How in the persons of Romulus and Numa Pompilius their were two kindes of gouernmentes prefigured among the Italians FIrst we will consider euen as in the murther of Abell committed by Cain God did prefigure vnto vs that the good should be persecuted by the wicked for his seruice sake till the end of the world so also in the person of Romulus first founder of Rome murtherer of his brother Romus and Tassius his companion as also in the person of Numa Pompilius a most subtill and ingenious inuentor of a forged religion to establish his owne gouernment God would manifest vnto vs that this nation should serue it selfe héereafter with murthers and apparance of a counterfet religion to laie hands on others kingdomes and to snatch away the substance of other peoples for we sée euen as their first domination began at the first by effusion of bloud and after by cloake of religion so also it is come to passe that the first glorie of the great Empire of the Italians to the which all Europe was brought in subiection and made tributarie was gotten by the great murthers so commonly committed in the time of Marius and Sylla contriued by Augustus Caesar and by Anthony which lustre being by long tract of time dimmed and extingnished is by a cleane contrarie maner restored and restablished vnder a faire shew and cloake of religion Cap. 3. How the subtill Italian borroweth the name of the Pope to come to his pretences with more facilitie NOw I pray thée Reader be not persuaded that I meane by this discourse contemptuously to blame the Popes of Rome in their owne persons or any holy constitution in the Church of Rome My desire is only to lay open the déep reach and subtiltie of the Romanes who by a great foresight and immutable order haue béen able so to handle their affaires and to dispose of Popes of Kings and Princes of the earth in such sort that they haue got the head and rule ouer them and fetch round summes of deniers out of their cofers and from their commons besides For proofe hereof I will maintaine the like preposition that was held to Augustus Caesar the greatest happiest subtillest and most pollitike Monarke of the worlde It was this That he commanded indéed all nations and all the world trembled at the excellencie of his nature but yet that his wife commanded him and his daughter her mother giuing thereby to vnderstand that it was they that ruled only borrowing his name to authorise and establish what they listed So I say that whatsoeuer is ratified published and receiued vnder the name and authoritie of the Popes it is but the counsell and inuention of the Italians of Rome who to authorise their doings couer them with the name of the Pope and therefore must be attributed to them as to the inuentors persuaders and contriuers of that which procéedeth from his holines Cap. 4. A liuely patterne of Italian subtiltie in the person of Katherine de Medicis and her Florentine Counsell FOr confirmation of that which goeth before and for demonstration of the matter let vs set before our eyes the estate of France in the time that Katherine de Medicis Quéene-Mother liued and we shall sée as in a cleare glasse that she and her Councell of Italians got betwéen them the whole gouernment disposing of all the affaires in France into their hands and like bloodsuckers sucked the bloud of the poore people so dry as if it had béene crushed out in a wine-presse so that by such crueltie men perished in France by famine nakednes hearts griefe by thousands and millions and neuer were there so many died by poyson of Serpents and other venimous beasts nor by the crueltie of Tygers Lybbards Crocodiles Lynres Beares and other deuouring beasts since the creation of the world as by their tyrannous crueltie shewed whilest they bore the sway This could not any one French man perceiue to come to passe for so smal a matter as to haue matched y e daughter of an Italian Duke with a younger brother of France But herehence procéedeth it that this nation is so ingenious and subtill that vpon the least occasion which may be it maketh way and meane to enterprise and effect the greatest matters in the world and moreouer to laie the blame and grudge that commeth by their stingings exactions vpon other mens shoulders fine workemen I warrant you that can so closely couer their dealings with the name authoritie of great Prelates Kings or Princes that the hatred and blame may lie vpon their neckes and the profite be put in their owne purses And sure this nation can make so sure way so far before hand and so contriue their plots that then at the length onely men can perceiue them when it is cleane past their power to finde out any remedie to preuent them Cap. 5. How of anie light occasion this Nation can deuise to effect great matters FOr euident proofe hereof this Italinesse had not remained lōg time in France but Monseur le Dauphin who was to rule ouer vs as lawfull heire to the Crowne vanished quickly by some perfume or by some other Italian deuise thereby to giue entrance and make a gap for the Italians to rush in to the managing of the greatest partes of the affaires of France And this occasion béeing redoubled by the death of King Henry they tooke fast hold of her haire which groweth before not letting her slip out their hands to runne after her iudging the two best means to procure the gouernment of this estate to this woman and themselues was first of all to bring vp those which should rule ouer vs in all lasciuiousnes and pleasure to make them more effeminate then their owne mother and likewise in the ignorance of good letters and in well gouerning an estate to the end that their Italinesse being more forward in knowledge of these things then they to the great aduantage of Italians might sease wholly on the gouernment of the kingdome and the entire disposing of all France and secondly to sow debates stir vp warres among the French least that their vnion and concord might disturbe or not permit the rule gouernment and aduancement of a straunge nation ouer them who could not suffer or permit any gouernment to the onely daughters of our Kings of France it selfe Cap. 6. The Romane soweth diuisions and putteth away the snbstance of a people to enrich himselfe and to do with it at his pleasure THese two breaches being made in the body of France the Italians persuading themselues that if then when they had yet no way to set in foote which was but in the time of K. Henry they were able to frame among them such disorder that Francis the first hauing left seuentéene hundred thousande crownes in his coffers albeit he had paide ransome in Spaine the said Henry hauing raigned but a while had left his heire behinde him indebted fortie thrée
of greater consequence as the Tribunes may make ample relation hereof and proue it by many sundry examples Cap. 48. That the controuersies about the Lords Supper by which the Pastors trouble the whole world are easily to bee accorded and quieted if the Magistrate would but go about it in good earnest WHerefore if we do not take some order for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome by some such meane as I haue set downe in vaine otherwise shall we looke for any firme and assured concord For those who aboue all other ought to séeke for reconciliation betwéene God and man afterwards betwéen themselues are nothing els but the verie instruments of trouble sedition kindling the fires of discord euery where to set all in flame and conclusion For to stay till of their owne motions there fall out some accord betwéene the Councell of Rome and the Lutherians and betwéene them againe and the Caluinists touching our Lords Supper that will neuer be no more then betwéen Caiphas and the Apostles of Iesus Christ wherefore if there be none other to step in amongst them moued thereunto by pittying the ruine of other Estates which I haue named who must craue aide of the greatest Kings and Christian Magistrates to make them hold their tongues they will trouble heauen earth about this disputation of the Supper a matter neuertheles verie easie to be accorded betwéene them For we all agrée to this that the faithfull taking the bread the wine from y e hand of their Pastors receiue by this meane the verie bodie and blood of Iesus Christ to be vnited with him and made flesh of his flesh bone of his bone What is it that is yet in controuersie but onely the maner and forme how that commeth to passe Now the Capernaits desiring to comprehend the maner of this eating Iesus answereth them that The words that I speake vnto you are spirit and life As if he should say vnto them there is none but those who vnderstand the operation of the diuine spirit and how he giueth life vnto all creatures who can comprehend how that is done But our soule which is detained prisoner in this bodie she cannot so much as conceiue how the spirite of God being infinite and incomprehensible hath it operation in all y t is in the world nay that which is farre lesse we cannot imagine how the Angels of heauen and the spirituall Damons employ their Forces to execute the iudgements of God nor the temptations of the wicked spirit against vs nor how a legion of diuels may be in one onely man nor after what maner they lodge in him And yet thinges farre lesse then all these cannot we comprehend as the essence of our soule and whether it be within vs or about vs. For how it can so quickly stirre and remoue all the members of the bodie nor also by what force the Adamant which is in the rocks of y e North can draw vnto it yron being in a ship more then ten or twentie leagues of And whereas he calleth his words Life it is to giue vs to vnderstand that as our humane vnderstanding cannot conceiue how God inspireth life to all creatures and giueth it to some liuing creatures in the belly of their dammes giueth it to an infinit number of litle Animals Locusts and little Flies and no man can comprehend the forme and maner how he doth it nor so mnch as this how many liuing creatures being pend in and depriued of all externall light for all that sée most cléerely so likewise must we conclude that God worketh in this Sacrament by a diuine operation and altogither incomprehensible which man cannot comprehend nor shall not comprehend whilest he is resident in this Elementall and corruptible bodie It should suffice vs to know what S. Paul teacheth vs that there is in vs an interior and an exterior man So that in this Sacrament euen as the exterior receiueth the signes of bread and wine so the interior receiueth the bodie and blood of Iesus Christ for the nourishment of euerlasting life without making any déeper search of the maner how it is done This point so concluded vpon it shal be méete for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome that the Tribunes should humbly entreat Christian Kings and Potentates to imploy the power and authoritie that God hath bestowed vpon them to bury in perpetuall obliuion all these meanes deuised by the Ecclesiastickes be it of Transubstantiation Consubstantiation Infinitie of Christes bodie and many other quiddities the fountain of troubles and diuisions in Christendome by this meane to preuent the Italians least for things wherin they haue none interest they ruine also other Estates of this Continent And if any debate should fall out betwéene the Tribunes and the Ecclesiastickes and that they could not agrée that the King should assemble a good number of men of profound knowledge and great experience and especially those that are best affectionate to the benefit and quiet of their countrie and without any interest in this controuersie The which should not be moued by the outragious cries and violent passions of mutinous and seditious preachers And to séeke out such fellowes as Messieurs Budee de l'Hospital de Pibrac and Monsieur Groulard who is at this present first President of Normandy And looke what the King shall resolue by the counsell of these learned men to cause thorowly to be obserued And to go about these matters so secretly that the Italians heare no inkling thereof least they by their craftie conueiances hinder not the happie successe of this busines To foresée this well it shall néede but to make the world belieue that these assemblies were made for some other purpose and that some new occurrence had fallen out and giuen occasion to treat of religion all vnder one Cap. 49. That in vaine we looke for deliuerance out of the miseries of France by any Assemblies of Pastors IF we doe not vse these or the like remedies our hope shal bee in vayne to expect for any goodly effect of Synodes or Assembles of the Ecclesiastickes because there shal be alwayes but one or two of the most learnedst and eloquentest albeit the be all of one nation who shall dispose and carrie away all things at there lust all the rest seruing but to say Amen and to subscribe to there aduise For when any one amongst them hath got aname to be profoūdly learnd to bemore subtil indisputing then others no man dare gayne say him y e tremble al vnder his authoritie if he besome what styrring ambitious desirous to beare sway he wil make thē receaue what Articles lawes he list for y t hauing studied matter ynough to defend himselfe w t Arguments to reach vnto his purpose y t others shal litile think of and perfaming his matters with a litle apparant benefit for them they will let him carry them away so and subscribe to whatsoeuer hee would
preached we shall receiue it as most heauenly doctrine but if it tend to exalt men and their works only to please them withall we shall receiue it as procéeding from the presumption and ouer-sight of men who take themselues to be wiser then God and for such stuffe as may entangle the people in the nets of seruilitie and fill onely the purses of worldlie Pastors wherefore without any regard from whence it procéedeth whether from Coucels or Synods or frō any other sort of Ecclefiasticall persons whatsoener wee will reiect it thinke our selues no more hounden vnto the obseruation thereof then to the dreames and tales of olde women On the other side knowing that life euerlasting is giuen vs by the grace of God in our Lorde Iesus Christ and is offered gratis to all men what ginnes soeuer the Italians and such like can lay to drawe our money finely from vs we shall goe by them well enough making as though wée sawe them not and as though wee neuer heard talke of them These are then the most sure certaine remedies by the which all true Christians may easilie winde themselues out from the Italian Domination and make a prouiso that their money be no more transported to Rome but tary at home iu their owne purses Cap. 57. The eonclusion of this present discourse VVHerhfore thou Spaniard hauing they place of the Head which workest all that thou canst to reduce vnder thy Domination other nations which should be the eye of Christendome thou oughtest to haue as much wit as any other people It is not then agreat blindnes for thée to behold thy selfe in such slauerie to the Roman Counsell that thou art no more then the executour and drudge of their wills and that they make the tributarie to them in huge infinit sumes of mony wheras thou diddest neuer get one penny from them And thou French man which art the hart of Christendome from whom should flow all motions of vertues to encourage the other partes thou hast almost suffered thy selfe to bee ouercome vnder the spirituall Domination of this nation by their flatteries and cautelous shifts suffering them to put a knife into thine owne handes to destroye thy selfe to set all in combustion and ruine to th end that they may fish in thine ouerthrow and destruction As for Germany the seat and residence of the Empire to the which the Apostles and the first Byshops of Rome yeelded all obedience and subiection what greater cowardlines shame and dishonor can there bee on her syde then that in degenerating from their ancient Cesars and other Roman Emperours vnder the which all the world did tremble they are at this present becom the slaues and vassals of Rome and brought so low as to be glad to hold the Styrrop of some filthy Monke who hath been chosen Pope And if heretofore you haue had the eies of your wit and vnderstanding so much dimmed by the darknes of the time suffering your selues to be made so very fooles that they might vse you at their pleasure now in this great light which shineth at this present and is not yet gone from you amend your former faultes to recouer your honor and seeke to rule and sway ouer them another while in your turne and to get from them againe vnder some colour whatsoeuer all the money they haue in their fingers of yours and your people paying them now at the last home according to their deseruings and cursed intentions and that according to good rule that they haue a long time kept in Christendome they may haue their due desart at the last paid them to the vttermost Laus Deo Finis G. B. A. F. A Table of the Contents of this booke A Description of Itlie and the causes of the subtilty of that people cap. 1. How in the personnes of Romulus and Numa Pompilius there were two kinde of gouerments prefigured among the Romans cap. 2. How the subtil Italian borroweth the name of the Pope to come to his pretenses with more faulitie cap. 3. A liuely paterne of Italian subtiltie in the person of Caternie de Medicis and her Florentine councell cap. 4. How of any light occasion this nation can deuise to effect great matters cap. 5. The Roman soweth diuisions and pulleth away the snbstaunce of a people to enrich himselfe and to doe with it at his pleasure cap. 6. How this nation going about to ruine a country beginneth with some one estate and from thence commeth to all the rest by degrees and how the French can by no meanes take such oppertunitie when it serueth them caq. 7. Vpon what occasion the Romans changed there Monarchie into popular Estate that is to wit vpō the Rauishment of Lucretia committed by their King Terquni cap. 8. How the Romans by pretence of their faith found means to angment there Domination cap. 9. The ruine of the first Roman Domination and the causes thereof cap. 10. Of they begininges and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romans in Christendome cap. 11. How in creating an vniuersall Bishop at Rome the Romans entred into possession of a fare more excellent Domination then that the had lost before cap. 12. How they people follow none other Religion but that which their Pastors teacheth them and how they Romans giue vs one according to their owne nature cap. 13. A comparason of the Diuine seruice inuented by the Italians with the councell of some subtil Phisition cap. 14. That they erre not at Rome for any diuersitie of Religions so they tend only to maintaine their Domination cap. 15. That the Romans are not contented to stay themselues with that which is sperituall but would also dispose the kingdomes of the earth at their pleasure cap. 16. That to make the kings of y e earth vassals tributary to the Romans they sow wares amongst them and vse censurs cap. 17. The councell of Rome setteth Kings and Christian Princes together by the eares and the way how they discouer all their councels and enterprises cap. 18. The great forces of Excmmuniation to put the kings of the earth in feare to make them their tributaries and the magnanimitie of Kings of France cap. 19. That it is a verie false pretext that they take to refuse the King for his Religion sake seeing the haue a spight at all his race and with them no more well although they were neuer so great Catholikes cap. 20. The great subtiltie of the councell of Rome in getting into their handes the soueraignitie of the newfound world conquered by the Spaniards cap. 24. The causes why the mony that is transported to Rome is called by the name of quintessence cap. 22. Of the excellencie of the mony which is transported to Rome out of other countries and how the Italians only can fetch it thither cap. 23. How this mony which is transported to Rome doth flie with an incredible swiftnes cap. 24. A descripsion of certaine learned men which hath alwaie
and within a litle therabouts and with one winke of her eye make tremble Constables Marshals of France gouernours of prouinces and by the least word or letter alter the Parlaments of France what may ten 1000. Italians do enuironing a Pope It is certaine they may force his will by violence depriuing him of his libertie in his gouernment of y e church Or if he bow not that way which they wold haue him they wil not sticke to giue his holines some dramme of such perfume as they did to the deceassed Quéene of Nauarre This is the cause why commonly we sée foure or fiue Popes to die during the raigne of one Emperour Wherefore he should do well either for loue of his life or his libertie to retire and come away from amongst them Cap. 8. Vpon what occasion the Romanes changed their Monanarchie into a populer estate that is to wit vppon the rauishment of Lucretia committed by their king Tarquinius BVt to make a more liuely representation of the great wisedome of the Italian we must mount a litle higher to the beginnings progresse and aduancement of this admirable domination whether by degrées it hath eleuated it selfe in perceiuing the Tarquins their kings were verie vicious and nothing valerous they spied out matter inough quickly against them to be rid of them so iumpe at that time fell out for their purpose the rauishment of Lucretia perpetrated by Tarquinius their King wherupon they made a commotion against him by and by to thrust him out of his kingdome not that they meant to restablish any other in his place but to alter this forme of gouernment although it be absolutely the best when kings rule as they should do and behaue themselues well and to institute another which should exalt them as they thought most likely aboue all other peoples and make them all tributarie to them Now this was their order to haue a Senate wherein men of the greatest spirites verie well learned and experienced were only admitted by whom euery yéere should two Consuls be chosen who should alwaies haue the conduct of warres and besides if any important affaires chanced then was there elected one to be a Dictator and such a one as was most worthie of all Italy to command to resist whom soeuer came against the Romanes So that if one Consull lost a battaile the estate was not thereby ouerthrowne because his fellow had mustered in a readines another Army readie to fight and giue battell againe so that if he also were vanquished they had for all that good hope yet being the Dictator to come vpon whose valour and experience they most of all relied as on Marius and Fabius for he set in incontinent for the third man This is the reason that when the enimies of the Romanes had gotten two fieldes against them as diuers times did Pyrrhus and Hanniball they were not dismaied for all that and thought themselues thereby neuer a whit the more ouercome whereas contrariwise if any King Prince or common wealth had once had an ouerthrow by a battell in the field they could not so soone recouer their losse but would iudge themselues straightwaies ruined and ouerthrowen By this meane their domination séemed altogither inuincible till by their owne Armies by ciuill broyles and domesticall iarres they conspired their owne ruine and destruction Cap. 9. How the Romanes by pretence of their Faith founde meanes to augment their Domination ALbeit that this so goodly order and forme of gouernment might haue béene sufficient to make them surpasse all other people yet they perceiuing that the breaking of faith and promises did worke the ruine of all estates that made no conscience to violate them the Italians well aduised hereof as those that saw well inough that Faith was the most firme bande of humane societie and that where it raigned not euen did stand verie flipperie and were alwaies staggering tottering and shakyng with feare and mistrust to the end to binde themselues most strictly to the obseruation of the same and to make all the world belieue that they would inuiolably kéepe their promises they builded a Temple of FAITH to the which they gaue great honour and reuerence Whereupon euerie one assuring them selues in their fidelitie desired their league and friendship and to couer them selues with their protection and fauour sparing neither tribuite nor subiection to obtaine the same This was a most rare péece of pollicie and wisedom found out by them whereby they bore sway and drew profit from all other peoples albeit otherwise the Italians were farre surpassed by them in number forces Hereby may we then sée euidently that they haue a spirite more sublimate and ingenious then any other nation that liueth vnder the scope of the heauens Cap. 10. The ruine of the first Romaine Domination and the causes thereof BVt as all earthly thinges come in processe of time to faile in glorie and naturall force so this braue Signiorie which seemed to sway the whole earth fell at last to decay and ruine because at the first beginning they did but shaue and clip those which were subiugated and forced to take hold on the cordes of the empire to make them a little gentler and tamer afterwardes they fell roundly to fleying of them besides the horrible and detestable cruelties of Nero Caligula Commodas Heliagabalus and other such like monsters made this nation odious and spited of manie others who beginning a little to discouer that the Romaines had not brought them in subiection by any greater power or multitudes whereby they excelled them too that waies but rather had gotten the vpper hand by sowing quarrels amongst them by supprising them vnawares and establishing among them a better order of militarie discipline then was before they resolued with hazarde of their liues to ouerthrow their tirannie and to pull downe their intollerable Domination to the ground Amongst other the people of the North enuironing the left arme I mean the Gothes the Saxons and Hungarians who hauing experience of their strength to bee farre passing that of Italians obseruing a better order in their warfare then before set forwarde and prosecuted so lustilie the course of their hartie enterprises that they became in short time maisters of the citie of Rome and many other partes of Italie In like manner Arthure a most valiant king of England accompanied with sixe hundred thousand men victoriously ouerthrew Lucius the Romaine Senator marching with no lesse number of souldiours then he pretending to make the English tributarie as they were before time The Gaules likewise cast of their yoke and the Almaines got from them the dignitie imperiall into their owne handes whereupon ensued the totall subuersion of this their first earthly violent and forced Domination vnder the which they had yoaked in the neckes of all the rest of the people of Europe Cap. 11. Of the beginninges and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romanes in christiandome THey then perceiuing
couenants made betwéee their predecessors the kinges and the Popes for the benefit of their kingdome should be infringed This is the reason why the Councell of Rome hath sought all meanes possible to enstall other princes in their roome and to bring it to passe haue emploied all their Preachers begging Friers and other Ecclesiastikes to vomit out all kinde of blame and shame most opprobriously against the said King Henry the third deceassed placing him in the rancke of the most abhominable tyrants murtherers of the world whome by their count hee should surpasse in the periode of all mischiefe extolling aboue the heauens with the highest titles of praise which they could deuise some other Princes thereby to adiure them and make euerie one honour them loue them and make much of them But to shew that the Italians and their partners meant no good not onely to the deceased Kings person but also to all his race in generall sée wée not plainly that when they had by treason caused him to bée murthered they continue their selfesame practises towardes those of the house of Bourbon issued of the last sonne of S. Lewes called Robert Countie of Clermont vpon whom seeing they can laie no blame for that they are the true and lawfull heires of this Crowne they thinke to disherite him who is the eldest son and heire whose place he holdeth and representeth vpon a coulour onely that he beléeueth not as much or more in the Constitutions of the Church of Rome as in the word of God and by this text they win the good will of the people and of other ignorant people But when they contemne those of this house making warre against them who haue béen most zealous and affectionate to their Constitutions who haue also for defence thereof exposed their liues and goods to all daungers as haue done the Dukes of Mont Pensier both father sonne do they not shew that they are thorowly resolued to destroy this race and to translate this Crowne vnto some other progeny Touching the Kinge who is at this present they should neuer be able to attaint or staine him with note of any crueltie tiranny nor any other insufficiencie to rule for to blame him for sticking to that religion wherein he hath béen brought vp it is not likely they will for the same reproch would fall vpon their pates if they should not perseuere in these But he offreth them faire and more then they will accord to that is to be heard in a place of frée assembly to eramine louingly all these thinges to stand to that which shal be awarded for both sides Wherin he sheweth how impudently and falsly they argue and condemne him to be an heretike And as for those who magnifie and exalt the ofspring and descent of other houses to make the world beléeue that this whence he is descended is base poore and of no name they are lesse able to speake of the great high and noble families of Christendome then are Bats and Moles to discourse of the greatnes height essence beautie and admirable operations of the Sunne for séeke among all the Empires of the Assirians Persians Grecians Romans Almans Iewes Tartarians Mahometans and ouer all the face of the whole world beside and you shall not finde a King of greater race nor of more auncient family then this hauing had xxviii Kings in his house before him and all lineally in race masculine and of his mothers side being the issue heire of a Quéen who with her mother the sister of Francis the Great excelled in wit learning and hautie courage all other Christian Princesses that euer haue béen before them And touching the great bountie and vertue both in time of warre peace of the house of Bourbon neither Kings nor Princes since the death of S. Lewes but this race hath farre gone beyond them as all the Cronicles of France shall witnes sufficient And touching his wealth he hath alway had twentie times as much as hath had any aduersarie he hath hauing at y e time of his succession more then a million of rent by his patrimony and yéerely reuenue which he might haue multiplied to as much more if hée would haue pinched sucked his subiects by taxings sales of Offices and rearing of tributes as some Italians haue caused to bee done in France Let them then laie away these false cloakes wherewith they disguise the truth of things and let vs beléeue for a troth as it is true indéed that the Italians séeke nothing els but to translate the Crowne into some other house which will bow their neckes vnder their commandements and suffer them to fish this Realme for siluer to plant amongst vs the Spanish Inquisition to admit the Councell of Trent and to take the right of presentations from the Nobles to finger them themselues and wipe their noses of the best and swéetest profits that belong to the Realme Cap. 21. The great subtilty of the counsell of Rome in getting into their hands the Souerantie of the newfound world conquered by the Spaniards BVt I cannot so often call to minde the conquest of the new world as I wounder at the great subtiltie of the counsell of Rome and againe at the more then great simplicitie in the Spanyards and Portingales behalfe for the Italians perceauing to their great griefe their Domination and tributes to bee cut of in the East and North partes as well by the conquests of the Turke as by the preaching of Luther as also Pope Alexander the sixt had set in his foote at the parting of stakes and made the diuision geuing on halfe to the one king and the other to the other reseruing for himselfe the séesimple principall Iurisdiction and Souerayntie making these two Kinges consent to bee his vassals and to holde their countries of him although he had neither right of seruice nor of possession and was not the discouerer neither Yet sée this parte was handled with such cuning and craft that the Italian became therby Souerayne Lord of twise so much soyle and country as all Christendom vnder the name of their Pope And by what meane you shall not finde it to bee by his great trauels perils and expences but by the laboures bloudshedings and armes of the Spanyardes who venture bodyes and goodes exposing themselues to infinte perils troubles and hazardes to shipwracks of the sea in danger of many Pyrates and Rouers before the can come thether and when the are once there and entred into the country fainte to fight many combats and battels and worse then all this to fall into many strange and incurable diseases which procéede of chaunge of ayer and habitation when men transporte themselues into farre countryes where the clymate is of farre more excessiue heate and colde then their owne was Now whileste these nations endure these trauels and sorrowes worse then twenty deathes the Italians are at whome in there sumptuas and braue pallaces out of all daunger
that they haue cast such cloudes ouer the eyes iudgement of other peoples that they made themselues onely déemed worthie to haue the Sea of the vniuersall Bishop and by meanes of this prerogatiue haue made all the Kings Princes of the earth kisse the Pantofle of their Prelate and Bishop What would they haue done I pray you if they had fought as much for the aduancement of the Gospell as they haue done for the suppression and extinguishing thereof It is verie likely they would haue exacted honours and homages more then diuine of those which should liue vnder the obeisance of their Domination For this nation craueth neuer so litle subiect to worke vpon to make it selfe to be wondred at and to bring the Septentrionall Occidentall peoples vnder their coram and subiection for that they are people lesse ingenious and nothing to compare so subtil as they are which is a thing altogither straunge and wonderfull Cap. 38. An example of the Italians subtill dealing with the Admirall of Castillon FOr manifest proofe hereof I shall not néede to séeke out but one onely familiar example well knowne of all of the deceased Admirall of Castillon who was reputed a man of as great counsell experience as was any in France But the Quéenmother and her Councel of Italians hauing a quarrell at him aboue all other made it well knowne that the best French pollicie and craft could hardly auoyd the subtill snares and embuscadoes of the Italians For séeing that by force of armes they could neuer preuaile to vanquish or ouerthrow him they resolued to prouide for him baites of peace and truce by the first conclusion whereof they seised into their owne handes all the Cities Castles and all the munition that was in them which al the Forces of Italy had not bin able to take in twentie yéeres Perceiuing this they deuise to set againe vpon the Prince of Condie and him as persons destitute of refuge to retire themselues with any Forces but yet the Lord De la Noue by his great wisedome and accustomed valour stood in some good steed here hauing seised againe the towne of Orleans into his handes they perceiuing the Army of this Prince raunging almost in the hart of France againe straight iudged that they had halfe taken them napping alreadie by this hooke and that they might hereafter verie well ouertake them Hauing cast this hooke to them the second time they surprise them once more and so dispossesse them quite by this bait of a second peace of all their strong Forts and holdes once againe Wherby many began greatly to mistrust them but to take away all suspition they practise quickly a confirmation of their former peace by conclusion of a marriage by this vtterly to ruine and cut the Admirals throat He trusting to it was taken in the net that was laide for him So that this may well shew that all our subtilitie is but a sluggish slight in comparison of the quicke carriage of the Italians by reason that their clymate is more Meridionall and the region of France more Septentrionall True it is that this great workeman of the world hathenriched those that inhabite the more Northren countries with many other goodly gifts as to be more strong more faire and lustie witnes many great Philosophers learned men and this might serue vs for instruction that séeing we are endued with more strength and are the greater number we should chace them out of France and not suffer them to vsurpe any Domination ouer vs at all nor to accompany any of our Princes or great Lordes that might trouble or alter our state This is a verie good preseruatiue to saue and deliuer our selues from their wiles and subtill slightes Verie true it is that it is a great shame for them who name themselues Christians and haue béen baptized to vse so much treacherie in their dealings whereas their auncestours who were but Pagans and knew not God did kéepe their faith inuiolable to all to bee a greater credite vnto them in all their actions whatsoeuer Cap. 39. How the Bishop of Rome being created vniuersall other nations should not suffer the Italians to haue him only to themselues LEt vs come now to the point I spake of how that I did not purpose to blame y e Popes persons nor dispute against their title of vniuersall Bishop referring those that would take delight in such disputation to the Treatise of the Church made by the L. of Plessis Mormay But this is the pointe that I proue that séeing the Italians hold him for the vniuersall Bishop of Christendome it must néedes follow by the nature of contraries that he can be no more particularly tied to Rome but that he is also as well Bishop of France of Germany and Spaine who cannot be conuersant and particularly resident in all these places at once Therefore his Sea ought no more to be at Rome then in other places but he should wander ouer all Christendom as did the Apostles séeing that they hold that S. Peter Apostle of the Iewes came to Rome being six hundreth leagues distant and more from the place from whence he came So that if the Pope be resident any while in Italy hée ought to do the like also in other prouinces countries otherwise he should depriue them of the right which vnto them apperteineth Wherefore they should neuer abide that the Romanes onely should kéepe to themselues the Bishop common to all to preuent them least by that prerogatiue they should rule the world at their will and dispose and alter all things at their pleasure This shall verie well shew that whatsoeuer we cōceiue and persuade our selues of the subtilitie and pollicie that is in vs they shall stil for euer farre go beyond vs. Witnes the compositions made betwéene King Henry the second those that inhabite but the néerest borders of Italy who retain some sparkes and beames of their subtilitie hidden in them As the Duke of Sauoy to whome this King with the assistance of those whom he déemed the best aduised and most sage parsonages of France yéelded vp a great country which he and his ancestours had conquered with infinite charges combats victories And yet without any blow stroken by y e agréement of one marriage all was rendered all Lumbardie likewise by the same pollicie Must not then hereafter all Forthren peoples awake themselues out of their so fluggish dulnesse not suffer themselues to be ouercome with y e sugered words of this natiō although they be enterlaced with y e swéetnes of religion or profit of the common weal And aboue all things to take héed how they deale with them in any case for they will be sure to haue the surest ende of the staffe But if euerie nation had practised this in times past and taken resolution of that which concerneth either their affaires of Estate or of religion neuer making the Councell of Rome priuie thereunto out
haue them For that among them there are few or none who are accaustomed at such an instant readylie to contradict and resist But it goeth not so with Maiestrates the greatest number whereof being brought vp and exercized to plead in contradictorie iudgement will not suffer themselues so easily to be caried away but can tell how to withstand one another what studie soeuer any partye hath employed and come neuer so well prouided Wherefore it is a dangerous case to repose any confidence in the decisions of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies which in the olde Testament neuer wrought anie other effect but kindled the fire of persecutions first against the Prophets and afterwards against Christ himselfe his Apostles and infinite others of his martirs and so conclude such Assemblies haue neuer bine but a plancke for the Italians to passe to establish all there new Constitutions such as are not yet altogether receaued in all parts of Christendome thereby to sway ouer and gnaw to the bone all Christen people it followeth then hereby that to take away the occasion of this abuse we must haue recourse to Soueraigne Princes and to there Maiestrates when it comes to the question of establishment of the Christian Church for so God did himselfe as we finde in the olde Testament and not to rune to Pastors who being once out of the true way will alwayes goe worse and worse and euer come into it againe Cap. 50. That all Christians are agreed of the place of ioye and happines whether they must goe but disagree concerning the wayes that must leade them thither BVt because the Italian is so quick and pliable that there is no good order so well established but hee can alter and bring to confusion either by séede of diuisions or by corrupting persons by flattery giftes and remuneratorie promises as well Magestrates as other protectors of the people employing their vnto some Ecclesiastickes or others we must néedes séeke out and vse some surer and perpetuall Remedy against them And because as I haue proued that there Domination and great somes of mony they dreine out of other countries hath no foundation but the bare cloke of Religion by reason wherof to preuent lest they surprise vs we must be very carefull and diligent to choose out the truth for that the derill transformeth himselfe into an Angell of light and is an Ape to the workes of God to rob and deceaue vs. But not to bee deceaued we must at the first consider and examine curiously al that is proffered and presented to vs for the way of saluation of what side soeuer it bee to choose the best otherwise our choise shall alwayes be doubtfull hauing no knowledge of neither of the wayes which we might take For in matter of Relligion all haue one desire and shoot at one and the same marke which is to come the ioyes of heauen and in this they all agrée but they disagrée of the waies and the forme of seruices that they ought to follow And because they Counsell of Rome teacheth one kinde of waie and maketh manie take that roowte with a goodly forwardnes that they set them in thitherward and an externall forme of seruice which with great delight féedeth humane sences very much practizing all kind of murthers and cruelties on those that séeke to climbe to heauen any other waies There is also an other sort of men who by liuely reasons and great persuasions go about to fetch backe from them as many as they can to lead them thither by other paths but the Romanes to preuaile in this matter say that y t way whih they teach is the broad and wide way wherein the Fathers haue passed the which is also more common to a great number of people The others they say that this great way whereof they estéeme so much is that which leadeth to perdition and many there be that enter in And that the way of saluation is verie narrow and straight and few there be that go that way And if that they which follow the great and large way finde it to be the better they will not hinder them for going that way but yet requisite at their handes that they will suffer them peaceably to go by their straight and narrow way which they take to be the surer passage Cap. 51. That men being contrary in opinions cōcerning the way of their saluation they must receiue instruction of the Ecclesiasticall bodies NOw in this conflict if we looke onely but vnto men and to that which is on earth we shall find our selues much troubled and thinking to chuse the best way we shall take y e worst and neuer reach thither whither we minde to go And if in this iudgement we depend vpon Ecclesiastical Pastors one shal allow one way others shal teach another grounding thēselues diuersly on places of the scriptures and the Doctours of the Church In such diuersitie what should it then be néedful to do we must lift vp our eies cogitations thoughts vpon on high to other Maisters Preachers who teach vs not by the eares as mortall men do but by the eyes of a visible certaine immutable language and aske neither gold nor siluer nor domination ouer vs for their paines but fréely offer vs their instruction with great bountifulnes and blessings towards vs if we take it thankfully and we neuer néede to make any long and tedious pilgrimages to finde them out But it sufficeth to but go forth of our habytacles builded by the workemanship of men to enter into the great Pallace and Temple of the liuing God made with his owne hand in the midst whereof he hath placed vs to know and admire the wonderfull excellencie of his workes and to yéeld him the glorie and honour that he deserueth In doing this to make our selues worthie beholders of the same when we shall comprehend with all admiration the omnipotencie wisedome and bountie of their framer who shineth in the same most gloriously and although that vppon the earth and in the waters of the sea his sagesse vertue power and bountie is most amply proued vnto vs yet would hée giue vs more ample testimonies in the concauitie and extendue of the heauens to draw vs néerer vnto him hauing set there two great lightes the one lower the other higher to the ende that by them as by the Ladder of Iacob we should go to finde him out in his heauenly Tabernacle to do him homage and to yéeld him all the loyaltie wherein we are bound vnto him as holding our life al our goods besides of him putting our selues still vnder his protection And therefore to carry all reuerence and due obedience towardes his lawes and commandements hauing our recourse vnto him when we are oppressed or that we fall into any necessitie or sicknes giuing him thankes so oft as euer he bestoweth any benefits vpon vs in celebrating the praises that the greatnes of his workes deserue By the consideration whereof we
shall perceiue our owne infirmitie to learne thereby to humble our selues before his diuine Maiestie and still to haue in admiration the superexcellencie and depth of his wonderous workes Cap. 52. That the lights of heauen do draw vs to seeke God in heauen and do witnesse that their Creator is infinite and incomprehensible ALthough that the lightnings thunders cloudes raine snow and haile which are engendred in the middle region of the aire yéeld such ample testimonies of the power bountie and prouidence of God yet mounting a litle higher to the torches of heauen whereof the néerest vnto vs is the Moone kéeping continually the course that God hath assigned her to giue light in the night and to moysten all bodies and from her let vs mount higher by degrée and degrée to euerie Planet till we come to Saturne eleuated highest of all and from him to the starry firmament and we shall sée a number of those that are farre bigger for we cannot contemplate the firmament with his blazing torches infinite almost in number may wée cannot behold at one time the one halfe but we shall be rauished to admire the force and greatnes of the maker who hath framed a péece of worke so excellent aboue al other wondrous things Now we haue béen ledde so high with our bodely eyes which can go no higher we must haue recourse to the eyes of our vnderstanding the which being lightned and conducted by the brightnes and light of Gods word shal make vs mount yet higher into two other heauens to come where S. Paul by a traunce and rauishment of the diuine spirit saw Iesus Christ the sonne of Iustice and many other vnspeakable things in the glorie of God hauing full confidence and beliefe that in his essence being diuine infinite omnipotent glorious quickning all things according as Dauid witnesseth comprehendeth in him all things without being comprehended of any and that in his perfect light and glorie all Angels and blessed spirits are lightned and liue But because that his infinitie maiestie glorie and brighnes cannot be beholded of vs for that it would rauish all our sences and our sight is not able to endure so pure and bright a light whereof Eliseus Isaias being great Prophets hauing beheld but one onely beame haue béen throwne downe to the ground and not able to stand to behold it any longer But I must returne from this bottomlesse sea of glorious brightnes and come againe to the torches of heauen which hée hath set in his great Pallaice wherein he hath placed vs créeping vpon the earth to receiue instruction at their handes and for breuities sake I will go no further then the cleare and pure Sunne as the most perfect accomplished image of his Creator and maker which representeth best vnto men the wonderfull profoundnes of his great vertues Cap. 53. Of the Sunne the very portraiture of his Creator what are his workes and operations ANd first I say that euen as men cannot comprehend the quanty of his essence being a thousand times greater then it appeareth to our eyes as by demonstrations all Astronomers proue nor likewise the qualitie thereof nor the manner how it casteth his heat and light ouer the whole world So also can we conceiue neither by our vnderstanding nor exteriour secnes the greatnes or qualitie of the diuine essence nor how it hath produced it operations in the creation of the world in the conseruation of the same nor the manner how it worketh to create in the faithfull the new man which fighteth against the flesh Likewise as this great celestiall light is in perpetuall operation and mouing to runne his great race about the whole world alwaies doing good and bringing infinit commodities to other creatures so God is alwaies watching and in action for the benefit and preseruation of his creatures Moreouer as when a thicke cloude hath depriued our sight of his beames for a moneth togither or more and that this let being taken from vs we begin to sée his beames againe which bring a certaine ioy or gladnesse vnto vs and driue the cold far from vs so the faithfull neuer séeke to behold God in his works and vertues but that they receiue great pleasure and delectation And besides as when this diuine image retireth back from vs into Capricorne the Caldes comming from the North-parts and from the frozen sea comming to afflict all liuing creatures spoyling our mother the earth of all her trimme and good ornaments and making her naked and vgly to behold so when God angry at our sinnes taketh his holie spirit from vs the prince of this world of the aire the God of this age the ruler of darkenes which is the diuel commeth to assaile and enuiron vs to tempt vs and bid vs battell and to annoy vs many other waies But as this great celestiall light goeth not from vs to forsake vs but to distribute his light to the people which liue vnder the North Pole and that by his long absence wée know better the benefites that wée receiue by his presence so God sometime holdeth his face from vs to the end that desiring him we should séeke for him shewing vs his countenance againe we should taste better what a benefit it is to enioy alwaies his presence For as this blazing torch comming towardes being leaped backward to approach vnto Cancer beginneth to renue the face of the earth and to beautifie her with gréennesse and with an infinit number of hearbes and floures of diuers colours giuing life to many hundreth thousand millions of little Annimals to serue for foode to birdes and fishes to féede their young withall who by an harmonious melodie full of all ioy and gladnes celebrate the bountie of their soueraigne the Sun which they receiue by such instrumēts as it pleaseth him to vse to heate againe that part of y e earth from whence he had absented himselfe so farre wherein he magnifieth the omnipotencie bountie and wisedome of his maker which hath attributed to him so many vertues to the end that we should wonder at him in his so beautifull and perfect workemanship so also he pulleth downe our presumption for that we cannot shew any such like péeces of workemāship nay we cannot so much as conceiue by our vnderstāding how he giueth life to so many liuing things and how one onely floure is cloathed with such diuersitie of colours If it be so then the greatest and quickest vnderstandings are surmounted by the operations of one of the creatures of the Almightie how shall wée comprehend those of the diuinitie whereas it worketh in vs of it selfe as in Baptisme the water of regeneration or in the Lordes Supper in the eating of the bodie of Iesus Christ or in the vnitie of the thrée persons in one onely diuine essence Wherby appeareth that this celestiall bodie is to vs of it selfe a most excellent Preacher to make vs leaue of the vaine disputes of the maner hwo God worketh