Marginalia1558.poore people, which alone beare the burthen, and possesse in maner nothyng.

In this doyng, an infinite number of men, and euen of your Nobilitie, which liue of the Crucifixe, should employ them selues to your seruice and the common wealthes so muche the more diligently, as they see that ye recompence none but those that haue deserued: where as nowe there is a infinitie number of men in your kingdome, whiche occupie the chiefest and greatest Benefices, whiche neuer deserued any part of them. &c. And thus much touchyng the superfluous possessions of the Popes Lordly Clergie. Now proceeding further in this exhortation to the king, thus the letter importeth.

MarginaliaThe malicious and lying slaunders of the papistes to bring the true Gospellers in hatred with Princes.But when the Papistes see that they haue not to alledge for them selues any reason, they assay to make odious to your maiestie the Lutherans (as they call vs) and say: if their sayinges take place, ye shalbe fayne to remaine a priuate person: and that there is neuer chaunge of Religion, but there is also chaunge of Princedome: A thyng as false, as when they accuse vs to be Sacramentaries, and that we denye the authoritie of Magistrates, vnder the shadowe of certayne furious Anabaptistes, which Satan hath raysed in our tyme to darken the light of the Gospell: For the histories of the Emperours which haue begon to receyue the Christian Religion, and that which is come to passe in our tyme, shew the contrary.

MarginaliaConstantine confirmed in his kingdome the more, by receauing the Gospel.Was there euer Prince more feared and obeyed, then Constantine in receiuyng the Christian Religion? was he therfore put from the Empire? No, he was therby the more confirmed and established in the same, and also his posterity whiche ruled them selues by his prouidence. But suche as haue fallen away and folowed mens traditions, God hath destroyed, and their race is no more knowen in earth: So much doth God detest them that forsake hym.

MarginaliaExamples of England and Germany, how Princes loose no honor by the gospell.And in our tyme the late kynges of England and Germanie, were they constrayned in reprouyng superstitions, which the wickednes of the time had brought in, to forsake their kyngdomes and princedomes? MarginaliaThe Popes religion more noysome to the state of Princes, then the doctrine of the Lutherans.Al men see the contrary: and what honour, fidelitie, and obedience the people in our tyme that haue receyued the reformation of the gospel, do vnder their princes and superiours. Yea, I may say, that the princes knewe not before what it was to be obeyed, at that tyme when the rude and ignoraunt people receyued so redily the dispensations of the Pope, to driue out their own kynges and natural Lordes.

MarginaliaWholesome remedy shewed against the Popes pride.The true and onely remedie, Syr is, that ye cause to be holden a holy and free Coūcell, where ye should be chiefe, and not the Pope and his, who ought but onely to defend their causes by the holy Scriptures: that in the meane while ye may seeke out men not corrupted, suspected, nor parciall, whom ye may charge to geue report faythfully vnto you of the true sense of the holy Scriptures. And this done, after the example of the good kynges Iosaphath, Ezechias, and Iosias, ye shall take out of the Church all Idolatrie, superstition, and abuse, which is found directly contrary to the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament, and by that meanes ye shall guide your people in the true and pure seruice of God, not regarding in the meane tyme the cauilling pretenses of the Papistes, MarginaliaA blynde shift of the Papistes to stop Princes from calling generall Councels.which say, that such questions haue bene already answeared at general Councels: for it is knowen well enough, that no Councel hath ben lawfull since the Popes haue vsurped the principalitie and tyrannie vpon mens soules, but they haue made them serue to their couetousnes, ambition, and crueltie: and the contrarietie which is among those Councels, MarginaliaThe contrarietyes in the popes Councels, enough for their disproofe.maketh enough for their disproufe, beside a hundred thousand other absurdities against the word of God, which be in them. The true profe for suche matters is in the true and holy Scriptures, to the which no tymes nor age hath any prescription to be alledged agaynst them: for by them we receyue the Councels founded vpon the word of God, & also by the same we reiect that doctrine which is repugnaunt.

And if ye do thus Syr, God wyl blesse your enterprise, he wyll increase and confirme your raigne and Empire, and your posteritie. If otherwise, destruction is at your gate, and vnhappy are the people which shall dwell vnder your obedience. MarginaliaProphesie agaynst the French King.There is no doubt but God wyll harden your hart as he dyd Pharaoes, and take of the crowne from your head, as he dyd to Ieroboam, Nadab, Baza, Achab, and to many other kynges, which haue folowed mens traditions, agaynst the commaundement of God: and geue it to your enemies to triumph ouer you and your chyldren.

And if the Emperour Antonine the meeke, although he were a Pagan and Idolater, seeyng hym selfe bewrapt with so many warres, ceased the persecutions which were in his tyme agaynst the Christians, and determined in the ende to heare their causes and reasons, howe much more

ought you that beare the name of most Christian kyng, to be carefull and diligent to cease the persecutions agaynste the poore Christians, seeyng they haue not troubled, nor doo trouble in any wise the state of your kingdome, & your affayres: comsideryng also that the Iewes be suffered thorough al Christendome, although they be mortall enemyes of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche we holde by common accord and consent for our God, Redeemer, and Saueour: and that vntyll you haue heard lawfully debated, and vnderstande our reasons taken of the holy Scriptures, and that your maiestie haue iudged, if we be worthy of such punishmentes: For if we be not ouercome by the worde of God, the fires, the sword, nor the cruellest torments shal make vs afrayde. These be the exercises that God hath promised to his, of the which he foretold should come in the last tymes, that they should not be troubled when suche persecutions shal come vpon them.

Translated out of the Frenche booke, entituled, Commentaryes of the state of the Churche and publike weale. &c. pag. 7.

MarginaliaThe story and end of Henry 2. the French King, that would not be warned.WHo soeuer was the authour or authours of this letter aboue prefixed, herein thou seest (good Reader) good counsel geuen to the kyng, if he had the grace to receyue it, and had folowed the same, no doubt but Gods blessing workyng with hym, he had not only set that Realme in a blessed stay, from much disturbance, but also had continued hym selfe in al florishing felicitie of princely honour and dignitie. For so doth the Lord commonly blesse and aduaunce such kinges and Princes, as seeke his honour, & submyt their willes to his obediēce. But cōmonly þ^e fault of kings and potentates of this world is, that beyng set about with Parasites, MarginaliaWhat commeth to Kinges that refuse good counsell.eyther they seldome beare the truth told them, or if they doo, yet wyll they not lightly be put from their owne wylles, disdayning to be admonished by their inferiours, be their counsel neuer so wholesome and godly. Whiche thing many tymes turneth them to great plagues and calamitie, as by plentiful examples of kyngs destroyed, wounded, imprisoned, deposed, drowned, poysoned, &c. may wel to them that reade histories appeare, but especially in this present example of Henry Frenche kyng, the seconde of that name, is in this our age notoriously to be considered. Who beyng well warned before (as may seeme) woulde not yet surcease his cruell persecution agaynst the Lordes people, but rather was the more hardened in harte, and inflamed againste them, in so much that he sayd to Anne du Bourg, one of the high Court of Parlament in Paris, threatnyng hym, that he woulde see hym burne with his owne eyes.

MarginaliaHenry. 2. French king, wholy set to persecute the church of Christ.Further, howe his purpose was to extende his power and force likewise agaynst other places moe, in persecuting the Gospell of Christ, and professours thereof, to the vttermost of his abilitie, I leaue it to the report of thē, which in this matter know nore then I here wyll vtter.

MarginaliaGods mighty power agaynst his enemies.But notwithstandyng al these crackes and threatnings of the kyng (to see what the Lord can doo in makyng hygh kynges to stoupe) euen the same day when the kyng was in his most rage agaynst these good men, almighty God takyng the cause in hande to fight for his Church, so turned the matter, that he made the great enemie of his, both with his mouth and with his hande, to worke his owne destruction: with his mouth in commaundyng, with his hand in geuyng hym the Launce into his hand, which the same day gaue hym his deathes wounde, as by the sequele hereof in readyng ye may vnderstand.

KYng Henry being in the Parlament house, which was kept at the Fryer Augustines at Paris, because the Pallace was in preparyng agaynste the marriage of his daughter and his sister, and hauyng heard the opinion in religion of Anne du Bourg Counsaylour in the Lawe, a man eloquent and learned, he caused the sayde Anne du Bourg and Loys du Four Counsaylours, to be taken prisoners by the Constable of Fraunce, who apprehended them, and deliuered them into the handes of the Countie of Mongommery, the which caryed them to prison. Agaynst whom the kyng being wrathfull and angrye, among other talke, sayd to the sayd Anne du Bourg: These eyes of myne shall see thee burnt: And so on the. 19. of Iune, Commission was geuen to the Iudges to make his Proces.

Duryng this meane while, great feastes and banquets were preparing in the Court, for ioy and gladnes of the mariage that should be of the kings daughter and sister, against the last day of Iune saue one. So when the day and tyme