and gouernaunce, what and how noble it hath bene: First know ye this, that this man hath raigned since his fathers decease, about. xl. yeares.

During whose tyme, iustice, the Lady and Queene of all other vertues, hath alwayes florished: For he hearyng his subiectes himselfe, would neuer suffer the poore to be oppressed, or the weake to be deceiued. He was the defender of the fatherles, the aduocate of the widowes, and protector of the poore. Ther was no rapine or robbery in all his territory. The poore and rich liued all vnder one lawe, neither was he burthenous vnto his subiectes, or importune agaynst straungers throughout all his countrey: there was no greuous exactions of money, throughout all his dominion. He thought himselfe rich inough, if the inhabitaūts of his dominions did abounde and were rich, knowing that it was the point of a good shepheard to sheare hys sheepe, and not to deuour them. In this also was his chiefe studye and care, that hys subiectes might liue in peace, and such as bordered vpon him, might haue no occasion of grudge.

By which policies he did not onely quietly gouerne his Fathers dominion, but also augmented the same by others, which willingly submitted themselues vnto hym. He neuer made warre vpon any, but resisting against such as made warre vpon him, he studied rather to make peace, thē to seeke any reuenge, desiring rather to ouercome his enemies with benefites, then with the sword. He maryed onely one wife, which was a noble virgin, and of singuler beutie and chastitie. He would haue all his family to keepe their handes and eyes chaste and continent, and throughout all his house, honesty and integritie of maners was obserued. When as his wife had chaunged her life, and that he perceiued hys Duchy to be established, & that it should come without any controuersie vnto his posteritie, he declared hys mynd which was always religious, and dedicate vnto god, and shewed what will and affection he had long borne in his hart. For he contemnyng the pompe and state of this world, callyng vnto hym his deare friendes, departed and went into a wildernes: where as building a goodly Abbey, he addicted himselfe wholy to the seruice of God, and takyng his crosse vpon hym, followed Christ.MarginaliaCōmendatiō of Amedeus Pope electe. In which place he beyng cōuersaunt by the space of many yeares, shewed forth great example of holynesse, wearyng no other garmentes then such as could withstand the cold, neyther vsing any kynde of dainty fare, then onely to resist hunger, watchyng and praying the most part of the nyght. Wherfore this Prince is not newly come vnto the Church (as some do suppose) but beyng a Christian borne of progenitours, a thousand yeares and more beyng Christians, doth now serue God in a monastery.

MarginaliaTo haue a wife is no let for a good man to be elected Pope. But as touching that, also which is spoken concerning a wife, I do not regarde it: when as not onely he which hath had a wife, but he also which hath a wife may bee elect & chosen pope. For why do the doctours dispute, whether a maried man chosen pope, ought to performe his duetie 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: and Peter also was not without a wife.MarginaliaRead the 5. epistle of Ignatius & you shall see that the Apostles had wiues, & Baptista Mantuanus maketh mētion how that Hilarius byshop of Pictauia had a wife. But what do we stand aboute this? for paraduentuer it had bene better that more priestes had bene maried, for many should be saued thorow mariage, which are now damned thorow their single lyfe. But hereof we will (sayth 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, beyng a Byshop? Doth not the Scripture say wo be vnto hym that is a lone, for if he fall, hee hath none to helpe hym vp agayne?MarginaliaEccle. 4. This can not be imputed vnto the prynce, for hee hath. ij. sonnes, both comely & wise. Whereof the one is prince of Piemont, the other Earle of the Gebennians: these men will rule the countrey of Sauoy in the absence of their father, & will helpe him, if he haue need, for they haue alreadye learned to rule ouer that people. I pray you what hurt is it for a byshop of Rome, to haue valiaūt childrē, which may helpe their father against tyraūtes? O most reuerent fathers, the more I do behold the storme of this most peruerse and froward time, the more I do consider the vexations and troubles. Which the churche is now tormented with all: I do sommch the more thinke it profitable, yea & necessary, that this man should be chosen prince and head: I will thincke that God hath shewed hys mercy vpon vs, if I may see hym haue the gouernaunce ouer this boate. I pray you cōsider, into what straights we are now driuē, with what perils we are now vexed & tossed. What prince is it þ^t is obedient vnto this Coūcell? For some will not confesse that the Coūcell is here, neither receiue our de crees: other some confesse it in theyr wordes, but by their deedes they declare it to be at Florence For albeit that by their wordes & letters, they do not denye that the churche is here, yet do they procure promotions at the handes of Gabriell, which is deposed.MarginaliaSchisme in the Church. This is the state of the Church: with these stormes and tempestes the shippe is shaken and brused: Wicked chyldren haue risen vppe agaynst theyr mother, whiche beyng vnmyndefull of their mothers labours & kyndenesse towardes them, despyse her, contēne & beat her. What is to be done here in? Shall we chuse a bare man, which shall rather be derided of our princes, thē had in reuerence? The dayes are not now, that men haue respect onely vnto vertue: for (as the Satyricall Poet writeth) vertue is praysed, but is coldly folowed. A poore mā speaketh, & they aske what he is? Truely vertue is good: but for our purpose, it must be marked and looked vpon, whether it be in a riche man or a poore man. you must chuse a gouernour which may rule the shyp not onely by Councel, but by power also. The Winde is great: wherefore except þ^e Councell be good, and the power strong, the shyp shalbe broken, and all put in daūger, The memorial is yet fresh before our eyes: that the princes do neglect the authoritie which is of no force or power. Is there not great valiantnesse shewed in this point, in that you fearyng no perill nor daunger, either of lyfe or goodes, haue so long contended for the truth of Christ? But the most mighty & highe God looketh downe from an high, and will resist this their pryde.MarginaliaGood it were that temporall dominions were deuided from the Church. I haue often consented vnto their opinion, which sayd it was expedient, that the temporall dominions should be deuided from the Ecclesiasticall state: for I did thinke that the priests should therby be made more apt to the diuine ministry, and the secular princes more obedient vnto the clergy: but for so much as at this present, þ^e churches of the world are possessed, partly by Eugenius and partly by other tyrantes, we must prouide that we chuse such a one, which may recouer agayn the patrimony of the Church, and in whom the office of Christes vicar may 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, thē Amadeus duke of Sauoy, which holdeth the one part of his possessions in Italy, and the other in Fraunce: Vnto whom all Christen princes are allied eyther by consanguinitie, or ioyned by amitie and frendship, & whose vertue, how famous it is, I haue already declared. Why do we then stay or doubt to chuse hym? then whome Gabriell feareth no man more. Let hym therfore perish with the sword wherewithall he hath stricken. There is no man which can more pacifie the Church then he. Do you require deuotion in a Bishop? there is no man more deuout then he. Do ye require prudence? Now ye vnderstād 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, all are here present before you. Whereupon do ye stay? Go to I pray you: chuse this man. He wyll augment the fayth: he wyll 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 ende of all troubles? Haue ye not heard that about this tyme, there should a Pope be chosen, which should comfort Syon, and set all things in peace? And who I pray you should he be that could fulfill these thinges, except we chuse this man? Beleue me, these sayinges must be fulfilled, and I trust that God will moue your mynds therunto. Notwithstandyng, do whatsoeuer ye shall thinke most good and holy.

When he had spoken these wordes, the greatest number of the electours semed to consent vnto hym, and his wordes 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 found that Amedeus, the most deuout duke of Sauoy accordyng to the decree of the Councell, was chosen Pope. Wherfore sodenly 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 bishop. After this, all the prelates in their robes, pontificalibus, and miters, and all the clergy of the city commyng vnto the conclaue, the electours beyng lykewise adourned, they brought thē vnto the great church, where as after great thankes geuen vnto God, and the election agayne declared vnto the people, a Hymne beyng song for ioy, the congregation was dissolued.

This Amedeus aforesayd, was a man of reuerent age, of comely stature, of graue and discrite behauiour: also before maried.MarginaliaPope Felix. 5. Who thus beyng elect for Pope about Nouember, was called Felix the v. and was crowned in the citie of Basill, in the moneth of Iuly. There were present at his co-