him most humblye by theyr letters and alledginge manye teasons that they might he permitted to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde according to the commaundement and institution of Christe and custome of the primatiue Churche Unto these letters of theyrs the xxiii of Iune the king ausweringe from Uienne I had full little thought saith he that you would haue called in question that proclamation of mine and haue found cauillations therin For I mēt only that my subiectes should perseuer in thauncient and true Religion and obedience of the Catholicke church without the which no man can obtain saluation and that they should receiue this sacrament the chiefest of all others after the law and custome of the church and neither through the corrupt opinions of certain or for curiosity and pride also should swarue from that duty which they both owe to the church and also to the Magistrate This is verely the mind and effect of the same proclamation nether is it any new thing that I commaunded but an old ordinaunce which hath ben brought as it wer by hād vnto my progenitors Emperors kings and Dukes of Austrich and to me also whan I began to gouerne the common wealth was deduced and vnto this time by me diligently as becommeth a Christen Prince obserued and at sondrye times to my people also inioyned that they shoulde remayne in the same Wherfore I supposed that you would not haue attempted any thyng against this my proclamacion which in all other thinges do contende that there should be no alteraciō and that your lawes and liberties myght remaine vnto you whole For certenly that you do is a new deuise and lately of you conceaued by a certayne opinion and now also reasoned at large as though it were lawful for you to iudge of my commaundementes whiche am your chiefe and supreme magistrate or as though the same ought of ryght to be permitted you which certen yeres now diuers of you of your own accord contrary to the lawes of the church and my will haue taken vpon you priuately to vsurpe But because the question is harde ful of difficulty as you also affirme I will doubtles thincke more therupon and whan time is make such answer that it may be well perceiued that I do not tender a little the saluation of my people but in the meane time I loke for al obediēce of you and trust that you wil do nothing against my proclamation Unto this the states afterward answer again by wryting And the same say they that we haue oft times spoken before of our sauiour Christes commaūdement most puissant king we now repete again For he did institute his supper with plain and manifest words that after the same sort that he him self prescribeth it might be receiued of al men nether is it lawfull for any man mortall to alter hys institution It may be proued also that this was the manner of thauncient Churche and the same that is vsed now a daies to haue crept in by little and little For euen the counsel of Constance graunteth that the same was so instituted of Christ Wher therfore thys cōcerneth our saluation certainly neither curiosity nor pride hath moued vs here vnto Wherby we truste the rather that you will refer your consultation to the commaundement of Christ and his Apostles and consent of the primatiue Church and will not that our consciēce shuld be burthened which thing that it might please you to do we besech you for the honor of God and the glorye of his name and for oure own saluation We do acknowledge you and that moste gladlye to be our high Magistrate geuen vs of God and there is nothing in this world but that you both may ought to loke for at our hāds if it lie in vs to do But in this one matter we desire you to be fauorable to vs. In the byshop of Wirciburges dominion ther is an Abbay of Mōkes called Newstat The Abbot therof Ihon Frise after he came in suspition of Lutheranisme the fift day of May he is cited to come the vi day to Wirciburge and to answer vnto certain interrogatories And the questions were these Whether it be lawful to sweare whether anye man be bounden by his othe whether it be lawful to make a vow of Chastity pouerty and obediēce whether such manner of vowes do binde whether becometh better the ministers of the church mariage or singlenesse whether ther be one true and Apostolical church whether the same as the spouse of Christ be continually gouerned by the holy ghost whether she can alwaies discern true and holsom thyngs whether the same by reason of her head Christes vicar be called rightly the church of Rome whether all the bokes of both Testaments that be in the Cannon be lawful and true whether the holy scripture ought to be expounded after the mind of the holy fathers the doctors of the Church counsels and not after thopinion of Luther and others of the lyke sort whether that besides the Scriptures ther is nede also of other traditions as be those of the Apostles and such other like whether the same faith aucthority and obedience oughte to be geuen to the same traditiōs as to the holy scripture whether we ought to obay the ciuill magistrate in politick matters in holy things thecclesiasticall ordinary whether ther be vii sacraments of the Churche whether children oughte to be Christened whether they oughte to Christen in the Latin tounge with Salt Oile Water Charactes and exorcismes whether that by baptisme be cleane putte awaye Originall sinne in such sort that concupiscence which remaineth loseth the name of the same sinne whether the breade be chaunged and consecrated into the body and the wine into the blud of Christ by the vertue of the wordes which the Priest pronounceth whether it do so remaine althoughe it be not by and by receiued whether the Sacrament being after this sort consecrated is to be worshipped whan either it is borne aboute for the honor of Christe or caried vnto sickfolkes or also be reserued in the pix whether Christ is to be worshipped vnder the forme of bread and wine whether Christ be wholly vnderneath either kinde whether the confession of sinnes do prepare a man to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament whether Masse be a true and continuall sacrifice whether that the Cannon of the masse is to be reteined whether the Sacramēt of confirming is to be vsed whether ther be iii. parts of penaunce contrition confession and satisfaction whether the priest may forgeue his sinnes which hath not before confessed the same whether Priestes onlye haue authoritye of the keyes whether the soules of good men do loue vs whether they pray to God for vs whether we ought to pray vnto Sainctes whether sainets Holy daies oughte to be obserued whether the relikes of Sainctes oughte to be worshipped whether the soules of the godly not yet repurged be relieued
and moue his fellowes also to be carefull for the same he would be glad moreouer to make a present aunswer but there be many others of the same religion who with his father Duke Iohn professed the same doctrine in the assemblie at Auspurge before the Emperour so that he can not aunswere of him selfe alone without making them priuie neither is it expedient for the cause so to doe For better it is that the same be done by comon assent And for as much as the Emperour the byshop the last wynter in their letters wrytten to the states of the Empire from Bononie put them in hope of a counsell therfore did he his fellowes appoint a day the .xxiiij. of Iune to mete at Smalcalde to consult of the whole matter wherfore he desireth thē not to be offended with this differment of time for so sone as his fellowes mete at their day prescribed they shal haue answer either by Ambassadours or by letters shortly after And he wold through Gods grace so demeane him self that not only this present age but also the time to come shold perceiue right wel that he wyshed for nothing more thā that the pure religion doctrine peace not only of Germany but of the whole comon wealth of Christendom might also floriche and that the Emperour his chiefe souereigne might haue his due honour dignitie Afterwarde whan his fellowes were come with good deliberation they framed an answere by commō assent in their letters the last of Iune Howe they gaue great thankes to the Emperour whiche for Gods glory preseruation of the cōmon wealth had taken so muche paynes of a good zeale they doubted not And therfore pray God so to confirme direct his mynde to that ende that the truthe may be set forth and embraced And false doctrine wicked worshipinge rites abolyshed and that all errours being cleane weded out of mens myndes Gods true seruice other godly vertues may agayne take place For they chiefly desire a counsel wherin the matter that is in controuersie may duely and orderly be decided Suche a counsell also the Emperour hath promysed long synce and that in all assemblies of the Empyre with great deberation hath bene decreed to be kepte in Germanye For all this dissention sprange vp fyrste of that welle that certen impudent persones ouermuche extolled indulgences and pardons At whiche tyme also other errours were perceyued and detected And all be it that byshop Leo condempned this doctryne whiche brought those errours to lyghte yet haue they hetherto impugned that condempnatiō with the testimonies of the Prophetes and Apostles And therfore hath a counsell ben alwaye thought moste nedefull as well of other Prynces and states of them wherin the cause myght be examined and openly tryed what is true and what is false for that they sawe howe many thynges were crept into Religion whiche were to be refourmed And therfore in the assemblies of the Empyre it was decreed that there should be a free and a christian counsell eyther of all nations or els of the prouince of Germany by those especiall wordes lest that eyther the sentēce of the byshop or the force and power of any other man should be preiudiciall to the cause Agayne that in all this cause iudgement should be geuen not after the byshoppes decrees and opinions of Scholemen but accordyng vnto holy Scripture For yf any mans power should be of more force than the Scriptures than due examination who doubteth But that he that shoulde contende againste the byshop shoulde lose his labour and stryue agaynste the streame Wherfore not without great considerations it hath been decreed that the counsell should be holden in Germany And the Emperour also content it shoulde so be but nowe these requestes of the bysshop to be vtterly against the decrees of the Empyre confyrmed by the seales of the Emperour and the other Prynces For all be it he speaketh of a free councel yet doubtles he intendeth an other thynge whā he goeth about to haue kynges and Prynces bounden to hym For in case he woulde haue it free what shoulde this obligation nede But nowe seyng that he is wholy bent this waye certenly this is his purpose that vnder the name of a counsell he maye maynteyne his power and aucthoritie that no man shall reprehende his faultes and errours or if any doe atttempte it that he shall not escape vnpunyshed They knowe not what other men wyll doe but surelye this demaunde of his is wrytten in suche sorte that it rather maketh them afrayde of a counsell than prouoketh them to it for who woulde bynde hym selfe after this sorte especially beynge not yet knowen what shall be the ordre of the counsell the fourme and maner whether the byshop wyll haue his adherentes to beare there moste aucthoritie or whether the controuersies shall be determined accordyng to the holy Scriptures or after the traditions and lawes of men grounded vpon no Scripture at all The lybertie of the Counsell is also restrayned in that he wyll haue it kept after the olde accustomed maner They doe not refuse the former counselles that are consonant to the Scryptures but suche as haue bene in our tyme or a lyttle before whiche haue attributed more than reason wold to the byshop of Rome and decrees of men farre differing from the auncient counselles therfore where he sayeth it shall be after the olde accustomed maner this is his crafte and policie that there shall not be that lybertye of speache and geuinge of sentences as they both desyre and also the cause requireth but that iudgement shall be geuen accordynge vnto his lawes and vsurped power whiche he taketh vppon hym as by certen of the last coūselles it is manifest but by this vsage and hadling of matters can neither the churches be pacified nor the troubled conscience quieted but are brought into further darkenes bondage wherfore seing that the bishop hath not as yet satisfied the requestes of the Emperour and states of the Empyre they ernestly desyre that Cesar considering the weightines of the cause whiche concerneth the vniuersall cōmon wealth and all nations would see that the matter might be handled indifferently For this is his office and dutie this may he doe by the lawes When in dede the byshop impugneth the truthe for it is to be forseen and prouided that the plaintife or defendaūt be not also iudge in the cause For all nations haue great hope in this counsell and doe both wyshe and pray that at the laste mens consciences troubled and sore afflicted with doubtfull dissentiō may be made free set at libertie and taught the way of saluatiō For these many hondreth yeares hath not bene so muche contention about so weighty matters as is at thys present And this stryfe aryseth of sondry errours and vices whiche haue spronge longe before our tyme But and if men be disceaued of theyr expectation and shall
the Lutherians by conuenasit promesse or othe from all those bondes to absolue monkes that be fallē into heresie and haue forsaken their houses and to permitte them chaunging their coates to serue in an other vocation of the churche Moreouer to geue pardon to eate milke butter chese egges and fleshe hauing a respect to the place and persone Finally to permit thē to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde who laying asyde all other errours shall allowe the decree of the counsel of Constance whiche will openly confesse that there is as muche receiued vnder one kynde as vnder both and that the churche erred not for making that decre of one kynde only And that this may be graunted them for a certen tyme as shal be thought mete yet so as they them selues doe this seuerally at an other tyme and place and not at the same tyme whan others doe receiue vnder one kynde only Lastly they haue authoritie to compounde with the possessioners of churche landes for the fruictes receiued and spent so as they wyll departe from the possession from hencesorth Furthermore to punishe obstinate persones by the censure of the churche and herein to craue assistaunce of the Magistrates And lykewyse to chouse and substitute Byshoppes throughout Germany whiche shall put the thing in execution These Ambassadours of Rome followynge this commission in such places as they thought moste nedefull did substitute Byshops wherof the Byshop of Strasburg was one whome they commaunded to execute thinges before rehersed And so finally to receiue into fauour ecclesiastical persons if they first would forsake and put away their wyues And mē saye howe they went to the Emperour to haue cōference with hym touchyng the measure and maner of execution And after they vnderstode that it was not possible for them to go vnto al places whiche had nede of remedy of necessitie they suborned others This graunte or indulgence as they terme it of the byshoppe of Rome the Emperour sendeth immediatly to the byshoppes of Germany and warneth thē all seuerally to handle the matter gently and peaseably and that they first trye and and assay al wayes by fayre speach exhortations and praiers before they come to excommunication and cursyng Wherfore the Archebyshop of Mētz addressing his letters both to diuerse others also to the gouernours counsellours of that Lātgraue And speakyng many thynges of his cure and charge pastorall and of the Emperours fayth and dilygence requyreth them to exhibite this order sent from the Byshop of Rome to the ministers of the churche commaunding them to obeye the same The preachers being moued herein saye how their doctrine is consonant to the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles the lyfe it selfe in dede doeth not aunwere to the profession but yet do thei acknowledge no errour in their doctrine Wherfore thei haue no nede of the Byshops indulgence They haue preferred mariage before the filthie sengle lyfe accordinge vnto Gods worde neither can they forsake their children wyues whome Christ him self commaundeth to embrace with all loue fidelitie and beneuolence Where ther churches do receyue the Lordes supper wholy the same is done by the commaundement of Christe and after the custome of the primatiue churche And they wyll admit no alteration herein In the moneth of May was an open disputatiō at Oxforde betwene Peter Martyr the Diuines of the same vniuersitie cōcerning the Lordes supper and the presence of Christ his body These conclusions dyd Martyr set vp and defende That the substaunce of bread and wyne is not chaunged That the body and bloud of Christe is not carnally or corporally in the bread and wyne but to be vnited to them sacramentally Afterwarde there was set forthe a boke of the same wherin the presidentes of the disputation appointed by the kynges commaundemēt do sufficiently declare that Martyr had the maistrie in that contention The tenth day of the moneth of Iune the Quene of Fraūce was crowned at Sainct Denis as is accustomed by the Cardinalles of Bolon Gwise Chattilion Uandome and Bourbon for al the rest were at Rome The .vi. daye after the kyng with a maruelous goodly trayne and richely apparrelled entreth into Paris the head citie of his Realme where he had not bene yet sene opēly synce the death of his father two days after him the Quene Whyles he soiourned there diuers were put to executiō for Lutheranisme whiche as it is sayde he behelde him selfe After that the fourth day of Iuly he cōmaundeth to go on procession in euery church The next day after he publisheth a wryting in prynte declaring this to be the cause therof that he might geue God thankes for his manifold benefites imployed vpō him And that he might praye to God for the preseruation of hym selfe his wyfe and his children and of the whole Realme and commō wealth and cōmende vnto him the soules of godly mē but chiefly the kinges of Fraūce his progenitours his father lately departed after whose example he was fully prefixed to vndertake the defence and tuition of the catholique fayth Religion the authoritie and liberties of the See Apostolique ministers of the churche amōgest the causes this also to be one principall that it mygh be openly knowen howe muche he abhorreth them whiche contrary to Christes commaundement contrary to the traditions of the Apostles and consent of al antiquitie denie the presence of the body and bloude of Christe whiche take away all vertue and strength from Baptisme penaunce good workes and Sacramentes whiche do vtterly cōtemne the authoritie of the churche and order archepreistship whiche reiecte the praying adoration and reliques of saintes Moreouer that by that deuoute supplication he might testifie what his opinion and mynde is verely that after the example of his progenitours and by a certen imitation of inheritaūce he doeth so thinke and beleue of all opinions as doeth the Catholique churche the Crede of the Apostles the first counsell of Nice and many other counselles of the holy fathers Further more that he is fully determined to bannish out of his realme and dominions the heresies long since condemned but in this tyme partely reuined and partly inuented by Luther Carolostadius Zwinglius Oecolampadius Melanchthon Bucer Caluine and suche other Archeheretikes monstrouse and pestiferous persones and to punishe moste extremely suche as shall offende herein This wryting setforth in the vulgare tōgue he sendeth abroade into all partes of Fraunce commaunding thē to go a procession in all places and declare the same vnto the people Not long after he beheaded Monsour Ueruine for rendring the towne and castel of Boloigne to the king of Englād as is spoken in the .xv. boke And his father in lawe Mouns Dubees an aged mā which was gouernour of al Boloignois and one of the foure Mreschalles of Fraunce he cōdemneth to perpetuall prison He had diuerse monethes past sollicited the Swisses to renewe the league whiche they had
freers that he shuld induce him to recant of his own accorde Wherfore Luther in the same letters maketh mention what Stupice did with him verely omitting nothing that becōmeth a faithfull and frendly man to dooe he geueth him thankes for his beneuolence towardes him whiche he perceiueth well by the talke of Stupicious wherby doubtles he was much comforted so that nowe he would gratifie no man more rather than hym he graunteth that he was ouer quicke and had to little regarde to the Byshop of Rome his authoritie Howe be it the same is to be imputed to the importunitie of the Collectours he desyreth to be forgeuen this fault and promyseth to be more modeste hereafter and affirmeth also that he wyll in his sermons satisfie the Byshops request And as cōcerning indulgences he wil speake no more therof so that his aduersaries may be lykewyse commaunded to silence How be it to reuoke his sentence already taught and defended he can not with a safe conseience tyll suche tyme as by the testimonies of holy scripture he be cōdemned of errour He therfore requyreth that the hearing of the matter may be referred to the Byshop of Rome for there is nothing ran dooe hym more pleasure than to heare the voyce of the churche Whan the Cardinall would make none aunswere to these letters and had manased him in wordes through the counsell of his frendes he departed thence two dayes after leauing behind him an Appellation to be openlye set vp about the tyme of his departure And or euer he went he wrote agayne to the Cardinall that he hath done what he was able howe he came on foote being sickly a longe iournaye to Auspurg to the intent he might declare his dutie towardes the Byshop of Rome And nowe hauing litle monye left and being lothe to be longer chargeable to the house of the white freres his host he is dryuen to retourne and the rather for that he can not abyde his sight and hath forboden him his presens Wherefore all his freindes in a maner had counsailed him to appeale from him to the Bishoppe him selfe whiche he woulde not haue done but by the aduise of his freindes And chifely because that he supposeth that Duke Friderick had also rather that some appellatiō were made than that any thinge should be rashely or vnaduisedly reuoked The appellation was made muche after this sort How that same question touching Indulgences hath bene diuersely handled of many but neuer throughly determined And that in suche doubtefull questions it hath bene alwayes lawfull namely for Diuines to reason which thing also he did at the selfe same time whan certein clamorous Pardoners did not onely write and teache rashely and vncircumspectlye but also polled the people exceadingly and yet did he this not to affirme anye thinge but to trie out the trueth he committed also the whole controuersie to the iudgemente of learned men and euen to the Bishoppe of Rome but his Pardonars haue inuented such sclaunders against him and haue complayned so sore to the Byshoppe and brought the matter to suche passe at the last that the matter was committed to the Bishop of Ascula Syluester Prierias by whō he was cited to Rome but for so much as both these wer suspected the one of thē also vnfit to be iudge in such a matter Moreouer if he shold haue gone to Rome no mā douted but he shold haue ben in great daūger of his lif And last for that he was cōmaūded by his prince to remain at home for these causes also for such feare as may come vpō the most cōstant mā liuing he had desyred duke Friderick to bring to passe that the hearyng of the matter might be referred to some skilful and fitte men in Germany in a place not suspected nor subiect to iniurie Wherfore the Bishop of Rome hath committed the whole matter to his Ambassador Cardinal Caietane whiche doubtles was done at the instaunce of his aduersaries whiche knewe alreadye the mynde and wyll of the Cardinall And all thoughe he myghte not wythoute iuste cause be suspected yet dyd he obey but the Cardinall by and by at the fyrste metynge commaunded him to reuoke his workes whereunto he aunswered that he woulde iustifye that that he had done eyther in present disputation or by writinge And yet would submit the whole matter not onely to the vniuersities but also to the iudgement of the churche of Rome But he with al these thynges beynge nothing satisfied commaunded him styll to recante And where he coulde not bringe on the same he threatened with greuous punishment bothe him and others also that were of his opinion Therfore where as he findeth him selfe sore greued with suche preiudices he doeth appeale from the Byshoppe of Rome not well infourmed in this matter to the Bishop that shal be better instructed in the same And this he protesteth openlye Furthermore that same decree of Clement is to be founde in that parte of the Cannon lawe that is called extrauagaunte There Clemente appoynteth the yere of Iubile which Boniface the eight had ordained euery hundreth yeare to be nowe euerye fiftithe yeare and speakinge of the benefite of our sauioure Christe he sayeth howe that one droppe of Christes bloud had bene sufficient to haue redemed all man kynde wherefore the ouerplus he hathe left as a treasure wyth Peter and his successours to dyspose and distribute vpon penitente personnes that confesse theyr synnes lyke good Stewardes and so to releue them from Temporall punisshemente dewe vnto them for theyr synnes Moreouer and besyde the merittes of the Uirgin Marie and of all Sainctes belonge vnto thys place saieth he so that the matter and power of remyttynge synnes is vnmeasurable Wherefore vpon this decree Caietaine groundeth the authoritie of pardons But Luther sayth howe that there was nothyng committed to Peter and hys successours besydes the keyes and ministration of the worde wherein Christ commaundeth that through the trust in him the remissiō of sinnes shold be shewed to the beleuers And this to be the true sence meanyng of Scripture And if the decree of Clement meane thus he can be content otherwise he can not alow the same And that whiche is spoken moreouer of the merites of Saintes is wholy agaynst the holy Scriptures For men what soeuer they be can not onely not do more than they oughte but also not so muche as they are bounden neither are they saued by their owne merites but by the sole and mere mercy of God for all men must pray dayly that God the father will forgeue vs our offences and that he stand not in iudgement agaynst vs lest we be damned Touchynge that whiche the Cardinall inferreth for the authoritie of the Byshoppe of Rome thus standeth the case It was enacted in the fourth and fifte syttyng of the coūsell of Constaunce that the Bishop of Rome him selfe should obey the decrees of the Synode The same was afterwarde established and repeted
in the seuententh and eyghtenth syttting of the Counsel of Basil But wheras Eugenius the fourth would not come to the Counsell at Basill although he were oftentimes warned and cited thither he pronounced the same to be frustrate and called an other at Farrare whither came Iohn Paleologe the last Emperour of Grece saue one and with him Iosippe the Patriarche of Constantinople and a numbre of Bishoppes in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.xxxvij And from Farrare they remoued to Florence where as by the consent of the Grekes it was decreed amonges other thinges that the church of Rome should haue the supremacie that the bishop of Rome was the successor of Peter the prince of thapostels the trew vicar of Christ the head of the whole church the father doctor of al christiās that to him was cōmitted by Christ the ful power to fede gouerne the church vniuersal This is the decree whereby Caietanus woulde preferre the Bishoppe of Rome before and aboue all generall Counsels For syxe yeares before whan he was yet no Cardinall but maister of the blacke Frieres he made an Oration in the seconde syttynge of the Counsell Laterane wherof we shall speake hereafter and inueiyng muche agaynste certeyne Cardinalles that had forsaken the Bishop of Rome he taunteth by the waie the Counselles of Costauntz and Basil for that the fathers at the same tune toke to them selues aucthoritie ouer the Byshoppes Wherefore saieth he it was wel done of Eugenius that he suppressed that factiō and suffered not his aucthoritie to be diminished This oration did Iulius the seconde in whose fauoure these thynges were spoken commaunde to be recorded And Caietane was made Cardinall by Leo the tenth Gerson of whom we spake was a Diuine of Paris right famouse and wrote diuers worckes he was presente at the Counsell of Constans and in bookes written he commendeth hyghely the decree whereby it is agreed that the Byshoppe of Rome should be subiecte to the Counsell And sayeth how the thing is worthie to be written in all Churches and publike places for a perpetuall memorye For he saieth they be pestilent Flatterers whiche brynge thys Tyrranny into the Churche as thoughe the Bishoppe of Rome ought neither to obey the Counsel nor be iudged by the same as though the Counsell should take all his force and aucthoritie of him as thoughe it coulde not be called but at his pleasure as though he were bounden to the obseruation of no lawes nor none accompt myght be taken of his doynges certeinly these monstruous sayinges muste be vtterly reiected which are against all lawes equitie and reason For all the aucthoritie of the Churche dependeth of the generall counsell and it is lawefull to appeale from the pope vnto it and those which inquire whether the Byshop of Rome or the Churche be greater make as wise a question as if they should aske whether the part be more or the whole for it aperteineth to the coūsel to constitute to iudge and to depose the Byshop of Rome as lately it was declared at Constaunce for where as some semed to doubte in the matter and attributed ouermuche to the Byshoppe this question was there determined before Iohn the three and twentith was deposed from his Seate These and many other thinges writeth Gerson to to the same effecte And therefore is he nowe reiected of Caietane He died in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC.xxix And the vniuersitie of Paris holdeth the same opiniō and includeth the vnmesurable vsurpation of the Romishe Byshoppes as it were wyth in these boundes and but a fewe monthes before that Luther wrote of Indulgences the same Uniuersite appealed from Leo the tenthe for abolyshyng of a law whych was very profitable for studentes in Fraunce and opened the waye to promotion After Luthers departure from Aspurge the Cardinall writeth letters to the Duke of Saxonie the fiue twentye daye of October signifiynge how Luther in dede came to Auspurge but spake not with him till he had obteined themperours safeconduit He marueileth greatlye that so little credit is geuen to him After much treaty aboute the matter he of a certaine fatherly loue admonished Luther to amende And albeit he waxed more stubberue yet did he deuise with Stupice and others a waye of reconcilemente And that in suche forte as neyther the Churche of Rome shoulde lose her dignitie nor he his estimation And wheras there was a good foundation of this thing already laid they went preuely away first Stupice and after Luther whiche chaunced muche contrary to his expectation Luther pretendeth that he treateth of these matters onlye by the waye of reasonynge and of disputation but in his sermons to the people he affirmeth all thynges whiche maye in no wise bee permitted for so muche as hys Doctrine bothe swarueth from the churche of Rome and is also verye parnicious as it is certainlye to be proued Wherefore he dothe admonishe him to regarde his owne honour and his conscience and either to sēd Luther to Rome or els to banishe him his countrye For it can not be that so pestilent a thinge shoulde longe continue neyther is there anye doubt but they wil procede in iudgement againste him at Rome and that he hath accordinge to his duetie signified to the bishop the whole matter and the clokynge of the same He prayeth hym therefore to geue no credit vnto suche as commended Luthers doinges neither to suffer so greate an euill to spot and blemishe that noble house of Saxonie like as he had oftentimes promised To the whiche Epistle exhibited the ninetene daye of Nouembre Duke Fredericke maketh aunswere the eighte daye of Decembre that he promised to sende Luther to Auspurge whiche beinge perfourmed they can require no more of him And that he promised him likewise to let him frendly departe And nowe that he woulde dryue hym to recante before hys matter were hearde he can not a lyttle maruell For there were dyuerse well learned men aswell in other partes as in his Countrye whyche dyd not condemyne his Doctrine And suche as were hys aduersaries were blyneded wyth Auarice and corrupted wyth filthye lucre but in case hys erroure hadde bene detected than woulde he whiche seeketh bothe the glorye of God and the safetye of hys owne conscience haue done all readye herein the duetye of a Christen Prynce And therefore where he wryteth that processe shall passe againste the sayde Luther at Rome that is beyonde all hys expectation And when he desyreth moreouer that eyther he shoulde be sente to Rome or elles into exile it is not lawfull for hym so to do Firste because he is not as yet detected of Heresye Secondely for because that the same shoulde be a greate losse to the Uniuersitie of Wittemberge whiche he had lately founded whereof Luther was a certeine lyghte and an ornament Unto whome he sent his letters that he myght reade them And he offereth him selfe as before to be readye
Wherfore if you thinke it good and that it be oure destinie that a foreine prince shall at this time weare oure Crowne vpon his heade certenly I thinke mete to preferre the Frenche kynge before the Spanishe But if the lawe do prohibite vs to chose the Frenchekinge letthe same take place in the Spanishe kinge and let vs not throughe a subtill interpretation accompt king Charles a Germanie but let vs espie out amonges all the Princes one whiche hath no mansion but in Germany which is a Germanie in birthe language maners and dispotition My lorde of Mentz supposeth that suche an Emperour shoulde for his small abilitie be dispised but if we chose a mete man Germanie is riche and stronge enough to beare vp this burthen Raffe the xj Emperour before Maximilian was a man but of Small power but he excelled in vertue And he restored Thēpire that was ful weak and sore afflicted with great warres in such sorte that all the kinges about him did feare him What a good opinion had also foreine princes and amonges others Lewes the xij king of Fraunce of themperor Maxilian onely for his wit vertue I suppose you knowe righte well For doubtles the princes of Germany haue bene euer of muche estimation And as yet their noble fame is not extinguished but florisheth stil And amōges others at this day there be thre principal houses in Germani the house of Bauar Saxonie Brādenburge And of these houses also diuers worthy mē Wherfore if we chose one of thē assist him with our aides as surely we are boūden we shal nede to feare no straūgers so that we be all of one minde and will althinge shal be in saftie Therfore setting a part straungers let vs create some one of our owne coūtreymen it shal proue right wel for there be many domestical examples of vertue wherof I shall recite one Matthias kinge of Hūgary a stout warriour a fortunate proclaimed warre vpon a time againste your father my lord of Saronie but whē he perceiued a sufficient armie prepared againste him his anger was sone pacified So mighte now also the meanes be founde that an Emperor of our owne nation being elected might mainteinehis estate and authoritie both at home and a broad Thirdly spake the duke of Saxonie who after he had proued the Frenche king to be excluded by the lawe king Charles to be a Germayne Prince to haue an habitation in Germany he said the common weale had nede of some mightie prince but he knew noue to be compared with Charles therfore he was contented that he should be declared Emperor but yet vpon certen conditions that Germany shall reteike her libertie and that those daungers which were mentioned should be eschewed Finallye when the rest had approued this sentence the Archbyshoppe of Treuers sayde◠I see the fatall destenye of Germany and the alteration euen nowe at hande not withstandynge for asmuche as it semeth so good to you I will confourme my wyll vnto your iudgemente This was the xxviij daie of Iune when it was darke night Wherfore they departed and mette agayne the next daye There they began to treate what conditions should be propounded to the Emperour the matter was in debating certein daies at the lengthe when they were agreed vpon they were written out and sent to his Ambassadours to Mentz Whan they had receiued them all theyr voices were committed to writinge as the maner is and sealed the daye before thempire was offered to Friderick duke of Saxonie but he with a stout courage refused it gaue his voice vnto king Charles whose Ambassadours for his so doynge offered hym a great sūme of money which he vtterly refused would not suffer his mē also to take one farthing After this tharchbishop of Mentz calling the nobilitie comon people into the church of Saint Bartholomew in his sermō declareth Charles Archduke of Austrich king of spaine to be king of Romanes in the stede of Maximiliā departed And for that he was chosen with such a cōsent he saieth they ought to geue God thankes exhorting thē to shew to him all fidelitie obeysaūce speaking much in his praise he declareth why they chose him before all others Than thambassours which were comen with in a myle were sent for Those were Matthew the Cardinall of Salisburge Erarde Bishop of Liege Barnard Bishoppe of Trent Fridericke countie Palatine Casimire Marques of Brādēburge Henry Erle of Nasso Maximiliā of Sibebouge certē others of his coūsel Whē they were comē they cōsulted howe the common wealth be gouerned vntill suche tyme as he came him selfe into Germany Howe Casimire the Paulsgraue should leuie a force of men place them in garisons and foresee that the state take no harme Afterwardes the Princes Electours sente Ambassadours with their letters to king Charles to declare the whole matter The chief of thē was Fridericke the Paulsgraue Howbeit in the meane time diuerse messengers went into Spaine amonges other one went frō Franckefurth to Barcelona in nine dayes The Countie Palatine arriued there at the ende of Nouembre deliuereth the Princes letters the content wherof was this That he would receiue thempire offered him and all delaye sette a parte repaire into Germany so soone as he mighte He aunswereth ryght curtesiye by the mouthe of Mercurine Cattinar that all beit there was muche trouble towardes him what by the Turkes and what by the Frenche men yet this not withstondyng he sayd he neither coulde nor woulde faile the common countrie chiefly syns that so noble Princes had such an opinion of him required him so to do Wherfore he receiueth their honour offered him right thankefully so shortly as may be will imbarke him self to come to the borders of thempire And in maner with the same wordes he writeth to the Princes Electours and sendeth home Fridericke honourably rewarded Thus was he made Emperor the fift of that name being than xxj yeres of age The Frenche kyng toke the repulse the more greuouslie for that he perceiued a greater daūger to hang ouer his state seing the power of his enemie whom before he suspected herby to be muche increased for he had rather any man els had bene chosen than he He had geuen great sommes of money to haue bene cōsydered And so did they of Flaūders in like case as it is reported but herein I can affirme nothing certenly Here will I declare the Petiegre of kinge Charles Charles the fift surnamed wise king of Fraūce gaue the Dukedō of Burgūdy which fel vnto him to Philip his yongest brother which Philip maried afterwards the lady Margaret thonly daughter of Lewes Erle of Flaūders had by her a sonne called Iohn And he had a sonne named Philip the father of Charles the stoute warriour which was slaine before Nancey leauing a daughter called Mari an inheritour of many great coūtreis She was maried to Maximiliā sonne to thēperor
Rome he woulde haue hys owne oppinion to take place against the iudgement of mē Wherfore it is wittely done of him to haue no familiarytie with so pestilent a fellowe nor to alowe hys errour In the whiche thinge all graue and wise men do muche commende his vertue And chieflye he giueth God hertie thankes that he hath giuen him suche a mynde affirming moreouer that he hath suffered and borne with his rashenes a while to see if he woulde amende but now for asmuche as he hathe nothinge preuailed with gentle admonishmentes he is compelled to vse an extreme remedy fearyng lest throughe his contagion he shoulde infecte many Wherfore callyng a counsel of Cardinalles and learned men to debate the matter he hath made a decree by the instinction of that holy spirite whiche neuer faileth the Churche of Rome the copie wherof he hath sent vnto him to the intent he might see what monstrouse errours that minister of Sathan defendeth he wilieth him therfore that vnlesse he do openly and solemnely recant with in the daye prescribed he should commit him toward for so shall he put away all shame from his house and from Germany wynne muche honor and do God highe seruice The decree is ouerlonge but the summe is this Fyrst the Byshoppe Leo callynge vpon Christe Peter and Paule and other sainctes to tourne awaye the daunger hangynge ouer the Church most lamentably complayneth that now there should spring vp a doctrine conteinyng bothe the Heresies already condemned and also newe errours and great wickednes And that in Germany that was wont to do so muche for the Churche of Rome bothe longe sins and of late dayes concernyng Husse and thē of Boheme But because the numbre of Christians throughout the vniuersall worlde are committed vnto his charge by Christ he can no lenger wyncke at so great a matter After reciting Luthers opinions saieth that they be against Christian charitie and the reuerens that all men owe of duetie to the Churche of Rome and agaynste the counsell of the aunciente fathers Wherfore by the consent of his Cardinalles he condemneth both him and his works to be brought forth and burned and by the aucthoritie whiche he saieth he hath he commaundeth all Magestrates namelye in Germany to se the thing executed accordingely Then commeth he to Luther shewyng with howe fatherly a loue he sought to refourme him howe he cited him to Rome and promised him to beare his charges And howe in contempte therof he appealed from him to the coūsell contrary to the decrees of Pius and Iulius And all be it he had hereby deserued the punishement condigne for Heretikes yet did he of his clementie gyue him a longer time if happely as the prodigal child amended through his owne misery he would retourne to the bosome of the churche And to be yet also of this minde yea and moste hertely besecheth him and his adherentes to trouble the church no more promysing them great good will if they wyll cease from theyr errours Notwithstandynge he commaundeth Luther to teache no more prescribynge him .lx. dayes wythin the whiche time he shoulde amende burne his owne bokes and recante his doctrine openlye if he did not he condemneth him as an Heritike to suffer accordynge to that lawes he suspendeth him out of the Church commaunding al men to eschew his talke and his company vnder the lyke penaltie and this decree to be red in all Churches assemblies of people at certen dayes appointed Touching Pius and Iulius thus it standeth This Pius hilde a Counsell at Mantua in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.lix chiefely because of the Turkisshe warre And there amonges other he made a decree that no man should appeale from the Byshoppe to the Counsell for that vnder the Coope of heauen he said there coulde nothinge be founde better then Christes Uicar And not longe after he suspended Sigismunde duke of Austriche for takinge the Cardinall of Cusane prisoner The duke appealed from him to the counsell Wherfore the Byshoppe did excommunicate George Heimburge the worker herof commaunding the Senate of Norinburge to banishe him the Citie and to spoile him of his goodes Whiche decree was after renewed by Iuly to maynteyne him selfe agaynst the Cardinalles that swarued from him agaynst kynges and princes and the vniuersitie of Paris whiche vsed ofte suche refuge This Bishop Pius called before Aeneas Siluius was at the Counsell of Basill wrot euery thing praysing the decrees that there were made exceadyngly But when he was auaunced to this highe degree of dignitie he chaūged his opinion and would haue the counsell subiecte to the Byshop When Luther hearde that he was condemned at Rome he goeth to his former appellation wherin he appealed from the Bishoppe to the counsell And nowe forsomuche as the Byshoppe perseuerynge in hys wicked tyrrannye hath proceded so farre to condemne him nether called nor heard nor yet conuicte of Heresye he saieth howe he appealeth from him againe to the counsel chiefly for foure causes for that he hath condemned him at his pleasure not hearyng the controuersie for that he cōmaundeth him to denie faith to be in sacramentes necessary that he preferreth his owne decrees and dotages of men before the Scriptures and for that he leaueth no place to anye Counsell Wherefore he calleth him Tyrran a proude contemner of the Churche and fynallye Antichriste affirmynge that he will shewe and proue al these thinges whensoeuer it shall please his superiours And therfore prayeth themperour and other Magistrates to accepte this his appellation for the defence of Gods glory and the libertie of the counsell that they would bridell his tyrranny and thynke that the decree made concerned nothynge nor that they would styrre nothinge tyll the cause were lawfully decided Before he had thus appealed about the .xvij. day of Nouembre he had written a boke of the Captiuitie of Babilon in the preface wherof he saieth howe he profiteth dayely more and more in the knowledge of holy Scripture And howe a fewe yeares paste he set forth a booke of the Byshoppes pardons and that tyme wrote renerently because he stoode than in great feare of the Romisshe tyrranny and had it in great estimation but now his iudgement is farre otherwise and beynge styrred vp by the prouocation of his aduersaries he hath lerned that the See of Rome is nothynge els but the kyngdome of Babilon and the power of the stronge Hunter Niutroth Afterwardes he disputeth of the Sacramentes of the Churche and holdeth that there be but three onelye Baptisme Penaunce and the Lordes Supper and then treateth also of the other foure confirmation order Matrimonye and Unction But these he calleth no Sacramentes because they haue no sygnes annexed to the promesse other sacramentes which haue no promise to thē ioyned he saith are but vare signes therfore thinketh that Penaunce can not be coūted in the numbre of thē if we wil properly exactly
a league with them of Zuricke Bernes and Basyll whiche were both nerer vnto them and accorded better in Religion to the intent they myght at all tymes be able to defende them selues from iniurye The condicions were that if they shoulde be attempted with force of armes for Religion sake that then those cities should sende ayde and men as many as shal be requisite yet so that they of Strausborough shall gyne vnto euery thousand of fote men two thousād crownes by the moneth in parte of recompence Agayne if it be their chaunce to be first assauted the citie of Strausborough shal ayde them with no mē but with thre thousand crownes euerye moneth whylest the warre shall endure Moreouer if their ennemies be founde in any part of the others dominions not to escape free but to suffer accordinge to the lawe of Armes If they shall be warred vpon all at ones then euerye cytie to beare theyr owne charges Strausborough shall in tyme of peace sende vnto Zuricke when they may conuenientlye ten thousande poundes of gunne powder and as many rasers of Wheate vnto Basyll Wherof shall be nothyng spent but in tyme of warre then to delyuer it out to the townes men vpon a reasonable price If they shall come to ayde them of Strausborough they maye spende of the powder so muche as shall be nedefull and in the warre common to them both they to paye the one halfe for the same This league was made for fyftene-yeares the fyft daye of Ianuary When this was knowen Fridericke Palatyne presydent of the counsell imperiall addressed his letters vnto them aboute the ende of the same moneth signifiyng howe it is commonly reported that they haue made a league with certen townes in Swycerlande whereat he marueyleth not a lyttle that they whiche are bounden to the Empyre should enter into league with others without the consent of the Emperour and the states of the Empyre and all be it that moste men affirme it to be trewe yet wyll not he credite the thynge before he shal vnderstande it by them selues Wherfore he requyreth them to declare playnely by wryting vnto hym whiche representeth the place of the Emperour what the league is and what conditions they are agreed vpon The Protestauntes had appoynted an other assemblye at Norinberge whyther came the Ambassadours of certen Prynces and cyties who for so muche as it was thought howe the Emperour would call a counsell shortly agreed vpon this only that in the meane tyme they should consulte what to propounde in the same and euerye moneth to aduertyse the Duke of Saxon what thynges they thought mete that the reste myght vnderstande it by hym And thus departed the fourth Ides of Ianuarye In the meane whyle the Emperour whiche was come to Bononye the fyfte daye of Nouembre the one and twentye daye of Ianuarye dispatchynge his letters into Germanye sommoned a parliament of all states at Auspurge the eyght daye of Apryll chyefiy for the cause of Religion the Turky she warre After the foure and twenty daye of Februarye he was not wtithout great pompe and solempnitie inuested by the Byshop of Rome whan he had fyrst taken his othe to be the cōtinuall defendour of the Byshoppes dignitie Before he came at Bononye as he should enter within the lymites of the byshoppes iurisdiction there were three Cardinalles sent by the byshop of Rome to demaunde and take his fidelitie that he should neuer do any iniury to the libertie of that churche He aunswered in such sorte as he declared that he would lose no part of his right signifiyng secretly that Parme and Placence belonging to the Dukedome of Millan whiche townes the churche of Rome possessed at the same tyme. Departing out of Bononie he created Fridericke Duke of Mantua In tymes past Mantua was a free citie of the Empyre but afterwardes being sore afflicted with vprores ciuile tumultes they chose Lewys Gonzaga to be their gouernour for expulsyng of a Tyraunt called Passeryne the yeare of our Lorde M .ccc. xxvii whose nephewes sonne Iohn Frances the Emperoure Sigismunde created Marques the yeare M. cccc.xxxiiij the seconde daye of Septembre and remayneth in the same estate vntil this time The first that came to Auspurge was the Duke of Saxony with his sonne Iohn Fridericke in the trayne that came behynde was Philip Melaucthō Ihon Iselbe Agricola Iustus Ionas and George Spalatine the cytie Ulmes sent to mete and welcome the Emperour but they were longe or they myght be suffered to come to his speche in fine he requyred them to renounce the protestation of the yeare before and promesse to be obedient from henceforth The men of Auspurge had mustered eyght hondreth footemen to kepe their Towne whan the Emperour hearde of it he commaunded them to be discharged and he appoynteth and sweareth others in theyr steade requyred one gats of the Cytie to be delyuered vnto hym certen dayes before that he came thether Cattinarie that was newly made Cardinall dyed this tyme at Isprouke and Granuellane had his rowme And about this tyme also the ladye Elenor with the kynges two sonnes Fraunces and Henry whiche had bene pledges for their father in Spayne foure yeares came nowe home into Fraunce After a whyle that the byshop had inuested themperour he sent vnto king Ferdinādo Peter paulle Uerger his legate with great authoritie Unto whome he gaue in cōmaundemēt especially to deuise with Ferdinando that he shuld endeuour to let hinder that prouincial coūsel of Germany that in no wyse there should any be holden He handleth his cōmissiō right diligently seketh al meanes possible to hynder the Lutherians and extended his lyberalitie towardes Iohn Faber Eckius Chocleus and Nanseas that they should play the men and made Eckius a Cannon of Ratisbonne as the bishops legate in whose presence the right of Election ceasseth the Emperour came to Auspurg at the Ides of Iune and in his company the Cardinall Campegius with the byshoppes full authoritie The Emperour had purposed to haue rydē into the citie in the middes ther Ferdinando and the Cardinall but because it was against the maner of the Empyre the Archebyshop of Mentz and Collen rode before hym and after hym Ferdinando and Campegius The nexte day was Corpus Christi day the Emperour therfore wēt deuoutly to the churche and the Cardinall of Mentz sayde Masse All the Prynces were present except the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue the two Dukes of Lunenboroug George of Brandenburge and the Countie Anholde The Emperour in dede had both wylled them to be there and to put their preachers to silence but thei neither came them selues nor yet imposed silence to their preachers which they sayd they could not for as muche as the same assemblie was appointed to the intent al mē might speake their consciences Two dayes after was a proclamation made that the preachers on both sydes should kepe silence til the
of our determination is iust and reasonable yet is there no doubte but our aduersaries be of suche nature that they wyll blame our doyng constrewe it to the worste parte For to the entent they may bryng vs and our cause into hatred they wyll affyrme doubtlesse that we can abyde no examination nor iudgement and that we despyse al other nations amonges whome there haue often bene many excellent learned men This wyll they saye moreouer that it is wickednes to refuse the decrees of the counsell for that it is the hyghe iudicial seate of the churche whiche all men are bound to obey They wyl forge also as though we were ashamed of our doctrine or afraid to come to light or els that we sought contentioÌ„ where no nede is and can not endure â—n vniuersall quiet Nowe if this myght be verefied of vs in dede it were not only wicked but also detestable be heard of Wherfore we must of necessitie shewe the reason of our doynge and we truste than that all good men whether they be in Germany or other places wyll not only credit no suche thynge of vs but wyll also doe their endeuour that this moste weyghty cause of all others may be handled vprightly and that the byshop of Rome be not permitted vnder the forged and coloured name of a counsell to oppresse the manifest truthe by a kynde of tyranny For we shal declare that we do not only professe the pure doctrine but also respecte nothyng els but Gods glory and the preseruation of the common wealth and that there can be no obstinacie or frowardnes obiected vnto vs. And fyrst to proue that we do not contemne the iudgement of other nations or of the churche hereby it appereth manyfestly that al our care is lest the byshop and his clientes should take vpon them the authoritie and iudgement and that all thynges myght be decided by mete and no suspected persones Whiche thyng we trust that all Godly men would lykewyse wyshe for For where as in dyuerse countreis there remayne certen olde wrytinges and complayntes of the false doctrine vices and idolatrie that were than crept into the churche we doubte not but in the same places at this daye there be some Godly and learned men also whiche vnderstande the sounde doctrine although being oppressed with the byshoppes tyrannye they are constrayned to holde their peace These in dede of iuste deserte ought to be present at the couÌ„sel that they myght speake their myndes frely For it is not to be accompted a free counsell that is gouerned by the byshop and his fellowes whiche defende false doctrine by power and violence and of an olde custome make decrees contrary to Gods worde For Christe what tyme he instituted this highe iudiciall seate commaunded that all matters should be referred to the churche that requyred a reformation By the whiche selfe wordes he excludeth all tyranny and lordshyp It is also a sclaunder where they saye perhaps that we are a feard to come abroade and can not abyde the opeÌ„ light For in the assemblie imperial at Auspurg we professed our doctrine openly before the Emperoure and all the states of the Empyre Againe this selfe same doctrine is preached openly in our dominions and our learned men haue set forth bookes of the same and diuerse of our aduersaries do confesse that through our mens wrytinges sondrye articles are called agayne to lyght whiche laye before hidde in darkenes For nowe the true doctrine shyneth agayne of penaunce of faythe in Christe of the remissioÌ„ of synnes of good workes of true worshipping of the vse of SacrameÌ„tes of the authoritie of the keyes of Magistrates of the traditions of men and suche other lyke thinges Neither are we ashamed of the Gospell as Paule sayth but haue an especiall desyre that we myght declare our mynde in these thinges before al men And where it is also obiected to our preachers that they shoulde haue reysed vp agayne the heresies before time condempned neither should nede therfore further disputation or hearing it is false may be easlye excused before them that haue red our confession and the defence annexed to the same For the doctrine that we confesse is not newe but the verey consent of the primatiue churche as moste clerely doth appere Neyther haue we admitted any heresy or wycked opinion but our men haue restored the doctrine of the auncieÌ„t fathers which was oppressed by bishops and monkes It is vntrue also that is reported of vs that we shoulde delight in dissention for we are sory from the botome of our hartes that the ChristeÌ„ commoÌ„ wealth is thus deuided to haue a concorde desyre a lawfull counsell But for as muche as the byshop and his fellowes do coÌ„dempne the true and necessary doctrine and do tormente and persecute the professers thereof exhorting others to do the same we can not but mislike their cruel tiranny For God wil be honored through the confession of his name and it is wickednes for any man to ioyne hym selfe to the byshops tyranny whiche so rageth Moreouer it is manifest that we beare and susteine all maner of charges of the common wealth as the residue of the states do Whereby it is to be seene that we woulde also gladly accorde with others in relygion in case it were lawful Besydes this we vnderstande what dauÌ„ger hangeth ouer vs for the same For the byshoppes haue nowe these many yeares declared manifestly what they go about and how they incense kynges myndes against vs. And were it not extreme madnes to abide all these so great dauÌ„gers and to be at so great charges with out iust cause But we knowe assuredly that we owe this dewtie vnto God And that there is nothing to be so much respected as his commaundement and take God to wytnes that we seke for nothing els Nowe that we haue confuted theyr sklaunders we will come to the seconde part Emonges straungers many parauenture suppose that we of a certen curiositie haue impugned some light faultes which for kepinge of a quiet mighte better haue bene dissembled especiallye consydering that the state of worldly thinges is suche that in a common wealth be euer remaining some thinges whiche must be wincked at But the matter standeth farre otherwise For fyrst in dede errours and false opinions may not be dissembled with For Christ commaundeth vs to beware of false teachers Againe the controuersie is not about light errours but touching the doctrine of faith and the true knowledge of God which is the principall pointe of the Christian life and sincere worshipping of God which ought not to be passed ouer in silence but to be obserued purely and diligentlye taught in the Churche And it can not be denied but this doctrine was wholy extinguished and a newe brought in for it to the greate contuinelie of Christ Moreouer we do reprehende diuerse and sundrye errours and wickednes which others also haue espied longe before
Cardinalles thought mete to conferre also with the fathers of the counsell leste any thyng should be done rashely And to the intent that the decrees already made aswell that of remouing the counsell as also the reste myght wholy remayne Therfore sayeth he for so muche as I am both carefull for the welth of Germany and for the Emperours sake would haue no long delay I commaunde you that calling for the assistaunce of the holy Ghoste you declare the whole matter to the fathers And what answere shal be made to the Emperour you wryte hither with all spede Cardinall Montane as he was commaunded bryngeth the matter in counsell after wryteth agayne to the Byshop Albeit the counsell were lawfully remoued frō Trent to Bononie Albeit that in the session of the Fathers the same daie that the decree was made of remouing the Synode al mē were openly warned to repare to Boloigne Although he and the other Fathers wryting their letters after to Trent admonished thē louingly to take their iourney yet do some remaine there vntyll this daye Whiche thing verely aperteineth to the contemt of the counsell and offendeth many Therfore the Fathers do not see howe they should sauing the dignitie and estimation of the Synode consulte of their retourne vnlesse that suche as be at Trent do first come to Bononie ioyne thē selues with the residue acknowledge the authoritie of the counsel Againe it is nedefull that the Fathers be put in assuraūce that Germany will submitte it selfe to the counsell and allowe the decrees therof that either are made already or heafter shal be in such sort that they be retracted of no man Moreouer in as muche as the brute goeth that it shal be a counsell to the people agreable the fathers desyre also to haue assuraunce in that behalfe For if that should take place all order and maner of counselles synce the Apostles tyme vnto this day shuld be chaūged They desyre also to know how they shal be assured that they may all there safely and frely remayne and whan they shall thinke good departe thence no man to let them Finally this assuraunce is also requisite that whan for certen causes it semeth good to the moste part it may be lawfull for the Fathers to go some where els and remoue the counsell Furthermore whan it shall appeare those matters to be sufficiently aunswered for the whiche the counsell was called the fathers may be at libertie to surcease and make an ende These are the thinges whiche the fathers after great deliberation whan they had called for the grace of the holy spirite haue answered vnto his requestes praiyng his holines to take them in good worth Whan these letters were deliuered the Byshop the .xxvii. daye of Decēber at after Masse sendeth for the Emperours Ambassadour Mendoza into the senate of Cardinalles and sheweth him what the Synode of Boloigne hath answered whose opinion he saieth is not misliked either of him or of the Cardinalles as consonant to right and reason For his part there is nothing that he would not wyshe to do for Germany And this can the Emperour witnesse For nothing that concerned the dutie of a good pastour and a moste louing father hath bene of him omitted He perceiueth in dede what the Emperour what king Ferdinādo and the States of the Empire require but he supposeth howe they desire it in suche wyse as it may stande with the peace and commoditie of other nations and with the libertie of the churche Whan Mendoza sawe howe the Bishop toke that company at Boloigne for the counsell he was fully mynded to haue protested to the contrary immediatly But through the intercession of certen Cardinalles and the Deane of the College he was content to aduertise the Emperour of this aunswere and to awayte for his letters and differre the protestation vntill the .xx. day after Whan therfore Mendoza had signified the whole matter to the Emperour The Byshop also made aunswere to the former letters of the Germane Byshops at the kalendes of Ianuary Wherein he commendeth their vertue and interlaseth his owne prayses amonges He sheweth how desyrous he hath bene euer of a counsell and first called the same at Mantua after at Uicence last at Trente whither came many Bishoppes of other nations but fewe or none out of Germany Moreouer what holsome decres were there made and how proftable for the commō wealth and that they departed from thence without his knowledge yet doeth he defende their doinges to be lawefull Further more he defende their doinges to be lawfull Furthermore he discourseth at large what the Cardinall of Trent and Mendoza demaunded in the Emperours name whose requestes in asmuche as they were with theirs agreable he would not answere before he had aunswered the Emperour Finally where they say it is to be feared lest if he be slacke other meanes wyl be found that can not moue him for as muche as he hath omitted no part of his duty whome God hath placed in this seate of dignitie as it were in a hyge watche toure to haue charge of the whole slocke but especially of those that go astraye from the rest Againe it may be that newe deuises shal be attempted against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome For Christ him selfe the architectour therof what tyme he layd the foūdation of the church of Rome did prognosticate of great stormes but that their enterpryse should haue any lucky successe he feareth not for that Christe hath buylded the same vpon a moste strong Rocke Diuers haue heretofore attempted the lyke thinge whome God hath made an example for all men to beholde And if there be any at this day whiche are not affrayde of the plages and punishment of others set before their eyes he sore lamēteth their case for the destruction that will ensue Howbeit he exhorteth them chiefly to remayne and perseuer still in that faith vertue and constancie which they haue perfourmed hetherto And suffer no counselles to take place in their cōuentions against the dignitie of the churche Whan therfore the Byshop and Synod assembled at Boloigne dwelt stil in their opinion The Emperours Ambassadours for the same cause sent to Bononie Fraūces Uargas and Martin Uelascus the .xvi. daye of Ianuary whā they had desyred a Senate they come before the cōsistory There was present Cardinall Mountane and about .xliiii. bishops and prelates of the churche There Uargas reciteth his commission wherin the Emperour had geuen him and his fellowe authoritie to pleade whiche he had also exhibited lately before And beginning to speake was interrupted by Cardinal Montane President of the counsell In this commission and wrytyng the Emperour calleth it not the counsell but conuention of Bononie Wherfore sayeth Cardinal Mountane albeit this assemble is not bounde to heare your Oration forasmuch as your commission exhibited doth not concerne this holy Synode yet lest any man should haue any cause to complayne we refuse
wyll geue no iust cause to be thought negligent in matters cōcerning the churche Neuerthelesse if it so fortune through the imbecillitie of mans nature I shall not be offended if my negligence maye styre vp and sharpen the Emperours dilligence to succour the Churche so that he staye hym selfe within the precincte and limittes prescrybed that is If he followe herein the rule of ryght and lawes of the holy Fathers Finally as concerning the chiefe point of your Protestation where you contende the remouing of the counsell to be vnlawfull in as muche as the effecte of all the controuersie theron dependeth I take vnto my self the examination therof by vertue of my power and authoritie and committe the hearing of the same to the moste worthy Cardinalles Parise Burges Poole and Crescent And commaunde that in the meane tyme whylest they do examine the thing no man what so euer he be attempte any thynge to the contrary And also charge the fathers aswell that be at Bo nonie as also at Trent that if they haue any thing to saye or alledge in this matter they do it within this moneth And lest I should seme in any point to hinder the commoditie of Germany I wyll not refuse to sende myne Ambassadours thether suche as may cure the infirmitie of their people if I shal vnder stande the same not to be vnthankeful to them and to the Emperour Besydes all this whan the iudgement is ended in case it shall appere that they did not wel to remoue vnto Boloigne I will deuise by all meanes that the Synode may be cōtinued at Trent And at fewe wordes will do what I can that in fine the auncient Religion may agayne be restored to Germany The Cardinall of Trent was before this retourned to Auspurge as I said Whan the Emperour than hearing his talke and also receiuing letters frō Mendoza dated at Rome about the ende of December sawe but small hope of the counsell the xiiii daye of Ianuary declareth the matter to the states in what case it standeth and how he hath signified to his Ambassadour Mendoza that he should make protestation at Rome concerning the remouing of the counsel After the same shal be done he wyll gette them the copie to wryte out And albeit the hope of the counsell is not vtterly to be neglected yet by reason of the long delay whiche is like to come betwixt he thinketh it to be requisite and necessary that in the meane tyme there be some meane founde to conserue the peace of Germany They haue in dede committed vnto hym the charge of this matter but he thinketh it expedient that out of the whole nombre be chosen a fewe good and well learned men to haue the doing hereof And he wyll also appoint certen to consult with them Wherfore he requireth them to be wylling hereunto and al affectiōs layde asyde to cōsider what commoditie it were for the cōmon wealth and euery of thē also that a reconcilement were made Let them call to remembraunce howe before this dissention Germany was the moste florishyng Region of all others and as a mirrour and a spectacle for al nations to beholde Let thē consider moreouer that where he toke so muche trauel pain that the counsell might be continued at Trent that he ded the same of his duty and of a singuler zeale to the cōmon coūtrey Therfore were dyuers chosen to treat of the matter but when they coulde not agre the whole matter was referred to themperour Wherfore he appointed certen to penne articles of doctrine ceremonies and reformation of the clergie Those were Iuly Pflugie Byshop of Numburge Michaell Sidonie Iohn Islebie Agricola who .xviii. yeares past had defended the doctrine of the Protestauntes with Melanchton and Brentius as is wrytten in the seuenth booke These therfore wryte a boke of Articles but very secretly and whan they had bene lōg about it and had printed it sondry tymes at length exhibite the same to the Emperour as I wyl shewe you hereafter Ioachim the Electour of Brandenburg whiche laboured sore for a reconcilement deuising first with Iames Sturmius intreated the Senate of Strasburg by his letters that for the cause of Religion they would sende vnto him Bucer For in asmuche as the Byshop had withdrawen the coūsell the Emperour had taken an other way and that there was great hope of a reformation Whereupon Bucer is sent who taking his iurney priuely about the ende of Ianuary whan he came almoste to Auspurg stayed there tyll the Prince sent for hym In the former boke is declared how the Englyshemen ouercame the Scottes in a mighty battell But where the Scottes would not relent nor chaunge their pourpose and trusted to the Frenche kynges promesses the Duke of Somerset Protectour of England and the rest of the counsell the first day of February wryte vnto thē a long exhortation vnto peace Albeit say they it were requisite that the beginning should procede of you whiche in the cause are inferiours and goe by the worse And albeit we possesse a great part of your dominion yet can we not but admonishe you of your wealth and preseruatiō The last yeare before the battel we prouoked you to peace and amitie and declared what our mynde was but that wryting was suppressed by your captaines and gouernour of your Realme and not suffered to come to your handes For so that they may do wel them selues they care full litle what chaunceth vnto you Wherfore if they shall now also vse the same disceiptfulnes not suffer you to vnderstande any part of our wyll and counsell in this wryting we do openly proteste that we haue omitted no part of our dutie Englande hath oftentymes kepte warre with Scotlande and that exceading great And there is no doubt but they that shall reade the histories or heare of the feates done would maruell muche that the people of one countrie and langage shuld be at so great dissention amonges themselues and woulde accompt it a thing chiefly to be wyshed for if the whoale Ilande might by some meane agree in one be ruled by one gouernement But al men do confesse that there is no redier waye here unto than by mariage And this way God hauing compassion vpon you hath shewed you and offered you a moste goodly occasion as it were into your bosome Your kyng whan he had broken his promesse had an ouerthrow in battell died shortly after whether it were for sorowe or for some other cause He had thre children two sonnes a daughter and they indede might haue ben a let so that ther shuld not haue ben made an attonemēt betwixt vs. But God toke thē away both in a maner in one day whan thei were infantes left but one inheriter a daughter borne a litle before the death of her father And vnto vs hath geuē a king of great exspectatiō Edward sonne heire vnto Hery the eight What do you
sore afflicted and seing the matter is thus for so much as he dealeth so sharply roughly with him which is theldest sonne of the church he protesteth as he saith is likewise done at Rome first that for the most troublesome tumultes of warre he may not send the bishops of his realme vnto Trent again that he taketh not this for a publike or general coūsel but rather for a certain priuate conuention which is not instituted for the profit of the common wealthe but for the vtilitye of a few Finally that nether he nor any man within his realme can be bounden to the decrees therof but declareth also furthermore that he wil vse suche remedies if the case so require as in a like matter his progenitors haue accustomed he will be euer of a sounde and sincere mind towardes religion and the Church of Rome neither wil he cōmit any thing worthy of iust reprehension but in as much as he is burthened with thiniuries and hatred of certain without his desert he can not otherwise do at this present Therfore let thē take this protestation in good parte and Communicate vnto him the doctrine or testimony of this action to th end he may certify other Princes and people of Christendome concerninge the whole matter But wheras he saith he wil vse the remedies of his progenitoures thus it standeth like as in all other Regions so also in Fraunce if any Bishoppricke or Abbotship be vacant such as are called Chanons or Monkes had fre election to chuse them but the meane benefices which were not electiue as they terme it the Bishops and Patrones bestowed Moreouer all maner of sutes and controuersies touching benefices or matters of the church wer decided within euery prouince But bishops of Rome as Couetousnes increased began to subuert those elections and by reseruatiōs and graces expectatiue as they name them haue deriued all the gaine to Rome and to them selues called also to Rome all sutes euen the fyrst instaunces as they call them And the beginning of this alteration chanced in Fraunce in the time of King Lewes the ninth but he resisted stoutly and in the yeare of our Lord M CC. lxvii made a law that thold custome shuld be reteined nether that any tribute shuld for that cause be paid to the bishop of Rome This law was verely of force many yeares but at the lengthe the violence of the bishops preuailed against it and so far as christendome stretcheth they published those foresaid graces and reseruations and were very chargeable to all men vntill the Synode of Basill toke away this kinde of pillage and restored the aunciente lawes of contributions and elections and prohibited firste frutes to be paid This decre of the counsel the King of France Charles the seuenth by thaduise of his Counsell did ratify and in the yeare M CCCC xxxviii confirmed by Proclamation But Eugenius the fourth pronounced this counsell to be frustrate and of none effect as I said in the first boke and the Bishops that succeded him reiected that decre and said it was Scismaticall and in dede Pius the second sendinge his Ambassadoure to Lewes the eleuenth sonne to Charles the seuenth moued him earnestly to abolish that same confirmation and the king asketh counsell of the Senate of Paris the moost famouse of all Fraunce which in a maner consisteth wholy of lawyers They repeting many thinges of great antiquity declare what the bishops of former time what the Counsels and finally what his progenitors Clodowey Charles that great Phillip Deodate Lewes the ninth Philip le Beau Lewes Hutine Ihon the first and laste what his father and grandfather haue herein determined and except thauncient lawes be obserued it wil come to passe say they that al thecclesiastical ordre shal be brought to confusion and that Fraunce shal be lesse populous whan so many shal run to Rome and shal be so much impouerished that churches and many such other sumptuous buildings in France shal be neglected and fall to ruine And as touching the mony matter vnles your fathers confirmation of the decree at Basill maye be of force there shal be caried yerely out of Fraunce vnto Rome ten C M. Crownes For to let other thinges passe in the time of Pius the second now bishop there haue bene vacant at the least twentye Bishopprickes which haue paid euery one of them aswel for their first frutes as for other charges vi M. There haue fallen abbotships about lx and euery one of them haue paied two thousand of other benefices haue bene void aboue two hondreth whiche haue paid v C. crownes a piece Moreouer within your realme are an hondreth thousand parishes and aboue out of the which an infinite quantity of gold hath bene gathered by that same deuise of the bishop of Rome Walke therfore in your fathers fotesteps swarue not from the decre of Basil Certainly this was the counsell of the Senate but the king being ouercommen with the Bishops either authority or policy would neades abolish the confirmation the chief worker of this matter was Cardinall Baluen in great fauor with the king whom the bishop of Rome had corrupted how be it both the kinges procurer and also the vniuersity of Paris whome it much concerned resisted with a stout courage and appealed frō the bishop to the counsel Afterward Lewes the twelfth had great emnity for the same cause with Iuly the secōd and the matter was brought into the counsel of Laterane and Fraunces the firste that succeded Lewes concluded at the length with Leo the tenth vpon certaine conditions at Bononie after he had taken Millan verely that when a Bishoppricke or Abbotship were vacante the Couent in dede should not haue thelection therof but that the king shoulde within .vi. monethes nominate some man to the Bishop of Rome whome he thought worthy of that office This same therfore is the thing amongs others which King Henry now by his ambassador signified vnto them of a remeady For kings are on this wise wōt to bridle the bishops when they are at dissention with them and so to put in practise the confirmation of the decre of Basil espectally at this time when their thondrebolt is not so greatly feared as it was in time paste And for so muche as the Realme of Fraunce is both most large and rich also Rome can not without great hinderance want the reuenues therof And that which he signified here that he would do the same did he not longe after as you shal hear The same remeadye also in times paste vsed the King of Fraunce Phillip le Beaw against Boniface the eight For wheras he commaunded him to war against the Sarazens and refusing his excuse forbad that he shuld take no mony of the churches within his owne Realme which the King was driuen to do for the necessitye of his warres and vnlesse he obeyed the same did suspend him out of the Church he assembleth all
the great good wyll of the Emperour he admonished them that the diuines might come with all possible diligence whiche they trusted doubtles they would hauing once receiued their saufeconduict Than go they apart and reade it And the places whiche they had amended before the sessions they finde nothing altered Wherfore they come to them againe and complayne therof and she we what lacke they finde in euery point Thambassadours of Saxon desire also to know what answere the fathers haue made to their requestes Thesame do they of Wirtemberge Againe speaketh Pictaue touching the saufe conduicte answereth Where they desire that their men might haue authoritie to decide that same do they ouertimely Whan the diuines be here present in the worke it selfe many thinges may fortune vpon occasions to be graunted whiche are nowe refused Where they would that holy scripture only shoulde be iudge of euery controuersie there is no man against that But whan there arriseth strife about thinterpretation of scriptur vnto whom shuld credit be geuen soner than the coūsel Scripture is a dome thīg without life as also other politike lawes be But the mouth of the iudge must be applied therunto that it may be wel perceiued Which mout verely is the voice of the councell this maner hath bene alwayes obserued since the Apostles time whansoeuer there arose any doubtful matters Where they would vse their owne seruice at home it is not indede openly graūted thē neither yet it is prohibited Least any thing should be contemptuously done against their Religion doctrine they nede not to feare for it should be straightly prohibited For both the Emperour wold haue it so the fathers also hate all suche intēperauncie And seing thassemblie is made for peace vnitie immodeste opprobrius wordes shall not be vnpunished Unto ther requests they make in a maner the lyke aunswere as they did lately before the sitting How al the treatie was disterred for their cause vntill an other tyme But that the decrees made should againe be repeted they pray them not to disgrace so many notable men They will promyse become suerties that whan the diuines shal come they shal be heard in althinges Where they would haue the Bishop of Rome brought in subiection the other released for asmuche as the same belongeth properly to hymselfe the fathers can determine nothing before the matter be declared to him Concerning the requestes of thambassadours of Wirtemberge for so muche as they be of the same sorte the iudgement of the fathers is like also Wherfore they intreate them that they would not for so small matters suffer the occasion so long wyshed for of accomplishyng a moste holy thyng to be letted and dispointed wherof doubtles all the nations of Europe shall receiue fruite but that they would indeuoure and perswade their magistrates that the diuines might come with spede Thei can not at this time worke a greater benefite for the common wealth Whan the Ambassadours had againe replied and vrged this thing chiefly that it is against all reason that suche as susteyne a parte of the suite should iudge in a matter of controuersie at the length they departe thus that they receiue the copie of the saufecōduite vpō no other cōdition but to sende the same to their magistrates whiche they would do immediatly with all expedition neither wyl they faile to further the matter so much as in them lieth nother do they dispaire also of their cōming Thambassadours of Duke Maurice sende their copie out of hand so did thambassadour of Strasburge they of Wirtemberge carie their copie with them going home the firste daye of February by the Princes permission who not long after sent others as hereafter you shall heare A litle before this tyme came the Diuines from Duke Maurice to Norinberge and amongest them Malanchthon being commaunded to remaine there tyll the Ambassadours sent them saufeconduict from Trente But a fewe dayes after they were come thither they are forbidden to goe any further but to attende til they know what the Prince shal make with the Emperour vnto whome it was said he should go Whan the decrees are confirmed in the counsell house there were theames wont to be deliuered to the diuines for the next disputation as I shewed you before But synce the last sitting this was cleane omitted wherof were reported causes mo thā one Yet was it sayde commonly to be done for the Protestantes sake For in the beginning of February whan the one of Duke Maurice Ambassadours and the Ambassadour of Strasburge went forth of pleasure to see the hether part of Italy Uenise the other whiche had sene Italy before treated with the Emperours Ambassadours for so much as he supposed the diuines would come right shortly whiche in his opinion were now at Auspurg that the whole intreatie might be differred vntill than and that the fathers would patiently beare so smal a delay Tharchebishop of Treuers had with him a black Freer Ambrose Pelarge who on a certen holy day whiche was than the vii of February expounding that place of the Gospel which is of the cockel mixed with that wheate said amonges other things that thyl cockel must be destroyed after any sorte or maner so that the same might be done without the losse of the wheate appliyng all his sermon to heretikes whiche were signified by this worde cockell And it was reported to thambassadour of Duke Maurice how he had rayled bitterly against heretikes had said this also that there was no faith nor promesse to be kepte with them if any were haply made He therfore after he had made more diligēt inquisitiō goeth to the Cardinal of Trent who was there with authoritie and to the Emperours Ambassadours and complaineth of that he had heard The Freer being called for confessed in dede that he spake of heretikes generally and that they should be distroyed with fyre sworde hanging or any other meane in case the same may be done without any great hynderaūce or publique commotion But concerning that promesse is not to be kepte within them he had spoken neuer a worde and if he had so done he should haue incurred the penaltie of losyng his lyfe for breakyng the decre of the counsell After this they call for the Ambassadour and reciting the Freers purgation bid hym loke for nothyng of the Fathers but fidelitie and vpryght dealing If any thyng also be blabbed out lyghtly whiche neuer thelesse is straytely prohibited that they ought not to be moued therewith Whether the Freer were belied or no I knowe not certenly For some of his auditours beinge demaunded sayde not the same thynge In these daies were brought thither that letters of Duke Maurice dated the last of Ianuary In the which he signified to his ambassadors that such thinges as they had not obteined of the fathers hitherto they should vrge he was all together in preparing him self to go shortly to
to aduertise me plainly by the bearer hereof Moreouer that according to thauncient custome and pacification of Passaw my ambassadors which shal come to the next assemble of thempire may haue safeconduit Unto this was made answer how the horsmen that were sente to the frontiers of Loraine concerned none iniury towardes him but was done for this intent that in case Marques Albert should make anye sodaine inuasion his enterprise mighte be disapoynted touching his Ambassadoures and the safeconduit for so muche as they haue no commission hereof they will aduertise theyr princes and distrust not but they will do herein that shall be reasonable About th end of Octobre themperor geueth ouer to his sōne Phillip the Dukedome of Millan sendinge messagers to inuest him herein with accustomed Ceremonies The French kinge leuiynge his siege from Rentie as before is said and not long after discharging the Swisses he placed the reast of his soldiors in garrisons And themperor not far from Hesdine which in the yeare before he toke and ouerthrew as is said espying a place conuenient began a new fortification of a Towne and to thintent he might bringe it to passe he maintaineth an army whiche in the monthe of Nouembre destroyeth all Picardy with spoyling and burning as farre as Amias Wherefore the whole force and violence of the warre lighted vppon the pore and miserable people on either side Afterwarde themperor discharging the reast of his armye interteined still a legion or two for him self The same time the French king sēt a new power into Italy and amonges others certaine Almaignes to relieue them of Senes whome the Emperors force and the dukes of Florence besieged hotely At the .xii. day of Nouembre was holden a Parliament in England For the which Cardinall Poole comming oute of Brabant wheras certen ambassadors were commen out of England to cōduit him and amonges them the Lord Paget the xxiii of Nouembre he came to London being right honorably receiued in all places whersoeuer he came and was immediatly restored to his blud and house of inheritance with common assent and consēt from the which king Henry the eight had displaced him The v. day after he came into the Parliament house and in the presence of king Phillip and the Quene whā he had shewed the cause of his ambassade he exhorteth them to return to the cōmunion of the church restore to the most holy father the bishop of Rome his due authority who wil graunt vnto thē all clemency gentlenes he admonisheth thē also to geue God thankes which hath geuen them such a king a Quene Finally wher they haue restored him to his house inheritance he taketh it for a very great benefit and saith he is so much the more boūden to restore them again to the heauēly court and coūtry which he wisheth most of al other things Whē he had spokē to this effect he goth a part Ther the bishop of Winchester being Chancelor repeting his oration and with many words exhorting thē to vnity and concord saith they are boūden to geue God great thankes who of his vnspeakable mercy hath raised them vp a prophet of their owne sede whiche is that most honorable Cardinall which is wholy inclined vnto their saluation The next day when the Nobility and commons had approued thoration requests of cardinal Poole there was drawne a fourme of a petition wherin they beseche the King and the Quene that they would make intercession to him The some of that supplication was this How it repented them sore of the scisme for that they haue denied their obedience to the Apostolicall seat and that they haue consented to the decrees made against the same but from henceforth they wil be at the commaundemente of him and the Quene and will do all that euer they can that all such lawes and statutes may be abrogated the same Parlament Wherfore they mooste humbly beseche theyr highnesse that they wold be meanes and bring to passe that being absolued from the sinnes and censures whith they haue committed againste the lawes of the Church they may be receiued again as penitent children into the bosome of Christes church that from henceforth they may serue God in the obedience of the sea and Bishoppes of Rome to the glorye of his name and increase of theyr owne saluation An other day whan the King and the Quene and Cardinall Poole were present the Chaunceloure standeth vp and pronounceth openly what the states had determined concerninge the request of the Bishoppe of Romes Legate Afterwarde dothe he exhibite the supplication aforesaide comprised in wrytinge and subscribed to the Kinge and the Quene beseching them to receiue it They when they had opened it deliuer it againe to the Chaunceloure to reade Than he demaundeth of all the companye whether they be contente herewith whiche whan they hadde affirmed the Kinge and the Quene arrise and deliuer it to the Cardinal Whan he had red it he exhibiteth vnto them the letters of his commission And than were the same red that all men mighte perceiue that he had authority geuen him by the Bishop of Rome to assoile them After he maketh an oration and declareth howe acceptable a thing vnto God is repentaunce and how much thaungels in heauen reioyse for a penitent sinner and alledging for the purpose manye examples geueth God thanckes which hath put in them a minde desirous of amendement This done he arriseth likewise do the King and the Quene and knele down vpon theyr knees There he than calling vppon the high power and mercy of God besecheth him to loke mercifully vppon the people and pardone their offences And affirming him self to be sent therfore from the highe Bishop Christes vicar to geue them absolution lifting vp and stretching forth his hand as their manner is blesseth the whole multitude and assoileth them After this they go to the chappell Here was geuinge thanckes vnto God playing of the Organes sounding of trōpets and all tokens shewed of mirth and gladnesse as at such times is accustomed They that knew Cardinal Poole before by his talke and manner of liuing marueled much at this his doing and loked for other manner of stuffe at his hand The xviii day of Decembre themperor addressing his letters frō Bruissels vnto all the states of thempire Upon how waighty and vrgēt causes saith he Marques Albert the last yere was outlawed by the iudges of the chābre condemned of treason you haue had certen knowledge by the letters which than was set vp openly and those also which came frō vs afterward And for so muche as he perseuereth obstinatelye in his troublesome and seditious purposes and vndoubtedly goeth about more mischief to thintent he may vexe and plage again oure natiue country of Germany Again forasmuch as he hath hys recourse into sondry places ther which he taketh for starting holes refuge as I am credily informed I thought it necessary for the
commotion at Burdeaur eodem A wonderful conuersion of Uergelius 328 A meting of deuines in Saxony 330 A Diaphora 333 An open disputation at Oxford 335 A communication at Lipsia 336 A rebellion in England eodem A boke in Italian againste the Poope 339 An assembly of Cardinals for to chuse a new Pope 340 A straunge sight neuer hard of 342 A trouble in the Church of Strasburg eodem A iest of the Cardinall of Auspurge 343 A peace concluded betwene Fraunce and England 344 A confession of faith made by the ministers of Auspurge 345 A Regester of the deuines of Louaine 346 A proclamation for printers 347 Andwarpe astomed at the Emperors Proclamation 347 A woman in pearil for a lyght worde 348 An ambassade against them of Maidenburge 350 A cruel decre against the Maidenburgians 351 A wryting of the cleargye againste the city of Maidenburge 354 All godly folke afflicted for the verity 357 A new doctrine of Osiander 359 A cruel Proclamation against the Lutherans 368 A purgation of the french king eodem A decre of Trent of the Lordes supper 369 A decre of penaunce 273 A Cardinall of Dalmatia slaine in hys owne house 378 A brute of warre againste themperor 385 Albertes crueltye to them of Noremberge 402 Assembly at Auspurge 386 A poynt of the law 72 A Monke forsaketh his religion 76 Alteration in Denmarke 45 Archbishop of Mentz answer 22 Aristotle 20 Albert Arch bishop of Mentz 3 Authors of scismes 47 An assembly called at Auspurge 65 A bloudy preacher bloweth a trom 56 A most cruell maner of burning 54 Albert to them of Wolmes 403 Albert of Austrich of whome 466 Ambassadors of Strasburge to themperor 413 Albert ouerthroweth the frēch mē 414 A battel fought betwixt duke Maurice Marques Albert. 421 Augustus brother and heyre to Duke Maurice 423 Albert reconciled to Augustus 426 A disputation in England 428 An end betwixte Iohn Fredericke and Augustus 431 A parliament in England 433 A wryting of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. eodem A place of treaty of peace chosē by the Quene of England 451 A tumult raised at Geneua eodem A vniuersity erected at Dilling 453 A boke of Peter Asot againste the confessiō of the duke of Wittem eodem August Prince elector had a son 454 A wryting of the Papistes to requestes of the protestaunt 456 A wryting of the king Fardinando to the Princes 458 A decre wherby Religion is frely permitted to all men 460 An ecclesyastical parson that changeth his Religion shal be depriued eodem A parlament in England 461 An assemble in Austrich eodem A Comet sene 465 A father killeth his iii. children 466 A slaunder deuised against certain 467 Aucthority of the deuines of Paris 32 Agrement betwixt Luther and Zwinglius 83 A Concord 107 B BIshops of Rome bound as other is to Goddes commaundement 3 Boke burners 27 Bloudye preacher bloweth a trompet 56 Bokes presented to themperor 85 Bōdage no let to christian liberty 63 Bucer laboreth for concord 96 Busy marchauntes 118 Brauling Friers 119 Barbarossa almost taken 121 By what meanes men be disceiued 134 By what means the deuel is van eodē Baptisme condemned 135 Bishops stir vp princes 150 Barbarossa taketh castel Newstat 178 Bucer preacheth at Bonina 201 Barbarossa returneth 213 Bolloigne rendred 214 Bruly burnt at Tourney 216 Bucer declareth how tharticle of iustification wās accorded in 229 Bucer is sent for to Auspurge 310 Bucer is in daunger 313 Bren. wife his children banyshed 316 Bucer and Fragus come into Eng. 331 Baūberge redemeth peace dearly 402 Brunswicke besieged 428 Bradford burned in England 451 Bish of Merspurge answer to Lu. 22 Best thiuges pleaseth fewest men 34 Beginning of fyrst frutes tenthes 42 Bible is to be preferred before al. 43 Bishop of Constaunce maketh a boke in defence of Images 48 Boke of restitution 131 Bi. Munster demaūded his charges 136 Bold answer of the king 137 Barnes aid to Geneua eodem Bolde and profitable Counsell of the Lantzgraue 359 Bhoemers serued against the Duke of Saxon vnwillingly 169 Bohemers refuse war in Saxony 277 Bishop of Strausburge syngeth hys fyrst Masse 331 Bondage of the Germanians 392 Bishop of Winchester dieth 461 Bauarians followeth the Prynce for Religion 465 C CHarge of the Bishoppe of Maidenburge 1. Ciuilians vse of Citing 2 Cardinall Caietane wryteth to the duke of Saxon. 8 Charles is declared Emperour 14 Conditions propounded by Luther 18 Confession of sinnes eodem Counsel of Lateran and Pisa eo Capnio a deuine 19 Catarinus wryteth against Luther 27 Commotions in Spaine 34 Cornelis Scepper a good wryter 42 Cardinall Campeius wryteth to the duke of Saxony 45 Campeius Oration to the Prynces at Norenberge eodem Campeius raileth against Matrimony 49 Christianity taketh not away bondage 61 Carolostadius wryteth against Lu. 65 Carolostadius maketh his purgatiō 65 Counsel at Spires 69 Contention about the Masse 79 Certaine Princes resiste the decree of Spires 81 Ciuil war amongst the Swicers 82 Cardinall Campeius Oration 88 Certaine chosen to accorde Relygyon 90 Conditions of peace 104 Conditions of peace betwene themperor and the Protestauntes 105 Conditions of creating a kinge of Romaines eodem Cristine kinge of Denmarke is taken 108 Christ was called Seditious 112 Conditions of peace 116 Conditions betwixte Fardinando and Duke Ulrich eodem Crafty marchauntes 118 Couetous marchauntes 119 Cruelty vnsemely in Churchmen 122 Condition of peace 128 Ciuill war in the city 129 Cnipperdoling was the chief of that faction 129 Cnipper doling prophecieth 130 Croked necked cattel 134 Comotion in Lincolne shire 141 Captaine Aske executed for Treason eodem Cardinal Pole the Popes ambassador to the French king 142 Cardinals Poles boke against e Kinge Henry the eight eodem Cold reasons for the Popes supremacy 143 Carninall Poole was vnthanckefull eodem Cardinall Pole incenseth the Emperoure against the king of England eodem Cardinals Poles Hipocrisy and falsehode eodem Cristierne king of Denmark receiueth the Gospel 158 Complaintes of Pillage 178 Contention betwixte the electoure of Saxon and Duke Moris 188 Conterme in displeasure with the pope and cardinals 194 Cardinals sent to make peace 197 County William taken Prisoner 213 Cabrier yelded 220 Cardinall Farnesius his comming to Wormes 221 Counte William deliuered 226 Claudius Cenarcleus a yong gētlemā of Sauoy 235 Condityons imposed to the Duke of Wirtemberge 275 Conditions offred to the Lantzgraue 281 Caspar Phlugus captain of the Bohemers army eodem Conditions wherby the duke redemed his life 285 Ciuil war betwixt England and Scotland 310 Countries vnited by mariage 311 Ciuil war in Affrica 330 Contention for thempire betwene the Emperor and Fardinando 353 Complaint of the bishop of Strausboroughe 360 Contrary tales of the king and themperor 364 Causes of callinge the counsel 371 Countries oppressed by the Emperor 394 Conditions of peace offered by Duke Moris 397 Cruelty against godly preachers 40 Conditions of peace offred by themperor 48 Conditions of peace 411