¶ The second ORATION OF MAster Theodore de Beze, Minister of the holy Gospel, made and pronounced at Poyssy, in the open assembly of the Prelates of France, in the presence of the Queen, mother, and Princes of the blood ryal. The xxvi day of September. Anno .1561.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by John Tysdale, and are to be sold at his shop, in the upper end of Lombarde street, in All-hallows churchyard, near unto grace church.   

Oration.  
Madam, the last time that it pleased you too give us audience, we made declaration as God gave us grace, of the article, which was propound, as touching the church, the marks, tokens and authorities of the same: wherein we followed, so the word of God, that every man, as we think, had occasion too be content with our answer. But in stead of approving, that which we spoke or reproving that, which deserved correction, it was asked us, by what power we did minister the word of God, and the holy sacraments. And thereupon nothing was spared to make our cause more odious. We know not to what intent that was moved & set forward. For first we have not presented ourselves hear to minister the word of God, nor the holy sacraments, wherefore it needed nothing at all to ask us by what power or authority we would do it. If they say unto us that it is to make us render, a reason or cause of that which we have done in time paste, it behoved then too consider that the state of our company is of two manner of men: the one serves for ministers out of this realm, and in place where there vocation is received. Of those it can not be asked why they are ministers. There are other that preach in this realm, whom you have not called too give a reason of that is past, as concerning their vocation, but only to confer of their doctrine otherwise it should be a beginning of their process, whereupon we are assured, Madam, that you never thought nor meant. If it be by a manner of conference, under correction it were to no great purpose and could not serve but to make us enter so far into this matter that we should noteasely come out without offending my Lords the prelate's, which thing we mente not, neither will we give occasion to any man to interrupt this holy and Christian work now begun. And to th'intent men may know that we speak not without great reason at every time that two parties come together too enter in to conference if one ask by what power or authority do you this or that, the other will ask him the like, and so it shall be a hard thing if upon these questions there rise not some dissension.  
Now leaving my Lords the prelate's of this realm whom we will not offend: let us admit that a bishop should ask us, under what title preach and administer you the holy sacraments? We would ask him whether he were chosen of the ancients of the church to whom he is appointed for a bishop, whether he have been required by the people: If their were any information before, of his life, manners, and doctrine, he would say, yea, but men know the contrary: and we remit it to the conscience of the heart of those that hear us, which know how the matter goeth. Now if he said unto us. You are no ministers because ye have not the imposition of hands we should answer them. Ye are not ministers because that in instituting you, are left out the substantial points commanded in the canon law which can not be dispensed with all. And if the disputation should wax hotter, we would go further, and might use such words. You have but one of the three points requisite in the institution, which is the laying on of hands. If the lack of that same deprive us from being ministers: for the lack of the other two you shall be no more minister than we.  
The councyle of Calcedone, which is one of the four generals, ordaineth that: irrita sit ordinatio: of that priest which was not appointed specially for the service of some church, irrita, sayeth it, in iniuriam ordinantis: By a stronger reason we may say to the bishop that thus would dispute with us, when the two essentyall points be away against the ordinance of the apostle .1. Timoth .3. ● Tit. 1.6. yet here is an other point which grieveth us sore to speak, & yet we are constrained to it, to th'intent to show unto all this company, that if this disputing of vocation were once opened, it should be very dangerous. If we should of the said bishop, demand who gave him this laying on of hands, he would say the bishops by the authority that was given them. And if we should ask him, for how much have you bought this authority? He would say that he bought it not, but yet that he gave so many thousand crowns, that is to say I bought not the bread, but I bought the corn. Now this disputation, if we would go about to decide it by the concylles, and canons of the church, would make an infinite number of bishops blush and as many curates. Wherinto, Madam, we would not enter, because we would offend no man. And touching the article of the holy supper of the Lord we would not speak she last time any further, having respect to many of this company, which have not been accustomed to hear speak of it so far, that they should not easily be offended when they hear any thing that seemeth new & strange unto them, And we had rather that they should understand the language of the ancient doctors of the church than ours, seeing specially that my Lord cardinal of Lorraine was bound by open promise, to instruct and teach us, namely upon this article by the words of the doctors which have written the first five hundredth years: in such wise that we prepared ourselves both with God and with ourselves for to receive the light, if it were showed us, that hitherto it had been hidden from us. Now for to satisfy our expectation, and of a great part of Christendom they have proponed unto us the article of the holy sacrament, cut & diminished of the most principal and necessary points and they have said unto us, sign and subscribe unto this, if not, we will go no further. If we were presented unto you as prisoners, for to have judgement given upon us, yet you would not say, sign this, if not we condemn you. Your estate my Lords bindeth you to speak otherwise and commandeth you to show us our errors, if their be any in us and willeth you to be: Potentes exhortari in doctrina sana, those that have need of doctrine which are ready too give a reason of their faith by the scripture: and if the manner of condemning us be new, the mean which men would use, would seem yet more strange as we will declare a none.  
Madam▪ We are hear presented unto you, for two principal ends and purposes: the one is to render a reason, both to God, to you and to the world, of our faith. The other for to serve God, the king and you, by all means to us possible forto appease the troubles that are raised in the matter of religion. If you send us a way, and not appointing us with whom we may friendly confer, there shall be nothing done unto us but it will be published thorough out all Christendom: and so it should not be a mean to quiet and appease the troubles: and those that would it so, know it well enough. If you had not to do with other than with us hear present, there were no great danger too use the matter according to the world, as a man list: but it shall please you to consider that we are hear in the behalf of a million of men which are in this realm, in Swysserlande, in Polonia, in germany, in England, and in Scotland, which look all for some good resolution of this assembly, and will understand that in stead of conference, as it was promised, men give us the tenth part of an article, and say, sign this, if not, we will wade no further. And if we did sign that, what should they win: They that have sent us hither will know if we were constrained by force or else vanquished by good or certain arguments. Wherefore we humbly beseech you (Madam) not to break of or interrupt this good work, but give us men, that will not make any conscience to confer with us: other wise your majesty might judge of it yourself what great occasion of offence this manner of proceeding, that they would set forward, will bring with it. And yet because they shall not remain without an answer to that which hath been proponed unto us, we declare and show, that we approve and allow all that hath been spoken by. M. despense, in the book, that he hath given us, without any other conference.  
And as concerning the article that my Lord Cardinal hath given us, it is but an extract & declaration of the confession of Auspurge, wherein there are many things to consider and way: that is that he should have given us the whole connfession. For it is no reason to give us one line of an article and leave out all the rest. Moreover, we should have known if my Lord Cardinal did present it of himself (which nevertheless we do not presume: but desire to know it) or if it be by the authority of My Lords the prelate's that men lay before us the confession Auspurge, and to assure us so thereof that we may freely confer togeyther, for that way at the least (whereof we thank God) my Lord Cardinal of Lorrayn and the others will pass and allow the condemnation of transubstantiation, which is reproved and rejected by the common assent of all the reformed churches as well in germany as else where. And if they will that we shall sign any thing, it is reason that my Lord Cardinal of Lorraine sign also that which he giveth us in the name of the company, to the intent that our churches and congregations which have sent us hither, may see and know, that we confer not in vain. But if my Lord Cardinal of Lorraine continue in this mind to come near unto the confession of the Allemayns, I trust that God will bring us near and join us together to so good a point and effect that you shall therewith be content and that his name shall thereby be glorified throughout all the world. And in the mean while Madam, we say that our Lord jesus Christ, is in the holy supper wherein he presenteth, giveth and exhibiteth unto us truly his body and blood by the working of his holy spirit. We receive and eat spiritually and by faith, that very blood which was shed for us, for to make us bones of his bones and flesh of his flesh, to the end to be quickend thereby and to receive all that which is requisite for our salvation. And if this content you not, Madam, but needeth a greater declaration (as in deed it is dangerous and hard too speak of so great a mystery with few words) if it please my Lord Cardinal of Lorrayn to perform that he hath promised, which is that we search together the holy scriptures, and the ancient doctors of the church, so far as they be conformable unto God's word. And also if it please your majesty to establish (as you may do) a good form and manner of conference, and certain deputies, disputing in order, having the books in presence with secretaries to collect and write all in a good and auctentike form. We will give you to understand and know that we are not come hither for to truth world: But for to agree upon a sound doctrine, for having first clothed again this holy sacrament with that of the which it was spoiled, and having taken from it so many things as were added unto it, we pretend no other thing, nor desire any more effectuously than that it may be established again in his own perfection. And to come to this end, Madam, we give and offer, in all humility to God, and to your majesty, and to the rest & quietness of Christendom, and namely of this realm, our souls and our own lives. Praised be God.  

¶ The thursday last of september.  
WE do believe that in the holy supper our saviour jesus Christ doth give, present, and offer unto us the substance of his body & blood by the operation and working of the holy ghost, that we eat and receive, sacramentally, and spiritually by faith, the same body which is dead for us, for to be a bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh, too the end that we may be vivified and receive all that is requisite to our salvation. And because that the word of God, whereupon our faith is stayed doth present and set forth unto us his true and natural body by the holy ghost. In this respect, we do rekognise and acknowledge, that the body and blood of our saviour jesus Christ is the supper. By these words (being taken in this sense) being in the end of the said article we do understand that we do apprehend this great & excellent mystery by faith, which is of such, vertu & efficacy, that it maketh the things that are absent present unto us.   
FINIS.