admonished by some wyse Bishoppes / howe certeyn cities / which
somtyme were altogether corrupted with the errour of the
Donatistes / were compelled by the violence of the lawes of good
Emperours to receyue the catholike faith / and these at length
were so syncerelie tourned vnto the truthe / that they dyd gyue
to God moste hartye thanckes for that violent enforcement /
sayinge that nowe thoughe they might safelye / yet by no meanes
wolde they retorne any more to suche pernicious and hurtfull
opinions. The prince therfore / after that he hath gyuen them
sufficient instruction / yf he shall enforce these men vnto the
embracing of such rites and ceremonies as are good and godlye
indede / he shall do no hurte at all but muche good. I do meane
that this sholde be practysed only vpon suche as be cityzens /
and naturall borne subiectes / or suche as beinge straungers
borne / do as denizens dwell in theyr domininions / and so by
priuiledge haue the benefite of theyr countrithe: Otherwyse yf
they be but straungiers which do passe through their countrithe /
or such as do come either to bye or to sell marchaundize / there
is no suche violence to be shewed towardes them. And yet this
thing they must take heade of euen in them / that they do not
seduce their people and subiectes which are of a good iudgement /
that they do not infect them with vice and errour. The
Israelites / as I thincke / ar in this pointe to be folowed.
They did admitt no straunger to be as a Iue / or proselyte /
neyther did they gyue vnto any the libertie of their countrith /
except he did fyrst circumcise himself / admitt Moses lawe / did
communicate / and became partaker with them in theyr Sacrifices /
submitting himself to their discipline: Which thinge / seing it
was well and diligently obserued of them / why shuld not our
princes do euen the same? That they shuld suffer no Citezen /
nor subiect / eyther naturall / or straunger born / but that they
shuld compell and enforce hym / to receyue such religion / and
obserue such rites and ceremonies / agreing with Godds worde /
as they by common autoritie haue establyshed. Now will I speake
of those princes and Rulers / which ar vnder these chief Rulers.
Whome I do deuide into two sortes. Eyther they are such as haue
Iurisdiction / poure / and auctoritie / which commeth to them by
discent from theyr Auncetours / or els committed vnto them of
Emperours / Kinges / and common welthes: Eyther els they haue no
Iuri