general Positions as the Ground-work of his Opinion as that the Pope of Rome is head of the Universal Church That the Church of Rome is the Chief of all others and that in Matters relating to Faith and Religion it cannot err no more than a Council where the Pope is present That the Holy Scripture receives all its Force and Authority from the Church and Pope of Rome as from a most certain Rule and that they who think otherwise who follow not the Doctrins of the Church of Rome or question its Authority are without doubt Hereticks Having laid down this for a Ground he comes to debate the Matter To this Writing Luther afterwards made Answer and in his Preface to Silvester told him That he admired more than understood his Positions and then following his Example in his own Defence laid down some Positions also but such as were drawn from Holy Scripture Wherein he affirmed That we are not to believe the Doctrins of all Sorts of Men but prudently to weigh all Things and embrace that which is agreeable to the Word of God And that no Doctrin was to be received though never so Specious besides that which was left us by the Prophets and Apostles That the Writers who came nearest to them were to be admitted but that we were to judge of the rest And that as to Indulgences the Collectors ought not to forge any Novelties but therein follow the Direction of the Canon Law. Afterwards he objects against him That he alledged no Text of Scripture and only quoted the Opinion of Thomas who himself had handled most things according to his own Fancy without the Authority of Scripture wherefore he rejects both and for so doing gives for his Warrant not only the Injunction of S. Paul but also the Example of S. Austin That it is an usual thing with Lawyers to say That nothing was to be asserted but what was clearly grounded on the Law and that in Divinity it was far less tolerable to admit of any Allegation without the Authority and Testimony of Scripture That S. Paul commands That they who teach the People should be furnished not with Syllogisms or the various Devices of Men but with sound Doctrin left to us by Divine Inspiration but that because most part slighted that Command thick Darkness had overspread the Church and jangling about frivolous and needless Questions had broke into it Having thus made Way for himself he comes to the Refutation and towards the End says That he was not at all moved at his Threats nor his lofty and swelling Expressions for that though he might be put to Death yet Christ still lived and was Immortal to whom all Glory and Honour ought to be given That if afterwards he intended to have another Brush he must make use of other Weapons and that else he would come but sorrily off with his old Friend Thomas Silvester makes his Reply That he was exceedingly pleased That he submitted to the Determination of the Pope of Rome and wished that therein he might have spoken truly and from his Heart Luther had twitted him with Ambition and Flattery which he altogether disowned but strongly defended Thomas Aquinas affirming That his whole Doctrin was so well Received and Approved of by the Church of Rome that it was even preferred before all other Writings He therefore rebuked him for speaking with so little Reverence of so great a Man and told him That he looked upon it as an Honour to be called a Thomist But that nevertheless he was also acquainted with the Writings of other Men which sometime or other he would make appear To this Preface he subjoyned a Short Book wherein he strangely commended the Power of the Pope of Rome so that he raised him above Councils and all the Canons and affirmed That the Force of Scripture depended wholly on his Authority Thomas Aquinas being nobly descended gave himself altogether to the Study of Learning and leaving Italy came first to Cologn and then to Paris where he attained to the chief Place amongst the Learned Men of his Age and published many Books both in Philosophy and Divinity He had been a Fryer of the Dominican Order and the Scholar of Albertus Magnus and about fifty Years after his Death was Canonized a Saint by Pope John XXII He had indeed been a rare Champion for the Papal Dignity for he gave him Power not only over all Bishops the Universal Church and Kings but also both Spiritual and Civil Jurisdiction affirming it to be necessary to Salvation That all Men should be Subject unto him and that he had full Power in the Church both to call Councils and to confirm the Decrees of the same Nay and that from National or Provincial Synods Appeals might lawfully be made unto him In short he attributed all things unto him save only that he could not make new Articles of Faith nor abrogate those which were handed down to us from the Apostles and Fathers He wrote also largely of Indulgences and made the Pope an absolute Monarch in dispensing them He is said to have died in the Year one thousand two hundred and seventy four and because of the sharpness of his Wit he is commonly called the Angelical Doctor To Silvester's Reply Luther made Answer only by an Epistle to the Reader wherein he affirms That little Book of his to be so stuffed with Lies and Horrid Blasphemies against God that the Devil himself appeared to be the Author of it That if the Pope and Cardinals were of the same Judgment and that if that was the Doctrin taught at Rome it was no more to be doubted but that Rome was the very Seat of Antichrist and that happy was Greece Bohemia and all the rest who had separated from it That if the Pope did not restrain him and force him to retract his Writings he protested that he Dissented from him and not only acknowledged not the Church of Rome but would look upon it for the Future as an Impure Sink of Errours wholly Devoted to Impiety That new and unheard of Elogies of the Pope of Rome were cunningly and craftily devised daily with intent that there might be no place for a Lawful Council since his Flatteries raised him above a Council and affirmed That the true Sense and Meaning of the Scriptures was to be sought from him as from an Infallible Judge That if they went on in this Madness and Imposed so upon the World with their Juggles there remained no other Remedy but that the Magistrates should Punish them That Thieves Robbers and such like Malefactors were put to Death but that it was more Reasonable That all Men should joyn in repressing these most pernicious Enemies of the Commonwealth of Christendom That their Pope was no more than other Men and no less obliged by the Laws of God than the Meanest Person whatsoever and that they who taught otherwise offered the highest Injury to the Divine Majesty
At that time James Hogostrate a Dominican wrote bitterly also against Luther exhorting the Pope to prosecute him with Fire and Faggot Luther gave him a short Answer upbraided him with Cruelty and Blood-thirstiness and sharply plaid upon the Ignorance of the Man advising him to go on in his Course for that to be Censured by Unlearned and Vitious Men was a ready Way to attain to Honour and Reputation However he said He hoped for better things at the Hands of Pope Leo. Whilst these things were in a Scholastick manner managed and debated by Writing on both Sides the Emperour Maximilian held a Diet at Ausburg whither Pope Leo â— sent his Legat Cardinal Thomas Cajetane All the seven Princes who because of their Right of Chusing the Emperour are called Electors were present at this Diet to consult about a Turkish War for Sâ—lym the Emperour of the Turks having lately subdued the Sultan of Egypt had reduced Syria and Egypt under his Obedience and Cardinal Cajetane having made an Hortatory Speech and in the Pope's Name offered the Treasures of the Church implored Aid of the Emperour Maximilian as being the Protector and Defender of the Church At this Time Pope Leo X made Albert Archbishop of Mentz a Cardinal and ordered him to be installed at this Diet by Cajetane with the usual Rites and Ceremonies The Emperour afterwards waited upon the new Cardinal from the Church home to his House and sent him Presents a Royal Litter with Horses Carpets and a great deal of very Rich Furniture But the Pope made him a Present of a Cap embroidered with Gold Pearls and precious Stones and of a Sword with a gilt Scabbard For generally all the Bishops of Germany have a Civil as well as Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Now it was thought That Leo conferred this Honour upon him That the Church of Rome might have a Champion in Germany conspicuous both for Nobility of Extraction and Dignity for though all Bishops are bound by an Oath to the Pope of Rome yet they who are called Cardinals are much more obliged unto him Besides he was not Ignorant how great a Stroak this Man had in the Affairs of the Empire as being by Ancient Custom the First of the Princes and as it were perpetual President of the Electoral Colledge Maximilian being informed of the Controversie raised by Luther in the Month of August wrote to Pope Leo That he had learned that Luther had vented many things in his Disputes and Sermons which for the most part seemed to be Heretical that he was the more grieved at it the more obstinately he maintained his Doctrin and had the more Approvers of his Errours and amongst those some also of great Quality That he exhorted his Holiness that by Virtue of the Chief Authority which he had he would cut off all Idle and Useless Questions and put a Stop to all Sophistry and Contention about Words for that they who gave their Minds that Way did a great deal of Mischief to Christianity since all their Scope was That what they themselves had learn'd should be approved and imbraced by all Men That care had been indeed taken in the former Age That able Preachers should be appointed to teach the People and avoid all Idle and Sophistical Nicities but that that Decree was by degrees brought into Contempt so that it ought not indeed to seem strange if they who should be the Guides of others themselves mistook the Way That it was long of these That the Writings of the Ancient Fathers and Interpreters of Holy Scripture had lain now long neglected and were become Faulty and Corrupted That it was also to be imputed to them That in these our Times many Controversies were broached in the Schools and amongst the rest that this dangerous Debaâ—â—â— about Indulgences was started That this indeed was a Matter of so great Moment as that it required a present Remedy to be applyed to the growing Evil before it should propagate its Contagion and spread further for that Delays were dangerous That for his part he was ready to approve whatever his Holiness should Determine and take care to have it received throughout all the Provinces of Germany We told you before of the Clashings and contrary Writings of Luther and Silvester Now since this Man having a publick Place in Rome eagerly pursued the Cause Pope Leo Cites Luther under a Penalty to appear at Rome and then August 23 wrote to Cardinal Cajetane his Legat in Germany to this purpose That whereas being informed That not only in Universities but also amongst the People and in Books published and dispersed over Germany Luther maintained some Impious Opinions contrary to the Doctrin of the Church of Rome the Mistriss of Faith and Religion He who out of a Paternal Care and Affection desired to put a Stop to his Rashness had commanded Jerome Bishop of Ascoli to whom the Matter properly belonged to Summon him to appear at Rome to answer the Accusations brought against him and give a Confession of his Faith. That the Bishop of Ascoli had indeed done as he was enjoyned but that he was so far from being thereby Reclaimed that obstinately persisting in his Heresie he had published Writings far more Dangerous to his great Grief and Trouble That he should therefore endeavour to have him brought to Ausburg by means of the Emperour and Princes of Germany whose Assistance he should crave herein and that being come he should put him in safe Custody that he might be sent afterwards to Rome But that if he repented of his own accord and begged Pardon for his Fault he might receive him into Favour and restore him to the Communion of the Church which never uses to exclude Penitents but if not that then he should Excommunicate him commanding all Men also to obey this Bull under the Penalty if they be Church-men of the loss of all the Church Livings they possessed and of being incapable of enjoying any for the future but if Lay-men and in Civil Office under the Pain of being declared Infamous degraded from all Honours deprived of Christian Burial and the Forfeiture of all Ecclesiastical Preferments which they held of him or of others also But to those who should perform faithful Service therein he orders either that Plenary Indulgences and Remission of Sins or else some Place and Reward should be given and to this Bull he subjects all Men the Emperour only excepted notwithstanding any Priviledge or Dispensation they might have to the contrary The same Day he wrote to Frederick Elector of Saxony who then was at Ausburg That among the other Ornaments of the House of Saxony it had been always peculiar to it to be most zealous for Religion that therefore it was not probable that any of that Family would so far degenerate from their Ancestors as to protect and defend a Man who entertained Erroneous Thoughts as to the Christian Religion That nevertheless to the great
we mentioned came to Norimberg and January 1 sent from thence the Pope's Letters we spoke of to the Senate of Strasburg offering his Service if they pleased to write him an Answer Zuinglius began now to give great Offence and whilst many both within and without the City preached against his Doctrin as Impious and Erroneous but especially the Dominican Fryers and that he justified the same offering to prove it to be consonant to the Holy Scriptures the Senate of Zurich called a Convocation of all the Clergy within their Jurisdiction to meet at Zurich January 29 about the Difference in Religion where all men should be heard as much as was Requisite They invited also the Bishop of Constance by Letters either to come himself or send one in his Place So then a numerous Assembly met at the Day appointed and among others John Faber whom the Bishop sent to represent him to whom the Burgomaster of the Town made a Speech to this Effect That because there was a great Dissension arisen about Religion the present Assembly had been called That if any man had ought to say against the Doctrin of Zuinlius he might freely propound the same Now Zuinlius had before comprized his Doctrin into certain Heads and common places to the number of sixty seven Articles and had published them to the end that all might come prepared to Argue and Dispute the Matter openly in the Assembly Wherefore when now the Burgomaster had done speaking he again propounded them and invited them to fall to the Dispute With that Faber having declared the Cause of his being sent endeavoured to persuade them That that was a Debate not proper for such a Place and that it belonged to a General Council which was shortly to be called But Zuinglius urging him to Dispute and if he had any thing to say not to dissemble it He made answer That he would refute his Doctrin in Writing Thus they two having exchanged many Words and no Body else appearing to take up the Cudgels the Senate dissolved the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Territories That the Traditions of Men being laid aside the Gospel should be purely taught from the Books of the Old and New Testament THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK IV. The CONTENTS Pope Adrian by his Legate propounded several things confessing that now for many Years there had been various and grievous Corruptions in the Court of Rome The Princes of Germany answer him and declare upon what Conditions they would have a Council An alteration of Affairs in Denmark King Christiern flyeth The Imposts of Germany First-Fruits and Vacances are treated of Mention is made of the Pall of Archbishops Two Augustine Fryers are burnt at Brussels Luther interprets the Decree made at Norimberg He publishes some Books The King of England makes a heavy complaint of Luther Pope Adrian dies to whom Clement succeeds Troubles arise in Switzerland about the Doctrin of Zuinglius and at Strasburg about the Marriage of Priests Campegius is sent by Pope Clement Legate to the Dyet of Norimberg where he writes to Duke Frederick and then exhorts the Princes in a Speech he made to them To which they answer and he again replies thereunto The Switzers expostulate with those of Zurich who answer the Ambassadours of the other Cantons The Bishop of Constance's Book in defence of Images Which nevertheless are thrown down and burnt throughout all the Canton of Zurich The Emperour sends an Ambassadour to the Dyet of Norimberg The Senate and Bishop of Strasburg bring their Controversie before Cardinal Campegius After the Dyet is over Ferdinand and others make a League against the Reformation BEsides the Letters we mentioned Pope Adrian gave his Legates Instructions in Writing that he should signifie to the Princes How much he was grieved at the Troubles and Seditions which were occasioned by Luther not only because of the Damage that thereby accrued to mens Souls and the Ruine and Dissipation of the Flock which Christ had committed to his keeping but also because such a mischievous thing should have happened among that Nation and People from whom he derived his Birth and Being and who had always been a People free from the very least Suspicion of Heresie That therefore it was his most earnest Desire That some speedy Remedy might forthwith be applyed to the Evil lest by longer Delay the same thing might happen to the Germans which heretofore befel the Bohemians That for his own part he would spare neither Pains nor Charges in that Affair That therefore he besought them that according to their several Abilities they would do the same there being many and weighty Reasons for their so doing as the Glory and Honour of God which was chiefly violated by that Heresie all the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church being thereby not only impaired but in a manner quite abolished Charity and Brotherly Love since he that directed not him into the right way who was gone astray must be accountable to God for his Omission The Shame and Disgrace of the Nation since Germany which was wont to be chiefly praised for Religion was now by reason of that Defection fallen into Contempt and Ignominy Their own Fame and Reputation for since they might easily make an End both of Luther and of his Heresies if they did it not they would seem to be very sickle and inconstant and to degenerate from their Ancestors who left behind them at Constance a noble Instance of their Virtue and was it not a most heinous Injury that he did both to themselves and their Fore-fathers for since these followed the Religion of the Roman Catholick Church they were in his Judgment who condemned that Religion all debarred from Salvation That they should consider and weigh with themselves what the Purpose of these Men was and what their Doctrin drove at Which was nothing else than under a Colour of Christian Liberty to endeavour the Subversion of all Laws and all Respect and Obedience to Magistrates and that though Luther seemed at first only to impugn the Ecclesiastical Power as Impious and Tyrannical yet it was his Drift that having once persuaded People That Christians were by no Laws obliged to obey the Magistrate he might open a way for all Men to break out into what extravagant Courses they pleased And that therefore they themselves lay thereby exposed to great Dangers That as yet indeed they cunningly and craftily disguised their Purpose flattering the Magistrate That with impunity they might be suffered to wreak their Spleen and Malice upon the Church-men But that these being once oppressed without doubt they would try their Fortune also with the rest That they themselves now plainly saw and felt by Experience the Animosities Hatred Quarrels and Troubles which that Heresie had already occasioned in the State and it was to be feared That if these Evils were not timely repressed God who had given them the Power of the Sword
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
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 â—now 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 〈◊〉 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
of Leo X. Fol. 93 94. and in the Life of Alfonso Duke of Ferrara Fol. 42. and in truth the Works of all good Authors have many Examples of this Nature Comines is chiefly commended because he Wrote so equally but then he ever pursues this Method as I have said already that he not only sets down what was done but also gives his own Judgment of it and tells us what every one did well or ill and although I would not have done this yet it is the most usual practice of Historians But then that what was done or said by both Parties should be exactly related is not only just and equal and the constant usage from the most Ancient times but also absolutely necessary for without it it is impossible to Write an History Where ever there are Factions Wars and Seditions be sure there are Complaints Accusations and Answers and all places are fill'd with opposite and contradictory Papers Now he that truly relates these as they are doth neither of the Parties any injury but follows the Laws of an Historian For in these Brawls and Contentions every thing which the Parties object against each other is not presently true and certain Where there is Contention Hatred and Enmity it is very well known and experienced how things are managed for the most part on both sides If what the Popes and their Adherents have within thirty six years last past belched out against the Protestants were all true there could be found nothing more wicked and impious than they Paul III. Pope of Rome sent the Cardinal of Farnese his Son in the year 1540. to the Emperor into the Low Countries He gave some Advices against the Protestants which were afterwards Printed and are recited in the thirteenth Book of my History After many other reproachful expressions he saith the Protestants fight as much against Christ as the very Turks do for they only kill their Bodies but the Protestants bring their Souls too to eternal destruction Here then I make a stand and desire to know what could possibly have been spoken more grievous and horrible than this Now if these things had not been related certainly the Protestants would have had just cause of complaint against me But the thing is quite otherwise for neither is it true because the Cardinal said it and if I had passed it by I might justly have been suspected as one that was too much addicted to a Party and so would not tell the Truth I do not doubt but all impartial men will yield that I have in this which I have said clearly given the true Laws of History and I can as little think they will judge that I have broke those Laws the far greatest part of my History being extracted out of Pieces which were Printed before They act therefore very unfriendly or rather injuriously with me who traduce and defame my Writings and the more are they guilty if they understand the Laws of History but if they know them not then I desire they would learn them from what I have written and from other Historians But then when I mention other Historians I do not mean those of our times whose only business it is to extol their own Party with immoderate praises and wonderful commendations and to overwhelm the other Party with slaunders and reproaches for these men are not worthy of the Title of Historians Above six years since John Cochleus Published some Commentaries containing an History of the same nature with mine but then he has stuffed them with horrible unheard of and invented slaunders Cardinal Pole in a Book which he lately Printed calls the Protestant Religion lately established in Germany a Turkish Seed And their Books are generally full of such reflections But what is there like this in my Work In truth I have made it my business to Write in order and as truly as I could the Story of that wonderful blessing God has been pleased to bestow upon the men of this Age And to that purpose about sixteen years since I Collected all that I thought necessary to that Work nor have I since made any headlong haste in the Writing of it but gone leisurely on with a steady Judgment The labour I have taken in this great Work is known to none but God and my self and I had respect to nothing but the glory of God in it and laying aside the Study of the Civil Law which is my profession I accordingly almost spent my whole time upon it so that all things considered I think I may aver that I was drawn to it by an Impulse from God and I will commend my cause to him seeing I have met so ill a recompence from some men for my great labour and pains it being his cause I have defended and I am fully assured he will look upon that Work as a most pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice the conscience of which sustains and comforts me and the more because I see many Learned Men approve and applaud my Work paying me their thanks for it and acknowledging the benefit they have reaped by it Therefore I desire all those who are the hearty Lovers of Truth that they would not believe the slaunders of ill men but kindly entertain my Work and approve my faith and diligence without admitting any suspition of me Lastly I profess that I acknowledge Charles the V. now Emperor of Germany and Ferdinand King of the Romans his Brother to be the supreme Magistrates appointed by God whom I ought in all things to Obey as Christ and his Apostles have commanded excepting only those things which are forbidden by God. SS TD ACERRIMVS E.R. HOSTIS MARTINVS LUTHERVS Nascitur Islebiae X Nov 1483. Monasterium Augustin Ingreditur Ao. 1505. Titulum D is Assumsit A o 1512. Obijt in Patria XVIII o die Februarij 1546. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BEGUN IN GERMANY BY Martin Luther c. BOOK I. The CONTENTS Martin Luther bravely withstands the Venal Indulgences dispersed abroad by Leo X Pope of Rome not only in his Publick Sermons but also in some Theses and Positions which he offered to defend and which he sent to the Archbishop of Mentz The first that opposed them were Tetzel Eckius Silvester Prierias and Hogostrat In the mean time the Pope sends Cajetane Legat to the Emperour Maximilian Luther is Cited to appear at Rome By means of Frederick Elector of Saxony he Answers Cajetane in the Diet of Ausburg Cajetane by Menaces and the Thunder of the Canons endeavours to maintain the Papal Power and Tyranny After the departure of Luther Cajetane sollicites Duke Frederick by Letters but in vain By a new Bull the Pope confirms and publishes the Indulgences in Germany To draw in Duke Frederick he presents him with a Golden Rose The Emperour Maximilian in the mean while dies Many Heads at work about the Succession to the Empire At length Charles Archduke of Austria is chosen Emperour the News whereof is
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
depart allowing you one and twenty Days to return home in He will also inviolably observe the Safe-Conduct he gave you but charges you not to teach the People by Word nor Writing as you are upon your Way homeward Being thus dismissed he gave Glory to God and April 26 departed being conducted by the same Herald who brought him before He wrote to the Emperor upon the Road and after he had in few words resum'd all that had past he begg'd of His Imperial Majesty That since he had been alwaies hitherto and still was willing to submit to Conditions of Peace and Agreement and desired no more but that the Controversie might be determined by any impartial Judge according to the Authority of holy Scripture he would be pleased to Protect him against the violence and fury of his adversaries That 't was not his private Cause but the publick Concern of the whole World and especially of Germany whose safety and welfare he preferr'd before his own life To the same purpose also he wrote to the rest of the Princes and States and that whensoever it should seem good to the Emperor and them he would come upon safe conduct whithersoever they pleased and debate his cause before impartial and unsuspected Judges Whereas in this work there is frequent mention made of Huss the Council of Constance and the Bohemians I 'll give the Reader a short account of the whole matter In the year of our Lord 1393 there was one John Wickliff in England who wrote many things against the Roman Papacy which were afterwards carried into Bohemia At that time there was a famous University in Prague and therein slourished John Huss a Divine by profession This man Preach'd up Wickliffs Doctrin as holy and saving and dispersed it far and near But being accused of this he was cited to appear before Pope Alexander V. he by his Proctors alledged causes why he could not come And King Wenceslaus also interceded for him desiring the Pope to send Legats into Bohemia to try the matter there but that could not be obtained Huss being therefore condemned for an Heretick published a Book wherein he appealed from the Pope to Christ as Judge The Church of Rome at that time was in a very troublesom State. For the Cardinals being divided into factions had chosen three Anti-Popes Gregory XII Benet XIII and John XXIII which highly displeased other Kings as well as the Emperor Sigismund who having solicited Pope John he at length called the Council of Constance Now Sigismund who was the Brother of King Wenceslaus called John Huss thither and in October 1414 sent him a safe conduct in due form Whereupon Huss being accompanied by some persons of quality came to Constance on the third of November but three weeks after being called to a private Conference with the Pope and Cardinals he was detained prisoner The Emperor Sigismund was absent then and being inform'd of the matter was highly displeased and came thither But the Papists urging that Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks he not only remitted the offence though the Bohemians importun'd him to the contrary and demanded performance of the safe conduct but was also the first that spake bitterly against him In fine on the sixth of July following the Council condemn'd him as an Heretick and Seditious Person and ordered the Books he had written to be burnt Being thus condemn'd he was delivered over to the Emperor and burnt his ashes being afterwards cast into the Rhine that no relick of him might remain After him Jerome of Prague his Disciple and Hearer was put to Death in the same manner In this Council besides the Emperour were the Ambassadours of many Kings three Electoral Princes of the Empire Lewis Prince Palatine Rodulph Duke of Saxony and Frederick Marquess of Brandenburg and a vast number of the other Princes three Patriarchs of Aquileia Antioch and Constantinople eight and twenty Cardinals an hundred and fifty five Bishops very many Divines and Lawyers Italians Germans French English Hungarians and Polonians The Doctrin of Wickliff was here also condemned and a Decree made that his Body should be taken up and burnt in England It was besides Decreed that none but Priests should receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both kinds and that all others should be content with one kind which had been impugned by Huss A Law was also made that Faith should not be kept with Hereticks or persons suspected of Heresie though they should come under the Emperours Safe-Conduct to be tryed in Council Lastly the three Popes were degraded and by common Consent Martin V chosen When the News of the Execution of Huss and Jerome was brought into Bohemia it occasioned a terrible Commotion and afterwards a very cruel and bloody War under the Conduct of John Zischa so that Sigismond was forced to beg the Assistanc of the Empire but the greatest Cruelty was exercised against the Priests in hatred to the Pope whom they Cursed whose Dominion they shook off and embraced the Doctrin of Huss adoring his Memory Much about this Time the Divines of Paris condemned Luther's Books and out of that which is entitled Of the Captivity of Babylon and some others also they gathered certain Heads as of the Sacraments the Canons of the Church the Equality of Works Vows Contrition Absolution Satisfaction Purgatory Free-Will the immunity of the Clergy Councils the Punishments of Hereticks Philosophy School-Divinity and many more of the like sort admonishing the Reader and all who professed the Name of Christ to beware of such pernicious Doctrins For that it was the Custom of Hereticks to propose specious Matters at first which sinking once down into the Mind could hardly ever be got out again but that under those alluring Words present Poyson lay hid Then they reckoned up in Order the Hereticks of the several Ages and among these Wickliff John Huss and last of all Luther whom they mightily blamed as an arrogant and rash Man that he should imagine himself alone to know more than all others contemn the Judgments of all the Holy Fathers and Interpreters of all Councils and Schools and that he should reject the Custom and Consent of the Church observed for so many Ages as if it were credible That Christ would have left all that while his only Spouse to wander in so great Darkness of Errour but that it was the usual way with Hereticks to wrest Scripture to their own Sense Having then reckoned up some Books written by him they shew what Hereticks Luther imitated in such and such Opinions and that seeing it properly belonged to their Office and Profession to stifle springing Heresies as much as lay in their Power they had therefore diligently perused his Books that they might direct all Men how to have a Care of them and that after much Reading of his Writings they found that his Doctrin was pernicious deserving to be burnt and that
satisfaction and at the same time hiring Forces from several places passeth over the Alpes and invades the Duke of Savoy a Prince of the Empire that so by conquering that Province he might make his way for farther Victory which proceedings forc'd the Emperor to raise an Army for the defence of that Country And though he was very desirous of Peace not only at first but after he had been at great Charges in fortifying and defending his own Dominions not refusing to deliver up the Dutchy to the other upon certain Conditions as appears by his late Declaration made at Rome before the Pope and Conclave of Cardinals and several Ambassadors of Princes yet the French King rejecting all these Proposals persisted in his former Resolution And now I understand he is perpetually soliciting you for Supplies pretending you ought to assist him by vertue of a League made between you in regard the Emperor sets upon him in his own Country and pursues him in his retreat But the case in clearly misrepresented for it is He not the Emperor who began this War and forc'd his Imperial Majesty to take up Arms against his Will. And though now he chooses rather to fall back than stand the Charge of the Emperors Army though the Emperor presseth upon him as he retreats yet the Emperor cannot be said to begin the War upon this account for by pursuing the Enemy he does nothing but what is justifiable and prudent that he may receive satisfaction for the damage he hath sustain'd and restore a general Peace to Christendom And therefore the reason drawn from the Alliance with which the French King flourishes so much ought not to be insisted on Now this being the true state of the matter and since he has broken his Faith and begun the War again himself I desire you would not suffer any Forces to be sent to him which will be very acceptable to the Emperor and my self and will very much import the Peace and Security of your State. In the mean time the Protestants sent Embassadors into Italy to the Emperor who complain'd of the Mal-administration of Justice in the Chamber of Spire and excus'd their seising upon the Goods of the Ecclesiasticks which the Emperor had before expostulated with them in a Letter But before the Embassadors came thither the Emperor had dispatch'd Letters to the Protestants from Savigliano upon the seventh of July viz. Notwithstanding he had often told them both by Writing and by his Embassadors that his Inclinations were wholly bent to settle the Peace of Germany that all Differences especially those of Religion might be amicably accommodated and that no Man might have any disturbance upon that account notwithstanding he had hitherto actually perform'd what he had written yet because the French King whose unjust Designs he was forc'd to oppose with an Army had falsely suggested to them as if he would break the Peace at the first convenient opportunity Therefore he was willing to write to them and to caution them again not to give any credit to such a Report but to assure themselves that he would always stand to his Articles and not make War upon any Persons upon the score of Religion nor raise any Commotions in Germany As for this present preparation for War it is only design'd for the maintaining his just Right and Authority therefore he desires them that they would rest satisfi'd and not grow apprehensive and suspicious upon any Disturbance that may happen Such management as this will both be very acceptable to him and beneficial to themselves And now the Emperor having gather'd his Forces passeth through the midst of Italy and Invades Provence with a powerful Army The King encamped at Avignion between the Rivers Rhone and la Durance and by wasting that part of the Country which he saw the Emperor would make his descent into and afterwards declining a battle he reduc'd him to great streights For a scarcity of all sorts of Provisions happening in the Emperor's Camp after he had lost Antonio Leva and a great many thousands of his Souldiers were destroy'd by Famine and contagious Diseases he was oblig'd to dismiss the remainder of his Forces and return to Genoa Another Army of his was employ'd the same Summer in the Country of Vermandois and besieg'd Perone Henry Nassaw being the General but he was forc'd to retire without Success much about the same time that the Emperor left Provence the News of both which accidents being brought to Paris the same day occasion'd great rejoycing in that City For they were in a great Consternation and the People were harangued with bitter Invectives against the Emperor The King's Lieutenants in the mean time giving order to fortifie the Town with Ramparts and Ditches and to Garrison all the Gates William of Furstenburgh a German served the French King in this War about the beginning of which Francis the French King's eldest Son died being eighteen years of Age The report was that he was poison'd and one Sebastian Montecuculi an Italian being suspected and put to the question was quarter'd with Horses at Lyons And the King writing afterwards to the Princes of Germany among other things complain'd severely of this matter laying all the Scandal and Infamy of the Fact upon Antonio Leva and Ferrand Gonzaga the Emperor's Servants At this time Herman Archbishop of Cologne who had long since projected a Reformation of the Church held a Provincial Council at the desire of his People and according to custom summon'd all the Bishops belonging to his Jurisdiction thither viz. The Bishops of Leige Vtretch Munster Osnaburgh and Minden This Council made several Canons concerning Doctrin and Ceremonies which were afterwards compil'd into a Book by John Gropper Professor of the Canon-Law in which almost all the Popish Tenents are palliated and coloured with new Interpretations But this Book when it was publish'd did not give satisfaction and some few years after the Archbishop himself was not pleas'd with it as I shall shew hereafter This year in July Erasmus of Rotterdam died being about seventy years of age he was buried at Basil whither he return'd from Friburgh How great a Person he was what a Master of Stile and how much all learned Men are oblig'd to him his Works sufficiently testifie About this time there was a great Insurrection in England occasion'd by the rejecting the Popes Supremacy declaring the Lady Mary who was generally belov'd illegitimate and punishing some Persons for not obeying the King's Injunctions Now this Rebellion encreas'd so fast in a short time that the King thought it proper to draw his Forces together and March against them And when they were encamp'd near each other they came to a Parley where after some of the Rebels were mollified and had satisfaction given them the rest of the Rabble laid down their Arms and went off Most of the Authors of this Disturbance were executed after the heat of
Venice is will be of the Duke's Opinion and not let their Town be filled with so great a multitude without a Garrison to secure it so that upon this account there will be as few people to open the Council as there was at Mantua And since whatever he hath done is no better than Mockery it 's not fit he should have such an unreasonable Liberty allowed him any longer 'T is true Councils rightly constituted and managed are the most proper and useful Expedients which can be tried but when they are pack'd for private Interest and Advantage and to establish the Usurpations of a Party they are inconceivable mischievous to the State of Christendom And now when the Name of a Council and the Church made so great a noise in the World Luther undertook to write a Book in High Dutch upon both Arguments where in the first place he treats of the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem which is mentioned in the Fifteenth of the Acts. Then he sheweth how the Fathers contradicted one another more particularly St. Augustin and St. Cyprian about Baptism where he takes occasion to mention those Ecclesiastical Constitutions which are commonly called the Apostles Canons and proves them spurious by unquestionable Arguments and that those ought to be hanged who give them that name From thence he proceeds to the first four General Councils which are of the most considerable Authority and recites them in Order the Nicene the Constantinopolitan the Ephesine and that at Chalcedon and gives an account of the Occasion of their Meeting and what was Decreed there afterwards he comes up to the main Question and sheweth how far the Power of a Council reacheth And here he maintaineth that a Council ought not to make any Article of Faith nor enjoin any new Duty nor tie the Consciences of Men to Ceremonies which were not practised from the beginning neither is it lawful for such an Assembly to intermeddle in Civil Government nor to make any Canons to found their private Grandeur and Dominion upon On the contrary their Office is to see that all Innovations in Doctrine repugnant to the Holy Scriptures that superstitious or unprofitable Ceremonies may be condemned and removed and always to make the Scripture their Rule to determine Controversies by Then he goes on to define the Church and lays down the Notes to know her by and running a Parellel between Christ and his Apostles and the Pope and showing what a different Doctrine his Holiness had settled in the Church and at what a wicked Rate he had plundered Christendom he concludes he ought to be Excommunicated and obliged to Restitution Besides many other Instances by which he demonstrates in that Book what gross Ignorance there was in the times of Popery how much Religion was corrupted and debauched he tell us Things were come to that pass that even the bare Habit of a Monk was thought to contribute considerably towards the obtaining eternal Life insomuch that not only the Vulgar but many persons of Quality would be buried in it After-Ages possibly will not believe this Relation but yet it is very true and is chiefly practised in Italy and in my time Francis the Second Marquess of Mantua made express Provision in his Will to be buried in the Habit of a Franciscan or Seraphick as they call it The same thing was done by Albertus Pius Prince of Carpi who died at Paris and by Christopher Longolius a Low Country Man who lieth at Padua He was a very Learned Person and a great Admirer of Tully There is an Oration of his Extant against the Lutherans as there is also one of Albert's against Erasmus of Rotterdam After the Death of George Duke of Saxony Henry of Brunswick immediately set forward through France into Spain to wait upon the Emperor Much about this time Henry King of England called a Parliament where besides other secular Matters he Enacts these following Articles concerning Religion That the true and natural Body and Blood of Christ were under the Appearance of Bread and Wine and that the Substance of Bread and Wine does not remain after Consecration That the receiving all the Lord's Supper is not necessary to Salvation Christ being entirely contained under each kind That it is not lawful for Priests to Marry Vows of Chastity ought to be kept and private Masses continued Auricular and private Confession of Sins is both profitable and necessary Those who teach and do any thing contrary to this Act are to suffer as Hereticks And at the same time when this Law was made the King courted Ann Sister to William Duke of Cleve a beautiful Maiden-Lady who when she was contracted to him sailed over into England some few Months after Some thought the Bishops influenced the King to sign this Act touching these Points that they might have an Opportunity to ruine the Authority and Interest of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas Cromwell who were both of them Well-wishers to the Reformation This Year in August the Turkish Admiral Barbarossa took Castle-novo a Town in Dalmatia in the Gulph of Cataro by Storm where all the Garrison was put to the Sword and some of the Burghers carried away into Slavery The Emperor and his Confederates the Venetians took this place a Year before in October but the Emperor garrisoned it himself with Four thousand Spaniards and made Francis Sarmiento the Governor This was a surprize to the Venetians who said a Town situated upon that Coast did rather belong to themselves Thus being disgusted with the Emperor and likewise foreseeing that an Alliance with him would prove dangerous to their State they apply themselves not long after to the Turk and upon their request obtain a Truce of him At this time there happened an Insurrection at Ghent the most considerable City for Strength and Interest in all those Parts and which has often contested very warmly for Liberty with the Earls of Flanders under whose Jurisdiction it is When the Emperor heard of this Commotion he changed his design of going into Germany by the way of Italy and resolved to Travel through France being earnestly invited thither by the French King who made him very obliging proffers of Security and Accommodation for his Journey In the mean time the Palsgrave and the Elector of Brandenburg being Princes of the Mediation wrote to the Emperor concerning the Pacification at Francfort and desired him to give leave there might be a Conference of Learned Men at Nuremberg But his Imperial Majesty told them That the Death of his Empress and some other Occurrences intervening had hindred him from being at leisure to attend that Affair When the Princes of the Mediation had sent a Copy of this Letter to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave without signifying whether the Emperor had confirmed the Truce for Fifteen Months the Protestants appointed a Convention on the Nineteenth of November at Arnstet a Town in Thuringia
Protestants because of their Religion The End of the Twelfth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIII The CONTENTS The Protestants make Answer to the Emperor's Demands and by many Arguments prove that they aim more at Piety and Religion in their Actions than at appropriating to themselves Church-lands and Possessions They also refute the Arguments of the King of England The Emperor having punished the City of Ghent orders a Meeting of the Protestants who answer his Letters The Pope sends his Legate Farnese the same who went with the Emperor from Paris to the Netherlands He makes a long invective Speech against the Protestants In the mean time the French King makes a League with the Duke of Cleve to whom he gives his Sisters Daughter in Marriage At this time the Pope was making War against the People of Perusia The King of England turns away Ann the Sister of the Duke of Cleve Some Points of Religion are accommodated in the Assembly of Haguenaw The rest are repriev'd to the Convention at Wormes appointed by King Ferdinand whither Granvell came and made a Speech Campeggio the Pope Legate came after who also makes a Speech The Conference is broken off and all the Negotiation put off till the Diet of Ratisbone Luther makes a smart Answer to the Book of Henry Duke of Brunswick wherein Mention is made of the dear Pall which the Pope of Rome sells The Treaty commences at Ratisbone The Emperor passes over into Barbary Granvell presents the Book called the Interim to the Conferrers The Duke of Cleve marries the King of Navarr's Daughter TO these things the Protestants April the Eleventh make Answer and in the first place say they we return our hearty Thanks to the Heer Granvell who hath always advised the Emperor to Moderation in this Affair a Virtue which deserves the highest Commendation And we pray God to confirm him in this so laudable a Resolution for what can be more glorious than to allay publick Grievances by prudent and moderate Counsels without Slaughter and Bloodshed Now we pray all Men in general not to think that we delight in the Clashings and Dissensions of Churches that we propose to our selves any private Advantage or that it is out of Frowardness that we have separated from other Nations contrary to the inveterate Custom of many Ages It was not out of Wantonness Rashness or Unadvisedness that we have exposed our selves to the implacable Hatred of our Adversaries that we have undergone so much Trouble and Toil so great Charges and Losses and the continual Dangers of so many Years No but when Division in Doctrine broke out in the Church which hath happened oftner than once of old we could not in Conscience resist the Truth for the Favour of Men and far less approve the Actions of those who with great Cruelty persecute the Innocent Nay on the contrary for so many weighty Reasons for such true and holy Causes we are constrained to oppose them and separate from them For it is manifestly known that they defend gross and intolerable Errors not only in Word but by Violence and Force of Arms Now it is the Duty of the Magistrate to protect his Subjects from unjust Force And because we hear that we lie under Suspicion as if we only minded our own Profit and Advantage and not the Glory of God nor Reformation of the Church we beseech the Heer Granvell that he would justify us in that Matter to the Emperor We are sensible enough of the Calumnies of that Nature which are dispersed far and near by our Adversaries with intent to bring our Persons and the true Religion we profess into contempt and hatred But in the Emperors honourable Council whom God hath placed in so eminent a Sphere Truth only should be enquired into and regarded and all false Informations discountenanced For the Reason why they hunt about for Pretexts to load us with that Aspersion and publickly traduce us is because they maintain a weak and unjust Cause because they see their own Errors blamed and condemned by all Men and cannot withstand the pure Light of the Gospel But it suits ill with the Character and Duty of Bishops so to urge and importune the Emperor about Lands and Revenues as if the Christian Religion stood or fell with them when in the mean time they take not the least Notice of those many and enormous Errors and Vices which they themselves cannot dissemble It ought indeed to be their first care to see Religion and the purer Doctrine preserved in their Churches But now their Thoughts are wholly taken up how they may defend their Wealth and Power their Luxury and Splendor They know well enough that the Contest is not about Church-lands and Possessions they themselves know that these are not the things we aim at but they use that as a Cloak and Veil to cover their own wicked Counsels in resisting the Truth that they may inflame the Minds of Kings and Princes to the Destruction of this Religion For no Man of our Profession hath invaded any part of Church Possessions within the Territories and Dominion of another nor deprived any Bishop of ought that was his but the Bishops themselves have slighted their Jurisdiction when the Profits thereof began to fall and indeed they know not how to administer the same Again The Colleges of the Canons Regular still enjoy all they had but they on the other hand have appropriated to themselves the Revenues of many of our Churches and discharge their People from paying us any yearly Rent And whereas they were wont formerly to allow somewhat of their yearly Revenues to the Ministers of the Church and Schoolmasters they are now so far from contributing anything that way that the Cities are necessitated to be at all the Charges And it is not like that these Cities which both lie under heavy Burthens and are exposed to great Dangers do espouse and maintain this Cause meerly for Covetousness sake But our Enemies especially such of them as hunt after Church Preferments maliciously accuse us so to the Emperor We could heartily wish that the Emperor were rightly informed of the present State of Monasteries why monastick Institutions have been change and how these Goods are employed partly for maintaining the Ministers of the Church and Teachers of the People and partly for other pious Uses We would the Emperor also understood how our Adversaries hook in to themselves all Profits and rob and spoil not only Monasteries but other Churches also so that within their Precincts many Churches are wholly slighted and the People degenerate into Paganism But before we speak any more of that Matter we beseech Granvell that in his own excellent Judgment he would weigh these things with himself For grant we might from hence reap some Advantage yet it may easily be imagined that the Controversie proceeds not from this but from a far different and more considerable Cause and that for
be propagated to posterity It is manifest then that Covetousness and desire of Lucre is not to be Objected to us when besides Trouble and Dangers there comes nothing to our share and our Adversaries in the mean time without any regard to the Pope whom they usually magnifie so much make what booty they please of the Church Revenues and besides bestow great Rewards and Gifts upon some that they may obstinately Persecute the true Religion That we also submit the rest of Church-Possessions to the Determination of a Council we hope will be sufficient to justifie us in the Opinions of all Good Men. But that it should be imputed to us by our Adversaries That we do but dissemble and play the Hypocrites as often as we speak of Reconciliation and as if that were only done that we may put a stop to the Emperor's Designs pervert the matters and hinder a lawful Trial as a thing that does very much trouble and afflict us for what can be more wicked and base than to make a blind pretext of Piety and Religion We therefore desire seeing that is a very heinous Accusation that the Emperor would patiently and attentively examine those things which we are to say in our own defence When Ten Years ago our Enemies made a great complaint to the Emperor in the Diet of Ausburg concerning our Churches and that we were enjoined to give an account of our Doctrine Religion and Ceremonies we acted nothing craftily nor in hugger-mugger but in plain Terms gave an open profession of our Doctrine that all might be convinced that it agreed with the Doctrines of the Apostles and we make no doubt but that was a means of bringing many to embrace our Religion when they saw that we taught nothing contrary to the From of the Ancient Church but only shewed and detected the Errors which had slipp'd into the Church For it cannot be denied but that many and grievous Errors had crope in the Doctrine of Repentance was frigid and perplexed not a word preached of Grace received by Christ and the Remission of Sins the Lord's Supper was in a horrid manner and wholly corrupted and contaminated by the Popish Mass for it is known that private Mass is but a new thing introduced partly through Ignorance and partly out of Covetousness because Marriage was denied to Priests there was nothing to be heard but Instances of the foulest Incontinence the Doctrine of the Keys and Power of the Church was altogether slighted and the Pope arrogated all that Power to himself only for the Confirmation of his own Dominion and Rule and loaded the minds of Men with almost infinite numbers of Precepts and Laws which learned and judicious Men often bewailed but no care was had of setting able Men over the Churches What our Opinion was of those many and necessary matters we declared before the Emperor at Ausburg and Books on that Subject written by Men of our Profession are publickly extant Many learned Men also of other Nations confess That they had the Knowledge of the true Doctrine from these Books so that then we shun not the Light. And when a Reconciliation was attempted at Ausburg we acted not Fraudulently nor Craftily but shewed our selves to be desirous of agreement and that if our Adversaries would have received the Principal Doctrines we should not have been very scrupulous nor contentious about indifferent Things And though the Ways then propos'd by us were moderate yet our Treatment was neither too Friendly nor Impartial Nay would to God the Emperor knew how our Adversaries that were Commissionated then behaved themselves for they often protested in the beginning of all Treaties that they would not depart a Hairs breadth from their own Opinion and Doctrine but that all they did was only to bring us over to their Judgment Wherefore they began to speak of Doctrines of the Invocation of Saints of Private Mass and Satisfaction affirming that there was no Error in them That was not then a Conference wherein the Truth was sifted by solid Arguments and testimonies of Scripture but it was a kind of haughty and pompous Confirmation of manifest Errors And because we did not then acquiesce to them they now construe that as if we had only made a shew of Treating about Accommodation not with any real and sincere design of Success but only to shuffle with the Emperor and elude a Trial For so they understand the word Reconciliation as if we should abandon the Truth and approve their Cause But after the Conference at Ausburg these things were no more debated which nevertheless was not our fault for it is our chief desire that good and learned Men may conferr of all these matters and freely give their Judgment concerning them Wherefore we pray all Men not to give credit to this their Accusation for if we shunned the Light or were ashamed of our Cause we might easily forsake it and ingratiate our selves with them but seeing we are convinced that of all Causes this is the most pious and necessary therefore we undergo all this Labour submit to all Losses and Dangers and profess the Doctrine of Christ which we desire to retain and propagate longing for a Reformation of the Church with Peace and Concord and what a Year since we protested at Francfort we now also profess that we will not decline a Conference nor treaty of Reconciliation Which that no Man may be mistaken we so understand that following the Scripture as our Guide Truth may be sought after Error abolished and true Doctrine take place in Churches For otherwise all Labour and Pains will be in vain Christ the Son of God made known to us his Will and Doctrine from the Bosom of the Father He is to be heard and only to acknowledged for our Judge Now all the Emperor's Edicts and Proclamations sufficiently show also that this Affair ought to be orderly and lawfully debated but we do not think that our Adversaries method of proceeding at the Diet of Ausburg has been made known unto him But now what our mind is and upon what Grounds we proceed may be seen in the publick and printed Confession of our Faith which we are certain does agree with Holy Scripture and therefore we cannot forsake it Besides this Doctrine which is the chief and Foundation of all the rest there are some other mean and as it were indifferent things as concerning Ceremonies Ordination of Priests Jurisdiction Visiters Church-Goods matrimonial Causes c. all Controversies as to these may in our Judgment be reconciled if first there were an Agreement about those necessary Points For so long as our Adversaries impugn the chief Matters and go on in a way of Cruelty the difference cannot be removed How in that some endeavour to perswade the Emperor that our Doctrine is blended with many Heresies and Errors they do us an Injury for if they have any thing of that nature to Object unto us they may do it publickly and
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
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
and be under an honest Discipline the Glory of God and the Consciences of men being in Safety That of late years a National Council of Germany had been often propos'd as extreamly accommodated to the present state of things but forasmuch as the Name Mode and Form of it was not in his opinion so well known and by use established he therefore would not at present determine any thing concerning it The third way by Conferences and Disputes had been often tried and though hitherto no good fruit had proceeded from thence yet many things might by this means have been discovered and the principal Differences might have been determined if they had been managed with a truly pious Affection and if there had not on both sides been too great an Attachment to their private Interest which Affirmation he nevertheless desired might not be extended to the injury of any man. That therefore this way was to be further considered And although the faithful Council and Design of the Emperor was some years since misunderstood and so became ungrateful to both the Parties yet if they thought so fit he did still think that way might be useful if the contending Parties would act sincerely and if they would lay aside their Passions and discharge all Obstinacy and seek nothing but the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men that then he would assist them in it with fidelity and industry That for the present he could not bethink him of any other convenient and useful Way But that if they could find out any one that was more fit and easie they should have his good leave to produce it The next Thing to be considered of as he said was the Peace of the Empire That the Emperor and they too thought That the Measures they had then taken for the preservation of the Publick Peace had been such as would certainly have had a good effect but then since the Event has shewed them all that they were mistaken in this because they had agreed that Rebels and Seditious Persons should not be condemned or outlawed till they had first been cited and convicted according to the Forms of Justice which in the interim gave them time and opportunity of ruining many innocent men It was also then Agreed That if any Force were employ'd against any man his Neighbors should assist and defend him But then you are now abundantly convinc'd what variety of Impediments may intervene to hinder this That therefore they should deliberate and seriously consider how these two Heads of the Laws may be amended That unquiet men might be kept in Aw and that those who were faithful to the Empire might be well assured that they should not fail of Assistance in time of need That this might now be dispatched with so much the greater ease because the Foundations of such a Regulation had been laid by the late Conventions at Worms and Franckfurt and they should do well to prosecute the Consultation which had been begun there and bring it to a good end He desired also that they would consider of the constituting the Publick Justice of the Publick Contributions of the Money and all other things relating to the Government That they should direct all their Thoughts to the finding out ways for the total abolishing their intestine Evils Contentions Riots Seditions and unjust Force and Violence That in all these Deliberations they should in the first place consider the State of the Empire and reflect upon the great Danger which now threatned Germany not only from the devouring Turk but also from some nearer Enemies who sought the Ruine of the Empire as much as the Turks did That therefore they should deeply consider what great Advantages their Enemies took of these Offences and Civil Broyls which they craftily stirr'd up and nourished that in this division of the States they in the Interim might do their Wills and when time served they might with great Forces fall upon the Empire and enslave it to them That the Neighbour-Nations which had been thus conquered and circumvented by them ought to be a Caution to Germany and excite in it a mighty care to pursue those Counsels by which the Tempest and Ruine which now hung over her Head and threatned her might be averted That the Authority and Strength of the Empire might be preserved and that all external Force might be no less valiantly resisted now than heretofore That whatever Help or Counsel the Emperor or He were able to contribute they should not fail of doing it with all willingness and in such manner too that all men should from thence understand how greatly they loved their Country and of this he desired they would rest certainly assured When this Speech of King Ferdinand's came once to be spred over Germany it was attended with a Report That he had banished about 200 Ministers out of Bohemia and it was also said That the Cardinal of Moron would be sent from Rome to this Diet who was to try if he could not make Germany follow the Example of England and do what Pool had already done for that the Pope and all his Patry was thought to have been so exalted by the reduction of England that they had thereupon entertain'd vast but deluding Hopes For because the Thing went as they desired therefore they concluded That God was now appeased and was become the Defender of their most just Cause and that their Church could not be convinced of any Error for thus at this time they boasted more than they were wont And when they send any Legates into Germany at any time they do it not to confess any Offence they have committed but as they pretend that they may heal the Infirmities of men About the End of February Albert Duke of Mecklenburg whom we have mentioned above as an Ally to Maurice Duke of Saxony and whom Henry Duke of Brunswick the last year whilst he carried the War into Saxony very much afflicted married the Daughter of Albert Duke of Prussia About this time also I received an Account out of England That Bradford whom I have mentioned above to be condemned was kept a Prisoner anâ— that the Minds of many were much astonished and stupified with the Constancy of those who had Sacrificed their Lives Bradford was burnt in July following The End of the Twenty Fifth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXVI The CONTENTS England submits to the Church of Rome The Castle of Blaffeburg taken and levelled with the Earth Augustus Elector of Saxony excuseth his not coming to the Diet. The Prince of Saxony writes to the Emperor Cardinal Pool endeavours to make a Peace between the Emperor and the King of France The Emperor writes to the States of the Empire The Turk besiegeth Piombino a Town in Italy The Town of Vulpiano destroyed by the French. The Parliament of Paris answereth the King's Edict against the Lutherans A Controversy about the County of Catzenellobogen Charles
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 aâ—ow 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 Ecclâ—siastical 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 Spanâ—sh 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
made of those Vertues in him which are required to be in an Emperour The Publick stands in need of such a Prince who besides other things may settle and reform the state of the Church as the Elector of Mentz wisely hinted Now of all Men King Francis is most capable of effecting this for he is a Prince both of Wit and Judgment uses to confer often with Learned Men about Religion and reads many Books himself Besides the present state of Affairs requires a Prince and General who is an expert Soldier diligent and fortunate And who pray upon this occcasion can outvie King Francis His Valour is already known and tried and he surpasses all his Ancestors in the greatness of his Actions for he lately overcame in Battel the Switzers a most Warlike People and since the time of Julius Caesar almost invincible A Youth then is not to be preferred before so great a Commander The Elector of Mentz confesses indeed that it would be inconvenient if Charles should continue long out of Germany but bids us set our minds at rest for all that However for my part I look upon it to be a Matter of the highest Danger that an Emperour should remain a long while out of the Borders of the Empire For who will withstand the sudden Irruptions of the Turks who will restrain unexpected Tumults Quarrels and Civil Commotions Who will if a Storm arise guide the Ship in the Pilot's absence When he is absent he will have no certain intelligence of our Affairs many things will be falsely reported unto him no Germans but only Spaniards will be of his Council He will now and then make Edicts and send them to us in a most unseasonable time and if being provoked by the Calumnies and Accusations of malicious Men he chance afterwards to come into Germany with an Army of Strangers at his back What think you will be the fortune of the Empire then Wherefore if it seems good to you and if Fate will so have it that at this time a Foreign King should put our Crown upon his Head I am clearly of the Opinion that the French should be preferred before the Spaniard But if the Law be against the chusing of the French King it is no less against the King of Spain nor are we by any nice Interpretation to take King Charles for a German but rather to find out some Prince who hath no Residence but in Germany and who is a German by Birth Manners Humour and Language Against this the Archbishop of Mentz hath started many Inconveniences and thinks That by reason of Weakness and low Fortune such an Emperour will be contemptible but if we chuse a fit Person Germany is strong and powerful enough to bear that Burthen Rodolph I the eleventh Emperour before Maximilian brought no great strength with him to the Throne but he was a Virtuous and Valient Prince and raised the Empire which was then sunk very low and harassed by many Wars to such a state that it became formidable to all the Kings about it Nor do I think you are ignorant what a high Opinion Foreign Princes and among these Lowis XII of France conceived of the Emperour Maximilian only because of his Parts and Valour Great hath always been the Fame and Reputation of the German Princes which is not extinct as yet but is still fresh and green and among others there are at this Day three chief Families in Germany Bavaria Saxony and Brandenburgh and some excellent and deserving Men of them If then we can agree and chuse one of them and as we ought assist him with our Forces we need not be afraid of Foreigners for provided we be unanimous among our selves all will be well enough wherefore passing by all Strangers let us chuse one among our selves we need not doubt of success and we can produce many Domestick Instances of our own Fortitude and Behaviour of which I shall now only mention one Matthias King of Hungary a potent and fortunate Warrior once declared War against your Father Duke Frederick but when he saw a good Army ready to oppose him his Heat and Courage was soon cooled So also I think a way may be found out now that an Emperour chosen of our own Country may retain his Authority both at Home and abroad In the third Place spake Frederick Duke of Saxony and having represented to the Colledge That the French King was excluded by Law but that Charles was a German Prince and had a Residence and Habitation in Germany he told them That the Body Politick stood in need of a very powerful Head but that he knew none that was to be compared to Charles that therefore his Judgment was That he should be declared Emperour but yet on certain Conditions both that Germany might be secured of its Liberty and the Dangers which had been mentioned avoided When the rest had at length approved this Opinion How said the Elector of Treves do I foresee the Fate of Germany and a Change a coming But since it seems good to you I will not oppose your Judgment This was on the twenty eighth Day of June It was now late Night and therefore they broke up but met again next Day Then it began to be debated What Conditions were to be offered to Charles the Emperour Elect and this Debate continued for some Days when at length the Conditions were agreed upon they were drawn up in Writing and sent to Mentz to his Ambassadours When they had received them the several Voices were set down in Writing and as the Custom is signed and Sealed The Day before the Empire had been offered to Frederick Elector of Saxony but he bravely refused it and as has been said gave his Vote for Charles of Spain and when upon that Account the Ambassadours of Charles offered him a great summ of Money he not only rejected it but commanded all about him likewise not to take a Farthing The Nobility and all the People being afterwards called together the Archbishop of Mentz in a speech made to them in S. Bartholomew's Church declared That Charles Archduke of Austria and King of Spain was chosen King of the Romans in the place of Maximilian deceased that they ought to give God thanks that he had been so unanimously chosen and exhorted them to be Faithful and Obedient to him Then running out in his Praises he gave them the Reasons why they had chosen him of all others which was received by the States and People with Humming and Applause Afterwards the Ambassadours who had drawn nearer and were now but at a Miles Distance were sent for These were Matthew Cardinal of Saltzburg Erard Bishop of Liege Bernard Bishop of Trent Frederick Prince Palatine Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg Henry Count of Nassaw Maximilian of Sibenburg and some other Counsellors These being come and having consulted with the rest about the Administration of the Government till the Emperour Charles should come into Germany
they might prove of great use to others as well as to himself who was exceedingly pleased with them but that there was one thing that he would have him admonished of and that was That more might be done by a civil Modesty than by Transports and Heat that he ought rather to thunder against those who abused the Authority of Popes than against the Popes themselves that about inveterate things which cannot be suddenly pluck'd out it is better to dispute with pithy and close Arguments than to assert positively and that in this Case the Passions and Affections must be laid aside That he gave him this Admonition not that he might learn what he was to do but that he should proceed as he had begun Luther's Doctrine having in this manner caused much Strife and Contention and raised him many Enemies there was a Disputation appointed to be at Leipsick a Town in Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxony Cousin-german to the Elector Frederick thither came Luther and with him Philip Melanchthon who the Year before came to Wittemberg being sent for by Duke Frederick to be Professour of the Greek Language there thither came also John Eckius a bold and confident Divine On the Day appointed which was July 4 the Disputation was begun by Eckius who having proposed some Positions to be debated made this his last That they who affirmed that before the time of Pope Silvester the Church of Rome was not the first of all Churches did err for that he who attained to the See and Faith of S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles was always acknowledged for the Successor of S. Peter and the Vicar of Christ upon Earth The contrary Position to this was published by Luther to wit That they who attributed Primacy to the Church of Rome had no other Ground for it but the bare and insipid Decretals of the Popes made about four hundred Years ago but that these Decretals were repugnant not only to all Histories written a thousand Years since but also to Holy Scripture and the Council of Nice the most Famous of all Councils Eckius then entring upon the Dispute laid hold of that last Position and would begin the Debate about the Authority and Primacy of the Pope of Rome but Luther having made a short Preface said That he had rather that that Argument as being very Odious and not at all Necessary might have been waved and that for the sake of the Pope that he was sorry he should have been drawn into it by Eckius and that he wished now his Adversaries were present who having grievously accused him and now shunn'd the Light and a fair Tryal of their Cause did not do well Eckius also having made a Preamble declared That he had not raised this Bustle and Stir but that it was Luther who in his first Explication of his Theses had denyed That before Silvester's time the Pope of Rome preceded the rest in Order and Dignity and had averred before Cajetane That Pope Pelagius had wrested many Places of Scripture according to his own Pleasure which being so that all the Fault lay at his Door The first Debate then was about the Supremacy of the Pope of Rome which Eckius said was instituted by Divine Right and called Luther who denyed it a Bohemian because Huss had been heretofore of the same Opinion Luther to justifie himself from this Accusation proved That the Church of Christ had been spread and propagated far and near twenty Years before S. Peter constituted a Church at Rome that this then was not the First and Chief Church by Divine Right Afterwards Eckius impugned Luther's other Positions of Purgatory Indulgences Penance the Pardon of the Guilt and Remission of the Punishment of Sin and of the Power of Priest At length on the fourteenth Day ended the Dispute which had been appointed not upon the account of Luther but of Andrew Carolstad though Luther came to it in company of Carolstad only to hear but being drawn in by Eckius who had procured a Safe-Conduct for him from Duke George he entred the Lists of Disputation for Eckius was brisk and confident because of the Nature of the Subject wherein he promised himself certain Victory Luther afterwards published the whole Conference and Debate and by an ingenious Animadversion upon the Writings and Sayings of his Adversaries gathered several Heads of Doctrine downright Heretical as he said That so he might make it appear That whilst they spoke and wrote any thing in Favour of the Pope and were transported with the Zeal of defending their Cause they interspersed many things which being narrowly inspected contained a great deal of Errour and Impiety Vlrick Zuinglius taught at that time at Zurich in Suitzerland whither he came upon a call in the beginning of this Year having before preached at Claris and in the Desert of our Lady as they call it Not long after Fryer Samson a Franciscean of Milan came thither also being sent by the Pope to preach up Indulgences and squeeze Money from the People Zuinglius stoutly opposed him and publickly called him an Imposter CAROLVS V. AVSTRIACVS D.G. ROMAN IMP SEMPER AVG REX HISPAN Natus Gandavi Ao. MD. Die. XXIV Febr Electus Ao. MDXIX XXVIII Iunij Ferdinando Frat Imp Commisit VII o Sept. MDLVI Obijt XXI Sept MDLVIII THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK II. The CONTENTS Luther by the advice of Charles Miltitz writes to the Pope and presents him with his Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor departs from Spain and passes through England into the Low-Countries Luther writes a Book which he calls Tessaradecas and another about the Manner of Confession a third about Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both Kinds To this his Adversaries object a Decree of the Council of Lateran under Julius II of whose Actions you have a large Account In the mean time the Divines of Lovain and Cologn condemn Luther's Books In his Defence the Opinions of Picus Mirandula the Questions of Ockam and the Controversie of Reuchlin with the same Divines are recited Seeing himself attack'd by so many Enemies he writes to the Emperor soon after to the Archbishop of Mentz and Bishop of Mersburg The Elector Frederick finding that he had lost his Credit at Rome upon Luther's account endeavours to clear himself by Letter Luther likewise does the same The Pope Excommunicates him and he appeals again from the Decree of the Council of Mantua and puts out his Book of the Babylonish Captivity The Emperor is Crown'd at Aix la Chapelle The Pope again sollicites Frederick but not prevailing causes Luther's Books to be burnt Which when Luther understood he burnt the Popes Bull and the Canon Law and gives his Reasons for it He Answers Ambrose Catarino who had written against him IN the former Book an Account has been given of what relates to Charles Miltitz and his Negotiation at the Court of the Elector
to these joyned themselves the Embassadors of Maximilian the Emperor and of Lewis XII King of France who were also embarqued in the same Design The time when this Council was called was the Nineteenth of May in the Year of our Lord 1511 that so the first Session might begin on the First of September next ensuing The Cause they alledg'd to justifie this their Proceeding was That the Pope had broken his Oath for that although so many years of his Pontificate were already elapsed yet he had not given them any the least hopes of his having any Inclination to call a Council and that because they had very great and heinous Crimes to lay to his charge they could not any longer neglect the care of the Church which was a Duty imcumbent on them as Members of the sacred College Their intent really was to depose him from the Popedom which he had obtained by Bribery and other such honest arts and means as all Persons make use of who aspire to the Infallible Chair And because they could no way safely convey this their Remonstrance to him they caused it to be publickly affixed at Regio Modena and Parma which were all three Towns belonging to St. Peter's Patrimony and they added a Citation to him to appear Personally at a certain day therein mentioned Julius having received Information of all this returned this Answer on the Eighteenth of July That before he came to be Pope he longed for nothing more than the calling a general Council as was very well known to several Kings and to the whole College of Cardinals and that purely upon this account he lost the Favour of Alexander VI. That he continued still of the same mind but that the state of Italy had been so unsetled for several years last past and was left so by his Predecessor Alexander That it was altogether impossible to have formed a Council while things continued in that distracted condition After this he shews them that their Summons was void in it self by reason of the shortness of the time limited in it and the inconveniency of the place for that Pisa had suffered so much in the late Wars that it was now nothing almost but an heap of Ruins and that the Country round about it was all wasted and desolate nor could there be any safe passage thither because of the daily Hostilities committed between the Florentines and those of Senese To this he adds in the last place That they had no legal Power of issuing out any such Summons and that the Reasons given by them for so doing were altogether false and groundless Therefore under pain of the severest Censures he forbids all Persons to yield any Obedience to them At the same time he by a Bull subscribed by One and twenty Cardinals called a Council to meet the next year which should commence on the Nineteenth of April and be held in the Lateran Church in Rome For this they say has always been one of the Papal Artifices that whensoever upon any Pretext they took occasion for some secret motives to decline the holding of a Council though called by never so lawful an Authority at the same time to Summon another to meet in such a place in which they could with the greatest ease influence all the Proceedings in it After this he admonishes the Confederate Cardinals to desist in time and return to Rome and accept of the Pardon now offer'd them But they continuing still refractory on the Twenty fourth of October he Excommunicates them all and those three that we mentioned before in particular by name as Hereticks Schismaticks and Traytors to the Apostolick See and sends Copies of this Bull to Maximilian the Emperor and several other Princes And because there were divers Bishops of France who adhered firmly to the Cardinals interests he Excommunicates them also unless they return to their Duty and make their Purgation within a prefixed time On the other side the Cardinals having several times in vain cited the Pope to come and appear before them there in Council by a Decree made in the Eighth Session suspended him from all Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and commanded all Christians for the future to renounce his Authority and acknowledge him no longer for St. Peter's Successor This was in the Year of our Lord 1512 on the Twenty first of April But you must take notice that although the Council were removed from Pisa to Milan yet it still kept its old Name and was called the Pisane Council At this time there was a very famous Civilian at Pavia whose Name was Philip Decius he having espoused the Cardinals Cause published a Book in Defence of their Proceedings against the Pope A little after this Maximilian strikes up a League with Julius and Ferdinand King of Spain and so leaves the Cardinals in the Church to shift for themselves and sends Matthew Langus Bishop of Gurk to Rome to sit as his Proxy in the Council that was holden there and him Julius immediately promoted to the Dignity of the Purple But Lewis II King of France who was truer to his Engagements and had lately routed the Popes Forces near Ravenna could not escape the thunders of the Vatican his Subjects were absolved from their Allegiance his Kingdom put under an Interdict and an Invasion of it was now no less than meritorious But after the end of the Fifth Session on the Twenty first of February in the Year of our Lord 1513 Pope Julius dies and Leo X is chosen by the Conclave to succeed him He immediately after his Inaguration proceeds to compleat what his Predecessor had begun and because the state of Affairs in Europe was now a little more calm than at any time during the former Pontificate a great many Kings and Princes sent their Embassadors to Rome to assist at this Lateran Council The Cardinals also whom Julius had Excommunicated having since his Death nothing to give any colour to their continuing in their Obstinacy made their humble Submission and Suit to be indemnified for what was past and being received into Favour by Leo were restored to their former Dignities and Preferments as Leo himself declares in an Epistle wrote by him to Maximilian The Council broke up on the Twelfth of March in the Year of our Lord 1516 there having been seven Sessions since the Death of Julius for there were but twelve in all the whole four years that this Council lasted from its first Convention to its Dissolution The chief Transactions in it were these The Praises of Julius and Leo were the Subjects of those luscious Panegyricks with which the Auditory were almost daily entertained There were some Motions made in order to the engaging in a War against the Turks and concerning the Reformation of the Church And also there was a Debate about the Immortality of the Soul which began to admit of a Dispute now in
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
the Disciples of Mahomet and who with his prophane and poysonous breath thought at once to blast and overturn the whole Disciplin of the Church who bewails the Punishments inflicted on Hereticks and in short who strove to turn all things topsie-turvie and is arrived at that degree of pride and madness as to despise the Authority both of Popes and Councils and has the confidence to prefer before them all his own single Judgment That he therefore had shewed himself a true Son of the Church in that he had nothing to do with that pernicious Rascal nor embraced any of his erroneous Opinions but in all things imitated the Vertues of his Fore-fathers That this made so many grave and understanding Men outvie each other in his Commendations And that he could not but think himself bound to return his most hearty Thanks to God who had bestowed on him so many rich endowments of Mind He says he had long borne with Luther's Sauciness and Temerity hoping he would in time grow ashamed of his Folly but now when he saw him deaf to all his Admonitions and that he was only hardned by the gentleness which he used towards him he was forc'd at last as in a desperate Disease to have recourse to a desperate Remedy to prevent if possible the farther spreading of the Contagion That having summoned therefor the Conclave and had the Advice of several learned Men in the matter after much serious deliberation he had signed the Decree being guided by that holy Spirit whose aids can never be wanting to an Infallible Church In it were recited some of his Tenets which were picked from among a great many more part of which were downright Heretical others directly contrary to the Precepts of the Gospel and some were destructive of Morality and even common Honesty it self and were such as by degrees would debauch Men into all manner of Wickedness That he had sent him a Copy of this Bull to let him see what monstrous Errors that Agent of Hell did maintain But now his Request to him was That he would admonish him not to persist in his Pride and Obstinacy but publickly and solemnly to recant all his former Writings which if he refused to do within a prefixed day then to take care to have him seized and committed to Prison by this means he would wipe off the Reproach of his own House and of Germany too and get himself immortal Honour by putting a timely stop to that flame which would else not have ended but in the ruin of his Country and it would be a Service also very acceptable even to God himself The Bull it self was very long and was published on the Fifteenth of June the substance of it was this After a Quotation of some Texts of Scripture which were applied to his present purpose his Holiness Pope Leo having called upon Christ St. Peter and St. Paul and the rest of that glorified Society to avert those dangers which at this time threatned the Church complains that there was now started up a Doctrin which not only revived all those Opinions which had been formerly condemned as Heretical but also contained in it several new Errours never before broached in the World and such as would justle out all sense of God and Religion That he was troubled that this Heresie should have its rise in Germany a Country always very Loyal to the Church of Rome and which to uphold the Dignity of that See had fought even to the last drop of Blood and never refused to undertake any the most difficult Enterprizes That it was yet fresh in memory with what Heroick Spirits and with what Zeal they maintained the Catholick Cause against the Bohemians and the Followers of Husse That some of their Universities had lately given Instances of a Vertue and Courage equal to what inspired the first Planters of Christianity But because he was Christ's Vicar here on Earth and the Care of the Universal Church was committed to him he could no longer neglect the discharge of his Duty After this he repeats Luther's Tenets which he says were repugnant to that Christian Love and Reverence which all Men owe to the Church of Rome That he had therefore summoned together the whole College of Cardinals and several other learned Men who after a long Debate all declared That these Points ought to be rejected as derogating from the Authority of Councils Fathers and even the Church it self Therefore with their advice and consent he condemns this whole summ of Doctrins and by virtue of his Supremacy commands all Persons under the severest Penalties to yield Obedience to this his Decree by renouncing those Opinions which are censured in it and he enjoyns all Magistrates especially those of Germany to use their endeavours to hinder the farther progress and growth of this Heresie He orders also Luther's Books to be every where brought forth and burnt Then he relates how Lovingly and Fatherly he had dealt with him in hopes to reclaim his by those gentle methods how he had admonish'd him by his Legates and cited him to come and make his Purgation at Rome not only granting him a safe Conduct but promising to furnish him with all Necessaries for his Journey but that he slighting this Summons had appealed from him to a General Council contrary to the Decrees of Pope Pius and Julius II by which it is enacted That whosoever shall make any such Appeal shall from that time be adjudged an Heretick and be obnoxious to the same Punishments That therefore it was in his power to have prosecuted him at first with the utmost rigour of the Law but that out of meer pity he had forborn so long if perhaps as the Prodigal Son his Calamities might bring him to a sense of his Errours and he would at last be willing to return into the bosom of the Chuâ—ch That he had still the same tender Affections towards him and that he most passionately intreated him and all his Followers that they would cease to disturb the Peace of Christendom and if they yield to this his request he promises to shew them all the kindness imaginable In the mean time he forbids Luther to Preach and prefixes Threescore days within which time he should amend burn his own Books and publickly Recant If he did not he condemns him as an Heretick and orders him to be punish'd according to Law he Excommunicates him and commands all Persons to avoid his Company under the like Penalty ordering this Decree to be read in all Churches upon certain days As to what he says of Pius and Julius the matter stands thus In the Year of our Lord 1359 Pius II on account of the War with the Turks holds a Council at Mantua and there among others makes a Decree That no Person should Appeal from the Pope to a Council because he said there could be no Power on Earth Superior to that of Christ's Vicar Therefore he
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
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
he himself ought to be compelled to renounce and retract the same Melanchton afterward answered this Decree of their and so did Luther too but in a jocose drolling way Now the Divines of Paris reckon themselves to be the chief in that kind of all Europe They have two Colleges the Sorbonne and College of Navarre and thither flock Students almost from all Countries The Bachelours of Divinity are exercised in frequent Disputations all the Summer time and must for the space of twelve Hours answer the Arguments of all Opponents Here are strange Bickerings and for the most part about matters which are either Frivolous or above the Reach of Human Understanding loud Bawlings and fierce Contentions often happen about such Trifles and are commonly ended by the hissing or stamping of the Auditors when one of the Disputants grows either Silly or Tedious The Doctors of Divinity stand without and hear through a Grate and are called Magistri nostri our Masters These are the Censurers of all sorts of Doctrin and are in a manner absolute without Appeal for no Man dares to publish any thing in Divinity without their Licence But most of them follow their Ease and seem to aspire to that Degree that they may lead a quiet Life and bear Rule over others There are indeed some excellent Wits amongst them but others again that deserve to be sent to School again and whipt into better Breeding Pope Leo had already made a League with the Switzers that if at any time he had occasion for them he should have their Aid The French King also who had concluded a Peace with them as hath been said in the first Book was solliciting them for a League and to assist him with Soldiers but Zuinglius did all he could to disswade them from this in his Sermons he told them That it was not only sordid but an impious thing also to serve any Foreign Power for Money and having shewed them the many Inconveniencies thereof he exhorted them to tread in the Steps and follow the Frugality of their Ancestors who minded their Cattle and Husbandry and had done many famous Exploits but all this was in vain for the Nobility being prevailed with by Importunity Gifts and Promises persuaded the Common People so that all the Cantons of Switzerland made a League with him this Year and promised to assist him with Men except those of Zurich who being wrought upon by Zuinglius refused it and bound themselves by Oath not to accept Present or Pension from any Prince to serve him in his Wars The King had afterwards a Son born who was christned by the Name of Charles the Suitzers by their Ambassadours standing as Godfathers Now the whole State of Suitzerland consists at present of thirteen Cantons which are Zurich Berne Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwalt Zug Claris Basil Solothurne Friburg Schafhausen and Appenzil These are joyned together by Oath in a most strict League have equal Rights and Priviledges and govern the State as a Commonwealth The first that entered into this League were the Cantons of Vri Switz and Vnderwalt when having expelled the Nobles who oppressed them they stood up for their Liberty and this was in the Year 1315. To these afterwards joyned Lucerne next Zug in the sixth place Zurich and then Berne Basil was almost the last that entred into the Union There were associated to them afterwards but not under the same Laws nor in so strict a conjunction of Friendship the Grisons Sionese Rhinwalders the Haut Valais those of Sangall the Mulhausians and other neighbouring People The Emperour being now past the one and twentieth Year of his Age on May 8 by a Publick Decree put Luther in the Ban of the Empire He begins his Edict with Considerations taken from his own Person That it was his Office not only to settle and enlarge the Empire but to provide also that no Sect nor Heresie spring up within the Bounds of the same That his Ancestors had carefully bestirred themselves in that and that therefore it was much more reasonable that he whom God had blest with so large and ample Dominions should imitate their Example for that if he should not restrain the Heresies lately broken forth in Germany he would both wound his own Conscience and in the beginning now of his Reign bring a great Dishonour upon his Name and Dignity That all Men without doubt knew what impious Doctrins Luther for some Years had divulged That Pope Leo X to whom the recognizance of those things properly belonged being moved therewith had essayed all ways of reclaiming him and had at first used most gentle Remedies but that when such Courses could not prevail he had proceeded to these Methods which are prescribed by the Ancient Canons and Decrees and had assigned him a certain time to abjure his Errour in under a severe Penalty if he obeyed not but that he was so far from obeying that he published more pernicious Books still That the Pope having seriously pressed him the Emperour to perform his Duty to the Church and put a stop to the Proceedings of a hurtful Man had published that Bull of the Popes against him But that he grew no better for all that nay on the contrary that he began to rage and publish Books full of spiteful Reproaches concerning nothing almost but Seditions Wars Discords fire and Sword Murther and Rapin That he contemned the Authority of the Fathers and Councils and chiefly of the Council of Constance casting such Reproaches upon it as not only reflected upon the holy Men of that Age but also upon the Emperor Sigismund and the Senate of the Princes That his outrageous malice could not be sufficiently expressed That it seemed not to be a Man who acted so but rather a Devil in Man's likeness That it heartily grieved and troubled him to think on these things for the love he bore to the Publick and the Papal Dignity That therefore lest he might seem to suffer any thing unworthy the Vertue of his Ancestors or inconsistent with his own Dignity and Charge he had called a Diet of all the Princes and States of the Empire and had with joynt Councils seriously weighed and examined the whole Matter And that though the Laws provide that an open Heretick so often condemned and cast out of the Communion of the Church should not be heard yet that there might be no place left for cavilling he had sent his Letters and a Herald with a safe Conduct for him that he might personally give Account of his actings Then he reckons up in order all that past at Wormes both publickly and privately as it hath been mentioned before And because he obstinately defended his Errours he cited the Popes Bull which he said he would see put in Execution Wherefore he condemned and banish'd him as an Author of Schism and an obstinate and notorious Heretick He also charged all Men under severe Penalties to look upon him as such and
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
were returned upon Enquiry into the Case he would do what should be thought Just and Reasonable He had given his Legate in Charge also to require an Answer from the Princes since he had written to them with Design first That he might know of them what they thought might be the fittest Course for quelling that pestiferous Sect and then that he might understand in time what was to be done therein on his part These things being brought into Deliberation the Princes and States return an Answer and having begun with a short Repetition of all his Demands they profess the great Satisfaction they had to know that God had been pleased to set him over the Church which in so dismal a Time stood much in need of such a Governour who had so great a Zeal for the Welfare of Christendom took so much Pains to compose the Differences of Kings and Princes and was at such Charges for putting a stop to the Progress of the Turk as much rejoyced them to hear of from him and for which they gave his Holiness their most hearty Thanks For that certainly by these Civil Wars the Empire was exceedingly weakned and the Power of their most cruel Enemy the Turk increased whilst there were no Forces on Foot to make Head against him That there were Ambassadours come to the Dyet from the King and Nobles of Hungary who had given a sad and lamentable Relation of the Cruelties they had suffered and of the great Dangers they were at present exposed unto That therefore they most earnestly prayed him who was their Common Father and Pastor That he would persist in that most holy Resolution and use his best Endeavours that either a firm Peace or long Truce might be made that so at length measures might be taken both for Resisting the Violence of the Turks and recovering the lost Provinces of the Empire for effecting whereof no Aid nor Assistance should be wanting on their Parts That as for Luther they were heartily sorry as indeed it became them for the Troubles that his Doctrin had raised in Germany and were very desirous to apply a Remedy to the Evil acknowledging it to be their Duty to obey both him and the Emperour wherein they resolved not to degenerate from their Ancestors but that as to the punishing of him according to the Emperour's Decree which his Holiness complained was not done it had been omitted upon no slight Considerations For that all Ranks and Degrees of People heavily complained of the Court of Rome and most Men were now so well instructed by Luther's Sermons and Books that should that Decree be put in execution against him it would without doubt occasion grievous Commotions and be so construed by many as if it were done with intent to suppress the true Light of the Gospel and to countenance and maintain such open Crimes as could no longer be suffered nor dissembled which Persuasion would unavoidably stir up the People to a Rebellion against their Magistrates And indeed it could not be denyed as he himself frankly confessed but that there were many things scandalously and irregularly done at Rome to the great Prejudice of other Nations and Provinces and no less Decay of Religion That therefore his Holiness was highly to be commended That he did not palliate nor excuse the Disorders of the Court of Rome but promised to reform those Abuses and render Justice to all Men without respect but that he would deserve far greater Applause if he really performed what in Words he promised which they earnestly begged of him he would since otherwise no firm nor lasting Peace could be expected That Germany was much impoverished by Wars and other extraordinary Imposts and Charges so that hardly were they able to support the necessary Expences of the Publick and give Assistance to the Hungarians and other neighbouring People against the Turk That now it was well known to his Holiness how in former Years the Germans had suffered their Bishops and other Church-men to become Tributaries to the Pope for a certain time how that then it was conditioned That all that Money should when occasion served be employed in the War against the Turk but that now the Time limited was expired and the Popes his Predecessors had not laid out the Money to the Use it was designed for so that when Taxes were imposed on the Provinces of Germany for the Turkish War Men fretted and grumbled thinking that those vast Summs of Money which for many Years had been publickly collected and kept for those Uses ought to be employed this way and that there was no Reason why they should be charged any further That they therefore desired he would not for the future exact that Tribute but suffer it to be brought into the Publick Treasury of the Empire that by that means many Grievances in Germany might be quieted and a Publick Stock be always in readiness for assisting Foreign Nations against the Hostilities and Invasions of the Turks That furthermore as to their Counsil and Advice which he craved in this Change of Religion and which they were both willing and obliged in Duty to give it was their Opinion That since not only the Opinions of Luther were now to be enquired into but also many other gross Errours and Corruptions which had prevailed by long Custom and Continuance and through the Depravation of Men's Lives and Judgments were now excused as he himself confessed There could be no better way thought on for remedying all these Disorders than by a free and General Council which he and the Emperour the chief Magistrate of Christendom might easily call in some City of Germany as Mentz Strasburg Metz or Cologn the sooner to begin the better and within a Year at farthest but with this Condition That all who should be present thereat whatever their Degree and Quality might be should take a solemn Oath to speak freely and not dissemble whatever they should think expedient for the Glory of God and the Peace and Well-being of Church and State for that otherwise the Council would be lookt upon as partial and would do more Hurt than Good That in order thereunto it should be their Care to hinder Luther and others from publishing in the mean time any more Books and that therein they made no doubt but the most Noble and worthy Frederick Duke of Saxony would gratifie them That they also take Care That the Preachers should meddle with nothing in their Sermons but only Modestly and Sincerely teach the Gospel according to the Interpretations approved and received by the Church In like manner That they should utter nothing in the Pulpit that might either stir up the People against their Magistrates or lead them into any Errour Besides That they should not insist upon deep Controversies which were not necessary to the People but reserve them to the Determination of the Council But that for judging in that Matter the Bishops ought to appoint able and fit men who
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
them during Life that no Man might have cause to complain That the Ornaments of Churches belonged not to the true Worship of God but that God was exceeding well pleased when the Necessities of the Poor were relieved That Christ commanded the Rich Young Man in the Gospel Not to hang up his Wealth in Churches for a shew but to sell all his Goods and give unto the Poor That they did not despise but highly esteemed the Order of Priesthood when Priests did their Duty and taught the People aright but for the rest of the Rabble that did no publick Good but rather Harm if by little and little they were diminished without giving Scandal and their Possessions converted to pious Uses they made no doubt but that it would be very acceptable Service to God That it was to be questioned Whether their Singing and Prayers were pleasing to God or not for that most of them understood not what they said and besides were hired to do it That what tacit and Auricular Confession which muttered over Sins was good for they would not undertake to determine but that they reckoned the other whereby true Penitents confessed their Sins to Christ their Mediator to be not only profitable but necessary also to Consciences troubled and born down under the Pressure of Sin That that usual way of Satisfaction which was very gainful to the Priests was both Erroneous and Impious that this was truly to Repent and make Satisfaction when men reformed their Lives That the Orders of Monks was a Human Invention and no Ordinance of Gods That they highly Reverenced and Honoured the Sacraments which had God for their Author and would not suffer any Man to despise them but that they were to be used according to the Word of God and Divine Institution and the Lord's Supper not so to be applyed as if it were an Oblation or Sacrifice That if the Clergy who lately sent Deputies to complain could prove that they had molested them or that they were guilty of any Errour they did not refuse to make them Satisfaction But if otherwise that it seemed reasonable to them that they should be enjoyned to do their Duty that 's to say Teach the Truth and to abstain from standering of others that they had been extreamly glad to hear from them that they were desirous to be delivered from the Rapine Extortions and immoderate Power of the Pope and his Dependents but that there was no better way of accomplishing that than to follow in all things the Word of God for that so long as their Laws and Decrees should be in force there was no Deliverance to be expected but that the preaching of the Word of God was the only means to shake all their Power and Dignity That they were sensible enough of the great Force and Efficacy of the Gospel and of the Truth and because they distrusted their own Strength therefore they had recourse to Kings and Princes for Aid That if in this Particular the Assistance of Scripture was to be made use of the thing it self required That the same should be also done in other matters and that all things whereby God was offended should be abolished that for the Reformation of all these Abuses they would freely bestow not only their Labour and Counsils but their Estates and Fortunes also for that it was a thing which ought to have been done long since That therefore they prayed them to take in good part what they had said and seriously reflect upon the same that for their parts they desired nothing more earnestly than that all might live in Peace That in like manmer they would do nothing contrary to the Articles and Conditions of the League but that in this Cause which concerned their Eternal Salvation they could not do otherwise than they did unless they were convinced of their Errour That therefore as they had lately so again they earnestly desired them if they thought their Doctrin to be repugnant to Holy Scripture that they would make it so appear to them within a certain time to wit before the End of May for till then they would expect an Answer from them and from the Bishops and from the University of Basil In the mean time the Bishop of Constance having held a Synod made Answer to those of Zurick in a little Book composed for that purpose wherein he treats of Idols and graven Images what they were of old how the Jews and Gentiles worshipped them why the Church received Images and Pictures what time they were first introduced wherein the Idols of the Jews and Gentiles differed from the Images of Christians and concludes that when the Scripture speaks of putting away graven Images it was only to be understood of the Idols of the Jews and Genttiles and that therefore the Images received by the Christian Church were still to be retained In the next place he handled the Mass and alledging many testimonies of Popes and Councils endeavours to prove it to be an Oblation and Sacrifice This Book which was pretty long he sent to the Senate about the beginning of June and seriously exhorted them not to suffer Images to be removed the Mass abolished nor the people to be any otherwise taught He caused the Book to be afterwards Printed and sent it about and among others to the Canons of Zurick giving for his Reasons that though it had been written for the private use of the Senate who craved it of him yet because he had heard that questions and animosities did arise in other places also upon the same account he was willing to make but one business of it and to consult the interest of the rest also that therefore he advised them to follow the received custom of the Church and not to be persuaded by any mans Reasons to the contrary The Senate replied to this August the eighteenth that they had carefully read the Book over and over again and were extremely glad that he had published it for that so it would appear which of the two maintained the better Cause Then they tell what was the opinion of their Doctors and Learned men and confute his Arguments by Scripture But before they wrote back unto him the Senate had already commanded that all Images both within the City and in all other places also within their Jurisdiction should be pulled down and burnt but all without tumult This was done on the fifteenth of June and some months after the Canons treated and came to a composition with the Senate who both together agreed upon a way how the goods and revenues of the College should be disposed of The Emperor sent John Haunart to the Diet of Norimberg before mentioned to complain that the Decree of Wormes which was made with their unanimous advice and consent had been to the great prejudice of Germany infringed and to command that it should be carefully observed for the future To which the Princes Answered That they would observe
through the dextrous management of the Magistrates and Mediators matters were peaceably accommodated And when upon an Insurrection in Brisgow they had surprized Friburg the chief Town in those Places Ernest Marquess of Baden who had great Possessions there fled to Strasburg and prayed the Senate to intercede for him whereupon James Sturney and Conrad Joham were sent as Deputies from the Senate who with the Deputies that came from Basil and some other Places dealt fairly with them and persuaded them to return home so that after the Difference had been debated and concluded at Basil on the twenty fifth Day of July they broke up from Lava four Miles from Strasburg and dispersed but Promises were not punctually observed to them neither for many of them were executed after they came home The Switzers also zealously bestirred themselves in quieting an Insurrection in Sontgow a neighbouring Province belonging to Archduke Ferdinand and the Dominion of Austria making it appear to the Seditious what the Magistrates Duty was and what the Peoples Now their Demands were almost the same in all Places which beginning first in Schwabia ran immediately all about like Wild-fire as we told you before so that from Thuringe and the Borders of Saxony as you shall hear hereafter it reached as far as the Alpes there having been a Rising also in the Country of Saltzburg But all things being setled in Franconia and Schwabia the Army of the Schwabian League marched thither also and destroyed and banished many among whom was their General Geismeier who with part of his Forces by difficult and inaccessible Paths crossed the Alpes and fled to the Venetians who having bestowed a yearly Pension upon him he went to live in Padoua where he was at length treacherously assassinated in his own House And this was the end of the Boors War which from a small beginning grew to such a height and spread so far for the Contagion was diffused over most parts of Germany and not only in the Country but also in Cities and Towns many Tumults and Riots happened as particularly in Cologn where for the space of a whole Month almost the City Companies daily met in Arms continuing so even in the Night-time also and were designing the Destruction not only of the Clergy but of the Senate likewise but the Tumult was quieted without any Blood save of one or two Seditious who many Months after were executed for it All do not agree upon the Number of those that were slain in this War which lasted but one summer they who speak the least say That in all places there died fifty thousand That Schwabian League so often mentioned was made long before first for eight Years then for three afterwards for twelve and then again for ten but in the year of our Lord 1522 it was renewed for eleven Years a little before the Emperour returned to Spain Those who ingaged in this League were first the Emperour as Archduke of Austria and his Brother Ferdinand who had been lately possessed of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Archbishop of Mentz the Prince Palatine the Bishops of Saltzburg Bamberg Wurtzburg Aichstadt and Ausburg the Brother William and Lewis Dukes of Bavaria Otho Henry and Philip the Prince Palatines Brothers George Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert his Nephew Philip Landgrave of Hesse besides many others of the Nobility and Clergy to whom were joyned most of the Cities of Schwabia and among these all Norimberg April 13 Mass was abolished in Zurich by Command of the Magistrates and that not only in the City but over all their Territory also in place whereof the Lord's Supper was appointed all Ceremonies being laid aside the Reading of the Scriptures Prayers and Preaching succeeded and a Law was published against Fornication and Adultery and Judges were appointed to determine Matrimonial Causes THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK V. The CONTENTS Thomas Muncer broaching a new kind of Doctrin That all Goods should be had in Common drew a vast number of Country People after him one Phifer being his Companion and chief Counsellor After the Death of Duke Frederick the neighbouring Princes raise an Army against the Muncerians nor did his Seditious Preaching nor vain Promises hinder but that many of his Companions were killed and he himself lost his Head. Luther had already written against him to the Senate of Mulhausen Here are recited the Demands of the Boors to which Luther answers shews the Nature of the Disorder and exhorts the Magistrates to punish such Villains The Emperour knowing of these Troubles and Disorders calls a Dyet at Ausburg Caralostadius leaving Wittemberg endeavours to purge himself in a Book that he published Luther marries a Nun and comes to Marpurg that he might confer with Zuinglius about the Lord's Supper Whilst the French King was Prisoner Pope Clement having received Letters from his Mother incites the Parliament of Paris against the Lutherans Le Fevre was forced to fly out of France the King being informed of that sent Orders That they should not molest Men of Learning The Master of Prusia is made Duke and receives the Reformed Religion THIS great and terrible War was in a great measure occasioned by busie and pragmatical Preachers of whom Thomas Muncer mentioned before was the Ring-leader who at length leaving off the Preaching of the Gospel broached an odd and new kind of Doctrin at Alstet a Town belonging to the Elector of Saxony upon the Borders of Thuringe There he began to teach first of all not only against the Pope but against Luther also condemning both their Doctrins as Corrupt and Erroneous That the Pope bound Men's Consciences with strict Bonds and hard Laws which Luther did indeed loose but then run to the other Extream allowing too much Liberty and not Teaching those things which were of the Spirit That it was lawful to neglect the Decrees of the Pope as not conducing to Salvation for obtaining whereof Men must said he first of all avoid manifest Sins as Murther Adultery Blasphemy Incest and Mortifie the Body by Fasting and simple Cloathing look gravely speak little and wear a long Beard These and such like things he called the Cross the Mortification and Discipline of the Flesh Those he said who were in this manner prepared must retire from Company and the Speech of Men and fix their Thoughts upon God that they may know what he is if he taketh any Care of us if Christ suffered Death for our sake and if our Religion be to be preferred before that of the Turks That we were to crave of God a Sign also to assure us that he taketh care of us and that we are in the true Religion that if he did not presently give us a Sign we must nevertheless persevere in instant Prayers nay and expostulate seriously with God that he dealt not well with us For that since the Scripture promiseth That he will grant such things as are asked
grievously informed against him by some of that Faculty though unjustly and without a Cause That then he had appointed some great Men eminent for Learning to inspect his Books and Writings for which he stood accused But that they having carefully perused and examined them all had given him a very ample and honourable Testimony That seeing it was so and that he was had in gread Reputation by the Italians and Spaniards for the opinion they conceived of his Learning and Virtue as he hath since learnt he would therefore take it ill if that innocent Man should be molested or exposed to any Danger And seeing that if at any other time so now especially he would have Justice strictly administred throughout all his Kingdoms And again because for the future he intended by all ways to favour Men of Learning therefore he commanded them That if any Process had been commenced against them since his Departure they should make report of the fame to his Mother who managed the Government that he might be certified thereof by her and that they might expect his Will and Pleasure therein and not to proceed any farther but to supersede all Action until either he should return which he hoped by the Blessing of God would shortly be or else some Order should be taken in the matter by himself or his Mother These Letters dated at Madrid in Spain November the twelfth were delivered to the Parliament of Paris the eight and twentieth day of the same Month. It was a thing almost natural to the Divines of the past Age to teaze and molest learned Men and the reason was because they saw themselves despised for their Ignorance This Year there happened a change in the State and Government of Prusia a Province in the utmost parts of Germany upon the Baltick-Sea Let us trace the matter a little farther back During the Empire of Henry VI the Son of Frederick Barbarossa when the Christians were in War for the Recovery of Jerusalem the Knights of the German or Teutonick Order were instituted who because they fought for Religion wore a white Cross upon their Cloaths as a Badge and cognizance of their Profession This happened in the Year of our Lord eleven hundred and ninety The first Master of that Order was chosen as is reported in the Camp before Ptolemais Afterwards these Knights subdued Prusia in the time of the Emperour Frederick II And after that being grown strong they had for some time waged War with the Kings of Poland they were overcome in Battle and swore Allegiance to Casimire king of Poland the Father of King Sigismund From the first Master to Marquess Albert of Brandenburg there had been three and thirty Masters Now Albert was chosen in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and eleven For the space of two Years he had a bloody War with Sigismund King of Poland and in the Year one thousand five hundred and twenty one a Truce was made for four Years In the mean time Marquess Albert often sollicited the Emperour and States of the Empire for Aid and came himself in Person to the Dyet of Norimberg We mentioned before where he took his Place as a Prince of the Empire for the cause of the War was because he refused to swear Allegiance to the King of Poland But now when the Emperour was ingaged in a War with France the Turk invaded Hungary and Germany was so embroiled by the Rebellion of the Boors that no help was to be expected from thence the Truce being likewise expired he made Peace with the King of Poland swore Allegiance to him as to his chief Magistrate and imbraced the Reformed Religion Hereupon he changed his Order challenged Prusia as his own and being before but Master was now by the King's consent inaugurated Duke of Prusia and some time after married the Lady Dorothy Daughter to the King of Denmark founding also the University of Coningsberg By this means he got the whole Order upon his Top For although he was in Possession of Prusia and under the Protection of the King of Poland yet by common consent Walter Cronberg was chosen in his place who retained the Name and represented the old Dignity of the Order and in all Dyets grievously accused Albert as you shall hear in the proper place But he having published a Manifesto gave his Reasons for what he had done and declared That being forsaken of the Empire he was driven by extream Necessity to submit himself to the King of Poland The Letters of Pope Leo X to Sigismund and Albert are extant wherein he exhorts them to Concord and either refer the Difference they had to his Legate whom he would send or submit it to the Determination of the Council of Lateran because it was most convenient that the Debates of Kings should be decided by a Council THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VI. THE CONTENTS Luther-writes to the King of England and George Duke of Saxony to regain their favour But both reject him Now he had been put on to do so by Christiern King of Denmark The sickness of the French King who was Prisoner hastened the Treaty at Madrid The King having obtained his Liberty two of his Sons are left Hostages While the Princes of Germany meet in the Diet at Spire the Emperor of the Turks marches streight into Hungary A Disputation begun at Baden The Pope and Venetians make a League with the French King. The Emperor and King make bitter Complaints of one another Rome being taken by the Duke of Bourbon the King sends Lautreck into Italy The Errors of the Anabaptists begin to spread A Disputation appointed at Berne about Reformation of Religion A Context between King Ferdinand and the Vayvode of Transilvania Berken suffers Death at Antwerp The Emperor sends a Herald with a Challenge to the French King. Lautreck Besieges Naples but the Plague rages in his Camp. Mass is abolished at Strasburg A Dissention arises at Basil about Religion The Catholick Switzers make a League with Ferdinand A Dyet held at Spire and from thence the Name of Protestant had its Original A Civil War among the Switzers A Treaty at Cambray Solyman Besieges Vienna A new Disease breaks out in Germany The Protestants frame a League Erasmus his Book against Protestants Sforza is again received into favour with the Emperor WE gave an Account before of the King of England and Luther's clashing by Letters But Luther in the mean time having heard of some things that sounded to the King's Praise and Commendation was mightily rejoiced at the News and wrote very submissively unto him That he doubted not but that he had highly offended him by the Book he published but that he had not done it so much of his own accord as at the instigation of others which made him in confidence of his Royal Grace and Condescension so much applauded by many take the boldness to write to him
for in the first Year of the Reign of Henry VII of England which was in the Year of our Lord 1486 the same Plague infested that Country And because there was no Remedy known for such a new Distemper it swept away a vast number of People At this time also there was a great Scarcity of Corn and Wine so that all the Judgments wherewith God in his Anger uses to punish an unthankful people as the Sword Pestilence and Famine fell upon Germany at one and the same time At this time also were Prisoners at Cologne Peter Flisted and Adolph Clarebacke two learned Men because they differed in Judgment from the Papists concerning the Lord's Supper and other Points of Doctrin The Senate of that Town hath Right and Power to imprison Offenders but the Archbishop alone hath the Power of Life and Death and it may fall out that whom the Senate hath condemned to Death the Bishop's Judge may acquit Now these two having lain in Prison a Year and an half and more were at length condemned by both Judicatures and burnt to the great Grief and Commiseration of many Most People blamed the Preachers for that who cryed that the Wrath of God who afflicted us with a new kind of Disease was to be appeased by the Execution of the Wicked and Ungodly Adolph was a handsome Man Eloquent and Learned and when they were led to the place of Execution they made profession and gave the Reasons of their Belief confirming and encouraging one another with Texts of Scripture so that all People fixed their Eyes and Thoughts upon them We told you before of the Difference betwixt Luther and Zuinglius about the Lord's Supper when this had been tossed to and fro for above three Years with much Contention many who were troubled that this single Controversie should hinder an Uniformity in Doctrin earnestly wished that some Remedy might be thereunto applyed therefore the Landgrave having communicated the matter to his Associates and prevailed also with the Switzers appointed a Day when Learned Men of both Parties should meet at Marpurg and calmly discourse the Point From Saxony came Luther Melanchthon and Jonas from Switzerland Zuinglius and Oecolampadius from Strasburg Bucer and Hedio and from Norimberg Osiander many Grave and Learned Men were present besides though none but Luther and Zuinglius reasoned the Point But the Sweating Disease infecting that Town also the Conference was broken up by the Landgrave's order and this concluded upon That since they all agreed about the chief Points of Doctrin they should for the future refrain from all Contention and pray to God that he would also enlighten them in this Controversie and put them in the way of Concord And so they friendly parted in the beginning of October It hath been said already That at the Dyet of Spire which was held three Years before the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave made mention of entring into a League this matter was several times brought into deliberation afterwards and especially now that this Decree was made they began to think of it more seriously so that after the Dyet was over a certain Draught of it was made at Norimberg and afterwards more fully debated And when in the Month of October the Deputies of the Princes and States met at Swaback it was propounded in the Names of the Elector of Saxony and George Marquess of Brandenburg That seeing the Defence of the True Religion was the Ground and Cause of this League it behoved first that all should be unanimous in the same wherefore the summ of their Doctrin comprehended in some Chapters was read and approved by all only the Deputies of Strasburg and Vlm alledged That no mention had been made thereof in the former Assembly nor had they any Instructions concerning it They were not all of the same Opinion about the Point of the Lord's Supper as we told you before and this was the only Scruple Seeing therefore nothing could be concluded because of that another Meeting was appointed to be at Smalcalde the thirteenth of December When the Emperour was now come into Italy Erasmus of Roterdam who having left Basil because of the Change of Religion and to avoid Suspicion was come to Friburg a Town belonging to King Ferdinand in the Month of November published a little Book entituled Against some who falsly called themselves Gospel-Teachers but in reality he has a Touch at all the Reformed for among many other things he says he never knew any of them who appeared not to be a worse Man than he was before This Book was afterwards answered by the Divines of Strasburg because they and those of Basil were chiefly aimed at but above all others Bucer When the Emperour was coming to Bolonia Francis Sforza who had been before in League with the Pope and French King went to meet him and having pleaded his own Cause at the Intercession of Clement VII at length recovered the Dutchy of Milan from the Emperour but upon this among other Conditions That he should pay him nine hundred thousand Crowns one half the same Year and the rest within ten Years successively by equal Portions and as a Pledge the Emperour was to keep in his Hands Como and the Castle of Milan until the first Years Payment should be made THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VII The CONTENTS The Protestant Ambassadors sent to the Emperor appeal from the Answer they received at Piacenza where they were stopt which the Protestants understanding appoint a meeting at Smalcalde The City of Strasburg makes a League with Three of the Switz Cantons The Emperor being Crowned by the Pope at Bolonia calls a Diet of the States of the Empire at Ausburg where the Protestants exhibit a Confession of their Faith which in a contrary writing is Answered and Confuted by their Adversaries Some are appointed to accommodate the matter amicably and to find out some means of Concord The Emperor sollicites the Protestants who notwithstanding all the Exhortations that were made unto them the Objections and Calumnies wherewith they were charged stedfastly persevered in their Confession and having given in their last Answer depart The Tyber overflows at Rome Eckius and Faber demand and obtain an honourable Reward for the Refutations they wrote against those of Strasburg and other Cities The Transaction of Prusia is rescinded The Decree of Ausburg is related Luther who was come nearer to Ausburg comforts Melanchthon then in Anxiety because of that Decree Bucer goes to him that he might reconcile him with Zuinglius The creation of Ferdinand King of the Romans comes into Agitation and is withstood by the Elector of Saxony and other Princes but nevertheless he is created King and installed in the Kingdom WE told you before that the Protestants resolved upon sending Ambassadors to the Emperour These were John Ekinger Alexius Fraventrute and Michael Caden of Norimberg who being advanced as far as
that considering the greatness of the danger they would do what otherwise they were in duty obliged to do When the Ambassadors had read this Answer as it was given them they having an Appeal ready presented it to Alexander Schueisse in presence of Witnesses as is usual but he at first refused to take it however at length he received the same and carried it to the Emperour but returning the same day in the Afternoon after some other discourse told that the Emperour confined them to their Lodgings commanding them not to stir out of doors not to write home to their Principals nor to send any of their Servants abroad till further Orders upon pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods Whilst this was doing Michael Caden was accidentally abroad and being immediately advertised of the matter by a Servant wrote an account of all that had past to the Senate of Norimberg taking care that his Letters should be conveighed with all speed for he was not obliged as his Colleagues were At length October the Thirtieth having followed the Court to Parma as they had been ordered Nicholas Granvel who then supplied the place of Mercurine that lay sick told them there That though the Emperour was displeased at the Appeal that was brought unto him yet he gave them leave to return home but commanded Caden to stay upon pain of death And this was the cause of it The Landgrave had given him upon his departure a Book finely bound and gilt containing the Summary of the Christian Doctrin to be presented to the Emperour and he taking occasion as the Emperour was going to Mass gave it him who presently put it into the hands of a Spanish Bishop that he might know what it was The Bishop fell accidentally upon that place where Christ admonishes his Apostles not to affect Rule and Dominion for that suited not with their Profession since it was the Kings of the Gentiles who exercised that power The Author amongst other things had handled that place shewing what was the Duty of the Ministers of the Church But he having superficially read it made a report to the Emperour That the little Book aimed at the taking away of the Power of the Sword from Christian Magistrates and allowing it only to Heathens who were strangers to the Christian Religion for this cause therefore he was detained Granvel told him further that it was the Emperour's pleasure that he should deliver the same Book to the Pope But when upon making an Apology for himself he received no Answer to his mind and from Granvel's discourse perceived the danger he was in he secretly hired Horses and posting first to Ferara and then to Venice returned home The Senate of Norimberg having received Caden's Letter which we mentioned before presently gave notice thereof to the Duke of Saxony the Landgrave and their Associates October the twenty fourth who having consulted about the matter resolved to hold a Convention at Smalcalde about the latter end of November Thither came at the day appointed the Elector of Saxony and his Son John Frederick Ernest and Francis Dukes of Lunenburg Philip the Landgrave the Deputies of George Marquess of Brandenburg and of the Cities also of Strasburg Vlm Norimberg Hailbrun Ruteling Constance Memmingen Kempen and Lindau About the same time the Ambassadour's returned from Italy and having made a report of their Embassy to the effect above related it was thought fit to treat first of all of Religion the Heads whereof had been lately proposed Wherefore the Deputies of Strasburg and Vlm are desired to tell what their Judgment was in the matter and they make Answer to the same effect as they had lately done That at that time when a League was first proposed no mention had been made of that Affair and yet it was only then moved how mutual aid and assistance should be given in case any of them should be molested or in danger upon account of Religion That it might be plainly enough perceived what their Adversaries had in their thoughts and what designs they were hatching That some of the Heads of Doctrin proposed might be controverted and that if Learned men did not agree about these it was to be feared that some division might thereupon ensue which would be very seasonable and advantageous to their Adversaries That it was therefore their Opinion that all their Deliberations should be directed to the making of a League which was the thing proposed at first The Duke of Saxony and with him the Brothers of Lunenburg and the Deputies of Brandenburg got the Deputies of Norimberg to deal with them that they might assent But the Landgrave taking a middle course was for an Accommodation betwixt the Two. When this could not do the Deputies of the rest of the Cities are also called to whom it was represented that if in all things they approved that Doctrin they would treat of entring into a League with them They make answer That they had no Commission as to that and urge the first thing that had been proposed At length they depart with this Resolution That they who would profess and receive this Doctrin should meet at Norimberg in January following to consult what was to be done for the future In the mean time the City of Strasburg that they might secure themselves against all Force and unjust Violence made a League with those of Zurich Berne and Basil who were both their Neighbours and agreed best with them in Doctrin after this manner If those Cities we named should be attacked and molested upon account of Religion they shall mutually aid and assist one another with as many Forces as the matter shall require yet so that for every thousand Foot the City of Strasburg shall pay two thousand Crowns a Month by way of Subsidy On the other hand if the Switzers be attacked the Strasburgers shall send no Forces but shall during the War disburst three thousand Crowns a Month Moreover That if the Enemies of the one be found within the Jurisdiction of the other they shall not be spared but be treated according to the Law of Arms. That if they be attacked all at one and the same time then they shall defend themselves severally at their own charges That Strasburg shall at a convenient time whilst they are in peace send ten thousand weight of Gun-powder to Zurich and as many Bushels of Wheat to Basil but not to be touched unless in time of War and Want and then to be distributed amongst the Town 's People at reasonable rates However if they come to the aid of Strasburg they may make use of as much of the Powder as shall be needful but in time of a common War pay half price for it This League was made for Fifteen Years and concluded the Fifth day of January When this came to the knowledge of the Council of the Empire whereof Frederick Prince Palatine was then President about the latter
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 â—ormer 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
it might plainly appear That the Interest of the Publick and their native Country were dear unto them At the same time the Duke of Lunenburg the Landgrave and the Counts of Anhalt and Mansfield wrote at large to the Electors to the same purpose seriously advising them that they would not offer such Injury to the Laws and Rights of their Country and the rather since it was a common Report That there were Bribes and Promises in the case which was directly contrary to the Caroline Constitutions Afterwards on the last of December both the Princes and Cities we named before wrote to the Emperour a common Letter in all their Names wherein they resumed all the Proceedings at Ausburg what Sollicitations they had made for Peace what Answer his Majesty made at length especially concerning the Actions of the Crown and what kind of Decree was afterwards made there and that though his Majesty had himself qualified that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg by telling them that the Agreement he had made with the rest of the Princes was not Offensive but only for the Defence of himself and Cause yet nevertheless if that Authority specified in the Decree should be given to the Imperial Chamber who could doubt but that it might extend to Force and Violence Since therefore both they and their Ancestors had given evident Proofs of their Zeal and Affection both towards him and his Predecessors they prayed That as he had in Word softned that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg's so he would also really and indeed mitigate and put a stop to those Prosecutions of the Chamber that they might have assurance until the meeting of a Free and Holy Council that they needed not be afraid of any thing And that if they could obtain this at his Majesties Hands they would hereafter as in Times past contribute their Money Aid and Assistance not only towards the Turkish War but also for the other Publick Uses of the Government In the first meeting of the Princes Electors at Cologne the Emperour gave these Reasons for creating a King of the Romans Because he himself had several Kingdoms and People to govern and could not be always in Germany Because Christendom and especially Germany was in a Troublesome and Dangerous State by Reason of the Difference in Religion the Power and Force of the Turks the late Insurrection and Rebellion of the Boors and because many things were undutifully and disobediently acted in Germany for that though by their own Advice and Consent in former Years there had been a Senate and Judicature of the Empire appointed yet it was not obeyed as it ought to have been And that therefore it seemed absolutely necessary to him for the Welfare of the State that a King of the Romans should be chosen who might under him and in his absence be as it were another Head of the Empire that he ought to be a Man of Parts Vigilant Industrious and Powerful a Lover of Peace and Concord acquainted with the Affairs of the Empire and in short altogether such as he himself might Trust and Relie upon But that he knew no Man more capable of that Province than his own Brother Ferdinand King of Bohemia and Hungary whose Limits and Kingdoms were as a Wall and Rampart for the Safety and Preservation of Germany against the cruelty of the Turks The Princes Electors after deliberation had praid the Emperour that he would not leave Germany but settle his Court and Residence in it But he persisting in his Purpose on the Fifth of January they declared Ferdinand King of the Romans The Elector of Saxony did all he could which was to make his Son give Reasons why he could not approve that Election and to protest against it as illegall Long before the Dyet of Ausburg broke up there was a Report spread abroad That Ferdinand would be promoted to that Dignity From Cologne they went all afterwards to Aix la Chapelle where King Ferdinand was Installed on the eleventh of January who presently dispatched Letters to give notice of it all over Germany The Emperour also commanded by Proclamation That all should own him for King of the Romans and wrote separately to the Protestants to the same purpose In the mean while that the Emperour was at Cologne the Protestants Letter was delivered unto him wherein they desired to be exempted from the Prosecutions of the Imperial Chamber as we said before Thereunto he made answer at Aix la Chapelle January 13 by the Mouth of Frederick Prince Palatine That they needed not to go any farther or wait longer for any Answer for that he had not as yet considered of it but that he would in time think on what answer he should give them Having done so he went into Brabant a Province of the Netherlands THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VIII The CONTENTS The Princes assembled at Smalkalde dispatch Letters to the Kings of England and France wherein they let them understand what false Reports are gone abroad against them They solicite the King of Denmark and the Maritime Cities to joyn with them in the League as far as they shall think it convenient The Switzers are not admitted into this Confederacy The King of France returns an Answer to the Protestants Letters and the King of England does the same The Embassadors of the Cities deliver in at Franckford their Sentiments concerning the Creation of a King of the Romans and there likewise the Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and George Duke of Brandenburg is agitated The Emperor appoints a Diet to meet at Spiers to which the Elector of Saxony refuses to come There are some Conditions laid down upon which the Protestants do promise to make their appearance there A Civil War breaks out between those of Zurich and the five Confederate Cantons in which Zuinglius is slain Soon after OEcolampadius departs this life A Treaty is held about entring into a Peace with the Protestants till such time as a Council should sit Christiern King of Denmark is taken Prisoner Solyman the Grand Seignior invades Austria and is driven out of it again The Elector of Saxony dies The Pope sends an Embassador into Germany to propound certain Rules and Methods for the holding of the intended Council to each of which the Duke of Saxony having diligently consider'd the matter returns a very full Answer within a few days IN the former Convention at Smalkalde this among other things was agreed upon that since the Adversaries were very busie in throwing dirt upon their Cause and endeavour'd every where by numerous Calumnies to bring their Profession of the Gospel into Disgrace the Kings of England and France should in the first place be written to that they would not suffer themselves to be influenc'd by such false Reproaches Accordingly on the 16 day of Febr. the Dukes of Saxony Brandenburg Lunenburg and the Lantgrave together with the Cities of Strasburg
Almighty who will undoubtedly Vindicate his own Cause and Religion However if things shall come to that pass that the Pope must have his mind in this business which they can hardly believe they will yet consider what is further to be done And if they happen to be cited and see that they can do any thing for the Glory of God they will then make their appearance if they may but have convenient Security giv'n them upon the Publick Faith. Or else they will send thither their Embassadors who shall publickly propound whatever the necessity and reason of their Cause requires This however shall be the condition that the present Propositions of the Pope shall not be accepted of nor any such Council allow'd as is contrary to the Decrees of the Empire For they cannot see how this Project of the Pope has the least tendency to advance a lasting Peace either to the Church or State nor does it become him to act after this Rate if he intends to discharge the Duty of a faithful Pastor which obliges him to advise Men for the best and to dispense unto them the wholsome Food of sound Doctrin Now since these things are so they earnestly desire them to deliver in this their Answer to the Emperor and the Pope hoping that the Emperor whom with all Reverence they acknowledge to be the Supream Magistrate constituted by God will not receive it with any Resentment but will use his Interest that â—uch a Council may be call'd as is agreeable to the Decrees of the Empire and that the whole Controversie may be discuss'd by pious and unsuspected Men. For it will without doubt very much redound both to his Glory and Advantage if he shall imploy all his Power and Authority towards the propagating of sound Doctrin and not to strengthen the cruel hands of those Men who have been for many years committing Outrage upon innocent Men only for their honest profession of such a Doctrin as is most agreeable to the Gospel Now for what remains they tender the Emperor their Service in all things and shall yield him a ready Compliance in all his other Affairs There was then with King Ferdinand Vergerius the Pope's Legate who has been mention'd in the former Book And because the Bishop of Rhegium was both ancient and infirm Clement had giv'n Orders to Vergerius to take upon him the Embassy if any difficulty should arise and that he should be sure to keep always in his View what the Pope's design and intentions were in relation to a Council He must therefore keep himself very close to his Orders and the foremention'd Proposals and not recede one hairs breadth from them But must take care not to run the Pope into streights and bring him under a necessity of holding a Council though he be never so hardly press'd by King Ferdinand himself THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOKS IX The CONTENTS George Duke of Saxony his Malicious Artifice to discover the Protestants related He complains of Luther to his Cozen German the Elector of Saxony Pope Clement marrieth his Niece at Marseilles to Henry Duke of Orleans Son to the French King. The Duke of Wirtenburgh is outed of his Dominions Henry King of England is divorced from his Queen and denieth the Pope's Supremacy The misfortune of the Franciscans at Orleans described The Duke of Wirtenburg has his Country recovered for him by the Lantgrave A Peace concluded between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony The Articles of it explained Paul Farnese is chosen Pope upon the death of Clement A new Persecution in France occasioned by the fixing of Papers in several places containing Disputes about Religion A great many are burned upon this account The French King excuseth his Severity to the Germans The Emperor takes the Town of Tunis and the Castle Gulette Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester are beheaded in England Pope Paul intimates a Council at Mantua by his Nuncio Vergerius The Protestants also who were now convened at Smalcalde after they had debated the Point write an Answer to Vergerius The French King sends his Embassador Langey to this Convention who presseth them to enter into a League and toucheth upon a great many Heads to which the Protestants return an Answer The King of England also dispatcheth an Embassy thither to put them in mind what Consequences may reasonably be expected from the Council The League made at Smalcalde is renewed and strengthened by the addition of a great many Princes and Cities WHen they had given the Embassadors this Answer they made these following Decrees First That a Committee of Divines and Lawyers should be chosen to draw up a Scheme of those Points which they were to insist upon at the Council in relation to Form and Debate 2ly That their Answer to the Pope should be published and imparted to foreign Princes and States 3ly They decreed to dispatch away their Agents to the Judges of the Chamber of Spire who hath prosecuted some Persons upon the account of their Religion contrary to the Emperors Edict Which Prosecutions if they were not ceas'd the Protestants resolved to demurr to the Jurisdiction of their Court. 4ly That an Embassy should be sent to the Elector of Mentz and the Palsgrave who were Princes of the Mediation and an account of all their Proceedings transmitted afterwards in writing to the Emperor I have already mentioned in several places that George Duke of Saxony had a particular hatred to Luther's Person as well as a general aversion to his Doctrin Now this Prince understanding that many of his Subjects maintained that the Lords Supper was to be received according to our Saviour's Command ordered the Parochial Clergy that those who came to them at Easter and confessed themselves conformably to the ancient Custom and received the Eucharist according to the Canons of the Church of Rome should have Tickets given them which they were to deliver into the Senate that so the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans might be distinguish'd This scrutiny discovered seventy Persons at Leipsick the Capital Town of that Country without Tickets These Persons had consulted Luther before what they should do who wrote them word that those who were justly perswaded that the Communion was to be received in both kinds should do nothing against their Conscience but rather run the hazard of losing their Lives This advice kept them constant to their Opinion so that when they were summoned to appear before their Prince and had almost two months time allowed to consider they could not be prevail'd upon to alter their Resolution though they were singly dealt withal in private but rather chose to be banish'd the Town which was executed accordingly Luther in the Letter which I spoke of called the Duke of Saxony The Devil's Apostle This Language made a great Noise and Disturbance and the Duke immediately complained against him in a Letter to the Elector his Cozen German that he had
far that they may not have a servile and obnoxious Council conven'd in a dangerous place but that things of that weight and importance in which the peace and welfare of the Church in general and every Person in particular is so much concern'd may be examin'd with Freedom and Security By appearing in this manner not only the present Age but all future Posterity will be mightily oblig'd to his Majesty and return him immortal Thanks for so great a Favour As to what his Excellency mov'd concerning a Conference of learned Men it deserves to be consider'd throughly and at leisure Besides being not aware of such a Proposal most of their Convention had no Commission to treat about it But as soon as they come to a determination in the Case they would write his Majesty an account of it for they desir'd nothing more than that Truth might be propagated as far as was possible Lastly they were very glad to hear his Majesty promise not to furnish out any Supplies against them and therefore neither would they assist his Enemies in any case where the Emperor and the Empire were unconcern'd This Embassador had private Conferences with Pontanus Melanchton with the Lantgraves Divines and James Sturmius concerning several Controversal Points where he told them what the King and the French Clergy especially those of Paris thought of each of them Particularly what their sense was concerning the Pope's Primacy the Eucharist the Mass and Invocation of departed Saints and Images what Notions they had about Purgatory Justification Monastick Vows and the Celibacy of the Clergy In most of these Controversies he said the King was inclinable to Melanchton's opinion in his Book Of Common Places Concerning the Pope he told them that the King and Philip were agreed for his Majesty did not believe his Holiness's Primacy was founded on Divine Right but Ecclesiastical Constitutions but the King of England would allow him neither one Right nor the other And truly the Pope hath pretended to more than his share in deposing Kings and Emperors at his Pleasure And they say he is about that Business now with the King of England notwithstanding the King his Master and several Cardinals had interceded with him to forbear Indeed the Divines say He is Head of the Church jure Divino but they fail'd in their proof when the King put them upon it They likewise defend the common Opinion concerning a fire in Purgatory For this Doctrin keeps up their Masses their Obits and Legacies and all the Trade they have upon those accounts But if the Mass was once put down their Authority would be sapp'd and the Vitals of their Grandeur wounded Now when the King had given these Gentlemen several months time to prove their Opinion about Purgatory by Scripture at last they gave him this Answer That it was not prudential to furnish their Adversaries with Arguments lest they should turn them upon themselves As to Monastery-Vows his Majesty believes he can prevail so far with this present Pope that young people shall not be engaged to that sort of life till they have reach'd their full age and that they may go off when they please and Marry But his Majesty does by no means think it convenient that those Societies should be dissolv'd but continu'd as Nurseries of Piety and Learning The Divines likewise press the Celibacy of the Clergy and here the King hath found out a middle Expedient That those who have Wives shall keep them but that others shall not have the liberty to Marry under pain of Suspension For to that which is usually urg'd concerning Paphnutius his perswading the Nicene Fathers that Priests might be married The Divines answer That it could not be prov'd that Matrimony was ever allow'd to Priests 'T is true before their Ordination they did not deny but that they were sometimes married Concerning the receiving the Lords Supper in both kinds the King had some discourse with Clement the Seventh about it and he hoped this Pope might be perswaded to make a Decree that every one might have the liberty to do as they thought fit Moreover his Majesty observ'd that within the memory of our Fathers the whole Communion was given in France to all persons without distinction indeed this was not done in the Bodies of the Church but in Chappels and Oratories This relation the King had from some very old Persons who affirm'd that this was the custom in France about 120 years ago Besides the French Kings receive in both kinds which practice when his Majesty objected to the Divines in Disputation they told him that Kings were anointed as well as Priests and that the Scripture mention'd A Royal Priesthood and that others who had none of these peculiar Reasons to plead could not have this liberty The King likewise owned that many passages in the publick Service of the Church ought to be corrected and some quite struck out That Clement the Seventh committed this affair to the care of Cardinal de la Cruz a Spaniard who printed a Book about it which the Parisian Divines condemn'd as Heretical For there is a sort of people among them who are not contented to cry out upon the Germans as Heterodox and wicked but let the same Censurers fly at the Cardinals and Popes themselves upon occasion And since the present Affair is so momentous and difficult in all the parts of it his Majesty is wholly intent upon it that the Peace of the Church may be recover'd He had likewise conferr'd with the Dukes of Bavaria to the same purpose who seem'd to him to be more rigid than the Divines of Paris though afterwards one of their Counsellors of State said that they were grown more moderate and the same thing was told him by Julius Phlugius concerning George Duke of Saxony and the Elector of Mentz The King therefore was of opinion that a publick Consultation was altogether necessary before the beginning of which if they pleas'd to send some few of their eminent Divines into France to confer with the Sorbonists his Majesty would take it very kindly and so order the Conference that some violent high-flying Men should be mixt with others of more temper and moderation that by this means the Truth might be wrought out and come to light When he had said this he desir'd that the Protestants would not accept of any place for a Council without his Majesties advice and the King of England's who would both of them return them the same Civility 'T is not many years ago since Lewis the Twefth of France insisted that the Pope could not call a Council without the consent of the Emperor and other Princes This was also the Opinion of the King of Navarre and when they were both Excommunicated by Julius Ferdinand of Spain seiz'd upon Navarre as Executioner of the Pope's Sentence Now the King his Master was of these Princes mind neither could he approve any Council unless it was held in a
they conceive other Princes and States will not yield him this Point without asking them leave especially at this juncture when so many Articles of Faith are concern'd and the cause of Religion lies at Stake so that now if ever a regular Examination of the matter ought to be secured And whereas his Excellency mentioned the Kings desire of an Alliance with them they are abundantly thankful to his Majesty for it And are resolved that neither pains nor danger shall discourage them from endeavouring to carry on the Progress of the Reformation not doubting but God Almighty will preside over the whole Action and make it successful notwithstanding all the opposition of their Adversaries And because he desires to treat more at large in private about this affair they had commissionated certain Persons to confer with his Excellency to whom he might impart what he had farther in Charge And lastly They request him to report their Answer to his Majesty and let him know how ready they are to serve him Upon the 12th of December the Elector of Saxony came to Smalcalde from King Ferdinand and upon Christmass-Eve they renewed the League which was within a twelve-month of expiring for ten years more Here also they setled those things which were necessary for its defence and agreed to receive all those into their Association who had a mind to it provided they would consent to the Ausburgh Confession and submit to the common charge and circumstances of the rest of the Confederates Those who were for engaging were the two Princes of Pomeren Robert of the House of Bavaria and Duke of Zweibrucken the Cities of Frankfurt Ausburgh Kempton Hamburgh and Hannover some of these desired to be admitted at present and the others gave them hopes of coming in afterwards Concerning the Chamber of Spire they came to this Resolution That in regard King Ferdinand had promised to ratifie the Pacification agreed by the Emperor they should all of them make use of this defence if they should happen to be cited by the Judges But if they would go on notwithstanding and fall a proscribing and press the Execution of their Sentence Then the Protestants were to publish a remonstrance in the name of the whole Confederacy in which the States of the Empire were to be desired and advised not to take any notice of the unreasonable Proceedings of the Chamber but to stand to what the Emperor and King Ferdinand have determined in the Case and to look upon such Sentences as these as null and illegal without offering violence to any Person upon this account For otherwise they must be forced to take satisfaction for the injury and to resolve upon a way to secure themselves and their Allies It was likewise agreed that the Article of the Pacification at Nuremburgh which provided that no Man should be forcibly disseized of his Estate should be punctually observed but with this construction That it should be lawful for them to reform what was amiss in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Ceremonies and in other things of the like Nature At the same time William Count Naâ—â—aw was admitted into the League where though the Lantgrave would not give his consent because both of them laid claim to Catzenellobogen yet he declared that if the Earl was invaded upon the account of his being a Protestant he would assist him upon his request This year also the Senate of Ausburgh after a long contest came to a unanimous resolution for the reformed Religion and wrote to Luther desiring him to send Vrbanus Regius and some other faithful Pastors of the Church to them THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK X. The CONTENTS Bernard Rotman by his Preaching and private Perswasions prevails upon Munster to receive the reformed Religion Which made the Roman Catholicks and their Bishops leave the Town in a Disgust Notwithstanding by the mediation of the Lantgrave both parties are reconciled upon Articles John of Leyden a violent Anabaptist comes thither brings a great many over to his Opinion even Rotman himself and at last infects the Town with his Frensy to that degree that his Sect grew uppermost and introduced Polygamy and community of Goods After the death of their Head Prophet John Matthews John of Leyden succeeds in the Primacy and soon after they make him their King. The Barbarities of his Government and his Antick State described During the Siege of the Town a Convention is appointed at Coblentz to decree a speedy reinforcement of the Army The Anabaptists write to the Lantgrave and send him a Book wherein they explain their Doctrin at large the Confutation of which had already been undertaken by Luther At last the Town being straitned in Provisions is taken by Storm A Convention meets at Wormes to settle affairs there after its reduction The King and his Companions are taken A relation of their Execution The Duke of Savoy makes War upon the State of Geneva and is beaten The French King invades part of his Dominions to facilitate his Conquest of the Duchy of Milan upon this occasion the pretentions of the King to that Duchy are examined The Emperor understanding those things comes to Rome and chargeth the King with breach of Articles and presseth the intimation of a Council The Protestants make a League with the King of England The Pope intimates a Council at Mantua A War breaketh out between the Emperor and the French King. The Siege of Peronne The Arch-Bishop of Cologne reformeth his Church Erasmus dieth The French King his Daughter married to the King of Scotland The Duke of Florence murthered by Treachery The Swiss's Embassy to the French King to intercede for those of the Religion who are imprisoned The Town and Castle of Hesdin is surrendred Cardinal Pool is sent Embassador to the French King. I Am now to proceed to the Siege of Munster and I shall give an account of those Occurrences which happen'd from the beginning of the Siege till that time in which the Town was taken and the Authors of the Sedition punish'd In the first Book I gave a relation of Thomas Muncer how he Preached the Mobile into Sedition what his Tenets were and what end he came to From this Mans discipling there sprung a race of Men who from their Doctrin and Practices are called Anabaptists For they will not suffer Children to be Baptized and are rebaptized themselves affirming that all People ought to follow their example and that their former Baptism is wholly invalid Their Actions have an appearance of Holiness in them They assert that it is not lawful for Christians to go to Law nor to bear any Office of Magistracy nor to swear nor have any property but that all things ought to be possess'd in common These were the singular Doctrins they maintained at first but afterwards they broached others of a much more pernicious Consequence of which I shall speak hereafter Now when these People had spread
The Family of the Visconties is remarkably Noble in the Dutchy Otho is reckon'd the first of this Line who was Archbishop of Millain and in the Reign of Rodolph the Emperor expell'd the Turiani who were a Noble and Illustrious Family After his death the Command of the Town fell to Mathew his Nephew by his Brother Theobald The next in Succession were Galeaze Actio Luchino John Mathew the Second Galeaze the Second Barnabas John Galeaze who was made first Duke of Millain by Wenceslaus the Emperor This Galeaze had two Sons John and Philip who died without lawful Issue and a Daughter Valentina Francis Sforza who was a Man of a Military Profession and base Son of James marries the natural Daughter of Philip and under that colour seizeth upon the Dutchy of Millain and bars Valentina the Sister of Philip who was married to Lewis Duke of Orleance Brother to Charles the Sixt of France Sforza had Issue Galeaze Lodowick and Ascanio Lodowick made himself Master of the Government by Violence and had Issue Maximilian and Francis The Duke of Orleance had Charles Philip and John by Valentina Charles was the Father of Lewis Duke of Orleance who was afterwards King of France and the Twelfth of that Name Philip left no Children John Duke of Angoulesme begot Charles who was Father to King Francis who took Maximilian Sforza Prisoner and possess'd himself of the Dutchy of Millain But Leo the Tenth and the Emperor beat him out and restor'd Francis Sforza who was banish'd after whose death King Francis to recover and vindicate his Right begins a new War because as soon as Sforza was dead the Emperor possess'd himself of the Dutchy of Millain by the Conduct of Antonio Leva whom he made his Lieutenant and left him there for the Security of the Country when he set sail for Africk which we mention'd before Therefore as soon as he understood the King's design he rais'd as considerable an Army in Germany and other places as he could and orders it to March into Italy And coming from Naples to Rome a few days after he desires he might have a Consistory call'd where in a full Assembly of Cardinals the Pope being present and the Embassadors of Foreign Princes he makes a smart and violent Speech against the French King by whose inveterate Malice and treacherous breakings of his League he was hindred and oppos'd in his most excellent and religious Designs The conclusion of his Harangue was that he was ready to fight him in a Duel being desirous that the War might rather be ended with the private inconvenience of that King or himself than continued to Plague the whole World. Before he left Naples the Venetians made a League with him against the Turk which they were the more inclinable to do because they hoped he would resign the Dutchy of Millain to some Person or other For the rest of the Princes of Italy and especially themselves were unwilling that the French or the Emperor should be enrich'd with so large a Principality For this reason of late years they had often combin'd together sometimes against the French King and sometimes against the Emperor that Francis Sforza might be restor'd because they apprehended less danger from him For the motive why Pope Clement and the Venetians ten years before entred into a League against the Emperor was because upon the Expulsion of Sforza they suspected he would challenge the whole State of Millain for himself which they conceiv'd would be very prejudicial to their Interest and about seven years before when he restor'd Sforza at Bologna at the Intercession of Clement he gained wonderfully upon the Affections of Italy The Emperor also at Naples married his natural Daughter to Alexander de Medice whom he had made Duke of Florence as was related in the Seventh Book This Alexander was the natural Son of Laurence de Medices whose Father was Peter whom in the former Book was mention'd to have been drown'd at the mouth of the River Garigliano In the former Book I gave an account why Vergerius was sent into Germany Now when the Emperor was come to Naples the Pope recalls him upon which he returns to Rome with all speed and makes a Report of his Embassy viz. That the Protestants demanded a free and Christian Council and that in a convenient place within the Territories of the Empire which the Emperor had promis'd they should have Concerning Luther and his Party there was no hopes of doing any good upon them but by suppressing them To that motion relating to the King of England the Protestants would by no means agree and the rest of the Princes were very cold Indeed George Duke of Saxony did say That their greatest danger was from the Protestants which was no ways to be avoided unless the Emperor and Pope joyn'd in a War against them as soon as was possible When the Pope understood this he dispatcheth away Vergerius for Naples with all speed that he might relate these things to the Emperor especially that about making War upon the Lutherans When the Emperor came to Rome which was in the Month of April as was observ'd before he very much insisted upon the intimation of the Council and desir'd he might carry away a Bull with him to that purpose The Pope told him That he was not against a Council but then he would have the choice of some Town in Italy and prescribe those Conditions which were necessary for the Roman-Church The Emperor reply'd That provided he would hold a Council he should not value any other Dispute for he would oblige the greatest part of Germany to comply with him in the rest The Pope therefore chooses nine out of the Consistory to draw up the Bull. Who were Campegio Cesio Simoneta Ginuccio Contareni and Pool Cardinals The Archbishop of Brundisi the Bishop of Rheggio and Vergerius just then made Bishop of Modrusch and not long after of Capo d'Istria All these Persons draw up a Form for the intimating the Council first in the Popes presence afterwards by themselves as will be observ'd afterwards I have already made mention of the English Embassadors with whom there was a Treaty on foot at Smalcalde upon these following Conditions That the King should propagate the Doctrin of the Gospel in its Purity as it was propos'd at Ausburgh and afterwards explain'd and joyn with them in the defence of it in a lawful Council if any such was call'd That neither Party should allow of the Intimation or place of the Council but by common consent However if it appear'd by good and unquestionable Reasons that there would be such a Council held as Paul Peter Vergerius had offer'd to demonstrate then it should not be refus'd But if the Pope notwithstanding would go on in his old way then his design should be oppos'd and remonstrated against by a publick Protestation As his Majesty had united himself to them in Doctrin so he should be desirous
it was once over That Letter which I mention'd the Emperor to have wrote in July was answer'd by the Protestants upon the 9th of September In which they acquaint him that his writing so courteously and frankly was matter of great pleasure and satisfaction to them For notwithstanding they did believe he would make good his Promises yet both because they had heard several Reports of his being displeas'd and because the Imperial-Chamber and other Courts of Justice had practis'd many ways against them without any regard to the Peace they had some reason to be a little doubtful and solicitous but now since he had declar'd his Mind in such an open obliging manner they did not in the least question but that he would perform every thing to the full and take away all occasions of Calumny from ill dispos'd minds which they for their parts should likewise endeavour to do and not give any farther credit to those who went about to possess them with other thoughts of his Majesty and in all other things they would take care to do that which became their Duty And notwithstanding the News of the Council which the Pope has summon'd to Mantua upon the 23th of May following is publickly known and call'd at his Majesties Solicitation as the Bull intimates which is so obcurely drawn that they cannot collect what the Conditions or Form of the Council will be yet since they have always earnestly desir'd there might be a free and religious Council conven'd in Germany since this Request of theirs was made a Decree both in the Imperial Diets and at the Pacification at Nuremburgh and since they had expresly and largely insisted upon this Point before his Majesty's and Pope Clement's Embassadors about three years agon they were entirely confident that he would manage this Affair in a legal unexceptionable way This month the Pope publish'd another Bull in which he professeth that in the mean time while the Council was convening it was his intention to reform the holy City of Rome the Head of all the Christian World and the Mistress of Doctrin Manners and Discipline that he would make a clear riddance of all her Vices and Uncleanliness that his own House being first put into order he might the more easily cleanse the rest Now the weakness of Humane Nature being such that it was impossible for him to dispatch this Affair wholly by himself and at the same time to manage other Concerns relating to the Commonwealth of Christendom therefore he had chosen a certain number of Cardinals whom God Almighty had made his Assistants and Coparteners in the Offices and Care of his Station to perform this necessary and profitable Work viz. the Cardinals of Ostia St. Severino Ginuccio Simoneta together with the Bishop of Cassano Nusco and Aix To these Commissioners all Persons are commanded to be Obedient under severe Penalties In October the Emperor set Sail from Genoa and return'd into Spain And soon after the French King came to Paris and upon the first of January married his eldest Daughter Magdalene to James the First King of Scotland who came into France the last Autumn Much about the same time Laurence de Medices treacherously murther'd Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence his Kinsman and near Relation after he had drawn him into his House in the night under pretence that he would help him to the enjoyment of a Noble Matron and Neighbour of his who was the most remarkable Lady of the whole Town for the reputation of her Beauty and Chastity After he was taken off the Government fell into the hands of Cosmus de Medices who afterwards with the Emperor's leave married Eleonora Daughter of Peter of Toledo Vice-Roy of Naples Upon the sixth of January the French King came into the Court where the Parliament of Paris was held which he us'd to do but seldom and in a very full Assembly made a very sharp Complaint of the Emperor and gave his Reasons why the Provinces of Flanders and Artois which the Emperor and his Ancestors held as Homagers under the French Kings ought to be recover'd to the Crown of France The Speech was made by Capel the King's Advocate who called him Charles of Austria instead of Emperor In the mean time the Cantons of Zurick Bern Basil and the Strasburgers Intercede with the French King for those who were Imprison'd for their Religion and desir'd him that he would recall those whom he had banish'd Now the King had given those who were in Exile leave to return and those in Prison their Liberty with this Proviso That they would abjure the Crimes charged upon them before the Bishops or their Vicars and give Security for their Behaviour for the future But this Condition the Switzers Ambassadors desired might be wholly remitted something of the rigour of which was relax'd at their instance however the King did not give them satisfaction in the answer which he sent them Feb. 24. by Anne Momorency Lord High Steward of his Houshold whom they suspected to have perswaded the King to be less king in this Point than otherwise he would have been The Embassadors made their Interest by the Queen of Navar who was the King's Sister a most incomparable Lady and very well affected to the true Religion In the mean time the King was making his Levies and in the beginning of March leads his Army into Artois and besiegeth the Town and Castle of Hesdin which was very well fortifi'd and within a month it was surrendred to him About this time Reginald Poole an Englishman lately made a Cardinal and of a very Noble Family was sent from the Pope to the King in Quality of Nuncio The occasion of his coming was suppos'd to be the forming of some new Design against the King of England When the King of Scotland married the French King's Daughter the Pope sent him a fine Sword of great value and tried to whet him up against the King of England Now the Popes have a custom upon Christmas-Eve to Consecrate as they call it a great many things with a certain Form of Ceremonies and amongst the rest a Sword which as a mark of Friendship and Respect they either deliver themselves or send to any Person they have a mind to Sixtus quartus is said to be the beginner of this Custom as their Book of Ceremonies hath it Afterwards Poole wrote a Book which he call'd A Defence of Ecclesiastical Vnity He addresseth himself in it to King Henry and reprimands him very sharply for making himself Head of the Church For that Office he told him belonged to none but the Pope of Rome who is the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Peter whom Christ constituted Prince of the Apostles For it was he alone who answered That Christ was the Son of God. Upon this Apostle as upon a Rock Christ builded his Church It was for his Faith that Christ prayed That when he was converted
one or two Towns left him to retreat to He was always a zealous Roman Catholick and punished those who professed the Reformed Religion Paul the Third in the beginning of his Popedom made two of his Grandchildren Cardinals and being sensible that he had lost some Reputation upon this account he promoted several others who were eminent for their Quality and Learning to this Honour partly that he might make the promotion of his young Relations less invidious and disobliging partly that he might be furnished with Friends able to defend his Cause with their Rhetorick and Writings Those who were created were Gasper Contareno Reginald Poole John Bellay Frederick Fregosi to which were afterwards added Sadolet Alexander Bembo Besides Erasmus was also thought on as he himself relates in a Letter of his to a Friend There are extant likewise several Letters of Sadolets to Erasmus in which he tells him in a great many words what a singular esteem the Pope had for him and that he intended to raise him very shortly to the highest Dignity Contareno was of a noble Family and a Senator of Venice a Man of great Reputation for his Learning and was said to be preferr'd to this eminent Station altogether beyond his expectation and when he made no manner of Interest for it THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XII The CONTENTS Pope Paul strictly charges his Commissioners for the Reformation diligently to enquire into the numerous Corruptions of the Church and provide â—ffectual Remedies Erasmus his Colloquies are prohibited The Protestants meet at Brunswick and receive the King of Denmark into their League The Persecution of Lutheranism revived in France The Pope goes on Progress to Nice de Provence Whither the Emperor and the French King also come The French King and several of his Nobility kiss the Pope's Right-foot The French of the Reformed Religion have a Church assigned them at Strasburg The King of England burns Thomas of Canterbury's Bones The Elector of Brandenburg gives the Elector of Saxony notice of the Preparation which the Turks made for a War. The Rise of the Antinomians Eldo's and the Duke of Brunswick's Designs discovered by the Lantgrave's intercepting the Duke's Letters A Convention is held at Frankfort where at last a Conference is decreed in order to an Accommodation which Henry Duke of Brunswick endeavours to prevent and raiseth Forces for hat Purpose George Duke of Saxony a most violent Enemy to the Reformation dies and Henry his Brother succeeds him The King of England publisheth another Paper against the Council appointed at Vicenza and makes several Laws touching Religion An Insurrection at Ghent to suppress which the Emperor takes a Journey thâ—â—her through France The Venetians make a Peace with the Turk who had secret Intelligence what their Senate had decreed touching this Matter I Have already mentioned the Prorogueing of the Council till November which was still delay'd after that Term was expired However that the Pope might keep up the Expectation of the World and seem to do something he had some time since pitched upon a select Number out of the whole Body of his Clergy whom he strictly charged to make a diligent Enquiry into the Abuses of the Church and lay them before him impartially without any manner of Flattery He likewise discharged them from their Oath that they might speak their Minds freely and ordered them to manage the Affair with great Secrecy The Delegates were Jaspar Contarino Peter Theatino James Sadolet Reginald Poole Cardinals Frederick Archbishop of Salerno Hierome Alâ—ander Archbishop of Brindisi John Matthew Bishop of Verona George Vener Abbot and Thomas Master of the Holy Palace These Persons after they had debated the Point among themselves set down their Reformation in Writing and addressing themselves to the Pope they begin with a high Commendation of his Zeal for the promoting of Truth which was not prevalent enough to gain the Ears of several of his Predecessors indeed the Fault was chiefly in their Flatterers who stretched their Prerogative too far and told their Holinesses That they were absolute Lords of all things and might do whatever they pleased From this Fountain it was that so many Disorders flowed in upon the Church which had brought her into that very ill Condition she was in at present Therefore his beginning his Cure in the first Principles and Original of the Distemper was an Argument of great Prudence and Vertue in his Holiness who according to St. Paul's Doctrine Chose rather to be a Minister and Steward than a Lord. And since he was pleased to lay this Task upon them they in obedience to his Commands had according to the best of their Understandings digested the Matter into several distinct Heads relating to himself the Bishops and the Church Now because he bore a double Character being not only Bishop of the Universal Church but a Monarch of divers Towns and Countries they would only consider the Ecclesiastical part of his Jurisdiction for the State was well already and governed very prudently and unexceptionably by him And first May it please your Holiness say they We are of Aristotle's Opinion That the Laws of a Country ought not to be changed upon a slight Occasion and apply his Maxim to the Canons of the Church which ought to be strictly kept up and not dispensed with but when the Case is very weighty and important For there can no greater Mischief happen to the Commonwealth than the weakening the Force and Authority of the Laws which were esteemed Sacred and almost Divine by our Forefathers The next Expedient is That the Pope of Rome who is the Vicar of Christ should refuse to receive Money for the granting any spiritual Privilege by virtue of the Power derived to him from Christ For since all these Advantages were freely bestowed upon him our Saviour expects he should communicate them in the same manner This Foundation of Regularity being once laid there must be a Provision made that your Holiness may be always furnished with a considerable Number of Clergy-men well qualified to take care of the Church Among these the Bishops are the chief But there is a great Miscarriage in this Point for all Persons are admitted into this Order without any Distinction or Difficulty when they have neither Learning nor Probity to recommend them and oftentimes when they are Boys Hence it is that so much Scandal ariseth that such Disrespect and Contempt is shown to Religion We therefore believe it most advisable for your Holiness to appoint in the first place some Persons at Rome to examine those who offer themselves to Holy Orders and then enjoin the Bishops the same Diligence in their respective Diocesses And that you would take care that none should be received without the Approbation of his Triers or Bishop and let those young People who are designed for Church-men have a Master set over them by particular Order that so their Learning and Morals may be fit
Altar which are afterwards given to Two Subdeacons of St. Peter's Church who put them out to Grass and in due time shear them the Wool that comes from them being mingled with other Wool is spun and afterwards woven into these Palls which are Three Fingers broad and hang down from the Shoulders to the middle breast before and to the Reins behind at the end are thin Plates of Lead of the same breadth When they are thus woven they are carried to the Bodies of St. Peter and St. Paul and after some Prayers said are left there all night next day after the Subdeacons receive them again and decently lay them up and keep them until an Archbishop that needs one of them or his Proctor come to demand it Now it is delivered with many Ceremonies and they who carry it are charged not to rest above one night in a place if possibly they can This is neither a curious nor costly Commodity and yet the Archbishops pay dear for it to the Pope Nor is it lawful for any one to make use of his Predecessors Pall but every one is obliged to purchase himself a new one at Rome Besides if by exchange or any other way a Patriarch or Metropolitan is removed to another Church though he had purchased a Pall before yet he must needs be at the charge of a new one This kind of Fleecing gave occasion at all times of murmuring and complaining as hath been said in the Fourth Book especially in Germany And when in the Year of our Lord One thousand five hundred and eighteen Leo X. sent Cardinal Cajetan to the Diet of Ausburg to exhort the Emperor Maximilian and the Princes to a War against the Turk and moved that all the States and the Clergy too should contribute Money The Answer that was given him was That there was no Hopes of obtaining that from the Priests whose Rights and Revenues were by so many old and new Tricks and Divices clogg'd and diverted by the Court of Rome and that as for the People when any such thing was imposed upon them they cried That Money had been so often given upon that account that they wondered how it was spent or what became of those vast Summs that were yearly raised in Germany from the Annats alone We told you before of several Fires that happened in Saxony Now many of the Malefactors being take in divers Places and examined they all generally confess'd even with their last Breath That they had been suborned and hired by the Officers and familiar Friends of Henry Duke of Brunswick and got Money from them to do that Upon this account therefore as for other things also the Lantgrave and Deputies of Saxony accused the Duke of Brunswick to the Emperor at Ratisbone and exhibited in writing the several Confessions of these Incendiaries With these joined Duke William of Brunswick who also grievously Accused his own Brother Duke Henry that had kept him many Years in Prison When most of those who were expected to be at the Diet were now come it was opened on the Fifth Day of April by an Harangue made to them in the Emperor's Name according to Custom the Effect whereof was That they all knew how Studious and Laborious he had always been in endeavouring a right Constitution and Establishment of all publick Affairs But that when he perceived how Religion had torn and rent asunder the Empire and given occasion to the Turk to pierce almost into the Bowels of Germany it had been a great grief to him and therefore for many Years past he had with their own consents been essaying ways of Pacification and that all had judged a General Council to be the most proper and expedient remedy which had been the Sense and Resolution of the last Diet at Ratisbone but that seeing the Turk had at the same time Invaded first Hungary and then Austria with a design to fall upon Germany next with all the Force he could make He had made Head against him with an Army consisting of his own Forces those of his Brother King Ferdinand and of the whole Empire and not only so but had sent out a Fleet to Sea against him which having advanced a great way towards Constantinople had taken from him some Passes Castles and Towns that so his Force might be broken and diverted So that when the Turk had retreated Home he took a Progress into Italy treated earnestly with Pope Clement for a Council and pacified Italy that no Obstacle might arise from thene That he had afterwards returned to Spain that having ordered all things there also he might himself be present at the Council That in his Opinion they were not ignorant of the Reason why the Council was not called which the Pope had promised to open the Year after But that seeing not long after the Turk had sent his Admiral Barbarossa who put to flight the King of Tunis for preventing the publick danger he had crossed over into Barbary where by God's Blessing he had been Victorious and driven him out of all that Country That afterwards he had come to Sicily Naples and to Rome also where he had treated with Paul III. about a Council who was fully enclined to it and that being resolved to draw nearer to Germany to settle Affairs there At the same time a War broke out against the Duke of Savoy his Ally and a Vassal of the Empire who had a great part of his Country taken from him by force so that he was obliged as in Duty to undertake his Defence at that time That since that War had continued almost till Winter and that there was no great Hopes of a Council he had proposed some Conditions proper for Peace and so returned into Spain That afterwards he came back again to the Country about Genoa whither the Pope and French King came also And that having made a Truce there he went with his Fleet to Aigues Mortes where he had had a Conference with the French King as with the Pope before about the Peace of Christendom and the Turkish War That having returned from thence into Spain he had employed all his Thoughts about healing the Divisions of Religion and removing the Impediments of a Council and that being resolved afterwards to return into Germany through Italy he had been moved and entreated by the French King to take his Journey through France meerly to confirm their Friendship That he came next to Flanders where he found Affairs in a troublesome State but that he had applied a Remedy to the Distemper and that though his weighty Affairs would not then suffer him to proceed into Germany he had nevertheless appointed an Assembly at Haguenaw where his Brother King Ferdinand was present That it was fresh in the minds of all what had been done there and also at the Conference of Wormes and that he now mentioned these things that they might see the Care and Zeal he had for the
they began to treat of a Marriage and though the Parents at that time were not altogether for it and that the Young Lady was more averse not so much of her own Judgment or that she slighted the Person of the Man as through the Whispers and Tattles of some who despised Germany as a wild and rude Country in respect of the Pleasantness and Deliciousness of France yet being over-ruled by the King's Authority who look'd on that affinity as very advantageous to him they yielded Wherefore on the Fifteenth of June the Marriage was solemnized the King leading the Bride his Neece to Church The Cardinal of Tournon said Mass and the King gave a most magnificent Wedding Feast whereat were present the Pope's Nuncio the Ambassadors of England Portugal Venice and Saxony for the Emperor's Ambassador had excused himself Some Days after the Duke of Cleve returned home leaving his Young Wife in France whom her Mother would have to be with her until she were grown up to maturity Before the Duke of Cleve came into France the King ordered the Admiral whom we mentioned before to be set at Liberty to go Home and then in the Month of May to come to his Majesty who most graciously received him and restored him to his former Honour and Dignity raised him as it were from Death to Life and by a new and unprecedented Example annulled the Sentence pass'd against him by the Select and Chief Judges of the Kingdom partly in spight of the Constable as it was believed and partly at the intercession of Madam d'Estampes who had contracted a new Relation by Affinity with the Admiral Wherefore the Constable Montmorency who loved not the Admiral his equal and was fallen much in the King's Favour because of the Emperor's Passage through France as hath been said being besides altogether slighted and despised at Court went Home and in an uncertain Condition led a private Life whereas before he had had the King wholly to himself The End of the Thirteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIV The CONTENTS In the Conference of Ratisbone they treat of reforming the Ecclesiastical State and Means are proposed for accomplishing of that Diverse Opinions and Answers are here related Eckius loathing the Book offered by the Protestants accuses his Collegues Vpon the Report of the Approach of the Turk the Emperor commands the Conference to be put off till the meeting of the Council Fregoso and Rink the Ambassadors sent from the French King to the Turk are taken and slain and therefore the Bastard Son of Maximilian is arrested at Lyons and committed to Prison The Turk makes his Entry into Buda The Emperor comes to Algiers The Plague rages in Germany Austria sorely afflicted The Peers of Austria desire Leave to profess and exercise the Protestant Religion and are eluded by King Ferdinand The Christians being worsted in Hungary the Emperor calls a Diet of the States of the Empire to meet at Spire where Oliver the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech The King of England cuts off his Queens Head and marries a Sixth Wife Morono the Pope's Legate being sent to Spire declares the calling of a Council at Trent Luther publishes a little Book a Military or Camp-Sermon wherein he compares the Papacy with the Turks War breaking out again betwixt the Emperor and French King. Longueville and Martin van Rossem invade Brabant Perpignon is besieged Edicts against the Lutherans are published at Paris Farel preacheth at Metz. Locusts overspread Germany and Italy An Imperial Diet held at Nurimberg Poiet apprehended in the Night time and committed to Prison Otho Prince Palatine embraces the Protestant Religion THE Conference commenced about the end of April as we said before But Eckius grew impatient and morose for he was sick of the Book disliked his Collegues and not long after fell into a Fever so that he could not be present However his Associates went and consulted him about all Matters Some Places of the Book indeed were by common Consent corrected in the Conference and some others they could not agree upon as about the Church and the Power thereof the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ the Confession of Sins Satisfaction the Unity and Order of the Ministers of the Church Saints the Mass the Sacrament to be received in both Kinds and the single Life of the Clergy So the Book as it was corrected was delivered to the Emperor and therewith the Sentiments of the Protestant Divines in Writing concerning the controverted Points of Doctrine now mentioned this was on the last Day of May. The Emperor commended their Zeal and took it kindly entreating them to shew the like Diligence and good Inclination if at any time after the Case did so require On the Eighth of June after he made a Report of what was done and how far they had proceeded in the Session of the Princes and States That the Conferrers had carefully handled the Matter and reconciled many weighty Points of Doctrine and that the Protestant Divines had declared their Thoughts touching the rest which were not as yet accommodated Then he shewed them both the Writings desiring they would take them speedily into Consideration give their Judgment of the same and think of a way how both Church and State might be reformed That for his part he would not omit anything that might contribute thereunto and doubted not but that the Pope's Legate inclined that way too The Senate of Princes consists for most part of Bishops and therefore they who were for rejecting the Book offered by the Emperor and all proceeding by Conference carried it by majority of Voices and gave their Resolution accordingly in Writing though in Terms somewhat too harsh But seeing the Electors and some other Princes who tendered the Wellfare of the Publick did not consent to it there was another Writing drawn up and on the Second of July presented to the Emperor whom therein they advised that as Advocate and Defender of the Church he would communicate the whole Affair to the Pope's Legate according to the Decree of Haguenaw but particularly those Heads which the Conferrers had agreed upon that they might be carefully weighed if there were any thing to be found in them in Sense or Words inconsistent either with the Doctrine of Holy Interpreters or the Custom and Practice of the Church That in the next place what was said more obscurely might be explained and that he himself would be pleased afterwards to acquaint the States with his Thoughts and Resolution as to the whole and to deal with the Protestants that they would suffer themselves to be instructed in the remaining Points in Controversie or if that could not be obtained that then a General or National Council of Germany should be called to determine all Matters in debate Among the States there were some who made it their Business to obstruct the Reformation of Religion
and Consternation and were very like to have taken Antwerp and Lovain but wanting Ammunition and other things necessary for the Artillery they could not batter the places however where-ever they went they ravaged and plundered all and having extorted a great deal of Money forced their way through and in the Month of August joined Charles Duke of Orleans the King's Son who was then making War in the Dutchy of Luxemburg There were Four hundred Horse in this Service sent by the King of Denmark And besides Damvilliers Virton and Yvoix Luxemberg the Chief City of the Province was taken by the French. The King himself carried on the War on the other side and besieged Perpignan a Town of Roussillon by the Pyrenean Hills He also ordered William of Langey to act in Piedmont whilst the Duke of Vendosme invaded Artois and Flanders So that he attacked the Enemy in Five several places at once but many thought it would have been better to have fallen into any one Province with his whole Army as it proved to be true in the end for both Perpignan was attempted in vain and the Duke of Orleans being returned Home the Imperialists recovered all almost except Yvoix Upon this occasion Antwerp began to be Fortified having been a place of easie access before When the King was about to make War he sent back Paulain to the Turk to entreat him that he would send him a Fleet into Provence But Paulain arriving too late Solyman put it off till the Year following In the Heat of this War the King published Edicts against the Lutherans And the Parliament of Paris charged all Printers and Booksellers under great Penalties that they should not print publish nor sell any Books that were condemned or suspected and Calvin's Institutions by Name Afterwards at the request of the Inquisitor they made a Decree on the Seventh of July that the People should be admonished from the Pulpit to be Obedient to the Church and if they knew any Lutheran or any one that thought amiss of Religion they should present him for that it was a work very acceptable to God. But the Curats and Ministers of the Church had a Form prescribed to them which they were to follow in examining and making their Enquiry For they were enjoined to put the Question to the Informers If they knew any that said there was no Purgatory That so soon as a Man was dead he was either damned or saved That Man is not justified by keeping the Commands of God That God only was to be Prayed unto and not the Saints That the Worshipping of Images was Idolatry That the Saints did not work Miracles That the Ceremonies of the Church profited nothing That the Canons of the Church obliged no Man That it was necessary for all Men indifferently to understand the Gospel That all Men ought to read the Scripture in the vulgar Tongue That it was an Idle thing for common People to pray to God in Latin That the Priest did not forgive Sins by the Sacrament of Penance but that he was only the Minster who declared God's Mercy in pardoning of Sins That the Church could not oblige any Man under pain of mortal Sin Or that it was lawful to eat Flesh at all times This Form of Inquisition was given and enjoined to Priests privately But there was an Edict published whereby all were commanded to inform against and accuse those who neglected the Rites and Constitutions of the Church who had Heretical Books themselves or gave them to others to read or willingly dropp'd them in the Streets that so they might be dispersed who kept private Meetings in Houses or Gardens and framed designs contrary to the Constitutions of the Church and those who received such Men into their Houses and Gardens They that were privy to any such thing were commanded under pain of Excommunication to present all within Six Days to the Doctors of Divinity chosen by the Inquisitor to wit Henry Gervase Nicholas Clerk Peter Richard Robert Buccine John Benot Francis Picard and John Morine Booksellers also were charged within Six Days to bring all the suspected Books and Manuscripts they had to the aforesaid Doctors which if they did not no excuse was to be admitted afterwards The same Day that Edict was proclaimed publick Processions and Prayers were made in all Churches of Paris for the safety of the Kingdom and preservation of Religion and the Relicks of St. Gennevieve their tutelary Saint were carried about and much about the same time some were burnt for Religion There was one Francis de Landre Curat of St. Croix in Paris who preached the pure Word of God to the People at that time and did not say Mass because he drank no Wine but whether out of natural antipathy or design I know not The Sorbonn Doctors conceived a great Hatred against this Man and having employed some Emissaries to take Notes of his Sermon they propounded to him these Heads of Doctrine to know his Judgment of them That the Sacrifice of the Mass is instituted by Christ and is propitiatory both for the Living and the Dead That Saints are to be prayed unto that they may be Advocates and Intercessors for us with Christ That the Substance of the Bread and Wine is changed by Consecration That none but Priests can Consecrate the Bread and Wine and alone have right to the Sacrament in both Kinds That monastick Vows are to be kept That by the Sacraments of Confirmation and Unction the Holy Ghost is received That by Fasting Prayer and good Works Souls are delivered out of Purgatory That the Constitutions of the Church concerning Fasting and choice of Meats bind the Conscience That the Pope is Head of the Church whom all are bound to obey by divine Right That many things are to be believed and necessarily received which are not expressed in Scripture That the pains of Purgatory are remitted by the Pope's Indulgences That Priests though they be vitious and sinful consecrate the Body of the Lord That all mortal Sins are to be confessed to the Priest and Absolution to be received from him That Man has free will whereby he may do good or evil And rise again from Sin by Repentance That the pardon of Sins is obtained not by Faith alone but by Charity and true Repentance That the Church and Councils lawfully called cannot erre and that they are to be obeyed And that it belongs to the Church to Interpret and Expound the Scripture if any Controversie arise about the Meaning of it These Articles they required him to approve under hand and Seal Some Days after he gave them a general Answer that whatever the Holy Catholick Church taught as to these things was Pious and Holy. But not satisfied with that Answer they attempted greater Matters against him as you shall know hereafter At this time also two Dominican Friars preached the Gospel at Metz and seeing the Priests began to shew their dislike
and Rink chanced to be missing That however his Holiness himself who was chosen to be Umpire betwixt them was a Witness of his Willingness to have satisfied him in that Particular That this was the Pretext then he now used for raising new Troubles and Commotions in Christendom though it was long since he intended it That it was well enough known what Fregoso and Rink had by his Orders attempted in Italy and Turkey and what Services they had often done him That they went about to betray Christendom into extream Danger so that they had no right to the Peace of Nice who violated the publick Peace That again they scudded privily through Lombardie with a Train of Banditi's a Crime that 's capital by the Law and Custom of that Country That the Marquess of Pescara was heavily accused by him and yet he had offered to stand a Trial for it but that it was not unknown why he refused that and rejected other Satisfactions also That for his part when he thought he had been satified he passed over into Barbary and sent an Ambassador into France to recommend to him the publick Peace but that at the same time he gave the fairest Promises he was attempting several things against him in Germany Denmark and other places and laid a Design of invading Navarr That afterwards his Ambassadors at the Diet of Spire had made it their whole Business to foment the Difference of Religion promising each Party severally their Masters Frienship and Favour That he had endeavoured to disswade the States of the Empire from the Turkish War sollicited the Grand Seignior sent Forces into Italy caused Martin van Rossem in Brabant and Flanders and the Duke of Orleans in Luxemburg to make War against him before any Denunciation and then bent all the rest of his Forces towards the Frontiers of Spain That this forsooth was the Fruit of his Holiness's Tenderness who had indulged him in so many things and so often exhorted him to Peace That he should also suffer the Archbishop of Valentia to be detained Prisoner by him and several Noble-Men of Spain to be abused and affronted by the French in Avignon was in all Conscience too great a Forbearance That now therefore he must be forced to stand upon his own Defence at a time when he had least Fear of him by reason of his large and most ample Promises when he was preparing for the Turkish War and upon that account to return into Germany That the Injury and Damage was indeed great which he had done within his Territories and he and his Subjects both suffered by it but that he was not so much moved thereat as at the publick Calamity of Christendom for that as to his own private Concerns since he was always shuffling and breaking his Agreements it were far better for him to have open War than to trust to any Truce or Conditions which upon every light Occasion he could break and annul That Peace with him was for the most part a Snare since it was his Course in the mean time to hatch new Counsels pernicious to the Publick cherish and foment Factions and to make it his chief Study to disable him from resisting the Turks by harassing and tiring him out and exhausting him by Charges That this being his own Temper he made it his Care to bread his Children in the same Nature and Discipline That his Ambition and Covetousness was now grown to such a Hight that it could no longer be concealed That as his Ancestors had usurped Provence which belonged to the Empire so now also he held Savoy and part of Piedmont which he so fortified as made it apparent enough he had no mind to restore them That it had been his Design not only to invade Lombardy but Parma and Piacenza too then Luka and Siena and afterward the Patrimony of St. Peter that so he might have a Passage open into Naples and Sicily That there was no Doubt but his Project reached so far and that it might easily be gathered from the Designs and Stratagems he had on Foot in Italy That in short there was no Bounds to be set to his excessive Ambition nor was it ever to be thought that he would stand to any Agreement so long as there remained any thing for others to lose or for him to take For that he was so transported with this Disease and Restlesness of Mind as with a violent Calenture That forgeting all Religion and Piety he had made a League with the Turk and joined not only his Counsels but Fortunes also with the Enemy of Christendom making at this present mighty Braggs that Barbarossa with a Fleet would quickly be upon our Coasts That his Holiness in his own Prudence ought to consider if these were Courses to heal the Divisions of Christendom and begin a Council with That it had always been the Endeavours of the French King that no Council should be held as thinking it would prove prejudicial to his private Affairs Wherefore so soon as he had perceived that he had taken other Measures for composing the Differences about Religion in Germany and had therein Respect only to the Glory of God and the Honour and Dignity of the Church That therefore it was to be imputed to the French King who had always hindered and not to him who had taken so much Labour and Pains about a Council that there was not one sooner call'd That if then his Holiness were disposed to help afflicted Christendom he ought in Duty to declare himself an Enemy to him who was the Author of all the Disorder and Calamity who invited and allured in the Turk against Christendom and who left nothing unattempted whereby he might satiate his Ambition and boundless Revenge For that since the chief Care of Christianity belonged to him by virtue of his Pastoral Office the thing it self required that he should not suffer him to proceed any longer in these disorderly Courses but declare himself his Enemy That if he would do so it would not only be an Act most acceptable to all good Men but would prove of singular Use also for containing all other Kings within the Bounds of Duty For that it was the only Way to have a Council meet Peace restored and the Troubles of Christendom settled wherein if his Holiness did his duty he for his Part would not be wanting The End of the Fourteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XV. The CONTENTS The Pope attempts in vain to make Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King. A hot War betwixt England and Scotland The French King suppresses a Sedition at Rochell In the Diet of Nurimberg Granvell in the Emperor's Name demands assistance against the French King who in a very long Manifest answers the Emperor's Letter Langey dieth Francis Landre and de Pensier make a publick Recantation Mention made of Marot by the bye Bucer Preaches at Bonn. The Pope offers to buy the Dutchy of
Dukes of Bavaria Brothers by their Deputies dealt with the Protestants in the Diet and amonst others propounded also this Condition unto them That all the Country of the Duke of Brunswick should be sequestrated in the Hands of the Emperor or some Princes of Germany until the matter were decided by a fair Trial But nothing could be then concluded as to that Christopher Bishop of Ausburg died of an Apoplexy at this Diet having appointed a Feast at his House the next Day He was of the Family of the Stadio's a learned Man and not averse to Peace To him succeeded Otho Truchses The Decree here made was neither inserted into the publick Records as the Custom was nor had it the force of a Law. It was somewhat late before the French King saw the Letter which the Emperor wrote to the Pope as we mentioned in the foregoing Book and therefore now at length he made Answer to it in a very long Epistle That for the Emperor to expect to be preferred before him as having deserved much of the Church of Rome was an idle and ridiculous Thing For that neither were the Emperor's Ancestors to be compared with his nor he himself neither with him upon that account That he was an excellent Son indeed and worthy of the highest Praise who sent an Army to besiege vex and take Prisoner his Father the good old Man Clement VII who sack'd the chief City of the World many ways profaned and polluted the Holy Churches and committed all kinds of Wickedness Lust and Cruelty Who to so great a barbarity added Scorn and Derision commanding Prayers and Processions to be made in Spain for the Delivery of the Holy Father whom all the while he himself kept close Prisoner That on the contrary his Predecessors Kings of France from the times of Charles Martell King Pipin and so downward had all along studied to honour and advance the Popes of Rome That he run much out in commending his own great Care and Zeal for the Publick but it would appear to be far otherwise if Matters were rightly examined For that under his Conduct and Command many Thousand Christians had been cut off by the Barbarians not long since in Hungary once and again at Castle Novo in the Bay of Ambracia and afterwards at Algiers in Barbary when he gave it out that he must needs go thither but indeed fled and left Germany open to the approaching Enemy That it was through his fault that the Infant-Child of the Vayvode John King Ferdinand his own Brother and Hungary fell into this Calamity That he gloried much that he had ventured to come to Aigues Mortes to settle a Peace but that if any Body ought to be praised for that it was himself who first went up to him into the Galley and sent his Sons also thither afterwards with no small danger both from him who trusted no Man and also from Andrea Doria Admiral of the Fleet a crafty subtile Fox That he afterward made a Journey through France at his desire indeed but after that by Letters and Agents he had craved it of him and offered him Milan That it was true he pretended other Causes now but in reality he was forced by the Insurrection of Ghent to pass that way That it never entered his Thoughts to have stopp'd him and what he said of the Deliberations of the Counsel of Francis in order to have detained him was altogether false That he had done the Duke of Savoy no wrong but that since the Duke had withheld from him his Mother's Dowry and Inheritance would not suffer him to redeem Nizza and besides had basely used his Lieutenants and Souldiers he had regained by force of Arms what by Law he could not fairly recover especially since all his Actions generally were influenced by the Emperor whose proper and peculiar Talent it was to incite the Subjects of other Princes to Revolt and then to leave them in the Lurch witness the Dukes of Bourbone Brunswick and Marquess of Saluces Nay and to be Troublesom and Injurious to his own Kinsmen and Relations too as to Christiern King of Denmark his own Brother King Ferdinand and to himself especially who had Married his Eldest Sister That it was to be imputed to him and his Brother and to no Body else that the Turk lately had Invaded Hungary and seized the chief Town of it he having treacherously made War against the young Son and Heir of the Vayvode That in the Diet of Ratisbone all the States of the Empire were sollicited to give Supplies pretendedly against the Turk but in reality against a poor unfortunate Child whom they designed to have turned out of all That as often as he had sent Ambassadors into Germany he had done it without any crafty or treacherous Intent And that he was falsly charged with fomenting Factions and wheadling with both Perswasions in Religion For that on the Concord and Welfare of Germany his own Safety depended and that all Men knew what his own Religion was That it was true he had sent Ambassadors lately thither and upon most weighty Grounds disswaded them from the Turkish War And that the sad and dismal success of that War made it sufficiently appear that his Counsel was good and safe but that all the Emperor drove at was to keep Germany in continual Dissension that it might thereby be prepared and made fitter for servitude That on the other hand how great an Injury had been done to himself in violating his Ambassadors Rink and Fregoso all Men were sensible since they had been sent to the Turk for the good of all Christendom but chiefly of Hungary and Germany For that the Grand Seignior had been frequently sollicited by him to live in Peace with the Christians and that he had always received this Answer from the Port That he had no Quarrel with the Christians as such but with the Emperor Charles and King Ferdinand from whom he had received Injuries and whose boundless Ambition he could not brook so that the Emperor doubled his Injury in laying a snare for them wherein he had never intended to make him Satisfaction but had in a manner always shamm'd him off and fooled him with shifting Answers and that therefore he had never dissembled the Offence he had received but had declared plainly enough That if he had not Satisfaction given him he would not sit down with the Affront That he had indeed essayed all other Means before he came to Arms and had detained the Archbishop of Valencia to see if that way at least he might recover his Ambassadors whom then he took to be alive So that having in vain taken all other Courses he had been forced at length to take up Arms and to defend himself against Hostilities which the Emperor was the Author of That he objected to him as a great Crime his League with the Turk which he himself had often sought for but could not obtain though he had
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
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
relieve the Poor That in the chief Church the Mass of the Holy Ghost be said every Thursday and in time of Oblation all be intent upon the Priest and refrain from talking That the Bishops also live soberly use no luxury in their Tables and avoid all vain and idle Discourse accustoming their Families to do the like that in Speech Apparel and all their Actions they may appear honest and decent and that because it is the chief design of the Council that the darkness of Errour and Heresie which for so many Years have over-spread the World being dispersed the light of Truth may shine out all Men but especially the learned are admonished to consider with themselves what way chiefly that may be done That in giving their Opinions they should observe the Decree of the Council of Toledo act modestly not with clamour and noise not be contentious nor obstinate but speak what they have to say calmly and sedately The next Session was on the fourth of February In it nothing was done but that they made a Profession of their Faith and appointed the eighth of April for the next Session for many more were said to be upon their way to come to the Council they thought it fit then to stay for them that the Authority of the Decrees might be of the greater force Whilest these things were acting at Trent Luther being invited goes to the Counts of Mansfield to take up a difference that was betwixt them concerning their Bounds and Inheritance It was not indeed his custome to meddle in affairs of that nature having spent his whole Life in studies but seeing he was born at Isleben a Town within the Territories of Mansfield he could not refuse that Service to the Counts and his Native Country Before he arrived at Isleben which was about the end of January he was indisposed in health nevertheless he dispatched the Affair he was sent for and sometimes preached in the Church where he also took the Sacrament But on the seventeenth of February he began to be downright sick in his Stomach He had three Sons with him John Martin and Paul besides some Friends and amongst these Justus Jonas Minister of the Church of Hall and though he was grown now weak yet he dined and supped with the rest Discoursing of several things at Supper amongst other things he put the Question Whether in the Life to come we should know one another and when they desired to know his Opinion as to that What was the case said he with Adam He had never seen Eve but when God made her lay fast asleep but seeing her when he awake he asks not who she was or whence she came but says this is flesh of my flesh and bones of my bones Now how came he to know that but that being full of the Holy Ghost and endued with the true Knowledge of God he spake so after the same manner we also shall be renewed by Christ in the other World and shall know our Parents Wives Children and every thing else much more perfectly than Adam knew Eve. After Supper having withdrawn to Pray as his custom was the pain in his Stomach began to encrease Then by the advice of some he took a little Unicorns-horn in Wine and for an Hour or two slept very sweetly upon a Couch in the Stove when he awoke he retired into his Chamber and again disposed himself to rest after he had taken leave of his Friends that were present and bid them Pray to God said he that he would preserve to us the pure Doctrine of the Gospel for the Pope and Council of Trent are hatching Mischief All being hush'd he slept a pretty while but his Distemper increasing upon him he awoke after Midnight complaining of the stoppage of his Stomach and perceiving his end drawing nigh in these words he addressed himself to God. O God my heavenly Father and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ God of all Consolation I give thee thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son JESUS CHRIST in whom I have believed whom I have confessed whom I have loved whom I have declared and preached whom the Pope of Rome and the multitude of the Vngodly do persecute and dishonour I beseech thee my Lord Jesus Christ receive my Soul O heavenly Father though I be snatched out of this Life though I must now lay down this Body yet know I assuredly that I shall abide with thee for ever and that no man can pluck me out of thy hands Not long after he had made an end of that Prayer having once and again commended his Spirit into the Hands of God he in a manner gently slept out of this Life without any bodily Pain or Agony that could be perceived And so Luther to the great grief of many died in his own Countrey which for many Years he had not seen the eighteenth of February The Counts of Mansfield desired indeed to have buried him within their Territories because there he had his Birth but by Orders from the Prince Elector he was carried to Wittemberg and five days after honourably buried there He was about Sixty three Years of Age for he was born the Tenth of November 1483. of honest and well-respected Parents John and Margaret His first Rudiments of Learning he had at home afterwards being sent to Magdeburg and Isenach he far outstript all of his Age. Next he came to Erfurdt and applied himself wholly to Logick and Philosophy and having stayed there some time without acquainting his Parents and Relations he put himself into a Monastery of Augustine Friers and bent his whole studies to Divinity abandoning the study of the Law to which he had addicted himself before Now there was a new University established at Wittemberg wherefore Stupitius whom we mentioned in the first Book being Rector thereof invited Luther that he might come and profess Divinity there He was afterwards sent to Rome by those of his Order that he might sollicite a Suit of Law that they had depending there and that was in the Year One thousand five hundred and ten Being returned home at the instigation of his Friends he took his Doctor 's Degree Duke Frederick being at the Charge of it How eloquent and fluent in Language he was his Works sufficiently testifie The German Language his own Mother-Tongue he much beautified and enriched and in it he merited greatest applause for he turned out of Latine into Dutch things that were thought could not be translated using most significant and proper words and in one single Diction sometimes expressing the emphasis of a whole Sentence In one place writing of the Pope how he had prophaned the Lord's Supper and caused Mass to be said also for the Dead he saith that with his Mass he had not only pierced into all the corners of the Christian World but even into Purgatory itself but he useth a Dutch word which represents a
noise such as may be made by the ratling of dead Mens bones when one hurls or shoots at and suddenly throws down a pile of them He was a Man of a most undaunted Spirit When he began first to Preach concerning Indulgences he was ignorant what it might tend to as he himself confesses and medled with nothing but that wherefore he wrote very humbly then to the Pope and others but when he advanced more and more in the knowledge of the Scripture and found that his Doctrine was agreeable to the Word of God he bore the brunt of his Adversaries malice and the hatred of the whole World with an unshaken courage and stood unmovable like a brazen Wall despising all danger When the Emperour being crowned by Clement VII held a Diet at Ausbourg a fearful Storm seemed then to threaten as we mentioned in the Seventh Book but he in the mean time both privately and publickly comforted all his Friends and applying the 46th Psalm to the present juncture God said he is our refuge and strength c. That old Enemy of Mankind is now indeed busie at work applying all his Engines and our power is but weak nor can we long withstand so great a force But that Champion whom God himself chose hath taken up Arms and fighteth for us if you ask who that is know that it is Jesus Christ who must needs conquer and triumph Though the whole World swarm also with Devils we are not therefore dismayed but with assured confidence expect a joyful issue and though Satan foam and rage yet shall he be able to do nothing against us for he is judged and the Word alone makes all his Arms to fall that Word our adversaries shall not rob us of but whether they will or no shall leave it with us for the Lord is in our Camp and in our Battels and defends us by his spiritual gifts and graces if they take away thy Goods Children and Wife beaâ— it patiently for they get nothing thereby and to us there is an immortal Kingdom prepared That Psalm which as I said he applied to those sad and dismal times he paraphrased also into Dutch Rhyme and set a Tune for it very agreeable to the Subject and proper to excite and elevate the mind and therefore since that time it is frequently sung amongst the other Psalms That the Decree of Ausbourg such as it is was made he blames for it Pope Clement and his Legate Campegi in a Book which he afterwards published but speaks very honourably of the Emperour whose Name and Authority they made use of though he says he was innocent THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVII The CONTENTS John Diazi going with Bucer to the Conference at Ratisbonne is murdered by the procurement of his Brother Alphonso The Landgrave being admitted to a Conference with the Emperour tells him what kind of a Council it was that the Protestants demanded and having excused himself that he could not be present at the Diet is very friendly dismissed by the Emperour The Pope having pronounced sentence against the Archbishop of Cologne thunders him with Excommunication A Report is spread abroad that the Emperour Ferdinand and the Pope are making great Preparations against Germany Decrees are made by the Fathers at Trent In that Session Peter Danes Embassadour from the French King makes an harangue The Emperour cunningly sollicites some Cities of Germany and the Switzers also The Protestants having heard his answer arm The Articles of the League betwixt the Emperour and Pope are related the Emperour is so inflamed by the Pope that he makes no head against the encroaching Turk but bends all his Force against the Protestants The Castle of Erenberg and Town of Donawert being taken the Emperour by Proclamation puts the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave to the Ban of the Empire The Pope's Army comes to the Emperour's assistance MEntion was made a little before of the Conference at Ratisbonne Now John Diazi a Spaniard with leave from the Senate of Strasbourg went thither with Bucer For many Years he had followed his studies at Paris and applied himself to the Sorbonne Divinity but falling upon the Books of Luther and others and being indefatigable in reading the Scriptures he began more and more to nauseate that Doctrine and at length that he might profit the more he left Paris and came to Geneva where Calvin was then Minister After some stay there he went to Strasbourg and because Bucer perceived him to be a Man of much learning and unwearied study being within some Months after to go to the Conference at Ratisbonne he proposed to the Senate that they would be pleased to send him with him as a Companion and Fellow-labourer Being come then to Ratisbonne in the Month of December he went to pay a visit to Peter Malvenda we spake of before whom he had known at Paris He as all in amaze lamented and bewailed to see him in those parts and in the company of Protestants too who would triumph more for one Spaniard brought over to their party than for some thousands of Germans Wherefore he began to admonish him to have a care of his Reputation and not cast so foul a blemish upon Himself his Countrey and Family Diazi answered modestly commending only the Protestant Doctrine and so at that time departed but when some days after he returned again according as they had appointed Malvenda set all engines at work to deter him and having spoken much of the power of the Pope he layed before him at large what a grievous thing his Excommunication was and then seeing the Emperour was to be there within a little time he advised him not to stay his coming which perchance might be dangerous to him but that he would go meet him fall at the feet of the Emperour's Confessor and beg pardon for the offence he had committed and in that he promised to assist him Whereunto Diazi made a resolute and brisk Answer affirming that the Doctrine of the Protestants was the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and bewailing the misery of his Native Countrey Spain that lay under so much darkness he also reproved Malvenda and his companions for impugning the truth and giving the Emperour bad Counsels He seriously advised him to desist told him that he would take none of his counsel but that with the grace of God he would in spight of all danger profess and persist in that Saving Doctrine When Malvenda saw that he was throughly confirmed Your coming hither was in vain said he for nothing will be determined here but if you had had a mind to do good to the Publick as you boast indeed you should have gone to Trent After this Diazi always shunned his company In the mean time Malvenda having written to the Emperour's Confessour gives him an account of the whole Matter and earnestly advises him that he would presently prevent this growing evil
he had promised you Supplies against us That your Majesty sued to the Turk for a Truce was a thing many wise men wondered at and could not but conclude it was for some great Matter seeing you were at peace with the King of France but now that your Majesty says you do it for the sake of the Publick I have nothing indeed to say to the contrary for it is long since Germany stood in need of some ease from the great Charges it hath been at We did indeed earnestly demand a Council but it was a free pious Council and that in Germany too now that we do not reckon the Council of Trent for such we fully declared to your Majesty at Wormes for all Laicks as they call us being excluded the Bishops and others who are bound by Oath to the Pope take to themselves solely the Power of Judging and Decreeing That I should propose some way for accommodation in Religion is a thing Sir I dare not venture upon without the concurrence of my Allies and I 'm sure that if I did so I should have but little thanks from either side for my pains but in the mean time provided it draw not into consequence I do not refuse a Conference with such as your Majesty shall please to appoint for that purpose The truth is I have no great hopes in the Council but believe that a Provincial Assembly of Germany might not prove unuseful for other People differ too much from us as yet in Opinions and Doctrine but in Germany matters are now come to that pass that they cannot be changed so that nothing could be better than if your Majesty would allow a liberty of Religion there but so that all should live together quietly and in peace I make no doubt but that the Conference you appointed at Ratisbonne was done by your Majesty with a very good intent but I had it from those that were present How some bitter Monks bring again under debate Points that were adjusted some Years since in the same place and are of so bad a Life and Conversation that no good at all can be expected from them Without all doubt the Archbishop of Cologne is a good Man and does what he does purely because he thinks it his Duty especially seeing the Decree of the Diet at Ratisbonne commits the care of the Reformation of his Church to him which truly he set about in a very moderate manner taking away no more than what was necessary should be and making but very small Alterations in the Goods of the Church Now the Book he published for that purpose agrees with the Holy Scriptures and is backed by the Testimonies of the ancient Doctors Tertullian Augustine Ambrose and others who lived nearest the Age of the Apostles if any harsh course then be taken against him for that matter it will be a warning to others who have made far greater Alterations To this the Emperour replied That he passed by the Treaty of Franckfort neither did believe the things that were told him of it nor had given any cause why he should but that yet he was much better satisfied by his discourse That he had indeed procured a Council to be called that it might both be beneficial to the Publick and that the Fathers who were there might of their own accord reform themselves and that it was none of his design that violence should be offered to those of the Augustan Confession because of any Decree that might pass there that the Conference of Ratisbonne was appointed for that very reason which had begun very well indeed if it had continued so That the Archbishop of Cologne though he had promised to supersede and delay did nevertheless proceed and force men to do as he would have them That it was the intent of the Decree of Ratisbonne that the Bishops should reform their own Churches but not introduce a new Faith and Religion and that it was added besides that they should draw up a formulary of Reformation and give it in to be considered of in the next Diet of the Empire but that he having turned out the ordinary Ministers and Pastors of the Church had of himself appointed new ones nay and more that he withheld the Revenues and Stipends of the Canons and appropriated part of them to himself carrying all things by his Edicts with a high hand so that the Clergy being necessitated to implore his help and protection he could not but according to the Power and Character he bore put a stop to him by contrary Edicts and Commands that in fine he was well pleased that the Conference betwixt his Commissioners and him should in no ways be captious nor ensnaring To which the Landgrave made answer That it exceedingly rejoyced him to see his gracious Majesty so well-affected towards Germany and his Associates and that he prayed God he might persevere in the same mind For said he if your Majesty according to that excellent Judgment God has endowed you with do but seriously consider and weigh with yourself how advantageous Germany is to your Majesty your Kingdoms and Provinces you 'l find that there is nothing more to be wished for than that all Ranks and Qualities may rejoyce and delight in you their chief Magistrate and your Majesty again use them as loving and dutiful Subjects For truly if Germany happen to be weakened it will recound chiefly to your Majesty's disadvantage I have likewise most joyfully heard what your thoughts and intentions are concerning the Decrees of the Council but that they should reform themselves is a thing I fear not to be expected for they are bound by Oath to the Pope judge alone in their own cause and though they stand in need chiefly of a reformation yet they look upon that as a thing can do them no great good and which will prove prejudicial to their yearly Revenues I doubt things are not carried at the Conference of Ratisbonne in the way and method they should be for not only Copies of the Proceedings are denied but also in the beginning our Commissioners were not allowed to have Clarks and Notaries As to the Archbishop of Cologne I can say no more but what I have already said He is a Shepherd and therefore desires to give good and wholsom Food to his Flock He thinks that to be his Duty and therefore caused a Form of Reformation to be drawn up nay and those who are now his Adversaries and especially Gropper were in the beginning most desirous of a Reformation but when they find it is come to that they shuffle and draw back Here the Emperour interrupting Ha said he what can that good Man reform He has hardly a smattering in the Latine Tongue In all his life-time he never said but three Masses of which I myself heard two nor does he know so much as the very Rudiments of Learning But he carefully peruses German Books answered he and what I know
Popish Forces arrive at Landishut to the great satisfaction of the Emperour who having intelligence of the approach of the Confederates had by several Messengers entreated them to hasten their March. They consisted of Ten thousand Foot and Five hundred Light-Horsemen who were commanded by Octavio Farnese the Pope's own Grand-son whom he made their General Several famous Officers served under him as Alexander Vitelli John Baptista Savelli Sfortia Palavicini Frederick Savelli Paolo Vitellio Julio Ursini Alexio Lascaris Jerome of Pisa John Maria of Padoua Nicolao Piumbino Nicolao Petiliano and others With these Cosmo de Medices Duke of Florence sent Two hundred Horse under the Conduct of Rudolph Balione and Hercules Duke of Ferrara an hundred Commanded by Alfonso his Bastard-brother To Octavio the Pope joyned his Brother Cardinal Alexander Farnese to be a kind of Spy over the Emperour's Counsels and to incite and spur him on to Action Upon Farnese's departure out of Italy he is said to have boasted That he would make such Slaughter in Germany that his Horse might swim in the Lutherans Blood. Not long after came also the Spaniards whom the Emperour had sent for out of Milan and Naples to the number of about Six thousand all old Soldiers Some of the Chief Officers were Philip Lanoio Prince of Sulmona Alvaro de Sandi Alphonso Vivas and James Acre over whom was Ferdinando de Toledo Duke of Alva the Emperour's Lieutenant-General and next to him John Baptista Castaldo The Cardinal of Ausbourg was Commissary-General In the Emperour's Service were also Maximilian Archduke of Austria Emanuel Philibert Son to the Duke of Savoy Erick Duke of Brunswick and Philip the Son of Duke Henry who was Prisoner George Duke of Meckleburg George Duke of Brunswick Duke Henry's Brother a Church-man Ferderick Count of Furstemberg Renard Count of Solmes and many others In the Protestant Camp were John Ernest Duke of Saxony the Elector's Brother John Frederick the Elector's Son Philip Duke of Brunswick with his four Sons Ernest Albert John and Wolfgang Francis Duke of Lunenburg Wolfgang Prince of Anhalt Christopher Count Henneberg George Count Wirtemberg Albert Count Mansfield with his two Sons John and Volrat Louis Count Oetinghen with his Son of the same Name William Count Furstenberg Christopher Count Oldenburg Hubert Count Bichling and Count Heideck besides Record Rifeberg and eight Ensigns of Suitzers All the Forces being then Rendezvoused except those which the Count of Buren was bringing from the Lower Germany the Emperour decamped and marched towards Ratisbonne So soon as that was known some began to suspect that his Design was upon Misnia and Saxony and therefore the Confederates having caused Bridges to be made pass their Army over the Danube But having advanced a little towards Nortgow Advice comes from Ratisbonne that the Emperour was marching to Ingolstadt That made them change their March and by rough and stony Ways return again to the Danube lest the Emperour should possess himself of Newburg three Miles above Ingolstadt and of Donawert and by that means have an open Passage into the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Next day after they were come to Nassefels the Landgrave advanced with a small Party of Men that he might view Ingolstadt not knowing that the Emperour's Forces were there for he had heard but of a few Spaniards in Garrison and those he intended to provoke to a Skirmish But as he was advancing a Party of the Prince of Sulmona's Horse sally out and charging the Landgrave some were killed on both sides and many wounded Prisoners also were taken who gave intelligence that the Emperour was that day to encamp at Ingolstadt The Elector of Saxony was highly displeased at that Action of the Landgrave and threatned to leave the Army if any such thing for the future were done without his knowledge The whole Army in the mean time was drawn out but after they had for some time stood to their Arms in posture of giving Battel they retreated again to their Camp. In the fore-part of the Night following the Spaniards break into Count Heideck's Quarters who commanded under the Duke of Saxony and kill him an hundred Foot-Soldiers Some of their own Men they lost also so that there was a great Tumult in the Camp which was much encreased by the darkness of the Night The day following being the twenty ninth of August some Captains of Horse and Foot were sent out to view the Situation of the Enemies Camp. Those some Italian Horse who were in Ambush suddenly charge and many being killed on both sides the Protestants were fain to retreat to their Camp without any Success Wherefore next day the Landgrave himself marches out with a small Party of chosen Men to try if he could make any sure Discovery and having found a Foard though the Scouts that had been sent out before him said there was none he returns to the Duke of Saxony and acquaints him that the Horse might pass the River On the last of August then they resolved to march by break of day and possess themselves of a higher Ground where the Beacon of Ingolstadt sometime stood and from thence play upon the Enemies Camp with their Ordnance that so perhaps they might draw the Emperour out to Battel When the Night was far gone the Duke of Saxony sends word to the Landgrave at two several times That the Emperour was gone and that his Camp was all in a Smoke But he giving no credit to that Report orders out five Troops of Horse under the command of William Schacht to possess themselves of the Foard and to make Bridges for passing over the Infantry and Artillery A little after he himself follows in great haste with the rest of his Forces and whole Train of Artillery When he was come to the River Schacht tells him That the Emperour was not removed which News he sent to the Duke of Saxony and marching forwards made himself Master of the Hill we mentioned and planted some Field-pieces upon it His Men also he posted on the right and left which also the Duke of Saxony did as soon as he arrived THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVIII The CONTENTS The Landgrave's Advice to fall upon the Enemy is not approved The Suitzers will not joyn in this War. Wherefore the Landgrave and Duke of Saxony sollicite the Bohemians and fully answer the Emperour's Accusations They remove their Camp that they may hinder the passage of the Count of Buren Peter Stroza promises to lend them Money but basely disappoints them Donawert is surrendered to the Emperour In the mean time Duke Maurice assembles all the States of his Dominions against the Duke of Saxony to these the Landgrave makes answer The Bohemians and Hungarians invade the Territories of the Duke of Saxony and there spoils plunder satiate their unlawful Lusts and put all to Fire and Sword. Duke Maurice takes most part of his Towns by surrender At Meaux
generous Answer immediately departed and because of the Saxon-War went to Nordlingen Whilst the Duke of Wirtemberg performed this Ceremony of Submission there was a vast Crowd of People got together who being told of it before flocked thither to see the Shew In those three Places we named before of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Emperour had already placed Garrisons and chiefly Spaniards THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIX The CONTENTS The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent is held When the City of Strasbourg had captitulated and made Peace with the Emperour he orders his Army to advance Shortly after the Death of the King of England Francis King of France dies The Fathers that were at Trent go to Bolonia The Duke of Saxony is taken in Battel and though he was condemned to die yet with undaunted Courage he professed the Reformed Religion Wirtemberg being surrendred the University is dissolved Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg earnestly intercede for the Landgrave who being come to wait on the Emperour is detained Prisoner King Ferdinand by Letters to those of Prague appoints a Convention of States A great Commotion raised at Naples because of the Spanish Inquisition as they call it Henry King of France is Crowned and the Solemnity of the Coronation described The Emperour by Proclamation puts the City of Magdenburg to the Ban of the Empire He sollicits the Suitzers to enter into a new League A Diet is held at Ausburg Petro Aloisio the Pope's Son is assassinated in his own House The English overcome the Scots in a great Battel The Protestant Electors are prevailed with and the Free Towns terrified A Contention ariseth about the Imprisonment of the Landgrave Means are used for recalling the Fathers to Trent but they who had removed to Bolonia firmly persist in their Opinion and Resolution so that there is nothing but Confusion in the Council of Trent THE Seventh Session of the Council of Trent was held the third day of March. In it were condemned all who maintain either that the Sacraments of the Church were fewer than Seven or that they were not all instituted by Christ who deny that one is of more Dignity than another who affirm that they are only outward Signs of Grace or Righteousness received by Christ who deny that they confer Grace who hold that no spiritual and indelible Character or Mark is by Baptism Confirmation and Orders stamped upon the Soul and that all have like power to administer them or that the usual Ceremonies of the Church may be omitted or altered in the Administration of the same who say that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistress of all others concerning Baptism is not sincere That Vows made after Baptism are of no force and derogate from the Faith they have professed who assert That Confirmation is but an idle Ceremony and was no more in ancient Times but an Instruction of Youth who deny the Virtue and Influence of the Holy Ghost to be conferred in Confirmation and who assign the Office of Confirmation not to Bishops solely but indifferently also to any Priest Then they make Decrees concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices That Bishops and other Rulers of the Church be lawfully begotten of due Age and conspicuous for Good Manners and Learning That no Man of what Quality he be do by any Title whatsoever possess more than one Bishoprick and that such as have Pluralities keep which of them they please and resign the others within a Year That those who have the Cure of Souls reside upon the Place and substitute no others to officiate for them unless for a time and so as that they have made appear to their Bishop that they had a lawful cause of Absence which is to be allowed of by him who is to take care that the People be not neglected that the Faults of Priests be punished and what is amiss amongst them reformed And then the one and twentieth of April is appointed for the Day of the next Session King Ferdinand being at Dresden with Duke Maurice on the eighth day of March writes to the Bohemians acquainting them That Duke John Frederick was resolved to invade them That therefore they should be upon their Guard and obey Sebastian Weittemull whom he had appointed to be his Vicegerent in his absence The Deputies of Strasbourg who as we told you went to Ulm being come back with the Conditions prescribed by the Emperour which the Senate did not dislike are sent back again to transact and make a final Conclusion Setting out upon their Journey then they find the Emperour at Nordlingen taken ill of the Gout and having March the one and twentieth made their Submission are received into Favour They had pretty tolerable Conditions for the Emperour put no Garrison upon them was satisfied with Thirty thousand Florins and did not exact above twelve Pieces of Ordnance of them The Elector of Brandenburg in the mean time bestirred himself affectionately in behalf of the Landgrave and applied himself also to King Ferdinand But very hard Conditions were proposed which were these That he approve without exception all the future Decrees of the Diet of the Empire That he give one of his Sons in Hostage That he dismiss Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son and submit to the Emperour's Decision as to the Difference betwixt them That he send the Emperour a Supply of some Troops of Horse and eight Companies of Foot against the Elector of Saxony and the Confederates and that he pay them for six Months That he submit himself to the Emperour and openly confess his Crimes But he rejected the Conditions and acquainted his Friends by Letters That unless they were mitigated he had rather seeing he could not in Honour condescend to them undergo the worst of Fortunes The day the Emperour transacted with the Strasburgers he parted from Nordlingen to go to Norimberg And next day upon the Road having dispatched Letters to the States of Duke Maurice he tells them That forasmuch as that Outlaw John Frederick flying to his own Home had not only regained what the Prince Elector Maurice had by his Orders taken from him but those Places also which King Ferdinand his Brother possessed in that Country as Dependents on Bohemia he was now upon the march to come and repress his Boldness Wherefore he charged them in the first place that they should take care that in those Places through which he was to march with his Army nothing might be wanting that was necessary and that the Soldiers might be kindly used In the next place That they should despise the Threats of John Frederick and shew all Love and Duty to their Prince as they had hitherto done since the main Design of the present War was to daunt his insolent Fierceness and to settle Peace and Quietness amongst them The very same day he wrote to the Council and Magistrates
Ratisbonne the first of February past as he had intended but that now the Troubles being over and the Authors of the Commotions in his power he would no longer delay but use means to heal the corrupt Members of the Commonwealth and that the same Matters were to be brought into deliberation which should have been treated of at Wormes and a year before at Ratisbonne This Diet was to have been held at Ulm but by reason of the Plague the Place was changed as we intimated before From Bamberg he goes next to Norimberg Being there he received some Towns of Saxony into Favour and July the sixteenth by Proclamation he declares upon what Terms he had transacted with the Landgrave and pardoned him and that seeing he was concerned lest some out of ignorance might use Force upon his Lands and Subjects he therefore at his Request charged all Men to desist and that those who had any Action or Suit against him should try it fairly by Law. At the very same time Duke Maurice sent for Melanchthon Pomerane and Couriger Divines of Wittemberg to Leipsick treated them very civilly there and having made a large Profession of his Zeal for Religion committed to them the Care and Administration both of the Church and University exhorted them to proceed in their wonted manner settled Salaries upon them and as they themselves write dismissed them with Presents For in a Book afterwards published Pomerane highly commends his Goodness and Liberality The King of France who succeeded to his Father July the twenty fifth in the afternoon came to Reims to be Crowned and being received at the Door of the Cathedral Church by three Cardinals he was by them conducted to the High Altar where having kissed the Relicks of the Saints in Golden Shrines and assisted at Vespers he went to Supper After Supper he came back again and having said his Prayers and confessed his Sins to a Priest went home to Bed. Next day he sent some Nobles to entreat the Abbot of St. Remy that he would bring the Viol of Holy Oyl which they say came down from Heaven Afterwards they who are called the Peers of France met in the Church to the number of twelve the Bishops of Reims Laon Langres Beauvais Noyon and Chaalons then the King of Navarr the Dukes of Vendosme Guise Niverne Mompensier and Aumale who represented the Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitaine the Earls of Tolouse Flanders and Champaigne The Bishops of Langres and Beauvais with two Cardinals were chosen to go and wait upon the King to the Church When these were come into the Bed-chamber and said some Prayers they lifted up the King who as the Ceremony requires was lying upon the Bed and attended by a multitude of Priests lead him to the Church the Constable carrying before him the Sword drawn The King having said his Prayers at the High Altar was by the Bishops led to his Seat and in the mean time whilst the Sacred Viol is a coming the Archbishop of Rheims having made an end of the Prayers that are contained in the Book of Ceremonies sprinkled the King and all the rest with Holy-water And when word was brought that the Sacred Viol was now coming which in absence of the Abbot the Prior of the Monks brought riding on a White Steed and accompanied by all his Monks and those Noblemen who were sent by the King as we said before The Archbishop with some other Bishops went to meet him as far as the Porch of the Church with the Cross carried before him and there received the Viol from him upon Security given that he should restore it again and as he came back to the High Altar the King rising out of his Seat made him a Bow. Afterwards the Archbishop went into the Vestry and from thence coming out in his Pontificals he took the Oath of Fidelity of him wherein by ancient Custom as they say Kings are bound to the Church Then the King was led by two Bishops to the High Altar where putting on other Apparel he kneeled and was girt with a Sword which the Archbishop had consecrated as they call it by many Prayers This Ceremony being over the Archbishop fitted and prepared the Oyl and whilst the rest of the Priests sang aloud their Service he prayed softly with the King both prostrate on the Ground Then he anointed the King's Head and Breast both his Shoulders and the Joynts of his two Arms at the bending of the Elbow saying the usual Prayers in the mean time This being done the King was clothed in new Garments as if he had been a Minister of the Church and anointed in the Palms of his Hands then he laid his two Hands on his Breast and put on Consecrated Gloves as they call them The Archbishop also put a Ring upon his Finger and the Scepter into his Hand and at the same time the Chancellor calls forth those who are named the Peers They being present the Archbishop took from the Altar the Crown of Charlemaigne and after the Peers had touched it put it upon the King's Head leading his Majesty to a Throne erected in a higher place and all the Nobles following after where having said some Prayers he kissed him The Nobles did the same and then with loud Acclamations and the Sound of Trumpets all cried God save the King. After that Gold and Silver Medals were thrown promiscuously amongst the People Then the Archbishop began Mass and when the Gospel was read the King offered at the Altar some pieces of Gold Silver Bread and Wine and after Mass received the Sacrament with the rest And then all went to Dinner The King would have had it thought that he raised those German Foot under the Conduct of Vogelsberg as has been mentioned for this purpose only that none might dare to disturb the Ceremony of his Coronation In the mean time the Emperour demands Money of the rest of the Orders of the Empire for defraying the Charges of the War which he said was undertaken chiefly for their sakes and for the preservation of Germany All the Nobility also and they who had served the Confederates are fined all over Germany And the Money which at that time the Emperour raised from the Princes and Free Towns both Catholick and Lutheran was thought to amount to the Sum of above Sixteen hundred thousand Florins as appeared by the Publick Accounts Some also the Emperour wholly excluded from his Grace as being more notorious Rebels and amongst these were Duke George of Wirtemberg Albert Count Mansfield John Count Heideck and the Counts of Oetinghen Father and Son For this last he punished so severely that he gave all his Lands and Possessions to his other Sons Frederick and Wolffgang who had been true and faithful unto him so that he being banished and stripp'd of all came with his Wife and Children to Strasbourg and went wandring about from place to place many years
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
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 mâ—â—k 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
a publick Statute of the Empire they refused not to undergo any burden that should be imposed upon them by the Empire but that the present Case concerned the Salvation of their Souls and Life Eternal That besides the whole weight of the Decree fell upon good and Pious Men for that the Multitude and Rabble who slighted Religion cared not what was or might be enacted though no Man was to be compelled to embrace Faith That they doubted not but the Emperour was a Lover of Peace and Concord but that however if this course should be taken and Men be forced both to think and speak contrary to their Judgment it was very much to be feared lest such and so sudden a change might occasion great Stirs and Commotions That that Book had been framed by Learned Men of whom some had the knowledge of the truth as was apparent enough but that some others had soisted in many things that did not at all agree with the holy Scriptures and the Doctrine of the Fathers as might indeed be demonstrated if Men were allowed to speak That they had made no separation from the rest but that in the chief and fundamental Points of Doctrine they agreed with the true Church That therefore they again desire him to deliver the Letter to the Emperour that accordingly they may acquaint the Senate for that they had no other Instructions Upon that he began to speak a little more huffingly and urged home the Decree upon them then he made a Digression to other Matters and told them how it was talked amongst the great Men in France that the People of Strasburg would not admit of the Decree However that the short and the long of the Matter was that the Emperour expected a clear and positive Answer That no Man indeed was to be compelled to profess any Faith but that that was to be understood of those who were not Christians since they who deny the Faith that they have once received might be compelled by Fire and Faggot To these things the Deputies made Answer That they knew not what the French might talk but that there was no publick Act as yet past in the Senate nor any thing else done in that Affair but what they were not discoursing about That seeing then they would not report these things to the Emperour it was to no purpose to insist any longer and they would acquaint the Senate with what they had done That a Man might indeed be burnt to death but that he could not be forced to believe otherwise than he did And here ended the Conference The Deputies of the other Cities had been before dealt with much after the same manner they had been besides threatned a day prefixed to them by which they should bring their Answer and commanded to tarry till it should come from their Principals But no such thing was imposed upon those of Strasburg As to the Money which the Emperour desired might be raised for future Contingencies the States though they said it would lie heavy upon them yet assented to it They promised King Ferdinand also a Subsidy of an Hundred thousand Florins a year during the time of the Truce On the other hand they desired the Emperour that he would remove his Garisons and all things being now peaceable and quiet disband his Forces that lay quartered up and down and did much hurt both in Town and Country whereby he would relieve the poor People who made sad complaints thereof The Emperour made Answer That for weighty Considerations he could not at that time dismiss his Forces that as for any hurt that was done it was not with his knowledge nor allowance for since they were duly paid by him it was not reasonable they should wrong any body and that they knew to be his will and pleasure That something of that nature had already been brought to his Ears but that upon inquiry hardly any thing could be made out of it that nevertheless he would use all means that he might be certainly informed of the matter and that no Man should go unpunished if he were found to be guilty The States also refer it to the Emperour to Constitute the Imperial Chamber at that time and to add some more Judges to the number at his pleasure they themselves promising to defray the Charges of it This was the issue of the League which had been projected as was said before That all the Emperours Provinces in Germany and the Low Countries be under the Protection and Defence of the Empire and contribute to all publick Exigencies yet so as that they enjoy their own Laws and Jurisdiction and that on the other hand Germany may expect the same Help and Defence from the Provinces of the Emperour THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXI The CONTENTS The Authors of the Book called the Interim are rewarded by the Emperour Many nevertheless do impugne it and upon that account the Duke of Saxony is accused Those of Constance are urged to receive that Book now published Ambushes laid to surprise the City which at length is forced to receive it The Strasburghers write to the Emperour about the Interim and at length admit of it A Sedition ariseth at Bourdeaux A Relation of the Despair of Francis Spira And the strange Conversion of Vergerio to the Reformed Religion The Queen of Scots is carried into France Magdenburg is by the Emperour offered as a prey to the strongest hand The State of England begins to be turbulent The Protector of the Kingdom is sentenced to death and beheaded The Citizens of Strasburg contend with their Bishop They of Wittemberg are by some accused as Adiaphâ—ists or Neuters who by their indifference and double dealing made way for the Popish Impiety Melanchton answers these Disputation in England about the Lords Supper The King of France is received at Paris Vervinus is beheaded The Emperour pursues the Magdenburgers with Edicts Pope Paul the Third dies and horrid things are reported of him The Conclave of Rome is described and the manner of Creating the Pope Mass is begun again at Strasburg An Edict published by the French King against the Lutherans Julius is elected Pope and makes Innocent a Youth who was exceedingly dear unto him a Cardinal ON the last of June the Dyet was dissolved We told you in the Nineteenth Book that the Emperour had persuaded all to submit to the Council upon the assurance given them that he would take care it should be free and lawful Now therefore a Decree is made for the continuation of the Council at Trent the Emperour promising to use his endeavours that it meet there again as soon as conveniently can be Which being effected he requires all especially Churchmen and those of the Augustane Confession that they repair thither upon the safe Conduct that he should give them for that there all matters should be Piously and Christianly debated and determined according to the holy
King Henry the Eight and that also somewhat increased the suspition But the envy and emulation of another great Lady was thought to have contributed much to this disaster The Bishop of Strasburg again enjoyns the Clergy to obey the Emperours Edict Now there is in that City a Church dedicated to St. Thomas the yearly Revenues whereof were by the Senate allotted for stipends to the Ministers of the Gospel and the other learned Men who had the Education and Instruction of the Youth Those chiefly he urged to tell him within what time they would satisfie the Emperours Decree and Expectation then what fit Men they had for that purpose and what Ornaments of the Church were yet in being But they took time to advise with Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England a Man of excellent Learning who made it his whole business to revive and promote Piety and Learning Wherefore when he saw in what state Germany was and the danger learned Men there were in by frequent Letters he solicited Bucer chiefly and Paulus Fagius one most expert in the Hebrew Language to come over into England assuring them of all love and friendship wherefore by permission from the Senate on the first of April they set out upon their Journey that they might go thither and sow the Seed of pure Doctrine Their coming was very acceptable not only to the King but to most of the Nobility also and the People And after they had been for some time with the Archbishop of Canterbury they were both sent to teach in Cambridge On the first of April Prince Philip of Austria with a most splendid Pomp made his entrance into Brussels where his Father was The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg were there being sent to solicite the intercession of Prince Philip and the Cardinal of Trent who was a great Friend to Duke Maurice But though they put the Landgrave who then was at Oudenard in good hopes yet nothing could be effected and not long after when the Landgrave for his healths sake would have eaten Flesh the Captain of the Guard coming in threw down the Dish Meat and all that was brought him upon the Ground At the same time the Bishop of Strasburg after eight years takes at length Orders and says Mass and holding a Convocation of his Clergy at Saverne made such Decrees as suited their purpose Then he requires of the Senate of Strasburg by Messengers that they rebuild the Altars restore to him the liberty of appointing the Ministers of the Church absolve the Clergy from their Oath restore their Priviledges and produce all the Ornaments of the Churches But the Professors he strictly charges to give him a positive answer whether they would obey the Emperours Edict or not They having spoken at large of their submission and deference to the Emperour and then of their several Charges and Employments openly declare what it is they teach and do that being Divines Philosophers Logicians and Rhetoricians and Men of the like Profession they were not only useful but also necessary in the Church and Schools then they shew by whom they were admitted into the College with the Approbation of the Senate and after a long Declaration of their Case they humbly and lovingly pray that he would not disturb an Order so well established nor put them upon minding of other Affairs that were not near so necessary The Agents on the other hand make answer that that College was not Instituted for such kind of Scholastick Employments and that the Antient Order ought not to be changed That if there were any among them that thought themselves grieved and could not with a good Conscience comply the Bishop was not the Man that would persuade them to any thing against their wills But that they were free to give place and as the common Proverb is Either to drink or be gone For that if the Senate had a mind to have Professors of Arts and Sciences in the Town it was but reasonable that they should be maintain'd out of the Publick Treasury and not by the Rents and Profits of the College which was appointed for other uses That the Bishop and the Predecessors had for many years past been hindred in the Exercise and execution of their Right but that he would not suffer it any longer After a long debate about the Matter they depart without coming to any conclusion and when the Senate came to know of it they interceded with the Bishop by most kind and friendly Letters praying and beseeching him that he would have some regard at least to the Youth who were much improved in Parts and Learning by the Endeavours and Education of that School In this manner was the Matter long tossed to and again by Messengers and Letters till at length by the interposition of Mediators it was taken up and compounded as shall be mentioned hereafter It was thought that the Bishop who had been always look'd upon as a Man of a mild and peaceable Nature that loved his ease did not act thus so much out of his own inclination as at the instigation of his Friends who represented to him that this occasion of recovering his Jurisdiction was not to be slighted and that unless he prosecuted it he might also incur the Emperour's displeasure In all these Transactions he made use of one Christopher Welsinger a Civilian who had sometimes studied at Wittemberg But the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Strasburg employed as their Advocate one John Tischell a Doctor of the Laws The last Book mentioned how that after the promulgation of the Decree about Religion Wolfgang Duke of Deux-ponts was sent for to come to Ausburg The Emperour had pressed him by several Letters to obey the Decree and because he had referred the matter to the Bishops the Emperour put the Question to him whether or not he himself approved the Decree And if he would turn out the Ministers of the Church who did not conform thereunto He therefore wrote to the Emperour in French resuming in a few words what had been done the Summer before at Ausburg and telling His Majesty That upon his return home he had intimated to his people and commanded them to observe that part of the Decree which related to the keeping of Holy days and the eating of Flesh that he had also several times carefully read over the whole Decree about Religion wherein he confessed there were many things that agreed with that Faith whereby he expected Salvation and many also that were inconsistent with it But that nevertheless he had charged the Ministers of the Church to weigh seriously all the Points of it and afterwards make their Report to him how they thought the matter might be ordered that since all of them with one voice affirmed that they could not with a safe Conscience approve it in all points he thought it not
his part to compel them to do otherwise That he had therefore desired the Bishops that they themselves would take some course about it and that he had already acquainted His Majesty with their Answer being in good hopes that no more would have been required of him But now that you would have a plain and positive Answer Most mighty Emperour said he I 'le freely tell Your Majesty what my Judgment is And first as to the Religion Rites and Ceremonies which now for some Years past have been observed within my Dominion I have been born and bred up in them Sir as I told Your Majesty before to this very time and never heard of any other kind of Doctrine besides Sir I have been at some pains to study and examine it and as far as I can conceive it hath seemed to me in all things consonant to the Word of God. For so much I must confess now the Question is put to me lest I should wound my own Conscience and endanger my Salvation This is also the reason why I cannot approve the Decree though in every thing else I be most ready in imitation of my Ancestors to render you most humble obedience Your Majesty Sir as chief Magistrate has power to Enact and Enjoyn what you think fit to be done for I am no such man as can will or ought to be against that it wholly depends on your own will and pleasure This only I humbly beseech that neither I nor the people of my Dominion be constrained to do any thing contrary to our Judgment and Conscience As for the Ministers of the Church in my last Letter I begg'd of Your Majesty that you would be pleased to suffer them to stay chiefly to baptise Children and visit the Sick till others should be put into their places Nevertheless if Your Majesty command them instantly to be gone and not stay the coming of others you shall be obeyed Sir though it will be a great grief and detriment to the People for many of them are already gone and in all things that can be performed I know that Obedience is due to Your Majesty When in the Territories of Duke Maurice things seemed to tend to a change in Religion the Ministers of Lubeck Lunenburg and Hamburg published a Writing wherein they fully confuted the Book and Decree of Ausburg and the chief Author of that Writing was one John Epine Moreover the Doctors of Magdenburg Nicholas Armstorff and especially Matthias Flacius a Sclavonian born in the Town of Albona and Nicholas Gallus take up sharply the Divines of Wittemberg and Leipsick in many publick Papers accusing them that they acted disingenuously and by their adiaphorous and indifferent things opened a Door to Popery This at length they lay down for a Rule that all Rites and Ceremonies though never so indifferent in their own Nature yet are no longer indifferent if force an opinion of holiness and necessity intervene and if occasion be thereby given to impiety The Sclavonian had for some years been an Hearet and Disciple of Melanchton but when this Debate arose he went to Magdeburg and in a little Book which he afterwards published gave his Reasons why he did do so Furthermore the Divines of Hamburg wrote to those of Wittemberg and particularly to Melanchton telling them what they called Adiaphorous or indifferent things and how far they might be admitted and desiring of them on the other hand that they would write back and plainly shew them what it was they comprehended under that Name to the end Men might be sure what they were to follow without wavering in their minds and that that name Adiaphorous might not give occasion to many other Errors which might insensibly insinuate themselves into the Church again Melanchton answered that Letter wherein amongst other things he said that some little Bondage was to be endured provided it were not joyned with impiety The Archbishop of Mentz having called a Provincial Synod in the beginning of May afterwards published a Book of the Decrees thereof The same did also Treves and Cologne which last has a very large Province too That Book amongst other things determines about Confession that no man be admitted to the Lord's Supper unless he have confessed his Sins about the hallowing of Salt Water and other things which by Exorcisms and Prayers are prepared for the use of believers as they say about Relicts the Invocation and Adoration of Saints about Pilgrimages Prayers for the Dead Purgatory Fasting and the choice of Meats about Canonical Hours as they call them and the tremendous Ceremonies of the Mass Maurice Bishop of Aichstadt came in person to the Synod but the rest sent their Vicars Now the constitution of the Synod touching Consecrations and Exorcisms is of a very large extent Every Lord's day when there is a great Congregation of People in the Church the Priest with many Prayers exorcises as they term it first Water and then Salt then putting the Salt into the Water he therewith sprinkleth the People and this Sprinkling is thought to give Health both to Body and Mind to defeat the Snares of the Devil and to cleanse not only Men but inanimate things also for it is sprinkled upon the Ground Stones and the Graves of dead Men the Priests praying God that he would endow it with that Virtue and efficacy After the same manner also is Salt used in Baptism for the Priest putteth Consecrated Salt into the Child's Mouth commanding the Devil to come out of it then he dips the Insant three times into Water and wetting his Thumb in Oyl anoints its Breast and Shoulders Women also when after their Childbed they go to be Churched at their entring the Church door are sprinkled with this Holy Water In short it serves for many uses especially when there is occasion to engage Spirits that walk in the Night time or are to be exorcised Whatever also belongs to the Accoutrement and Dress of the Priests is consecrated by certain Prayers Besides in hallowing the Baptismal Water of the Font Tapers Palms the Pascal Lamb or Agnus Dei as they call it which is made of Wax Eggs Flesh Cheese Bacon Flowers Herbs the Fruit of Trees in all these the Holy Water we have been speaking of is employed When a Church is to be built the Bishop or his Vicar lays the first Foundation Stone and sprinkleth it with Holy Water and when it is finished he goes thrice round it and first sprinkles the upper Walls then the middle and the last the lowermost of all with his Crozier making the sign of the Cross upon the leaves of the uppermost Door to keep the Devil off that he do not approach it Entering afterwards into the Church and some Prayers being sung an Officer makes the sign of the Cross with the sprinkling of some Ashes that being done the Bishop with his Crozier draws some Greek Characters upon
consult with him in what manner they might put in execution their Commission and that afterwards when they understood that it was not possible for them themselves to have access into all places that stood in need of their help they had been necessitated to employ others This Indulgence or Indult of the Popes as they call it the Emperour presently sent to all the German Bishops admonishing them severally to use gentle and mild ways and to try all Courses by fair Language Exhortation and Entreaty before they should come to Threats and Excommunication Wherefore the Archbishop of Mentz writing amongst others to the Landgraves Governours and Counsellors and having said much of his own Pastoral Care and of the Emperour's earnest Concern for the Publick requires them to shew the Pope's Indulgence to the Ministers of the Church and command them to obey it The thing being proposed to the Preachers their answer was That their Doctrine agreed with the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that though their Lives and Conversation did not suit with their Profession yet they acknowledged no Error in their Doctrine and that therefore they stood not in need of an Indulgence from the Pope that they had preferred Marriage before an unchast single Life according to the Word of God and that they would not forsake their Wives and Children whom Christ himself commanded us to love cherish and provide for That in administring the Sacrament under both kinds in their Churches they therein followed the command of Christ and the custom of the Primitive Church and that there was no reason to admit of any Alteration therein In the Month of May Peter Martyr and the Divines of Oxford disputed publickly concerning the Lords Supper and the Presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament Martyr proposed these Points to be defended That the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed and That the Body and Bloud of Christ was not Carnally or Corporally in the Bread and Wine but sacramentally united to them Afterward there was a Book of this published wherein the presidents of the Dispute who were appointed by the King give no obscure intimation that Martyr had the better on 't in that Debate On the Tenth day of June the Queen of France was crowned at St. Denis as the custom is the Ceremony being performed by the Cardinals of Bulloigne Guise Chastillion Vendosme and Bourbon for all the rest were at Rome Six days after the King made a most splendid and magnificent Entry into Paris the chief Town of the Kingdom where he had not been seen publickly since the death of his Father and two days after the Queen During his abode there some were put to death for Lutheranisme and as it is said he himself was a Spectator of the Execution Afterwards July the Fourth he made a solemn Procession and Prayers in the Churches and next day after published a Printed Proclamation declaring the causes of it to have been That he might give God thanks for the many Blessings he had bestowed upon him that he might pray to God for the safety and preservation of himself his Wife and Children and of the whole Kingdom and Commonwealth as also for the Souls of good Men departed especially for the Kings of France his Progenitors and the late King his Father after whose Example he was resolved to take upon himself the protection and defence of the Catholick Religion the Authority and Liberty of the Apostolick See and of the Ministers of the Church that amongst others this was also a chief cause that it might publickly appear how much he detested those who contrary to the command of Christ contrary to the Traditions of the Apostles and the consent of all Antiquity deny the presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ who take away all force and efficacy from Baptism Penance good Works and the Sacraments who professedly despise the Authority and Hierarchial Order of the Church who reject the Worship and Adoration of Saints and Relicks Moreover that by that solemn Procession and Supplication he might make known what his Judgment and Inclinations were to wit that according to the Example of his Forefathers and in a certain Hereditary Imitation he so thought and believed as the Catholick Church the Apostles Creed the first Council of Nice and many other Councils of the Fathers enjoyned as also that he was fully resolved to root out of all his Territories those Heresies which were long ago condemned but now again partly revived and partly contrived by Luther Carolostadius Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melanchton Bucer Calvin and such other monstrous and pestilent Arch-Hereticks and severely to punish such as deserved it This Writing set forth in the Vulgar Tongue he sent all over France commanding it to be published to the People and accordingly publick Processions and Prayers to be made in all places A little while after he caused Monsieur de Vervius to be beheaded for surrendring the Castle and Town of Bulloigne as was mentioned in the Fifteenth Book and confined to perpetual Prison his Father in Law d' Abigny a very ancient Man who had been Governour of all the Bolonese and one of the four Mareschals of France For many Months now he had solicited the Switzers to renew with him the League they had made with his Father and though the Emperour by Messengers and Letters did what they could to dissuade them from it yet they judging it more for their Interest consented and first the Catholick Cantons with the Rhinwalders and Wallisserlanders and afterwards also those of Basil and Schafhawsen to the great astonishment of many because of those Edicts and Punishments we spoke of For it was the general opinion that no League nor Society ought to be made with him who so cruelly persecuted the Reformed Religion and by name condemned their Churches and Doctors But the Cantons of Bern and Zurick following the counsel of Zuinglius as may be seen in the third and sixth Book refused to enter into that League We took notice before of the Convocation at Leipsick But now that some talked and complained that Popery was again stealing in upon them Duke Maurice in his Letters addressed to his Governours July the Fourth tells them that he was informed many partly out of a too solicitous jealousie and partly through the suggestions of others were apprehensive that the old Errours might be by degrees introduced again that some of the Ministers of the Church and other busie and restless spirits that delighted in changed were not altogether free from fomenting of that Calumny that by several Declarations he had formerly made publick what his Purpose and Resolution was which now because of the Slanderous Reports raised he again repeated thereby to convince all that his Religion was dear unto him that therefore he required those who either out of a fond credulity or through the suggestions of others were
him Antichrist In the time of Pope Innocent saith it most wicked Prelate thou wast cast into Prison for two Murders and one Parricide thou committedst in poysoning thy own Mother and a Nephew that all the Inheritance might fall to thee Being afterward set at liberty thou didst not scruple to put in for the Purple Hat but thou wast thrice rejected by the College and it was thy Sister Julia Farnese that at length prevailed for thee for she threatning that his Holiness should have no more to do with her Pope Alexander VI. fearing her anger and displeasure thrust thee into the Congregation of the Cardinals You also poysoned another Sister for her Incontinence the common fault of your Family When you were Legate of Ancona in the time of Julius II. you basely over-reached a Maid of that City for dissembling what you were and making her believe you were one of the Legates Gentlemen you prevailed with her and defloured her which Villany the Cardinal of Ancona the Maids Uncle after the City was taken charged you home with in most severe manner before Pope Clement who then was Prisoner Nicholas Quercy surprized you lying with his Wife Laura Farnese your own Niece and gave you a wound with a Stiletto of which you still bear the Scar. What need I speak of your Daughter Constantia with whom you have lain so often For that you might the more freely enjoy her you poysoned her Husband Besio Sfortia who having perceived your naughtiness with her conceived such inward grief at it that he was never seen to look merry afterwards You certainly exceed Commodus and Heliogabalus in filthy Lust and that plainly appears by the many Bastards you have Lot lay with his Daughters indeed but then he was drunk and knew not what he did but you being sober have lain not only with your Niece but with your own Sister and Daughter also How foul and horrid a Crime was it that your ungracious Son Petro Aloisio committed upon the Bishop of Fano When Pope Clement was detained Prisoner in the Castle of St. Angelo and sent you Legate to the Emperour for obtaining his Liberty you would not set out on your Journy till first he had bestowed the Bishoprick of Parma upon your Nephew Farnese a Boy of Ten years of Age. When that was done you nevertheless deceived him and pretended to have been taken sick at Genoua How did you Traffick in Church Livings when you were Cardinal And since you become Pope good God! how have you squandered away the Revenues of the Apostolick See Are not you ashamed to have put your accursed Son in the highest place of Government with a Pension of Fourty thousand Crowns a year and have given almost as much to your Nephew Ascanio Not to mention the vast profusion of Wealth you have made upon all the Women of your Family and your Nieces the Santa Floria's After all this you dare to mention the Turks who now are ready to invade poor Italy and with the intent too that you may have some plausible occasion and pretext to pillage the People who groan under most heavy and intolerable Burdens through your Tyranny You sold Modena and Rhegio to the Duke of Ferrara You have alienated Parma and Piacenza which you never acquired to the Church of Rome a thing Pope Clement was ashamed to do To enrich your own House and Family you have unjustly opressed others and made War against those who either would not or could not submit to that Slavery Those of Perugia and Ascanio Colonna amongst others are instances of this He that raises an extraordinary Subsidy of his People of Three hundred thousand Crowns a year that often imposes new Customs now on Salt and by and by again upon other Commodities that exacteth now the Tenths and now the moiety of the Fruits and Encrease of the Ground that Man I say ought justly to be reckoned the Enemy of Christendom Since you were Pope the Turkish Fleet securely sailed along the Coasts of the Territories of the Church when Barbarossa cruised on our Seas Wherefore that secret Correspondence you entertain with the Infidels stops your Mouth from hereafter making a Pretext of the Turkish War. And in the mean time you have had the boldness to tax the King of France for entertaining Friendship with the Protestants and the Emperour for joyning with the King of England Is it not a most shameful thing that you should wholly depend on Astrologers and Necromancers It 's matter of fact and cannot be deny'd for you have raised to Honour and Riches many of them as Cecio Marcello Gaurico the Portuguese and others a Crime that manifestly stains you with Impiety and heinous enough to make you be degraded from the Papacy Many other things of that nature are contained in that Printed Book we mentioned Let us now return to the dead Body On the ninth day after his Death the Funeral Rites began to be celebrated and lasted nine whole days In the mean time all the absent Cardinals hasten to Town Trent Salviato Mantua Cibo de Monte Ausburg d'Oria Urbin and these were present at the Obsequies But he that came first was the Cardinal of Trent for he was at Mantua at the Wedding we spake of when the news was brought of the Popes death The Funeral Charges was reckoned to amount to Fifty thousand Crowns November the Eight and twentieth after Mass they went into the Conclave as they call it for the Election of a new Pope On the Fourth of December Cardinal Pacieco a Spaniard came from Trent On the Twelfth came the Cardinals du Bellaye Vendosme Chastillon Guise and Tournon and about the end of the Month Boloigne Ambois Lorrain as afterwards the aged Bourbon all Frenchmen besides there were some others of that Nation there already whom the King sent thither two years before as we said in the Nineteenth Book And now we are gone so far it will not be amiss to describe some things in this place There is a Palace in Rome called the Vatican adjoyning to St. Peters Church where the Popes keep Court and where upon occasion the College of Cardinals meet In this Palace among other Apartments there are five Halls a Gallery seventy paces long and two Chapels all which together make that Apartment which is called the Conclave One of the Chapels is designed for saying of Mass and taking the Votes in and the other which is called Sixtus his Chapel and those Halls we mentioned are for the Cardinals Lodgings At this time after the death of Paul III. the Cardinals being fifty four in number there were as many Chambers made for them In former times the Conclave had several Gates but now they are all shut up save one Besides there are no Glass Windows except in the Chapels and these too so high that they cannot be reached So that neither Air nor Light can get in to it and Day and Night they
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
fair promises of his Zeal and good inclinations towards Religion and the welfare of the Publick That so soon as this came to his knowledge he had thought that so fair an occasion of acting ought not to be slighted especially since the safety and preservation of Germany depended on it That therefore a course was to be taken that those things which had been decreed in the last Dyet and begun should be perfected and accomplish'd And then that care should be taken both that the causes of Division be removed and some obstinate and rebellious persons quelled That for these causes he purposed to hold a Dyet of the Empire and therefore charged and commanded all whom it concerned not to fail to meet at Ausburg the twenty fifth day of June and that nothing should hinder them from coming but sickness and of that also they should make Faith upon Oath And that they send their Deputies and Representatives with full Power and Instructions to treat of all things relating to the Publick that no delay nor hinderance may obstruct the Deliberations THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXII The CONTENTS A Peace is concluded between England and France The Magdeburgers refute the Crimes objected to them and prove them to be the Calumnies of their Adversaries The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans is published which astonished many Whil'st the Dyet is held at Ausburg for continuing the Council of Trent Granvell dies The Emperour takes Tripoly a Town in Africa George Duke of Meckleburg puts all to Fire and Sword in the Country of Magdeburg Duke Maurice and some others also takes up Arms against the Magdeburgers Pope Julius Emits a Bull for calling of the Council Duke Maurice commanding in chief against the Magdeburgers offers them Conditions of Peace The Clergy also publish an odious Paper against them to which they make a large Answer and refute the Crimes objected Osiander broacheth a new Doctrine concerning Mans Justification The Emperour makes a Decree at Ausburg for safe Conduct to be given to those that would repair to the Council Bucer dies Three Suns and as many Moons are seen in Saxony The Pope by a Bull heavily accuses Octavio Farnese and the Emperour publishes also an Edict against him In the mean time the King of France justifies him to the Pope The captive Duke of Saxony helps and comforts the Ministers proscribed by the Emperour The Council of Trent revived and an account given of the form and order of the publick Sessions The manner of framing Articles of Faith is set down The King of France publishes an Edict against the Pope A Relation of the beginning of the War of Parma ABOUT this time the Ambassadours of England and France after long and tedious Debating concluded a Peace and they were the more inclinable to it because both of them perceived the Advantages that some were like in time to make of their Enmity and Dissension Therefore the English restore to the French Boloigne that had been now whole six years almost in their possession at which many wondered though the French paid Money for it and the Scots were also comprehended in this Peace The two Kings having afterward sent Ambassadours mutually to one another confirmed this Peace by new marks of Friendship for the French King was made Knight of the Garter and the King of England one of the Order of France which amongst great Princes is as it were a Badge and Cognizance of Amity The Magdenburghers being severely lashed by the Emperours many Edicts publish again March the Twenty fourth another Manifesto addressed chiefly to their Neighbours First they alleadge that neither by the Law of God nor Man could they be convicted of Rebellion then they declare that they who take up Arms against them make War against Christ himself In the third place they refute the Crimes objected to them and affirm them to be Calumnies of their Adversaries And though say they the Emperour at their instigation hath Outlawed us yet we may truely affirm that we never as yet refuted any Reasonable Conditions provided the Doctrine of the Augustane Confession and the Liberty left us by our Ancestors were allowed us we are still of the same mind nor do we decline the performance of any kind of Duty that either the Emperour or Empire can justly challenge of us and we call God to witness that we have not given any cause of War or Commotions but are above all things desirous to entertain peace with all Men and by the help of the true Religion and Worship to attain Life Everlasting which is indeed the cause of all this hatred that is raised against us Now it is established by Law that as the Inferior Magistrate is not to impeach the right of the Superior so also that if the Magistrate transgress the bounds of Authority and command any thing that is wicked he is not only not to be obeyed but if he use force to be resisted also For that all Power is of God we think no Man will deny and if any Edict or Decree be made against him it is not to be doubted but that they may be rejected and disobeyed Now the Decree made at Ausburg concerning Religion is of that nature and therefore we cannot obey those who forcing it upon us depriveus of the Light of the Gospel and offer us the Idol of Popery that they may draw us into Eternal Damnation Which being so we cannot justly be accused of any Rebellion Besides it is obvious to any Man how unlawful it is to use violence against us since it is not we that are only struck at but that the great design is utterly to destroy the Professors of the true Doctrine and through our side to wound Christ himself and all the Godly for we are all the Members of Christ and therefore what else can they expect who defile themselves by so impious a Crime but the Vengeance of God Almighty In a former Declaration we took notice of some Castles and Villages sezed by us and it is needless here to repeat what was there said for so soon as we have assurance of peace we shall restore them to the Right Owners It is also reported by our Adversaries that unlawful and Promiscuous Lust is tolerated amongst us but it is a most Impudent Lye. We therefore beg of you by all that is sacred that you would not pollute your selves with Innocent Bloud but pray to God with us that he would confound the Bloudy Counsels of the Wicked and if any War happen to break forth that you will not deny your assistance Afterward in the Month of April the Ministers of the Church publish a Paper wherein they exhibit a Confession of their Faith and prove that it is lawful for an Inferior Magistrate to resist a Superior that would constrain their Subjects to forsake the Truth And here they address themselves to the Emperour beseeching him that he would not
they were not able to do what they were very willing to have done The Bodies of the Dead were not so used as they affirm But when for our defence we demolished some Churches near the Town what Bodies were found not as yet consumed were removed to another place and buried deeper in the ground Again all had leave to carry the dead Bodies of their Relations that were found there whithersoever they pleased What they say of the Emperour Otho is a most false and impudent lie of their own devising For we are not ignorant what Honour is due to the chief Magistrate of all but especially to him of whom they speak the Emperour Otho who did many great Actions and was a most valiant Asserter and Defender of the Liberty of Germany That Worship which they call Holy and Divine Service which they complain we disturbed in their Churches is nothing less than Holy but rather a reproach to God in the highest degree The Vestments Chalices and other Ornaments were long before carried out of the Town by them But the Writings and publick Records are in our keeping and are not cancelled as they falsly accuse us Nor were the Priests beaten but they themselves robbed the Churches and carried the prey elsewhere We assaulted the Monastery of Hamerslebe which nevertheless belongs not to them because it was a refuge to our Enemies where they divided the spoil that they took from us and our Associates What they add of the many insolencies and saucy tricks that our Men did there it is a mere Fiction of the Monks as to the injuries which they say were done them in the City the story is this About five and twenty years since when on Palm-Sunday they were performing their apish and ridiculous Ceremonies the Rabble ftocking thither laughed at them for it But they whose rashness and boldness proceeded so far as to break the Windows were by us severely punished and banished For other injuries we know none nor did they themselves ever complain to us of any Wherefore we have done nothing against our Engagements or Transactions and so have given our Adversaries no cause of War. These things then considered we beseech all men not to give credit to their Calumnies but that they would pity our case who are constrained to a defensive War that we may be permitted to preserve the pure Doctrine of the Gospel and the Liberty which we received from our Forefathers for which the godly Kings and Magistrates of former times and those Valiant Macchabees thought no danger too great to be undergone Peace is the thing we most wish for But it is deny'd us So that being long and much infested by the Incursions of our Neighbours we cannot but resist unjust violence And this makes us the more confident that such as have never been provoked by any injury from us will not concern themselves in this War but stand in awe of the great God the Avenger of all unrighteousness For the same cause that hath raised this trouble against us will within a short time involve themselves also in streights and difficulties if they are desirous to preserve and maintain the true Religion January the fifth the Emperour commanded the Popes Bull of Indiction of the Council to be read in the Dyet of the Princes and States and warned them to prepare against its sitting The same day King Ferdinand informed the States that in time of Truce the Turks began to stir in Hungary and to build a Castle within his Dominions as they had endeavoured to surprize his Castle of Zolnock and put a Garison into it That they had also made an inrode into Transylvania That for his part he had given no cause of any Quarrel and was wholly inclined to observe the Truce But that if the Turk refused to do so he moved that supplies might be given him We told you in the twentieth Book that Stephen Bishop of Winchester was made Prisoner in England Now seeing he persisted in his opinion and would not allow the Laws made or to be made concerning Religion during the Kings minority he was this year in the Month of January turned out of his Bishoprick and sent again to Prison Andrew Osiander who went as we said into Prussia broached at this time a new Opinion affirming That man is not justified by Faith but by the righteousness of Christ dwelling in us and he maintained that Luther was of his Judgment also But the rest of the Divines his Collegues vigorously opposed him declaring what he said of Luther to be false who not many Months before his death had given an ample and fair testimony of Philip Melanchtons Book concerning common places of Scripture in the Preface to the first Tome of it That in falling foul then upon Melanchton he made Luther also his Enemy because both were of one mind Then having compared places they plainly demonstrated that Luther taught quite contrary to him in this Matter and affirmed his Doctrine to be pestiferous since he asserted that the Righteousness of Faith did not consist in the Blood and Death of Christ And this Matter was declared to and fro with great heat He pretended as I said that Luther and he were of the same Judgment But in the mean time he boasted amongst his Friends as it is written that Luther and Melanchton had framed a certain Aristotelian Divinity that savoured more of the Flesh than Spirit At first Duke Albert desired that the Matter might have been taken up by Mediators But after much tampering being persuaded by Osiander he came over to his Opinion and commanded the Adversaries of it to depart his Country Amongst these was Joachim Merlin and he must pack off too though not only the Citizens but Women and Children also petitioned the Prince that he would not deprive them of such a Pastor Now Osiander had taught many years at Norimberg and with applause too started no Innovations then and seemed in all things to follow the Doctrine of Luther so long as he lived but when after the Emperours Edict about Religion came out he left Norimberg and went into Prussia he broached this Opinion which as most think he would hardly have done had Luther been still alive He challenged chiefly the Divines of Wittemberg to refute these things if they could and he declared he would defend them whoever should offer to impugne the same not sparing Melanchton whom he sharply pinched All Learned Men generally especially in Saxony condemned his Opinion in Books they published for that effect and censured him for disturbing the Church at a most unseasonable time but every body grumbled that he should so unworthily treat Melanchton a Man of so much Mildness and Learning In another Book he maintained that though Mankind had not been lost by the Sin of Adam yet Christ was to have been born in the World. February the Thirteenth the Dyet of the Empire was dissolved
enough penn'd sharpened them and skrewed them up to the highest pitch of Rigour inviting and encouraging Informers by ample promises of Rewards Which the King as it was thought did with this design that he might curb those who were desirous of a change of Religion in France that they should not take to themselves the greater liberty because of his clasing with the Pope at this time Again that they who honoured the Church of Rome might entertain no suspicion of him as if his mind hankered after a new Religion And lastly that both the Pope and College of Cardinals might perceive that they might have access still to his Friendship when they pleased Afterward a Declaration came forth out of the Emperour's Court wherein the original of the War of Parma is related and how just a cause of Offence the Pope had against Octavio and the Prince of Mirandula of how restless a mind the French King was who laid hold on all occasions and made it his whole study and endeavour to hinder and disappoint the Emperour's most honest and lawful Designs But that the Emperour was so little moved at all these things that he would proceed with greater Courage and Resolution Octavio had given it out that he was necessitated to put himself under the protection of the French King because of the Injuries and Treacheries of Ferdinando Gonzaga but in this Declaration that is refuted For that if there were any cause of fear he himself gave the occasion who had oftener than once laid wait for the life of Gonzaga Then there is an account given how Piacenza fell into the Emperour's hands for that Petro Aloisio the Pope's Bastard Son being invested into Parma and Piacenza governed the Poeple tyrannically and like another Nero practised his detestable Lust not only upon Women but Men also as his custom was that therefore he was slain and murdered in his own House by the Citizens who could no longer suffer so great Cruelties That the Towns-people then perceiving the present danger they were in if they should fall again under the Jurisdiction of the Pope and Church of Rome had no other way of security left than to resign themselves over to the Emperour especially since of old they had been free Denizons of the Empire That therefore they had applied themselves to Gonzaga praying him to receive them into the Emperour's protection for that otherwise they must look for help and patronage somewhere else That it was an idle thing in him then to pretend fear seeing the Emperour had bestowed many favours upon the Family of Farnese that he had chosen Octavio to be his Son-in-law given his Father Peter Aloisio the City of Novara in Fee and Inheritance and honoured him with the Title of Marquess But that they had been very ungrateful at all times but particularly when under a counterfeit mask of Friendship they assisted him in subduing some Rebels of Germany their whole design was at the same time to have taken from him Milan and Genoua for that Joannin D'Oria a brave and valiant Man was basely killed in that Scuffle and Tumult whilst he discharged his duty to the Emperour and stood up for the safety of his Country There came out an answer to this afterward in name of the French King wherein a relation is given how that the Emperour to endear Paul III. to himself had given to his Son Petro Aloisio the Title and Quality of Marquess how that he had taken his Son Octavio to be his own Son-in-law how that he had gratifyed and obliged his other Son Alexander with many Ecclesiastical Preferments and in short how that he had made a League with the Pope wherein it was provided as it is said that the Emperour should confirm the Decree of the College of Cardinals concerning the Principality of Parma and Piacenza to the Family of the Farneses But that when the Emperour was at War in Germany and pretended it was not for Religion but to punish the Rebellion of some that he had taken up Arms it was a very unacceptable Contrivance to the Pope as wel perceiving that by so doing he minded only his own private Concerns and aimed at Dominion And that he had not been out in his Judgment neither for that when the War being over the Emperour stood not much in need of the assistance of the Farneses he had given no dark intimations of his ill will to the Pope for that then his Governours in Italy had had an eye and mind to Piacenza and that not long after Ruffians being subborned to murder Petro Aloisio in his Chamber before that the Citizens heard of the Murder Soldiers had been brought into the Town who seized the Castle in the Emperour's Name That if the Emperour had not been privy to the Fact it had been but reasonable that after the death of Paul the Third he should have restored it to the Church but that he not only restored it not but had also endeavoured to take Parma from his Son-in-law and had even in the life-time of Paul laid his measures for effecting it insomuch that the Trouble and Vexation which the Pope thereupon conceived shortened his days That afterwards Assassines had been apprehended at Parma who voluntarily confessed That they had been employed by Ferdinando Gonzaga to kill Octavio that being reduced then into such streights that they from whom he expected help and his own Father-in-law too had designs upon him to rob him both of Life and Fortune he had implored help and protection from him which upon his humble Supplication he could not refuse THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXIII The CONTENTS The Fathers of Trent meet in Session aâ—d draw up the form of a safe Conduct for coming to the Council The French King consents not nay he persuades the Switzers to send none to it Peace is fully concluded with the Magdeburgers The Conditions of the Peace are set down Some Cities of Germany send Deputies to the Council The Ambassadors of the Duke of Wirtemberg are deluded Duke Maurice having sent Ambassadors to the Emperour about the Landgrave and obtaining nothing but shifts and delays he presently resolves upon a War. The Bishop of Waradine lately made Cardinal by whose help King Ferdinand had made himself Master of all Transilvania almost is slain in his own House The Emperour in his Letters which he sendeth to appease the Electoral Archbishops tells them That he expects nothing but what is fair and honest from Duke Maurice who the better to cloak and conceal his designs sends his Deputies also to the Council with whom others joyn and demands a safe Conduct for his Divines to come but especially that they who are of a contrary persuasion should not sit as Judges in the Council They depart without success when it began to be spread abroad that their Master Duke Maurice was a preparing for War. The Tridentine Fathers disagree among themselves Shortly after news
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
stayed at Dedehove a Town upon the Mosell four Miles below Metz on the twentieth of November came into the Camp. Then chiefly began the Town to be furiously Battered so that the Guns were heard not only at Strasburg but also four Miles beyond the Rhine and Strasburg is eighteen long Miles distant from Metz. Duke Maurice who as I said went with his Army into Hungary for the service of King Ferdinand returned Home about this time and now was Volrate Count Mansfield the Son of Count Albert engaged in War with Henry Duke of Brunswick and had almost driven him quite out of his Country Duke Henry therefore came to the Emperor in the Camp before Metz and there having bewailed his bad Fortune begged Assistance but that proved to be at an unseasonable time Now Mansfield served under Marquess Albert whilst he was still on the French side Whilst the Emperor besieged Metz Wolffgang Master of the Teutonick Order took the Town of Elwang There is a very rich Colledge there which for many Months he coveted after and seeing they of the House have the right of chusing their Superiour whom they call Provost and that they had chosen one of a Noble Family in Exclusion of him he for Grief and Anger at the Disappointment came and suddenly surprised the Place This coming to the Duke of Wirtemberg's Ears whose Assistance was implored by the Fellows as being the Protector of their Rights and Liberties he quickly got together his Men and coming in the Winter time easily regained it taking a Town or two besides from him which he resolved to keep in his Hands until he should be repayed the Charges of the War. The French who were besieged made many Sallies especially upon Marquess Albert's Quarters and amongst others Lichtemberg whom I named before was grievously Wounded The Winter was very Cold with much Frost and Snow and though the Emperor had a vast Army yet he abstained from storming the Place and carried on the Siege by Mines but that was a vain Attempt when both the time of the Year was a great hindrance to it and the Enemy also had Intelligence thereof by Spies The Officers who defended the Town were Gentlemen of noble Families all pickt and chosen but the chief Governour was the Duke of Guise When Marquess Albert's Officers were bringing together their Forces by his Command the Bishop of Bamberg made his Complaint of it to the Imperial Chamber and on the nine and twentieth of December procured an Order from that Court commanding the Albertines to desist from Hostility The People of Ulm having retaken the Castle of Helfestein out of which they forced the Garrison which Marquess Albert left there razed it to the Ground The Emperor being forced by the Severity of the Winters Cold and despairing of taking the Town about the end of December raised the Siege and drew off to Dedehove From thence returning into the Netherlands he ordered some Regiments to Winter in the Country about Treves amongst whom also was Marquess Albert but the Army what by Sickness and what through the excess of Cold was lessened by a third Part. On the two and twentieth of January the French had Te Deum sung in the Churches of Metz for their good Success in maintaining the Town Next day after search was made in the Houses of the Inhabitants for Lutheran Books which were publickly Burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman and then the Duke of Guise having left a Deputy there returned into France The same Month Marquess Albert's Officers took many Places from the Bishop of Bamberg and when after the Siege of Metz was raised Albert having for some time held his Winter-Quarters at Treves and received from the Emperor Pay for his Soldiers was in the Month of February upon his return into Germany the Bishop of Bamberg on the seventeenth of February obtained two new Decrees from the Imperial Chamber the one renewing the former Command and the other enjoyning the Nobility and Gentry in Franconia and State of Norimberg as also the Prince Palatine and John Frederick Duke of Saxony as being next Neighbours to come in to his Assistance About the end of February the French King whose Courage was raised by the Defence of Metz published a Printed Declaration to the States of the Empire which sharply galled and reflected upon the Emperor for the design of it was to render him both odious and contemptible to wit that he was no more to be feared now since his Power was broken and the Arts he had used for many Years detected and since he was become so crazy and valetudinary that he could scarce fetch his Breath but that his Inclinations would still be the same towards them that 's to say Honourable and Free and though some whom he had obliged by great Favours were not so grateful as might have been expected yet he would not for all that abandon the Friendship of the rest When Marquess Albert had notice of the Orders issued out from the Imperial Chamber he wrote many Letters to the Bishop of Arras the Duke of Alva and to the Emperor himself acquainting them with the Attempts of the Bishops and how they violated their Compacts and that since his Imperial Majesty had confirmed the Transactions which they made with him he desired that they might be threatned and commanded to Obey Next he sent an Agent to the Imperial Chamber at Spire to represent to the Judges that the Bishops transgressed not only their Covenants but also the Emperor's Commands and therefore to desire them that they would not move any Process against him but recal the Decrees which they had made To these desires they made answer that it was their Duty to do Justice to all Men and that they could not deny the same to the Bishops who sued for it He on the other Hand having made a long Refutation of what they had alledged insisted upon the same Demand as before For that otherwise said he if he received any Damage he would have a just Title to demand reparation from them March the twenty third the Emperor wrote an Answer to Marquess Albert's Letter that he denied not but that Transaction had been confirmed by him That he had also liberally given him his Pay much to his own Detriment when at the same time the rest had had nothing That it would have been very grateful to him indeed if the Bishops had been quiet having sent an Ambassador to them to perswade them thereunto But that since they refused and had appealed to him to the Princes Electors and Imperial Chamber he himself might see that he could not deny them that especially since some States had conceived Suspicions of him and given out various Reports So that if now he should condescend to his Desires and command them to perform their Compacts it would both be said that he did unjustly and also
and Henry Hasen some were also there from King Ferdinand And when then the Bishops urged the Emperor's Abolition but Marquess Albert his Confirmation the Electors advised the Emperor's Ambassadors to write to their Master to know from his Majesty which of the two he would stand by the Emperor on the seventeenth of June made answer to this purpose When the Year before he had heard of the Transâ—â—â—tion made betwixt Marquess Albert and the Bishops he had at the desire of some rescinded it and charged the Bishops not to observe it as being a bad President that any Man should be forced to truckle under another for doing their Duty to him and the Empire But that then again when Marquess Albert would not Capitulate with him unless these Compacts were Confirmed to avoid greater Inconveniences which then threatned all Germany he had complied with the Times and that because he had a good Army on Foot that Count Mansfield raised Forces for him also in Saxony and that he being engaged in the French War could not restrain him there being none in Germany that could resist him so much as one day he had made Peace with him in Confidence that he might afterward please him especially if the Princes who were his Kinsmen would interpose their Mediation and that truly if it had pleased God to have given him Success before Metz he was sure of a way how to have satisfied him For that he had done him singular good Service in that War which made him desirous to gratifie him That when afterwards the Siege did not succeed he had essayed to make an Agreement by their means but that he was much troubled that he should have rejected the Conditions proposed and again fallen to War wherefore he had appointed this other Meeting at Franckfurt That now he had Information that he was making War not only against the Bishops but others also which both vexed him and was also contrary to his Articles for that when he was received into Favour he had promised to be faithful and true in all things both to him and the Empire for the time to come That if he would now be but Conformable and Obedient he would forget all that was past but that since he himself was suspected by some of being Partial they should endeavour all they could to bring matters to a Pacification and expect no farther Declaration from him That by so doing they would very much gratifie him who was resolved for the future to act nothing without their Counsel and Consent But after all there was nothing concluded at Franckfurt Much about the same time the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg met by the Emperor's Order at Laugingen to make Peace betwixt the Counts of Oetingen Father and Son. For ever since the time of the Smalcaldick War to the Siege of Metz Lowis Father and Son had wandered up and down without any certain Habitation because they had been in Arms against the Emperor However his Sons Frederick and Woffgang who differed from him in Religion possessed all his Lands and Estate When the matter was brought to a Treaty the Father accused them of the highest Ingratitude and though the Princes took extraordinary Pains to set things to rights yet nothing could be effected The End of the Twenty fourth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXV The CONTENTS Whilst the War goes on in Piedmont and Tuscany Maurice Duke of Saxony and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg declared a War against each other and a Battel is fought betwixt them in which Maurice is shot in the Belly by an Hand-Gun and dies two days after but Albert was beaten Augustus the Brother of Albert succeeds him from whom John Frederick demands Restitution of his Patrimony Nine Protestants burnt at Lâ—yons Edward the Sixth King of England's Sickness Death and Character Jane Duchess of Suffolk proclaimed but Mary prevails She restores the Roman Catholick Bishops and holds a Parliament Hesdin destroyed Cambray assaulted Albert beaten in a second Battel by Henry of Brunswick He retires to Hoff and is Outlaw'd Jane Gray and her Father the Duke of Suffolk and many others executed on the Account of Wiat's Rebellion John Frederick and his Lady end their Days in great Piety and Peace Albert Outlaw'd again A second Parliament and the Marriage of Queen Mary and King Philip. Pool reconciles England to the See of Rome A Diet at Ausburg The Transactions of England and the Condemnations of some of the Protestant Bishops and others The Opening of the Diet at Ausburg and the Speech made by Ferdinand on that Occasion The Thoughts of men insinuated IN order to the appeasing these Commotions and Wars in Germany the Emperor summoned a Diet in May to meet the Thirteenth of August and having towards the latter end of April besieged Terovanne a strong City of Artois but then in the hands of the French The Twenty first of June he took it and exposed it absolutely to the Will of his Army who plundered burnt and dismantled it Francis the Son of the Constable of France who was Governor of the City was also taken Prisoner The English had sent some Months before a splendid Embassy and sollicited a Peace which was also laboured by the Pope's Nuncio but with no Success In May John Duke of Northumberland who after the Execution of the Protector the Uncle of Edward the Sixth was become the first Minister of State in England marries Guilford Dudley his Fourth Son to Jane the Eldest Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk and Grand-child of Mary younger Sister of Henry the Eighth King Edward being then in great danger of Death by reason of a Sickness There was at the same time a War in Piedmont and Tuscany the Emperor being intent upon the recovery of Siena and to that purpose having ordered Peter Duke of Toledo then Vice-Roy of Naples to prosecute this Design with the Forces of that Kingdom but he dying and the Turkish Fleet which had on Board the Prince of Salerno who was sent from France on that occasion to facilitate the Turkish Designs upon the Kingdom of Naples being then expected in Italy the Army return'd to defend that Kingdom against this approaching and nearer danger Albert carrying on the War in Franconia Maurice and his Allies sent an Army thither Whereupon Albert putting Garrisons into Schweinfurt and some other places when he had levied great Sums of Money and carried away many of the Inhabitants of Norimberg and Bamberg as Hostages turn'd suddenly towards Saxony At Arnstad the Ambassadors of John Frederick Duke of Saxony met him and desired that he would not damnifie the Territories of their Master which he readily promised and faithfully performed Entring therefore into the Territory of Erford he plundered many of its Villages This sudden Invasion gave Maurice a great disturbance his Forces being then sent away into Franconia whereupon he summoned first the Nobility and then the Commons to
Lower Saxony and forced them of Meckelburg Lunenburg Anbalt and Mansfeld to pay it Another part of his and the Bishop's Forces having beat Albert and taken Schweinfurt as I have said they Treated Rotenburg an Imperial City and the County of Henneburg very severely and seemed resolved that if they did not contribute to the Expences of this War which they pretend did belong to all they would levy it by Force but by the Interposition of others this difference was Composed and no Force was made use of About this time Charles Duke of Savoy who as I have related above was stript of the greatest part of his Territories died leaving as his Heir Philibert his Son who had served many Years as a Soldier undr the Emperor Ferdinand King of the Romans published an Edict commanding his Subjects not to change any thing in the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and that according to the old Custom they that received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should content themselves with one of the Spectes the Bread only But the Princes the Nobility and Cities having often before Petitioned him in this Business did now by a Letter very humbly desire that according to Christ's Command and Institution and the custom of the ancient Church which they backed also with many Reasons they might be allowed the partaking of the whole and entire Eucharist The King answering this Letter the twenty third of June from Vienna said he did not in the least suppose when he published that Edict that it should be made by them the Subject of a Dispute and Cavil For said he my only design was that the People in my Dominions should remain in the ancient and true Religion and in the Obedience of the Catholick Church out of the Communion of which none can be Saved and that they might receive this most excellent Sacrament according to the Laws and Customs of the Church and that they might not be perverted from that duty they owe both to the Civil Magistrate and the Church either by the perverse Opinions of some Men or by a certain over great Curiosity or Pride He said this was the only intention and design of that Edict and that he had not in it commanded any new thing but had required only the continuance of an ancient Institution which has been brought down to me from hand to hand by my Ancestors the Emperors Kings and Dukes of Austria and which has to this Day been diligently observed by me as becomes a Christian Prince and which I have heretofore frequently commanded my Subjects to continue in And therefore I did not in the least suspect that you would attempt any thing against the tenor of this Edict who so earnestly contend that in all other things no change may be made and that you may enjoy your Laws and Rights without Violation For certainly this is a new thing and of late taken up by you upon some Opinion which you argue so largely for as if it befitted you to judge of my Commands who am your principal and highest Magistrate and as if that ought of right to be allowed you which some of you of late years have of their own Authority privately assumed to themselves and usurped contrary to the Canons of the Church and against my Will. But then it being as you say a grave and difficult question as you your selves aver I will think further of it and in due time I will return such an answer to it as shall shew that I am very much concern'd for the Salvation of my People But in the mean time I expect all manner of submission from you and that you should not in the least act any thing contrary to my Edict To this Letter the States made a reply in Writing also to this Effect What we have so often said most serene Prince concerning the Command of our Saviour we now again repeat for he instituted his Supper in clear and perspicuous Words that it might be received by all in the self same manner as he prescribed And it is not lawful for any mortal Man to change or alter his Institution and Prescription This was also the ancient custom of the Church and that which is now used crept in by insensible degrees as we can demonstrate For the Council of Constance confesseth that it was so instituted by Christ Seeing therefore this pertains to the Salvation of our Souls certainly neither Curiosity nor Pride have put us upon it And upon this very score we the rather hope that you will direct your future deliberation by the Commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of the ancient Church and in no wise oppress our Consciences which just request we make to your Majesty by all that is sacred by the Glory of God and by the Salvation of our Souls We acknowledge that by the Will of God you are our Supream Magistrate and we do this with the utmost willingness and we say that there is nothing which you may not or ought not to expect from us but in this one thing we desire you would spare us In the Diocess of Wurtzburg in Franconia there is a Monastery called Nenstadt the Abbot of which John Frisius falling into the suspicion of Lutheranism was cited the fifth day of May to appear within six days after at Wurtzburg and answer to such things as should be then enquired of him The Interrogatories then administred to him were Whether it be lawful to Swear Whether a Man is bound by his Vow Whether it be lawful to make a Vow of Poverty Chastity and Obedience Whether such Vows oblige Whether Matrimony or Celibacy doth best become the Ministers of the Church Whether there is one true and Apostolical Church Whether she is perpetually governed as the Spouse of Christ by the Holy-Ghost Whether she does always decree what is true and Salutary Whether the Church is to be deserted for the Vices and Errors of some Men in it Whether she upon the account of the Head the Vicar of Christ may rightly be called the roman-Roman-Church Whether all the Books of both Testaments which the Canon has are lawful and true Whether the Sacred Scriptures are to be interpreted according to the Sentence of the Holy Fathers the Doctors of the Church and the Councils or according to that of Luther and such others Whether besides the sacred Scriptures there be not need of other Traditions such as those of the Apostles and others of the same Nature Whether the same Faith Authority and Obedience is due to these Traditions which is due to the sacred Scriptures Whether the civil Magistrate is to be obeyed in Politick or Civil Affairs and the Ecclesiastick in Sacred or Holy things Whether the Sacraments of the Church are Seven Whether Children are to be Baptized Whether Baptism ought to be administred in the Latin Tongue Whether Salt Oil Water Characters and Exorcisms ought to be made use of in
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 Godâ—s 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
persevere in it That they would not fail to promote the safety of Germany as far as it was possible for them by their Labours Counsels and Estates That seeing in these unquiet times they were necessitated to stay at home to prevent greater Inconveniences which would have attended their Absence they had therefore sent Deputies to the Diet to whom they had given order in all things to promote the publick Peace and to take Care that neither Religion nor any Civil Cause whatsoever should occasion the fear of Force or Danger For that if a Peace were once well setled all other Controversies would so much the more easily be Adjusted That the present state of the Empire was such that it was needful to joyn and unite all their Forces and Minds to prevent the nearer approaches of the Turks towards them They said they knew how much his Imperial Majest desired a Royal Army should be raised to repel the Insults of the Enemy that if such a Peace were once setled there was no doubt but the States of the Empire would freely spend their Moneys in that War which had hitherto been hindred by their Domestick Commotions and Calamities That for their Parts they would not be wanting in this Case and they had given their Deputies order to say the same things in the Diet. The same day they wrote to King Ferdinand and almost in the same Words as Augustus had ordered his Deputies to speak in the Diet. For they insisted upon that Article of the Passaw Treaty shewed their desire of Peace their Esteem of the Augustan Confession perswaded the setling a Peace and desired that no Credit might be given to those who made it their Business to disquiet the Empire The fifteenth of March the Elector and Archbishop of Mentz died he had been a Member of the Council of Trent and was afterwards severely Treated and forced to seek his Safety in a Flight as is set forth in the twenty fourth Book of this History Daniel Brendel succeeded this Prelate in his See. The twenty third day of March Julius III. Pope of Rome died of a Dropsy because contrary to the Opinion of all Men he had so easily reduced England under the Obedience of the See of Rome he had taken up a vast hope that he should recover Germany also as was then believed And he had sent the Cardinal of Morone to the Diet at Ausburg who arrived there the day after the Pope died but hearing eight days after the news of his Holiness his Death the last of that Month he and Truccesio Cardinal of Ausburg left the Diet and returned to Rome that they might be present in the Election of the new Pope but the Cardinals which were then at Rome made more haste than is usual and without expecting the Arrival of those who were abroad they chose Marcellus the second of that Name who with the Cardinal of Farnese was sent Legate to the Emperor Charles the Fifth as I have said above in my thirteenth Book The Cardinal of Ausburg some days before he left the Diet to go to Rome sent a Letter into the Convention wherein he signified to the Princes and Deputies That he did by all means desire a Peace but he would never consent to any advice whereby the dignity of the Apostolical See and the old Religion should be violated In the Interim which from the time of the defeat of Peter Strozza had been besieged now eight Months by the Forces of the Emperors and of the Duke of Florence being reduced to extream want of all things and seeing no possibility of Succour the twenty first day of April yielded it self to the Emperor who put a Garrison into it In the Tear 1558. This City was afterwards sold by Philip the Second to the Duke of Florence The Emperor's Forces were Commanded in this Siege by the Marquess di Marignano a great Soldier About three years since the Inhabitants of this City having by the assistance of the French beaten the Spaniards and destroyed their Citadel they thereupon sent Ambassadors into France to give the King their Thanks and to assure him they would for the future commit their Fortunes to his Protection Marcellus the Second who was chosen Pope sat but twenty two days and died the last of April Hereules Duke of Ferrara and Guido Ubaldo Duke of Urbino were according to the Custom just then come into Rome to pay their Respects to this new Pope who being nearer had thereby the opportunity to come before some others who designed it too The Cardinals being shut up in the Conclave the twenty third of May they Elected Cardinal Theatino Pope His Name was John Peter and he was a Neapolitan by Birth and then Dean of the College a Son of the Illustrious Family di Caraffa a Man of great Age and of more than usual Learning He changed his Name and was called Paul IV. because Paul III. had made him a Cardinal This was the Man who instituted a Sect of Men who are called Jesuites and have since nestled not only in Italy but in Germany too and some other Places A small time after he made his Brother's Son a Cardinal who was a Soldier and had been a Captain and for the most part had served in the French Camp. In the former Book I have given an account how Cardinal Pool went to the Emperor and King of France to perswade them to a Peace which he endeavoured by Word and Writing and amongst many other Arguments he told them that whilst they went on with this Civil War the Turks took the opportunity of enlarging their Bounds both by Sea and Land they having in this time taken Belgrade and Rhodes and opened their Passage to the Possession of Buda and the Danâ—be That if God had not stirred up a War between them and the King of Persia it is not unlikely he might have made himself Master of all Christendom by this time That from hence bad Christians had also encreased to such a number in many Places to the great weakning and corruption of all Ecclesiastical and Civil Discipline that it was not now in their Power to curb and restrain them as might be seen by the Rebellions which were stirred up in all places the neglect of the Offices of the Church and the Heresies and Schisms which have arisen and spread themselves in this time In the next place you ought to consider that you are the Princes of the Christian Religion and that though God has suffered Satan who is the Author of all Evil and whose Business is to fift the Church of God as Wheat to stir up a War between you two who are the Principal Members of the Church yet he has not suffered his wickedness to go further than civil and common affairs and things For he has preserved both of you sound in Religion of the same Mind and united to the Body of the Church without which it would
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 Dâ—â—ube 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
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
cited Passages out of the Fathers of the Church to shew that the same Forgeries had been made use of by the Pagans against the Primitive Christians and that they might be sure it might come to the King's Hands they got it conveyed into his Bed-chamber which Book was afterwards answered by Anthony de Mouchy a Divine and the chief of the Inquisitors and by Robert Cenali Bishop of Auranches Jean Munier Recorder of Paris was appointed to examine the Prisoners who reporting their Answers to the Parliament Nich. Client a Saintonian who had been a School-master many Years in Paris and was now in the sixtieth Year of his Age Taurin Gravelle an Advocate in the Parliament of Paris and Phillippina Lunia of rigort the Relict of the Graveron a Gentleman who was dead were all condemned the fourteenth of September and the two first were burnt alive but the latter was first strangled And four Days after Nich. Le Cene a Physician of Normandy and Peter Gambara of Poictou were burnt Francis Rebeziers born at Stafort in Condomois and Frederick Danville of Olerone in Bearne were led with an Iron Ball in their Mouths to the Place of Execution where they were hanged and their Bodies burn'd to Ashes When they were now going to proceed against the rest a Noble Matron which was among the Prisoners offered a Petition to the Parliament excepting therein against several of the Judges and offering many Reasons in her Petition which ought not to be neglected to have them set by and some others to be appointed in their stead at the Trial Whil the Parliament were considering what they ought to do as to this Petition there came Envoys from the Switz and Protestant Princes in Germany to desire the King not to proceed against a Company of miserable People who were of the same Religion with themselves And thereupon the Affairs of Philip being then in great Prosperity and those of France in a declining Condition and the King needing the Assistance of the Switz and Protestant Princes of Germany for the Recovery of his Country he suffered the Parliament to act more mildly with them So some of them were dismissed others turned over to the Ecclesiastical Courts where by the Revocation of the Sentence they escaped Death Rantigny and Champagne two married Ladies were given to their Husbands who were very averse to that Religion and Ovarty another Lady was given into the Hands of Queen Catherine The King of France published an-Edict the seventeenth of May commanding all Bishops and their Curates to reside upon their Benefices and to preach to the People or to appoint others in their stead who should do so upon pain of being deprived of the Profits of their Cures There had been a Law published to the same purpose by Lewis XI the thirteenth of January 1476 which was now revived Men judging that Preaching was a likelier way to fix Men in their Religion than Fire and Faggot But however this Edict was not much regarded by the Clergy of France who were then as Unlearned and Ignorant as they were Cruel and Bloody The Army belonging to King Philip being as I have said dissipated or put into Winter Quarters and that of France growing daily greater it was taken into Consideration How they should employ that chargable Body of Men though the Winter was then in its greatest Rigour The first Debate was Whether they should attempt the Recovery of S. Quintin and the other Places that were lost or enter upon some new Enterprize and here they resolved upon the latter and the Reduction of Calais having been proposed by Senarpont Governour of Boulogne in the latter End of the Summer if the Misfortune of S. Quintin had not broke their Measures they presently resolved to reassume that interrupted Design A part of their Forces marched under the Duke of Nevers pretending they intended to attack Luxemburg and Arlon Another Part under the Duke of Guise who was now General of all the French Forces pretended to block up S. Quintin and the other Places that were lost Nevers having-passed through the Territory of Argone came to Stenay a Town in the Dukedom of Lorain and having staid there a short time suddenly sends his part of the Army to joyn the Duke of Guise who lay then at Amiens who presently marched away for Boulogne as if he had been solicitous for the Preservation of it but suddenly wheeling about the first of January he came to Newnham-bridge a Fort seated a mile from the Town of Calais which commanded the Avenues to the Land-ward There was another called Risbank which lay near to the Town and commanded the Harbour on the North of the Town and upon these two Forts the greatest part of the Security of Calais depended The Lord Wentworth was then Governour of the Town but the Garrison was not above five hundred Men and there were not above two hundred Townsmen able to bear Arms so that the Duke of Guise sending three thousand Musqueteers and the Soldiers of Newnham-fort having made one improsperous Sally against them and not being relieved by the Governour the Cannon was brought up against it which began to batter it the next Morning The Duke of Guise knew very well the whole stress of the Success lay in the celerity of his Actions and accordingly the next Day attacked the Fort of Risbank too which were both yielded the same Day by the order of the Governour The Town of Calais is seated in a Plain and on three Sides of it is almost inaccessible by reason of the River Hames part of which fills its Dikes which are Great and Deep and the rest falls with several other small Rivers into the Haven on the west Side of the Town It s Form is Square and at three of its Corners it has Royal Bastions and the fourth which is towards the South has an Ancient but strong Castle for its Defence besides it has a strong Bulwork of Earth which is very high and thick but is of so sandy a nature as the French found after this to their Damage that the force of a Cannon scattered it like dust The Rivers and Marshes encompassing the Town on all Sides there was no Passage to it but by a Causey from the Fort of Newnham nor was it possible for any Ship to enter the Town but what passed under the Fort of Risbank so that these two Forts were the great Securities of the Town which were both now in the Hands of the French after which they lodged on the Causey and Banks twenty Foot Companies and one German Regiment and one thousand one hundred Horse The Marshal de Termes secured the Way leading to Guines with the rest of the Horse and the Switz The fifth of January they began to batter the River-gate with four whole Cannon and three hundred Culverins were imployed against the other parts of the Walls and Bulworks but their main Battery was against the River-gate whilst the
the publick Inns That they should deliver in all the Books written or printed by David George and not keep any by them in the Dutch Tongue and that they should send their Children to the School of Basil to be instructed That they should pay a Pecuniary Mulct if required and that they their Wives and Children should appear in the Church and make Profession of the True Faith and-Renounce that of David George Two days after his Body was sentenc'd to be taken up and burnt together with his Books and Effigies by the Hands of the Common Hang-man in the place where they usally executed Malefactors and all his Goods they sez'd to the Publick Treasure adding That if any Person presum'd to blame this their Decree he should be liable to the same Punishment His Body was found very perfect so that it might be known by his yellow Bâ—ard from another Man's though he had been buried two Years and six Months and was accordingly burnt in a vast concourse of Men. In the beginning of February the Ambassadours met again at the Castle of Cambray to conclude the Treaty which was broke up upon the Death of Mary Queen of England Queen Elizabeth who succeeded her Sister Mary a Princes of a Masculine Soul and of a Prudence above her Sex fearing if she relied upon the Spaniard she might either be deserted or dishonoured by his Protection had in the mean time made a separate Peace with France After which she changed the Religion of England in her first Parliament abolishing all the Laws made by her Sister Mary and reviving those made by her Brother Edward VI and rejecting all Obedience to the Pope of Rome This Peace with France did much facilitate the Treaty of Cambray In which among other things these Princes promised to do their utmost that a General Council should be held as soon as was possible to the Glory of God and the pacifying Men's Consciences This last Clause by the perverse Counsels of these Princes in a short time raised a War in the Low-Countries and France which was more lasting and more fatal than any former Wars This Treaty was signed at Cambray April 3. These two Kings having thus regained their Peace and disburthened themselves of the Cares which the War brought upon them they betook themselves solely to the Care of Religion which in France had been under consideration the two foregoing Years and was then omitted on account of the War and Treaty but was now reassumed in the heat of a Marriage-Feast There was one Diana Dutchess of Valentinois a Court-Lady and one of the King's Mistresses who used to beg the Estates of all such as suffered for any Crime And the Duke of Guise who were the Promoters of this Persecution the latter aiming at nothing but Popular Applause These two insinuated this Belief into the King That the Venome of Heresie was much spread in France and that in truth he was not King of those Provinces in which that prevailed That the Impudence of those who imbraced it was so great that they did not whisper it as heretofore in the Ear but preached it openly and boldly throughout the Kingdom by which the name of God was blasphemed and his Majesties Royal Authority was endangered for when the Law of God was once confounded who can Question say they but that all Human Laws will soon be subverted And that they might the more easily prevail they employed Giles Maistre president of the Parliament Jean de S. Andre Anthony Minart and Giles Bourdin the King's Attorney and principally the first of these who was a Man of a fierce Disposition and Temper to incense the King's Mind against the Sectaries he being no way inclined to such Severities To this end they tell him That there would little be gained by the Peace of a more cruel War was fomented and carried on at Home For that the Disease had already got such Strength that if his Majesty dissembled a little longer the Sword of the Magistrate and the Laws of the Land would not be able to suppress it but he must levy Armies and himself take the Field against them as had been done in the case of the Albingenses That what had hitherto been done had not had its desired effect because all the severity had been spent upon the populace and the mean people the hatred and detestation of which had affected all Men but very few had taken example by it That now it was fit to begin with the Judges many of which had imbraced their Doctrin secretly or favoured them on other accounts and by their connivance nourished the Distemper suffering this Offence either to go unpunished or very lightly corrected This they said was the very Root of the Evil and that all labour was in vain tâ—ll it were pulled up Not long after this the King was prevailed upon to come into the Parliament in Person whilst the Members were debating about the Punishment of the Sectaries June 14. He seemed rather to labour to conceal his Anger than to have come with a calm Mind Among other things he told the Parliament That having made a Peace he hoped it would turn to the general Good but he was much concerned that the business of Religion which was one of the principal Cares of a good Prince had been during the War tumultuously and seditiously treated by some That therefore he desired for the future more care might be taken of the Christian Religion And because he heard that affair was this Day to be debated by them he was come thither and he admonished them to proceed in it with Freedom saying It was God's Cause who knew all our Hearts and Thoughts Tho' the Members of the Parliament knew the King was brought thither to deprive them of their Liberty yet there were some who resolved to retain their ancient Freedom at the price of their Lives and having declaimed against the Manners of the Court of Rome and its ill Customes which had degenerated into most pernicious Errors and given occasion to the rise of many Sects they thence inferred That the Penalties of Heresie were to be mitigated and the Severities of the Law abated till the differences of Religion were composed by the Authority of a General Council and the Discipline of the Church reformed And this was the Opinion of all the good Men in the Parliament Arnold du Ferrier President of the Criminal Court an honest and a wise Person and the best Lawyer in France was the first who proposed this Method and was followed by many others among which was Lewis du Faur a Man of great Sense and of a generous Temper who added That all were agreed that the Differences in Religion had occasioned great Disturbances but then said he we ought carefully to enquire Who caused these Disorders lest as Elijah answered Ahab when he reproached him as the Troubler of Israel it might be said to us It is thou that hast
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
them the more cruel they fell next upon the Priests and Monks as the Authors of their Calamities this more incensing the Roman Catholicks And they again using the most horrid barbarities that were ever practised by Men the Protestants rose likewise in their Executions on them so that if this War had continued a few years France must have been depopulated Now though in all this the Roman Catholicks were the first Agressors and forced the Protestants to this severity in their own defence yet their Writers cunningly omitting the Provocation or softing the Actions of their own Party set forth at large the Cruelties of the Hereticks as they call them and many times aggravate them above what is true but Thuanus though a Roman Catholick was too great a Man to be guilty of so false a representation and who ever pleaseth to consult him will and I have been very favourable to the Roman Catholicks in this Abstract and have not sought occasions to make them odious without cause A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK IV. The CONTENTS The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent The Prohibition of Books taken into Consideration The French Ambassadors arrive at Trent The French King's Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The French Clergy arrive there The Pope's Fear of them Maximilian Son of Ferdinand the Emperor chosen King of the Romans The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Spanish Ambassadors received in the Council The Fathers of Trent much Displeased with the Peace made in France The Queen of Navarr cited to Rome and many of the Bishops by the Inquisition The French King's Declaration against these Proceedings The Queen Mother of France complains of the Council The Pope Gains the Cardinal of Lorrain to his Side That Councils have no Authority over Princes The Ambassadors of France Protest against the Council and retire to Venice The Council ended The Censure of the Council The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. The Romish Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy and the Cup to the Laity The Siege and Surrender of Havre de Grace Charles the IX declared out of his Minority The Scotch Affairs HAVING thus dispatched what concerns the first French War I now return to the Affairs of the Rest of Christendom in the Year 1562. And here I will first begin with the History of the Council of Trent Whilst the recalling this Council was agitated with great heat the Cardinal of Ferrara the Pope's Legate in France after the Revocation of the Edict of January seeing all things there in the state he desired he took his leave of the King and returned into Italy Before he went however he took care to furnish the King with Money to carry on the Siege of Orleans which he took up of the Bankers of Paris He had raised a vast Expectation of this Council in the minds of all those who had yet any Kindness left in their Hearts for the See of Rome and the more because they thought the Edict of January which had caused the War would then fall of Course it being made only by way of Provision till a Council should determine otherwise As the Cardinal was in his Journey Fifty Horsemen came out of Orleans under the Command of one Monsieur Dampier and surprized all his Mules Horses and Treasures and when he sent a Trumpeter to demand them again the Prince of Conde made Answer That this magnificent and warlike Equipage did not befit Pastors and the Successors of St. Peter but rather Commanders and Generals of War who were in Arms for Religion Yet if he pleased to recal the 200000. Crowns which he had furnished the Triumvirate with to carry on the War against him and the Italian Forces out of France he would then restore all he had taken to his Eminence The Council which was appointed to meet at Easter of the former Year was delay'd to the beginning of this the Pope putting it off because he was as much afraid of the Spanish Bishops as of the French National Council He had been necessitated to grant great Contributions to King Philip to be levied upon his Clergy and he thought the Bishops would on that score come with exasperated Minds to the Council and all his Thoughts were bent on the keeping the Papal Power undiminished rather than on satisfying the just Compaints of the Nations At last being forced by an unresistable necessity he sent Hercules Gonzaga Jerom Seripand and Stanislaus Hosio out of his Bosom to be his Legates at Trent And not long after he added to them James Simoneta and Mark Sitico Bishop of Altemberg in Transylvania who had orders to open the Council again the Eighteenth of January 1562. That those things might be therein treated of which the Legates should propose and in the same Order for the taking away the Calamities of these Times the appeasing the Controversies of Religion the Restraining deceitful Tongues the Correcting the Abuses of depraved Manners and the obtaining a True and Christian Peace by such means as the Holy Council should approve of The French Clergy insisted That mention should be made of a Free and General Council to be call'd for the Quieting of their Differences because their Protestants would never submit to the Determinations of the former Sessions On the contrary the Spaniards professed they would only continue the former Council and therefore they used a middle way and decreed A Council should be Celebrated The Spanish Bishops were as much dissatisfied because all the Power of proposing was given to the Legates and taken from the other Bishops and complained of it to King Philip who Ordered his Ambassador to treat the Pope about it that the Council might be free The Pope Answered the Ambassador That he was not at leisure to dispute about Ablative Cases Positive and the Genders of Words and that he had something else to do And in private he spoke of the Calamities and Dangers of France with the same unconcernedness For when one of the French Cardinals deplored the Danger the See of Rome was in of losing that Kingdom he replied What then if as long as I am Bishop of this City I shall not be forced to abate any thing of the Greatness of my Table and the Magnificence of my Buildings And when they insisted to have the Manners of Men and the Discipline of the Church throughly Reform'd he said In that Particular he would satisfie France to the full and take such Care in it that they should all of them Repent that they had mentioned a Reformation Adding That he foresaw that the Kingdom would be divided on the account of Religion but he did not value the loss of it a Farthing All which Expressions saith Thuanus Are in the Letters of the French Ambassador that was then at Rome out
give in their Opinion of it 547. Cheregatus Franciscus Legate to P. Adrian at Nuremberg 57. Cities of the Empire complain against the Diet at Normiberg 65. and in the Diet of Spire against the Decree of Wormes 103. They complain against Mendicant Friars 104. Immunities of the Clergy Ibid. And against Holy daies Ibid. Cities for the Reformed Religion Protest against the Decree of Spire 120. Are for acknowledging Ferdinand King of the Romans 151. Some Cities quarrel at the Taxes laid at Coblentz to carry on the War at Munster 198. Catholick Cities complain that they are Excluded from the Princes Councils at Ratisbon 282. Some Cities refuse at Spire to grant subsidies against the French 326. They refuse to submit to the Council of Trent at Augsbourg 440. Clareback Adolph Burnt at Cologne for Religion 121. Clement the V. inserts into the Canon-Law that Emperors are Subject to the Pope 38. Clement the VII succedes to Adrian 66. Sends Cardinal Campegio to the Diet at Nuremberg Ibid. Writes to D. Frederick of Saxony Ibid. Sends a Golden Rose to Henry the VIII of England 75. Writes to the Parliament of Paris 97. Enters into a League with Charles the V. 105. Writes expostulatory Letters to him 106. Writes to the King of Poland to be ready to send Deputies to a General Council 142. Sends a Legate to the Duke of Saxony 162. His Legate's Speech to the Duke of Saxony Ibid. Goes to Marseilles to meet Francis 168. Marries his Neice Catharine de Medicis to his Son Henry Ibid. Dies 174. Cleve Duke of Cleve sues to the Emperor for Guelderland 266. His Treaty with the French King 277. Marries the Queen of Navarre's Daughter Ibid. Retakes Duren 304. A Pacification Attempted between him and the Emperor 307. Submits to the Emperor 315. Renounces his League with France and demands his Wife 316. Intercedes with the Arch-Bishop of Cologne to lay down his Bishoprick 418. Coblentz a Town in the Bishoprick of Triers upon the Confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle 13. Some Princes meet there to quiet the Stirs of Munster 197. Cologne Vniversity Condemns Luther's Writing 27. Condemn and burn Reuchlin's Book 30. The Elector of Cologne Herman calls a Provincial Council 209. Endeavours a Reformation 310. Confers with Bucer Ibid. Oppos'd by the Clergy 311. Who Publish their Anti-Didagma Ibid. And oppose Bucer Ibid. The Bishop Mediates for the Duke of Cleve 313. The Clergy plead against their Arch-Bishop 340. They appeal to the Pope and Emperor Ibid. The Arch-Bishop Answers their appeal Ibid. They Subscribe the Appeal 341. The Arch-Bishop is cited by the Emperor and the Pope 351. Answers to his Citation to the Emperor 352. Appeals to a Council 411. The Arch-Bishop is deposed by the Pope 417. He is Perswaded to resign his Bishoprick 418. Vide Adolph Count Schauwenbourg Herman the Old Bishop dies 573. Conclave The Ceremonies there practised in the choosing of Popes 489. Confederate Princes against Charles the V. propose conditions to him 109. Vide Maurice Consecrations of all Sorts Bells Churches Altars c. 481 482. Constance Council decreed a Pope subject to a Council 9. That safe Conducts should be Null to declared Hereticks 47. That the Laity should Communicate in one Kind Ibid. The Bishop of Constance Hugh opposes Zuinglius 51. Sends a Book about Images to the Senate at Zurich 72. They abolish Popery 112. They send Deputies with humble Submission to the Emperor 469. Their Bishop dies of an Apoplexy Ibid. They repulse the Spaniards who would seize the Town 470. Vpon their being proscribed they desire the Switzers to intercede for them 471. They surrender intirely to the House of Austria 474. The Conditions upon which K. Ferdinand receives them ibid. Contarini Card. the Pope's Legate at Ratisbon his Opinion at the Diet 279. His Exhortation to the Bishops 280. His Speech is communicated to the States ibid. He gives in other Papers to the Diet 281. Protests by Letter against a National Council 282. Accused to the Pope and dies 299. Cosimo succeeds Alexander de Medicis in the Dutchy of Florence 210. Marries Eleanor Daughter to the Viceroy of Naples ibid. Cosmus vide Cosimo Coyre Bishop of Coyre recalled by the Grisons from the Council of Trent 529. Cranmer Tho. A. B. of Canterbury calls Bucer and Fagius into England 479. Vindicates himself from the aspersions of the Papists 590. Is sent to the Tower ibid. Burnt at Oxford ibid. Crescentio Cardinal the Pope's Legate at the Council of Trent 518. Dies at Verona 548. Falls sick with seeing an Apparition of a Black Dog ibid. Cronberg Walter Grand Master of the Teutonick Order 99. Sollicites Char. V. for aid against Albert the late Grand Master 139. VVhich was granted ibid. The Emperor in the Diet of Ratisbon ratifies Cronberg's Title 161. Cusanus Nicolaus Cardinal vide Sigismund D DEcius Philip writes for the Council of Pisa 27. Denmark vide Christiern K. of Denmark sent no aid to the Protestants 415. His Ambassador intercedes for the Landgrave 534. Deux-Ponts vide Wolfgang D. of Deux-Ponts Diazi John goes to the Conference at Ratisbon 365. Is earnestly perswaded by Malvenda to turn Papist 366. And by his Brother Alfonso Diazi ibid. Goes to Newbourg ibid. Is Assassinated there 367. The Ruffians fled to Inspruck ibid. Ditlebius Valentine his Letter to Frederick 33. Doria Andrew a Genoese Char. V's Admiral restores Liberty to his Country 416. His Kinsman Joannin Doria is killed in an Insurrection ibid. Dragut a Pirate forced from Tripoly by Char. V. flies to Constantinople 500. E EBleben Christopher Negotiates a Peace for the Landgrave 430. Dies for Grief that the Conditions were so treachersouly kept 434. Eckius John Writes against Luther 3. Disputes with him at Leipzick 21. Maintains the Pope's Supremacy against him 22. Exasperates the Quarrel 24. 34. Disputes at Baden with Oecolampadius 105. Disputes with Leonard Caesar 110. Answers the Augustan Confession 130. Answers the Confession of the Confederate Cities 139. Is rewarded for his zeal in oppugning Heresie Ibid. Is displeased with the Book which was presented to the Diet at Ratisbon 278. Writes to the Princes against the Collocutors 282. Eckius a Lawyer draws up Luther's charge at Wormes 42. Questions him if he will defend his Books Ibid. Replies to Luther's Plea 44. Commands him to leave Wormes 46. Edward VI. of England born 232. Succeeds his Father 418. Beats the Scots by the D. of Somerset 440. Establishes the Reformation in England 443. Publishes a Declaration about the War in Scotland 454. The Mass is abolished in England 463. The Admiral the D. of Somerset's Brother is Beheaded for Treason 479. Troubles in his Reign 485. Concludes a Treaty of Peace with France 492. And a Peace concluded 495. Bologne Restored to the French ibid. He dies 585. Egmont Charles Count dies 240. Eldo Mathias Vice-Chancellor to Char. V. sent Ambassador to the German Princes 212. His Speech to them at Smalcald 213. His Reply ex Tempore to their Answer 218. He sollicites
several Towns for the Protestants 388. Routed by Duke Maurice 504. Taken into the service of Duke Maurice Assists the Magdeburghers 514. Henry the VII Emperor refuses to pay Allegiance to the Pope 38. Henry the VIII Writes against Luther 50. Is called defender of the Faith Ibid. Is Pensioner to Charles the V. 51. His Daughter Mary is Betrothed to Charles Ibid. Writes to the Princes of the House of Saxony against Luther 65. Receives a Golden Rose from the Pope 75. Writes a Scornful answer to Luther's Letter 101. Makes a League with France in the absence of King Francis 102. Makes a League with Francis against Charles 112. His answer to the Protestant Princes of Germany 150. Is dissatisfied about his Marriage with Catharine 169. Sues to be Divorced Ibid. They are Dilatory at Rome Ibid. He Marries Anne Boleyn 170. Is declared in Parliament head of the Church Ibid. Revokes Peter Pence Ibid. Sends Fox Bishop of Hereford Ambassador to the Protestants at Smalcald 188. His Ambassadors winter at Wittemberg 205. His Letter to the Protestants Ibid. He beheads Anne Boleyn 206. Quells a rising in England 209. His Reasons against the Council of Mantua 231. His Reasons against the Council at Vicenza 250. He enacts in Parliament several things about Religion 251. Marries Anne of Cleve Ibid. His Answer to the Elector of Saxony's Ambassador 255. Beheads romwel Earl of Essex 267. Is divorced from Anne of Cleve Ibid. Marries Catharine Howard Ibid. Burns Papists and Protestants for Religion 269. Beheads Catharine Howard for Adultery 289. Marries Catharine Parr Ibid. Makes a successful War in Scotland 324. He makes an Expedition into France 327. Takes Bologne Ibid. Makes a Treaty of Peace with France 355. Forewarns the Protestants in Germany of their danger 356. Dies 418. Henry of Zutphen suffers for Religion in Germany 75. Henry Duke of Saxony refuses to change his Religion to gain the Dutchy 249. But gains it by George's Death 250. Henry Dauphin of France has a Daughter 382. Henry the II. of France succeeds to Francis the I. 424. Is Crowned 435. The Ceremony of it Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans severely in France 456. Enters Paris in State 484. Crowns his Queen Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans Ibid. Makes a League with the Switzers Ibid. Regains several Places from England 485. Publishes another Edict against the Lutherans 492. Sends a Letter to the Pope about his assisting Octavio Farnese 514. He declares War against the Emperor with his reasons 517. Justifies himself from Leagues with the Turk 518. Sends the Abbot of Bellozane to Trent with a Letter to the Council Ibid. He Publishes an Edict against the Pope 521. And another against the Lutherans Ibid. Answers the Emperors Declaration 522. Hinders the Switzers from sending Ambassadors to the Council of Trent 528. He sends Ambassadors to Duke Maurice 529. Makes Peace with the Pope 548. He declares War against the Emperor 553. Calls himself Protector of the Liberties of Germany 554. He takes Toul Verdun Metz 555. Takes an Oath of Allegiance from the People of Metz Ibid. His Treaty with the Strasburghers 557. His answer to the Princes Ambassadors 558. The reasons of his leaving Germany 559. His answer to the Switzers Ibid. He Wastes Luxembourg 563. His Ambassadors Speech at the Treaty of Passaw 564. He Sollicites again by Letters from Aichstadt 567. He brings his Men from Luxembourg back into Artois 571. Is offended with the Pacification at Passaw 572. Writes to the Emperor 576. Sends a Declartion to the States of the Empire 577. Carries on the War in the Low Countries 603. But is beaten in Tuscany in the Sienese War 604. His Letter to the Diet at Francfort Ibid. Takes Casal 613. Carries on the War into Montferrat 617. Hereford vide Fox Herman vide Cologne Hesse vide Philip Landgrave Hildesheym a City in the Dutchy of Brunswick embraces the Protestant Religion 300. they are accused by their Bishop to the Emperor 313. Hogostratus James a Dominican writes against Luther 4. Commissioned by Maximilian to Examine Jewish Books 30. Writes against Reuchlin Ibid. Is cast by the Bishop of Spire Ibid. Appeals to Rome Ibid. Leaves his Cause Ibid. Examines two Augustine Friars at Brussels 63. Holland an Inundation there 137. Hooper John Bishop of Glocester burnt for his Religion 607. Huberine Caspar an Interimist Preaches at Augsbourg 535. Hugh Capet makes himself King of France 150. Huglie John a Protestant burnt for Religion by the Bishop of Constance 105. Hungarians beg for assistance at the Diet of Spire 324. Their Horse join Duke Maurice 409. Husse John Preaches Wiclef's Doctrine 46. Appeals from the Pope to Christ Ibid. Went to the Council of Constance with safe Conduct 47. There burnt Ibid. Hutton Ulricus a Noble Man of Franconia 65. Favours Luther and dies Ibid. I JAmes the V. of Scotland Marries King Francis's Daughter 209. His Queen dies 230. Makes a War with England unsuccessfully 304. Dies Ibid. Jerome Bishop of Brandenbourg 2. Jerome of Prague burnt at the Council of Constance 47. Jerome Bishop of Ascoli summons Luther by P. Leo's Order to appear at Rome 5. Jews compared with Roman Clergy 29. Illyricus Matthias Flaccius Writes against the Adiaphorists 498. Imperial Chamber Vide Protestants is set up again in the Diet at Augsbourg 466. The Judges fly from Spire for fear of the Confederate Princes 557. They answer Marquess Albert's Deputation about the Franconian Bishops 577. They decree in Favour of the Bishops 578. Indulgences Preacht up in Germany 1 2. Confirmed by Pope Clement's Decree in the Extravagants 9. Why granted 273. Indult vide P. Paul the III. P. Innocent the III. Decreed to the Electoral Princes a right of chusing the Emperor 21. His decree de Majoritate Obedientia 107. Inquisition its Original 434. Inquisitors about the Emperor's Edict of Religion in the Netherlands how they proceed 498. Interim drawn up at Augsbourg 454. The heads of it 458. Often Revised and Corrected 459. Sent to Rome ibid. The Electors differ in their Opinion about it ibid. Those who draw it up are rewarded 468. It is disliked on both sides Ibid. Confuted by the Saxon Divines 481. Joachim Elector of Brandenbourg sends an Embassie to the Elector of Saxony 242. Sends Agents to Eysenach 244. Made Geneali ssimo against the Turks 292. He Strikes in with the Papists in the War against the Smalcaldick League 375. Interposes for a Peace 418. With the Landgrave Ibid. Intereedes for Saxony 427. And his Life was spared at his Intercession 428. Intercedes for the Landgrave 429. Remonstrates to the Emperor for him at Hall 433. Calls Bucer to Augsbourg 454. Angry with him for not subscribing the Interim 457. Receives the Interim 461. Acts with Duke Maurice in the Magdeburgick War 505 506. He sends Ambassadors to the Conncil of Trent 526. His Ambassadors with those of D. Maurice Sollicite the Emperor about the Landgrave 531. John XXII P. vide Aquinas John King of Denmark overthrows the Swedes 62. Dying leaves his Son
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
them 313. Writes an Answer to the Letter of the Princes 320. Writes a sharp Letter to the Emperor to chide him for the Decree of Spires 337. Creates several Cardinals 340. Summons the Council once more to Trent Ibid. Endeavours to raise a War against the Lutherans 348. Sends his Legates to Trent 360. Writes to the Swisse Bishops to come to the Council of Trent 374. Excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of Cologne Ibid. Writes to the Switzers to perswade them to joyn against the Protestants 382. He publishes a Bull declaring the causes of the War against the Protestants 388. Makes the Count Schawenbourg Arch-Bishop of Cologne 417. His answer to the Cardinal of Trent and Mendoza 444. His Letter to his Legate at Bononia Ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassador 445. And Letter to the German Bishops ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassadors to justifie the removal of the Council to Bononia 450. His animadversions upon the Interim 459. Sends Legates into Germany 473. Who bring an Indulgence or Indult of several things 482. He dies 487. Libels come out against him with accounts of his horrid Lusts 488. His Funeral ibid. He instituted the order of the Jesuits 615. Paul IV. Caraffa chosen Pope 615. Pelargus Ambrose Reflects insolently upon the Protestants in the Council of Trent 541. De Pensier à Lutheran Divine recants at Paris 309. Pescara vide d' Avalos Peter Pence what 170. Petro Aloisio P. Paul III's Bastard D. of Parma and Piacenza 438. Is Assassinated at Piacenza 439. His flagitious life Ibid. Phefecorn John a Convert Jew 29. His Petition to Maximilian Ibid. Writes against Reuchlin 30. Phifer a Companion of Muncer's 84. Philip Landgrave of Hesse his Speech to his Soldiers against Muncer 85. His discourse with Muncer 86. Arms for fear of a Confederacy against the Reformed Religion 114. Departs privately from the Diet at Augsbourg 131. Makes a League for six years with the Reformed Switzers 141. Answers the Arbitrators 154. Endeavours to restore Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg 169. And brings it about 173. Writes to acquaint the Emperor with his Proceedings for Duke Ulric 174. Makes his submission to Ferdinand about Ulric's business 179. Commands his Divines to answer the Anabaptistis Books 198. He sends an answer to their mad Proposals Ibid. Goes to the Convention at Eysenach 244. Intercepts the D. of Brunswick's Letter 246. He Writes in his own Vindication to the German Princes 247. Excuses the D. of Wirtemberg to K. Francis by Letter 249. He answers the Emperors Letter about a Pacification 263. Joyns with the Elector of Saxony against the D. of Brunswick 298. Opposes the Duke of Brunswick 353. Submits to an accommodation Ibid. Receives the D. of Brunswick upon surrender 354. Writes to the Emperor concerning him Ibid. Writes again 355. Answers the Emperors Letter Ibid. Writes to Granvel about the War intended against the Protestants 356. Writes to Naves about the same business 358. Goes to Spire to Meet the Emperor 368. Treats with him Ibid. And with Granvel and Naves 370. And with the Emperor again 373. Is courteously dismissed Ibid. Sends notice to Ratisbon of the Emperors Preparations 376. He arms against the Emperor 384. His Forces 388. He sends his Son William to Strasbourg ibid. Refuses to Confer with the Duke of Brunswick ibid. His Men skirmish with the Spaniards 395. His bold advice to set upon the Emperor 397. Comes near the Imperialists with his Army 404. A Skirmish between him and the Prince of Sulmona 407. His Letter to the Mauricians ibid. And to Maurice 408. Is in danger upon the Retreat of the Army 412. Writes to Maurice his Son-in-Law ib. He rejects the Emperor's Proposals 423. He justifies himself from the Reproaches about Surprizing Francfort 426. Is invited to come to Leipzick 429. Articles of Peace are proposed to him 430. Which he accepts 431. Goes to Hall to the Emperor 432. Signs the Articles and submits to the same in Person ibid. Is detained Prisoner 433. Letters are spread abroad in his Name as if he allowed of the Interim 463. Is carried Prisoner into Flanders 473. And sent to Oudenard 474. His Subjects refuse the Interim 477. New Intercessions for him in vain 479. The Ministers in his Country refuse the Pope's Indult 483. He attempts an escape 504. Not succeeding is kept close Prisoner 505. He relieves the Oppressed Ministers Liberally 517. He is set at liberty and stopt again 573. He returns into his own Country 574. He accepts a Mediation in the Difference with the Count of Nassaw about Catzenelbogen 617. Which still keeps in Suspence 620. Has a Meeting with Augustus Elector of Saxony 633. Philip Prince Palatine Governor of Vienna when Solyman besieged it 121. Forces him to raise his Siege Ibid. Philip Son to Charles V. comes through the Netherlands into Italy 477. Is received at Genoa Ibid. And at Milan 478. Goes into Germany Ibid. Enters Brussels 479. Homage is done to him in the Law Countries 485. He marries Queen Mary in England 604. He has Naples and the Kingdom of Jerusalem Ibid. With the Dutchy of Milan resigned to him 605. Goes into Flanders to meet his Father 618. He enters upon the Government of the Netherlands Ibid. Sends Ambassadors into Germany to acquaint them with his New Government 628. Phlugius Julius vide Gropper Chosen by the Chapter of Naumbourg to be their Bishop 288. Is admitted one of the Presidents of the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Assists in drawing up the Interim 454. Phlugius Caspar heads the Bohemian Confederates 423. Is condemned of High Treason 434. Picards a Sect of the Bohemians 53. Picus vide Mirandula Pisa Council there 26. Called by Cardinals Ibid. Reasons of so doing Ibid. Suspends P. Julius 27. Remove to Milan Ibid. P. Pius's Decree concerning appeals 35. He altered his Opinion from what it was at the Council of Basil 36. Excommunicates Sigismund ibid. Poiet William Chancellor of France disgraced 299. Pool Reginald Cardinal sent Nuncio from the Pope to the French King 210. Writes a Book called a Defence of Ecclesiastical Unity ibid. Made Cardinal by P. Paul III. 211. Loses the Popedom on suspicion of Lutheranism 490. Is detained in Germany by the Emperor 594. Returns into England 605. Reconciles the Nation to the See of Rome 606. Writes to the Emperor and King of France to mediate a Peace 615. Popes anciently subject to Emperors 38. Pragmatick Sanction vide Paris Priests the Ceremony of their Degradation 64. Prierias Sylvester writes against Luther 3. He assert◠the Pope to be absolute head of the Church ibid. Replies to Luther 4. Princes of the Empire disagree about the Emperor's Letter against Luther 44. Complain of the Pope's Proceedings in the Affairs of Germany 60. Return an Answer to Adrian's Letter to the Diet ibid. Draw up an account of the Grievances of Germany which they gave to the Pope's Legate 63. Their answer to Campegio's Speech at Nuremberg 68. They write to Charles V. to make haste into Germany 108. They
The demands of their Divines in the Council 546. The Protestant Princes make a League at Nuremberg 614. They acquaint the Emperor with it ibid. Their answer in the Diet of Augsbourg to the Papists Allegations 623. Their reply to Ferdinand's Answer to their Papers 626. Prussia vide Albert of Brandenbourg vide Sigismund of Poland vide Wolfgang grand-Master R. RAtisbon Catholick Lords there with Campegio confirm the Decree at Wormes against Luther 74. Make Regulations for the Reformation of the Clergy 75. The Princes do not meet at Ratisbon at the Diet 110. The Diet removes thither from Spire 155. The Articles of the Treaty of Nurenberg are there confirmed 160. A Diet there 272. The Acts of the Diet at Ratisbon 275. The Presidents and Witnesses at the Conference 276. The Acts of the Diet 278. The Decree of the Diet 283. They promise Aid against the Turks ib. A Conference is appointed there 351. The Names of the Conferrers ibid. It is refused by the Papists 352. The Conference opened 358. The Names of the Presidents ibid. The Points disputed upon ibid. It breaks up 359. A Diet there 374. Reformation in Germany its Original 273. Religion those of the Reformed Religion begin to form a League 105. Renate Prince of Orange is killed 327. Reuchlin John Capnio Commissioned to examine Jewish Books 30. His Answer to Maximilian ibid. Answers Phefercorne's Book ibid. Is Cited to Mentz ibid. Excepts to Hogostratus as a Judge ibid. Appeals to the Pope ibid. Is acquitted at Rome ibid. Dies 55. Rhodes taken by Solyman 57. Richard Elector of Triers vide Triers Ridley Nicholas Bishop of London burnt at Oxford for Religion 619. Rochell an Insurrection there 304. Quieted 305. Rome Court of Rome it 's Description 24. A great Inundation there 137. Roman Clergy vide Jews Romans vide King of the Romans Rotman Bernard Preaches up the Reformation at Munster 190. Declares himself an Anabaptist 192. S. SAmson Friar Preaches Indulgences at Zurick 22. Savoy D. of Savoy quarrels with Geneva 203. Loses most part of his Country to the French ibid. Accuses the French King 323. Dies 602. Saxons embrace Luther's Doctrine of the Eucharist 97. Saxony Prince of Saxony's Answer to the Arbitrators 159. Quarrels in the Churches there about Indifferent things 481. Scherteline Sebastian marches towards Inspruck with his Army for the Protestants 388. Leaves the Camp 406. Retires from Strasbourg to Constance 418. A Fine is set upon his Head by the Emperor 554. He raises men in Germany for the French King ibid. Is reconciled to the Emperor and King Ferdinand 594. Schwabian Confederates beat Ulric D. of Wirtemberg 80. They refuse a Truce with the Boors ibid. They rout the Boors at Saltzbourg 81. An Account of the Schwabian League 82. The Schwabian Cities mediate betwixt Albert and the City of Noremberg 562. Schwinfurt a Town upon the Main there the Princes mediate an Accommodation 156. The Treaty is removed to Norenberg 160. Sepsy vide Sepusio Sepusio claims the Crown of Hungary after K. Lewis's death 105. vide Vaivod of Transylvania Dies 269. His Son put under Solyman ' Protection 270. Servetus Michael Burnt at Genoa 593. Seymour Edw. D. of Somerset Protector of K. Edward VI. and the Kingdom in his Minority 418. Is Imprisoned 485. Releas'd and Marries the D. of Northumberland's Daughter 492. Is again made a Prisoner 528. And Beheaded 538. Sforza Francis obtains the Dutchy of Milan of Charles V. 122. Marries Christina the K. of Denmark's Daughter 174. Dies 180. Sibylla of Cleve Wife to John Frederick Elector of Saxony sollicites the Emperor for her Husband 429. Is received Graciously by the Emperor ibid. She dies 596. Sickius Francis at War with the Bishop of Triers 56. Sickness Sweating Sickness in Germany 121. Sidonius Michael a Champion for the Mass at Augsbourg 437. Assists in Compiling the Interim 454. Siena revolts from the Emperor 573. Is Besieged by the D. of Florence 598. Retaken by the Emperor's Forces 615. Sigismund takes Cusanus Prisoner 36. Appeals from the Pope to a Couucil ibid. Calls the Council of Constance 47. Begs the assistance of the Empire against Zisca ibid. Sigismund K. of Poland Wars against Albert Great Master of the Teutonick Order 99. Makes him D. of Prussia ibid. His Answer to the Emperor's Ambassadors 348. His Plea given in by his Ambassador Alaskia about the Dutchy of Prussia 445. He dies 450. Sixtus IV's Decree concerning the Virgin Mary 377. Sleidan John sent by the Protestants Ambassador into England 352. Sent Deputy from Strasbourg to the Council of Trent 529. He applies himself to the Emperor's Ambassadors 531. Complains of Gropper to the Council of Trent 535. Joins with the Wirtemberg and Saxon Ambassadors in their Sollicitations with the Emperor's Ambassadors 537. Takes leave of the Emperor's Ambassador who stops him 545. Leaves Trent 546. Deputy from Strasbourg to the French King 557. Treats with him and the Constable ibid. Dies 638. Smalcald a Town in Franconia belonging to the Landgrave of Hesse vide Protestant League at Smalcald 142. The Confederates of the League expostulate upon the motion to chase a King of the Romans 143. The League renewed 189. A Convention of the Protestants there 212. Solyman makes War in Hungary 50. Takes Belgrade 51. And Rhodes 57. Invades Hungary 103. Besieges Vienna 121. Breaks up the Siege ibid. Makes a new Irruption into Austria 161. His Troops are defeated ibid. Imprisons Alaski Ferdinand's Ambassador 271. Strangles his Son Mustapha 594. Solmes Count vide Naves Spira Francis his dismal Story 475. Spires Bishop of Spires appointed to hear Reuchlin's Cause 30. Decrces in favour of him against Hogostratus ibid. A Diet held there 103. The States there differ about Religion 104. But their Breaches are made up ibid. And they make a Decree about Religion ibid. The Princes Assembled here write to the Senate of Strasbourg about the Mass 116. The Diet there assembled 118. They refuse the Deputies of Strasbourg to sit in the Diet ibid. They make a Decree about Religion ibid. The Princes of the Reformed Religion protest against the Decree 119. As also the Free Cities 120. A Diet call'd thither 152. Removed to Ratisbon 155. Another Diet called there 288. A mighty full Diet 317. A Decree there which angers the Papists 325. States of the Empire Some at Ratisbon desire to referr every thing to the Pope's Legate 279. They treat with tho D. of Cleve to restore Guelderland 285. They send a Message from Nurenberg to the Saxon and Landgrave about the D. of Brunswick 299. Write to the Switzers not to aid the French King 321. They acquaint Maurice the Elector of Brandenbourg with the Emperor's Resolution about the Landgrave 442. Strasbourg Priests marry there 66. The Bishop cites them ib. They justifie themselves ibid. The Bishop writes to Campegio complaining of the Senate 73. The Senate justifie themselves to Campegio ibid. And Parly with him upon his Answer 74. The Popish Clergy complain against the Senate to the
the Emperor 204. Appointed of the Committee to draw up a Bull for the calling of a Council ibid. His Speech at Wormes 272. Talks with Spira at Padua 475. Turns Protestant 476. Perswades his Diocess of Justinople to joyn with him ibid. Being Persecuted settles in the Valteline 477. And thence removes to Tubing ibid. Writes a Book to disswad the Switzers from sending to the Council of Trent 528. Vey a Lawyer of Baden speaks to Luther from the Commissioners at Wormes 45. Exhorts him to submit his Books to the Emperor and Princes 46. Vienna vide Solyman Visconti Dukes of Milan their Pedigree 203. Ulm receives the Protestant Religion and a Church is constituted there 149. Is reconciled to the Emperor and fined 413. A Diet called thither 428. What was done at it 431. Adjourned to Augsbourg 432. The Government changed by the Emperor 472. Their Divines refuse with great Courage to acknowledge the Doctrine of the Interim ibid. Their Ministers are released 479. Their answer to Albert's Proposals 563. Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg claims his Country 79. Is repulsed by the Schwabian Confederates 80. Is restored into it by the Landgrave of Hesse 173. Engages to be Feudatary to Ferdinand ibid. And recovers his Country entirely 174. He acknowledges himself Feudatary to Ferdinand 180. Is admitted into the Protestant League 206. Excuses himself by Letter to King Francis 249. He with Vpper Germany first takes Arms 380. Writes Supplicatory Letters to the Emperor 413. Is received upon hard Conditions 415. He makes his Submission to the Emperor in Person at Ulm 421. Receives the Interim 462. Dies 502. Vogelsberg Sebastian raises Men in Germany for Henry King of France 434. Is beheaded at Augsbourg for it 456. W. WAradin George Martinhausen Bishop of made a Cardinal 528. Is killed for Commotions in Transylvania 535. Waldenses Persecuted 345. Barbarously Massacred at Merindol 346. Their Opinions 347. Wenceslaus Emperor intercedes for Husse 46. Wiat Sir Thomas rises in Kent upon Queen Mary's Marrying King Philip 594. Is suppressed 596. Executed 598. Wiclef John Preached against the Pope in England 46. His Bones ordered to be Burnt by the Council of Constance 47. William vide Bavaria Winchester Stephen Gardiner Bishop of he writes a Reproachful Book against Bucer 340. Is Imprisoned for Obstinacy 511. Made Lord Chancellor by Queen Mary 589. An account of his Proceedings in the Divorce of Henry VIII ibid. He dies of a Dropsie 627. Wirtemberg vide Ulric and Christopher Wittemberg a City of Saxony upon the Elbe and an Vniversity 2. Connives at Luther ibid. They write to Pope Leo in his behalf 6. And to Miltitz that he might be tried in Germany ibid. And to Frederick in excuse of Luther's proceedings against Cajetan 12. The Vniversity abett the Augustines in not saying Mass 49. Their Reply to Frederick about that Matter 50. Wolfgang made Grand Master of Prussia 324. His Plea at the Diet of Augsbourg about the Teutonic Order 447. Is driven out of his Country 571. Wolfgang D. of Deux-Ponts absolutely refuses the Interim 480. Yet promises to obey the Emperor as far as he could 481. Wolsey dies for Discontent 170. Wormes a Diet called thither 38. It is opened 41. Luther Proscribed by an Edict there 48. A Diet called to punish the Anabaptists 200. Another Diet called there 201. A Convention cited thither 268. The Heads of the Conference at Wormes 271. A Diet there 343. Z. ZIsca John raises a War in Bohemia against Sigismund in revenge of Husse's death 47. Zuinglius Ulricus comes to Zurick 22. Opposes Friar Samson about Indulgences ibid. Disswades the Switzers from serving abroad in the Wars 48. Defends himself against the Bishop of Constance 51. Writes to the Switzers to allow Marriage among their Priests ibid. Disputes with John Faber in the Assembly at Zurick 57. Acquits himself of the Accusation of the States 66. Preaches up the abrogation of Images ibid. Differs with Luther about the Sacrament 97. Would not go to the Conference at Baden 105. Disputes at Bern 111. Disputes with Luther at Marpurg 121. Is killed 156. Zurick vide Zuinglius They refuse to serve abroad at Zuinglius's desire 48. They est ablish the Reformation 57. They Answer the Remonstrance of the other Cantons 70. And the Bishop of Constance's Book abort Images 72. They remove Images 76. They Expostulate with the other Cantens about the seizing of their Ministers 77. The Mass abolished there 82. They stop Provisions from the other Cantons 155. They are routed in Battle 156. And so a second time ibid. And at last conclude a Peace ibid. The Ministers of Zurick answer Gardiner's Book 340. A TABLE TO THE CONTINUATION A. ALbert Marquess of Brandenburg dies 13. Alva's War on the Pope 9. He goes to Rome 11. The Emperor's Ambassadors to the Electoral Princes to carry his Resignation 6. Dr. Woton English Ambassador in France 14. Between France and King Philip at Peronne 19. At Cambray 22. In France 27. To the Diet of Germany 28. The Popes Ambassadors to the Christian Princes and to the Council 49 62. Admitted by the Princes of Germany of the Augustane confession 63. Refused by Queen Elizabeth 64. His Legates to Trent French Ambassadors to the Council of Trent 87. The Ambassador of Spain received 91. Lansac Ambassador for France at Rome 94. The French Ambassadors protest against the Council 95. And go to Venice 96. Andelot Marshal of France loseth the favour of his Prince 19. Suspected to be in the conspiracy of Bloys 43. Sent for Succours into Germany 78. Is in the battle of Dreux 80. Defends Orleans 82. The Archbishop of Toledo suspected of Heresie 48. An Assembly of the great Men of France at Fountainbleau 44. Of the three Estates decreed 46. Opened at Orleans 51. Prorogued 52. Reassembled at Pont Oyse 58. An Assembly of the Delegates of France 68. B BAbotz a Town in Hungary besieged 5. The battle of St. Quintin 15. Of Graveling 20. Of Dreux 80. The Bavarians demand the Cup and the Marriage of their Clergy in a Tumult 97. Bellay Jean Cardinal Dies 50. The Bible sufficient alone to determine the controversies of Religion 60. Books prohibited and why 86. Bona Sfortia Queen of Poland dies Du Bourg Anna a member of the Parliament of Paris offends the King 31. Is Prosecuted 32. Condemned and Executed 34. C CAlais its Form and Strength 17. Siege and taking from the English 18. Profered to the Queen 41. Catharine de Medicis Queen Dowager of France made Regent 33. She preserves Conde and Navar 47. She shews great favour to the Protestants but yet underhand opposed them 56. Suspecteâ—h the Nobility 57. Excuseth the conference of Poissy 60. Dissembles the Rudeness of Laines 61. Solicited to begin a Persecution by the Spaniards 65. She prohibits the worship of Images 69. She puts her self and her Son under the Protection of the Prince of Conde 72. Yet out of fear joyns with the Catholick Lords 72. And betrays Conde 73. She pretends she is at
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 Loâ—vain 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 â—eply 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 Constancâ—e Huss condemned for an Hâ—retick 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 Sâ—rbonists 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
an Embassador to the Switzers The Protestants Embassy to the Emperor The Emperor writes to the Protestants Perone is besieged Francis the Dolphin dies A Provincial Council at Cologne Erasmus dies A rising in England The Protestants answer the Emperors Letter The Bull for Reformation of the City of Rome The King of Scotland is married 1537. The Duke of Florence is murther'd The French King complains of the Emperor Cardinal Poole sent Nuncio to the French King. The Ausburghers publish a Book against the Ecclesiasticks A Convention of the Protestants at Smalcalde Eldo his Speech The Confederates Answer to the Emperor's Embassador Eldo his answer to the Protestants The Pope sendeth to Embassador to the Elector of Saxony The Protestants answer to Eldo The Decrees of the Protestants at Smalcalde A Paper containing the Protestants Reasons for their refusal of the Council The Pope prorogeth the Council The King of England publisheth a Paper against the Council which was called by the Pope The Imperialists take St. Paul by storm They besiege Therouenne without effect They carry Quiers by assault Turin is supplied with Provisions Ferdinand his Army beaten by the Turks Edward the Sixth of England is born The reason why the Pope would reconcile the Emperor and French King. Christiana of Denmark returns into Flanders The Gelderlanders rebel A Draught of the Reformation of the Church 1538. The Pope prorogues the Council again Luther writes a Book against the Reformation of the Papists Montmorency made Constable of France The Protestants meet at Brunswick A young Gentleman of Tholouse is burnt at Paris An Enterview of the Emperor and the French King at Aigues Mortes The Pope prorogues the Council Charles Count Egmond dies Erard Bishop of Leige his Death Thomas of Canterbury The Elector of Brandenburg sends an Ambassador to the Elector of Saxony The Answer of the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave to the Elector of Brandenburg A Convention at Eysenach The Rise of the Antinomians The Papists Holy League 1539. An Interview between the French King and Mary Regent of Flanders Minden is proscribed by the Chamber The Lantgrave intercepts the Duke of Brunswick's Letters The Duke of Brunswick and the Elector of Saxony write against one another A Diet held at Frankford The Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave write to the French King. The Death of George Duke of Saxony Luther preaches at Leipsick The Death of Isabella the Empress The King of England publishes another Paper about the Council of Vicenza Luther writes a Book about Councils A Parliament in England The Turk takes Castle-novo An Insurrection at Ghent A Convention at Arnstet The Emperor passeth through France 1540. The Turk makes a Peace with the Venetians The Protestants send Ambassadors to the Emperor The Protestants write to the French King. A Convention at Smalcald The Emperor's Answer to the Protestant Ambassadors Eldo is removed from his Places and retires from Court. Ambassadors sent to Smalcald to mediate a Peace The Protestants answer the Commissioners for Pacification What besides was done in the Assembly of Smalcald The Emperor punishes the Rebels of Ghent The Emperor's Letters to the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave The Diet of Spire called Saxony and the Lantgrave's Answer to the Emperor Cardinal Farnese's Speech against the Protestants before the Emperor The French King secretly displeased The Duke of Cleve's Alliance with the French King. The Pope's War with those of Perugia The Diet of Haguenaw The French King's Edict against the Lutherans Cromwell Earl of Essex beheaded The King of England having put away Ann of Cleve marries the Lady Catharine Howard The Duke of Brunswick Accuses the Protestants The Acts of the Assembly of Haguenaw King Ferdinand's Proposals to the Protestants The Protestants Answer A Convention appointed to be at Wormes The Decree of Haguenaw Vayvode King of Hungary dies leaving a young Son Stephen Robert Barnes burnt at London Papists and Protestants burnt at the same time William Budey dies A most Hot and Dry Year The French King commands Prayers and Supplications to be made The Emperor confirms the Decree of Haguenaw and exhorts the Protestants to come to the Assembly at Wormes A Diet of the Empire called at Ratisbone Granvell's Speech in the Assembly at Wormes The Son of the Vayvode is put under the Protection of the Turk Ferdinand prepares to Invade Hungary Alaski committed to Prison by Solyman The Speech of the Legate Campeggio in the Assembly of Wormes The Conditions of the Conference at Wormes 1541. The Emperor dissolves the Conference Vergerius's Speech concerning the unity of the Church The Admiral of France condemned Duke Maurice's Marriage with the Lantgrave's Daughter The Diet of Ratisbone Luther's Book against the Duke of Brunswick The first Cause of the Troubles in Germany The Price of the Pall of the Archbishop of Mentz For what end the Indulgences granted The Way and Ceremony of making the Archiepiscopal Pall. Incendiaries hired by the Party of the Duke of Brunswick Who is accused thereof before Emperor The Acts of the Diet at Ratisbone The Protestants Answer to the Emperor's Proposals Persons chosen by the Emperor for the Conference His Exhortation to them The Presidents and Witnesses of the Conference at Ratisbone The Protestants write to the French King and intercede for their Suffering Brethren in Provence The Duke of Cleve's Treaty with the French King. The Marriage of the Duke of Cleve with the Daughter of Navarre The Admiral restored The Constable of France in disgrace The Acts of the Conference at Ratisbone Some of the States who disliked a Reformation procured all to be referred to the Pope's Legate The Protestants Address to the Emperor The Answer of the Pope's Legate His Exhortation to the Bishops The Legate's Speech being given to the Emperor was afterwards communicated to the States The Answer of the Protestant Divines to the Papers of Contarini The Legate's Third Paper to the States The Elector's Answer to the Emperor The Protestants Answer The Opinion of the Catholick Princes The Complaint of the Catholick Cities that they were excluded from the Deliberation of the Princes The Emperor refers the matter of Religion to the Council Eckius's Letter to the Princes Pflug and Gropper justify themselves from his Aspersions Contarini's Letter to the States against a National Council The Princes Answer to the Popes Legate And the Protestants also refute it The Decree of the Diet of Ratisbone A private Grant made by the Emperor to the Protestants Aid promised against the Turks The Emperors complaint against the Duke of Cleve French Ambassador's to the Turk slain A Complaint thereof made by the French King to the Emperor Francis of Lorrain married to the Dowager of Sforza Buda besieged by King Ferdinand Who received a great Overthrow By what means Buda fell into the Hands of the Turks Transilvania given to the Vayvode and his Mother The Emperors Expedition into Barbary His Fleet spoil'd and dispersed by the Storm A Plague in Germany
Maximilian Barbarossa's Incursions Anthony Duke of Lorrain dying his Son Francis succeeds to him The English make an Expedition into France Boloigne besieged Sandizier taken upon Surrender Renate Prince of Orange killed The Consternation of the Parisians Boloigne taken by the English The Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King at Soissons and the Conditions of it The Pope's Letters to the Emperour written at the instigation and upon the confidence of the French King. The Bishop of Winchester's Book against Bucer Cardinals created to gratifie Princes The Council is again called The Controversie about the Lords Supper is renewed The Plea of the Clergy of Cologne with the Archbish The Clergy of Cologne appeal to the Pope and Emperour George of Brunswick President The writing of the Archb against the Conspiracy of his Clergy The Clergy of Cologne subscribe the Appeal The Emperour's Embassie to the King of England The Netherlanders loveâ— of the Reformed Religion Peter Bruley burnt The Intercession of Strasbourg and the Protestants for Bruley The Emperour 's severe Edicts against the Lutherans Bruiey's Answer to the Monks Interrogatories Of the Body and Bloud of Christ Of the Mass Of the Adoration of the Bread. Of Purgatory Of Masses and Prayers for the Dead How the Saints are truly worshipp'd Of Free-will Of Faith. Of Traditions that enslave Minds Of Images Of Baptism Of Vows Of Confession Of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary The Assembly of the Divines of Paris at Melun Luther's Positions contrary to those of the Divines of Louvaine An Imperial Diet at Wormes The first Session The Protestants make answer to Ferdinand The deliberation of the Popish States King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Petition Grignian the the French Embassador to the States The Persecution of the Waldenses at Merindole A cruel Sentence of the Parliament of Aix against the Waldenses Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix Philip Cortine Forces raised by Meinier against the Waldenses A Soldier gives the Fugitives forewarning Merindole is burnt Cabriere surprised by craft Is demolished A honourable piece of Cruelty of Meinier The number of the slain Coste is taken and the Inhabitants most barbarously used The Intercession of the Swizers for the Merindâ—lanes The King's Answer to the Swiss The Heads of the Waldensian Doctrine The Spaniards marched through Germany into Austria The Death of Louis Duke of Bavaria The Emperour and Cardinal Farnese come to Wormes The Emperour's Embassie to the King of Poland The King of Poland's Answer to the Emperour The Pope very greedy of Lutheran blood A bloody Sermon of a Franciscan Fryer Cardinal Farnese parts from Wormes for Rome Luther's Book against the Papacy of Rome A Picture set before the Book Luther's Theses of the three Hierarchies The Emperour's Treaty with the Protestants The Plea of Grignian the French Embassadour Francis Duke of Lorrain dies King Ferdinand's Daughter dies The Birth of Charles the Son of Philip King of Spain The Emperour's Daughter-in-law dies Piscara comes to Wormes The Duke of Brunswick chouses the French King of Money The Emperour makes a Truce with the Turk The Senate of Metz inquire after Protestants The Archbishop of Cologne is cited by the Emperour and Pope The Emperour takes the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne into his protection The Archbishop of Cologne is cited The Pope's prejudice against the Archbishop An Assembly and Conference appointed at Ratisbonne Conferours are appointed for the pacification of Religion The Papists refuse the Conference The Dutchy of Brunswick adjudged to the Emperour The stubbornness of the Duke of Brunswick The Elector of Cologne sends a Proctor to the Emperour War betwixt the French and English at Bologne The Death of the Duke of Orleans The Duke of Brunswick takes the field He takes Stembruck The Landgrave's Expedition against the Duke of Brunswick Maurice interceeds for Peace The Conditions of Peace proposed A Truce granted Duke Henry breaks the Truce A Fight betwixt Brunswick and the Landgrave The Duke of Brunswick surrenders himself with his Son to the Landgrave The Death of Albert of Mentz Maurice purges himself of the suspicion of betrying Brunswick Luther's Book against the setting the Duke of Brunswick at liberty William of Furstenberg is set at liberty The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave's Letters to the Emperour about the taking of the D. of Branswick The Landgrave's Letter to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by an Embassadour The Landgrave's Answer A Treaty of Peace betwixt the Kings of France and England 1546. The King of England forewarns the Protestants of their danger A Meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt The Elector Palatine appoints Preachers of the Gospel A Meeting of the Electors of the Rhine for the Archbishop of Cologne A Report of a War against the Protestants The Landgrave's Letter to Granvell Granvell answers the Landgrave A Meeting of some Princes at Franckfurt Sebastian Scherteline Deputies from the Protestants are sent to the Emperour and Clergy of Cologne The Protestants accused of a Conspiracy The Conference of Naves and Renard Count of Solmes The Landgrave's Letters to Naves The Conference of learned Men at Ratisbonne Presidents Colloqutors and Witnesses of the Conference The Conference begins The Heads of Doctrine to be chiefly handled The Conditions of the Conference Malvenda treats of the Point of Justification Bucer answers Malvenda as to the Article of Justification Billick the Carmelite Malvenda answers Bucer The Emperour's Letter to the Doctors Pflugg admitted amongst the Presidents The Conference is broken up The Protestant Embassadours with the Emperour in favour of the Elector of Cologne The Emperour's Answer to them The Pope's Legates sent to Trent Mendoza's Speech to the Fathers in Name of the Emperour The Cardinals answer Mendoza Preaching Monks acted the first part in the Council A Bull of Indulgences The commencement of the Council The first Session The Decree of the first Session The second Session of the Council of Trent Luther chosen Umpire betwixt the Counts of Mansfield Whether we shall know one another in the life to come Luther's Prayer before his death Luther's death His dead Body is carried to Wittemberg The Birth and Life of Luther He was sent to Rome Luther's Eloquence in the German Language His Constancy and Courage The Authors of the Decree of Ausbourg John Diazi went to the Conference at Ratisbonne John Diazi's Conference with Malvenda Malvenda's Letter to the Emperour's Confessour Diazi goes to Newbourg Alfonso Diazi's Brother comes into Germany The Cain-like and traitorous Mind of Alfonso John Diazi is killed by his Brother's means What was done with the Ruffians at Inspruck The Emperour comes to Spire on his Journey to Ratisbonne He visits the D. of Deuxpont's Lady Daughter to the Landgrave The Landgrave comes to the Emperour The Landgrave's Speech to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave The Landgrave's words to the Emperour Monks the disturbers of the Peace The Emperour's Answer to the
mouth of his Chancellor The Landgrave rises from off his knees unbidden The Landgrave's Captivity The Remonstrance of Duke Maurice and Brandenburg's Counsellors to the Emperour The number of great Guns taken from the Protestants Ebleben dies for grief The City of Magdeburg alone did not satisfie the Emperour Sebastian Vogelsberg raising Men in Germany King Ferdinand calls before him the Citizens of Prague in the Castle of Prague and there severely expostulates with them The Bohemians subdued and fined by King Ferdinand Caspar Pflug condemned of High-treason A Sedition at Naples because of the Spanish Inquisition The Reason of the first Institution of the Spanish Inquisition The Pope's Legat in France grants many things Charles of Guise made Cardinal The Pope and King of France make a Match between their Bastards A Diet at Ausburg Some Towns of Saxony are reconciled to the Emperor The Emperour publishes his Pacification with the Landgrave Duke Maurice graciously receives the Divines of Wittemberg The manner of the French King's Coronation Twelve Peers of France The Emperour squeezes Money from the States of the Empire The Sum of Money which the Emperour got Counts whom the Emperour would not pardon Magdenburg proscribed King Ferdinand and the Cardinal of Ausburg obtain vast Sums of Money from the Free Towns. The Emperour sollicits the Suitzers into a League An Armed Diet at Ausburg A Truce between the Emperour and Turk The Expiation of Churches Michael Sidonius a Champion for the Mass The Opening of the Diet at Ausburg Pietro Aloisio the Pope's Son is assassinated at Piacenza Jerome Palavicini turned out of House and Lands Pope Paul III. an Astrologer and Necromancer Those of Piacenza submit to the Emperour The detestable wickedness of Aloisio the Pope's Bastard The Council of Trent divided The German Bishops Letter to the Pope A Victory of the English over the Scots The Opinions of the Catholicks and Protestants differ about the Council of Trent The Protestants are sollicited to submit to the Council Some Protestants drawn in or over-awed assent to the Council The Free Towns scrupulous to assent to the Council The Emperour's Answer to the Speech of the low Towns. The Emperour's Embassie to the Pope for the continuation of the Council Letters to the States in behalf of the Landgrave The Emperour's Excuse to the States concerning the Captivity of the Landgrave The States acquaint Maurice and Brandenburg with the Emperour's Relation The Emperour is not wrought upon by Intercessions De Lire sent to the Landgrave desires up all Obligatory Letters that he had Peter Martyr goes into England The Reformation of the Church in England The Cardinal of Trent's Speech to the Pope in the Consistory of Cardinals The Speech of the Emperour's Embassador to the Pope The Cardinal of Lorrain's Harangue to the Pope The French King hunts after a fit occasion The Pope's Answer to the Cardinal of Trent and Mendoza The Pope's Letter to his Legate in the Council The Legat's Answer to the Pope The Pope's Answer to the Emperour's Embassadour Mendoza sends the Pope's Answer to the Emperour 1548. The Pope's Answer to the Bishops of Germany The Emperour's Embassadours sent to Bolonia The Pope's Legate to the Emperour's Embassadour De Vargas the Emperour's Embassadour his Speech to the Fathers The sawciness of the Cardinal de Monte. The form of the Protestation against the Council The King of Polands Embassy in behalf of Albert of Brandenburg The Harangue of the Polish Ambassador in the Diet of Ausburg The Institution of the Teutonick Order Casimire King of Poland subdues the Teutonicks Albert of Brandenburg refuses to do Homage to the King of Poland Albert makes Peace with the King of Poland The Master of Prussia's Answer to the Speech of the Polish Ambassador The Original of the Tuetenick Order Conrade Duke of Muscovy afflicted by the Prussians Prussia converted to the Christian Religion A Pacification betwixt the King of Poland and Matter of Prussia The King of Poland takes 70 Towns from the Master of Prussia The Articles of the Peace betwixt Casimire King of Poland and the Master of Prussia How long Prussia continued under the Empire The death of Sigismund King of Poland The Popes haughty Speech to the Emperours Ambassador The Pope taxes Mendoza as having transgressed his Commission The Popes Expressions concerning his perpetual resolution of calling a Council His comparing himself with the Emperour The singular purpose of the Pope The Emperour's Report to the States The Interim is made Bucer being sent for by the Elector of Brandenburg comes to Ausburg The English Declaration to the Scots Sebastian Vogelsberg is condemned to die and two Captains with him A Persecution in France The Ceâ—emony of Investing Duke Mâ—â—rice into the Electorship Bucer rejects the Interim Brandenburg angry with Bucer The Archbiship of Cologne's first Mass The King of Tâ—nis comes to Ausburg The Heads of the Book called the Interim The Interim often reviewed and corrected before it could pass The Interim sent to Rome The Popes Animadversions upon it The Elector's opinions about the Interim vary The Archbishop of Mentzs his craft in approving the Interim and giving thanks to the Empeâ—â—â— The Emperour desires Money to be raised and put into a publick Treasury King Ferdinand craves Money from the States Maximilian marries his own Cousin german The Naapolitan Horse are a great burden to the people about Strasburg Marquess John of Brandenburg approves not the Interim The Electors of Brandenburg and Palatine receive the Interim The constancy of the Duke of Deux-Ponts Musculus went from Ausburg to Bern. The labours and dangers of Brentius Brentius his Judgment of the Interim The ingratitude of the People of Hall who banish Brentius and his Family The Duke of Wirtemberg secretly received Brentius The Preachers are forced to fly Wirtemberg receives the Interim The constancy of Saxony the Prisoner Severity towards captive Saxony Letters spread abroad in the Landgrave's Name Whil'st the Mass triumphs in Germany it is run down in England The Bishop of Winchester is committed to Prison The Emperours Ecclesiastical Reformation The Bishops approve this Regulation Those of Strasburg are urged to receive the Interim The Answer of those of Strasburg Granvell's Speech to the Strasburghers The Strasburghâ—â—s Answer to Granvell Granvell's Reply The Strasburghers insist The other Cities are also urged The Emperours Answer to the States about the disbanding of the Soldiers The States consent to the Constitution of the Imperial Chamber A Decree of the Dyet of Ausburg concerning a free Council The Composers of the Interim are bountifully rewarded The Emperours Letters to the Princes about the receiving of the Interim The Veneratians Proclamation The Popes Legats in the Courts of Princes The prudence of the Venetians in the business of Religion The Venetian Inquisition against Sorcerers and those that have commerce with the Devil French Auxiliaries sent to the Scots They who served in the Protestant Arms Proscribed by the Emperour The Duke of Vendâ—smâ—s Marriage The
Duke of Aumales Marraige Louis d' Avilaâ— History of the German War. Islebius brags of the Interim The Bishop of Auranches writes against the Interim So does Romey the Dominican The constancy of the Sons of the Duke of Saxony The Duke of Saxony avows to the Emperour his rejecting of the Interim The Deputies of Constance with the Emperour Their humble Letters to him The Bishop of Constance dies of an Apoplexy which he had imprecated unto his People Maximilian's War against the Switzers The Emperour changeth the Senate of Ausburg The Companies are abolished The Emperour gives sentence in favour of Nassaw against the Landgrave The Spaniards march privately to Constance Alfonsus Vives was killed and the Spaniards draw off without success A Custom of the Switzets The Letter of the Strasburgers to the Emperour Their Judgment of the Interim The Emperours answer to those of Strasburg The people of Constance proscribed They pray some Princes and the Suitzers to intercede with the Emperour for them The Emperous answer to the intercessors Those of Lindaw receive the Interim The Strasburgers consult about the Interim Many of them renounce their freedoms in the City and depart The Senate of Vlm changed The constancy of four Divines of Vlm The Ministers of Vlm put into Chains The Emperour comes to Spire The Popes Legats sent to Germany The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave carried Prisoners into the Low Countries The Deputies of Strasburg with the Emperour The Bishops of Strasburg's Letter to the Clergy about the observation of the Decree Their Letter to the Emperour The Deputies of Strasburg are dismissed and ordered to agree with their Bishop The Emperour keeps the Duke of Saxony with him The Landgrave he sends to Oudenard The Reformation of the Chamber The Duke of Brunswick brings an Action against the Protestants and so do some others The people of Constance give themselves up to the house of Austria King Ferdinand upon Conditions takes them into his protection And then lays his Commands upon them The Marriage of Duke Augustus of Saxony A Sedition at Bourdeaux The Bourdeaux-men receive the Constable and his Soldiers The Punishments inflicted by the Constable at Bourdeaux The Bells are taken from them and their Charters burnt The dead Body of the King's Lieutenant being by the Citizens scraped out of the ground with their Nails is splendidly buried The horrible History of Francis Spira John Caso Archbishop of Benevento the Pope's Legate at Venice Spira falls sick and also into despair admitting of no comfort He dyes despairing of Salvation Vergerio The strange Conversion of Vergerio to the reformed Religion Vergerio writes a Book against the Apostates of Germany John Baptista Vergerio Bishop of Pola The Inquisitors against Vergerio An Invective against Vergerio The Inquisition of Pola and Justinopolis Grisonio's exhortation against the Lutherans Vergerio goes to Trent to justifie himself in Council But is deny'd a place in it Vergerio preached the Gospel against the Grisons from thence was called to Tubingen Vergerio's Brother dies not without suspition of Poyson The Book of an Archbishop on the praise of Sodomy Marriages contracted by the Ministers of the Church of Cologne are annulled and declared to be incestuous The Custom of the Province of Treves The Interim is in vain pressed upon the Landgrave's subjects Siâ—onius consecrates a new the Churches of Franckfurt The Queen of Scots carried over into France Philip the Emperour's Son passes through Italy to the Low Countries Philip is magnificently received at Genova 1549. As also at Milan The Count of Buren dies A Convention of States in Saxony A Form of Religion is drawn up for Saxony The Emperous Son comes to Germany The Duke of Arescot is sent to meet him Duke Maurice's intercession for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law Troubles in Africa Upon what occasion the Cardinal of Lorrain was made Bishop of Metz. The City of Strasburg's Letter to the Emperour The People of Magdenburg exposed as a prey because of Religion The Preachers of Vlm freed out of Prison Tumults in Engâ—and The Admiral of England beheaded The Bishop of Strasburg enjoyns the Clergy to obey the Emperours Edict The diligence of Archbishop Cranmer in Promoting Piety Bucer and Fagius go over Sea to England The Emperours Son makes his entry into Brussels Intercession made for the Landgrave but in vain The Bishop of Strasburg says Mass The Plea of the Professors of Strasburg to the Bishop The Answer of the Bishops Agents to the Professors of Strasburg The intercession of the Senate of Strasburg for their Professors Christopher Welsinger a Civilian The Duke of Deux-ponts is again urged to approve the Decree His Letter to the Emperour The Ingenuous Confession of the Duke of Deux-ponts The refutation of the Interim by those of Lower Saxony The beginning of the divisions in the Churches of Saxony The Hamburghers Letter to Melaâ—chton about indifferent matters Melanchton's Answer The Electoral Archbishops held Provincial Synods The Heads of their Decrees Of Consecrations and Exorcisms The manifold use of Holy Water Salt in Baptism The Churching of Women 1589. The Ceremony of the Dedication of a Church The Consecration of Bells The way of Consecrating Altars The making of Oyl and the Chrism The Popish Ceremonies brought into contempt through the preaching of Luther A Papal Decree concerning the use of Holy Water The Pope's Legates to the Emperour The Pope's Indulgence The Power of the Bishops delegated Of Monks fallen into Heresie Of the Communion in both kinds Of the Profits of Church Lands The Subdelegation of the Bishops Delegate The Emperour sends the Pope's Indult to the Bishops of Germany The Archbishop of Mentz sends the Pope's Indult to the Landgravians A godly Answer of the Preachers A Dispute at Oxford in England about the Lord's Supper The Coronation of the Queen of France The King and Queen of France make their entry into Paris A Persecution in France Solemn Processions and Prayers at Paris Luther and other Hereticks to be rooted out of France Monsieur Vervine beheaded A League betwixt the Switzers and French. Duke Maurice's Letters to his Subjects The Landgraves Wife dies An Insurrection in England The French King recovers some Places from England The Duke of Somerset committed to Prison The Emperour makes the Low-Countries do Homage to his Son Prince Philip. The Senate of Strasburg agree with their Bishop The danger of the Republick of Magdeburg by reason of the Emperours Proscription Their Apologetick Declaration Two Reasons why they cannot obtain Peace Gordius the Martyr The Marriage of Francis of Mantua The death of Paul III. A Book against Paul III. The Murders of Paul III. Paul's Sister being a Whore makes him a Cardinal He murders another Sister His Lusts The Funeral Charges of Paul III. A description of the Conclave of Rome 54 Cardinals in the time of Paul III. The way of chusing the Pope How many Voices every Cardinal may give Three Factions of Cardinals The Conclave full of chinks Pool upon