & nevves, importing that your Maiestie do fauour hereticks, and haue about you those that take part vvith heretickes, and these rumors hath he dispersed, not onely in France, but through all Italie, Germa∣nie, and other places. Novv therfore let your Maiestie iudge vvhat an impressiō this may leaue in the harts of the people, and vvhat a consequence this action dravveth after it, your Maiestie may thereby read in the hartes of the Pope & the League, & turning the leafe neuer so little, may knovv their driftes, togither vvith the consequence of the matter: That is, that the Pope seeketh first to vveaken the part of the Re∣formation, that it may stand as an 0 in algorisme, and next to bring in the Councill of Trent and the Inquisition, so to authorise the League euen aboue your Maiestie, so as no man may speake amisse of the Pope or the League, but he shall sodenly be cast into prison: and that once brought to passe, the next must be to lay hands vpon your selfe, and bury you in some Monasterie: I say burie, because so you shall dye

double in this vvorld: and by and by raise speaches accor∣ding to the impressions afore mentioned, that your Maiestie hauing fauored the heretickes, are by his holinesse deposed from the crovvne, and the Cardinall of Bourbon declared next, but vnmeet for succession, and therefore that he vvill set vp such a one of the League as shall be at his deuotion: this I say vvill he doe, if your Maiestie take not the better heede, and prouide not in time for it. Neither shall he doe any thing that hath not already bene done to your predeces∣sours, vvhose estates the Popes haue troubled, vvhen there vvas no speach of Reformation, but onely vpon mallice that they bare to the priuiledges of the Frēch Church. And also albeit your Maiestie should shake of the Popes yoke, yet should you doe nothing but vvhat your predecessours haue sought to do, vvitnesse the Pragmaticall Sanction, neither shall it be any noueltie in Fraunce. The hatred also that the Pope beareth to your Maiestie, is the same that he hath conti∣nued against your predecessours, euen for their priuiledges, therefore he vvould vvillingly haue in France such a king as might be his creature, so that his driftes are as preiudici∣all to the Clergie, as pernitious to your person, and vvhether they be hurtfull to the people, let the present troubles declare. For the people had bene at rest, had not the League troubled all Fraunce, and therefore it is a matter that concerneth all, neither is there any other meanes to remedie it, but by sha∣king of the Popes yoke, your predecessours haue done it for a smaller matter, not in respect of Reformation, neither did king Henry the viij. in England shake it for Reformation, but for his state: And this I vvill aduovv that the libertie and puritie of the Councell of Nice, vvhich vve doe craue, is better for France and the state thereof, then the yoke of the Tridentine Councell that the League requireth. I call it li∣bertie,

because in the time of the Nicene Councell there vvas no Popish yoke and puritie, for that thē there vvas no superstitiōs. But albeit your Maiestie vvill not come neare to that point, yet can you not escape the Popes superstitious practises, but by renouncing the Papacie, after the example of your predecessours desires, and as king Henry the eight of England put in effect, not for Reformation, but for the state. For it is most certaine that the Pope hath no povver to hurt any, but his ovvne faction, or such as haue any dea∣ling vvith him: but to those that haue forsaken him, his poyson is spit, his povver to hurt is ended, and his endeuors are quayled and made of no effect. Had king Henry of Eng∣land still follovved him, he vvould either by guile, excom∣munications, or croisades, haue thundered against him, but hauing cast him of, the Pope might like a Cerberus vvith his three heades crovvned vvith three crovvnes, haue bar∣ked at him, but byte he could not. The like vvill it be vvith all that forsake him, vvell he may barke, but not byte, your Maiestie may knovv vvhat difference there is betvveene the fidelitie of the Reformed, and the conspi∣racies of the League: The Reformed vvill dye in your ser∣uice: but the Pope by the League, seeketh to make your Ma∣iestie odious to your subiectes, and to other Princes and people about you, by ministring vnto them such vvicked impressions by their secret sclaunders. It is a goodly mat∣ter to knovv vvhom to trust, and vvhom to take heede of, neither vvonder I but at one thing, vvhich is, that the Sorbonistes hauing afore time denounced a Pope an here∣ticke, that the Clergie haue not as yet declared this a schis∣maticke, for raising so great a schisme in Europe, but espe∣cially for stirring vp the subiectes against their king in Fraunce. I vvill not any further dilate vpon these mat∣ters,

vvhich are sufficiently knovven to your Maiestie, and Kinges loue breuitie. I haue no more to say, but to pray vnto the Lord to blesse and prosper your Crovvne, and to make your scepter to sprout, florishe and bring forth fruict as he did those of Ezechias and Iosias. From London this 12. of December. 1588.

Your Maiesties most humble, obedient and faithfull subiect. Iohn Fregeuille of Gaut.