all over the City Here lived at that time one Wolfgang Musculus an eminent Minister of the Church He finding Affairs in a staggering condition the Senate timorous and that he could not approve the Book departed and went to Bern in Switzerland John Brentius was at Hall in Schwabia and had been in great danger two years before when upon the breaking up of the Protestants Camp the Emperour came to Hall but was now in far greater For at that time a little before the Emperours coming which was in the beginning of December some of the Spanish Guards having entred the Town march streight to his House and desire to be let in else they threaten grievously Being admitted they grew very insolent and sawcy Wherefore having no other place of refuge he sends his Wife and Family to the Town Hospital and follows himself shortly after leaving a Man at home to supply them with Victuals and all things necessary Next day after cometh a Noble Spaniard of the Dignified Clergy who turning out the others takes the whole House to himself and going into the Study makes a diligent search there Having there found some familiar Letters written to Brentius by some of his Friends concerning the sad troubles of the Times he endeavours to expose him to the hatred of his Countrymen and Party by divulging the Letters By the Advice of his Friends then in a sharp and cold Winter Night he removes to a Neighbouring Place in the Country that his presence might not be prejudicial to the Citizens But when the Emperour arrived at Hall and behaved himself graciously not seeming to take any offence at the Doctrine and Worship of the place Brentius returned home thither again and discharged the Office of his Ministery until this time that the Emperour would have the Decree made about Religion to be received indifferently by all For he as all the Learned Men throughout Germany were being commanded to give his Judgment of that Book Though he was sensible of his own danger yet that he might discharge his Duty towards his Church he affirmed it to be contrary to the holy Scriptures and proved it so in Writing This Piece coming into the Papists hands Granvell sends Orders to the Deputies of Hall in the Emperours Name as he said that they should use their endeavours to have him brought in Chains to Ausburg But he having notice of this from his Friends withdrew into a Neighbouring Country Nor was it long after before a Troop of Spaniards came to Hall whose Commander went streight to Brentius his House where he carefully hunted up and down in search of Booty if any were to be got but most part of the Houshold Furniture had been already removed by the Neighbours So then the poor Man after he had preached amongst them and taught them for the space of six and twenty years is now banished Nay his Wife also though at that time afflicted with a dangerous Sickness whereof not long after she died was banished too so that the poor Wretch was forced to wander up and down with six Children not knowing what to do or whither to go for Relief and Shelter in so great consternation were all Men because of the Spaniards And to increase her sorrows at the same time she knew not what was become of her Husband However when Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg came to be informed of the Calamity of Brentius though he was in very great danger himself yet he harboured him and his Family privately Now most of the Cities of Schwabia submitting to the Emperours Authority promised to obey his Commands Wherefore the Preachers every where removed that they might not do any thing unsuitable to their profession Andrew Osiander therefore left Norimberg and went to Prussia Spire and Wormes had each but one Preacher who also fled for safety William Count of Nassaw suffered Erasmus Sancerius to depart for the same reason The Duke of Wirtemberg also whose Country was full of Spanish Garisons as hath been said having received the Emperours Orders causes the Book that now was published to be read in the Churches and by Proclamation commands that no Man presume to act contrary to it gives liberty for any that pleased to say Mass for the future charges his Subjects not to molest or disturb any Priest and turns away from about him those Ministers that did not submit to the Decree amongst whom was Erard Schnepfius The Emperour sets Granvell and the Bishop of Arras upon the Duke of Saxony Prisoner to persuade him to obey the Decree and to follow the Doctrine of the published Book And though they tempted him with promises and gave him some hopes of liberty yet he constantly persevered in his opinion Why said he last year when the Emperour proposed Conditions unto me this was also one that I should approve both his and the Councils future Decrees concerning Religion but finding that I was not to be moved by terrour or any fear of danger to consent thereunto he waved that Condition and never after mentioned any thing of Religion unto me This I then looked upon as a very singular favour and being eased of that importunity as of a very heavy burden I bore more easily and with a more chearful Mind all the other Conditions whereby the Emperour disposed of me and my Fortune at his pleasure hoping that my Religion at least might be my own But now that he again urges and commands me to subscribe to the Decree that hath been made I here protest that I have been so brought up from my Youth and then by the reading of holy Books have been so confirmed that I do believe this Doctrine to be altogether consonant to the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles and that it cannot be convicted of any Errour And it was upon this very ground that my Father and I and some other Princes heretofroe exhibited a Confession of that Doctrine in Writing and referred it to a lawful Council Since then God has enlightened me with the knowledge of his Word I cannot forsake the known Truth unless I would purchase to my self Eternal Damnation wherefore if I should admit of that Decree which in many and most material Points disagrees with the holy Scriptures I should condemn the Doctrine of JESUS CHRIST which I have hitherto professed and in words and speech approve what I know to be Impious and Erroneous But what would that be else than with gawdy and painted words first to mââk God and then the Emperour And can there be any greater Crime than that For it is no less than the Sin against the Holy Ghost of which Christ so earnestly admonishes us to have a care and which is never to be pardoned These things being so and seeing my Conscience is in this manner tied up I most earnestly and by the Mercies of God that by the offering up of his own Son he bestowed upon Mankind pray and beseech the
Bulla coenae Domini the Bull of the Lord's Supper Which formulary of Excommunication came afterwards into Luther's hands and he rendred it into High-Dutch besprinkling it with some very Witty and Satyrical Animadversions So soon as Luther received the Letter he parted from Wittemberg and took his Journey towards Wormes accompanied by the same Herald that brought the Letter But when he was come within a few Miles of the place many dissuaded him from proceeding because his Books had been lately burnt which they looked upon as a Pre-judging of his Cause and a Condemning of him before a Hearing they therefore advised him to look to himself as being in great danger and to take warning from what happened to John Huss in the former Age. However with great resolution he slighted all danger affirming that that terrour and fear was suggested to him by the Devil who saw his Kingdom would be shaken by an open Confession of the Truth and in so illustrious a Place So then continuing his Journey he arived at Wormes on the Sixteenth of April Next day being sent for he appeared before the Emperour and a great Assembly of the Princes where Eckius a Lawyer by Orders from the Emperour spoke to him to this purpose For two Reasons said he Martin Luther the Emperour with consent of all the Princes and States commanded you to be sent for and hath charged me to put the Question to you first Whether or not you will confess that you wrote these Books and acknowledge them for your own And then Whether or not you will retract any thing in them or stand to the defence of what you have written Luther had brought along with him a Lawyer of Wittemberg one Jerome Schurff and he craved that the Titles of the Books might be read and produced Which being done Luther resumed in short what had been said unto him And then as to the Books saith he I confess and own them to be mine But whether I will defend what I have written that 's a Matter of great consequence and therefore that I may make a pertinent Answer and do nothing rashly I desire time to consider on 't The Matter being debated Although said he you might easily have understood by the Emperor's Letters the cause you were sent for and ought therefore to answer peremptorily without any delay yet the Emperour is graciously pleased to allow you one day for Deliberation commanding you to appear again at the same hour to morrow and give your positive Answer by Word of Mouth and not in Writing Most People began to think by his asking time to consider that he did relent and would not prove constant When next day he appeared at the hour appointed You did not said Eckius to him answer the second Question that was put to you yesterday having desired time to deliberate in which could have been lawfully denied you for every one ought to be so well persuaded in his Faith as to be ready at all times to give a reason of it to those who demand the same much more ought not you who are so learned and experienc'd a Divine to have doubted or have needed time to premeditate an Answer But to let that pass What do you now say Will you defend those Writings of yours Then Luther addressing himself to the Emperour and the Council of the Princes and having earnestly besought them to hear him patiently If I offend said he most Mighty Emperour and most Illustrious Princes either in the impropriety of Expressions unworthy of such an Auditory or in the clownishness and indecency of Carriage and Behaviour I humbly beg Pardon for it and desire it may be imputed to the course of life that now for some part of my age I have followed For the truth is I have nothing to say for my self but that with uprightness and simplicty I have hitherto taught those things which I believe do tend to the Glory of God and Salvation of Men Yesterday I answer'd as to my Books and owned them to have been written and published by me though if any thing should happen to be added unto them by others I would by no means acknowledg that for mine Now as to the second Question that was put to me thus stands the case All the Books that I have written are not of the same kind nor do they treat of the same subject for some of them relate only to the Doctrin of Faith and Piety which even my Adversaries do commend and should I abjure these I might justly be accused of neglecting the duty of an honest Man There are others wherein I censure the Roman Papacy and the Doctrin of Papists which have plagued Christendom with the greatest of Evils For who does not see how miserably the Consciences of Men are rack'd by the Laws and Decrees of Popes Who can deny but that they have by Craft and Artifice robb'd all Countries and especially Germany and that even to this day they set up no bounds nor period to their Pillage and Rapine Now if I should retract those Books I must confirm that Tyranny which would be of far worse consequence when it came to be known that I did it by the Authority of the Emperour and Princes There is a third sort of Books which I have written against some private Persons who have undertaken to defend that Knavery of Rome and to ensure me with Cavils and Calumnies and in these I confess I have been more vehement than became me but I arrogate no Sanctity to my self nor is it of Life and Manners but of the true Doctrin that I make Profession and yet I would not willingly retract any thing in these neither for by so doing I should but open a door to the Insolence of many Nevertheless I would not be so understood as if I vainly pretended that I could not Err But seeing it is the property of Man to Err and be Deceived I cannot defend my Self and Cause better than by that saying of our Saviour's who being smitten by a certain Servant as he was speaking of his Doctrin If said he I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil Now if Christ who is all Perfection refused not to hear the Evidence of a wretched Servant against him how much more ought not I a vile Sinner by nature and lyable to many Errours make my apperaance when I am called and hear every Man that would object and witness any thing against my Doctrin Wherefore I beg for God's sake and all that is Sacred that if any Man have any thing to object against the Doctrin which I profess he would not dissemble it but come forth and convince me of Errour by Testimonies of Scripture which if he do I will not be obstinate but shall be the first to throw my Books with my own hands into the Fire And this may be an Argument that I have not been led by rashness or any head-strong passion but have
he would also convert his Brethren He said that St. John was always obedient to St. Peter after the death of Christ and when they both ran to the Sepulcher he would not go in first but gave the precedency to the other To him Christ gave the Charge of feeding his Sheep in a more especial manner besides when the Net was full of Fishes and a great many of them could not stir it Peter alone drew it a shore Then he proceeds to the business of the Divorce where he tells the King That it was not the terrors of Conscience and the dread of the Divine Displeasure as he pretended but Lust and an ungovernable Appetite which made him part with his Wife Catherine whom his Brother Arthur an infirm Youth of fourteen years of age had left a Virgin That it was not lawful for him to marry Anne Bullein whose Sister he had kept as his Miss before That Catherine was a Maid himself had confess'd to several Persons particularly to the Emperor But he falls violently upon him for writing to so many Universities for their Opinion concerning his first Marriage and for being pleas'd with the sense of his former uncleanness when some told him That Match was Incestuous That it was a most scandalous thing for him to prefer the Daughter of a Strumpet before a most excellent young Lady lawfully begotten Then he goes on to the Execution of the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore where he enlargeth himself and declaims very tragically against the cruelty of it From whence he proceeds to tell the King how he had oppress'd and impoverish'd all degrees of Men and made a most flourishing Kingdom miserable and what danger he was in from the Emperor for divorcing his Aunt and subverting Religion and what little reason he had to expect any Foreign or Domestick Assistance who had behav'd himself so ill towards the Commonwealth Then he applies himself to the Emperor and makes use of a great many words to provoke him to revenge such a notorious Affront put upon his Family and saith That the Seeds of Turcism are scatter'd about England and Germany meaning the Antipapal Doctrin At last after he had charg'd his Prince with a great many Crimes and almost call'd him all to naught he exhorts him to repent and tells him There was no other remedy to be had but by returning to the bosom of the Church which he had formerly defended in print and therein given a most admirable example This Book was publish'd without any date at Rome and lay conceal'd a long time at last a great many years after one or two in Germany got it The occasion of his writing he saith was because the King formerly desir'd it And though a great many learned Men in England who had done the same thing had lost ther Lives yet he was so much oblig'd by his Highness that he could not perswade himself to dissemble his thoughts for both his temper and way of living had made him very averse to that Vice and therefore what he had said ought not to be attributed to passion or ill will on the contrary since he endeavour'd to bring him into his way again and to rescue him from those Flatterers who had run him upon such gross Mistakes he thought he did him very great service Now King Henry had taken care to breed this Gentleman to Learning and had been kind to him in many respects But when that alteration which I mention'd happen'd in England and was disapprov'd by Pool Paul the Third by the advice and recommendation of Contareni makes him a Cardinal and invited him to Rome Those who were intimately acquainted with him say That he understood the reformed Religion very well and imagine that the reason of his writing against King Henry was to avoid the suspicion of Lutheranism They say he printed his Book at Rome at his own Charge and ordering all the Copies to be brought to him gave them out only to the Pope and Cardinals and to his special Friends for he was willing to stand fair in their Opinion and was likewise afraid it 's probable of falling under the Censure of those who had several times heard him discourse very differently upon that Subject THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XI The CONTENTS The Protestants send their Embassadors to the Emperor with whom they were principally to insist upon three things Eldo the Emperor's Embassador gives them a large Answer at Smalcalde To which all the Confederates reply and particularly they reflect smartly upon the Council they were invited to Eldo rejoyns upon them ex tempore In the mean time the Pope dispatcheth away the Bishop of Aix into Germany The Prosestants give their Reasons why they refuse the Council and write to the French King about it The Queen of Scotland dies The King of England and his Nobility publish a Manifesto against the Council which the Pope had call'd The Town and Castle of St. Paul in Artois is taken Terouenna is besisg'd by the Imperialists but without Success IN the Ninth Book I had occasion to mention the Ausburghers Now when these Men had made an Alteration in Religion and the Ecclesiasticks most of which were descended of good Families leaving the Town in a disgust upon this account The Senate address'd themselves to the Emperor to King Ferdinand and to all the States of the Empire and acquaint them with the Reasons of their proceedings in writing in which they let them understand how kindly they had us'd these Gentlemen how many things they had born from them and on the contrary how provokingly they had behav'd themselves attempting several times to raise an Insurrection in the Town Not long after Christopher their Bishop publisheth an Answer to this Book in the name of himself and his Party and after a great many Complaints he desires the Emperor and the Princes in regard the danger toucheth them no less than himself to make some Provision for the common Safety In the last Book I mention'd the Protestants Embassy to the Emperor in Italy The Persons sent were Joachim Papenheim Lewis Bambach and Claudius Peutinger a Lawyer They had three things in their Commission in which they were more especially to concern themselves To confute the Report which was spread as if they were entring into an Alliance with the Kings of England and France That the Emperor would Check the Proceedings of the Chamber of Spire And that those who were admitted into the League after the Pacification at Nuremburgh might enjoy the benefit of that Treaty The Emperor admitted them to Audience but being busied in Military affairs he told them he would send an Embassador into Germany with his Answer Therefore when he was about to return into Spain by the way of Genoa he sent Mathias Eldo his Vice-Chancellor into Germany When the Protestants understood this by their Embassadors at their return they appoint the Seventh of February
offered a yearly Tribute for procuring it That nevertheless the Amity he had with the Turk was so far from being prejudicial that it would be extreamly useful to Christendom if not prevented by the Emperor 's insatiable Ambition for that the Title of most Christian had been given to the Kings his Predecessors in whose Steps by God's Grace he intended to tread and never do any thing that might make him seem unworthy of so glorious a Name That it was an outragious Injury then to disperse such a Calumny of him amongst all People for what a Madness nay Fury would it be to assist the Enterprises and encrease the Power of him who in a very short time after would ruin himself That neither was the Council of Trent retarded or hindered by him since he could reap no Benefit from so doing and that it was a thing very inconsistent with the Examples and Customs of his Ancestors who had many times promoted Councils and done them all the good Offices they could but that the Emperor was so transported with Malice and Hatred against him that he made all even his best Actions Criminal and was of that Temper himself that nothing would serve him but to rule over and make Slaves of all People cloaking this his Ambitions in the mean time with such specious Words and Pretexts that he would be thought forsooth to be a very virtuous and pious Prince That therefore since things were so he prayed his Holiness not to give Credit to Slanders but to think so of him as that there was nothing but what he would do for the Publick for him and for the Church of Rome A little before this died William du Bellay of Langey often mentioned before a Man of great Honour and Virtue and the Ornament of the French Nobility for his extraordinary Learning Eloquence Experience and singular Dexterity in management of all Affairs Very unlike to most Courtiers whose chief Care is to enrich themselves But he a Man of an Heroick Disposition had no other Prospect but by solid and true Virtue to purchase to himself lasting Glory and faithfully to serve his Prince though with Prejudice to his own private Fortune We told you before of the Parisian Preacher Francis de Landre who having made an ambiguous Answer to the Heads of Doctrine proposed to him and persisting still in his way of Teaching was sent to Prison some Days before Easter This was done at the Instigation of the Sorbonn Doctors who had accused him to the Lieutenant Criminal Some Days after the King came to St. Germins and being informed of the whole Matter sent for Landre to appear before him He came according to Command but being terrified by some Mens Words who told him That the King was exceedingly incensed against him he did not shew that Constancy which many expected from him and being ordered to return to Paris he was on the Twenty ninth Day of April forced to condemn what before he had taught For that Day there assembled in the Cathedral Church the Judges and Counsellors of Parliament the Provost de Merchands with the rest of the Magistrates and a great number of Divines Then the Church Doors were shut and Guards in Arms set to keep off the People When all had taken their Places his Opinions were read to him and being asked his Judgment as to every Particular he answered as they would have him confessed he had erred promised Obedience for the future and then acknowledged the Heads of Doctrine which the Divines first and then the King's Counsellors propounded to him to be true and Holy. The same thing was done though with less Solemnity a little after with de Pensier another Teacher of the People Who at first having flattered and not made his Recantation plainly enough he was forced another Day after to make a Sermon to the People wherein he explained openly and distinctly all the Points of Doctrine he had taught to the Satisfaction of the Divines who were present There lived then in France one Clement Marot who in the vulgar Tongue far surpassed all the Poets of that or the former Ages He was not so well acquainted with the Latin however he had much improved himself by the Conversation of the Learned Nor was there any thing in the Books of the Poets but he was so much Master of it as to translate and apply it to his Purpose Thus he borrowed some things in his Elegies but not professedly from Tibullus Propertius and Ovid And out of Catullus he took his Epithalamium on the Marriage of Hercules Duke of Ferrara and Renate of Bretagne Daughter of Lowis XII of France He translated also most elegantly the First Book of Ovid's Metamorphosis Now in his latter Years he employed the Talent he had that way on Holy Scripture and intended to have turn'd all the Psalms of David into French Metre but he lived only to finish Fifty of them which are now extant and read not without great Esteem of his excellent Wit. For nothing can be more taking more neat and clear nor more quaint and proper than his Stile He published them this Year at Geneva whither he had fled because he was not safe in France as being suspected of Lutheranism He had Two Years before published Thirty Psalms at Paris but with a great deal of Trouble and could not have it done till the Doctors of the Sorbonne had given a Licence That the Book contained nothing contrary to the Christian Faith. This perhaps is wide of our Purpose but I thought it not amiss to commend the Name of so excellent an Artist to other Nations also For in France helives to all Posterity and most are of Opinion that hardly any Man will ever be able to match him in that kind of Writing and that as Cicero says of Caesar He makes wise Men afraid to write Others and more learned Men too than he have handled the same Subject but came far short of the Beauty and Elegancy of his Poems It has been mentioned in the Tenth Book that the Archbishop of Cologne had a great mind to reform his Church and approved not of that Synod of his Province though a Book on that Subject was published in his Name Now after that it was decreed in the Diet of Ratisbone and Injunctions laid upon the Bishops both by the Emperor and the Popes Legate that they should in their several Provinces and Diocesses set about a Holy Reformation He called a Convention of his States which consist of the Clergy of the Cathedral Church Earls Nobility and the Deputies of Cities After some Deliberation it was agreed upon by all that so holy and wholsom a Work should be taken in hand wherefore he employed some to draw up in Writing a Form of future Reformation and look out for good and able Ministers of the Church This Writing he sent to the Divines of Cologne desiring them to examine it and give their Judgment
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
humbly beg forgiveness and promise amendment This Formulary being read over as I said before was by the Bishops after some deliberation approved and they promised to call Synods within a little time after they were returned home Nevertheless they desired that the Pope might be moved to give his assent to some things in it This Book was Printed also afterward Mention was made before that the Deputies of the Cities sent home to consult their Principals about the Decree But when the Strasburghers who were the chief were a little backward in answering the Emperour orders Granvell to press them to it He therefore June the Twenty eighth sends for the Deputies of whom James Sturmey was the Principal and speaking to them by Henry Hasen who then was his Interpreter he told them that they themselves knew how the States had begg'd of the Emperour and referred it to his care to devise some Expedient that might be observed till the sitting of the Council That he had done it and that a Form was drawn up by good and Learned Men which all the Princes except some few and the chief Cities had approved Now seeing they and some others had besought the Emperour that they might have leave to consult their Principals which he granted and in the mean time waited for their Answer he took it ill that hitherto they had made him none and that therefore he had commanded him to learn what their mind was When the Deputies had told the reason of their Silence they produce a Letter directed to the Emperour from the Senate wherein they tell his Majesty That they desired nothing more than to be able to gratifie him in all things but that they and all their Citizens were fully persuaded that if they should at all admit of that Decree they should wound their own Consciences grievously offend God and endanger their own salvation That since he in his own Wisdom knew how heinous a thing that was they begg'd for Christs sake that in so nice a point which concerned not Lands nor Goods but the salvation of their Souls and Eternal Happiness he would have some regard to them and as he allowed others of a different Persuasion the free use of their Religion so he would suffer them to enjoy that of the Augustane Confession until a Decree should pass in Council as it had been often enacted in Dyets and that he would not compel them to say with their Mouth what their Heart did not think That they again on their parts should take all imaginable care that nothing should be done tumultuously or irreligiously in their City that no wicked and pernicious Principles or Doctrines should be suffered among them nor no cause of Complaint given to their Neighbours When Granvell had heard the Letter read he told them that the Emperour had always had a good opinion of their City and that since all generally commended and approved the Decree they must not expect to be exempted for they had Orders to admit of no such Answer that it was in vain then to Petition but that they should tell positively what the Resolution of the Senate was To which they Reply That when the matter was referred to the Emperour they and the other Deputies had always understood it of the Civil but not Religious Concerns that they thought the last had been referred to a Council where upon hearing of the Parties the Controversie should be decided but that in this Book almost all the Points of Doctrine in dispute were determined that if they should now receive them without any previous Disquisition or the Learned Men of their Party being heard they would no longer remain Controverted nor stand in need of the Authority of a Coucncil That it was no wonder that most part of the Princes and States approved the Decree since it was for their own advantage all being left whole and entire to them but a manner of Religion prescribed to the Protestants and commands laid upon them to forsake those Doctrines that had been always disputed without so much as a hearing whereas nevertheless in all the Dyets the whole Cause was referred to a Council That to force any Man to act contrary to his own Conscience though it were erroneous was a very grievous thing unless the Errour were first made appear That they believed there were a great many good Men on both sides that nevertheless differed among themselves in Judgment and Opinion That no constraint ought to be put upon such but that they should be convinced by Reason Truth and Arguments That since then in all Matters not relating to Religion they were ready to give unto Caesar the things that were Caesars they prayed him to recommend to his Imperial Majesty these humble Demands of the Senate That they were not ignorant of the Emperours great power nor of the danger they now incurred if he should think fit to make use of force That therefore if they were not fully persuaded that by the approbation of this Decree God was greatly offended it would be the greatest madness in the world not to comply with the Emperour Here again Granvell having repeated what he had said before told them that they themselves when they were received again into the Emperours favour had promised to observe what he should appoint for the welfare of the Empire That of this nature was the Decree made with the Counsel and Advice of Learned Men and by the greater part approved That therefore it could not be refused because it was consonant to the Doctrine of the Church Did they arrogate so much to themselves as to think they saw more than the Universal Church that they should make a separation from the rest That it was not lawful for them to change Religion without the common consent of the whole World. That therefore if they had no other Instructions they should inform themselves from their Senate whether they intended to obey or not That as to what they alledged that they had only understood it of Civil Affairs when the Matter was referred to the Emperour it was no matter how they understood it but how the major part of the States did The Deputies again represent that they and the rest of the Deputies of their State had in a manner been excluded from all Deliberations nay and that they had not been then consulted when the matter was referred to the Emperour so that they had understood it no otherwise than as they told him Yea and that some Princes had also understood it so for that when they made their peace with the Emperour they would not promise absolute obedience for fear it might be some time or other extended to Religion that his own Son the Bishop of Arras knew this to be true who then promised in the Emperours Name that the whole Cause of Religion should be referred to a Lawful Council That whereas he said that Decree ought to be received as
Scriptures and Doctrine of the Fathers without prejudice or affection and that they themselves should be heard to the full Then other Decrees are read over as it is customary especially that concerning Religion and all are strictly charged to obey it as was before declared May the Fifteenth We named before the three Authors of the Book called the Interim One of them John Islebius had liberal Rewards both from the Emperour and King Ferdinand for his pains but Michael Sidonius got afterward the Bishoprick of Mensburg in Saxony this gave occasion to some to joke upon them and say that they only maintained amongst other things the Popish Chrisme and Oyl to be used as sacred and necessary to Salvation that they themselves might come off the better greased Not long after the Emperour sent his Letters to the Princes that were absent especially to those who seemed most to stand in need of it commanding them forthwith to obey that Decree And July the Tenth he wrote to Erasmus Bishop of Strasburg to use endeavours that that which with so much labour and pains he had brought about should be put into execution and that if he wanted fit Men he should provide himself somewhere else The Report of this Decree was soon spread abroad far and near And the Venetians July the Nineteenth publish a Proclamation charging all who had Books containing any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith to bring them in within eight days to some certain Men appointed for that afterwards inquisition would be made and such as deserved be punished promising Reward and Secresie to Informers The Pope hath a Legat or Nuncio always there as in the Courts of Princes also these see and hear with the Eyes and Ears of many and are often the Causes why Decrees of that nature are made But the Senate of Venice useth this Circumspection that they suffer not the Romish Bishops and Inquisitors to be sole Judges but always joyn with them the Governours of Places and Lawyers to Examine the Evidences and take care that no Sentence pass against any Man within their Jurisdiction out of malice or for love of gain They made this Law in the year 1521. when in the Country of Brescia the Inquisitors tyrannised cruelly over poor Wretches as if they had been Sorcerers and in Compact with the Devil And now when the Doctrine of Luther had taken deep rooting and was spread far and near that Law was in force still whatever the Papist muttered who would have it abrogated Much about this time the King of France sent Auxiliary Forces into Scotland against the English and amongst these some Germans under the Conduct of the Rhinegrave But the Emperour Proscribes Hubert Count Bichling and Sebastian Scherteline in one and the same Proclamation and not long after the Rhinegrave Count Heideck Pecrod and Pifeberg beseeching all Foreign Princes not to entertain nor protect them but to gratifie him in that particular and assuring them that they might expect the like from him when occasion offered The Duke of Vendosme a Prince of the Royal Blood of France Married the Lady Jane Daughter to the King of Navarre who seven years before had been betrothed and given to the Duke of Cleve as has been said Eleanor the Emperours Sister Queen Dowager of France leaves France and goes to live in the Netherlands The Duke of Aumale Son to the Duke of Guise after he had long courted the Duchess of Lorrain the Emperours Sisters Daughter Married the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Ferrara About that time Louis d' Avila a Spaniard wrote the History of the Emperours Wars in Germany in the vulgar Language which was afterwards Translated into Italian Latin and French where he speaketh of the taking of Marquess Albert he saith That he minded his pleasures so much with Women that he neglected his Duty and misbehaved himself at Nochlitz Though the Emperour had given most strict charge that no Man should in any manner impugne the Book that was published about Religion nevertheless several Pieces came abroad that confuted all the Doctrine contained in it and admonished Man to beware of it as a most dangerous Plague Amongst these was Caspar Eagle Minister of the Church of Salfield in Thuringe The occasion of Writing was given by Islebius who was upon his way home from Ausburg and bragg'd mightily of that Book saying That a Golden Age was now at hand and that Eagle had also assented to it When this came to his Ears he wrote a most bitter Answer giving him the Lye and affirming the Book to be stuffed with false Doctrines In France also Robert Bishop of Auranches wrote against it but upon a different account and rejected the same chiefly because it allowed Marriage to Priests and the Sacrament in both Kinds to the Laity where taking occasion by the way he bitterly inveighs against Bucer for Marrying a second Wife Romey also General of the Order of St. Dominick wrote against it for the same Reasons at Rome So that the little Book was found fault with by both sides The Emperour had sent an Ambassadour to the City and State of Norimberg to persuade them to submit to the Decree that was made On his way thither he solicited the Sons of the Duke of Saxony to the same purpose but they all resolutely refused Upon his return he gave the Emperour a full account of his Negotiation Wherefore the Emperour makes his application again to the Captive Prince complaining of his Sons that not only they rejected the Decree lately made but also suffered the Ministers to rail against it in their Pulpits and Writings wherefore he desires him to use his Authority with them that they would give him satisfaction as to both these Points To this he makes Answer That he had lately satisfied Granvell and the Bishop of Arras why he himself did not approve the Doctrine of the published Book which being so he would not persuade his Sons to do that which he could not with a good Conscience do himself that he earnestly besought him to take it in good part and to favour both him and his Sons with his protection This constancy of his and singular fortitude of Mind in bearing Adverse Fortune purchased him the Love and Esteem of all Men. As the States of Bremen and Magdenberg were the only People in Saxony who were not reconciled to the Emperour so were also those of Constance that border upon the Switzers the only in Upper Germany but at length having obtained a safe Conduct they send Deputies to Ausburg to Negotiate a Peace The Emperour proposed very hard Conditions to them and amongst these that they should receive the Publick Book and conform their Religion unto it The Deputies desire some mitigation of the Conditions but that was in vain and they are commanded to bring their Answer by a day prefixt The Senate being made
IOANNES SLEIDANVS PATRICIVS ARGENTORATENSIS Natus Sleidae A. D. MDVI Legatus in Anglia pro Protestantibus A. D. MDXXXXV Legatus Argentorat in Concilio Trident. A. D. MDLI. Obijt II Kal Novemb A. D. MDLVI Printed for Henry Bonwicke and Abel Swalle THE General History OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH From the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of ROME Begun in GERMANY By Martin Luther With the Progress thereof in all Parts of Christendom From the Year 1517 to the Year 1556. Written in LATIN By John Sleidan L. L. D. And faithfully Englished To which is Added A CONTINUATION To the End of the Council of Trent in the Year 1562. By EDMUND BOHUN Esq LONDON Printed by Edw. Jones for Abel Swall at the Vnicorn and Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Pauls Church-Yard MDCLXXXIX The Testimony of the Reverend and Learned Doctor Burnet in the Preface of his Celebrated History of the Reformation of the Church of England Pag. 1. wherein he gives an Honourable Character not only of Sleidan but also of Thuanus and Father Paul two of the Authors Cited below THe Changes that were made in Religion in the last Century have produced such Effects every where that it is no wonder if all persons desire to see a clear Account of the several Steps in which they advanced of the Counsels that directed them and the Motives both Religious and Political that inclined Men of all Conditions to concur in them Germany produced a Sleidan France a Thuanus and Italy a Frier Paul who have given the World as full satisfaction in what was done beyond Sea as they could desire And though the two last lived and died in the Communion of the Church of Rome yet they have delivered things to Posterity with so much Candour and Evenness that their Authority is disputed by none but those of their own Party Jac. Aug. Thuanus Historiar Lib. xvii pag. 542. Sub Exitum Octobris c. The last day of October in the year 1556 John Sleidan when he had brought down his History to that time with an Exact Faith and Diligence died of the Plague at Strasburg in the One and Fiftieth year of his Age. He was born at Sleidan a Town in the Dukedom of Juliers near Duren and from thence he took his Name He was a Person who for his Learning and great Experience in Affairs was much esteemed by that Age He had spent the greatest part of his Youth in France and being entertained in the Family of Bellay had both Learned and done great things in the Service of Cardinal John Du Bellay but a sharp Persecution arising in France against those who were suspected of Lutheranisme he went and lived at Strasburg and served that Free City and being by his own publick Employments well informed of the Carriage of Affairs he added to what he had seen what he had learned from Men worthy of Credit and Wrote his Commentaries Joannes Bodinus Method Ad facilem Historiar Cognitionem pag. 66 67. Sleidanus Franciscum Regem c. John Sleidan greatly and truely commends Francis I. King of France the Duke of Saxony Bellay and Alenzon and yet declin'd all odious Comparisons And if he at any time was forced to set down any thing which tended to the Dishonour of any Man he either proved it by good Arguments or put it in the Number of the Rumors or Reports He notwithstanding Imitated Guicciardin Plutarch Machiavel Tacitus and many others in the disclosing the Counsels and Conceal'd Frauds of Men for Sleidan was Interpreter to Francis I. and was Employed in many Embassies for the City of Strasburg after which resolving to Write the History of Religion as he was a Pious and Religious Man he has comprised in it not only a vast number of Speeches and Letters but has also some times abridged the Books which were written on both sides which though it may seem very tedious to some Men yet on the contrary those that are true Lovers of Antiquity and desirous to be throughly informed concerning the great Changes which then happened in Christendom think nothing the less honourably of him on that Account Pietro Soave Polano Hist del Concilio Tridentino pag. 1. Il Proponimento mio c. My purpose is to Write the History of the Council of Trent for though many famous Historians of our Age have made mention in their Writings of some particular Accidents that happened therein and John Sleidan a most Diligent Author hath related with Exquisite Industry the Causes that went before yet notwithstanding all these things put together would not suffice for an intire Narrative This Author supposeth his Reader well Acquainted with Sleidan's History and on that account gives a very short and imperfect Relation of the Rise and Progress of the Controversies which necessitated the calling of that Council so that it is scarce possible throughly to understand that History without having first Read Sleidan's TO THE QUEEN MADAM THIS Work was design'd and begun when Our Church was in the Lowest degree of Danger out of a belief that it might contribute something to her Preservation in that Storm which lay so heavy upon her the Duration of which could then be known to none but God. I thought That a seasonable time to Imitate the Divine Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews and to set before us that Cloud of Illustrious Persons who had with an Heroick Courage baffl'd the Rages of former Persecutions by their Faith and Patience The Reflections I had in private made to my self on the many Deliverances the Holy God has in these last Ages so often wrought for his distressed Church when she seem'd ready to be swallowed up by Popish Fury and Fraud was so great a support and comfort to me in those Melancholy days that I passionately wished I had had some means of communicating them to others To that End was undertaken the Translating this Excellent History as the best means I could think of to raise the same Thoughts in others And as Your Majesty was ever in our Minds I wish'd I might have some favourable opportunity of laying it at Your Feet tho' I could then have no prospect of that Happiness Since then the late Wonderful Revolution has put so sudden and unexpected an End to our Sufferings and our Sorrows and brought Your Majesty back to England to be the Defender of our Holy Faith and the Deliverer of our oppressed Church I humbly beg Your Gracious acceptance of this History which is due to Your Majesty as the chief Patroness of the Reformation That God would for many years continue us under Your most Auspicious Government and at last reward Your Piety and Virtues with a more Glorious Crown in Heaven is and ever shall be one of the most fervent Prayers of Madam Feb. XX. 1688-89 Your Majesties most Dutiful Loyal Faithful and most Devoted Subject Edmund Bohun The Author of the Continuation to the Reader containing an account of
the Life of the Learned John Sleidan and of the Reception of his History JOhn Sleidan the Author of this History was born in the Year 1506. at Sleidan or Sleiden a small Town in the Dukedom of Juliers seated upon the River Roer which passing by Duren and Gulick at Roââmont falls into the Maes I have not been able to find of what quality and condition his Parents were but it is certain he was sent to Study in the University of Paris when he was Twenty years of Age and that he was taken into the Service of John âardinal Dâ Bâllây a Great Learned and Wise Prelate of the French Church and one that very earnestly desired a Reformation as the Great Thuanus tells us By him he was imployed in affairs of great consequence and he having by his fidelity industry and prudence gain'd a great share in the Cardinals affection he was Recommended to Francis I. King of France who imployed him as his Interpreter for the German Tongue as Bodinus saith He himself tells us he continued nine years in France But in November 1534. a sharp Persecution arising in that Kingdom against the Lutherans which he saith he saw with his own Eyes he became so far disgusted or affrighted at it that he left France and retired to Strasburg which was probably in the Year 1â35 our Author being then about Thirty years of Age so that by that computation he was about Twenty years of Age when he travailed into France The Reputation he had acquired in France prepared the way to a good reception in that Free City and he was entertain'd by James Sturmius who was their principal Minister or Stateholder with great kindness About the Year 1540. he first took up the design of Writing the History of the Reformation at the request of this great States-man and many others but very unwillingly In the Year 1543. he sent the first Book to the Diet at Worms where it was read and so well approved that he was sent as one of the Ambassadors to Henry VIII into England by the whole Body of the Protestants which Embassie is mentioned by him in his Sixteenth Book In the Year 1551. he was again sent Ambassador for the City of Strasburg to the Council of Trent where he arrived the 21 of November as he informs us in his Twenty third Book He continued at Trent till the 27th of March 1552. and then desired leave to return which at first was granted but then the next day they recall'd this permission and forced him to stay till the 6th of April when the News coming to Trent that the Elector of Saxony had taken Ausburg three days before the Fathers fell into such a Consternation that the Council broke up in an hurry and soon after the Emperor himself was forced to pass the Alpes from Inspruck where he then was by Torch-light in the Night which gave our Author the opportunity to return to Strasburg at his own leisure well satisfied that he was escaped out of that Den of wild Beasts The third of May of the same year he was sent by the City of Strasburg to Sarbruk a Town about seven miles from that City to the West to the French King who being then entred into a War against the Emperor was come thither in person with an Army he having thereupon demanded Supplies of the City of Strasburg our Author with two others was sent as a Deputy to that Prince as he sets forth in the Twenty fourth Book After this I do not find he was any more imployed abroad but fell seriously to the composing of his History in which Work he saith he intirely imployed the three following years and the 23 of April 1555. he dedicated the first Twenty five Books to the Elector of Saxony The Twenty sixth Book was Published after his Death being found amongst his Papers This Work was no sooner sent into the World than our Author found cause to complain for whereas he had imployed one Rihely a Printer of Strasburg to Publish it there was presently Published without the Authors knowledge or consent a German Version very ill done and soon after that the same person presumed to Print it in Latin too to the great damage of Rihely which Sleidan took very ill and in the next Edition complained of it to the World. The Roman Catholicks on the contrary presently set up a cry against this History and imploy'd all the interest they had in the World to run down the Credit of the Author not by making any Objection against any parts of it but by general Slanders and misrepresentations of the whole Work in a lump to which kind of Defamations they knew it was very hard to make any Answer but however our Author put out an Apology in his own Vindication The last part of our Authors Life was imployed in Writing his Twenty sixth Book which I believe was never finished by him that which we now have being only his first Rough Draught unpolished and uncorrected Death suddenly surprizing him the last day of October in the Year 1556. He died of a Plague or Epidemick acute Disease in the Fifty first year of his Age begun to the great Regret of all Learned and Pious Men who might justly have expected great things from so Learned so Modest so Honest and Candid a Pen. The Roman Catholicks could not bury their Resentments against this noble History in the Grave of its Author but fell to invent and spread abroad several made Stories to defame him amongst which none is more frequently insisted on than that Charles the V. should always call this Book his Lyar and never ask for it by any other Name for which we have the Faith of Suriââ and some other of that stamp but none is so outragious against him as Florimond de Remond who tells us that there was found in this Book Eleven thousand Lyes and Falsities Not that they were so exact as to tell the mistakes but this was a good ãâ¦ã and if the Reader would but believe there was half the number it was all he desired but then he has quite spoil'd his own design by telling his Reader that the variety of the Subjects he treats of which are imbellished with great Art and the great quantity of Memorials which the Lutherans put into his hands when he was set to compose ãâã give so great an entertainment to the Reader that it is not possible he should ever be weary of it but will ever end with a good gust and a great desire to pursue the thread of this History and see the end of it Now this is plainly to give himself the Lye for that great quantity of Memorials which were put into his hands the greatest part of which were from time to time Published in Print as he tells us in his Preface and which our Author only Transcribes or at most Translates or Abridgeth will not leave Room for 11000 Lyes especially when
he rarely makes any the least remark of his own and if after all there had been but one thousand Lyes the Reader must have been very Ignorant and very Dull that should not have stumbled on ânow of them to have disgusted him long before he had reached the end of the Book But Florimond was a true Jesuitâ and remembred the old Rule Slander stoutly and something will stick Palavicino another Jesuite in his Apparatus to his History of the Council of Trent le ts loose at the same rate against our Author with an Assurance which becomes that Society he was of only because the Author of the former History of that Council had commended his Fidelity and Industry And thus he bespeaks his good Roman Catholick Reader You must know saith he that Sleidan did so openly profess himself a Favourer of Hereticks and an Enemy of the See of Rome That he Dedicated his Book to Augustus Elector of Saxony and he commends that Prince too because the Sect of the Lutherans first ãâã shelter in his Country After this he sets down the three first Lines of his History and then tells us that Sleidan acknowledgeth that James Sturmius furnished him with materials Now saith he this Sturmius was in great esteem among the Calvinists and then he concludes That no body would believe Father Paul as to those things which went before the Council and which were the foundations of that History but such as had some Faith for Sleidan and that he was sure none of the good Sons of the Infallible Church would be guilty of But however to make all sure he tells us Surius Fontanuâ Possevinus and Spondanus have all charged him for a great Lyer and since that Maimbourg and Varillas have transcribed all this over again and by pure Number and dint of Impudence they are or at least seem well resolved to Ruin Sleidans reputation forever But when all is done the very Papers out of which Sleidan transcribed the main of his History are still for the most part extant and prove the veracity of our Author the consequence of which is that all these godly Fathers are found to be meer Defamers and not worthy of any credit In the interim the Book spread at an incredible rate and tho Rihely the first Publisher had it Reprinted upon him within the first year in German and Latin yet he Reprinted it again in 1561 and in 1566 in Octavo and in 1572 in Folio and in the year 1560 it was Translated into English by one John Daws and Dedicated to the Earl of Bedford and I have seen very ancient Versions of it in Italian and French so that no Book ever had a more general Reception in the World than this nor was better approved by the candid Writers of the Church of Rome it self as will appear by the Testimonies by me cited in the beginning of it And so far has his Enviers been from convicting him of that falshood and disingenuity which they have so falsly charged him with that most of their Books like Images which the Pagans Worshiped are long since cast to the Bats and to the Moles and the very memory of them almost perished from off the Earth So that his Defamers have been forced to Transcribe from him the choicest of the Memorials they needed to fill up the History of those times Brietius a Jesuite in his Annals saith He was call'd Sleidan from the Place of his birth because he was a Bastard and so had no Sirname that he had but one Eye and was brought up by the Cardinal du Bellay that becoming a Lutheran or a Calvinist he fled to Strasbourg where he wrote his History Sed ea fide humana quam expectare debes ab eo qui divinam ejurarat but with that humane faith which one would expect from one who had abjured the Divine faith The bitterness of which confutes the Slander the taking Names from the Place of their birth being usual then and now too in Germany The easie Admission he found into the family of Bellay shews more probably that he was a person of good Birth and well descended and as for his being Blind there is no mention of it any where else Lewis a Seckengdorf a Privy Counsellor to the late Dukes of Saxony in an Answer Published this year to Maimbourgs History of Lutheranisme thus Apologizeth for our Author It is certain that John Sleidan has so very well written the History of the Reformation that all impartial men ought to be satisfied with it he having very much excell'd all the rest who have written on that Subject And yet they of the Church of Rome charge him with falshood pretending a Proverb of Charles the V. to that purpose how truly cited I know not but as I verily believe out of pure Envy and Malice For if ever they should attempt to prove what they so often pretend they would certainly fall short and be able to produce nothing to that purpose but a few light things and silly reports which are not worth relating On the otherside without the Assistance of Sleidan very few Men have or ever will be able to Write any thing of those times worth the Reading For how I pray was it possible for him to Lye who hath spent the greatest part of his History of the Reformation in meer Transcripts out of the Publick Records word for word to the wearying of many of his Readers who are in too much haste to see the event and he every where appeals to Acts and Writings which for the most part are still extant and render the Faith of this great Man unquestionable Nor is there any other Historian almost to be found as I believe who so very rarely passeth any censure upon what he Writes Nor is it possible for Envy it self to deprive him intirely of the Honour of this Work which I believe will last till the General Conflagration of the World. The same Author informs us in his Additions page the 7th That one Frederick Hortelder a Counseller of the Duke of Saxony Weymar in the year 1618 Published a very large Vindication of the Veracity of Sleidans History in the German Tongue which he Printed in the Preface of his History of the Smalcaldick War c. which was after Reprinted in the year 1648. and in the Conclusion of that Section Seckendorf adds Sleidan lived but one year after he had finished his History in which and all the times which have since followed he has not to my knowledge been convicted of any one single falshood which hath been shewn and made good against him And in Opposition to those few who have traduced him there is no end of the Number of those who have approved this Work and amongst them John Bodinus and Thuanus who ought not to be named without Honour And they alone in my Judgment are worth a Thousand Maimbourgs and Varillasses To these I may add the Judgment
turning from his person did very odiously accuse and reproach some Princes and Free-Cities Here I go on in the same manner and indeed throughout the whole Work. Therefore I beseech my Reader to lay aside all prejudice and that he would first consider the things proposed and my Labour which was very great and then bestow his good will and favour on it For it is certain that if those motives which induced me to begin to Write had not spurr'd me to go on notwithstanding all the trouble I had long since deserted and left this very difficult undertaking when I found by experience the variety and extent of it But my mind and strength were very much supported first When I considered that it was for the glory of God who was thus pleased to discover his Almighty Power and admirable Counsel in our times Next that the common Good and Advantage which would result from it very much wrought upon me For even here in Germany very few clearly understand in what order every thing was done and Foreign Nations know nothing at all of them but the far greatest part of men being prepossess'd with prejudices judged of the greatest part of the things quite otherwise than they ought To all this I may add I have had some consideration for Posterity if yet these my Writings will bear the Light and last any long time Besides it rarely happens that things of this Nature are by others related with any degree of Truth and Moderation And there is a Book on this Subject Printed above six years since at Mentz Written by a German and stuffed with Accusations Slaunders Trifles and Reproaches And within the space of a few years past there were two Volumes published at Florence the Author of which has very largely handled in them the History of his own Times but wheresoever he speaks of the Affairs of Germany and especially of what concerns Religion there he will certainly discover the sickness of his Mind The greatest part of what he writes being not well known to him False and Slanderous as might very clearly be shewn Besides whereas these two Writers have occasion frequently to mention some Orations Letters and Prefaces of Books which have been Published from the Press yet even here they presume to Treat all these things not only with great Enmity and Envy but they go very far also from the Truth These Considerations I say prevail'd upon me so that I thought I was obliged to go on and not to suffer the Story of this Revolution to be falsly delivered to this or the succeeding Age. For what can possibly be more base and insufferable in this kind of Writing than to suffer that which ought to make men wiser by false relations to be depraved and turn'd to a contary end The greatest part of the Historians of our times by a fault too common in our days seek to gratifie and please some one person but in the mean time this makes them injurious to many more whom they thus deceive and cause to err As to my self I do assure my Reader without any boasting that I am ready and well disposed if I have set down anything in this Work which is not exactly true to blot it out and give the World a caution not to believe it too But then I am very confident that nothing of vanity can here be charged upon me because there are many good men who can testifie what great study and industry I have imployed for some years now past to gain an exact Knowledge of every thing and besides I trust the Work it self will prove it Now tho I Write the History of those things which have happen'd during the Reign of Charles V. who is yet living and at the Helm of our State and so many other great Actions may perhaps follow in his times yet because those that are past must of necessity be the first principal and greatest part of the events of it Therefore I would not delay this Work any longer wherein I have gratified many Learned Men not only of Germany but also of other Countries who desired to see it Without doubt there are great Commotions and strange and wonderful changes coming on and the S. Scriptures seem clearly and plainly to foretel as much and the present state of Affairs intimate the same so that those who are disposed to Write are not like to be destitute of Matter But in the interim as the Publick good inclin'd me to undertake this task so it has now at last prevail'd with me to Publish these XXV Books Illustrious Sir I desire to Dedicate unto Your Highness this my Labour and Work because you are descended of that Family which was first pleased to give entertainment and Protection to this Doctrine Your Father readily imbrac'd it Your Brother hath setled a considerable Estate for the Education of Children in Learning and Piety and Your Father in Law the King of Denmark is a famous Defender of it also and lastly because You too Great Sir pursuing with much Glory their Example I cannot but be confident this Work which I hope will be profitable to many will be therefore acceptable to You. May God Preserve Your Highness Given the 23 of March 1555. John Sleidan's Apology for his History BEing inform'd that many speak very unfriendly of my History and as I clearly see reward my great Labour very ill I am thereby enforced to Publish this Apology in my own Defence I have already in my Preface set forth the causes that induced me to Write the methods I pursu'd in it and that I designed no mans disrepute or favour that I was very desirous of setting down nothing but what was exactly true and disposed beforehand in case I were shewn I had any where mistaken to correct and blot out what was amiss and to caution my Readers not to believe my Errors I thought this would satisfie all mankind and the rather because the very perusal of what I had Written would clear my reputation and create a firm belief of my fidelity but being on all hands inform'd to my great dissatisfaction and sorrow that it has happen'd quite otherwise I am necessitated to add what follows to that preface I say then that from the beginning of the World it has ever been the custom of Men to Write the Civil and Sacred History of their times That this usage as appears by their Books has most flourished in the most free and illustrious Nations especially amongst the Greeks and Romans That the principal Law and Ornament of History is Truth and Sincerity and therefore it was that Cicero stil'd it The Witness of Times the Light of Truth the Life of Memory and the Mistress of Life By these Words the great Orator hath given a noble commendation of History and an excellent description of what ought to be aim'd at in the Composing of it Now there having happen'd in our Times such a change in Religion as is not to
brought to him in Spain An account of the Bulla Aurea the Golden Bull and Laws of the Empire Erasmus his Testimony of Luther Whilest they were Disputing at Leipsick Ulrick Zuinglius began to teach at Zurich and manfully opposed one that preached up Indulgences POPE Leo X a Florentine of the Family of Medices making use of that Power which his Predecessors the Popes of Rome had Usurped and he himself thought he had over all Christian Churches sent abroad into all Kingdoms his Letters and Bulls with ample Promises of the full Pardon of Sins and of Eternal Salvation to such as would purchase the same with Money and the Collectors and those who were sent out to Preach up the Value of this so great a Favour not only defended their Doctrins in Books they published particularly in Germany but also setled publick Offices in all Provinces for the Receipt of the Money that was raised this way and by the Licences which they likewise sold for eating Eggs Milk Cheese and Flesh on Fasting Days Now this Remission and Pardon of Sins they named an Indulgence a Word of their own coyning which had been of a long time in use among them There lived at that time in Wittemberg upon the Elbe a City of Saxony one Martin Luther a Doctor of Divinity and an Augustine Fryer who being excited by the Sermons and Books of these Collectors and perceiving that their Doctrin was believed and past current among the People began to advise Men to be Wise and not to purchase such Commodities at so dear a Rate Because what they laid out that way might be far better employed And this happened in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventeen That he might therefore proceed in his Design with better Success on the last of October he wrote to Albert of Brandenburg Archbishop of Mentz acquainting him with what they Taught and Complaining that the People were so persuaded as that having purchased these Indulgences by Money they needed no more doubt of Salvation as if no Crime could be committed which was not by that means Pardoned and as if the Souls which were Tormented in the Fire of Purgatory so soon as the Money was cast into the Box were presently discharged of their Pains and took their Flight streight up to Heaven He tells him That Christ commanded the Gospel to be Preached and that it was the proper Office of Bishops to instruct the People in the Right Way Wherefore he puts him in Mind of his Duty and prays him that he would use his Authority in suppressing those Books and enjoyning the Preachers to teach better Doctrin lest it might give Occasion to some more grievous Dissension which would undoubtedly happen if they were not restrained The Reason why he wrote to him was Because he being also Bishop of Magdeburg it belonged to him to take care of these things With this Letter he also sent the Theses which for Disputation sake he had lately published at Wittemberg to the number of ninety five wherein he fully handled the Doctrin of Purgatory true Penance and the Office of Charity and censured the extravagant Preachings of the Collectors but only for discovering the Truth as has been said For he invited all Men not only to come to the Disputation and object what they had to say but begged also That such as would not be present might send their Opinions in Writing protesting that he affirmed nothing positively but referred all to the Judgment of the Holy Church nevertheless that he admitted not of the Doctrins of Thomas Aquinas and such like Writers unless they were found to agree with the Holy Scriptures and the Decrees of the Ancient Fathers The Archbishop of Mentz made no answer to these things but not long after John Tetzel a Dominican Frier at Frankford upon the Oder a Town within the Territories of Brandenburg published some Positions quite contrary to those of Luther wherein he mightily extolled the Authority of the Pope the Benefit of Indulgences and that Wooden Cross which then by the Command of the Pope was set up in all Churches insomuch that he compared Leo X to the Apostle St. Peter and that Popish Cross with the true Cross whereon Christ suffered for us But when no Man of the contrary Part came to the Disputation proposed at Wittemberg and that the Theses we mentioned were read by many with great Applause Luther wrote a very large Explication of them and sent it first to Jerome Bishop of Brandenburg to whose Jurisdiction he belonged and then to John Stupitz Provincial of the Augustine Friers praying him to have it transmitted to the Pope Nay in the Month of June he wrote to Pope Leo himself informing him That these Collectors relying upon or abusing his Authority taught very rashly and behaved themselves covetously That he made no doubt but heavy Accusations were brought against him but that therein he was wronged since he had been forced by the Sermons and idle Books of the Collectors to publish some things only for Disputation sake which now he more fully explained that therefore he prayed his Holiness Not to give Credit to those Accusations because Frederick Elector of Saxony was so Religious a Prince and of so great Prudence and Integrity that if those things were true which his Adversaries reported of him he would not suffer his Province to be in such a manner Profaned neither would the University of Wittemberg connive at it That in short he submitted all his Writings nay his Life and Safety to his Authority and Disposal that he would look upon what proceeded from his Holiness as if it flowed from Christ and were delivered by an Oracle nor did he refuse to lay down his Life if so it seemed good to him Besides others who oppugned his Theses and the Explication annexed to the same John Eckius a Divine wrote also against him whom Luther answered affirming That he alledged nothing from Scripture nor the Authority of the Fathers but only some Dreams of his own such as by bad Custom had now long prevailed in the Schools After Eckius Silvester Prierias a Dominican Master of the Sacred Palace as they call it wrote against him also and set out a Dialogue with a Preface to Pope Leo and that in a very Huffing and Confident Stile boasting That he would make a Tryal if Luther were so Strong and Invincible as that there was no Worsting nor overcoming of him and that if he answered that first Essay he would then ply him with far Stronger and more Elaborate Arguments He also addressed himself to Luther telling him That though he was now stricken in Years and had not of a long Time entred into any such Lists yet he would do all that was in his Power for the Roman Papacy praying him withal to return into the right Way Before he enters into Disputation he lays down some
prescribed by the Electors which the Emperour's Ambassadours ratified and as is customary gave Security in his Name under Hand and Seal for performing the same Now they were these That he shall protect and defend Christendom the Pope and Church of Rome whereof he is the Advocate that he shall equally administer Justice and maintain Peace that he shall not only confirm the Laws of the Empire especially that which they call the Golden Bull but also when there is occasion with their Consent amplifie and enlarge them that he shall chuse and appoint a Council of Germans to govern the State that he shall not alter nor diminish the Rights Priviledges Dignities and Immunities of the Princes and States of the Empire that it shall be lawful for the Electors to meet together upon occasion and consult about publick Affairs and that he shall in no ways hinder them to do so nor take it ill when they do that he shall rescind and annul the Leagues and Associations of the People or Nobility made against the Princes and make a Law that no such be made for the future that he shall make no League or Compact relating to the Affairs of the Empire with Strangers but with the Consent of the Electors that he shall neither sell nor mortgage the Publick Lands and Revenues of the Empire nor any ways imbezil them and that he shall with the first Occasion regain those Lands or Goods that have been invaded and possessed by other Nations or have been dismembred from the Empire but so still that it be not prejudicial to those who are supported by Right or Priviledge That if he himself also or any of his Family possess any thing belonging to the Empire not lawfully purchased he shall being demanded by the Electors restore the same that he shall live in Peace with his Neighbours and other Kings and not make War either within or without the Limits of the Empire for the publick concerns thereof without the Advice and Consent of all the States especially of the Electors that he shall not bring any Foreign Soldiers into Germany unless the States be willing but that if either he himself or the Empire be attacked by War he may make use of any Assistance that he shall not call a Dyet of the Empire nor impose any Taxes but with the consent of the Electors neither shall he hold Dyets without the Limits of the Empire that in publick Affairs he shall not employ Strangers but Germans chosen from among the Nobility and that all publick Writings shall be made in Latin or the Vulgar Language that he shall not summon any of the States to answer in Law without the Bounds of the Empire that seeing many things are acted at Rome contrary to former Agreements made with the Popes he shall negotiate with the Pope That no encroachment be made upon the Priviledges and Liberty of the Empire that he shall advise with the Electors How the Monopolies of Merchants that are very pernicious to Germany may be restrained and bring that matter which hath been often stated before them to an Issue that he shall impose no Toll nor Customs without the consent of the Electors nor by Grants and Patents lessen or prejudice the Customs belonging to the Electors upon the Rhine that if he have any Action or Suit against any of the States he shall try it by Law but shall not use Force against those who offer to stand a fair Tryal that he shall not put any Man to the Ban of the Empire without a hearing but therein follow the course of Law that he shall not bestow upon any Person the vacant Goods and Revenues of the Empire but reserve them for the publick that if he acquire any Foreign Province by the Help of the States he shall annex it to the Empire that if he recover any thing that belongs to the Publick by his own Forces he shall restore it to the Commonwealth that he shall Confirm and Ratifie what the Electors Palatine and Saxony have acted in Publick Affairs during the interreign that he shall entertain no Counsils nor Design of making the Imperial Dignity proper and Hereditary to his own Family but shall leave the Electors in full and free Power of Election according to the Statute of Charles IV and the Provision of the Canon Law that what is done otherwise shall be void and null that with the first Opportunity he shall come into Germany to be Installed When his Ambassadours had upon Oath confirmed and approved these Conditions in his Name as hath been said they gave every one of the Electors an Instrument of the same under hand and Seal And this was done on July 3. What they said of the Cannon Law refers to the Decretal Epistle of Pope Innocent III which grants That the Electoral Princes of Germany have the right of chusing the Emperour and that the Imperial Dignity does not depend on Succession but Election Now Pope Innocent lived about the Year of our Lord 1200. But let us return again to Luther Much about that Time Erasmus of Roterdam writing from Antwerp to Frederick Elector of Saxony among other things takes notice also of Luther whose Books he said were read with great Applause by Good and Learned Men and that no Man censured his Life as being free from all Suspicion either of Covetousness or Ambition but that the Divines of Lovain hearing that he was much born down by the Authority of Cardinal Cajetane did now triumph and rail against him in all their Sermons and at their Feasts as if he were an Heretick and the Antichrist That he was much displeased thereat especially seeing he had but proposed some things for Disputation sake and had submitted himself to the Judgment of those both to whom he ought and to whom he ought not but that they had neither admonished the Man Friendly nor as yet taught him nor convinced him of his Errour but only made a turbulent and seditious Noise and Clamour about the Matter which was a way of Proceeding altogether unworthy of Men that made Profession of the Christian Religion but especially Divines for that no Man was to be rashly accused of Heresie To the same effect he wrote also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio and in his Letter enveighs against those Sophistical Divines and Monks who could not endure the Study of Languages and Eloquence nor of sound Doctrine He wrote in like manner to Luther at that time telling him That he had received his Letter which shewed both a sharp Wit and Christian Disposition but that his Books had raised a sad Tragedy in those Parts and that for them he lay under both the Envy and Suspicion of the Divines who would admit of no Excuse at his Hands That there were many Men in England and of great note too who had a great esteem for his Writings that he himself also had perused his Commentaries upon the Psalms and hoped
Rome and it was consulted by what means the Bohemians might be made to renounce those Errours which were lately crept in among them And this I suppose is what Luther means when he says there was a Decree made in this Council relating to the Eucharist For most of the Bohemians contended that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper all the Communicants ought to partake of Both the Symbols of the Wine as well as the Bread. And besides what we have mentioned there is no Decree extant of this Council touching that matter But it received its final Determination at Constance in the Thirteenth Session of that Council of which there will be occasion to speak more hereafter While those things were in Agitation in Saxony which were hinted upon in the beginning of this Book several of Luther's Writings viz. that which he dedicated to Sylvester Prierias and his Discourses concerning Repentance Excommunication Indulgences and Preparation to Death were all by a Synodical Decree of the Divines of Lovain and Cologn condemn'd as tending to the encouragement of Impiety and Irreligion and which therefore ought to be burnt and their Author made publickly to recant When this came to Luther's Ear he immediately replies and defends all those principal Points of his Doctrin which had fallen under their Censure and in the Introduction laments the Misery of that state and Condition to which those his Adversaries were now reduced That although some Years ago they had very fiercely opposed Capnion yet he was still willing to put the favourablest Interpretation he could upon all their Actions but now since they went about to expugn the plain manifest Doctrin of the Gospel and were grown even past reclaiming he could not but think That they had justly incurred God's highest Displeasure that if they went on as they had begun and no one had the Courage or Honesty in the least to controul them he expected that by degrees they would suppress all the whole Sacred Volumes and impose on the World in their stead whatsoever they should please to call Expositions of them That whilst he seriously considered all these things with himself they appeared to him to be evident Demonstrations either that the Reign of Antichrist was already begun or that the Prophecyes concerning it were very near their Accomplishment that he could not without Regret behold their Behaviour at this time for it was a clear and certain Token of their lying under the heavy Weight of the Divine Anger that through the whole Course of their Proceedings there was nothing had any firm sound Foundation but they were still wavering in their own Minds and were at one time the Maintainers of that Opinion which at another could not escape the Lash of their unbridled licentious Tongues He rubs up their Memory That it is not long since William Ockam was condemned by the whole University of Paris and his Works were rejected by all as containing things contrary to the true Catholick Doctrin whenas now he was become the very Darling of the Schools and his Name as much cryed up as it was before loaded with Infamy But how low the Credit of that University runs may be gathered by this That its Judgment is had in very little esteem in France it self and is of no Authority at all in any other Country for 't is grown almost into a Proverb among the English That the Paris Decrees never cross the Seas among the Italians That they never climb over the Alpes and among the Germans That they never pass the Rhine In the Censures past upon Picus Mirandula his Enemies could not hide that rancour and Malice which had in so great a Measure byass'd their Judgments for his Books were now hightly prized by all Persons and no one could read any thing of his without being insensibly drawn into a very great Admiration of the most incomparable Parts of the Author Nor had Laurentius Valla himself met with the least better Treatment although Learned and Judicious Men had always an esteem for him and thought themselves very profitably employed as long as they were conversant in his Writings He tells them That in that Controversie with Capnion they had managed their Business in such a manner that they never at any time more openly betrayed their gross Ignorance as well as obstinate Wickedness That the Counsels of God are very wonderful That the Jews were of Old his own peculiar People but when they wilfully shut their Eyes against the Light of the Gospel and despised all the Benefits of Christ they were then deservedly reprobated and the Gentiles imbraced that Grace and Favour of which the first Tenders were made to them That much after the same manner it was now That the Popes and others who were and loved to be called the Dignitaries of the Church and who assumed to themselves the Supreme Power and all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction had in truth nothing but an empty Name whilst there were others who affected none of all that pompous Pageantry who yet had a better Right to all the Honours and Titles which these had so unjustly usurped In short That it never was otherwise but that all Good and learned Men had at all times been thus persecuted by them and yet they never could produce one Example of their having made Good their own Ground or foiled their Adversaries by any solid substantial Argument but rather by mere Tricks and Shifts or else by the dint of Fire and Faggot that thus it was in the Case of John Hus and Jerome of Prague which was such a Piece of Barbarity as their Memories would stink to all succeeding Generations but he could not but be struck with a very great amazment to see their precipitated Folly who notwithstanding all these Warnings would still proceed in those unwarrantable Methods which must of Necessity leave a Blot not only upon their own but upon all the other Universities in Christendom for granting all their former Processes were according to the known established Rules and the Sentences pronounced by them upon several famous Men were well grounded and in due Form of Law yet as to what relates to his Cause and the present Controversie they had done very Injuriously and Spitefully to deal with him in such an unexampled manner if he had offended in any thing they should not immediately construe it in the worst Sense but think with themselves That all Men are subject to Infirmities That in the giving their Judgment upon his Tenets they ought to have shewed a Christian-like Disposition Lenity Mildness and Gentleness but thus without any previous Examination to condemn all at one Dash discovered at once the Distemper of their Minds and the Virulency of their Malice that Aristotle was of great Repute amongst them and that there was nothing which he had said though never so absurd or even repugnant to Christianity it self which they would not defend or at least excuse and palliate by
some far fetch'd Gloss or Comment so as the Credit of the Author might not suffer any Diminution but towards him their Carriage had been very different for they had not only put a candid Interpretation upon those Parts of his Writings which might be wrested to his Disadvantage but had endeavoured to pick a Hole even in those very things in which he had been so cautious in his Expression as not to dread the Censure of the most Captious and Prejudiced Reader That the better and more effectual way had been to have admonished him either to explain or correct what he had wrote or else not to be obstinate in the maintaining of it That if notwithstanding all this he had continued disobedient they might then after having first shewed him his Error have acted according to Christ's Precept But besides all this the Pope could not but think his Honour touch'd in this that they had done in daring to pass such a Sentence on a Book which was wrote and Dedicated to him which was no other than rashly to upbraid him both with Sloth and Negligence but no Wonder that they made so bold with his Holiness since the Majesty of God himself was daily affronted by the Contempts which they put upon his Laws This William Ockam of whom Luther speaks lived in the Time of the Emperour Lewis IV about the Year of our Lord 1320 and among other things wrote a Book concerning the Pope's Supremacy in which these eight Questions were handled very curiously Whether the same Person can at one and the same time be both Pope and Emperour Whether the Emperour receive his Power and Authority from God alone and not also from the Bishop of Rome Whether Christ delegated any such Supreme Jurisdiction over the whole World to the Pope and Church of Rome which they might at their Pleasure parcel out to the Emperour and other Kings and Princes Whether the Emperour being once Chosen has not thereby the Government put absolutely into his Hands Whether other Princes besides the Emperour and King of the Romans because the Ceremony of their Coronation is performed by Priests upon that account derive any Authority from them Whether such Princes owe any sort of Subjection to those by whose Hands they received their Anointing and Investiture Whether if they should make use of any new Ceremonies or take upon them to Crown themselves they thereby forfeit their Regal Power and Dignity Whether the Suffrages of the seven Princes Electors do not give as good a Title to the Elected Emperour as a lawful Succession does to the other Kings where the Government is Hereditary In the Examination of these Points having shewed a great deal of Variety and Subtlety of Argument of both Sides he for the most part determines in Favour of the Civil Magistrate And upon that Occasion he makes mention of Pope John XXII who lived at that time and had made certain Ordinances which they called Extravagentes and inserted them into the Canon-Law All which he says were generally condemned as Heretical and Spurious Then he recites what Errors had been observed by other Persons both in his Books and publick Discourses and says That all Orthodox Men did admire how they came to gain any Credit in the World but that this was the Time of which S. Paul in his Epistle foretold Timothy That the time would come when men should not endure sound doctrin but after their own lusts should they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and should turn away their ears from the truth and be turned to Fables That this was too sadly verified in these Days in which most Men never enquire what was the Doctrin of Christ or of the Apostles or Primitive Fathers but are guided in every thing only by the Pope's arbitrary Will and Command As to what relates to Capnion Reuchline the matter stands thus John Phefercorne who had forsaken Judaisme and embraced Christianity had a long time been a Petitioner to the Emperour Maximilian That all the Jewish Books might be suppressed as those which trained up Men only in Impiety and Superstition and very much hindred their Conversion to the Christian Religion and that therefore they ought to be allowed the use of no other Book besides the Bible Maximilian at last sends his Orders to Vriel Archbishop of Mentz That he should make choice of some certain University to whom together with the Inquisitor James Hogostrate and John Reuchline he might refer the Examination of this Affair that they might consult what was fit to be done in it and whether it were agreeable to the generous and open practices of our Religion to condemn all Books to the Flames except those whose Authors were divinely inspired this was in the Year of our Lord 1510. Reuchline who was a Civilian and a great Master of the Hebrew Tongue having received Letters from Mentz returned this Answer That the Jewish Books were of three sorts Historical such as treated of Medicks and their Talmuds which last were of several different kinds that although there were a great many things contained in them which were Ridiculous as well as Superstitious yet upon one account they were of great use in that they served to refute their Errors and fond vain Opinions This his Sentence he sends sealed to the Archbishop but when Phefercorne came to hear of this he presently began to make no small stir about it and published a Book in opposition to what Reuchline had wrote reproaching him with the most odious Titles of the Champion and Patron of the Jews Capnion that his Silence might not be interpreted as a Confession of the Charge writes an answer to it which drew upon him the ill-Will of several Universities but chiefly of that of Cologne The most Famous Men there at that time were James Hogostrate and Arnold van Tongren And Hogostrate he put out a Book in which he was not in the least sparing of his Invectives following exactly the Copy that Phefercorne had set him and this he Dedicates to the Emperour Maximilian After this they commenced a Suit against him and the Tryal was before the Archbishop of Mentz to whose Jurisdiction the supposed Criminal belonged and the Prosecutor was James Hogostrate him Reuchline excepted against as one whom he thought not indifferent and this he did at first not in his own proper Person but by his Advocate But being persuaded to it by some Friends he at last came himself to Mentz accompanyed with a great many of the First Rank both for Nobility and Learning which Vlrich Duke of Wirtemberg had sent along with him There when he saw that whatsoever Proposals he made in order to a Reconciliation they were still all rejected by his Adversaries he was forced to appeal to the Pope He commits the hearing of the Cause to George Palatine Bishop of Spire and at the same Time issues out an Injunction That no Person besides presume to intermeddle in it But
those of Cologne taking no notice of this proceed to Censure Capnion's Book with a Salvo as they pretend to the Credit of the Author and in February 1514 they publickly burnt it this the Bishop of Spire took as an Affront put upon him and because the Prosecutor having been legally Cited had never appeared at the Day but made Default he gave Judgment for Capnion with an Approbation of his Book and condemned Hogostrate to pay the Costs of the Suit. He that he might avoid this Sentence hastens to Rome In the mean time the Divines of his Party make their Applications to the University of Paris and by the Help of Erand Marchian Bishop of Liege who was then in the French Interests they cajoled Lewis XII so as to make him inclinable to favour their Cause Therefore after a long Consultation those of Paris also Condemn the Book as deserving to be Burnt and whose Author ought to be compelled to make a Recantation and their Judgment was That the Jewish Talmuds were justly censured by former Popes and deservedly burnt by their Predecessors This was in the same Year on August 2. To prevent this the Duke of Wirtemberg had interceeded with them by his Letters and Reuchline also himself had written very courteously as having been formerly a Scholar of that University and he sent inclosed the Judgment given by the Bishop of Spire but all to no purpose Hogostrate being come to Rome managed his Business with very great Address but there were some Cardinals who favoured Reuchline upon the account of his eminent Learning among these was Adrian who has a Piece extant concerning the Latin Tongue Leo at last appoints certain Delegates to inspect the matter and they seeming to lean towards Capnion's side Hogostrate having met with nothing but Disappointments after above three Years stay in Rome sneaked away Home into his own Country But it is not to be thought what a Scandal the Divines of Cologn brought upon themselves by this Imprudent Act of theirs for there was not a Man who pretended to any thing of Ingenuity or Scholarship in all Germany who had not a Fling at them in some smart Lampoon or Satyr applauding Reuchline and ridiculing them as Blockheads and Dunces and sworn Enemies to that Laborious but useful Study of Languages and to all other more polite Learning And Erasmus of Roterdam was not wanting to use his interest with the Cardinals in Capnion's behalf concerning which he has several Epistles yet extant which he then sent to Rome The Divines of Louvain before they would declare what was their Opinion in Luther's Case consulted first with the Cardinal Adrian Bishop of Tortona who had been a Member of their College and Order and who was at that time in Spain and being backed with the Authority of his Judgment they published their Censure Luther finding himself so hard beset on all Sides addressed himself in an Epistle to the late elected Emperour Charles V and having made his Apology That a Man of his mean Quality should presume to write to so great a Potentate he tells him That the Reasons were very weighty which had emboldned him to do this and that the Glory of Christ himself was concerned in his Cause That he had published some few small Books which had procured him the Displeasure of a great many Persons but that the Fault ought not to lye at his Door for that it was with great Reluctancy that his Adversaries had drawn him to enter the Lists That a Private Retired Life was much more agreeable to his Inclinations but that his chief Care and Study was to make known the pure and uncorrupt Doctrin of the Gospel in opposition to the false Glosses and even contradictory Ordinances of Men That there were a great number of Persons eminent both for Learning and Piety who could attest the Truth of what he said And that this alone was the Cause of all that Odium and Infamy of those Dangers Contumelies and Losses to which almost for three Years he had been continually exposed That he had omitted nothing which might contribute to an Accommodation but that the oftner he made any Proposals tending that way the more resolved his Adversaries seemed to continue the Breach That he had frequently and earnestly requested them to convince him of his Errours and to give him such Rules by the which he might the better guide himself for the Time to come but that he could never obtain any other Answer from them but barbarous Injuries and railing Buffoonery their Design being to rid the World both of him and the Gospel together That by these Means he was driven to have recourse to the last Remedy and forced according to the Example of Athanasius to fly to him as to the inviolable Sanctuary and Protection of the Law And to beseech him to take upon him the Patronage of the Christian Religion and vouchsafe to shelter him from all Violence and Injury until he should be more fully informed in the Matter If it should appear that he had been ingaged in the Maintenance of any thing that was Unjustifiable he then desired no Favour His humble Petition was only to have a fair Hearing and that every one would t'ill then suspend his Judgment That this was a part of his Duty and that therefore God had intrusted him with this Supreme Power that he might maintain and distribute impartial Justice and defend the Cause of the Poor and Weak against all the Insults of their powerful Oppressors After this he writes much to the same purpose to all the States of the Empire telling them how unwilling he was to have ingaged in this Controversie and with what bitter Malice he was prosecuted by his Enemies when his Aim was purely this by propagating the true Doctrin of the Gospel to convince Men how Inconsistent it was with those false Opinions of which they had been so long but too Tenacious Then he recites in short all that had been done by him in order to a Reconciliation how he had several times promised by a voluntary Silence to let the Cause fall upon condition his Adversaries would cease their impertinent Babling desiring nothing more than to be better informed if he was in the wrong and being willing to submit freely to the Judgment and Censure of all good Men But that these Requests of his had not as yet had their desired Effect his Adversaries continually loading him with all manner of Injuries and Reproaches That since it was so he desired them not to give Credit to any disadvantagious Reports which they might hear of him If he had at any time been guilty of any Sharpness or Petulancy in his Writings it was no more than what he had been forced to by their paultry sawcy Pamphlets which they were almost daily spawning against him In the last place he makes now the same Profers for the composing the Difference which he had so often formerly done
condemned all those who presumed to act contrary to this Decree and declared their Appeals invalid And not long after he Excommunicated Sigismund Duke of Austria for taking Cardinal Nicholas Cusanus Prisoner Sigismund Appeals from him to the Council and the Pope Excommunicates George Heinburg a Lawyer that drew up the Appeal as a Traytor and Heretick and writes to the Senate of Nuremberg to Banish him and Confiscate his Estate This Decree of his Julius II confirmed that he might defend himself against those Cardinals who had revolted from him against Kings and Princes and the Divines of Paris who often made use of such Appeals Pope Pius who was before called Aeneas Silvius was present at the Council of Basil and wrote the History of it wherein he highly commends the Decrees that were made there but at last being advanced to the Papacy he changed his Opinion and declared that the Council ought to be subject to the Pope Luther when he found himself condemned at Rome renews his former Appeal from the Pope to General Council And now since the Pope continues in his Tyranny and Impiety and proceeds so far as to condemn him neither called nor heard nor convict of Heresie he says he Appeals again from him to a General Council for these four Reasons Because he condemns him at pleasure without hearing the Controversie because he forbids him to hold Faith to be necessary in the Sacraments because he prefers his own Opinions and Fancies to the Holy Scriptures and for rendring all Councils useless Therefore he calls him rash and obstinate a Tyrant a proud Despiser of the Church and Antichrist himself and says he will prove all this whensoever it shall please his Superiors and for that reason desires the Emperour and other Magistrates that for the Glory of God and in defence of the Liberties of a General Council they would admit his Appeal that they would bridle the Tyranny of the Pope take no notice of his Bull nor do any thing in the business till the Cause be fairly heard and decided Before he appealed after this manner which was upon the Eighteenth day of November he had put out a Book concerning the Babylonish Captivity and in the Preface he says that he advances every day more and more in the Knowledge of the Scripture that formerly he had published a small Treatise concerning the Pope's Indulgences and that then he writ very modestly having a very great Veneration for the Roman Tyranny But that now he was of another Opinion and that being stirred up by the provocation of his Adversaries he had discovered that the See of Rome was nothing else but the Kingdom of Babylon and the Power of Nimrod the mighty Hunter Afterwards he disputes concerning the Sacraments of the Church and holds there are but Three Baptism Penance and the Lord's Supper And having discoursed concerning these he proceeds to consider the others also Confirmation Orders Matrimony and Extreme Vnction but he allows them not the Name or Title of a Sacrament and says that they are properly Sacraments which are Promises with Visible Signs annexed to them the others which have no Signs are bare Promises and therefore he thinks that Penance ought not to be reckoned in the number of Sacraments if we would speak properly because it wants a Visible Sign of Divine Institution Luther after he had heard of the Pope's Bull besides the Appeal we have been speaking of publishes a Book wherein he confirms and maintains all those opinions which Leo had condemned In the mean time the Emperour having setled all things in the Low-Countries appoints the Electors to meet him at Aix la Chapelle on the Sixth of October in order to his Coronation But at that time the Plague raged there very much therefore the Electors when they were arrived at Cologn about ten Miles from Aix la Chapelle and the report of the Plague encreased daily they writ to the Emperour being then at Louvain to desire him to chuse some other place for the Coronation But the Townsmen who had laid out a great deal of Money in trimming up their Houses and furnishing themselves with Provisions did by a proper Messenger assure him that there was no Danger The Emperour therefore persisted in his Resolution and declares That he cannot well alter the Order of Charles IV which appoints the Coronation to be there Therefore upon the 21 of October the Archbishops of Mentz Cologn and Triers with the Ambassadours of the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburg arrive there for the Duke of Saxony himself by reason of his Ilness was forced to stay at Cologn The next Day they go out to meet the Emperour and when they came near him they alighted off their Horses and the Archbishop of Mentz made a Speech to him which he answered graciously by the Cardinal of Saltzburg And so joyning their Company together they marched towards the Town Before the Gate the Count Palatine meets him The Horse that accompanied the Electors were about a thousand six hundred some Archers and some with Lances those that attended upon the Emperour were about two thousand all bravely clothed John Duke of Cleve being a Neighbour had brought thither four hundred Horse very well armed who contended so long with those of Saxony about the Precedency that Night came on them before the whole Cavalcade which was the finest that ever was seen in Germany could enter the Town On each side the Emperour rode the Archbishops of Cologn and Mentz being followed by the Ambassadour of the King of Bohemia the Cardinals of Sedune Saltzburg and Croye and the Ambassadours of other Kings and Princes the Pope's only and the King 's of England were absent and that designedly lest by giving place to the Princes of Germany they might seem to diminish the Honour of their Masters The Emperour was brought into our Lady's Church where after he had made his Prayers he talked with the Electors apart and so went to his Lodging The next Day they met again at the Church but there was such a Croud of People that the Guard had much ado to keep them back In the middle of the Church there hangs a large Crown the Floor underneath was covered with rich Carpets where the Emperour for some time lay prostrate while the Archbishop of Cologn says certain Prayers over him After that is done he Archbishop of Mentz and Triers take him up and lead him to the High Altar Here he falls down again and having said his Prayers is lead to his Throne that was richly overlaid with Gold the Archbishop of Cologn begins Mass and having proceeded a little way he demands of him in Latin Whether he will keep the Catholick Faith defend the Church administer Justice and maintain the Dignity of the Empire protect the Widows and the Fatherless and such other distressed Persons and whether he will give due Honour to the Bishop of Rome When he has assented
then present Peter Bonomus Bishop of Trieste and Bernard Bishop of Trent Alexander declared That the Emperour and other Princes were required to see the Bull of the Pope performed and that the hearing of the Cause was committed to himself and Eckius Duke Frederick because it was a matter of great importance desired time to consider of it and on November 4 not being at leisure himself he gave in this Answer by some of his Council in the presence of the Bishop of Trent That he wondred very much why the Pope should desire this of him who had always taken care to do nothing unworthy of the Virtue and Glory of his Ancestors and to do his Duty both to the Empire and the Church That he understood that Eckius in his absence had given trouble not only to Luther but to several other Learned Men of his Dominions contrary to the Mind and Tenor of his Holiness's Bull which as became him he declared he very much resented That a private Person should take upon him to meddle so much in another's Jurisdiction What Luther or others have done in his Absence since the bringing of the Pope's Bull thither he knows not That it is possible several Persons may have approved of his Appeal That as for himself he never concern'd himself in it But that he should be very sorry if his Doctrin were not Orthodox That two Years ago he procured a Conference between him and Cajetane at Ausburg but they coming to no Agreement Cajetane writ a Letter to complain of him That he then answered it so as he imagined he had given him Satisfaction and for taking away all suspicion he was then willing to have dismissed Luther had not Miltitz opposed it But Richard Archbishop of Triers had been delegated by the Pope for hearing this Cause and that Luther was ready to appear in any Place provided he might have a Safe-Conduct And that he makes as fair and large Proffers as can be desired That several Good and Learned Men imagine that he has proceeded thus far not so much of his own Accord as by the Instigation of his Adversaries That it appears not yet to the Emperour nor to any other Magistrate that his Writings are convicted of Heresie or Impiety for if they had he himself should have been ready to have done the Duty of a good Prince He desires therefore That they would not proceed after this manner but rather procure that the Matter may be lovingly and quietly debated by some Godly and Learned Men that Luther may have a Safe-Conduct and that his Books may not be burnt before he has made his Defence If he should happen to be convinced by Scripture and solid Arguments that then he would by no means countenance him But though he and his Cause should be quite baffled yet he hoped his Holiness would require nothing of him but what might stand with his Honour In all other things he should always behave himself as became a Prince of the Empire and an obedient Son of the Church When the Elector had given in this Answer the Legates after some Consultation began to recite how many things the Pope had done and suffered in order to reclaim Luther but that he had not performed any part of his Promises That it was not now in the Power of the Bishop of Triers to determine in this Cause since the Pope had recalled that Hearing of it before himself to whom only it belonged to judge in matters of this Nature The conclusion of their Speech was That they could not but act conformable to his Holiness's Decree and so not long after they burn all Luther's Works This Aleander was an Italian born at Motola in the Kingdom of Naples very skilful in the Hebrew Tongue He was for some time a Reader in the University of Paris being come to Rome he rose by degrees till he was at last made Archbishop of Brindin and after that created a Cardinal And Caracciolus was also promoted to the same Dignity As soon as Luther heard of this he called together all the Students that were in Wittemberg and in the Presence of a great number of Learned Men he publickly burns the Canon-Law and the Pope's late published Decree on the tenth Day of December And in his next days Lecture he earnestly admonishes all Persons who have any regard to their own Salvation to shake off the Dominion of the Bishop of Rome In a Treatise which he soon after published he declares what it was had moved him to do this acknowledging That it was with his Consent and by his Advice and Means that these Books of the Canon-Law were burnt and that for these Reasons First It has been an Ancient Custom observed in all Ages in this manner to suppress all pernicious Books of which there is an Example in the Acts of the Apostles moreover it was his Duty who is baptized into the Faith of Christ and who is a Professor and publick Preacher of the Gospel to oppose whatever contradicts the Precepts therein contained and to instruct Men in all Sound and Wholesome Doctrins and to purge their Minds from all false and erroneous Opinions That a great many others lay under the same Obligations but if they out of Ignorance or by Cowardise neglected to do as they ought yet that he was not thereby excused unless he endeavoured faithfully to discharge what he thought in Conscience was his Duty That the Pope and those whose Interest it is to uphold his Power were become so desperately Wicked and Obstinate that they not only stopt their Ears against all good admonitions but also condemned the Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles and forced Men to the commission of the grossest Impieties Besides this he supposed those Book-Burners had no Command to act after that manner As for the Divines of Cologn and Louvain who pretended to be authorized by the Emperour to burn his Books he was now very certain that that was a meer sham In the last place because this burning of his Works and the Report of it which would be spread all over the Country might perhaps stagger some and cause great Doubts in the Minds of many more who would judge that such a thing would not be done rashly and without some very weighty Cause Therefore seeing his Adversaries were now grown past cure he had been forced to burn their Books thereby to raise up and confirm and strengthen the Minds of his Followers And he entreats all Men not to suffer themselves to be dazled by the lofty and proud Titles of his Adversaries but to take a nearer View of the Matter by which they would perceive what Impious and Pernicious Tenets are contained in the Canons and Decretals of the Popes And that he might make this the more plain to every Man's Understanding he recites some Passages out of the Canon-Law which tend manifestly to the Reproach of God the Injury of the Civil Magistrate and serve only
to uphold and establish their own Tyranny He quoted about thirty of these places by which he shewed That he had just and sufficient Reasons to burn their Books Then he challenges them to produce but one good Reason to justifie their burning his Works But that so few or none had for some Ages past opposed the Power of Antichrist he says Therefore came to pass because the Scripture had foretold That he should vanquish all his Adversaries and be strengthened by the Alliance of Kings Since then the Prophets and Apostles have predicted such dreadful things one cannot but form to himself a very frightful Idea of his Cruelty That the Constitution of Sublunary things was such that out of the best Beginnings sometimes did arise the greatest Corruptions when he had proved this by some Examples he applies it to the City of Rome which being loaded with all the greatest Blessings of Heaven had wholly degenerated from what it was formerly and with its Poysonous Contagion infected a great part of the World That this Ordinance of the Popes was contrary to Law and all received Customs nor were the Usurpations of that Bishop any longer to be endured since he declined a fair Tryal and would not be bound up by any Decree or Judgment whatsoever In the former Book we told you how Silvester Prierias had wrote against Luther When this had been answered by him very sharply Ambrose Catarine an Italian took up the Cudgels and published a Book in Defence of the Pope's Supremacy To this Luther answers very fully and having expounded some places in Daniel he teaches That the Papal Tyranny was there painted out and that what he has foretold of the Kingdom of Antichrist was only truly applicable to the See of Rome This Catarine was afterwards made Archbishop of Cosenza THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK III. The CONTENTS The Emperour is prevailed with by Duke Frederick to write to Luther who relying upon his Majesty's Letter as upon a safe Conduct comes to Wormes there he undauntedly justified what he had written or taught in presence of the Emperour and a great Assembly of the Princes and constantly persevered therein though he was Curs'd and Excommunicated by the Pope in his Bull de Coena Domini threatned with Banishment by the Emperour and tamper'd with by the Princes severally to make him recant his Opinions The Council of Constance is proposed unto him from whence taking occasion he speaks of Wickliff John Huss and John Zischa a Bohemian The Divines of Paris condemn Luther's Books While a League is making betwixt the French King and the Swisse Zuinglius dissuades them from taking Pay or Pensions from any Prince to serve them in their Wars Luther being Outlawed by the Emperour's Proclamation retreats into a more private place The King of England also writes against him Pope Leo X dies and Adrian succeeds him Solyman the Magnificent is prosperous in Hungary The Emperour endeavours to suppress Seditions in Spain and makes a League with the King of England The Bishop of Constance Presecutes Zuinglius Troubles at Wittemberg The Anabaptists rise which gave occasion to the Diet of Norimberg Thither Pope Adrian sent his Brief and Legate Solyman takes Rhodes Zuinglius having set forth the Heads of his Doctrin is attack'd by the Papists but at length the Reformed Religion is received at Zurich WHile Duke Frederick waited upon the Emperour to the Diet of Wormes he procured a Promise of him that he would send for Luther and give him a publick Hearing Luther being informed of this by Letters from Duke Frederick towards the latter end of January wrote back an Answer expressing the great Satisfaction he had that the Emperour would be pleased to take the Cognizance of that Cause which was indeed a publick concern to himself and that for his part he would do all that he could with a safe Conscience and without prejudice to the Reformed Religion Wherefore he entreated the Prince that he would endeavour to obtain a safe Conduct for him that his Person might not be in danger That good and learned Men might be chosen with whom he should Dispute That he might not be condemned before he were convicted of Errour and Impiety That in the mean time his Adversaries might desist from that rage of theirs and not burn his Writings And that if for the future he should attempt any thing else for the glory of God and the discovery of Truth he might have the Emperour's leave to do it That so soon as the Emperour gave him a safe Conduct he would nt fail to come to Wormes and there so maintain his Cause before impartial Judges that all Men should be convinced that he had done nothing frowardly but all for the good of Christendom and chiefly that for the welfare of Germany he had been at this labour and pains in endeavouring to reclaim his Countrymen from many and most gross Errours to the purity of the Gospel and true Religion He moreover prayed that the Emperour and he would seriously reflect upon that dreadful bondage and miserable condition wherewith Christendom was oppressed by the Roman Papacy Wherefore the Emperour being sollicited by Duke Frederick wrote to Luther March the Sixth That since some Books had been published by him he had consulted with the Princes and was resolved to hear from himself Personally what he had to say That therefore he granted him free liberty to come and appear before him and afterwards to return home which that he might safely do he had engaged the Publick Faith as more fully appeared in the safe Conduct sent with his Letter He therefore commanded him forthwith to set out upon his Journey and not fail to be present in the space of One and twenty days That he should not fear any violence or injury for that he would take care that he should not suffer the least prejudice It hath been an old Custom with the Popes of Rome solemnly to Curse and Excommunicate some sorts of Men on Thursday in the Passion Week As first Hereticks next Pyrates then those who impose new Toll and Customs or exact such as are prohibited those who Falsifie or Counterfeit the Bulls and publick Instruments of the Court of Rome who supply the Turks and Saracens with Arms and other Counterband Goods who hinder the Importation of Corn to Rome who offer violence to any that follow and attend the Court of Rome who invade or damnifie the Possessions of the Church of Rome or Places thereunto adjoyning as namely the City of Rome Sicily Naples Sardinia Corsica Tuscany Spoleto Sabina Aucona Flaminia Campania Bolonia Ferrara Benevento Perugia and Avignon Some former Popes among Hereticks named the Garasians Pateronians the Poor Men of Lyons the Arnoldists Speronists Wicliffites Hussites and Fratricelli But Leo X this year clapt Luther and his Followers in with the rest and solemnly Curs'd them on Holy-Thursday This Bull is commonly called
sufficiently weiged the greatness of the Matter and the troubles that this Doctrin hath occasion'd Nay truly I am exceedingly rejoyced to see that the Doctrin I profess hath given occasion to these Troubles and Offences for Christ himself tells us That it is the property of the Gospel to raise grievous Strife and Contentions where-ever it is taught and that among those very Persons too who are most closely linked together by the Bonds of Nature and Blood. It ought seriously then to be consider'd and maturely thought on most Noble Patriots what is fit to be decreed and care had lest by condemning the Doctrin which by the Blessing of God is now offered unto you you yourselves be the cause of the greatest Calamities to Germany Regard should likewise be had that the Government which the young Emperour who here presides hath lately taken upon him be not reckoned inauspicious and fatal by Posterity through any bad Act or Precedent that may entail its Inconveniences upon them For it may be proved by many places of Scripture that Governments have then been in greatest danger when the Affairs of the Publick were managed only by Human Prudence and mere Secular Councils Nevertheless I design not by what I say most Illustrious and Prudent Princes to prescribe or point out to you what you are to do but only to declare the Duty which I shall always be ready to perform to Germany our native Country which ought to be dearer unto us than our very Lives After all I most earnestly beseech you to take me into your Protection and to defend me against the Violence of mine Enemies When he had made an end of Speaking Eckius looking upon him with a stern Countenance You answer not to the Purpose said he nor is it your part to call again into question or doubt of what hath been heretofore determined by the Authority of Councils It is a plain and easie Answer that is demanded of you Do you approve and will you defend your Writings To which Luther made answer Since it is your Command said he most mighty Emperour and most Illustrious Princes that I should give a plain Answer I 'le obey and this therefore is my Answer That unless I be convinced by Testimonies of Holy Scripture and evident Reason I cannot retract any thing of what I have written or taught for I will never do that which may wound my own Conscience neither do I believe the Pope of Rome and Councils alone nor admit of their Authority for they have often erred and contradicted one another and may still err and be deceived The Princes having considered this Answer Eckius again told him You answer said he Luther somewhat more irreverently than becomes you and not sufficiently to the purpose neither when you make a distinction among your Books But if you would retract those which contain a great part of your Errours the Emperour would not suffer any Injury to be done to such others as are Orthodox and right You despise the Decrees of the Council of Constance where many Germans famous both for Learning and Virtue were present and revive Errours that were condemned therein requiring to be convinced by Holy Scripture you do not well and are very far out of the way for what the Church hath once condemned is not to be brought under Dispute again nor must every private Person be allowed to demand a Reason for every thing for should that once be granted that he who opposes and contradicts the Church and Councils must be convinced by Texts of Scripture there would never be any end of Controversies For that Reason therefore the Emperour expects to hear from you in plain Terms What you will do with your Books I beseech you said Luther that by your leave I may preserve a Sound and upright Conscience I have answered plainly and have nothing else to say for unless my Adversaries convince me of my Errour by true Arguments taken from Scripture it is impossible I can be quiet in mind Nay I can demonstrate that they have erred very often and grosly too and for me to recede from the Scripture which is both clear and cannot err would be an Act of greatest Impiety Eckius muttered something to the contrary That it could not be proved that ever a General Council had erred But Luther declared That he could and would prove it and so the matter concluded at that time Next Day the Emperour wrote to the Princes assembled in Council That his Predecessors had professed the Christian Religion and always obeyed the Church of Rome So that since Luther opposed the same and persisted obstinately in his Opinion his Duty required that following the Steps of his Ancestors he should both defend the Christian Religion and also succour the Church of Rome That therefore he would put Luther and his Adherents to the Ban of the Empire and make use of other proper Remedies for the extinguishing that Fire However that he would make good the Safe-Conduct he had granted him and that he might return Home with Safety This Letter of the Emperours was long and much debated in the Assembly of the Princes and some there were as it was reported who following the Decree and Pattern of the Council of Constance thought that the Publick Faith was not to be observed to him But Lewis the Elector Palatine and others also were said to have vigourously withstood that Resolution affirming That such a thing would lye as an eternal Stain and Disgrace upon Germany Wherefore most were of Opinion that not only the Publick Faith and Promise should be kept to him but also that he should not be rashly condemned because it was a Matter of great moment whatever should be decreed by the Emperour whom at that Age they perceived to be incited and exasperated against Luther by the Agents and Ministers of Rome Some Days after the Bishop of Treves appointed Luther to come to him the 24 of April There were present at that Congress Joachim Elector of Brandenburg George Duke of Saxony the Bishop of Ausburg and some other great Men And when Luther came conducted by the Emperour's Herald and was introduced by the Bishop's Chaplain Vey a Lawer of Baden spake to him to this Purpose These noble Princes have sent for you Martin Luther said he not to enter into any Dispute but to treat friendly with you and to admonish you privately of those Things which seem chiefly to concern your self for they have obtained leave from the Emperour to do so And in the first place as to Councils it is possible that at some Times they have decreed things different but never contrary and granting they had err'd yet their Authority is not therefore so fallen that it should be lawful for every Private Man to trample upon it Your Books if Care be not taken will be the cause of great Troubles and many interpret that which you have published of
that the One and twenty days which he had allowed him to return in being expired every one should endeavour to apprehend him and bring him into lawful Custody Banishing in the same manner all that should any ways aid or assist him He ordered all his Books also to be destroyed appointing a severe Penalty for Stationers that should meddle with them for the future And this Decree which he said was made with the common Consent and Advice of the Princes and States he commanded to be inviolably observed by all It was said that there were but a few who had a hand in framing this Decree For some of the Electors acknowledged that they were not privy to it as shall be said of the Elector of Cologn in its proper place The Elector of Mentz who is Chancellor of the Empire had a great stroak in Matters of that nature However it be the Emperor by this Sentence procured to himself much Favour so that the Pope fell quite off from the Frienship of France and made a League with him as you shall hear by and by After the Publication of this Sentence Duke Frederick appointed some Gentlemen in whom he could most confide to convey Luther into some more private place remote from the concourse of People that so he might be out of danger and this was performed with great secrecy and diligence In this his Retirement he wrote several Letters to his Friends and some Books also as one for abolishing private Mass which he dedicated to his Brethren the Augustine Friers Another concerning Monastick Vows dedicated to his Father John Luther and one against James Latome a Divine of Lovain He exhorted the Augustines to Courage and Constancy telling them that they had a strong support in Duke Frederick who was a wise Prince a lover of Truth and most averse from rash Judging They of all others were the first that began to leave off saying of Mass and therefore it was that Luther composed for them the Book we now mentioned that he might both encourage the weak and confirm the strong earnestly exhorting them to persevere in that purpose Duke Frederick hearing of this and fearing that some great disturbance might thereupon ensue commanded that the Opinion of the whole University should be taken about the matter and brought to him For that purpose the University chose four of their Members Justus Jonas Philip Melancthon Nicholas Amstorff and John Dulce These having had a Conference with the Augustines made a report of what their resolution was and at the same time declared how great injury was done to the Lord's Supper Wherefore they prayed the Duke that he would abolish that great Impiety not in one Church only but in all places also and restore the true use of the Lord's Supper according to the Institution of Christ and the Practice of his Apostles without regard to the Reproaches and Calumnies of Gain-sayers For that it was the course of this World that he who would undertake the defence of the true Doctrin of the Gospel must suffer many things That he ought to make it his chief study reverently to acknowledg that singular Mercy wherewith God had now blest him in making the Light of the Gospel to shine among the People To these things Duke Frederick made Answer That he would omit nothing that might conduce to the propagating of Piety but that since the matter was very difficult he did not think it fit to make too much haste and that hardly any thing could be effected by them who were so few in number But that if the Matter were grounded on Scripture many would certainly come over to them and then such a change as might seem to be pious and necessary would more conveniently be brought about That for his own part who was ignorant of the Scripture he could not tell when that accustomed Rite of the Mass which they condemned was first introduced into the Church and when that which the Apostles are said to have followed was left off That all Churches generally and Colleges wer founded for the Mass being endowed for that end with great Revenues so that should Mass be now abolish'd the Goods and Lands heretofore given for that use would be taken from the right Possessors That any Man might see what disturbance and confusion that would breed And that since they had referred the whole Affair to him it was his advice to them That having consulted the rest of the good and learned Men of the University they would proceed in the matter moderately and devise with themselves such means as might be proper for keeping Peace and Piety among them The Commissioners having consulted together made their Reply and again advise him to abrogate the Mass alledging that it might be done without Tumult and that though it could not yet that which was just and good ought not therefore to be omitted That their being fewer in number was no new thing since that from the beginning of the World the greatest part of Mankind had always opposed the true Religion That none would accept and approve the right way of administring and receiving the Lord's Supper but they to whom it should be given from above That Colleges were founded of old not for Mass but for the pious Education of Youth and these Possessions given for the Maintenance of the Masters and Scholars and for the Use of the Poor which Custom had lasted almost to the time of St. Bernard but that about Four hundred years since this trafficking about Masses came in play which now ought to be utterly abolished That though it were of ancient date yet such a Profanation was not to be tolerated And that if Stirs and Commotions should arise from thence it was not to be imputed to the Religion but to the Wickedness of the Adversaries who for Gain sake withstand the Truth against their own Conscience That however Men ought not to regard such inconveniences but to proceed absolutely whatever Tumults the World might raise for that all these things had been long ago foretold by Christ This year the Emperor's Brother Ferdinand Archduke of Austria married the Lady Ann Sister to Lewis King of Hungary Among so many Adversaries as Luther had Henry VIII King of England opposed him also in Writing and in the first place refuted his Opinion about Indulgences and defended the Papacy Afterwards he censured all his Disputations concerning the Sacraments of the Church taking occasion of writing from the Book of the Captivity of Babylon When this came to Luther's knowledge he wrote a most bitter Answer declaring That in defence of this Cause he valued no Man's Honour nor Greatness However Pope Leo gave the King an honourable Title for this calling him Defender of the Faith. How Charles of Austria came to be chosen Emperor hath be shewn before But some private Quarrels happening afterwards betwixt Him and the French King it came to a War at last though
for the Concerns of the Publick as he might more amply be informed by the Legate who was to come after That in the mean time he prayed and exhorted him who was a Prince of the Empire under the Protection whereof the Church of Rome subsisted that he would in his Actions and Consultations use all Endeavours That such things might be promoted as should conduce to the Honour of the Apostolick Church and the Peace and Quiet of the Publick and therein follow the Foot-steps of his Ancestors from whom as in no other Virtue he did degenerate so it was his Hopes he would not be unlike to them in this Particular neither That he had ordered the Bearer to discourse him about these Affairs and desired that he would give Credit to what he said Ferdinand Archduke of Austria was very strict in executing the Sentence pronounced against Luther the Year before and in the Dutchy of Wittemberg which then he had in Possession he emitted a Proclamation November 26 promising Rewards to Informers and throughout his own Dominions he severely punished all that did not obey the Laws and Canons of the Church This Year died John Reuchline being a Man of great Age whom Erasmââ of Roterdam celebrated in a most excellent Dialogue attributing unto him Immortality and supreme Knowledge in three Languages About the latter end of November Pope Adrian wrote to the rest of the States assembled at Noremberg to this Effect That from the time he had been chosen to the Office of Apostleship he had desired nothing more than that he might in all things discharge the Duty of a good Pastor and suffer none of his Flock to go astray if by his Vigilance and Care it could in any wise be prevented and that of his sincerity herein he called God to witness who had raised him to that Charge when he did not at all deserve and as little expected any such Promotion That for the more easie accomplishment of what he proposed to himself he had earnestly exhorted all Kings and Princes to abstain from Civil Wars and that if they must needs make War that they would turn all their Force against the Enemies of the Christian Faith he having himself performed what he had persuaded others to do and given a great Sum of Money to the Knights of Rhodes who were at present mightily straitned by the Grand Seignior That his Thoughts being called home again from Foreign Dangers he began to look about him nearer hand and perceived domestick Evils to threaten the Publick for that to his great Grief he heard That Martin Luther who after many gentle and fatherly Admonitions when no Remedy could prevail with him had been Condemned and Proscribed by several Universities by Pope Leo and by the Emperour also with their unanimous Consent and Advice was not only not restrained but raged more furiously than ever publishing daily new Books to the great decay not only of the Christian Regligion but also of Morality and all good Living That it was a great addition to his Grief to understand that many of the Nobility favoured him and that the Mischief was spread so far that not only the Dignity of the Clergy in Germany was lessened but that they were in danger also of being deprived of their Lands and Livings and that a Civil War was broken forth among some That is was truly indeed said by S. Paul That heresies must needs be but that as Affairs now stood it was most unseasonably fulfilled That the Devil was busie at work to involve us in many Calamities That he had stirred up the Turk to vent his Fury against us far and near whilst at the same time he plagued the most Valiant Nation of Germany with the Heresie of Luther That no Man was ignorant how powerful an Enemy the Turk was and that though he might be overcome yet the Affairs of Christendom would be in no better condition so long as that Domestick Enemy remained unconquered That during his abode in Spain he had heard many things of Luther's false Doctrins and that though it grieved him that this Evil seemed to arise in that Country to which he himself owed his Birth yet he had been comforted by two things First Because he hoped that so frivolous and impious a Doctrin would be despised by all Men And then because he thought that that poysonous Weed being brought from abroad could not take rooting in that Country which had always produced Champions against Heresies But that since it had happened far otherwise either through the just Judgment of God or the Carelesness and Neglect of those who ought to have applyed the proper Remedies in time it was their part to look to it carefully lest that whilst they acted more slowly and remisly they might seem to have forgot their ancient Virtue and to approve so great a Villany That it would be a very disgraceful thing for so Valiant and constant a People to make desertion from that Religion which was decreed by Christ and his Apostles embraced by so many Martyrs and Famous Men and professed also by our own Progenitors at the Instigation of a sorry Fryer who had himself for many Years followed and professed the same as if forsooth the Church had erred for so many Ages as if Christ who promised to be with us for ever had suffered his Church to continue in so great Ignorance and Darkness and as if he were the only Wise-man raised up by God to disclose the Errors of all Mankind that doubtless these things seemed very Ridiculous to all wise Men But that nevertheless they were Popular and Specious and to those that delighted in Novelties gave great Occasions of Undertaking was it not easie to be seen what they drove at it was only their Intention That under a pretext of Christian Liberty they might trample upon all Law and Justice for how was it possible that they should Reverence and Honour the Civil Magistrate who made no scruple to use disgracefully nay and to burn the Laws and Constitutions of most holy Popes and Councils It was not certainly to be believed That they who boggled not at Sacriledge but with Impure and Bloody Hands seized and robbed the things that were consecrated to God would at length forbear to invade the Rights and Possessions of their Neighbours That they who stood not in awe not only to Strike but also to Kill Priests were doubtless ready and had it in their Thoughts to violate and abuse any other State of Men whatsoever So that this so great Licentiousness and Impunity in committing Wickedness would at length rest upon Princes themselves their Children Wives Families and Possessions That therefore he prayed and exhorted them and by virtue of the Power and Authority he had as the Successor of S. Peter and Vicar of Christ also required and charged them That laying aside all Quarrels and Animosities with united Hearts and Hands they would endeavour to quench that Common and Domestick
but Eugenius IV evacuated the Decrees of that Council as hath been said before and the Popes who came after him that would not part with any thing have kept up the Custom and would not confirm Bishops and other Clergy-men in their Livings but upon condition that they duly paid their First-Fruits and Tenths so that the Custom is continued to this very Time though not without much repining and many Quarrels For in the Year of our Lord 1500 when the Emperour Maximilian held an Imperial Dyet at Ausburg among other Matters concerning a Turkish War it was decreed that Ambassadours should be sent to Pope Alexander VI to sollicit his Aid and that he would employ those Revenues to this Use for which chiefly they were in times past granted Furthermore the Pope bestows upon the Archbishops and Metropolitans a certain Badge of Honour and Dignity made of Flax and Wool which is called a Pall but the Purchase of it costs a round Summ of Money to be paid within three Months too according to the Constitutions of the Court of Rome Nor is it lawful for Archbishops to Consecrate any Bishop till first they have got their Pall which is chiefly used in saying of Mass neither is that delivered before he who receiveth it hath sworn Fidelity and Obedience to the Pope Now the First-Fruits we mentioned are so called because every new Bishop or Abbot is obliged to pay one Years Rent of his Living to the Pope When all Debates were concluded the Princes framed a Decree relating in short what had past and what Methods had been proposed by them for Concord and Reconciliation which were those we mentioned before charging all Men under severe Penalties to observe the same This Decree was on the sixth of March published in the Emperour's Name for upon his Return into Spain he had appointed a Council and Judicature to govern in his Absence as hath been said above In this Dyet Frederick Prine Palatine represented the Emperour's Person About this Time two Augustine Fryers John and Henry were apprehended at Brussels Hogostrate a Dominican among others had the Examination of them The first Question put to them was What they believed They made answer That they believed the Books of the Old and New Testament and the Apostles Creed which contained the Articles of our Faith. Again Whether or not the Decrees of the Councils and Fathers Such of them as agreed with the Holy Scriptures Whether they did not think it a Mortal Sin to transgress the Decrees of the Fathers and Pope of Rome That God's Commands alone had the Prerogative of Condemning or Absolving Seeing they persevered herein they were condemned to die But they gave Thanks to God That they were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for the Glory of his Name Being brought to the Place of Execution they moved all the Spectators by their Constancy and were burnt the first Day of July But before they suffered they were degraded as in the like Case Priests commonly are and that is performed in this manner He that is condemned of Heresie by the Ecclesiastical Judge is cloathed in the sacred Vestments of a Priest and hath a Chalice with Wine and Water and also a gilt Pattin with a Wafer put into his hands so being made to kneel down the Bishop's Vicar taketh from him the things above-named one after another commanding him at the same time never to say Mass more for the Living and the Dead Then with a piece of Glass he scrapes his Fingers enjoyning him never to consecrate any thing for the future and afterwards strips him of all his Vestments using certain Curses and Imprecations at every several action Being thus degraded from the Order of Priesthood he is likewise deprived of all the inferior Orders that are antecedent to it When he is thus stripped of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments he is cloathed in Secular Apparel and delivered over to the Civil Magistrate the Bishop's Vicar in the mean time interceding with him that he would not use any severity against his Persons nor put him to Death For this Ceremony is used lest they who deal in holy things should seeem to have a hand in taking away the life or shedding the Blood of any Man. The Decree of Norimberg being variously interpreted by many and slighted by some Luther wrote to the Princes acquainting them that he had reverently and with great pleasure read it and also proposed it to the Church of Wittemberg but that through the craft and snares of the Devil it had not the authority which it ought to have for that there were some of the highest Quality who both refused to obey it and put various Constructions upon the same Wherefore he thought fit to declare in Writing how he understood it trusting that his Opinion was consonant to their meaning and intentions That whereas they command the Gospel to be taught according to the Interpretations received by the Church most Men thus understood it That Ministers were to Preach according to the manner hitherto in use and the Rules prescribed by Thomas Aquinas Scotus and Others who have been approved by the Popes of Rome but that he took it to be meant of the more ancient Authors as St. Hilary St. Cyprian St. Austin and the like and that neither were those so much to be depended upon but that the holy Scriptures ought to be preferred far before them That he made no doubt but this was their sense and it was to him an argument to make him believe so that some who could not endure to hear of a true Reformation of the Church refused to subscribe to this Edict and suffered it not as yet to be proposed to their People In the next place That Bishops should appoint fit Men to be present at Sermons and mildly admonish if there were occasion for it It was well decreed on their parts but that they to whom the Charge was given though they were willing could not fulfil the Decree because they wanted learned Men and made use of those who had never learned any thing but Sophistry That whereas also they decreed That no more Books should be published unless they were first approved and licensed by learned Men chosen for that purpose He was not indeed against it but however that he understood it so as not at all to be extended to the Books of the Holy Scripture for that the publishing of those could not be prohibited That what in the last place they had enacted concerning Priests that married Wives or forsook their Order That they should be punished according to the Canon Law it was too hard for if the Gospel was to be taught in purity as they themselves confessed then ought that Pontifical Law to be qualified Then he goes on and bewails the misery and obstinacy of our times that when the Light of the Gospel shon out so clear that Law of Single-Life was not abrogated which gave occasion to so many
grievous and scandalous Crimes That they nevertheless who were satisfied with the Punishment enjoyned by the Canon Law were much to be recommended for that Moderation but that they who clapt up in Prison and in Chains Rack'd Tormented and put Priests to Death for contracting Marriage or forsaking their Order were greatly to be detested Wherefore he besought the Princes that seeing their Adversaries did not obey the Decree they had made but boldly and licentiously opposed it they would also pardon those who through frailty of Nature that they might not wound their own Consciences or run into manifest Sin should not exactly observe that last Clause of the same for that it was very unreasonable that their potent Adversaries should have liberty to violate those things which they ought and might most easily observe and that other poor Men should be punished for transgressing a Law which it was not in their power to observe since all had not the Gift of Continence and that Vows of Chastity were not only foolish but contrary also to good Manners and honest living Afterwards he published a Book at the desire of some about the Ordaining of Ministers and dedicated it to the Magistrates of Prague to which he annexed a Treatise wherein he proved that the Church had the Right and Power of judging all Doctrins and of appointing Ministers In the first place he defined the Church to be where-ever the purity of the Gospel was taught but that Bishops and such other Prelates were Images and Heads without Brains that none of them did their duty in any Nation or among any People and especially in Germany Not long after he wrote about avoiding the Doctrins of Men affirming nevertheless in the Preface to his Book that he did not at all justifie those who boldly despised all Human Laws and Traditions and in the mean time did nothing that belonged to the duty of a true Christian Afterwards he prescribed a Form how Mass and the Communion should be celebrated in the Church of Wittemberg saying That hitherto he had proceeded leisurely because of the infirmity of many and being satisfied only with Doctrin had made it his aim to root out Errours and pernicious Opinions of Mens minds But that now when many were confirmed it was time not to suffer ungodly Rites and Ceremonies any longer in the Church but that the purity of Doctrin should be accompanied with sincerity of Worship without Hypocrisie or Superstition To this Piece he subjoyned another Treatise concerning decent and pious Ceremonies to be observed in the Church and another of the Abomination of Private Mass which they call the Canon in the Preface to which he mentions how that in his Books and Sermons having often exhorted Men to the Abrogation of the Popish Mass he had been therefore called Seditious but that it was an injury done unto him for that he had never taught the People publickly to abolish false Worship by their own authority nor had he indeed allowed that to the Magistrate unless the Rulers of the Church should obstinately maintain Errours and because that was a horrid Profanation of the Lord's Supper as the more learned now acknowledged he had therefore been at the pains to write that Piece that the People might also understand and that they might avoid those usual Sacrifices of the Mass as they would the Devil himself and to confirm what he said he set down the whole Canon of the Mass and shewed it to be full of Blasphemies against God. Among the other learmed Men of Germany that favoured Luther Vlrick Hutton a Nobleman of Franconia was one who about the latter end of August this year died in the Territory of Zurich There are some Pieces of his extant which shew him to have been a Man of an excellent and sharp Wit. In the former Book we mentioned how Luther answered Henry King of England which when the King had read he wrote to the Princes of the House of Saxony Duke Frederick his Brother John and to his Cousin George and having made a heavy complaint of Luther he represented to them the great dangers that his Doctrin was like to bring upon them and all Germany and that they were not to be slighted and neglected for that the prodigious success of the Turks whose Cruelty spread now so far owed its Rise to one or two profligate Wretches and that the neighbouring Bohemia was a warning unto them how much it concerned them to prevent an Evil in the beginning He also admonished them not to suffer Luther to publish the New Testament in the Vulgar Tongue for that his Artifices were now so well known that there was no doubt to be made but that by a bad Translation he would corrupt and pervert the purest Orignals To that Letter Duke George wrote a very kind Answer bitterly inveighing against Luther also whose Books he said as the most pernicious of Enemies he had prohibited in all his Territories for that ever since he had allowed him to Dispute at Leipsick he well perceived what he would come to at last That it heartily grieved him also that he had writ so bitterly against his Majesty which Libel he had prohibited to be Sold or Read within his Dominion having punished the Bookseller who first brought the Copy of it into his Country In the former Diet of Norimberg besides Matters of Religion the Princes took also into deliberation how they might settle Peace and establish Judicatures what Punishments were to be inflicted on those who obeyed not the Laws of the Empire and how they might raise present and constant Aids against the Turk But as to these two last Points nothing could be concluded wherefore they were put off to another time and Diet And because some things were enacted in that Diet which the Cities of the Empire perceived would redound to their prejudice they all sent Embassadors upon that account to the Emperor in Spain These arriving at Valladolid August the Sixth and having Audience three days after the Emperor gave them a very Gracious and Princely Answer within a few days but withal told them That the Pope had complained to him by Letters of Strasburg Norimber and Ausburg as if they favoured the Doctrin of Luther That he expected better things of them but that however he could not pass it by in silence that they might have a care to obey his and the Pope's Edicts which he was consident they would do They justified themselves assuring his Majesty that their Cities were no ways wanting in readiness to fulfil his Will and Pleasure In the mean time September the Thirteenth Pope Adrian dies to whom succeeded Clement VII of the Family of Medices Of all the Switzers none but the People of Zurich followed the Doctrin of Zuinglius most of the other Cantons vexed and murmured at it And therefore in a Convention of States held for that purpose at Berne there were some who grievously accused Zuinglius and to
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
at present and the rather that he was informed his Highness was not the Author of the Book written against him but that it was the work of some busie and crafty Sophisters And here taking occasion to speak of the Cardinal of York he calls him The Plague of England He heard also he said to his great satisfaction that His Highness disliked that sort of naughty Men and applied his mind to the knowledge of the Truth Wherefore he prayed him to pardon what he had done and consider that he himself being a Mortal Man ought not to entertain Immortal Enmity That if he pleased to lay his Commands upon him he would make a publick acknowledgment of his fault and wrote another Book in Praise of his Princely Vertues Then he intreats his Highness not to listen to the Suggestions of Slanders who called him a Heretick since the summ of his Doctrin was this That we must be saved by Faith in Christ who bore the punishment of our Sins in his own Body who having died and risen again for us reigns for ever with his Father which was the Doctrin of all the Prophets and Apostles That having laid this for a Foundation he taught the Duties of Charity what we ought to do for one another how we ought to obey the Magistrate and suit our whole Life to the Profession of the Gospel That if there was any Error or Impiety in that Doctrin why did not the Adversaries make it out Why did they condemn and excommunicate him before he was heard and convicted That therefore he wrote against the Pope of Rome and his Adherents because they taught contrary to Christ and his Apostles for their own Gain and Profit that they might rule and domineer over all others and wallow in Luxury and Pleasures for that all their Thoughts and Actions tended only to this scope which was so notoriously known also that they themselves could not deny it But would they mend their Manners and not lead such a lazy and sensual life to the prejudice and loss of other Men the difference might easily be brought to an end That since a great many Princes and free Cities of Germany approved his Doctrin and thankfully acknowledged God's Blessing in it he earnestly wished His Highness might he reckoned one of that number But that the Emperor and some others made themselves his Enemies it was no new thing That David had prophesied many Ages since That Kings and People should conspire against the Lord and his anointed and cast off his Laws That for his own part when he considered such places of Scripture he wondered to see that any Prince favoured the Doctrin of the Gospel Last of all he humbly desired that His Highness would be pleased to give him a gracious Answer Not long after he wrote also to George Duke of Saxony That it was God's usual way at first to correct Men sharply and severely but afterwards tenderly to embrace and cherish them That he struck the Jews with fear and terror when he delivered the Law by Moses but afterwards sent them glad Tydings by the Preaching of the Gospel That he himself also having followed that method had dealt a little too roughly with some and with him among the rest but that in the mean while he had written some things full of Fruit and Consolation whence it might be easily perceived that he took all that pains out of no ill-will to any but that he might do good to all That he was informed however that his Grace did not at all relent in the anger and offence which he had conceived against him but was more and more exasperated daily which was the reason why now he wrote unto him That he earnestly begg'd of him he would desist from opposing his Doctrin not truly for his own sake who had nothing to lose but his Life but chiefly for his sake whose Salvation lay at stake for seeing he was certainly persuaded that his Doctrin agreed with the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles he was therefore very much concerned for his Grace who so bitterly hated and persecuted him He admonished him also not to regard the meanness of his Person for that the business was not his but the work of the Almighty God and though all Men should storm and rage yet that Doctrin would abide for ever and that therefore he was the more grieved when he saw him so incensed and offended thereat That he could not forsake this his Station but seeing he was willing to gratifie him in any thing else he humbly begg'd his Pardon for that he had said some things too sharply against him That he on other hand would pray God to forgive his Grace for his Contempt and Persecution of the Gospel and made no doubt but that his Prayers would be heard provided he would leave off in time and not endeavour to put out that Light which by God's Blessing now shone in the World for that if he went on in that way of Cruelty he would implore the assistance of God against him and then he would understand too late what it was to withstand the Majesty of Heaven That he had a firm and undoubted confidence in God's Promises and knew that his Prayer was more powerful than all the Arts and Snares of the Devil and that he always had his Refuge to it as to a most strong Castle and Rock of Defence The King of England having received Luther's Letter we mentioned before returned him a sharp Answer upbraiding him with Levity and Inconstancy He also owned his Book which he said had been very well liked of by many good and learned Men That it was no strange thing to him that he should revile the Reverend Father the Cardinal of York since he stood not in awe to reproach both Saints and Men That the Cardinal's Services were very useful both to him and the whole Kingdom also And that as he had loved him very well before he would now entertain a far greater Kindness for him since he was calumniated and accused by him That among other useful Services his Eminence did also this good office that he was zealous and diligent in preventing the Leprosie and Contagion of his Heresie from infecting any part of his Dominions Afterwards he reproaches him for his Incestuous Marriage than which no fouler Crime could be committed This Cardinal was one Thomas Woolsey a Man of mean Birth but in high Favour with the King of England Duke George of Saxony also made such an Answer to Luther as it might easily appear how much he hated him When the French Embassadors that were sent to Spain to treat of Peace among whom was Margaret the King 's own Sister a Widow could effect nothing Aloisia the Queen Mother who had the Regency of the Kingdom for her own Security prevailed with King Henry to enter into Alliance and Amity with her and this was concluded about the latter end of August The chief
suffered to enjoy their Religion peaceably until the sitting of a Council they would also contribute Money for the Turkish War. Being therefore sent for next day to appear in Court there was a certain form of Pacification read unto them wherein they only were comprehended who had approved the Decree that was made whereupon a Debate arising and the Deputies alledging it concerned not them or if it did that it ought to have been conceived in clearer terms lest by its ambiguity it might afterward occasion dispute they made answer That they would make report thereof to the Emperour Two days after the Emperour sent for the Deputies of Strasburg and their Associates to come to his Lodgings and in the Assembly of the States ordered the Confutation of their Confession of Faith to be read a prolix and biting Paper especially in that part where it treated of the Lord's Supper The Authors thereof were John Faber and Eckius who having an odious Subject to descant on made use of all the severe Reflections they could that they might incense the Emperour and Princes The upshot of all was That whereas in matters of Religion they professed an Opinion different from all others and approved that most grievous Errour about the Lord's Supper That they had also thrown Images out of the Churches abolished the Mass pulled down Publick and Religious Houses built in former times by the Liberality of Emperours and Kings cherished and promoted several Sects by Books and Pamphlets which they published and dispersed amongst the People all over Germany That therefore he again required them to retract and embrace the Ancient Religion for that otherwise he would certainly do what in Duty he was obliged to do Some time after they made answer That in the Confutation many things were read otherwise than they were contained in their Paper That some things also were so bitterly represented that if true they deserved not only censure but punishment also but that these things were not rightly charged upon them for that no such thing was done within their Cities and if any person whosoever durst break out into the like Licentiousness they would certainly be punished for it That since then they had a clear Conscience that it was a weighty Cause and that the Paper was very long and could not be answered before they had made a Report thereof to their Principals therefore they desired in the first place That a Copy of it might be given to them and then that no Credit should be given to that Charge and Accusation before their Justification were heard and examined That in all other things they were ready to serve his Imperial Majesty to the utmost of their Power The Emperour told them He would consider on 't and five Days after the Elector of Brandenburg made answer in his Name That he could not give them a Copy for that upon weighty considerations the same had been denied to the Duke of Saxony and that all farther Dispute about Religion was prohibited But that if they had a desire to be reconciled and to return again into the Bosom of the Church he would not refuse them the hearing of the Confutation read once or twice more But that he charged them withal That they would profess the same Religion that the other Princes and States did and contribute Aid against the Turk for that unless they would give way and leave off to be so stubborn he would by the Advice of the Pope and other Kings act as it became him After some time granted them for Deliberation they made their Reply in presence of all the States That they had Orders to demand a Copy of what had been objected against their Confession that they might send it home which in their Opinion was done not for more Disputes sake but that if perhaps the Learned Men of the other side should interpret the meaning of their Paper otherwise than it ought or if any Crime might be laid to their Charge they might be in a Readiness to answer and justifie themselves That now since by what they could retain in Memory of the Confutation read they perceived that their Confession was perverted contrary to the Sense and Meaning of their Magistrates and otherwise interpreted than the very Words of it could bear that besides since many horrid things were reckoned up which could in no ways be attributed to them as they had said before they therefore again desired and prayed that they might have a Copy of the Confutation granted them whereby they might be enabled to purge themselves of what was objected against them especially seeing in the close of their Confession they had begged of the Emperour That he would refer this Difference about Religion to the Determination of a Lawful Council of Germany being the only way that had been always lookt upon as the most proper and convenient and that therefore since they were resolved to maintain no errour knowingly nor to be obstinate in any thing they begged again and again that the Cause might be decided by a Free and Holy Council That they would not refuse what should therein be decreed according to the Testimony of Holy Scripture That in the mean time they would serve the Emperour with their Lives and Fortunes and that they had lately acquainted the Deputies of the Cities with their Resolutions as to their contributing Aid and Assistance for the Turkish War which was That if Peace were setled throughout the Empire and security given them for the free Exercise of their Religion until the meeting of a Council they were willing to contribute what in Reason they ought For that the Year before they had liberally given and more too than came to their shares Which being so and that since hitherto they had received no answer they once more most earnestly prayed That Peace might be given to Religion for that otherwise though they might be never so willing yet they would not be able to contribute any thing The Marquess of Brandenburg said That he would make a Report of it to the Emperour In the Afternoon some Commissioners read unto them a Draught of the Pacification wherein they only were comprehended who should receive the Decree as hath been said before of the Duke of Saxony and his Associates They made answer That neither was there a Copy of the Decree given them nor were they comprehended therein so that they could not promise any thing in the Names of their Principals and that since the matter was still left at an uncertainly they expected to know the Emperour's Pleasure therein as they had also declared themselves to the Elector of Brandenburg The Deputies for the State of Strasburg in this Dyet were James Sturmey and Matthias Pharrer and the âormer pleaded the Cause with the Emperour and Princes both in the Name of his own City and also of their Confederates Whilst these Matters were in Debate the Cities of Ausburg Frankford Vlm and Hall declined the Decree
17th day of April what 't is they desire and expect from the Emperor in relation to that Affair requesting that King Ferdinand would wave his design and not carry himself as King of the Romans But if the Emperor shall think that he has occasion for a Coadjutor that then being assisted by the sense and counsel of the Electoral Princes he should Interpret the Caroline Law and by his Edict give it a perpetual Sanction which according to the rules of Justice ought to run to this purpose viz. That hereafter no King of the Romans be chosen during the life of the Emperor unless first the Electors and six other Princes of the Empire shall judge it fit to be done And when it shall plainly appear to them that 't is for the advantage of the Publick then the Elector of Mentz shall Summon his Colleagues together with the other six Princes to some convenient place there to deliberate further about the Affair and when they have throughly weigh'd and discuss'd the Matter then the Electoral Princes alone with the addition of the King of Bohemia shall have the Power of creating a King That the King of the Romans thus chosen while the Emperor is alive shall not manage the Publick Administration in his own Name but in the Emperor's nor shall he arrogate any Power or Dominion to himself That the Princes and States of the Empire shall not be bound in any Oath or Promise unto him till after the death of the Emperor Upon the creation of a new King there shall no Oath be taken but according to the tenour of the Caroline Law nor shall it be in the Power of the Electors to alter that Form And whoever shall be convicted of acting contrary to that Oath or shall be under a violent suspicion of so doing and yet not be able to clear him he shall be depriv'd of his Electoral right for ever Moreover for the avoiding of Prescription three Kings shall not be successively created out of the same Family and no Man shall be created King of the Romans who does not descend from some Family of the Princes of Germany That neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall endeavour to alter what the Caroline Law has ratify'd about the creation of a King. When the Electors shall see it convenient to create a King they shall be under no necessity of giving notice before-hand to the Emperor nor may he in that Case issue out his Orders to the Elector of Mentz to Convene the rest of the Electors but when they shall appear just and substantial Reasons for the Creation of a King during the life of the Emperor then the Archbishop of Mentz shall Summon in his Colleagues to appear at Franckfort upon an appointed day nor shall it be in his Power to appoint any other place for their Meeting unless the Colleagues shall for weighty Reasons allow of it The Elector of Mentz may not without the consent of his Colleagues demand the Crown and Scepter and other Imperial Ensigns from the City of Nuremburg Nor shall he cut off any thing from that in three months space which is allowed to the Princes for their meeting together after they are Summon'd for it might prove much to the prejudice of the Publick should the streightness of time occasion the absence of one or two of them While the Electors are upon their Consultation at Franckfort every body else shall be excluded If any Breach shall be made in these Conditions then the Electors shall not be oblig'd to appear there or to make any stay and whatsoever shall there be transacted by them shall be accounted void Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall suffer the Arms of the Electors to be display'd in Italy France or other foreign Parts or their proper Offices to be supply'd but by themselves or their Embassadors The King of the Romans shall not accept his final Inauguration but in the presence of the Electors or their Embassadors Neither the Emperor nor the King may hinder the Embassadors of Foreign Kings and Princes from coming to the Imperial Diets and there propounding their business for this is not only consonant to the Law of Nations but is also full of Humanity and Civility Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall assume to himself any peculiar Power of judging in such Causes as may be depending between the Princes of the Empire but shall suffer them to be legally try'd in the place where they ought That the Emperor be careful to Maintain those things which concern the Glory Honour and Safety of the Princes and the Empire and which he has faithfully promis'd to observe and that he rectifie whatever has been acted otherwise and that it be provided by a Law That whoever is King of the Romans he shall observe the same things If the Emperor will explain and confirm the Caroline Law in this sense the Duke of Saxony promises that he will not be wanting to his Duty whenever the Good of the Publick shall require such a Consultation but if the mediating Princes cannot obtain this of the Emperor he will not however decline a legal Trial provided that King Ferdinand does not in the mean time assume to himself or Usurp the administration of the Affairs of the Empire or any other Authority especially over them or over the two Brothers William and Lewis Princes of Bavaria But if they cannot obtain so much as this then their Request is That the Emperor would be pleas'd to give them a publick Audience in an Assembly of the Princes and other States where they will demonstrate upon what just and weighty Reasons it is that they cannot approve of this Election And now since they understand that they have upon the account of this their non-compliance incurr'd the suspicion of Rebellion not only with the Emperor but also among Foreign Kings and People they therefore earnestly desire that the Emperor would not take it amiss if they make known the reasons of this their action to all Men not only through Germany but also beyond the Limits of the Empire for this they find 't is but necessary for them to do Among other things it has been said That the Electors are to swear according to the tenour of Charles the Fourth his Law. Now the thing is thus When they are come to Franckfort having perform'd their Devotion they go up to the Altar and laying their hands upon a consecrated Book as they call it they in a set Form of words most religiously swear by that Faith which they owe both to God and the Empire that they will choose such a chief Magistrate of the Christian Commonwealth as they think to be worthy of so great a Charge and who is every way fit and qualify'd for it as far as the best of their skill and understanding will give them leave to judge and that this they do without the prepossession
Sex insomuch that by reason of the Crowd and the great hast they were oblig'd to make their flight several Women who were with Child miscarry'd As soon as they had done this they seize upon the Goods of those they had driven out and though this happen'd the day before the Bishop besieged the Town yet when some part of the Company which was chased away by the Anabaptists fell into the Bishop's hands they were treated as Enemies and some of them were in danger of losing their Lives and among the rest one or two of the Preachers of the reformed Religion Petrus Wirtemius whom we mention'd before being himself in danger was saved by the mediation of the Lantgrave The hearing of this usage surpriz'd the Townsmen who stay'd behind insomuch that a great many honest Men when they perceiv'd that though they did quit the Town yet they ran themselves upon apparent danger were forc'd as it were to continue there against their Will. About this time one of their Principal Prophets for they challenge that Name for themselves John Mathew commanded that every Man should bring forth all his Gold and Silver and Moveables under pain of death and for this use there was a house set apart for a Publick Treasury The People were amaz'd at the rigour of this Edict yet they obey'd it Neither was it safe for any Person to deceive these Saints or to keep part of his own Goods to himself for there were two Prophecying Virgins who discover'd all foul play in this case Nor did they only make a Common Bank out of their own Stock but likewise made bold with the Fortunes of those they had banish'd Afterwards the same Prophet Commands that none from thence forward should keep any Book by him except the Bible all the rest he chargeth them to bring out that they might be abolish'd This Command he pretended to receive from Heaven Upon this a great number of Books were thrown together and all burnt About this time one Hubert Truteling a Smith happen'd to break a jest upon those who call'd themselves Prophets this being known they Summon in the Multitude and command them to appear all armed soon after they Indict the Man and condemn him to suffer death The People were wonderfully surpriz'd at these Proceedings But their Head-Prophet whom I spoke of before seizes upon the poor Wretch and having thrown him upon the ground runs his Pike into him yet he did not wound him Mortally though he had tilted at him with a very great force Afterwards he orders him to be taken away and carried some whither else Then taking a Musket from a Youth who stood by he shoots him through with a Bullet as he lay along but not being dispatch'd this way neither the Prophet said It was reveal'd to him from Heaven that his Time was not come yet and that God had bestowed his Grace upon him but for all that the Man died within a few days after which being divulg'd the Prophet snatches up a long Pike and runs full speed through the Streets crying That God the Father had commanded him to beat the Enemy farther off the City When he came near to the Camp he was encountred by one of the Souldiers and run through And though he was very much out in his Prediction once again yet his Fellow-Prophet had so bewitch'd the People and manag'd the Farce so artificially with the Rabble that his death was much lamented and they said That the loss of so excellent a Person did portend some speedy Calamity to the Town But their second-rate Prophet John of Leyden bids them be of good chear it being reveal'd to him long before That Mathew was to die in that manner and that he was to marry his Widow Upon Good-Friday they run into the Churches and ring all the Bells Some few days after Knipperdoling Prophesies That those who were in the highest Station should be degraded and others of the meanest Condition advanced Upon this he orders all the Churches to be demolish'd solemnly affirming That God had commanded it should be so His Orders are accordingly observ'd and that Edict which he told them came from Heaven was executed with great signs of alacrity and inclination Much about this time John of Leyden delivers a Sword to Knipperdoling and makes him his Executioner telling him That the Divine Pleasure was such that he who had born the highest Office before and was Consul must now act in the lowest place and be contented to be Hangman The other was so far from refusing that he thanked him for the Employment Now after the Bishop had carried on the War for some months at his own Charge Herman Archbishop of Cologn and John Duke of Cleve sent him a supply of Money and Ordnance with some Companies of Foot and Horse The Archbishop also went to the Camp to advise in the affair and soon after the Town was besieged in several places But when there was no hopes of taking it by Storm they built seven Forts about it to cut off Provision and order'd some Companies of Foot and Troops of Horse to take up their Winter-Quarters there The Bishop of Munster in the mean time desiring assistance for the continuance of the War and the Siege of those Princes and Cities which border upon the Rhine as being more his Neighbours than the rest To settle this Affair there was a Meeting intimated to be held at Coblentz upon the 13th day of December Anno 1534. Germany in its whole extent is divided into six Provinces Franconia Bavaria Swaben Saxony the Palatine and Burgundy Within these bounds all the Princes and Cities are still included in the Diets of the Empire according to the old Custom But now Saxony is divided into the Upper and Lower besides there is a new addition of lower Germany Westphalia and Austria so that now the Empire contains ten Countries or Districts in it After they had try'd in vain to carry the Town by Assault John of Leyden composeth himself to sleep and dreams out three days when he awaked he said never a word but makes signs for Paper and writes down the names of twelve Men some of them well descended who were to sit at the Helm and as Heads of the Tribes of Israel to have the Direction and Government of all Affairs this he told them was the Will of his heavenly Father And when he had prepar'd the way for his projected Monarchy by the Government of these twelve Men he propounds a set of Doctrins to the Preachers desiring them that they would confute them by Texts of Scripture but if they could not he would mention them to the Multitude that they might be approv'd and establish'd into a Law. The sum of them was this That a Man was not obliged to confine himself to one Wife but might marry as many as he pleased But the Preachers opposing this Doctrin he Summons them into the Senate-house and brings the twelve
to come into their League and be stiled the Patron and Defender of it That the common opinion of the Pope's Supremacy should be for ever disown'd If there was War made upon either of them upon the score of Religion or for any other reason then the Aggressor was to have no assistance The King should pay an hundred thousand Crowns towards the defence of the League the moyety of which Sum the Confederates may lay out whenever their occasions shall require it but shall be oblig'd to defray the rest of the Charge out of their own Contributions And if the War happens to be of any long continuance and the Forces of the Enemy make it necessary the King shall assist them with two hundred thousand Crowns since when things come to that extremity they have oblig'd themselves not only to spend their Fortunes but their Lives too This latter sum should be manag'd the same way with the former and not be turn'd to any other use than their own Defence and when the War was ended the remainder should be return'd The Embassadors should write the King their Master an account of these Articles and when they understood his Resolution they should acquaint the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave with it to the end that afterwards an Embassy in the Name of all the Confederates might be sent to him As soon as the Embassadors had sent away these Proposals to the King they remove to Wittemburgh where they spent the rest of the Winter during which time they argu'd with the Town-Divines concerning the Doctrins then controverted The main of their Disputation was about the Celibacy of the Clergy the Lord's Supper the Popish-Mass and the Vows of the Religious particularly they desir'd the Divines would give their Approbation of the King's Divorce but they answer'd That the Scripture would not allow them to do this when the other offer'd several Arguments to perswade them particularly that Pope Clement had been of different Opinions in this matter and had declar'd his Sentiments in a private Conference with the French King The Divines reply'd That if the case stood thus the King had great cause to do what he did but when they were urg'd to say he had most just cause they refus'd it As soon as the Embassadors had receiv'd the King's Letters out of England in which he explain'd his mind upon the Point they acquaint the Elector with it And upon the 12th day of March at Wittemburgh whither the Duke was then come they enlarge themselves very much upon the King 's good Inclinations to the Cause and that he was satisfi'd with most of the Articles if some few things were amended in them and notwithstanding all things were quiet in England and the King had no reason to fear any Person for if there were formerly any grounds for such apprehensions they were now remov'd by the death of his Wife which was divorc'd yet to recover and settle the true Doctrin if the Alliance went on he was not unwilling to furnish them with that Sum of Mony which they desir'd and intended to discourse this Point farther by word of mouth with their Embassadors As for the Honour which they offer'd him of being Defender and Patron of their League he acknowledg'd their kindness and return'd them many thanks for it and though he was sensible what an invidious and disobliging Title this was yet for the sake of the Common Good he would not decline it provided the first and the second Article were accommodated For unless there was an agreement in Doctrin between them he was of opinion that this Undertaking would not be consistent with his Honour That he was extreamly desirous that the Learned of his own and their Dominions might be brought to a Uniformity of Opinion And since he saw this could not be done unless some Points of Doctrin in their Confession and Apology were first qualifi'd in a private Conference therefore he earnestly desir'd they would send their Embassadors to him and among the rest some one eminently Learned with power to debate and determine the whole Doctrin and Ceremonies And in regard he has been so liberal in his concessions he desires by way of return First If any one makes War upon him that they would supply him for four Months either with five hundred Horse or ten Ships well equipped Secondly That they would procure him at his own charge two thousand Horse and five thousand Foot. Lastly That they themselves would publickly approve the Opinion of the Divines of Wittemburgh concerning the Divorce and defend it in the Council which was to be call'd The Elector of Saxony answer'd That this Affair concern'd all the Allies and therefore he must consult them soon after they all agree to meet at Frankford upon the twenty fourth of April both about this and other business When they came thither they answer'd the Embassadors that notwithstanding some were just then receiv'd into the League and others upon the account of their distance from home had no power to determine because they could not report the matter to their Principals yet they would take care that the Embassy to the King should be setled and regulated in this Meeting and that those who were not empowred to conclude any thing now should declare their mind to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave within a Month which should be immediately communicated to their Excellencies at what place they should please to appoint neither did they question but that this part of their Allies would approve the Embassy and be willing to be concluded by the Majority Afterwards they drew up the Commission of their Embassadors who were to go for England in which among other things it was provided that when they were arriv'd and came to Treat about the League they should in every point they agreed to expresly except the Empire and Emperor to whom they were bound to be subject both by their Oaths and Allegiance James Sturmius was design'd to represent the Cities in this Embassy The Divines were Melancthon Bucer and George Draco At this Meeting there were admitted into the League Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh Bernin and Philip his Brother Dukes of Pomeren George and Joachim his Brother Earls of Anhalt as also Ausburgh Frank furt Campodune Hamburgh and Hannover Other things were likewise debated relating to the League the method of their defence and the proceedings of the Imperial Chamber They also decreed to send some Persons to wait upon the Emperor with an Answer in writing to his Letter which was dated at Naples which I mention'd in the former Book I have frequently related already how violently averse George Duke of Saxony was to Luther's Doctrin Now this being the occasion of a great many Disputes between him and his Uncle the Elector of Saxony the Father of this present Elector at last the matter was thus compromis'd That there should be no misunderstanding between them upon the account
upon which they refus'd the Council they thought it convenient to set them down in writing which Paper they afterwards publish'd in Print where they address themselves to foreign Princes and Nations to this effect Paul the Third say they hath lately publish'd a Bull in which he hath intimated a Council at Mantua which will be opened upon the 23th of May and hath offer'd some Reasons why these Measures were pitch'd upon Besides he hath dispatch'd his Nuncios to foreign Kings and Princes both Germans and others to acquaint them with the Council and invite them either to come thither themselves or send their Embassadors and in regard we have been solicited by him and by the Emperor upon this account we think our selves oblig'd to demonstrate how dangerous and disadvantageous a Compliance with him in this Point will be not only to us but to all Christendom And though we proceed upon none but justifiable grounds yet when we consider the temper of our Adversaries we have reason to believe they will censure our actions and interpret them in the worst sense For it 's likely in order to the bringing us and the whole Cause under their Jurisdiction they will not stick to affirm that we will not abide by any Trial nor submit to any Judge That we contemn other Nations which have been often remarkable for a great many Men of Learning They will say also that it 's a wicked thing to refuse Submission to the determinations of a Council which is the highest Tribunal of the Church and ought to be obeyed by all Persons They will likewise pretend as if we were asham'd of our Tenents and durst not bring them into view or that we watched an opportunity to make an unnecessary Breach and could not reconcile our selves to the Peace of Christendom Now if this Charge against us were true it were not only wicked in it self but it would be a kind of a Calamity to hear it For these reasons we are under a necessity of publishing our own Justification and we hope the consequence of it will be that all honest Men both in Germany and other places will not only forbear believing any thing of this nature of us but that they will make it their business that this most important Affair may be rightly manag'd and that it may not be in the Pope's Power to Tyrannize over apparent Truth and suppress it under the pretended and venerable Authority of a Council For we will not only make it appear that we hold no Opinions in Religion but what are sound and Orthodox but likewise that we aim at nothing but the Glory of God and the good of the Commonwealth and that no Man can justly charge us with obstinancy and perverseness And in the first place how far we are from contemning the Judgment of other Nations and of the Church is evident by our endeavouring to prevent the Pope and his Party from setting up for Judges and that all things may be debated by proper and unsuspected Persons which they believe is the unanimous desire of all good Men For in regard in some Countries there are now extant several ancient Books complaining of false Doctrin Immorality wicked Ceremonies and Practices which were then crept into the Church they do not question but that in those very places there are at this day several Persons of Learning and Piety who understand the true Doctrin though at present they are brow-beaten and overaw'd into silence by the Pope's Tyranny Now these are the Men who ought to appear in Councils that they may speak their mind freely for that is not to be accounted a lawful Council which is govern'd by the Pope and his Party who maintain their unorthodox Tenents by dint of Violence and Power and according to their old custom make Canons contrary to the Word of God. For our Saviour when he erected his Supream Tribunal upon Earth ordered That whatever required Reformation should be brought before the Church in which very words all manner of Tyranny and Dominion is excluded Farther they asperse us falsely if they say we are afraid to make our publick Appearance and will not endure the Light. For in the Diet at Ausburgh we made an open Profession of our Doctrin in the Presence of the Emperor and all the States of the Empire Besides this very Religion is publickly taught in our Dominions several of our Subjects have written Books of it and own'd it in Print and many of our Adversaries confess that our Writers have recover'd a great number of ancient Tenents which before were quite smother'd and suppress'd For now the true Doctrin is come to Light again which gives us the right notion of Repentance of Faith in Christ of Remission of Sins of good Works Religious Worship the use of the Sacraments the Power of the Keys of Magistracy Humane Traditions and such like Neither to speak in St. Paul's Language are we asham'd of the Gospel but wish above all things that we had an opportunity to declare our sense of these Points in the most publick Audience And whereas it 's objected to our Party as if they had reviv'd old condemn'd Heresies and therefore there is no need of any farther Dispute or Examination of the Cause this Suggestion is false and those who have read our Confession and the Defence annex'd to it will not require much Apology from us For the Doctrin which we Profess is no new one but was approv'd by the Primitive Church as may be made good to a demonstration Neither have we receiv'd any Heresie or wicked Opinion but on the contrary our Divines have regain'd the Doctrin of the Ancients in several Points which the Popes and Monks had suppress'd It is another Calumny to say that we are pleas'd with publick Animosities and Divisions for we are sorry at our very Souls that Christendom is so miserably distracted and earnestly desire a Council in order to a Reconciliation And since the Pope and his Adherents have condemn'd that Doctrin which is both true and necessary to be believ'd since they punish and persecute the Professors of it and excite others to follow their Example we could do no less than reprove them for their Cruelty and Insolence For God requireth us to Honour him by an open Confession and to hold any farther Correspondence with the Pope when he rages at such a barbarous rate would be a very wicked Alliance Besides it cannot be deni'd but we perform all Offices and undergo all Burthens which the Commonwealth requires as well as the rest of the States from whence it appeareth that we would willingly comply with others in Religion too if our Consciences would give us leave especially when we understand what danger hangeth over our Heads upon this account For the Popes for many years last past have told us pretty plainly what they would be at and how busie they have been in exasperating the Passions of Princes against us Now to run all these
to this our Profession nor do we perform so much indeed as we ought and wish we did But the same was also the Complaint of the Prophets and Apostles whilst they were in the Flesh and we shall enjoy that Happiness at length when being delivered from this sinful Body as out of a Prison we shall be advanced to a State equal to the Angels The thing we demand a Council for is that our Churches Plea may be heard openly that your Doctrine contrary to Christ's Doctrine may be condemned and that Men being reclaimed from it may know and embrace the true Worship of God. Now that you object to us the Crime of Sedition and Disobedience it is false even by the Testimony of the States of the Empire For our Princes have been both obedient to the Emperor and ready also when called to go either to War or to the Diets of the Empire But if you reproach us with that because we submit not to the Emperor's Edicts which condemn our Religion we rejoice and give God also Thanks that therein we are not Obedient For what belongs to God alone is not to be given to Caesar who ought and does hold all of God. God hath indeed set the Emperor over Kingdoms and Provinces but he alone will govern his Church by his own Word nor does he allow any to share with him in that Honour The Emperor hath more than enough to do in governing the State which is the Office God hath allotted him and confined him within those Limits But if he stretches his Authority farther he then invades God's Property and Jurisdiction Amongst other things Henry Duke of Brunswick alledged in his invective Papers That Luther had raised this Tragedy of Religion at the Instigation of Duke Frederick who was vexed that Albert the Archbishop of Mentz should have the Bishoprick of Magdeburg Luther therefore answering that This Calumny saith he was by the Archbishop of Mentz suggested to Duke Henry and because he pretendeth not to know what no Man knows better I 'll now lay open the Cause and Original of these Revolutions In the Year of our Lord 1517. John Tetzel a Dominican carried about Indulgences to sell in Germany Now this same Tetzel the Emperor Maximilian had once condemned to die and at Inspruck ordered him to be thrown into the River but at the Intercession of Duke Frederick who happened to be there at that time he escaped This Man I say amongst other things taught that he had so great Power from the Pope That if a Man had even defloured the Virgin Mary and got her with Child he could pardon the Crime for Money Besides he pardoned not only Sins already committed but such also as should be committed in time to come And not long after came forth a Book with the Arms of the Archbishop Albert wherein the Collectors were enjoined most carefully to preach up to the People the Virtue and Efficacy of Indulgences wherefore it came to be known that Tetzel was hired by Archbishop Albert to make such Declamations for he had been lately created Archbishop of Mentz on Condition that he himself should be at the Charges of procuring his Pall from Rome For Three Bishops of that City had died within a short space of Time Bertolde James and Vriel and it was too heavy a Burthen for the Chapter to be at so vast a Charge and so often For that Pall is said to cost almost Thirty Thousand Florins before it be brought Home so well knows the Pope how to sell his Cloth and this Money was advanced by the Merchants of Ausburg So that for Reimbursment of the same Albert bethought himself of this Device which was allowed by the Pope on Condition that one half of the Money raised should be sent to Rome for the building of St. Peter's Church But I was ignorant of all these things at that time and therefore wrote a very submissive Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz exhorting him to restrain those Preachers but he made no Answer Having made Application also to the Bishop of Brandenburg he advised me to desist and not to run my self into Danger Afterwards I emitted some Positions contrary to the Tetzelian Doctrine which within few Days slew all over Germany and were greedily read by most Men For the Indulgences were a common grievance especially those that Tetzel taught And Because there was no Bishop nor Doctor neither that offered to oppose this Abuse since Tetzel frightned them with the Thunder of Rome My Name began to be talked of that there was one Man at length to be found in the World who durst speak against it But I had rather have been without that Applause nor indeed did I rightly understand at that time what the Name of Indulgences meant This is the Original and first Cause of the Troubles which Duke Frederick did not raise but the Archbishop of Mentz by means of Tetzel his Emissary and Hucster Wherefore he must e'en thank himself if any thing grate him now Another cause of the Commotions was given by the Holy Father Leo X. when he thundered out Curses and Excommunication against me and in all places Men so crowed over me that the unlearnedest Dunce of 'em all was for whetting his Pen upon me The truth is I thought at first that the Pope would have absolved me and condemned Tetzel because the Canon Law was on my side which plainly teaches That Souls are not delivered out of Purgatory by Indulgences But Good God! whilst I expected glad Tidings from Rome I was struck down with a Thunderbolt and condemned as the wickedest of all Men living Then I thought it time to defend what I had done and publish several Books for that purpose so that at long run the Matter came to be stated in the Diet of the Empire Thus ye see how a single Thread of an Archiepiscopal Cloak hath drawn after it so much Disturbance and is now grown so great and twisted so hard that his Holiness is in danger to be hanged with it Which being so let them e'en lay their Hand upon their Breast and blame themselves who have acted so impudently and saucily for my part I sit still and laugh in my sleeve For he that dwelleth in Heaven hath smitten them and had them in derision being unwilling that Ungodliness should reign any longer but that his People should be brought out of that Egyptian Darkness into the clear Light and joyful sight of the Sun. Now this Pall that hath been once and again mentioned is given only to Archbishops and as a singular Favour to some few Bishops as to the Bishop of Bamberg in Germany for one This is the Ceremony of making it On the day of the Virgin St. Agnes which is the One and twentieth of January when in the Mass that is said in St. Agnes Church in Rome they come to the words Agnus Dei qui tollis c. Two white Lambs are laid upon the
publick and understand also the Reasons why he came not sooner into Germany that what trouble pains and charges he was at in supporting the Government of the Empire he would in due time make it so plain to them that all should be convinced that nothing was dearer unto him than the Welfare of Germany nor would he mention neither what vast Expences he was put to daily in maintaining a Fleet at Sea to withstand the Encroachments of the Turks That he was come and in great haste too to this Diet though his Health and other Affairs had been a great hindrance unto him That besides he had moved the Pope to send a Legate hither and that accordingly Cardinal Contarini was come a Man of great Vertue and a Lover of Peace That therefore since this Diet was called chiefly for settling the Affairs of Religion and that nothing was yet determined therein though it might be of dangerous consequence if an end were not put to these Divisions it was his earnest desire that a Reconciliation might be made and that he would willingly contribute thereunto whatever lay in his Power That he expected the like Will and Inclinations from them and therefore was importunate with them that they would consult about measures for accommodating the Controversies and the manner of proceeding therein and that they might perceive how much he loved Concord it was his Advice provided they knew of no better Expedient that of the whole number a few good and learned Men that were desirous of Peace and Germans Born should be chosen to conferr amicably about the matters in Controversie and how they might be adjusted and then to make their Report to him and their own States that the thing being afterwards deliberated amongst them and communicated to the Popes Legate a Decree might accordingly pass That this course had been looked upon as the most convenient both at Ausburg heretofore and lately at Wormes but with this proviso That it be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg To these things the Protestants answered April the Ninth and having praised and extolled the Virtues and Goodness of the Emperor they craved that the Conference of Wormes might be continued as being transferred to this place That to what his Majesty offered of commissionating some new they would give their Answer they said when they should learn from him who the Persons were But the other Princes and States having given their Answer April the Twelfth throughly approve his Council and mainly urge That the Decree of Ausburg may continue in Force and Authority Afterward the Emperor demanded of both especially of the Protestants that they would referr the choice of the Persons to him and confide in him as to that particular who would do nothing but what should tend to the Peace and Welfare of the Country When that was granted him on the Thirteenth of April he caused Frederick Prince Palatine in his Name to appoint for the Conference Julius Pflug John Eckius John Gropper Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer and John Pistorius that they should handle the controverted Points of Doctrine and then make a Report thereof to him and the Princes He afterwards called them before him April the Two and twentieth and gave them a long and serious Admonition that in handling of this matter they should not be swayed by Passion nor Affection but have regard only to the Glory of God. They all modestly excused themselves desiring that other fitter persons might be appointed except Eckius who said that he was prepared and ready but when the Emperor urged it upon them they submitted and at the same time entreated him to add some more to their number who might be present partly as presidents and Moderators and partly as Witnesses and Hearers of the Proceedings He therefore named Frederick Prince Palatine and Granvell for Presidents and Theodorick Count Manderschitt Eberhard Ruden Henry Haseu Francis Burcart John Fig and James Sturmey for Witnesses Now when they all met April the Twenty seventh Frederick Prince Palatine made a Speech and advised the Conferrers seriously to set about the matter and conferr amicably Then Granvell presented to them a Book in Writing which he said had been delivered to the Emperor by some good and learned Men as a proper means for a future Reconciliation That it was therefore the Emperor's Pleasure that they should peruse and weigh that Book as a lawful Argument and Matter to treat on commend what all of them approved therein and correct what was amiss That Book contained these Heads of Doctrine Of the Creation of Man and of the Uprightness of Nature before the Fall Of free Will Of the cause of Sin Of original Sin Of Man's Justification Of the Church and the Marks and Authority thereof Of the Mark of the Word Of Repentance after the Fall Of the Authority of the Church in discerning and interpreting Scripture Of the Sacraments Of Orders Baptism Confirmation the Lord's Supper Penance and Absolution Matrimony Extream Unction Of the Bond of Charity Of the Hierarchy of the Church and its Authority in settling Discipline and Government Of Images Of the Mass Of the Administration of the Sacraments and of the Discipline of the Church both as to Ministers and People In the Month of May the Protestants wrote from Ratisbone to the French King interceding for those of the Protestant Religion in Provence who were partly in Prison partly banished and partly forced to abscond and lead a miserable Life for their Profession and because some were received into Favour if they would renounce their Religion they desired he would release them from that condition shewing what a grievous thing it was to force Mens Consciences This Persecution proceeded from a Sentence pronounced the Year before against the Inhabitants of Merindole a Village of Provence by the Parliament of Aix which being exceeding terrible and cruel put the poor people into extream Terror and Apprehension However the full Execution of it was put off to another time and this Year's Persecution was but a Play in respect of that which followed four Years after as shall be said in the proper place Whilst these things are in agitation at Ratisbone William Duke of Cleve whose implacable Enemy the Emperor was because of his Possession of Guelderland went privily into France having appointed a day and place for those whom he designed to have with him to come to him by several ways When about the end of April he arrived at Paris he was received by the King's Officers and being conducted by Orleans on the Sixth of May he came to the King who was then at Amboise a Town in Turin upon the Loire The King embracing him as a Father would a Son sends presently word to the King of Navarre and his Sister that they should come to him as soon as possibly they could and bring their Daughter with them for they were at that time in Guienne Upon their coming
the Opinions of all made a new Proposition and recapitulating what had been represented before that the Cause could not be finally determined then that there was present Danger threatned from the Turk in more Places than one and that much Time was already spent told them That he would referr the Matter wholly to the Council which both the Legate had put him in certain Hopes of and he himself would sollicite the Pope about He also promised to return into Germany and desired the Protestants that in the mean time they would not attempt any thing more than what had been agreed upon by the Divines Next he advised the Bishops and other Prelates to take such Courses in rectifying the Abuses of their several Churches as might prepare the Way for a publick Reformation All generally praised the Emperor's good Intentions and were of Opinion that the Pope's Legate also should seriously enjoin the Bishops to purge and reform their Churches The Protestants promised to behave themselves both as to the reconciled Doctrines and every thing else according to their Duty desiring that other Princes might have free Leave to propound those Doctrines in their own Churches also We have already told you that Eckius was sick both of the Book produced by the Emperor and of the Collocutors also When therefore after the Conference it was returned to the Emperor as has been mentioned and the Matter brought into Debate in the Assembly of the Princes He being ill of a Fever sent a Letter to the Princes to this effect That he had never liked that insipid Book wherein he found so many Errors and therefore ought not to be admitted for that the Use and Custom of the Fathers was therein slighted and the Phrase and Cant of Melancthon to be found in it all over That he had not seen the Book as it was corrected by his Collegues and afterwards delivered back to the Emperor but that only some of the Lutheran Doctrines had been read over to him as he lay sick That far less had he approved that Writing which was presented to the Emperor with the Book nor indeed had he ever seen it When this came to the Knowledge of Julius Pflug and John Gropper who thought their Reputation therein concerned they prayed the Presidents and Auditors of the Conference as being Witnesses of all the Proceedings that they would do them right and defend their good Name against the Calumnies of Eckius These inform the Emperor of the Matter who afterwards in a publick Paper gave a fair and honourable Character of both declaring that they had acted as it became good and honest Men. The Cause of Religion we told you before was referred to a general or provincial Council of Germany But when this came to the Knowledge of Contarini he sent a Letter to all the States dated the Twenty sixth of July desiring that the last might be dashed out and cancelled for that Controversies about Religion ought not to be determined by such Councils but that they belonged to the Decision of the universal Church That whatsoever also was determined privately by any one Nation in Matters of that nature was void and of no effect That so they would much gratify the Pope the Head of the Church and Council if they would omit that whereas it would be very troublesom unto him if they did otherwise for that it would give Occasion to more and far greater Scandals as well in other Provinces as chiefly in Germany And that this was the thing he had to acquaint them with from the Pope and in discharge of his own Duty The Princes made Answer the same Day That it lay in the Pope's Power to prevent any Scandals or Troubles upon that Account by calling of a Council which had now for so many Years been promised That if he did not call it and that speedily too the State of Germany was such that there was an absolute Necessity of taking some other Course to make up the Breaches of the Publick which could not subsist longer with Safety in so inveterate a Dissention That therefore they earnestly desired the Pope would apply some Remedy and that he himself according to his Prudence and Candor would promote the Matter The Protestant Divines also in a long Writing refute the Letter of Contarini proving it to belong to every particular Province to establish the true Religion and Worship of God. These Things done the Emperor made a Decree and caused it to be read on the Eight and twentieth of July wherein he referrs the Conference of the Doctors and the whole Affair to a Council to an Assembly either of all Germany or of the States of the Empire In his Progress into Italy he promises to intercede earnestly with the Pope for a Council and that if neither a general nor national Council could be obtained he assured them of an imperial Diet to be called within Eighteen Months for settling the Differences about Religion and that he would use his Endeavours to perswade the Pope to send a Legate to it The Protestants he commanded not to attempt any new thing besides the Articles accommodated and the Bishops also to reform the Vices and Abuses of their Churches There were other Heads in the Decree as Of not demolishing Religious Houses Of not misapplying Church Revenues Of not tampering with one another to make them change their Religion and Of the Jurisdiction and Members of the Imperial Chamber But the Protestants being somewhat dissatisfied with these things the Emperor in a private Paper told them separately what his Intentions therein were That he prescribed no Rule to them in the Points not as yet reconciled That he would not indeed have Religious Houses demolished but that the Monks and Friars should be brought to a pious Reformation That Church-men should in all Places be allowed to enjoy their yearly Revenues without any Respect to the Diversity of Religion That no Person of another Jurisdiction should be allured over to their Religion and much less be defended upon that account but that still they might admit of any Person who should willingly come over unto them Moreover that for Peace and Quietness Sake he suspended the Decree of Ausburg as far as it concerned Religion and all Processes that were doubtful whether they related to Religion or not in like manner all Proscriptions and namely that of Goslar until the Matter should be determined in some Council or Diet That no Man should be excluded from the Imperial Chamber for differing in Religion but that Justice should be indifferently administred to all When they had obtained this Grant from the Emperor under Hand and Seal they promised Assistance against the Turk of whose Approach there was fresh News daily brought besides there were Ambassadors come both from Hungary and Austria who earnestly begged for Aid wherefore there was a present Supply of Germans sent into Hungary under the Command of
thereon according to Scripture But they not satisfying his Desire and finding none that were proper for instructing the People he sent for Martin Bucer from Strasburg one whom both John Gropper had always highly commended to him and he himself also throughly understood by the Conferences he had had with him Accordingly he came in the Month of December the Year before and by the Command of the Prince began in the beginning of this Year to preach at Bonn a Town upon the Rhine five Miles above Cologne On the Fifteenth of March after the Bishop held a new Convention of States at Born and proposed to them to consider of a Reformation of the Church But seeing the Clergy had sent no Deputies to this Convention the rest of the States desired the Archbishop to chuse Men proper for that Affair according to his own Judgment Therefore it was committed to the Care of Bucer to draw up the Heads of the Christian Doctrine and that all things might be done more exactly the Archbishop intreated the Elector of Saxony to associate Philip Melancthon with him When these Two and John Pistorius sent by the Lantgrave had finished the Work the Archbishop sent it to the Clergy of the Cathedral Church who are all descended of Noble Families requiring them to examine carefully the Doctrines contained in that Book And then he called another Convention of States to meet on the Two and twentieth of June after where he laid before them the Book of Reformation desiring that every State might commissionate some to peruse the Book with those that he should appoint that at length some tolerable and pious Reconciliation might be established But the Clergy we mentioned obstinately urged that Bucer chiefly and some other Preachers lately appointed might be turned out And then desired time to consider of the Book but refused to consult with the rest The Archbishop though he well perceived their Design in interposing this Delay yet that they might have no Cause of Complaining granted them time to deliberate But that as to the removing of Bucer and his Colleagues as they demanded he did not refuse it provided any Man could convict them either of erroneous Doctrine or of bad Life and Conversation which he several times gave them Liberty to prove against them being ready to present them to be tried before any lawful Judge Whilst Matters stood thus they prepared a contrary Book which they called Antididagma and in the Preface thereof after a great deal of Railing against the Lutherans they professed in plain Terms That they had rather live under the Turk than under a Magistrate that would embrace and defend that Reformation Gropper as they say was the Author and Contriver of that Book For though he had been very familiar with Bucer Two Years before at the Diet of Ratisbone though after his return Home from thence he had exceedingly commended him not only to the Archbishop but to all Men also and in all Places and though he had sent him many and most loving Letters yet when Matters were brought to this pass he fell totally off from his Friendship and forsaking the Archbishop to whom he was obliged for all his Fortune struck in with the Adversaries The same also did Bernard Hagey the Chancellor who were both enriched with fat Benefices The Divines of Cologne did violently oppugne Bucer and loaded him with most grievous Reproaches He on the contrary desired a friendly Debate and professed in all Assemblies that he would maintain this Doctrine against them Melancthon also wrote a little Book at that time in his Defence and having exhorted them to Modesty and the Study of the Truth he shewed them what horrid Errors they defended Duke Maurice of Saxony made some Laws at this time to be observed throughout his Territories and in his Preface before them he exhorts the Doctors and Ministers of the Church to be diligent in doing their Duty preaching the Gospel in purity and to be a shining Light to their Flock by the Examples of a virtuous Life that they exhort Men to Prayer and mutual Love and Charity sharply rebuke Vice and with the consent of the Magistrate Excommunicate incorrigible Offenders till they be brought to Repentance and that they present such to the Magistrate as will not be reformed that way neither In the next place because Youth is in a manner the seminary both of Church and State he Founded Three publick Schools at Meisen Mersburg and Port and in each place he appoints a certain number of Free Scholars whom he finds in Victuals and Apparel and pays their Masters Yearly Salaries employing for that purpose the Revenues of those Religious Houses wherein Monks and the like had lived before To the Students he allows Six Years to remain there and be taught Out of the same Revenues he also gave an Augmentation to the University of Leipsick of Two thousands Florins a Year and some Measures of Wheat In like manner he prohibited Begging and for Relief of poor Families allotted Money to be yearly consigned in certain places Moreover against Uncleanness he enacted That such as deflowered Virgins and did not marry them though they procured them to be married to others should nevertheless be committed to Prison but Adulterers he commanded to be put to Death That Noblemen and Gentlemen who married the Women whom they had enjoyed before Marriage should be thus punished That the Children whom they had by them before their Marriage could not succeed to any Lands or Inheritances which they held of him in Fee. The Emperor in the mean time arrived at Genoa from Spain by Sea and writing from thence May the Twenty Sixth to the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave and Confederates he entreats them That now seeing the publick Peace was sufficiently secured by his Edicts and that there would be a Reformation of the Imperial Chamber very speedily that they would not refuse to contribute Assistance against the Turk who had not only made extraordinary Preparations but was also upon his March as he had certain Intelligence both by Messengers and Letters He had received an Account of all that pass'd in the Diet from Naves who went unto him And at the same time he appointed a Diet of the Empire to meet at Spire the last Day of November From Genoa he went to an Interview of the Pope at Busseto a Town upon the River Tava betwixt Piacenza and Cremona There again he demands of him as he had done before by Letters That he would declare the French King an Enemy but he made Answer That that would not be expedient for the publick State of Christendom and persisted therein The Pope had lately bestowed upon his Son Petro Aloisio Parma and Piacenza which upon an Exchange he had obtained from the College of Cardinals And because those Two Cities had formerly belonged to the Dukes of Milan he desired of the Emperor
Savoy to all that he had taken from him That the French King should also keep Hesdin And that the Emperor should use all his Endeavours to procure a Peace betwixt England and France That as to the Duke of Cleve since the King and Queen of Navarre did affirm that their Daughter never consented to that Marriage but on the contrary had protested against it in the solemn and usual manner the French King should within Six Weeks send that Protestation to the Emperor that he might consider what was to be done In this Peace were comprehended the Pope King Ferdinand the Kings of Portugal Poland and Denmark the Venetians and Switzers the Dukes of Savoy Lorrain Florence Ferrara Mantua and Vrbin the States of Genoa Luca and Siena the Princes Electors and States of the Empire that were obedient to the Emperor The Peace being concluded the Emperor dismissed his Forces and returned home from Soissons All Men wondered at this Pacification for the Emperors familiar Friends promised themselves certain Victory before the Emperor took the Field and bragg'd that within a few Months France should be their own or at least the King become Tributary having Three such powerful Enemies against him the Emperor the Empire and the King of England The End of the Fifteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVI The CONTENTS The Pope writes to the Emperour admonishing and expostulating with him sharply threatens his first-begotten Son and the same year promotes a great many new Cardinals A Council is again called The Clergy and Colledge of Cologne once more vigorously withstand their Archbishop Peter Bruly having preached the Reformed Religion at Tournay is therefore burnt alive The Divines of Paris assemble at Melun During the Diet at Wormes wherein many things are handled they of Merindolle and Cabrieres commonly called the Waldeneses are miserably harassed and at length turn'd out of all Though the Pope had called a Council yet he is wholly bent upon a War against the Protestants Luther publishes a little Book wherein he sets him off in his colours Grignian is sent Embassadour to the Protestants that he may perswade them to approve the Council The Emperour cites the Archbishop of Cologne to appear before him A hot War between the Kings of England and France The Duke of Orleans dies A War breaks out betwixt Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave wherein the latter prevails The Elector Palatine embraces the Reformed Religion Rumour of War against the Protestants is spread abroad A Conference appointed at Ratisbonne about matters of Religion This being broken up a Council is called at Trent and the Sessions begin Luther in the mean time dies IN the heat of War the Pope sends Letters to the Emperour bearing date August 23. acquainting him that he had an account of what nature the Decrees were which he had lately made at Spire but that in discharge of his own Duty and for the love he bore to him he could not dissemble his thoughts concerning them and that the Example of Eli the High-Priest was a warning to him to do so whom God severely punished for his too great indulgence to his Sons That in the same manner since these Decrees tended to the danger of his own Soul and great disturbance of the Church he could not but give him this Admonition First then that he should not leave the uniform practice of the Church nor customs of his Forefathers but carefully observe the same Discipline Method and Rule which Method is that when any Debate happens about Religion the whole Decision ought to be referred to the Church of Rome Whereas he lately in appointing a General and National Council and a Diet of the Empire had had no regard to him who by Divine and Humane Right hath alone power of calling Councils and determining matters of Religion Nor was that all he was to be blamed for but also that he allowed not only private men but even the Asserters of damned Heresies to judge of Religion that he gave judgment concerning Ecclesiastical Possessions and the Controversies that arose about them that he restored to Honours and Dignity such as were out of the Communion of the Church and long ago condemned by his own Edicts without the consent of those who persevered in their ancient Allegiance and Religion Did these things agree with the sacred Laws and Ordinances Nay rather did they not overturn all Discipline and Order That it was his opinion however that these things proceeded not from himself but that ill affected persons out of the hatred they bore to the Church of Rome had counselled and sollicited him to give some signe of his aversion to the same but that it grieved him the more to see that he should be drawn in and perswaded by them in that he clearly perceived the prejudice it carried along with it would be greater both to himself and the Church unless he repented That this his fear also grew greater and greater when he considered who the persons were with whom he had contracted friendship for that as ill company corrupts good manners so also it was very dangerous to make Alliances with wicked and vicious men That he made no doubt but they had used specious pretext to him since there is no counsel so bad but may be varnished over with some plausible colour but that in truth he who searches the Scriptures will meet with many and famous instances of the wrath and vengeance of God against those who had usurped to themselves the Offices of the High-Priest That Adversaries object Negligence to Priests as an odious crime and make use of that as a Spur to incite Princes whilst they exhort them to undertake the care and conduct of Religion a thing indeed that seems fair and laudable but which has no foundation in reason to support it That as in private houses the Master of the Family allotted to every one their several businesses and would not suffer any to set about the work of another lest Order might thereby be disturbed so also in the Church which is the house of God every one had his duty assigned to him which he was to discharge so that it was undecent that Inferiours should take upon them the Offices of Superiours and that that was so much the more to be observed by how much the Church surpasses any other house in greatness and glory That seeing then the chief Office of the Church is by God recommended to Priests it was a great injury in him to act their parts and take upon him their honour That it was known what happened to Uza who put his hand to hold up the Cart wherein the Ark of God was which was tottering and ready to fall That no man but would think he had done right when in the absence of the Levites he lent a hand to support the Cart which was in danger of falling Nevertheless that God's striking of him with a sudden death was
Apostles Ceeed Lastly They pray the King to give credit to their relation for that if any other report be made of their Belief and Doctrine they offer to prove it false provided they may be heard The King was then engaged in a War and therefore the Matter rested but Peace being made it broke out again and at the instigation of some flamed into this so hainous a cruelty Mention was made before of the Spaniards whom the Emperour had sent into Winter-Quarters in Lorrain These having done a great deal of mischief in those places by orders from the Emperour take the Field in the Month of April and having marched to Strasbourg and passed the Rhine there they advance through Shwabia into Austria to the number of Three thousand Foot. At this time died Louis Duke of Bavaria the Brother of William leaving no Issue behind him for it had been agreed betwixt them that he should not Marry that the Inheritance might not be dismembred Great friendship and familiarity past betwixt him and Henry Duke of Brunswick For as we said they were the chief of the League made against the Protestants and the Duke of Brunswick being driven out of his Countrey fled first to him The Emperour came now to Wormes May the sixteenth and next day Cardinal Farnese I dare not affirm what the cause of this Man's coming was but it was certainly thought that he came to stir up a War against the Lutherans He acted indeed nothing publickly nor in his way from Rome did he pass through the Duke of Wirtemberg's Countrey but resting sometime at Delinghen a Town upon the Danube belonging to the Cardinal of Ausbourg he struck off another way King Ferdinand had written to the Duke of Wirtembourg that for his sake he would give him safe conduct and be civil to him to which the Duke made answer that he had rather indeed he had taken any other way but that nevertheless if he had a mind to pass through his Countrey for his sake he should be welcome But he as we said took another way and came to Wormes the day after the Emperour arrived The Emperour having made Peace with the King of France sollicited also some other Potentates that they would assist at the ensuing Council and taking that occasion his Embassadour whom he sent to the King of Poland declared to him That for many Years now past it had been the Emperour's chief care that all Christians in the World would undertake a common War against the Turk and that now almost all were inclinable to it but that the Controversie about Religion was the only hindrance to the same now that that might be removed and that the desire of the Protestants might be satisfied who still insisted upon a Council after much pains and care the Emperour had now procured a Council to be called at Trent That therefore he besought him that he would send his Embassadours thither who by their presence might honour that solemn Assembly and confirm the Decrees that should be made therein concerning religious matters But that because the Emperour thought that the Protestants who were always obstinate would neither forsake the Confession of Ausbourg nor yet obey the publick Decrees the thing it self required that Kings and Princes should interpose and unless they did obey fall upon them as the disturbers both of Church and State Now seeing he amongst others had the reputation of a Pious and Christian King it was the Emperour's desire that he would both think of the Turkish War and subscribe to the Council of Trent and that if the Protestants returned not to their Duty he would assist him with Council and Force which other Kings had likewise promised to do The King of Poland's answer was That he longed to see that day when Christian Kings and Princes putting an end to all civil and intestine Wars would convert their united Forces against the Turk and that then he should not be the last That as to the Council and Protestants he would do any thing that might conduce to the tranquility of Church and State nor would he be wanting on occasion to assist the Emperour his Friend and Allie in his greatest dangers At that time it was written from Rome That though the Pope had called the Council and sent his Legates already to Trent yet he was so desirous of a Lutheran War that he had promised an assistance of Twelve thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse that Captains and other Officers were also secretly listed by him but when it was represented to him that the Season was too far spent for doing any important Action and that another occasion was to be expected he had presently communicated the same to his Commanders and put them in hopes against the next Year On Whitsun-munday an Italian Franciscan Fryer preached before the Emperour King Ferdinand Cardinal Farnese the Bishop of Ausbourg Granvell c. and in his Sermon digressing to the Lutherans after he had bitterly inveighed against them It is time said he most powerful Emperour that at length you do your Duty too long indeed have you delayed the business ought to have been done long since God has honoured you with great Blessings and made you the Defender of his Church wherefore exert your strength and utterly destroy that pestilent sort of Men. For it is not fit they should longer see the Sun who so defile and confound all things nor must you say it shall be done for now even now I say it ought to be done and no delay interposed How many thousand Souls do you think are in daily danger of eternal damnation through their madness all which unless you apply a Remedy God will require at your hands It is said that Granvell was offended at that alarm either that he counterfeited displeasure or that he perceived it gave the Protestants a warning to be upon their guard Not many days after that Sermon Cardinal Farnese departed secretly in the night-time and made all hast back to Rome Much about the same time was published Luther's Book written in the Vulgar Language with this Title Against the Papacy of Rome constituted by Satan in which Book he first answers the Pope's Brief wherein in a high strain he dehorted the Emperour from medling with the Administration of Religion as we mentioned before then he most amply refutes those places of Scripture which the Pope makes use of for the confirmation of his Supremacy and retorts them upon him He put a Picture before his Book which plainly represented the Subject thereof The Pope sitting in a lofty Chear stretching forth his joyned Hands in solemn pomp but with the Ears of an Ass a great many Devils of various shapes surround him of which some set a triple Crown upon his Head with a Sir-reverence on the top of it others with Ropes let him down into the middle of Hell looking dreadfully underneath others bring Wood and
Cardinals therewith and in name of the whole Empire to demand the continuation of the Council at Trent He ordered Mendoza also to do the same but the Pope took time to consider of it and having thought fit to consult you about the matter obtained from you a dubious crafty and captious Answer Besides he answers the Emperour oddly and shews sufficiently by his tergiversation that he is little concerned for the Publick for the cause of the removal ought to have been proved by credible Witnesses The Emperour King Ferdinand and the Princes by Letters and most ample Embassies declared what the mind of the States was concerning the Council but the Pope believed and preferred the Report of some mean and base People before the Testimony of all these How many tedious and irksome Journeys hath the Emperour made upon the account of the Council What Charges and Expences hath he been at And must all these be lost For most weighty and necessary causes was the Council both called and begun at Trent the Emperour and Germans demanding it and all other Christian Princes consenting thereunto so that unless the publick Authority of all States intervene it cannot be translated to another place for indeed there was no cause for the Translation only something invented for an excuse as some slight Feaver and badness of Air forsooth and for that purpose some Physicians were suborned but chiefly Serving-Maids and Cooks Now what a trifling cause that was the thing it self and the event declared You say that you went away without the Pope's knowledge and advice but the Letter he wrote to you and the Answer he gave the Emperour imply the quite contrary Certainly you ought not to have departed nor changed the place but with consent of the Emperour to whom it belongs to protect all Councils but you posted away in so much haste that ye rejected the Opinion of those who said that the Emperour and Pope ought first to be consulted Now if you must needs have been removing ye ought to have observed at least the Decrees of the Holy Councils and remained within the bounds of Germany that the Germans for whose cause chiefly the Council was called might safely come to it but now ye have chosen Bolonia a Town seated in the heart of Italy and under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome whither it is certain the Germans will not come and therefore have you chosen it that to the great prejudice and disgrace of Christendom the Council may be either dissolved or managed at your pleasure The Emperour therefore requireth and that most earnestly that you return to that place which pleased all before especially since all things are now safe and quiet and no more cause of any fear remains But if this you refuse I do here in the name and by command of the Emperour protest against this Translation of the Council as frivolous and unlawful and that all that has been done or shall be done therein is of no force nor effect I also publickly declare That that Answer of yours is silly and full of Lyes and that the prejudice and inconveniences which hereafter shall ensue to the Publick are not to be imputed to the Emperour but to you affirming withal that you have no Power nor Authority to remove the Council And because you neglect the publick Welfare the Emperour as Protector of the Church will take the care of that upon himself in so far as it is lawful for him by Law and the Canons of Holy Church When he had read over that Protestation he delivered a written Copy of it and desired it to be entered upon Record With that the Cardinal de Monte having highly commended the pious intentions of the Fathers called God to witness that they had wrong done them saying They were ready to suffer death rather than that such a practice should be brought into the Church that the Civil Magistrate might call or controul a Council when and how he pleased That the Emperour was indeed a Son of the Church but not the Lord and Master That he and his Colleagues were the Legates of the Apostolick See and did not refuse even then to render first to God and then to the Pope an account of their Commission That after all within a few days they should have an Answer to their Protestation Much about the same time Mendoza having received Instructions from the Emperour made a Protestantion to the same effect at Rome before the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and in presence of all the Forreign Embassadours whom according to his Instructions he had invited to be Witnesses of it THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XX. THE CONTENTS In the beginning it is hotly disputed whether Prussia belong to the King of Poland or rather to the Empire The Pope makes a large Answer to the Harangue that Mendoza made before The Emperour being informed of that and seeing but very little hopes of a Council causes the Book which is called the Interim to be made The Protector of England in a very long Letter to the Scots counsels them to Peace and demands their Queen Vogelsberg is beheaded The Emperour invests Duke Maurice in the Electorship which he had bestowed upon him in the Camp before Wittemberg Bucer refuses to subscribe to the Interim The Pope also publishes a Censure of it which many of the Electors and Princes also did and many refuse it though it was published by the Emperour The Duke of Saxony though a Prisoner with great magnanimity rejects it The Landgrave by Letters which were published from the Emperours Court seems to approve it that he may obtain his freedom Whil'st the Mass is abolished in England by Act of Parliament the free Towns of Germany are solicited to accept of the Interim and especially Strasburg which is pressed by Threats to do it WE have shewn in the former Books that Marquess Albert of Brandenburg did Homage to the King of Poland and altered the Government of Prussia for which he was Outlaw'd by the Imperial Chamber As also that the King of Poland had several times solicited the Emperour and rest of the States in the Publick Diets to reverse that Outlawry because he was his Vassal and under his Protection But since to this day nothing could be obtained and that by this Victory of the Emperours some greater danger seemed to be threatned the King of Poland sends an Embassy to this Diet whereof the chief was Stanislaus Alaski He in the month of January delivered to the Emperour and Colledge of the Princes a Speech in Writing whereof the substance was That the Cause of Prussia had been some times already debated but because it had been always put off to other Diets he was commanded to open it again that the King was in good hopes because of the civil Answers he had often received from them and of the equity of his Cause they would Consider his Affair yet not as
Reasons of both Parties being heard a Committee out of the whole Diet was chosen to consider of the Matter The Result of their Deliberation was That the Sentence past against Albert should stand good but nevertheless because they saw that it would prove a most difficult Business to put it in execution they refer the whole Matter to the Emperour Some time after King Sigismund died at a great Age after he had Reigned Two and fourty years Casimire as has been said was his Father He had three Brothers of whom Ladislaus was King of Hungary and Bohemia the Father of King Louis and Anne John Albert and Alexander having successively Reigned after their Father Casimire died without Children and left the Government to their youngest Brother Sigismund to whom succeeded his Son of the same Name and Son in Law to Ferdinand King of the Romans It has been said in the former Book that Mendoza protested against the Council at Rome To that the Pope having called a Consistory of Cardinals February the first made this Answer When you told Us said he my Lord Ambassador that you had Orders from the Emperour to protest against the Council you struck us all with great grief But when afterwards we diligently considered your Commission we took heart again and first I will say somewhat to the cause of our Grief And it is because that kind of protesting is a thing of bad Example made use of chiefly by those who have either wholly shaken off their Obedience or have begun to waver in it Wherefore it grieved me exceedingly who have always born a Fatherly Love towards the Emperor and as it becomes the Pastor of the Church studied Peace and Concord And it grieved both me and the Colledge of Cardinals the more that at this time it was the thing we least expected since the Emperour when he made War against his and the Churches Enemies had Aid and Assistance from me And though my Lord Ambassador you seem to make but small account of this yet it ought to be reckoned as a singular favour For the Aid I sent was very great so as it even exceeded the reach of the Apostolical Chamber and came besides in a most seasonable time What could have been less expected then than that after a Victory and lately obtained too the Emperour should render unto me such fruits of his Faith and Benevolence Such I say as that the end of the War should be the beginning of protesting against me I have now found by Experience what the Prophet complaineth of That I looked for good Grapes but found none but sower Grapes From my entrance into the Popedom I have with much care cherished the Emperour as a most noble Plant that some time or other I might reap a most plentiful Vintage but this attempt of his hath made me almost despair of any fruit You have heard the cause of our Grief now you shall know what it is that hath given us Comfort You have used that Authority which you think has been given you of protesting against me and this sacred Colledge in a manner as was neither Honourable to us nor becoming the Character of the Emperour But in your Letters of Instructions there is not one word which shews it to have been the Emperours will that you should have acted so I say not one word that you may the better understand me that gives you power to do so The Emperour indeed Commands his Agents at Bolonia that they should so protest before our Legats there who changed the place of the Council and when you found that that was done there you would needs use the same form of Protestation here with us but in that you have transgressed the bounds of your Commission If my Lord Ambassadour you were not sensible of that before take now Admonition and acknowledge it For the Emperour's Orders are not that you should protest against us but that you should do it in this our Consistory against the Legats who were the Authors of the Translation Wherefore the Emperour in that did the Duty of a most modest Prince who confined himself within those limits and would have that Protestation to be made before me whom he knew to be the only lawful Judge of the whole Matter Had I indeed refused to take cognisance of the Affair then would he have had a cause of Protestation but you taking another course than you ought to have done made no application to me that I should examine the Matter but made use of a certain Prejudice demanding that I should annul the Decree made for translating the Council and enjoyn the greatest part of the Fathers to give place to a few who remained at Trent And what could more enervate all the Authority of the Council than that Had it not been much more reasonable that if the small number which is at Trent had had any cause of Complaint against the rest who are at Bolonia they should have brought it before me I would not then truly have rejected their demands nor would I neither now reject them Since then it is certain that your way of acting is not consonant to the Emperours Intentions we have cause to thank God who thus disposes his Mind and Purposes we have cause to Congratulate and you also to Rejoyce in your Princes behalf And though by what we have said the foundation of your Plea and Proceeding is wholly overturned so that there is no need of making Answer to your Protestation nevertheless that I may not by my silence seem to acknowledge the truth of your Accusations and thereby offend many especially the weaker sort I will refute them severally And in the first place therefore You seem to have proposed this Scope to your self that you may expose me as negligent a Shuffler and Starter of Delays to baffle the sitting of the Council and make the Emperour appear on the other hand to be a vigilant and active Prince sollicitous for the publick good and wholly bent upon the sitting of the Council Truly I do not nor ought I envy the Emperours Praises and had you stopt there and gone no farther I should have nothing to answer but because you so extol him as to depress me so celebrate his Praises as to render me in some sort Contemptible whilst you say that he urged not only me but my Predecessors Popes of Rome to call a Council the Thing it self requires that I should answer you as to these things Wherefore if it has been always the Emperours mind and desire that a Council should be held I have ever been of the same mind as well as he And besides as I am older than he so also have I wished for this sooner than he which the most eminent Cardinals who were then of this Colledge can testifie When I was made Pope I persevered in the same mind and upon the very least occasion that offered I called a Council first at Mantua and
Prince should send for him Mention has been made in former Books how the English had given the Scots a great overthrow in Battel Nevertheless the Scots persisting still in their Resolution and relying on the Promises of the French King Somerset the Protector of England and the rest of the Privy Council published a very long Declaration and Letter dated February the Fifth exhorting them to Peace in this manner Although say they the thing it self required that ye who have the worst on 't both in your Cause and the Defence of it should have made the first step and although we are now possessed of a large part of your Country yet we cannot but give you a friendly warning to consult your own safety Before the Battel that was fought last year we invited you to Peace and Friendship and declared our minds unto you but that Paper was suppressed by the great Men and Regent of the Kingdom and never delivered unto you for they are such that if matters go well with themselves they are but little concerned what becomes of you Wherefore if they use the same arts still and will not suffer you to be informed of our Purpose and Desire we openly declare by these Presents that we have neglected no Duty that was incumbent on us Many and most bloudy Wars have been often carried on betwixt the English and Scots and it is not to be doubted but that they who read History or hear of publick Affairs do much wonder that People of the same Country and Language should entertain such bitter Dissentions and Animosities amongst themselves and do not think it a most desireable thing that some way were found out whereby the whole Island might be united and subjected to one Government but that the most expedient way that can be thought on for that is Marriage all Men confess Now God in his great mercy hath pointed out this way unto you and dropt as it were into your Lap the fairest occasion that may be Your King after he had broken his Promise having lost a Battel shortly after died whether of grief or some other cause we determine not He had three Children two Sons and a Daughter and the Sons indeed might have stood in one way of any Condition betwixt us but both of them God removed almost in one day when they were Infants and left you for Heiress a young Daughter born a little before her Fathers death He hath given us a most hopeful King Edward the Son and Heir of King Henry What Do'nt you see a Bond of a perpetual and immortal friendship betwixt us prepared to your hands Such occasion hath been often wished for indeed but for these Eight hundred years never offered before Nor can they themselves who amongst you hinder the Peace deny the truth of this but alledge that we would by this means get the chief Rule and Government into our own hands and bring you into bondage and slavery But in a Declaration we directed to you a year ago we sufficiently refuted that and now take God to witness that the Kings mind is to joyn with you in the closest and most indissoluble bond of Friendship but if you refuse and by your obstinacy move us to War again consider pray who is like to bear the blame of all the common Evils that may ensue You promised in full Parliament your young Queen in Marriage to our King Contracts and Writings were thereupon made and sealed with the great Seal of the Kingdoms Many Cautions and Securities were given nay and Hostages too until both were come to the Age of Maturity These your publick Writings we have and they are a standing Evidence against you and ãâã Earl of Arran the Regent of your Country was not only present when the Matter was transacted but had also a chief hand in carrying it on though afterwards when the Cardinal of St. Andrews and some other Prelats had suggested to him fears and jealousies and put him in great hopes he fell off from the Agreement and violated his Faith. Him now ye are to blame for all the mischief that is befallen you that ye have lost so many Towns and Castles that so many have been killed in Battel and that we have advanced so far into your Country it is all to be imputed to him But what end after all do ye expect of this obstinacy and perfidiousness We are Conquerours and yet offer you Peace We are in possession of a good part of your Kingdom and yet invite you into England The disgrace that is commonly imposed upon the vanquished that when they are united to a Conquering People they should forsake and lose the name of their own Nation we willingly spare you and are content to take the ancient name of Britians which is common to both For the love of God what is it that we can do more Will not all Men say that we had a just cause of War when they find that such generous just and Honourable Conditions have been rejected by you We lay open unto you all the ways of entring into friendship and drive not your Queen out of her Kingdom but will Establish her and her Daughter in England Again it is not our thoughts to alter your Laws for both England and France and the Emperours Dominions also are governed by different Laws They who endeavour to obstruct the Peace scare you with such Bugbears but it is their own profit and pleasure and not your welfare they seek Turn your Eyes and Thoughts then off them and weigh with your selves the State of your Country Ye have a young Princess and Heiress to a Kingdom some time or other surely she must be Married and that either to one of your own Country or to some Foreign Prince If at home our Right and Claim is still good and it will be a thing that will occasion Domestick Troubles and Envy If you take any Foreigner you will both have us for perpetual Enemies and must truckle under the wretched Bondage of Strangers Succours you must seek from a far and it is not to be expressed what hurt and damage you 'll receive from the Forces that may be sent you and with what Pride and Insolence they 'll domineer over you For they 'll be persuaded that your safety and preservation depends wholly on their Arms and Protection What 's more they 'll take from you both your Queen and Princess and carry them whither they please and if they happen to have War on any other hand which is not impossible their whole care will be to defend their own and they 'll leave you in prey to us But if they send only Officers and no Soldiers these will imperiously give Laws to you and if any thing succeed prosperously all the glory must be theirs but if any disaster happen the whole Storm will fall on you who venture your Lives and spend your dearest Bloud You may be convinced also of the danger there
made me this Report That if rightly understood it was not inconsistent to the Catholick Religion nor with the Doctrines Canons and Constitutions of the Church except only in two Points the one concerning the Marriage of Priests and the other touching the Lords Supper But that it was a proper Expedient in its kind for establishing the Peace of Germany the thing I most wish for For what would be more agreeable than to see all the States unanimous in following one and the same form of Religion Which being so I require those who have hitherto to their praise observed the Laws and Rites of the Catholick Church that they continue in the same without wavering or starting of any Innovations as they have heretofore promised unto me and I earnestly desire those who have changed their Religion that they would either come over to the rest of the States and joyn with them in the Profession of the same Religion or moderate their Doctrine according to the Prescript of this Book and in every Point make it their Pattern Nor would I have them alter or add any thing to it but contain themselves within the limitation therein prescribed and neither in their Writings nor Sermons publish or vent any thing to the contrary but obediently expect the Decree of the Council which I shall endeavour shall be called as soon as possibly may be In the mean time it is my whole care that a Form of regulation be conceived for reformation of the Clergy When he had thus spoken by the Mouth of his Secretary as the Custom is he commanded the Book to be read So soon as that was done the Archbishop of Mentz who has the first place amongst the Electors without consulting the rest of the States started up and as in name of the whole Dyet gave the Emperour most hearty thanks for the great labour and pains he had been at for his care and diligence and for the zeal and affection he had for his Country And that seeing they had formerly referred the Matter to his prudent and faithful management and that now he had laboured to bring it to effect It was but just and reasonable said he that with most thankful hearts they should acknowledge so great favours and dutifully submit to the Decree The Emperour took the thanks for a publick consent and confirmation nor would he afterwards admit of any excuse as shall be said hereafter and commanded the Book to be printed both in Latin and in the Vulgar Tongue Four days after he represented to the States the great labour and charges he had been at in restoring Peace to Germany And that because the thing it self required that the same should be secured for the future it therefore seemed to him very necessary that some considerable sum of Money should be raised and in certain places kept in a publick Bank that if any Commotions should happen to arise within or without the Empire there must be a remedy ready at hand Some few days after that King Ferdinand also represented to the States that for necessary causes and considerations which were not unknown to them and needed not to be related he had by his Ambassadour made a Truce with the Turks for five years which had begun the year before And that though the Turk had charged his Subjects that they should act nothing to the contrary yet he nevertheless desired that they would contribute the Aids which they had promised before that if he should chance to break the truce he might be in a condition to make head against him That besides since the Turk fortified his frontier places with strong Garisons it concerned him not to be negligent And that therefore he had resolved to fortifie all proper places and keep Garisons in them But that because of the great charges he had been at in the late Wars he was not able long to support so great a burden That therefore he entreated them that they would give him a yearly Subsidie for those uses during the continuance of the truce For that that concerned the quiet and safety of them all in general In the mean time Maximilian the Son of King Ferdinand went from Ausburg to Spain to celebrate his Marriage with the Lady Mary the Emperours eldest Daughter and his own first Cousin The Cardinal of Trent was sent with him and the Duke of Alva went some Months before about the later end of May. The Neapolitan Horse who had before quartered in Nortgow came into the Country about Strasburg and continued almost three Months there behaving themselves with incredible insolence They came now and then into the Town which created no small suspition Duke Maurice not long after the publication of the Emperours Decree departed But Marquess John of Brandenburg Brother to the Elector Joachim waited upon the Emperour and in presence of King Ferdinand humbly begg'd that he would spare him as to that Decree and having taken a little notice of the services he had rendered him told him that it was chiefly the confidence he had in the Emperours promise concerning the free exercise of his Religion that made him serve in the late Wars The Emperour made answer That the Decree was made with the consent of the States of the Empire and therefore not to be dispensed with He on the other hand cryed that all had not assented nor could he with a good Conscience approve that Decree and challenged the Emperours Word and Promise When the Emperour perceived there was nothing to be done with him he bad him be gone and it was thought he did so that by his Example or Discourse he might not confirm the minds of others Wherefore the same day towards the Evening he set out on his Journy homewards and made no alteration in all his Country His Brother the Elector who had made it always his study to please the Emperour shew'd no resistance Nor the Elector Palatine neither who otherwise was not much in favour at that time with the Emperour When the Decree was put to the Deputies of the Cities that were of the Augustane Confession they prayed that they might have leave to consult their Principals about the Matter that afterwards they might answer according to their minds which was granted them Wolfgang Duke of Deux-ponts of the House Palatine had his Deputies there but the Emperour commanded him to come before him in Person which being done he pressed him to approve the Decree He made Answer That he knew no other Religion but that wherein he had been born and bred to that very day wherefore he prayed his Majesty to have some Consideration for him promising to do therein whatever he could with a safe Conscience At that time the Emperour did indeed dismiss him but plied him sharply afterwards by Messengers and Letters as shall be said in its proper place Whil'st the Senate and Council of Ausburg are consulting the Emperour posts Soldiers
acquainted with this on the Thirteenth of July writ a humble and submissive Letter to the Emperour beseeching him that he would not force them to do any thing against their Consciences and the Salvation of their Souls that they saw their own danger and were in great streights for that if they obeyed not their Lives and Fortunes lay at stake but that withal if they complied they must abide the Vengeance and Judgment of God That he would therefore spare them and not reduce to extremity poor unfortunate Wretches especially since they were no more in fault than the rest and had formerly suffered the greatest of Calamities for the Empire and House of Austria as they were still ready to undergo any burden that they were able and ought to bear and that though their Exchequer was low and their Fortunes mean yet they were willing to give for a Fine eight thousand Florins and four great Guns but that they prayed him that he would let them enjoy the Religion which for twenty years they had professed until the Decree of a lawful Council should pass and not impose a heavier burden upon their City than it was able to bear Their Bishop John Vesalius who was also called Archbishop of Lunden as hath been said in the Twelfth Book threatened them severaly at Ausburg after the Emperour had published the Book but within a few days after he died of an Apoplexy the Disease which he prayed might fall upon them The Reason why they alledged that they had suffered great damage for the sake of the House of Austria was this The Emperour Maximilian by the help of the Suabian League we mentioned in the Fourth Book made War against the Switzers wherefore the People of Constance their next Neighbours who were of the same League suffered great losses from them The Grisons and other Neighbouring People nay and Louis XII King of France also aided the Switzers at that time but at the intercession of Ludowick Sforza Duke of Milan the matter was made up in the year 1500. Maximilian was then Married to Mary Blanch Sforza's Sister On the Third day of August the Emperour called before him the Burgomasters all the Council and some of the chief Citizens of Ausburg and having by the mouth of Selden the Lawyer spoken much of the good will and favour that he and his Predecessors had shew'd them he told them that for many years past the Government of their Republick had been turbulent and factious and that the reason of it was that inferiour People ignorant Handy-crafts-men fitter for any thing than Government had been chosen into the Council but that he who wished the City well to remedy that evil did now dissolve the Council and turn them all out of place not for any disgrace to them but for the publick good and profit Then he commands the names of those whom he had chosen for Common Council-men to be read over amongst these were the Welsers Helingers Buntgartners Fuggers and Peutingers that being done he gave them their Oaths and assigned to every one their several Functions and Charges giving them serious Advice to love the Commonwealth submit to the Decree of Religion and be obedient to him At the same time he abolishes all the Companies and Fraternities making it death for the future to have any Conventicles or Brotherhoods and commanding all Publick Charters and Grants which contained the Priviledges and Liberties of the Companies to be delivered up to the new Common Council This new form of Government he ordered to be proclaimed by an Herald and that it should be death for any to oppose or censure it The Council thanked his Majesty and promised all duty and obedience In the mean time whil'st these things were a doing all the Gates were shut and Soldiers posted in several places of the City There had been a Suit depending for many years betwixt the Landgrave and William Count of Nassaw concerning the Dominion of Catzenelbogen which at that time the Emperour decided and gave sentence against the Landgrave The Fifth day of this Month the Emperour by the mouth of the Bishop of Arras answered the Deputies of Constance dismissing them without any success and because he perceived them not to be much concerned for Peace he told them he would take some course The same day the Spaniards who as we told you were removed into those parts to the number of three thousand Foot march towards Constance and drawing out of Uberlinghen in the night time part of them take the Woods that by break of day when they knew the People were to be at Sermon in the Churches they might invade the Town and part stayed behind in the Woods waiting for the occasion Now it happened that three of the City Watchmen hearing a noise in the Wood ventured farther out to see what the matter was and so fell into their hands These they took and threatning them with death if they gave the least sign carry them along with them then they plant themselves in a low ground near the Lake with great silence but that was not so private but that some of the Watch who then were in the Suburbs on the other side of the Rhine went and told their Captain that there was some Ambush laid wherewith he immediately acquainted the Burgomaster and this was about two of the Clock in the morning The Burgomaster presently calls a Council and orders all to Arm though no body could tell what the matter was About break of day the Spaniards began by little and little to appear but in small numbers that they might discover the number of the Watch. Then again the Captain of the Watch sends word to the Burgomaster to put himself in a readiness for that there was danger at hand Having therefore consulted what was to be done about four of the Clock they send out about two hundred Citizens into the Suburbs These perceiving nothing after they were gone out began to be a little negligent but so soon as it was day the Spaniards with their great Guns let fly against the Pales which divided the Ditch into two and beat them down and so in great numbers breaking in through the Ditch that was then almost dry upon the Town Watch Whereupon they also who as we said remained in the Wood came presently on and with great force break open one of the Gates but the Citizens defended themselves valiantly and made use of their Ordnance having however lost their Captain Alfonsus Vives in the first Charge But when they could hardly withstand the force of so great a multitude by little and little they retreat to the Bridge over the Rhine where they maintained a hot and tedious Conflict and with much ado getting into the Town again from the Walls and Gates they briskly play their great Guns upon the Enemy who with all their might were attempting to force the Gate and kill many of them Those
to house and many of the Seditious were taken who were in several manners put to death Fourteen Gentlemen were also brought forth with Halters about their Necks of whom one or two being beheaded the German Officers interceded for the rest and begg'd their Lives of the Constable Twelve days were spent in this sad and bloody spectacle and yet that was not all for besides those that suffered death a great many were sent to the Galleys All their Bells also were taken from them not only in the Town but likewise in the Country about that they might not ring any Alarm as they had done before Then all their Charters and publick Writings containing their Liberties and Freedoms were burnt they themselves making the Fire And because they had killed the King's Lieutenant the Constable made them scrape up the Earth where he was buried with their Nails and Fingers allowing them no Tool or Instrument to do it with so that the dead Body being found it was solemnly buried with a great Procession of Monks and Priests who went before the Corps After came all the Citizens about five thousand in number each with a Wax Taper in his hand and when they past before the Constable's Lodgings the Corps was set down at some paces distance then the Towns-people falling upon their Knees with a lamentable cry beg pardon bewail and curse their fact and thank the King for not punishing them more rigorously Having so ordered all Matters he left a Garison in the Town and marched away on the ninth of November There happened a very strange thing at that time in Italy In Citadella a Town not far from Padoua belonging to the State of Venice lived one Franccis Spira a Lawyer of great Practice at the Bar. This Man began with incredible Zeal to embrace the Reformed Religion and making daily more and more proficiency in it he told his Thoughts of the several Points of Doctrine not only to his Friends at home but abroad every where to all This thing could not be long concealed but was at length carried to John Caso Archbishop of Benevento who was then the Pope's Legate at Venice When Spira came to know this he very well saw what danger he was in and therefore having long cast about and considered with himself what was best to be done he resolved at length to go to the Legate who had sent for him Wherefore going to Venice and having confessed his Error as he thought or as fear made him call it he begg'd Absolution and promised Obedience for the future Though the Legate was glad of his voluntary Confession yet for Example-sake he enjoyns him to go home and make a publick Recantation of what he had said before He promised to do so and although he then began to repent of what he had done yet at the solicitation of his Friends who told him that the welfare not only of himself but of his Wife Children Estate and all depended on it he obeyed But not long after he fell sick both in Body and Mind and began to despair of God's Mercy By the advice thereof of his friends he is removed from Citadella to Padoua that he might both have the assistance of Physicians and the ghostly comfort of learned and pious Men. When he had been visited by the Physicians John Paul Crasso Bellacata and Frisimelega they presently gave their opinion that the Distemper was contracted by pensiveness and over-eager thinking and that the best Remedy for him was good Discourse and ghostly Consolation Many learned Men therefore come daily to him and laboured to cure his Mind by such Texts of Scripture as declare the manifold Mercies of God towards us He again told them that he denyed not but that all they said was true but that these Texts did not belong to him for that he was damned to everlasting Pains because for fear of danger he had abjured the known Truth that these Pains he felt already in his Mind and that he could not love God but horribly hated him In this condition he persisted refusing all Sustenance and when they forced Food into his mouth ever spitting it out again It would be tedious to relate all that past either what he said or what others alledged from holy Scripture to cure his despair Since then all Advice and Counsel were but cast away upon him and that both his bodily infirmity and the anguish of his Mind encreased more and more daily he was carried home again and there miserably died in that sad state of Despair Whilst he lay at Padoua amongst others Petro Paulo Vergerio Bishop of Justinopolis a Town in Istria under the Dominion of the Venetians came often to visit and comfort him Mention is made in the foregoing Books of Vergerio's being employed by the Popes Clement and Paul as their Nuncio in Germany He was also in very great favour with King Ferdinand whilst he was in Hungary Who having there a Daughter baptized by the name of Catharine Vergerio with George Marquess of Brandenburg and the Archbishop of Lundon who were the Godfathers But afterwards he revolted from the Papacy and that upon a very strange occasion Upon his return to Rome whither he had been recalled after the Conference of Wormes which was in the beginning of the year 1541. The Pope designed to have made him a Cardinal amongst other new ones whom then he was about to promote But it was whispered about by some that through long conversation with the Germans he was become a Lutheran When Vergerio heard this from Cardinal Ginucio whom the Pope had told it to he was strangely surprised and to purge himself retired into his own Country and there began a Book to which he gave this Title Against the Apostates of Germany Now whilst for confuting the Opinions he carefully perusued the Books of his Adversaries and attentively considered their Arguments he perceived himself worsted and overcome and laying aside all hopes of a Cardinals Hat he went to ask advice of his own Brother John Baptista Bishop of the City of Pola His Brother terrified at first bewailed the poor mans condition But having at his earnest prayer and entreaty applied himself to the search of the holy Scriptures and diligently weighed that Point of Doctrine concerning Justification and having compared things together he yielded and concluded the Popish Doctrine to be false Whereupon rejoycing in one another they began to teach the people of Istria which is the proper Office of a Bishop and to preach up the benefit of Christ to mankind and to tell the people what works God requires of us that so they might bring over Men to the true Worship of their Maker But many Adversaries arose against them especially the Monks called the Observantines who informed the Inquisitors of whom the chief was Hannibal Grisonio who had for Colleague Jerome Mutio the same that afterwards wrote an Invective
Age being sent for by his Father prepares to be gone and leaving behind him his Cousin German and Brother in-Law to govern the Kingdom in his absence he set sail with a Fleet of fifty Gallies and almost as many Merchants Ships under the command of Andrea Doria who had brought over Maximilian and on the twenty fifth day of November arrived at Genoua accompanied with a great train of Nobility amongst whom was the Duke of Alva and the Cardinal of Trent For some fews days after his arrival he lodged without the Walls in the Palace of Andrea Doria the Admiral till the Ships should be unloaded and the preparations within the City finished But on the second of December he made his entry and was magnificently received Being there furnished not only with Money but also other necessaries for a journy by Land eight days after he departed and passing by Alessandria and Pavia went to Milan At Pavia were the great Guns that the Emperour took from the Duke of Saxony John Frederick as we said and these also he viewed At Milan where he arrived the nineteenth of December triumphal Arches and Statues with honourable Inscriptions were erected for him in many places at his entry he was received by the Duke of Savoy and the Ambassadours of Venice Florence Ferrara and Siena About that time Maximilian Count of Buren died of a Quinsie at Brussels where the Emperour then was his Physician Andrew Vesalius having at first sight foretold him as they say the very hour of his death Duke Maurice as we told you after the Decree about Religion was read left Ausburg So soon as he came home he called a Convention of the Nobility and other States at Meissen where he propounds the whole Matter and declares to them what the Emperours will and pleasure was They urge him with his own and the Emperours promises and insist upon having the Religion of the Augustan Confession allowed them Afterwards it was thought fit that the Divines of Wittemburg and Leipsick should be consulted Who accordingly met first at Begy then at Zell and afterwards at Juterbock Whither also came John Islebius sent from the Elector of Brandenburg Here was a Decree made concerning things indifferent and what are called Adiaphorous The last Convention was at Leipsick and there a form of Religion was drawn up which all Men within the Territories of Duke Maurice were to observe but this Book gave afterwards great offence as shall he declared in its proper place In the mean time the Emperours Son proceeded in his journy and passing by Mantua and Trent he came first to Ausburg then to Spire and so continuing forward through the Country of Luxemburg he came to his Father the Cardinal of Trent amongst others waiting upon him The Emperour upon his approaching sent a party of goodly Horse under the command of the Duke of Arescot to meet him Duke Maurice also having gone to meet him as far as Trent took a short progress with a small number of Attendants to go see Mantua and Venice and was most honourably entertained by the Senate He earnestly begg'd of Prince Philip that he would intercede with the Emperour for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law which he did and sent him word of it bidding him be in good hopes for that he had received a fair answer but that withal he should dissemble and seem not to know of any such thing About this time there happened troubles in Africa for one Zeriff rising from a very small beginning was at last advanced to a Kingdom and drove his next Neighbour the King of Fez out of his Country who afterwards came to the Emperour at Ausburg to bewail his own misfortune and implore his aid Nicholas Bishop of Metz Son to Anthony Duke of Lorrian and Guardian to his Brothers Son as we mentioned in the sixteenth Book renouncing his Ecclesiastical Orders married a Lady of the House of Egmont which has large Possessions in Brabant so that the Bishoprick fell to the Cardinal of Lorrain We told you before what past betwixt the Emperour and the Deputies of Strasburg at Cologne A little while after they returned home they began to treat with the Bishop who having assembled the Nobility declares to them what the Emperours pleasure was and charges all to obey laying the same commands also upon the Clergy of Strasburg But seeing he propounded harder conditions than were expected on the twelfth of February the Senate sent Henry Cope as their Deputy with Letters to the Emperour wherein they acquaint him that they had taken great care to treat with their Bishop but that he propounded such Conditions to them that if they accepted them they could not enjoy those things which were allowed them by the Decree lately made at Ausburg For after a long debate they say we told him that we would enjoyn our Citizens to keep Holy-days and on certain days abstain from eating of Flesh Besides we have dealt with the Ministers of our Church and we believe some of them will of their own accord lay down their Office of Preaching We are willing and free then that he settle Religion according to the Platform prescribed at Ausburg For no hinderance shall be made on our parts nor by the Citizens neither whom we shall strictly charge not to offer the least opposition Now this being our Case most victorious Emperour we pray your Majesty that you would be pleased to suffer us to keep our own Ministers even such of them as are married and not reduce us to extremity especially since we are ready to behave our selves with all moderation and shall not give the least cause of offence Mention has been made before of the Emperours proscribing the Republick of Magdenburg But their rejecting of the Decree lately made about Religion did much inflame their former offence So that now the Emperour proceeded against them with new Edicts and Proclamations exposing them as a prey to all inviting the neighbouring Princes and States to make War against them and to do them all the hurt and damage that by any means whatsoever they could It hath been said before that the Ministers of Ulm were by the Emperours Orders made Prisoners but at length after seven Months confinement they are now in the third day of March set at liberty having first payed their charges About this time began the State of England to be troublesome Edward Duke of Somerset the King Uncle and Protector of the Kingdom as we said before had a Brother who was Lord High Admiral Of him the Protector conceived some suspition or suffered himself to be persuaded that he aspired to the Crown and intended to get the King into his power whereupon he ordered him to be apprehended and brought to his Tryal where being condemned to die he was beheaded on the twentieth of March. He had married Catharine Parr the Queen Dowager of
had been handed down to them from their Ancestors and successively even to the present time was a thing that could noways be defended nor justified to Posterity That now it manifestly appeared what end the Authors of the Book made at Ausburg had proposed to themselves and what they drove at for that they had endeavoured to deprive Mankind of the chief head of the Doctrine of Justification the very groundwork of our Salvation as also to question the use of the Lords Supper and the Marriage of Priests to teach besides the Invocation of Dead Men and all that depends thereon in short to restore Popery again in its full extent as many Men of Excellent Learning had made it appear that certainly so great Impiety was not to be winked at nor past in silence but earnest and fervent Prayers made to God that he would not suffer the glory of his own Name to be thus polluted That it was indeed a sad and lamentable spectacle to see men violently driven to a false Religion and Idolatry the Ministers of the Church cast into Gaols or with their Wives and Children forced into Exile and some also butchered and killed but it was extreamly grievous that though these things were openly seen especially in Upper Germany yet there were some who had the boldness to say that Religion was not struck at that nevertheless it was no new thing since from the very Creation of the World it had been the condition of Pious and Innocent Men to suffer affliction and that there were many Examples both in the Old and New Testament which declared the constancy of holy Men when Kings and Princes set forth Edicts contrary to the Word of God for that Rule of Scripture always prevailed with them That it is better to obey God than Men That this was not only the Doctrine of St. Chrysostome St. Austin St. Ambrose and others but their Practice also when the Emperours commanded any thing repugnant to the Law of God that their case was now the same that they saw the danger they were in and yet could do not otherwise than they did for that they would suffer any thing rather than applaud to and embrace manifest Errours That it was reported of Gordius the Martyr how that being desired by his Friends as he was going to the place of Execution that to save his Life he would forsake his Opinion he made answer That the Tongue ought not to speak any thing in reproach of him who created it A saying that concerned all Men in general for that it was the Opinion of the Ancient Church and of some of the first Bishops of Rome also that they do not only betray the Truth who teach false Doctrine but those also that dare not openly confess and defend the known Truth That therefore the event of all was to be committed to God and that Men ought not for love or favour or the fear of any danger to turn aside from the profession of the Truth but to have the Example of Daniel always before their Eyes who contrary to the Decree of King Darius prayed to God with his Windows open That he might indeed have done the same privately and closely without any danger but because the open confession of his Faith and the glory of the Divine Majesty required it should be otherwise he had with a great and undaunted mind openly called upon God without any regard to that danger which being laid for him by his Enemies fell afterwards upon their own heads That therefore they begg'd they would not raise Arms nor attempt any Hostility against them who were Members of the true Church but therein follow the Example of the Christian Soldiers of former Ages who would not obey when the Emperours would have employed their Arms against those who professed the Christian Religion as might be made out by the instance of St. Mauritius the Martyr That it was to be found in the Book of Judges how highly God was offended with the Israelites because being terrified by the multitude of the Enemies they assisted not their weaker Brethren which might be a lesson to all that not only Brethren and Associates were not to be deserted but ought also to be relieved and succoured That they made no doubt but that good Men were moved at these things that God lived and was immortal who had often shew'd strength with his Arm in old time and was still able to do it That after all they most earnestly besought them that they would carry these their Complaints to the Emperour King Ferdinand and the other Princes and States and at the same time intercede for them that they might not be reduced to extremity for that they refused nothing that could be lawfully and honestly performed that it was their hearty Request also that they would commend them in their Prayers to God that in imitation of the Ninivites they might from the bottom of their hearts repent of their Sins and send up their sighs unto God that they might undauntedly persevere in the profession of the Doctrine of the Gospel which had now for these thirty years been preached amongst them and set it forth with Pious Lives and Conversations that they might do the Works of Charity to all Men but especially to the Ministers of Gods Church who were now turned out and in exile to their Wives and Children and such other poor People in distress and that they might retain this pure and wholesome Doctrine in spight of the tricks and artifices of those who under the Pretext of restoring of Ceremonies would again let in upon us the sink of Popish Pollutions In the Month of October Francis Duke of Mantua the Son of Frederick took to Marriage the Lady Catharine Daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romans and the Tenth day of November after Pope Paul III. departed this Life in the Fourscore and second year of his Age. The day before he died he discharged the Imposts which he had laid upon Salt and most part of other Commodities to the grievance of the People Some Months before he had solicited the Emperour about the restitution of Piacenza but it was in vain and it was generally thought that if he had lived longer he would have espoused the Interests of the French King for it was believe that he had been hatching Revenge in his mind ever since the Murder of his Son Petro Aloisio His Body lay for three days in State in the Chapel of Pope Sixtus whither the People flocked in great numbers to kiss his Feet which were put out at an Iron Gate as the custom is Before he died a bitter and Satyrical Book came out against him under the Name indeed of one Bernardino Ochino but as it was thought written by other hands with a Prefatory Dedication to Ascanio Colonna whom he had banished This little Book amongst a great many other things which would be too long to relate addressing to him calls
Lutheranism for many both in Italy and others also affirmed that his Judgment was right as to the true Religion as was said in the Tenth Book There were at that time many Pilgrims in Rome who were come thither from several Places and Countries that in the beginning of the new year which was then the year of Jubily as they call it they might obtain the Pardon and Remission of their Sins A great number of People were got together on Christmass-Eve in the Porch of St. Peters hoping that the Gate which is called the Golden-Gate would be opened by the new Pope And though it troubled them much to wait longer yet they did not think fit to depart before the Election was past The matter is thus Pope Boniface VIII was the first that instituted a Year of Jubily in the year 1295. and commanded it to be kept once every hundred years promising to those who then came to Rome and performed their Devotions at the Shrines of St. Peter and St. Paul full Pardon and Remission of all their Sins After his death when the term of an hundred years seemed to be too long Clement VI. reduced them to fifty There is also a Bull of his extant wherein he commands the Angels to convey the Souls of those that died in this Pilgrimage into the Kingdom of Heaven But Sixtus IV. decreed That every Twenty five years Mankind should participate of this Benefit When therefore the year 1550 approached Paul III. soem months before had published a Bull earnestly exhorting Men that they would not let slip so fair an occasion of disburdening them of their Sins and of Meriting the Kingdom of Heaven He was also mightily overjoyed that he had lived to that time saying That it would be a most delightful day to him wherein he should deserve so well of Mankind But it was but a false Joy to him for as we have said he died some weeks before that day came which he so earnestly desired to see Paulus Fagius who went with Bucer into England about the end of November died of a Quartan Ague at Cambridge We told you before how the Controversie betwixt the Bishop and Senate of Strasburg was taken up by Arbitrators Now the Bishop had resolved to begin the Office in his Churches on Christmass day and had prescribed a Method to be followed by the Clergy But because they were not then in a sufficient readiness he put it off till the first of February And then the Priests said Vespers in those three Churches that the Senate had granted the Bishop by composition and next day Mass which had not been seen there for twenty years before Great was the concourse of People that flocked thither especially of the Youth For to them it was a strange kind of sight to see a great many Men with shaven Crowns in a new sort of Habit singing all together what no body understood Tapers and Lights burning at Noon-day Incense streaming up and smoaking out of Censers the Priest with his subservient Ministers standing before the Altar speaking all in a strange Language using various kneeling and gestures bowing down with Hands joyn'd one while stretching forth his Arms and by and by again contracting them Now and then turning about to the People raising his voice high at some times and at other times again muttering to himself very softly now casting up his Eyes and by and by looking down on the ground shuffling from place to place Now on the right and now on the left side of the Altar playing tricks with his Fingers breathing into a Chalice then lifting it up on high and afterwards setting it down again naming in certain places now the Dead now the Living breaking the Wafer and putting it into the Chalice knocking his Breast with his First sighing shutting his Eyes as if he were asleep and then awaking again eating one part of the Wafer and swallowing down the other whole with the Wine washing his Hands that the least drop may not remain turning his back to the People and with an out-stretched Arm shewing them a gilt Patten clapping it to his Forehead and Breast and kissing sometimes the Altar and sometimes a little Image inclosed in Wood or Metal These I say and the like the young People could not behold without wonder and amazement nor indeed without laughter And could hardly be restrained After noon a Priest who came thither from another place preached in the Cathedral Church where he had no great Auditory though some out of curiosity went to hear him In time of Sermon a Youth making I know not what noise an Officer chid him and made as if he would lay hold on him at that all the young People came running about and as it is usual on the like occasions there arose a bustling noise and din in the Church whilst every one moved to and again enquiring what the matter was But the Preacher in the mean time who thought all was in an uproar being apprehensive of danger and in a panick fear made all the haste he could down out of the Pulpit and fled to the Chancel where by his Companions he was received within Iron Grates For most of all the Priests belonging to that Church were there and some dignitaries also of Noble Families who being in a higher place to hear withdrew with all speed not knowing what might come on 't This was presently carried to the Counsul and Mayor who with the rest of the Senate were at Sermon in other Churches They presently hasten thither to keep all things quiet but the Hubbub was already over for besides some young Lads no body had stirred Wherefore the Senate sent James Sturmey and others to those of the dignified Clergy we mentioned to acquaint them that the Senate was heartily sorry for the Tumult and to tell them the occasion of it That no Citizen was concerned therein and that since it had fallen out contrary to their knowledge to pray them not to take it ill promising to make it their business that no such thing should happen for the future However this did not satisfie them nor would they as they said expose their lives any more to so great danger Wherefore they departed next day in anger leaving their Work unfinished and repairing to their Bishop at Saverne they made a heavy complaint of their sad Fortune so that for some Months after they officiated no more In the mean time a complaint of this was made to the Emperour as will appear hereafter Many were of opinion that inwardly they rejoyced that so good a pretext of discontinuing had been offered them For all the while that Mass had been abolished by Decree of the Senate they lived with all freedom and received their full Rents yearly without any trouble But that now they were again astricted to Duty though the labour indeed was not great it was thought that an
there present were the Electors of Mentz and Treves for the other Electors had sent their Ambassadours Wolfgang Master of Prussia the Bishop of Wirtzburg Aichstadt Constance Trent Cambray and Mersburgh None of the rest of the Princes appeared except the Duke of Bavaria and at length Henry Duke of Brunswick Upon debating of the matter the greater part were for continuing the Council But Duke Maurice's Representatives declare in their Masters Name that he no otherwise approved it than that all Matters should be reviewed and handled again of new from the very beginning That the Divines of the Augustane Confession should not only be heard but also have Deliberative and Decisive Voices That the Pope should submit to the Council and not preside therein and release the Bishops from their Oaths that they might speak with greater freedom When this Protestation was publickly read the Ambassadour desired it might be entered upon Record as the custom was but it was deny'd by the Archbishop of Mentz who as Chancellor of the Empire had the sole power of doing it and so the Emperour afterward moved the Pope for a Council On the Seventh of August the Cardinal of Ausburg made an invective and bitter Sermon against the Lutherans and a few days after some Spaniards in contempt and derision of the Citizens who were then at a Protestant Sermon played some tricks in the Church so that it was like to have occasioned some great disturbance had not the Burgmaster or chief Magistrate of the City come in in time and with much dexterity appeased and quieted the Tumult About the later end of August Granvell who came lately from Besanson in the French Conte to Ausburg died to the Emperours great grief as it was reported He had succeeded to Cardinal Mercurino Catinario as we mentioned in the Seventh Book and now for the space of twenty years had been chief Minister of State and the only Person in a manner whom the Emperour trusted with his secret Counsels and Designs His Son Anthony Bishop of Arras succeeded to his Place and Office a Man of great Learning who had been already accustomed in his Fathers absence to manage Affairs of State and was very familiar with the Emperour In the mean time Henry Duke of Brunswick besieged the Town of Brunswick a place that upon account of Religion and some other Reasons for many Years he had born a grudge to But after he had harassed and spoiled their Lands by burning and plundering and yet was not able to take the Town at the mediation of some persons the Emperour commanded both to lay down their Arms and plead their Cause before him This happened in the Month of September The Emperour's Army at that time besieged Tripoly in Barbary It was then in the possession of Dragut a famous Pirate who had lately joyned with the Turk and the Emperour's Army was commanded by the Viceroy of Sicily who after he had for some time battered the Town with great Guns being informed that Dragut was coming with fresh Forces to the Relief of the place perceived that there was need of Expedition Therefore September the tenth he made a general Assault both by Sea and Land and so took it by Storm The Knights of Rhodes who fought by Sea did the Emperour good Service that day but the Spaniards who were more numerous and made the Assault by Land got most of the Booty and Plunder Many Prisoners were taken to the number of about eight Thousand who being put on board of Ships were carried to Sicily Sardinia and other places The Situation of the Town is said to be very pleasant because of the neighbouring Fields and Hills covered with Olive and Palm Trees and the fair Springs of Water that are about it They talk of a Country not far from thence that is exceeding fruitful in Corn and yieldeth the Husband-man a plentiful encrease for his labour In this War Cosmo Duke of Florence assisted the Emperour with Forces commanded by Jordano Ursini and Astori Balio But seeing Winter was now approaching and Provisions could not be had the Viceroy leaving there a Garison of Spaniards brings the Army back to Sicily After this Dragut sled to the Turk to Constantinople and there fomented a new War which the Turk undertook not only against the Emperour but King Ferdinand also Upon the Emperour's Command to the Duke and Senate of Brunswick to lay down their Arms both Parties disbanded their Forces But afterwards George Duke of Meckleburg the Son of Albert a Youth who had served under Duke Henry wheadled them all into his Service The Report was that the Clergy of Magdeburg and Dignitaries of the Cathedral Church most of them of Noble Extraction who were enraged against the City had by great Promises and Rewards engaged him to take upon him the conduct of them and their Forces and assist them in taking their Revenge But that they deny'd as shall be said hereafter Their Archbishop John Albert died lately before wherefore they were said to have made over the Dominion and Property of the whole Province if he did subdue it and to have morgaged to him three Castles for his Security So that he began his march through the Country of Halberstadt and came afterwards into the Province of Magdeburg plundering burning and spoiling wherever he past there he surprised the Town of Wansleben which he burnt and razed and having attacked the Castle that stood hard by but in vain and lost some of his men he marched forward doing a great deal of mischief in all places Wherefore when the Country people perceived that their Goods Cattle and all they had were taken from them they beg help from the Senate of Magdeburg offering to expose themselves to any Danger or Cost in their own just Defence The Senate therefore ordered them to Muster and be in Town by a certain day which was the one and twentieth of September at which time a mixed Body of Garison Soldiers Citizens and Boors marched out of Magdeburg with three Troops of Horse Field-pieces and Ammunition and rested that night two miles from the City Next morning before break of day they decamped and marching streight towards the Enemy so soon as they came in view drew up their Men and offered him battel In the Front were the Citizens and Soldiers where the danger was thought to be greatest and after them the rest of the Country rout were posted But the Duke of Meckleburg observing their order suddenly faced about and besetting the Boors in the Reer who were a sort of ill-armed and unexperienced Soldiers he charged them before the rest could face about and come in to their assistance So that they immediately threw down their Arms and ran for it as fast as they could disordering their Companions Ranks and so making way for the Enemy's Victory Most of them were killed at the first
and put away the opinion he conceived of him for that that would much redound to the benefit of the Publick But that if he was not satisfied with this Excuse and would prefer War before Peace he himself must see how prejudicial and dangerous that would prove to all Italy and Europe also and be the cause in like manner that no firm nor lasting Treaty could be set on foot about matters of Religion That therefore if sad Commotions should thereupon ensue if the Council now called could not meet or if it did assemble should be dispersed if in that state of affairs he could not send any of his Bishops to Trent the fault was not to be imputed to him who was willing not only to offer but to receive Conditions of Peace as he did publickly protest But the Pope relying upon the Aid and Promises of the Emperour was nothing softened by that Embassy On the Seventeenth of June Duke Maurice again granted a safe Conduct to the Magdeburgers for Deputies to be sent to Treat with him about a Peace who being dispatched and conducted by Marquess Albert of Brandeburg found Duke Maurice at Pirn a Town of Misnia for he was gone home and seemed to act remisly So soon as they came he propounded these Conditions to them in the Emperours Name That they shall make no League against the Emperour King Ferdinand Austria nor the Netherlands That they shall observe all the Decrees of the Empire That they shall stand Tryals at Law and satisfie the Clergy for the damage they have received of them That they shall demolish their Works and Fortifications That they shall admit of a Garison of Twelve hundred Soldiers That they shall receive the Emperour King Ferdinand and their Generals at all times and with as many Men as they please That they deliver up twelve great Guns pay down an hundred thousand Florins and ratifie and confirm all these Conditions upon Oath Though they were not in a condition to perform these Articles yet did they not wholly reject them and at Count Heidecks intercession they were by little and little qualified The Emperour had before sent Letters of safe Conduct to Germany especially to the States of the Augustane Confession requiring them to repair to Trent by the First of May. But because by reason of the War of Parma the Council was put off till the beginning of December as has been said before he again warns them by any means to come and promises them all imaginable Justice and fair dealing Though there were a great many of that persuasion nevertheless what ought chiefly to have been done they did not confer Counsels together either that they despaired of any success in the matter or that they were afraid to offend the Emperour or again that they grew faint-hearted when they saw the danger at hand Of all the Free Towns none but Strasburg sent Messengers to enquire both what their Neighbours and those more remote were resolved to do And Duke Maurice had ordered Philip Melanchton to draw up the heads of their Doctrine which might afterwards be publickly produced That being finished and perused by all the Divines and Ministers who by the Princes command met at Leipsick on the Eighth of July it was by them all unanimously approved Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg took the like course also and caused Brentius to compose a Book of the same nature And though both Writings agreed in the very same points yet Duke Maurice would exhibit his own a-part lest if many together should propound the same thing in common the Emperour might take Umbrage at it and suspect some Association However having mutually communicated the Books to one another the Divines of Wirtemberg approved the Saxons Book and the Saxons that of Wirtemberg as the Divines of Strasburg did both And so it was agreed upon that when time served some should be sent to the Council to propose and defend that Doctrine The Duke of Wirtemberg after his Fathers example made much of John Brentzen for his Excellent Learning using his assistance in the restauration of the Reformed Religion he also restored him again to the Ministery and gave him the Living of Sutgart July the Five and twentieth Marquess Albert of Brandeburg in the absence of Duke Maurice by a Trumpeter rejects the answer that the Magdeburgers made to the Conditions of Peace proposed by Duke Maurice at Pirn He had got a small Ruffle the day before for they had engaged with greater Forces than ever they had done hitherto On the Thirteenth of August there had like to have been a great Mutiny within the Town For a Letter was brought to the Soldiers which mentioned that there were some of the Senate who would betray the Town and named Henry Alman for one Whereupon the Soldiers flocking together demand him He appeared and protested that it was an injury done unto him that it was a trick of the Enemy that by cunning and treachery they might bring about what they could not accomplish by force and fair âighting and that if the thing could be proved against him he did not refuse to submit to any punishment so that the whole Senate having engaged for his fidelity the matter was quieted and some Citizens and Soldiers were chosen to view the Letters that should be sent to and again for the future Fight days after Duke Maurice wrote to the Emperour acquainting him that for his own part he was satisfied with the safe Conduct he gave and could not find any great fault in it but that he was informed there was a Decree made in the Council of Constance that Hereticks or such as were suspected of Heresie should be brought into Inquisition if they came to the Council and sentence pronounced against them for their Crime although the Emperour had given them safe Conduct That that Decree was extant amongst the Acts of the Council and actually put in execution upon John Huss who had been put to death notwithstanding the safe Conduct of the Emperour Sigismund upon the security whereof he came That since it was so he could not send any of his Divines to Trent unless the Prelates assembled there should in the Name of the whole Council grant also their safe Conduct as it had been done in the Council of Basil which immediately succeeded that of Constance That the Bohemians being moved by the forementioned instance would not then go thither till first they had a safe Conduct from the whole Council that therefore he intreated his Majesty that either by his Authority or Interest he would obtain that from them for that unless a safe Conduct were granted in the same form as heretofore at Basil it ought not to be prejudicial to him or any else of the same profession if they suffered none of theirs to repair to the Council Now of the Bohemians and John Huss who was burnt at Constance and of the War that followed
alteration in France happened in the time of Lowis IX but he vigorously opposed it and in the year 1267 made a Law that the ancient custom should be observed and no Tribute upon that account pay'd to the Pope of Rome That Law was indeed in force for many years but at length the power of the Popes prevailed and all over Christendom they published those Graces and Reservations that I mentioned which were a great grievance to many until the Council of Basil abrogated this way of pillage reviving the ancient Canons about Collations and Elections and discharging the payment of Annats Charles VII of France having consulted the matter approved and ratified this Decree of the Council by an Edict in the year 1438 which is commonly called the Pragmatick Sanction But Eugenius the Fourth declared this Council to be null as we said in the first-first-Book and the Popes who came after him rejected that Decree and called it Schismatical so that Pius II. by his Legat earnestly solicited Louis XI the Son of Charles VII to abolish that Sanction but the King asked the Opinion of the Parliament of Paris the most famous Judicature in France consisting all of Lawyers about the matter They quoting the practices of ancient times made their Report and told him What had been done in the matter by the Popes and Councils heretofore nay what his own Ancestors had done Clovis Charles Maâgne Philip Deodat Lowis IX Philip the Fair Louis the Hutinâ John the First and his own Grandfather and Father that France was then in a very flourishing condition and that it was now low and distressed and unless the ancient Laws be observed said they the Ecclesiastical Order will run into confusion France become thinner of People the most part running away to Rome and be exhausted of its Wealth the Churches and other stately Religious Houses in France will be slighted and fall into decay And as to the Money Business unless your Fathers Sanction continue in force ten hundred thousand Crowns will be carried yearly out of France to Rome For not to mention other things in the time of Pius II. there were at least twenty Bishopricks vacant which for Annats and other charges pay'd Six thousand Crowns a-piece yearly There were about threescore Abbies vacant and every one of these pay'd two thousand a year Of other Benefices there were above two hundred vacant every one of which pay'd five hundred Crowns Besides there are above eleven hundred Parishes in France out of which a vast deal of Money was raised through that Popish Invention Follow then the footsteps of your Father and depart not from the Decree of Basil This was the Parliaments Advice but the King being either over-reached or over awed by the Pope would needs abolish the Sanction and a chief Agent in that business was the Cardinal de Babvo in great favour with the King and much obliged by the Pope But both the Kings Advocate and the University of Paris who were much concerned in it manfully withstood the same and appealed from the Pope to a Council Louis XII had afterwards great clashings with Julius II. about the same matter and it was brought before the Council of Lateran but at length Francis the First who succeeded Lowis transacted with Leo the Tenth upon certain Conditions at Bolonia after the taking of Milan to wit That when a Bishoprick or Abby fell to be vacant the Chapter or Monks should not have the Election but that it should be in the Kings power to name within six Months one to the Pope whom he should think worthy of the Benefice And this amongst other things is what King Henry meant when he spoke of a Remedy by his Ambassadour in Council For the French Kings keep that as a Bit to curb the Popes with when they fall out with them and they urge the pragmatick Sanction especially at this time when the thunder of Rome is no longer so terrible as formerly it hath been and because France is a vast and wealthy Country and without great loss Rome cannot be without some of its Riches Now what he talked of doing at this time he actually did not long after as you shall hear Philip the Fair made use of some Remedy heretofore against Boniface VIII For when this Pope had enjoyned him to make War beyond Sea against the Sarazens and would not hear of any Excuse but discharged him from raising any Money from the Clergy of his Kingdom which he was necessitated to do because of his Wars and unless he did obey put him under Interdict He assembled all the States at Paris and there having complained of the Injuries of Boniface and put the Question to all the Bishops and Princes who made him answer That they held all their Estates and Fortunes of his Bounty and Liberality he commanded That no more Money should be carried to Rome for the future and ordered all the ways and passages to be carefully watched Moreover when the Parliament of Paris reckoned up how much the Money paid by vacant Bishopricks and Abbys amounted to yearly that they said was to be understood of former times that now the Charge was double and exceeded the Yearly Revenues So that some beneficed persons by reason of the extream exaction were forced to pawn their Bulls and leave them in the Bankers hands Now in France there are twelve Archbishopricks Aix Vienne Lions Nârbon Tholouse Bourdeaux Aux Bourges Tours Rowen Rheims and Sens and about ninety six Bishopricks out of the Vacancies whereof there goes a vast deal of Money to Rome and out of the Archbishopricks about threescore Thousand three Hundred Crowns as it was calculated in the time of Louis XII When the Letter was read the Fathers promised to give an answer to it in the next Session but said That they admitted not what was then done but so far as it consisted with Law and that therefore they could give him no Instrument of that Protestation Having afterward appointed the eleventh day of October for the next Session they broke up and departed severally home about two of the Clock in the Afternoon And here it seems proper to give some Description of the form and order of a Publick Session When that day came the Fathers as they love to speak meet in the Legate's Lodgings and from thence to the Cathedral Church there is a Lane of Soldiers made consisting of about four hundred foot besides a Troop of fifty or more Horse At Nine of the Clock the Legate comes out with his Cross-bearer before him and the Cardinal of Trent on his left hand after him come his Collegues and the Electoral Archbishops then the Ambassadors of the Emperour and King Ferdinand by themselves and at last all the other Bishops every one according to his Rank and Quality So soon as they are all come to the Church the Soldiers discharge their Pieces and give them a Voâley then they draw
up in the Market-place and there and about the Church keep Guard 'till the Council break up These are for the most part sent for out of the Country to be ready against the day of the Session though the Town also supply a good many When they are come into the Church Mass is said that being over the Decrees of the Council are read and then a day appointed for the next Session Then also if any Ambassador have ought to say he is heard But by reason of the many various and most cumbersom Ceremonies that are used in every thing the day is far spent before their Business is over and then the Legate returns home in the same Pomp as he came The Pope's Legate takes the first place in the Council next to him the Cardinal of Trent then the Legates Collegues and after them the Electoral Archbishops On the left hand sit the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Princes And the middle Benches are filled by the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates taking place according to the Seniority of their Consecration September the second Subjects were given to the Divines to be discussed and that they might give their Opinions of them that so they might be decided in the next Session Now in giving their Opinions this method was prescribed That they should insist upon the Holy Scriptures Apostolical Traditions received and approved Councils and the Authorities of the Fathers that they should use Brevity abstain from unnecessary and superfluous Questions and avoid all Jangling and Contention As to the Order it was thought fit that the Pope's Divines should speak first and then the Emperours and so of the rest The Pope's Legate also for the finding out of the Truth and the confuting of false Opinions as they said gave them leave to read all sorts of Books There were a great many Divines present Spanish Italians and Germans whom the Pope Emperour and his Sister Queen Mary the Governess of the Low Countries had sent besides those whom the Electors of Cologne and Treves and some Spanish and Italian Bishops also brought with them All things were to be examined by them and no Man who had not the Title of Doctor as they call it was permitted to speak But in favour to the Bishops of Cologne and Treves John Gropper a Civilian and John Delph a Divine but under Doctors Degree were admitted And because in some former Sessions in Anno 1546 and the year following new Canons were made concerning Original Sin Justification Free-will and the Seven Sacraments in general and particular Decrees made concerning Baptism and Confirmation it was resolved That all these standing in force they should proceed to other things and in the first place to the Sacrament of the Eucharist Then Points were assigned to the Divines with these Instructions that they should search and try if they were Heretical and to be condemned by the holy Council And these Points were gathered out of the Books of Luther Zuinglius Bucer and other Protestant Writers Now in this manner do the Divines handle the matter They all meet daily in the Legate's Lodgings and there for several hours and in the order we mentioned every one discourses of a Point without any interruption yet so that they still submit all they say to the Judgment of the Church of Rome for none of the Protestants were present This place is open indifferently to all Men. The Pope's Legate and generally all the Fathers are there but none speak except the Divines and their several Sayings and Opinions are marked down by Clerks When they have all discoursed which then was done commonly in a Months time the Bishops meet at the Legate's Lodgings and examine the Opinions of the Divines registred by the Clerks Then some of every Nation are chosen out of the whole number that then are present who having weighed all the Opinions out of them frame that which they call a Doctrine what ought to be determined and believed in every point Afterwards they Condemn in few words but with a severe Censure the contrary Doctrine and Errors as they call them And at length all these things are reported to the whole Assembly When they are fully agreed a publick Session is held as we said before where the Decrees are read aloud and then the Bishops are asked if they approve them To which they severally answer with a Placet And so then some Divines tell their Opinions of the several Points but the Bishops only and with them a few Mitred Prelates have the power of Determining What is so decreed they command to be reverenced as Sacred and Holy and call them Canons These things indeed are acted publickly but they who are more intimately acquainted with the Affairs of Rome say That all the Decrees are already framed at Rome by the Pope's order and sent in due time to the Legate that the Divines in their Reasonings may follow that Form and Prescript for the Pope maintains several of them and many Bishops also there And it is a jocose Proverb used by some That the Holy Ghost comes ever now and then from Rome to Trent in a Cloak-bag because the Pope sent Letters with his Orders and Instructions by Post from Rome September the fourth Count Heideck came to Magdâburg and Duke Maurice sent by him the Conditions of Peace formerly proposed so moderated that they resolved to proceed in the Treaty In the mean time there was a Cessation of Arms which was afterward also prolonged for many days as shall be said hereafter The French King now at variance with the Pope published an Edict wherein having enlarged much upon the injury done him by the Pope upon the cause of the War of Parma and why he had taken Octavio into his protection he commands under a most severe penalty That no more Money be for the future carried to Rome for since Money was the Sinews of War what madness would it be with his and his Subjects Treasure to maintain and strengthen the power of his Enemy That it was the proper Office of the Popes to take up the differences of Princes and that did Paul III. who being almost worn out by Age made a long progress to Nizza to make the Emperour and his Father friends but that Julius took a quite different course who having lately called a Council which was indeed very necessary to the publick had stirred up a War against him on purpose that he might exclude all the Church of France which was one of the chief and that so no lawful Council might be had wherein the Errors and Faults both of the Head and Members might be reformed This Edict of the King 's was published at Paris the seventh of September when a few days before another Edict of his and a most severe one too was published against the Lutherans which partly confirmed the former Decrees of that nature and partly where they seemed not smartly
streights Now though there may have been some mistake committed in the Treaty and some things not rightly understood yet it suits well with your Imperial Clemency to prefer Equity before strict Justice and to have regard not so much to the Prisoner as to the inevitable necessity of the Electors And to treat them graciously after the manner of your Predecessors who have been always exceedingly tender of the Dignity of the Princes of the Empire And this Sir will render your Majesties Name glorious amongst all Men and engage them more and more in Love and Loyalty to your Person and Interests so that they 'll be ready to do any thing for you The Ambassadours also of the King of Denmark interceded in the same behalf But some days after the Emperour made answer That seeing it was a difficult business that required deliberation and that he had notice that Duke Maurice would be with him shortly about other weighty Affairs in so much that having written to him he expected him daily therefore he put off the Matter till then as thinking it most convenient to treat about it when he should be present That as for them they might return home to their own Princes and tell them in his Name That he would be mindful of their Intercession and so order Affairs that they should understand that their Mediation had been of no small weight with him Not long after Prince William the Landgrave's Eldest Son came to Duke Maurice to enquire of him what was done in the mediation he had put him in hopes of now that it was so many Months since the Ambassadours were gone on their Journy He told him That because the Danish Ambassadours came a little too late and not before the Emperour was gone from Ausburg to Inspruck it was some time delayed And then he shewed him what Answer the Emperour had given telling him That since he was desirous to speak with him and had put off the business till then though he was loath to leave his Country at that time yet because it was the Affair in the World that most affected him he was resolved to go so soon as he had received his Letters Then replied Prince William that that was a doubtful and uncertain Answer Nor did he see what it was they could expect that in the mean time his Father was in a sad Condition pining away for grief in a nasty and loathsome Prison That he could not but concern himself for him both in Duty and upon the account of Promise that he should therefore endeavour to get him a plain and definite Answer and that within a time too or else that he and the Elector of Brandeburg must not take it ill if they were cited and made to fulfil their Obligation As to what he said of his Journy he would have him to think better on 't Nor did he know whether it might be safe for him or not Now these things were done only for a shew in presence of some Counsellors whom Duke Maurice would by no means have privy to his Counsels and Design For ever since he had begun to project the Matter with Count Heideck which was when he drew over some of his Forces into his Party as we told you in the foregoing Book he scarcely acquainted any about him with what he did intend so that what the French Ambassador came thither for or what he did at Court none of them could tell Having therefore received this Answer from the Emperour he presently bent his thoughts upon War and only waited for a fit season The Disputes began December the Seventh concerning the Heads we mentioned before and on the shortest day of the year Maximilian made his entry into Trent with his Wife and Children and was received by the Popes Legate by the Spanish Italian and some German Bishops also but not by the Electors He brought with him from Spain an Indian Elephant a Beast not often seen in Germany The day after he came it came to the turn of John Gropper whom I named before to Dispute and in the heat of Discourse he bitterly enveighed against Melanchton and Bucer who was then dead and being himself a German railed reproachfully at both whereas both the Spaniards and Italians had been more moderate and this was both contrary to the Decree of the Empire and the Law they themselves had made which was That matters should be debated without passion or reproachful language wherefore some days after the Deputy of Strasburg took notice of it to the Ambassadour Poictieres and complained of the liberty they were suffered to take to themselves He made answer That it was much against the Fathers Will that they did do so and that they had been severely admonished to refrain and that though perhaps being provoked by the Example of their Adversaries who for many years had domineered in that manner they did do so yet they would take care that it should be so no more for the future that it was not the Emperours Will neither that any Man should have cause of offence given him and that the Fathers were of the same mind On the Eighteenth of December the Bishop of Waradine lately made Cardinal was upon suspicion of confederacy with the Turks murdered in his own House The Author of this Assassination was John Baptista Castaldo an Italian whom the Emperour had formerly sent into Hungary to aid and assist King Ferdinand with his counsel Sforza Palavicini had also an hand in it When this Murder came to the Popes Ears he appointed Judges to enquire into the Fact and at the same time Excommunicated those we named The Widow of John Vayvode of Transilvania finding that it would be hard for her to preserve the Country treated with King Ferdinand and having resigned over the Government to him and delivered up the Insignia and Ornaments of the Kingdom she returned to Poland By this means then and the assistance of the Bishop of Waradin Ferdinand got possession of all Transilvania almost but because this Bishop seemed afterward to plot new designs and to aspire to the Government he lost his life We spoke in the former Book of the Ministers of the Church that were banished Ausburg most of the Churches therefore were destitute to the great offence of the People who thought that the Senate had put the Emperour upon it And seeing it was to be feared that this grudge might some time or other break out into disorder after much and long inquiry one Caspar Huberine was at length found out who would conform to the Regulation of Doctrine prescribed by the Emperour He had published some little Pieces about Religion which were always very much approved and commended also by Luther but how he came to change his Opinion I cannot affirm He did not begin to preach so soon as he came to Ausburg for fear the People might mutiny but on Christmuss-day he fell to work
Not long after February the Sixteenth the Elector of Treves to refresh himself departed from Trent homewards which the Emperour as it was said allowed of only upon this condition that so soon as ever his health did permit he should return thither again but he left Pelarg behind him that he might be present at all the Actions The Electors of Mentz and Cologne brought him going a Mile or two on his Journy but he struck off to the left hand and did not go by Inspruck where the Emperour then was Not long after it began to be whispered by many that the Council would be Prorogued and that Duke Maurice having made a League with the French King was preparing to make War with the Emperour This was indeed but a faint rumour in the beginning but growing stronger and stronger daily there was one privately sent from Trent to know the Emperours thoughts of the matter Afterwards one came thither also from the Emperour but all things were industriously concealed On the Second of March which then was Ashwednesday the Popes Legate affixed publick Indulgences upon the Church-doors granting Plenary Remission of Sins to all in general but especially to the Bishops Ambassadours and Divines who having either already or would within a certain time confess their Sins should go to some Churches of Trent on certain days and there by saying five Pater Nosters and as many Ave-Maria's with the other Prayers should pray to God for the Concord of Princes the Unity of the Church and the happy progress of the Council That this so great a benefit was granted by Pope Julius III. out of his great care for the salvation of Souls and that it might be obtained at Trent as well as at Rome The Bishops and the rest therefore thronged daily to the Churches especially the Spaniards observing a distinction of days for sometime they spent more time and sometimes less about their Devotion In this so great silence the Deputy of Strasburg having in a Conference with Poictieres enquired of him concerning the state of Affairs was told by him that it was an idle Report spread abroad of proroguing the Council and that the Emperour would have them by all means to proceed and continue their Actions that it was for their sake also that for several days nothing had been done since they had given hopes of the coming of their Divines This was about the beginning of March when towards the later end of February Duke Maurice had recalled his Divines from Norimberg who after the Report was raised of his going to War upon the Emperour having made some progress in his Journy thitherwards returned home and began to raise Soldiers as you shall learn in the following Book When these things began to be publickly known and that the many Messengers who came upon one anothers heels put the matter past all doubt the Electors of Mentz and Cologne to whom plenty of Provisions had been lately brought from the Lower Germany having with great expedition provided themselves Horses on the Eleventh of March departed from Trent about break of day the Legate with the Italian and Spanish Bishops having been to take leave of them the Evening before The same day new Ambassadours came to Trent from the Duke of Wirtemberg Wern Munching and Jerome Gerard a Lawyer Next day after they went to wait on the Emperours Ambassadours and having shew'd their Commission desired to have an answer to their Princes Demands which were presented to the Fathers on the Twenty fourth day of January and acquainted them withal that within a few days the Divines would come and give a fuller account of their Doctrine and Confession of Faith. That seemed very strange to them but for what reason I know not unless it were that it was said one of them had all things in readiness for their Journy and was thinking of returning home who then must needs tarry against his will. Their answer was That they must communicate the matter to the Fathers and that when that was done they would inform them of what they had said In the mean while the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice were in great perplexity and anxiety for they were thought to have acted craftily and being privy to their Masters Council to have dissembled all along when they in the mean time affirmed That they neither knew what was doing at home had received no Letters from thence nor could tell how they could return home without danger And since they perceived that the longer delay they made the greater their danger was like to be March the Thirteenth as soon as it was day with great silence they slipt away and posting to Brixen consulted the Cardinal of Trent what they had best do At length one of the Ambassadours who had lived long at Inspruck before he came to Trent and had in his Princes name made intercession with the rest to the Emperour for the Landgrave Having if I be not mistaken obtained a safe Conduct came to Inspruck and purged himself so well to the Emperours Counsellors of having any knowledge of Warlike Preparations that he gained credit from them From thence he went streight home but the other took his Journy through Carniola and so returned safe into his own Country When the Electors of Mentz and Cologne came to Inspruck they were honourably received by those whom the Emperour sent to meet them amongst whom was the Bishop of Arras Having after had long and private Conferences with the Emperour they pursued their Journy for the matter required dispatch Six days after the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice left Trent four Divines of Wirtemberg and two of Strasburg came thither of whom Brentius was one Wherefore the Ambassadours repair instantly to Count Montfort and name the Divines to him that were come praying that he and his Collegues would use their endeavours that the Fathers might give an answer to their demands and fall to business again Next day being the Nineteenth of March appointed for the Session as was said before the Fathers met in the House of the Legate The Ambassadours of Portugal who arrived a little before was present who having shewed his Commission was in solemn manner received by the Fathers and admitted to his place After that the publick Session was put off till the first of May and all this privately nothing else being done In the mean time the Duke of Wirtemberg caused the Confession of Faith which his Ambassadours presented in Council to be printed of which those who came last and afterwards the Divines had brought some Copies with them and those being communicated to some were sought after by many For the Popes Legate kept the written Copy that as I said was presented on the Twenty fourth of January and suffered but very few to read it which was not known till then so that when it was now published some Italian and Spanish Bishops and Divines made great enquiry after it
determined For of the chief Points two only remained the Lords Supper and Marriage All the other Heads of Doctrine were already determined The Fathers of Basil decided all things by the holy Scriptures and the Writings which agreed with them But these would have it to belong only to them to interpret the Scriptures nor would they admit of that place of the Decree of Basil by the Ambassadours restored as we said before and changing the Words of the Decree determined that the Traditions also of the Apostles were to be followed in all doubtful and controverted Points and whensoever they wanted a Testimony of Scripture they bragg'd of Traditions handed down to them from the very Apostles as was oftner than once observed in the Disputations of the Divines And this also was the reason that when on the thirtieth of January the Protestant Deputies received the safe Conduct from the Imperial Ambassadours they declared That by Apostolical Traditions they only understood written Traditions of the Apostles which were subjoyned to the Second Part of the Bible the New Testament or the History of the four Evangelists We told you before that the first of May had been appointed the day of the next Session But Affairs being now in a desperate Case the Fathers that remained met and by reason of the Dissentions and Quarrels of Kings and Princes prorogued the Council for two years time and longer if Peace were not made This was done the twenty ninth day of April and by this time the Pope had agreed with the French King. Within a few days after the Emperours Ambassadours departed also But the Legate Crescentio was sick and stayed behind He being frightned by a Vision in the Night as it is said began both to be ill and to despair of Life notwithstanding all his Friends and Physicians could do to comfort him Nor was he mistaken in his Judgment For his Distemper increasing he died at Verona And this now was the end of the Council at this time which being with great hopes renewed thought of nothing less than of retrieving Popery and setting it shortly upon its Legs again There were present at it besides the Popes Legates and the Cardinal of Trent threescore and two Bishops and of these eight Germans five and twenty Spaniards two Sardinians four Sicilians one Hungarian the Bishop of Agria all the rest were Italians But of Divines there were forty two and of them nineteen Spaniards twelve Germans and Flemings I intended to have past in silence the occasion of the Legate Crescentio's Sickness because it was suspected to have been invented by some out of malice But seeing it hath been so reported by his Friends and Servants who waited upon him and sometimes comforted him on his Sick bed I thought sit to subjoyn it He had been very busie all day March the twenty fifth even till night in writing Letters to the Pope but then rising to refresh himself when his Work was over it seemed to him that a black Dog of extraordinary bigness with flaming Eyes and Ears reaching almost to the ground entred the Room and made streight towards him but afterwards slipt away under the Table When he came to himself again after the great fear and amazement that the sight struck him into he called in his Servants who were in the Outer-chamber and bid them bring a Candle and beat out the Dog But when no Dog could be found neither there nor in the next Chamber to it he became very pensive and so fell into Sickness as I said before It is reported also that upon his Death bed he many times cried out to those that were about him to beat off the Dog that clambered up upon the Bed. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXIV The CONTENTS Duke Maurice publishes a Declaration to all the States of the Empire entreating them not to hinder his Design but that all assist and declare for him Much to the same purpose there was another Declaration published by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg The King of France also declares himself the Protector of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes and so marching into Lorrain seizes Metz. After that be marches as far as Strasburg and from thence went to Hagenaw whither many Ambassadors and Deputies came to him to desire him that he would abstain from wasting the Country and put a stop to his Army The King removes his Camp and leaving Germany retreats again to Lorrain Duke Maurice with his associates possesses the passes of the Alpes and forces the Emperor to fly who a little before had set the Duke of Saxony his Prisoner at liberty The Princes by Proclamation at Ausburg restore all the outed and banished Ministers Whilst Duke Maurice is at Passaw treating a Peace Albert of Brandenburg uses great Cruelty against those of Norimberg and forces them to accept of a Peace many things both by Letters and Agents represented to the Princes who treat about entring into a League and by certain conditions things are softened They of Siena revolt from the Emperor who comes to Strasburg on his march to besiege Metz. WE told you before that in the last Diet of Germany the conduct of the War with Magdeburg was by the unanimous consent of the Emperor and the other States committed to Duke Maurice This War lasted a Year in which time the Duke who had the chief command of the Forces began to think of a way of setting at liberty the Landgrave his Father-in-Law since all the intercession he had hitherto made to the Emperor for that purpose had proved ineffectual Having therefore forced the People of Catzenelbogen to swear Allegiance to him made Peace with Magdeburg and sent an Embassie to Inspruck as hath been fully related in the foregoing Book he entered into League with the French King which was confirmed by Hostages mutually given and both thought fit to publish a declaration of the causes of the War that they might thereby win the favour and good-will of many Albert Marquess of Brandenburg had a great hand in making this alliance who for that end went privately into France to treat with the King. In the mean time the Soldiers as well those who had besieged Magdeburg as the Garrison that held out the City had their Winter Quarters in Mulhausen and the places thereabouts and did much damage to those of Northhausen and Erford When the Emperor demanded the reason of this from Duke Maurice who had the chief Command in the War he was answered that the outrages they committed was for want of their Pay for this was the pretext he used when in reality they were listed in his Service and had been secretly sworn to their Colours And the better to perswade at the same time he sent his Ambassadors to Trent who were to pass by Inspruck to procure a safe conduct for the Divines that were to come and to propound some other things
Ulm to this Effect That the Norimbergers to their great loss being now subdued by him had accepted Conditions of Peace and promised to submit to what should be commanded them by him and the rest of the Confederates That he resolved to besiege them but in a far different manner and more closely than had been lately done that if Fortune favoured his Enterprise he would not spare Man nor Man-child above seven Years of Age unless they returned to their duty in time and instantly sent Deputies to give him and the Confederates Satisfaction and so wipe off the stain of their late Rebellion that he had ordered him by whom he sent his Letter to bring back their Answer which he commanded them to give positively that he might know their final Resolution To this Letter they gave a very short Answer that so long as they had Health and Life they would never condescend to his Demands The French King upon his March out of Germany having his Army divided into three Bodies came to Walterfingen a small Town in the Dominion of Lorrain upon the River Sare There all his Forces being united again on the twenty fifth of May he Marched and having past the Mosel entred the Dutchy of Luxembourg burning plundering and wasting the Country wherever he came being provoked by the Example of Van Rossem as they themselves affirm he also retook the Town of Asteney deserted by the Garrison for Van Rossem was now returned Home Having afterwards Encamped he took by Composition the little Town of Danvilliers and soon after Ivey one of the chief Forts in the Country In that Town was Ernest Count Mansfield Governour of the whole Province with the flower of the Youth who fell all into the Enemies Hands the Town was afterwards sacked by the unruly Soldiers against the King's Will as it was said but let us now return to Duke Maurice He was gone as we told you to Passaw about the treaty of Peace There on the first of June having resumed what was done in the Treaty at Lintz he declared his Mind more fully and plainly as to all Points There were present the Emperor's Ambassadors King Ferdinand Albert Duke of Bavaria the Bishops of Saltzburg and Aichstadt the Ambassadors of all the Princes Electors as also of the Dukes of Cleve and Wirtemberg and many others His grievances were That the Government of the Empire which ought to be free was in the Hands of Strangers that the Authority of the Princes Electors was impaired and that many things were done without their Advice or Knowledge that some things also were dismembred and alienated from the Empire that ways were taken to deprive them of their right of Electing the Emperor that in the Diets of the Empire the Opinions and Votes of the Electors were almost slighted that the private Assemblies of the Electors were out of a certain fear intermitted that their Jurisdiction was diminished whilst contrary to ancient Custom the Imperial Chamber admitted of Appeals from them that the Controversies of the States of the Empire were purposely fomented and never taken up till both Parties had received Damage that it was a hard matter to be admitted to Audience in the Emperor's Court where Cases were often mistaken for want of understanding the Language and that not only the Charges was great but much time also lost in waiting there that matters were not handled amicably in the Diets and that if any Man made a Proposal for the publick good it was taken ill that by those frequent and long lasting Diets Germany was Exhausted and Business often neglected at Home and nevertheless the Publick not a whit the better but many times the worse and more entangled thereby that severe Edicts were made that no Man should serve in foreign Wars that such as made their Peace were obliged not to fight against the Provinces of the Emperor and so were torn off from the Empire that they who according to Duty served their Lords in the Smalcaldick War were fined that they who persevered in the Emperor's Friendship were also made to Pay and that under pain of having their Lands and Goods put to Sale if they did not make present Payment and that their Ambassadors for not assenting immediately were commanded upon pain of Death not to depart from Court without Leave that foreign Soldiers had been several times brought into Germany and after the last War was over had been quartered up and down in the Country where they did many things dissolutely and licentiously glorying that Germany was subdued and would be annexed to the Patrimony of the Emperor who would have Castles and Citadells built in the chief Cities thereof that a vast number of great Guns and store of Ammunition had been carried as in Triumph out of Germany into strange Countries that some out of Vain-glory and Ambition had caused the Arms of German Princes to be put upon the Guns which were Cast for themselves as if they had been taken from them that Books were Published and that with Priviledge from the Emperor too to the great infamy and disgrace of Germany as if it had been Conquered and brought under Bondage that in the publick Diets some as representing the Emperor's Provinces were admitted into the Assembly of the Princes and States and that was done with secret Designs that the number being encreased they might carry all by Plurality of Voices that four Years since the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber had been Erected and Laws made by a very few Persons which were afterward promulgated to the great Prejudice of many especially of those of the Augustan Confession who were all excluded from that Bench that therefore the thing it self required that these Laws should be reviewed and better examined in the next Diet. These and other things of the like nature he propounded and forasmuch as they chiefly concerned the Emperor he demanded that they should be forthwith redressed and the Empire restored to its ancient Dignity and others not suffered to baffle and despise it The Mediators having consulted together were of opinion that these Demands were very reasonable but yet that in respect to the Honour and Dignity of the Emperor which was concerned and that he might be the more easily perswaded it was their Judgment that some things which related to the publick Reformation of the Government might be referred to a general Diet of the Empire The Bishop of Bayonne the French Ambassador was there who on the third of June made a Speech before the Princes to this Effect That in old time and before the name of Francs was known there had been so great a resemblance of Life and Manners betwixt the Gauls and Germans that the Germans are the People whom the Romans long ago called the Brethren of the Gauls but that when the Francs had planted themselves in Gallia now France there was such a Coalition of both Nations that they made but
do further declare to you and yours that you ought to be resposable for all the Calamities which shall ensue in this War you having refused to submit to any just and equal Conditions of Peace And we do not doubt but that Almighty God will rather assist us who seek nothing but the Preservation of our Country than you who have committed great Injuries in and began an unjust War against it When this Declaration was delivered to Albert the Ambassadors of the Elector of Brandenburg were in his Camp who were come to perswade him to a Peace And he having read it called his Commanders together and asked them if they would try their Fortunes with him which they promised him they would and thereupon he called the young Gentleman who brought him the Letter and speaking to him said Your Prince has already thrice broke his Faith with me and done ill by me and this is his fourth Action of the same Nature Let him come and I will try what he can do and this tell him from me And thereupon having according to the Custom given him some Crowns he sent him away Whereupon the Ambassadors who were come to Mediate a Peace addressed themselves to him and said What then Sir shall we do nothing No said he you may go Home But having a little more closely reflected on the Consequences of the War the third of July he sent Erick of Brunswick to the Emperor to inform him That by the Cunning of some Men many Enemies were stirred up against him to the End that not only the Pacts that had been made with him might not be performed but also that he might be driven out of his Country and deprived of his Possessions that there was no doubt but if Fortune favoured their Designs they would soon declare for the French Interest For in truth France had invited them with the Proffer of great Advantages to enter into a new Conspiracy as he could prove And that some of the Electors and great Princes had already conspired to set up a new Emperor That the Imperial Chamber was the only Promoter of the Designs of the two Bishops against him and therefore he desired the Emperor his Majesty would not take it ill that he had been compelled to make use of Force against them He further insisted That his Enemies in order to excite the publick Envy against him had spread abroad a Report as if he had Combined with the Emperor to oppress the Liberty of Germany and that some of the Princes had objected this to him and he said there were Letters to the same purpose spread about Germany which were pretended to be written from Arras that he Levied Forces to assist the Emperor in this Design For that the Emperor intended to send his Son the Prince of Spain and the Duke De Alva to the next Diet that he might there be declared Successor of the Empire That King Ferdinand was so fully perswaded of the Truth of this that he had entred into a League with his Enemies and has saith he declared a War against me he said he had excused this very carefully and to many but yet the suspition got strength every Day and that in truth all the Dangers and Difficulties to which he was exposed arose from no other cause than his adhering to the Emperor Therefore he did most humbly supplicate his Majesty to confirm his Treaty with the Bishops and to undertake the Protection of him and his in Consideration of which he promised he would bring nine Thousand Horse and one Hundred Foot Companies into the Emperors Service when-ever his Majesty should require them In the mean time the Forces of the City of Norimberg and the two Bishops in the Absence of Albert invaded his Territories Whereupon he put out a Declaration against the City of Norimberg accusing them of breaking their Faith and Promises to him and insinuating that by joyning in a League with those two Perfidious Bishops as he called them they seem'd well disposed to re-imbrace the Roman-Catholick Religion They on the other side Printed and Published an Answer soon after relating all things in the order they had happened and beginning with the Actions of the former Year they shew how cruel a War he had begun what Pacts they had made with him how with the Consent of the Emperor they had entred into a League with their Neighbour Bishops How Albert had rejected the most equal Terms the Bishops had offered to him and had nevertheless begun a War upon them how he had lately again Invaded the Territories belonging to this City only because pursuant to their League and in obedience to the Commands of the Imperial Chamber they had sent Succours to their Allies Amongst other ill things which they charged him with they mention this as an Instance of Cruelty which had never been practised by any Man before him That when he had made himself Master of Altorfe and Lawffe two Towns in their Territories he shut up in them not only the Inhabitants of these Towns but a great number of Men which he had brought together out of the Neighbouring Country together with their Cattel and then had Fired the said Towns in many places at the same time and especially at the Gates designing apparently to burn all these People with the Towns and that in this Fire many Women and Children and Aged and Sick Persons who could not make their way either through or over the City Walls were miserably burnt to Death And as to what he alledged concerning their changing their Religion they shew that Pretence was vain for that the League was only entred to the Intent to preserve themselves and theirs from unjust Force And as for Albert they said it was well known how little he regarded any Religion as they could shew by many Instances which they would certainly have inserted here but out of Reverence to the noble House of which he was descended and some other Princes that were his near Relations they would forbear doing it The fifth day of July Sigismond King of Poland Married Catherine one of the Daughters of Ferdinand King of the Romans which Lady had before been the Wife of the Duke of Mantoua Sigismond had before this in the Year 1535 Married Elizabeth another of the Daughters of Ferdinand and Sister of Catherine as I have related above in the fifteenth Book of this History Edward the sixth King of England a Prince of great and unquestioned Vertue and Hope died the sixth day of July as was commonly given out of a Consumption being about sixteen years of Age to the great Grief of all Pious Men. There followed in England after his Death great Changes as I shall relate hereafter There was soon after a report spread abroad that he was Poysoned However it is certain Europe has not in many Ages produced a Prince of so great Expectation From his Infancy he was well instructed in Religion and
he thought it belonged to him to appoint his Successor and the rather because there was a general and common Dispute concerning their Legitimacy and Mary did also profess the Roman Catholick Religion and if she should succeed he had reason to fear the Religion which was then established would be subverted and the Nation be endangered to be brought under the Dominion of a Foreigner He resolved therefore after great deliberation to chuse Jane Duchess of Suffolk Grand-child to Mary the younder Sister of Henry the 8th for his Successor This Resolution being approved by his Council and Nobility and the Mayor of London the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England was sent for to Court to sign it But he refused to do it till he had spoken with the King being accordingly admitted into the King's Chamber and having with great freedom discoursed this Business with him at last he consented upon the King 's extream importunity The King died as I have said the 6th of July and the fourth Day after Jane was proclaimed Queen of England and the Instrument was read at the same time reciting how King Edward for great and weighty Causes had with the Consent of his Peers disinherited Mary and Elizabeth his Sisters and transmitted the Succession of the Kingdom to Jane his Cousin The Nobility and People of England were much displeased with this not so much out of affection to the Princess Mary as out of hatred to the Duke of Northumberland there being very few or none who did not look upon him as the Author of this Project that he might bring the Crown into his own Family Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Princess Mary fled to the Castle of Framingham in Suffolk and assuming the Authority of a Queen implored the assistance of her Subjects This being known at London Northumberland levied Forces and with the consent of the Council marched out of the City with an Army to take the Queen But in the Interim that part of the Council which continued in London seeing the dissatisfaction of the People and that great Forces came in to the Assistance of the Queen in Suffolk they thereupon changed their Minds and proclaimed Mary Queen and detained Jane a Prisoner in the Tower. Assoon as the News of this change came to the Camp the Army which neither willingly embraced the Cause nor loved the General revolted also and upon the Receipt of a Letter to that purpose seized the Duke of Northumberland at Cambridge and brought him the 25th day of July a Prisoner into London It is incredible with what Reproaches the People entertain'd him Some call'd him Traytor others Parricide and other the Murtherer of a most innocent Prince For his attempting to set his Daughter-in-Law upon the Throne had caused a mighty Jealousie that he had a long time been forming this Project and in conclusion had hasted the King's Death Afterwards his Children and his Brother were taken into Custody and some other Noblemen and Sir John Cheek the King's Tutor a Person of great Learning and Virtue but this last was soon after dismissed when they had stripp'd him of almost all he had The Third of August Queen Mary entred London and going to the Tower she immediately released the Duke of Norfolk who had been almost seven years a Prisoner there Tonstal Bishop of Durbam and some others who being of the Roman Catholick Religion had been removed from their Sees whom she also restored to their Places again And as for Gardiner Bishop of Winchester though he had in a Printed Book defended the Divorce made by Henry the Eighth of Catherine the Mother of Queen Mary as I have set forth in the Ninth Book of this History yet she notwithstanding made him Lord Chancellor of England which is an Office of the greatest Dignity and Power in that Kingdom When Queen Catherine urged in her Defence the Bull of Pope Julius the Second in Approbation of her Marriage the King on the other side said it was invalid and sent Gardiner who was not then advanced to the Dignity of a Bishop to Pope Clement to procure that Bull to be by him declared void He coming to Rome in February in the Year 1529. earnestly pressed his Errand on the Pope Clement according to the Proverb had then got a Wolf by the Ears and though he was very desirous to please the King yet fearing to offend the Emperor he only said he would write to the Emperor to produce the true Bull. Gardiner consented to this but desired it might be done in two Months and when that time was elapsed that if the Bull were not then produced it might be declared false The Pope thought this way of Proceeding was contrary to the Custom and unjust and endeavoured to appease and quiet the King by good words But Gardiner said on the other side that if what the King desired were not done it would bring great Mischief on the See of Rome The Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother the 27th of April by their Ambassadors express'd their discontent at this and expostulated with the Pope as too too much inclin'd to favour the King and for that he had permitted the Case to be heard in England and at the same time they appointed Proctors to prosecute the Suit in their Names at Rome with large Commissions and Instruction Thereupon the Pope commanded Cardinal Campeio to return back to Rome to which he was induced by a Letter which he had received from Wolsely Archbishop of York wherein he had given the Pope an Account of a new Love the King had entertained as I have set forth in the said Eleventh Book The Twenty second Day of August the Duke of Northumberland having before been tried and found guilty of High Treason and received Sentence of Death was brought upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill where he made a Speech to the People and amongst other things exhorted them That they should continue stedfast in that Religion which they had received from their Ancestors affirming that he thought all the Calamities which had befallen the English especially since the Death of Henry the 8th proceeded from nothing but their having separated themselves from the rest of Christendom He had for some years before pretended to be of a contrary Opinion and had openly renounced the Roman Catholick Religion and it was said he had been prevailed upon to discourse thus upon Promises of a Pardon And although he ended his Speech with a Protestation that what he had said came from his heart yet some thought he repented it when he had look'd about him and saw there was no refuge to be expected and that he had been impos'd upon by flattering Promises Sir Thomas Palmer Knight who was beheaded at the same time professed the Protestant Religion with great constancy Northumberland was as I have said convicted of Treason and Rebellion and altho there were great Suspicions that he had poyson'd the late
Hoffe he went to Blasseburg his Principal Castle When Albert was retired Henry with his Army sat down before the City of Brunswick and battered it very furiously with his Cannon but the Bishops and the Norimbergers who maintained his Army sending for him he demanded of the Inhabitants of Brunswick about fourscore Thousand Crowns they denied this at first but the Garrison within the City refusing to bear Arms any longer for their defence without Pay forced them at last to promise Payment of it And Henry having appointed his Soldiers the day when they should receive their Pay marched away and passed through Thuringe This being known to John Frederick Duke of Saxony who till then had not been reconciled to him he left his Lady who was then sick at Weimar and with his three Sons went to Gothen to that purpose But Henry being then on his March wrote a Letter to the Duke to this Effect Though said he I have had a just Provocation and not been destitute of an Opportunity of late Years to revenge the Injuries you have done me in former times yet because then you were the Emperor's Prisoner I never attempted any thing against either your Children or Subjects but committed my wrongs to the Determination and Judgment of the Laws But you Sir were so far from acknowledging your former Injuries that you have lately entertained comforted aided and with your Council assisted the Marquess of Brandenburg the destroyer of Germany and my particular Enemy and although you did this very privately yet I was well acquainted with it If therefore my Army has in its March done any dammage in your Territories you have no reason to complain because you began your self Henry had in truth resolved to waste the Territories of Albert and Volrate Earls of Mansfield upon the account of the War the last Year but Augustus Duke of Saxony had interposed his Mediation at their Request and put an end to that difference upon the receipt of this Letter John Frederick sent Ambassadors to Henry and endeavoured to allay his anger so that Henry came to Weimar with two Troops of Horse and two Foot Companies and quartered the rest of his Army in the neighbouring Country And here he was met by Minquice the Duke's Chancellor and having entred into a Treaty with him at length he disposed him to terms of Amity And whereas Henry had before demanded great Sums of Money he perswaded him to remit a great part of it and after two days stay in that City without doing any dammage he friendly and quietly marched away The eighteenth day of October there was a Conference or dispute began in London by the command of the Queen concerning the Presence of Christ as they call it in the Sacrament of the Altar It was continued six days though not without some heats and ill Language One Weston a Roman-Catholick Divine who was the principal Mannager of the Dispute behaving himself very Intemperately What was the Issue of this Dispute we shall set forth together with the Laws which passed in this Session of Parliament About the end of October one Michael Servetus a Spaniard was burnt at Geneva He had many years since Printed several small Books in which amongst other things he had discoursed concerning the Trinity contrary to the Sense of the whole Church And coming this year to Geneva the Senate being informed of his being there commanded him to be apprehended and ordered Calvin who had before written against his Doctrines and the other Ministers of their Church that they should enter into a Conference with him There was a long and a sharp dispute between them Servetus without any Modesty often giving Calvin the Lye. In the Interim the Senate being very desirous to proceed with great deliberation in a thing of this weight consulted the Doctors of Berne Zurich Basil and Schafhouse who all said that these Doctrines were very Blasphemous and Injurious to the Majesty of God But Servetus not only stood to his Opinion but defended it with ill Language and Reproaches and was thereupon sentenced to Death When he came to the place of Execution William Farel exhorted him to call upon Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God but he refused so to do nor did he express the least Sign of Repentance yet because he did not defend his Doctrine before the People it brought a very great Envy upon Calvin whereupon he set forth a Book wherein he gives an account of his Doctrine and of whatever else had passed in this Affair and teacheth that the Sword may be lawfully imployed against Hereticks The thirtieth of October James Sturmius a Man of great Prudence and Integrity and on the account of his rare natural endowments and extraordinary Learning esteemed the Glory of the German Nobility died at Strasburg having been for two Months afflicted by a Quartane Ague he lived something above Sixty three Years About this time Reginald Pool one of the Cardinals who was sent from Rome through Germany to the Emperor when he was now arrived at Dillinghen a Town upon the Danube in the Borders of the Palatinate belonging to the Bishop of Ausburg was ordered by the Emperor who sent James Mendoza on that Errand to him to stay there till the Emperor should give him leave to come to him Henry of Brunswick left Weimar and the seventh day of November arrived in the Camp of the Confederates which was then at Lichtefelse a Town in the Bishoprick of Bamberg they had shut up in this Town nine Companies of Foot which were put into it by Albert which were the same that had before been at Birute and the Count of Plaw had some time before sate down before the Place with his own and the Forces belonging to the Confederates to which those under the Duke of Brunswick being now added and some Cannon being sent from Norimberg to batter the Town the tenth day of November they yielded themselves at discretion Some of the Captains being taken thereupon into Custody the rest disarmed and sent home without Colours This being done they Marched to Culembach a Town in the Territories of Albert and with their Cannon furiously battered it when therefore the Inhabitants saw they could not defend it they removed their Goods into the Castle of Blasseburg and having set Fire to their Houses retreated thither themselves upon this the Enemy rushing in put some few they found in the Town to the Sword and putting out the Fire took what was left Count Plaw having thus taken Lichteberg a Castle Hoffe and Birute two small Towns and dismantled them sate down before Basseburg the strongest place belonging to Albert and then very well Garrison'd About this time the French suddenly marching out of Piedmont surprized Verceile a Town belonging to Savoy and then in the Hands of the Spaniards But then considering that by reason of its vicinity to the Dukedom of Milan and being informed also that Gonzaga the
great change that was made in the Publick Religion and the Laws betook themselves to Germany some to Wesel and others to Franckfort and Strasburg John Alasco a Polander of Noble Birth and great Learning who was the Brother of Jerome before this Winter began went thence to Denmark but being not so kindly entertained there on the account of his differing from them in the Point of the Eucharist and being denied an Habitation on the same score in the Lower Saxony at length he went to Emden a City of Friseland and there he setled The Fourth Day of March the Queen put out a Book of Articles or Injunctions wherein she commanded the Bishops and their Vicars not to admit any man into Holy Orders who was suspected of Heresie That they should extirpate Heresies suppress and destroy hurtful and pestilent Books That they should prescribe certain Rules to all School-Masters and Preachers and suppress those who did not conform That they should deprive all Married Priests and punish them as their wickedness deserved but that those who with the consent of their Wives should promise to divorce themselves and to abstain for the future should be treated with more gentleness and that they should restore all those that would do Penance for this Offence to their Livings again That all Publick Prayers should be in the Latine Tongue and according to the ancient Forms That all the ancient Holy-days Fasts and Ceremonies should be again observed That all Children already Baptized when they grew up should be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed And that they should be taught in the Schools how they are to minister to the Priest in the Mass at the Altar When Henry the Eighth abolished the Papal Supremacy in England as I have observed in the Ninth Book of this History he passed an Act of Parliament that no man should be admitted to any Ecclesiastical Function or Dignity unless he had first taken an Oath in which he acknowledg'd him and his Successors Supream Head of the Church of England and that the Pope had no Authority over the Church nor was better than a Bishop of Rome with whom they would have nothing to do This Oath the Queen even now remitted and commanded the Bishops not to exact it of any man and thereby did tacitly restare the Pope's Supremacy That which concerns the Publick Prayers went thus Henry the Eighth had commanded them to be said in the vulgar Tongue and in them amongst other things they prayed that God would deliver them from the Seditions Conspiracies and Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and this Printed Form of Prayer was by this Order of the Queen abolished Soon after this Elizabeth the Queens Sister a Lady of great Learning was committed to the Tower because she was suspected to have had an hand in Wiat's Rebellion In the End of March the Enemies of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg returned to the Siege of Schweinfurt In April there came over into Germany Sir Richard Morison Knight whose Embassie I have mentioned in the Book before this Sir Anthony Cook and Sir John Cheeke Knights both the King's Schoolmasters and Men of great Learning and these all afterwards travelled into Italy And soon after Dr. John Poinet Bishop of Winchester came over also who together with many other Bishops was about this time displaced by reason of this Change of Religion The Forces of the Duke of Florence and the Pope besieging Siena about this time Peter Strozza who defended that City in the Name of the King of France learning something of their state by his Spies on a sudden made a Sally upon them and slew a great number of their Souldiers but they recruited their Army and continued the Siege for all that Loss whereupon the King of France levied Three Thousand Swiss for the relief of that Place The Duke of Florence also marries his Daughter to Ascanio the Pope's Nephew and the Methods of advancing his Fortunes by this Marriage were taken into consideration About this time also Ferdinand Gonzaga Governor of the Duchy of Milan came into Flanders to the Emperor Baptista Castaldus whom the Emperor had sent some years since into Hungary as I have said came also about this time to him About the middle of April Sir Thomas Wiat was executed at London He declared that neither the Lady Elizabeth nor Courtney Earl of Devonshire were acquainted with the Rebellion About the same time Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Hugh Latimer Bishop of London were removed first to Windsor and then to Oxford and a Disputation being mannaged against them by the Students both of Oxford and Cambridge the 16th 17th and 18th of April concerning Transubstantiation and the Propitiatory Sacrifice of the Mass and they continuing stedfast in their Former Opinion they were again committed to Prison At the same time there was a Parliament sate in England wherein the Queen especially recommended to the States her Marriage and the restitution of the Pope's Supremacy The first of these she carried upon certain Conditions but the latter was so vigorously opposed by the Upper House that she could not then bring it about In the mean time Cardinal Poole having spent some time with the Emperor in Flanders went to the King of France and endeavoured to bring these Princes to make a Peace but his Mediation had no good success In the end of April Albert of Brandenburg having received 60000 Crowns set Aumale his Prisoner at Liberty A little before this time Holansperg another of his strong Places was taken from him by the Confederates Not long after this the Emperor being then at Brussels by his Letters confirmed the Outlawry decreed the last Winter in the Imperial Chamber of Spire against the Marquess of Brandenburg in which having complained that the Marquess had with impunity committed such Ravages and made such Devastations in the Empire he in the next place severely commands all the Princes and States and especially those that lay next him to execute the said Sentence against the Marquess There had before this been two Meetings at Rotenburg a City of Franconia upon the River Tauber in order to the putting an end to this War but they being both frustrated the Emperor put out this Decree against him which was set up in all places and soon after there was a Diet of the Circle of the Rhine holden at Worms concerning this Business I have often mentioned the General Diet which was summoned in August but the Emperor being hindred from being present in it both by Sickness and Wars Ferdinand his Brother at his Request undertook the management of it and sollicited the Princes to meet who excused their Appearance there on the account of the troubled state of Germany The Emperor had already sent thither some of his Council and amongst them the Cardinal of Ausburg but none of the Princes coming thither for the Causes aforesaid it was deferred to a fitter opportunity Albert had
the Emperor resigns the Government to his Son. The Answer of the Roman-Catholicks to the Demands of the Lutherans Those Bishops that change their Religion are to be removed A Parliament in England Libells against the Spaniards spread about London John Gropper offered a Cardinal's Hat which he refused The Deputies of Austria ask of Ferdinand a Liberty to embrace the Reformation The Duke of Prussia professeth the Augustan Confession Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Burnt The Bavarians desire to embrace the Reformation A Truce between the Emperor and King of France The Cardinal of Ausburg's Apology The Diet opened at Ratisbone Transylvania revolts from King Ferdinand The Emperor and his Sisters set Sail for Spain The Death of John Sleidan the Author of this History I Have given an account how England returned under the obedience of the See of Rome in the last Book when the account of this Revolution which was sent with the utmost Celerity came to the Knowledge of that Court there was a vast Joy expessed in the City and extraordinary Processions were made to the Churches and the twenty fourth of December the Pope published a Declaration to this purpose After I had heard saith he that England which has now for some Years been separated and torn off from the Body of the Church was by the immense Mercy of God and the extraordinary Diligence Faith Study and Labour of King Philip Queen Mary and Reginald Cardinal of England reduced to the Communion of the Church and the obedience of this See My Mind was filled with a mighty Joy and as was fit I forthwith rendred to Godâs great Thanks as I could nor have I since omitted any thing which might tend to the Communicating the Fruit and Benefit of this my Joy to the whole City But then as the Father in the Gospel who received his Prodigal Son was not satisfied with an inward Exultation and private Joy but invited others to his Feast that they too might rejoice with him and make merry So that the whole Earth may understand the greatness of my Joy I will and Command that publick Thanksgivings and Prayers be made And also by the Authority and Power which I have I allow every Man the Liberty to chuse what Priest he likes best and that having rightly confessed his Sins to him I allow also that Priest a Faculty to remit all sorts of Sins how abominable soever they be even those Sins which belong only to me to remit and which are wont by Name to be excepted And that he shall not only remit the Guilt but the Penalty or Pain due to those Sins which are so confessed That he shall impose what satisfaction he thinks fit and relax all Vows except those of Chastity and religious Orders and so as they be commuted into other works And trusting in the Mercy of God and the intercession of St. Peter and St. Paul I grant a full and intire remission of all Sins which is only granted at the Determination of fifty years at other times to all those who with an humble and contrite Heart shall turn to God and perfectly confess their Sins as soon as they hear of this my Bull and shall twice or thrice in a Week endeavour to appease God by Fasting Alms and other Pious Exercises and shall after this receive the Holy Eucharist with Thanksgivings beseeching God in their Prayers that he would illuminate those that walk in the darkness of Error with the Light of his Countenance that he would send us Peace and incline the Hearts of Kings to Concord And I grant the same Benefit to those who are hindred by Age or Sickness from performing what is above required And that these our Letters may be every where Published I command all Patriarchs Archbishops and the like so soon as they receive the Copy hereof that they forthwith divulge it throughout their several Provinces and as it is a free Gift that they propose it every where without any gain I have said in the former Book that Blasseburg was the principal Fortress the Marquess of Brandenburg had in all his Country and that it was surrendred to the Confederates These Princes considering that being by one means or another recovered it might be the occasion of greater Mischiefs and about this time entirely ruined and demolished it to the great Exasperation of the whole Family of Brandenburg and of all the Kindred of it In the Interim Ferdinand King of the Romans both before he left his Territories and after he arrived at Ausburg for the holding the Diet did continually by his Envoys and Letters sollicit the Princes to hasten thither as I said in the last Book His first and greatest Care was to perswade Augustus Elector and Duke of Saxony He had before this alledged for his Absence the unsettled State of Saxony and now again sent his Deputies to the Diet with the same Excuses and occasionally mentioning the Turks he endeavoured to shew the great danger Germany was exposed to which heretofore having been Potent and formidable to her Enemies was now almost exhausted and depopulated by the many Mischiefs and Wounds she had suffered He said this Calamity received a great Improvement from the disaffection and distrust which the States of the Empire laboured under That the Emperor and his Majesty had omitted nothing which might procure a Remedy against this Disease But that hitherto all their Labour had been in vain for that the Minds of Men were so Exasperated and such ways were open to the admitting new offences that it was not reasonable to expect any mitigation His Brother Maurice some years since he said had commanded that some Ceremonies and other things of an indifferent Nature should be retained in the Churches of his Provinces but then this Command was not only slighted and disobeyed but was attacked by many Libels and rude Reproaches so that afterwards it was not in his Power to re-establish those things unless he would have exposed himself and that by this means some other Princes had been deterred from attempting any thing of this Nature But now those who are of the other Party and oppose the Augustan Confession have given apparent Signs that they intend not the least Pious and Legal Reformation by the Actions of the former times when this affair was considered either in Councils or Conferences Seeing therefore after so many fruitless Labours the loss of many Years and the disappointment of many Councils no way to an Agreement and Union could be found out because perhaps it was the Pleasure of God thus to punish the Sins of Men therefore he desired very earnestly that the Confession of Faith delivered in at Ausburg as a Sum of the Christian Religion might not be thought by his Majesty an impious Book but that it was a pure and a Pious Writing which shew that the Son of God was the Author of Salvation that the Doctrine of it did exactly agree with the
for that the present state of his own Provinces required his Presence because the Turks seemed to be preparing for some new Enterprises against them and threatned high though he was then in Treaty with them and because nothing could to any good purpose be debated and determined if the Electors were not present in Person he thought it was the best way to prorogue the Diet to another time and that in this Convention a Decree should be made to this Purpose Because by reason of the absence of the Princes no Decree can now be made We are pleased to deferr all the further Transactions to another Convention of the States which shall be holden at Ratisbon about the beginning of March in the next Year and then the Princes shall be present in Person that they together with the Emperor or King of the Romans may determine and fix those things which have been now debated or which shall then come under Deliberation And that in the mean time the Pacification of Passaw shall remain in its full force and whereas that contains a Resolution first That in a Diet of the Empire of Germany should be considered whether the differences of Religion might be ended by a general National Council or by a Conference and lastly That this question should be determined by the common advice of all the States and by the ordinary Authority of the Emperor Therefore he who loved Peace and Agreement was resolved to exhibit in the next Convention a Writing concerning the way of determining those things which were now in Controversie That there should be nothing of Fraud in it and that what was offered should only aim at the appeasing the present Offences and the mitigating their mutual Exasperations and give them means of considering with the greater certainty whether the way he should then propose could put an end to the differences or whether it would be necessary to seek out another Therefore he desired they would approve this Prorogation and that they would in Person attend at the next Diet as he had given them an Example who for the sake of the Commonwealth had in this been so many Months absent from his own Provinces That he had chosen Ratisbon because by reason of the impending Dangers which he feared from the Turks he could not conveniently go further than that City from his own Bounds That therefore they should assure him what their Intentions were that he might be certain the thing should not be any longer delayed that so the better part of that time too might not be spent in a vain Expectation as has often happened already These Demands being made the greatest part of the Princes were of Opinion that they should not part till the Peace were confirmed for that all Germany was in great Expectation this would now be done and that seeing they were now nearer an Agreement than at any time before therefore they desired to see this dispatched before his Departure that so in the next Diet they might proceed to the business of the Turks and the other affairs of the Empire with the greater Expedition As to what concern'd the Book he mentioned some of them said what happened about seven years since to a former Book written and published concerning Religion would certainly be the Fate of this For that they could well remember the Reproaches it met with and whereas it was proposed and by a Law established by the Emperor only for Peace sake it became the occasion of very great Offences and Contentions when Ferdinand about the Twenty fifth of August had received this Answer from the Deputies the thirty first of the same Month he gave in an Answer to the Papers delivered him by both the Parties in which he shews what was his own Opinion and especially as to what concerned the Bishops that is that if any of them changed his Religion he should immediately be removed from the Administration of his Bishoprick and be deprived of the Revenues belonging to it and he very largely exhorted the Protestants to yield their Consent to this For said he this Condition takes nothing from you but only takes Care that if any Bishop deserts his Order and falls from the ancient Religion the Benefices or Diocesses shall nevertheless continue in the same state they were at first Instituted which in it self is agreeable to the Law the Statutes of the Empire and the Pacification of Passaw which last in express terms saith That all those who follow the ancient Religion shall not be disturbed whether they be Laymen or Ecclesiasticks in their Religion Ceremonies Goods Possessions Rights or Privileges but they shall quietly use and enjoy all these without the interruption of any Person whatsoever That I do not see saith he why this condition should be refused which tends directly to the same end that is that they may quietly enjoy what is their own which it is certain they cannot do if they part with this Security for then it will follow that those who have deserted the ancient Religion and yet will retain the Administration and the Possession of the Revenues will thereby hinder the Colleges or Chapters from dealing with them according to their Laws and another inconvenience will follow upon it which is that there will be no great affection between their Bishop and them Seeing therefore it is fit that according to the Laws of their Institution fit Persons should govern and administer the Diocesses and that if they act contrary to the Laws and make a âefection from their Order that then their Colleges should remove them from their Places and take Care that this Defection may hurt only one Man therefore surely this Demand ought not to be denied And therefore I do with great earnestness exhort you that you would not persist any longer in this Refusal For amongst other things you are to consider they do not prescribe to you after what manner and form you shall act in those Bishopricks Colleges Chapters or Benefices which are all ready in your Possession nor how you shall treat the Ministers of your Church who shall violate your Laws and neglect their Duties For as it would be very troublesome and grievous to you if they should desire that such of your Ministers who have deserted your Religion and do make it their Business to oppose it should yet be retained by you So it must be much more grievous to them if theirs must still retain the Administration of their Diocesses and the possession of their Revenues who have cast off their Religion and oppose it for what can be expected from hence but Suits Offences and Contentiens So that the very Foundations of the thing we are seeking in this Treaty Peace shall be hereby rained and entirely destroyed The eighth day after the Protestants replied that it was not their intention to prescribe a Rule to the Ecclesiasticks and much less that the Revenues of the Bishopricks should be dissipated or that the
except ye are resolved to feel the greatest of all Calamities and Miseries I will not be larger now and I trust you will in this do what the necessity of Affairs and the consideration of your Duty shall require But they on the contrary urged the same things over again and said they could not desist and if they obtained nothing the consideration of the Supplies would thereby be obstructed and hindred because they had no Command to promise any thing till they had obtained a sufficient Security for the freedom of Preaching their Religion their Ministers and Schoolmasters In this Month of February Henry Duke of Brunswick Married the Sister of Sigismond King of Poland and about the same time John Isemburg Archbishop of Trier Died and was succeeded by John Ley. The twenty sixth of the same Month the Elector Palatine Frederick died at Alzem in a great old Age and Otto Henry his Brother's Son succeeded him who had before imbraced the Reformation and had thereby run the hazard of being deprived of all his Fortunes He having taken the Oath of Allegiance of his People presently put out an Edict that no Man should say Mass or use the other Ceremonies of the Church in his Dominions In our twenty second Book we have given an account of the disturbances raised in Prussia by Osiander who had brought in a new Doctrine concerning Justification but the greatest part of the Learned Men disliking his Opinion Albert Duke of Prussia by a publick Declaration set forth that he was resolved to follow the Doctrine of the Augustan Confession and therefore he Commanded the Ministers of the Churches to Teach according to it and promised them to pass by what was past if they obeyed thiâ Edict for the future That therefore this Controversy might be truly composed and not break out afresh John Albert Duke of Meckelburg the Son-in-Law of the Duke of Prussia a Prince of very great Learning went thither and calling in the Assistance of some other Learned Men he reduced John Funcius the principal Man of the Osiandrians to an open acknowledgment of his Error and obtained a Promise from him that he would for the future Teach according to the Augustan Confession and this being done by the other Divines of that Province too there was a Reconciliation made between the Parties and that Church was setled in Peace The fourth day of March a Comet appeared and was seen for twelve days together and in the same Month the Deputies of the German Princes and Cities met at Ratisbon and began with the consideration of the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg because his Adversaries in the last Diet had desired the Assistance of the Princes against him But his Kindred interposing on his behalf it was at last decreed that he should have the publick Faith for his Security and that this Cause should be determined by Arbitrators and upon his return into Germany out of France in the Month of February there was accordingly a Treaty begun which was now assumed by the Diet the affairs of the Empire being delayed to the Month of April Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury had been long since condemned and after the Death of Ridley and Hooper was returned back to his Prison as I have said but now the twenty first of March he was burnt at Oxford Some few days before upon promise of Life and at the urgent Perswasion of some that were sent to him he had recanted most of his former Doctrines and appeared unconstant but when he saw he must die he made an Exhortation to the People wherein he spoke much of Repentance and amendment of Life the People being very attentive to him then he said how much he had offended God by denying the Truth and recapitulating the principal Points of Doctrine he shortly explain'd his Belief as to each of them and proved that the Papacy was the Kingdom of Antichrist Here he was interrupted and after many Reproaches he was hurried to the Place of Execution When he was tied to the Stake and the Fire was kindled about him he stretched forth his Right Hand saying This has Sinned by subscribing those wicked Doctrines which the Enemies of the Truth proposed to me and therefore it shall first be Punished he thereupon thrust it into the Flames as far as he could that it might first be Tormented Thus was the Primate of England Burnt a Person of great Learning and Authority At the time the Papal Character was taken from him by what they call a Degradation which is attended with many Ceremonies he was forced to wear mean Cloaths made of Canvas and he was now brought out in this Habit that he might be scorned but it had a contrary Effect for that the greatest part of the Spectators commiserating his Condition could not forbear weeping over him though they did not doubt but he was changing this miserable Life for an Immortal one and passing into his Heavenly Country Cardinal Pool soon after was enriched with his Spoils and made Archbishop of Canterbury having the Winter before been made a Priest for he was only a Cardinal-Deacon when he came over As the Inhabitants of the Lower Austria sollicited King Ferdinand to grant them the free Exercise of the Lutheron Religion so the Subjects of the Duke of Bavaria about the same time became very troublesom to Albert their Duke upon the same account This Prince observing that King Ferdinand his Father-in-law had yielded something he also having then need of Money did for a time comply with his Subjects and granted them liberty to take the Sacrament of the Lord 's Supperin both Kinds and to eat Flesh on the days prohibited in case of great necessity Yet at the same time he made a long Protestation That he would not desert the Religion of his Ancestors nor suffer any thing to be changed in the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church which he said was not lawful for him to do without the consent of the Supreme both Civil and Ecclesiastical Magistrate And that he granted these two things for so long time only as till there was a publick Order made to the contrary or a Reconciliation between the contending Parties for that it was his will that all his former Orders concerning Religion should be exactly observed in all other Points but these Two and that in these he would take all the care he could that the Metropolitans and Bishops should confirm these his Concessions and should not on these accounts trouble any of them This Edict was dated the last day of the month of March. About this time some of the Nobility of Transylvania revolted from King For dinand whereupon he commanded the Dyet to be prorogu'd to an uncertain day and began to levy Forces which were afterwards sent down the Dââube towards Hungary There is a Town call'd Oberen seated in Alsatia three miles from Strasburg an Inhabitant of this place who was a Vine-Dresser being then in
too much and would for his sake prejudice others But then how candidly I manag'd that business will appear by my Letters to him Seeing then I have been thus disposed towards him and he cannot charge me to have omitted any thing which it became me to do for him I have great confidence that as becomes his natural Virtue and true Nobility he will believe my Words or rather my Actions which are full of light than these seditious men who like Bellows endeavour to kindle a Fire amongst us With how great charity and kindness I have ever entertain'd all Germans whil'st I was at Rome out of a kind remembrance I have of my dearest Country may be easily known from the Ambassadors of many of the Princes and many of the Nobility will bear me witness who were then at Rome when I was there insomuch that the Nobility of Mentz Trier Cologne Saxony Brandenburg Magdeburg Bavaria Brunswick Passaw Osnaburg Minden and Basil did all as one man repair to me who heard all their Affairs with great fidelity and by my Interest and Commendations I procured some of them Commanders Places and other Employments which were convenient for them And now as to what concerns the Landtgrave what a silly fiction the story of one Titelman is for I never had any discourse with the Landtgrave or his Sons about this Affair nor do I remember I ever mention'd him all the while I was at Rome or in Italy It is equally as unknown to me what the Ministers of his Countries Teach or Recant and I may truly aver that to my knowledge there was no such Recantation made at Rome and therefore I do not question but if he be ask'd the Landtgrave himself will confute both this and the story of his Commendation as false Now seeing the Authors of this wicked Libel have basely made all that is in it that they might by these Lyes revive that Fire which they kindled so many years since to the end that it might break out afresh and burn with equal Rage it is fit the Princes and Magistrates should diligently preserve themselves from the danger of them and when they shall be discover'd to make them such Examples of their Justice as may terrifie others from the same Offences Lastly If there should happen to be some who on the account of these slanders have taken up and ill Opinion of me I most earnestly desire them they would lay by their hard thoughts of me and that they would certainly believe that as I am a German by Birth and descended of an Illustrious and Noble Family so I will do nothing unworthy of the Virtue of my Ancestors and the Dignity of my Family Having as I said published this Paper the 27th of June he sent âeveral Letters to the same purpose to the Princes of Germany and then return'd back to Rome at the same time that Bona the Mother of Sigismund King of Poland return'd to Naples her Native Country In the mean time there were as is reported some Commotions in England and some were Imprison'd and others Beheaded and others escaped into France in which number was Andrew Dudley Brother to the late Duke of Northumberland and two of the Princess Elizabeth's Servants were taken up The 15th of May Peter Cart who had fled some months before for a Sedition was reconcil'd to King Philip and Sir John Cheeck who had been Praeceptor to Edward VI. and was come into the Low Countries to meet his Wife and going from Brussels to Antwerp they were both taken and treated with great Indignity ând at last shipp'd for London In the end of June Thirteen were ty'd to one Stake and burnt near London for their Religion In the mean time Charles Marquess of Baden received the Augustan Confession and borrowed Ministers of the Neighbour Princes and States to instruct People and reform his Churches The Chamber of Spire had before this time admitted one or two Ministers of the Gospel Maximilian the eldest Son of King Ferdinand going about this time from Vienna with Elizabeth his Lady a Daughter of the Emperour 's the 17th of July they arrived at Brussels which Journey they undertook after a long sollicitation to it Peter Martyr the Florentine who has been often mentioned by me lefe Strââburg about this time and went to Zurich upon the account of the revival of the old Quarrel concerning the Lord's Supper he having been ill treated in some Books written on that Subject which inclin'd him the more to setle in Zurich where he should have greater liberty to write upon it and teach his Judgment in this Point Conradus Pelicanus the old Professor of Hebrew at Zurich died also about this time and thereupon the Ministers of that City persuaded their Senate to write to that of Strasburg to send them Peter Martyr to be his Successer The 13th of July he left Strasburg to the great sorrow of many who loved him for his incomparable Learning exquilite Judgment great Civility and Modesty and his other rare Virtues About the same time the Archbishop and Cardinal of Pisa who was a Sicilian by Birth travell'd through Bafil to the Emperour in the Low Countries to whom he was sent by the Pope the Cardinal of Carassa a near Kinsman of the Pope's having been sent some small time before to the King of France There was a Report which was also confirm'd by Writing That there were great Debates between the Pope and the Emperour and that things tended to a War for that amongst other Grievances the Pope had disposessed the Family of Colonna of their Estates in Campagnia di Rome which was esteem'd an Injury to the Emperour and besides he would not admit King Philip the Emperour's Son to the Succession of the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily which are Fees holden of the See of Rome but upon very hard conditions those Kingdoms paying a Tribute to the Popes of Rome This ended in a War the next year The 15th of July Albert Duke of Bavaria in the Name of King Ferdinand began the Dyet at Ratisbon he being in the mean time detain'd from coming hither at the time appointed by his Dyets in Austria and Bohemia which as I said he was now holding Hereupon he acquainted the States with the great Difficulties which oppressed him and the Reasons why he could not be present in this Dyet He said That all Transylvania had revolted to one John by the procurement of one Peter Petrowich a Subject of his and when there was no necessity nor any just cause of War sollicited the Turk for Succours That after this Francis Beveck and George his Son had raised a Rebellion against him in Hungary and with the help of the Walachians had taken several Towns and Castles That the Turks had sent a Bassa to govern Buda That another Bassa in the time of a Treaty of Peace had besieged Sigeth from the 11th of June and had batter'd it with all the violence
V. It was penn'd in Latin but I could no where find the Latin Copy and perhaps it was never printed at least I am sure it is very scarce and not likely to be ever used again by any Prince till Time shall be no more The Emperour knew very well saith Thuanus that next to God the Right of Electing and Receiving the Resignation or Surrender of the Empire was in the seven Electoral Princes and that without their Consent and Authority this could not be done and to dispose them to approve and allow this Act of his he had appointed William of Nassaw Prince of Orange George Sigismond Seldius Vice Chancellour of the Empire and Wolfang Haler one of his Secretaries of State to be his Ambassadours to them But a War soon after breaking out between the King of France and his Son King Philip by the breach of the late Truce it was two Years ere that Command of his took its effect In the mean time John Archbishop of Trier of the Family of the Counts of Isemburg died and John Laien succeeded him and Adolph Archbishop of Cologne was succeeded by Anthony his Brother The Emperour set sail the fifteenth of September with a Fleet of sixteen Spanish and twenty Flemmish Ships all Men of War besides the Admiral in which he and his two Sisters went. At Portsmouth seven English Ships joyned him and at the Isle of Wight seven more He arrived safely at Laredo a Port in Biscaye where he was entertained by a great concourse of the Nobility and Deputies of the Cities of the Kingdom of Spain So soon as ever he set his Foot upon the Shoar he prostrated himself upon the Earth and kissing it he said Hail my beloved Mother naked came I out of my Mother's Womb and now I return naked to thee again as to another Mother and here I consecrate and give to thee my Body and my Bones which is all the Acknowledgment I can give for all thy numerous Benefits bestowed upon me His next care was to make a formal and a publick Renunciation of the Kingdom of Spain to his Son Philip in this great Assembly After this he spent two Days at Valladolid with his Grand-son Don Carolo instructing that unfortunate Prince in the Rules of Glory and Virtue and doubtless it was a noble Lecture which so great a Prince like another Patriarch made to his supposed Heir From hence this Glorious Prince retired to a Place he had chosen to spend the remainder of his Life being a Valley in the Borders of Spain and Portugal equally Delightful for the Temper of the Air and the Pleasant Crown of Hills which incircled it and supposed to be the Place where the famous Sertorius was basely murthered It is well watered with Springs and Rivolets and rarely Fruitful and lies about eight Spanish Miles from Placentia a City of the Kingdom of Leon by the Town of Scaradilla this Place he had remarked in Hunting and had ordered a small Apartment of seven Rooms fourteen Foot square to be built for him and here he lived with twelve Servants and one Horse for his own use having reserved an hundred thousand Crowns for his Subsistence which was not over well paid neither spending his Time in the innocent Arts of Grafting Gardning and Reconciling the Differences of his Clocks which yet he could never make to strike together and therefore ceased to wonder He had not been able to make Men agree in the Nicities of Religion Here he first heard of the breach of Truce between his Son and the King of France and though he was something concerned at it yet he concluded the Rashness of the Old doating Pope and the Perfidy of the Caraffa's would end in the Ruine of the Prosperity of France as it came afterwards to pass The last Day of October saith the great Thuanus John Sleidan when he had brought down his History to that time with an exact Faith and Diligence dyed of the Pague at Strasburg in the one and fiftieth Year of his Age. He was born at Sleidan a Town in the Dukedom of Juliers near Dueren and from thence he took his Name a Person who for his Learning and great Experience in Affairs was much esteemed by that Age He had spent the greatest part of his Youth in France and being entertained in the Family of Bellay had both learned and done great things in the Service of Cardinal John Du Bellay but a sharp Persecution arising in France against those that were suspected of Lutheranisme he went and lived at Strasburg and served that Free City and being by his own Employments much enformed of the Carriage of Affairs he added to what he had seen what he had learned from Men worthy of Credit and wrote his Book of Commentaries Paul IV had succeeded Marcellus a short lived Pope the twenty sixth of May in the Year 1555 as John Sleidan has set forth in his last Book he was a Man of a Furious and unquiet temper and made it his great Design to raise the See of Rome to its former Greatness and Authority but not considering the present state of things mistook his Measures The Submission of England had raised in him extravagant Hopes of Reducing Germany too under his Obedience but then the Peace of Religion appeared so contrary to that Design that it irritated him to the utmost and he threatned the King of the Romans and the Emperour That in a short time he would make them know to their Sorrow how much they had offended him if they did not prevent it by revoking and disallowing the things they had granted That he might have no occasion to proceed as he intended to do not only against the Lutherans but even against them too as Abettors of them But all this Ranting Zeal missing its due Effect he began his Revenges on King Philip the Son of the Emperour who was the best Friend that See had then in Christendom by denying to admit him to the Kindgom of Naples Marc Antony Colonna a Favorite of Philip King of Spain had about this time dispossessed Ascanius his Father who was a Subject of the Popes but had a great Estate in the Kingdom of Naples of all that lay in that Kingdom upon pretence that he was infected with Heresie that he favoured the French Interest against the Emperour and that he lived a dissolute Life And the Accusation had been countenanced and encouraged by King Philip to that height that the Father as much as in him lay at his Death disinherited his Son giving his Estates in the Papacy to the See of Rome and those in the Kingdom of Naples to Victoria his Daughter the Wife of Garzia de Toledo This was made the Pretence of the ensuing War between the Pope and the King of Spain into which the French and English were drawn too and all Christendom almost imbroiled again The Pope however considering that he was not able to deal
the payment of Six thousand Crowns which was confirm'd by a Treaty Signed and Sworn between them and the King of Poland After which Furstemberg resigned his Dignity to Gotard Ketler There was also a Complaint made by the Livonians against the Inhabitants of Lubeck Riga and Revel for furnishing the Russ who were the Enemies of Germany not only with all sorts of Mechandize imported by them to Narva a Town of Russia but also with Arms and Ammunition which for the future was by a Law made in this Dyet forbidden which was afterwards repeal'd The Twenty eighth of March the French Embassadors were introduced into the Dyet and after they had in an Elegant Speech declared the great Affections their Master had for the Emperor and the States of Germany they desired the ancient League might be renewed between the Empire and that Kingdom and that for the future there might be a firmer and closer Union and Friendship Upon this the Emperor returned Thanks to the Embassadors saying That the King might be assured of the Friendship of the Empire the Princes and States and of his too if his Actions did agree with his Words and those Cities which had lately been taken from the Empire were restored to it That this being done he did not see what could hinder their entring into a sincere Friendship At this the Embassadors replied That they had no Instruction concerning what he had proposed about the Cities but they would give an Account of it to the King their Master and in the mean time they desired the States would meet the King's Proposals of Friendship with equal Candour Upon this the Assembly broke up and the Embassadors were re-conducted back with great Civility and Respect to whom it was hinted that the Emperor could not but mention the Restitution of the Cities but then that neither he the Princes nor the States would break with the King of France though those Cities were not restored They decreed also a Noble Embassy to the King of France in which the Cardinal of Ausburg and Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg were employed One David George a Native of Delft in Holland born of mean Parents his Father being a Fencer and his Mother a mean Woman and himself unacquainted with any other than his Mother-Tongue was a Person of great seeming Moderation so that all took him for a very Honest and well-meaning Man tho' he was of a stubborn and incorrigable disposition He was a Person of a comely Countenance and good meine and all the Motions of his Body were Grave and becoming so that he seemed made up of Honesty This Man spread amongst his Country-men the Pestilent Sect of Anabaptists to which they were very much disposed and this being done to his great advantage for he had got a good Estate by it and fearing he might not be safe if he continued any longer in his Native Country where he was accounted the Head of that Sect he went with some of his Followers to Basil in the Year 1544 under the Name of John Bruck and the first of April made a Speech in the Senate of that City desiring He might be protected by them as one forced to flee for his Religion and that they would receive his Wife Children Family and Fortunes as in a safe Harbour The Cause the Person and the Speech agreeed so exactly and his Temper was so wholely unknown to them as well as his former Life and his Country being very remote what he said appeared so like Truth and had happened to so many others That August 25 having given the usual Oath he was taken into the Protection of that City where he lived with that Respect to the Magistrate that Humanity towards the Citizens and the Civility towards all observing carefully their Religious Rites and in all things behaved himself so well that he gave not the least occasion to any to suspect him of any erroneous Doctrin and he was as well thought of by the most as he desired to be or was esteemed by his own Party Thus he lived very quietly in his Family observing very strictly three things 1. Concealing the Name of David George by which he was well known in Holland and Friesland 2. Of what State and Condition he was at Home so that some took him for a Person of good Birth others for a Nobleman or Rich Merchant 3. Lastly he took Care not to admit any into his Sect of the City of Basil or of the neighbouring Country But in the mean time he took care by Letters Books and Messengers to enlarge his Sect in Holland and in other such distant Places But as to Switzerland he medled not for fear he might be discovered Having thus spent six Years with great Pleasure there happened a thing which gave him some Disturbance one of his Followers falling off upon better Information and appearing with great Zeal against the Doctrins of his quondam Master His House being also burnt with Lightning was a sad Presage That his good Fortune and his Life were near their End. But that which most afflicted him was That an able Person was come from Holland who had given an exact account of him and his Family to the Citizens of Basil this brought a great Despondence of Mind upon him and that a Sickness which seized his Wife also who dyed first and David George followed her himself August 25 1556 and he was buried with great Pomp in the Church of S. Leonard Thus died that famous Impostor and Deceiver who had pretended That he was greater and more Divine than Christ and Immortal that the Doctrin of Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles was imperfect and did not lead to a true and perfect Felicity but his was such as would certainly make him who rightly understood it happy That he was the true Christ and Messiah the most beloved Son of the Father who was begotten not of Flesh but by the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Christ which having reduced his Flesh to nothing and kept it in a certain place unknown to the Saints had at last delivered it to David George with much more such Blasphemous Non sense After his Death the Fraud broke out and this Year March 12 his Sons and all that belonged to him to the number of eleven were brought before the Senate and examined concerning his Name Country and Doctrin And they answering as he had taught were committed to different Prisons and all his Papers and Writings were delivered to the Divines April 26 the Divines and University having considered them condemn'd his Doctrin as false contrary to the sacred Scriptures pernicious and injurious to Jesus Christ and to be exterminated out of the Christian World. After this his Sons were dismiss'd out of Prison upon condition they should buy no Lands without the Walls of the City without the Permission of the Senate That they should entertain no Travellers though of their near Relations but should send them to
much improved but he was then very dissolute nor was Henry of England any better And after all the Judgments God has sent from Heaven upon us we have not repented or amended and therefore there is no wonder that this sad difference of Religion cannot be composed and the Peace of the Church restored No on the contrary it is now apparent that our Enemies are become so numerous that they are almost able to oppress us As to those who pretend that we have encreased them by our Connivance I can answer That during the minority of the King they are bolder and I would have them consider too that for our Sins God has set a Child over us There are some who would have the King arm one part of his Subjects against the other which I think is neither Christian nor Human. After very much to the same purpose he told them the Thing proposed by the King to their Consideration was Whether it was the best way for the King to Suppress the Meetings or to Tolerate them Thereupon followed a very great Debate between these Deputies of the several Parliaments of France but at last they came to a Resolution to remit something of the Severity of the Edict of July and to allow the Protestants the liberty of Publick Sermons and accordingly a new Edict was made which was called The Edict of January the principal Heads of which were these That the Protestants should restore the Ecclesiasticks to their Churches Houses Lands Tithes and other goods whatsoever which they had taken from them forthwith and suffer them peaceably to enjoy their Images Crosses and Statues without any molestation or endeavouring to destroy them or doing any other thing that may disturb the publick Peace upon pain of Death without any hope of Mercy That the Protestants should have no publick Meetings Sermons and Prayers or administer any Sacraments publickly or privately by Night or by Day within any City in any manner whatsoever Yet in the mean time till the Controversies of Religon shall be composed by a General Council or the King shall otherwise order it Those who shall go to or frequent their Sermons shall not be molested provided they be had without the Cities And the Magistrates were accordingly commanded not to disquiet but to protect and preserve them from all Injury That all Seditious Persons of what Religion soever they were should be severely punished and all should be bound to discover and deliver them up to Justice a thousand Crowns being imposed upon any person who should receive abet or conceal such Riotous Offender and the Offender to be whipp'd if not able to pay the Penalty That the said Meetings should be without Arms and that no person should Reproach another on the account of Religion or use any Factious Names That the Protestants Ministers should admit none into their Number till they had diligently examined their Lives Conversations and Doctrines That the Magistrates might freely go to their Meetings to see what was done or to apprehend any Criminal who should be treated according to their Dignity and obeyed That the Protestants should hold no Synods Conferences or Consistories but in the presence of a Magistrate That they should create no new Magistrates or make any Laws or Statutes And if they desire any thing by way of Discipline it should be referred to their Authority or if need be be confirmed by them There shall be no Levies of Men or Monies made by them nor any Leagues entered into for their private Defence And as to Alms they shall only take them of such as are willing to give The Civil Laws especially those concerning Holy Days and the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity in Marriages shall be observed That their Pastors shall give Security to the Magistrates for the Observing this Edict and promise That they will not preach any Doctrine contrary to the Nicence or Apostles Creeds or the Books of the Old or New Testament nor use any Reproaches against the Catholicks in their Sermons And the same is injoyned the Catholicks in relation to the Protestants No man shall publish any Libels to desame another or sell or cause them to be sold Lastly the Magistrates are hereby commanded to be very diligent in case any Sedition happens to search out the Offenders and punish them without any Appeal to be allowed to such Offenders A Debate being made concerning the Worship of Images these Propositions were published by the Queen by the Advice of the Bishops of Valence and Seez and Monsieur Bouthillier d' Espence and Picherel That seeing Errors are according to St. Augustin rather to be rooted out of the Mind of Men than out of Churches and other places the Bishops should take order with the Curates to have the People well Instructed and diligently Admonished concerning the right use of them that all Offence or Scandal might be prevented both by the Royal Authority and that of the Church and that if any opposed this he should be treated as a Violater of the Royal Edicts and of the publick Peace That all Figures of the Holy Trinity should be immediately removed out of all Churches and all other publick and private Places as being forbidden by the Holy Scriptures the Councils and Testimonies of the Fathers and only Dissembled or Tolerated by the Sloth of the Bishops and Pastors That the Picutres of all prophane Persons and others who were not to be found in the Authentick Martyrologies of the Church all lascivious and dishonest Pictures and those of Brutes shall be abolished That no Crowns Garlands or Vestments shall be put upon any Images nor Incense nor Candles burnt before them nor shall they be carried in Processions nor any Prayers or Oblations be made to them nor shall they be worshipped with bended Knees because all these things are parts of Worship That all Images but that of the Venerable Holy Cross shall be taken from the Altars and either placed on the Valves or Walls of the Churches so that from henceforth they may neither be saluted kissed prayed to or presented with Gifts That all Images which were wont to be carried on the Shoulders of Men in the Churches and Streets should according to the late Canon of Sens be for ever abolished Beza opposed the retention of the Cross as brought into use by Constantine the Great and one N. Mallard Dean of the Sorbonne in Paris tho' he confessed some ill things had crept into the Church yet he was of opinion that all this Worship of Images ought stoutly to be defended and retained and put out a Book to that purpose so the Thing fell This Order was made the 14th of February The same Month but some few days before it the King of Navar wrote a Letter to the Elector Palatine in which he testified his great desire to promote a Reformation and that he hoped to have found a way to reconcile Differences by the Conference of
Bishop had a great hand in this and was turned a Soldier and treated all such as he suspected of the Clergy very hardly nor did he spare the Churches Treasures more than the Protestants had done but took them to pay his Soldiers raising besides great Contributions on the People for that purpose There were in the Cathedral Church the Images of the twelve Apostles of Silver of great Weight and adorned with many Jewels and the Bishop had carried them to his Castle de Trouvoy in Maine for their greater Security but that being taken afterwards they were lost and the Bishop was suspected of having converted them to his own use and going after this to the Council of Trent it was said He must needs have the Holy Ghost because he carried the twelve Apostles with him The 13th of May the Protestants were forbidden their Meetings at Amiens their Books sought out and burnt and amongst them all the Bibles they found in French and the Pulpit with them and some few of them were flain in the Tumult At Abbeville there was a greater Tumult raised by the Roman Catholicks and many of the Soldiers in the Castle and of the Inhabitants of the Town were murdered upon a pretence they favoured the Prince of Conde's Interest and the Governour of the Town was assassinated in his House and his naked Body was dragged about the Town and another Gentleman most barbarously murdered At Senlis many of the Protestants were assassinated and some were put to death by the Decree of the Parliament of Paris on other pretences I have transcribed only a very few of the horrid and insufferable Villanies committed by the Roman Catholicks of France in this War from Thuanus For so madly did they dote upon their Images and Altars that when ever they got any of the Protestants into their hands they treated them with unheard-of Cruelty and Rage whereas all their Fury spent it self on the Statues Pictures Altars and Relicks of their Churches or in some places on their Tombs and if some few Slaughters happened in was in the Surprize or taking of Places before they were masters of them but the Roman Catholicks raged most where the Protestants were least able to resist them The Prince of Condé hearing that his Party was worsted in Normandy sent Lewis de Lanoy with three hundred Horse who with some difficulty arrived at Roan the 11th of June and recitified the Disorders he found in that place the Protestants would have expell'd the Roman Catholicks out of the City but he persuaded them only to disarm them and swear them to live peaceably Roan in a short time after this was besieged from the 29th of June to the 11th of July by the Roman Catholicks but then they were forced to withdraw and the City remained in the Protestants hands In the interim a Treaty was carried on by the Vidame de Chartres with Queen Elizabeth for Succours which displeased many tho' the Roman Catholicks in the mean time had called in German and Swiss Auxiliary Forces to support their Quarrel The Roman Catholick Army in the mean time took Poictiers after a sharp Siege which yet might have holden out longer where they plundered the Protestants and put many of them to the Sword And after that Bourges being besieged by the Duke of Guise was at last surrendered by the Cowardize or Treachery of Mr. de Yvoy the chief Commander when the Roman Catholicks had almost spent all their Ammunition and the Admiral had taken that which was sent to supply them from Paris The taking this place so far discouraged the Protestants that a great many places yielded upon the first Summons The Duke of Guise and his Party after they had taken Bourges were divided in their Opinion some advising the Army should march to the Siege of Orleans as the Capital of the adverse Party and others that they ought first to take in Roan as more easy to be reduced and of no less advantage because preventing the English from powering great numbers of Men into France So at last this Party prevailed and that Siege was undertaken Montgomery who by misfortune slew Henry the Second was by the Prince of Condé appointed to command here in Chief who entered the place the 18th of September with 300 Horse and having added some new Works to St. Catherins he built a new Fort at St. Michaels which he called by his own Name About the same time a League was concluded between the English and the Protestants at Hampton-Court by which the Queen was to send 6000 men into France 3000 of which were to keep Haure de Grace in the King's Name for a place of Safety for those of the Religion and the rest were to be employed in the Defence of Diep and Roan and she was to supply 140000 Crowns for the Charge of the War the Forces were immediately sent from Portsmouth and landed at Haure de Grace under the Command of the Earl of Warwick The 28th of September the Forces of the Triumvirate came before Roan being then 16000 Foot and 2000 Horse Montgomery had besides the English and the Townsmen 800 Veterane Soldiers for the Defence of the City The Besiegers would have stopped the passage of the River by sinking Ships in it but the violence of the Tide cleared the Chanel so that the Frigates came from Haure de Grace with Canon Ammunition and Victual notwithstanding The 6th of October St. Catherins Fort was taken by Storm and Surprize and 300 Townsmen beaten back who came to relieve it The 9th of October 500 English under the Lord Gray entered the Town The 13th of October the Besiegers stormed the City from 10 'till 6 at Night the English and Scotch sustaining the brunt and at last repelling them the next day they stormed it 6 hours more to the loss of 600 men The 15th of October the King of Navar was shot in the left Shoulder with a Musket Bullet in the Trenches The 25th of October there was a sharp Fight at St. Hillary's Gate three Mines being sprung to small purpose The next day the City was taken by Storm the greatest part of the brave Men having been slain or wearied out in the continual labours of the Siege Montgomery and the greatest part of the English and Scotch shipped themselves in a Galley and breaking the Chain which the Besiegers had drawn cross the River they escaped to Haure de Grace There were slain in this Siege about 4000 Men on both sides The 17th of November the King of Navar died of his Wounds having received the Sacrament according to the Custom of the Church of Rome but blaming his own wavering and unconstant temper in the matters of Religion and saying If he recovered he would embrace the Augustane Confession and live and dye in it He was a person of great Beauty of a generous and liberal Disposition a good Soldier just and fit for business but too
of which I have faitfully Transcribed them and the Letters are now in my Hands The History of this Council is so well described by Petro Soave Polano a Venetian which is in English that I need the less insist upon it but I shall however remark some few things from Thuanus and others for the Enlarging or Confirming the Credit of that History which is much cryed down by the Roman Catholicks as certainly they have good Reason to be offended with that Author who with so much Truth and Impartiality has discovered the Artifices of that Assembly for the keeping up the Grandeur of the Court of Rome and the Suppression and Baffling that Reformation which the most Learned of the Church of Rome then so much desired and panted after The Second Session was held the Twenty sixth of February in which a Decree pass'd against Reading Books suspected of Heresie and a safe Conduct and an Invitation was given to all that would come to the Council Seventeen Bishops were by Name appointed to bring in a Catalogue of such Books as were intended or thought fit to be Prohibited Polano observes that they carried this so high as to deprive Men of that Knowledge which was necessary to defend them from the Vsurpations of the Court of Rome by which means its Authority was maintained and made Great For the Books were Prohibited and Condemned in which the Authority of Princes and Temporal Magistrates is defended from the Vsurpations of the Clergy and of Councils and Bishops from the Vsurpations of the Court of Rome in which their Hypocrisies or Tyrannies are manifested by which the People under pretence of Religion are deceived In summ a better Mystery was never found out than to use Religion to make Men insensible However this may help to keep those in their Church which they now have it doth certainly by Experience render them very Contemptible to all others and unable to defend their Religion which is especially true of their Laity The Fourth of March the business of the Safe Conduct was dispatched in a Congregation and a Debate was raised and pursued with great Heat by the Spanish Bishops That Episcopacy was instituted by God without any Medium and that Residence and their Pastoral Deligence in feeding their Flock was of Divine Right which they desired might be Confirmed by the Decree of the Council But because this tended to the Establishing the Authority of the Bishops and the Abating that of the Pope his Holiness was much concern'd at it and having consulted the Cardinals about it they by common consent Delayed and by ambiguous Answers deluded the Fathers at Trent and at last totally baffled them in this Point The Second Session was appointed to be the Twelfth of April which was then prorogued to the Fourth of June and from thence to the Fifteenth of the same Month. In the mean time the King of France sent Lewis de Sanct Gelais Sieur de Lanssac Arnold de Ferrier Presiders of Paris and Guy du Faur Sieur de Pibrac his Ambassadors to the Council who arrived at Trent the Nineteenth of May. Lanssac soon after wrote a Letter to give an Account of their being come to the French Resident at Rome in which he said he thought they ought in the first Place to take care that an Event contrary to their Expectation might not attend the Council that the Pope should Order his Legates to shew great patience to those who spake proceed slowly in all things attend the Arrival of those Bishops who were coming and aâow a Liberty without condition to all that were to Vote or Speak and not fall under the old Reproach of having the Holy Ghost sent them from Rome in a Portmanteau and lastly that they should take care that what was Decreed at Trent to the Glory of God should not be malignantly Interpreted and Traduced or it may be Corrupted at Rome by a Company of Idle Men He desired therefore he would endeavour to obtain these things of the Pope as he did but the Pope took this Liberty very ill and desired That no Prejudice might be done to his Authority by the French Bishops Adding That he reserved the Reformation of the Ecclâsiastical Discipline and of the Court of Rome to himself and that he might with greater Convenience attend this and the Transactions at Trent he intended to go to Rononia The pretence of this Journey was the Crowning of the Emperor in that City who was said to be coming thither for that purpose But the reality was the Pope was afraid the World should think him more solicitous for the preservation of the Papal Power than for his Pastoral Cure. The Twentieth of May the French Ambassadors were admitted in a Congregation where they made an unacceptable Oration an abstract of which is in Polano Thuanus saith The Speech was made the Fourth of June and that amongst other things they desired That the Missals and Breviaries might be Reformed and the Lectures which were not taken out of the Holy Scriptures might be cut off That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper might be allowed in both Kinds according to the desire of many Nations And also the Liberty of eating Flesh and that the Severity of their Fasts might be abated That Marriage should be allowed to the Clergy of some Countries That the multitude of Humane Constitutions should be retrenched and Prayers in the Vulgar Tongue faithfully Translated mixed with the Latin Hymns Before this the Ambassador of the Duke of Bavaria had also demanded the giving of the Cup in the Lords Supper to the Laity as absolutely necessary for the Preserving those who had not yet separated themselves from the Communion of the Church of Rome but were much offended with this denial and for the Recovery of those who had lefâ it And accordingly there were about Fifty of the most Learned of the Fathers of the Council who were for granting it and amongst them Gonzaga President of the Council though all his Collegues dislented But the Spanâsh Bishops opposed it and others thought it was fit first to send Legates into Germany who should see and report it to the Council whether it were necessary and how it might be done This was debated in a Congregation the Twenty eighth of August but in the Twenty second Session held the Seventeenth of September it was rejected and all were Anathematized That did not allow the Church to have taken away the Cup from the Laity c. upon just Grounds When the Germans still insisted that it might be granted again to some People the Council to free themselves from their importunity turned them over to the Pope who according to his Prudence was to do what he thought Useful and Salutary Before this the Pope being press'd to Grant the Cup by the French Ambassador about a Year since had referred it to the Conclave of Cardinals and they and he had referred it to the Council and now the
days ibid. Marot Clement an account of him 310. Mary Q. of Hungary made Governess of the Netherlands 149. Goes to Augsbourg to Mediate for the mitigation of the Emperors Edict 501. Holds a Convention of the States of the Netherlands at Aix la Chapelle 560. She stops the Landgrave at Mastricht 573. Mary Q. of Scots Troubles in her Minority 316. Affianced to Prince Edward of England ibid. Is carried into France 477. Mary Daughter to Henry VIII Proclaims her self Queen of England upon K. Edward's death 589. Enters London ibid. Makes Gardiner Chancellor ibid. Beheads the D. of Northumberland ibid. She Establishes the Popish Religion again in England 591. Orders a publick Disputation at London 593. Dissolves K. Edward's Laws about Religion in Parliament 595. Marries Pr. Philip of Spain ibid. Breaks Wiat's Conspiracy 596. Beheads Jane Grey and the Duke of the Suffolk ibid. Banishes Foreign Protestants out of England 597. Publishes a Book of Articles about Religion ibid. Commits the Princess Ellizabeth to the Tower 598. Her Marriage with K. Philip is solemnized with great splendor 604. Calls a Parliament wherein England is again subjected to Rome 605 606. Dissolves that Parliament 607. Burns several for Religion ibid. She mediates a Peace between the Emperor and King of France 616. It was reported that she was with Child ibid. She encreases the Persecution in England ibid. Her Ambassadors return home from Rome 618. She calls a Parliament where she proposes the Restitution of the Church-Lands in vain 627. Martyr Peter comes into England and professes Divinity at Oxon 443. Disputes there about the Lord's Supper 483. Is in trouble upon Edward's Death 590. Applies himself to Cranmer ibid. Gets leave to be gone Ibid. Goes to Zurich 637. Matthews John a great Prophet among the Anabaptists commands a Community of Goods 194. Runs Truteling through with a Pike by Inspiration ibid. Is run through himself by a Soldier ibid. Maurice D. of Saxony Marries the Landgrave's Daughter 272. Quarrels with the Elector of Saxony 292. Is wounded in Hungary 304. Refuses to enter into the Protestant League after his Father's death ibid. Makes Laws for the Government of the Country 311. Endeavours an accommodation between the D. of Brunswick and the Landgrave 353. Perswades the D. of Brunswick to surrender 354. Purges himself of Treachery ibid. Holds a Secret Conference with the Emperor at Ratisbon 380. Has a Conference with K. Ferdinand 391. Calls a Convention of the States at Chemnitz 405. Consults against the Protestants ibid. His Friends write to the Protestants 406. He writes to the Landgrave ibid. Writes to the Elector 409. And to his Son ibid. Takes most of the Electors Towns ibid. Is ill spoken of and Lampoon'd by the Protestants 410. Publishes a Manifesto to clear himself ibid. Joins Ferdinand to go towards Bohemia 423. Intercedes for the Landgrave 429. Writes to the Landgrave to comply 430. Receives Wittemberg with the rest of the Electorate from the Emperor 431. Exacts an Oath of Allegiance of John Frederick's Subjects ibid. Promises the Landgrave to interceed with the Emperor at Hall 433. And Remonstrates about it ibid. Receives the Wittemberg Divines Graciously 435. He is invested in the Electorate Solemnly at Augsbourg 457. Calls a Convention at Meissen who draw up a Form of Religion for Saxony 478. Intercedes with Prince Philip for the Landgrave ibid. Writes to the States to clear himself from the imputation of Popery 484. His Deputies at Augsbourg protest against the Council of Trent 499. He engages in the Expedition against the Magdebourghers 502. He is made Generalissimo of that War 503. He attacks the Magdebourghers 504. Defeats Heideck and Mansfeldt ibid. He promises the Landgrave Aid secretly 505. Routed in a Sally by the Magdebourghers ibid. Proposes Conditions of Peace to the Town 515. Commands his Divines to draw up a Confession of their Faith ibid. Demands a safe Conduct for his Divines to go to the Council of Trent 516. Sends the Proposals to the Magdebourghers by Heideck 521. He holds a Convention about the business of Magdebourg 525. He takes an Oath of Fidelity from the men of atzenelbogen 526. He concludes a Peace with the City of Magdebourg 528. Complains of the Preachers ibid. Hatches a War against the Emperor 529. Sends Ambassadors to the Emperor about the Landgrave 531. He holds a Conference with Prince William the Landgrave's Son 534. His Ambassadors come to Trent and declare their Instructions 537. They join with the Agents of Wirtemberg and Strasburg to sollicite for the hearing of the Protestants in the Council ibid. The Saxon Divines are upon their way to come to the Council 541. The Ambassadors complain against Perlargus ibid. Maurice sends Letters to his Ambassadors 542. They leave Trent secretly ibid. His care for the release of the Landgrave 549. He declares War against the Emperor 550. Takes the Field and joins with Marq. Albert 555. He goes with the other Princes and besieges Ulm 556. Treats with Ferdinand of Conditions of Peace ibid. Writes to the French King 558. His Army Skirmishes with the Imperialists 559. A Mutiny in his Camp for want of Pay ibid. His Soldiers make the Emperor fly from Inspruck 560. Which is Plundered ibid. They Publish a Declaration ibid. He restores the Outed Ministers ibid. His Grievances at the Treaty of Passaw 563. His Proposals at the Treaty 566. He is impatient of delay and hastens Ferdinand 568. He returns to the Confederates 569. Besieges Francfort ibid. At last he accepts a Peace 571. Sends his Forces into Hungary 573. Sends Commissioners to treat with John Frederick's Commissioners to no purpose 577. Went to Heidelberg to mediate between Albert and the Bishops 578. Makes a League with the D. of Brunswick ibid. Declares War against Marq. Albert 581. He overcomes Albert and is killed in the Fight 586. His Death foretold by Prodigies ibid. Maximilian Emperor holds a Diet at Augsbourg 4. Writes in August 1518. to Pope Leo to correct Luther and to put an end to his growing Heresies 5. Dies Jan. 12. 1519. 13. Sends Ambassadors to the Council of Pisa 26. Goes off to Pope Julius 27. Sends Langus to the Lateran Council ibid. Commissions Hogostrate and Reuchlin to examine Jewish Books 30. Wars with the Switzers 469. Maximilian Son to Ferdinand comes into Germany out of Spain 505. Is well beloved ibid. He returns home from Spain 529. Is honourably received at Trent 535. Goes to Brussels 637. Mecklenbourg vide George D. of Mecklenbourg Mechlin almost consumed by Lightning 392. Medices the rise of that Family to Greatness 169. Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix persecutes the Waldenses 345. Vses the Inhabitants of Merindol and Cabriers barbarously 345 346. Meissen John Bishop of Meissen Opposes Luther about Communion in both kinds 25. Melancthon Philip comes to Wittemberg 21. Goes to Leipzick ib. Answers the Parisian Censure of Luther's Books 47. Comes to the Diet at Augsbourg 127. One of the Protestant Deputies there to mediate an
Elector of Saxony The University of Wittemberg interceeds with Duke Frederick for Luther Pope Leo's Bull for the Indulgences Luther's Appeal from the Pope to a Council 1519. Luther's Letter to Pope Leo. The Emperour Maximilian dies Competitours for the Empire Charles King of Spain and Francis King of France The Speech of the Elector of Mentz about the Election of the Emperour The Speech of the Archbishop of Treves The Vote of Frederick Elector of Saxony Charles of Austria chosen Emperour The Elector's Letter to the Emperour His Answer The French King vexed that Charles should be preferred before him The Genealogy of Charles the Emperour The way of chusing the Emperour The Heads of the Golden Bull. * Or Charter because it was sealed with a Seal of Gold instead of Wax The Conditions prescribed to the Emperour Charles V. Erasmus his Judgment of Luther to the Elector of Saxony He writes also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio As also to Luther A Disputation at Leipsick betwixt Luther and Eckius Zuinglius preaches at Zurich 1520. Miltitz treatâ with Luther Luther writes to the Pope A Description of the Court of Rome Bernard in his Books of Consideration to Eugenius What Eckius gained by his Dispute Luther makes some overtures for a Peace The mischief of Flatterers Luther's Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor's Voyage out of Spain into Germany Luther's Book to Frederick intitled Tessaradecas His Book concerning Confession Another concerning Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both kinds That the Bohemians always receive it so The Dignity of the Lateran Council The Pisane Council It was called by the Cardinals The Reasons why they did it The Pope's Answer to the Cardinals He prohibits all Persons to come to the Council called by the Cardinals and summons another himself An old trick of the Popes He Excommunicates the Cardinals The Cardinals Proceedings against the Pope The Council remov'd from Pisa to Milan Decius writes in Defence of the Cardinals Maximilian leagues with Julius Matthew Langus created a Cardinal in the Lateran Council Pope Julius dies and Leo X succeeds him The End of the Lateran Council The Immortality of the Soul called in Question at Rome Luther's Book condemn'd at Lovain and Cologn His Answer Ockam condemned at Paris A Comparison between the Jews and Roman Clergy The Authority of Aristotle with the Divines of Loâvain and Cologn Phefercorne's Judgment concerning the suppressing the Jewish Writings The Opinion of Reuchline His Book burnt Approved of by the Bishop of Spire Condemned at Paris The Censure of the Louvain Divines upon Luther's Writings His Letter to the Emperour To the States of the Empire To the Archbishop of Mentz The Archbishop's Answer Luther's Letter to the Bishop of Mersburgh The Bishop's Answer The Pope's Answer to the Elector The Pope's Bull. The Pope and Cardinals condemn Luther's Doctrin and command his Books to be burnt The Decrees of Pius and Julius concerning Appeals Luther is Excommunicated Luther opposes the Pope's Bull. The Electors come to Aix la Chapelle The Emperour enters the Town iâ great state The Ceremonies of the Coronation The Emperour's Oath The manner of making Knights A Dyet summoned to meet at Wormes The Popes anciently subject to the Emperours The Emperours swear Allegiance to the Popes Luther's Works burnt He burns the Canon-Law 1521. Duke Frederick obtains from the Emperor that Luther should have a publick Hearing in the Diet of Wormes Luther's Letter to Duke Frederick The Emperour 's safe Conduct to Martin Luther The Bull De coena Domini The Pope Excommunicates the Lutherans Luther goes to Wormes Luther pleads his own Cause before the Emperor and whole Empire But asked time to deliberate first Eckius Interrogates Luther Luther's Harangne to the Emperor and States of the Empire Eckius to Luther Luther's answer to his Demands Eckius's âeply to Luther Luther's Answer The Emperour's Letter to the Princes And the Princes Disagreement about it A Committee of the States for treating with Luther Vey's Speech to Luther before the Committee Luther's Answer to the Commissioners Luther submits his Works to a General Council Luther returns Home accompanied by a Herald Luther's Letters to the Emperour and States The History of the Council of Constancâe Huss condemned for an Hâretick first by the Pope And then by the Council He and Jerome of Prague burnt Wickliff's Doctrine condemned and his Body taken up and burnt The Parisian Divines condemn Luther's Books Melanchton and Luther answer the Sârbonists The Switzers make Leagues with the Pope and French King But the Canton of Zurick refused the League The Emperour by a publick Decree Proscribes Luther Luther conveyed out of the way The Augustines of Wittemberg forbear saying of Mass And give Duke Frederick their Reasons for so doing Duke Frederick's Answer about abolishing the Mass The Marriage of the Archduke Frederick King Henry of England writes against Luther The Emperor's War with the French King. Pope Leo dies Adrian succeeds Leo. The Emperor returns to Spain to appease Seditions there 1522. A Diet at Norimberg A League betwixt the Emperor and King of England Mary the King of England's Daughter betrothed to the Emperor The Letter of the Bishop of Constance to the Canons of Zurich Zuinglius writes to the Bishop of Constance And to the Switzers The Custom of some Cantons about Priests Concubines Luther returns to Wittemberg And by Letters aquaints Duke Frederick with the Reasons of it Carolostadius casts Images out of the Churches of Wittemberg The Sect of Muncer and other Enthusiasts Luther's Letter to the Bohemians Three Sects in Bohemia Luther's Book against false Bishops Pope Adrian's Brief to the Elector of Saxony Pope Adrian's Letter to the States of Germany A War betwixt the Archbishop of Treves and Francis Sicking Adrian writes to the Senate of Strasburg A short History of Pope Adrian Adrian being declared Pope writes to the Colledge of Cardinals Adrian goes to Rome The Turk taketh Rhodes 1523. The Assembly of Zurich The Reformation received at Zurich Pope Adrian's Instructions about the restraining of Luther Luther's Interpretation of the Pope's Instructions The Princes Answer to Pope Adrian's Legate Troubles in Denmark Christiern King of Denmark banish'd Frederick Duke of Holstein made King of Denmark King Christiern in a publick Declaration answers the Accusations of the Danes and Swedes The Ministers of Norimberg accused by the Pope's Legate The Grievances of Germany presented to the Legate The Acts of the Dyet of Norimberg published Two Augustine Friers burnt at Brussels Luther's Interpretation of the Decree of Norimberg Vlrick Hutton dies Henry King of England's Letters of Admonition to the Dukes of Saxony George Duke Saxony Answers the King of England Pope Adrian dies Priests Marry at Strasburg 1524. An Assembly of the Switzers at Lucern Cardinal Campegius's Letter to Frederick Duke of Saxony Campegius's Speech to the Princes of the Empire The Princes Answer to the Pope's Legate The Legates Reply The Cantons of Switzerland expostulate
to the Protestants in the Name of the Emperour Their Answer Commissioners chosen for framing a Decree The Tenor of that Decree What the Protestants find fault with in the Decree The Protestants depart from the Dyet A great Inundation at Rome The like in Holland The Draught of the Decree read to the Deputies of the Cities but a Copy of it denied to them Some Cities urge a Council Faber and Eckius well rewarded which occasioned a merry Saying of Erasmus The Agreement of the King of Poland and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg made null The Decree of Ausburg Luther's Book to the Bishops and Prelates Luther comforts dejected Melanchthon Bucer Essaies a Reconciliation betwixt Luther and Zuinglius c. The Landgrave makes a League with Zurich Basil and Strasburg upon account of Religion The Elector of Saxony cited by the Archbishop of Mentz for chusing a King of the Romans The Smalcaldick League among the Protestants The Pope's Complaint to the King of Poland The Protestants Letter to the Emperour about the Election of a King of the Romans The Reasons of creating a King of the Romans 1531. Ferdinand declared King of the Romans The Protestants Letters to the Kings of England and France The Protestants Confession at Anspurg The Protestants Appeal to a free Council Calumny against the Protestants A Convention of the Protestants at Smalcalde News of the Turks Incursions The death of the Archbishop of Trierâ The Queen of Hungary is made Governess of the Netherlands The Emperor is made Umpire between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara The King of France his Answer to the Protestants How the French and Germans come to be akin How Charles the Great was saluted Emperor Lewis the Fifth the last of Charle's Race Hugh Capet Invades the Kingdom The King of England's Answer to the Protestants The Opinions of the Cities concerning a King of the Romans The reason why the Switzers are not admitted into the League The Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and the Duke of Brandenburg The Elector of Brandenburg's Appeal to a Council A Diet appointed at Spiers Arbitrators for a Peace apply themselves to the Duke of Saxony Upon what Conditions the Duke of Saxony will come to the next Diet. The Elector of Mentz and the Prince Palatine send Embassadors to the Protestants The Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave's Letters to the Arbitrators The Diet appointed to be held at Ratisbon A quarrel among the Switzers Articles of Peace propounded The five Cantons are hindred from Provisions The War breaks out between them Those of Zurich are vanquish'd Zuinglius is slain Those of Zurich again defeated OEcolampadius dies 1532. Conditions of a Pacification laid down by the Arbitrators Or the Law of Charles the Fourth The condition of creating a King of the Romans The form of the Oath which is taken by the Electors according to the Caroline Law. The Princes of Bavaria oppose the Election of King Ferdinand The Arbitrators Answer to the Protestants The Prince of Saxony's Answer to the Arbitrators The Tricks of the Popish Party The Agreement between the Zuinglians and the Lutherans The Protestants lay down their conditions of a Pacification The Emperor upon necessity confirms a Peace to all Germany The number of the Protestants Delegates appointed to reform the Imperial Chamber The King of Denmark taken Prisoner Albert Duke of Prussia proscrib'd An Irruption of the Turks into Austria The Turkish Horse destroy'd The Emperor goes for Italy 1533. The Popes Embassador's Oration to the Duke of Saxony The Emperor 's Embassador's Speech to the Duke The Duke's answer to the Embassador A full and large Answer of the Protestants to the Pope and the Emperor George Duke of Saxony makes Search after the Lutherans Luther publishes a Book to justifie himself An account of the Family of the Medices Clement creates four French Men Cardinals The Lantgrave endeavours the Restitution of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg 1534. A great Revolution in England Woolsey dieth with discontent Peter-pence forbidden A Pique between Luther and Erasmus The Imposture of the Franciscaâs at Orleans Apparitions frequent in the times of Popery The Lantgrave his Expedition A Pacification between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony A Treaty between Ferdinand and the Duke of Wirtemburg Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburg recovereth his Country Christopher Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg his Son. The Lantgrave his Letter to the Emperor Francis Sforza marrieth Clement the Seventh dies Paul the Third chosen Pope Andrew Grittus Doge of Vinice Lewis Andrew his Son. A Persecution in France 1535. St. Genevefe the Protectress of Paris The French King writes to the Germans The Lantgrave goes to Ferdinand in order to a Reconciliation The Emperor sails into Africk Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More are beheaded The death of Francis Sforza Vergerius meets the Lantgrave at Prague Vergerius gives the Lantgrave a Copy of his Speech The Protestants Answer to Vergerius The French Embassador's Speech at Smalcalde The Judges of the Chamber are troublesome to the Protestants The Protestants disown the Jurisdiction of the Chamber The Elector of Saxony treats with King Ferdinand The Protestants Answer to the French Embassador The French King's opinion concerning the Points in Controversie The English Embassador his Speech to the Protestants The Protestants Answer to the English Embassador The League of Smalcalde renewed Ausburgh receives the reformed Religion Munster a City in Westphalia The Anabaptists and their Doctrin Rotman a Preacher of the reformed Religion The Papists are commanded to prove their Doctrin by the Holy Scriptures They confess their Ignorance John of Leyden a Botcher and Anabaptist Herman Stapred an Anabaptist The Anabaptists are expell'd Munster A Civil War in Munster Petrus Wirtemius John Mathew an Anabaptist orders that all Mens Goods should be common The Prophesies of the Anabaptists John of Leydon proclaimed King of the Anabaptists The Anabaptists Book concerning the Restitution The Anabaptists Supper The Apostles of the Anabaptists A meeting of the Princes at Coblentz The Doctrin of the Anabaptists and their wickedness The Anabaptists Book concerning the Mysteries of the Scripture The King executes one of the Queens himself Luther's opinion concerning the people of Munster A Diet held at Wormes Another Diet at Wormes The King of Munster is carried about for a sight 1536. The King of the Anabaptists is executed War between Denmark and Lubeck A War between the Duke of Savoy and Geneva The French King makes War upon the Duke of Savoy The Family of the Visconti of Millain The Emperor makes a Speech against the French King. The Venetinns make a League with the Emperor Vergerius is sent away to the Emperor The Articles of the League between the King of England and the Protestants The English Embassadors Winter at Wittemburgh The King of England's Letter to the Protestants The Protestants meet at Frankford Anne of Bullein Queen of England is beheaded A Bull of Paul the Third for the Convocation of a Council Ferdinand sends