MarginaliaThe Merindolians require the iudgement of Cardinall Sadolet touchyng their articles.not onely of all that they had, but also their lyues. And moreouer, if there were any Iudge in all the countie of Venice, which by good and sufficient information, should be able to charge them that they had holden any erroneous doctrine, or mainteyned any other religion then was conteined in the articles of their confession, they desired hym that he would communicate the same vnto them, and with all obedience, they offered them selues to what so euer should be thought iust and reasonable. Vpon this request Cardinall Sadolet answered by his letters written by his Secretary, and signed with his own hand, the tenor wherof here ensueth.

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MarginaliaThe aunswere of Cardinall Sadolet to the Merindolians. I haue sene your request, and haue red the Articles of your confession, wherein there is much matter conteyned, and doe not vnderstand that you are accused for any other doctrine, but for the very same, which you haue confessed. It is most true, that many haue reported diuers thynges of you, worthy of reproofe, which after diligent enquiry made we haue founde to be nothyng els but false reportes and slaunders. As touchyng the rest of your Articles, it seemeth vnto me, that there are many wordes therein, which myght well be chaunged without preiudice vnto your confession. And lykewise it seemeth to me that it is not necessary that you shoulde speake so manifestly agaynst the Pastours of the Churche. For my parte, I desire your welfare, & would be sory that you should be so spoyled or destroyed, as they doe pretende. And to the ende you shall the better vnderstand my amitie and friendship towards you, shortly I will be at my house by Cabriers, whether ye may resort vnto me eyther in greater or smaller number, as you wyll, and returne safely without any hurt or damage, and there I wyll aduertise you of all things that I thinke mete for your profite and health.

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MarginaliaThe byshop of Cauaillon seeketh the destruction of Cabriers. About this tyme, which was the yeare of our lord. 1542. The Vicelegate of Auinion assembled a great number of men of warre at the sute of the B. of Cauaillon, to destroy Cabriers.MarginaliaCard. Sadolet returned backe the armye comming agaynst Cabriers. When the army was come within a myle of Cabriers, the Cardinall Sadolet went with spede vnto the Vicelegate, and shewed hym the request of the inhabitantes of Cabriers, with the Articles of their confession, and the offers that they made: so that for that present, the army retyred w^tout any damage or hurt done vnto the inhabitants of Carbeirs. After this the Cardinall Sadolet went vnto Rome. But before his departure he sent for diuerse of Cabriers, and certayne farmers of hys own, whom he knew to be of the number of those which were called Lutheranes,MarginaliaThe promise of Sadolet to hys tenauntes of Cabriers. and told them that he would haue them in remembrance as soone as he came vnto Rome, and communicate their Articles and confession vnto the Cardinals, trustyng to finde a meane to haue some good reformation, that God should be therby glorified, and all Christendome brought to an vnitie and concord: at the least, nothing at all doubtyng, but that the foulest abuses should be corrected and amended, aduertising them in the meane tyme to be wyse and circumspect, to watch and to pray for that they had many enemies. Wyth this Oration of Cardinall Sadolet, they of Cabriers were greatly comforted, trusting that at the sute of cardinal Sadolet they should haue aunswer of their confession. But at hys returne, they vnderstoode that he found all thynges so corrupt at Rome, that there was no hope of any reformation there to be had, but rather mortall warre against all such as would not lyue accordyng to the ordinances of þ^e church of Rome.MarginaliaThe Tresurer of Carpentras a priuate frende to them of Cabriers. Likewyse sayde the Treasurer of Carpentras, who albeit he payed out money to furnish souldioures that were hyred for the destruction of Cabriers, notwythstandyng he did ayde them secretly all that he myght. Howbeit he could not do it so secretly, but that it came to the knowledge of the Legate: wherupon he was cōstrained to withdraw himselfe.

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On the other part, the Bishop of Aix and Cauaillon  

pursued still the execution of the arest of Merindoll. Then it was ordeyned by the court of parliament, that accordyng to the kings letters Iohn Durand counsailer of the Court of parliament, with a Secretarie: and the Bishop of Cauaillon with a doctor of diuinitie, should go vnto Merindol, and there declare vnto the inhabitantes the errours & heresies which they knew to be conteyned in their confession, and make them apparaunt by good and sufficient information, and hauyng so conuicted them by the worde of God, they should make them to renounce and abiure the sayd heresies. And if the Merindolians did refuse to abiure, then they should make relation therof, that the Court might appoint how they should further proceede. After this decree was made, the Bishop of Cauaillon would not tary vntill the tyme which was appoynted by the Court, for the execution of this matter: but he hymselfe, with a Doctour of Diuinitie, came vnto Merindoll to make them to abiure. MarginaliaThe Byshop of Cauaillon commeth agayne to Merindoll. Vnto whom the Merindolians aunswered that he enterprised agaynst the authoritie of the Parliament, and that it was agaynst hys commission, so to do. Notwithstanding, he was very earnest with them that they should abiure, & promised them, if they would so doe, to take them vnder hys wyngs and protection, euen as the hen doth her chickens, and that they should be no more robbed or spoyled. Thē they required that he would declare vnto them what they should abiure.MarginaliaThe Popes bishops will come to no reasoning. The bishop answered that the matter neded no disputation, and that he required but onely a generall abiuration of all errours, which would be no damage or preiudice to them: For he hymselfe would not sticke to make the like abiuration. The Merindolians answered hym agayne, that they would do nothyng contrary to the decree and ordināce of the Court, or the kyngs letters, wherin he commaunded that first the errours should be declared to them, wherof they were accused: wherfore they were resolued to vnderstand what those errours and heresies were, that beyng enformed therof by the worde of God, they might satisfie the kynges letters: otherwise it were but hypocrisie and dissimulation, to do as he required them. And if he coulde make it to appeare vnto them by good and sufficient information, that they had holden any errours and heresies, or shoulde be conuict therupon by the worde of God, they would willingly abiure:MarginaliaThe bishops cōdemne the Merindolians for heresie, and yet can shewe no heresies in them by the word of God. or if in their confession there were any word contrary to the scriptures: they would reuoke the same. Contrarywise, if it were not made manifest vnto thē, that they had holden any heresies, but that they had alwayes liued accordyng to the doctrine of the Gospell, and that theyr confession was grounded vpon the same: then they ought by no meanes, to moue or constrayne them, to abiure any errours which they held not, and that it were plainly agaynst all equitie and iustice so to do.

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MarginaliaThe byshop sore agreened to haue heresie tryed by Gods word. Then the bishop of Cauaillon was maruelously angry, and woulde heare no worde spoken of any demonstration to be made by the worde of God, but in a fury cursed and gaue hym to the Deuill that first inuented that meane. Then the doctour of diuinitie whom the bishop brought thether, demaunded what Articles they were, that were presented by the inhabitauntes of Merindoll, for the bishop of Cauaillon had not yet shewed them vnto hym. Then the Byshop of Cauaillon deliuered the Doctour the confession. Which after he had read, the bishop of Cauaillon sayd, what? wyll you any more witnes or declaration? this is full of heresie. Then they of Merindoll demaunded in what point. Wherunto þ^e bishop knew not what to aunswer. Then þ^e doctour demaunded to haue tyme to looke vpon the Articles of the confession, and to consider whether they were agaynste the Scriptures or no. Thus the Byshop departed, beyng verye sore agrieued that he coulde not bryng hys purpose to passe.

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MarginaliaThe articles of the Merindolians approued by the Doctor. After eight dayes the Byshop sent for thys Doctour, to vnderstand how he myght order hymselfe to make those heresies appeare, which were in the sayd confession. Wherunto the Doctor aunswered, that he was neuer so much abashed: for when he had beholden the Articles of the confession, and the authorities of the Scripture that there were alleaged for the confirmation therof, he had found that those Articles were wholy agreeable and accordyng to the holy Scriptures, and that he had not learned so much in the scriptures all the dayes of his lyfe, as he had in those viij. days, in lookyng vpon those Articles and the authorities therein alledged.

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Shortly after, the bishop of Cauaillon came vnto Merindoll, and calling before him the childrē both great & smal, gaue them mony, and commaunded thē with fayre wordes, to learne the Pater noster and the Crede in latine.MarginaliaThe aunswere of the children of Merindoll to the Bysh. The most part of them answered that they knew the Pater noster, and the Crede alredy in latin, but they could make no reason of that which they spake, but onely in the vulgare tonge. The Bishop aunswered, that it was not necessary they shoulde be so cunnyng, but that it was sufficient that they knew it in latine, and that it was not requisite for their saluation, to vnderstand or to expound the articles of their faith: for there were many Bishops, Curates, yea and doctors of Diuinitie, whom it would trouble to expound the Pater noster, and the Crede.MarginaliaThe aunswere of the Bailife of Merindoll to the Bysh. Here the Bailiffe of Merindol, named Andrew Mainard, asked to what purpose it would serue,MarginaliaThe Pater noster in Latin. to say the Pater noster and the Creede, & not to vnderstand the same: for in so doing, they should but mocke and deride God. Thē sayd the Byshop vnto hym, do you vnderstād what is signified by these wordes, I beleue in God? The Bailife aūswered, I should thynke me selfe very miserable, if I dyd not vnderstand it, and then he began orderly to geue accoūt of hys fayth. Then sayd the Byshop, I woulde not haue thought there had bene so great Doctours in Merindoll. The Bailife aunswered: the least of the inhabitauntes of Merindol, can do it, yet more readily then I: but I pray

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