TRANSCRIPTION

DISCOURS DE LA FOY

ESCRIT A LISLEBOVRG PAR ESTHER 

LANGLOIS, FRANCOISE, M.D.XCI.

TRANSLATION

DISCOURSE OF FAITH

WRITTEN AT EDINBURGH BY ESTHER

INGLIS, FRENCHWOMAN, 1591

Entrez par la porte estroite: car c’est la porte large, et le chemin spacieux qui mene a perdition. Mat.7  

Ie suis la porte: si aucun entre par moy, il sera sauué. Iean 10.

Enter in at the strait gate: for it is the wide gate, and broad way, which leadeth to destruction. Matth.7. 

I am that doore: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. John 10.

MADAME  combien que ie soye peu exercée en l’histoire de ces derniers temps, j’ay toutesfois remarqué que DIEU a voulu honorer vostre Royaume d’ANGLETERRE de plusieurs singulieres faueurs et prerogatives par dessus tous les [f.2v]autres Royaumes d’Europe. Car l’an M.CCC.LXXII estant le monde endormy en tenebres de superstition et idolatrie DIEV par sa bonté admirable suscita en vostre Royaume IEAN WICLEFF par le ministere duquel il tira comme d’vne nuict profonde la lumiere de sa sa verité, donnant ses rayons par petits pertuis et crevasses maugré Satan et tous ses supposts opposans a ceste lumiere les puissances de ce monde: lequel WICLEFF ^a [I. Prerogatiue] bailla puis aprés la lampe au Bohemiens IEAN HVS et HIEROME DE PRAGUE venus comme au poinct du Jour leuant: l’exemple desquels donne cest aduertissement, Qu’en la vertu de la doctrine de DIEV vn ou deux ont resisté a

Madame, However inexpert I be in the history of these last times, I have nonetheless taken note that GOD has chosen to honour your Kingdom of ENGLAND with several singular favours and prerogatives, above all the other kingdoms of Europe.  For in 1372, when the world was asleep in the darkness of superstition and idolatry, GOD in his wonderful goodness raised up JOHN WYCLIFFE² in your Kingdom, by whose ministry He brought forth the light of His truth as it were from the depths of night, shining through little cracks and crevices despite Satan and his henchmen, who set the powers of this world against that light: which man WYCLIFFE passed on that torch to the Bohemians JAN HUS and HIERONYMUS OF PRAGUE, who came as it were at the moment of daybreak: which examples tell us this, That in the strength of the doctrine of GOD, one or two have resisted

tout le monde: voire & qu’en leur condamnation tous les plus grands et sçavants de la terre, qui estoyent au Concile de Constance, ont esté conuaincus d’horrible aueuglement. Et ainsi il est euident que le SEIGNEVR estant venu mettre le feu au monde, l’auroit premierement allumé en ANGLETERRE, et puis jetté des estincelles ça & là, pour eschauffer et esclairer les siens.

the whole world: and moreover, in condemning them,  all the great and wise ones of the earth, who were at the Council of Constance, convicted themselves of hair-raising blindness.  And so it is evident, that the LORD having come to light a fire in the world, lit that fire first in ENGLAND, and then threw its sparks hither and thither, to warm His own and to light their way.

Long temps apres, enuiron l’an M.D.XXXIII, HENRY VIII  de ce nom, pere de vostre Ma^té. Prince tresvaleureux et magnanime, rejetta la primauté du Pape ^b  [II. Prerogatiue] hors de son Royaume. Ce que nuls autres Princes ne peurent faire deuant luy en ANGLETERRE, et nuls au[f.3v]tres Rois hors ANGLETERRE n’oserent lors entreprendre.

Long after, around the year 1533, HENRY, VIII of that name,  your Majesty’s father, a most valorous and magnanimous prince,  expelled from his Kingdom the primacy of the Pope.³  Which thing no other princes had been able to do before him in ENGLAND,  and which no other kings outwith ENGLAND dared undertake. 

Auquel succeda la perle des Rois EDOUART VI, Prince de tresheureuse et sainte memoire, frere de vostre Ma^té lequel fut le premier Roy ^c[III. Prerogatiue] de son temps, qui a bon escient s’employa a reformer son Royaume selon la parole de DIEV. Mais, helas! l’ingratitude et peruersité du monde esmeurent le SEIGNEVR  a le retirer incontinent a soy, au grand dommage et regret de tous fideles, et principalement de ceux d’ANGLETERRE, d’autant qu’apres le decez d’iceluy ils furent cruellement persecutez par les ennemis de l’Euangile: qui par l’espace de cinq ans executerent contre iceux des cruautez si barbares,

He was succeeded by the pearl of kings, EDWARD VI, prince of most happy and holy memory, your Majesty’s brother, who was the first king⁴ of his age, who to good effect set himself to reform his kingdom in keeping with the Word of GOD.  But alas! the ingratitude and perversity of the world moved the LORD to take him suddenly to Himself, to the great harm and regret of all faithful people, and principally, those of ENGLAND, all the more since following his death, they were cruelly persecuted by the enemies of the Gospel:  who for the space of five years perpetrated against them cruelities so barbarous,

et des tourments si horribles, qu’ils pensoyent les exterminer du tout. Mais finalement l’ETERNEL continuant le cours de ses grandes misericordes, et voulant derechef donner en ce temps-là soulagement et repos aux siens, suscita para vne vicissitude tresdesirable vostre Ma^té l’an M.D.LVIII ^d[IIII Prerogatiue] l’ayant deliurée d’vne dangereuse capitiuité, pour le regard non seulement de vous MADAME, mais aussi pour deliurer vn nombre infini de vos meilleurs subjets, qui estoyent estimez comme brebis de la boucherie ^e[Pseau.44.]: car soudain que par la grace de DIEV vous succedastes a la jouissance legitime du Sceptre Anglois, vous feistes cesser les cruelles persecutions, qui auoyent tant ensanglanté vostre Royau

and tortures so horrible, that they thought to have exterminated them altogether. But in the end, the MOST HIGH GOD, continuing the stream of His great mercies, and wishing at that time, once again to give relief and rest to His own, did by a most happy change of fortune raise up your Majesty in the year 1558,⁵ having delivered you from a dangerous captivity, not only for His regard to yourself, MADAME, but also so as to deliver an infinite number of your best subjects, who were counted as sheep for the slaughter:⁶ for as soon as you by GOD’s grace succeeded to the legitimate possession of the English Sceptre, you made an end of the cruel persecutions which had so bathed your Kingdom in blood,

me, & le reformastes selon la doctrine de l’Euangile,: n’ayant peu estre destournée d’vn oeuure si saint par les Rois et Princes voisins de vostre Estat, lesquels se fortifoyent lors par alliances de mariages et se liguoyent tous ensemble en intention d’effacer entierement de dessus la terre la vraye Religion et les professeurs d’icelle.  Toutesfois le Roy des Rois et le SEIGNEUR des Seigneurs leur feit cognoistre qu’il sçait bien aneantir les conseils et entreprises de toutes hautesses qui s’eleuent contre la verité de sa parole eternelle par laquelle il veut regner, et reduire en captiuité toute sagesse humaine. Il feit adonc comme le bon laboureur, qui du milieu de son champ arrache les gros chardons, qui

and you reformed it in accordance with the doctrine of the Gospel: nor could you be turned from so holy a work by the Kings and Princes of neighbouring countries, who then strengthened themselves by marriage alliances, and leagued all of them together to root out from the face of the earth the true Religion and its confessors. Yet the King of Kings and LORD of Lords caused them learn that He can indeed bring to naught the counsels and undertakings of all the mighty ones who rise up against the truth of His eternal word, through which He shall reign and lead captive all human wisdom. He thus did as the good husbandman, who

empeschent et suffoquent la bonne semence. Si on eut regarder les moyens que DIEV a tenus pour recommencer le bastiment de son Eglise, et la faueur qu’il a faite a ceux qui de bonne affection y ont assisté, on cognoistra que tout a esté heureusement poursuyui contre toute esperance humaine. Et sans recercher les exemples de plus loing, chascun peut clairement apperceuoir comment le SEIGNEVR a besongné et continuë de besongner  a l’endroit de vostre Ma^té combien de dangers l’ont enuironnée: combien d’ennemis et dehors & dedans l’ont assaillie et comment le SEIGNEVR  l’a non seulement garentie, mais aussi luy a fait ceste grace, qu’ès temps les plus peruers et diuers, il l’a con

tears from the midst of his field the great thistles that hinder and choke the good seed.  If we consider the means which GOD has chosen to resume the building of His Church, and the favour which He has bestowed on those who have been well inclined to take part therein, we will see that all has proceeded for the best, against all human hope.  And without seeking farther for examples, every man can clearly see how the LORD has laboured and continues to labour on your Majesty’s behalf : how many dangers  have surrounded you,  how many enemies at home and abroad have assailed you,  and how the LORD has not only kept you safe, but has also has done you this grace, that at the most perverse and diverse times, He has con

stituée nourrice et tutrice de ses poures fideles dechassez de toutes parts hors de leurs païs, l’ayant dediée a son NOM, et consacre sic vostre Royaume pour vn domicile des siens. I’escri ici plusieurs sic choses, M A D A M E, qui vous sont beaucoup plus notoires qu’a moy.  I’ay bon espoir neantmoins, que le recit d’icelles ne vous sera desagreable, d’autant qu’il tend à magnifier la grande bonté de DIEV enuers vostre Royaume, qui a daigné le choisir d’entre plusieurs, et fait premierement decouler sur iceluy tant de graces speciales pour le secours de son Eglise. Certainement par la consideration de tant d’oeuures magnifiques

stitute you nurse and tutrix of His poor faithful from all parts, who have been driven from their countries, and has dedicated you to his NAME, and consecrated your Kingdom to be a home for His own.  MADAME, I write here many things that you know far better than I do.  I nonetheless hope that the telling over of them will not be disagreeable to you, and all the more so in that the telling magnifies the great goodness of GOD to your Kingdom,  which He  has deigned to choose from among many, and upon it has poured out so many special graces for the succour of his Church. Certain it is, that the consideration so many glorious works

de l’ETERNEL ie ne puis sinon m’esjouir grandement, et le louër de tout mon coeur, auec ce grand Roy DAVID disant:

of the LORD MOST HIGH cannot but make me rejoice greatly, and praise Him with all my heart, saying with the great King DAVID:

PSEAV. XCII

PSA.XCII⁷

Or puis que la haine furieuse dont vous poursuyuent tant de grands et puissants ennemis, ne procede d’ailleurs que de ce qu’estant Princesse Chrestienne vous esperez en DIEV viuant ^f[I.Tim. 4.10]: et que, pour cela mesme, vous fauorisez et defendez la doctrine celeste de la FOY et la RELIGION CHRESTIENNE, Je suis toute persuadée que le SIEGNEVR  vous preseruera

Thus, since the furious hatred wherewith so many great and powerful enemies pursue you proceeds only from the fact that being a Christian Princess, you trust in the living GOD:⁹ and that, for that very cause, you favour and defend the heavenly doctrine of the CHRISTIAN FAITH AND RELIGION,  I am altogether persuaded that the LORD will preserve you

contre tous leurs efforts: et suscitera plustost pour cest effect, les plus viles et petites bestes de la terre ^g[Exod.8 et 14]: les vents, la Mer, et autres creatures insensibles, car il en a fai ainsi de tout temps: et a chastié, comme dit le Prophete, les Rois pour l’amour des siens ^h[Pseau.105.] : combien qu’ils fussent peu de personnes, & comme rien, et estrangers en terre &c.  Il ne vous a pas si miraculeusement conduite et deliurée en vostre jeune aage: & puis esleuée et assise au throne Royal pour vous abandonner, mesmes en vne cause tant iuste et legitime, contre les ennemis de sa verité sacrée, ains J’ay certain espoir qu’il continuera et multipliera de plus en plus ses graces et faueurs enuers vous, comme

against all their attempts: and will the rather stir up the lowest and smallest beasts of the earth:¹⁰ the winds, the Sea, and other inanimate creatures, for thus has He done at all times: and hath reprooved,  as the Prophet says, Kings for the sake of His own¹¹: Albeit they were few in number, yea very few, and strangers in the land, &c. He has not guided and delivered you thus miraculously in your youth, and then raised you up and seated you on the Royal Throne, in order to abandon you, even in so just and legitimate a cause against the enemies of His sacred truth, and thus I am in sure hope that He will continue and multiply more and more His graces and favours upon you, as the proper

instrument propre que sa prouidence diuine a esleu pour aider à rebastir les ruines et redresser les murailles de sa maison, selon la remonstrance qui autresfois a esté faite par le Proph. Aggée au peuple des Iuifs, laquelle est digne maintenant, comme en cas semblable, d’estre mis au deuant: [Agée 1.4 & 8]Auez vous, dit-il, le temps pour habiter en vos maisons lambrissées, & la maison du Seigneur sera deserte? montez en la montagne, portez du bois, et edifiez le temple, & i’y prendray mon plaisir, et seray glorifié dit le Seigneur &c. Sur ceste consideration et asseurance J’ay appresté ce LIVRET contenant vn sommaire discours de la FOY

instrument  chosen by His divine providence to rebuild the ruins and restore the walls of His house, according to the remonstration made by the Prophet Haggai¹² to the Jewish people, which is worthy now to be set before us, who are in similar case: Is it time for your selves to dwell in your cieled houses, he saith, and this house [of the Lord] lie waste? Go up into the mountaine, and bring wood, and build this House, and I will be favourable in it, and I will be glorified saith the Lord &c. In consideration whereof  and drawing strength from such an assurance,  I have prepared this LITTLE BOOK containing a summary discourse of the FAITH,

que J’ay escrit en diuerses sortes de lettres: et vn pourtraict de la RELIGION CHRESTIENNE, que j’ay tiré auec la plume, lequel i’envoye à vostre Ma^té pour l’honorer de la petite coignoissance que DIEV m’a donnée en l’art d’escrire et de pourtraire. Ma petite et basse condition, le sexe, la Religion, et sur tout la Clemence Royale, qui vous fait renommer l’vne des plus recommandables Princesses que soustienne la  terre, m’ont enhardie d’effectuer le grand desir que J’ay eu, long temps y a, de saluër vostre Ma^té  de ce tel quel present. Veu qu’ouuertement vous maintenez et defendez la FOY & la RELIGION CHRESTIENNE, Je suis merueilleusement trompée, si offrir ce petit present a vostre Ma^té n’est

which I have written in various kinds of letters, and a portrait of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION, which I have drawn with my pen, and which I send to your Majesty, so as to honour you with what little skill GOD has given me in the art of writing and portraiture. My mean and lowly condition, my sex, the true Religion, and above all the royal clemency that has made you renowned as one of the most praiseworthy princesses that earth sustains, have all emboldened me to put into effect the great desire I have long nurtured to acknowledge your Majesty with this trifling gift.  Seeing that you openly maintain and defend the FAITH and the CHRISTIAN RELIGION, I am marvellously mistaken, if it is not absolutely right and fitting to offer your Majesty

à son poinct la chose approprier.¹³ Ie vous supplie donc treshumblement, le receuoir et interpreter à la meilleure part, selon vostre bonté accoustumée. Si ie puis aprés auoir l’heur d’entendre que de la petite industrie de ma plume  chose fust sortie, qui vous eust donné tant soit peu de contentement, je reputeray ce mien labeur n’auoir peu estre mieux employé, et me sentiray à Jamais obligée, pour ce regard, d’en rendre graces infinies à Dieu: lequel je supplie de toute mon affection,

this little present.  I therefore most humbly beseech you to receive and interpret it in good part, in keeping with your customary kindness.  If thereafter I should have have the happiness of learning that has come anything of the industry of my pen to afford you some contentment, however small, I shall hold my labours to have been well bestowed, and will feel myself, in this regard, forever bound to offer infinite thanks to God;  whom I pray, with all my affection,

MADAME,  vous faire autant

MADAME, to grant you

longuement viure saine & heureuse, qu’il vous a fait naistre noblement illustre et vertueuse. De Lislebourg en Escosse le premier jour de l’an M D XCI, De vre Ma^té La treshumble, tresobeissante et tresaffectionée seruante à jamais

ESTHER LANGLOIS FILLE FRANÇOISE

a life as long and happy as your birth was noble, illustrious and virtuous.  From Edinburgh in Scotland the first day of the year 1591, Your Majesty’s most humble, most obedient and deeply beholden servant for ever

ESTHER LANGLOIS, A FRENCH MAIDEN

A SA MAIESTE

PRINCESSE de valeur dont les nobles Ayeux

        Vous ont laissé Sagesse et Vertu pour partage,

        Et qui avez prisé en tout temps et tout aage

        Plus que nul autre don, ce thresor precieux.

Qui faites plus de cas de ce qui touche aux cieux,

        Que de nul des humains tant soit grand l’heritage,

        D’autant que vous sçavez que c’est à cest estage

        Qu’il faut dresser l’esprit, et non en ces bas lieux.

Vous ne desirez pas qu’on vous flatte l’oreille,

        Ny vostre esprit Royal d’une vaine merveille:

        C’est pourquoy ie vous offre un Discours de la FOY.

La FOY ne tend en bas et n’est point chose vaine.

        Mais iusques dans le Ciel nostre esprit elle meine.

        Voulez vous donc PRINCESSE, un plus beau don de moy?

To Her Majesty

O Princess of great price, whose noble forebears great

       Bequeathèd unto thee both wisdom and virtue, 

Never at any age hast thou not known to prize

         That precious treasure more than any other gift;

Making far more of those things which are heav’n’s concerns

       Than of mere men, however great their heritage,

        Just as thou knowest, that it is for heav’n above

        Our spirit must be school’d and train’d – not this low earth.

Thou dost not wish thine ear nor royal spirit good

       With empty marvels to be flatterèd and woo’d –

        Hence, this Discourse of FAITH is what I offer thee:

FAITH draws not downwards,  it is no empty thing,

         But up and into Heav’n our spirit it doth bring.

         Wouldst thou, O PRINCESS, have a lovelier gift of me?

POTENTISSIMAE ET

Serenissimae ELIZABETHAE  Dei

gratia Anglie. Fr. et Hib.Reginae.

Foelix ante alias regio foelicior ipsa¹⁴

        Facta est auspiciis ELIZABETHA tuis.

Quae CHRISTI profugos facili dignare favore,

        Sola salus miseris, sola patrona piis.

Dotes ob varias excelsa Principe dignas,

        Quam quisquis bonus est, laudat, honorat, amat,

Hunc mea quem scripsit Nata LIBELLUM

        Accipe, sed clemens, temporis hujus honos.

Hoc tibi quid Natam monuit perscribere munus?

        Relligio, sexus, nobilitasque tua.

Exiguum esto, tamen rarum est, quia Filia scripsit.

        Perraras DOMINAS  munera rara decent.

Iterea aeternum votis onerabo Parentem,

        Dextra qui forti regia corda premit,

Protegat ut sceptrum usque tuum contra arma Tyrannûm,

        Annos teue velit vivere Nestoreos.

Ullus nec meritum tibi finiat annus honorem,

        Sed famae cedant omnia secla tuae.

                Tuae Maiestasti addictissimus

                Nicolaus cognomento Anglus, natione                 

                        Gallus, dictae Esth. pater

TO THE MOST POTENT AND

Most Serene ELIZABETH, by God’s grace

England’s, France’s and Ireland’s Queen¹⁵

The region happy above others is itself

        Made happier under your tutelage, ELIZABETH,

Who deign to favour the refugees of CHRIST,

        Sole salvation of the wretched, sole patron of the pious.

On account of your varied and deserving qualities, most high Princess,

        Whom all good men praise, honour, and love,  

This  LITTLE BOOK which my dearest Daughter has penned

        Accept from her, but with kindness, you glory of this age.

What has prompted my Daughter to make over this gift to you?

        Your religion, your sex and your nobility.

Be it small, yet is it remarkable, because a young maid wrote it:

        Remarkable gifts beseem the most remarkable of LADIES.

Meanwhile, with my prayers I shall burden the Eternal Father

        Who with a mighty right hand shields the hearts of kings,

That He will protect your sceptre too against the forces of tyrants,

        And grant that you live Nestor’s years.

Nor let any year see an end to your deservèd honour,

        But make all ages yield to your fair fame.

                Your Majesty’s most devoted

                Nicolas, by surname English, by nation

                        French, the said Esther’s father.¹⁶

SOMMAIRE

DISCOURS

DE LA FOY, CONTENANT

QUARANTE

STANCES,

SUMMARY

DISCOVRSE ON

THE FAITH, CONTAINING

FORTY

STANZAS

I.

Cependant ô Chrestiens, que Satan trauaille,

 Et que son lieutenant nous dresse une bataille

Prenons la foy pour guide, asseurons nostre coeur,

Christ estant nostre chef, et la Foy nostre enseigne,

Il ne faut avoir peur que le diable entrepreigne,

Ny que jamais il puisse estre sur nous vainqueur.

1.

While Satan, O ye Christians, labours hard¹⁷

And his lieutenant¹⁸ attacks us with his troops,

Let us take faith for our guide,  make firm our heart.

With Christ as our head, and Faith as our banner,

We have no need to fear the devil’s doings,

Nor that he could ever be our conqueror.

II.

Marchons en ordonnance, et croyons en Justice,

Et si nous desirons que Dieu nous soit propice

Chassons de nostre camp toute infidelité:

Car elle est de la Foy l’aduersaire Jurée,

Et sa gloire sera de bien peu de durée,

Si nous ioignons la foy auecques verité.

2.

Let us march in good order, let us believe in righteousness,

And if we wish to feel God’s favour,

Let us expel from our camp all faithlessness:

For she is faith’s sworn adversary,

And her glory will be but brief

If we join faith with truth.

III.

Nous croyons donc en Dieu, souuerain, inuincible,

Admirable ouurier, parfaict, puissant, terrible,

Pere, fils, Saint esprit, & triple en vnité,

Seul iuste, bon et grand, seul adoré des Anges.

Et de nous ses enfans, qui luy rendons louänges,

Et honneur, et hommage, en toute humilité.

3.

We believe, therefore, in God, sovereign, invincible,

Wondrous workman, perfect, strong and terrible,

Father, Son and Holy Ghost,  threefold in unity,

The only righteous, good and great, by angels worshipped¹⁹

And by us his children, who give Him praise,

And honour and homage, in all humility.

IIII

Il est nostre secours, il est nostre tutelle,

Nostre chasteau muni, nostre recours fidelle,

Nostre tour, nostre fort, au fort de nos malheurs:

Au temps calamiteux c’est luy qui nous deliure,

Qui languissants de faim nous paist, & nous fait viure:

Qui durant nos ennuis, nous essuye nos pleurs.

4.

He is our succour, as He is our shield,

Our fortress stout, our faithful helper,

Our strong tower, our strength at the height of misfortune;

In times calamitous, He is our deliverer,

Who feeds us when we hunger, who gives us life:

And when we are in trouble, wipes away our tears.

V.

De luy & non d’ailleurs, sourd toute chose bonne:

Si nous avons des biens, c’est luy qui les nous donne,

Car la terre est à luy, & son throne est és cieux:

Nous ne pouvons sans luy rien faire ne parfaire:

Il conduit nostre esprit, nos mains & nostre affaire,

Nous bande quand il veut, & desbande les yeux.

5.

From Him, and nowhere else, spring all good things,

If good things fall to us, He it is that gives them,

For the earth is His, and His throne is in heaven:

Without Him, we can neither act nor yet perfect,

He guides our spirits, our hands and our adoes,

And our eyes he binds and unbinds, when He will.

VI

Aprés ce tout formé, il feit à son image

Adam, et luy donna la terre pour partage:

Il inspira dans luy un esprit immortel:

Le feit parfaict, & bon, l’enrichit de sa grace:

Heureux estoit Adam, et heureuse sa race,

Si orné de ces dons il fust demeuré tel.

6.

After He had formed all things, in His image

Made He Adam, and gave him the earth for share,

He breathed in him a soul immortal.

Perfect made He him, and good,²⁰ enriched with grace;

Happy was Adam,  and blessèd his race,

If he, thus high adorned, had so remained.

VII

Mais le prince d’enfer au bien portant envie,

Et au repos d’Adam, et à l’heur de sa vie,

Sous la peau d’un Serpent sa femme et luy deceut,

Luy faisant transgresser l’ordonnance divine,

Dont advint la revolte, & aprés la ruine,

Le dommage, la perte, et le mal qu’il receut.

7.

But the prince of hell, envious of Adams weal,

And of his blissful life and restful ease,

In a serpent’s skin deceived him and his wife,

Making him transgress the commandment divine,

Whereof came revolt, and afterwards, the ruin

Harm and loss and all the ill that was his lot.

VIII

Aprés un tel forfait, et une telle offense,

L’homme infracteur de foy demeuroit sans defense,

A la Mort, à l’enfer, miserable submis,

Si DIEV n’eust regardé en pitié sa facture,

Et promis de tirer, prenant nostre nature,

L’homme sien hors des fers où Satan l’avoit mis.

8.

After such transgression and so great a crime,

All defenceless was Faith-breaking man,

Wretchedly subject to Death and to hell,

Had GOD not looked with pity on His handiwork,

And promised to rescue – by taking on our nature  –

His human race from the chains Satan had laid on us.

IX

Nos peres ont vescu en heureuse vieillesse:

Ont creu de pere en fils à si sainte promesse:

Et sur elle ont fondé leur espoir & leur foy.

Cependant l’Eternel cognoissant combien vaine

Et fragile de soy, est la nature humaine,

Sur le mont de Sina feit entendre sa loy.

9.

Our fathers lived into happy old age,

Believed, from father to son, in this holy promise,

And on it founded both their hope and their faith.

However, the Most High, knowing how vain

And fragile human nature is in itself,

Made His law to be heard on Sinai’s mount.

X

Au son des elements, des trompes nompareilles,

Il la feit publier & sonner aux oreilles

Des enfans de Iacob, afin qu’à l’advenir

Elle fust comme adresse, elle fust comme guide,

Ou comme un pedagogue, ou bien comme une bride,

Pour ce peuple effrené conduire et retenir.

10.

To the sound of the elements, and matchless trumpets,

He published it and made it resound in the ears

Of the children of Jacob, so that in times to come

It served as support, served as guide,

Or as schoolmaster or else as bridle,

To lead and restrain this unbridled people.

XI

Mais l’homme quel qu’il soit, fust-il reputé iuste,

Ne la peut accomplir, et n’est assez robuste

De soy, pour supporter de la loy le fardeau.

N’accomplissant la loy, la loy mesme le Juge,

Son peché le condamne, et n’a nul subterfuge,

Qu’il ne soit par la loy heritier du tombeau.

11.

But no man, howsoever good, or esteemed as righteous

Can keep the law, or is stout and strong enough

To bear the burden of the law by himself.

And unable to keep the law , by the selfsame Law he’s judged,

His sins condemn him, and he has no subterfuge

To circumvent the law that makes the grave his inheritance.²¹

XII

Son peché, non la loy, est cause de sa perte:

Le sens est donc tout clair & la raison aperte,

Que l’homme par la loy ne peut prendre renfort:

Donc tout consideré, nous concluons qu’au monde

Par la loy du Seigneur, sans qu’ailleurs on se fonde,

Est cognu le peché, du peché vient la mort.

12. 

His sin, not the law, is the cause of his destruction,

The meaning is quite clear, the reason plain to see:

That man cannot take refuge in the Law,

And thus, considering all, we conclude that in the world

By the law of the Lord, relying on nothing else,

Sin is known, and from sin comes death.

XIII

Les hommes par peché receurent tel dommage,

Que bannis pour iamais du celeste heritage

Ils estoyent derechef à la mort exposez:

Mais suivant la promesse à nos peres donnée,

En despit de Satan, nostre chance est tournée,

Et CHRIST nous a remis d’où estions deposez.

13.

Mankind through sin suffered such harm

That, banished forever from their heavenly inheritance,

Men were immediately exposed to death;

But following the promise given to our fathers,

To Satan’s harm, our fortune turned,

And CHRIST has restored us thither, whence we were cast out.

XIIII

C’est CHRIST le fils de Dieu, issu d’une pucelle,

Conceu du Saint Esprit, en nostre chair mortelle,

Qui vray homme & vray Dieu nous a fauorisé.

C’est luy qui de la mort a remportée la gloire,

Si qu’on peut s’escrier, Mort, où est ta victoire?

Où est ton esguillon, ô sepulchre brisé? 

14.

It is CHRIST  the son of God, born of a virgin,

Conceived by the Holy Ghost in our mortal flesh,

Who as true man and true God, has favoured us

He it is who hath turned death into glory,

So that we may cry, Death where is thy victory,

Where is thy sting,  O broken grave?²²

XV

C’est luy qui est venu en ce monde pour estre

Nostre Prophete saint, nostre Roy, nostre Prestre,

Pour nous prescher salut, et monstrer la clarté:

Soulager nos malheurs, porter nostre misere,

Pour nos iniquitez s’offrir à Dieu son pere,

Et de captifs qu’estions, nous mettre en liberté.

15.

He it is who is come in this world to be

Our holy Prophet, our King, our Priest

To preach salvation to us, and show us the light:

To comfort our distress, to carry our misery

For our sins to offer Himself to God His Father,

And to set us, who were prisoners, at liberty.

XVI

Heureux, trois fois heureux, se peut bien l’homme dire,

Qui a pour son sauveur, celuy duquel l’empire

A iamais permanent, s’estend par sus les cieux,

Qui fait trembler la terre, et duquel la voix saincte

Dethrone les grands Rois, et tient le monde en crainte,

Faisant par tout paroir ses effects merveilleux.

16.

Happy, thrice happy may that man call himself

Who for his saviour has  Him whose kingdom

Abides for ever,  extends above the skies,

Who makes the earth to tremble, and whose holy voice

Dethrones great Kings, and holds the world in fear,

Making manifest everywhere His marvellous deeds.²³

XVII

O amour admirable! ô nompareille grace!

O mystere profond! ô scavoir qui surpasse

Les esprits plus aigus, et les sens des humains!

Quand nous pensons à nous, que ce grand Dieu terrible

A bien daigné vestir nostre chair corruptible,

Pour nous povres chetifs, l’ouvrage de ses mains.

17.

O admirable love!  O grace without peer!

O mystery profound!  O knowledge which surpasses

The quickest spirits and the senses of humankind!

When we think on ourselves, that this great and terrible God

Has truly deigned to put on our corruptible flesh,

For us poor wretches, the work of His hands.

XVIII

Il a porté le ioug pour nostre ame asservie,

Il a souffert la mort pour nous donner la vie,

A esté nostre pleige, esté nostre garent,  sic

Il est ressuscité nous tirant de servage,

Est monté dans les cieux pour nous faire passage

Et nous faire heritiers de son Royaume grand.

18.

He bore the yoke for our enslavèd souls,

He suffered death that we  be given life,

He was our pledge and our guarantor,

He is risen, rescuing us out of slavery,

Ascended into heaven to make a way for us,

And of His radiant kingdom He makes us heirs.

XIX

Arriere mort arriere, & toy Satan arriere,

Qui teniez cy devant nostre ame prisonniere:

Nous sommes acquitez, CHRIST a payé pour nous.

Mort, nous ne craignons plus ta poignante sagette,

Ne Satan ton enfer puis que CHRIST nous rachette,

Et qu’il a de son pere, appaisé le courroux.

19.

Get thee behind us, O death, and Satan too,

That formerly held our souls prisoner,

We are acquitted, CHRIST has paid for us.

O Death, we no longer fear thy piercing dart,

Nor thy hell, o Satan, since CHRIST redeems us,

And has pacified his Father’s wrath.

XX

Victorieux d’enfer, de la mort, & du diable,

Il est au ciel assis sur son siege equitable,

Intercedant pour nous comme mediateur:

Aussi est-ce en luy seul que gist nostre esperance,

Et au nom seul duquel nous prenons asseurance

D’offrir a l’Eternel nos voeus & nostre coeur.

20. 

Victor over hell, and death, and devil,

He is in heaven seated on his coequal throne

Interceding for us as mediator,

Therefore, in Him alone lies all our hope

And in His name alone is all our confidence

In offering our prayers and hearts to God most high.

XXI

Il est aux cieux monté, et la haut il preside

En son throne eternel, où homme-dieu reside,

Iusq’au iour qu’il viendra en son haut appareil

Environné de gloire et de magnificence,

Asseurer ses esleus, et prononer sentence

Contre les reprouues et contre leur orgueil.

21.

He went up to the heavens, and there on high He sits

On His eternal throne, where, God-Man, He resides

Until the day that He shall come in His high pomp,

Surrounded by glory and magnificence,

To bring to safety His elect and pass sentence

On the reprobate and on their pride.

XXII

Il ne fait donc que l’homme eslourdi de folie

Le cerche en vn ciboire, ou bien en vne oublie,

Ny au temple caché, mais puisqu’au ciel est Christ,

Nous eslevons nos yeux, et par la vertu sainte,

De l’Esprit tout voyant, nous le prions sans feinte:

Le priant le voyons des yeux de nostre esprit.

22.

There is then no need for man, freed from folly,

To seek Him in a ciborium, or a biscuit,

Nor hidden in the Temple, but, because Christ is in heaven

We raise our eyes , and by the holy virtue

Of the all-seeing Spirit, we pray to Him unfeignedly:

And praying, we see Him with our spiritual eyes.

XXIII

Nul autre n’avouons, qui pour nous intercede,

De luy nostre Justice & vray salut procede:

C’est a luy, non aux saincts, que l’honneur appartient,

Mais avecque les saincts luy rendons los Et gloire,

Et de Peres en fils celebrons sa memoire,

Car comme d’un surgeon, tout bien de luy nous vient.

23.

None other do we avow, that intercedes for us,

From Him our righteousness and true salvation come,

It is to Him, not to the saints, that glory belongs,

But with His saints, we give Him praise and gory,

And from generation to generation we celebrate His memory,

For as from a spring, from Him come all good things to us.

XXIII

Nous croyons en l’Esprit de nos esprits l’adresse,

Lauteur de verité, de clarté de sagesse,

L’ange d’eternité, splendeur de l’immortel,

Conducteur, gouverneur, donne-sens donne-vie:

Restaurateur de l’ame, ennemy de l’envie:

Bening, paisible, doux, admirable, eternel.

24.

We believe in the Spirit, support of our spirits,

Author of truth, of light, of wisdom,

The angel of eternity, splendour of the Immortal One,

Guide, governor,  sense-giver, life-giver,

Restorer of the soul,  enemy of envy:

Benign, peaceful, sweet, admirable, eternal.

XXV

L’Eglise nous croyons chrestienne, universelle,

Mere de tous esleus, & l’espouse fidelle

De Christ, qui la soustient, la garde, la cherit,

Qui la fait triompher malgré son adversaire:

Qui la rend ferme & stable en son temps plus contraire,

La defend, la preserve, alors que tout perit.

25.

We believe in the Christian, universal Church,

Mother of all the elect, and the faithful spouse

Of Christ,²⁴ who sustains her, keeps her, loves her,

Who makes her victorious, despite her adversary;

Who keeps her sure and stable in times that are against her,

Defends her, preserves her when all things perish²⁵.

XXVI

De grace & de salut l’Eglise est revestuë,

Le saint Esprit la guide, et la rend plus cognue,

Sa splendeur est au chef, et sa beauté aux yeux:

La charité , l’espoir, et la foy sont ses ailes,

La povreté la suit, & porte en ses mammelles

L’innocent eschapé du tyran furieux.

26.

With grace and salvation the Church is clothed,

The Holy Ghost guides her, and makes her known,

Her splendour is on her head, and her beauty in her eyes,²⁶

Her wings are Charity, hope and faith,²⁷

Poverty follows after her,²⁸ and lifts to her breast

The innocent who has escaped the tyrant’s fury.

XXVII

 Nous croyons l’unité des esleus en l’Eglise,

Que comme vn cors parfaict du chef on ne diuise,

Aussi ne nous peut-on separer d’auec Christ:

Nous ne sommes qu’un corps, que l’eternel assemble,

Qui prend vigueur du chef, si que liez ensemble

Auons mesme vertu, mesme sens, mesme esprit.

27.

We believe in the unity of the elect in the Church,

That, just as a perfect body cannot be divided from the head,

Neither can we  be separated from Christ:

We are gathered by the Most High into a single body,²⁹

Which takes its vigour from its head, so that linked together,

We are one in virtue,  understanding, and in spirit.

XXVIII

Ainsi nous jouïssons, vnie, de la franchise

Et des biens, & des dons, que Christ fait à l’Eglise,

Pour obtenir pardon de nostre iniquité.

Croyons en ferme foy que viendra la journée,

Que reprendrons nos corps, &  nous sera donnée

Vne eternelle vie, és lieux d’Eternité.

28.

Thus united we enjoy the freedom,

The blessings and the gifts that Christ gives to the Church,

That we may obtain pardon for our iniquity.

We believe with faith most firm the day shall come

When we resume our bodies, and to us will be given

A life eternal, in the dwellings of Eternity.

XXIX

Or nous ne pourrions pas bien rendre tesmoignage

Des promesses de Christ, si nous n’auions pour gaige,

Et sa marque et son seel, ou quelque sacrement,

Et lettre de faueur, pour monstrer que nous sommes

Ses esleus, ses soldats, ses seruants & ses hommes,

Et que pouuions passer ses paruis librement.

29.

Now, we could not bear witness

To the promises of Christ, had we not for token

Both His mark and His seal, or some sacrament

And favouring testimonial, to show that we are

His chosen, His soldiers, His servants and His men,

And that we are free to enter His courts.

XXX

Nous auons le Baptesme, où Dieu nous represente

 Par ce saint caractaire et marque suffisante

Nostre ressource en Christ, nos pechez annulez,

Guerison de nos maux en sa sainte piscine:

Et comme par la foy ceste grace diuine

Fait que sommes au rang des esleus enrollez.

30.

We have baptism, where God makes plain to us

By this holy character and sufficient mark

That we are in Christ and our sins are cancelled out,

The healing of our sickness in His holy pool,

And how by faith this grace divine

Causes us be enrolled in the ranks of the Elect.

XXXI

La Cene es le grand seau et la sainte alliance

De Christ auecque noous, qui fait que par fiance

Nous sommes pleinement auecque Christ vnie.

Si qu’entez en son corps, & en sa chair tressaincte,

A sa grace, à ses biens participons sans feinte:

Et sommes sans douter auecque luy benits.

31.

The Supper is the great seal and holy covenant

Of Christ with us, that by faith causes us

To be fully united with Christ,

That grafted in His body and His all-holy flesh,

We are participant, most truly, in His grace and gifts,

And are, without doubt, blessed with Him.

XXXII

O souuerain banquet! ô celeste conuiue,

Qui l’homme auecque Christ conioint par la foy viue!

O admirable foy qui fais qu’en vn moment

Nostre ame monte aux cieux, & que là haut repue

De bruuage immortel, elle ait encor la veuë

De celuy qui regit l’estoilé firmament!

32. 

O sovereign banquet! O heavenly feast,

Which conjoins man and Christ by living faith!

O wondrous faith, that means that in a single moment

Our soul mounts up to heaven, and there on high, replete 

With this immortal draught, she may once more have sight

Of Him who rules the starry firmament!

XXXIII

Combien d’esprits brouillons ont abusé le monde,

Pour n’auoir bien compris la science profonde

De ce mystere sainct, qui suiuans le r’enuoy

Et les subtilitez de la nature humaine,

Se sont laissé trainer à leur raison tresuaine,

Et n’ont point sauouré les discours de la foy?

33.

How many troublesome spirits have misled the world,

By not having well understood the profound knowledge

Of this holy mystery, who,  adhering to the resources

And the subtleties of human nature,

Have let themselves be led by their own power of vain reason,

And have not tasted anything of the discourses of faith?

XXXIV

La foy est celle-la qui combat le mensonge,

Qui releue d’erreur celuy-la qui s’y plonge,

Qui separe & desioint Babylon de Sion,

Christ d’auecque Baal, doctrine d’ignorance:

Qui donne plein repos, & qui donne asseurance

Au fidele chrestien au temps d’affliction.

34.

Faith it is that fights all lies,

That lifts from error him who falls therein,

That separates and disjoins Babylon from Sion,

Christ from Baal, doctrine from ignorance;

That gives full repose, and affords assurance

To faithful Christians in the day of affliction.

XXXV

La foy fille de Dieu, et de son throne issue

Ne regarde qu’au ciel, d’où elle est descendue:

Elle ne loge point auecque les mondains:

Son seiour est au coeur de l’ame humiliée:

Plus elle est en vigueur, quand plus est trauaillée,

Et tousiours de sa voix les effects sont certains.

35.

Faith, the daughter of God, and issuing from His throne,

Looks only to heaven, whence she descended down:

She does not lodge at all with worldly man,

Her sojourn is in the heart of the humbled soul,³⁰

She is the stronger, when she is hardest worked,³¹

And always, the effects of her voice are certain sure.

XXXVI

Qu’as tu donc à japper hypocrite en dispute

Contre la foy des saints? scais-tu pas que le juste

Comme est dict, vit de foy? et quoy ne sçais-tu pas

Que la chair rien ne sert, mais l’esprit viuifie?

Le corps de Christ adonc et son sang donne vie?

Et par foy nous goustons ce celeste repas.

36.

What do you have then, O yapping hypocrite, to dispute

Against the faith of the saints? know you not that the righteous

As it is said, lives by faith?³² and what, know you not

That the flesh serves for naught, but the spirit makes us live?³³

The body of Christ, then, and His blood, give life,

And by faith, we taste this sacred repast.

XXXVII

Voila quelle est la foy, voila que Christ enseigne,

Duquel seul nous deuons par foy suiure l’enseigne,

Sans redouter ne craindre vn tas de mesdisants,

Qui nous taxent d’erreur, comme gens heretiques,

Qui mettent tout leur soing et toutes leues pratiques

Pour nous mettre en horreur entre tous les viuants.

37. 

Behold what faith is, behold what Christ teaches,

Whose banner alone we should follow by faith,

Without flinching, or fearing the host of wicked tongues

Which accuse us of error as a heretic race,

And devote all their care and all their efforts

To making us a source of horror among the living.

XXXVIII

Pour quitter l’ignorance on nous charge d’injure;

On nous nomme menteurs pour suiure l’Escriture

Dictée du grand Dieu, et reduite en escrit

Par les prophetes saincts, par Christ mesme annoncée,

Par ses ambassadeurs au monde prononcée

Inspirez et instruits de l’Eternel Esprit.

38.

For our abandoning of ignorance, they load us with insults,

They call us liars for following the Scriptures

Dictated by the Most High God, and set down

By His holy prophets,  and proclaimed by Christ Himself,

And given to the world by His ambassadors

Inspired and instructed by the Eternal Spirit.

XXXIX

 Pour estre nostre Eglise à son espoux fidele,

Rebelles, turbulents, mutins on nous appelle,

Contraires ennemis des Princes et des Roys,

Qui toutesfois voulons obeissance rendre

Au Prince, au Magistrat, et librement entendre

Leurs iustes mandements, leurs edicts, et leurs loix.

39. 

Because our Church is faithful to her husband,

They call us rebels, turbulent and mutinous,

Enemies opposed to princes and to kings,

Us – who are willing nonetheless to give obedience

To the prince and magistrate, and freely hear

Their just decrees,  their edicts and their laws.

XL.

O Dieu qui vois nos coeurs, et ceux de nos contraires,

Prens nostre cause en main, mets fin en nos miseres,

Renforce nos esprits de constance & de foy:

Et lors ny les tourments, ny les fers, ny les chables,

Ny les fouets, ny les feux, des Tyrans execrables

Ne nous pourront jamais distraire d’auec toy.

FIN

40.

O God, who sees our hearts and those of our opponents,³⁴

Take in hand our cause, make an end of our afflictions,

Strengthen our spirits with constancy and faith,

And then, neither the tortures, nor the chains, nor the bonds,

Nor the whips, nor the fires of execrable tyrants

Will ever have the power to separate us from Thee.³⁵

FIN

Hexasticha hoc in libello varie descripta

 Multiplici rogitas cur iam vestimur amictu,

        Nuper cum nobis vnica vestis erat?

Aut quis tot formas potuit componere vestis?

        Texuit has calamo Galla puella suo.

 N[icolaus] A[nglus] D[ictae] P[uellae] P[ater].

The sixains variously penned in this little book [speak:]

Are you asking why we are dressed in multiple garb,

        who formerly had but one dress?

 Or who was capable of providing so many forms of dress?

        A French girl wove them with her pen.

Nicolas Langlois, the aforesaid girl’s father

Aduertissement³⁶

Madame, apres auoir tiré le pourtraict de la Religion Chrestienne selon la petite capacité de mon esprit, J’ay bien voulu pour exposition d’iceluy pourtraict escrire dessous, certain nombre de vers, les vns en Anglois, les autres en François ayant par la grace de Dieu, intelligence desdites langues. En toute la diuersité contenue en ce Liuret mon intention n’a esté autre que de cercher les moyens de donner quelque contentement a vostre Maté. A laquelle je dedie non seulement l’exercice de ma plume, mais aussi toute l’industrie que J’ay reçue de la bonté diuine, de pouuoir a Jamais vous faire treshumble seruice.

Note

Madame, after having drawn the portrait of the Christian Religion, as far as my small ability permits, I have chosen,  for the expounding of this portrait, to write beneath it certain lines of verse, some in English, some in French, having as I do, by the grace of God, knowledge of the said tongues. In all the variety contained in this small book, my in tention has only been to seek the means of affording some contentment to your Majesty, To whom I dedicate not only the work of my pen, but also all the ability that I have received from God in His goodness, so that I may always render you most humble service.

Huius ipsius Libelli

Prosopopoeia

*

Filia me scripsit mandante vtroque Parente

Exilii calamo taedia discutiens.

Prosopoeia

of this little book

*

A daughter wrote me, enjoined by both her parents,

Breaking the tedium of exile with her pen.