A09739:79
An answer made the fourth day of September a thousand five hundred sixty [and]…Ane answer made the fourth day of Septembre a thousand fyue hundreth syxtie [and]…
An answer made the fourth day of September a thousand five hundred sixty [and] one, by maister Theodore de Besza minister of the holy Evangel, in the presence of the queen mother, the king and queen of Navarre, the princes of the blood royal, and of the privy counsel, unto that which the cardinal of Lorraine had replied against that which was propounded in the first journey of their talking together, by the said de Besza in the name of the reformed churches. Together with an other short answer made by the said de Besza the 26 day of the said month unto certain articles of reply set forth by the said cardinalAne answer made the fourth day of Septembre a thousand fyue hundreth syxtie [and] one, by maister Theodore de Besza minister of the holie Euangile, in the presence of the quene mother, the king and quene of Nauarre, the princes of the blood royall, and of the priuie counseil, vnto that whiche the cardinall of Lorraine had replied against that whiche was propounded in the first iourney of their talking together, by the said de Besza in the name of the reformed churches. Together with an other short answer made by the said de Besza the 26 day of the said moneth vnto certein articles of replie set forth by the said cardinall
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Lekprewik, 1562
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Unto this my Lord Cardinal answered in his oration that this was to be understand of exterior or outward things which might & ought to vary according as need requireth. But considering the hole matter nearer it is found that this word Emendari presupposeth that there was a fault committed and after corrected, also if this answer should be received, ye must say likewise of the particular Epistles of the bishops and provincial Councils the which is directly against the intention of Saint Augustine, which reasoneth there of this point and not of any exterior policy, but of one point of doctrine, to wit of the opinion of Saint Cyprian, and of the Council of Africa ⟨image 27⟩touching rebaptisation. If there be also alleged an other argument which they use, to wit, if our Lord haeth promised to be in the midst of two or three gathered together in his name,1 now by greater reason will he be in an assembly universal: we grant that so it may be presumed, but there is a difference between a presumption and a necessary conclusion. For the malice of man cometh often times unto this point to abuse the name of God,2 to establish their leasings that such may have God in their mouth which have his enemy in their hart. The weakness of man is so great that there is commonly in him an infinite number of disordinate affections which blind our eyes, so that we say that he which haeth none other foundation then the advise of men and the ⟨image 27⟩outward appearance of a Council, is rather in danger to be deceived than otherwise. What then? Would we that the doctrine of the Church should be uncertain seeing it may err? No thing less. For we confess that as yet, we know in a part,3 as Saint Paul sayeth, & in this respect there is always error mingled with the verity, & yet nevertheless God suffereth not that the verity in the substantial points of our salvation be ever so buried in all his Church, that there is not always some number now more now less that understandeth that which they ought to understand, & do follow that which they ought to follow.