A Treatise Touching the Liberty of a Christian

Amongst the monsters of this world, with whom I have bin in continual combat these three whole years and more, I am enforced now at the length to turn mine eyes unto you, and to have you in remembrance (O most holy father Leo) yea, for as much as you only be accounted the very cause of this my turmoil, I cannot choose but be always mindful of you. And albeit I have been constrained, through insatiable cruelty of your wicked Sycophants, raging against me without desert, to appeal to the next general Council, little esteeming the most vain decrees of your predecessors, Pius, and Julius, ¹who of a foolish tyranny have prohibited such appellation to be made from the See Apostolic. Yet did I never mean whiles so estrange mine affection from your holiness, but that I have with all mine heart wished all felicity and happiness ⟨image 5⟩to you and to your See, and in my daily prayers with tears and sighs, even to the uttermost of my power, have heartily besought God for the same: But as for those which have hitherto practised to terrify me with the authority and majesty of your name, I have now begun almost to contemn and account them of no force: only one thing yet remaineth, which I may not despise, which occasioned me at this present to address my letters to your holiness. And this it is,² because I perceive that I am accused unto your holiness, and very grievously blamed for my rashness, in that I am supposed to have no consideration of your personage.

AMongst the monsters of this world, with whom I haue bin in continuall combate these three whole yeeres and more, I am enforced now at the length to turne mine eyes vnto you, and to haue you in remembrance (O most holy father Leo) yea, for as much as you only bee accounted the very cause of this my turmoyle, I cannot choose but bee alwayes mindfull of you. And albeit I haue beene constrained, through insatiable cruelty of your wicked Sicophants, raging against mee without desert, to appeale to the next generall Counsell, little esteeming the most vaine decrees of your predecessours, Pius, and Iulius, ¹who of a foolish tyranny haue prohibited such appellatiō to be made frō the See Apostolique. Yet did I neuer meane whiles so estrange mine affection from your holines, but that I haue with all mine heart wished all felicity and happines