Lower Saxony and forced them of Meckelburg Lunenburg Anbalt and Mansfeld to pay it Another part of his and the Bishop's Forces having beat Albert and taken Schweinfurt as I have said they Treated Rotenburg an Imperial City and the County of Henneburg very severely and seemed resolved that if they did not contribute to the Expences of this War which they pretend did belong to all they would levy it by Force but by the Interposition of others this difference was Composed and no Force was made use of About this time Charles Duke of Savoy who as I have related above was stript of the greatest part of his Territories died leaving as his Heir Philibert his Son who had served many Years as a Soldier undr the Emperor Ferdinand King of the Romans published an Edict commanding his Subjects not to change any thing in the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and that according to the old Custom they that received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should content themselves with one of the Spectes the Bread only But the Princes the Nobility and Cities having often before Petitioned him in this Business did now by a Letter very humbly desire that according to Christ's Command and Institution and the custom of the ancient Church which they backed also with many Reasons they might be allowed the partaking of the whole and entire Eucharist The King answering this Letter the twenty third of June from Vienna said he did not in the least suppose when he published that Edict that it should be made by them the Subject of a Dispute and Cavil For said he my only design was that the People in my Dominions should remain in the ancient and true Religion and in the Obedience of the Catholick Church out of the Communion of which none can be Saved and that they might receive this most excellent Sacrament according to the Laws and Customs of the Church and that they might not be perverted from that duty they owe both to the Civil Magistrate and the Church either by the perverse Opinions of some Men or by a certain over great Curiosity or Pride He said this was the only intention and design of that Edict and that he had not in it commanded any new thing but had required only the continuance of an ancient Institution which has been brought down to me from hand to hand by my Ancestors the Emperors Kings and Dukes of Austria and which has to this Day been diligently observed by me as becomes a Christian Prince and which I have heretofore frequently commanded my Subjects to continue in And therefore I did not in the least suspect that you would attempt any thing against the tenor of this Edict who so earnestly contend that in all other things no change may be made and that you may enjoy your Laws and Rights without Violation For certainly this is a new thing and of late taken up by you upon some Opinion which you argue so largely for as if it befitted you to judge of my Commands who am your principal and highest Magistrate and as if that ought of right to be allowed you which some of you of late years have of their own Authority privately assumed to themselves and usurped contrary to the Canons of the Church and against my Will. But then it being as you say a grave and difficult question as you your selves aver I will think further of it and in due time I will return such an answer to it as shall shew that I am very much concern'd for the Salvation of my People But in the mean time I expect all manner of submission from you and that you should not in the least act any thing contrary to my Edict To this Letter the States made a reply in Writing also to this Effect What we have so often said most serene Prince concerning the Command of our Saviour we now again repeat for he instituted his Supper in clear and perspicuous Words that it might be received by all in the self same manner as he prescribed And it is not lawful for any mortal Man to change or alter his Institution and Prescription This was also the ancient custom of the Church and that which is now used crept in by insensible degrees as we can demonstrate For the Council of Constance confesseth that it was so instituted by Christ Seeing therefore this pertains to the Salvation of our Souls certainly neither Curiosity nor Pride have put us upon it And upon this very score we the rather hope that you will direct your future deliberation by the Commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of the ancient Church and in no wise oppress our Consciences which just request we make to your Majesty by all that is sacred by the Glory of God and by the Salvation of our Souls We acknowledge that by the Will of God you are our Supream Magistrate and we do this with the utmost willingness and we say that there is nothing which you may not or ought not to expect from us but in this one thing we desire you would spare us In the Diocess of Wurtzburg in Franconia there is a Monastery called Nenstadt the Abbot of which John Frisius falling into the suspicion of Lutheranism was cited the fifth day of May to appear within six days after at Wurtzburg and answer to such things as should be then enquired of him The Interrogatories then administred to him were Whether it be lawful to Swear Whether a Man is bound by his Vow Whether it be lawful to make a Vow of Poverty Chastity and Obedience Whether such Vows oblige Whether Matrimony or Celibacy doth best become the Ministers of the Church Whether there is one true and Apostolical Church Whether she is perpetually governed as the Spouse of Christ by the Holy-Ghost Whether she does always decree what is true and Salutary Whether the Church is to be deserted for the Vices and Errors of some Men in it Whether she upon the account of the Head the Vicar of Christ may rightly be called the Roman-Church Whether all the Books of both Testaments which the Canon has are lawful and true Whether the Sacred Scriptures are to be interpreted according to the Sentence of the Holy Fathers the Doctors of the Church and the Councils or according to that of Luther and such others Whether besides the sacred Scriptures there be not need of other Traditions such as those of the Apostles and others of the same Nature Whether the same Faith Authority and Obedience is due to these Traditions which is due to the sacred Scriptures Whether the civil Magistrate is to be obeyed in Politick or Civil Affairs and the Ecclesiastick in Sacred or Holy things Whether the Sacraments of the Church are Seven Whether Children are to be Baptized Whether Baptism ought to be administred in the Latin Tongue Whether Salt Oil Water Characters and Exorcisms ought to be made use of in
general Positions as the Ground-work of his Opinion as that the Pope of Rome is head of the Universal Church That the Church of Rome is the Chief of all others and that in Matters relating to Faith and Religion it cannot err no more than a Council where the Pope is present That the Holy Scripture receives all its Force and Authority from the Church and Pope of Rome as from a most certain Rule and that they who think otherwise who follow not the Doctrins of the Church of Rome or question its Authority are without doubt Hereticks Having laid down this for a Ground he comes to debate the Matter To this Writing Luther afterwards made Answer and in his Preface to Silvester told him That he admired more than understood his Positions and then following his Example in his own Defence laid down some Positions also but such as were drawn from Holy Scripture Wherein he affirmed That we are not to believe the Doctrins of all Sorts of Men but prudently to weigh all Things and embrace that which is agreeable to the Word of God And that no Doctrin was to be received though never so Specious besides that which was left us by the Prophets and Apostles That the Writers who came nearest to them were to be admitted but that we were to judge of the rest And that as to Indulgences the Collectors ought not to forge any Novelties but therein follow the Direction of the Canon Law. Afterwards he objects against him That he alledged no Text of Scripture and only quoted the Opinion of Thomas who himself had handled most things according to his own Fancy without the Authority of Scripture wherefore he rejects both and for so doing gives for his Warrant not only the Injunction of S. Paul but also the Example of S. Austin That it is an usual thing with Lawyers to say That nothing was to be asserted but what was clearly grounded on the Law and that in Divinity it was far less tolerable to admit of any Allegation without the Authority and Testimony of Scripture That S. Paul commands That they who teach the People should be furnished not with Syllogisms or the various Devices of Men but with sound Doctrin left to us by Divine Inspiration but that because most part slighted that Command thick Darkness had overspread the Church and jangling about frivolous and needless Questions had broke into it Having thus made Way for himself he comes to the Refutation and towards the End says That he was not at all moved at his Threats nor his lofty and swelling Expressions for that though he might be put to Death yet Christ still lived and was Immortal to whom all Glory and Honour ought to be given That if afterwards he intended to have another Brush he must make use of other Weapons and that else he would come but sorrily off with his old Friend Thomas Silvester makes his Reply That he was exceedingly pleased That he submitted to the Determination of the Pope of Rome and wished that therein he might have spoken truly and from his Heart Luther had twitted him with Ambition and Flattery which he altogether disowned but strongly defended Thomas Aquinas affirming That his whole Doctrin was so well Received and Approved of by the Church of Rome that it was even preferred before all other Writings He therefore rebuked him for speaking with so little Reverence of so great a Man and told him That he looked upon it as an Honour to be called a Thomist But that nevertheless he was also acquainted with the Writings of other Men which sometime or other he would make appear To this Preface he subjoyned a Short Book wherein he strangely commended the Power of the Pope of Rome so that he raised him above Councils and all the Canons and affirmed That the Force of Scripture depended wholly on his Authority Thomas Aquinas being nobly descended gave himself altogether to the Study of Learning and leaving Italy came first to Cologn and then to Paris where he attained to the chief Place amongst the Learned Men of his Age and published many Books both in Philosophy and Divinity He had been a Fryer of the Dominican Order and the Scholar of Albertus Magnus and about fifty Years after his Death was Canonized a Saint by Pope John XXII He had indeed been a rare Champion for the Papal Dignity for he gave him Power not only over all Bishops the Universal Church and Kings but also both Spiritual and Civil Jurisdiction affirming it to be necessary to Salvation That all Men should be Subject unto him and that he had full Power in the Church both to call Councils and to confirm the Decrees of the same Nay and that from National or Provincial Synods Appeals might lawfully be made unto him In short he attributed all things unto him save only that he could not make new Articles of Faith nor abrogate those which were handed down to us from the Apostles and Fathers He wrote also largely of Indulgences and made the Pope an absolute Monarch in dispensing them He is said to have died in the Year one thousand two hundred and seventy four and because of the sharpness of his Wit he is commonly called the Angelical Doctor To Silvester's Reply Luther made Answer only by an Epistle to the Reader wherein he affirms That little Book of his to be so stuffed with Lies and Horrid Blasphemies against God that the Devil himself appeared to be the Author of it That if the Pope and Cardinals were of the same Judgment and that if that was the Doctrin taught at Rome it was no more to be doubted but that Rome was the very Seat of Antichrist and that happy was Greece Bohemia and all the rest who had separated from it That if the Pope did not restrain him and force him to retract his Writings he protested that he Dissented from him and not only acknowledged not the Church of Rome but would look upon it for the Future as an Impure Sink of Errours wholly Devoted to Impiety That new and unheard of Elogies of the Pope of Rome were cunningly and craftily devised daily with intent that there might be no place for a Lawful Council since his Flatteries raised him above a Council and affirmed That the true Sense and Meaning of the Scriptures was to be sought from him as from an Infallible Judge That if they went on in this Madness and Imposed so upon the World with their Juggles there remained no other Remedy but that the Magistrates should Punish them That Thieves Robbers and such like Malefactors were put to Death but that it was more Reasonable That all Men should joyn in repressing these most pernicious Enemies of the Commonwealth of Christendom That their Pope was no more than other Men and no less obliged by the Laws of God than the Meanest Person whatsoever and that they who taught otherwise offered the highest Injury to the Divine Majesty
he mentioned was a Parisian Divine of great Reputation who wrote several things he was present at the Council of Constance and wrote much in Praise of that Decree which subjects the Pope to a Council saying That it deserved to be hung up in all Churches and publick Places for perpetual Memory for that they were most pernicious Flatterers who introduced that Tyranny into the Church as if the Pope ought not to obey a Council nor be judged by it as if a Council received all its Authority and Dignity from him as if it could not be called without his Permission and as if he were not obliged by any Laws nor to be called to an account for his Doings that these monstrous Words were utterly to be avoided which were repugnant to the Laws common Equity and natural Reason for that all the Power of the Church was in a Council that it was lawful to Appeal from him to it and that they who asked Whether the Pope or a Council was the greater did just as if they should demand Whether the whole were greater than a part since a Council had Power of Making Judging and Deposing the Pope and had given a late Instance of it at Constance for seeing some seemed to doubt of that and attributed a little too much to the Pope that Question had been decided before Pope John XXIII was degraded These things and much more to the same purpose Gerson writes and was therefore now rejected by Cajetane He dyed in the Year 1429. But the Doctors of the University of Paris were of the same Opinion confining that vast Usurpation of the Popes within these very Limits so that some Months before Luther published any thing of Indulgences they appealed from Pope Leo X to a Council because of his abrogating the Pragmatick Sanction which was very useful to the Students and Scholars of France and opened a way also to Honour and Preferment After Luther was gone Cardinal Cajetane wrote to Duke Frederick October 25 That Luther had come to Ausburg but had not spoken with him 'till he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour and that he wondred very much That they put so little Confidence in him that after much Discourse he had admonished the Man To come over and retract and that though he had been somewhat obstinate yet he had come to Terms of Reconciliation with Stupitz and some others so that both the Dignity of the Roman Church and his own Reputation were saved But that when there had been a good Foundation of the Matter laid Stupitz first and then Luther had departed privately which happened quite contrary to his Expectation That he pretended indeed as if all he had done was only for Disputation sake and to discover the Truth but that in his Sermons to the People he positively asserted all which was not to be suffered since his Doctrin was both different from that of the Church of Rome and very pernicious also as might be affirmed for a certain Truth He therefore advises him That he would consult his own Honour and Conscience and either send Luther to Rome or banish him his Country that such a Pestilent Business could not long subsist nor was it to be doubted but a Sentence would pass at Rome and that he himself as in Duty bound had acquainted the Pope with the whole Matter and the crafty Trick that had been plaid him That he prayed him not to give credit to those who seemed to favour Luther's Writings and that he would not cast such a Blemish and Stain upon his most Noble Family as he had often promised he would not Duke Frederick on the eighth of December answered this Letter which was delivered unto him November 19. to the Effect following That he had promised to take Care That Luther should come to Ausburg which being fulfilled he could do no more That he on the other Hand had past his Word That he would in a friendly manner dismiss Luther but that in the mean Time he would have had him to retract without hearing his Arguments and Plea or he having been fairly tryed seemed very strange unto him for that there were a great many Learned and Good men not only within his Territories but in other Places also who were far from condemning his Opinion And that they who withstood him were moved to it through Covetousness and Malice because he had spoiled their Trade and lessened their Profits That if it had been plainly made appear that he had erred he had so great regard to the Glory of God and the Peace of his own Conscience as of his own accord he would have long ago discharged the Duty of a Christian Magistrate That what he told him then of continuing the Process against Luther at Rome was a thing he did not so much as dream of and that what he also demanded of him that he should either make him appear at Rome or banish him his Country he could not do it First because his Errour was not as yet demonstrated and then because it would be a great loss to the University of Wittemberg founded by himself which being famous for many Learned and Studious Men had a great esteem for Luther for his Merits and the good Services he hath done there That he had sent him his Letter to read and that he had protested as he had often done before That he was ready to maintain his Opinion by Disputation in any unsuspected Place and hearken to the Judgments of others who could better inform him or else to answer in Writing That indeed it seemed Reasonable That he should be allowed to do so which he also desired might be done that it might at length appear both why he was to be accounted an Heretick and also what he himself was to follow for as he could not wittingly and willingly approve any Errour or withdraw himself from the Obedience of the Church of Rome so neither would he condemn Luther before his Errour and Crime were detected Duke Frederick had sent Luther Cajetane's Letter as we said just now Luther therefore presently made Answer to the Prince That he had been advised by his Friends not to appear before the Legate till he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour that he would have had him retract what he had written concerning Indulgences and of the Necessity of Faith in going to the Sacraments That for the former indeed he was not much concerned but that he should deny the other he could not do it he said Since the Stress of our Salvation rested upon it That the Texts of Scripture were depraved and wrested by the Papists He also gave a Relation of every Days Proceedings and how Cardinal Cajetane at length fell to Threatnings That in Reality he desired nothing more than to be convinced wherein he had erred that he would willingly submit to better Information That if they would not be at so much Pains for so mean and
were sailing in the midst of dangerous Rocks who attribute to him no less than a sort of Divinity and cry him up for the Monarch of the Universe and make him Superior to all Councils He assures him that nothing can be more pernicious to any one than to hearken to this sort of Parasites That therefore he should rather give credit to such Persons who put him in mind that he is Mortal as well as other Men and who exhort him to the faithful discharge of his Duty That because he was placed in such a state of Life in which as in the middle of a tempestuous Sea he was continually exposed to very great dangers that therefore he had written to him thus freely and without any the least admixture of Flattery and in this he thought himself to have performed the part of a true Friend In the last place he presents him with his Book which he had lately composed concerning Christian Liberty giving it only this short Recommendation That it was a full and compleat Summary of true Doctrin In the beginning of Spring the Emperor sets sail from Spain and arriving in England was very magnificently entertained by King Henry who married his Aunt Catherine After which he passed into the Low-Countries where he was received with the general Shouts and Acclamations of all the People Much about this time the Elector Frederick fell very dangerously sick upon which Luther by the advice of some Friends compiled a little Book to afford him some comfort at this season to which he gave the Title of Tessaradecas and in his Letters to him he tells him it was the Command of Christ that among other mutual charitable Offices which we are to perform one to another the administring to the Sick ought never to be forgotten That for this cause he who was in a peculiar manner upon several accounts obliged to his Highness had for his sake made this short Collection not being in a capacity of evidencing to the World and Him any other way how much he is devoted to his Service He tells him that the Constitution of Human Bodies was such that if any the least Distemper invaded the Head all the other Members sympathised with it and each particular part felt the pain as sensibly as if it self were immediately afflicted therewith So now this Indisposition of his could not but affect all his Subjects with a very deep sorrow for that a considerable part of Germany look'd upon him as their greatest Ornament as well as strongest Bulwark After this he publish'd a Book treating of Confession the chief Heads of which are these That Men ought not to rely on Confession as of it self Meritorious of Pardon but upon the gracious Promise of God to forgive Sins That in the first place they should make their Confession to God and that he that Confesses ought at the same time to have a perfect hatred and abhorrence of his Sin and to desire sincerely to amend his Life That a particular enumeration of every Sin was not necessary nay that by reason of the innumerable slips of a Man's Life and the general depravity and almost lethargick security of most Mens Consciences it was even impossible to be performed That a great difference ought to be made between Sins committed against the Command of God and such as are only breaches of some Human Ordinance In the last place he adds a word or two about Vows and bewails that barbarous cruelty which under colour of them is exercised by covetous and illiterate Persons upon the Souls of Men But of this he speaks more at large in a separate Tract afterwards published by it self In another Piece of his he had said That it appeared to him as a thing which would be of great advantage to the Church if the Authority of a Council first interposing all Persons were admitted to participate of the Lord's Supper in Both Kinds This Saying of his because it was contrary to a Decree of the late Lateran Council many resented highly and among these was John Bishop of Meissen who commanded all the Clergy of his Diocese to suppress the Book and teach all under their Charge that the whole compleat Sacrament was exhibited under each distinct Species Luther being inform'd of this presently replies and lays all the blame of this Injunction not upon the Bishop but upon some few unlearned and turbulent Fellows and to them he turns his Discourse and shews that this which he was thus desirous of having established by a Council did not deserve so severe a Censure no more than if he had said he could wish a Council would decree it lawful for Priests to have Wives That this very thing Pope Pius II. publickly declared himself for and that herefore he was not to be blamed who concurred with him in the same Opinion He granted there was such a Canon of the Lateran Council as they spoke of but he thought it absurd to go about to Confirm any Doctrin by an Ordinance of a later Council which was repugnant to all the more ancient Councils as well as the constant usage in all the first Ages of the Church He minds them that among the Bohemians the Laity were admitted to partake of the Cup and that for this reason we brand them with the name of Hereticks who deny it to all those who hold Communion with us That they in their defence urged Christ's own Institution and the Practice of the Apostles and of all Christians down almost to these times and all that we have to say in our own Justification or to convince them of their being in an Errour is only this Lateran Decree which is but a trifling Argument and such as carries no great weight in it for that every Body was sensible now what a sort of Council that was since the Papists themselves whose Interest it was to uphold it were not grown so expert in the Art of Dissimulation as at all times to counterfeit an esteem for it But supposing this Council to have been Oecumenical yet it was not for the Credit of a Church which pretends so much to Antiquity to be beholding to an Authority of so late a date for the Ratification of any of its Doctrins But to lay open the whole Intrigue of this Lateran Council thus it was Julius II. at his coming to the Poâ—pedom obliged himself by an Oath to call a Council within two years This was in the Year of our Lord 1503. But the Affairs of Italy being very much embâ—oiled the Pope engaging himself in a continual War either with the Venetians or King of France or Duke of Ferrara or else with the Family of the Bentivolio's Prinas of Bononia nine Cardinals withdrew themselves and when they were come to Milan they summoned a Council to meet at Pisa The Chief of these Cardinals were Bernardine de la Croix William Bishop of Praeneste and Francis Bishop of Bazas and
to these joyned themselves the Embassadors of Maximilian the Emperor and of Lewis XII King of France who were also embarqued in the same Design The time when this Council was called was the Nineteenth of May in the Year of our Lord 1511 that so the first Session might begin on the First of September next ensuing The Cause they alledg'd to justifie this their Proceeding was That the Pope had broken his Oath for that although so many years of his Pontificate were already elapsed yet he had not given them any the least hopes of his having any Inclination to call a Council and that because they had very great and heinous Crimes to lay to his charge they could not any longer neglect the care of the Church which was a Duty imcumbent on them as Members of the sacred College Their intent really was to depose him from the Popedom which he had obtained by Bribery and other such honest arts and means as all Persons make use of who aspire to the Infallible Chair And because they could no way safely convey this their Remonstrance to him they caused it to be publickly affixed at Regio Modena and Parma which were all three Towns belonging to St. Peter's Patrimony and they added a Citation to him to appear Personally at a certain day therein mentioned Julius having received Information of all this returned this Answer on the Eighteenth of July That before he came to be Pope he longed for nothing more than the calling a general Council as was very well known to several Kings and to the whole College of Cardinals and that purely upon this account he lost the Favour of Alexander VI. That he continued still of the same mind but that the state of Italy had been so unsetled for several years last past and was left so by his Predecessor Alexander That it was altogether impossible to have formed a Council while things continued in that distracted condition After this he shews them that their Summons was void in it self by reason of the shortness of the time limited in it and the inconveniency of the place for that Pisa had suffered so much in the late Wars that it was now nothing almost but an heap of Ruins and that the Country round about it was all wasted and desolate nor could there be any safe passage thither because of the daily Hostilities committed between the Florentines and those of Senese To this he adds in the last place That they had no legal Power of issuing out any such Summons and that the Reasons given by them for so doing were altogether false and groundless Therefore under pain of the severest Censures he forbids all Persons to yield any Obedience to them At the same time he by a Bull subscribed by One and twenty Cardinals called a Council to meet the next year which should commence on the Nineteenth of April and be held in the Lateran Church in Rome For this they say has always been one of the Papal Artifices that whensoever upon any Pretext they took occasion for some secret motives to decline the holding of a Council though called by never so lawful an Authority at the same time to Summon another to meet in such a place in which they could with the greatest ease influence all the Proceedings in it After this he admonishes the Confederate Cardinals to desist in time and return to Rome and accept of the Pardon now offer'd them But they continuing still refractory on the Twenty fourth of October he Excommunicates them all and those three that we mentioned before in particular by name as Hereticks Schismaticks and Traytors to the Apostolick See and sends Copies of this Bull to Maximilian the Emperor and several other Princes And because there were divers Bishops of France who adhered firmly to the Cardinals interests he Excommunicates them also unless they return to their Duty and make their Purgation within a prefixed time On the other side the Cardinals having several times in vain cited the Pope to come and appear before them there in Council by a Decree made in the Eighth Session suspended him from all Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and commanded all Christians for the future to renounce his Authority and acknowledge him no longer for St. Peter's Successor This was in the Year of our Lord 1512 on the Twenty first of April But you must take notice that although the Council were removed from Pisa to Milan yet it still kept its old Name and was called the Pisane Council At this time there was a very famous Civilian at Pavia whose Name was Philip Decius he having espoused the Cardinals Cause published a Book in Defence of their Proceedings against the Pope A little after this Maximilian strikes up a League with Julius and Ferdinand King of Spain and so leaves the Cardinals in the Church to shift for themselves and sends Matthew Langus Bishop of Gurk to Rome to sit as his Proxy in the Council that was holden there and him Julius immediately promoted to the Dignity of the Purple But Lewis II King of France who was truer to his Engagements and had lately routed the Popes Forces near Ravenna could not escape the thunders of the Vatican his Subjects were absolved from their Allegiance his Kingdom put under an Interdict and an Invasion of it was now no less than meritorious But after the end of the Fifth Session on the Twenty first of February in the Year of our Lord 1513 Pope Julius dies and Leo X is chosen by the Conclave to succeed him He immediately after his Inaguration proceeds to compleat what his Predecessor had begun and because the state of Affairs in Europe was now a little more calm than at any time during the former Pontificate a great many Kings and Princes sent their Embassadors to Rome to assist at this Lateran Council The Cardinals also whom Julius had Excommunicated having since his Death nothing to give any colour to their continuing in their Obstinacy made their humble Submission and Suit to be indemnified for what was past and being received into Favour by Leo were restored to their former Dignities and Preferments as Leo himself declares in an Epistle wrote by him to Maximilian The Council broke up on the Twelfth of March in the Year of our Lord 1516 there having been seven Sessions since the Death of Julius for there were but twelve in all the whole four years that this Council lasted from its first Convention to its Dissolution The chief Transactions in it were these The Praises of Julius and Leo were the Subjects of those luscious Panegyricks with which the Auditory were almost daily entertained There were some Motions made in order to the engaging in a War against the Turks and concerning the Reformation of the Church And also there was a Debate about the Immortality of the Soul which began to admit of a Dispute now in
orderly determin'd and such a Council too the Emperor has formerly promis'd and it has been decreed upon weighty deliberation in many Diets of the Empire that the same should be call'd together in Germany For the Fountain from whence these Dissentions have been deriv'd was the overgrown Impudence of some Men who preach'd up things here call'd Indulgencies At which time likewise certain egregious Errors such as could not be dissembled were detected and expos'd And though Pope Leo condemn'd this Doctrin which laid open those Errors yet to this his condemnation they confronted the Testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles Wherefore they always thought a Council to be highly necessary wherein they might come again to a right understanding of the Cause that is wherein it might be made plainly appear what is Truth and what is Error And this was not only their own sense but also the judgment of all the other Princes and States because they plainly saw and confess'd that many things had crept into Religion which ought either to be taken away or reform'd and because they well knew what it was that Men did wish for and what was requisite for the Publick Good. But when the Pope had condemn'd this their Doctrin Decrees were made in the Imperial Diets in these very words viz. That a free and Christian Council should be conven'd either of all Nations in general or else of the German Empire only And the reason that they were conceiv'd in these very words was that the Cause might not be prejudg'd or over-rul'd either by the foresaid Sentence of the Pope or by the force and power of any Man whatever And that Judgment might be made of the whole Controversie not from the Pontificial Laws or the Opinions of the Schools but from the Holy Scriptures For if any Man's authority be so great as to overballance the Holy Scriptures and right reason who can doubt but that all their pains and endeavours will be in vain when plac'd in opposition to the Pope For 't is well enough known what Progress has been made that way in some past Councils where a Reformation indeed has been set on foot but by the Interposition of the Popes has still been wholly set aside It has therefore been for very weighty Reasons decreed that a Council should be held in Germany and this has likewise been approv'd of by the Emperor But these Proposals of the Pope do altogether run counter to the Decrees of the Empire which have pass'd the Seals both of the Princes and the Emperor For though he speaks of a Free Council yet who can doubt but that he has quite another Prospect since his great Endeavours are to bring over Kings and Princes to his side For was he willing it should be Free to what purpose would these Engagements be But since he is so very industrious this way 't is manifest that his design must be this to keep up and maintain his Power and Tyranny by the Authority of a Council that so no body may dare to reprehend these Errors and Corruptions or if any one be so hardy he may pay very soundly for it What others will do they cannot tell but their opinion is that these his Proposals are of such a nature and so contriv'd that they are apt to deter Men from a Council rather then invite them to it For who will ingage himself at this rate especially when it does not yet appear what is like to be the Order form Method of the Council When it is not yet known whether the Pope will not set up his own Authority as Supream there and whether he is willing the Controversie should be discuss'd according to the Holy Scriptures or according to those Traditions and Canons which are not confirm'd by any Testimonies from Scripture The Freedom of the Council is likewise in danger from that expression of his That it shall be manag'd after the ancient and received manner Now though they do not in the least reject those Decrees of ancient Councils which are consonant to the Holy Scriptures Yet they think that there is a vast difference between those Councils and these which have been held within their own Memory or somewhat before wherein the Pope and Humane Decrees have been advanc'd to an extravagant Pitch Therefore when he saies it shall be held after the wonted manner it is a captious expression and may include that there shall not be such a freedom of Votes as they desire and the Cause it self requires but that Judgment shall be giv'n according to his own Laws and that Power which he has arrogated to himself as it has been done in some of the last Council But such proceedings as these are so far from reconciling the Churches and extricating doubtful and afflicted Consciences that they will rather involve them in thicker Darkness and plunge them into a deeper Slavery Since therefore the Pope has not yet answer'd the desire of the Emperor and the other States their earnest Request is that the Emperor would consider the vastness of the Cause wherein the whole Christian Commonwealth is concern'd and endeavour that it may be justly and legally manag'd For this is his proper Province and he has Power by the Laws to do it whenever Truth shall be obstructed by the Pope For care is to be taken that he may not be both Party and Judge at the same time Besides all People are set on tiptoes with the hopes of this Council and 't is the Subject of their most eager wishes and prayers that they may at last be deliver'd from the doubts and anguish of an afflicted Conscience and be set into the right way to Salvation For there have not been for many Ages such struglings about such momentous Affairs as there are now the occasion of which are those numerous Errors and Corruptions which long before our time have broke into the Church Now if the general expectation shall be thus made frustrate and such a Council as has formerly been promis'd cannot be obtain'd we may easily imagine what a surprising sorrow and affliction it will strike upon the minds of Men. Moreover if the Pope shall refuse to come to a fair Judgment of things it is much to be fear'd that both the Church and State will be agitated with more dangerous Tempests than ever But since all the States of the Empire have in all their Diets decreed for a regular Council they cannot doubt but they will stick to their Principles and kick in pieces those Snares which the Pope is preparing for them They likewise expect the same things from the other Princes For this Engagement which is now working is altogether full of trick and design and 't is impossible that Men should ever make a true and right judgment of things unless all their minds be kept free and unbiass'd But if he be resolv'd to go on and to have a Council after his own way they will then commit the whole Affair to God
For what danger can there be in Germany where all the Princes and Cities acknowledge the Emperor's Authority where the Towns are so well Govern'd that Strangers are secur'd from all Affronts and us'd with all the Civility imaginable As for his saying that those who came to the Council should have as much satisfaction of the Pope in their safe Conduct as was customary to receive and in his Power to give They said they did not well understand the meaning of this Period especially when they reflected upon the Practises of the last Age Christendom they were sure had need of a free and religious Council and to such an one they had formerly appeal'd But now since he declares the Form and Method is not to be stated before-hand and gives broad hints as if the setling of this Point belonged to the Pope they cannot imagine that there is likely to be any liberty there Two years since Clement the Seventh made them a Promise of a Council but clog'd it with ensnaring Conditions And now the main Point that is the setling the Freedom of the Council and the Form and Method of Voting is partly omitted out of design and partly given up to the Pope wherein he affirms to have a Right to intimate Councils and preside in them Now the Pope who hath condemn'd their Religion so often is no less than a down-right Adversary but if he who is an Adversary is allow'd to be a Judge too then the Council can never be free To put it into a right Form there ought to be certain unexceptionable Persons chosen out of the whole Company with the consent of the Emperor and other Kings and Princes and the Controversie refer'd to this Committee to be examin'd and determin'd by them according to the Rule of God's Word For Councils are not the Pope's Court only but others also in publick and elevated stations in a Christian-Commonwealth have an Interest in them For it 's easie to demonstrate both from the Scriptures and the practise of the Primitive Church that formerly Princes and other Persons of Quality were concern'd in the Debates of Councils But to prefer the Pope's Power to the Authority of the Universal Church is an unreasonable and tyrannical Assertion The Emperor therefore and the rest of the States are oblig'd to insist upon their Priviledge in Councils and make choice of proper Persons especially in the present case where the Corruptions of the Bishops of Rome their false Doctrin and unlawful Worship is oppos'd for this is no more than what the Canon-Law it self alloweth And since all Christendom both Church and State are concern'd in this Affair it behoveth the Emperor and other Princes to take care that the Controversie may be fairly determined Formerly several Bishops have been condemn'd by their own Diocess and so have Popes by the Emperor and the Church for persisting in their Errors But at this time of day there was a warm Contest about a great many weighty Points which the Pope does not maintain only by force of Argument but by ungodly and sanguinary Bulls and punishes those with the utmost severity who refuse to obey him Therefore since He is an Adversary and a Party in the Cause depending the universal Church the Emperor and other Princes ought in all Justice to interpose their Authority and prescribe the Laws of Disputation and Voting They now therefore repeat the same request they have always made that the Controversie may be managed without design and a just liberty reserv'd for defence for this is both equitable in its self and likewise agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and the proceedings of the ancient Church If the Differences between them are examined with this Order and Integrity they will assist the Council as far as lies in their Power and have great hopes that Truth will be discover'd this way the Glory of our Saviour promoted and the Church re-establish'd in her former Tranquility But if things are otherwise carry'd there is no question but much greater Disturbances will follow In short they would never omit any opportunity to serve the common Interest of Christendom and as they could not depart from the true Religion so in all other cases they would make it their business to promote an Accommodation The French King who was now resolv'd to march an Army into Italy sent William Bellay Seigneur of Langey Embassador to this Convention at Smalcade This Gentleman had his Audience upon the 19th of December And first he excuses the King in reference to the late Severities 'T is true he had punish'd some of his own Subjects but this was no manner of reflection upon them though some ill dispos'd Persons did not stick to say that by executing those Criminals he had as it were condemn'd their Perswasion before-hand But he desires that they would not take any notice of such extravagant Calumnies but examine the whole matter impartially For there was a great many in Germany who were utterly averse to their Opinion and some others did not altogether approve it nay themselves who are now agreed were not always of the same mind His Majesty is very glad that they are come to an uniformity in Doctrin at the last Neither does he question but that their Modesty and Candour is such that they will not offer to prescribe to any Body nor force people into their Religion against their wills His Majesty uses to speak very kindly and obligingly of them and owns that they have determin'd some things most primitively but wishes there had been more temper shewn in other cases For though he is sensible that Negligence Superstition and a long succession of Ages have given occasion to the bringing of several insignificant and needless Ceremonies into the Church yet he does not understand why they should all be abolish'd upon this account without distinction or publick Authority For Ceremonies add both strength and grandeur to Religion and the Contemners of them have always been punish'd with great severity And since they have joyn'd so unanimously in the suppression of the Boars Insurrection since they restrain and chastise the Anabaptists since they are unwilling to be thought to do any thing without a cause why are they not so kind as to entertain the same opinion of a Prince who is their Friend why do they not suppose that He had very pressing Reasons and absolute necessity to punish those Subjects of his though possibly some of them were none of the greatest Malectors what their Crimes were is not proper to relate in this place For oftentimes it is not convenient to assign the reason publickly why things are done and Punishments are sometimes abated sometimes more rigorously executed according to the nature of the Times Now his Majesty who hath so large a Dominion to Govern is oblig'd to have a regard to the future as well as the present and was to take care that his Clemency did not encourage a great many others to grow wicked
it was a great argument of God's goodness towards them that in this dissension about Religion they lived in peace together whereas upon that occasion grievous commotions were raised in other places for the quieting whereof he had from the very beginning of his Pontificate applied all Remedies and made use of greatest lenity that he had lately betaken himself to the last refuge by calling a General Council and appointing it to be held at Trent a Town of Germany where that vicious Seed of Hereticks most encreased to which Town they might safely come and there if they pleased maintain their own interests That he had hoped that that being so august an Assembly to which Christian Kings and People had always payed a great deference and the Congregation of so many Bishops who under the conduct of the Holy Ghost treated of Matters of Religion no man would be so wicked as not to submit to so great an Authority and presently forsaking all erroneous Doctrines yield to the judgment and decision of the Catholick Church That he entertained still the same opinion of them and hoped that by reason of their domestick peace those of them who had continued faithful and constant would obey the Council and that the rest who not deliberately but by too much credulity had been led away into errour would not slight the Authority of the Assembly which that they would do and repair to the Council as unto a Celestial Congregation wherein God himself presided he now again earnestly exhorted them as he had done before But that it was a great grief unto him that there were not a few in Germany and of the number of those also who were reckoned Princes that not only with pride and insolence despised the Council but reproached and reviled it also declaring that they would not submit to its Decrees that it chiefly therefore grieved him to see himself necessitated by the stubbornness and obstinacy of those desperate men to seek a remedy by Arms. For that he could no longer suffer neither the loss of so many Souls which perished daily through Heresies nor this oppression of the Christian Religion the one whereof belonged to his Pastoral Office and the other concerned the Dignity of his Place and Character And that whil'st he was often casting about in his thoughts for a remedy and making his Prayers to God that he would discover to him a way it happened most opportunely that the Emperour a most religious Prince being provoked by the same Crimes in a manner of wicked men as he himself was had resolved to revenge the cause of Religion by Arms for when by his means and at his intercession a Council was granted to Germany it seemed to him that they who refused and slighted it despised also what he had done and set light by his authority that therefore he had willingly embraced this occasion as offered by Heaven and was resolved with all his own and the Revenues of the Roman Church to further and assist the Emperour 's laudable inclinations for that should he do otherwise should he act negligently and remissly there was no doubt to be made but that God would require at his hands as at the hands of a Father the Souls of so many Children corrupted and undone by the treachery of Hereticks that therefore he made known to them this his purpose and resolution that they might both see the anxiety that overburdened him and joyn their Wishes and Prayers with him that is with God and Religion That they were famous for many noble Exploits but that a more honourable Name they could not procure to themselves than by entertaining their ancient Amity with God according to the example of their Forefathers by paying their wonted Love and Obedience to the Church of Rome which had always gratified and obliged them and lastly by contributing their Aid and Assistance which he earnestly begg'd of them in this so just and religious a Cause The Embassadours of the Protestants of Upper Germany on the fifth of July came to Baden from Ulme to a Convention of the Suizers and having delivered their Message were put off to the Month of August Their Demands were That they would not grant a Passage to foreign Soldiers through their Countrey And that if there was occasion they would permit their Subjects to serve them in the War. The Men of Brunswick Goslar Hildesseim and Hannover by orders from the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave demolished Wolffembottle the chief Fort of Henry Duke of Brunswick which to this time he had kept by a good Garrison In these stirs and commotions the Elector Palatine by his Embassadour Sir Wolff Affensteyn made application to the Emperour at Ratisbonne and desired to be informed what the Cause of the War was and against whom these Preparations were making he disswaded him also from hostility and begg'd that he might have leave to mediate Some days after the Emperour sent him this Answer by Granvell and Naves That it was no difficult thing for him to know both what the cause of the War was and against whom it was designed Afterwards he objected the same things almost that he had before alledged in his Letters to the Free Towns That they would not obey him that not only in Germany but in foreign Parts also some had contrived and plotted many things against him under a colour of Religion that they would be bound by no Laws that they had invaded other mens Possessions and especially Church-Lands disposing of them in a tyrannical manner with no other intent certainly than that by a kind of hereditary right they might transmit Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Dignities and Possessions to their Children and Off-spring was it credible that they who committed such things would abide by any fair and lawful tryal and was it not rather their intention by raising Broils and Troubles to baffle all Justice and Censure that there was not the least hopes of amendment and that he himself knew what lenity he had used and how many faults he had pardoned them that nevertheless all he had got thereby was that growing more insolent they tampered with the rest of the States and stirred them up to Rebellion That he knew not by what Arts they did do so but that it might be easily perceived by any how unworthy a thing it was and how justly to be lamented by him That since they without any regard to Law or Justice acted arbitarily and by violence trampling upon the Decrees of the Empire there was no other way now to be essayed but that which was familiar and common to themselves that 's to say Force and Arms that therefore it was his purpose by this War not only to settle Religion but also to compose all other differences restore the Peace and Liberty of Germany and to secure those under his protection who did their duty but severely punish all disturbers of the publick peace and oppressours of liberty according
they presently threw from the Bridge into the Rhine and then perceiving that their labour was in vain fly into the Suburbs setting fire to the further end of the Bridge lest the Townsmen might sally out upon them Having afterwards satiated their filthy lusts they gather into a heap all the Bodies of their dead Men and burn them with the Suburbs that the number of the slain might not be known but the Towns people lost an hundred Men. When the Alarm was given at Constance the Neighbouring Switzers as the custom was presently Armed and were coming to their assistance but the Governour of the Country who at that time was a Citizen of Lucerne recalled them under severe penalties for the hatred he bore to the Religion We told you before what past betwixt the Deputies of Strasburg and Granvell all which upon their return home after the dissolution of the Dyet they report to the Senate who after some Consultation wrote to the Emperour in French because he delighted most in that Language to this effect Our Deputies say they being lately returned from the Dyet have told us what hath been done and long before that sent us the Book composed about Religion They were desirous indeed most mighty Emperour to have petitioned your Majesty by Letter before they left Ausburg but Grawvel would not receive it and that 's the reason Sir we now write to your Majesty Believe it Sir there is nothing in the World we more desire than to gratifie your Majesty But as to the Decree about Religion the Case stands thus Having convened the Divines of our City we diligently examined the whole Book And though there be some things in it which do not altogether disagree with the holy Scriptures yet since they are so penned that for the most part they stand in need of a fuller explication it would be a very hard and uneasie thing for us so to receive them For we are most fully persuaded that our Doctrine and Ceremonies are consonant to the Word of God and that without offending God and wounding our own Consciences we can neither forsake nor change them before they be fairly tried and examined and our Divines heard For it hath been the Custom from the very first Age of the Church that all doubtful and controverted Points would be determined in lawful Assemblies and this also was always looked upon to be the best way in the Dyets of the Empire that the whole Matter should be referred to an holy Council Wherefore we beseech your Majesty by all that is Sacred and for the sake of the Blood of Christ that was shed for us that the Decrees of the Empire may stand in force as to that Matter and that we may be allowed the free exercise of our Religion until the Authority of a lawful Council intervene For no better way than that can be devised for settling a firm and lasting Peace But if your Majesty do reject this our humble demand and require from us a compliance we most earnestly beg that our Divines may first be heard to shew wherein it is we think that Decree to be repugnant to holy Scripture And if this be granted our hopes are that your Majesty will both understand the equity of our Plea and also mitigate that Decree We do nothing certainly out of malice or obstinacy but it is the consideration of our own Salvation and the fear of Divine Majesty that moves us to deprecate in this manner For in all things else we shall so demean our selves that you may perceive how highly we value your Majesties Glory and Reputation With this Letter and some other Instructions Lowis Grempen a Lawyer was sent to the Emperour But the Emperour answered them in the same manner as he did the rest telling them That nothing could be now determined more that it was not now time to stand upon debates and that they might have a sufficient hearing in the Council And therefore he commands them to give him their positive answer within a Month. When the way we have been speaking of would not do with the Men of Constance the Emperour by Proclamation puts them to the Ban of the Empire Then began Matters to be carried more tumultuously in the City For both the remembrance of their late danger and the expectation of future misery extremely perplexed them Especially seeing they saw not the least appearance of any human help or relief Some of the Citizens also did with other expressions exaggerate all these things so that the Council forced by their importunity wrote to some Princes and the Suitzers also praying them to intercede in their behalf with the Emperour The Suitzers immediately called an Assembly of their States and assented But the Catholicks amongst them promised to do so upon this Condition if they would receive the Decree of the Empire lately made concerning Religon and receive the Clergy into the City again The Common Council being pressed then by the Citizens publish that Decree and then put the Matter to a Vote where by the major part it was carried in the Affirmative that it should be received For they all cried they should be utterly undone if they continued longer in the condition they were in since the Emperour had a vast and almost inexhaustible power not to be resisted When they had past this into a publick Act the Council acquaint the Suitzers with what they had done These sent Ambassadours to try if the Emperour would admit of an Intercession and withal to intreat him to deal graciously with them But the Emperour made them such an answer that they might easily perceive it would not be acceptable unto him For he told them That he much wondred they would do any thing in favour of Out-lawed People Wherefore many who disapproved the change of Religion removed to other places and amongst these was Ambrose Blaurer the chief Minister they had The Lindavians who are opposite to Constance on the other side of the Lake had before answered the Emperour manfully enough indeed but being now terrified by a neighbouring Example they also receive the Decree When the Deputy of Strasburg was returned with the Emperour's Answer and Commands the great Council of the Commonwealth was called which was never wont to be done but about Matters of the greatest difficulty and moment It consists of three hundred Persons that are chosen fifteen out of every Company which are twenty in number The Matter being put to the Vote it was carried by the plurality not to receive the Decree but to stand it out stoutly But when the business was again stated some days after they began to cool a little in their heat and a Committee was chosen of the Senate to whom it was referred to consult what was most expedient for the Publick Some Neapolitan Horse as we told you were quartered not far from the Town and since the Emperour at the very same time
that the People should follow the Religion of their Prince and it grants all Princes but the Ecclesiasticks a Liberty to chuse which of the two Religions they will embrace because the People ought to be content with the choice of the Prince but so that those who are not pleased with the Religion which the Prince hath chosen have a liberty to sell their Estates and to remove whither they please without any detriment to their Reputations It is therefore your Duty to continue in the old Catholick Religion which I profess And I have never hindred the Gospel from being Preached purely according to the Interpretation which the Church has received from the Holy Apostles Martyrs and Fathers And as to the Lord's Supper though it was instituted in both Species yet in the ancient Church it was distributed under one as may be shewn at large It was not therefore first changed in the times of the Council of Constance but that Custom was much more ancient than that Council and thence you may easily infer that it is not lawful for me to change and abolish by my own private Authority or Law what has been received and approved by the Canons of a Council especially now when a Peace has been so lately made in the business of Religion and when in the next Diet it is designed to Treat of an Union in which I am resolved to extend all my Powers for the taking totally away of this Difference but if this cannot be done then I will enter upon such Courses as may secure both your Fortunes and Salvations And in the mean time that you may see how much I am inclined to help and favour you I will put a stop to that part of my Edict which relates to the Lord's Supper but upon condition notwithstanding that renouncing all Sects you shall change nothing in the Laws and Ceremonies of the Church and that you shall expect the Decree of the next Diet. The Ministers of the Church and the School-masters so long as they follow this form shall not be molested nor have I suffered any Man to be injured without Law so that being thus disposed towards you I hope you will desire nothing more and because the publick necessity is now very urgent it befits you to consult together and to grant what is needful To this they answered the twelfth day of February That in the greatest of all Cases which pertained to their Salvation and to that of their Children that they should be so far denied was a very grievous affliction to them That which your Majesty affirms concerning the present Custom of distributing the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper having been received by the ancient Church may be largely refuted by the sacred Scriptures and also thereby their Error may be shewn who perswade themselves it was so And whereas you say the meaning of the Decree made at Ausburg was that the People should accommodate themselves to the Religion of their Prince Certainly then seeing many Years before this Decree was made by the common Consent of the Diet we have at all times supplicated to you for the freedom of our Religion if this Answer must stand we shall be allowed also to sell our Estates and with our Wives and Children to go and live elsewhere But then who is there who does not see the mischief of this and how sad and mournful the Report of this must necessarily be to your People When they shall be told that they who after the manner of their Ancestors have been accustomed to spend their Blood and Lives for the Honour and Safety of the House of Austria must now desert their Beloved Country which has for so many Ages been inhabited and cultivated by their Ancestors And therefore this Answer as to this Part of it is not received nor allowed by us but as often before so we now again beseech your Majesty by all that is Sacred to grant us that incomparable Treasure the Word of God and that you would not in this put any obstacle in our way But if this were a thing of that Nature that you only were to answer to God for it certainly as in all other things so in this we would have obeyed you But seeing every Man must give an account for his own Action and that there is no respect of Persons with God and seeing every moment may be the last of our Lives and that there is nothing more uncertain than our Lives we cannot but with the utmost Study and Industry desire and pray that we may be secured by the Grant of this Petition The fourth day after the King answered that he did not think there was any reasonable Cause why they should not be satisfied with his former Answer For that said he I have allowed that you should be taught as the Apostles have delivered and as the Martyrs and Fathers received by the Church have interpreted the Scriptures What do you require more in this Particular For seeing God has promised his Holy Spirit to his Church Salvation is not to be sought any where else You say that you are not corrupted by any Sect of which there are many as Anabaptists Sacramentarians Zuinglians Schwenckfeldians and the like this indeed is true but if a promiscuous Doctrine is once allowed which is not restrained within those Bounds I have prescribed how long do you think this Purity will last When every Man will boast he has the Word of God for him and that it is not subject to any Creature nor any Being but God and none of them will submit to any Censure as we see comes to pass in many Places where every thing is filled with disorder whilst every Man defends his Opinion with Obstinacy despising absolutely the Authority of the Church And because you recite the last decree of the Diet in your former Address a little otherwise than it is therefore I have explained how it is to be understood not that I would have you leave my Country and that I might abate your Sollicitude I have suppressed that part of my Edict which concerns the Lord's Supper promising my best Endeavours that there may be a Reconciliation I have shewn my reasons why I cannot make a defection from the Laws and Ceremonies of the Church For that Christ has commanded us to hear the Church and Experience teacheth us that the former Age which did not innovate but continued in the Religion of their Ancestors were more quiet and happy in all things than this is wherein all Places are disturbed by Sects and Dissentions and the greatest part of Mankind are tossed and driven hither and thither with every wind of Doctrine And even for this Cause I thought you would not have answered in this manner And now though it were very easy to make a large Reply to your last Paper yet because it is necessary at present to enter into the consideration of the Contributions and Subsidies and to take a speedy Resolution
fondly perswaded he could confute all the Doctrines of the Protestants out of the Fathers and thereby acquire a great Reputation to himself if he could procure à Conference with their Pastors It was therefore resolved that there should be a Meeting for that purpose at Poissy near St. Germain the Tenth of August and that Pasports should be granted to their Ministers which were to come thither on that account All of both sides being invited thither at the same time The Queen Regent was very much for this Disputation but the greatest part of the Roman Catholicks were against it as thinking it a dangerous thing to suffer the Doctrine which had hitherto been received to be brought under debate and the Religion of their Ancestors to be disputed In the Interim Mary Queen of the Scots left France and return'd into Scotland the Cardinal of Lorrain attending her as far as Calais There was also a Theatrical Reconciliation between the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise by the Order of the King the later protesting That he had no hand in the Imprisonment of the Prince and the Prince telling Guise That the Adviser and Procurer of his Commitment was a Wicked Man and a Villain To which Guise Answered That he believed so too but was not concern'd in it After which by the King's Command they embraced each other as Kinsmen and Friends and promised a firm and sincere Friendship each to other and there was great Rejoycing in the Court. The Assembly of the States was Prorogued last year till May of this and then was on the account of the great Affairs prorogued to August and Appointed to be opened at Pont-Oyse In this Assembly the Agreement between the Queen Regent and the King of Navar was Confirm'd by the three Estates which was very difficultly obtain'd by the later This Assembly was opened at St. Germain where James Breâ—agne d Autum who spoke for the Commons declaiming sharply against the Ignorance of the Priests and the Corrupt Manners and Depraved Discipline of the Clergy so that they were unfit to Lead or Instruct the People but rather disgusted and displeased them doing all things for Hire and nothing as their Duty enslaving themselves to Pleasures and wallowing in Luxury and Idleness To this he assigned the Calamities which at present oppress'd France He therefore moved the King to take away all their Jurisdiction that he should employ their over-great Riches to Pious Uses and call a National Council which was the only present and certain Cure of those Evils That free Pasports should be given to all that would come to it and that the King or some of the Princes of the Blood should preside in it whilst Business of Religion was debated That the late Decree against Conventicles should be no prejudice to those of the Reformed Religion who rejected the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome nor any Presription as to length of time which could not make what in it self was false true and the Business of Religion was to be quietly and friendly debated according to the Word of God and not with the Sword and Reproaches He that spoke for the Nobility excused the Clergy and desired the King to preserve their Priviledges and Dignities But then he moved to have the greatest part of the Church Lands sold to pay the Debts of the Crown pretending that a third part of the Purchase Money put out to Use would be as good to them as the whole Land. That the Edict of July might be recall'd and only multiplicity of Sects and ill Language under the pretence of Liberty prohibited That a National Council might be call'd in which the King should preside That all Jurisdictions should be taken from the Church and annexed to the Crown There were also many other things demanded in this Assembly which tended to the Ruine of the Clergy the Papal Authority growing into Contempt and the greatest part either out of a desire to promote Piety or of Love to Novelty favouring the Protestant Party and daily increasing their numbers by joyning with them The Clergy to prevent this Storm wisely gave the King four Tenths for six years which very much appeased the King and the Principal Courtiers towards them The Queen by the Advice of Monluc Bishop of Valence wrote about this time a long Letter to the Pope dated the 5th of August In which stating the dangers which attended the differences in Religion she exhorted him to provide speedy Remedies because they were become so numerous that they could no longer be suppressed by the Sword that many of the Principal Nobility and Magistrates embraced that way and had drawn over such Numbers and so united them that they were become sormidable to the State yet by the Rare Blessing of Heaven they had no Anabaptists Libertines c. none that denied the Apostles Creed or the Interpretation of it received in the Seven General Councils That therefore most were of opinion that notwithstanding these differences they ought to be received into the Communion of the Church which would end in the Peace of the Church That the use of Images which was forbidden by God and as to Adoration disproved by St. Gregory ought to be taken away That Exorcisms and some of the Prayers used in Baptism might be omitted The Lords Supper Administred to all the Laity in both Kinds and the Decree of the Council of Constance ought not to be preferred before the Command of God That the Prayers might be used in the Vulgar Tongue and all that would Communicate might do so the first Sunday of every Month That the Psalms might be sung in the French Tongue A Publick Confession of Sins Prayers for the Prince the Magistrates Clergy Good Weather Fruitful Seasons and all Affliction might be in the same Tongue That the late invented Feast of the Holy Sacrament might be abolished it being unnecessary and the cause of great Scandal and Offence and that this Mystery was Instituted for a Spiritual Worship and not for Shew and Pomp That the use of the Latine Tongue which was foreign and unknown was a great fault the Prayers of the Church belonging not only to the Clergy but to all but as now it stands Who can say Amen to a Prayer in a Language he knows not That if yet the Latine must be used it were fit an Interpretation should be made of the Prayers in the Vulgar Tongue That the Receiving of the Priest in the Sacrifice of the Mass the People only looking Idely on is contrary to the Institution That the Psalms ought to be in the Vulgar Tongue and also the Private Prayers of the People That these things might be granted without derogating from the Papal Authority The Pope was infinitely offended with this Letter and the more because of the same of a National Council shortly to be holden in France but then he dissembled his Resentment and became the more sincere in the Assembling a General
Council which he had rather promised than desigued before The Conference was to be begun the First of August at Poissy and the Bishops and Divines were already arrived there and had entered into a Debate what Points were to be Disputed where they spent the time to no great purpose disputing amongst themselves concering the Office of a Bishop the Dignity of Cathedral Churches of Colleges and their Exemptions of the Ordination of Curates and Priests concerning allowing them Competent Pensions abating their number reforming the Discipline of the Monasteries of Commendam's and Benesices of cutting off the Pleasures and Luxuries of the Clergy and of Censures And they thought the Answering such like Queries was of great use to the Church in these confused times There appeared for the Protestants Augustin Marlorat Francis de S. Pol Jean Remond Merlin J. Malo Francis de Mureaux N. Tobie Theodore Beza Claud Brisson J. Bouquin J. Viret J. de la Tour Nich. de Crallas and John De l'Espine who abjuring the Dominican Order did then first openly prosess the Protestant Religion Soon after Peter Martyr came to Zurich These Asked four things 1st That the Bishops should be Parties and not Judge 2d That the King and Council should Preside 3d. That all things might be determin'd only by the Word of God 4th That whatever was agreed should be set down by Notaries The Queen yielded all these but would have one of the Secretaries of State be the only Notary and she would not consent that the King should Preside in the Conference The Cardinal of Lorraine had before objected against Beza That he should say that Christ was no more present in the Sacrament than in a Muddy Ditch This Expression is said to have been urged by Melanchthon against Oecolampadius as the Consequence of his Doctrine and was by a mistake of the Cardinal wrongfully charged on Beza who denied and detested it as Blasphemous The First of September the Conference began the King the Queen his Younger Brother and Sister and about Eleven Bishops being present and the Cardinals of Bourbon Tournon Chastillon Lorrain Armagnac and Guise The King opened it with a short Speech which was seconded by the Chancellor with a longer In which he preferr'd a National Council before a General and shewed that the Errours of many General Councils had been corrected by National Synods particularly the Arrian General Council of Ariminium was condemn'd by a Private Council held by St. Hillary Bishop of Poictiers and banished out of France He said they neithe needed much Learning nor many Books the Bible alone being sufficient by which Religion was to be Tried and Examined That the Protestants were their Brethren and to be treated as such if out of Ambition or Avarice they did otherwise God would judge and condemn them and their Decrees would be rejected That they ought to Amend and give God Thanks for any Errour that was discovered and if they did not God would Punish them After him the Cardinal of Tournon spoke and Thanked the King Queen and Princes for being present and approved highly of what the Chancellor had said but desired a Copy of it which the Chancellor refused though it was seconded by the Cardinal of Lorrain because he perceived they craftily designed to mischief him by it Theodore Beza being next commanded to speak fell upon his Knees and after a Prayer and reciting his Faith complained to God that they had been injuriously treated as Enemies of the Publick Peace Then he shewed wherein they agreed with the Church of Rome and wherein they differed and discoursed of the way of attaining Salvation of Faith Good Works the Word of God the Authority of the Councils and Fathers of the Sacraments and of their use and true Interpretation of Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation and lastly of the Ecclesiastical Order and Discipline and obedience to Princes he was so long and so sharp in some of these things that they had scarce patience to hear him out and the Cardinal of Tournon presently replied with a Voice trembling for Rage That he and the other Prelates had done violence to their Consciences by condescending to this Conference in compliance with his Majesties Commands by hearing these new Evangelists That he foresaw if they were heard many things would be spoken by them injurious to the Majesty of God which would offend the Ears of the King and of all good Men. And therefore he beseeched his Majesty not to believe what was said That if he could have prevented it the King should not have been present but however he desired he would not suffer his Mind to be pre-ingaged in their false Opinions but to suspend till the Bishops had Answered it and the King and the rest there present should know the difference between Falsehood and Truth He Asked a Day to Answer in and prayed the King that he would persevere in the Religion of his Ancestors Lastly he added that but for the respect they bore to the King the Bishops would have arisen and put a stop to those horrible and abominable Words The Queen calmly said she had done the thing without the Advice of the Parliament of Paris the Princes and Privy-Council That no change was designed but that the Disturbances of France might be appeased and Men friendly brought from their Errors into the Old Way which belonged to them to effect The first Dispute was about the Lords Supper The second which was the 17th of August was about the Church which the Cardinal of Lorrain said could not Err That if any particular Church did Recourse was to be had to the Head the Church of Rome and the Decrees of a General Council and the Concurrent Opinions of the Ancient Fathers and before all to the Sacred Scriptures explain'd by the Right Sense and Interpretation of the Church As to the Lord's Supper in effect he said That if the Protestants would not embrace their Opinions there was no hope of an Agreement The Cardinal of Tournon thereupon applauded his Harangue and said he was ready to lay down his Life for this Faith intreating the King to continue stedfast in it and was contented Good Man that if the Protestants would subscribe these two Points they should be admitted to dispute all the rest but if they refused this all hearing was to be denied them and they were to be expell'd out of his Dominions Beza desired to Answer him Extempore but the King delayed the Answer to the next day Upon a Petition the Ministers were heard at last again the 24th of September before the Queen only when Beza discoursed of the Church and its Notes which he said were the Preaching of the Word and a Pure Administration of the Sacraments As for the Succession of Persons and Doctrines it had been often interrupted He discoursed of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Vocation of the Universal Church and her Authority of Councils which he affirm'd
had and might err of the Dignity of Scripture and whether the Scriptures were to be preferr'd before the Church or did borrow their Authority from the Church Claud d' Espence a learned Man who desired very much the Church might regain her former Peace being Commanded by the Cardinal of Lorrain to answer Beza began with a Declaration that he had a long time wished that there might have been Conferences and said he had ever abhorred those Bloody Proceedings which had been used against those miserable Men. Then he said he wondered by what Authority the Protestants took upon them the Office of the Ministery and by whom they were Ordain'd and Instituted and that seeing the had received Imposition of hands from no body how could they be accounted lawful Ministers for it was manifest they had no Ordinary call And they must prove an Extraordinary Vocation by Miracles which they had not And thence he concluded they never came into the Church either by an Ordinary or an Extraordinary call As to Traditions if any Controversie arose about the Sense of Scriptures which could not be otherwise adjusted they must of necessity have recourse to the Fathers who had their Authority from their lawful and ordinary Call or Succession because upon them the Guifts of the Spirit were bestowed As it was written of the Levites whose Answers were not to be question'd That many things were setled by Traditions which were not written in the Scriptures As that the Father was not begotten That the Son was of the same Substance with the Father That Infants were to be Baptized That the Blessed Virgin continued a Virgin after she brought forth That the Decrees of General Councils should be valid and that they cannot err in Matters of Faith and that it cannot be shewn that any of the later Councils have corrected the former Beza replied that the Imposition of hands was no necessary note of a lawful Call The two principal were a due Inquiry into the Doctrine and Manners of the Person and an Election of them to the Ministery That they were not to expect Imposition of hands from the Bishops who opposed the Truth and persecuted those that Preached it And that Miracles were not always necessary to an extraordinary Call which he endeavoured to prove by Isaiah Daniel Amos Zachariah and St. Paul. In the next congress Beza spoke much about the Calling of the Protestant Ministers but in such a manner as tended more to the exasperating of the Prelates than the appeasing them so that these two days were spent in mere squabble without order and to no purpose There was then in France John Laines a Spaniard General of the Jesuits who came thither with Hippolito d' Este Cardinal of Ferrara sent by Pope Pius IV. as Legate to the King. This Laines being present this day at the Conference call'd the Protestant Ministers Monkeys Foxes and Monsters and said they were to be turn'd over to the Council call'd by the Pope Then he fell upon the Queen for medling in things that did not belong to her but to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops and he said it was not lawful whil'st a General Council was in being for the Queen to appoint by her private Authority a Conference here The Queen was much enraged at the Insolence of this Man but out of Reverence to the Legate suppress'd her resentment after this Day there were no more Publick Conferences but they Drew out three of a Side and endeavoured to form such an Exposition of the Lord's Supper as both Parties might agree in which in the End proved impossible to be done and so the Conference of Poissi ended which was the first Liberty that was granted to dispute the Established Religion in France and was blamed by some as a thing of ill Example and approved by others as the only means left to prevent the Storm which hung over their heads But it had not that effect so the Ministers and especially Beza who was invited by the Queen were honourably dismiss'd The Fame of this Conference being diffused through Italy and Spain Philip the Second was strangely surprized at it so the Queen sent Jacques de Monbron a Person of good Birth and Repute to excuse it That Prince would hardly be induced to hear the reason of it and turning him over to the Duke de Alva he blamed their fearfulness and advised them to return to the same Severities which had been used in the Reigns of Henry II. and Francis II. promising his Masters Assistance for the Extirpation of the Protestants Adding That the King had been solicited to it by the Catholick Nobility and People of France and that he could not neglect their Petition but he must be wanting to himself That he did not fear such vain reproaches as that with foreign Forces he invaded what was anothers because in this Cause the Spanish Forces were no foreigners when the Religion of their Ancestors was at the stake By this it appeared to the Court of France That there was a Correspondence between their Catholicks and the Spaniards and one Arthur Desier a Priest was taken much about this time near Orleans going into Spain with a Letter from some great Men to King Philip to persuade him to undertake the Protection of their Infant King and of the Catholick Religion which was in great danger to be ruin'd for which he was ordered to be Penance by the Parliament of Paris and committed to the Carthusian Monks to be kept a Prisoner for ever but afterwards he made his Escape This Sentence was pronounced against him the 14 th of July In the End of this Year one Jean Tanquerel a young Divine proposed as his Thesis in a Disputation That the Pope as Christ's only Vicar and the Monarch of the Church can by his Spiritual and Secular Power command all faithful Princes as his Subjects and if they disobey his Precepts deprive them of their Dignities and Kingdoms which being complain'd off to the King the Chancellor sent a Commission to inquire into it and Tanquerel being fled it was ordered that the Parritor of the Theological Faculty should make a Recantation of it in his Name in the School of the Sorbonne before the Dean and all the Fellows and Students of that Faculty in the Presence of the President of the Parliament of Paris the King's Counsel and Solicitor and for the future the Parliament forbad all such questions to be given And ordered the Sorbonne to send two of their Fellows to beg the King's Pardon This Decree passed the 2 d of December and was put in Execution ten days after The Pope had till now dreaded a General Council as tending to the abatement of his Power and on that score had delayed it till Cosmus Duke of Florence and the fear of a National Council in France prevail'd upon him to reassume that which was began by Paul III. continued by Julius III. and was at
to have the Articles considered by the Council who that they might elude this pursuit made some Decrees which had some respect to those things the French had desired but which aimed at the granting a Liberty and Immunity to the Clergy against all the Laws Privileges Liberties and Jurisdictions and Lawful Authorities of all Kingdoms States and Princes which being seen by La Ferriere and Du Faur the King's Ambassadors at Trent they by their Master's Order opposed the said Decrees The 27th of September the King by a Letter having commanded his Ambassadors to insist upon their first Demands and to assure the Council that as none of the Christian Princes should exceed him in the fervor of true Piety and a desire to promote the Affairs of the Council so if they still went on to cure the desperate wounds of the Church with a light hand or rather to plaster them over and conceal than cure them whilest they omitted the proper and most necessary remedies and instead of considering the Reformation of the Church turn'd the edge of their Authority against the Power of Princes and the Decrees of Councils he would not have the Presence of his Ambassadors add Authority to such unjust Decrees to the great prejudice of his Royal Dignity and to the Damage of the Liberties of his Kingdom He said also that he had been informed that the Council had entertain'd a design to declare the Marriage of Anthony de Bourbon King of Navarr and Joan his Queen unlawful and to declare Henry his Son a Bastard and he commanded them not to be present at any such Act. Lastly he commanded them to repeat their former demands and if the Fathers of the Council would not grant them then to leave Trent and go to Venice and stay there till they had further Orders from him He told them also that his principal desire was by a serious Reformation of Church-affairs and manners the corruptions in which had caused so many to make defection from the Church of Rome by the Authority of a General Council to unite the divided minds of men in the matters of Religion That his Ambassadors and Proctors had often treated with the Pope and the Fathers of the Council about this and to that end had exhibited the said XXXIV Articles to which no satisfactory return had been made but on the contrary they having lightly touched the business of Reformation had exercised an Authority which belonged not to them against the Rights Liberties and Power of Soveraign Princes That they neither could nor ought to inquire into the Civil Administration which was not subject to their Court nor to derogate from those Constitutions and Customs which had been long enjoyed by Princes nor to Anathematize Kings all which things tended to Sedition and the interruption of the publick Peace That he would not suffer that Authority which he had received from his Ancestors to be weakned by their unjust censures Yea he commanded them to tell the Fathers That if they presumed any more to undermine the Authority of Kings and the Prerogatives of their Betters that they should then also protest against their proceeding and leave Trent Advising the Bishops and Divines of France who were in the Council to promote the Reformation of Religion as much as was possible for the good of his divided Kingdom and to that end to stay still at Trent But then the King did trust to their wisdom and conscience that they would not approve of by their presence or consent to any thing which was prejudicial to the Royal Authority Prerogative or Dignity of the King or Kingdom of France But however the Council still persisting in their former Methods La Ferriere came into the Council and made a sharp Oration against the Pope and the Council Polano in his History of the Council of Trent has the sum of this Oration and Thuanus saith it was pronounced the 22d of September But however I will not trouble the Reader with it here because of its great length this Oration pleased none of the Fathers the French themselves not excepted because he set Princes as the Ministers of God above the Anathema's of the Clergy and made both their persons and revenues subject to the Laws and Authority of Kings telling them too plainly of their great prevarications obstinacy and unwillingness to reform or be reformed But however all the Fathers could do was to bring the Faith of the Ambassadors in question which they soon discuss'd by producing their Instructions This failing they cavell'd at the parts of the Oration and end eavoured to pervert the sense and meaning of it so that Ferriere was forced to publish an Apology for it And soon after this they mended the matter by a sharper Oration in which amongst other things they told the Council plainly That Hadrian the Sixth was in the right when he told the world That what care soever was taken of the lower members of the Church that body could not be restored to its health if the Head also the Pope were not reformed Towards the end they said They protested only against Pius the Fourth They Venerated the Apostolick See the great Pontiff the Holy Church of Rome for the increase of whose Dignity their Ancestors had so often shed their blood and of late had fought in France but it was against the Soveraignty of Pius the Fourth that they protested all whose Decrees and Sentences they refused and despised and seeing there was nothing done at Trent but all was dispatched at Rome and what was here published was rather the Dictates of Pius the Fourth than the Decrees of a General Council they denounced and testified That whatever was decreed in that Convention or should hereafter be decreed or published they being only the Decrees moved by Pius the Fourth they should not be approved by the Most Christian King nor the French nor be taken for the Acts of a General Council And then commanded all their Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Divines to return into France till God should restore to the Catholick Church the ancient form and liberty belonging of right to General Councils and to the Most Christian King his just Rights Thuanus saith he can hardly believe this Oration was made tho' he finds it Printed in the Commentaries of Jacques de Bourdin Secretary of State. But however it shews the sense great men had of the Council of Trent at that time when it was best understood A little before this time the Emperor being about leaving Inspruck discovered that they consulted at Rome and Trent about proceeding against Queen Elizabeth of England and he wrote to the Pope and the Legates that if the Council would not yield that fruit which was desired that they might see an Union of Catholicks to reform the Church yet at least they should not give occasion to Hereticks to unite themselves more which they would do in case they proceeded against the Queen of England
IOANNES SLEIDANVS PATRICIVS ARGENTORATENSIS Natus Sleidae A. D. MDVI Legatus in Anglia pro Protestantibus A. D. MDXXXXV Legatus Argentorat in Concilio Trident. A. D. MDLI. Obijt II Kal Novemb A. D. MDLVI Printed for Henry Bonwicke and Abel Swalle THE General History OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH From the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of ROME Begun in GERMANY By Martin Luther With the Progress thereof in all Parts of Christendom From the Year 1517 to the Year 1556. Written in LATIN By John Sleidan L. L. D. And faithfully Englished To which is Added A CONTINUATION To the End of the Council of Trent in the Year 1562. By EDMUND BOHUN Esq LONDON Printed by Edw. Jones for Abel Swall at the Vnicorn and Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Pauls Church-Yard MDCLXXXIX The Testimony of the Reverend and Learned Doctor Burnet in the Preface of his Celebrated History of the Reformation of the Church of England Pag. 1. wherein he gives an Honourable Character not only of Sleidan but also of Thuanus and Father Paul two of the Authors Cited below THe Changes that were made in Religion in the last Century have produced such Effects every where that it is no wonder if all persons desire to see a clear Account of the several Steps in which they advanced of the Counsels that directed them and the Motives both Religious and Political that inclined Men of all Conditions to concur in them Germany produced a Sleidan France a Thuanus and Italy a Frier Paul who have given the World as full satisfaction in what was done beyond Sea as they could desire And though the two last lived and died in the Communion of the Church of Rome yet they have delivered things to Posterity with so much Candour and Evenness that their Authority is disputed by none but those of their own Party Jac. Aug. Thuanus Historiar Lib. xvii pag. 542. Sub Exitum Octobris c. The last day of October in the year 1556 John Sleidan when he had brought down his History to that time with an Exact Faith and Diligence died of the Plague at Strasburg in the One and Fiftieth year of his Age. He was born at Sleidan a Town in the Dukedom of Juliers near Duren and from thence he took his Name He was a Person who for his Learning and great Experience in Affairs was much esteemed by that Age He had spent the greatest part of his Youth in France and being entertained in the Family of Bellay had both Learned and done great things in the Service of Cardinal John Du Bellay but a sharp Persecution arising in France against those who were suspected of Lutheranisme he went and lived at Strasburg and served that Free City and being by his own publick Employments well informed of the Carriage of Affairs he added to what he had seen what he had learned from Men worthy of Credit and Wrote his Commentaries Joannes Bodinus Method Ad facilem Historiar Cognitionem pag. 66 67. Sleidanus Franciscum Regem c. John Sleidan greatly and truely commends Francis I. King of France the Duke of Saxony Bellay and Alenzon and yet declin'd all odious Comparisons And if he at any time was forced to set down any thing which tended to the Dishonour of any Man he either proved it by good Arguments or put it in the Number of the Rumors or Reports He notwithstanding Imitated Guicciardin Plutarch Machiavel Tacitus and many others in the disclosing the Counsels and Conceal'd Frauds of Men for Sleidan was Interpreter to Francis I. and was Employed in many Embassies for the City of Strasburg after which resolving to Write the History of Religion as he was a Pious and Religious Man he has comprised in it not only a vast number of Speeches and Letters but has also some times abridged the Books which were written on both sides which though it may seem very tedious to some Men yet on the contrary those that are true Lovers of Antiquity and desirous to be throughly informed concerning the great Changes which then happened in Christendom think nothing the less honourably of him on that Account Pietro Soave Polano Hist del Concilio Tridentino pag. 1. Il Proponimento mio c. My purpose is to Write the History of the Council of Trent for though many famous Historians of our Age have made mention in their Writings of some particular Accidents that happened therein and John Sleidan a most Diligent Author hath related with Exquisite Industry the Causes that went before yet notwithstanding all these things put together would not suffice for an intire Narrative This Author supposeth his Reader well Acquainted with Sleidan's History and on that account gives a very short and imperfect Relation of the Rise and Progress of the Controversies which necessitated the calling of that Council so that it is scarce possible throughly to understand that History without having first Read Sleidan's TO THE QUEEN MADAM THIS Work was design'd and begun when Our Church was in the Lowest degree of Danger out of a belief that it might contribute something to her Preservation in that Storm which lay so heavy upon her the Duration of which could then be known to none but God. I thought That a seasonable time to Imitate the Divine Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews and to set before us that Cloud of Illustrious Persons who had with an Heroick Courage baffl'd the Rages of former Persecutions by their Faith and Patience The Reflections I had in private made to my self on the many Deliverances the Holy God has in these last Ages so often wrought for his distressed Church when she seem'd ready to be swallowed up by Popish Fury and Fraud was so great a support and comfort to me in those Melancholy days that I passionately wished I had had some means of communicating them to others To that End was undertaken the Translating this Excellent History as the best means I could think of to raise the same Thoughts in others And as Your Majesty was ever in our Minds I wish'd I might have some favourable opportunity of laying it at Your Feet tho' I could then have no prospect of that Happiness Since then the late Wonderful Revolution has put so sudden and unexpected an End to our Sufferings and our Sorrows and brought Your Majesty back to England to be the Defender of our Holy Faith and the Deliverer of our oppressed Church I humbly beg Your Gracious acceptance of this History which is due to Your Majesty as the chief Patroness of the Reformation That God would for many years continue us under Your most Auspicious Government and at last reward Your Piety and Virtues with a more Glorious Crown in Heaven is and ever shall be one of the most fervent Prayers of Madam Feb. XX. 1688-89 Your Majesties most Dutiful Loyal Faithful and most Devoted Subject Edmund Bohun The Author of the Continuation to the Reader containing an account of
Grief of his Heart he daily heard many and grievous Complaints of Luther a profligate Wretch who forgetting his own Order and Profession acted many things sawcily and with great Confidence against the Church of God bragging That being supported by the Favour and Protection of the Prince he stood in awe of the Authority of no Man That he made no doubt but that was falsey given out by him but that nevertheless he was willing to write these few things unto his Highness and to advise him That being always mindful of the Splendour and Dignity of himself and his Ancestors he would not only avoid giving any Offence but even all Suspicion of offending That he knew for a certain That Luther taught most impious and Heretical Doctrines which both he and the Master of his Palace had carefully observed and marked down That that was the Reason why he had both Cited him to Appear and also sent his Instructions to Cardinal Cajetane his Legat as to what further he would have done in the Matter and that seeing this was an Affair of Religion and that it properly belonged to the Church of Rome to enquire into the Faith and Belief of all Men he exhorted and charged his Highness That being thereunto required by his Legate he would use his best Endeavours to have Luther delivered up into his Hands which would be both acceptable Service to God and very Honourable to himself and Family that if upon Tryal he were found Innocent at Rome he should return Home Safe and Sound but that if he proved Guilty then would his Highness be Blameless in no longer protecting a Criminal and that he himself was so mercifully inclined as that neither he would oppress an Innocent Man nor deny a Penitent his Pardon And thus he left no Way unessayed that he might undo Luther The same Year also he wrote to Gabriel Venize the Provincial of the Augustine Fryers exhorting him That by the Authority of his Charge he would put a stop to Luther a Fryer of his Order who attempted Innovations and taught new Doctrins in Germany and solicitously ply him both by Letters and Learned Agents But that Expedition was to be used in the Matter for so it would not be difficult to quench the Flame newly broken out since things in their Infancy and Commencement could not resist Attempts that were any thing brisk but should it be deferred till the Evil had gathered Strength it was to be feared that the Conflagration might afterwards carry all before it for that it was a Contagion that spread more and more daily so that nothing seemed more to be feared than Delay That therefore he should set about the Affair with all Pains Diligence and Industry seeing he had Authority over him When Luther perceived that he was cited to appear at Rome he was very solicitous to have his Cause tryed before Competent and Unsuspected Judges in some Place of Germany secure from Violence But when that could not be obtained the University of Wittemberg sent a Letter to Pope Leo dated September 25 wherein they gave Luther an ample Testimony both of a Pious Life and Learning that seeing he was for some Positions proposed Cited to Rome and could not being a Sickly Man without endangering his Life make an Appearance they prayed his Holiness not to think otherwise of him than of an Honest Man that he had only for Disputation sake offered some things to be argued which were misinterpreted and highly exaggerated by his Adversaries that for their parts they would not suffer any thing to be asserted in Opposition to the Church and that at Luther's Request they could not but give him this Testimony which they earnestly entreated his Holiness to give Credit to With this Letter they sent another to Charles Miltitz a German and Bedchamber Man to Pope Leo Wherein they represent to him That Luther was undeservedly exposed to the Anger and Hatred of the Pope insomuch that being Cited to appear at Rome he could not as yet obtain That his Cause might be tryed somewhere in Germany That for their own Parts they were so zealous not only for Religion but also for the Holy Church of Rome That if Luther were guilty of any Impious Crime or Errour they would not bear with him But that he was a Man so Learned of so upright a Life and Conversation and had deserved so well of the whole University that as Affairs stood they could not but stand by him That Duke Frederick also so Religious and Prudent a Prince would not so long have suffered him to go unpunished if he had not thought him to be a good Man That therefore he would use his Interest and Familiarity he had with the Pope that Impartial Judges might he assigned him not at Rome but in Germany That they did not doubt but that he would act as became a Christian and Divine and make it appear that he did not Wantonly and without a Cause hunt after an Occasion of Contention That they begged this the more earnestly of him in that they had the greater Hopes that he who was himself a German would not in so just a Cause be wanting to a Country-Man who was born down by Calumnies and in danger of his Life Besides the Intercession of these Friends Frederick Prince Elector spoke also to Cardinal Cajetane at Ausburg and so far prevailed that Luther being excused from going to Rome should plead his Cause before the Emperour at Ausburg Being come thither in the Month of October it was three Days before he was admitted to the Speech of Cajetane for they to whom Duke Frederick who upon dissolution of the Diet was gone Home had recommended him forbad him to go to him before he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour Maximilian but that being at length granted he came and the Cardinal having civilly received him told him That he would not enter into any Dispute with him but end the Controversie amicably and at the same Time proposed to him two Commands in Name of the Pope First That he would repent what he had done and retract the Errours which he had published And next That for the Future he would abstain from such Writings as disturbed the Peace and Tranquility of the Church Luther makes Answer That he was not Conscious to himself of any Errour and desires That if he had erred it might be proved against him With that Cajetane objects That in his Theses he had affirmed That the Merits of our Saviour Christ were not the Treasure of Indulgences which Opinion was repugnant to the Decretal of Pope Clement VI. Again That it was necessary that they who come to receive the Sacrament should have a firm Belief that their Sins were forgiven them Luther replies That that was not so telling him withal That he had read the Pope's Decree and gave his Judgment of it but mention being made of S. Thomas he said The Authority of
he had to do nor how to carry himself that he was constantly urged to retract his Writings that if that could any way contribute to the Advantage and Dignity of the Church of Rome he would not refuse to do so but that there were a great many ingenious and learned Men in Germany who could rightly judge of the whole Controversie so that though he should retract yet it would redound more to the Disgrace and Detriment than to the Dignity of the Church of Rome That for his Part he had done his Holiness no Injury but that it was rather those Collectors and Preachers who put on by Covetousness and greedy of Lucre had spoken foul and ignominious Things to the People that by these he had been grievously accused and informed against whereas he stood so well affected towards the Church of Rome and his Holiness himself that he had no Thoughts of Attempting any thing against it for that the Power and Authority of the Church was so great that next to Christ it was the most excellent thing in the World that he prayed his Holiness not to give credit to his Adversaries That he would never hereafter make mention of the Indulgences provided his Enemies on the other Hand were also enjoyned Silence that he would also advise the People in his Sermons to entertain Reverent and Honourable Thoughts of the Church of Rome not to impute to it the Boldness and Covetousness of some of its Members nor yet imitate his Example who being in some manner necessitated by his Adversaries had treated the Church somewhat irreverently and unbecomingly In short that he would do any thing for Peace sake That in all his Proceedings he had had this constantly before his Eyes That the Church of Rome should not be aspersed by the wickedness of some Men nor the People imposed upon by false Doctrine and that this his Care and Diligence could not be lyable to any Censure That he was not much concerned about Matters indifferent provided no Errour nor erroneous Persuasion possessed Men's Minds Before Miltitz arrived in Germany the Emperour Maximilian dyed in Austria January 12. the Electors then were Albert Archbishop of Mentz Herman Archbishop of Cologne and Richard Archbishop of Treves Ludovick Prince Palatine Frederick Duke of Saxony Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and Lewis King of Bohemia who was also King of Hungary These being according to the Custome of the Empire summoned by the Elector of Mentz met in the Month of June at Frankford a City upon the River of Main whither the King of Bohemia sent his Deputy Ladislaus Sterneberg The Archbishop of Mentz spoke first and having said much of the greatness of the Affair exhorted them to Unity and Concord shewing by many Instances in former times how much mischief the Dissention of the Electors had done to Germany and that they all ought to be the more unanimous now that they were threatned with great Dangers from the Turks and from others also who sought the Division of Germany There were two Competitours that stood for the Imperial Dignity Charles Archduke of Austria who three Years before had succeeded to Ferdinand King of Spain his Grand-Father by the Mother and Francis King of France who having defeated the Switzers four Years before at Marignano was in Possession of the Dutchy of Milan And the Ambassadours of Charles about that time were come as far as Mentz four German Miles distant from Frankford but the French Ambassadours stopt at Coblentz a Town belonging to the Archbishop of Treves upon the confluent of the Rhine and Moselle They severally by Letters and Agents recommended their own Princes to the Electors and used what Arguments they could to persuade them but especially the French who easily understood that their Pretensions were not so acceptable as differing from the Germans in Language Customs and Manners The French King having overcome the Switzers as we have said was in Possession of Lumbardy but seeing he lookt upon their Friendship to be in a manner necessary for the Safety of his own Kingdom with high Promises and great Losses he purchased it the next Year after Now therefore the Empire being void by the Death of Maximilian he sent Ambassadours to acquaint them with the Reasons why he desired to be chosen Emperour and withal to crave their Assistance and Intercession for him with the Electors Their Answer was That when they had made Friendship and entred into a League with him they had excepted the Church of Rome and the Empire That it concerned the Majesty of the Empire that the Voices of the Electors should be free so that they could not forestal that Liberty by making any previous Declaration of their Inclinations Thus the Ambassadours being dismissed they wrote to the Electors acquainting them with the Application the King had made unto them and with their Answer thereunto praying them withal that they would have no regard unto it but chuse some German Prince and thereby infinitely oblige them They wrote besides to Pope Leo and seeing it belonged to him to confirm and inaugurate the Emperour elect they besought him that he would bestir himself to hinder that that Dignity should not be bestowed upon any Foreign Prince To this he made answer That he heard there was one who aspired to that Honour that could not lawfully do it for that the Kings of Naples were the Vassals of the Pope of Rome and had obliged themselves of old not to aim at the Roman Empire but to rest satisfied with one of the two and that he had already given intimation of this to the Electors By this he meant Charles Archduke of Austria for after the Overthrow which the French King gave the Switzers September 13. 1515 when he carried with him Maximilian Sforza into France Pope Leo following the Fortune of the Victorious in the Month of December came to Bolonia and there having had an Interview and long Conference with King Francis he confirmed Friendship with him And this among others was one Cause why at this Time he favoured his Pretensions Now as to what he said of the Kingdom of Naples this is the Case When Manfred natural Son to the Emperour Frederick II Made War against the Church of Rome Pope Clement IV in the Year 1365 that he might repress him took the Course which his Predecessor Vrban IV was about to have taken as it is reported and having sent for Charles Count of Provence and Anjou into Italy declared him King of Sicily and Naples but on Condition First That he should hold the same in Fee of the Church of Rome and therefore pay the sum of forty thousand Crowns yearly and then that he should at no Time aspire to the Dignity of the Roman Empire nor accept of it though freely offered unto him When the Matter was brought into Deliberation the Arhbishop of Mentz having first consulted apart with Frederick Duke of Saxony who was of great Authority amongst the
and of this he prays them to bear him witness Some few Days after he wrote to the Cardinal Albertus Archbishop of Mentz in a very submissive Stile The Substance of his Letter was this That his being impeached before him therefore touched him the more nearly because he supposed it to be done by those who had formerly commended his Works and been the most forward Sticklers for them but whether the Accusation were true or false take it either way they had not dealt very handsomely in it for if it were False they then put the grossest Abuse upon him without any respect to his Character and that sublime Station that he has in the Church He bids him call to mind how David himself was deceived by the Flattery of Siba and that there was scarce any Prince who could at all times stand so well upon his Guard as not to be in danger of being imposed upon by such fawning Courtiers But supposing he was really guilty of the Crimes laid to his Charge yet it had been a much fairer way of proceeding to have shewed him his Error and to have endeavoured to rectifie his Understanding wheresoever they perceived him to labour under any Mistakes that this he had several times beg'd of his Adversaries who still continued Deaf to all his Requests He tells him there were two sorts of Men who generally condemned his Writings one was those never read them and the other such as indeed vouchsafed them the reading but their Minds were prepossess'd with an ill Opinion of him and then whatsoever he said though never so conformable to the Precepts of Christianity must of necessity be misinterpreted by them But if that his more important Affairs could but afford him so much Leisure as to peruse his Books he did not in the least doubt but that he would be of a very different Judgment from his Accusers He intreats him therefore not to believe Calumnies or to entertain any suspicious Thoughts of him but to take a full and exact Examination of the whole Matter since not only his alone but the eternal welfare of all his Followers was nearly concerned in it For because his Desire was to be heard speak for himself and to be instructed by those who were more learned if he could not obtain this Favour the Truth it self would suffer very much by it Confiding therefore in his Candor and Humanity and being also born and bred in that Country which is properly under his Episcopal Care and Government he thought himself in some measure obliged to give him this short Account of his Case The Archbishop answers That he was very well pleased with his Promise Not to be obstinate in the Defence of his Tenets but to be willing to yield to any who should better inform him As for his part though he had a great regard for the concerns of Religion yet he had not hitherto been able to steal so much Time as would serve to read over his Treatises That therefore he could not give any Judgment upon them but referr'd it wholly to those whose proper Province it was and who had already ingaged themselves in that Disquisition That his hearty Wishes were That he and all other Divines would handle Points of Religion reverently modestly and conscientiously without uttering any reproachful Words or harbouring any secret Malice in their Breasts That he heard with great regret with what Heat and Passion some Men of Note and Fame disputed about the Supremacy of the Pope and Free-Will and other such trifling insignificant Questions which are far from being any of the Essentials of Religion That those things began now to be controverted which had been so long received and which were confirmed by the common Consent and Approbation of the whole Church as well as by the Authority of General Councils such is that which relates to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and the manner of communicating therein And because this is done openly and the Ears of the common People begin to be tickled with the Novelty he should not but have very dreadful Apprehensions of what would be the dangerous Consequences of them That he could not see how he or any other Person could raise any useful pious Instructions out of these Points But if Scholars had a mind to debate them friendly and privately among themselves he could not be against it Nor did he blame him for saying That what he taught was no other than the true Doctrin of the Gospel provided there was nothing of Bitterness or Spite in the Assertion and that it was not spoke in contempt of the Authority of the Church For if this publick Declaration of the Truth flowed purely from the gentle impulse of the Divine Spirit it then would baffle all Attempts whatsoever that should be made against it but if that either Haughtiness of Mind or a private Grudge against any one were the Motives in it it then could have no firm Foundation but that and its Author would soon fall together For whosoever abuses the Gifts and Favours of God on him will he assuredly pour out the full Vials of his Wrath. To the same effect on the same day Luther writes to the Bishop of Mersburgh that as to his Doctrin his Conscience bore him witness that it was the same that Christ and his Apostles had taught But because his Life and manners were not in all things answerable to the Purity of his Profession he could even wish that he were silenc'd from Preaching as being unworthy to exercise that Sacred Function That he was not moved either by the hopes of Gain or Vain-glory but that the End to which all his Endeavours were directed was to imprint a-fresh in the minds of Men those eternal Truths which were now almost utterly defaced or else obscured by a gross and wilful stupidity That those who condemn his Writings were hurried on by the violence of their Passions and promoted their own ambitious designs under the specious pretence of upholding the Authority of the Bishop of Rome That a great many Foreigners famous both for Parts and Learning had by their Letters approved of his Works and thanked him for his obliging the Publick with them That this confirm'd him in his Opinion that his Doctrin was Orthodox He beseeches him therefore to shew some Fatherly tenderness towards him and if he had hitherto erred to guide him now into the right way That he could not as yet get his Cause to be heard although he had been importunate in requesting it That he should think it a great happiness to be convinced of any of his Errours and they should find he had been misrepresented by those who had possessed the World with a belief of his Obstinacy The Bishop returns to this That he had been often under a very great concern for him and that he was heartily sorry for his having publish'd a Book concerning the Lord's Supper which had given offence to many That
the Disciples of Mahomet and who with his prophane and poysonous breath thought at once to blast and overturn the whole Disciplin of the Church who bewails the Punishments inflicted on Hereticks and in short who strove to turn all things topsie-turvie and is arrived at that degree of pride and madness as to despise the Authority both of Popes and Councils and has the confidence to prefer before them all his own single Judgment That he therefore had shewed himself a true Son of the Church in that he had nothing to do with that pernicious Rascal nor embraced any of his erroneous Opinions but in all things imitated the Vertues of his Fore-fathers That this made so many grave and understanding Men outvie each other in his Commendations And that he could not but think himself bound to return his most hearty Thanks to God who had bestowed on him so many rich endowments of Mind He says he had long borne with Luther's Sauciness and Temerity hoping he would in time grow ashamed of his Folly but now when he saw him deaf to all his Admonitions and that he was only hardned by the gentleness which he used towards him he was forc'd at last as in a desperate Disease to have recourse to a desperate Remedy to prevent if possible the farther spreading of the Contagion That having summoned therefor the Conclave and had the Advice of several learned Men in the matter after much serious deliberation he had signed the Decree being guided by that holy Spirit whose aids can never be wanting to an Infallible Church In it were recited some of his Tenets which were picked from among a great many more part of which were downright Heretical others directly contrary to the Precepts of the Gospel and some were destructive of Morality and even common Honesty it self and were such as by degrees would debauch Men into all manner of Wickedness That he had sent him a Copy of this Bull to let him see what monstrous Errors that Agent of Hell did maintain But now his Request to him was That he would admonish him not to persist in his Pride and Obstinacy but publickly and solemnly to recant all his former Writings which if he refused to do within a prefixed day then to take care to have him seized and committed to Prison by this means he would wipe off the Reproach of his own House and of Germany too and get himself immortal Honour by putting a timely stop to that flame which would else not have ended but in the ruin of his Country and it would be a Service also very acceptable even to God himself The Bull it self was very long and was published on the Fifteenth of June the substance of it was this After a Quotation of some Texts of Scripture which were applied to his present purpose his Holiness Pope Leo having called upon Christ St. Peter and St. Paul and the rest of that glorified Society to avert those dangers which at this time threatned the Church complains that there was now started up a Doctrin which not only revived all those Opinions which had been formerly condemned as Heretical but also contained in it several new Errours never before broached in the World and such as would justle out all sense of God and Religion That he was troubled that this Heresie should have its rise in Germany a Country always very Loyal to the Church of Rome and which to uphold the Dignity of that See had fought even to the last drop of Blood and never refused to undertake any the most difficult Enterprizes That it was yet fresh in memory with what Heroick Spirits and with what Zeal they maintained the Catholick Cause against the Bohemians and the Followers of Husse That some of their Universities had lately given Instances of a Vertue and Courage equal to what inspired the first Planters of Christianity But because he was Christ's Vicar here on Earth and the Care of the Universal Church was committed to him he could no longer neglect the discharge of his Duty After this he repeats Luther's Tenets which he says were repugnant to that Christian Love and Reverence which all Men owe to the Church of Rome That he had therefore summoned together the whole College of Cardinals and several other learned Men who after a long Debate all declared That these Points ought to be rejected as derogating from the Authority of Councils Fathers and even the Church it self Therefore with their advice and consent he condemns this whole summ of Doctrins and by virtue of his Supremacy commands all Persons under the severest Penalties to yield Obedience to this his Decree by renouncing those Opinions which are censured in it and he enjoyns all Magistrates especially those of Germany to use their endeavours to hinder the farther progress and growth of this Heresie He orders also Luther's Books to be every where brought forth and burnt Then he relates how Lovingly and Fatherly he had dealt with him in hopes to reclaim his by those gentle methods how he had admonish'd him by his Legates and cited him to come and make his Purgation at Rome not only granting him a safe Conduct but promising to furnish him with all Necessaries for his Journey but that he slighting this Summons had appealed from him to a General Council contrary to the Decrees of Pope Pius and Julius II by which it is enacted That whosoever shall make any such Appeal shall from that time be adjudged an Heretick and be obnoxious to the same Punishments That therefore it was in his power to have prosecuted him at first with the utmost rigour of the Law but that out of meer pity he had forborn so long if perhaps as the Prodigal Son his Calamities might bring him to a sense of his Errours and he would at last be willing to return into the bosom of the Chuâ—ch That he had still the same tender Affections towards him and that he most passionately intreated him and all his Followers that they would cease to disturb the Peace of Christendom and if they yield to this his request he promises to shew them all the kindness imaginable In the mean time he forbids Luther to Preach and prefixes Threescore days within which time he should amend burn his own Books and publickly Recant If he did not he condemns him as an Heretick and orders him to be punish'd according to Law he Excommunicates him and commands all Persons to avoid his Company under the like Penalty ordering this Decree to be read in all Churches upon certain days As to what he says of Pius and Julius the matter stands thus In the Year of our Lord 1359 Pius II on account of the War with the Turks holds a Council at Mantua and there among others makes a Decree That no Person should Appeal from the Pope to a Council because he said there could be no Power on Earth Superior to that of Christ's Vicar Therefore he
might severely punish so great a Negligence both by publick and private Calamities That Luther's way was not unlike to the Sect of Mahomet which allows Men to marry several Wives and afterwards to put them away by which Law that villanous Juggler bewitched Men and drew the greatest part of the World over to his Religion That Luther did not indeed expresly allow that but that he absolved all those who had made to God Vows of Chastity from the obligation of the Law exhorted them to Marriage and let loose the Reins to Men's Lusts that so he might allure more People into that Association and Confederacy which he was hatching to the Ruine of Christendom and particularly of Germany That therefore it was their Parts punctually to put into execution the Sentences of the Pope and Emperour that they might avenge the Glory of God wipe off the Reproach that stuck to their Country and remove from themselves an infectious Pestilence That nevertheless such of them as should retract and return into the right way might be pardoned and received again into Favour but that they who obstinately maintained their Errors ought to be punished with the utmost severity that the rest being terrified by such an Example might learn to persevere in the true Faith and Religion That if it should be objected by some That Luther was condemned before he had been heard and that it was Reasonable that he should be tryed before he suffered such men reasoned amiss for that Christ himself had laid down a Rule of Faith and Religion whose Authority we ought to submit unto and not dispute about Articles of Faith nor enquire into the Reasons of this or that Precept That he was to be heard indeed when he was examined Whether in his Sermons he had said so or so or whether he had published this or that Book but that he ought not to be admitted to defend those things which he had broached concerning the Faith and Sacraments for here the Custom and Doctrin of the Church was to be observed and not to be deviated from And since most of his Opinions were already condemned by the Authority of Councils no regard ought to be had unto them That there could not be a greater Injury done to Ecclesiastical Assemblies than to cavil at or reject their Decrees nor could there be any End of Controversies if what Learned and Wise Men had after long and serious Deliberation determined should by every Private Person be questioned and examined That all Societies of Men had certain and fixed Laws which they were bound to observe how much more then ought not that to be done when any thing is established by Publick Authority in the Church That seeing then these Men did not only reject but even burn the Decrees of the Councils and Fathers they ought certainly to be punished as Disturbers of the Publick Peace That in the mean time it was not to be dissembled nor past over in Silence that God who is the Revenger of all Iniquity did in this manner afflict his Church for the Sins of the People but chiefly of the Rulers and Ministers of the Church since the Scripture saith That the iniquity of the people proceeded from the priests For that in Truth for these many Years past the Sins of Rome had been manifold and grievous and that even from the Head down to the inferior Clergy that Evil and Contagion had been propagated that no Man did his Duty all had gone astray and that none were free from Guilt no not one So that all Glory was to be given unto God alone from whom Pardon and Remission was humbly to be implored That since things were then in such a State he would take care That the Court of Rome which perhaps had given occasion to so great Evils should first of all be strictly reformed that so the Cure might begin at the Root and Cause of the Distemper which he thought himself the more obliged to do in that it was most earnestly desired by most Men That for his own part he was against his Will and with Reluctancy promoted to the Chair and would have been far better pleased with a Private Life But that being moved by the Fear of God and present State of Affairs he could not at length decline that burthensome Care That indeed no desire of Dominion and Rule had been a Motive to him to accept of that Charge but only that he might have an Opportunity of consulting and doing what he could for the Publick Good and Welfare of Christendom Now that he did not instantly reform the Vices and Abuses which he plainly saw the Reason was because the Disease which he designed to cure was very inveterate and Complicate also so that he must proceed gently and by degrees lest by attempting too sudden and speedy a Cure he should increase the Distemper For that all sudden Changes were dangerous and it was an old Proverb That he who blowed his Nose too hard would squeeze out Blood. This Writing Luther translated afterwards into High Dutch and illustrated with Marginal Notes wherein he observes That what the Pope said of Proceeding in the Reformation gradually and by little and little ought so to be understood as that for the space of every Step an interval of some Ages ought to be allowed However it was said That his Holiness had but little Thanks from the Cardinals for that he so plainly acknowledged the Corruptions of the Court of Rome Although this be reported to be a common Fetch of the Popes when they would delay or break the Measures of calling a Council or bringing Matters to a Hearing to make fair and large Promises that they may have time to ingratiate themselves with Kings and Princes till an Opportunity offer of Deciding the matter by the Sword for by Promises they raise Hopes and Expectations in Mens Minds and in the mean time take Measures for retaining their Power and Dignity which they know to be indangered by General Councils In the mean time whilst the Legate proceeded in this manner the Princes complained That the Compacts and Agreements which they had heretofore made with the Popes were many ways violated at Rome The Pope being acquainted with this by Letters from his Legate ordered him to tell them That he could not help what had been done by his Predecessors But that he had ever been even whilst he was a Private Man much displeased with that usual way of Proceeding of the Court of Rome and that he had already resolved of himself though no Application had been made to him about it to reform all these things and not to suffer any Man to be wronged far less them whom for Countrys sakehe desired chiefly to gratfie That as to what they demanded That all Law-Suits commenced at Rome might be remitted to Germany he told them That most of the Judges and Advocates had left the City because of the Plague but that so soon as they
but Eugenius IV evacuated the Decrees of that Council as hath been said before and the Popes who came after him that would not part with any thing have kept up the Custom and would not confirm Bishops and other Clergy-men in their Livings but upon condition that they duly paid their First-Fruits and Tenths so that the Custom is continued to this very Time though not without much repining and many Quarrels For in the Year of our Lord 1500 when the Emperour Maximilian held an Imperial Dyet at Ausburg among other Matters concerning a Turkish War it was decreed that Ambassadours should be sent to Pope Alexander VI to sollicit his Aid and that he would employ those Revenues to this Use for which chiefly they were in times past granted Furthermore the Pope bestows upon the Archbishops and Metropolitans a certain Badge of Honour and Dignity made of Flax and Wool which is called a Pall but the Purchase of it costs a round Summ of Money to be paid within three Months too according to the Constitutions of the Court of Rome Nor is it lawful for Archbishops to Consecrate any Bishop till first they have got their Pall which is chiefly used in saying of Mass neither is that delivered before he who receiveth it hath sworn Fidelity and Obedience to the Pope Now the First-Fruits we mentioned are so called because every new Bishop or Abbot is obliged to pay one Years Rent of his Living to the Pope When all Debates were concluded the Princes framed a Decree relating in short what had past and what Methods had been proposed by them for Concord and Reconciliation which were those we mentioned before charging all Men under severe Penalties to observe the same This Decree was on the sixth of March published in the Emperour's Name for upon his Return into Spain he had appointed a Council and Judicature to govern in his Absence as hath been said above In this Dyet Frederick Prine Palatine represented the Emperour's Person About this Time two Augustine Fryers John and Henry were apprehended at Brussels Hogostrate a Dominican among others had the Examination of them The first Question put to them was What they believed They made answer That they believed the Books of the Old and New Testament and the Apostles Creed which contained the Articles of our Faith. Again Whether or not the Decrees of the Councils and Fathers Such of them as agreed with the Holy Scriptures Whether they did not think it a Mortal Sin to transgress the Decrees of the Fathers and Pope of Rome That God's Commands alone had the Prerogative of Condemning or Absolving Seeing they persevered herein they were condemned to die But they gave Thanks to God That they were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for the Glory of his Name Being brought to the Place of Execution they moved all the Spectators by their Constancy and were burnt the first Day of July But before they suffered they were degraded as in the like Case Priests commonly are and that is performed in this manner He that is condemned of Heresie by the Ecclesiastical Judge is cloathed in the sacred Vestments of a Priest and hath a Chalice with Wine and Water and also a gilt Pattin with a Wafer put into his hands so being made to kneel down the Bishop's Vicar taketh from him the things above-named one after another commanding him at the same time never to say Mass more for the Living and the Dead Then with a piece of Glass he scrapes his Fingers enjoyning him never to consecrate any thing for the future and afterwards strips him of all his Vestments using certain Curses and Imprecations at every several action Being thus degraded from the Order of Priesthood he is likewise deprived of all the inferior Orders that are antecedent to it When he is thus stripped of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments he is cloathed in Secular Apparel and delivered over to the Civil Magistrate the Bishop's Vicar in the mean time interceding with him that he would not use any severity against his Persons nor put him to Death For this Ceremony is used lest they who deal in holy things should seeem to have a hand in taking away the life or shedding the Blood of any Man. The Decree of Norimberg being variously interpreted by many and slighted by some Luther wrote to the Princes acquainting them that he had reverently and with great pleasure read it and also proposed it to the Church of Wittemberg but that through the craft and snares of the Devil it had not the authority which it ought to have for that there were some of the highest Quality who both refused to obey it and put various Constructions upon the same Wherefore he thought fit to declare in Writing how he understood it trusting that his Opinion was consonant to their meaning and intentions That whereas they command the Gospel to be taught according to the Interpretations received by the Church most Men thus understood it That Ministers were to Preach according to the manner hitherto in use and the Rules prescribed by Thomas Aquinas Scotus and Others who have been approved by the Popes of Rome but that he took it to be meant of the more ancient Authors as St. Hilary St. Cyprian St. Austin and the like and that neither were those so much to be depended upon but that the holy Scriptures ought to be preferred far before them That he made no doubt but this was their sense and it was to him an argument to make him believe so that some who could not endure to hear of a true Reformation of the Church refused to subscribe to this Edict and suffered it not as yet to be proposed to their People In the next place That Bishops should appoint fit Men to be present at Sermons and mildly admonish if there were occasion for it It was well decreed on their parts but that they to whom the Charge was given though they were willing could not fulfil the Decree because they wanted learned Men and made use of those who had never learned any thing but Sophistry That whereas also they decreed That no more Books should be published unless they were first approved and licensed by learned Men chosen for that purpose He was not indeed against it but however that he understood it so as not at all to be extended to the Books of the Holy Scripture for that the publishing of those could not be prohibited That what in the last place they had enacted concerning Priests that married Wives or forsook their Order That they should be punished according to the Canon Law it was too hard for if the Gospel was to be taught in purity as they themselves confessed then ought that Pontifical Law to be qualified Then he goes on and bewails the misery and obstinacy of our times that when the Light of the Gospel shon out so clear that Law of Single-Life was not abrogated which gave occasion to so many
made was quite contrary to his Expectation so that he made no doubt but he who had laid the Foundation of the Work and given increase to the same would also bring it to a happy end and conclusion in spight of all the Enemies that should withstand it That long before the Devil foresaw this glorious Change a coming and had therefore endeavoured to prevent it and had raised some Men in their publick Writings to prophesie of these Times that he might render this saving Doctrin odious but that when he perceived his Endeavours frustrated he betook himself to another Stratagem and tempted Men to Rebellion thereby to hinder all revolting from his and the Pope's Dominion but that he should not be able to accomplish his Designs for that by the Preaching of the Gospel their Kingdom should be more and more confounded That Men should make it their Care and Study to persevere in that Doctrin and make it appear that Human Decrees availed nothing to Salvation That Men were likewise to be admonished Not to put themselves under the Yoak of Monastick Vows and that such as were already so engaged should shake off the Obligation as also that they should give no Money to those frivolous and idle uses of the Church as for Tapers Bells Pictures Vessels Images Works Ornaments and the like since the Christian Life consisted not in these things but in Faith and Charity That if the People were taught in this manner there was no doubt but that in a few Years all the Authority and Dominion of the Pope and his Adherents would fall to the Ground but that if this Doctrine should be neglected and these Errours and false Opinions not rooted out of Men's Minds Popery would continue though never so many Conspiracies might be made against it That they should weigh and consider with themselves How much he himself in so small a time had done merely by his Doctrin which his very Adversaries acknowledged when they complained that their Profits and Advantages were much impaired whence it might easily be perceived What might be done if but for two Years longer this Doctrin should have its course That therefore the Devil did now bestir himself and endeavoured by Tumults and Seditions to hinder that design but that we were to act prudently and magnifie and extol this Blessing of God who had thus enlightened us with the Knowledge of his Truth That the Cheats Ignorance Rapacity Tyranny and all that Sink of Impostures wherewith the Papists had so long deluded the World were now detected That they who had heretofore been so formidable were now reduced to this That they had no safety but in Arms That therefore since they now appeared naked and their Uncleanness being seen of all Men were forced to flie to the Sword it was impossible that their Kingdom could long stand and if any of their Power remained which the Preaching of the Gospel had not crushed it would be totally abolished by the coming of Christ That so we were to proceed couragiously in that Course but still with Order and Moderation for that some went on preposterously who being destitute of all Learning so soon as they had heard a Sermon or two pretended presently to great matters called themselves Lutherans and sharply censured others who as yet understood nothing which was a great Fault and ought not to be done Wherefore he prayed That no Man would make use of his Name but labour rather that since we professed the Name of Christ we might justly deserve to be called Christians That he who took upon him to teach should consider whom he had to deal with for that there were some stubborn Tempers who not only contemned sound Doctrin but led others also into Errour that such were not at all to be medled with according to Christ's Command Pearls were not to be cast before Swine But that when these Men not content with their own Ignorance or frowardness laboured to seduce others and pervert them from the true Doctrin then were they to be briskly withstood not indeed for their own sakes but that some of the People at least might be saved That again there were others who were not indeed obstinate but simple and ignorant and these were tenderly to be dealt with not rashly and in hurry shewing them calmly and in order wherein the Salvation of Mankind consisted and accommodating the Discourse to their Capacities till by little and little they increased in knowledge and were confirmed In the former Book we spake of the Boors who in Schwabia were in Arms before Muncer took the Field These were somewhat more moderate at first and published a Declaration of their Grievances and what they demanded from the Princes and Magistrates as we hinted at before protesting that if they were mistaken and abused they would not be obstinate but submit to sounder Counsils The first of their Demands was That they might have Liberty to chuse such Ministers as should sincerely preach the Word of God without the mixture of Human Traditions In the next place That hereafter they would pay no Tithes but of Corn and that these should be employed at the Discretion of good Men partly for the Stipends of the Ministers partly for relieving the Poor and partly for Publick Uses Again That it had been unworthily done to have used them hitherto as if they had been Bond-slaves since by the Blood of Christ all Men were made free That they did not indeed disown the Magistrate whom they knew to be appointed of God and whom in all honest and lawful things they were willing to obey but that they would not for the future suffer that Bondage unless it were proved by Texts of Scripture that they ought in reason to do so Moreover That it consisted not with Equity that they should be prohibited to take Wild Beasts Fowls and Fish and much less that in some Places they durst not hunt Wild Beasts out of their own Pastures That from the Creation of the World God had given man Right and Dominion over all kind of Animals not that they desired to take any thing by Force from those who had bought the whole or part of a River but they craved that some Equality might be observed and that regard should be rather had to the Profit of a Multitude than of a few Persons That besides Woods and Forests were in the Hands of a small number not without great Prejudice to the People That therefore it was their Intention That such Woods as had not been bought by Private Persons should be common that every Man might freely take of them for daily use and building also when there should be occasion yet so still that they should not do it but by the Authority of Overseers who should be appointed for that effect But that if there were no Woods but what belonged to private Men then they should agree amicably with the Owners That furthermore they lay under several sorts of Burthens which
none should be suffered to preach to the People without a Licence from the Bishops Besides that all the Canons and Laws of the Church should be observ'd and restored again in those Places where they were abolished The second Part contained five things chiefly the Communion under both kinds was rejected and the Emperour required That in this they would follow the Custom and Consent of the whole Christian World. As to the Marriage of Priests he wondered he said how they could demand it since it was never in use from the very Age of the Apostles that therefore it could no ways be be granted Their Mass was admitted provided it were celebrated according to the Rite of the Church of Rome but if otherwise it was rejected And at the same time the Mass affirmed to be a Sacrifice for the Quick and the Dead and that Private Mass ought not to be abolished That Daniel had prophesied long before That when Antichrist should come the daily Offering should cease That that was not indeed as yet come to pass but that nevertheless in those Places where Mass was despised Altars destroyed Images burnt where nothing was sung in the Churches nothing read no Lights burnt any longer there indeed that Prophesie was fulfilled That therefore all should have a special Care That they did not make way for the coming of Antichrist That Monastick Vows were grounded upon the Authority as well of the Old as New Testament that therefore they ought to be punished who forgetting their Profession forsook their Order That Bishops had Power not only to teach but also to bear Rule in Civil Matters and therefore ought not to be impeded in the Execution of their Right which they enjoyed through the Liberality of our Ancestors That not to abstain from Flesh on Days prohibited not to fast in time of Lent and not to Confess Sins was frowardness and not Christian Liberty These Points being thus read they confessed That there were some things which needed to be reformed for the amendment whereof and the Reformation of the state of the Church the Emperour promised to use his utmost Endeavours and was in good Hopes he said that since they agreed in many things the Protestants would return into the Bosom of the Church and submit themselves to him which if they would do they might expect any thing at his Hands But if not that then he must needs act as it became the Guardian and Defender of the Church To these things the Elector of Saxony answered both in his own Name and in the Name of his Associates That seeing they had professed in the beginning That if they set about a Reconciliation in Religion they would do any thing that they could with a safe Conscience Again that if by Testimonies of Scripture it could be proved that there was any Errour in their Doctrin they would not be obstinate That moreover if a fuller Explanation of their Confession were desired they would give it And that now since some Points of Doctrin which they offered were admitted and some rejected it behoved them to confirm and make good what they had asserted they therefore desired that a Copy of the Confutation might be given them Two Days after the Emperour having long consulted about the matter said They should have a Copy of it but upon condition that they would not publish nor print it And that he would admit of no more Debate but required them to close with him But they made Answer That they would not receive it upon that Condition Next Day after which was the sixth of August the Landgrave departed with a small Company leaving Deputies in his Place The Emperour took that ill and commanded the Magistrates of the Town That they should suffer no person whatsoever to depart out of the City by that private Place which used only to be open in the Night-time and having next Day sent for the Elector of Saxony and his Associates he did not dissemble his Displeasure and required them to stay till the conclusion of the Dyet for that he would omit nothing that would make for Peace and Concord They excused the Landgrave because of his Wife's Sickness telling his Majesty That he had left Deputies and that they would not depart But that in the mean time they wondred why Guards should be placed at the Gates which never used to be done in the Dyets of the Empire The Emperour excused it because of a Murther that had been committed and because of the Quarrels that happened betwixt the Spaniards and Germans But that if any Tumult should happen in time to come he would do no such thing before he had acquainted him who was Marshal of the Empire The Duke of Saxony answered That if any thing should happen wherein his Duty was required he would be ready as it became him So that the same Day the Guards were removed from the Gates About that time ended the War of Florence of which a little by the by At the time that Rome was taken and the Pope shut up in the Castle of St. Angelo we said before the Florentines cast out the Family of Medicis and then assisted the French in their Wars in Naples But the Pope being restored that he might right himself and Relations sent his Legate into Spain and made a League with the Emperour promising amongst other things to crown him if he would punish the Florentines as they had deserved The Emperour embraced the Condition and not long after arrived at Genoua Thither came Ambassadors from the Florentines to make their submission and beg pardon to whom the Emperour having sharply rebuked them made this Answer That though they had deserved to be severely punished yet their Fact might be pardoned provided they would receive the Pope again and that there was no other way but that of obtaining peace When the Ambassadors were returned home with this Answer the matter was much debated but at length the Opinion of one or two carried it who were for defending their Liberty to the last and the rather that as they alledged Pope Clement and the Emperour being now exhausted with long Wars were both in great want of Money Nevertheless when the Emperour was come to Bolonia they sent Ambassadors again but they were not admitted to Audience through the Persuasions of the Pope So that having maintained War and defended their City against the Forces of the Emperour and Pope for almost a Year on the Ninth Day of August they capitulated with Ferdinando Gonzaga General of the Emperour's Army Afterwards the Emperour by his Letters Patent addressed to them appointed Alexander de Medicis to whom he had promised Margaret his Natural Daughter in Marriage to be their Prince who afterwards built a strong Citadel there which was the beginning of their bondage The Town being taken by surrender Pope Clement caused some of the chief Senators to be beheaded and appointed a kind of Commonwealth amongst them being assured
their Sect over a great part of Germany Luther and almost all their learned Men crying out upon their Extravagance The Magistrates punishing and watching with that care that it was almost impossible for them to meet in any considerable numbers at last they possess'd themselves of the City before mentioned and in regard it was very well fortified made it the place of their Residence which happen'd thus Not far from the City of Munster there is a Church dedicated to St. Maurice in which in the year 1532 Bernard Rotman preached the reformed Religion and had a considerable Audience from the Town and when the Citizens had thoughts of bringing him in thither the Papists to prevent their design give him a moderate sum of mony that he might go and exercise his Faculties somewhere else Away goes he and travelling to some places where he thought he could better improve and advantage himself returns again after a few months But they being disgusted at his coming back endeavour to keep him from Preaching but to no purpose for he was followed with the applause of the People Soon after some of the principal Citizens receive him into the Town and because he was barred the Churches they make him a Pulpit abroad in the Porch and his Congregation encreasing daily they require the Papists to open him the Church otherwise they would break it open by force Not long after by the advice of a Committee of the People he sends Letters into the Neighbour-hood of Hassia which belongs to the Lantgrave and desires that they would send him some religious and learned Men to assist him in sowing the Seed of the Gospel Accordingly there are two sent him from Marpurg When they came thither six of the reform'd enter into consultation how they may clear the Town of Popery as soon as may be that the Gospel may be Preached with the greater success For the effecting of which they judged this following Expedient the most proper viz. To set down the Errors of the Church of Rome in writing which when they had digested into thirty Heads they delivered them to the Senate adding that they were ready to submit to the utmost severity if they did not demonstrate from the Holy Scriptures that all these propositions were repugnant to the Word of God. The Senate orders the Papists to attend the Court and reads over all the objected Errors to them and because they had always pretended that their Doctrin was unexceptionable and founded on Divine Revelation The Preachers on the other side denying this and offering to make good their Assertions under the highest Penalties The Court therefore asks them if they would confute the Objections of their Adversaries by the Scriptures Being thus called upon and perceiving that the Senate were earnest to have the matter brought to an Issue They answer in short That they had nothing to say for themselves and that it was only Ignorance and Opinion which made them hitherto maintain their Doctrin as Orthodox and Good. Thereupon in regard they were convicted of Error and false Doctrin had nothing to alledge in their defence and had made an acknowledgement of their Wickedness the Senate commands them to forbear Preaching for the future and to resign their Pulpits in all the Churches to the new Teachers who had discovered their Impostures Afterwards by the order of the Senate and People every Man has a Church assigned him to preach in which was very unkindly taken by the Papists especially by those who belonged to the Principal Cathedral Church being most of them Gentlemen These Persons when they could do nothing else go angry away and apply themselves to the Bishop of the City where after consultation they resolve to possess themselves of all the Avenues and Passes that no Provision might be carried into the Town A little after they had blocked up all the ways the Bishop and those before mentioned come to Telget to take further advice which is a little Town about a Mile distant from the City From thence they dispatch a Messenger to the Senate with Letters importing that they should desist from what they were about and put things into their former order otherwise they must be treated as Enemies The Bishops name was Francis Count Waldeck His immediate Predecessor was Ferdinand own Brother to the Arch-Bishop of Cologn But he not long before either because he had not his Health there or because he foresaw some Disturbance went off and resigned up his Station contenting himself with a private Life in his own Country The Citizens of Munster upon Deliberation detain the Messenger and upon Christmas-Eve Eve about nine hundred of them marching out in the night surprize the Village and take it and having secured the Gates that none might escape they seize upon all that were in it The Bishop by chance went away the day before They immediately bring the Prisoners into the City amongst these there were some Papists of great Quality with some others of the inferior Nobility The Senate asks them what their intentions were and whether they still designed to hinder the Preaching of the Gospel They very frankly answer that they would endeavour to make that Doctrin flourish Upon this a Treaty is concluded a Copy of which was sent to the Lantgrave by the Senate withal desiring him that for the sake of Religion and the Common-wealth he would assist in this Affair The Lantgrave sends several of his Subjects with a Commission by whose mediation they concluded a farther Treaty to this effect That forgetting all former Disgusts they should be heartily reconciled to one another and live peaceably on both sides That the Gospel should be Preached in six of their Churches That all impiety and superstition in Religion should be suppressed That nothing should be altered in the principal Church or Cathedral nor the Citizens pretend to any Authority there This Pacification was signed by the Lantgrave by the Bishop and his Tenants and Dependents and also by the Nobility and Commonalty upon the 14th day of February in the year 1533. When things were accommodated in this manner there comes to Munster a Dutch Botcher one John of Leyden a violent Anabaptist This Man at first privately asks some of the Doctors of the reformed Religion into whose familiarity he had insinuated himself Whether they thought the Baptism of Infants warrantable Upon their affirming it was John who was a great Zealot for the contrary Opinion began to deride and contemn them Which thing being understood Bernard Rotman whom we mentioned before exhorts the People at an Assembly to betake themselves to prayer that they might be enabled to maintain their Doctrin in its Purity and defend it from the Corruptions of the Fanaticks especially from the Anabaptists who had now privately crept in amongst them and mixed themselves in their Congregations whose Opinion if it should prevail not only the State but likewise Religion would be in a miserable condition
of Cain In the Primitive times godly Bishops have often refus'd to concern themselves in Councils when they saw they were not call'd for the Defence of Truth but either to establish false Doctrin or to countenance some Persons in their Ambition Thus when Constantine the Emperor summon'd a Council to Antioch Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem though he was not very far distant from the place would not come thither because he understood the Emperor's Inclinations and what the Arian Bishops were contriving So Athanasius though he came to the Council at Tyre yet he stayed not long there because he perceiv'd the Principal Persons of the Council took upon them to be Complainants and Judges too and was also well assur'd that there were Witnesses suborned against him In like manner at Sirmium in Hungary there was formerly conven'd a very numerous Council against Photinus for the Debate was of great Consequence and notwithstanding the Emperor commanded the Bishops to repair thither yet those of the Western-Church did not obey him when they understood the Arian-Faction was encreas'd for they suspected some false Doctrin would be decreed there At this time Hosius a Person of great Reputation was Bishop of Corduba whom the Emperor by the advice of the Arians commanded to go out of Spain to the Council who when he came there he consented to that ensnaring Creed at Sirmium which was afterwards the occasion of horrible Disorders in the Church and Hilary who was not present at this Assembly reproves Hosius for his compliance Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem would never assist at their Meetings who denied Christ to be of the same substance with the Father and is said to be the first Man who appeal'd in writing from the Authority of their Councils There was a Council begun at Millain and the Bishops were call'd thither by the Emperor's order But when Paulinus Bishop of Triers and some few others perceived that Auxentius Bishop of Millain and his Party were projecting things which were not fair They went off and so occasioned the breaking up of the Council Thus those great Men declined going to all suspected Synods that they might not be involved in their guilt And since the Pope giveth pretty plain intimations that this Council is design'd to establish his Power and Greatness we desire all People that they would not blame our refusal of it Moreover we have great reason to dislike the place of the Council for it 's very fit for Mischief and in all respects such as if it was contrived to hinder the freedom of Debates To which we may add that the Calumnies of our Adversaries have given Strangers a very ill opinion of us as if all Probity and Religion was banish'd our Country Now to have Mens minds prepossess'd with such a notion as this may be exceeding dangerous for us Therefore if it was only upon this account it was very proper to have the Council conven'd in Germany that those of foreign Nations might see the customs and regularity of our Churches and Towns and so disengage themselves from their prejudice against the true Doctrin The importance of the Affair likewise obligeth most of us to be in Person at the Council but to go out of our own Country in such numbers would be a great inconvenience to us And since it was decreed in a Diet of the Empire upon such weighty considerations that a Council should be held in Germany we see no reason to depart from what was then resolv'd upon And in regard the welfare of all Christendom is concern'd in this business we entreat all Kings and Princes not to give any credit to our Adversaries but rather use their Endeavours that the true knowledge of God may be recover'd which is the most glorious Action they can possily engage in As for the Pope it 's his Design to run them upon Injustice and Cruelty but they are oblig'd to abhor such Practices above all things For they are places on purpose on that elevated Station that they might promote the Honour of God with greater advantage shew a good Example to their Inferiors and rescue innocent Persons from Injury and Oppression And if ever a lawful Council happeneth to be call'd we will give such a satisfactory account of our Proceedings there as shall be sufficient to convince all People that we have aim'd at and attempted nothing but what was for the real advantage of Christendom In this Convention there was the Elector of Saxony Ernest and Francis his Brother Dukes of Lâ—â—enburgh Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh the Lantgrave Philip Duke of Pomern three Earls of Anhalt and Albert Count Mansfield there were also the Agents of a great many Cities who were sent thither with very large Commissions their Principals being pre-acquainted with the subject of the Debate Before they broke up their Assembly which was done upon the 6th of March they wrote to the French King where in the first place they excuse themselves for not giving his Embassador satisfaction at the last Convention and also gave him their Reasons why they omitted sending an Embassy to him now Then they desired him to continue them his Friendship and since they had made all imaginable Overtures for the composing the Differences in Religion though they had been unsuccessful in thier Endeavours yet they hoped he would oblige them with his Favour for their good Intentions Lastly They acquaint him with their Resolutions concerning the Council and desire to know how his Majesty intends to act in this Affair Upon the 22th of May the King returns them an Answer in which he lets them understand that he was satisfi'd with their Reasons and maketh them large assurances of the constancy of his Friendship and sends them a Paper which he had publish'd to confute the Misrepresentations of their Adversaries And as to the Council he told them That he was still of the same mind of which he had always been that unless it was lawful in its Constitution and Method and coven'd in a place of Security he would never approve it neither did he question but that the King of Scotland his Son in law would be wholly influenced by him This Prince some few days before in the beginning of May return'd into Scotland with his Queen who died there about the middle of June following In the mean time the Pope prorogeth the Council till the first of November the occasion of which delay he charg'd upon the Duke of Mantua who insisted upon a Garrison to secure the Town and demanded a Supply of Monies for that purpose These Terms the Pope said were unexpected and surprizing to him and he was very much afraid lest the greatest part of the Bishops in compliance with his Bull were already arriv'd at Mantua and being denied admittance into the Town might be forc'd to return home This he was extreamly troubled at but should bear it with the more patience because it was not his fault but anothers Not long after the King
one or two Towns left him to retreat to He was always a zealous Roman Catholick and punished those who professed the Reformed Religion Paul the Third in the beginning of his Popedom made two of his Grandchildren Cardinals and being sensible that he had lost some Reputation upon this account he promoted several others who were eminent for their Quality and Learning to this Honour partly that he might make the promotion of his young Relations less invidious and disobliging partly that he might be furnished with Friends able to defend his Cause with their Rhetorick and Writings Those who were created were Gasper Contareno Reginald Poole John Bellay Frederick Fregosi to which were afterwards added Sadolet Alexander Bembo Besides Erasmus was also thought on as he himself relates in a Letter of his to a Friend There are extant likewise several Letters of Sadolets to Erasmus in which he tells him in a great many words what a singular esteem the Pope had for him and that he intended to raise him very shortly to the highest Dignity Contareno was of a noble Family and a Senator of Venice a Man of great Reputation for his Learning and was said to be preferr'd to this eminent Station altogether beyond his expectation and when he made no manner of Interest for it THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XII The CONTENTS Pope Paul strictly charges his Commissioners for the Reformation diligently to enquire into the numerous Corruptions of the Church and provide â—ffectual Remedies Erasmus his Colloquies are prohibited The Protestants meet at Brunswick and receive the King of Denmark into their League The Persecution of Lutheranism revived in France The Pope goes on Progress to Nice de Provence Whither the Emperor and the French King also come The French King and several of his Nobility kiss the Pope's Right-foot The French of the Reformed Religion have a Church assigned them at Strasburg The King of England burns Thomas of Canterbury's Bones The Elector of Brandenburg gives the Elector of Saxony notice of the Preparation which the Turks made for a War. The Rise of the Antinomians Eldo's and the Duke of Brunswick's Designs discovered by the Lantgrave's intercepting the Duke's Letters A Convention is held at Frankfort where at last a Conference is decreed in order to an Accommodation which Henry Duke of Brunswick endeavours to prevent and raiseth Forces for hat Purpose George Duke of Saxony a most violent Enemy to the Reformation dies and Henry his Brother succeeds him The King of England publisheth another Paper against the Council appointed at Vicenza and makes several Laws touching Religion An Insurrection at Ghent to suppress which the Emperor takes a Journey thâ—â—her through France The Venetians make a Peace with the Turk who had secret Intelligence what their Senate had decreed touching this Matter I Have already mentioned the Prorogueing of the Council till November which was still delay'd after that Term was expired However that the Pope might keep up the Expectation of the World and seem to do something he had some time since pitched upon a select Number out of the whole Body of his Clergy whom he strictly charged to make a diligent Enquiry into the Abuses of the Church and lay them before him impartially without any manner of Flattery He likewise discharged them from their Oath that they might speak their Minds freely and ordered them to manage the Affair with great Secrecy The Delegates were Jaspar Contarino Peter Theatino James Sadolet Reginald Poole Cardinals Frederick Archbishop of Salerno Hierome Alâ—ander Archbishop of Brindisi John Matthew Bishop of Verona George Vener Abbot and Thomas Master of the Holy Palace These Persons after they had debated the Point among themselves set down their Reformation in Writing and addressing themselves to the Pope they begin with a high Commendation of his Zeal for the promoting of Truth which was not prevalent enough to gain the Ears of several of his Predecessors indeed the Fault was chiefly in their Flatterers who stretched their Prerogative too far and told their Holinesses That they were absolute Lords of all things and might do whatever they pleased From this Fountain it was that so many Disorders flowed in upon the Church which had brought her into that very ill Condition she was in at present Therefore his beginning his Cure in the first Principles and Original of the Distemper was an Argument of great Prudence and Vertue in his Holiness who according to St. Paul's Doctrine Chose rather to be a Minister and Steward than a Lord. And since he was pleased to lay this Task upon them they in obedience to his Commands had according to the best of their Understandings digested the Matter into several distinct Heads relating to himself the Bishops and the Church Now because he bore a double Character being not only Bishop of the Universal Church but a Monarch of divers Towns and Countries they would only consider the Ecclesiastical part of his Jurisdiction for the State was well already and governed very prudently and unexceptionably by him And first May it please your Holiness say they We are of Aristotle's Opinion That the Laws of a Country ought not to be changed upon a slight Occasion and apply his Maxim to the Canons of the Church which ought to be strictly kept up and not dispensed with but when the Case is very weighty and important For there can no greater Mischief happen to the Commonwealth than the weakening the Force and Authority of the Laws which were esteemed Sacred and almost Divine by our Forefathers The next Expedient is That the Pope of Rome who is the Vicar of Christ should refuse to receive Money for the granting any spiritual Privilege by virtue of the Power derived to him from Christ For since all these Advantages were freely bestowed upon him our Saviour expects he should communicate them in the same manner This Foundation of Regularity being once laid there must be a Provision made that your Holiness may be always furnished with a considerable Number of Clergy-men well qualified to take care of the Church Among these the Bishops are the chief But there is a great Miscarriage in this Point for all Persons are admitted into this Order without any Distinction or Difficulty when they have neither Learning nor Probity to recommend them and oftentimes when they are Boys Hence it is that so much Scandal ariseth that such Disrespect and Contempt is shown to Religion We therefore believe it most advisable for your Holiness to appoint in the first place some Persons at Rome to examine those who offer themselves to Holy Orders and then enjoin the Bishops the same Diligence in their respective Diocesses And that you would take care that none should be received without the Approbation of his Triers or Bishop and let those young People who are designed for Church-men have a Master set over them by particular Order that so their Learning and Morals may be fit
and King Ferdinand spoke to this purpose That the Pope was very desirous of Peace and of the Concord of Germany but of such a Peace and Concord as might not be displeasing to God That it was his Desire also that all their Force might be imployed against the Turk But that as to Religion and the Protestants there had been many Treaties with them in order to a Reconciliation especially in the Diet of Ausburg where they then presented their Confession of Faith in which Writing though there were many Errors to be found yet they had in the mean time deviated from it So that seeing they had nothing fixed or certain to which they adhered but were like slippery Eeles there was no more treating with them That in like manner the King had last Year at the desire of the Elector of Brandenburg appointed another Treaty with them but that they had stumbled at the very Threshold as is commonly said and given Intimation plain enough how far they were from any purpose of Agreement for that having once shaken off their Duty and Obedience they were now come to that That it was not the Reformation of the Pope they aimed at but his total Suppression not the removing of Faults but the overturning of the Apostolical See that so all ecclesiastical Jurisdiction might fall to the Ground And if they durst do so the Year before when the State of Europe was somewhat more peaceable and quiet what would they not do in all probability when Peace was not yet concluded with France and the Turk again preparing to Invade Hungary What but even grow more froward by the Adversity of the times and it was in vain to think that there could be any way of reclaiming them from their Designs for that they did only controvert about a few things but brought many chief Doctrines under debate That again it was in a manner uncertain how to come to any Agreement with them since they differed among themselves That Luther taught one kind of Doctrine and Zuinglius another not to mention any thing of the other Sects And that granting there might be some hopes of an Accommodation yet they would not obey the Church of Rome unless they had many things allowed them as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in both Kinds the Marriage of the Clergy and the like which are not to be altered without a publick Decree of Council That now if it should be said that for publick Peace sake these things might be granted them and the consent either of the Pope or Council be afterwards obtained that would not be ill said indeed but then they would presently lay hold on that Privilege and never want for a publick confirmation thereof And that if so then would they lay aside all care of a Council which would occasion great Divisions all over Christendom when France Spain Italy and other Provinces would differ from Germany in Rites and Customs That moreover should the Council perhaps condemn the Alteration made and indulged for a time and Decree the contrary then would all hopes be lost of reclaiming Germany now hardened in their Opinions and there would be danger least the Protestants the thing they chiefly drive at should move the rest of the States to make Defection also That the Emperor himself was not ignorant how in former Years they had made a Decree in the Diet of the Empire about calling a Council without his consent and that therefore care was to be had that they should not do the like hereafter That he represented these things unto them both that they might see what was to be expected from these private Treaties and Conferences That a Peace had been treated with them at Schweinfurt and a Truce afterwards made at Nurimberg under Penalty But that they without any regard to so great a Favour had broken their Articles and strengthened their own League by the Accession of many Cities and Princes and especially of the King of Denmark and Duke of Wirtemberg and had in many places changed the Religion contrary to their Oaths and Promises so that it easily appeared what farther hopes were to be had of them who by diverse ways partly by Favours and partly by Force drew Men over to their side That the Heat and Zeal of Religion was now grown cold and that Men were naturally prone to forsake the Rules of Austerity and to list themselves under a more easie and laxe Discipline But that they did not confine themselves within those bounds neither nor was it enough for them to mislead Men into Error unless they committed Sacrilege also cast out Bishops and profaned all Religion with Impunity Nay that they were now advanced to that pitch of Licenciousness that they would overturn that most upright Judicature of the Imperial Chamber to the intent that it being removed the Emperor's Authority in Germany might be weaken'd and that they without any Resistance might prey upon the Lives and Fortunes of all Men after their own Pleasure That therefore no firm nor lasting Peace was to be expected from those private Treaties And that if any such should be there was no doubt to be made but that it would invalidate the Dignity of the Apostolical See and all Ecclesiastical Polity That many other things could be alledged in this place but that for brevities sake he waved them That the next thing now was to consider how with the safety of Religion Provisions might be made for a Turkish War. That the most commodious way indeed would be if the Protestants and other States did jointly contribute Assistances But that since perhaps that could not be obtained unless Religion were settled and that the handling of religious Matters belonged not to private Assemblies but to a General Council it would be well done to have a Council called with all Expedition and the whole cause of Religion referred to it for that so he the Emperor would satisfie all others and over-awe the Protestants who when they saw the matter seriously set about would become much more Obedient and Tractable as perceiving a course taken to reduce them again into the right way and to root all Heresies out of Germany For that since the Christian Religion belonged to all Men in General there was nothing to be altered or reformed therein but with the common consent of all and that regard was not to be had to Germany alone but to France Spain Italy and other Nations also For that if any Innovation should be made in Germany without consulting them it would expose many to censure and be of pernicious Example That in like manner it would be a monstrous like thing if the Members of the Church answered not in proportion to their own Body That it was an ancient Custom even as old as the Apostles themselves that all Controversies should be determined by the Authority of a Council And that seeing all were very sollicitous for a Council and that Sigismund King of Poland had
to this our Profession nor do we perform so much indeed as we ought and wish we did But the same was also the Complaint of the Prophets and Apostles whilst they were in the Flesh and we shall enjoy that Happiness at length when being delivered from this sinful Body as out of a Prison we shall be advanced to a State equal to the Angels The thing we demand a Council for is that our Churches Plea may be heard openly that your Doctrine contrary to Christ's Doctrine may be condemned and that Men being reclaimed from it may know and embrace the true Worship of God. Now that you object to us the Crime of Sedition and Disobedience it is false even by the Testimony of the States of the Empire For our Princes have been both obedient to the Emperor and ready also when called to go either to War or to the Diets of the Empire But if you reproach us with that because we submit not to the Emperor's Edicts which condemn our Religion we rejoice and give God also Thanks that therein we are not Obedient For what belongs to God alone is not to be given to Caesar who ought and does hold all of God. God hath indeed set the Emperor over Kingdoms and Provinces but he alone will govern his Church by his own Word nor does he allow any to share with him in that Honour The Emperor hath more than enough to do in governing the State which is the Office God hath allotted him and confined him within those Limits But if he stretches his Authority farther he then invades God's Property and Jurisdiction Amongst other things Henry Duke of Brunswick alledged in his invective Papers That Luther had raised this Tragedy of Religion at the Instigation of Duke Frederick who was vexed that Albert the Archbishop of Mentz should have the Bishoprick of Magdeburg Luther therefore answering that This Calumny saith he was by the Archbishop of Mentz suggested to Duke Henry and because he pretendeth not to know what no Man knows better I 'll now lay open the Cause and Original of these Revolutions In the Year of our Lord 1517. John Tetzel a Dominican carried about Indulgences to sell in Germany Now this same Tetzel the Emperor Maximilian had once condemned to die and at Inspruck ordered him to be thrown into the River but at the Intercession of Duke Frederick who happened to be there at that time he escaped This Man I say amongst other things taught that he had so great Power from the Pope That if a Man had even defloured the Virgin Mary and got her with Child he could pardon the Crime for Money Besides he pardoned not only Sins already committed but such also as should be committed in time to come And not long after came forth a Book with the Arms of the Archbishop Albert wherein the Collectors were enjoined most carefully to preach up to the People the Virtue and Efficacy of Indulgences wherefore it came to be known that Tetzel was hired by Archbishop Albert to make such Declamations for he had been lately created Archbishop of Mentz on Condition that he himself should be at the Charges of procuring his Pall from Rome For Three Bishops of that City had died within a short space of Time Bertolde James and Vriel and it was too heavy a Burthen for the Chapter to be at so vast a Charge and so often For that Pall is said to cost almost Thirty Thousand Florins before it be brought Home so well knows the Pope how to sell his Cloth and this Money was advanced by the Merchants of Ausburg So that for Reimbursment of the same Albert bethought himself of this Device which was allowed by the Pope on Condition that one half of the Money raised should be sent to Rome for the building of St. Peter's Church But I was ignorant of all these things at that time and therefore wrote a very submissive Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz exhorting him to restrain those Preachers but he made no Answer Having made Application also to the Bishop of Brandenburg he advised me to desist and not to run my self into Danger Afterwards I emitted some Positions contrary to the Tetzelian Doctrine which within few Days slew all over Germany and were greedily read by most Men For the Indulgences were a common grievance especially those that Tetzel taught And Because there was no Bishop nor Doctor neither that offered to oppose this Abuse since Tetzel frightned them with the Thunder of Rome My Name began to be talked of that there was one Man at length to be found in the World who durst speak against it But I had rather have been without that Applause nor indeed did I rightly understand at that time what the Name of Indulgences meant This is the Original and first Cause of the Troubles which Duke Frederick did not raise but the Archbishop of Mentz by means of Tetzel his Emissary and Hucster Wherefore he must e'en thank himself if any thing grate him now Another cause of the Commotions was given by the Holy Father Leo X. when he thundered out Curses and Excommunication against me and in all places Men so crowed over me that the unlearnedest Dunce of 'em all was for whetting his Pen upon me The truth is I thought at first that the Pope would have absolved me and condemned Tetzel because the Canon Law was on my side which plainly teaches That Souls are not delivered out of Purgatory by Indulgences But Good God! whilst I expected glad Tidings from Rome I was struck down with a Thunderbolt and condemned as the wickedest of all Men living Then I thought it time to defend what I had done and publish several Books for that purpose so that at long run the Matter came to be stated in the Diet of the Empire Thus ye see how a single Thread of an Archiepiscopal Cloak hath drawn after it so much Disturbance and is now grown so great and twisted so hard that his Holiness is in danger to be hanged with it Which being so let them e'en lay their Hand upon their Breast and blame themselves who have acted so impudently and saucily for my part I sit still and laugh in my sleeve For he that dwelleth in Heaven hath smitten them and had them in derision being unwilling that Ungodliness should reign any longer but that his People should be brought out of that Egyptian Darkness into the clear Light and joyful sight of the Sun. Now this Pall that hath been once and again mentioned is given only to Archbishops and as a singular Favour to some few Bishops as to the Bishop of Bamberg in Germany for one This is the Ceremony of making it On the day of the Virgin St. Agnes which is the One and twentieth of January when in the Mass that is said in St. Agnes Church in Rome they come to the words Agnus Dei qui tollis c. Two white Lambs are laid upon the
publick and understand also the Reasons why he came not sooner into Germany that what trouble pains and charges he was at in supporting the Government of the Empire he would in due time make it so plain to them that all should be convinced that nothing was dearer unto him than the Welfare of Germany nor would he mention neither what vast Expences he was put to daily in maintaining a Fleet at Sea to withstand the Encroachments of the Turks That he was come and in great haste too to this Diet though his Health and other Affairs had been a great hindrance unto him That besides he had moved the Pope to send a Legate hither and that accordingly Cardinal Contarini was come a Man of great Vertue and a Lover of Peace That therefore since this Diet was called chiefly for settling the Affairs of Religion and that nothing was yet determined therein though it might be of dangerous consequence if an end were not put to these Divisions it was his earnest desire that a Reconciliation might be made and that he would willingly contribute thereunto whatever lay in his Power That he expected the like Will and Inclinations from them and therefore was importunate with them that they would consult about measures for accommodating the Controversies and the manner of proceeding therein and that they might perceive how much he loved Concord it was his Advice provided they knew of no better Expedient that of the whole number a few good and learned Men that were desirous of Peace and Germans Born should be chosen to conferr amicably about the matters in Controversie and how they might be adjusted and then to make their Report to him and their own States that the thing being afterwards deliberated amongst them and communicated to the Popes Legate a Decree might accordingly pass That this course had been looked upon as the most convenient both at Ausburg heretofore and lately at Wormes but with this proviso That it be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg To these things the Protestants answered April the Ninth and having praised and extolled the Virtues and Goodness of the Emperor they craved that the Conference of Wormes might be continued as being transferred to this place That to what his Majesty offered of commissionating some new they would give their Answer they said when they should learn from him who the Persons were But the other Princes and States having given their Answer April the Twelfth throughly approve his Council and mainly urge That the Decree of Ausburg may continue in Force and Authority Afterward the Emperor demanded of both especially of the Protestants that they would referr the choice of the Persons to him and confide in him as to that particular who would do nothing but what should tend to the Peace and Welfare of the Country When that was granted him on the Thirteenth of April he caused Frederick Prince Palatine in his Name to appoint for the Conference Julius Pflug John Eckius John Gropper Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer and John Pistorius that they should handle the controverted Points of Doctrine and then make a Report thereof to him and the Princes He afterwards called them before him April the Two and twentieth and gave them a long and serious Admonition that in handling of this matter they should not be swayed by Passion nor Affection but have regard only to the Glory of God. They all modestly excused themselves desiring that other fitter persons might be appointed except Eckius who said that he was prepared and ready but when the Emperor urged it upon them they submitted and at the same time entreated him to add some more to their number who might be present partly as presidents and Moderators and partly as Witnesses and Hearers of the Proceedings He therefore named Frederick Prince Palatine and Granvell for Presidents and Theodorick Count Manderschitt Eberhard Ruden Henry Haseu Francis Burcart John Fig and James Sturmey for Witnesses Now when they all met April the Twenty seventh Frederick Prince Palatine made a Speech and advised the Conferrers seriously to set about the matter and conferr amicably Then Granvell presented to them a Book in Writing which he said had been delivered to the Emperor by some good and learned Men as a proper means for a future Reconciliation That it was therefore the Emperor's Pleasure that they should peruse and weigh that Book as a lawful Argument and Matter to treat on commend what all of them approved therein and correct what was amiss That Book contained these Heads of Doctrine Of the Creation of Man and of the Uprightness of Nature before the Fall Of free Will Of the cause of Sin Of original Sin Of Man's Justification Of the Church and the Marks and Authority thereof Of the Mark of the Word Of Repentance after the Fall Of the Authority of the Church in discerning and interpreting Scripture Of the Sacraments Of Orders Baptism Confirmation the Lord's Supper Penance and Absolution Matrimony Extream Unction Of the Bond of Charity Of the Hierarchy of the Church and its Authority in settling Discipline and Government Of Images Of the Mass Of the Administration of the Sacraments and of the Discipline of the Church both as to Ministers and People In the Month of May the Protestants wrote from Ratisbone to the French King interceding for those of the Protestant Religion in Provence who were partly in Prison partly banished and partly forced to abscond and lead a miserable Life for their Profession and because some were received into Favour if they would renounce their Religion they desired he would release them from that condition shewing what a grievous thing it was to force Mens Consciences This Persecution proceeded from a Sentence pronounced the Year before against the Inhabitants of Merindole a Village of Provence by the Parliament of Aix which being exceeding terrible and cruel put the poor people into extream Terror and Apprehension However the full Execution of it was put off to another time and this Year's Persecution was but a Play in respect of that which followed four Years after as shall be said in the proper place Whilst these things are in agitation at Ratisbone William Duke of Cleve whose implacable Enemy the Emperor was because of his Possession of Guelderland went privily into France having appointed a day and place for those whom he designed to have with him to come to him by several ways When about the end of April he arrived at Paris he was received by the King's Officers and being conducted by Orleans on the Sixth of May he came to the King who was then at Amboise a Town in Turin upon the Loire The King embracing him as a Father would a Son sends presently word to the King of Navarre and his Sister that they should come to him as soon as possibly they could and bring their Daughter with them for they were at that time in Guienne Upon their coming
a document to us how careful we ought to be not to invade the Provinces of others That therefore he should take heed lest at the perswasion of those who had always in their mouths the Reformation of the Church he should rashly put his hand to those things which peculiarly belonged to the Priests The like and more grievous also was the end of Dathan Abirom and Core when they disputed the Authority of Moses and his Brother Aaron That Ozias was a renowned King and yet God struck him with Leprosie because he would offer Incense at the Altar thereby avenging upon him the usurpation of another mans Office. That the care of the Churches was indeed an Office most acceptable to God however that it did not belong to him but to the Priests and chiefly to himself to whom God had given the power of binding and loosing Nor was it pertinent what he said that these Laws were not perpetual but temporary and only to continue till the meeting of a Council For though the design might be pious yet by reason of the person it became impious That it was God's part to call bad Priests to an account to whom men ought to refer them and not to attempt any thing besides That God had signally crowned those Princes with honour and blessings who assisted the Head of the Church the See of Rome and who rendered that love and duty which is due to the Priesthood as may be seen in Constantine the Great the Theodosius's Charlemaigne c. but that such as did otherwise were afflicted with most grievous punishments nor did he mean Nero Domitian and others of that stamp who endeavoured to stifle the Church in its infancy but such as withstood her when she was grown up and the Chair of St. Peter setled In which number were Anastasius the first Mauritius Constans the second Philip Leo and many more who being turn'd out and stript of all ended their days in ignominy and disgrace That Henry the Fourth because he had behaved himself unworthily towards him whom he ought to have reverenced as a Father was by his own Son taken and made to suffer for it at Liege That Frederick the Second a grievous Enemy of the Church of Rome was killed by his own Son. That nevertheless Rebels were not always afflicted and punished but did sometimes flourish in wealth and prosperity which came to pass as the Fathers say lest that if all wicked men were punished here it might be thought that God reserved to himself no Tribunal hereafter That there was no sin indeed that went unpunished but that it was the most grievous effect of the wrath of God when they that sin think they may do it freely and that these were in a deplorable and truly wretched condition because they went on continually heaping sin upon sin That in the same manner not only single men but even Countries and Provinces have been punished which either rejected Christ or refused to obey his Vicar That two people especially the Jews to wit and the Greeks confirm'd this clearly to us by their calamities and sufferings of whom the former put to death the Son of God and the latter more than one way slighted his Vicegerent That therefore if God manifested his wrath against them for crimes and attempts of that nature he had much more reason to be afraid if he should design any such thing seeing he sprung from those Emperours who had received as much honour from the Church of Rome as they had conferred upon her That his words however were not so to be taken as if he thought any such thing was intended by him or that he did not most earnestly desire the Controversie might be made up but only that he was concerned and sollicitous for his danger That some Priests of old having referred to Constantine the Great the decision of their Law-suits and Causes he had rejected it and would not undertake to judge those who had power to judge all men that these were the footsteps he should follow That in wishing to see an end made of all Controversies and a Reformation in the Church he did what was extreamly laudable that as to that he prayed him to lend him his assistance to whom God had committed the care and administration of those affairs That he might indeed make himself an Assistant but not the Head and chief Administrator That he was most desirous of a publick Reformation as he had made it oftener than once appear by calling Councils whensoever there was the least glimpse of hope that they could meet and that though hitherto all that he had done that way was in vain yet still he had omitted nothing on his part for effecting the same That he wished to see a Council for the sake of the publick but chiefly of Germany which was rent and torn with various Jars and Divisions but that it grieved him that he should use the counsels of those who had been long ago condemned even by his own Sentence nor did he therefore grieve because he would have them for ever barred from his friendship but because they became more rash and insolent by that Indulgence of his That since there was no way of curing the Evil but one to wit a Council therefore they must betake themselves to that That then he should make way to the calling of it and restore the so-much-desired Peace to the People of Christ or at least restrain all Hostilities in the mean time until the publick safety should be consulted about since Consultation and Debate was to be used rather than Force and Arms which being laid aside all things would succeed as they ought That there was a Council already called a good while ago though because of the Wars it had been put off till a more convenient time That he would use his endeavours with other Princes especially with him with whom he was in War that they should do the like That he should therefore comply with his Admonitions and as he held the place of his first-begotten Son embrace the sound counsels of his Father tred in the foot-steps of his Ancestors not deviating from the right way nor assuming to himself any right or authority in the management and handling of sacred matters that he should exclude all disputations about Religion from the Diets and Assemblies of the Empire and refer them to his Tribunal Nor should he neither meddle with the Revenues of the Church but lay down Arms and bring matters to a peace and accommodation or if there were no other way of obtaining peace that he should submit the whole Controversie and cause of the War to the arbitrement and decision of the Council Lastly that he should wholly rescind and annul what with too much lenity and easiness he had granted to those Rebels and Enemies of the See of Rome for that otherwise he must unless he would be wanting to his own duty be forced to the great detriment of the Church
Soldier they fell into discourse about the present state of Affairs and of the Reports brought to the Emperour When Solmes began to tell him what sort of Rumors were dispersed all over Germany of the Emperour he denied all affirming no such thing to have ever entered his thoughts that he was so great a lover of Peace that to the prejudice of his own Affairs he was now going to the Diet of the Empire nor did he doubt but should the Landgrave come to him he would be kindly entertained and that it was his opinion that by all means he should come for in so doing since perhaps he intended not to be at Ratisbonne he might justifie himself and party know the Emperour's thoughts from his own mouth and freely discourse of publick Affairs nay and that by that means also all the suspicion and distrust raised by rumours and reports on both sides might be mutually removed but that if he desired a Conference he would do well to come with a small Attendance and by that generous and frank proceeding shew how much he relied upon the Emperour's Honour and Integrity So soon as the Landgrave had understood this from Solmes he writes to Naves February the twentieth and to remove all suspicion he partly declares what was done at Franckfurt and then tells him that there had been a Report raised of the Emperour as if he intended a War and that amongst other Commanders he had sent Orders to Albert Marquess of Brandenbourg to raise about a thousand Horse but that the Count of Solmes had upon his relation assured him that it was a false Rumour and that because Granvell also wrote the same thing he would rather trust them than the flying Reports of the Vulgar for he and his Allies were in very good hopes that the Emperour would by no means recede from the Acts and Decree of Spire especially seeing there was no cause why he should That as to the Conference whereof Solmes spake to him in his Name he was not against it but that he must first acquaint his Allies with the Matter of whom he would be willing that some though but a few were present thereat We told before how the Emperour had appointed a Conference of learned Men to be held at Ratisbonne and commanded all to be present by the beginning of December but he prorogued it afterward to the thirteenth of the same Month. Upon the Emperour's account came thither Peter Malvenda a Spaniard Eberard Billick a Carmelite Frier John Hofmester an Augustine Frier and John Cochleus Divines George Loxan Caspar Caltentan George Ilsinger and Bartholomew Latome Witnesses and Hearers which number the Emperour had encreased for before there were but two appointed as hath been said From the Protestants came Bucer Brentzen George Major Ethard Snerfius Divines Volrat Count Waldeck Balthazar Gutlingen Laurence Zouchey a Lawyer and George Volchemere Witnesses The Papists had Ambrose Pelary a Dominican and the Protestants John Pistorius Martin Frecht and Vitus Thierry supernumerary The first of January came Maurice Bishop of Aichstadt appointed President of the Conference by the Emperour and some days after Frederick Count of Furstemberg his Colleague At length on the twenty-seventh day of January the Conference began and the Presidents having premised a few things relating to their own persons the burden imposed upon them and the delay exhorted the Divines that in so weighty and so holy a Matter they would not be swayed by passion but act sincerely having before their eyes the Fear of God and a respect to Unity and Concord lastly they promised Diligence Fidelity and Uprightness They afterwards told them that it was the Emperour's command that the Confession of the Protestants exhibited heretofore at Ausbourg should be handled in this Conference omitting the three first Articles Of the Trinity the Incarnation of the Word and Original Sin for that the former two were not controverted and that this last had been sufficiently debated already But that the other Heads of Doctrine should be handled in order to wit Of Justification the Remission of Sins the fulfilling of the Law Faith Good Works Merit the Sacraments Purgatory Praying for the Dead the Worshipping and Invocation of Saints Relicks Images Monastick Vows the Single Life of Priests the Distinction of Meats Holy Days Ecclesiastical Traditions the Church the Power of the Keys of the Hierarchy and the Authority of the Pope Bishops and Councils These things thus stated the Protestants who saw what kind of Adversaries they had to engage with desired that all their Conference and Acts might be taken in Writing by Clarks and Publick Notaries that the Emperour and Princes might understand the whole Matter and the Arguments and Probations of either side But the Presidents on the other hand alledged that that would be too tedious and that it would be enough that the chief Points were only set down besides they would have nothing that pass'd to be divulged and appointed the Forenoon for the Conference After much debate it was agreed upon that two on each side should take in Writing all that was said that the Acts should be put into a Chest to be kept secret and communicated to none unless the rest were present The Presidents allow this to be done provided it were the Emperour's pleasure from whom they had no Instructions as to that Matter The Protestants also accept the same Conditions yet so that they may have liberty to acquaint their own Princes with what it concerns them to know and what they may desire to be informed of by them This order being taken then Peter Malvenda a Parisian Divine on the fifth day of February began and having made a long preamble in the commendation of the Emperour he largely handled that Point of Doctrine concernine Justification and in a very scholastick manner too But Bucer interrupting told him that was contrary to the Law of the Conference and the Method prescribed by the Emperour that their Doctrine the Confession of Ausbourg lying before them he should out of that Book pitch upon the Chapter of Justification and if he had any thing to say against it either refute or object in order However he went on and concluded ascribing much to Man 's Free Will and affirming that Man is not justified by Faith alone but by Hope and Charity also Next day Bucer shew'd that five Years before the Article of Justification had been adjusted in the Conference of Ratisbonne and declared what the Emperour and the rest of the Princes and States at that time decreed concerning it which he desired might be recorded then observing the Order prescribed by the Emperour he repeated the same Article and divided it into four Heads That a man is not justified before God through his own Works or Merits but that he is freely justified through Christ by Faith when he believeth both that he is received into Grace and that his Sins are pardoned
Throne So did the Electors also every one according to his Degree behind him And over the Emperour the Trumpeters were placed on a kind of Stage Then advanced Duke Maurice's first Squadron and putting Spurs to their Horses came gallopping towards the Pavillion as the Custom is Duke Maurice himself in the mean time with his other Squadron was posted over against them accompanied by a croud of Princes and Great Men and twelve Trumpeters were ranked immediately before him Out of that Company presently advanced Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolffgang Brother to the Elector Palatine and Duke Albert of Bavaria who having gallopped their Horses to the place alighted and going up to the Emperour humbly begg'd his Imperial Majesty that it would please him to confer upon Duke Maurice the publick Investiture and Ensigns of Principality and Electorship The Emperour consulting with the Electors answered by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That he was willing provided he came and demanded it in person When Duke Maurice had received this Answer he speeded forward with the whole Body Before him were carried ten Banners with the Arms of so many Countries as he desired to be Invested in So having alighted and kneeling down before the Emperour he begg'd the same thing as also did Hoier Count Mansfield in name of his Brother Augustus The Emperour therefore made answer by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That seeing they had both done him faithful Service he gave to Duke Maurice and his Male-Issue or if he had none to his Brother Augustus and the Heirs of his Body the Electorship of Saxony and all the Lands and Possessions of John Frederick except so much as had been before made over to his Children Then the Archbishop of Mentz read over the Oath which the Electors take and when Duke Maurice had said it over after him and taken it the Emperour gave him a Sword and by that Ceremony put him in a manner into possession He returned him thanks promising him all Fidelity and Obedience Afterwards the Emperour gave Duke Maurice the Banners we mentioned which were immediately thrown amongst the people as it is customary John Frederick might have seen and indeed did behold all this Ceremony from the House where he lodged for it stood in the same Market place Bucer who was sent for as we have already said came at length to Ausburg and was entertained at the Elector of Brandenburg's Court. And now the Book about Religion which as it is mentioned before was ordered to be Complied was Finished The Elector of Brandenburg presents it as it was written to Bucer and desires him to Subscribe to it but upon perusal finding that the Popish Doctrine was therein establish'd he made answer That he could not approve it The Elector of Brandenburg took that very ill and was extremely angry with him for he lookt upon it to be a moderate Book as Islebius had persuaded him Granvel pressed him to it also by Messengers and promised him large rewards if he would approve it But when he could not prevail by fair promises he began to threaten which made Bucer return home but not without danger for there were Garisons of Spaniards all over the Dutchy of Wirtemberg as has been said before In the Month of April the Archbishop of Cologne who was lately made a Priest said his first Mass The Emperour King Ferdinand and a great many Princes were present whom afterwards he entertained at a most Magnificent Dinner At this time Muleasses King of Tunis whom thirteen years before the Emperour had restored to his Kingdom having expelled Barbarossa as has been said in the ninth Book came to Ausberg His Eldest Son had invaded his Kingdom and put out his Eyes And therefore the poor banished Prince came out of Africa to implore the Emperours help as not long after another of his Sons came also That Book which was made concerning Religion treats first of the State of Man both before and since his Fall of Redemption by Christ of Charity and good Works of the assurance of the Remission of Sins of the Church of Vows of Authority of the Ministers of the Church of the Pope of the Sacraments of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Commemoration Invocation and Intercession of Saints of the Remembrance of those who are dead in the Faith of the Communion to be joyned with the Sacrifice of Ceremonies and the use of the Sacraments Now amongst other things there are these Doctrines in it that those Works which are more than what God commands and commonly called Works of Supererogation are to be commanded That Man cannot without doubting believe that his Sins are forgiven him That the Church hath the Power of interpreting Scriptures of drawing and explaining Doctrines from them the Power of Jurisdiction of deciding in doubtful Cases by a Council and of making Canons That there is one Head over the rest to wit the Pope by Virtue of the Prerogative granted to Peter That the Government of the Universal Church is committed to him by Christ yet so as that the rest of the Bishops have a share in that Cure every one in his own Church That by Confirmation and Chrism the Holy Ghost is received to enable us to resist the temptations of the Devil the World and the Flesh and that a Bishop is the only Minister of that Sacrament That the Sins which we remember are to be confessed to a Priest That by satisfaction which consists in the Fruits of Repentance especially in Fasting Alms-deeds and Prayer the causes of Sin are rooted out and Temporal Punishments either taken quite away or mitigated That extreme Unction hath been in the Church ever since the Apostles time that it might either relieve the Body or fortifie the Mind it self against the fiery Darts of the Devil That then it is to be administred when the hour of Death seemeth to draw nigh That Marriage contracted without the Parents consent ought to stand good but that Children are in Sermons to be admonished to ask the advice of their Parents That Christ at his last Supper instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood First that it should be received by Believers as the saving Food of their Souls and then that it should be offered up in memory of his Death and Passion For that there are in all two Sacrifices of Christ one a bloody Sacrifice upon the Cross and another wherein under the form of Bread and Wine he offered up his own Body and Blood to the Father and afterwards commanded his Apostles and their Successors to do the same in remembrance of him to the end of the World That by the first Mankind was reconciled to God the Father but by this unbloody Sacrifice Christ is offered up and represented to the Father not that he may again make satisfaction for Sins but that by Faith we may apply to our selves the Redemption purchased to us by his Death That in
consult with him in what manner they might put in execution their Commission and that afterwards when they understood that it was not possible for them themselves to have access into all places that stood in need of their help they had been necessitated to employ others This Indulgence or Indult of the Popes as they call it the Emperour presently sent to all the German Bishops admonishing them severally to use gentle and mild ways and to try all Courses by fair Language Exhortation and Entreaty before they should come to Threats and Excommunication Wherefore the Archbishop of Mentz writing amongst others to the Landgraves Governours and Counsellors and having said much of his own Pastoral Care and of the Emperour's earnest Concern for the Publick requires them to shew the Pope's Indulgence to the Ministers of the Church and command them to obey it The thing being proposed to the Preachers their answer was That their Doctrine agreed with the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that though their Lives and Conversation did not suit with their Profession yet they acknowledged no Error in their Doctrine and that therefore they stood not in need of an Indulgence from the Pope that they had preferred Marriage before an unchast single Life according to the Word of God and that they would not forsake their Wives and Children whom Christ himself commanded us to love cherish and provide for That in administring the Sacrament under both kinds in their Churches they therein followed the command of Christ and the custom of the Primitive Church and that there was no reason to admit of any Alteration therein In the Month of May Peter Martyr and the Divines of Oxford disputed publickly concerning the Lords Supper and the Presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament Martyr proposed these Points to be defended That the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed and That the Body and Bloud of Christ was not Carnally or Corporally in the Bread and Wine but sacramentally united to them Afterward there was a Book of this published wherein the presidents of the Dispute who were appointed by the King give no obscure intimation that Martyr had the better on 't in that Debate On the Tenth day of June the Queen of France was crowned at St. Denis as the custom is the Ceremony being performed by the Cardinals of Bulloigne Guise Chastillion Vendosme and Bourbon for all the rest were at Rome Six days after the King made a most splendid and magnificent Entry into Paris the chief Town of the Kingdom where he had not been seen publickly since the death of his Father and two days after the Queen During his abode there some were put to death for Lutheranisme and as it is said he himself was a Spectator of the Execution Afterwards July the Fourth he made a solemn Procession and Prayers in the Churches and next day after published a Printed Proclamation declaring the causes of it to have been That he might give God thanks for the many Blessings he had bestowed upon him that he might pray to God for the safety and preservation of himself his Wife and Children and of the whole Kingdom and Commonwealth as also for the Souls of good Men departed especially for the Kings of France his Progenitors and the late King his Father after whose Example he was resolved to take upon himself the protection and defence of the Catholick Religion the Authority and Liberty of the Apostolick See and of the Ministers of the Church that amongst others this was also a chief cause that it might publickly appear how much he detested those who contrary to the command of Christ contrary to the Traditions of the Apostles and the consent of all Antiquity deny the presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ who take away all force and efficacy from Baptism Penance good Works and the Sacraments who professedly despise the Authority and Hierarchial Order of the Church who reject the Worship and Adoration of Saints and Relicks Moreover that by that solemn Procession and Supplication he might make known what his Judgment and Inclinations were to wit that according to the Example of his Forefathers and in a certain Hereditary Imitation he so thought and believed as the Catholick Church the Apostles Creed the first Council of Nice and many other Councils of the Fathers enjoyned as also that he was fully resolved to root out of all his Territories those Heresies which were long ago condemned but now again partly revived and partly contrived by Luther Carolostadius Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melanchton Bucer Calvin and such other monstrous and pestilent Arch-Hereticks and severely to punish such as deserved it This Writing set forth in the Vulgar Tongue he sent all over France commanding it to be published to the People and accordingly publick Processions and Prayers to be made in all places A little while after he caused Monsieur de Vervius to be beheaded for surrendring the Castle and Town of Bulloigne as was mentioned in the Fifteenth Book and confined to perpetual Prison his Father in Law d' Abigny a very ancient Man who had been Governour of all the Bolonese and one of the four Mareschals of France For many Months now he had solicited the Switzers to renew with him the League they had made with his Father and though the Emperour by Messengers and Letters did what they could to dissuade them from it yet they judging it more for their Interest consented and first the Catholick Cantons with the Rhinwalders and Wallisserlanders and afterwards also those of Basil and Schafhawsen to the great astonishment of many because of those Edicts and Punishments we spoke of For it was the general opinion that no League nor Society ought to be made with him who so cruelly persecuted the Reformed Religion and by name condemned their Churches and Doctors But the Cantons of Bern and Zurick following the counsel of Zuinglius as may be seen in the third and sixth Book refused to enter into that League We took notice before of the Convocation at Leipsick But now that some talked and complained that Popery was again stealing in upon them Duke Maurice in his Letters addressed to his Governours July the Fourth tells them that he was informed many partly out of a too solicitous jealousie and partly through the suggestions of others were apprehensive that the old Errours might be by degrees introduced again that some of the Ministers of the Church and other busie and restless spirits that delighted in changed were not altogether free from fomenting of that Calumny that by several Declarations he had formerly made publick what his Purpose and Resolution was which now because of the Slanderous Reports raised he again repeated thereby to convince all that his Religion was dear unto him that therefore he required those who either out of a fond credulity or through the suggestions of others were
Emperor could not make use of Albert's Service witout increasing the suspition which was then in Germany That this would be a very great affliction to him who desired nothing more than the Peace and Tranquillity of the Empire In the beginning of August Augustus the Brother of Maurice returned out of Denmark a few days after having consulted with his Council he caused his Subjects and amongst them those of Wirtemberg to take an Oath of Allegiance to himself and his Heirs-Male and that if he had no Male-Issue that then they should return under the Subjection of John Frederick and his Sons if he were obedient to the Emperor and observ'd the Treaties made some years since but if he did otherwise then they were to admit the Landgrave This being thus done he was proclaimed Electoral Prince and summoned a Diet of his States to meet the Twentieth of August The Seventeenth Day of August there was a very great Earthquake at Meissen in Misnia At the Day appointed the States assembled and a numerous Diet was opened at Leypsick Augustus proposed to their consideration in the first place Whether they would enter into his late Brother's League with King Ferdinand the Princes and Bishops and prosecute the War against Albert. Secondly What should be done in order to a Peace with John Frederick the late Elector because in the absence of Augustus that Prince had sent Ambassadors to the Great Men and demanded to be restored to the Electoral Dignity and to his Possessions which had been taken from him by the Emperor and conferred upon Maurice After Deliberation the States gave Answer That they were of Opinion that he should make a Peace with both Parties and that Albert the Elector of Brandenburg should be induced to enter into a Treaty of Peace and to that purpose there passed an Act of State though Ferdinand King of Bohemia very diligently sollicited them by Henry Plaw his Chancellor to continue in the late League To this Convention John Frederick sent another Ambassy and demanded to be restored to his Inheritance with some sharpness of Words and it was seconded also by those which were his Subjects in this Assembly but it had no effect Augustus pretending that he was not obliged to a Restitution and adhering to the Articles and Agreements made by John Frederick with the Emperor when he was taken Prisoner yet he said he would consent to a Continuance of the Claim and not reject all Treaty thereupon During this Convention of the States Henry Duke of Brunswick desired the Aid of Augustus Duke of Saxony against Albert who was then levying new Forces So soon as ever John Frederick heard of the Death of Maurice he sent John William one of his Sons to the Emperor into the Low Countries to sollicite his Restitution and almost at the same time the Nobility and States in the absence of Augustus sent Ambassadors to recommend him to the Emperor John Frederick at the same time also sent Ambassadors to Ferdinand and to the King of Denmark about the same Affair In the mean time the Bishop of Wurtzburg besieged Schweinfurt which had been Garrison'd by Albert as I have said above and the Forces of the Bishop of Bamberg and of the City of Norimberg when they had sometime besieged Collebach levied the Siege and joyned with the Count of Plaw who then lay before Hosie a Town belonging to the Elector of Brandenburg In this Month Nine Persons were condemned to be burnt at Lyons some of them having been imprison'd above a year There were Questions proposed to them one by one concerning the Presence of Christ's Body in the Eucharist Purgatory the Mass Auricular Confession the Ceremonies of the Church Invocation of the Virgin Mary and the Saints the Primacy of the Pope of Rome Free-Will Justification by Works concerning the Church the Power of the Bishops the Monastick Vows the Choice of Meats Extream Unction Confirmation and Images They all of them severally made the same Answers to every one of these Questions with great constancy alledging for what they said the Testimony of the Scriptures Whilst they were yet in Prison they comforted one another by their Letters and they sent others to their Friends and to the Neighbour-Churches wherein they gave an Account of what had happened One of these Prisoners Lewis Marsac a Souldier reciting several Passages out of the Sacred Scriptures the Inquisitors who examin'd him asked him if it were fit for him to read the Scriptures and how he knew these things were in the Gospels The King's Lieutenant also said there were only two Evangelists Matthew and John the other two and Paul pick'd up a few Scraps or ends of the Story and patch'd them together He said also That if the Doctors of the Church had not given Authority to the Writings of St. Paul he should not have regarded his Epistles more than he did Aesop's Fables When on the other side Marsac replied That there were very excellent Testimonies in the Scriptures concerning the Vocation and Apostleship of St. Paul especially in the 1st Chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians He replied That is nothing to the purpose for he bears witness to himself The Executioner had order to put an halter about the Neck of each of the Prisoners when they were carried to Execution but Marsac having served the Crown as a Souldier the Judges had ordered he should be led without that Mark of Disgrace But Marsac turning to the principal Judge said Is their Cause better than mine I Pray Sir why do you not bestow the same Chain upon me Why should not I too be admitted into the Fellowship of this Noble and Illustrious Order of Knights Alluding to the Custom used by Princes who to honour and exalt their particular Friends admit them into their Order as they call it and give them a Chain or Collar of Gold as an honourable Badge of it Five of these who were Frenchmen had been Students in the University of Lausanne where they had been maintained by the Canton of Bern in which that City stands and when they heard these Students were taken up and in great danger the Canton sent a Memorial to the King and desired these Students might be returned to them But the King disappointed them in this pretending that by Law he could not do so It is thought the Cardinal of Tournon blew the Coles in this Affair We have already spoken of the Death of that Illustrious Prince Edward the Sixth King of England He had before been consumptive and in the beginning of January he fell sick His Disease increasing he became very sollicitous for his Kingdom and the State of Religion and began to consult his more intimate Friends Who was the fittest Person to suceed him For though his Father had by his last Testament made Mary and Elizabeth his two Sisters his Heirs as we have above related yet because now he was come to somewhat a more advanced Age
great change that was made in the Publick Religion and the Laws betook themselves to Germany some to Wesel and others to Franckfort and Strasburg John Alasco a Polander of Noble Birth and great Learning who was the Brother of Jerome before this Winter began went thence to Denmark but being not so kindly entertained there on the account of his differing from them in the Point of the Eucharist and being denied an Habitation on the same score in the Lower Saxony at length he went to Emden a City of Friseland and there he setled The Fourth Day of March the Queen put out a Book of Articles or Injunctions wherein she commanded the Bishops and their Vicars not to admit any man into Holy Orders who was suspected of Heresie That they should extirpate Heresies suppress and destroy hurtful and pestilent Books That they should prescribe certain Rules to all School-Masters and Preachers and suppress those who did not conform That they should deprive all Married Priests and punish them as their wickedness deserved but that those who with the consent of their Wives should promise to divorce themselves and to abstain for the future should be treated with more gentleness and that they should restore all those that would do Penance for this Offence to their Livings again That all Publick Prayers should be in the Latine Tongue and according to the ancient Forms That all the ancient Holy-days Fasts and Ceremonies should be again observed That all Children already Baptized when they grew up should be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed And that they should be taught in the Schools how they are to minister to the Priest in the Mass at the Altar When Henry the Eighth abolished the Papal Supremacy in England as I have observed in the Ninth Book of this History he passed an Act of Parliament that no man should be admitted to any Ecclesiastical Function or Dignity unless he had first taken an Oath in which he acknowledg'd him and his Successors Supream Head of the Church of England and that the Pope had no Authority over the Church nor was better than a Bishop of Rome with whom they would have nothing to do This Oath the Queen even now remitted and commanded the Bishops not to exact it of any man and thereby did tacitly restare the Pope's Supremacy That which concerns the Publick Prayers went thus Henry the Eighth had commanded them to be said in the vulgar Tongue and in them amongst other things they prayed that God would deliver them from the Seditions Conspiracies and Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and this Printed Form of Prayer was by this Order of the Queen abolished Soon after this Elizabeth the Queens Sister a Lady of great Learning was committed to the Tower because she was suspected to have had an hand in Wiat's Rebellion In the End of March the Enemies of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg returned to the Siege of Schweinfurt In April there came over into Germany Sir Richard Morison Knight whose Embassie I have mentioned in the Book before this Sir Anthony Cook and Sir John Cheeke Knights both the King's Schoolmasters and Men of great Learning and these all afterwards travelled into Italy And soon after Dr. John Poinet Bishop of Winchester came over also who together with many other Bishops was about this time displaced by reason of this Change of Religion The Forces of the Duke of Florence and the Pope besieging Siena about this time Peter Strozza who defended that City in the Name of the King of France learning something of their state by his Spies on a sudden made a Sally upon them and slew a great number of their Souldiers but they recruited their Army and continued the Siege for all that Loss whereupon the King of France levied Three Thousand Swiss for the relief of that Place The Duke of Florence also marries his Daughter to Ascanio the Pope's Nephew and the Methods of advancing his Fortunes by this Marriage were taken into consideration About this time also Ferdinand Gonzaga Governor of the Duchy of Milan came into Flanders to the Emperor Baptista Castaldus whom the Emperor had sent some years since into Hungary as I have said came also about this time to him About the middle of April Sir Thomas Wiat was executed at London He declared that neither the Lady Elizabeth nor Courtney Earl of Devonshire were acquainted with the Rebellion About the same time Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Hugh Latimer Bishop of London were removed first to Windsor and then to Oxford and a Disputation being mannaged against them by the Students both of Oxford and Cambridge the 16th 17th and 18th of April concerning Transubstantiation and the Propitiatory Sacrifice of the Mass and they continuing stedfast in their Former Opinion they were again committed to Prison At the same time there was a Parliament sate in England wherein the Queen especially recommended to the States her Marriage and the restitution of the Pope's Supremacy The first of these she carried upon certain Conditions but the latter was so vigorously opposed by the Upper House that she could not then bring it about In the mean time Cardinal Poole having spent some time with the Emperor in Flanders went to the King of France and endeavoured to bring these Princes to make a Peace but his Mediation had no good success In the end of April Albert of Brandenburg having received 60000 Crowns set Aumale his Prisoner at Liberty A little before this time Holansperg another of his strong Places was taken from him by the Confederates Not long after this the Emperor being then at Brussels by his Letters confirmed the Outlawry decreed the last Winter in the Imperial Chamber of Spire against the Marquess of Brandenburg in which having complained that the Marquess had with impunity committed such Ravages and made such Devastations in the Empire he in the next place severely commands all the Princes and States and especially those that lay next him to execute the said Sentence against the Marquess There had before this been two Meetings at Rotenburg a City of Franconia upon the River Tauber in order to the putting an end to this War but they being both frustrated the Emperor put out this Decree against him which was set up in all places and soon after there was a Diet of the Circle of the Rhine holden at Worms concerning this Business I have often mentioned the General Diet which was summoned in August but the Emperor being hindred from being present in it both by Sickness and Wars Ferdinand his Brother at his Request undertook the management of it and sollicited the Princes to meet who excused their Appearance there on the account of the troubled state of Germany The Emperor had already sent thither some of his Council and amongst them the Cardinal of Ausburg but none of the Princes coming thither for the Causes aforesaid it was deferred to a fitter opportunity Albert had
such thing and that without any Declaration of War. Now this to me appears the more strange because between me and you there is not the least cause of offeuce For as to the report that I should send Succors to the Marquess of Brandenburg against you that is entirely false But then as to the favour I have of late shewn to him I have only done it upon the account of the ancient Union which I mention'd and in compliance with the hospitable Custom of the Crown of France which has ever given entertainment and protection to all afflicted Princes and in a more especial manner to those of Germany in their Distresses In truth I should have been much better pleased to have seen him flourishing at home and enjoying his own than thus to see him ruined driven out and deserted I say I should rather have desired he should not have fallen into this calamity or that at least now an end might be put to it by a just and equal Treaty But now that I see him reduced into this distress by the fault of my Adversary who first pronounced the Sentence void and yet afterwards confirmed it why am I suspected if I compassionate his Fortunes But as to the giving him any assistance against the Empire that never entred into my Thoughts and you may rest assured that I will not now do it if you do not your selves first break the League of Friendship And now I have given you assurance that you shall meet with nothing but Peace and Kindness from me I desire that you would not be so far circumvented by the Artifices of those who have as little kindness for you as they have for me as to take up Arms or to contribute Men or Moneys against me for their whole Design is to make their own private a publick Concern It rather befits you to continue the Amity and to accept of the Conditions I proffer you I desire also that you would give me a clear assurance by him who delivers you this Letter what you intend and that according to the ancient Custom and the Treaty of Passaw my Ambassadors who are to attend in the next Diet may have sufficient Pasports The Answer he received was That as to the Troops sent by the Borders of Lorrain there was no Affront intended to his Majesty but it was done to the intent that if the Marquess of Brandenburg should make any irruption into the Empire his Attempts might be hindred That as to what concerned his Ambassadors and the publick Peace they had no Commands from their Principals but they would give an Account of his Demands to them and they did not doubt but they would do what was just and fit About the end of October the Emperor delivered up to his Son by his Ambassadors according to the accustomed Ceremonies the Dukedom of Milan The King of France soon after the raising the Siege of Renty in the manner I have express'd dismiss'd the Swiss and put the rest of his Forces into Quarters And the Emperor having found a convenient place not far from the Castle of Hesdin which he took and demolished the last year began the foundation of a new Town and Fort and for the building of it with the greater security kept his Army together which in the Month of November wasted with Fire and Sword the Country of Bolonois and the Territory of Amiens Thus the whole force of the War on both sides fell on the miserable and unarmed Multitude Afterwards he dismissed the greatest part of the Army and kept only with him one or two Regiments About the same time the King of France sent some Forces into Italy and amongst them some Germans for the Relief of Siena which was then sharply besieged by the Forces of the Emperor and of the Duke of Florence The Twelfth Day of November a new Parliament began in London thereupon Cardinal Pool who was then in Brabant had some Persons of great note dispatched to him to bring him over into England the Principal of which was the Lord Paget the 24th he came to London and was honourably receiv'd wheresoever he came and was soon after restored to his former Place Honour Family and Estate by the consent of the States which had been taken from him by Attainder in the Reign of Henry the Eighth The 27th day of November he came into the Parliament and in the Presence of King Philip and the Queen he discovered the Cause of his Legation and exhorted the States to return to the Communion of the Church and to restore to the most Holy Father the Pope of Rome his due Authority who was willing to receive them with the utmost Clemency and Affection He admonished them also that they should offer up their Thanks to God who had given them such a King and Queen Then returning them his Thanks for their restoring him to his Inheritance and Family which he esteemed a very great Benefit he said he was so much the more obliged to restore them also to their heavenly Court and Countrey which he wished above all things Having said this he withdrew and the Bishop of Winchester Gardiner who was Lord Chancellor having repeated his Speech and with many words exhorted them to Union and Concord He added that great Thanks were due to Almighty God for his immense Goodness and Mercy in that he had raised up a Prophet of their own Seed to wit this great Cardinal who would wholly employ himself in the promoting of their Salvation The next day when the Upper House had approved the Cardinal's Speech there was a Bill drawn in form of a Petition wherein the States supplicate the King and Queen to intertcede with the Cardinal on their behalf In it they say that they earnestly repent of the Schism that they had denied the Obedience which was due to the Apostolick See and that they had given their Assent to Acts of Parliament against it That for time to come they would be in the power of their Majesties and do all that ever they could that all such Acts might in this Parliament be repealed and therefore they did most earnestly beseech their Majesties that they would interpose and obtain an Absolution of their Sin and a Remission of the Censures which by the Canons of the Church they had incurred That they might be received into the bosom of the Church as penitent Children that in the obedience of the See of Rome and of the Pope they might serve God to the Glory of his Name and the encreasing their Salvation The 29th day when the King Queen and Cardinal were present the Chancellor arose and openly declar'd what the States had consented to in relation to the Demands of the Pope's Legate and thereupon he delivered to the King and Queen the Petition of the States in writing Sign'd and Seal'd by them and begg'd they would receive it the King and Queen receiving and opening it they again delivered
troubled Israel Then Anna du Bourg beginning with a Discourse of the Eternal Providence of God to which all things are subject when he came to the Question proposed said There were many Sins and Crimes committed by Men which the Laws had already forbidden and yet the Gallows and Tortures which were imployed had not been able to prevent the frequent Perjuries Adulteries profuse Lusts and Profane Oaths which were not only connived at but cherished On the contrary every Day new punishments are invented against a sort of Men who could never yet be convicted of any wicked Attempt for how can they injure the Prince who never name him but in their Prayers for him Are they accused of breaking our Laws perverting the Allegiance of our Cities or Provinces No the greatest Tortures could never extort a Confession that they so much as thought of any such thing Are they not accused of Sedition only because they have by the Candle of Scripture discovered the shameful and encreasing Villanies and corruptions of the Roman Power which they desire may be reformed Christopher Harlay and Peter Seguier the two Presidents said with great Modesty that the Court had hitherto justly and rightly discharged its Duty in this Particular and that it would still do the same without changing to the Glory of God and therefore neither the King nor People of France would have cause to repent the trusting to it Christopher de Thou with great freedom reflected on the King's Attorney and Advocates for presuming to defame the Proceedings of that Court and indangering its Authority Renatus Baillet desired the Judgments which were blamed might be re-examined and more maturely considered Minart having made a short Preface to soften the Envy which had been raised against them only added That he thought the King's Edicts were to be observed After these Maistre the President made a sharp Harangue against the Sectaries instancing in the Severities which Philip the August is said to have employed against the Albingenses 600 of which he burnt in one day and in the Waldenses which were massacred with Fire and Smoak partly in their Houses and partly in the Dens and Caves they had fled to The King having obliquely reproached the Court for entring upon this Debate without his Order added He now clearly saw what he had heard before That there were some among them who despised both his Authority and the Popes That this was the fault of but a few but it was dishonourable to the whole body of them but only they that were guilty should suffer the Punishment And therefore he exhorted the rest to go on in their Duty The Reflections of la Faur and du Bourg who mentioned the Story of Ahab and the frequent Adulteries exaseperated the King more than the rest and therefore he commanded Montmorancy to apprehend them who again ordered Gabriel de Montgomery a Captain of the Guard to take them and carry them to the Bastile Afterwards Paul de Foix Anthony Fumee Eustace de la Porte were also taken into Custody but la Ferriere du Val and Viole were concealed by their Friends and escaped this Storm Men censured these Proceedings as they stood affected but the Wiser were much disgusted That the King should be so far imposed on by others as to come personally into his Court to subvert those Laws he ought to have protected That he should make use of Threats and Imprisonments saying That this was a clear Instance that he was subject to the Passions of others and who could think but these things were the foreunners of great Changes The Ministers of the Reformed Religion notwithstanding held a Synod at S. German June 28 one Morelle being President in which they setled the order of their Synods the Authority of the Presidents the taking away the Supremacy in the Church the election of Ministers and their Office and Duty Deacons and Presbyters Censures the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity of contracting and dissolving Marriages which yet were only temporary Decrees to be varied as future Synods should think fit but to oblige particular Persons till so altered About the same time came Embassadours from the Protestant Princes of Germany with Letters to the King subscribed by Frederick Cout Palatine of the Rhine Augustus Duke of Saxony Joachim Elector of Brandenburg Christopher Duke of Wirtimberg and Wolfang Count of Weldentz In which they represent to the King How much they were afflicted to see so many Pious Quiet and Holy Men who professed the same Religion Imprisoned Spoiled Banished and put to Death as Seditious Persons in France That they thought themselves bound by Christian Charity and the Alliance which was between them and France to beseech him well to consider this Affair which concerned the Name of God and the Salvation of so many Souls that he ought to free himself from Prejudice and imploy great Judgment and Reason in it They assured him they were no less solicitous for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Subjects than he and upon the Differences of Religion had maturely considered how they might be composed That they had found by degrees and insensibly through Avarice and Ambition many Corruptions had crept into the Church which were dishonourable to the Majesty of God and Scandalous to Men and that they ought to be reformed by the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures the Decrees of the Primitive Church and the Writings of the most Ancient Fathers That the Corruptions and Disorders of the Court and Church of Rome had long since been complained of in France by W. Parisiensis John Gerson Nicholas Clemangius and Wisellius of Groeningen the Restorer of the University of Paris under Lewis XI and other Divines That King Francis his Father of Blessed Memory was convinced of this and had wisely endeavoured to put an end to the Differences of Religion and to reform the Discipline of the Church That now France was not involved in War abroad they besought him the Difference of Religion might by his Authority and Conduct be quietly ended That this might easily be effected if the King would but appoint Learned and Peaceable Men who should examin their Confession of Faith without Partiality or Prejudice by the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Fathers That in the interim he should suspend all Legal Severities discharge the Imprisoned recal the Banished restore their Estates to those that had been ruin'd This they said would be acceptable and pleasing to God Honourable to the King Profitable to France and very Grateful to them The King entertained the Embassadors kindly and having read the Letter said he would suddenly send them a satisfactory Answer but by that time they were arrived at the Borders of France the Fire their coming seem'd to have abated raged more horribly than ever June 19. a Commission was issued to Jean de Saint Andre the President and Promoter of these Troubles Jo. James de Memme Master of the Requests Lewis Gayaut
the Lawful Succession is transmitted without any interruption The Cardinal of Lorraine had design'd in the former Reign to make a Speech in the Name of the three Estates which was then not opposed but now the Commons would not suffer it because contrary to the Ancient Usage And for that they had some things to object against the Cardinal himself Jean l' Ange an Advocate of the Parliament of Bourdeaux spoke for the Commons and remarked three great Faults in the Clergy Ignorance Covetousness and Excessive Luxury which had given Being to the new Errors and Scandal to the People That the Preaching of the Word of God which was the chief cause of the instituting Bishops was totally neglected and they thought it a shameful thing and beneath their Dignity And by their Example the Curates had learned to neglect their Duty too and had ordered the Mass to be sung by Illiterate and Unworthy Stipendaries That the excessive Pomp and Avarice of the Clergy who pretended by it to promote the Glory of God had raised an Envy and an hatred of them in the Minds of the People And therefore he desired that a Council might be assembled by the order of the King to remedy these Mischiefs After him James de Silty Comte de Roquefort made a Bold and an Elegant Oration in the Name of the Nobility and taxed the Clergy for invading the Rights and oppressing the People under Pretence of the Jurisdictions granted them by the Ancient Kings of France That therefore the King ought in the first place to take care to reform the Clergy and assign good Pensions to those that Preached the Word of God as had been done by many of his Ancestors which he named Jean Quintin le Bourguinon made a long tedious Speech in the behalf of the Clergy to shew I. That the Assembly of the three Estates were instituted for the providing for the Sacred Discipline II. That the King might understand the Complaints of his People and provide for the Necessities of his Kingdom by their Advice and not for the Reformation of the Church Which could not Err and which neither hath nor ever shall have the least Spot or Wrinkle but shall ever be Beautiful But then he ingenuously confest That the Sacred Discipline was very much declined from its Ancient Simplicity That therefore the Revivers of the the Ancient Heresies were not to be heard and all that had Meetings separate from the Catholicks were to be esteemed Favourers of Sectaries and to be punished Therefore he desired the King to compel all his Subjects within his Dominions to Live and Believe according to the Form prescribed by the Church That the Insolence of the Sectaries was no longer to be endured who despising the Authority of the Ancients and the Doctrine received by the Church would be thought alone to understand and imbrace the Gospel That this was the next step to a Rebellion and that they would shortly shake off the Yoak of the Civil Magistrate and with the same Boldness fight against their Prince that they now imployed against the Church if Care were not speedily taken He desired that all Commerce between them and the Catholicks might be forbidden and that they might be treated like Enemies and that those who were gone out of the Kingdom on the account of Religion might be banished That it was the King's Duty to draw the Civil Sword and put all those to Death who were infected with Heresie to defend the Clergy and restore the Elections of Bishops to the Chapters the want of which had caused great Damages to the Church That it had been observed That the very Year the Pope granted the King the Nomination of Bishops this Schism began and has ever since spread it self for in the 1517 Luther Zuinglius and Oecolampadius set up and Calvin followed them This Speech incensed the whole Assembly against him and especially the Protestants who published so many Libels and Satyrs against him that he soon after died of Shame and Grief He was no ill Man but was a better Decretalist than a Divine and had never well thought whether a Reformation were needfull or no But then it ought also to have been considered that he did not speak his own Single judgment but had his matter prescribed him by the Clergy for whom he spoke After some days the King Signified to the Bishops that they should prepare themselves for the Council which was now recall'd at Trent and the Judges and Prefects were commanded to discharge all that were Imprison'd for Religion only and leave all that were suspected the free injoyment of their Estates and Goods And it was made Capital to reproach or injure one the other on the Account of Religion After which the Assemly was Prorogued to the Month of May of the next Year There was in Piedmont a Valley called by the Name of Perosia and St. Martin Inhabited by about 15000 Souls whose Ancestors about 400 Years since had upon the Preaching of Waldus Speronus and Arnaldus made a defection from the Church of Rome and had at times been severely treated for it by the French under whom they had been but by the last Treaty were assigned to the Duke of Savoy This People about the Year 1555 had imbraced the Reformation and had suffered it to be publickly preached tho it was forbidden by the Council at Turin which the Year following sent one of its own Members to inquire after the Offenders and to punish them to whom the Inhabitants of this Valley delivered the Confesson of their Faith Declaring that they profess'd the Doctrin contained in the Old and New Testament and comprehended in the Apostles Creed and admitted the Sacraments Instituted by Christ the IV first Councils viz. those of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon and the Ten Commandments c. That they believed the Supreme civil Magistrates were Instituted by God and they were to be obeyed and that who soever resisted them fought against God. They said they had received this Doctrin from their Ancestors and that if they were in any error they were ready to receive instruction from the Word of God and would presently renounce any heretical or erroneous Doctrin which should be so shewen to them Thereupon a Solemn Dispute was in shew appointed concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass Auricular Confession Tradition Prayers and Oblations for the Dead and the Ceremonies of the Church and her Censures all which were rejected by them they alledging that they were humane Inventions and contrary to the Word of God. This Confession was sent by the Duke of Savoy to the King of France who about a year after return'd Answer That he had caused it to be Examin'd by his learned Divines who had all condemn'd it as Erroneous and contrary to true Religion and therefore the King commanded them to reject this Confession and to Submit to the Holy Church of Rome and if they did not do so their
marching to Villar where they intended to do the like they met the Soldiers who had heard what was done going to Plunder Bobbi stopped them and with their Slings so pelted them that they were glad to shift for their lives and left these Reformers to do the same thing at Villar The Captain of Turin attempting to stop this Rage was beaten and the Dukes Officers were glad to seek to their Pastors for a Pasport After this they beat the Captain of Turin in a second Fight By this time the whole Army drew into the Field and the Inhabitants of these Valleys not being able to resist them they burnt all their Towns and Houses and destroyed all the People they took In these Broils Monteil one of the Duke of Savoy's Chief Officers was slain by a Lad of eighteen years of age and Truchet another of them by a Dwarf The Duke of Savoy had sent seven thousand Soldiers to destroy this handful of Men and yet such was their Rage and Desperation and the Advantage of their Country that they beat his Soldiers wheresoever they met them And in all these Fights their Enemies observed that they had slain only fourteen of the Inhabitants and thence concluded that God fought for them So the Savoyards began to treat of a Peace which at last was concluded to the Advantage of these poor despicable People The Duke remitting the eight thousand Crowns they were to pay by the former Treaty and suffering them to enjoy the Liberty of their Religion So that he got nothing by this War but loss and shame the ruin of his People on both sides and the desolating of his Country A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION BOOK III. The CONTENTS A Persecution in the Low-Countries The French Affairs Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants but ordereth Montmorency to oppose them She suspects the designs of the Nobility The differences of Religion occasion Tumults in France Various Edicts made The Cardinal of Lorrain procures the Conference of Poissi Mary Queen of the Scots leaves France The three Estates of France Assemble at Pont-Oyse The Conference of Poissi The Rudeness of Laines General of the Jesuits This Conference disliked abroad The Council of Trent recalled Opposed by Vergerius The Popes Legates sent to Princes to invite them to the Council A Diet of the Protestant Princes at Naumburg The Queen of England rejects the Council The Ruin of the Caraffa's The King of Navarre drawn over to the Romish Party by the Arts of the King of Spain Scotch Affairs The Protestant Religion setled there by a Parliament Queen Mary Arrives there Her beginning favourable to the Protestants Great kindness at first in shew between her and Queen Elizabeth The French Affairs The Edict of January 1562. Injunctions published by the Queen concerning Images The King of Navarre pretends to promote the Reformation The Edict of January opposed by the Guises The Massacre of Vassi The Duke of Guise entereth Paris All things in France tend to Civil War. The Queen joyns with the Roman Catholick Party out of fear Orleans surprized by the Prince of Conde The Massacre of Senlis Roan taken by the Protestants Several Treaties for a Peace The Siege of Roan The King of Navarre shot His Death and Character The Prince of Conde leaves Orleans Besieges Corbeil The two Armies come in view He marches towards Normandy The Battel of Dreux in which Montmorency is taken St. Andre slain and the Prince of Conde taken Coligni and the Duke of Guise become Generals The Pope fondly rejoyces at this Battel The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise Assassinated His Death and Character The Queen desires and at last makes a Peace which is disliked by Coligni THIS Year there began a sharp Persecution against all that were suspected to favour the Reformation in the Netherlands and for the greater terror they burnt the Houses of all those they Convicted for holding private Meetings Perrenot Bishop of Arras and Cardinal Granvel hoping by this means to prevent the spreading of a Religion in that Country which had made such progresses in Germany and France They that imbraced this Religion were no less scandalized by the multiplying the Bishopricks and thereupon drew up a Confession of their Faith to be exhibited to King Philip beseeching him in the end of it that he would put a stop to the bloody Executions which destroyed so many of his innocent People This Confession was the same in substance with that published by the French Protestants and amongst other things they took particular care to insert That the Civil Magistrate was the Ordinance of God and therefore was to be obeyed Their Tributes to he duly paid and all manner of Respect and Reverence to be shewed to them and that Prayers were to be made to God for their preservation In the month of February the new King of France left Orleans and went to Fontainbleau where the Prince of Conde waited upon him and being introduced into the Privy Council asked the Chancellor if there were any Accusation depending against him and was told by him and the whole Council they were intirely satisfied of his innocence and leave was given him to demand an Acquital in the Parliament of Paris And a Decree was made to that purpose and Published by the Order of the Council March 13. after which he went to Paris to prosecute his Discharge before that Court. In the mean time Queen Catharine the Regent of France seemed very much â—o favour the Protestant Party and by her Arts and Dissimulation so far prevailed upon the spirit of the King of Navarre who was their Head that he told the Danish Ambassador he did not doubt but he should see the Reformed Religion settled in France within one year The Queen on the other side told Montmorency That she connived at them for the present that she might the more easily elude the designs of the King of Navarre by seeming to comply with him But then she said he and the other great Men of that Kingdom ought to oppose them and to complain that the Religion of their Ancestors was every where violated and despised She designed by this First To divide the great Men in the Point of Religion Secondly To weaken the Interest of the King of Navarre And thirdly To preserve the Romish Religion in France But Montmorency who was her Instrument designed only the last yet he was very active in it The Queen in the interim carried her dissimulation so far that she ordered Jean de Monluc Bishop of Valence who was a great favourer of the Reformation and no Enemy to the Protestants Doctrine to Preach frequently at Court and She and the King were sometimes present at his Sermons He would sometimes speak very freely against the Corruptions that were in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church and obliquely tax the Papal Authority The favour the Queen shewed to this Bishop made Montmorency suspect that in
Though the Edict of July had forbidden all Meetings of the Protestants yet their Number daily increasing and with it their Confidence not only Sermons were openly made but the Priests were in many places forcibly expell'd and the Churches seized for the use of the Ministers which gave being to the Edict of the 3d of November for the Restitution of those Churches upon pain of Death which by the Perswasion of the Ministers themselves was obeyed throughout the Kingdom But when notwithstanding Men seem'd rather enraged than appeased by the Edict of July and the Conference of Poissy was broken up without any effect there being every day news brought of new Commotions they began to think of some more effectual Remedy which that it might meet with the greater approbation and by consequence be the more universally executed the Presidents and some chosen Members of all the Parliaments of France were summon'd before the King to St. Germain by whose Advice it was to be drawn and Moddel'd Upon which the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Duke of Guise left the Court conceiving the thing would do it self now Montmorancy and the King of Navar had espoused that Interest About the same time there was a dreadful Tumult at Dijon whil'st the Protestants were assembled at their Sermon the Rabble thought fit to make themselves the Executioners of the Edict of July and having procured a Drum to beat before them they marched against the Huguenots but the Meeters made use of their Weapons and repell'd Force with Force The Rabble thereupon turn'd their fury against the Private Families and plundered several Houses There were also some Tumults at Paris on the same score and towards the end of the year all things tended to a general Revolution Having thus represented the State of Religion in all the rest of Christendom as shortly and as well as I can I return now to Scotland The Messengers they had sent into France to procure the Royal Consent to the Acts they had made in their last Parliament were no sooner return'd with a positive denial and a dreadful Reprimand which frighted and exasperated the Nation both at once but they had the Joyful News of the Death of King Francis II. to their great satisfaction and the no less affliction of the French Faction in that Kingdom On the other side the Nobility who had lent their Assistance to the Expulsion of the French immediately met at Edinburg and after a Consultation sent the Lord James to their Queen to perswade her to return into Scotland Lesley however prevented them and got to her some days before the Lord James She was then at Vitrie in Campaigne whither she was retired to lament her Loss His business was to bespeak her favour to the Catholick Party and return into Scotland The first she readily promised and as for the other she ordered him to Attend till she had resolved what to do It was soon after resolved that she should leave France so that the Lord James found her fixed to return when he came into France yet his Assuring her of the great desires the Nobility of Scotland had to see her there again much confirm'd her So she sent him back with Orders to see that nothing should be attempted contrary to the Treaty of Leith in her absence In March following M. Giles Noailles a Senator of Bourdeaux arrived at Leith with three Demands from the new King of France 1. That the old League between France and Scotland should be renewed 2. That the late Confederacy with England should be dissâ—lved 3. That the Church-men should be restored to all they had been deprived of But the Council replied That it did not befit them to treat of things of that Consequence before the Assembly of the States which was to be held the 21st of May when the Lord James made answer That the French and not the Scots had broke the old League by endeavouring to enslave them 2. That they could not violate the Treaty made with England and as to the third That they did not acknowledge those he interceded for to be Church men and that Scotland having renounced the Pope would no longer maintain his Priests and Vassals About the same time the Earls of Morton and Glencarn returned from England whither they had been sent with Assurances That the Queen would assist them in the Defence of the Liberties of the Kingdom if at any time they stood in need of her Help which was heard with much Joy. As the Lord James returned into Scotland he waited upon Queen Elizabeth and advised her to stop Queen Mary if she came by England as he expected she would 'till he had secured the State of Religion in Scotland for tho' she had promised She would continue all things in the State she found them ye he would not intirely rely upon her Promise having so often heard the old Maxim from the late Regent To make sure work therefore he procured an Act to be passed in this Convention for the Demolishing all the Cloysters and Abby Churches which were yet left standing in that Kingdom the Execution whereof as to the Western Parts was committed to the Earls of Arran Argile and Glencarn as to the North to the Lord James and as to the Inland Counties to some Barons that were thought the most Zealous Whereupon ensued a most deplorable Devastation of Churches and Church-buildings saith Spotiswood throughout all the Kingdom for every one made bold to put to their Hands the meaner sort imitating the Example of the greater and those who were in Authority No difference was made but all the Churches were either defaced or pulled down to the ground The Church Place and what ever Men could make Money of as Timber Lead and Bells were put to sale and the Monuments of the Dead the Registers of the Churches and Libraries were burn'd or destroyed and what escaped the Fury of the first Tumults now perished in a common Shipwrack and that under the colour of publick Authority John Knox is said to have very much promoted this Calamity by a Maxim he published That the sure way tâ— drive away the Rooks was to pull down their Nests which in probability he meant only of the Monks but now their Hands were in was extended to all the Church Buildings Noailles was then in Scotland and carried the News of this dreadful Reformation to the Queen into France She was much enraged at it and said to some of her Confidents that she would imitate Mary Queen of England but however she had wit enough to dissemble her Resentment for the present In order to her return she left Vitri and went to Paris and having waited upon the King and Queen-Regent to take her leave of them she took her Journy towards Calais Queen Elizabeth had sent the Earl of Bedford to condole the Death of Francis her late Husband and to desire her Ratification of the Treaty of
much improved but he was then very dissolute nor was Henry of England any better And after all the Judgments God has sent from Heaven upon us we have not repented or amended and therefore there is no wonder that this sad difference of Religion cannot be composed and the Peace of the Church restored No on the contrary it is now apparent that our Enemies are become so numerous that they are almost able to oppress us As to those who pretend that we have encreased them by our Connivance I can answer That during the minority of the King they are bolder and I would have them consider too that for our Sins God has set a Child over us There are some who would have the King arm one part of his Subjects against the other which I think is neither Christian nor Human. After very much to the same purpose he told them the Thing proposed by the King to their Consideration was Whether it was the best way for the King to Suppress the Meetings or to Tolerate them Thereupon followed a very great Debate between these Deputies of the several Parliaments of France but at last they came to a Resolution to remit something of the Severity of the Edict of July and to allow the Protestants the liberty of Publick Sermons and accordingly a new Edict was made which was called The Edict of January the principal Heads of which were these That the Protestants should restore the Ecclesiasticks to their Churches Houses Lands Tithes and other goods whatsoever which they had taken from them forthwith and suffer them peaceably to enjoy their Images Crosses and Statues without any molestation or endeavouring to destroy them or doing any other thing that may disturb the publick Peace upon pain of Death without any hope of Mercy That the Protestants should have no publick Meetings Sermons and Prayers or administer any Sacraments publickly or privately by Night or by Day within any City in any manner whatsoever Yet in the mean time till the Controversies of Religon shall be composed by a General Council or the King shall otherwise order it Those who shall go to or frequent their Sermons shall not be molested provided they be had without the Cities And the Magistrates were accordingly commanded not to disquiet but to protect and preserve them from all Injury That all Seditious Persons of what Religion soever they were should be severely punished and all should be bound to discover and deliver them up to Justice a thousand Crowns being imposed upon any person who should receive abet or conceal such Riotous Offender and the Offender to be whipp'd if not able to pay the Penalty That the said Meetings should be without Arms and that no person should Reproach another on the account of Religion or use any Factious Names That the Protestants Ministers should admit none into their Number till they had diligently examined their Lives Conversations and Doctrines That the Magistrates might freely go to their Meetings to see what was done or to apprehend any Criminal who should be treated according to their Dignity and obeyed That the Protestants should hold no Synods Conferences or Consistories but in the presence of a Magistrate That they should create no new Magistrates or make any Laws or Statutes And if they desire any thing by way of Discipline it should be referred to their Authority or if need be be confirmed by them There shall be no Levies of Men or Monies made by them nor any Leagues entered into for their private Defence And as to Alms they shall only take them of such as are willing to give The Civil Laws especially those concerning Holy Days and the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity in Marriages shall be observed That their Pastors shall give Security to the Magistrates for the Observing this Edict and promise That they will not preach any Doctrine contrary to the Nicence or Apostles Creeds or the Books of the Old or New Testament nor use any Reproaches against the Catholicks in their Sermons And the same is injoyned the Catholicks in relation to the Protestants No man shall publish any Libels to desame another or sell or cause them to be sold Lastly the Magistrates are hereby commanded to be very diligent in case any Sedition happens to search out the Offenders and punish them without any Appeal to be allowed to such Offenders A Debate being made concerning the Worship of Images these Propositions were published by the Queen by the Advice of the Bishops of Valence and Seez and Monsieur Bouthillier d' Espence and Picherel That seeing Errors are according to St. Augustin rather to be rooted out of the Mind of Men than out of Churches and other places the Bishops should take order with the Curates to have the People well Instructed and diligently Admonished concerning the right use of them that all Offence or Scandal might be prevented both by the Royal Authority and that of the Church and that if any opposed this he should be treated as a Violater of the Royal Edicts and of the publick Peace That all Figures of the Holy Trinity should be immediately removed out of all Churches and all other publick and private Places as being forbidden by the Holy Scriptures the Councils and Testimonies of the Fathers and only Dissembled or Tolerated by the Sloth of the Bishops and Pastors That the Picutres of all prophane Persons and others who were not to be found in the Authentick Martyrologies of the Church all lascivious and dishonest Pictures and those of Brutes shall be abolished That no Crowns Garlands or Vestments shall be put upon any Images nor Incense nor Candles burnt before them nor shall they be carried in Processions nor any Prayers or Oblations be made to them nor shall they be worshipped with bended Knees because all these things are parts of Worship That all Images but that of the Venerable Holy Cross shall be taken from the Altars and either placed on the Valves or Walls of the Churches so that from henceforth they may neither be saluted kissed prayed to or presented with Gifts That all Images which were wont to be carried on the Shoulders of Men in the Churches and Streets should according to the late Canon of Sens be for ever abolished Beza opposed the retention of the Cross as brought into use by Constantine the Great and one N. Mallard Dean of the Sorbonne in Paris tho' he confessed some ill things had crept into the Church yet he was of opinion that all this Worship of Images ought stoutly to be defended and retained and put out a Book to that purpose so the Thing fell This Order was made the 14th of February The same Month but some few days before it the King of Navar wrote a Letter to the Elector Palatine in which he testified his great desire to promote a Reformation and that he hoped to have found a way to reconcile Differences by the Conference of
all the Priests were hunted away and in Cherie and Cuni places belonging to the Duke of Savoy and in many other Cities near unto them many were of the same opinions with the Hugonots and many even in the Duke's Court also did profess them and more were discovered every day And however the Duke had set forth a Proclamation a Month before That all that followed those opinions should within eight days depart out of the Country and some did thereupon depart yet afterwards he commanded there should be no proceedings against them and pardon'd many who were condemn'd by the Inquisition and made their Process void as also those who were in the Inquisition and not condemn'd and gave leave to some that were departed to return About the same time there hapned a great tumult and popular commotion in Bavaria because the Cup was not allowed nor Married men suffered to preach which disorder proceeded so far that to appease them the Duke promised in the Diet That if in all the Month of June a resolution were not made in the Council of Trent or by the Pope to give them satisfaction he himself would grant both the one and the other The news of this coming to the Council the Legates dispatched Nicholas Ormonet to perswade the Luke not to make that Grant. To whom the Duke replied That to shew his obedience to the Apostolick See he would use all means to entertain his people as long as he could expecting and hoping that the Council would resolve that which they saw to be necessary notwithstanding the Resolution made before by it But the Council had good reason to deny this last because say they it is plain that Married Priests will turn their affections and love to their Wives and Children and by consequence to their House and Country and so that strict dependance which the Clergy hath on the Apostolick See would cease and to grant Marriage to Priest would destroy the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and make the Pope to be a Bishop of Rome only And in another place they tell us that having House Wife and Children they the Clergy will not depend on the Pope but on their Prince and their love to their Children will make them yield to any prejudice of the Church and they will seek to make the Benefices Hereditary and so in a short space the Authority of the Apostolick See will be coâ—fined within Rome Before Single Life was instituted the See of Rome received no profit from other Nations and Cities and by it is made Patron of many Benefices of which the Marriage of the Clergy would quickly deprive her And that all would become Hereticks if the Cup were granted to the Laity and so a gap would be opened to demand the Abrogation of all positive Ecclesiastical Constitutions by which only the Prerogative given by Christ to the Church of Rome is preserved for by those which are of Divine appointment no profit doth arise but that which is spiritual So that the Princes who expected any redress from them were in a fine case Camden in his History of Queen Elizabeth assures us the true reason why the Prince of Conde clapt up this Peace upon such easie and disadvantageous terms was because he had been deluded by the Queen with the vain hopes of succeeding his Brother the King of Navarr as General of all the Forces of France and that he should marry the Queen of Scotland too which he afterwards refused The English were then possess'd of Havre de Grace and had a Garrison in it and now both the Protestants and the Roman Catholicks united their Forces to deprive them of it without repaying any of the Money the Queen had expended in the War or considering what need they might after have of that Princess's protection and assistance Both parties on the contrary protest That if the English do not forthwith restore that place they should forfeit their Right to Calais which was reserved to them by the Treaty of Cambray and when this would not do they proclaimed a War against the English in France the 7th of July which was return'd them by the English till they should restore Calais The Earl of Warwick who was then Governour of Havre de Grace finding the French well disposed to betray the English in that Town into the hands of their Country-men and that they had entered into a Conspiracy to that purpose with the Rhinegrave who lay not far off with some German Forces He thereupon turn'd all the French both Protestants and Papists out of the Town without any difference and seized upon all their Ships The French thereupon without ever reflecting on their own Conspiracy against the English began a loud complaint That the English came not to protect the French in their distresses but to get the possession of the Town dealing with them not as with Brethren but as Foreigners And hereupon the French resolved to take this place upon any terms from the English and the King sent a Trumpet to the Governour to demand the Town who returned for an Answer That if the King of Spain would pass his word that Calais should be restored according to the Treaty of Cambray at the time by it appointed and that the King of France the Queen-Mother and the Princes of the Blood Royal would confirm the same by their Oaths and Register it in all the Parliaments of France and then give them Hostages of the Prime Nobility of France he would then deliver up the Town This being rejected the 22d of July Montmorency the Constable took the field all things being by that time prepared to reduce it by force The next day they summon'd the Town again Warwick replied he would suffer death rather than deliver up the place without the Queen's knowledge His Messenger whom he sent with this Answer happened to meet one Monie a Protestant French Captain with whom he had been familiarly acquainted in the Siege of Roan to whom he said He much wondred to see the Protestants of France who were of the same Religion with the English and for whose relief they came into France in the Camp against them Le Monie replied As you fight for your Queen so we for our King the contest is now for our Country and Religion is no way concern'd The business of Religion is now determin'd and setled by the King's Edict once for all and therefore you Sir are not to wonder if of Friends we are suddenly become your Enemies and resolved to destroy you if you do not deliver up the place to the King. When the Earl of Warwick heard this he sent presently into England for Supplies There was then a Plague in the Town which discouraged the English more than all their Enemies without There came some Ships with Relief from England but the Plague continuing the Queen to preserve so many brave men gave order to the Earl of Warwick to surrender the place upon