treade downe Sathan spedely vnder our feete. The author of peace confound the sower of discord. He that is the cause of all goodnes destroy the hater of that which is good, and which giueth cause of offense and sclaunder. And he which is God of all ioy and peace, send to vs, which are the shepheardes of his shepe reasonable, the aungell of peace and messenger of great glad tydynges, as he did in the Natiuitie of Christ, to the shepheardes of brute sheepe and vnreasonable, and make vs worthy to sing that ioyfull song of Gods prayse: Gloria in excelsis Deo, & in terra pax, hominibus bona voluntas, and to receaue one an other with an holy kysse. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the peace of God the father, and the communion of the holy spirite be with you alwayes. Amen.

MarginaliaAn other letter of Germanus Patriarch of Cōstantinople to the Cardinalles.AN other letter the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople wrote also the same tyme, to the Popes Cardinals, wherein he first commending them for theyr wisedome and counsell, and shewing what vtilitie cōmeth by good counsaile geuing: for so much as God (sayth he) many times that he hydeth from one, inspireth to an other, so that that good thing which by the almighty God is sonderly dispensed to diuers, through common counsel & conference, spreadeth to the publike vtilitie of many. &c. After this, eftsoones he beginneth to exhort them, that they like charitable ministers and discrete counsellours will take in hand the spirituall armour of God, to cast downe the stop and partitiō walle of the old discord betwene the Greekes and Latin Church, and that they will be a meanes to the Bishop of Rome, that they which so long haue bene disseuered by dissensiō, may now be cōioyned in vnity of peace, in brotherly charitie and communion of faith.

Concerning which matter I haue (saith he) already written to his holynes. And now I beseech the kyng of heauen, which tooke the shape of a seruaunt, to helpe hys miserable seruauntes: and was exalted vpon the crosse to raise them vp which were fallē into the profundity of desolation, that he will vouchsafe to put from your harts all elation of mynde, extolling it selfe ouer and aboue the vnitie of your brethren and felow seruauntes, and to lighten your consciences with the true light of vnderstāding, that we may altogether agree in one, and that there bee no schisme amongest vs. Let vs therfore as we are instructed, so abide in one mynde, that it be not sayd of vs, as it was of the Corinthians before vs: I hold of Paule, I of Apollo, I of Cœphas, and I of Christ: Marginalia1. Cor. 1.but that all we, as we holde the name of Christ, and are called Christians, so may also abide in that wherein we are instructed in one minde, that is, to folow loue and charity in Christ Iesus, hauing alwayes in our hartes the words of the Apostle, saying: One Lord, one Fayth, and one Baptisme.

And now to be playne with you in that I haue to say, I shall desire you not to be offended wyth me in vtteryng the truth as a frend vnto you. The wordes (saith Salomon) of a wise man telling truth, be like to nayles which be driuen in deepe. And truth, for the most part, breedeth enemyes. And therfore though I am partly afrayd, yet will I simply confesse the truth vnto you.MarginaliaThe tyranny & oppression of the church of Rome, is the onely cause of breakyng vnitie betwene the Greeke church and the Latine.Certes this diuision of Christian vnitie amongest vs, procedeth of no other cause but onely of the tyranny, oppression, and exactions of the church of Rome: which of a mother is become a stepdame, and hath put her children from her whom long tyme shee nourished (after the maner of a rauening byrde which driueth her young from her): which children how much the more humble and obedient they are to her, the lesse shee esteemeth them, and treadeth them vnder foote, not regarding the saying of the Gospell: Who so humbleth himselfe shalbe exalted.

MarginaliaLuc. 18.Let modestie therfore something tempere you, and let the auarice of the Court of Rome, although it can not wel out of the flesh which is bred in the bone, yet surcease a while, and let vs together condescend to the triall of the truth: which truth beyng founde out on both sides, let vs constantly embrace the same.

MarginaliaThe old amitie & cōcorde betwene the east church & the west.For why, we haue bene altogether some tymes both Italians & Grecians in one fayth, and vnder the same Canons: hauing peace ech with other, and defending one an other, and confounding the enemies of the Church. At what tyme many flying out of the west parts (whilest that the tyrannie of the heretickes indured) made their cōcourseto vs, and were receaued, and part fled vnto you, that is, olde Rome, as to a strong tower of refuge: and so receaued they comfort in both places, and one brother was thus receaued into the bosome of an other by mutuall loue for their defence.MarginaliaAgapitus & Vigilius, fled to Constantinople for succour.Then after, when Rome had bene often distressed by the barbarous and heathen nations, the Grecians were euer ready to rescue and deliuer them. Did not Agapitus and Vigilius flye vnto Constantinople by reason of the dissensions then at Rome, and being honorably receaued, were here defended vnder our protection? although, the lyke kindnes was neuer yet shewed of your part to vs agayne in our like necessities. Notwithstanding we ought to do good to them also that be vngratefull: for so doth the Sea participate her smoth and calme tides euen vnto the Pirates. And so God causeth the sunne to shine vpō the iust and vniust. But (alas for sorow) what bitter diuision is this that hath thus sequestred vs asonder? One of vs detracteth an other, shonnyng the company one of an other, as the damnation of his soule. What a mortal hatred is this come amōgest vs? if you thinke we are fallen, then do you helpe to lift vs vp: and be not to vs as a stōbling blocke to our bodely ruine, but helpers vnto the spirituall resurrection of our soules. So shall we acknowledge ourselues bounde vnto you to giue you condigne thankes accordyngly.

But if the blame and first origine of all this offence procedeth from Rome, and the successours of Peter the Apostle: then read you the wordes of S. Paule to the Galathians: saying. MarginaliaPaul rebuketh Peter.When Peter came vnto Antioche, I withstode him in the face, bycause he was to be rebuked. &c.MarginaliaGalat. 2.Howbeit this resistance was no cause of any discorde or breache betwene them: but the cause rather of further search and profounder disputations, prouoking tēporall agreement. For they were fast ioyned together in the bande of charitie in Christ, agreyng in fayth and conformitie of doctirne separated by no ambition or auarice. In which pointes would God we also were like vnto them. This to vs in our myndes gendreth a great offence, that your gapyng so greedely after terrene possessiōs, scrape together all that you can scratch and rake. You heape vp gold and siluer, and yet pretende that you be the Disciples of him whiche sayd: Gold and siluer I haue none. &c. MarginaliaActes. 3.You make whole kyngdomes tributary to you, and Kynges and Princes your vassals. You augment your Money by vsury, and by feates of Marchaūdise. You vnteach by your deedes, that which you teach in wordes.MarginaliaHe meaneth of the kingdome of England & other moe which were made tributary to the sea of Rome.

MarginaliaThe immoderate auarice of the Court of Rome.Moderate your selues therfore with more temperasice, that you may be an example to vs and to all the world. Ye see how good a thyng it is one brother to helpe an other. Onely God alone needeth no helpe or counsell, but men neede one to be holpen of an other. And were it not that I do reuerence the blessed Apostle Peter, the chief of Christes Apostles, and the rocke of our fayth, MarginaliaPeters fayth shaken.I would here put you in remembraunce how greatly this rocke was shaken and remoued from the foundation, at the sight of a sely womā: and Christ of his secret purpose permitted the same, which by the crowyng of the cocke brought him agayne to remēbraunce of that whiche was foretold him, and raysed him from the slumber of desperatiō. MarginaliaPeter an ensample of repētaūce.Then he beyng thus waked, washed his face with teares, cōfessing him selfe before God and all the world, to be a true paterne of repentaūce, which before bare the keyes of the kyngdome, as saying thus vnto vs: May not he which falleth, rise agayne? Oh you whiche are fallen, rise ye vp and behold me, and harken vnto me trauaylyng toward Paradise. The gates wherof to open I haue receaued power.

And thus do I write vnto you, not for any instruction, but onely to put you in remembraunce: for I know how God hath indued you with all wisedome and knowledge. As Salomon sayth: Giue onely occasion to the wise, and he wil learne wisedome: Teach the iust man, and he will be glad to take instruction.

MarginaliaChristian countreyes & nations in the East partes, which are not vnder the Byshop of Rome.This one thyng more I will say and so make an ende. There be great and mighty nations that are of like mynde and opinion with vs. First the Ethiopians that inhabite the chiefest part of the East. After that the Syrians: and other moe of greater nomber then they: and more disposed to vertue, as the Hyberi, Alani, Gothi, Charari, with innumerable people of Russia, and the kyngdome of great victory of the Vulgarians. And all these are obedient vnto vs as to their mother Church, persisting hetherto constantly in the auncient and true orthodoxasticall fayth immouable.

MarginaliaChrist onely head of the Church.The God of all holynes which for our sakes became mā, and which onely is the head of his Churche and congregation, vouchsafe to gather vs agayne together in vnitie, and graunt, that the Græcian Church together with her sister