# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/The Oration of Cardinal Julian

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The Oration of Cardinal Julian.
The Bohemians' answer to the cardinal's oration.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.
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.
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.
Certain appointed by the Bohemians and the council to dispute.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, ​as place shall serve, more hereafter, by the grace of Christ, shall be said, when we come to the time of that council.
In the mean season, while the Bohemians were thus in long conflicts with Sigismund the emperor, and the pope, fighting for their religion, unto whom, notwithstanding all the fulness of the pope's power was bent against them, God, of his goodness, had given such noble victories, as is above-expressed, and ever did prosper them so long as they could agree among themselves. As these things, I say, were doing in Bohemia, king Henry V., fighting likewise in France, albeit for no like matter of religion, fell sick at Blois and died, after he had reigned nine years, five months, three weeks, and odd days, from his coronation. This king, in life, and in all his doings, was so devout and serviceable to the pope and his chaplains, that he was called of many, the 'prince of priests:' who left behind him a son being yet an infant, nine months and fifteen days of age, whom he had by queen Katherine, daughter to the French king, married to him about two or three years before; the name of which prince, succeeding after his father, was Henry VI., who was left under the government and protection of his uncle, named Humphrey, duke of Gloucester.