more. Wherupon, William the noble protectour of the councell, callyng vnto hym foure men on eyther parte, intreated touchyng the pacifying of þ^e matter: by whose aduice, the Councell decreed to send a famous Ambassade wyth the Bohemian ambassadors vnto Prage, wher as the people should assemble vpon Sonday. MarginaliaThe ambassadours of the Boh. returne without agrement.But they would not receyue these conditions of peace, which wer offred, but made hast to depart. Wherupō, the fourtene day of April, there was tenne chosen out of the councel, to goe with the Bohemian Ambassadours vnto Prage.

MarginaliaThe comming of the Legates to Prage.It were to long here to declare what honoure was done vnto these ambassadours, all the way in their iourney, and specially when they came vnto Boheme by the citizens of Prage, when as a great number of Bohemiās were assembled at Prage at the day appointed, bothe of the cleargie, nobilitie, and common people.

After the cōming of these Ambassadours, much contention began to ryse betwene the parties. MarginaliaIoh. Rochezanus speaketh.First began Ioan Rochezan⁹, who speaking in the publike person of the comminaltie, laboured to commend and prefer the iiij. verities of the Bohemians, before propounded: charging also the prelates and priestes for their slaundrous obtrectations, and vndeserued contumelies, wherwyth they did infame the noble kingdome of Boheme, complayning also that they would not receaue those Christian verities, left and allowed by their king VVinceslaus, now departed. MarginaliaEx Cochleo hist. lib. 7.Wherfore he required them in the behalf of þ^e whole nation, that they would leaue of hereafter to oppresse thē in such sort, and þ^t they would restore to them agayn their Iosephes vesture, that is, the ornament of their good fame and name, whereof their bretherne, their enemies had spoyled them, &c.

MarginaliaPolomar answereth to the Bohemians.To this Polomar maketh aunswer agayne, wyth a long and curious oration, exhortyng them to peace and vnitie of the church, which if they would embrace, all other obstacles and impediments (said he) should be soone remoued, promising also that this their vesture of honour and fame, should be amply restored agayne: and afterward, if there were anye doubtfull matters, they myght and should be the better discussed.

MarginaliaThe Bohemians reply agayne to Polomar.But all this pleased not the Bohemians, vnlesse they might first haue a declaratiō of their iiij. articles, which if they mighte obtayne, they promised then to embrace peace & concord. Which peace (said they) begā first to be broken by thēselues, in that the coūcel of Constance by their vniust condemnation, burned Iohn Hus, and Hierome of Prage, and also by their cruell Buls and censures, raysed vp fyrst excommunication, then warre against the whole kingdome of Boheme.

MarginaliaPolomar extolleth the Councells.Hereunto Polomar reclaiming againe, began to aduaunce and magnifie the honor and dignity of generall councels. To conclude, as much as the said Polomar did extoll the autority of the Councels, so much did the aunswer of the Bohemians extenuate the same: MarginaliaGenerall councells may erre and haue erred.saying that the latter councels which are not expressed in the law of God, haue erred, and might erre, not onely in fayth, but also in manners. For that whiche hath chaunced to the grene wood, may also chaunce vnto the drye. But of all other, the most strong pillers of the militant church, that Apostles I meane: seeme all to haue erred, and the catholike faith to haue remayned three dayes sounde and incorrupt onely in the virgin Mary. No Christian man therefore ought to be compelled to stand to the determination of the Pope or the Councell, except it bee in that which is plainly expressed in the law of God. For it is euident, that all the generall councels which haue ben of long time, haue reformed very few thinges as touching the fayth, peace, and maners of the church: but haue alwayes both in their life and decrees, notoriously swarued, and haue not stablished them selues vpon the foundation, which is Christ. Wherefore the sayd Bohemiās protested that they would not simply and plainly (Godbeing their good Lord) yeld themselues to their doctrine, nor to such rashe and hastye decrees: lest throughe that their hasty and vncircumspect submission, they shoulde binde their faith and life, contrary to the wholesom and sound doctrine of our Lord Christ Iesus. In summe, in no case they would enter into anye agrement of peace, except their foure articles, which they compted for Euāgelicall verities, were first accepted & approued. Which being obtayned (sayd they) if they woulde condescende with them in the veritie of the Gospell, so woulde they ioyne together, and bee made one with them in the Lord. &c. MarginaliaEx Cochlæo Hist. lib. 7.Ex Cochleo. Hist. lib. 7.

MarginaliaThe ambassadours of the councell, & the Bohemians could not agree.When þ^e Ambassadours saw the matter would not otherwise be brought to passe, they required to haue those Articles deliuered vnto them in a certeine forme, which they sent vnto the Councell by three Bohemian Ambassadours.

MarginaliaA declaratiō of iii. articles promised to the Bohemians by the councell.Afterward the Councell sent a declaration into Boheme, to be published vnto the people, in the common assemblies of the kyngdome, by the Ambassadours, which were commaunded to report vnto the Bohemians, in the name of the Councell, that if they would receiue the declaration of those three Articles, and the vnitie of the Churche, there should be a meane founde whereby the matter touchyng the fourth Article, of the communion vnder both kyndes, shoulde bee passed with peace and quietnes.

They propounded in Prage, in an open assembly of the nobles and commons, the declarations of the three Articles in forme folowyng.

MarginaliaA declaratiō of the councell to the Bohemiās, concerning the first iii. articles.For so much as touchyng the doctrine of the veritie, we ought so to procede soberly & warrely, that the truth may be declared, with wordes beyng so orderly conceyued & vttered, that there be no offence geuen to any mā, wherby he should fal or take occasion of errour, and (to vse the wordes of Isidore) þ^t nothyng by obscuritie be left doubtful: wheras you haue propoūded touchyng þ^e inhibition & correction of sinnes, in these wordes: MarginaliaThe second propositiō propoūded by the Bohemians, with the delcaration from the Councell.all mortall sinnes and specially open offences, ought to bee rooted out, punished, and inhibited, by them whose duty it is so to do, reasonably and accordyng to the lawe of God: here is to be marked and vnderstand, that this worde (whose duty it is) is too generall, and may be an offence: and accordyng to the meanyng of the Scripture, wee ought not to lay any stomblyng stocke before the blind, and the diches are to be closed vp, that our neighbours oxe do not fall therin: all occasion of offence is to be taken away. Therfore we say that accordyng to the meanyng of the holy Scripture, and the doctrine of the holy doctours, it is thus vniuersally is be holdē: MarginaliaPunishing of publike offēces how and by whom.that all mortall sinnes, specially publike offēces, are to be rooted out, corrected and inhibited, as reasonably as may be, accordyng to the lawe of God, and the institutions of the fathers. The power to punish these offenders, doth not perteyne vnto any priuate person, but onely vnto them whiche haue iurisdiction of the law ouer them, the distinction of law and iustice, beyng orderly obserued.

MarginaliaThe third article of the Bohemians, with the declaration from the Councell.As touchyng the preachyng of the word of god, which Article you haue alledged in this forme, that the worde of God should be frely and faithfully preached by þ^e fitte and apte ministers of the Lorde: least by this worde (frely) occasion may be takē of disordred libertie which (as you haue often sayd ye doo not meane) the circumstaunce therof is to be vnderstand: and we say, that (accordyng to the meanyng of the holy Scripture, and doctrine of the holy fathers) it is thus vniuersally to be beued: MarginaliaLibertie of preaching how farre and to whom it extendeth.þ^t the word of god ought frely, but not euery where, but faithfully and orderly, to be preached by þ^e priestes & Leuites of the Lord, beyng allowed & sent by their superiours, vnto whom that office apperteyneth, þ^e authoritie of þ^e Byshop alwayes reserued, who is þ^e prouider of al things according to þ^e institutiōs of þ^e holy fathers.