The Proclamation and Edict of the Archbishop, and Prince Elector of CULLEYN.  
Declaring his occasion and earnest intention, to bring in the free exercise of the preaching of the Gospel, and peace and liberty to true Christian Religion.  
¶ Proclaimed at BON, in the year of our Lord, 1583.  
¶ Imprinted at Antwerp, in Tanner's street, at the Sign of the Gylden Bible, by PAUL BRAECKVELT, 1583.  
With the consent and Privilege of the the Lords of the City of Antwerp.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by Richard jones and I.S. the .18. of March. 1583.  
¶ authorized and allowed.   

The Copy out of the high dutch.  
The Christian Edict & Proclamation, of the Archbishop and Prince Elector of Culleyn: concerning his Princely intention to bring in the holy Gospel. Given at BON, the xvi of januarie. 1583.  
WE Gebhart by the grace of god elected, and accepted Archbishop of Culleyn, Archchauncellour of the holy Empire through all Italy, and Elector: Duke of Westphalen and Ingrene. etc.: do let and give to wit and understand unto all and singular Archdeacon's of our jurisdiction, Country states, Earls, Knights, States and other persons, subjects unto us: and to all others that shall have occasion to use our grace and favour, and to every of them, jointly and severally. That since we received the state & place of our archbishopric and Prince electors Government, wherein the Almighty God, by free and lawful election hath placed us, we have always acknowledged and at this present do acknowledge that we are bound to do our duty and endeavour, to maintain and defend all such as by God are committed to our Princely Election and archbishopric, and likewise our common native Country of the Dutch Nation: & most specially and above all other respects to advance & set before our eyes the honour of God before all other matters, whereunto with all diligence and hearty affection we are inclined.  
For as much as most earnest, obedient & hearty petition & request hath been lately made unto us by our Nobility & knights, & other Provinces & countries in no small number, & also by the letters of some great personages of high estate & calling, within the sacred & holy Empire, to suffer, admit & allow unto them in all places of our jurisdiction & authority, the public & open exercise of the preaching of the holy Gospel, and use & administration of the holy Sacraments, according to the sacred word and Scriptures of God, and the Confession of Auspurghe, grounded upon the same holy Scriptures. And thereupon, considering the everlasting & unchangeable will of God, that it is our duties to hear his Son, and earnestly to do his will. And that all Princes and Governors of the world, ought too cause the Gates to be set wide open, for the King of Glory, and to let all people to enter in unto him. Whereunto we have special Commandment from God in our vocation, and do feel in our conscience, how grievously in the day of judgement, we shall yield account and make answer before God for all our actions, and shutting up the way of salvation to our league people.  
And acknowledging and confessing ourselves to be bound to fear God, from the bottom of our hearts, and obediently to follow his Commandments, and that he is a mighty and just judge, and consuming fire, whose fear we ought continually to set before our eyes. And for that we being Christian superior, thought it our duty before God, no longer to refuse to accomplish the earnest and humble petition and suit, of our Nobility and Subjects. We therefore by the advise of our Lords and friends, and after mature consultation thereupon had and taken, do grant and permit unto all persons, of what estate, degree, or calling soever they be, either subject unto our Authority, or ●rends, and bearing good will to our Archbishopprick, the Christian liberty of their consciences, by God's word allowed. And do will, consent, grant and confirm unto them by virtue of these Presents, that if any of the Subjects or Inhabitants of any City, Town or place of our jurisdiction, shall by any of our Officers, Commissioners, Magistrates or ministers, whatsoever, in or about matters of faith, religion or conscience, be imprisoned, damnified, mollested or troubled either in Honour, dignity, Fame, Reputation, body or goodds, for God's word, or following the confession of Auspurghe. That then every of them shall be freely cleared, set at liberty, and discharged from all imprisonment, loss, molestation & trouble whatsoever, growing for any such respect.  
Also we do licence, grant and confirm herewithal unto our Prelates, Earls, Lords, Inhabitants, Estates, Commons, Towns, and other Congregations of people, of our princely Election and archbishopric, that they may and shall, by warrant hereof, have full power and Authority, to exercise and put in ure, the free and open Exercise of the preaching of the Gospel, and the administration and use of the holy Sacraments, according to the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles, and agreeable to the Contents and use of the confession of Aurpurghe, thereupon grounded, without molestation of our Commissioners, justices and officers, or any either of our jurisdiction, whom we do mean to defend & assist with the help of the Almighty God: trusting also upon the mighty power of God, that he will mercifully assist and favour us in our so godly an enterprise and meaning, and be our defence against all the Gates of Hell, to the maintenance of his glory and holy word.  
Moreover, we do hereby declare and protest before the Almighty God, who is the chief truth, and a knower of the secrets of all men's hearts, that we are not moved and led to this our christian intention, through worldly wisdom, desire of Honour, or any other worldly respect: neither herein do seek the profit, honour, dignity, or estimation of ourself, but only do seek to advance the honour and glory of our Redeemer, and to set forth his holy word. And our intent and meaning herein, is chief to seek the prosperity and Salvation of our Subjects, whom God hath committed to our charge.  
Let no man therefore imagine or think, that we are inclined to novelties or troubles. For our intent and desire is, to see good Christian orders maintained and kept with peace and quietness, in Churches and Schools of men's hearts.  
And so we are minded by the advise & counsel of the States of our Countries, and other our Lords and friends, to publish & set forth Christian Orders to be observed and followed in all Churches and Schools of our archbishopric.  
In the mean time we are advised, to give warning to all such as intend to live after the word of GOD, and the Confession of Auspurghe, to use and behave themselves with all reason and affection, as good Christians ought to do. And we require and pray them most heartily, that no man molest, trouble, defy, blaspheme or vex one an other by word or deed. But that every of them behave themselves one towards an other peaceably and quietly in their conversation and dealings. And to live and continue according to the Eontentes of this our present Edict.  
And as touching our own Person in this case. Whereas ac, 'cording to the Counsel and appointment of Almighty God, we have entered into the Holy State of Marriage, and that publiquelye, wherein no man is able justly to accuse us to have done the same against the accustomed Order, or that we have any meaning to seek our private advantage, or any other thing prejudicial to our archbishopric, and Prince Electorshyppe, or to appropryate the same in succession and Inhe●ytaunce to our Heirs: We therefore, do make open and plain Testimony and Declaration by these presents, by the highest truth: (which is God Almighty himself) and hereby do protest that we have no meaning or will, nor are in any wise inclined or bend, to bring our bishopric, to the propriety or possession of our Heirs, neither to bring in any Novelty or Alteration, tending to our private profit or advancement. But do hereby openly publish and declare, that a●ter our Decease, our Honourable chapter of our Cathedral Church of Culleyn, shall have their free Liberty and Election left unto them, and shall remain in all respects, as in their ancient former estate.  
Also we are content, and give our Commandment touching the premises to all and singular Inhabitants and Subjects of our Archbysshopryke and Prince Electorship: that an orderly choice and free election may be made of a future supreme head, to govern them after our decease or free resignation: yet nevertheless, our meaning is, that, whosoever shall be in election to come to that succession by an orderly choice & free election, shall be no other but such a one as is bound unto our said Chapter of our said Cathedral Church, and a Lord capable, by th'ordinances of the same to come to that degree, and a man of our jurisdiction, both obedient and fit, and worthy in all respects for the place when it shall fall unto him: and otherwise, not to be elected to such preferment by any means. And whatsoever, such person as shall be by such orderly proceeding, choice and free election of our worthy Chapter of our said Cathedral Church, chosen and elected to succeed after our said decease or resignation. They shall acknowledge him for their future Lord, any Law, Statute, Act, Ordinance, Edict, or Proclamation, made, ordained, or provided, either by us, or any other whatsoever he be, to the contrary of this our public declaration, in any wise notwithstanding: for we, all such do now, & always will cancel, annihilate and make of none effect.  
All the same premises, we wish to be done in the chiefest and best manner and form that may be, to th'end the same may continue of the better force and effect: whereunto, we will be obedient and lay to our helping hand, and therein will agree and consent with our said Chapter & inhabitants and confirm the aforesaid conditions with assurance thereof, in such sort that no man shall have just cause to mistrust or conceive any fear of us, or of our Heirs or Successors.  
Wherefore, we will and command all our bailiffs, justices, officers, Lieutennauntes, Governors, Customers, Burroughmaisters, Citizens, Common people, Ministers and Subjects and whatsoever, upon this our public Edict and Proclamation, with all their endeavour, to observe and perform the same: and to cause the same Edict and Proclamaiion to be obeyed and maintained from point to point:  
And also contrary to the true meaning thereof, not to encumber or trouble, or suffer to be encumbered or troubled, any person or perfons of any degree, vocation, or calling whatsoever, upon pain of our high displeasure and indignation, & grievous punishment to be inflicted withal upon the offenders, breakers or repugners of this our present Edict and Proclamation: for such is our earnest and final intent and will.  
In witness whereof, we have caused this our Proclamation to be openly printed and confirmed with our Seal, and that through all our Archbishopric and Prince Electorship, to th'end, that every man should have knowledge thereof.  
Given in our City of BON, the xvi Day of januarie, in the year of the Computation of the birth of our Lord jesus Christ, 1583.   

Printed at London by Richard jones: at the Sign of the Rose and the Crown, near Holborn Bridge. 19 MARCH, 1583.   

 woodcut of portrait of old man, forehead marked with astrological signs 
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