crosse vpon him, followed Christ. MarginaliaCōmendation of Amedeus pope electe.In which place he being conuersaunt by the space of manye yeares, shewed forth great example of holynes, wearing no other garmentes then such as could withstand the colde, neyther vsing any kinde of daynty fare, then onely to resist hunger, watching and praying the most part of the nyght. wherfore thys Prince is not newly come vnto the churche (as some do suppose) but being a Christian, borne of progenitoures, a thousande yeares and more beyng Christians, dothe nowe serue God in a monasterye. MarginaliaTo haue a wife is no let for a good man to be elected pope.But as touching that also whiche is spoken concerning a wife, I do not regarde it: when as not onely he which hath had a wife, but he also whiche hath a wife may bee elect and chosen pope. For why do the doctours dispute, whether a maried man chosen pope, ought to performe his duety toward his wife, but onely because a maried man might bee receiued and chosen? MarginaliaPopes haue bene maried.For as you know well inough, there were many popes that had wiues: & Peter also was not w^tout a wife. MarginaliaRead the v. epistle of Ignatius & you shall see that the Apostles had wiues, and Baptista Mātuanus maketh mention how that Hilarius bishop of Pictauia had a wife.But what do we stand aboute this? for paraduenture it had bene better that more priests had bene maried, for many should be saued thorow mariage, which are now damned thorowe their single lyfe. But hereof we wil (saith he) speak in an other place. But this semeth vnto me, rather to be laughed at, then worthy any aunswere, which is obiected touchyng his children. For what can children (specially beyng of great age) be impediment or let vnto the father, being a Byshop? Doth not the Scripture say, wo be vnto hym þ^t is alone, for if he fall, hee hath none to helpe hym vp againe? MarginaliaEccl. 4.This can not be imputed vnto the prince, for hee hath. ij. sonnes, both comely and wise. Whereof the one is prince of Piemont, the other Earle of the Gebennians. These mē will rule the countrey of Sauoy in the absence of their father, & will helpe him, if he haue neede, for they haue already learned to rule ouer that people. I praye you what hurte is it for a Byshop of Rome, to haue valiaunt children, whiche may helpe their father agaynst tyrauntes? O most reuerent fathers, the more I do behold the storme of this moste peruerse & froward time, the more I do consider the vexations & troubles, whiche the churche is now tormented with all: I do somuch the more thinke it profitable, yea and necessary, that this mā should be chosen prince and head: and I will thincke that God hath shewed his mercy vpon vs, if I may see hym haue the gouernaunce ouer this boate. Consider, I pray you, into what straightes we are now driuē: with what perils wee are now vexed and tossed. What Prince is it that is obedient vnto this Councell? For some will not confesse that the Councell is here, neither receiue our decrees: other some cōfesse it in theyr wordes, but by their dedes they declare it to be at Florence For albeit that by their wordes & letters, they do not denye that the church is here, yet do they procure promotions at the handes of Gabriell, which is deposed. MarginaliaSchisme in the church.This is the state of þ^e church: with these stormes and tempestes the shippe is shaken & brused: Wicked children haue risen vppe agaynst theyr mother, whiche beyng vnmindefull of their mothers labours and kyndnes towardes thē, despise her, contēne & beat her. What is to be done here in? Shall we chuse a bare mā, which shal rather be derided of our princes, thē had in reuerence? The dayes are not now, that mē haue respect onely vnto vertue: for (as the Satyricall Poet writeth) vertue is praised, but is coldly folowed. A poore mā speaketh, & they aske what is he? Truly vertue is good: but for our purpose, it must be marked and looked vpō, whether it be in a riche man, or a poore man. You must chuse a gouernour which may rule the shyp not only by Councel, but by power also. The winde is great: wherfore except the Councell be good, and the power strong, the ship shalbe broken, & all put in daunger. The memorial is yet fresh before our eyes: þ^t the princes doe neglect þ^e authoritie whiche is of no force or power. Is there not great valiantnesse shewed in this point, in that you fea-ryng no perill nor daunger, either of life or goodes, haue so long contended for the truth of Christ? But the most mighty and highe God looketh downe from an highe, & will resiste this theyr pride. MarginaliaGood it were that temporall dominions were diuided from the church.I haue often consēted vnto theyr opinion, whiche sayd it was expedient, that the temporall dominions should be deuided from the Ecclesiasticall state: for I did thincke þ^t the priests should therby be made more apt to the diuine ministry, and the secular princes more obedient vnto the clergye: but for so much as at this present, the Churches of the worlde are possessed, partly by Eugenius & partly by other tyrantes, we must prouide þ^t we chuse such a one, which may recouer agayn þ^e patrimony of the church, & in whom the office of Christes vicar maye not be contemned: through the shielde of whose power, their contumacy may be suppressed, which contemne both veritie and reason. Wherunto no man semeth vnto me more apte or mete, then Amadeus Duke of Sauoy, which holdeth the one part of his possessions in Italy, and the other in Fraunce: Vnto whome all Christen princes are allied either by consanguinitie, or ioyned by amitie and frendshyp, and whose vertue, how famous it is, I haue all ready declared. Why do wee then stay or doubt to chuse hym? then whom Gabriell feareth no mā more. Let hym therfore perish with the sweard wherewithall he hathe stricken. There is no man which can more pacify the churche then he. Do you require deuotion in a Bishop? there is no man more deuout then he. Do ye require prudence? Now ye vnderstand by his former lyfe, what maner of man he is. If ye seke for iustice, his people are a witnes therof: so that whether you seke for vertue or power, al are here presēt before you. Whereupon do ye stay? Go to I pray you: chuse this mā. He will augmēt the faith: he wil reforme maners, and preserue the authoritie of the church. Haue ye not heard these troubles of the church to haue bene afore spoken of, and that the tyme now present should be an end of all troubles? Haue ye not heard, that about this tyme, there should a Pope be chosen, which should comfort Sion, and set all thynges in peace? And who, I pray you, should he be that could fulfill these things, except we chuse this man? Beleue me, these sayings must be fulfilled, & I trust that God will moue your myndes thereunto. Notwithstandyng, doo what soeuer ye shall thinke most good and holy.

When he had spoken these wordes, the greatest nomber of the electours semed to consent vnto him, and hys woordes tooke such effect, that in the next Scrutiny, the matter was finished and ended, MarginaliaAmadeus duke of Sauoy chosen pope.and when the Scrutiny was opened, it was founde that Amedeus, the most deuout duke of Sauoy, accordyng to the decree of the Coūcell, was chosen pope. Wherfore sodēly there was great ioy and gladnes amongst them, and all men highly commended their doynges. Then the Cardinall Arelatensis, published vnto them the name of the elect Byshop. After this, all the Prelates in their robes, pontificalibus and miters, and all the clergy of the citie commyng vnto the conclaue, the electours beyng lykewise adourned, they brought them vnto the great Churche, whereas after great thankes geuen vnto God, and the election agayne declared vnto the people, a Hymne beyng song for ioye, the congregation was dissolued.

This Amedeus aforesayd, was a man of reuerent age, of comely stature, of graue & discrite behauiour: also before maried. MarginaliaPope Fœlix. 5.Who thus beyng elect for pope about Nouember, was called Fœlix. v. & was crowned in þ^e citie of Basill, in þ^e moneth of Iuly. There were present at his coronation Lewes Duke of Sauoy: Philip Earle Gebenens. Lewes Marques of Salutze, The Marques of Rotelen: Conrade of VVusperghey, chamberleyne of the Impyre: The Earle of Dierstein: The Ambassadours of the cities of Strasbrough, Berne, Friburge, Solatorn, with a great multitude of other beside, MarginaliaThe number of people at the coronation of pope Fœlix.to the vew of. 50. thou