Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/610

 water, whereof whosoever shall drink, shall not thirst everlastingly; that the Bohemians have done as they ought, in that they have sought the fountains of this water at the council, and have determined now at length to give ear unto their mother. Now all hatred ought to cease, all armour and weapon to be laid apart, and all occasion of war utterly to be rejected. For the fathers would lovingly and gently hear whatsoever they would there say in their own cause or quarrel; requiring only that they would willingly receive and embrace the good counsels and determinations of the sacred synod; whereunto not only the Bohemians, but also all other faithful Christians, ought to consent and agree, if they will be partakers of eternal life.'

This oration of the cardinal was heard and very well allowed of the fathers. Whereunto the Bohemians answered in few words: That they neither had contemned the church nor the council; that the sentence given at Constance, against those who were unheard, doth diminish nothing of the christian religion; that the authority of the fathers hath always remained amongst them inviolate; and that whatsoever thing the Bohemians have taught, was confirmed by the Scriptures and gospel; and that they are now come to manifest their innocency before the whole church, and to require open audience, where the laity may also be present. Their request was granted them; and being further demanded in what points they did disagree from the church of Rome, they propounded four articles.

First, They affirmed, That all such as would be saved, ought of necessity to receive the communion of the last supper under both kinds, bread and wine.

The second article. They affirmed all civil rule and dominion to be forbidden dissented unto the clergy by the law of God.

The third article. That the preaching of the word of God is free for all men, and in all places.

The fourth article. As touching open crimes and offences, which are in no wise to be suffered, for the avoiding of greater evil.

These were the only propositions which they propounded before the council in the name of the whole realm. Then another ambassador affirmed, that he had heard of the Bohemians divers and sundry things offensive to christian ears, amongst which this was one point: that they should preach that the invention of the order of begging friars was diabolical.

Then Procopius rising up, said, "Neither is it untrue; for if neither Moses, neither before him the patriarchs, neither after him the prophets, neither in the new law Christ and his apostles, did institute the order of begging friars, who doth doubt but that it was an invention of the devil, and a work of darkness?"

This answer of Procopius was derided of them all, and cardinal Julian went about to prove, that not only the decrees of the patriarchs and prophets, and those things which Christ and his apostles had instituted, were of God only, but also that all such decrees as the church should ordain, being guided through the Holy Ghost, be the works of God. Albeit, as he said, the order of begging friars might seem to be taken out of some part of the gospel.

The Bohemians chose out four divines who should declare their articles to be taken out of the Scriptures. Likewise, on the contrary part, there were four appointed by the council. This disputation continued fifty days, where many things were alleged on either part, whereof,