Venice is will be of the Duke's Opinion and not let their Town be filled with so great a multitude without a Garrison to secure it so that upon this account there will be as few people to open the Council as there was at Mantua And since whatever he hath done is no better than Mockery it 's not fit he should have such an unreasonable Liberty allowed him any longer 'T is true Councils rightly constituted and managed are the most proper and useful Expedients which can be tried but when they are pack'd for private Interest and Advantage and to establish the Usurpations of a Party they are inconceivable mischievous to the State of Christendom And now when the Name of a Council and the Church made so great a noise in the World Luther undertook to write a Book in High Dutch upon both Arguments where in the first place he treats of the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem which is mentioned in the Fifteenth of the Acts. Then he sheweth how the Fathers contradicted one another more particularly St. Augustin and St. Cyprian about Baptism where he takes occasion to mention those Ecclesiastical Constitutions which are commonly called the Apostles Canons and proves them spurious by unquestionable Arguments and that those ought to be hanged who give them that name From thence he proceeds to the first four General Councils which are of the most considerable Authority and recites them in Order the Nicene the Constantinopolitan the Ephesine and that at Chalcedon and gives an account of the Occasion of their Meeting and what was Decreed there afterwards he comes up to the main Question and sheweth how far the Power of a Council reacheth And here he maintaineth that a Council ought not to make any Article of Faith nor enjoin any new Duty nor tie the Consciences of Men to Ceremonies which were not practised from the beginning neither is it lawful for such an Assembly to intermeddle in Civil Government nor to make any Canons to found their private Grandeur and Dominion upon On the contrary their Office is to see that all Innovations in Doctrine repugnant to the Holy Scriptures that superstitious or unprofitable Ceremonies may be condemned and removed and always to make the Scripture their Rule to determine Controversies by Then he goes on to define the Church and lays down the Notes to know her by and running a Parellel between Christ and his Apostles and the Pope and showing what a different Doctrine his Holiness had settled in the Church and at what a wicked Rate he had plundered Christendom he concludes he ought to be Excommunicated and obliged to Restitution Besides many other Instances by which he demonstrates in that Book what gross Ignorance there was in the times of Popery how much Religion was corrupted and debauched he tell us Things were come to that pass that even the bare Habit of a Monk was thought to contribute considerably towards the obtaining eternal Life insomuch that not only the Vulgar but many persons of Quality would be buried in it After-Ages possibly will not believe this Relation but yet it is very true and is chiefly practised in Italy and in my time Francis the Second Marquess of Mantua made express Provision in his Will to be buried in the Habit of a Franciscan or Seraphick as they call it The same thing was done by Albertus Pius Prince of Carpi who died at Paris and by Christopher Longolius a Low Country Man who lieth at Padua He was a very Learned Person and a great Admirer of Tully There is an Oration of his Extant against the Lutherans as there is also one of Albert's against Erasmus of Rotterdam After the Death of George Duke of Saxony Henry of Brunswick immediately set forward through France into Spain to wait upon the Emperor Much about this time Henry King of England called a Parliament where besides other secular Matters he Enacts these following Articles concerning Religion That the true and natural Body and Blood of Christ were under the Appearance of Bread and Wine and that the Substance of Bread and Wine does not remain after Consecration That the receiving all the Lord's Supper is not necessary to Salvation Christ being entirely contained under each kind That it is not lawful for Priests to Marry Vows of Chastity ought to be kept and private Masses continued Auricular and private Confession of Sins is both profitable and necessary Those who teach and do any thing contrary to this Act are to suffer as Hereticks And at the same time when this Law was made the King courted Ann Sister to William Duke of Cleve a beautiful Maiden-Lady who when she was contracted to him sailed over into England some few Months after Some thought the Bishops influenced the King to sign this Act touching these Points that they might have an Opportunity to ruine the Authority and Interest of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas Cromwell who were both of them Well-wishers to the Reformation This Year in August the Turkish Admiral Barbarossa took Castle-novo a Town in Dalmatia in the Gulph of Cataro by Storm where all the Garrison was put to the Sword and some of the Burghers carried away into Slavery The Emperor and his Confederates the Venetians took this place a Year before in October but the Emperor garrisoned it himself with Four thousand Spaniards and made Francis Sarmiento the Governor This was a surprize to the Venetians who said a Town situated upon that Coast did rather belong to themselves Thus being disgusted with the Emperor and likewise foreseeing that an Alliance with him would prove dangerous to their State they apply themselves not long after to the Turk and upon their request obtain a Truce of him At this time there happened an Insurrection at Ghent the most considerable City for Strength and Interest in all those Parts and which has often contested very warmly for Liberty with the Earls of Flanders under whose Jurisdiction it is When the Emperor heard of this Commotion he changed his design of going into Germany by the way of Italy and resolved to Travel through France being earnestly invited thither by the French King who made him very obliging proffers of Security and Accommodation for his Journey In the mean time the Palsgrave and the Elector of Brandenburg being Princes of the Mediation wrote to the Emperor concerning the Pacification at Francfort and desired him to give leave there might be a Conference of Learned Men at Nuremberg But his Imperial Majesty told them That the Death of his Empress and some other Occurrences intervening had hindred him from being at leisure to attend that Affair When the Princes of the Mediation had sent a Copy of this Letter to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave without signifying whether the Emperor had confirmed the Truce for Fifteen Months the Protestants appointed a Convention on the Nineteenth of November at Arnstet a Town in Thuringia
Throne So did the Electors also every one according to his Degree behind him And over the Emperour the Trumpeters were placed on a kind of Stage Then advanced Duke Maurice's first Squadron and putting Spurs to their Horses came gallopping towards the Pavillion as the Custom is Duke Maurice himself in the mean time with his other Squadron was posted over against them accompanied by a croud of Princes and Great Men and twelve Trumpeters were ranked immediately before him Out of that Company presently advanced Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolffgang Brother to the Elector Palatine and Duke Albert of Bavaria who having gallopped their Horses to the place alighted and going up to the Emperour humbly begg'd his Imperial Majesty that it would please him to confer upon Duke Maurice the publick Investiture and Ensigns of Principality and Electorship The Emperour consulting with the Electors answered by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That he was willing provided he came and demanded it in person When Duke Maurice had received this Answer he speeded forward with the whole Body Before him were carried ten Banners with the Arms of so many Countries as he desired to be Invested in So having alighted and kneeling down before the Emperour he begg'd the same thing as also did Hoier Count Mansfield in name of his Brother Augustus The Emperour therefore made answer by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That seeing they had both done him faithful Service he gave to Duke Maurice and his Male-Issue or if he had none to his Brother Augustus and the Heirs of his Body the Electorship of Saxony and all the Lands and Possessions of John Frederick except so much as had been before made over to his Children Then the Archbishop of Mentz read over the Oath which the Electors take and when Duke Maurice had said it over after him and taken it the Emperour gave him a Sword and by that Ceremony put him in a manner into possession He returned him thanks promising him all Fidelity and Obedience Afterwards the Emperour gave Duke Maurice the Banners we mentioned which were immediately thrown amongst the people as it is customary John Frederick might have seen and indeed did behold all this Ceremony from the House where he lodged for it stood in the same Market place Bucer who was sent for as we have already said came at length to Ausburg and was entertained at the Elector of Brandenburg's Court. And now the Book about Religion which as it is mentioned before was ordered to be Complied was Finished The Elector of Brandenburg presents it as it was written to Bucer and desires him to Subscribe to it but upon perusal finding that the Popish Doctrine was therein establish'd he made answer That he could not approve it The Elector of Brandenburg took that very ill and was extremely angry with him for he lookt upon it to be a moderate Book as Islebius had persuaded him Granvel pressed him to it also by Messengers and promised him large rewards if he would approve it But when he could not prevail by fair promises he began to threaten which made Bucer return home but not without danger for there were Garisons of Spaniards all over the Dutchy of Wirtemberg as has been said before In the Month of April the Archbishop of Cologne who was lately made a Priest said his first Mass The Emperour King Ferdinand and a great many Princes were present whom afterwards he entertained at a most Magnificent Dinner At this time Muleasses King of Tunis whom thirteen years before the Emperour had restored to his Kingdom having expelled Barbarossa as has been said in the ninth Book came to Ausberg His Eldest Son had invaded his Kingdom and put out his Eyes And therefore the poor banished Prince came out of Africa to implore the Emperours help as not long after another of his Sons came also That Book which was made concerning Religion treats first of the State of Man both before and since his Fall of Redemption by Christ of Charity and good Works of the assurance of the Remission of Sins of the Church of Vows of Authority of the Ministers of the Church of the Pope of the Sacraments of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Commemoration Invocation and Intercession of Saints of the Remembrance of those who are dead in the Faith of the Communion to be joyned with the Sacrifice of Ceremonies and the use of the Sacraments Now amongst other things there are these Doctrines in it that those Works which are more than what God commands and commonly called Works of Supererogation are to be commanded That Man cannot without doubting believe that his Sins are forgiven him That the Church hath the Power of interpreting Scriptures of drawing and explaining Doctrines from them the Power of Jurisdiction of deciding in doubtful Cases by a Council and of making Canons That there is one Head over the rest to wit the Pope by Virtue of the Prerogative granted to Peter That the Government of the Universal Church is committed to him by Christ yet so as that the rest of the Bishops have a share in that Cure every one in his own Church That by Confirmation and Chrism the Holy Ghost is received to enable us to resist the temptations of the Devil the World and the Flesh and that a Bishop is the only Minister of that Sacrament That the Sins which we remember are to be confessed to a Priest That by satisfaction which consists in the Fruits of Repentance especially in Fasting Alms-deeds and Prayer the causes of Sin are rooted out and Temporal Punishments either taken quite away or mitigated That extreme Unction hath been in the Church ever since the Apostles time that it might either relieve the Body or fortifie the Mind it self against the fiery Darts of the Devil That then it is to be administred when the hour of Death seemeth to draw nigh That Marriage contracted without the Parents consent ought to stand good but that Children are in Sermons to be admonished to ask the advice of their Parents That Christ at his last Supper instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood First that it should be received by Believers as the saving Food of their Souls and then that it should be offered up in memory of his Death and Passion For that there are in all two Sacrifices of Christ one a bloody Sacrifice upon the Cross and another wherein under the form of Bread and Wine he offered up his own Body and Blood to the Father and afterwards commanded his Apostles and their Successors to do the same in remembrance of him to the end of the World That by the first Mankind was reconciled to God the Father but by this unbloody Sacrifice Christ is offered up and represented to the Father not that he may again make satisfaction for Sins but that by Faith we may apply to our selves the Redemption purchased to us by his Death That in
consult with him in what manner they might put in execution their Commission and that afterwards when they understood that it was not possible for them themselves to have access into all places that stood in need of their help they had been necessitated to employ others This Indulgence or Indult of the Popes as they call it the Emperour presently sent to all the German Bishops admonishing them severally to use gentle and mild ways and to try all Courses by fair Language Exhortation and Entreaty before they should come to Threats and Excommunication Wherefore the Archbishop of Mentz writing amongst others to the Landgraves Governours and Counsellors and having said much of his own Pastoral Care and of the Emperour's earnest Concern for the Publick requires them to shew the Pope's Indulgence to the Ministers of the Church and command them to obey it The thing being proposed to the Preachers their answer was That their Doctrine agreed with the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that though their Lives and Conversation did not suit with their Profession yet they acknowledged no Error in their Doctrine and that therefore they stood not in need of an Indulgence from the Pope that they had preferred Marriage before an unchast single Life according to the Word of God and that they would not forsake their Wives and Children whom Christ himself commanded us to love cherish and provide for That in administring the Sacrament under both kinds in their Churches they therein followed the command of Christ and the custom of the Primitive Church and that there was no reason to admit of any Alteration therein In the Month of May Peter Martyr and the Divines of Oxford disputed publickly concerning the Lords Supper and the Presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament Martyr proposed these Points to be defended That the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed and That the Body and Bloud of Christ was not Carnally or Corporally in the Bread and Wine but sacramentally united to them Afterward there was a Book of this published wherein the presidents of the Dispute who were appointed by the King give no obscure intimation that Martyr had the better on 't in that Debate On the Tenth day of June the Queen of France was crowned at St. Denis as the custom is the Ceremony being performed by the Cardinals of Bulloigne Guise Chastillion Vendosme and Bourbon for all the rest were at Rome Six days after the King made a most splendid and magnificent Entry into Paris the chief Town of the Kingdom where he had not been seen publickly since the death of his Father and two days after the Queen During his abode there some were put to death for Lutheranisme and as it is said he himself was a Spectator of the Execution Afterwards July the Fourth he made a solemn Procession and Prayers in the Churches and next day after published a Printed Proclamation declaring the causes of it to have been That he might give God thanks for the many Blessings he had bestowed upon him that he might pray to God for the safety and preservation of himself his Wife and Children and of the whole Kingdom and Commonwealth as also for the Souls of good Men departed especially for the Kings of France his Progenitors and the late King his Father after whose Example he was resolved to take upon himself the protection and defence of the Catholick Religion the Authority and Liberty of the Apostolick See and of the Ministers of the Church that amongst others this was also a chief cause that it might publickly appear how much he detested those who contrary to the command of Christ contrary to the Traditions of the Apostles and the consent of all Antiquity deny the presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ who take away all force and efficacy from Baptism Penance good Works and the Sacraments who professedly despise the Authority and Hierarchial Order of the Church who reject the Worship and Adoration of Saints and Relicks Moreover that by that solemn Procession and Supplication he might make known what his Judgment and Inclinations were to wit that according to the Example of his Forefathers and in a certain Hereditary Imitation he so thought and believed as the Catholick Church the Apostles Creed the first Council of Nice and many other Councils of the Fathers enjoyned as also that he was fully resolved to root out of all his Territories those Heresies which were long ago condemned but now again partly revived and partly contrived by Luther Carolostadius Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melanchton Bucer Calvin and such other monstrous and pestilent Arch-Hereticks and severely to punish such as deserved it This Writing set forth in the Vulgar Tongue he sent all over France commanding it to be published to the People and accordingly publick Processions and Prayers to be made in all places A little while after he caused Monsieur de Vervius to be beheaded for surrendring the Castle and Town of Bulloigne as was mentioned in the Fifteenth Book and confined to perpetual Prison his Father in Law d' Abigny a very ancient Man who had been Governour of all the Bolonese and one of the four Mareschals of France For many Months now he had solicited the Switzers to renew with him the League they had made with his Father and though the Emperour by Messengers and Letters did what they could to dissuade them from it yet they judging it more for their Interest consented and first the Catholick Cantons with the Rhinwalders and Wallisserlanders and afterwards also those of Basil and Schafhawsen to the great astonishment of many because of those Edicts and Punishments we spoke of For it was the general opinion that no League nor Society ought to be made with him who so cruelly persecuted the Reformed Religion and by name condemned their Churches and Doctors But the Cantons of Bern and Zurick following the counsel of Zuinglius as may be seen in the third and sixth Book refused to enter into that League We took notice before of the Convocation at Leipsick But now that some talked and complained that Popery was again stealing in upon them Duke Maurice in his Letters addressed to his Governours July the Fourth tells them that he was informed many partly out of a too solicitous jealousie and partly through the suggestions of others were apprehensive that the old Errours might be by degrees introduced again that some of the Ministers of the Church and other busie and restless spirits that delighted in changed were not altogether free from fomenting of that Calumny that by several Declarations he had formerly made publick what his Purpose and Resolution was which now because of the Slanderous Reports raised he again repeated thereby to convince all that his Religion was dear unto him that therefore he required those who either out of a fond credulity or through the suggestions of others were
Baptism Whether original Sin is altogether obliterated in Baptism so that the Concupiscence which remains after Baptism loseth the name of Sin Whether the Bread be changed and Consecrated into the Body of Christ and the Wine into his Blood by virtue of the words which the Priest speaks and whether it continues such though it is not presently received Whether an Eucharist so Consecrated is to be worshipped Whether it be carried about in honour of Christ or carried to the Sick or reserved shut up Whether Christ is to be adored under the Species of Bread and Wine Whether whole Christ be under each of the Species Whether confession of Sins prepares a Man to the worthy receiving of the Eucharist Whether the Mass is a true and perpetual Sacrifice Whether both the Canons of the Mass are to be retained Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation is to be Exercised Whether there be three Parts in Pennance Contrition Confession and Satisfaction Whether the Priest can forgive a Man those Sins who has not Confessed them before Whether none but Priests have the Power of the Keys Whether the Souls of Holy Men have not Charity for us Whether they interceed with God on our behalf Whether the Saints are to be Invocated Whether the Holy-days consecrated to the Saints are rightly Celebrated Whether the Reliques of the Saints are to be worshipped Whether the Souls of the Pious which are not throughly purged are relieved by Masses Prayers Fasts and Alms Whether there is a place of Purgation Whether Lent and the other Fasts instituted by the Church ought to be observed Whether Men are to abstain from eating Flesh on the days it is forbidden by the Church Whether the People is to be incited to Religion by Ceremonies What Ceremonies are Pious and what not or less Pious To all these questions he answered the twenty seventh of May at large but though he confirmed his Answers not only by the Testimony of Scripture but also by those of the Fathers yet the twenty fifth day of June he was condemned and removed from all his Offices or Functions Towards the end of June the King of France marched with his Army out of Champagne and passing down by the Maes in the Provinces belonging to the Emperor he took Bovines and Dinant amongst many others and having plundered and dismantled them he took Marienbourg and Fortified and Garrisoned it The Emperor with his Forces leaving Brussels marched to Namur which stands upon the Sambre and the Maes five Miles below Dinant The King seem'd inclined to come to a Battel but when he saw the Emperor delayed it he turned off into Hainault and took the Town of Binche and a Castle which Mary Queen of Hungary extreamly loved being surrendred into his Hands he plundered and burnt it and with Fire and Rapines wasted all that Province Then entring Artois he sate down before Renty a Town upon the River Aa But the Emperor coming up his Forces being all by this time come up to him the King of France raised his Seige after which there happened only some light Skirmishes between the Armies In the same Month of August the French Army in Tuscany under the Command of Peter Strozza was surprized and defeated by the Imperial Forces under the Marquess di Marignano In this Battel the greatest part of the Swiss which I mentioned above to be sent thither by the French King were cut off In the mean time Prince Philip the Emperor's Son arrived the nineteenth day of July with a considerable Fleet from Spain at Southampton in England the twentieth he Landed and the twenty fifth he was Married to Queen Mary at Winchester by Gardiner Bishop of that City and then Chancellor of England in a vast concourse of the Nobility of both Nations amongst which was the Duke de Alva The day before his Marriage he had a long Conference with the Queen but the Marriage was deferred to the next day because it was the Festival of St. James the Patron of Spain The Emperor's Ambassador was at this Solemnity and presented the Bridegroom with a Resignation of the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Naples in consideration of the Marriage After a short stay here the King and Queen went to London into which they made a splendid and magnificent Entry In August there was another small Diet of some of the States and Princes of Germany at Worms The Emperor urging the Execution of the Sentence given against Albert Marquess of Brandenburg who being driven out of his Territories in the manner I have above related retired first into Lorrain and from thence went to the Court of France the King not denying him his Protection There was thereupon a Jealousie arose in the Mind of the Emperor lest this restless Prince might attempt something against Alsatia or some others of the German Territories bordering upon France To prevent this the Circles of the Rhine sent some Troops to the Borders of Lorrain about the end of September to secure the Passes but there being no occasion for these Forces they returned without having done any thing but impoverished those places where they were quartered and made some inroads into Lorrain In October there was another Diet held at Franckfurt on the account of this and some other Affairs In this Convention a Letter of the Marquess of Brandenburg's was read in which he complains very much of the Militia that was employed of late to secure the Borders and especially of those that came from Artois he reflected severely amongst others on the Bishops of Trier and Strasburg and 〈◊〉 the Landgrave and said this Party of Horse were bloody Men and that they privately designed his Death The first of October there was a Letter read in the same Diet written to them in the German Tongue by the King of France In which speaking first of the ancient Union between France and Germany he said that the adverse Party made it their whole Business to put an end to it and of late years they prevailed so far that my Father was declared an Enemy by the Empire yet notwithstanding when ahout two years since the State of the Empire was very miserable and disordered I laid aside the memory of that Injury and gave a clear demonstration of my Affections to you following in this the Example of my Ancestors who have in all times made the dignity and enlargement of the Empire one of their Principal Cares For it cannot be shewn that the Kings of France have at any time injured the Empire But then our Enemies have endeavoured many ways to deprive you of your Liberties and Fortunes not only by inventing various Arts of Levying Money but also by inflaming the Factions in the Illustrious Families as you may easily see And though the Truth of this is clear yet by the perswasion of our Enemies some of the States which are next my Kingdom have as I hear taken Arms against me when I expected no
abide within his Territories But after the suppression of that popular Insurrection when in all Places many were dragg'd to Execution Carolostadius being in great Straits wrote a Book wherein he took a great deal of Pains to justifie himself against those who reckoned him among the Authors of the Rebellion affirming it to be an Injury done unto him and writing to Luther he earnestly prayed him That he would both publish that Book and also defend his Cause lest an innocent Man as he was might be in danger of losing Life and Goods without being heard Luther published a Letter to this purpose That though Carolostadius differed very much in Opinion from him yet because in his straits he betook himself to him rather than to others who had stirred him up against him he would not disappoint his Hope and Confidence especially since that was properly the Duty of a Christian He therefore desired the Magistrates and all in General That seeing he both denyed the Crime that was laid to his charge and refused not to come to a fair Tryal and submit to Judgment the same might be granted him as being most consonant to Equity and Justice Afterwards Carolostadius sent another little Book to Luther wherein he protested That what he had written concerning the Lord's Supper was not to define or determine any thing but rather by way of Argument and Disputation to sift out the Truth Luther admits of the Excuse yet admonishes Men That seeing he himself confessed he doubted and defined nothing positively to beware of his Opinion Or if they themselves perhaps doubted to suspend their Judgment so long till it should appear what they might safely follow For that in matters of Faith we ought not to waver and doubt but to acquire such a certain and steddy Knowledge as rather to suffer a thousand Deaths than to forsake our Opinion Much about this time Luther married a Nun whereby his Adversaries were excited to load him with more Reproaches for now he was down-right mad they cried and had sold himself a Slave to the Devil At the very same time Vlrich Zuinglius Minister of the Church at Zurich who almost in all other things agreed with Luther dissented from him also about the Lord's Supper For Luther understood these Words of Christ This is my Body literally and properly admitting no Figurative Interpretation and affirming the Body and Blood of Christ to be really in the Bread and Wine and to be so received and eaten by Believers But Zuinglius maintained it was a Figure that many such were to be found in Scripture and the former Words he so expounded This signifies my Body With him agreed John Oecolampadius Minister of the Church at Basil and he so interprets them This is the Sign of my Body The matter was contentiously debated on both sides and much was written upon the Subject The Saxons imbraced the Opinion of Luther and the Switzers that of Zuinglius others come after who explained the Words in another manner but all agree in this Opinion That the Body and Blood of Christ are taken Spiritually not Corporally with the Heart not with the Mouth This debate lasted three Years and more but at length a Conference was procured at Marpurg chiefly by means of the Landgrave as shall be said in its proper place The Dyet also which at this time was held at Ausburg because very few resorted to it by reason of the Popular Insurrection beforementioned was dissolved and all matters put off till the first of May the Year following against which time Ferdinand gave Hopes That the Emperour his Brother would be there in person from Spain and Spire was appointed to be the place of the Dyet It was decreed though among other things That the Magistrates should take special care That the Preachers did interpret and expound God's Word to the People according to the Sense of Doctors approved by the Christian Church and that they should not preach Seditious Doctrin but so that God's Name might be glorified and the People live in Peace and Quietness Whilst Francis King of France was Prisoner in Spain his Mother Aloisia had the Administration of the Government who to keep in with the Pope acquainted him among other things How zealously she stood affected towards the Church of Rome Whereupon Pope Clement VII writing to the Parliament of Paris told them How he understood from her That the Contagion of Wicked Heresies began also to infect France and they had wisely and providently chosen some persons to enquire into and punish those who laboured to oppose the Faith and Ancient Religion That he also by his Authority approved the Commissioners whom they had chosen for that in so great and grievous a Disorder of Affairs raised by the Malice of Satan and the Rage and Impiety of his Ministers every one ought to bestir themselves to preserve and maintain the common Safety of all Men since that Rage and Madness tended not only to the Subversion of Religion but also to the confounding of all Principality Nobility Law and Order That for his part he spared no Care Labour nor Pains that he might remedy the Evil And that they also whose Virtue and Prudence was every where celebrated should make it their chief Business that not only the true Faith but also the Welfare of the Kingdom and their own Dignity should be secured against Domestick Dangers and Calamities which that pernicious and pestilent Heresie carried with it into all places That they needed not indeed to be exhorted having already given Proofs of their own Wisdom But that nevertheless in discharge of his own Duty and as a token of his Favour and Good-will he had been willing to make this Address unto them for that he was exceeding well pleased with what they had already done and exhorted them That for the future they would with the like Zeal and Virtue bestir themselves for the Glory of God and the Welfare of the whole Kingdom that by so doing they would render most acceptable Service to God and merit the Praises and Applause of Men and that therein they might expect all sort of Assistance from him This Brief dated at Rome May the twentieth was delivered to the Parliament at Paris on the seventeenth Day of June During the absence also of the Captive King the Divines of Paris so persecuted James le Fevre d'Estaples who hath published many Books both in Philosophy and Divinity that he was fain to leave France and flie into another Country The King being informed of this by the means chiefly of his Sister Margaret who had a kindness for Le Fevre because of his Probity and Virtue wrote to the Parliament of Paris That he heard that there was a Process brought before them against James le Fevre and some other Learned Men at the Instigation of the Divines who particularly hated le Fevre for that before his Expedition out of France he had been
for establishing Religion and maintaining Peace and Quietness it was necessary there should be a lawful General or Provincial Council of Germany held within a Year And that no Delay nor Impediment might intervene That Ambassadours should be sent to the Emperour to pray him That he would look upon the Miserable and Tumultuous State of the Empire and come into Germany as soon as he could and procure a Council As to Religion and the Edict of Wormes it was concluded That in the mean while until either a General or National Council might be had all should so behave themselves in their several Provinces as that they might be able to render an Account of their Doings both to God and the Emperour Before the passing of that Decree the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave sent for the Deputies of Strasburg Norimberg and Ausburg and told them That because they perceived their Religion was dear unto them and that it plainly appeared what the Bishops and Papists drove at they were thinking Whether a League and Association might not be made for mutual Assistance in case any of them should be in Danger for their Religion and because they conceived good Hopes of those of Frankford and Vlm they did not refuse to communicate also with them To this the Deputies made answer That they had no Instructions from their Principals as to that but that they would carefully acquaint them therewith The Duke of Saxony had two Divines with him George Spalatine and John Islebe and the Landgrave had also brought his Preachers with him the rest of the Princes requested That they might not preach to prevent Disturbances but that was in vain Ferdinand also before the Decree was made having sent for the Deputies of all the Cities and represented to them the Kindness that he and his Predecessors of the House of Austria had always had for them exhorted them to be obedient to the Emperour and not to listen to the Counsels and Persuasions of some that would pervert them It was also decreed That Aid should be sent to the King of Hungary But by that time the Dyet was dissolved which was about the latter end of August the Turk having already entred Hungary overcame King Lewis in Battle who was also slain as he fled in the Pursuit All the Princes Electors except Brandenburg were present at the Dyet of Spire This Summer the Emperour married the Infanta Isabel Daughter to King Emanuel of Portugal and Sister to King John who succeeded to his Father At the same time the Dyet was held at Spire the twelve Cantons of the Switzers kept a Conference and Disputation at Baden thither came the chief Catholick Divines as Faber Eckius Munner and the Bishops of Constance Basil Coyre and Lausanne under whose Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction these Cantons were sent their Deputies Theses were published there which Eckius very confidently defended As that the real Body and Blood of Christ is present in the Eucharist That it is really offered for the Quick and the Dead That the Virgin Mary and the rest of the Saints are to be prayed to as Intercessours That the Images of Saints were not to be removed That there is a Fire of Purgatory after this Life Oecolampadius and some others impugned them Zuinglius was absent and wrote to the Switzers the Reasons why he did not come but confuted Eckius his Theses in Writing John Faber who was highly esteemed by the Bishop of Constance bearing great hatred to Zuinglius is reported to have put the Switzers upon this Match of Disputation and persuaded seven Cantons at first to which all the rest assented afterwards except Zurich to whom the rest sent both Letters and Messengers praying them That against the day appointed they would send thither their Deputies and especially Zuinglius who was one of the chief Men they wanted and to whom they gave a Safe-Conduct But he having some Reasons to move him and chiefly That he would not trust his Life with those of Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwald and Zug besides his being forbidden by the Senate to go thither excepted against the Place appointed for the Dispute but was satisfied with Zurich Berne or San-Gall The Issue of the whole Debate was That all should continue in the Religion which hitherto they had observed and admit of no new Doctrins within their Territories but submit to the Authority of a Council This was done about the latter end of June But before this the Bishop of Constance had caused one John Huglie a Priest to be burnt at Merspurg because he disliked some things in the Popish Doctrin King Lewis being thus unfortunately killed Ferdinand contended That the Kingdom was his by Agreement but he had a Competitour John Sepsy Vaivode of Transilvania This competition bred a division among the Nobility and States that broke out into a War which proved fatal to Germany and the neighbouring People For the Emperour of the Turks afterwards took the Vaivode into his Protection and Buda being delivered up made him a King on condition That he should be Feudatary and hold of him The French King being returned home out of Spain where he left his two young Sons Francis and Henry Hostages gave it out That the Conditions of Peace which he had agreed unto were Unjust and that he would not stand to them After Ambassadours had been therefore sent to and fro the Pope and Venetians made a League with him whereof the chief Articles were That for the Defence and Security of Italy they should maintain an Army of thirty thousand Foot and about six thousand Horse That they should provide a Fleet of eight and twenty Galleys with Tenders That the Enemy being defeated in Lumbardy and Italy they should attack the Kingdom of Naples by Sea and Land That being conquered it should be annexed to the Patrimony of S. Peter and belong to the Church yet so as the King of France who pretended a Title thereunto should have seventy five thousand Crowns yearly paid out of it That the Honour and Dignity of the Family of Medices should be maintained in the State of Florence That the French King should give up the Dutchy of Milan to Francis Sforza whom the Imperialists had besieged in the Castle of Milan and forced to surrender and whom also he promised to assist with his own Aid and Switz-Forces and to give him a Wife of the Blood-Royal of France but upon this Condition That he should pay him fifty thousand Crowns yearly and maintain his Brother Maximilian who was Prisoner in France A little after Pope Clement wrote to the Emperour reckoning up the good Offices that he had done him That for his sake he had refused Advantagious Conditions offered him by the French King That when the King was taken he had upon a certain Condition advanced an hundred thousand Crowns to the Commanders of his Army That he had several times discovered unto him the Counsels
of the taking of Rome having made a League with the King of England he sent a puissant Army into Italy under the command of Lautrech a Gascoin for the relief of the Pope He being come into Lombardy and joyned by the Venetians took first Alexandria and then Pavia partly by composition and partly by assault where the Soldiers enraged that their King should have been taken there having made great slaughter of the Towns-people plundered it July the twenty seventh Charles Duke of Bourbonne who had been lately killed at the taking of Rome was condemned of High Treason by the Parliament of Paris his name and memory declared infamous his arms torn and his goods and lands forfeited Anthony du Prat the Chancellour pronounced the Sentence Bourbonne bore a mortal hatred to the French King and being about to besiege Marseilles as we mentined in the Fourth Book he wrote to the Cardinal of York among other things that he would spare neither pains nor perils in assisting King Henry for the recovery of the Right and Title he had to France For above two hundred years the English have laid claim to the whole Kingdom of France but especially to Normandy Gascony and Guienne By these Letters therefore Bourbonne oblique stirred up the King of England to prosecute his Right there and they coming after into the hands of the French King incensed him far more against the Duke There was at that time in Bavaria one Leonard Cesar a Professor of the Gospel who being apprehended by orders from the Bishop of Passaw maintained these points of Doctrin That man was Justified by Faith alone That there was but two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper That the Mass was not a Sacrifice and availed not the Quick and the Dead That the Confession of sins was a counsel and not a precept That Christ alone made Satisfaction for us That the Vow of Chastity was not obligatory That the Scripture did not speak of Purgatory That there was no distinction of Days That the Dead were no Intercessors and that in spiritual and divine matters Man had no Free-will When he was brought to Tryal he would have spoken more fully of all these Points to the People but was not suffered Eckius was one of those that tryed him and all spoke in Latin that the People might not understand save only the Prisoner who discoursed in Dutch but could not get them to do the same At length he was condemned for a Heretick and being delivered over to the Temporal Magistrate William Duke of Bavaria under whose Jurisdiction he lived August 16 he was burnt for the Bishop did not pronounce Sentence of Death against him lest he might pollute holy things and become irregular by having a Hand in his Blood. Ferdinand who had been the Emperour's Deputy in Germany after the Death of King Lewis being chosen King of Bohemia and standing in competition with the Vaivode of Transilvania for the Crown of Hungary which occasioned a War. Philip Marquess of Baden who was substituted unto him called a Dyet in the Emperour's Name to be held at Ratisbonne in the beginning of March following whither the States should repair to consult of Religion and the Turkish War. You heard before of the Disputation of Baden but since the Acts of the Dispute and Conference were not communicated to those of Berne the most noted and powerful Canton of all the Switzers though they had desired it and that the Differences about Religion increased all the Ministers not agreeing among themselves in Doctrin they appointed another Disputation to be had within their own City December 17 whereof they made publick Intimation and called thereunto the Bishops of Constance Basil Sitien and Lausenne warning them to come in person and bring their Divines with them else they threatned them with the loss of all the Lands and Possessions they had within their Territories afterwards they made a List of the Clergy-Mâ—n of their Jurisdiction and appointed the Scriptures of the Old and News Testament to be the only Rule and to have the sole Authority in all the Debates giving likewise a Safe-Conduct to all that pleased to come This Order they also made That all things should be carried on modestly without railing or reproach and that every Man should freely speak his Mind and so distinctly that what they said might be taken by Clerks they also ordained That what should be agreed upon and determined in that Conference should be of Force and have its course through all their Dominions And that all might know what they were to dispute about and come the better prepared they published Theses to the number of ten which their Ministers Francis Colb and Berthold Holler offered to maintain and prove by Scripture And these were That the true Church whereof Christ is the only Head springs from the Word of God perseveres therein and will not hear the Voice of another That this same Church made no Laws besides God's Word That therefore the Traditions of Men who bear the name of the Church no farther oblige us than as they are consonant to the Word of God That Christ alone made Satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World That therefore if any Many say There is any other way of Salvation or of expiating of Sins he denies Christ That it cannot be proved by Scripture That the Body and Blood of Christ are really and Corporally received That the Rite of the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Heavenly Father for the Quick and the Dead is repugnant to Scripture and a Reproach to that Sacrifice which Christ made for us That Christ alone is to be prayed unto as the Mediator and Advocate for us with God the Father That it is not to be found in Holy Scripture that there is any place where Souls are purged after this Life That therefore the Prayers and all the Ceremonies and Anniversary Offices which are performed for the Dead Tapers Lamps and the like are of no use at all That it is contrary to Holy Scripture that any Image or Picture should be proposed to be worshiped That therefore if they be placed in Churches for that end they are to be removed That Marriage is forbidden to no Order of Men but that for avoiding of Fornication the Scripture permits all to marry And that since all Whoremongers are by Testimony of Scripture really separated from the Communion of the Church impure and unchast Celibacy is least of all becoming the Order of Priesthood When those of Berne had written concerning these things to all the Cantons exhorting them to send their learned Men and to give Safe-Conduct to all others who pleased to come The Cantons of Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwald Zug Glaris Friburg and Solothurne answered by a long Letter seriously exhorting them That they would desist from their Enterprize putting them in mind of their League and Association and of the Disputation of Baden whereof they themselves
manner turned out of Place it must not be expected that for the future they would contribute any thing to the defraying of the Charges of that Judicature But all these Courses were ineffectual and King Ferdinand answering the Mediators himself told them That any other City which observed the Emperour's Edicts might be substituted in place thereof After a long Debate about Religion they made a new Decree wherein resuming in a few Words the Acts of the former Dyet of Spire how that it had been ordained there That as to the Emperour's Decree of Wormes all should so behave themselves that they might be able to render an account of their Actions both to God and the Emperour but that it being now abused by many who under colour and pretext thereof excused and defended all sorts of New and Horrid Doctrins it was therefore enacted and decreed to this effect That they who had hitherto observed that Edict should do so for the future and oblige their People to do so also until the meeting of the Council which the Emperour gave great Hopes of very speedily But that they who had changed their Religion and could not now retract for fear of Troubles and Sedition should for the future moderate themselves and make no more Innovations before the sitting of the Council Moreover that the Doctrin of those who dissent from the Church about the Lord's Supper should not be received neither the Mass abolished nor those who were willing hindred from going to Mass in those Places where a New Doctrin was taught That Anabaptists also who obstinately maintain their Tenet should be put to Death and that Ministers should preach according to the Sense and Interpretation of Scripture approved by the Church That they should not meddle with other Points which probably might be controverted but expect the Decree of a Council Besides that all States should live together in Peace do no Injury to one another upon account of Religion and not take the Subjects of others Jurisdiction into their Protection And that such as did otherwise should be put to the Ban of the Empire This Decree was opposed by the Elector of Saxony George Marquess of Brandenburg Ernest and Francis Dukes of Lunenburg the Landgrave and Count Anbald who April 19 publickly read their Protestation against it in Writing And in the first place they repeat the Decree of the former Dyet whereby all are permitted the free exercise of their Religion until the meeting of a Council from which they ought not to recede nor violate those things which for Peace-sake were then agreed upon and confirmed by Oath under Hand and Seal That for their own Parts they were ready in imitation of their Ancestors to comply with the Emperour in any thing and to spend their Lives and Fortunes in his Service But that the present Case concerned their Eternal Salvation and therefore prayed that it might not be taken ill if therein they dissented from the rest For that as the former Decree had been made with the unanimous Consent of all so also could it not be repealed and made void unless all in like manner agreed to it That they were not against it but that they themselves might appoint what Form of Religion they pleased within their own Territories and prayed God that he would enlighten the Minds of all with his true Knowledge That for some Years now past there had been great Dissention and Quarrelling about Religion and that who were the Authors and Causes thereof it had in some measure been made out in the Dyet of Norimberg and by the Confession of the Pope himself and the Grievances and Demands of the Princes and States which to the number of eighty had been delivered to the Pope's Legate whereof nevertheless no redress was as yet made That the Result of all Deliberations had always been this That the readiest way to put an End to Controversies and corrupt Abuses was a free Council But that now laying that Course aside they should Decree That they who had changed the Form of their Religion and could not without Troubles recede from what they had done should make no other Innovations they could not approve nor admit of that unless they would professedly derogate from the Doctrin which hitherto they had owned as True and Holy For to forsake that Doctrin provided it might be done without Stirs and Commotions what was it else than to deny the pure and uncorrupted Word of God which they had than which there could not be a more grievous Sin For that it was to be professed not only in Word but in Deed also Besides that what Mischief such a Denyal would bring with it and how pernicious it would be to many Professors of the Gospel it was easie enough to be conjectured That as to the Popish Mass it was well known How the Ministers of the Churches within their Dominions had by firm and unanswerable Arguments and Testimonies of Holy Scripture quite overthrown it and in place thereof appointed the Lord's Supper according to the Command and Institution of Christ and the manner observed by the Apostles so that neither could they approve that Clause of the Decree nor give leave to their People to repair to Mass which was already abolished For that granting That the use of the Popish Mass were never so Right and Pure yet if they should admit of two contrary Masses in their Churches it was obvious to all Men how bad an example that would give and what grumbling and heart-burning would thereupon ensue That again they wondred very much That they should prescribe to them what they were to enjoyn their People and what Laws they should make within their own Jurisdictions especially seeing if the like were attempted upon them they would by no means suffer it That all Men knew what was taught in their Churches of the Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament so that it needed no farther Explication But that nevertheless as they had often said before so it still seemed to them That no such Decree was as yet to be made against those who taught otherwise because there was nothing of that mentioned in the Emperour's Commission and besides because the Assertors of that Doctrin were neither called nor heard That therefore it was seriously to be considered How unreasonable and unbeseeming a thing it would be to pass a Judgment at any time upon such difficult and weighty Affairs without hearing those who were concerned speak for themselves Now as to what they said That the Gospel was to be taught according to the Interpretations approved and received by the Church it was right indeed however the Dispute still was Which is the True Church But that since no Doctrin was more certain than that of God's Word since nothing should be taught besides it and that the obscure Places of Scripture could not be better explained than by other clearer Places of the same Scripture they would
determined That for his own part he would in this and in all other Causes of the Empire for the Love and Affection he bore to his Country do what in Duty he ought And that therefore he demanded of them all that every one of them would testifie the like Zeal and Good-will towards the Publick The Princes after deliberation had were of Opinion That Religion should be the first thing debated Four Days after Cardinal Campegius made a Latin Speech to the Princes in presence of the Emperour exhorting them That in the cause of Religion they would obey the Emperour whose Virtue and Piety he much extolled that he also would in the Pope's Name endeavour that all should profess the same Faith and with reconciled Minds undertake a War against the Turk Next the Deputies of Austria represented the great Damages they had sustained from the Turks and demanded Aid After this the Elector of Saxony George Marquess of Brandenburg the Duke of Lunenburg and the Landgrave entreated the Emperour to hear their Confession of Faith that was drawn up in Writing He ordered it to be produced and laid down They again insisted and because it was a matter that concerned their Reputation their Lives and Fortunes and the Salvation of their Souls and because perhaps he had been misinformed in the thing they desired it might be heard The Emperour commanded them to wait upon him next Day at Home but in the mean time desired to have the Writing presently They again with all imaginable importunity urged and entreated that it might be read Nor did they think said they that that would have been denied them since he heard Men of far inferiour Rank about Matters of much less importance But when he would not change his Resolution they desired him to leave the Writing with them until it should be read That being granted they come next Day and in the Assembly of all the States read it in the Emperour 's hearing Afterwards they gave it him in Latin and High-Dutch offering to explain any thing in it that might seem obscure and that if the matter could not perhaps be now determined they did not refuse to submit to a Council so often promised and expected The Emperour who had spent the whole Winter from November to March with the Pope in Bolonia and had lived in the same Palace with him designed wholly if he could to accommodate the Difference about Religion without a Council as knowing that to be most acceptable to Pope Clement whose scope was That if the matter could not be composed by fair means it should be crushed by force of Arms. Wherefore June the twenty sixth he sent for the Deputies of all the Cities to come to his Lodgings and there made Frederick Prince Palatine declare unto them in his Name That in the last Dyet of Spire a Decree had been made which was obeyed by most much to his Satisfaction but that some others had rejected the same which he took very ill at their Hands That therefore he required them not to separate from the rest or else to give their Reasons why they did not comply To this the Deputies of the Protestant Cities made answer That they had done nothing undutifully nor were they less desirous than any of their Ancestors had ever been to testifie all Loyalty and Obedience to his Imperial Majesty but that since he demanded to know the Reasons why they had not admitted of the Decree they desired time to deliberate Afterwards on the seventh of July they gave their Answer in Writing much to the same effect as they had done the Year before when as we said they sent Ambassadours to him into Italy Unto which Embassie and the Reasons there alledged they also referred themselves Two Days after the Emperour caused the Question to be put to the Elector of Saxony and his Associates Whether or not they would exhibit any thing more They said no only resumed in few Words the summ of the Confession of Faith already delivered Afterwards he commanded the Deputies of the Cities who pretended That in Conscience they could not obey the Decree of Spire to give in Writing those Heads which they scrupled at and delivered the Duke of Saxony's Confession to the rest of the Princes to be examined by them who presently gave it to their Divines of whom the chief of all were John Faber and Eckius These battered it with a contrary Writing and Confutation which being read over before the Princes some of them judged it to be too sharp and thought fit that some Men should be chosen to peruse the Writings of both Parties and to soften them but their Opinion prevailed who would have it delivered to the Emperour as it was and the whole matter to be committed to him In the mean time the Cities of Strasburg Constance Memmingen and Lindaw delivered a Confession of their Faith to the Emperour also in Writing These as we said before differed in Opinion from the Elector of Saxony and his Associates about the Lord's Supper The Matter being deliberated with the Pope's Legate the Emperour ordered an Answer to be made to the Saxou-Writing which he communicated to the Princes on the first of August The conclusion of it was severe and hard no less than the Ban of the Empire being threatned to those who obeyed not But that was qualified by the Advice of the Princes wherefore August the third he called together all the States and made Frederick Prince Palatine tell them That he had long and much considered the Saxon Confession of Faith and also ordered some Honest and Learned Men to give their Judgment of it What was Orthodox therein and what contrary to the Doctrin and Consent of the Church That they had done so and had given their Judgment in another Writing which he approved Then was the Confutation of the Confession written by the Divines of the contrary Perswasion read and it proceeded in this Method They divided the Saxon-writing into two Parts the first contained one and twenty Chapters of these they had admitted some and rejected others some were admitted in part and in part rejected alledging many Testimonies of Fathers and Councils Among the rejected were these That Good Works are not Meritorious That Justification is attributed to Faith alone and not to Works also That the Church is the Congregation of the Godly That Men cannot make Satisfaction for Sins That the Saints do not make intercession for us Other things they admitted of with certain modification as the Doctrin concerning Ceremonies as also that the real Body and Blood of Christ was so in the Sacrament that Christ was under each Species and that the Bread and Wine were wholly changed The Doctrin about Confession they admitted provided the People were obliged to confess yearly at Easter to declare all their Sins exactly receive the Lord's Supper and believe that there are seven Sacraments in the Church They made a Proviso also That
they began to treat of a Marriage and though the Parents at that time were not altogether for it and that the Young Lady was more averse not so much of her own Judgment or that she slighted the Person of the Man as through the Whispers and Tattles of some who despised Germany as a wild and rude Country in respect of the Pleasantness and Deliciousness of France yet being over-ruled by the King's Authority who look'd on that affinity as very advantageous to him they yielded Wherefore on the Fifteenth of June the Marriage was solemnized the King leading the Bride his Neece to Church The Cardinal of Tournon said Mass and the King gave a most magnificent Wedding Feast whereat were present the Pope's Nuncio the Ambassadors of England Portugal Venice and Saxony for the Emperor's Ambassador had excused himself Some Days after the Duke of Cleve returned home leaving his Young Wife in France whom her Mother would have to be with her until she were grown up to maturity Before the Duke of Cleve came into France the King ordered the Admiral whom we mentioned before to be set at Liberty to go Home and then in the Month of May to come to his Majesty who most graciously received him and restored him to his former Honour and Dignity raised him as it were from Death to Life and by a new and unprecedented Example annulled the Sentence pass'd against him by the Select and Chief Judges of the Kingdom partly in spight of the Constable as it was believed and partly at the intercession of Madam d'Estampes who had contracted a new Relation by Affinity with the Admiral Wherefore the Constable Montmorency who loved not the Admiral his equal and was fallen much in the King's Favour because of the Emperor's Passage through France as hath been said being besides altogether slighted and despised at Court went Home and in an uncertain Condition led a private Life whereas before he had had the King wholly to himself The End of the Thirteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIV The CONTENTS In the Conference of Ratisbone they treat of reforming the Ecclesiastical State and Means are proposed for accomplishing of that Diverse Opinions and Answers are here related Eckius loathing the Book offered by the Protestants accuses his Collegues Vpon the Report of the Approach of the Turk the Emperor commands the Conference to be put off till the meeting of the Council Fregoso and Rink the Ambassadors sent from the French King to the Turk are taken and slain and therefore the Bastard Son of Maximilian is arrested at Lyons and committed to Prison The Turk makes his Entry into Buda The Emperor comes to Algiers The Plague rages in Germany Austria sorely afflicted The Peers of Austria desire Leave to profess and exercise the Protestant Religion and are eluded by King Ferdinand The Christians being worsted in Hungary the Emperor calls a Diet of the States of the Empire to meet at Spire where Oliver the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech The King of England cuts off his Queens Head and marries a Sixth Wife Morono the Pope's Legate being sent to Spire declares the calling of a Council at Trent Luther publishes a little Book a Military or Camp-Sermon wherein he compares the Papacy with the Turks War breaking out again betwixt the Emperor and French King. Longueville and Martin van Rossem invade Brabant Perpignon is besieged Edicts against the Lutherans are published at Paris Farel preacheth at Metz. Locusts overspread Germany and Italy An Imperial Diet held at Nurimberg Poiet apprehended in the Night time and committed to Prison Otho Prince Palatine embraces the Protestant Religion THE Conference commenced about the end of April as we said before But Eckius grew impatient and morose for he was sick of the Book disliked his Collegues and not long after fell into a Fever so that he could not be present However his Associates went and consulted him about all Matters Some Places of the Book indeed were by common Consent corrected in the Conference and some others they could not agree upon as about the Church and the Power thereof the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ the Confession of Sins Satisfaction the Unity and Order of the Ministers of the Church Saints the Mass the Sacrament to be received in both Kinds and the single Life of the Clergy So the Book as it was corrected was delivered to the Emperor and therewith the Sentiments of the Protestant Divines in Writing concerning the controverted Points of Doctrine now mentioned this was on the last Day of May. The Emperor commended their Zeal and took it kindly entreating them to shew the like Diligence and good Inclination if at any time after the Case did so require On the Eighth of June after he made a Report of what was done and how far they had proceeded in the Session of the Princes and States That the Conferrers had carefully handled the Matter and reconciled many weighty Points of Doctrine and that the Protestant Divines had declared their Thoughts touching the rest which were not as yet accommodated Then he shewed them both the Writings desiring they would take them speedily into Consideration give their Judgment of the same and think of a way how both Church and State might be reformed That for his part he would not omit anything that might contribute thereunto and doubted not but that the Pope's Legate inclined that way too The Senate of Princes consists for most part of Bishops and therefore they who were for rejecting the Book offered by the Emperor and all proceeding by Conference carried it by majority of Voices and gave their Resolution accordingly in Writing though in Terms somewhat too harsh But seeing the Electors and some other Princes who tendered the Wellfare of the Publick did not consent to it there was another Writing drawn up and on the Second of July presented to the Emperor whom therein they advised that as Advocate and Defender of the Church he would communicate the whole Affair to the Pope's Legate according to the Decree of Haguenaw but particularly those Heads which the Conferrers had agreed upon that they might be carefully weighed if there were any thing to be found in them in Sense or Words inconsistent either with the Doctrine of Holy Interpreters or the Custom and Practice of the Church That in the next place what was said more obscurely might be explained and that he himself would be pleased afterwards to acquaint the States with his Thoughts and Resolution as to the whole and to deal with the Protestants that they would suffer themselves to be instructed in the remaining Points in Controversie or if that could not be obtained that then a General or National Council of Germany should be called to determine all Matters in debate Among the States there were some who made it their Business to obstruct the Reformation of Religion
Bishops to undertake the Office of Ecclesiastick Reformation That his sending for Bucer was chiefly at the instigation of Gropper who both personally and by Letters had very much commended him to him as might be made appear That he found nothing in Bucer that was unworthy or unbeseeming an honest man And that it was a great sign he was so that the Emperour had employed him in the Conference of Ratisbonne as a learned pious and peaceable man. That he had the same opinion also of the other Ministers of the Church appointed by him Afterwards November the 18th the Clergy summon the rest of the States into the City and require them to subscribe the Appeal The same thing also they demand of all the Churches and Bishops of the Province nay of some forreign Universities also and having turned out such of their own Order as refused they grievously accuse the Archbishop to the Emperour and Pope as shall be related hereafter After the Pacification at Soissons the Emperour sends the Bishop of Arras Granvill's Son and the French King the Cardinal du Bellaye to treat joyntly of a Peace with the King of England but it proved ineffectual he refusing to restore Bauloigne At the same time also the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinal of Tournon with some Ladies of the French Court take a Progress into the Netherlands to complement and congratulate with the Emperour The Emperour sends his Spanish Forces to Winter-quarters in Lorrain and the adjacent Countries In most places throughout all the Emperours Provinces of the Netherlands many were very desirous to be instructed in the Reformed Religion but secretly for fear of the Emperour's Edicts and the punishments by them inflicted Now some people in Tournay a chief Town in those parts had invited thither one Peter Bruley a French Preacher mentioned in the twelfth Book from Strasbourg So soon as he arrived there which happened in the month of September being most kindly received by those who had invited him he began to instruct them privately and having made a Progress to Lisle a Town in Flanders upon the same account he returned to Tournay about the end of October following But the matter was now divulged and a strict search made after him throughout the whole City the Gates for that end being shut In this imminent danger seeing there was no possibility of concealing him longer on the second of November in the night-time his Friends let him down over the Town-Wall by a Rope When he had reached the ground he sate down to take a little rest but one of those who had let him down leaning as far as he could over the Wall that he might softly bid him farewel forced out a lose stone with his foot which casually falling upon him broke his leg so that whilst afflicted with pain and cold he dolefully bewailed his sad misfortune the Watch over-heard him who suspecting what the matter was came running in laid hold of him and cast him into prison So soon as the news of this came into Germany the Senate of Strasbourg interceded for him by Letters which the Deputies of the Protestants who then were at Wormes did afterwards also but that was a little too late for before the Letters which were sent in the name of the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave were delivered he was on the 19th of February put to death The manner of his Execution was severe having been burnt by a gentle and slow Fire for his greater torment He constantly professed his Doctrine even to the last breath and writing out of Prison to his Disciples who were also in many places in Bonds he exhorted them to constancy His Sentence was to be put to death for offending against the Emperour's Commands For many years before the Emperour had sent out most severe Edicts against the Lutherans of the lower Germany and the Netherlands under his Dominion which were twice a year publickly read over in those places that none might pretend ignorance When he was examined in Prison the Monks in presence of the Magistrates asked him the Question What he thought of the Sacrament of the Altar as they call it of the Mass Consecration Adoration of the Hosts of Purgatory the Worshipping of Saints Free-will good Works Justification Images Baptism Vows Confession of Sins and of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary To these he made answer That the real Body and Bloud of Christ was there received not by the Mouth but spiritually by Faith and that the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed That when according to Christ's institution Christ's Supper is given to the Church in the Vulgar Tongue so that all may understand the use and benefit thereof that then these things are truly consecrated and that by the words of Christ for that that silent Whisper and Muttering which the Mass-Priests used over the Bread and Wine did better become Conjurers and fuglers than Christian Ministers That the Popish Mass had nothing to do with the Lords Supper but was a Worship invented by Man to the disparagement and injury of Christ. That the Adoration of the consecrated Bread was Idolatry because a Creature was there worshipped instead of the Creator That he knew not nor looked not after any other Purgatory than the Bloud of Christ which pardons not only the guilt but also the punishment due to our sins That therefore Masses and Prayers for the Dead were not only useless but impious as having no warrant from the Word of God. That Saints cannot be more truly worshipped than by imitating their Faith and Virtues that if more be done it is impious and that they when they were in the World were very far from admitting any Worship That therefore they are not to be invoked as Intercessors which is a glory belonging to none but Christ. That by Adam's Fall Mans Nature was wholly corrupted and the Freedom of his Will forfeited so that he can do no good without the grace of God but that a regenerated man moved by God like a good Tree brings forth good fruits That that is Faith which bringeth us salvation to wit when we believe the divine promises and certainly conclude that through Christ Jesus our sins are forgiven us That Traditions to which the minds of men are enslaved are not to be received That it was very dangerous to have Statues and Images in Churches for fear of Idolatry That Baptism is the sign of the Covenant that God made with us whereby he testifies that he will pardon our sins that it is also a sign of perpetual Mortification and a new Life which ought to accompany Baptism That this Sacrament is to be received by all and Children not to be barred from it seeing they also are Partakers of the divine promises That no Vow is to be made which either the Word of God does not allow or
for a certain he understands Religion To which the Emperour again replied To bring in a new Faith and Religion is not to reform an old Nor does he profess said the Landgrave to have embraced any new Religion but to have restored the ancient and true one as it was left unto us by Christ and his Apostles that he hath turned out some and promoted others to Cures in the Church is a Duty belonging to his Charge for if a Minister be either of a scandalous life and conversation or unlearned it is certainly the Bishops part to substitute a fit man in his place there are a great many vacant Churches in the Bishops Lands as I can affirm where for want of Pastors the People are neither taught nor ruled but lead a dissolute and barbarous Life liker to Beasts than Men. That he intercepts some of the Revenues of the Clergy he gives this reason That he had contributed a great deal of Money to the maintaining of the War against the Turk and French now it is the custom of the Empire for Magistrates to lay Taxes upon their Subjects on such occasions and that therefore he was not to be blamed but as it is commonly given out that he does it upon a religious account that is a malicious Aspersion of his Enemies to render him odious Next day the Landgrave Granvell Naves and Masbachen met at the Elector Palatine's Lodgings There Naves begins the discourse repeats somewhat of the Conference the day before with the Emperour declares the reason of their present meeting and shews that when the Emperour out of his earnest desire of peace and concord had appointed a Conference at Ratisbonne the Divines had of themselves broken up and departed To this the Landgrave made answer That he knew nothing as yet of their departure but that they had written to the Elector of Saxony and himself what uneasie Conditions were proposed to them when the Presidents would neither suffer them in the beginning to have Clarks exhibit any Copy of the Proceedings nor to send home any account of them that he did hear also how immodestly the conferring Monks behaved themselves who not only recinded what had been agreed upon before took away all hopes of agreement but also gave scandal and offence by their leud Lives and Conversation that he did not as yet know whether or not his Deputies were therefore gone but that he had not recalled them Next spoke Granvell and having premised some things concerning the Emperour's good intentions and desire of peace he partly excuses what was objected touching the Conditions of the Conference nevertheless that they were forbid to write home what they thought fit to be imparted was a thing he said they had no orders for from the Emperour But the Landgrave having pray'd them to wave those things and come to the matter in hand makes mention of that Decree made two Years before at Spire concerning Peace and the Administration of Justice urging chiefly a Provincial Council of Germany as the fittest means for setling and quieting Religion and because the Italians Spaniards and French differed so much from the Germans in the matter of Doctrine it was his opinion that a General or as they call it an Oecumenical Council would be but of little use but let things happen as they pleased whether a reconciliation could or could not be effected that yet the Decree of Spire ought not to be recinded that the state of Religion was such now in Germany that if any attempted to bear it down by force it would cost many and many a thousand Lives which would redound to the great loss of the Emperour whose Power was mightily encreased by the Forces of Germany and to the no small Joy and Benefit of other Nations and especially the Turks our Enemies The Decree of Spire was suited to the times said Granvell and it was none of the Emperour's fault that it had not its effect but that it was well enough known at whose door it lay In Private and National Councils Vices and Manners only are reformed but not a word of Faith and Religion Now there is nothing but Sects and Divisions when all Men have not the same thoughts in matters of Faith so that to the Debates of this Nature not only the Germans but all other morose Christians also have a just right That most part of Divines are a morose awkward and obstinate sort of Men unfit to dispatch any business that therefore Princes and Great Men ought to be admitted and some middle way found out of according Doctrines nor do you yourselves allow a liberty of Religion since they who differ from you in Opinion are imprisoned and fined Now though the Emperour be above all things desirous of agreement yet he cannot grant any thing that is impious for if all things were left to the disposal of the promiscuous multitude the chief Magistrate himself could no longer be safe It is unwisely done in me said the Landgrave to speak of such weighty Matters in the absence of my Associates However since there is no body here upon the catch I will go on I think that the Decree of Spire was made by the Emperour with a very good intent and since our Adversaries promised then to comply with it they ought not now to retract In the next place because we gave the Emperour good assistance against the French King we hope that what was then granted and confirmed under Hand and Seal is not to be violated Now there is nothing that ought to put a stop to a National Council do we not profess the same Faith that the Apostles that the Nicene Council and Athanasius professed and are not our Divines agreed about the chief Points of Faith There was indeed some dispute amongst them concerning the Lord's Supper but that is now quite hushed there is none but confesses that the Body and Bloud of Christ is really there received There are Anabaptists Davidians and I know not who besides but those are punished by Law there is no need then that foreign Nations should also be present when these things are determined though if they proposed to themselves the knowledge of the truth that were chiefly also to be wished that certain middle Opinions were established and that by Men of Honour and Quality I am not much against it but do not think that it can well be done without Divines However make no doubt but that if the pure Doctrine of the Gospel were preached the Sacrament given in both kinds and Church-men allowed to marry as Paphnutius of old urged in the Council a reconciliation might be accomplished I know no place where men are forced to be of our Religion we do not indeed suffer a variety or diversity of Doctrine in one and the same place but we compel no man nor upon that account deprive any of Life or Goods Now if men of our Religion were suffered to
this Sacrifice wherein we commemorate the Death of Christ the memory of the Saints is to be celebrated that they may intercede with God the Father for us and help us by their Merits That we must also remember the Dead and pray to God for them In the next place it is enjoyned that all the antient Ceremonies which are commonly used in Baptism Exorcism Abrenunciation Confession of Faith and Chrism be retained and that nothing be changed neither in the Ceremonies used at Mass That in every Town and every Church two Masses a day at least be said but in Country Parishes and Villages one especially on Holy-days That nothing at all be altered in the Canon of the Mass and that all the rest be observed according to antient command but that if any thing have crept in which may give occasion to Superstition it be taken away That Vestments Ornaments Vessels Crosses Altars Candles and Images be still kept as certain Monuments That the usual Prayers and that holy singing of Psalms be not taken away and where they are taken away that they be restored That the Obsequies and Funerals of the Dead be performed after the manner of the antient Church and that the Saints Holy-Days and those others also wherein Prayers are appointed to be said be observed That on Easter Eve and Whitsunday Eve the Water in the Font be Consecrated That for subduing Lusts and exhorting the Mind to the duties of Piety on certain days men abstain from eating of Flesh and fast That lastly though it were to be wished that there might be found many Ministers of the Church who would live chastly nevertheless since many up and down have Wives whom they would not turn away And that that cannot without great troubles now be altered a Decree of Council concerning that be expected That the same course be held with those who receive the Sacrament in both kinds yet so still as that they censure not those who do otherwis for that the whole Body and Blood of Christ is contained under either kind After this manner the Book was indeed published as you shall hear hereafter but it was not so compiled at first For it was often Reviewed and Corrected as has been said and the Copy which was shew'd to Bucer was somewhat foster After it had been for a long time then tossed to and again amongst the States privately it was also sent to Rome For though all the Points of Popery in a manner were established in it yet because some things were granted to their Adversaries it was thought fit first to consult the Pope about it His Holiness afterward sent the Emperour by Cardinal Sfondrato some Animadversions thereupon which were these That a Priest in Orders should marry a Wife and still execute his Priestly Office was never heard of That the Custom of receiving the Sacrament in both kinds was abrogated and in those two things no man had power to dispense but the Pope and Council That the Followers of the Old Religion were not to be astricted to these Positions but that if there were any Lutherans that would forsake their new Opinions they were not to be rejected That the singing of Psalms ought to be restored in all places that on Holy-days the Commemoration of the Patron of every Church was to be Celebrated That they who are now or shall hereafter be Priests must abstain from Marriage That a speedy restitution must be made of Church-goods and Jurisdictions for seeing the Robbery and Invasion was manifest the usual forms of Process were not to be observed but as in a self-evident Case it was to be done by an high Hand and Imperial Authority This Censure being interposed the Electors of Mentz Treves and Cologne to whom it was communicated answer the Emperour in the very same manner urge chiefly Restitution and conclude it to be absolutely necessary if the Christian Religion ought to be preserved and recovered again in those places where it was abolished and that peace also could no other ways be setled That therefore care was to be taken in the first place that Churches and Religious Houses should be compleatly restored And that because the Usurpation and Robbery was manifest it was to be done brevi manu that the Worship of God might with all expedition be restored Finally they prayed his Majesty to take these things in good part and defend the Members of the Church by his Power and Protection But the other three Electors were not of that Opinion chiefly the Prince Palatine and Duke Maurice However they had both very good cause not to stand too stifly to it with the Emperour The rest of the Princes who were for the most part Bishops answered in the same manner as the Elector of Mentz and his Colleagues had done and as for the free Towns no great account was made of them Wherefore on the fifteenth of May the Emperour called all the States before him and having premised a few Things of his Love and Affection towards Germany I have found by manifest and clear Arguments said he and the thing it self speaks it that no Peace can be had nor Justice done before an end be made of that Controversie about Religion which now for many years hath caused various Quarrels and Animosities much Hatred Dissension and War in the Empire This hath been the cause why in frequent Dyets and by several Conferences I often sought for a Cure But in the mean time the Contagion not only over-spread all Germany but infected also other Christian People so that no presenter remedy could be thought on than the calling of a General Council This at your earnest solicitation I procured after much ado to be called at Trent and in like manner advised you at the opening of this Dyet that you would submit to the Authority thereof and leave it to my care in the mean time to find out some pious Expedient whereby Germany might live in peace and indeed your compliance therein and confidence in me was then and is still very acceptable unto me Being then wholly intent upon so necessary a Design and having demanded your Opinions to my great grief and sorrow I found that difference in Religion had not only been the cause all our past Evils but unless prevented would be so also for the future And therefore I thought it not good to leave things in that troublesome state until a Decree should be past in Council but to bring them to some moderation and the rather for that new Sects did here and there spring up Whilst I was pondering these things some Persons of eminent Rank and Quality Friends to Peace and Lovers of the Publick presented to me their thoughts of Religion drawn up in writing and promised to observe them Now so soon as that Writing was put into my Hands I referred it to some good and learned Divines to peruse it diligently and examine the Contents thereof When they had consider'd it they
Literature and he did not only understand the Latin but the Greek and French Tongues and very much loved the Reformed Religion he also Entertained and Protected the Learned Men of Germany Italy France Scotland Spain and Poland Albert having passed the Weser and the two Armies lying near together in Saxony the ninth day of July in the Afternoon they Engaged and after a sharp Fight Maurice who was strongest in Horse gained the Victory but then being shot through the Belly with a Dagg he died two days after of the Wound Albert however escaped to Hanover without any Hurt There was about four Thousand slain the greatest part of which were Horsemen but then the number of the Prisoners was very great Henry Duke of Bunswick lost Charles and Philip two of his Sons in this Battel The day after the Fight five Hundred Bohemian Horse which were sent by Ferdinand King of the Romans came into the Camp. The Lantgrave of Hassia had also sent to Maurice his Assistance about seven Hundred Horse Thus by a wonderful Change of Affairs the Lantgrave Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Bishops sent their Forces to Maurice And Erick of Brunswick who had Married the Sister of Maurice sent his to Albert. It was also the Opinion of many that as Ferdinand King of the Romans openly espoused the Interest of Maurice and sent his Forces against Albert so the Emperor under-hand encouraged Albert and encreased his Numbers but then the Letter which the Emperor wrote afterwards which I shall give the Reader in due time takes no notice of this It is also reported that the King of France had then entered into some new designs with Maurice and that he was very much afflicted for his Death Maurice being carried into his Tent sent that Night a Letter to the Bishop of Wurtzburg on of his Allies and in it desired him to shut up the Passages and endeavour to take Albert in his Flight or at least to intercept his Retreat that way He said whatever the event of his Present Condition were he enjoyed the comfort of a good Conscience for he had entered into this War for no other ends but to repel that Destroyer and to restore the Peace of Germany he died in the three and Thirtieth Year of his Age and was buried the fourteenth day after the Fight at Fridberg a Town of Misnia by Henry his Father and Albert an Infant of his own His Presence is thought to have contributed very much to the Victory many of his own Horse having fled in the Fight and that nothing else deprived Albert of it There were fifty Foot and fourteen Horse Colours taken from the Enemy in this Battel and presented to Maurice that Evening Thus Maurice Duke of Saxony lost his Life but then he very much weakened the Forces of Albert he never afterbeing able to bring a considerable Army into the Field When the Body of Maurice was carried through Leypsick to be Buried Joachimus Camerarius made a Funeral Oration in Commendation of him enumerating also the Prodigies which preceded his Death observing that drops of Blood were found upon the Leaves of some Trees that the Dogs howled more than was usual and that some Dogs had torn others the neighing of Horses the clashing of Armour and many other such noises which were very dreadful That his Tent was blown down by a Whirlwind when none of the rest were And lastly some ominous Words which fell from the Duke and seemed to presage his Death And in truth as to what concerns the drops of Blood they were observed in many Places and amongst the rest at Strasburg to be found frequently in the beginning of July fallen upon Herbs the Leaves of Trees Stones and the Tiles of Houses There was then a vast flight of Butterflies and there were some that were of Opinion that these drops of Blood proceeded from them but then others thought they were Presages of something that was to happen Maurice and Albert being Princes of an equal Degree and Honour had till then lived in the greatest Friendship and Conjunction They had served the Emperor together in the French Smalcaldick and Magdeburgian Wars And they were in the beginning of this fourth War united against the Emperor But some differences arising between them as I have said elsewhere their Friendship ended in this dreadful manner When Maurice died Augustus his Brother was with his Wife in Denmark with his Father-in-Law the King and therefore the Nobility and States of Saxony retained with them a part of the Army for the security of the Province that is about twelve Companies of Foot and five Troops of Horse the rest were dismissed and for the most part after the Funeral returned Home The eighteenth of July Albert sent a Letter to the Subjects of Maurice wherein he insinuated that when he passed through their Country into Saxony he did not commit the least act of Hostility because he had not any anger against them That on the contrary Maurice had not only injured his Subjects but that he might gratifie some wicked and perfidious Bishops had without cause or example broke the ancient League which had been so long between the Houses of Brandenburg and Saxony and made a War upon him And therefore seeing they had assisted their Prince contrary to the Commands of the Emperor who had signed his Treaty with the Bishops he was now to consider how he might retrieve his Loss and recover his Damages and to that end he in his turn did now renounce all those terms of Friendship which till then had been between him and them The Emperor's Army having taken and destroyed Terovanne marched from thence to Artois and took the Castle of Hesdin in the Month of July by Storm In this Action Horatius a Son-in-Law of the King of France was slain and many of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and amongst them Marchiane one of the Marshals of France and an Inhabitant of the Forrest of Ardenne The account of the Battel of Saxony was brought in a very few days to the Emperor who the Twenty second of July answered Erick of Brunswick who had been sent to him by Albert as I have above related That he was very sorry the differences had been carried so far that he had much wished the Quarrel might have been compos'd and that he feared if it were not here ended it would have ill effects upon the Empire and especially upon Albert considering the great number of the Princes of great Note which were leagued against him concerned in it That therefore it was his Desire and Command that they should lay down their Arms and consider of the Means of procuring a Peace That if Albert were so content he would take care to perswade those of the other Party to acquiesce in this his Opinion He desired very earnestly that Albert would not deny him this because otherwise in the present state of Affairs he the
Maximilian Barbarossa's Incursions Anthony Duke of Lorrain dying his Son Francis succeeds to him The English make an Expedition into France Boloigne besieged Sandizier taken upon Surrender Renate Prince of Orange killed The Consternation of the Parisians Boloigne taken by the English The Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King at Soissons and the Conditions of it The Pope's Letters to the Emperour written at the instigation and upon the confidence of the French King. The Bishop of Winchester's Book against Bucer Cardinals created to gratifie Princes The Council is again called The Controversie about the Lords Supper is renewed The Plea of the Clergy of Cologne with the Archbish The Clergy of Cologne appeal to the Pope and Emperour George of Brunswick President The writing of the Archb against the Conspiracy of his Clergy The Clergy of Cologne subscribe the Appeal The Emperour's Embassie to the King of England The Netherlanders loveâ— of the Reformed Religion Peter Bruley burnt The Intercession of Strasbourg and the Protestants for Bruley The Emperour 's severe Edicts against the Lutherans Bruiey's Answer to the Monks Interrogatories Of the Body and Bloud of Christ Of the Mass Of the Adoration of the Bread. Of Purgatory Of Masses and Prayers for the Dead How the Saints are truly worshipp'd Of Free-will Of Faith. Of Traditions that enslave Minds Of Images Of Baptism Of Vows Of Confession Of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary The Assembly of the Divines of Paris at Melun Luther's Positions contrary to those of the Divines of Louvaine An Imperial Diet at Wormes The first Session The Protestants make answer to Ferdinand The deliberation of the Popish States King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Petition Grignian the the French Embassador to the States The Persecution of the Waldenses at Merindole A cruel Sentence of the Parliament of Aix against the Waldenses Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix Philip Cortine Forces raised by Meinier against the Waldenses A Soldier gives the Fugitives forewarning Merindole is burnt Cabriere surprised by craft Is demolished A honourable piece of Cruelty of Meinier The number of the slain Coste is taken and the Inhabitants most barbarously used The Intercession of the Swizers for the Merindâ—lanes The King's Answer to the Swiss The Heads of the Waldensian Doctrine The Spaniards marched through Germany into Austria The Death of Louis Duke of Bavaria The Emperour and Cardinal Farnese come to Wormes The Emperour's Embassie to the King of Poland The King of Poland's Answer to the Emperour The Pope very greedy of Lutheran blood A bloody Sermon of a Franciscan Fryer Cardinal Farnese parts from Wormes for Rome Luther's Book against the Papacy of Rome A Picture set before the Book Luther's Theses of the three Hierarchies The Emperour's Treaty with the Protestants The Plea of Grignian the French Embassadour Francis Duke of Lorrain dies King Ferdinand's Daughter dies The Birth of Charles the Son of Philip King of Spain The Emperour's Daughter-in-law dies Piscara comes to Wormes The Duke of Brunswick chouses the French King of Money The Emperour makes a Truce with the Turk The Senate of Metz inquire after Protestants The Archbishop of Cologne is cited by the Emperour and Pope The Emperour takes the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne into his protection The Archbishop of Cologne is cited The Pope's prejudice against the Archbishop An Assembly and Conference appointed at Ratisbonne Conferours are appointed for the pacification of Religion The Papists refuse the Conference The Dutchy of Brunswick adjudged to the Emperour The stubbornness of the Duke of Brunswick The Elector of Cologne sends a Proctor to the Emperour War betwixt the French and English at Bologne The Death of the Duke of Orleans The Duke of Brunswick takes the field He takes Stembruck The Landgrave's Expedition against the Duke of Brunswick Maurice interceeds for Peace The Conditions of Peace proposed A Truce granted Duke Henry breaks the Truce A Fight betwixt Brunswick and the Landgrave The Duke of Brunswick surrenders himself with his Son to the Landgrave The Death of Albert of Mentz Maurice purges himself of the suspicion of betrying Brunswick Luther's Book against the setting the Duke of Brunswick at liberty William of Furstenberg is set at liberty The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave's Letters to the Emperour about the taking of the D. of Branswick The Landgrave's Letter to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by an Embassadour The Landgrave's Answer A Treaty of Peace betwixt the Kings of France and England 1546. The King of England forewarns the Protestants of their danger A Meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt The Elector Palatine appoints Preachers of the Gospel A Meeting of the Electors of the Rhine for the Archbishop of Cologne A Report of a War against the Protestants The Landgrave's Letter to Granvell Granvell answers the Landgrave A Meeting of some Princes at Franckfurt Sebastian Scherteline Deputies from the Protestants are sent to the Emperour and Clergy of Cologne The Protestants accused of a Conspiracy The Conference of Naves and Renard Count of Solmes The Landgrave's Letters to Naves The Conference of learned Men at Ratisbonne Presidents Colloqutors and Witnesses of the Conference The Conference begins The Heads of Doctrine to be chiefly handled The Conditions of the Conference Malvenda treats of the Point of Justification Bucer answers Malvenda as to the Article of Justification Billick the Carmelite Malvenda answers Bucer The Emperour's Letter to the Doctors Pflugg admitted amongst the Presidents The Conference is broken up The Protestant Embassadours with the Emperour in favour of the Elector of Cologne The Emperour's Answer to them The Pope's Legates sent to Trent Mendoza's Speech to the Fathers in Name of the Emperour The Cardinals answer Mendoza Preaching Monks acted the first part in the Council A Bull of Indulgences The commencement of the Council The first Session The Decree of the first Session The second Session of the Council of Trent Luther chosen Umpire betwixt the Counts of Mansfield Whether we shall know one another in the life to come Luther's Prayer before his death Luther's death His dead Body is carried to Wittemberg The Birth and Life of Luther He was sent to Rome Luther's Eloquence in the German Language His Constancy and Courage The Authors of the Decree of Ausbourg John Diazi went to the Conference at Ratisbonne John Diazi's Conference with Malvenda Malvenda's Letter to the Emperour's Confessour Diazi goes to Newbourg Alfonso Diazi's Brother comes into Germany The Cain-like and traitorous Mind of Alfonso John Diazi is killed by his Brother's means What was done with the Ruffians at Inspruck The Emperour comes to Spire on his Journey to Ratisbonne He visits the D. of Deuxpont's Lady Daughter to the Landgrave The Landgrave comes to the Emperour The Landgrave's Speech to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave The Landgrave's words to the Emperour Monks the disturbers of the Peace The Emperour's Answer to the