A supplication exhibited to the most mightie Prince Philip king of Spain &c. VVherin is contained the summe of our Christian religion, for theprofession whereof the Protestants in the lowe Countries of Flaunders, &c. doe suffer persecution, vvyth the meanes to acquiet and appease the troubles in those partes. There is annexed An epistle written to the ministers of Antwerpe, which are called of the confession of Auspurge, concerning the Supper of our sauiour Iesus Christ. VVritten in French and Latine, by Anthonie Corronus of Siuill, professor of Diuinitie.

Of the good woorkes of a man that is iustifyed.

FIrste we protest and affirme, that our aduersaries do most falsly slan∣der vs, where they say of vs that we cō∣temne the doing of good works, and that we persuade y^e people that they ar made

holy and righteous in Christe, and th•• it skilleth not how they liue. For we pr••¦teste the contrary, that that doctrine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neyther the doctrine of the Gospell, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our doctrine, forasmuche as it appeareth manifestlye in scripture, that a good t•••• muste bring forth good fruite, whereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may appere that the roote therof is god▪ And the Apostle doth plainely teache 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cause, why Christe hathe deliuere•• vs from the tiranny of sinne, and by h•••• righteousnesse made vs righteous, whe•• he saith on this wise. For wee also som•• time were madde, stubberne, wandering out of the waye, seruing diuers lusts an•• vanities, liuing in malice & enuie, hate¦full, one at deadly hatred wyth another•• but after that the goodnesse and abundan•• loue of oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe was manifested towardes men, he saued vs not for the good workes that we our selues had done, but of hys ow•• frée grace and mercie, by the fountain of regeneration, and by the renouation of the holy Spirite, the whiche he poured vpon vs abundātly by his sonne Christ,

that being iustified through his grace, we shoulde bée made heyres of euerlastyng life according to hope. Also in an other place he saith, that y^e grace of Almightie God our sauiour was declared, that men laying aparte all worldly pleasures shuld wholy bende themselues to true and per∣fecte goodlinesse, righteousnesse and sober∣nesse, looking for the happy hope, and the glorious comming of our lorde God. If these things then be true (as we beléeue them to be moste true) what impudencie were it to affirme, that a man shuld liue idelly in the houshold of God? truely wée affirme, that a man not indued wyth the spirit of regeneration, or berefte of that grace, is altogither vnable to do or speak any thing that can please God, yea so muche as to acknowledge Iesus Christe in his hearte, vnlesse hée haue in hym Gods holy spirite, and therfore we déeme those things that haue béene declared by vs, as touching merits of congruence, and of condignitie, and suche other lyke fonde and foolishe distinctions, to be méere deui∣ses of mans vaine heade, to make sinners

become hipocrites and counterfaiters of holinesse, whiles they vnderstand not the darke mistes of their ignorance, and bée senselesse, as touching their owne misery and destructiō, which they cannot escape, neither by these works preparatorie, nor by any diligence or worldly wisedome, but by the onely goodnesse and mercye of God, whiles hée moueth oure mindes with forcible motions, and openeth oure eies that wée should sée the most misera∣ble estate and condition we be in, & wade out of this moste filthy puddell and sinke of all sinne, where we are almost drew∣ned, and be washed with the moste preci∣ous bloud of the immaculate lambe, that we may our selues be new creatures, the whiche thing we call properly regenera∣tion and newe birth, or sanctification ra∣ther if ye liste so to terme it.

* 1.1And after wée bée iustified and thus renued, wée are so vnited and knitte in Christ with the band of his holy spirit, y^t our works that we do afterwards ought to be accōpted Christes works, & in that respect are most acceptable in the sight of

God, but least any should fondly & vaine∣ly imagine and dreame hereof with him∣selfe, when he heareth vs speake of thys coniunction & felowship with Christe, we do not hereby mean any kind of transfor∣mation or transsubstantiation of y^e bodye of Christe, into oure bodies, as if it were néedful, that the true humilitie of Christ, shoulde be laide aside and vanish awaye: God forbid.

But for the true and right vnder∣standing of thys misterye, wée requyre a spirituall man, suche one as hathe bene instructed by the holy spirite to discerne and iudge of things rightely,* 1.2 and as they ought to be in due place and order, so that he maye be able to conceiue and compre∣hend in y^e vnderstanding of his mind Ie∣sus Christ, our redemer y^e son of god very God and very man, glorified and sitting at the right hand of his heauenly father, hauyng all power committed vnto hym bothe in heauen and in earth, the whiche throughe faith, hath hys continuall a∣bode and dwelling in the heartes of hys elect & chosen people. And who so is iusti∣fied

on this sorte, occupy not themselues in buildyng of Chappells, in saying of Masses, in wandering on pilgrimage, nor spende their whole life in such like super∣stitious exercises, but referre all their actions and enterprises and cogitations to that seruice, whiche they knowe God requireth at our handes: speciallye they endeuour themselues firmly to retaine in their myndes the perpetuall and conti∣nuall meditation of the wonderfull con∣iunction they haue with Christe,* 1.3 whose spirite witnesseth vnto our spirit,* 1.4 that we are the children of God, brethren and heires annexed with Christe, the whych testimony is a strong assurance, and most certaine earneste and seale of oure electi∣on, and of Gods gratious goodnes, as E∣saias doth teache vs of the couenaunte which God hath entred with vs. Neither is there anye other meanes to retaine this affiance and adoption, than the con∣tinuall calling vppon the name of God,* 1.5 ioyned with the reading and meditation of holy scriptures, and the mortifying of our olde Adam, and extending charitable

almes towardes our neighboure.* 1.6 And to the intent we may orderly learne whi∣che be the good workes of him that is re∣generate and borne againe in Christ, they may be referred to these thrée principall pointes, the encrease of faith, the desire of mortification of the fleshe, and the so∣cietie of man, consisting in the duties of loue & charitie of one towards an other: to the which places al y^e works, & studies of the electe and faythfull bée referred and aptely applyed, as Paule doth teache Rom. 12.* 1.7 Galath. 5.* 1.8 Colos. 3.* 1.9 where hée saith: If therfore ye be risen againe with Christe, séeke after those things whiche be aboue, where Christe sitteth at y^e right hande of God, set your affection on thin∣ges aboue, & not on things on the earthe, for you are dead, and your life is hid with Christe in God: whensoeuer Christ whi∣che is oure life shall appeare, then shall you also appere with him in glory. Mor∣tifie therfore your earthly members, for∣nication, vncleannesse, wantonnesse, euil concupiscence, and couetousnesse, whiche is the worshypping of Images, for the

which things sake the vengeance of God is come vpon the children of disobediēce. In which vices ye also walked sometime when ye liued in them: but nowe put ye all wrath, enuie, malice, blasphemie, fil∣thy communication out of your mouth¦lye not one to another, after ye haue put of that olde manne and hys workes, and putte ouer the newe man, whiche is re∣nued into the knowlege, according to the Image of him that made him, where is neither Iewe, nor Grecian, circumcision nor vncircumcision, Barbarian, Scithi∣an, bonde nor frée, but Christe is all are all: put ye on therefore (as it becommeth the electe of God, holy and beloued bow∣els of mercie, kindenesse, humblenesse of minde, longsuffering, forbearing one an∣other, forgiuing one another, if any haue a quarell against another, euen as Christ hath forgiuē you, so also do ye, & aboue a•• things put on loue, which is y^e bōd of per∣fectnesse, let the defēce of god haue victo¦ry in your harts, to the which we are also called to be one bodye: and sée that yée bée thankefull, let the worde of Christ dwell

in you abundauntly with all wisedome, teaching & admonishing your own selues with psalmes and himnes and spirituall songs, singing and giuing thankes and praises vnto god in your harts, & whatso∣euer yée shall doe or say, do it in the name of the Lorde Iesu, giuing thankes vnto God the father throughe him. And these saye I, are the good workes of the faith∣full, not the superstitious ceremonies of hypocrites. Behold (most gracious soue∣raigne) summarily and briefly the righ∣teousnesse of a Christiā man, from whom all these controuersies, almoste through∣out al Christendome, haue gone as out of a heade or spring, & specially in youre ma∣iesties lowe Countries, whereby youre highenesse may well perceiue (if it maye please you to make comparison of oure doctrine and theyrs) that it is no trifle that is in question béetwixte vs, neither doe wée contende of pleasure or will in a matter, wherein we hazarde bothe life and goods, nor it is no small or peltyng quarrell for riches or anye possessions. For they that follow thys profession, and are zealous in this religion are disin∣herited

of their auntient and rightefull inheritaunces: But herein consisteth the knotte of all oure controuersies, in that we affirme all our whole studye and en∣deuoure to tende to this ende, that wée might perfectely and absolutelye enioye, that moste perfecte and absolute benefit of Christe bestowed vppon vs, and whol∣ly possesse and enioy him, in such wise as our heauenly father hath giuen him vnto vs: and that we shoulde moste diligently, and aboue all things take héede that wée be not broughte in opinion to purchase our saluation by golde or siluer, by the vaine and superstitious doctrine of men. And now I referre it to your Maiesties good iudgement and consideration, whe∣ther this our most iuste defence and well meaning, and our earneste zeale of god∣linesse haue deserued thus sundry wayes to be persecuted, by imprisonment, exile, rackes, tortures, fire and sworde, to rid vs out of the waye, whiche haue no other care of oure lyues, but that wée maye fyrste and principallye gyue God hys due honoure, that is, to worship hym in

spirite and truth, and nexte thereto, sub∣••itte themselues with all humilitie vn∣•• your Maiestie, be obedient vnto you,* 1.10 ••nd doe to your highnesse all loyall and ••utifull seruice with most willing minds, ••nd hartie good wil, as faithfull subiectes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their naturall Prince. It maye there∣••ore please your Maiestie of your grati∣••us goodnesse to consider whether it b••e a matter incident, and apperteining to your ••ffice and princely vocation with equitie ••nd fauour, to heare and to dete••mine ••his so waightie a matter, where••n con∣sisteth the life and safetie of youre Sub∣iects, or to permitte them to be taken (as it were) perforce, out of your Maiesties hands and iurisdiction, and without de∣claration of any iust cause, to be tormen∣ted with all kinde of tortures and exqui∣site deuises of tirannye, whose onely re∣quest ••s to haue the controuersie, for the waightinesse therof, decided by your ma∣iesties determination and defi••••tiue sen∣tence.* 1.11 It is writen of Salomon that pui∣saunt and wise Prince, vnto whom ma∣nye men resorted out of farre Countries

only to sée him, for the reporte was made of him, & the admiration that all men ha•• him in for his passing and excellent wise¦dome, when the two poore women wer•• in strife for the liue childe, to whyche o•• them two it shoulde appertaine, that h•• disdained not to call them before him in¦to his chamber of presence and estate, to ende the controuersie by his moste wise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 notable sentence & iudgement. Whos•• example herein ought to be a president•• to directe your maiestie in this our case•• and to moue your grace to the deuision 〈◊〉〈◊〉 determination of al quarrels & controuer∣sies now depending betwixt your maie∣sties Subiects. For as y^t most wise Kyng did easily discerne betwixte the true mo∣ther & the false, after he vnderstoode that the harlot forced not,* 1.12 if the King shoulde award that the liue childe should be deui∣ded into two parts: euen so may your ma∣iestie easly perceiue y^t the church of Rome (which falsely challengeth vnto hir selfe the name of the Catholike Churche) is not the true mother that bringeth foorth Gods children, bycause shée doeth not onely not shewe some louyng affecti∣on,

and pitifull compassion towardes ••hose, being not contented (notwithstan∣••ing she make accompte of them as of hir ••un) to sée them dailye condemned & exe∣••uted most cruelly, but also moueth and stirreth vppe Princes and Potentates, ••o practise all tyrannye vppon them, ar∣••eth and entertayneth men of warre to ••estroy them, bloweth the coales, and kindleth the flame hirselfe lyke a moste cruell stepdame, to consume the children that belong not to hir. If then the Pope be our holy father, if he be the shepheard of Gods flocke, why doeth he rather de∣sire to kill them, than with moste louing and gentle persuasiō labor to allure them home to the folde of Chr••ste. And there∣fore we make our humble request & peti∣tion to your maiesty (most gratious & our most dread soueraigne, to imitate this ex∣āple of Salomō, & to take vpō you y^e hea∣ring & deciding of our cause: & forasmuch as this mother Churche of Rome, or to terme hir more aptly and truly, this step∣dame, is procéeded so farre in crueltye and furour, that she tormenteth, māgleth, destroieth, hangeth, draweth and burneth

those whome it hathe pleased almight•• God to send into the worlde, and of hy•• goodnesse & fatherly prouidence to grau•• the fruition of this life, we moste humbl•• pray and beséeche your grace not to com¦mitte the matter ouer to hir to be deter¦mined, doe not putte the sworde into h•••• handes, nor gyue hir no suche counte¦naunce or aucthoritie, whereby she ma•• vtter hir spite and malice, and wreak•• hirselfe vppon your Maiesties poore sub∣iectes. For the iudgements whiche shée vseth and desireth to putte in execution, are suche as all lawes both of god and of man doe abhorre: lette any man who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liste peruse all auntient monuments, and I beléeue he shall not finde anye Record wherin hath bene vsed anye suche procée∣ding in iudgement, that the partie accu∣sed, shuld be made iudge and haue power to condemne his accuser, as we sée by ex∣perience is vsed and practised by the Ro∣mishe Churche in these affaires: For we protestantes (as we be called) haue iuste cause to complaine of the popedome, with all his appurtenaunces, whyche hath be∣re••te

vs of our life, & the saluatiō of all the ••ithfull, that is to saye of Christ Iesus, ••hiche hath made (as it were) porte sale 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and chaunged hym into infinite ••tes of sundry shapes and formes. Not∣••ithstanding al the Kings and Princes the world almost did put in commissi∣•••• and aucthoritie to iudge of this cause, ••em whiche both be accused by vs and ••r greatest aduersaries: we reproue the ••ste councels, and conuince them of er∣••r and vntruths, and yet are wée posted ••er to be iudged by them: we blame the ••ardinals moste worthily, for that they ••ue their handes and mouthes embru∣••, and their clothes stayned with the ••oud of Martirs, and they are appoin∣••d iudges ouer vs, to determine the mat∣••r depending in controuersie betwixt vs ••nd them: we accuse the Bishops of sa∣••ilege, that whereas they ought of dutie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 féede the flocke of Christe, they do féed ••emselues and their own bellies, and yet ••ey fit in iudgement hereof, and are not ••shamed to pronounce sentence of vs, to ••e tormented and oppressed by al means

and for the furtheraunce and spéedie ex••¦cution therof, they sticke not to entertai•• an army, & to make pay with our spoiles nor shame not to iustify the same to be a¦greable to equitie & conscience. In whic•• case I wot not whych way to tourne m•• what to do or say, or deuise in such a cas•• Is this according to y^e iustice, equitie, i•• differency, y^t shulde be in such a prince, a•• your maiesty is, y^t iustice & equitie shoul•• be so long peruerted w^tout redresse & du•• correction, & be countenanced w^t your cō¦mandement (as these men affirme) whic•• they abuse to the spoiling of men of the•• liues, liberty & goods. And whereas othe•• princes wer letted, either by seditiō or c••¦uil war & other troblesom affairs, y^t the•• haue no leisure to attēd to our cōplainte•• against y^e papists, with such patience & in¦differency, as they ought to do in suche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 case, it semeth y^t god hath reserued & cōmi•• ••ed y^e same vnto your maiesty, y^t you shul•• lay aside al other your affairs & diligētly be occupied herein. And in this behalfe I besech your maiestie to take héed lest if i•• be great to your dishonor, to stād in ned••

o•• the repetitiō of y^e example of forraine & ••••nike Princes in this case:* 1.13 We reade ••ithridates sometime K. of Pontus did ••rne. 22. sundry lāguages, to y^e ende that might be able to read & vnderstand the ••••plications exhibited vnto hym, by any his subiects, of what nation or country ••euer they were, and do iustice to eche of ••e accordingly. Phillip the king of Ma∣••onie thought it the chiefest thing that ••pertained to the maiestie of a king, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 daily in his chaire of estate at certaine ••ures to minister iustice to all his sub∣••cts according to equitie: whose son Alex ••••••er folowing his fathers steps, did be∣••ow certaine houres of y^e day, to heare & ••termine the complaints & quarrells of ••s subiects, vsing to stop the one eare, bi∣••use (as be said) he reserued it for y^e defen∣••••nt. Thē if those heathē princes y^e knew ••t Christe, nor Christian religion, did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatlye endeuoure themselues to ap∣••ease the controuersies that arose amōg ••heir subiectes. Howe muche the rather ••ight your maiestie, being a Chrstiā K. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 encline your eares, and vse al diligence

to decide this quarrell of so great impo••¦taunce, that it concerneth the saluatio•• of all. But I moste humbly beséech you•• maiestie diligently to peruse the precept that Moses wrote by Gods expresse com¦maundement, concerning the institutio•• and dutie of a Prince, Deut. 17.* 1.14 speakin•• to the Israelites in this wise: When tho•• art come into the lande whiche the Lor•• youre God giueth you, and enioyest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and dwellest therein, if thou shalt saye I will sette a King ouer me lyke as a•• the nations that are about me, then tho•• shalt make him King whome the Lord thy God shall choose, euen one from amō•• thy brethren shalt thou make King ou•• thée, and thou maist not set one which i•• not of thy brethren: but he shall not mu••¦tiplye horses to hymselfe, nor bryng th•• people agayne to Egipt, to encrease th•• number of horses, forasmuch as the lor•• hathe saide vnto you: Ye shall hencefort•• go no more that waye, also hée ought no•• to multiply wiues to himselfe, least hy•• hearte tourne away, neither shall he ga¦ther him siluer and golde too muche, an••

when he is set vpon the seate of his king∣dome, he shall write him oute a copie of this law in a book before the priests, and it shall be with him and he ought to reade therein all the dayes of hys life, that hée may learne to feare the Lorde, and obey all the wordes of this lawe and these or∣dinances, for to do them, and that his hart arise not againste his brethren, and that hée tourne from the commaundement to the right hand nor to the lefte, but that he may prolong his dayes in his kingdome, he and his childrē in the throne of Israel. Whereby your maiestie may easily p••r∣ceiue what is the proper and peculiar of∣fice of Kings and Princes, and what af∣fection they oughte to beare towards the study of holy scripture, wherein is con∣tained the expresse will of God, that all men alike shoulde giue themselues to the earneste s••••dy and care of religion, pie∣tie, iustice and equitie, againste whyche lawe of God they offende, whyche denye the reading of holy scripture, and the de∣cidyng of controuersies in religion to ap∣pertaine vnto Kings and Princes? It is

your office (moste mightye Prince) to take awaye from these vniuste iudges of the Romishe Courtes, if a manne maye call them iudges, that are manifestly de∣prehended in sacrilege.) It is your office I say, to take from them this authoritie of iudgemente, as due to youre selfe, and other princes in their dominions of aun∣tiēt right, that your maiestie might with indifferencye determine all these contro∣uersies, bring home again peace and trā∣quilitie vnto your countreis, reléeue and succour poore men that are moste cruelly persecuted, racked, spoiled, wounded, and condemned to the stake, breake the furye and outragious tiranny of these Terma∣gants, whiche vnder the colour and pre∣tence of Christian religion, doe persecute those that accompte nothyng so deare or precious vnto them as Christian religi∣on. Otherwise vnlesse youre Maiestie prouide some presente remedye for these calamities, what other issue can youre Maiesty looke for of these things, but that in stéede of moste faithfull subiectes to o∣bey you, and such as wil be prest and rea∣die

to spende both life and goods in yours Maiesties quarrell: you shall in the ende be no kyng of men, but onely of corses, some hanging on the gibbet or gallowes, some murthered in corners, some burned vnto ashes. For this one thing haue the inquisitours and their complices béene deuising and practising continually, and (no doubt of it) will (as they haue begun long since) bring to passe that these spoils of mens goods, wherby youre Maiestie, and youre Kingdome shoulde haue rea∣ped greate commoditie shall be transpor∣ted into forraine Countries to the greate decay of you and your realme of Spaine. And what doeth youre Maiestye thinke to bée the destruction of your people, the decaye of your realme, the empairing of youre Maiestye, and dammage to youre moste royall person? if thys bée not the verye confusion of all, they that prefer∣red the Monarchie, that is to saye, that kynde of gouernement, and that state wherein one ruleth, were moued so to do by the similitude & likenesse of mās body. For the king or chiefe ruler in a common

wealth maye aptely bée resembled to the heade in the naturall body, the Subiectes likewise to the inferiour members. And this similitude besides the resemblaunce of preeminence, and of subiection, doeth sufficiently declare vnto vs howe greate concorde, and what affection ought to bée betwixt y^e rulers & the subiects: how vn∣resonable a thing is it thē, & how vnseme∣ly that the King shoulde wyth hys owne handes delyuer hys owne sworde into the handes of a madde man, wyth the whiche, he may cutte in sunder the mem∣bers of the Princes owne bodye, mangle them, disseuer them one peece from an o∣ther, and yet hée as one without sense be∣holde it with his eies and permit it? who woulde not iustly meruaile at so greate follie and madnesse? or can youre Maie∣stye be ignorant hereof, that you are the person that playeth the same part in com∣mitting to the inquisitors your aucthori∣tie and power, as it were a naked sword into their handes, wherewith they maye cutte and hewe in péeces your Subiectes, the very members of that bodye, wherof

youre Maiestie is the heade, to the greate decaye of your people, and weakening of your estate? For example wherof, it may please your maiestie to consider the king∣doms nexte aboute, whose power and strength, being by these means empaired and decayed, both by lande and sea, haue fallen into moste miserable calamities, and haue bene constrained to praye aide of their enimies to succoure them in their extremities. I omitte here to declare howe farre this disagréeth from the good and iuste kinde of gouernment, described by the wise and beste learned in those af∣faires, for subiectes to bée not onely not defended, preserued, and vnder the prote∣ction of their soueraignes, nor aduaunced by them, but spoiled, oppressed, and most cruelly put to death and murthered.

Aristotle in the bookes which he wrote of the state of common weales recordeth (not without great detestation of so hor∣rible a facte) that certaine Barbarians in time paste vsed this maner, that who∣soeuer entred into any place of regiment, before all things shoulde take a solemne

othe, that he shoulde do, nor saye nothing in fauour and behalfe of the people, nor séeke to kéepe concorde and loue among the people, as though loue and felowship would rather cause breach of lawes, than hatred and enmitie. What would Ari∣stotle saye then, if hée were alyue among vs againe? Is it not like hée would saye that the Princes of Christendome are of the same minde, affection and purpose, and that they had determined, conspired, and vowed the same with a solemne othe, that the people shoulde haue none more deadly foe and enimy vnto them, than the prince and ruler, by whose sufferance, commandement or negligence or dissem∣bling, or authoritie, euery good man shuld either be hanged, or banished, or impriso∣ned causelese, & without desert or crime eyther of fellonie, or murder or adultery, or anye suche like offences, but onely bi∣cause hée is contented (wyth hazarde of life and goodes) rather to obey the com∣mandement of God, than in leauing them to folowe the vaine fantasies and deuises of mans braine and the doctrine of false

hipocrites, the whiche thing shoulde bée more manifeste than the lighte of the ••aye euen to Princes themselues, if be∣fore they were haled so violentlye to most horrible execution, they myght be here∣in y^e defence of their cause and innocency.

Béesydes, what pleasure can a prince take which feareth not to incurre the ha∣tred of hys Subiectes, and whose con∣science pricketh hym, that hys people loue or regarde hym not as theyr fa∣ther or Captayne, but hate him as their ennimye: how can it bée, that that wo∣man shoulde beare anye good affection to∣wardes hym, whose tyranny hath bene the cause that theyr béeloued husbandes haue béene haled out of theyr armes, and putte to moste cruell deathe? howe can children honor hym that haue séene their parēts most cruelly persecuted and slaine before their faces, & al by his vnmerciful∣nesse. Will not all the whole people bée loath to put their life and goods in ieopar∣dye for him, who hath wronged and iniu∣ried thē most spitefully? The considerati∣on whereof, if it be but of small force to

moue your Maiestie thoughe they be ve∣ry weightie and worthy the marking of all sortes of people: yet let the name of Christian religion, of Christian beliefe, yea the name of Christ moue you, wher∣with we flatter and please our selues, and vaunt our selues aboue other. This bar∣barous tyranny leaue it to infidells, the very name of Christe shoulde be of force sufficient to moue your Maiestie belée∣uing in Christe, and therof bearing the name of a Christian, to haue an earneste zeale, and ardent affection to embrace mercie, charitie, and méekenesse of heart•• What was meant by the ceremonie of the olde lawe, when it was commaunded that Princes,* 1.15 ere they tooke vppon them the gouernement of the state, should be annoynted wyth oile? anye other thing but in following the qualitie of the oile, they shal deserue the good will of the peo∣ple, by lenitie, mildenesse, and gentlenesse and consider that the vertue of the oile is to supple the olde sores, not to make any gréene woundes. And doubtlesse Christiā Princes oughte to be so muche the more

of gentlenesse, mildenesse, and chereful∣nesse, bycause they haue in chardge the people of God, the flocke of Christ, and ••is beloued spouse the Churche, whyche ••••ey ought with their power and might ••oth to defende and aduaunce. And here ••t is worthy the noting, to shew the diffe∣••ence whyche Christe putteth betwixte Christian and Ethnicke Princes in these ••ordes: The Kings of forrayn nations saith he) doe beare rule ouer them, in so muche that they bée both gracious wyth ••he people for their greate authoritie, and ••y an honourable title are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to saye, beneficiall. Howbeit I woulde haue you bend another waye, ••hat the more one of you shall excell ano∣ther, hée béehaue hymselfe so muche the more lowely, and perswade himself, that ••he rather occupyeth the place of a mini∣ster vnto other, than a ruler of others: and this lesson did Christ teache his apo∣stles, howe muche more reasonable is it than to apply this to al Princes and ma∣gistrates? For they are not sette beside their chaire by this commandement, but

are called to the consideration of the•••• owne weale, and to moderation and boū¦tifulnesse, that calling often to their re¦membraunce, and duely considering tha•• they haue obtained this preeminence a∣boue others by the onely grace and f•••• of God: and that they ouer whome the•• beare rule, are not brute beastes, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 created of God, of the selfe same nature that they themselues be of, and that the•• shal be herafter partakers al of one king¦dome, and are the brethren of Christe, whiche did aswell shead his moste preci∣ous bloud for the moste base and simple soule, as for the moste mightie King an•• Prince of the worlde: Finallye that they are the members of one Churche, as i•• they were the partes of a naturall bodye, whereof none ought proudlye to aduance it selfe aboue the reste, but with all mo∣destie of minde, temperaunce, mildenesse and gentlenesse guide and gouerne their common wealth, to the common weale of their subiects, & yet in such wise, y^t they do or enterprise nothing contrary to the cō∣maundement of god, who is king, & Lord

Param••unt aboue al other kings, & prin∣•••• of the earth. It is reported by the hi∣••riagraphers, that when Octauius Au∣••stus hearde a flatterer on a tyme, call 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lord, he refused y^e title, desiring rather be accompted a fellow citizen and ma∣••strate among his subiectes, than to bée ••ffed vp with pride of so hautie a name. ••owbeit we w^tout flattery desire to gyue ••to our princes the most honorable and ••rincely stile that wée can deuise, foras∣••uche as wée knowe that their power ••d aucthoritie is established by Gods ••orde,* 1.16 so that they in like sort would take ••tie and compassiō vpon their poore sub∣••••ctes, making their humble supplicati∣••••s, and in moste lamentable wise com∣••••ayning themselues vnto them, and not ••••ffer them before the cause bée hearde, ••r that they haue pleaded in their owne ••efence, to bée so wrongfully and shame∣••ull putte to execution. And if this reason ••ught to moue al Christian princes to en¦••line to mercy, howe much more oughte your Maiestie be persuaded to extēd mer∣cye & fauor towardes your poore afflicted

subiectes. For with howe many notabl•• and princelye giftes and ornaments ha•••• God blessed and endewed your Maiestie•• to the ende that being so furnished y•••• should employ them to the defence of hy•• Churche, either in part or in whole wit•• suche feruente zeale, as appertaineth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that behalfe.

I omitte here the occasion I ha•••• offred to speake of the excellencie, and an¦tiquitie of your maiesties house and fa¦milie: I will not enter into the discour•••• of y^e moste notable and famous victorie•• and triumphes of your moste noble pro∣genitors, namely and especiallye of th•• moste redoubted Emperour father vnt•• your maiestie, whose famous memori•• wyll bée conueied to al y^e posteritie & con∣tinued for euer: one only vertue will I speake of, which I thinke praise worthy among y^e residue of your moste noble qua∣lities & ornamēts namely your maiesties moste honourable inclination to gentle∣nes, curtesie and bountifulnesse, which y^e hipocrits & pharisies vnder y^e cloke & sha∣dow of religiō go about to extinguishe i••

your grace, & rob your maiestie of y^e due ••erued renowne & cōmendation for the ••ne, and by taking the sword out of your ••iesties hand abuse the same, to y^e great ••rogation of your maiesties honour, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sheding of muche bloud in your domi∣••ons both far and néere, boasting that ••ey doe it by lawfull commission, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your Maiesties aucthoritie and war∣••t. If they that be your maiesties mor∣••ll enimies durste enterprise thus much, ••n would in no wise suffer it, & can your ••aiestie abide that these so shamefull ••ings should be not only attempted, but ••t in executiō by, and against your own ••aturall subiectes, vnder your maiesties ••ountenaunce, and vnder coloure of your ••ucthoritie? And nowe that your maiesty ••ath intelligēce herof, it behoueth you to ••e vigilant, & be redie & willing to with∣••tande these iniuries in this wise offered ••o your subiectes, to the performaunce wherof, your Maiestie hathe no néede of ••nye prouision in warlike sorte, nor no ••rmed men, nor greate barbed horses to ••erue in fielde, to the endomaging of your

realme and spoile of your towns and p••¦ple, neither yet to entertaine any stran•• and forraine souldiors. For your real•• is full of many faithfull and moste obe••¦ent subiectes. Neyther is it any forrai•• Countrey appertaining to your swor•• enimies, that you shall inuade hereby, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aboute the banishement of Turkes a•• Infidells oute of youre Realme and t•• confines therof, but to remoue and aba••¦don out of all Christian congregation all idolatrie, and doting superstition, a•• the vaine fantasies and deuises of ma•• idle braine. And therfore our quarrell ••¦ing not agaynste bodylye ennimies, b•• ghostly and spirituall, wée shall haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vse either of brasen péeces or pikes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stéele armoure,* 1.17 one onely sworde w•••• suffise vs, to witte, the sworde of t•• Spirite, euen the worde, by the whyc•• wée maye easilye brydle Sathan, a•• breake his iawes, quench his fiery dart•• deface all Idolatrye and superstitio•• and plucke it vppe by the rootes. T•• whych sword both beautifull and to t•• eye, and seruiceable to be vsed, if it plea••

your maiestie to take about you, I hope & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it wil shortly come to passe, that you ••••l bring all your subiects of youre lowe ••ūtreys without the losse of any one mā 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sheading one drop of bloud to be most ••edient to y^e law & word of God, as they ••me bin heretofore most loyall, with all ••••etifull submission vnto youre Maie∣••es edicts and ordinances, whose dayly ••ayers vnto God are only that it would ••ease youre Maiestie to entermedle in ••ese matters that are in controuersy, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 determinine them with equitie as it ••all séeme beste to your wisedome, vsing ••fficient iudges on either parte, that by ••iendely and indifferent comparison of ••••th the doctrines of the Papists, and of ••e Protestants, the euill part may yelde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the good, and your Maiestie sitte an in∣••ifferent arbitratour betwixt them.

But perhappes our aduersaries will ••ake answere, that there is henceforth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cause of triall by disputation, for as∣much as our religion hath ben long ago ••••ndemned by many generall Councels, and by all vniuersities namely and prin∣cipally

at the councell of Constance, at which tyme by the sentence and awa•• of that Councell, Iohn Husse, and Hiero•• of Prage, were burned for maynteyn•• that error which Luther of late ren•• likewise at the counsell of Trent was ••••¦thers heresy condemned, so that there ••••¦maineth nothing, but present deathe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them that shal shewe themselues diso••¦dient to the decrées and determinatio•• of councels, forasmuche as they are ••••¦come rebells, and haue fallen from t•• faith of their holye mother Churche: the whiche it is not vnknowen, how th•• all this their tiranny they shew to war•• vs, hathe taken hys originall and beg••¦ning, whiche if a man woulde enter m•• narrowly into the consideration of, a•• diligently weighe the words thereof, t•• shoulde easily perceiue there is no suc•• matter of importance, why princes shu•• not be forwarde and willing to defen•• their subiectes from those lyons mouth which beare themselues so bolde, & boa•• of the name of the Churche, touchin•• the preiudice of the Vniuersities, whic••

accompte oure doctrine hereticall, and so condemne it. They do al know rig••t wel, and their consciences maye beare them sufficient record, that they speak not what they thinke, but for feare of punishment, or losse of their prefermentes and digni∣ties, or confiscation of goods, or for shame, or losse of lyfe, are enforced agaynste their conscience, as might appeare most manifestlye in the condemnation of that moste learned and godlye Doctour Iohn Egidio of Arragon, chiefe Cannon prea∣cher in the Cathedrall Churche in Siuil, where certaine that were iudges and ar∣britratours in the matter (whom the In∣quisitours do call Qualifiers of the cause) repenting themselues of the iniurie offe∣red to that good and godly man, did after∣wardes make protestation accordyng to the truth: whiche was also the cause that a certayne diuine called Maestro Blanco was burned, and Doctour Constantino de la Fuente after he had bin long time tossed to and fro, and vexed by the inquisitours, and caught a great sicknesse by reason of the continuall filth and stench of hys pri∣son,

at the lengthe tooke hys death of the same. And for the selfe same cause lyke∣wise were Ieronymo de Caro, and Luys de Metina, bothe Monkes of the order of Sainct Dominick, executed wyth dyuers other learned and godlye persons, whose names youre Maiestie is right well ac∣quainted withall. It may therfore please youre highenesse to consider thus muche, that if these men hadde indifferent iustice ministred vnto them, and frée pardon of spéeche, to speake frankclye what they thoughte, they woulde haue spoken most notably in defence of the truth. For the diuines and clergie of Spaine, had suffici∣ent trial aswell of their excellent learning as of their singuler vertue. And here I omitte to speake of the great residue, who agréeing in the same profession of faith, whiche the Protestantes of Germany doe professe, dydde with greate constancye of hearte, and stoutnesse of courage ende their miserable life by a far more ioyfull and glorious deathe amiddes the flames of fire. And among these diuines there, and vniuersitie, you shall perhaps fynd some

good men, and yet some so simple and rude ••diots (God wot) that they thinke it a∣gainste Gods forbod, to bée but one dram wiser than their maysters, (whyche like shepe that followe the belwether) depend wholly either of the Deane or rector (as they call him) of the Vniuiuersitie, or of ••he Abbot or prior of the couent, or some famous and notable doctour or graduat. And who knoweth not, that these bée the Popes owne tender dearlings, which be∣sturre them on al sides to kepe the coales of Purgatorye alwayes alyue? What iudgement then can they gyue on the o∣ther side: for the other partie, whiche ac∣knowledgeth no other Purgatorie, than the bloude of Iesus Christe, by the whi∣che all men of all tymes and ages were purged from the filthe of theyr synnes, and delyuered from eternall deathe and damnation. Concerning the councell of Constāce, all the world knoweth of what dispositiō Pope Iohn was, and what ear∣nest suters & Antipopes against hym for y^e popedome, and what decrées and consti∣tutions were made at the same assembly, as also how all they that were at y^e same

counsell wer affected in religion, it is eui∣dent to all the worlde, in that they condē∣ned those men to be burned, who laboured earnestly to haue enormities of the chur∣che reformed, and came not thither nother of themselues wythout sendyng for, but vnder promise of their safeconducte, safe∣ly to returne again. In somuch that that counsell is termed of many men in theyr writings a petie counsell, declaring therby that it was not an assēbly of the pastors and ministers of the Gospell, for the re∣formation and amendemente of the de∣cayed estate of the Churche, but rather of furious and diuellishe persons to ouer∣throwe the poore remanent of the church, forasmuche as at the same most trouble∣some time, thrée Popes were at greate variāce and dissention among thē selues, proclaymed open warre one agaynste an other, were all of them remoued, and in their places was Martine the fifte substi∣tuted Pope.

But to speake somewhat in a gene∣ralitie concerning counsels, it is a playne matter, that he that is guiltie will neuer

giue sentence against himselfe. And ther∣fore the Counsell of Trent, whyche was purposely summoned & assēbled agaynst them that impugne the authoritie of the Pope maye aptely be resembled to a con∣federacie of theues and murderers, whi∣che assemble themselues togither in wods and deserte places, and there condemne also the inhabitantes bothe of the Town and Countrey aboute them, for that they lye in waite for them, and séeke to bring them before the Magistrate to examina∣tion. For what other thing do the Popes in all theyr counsells they call? Fyrste and formoste they appoint some strong Citie for the purpose, they prouide garri∣sons of Souldiours to guarde, and to de∣fende them from forraine force, they ba∣nishe al out of that assemblye, that would any wayes disagrée from them, or if they admitte them, it goeth néere to cost them their liues. And when they bée met togi∣ther, and mounted into their seats, thence they sende their threates and curses lyke shunder boltes thicke and thréefolde, to the greate disturbaunce and anoy of all

the world, threatning excommunication, warre, destruction, banishemēt, murder, and lastly fire and fagots. But to whom I beséeche you, do they send these their fiery dartes? Forsooth euen vnto suche a•• with hartie sorrowe and griefe doe com∣plaine againste them, and accuse them o•• moste horrible sacrilege, whereby they haue berefte the poore Christian people of their onely health and comforte Christ Iesus, for their own commoditie and ad∣uantage, that they might with more se∣curitie satisfye theyr filthie mindes with riote, ambition, and all kinde of abhomi∣nable luste. Wherefore I referre the matter to your most gracious considera∣tion and iudgement, whether anye such•• councells and determinations oughte t•• bée of suche force and power, wherein they claime vnto themselues, as it were by a speciall prerogatiue, an authoritie and iurisdiction aboue al Christian prin∣ces and Emperours, by vertue whereof they might commaund Princes, and rob and spoile their subiectes bothe of life and liuing at theyr pleasure: howe muche

more conuenient wer it to follow the ex∣ample of Constantine, who hauing intelli∣gence of the great quarrells & controuer∣sies that were betwixte the Arrians and the Christians, did not refer the matter to the aucthoritie of the Pope, but by hys owne authoritie called a councell, frée for euery man to resorte vnto, and sate him∣selfe meane betwixte two parts, as an e∣quall & indifferent iudge and arbitratour betwixt them: & when he had caste all the voices & sentēces of euery particular mā into one barrell, hée set thē on fire, decla∣ring himselfe to be chiefe & head of y^e coū∣cell: & whē y^e matter had bin long time de∣bated on both sides, he found a means to bring al to an vnitie, til Sathan began to stur in y^e same matter, & so set thē at vari∣ance, & raised new troubles again. But if it be a matter of impossibility, or of great difficultie to call a generall coūcell togi∣ther, yet surely it is y^e office & duty of eue∣ry christiā prince by some cōueniēt & suf∣ficient assēbly of his own subiects to pro∣cure peace & trāquilitie vnto y^e church, by taking away al superstitiō and idolatry, which corrupt the puritie & simplicitie of

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Christian religion, and are cause of muc•• vexation & vnquietnesse in the same. An•• therefore nowe it behoueth all our king•• and Princes to followe the good exampl•• of theyr predecessors, in employing thei•• care and study about preseruing and re∣storing the true worshippe and seruice o•• God, as did diuers Christian Emperors namely Theodosius, Iustinianus, Charles the great, and sundry others, whose diligenc•• is singulerly and highlye commended o•• the auntient Fathers, specially of Augu∣stine in the booke of the reproofe of the Do∣natistes.* 1.18 Pope Leo in hys .73. epistle doeth earnestly aduise the Emperor so to esteme of his princely estate, and dignitie, as cō∣mitted vnto hym, not only for the gouer∣naunce of Cities by ciuile pollicie, but also for the defence and aduauncement of the Churche by ecclesiasticall discipline. Gregorye the firste dydde maruellouslye commende the diligence vsed by Ricare∣dus king of the Gotthes, in rooting out the heresie of the Arrians. Isidore sometyme Bishoppe of Siuill (as Gratian reporteth) said that princes shall be plagued in time

to come, for suffering the Churche to goe ••o ruine, which god committed vnto them ••o foster and cherishe (as saith the spirite ••f God by the mouth of his holy prophete Esay.) And there is no mā that doubteth ••ut that the Pope will doe all that lyeth ••n him to hinder the assemble of prouinci∣••ll counsells. Whereby hee doeth mani∣festly bewray bothe the weakenesse of his ••wne cause, the vanitie and corruption of his doctrine, and the dispaire he hathe in ••che of both. For who knoweth not, or hath not hearde tell of the greate commi∣nations which Paule the third sometime thundred partely by letters, and partely by his Legates agaynste the Emperoure your Maiesties father of famous memo∣rye, onely bycause hée determined to call a Nationall councell of the states of Ger∣many, to the intent to reconcile and bring to vnitie the Princes of Germany, whose religion and profession we teache & main∣taine in your Maiesties lowe countries: but if the Pope doe truste to the equitie and right of his cause, why is he so loath to haue it bearde and debated, & so feare∣full

to put it to comprimise and arbitr••¦ment of Princes? Why trauaileth he t•• haue their bookes burned of whome he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accused. For if oure accusations be•• vaine, bée false and fained, what caus•• hathe hée to feare them? Doubtlesse the•• woulde fall of themselues wythout any force. Forsooth the Pope and his clergy and the Inquisitors perceiue right well that the people, whyche in tyme to for•• haue bin blinde and ignorat, haue now•• their eies and vnderstandings opened, t•• sée and perceiue their iuggling trickes and moste horrible abuses: and therefor•• they haue no care, nor zeale at all of pro∣moting true religion, but onely laboure•• to suppresse oure writings, and to stoppe the passage vnto Princes eares, that the people cannot haue frée accesse to make their complaint to the soueraigne prince, practising all meanes they can deuise to entangle the consciences of men in theyr moste durtie dregges of superstitious ce∣remonies, and treading vnder their féete the moste comfortable Gospell of oure sa∣uiour Christe. It maye please your Ma∣iestie

therefore, to consider and weighe ••hat greate profite can arise to youre ••ealme by these their cruell and horrible ••dictes and proclamations. For admitte ••hat youre graces Subiects do embrace ••he Romish religion by force and coertiō, ••urely those that loue true Religion sin∣••erely,* 1.19 and from their heartes will suf∣fer all extremitie before they will submit themselues vnder that yoke of Tiranny againe. But if you doe still licence the inquisitors to vse their accustomed cruel∣tie towardes them, howe déepely shall youre grace heape vengeaunce vppon youre owne heade, in suffering so manye of youre Subiectes to perishe, for whose cause Almightye God doeth so bounti∣fully blesse all nations, and multiplye the fruites thereof infinitelye, for their sustentation and nourishement: as for their soules they are frée, notwythstan∣ding from sense of any of these torments whiche the bodye endureth, as maye ap∣peare moste manifestly by that notable saying written in the book of wisedom. The soules of the righteous be in y^e hāds of y^e L. & ther is no tormēt y^t toucheth thē.

Verily in the iudgemente of the foolish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they séeme to dye, and their ende is thou¦ghte to be euill, and their departure fro•• among vs to be miserable, where as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very déede they are in safetie. For thoug•• they be tormented in the sight of men, ye•• great is their hope of immortalitie, an•• for a little punishment suffered here, the•• attaine to merueilous greate benefites 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for God dothe trye them, like as golde i•• tried in the fornace, and finding them fi•• for hym, accepteth them as a pure and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perfecte sacrifice. And therefore at suche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time as god shall take care of them, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall shine & shall run like sparkes of fire in dry réedes, they shal iudge y^e nations, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gouerne the people, and be vnder the per∣petuall protection and safegarde of God, vppon whom, whosoeuer repose theyr truste, they shall vnderstande the truthe, and of louing affection cleaue vnto hym wyth all faythfulnesse: for grace and peace shall happen vnto hys holy ones, and hys Electe shall bée hadde in re∣garde, but the wicked and vngodly shall

bée punished according to their owne de∣••tes, for neglecting the truth and god∣••••nesse, and forsaking the Lorde. For they ••at despise wisedome and learning, are ••iserable, and their hope is vaine, theyr ••••oure loste, and their workes fruitlesse ••nd vnprofitable. Thus farre that wise mā ••ste wisely. Moreouer, if your maiesties ••ubiectes of the lowe Countries, either ••r weakenesse of minde, or frailtie of bo∣••ye, fearing the extremitie of torments, ••hall rather fall from the knowne truthe, ••nd renounce Christe and hys religion, ••han patientlye and manfullye to suffer ••eath, your grace shall encrease the facte ••nfinitely in greatnesse of mischiefe (for∣asmuche as your grace thereby shall not onely destroy their bodies, but also theyr soules, to euerlasting death and damnati∣on. In whiche respect a farre more peril∣lous iudgement dependeth ouer youre heade by the hande of God, who hath spo∣ken by his son Christ in this wise: Looke with what measure yée measure vnto o∣ther, by the lyke it shal also bée measured vnto you. O moste terrible and feare∣ful

iudgement, if that moste seuere a•• iuste Iudge, doe purpose to execute th•• same vpon our bodies, and soules, an•• in his wrath drawe oute his sworde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shew vengeance vppon vs. Besides this who séeth not howe greate a blotte an•• stayne it is to the name of a christian, t•• practise so great tyranny which maket•• forreyne nations, as the Turks, Iewes and Indians to abhorre christianitie, a•• the cause of so greate troubles, warres and persecutions. What shall I néed•• here to reherse that hēce as out of a hea•• and spring infinite quarrels, dissentions and mortall enmities haue issued an•• procéeded. Forasmuch as no continuanc•• of tyme can be able hereafter to wear•• out of the memorie of the posteritie, th•• horrible crueltie and tyrannie that hath bene practised by confiscation of goodes & landes, rasing of houses to the ground, destroying of families, and lastly in bur∣nyng their corses, after long and loth∣some imprisonment.

Lykewyse who wold not deme those Princes to bée moste vnhappie whome,

their subiects haue in hatred and disdayn, ••••se persons although they be strongly ••arded, can not for al y^t be quiet in their ••nd. For the most sure and safest defēce 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince, consisteth in the loue & good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the people, and they ar thought to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strengthned accordignly as they bée ••nded: And to haue so many souldiors defend them as they haue trusty frēds ••illing subiects to obeye & serue them. ••st of al,* 1.20 whereas all the professours of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gospell are not all alyke taught and ••structed in true pietie and godlynesse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so muche that manye are withoute ••at Christian pacience whiche GOD 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earnestely requireth in tymes of ad∣••ersitie and persecution, in commanding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rather to praye for oure ennimyes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 persecutoures, than to reuenge in∣••rie wyth doyng the lyke againe: they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saye, eyther for impacience of mynd, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the hatred they beare vnto suche ••fences, doe putte on theyr Armoure ••gaynste theyr owne fellowes and com∣••anyons, and dare presume to committe ••he tryall of the quarrell to the sworde.

Albeit in my opinion this is a thing fa•• vnsitting the godly zeale, mildenesse p••¦ence and forbearyng that shoulde be i•• Christian man. But yet forasmuche it doeth come to passe many times, I séech your Maiestie (moste gracious so•• raine) to weigh and consider how ma•• greate mischiefs and inconueniences ensue of this ciuill dissention and disco•• robbing, spoiling, and murdering wi•• out measure, honest matrons are corr••¦ted, chaste virgins defloured, mens goo•• and substauece taken perforce, all kin•• of murther and manquelling put in pr••¦ctise and exercise, some by the sword some by fire euen in their owne house some shall be slaine with the sworde, so•• burned w^t their houses ouer their head•• sowe drowned in the riuers, whereby t•• aire infected with the filthy corruption 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the dead carcasses, bredeth a plague, wh••¦che is alwayes incident vnto warres, an•• commonlye accompanyed wyth great dearth, bycause where tumultes and v•• rores be raised, there can be no tillage husbandry maintained. And what then

when the countrye and common weal•• ••ath bene so sore shaken and wasted, it is ••ot possible within twentie yeres or mo, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 recouer the losse, and to be in as perfect lighte againe, as it was before: for af∣••er that weapons haue putte lawes to si∣••ence, and men acquaynted themselues with spoile and rapine, and the sheding ••f bloude, it is a verye harde matter to ••ring the people to order, and agréemēt, ••nd vtterly to breake them of their olde ••aunte, that they learned in war.* 1.21 Moreo∣••er, what shold it auaile either your ma∣••estie or vs youre subiects? or what esti∣mation would Christ haue of it, if men shoulde by violence, and by tyrannye bée brought to allowe of the Popish doctrine (admitting it to be true.) For whosoeuer professe anye religion against theyr own consciences as we sée by daily experiēce, do neuer embrace the same sincerely, and from their heartes, but contrariwise be∣come more frowarde and waiward, or to what purpose is it to ouercome a man by extremitie of tormentes, and by feare of deathe and to make him recant, and saye

that the Romishe religion is consonante wyth the Gospell of Christe, or rather to be the very Gospell it selfe, if the partye notwithstanding be contrarily affected in his h••arte, and thinke with hymselfe se∣cretely and in his owne conscience, that he is to be detested as the very and vn∣doubted Antichriste, and that all hys ad∣herents, which séeke to driue simple men to their moste filthy doctrine by terrors & by tormentes, bée the Popes féed hang∣men and executors. As for example, your maiestie knoweth full well, and can te∣stifye, that those whiche haue continued in youre maiesties realme of Spaine to this day, both Iewes and Turkes, could neuer be brought by compulsion, or by a∣nye violence to allowe of oure religion. And albeit they were baptised, that is to saye, outwardely washed wyth the ele∣ment, yet notwithstandyng they neuer forsooke their olde heresies, but embrace them tooth and naile, in so muche that the Inquisitours haue worke inough wyth thē, and are plentifully enriched with the eschetes that growe vnto them by th••

Iewes and Turkes: and therfore it is a playne matter, y^t there is no true religiō except it be freely & sincerely receiued and beléeued. For the outward shew and be∣hauior of the body, be it neuer so Saint∣lyke in appearaunce, is altogyther both vnprofitable to the partie, and displeasāt and odious vnto god,* 1.22 except the sincere af∣fection of y^e heart & conscience of man bée ioyned with y^t outward professiō: y^t which we cannot attaine vnto, but only by leni∣••ie, grace, & mercie, gētlenesse, & by frend∣ly conferēce & persuasiō, by y^e imitatiō of honesty, and integritie of life, by pouring out praiers vnto god without ceassing, y^e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wold please him of his infinite goodnes & mercy to encline & mollifie their harde heartes to y^e study of true religiō, & to take awaye al threates of tormēts, al feare of ••ire and murdering one of another: And I dare auowe it to youre Maiestye (moste gracious soueraigne) that they whyche goe aboute so to moue you vnto ••rueltie, bearyng you in hande, that to ••ée the onely waye to make peace in youre lowe countrie, those I saye I dare

auowe, and doe openly proteste, do gy•• you suche councell, as is muche against•• the weale of youre Countrey, and most derogatorye to youre honour and prince¦ly Maiestie, séeking onely to enriche an•• aduaunce themselues by your incommo¦dities, and to sette other men togither b•• the eares, that they maye in the mean•• while fall a rifling and scambling, and ob¦taine a greate praye. And why can we not learne to beware by other mens ex∣amples? hathe not experience proued i•• true euen in our nexte neighbours adioy¦ning, that wheras some proude and am¦bitious counsellers, that soughte thei•• owne priuate lucre vnder pretence of re¦ligion, did moste cruellye entreate man•• good and godly persons: they themselue•• haue séene, that the mo they persecute•• and putte to deathe, the mo did arise an•• spring vp againe daily, as it were of th•• ashes of the other. For it is moste true that was sometime saide of a wise and godly person, that the bloude of the mar∣tyres is the séede of the Gospell. Wher•• Stephen was stoned to death,* 1.23 the blind••

Pharisies thought that the Church was ••tterlye destroyed: notwithstanding it came otherwise to passe, that it encreased wonderfully thereby,* 1.24 as testifyeth saint Luke in his booke that hée wrote of the ••ctes of the Apostles. Wherevppon that perverse and wicked councell beganne to ••e condemned, as a thing that had done muche harme, and no good at all, not on∣lye to the Churche, but to the common weale. And therefore after that Princes had graunted libertie to euery one fréely to say their opinion of religion, and that was determined and resolued vpon, that was moste consonant vnto the worde of God, peace was foorthwyth restored a∣gain, and had continued, if it had not tur∣ned all thinges topsie turuie agayne, by vnruly Popes.

But forasmuche as I knowe myne owne weakenesse and my poore estate, I can hardely hope that my aduice can haue anye credite with your Maiestie: howbeit I moste humbly beséeche you to vouche∣safe in this one pointe to followe the ex∣ample of them that be sicke and diseased,

who perceiuing by proofe that the prescr••¦ptions of the experte Physitions doet•• them no good, will sometyme vse the ad¦uice also of the empirikes, as they cal•• them, and those that be merely Practic••¦oners, bycause it happeneth sometym•• that chaunce is better than cunning, an•• that these shal doe more good by theyr ex¦perience, than the other by methode an•• booke learning. As did lykewise Pharao i•• my opinion, who when he could not lern•• the interpretation of his dreame at th•• handes of his witches & soothsayers, wa•• not ashamed to aske counsell of poore Io∣seph, that was in prison and bandes, b•• whose diuine wisedome and foretellyng he prouided for the dearth that was t•• come in Egypt. Wherfore consideryng my poore estate, being brought almost to penurie in these moste miserable dayes, and that I am not greately fauourous with your highenesse, I doubte not but those that be of your maiesties counsell will deride my trauaile bestowed herein, & disdain therat, that I shuld be so bold as to presume to perswade your maiestie to

things cleane contrary to y^e aduise is giuē you by them: but time (I trust) shal de∣clare which of the two is the better coun∣sell. For whereto goe they aboute to per∣swade you? forsoothe that youre Maiestie would establish a law, wherby your sub∣iects of the low countries (whō they fals∣ly charge with y^e crime of heresie) shoulde be most cruelly entreated & put to death: but I to the contrarye rather, and that you should rather giue eare vnto Christ, who willeth you and all men to vse mer∣cie, gentlenesse, & compassion euen towar∣des those that shal erre out of the waye. Besids, your maiesty ought to consider y^t this crowne & scepter is not giuen you to y^e intent you shold kill & destroy your sub∣iects, but to defend & preserue thē, so that both pure religion & ciuile gouernement may be maintained amōg your subiects: neither is there any thing y^t I more ear∣nestly desire & pray for, than y^t your Ma∣iestie according to your honorable incli∣natiō to gentlenesse & mercy engrafted in you by nature, and the duty of a christiā magistrate, shuld be a mean to pacifie al

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these ciuile warres and cruel persecutiōs in youre lowe countries, till you might in your owne person, make final ende of all controuersies, and determine all mat∣ters of religion by some lawfull parlia∣ment of youre Princes and estates. By whiche pacification, as it were by a kind of truce, there shal not only nothing hap∣pen derogatory to youre highnesse, but al they that dissent from vs and from oure holsome aduise and councell, shall easilye see, and perceiue, that they will not onely vndoe the common wealth, but also ca∣ry many soules with them into vtter de∣struction: and then shall the sequele of the matter plainly declare, whiche of vs hath giuen youre Maiestye more honeste and profitable aduice. Albeit wée oughte to praye vnto God moste hartilye, that hée suffer not their moste pestilent and perni∣cious councell to take that effecte, that they meane and séeke for.

But to draw towardes an end (moste excellent Prince) I beséeche youre Ma∣iestie for oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christes sake, the redemer of mankinde,

that you woulde in so weightie a cause as this, call vppon God for the aide and assistance of his holy spirite, who (I trust) will not faile you, if you committe your selfe wholy vnto him in all your dooings and enterprises, and do not followe the rude multitude, nor the importunate ex∣clamatiōs of these doctors, be they neuer so many in number, that can cry nothing, but crucifige, crucifige, war, warre, fire, fire, euen as it is reported of Achab, who ra∣ther folowing the iudgemēt of .400. pro∣phets, than the will of God, rashely and vnaduisedly entring into battell perished in the fielde:* 1.25 Wheras if hée had rather leaned vnto the councel of poore Micheas: albeit in the eies of the world simple and abiecte, it had bene far better with him. For God oftentimes reueleth his secrets and hidden misteries, to base and obscure persons, and hideth them from the wise and noble in this worlde, neither oughte we to iudge of councell by the wisedome, or multitude, or nobilitie of men, but by the onely feare of God, who communica∣teth his secrete misteries to them that

feare and reuerence him, & that saying of an olde writer, is very true, y^t those whi∣che will well guide & gouerne the commō wealth, must not so much haue regard to y^e multitude of voices, as to examine and try them by the waighte & truth, whether they leane therto, or be grounded of coue∣tousnesse, hatred and ambition. And vn∣doubtedly if there be anye nation & coun∣try vnder your maiesties dominions, that deserueth to haue your fauour & clemen∣cie extended towardes it, it is this youre maiesties country of Flaunders, whyche hath brought vp y^e most famous & noble Emperor your maiesties father, & nou∣rished your maiestie almost frō your ten∣der infancie, and borne so faithful allege∣aunce towardes you, that she may wor∣thily think hirselfe to be preferred before al other: how can your maiestie then, but shew pitie & compassion towardes youre faithfull & obedient subiectes, the inhabi∣tantes thereof, howe can you suffer the bloudthirsty ouer them, & not deliuer thē, how can you but giue eare vnto their pi∣tifull complaintes, which they doe dailye

make vnto you, crying oute in moste pi∣tious sorte, that they are most cruelly en∣treated, tormented & murdered by youre ministers and officers. What shal it néed me to rehearse their most curteous vsage & entertainmēt towardes strangers of al nations & countries wherein they doe far excéede al other,* 1.26 & doe allure & draw ther∣by great resorte vnto them, in so much y^t there is none more worthy to enioy per∣fect peace & trāquilitie thā this? For wher haue y^e Italians y^e best entertainmēt? very∣ly in Flaūders: where do the Frenchmen soiorne moste to their contentatiō & plea∣sure? forsooth in Flaunders: where is the moste famous & plētifull marte for y^e Al∣mains the englishmē, y^e Scots, y^e Turks? where but in Flaūders? I reporte me to youre selfe al ye y^t be of the Spanish nati∣on, what good cause you haue to estéeme Flaunders, as youre moste deare and tender nourse, whiche hathe aduaunced you to highe preferments and dignities, and prouided you wealth to enriche you abundauntlye.

For in what place of the world haue ye

bene better aduaunced by mariage than here in Flaunders, whether your respect, honestie, or pleasure of societie? where haue euer anye suche virgins so beau∣tifull and amiable in countenaunce, and so well borne, bene so fréely bestowed in marriage, euen vnto such as had nothing to take vnto, by meanes whereof they haue afterwardes attained vnto greate wealth, and bene aduaunced to places of dignitie and honoure. And therefore I maye well exclame against vnthankful∣nesse, forgettyng so greate benefites, permitte suche moste pestilent and cruell enterprises, to bring those men in daun∣ger both of life and landes, that haue de∣serued so well at youre handes. And for the other, wyth whome yée deale so vn∣thankfully, what opinion can they haue hereafter of suche vnthankefull people, causelesse, yea contrary to their deserte, to enter into their countrey, inuade, spoile, waste it: and whereas they ought by all meanes to procure the Prince to extend mercy and clemency towards the subiectes, do incense the Prince againste

them: and with the breath of their mali∣cious breaste puffed into hys eares, doe kindle hys wrath and indignation, to vse crueltie and tyrannye towardes them, whose most iust cause (being a quarrel of religion) could neuer obtaine to come to hearing, as right & reasō is it shold, least they might be thought to giue sentēce of the cause before they heard it debated.

But of a number of moste horrible facts to remēber vnto your maiestie one, I beséech you to giue eare to a thing that happened at Antwarp in mine own sight and presence, but to my great griefe and sorrow, the twelfth of March anno. 1567. When as certayne Cities of Henhault wer sacked and spoiled, by desperate and furious persons, and all the Citizens in great daunger and distresse, the inhabi∣tants thought to flée and to leaue to their ennimies bothe houses and goods, rather than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yéelde to theyr furie and rage. And therfore escaping through the fields is the number of .1000. persons, and hea∣ring that the horsemen woulde set vppon them, they determined to drawe as nighe

to Antwarpe as they coulde, thinking thereby either to saue themselues, or to obtaine some reasonable conditions of peace: but if the enimy shoulde make any assault vpon them and offer any violence, they determined rather manfully to re∣siste, than cowardely to yéelde.

Albeit this determination of their•• in mine opinion doeth muche differ from the pacience that is commaunded vs in the Gospell: but indéede all that pro∣fesse the Gospell, doe not followe the preceptes of the Gospell. When as the poore soules hadde fledde vnto the walles of Antwarpe, as it hadde béene to a Sanctuarye, hoping that by meanes of the Lordes of the Towne, there myghte some order bée taken for theyr safetye, and the auoiding of theyr pre∣sente perill, a greate number of horse∣men and footemen fell vppon them on a sodayne, beyng wythout armoure and weapon, and hauyng more confidence of their safetie in flighte, than in fighte, shewed vs a moste lamentable specta∣cle of a moste bloudy and cruell slaugh∣ter,

neyther vsing mercye towardes them that prayed mercye: nor pitying th•••• complayntes and lamentations that fell prostrate at theyr féete, and caste away their weapons: nor regar∣ding them that fledde, and hidde them∣selues in caues and corners (whych thin∣ges are wonte to assuage the furor of the most fierce enimy in the world) but ranne some of them thorow with their swords, others they fiered in the barnes and out∣houses where they fiedde to hide them∣selues: other they shotte at wyth pistolets and barque busiers: others they drowned in the riuer, others they hanged vppon gibbets, other they caste into moste fil∣thye dongons, where they dyed in moste miserable tormentes.

The Citizens of Antwarp beholdyng this sorrowfull sighte from the walles of their Citie, bewailed theyr case, and this most piteous sight, with such shrikes vppe to Heauen, and suche signes of sor∣rowe and compassion, as was possible to bée vttered. For the women behelde their owne husbands slaine most mise∣rably béefore their faces, the children saw

the throates cutte of their owne fathers al other their kinsemē, or allies, or friend and acquaintaunce moste cruelly slayne and murdered, in so muche that it séemeth to be rather a rauening of brute beast•••• than a skirmishe of men, and conflicte of Christian people. The whiche most hor∣rible examples of crueltie and brutishe butcherie, if your Maiestie had behelde and séene, it coulde not be, but you should haue ben preuoked to sheading of teares, and inwardly moued with pitie and com∣passion towardes them. For men by na∣ture wil haue compassion one of another, and howe muche then ought youre highe∣nesse sincerely and vnfainedly to vse the like towardes youre naturall and Chri∣stian subiectes.

In the mean while, they of Antwarp pretending to helpe and succoure these poore afflicted, so beset on euery side with their enimies, some broke the bridges, some locked the gates of the Citie, other that would be thought to be more faith∣full and loyall to your maiestie, than the rest, sent certayne spies, who vnder the

pretence of friendly talke, should betray the poore and miserable wretches, others gatte them into cockbotes and whirries, to compasse them by water, that were already beset on euery side by lande, and so stoppe their passage all wayes, preten∣ding that they didde all this, leaste they shoulde be worse thoughte of, as béeyng scarcely your maiesties dut ful and faith∣full subiectes.

What opinion thinke you, would the Turkes and Iewes, and other forraine and vnchristned nations haue of Christi∣an religion, if they shoulde eyther haue séene these thinges, or at the leaste, if it come but to their eares, what affection coulde they beare towardes the name of a Christian? what way woulde serue to bring them to embrace, and to professe the Gospell, when they themselues deale more indifferently with vs in the lyke ca∣ses? For those whome they haue ouer∣come, they either permit to departe pay∣ing theyr raunsom, or kéepe them in pri∣son vntouched. But wée false harted and Pharisaicall Christians, leaue no barba∣rous

and deuillishe tyrannye vnpractised towardes oure bret••ren and euen Chri∣stians, onely bycause they will not em∣brace the Romishe religion, but cleaue faste to the commandemēts, and doctrine of almightie god. And what more? For∣sooth the whole Citie of Antwarpe riche in treasure, beautifull in buildings, very populous, and of greate resorte was in great daunger and perill of vtter subuer∣sion, if almightie God of hys goodnesse had not put to hys helping hande at that instant, and preserued the citie. For the protestants being touched with that vn∣worthy fight of the miserable slaughter of their parents, brethren, kinsemen, al∣lies, and friendes, put themselues in ar∣mour to the number of fiftéene thousand: and to helpe them in this distresse, some practised to open the gates of the Citie, and to issue oute and rescue them, some placed men in array in the streates, other filled the houses wyth armoure and ar∣med mē to be in a readinesse for defence, that they myghte saue themselues, and the Citie from the ennimy, if they should

offer anye violence, yea some of thē were in suche a furye and rage, that they moste desperatly broke into y^e common armory and store house of the citie, and into those places where were certaine péeces, spe∣cially mounted to kepe off the ennimye. In whiche greate confusion and hurlye hurly of the whole citie, what feare think you the whole Citizens wer in? for mine owne parte I wot, what I then thought, and thinke yet, that I neuer sawe a more horrible and lamentable sighte in all my life, than to sée euery man readye to run another through w^tout respecte or choice. In the which tumultuous sedition, what profitte coulde youre maiestie hope shuld growe vnto you? or what woulde the ouerthrowe and destruction of the Citie haue auailed you, beyng either the chiefe Citie vnder youre Maiesties dominion, or at the leaste not inferiour to the beste and chiefest whatsoeuer?

But to let these thinges passe, and to consider diligentlye wyth oure selues, what is the iudgement of God in these our affaires? for we must doubtlesse one

day al appere before hys dreadefull seate of Iudgement, and giue an accompte of our déedes be they good or bad. And what shall it auaile vs, if we flatter our selues in oure owne deedes, or pleade not guiltie to the facte, and the Iudge find vs giltie, and pronounce sentence vpon vs of euer∣lasting paine and woe.

Neyther doe I speake these things, as allowing the rashe & vnaduised attempts of these Protestantes, which go about to resiste force by force, & as it wer to driue backe one naile wyth another. For I know, (I thanke God of hys grace ther∣fore) howe greate pacience, lowlinesse, and humilitie the Gospell requyreth of them that will be professours thereof: but I bring it in rather to this ende and pur∣pose,* 1.27 to giue your Maiestie to vnderstand howe perillous and dangerous a matter it is for Princes, that their subiects shuld bée driuen to extreme desperation. It is an olde sayde sawe: The multitude is a monster wyth manye heades, whyche beyng distressed and in despaire of life, forgetteth both himselfe and hys duty to∣wardes

God, and rayseth manye tymes greate tumultes and vproares. And ther∣fore many mightie Princes and Monar∣ches haue oftentimes either pardoned or winked at those matters, wherein the whole multitude hathe bene faultie, by∣cause (as saith the Poet) They haue no other hope, but boldely giue the aduen∣ture and trye extremities, when all extre∣mities are feared. So that a common er∣rour séemeth as it were of good righte to challenge a generall pardon, althoughe the prince wer very well able to reuenge and punishe the same. As wée acknow∣ledge your Maiestie to be: but that god of his infinite goodnesse and prouidence hath endued your grace with such méeke∣nesse and mercifulnesse, that if there were anye that were obstinate and rebelling a∣gainste you, you were not onely able to subdue them with youre maiesties might and power, but also to win them by your moste gracious vertues and bounties.

Albeit in this case here is neither feare nor suspition of any rebellion, when as youre Maiesties subiectes for the auoy∣ding

of present perill doe flée their coun∣trey, desiring nothing more hartily than that they might haue accesse to your ma∣iestie, and pleade their cause before you, and professe the Christian religion, and shewe their dutifull and obedient hartes to your maiesty, as vnto their most dread and redoubted soueraigne.

But what thing should be of greater force to moue youre maiestie,* 1.28 than the example of the Emperoure your father, who perceiuing ciuile war to bée a brée∣ding, al Spaine in a tumulte, not muche after he was crowned king, woulde ney∣ther bée auenged of the iniuries of the people, nor chastise them by his lawe, but established the Lawe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and made open proclamation, that al shoulde be bothe forgiuen and forgotten: where∣by he gatte suche good will, and so obtay∣ned the heartes of his people, that the re∣mēbraunce of his excéeding loue and cle∣mencie towardes his subiectes, will en∣dure while the world lasteth. As I doubt not but youre Maiesties subiectes of the lowe countries woulde in lyke case doe,

if they might haue experience of lyke clemencye and pardon at youre graces handes.

But perhappes some of youre coun∣sellors aboute you, hearing mée speake so muche in commendation of a gene∣rall pardon, will suspecte that I goe aboute craftylye to insinuate my selfe into youre graces fauour, and thinke that I pleade not so muche the common cause of my Countreymenne, as mine owne priuate case, for the satisfying of whom, and to the intent that they maye plaine∣lye vnderstande my verye hearte and conscience, I aunswere in this wise, wythout all dissimulation: That I haue a greate desyre and an earnest af∣fection towardes my deare countrey, and my dearely beloued parents and friends. and féele the lacke of them, by being ab∣sente from them, and wishe with all my hearte that almightie God would vouch∣safe so to shine vppon youre Realme of Spaine with the beames & brightnesse of his gospell, that al Idolatry & superstitiō might be remoued thēce, & quite abando∣ned,

so that al we whych are banished, and liue in exile from oure natural countrey, mighte returne thither in safetie againe: for otherwise (as the case is at thys pre∣sent) wée ought rather choose to remayne: in pouertie, penurie, néede persecution, banishement, and to suffer al other extre∣mities that shall betide vs patiently; than to defile oure soules with wicked and su∣perstitious Idolatrie.

And for mine own part, I haue much to giue God thanks for, and by his grace will be alwaies mindefull of hys greate Graces and bountyes towardes mée, that hathe of his prouidence so aided and assisted me in al this my pilgrimage, that suche as had neuer séene mée, nor knowne me before, haue bene very beneficiall to∣wardes me, as if they had bene fathers vnto me, or some speciall friendes. And therefore I haue no cause to thinke my selfe a straunger or pilgrime in those pla∣ces, whether the Lorde hymselfe hathe broughte me, and so prouided for me, that he hath stirred me vp many friends and wel willers, in places wher I do becom,

who like so well of me and my company, that they bothe visite manye times very curteously, and entertain me lesse friend∣ly, when I resorte vnto them. The whi∣che thyng was a speciall occasion that moued me to go to Antwarp: for I went not thither of any vnconstancy or flitting brayne, neyther came I béefore I was welcome vppon any purpose to trouble the state of the common wealth with no∣uelties and innouations, or to helpe for∣warde the tumultes that then were ray∣sed and to make them worse. For I pro∣test vnto youre Maiesty vpon myne othe, and will besides proue by euident testi∣mony, that I was earnestly required by many mēs letters and entreaties to come to thys Citie aboue foure moneths ere I came thither, and therfore if your ma∣iestie haue conceiued anye sinister opini∣on of my comming thither, by meane of some false and vntrue reportes, I besech your maiestie to remoue the same. For this is, and euer hathe béene, and shall be my minde and will, to serue and obey your maiestie, and especiallye to preach

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the Gospell of peace. As for tumultes, sedition, rebellion, and discorde, I abhorre them from my hearte, and detest them worse than a tode, or present plague: nei∣ther was I euer of that minde, that any good coulde arise to the encrease and set∣ting forwarde of the Gospell, by sedition and discorde: but that it was a great hin∣draunce rather to manye weake consci∣ences, and an vtter vndooing to the whole estate of the common weale, as I haue alwaies thoughte and taughte bothe pri∣uately and openly, as often as opportu∣nitie serued me thereto. Mary true it is, that I am at this present purposed to de∣parte againe: for though the great good will and curtesie which the Citizens and others of this Countrey doe shewe mée, as also the earneste zeale and affection they beare towardes mée, doeth ioye mée maruelously: yet notwithstanding séeing suche preparation on eche side of men for war: and hearing nothing but the sound of armoure, and that there is nothyng in euerye mans mouthe, but horse

and armoure, and Souldiours, shotte, and pellet, and preparation to besiege, and to batter holdes and castels, to make ••poile and hauocke of all, to kill and slaye ••n all sides, I thoughte it better for mée to wante my deare friendes, than to bée tossed in thys sorte, and ouerwhelmed with these tempestuous troubles.

Finallye he that is faultlesse and gilt∣lesse in his own conscience, hath no néede to craue any pardon. And I take God to my iudge and recorde, that I haue pre∣termitted no part of my duty (as I trust) that appertayned to me to shew towards my Prince and Soueraigne. Neither wyll I at anye tyme when occasion shall be offered, be afraide or ashamed to shew my face in youre presence, or béefore a∣nye whome it shall please youre Maie∣stie to appoint to enquire of my faythe and conscience: bycause I sustayne my selfe wyth assurance of an vp∣righte conscience: the whyche if it shall in anye pointes disagrée from the deter∣minations of the late councell of Trent,

or from the Romishe doctrine, I force no greatly thereof, sith they are aduersarie•• to the doctrine of the Gospell: Neyther resteth it in the power of man to bée abl•• to beleue euerye thyng, what hymself•• willeth or listeth. For the spirite of God ingrafteth and imprinteth in our heartes and mindes, whatsoeuer is requisite and necessarye for vs to beléeue, whose sug∣gestion I earnestlye wythstoode aboue twentye moneths before I departed ou•• of Spaine, when as by my poore world∣ly wisdome and pollicie, suche as it was, I foresawe long before what greate pe∣rills bothe of life and goods hung ouer my heade, if I should forsake the Popes religion, and flée to Christes folde. For as the Apostle warneth vs: Such as wyl purelye and sincerely worshippe Christe all their life, shal incurre the hatred and displeasure of manye. Howbeit there is a singular comfort remaining vnto those that are faithfull in Iesu Christe, whiche reuealeth their consciences, whē they are assured, that these things happē not vnto them throughe their owne deserte.

Neither is there anye man I thinke, moste mightie prince) which in his own ••orrupte sense and iudgement would not ••ishe to followe some pleasing and plau∣••ble religion, suche as shoulde fansie the ••eople, and offende none. But forasmuch ••s it hathe so pleased Almightie God by ••ys diuine prouidence, to saue mankinde ••nd to preserue hym from euerlasting pe∣••ill throughe Iesus Christe crucified, so ••hat they bée partakers of hys death and ••assion, to the ende they might bée lyke∣••ise partakers of hys resurrection: it re∣••teth not in the power of the elect, & those ••hat are adopted into the inheritaunce of ••he euerlasting Kyngdome, to suppresse ••he force of the spirite, and to hinder hys worke, or breake his purpose and course, which vseth his force and efficacy in their mindes that bée thus elected and chosen, forasmuche as calling and adoption of God is franke and frée, without respecte ••f fauour or desert of any: for God whom ••e will, doeth lighten, and whom he will ••e blindeth: and who is then able to re∣siste hym?

And doeth not youre highenesse thin•• that your subiectes of the lowe countrie are hartily sorie and inwardely grieue to sée your Maiestie abhorre their relig••¦on, whiche is built of so sure and certai•• a grounde, woulde they not be conten•• with al their heartes to purchase your fa¦uoure and good will, wyth the losse of a that euer they be worthe, that it myght be lawfull for them wyth safe conscienc•• to serue God sincerely, according to hy•• prescript worde••? suppose you it not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maruellous griefe vnto them to want their owne naturall Country, their pa¦rentes, children, and wiues, and to wan¦der they wotte not whether, without an•• certain place of abode & resiāce, & to hau•• their life in hazard euery houre? Howbei•• they are miserably tormēted in their con¦science, and do féele terrible threates o•• gods spirit, y^t set before their eies y^e euer¦lasting torments prepared for them, tha•• for fauor and pleasing of men, forsake th•• knowne truth, or defile the seruice & ho¦nour they owe vnto God, by intermed¦ling it wyth Idolatrie and superstition.

Wherefore in moste humble manner, I ••eséeche youre Maiestie (moste gracious Prince) to haue compassion vppon youre ••oore afflicted subiectes of the low coun∣••ry, whiche séeke to liue wyth a frée con∣••cience, who if they coulde bée perswaded that the doctrine of the Romishe Church were pure and holy, or holsome for their soules, I am very well perswaded, and ••are affirme vnto youre Maiestie in their behalfe, they woulde neuer giue you, nor ••ny of your officers, any occasiō at all to be displeased wyth thē, much lesse haue a will to trouble and ouerthrow the estate of youre common wealth, by tumultes and ciuile warres, the whiche notwyth∣standing are laide to oure chardge, and that by the iuste iudgement of God.

But to conclude thys matter nowe at the lengthe, and ceasse from troublyng your Maiesty any longer with my long speach, I thinke, and am verily perswa∣ded, that if it myghte stande wyth youre good pleasure to vndertake the hearyng of thys cause, you shoulde easilye iudge of it your selfe, that this holye and

godly zeale of your subiectes is not onely to be acquit and discharged of al punishe∣ment, but rather worthye to be greately estéemed and highly commended. And i•• you haue regarde to your owne honour•• and kingly Maiestie (which as the Philo∣sophers teache, shoulde be farre from ty∣rannie) if you consider those moste excel∣lent giftes and graces of your Maiestie•• most royal heart, among the which your clemencie, lenitie, and gentlenesse, i•• surpassing all the reste: (whiche are ma∣ny tunes wanting in men of high estate, and such as are placed in aucthoritie) you•• oughte rather to employe the same to the safegarde of all your Subiectes vniuer∣sallye, than to the hurte or destruction of anye one. For consider, that you are not to deale with brutishe and sauage beasts, but with those, which by the handy work of almightie god, are made like vnto your self in shape, are endued with naturall re∣son, as youre selfe, and be euen as you, Christians in profession and name, and your very brethren in Christe, hauing the same redemer and sauior that you haue,

being endued with the selfe same spirite, and they professing obedience to the com∣maundements of God, as your maiestie doth, beyng also your naturall subiectes. and submitting themselues like true and dutifull subiects to your Maiesties lawes and ordinaunces, and haue not bin vn∣faithfull at any time, or in any point hi∣therto, but séeme naturally to be enclined to all lowlinesse, loyaltie, sinceritie, sim∣plicitie, truth, & curtesie, but especially to a singular kinde of obedience and duti∣fulnesse, whiche hath appeared so abun∣dantly in them towards the magistrates and rulers, that they haue rather chosen to endaunger themselues, and to hazard all, and suffer greate extremitie, than to resiste your highnesse, or your highnesse officers. For it is euident, and to be pro∣ued, that wythin these .30. yeares, there haue bene executed for religion to the number of thirtye thousande and aboue, who in al their torments and anguishes, were neuer hearde to vtter any one word that sounded to sedition and tumult, or to the reuiling of any of their tormentors &

persecutors, but contrarywise did har∣tily forgiue them the wronges and iniu¦ries they had done them, and praied mos•• earnestly to almightie God, at the very•• laste instante of their life, for their con¦uersion and saluation.

Who then can bée so harde or stony•• harted, as not to pitie these mē, and they•• cases? but weighe wyth youre selfe dili∣gently, and consider further what they woulde haue, where aboutes they goe, and what they desire. Is it for the main∣tainaunce of anye heresies agaynste the worde of God and holy scripture? no for∣sooth: what is it then? forsooth a moste iuste quarrell that youre maiestie, who are placed of god, their supreame head & gouernour ouer thē, might haue the hea∣ring, debating and determinatiō of their cause, the which thing, if you haue no cō∣uenient leysure presently to do, by reason of youre Maiesties manifolde & waigh∣tie affaires:* 1.29 yet that it woulde please you to permitte them in the meane while to enioye the libertie of their consciences, the preaching of the Gospell, and exer∣cising

of true vertue and godlines, recei∣ued by tradition from the Apostles and Bishops of the primitiue Churche, and that they mighte haue youre Maiesties protection & warrant for the same, for the better safetie & suretie in this case, & if it please your maiestie, further to enter in∣to the search hereof, and to see howe great & horrible abuses and superstitious cere∣monies, the pope would intermedle wyth our religion: you shall easily perceyue how vnreasonable a matter it is. For it is very vnfitte and vnconuenient, that in the pure church of Christ, the most filthy & abhominable rites and customs of wor∣shipping their idolles & false gods, should be retained, which thing he laboreth ear∣nestly to bring to passe.

And in the meane season, while the matter is referred & wholy reserued, till youre Maiestye maye conueniently haue the ordering therof, they of the religion, of the refourmed Churche and congre∣gation in the lowe Countries, proteste, that they will do nothing in case of reli∣gion, to the offence of the consciences of

the other sorte, which either of ignorance or for feare of afterclappes, sticke still to their popish ceremonies, and haue deter∣mined with themselues not to gainesaye nor withstande it: but will rather in way of charitie and brotherly loue, estéeme of them, as of their brethē, or deare friends, and praye vnto God for them continual∣ly, that hée woulde vouchsafe hereafter, when his good pleasure shall be, to lighten their heartes and vnderstandings wyth the light and shining beames of hys gos∣pell. And they doe also greately mislike the bolde attempts of children, and foolish women, and other abiect persons, that haue presumed, contrary to the willes of the wiser sorte, of their own heads with∣out aucthoritie or commission to plucke downe and to breake Images that stoode in the Popish Churches, the which rash∣nesse and headinesse, they do in no wise allowe, but thinke it a matter very incō∣venient, and farre vnmete for them to doe whiche desire to fauour and further common peace and tranquilitie among the people.

But perhaps some will obiect agaynst me,* 1.30 that where as be mē of diuers religi∣ons, there cā in no case vnitie & cōcord be maintained. But this question is not pro∣per to this time and place, but requireth some especial discourse at large, wherof I purpose godwilling to entreat, at some o∣ther conuenient leysure, & to dedicate it in like case to your Maiestie. And yet thus much wil I say by the way, y^t those men, whiche be of that opinion, do greate iniu∣rye and wrong to Christian Princes, in derogating from them that wisedome, & worldly pollicie, whiche we may plainly sée to be in the aduersaries of our religi∣on. For who is ignorant, that the Turke doeth not onely permitte thrée seuerall sortes of religion in the Citie of Constanti∣nople, but dothe séeke to maintaine them? and yet there is as greate diuersitie bée∣twixte them as is béetwixte chalke and chéefe. For howe muche trowe you dothe the Turkes Alkoran differ from Moses lawe? Or what affinitie & likenesse hathe either of these twoo wyth Christian reli∣gion, séeing that bothe those sectes detest

and abhorre Iesus Christe our redemer & high priest? notwithstanding it is a mar∣uellous matter to consider what greate loue, what peace, what amitie and friend∣ship is among them in these common and ciuill affaires. How much more likelye is it then, that they which are partakers of one selfe redemer and sauior, the same Gospell, the very same spirit, & beliefe & profession, should liue and dwell togither in amitie and concord, considering they differ not so muche in the groundes and chiefe articles of religiō, as in the consti∣tutions of man, the worship of idolles & false gods, & certain foolish and vayne su∣perstitions and ceremonies.

* 1.31What should I néed here to rehearse, that the pope himselfe is not ashamed not only to entertayne in his owne Citie and country, the Iewes, who be the very pro∣fessed enimies of Christ, to fauour them, to cherishe, to take them into his professi∣on, but which is moste shamefull and ab∣hominable aboue al other, to appoint the certaine churches, streats and dwelling places apart frō the Christians, in which

they may fréely & without controlement or interruption of any, renue the olde ce∣remonies and sacrifices of the Mosaicall law, the which are wholy abrogated and dissanulled, by the commyng of Messias & sauiour Iesus Christ, by which exercises, who is there of so simple consideration, but hée maye easilye perceiue howe foule a spotte of impietie and ignominie it is to the blemishing of the name of Christe. For if those things be of any vertue and efficacie nowe in these daies: then was it in vaine that Christe tooke thys fleshe vppon hym and came into thys worlde, and that his most cōfortable and whole∣some sacrifice, which he did vpon the aul∣tar of his crosse, is to be estéemed, but of little price. O notable lying and blasphe∣my, O moste horrible mischiefe and vil∣lanye vnneth to be satisfied wyth all the most terrible torments and punishments, that mā can deuise or endure.

Wherefore, if thys holye man maye for hys priuate lucres sake, and on∣lye for hope of a little peltyng com∣moditye to bryng so hatefull and de∣testable

a kinde of religion into his coun∣tries and seignories, and into the societie and felowship of Christian people. How muche more reason is it, that youre Ma∣iestie shoulde embrace and receiue twoo manner of religions within youre Ma∣iesties Realmes and dominions, whyche haue some likenesse and agréement togy∣ther, forasmuch as they do both acknow∣ledge and confesse al one redéemer and sa∣uiour of mankinde, differing in effect on∣ly herin, that the one sorte affirmeth that we be fréely and of méere grace and fa∣uoure reconciled to God the father, by the redemption of oure Sauioure Iesus Christ, without any respecte of oure me∣rites, or paimentes of money? the other addeth to the perfecte and absolute worke of Christ, many other ceremonies and circumstances of their owne good déedes & merites. The which controuersie might very easily by compounded betwixt thē, if it woulde please youre maiestie to en∣termedle in thys matter, and to vse that aucthoritie which of right you ma••, the whiche good worke and enterprise of re∣conciling

these two Churches toguther that are at this iarre betwixte thēselues, I am verily perswaded, would be moste profitable to your countrey and subiects, moste acceptable vnto God, m••ste glori∣ous to your highenesse, and sounde most to the continuance of youre honour and renowne, to all the posteritie, that euer youre Maiestie coulde or maye take in hande. The fame and memorie whereof will for euer be recorded in the writings & remembrāces of al men and the sound of your praises therfore moūt alofte and ascende aboue the skyes. By occasion wherof, youre subiectes of the low coun∣tries, in all things most dutifull toward youre Maiestie, and mindefull of so great a benefite bestowed by youre highenesse vppon them, your poore vassalles will be more and more inflamed in hearte and minde to pray vnto God continuallye for youre Maiesties most happy, prosperous and flourishing estate in abundaunce of honoure and felicitie. But forasmuche as the heartes of Kings and Princes bée not in their owne power and willes, but

in the hande of God to dispose and tur•• them as it séemeth best to his holye wi•• and pleasure, as well sayeth Salomon. Omitting many other reasons wyth th•• which your Maiestie might be drawn t•• haue compassion vpon your poore subiect•• miserably oppressed & complayning the•• selues most lamentably, I will conuert•••• and direct my selfe and my whole spech•• to Almightie God, our moste mercyful•• and gentle Father, in moste humble wise beséechyng his fatherly goodnesse, that he woulde vouchesafe to looke vppon vs moste myserable caytifes wyth hys mer∣cifull eies of compassion and pitie, not as vppon the offspring of our olde parent A∣dam, but rather as vpon hys dearely be∣loued children engrafted and implanted into the bodye and stocke of hys béeloued sonne Iesus Christ, through whose only mediation, intercession, and benefite oure heauenlye father putteth all oure offences oute of hys remembraunce, by the whyche wée haue prouoked hys wrathe and indignation againste vs, for the whych wée are dayly plagued, while

Kyngs and Princes, who oughte moste carefullye and tenderlye to tender the weale of Christes Churche, forgetting theyr duetye in that behalfe, doe offer the same to the spoile and rauine of moste deadlye ennimies and desperate cutte-throates: euen hym I saye, the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe, I moste har∣••ily and humbly beséeche to stirre vppe youre Maiesties mind with some sharpe ••ricke and touche of hearte, to vnder∣take the hearing and debating of thys quarrell, that hée woulde inflame youre mynde wyth some feruent zeale and affection of hys holye Spirite, that youre Maiestye by meanes thereof béeyng excited and prouoked to séeke the honoure, and glorye, and encrease of hys sonnes Kyngdome, beséeching him in lyke manner, that hys holye Spirit abidyng alwayes and remainyng wyth you, hée woulde graunte vnto youre Maiestye a moste happye and long lyfe vppon Earthe: And as hée hymselfe was raised vp from deathe moste glori∣ouslye, so likewise hée woulde exchange

this your mortall and corruptible ly•• wyth the fruition of his heauenly an•• ••¦ternall lyfe, and make you partaker that euerlasting ioye and blessed∣nesse which he hath prepared for all those, whych wyth a sure and an vndoubted fayth, embrace hys Hea∣uenlye pro∣mises.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The con∣iunction of Christe and his mem∣bers is spi∣rituall.
• * 1.2

  Math. 28.
• * 1.3

  The badge and token of our re∣generation.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 8. The holy spirite in the mindes of the rege∣nerate. Esay. 59.
• * 1.5

  The en∣crease of faith. The morti∣fication of the fleshe.
• * 1.6

  Brotherly charitie.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 12.
• * 1.8

  Galath. 5.
• * 1.9

  Coloss 3.
• * 1.10

  Iohn. 4.
• * 1.11

  The vvise sentence of Salomon vppon the tvvo har∣lottes.
• * 1.12

  The Ro∣mish chur∣che is no mother but a stepdame.
• * 1.13

  The care that the heathen princes had in deciding their sub∣iects causes
• * 1.14

  Deut. 17.
• * 1.15

  For vvhat purpose kings vver anoynted.
• * 1.16

  The au∣thoritie of the Ma∣gistrate pro¦ceedeth from God. Rom. 13.
• * 1.17

  Armour and vvea∣pons vnne∣cessary in∣struments to remoue abuses.
• * 1.18

  Epist. 73.
• * 1.19

  The incō∣ueniences that ensue vvhere re∣ligion is forced.
• * 1.20

  The armor of Christi∣ans against persecutiō by silence and hope.
• * 1.21

  Forced re∣ligiō hard∣ly taketh depe roote In the hear••
• * 1.22

  The vvay to vvinn•• men to Christia•• religion.
• * 1.23

  Act. 8.
• * 1.24

  Hereto maye in a sorte be applied that of the Poet. Niti∣mur in veti∣tum semper cupimusque negat••••d est. VVee striue for that vvee moste are forbidde.
• * 1.25

  Micheas a∣lone prea∣cheth the truthe a∣gainste 400. false Prophets. 1. Reg. 22: Psalm. 34.
• * 1.26

  Flaunderrs a place of good enter¦tainment.
• * 1.27

  A perillous matter to ••riue a multitude ••nto de∣••paire.
• * 1.28

  The cle∣mency of Charles the ••ifte to∣vvards the Spaniards ••hat rebel∣led.
• * 1.29

  The petiti∣on of those of the lovv countries.
• * 1.30

  VVhether men of di∣uers religi∣on maye be at peace one vvith another.
• * 1.31

  The Pope giueth en∣tertainmet to Ievves & levvishe ceremonies