A FAMOVSE Cronicle of oure time called Sleidane's Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and common wealth during the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift with the Argumentes set before euery Booke conteyninge the summe or effecte of the Booke following Translated out of Latin into Englishe by Ihon Daus ¶ Here vnto is added also an Apology of the Authoure â CHE SARà SARà ⧠â To the right honorable and his singular good Lord Fraunces Earle of Bedford Lord Russel one or the Quenes highnes most honorable priuy counsel Ihon Daus his daily oratour wisheth helth peace and coÌsolatioÌ In Christ Iesu with thincrele of honor and digntiy AMonges all other wryters that compile Bookes for the knowledge and instruction of others right honorable and my singular good Lord thei in my opinion deserue best of the common welth which commit to wrytinge stories wherby men maye learne by thexamples of others set before their eies how to guide and gouern theyr life what thinges to embrace or eschue and to iudge by matters past what shal be the consequent and end of things to come For which cause the most eloquent orator Cicero calleth an history the mystres of maÌners the guid light of life the sercher out of vertues driuer away of vices with many such other like goodly titles which he attributeth to the same And certenly if ther wer euer any story written whereof men might reape frute and commodity or worthy to be had in hand practised in the common vse of mans life ether for the worthines ofihargumente which is concerning the state of religion and common wealth or for the report of things done lately of fresh memorye it is thys same work of Sleidane For he treateth not only of thenterprises of men with the casuall chaunces of things that happen But climing higher and auauncing the minde of man vp vnto heauen constraineth the same to maruel at the woÌderful prouidence of the liuing God touching the gouernement of the Churche And induceth men to wonder at the vnsearchable counsel of God almighty who hath preserued the same in somany troublesome stormes and tempestes ful of pearil and daunger And as concerninge the author the dilligence and fidelity that he hath vsed deserueth doutles to be highly commeÌded of all men for so much as he hauing more respect to the common wealth than regard to his priuate commodity hath wholy imploid him self to consecrate the best and most excellent matters that maye be to euerlasting memory It is said how Thucidides was so desyrous of the verity and so doubtfull and scrupulous in wryting of his story that he gaue a great some of monye euen to his ennemies to haue the truth of matters to know how all thinges went Assuredly the same may we say also by Sleidan who as he him selfe confesseth not content to go by heare say or by common report of people hathe fished for the certenty of his Story out of common recordes or at the least by report of men worthy credit and herein hath spared nether cost nor paine For although he hath wrytten many thinges which he him self hath sene in Germany Fraunce Italy other places yet muste he of necessitye be holpen herein with the eies and eares of many to compact an history of so many seuerall nations and places so far distante one from an other Seing therefore that thys story of Ihon Sleidane is compiled of matters of so singuler and excellent perfection worthy of perpetuall memory J haue thought it expedieÌt for sondry causes to present your honoure with the same And that as wel for the great good wil zeale that your good Lordship beareth towards lerninge christen religion and common wealth of your natiue country As also for the place and dignity to the which by the iudgement of al meÌ you are most worthely called coÌsidering how it shal be neither vnprofitable nor vnnedeful for your honor to vnderstand the state of other realmes and coÌmon welthes with the tormoils of the church in the same which things do here aboundantly and sufficiently appear And to thend it may be easely knowen in what place euery matter may be found I haue set before the beginnyng of euery boke the some or argumeÌt conteining the most matters comprised in the same most humbly beseching your honour to accept this simple translatioÌ dedicated to your good Lord ship and wrytten for the vtility of our common couÌtry into your honorable tuition that throughe your good Lordships authority the tonges of euil speakers being repressed put to silence all others that are disposed may receiue commodity and profit by readinge of the same For doutlesse a more profitable boke than this is hath not ben setforth in thenglish tong now of many yeres Thus the liuing God preserue and increase you in honor and so replenish your noble mind with the light and grace of his holy sprite to perswade and treat with the Quenes highnes moste honorable in such wise that all thinges ther condescended and agreed vpon may wholy redownd to the glory of Gods holy name The Kalendes of August Anno. 1560. ⧠The. Translator to the Boke GO forth my painful Boke Thou art no longer mine Eche man may on the loke The shame or praise is thine But seke thou for no praise No thanke nor yet reward Nor eche man for to please Haue thou no great regard The labor hath bene mine The trauell and the paine Reproches shal be thine To beare we must be fain Yet hath my study bene To profit others mo Some men thereby to win And trust it shal be so For as to pleasure many I haue bene euer glad Right so to displease any I wold be loth and sad But if thou please the best And such as be of skill I passe not for the reast Good men accept good will Thou mightst with me remaine And so eschue all blame But since thou wouldst so faine Be gon goe in Gods name ¶ To the most excellent Prince Augustus Prince Electour Duke of Saxon Lantzgraue of Turing Marques of Meissen high Mareschall of thempire his singuler good Lord Ihon Sleidane wisheth health DIuers authors most excelleut prince haue setforth vnto vs many and sondrye alterations of kingdomes And God him self wold that we shuld be taught these thinges as it were with his mouth long before they shoulde come so passe And of those foure greate Monarchyes of the worlde of theyr greate aulteration and succession he taughte vs by the Prophette Daniell Whose Prophecies for the mooste parte of them are alreadye made euidente and manifest vnto vs wyth a certaine knowledge most pleasaunt and ful of consolation And of the alteration and contention that shoulde be about Relygion and Doctrine both the same prophet hathe spoken before and S. Paule comminge after him prophecieth also manifestlye But in what sorte the same shal be it is setforth and declared by mo than one or two Howe be
Religion that excepte their Bybles all other Bookes shoulde be burned This was in the yere of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundred and ten Reuchline which was both a lawier and right skilful in the Hebrewe tongue when he had receiued the Archbishoppes letters he wrote againe his mynde and said how the Hebrewes bokes were of three sortes there were Histories Bookes of Phisicke and of Prophecies and these laste to also of dyuers sortes in the whiche albeit there were many fonde and supersticiouse thinges yet are they for this purpose profytable for that they will serue well to confute their Errours and their dotages This his opinion he sente to the Archebyshoppe sealed After that Phefercorne knewe this he made not a lytell a doe but set oute a Booke agaynste him callinge hym the fautoure and defendour of the Iewes Reuchline in the defence of his estimation aunswereth him with another by the which he offended certein vniuersities but especially Collen in the which were then of moste reputation Iames Hogostrate and Arnolde ToÌgre who wrot an Inuectiue against him in like case as Phefercorne had done dedicating the same to theÌperor MaximiliaÌ And after that they wente to the lawe with him before the Archebyshoppe of Mentz and Hogostrate was plaintife whome Reuchline as his ennemy resused And first aunswered the vlatter by attourney and in fine came him self to Mentz accompanied with diuers gentlemen and other learned men whiche Ulriche Duke of wirtemberge had sent with him but after they had soughte meanes to haue quieted the matter and coulde not he appealeth vnto Rome The Bysshoppe of Rome committeth the hearyng therof to George Palatine Bishop of Spires commaunding that no maÌ els shoulde medle with all This notwithstandyng they of Colon condeÌned Reuchlines boke and burned it in the moneth of February in the yere M.D.xiiij This did the Bishoppe of Spires take in maruelous euil part And because the Plaintife beynge called at seuerall tymes as the maner is appered not he geueth sentence with Reucline approuynge his Booke to be good and condemneth this Hogostrate in costes and domage But he to the intent to make this sentence frustrate trauayleth to Rome In the meane time his fellowes at home labored and wrot to Paris and to Lewis the Frenche kinge by the mediation of Erarde Marchiaue Byshoppe of Liege who was at the same tyme greate with Lewis the twelfeth Wherofore the Uniuersitie of Paris after longe debatynge of the matter condempned the booke also as worthye to be burnte and the author to be dryuen to recant and those Hebrews bokes to be brent in like maner as they haue bene in times past This was in Auguste followynge The Duke of Wirtemberge had intreated them by his letters And Reucline him selfe wrote vnto them gentely for that he had bene there studieÌt and sent them the Copie of the Sentence pronounced by the Bishoppe of Spires but all was in vaine When this Hogostrate had sued at Rome three yeres and could not preuaile he retourneth home againe as he wente For diuers of the Cardinalles vnto whome Leo committed the hearynge of the matter loued Reuchline intierlye for hys excellente learnynge and amonges others Adrianus that wrote a booke of the Latin tounge He was also commended vnto them by Erasmus of Roterodame whose Epistles in hys behalfe do yet remaine Before the menne of Louaine hadde publyshed theyr sentence of Luther they tooke theyr aduise of Adriane Cardinall of Derthuse in Spayne a Hollander borne and brought vp amonges them at Louaine by whome they were boldned to do it Wherefore when Luther had so manye and so greate ennomyes he wrote an Epistle to the newlye created Emperoure Charles the fifte and fyrste crauynge pardone that beinge a manne of so lowe degree he shoulde attempt to write to so highe a Prince he saithe the matter is weightye that causeth him to doe it and altogether suche as appertaineth to the glory of Christ signifying how he had written certaine bokes whiche had procured him the displeasure of manye through no desert of his for he was broughte into this contention by his aduersaries agaiust his wikhe had muche rather haue setten still but this hath bene his chief and only studye that the pure doctrine of the go spell might appere against the false traditions of men and that many good and excellent learned men can beare witnes of the same And this to be the cause of all the hatred disdaine reproches pearils and displesures that he hath bene in these thre yeres that he had done as much as lay in him that the matter might be taken vp But the oftner that he sought quietnes the more were his aduersaries offended and where he hath oftentimes required them to shew him wherin he had erred and to teach better thinges hitherto they haue aunswered in maner nothing but by railing wordes and cruell iniuries sekinge only how to quench both him and the doctrine of the Gospell For the which causes he is now constrained to vse the last remedy and after the ensamples of Athanasius to flie vnto him for succour besechynge him to take vpon him the tuition of the christian doctrine and to defende him againste all violence and iniurie till the matter be further knowen that he will desyre no defence in case he be proued to maynteyne an euill cause but desyreth onely that the thing may be tried and knowen and nothing to be determined before That this apperteineth to his office and for this cause hath he this highe power geuen him of God to minister Iustice and to mainteine right and equitie And to defende the pore and weake agaynst the iniuries of the stronger In like effect he writeth after that to all the states of the Empire reciting in fewe wordes howe vnwillynge he was to fall into this contention howe desyrous he hathe bene to haue it taken vp what conditions he hath offered and yet doeth the same Not longe after he writeth to the Archebishop of Mentz Cardinall with greate submission beynge sory as he saieth that he is complained vpon to him by suche as were wont to praise his doinges But he admonisheth him to gyue no credit to talebearers and to beware of Flatterers by the example of kynge Dauid disceaued by the flatteter Siba that he would set a part all sinistrall suspicion of him and of his workes vntill suche time as he had leasure to reade them him selfe for there were two kindes of men that condemned his writinge one was of them that neuer red them another of suche as read them in dede but with a malicious minde these did depraue his doynges wherin if any man coulde fynde any errour and teache him that were better he woulde be glad to folowe it and hathe oftentymes so protested And for asmuche as he trusted well in his great humanitie and was borne and brought vp in the same prouince that he hath cure of he coulde not but write thus vnto hym The
that there be no fraude vsed towardes the preuileges and liberties of thempire that he impose no custome or droicte with out the assent of thelectours neither that through his letters he diminish the custome of thelectors that dwell by the Rhine If he haue any action agaynst any man that he shall trye the lawe and vse no force to suche as will aunswere to the lawe but stande to the ordre of lawe The goodes of the Empire whiche shall chaunce to be vacant he shall geue away to no man but a lotte them to the publicke Patrimonye If he shall wynne any foreine countrey throughe the aide of the states of Germany he shal annexe it to thempire if he shal recouer any publike thinge by his owne force and power he shall restore the same to the common welth that he shall ratifie that which was done in the vacation of thempire by the countie Palatine and the Duke of Saronie That he take no counsel to vnite Thempire to his house and posteritie as his propre inheritaunce but that he leaue to the seuen Princes fre Election according vnto the lawe of Charles the fourth prescript of the Canon lawe if he do any thinge otherwise to be frustrate and of none effect That so shortly as may be he repaire into Germany to be inuested What time the Ambassadours had approued these thinges with an othe in his name they deliuered vnto eche of the electors writinges therof sealed That whiche is here spoken of the Cannon lawe is conteined in the Epistle decretall of Innocentius the thyrde which testifieth that the seuen Princes electours haue fre authoritye to create themperor And that thempire goeth not by succession but by election Which InnoceÌtius liued about the yere of our Lord M.ii. C. Nowe let vs retourne to Luther About this same time Erasmus of Roterdam wrote letters from Andwarp to Frederick Duke of Saxonie wherein amonges other thinges he maketh mention of Luther saying that his bokes are ioyfullye receiued and red of good and well learned men and moreouer that his life is of no man reprehended for that it is farre from all suspicion of auarice or ambition But that the deuines of Louain hearinge that he is greatly oppressed with thaucthoritie of the Cardinall Caietan do nowe triumphe And in all theyr sermons and bankettes raile vpon him callynge him Heretike and Antichrist declaringe with mo wordes the same to be much contrary to theyr profession so to slaunder any man before he be comiicte of Heresye He wryteth also in a maner with the same woordes to the Archebishop of Mentz and to Cardinall Campegius tauntyng these sophisticall Diuines and Monkes whiche can not abide the studye of tonges and of eloquens nor of any good learnynge He writeth also to Luther very frendly from Louain and sayth howe he hath receyued receiued his epistle whiche declareth both the excellencie of his witte and also his christian hert shewinge him what a Tragedie his bokes haue styrred vp their and what hatred and suspicion he ronneth into of the Diuines and that he can preuaile nothinge by excusynge the the matter And howe there be many in Englande of great Estimation whiche thinke rightwell of his workes And that he himselfe hath tasted of his CoÌmentaries vpoÌ the Psalmes trusteth that they shall profit many for they like him very well but of one thing he would admonishe him that a man shall more preuaile with a certeine ciuile modestie then if he be to vehement And that he muste rather thunder against them which abuse the bishop of Romes authoritie then against the Bishoppes themselues with certeine other good counsels whiche he gaue him exhorting him to procede as he hath begonne Luther hauing thus manye aduersaries there was a disputation appoynted at Lypsia a towne of Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxonie Uncle to duke Friderike Thither came Luther Melanthon which read the Greeke Lecture at Wittenberge Thither came also Iohn Eccius a Diuine bothe stoute and bolde who the fourth day of Iulye began the disputation with Luther touching the supremacie of the bishop of Rome affirming that they which said that the church of Rome was not the fyrst and chiefest of all others euen before the time of Ciluester did erre for he that hathe the Seate and faith of Peter was euer taken for his successour and Christes Uicar in earthe For Luther had setforth one contrary to the same that suche as dyd attribute the supremacie to the Churche of Rome did ground themselues onely vpoÌ the Bishoppes decrees whiche were made foure hundreth yeres syns Which decrees are coÌtrary to all Histories written a thousande yeres past contrary to the holy scripture and to the counsell of Nice most famous of all others But Eccius mainteyneth the supremacie of the Bishoppe of Rome and called Luther which dissented from the same a Bohemer because Iohn Husse was in times past of the same opinion Luther aunswereth that the Churche of Christe was spreade abroade farre and nere twentie yeres before Peter came to Rome to establishe the Churche there therfore is it not the fyrst nor the chiefest by the law of God as he saieth then they disputed of Purgatory of IndulgeÌces of Penaunce of Remission of synne and of the authoritie of Priestes And ended their disputation the fourteneth day of Iuly whiche was not appointed for Luther but for Andrewe Carolostadius Eccius But Luther comming onely for the company of Carolostadius and to here was drawen forth by Eccius which had got him a saufe coÌduict of Duke of George so that he muste nedes dispute For Eccius was of a lustie courage by reason of the matter it selfe Wherein he thoughte him selfe assured of the victorye At the whiche disputation Luther set forth afterwardes And of the wordes wrytinges of his aduersaries throughe his wittye obseruation he collected diuerse articles of doctrine altogether as he termeth them hereticall to thintent he mighte playnely declare howe they whilest they speake and write all thinges in the fauor of the Bishop of Rome and of a desyre to maynteine theyr cause straiynge farre a broade do confounde most thinges which beynge nerer looked to conteyne ofte tymes great errours wickednes At the same tyme Ulrichus Zwinglius taught at Zuricke and shortly after the Byshop of Rome sent thither a Pardoner one Sampson a Graye Frere of Millan to gather vp money whom Zwinglius stoutly resisteth declarynge him to be a disceyuour of the people ¶ The seconde Booke of Sleidans Commentaries ⧠The argument of the seconde Booke AT the motion of Charles Miltice Luther wryteth to the Pope and dedicateth vnto him a Boke of the Christian Libertie Themperour hauynge passed throughe Englande came into his lowe countreyes Luther writeth a Boke of Fouretene Images of consolation of confession of Uowes prouyng that the Lordes Supper ought to be permitted to all meÌ vnder both kyndes There was obiected the Counsell of Laterane vnder Iuly the .ii.
declareth howe the Church hath power and authoritie to iudge of euery doctrine and to appoint ministers But fyrste he defyneth the Churche to be where so euer the Ghospell is syncerely taught And the Byshoppes he calleth Images and heades without braynes wherof there is not one that doth his duetie in any place namely in Germany And not longe after he wrote of the eschewynge of mens doctrine wherin he saieth he holdeth not with them which do in dede conteÌne the lawes and traditions of men And yet do nothynge which belongeth to the dwetie of a trewe Christian After this he prescribeth how the Masse and Communion should be vsed in the Churche of Wittenberge And saieth howe he hath hitherto wrought slouthfullye by reason of mens infirmitie and to haue had a care one lye howe he myghte plucke wicked opinions out of mens myndes but nowe that many be confyrmed it is time to suffer vngodlines in the churche no longer but that all cloking and simulation set a parte sincere workyng maye ensewe vpon pure doctrine And to this he addeth an other wrytyng of holy ceremonies to be obserued in the Churche And againe of the abhomination of the priuate Masse which they call the Canon Wherin he exhorteth the people to flee froÌ the accustomed sacrifices of the masse as they woulde do from the Deuyll hym selfe for the demonstration wherof he reciteth in order the Canon of the Masse declaryng howe full it is of blasphemies againste God Amonges other learned men of Germany that fauoured Luther Ulriche Hutten a noble man borne was one who died this yere not farre from Zurick There be certein workes of his remaining which declare his excellent witte In the iij. boke I shewed you how Luther made answere to Henry king of Englande Whiche after the kynge had read he writeth his letters to the Princes of Saxonie Fridericke and John his brother to his vncle George and greuously coÌplaining of Luther he sheweth them what daunger hangeth ouer them and all Germany by reason of his doctrine And that it is not a thinge to be contemned or neglected for the great crueltie of the Turkes which is nowe spred so farre a broad had his beginning of a naughtie man or two And Boheme hard by them may be a warning for them to see the thing reformed in time he admonisheth theÌ also that they suffer not Luther to translate the newe Testament into the Uulgare tong for he is wel knoweÌ to be such a practisioner that there is no doubt but suche thinges as are well written he with his euill translation wil corrupt and depraue Unto these letters Duke George answereth very frendly blaming also Luther excedingly whose bokes he saith he hath banished out of al his dominioÌs as the most hurtfull enemies that can be Moreouer howe he is righte sory that he hath written so extremely against him and hath giuen coÌmaundement throughe out all his countrey that no man reade it nor sell it and howe he hath punished the Printer that brought the fyrste Copie thyther In the assemblie at Norinberge besydes matters of Religion the Princes entreated of peace and lawes of the punnisshement of those that obeyde not the lawes of the Empire of continuall aide againste the Turke Which two last were not agreed vpon And al the cities of thempire because certein thinges were enacted which they sowe should be preiudiciall to them sent theyr Ambassadours into Spâine to the Emperour Which ariuynge at Ualolet the sixt day of August The thyrde day after declared theyr message Unto whom the Emperor aunswered gently and frankely Notwithstandynge he sayde the Byshoppe of Rome had complained to him in his letters of Strauseborough Norinberge and Auspurge as fauorers of Luthers doctrine he trusted it were not trewe yet woulde he not hyde it from them to th entent they might obserue the Byshoppes decrees and his as he thinketh they will do These Ambassadors pourge them selues faiyng that they do what they can to accomplishe his will and pleasure In the meane time dieth Byshoppe Adrian at the Ides of Septembre in his place was chosen Clement the vii of the house of Medices They of Zuricke onely folowed Zuinglius doctrine the rest of the Suices hated the same Wherfore in a coÌmon assemblie had for the falâe purpose at Bernes some accused Zuinglius that he preached openly howe that suche as made league with other nations dyd sell bloud and eate mens fleshe Zuinglius heringe therof wrote that he spake not so but that he said in generall howe there were some which abhorred as a wicked thing to eate fleshe beyng forbidden by the Bishoppe of Romes lawe which thinke it none offence to sell mens fleshe for gold and destroy it with weapon But herin he named no nation And seyng that vice doeth nowe so muche abound it is his dewtie to rebuke it but the same doeth nothing concerne the good and innocent parsons Zuinglius amonges other things taught that images shuld be had out of the Church and the Masse to be put down as a wicked thing For the which cause the Senate called a new assemblie in their Citie whither came great resorte in the moneth of October And the disoutation coÌtinued thre daies About this time in sundry places and namely at Strausburgh Priestes maried wiues which thinge made muche contention For being accused for so doyng they answered that they had done nothinge agaynste Gods lawe permittinge all men to marie indifferently The Senate of Strausburghe had muche a do with the Bishoppe in this case who called them the .xx. day of Ianuary to appeare before hym at the towne of Sabernes to heare what sentence shoulde be gyuen agaynst them for contractyng of Matrimonye wherein he saieth they haue broken the lawes of the Churche of the holy Fathers and Byshoppes of Rome of the Emperoure also and of the Empire and haue done great iniurie to the order and offeÌded the diuine Maiestie When the Priestes had receiued this Citation they make suite to the Senate to haue theyr cause hearde before them And refuse not to suffer death if they be founde to haue done any thing againste the coÌmaundement of God The senate intreateth the Bishoppe that for as much as they refuse not to come to theyr aunswere if he should punish them it were like to brede much trouble coÌsyderinge that the reside ââo kepe Harlots openly and are nothynge saied to he would at the lest defferre it to th ende of the imperial counsell Which was than at Norinberge where doubtles suche like cases should be decided To this later couÌsel holden this yere at Norinberge Clement the Bishop of Rome sent his Legate Cardinal Campegius who had his letters moreouer to Friderike duke of Saxonie written very friendly in Ianuary Signifiynge howe he reioysed to heare of this assemblye where he shoulde be presente him selfe trustynge that some thynge shoulde be there
therfore departing from Wittenberge as before is mentioned had kept familiaritie with those secrete teachers that fayned themselues to see visions and to haue talke with God for the whiche causes the Dukes of Saxony had banyshed hym out of his countrey And he had set forth bookes against Luther and his fellowes callyng them newe flatterers of the Romyshe byshop and suche as taught amysse concernyng the masse confession of synnes Images and other thinges And those wordes of Christ This is my body he interpreted thus here sytteth my body and rayleth on the Duke for exylyng hym but layde all the blame in Luther Whereunto Luther aunswered at large defendyng his opinions and affirmed the cause to be iust wherfore the prince had banyshed him Now after this sedition was opressed the armies of the commoners discoÌfited and many executed dayly in al places Carolostadius beyng afrayde of his own parte coÌpyleth a booke wherin he pourgeth him selfe ryght dilygentlye affirmynge that they doe vnto hym great iniurye that reporte hym to be one of the authors of this seditioÌ And writiÌg his letters to Luther desyreth hym earnestly to set forth this same booke to defende his innocensie that he be not vniustly condempned and neuer come to his aunswere Luther wryting an epistle that all be it he dissented much from hym yet for asmuche as in this distresse he fleeth vnto hym for sucour he sayeth he would not disceyue his expectacion herein considering chiefly that this is the very dewtye of a Christenman Wherfore he desyreth the Magistrates and all others in generall that in so muche as he vtterlye denyeth the thyng that is layde to his charge and refuseth not to come to his answere before any lawful iudge the same might be grauÌted him whiche standeth both with equitie and iustice After this Carolostadius sendeth Luther an other boke wherin he protesteth that suche thinges as he wrote of the Lordes supper was not to defyne or determine any thing but by way of disputatioÌ to searche out the truth Luther admitteth the excuse but he warneth al men to beware of his opinion for so much as he is doubtful in it him selfe or els if thei doubt in lyke case to suspende their iudgement tyl such tyme as it be certenly knoweÌ what to beleue therin for in thynges that we must beleue we ought not to doubte or wauer but to be so certen that rather than to forsake our opinion we should not refuse to dye a thousand tymes In those dayes Luther maried a Nunne wherby he gaue occasion to his aduersaries to speake euyll of hym For than they sayd playnly he was madde and became the seruaunt of the deuill At this tyme Zwynglius the minister of the congregation at Zurick agreing with Luther in all other thynges dissented from him touching the lordes supper For those wordes of Christ this is my body Luther vnderstode barely and symply after the texte of the letter admitting none other interpretation affirming the bodye and bloude of Christe to be verely in the bread and wyne and so to be receyued with the mouthe also but Zuinglius taketh it to be a trope or a fygure as many others mo are to be found in the Scriptures and expouÌdeth the wordes thus This signifieth my body Wherunto subscribed Oecolampadius a preacher at Basill interpretyng it thus This is a signe of my body The matter was haÌdled on eyther syde with much contention wryting The SaxoÌs held the opinioÌ of Luther the Zwicers of Zwynglius There followed others which did expouÌd it otherwise but they all agreed in this opinion that the body blud of Christ is receiued spiritnally not corporally nor with the mouth but with the hart This coÌtention endured the space of .iii. years at the last by the meanes of the Lantgraue they came to a coÌmunication at Marburg as hereafter you shal here Also the couÌsel of thempire appointed a litle before at Auspurg because few came thither by reason of the tumultes in Germany was proroged to the first of May in the next yeare folowyng at the which time Ferdinando put theÌ in hope that the Emperour would be there him self and the place was appointed at Spyres Neuerthelesse it was decreed that in the meane tyme the preachers should expound the scriptures to the people after the mindes of the doctours whiche the churche had receiued and not to teache sediciously but so as Gods name may be gloryfied quietnes maintained Whilest Fraunces the French kyng was prisoner in Spayne Ales his mother had the gouernment Who to kepe in the byshop of Rome signified vnto him by letters messagers what a zeale and affection she bare towardes him and the churche of Rome Wherupon ElemeÌt the seuenth writing to the court of parliament in Paris signifieth how he vnderstode by her that certen heresies began to spring vp in Fraunce against the auncient faith and religion how they haue wittely forseing the thing chosen certen men to punishe such offendours whiche thing he confirmeth also by his authoritie wyllyng them to be diligent herein both for Gods glory and also for the welth of the Realme With many other faire wordes of exhortation to perseuer in so doing Which letters being dated at Rome the xx day of May were deliuered to the Senate at Paris the .xvij. daye of Iune Moreouer in the kinges absence the diuines of Paris had so euill entreated Iames Faber of Stapulles who hathe written dyuers workes both of Philosophie and diuinitie that they droue hym out of Fraunce Wherof the kyng being certified by the lettres of his sister Margaret which loued Faber for his vertue writeth to the Senate of Paris in his behalfe geuyng him a Godlye testimony for his learnyng and vertue and that he is in much estimation amonges the Italians and Spanyardes wherfore he wileth them to surcease and let the action falle till his retourne or his pleasure further knowen beyng assured that it is by euyl wyll commenced against hym by the doctours of Serbone for the matter was heard before his commyng from home These letters being dated at Madricea town in Spayn the .xij. of Nouembre were delyuered at Paris the .xxviij. of the same moneth It was a thyng geuen to the deuines in tymes paste to rayle vpon learned men the cause was that they sawe their ignoraunce dispised This yeare was the state of the common wealth altered in the lande of Pruse the vttermost prouince in Germany bordering on the We shall repete the matter from the beginninge In the Empyre of Henry the syxth the sonne of Frederick Barbarosse what tyme the Christians warred to recouer Hierusalem there was instituted an order of Knyghtes of Germany whiche because they fought for religioÌ did weare the whyte crosse on their garmeÌts as a badge of their profession This was the yeare of our Lorde M. C. and foure score and ten The first maister of that order was chosen
manifestly mayneteyne the cause of Pflugius through the suite of hys freÌdes the matter was vtterly lyke to brede ciuile warre For eyther of them had their meÌ vp in armure but through that mediation of the Lautzgraue it was appeased This was the beginning of the displeasure betwyxt them whiche after increased in tyme wrought a deadlye wounde to Germanye as shal be recited in place And certenly many men marueiled at Maurice that he would be so earnest and bitter agaynst him that brought hym vp and whome both he and his father may thanke for all theyr good fortune But certen of the couÌsellers that were with Duke George were thought to haue set forwarde this matter whiche neyther loued Religion nor yet the Prince Electour Whan the decree was made and all men prepared theÌ selues to the warre Luther set for the a booke in the vulgare tongue an exhortation to the warre whiche he dedicated vnto Philip the Lantgraue And after hathe declared the cause why he wrote of the contrary argument in his yong days the to warre against the Turkes were nothing elles but to resiste God whiche vseth hym for a scourge to afflicte vs whiche sentence Leo the tenth had amonges other thynges condempned for the Byshop of Rome so ofte as he mynded to procure a masse of monie out of Germany vsed euer this collour to gather it for the Turkishe warre and had shewed all the reasons that moued hym than and amonges others that a Christen man ought not to reuenge nor resiste euil but to suffer all thynges according to that saying of Christe of leauinge thy rote and agayne that the Emperour is not to be excited vnto warre as the head of Christendome Protectour of the churche and defendour of the faithe For the tytles are false and vayne glorious and iniurious to Christe who allone can defende his churche and the iniurie is the more for that certen kynges and Prynces are moste bytter ennemies to his true doctrine and therfore concludeth that the Turke is not to be warred vpon or resisted for the diuersitie of his religion but because he robbeth and spoyleth and maketh vniust warr and bringeth in with him most shameful examples of lyfe By a coÌparison made he proueth that the byshop of Rome is nothing better thaÌ the Turke for as he by his Alcorane so hath the Byshop by his decreetales quenched the doctrine of the Gospell That whiche he doeth by force the same doth the byshop by his curse but thei both worke reproche vnto matrimony abide punishment for the contempte of Gods lawe which ordeined holy matrimony what time god geueth theÌ ouer to their filthy lustes that they burne in most detestable desires worke most wickedly against the order of nature Finally speakig of the turkish power he admonisheth theÌ not to be carelesse in warfare but to knowe how thei haue to do with a moste fierse ennemy These and diuerse other suche lyke thinges he treateth of in that first boke but now what time the state of theÌpire had at the request of thempe king FerdinaÌdo decreed war he coÌpiled an other worke as I said a warlike exhortation or sermon to th enteÌt that such ministers of the churche as followed the warres myght haue some forme and order howe to teache and exhorte First therfore sayth he that men may vnderstande what is to be thought of the Turke the Scripture speaketh of two houge and cruell Tyrantes which shall destroy Christendome before the laste daye of iudgement one through false doctrine of whome prophecied Daniel and after him Paule this is verely the Byshop of Rome And an other by power and force of armes that is to saye the Turke of whome Daniel in the seuenth chapter speaketh Those therfore that wylbe christians let them plucke vp their hartes and loke for no peace and quietnes nor pleasauÌter life froÌ henceforth For that miserable tyme which he prophecied of before is now come but let vs comforte our selues with the comming of Christe and with our finall deliueraunce whiche immediatly after those afflictioÌs shal appeare and let vs knowe for certentie that al the woodnes and malice of the deuyll is powred wholy vpon vs by the Turke for neuer did Tyrante practyse suche crueltie as he doeth After he expoundeth the seuenth chapter of Daniel whiche is of the foure beastes coÌming out of the Sea declaring that the Turkishe Empire is there described For this is that same litle horne whiche sprang vp betwene those ten hornes of the fourth beast And albeit it is wonderfully increased yet can it not be that it should be in power like to the Romaine Empyre for the Prophet doeth there describe foure Empyres only which should succeade in order and the last to be the Empyre of Rome therfore shall there be none other that may be coÌpared in greatnes to the Romayne And for asmuche as Daniel did attribute vnto him three hornes only whiche he should plucke of from those ten his violence from henceforth shall not proceade muche further for those three are plucked of long synce Asia Grece and Egipt whiche beinge three of the greatest prouinces in the Empire the Turke now possesseth with in the whiche limites the Prophet hath included him wherfore there is good hope that from henceforth he shall possesse no prouince of the Empyre And where he is nowe so busy in Hongary and also readye to inuade Germany this is the last acte of the tragedy for it may bee that he shall inuade those countries but he can not thynke that euer he shall haue them in quiet possession as he hathe Asia Grece and Egipt for the prophecie is playne and manifest After this he treateth of all the other partes prouokyng them chiefly to repentaunce and exhorteth them all to be ready and wylling to obeye the Magistrate commaunding vnto this warre and not only to employe their goodes herein but also to serue with their bodies The prisoners also whiche eyther be nowe in the Turkes handes or hereafter shal come into the same captiuitie he comforteth with many perswasions and admonisheth them to be well ware of that fayned and pretensed Religion of the Turkes for he heareth saye howe many that haue professed Christ doe of their owne accorde falle into their Religion for that it hath a certen shewe of vertue and holines and that they suffer this bondage patiently and serue their maisters faithfully though thei be prophane and wicked neyther that they runne away from them or fordo them selues for vnpatientnes and lothsomenes of that estate but to beare alwayes in memory that same which Peter and Paule wryte of the dutie of bounde seruauntes but what tyme they shal attempte warre against the christians to hasarde their lyues rather than to serue vnder theÌ for they be murtherers and make warre against the sainctes as Daniell sayeth and shead innocent bloude therefore muste they chiefly beware that they be not partakers
warned meune to beware and eschewe the same as a mooste presente Pestilence One of these was Caspar Aquila chiefe minister of the Church of Saluelde in Thuringie Thoccasion why he wrote was Islebie who retourning home from Auspurge gloried muche in the boke by the way and said there was now a golden world toward and that Aquila had also assented After he hearde of this he answereth moste vehementlye and reproueth him for his liynge and affirmeth the boke to be ful of erroneous opinions And in Fraunce also Robert bishop of Abrincen wrote against it how be it after a contrary sort and chieflye dispiseth the boke for so much as it permitteth Priestes to marrye and the common people to receiue the whole Supper of the Lord and so taketh occasion to inuey against Bucer with most opprobrious words for maryinge his seconde wife Moreouer one Romeus generall of the Austen Friers at Rome wrote againste it for the same purpose Thus doth the boke incurre reprehension on euerye side Themperour sent an ambassadour to them of Norinberge and to certain others to perswade them vnto this decre Whan he came by the way to the duke of Saxons sonnes he moued them hereunto but they constantly denied it wherfore at his returne to themperour he declareth the whole matter wherupon themperour solliciteth againe the Duke theyr father prisoner and complaineth of his soÌnes how they contemne the decre lately made suffer men to speake against it both in theyr preachings wrytinges he requireth therfore that he would treat with them to content him in ether thing Wherunto he maketh answer howe he lately declared the cause whye he hym self could not allow the doctrin of the boke setforthe to Granuellan and the bishop of Arras wherfore he can not perswade hys sonnes to do that thyng whych he hym selfe can not with a quiet conscience he besecheth him to take it in good part and defeÌd both him and his childreÌ This coÌstancie of his magnanimiti in so great aduersity got him great loue euery wher amoÌgs al men Like as in Saxony they of Breme and Maidenburge so also in high Germanye onlye they of Constance borderynge vppon the Swisses were not yet reconciled to themperor but at the last obtaining a saufcoÌduit they send ambassadors to Auspurge to treat a peace Themperor propoundeth right hard conditions and amoÌgs other things also that they shuld admit the boke setforth after that to frame their religion Thambassadors require to haue the coÌditions mitigated but that was in vain and are commaunded to make answere by a certen day That knowen the Senate wryting their humble letters the xiii day of Iuly do beseche him that they be not constrained to do any thing against their soules health their own conscience how they se theyr owne daunger and are in a greate parplexitie for vnlesse they do obey they stand in pearill to lose both life and goods but if they shuld follow his appetite they must abide the vengaunce and iudgement of God Wherfore let him spare them and put not them pore wretches to so great an extremity especially seinge they haue no more offeÌded than others and haue for thempire for the house of Austrich suffred in time past exceding great misery now do refuse no charge that caÌ ought of them to be performed although their treasure is very smal their substance not great yet wil they geue for amendes .viii. M. crownes and .iiii. greate peces of ordenaunce but they beseche him to permit the same Religion whiche they haue kept now these .xx. yeres vntil the decre of a lawful couÌsel and unpose no heauier burthen to the Citye than it is hable to beare Their bishop Ihon Wesel who was also called Archbishop of Londen as is mentioned in the .xii. boke had threatned theÌ sore at Auspurge after the Emperors boke was setforthe but within a few daies he died of the same disease that he praied might fal vpoÌ them that is of a sodeÌ palsy Where they say how they haue sustained great domage for the loue of the house of Austrich thus it staÌdeth The Emperoure Maximilian by the aid of the Sweuical league wherof we haue spoken in the fourthe boke made warre with the Swisses wherfore the Citye of Constance being than of the same league and lieth nexte them receiued much displesure The Swisses were aided by them of Rhoetia of Seon and SaÌmaurice whiche were lately made their felowes and also by the Frenche Kynge Lewes the .xii. At the length by the intercession of Lewes Sfortia Duke of Millan the matter was pacified aboute the yeare of oure Lord a thousand and fiue hundreth Maximilian had in Mariage Mary Blancke the sister of Sfortia Themperor the third day of August calleth before him the consuls and all the Senate of Auspurge and diuers others of the chiefest Citezens and by Seldus the Ciuilian speaking muche of the good wil zele that he and his progenitors haue borne to them he saith their common welth hath now these many yeres bene euill seditiously gouerned the cause wherof hath bene that men of none experieÌce crafts meÌ for nothing les mete theÌ to haue gouernmeÌt haue bene chosen senators wherfore he who beareth good will to their city to thintent this euil may be remedied displaceth them al not for any reproche vnto them but for the common welthes sake After he coÌmaundeth their names to be red whoÌ he hath apoynted senators of the which noÌbre were the Welsers Relingers BuÌtgarners Fuggers PeÌtingers whoÌ he bindeth after by an oth assigneth vnto euery of theÌ his office function coÌmandeth theÌ straitly that they loue the coÌmon welth obei the decre of religion be vnto him obedient He doth also abrogate al fraternities coÌmaundeth vnder pain of death that from henceforth ther be no conueÌticles or asseÌbles made And coÌmaundeth that al wrytings of gildes fraternities of priuileges fredoÌ be immediatly deliuered to the new Senate coÌmaundeth this state of publike weale to be proclaimed by an officer of armes geueth charge vnder pain of death that no man do impugne the same The Senate geueth him thankes promiseth al due obeisaÌce In the meane while that these things were in doing al the gates were shut and the souldiours set to warde There had bene a loÌg sute many yeres betwene the Lantzgraue William the Erle of Nassow for the lordship of Chats which now at the length themperor in these daies decided geuing sentence againste the Lantzgraue The .v. day of this month themperour answereth thambassadours of the City of Constance by the bishop of Arras and sendeth them away withoute their purpose and because he seeth them so little careful for peace he saith how he wil deuise an other way The same day the Spaniardes which we said went into those parties to the nombre of thre thousand fotemen go straite
heafter shal be sayde The Bishop whiche was euer accompted to be of a mylde and a quiet nature was not thought to haue done this so muche of his owne accorde as through the instigation of others that were about hym whiche affirmed that this occasion of recoueryng his iurisdictioÌ was not to be neglected sayd moreouer that vnlesse he were earnest in that matter he might feare theÌperours displea He vsed for his chief doer in these cases Christofer Welsinger a Ciuilian who sometime was student in the vniuersitie of Wittemberge Againe the clergie of the head church of Strasburg had for their aduocate Iohn Tischel a doctour of that ciuile lawe In the last boke is mention made of Wuolfgange Prince of Bipounte how after the decre of ReligioÌ was enacted he was sent for to Auspurg Whome the Emperour had pressed with soÌ dry letters that he should obeye the decree And for so muche as he had referred the matter to the Byshoppes the Emperour demaundeth of hym whether he wyll ratifie the decree And whether he wyll displace the ministers of the churche that wil not obeye the same Wherupon he writing his letters to themperour in Frenche repeteth in fewe wordes what was done in the somer before at Auspurg And saieth howe at his retourne home he set forth vnto the people that part of the decree that concerned holy daies and fasting daies coÌmaunding the same to be obserued Howe he hath also red ouer diligently oftener than once the decree of ReligioÌ and graunteth that therin are many thinges which are consonant to his faith by the which he loketh for eternal saluation And that ther be many things also which differ much from the same Neuerthelesse he hath charged the preachers ministers of the churche to way euery thing diligently after to declare vnto him how they suppose the thing may be instituted But where al they with one voice affirme that they can not allowe the same in al thinges with a quiet conscience he thought it not his part to compell them to worke against their conscience Wherfore he required the byshops that they them selues wold take some order in it But what thing they haue aunswered he hath certified heretofore being in good hope that nothing more of him shuld be required But now saith he in as much as you wil haue a direct answer most mightie Emperour I wyl say what myne opinioÌ is And first as concerning the religioÌ rites ceremonies which haue bene certen yeres obserued within my dominioÌ verely I was borne brought vp in the fame as I haue also shewed you before Cesar eueÌ vntil this day neuer heard any other kind of doctrine moreouer I haue bestowed my study paines therin so farre forth as my wyt is able to coÌceaue it appereth plainly to be agreable vnto Gods worde For this must I nedes confesse seing I am asked the question least I should both hurt myne own coÌscience litle regarde my saluatioÌ This is the coÌsideratioÌ also why I can not approue yâ decre otherwise most willing ready after that maner exaÌple of mine auncestours to do any thing for Howebeit your highnes whiche is the supreme Magistrate maye determine herein what shall seme good vnto you It is wholy at your pleasure This only I beseche you that I be not constrayned to doe against myne owne iudgement nor yet the people that be vnder my dominion As touching the ministers of the churche I desyred you in my last letters that they might tary through your licence for the christening of chyldren and visityng of the sicke chiefly tyll others were substitute in their place Notwithstanding if you shall commaunde them to departe immediatly not abydyng tyll others come albeit thesame shal be a great grief and hynderaunce to the people yet shal it be done accordingly For many of them are gone already and in those thinges that may or ought to be perfourmed I know that all loialtie obeysaunce must be shewed you What time in the dominions of Duke Maurice there was a great apparence that Religion should be altered the ministers and preachers of Lubeck Luneburge and Hamburge compiled a boke wherin they confuted at the full the booke and decree of Auspurge Wherof the chief authour was Iohn Epine Moreouer the doctours of Maydenburg Nicolas Amstorfe and especially Matthie Flacie borne in the citie of Albone in Slauonie Nicolas Ganles bende them selues earnestly against the diuines of Wittemberge and of Lipsia and in many little bookes set forth do reprehende them as though they should deale dissemblyngly and shoulde through their indifferent or meane thynges set open a waye to the Romish Religion Finally they place this as a generall Rule that all rites and ceremonies al though they be of their owne nature indifferent be no longer meane thynges whan force an opinion of holines and necessitie byndeth men and whan occasion of wickednes therby is geuen This Flacie had bene certen yeares Phillippe Melanchthons schollar but in this contentioÌ he went to MagdeÌburg setting forth a boke afterwarde wherin he declareth the cause of his so doing Furthermore they of Hamburge addressinge their letters to them of Wittemberge especially to Melanchthon doe recite what they call indifferent or meane thynges and declare in what cases they ought to be admitted desyryng them also to wryte what thynge they would haue comprysed vnder that name to the intente men maye haue some certen thynge to followe and not to wauer in theyr myndes and least that name of indifferent thynges geue occasion to sondrye errours whiche may crepe in by lyttle and lyttle Unto the which epistle MelanchthoÌ maketh answer amoÌgst other thinges sayeth how some boÌdage is to be borne withall so it be not annexed to wickednes The Archebyshop of Mentz in the beginning of May holdeth a counsell prouinciall The decrees wherof he setteth forth in a boke afterward Lykewyse do the Archebyshoppes of Treuers and Collon who hath also a large prouince That booke amonges other thynges establysheth for confession that no maÌ be admitted to the Lordes supper vnlesse he be first confessed Of the hallowyng of Salt water and other thynges which through exorcismes and praiers are prepared as they say for the vse of faithful men Of the Reliques of the inuocation and adoration of Saincts of Pilgrimages of prayers for the dead of pourgatory of fasting and choyse of meates of the canonical houres as they terme them of the tremblable misteries of the Masse Unto this Synode came Maurice Byshop of Eistet The residue sente Ambassadours But that ordynaunce of hallowyng and consecratyng aparteineth to many matters Euery seuenth daye whiche is called the Sonday whan there be many people in the churche the priest exorciseth as they terme it first Salte after Water And whan he hath mixed the salte and the water together he sprincleth the people withall And this sprinklyng is thought to geue health
same should be longer wanting so many learned men not only of Germany but also of foreine nations instantly requiringe me that I wold gratify them herein There be comming doubtlesse moste greuous commotions and wonderful alterations Which thing also the holy Scripture dothe nether doubtfullye nor daroklye Prognosticate and the present state of thinges doth plainly signify so that such as will applye theyr minde here vnto shall not want matter to wryte of but the same cause that moued me to wryte that is publicke vtility the self same perswadeth me nowe also that some thinges as I haue written and be comprised in these xxvi bookes I shoulde suffer to come abrode into others mens handes And this my labor and all my pains taken I wil dedicate whole vnto you moosie excelient Prince whiche are descended of that noble house and familie whiche fyrsto gaue harborow and refuge to thys Religion whose father did earnestly imbrace the same whose brother for the education of youth in true Religion and learning imploied a wonderful substaunce whose father in law for the self same cause hath a famous name among kinges And for so much as you also walke in these theyr fotesteps to your great commendation this worke which I hope wil profite many I trust will be to you also not vnpleasaunt The liuing God preserue your highnes safe and healthful Geuen the .x. Kalends of April in the yeare of our Lord. 1555. The first Boke ⧠The firste Booke of Sleidans Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common wale during the reigne of the Emperour Charles the fyfte The argument of the fyrst Booke THe Pardon 's graunted by Byshop Leo Luther reproueth by preachyng and wryting of proposicions and Letters sent to Tharchbishoppe of Ments the which are fyrst unpugned by Frete Tckell and Eckins and after by Siluester Prier as Hogestrate UpoÌ this the Pope sendeth Cardinal Caietane taduertise TheÌperour Maximilian to cite Luther to Rome but Fridericke Duke of Saxon founde the meanes that Luther aunswered Caietane at Auspurge The Cardinal what with threatenynges and what with thalligations of decrees mainteyneth thauthoritie and supremacie of the Pope Luther at his depertynge thence set by an Appellation Caietane solliciteth by letters the Duke of Saxon but in vaine whiche the Pope perceyuing publisheth a new remission of synnes by pardons And to wynne Duke Fridericke sendeth him a goldeÌ Rose In the meane tyme dieth Maximilian and great suite and meane was made taspire vnto thempire whiche in fine Charles of Austriche atchieued and word was sent him into Spaine The golden bulle lawes of Thempire are here recited Erasmus commendeth Luther And at the same time that the disputacion was at Lipsia Zwinglius preached at Zuricke and as Luther had don resisteth a perdoner there one Samson agraye Frere THE Bishoppe of Rome Leo the tenth of that name a Florentine borne after the vsurped auethoritie of his predecessours which he preteÌded to haue ouer all Churches had sent forth into al realmes vnder his Bulles of Lead indulgeÌces pardoÌs wherein he promysed cleane remissyon of synnes and euerlastynge saluation to all suche as would gyue money for the same for the leuiyng wherof he sent his Collectours into all Prouinces who gathered together and heaped vp great treasures in all places but speciallye in in Germanie And affirmed their doynges to be good bothe in wordes and writyng which pardons the Papistes call by an olde accustomed terme indulgences Grauntyng moreouer for money licences to eate whitmeat and fleshe on daies prohibited The same time was Martin Luther an Augustine Frere and professed diuinitie in the Uniuersitie of Wittemberge who beynge not a little tickled with the preachinges fonde bokes of these collectours for that he sawe howe the simple people beleued the thinges to be true that they bragged of began to admonishe men to be more ware and circumspecte and not to bie their marchaundise so dere For that the same which they bestowed vpon such trifles might be much better emploied This was in the yeare of our lorde a thousande fiue hondreth and seuentene And to thintent he might woorke the thynge to more effect he wrote also to the Archebyshop of Mentz the firste of Nouembre signifying both what they taught and also lamenting that the ignoraunt people should be so far abused as to put the whole trust of their saluation in pardons and to thinke that what wickednes so euer they had committed it should by them be forgeuen And that the soules of them that were tormented in Purgatory so soone as the mony were cast into their boxe should straight wayes flie vp into heauen and fele no more payne he sheweth him how Christ coÌmaunded that the Gospell should be taught and that it is the propre office of a Byshop to see that the people be rightly instructed Wherfore he putteth him in remeÌbraunce of his dutie and prayeth him that for the authoritie whiche he beareth he would eyther put those prattelinge pardoners to silence or els prescribe them a better order in teachinge lest a further inconuenience might growe vpon the same as doubtles there wil doo vnlesse they be inhibited The cause why he wrote vnto him was that for so muche as he was also Byshop of Maydenburg the care of al such matters belonged vnto him And with these letters he sent certen questioÌs whiche he had lately set vp at Wittenberg there to be disputed to the nombre of foure score and fiftene In the whiche he reasoneth muche of purgatory of true penaunce of the dutie of charitie and of their indulgences and pardoÌs at large and inueigheth against their out rageouse preachinges only of a certen desyre to boulte trie out the truth For he prouoked all men to come to that disputation that hadde anye thinge to saye and such as could not be there present he desyred to send their myndes in wrytinge protesting that he would affirme nothing but submitte him selfe and the whole matter to the iudgement of holy churche Neuerthelesse he sayd how he woulde not admitte Thomas of Aquine and suche other lyke writers but so farre foorth as they be consonaunt to holy Scripture and decrees of the auncient fathers To this the byshop aunswered not a woords But shortly after Iohn Tecela Frere Dominick set vp other conclusions at Franckford quite contrary to those of Luthers wherin he extolleth the supremacie of the Byshop of Rome with the frute of his pardoÌs and other lyke thinges in so muche as he compareth him with Peter the Apostle the crosse whiche he commaundeth to be set vp in churches with the crosse that Christ suffered vpon But where as no man of the coÌtrary parte wold repeare to the disputacion at Wittenberge the questions were suche as many were destrous to reade Luther wrote a longe exposition of the same and sent them first to Hierome byshop of Braundenburge and to one Stupice Prouinciall of
the Austen Freres desiring hym to cause them to be sent to the byshop of Rome And he him self in the moneth of Iune wrote vnto Leo the teÌth partly complayning of his pardoners whiche through their owne auarice abused his auethoritie And partly purging him selfe knowing for a suertie that they had complayned on him for the same matter but affirmyng that they did hym wrong For he was inforced by reason of the fonde SermoÌs bokes of the Collectours to set vp certain questioÌs only for the matter of disputation whiche he woulde now more playnly declare beseching him to geue no credit to sclaunderous reportes alledging that Duke Fredericke the Prince electour of Saronie was a man of suche wisdome honour that in case suche thinges had been true that his aduersaries reported of him he would not haue suffered his countrey to beare such an infamie And that the vniuersitie of Wittenberge was of lyke consideration and so submitted vnto him both all his workes and his lyfe also not refusing death if it should seme good vnto him For whatsoeuer should procede from him he would take as an oracle that flowed from Christe him selfe Amonges others of Luthers aduersaries Iohn Eckius wroote a little booke against him at the same tyme. To the whiche Luther aunswereth that he neyther bringeth Scripture for hym nor any thinge out of the auncient Doctours but certein dreames of his owne receiued of scoolemen by an vnallowable euill custome After Eckius one Siluester Prierias a freer Dominicke master of the holy palace as they terme it wrote against him a dialoge with the preface to Leo the tenth right stoutelye saying that he woulde proue whether Luther be so inuincible that he can not be confuted or vanquished For if he can answer this theÌ wil he set forth greater thinges with moste exacte diligence Then speaketh he vnto Luther exhorting him to amende and before he commeth to his disputation he propoundeth certain Themes that the Byshop of Rome is head of the whole churche and that the churche of Rome is the firste and chiefest of all others and can not erre in matters of faythe and religion Neyther that the generall counsell can erre where the byshop of Roome is present Moreouer that the holy Scripture taketh all his force and authoritie of the churche and byshop of Rome as of a moste certain rule And he that beleueth other wyse to be an heretike This foundation ones layd he beginneth to debate the matter Afterward doth Luther make answer to the same boke And in his preface to this Siluester saith that he woÌdreth at his questions rather than vnderstaÌdeth the same Then takyng of him example for the defence of his cause putteth forth also certen themes but suche as are taken out of holy scripture wherin he sheweth that we ought not to geue credit to euerye doctrine of man but to way euery thing exactely and to embrace that thing only whiche is consonaunt to goddes worde And none other doctrine to be receiued but that which is left vs by the Prophetes and Apostles although it haue neuer so goodly an apparence Neuerthelesse thautoritie of those writers whiche were next after them to be allowed but for the rest to be well ware what they wryte And as concerning the indulgences that it is not lawfull for the Collectours to inuente anye newedeuise herein but to followe in the same the order of the Canon law After this he obiecteth that he alledgeth no testimony of scriptur but reciteth only the opinions of Thomas of Aquyne who treated in a maner of al things at his pleasure without thauthoritie of scripture Wherfore he reiecteth both affirming that he doth the same not onely by the commanndement of saint Paule but of S. Austen also EmoÌgs the Ciuilians it is commonly sayd that it is not lawfull to pronounce any thyng but after the prescript of the lawe Much lesse in diuine matters ought that thing to be suffered that is spokeÌ without the testimony of scripture It is S. Paules precept that suche as be appointed to instruct the people should be furnished not with Syllogismes or sondry decrees of men but with holsome and sounde doctrine lefte vs by godly inspiration But for so muche as many haue contemned this precepte great blyndnes hath been induced and an innumerable sorte of vnprofitable questions hath flowed ouer the worlde What tyme he hath thus made his waye he commeth to the confutacion and aboute th ende therof sayth howe he is nothinge affrayed of his manasinge wordes which are set forth for a brauery For albeit he shuld dye therfore yet Christe liueth and is immortall vnto whome all honoure is dewe And therfore if he list to come to a further trial in this matter he must fight with stronger weapoÌs or els his authour Thomas and he are lyke to goo by the woorse Againe this Syluester writeth Luther an aunswer and saythe it deliteth him muche that he submitteth hym selfe to the iudgemeÌt of the byshop of Rome wyshing also that he spake it with his harte vnfainedly Luther had charged him with ambition and fllatterie but he purgeth him self therof as muche as he may And defendeth right stoutly the doctrine of Thomas affirming it to be in suche sorte receiued approued by the churche of Rome that it ought to be preferred aboue all other writinges And blameth him sore that hath spoken of so worthy a man so vnreuerently accomptyng it an honour to him selfe to be called a Thomiste Notwithstanding he sayeth howe he hath red other mens woorkes also whiche shall hereafter appere After this preface he setteth forth a little booke wherin he coÌmendeth exceadinly the aucthoritie of the byshop of Rome in so much that he clerely preferreth him before all counselles and decrees affirminge that all the strength of Scripture dependeth vpon his authoritie This Thomas comming of a Noble house gaue him self wholy to learning And leauing Italy went first to Collyn and after to Paris and proued best learned of al men in his time wryting diuers workes in the whiche he treated of matters of diuinitie and Philosophie He was a blacke frere the disciple of Albertus Magnus Whan he was dead Iohn byshop of Rome the .xxii. of that name made him a sainct about fifty yeaÌres after he lefte his lyfe He was a great mainteiner of the byshop of Romes authoritie For he attributed vnto him the supremacie ouer all other byshops kynges and churches vniuersall with both Iurisdictions aswell sacred as ciuile affirming it to be a necessary thyng vnto saluation that all men be subiect vnto him that he hath full authoritie in the churche and that it appertaineth to him to call counsell and to confirme the decrees made there Moreouer he sayeth howe men may iustlyappeale from any generall counsell Finallye he ascribeth vnto him all thinges onely this he excepted that he can not make newe articles of
in the seuententh and eyghtenth syttting of the Counsel of Basil But wheras Eugenius the fourth would not come to the Counsell at Basill although he were oftentimes warned and cited thither he pronounced the same to be frustrate and called an other at Farrare whither came Iohn Paleologe the last Emperour of Grece saue one and with him Iosippe the Patriarche of Constantinople and a numbre of Bishoppes in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.xxxvij And from Farrare they remoued to Florence where as by the consent of the Grekes it was decreed amonges other thinges that the church of Rome should haue the supremacie that the bishop of Rome was the successor of Peter the prince of thapostels the trew vicar of Christ the head of the whole church the father doctor of al christiaÌs that to him was coÌmitted by Christ the ful power to fede gouerne the church vniuersal This is the decree whereby Caietanus woulde preferre the Bishoppe of Rome before and aboue all generall Counsels For syxe yeares before whan he was yet no Cardinall but maister of the blacke Frieres he made an Oration in the seconde syttynge of the Counsell Laterane wherof we shall speake hereafter and inueiyng muche agaynste certeyne Cardinalles that had forsaken the Bishop of Rome he taunteth by the waie the Counselles of Costauntz and Basil for that the fathers at the same tune toke to them selues aucthoritie ouer the Byshoppes Wherefore saieth he it was wel done of Eugenius that he suppressed that factioÌ and suffered not his aucthoritie to be diminished This oration did Iulius the seconde in whose fauoure these thynges were spoken commaunde to be recorded And Caietane was made Cardinall by Leo the tenth Gerson of whom we spake was a Diuine of Paris right famouse and wrote diuers worckes he was presente at the Counsell of Constans and in bookes written he commendeth hyghely the decree whereby it is agreed that the Byshoppe of Rome should be subiecte to the Counsell And sayeth how the thing is worthie to be written in all Churches and publike places for a perpetuall memorye For he saieth they be pestilent Flatterers whiche brynge thys Tyrranny into the Churche as thoughe the Bishoppe of Rome ought neither to obey the Counsel nor be iudged by the same as though the Counsell should take all his force and aucthoritie of him as thoughe it coulde not be called but at his pleasure as though he were bounden to the obseruation of no lawes nor none accompt myght be taken of his doynges certeinly these monstruous sayinges muste be vtterly reiected which are against all lawes equitie and reason For all the aucthoritie of the Churche dependeth of the generall counsell and it is lawefull to appeale from the pope vnto it and those which inquire whether the Byshop of Rome or the Churche be greater make as wise a question as if they should aske whether the part be more or the whole for it aperteineth to the couÌsel to constitute to iudge and to depose the Byshop of Rome as lately it was declared at Constaunce for where as some semed to doubte in the matter and attributed ouermuche to the Byshoppe this question was there determined before Iohn the three and twentith was deposed from his Seate These and many other thinges writeth Gerson to to the same effecte And therefore is he nowe reiected of Caietane He died in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC.xxix And the vniuersitie of Paris holdeth the same opinioÌ and includeth the vnmesurable vsurpation of the Romishe Byshoppes as it were wyth in these boundes and but a fewe monthes before that Luther wrote of Indulgences the same Uniuersite appealed from Leo the tenthe for abolyshyng of a law whych was very profitable for studentes in Fraunce and opened the waye to promotion After Luthers departure from Aspurge the Cardinall writeth letters to the Duke of Saxonie the fiue twentye daye of October signifiynge how Luther in dede came to Auspurge but spake not with him till he had obteined themperours safeconduit He marueileth greatlye that so little credit is geuen to him After much treaty aboute the matter he of a certaine fatherly loue admonished Luther to amende And albeit he waxed more stubberue yet did he deuise with Stupice and others a waye of reconcilemente And that in suche forte as neyther the Churche of Rome shoulde lose her dignitie nor he his estimation And wheras there was a good foundation of this thing already laid they went preuely away first Stupice and after Luther whiche chaunced muche contrary to his expectation Luther pretendeth that he treateth of these matters onlye by the waye of reasonynge and of disputation but in his sermons to the people he affirmeth all thynges whiche maye in no wise bee permitted for so muche as hys Doctrine bothe swarueth from the churche of Rome and is also verye parnicious as it is certainlye to be proued Wherefore he dothe admonishe him to regarde his owne honour and his conscience and either to seÌd Luther to Rome or els to banishe him his countrye For it can not be that so pestilent a thinge shoulde longe continue neyther is there anye doubt but they wil procede in iudgement againste him at Rome and that he hath accordinge to his duetie signified to the bishop the whole matter and the clokynge of the same He prayeth hym therefore to geue no credit vnto suche as commended Luthers doinges neither to suffer so greate an euill to spot and blemishe that noble house of Saxonie like as he had oftentimes promised To the whiche Epistle exhibited the ninetene daye of Nouembre Duke Fredericke maketh aunswere the eighte daye of Decembre that he promised to sende Luther to Auspurge whiche beinge perfourmed they can require no more of him And that he promised him likewise to let him frendly departe And nowe that he woulde dryue hym to recante before hys matter were hearde he can not a lyttle maruell For there were dyuerse well learned men aswell in other partes as in his Countrye whyche dyd not condemyne his Doctrine And suche as were hys aduersaries were blyneded wyth Auarice and corrupted wyth filthye lucre but in case hys erroure hadde bene detected than woulde he whiche seeketh bothe the glorye of God and the safetye of hys owne conscience haue done all readye herein the duetye of a Christen Prynce And therefore where he wryteth that processe shall passe againste the sayde Luther at Rome that is beyonde all hys expectation And when he desyreth moreouer that eyther he shoulde be sente to Rome or elles into exile it is not lawfull for hym so to do Firste because he is not as yet detected of Heresye Secondely for because that the same shoulde be a greate losse to the Uniuersitie of Wittemberge whiche he had lately founded whereof Luther was a certeine lyghte and an ornament Unto whome he sent his letters that he myght reade them And he offereth him selfe as before to be readye
wherevpon by the way is spoken of Iuly his actes and of the sayd counsell In the meane while the Diuines of Louayne condemne Luthers Bokes In his defence the articles of Picus Erle of Mirandula the Questions of Ockam and the controuersie of Rewcline with the same Diuines are recited Seyng him selfe assayled with so many enemies he writeth to themperour and shortely after to tharchbishoppes of Mentz and of Marseburge Duke Fridericke beyng aduertised that he had cuill will at Rome by reason of Luther he maketh his purgation by letters Luther in lyke case And yet this notwithstanding the Pope by an extreme Bulle doeth excommunicate Luther who contrary to a decree of Mantua by the waye recited maketh his appellation hauinge set forthe in Print a Boke of the captuitie of Babilon The emperour at the same tune goeth to be crowned at Acon the solemnities and maner whereof be there recited The Pope beginneth agayne to sollicite Duke Fridericke agaynst Luther but nothing preuailyng he causeth Luthers workes to be burnt and likewise Luther burneth the Popes Decretals and sheweth the cause why afterwarde he aunswereth Ambrose Catarine who had written agaynst him WHen Charles Meltice that was sent from Leo the tenthe vnto Duke Fredericke with the golden Rose perceiued howe Luthers doctryne was so farre spreade abroade and so highly estemed of many that it shoulde be hearde and almost vnpossible to quench it he sought all meanes possible to heale the wounde with a plaster of reconciliation Wherfore after longe conferens with Luther and his frendes at the last the meanes was fouÌde that Luther should write his letters to the Bishop reportyng of hym muche honour And so did he at the request of his Frendes aboute the syxte day of Aprill The tenure of his letters was this that albeit he had appealed from him to the Counsel Yet neuerthelesse he ceased not to make his prayers vnto God for his healthe And for as much as he is sore blamed to haue hurt and offended his name and dignitie he is hartely sorye to be so charged and this to be the cause of his writinge at this present signifiynge that in dede he hathe bene earnest in rebukyng of vice and errours but hath euermore written of him right honorablie as it is to be sene in his bokes And in that he doth so frankely taunte false doctrine he doeth it by the example of Christe his Prophetes and Apostles but that such reprehensions and holsome admonishementes can as yet take no place to be long of naughtie flatterers which tickle men in the eares And that he regardeth gods glory and seeketh onely that the truth might appere if he may this obtaine to be willinge ynough to giue place in other matters but to leaue of the professyng of Gods veritie he can by no meanes Then commeth he to the Court of Rome as they call it and sayeth it is more corrupt wicked then euer was Sodome or Babilon and that there caÌ be no more mischiefe wrought then is there no not of Antichrist him selfe wherefore he is sory that he is there as a Lambe amonges manye Wolues For Rome is not worthy to haue so good a man to gouerne it that it were muche better for him to be content with a meane benefice or to liue of his owne landes and reuenewes farre from suche pestiferous slatterers whiche to serue their owne lust and ambition do depraue his name and dignitie he addeth that Barnarde bewailed the state of Eugenius when Rome was better then it is at this present but now for asmuche as it is the most filthy sinke of al the places in the Uniuersall worlde and a rakehell heaped of all mischief he ought much more to be lamented And this to be the cause why he inueighed so soore agaynst it whiche appertayneth nothing to his reproche but rather to his saluation and he would wishe that all learned men woulde set on with touch and nayle to ouercome that Monstre Touching the thing it selfe whan he had set forth certeine litle bokes and sawe that his attempt was vayne he was willyng to haue left of his enterprise imployed all his frudye to the profite of his bretherne in the same house but than rose vp Eccius who disturbed all these quiet cogitations and desyred leasure wherin he did nothing els but more aptely disclose the shame wickednes of Rome After he toucheth in fewe wordes howe he was vsed before Cardinal Caietane who he saieth might haue appeased all the matter if it had pleased him vnto whom the faulte is to be imputed if any thinge be a misse not to him And that afterwarde came Charles Meltice who had quieted the kinge had it not bene for the importune disputation of Eccius whiche prouoked him to reason matters agaynst his will and is in dede his enemie which fyrst of all men kindled this fyre And nowe for asmuch as he was requested by Melticius others his betters to write to him in the waye of submission he would refuse nothing that appertained to reconcilement First therfore he required him that his aduersaries might kepe silence not raile vpon him as they did secondarely that he were not driuen to recante or bounden to interprete the scriptures after the prescript of maÌ for the doctrine of the Gospell which bringeth libertie to the myndes of men can not be bounden within any certen limites if these thynges may be graunted him he is content to do any thinge so that it lyeth in him nowe to ende the strife if he will vnderstande the matter commaunde either partie to silence But herein he must chiefely beware of flatterers and with a deafe eare sayle besydes theyr songes as the enticementes or daungerous rockes of the Sirenes which ascribe vnto him a godlines and affirme him to be the head of all the world preferring him aboue all generall counselles for there is nothing more pestiferous than is this kynde of Parasites but that he credite them rather which admonishe him of his dewtie and put him in remeÌbraunce that he is a man and this to be the dewtie of a very frende Finally he dedicateth to him his booke which he had lately written of Christen libertie commendinge the same in fewe wordes for that it conteyned the summe of trew doctrine In the begynning of the springe time Themperour taketh shippinge in Spaine to sayle into Englande where he was royally receiued of kynge Henry the eight who had maried hys Aunte Katherine which amonges other kyndes of his princelike liberalite builded a goodlye lodginge purposely for him vpon the Riuer of Themse called Bridewell and from thens he sayled into Flaunders where he was ioyefully receyued of almen About the same time duke Fridericke fell sore sicke Wherfore Luther compiled a boke to coÌforte him and in his letters to him he saith it is the coÌmaundemeÌt of Christ that amonges other workes of Charitie whiche we oughte to
Rome he woulde haue hys owne oppinion to take place against the iudgement of meÌ Wherfore it is wittely done of him to haue no familiarytie with so pestilent a fellowe nor to alowe hys errour In the whiche thinge all graue and wise men do muche commende his vertue And chieflye he giueth God hertie thankes that he hath giuen him suche a mynde affirming moreouer that he hath suffered and borne with his rashenes a while to see if he woulde amende but now for asmuche as he hathe nothinge preuailed with gentle admonishmentes he is compelled to vse an extreme remedy fearyng lest throughe his contagion he shoulde infecte many Wherfore callyng a counsel of Cardinalles and learned men to debate the matter he hath made a decree by the instinction of that holy spirite whiche neuer faileth the Churche of Rome the copie wherof he hath sent vnto him to the intent he might see what monstrouse errours that minister of Sathan defendeth he wilieth him therfore that vnlesse he do openly and solemnely recant with in the daye prescribed he should commit him toward for so shall he put away all shame from his house and from Germany wynne muche honor and do God highe seruice The decree is ouerlonge but the summe is this Fyrst the Byshoppe Leo callynge vpon Christe Peter and Paule and other sainctes to tourne awaye the daunger hangynge ouer the Church most lamentably complayneth that now there should spring vp a doctrine conteinyng bothe the Heresies already condemned and also newe errours and great wickednes And that in Germany that was wont to do so muche for the Churche of Rome bothe longe sins and of late dayes concernyng Husse and theÌ of Boheme But because the numbre of Christians throughout the vniuersall worlde are committed vnto his charge by Christ he can no lenger wyncke at so great a matter After reciting Luthers opinions saieth that they be against Christian charitie and the reuerens that all men owe of duetie to the Churche of Rome and agaynste the counsell of the aunciente fathers Wherfore by the consent of his Cardinalles he condemneth both him and his works to be brought forth and burned and by the aucthoritie whiche he saieth he hath he commaundeth all Magestrates namelye in Germany to se the thing executed accordingely Then commeth he to Luther shewyng with howe fatherly a loue he sought to refourme him howe he cited him to Rome and promised him to beare his charges And howe in contempte therof he appealed from him to the couÌsell contrary to the decrees of Pius and Iulius And all be it he had hereby deserued the punishement condigne for Heretikes yet did he of his clementie gyue him a longer time if happely as the prodigal child amended through his owne misery he would retourne to the bosome of the churche And to be yet also of this minde yea and moste hertely besecheth him and his adherentes to trouble the church no more promysing them great good will if they wyll cease from theyr errours Notwithstandynge he commaundeth Luther to teache no more prescribynge him .lx. dayes wythin the whiche time he shoulde amende burne his owne bokes and recante his doctrine openlye if he did not he condemneth him as an Heritike to suffer accordynge to that lawes he suspendeth him out of the Church commaunding al men to eschew his talke and his company vnder the lyke penaltie and this decree to be red in all Churches assemblies of people at certen dayes appointed Touching Pius and Iulius thus it standeth This Pius hilde a Counsell at Mantua in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.lix chiefely because of the Turkisshe warre And there amonges other he made a decree that no man should appeale from the Byshoppe to the Counsell for that vnder the Coope of heauen he said there coulde nothinge be founde better then Christes Uicar And not longe after he suspended Sigismunde duke of Austriche for takinge the Cardinall of Cusane prisoner The duke appealed from him to the counsell Wherfore the Byshoppe did excommunicate George Heimburge the worker herof commaunding the Senate of Norinburge to banishe him the Citie and to spoile him of his goodes Whiche decree was after renewed by Iuly to maynteyne him selfe agaynst the Cardinalles that swarued from him agaynst kynges and princes and the vniuersitie of Paris whiche vsed ofte suche refuge This Bishop Pius called before Aeneas Siluius was at the Counsell of Basill wrot euery thing praysing the decrees that there were made exceadyngly But when he was auaunced to this highe degree of dignitie he chauÌged his opinion and would haue the counsell subiecte to the Byshop When Luther hearde that he was condemned at Rome he goeth to his former appellation wherin he appealed from the Bishoppe to the counsell And nowe forsomuche as the Byshoppe perseuerynge in hys wicked tyrrannye hath proceded so farre to condemne him nether called nor heard nor yet conuicte of Heresye he saieth howe he appealeth from him againe to the counsel chiefly for foure causes for that he hath condemned him at his pleasure not hearyng the controuersie for that he coÌmaundeth him to denie faith to be in sacramentes necessary that he preferreth his owne decrees and dotages of men before the Scriptures and for that he leaueth no place to anye Counsell Wherefore he calleth him Tyrran a proude contemner of the Churche and fynallye Antichriste affirmynge that he will shewe and proue al these thinges whensoeuer it shall please his superiours And therfore prayeth themperour and other Magistrates to accepte this his appellation for the defence of Gods glory and the libertie of the counsell that they would bridell his tyrranny and thynke that the decree made concerned nothynge nor that they would styrre nothinge tyll the cause were lawfully decided Before he had thus appealed about the .xvij. day of Nouembre he had written a boke of the Captiuitie of Babilon in the preface wherof he saieth howe he profiteth dayely more and more in the knowledge of holy Scripture And howe a fewe yeares paste he set forth a booke of the Byshoppes pardons and that tyme wrote renerently because he stoode than in great feare of the Romisshe tyrranny and had it in great estimation but now his iudgement is farre otherwise and beynge styrred vp by the prouocation of his aduersaries he hath lerned that the See of Rome is nothynge els but the kyngdome of Babilon and the power of the stronge Hunter Niutroth Afterwardes he disputeth of the Sacramentes of the Churche and holdeth that there be but three onelye Baptisme Penaunce and the Lordes Supper and then treateth also of the other foure confirmation order Matrimonye and Unction But these he calleth no Sacramentes because they haue no sygnes annexed to the promesse other sacramentes which haue no promise to theÌ ioyned he saith are but vare signes therfore thinketh that Penaunce can not be couÌted in the numbre of theÌ if we wil properly exactly
do nothyng but that might stande with his honoure In all other thynges throughe Gods helpe he would do as shoulde become a Prince of the Empire and an obdient childe of the church What tyme this answere was geuen them After some deliberation they began to recite howe many thynges the Byshoppe of Rome had done and suffered that Luther mighte at the length retourne into the right way but that he hath kepte no parte of his promyse And that it lyeth not nowe in the Archbishoppe of Treuers to here the matter for so muche as the Bishoppe of Rome hathe taken to him selfe the same to whom onely it apperteineth to be iudge in suche causes the conclusion of theyr talke was that they said how they must procede according to the Bishoppes decree And so not longe after they burned Luthers workes Aleander was an Italian borne right skilful in the Hebrew tonge he was sometyme a Reader in Paris commynge to Rome he grewe in estimation and was first made Archebistoppe of Brunduse after that Cardinal To the same degre of dignitie came also Carracciolus When Luther vnderstoode this he calleth forthe all the studentes of Wittenberge and in the presens of many learned men he burneth the Byshop of Romes law and the decree lately published openly the teÌth day of Decembre And the next day in his lecture admonisheth al men that regarde theyr saluation to beware of that Bishoppes kyngdom Afterwarde he set forth a boke wherin he sheweth the causes why he burned the Canon lawe First that it hath bene an olde custome obserued at all times that naughtie and Pestilent bokes should be burned a testimony wherof is yet in the actes of the Apostles Moreouer that it concerneth his dewtie that is baptised in Christe whiche is a professour and an open teacher of holye Scripture to impugne wycked doctrine and to teache men that is holesome and to plucke out of meÌs mindes false and erronious opinions And that the same apperteineth also to many others And although that they bryng letted eyther through ignoraunce or for feare of perill do not that they oughte to do yet can that be none excuse to him vnlesse he do his dewtie Moreouer the Bishoppe of Rome and all his rable are so obstiuate and shamelesse that not onely they wyll heare no good admonitions but also condempne the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and compell men to committe open Idolatry Furthermore he supposeth howe these booke burners haue no commission to burne his bookes no more than had the Diuines of Collen and Louain of the Emperour Finally for as muche as his workes beyng burnt and the brute therof spread abroade ouer all countreis many will growe to be weaker and doubtfull supposynge they were not caste into the fyre withoute cause therefore dyd he seynge his aduersaries past all remedy burne theyr Bookes also that he might therby erecte confyrme the mindes of men Wherfore he besecheth all men that laying a syde thambitiouse and proude titles of his aduersaries they would looke nerer to the thinge that is howe wicked and pestilent opinions are conteyned in those bokes of the Law Which thinge that it maye be the better perceyued of innumerable he hath gathered a fewe thynges whiche belonge to the reproche of almightie God to the iniurie of the ciuill magistrate and to the establisshing of their owne tyranny to the numbre of thyrtie places whereby he sheweth that he had iuste cause to burne them Than prouoketh he them to shewe the reasons wherfore they burnt his workes And the cause why fewe or none haue in diuerse ages past attempted anithing agaynste the tyrannye of Antichrist he saieth hathe bene for that the Scripture hath prophecied howe he shoulde destroy his aduersaries and haue the kynges to assist him Seyng therfore that the Prophetes and Apostles haue tolde vs before of suche tyrrible thynges to come it is easye to consydre howe greate it behoueth hys crueltye to be For so commeth it to passe ordenarily in worldly matters that of the best begynnynge of thinges procedeth the worste ende Whiche after he hathe proued by diuerse examples he inuergeth agaynste the Citie of Rome whiche beyng indewed of God with many benefites and ornamentes is vtterly gone out of kynde and with her contagion hathe infected a great part of the world that this the Byshoppes ordinauÌce is agaynst the lawes agaynst good customes nether is he to be suffered for that he fleeth from lawful iudgement for that he affirmeth him selfe to be aboue all lawes and iudgementes I tolde you in the fyrste Boke how Syluester Prierias wrote agaynst Luther whan he had answered him sharpely Ambrosius Catarinus an Italian toke in had to defende him setting forthe a booke of the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome to the whiche Luther aunswereth at large and interpretynge certen places of Daniell teacheth that the Byshoppes Tyrrannye is there paynted out and proueth that suche thinges as he hathe prophecied of the kyngdome of Antichriste do altogether concerne the See of Rome After this was Catarinus made Archbyshoppe of Cossent The thirde Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirde Booke DUke Fridericke obteyneth letters of safeconduict for Luther to come to Wormes there to defende his opinions and writinges before themperor and the other states and perseuereth constantly although themperor threateneth him wyth banishment and the Pope had cursed hym in the Bulle of the Lordes supper And the Prynces seuerally soughte to peruerté him The counsell of Constaunce was set before his eyes vpon which occasion mention is made of Wyclese of Iohn Hussc and of Ê ischa a Bohemer the Sorbonistes condempne Luthers bokes Whilest the Pope and the Frenche kynge made a league with the Swisses Ê wmglius diswadeth theÌ from takyng Pensions of theÌ Luter beyng exiled by letters patentes auoydeth The kynge of Englande writcth agaynst him Pope Leo dyeth Adrian succedeth Solyman the greate Turke hathe luckie successe in Hongary Commotions in Spaynè themperor couetyng to appease them after he had treated wyth Englande goeth thyther The Byshoppe of Constance persecuteth Ê wynglius Troubles at Wittenberge The Annabaptistes aryse for the which there is an assemble at Norinberge The Pope sendeth thyther letters and Ambassadours The Turke taketh the Rhodes Ê winglius hauyng set forth hys doctrine by certeyne Articles is assayled by the Papistes but in fyne the Ghospell is receyued at Ê uricke DUke Fridericke accompaniynge the Emperour to the assemblie at Wormes had obteyned that Cesar sayde he would call for Luther and heare his matter whiche Luther vnderstanding by the Dukes letters wrote agayne aboute the latter ende of Ianuary that he was exceadyng glad that the Emperor would vouche saufe to heare this matter which in dede is a common cause And that he shal be content to do any thing that he may do with a
saufe conscieÌce Wherfore he besecheth him to prouide so that he may be out of all daunger that good and well learned men may be chosen for him to dispute with that he be not condemned before he be conuicte of Heresie that in the meane time his aduersaries may refraine theyr wonted rayling and cease from burnynge of his Bookes And that in case he shall nede hereafter to enterprise anye thinges els for Gods glorye and the trouthes sake that he be not by the Emperor impeched herin promisyng not to fayle but to come to Wormes whan he shall haue receyued themperors sauffeconduit Where he trusteth in such sorte to demeane him selfe and his cause before indifferent iudges that all the worlde may vnderstande that he hath done nothing by rebellion but for the common wealth chieflye of Germany to haue taken al this trauell to reduce men from many grosse errours to the sownde and pure doctrine He desyreth him moreouer that the Emperor and he woulde haue a regarde to the horrible bondage and miserable estate of Christientie oppressed throughe mere Papistrie Wherfore Cesar Collicted by the Duke wrote vnto Luther the syxte day of Marche That for so muche as he had setforth certeine bookes he was determined to heare the matter him selfe before the princes wherfore these be to signifie vnto him that he hath free libertie to passe and repasse safely without any daunger as more plainely doeth appere by the saufe conduict sent here with he commaundeth him therfore to take his iorney spedely and not to fayle to be with him within one and twentie dayes The Byshoppes of Rome haue accustomed on Thursedaye in the Passion weeke solemnely to curse and banne certeine kyndes of men Fyrst Heretikes secondarely Pirates then suche as eyther Reyse vp new customes or extorte that is forboden Also suche as couÌtrefeit the Bulles or Iustrumentes of the courte of Rome Moreouer they that sell any Armure to Turkes or Sarasyns and suche other vnlawfull wares They that let or hinder corne to be brought to Rome they that hurt any man suyng or belongynge to the Courte of Rome Furthermore all suche as worke any damage or violence to the possessyons or neighbours dominions of the Churche of Rome as namely the Citie of Rome Sicilie Naples Cardinie Corf Hetruria Spolete Sabine Ancona Flaminie Campanie Bononie Farrare Beneuent Perusie Auenion The former Bishoppes haue named for Heretikes the Garasians Pateronians the pore menne of Lions the Arnoldistes Speronistes Wicleuistes Hussites and the Fratricelles Leo the teÌth put to also the Lutherians and curseth them full blacke this curse is commonly called the Bull of the Lordes Supper Which Luther got afterwardes and translated it into Duche not without much myrthe and pastime When Luther had receued the Emperours letters he went to Wormes with the same Heralt but when he came almooste there there were diuerse that diswaded hym puttynge him in mynde howe his bokes were brent which was a certen preiudice of his condemnation and howe the same might chaunce to him as ded to Iohn Husse but he with a stoute courage contemned all perill sayinge that it was plainely the Deuyll that woulde put him thus in feare seynge that his kingdome should quayle by the confession of the trewth in so notable a place so came he to Wormes the syxt day of April The next day he was brought before the Emperour and the whole counsell of Princes Where as by the Emperours commaundement Eckius the the Lawyer spake vnto him on this wise There be two causes Martin Luther for the whiche the Emperor by the consent of the Princes and all the states hath sent forth commaundyng me to enquire of thee the same First wherther thou wilt acknowledge these Bookes to be thine and made by thee Againe whether thou wilt reuoke any thing in them or stande to the defence of all that is written therin Luther had brought with him a lawies of Wittenberge one Hierome Schurffe he had that the titles of the Bokes should be read and shewed which done Luther briefly repeting the questions propouÌded as concerning my Bookes saieth he I confesse and acknowledge them to be myne but whether I will defende all that I haue written to the intente I make trewe aunswere and do nothyng rashely and forsomuch as the thinge is of weightie importaunce I require a time to take deliberation When the thing was debated Albeit saieth he that thou myghtest easely haue knowen by the Emperours letters why thou waste sent for therfore nowshouldest seke no delay to answere yet Cesar of his clemencie graunteth thee one dayto take aduisement commaunding thee to be here to more we this time do declare what thou wilte do herein by mouthe and not by writynge For that he made this delay many supposed that he would not be constant When he came the next daye Eckius sayde vnto him yesterday thou wouldest not aunswere to the seconde demaunde but required a time whiche myghte ryght well haue bene denied the for euery man ought to be so certen of his fayth that he should aunswere therto at al times much lesse should a great diuine doubt or premeditate an answere but what so euer the matter be What sayest thou nowe wilt thou defend thine owne writinges Then Luther addressyng his aunswer to the Emperor and the Counsell of the Princes besought them to heare him paciently and if he should ought offende them eyther in wordes maners or gestures vnsemely for suche a presens to beare with him and pardoÌ him for the kinde of lyfes sake that he hath bene brought vp in for of my selfe saith he I can witnesse nothinge els but that I haue taughte syncerly hitherto those thinges whiche I beleue do concerne the glorye of God and the saluation of men And as concernyng my bookes I answered yesterday that they were made written by me but if any other hath added to any thyng that will I not take for mine Now to the secoÌde question The bokes that I haue wrytten be of sundrie argumentes For some apperteine onely to the doctrine of fayth and vertue whiche myne aduersaries them selues do commeÌde If I should abiure them I should not play the parte of an honest man others there be wherein I reprehended the Byshoppe of Rome and hys doctrine whereby he hath sore afflicted the Christian common wealth For who seeth not how pitifully mens consciens are vexed with his lawes and decrees Or who can deny howe craftely and disceiptfully he robbeth all countreis and chieflye Germany and maketh not yet an ende of hys rauenynge If I should abolishe these bokes I shoulde confyrme their tyrrannye And it shoulde be the greater preiudice to be done nowe by the authoritie of the Emperour and the Princes The thirde kynde is written agaynste certeine priuate men whiche woulde defende the Romishe wickednes and seke euery where to in trap me in the which I confesse to haue bene more vehement then became
me but I ascribe to my selfe no holines nor my profession is not of life or maners but of trewe doctrine Yet wyll I retracte nothynge in these same for in so doyng I should set open a windowe to the arrogancie of manye And yet I would not be so taken as thoughe I toke vpon me that I could not erre but for so muche as it is the propertie of a man to erre and be disceaued I take for the defence of my cause that saying of our sauior who speakynge of his doctrine what time he was striken of a seruaÌt sayeth If I haue spoken euyll beare wytnesse of euyll Wherefore if Christ which is all perfection refused not the witnes of a most vile seruaunt against him Howe muche more I that am a synner by nature should come whan I am called to here if any man can testifie or bring forth any thing against my doctrine Wherfore I desyre you for the honour of God if any of all you haue any thynge to obiecte agaynste the doctrine that I professe he would not hide it but come forth and shew the errour by the testimony of Scripture whiche thinge done I will be so lytell obstinate that the fyrst of all men I shall caste myne owne Bokes into the fyre And hereby maye a man iudge that I am not led rashely or like one that were rauished of his wittes but to haue waied diligently the weightines of the thinge and the troubles that are ingendred by this doctrine And I reioyse greatly whaÌ I perceyue that my doctrine is cause of so great offences For Christ him selfe saith how it is the nature of the gospell to styrre vp strife and contention euen amonges suche as be ioyned most nere in bloud Nowe therfore O noble men ye ought grauely and with greate deliberation to consyder and to foresee leste in condemnynge a doctrine throughe the syngular beuefyte of God offred you ye be not cause of muche incoÌuenience that may therby chaunce vnto you and all Germany You muste haue respecte also that this newe Empire of the yonge Emperor here present be not made vnlucky and vnfortunate by some vngodly and vnprofitable example for our posteriti For it is to be proued by diuerse places of the Scripture that there haue Empires fallen into greate perils what tyme the common wealth hath bene gouerned onely by counsel and mans wisedome Notwithstandyng most wyse and honourable Princes myne intent is not to shewe you what you haue to do but I speake this for the zeale I beare to Germany which is our natife couÌtrie and ought to be derer vnto vs than oure owne lyues For the rest I besethe you to receyue me into your tuition and protection agaynst the forse of myne enemyes What tyme he had made an ende Eckius with a stowning comutenaunce sayd vnto him Thou answerest nothing to the purpose noyther is it thy part to call agayne in question such thinges as haue bene determined intimes past by the aucthoritie of Counsels Thou shouldest make a playne and directe answere whether thou wilte abide by thy writynges Then sayd Luther for asmuche as it is your commaud dement most mightie Cesar and most noble Princes that I shall answere directly I will obey This therfore is myne aunswere that vnlesse I be conuinced by the Testimonies of holy Scripture or by manifest reason I can not reuoke any parte of that whiche I haue written or taught for I will neuer do that thynge that should hurte myne owne conscience And as for the Bishoppe of Rome and the Counsels onely I do not beleue nor admitte their authoritie for they haue erred often tymes and set forthe thinges contrary one to another And they may erre and be disceaued When the Princes had layde theyr heades together touchyng this aunswere Then sayd Eckius thou aunswerest Luther more vnreuerently then it becommeth thee and not sufficientlye to the matter of thy Bookes thou makest a difference but in case thou woulde retract those which conteyne a greater part of thyne errours Cesar woulde suffer no iniurie to be done vnto suche as be well written Thou dispisest the Counsell of Constaunce wheras were manye noble and well learned men of Germany and renewest the errours therein condemned and wilt be conuinced by holy Scripture Herein thou doest not well but art farre abused for loke what thinges the Church hath once condemned the same maye come no more into any newe disputation for if euery man will seke for a reason of eche thinge and he that speaketh against Counsell must be reproued only by the Scriptures there shall be nothyng certeinly determined For the whiche cause the Emperour wyll haue thee to pronounce openly what thou determinest of thy Bookes I beseche you saieth Luther gyue me leaue to kepe my conscience safe and sounde I haue answered playnely and haue none other thinge to say for vnlesse myne aduersaries can shew me by trew argumentes taken out of the Scripture and take away my errour I can not be quiet in my minde for I am able to shew that they haue oftentimes and shamefully erred And for me to swarue from the Scripture whiche is manifest and cannot erre were a very wicked dede the other sayd it could not be proued that euer generall counsel had erred But Luther sayd he both could and would and so they departed at that time The next day the Emperour sent letters to the Princes syttyng in Counsell signifiyng that his progenitours had both professed the Christian Religion and euermore obeied the Church of Rome And now seing that Luther doth impugne it perseueryng obstinately in his opinion hys dutie requireth that folowynge the steppes of hys auncestours he defende the Christian Religion and succor the church of Rome Wherfore he wyll banishe Luther and his adherentes and vse other fitte remedies to quenche this fyre but touching his promise he will kepe it that he may retorne home agayne safe and sound This Epistle was muche debated and skanned amonges the Princes And there were some that saide there was no promise to be kept with him according to the decree made in the Counsel at Constance but against that were manye others and namely Lewes the Countie Palatyne Prince Elector affyrminge that it would redounde to the perpetuall shame of Germany Wherupon diuerse thought mete not only to kepe theyr promise but also not to condempne him rasshelye for that it is a weightie matter consyderyng how themperor at these yeares is soone moued and exasperated agaynst Luther by the Byshoppe of Romes ministers A fewe dayes after the Bishoppe of Treuers appoynteth Luther to come to him the .xxiiij. daye of Aprill There were present Joachin Marques of Brandenburge electour George Duke of Saxonie the Byshop of Auspurge other nobles And whan Luther was brought in by the Archebishoppes Chapplaine and the Emperours Heraulte Ueus a Lawyer of Badon sayde vnto him Where these noble Princes haue sent for thee Martin Luther it is
not to enter into any disputation with thee but to treate freÌdly with thee and priuatly to admonishe thee touching thine owne profyt For the Emperour hath geuen them leaue so to do And fyrst it may be that counsels haue taught dyuerse thinges but not contrary And albeit they haue erred yet is not theyr authoritie so decaied herby that euery man may treade it vnder foote Thy bokes if it be not well loked to wyll styrre vp greate trouble For many interprete the same which thou hast written of Christen libertie after theyr owne affections to the entent they maye do what they lyste This worlde is nowe more corrupte than it hath bene here tofore And therfore men must worke more warely There be some of thy workes that can not be reproued but it is to be feared lest the Deuill in the meane tyme petswade thee to set forth others agaynste Religion and godlines that so thy bokes may be altogether condemned For those that thou hast set forth last declare ryght well how the tree is to be knowen by the fruites and not by the blosome Thou art not ignoraunt how diligently the Scripture warneth vs to beware of the noone Deuill and the fliynge Arrowe that enemye of mankynde ceaseth not to lye in waite for vs and many times vnder a Godly pretence intrappeth and leadeth vs awaye into errour Therefore thou oughtest to consider bothe thine owne saluation and other mens and it would become thee to foresee lest suche as Christ hath through hys death redemed from death euerlastynge beyng through thy faulte bokes and prechinges seduced from the Churche perishe againe the dignitie of the which Church all men ought to acknowledge reuerently For in all the world is there nothing better thaÌ the obseruation of the lawes And lyke as no coÌmoÌ weale consisteth wtout lawes euen so vnlesse the moste holy decrees of our forefathers be reuerently kept there shall be nothing more troublesome than the state of the Church which should be most quiet and stable These noble and vertuouse Princes here present for the singular zeale they beare to the commoÌ weale and for thy cause and wealth also thoughte good to admonisshe thee of all these thinges For doubtles if thou wylte perseuer thus obstinatlye in thine opinion and not relent the Emperour wyll bannishe thee out of the Empire and wyll forbyd thee to haue anye restynge place of Germany to the ende thou maiest the better consyder thine owne state Wherunto Luther replied For this your great good will and gentlenes most noble Princes shewed vnto me I gyue you most hertye thankes for certenlye I am a man of a baser sorte than that it shoulde beseme so noble men to take suche paines for me But as concernynge the Counsels I do not reprehende all but chiefly that of Constaunce and haue iuste cause so to do For Husse defyned the Churche to be the fellowshippe of Gods electe bothe this and that saying of his he beleued the holy Churche they condemned also more worthy them selues to be condemned for he spake bothe truely and like a Christen man Therfore I will suffer any punishement yea spend my life sooner than I will swarue from the manifest worde of God for we muste rather obey God then men touching the offence that connneth by my bookes I neyther can nor ought to eschewe For the offences of Charitie and of faythe differ much wherof that which consisteth in life and maners must in anye wyse be auoyded but thother whiche cleaueth to Godes worde is not to be regarded for the trewth will and commaundemeÌt of the heauenly father must be accomplished though the whole world should be offended The Scripture calleth Christ himselfe the stone of offence And the same appertayneth also likewise to all suche as preach the Gospell I knowe that we ought to obey lawes and Magistrates and so haue I euermore taught the people also my writinges do sufficiently beare witnes howe muche I do ascribe to the dignitie of the lawes But as touchyng the decrees of the churche there is an other consideration to be had For if Gods word were taught sincerely if the Bishops pastours of the church did their dewtie like as Christ his apostles haue ordeined it nede not to impose vnto meÌs mindes conscieÌces that heauie intollerable burtheÌ of mens traditioÌs Moreouer I am ignoraÌt not how the scripture admonisheth vs to refrain our own affectioÌs which thiÌg is truely spoken I wil be glad to perfourme it neither will I do any thinge obstinately so that I may onely professe the doctrine of the gospel Whan he had sayd thus he was coÌmaunded to depart Whan they had consulted of the matter Ueus amonges other thinges began to perswade him to submitte his writynges to the knowledge of the Emperour and the princes content saith he I wil neuer seme to refuse the iudgemeÌt of Cesar and the states of thempire so it maye be done by Scripture and Gods worde whiche maketh so much for me that vnlesse the same do reproue my errour I can not forsake mine opinion For Paule commaundeth not to beleue an Aungel comming from heauen if he bringe an other doctrine Wherfore he besecheth the Princes that he might kepe a saufe conscience which if by theyr mediation to the Emperour he mighte obtayne he was content to do any thing Then said the Marques of BraÌdenburge Wilt thou not geue place except thou be conuict by Scripture No in dede saieth Luther or els by manyfest reasons Wherfore when the counsell was broken vp the Archbishoppe of Treuers toke him a parte and began to admonishe him againe but it might not preuaile The next day also he moued him to commit the iudgement vnto Cesar and to the senate of Princes without conditioÌ But it was in vaine At the after noone the Bishoppe and certeine others required him at the lest to submitte his workes to the nexte generall counsell He agreeth therunto so that the matter be handled by the Aucthoritie of Scripture After this the Archbishop in priuate talke with him alone demaunded of him what remedy would helpe this greuous disease He sayde the best counsell is that Gamaliel in tymes past gaue to the Scribes and Phariseis and not to contende with God In fyne when he coulde not preuaile he letteth him depart gently and sayd he would deuise for him that he should retourne home by saufeconduicte And not longe after commeth Eckius the Lawier and saieth vnto him For asmuche as thou hast refused the admonishmentes of Cesar and the Princes the Emperour from hence forth will do as to his office apperteineth and now commauÌdeth thee to depart hence immediatly graunting thee one and twentie dayes for thy retourne looke what promise he made thee the same wil he kepe vnbroken charginge thee moreouer that in thy retourne home thou styrre vp no people by the way neither by word nor writing On this wise beyng suffered to depart
neuer take wages nor stypende of anye Prince to serue him in his warres After this was borne the kynges sonne Charles whome the Swyces sendynge theyr deputies Christened at the Fontestone The Heluetians or Swicesse consiste of thirtene Townes Zuricke Bernes Lucerna Ura Swite Unterualde Tugie Glarea Basille Solodure Friburge Schafusiane and Apecelle These are ioyned in a most straite leage by an othe vsynge one and the same law and gouerne as it were in common theyr common weale The fyrst of all that made this leage were the Uranites the Swyces and Unterualdians what tyme they expulsynge their nobilitie vnder whome they were oppressed procured their owne libertie This was in the yere of our Lorde M.CCC.xv After came vnto theÌ they of Lucerne next them the Tugians in the syxte place the men of Zuricke and last they of Bernes and of Basille Than ioyned wyth them in societie but not in the same lawes nor so great frendshippe the Rhetians Lepontians Sedunites Ueragrites Sangallians Mullusians and they of Rotuuille The Emperour beyng now past one twenty yeres of Age banisheth Luther by a common decree the eyght day of May takyng the begynning therof of his owne parson for that it was his part and office not onely to establishe and augment the Empire but also to forese that no blemishe nor Heresye should springe vp within the limittes of the same And that his Progenitours in dede haue bene diligent men herin Wherfore it is mete that he vnto whoÌ God hath giuen so large and ample dominioÌs should folow their steppes for vnlesse he should punishe nowe the Heresyes lately spronge vp in Germany he shoulde bothe hurte his owne conscience in the beginning now of his reigne sore blemisshe his name and dignitie that it is well knowen vnto all men what wicked doctrine Luther hathe spread abroade nowe these three or foure yeres agaynste the Byshoppe and Churche of Rome against the decrees of the auncient fathers and namely against the couÌsel of Constance to the great reproche of theÌperor SigismuÌde and the Princes of Germany that were there present Wherfore syns that in hys bokes is nothing els conteined but sedition discorde warre murther and mischief so that he appereth not to be a man that wrote theÌ but rather a Deuil in a mans likenes He for the zeale that he beareth to the common wealth and the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome doth condemne and proscribe him as aucthor of Scismes as a manyfest and an obstinate Heretike commaundynge all men vnder a great penaltie so to accepte him and after thre weekes wherin he gaue him leaue to retourne to apprehende him and bringe him vnto him and al such as shall fauour or aide him in his doynges he banisheth in like case he commaundeth also his Bokes should be brent appoyntynge a greate penaltie herafter for the Stationers commaunding this decree of his which he sayeth was made by the common consent and assent of the Princes to be well obserued Men say how this decree was made by a very fewe for diuerse of the Electours confessed that they were not made priuie to it as shall be declared hereafter of the Archebyshoppe of ColleÌ The Archbishoppe of Mentz beyng Chauncelour of the Empire maye do muche in such matters But how so euer it came to passe the Emperour hereby wanne muche fauoure in so muche that the Bishoppe of Rome cleane forsakynge the Frenche kynge made a league with him as shall be declared hereafter From the tyme of this publication Duke Fridericke appointed certein of his nobilitie whom he especially trusted to conueighe Luther out of the way in to some secrete place that he might eschewe the dauÌger whiche thinge was done bothe diligently and closelye In this carefulnes Luther wrote diuerse epistles to his Frendes and also bokes concernyng the abrogating of the priuate Masse whiche he dedicateth to his brethren the Austen Freres of Religious Uowes to his father Iohn Luther and a booke agaynst Iames Latomus a Doctor of Louaine The Austen Freres beganne nowe fyrste of all men to leaue of Massyng and for that cause Luther compiled this Booke for them that he might encourage the weake and confyrme the skylfull exhortinge them muche to perseuer in the same purpose Whiche thinge knowen Duke Friderick fearing that some great trouble or commotion should arrise therof commaunded that the opinion of the whole Uniuersitie herein should be knowen and brought vnto him The Uniuersitie chose iiij for the same purpose Iustus Ionas Philip Melanchthon Nyclas Amstorfe and Iohn Dulce Who conferryng with the Austen Freres brought worde what theyr inteÌt was And furthermore declared what an iniury was done to the lordes Supper Wherfore they beseche the Prince that he would abolish so great a wickednes not out of one Churche onely but also in all places and set vp the trew vse of the Lordes Supper accordyng to Christes commaundement and the maner of the Apostles stoutly contemnyng al the reproches of the aduersaries for it hath euerbene sene that who so taketh in hande to maynteine the trew doctrine of the Gospel must suffre many thinges and that he ought greatly to foresee that he accept reuerently this present gifte of God wherwith he is chiefly adorned by reason of the lyght of Ghospell spronge vp amonges his people Wherunto the Duke answered that he would leaue nothing vnattempted that might be for Gods glory but for so muche as the thing is ful of difficultie he thinketh good not to beto hastie for litel it is that so fewe can bringe to effect but in case the matter be grownded on the Scriptures they shall doubtles haue mo to take theyr parts And theÌ shall that alteration which shall seme both Godly and necessary more conueniently be brought to passe For he him selfe which is ignoraunt in the Scriptures caÌ not tel what time this accustomed vse of masse which you reproue came vp or when that maner that the Apostles vsed was lefte But as he taketh it the most part of Colledges and Churches were fownded for Masses whiche if they should be put downe and the landes taken awaye that were geuen for the same purpose euery man might well consyder what hurly burly would follow vpon the same Wherfore his aduise shal be that they go and consult further of the matter with the rest of good and well learned men of the vniuersitie that all theyr heades leyde together suche meanes may be fouÌde as maye kepe a Godly quiet These men after more deliberation had make him answer admoshing him as before to put downe theÌ Masse that the thinge maye be done without any tumult And thoughe it coulde not yet that whiche is righte and godlye woulde not therfore be lefte vndone that they be fewer in numbre it is no newes For euer syns the worlde began the greater part of men haue resisted the trewe doctrine moreouer that those onely shall receiue this ryght vse of the
black Freres And he againe affirmed it to be agreable to the Scriptures that he was able to proue the senate of Zuricke called a coÌuocation of all the priestes within their Jurisdiction at the .xxix. of January for the controuersie about ReligioÌ at what time all men shal be heard there so much as shal be requisite They require also very louingly by theyr letters the Bishop of Constance that either he would come him selfe or sende his deputie Where thefore there came many at the dai appointed amoÌges others Iohn Faber the Bishoppes deputie The Borowmaster speaketh these wordes Forasmuche as great dissention is rysen about Religion therfore this assemblie is called to the inteÌt that if any maÌ hath ought to say against that doctrine of Zuinglius he may speake the same frely Now had Zuinglius before comprised his doctrine into certein common places and Themes to the nuÌbre of .lxvij. and had published the same in all places to the intent men might come to the disputation fournished and prepared And what time the Borowmaster had done speakyng he propouÌded the same againe desyring them to ioyne with hym in disputation There whan Faber had shewed the cause of hys commyng he goeth about to perswade that the place was not mere to decide matters of Religion but that the same apperteineth to a generall counsell whiche he trusted should be shortely But Zuinglius required him to dispute and if he had any thinge to saye not to dissemble the matter he said he would confute his doctrine by writyng After many wordes had betwixt them when neither he nor any other would come forth to dispute the Senate breakynge vp the assemblie commaundeth that throughe out their dominions the traditions of men layde a syde the ghospell should be taught syncerely out of the Bokes of the olde and new Testament ⧠The fourth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fourth Booke POpe Adriane by his Ambassadoure vttereth manye thinges and confesseth the wickednes of Rome The Princes of Germany answere him and propounde conditiond of the counsell An alteration is in Denmarke Christierne the kyng sleeth He speaketh of the impostes ouer Germany of the fyrst fruictes and the tenthes Of the dere Mantel of the Archbishops Of the burning of two Austen Freres Of the decree of Norinberge expounded by Luther and of certeine bokes written by him Of the complaint made of him by the kyng of EnglaÌd Adriane dieth Clement succedeth him Trouble in Swysserlande for Ê uinglius doctrine at Strasbourgh for the mariage of Priestes At the assemblie of Norinberge Cardinall Campegius came Ambassadour from Clemente who prayeth Duke Friderike to be there After hauinge spoken to the Counsell the princes make him aunswere and replie Troubles arrise in Swiserlande againste them of Ê uricke who rendre a reason of theyr doctrine to the Ambassadours sent by the other CaÌtons The Byshop of Constance defendeth Images and yet not wythstandyng his wrytyng Images were beaten downe through out al the dominion of Ê uricke To the foresaid assemblie of âorinberge themperor sent his Ambassade They of Strasburgh and their Byshop vtter theyr controuersie to Campegius After the sayde assemblie Kynge Ferdinando and others make a league agaynst the Gospell The warre of the Bowres BEsides the former letters Bishop Adrian had prescribed to his Ambassadour what he should furthermore saye and expressed the same in writing Fyrst that he should accompt before the Princes what a grief it was to him that Luther shoulde styrre vp this trouble and sedition for that the thing concerned the losse of soules and destruction of the flocke committed hym of Christ to kepe secondly that it hath chasised in the same cuntreye where he hymselfe was borne which nation was euer furthest of from all suspecion of Heresye Wherfore he desyreth greatly that they would helpe to remedye the matter so soone as might be lest through longer delaye the same thinge happen vnto Germany as dyd to the lande of Boheme Affyrmyng that he wyll neyther spare cost nor labour herin beseching them that they will euerye man after his power do the lyke there beynge many weightye causes whie they so oughte to do Fyrste for the glory of Gods holy name which throughe this Heresye is chiefly obscured the Rites and Ceremonies of the Churche defaced and in maner quite abolished the loue of oure neighboure vnto whom Charitie bindeth vs to shewe the right waye For Germany which was wont to haue the chiefe prayse for Religion now by reason of this reuolting theyr fame and estimation groweth in contempt and ignomie For where they might easely haue dispatched Luther also quenched his heresies they would not degenerating herin from their auncestours which left a notable example of theyr vertu at CoÌstance Is it not a most open wronge that he doeth both to them and also to theyr elders For where as they folowed the Religion of the catholick churche of Rome nowe by his iudgement that condemneth the same Religion they are all damned Let them wey and consyder with them selues what these fellowes do purpose and intende Uerely vnder pretence of the libertie of the Gospel to subuerte and take away al lawes and Magistrates And albeity t Luther semed in the begynning to impugne onely the ecclesiastical power as tyrranical wicked yet is this his intent that after he hath once perswaded that Christians are by no lawes bounden to obeye the Magistrate he maye open the waye vnto all men to worke what mischief they liste And therfore greate daunger hangeth ouer them also Hitherto they do craftely and traiterouslye hyde theyr purpose and flatter the Magistrate to the intent they may frely vtter theyr malice vpon the clergie but when they be oppressed they wyll doubtles atteÌpt further For they may see already by experience what grudge hatred tumultes offences this Heresie hath alreadi brought into the common wealth Whiche euyles vnlesse they be suppressed in time it is to be feared lest God who hathe gyuen them the power of the sworde wyll plage this theyr so great negligence bothe with their owne priuate and also with the common destruction of all Germany For Luther differeth not muche from the secte of Mahomet which permitteth men to mary many wiues and after to forsake the same by the whiche policie that mischieuous man bewitched and allured the greatest part of the worlde whiche thing thoughe Luther permitteth not yet doth he aduise all them to mary which haue vowed chastitie gyuing the reignes of lybertie to mans lust and concupiscens that he maye haue the mo of his confyderacie to the vtter destruction of the common wealthe namely of Germany He sayd therfore to be theyr partes to put in execution the decrees of Leo and Cesar to the intent they may auenge Gods glorye auoyde the sklaunder of the countrey and
eschewe the present daunger that hangeth ouer their owne heades Furthermore if there be any that say howe Luther was condemned before his matter was heard or that it were reason the thing shold be debated before he were executed they thinke not well for Christ hath taught vs the rule of faith Religion whose authoritie we must folowe and not reason of the articles of our faith nor inquire the cause of this or that precept He is in dede to be hearde when he is examined whether he spake this thinge or that in hys sermon whether he setforth this boke or that but touching faith and the Sacramentes we may not permit him to reason or defend those thinges whiche he hathe written thereof for in this we muste folowe the vse and custome of the Church and in no wise swarue from the same Againe sith hys doctrine is suche as hath bene heretofore condemned by generall counsels there is none accompt to be made therof Moreouer there should be no ende of coÌtention if it might be lawfull for euery priuate man to call in question those thinges which wittie and great learned men haue with muche deliberation established wheresoeuer is any asseÌblie or felowship of meÌ there be certein lawes which all they are bounden to obserue howe muche more oughte the same to be done what time anye thynge is openlye establisshed in the churche But seyng these men do not onely contempne the lawes and decrees of counsels and auncient fathers but also burne them they ought suerly to be punished as breakers of the common peace quietnes Neuertheles he confesseth howe that God which is the reuenger of all wronge doeth thus plage his churche for the synnes of the ministers therof as the Scripture saieth The iniquitie of the people procedeth from the priestes and elders for certenlye saieth he they haue synned at Rome these many yeres full greuously by sundry wayes euen from the highe Bishoppe to the lowest Ecclestasticall parson and not one to be excused for the which cause callynge mekely to God for pardon He wyll endeuour to redresse the thing and see that the court of Rome which perchaunce hath bene the occasion of all this mischief be fyrst sharpely refourmed And that as it hathe bene the example of vice so it may be the begynning of amendement and Patron of vertu which he saieth he must do by lytell and litell for that al sodayne mutations be daungerous and as the common prouerbe is He that bloweth his nose ouermuche shall wringe out bloude This writing dyd Luther translate in to the vulgare toungue and set to his notes in the margente and where he sayeth by lytell and lytell Luther affyrmeth that to be the space of many mens liues But in that he so frankely bewrayed the vicious lyuyng of the court at Rome he gote no great loue of the Cardinals as it is reported Neuertheles this they say is euer the bishop of romes policie when he wil deferre the couÌsel or delay the hearynge of the matter he will promise largely that whilest men trust vpon his promyse he maye fynde the meanes what by the fauoure of Princes and what by force of Armes to mainteine hys power dignitie which is like to fall in some daunger by fyre and generall counsels Whilest the Byshoppes Ambassador declared thus the Princes complained that the leagues which they had made in times past with Byshoppes of Rome were broken there diuerse wayes Whereof the Byshoppe beyng certifyed by the letters of his Ambassadour answereth them by the same that suche thynges as his predecessours dyd it lieth not in him to helpe but he misliked the handelyng of the matters at Rome when he was but a priuate man and purposed no lesse but to refourme the same thoughe no man had spoken therin and to suffer no man to susteine any wronge muche lesse them whom for the common countrey sake he coueteth chiefly to gratifie And where they desyre that their actions commenced might be retourned in to Germany so soone as the Iudges and aduocates whiche are fled oute of Rome for the Plage shall retourne he will inquire of the case and do therin that which shall seme resonable He commaunded moreouer his Ambassadour to require an aunswere of the Princes what in theyr opinion were the best way to destroy this pestiferous secte that he maye vnderstande in time what shall be his part to do therin These thinges beyng declared to the counsel the Princes and other states make aunswere Fyrste in recityng briefly his demaundes they say they are ryght glad that it hath pleased God to place him in the gouernement of the church which in this perilous time had nede of such a Pastour who beareth suche a zeale to the common wealthe and taketh suche paynes to set kynges at quietnes and emploieth hys treasure to the repressing of the Turkes violence whiche thynges they reioyse to heare of for by these ciuill warres thempire is decaied and the Turkes power increased where no man prepareth any Armye to resist him Here be the Ambassadours of the kyng and Princes of Hungary which not without great lamentation haue recited what cruell thinges they haue suffered and what daunger they stande in dayely Wherfore they desyre him which is the father Pastour of all others that he will perseuer in this most holy purpose and trauaile that eyther a suer peace or els a long treuce may be taken that in the meane time they may make preparation to withstande the Turkes violence and recouer the countreis of the Empire which are loste Whereunto they promise their aide bothe of men and money As concernyng Luther if any displeasure be growen in Germany by the meanes of his doctrine they are right hartely sory therefore as it becommeth them no lesse and desyre also to remedy the euyll knowyng it to be theyr duetie to obey both him and themperour nother wil they degenerat from their progenitours herein where he complaineth that he is not already punished according to the Emperours decree it is vpon no lyght consyderation omitted for all degrees do complayne most heinously of the courte of Rome And in maner al men are so wel instructed by the preachinges and bokes of Luther that in case the decree should be put in execution it would doubtles styre vp great sedition and many would so coustre it to be done for this intent that the trueth should be oppressed and the lyght of the Ghospell extinguisshed for the mayntenaunce of suche open crymes as were not to be borne withall which perswasion most certeinly would styrre vp a rebellion of the people against the Magistrates for it tan not be denied and he himselfe graunteth also that they lyue dissolutely vitiously at Rome to the great decay of Religion Wherefore in that he dyssembleth nothing nor clooketh the disorder of the court at Rome but promyseth a reformation it deseruith muche praise especially if he performe
but no man can shewe it they haue often times required herin the Bishoppe of Constaunce of Basill and of Courtes certeine Uniuersities and them also but vnto this day ther is nothing done Therfore their Ministers gyue none occasion of diffention in the commoÌ wealth but the Bishoppes and suche as for their owne profit teache that which is contrary to Godes worde For they deceiue the people offende God greuously which feare to lose any of theyr commodities and wer loth to forsake theyr pride and auarice As touchyng the eatyng of Egges and Fleshe Albeit it be free and not forbidden by Christ yet haue they made a lawe to auoide offence and rashenes God is the Aucthour of Matrimony and hath ordeined it for almen S. Paule also commauÌdeth that the minister of the church should be the husband of one wife And sins that Bishoppes do permit priestes for money to kepe Concubines and Harlots by a filthy example And they neither can nor wyll be without women they thinke it not good to resist God who ordeyned holy wedlocke sufferyng them that haue not the gifte of Chastitie to marrie rather than in singlenes to lyue a fylthy lyfe Colledges and such other places were fyrst founded for the pore but now for the most part they possesse them which haue enough besides And often times it is sene that one hath as much as wold find many Wherfore they think it reasonable that suche goods were againe conuerted to the vse of the poore wherin notwithstandyng to vse this moderation that suche as be in possession already be permitted to enioye the rente during theyr liues leste any man shoulde haue cause to complaine That the Iewels of the Churche apperteine not to the trewe worshipping of God But this to be more acceptable vnto God what time the pore and nedye are releued The order of Priesthode is not of them dispised but muche set by in case they do their dewtie and teach syncerely But as for the rest of the rabble that doeth no good but harme If it be by litell and litel diminished without offence and theyr possessions put to some godly vse there is no doubte but the same woulde be vnto God most acceptable For whether that God do accept their singing and seruice in Latin it is muche to be doubted of For many of them vnderstande not what they say and yet are they hired to do the same The order of Monkes is the inuention of man and not the ordinaunce of God Howe muche Auricular confession is of valewe that numbreth the sinnes they wil leaue vndiscussed but that wherby trewe penitentes haue accesse vnto Christe theyr mediator they iudge not onely profitable but also necessary for consciences troubled and pressed down with the burthen of sinne And this to be trewly to repent when a maÌ doeth amende his life The Sacraments which were instituted of God are not of them contemned but had in great reuerence notwithstandyng they must be vsed accordyng vnto Gods worde and the Lordes supper not to so applied as if it were an oblation or a sacrifice And if the Clergie that thus complaineth can fynde out any error amonges theÌ or prone that they be hindred or empeched by theÌ they will make them amendes if not it were reason that they should be commaunded to do theyr dewtie that is to teache the treuth and to abstaine from sklauÌdering of others Where as they desyre to be deliuered from the pillage and vsurped aucthoritie of the Bishoppe of Rome and his clientes they are exceadyng glad to heare it whiche thinge can be done by no meanes better than if Godes worde may be throughly receiued for so longe as theyr lawes and decrees shall take place let vs looke for no deliuerauÌce For it is onely the preaching of Gods word that shaketh theyr power and dignitie For the force of the Gospell and veritie is suche that they distrusting theyr owne strength seeke forthe aide of kynges Wherefore if they should in this case vse the helpe of Scripture it is requisite that the same be done lyke wise in all other thinges that all that God is offended with may be abolished for the reformation whereof they wyll be glad to bestowe not onely theyr trauaile counsel but their goods also for this would haue bene done longe syns Wherefore they desyre them to accept this in good part and to weighe it diligently They conet nothing more than peace and quiotnesse and will do nothing contrary to theyr league But in this case which concerneth theyr euerlastyng saluation they can not otherwise do vnlesse theyr errour can be detected they desyre them therfore that if they thinke theyr doctrine to be against the Scriptures it maye be shewed them before the ende of Maye For so longe will they tary for an answere from them and froÌ the Byshoppes and also from the Universitie of Basill In the meane while the Bishoppe of Constaunce calling a conuotion made a boke to answere them of Zuricke the ende wherof was to declare that where the Scripture speaketh againste Images it is to be vnderstand onely of the Idoles that were amonges the Iewes and Gentiles And that the Images receyued of the churche are to be kept styll Then treateth he of the Masse the which he proueth by many testimonies of Bishoppes of Rome and theyr couÌsels to be an oblation and a sacrifice This boke sendeth he to Zuricke the fyrst daye of Iune exhortynge the Senate with many weightie wordes that they neither take downe theyr Images nor abrogate the Masse nor suffer the people to be taught otherwise The Senate make the answere the eighteneth day of Auguste howe that they are glad that he hathe setforth this booke for now it shall appere whether partie defendeth the iuster quarell After they declared the mindes of theyr learned menne teaching the contrary by the Scriptures But before they wrote an aunswer the Senate had commaunded throughout theyr incisdiction all Images to betaken downe brent Yet without any trouble this was in the moneth of Iune and within a fewe monethes after the Canons of Zuricke make a compact with the Senate and order was taken how the landes and goods of their Colledge should be imploied The Emperor sent to the Counsel at Norinberge Iohn Hawnart and complainyng that the decree made at Worines by their common assent and counsell was broken to the great losse of Germany he commaunded that from hence forth it should be diligentlye obserued The Princes answer that they wyll do herein what they can Finally the .xviij. of Aprill it was there decreed that by the assent of the Emperour the Bishop of Rome so shortly as might be shoulde all a free counsel in Germanye in some place conueniente That the estates of the Empire do assemble at Spires the xi of Nouember there to consult what they shall folowe vntill the begynninge of the counsell That the Princes shall assigne
nuÌbre of holye dayes be in measure These woulde Campegius haue enacted in the counsell of the Empire But when he could not bring it to passe he held this assembly a part Whan Luther vnderstode that the Emperoure and diuerse Princes woulde practise the decree of Wormes he bewaileth the state of Germanye whiche beynge so ofte admonisshed neglecteth her own wealthe And calleth vpon the Princes them selues that beynge so openly and wickedly disceaued of the Romishe Byshoppes they maynteyne neuertheles theyr dignitie and seke all his distructioÌ which wissheth best vnto them Wherfore he saith for this great ingratitud and frowardenesse inexcusable there hangeth a most terrible Plage ouer Germany He warneth them also that they attempte not rasshelye to warre vpon the Turke who in counsell and moderation doeth farre excell our Princes And liuing as we do we may hope of no victorye Furthermore he calleth it a mockery that theÌperour and the kynge of Englande which can not lengthen theyr lyues one momeÌt should cai them selues defendors of the Church and the faith He besecheth God to sende suche Magistrates as will seke and tendre Gods glory The golden Rose which the Pope had lately consecrated as is atcustomed three weekes before Easter he sendeth to Heury the eyghte kynge of Englande as a notable token of his singular good wyll and beneuolens Aboute this tyme came forth Erasmus boke of Freewill Wherunto Luther aunswered with a contrary tytell of Bondewyll The kynge of Englande and the Cardinal of Yorke caused Erasmus to write his booke as he him selfe confesseth in a certeine Epistle to the Cardinall which is in printe About this time also Anthony Duke of Loraine made this decree For so muche as Luthers Doctrine is condemned of the Bishop of Rome of the Emperor of famous Uniuersities he commaundeth that none of his do preache any such doctrine And that all suche as haue any bokes set forthe by Luther do exhibite the same within a certeine day appointynge a penaltie to suche as dyd disobey This yere Henry ZutphaÌ was put to death with exceadinge paines and torment for the doctrine of the gospel by theÌ of Dietmary which is in the marces of Germany for beyng called he went thither after he had taught two yeres amonges the Bremers I tolde you before of a couÌsell that should haue bene at Spires the same was altered and themperor when he knewe writing his letters out of Spaine to the states of theÌpire at the Ides of Iuly doth blame them exceadinly for the decree made For wheras certeine yeres paste in the counsell at Wormes by the common assente of all states he had with moste weygtie wordes condemned Luthers doctrine as Hereticall and pestilent where also the Byshoppe of Rome had after dewe examination condemned his Bokes commaundyng them to be breÌt he marueyleth greatly and is sory also that they shoulde forbed onely his sclaunderous Bookes or skornefull Pictures to be sold as though that decree at Wormes were not ryghtly and orderly made And moreouer he is not a lytell moued that they woulde both haue a counsell holden in Germany and haue spoken to the Legate Campegius that he would write to the Byshop herin as thoughe the same concerned not more the Bishoppe or him than it doeth them for if they thought it so expedient for Germany to haue a counsel why made they not him preuie to it that he might haue obteyned the thing of the Byshop And nowe albeit he perceiueth rightwell howe muche the Bishoppes authoritie and his also is by this decree diminished yet consyderynge that the waye shal not be vnprofitable for the coÌmon wealth he approueth the counsell also yet so that it may be done by the Bishoppes authoritie and in tyme and place conueniente so as he maye be presente there him selfe as he is fully determined And whereas they haue appoynted an assemblie agaynste the .xi. day of Nouembre to establisshe Religion till the begynnyng of the counsell where they haue also chosen certeine learned men to gather the summe of a Doctrine he neyther can nor wyll consent therto in any wyse But accordynge to hys office in so muche as he is the defendor and protectour of the Byshop of Romes Churche he doth by all meanes prohibite this decrre lest he should procure to him selfe the displeasure of God of the Bishop also for what greater coÌtumelie caÌ be wrought against the christiaÌ church thaÌ if the reuereÌs dew to the highest power should be thus shakeÌ of if Germany which hath bene euer most coÌmended for vertu obeidieÌce should a lone alter that religioÌ which no Princes nor the bishop of Rome him self euer durst do Which neuer man forsoke hitherto but he felt of Gods vengeaunce for his wickednes if they should forsake abolish that hath bene of so long coÌtinewauÌce in all ChristendoÌ at the craftye perswasion of Luther who endeuoureth with painted words to disceaue abuse meÌ as in times past did Mahomet what plages of god might they loke for He besecheth God to loke mercifully vpon Germany and not to suffer so great a mischiefest to take place ther so loÌg as he liueth Wherfore let theÌ obey the decre of Wormes vnlesse they will smart for it defer all matters of religioÌ till a general couÌsell may be had at the Bishop of Rome his appointmeÌt which are theyr chief magistrats After the selfe same sorte writeth he also priuatly to certein states amoÌges others to the senate of Strauso And thus was the decre of the next asseÌblie abolished for themperor hauing both his hands full of the Frenche warres sought to winne the Bishop of Rome by all meanes possible This sommer Charles duke of Bourbon CoÌstable of FrauÌce which the yere before partly by his owne accorde partely laboured by themperor fell froÌ the French king beseged Marselles but in vain Whom departing thence into Italy the kyng foloweth with great expedition and taking many holdes in LuÌbardy the citie of Millan it selfe towardes wynter he besegeth Pauie a towne by the riuer of Ticine In the moneth of Nouembre the countrey people of Suelande began to ryse against theyr lord the countie Lupse for charges wherwith they complayned to be ouer muche burthened Lykewise others in other places nere vnto the same rebelled against theyr magistrats in so much that the counsel of theÌpire which gouerneth the coÌmon welth in themperors absence beyng then at Eslinge sent theyr ambassadors appeased certeine coÌtrouersies But this broile ceased not as shal be told herafter This was that begining of the greatest most dauÌgerous coÌmotion that pearsed afterwards throughout a great part of Germany What tyme Luthers doctrine was set forth in all places the Clergie did resist it with all their forse fearyng to lose all theyr goodes and benefices And certein of Straceborugh complained to the senate of the Empire of the townes men that
All theyr requestes wer euery where a like beginning in SuelaÌde and passing so vnto others reaching from Thuringe and the borders of Saxonie vnto the toppe of the Alpes and into the couÌtrey about Salisburge whither after the rebellion appeased in FraÌckonie came also the armye of the Princes confederated and distroied and banished many amoÌges whom was theyr captein Geismer who passed through the Alpes by streyght passages with a part of his hoste to the Uenetians of whom he had an yerely stipende and dwelled at Padwey wheras after he was slaine by treason And this was th end of the Bowres warre in the whiche were slaine in one sommer at the least fiftie thousande The Princes that were of the confederacie and league of SwelaÌd so oft mentioned werethese Cesar as Prince of Austriche and his brother Fernando tharchbishop of Mentz the Palsegraue the Bishoppe of Salisburge Bamberge Wirciburge Aistet and Auspurge Wylliam and Lewes brethren Dukes of Bauar Otho Henricke Philip brethren Counties Palatine George Marques of BrandeÌburge and Albert his nephewe Philip the Lantzgraue of Hasse diuers others both of the nobilitie and Clergie Moreouer the most part of all the cities in Sweuia and amoÌges other Norinberge About the eight day of Aprill the Masse was put downe at Zuricke by the commaundement of the Senate aswell within the citie as without And in stead of that was instituted the Lordes Supper Lykewise all Ceremonies abolished the Doctrine of Godes worde taketh place and a lawe made againste Fornication and adulterie and Iudges appointed to heare the causes of Matrimony â The fyfthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common We ale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fyfth Booke MUncer by his newe doctrine teaching goodes to be had in common inflamed the rage of the people hauinge Phifer to his companion Duke Fredericke departeth the princes assemble against Muncer Who perswading the people to resist is discomsited and after executed Luther had written against him toy e senate of Misshuse the requestes which the wurs made at the beginning are here recited Wherunto Luther answereth sheweth their disordre exhorting the magistrate to destroy such wicked men Themperor vnderstanding these troubles appoynteth a counsel at Auspurge Carolostadius exiled from Wittenberg goeth about to make his purgation Luther marieth a nonne Ê winglius and he meete at Marseburge to conferre of theyr controuersie of the Lordes supper Whilest the French king was prisoner Pope Clement receiuing letters from the kynges mother solliciteth the parlamente of Paris to make persecusion Faber was constrained to flee wherof the king wing aduertised causeth such suites and actions against learned men to surcease the common welth of Pruse is altered from the Knightes of Germany to a Duke donie and receiueth the Gospell AGreat occasion of this terrible Warre came by rashe lewd preachers wherof Thomas Muncer was principall who leauing of the preaching of the Gospell set forth a new kind of doctrine in Alstet atowne of the Dukes of Saxonye in Thuringe and taughte not only against the byshop of Rome but against Luther also contendinge that bothe their doctrines were vyle and naught the byshop byndeth mens consciences with straight and ouer harde lawes whiche bondes he saide Luther in deede hath lowsed but offended in the contrary parte in geuing ouermuche libertie and not teaching those thinges that are of the spirite The bishops decrees we maye fafely contemne for that they helpe nothynge vnto saluation whiche to obtayne saith he we must first eschewe open crymes as murther adultery blaspheming of gods name the body must be chastened and made leane with fasting simple apparel the couÌtenaunce must be framed vnto grauitie speake seldome weare a long beard These such other like thigs he called the crosse the mortifieÌg of the flesh a discipline wherw t he that was furnished he said must get him out of coÌpany thike oft of god what he is whether he hath any care ouer Whether Christ died for our sakes Whether our religion be better thaÌ the Turkes Moreouer to axe of God a sygne wherby he maye testifie that he careth for vs and that we be in the true Religion And albeit he shew not a token by and by yet must we neuertheles procede praie still yea expostulate and braule with God that he dealeth not well with vs For seyng that the Scriptures promiseth that he will graunt such thinges as be demaunded it is not righte that he doeth not exhibite a signe to a man that seketh the true knowledge of him This expostulation anger saieth he is of God well accepted for that he perceiueth herby our earnest minde and zeale And than no doubt but being thus instantly sollicited he will declare him selfe by some notable signe and quenche the thirste of our minde dealinge with vs as he did intymes paste with tholde fathers He taughte moreouer that God opened hys minde by dreames wherin he builded the foundation of his inteÌt and loke whose dreame he could interprete him would he praise openly in his sermon And when he had by this meanes allured many to him then began he to take stipulation of them and wrot theyr names that promised him by an othe to ayde him in his pretensed mischiefe For he said he was commaunded of God to distroy all wicked Princes and subsistute new in theyr places He taughte moreouer that all thinges should be coÌmon al meÌ of like fredom dignitie wherupon the coÌmon people leauiÌg theyr daily labor toke such things as they neded of others that had store eueÌ agaist their wils The dukes of Sax. had banished him what time he begaÌ fyrst to preach seditiously thence weÌt he to Norin froÌ theÌce to Mulhuse wherhe altered the senate droue out the MoÌkes entred into theyr possessioÌs takig vpoÌ hi not only as a preacher but also as a Senator determining al matters as he list For he sayd how he had all thinges shewed him by reuelation loke what he said was to theÌ sacred holy These partes plaied he for the space of two or thre monethes And wheÌ the Bowres were vp in Swelande Frankonie to the nuÌbre of fourtie thousand had discomfited a great parte of the nobilitie taken spoyled fyred many holdes castels as before is mentioned theÌ began he to set haÌde on seing the time seruing so well for his purpose he cast felde peces in the Gray friers and gote a wonderfull numbre of people out of the CouÌtrie thinking to get some thiÌg He had of his counsell one Phifer a bold and a desperate felow which was much gyuen to dreames and visions in the nighte who dreamed that he sawe in a certeine stable an innumerable sorte of Myse which he put to flight al This toke he as that God had coÌmaunded him to lead forth his armie
before a noble yong man Whom Muncer against the lawes of Armes had slayne wherwith the princes being more displeased caused the trompettes to souÌde to the battel set their meÌ in order ThaÌ Philip Lantzgraue of Hesse though he were yongest of them all ryding vp downe froÌ one coÌpany to another exhorted the soldioures to be valcauÌt And although the thinges were trew wherof they were accused yet were it not lawfull for the subiectes to rebell against their princes or magistrats vnto whom God hath giuen the sword wold haue them obeyed as may be proued by sundry places of Scripture He wente not aboute to execuse eyther his owne faultes or any other Princes but to confesse theyr fault graunt that many thinges ought to be amended yet ought the people neuerthelesse to absteyne from all seditioÌ For where they alledge that they are not permitted to haue the doctrine of the Gospel it is no iust cause to make any rebellion Whan Peter stroke with the sworde he was rebuked of Christ if any Princes do persecute the trew religion they ought to beare with them yea suffer death rather than to resist by force of Armes They take the name of the gospell for a cloke but theyr intent is in dede to take other mens goods to sley the Magistrates to force other mens wiues that no crimes should be punished and for asmuche as they pretende the name of holynes in these so shamefull deedes there is no doubte but God wyll plage their Hypocrisie and reuenge the blasphemie of his holye name When he had with these and suche other like wordes encouraged hys men to fyght they gaue the charge on theyr enemies and fyrst wente of the ordinaunce And the other poore wretches standyng all amased and as men rauished of theyr wittes neither defended them selues nor sought theyr saftie by flight but songe in Duche mytre requiringe the aide of the holy ghost For many trustyng to Muncers promise looked for helpe from heauen When the greate peces were shotte of and that they entred theyr campe and had slayne many at the laste they fled towarde the towne of Franckuse others went againe to thother syde of the Hill and in the valley beneth skirmished wyth certeine horsemen and slewe two or three of them For the Horsemen scattered them selues when theyr enemies fledde and folowed the chase oute of a raye But when they missed of their company they wer in such a rage that to reuenge theyr felowes death they slewe fyue thousand And immediatly after the battell was the towne taken and thre hundreth there beheaded Muncer was fled into the Towne and hyd him selfe in a house not farre from the gate Hither by chaunce came a gentleman and his seruaunt goyng vp to see the house founde in a chamber aboue one lying in his bed He asketh what he is and if he be not one of the rebels that fled He sayd nay he had layue there sycke a good whyle of the Ague His Purse as it chaused laye vpon his bed that chatcheth vp the other thinkyng to haue a pece of money After he had opened it he fouÌd letters which Albert Countie Mansfelde had sent to Muncer admonishynge him to cease from his enterprise and styrre not vp the people to rebellion When he had red the letters he demaunded of him whether the letters were written vnto him He denied it thother threatened him then he desyred him to be content and confessed that he was Muncer Then was he led to duke George of Saxonie to the LaÌtz graue and beynge demaunded of them why he had thus abused the poore and simple people He aunswered that he had done nothinge but his dewtie And that the Magistrates whiche can not abyde Godes word ought thus to be punished The Lantzgraue replied and proued to him by Scriptures howe God hath commaunded the Magistrate to be honoured and obeyed howe he hath forbidden all sedition and that it is not lawfull for anye Christian to reuenge his owne wronge Wherunto he aunswered nothing And beynge examined vpon the Racke when he cried oute for paine The duke said vnto him thou art nowe Muncer in payne but remembre againe the losse of so many men as beyng wickedly abused thys day haue bene distroied Then with a greate laughter he saide they would haue it so Afterwardes being led to Helderunge a towne of the couÌtie MaÌsseldes vpon the Pymebanke there he appeached many companions confederats of his conspiracie which were beheaded at Mulhuse and amonges others Phifer before mentioned When he should be executed he was not hable to receite his belefe but as Henry duke of BruÌswicke saide it before him But when he shoulde die he acknowledged his offence and error And beynge inuironed with soldiours he exhorted the Princes that they would shewe more mercy to poore men and reade ouer diligently the bokes of Scripture that are written of kynges He had no souer spokeÌ thus but the sword was in the neck of him and for an exaÌple his head set vp on a pole in the middes of the feldes What time he was banished out of Saxonie as I saide before wanderyng from place to place and at the last as it was reported purposed to come to Mulhuse Luther hearing thereof wrote his letters to the Senate admonishyng them in no case to receiue Muncer For he was a sedicious parson and imagined nothing but murther and mischiefe signifiyng what thinges he had attempted at Alstet and other places Moreouer his doctrine to be fonde and pernicious whereof he wylled them to beware for shortly would his craft be knowen with other frendly wordes which he saide if they contempted and fell after into misery he shold be without blame that had so diligently warned them and they should repente them to late Likewise before anye tumolt was in Germany And yet all thynges lyke to come to suche a passe Luther set forth a boke wherein he warned all men to abstayne from sedition declaryng that the same is not the way to refourme the tyrrany of the Clergie which shall fall and be confounded by no force of men but by the spirite of God and commyng of our Sauior Christ as appere in Daniell and sainct Paule This to be the grounde of hys opinion and to be right well assured that they that seke to redres the thinge by force of Armes shall trauaile in vayne Yet for so muche as some great tumult and daunger haÌgeth ouer the Cleargie the thing requireth counsell he wyll Franckly declare his opinion And fyrst to be the Magistrates dewtie to foresee that the people susteine no hinderaunce through the fault of others And that trew religion be not defaced by false doctrine This to be theyr propre office to vse all theyr power that is giuen them to the glory of God and welth of the people But for as muche as they do the contrary and let one
of God with high prayses which hath set vp this light of his knowledge before our eies The Iuggling of the Papistes are bewraied theyr ignoraunce briberie tyrrany and all theyr fylthynes wher with they haue so longe disceaued the world be nowe disclosed and they whiche heretofore haue bene feared of all men are nowe broughte to that exigente that they But where they nowe appeare in theyr likenes and are beholden naked with the eies of all men what vncleanes they haue hid hertofore and are nowe driuen to force of Armes it can not be that their state should longe endure And if there chaunce any part of theyr power to remaine which this doctrine of the ghospell shall not infringe all that shall be abolished by the commyng of Christ We must therfore applye it manfully and procede in the same course but yet it muste be done in order For some are farre out of frame which being not furnished with learnyng after they haue heard two or three SermoÌs by and by take muche vpon them callyng them selues Lutherianes and reproue bitterly some that as yet knowe nothing Wherin they do much offende for so ought they not to do And he requireth that no man vsurpe hys name But rather indeuour that seing we professe the name of Christ we may rightly chalenge that to ourselues that we may be surnamed Christians And he that teacheth hath nede to be wel ware what they be that he dealeth with For some be obstinate and froward that both wyl contemne sounde doctrine and also bring others into errour such must they quite eschew after the precept of Christ to cast no pearels before Hogges But wheras they not coÌtented eyther with theyr own ignoraunce or obstinacie do seke to seduce others and bringe them froÌ the crew doctrine thaÌ must they be sharpely withstande not for theyr owne sakes but that same of the multitude might at the least be saued Agayne therebe others not obstynate but symple and without knowledge with whom they must deale gently and not hastely or rashely shewyng them in order wherein the saluation of men consisseth And accordyng to theyr smalle capacitie to applye all theyr speache tyll by lytle and lytle they increase and be confyrmed In the last boke I shewed you of the Bowres that were vp in Sweuelande before Muncer came forth into the felde These people handled the matter with more attempraunce at the begynning declaringe by articles written what thinges they would haue reformed by theyr Princes and Magistrates And in case they were abused in any thing they would not be styfe nor wilfull but promised to folowe better couÌsell theyr requestes were these Fyrst that they might chuse them suche ministers as should preache Gods worde sincerely without any mixture of mens traditions Secondarely that herafter they would pay no tithes but of corne onely and the same to be distributed by the discretion of good men partly to the Ministers of the Church partly vpon the pore and partly aboute commen affaires Thyrdly that they haue bene hitherto vnworthelye kept in bondes consydering howe they are all made free in the bloude of Christ they refuse not to haue a Magistrate knowyng that he is ordeyned of God and wyll obey him in all honest thinges but they can not abyde to be any longer bounde vnlesse it be shewed reasonable by the testimonies of Scripture Againe that it standeth not with equitie that they are forbidden to Hunte Hauke and Fishe and that in many places they may not be suffered to chase the wilde beastes out of the corne Seynge from the beginnyng of the world God hath gyuen man right rule ouer all kinde of beastes we desyre that some equalitie herein maye be had that rather the commoditie of a multitude than of a fewe mighte be consydered Moreouer wodes be in few mens handes to the great discommoditie of the people wherfore theyr minde is to haue all suche common both for fewel and also for building as be no priuate mans inheritaÌce And for other woddes to be frendly vsed by the owners Furthermore they be sore burthened diuerse waies dayly more and more Wherfore they desyre the Princes to moderate the same after the rule of the gospell and charge them no further than in times past hath bene accustomed They would also that such as haue goods landes or possessions by the benefite or graunte of Princes or Magistrates be no further charged than was couenaunted at the beginninge lykewise some of them pay more rent yerely than theyr Fermes be worth wherfore it is reason that the lordes remit some part therof to the intente they the tyll the grounde may reape some fruite of their trauaile and not liue in extreme pouertie Brieflye in paimentes of money they woulde require more equitie for dayly are diuised new lawes and meanes to get money of them for no amendement but oftentimes the thing is haÌdled by fauour or displeasure or some one or other pertialtie Wherfore they require that all affections set a part this thing be vsed from hence forth as the maner was first prescribed Finally that some haue taken in laÌdes and Meddowes that are common which they will redresse vnles they be agreed withall last of al that wheras the goodmaÌ of the house departeth the wife and children are wont to paye some what whiche because it is vnreasonable they would that the Magistrates shoulde vtterly take it away Unto these Articles beyng once published answereth Luter vnto whom they had referred their matter And framing his stile vnto theÌ It is trew sayeth he I graunt you that suche Princes as do not admit the preaching of the Gospell and oppresse the people diuerslye are worthy whom God should thrust out of gouernement for they haue none excuse And albeit this be trew yet must you take heede that you bring hither a pure and vnspotted conscience or els shall you suffer the losse bothe of body and soule neyther ought you to consyder what power you are of or howe much your aduersaries are to be blamed but howe iust the quarel is that you defende Take diligent hede therfore and beleue not the preachinges of all men For Sathan hathe at this tyme vnder the pretence of the Gospell styred vp many sediciouse and bloudy doctours I wyll counsell you ryghtly and truely as I am boÌden it shall be your parte to geue eare and mynde to heare it Nether shal it moue me one whitte though many shal reporte euyll and rayle vppon me It shall suffice if at the lest wyse I may delyuer some from Goddes vengeaunce for the rest of them I passe not and as they contempne me so shall not I feare them But for the purpose you take to your selues an holy name and call your selue a Christian felloweshyp and bragge that you wyll followe in all thinges the lawe prescribed of God But you know certenly that the name of God may not be taken
as it is reported in the Campe before the cytie of Ptolomais After wardes dyd they subdue Pruse lande when Frederick the second was Emperour And after they had kept warres of long tyme with the kynges of Polande beyng vanquyshed in battell they became subiect geuyng their fidelitie by an othe to Casunire kyng of Pole the father of Sigismund From the first maister to the Marques Albert of BrandeÌburg were thritty and thre This Albert being chosen the yeare of our Lorde M.D.xi. kept great warres for two yeares together with Sigismunde kyng of Polle And in the yeare M.D.xxi. there was a trewce takeÌ for .iiij. yeares In this tyme Albert sued oft to the Emperour and the states of the Empyre for ayde and commyng to the councell at Nurrenberg wherof we haue ofte tymes spoken had his place amonges them as a Prynce of the Empyre For the cause of the warre was that he wold not be sworue to the kyng But what tyme the Emperour was empeched with the Frenche warres and the Turke inuaded Hongary and Germany was so tourmoyled with the sedition of the communaltie that no ayde was to be looked for from thence and the tyme of the trewce was expyred he maketh peace with the kyng of Pole geuyng hym him his faythe as to his suprome Magistrate receyue the doctrine of the Gospell alteryng the order he taketh Pruse for his own And he that before was maister no we by the kynges assente is called Duke of Pruse And shortly after he maried Dorothe the daughter of Frederick kyng of Denmarke and foundeth the vniuersitie of Conningsberge called the kynges mount Wherby he had the displeasure of all the order for al be it he kept the countrey and was supported here in by the kyng of Pole yet by a common assent was chosen in his rowme Walther Cronberge which shold represent the auncieÌt name and dignitie who after in all assemblies complayned vpon hym greuously Againe he defended his cause by wrytyng declaryng howe he was dryuen by extreme necessitie beinge vtterly forsaken of the Empyre to submytte hym selfe vnto the kyng There is an epistle of Leo the tenth to Sigismunde and Alberte exhorting them vnto concord and eyther to committe their matter to his legate whiche he wold sende or to the counsell of Laterane for that it is moste conuenient that the coÌtrouersies of Princes shold be decided and determined by generall counselles â The syxthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the syxth Booke LUther wrote to the kyng of England and to Duke George but thei both reiected the same Christerne kyng of DeÌmarke had moued Luther to do so the sycknes of the Frenche king duryng his imprysonment hasted the treaty of Madrice The king being deliuered his two Sonnes were geuen as pledges Whylest the estates were assembled at Spyres aboute matters of Religion the Turke entreth into Hongarry A disputation was hoïoen at Baden in Swycherlande Pope Element and the Frenche kynge make a league The Emperour and the kyng complayne sore the one of the other Rome is sacked by the Duke of Burbon The Frenche kyng sendeth Lawtrecke into Italy The secte of Anabaptistes beginneth A disputation is kept at Bernes for a reformation A contention betwyxt Ferdinando and the Uayuode Paccius is beheaded at Andwarpe The Emperour and the Frenche kyng offer them selues to the combat The Masse is abolished at Strasburge Troubles at Basyll for relygion The CaÌâous Papistes make a league with Ferdinando An assembly is holden at Spyres where the name of Protestauntes hath his begynning Ciuile warre emonges the Swychers a treate of peace at Cambray Uienna beseged of the Turke The sweatyng sycknes The Protestantes make a league YOu haue heard heretofore howe the kynge of Englande wrote agaynst Luther and Luther agaynst hym But when he had hearde certen thynges that sounded muche to the kynges coÌmendation delighted with that reporte he writeth to hym with great submission Doubting not but he had sore offended his hyghnes by setting forth his booke neuerthelesse he dyd it not so muche of his own accorde as by the instigation of others And where as he is so bolde to trouble hym with hys letters at this present it proceadeth of his Prynclyke humanitie whiche is hyghly commended of manye Moreouer for that he vnderstandeth howe the bookes set forthe agaynst hym were not of hys owne doynge but wrytten of certen Sophisters whiche full craftely tooke an occasion And speakynge here by occasion of the Cardinall of Yorke he calleth hym the plage of Englande And that he heareth moreouer to his great comforte howe that his grace mislyketh that naughtye sorte of men and gyueth his mynde to the knowledge of the truthe Wherfore he besecheth hym to pardon hym that one facte And that it woulde please hym to remembre that syns he is a man mortall he ought not to beare ennemytie immortall And if he shal commaunde him he wyl confesse his faulte openly and commende his pryncelike vertues in an other worke After he exhorteth his maiestie to gyue no eare to sklaunderous tales that reporte him to be an heretyke For the chief point of his doctrine is how al we must be saued by fayth in Christ whiche bare the punyshement of our synnes on his necke shoulders and al his body who dyed for vs rose agayne reigneth with his father for euer And this to be the doctrine of all the Prophetes and Apostles This foundatioÌ ones layde he teacheth the dewty of charitie what one ought to do for an other howe we must obey the magistrate and applye our whole lyfe to the profession of the Gospel If there be anye errour or wyckednes in this doctrine why do not his aduersaries shewe it hym Why do they condeÌpne and banyshe him beyng neyther examined nor conuicted where as he writeth against the byshop of Rome and his adherentes he doeth it for that they teache contrary to Christ his Apostles for their owne gayne and lucre to the intent they may coÌmaunde all men lyue lyke gluttons in all voluptuousnes for vnto this ende tende all their denises and doinges whiche thing is so well tryed and knowen that they them selues can not deny it but in case they wold amende their liues and not leade this idle beastly lyfe to the losse iniury of manye the stryfe myght sone be quieted Diuers prynces and cities in Germany haue embraced his doctrine acknowledging it reuerently to be Gods benefite and he woulde gladlye wyshe that he myght also be accoÌpted in that nombre And where as the Emperour and certen others do attempte thynges agaynsthym it is no newes For Dauid hathe prophecied longe synce that kynges and other people should conspire and imagine many thynges agaynst the Lorde and his annoynted reiectyng his lawes and commaundementes So that when he considereth suche places of Scripture he maruayleth
auoyd the daunger they haue determined to differ the same vntil the next assemblie of the Empyre whiche they haue appointed at Regensburg the first day of April next folowyng to treate of the Turkysh warre trusting the either by that time they shal haue some better occasioÌ to sende or that he shal haue some intelligence of the thing in the meane time Al be it that Cesar wrote thus to the byshop of Rome his Cardinals yet wold it preuaile nothing but the coÌfederatours sending vnto him Ambassadours as was agreed vpoÌ require him to depart froÌ his armies to restore Sfortia Duke of Millan to receiue the money for his raunsome send home the kyngs sonnes whome he deteineth as pledges to repay the money that he borowed of the kyng of England hereunto answered the Emperour at Ualolete the .xij. of February That he caÌ not dismisse his armies in any short time notwithstaÌding he wil not refuse to take truce for thre yeres or more to seÌd the armies on both partes agaiÌst the Turke our coÌmon ennemie in the meane time to treate of peace Sfortia holdeth his landes of the Empire and is accused of treason he can not therfore be restored before his matter be examyned Wherfore let hym answere to the lawe and his accusers and he wyll appoynt hym indifferent iudges To restore the kynges chyldren vpon the receipte of the money he can not and the same is agaynste the kynges promesse othe and fidelitie Where they require him to repaie the kinge of England his money he marueleth not a litle consydering they haue no coÌmaundement of him in this matter for the kyng he be such frendes as a mony matter can not breake their frendshyp Wherfore seinge the requestes be vnsitting he willeth them to bryng forth others for his part he wyl do nothyng obstinatly but shal be content to beare with many thinges for the coÌmon wealthes sake Wherfore the Ambassadours thus departing without any thing concluded they renewe the warres againe with all their force power In those daies Iohn Frederick sonne heire to the prince electour of Saxony married Sibille daughter to Duke Iohn of Cleaue the lady Catharine that Emperours yongest sister was promysed him writinges made of the same But when this alteratioÌ of religion chauÌced in Saxony they swarued froÌ their couenauntes And Hawnart which was then Emperours Ambassadour in Germany sayd plainly that there was no promise to be kept with Heretikes following herein as I suppose the fote stepes of the couÌsel at Constance as in dede the Duke of Saxony reciteth in a certen writing EmoÌges others of themperours captaines was Charles Duke of Bourbon who going with a certen power to Naples by the way toke the citie of Rome sacked it the next daye after he there arriued being the sixt day of May. ClemeÌt the byshop the Cardinals and other prelates fleing in to Castell aungell were beseged a certen tyme being trenched in on euery syde whiche after they had endured siege seuen monethes were at the laste deliuered by the Emperours commaundement It is harde to expresse with wordes the great crueltie and oultrage of the Germanes and Spanyardes at Rome For besydes the cruell slaughters destruction spoyling and raueshynge of women they left of no kynde of contumelious reproches mockinges of the bishop and his Cardinalles The Emperour excused the facte diligently affirmyng that it was not done by his commauÌdement And chiefly he wrote therof to the king of England that albeit he supposeth the thyng to haue happened vnto hym by the iust iudgement of God who auenged the wronge and iniurie done vnto hym yet he sayeth he wil so vse the matter that this same calamitie shal be the beginning and occasion of the helth of the common wealth Whan newes were brought into Spayn of the sackiÌg of Rome Cesar immediatly coÌmauÌded to cease froÌ playing of pageantes interludes whiche were theÌ set forth for ioy of his son Philip newly borne The king of EnglaÌd answe red nothiÌg to themperours letters and the bishop of Rome being captiue vnto whom he bare a great zeale reuerence themperours power increasing daily he fixed his mind vpoÌ warre sending the Cardinal of yorke ambassadour into Fraunce To the couÌsel of RegeÌsburg came the Prynces but sent their Ambassadours only Wherfore there was nothing coÌcluded sauyng that they sent letters to the Emperour the xviij day of May signifiyng that for diuers causes his presence were requysite and nedefull In this tyme sprange vp a newe kynde of doctryne of suche as are called Anabaptistes They condempne the baptisme of infantes and are baptysed agayne them selues teachyng that all thynges should be common Against these wrote Luther Zwynglius and diuers others And the magistrates punished in euery place They boaste of visions dreames and at Sangal a town in Swycerlande one of them cut of his brothers head in the presence both of father and mother whome he had perswaded that God had coÌmaunded hym so to do but being apprehended of the magistrate he suffered the lyke punyshment Now how muche they increased and what coÌmotions they styred vp in Germany hereafter shal be declared This yeare the Senate of Strasborough decreed that none shoulde from henceforth be buried within the citie and appointed certen places for the buriall of the dead without their citie When the Frenche kynge heard that Rome was taken makyng league with the kyng of Englande he sent a great armie into Italy by the conduicte of Lautrech a Gascon to rescewe the byshop Who comming into Lumbardy and ayded by the Uenetians taketh first AlexaÌdria and after Pauie partly by force and partly by composition but the souldiours in their rage and fury for that the king was there taken after a wouÌderful slaughter of the townes men spoyled the citie The .xxvij. day of Iuly Charles Duke of Burbon lately stayne in the assaulte at Rome was condempned at Paris by the court of parliameÌt of treason his name and memoriall accursed his Armes plucked downe and his landes and goodes confiscated Anthony Prate Chauncelour gaue the sentence This Duke bare a mortall hatred to the kynge and what tyme he went to besege Marseilles as is mentioned before in the fourth boke for because at the same tyme the kynge of Englande toke the Emperours parte he wrote to the Cardinall of Yorke emonges other thinges that he would spare no paynes nor peryll that kyng Henry might by his helpe recouer the ryght and tytle that he hath to Fraunce For Englyshe men doe clayme all Fraunce to be theires for a two hundreth yeares since and aboue especiallye Normandye Gascoyne and Gwyne In these letters therfore did Bourbon prouoke the kynge to clayme and chalenge his ryght Whiche letters the Frenche kyng afterwardes chauncing vppon conceyued muche more hatred against hym There was in the dukedome of Bauarie one Leonarde Cesar a professour
haue bene denyed them seing that he is content to heare others that be their inferiours muche in matters of lesse importaunce But when he would alter nothyng of his purpose they requyre him to leaue them their boke tyll suche tyme as it hath bene read opeÌly which graunted they came the next daye and in the audience of all the Prynces and states the Emperour hym selfe being present recite it ouer Afterwardes they delyuer it vnto hym wrytten bothe in Latin and Dutche and if they shall doubte in any thyng they offer a further declaration and in case the matter can not be determined at this present they do not refuse to abyde the counseell so often tymes promysed and looked for The Emperour whiche had layne all the wynter from Nouembretyl March at Bononie in the same place with the bishop of Rome endeuoured as muche as he myght to appease this controuersie in Religion without a counsel For by this meanes he knewe he should please Clement best whose intent was that in case the matter could not be quieted by geÌtle meanes it shuld be oppressed by force of armes Therfore the .xxvj. of June he calleth before him in his owne hous the Ambassadours of al cities declareth vnto them by Frederick the Palsgraue howe in the assemblye at Spires a decree was made wherunto the moste parte did consent where he was right glad but that certen others contemned the same for the which he was as sory Wherfore he requyred theÌ not to swarue away from the rest orels to shewe the reason why they should not obey Hereunto aunswered the Ambassadours of the cities of Protestauntes that they had done nothing contrary to their dutie For they haue no lesse desyre than their elders haue had to perfourme their fayth and obedience but where as he woulde knowe the cause why they dyd not admytte the decre they desyre some tyme to make aunswer and after the seuenth of Iuly they put vp their aunswere in wrytyng in effecte lyke vnto that whiche they sent the yeare before by their Ambassadours into Italy Two dayes after that the Emperour causeth one to demaunde of the Duke of SaxoÌ and his felowes whether they wyll exhibite any thynge more They saye nothing els but a brief somme of the same confession whiche they haue delyuered already After he commaundeth the Ambassadours of the Cities that where they saye how they can not for conscience sake kepe the decree of Spyres they should drawe articles briefly of the thynges where with they founde them selues greued And he delyuereth the confessioÌ of Saxonie to the resydue of the Prynces to be skanned And they agayne to their diuines amonges whome Faber Eckius were pryucipall Who wrote a confutation against it whiche after the Prynces had heard red many iudged it to be much extreme and thought mete that certen should be chosen to reade ouer both their wrytynges and to qualyfie them but their opinion preuayled whiche sayde it shoulde thus be exhibyted to the Emperour and the whole matter be referred vnto hym In the meane tyme they of Strausborough Constance Memming and Lindaue present the Emperour with a confession of their doctryne For touchyng the Lordes supper they beleued otherwyse than did the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes The Emperour debatyng the matter with the byshoppes Legate framed an aunswer to the doctrine of Saxon and sheweth it vnto the Prynces the fyrste daye of August The wyndyng vp of it was vehement and harde coÌmaunding them to obserue it vnder paine of outlawing But through the couÌsel the of Prynces this thing was mitigated Wherfore the third daye of Auguste he sendeth for al states and declareth to them by Frederick Palsgraue how he hath long and much consulted vpon the coÌfession of the Saxons doctryne how he hath also commaundeth certen honest and well learned men to examyne it and to iudge what is Godly therin and what is against the consent of the churche whiche they haue done accordingly and haue declared their myndes in an other wrytynge whiche also he alloweth After this was the confutation of the confession rehearsed in this ordre They had deuided the Saxons bookes in two partes The first part conteined .xxj. chapters of doctrine of these some they receiued and some they reiected certen thinges were partely admitted and partly refused alledginge manye testimonies out of the fathers and counsell They forsoke these good workes deserue nothing Iustification to be ascribed to faith only and not vnto workes also that the churche is the congregatioÌ of the godly that we can not make satisfaction for sinnes that sainctes be not intercessours for vs other thinges they admitte after a sorte as ceremonies moreouer that the true body and bloud of Christe was in the sacrament so as Christ should be vnder both the kyndes and the wyne and the bread cleane chaunged they allowed their articles of confession so that the people were bound to confesse them euery yere at Easter tellyng all their synnes diligently and receiue the Lordes supper and beleue that there be seuen sacramentes of the church prouided alwayes that no man were appointed to instructe the people but by the byshoppes leaue and consent Moreouer that all lawes and decrees of the churche should be obserued and in suche places as they be abolyshed be restored The seconde parte comprehendeth fyue thynges chiefly the communion of the Lordes supper vnder bothe kyndes as they terme it is reiected and the Emperour desyred that herein they would followe the consent and custome of all Christendome For the marriage of Priestes he sayeth it is to hym maruell they wyll requyre it syns it was neuer vsed from the Apostles tyme vnto this day wherfore it may in no wyse be graunted Their Masse is admitted so that it be consonant to the vse of the Romane churche But in case it be altered it is reiected and also affirmed that the Masse is a sacryfice for the quicke and the dead neyther that the priuate Masse oughte to be abolyshed For Daniell had prophecied long before that when Antichriste shoulde come the dayly offeryng shoulde cease whiche thyng is not yet come to passe saue only in such places where the Masse is layd downe and the Aulters destroyed the Images brent in the whyche churches nothyng is songe nor read nor no lyghtes burne any longer there in deede is the saying of the Prophet represented and verified Wherfore all men must take dilygent hede that they geue none occasion of the comyng of Antichriste the monasticall vowes to be grounded aswell vpon the authoritie of the newe Testament as of the olde wherfore they deserue punyshement whiche contrary to their profession haue forsaken their ordre That the bishop haue authoritie not only to teache but also to gouerne the common wealth therfore ought not to be abridged of their ryght and priuilege whiche they haue obteyned through the liberalitie of their elders Not to abstayne
hande The next day after they were gone the Emperour calleth before hym all the states and first he commauÌdeth the Ambassadours of the cities by Truckesse that they shuld not departe before the end of the Assemblie after that declareth what had bene done with the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes and because the cities of Strausborough Constance Memmyng and Lyndaue had exhibited a seuerall byll by them selues he sheweth howe he wyll treate with them in lyke case After are debated other matters of the Empyre chiefly of the Turkyshe warre This tyme at Rome the Ryuer of Tiber ouerflowed exceadingly to the great terrour of the citie by reason that the wynde blewe sore against the streame droue backe the course of the water from the sea wherfore it did much hurte A lyke deluge and more cruell was in Hollande and Zelande where the Sea brake in ouer the walles that are made to kepe it out in those parties and drowned al the countrey farre and nere Finally the xiiij daye of Octobre whan al the states besydes the Protestauntes were called and assembled in the courte the decree was red to the Ambassadours of the Cities who requyryng a Copye were sayde naye but it was repeted ones or twyse When al for the moste parte had allowed it they of Auspurge Ulmes Hales and Franckeforth desyred further delyberation the eight day after the deputes of the Duke of Saxon his fellowes declare vnto the Archebishop of Mentz whiche is chief emonge the Prynces that if they maye haue their Religion quiet vntill the counsell they are also contented to become coÌtributaries with them for money and ayde towardes the Turkyshe warre wherfore the next daye beyng called into the courte there was red before them a certen tenure of the peace wherin they only were comprised whiche had consented vnto the decree made where about rose a contention the Ambassadours affirming that it concerned them nothynge at all or if it did howe it ought to be vttered with playner wordes to take awaye all ambiguitie They said how they would moue it to the Emperour After two dayes the Emperour sent for home to his house theÌ of Strausborough and their fellowes and before all the states commaundeth the confutation of their doctryne to be red openly a wrytyng long and tedious and also where it touched the Lordes supper ful bytter and sower The authors therof were John Faber and Eckius And for because the argument was odiouse they left out no kind of excusation wherby to kyndle the Emperour and Prynces agaynst them the ende was this For as muche as in their Religion they professed an opinion contrary to al the reste and allowed that moste heynous errour of the SacrameÌt had also cast their Images our of their churches abolyshed the Masse and plucked downe Colleges builded in tymes past through the lyberalitie of kynges Emperours maynteyned sondry sectes and dispersed their bookes wrytten of suche matters throughout Germany therfore he requyreth them eftsones to come to amendement and receyue agayne the auncient Religion for otherwise wyll not he fayle to do the thing which his office requireth They aunwer not long after that in this confutation they were charged with many thinges that were vntrue for in ther cities is nothyng done out of ordre but the same is extremely punyshed wherfore seing thei be clere in coÌscience the cause weightie the coÌfutation ouerlong can not be aunswered before they make certificat home to their cities they desyre fyrst therfore to haue a copie secondarely that credite be not geuen to this accusation before suche tyme as their pourgation be heard and examined In all other matters they wyll do any thyng for his sake The Emperour sayeth he wyll take aduisement and the fyst daye after she weth them by the Marques of BrandeÌburge how they can haue no copie For that was for weightie causes denied of the Duke of Saxony and all disputatioÌ of fayth is nowe prohibited But if they desyre to be reconciled and retourne agayne to the churche he is content that they shall heare the confutation red agayne ones or twyse but he chargeth them to professe the same kynde of doctrine that al other Prynces and states do and to gyue ayde against the Turke for vnlesse they forsake theyr stubburnes he wyll worke by the counsell of the byshop of Rome and other kynges as shal become hym After this they make a further sute to obtayne a copie and the same not graunted to haue peace and quietnes in their Religion tyll the begynnynge of the counsell and therin to haue their cause decided and they wyl in the meane time geue theyr ayde against the Turke so farforth as their power wyll extende or els could they graunte nothing The Maques promysed them to be a petitioner for them to the Emperour At after noone was red vnto them a graunt of peace wherein were only conteyned suche as receiued the decree as was rehearsed before to the deputes of the Dukes of Saxon and his fellowes wherunto they aunswered in lyke case that the same touched them nothyng and desyred to knowe further of the Emperours pleasure herein In this meane whyle had they of Ulmes Auspurge Franckeforth and Halles forsaken the decree made as concerning Religion and vrged sore to haue a cousel But Faber and Eckius craue a great rewarde of the Princes for makyng the confutations and had it And promyse from heÌceforth to bestowe theyr trauayle in the defence of the Romyshe Religion For they and dyuerse others sought preferment by the meanes of Luther and in dede Faber was afterwardes by kyng Ferdinando made byshop of Uienne Wherupon Erasinus of Roterdame was wont to say merely howe poore Luther made many ryche In the meane ceason the Saxons and their fellowes put vp a supplication to the Emperour intreating hym to establyshe a peace throughout the Empyre that no man be put in trouble or daunger for ReligioÌ But where this coulde not be obtayned they wryte an Epistle to all states makyng a brief rehearsall what thinge hath bene done desyryng that the names of their Prynces be not put in to the later ende of the decree emonges the reste And for as muche as they haue sued for peace in vayne they saye howe they can graunte none ayde to the Turkyshe warre More ouer where it is prouided in the decree that they only shall haue place in iudgement and counsell chamber whiche allowe the decree made they requyre that the same may be chaunged and amended for els can they beare no parte of the charges whiche the chambre requyreth What tyme they had thus denounced they departed the next daye beyng the .xij. of Nouembre I shewed you in the fyft booke howe Marques Albert of Brandenburge was by the kyng of Pole made Duke of Pruselande But the Emperour beyng sued vnto by Walter Cronberge disallowed all that treatie or coÌpacte as made to the dammage of the Empyre and
Ambassades For he proueth that the same doth tende to theyr owne hynderaunce and bondage sayinge that there is no people so stronge that can long prosper and floryshe vnlesse they be mainteined by the league and amitie of theyr neyghbours But the frendshyp of the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Germanye hath bene of suche auncientie and both nations procedinge of one originall and lye so borderynge together that they maye be not onlye an ayde and strengthe but also an honour and beautie the one vnto the other Therfore whan the kynge hearde saye howe the Germaynes dyd hardely agree amonge them selues he was ryght sorye and as muche as in hym lyeth wysheth a reconcilement fearyng lest this dissention in Religion should come to some sorowfull ende Wherfore vnderstandinge that for theyr owne preseruation they were nowe here assembled the kynge had sent hym to declare vnto them his aduise to be thus That for as muche as a free and general counsel could not as yet be obtained the Germains within theÌ selues shold assemble altogether come to some vnitie concord for the furtherauÌce of the which cause in case they be so contented he will chose out certen well learned men and experte diuines in Fraunce and sende them into Germany to be at the same reconcilement or els if they woulde sende some of theirs in to Fraunce for the lyke purpose they should do him a maruelous great pleasure In the meane tyme he doth exhorte them to be at peace amonges them selues knitte their mindes with mutual consent brotherly loue and the king wyl neuer ayde their ennemies neyther with his helpe nor counsell in case they continue their good wyll towardes hym as they haue done alwayes hitherto In the beginnyng of this booke I shewed you howe the iudges of the imperiall chamber contrary to the Emperours decree made out proces against the Protestauntes For the iudges in dede wer of the Romish religioÌ and what tyme the Emperour was retourned from the warre of Austriche into Italy they at the suite of the clergie whiche had complayned on the Protestauntes attempted the lawe against them And albeit the Emperours proclamation were to the contrary yet did they proceede against them The protestauntes wrote herein to the Emperour And the Duke of Saxon him selfe traueled to kynge Ferdinando who coÌmaunded the lawe to cease and ratifieth the peace made by the Emperour but that would not staye them Than did the Protestauntes vtterly refuse their iudgement as suspected and their enemies declaryng the causes wherfore But that would not be admitted for they were encouraged by the Emperours letters whereby he gaue them authoritie to iudge whiche were matters of Religion and which not so that after that they proceaded not onlye in doubtfull causes but in suche also as concerned religion and nothyng els After this the Duke of Saxon obtayneth a newe commaundement from the kyng Ferdinando but all was in vayne Finally after muche adoe Ferdinando consented that he would fynde the meanes to staye all matters in the lawe whiche the Duke and his fellowes had touchyng Religion coÌprysed in the peace of Norinberge Unto suche thynges as the French Ambassadour had spoken this answere was made Albeit that of the execution done reportes went diuersly yet for that he sayeth how thei went about sedicion they can not be muche offended with the kynges doynges herein whiche in deede woulde suffer no suche thynge them selues in their owne countrey Neuerthelesse they woulde wyshe the kynge should haue a respecte vnto suche as do professe the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they protested in the assemblye at Auspurge and not to punyshe them with the rest for it can not be denied but many false and wicked opinions are crept into the churche which vnlearned and malicious persones do defende with great crueltie to maynteyne their lucre and Authoritie and they through a maruelous polycie do forge oftentimes great crymes vpon the good and innoceÌt persones to exasperate the kynges mynde agaynst them But seyng that it is the propre office of kynges and Princes to seeke Gods glorye to pourge the churche of crrours and to inhibite vniuste crueltie they desyre instantly that the same moste mightie kyng would wholy applye him selfe hereunto for if he so doe than wyll they suppose that he beareth a frendly and louyng mynde towardes them which they wyshe to be lucky and fortunate to his highnes to the churche Touchinge the auncient alliaunce and frendshyp betwixt the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Almaygne all his talke was to them ryght pleasaunt and they wyll to their powers endeuour that the same mutuall loue and amitie may long continue And as concernyng the reconcilement of opinions in religion they desyre nothyng els but that the matter may be heard indifferently and determined by a lawfull counsell And for as muche as it is not the office of the byshop of Rome only to appointe the counsell but that the same thynge also concerneth other kynges and Princes they desyre the kynge to forsee that there be no violent counsell called in a place suspect perillous to the intent that vnder the name of a counsel the true doctrine be not extinguished but that in so weyghty matters as concerne the preseruation and peace of the vniuersall churche and euery particular persone free disputations and vpright iudgement be had accordingly Whiche thinge should get the kyng immortal fame and thankes not only in this present age but also in tyme to come so longe as the worlde should endure As for the conferens to be had betwene the learned meÌ of Fraunce and Germany it requireth a long deliberation and diuerse coÌmissions extende not to suche matters But so sone as any thyng may be determined herein they wyll aduertyse the kyng by their letters For they desyre nothyng more than that holsome doctrine myght be set forth and auaunced last of all where he sayde howe the kynge would geue none ayde against them they were very glad to heare thereof wherfore in all thynges that concerne not the Emperour and the Empyre they also wyll assist no man against hym The Ambassadour had also priuate talke with Pontane with Melancthon with the Lantgraues learned men and with Iames Sturmins of sondry doctrines and declared what was the kynges opinion in euery article and the myndes also of other learned men in Fraunce especially of Paris Of the byshop of Romes supremacie of the Lordes supper of masse of the inuocation of sainctes of Images of free wyl of purgatory of iustification of monastical vowes of marriage of priestes And that in moste of these thynges the kyng agreeth with the booke that Melancthon hath wrytten of common places touchyng the byshop of Rome the kynge is wholy of Philippus opinon that he is not chief supreme by Gods lawe but by mans lawe as he affirmeth but the kyng of England denieth both And certenly the
warre against them as other wycked Prynces doe for they are holy men and good people The Lantgraue readinge ouer their booke and their letters noted what he thought blame worthy and coÌmaunded his learned meÌ to aunswer it And for as muche as they had in fewe wordes and those abscure written that their king was not so muche of theirs as of Gods appointment he demaundeth of theÌ wherfore they did not expresse those places of Scripture wherby they thought it lawefull thus to doe And why they dyd not confirme the thynge before with signes and wonders For of the coÌminge of Christe God had declared longe before by all the Prophetes so euidently that it was well knowen not only of what house or familie but also whan and where he should be borne They had also requested that the matter might be heard wherunto the Lantgraue answered that the same might not now take place For so much as they had takeÌ vpon them the aucthoritie of the sworde and had bene the workers of so muche mischiefe For all men see what marke they shoute at certeÌly to subuerte all lawes and common wealth And lyke as their intente is wicked and detestable so is nowe their requeste to haue their cause heard fayned and dissembled He doubtles sent vnto theÌ faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe conteÌpning their doctrine do resist the magistrate take other mens goodes mary sondrye wyues haue chosen them a newe kynge Where also they denye that Christe toke the humane nature of the virgyn Mary where they affirme that man hath free wyll where they compell men to make their goodes coÌmon where they saye there is no remission for a sinner that falleth all these thynges are against the lawes both of God and man Whan this answer was brought vnto theÌ they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare toÌgue of the misteries of Scripture And againe in an Epistle they amplefie their cause and defende their opinions And in this booke they deuide the course and tyme of the whole worlde into thre partes the fyrst age from Adam to Noe they saye was destroyed with the Deluge of water the secoÌd wherein we are nowe at this daye shal be consumed with fyre but the thyrde shall be cleane a newe worlde wherein iustice shall reigne neuerthelesse before this last tyme shall appeare this present age must be pourged by fyre but that shall not be tofore that Antichriste shall be reuealed and his power vtterly abolyshed ThaÌ shall it come to passe that the scate of Dauid whiche is decayed shal be newly erected and Christe shall possesse his kyngdome here in earth and the wrytinges of the Prophetes shall be accomplyshed And that this present worlde now is lyke the tyme of Esaw For iustice kepeth silence and the Godly are persecuted But as after the captiuitie of Babylon so nowe also the tyme of restauration is at hande to delyuer vs from all these myseries and to rendre vnto the wycked aboundantly after their demerites as in the Apocalipse is declared And that in this same Restauration goeth before the worlde to come to the intent that all the vngodlye beynge destroyed the house and seate of iustice myght be prepared and beautified Whan the Lantgraue had red this booke he set in hande the Ministers of his churche to wryte against it The residue of the states imperial assembled at Essinge do mislyke the doinges of them that were at coÌffuence affirming that they had no authoritie to impose or charge them with any burthen vnlesse it had bene by the consent of the Emperour and all states In the moneth of February Corne within the citie waxed very scarse in so muche that some also died for honger and wante of meate It fortuned that one of the Quenes pitieng the people had sayde to the rest howe she supposed that God woulde not that men should peryshe thus with famine The kyng whiche had his stoore houses furnyshed at home not only for necessitie but also for riot and voluptuousnes after he knewe it brought her forthe in to the Market place and all the reste with her and commaundynge her to knele downe stroke of her heade and whan she was dead vttered her to haue played the whore This done the residewe syng and gyue thankes to God the heaueÌlye father After that the kynge daunceth wyth them and exhorteth the rest of the multitude whiche had nothynge lefte them but breade and salte to dauncynge and mery pastymes Whan Easter came and no deliueraunce appered at all the kyng whiche had promysed so stoutely to inucnte some excuse fayned him selfe sicke for the space of syxe dayes After he commeth abroade amonges the people and telleth theÌ howe he hath ryden on a blynde Asse and that God the father hathe layde vpon his backe the synnes of the people Wherfore they are now made cleane and delyuered from euery spotte And this to be the deliueraunce whiche he promysed wherwith they ought to holde them coÌtented Luther amonges other thynges whiche he set forth in the vulgar tongue about this tyme wrote also of this tragedye of Munster Alas sayeth he howe should I complayne or lamente those wretched men for the thynge it selfe declareth that there dwell deuylles thycke and threfolde but yet ought we to praye the infinite mercy of God herein and haue good cause so to doe For albeit that for the contempt of the Gospell the reproche of Goddes holy name and the shedyng of innocent bloud Germany hath iustly deserued to be plaged yet hathe God hetherto restrayned the force and violence of Sathan and hath not permitted him to haue the reignes at libertie but mercifully admonysheth vs and by this tragedye of Munster nothinge at all artificious calleth vs to the amendement of lyfe For vnlesse God had brydeled hym and holden hym backe I doubte not but that moste subtille fynde and wylie artificer would haue handled the matter farre other wyse But nowe that God hathe made a restraynte he rageth and tourmoyleth not so muche as he woulde but so much as he is permitted For the wycked spirite that seketh the subuersion of the Christian fayth goeth not this way to worke to perswade the marriage of many wyues For seyng both the vnlawfulnes and the fylthye beastlynes of the thynge is apparent in the syght of all men he perceiueth well enough that men woulde abhorre it In dede the politicke and ciuile gouernemeÌt may through this meane be disturbed but the kingdom of Christ must be attempted with other weapons and Ingines He that would circumuente and deceaue men maye not affectate rule and gouernment and playe the tyraunt For all men disalowe this and see playnely what his intente is But he must attayne thereunto by secrete meanes as it were by certen bypathes To goe in olde and euyll fauoured apparell to
Byshop had lately appointed at Mantua And for as muche as the Emperour had oftentymes promysed them a free counsell in Germany and especially in the peace concluded at Norinberge and what this shall be they can not perceiue by the wryting they desyre hym that he woulde see the matter myght be indifferently heard and vsed In this same moneth the byshop of Rome publysheth an other wryting and sayeth howe in the meane tyme tyll the counsel begynne he wyl refourme the holy citie of Rome the head of all christendome and maistres of doctrine maner and disciplyne and washe it cleane from all spottes and vyce to the intent that his owne house being first well pourged he may after more easely take ordre for the rest and because the nature of man is full of imbecillitie neyther can he do so great a thing alone and also dispatche other affaires of the common wealth therfore hath he chosen certen Cardinalles whome the liuing God hath ioyned to hym as the coadiutours and companions of his cure and of office to be the workers of this necessary and holsome busynes the Cardinall of Ostia Sauseuerine Ginute Simonet and with them thre byshops whome he commaundeth all men to obeye vnder a great penaltie In the moneth of Octobre the Emperour imbarketh him selfe at Genes to sayle into Spayne The Frenche kynge came afterwardes to Paris and on new yeares day gyueth in mariage madame Magdalene his eldest daughter to Iames the fift kynge of Scottes who came into Fraunce in Autumne before And in maner about the same tyme Laurence Medices through treason in the nyght murthered Alexander Medices Duke of Florence of his owne kyndred and familie whan he had allured hym home to his house putting hym in hope to enioye a noble matrone that was his neyghbour who in beautie honest fame farre excelled others Who being slayne the gouernment came vnto Cosmus Medices which after by the Emperours consent married Elenor daughter to Peter Toletane Uiceroy of Naples At the Ides of Ianuary the kyng of Fraunce came in to the court of Parliament at Paris whiche thinge is seldome accustomed And there in a great audieÌce he maketh a sore complaint of the Emperour and declared causes why the countries of Flaunders and Artois whiche the Emperour holdeth of the kynges of Fraunce as his elders haue done also ought to be called againe to the patrimony of FrauÌce The speaker hereof was Capell the kynges aduocate and he named hym not Emperour but Charles of Austriche In the meane tyme the cities of Zuricke Bernes Basyll and Strausborough make sute to the Frenche king for such as were imprisoned for Religion intreating hym that the exiles myght be restored the kyng graunted partly vnto their requestes but yet accomplished not their desyre Wherfore whan they had receyued their aunswere the foure and twenty of February by Annas Momorantie the Conestable and suspected that the kynge through his impulsion dealt the lesse frendly with them the Ambassadours vsed afterwardes the helpe of the Quene of Nauarre the kinges owne syster a very good ladye and whiche bare a great zeale to the true doctrine In this meane whyle the kyng hauing mustred his men in the beginning of Marche leadyng his army towardes Arras besegeth the towne and strong castell of Hesdine whiche he had rendred to hym within a moneth At the selfe same tyme came to the kynge an Ambassadour from the byshop of Rome Reignalde Poole an Englysh maÌ borne of the bloud roial lately made Cardinal The cause of his ambassade was thought to be to worke some mischief against the kinge of Englande About the same tyme that the kyng of Scottes maried the Frenche kynges daughter the byshop had sent him for a present a fayre sworde riche well wrought and did exasperate him against the kyng of Englande For the byshoppes are accustomed on Christmas daye at nyght amoÌges other thinges with certen ceremonies to consecrate as thei terme it a sworde whiche after for an honour and token of beneuolence they geue or sende vnto some man to whome it lyketh them Sixtus the fourth was first authour of this custome as is mentioned in the booke of their ceremonies Afterwardes Cardinall Poole wrote a booke whiche he had intitled a defence for the vnitie of the churche And he addresseth his style and speache vnto king Henry and repreheÌdeth him sore that he toke vpon him to be head of his churche for that title to be longe only to the Byshop of Rome whiche is the Uicar of Christe and the successour of Peter whome Christe appointed Prince of the Apostles For he it was only that aunswered how Christe was the sonne of God vpon hym as vpon a Rocke Christe buylded his churche And howe Christe prayeth for his fayth that he being conuerted myght also conuerte his brethren And that Iohn after Christes death did euer obeye Peter And what tyme they made haste bothe to Christes Sepulchre he wold not go in before but gaue him this honour The cure and charge to fede the shepe was committed chiefly to hym of Christ And the nette also ful of fysshe whiche many were not able to hale vp was drawen vpon the shore by Peter alone Than hath he a long discourse of the deathes of the byshop of Rochester and syr Thomas Moore detestinge his crueltie Moreouer howe the kyng had afflicted all the states of his realme And into how muche mysery he had brought a moste floryshynge kyngdome what daunger he stode in of the Emperour for the diuorsement of his Aunt and subuersion of Religion and sheweth hym how he neyther can nor ought to loke for any ayde eyther of his owne subiectes or any other men whiche hath deserued so euyll of the common wealth And tourning his tale to the Emperour with many wordes stireth him vp prouoketh him and prycketh hym forewarde to auenge that notable reproche done vnto his familie and sayeth howe the Turkyshed seede is sowen abroade in Englande and in Germany signifiyng the doctrine that is contrary to the byshop of Rome Finally after many opprobrious wordes and sharpe rebukes he prouoketh hym to regentaunce telleth hym howe there is none other remedy but to retourne agayne to the bosome of the churche whiche ones he defended by setting forth of bookes greatly to his honour This booke printed at Rome bearyng no date was of long tyme kept close and at the last after manye yeares it came to one or two in Germany And he sayeth the cause of his wrytinge therof was for that the kynge had desyred hym to wryte his opinion And albeit that certen learned men in Englande whiche had done the lyke had lost their lyues yet could not he whiche was so muche bounde vnto hym dissemble what his opinion was neyther ought it to be imputed to hym as raylynge or cursed speakynge for he doeth both of his naturall disposition and also by a certen ordre
of life cleane abhorre that vice But in that he endeuoureth to reduce him agayne into the waye which deceiued by flatterers was strayed farre out of the ryght pathe he geueth hym a great benefite Kynge Henry had brought him vp in his yought in good letters and done very much for him But whan this alteration was in Englande whiche I haue spoken of and he myslyked it Paule the thyrde through the commendation of Contarene made hym Cardinal and sent for hym to Rome They that are familiarly acquaynted with him say how he knoweth ryght well the doctrine of the Gospell and suppose the cause to haue been why he wrote so against kyng Henry to auoyde the suspicion of Lutheranisme He caused the booke to be printed at Rome of his own coste and charge as they reporte And taking to him selfe all the Copies gaue it to reade only to the byshop him self and to the Cardinalles and others of his dere frendes for vnto such he wold be commended and feared on the other syde leste if it should be red openly of all men he should incure the rebuke and obloquie of them that had oftentymes heard hym speake the contrary â The eleuenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the eleuenth Booke THe Protestantes hauing declared to the Emperour by ambassade three poyntes Heldus coÌming to Smalcald maketh them answer to the which they reply and vrge a fre counsel such as was promised vpon this the Pope sendeth the Bishop of Aste The Protestants set forth an Apologie vpon the refusal of such a counsel and writ therof to the French king The king of England writeth against this couÌsaile of the Pope I Spake of the Citie of Auspurge in the nynthe booke and of the chaunge of Religion there for the whiche cause the Clergie being for the moste parte of noble house forsoke the citie Wherupon the Senate in a writing directed to the Emperour kyng Ferdinando and all the states of the Empyre declareth the cause of their doynges howe frendly they dealte with them how many thynges they suffered and howe scornefully they behaued them selues and howe often they went about to stire vp sedition in the citie Whereunto not long after Christopher the byshop aunswered for him selfe and the reste and after many contumelious wordes exhorteth the Emperour and Princes that for as muche as the daungers concerneth aswel them as him self they would loke to it in time You haue heard in the last booke of the Ambassadours which the Protestauntes sent to the Emperour in Italy to whom they gaue commaundement chiefly thre thynges to treate of First to confute the brute whiche was raysed vp that they shoulde haue made a league with the kynge of Fraunce and of England secondly that the Emperour would restrayne the iudgement of the counsell chaumbre thirdly that suche as were come into their league since the composicion of the peace at Norinberge myght inioye the same peace Whiche requestes the Emperour in dede hearde but being wholy occupied with warelyke matters he sayde howe he woulde sende his Ambassadour into Germany who should make them aunswere Wherfore at his departure from Genes into Spayne he sent Matthie Helde his vicechauÌcelour into Germany Whan the Protestauntes vnderstode that by their Ambassadours nowe retourned they appoynte a generall metyng at Smalcalde the seuenth daye of February And because the daye of the counsell approched nere neyther was there any doubte but that the Emperours Ambassadour would haue some talke of the same they were agreed also to bring with them their chiefest diuines Wherfore at the daye assigned besydes the Prynces Ambassadours of the cities came thether Luther Melanchthon Bucer Osiander and diuerse other Whan the Ambassadour was come to Smalcalde the fyftene daye of February he speaketh thus before them all Howe the Emperour had commaunded hym to doe his message only to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue But for as muche as they haue thought good to make their consortes also partakers of the same he is contente to followe their mindes herein he saith in dede that he knoweth not al the Ambassadours of the league wherfore in case there be any amongs them whom this answere of the Emperous doth not concerne there is no cause why they shoulde suppose that any treaty is made with theÌ but chiefly they of Auspurge which haue oftentymes sollicited the Emperour both in Italy and Spayne about ReligioÌ and nowe also lately at Genes by their Ambassadour Unto whome the Emperour sayde howe he would sende his Ambassadour into Germany whiche shoulde make them an aunswere And they not abyding his commyng haue altered the state of Religion not without both the contempte and also making of the Emperour Therefore whan he came to Auspurge beinge constrayned of necessitie to chaunge his purpose he treated with them nothynge at all and hath wrytten to the Emperour the whole matter as it standeth After whaÌ he had exhibited the testimoniall of his Ambassade he procedeth And where they had so diligently pourged them selues of the Frenche and Englysh league the Emperoure was ioyfull to heare it whiche doeth both credit them also coÌmendeth their vertue that they haue so wittely eschewed the Frenche practises full of disceirfulnes Afterwards discoursing the warre of Sauoy and speakynge many thinges of the Frenche kyng sayde that he was not only a lette vnto the Emperour that he could not bende his whole power against the Turke but also that he consulted with the Turkes prouoked theÌ to inuade Cristendome And that this is also his daily practise to styre vp stryfe and ciuile warre in Germany and nowe endeuoureth al that he may to perswade them that the Emperour wyll not kepe promyse with them He desireth them therfore not to credite his crafty counselles For the Emperour to be of suche honour and vertue that he wyll not shrinke from his promyse And that may they well perceiue by mo experimeÌts than one As touchinge the iudgement of the imperiall chambre The Emperours commaundemeÌt was they should meddle with no cases of Religion But they aduertised him by their letters that there was oftentymes controuersies whiche partely concerned religion partlye not And therfore the Emperour coÌmaunded theÌ that of such matters as thei supposed were sequestred from religioÌ thei should iudge indifferently For it were pitie but the lawe should haue his course And seyng the Emperour hath commaunded them to surcease from determining matters of Religion they ought to be contente there with And if the iudges haue done ought contrary to the Emperours decre they shall not escape free but shal be punished according to the lawe made at Regenspurge But the Emperour againe admonished them that they would do nothing rashely neither prescribe the imperiall chambre For this thinge is neither lawfull nor voyde of seditioÌ and
counsell Uicentia and sende thither suche Prelates as they had than in theyr companyes And also to sende commaundement to the rest at home to repayre thither in like maner But when they had excused them selues of both those thinges And the Cardinals whiche he had sent thither aduertised him that there was great solitarinesse Againe he deferreth the day of the Counsell till Easter folowyng sendyng abrode his letters touching the same matter the fourth kalendes of Iuly whan he was retornyng homewarde at Genes At the fyrst metyng the kyng kissed his right foote as he sate in his chayre and after the rest of the nobles Notwithstandyng there were diuerse in the kinges traine that refused to do it although the Conestable had warned them before as Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge william couÌtie Furstemberge Germanes Mareschall Marchan a Frencheman and George Gluchie the Ambassadour of the kynge of Denmarke At the selfe same time departed out of this life Charles Ecmonde Duke of Gelders In the former boke you haue harde howe he was in a maner turned out of al his possessions And brought to this distresse whaÌ he laye sicke he deuised with his cosin William duke of Cleaue who after by the consent of the nobilitie and commons brought all to hys owne gouernement not without themperours highe displeasure as shal be declared in his place A litle before that dieth also Erarde Marchian Cardinall Bishoppe of Liege no man tourmented more for Religion than he In the Cathedrall churche of Liege he had many yeares before builded him a Tombe most sumptuous and had Masse and Dirige songe for him yerely as the Papistes are wonte for the deade For he iudged these merits of priestes to be more auaileable to him beyng a liue wherunto they do attribute the deserte and rewarde of eternall life They that knewe the man well affirme that he did this for a certen ostentation for that he was most desyrous of vayne glorie and toke pleasure in that pompe and solemnitie This time were the Englishe Bibles in printyng at Paris which by the kinges commaundement should be had in all churches through out Englande but after it was knowen it was prohibited and the Printer was in daunger In Fraunce they haue not commonlye the Scripture in the vulgare tongue neither doth it want suspicion if any man chaunce to read the Newe Testament or suche a like thinge in Frenche neyther is is lawfull for any to studye the Scripture but such as professe Diuinite but the common sort of men know nothing at all and the towne wiues whan they go to here Masse cary with them bokes of Latin prayers which they muÌble vp after a sorte knowing not what they saye at all and are perswaded that the same is to God more acceptable than if they should praie in their mother tonge This is a practise of the priestes vnto whom the ignoraunce of others is gainefull The Bishoppe retourning home in the begynnyng of August was receiued into the citie of Rome with a merueilous pompe and triumphe And all the stretes and waies beyng hanged and spired with rich and costly carpets and posies written in euery place wherin they extolled him wonderfully for restoryng peace vnto the world and recoÌciling the Princes This yeare at Strauseborough was erected a Colledge or a graÌmer Scoole for youth by the meanes chieflye of Iames Sturnne a principall Senator whiche in shorte time thoroughe the diligence of learned men so florished that there repared thither not onely from the furthest partes of Germany but also out of foreine nations the maner of teaching the youth and diuiding them into fourmes and the whole order was deuised by Iohn Sturmie whiche he fyrst exhibited to the Senate and afterwardes in a booke put forth he declareth it more at large And wheras many were fayne to flie for Religion and conscieÌce sake out of Fraunce and Flaunders and the Senate appointed them a churche wherof Iohn Caluine was fyrste for certeine yeres the superintendent and after him Peter Brulie of whose ende I wil speake herafter But in Englande Thomas of Canturbury was of long time had in great reuerence And his body was shryned in siluer and hanged rounde about with costly Iewelles of Gold and precious stones beyonde measure And amonges others there was one riche Iewell called the Regal of Fraunce This yeare did king Henry take him out of his shrine and burne his Reliques This Thomas surnamed Becket was in time past Archebishop of Canturbury And where he stode styffe in defending the liberties of the Clergie he fell into the displeasure of the kyng of Englande Henry the seconde of that name commaunded into exile he fledde to the Bishoppe of Rome Alexander the thyrde who at that tyme for themnitie of themperour Friderick Barbarousse was in Fraunce At the length Thomas Becket by the intercession of him and of Lewes the vij kinge of Fraunce was reconciled and retourned home the seuenth yere of his exile And when afterwarde he troubled certen Bishoppes that toke the kynges parte and did excoÌmunicate them the kyng beyng againe offended said he was in a miserable estate that could not liue in quiet for one priest he lameÌted also that there was no man aboute him that woulde deliuer him from suche disquietnes whiche wordes so ticled many that knowing it should be no displeasure to the kinge they went to Cantorbury and slewe Thomas The kynge pretended a great sorowe And sendynge Ambassadors to Rome to make his purgation in fyne entreated the Bishoppe to sende inquisitours into England to enquire and examine the matter And what time the Bishoppe at the laste had sente two Cardinals and the murther could not be searched out the kyng pourgeth him selfe by an othe And because of the former hatred and wordes spoken there was some suspecion and fault in him in conclusion he was reconciled vpon this condicion that after the yeares he shuld go into Syria and warre vpon the Saracenes This murther was committed in the yeare of mans saluation M.C.lxxi And not longe after the memoriall of Thomas waxed famous throughe miracles which the Monkes of Canturbury sayd he wrought Whereof when the Bishoppe of Rome was aduertised by the Legates that came out of Englande he Canonised him and made him a saint What time the metyng was at Nice Ioachim Marques of Brandenburge prince Electour the sonne of Ioachin in the beginninge of Iune sent his Ambassador Eustace Schlebie to the Duke of Saxon with these instructions howe Sigismunde kinge of Pole and Iohn Wayuode kynge of Hungary had aduertised hym that the Turkes made great preparation to inuade Hungary and so fortifiyng Buda to make an incursion into Germanye And this same did themperour of Turkes signifie vnto Uayuode And where it was once inioyned his father in an open assemblie that whan he had any intelligence of Turkishe matters he should aduertise the other states therof therfore can not
these matters of the maner of the othe of the noÌber also of the disputers and of geuing of voyces they had a longe altercation For when the catholickes perceyued that the counsellours of the Paulsgraue the Marques of BraÌdenburg electours also of the Duke of Cleaue were inclined towardes the Protestants fearing lest they shoulde be ouer cooÌmen with voices of a set pourpose differred the matter from day to day tyll such tyme as they had other worde from themperour as herafter I shall declare And the second daye of Ianuary they doe propounde new and straunge condicyons that of the whole nomber ther should be choseÌ two diuines to reason the matter that the scribes should wryte theyr argumentes and delyuer them to the presydentes that the lesse parte shoulde not bee bounden to followe the opinion of the greater vnlesse themperoure and the states of th empyre shoulde thynke it expediente that the notaryes shoulde not write all the talke of the reasoners but the bare sentences whether they wer agreed vpon or left in controuersie that the decree of Auspurge and such other lyke shoulde neuertheles be of force But the Protestantes agayn require that forasmuche as ther bee .xxii. on bothe partes appoynted to conferre euery man mighte speake hys mynde And that not only the bare sentences but also the Argumentes and reasons with the probations of the same be committed to wrytyng They declare also that it is vnreasonable in this most holy cause of al others to follow the opinion of any part not rather the prescripte of gods worde or to compell any man that he shoulde eyther thynke or speake against it Whilest the time was thus prolonged the Protestantes ofteÌtimes coÌplain thereof and desire that the disputation of the doctrine propounded at Auspurge may accordinge to the decree of Hagenawe be forthewith commenced especially consyderyng the same to be a frendly disceptation and not captious to th entent a certen way vnto concorde might be prepared The diuines also which were there very many required the same as Melancthon Capito Bucer Osiander Brentius Caluine Alesius a Scot sent thither by the marques of Brandenburge diuers others vnto whom wer annexed Symon Grineus and Iohn Sturmius At the last aboute the Ides of Ianuary the catholickes choose Iohn Eekius and thothers Melancthon to dispute together And first of all to th entent they might procede in order they Reason of originall synne by course in open consistory but beholde the thirde day after the disputation began Themperours letters wer brought to Granuellan and to the rest of Ambassadours wherin he differreth the whole matter vntill the assemble at Regenspurge commaunding chiefly the Protestantes to come thither Granuellan to repare vnto hym with all syede These letters beyng red in the consistorie the xviii daye of Ianuary Granuellan exhorteth them to obey themperoure and come vnto Regenspurge for he is very desyrous of peace And yf he him self by occasion of talke hath spoken any thyng roughly he desyreth them not to take it in euell part and promiseth to beare hys good wyll towards the publyke weale Whereunto the Protestantes say how they are ryght sory that the disputation had not begoÌ a great whyle souner and that they caÌnot now procede further therin but for asmuch as themperour doeth so commaund they must obey Wherfore they wyll now retourn home to declare howe all thinges stande and doubte not but their Princes and cities will gratifye theÌperour herin Notwithstandyng in case it be longe or euer they come or sende they ar to be holden excused by reason the time is but shorte In thys assemble was also Peter Paul Uerger bishop of Iustinople in worde as for the Frenche kyng but sent in dede by the Bishop of Roome who supposed that he myght serue hys tourne better beynge there in another mans name he made an oration of the vnitie peace of the churche and settyng it foorthe in prynte he gaue it there to dyuers Wherein he goeth about chiefly to proue that we maye not ones thynke vpon a counsell prouinciall for that same Assembly dyd represente a certen shew of the lyke thyng and semed to prepare the waye for the Byshop coulde abyde nothynge worse and Uergerius knewe hys mynde full well By hym therefore and by suche others of the bisshops ministers the thynge was letted and at the lengthe dyssolued For in tractyng of the tyme fyndyng of delayes they seeke startyng holles and wayes to escape In the begynnyng of Ianuary themperoure takyng hys Iorney from Brussels came vnto Mentz the head citie of Lorayne from thence by Spires he goeth to Regenspurge by the way sent those for sayd letters to GraÌuellaÌ he traueled by Norinberge whiche citie he had not sene before and was receyued with moste sumptuous preparation The eleuenth day of Februarye Philyp Schabotte Admirall of Fraunce a man of great honour beyng brought into suspicion with the kynge for not acquitinge himselfe in the warre of Sauoye beefore mentyoned after longe and mooche inquisityon of hys demeanoure was condemned of extortyon and treason and depriued of al his honour dignities which he had most ample without all hope of restitution and was committed to prison at Uincen not farre froÌ Paris William Poiet ChauÌcelor of FrauÌce gaue this sentence at Mellon at the which Iudgement were all the notable men and Iudges in the lawe in all Fraunce Albeit that sentences geuen after this sort are wont euer to be dissolued or altered yet by the kynges authoritie not longe after he was cleane released as ye shall heare afterwardes About this time also Maurice the son of Henry Duke of Saxonie maried Agnes daughter to the Lantzgraue In the moneth of Marche diuers Princes and states resorted to Regenspurge when themperor had taried for them a certen space Thither came also the Lantzgraue with a great company almost atthende of Marche And the nexte daye wente to themperor with his garde about him of whom he was receiued right gentlye The duke of Saxonie sent thither a most honorable Ambassador and Diuines among whom was Melanchton From the Bishoppe of Rome also came Caspar Contarene a right famous Cardinall There were present the prince Elector of Brandenburg Friderick and Otto Henry Paulsegraues William and Lewis dukes of Bauier Henry duke of Brunswike Charles duke of Sauoie George marques of Brandenburge Philip Duke of Pomerane moreouer the Bishops of Mentz Salisburg Breme Bamberg Spires Auspurge Eistet Constance Hildessene Brixie Passaw Aboute this time came forth and was brought to Regenspurge a boke of Martin Luthers very vehement written in the vulgare tounge against the Duke of Brunswycke In the last boke before this I meÌtioned of this dukes inuectiues against the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue And where in a booke set forth of late he called the Duke of SaxoÌ Heretike rebel Cain Monster Eesope hauing nether vertu or qualitie of body
Palle was made breede matter of contention And nowe is the same so fast wrought and of suche strength that the Bishoppe of Rome is in dauÌger to be strangled withall And seyng it is so let theÌ impute the fault to them selues which so impudently and excessiuely handled the matter I maye well laughe in my sleue For he that dwelleth in heauen hath strikeÌ them and would not suffer so great wickednes to raigne any longer and hath brought his people out of that darkenes of Egipte into the most cleare light and pleasant syght of the sonne This Palle so often here mentioned is geuen onely to Archbishops and as a syngular benefite to a fewe other Bishoppes of the whiche numbre the Bishop of Bamberge in Germany is one And it is made with thys Ceremonie In the Feast of S. Agnes the Uirgyn whiche is the xxi day of Ianuary what time they come to Agnus dei in the Messe two white Lambes are laide vpon the Aultar which afterwarde are deliuered to the Subdeacon of S. Peters churche And they put them forth to pasture and whan shering time commeth do clippe them of the which Woll mingled with other woll whan it is sponne into fine threde are made these Palles which are not past three fingers brode and hange downe from the shoulders to the midde breast and to the Reines of the backe like a stoale and at eche ende are thinne plats of leade of the same breadth Beyng thus wouen and wrought they are caried to the bodies of Peter and Paule and there certen prayers beyng said ouer them they are left there al that night The next day the subdeacons receaue them againe and keps them diligently vntil such time as some Archbishoppe that hathe nede of one or his Proctor do sue for it And than it is deliuered with many ceremonies they that haue the cariage therof are inioyned that they remaine not aboue one night in a place This ware whiche is neither costely nor curiouslye wrought do the Archebishoppes redeme of the Bishoppe of Rome for a wonderfull some of money For it is not lawefull for him to weare the same that his predecessor did but euery one of them is bounden to purchase a newe for him selfe at Rome Againe in case he become Patriache or Metropolitan of another churche throughe promutation or any other meane althoughe he had bought one before yet must he of necessitie bie another againe Of suche kinde of pillage greate complaintes haue bene often made of all nations as I shewed you in the fourth boke but chiefly in Germany And in the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundreth xviii what tyme Leo the tenth in the assemblie of Auspurge by Cardinall Caietan exhorted Maximilian and the Princes to the Turkish war and went about that all states should pay money and the Cleargye for theyr partes the tenthes Answer was made him that there was no hope to obteine that of thecclesiasticall persons who were so manye waies and by newe policies pilled and poled by the courte of Rome And the people if anye thinge shoulde be imposed woulde make great exclamations that they haue so oft geuen theyr money for thys purpose and maruell how it is consumed or whither that money goeth that is gathered yearly in Germany I tolde you before of sundry fyers that were kindled of late in Saxonie Whan diuerse of the malefactours were apprehended and taken in sundry places and examination had they testified howe they were hired for money by the captaines and officers of Henry duke of Brunswike and set on by them to do it And this they affirmed to the last breth For this cause therefore and for other matters the Lantzgraue and thambassadours of Saxonie accuse the duke of Brunswicke to the Emperor at Regenspurge and exhibite in writyng the seuerall confession of euery one of these make fyers And ioinetly with them did William of Brunswik accuse his brother Henry sore who had kept him many yeares in pryson Whan all the most part were commen together they began to sit the fyft day of Aprill And in theÌperours name as the maner is was propounded what trauaile and paine he had alwayes takeÌ that the publike weale might be well established And after a longe discourse of all that he had done aswell for the appeasynge of the controuersye that is in Religion and reformation of the churche as also for the defence of th empyre against the cruell inuasions of the Turkes In fine themperor demaunded of them all but chiefly of the Protestauntes that they would geue him leaue to chose out certeine to conferre and herein to trust him who will do nothing that shall not concerne the preseruation of the countrey Whan they had this graunted him the xiij day of Aprill he appointeth by Friderike the Paulsgraue to thys talke Iulius Pflugius Iohn Eckius Iohn Gropper Philippe Me lanchton Martin Bucer Iohn Pistor that they should treate of the oppinions that be in controuersie and after make reporte and bringe them to him and the princes Againe the two and twentie daye of Aprill he calleth them vnto him and gyueth them a great charge that in the handling of this matter they should giue nothing to affections but that all pertialitie set apart they should onely haue respecte vnto Gods glory They full modestly do excuse themselues and require al that other more mete might be appointed sauing Eckius For he said he was well prepared and fournished but where themperor dyd instant them to take it vpon them they were content and also intreate him that he would assigne some to be as presidentes of the disputation others to bee as witnesses and hearers of the matter And so he commaundeth Fridericke Palatine and Granuellan to bee as governours and willeth Theodorycke Countie Manderschit Eberhart Ruden Henry Hasie Fraunces Burcarte Iohn Figius Iames Sturmins to be there to beare witnes And when all these came together the xxvii day of April Fridericke the Palsgraue admonisheth the Collocutours that they should seriously go to the matter and conferre together frendly After Granuellan exhibiteth a booke written which he sayd was delyuered to themperour of certayne good well learned men as fit for a reconcilement and that themperour woulde to th entent they might haue a lawful argument and matter to treat of that they shoulde reade ouer the same booke also and waye it and looke what they shoulde all allow therein to commende and the rest to correcte This booke contayned these articles following of the creation of man and before the fall of the integritie of nature of freewill of the cause of synne of originall synne of the iustification of man of the church and of the tokens and authoritie of the same of the notise of the woorde of repentaunce after the fal of the authoritie of the churche in discerning and interpretyng the scripture of the sacramentes of order baptesme
confirmyng of the lordes supper of penaunce absolution matrimony vnction of the bond of charitie of the dignitie of the churche and of the authoritie to establishe the weale publicke of images masse and ministration of the sacramentes of the discipline of the churche bothe for the ministers and the people In the moneth of May the Protestantes wryting their letters froÌ Regenspurg to the Frenche kynge entreate for such as at the same tyme in Fraunce for the profession of the gospell wer partly in prison partly in exile partly hyd in corners and led a miserable lyfe And because many were receyued into fauour incase they woulde abiure they require that he woulde release them from that condicyon declarynge howe heynous a matrer it is to wounde the conscience The cause of thys persecution was by a sentence geuen agaynst the Merindolans in the prouince by the president Bartholomew Chassanie a lawyer which beyng terrible and cruell beyonde measure put the poore men in a wonderful feare not withstanding the full execution therof was differred tyll an other tyme and the persecution of thys yere was but a balle playe in comparison of that whiche followed foure yeares after as shal be recited in hys place Whylest these thynges were done at Regenspurge the Duke of Cleaue hauing themperour hys heuye Lorde for the possession of Gelderlande goeth priuely into Fraunce appoynting such as he would haue with hym a day and a place wher they going an other way should mete hym what tyme therfore he arryued at Paris aboute th ende of Aprill being receiued of the kynges officers and conducted throughe Orleans the sixte daye of Maye he came to the kyng at Ambose a towne in Turin by the Riuer of Loire who imbracing him none otherwise than the father would his owne sonne sent word immediatly to the kyng of Nauarre and hys syster that they shoulde repayre vnto hym with all expedition and brynge theyr Daughter with them for they wer the same time in Gascoigne And after they wer coommen the kyng by and by began to entreate of the maryage And albeit the parentes than did not greatly lyke it and the yonge mayde also was somewhat vnwyllyng not somoch of her owne iudgement or contempte of hym as by the whispering and perswasyon of sertayne whych dispysed Germanye as rude and barren in comparison of the delycacye and pleasauntenes of Fraunce yet vanquished by the kynges authoritye whiche iudged the same affinitie very fit for hys pourpose at the last they gaue place Wherfore at the Ides of Iune the maryage was solemnised the kynge hymselfe leadyng the bryde hys nece to the churche and the Cardinall of Turnon played the prest The kynge gaue them a goodly dyner And ther were thambassadours of Roome Englande Portugall Uenise and Saxonye For themperours had made an excuse After a fewe dayes the Duke retourned homewarde leauing his yong spouse in Fraunce whom her mother woulde haue to remayne with her tyll she wer of rype yeares for a man Before the Dukeof of Cleaue came into Fraunce the kyng had enlarged the Admirall that we spake of before and sent hym home to hys owne house and after in the moneth of May commaunded hym to come vnto hym whom receiued most gently he restored to hys former dignitie and called as it wer out of hel into light agayne and after a straung example and seldome heard of made the sentence geuen agaynst hym by all the princypal iudges of hys realm cleane frustrate partlye for hatred of the constable as it is thoughte and partly at the requeste of madame Destamps whych was allyed to the Admirall by a new affinitie Therfore Memorancie the Counstable which loued not thadmirall his egall and was oute of the kynges fauoure for themperours passage as before is sayed beyng had in contempt gotte hym home and led a priuate lyfe where before he had ruled the Kynge wholye hymselfe alone â The fourtenth Boke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concernyng the state of relygion and the common Weale duryng the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fourtenth Booke IN the processe of the communication they treated of an order to be establyshed in the churche sondry aduyses and aunswers bee there gathered Eckius dispray syng the booke there presented accuseth hys fellow collocutours Themperoure hauing intellygence of the Turkes commyng remitreth thys colloquie to the counsel Fregose Rincon thambassadours of the French kynge to the greate Turke at taken and slayne Wherupon the Bastarde of Maximilyan is arested The Turke taketh possession in the cytie of Buda TheÌperoure arryueth at Argiers The plage is in Germany and great calamities in Austriche A supplication of the princes of Austriche to kynge Ferdinando that they myght haue the Gospell Wherunto he aunswereth After the ouerthrowe in Hongary an assemblye was holden at Spires where Oliuier beeing for the French kynge made a longe Oration Cardinall Maron the Popes Ambassadour offereth a counsell at Trcent Luther Wryteth a booke intitled the sermon of Soldiours comparyng papistry with the Turkes Alcorane The warre beyng proclaymed betwene the Frenche kyng and the Emperour Marten van Rossem inuadeth Brabante decrces are made in Fraunce agaynste the Lutheranes Farell preacheth at Mentz ABoute the ende of Aprill the disputation began as I shewed yon before but Eckius was vnpatient and froward for both he abhorred the booke and mislyked hys fellowes and a lyttell after fell into an agewe so that he coulde not bee there yet went his fellowes to him and conferred with hym of al thynges And certen places of the boke exhibited were throughe conference amended by common assent but of some other they coulde not agree of the churche and authoritie therof of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Chryst of the recytall of synnes of satisfaction of the vnitie order of thecclesiastical ministers of sainctes of masse of the vse of the whole sacramente of the single lyfe So was the booke deliuered vp to themperoure as it was corrected and the Diuines of the Protestantes had written theyr mindes vpon these forsayd opinions which were leafte in controuersy this was the last of Maye Themperoure commendeth theyr good endeuour and lyketh it well And incase the matter herafter do so require he exhorteth theÌ to shew the like good-will and dilygence Than in the eyght day of Iune in the consistorie before the Princes and other states he maketh relation what hathe ben done and howe farre they haue proceded howe the collocutours haue handled the matter dilygentely and haue reconcyled dyuerse weyghty articles of doctryne And touching the rest that are not yet agreed vpon the diuines of the Protestantes haue opened they re myndes After he exibiteth vnto ether of them boothe the wrytinges requiring them that so shortly as may bee they woulde consulte thervpon and vtter theyr mindes in either of them And moreouer would consyder howe the state of the weale publike
as well ciuile as ecclesiasticall maye or ought to be reformed he for hys parte will leaue nothyng vndone herein doubtyng not but the bishops legate is also inclyned to the same The Senate of Princes consisteth for the moste parte of Bisshops Therefore the nomber of them preuayled whyche bothe reiected the booke exibited by themperoure and also the whole treaty of the collocutours and the reason therof was coÌprised in writing somewhat extremely but what tyme the Electours and certain other prynces that loued the common wealth would not assent therto another wryting was framed and delyuered to themperoure the second day of Iuly wherin they doo admonyshe hym that as the advocate and defendour of the churche he doe communicate the whole matter with the Bysshops Legate accordyng to the decree of Hagenaw especially those articles which the collocutours haue agreed vpon and that they bee wayghed dilligentlye whether there bee anye thynge in them that eyther in sence or in woordes is agaynst the doctryne of the godly exposytours or also the custom of the church moreouer incase any thyng be darkely spoken that it may be declared and that after that done he hymself do make reporte to the states of their opinion and what his mynde is touching the same and that he wold be in hande with the Protestantes that they woulde be contented to be instructed in the resydewe of the articles that be in controuersie or yf that can not be obtayned that than the matter be referred either to a generall counsell or els to a prouinciall Sinode of Germanye Amonges the states wer sertayne that hyndred the reformation of Relygion and it is thought that by their motion the whole treaty was referred to the Bisshops legate Themperoure aunswered to the same the .vii. day of Iuly How he had supposed that the collocutours wold haue vttered theyr myndes more playnly especially consyderyng that they had the booke so long by them but for asmoche as they stick herein he wyll follow theyr counsell and will know the legates mynd in euery poynte to th entent he will omit nothynge that conserneth hys dewtie The Protestantes also declare vnto themperour by wryting what theyr mynde is and open more at full the doctryne reconsyled and shew that it is not harde to accord the reste in lyke case and saie that they kepe theÌ selues to their confession at Auspurge Than touching the third request of the Emperour coÌcerning the ciuil gouernment of the coÌmen wealth they say howe the lawes that were made .xi. yere since at Auspurge must be put in vre execution and shew how thecclesiastical function may be restored if the gospel be taught sincerely if according to the auncieÌt lawes the ministers of churches may be chosen by the coÌsent of the people if the bishops doe retaine styll in their own haÌdes the ciuile ministration for asmuch as of an old custome they them selues neither wil nor can do it they appoint others to execute their spiritual office finde them of their reuenewes if the ministers of the churche may be frely permitted to mary If that foule bying sellyng whiche is of sondry sortes of Simon Magus is called Simony may be vtterly taken away if the goodes may be so distributed as the law made long since prescribe if chyldreÌ be brought vp invertue in their yougth learne the first principles of the christiaÌ doctrine if notable offeÌdours be expulsed out of the coÌmunioÌ of the church til they come again to ameÌdement that the Magistrate do his duty herein abolishe al idolatrie if thecclesiastical iudgemeÌtes might be had as it were censours or maisters of maners apointed to enquire diligeÌtli of the behauiour of the ministers people of their faultes vices Themperour as I told you before doth coÌmunicate the whole matter with the bishops legate nd requireth him instantly that the state of the coÌmon wealth but chiefly of the church myght be refourmed Wherunto the legate answered for as muche as the protestaÌtes in certen opinions do swarue from the coÌmon consent of the churche and yet there is some hope that in fine they wil come into the way againe he after diligent coÌsideration of the whole cause thinketh mete that there be no further determinatioÌ made touching any matter but that the whole treaty be referred to the byshop who assuredly wyl either by a generall counsell or by some other meane fitte for the tyme deuyse that thing in this controuersie that shal profit the whole common wealth but chiefly of Germanye Afterwarde to the intent he might seme to be desirous of a refourmation he calleth home to hym al the byshops there geueth them lessons how they should demeane theÌ selues in al things gouerne their families haue care of the flock coÌmitted to their charge how they should beware of errours appoint learned preachers to resiste them bestow their benefices vpon mete persones how they ought to imploy the churche goodes to the vse of the poore and not to spende theÌ in riot or in any superfluous vse howe they should se yougth brought vp in good litterature knowledge of tongues which thing the protestantes do exceadingly by that meanes allure all yougth vnto them infecte them with their doctrine how it is the dutie of the bishops to warne the pareÌtes that thei seÌde not their children to suche places where there is daunger of heresie with diuers other lyke thinges which after he delyuered in wryting to bysshops that desyred it and also themperoure Who the .xii. day of Iuly reporteth to all the states what aunswere he had made And for by cause it appeareth that there can be nomore determined in this asseÌbly concernynge relygion and the Turke maketh great preparation both by sea and lande to inuade Christendome he thinketh it chieflly requisite that the treaty be brought to an ende and that decrees bee made concernyng religion peace and ayde against the Turke wherfore he requireth to know theyr mindes whether they thinke it expedient that those articles of doctrine which the collocutours haue accorded shal be receyued till a generall or an other imperyall counsel to th entent the controuersy of Religion for the whiche they haue so many yeares bene tourmoyled may be somewhat abated that the residue not as yet agreed vpon may hereafter more easelye be brought to an vniformitie For he wyll go streight way to the Byshop that he may certenly knowe what to trust to as shortly as he can wyll retourne into Germany to se to the common wealth prouided always that these thinges be nothing preiudiciall to the decree of Auspurge Whan the diuines of the Protestantes had red the two forsayd wrytinges of Contarene they aunswer with one accorde and shewe that he doth them wrong and say that considering his learning they loked for much better things at his hande where also he exhorteth the Princes to punishment and
at the last he departed thys yere in th end of August not without the suspicion of poison Whan his frende Cardinall Fregose was also dead a little before they that knowe him well say that he beleued ryghtly touching mans iustification he was a man excellently learned and wrote a boke of the Magistrates comon welthe of the Uenetians In this same moneth the Chaunceloure of FrauÌce williaÌ Poret by the kings coÌmaundement who went thaÌ to Perpignan was taken in the night as he laye in his bed carried to prison What time the brute therof came to Paris al men reioised exceadingly For in those foure yeres that he had ben in that office he had offended all sortes of men and from some lady of the kynges courte came this misfortune to him The condeÌnation also of the Admiral augmeÌted the hatred as before is said He was in a great in maner an assured hope to bee made a Cardinall therfore two or three monethes before he wold nedes take holy orders which thing notwithstaÌding som meÌ saied he did that forasmuch as he was in the hatred of mani he might the better beare it escape the daunger of his life in case that heat should at any tyme breake out boyle ouer This was the third mockeri of fortune that chaunced in FrauÌce with in a few monethes together For where these three before mentioned the Constable Admirall and Chauncelour were in the highest degre of dignitye They burned in mutuall mallice declared by theyr ensample the disceiptefullnes vncertentye and slyppernes of woordly thynges At this tyme Otto Henry the Palsegraue embraced the doctryne of the Gospell The same dyd they of Heildessem I tolde you before of the counsell the Byshop sent immediatly letters and Bulles therof to the Emperoure into Spayne Wherunto Cesar aunswereth the fyue and twenty daye of Auguste Fyrst he coÌmendeth his endeuour and zeale towardes the common wealth but it greueth hym that the Frenche kyng should be compared vnto him for he is that prodigall chylde but for hym selfe which neuer swarued from his dutie he sayeth he ought more derely to be imbraced for he hath refused no paynes peryll nor coste that a counsel myght once be had that the whole common wealth beyng pacified they myght sette vpon the Turke on all handes Contrary wyse he mynded euer an other waye wherfore he fyndeth some lacke in his letters The other was wonte to make his boaste that he had the Cardinalles at hys becke Wherfore he doubteth whether the thynge be trewe or countreseared But howe soeuer it be he resteth vpon a good conscience both their doinges are openly knowen He hym selfe hath bene ouergentle to hym and fauoured hym a great deale to muche For all the labour he hath taken these many yeares is in vayne he hath ofte bene warned of his dutye sondrye great iniuries haue bene remitted leagues with hym haue often tymes bene remoued but with all these thynges he is waxed worse and vtterly doeth abuse his lenitie and patience Who brake the league and gaue the occasion of warre he hathe declared at Rome What hathe happened since he wyll vtter now also For how frendly desirous of peace he hath bene hereby may easely appeare that after the truce taken at Nice he came into talke with him at Aegnes mortes coÌmitted him self vnto him the yeare followyng he passed through Fraunce to the great admiration and not without the reprehension of many For seing he hath oftener than once broken his fayth and is fickell vnconstant in all his counselles it was sure a great daunger to hazarde his persone vpoÌ his fidelitie promesse Moreouer he knoweth for certeintie that thei deliberated to deteine him at the same time And where as many say that for the rebellion of Gaunt he must nedes passe that waie that was nocause at all For that rebellion was stired vp of a very fewe that of the basest sorte of men al the couÌtrey remayned in their allegeaunce and fidelitie the quene his sister could haue remedied those matters How beit where he was prefixed to retourne into Germany through Italy he was moued by his intreaty to chaunge his purpose went through FrauÌce which thing he is able to proue by his own letters by the letters of his soÌnes nobles For he requested this thing of him so ernestly that he rekened he should be dishonoured in case he toke any other way than through Fraunce And what tyme he was with hym in Fraunce he affirmed many times that he wold obserue the truces made But after he began to complayne that Millan was not redred vnto him according to the promesse where not withstandinge vnto the same promesse was added thys condicyon that he should restore hys vncle the Duke of Sauoie and doe serten other thinges And yet syns that tyme hathe he practised agaynste hym in sondry places in Germanie in Italy with the Turke with Iohn Uaiuod and his wyfe the widdow and with certen noble men of Hongatye by whose meanes the Turke had the citie of Offen And yet in the meane season he coulde full well cloake hys mallice promise hym greate frendshyp through a subtill fetche and polycie that he myght tracte the tyme and set vppon hym vnware And than tooke he first occasyon what tyme hys ministers Fregose and Rincon were intercepted In the which thing how he wolde in dede haue satisfyed hym he hymselfe can tell whiche was chosen vmpere in the arbitrement betwene them This therfore dyd he pretende to bee the cause of a newe trouble and disturbaunce of the weale publicke whan he had prefyxed it long before But what Fregose and Rincon attempted by hys commaundemente in Italye and Turkie and what seruyce they had oftetymes donne hym was knowen well enoughe For they wente aboute throughe treason to haue broughte the Christen common welth into great daunger therfore coulde not they inioye the benefyte of the peace Nicene whyche had them selues infrynged the publycke peace Agayne they wente by stealthe and priuelye throughe Lumbardie with a companye of oute lawes whyche is deathe by the custome of the countrye He blameth sore the Marques of Piscare but he offered to abide iudgment And whye he shoulde refuse it and also forsake other satysfactions it is not vnknowne he certenly thinking he had been satisfyed passed ouer into Barbarie and sendynge hys Ambassadoure commended vnto hym the publycke peace and queyet And albeit hee made fayre promises yet did he attempte diuerse thinges agaynste hym in Germany Denmarke other places he inteÌded also to inuade Nauarre Agayne in the assemblie at Spier he did what he coulde to nurryshe stryfe in religion whilest he promysed seuerally to eyther partye hys amytie and fauour he indeuoured moreouer to diswade the states of the empire from the Turkisshe warre he sollycited the Turke he sent a power into Italye and mooued warre agaynste hym
vertue and as Tullye reporteth of Cesar he maketh all wyse menne a frayde to wryte Some others haue taken in hande the same Argumente and in deede better learned than he but they doo not attayne to that fynes of perfectyon In the tenth booke is mentioned of the Archebisshop of Collon how he coueted to refourme hys churche and allowed not that Synode of hys prouynce notwithstandynge that the booke went foorthe in hys name And after that in the conuention at RegeÌspurge Bisshops were enioyned bothe by kinge Fernando and also by the Bisshop of Roomes Legate that euery man in hys owne dyocesse shoulde see a godly reformation to bee had he calleth a conuocatyon of hys states whych are the clergye of the cathedrall churche the Erles the Nobilitie and Ambassadours of cities The matter beyng debated they agreed all that so godly and holsome a worke shoulde be taken in hand Therefore he appoynteth certen to conceaue in writyng a draughte of the reformation that shal be and to espye out good men to bee mynisters of the churche Thys wryting he sendeth to the Diuines of Collon and wylleth them to iudge thereof by the Scriptures and to shew theyr opinion but where hys requeste was not sasatisfyed and hauing not conuenyent ministers to instructe the people he sent for Martyn Bucer at Strasburg whoÌ both Iohn Gropper had alwayes commended vnto hym highly and he hymselfe also knewe ryght wel by familyar comunication Who commyng thither the laste yere in Decembre in the begynnyng of thys yere at the commaundemente of the prince beganne to preache at Bomia a Towne vpon the Rhine fyue miles aboue ColloÌ After at the Ides of March the Bisshop calleth a newe assemblie of states at Bomia and requireth that they wolde consulte vpon a godly reformation But where the clergie had assigned no man for this pourpos the rest of the states desyre the Archebishop that according to hys owne iudgemente hee wolde chouse mete men for the thynge Wherfore he committeth thys charge vnto Bucer that he shoulde penne oute the articles of the christian doctrine and to th entent all thynges might the better be donne he intreateth the Prince Electour of Saxonye that he wolde Ioyne vnto hym Melancthon When he was commen and Iohn Pistor froÌ the Lantzgraue and that the woorke was fynished the Archebishop sent it to the clergie of the head church in Collon whych are all of noble houses and requireth them that they wolde ponder dyligently the doctryne of that booke After at the .xxii. daye of Iuly he calleth an other Synode and exhibited vnto them the booke of reformation requiring them that euery state wold chose certen whyche myght pervse that booke ouer and conferre with hys to th entent some tollerable and godly accorde myghte in fyne bee had But the clergie before sayed vrged this obstiuately that Bucet especially and certen others appoynted of late to instructe the people myghte bee dysplaced After they require a further tyme of delyberation touching the booke and refuse to conferre with the rest He albeit he knewe well enoughe for what pourpose they made thys delaye yet to th ende they should fynd no lacke graunteth them tyme to consulte in And where they spake of remouing of Bucer and hys companions he did not refuse in case any man were able to conuicte them eyther of false doctryne or of euyll lyfe And at sondrye tymes offered them lybertie to trye it beyng ready to exhibite them before any lawefull or indifferent Iudg. WhaÌ the matter therfore stayed here they prepare a contrary booke and in title it Antididagma In the preface of the same booke after a wonderfull raylynge agaynst the Lutheranes they affirme with expresse wordes that they had rather lyue vnder the dominion of the Turkes than vnder a Magistrate that wolde followe and defend that reformation The author and diuisor of this booke as they say was Gropper For he albeit he was very familiar with Bucer two yeres before at Regenspurge Albeit that comyng home from thence he coÌmended hym maruelously not only to the Archebisshop but also euerye where to all others albeit he had written him many and that most frendely letters yet whan the matter was brought vnto this poynt he forsoke his frendeship altogether and leauynge hys prince by whom he had all hys preferment he reuolted into the tentes of his aduersaries The same did Barnarde Hagie his Chauncelour which had bothe of them many fatte benefyces The diuines of Collon affailed Bucerfore and rattled hym vp with manye opprobrious wordes But he requyred that the matter might come to disputatioÌ and protested that he wold defende this doctrine agaynste them in all assemblies In hys defence also Melanethon set forthe a booke at the same tyme and exhortinge them vnto modestie sheweth them what shamefull errours they defende Duke Moris of Saxonye maketh certen lawes at this tyme to be obserued within hys dominioÌ And fyrst in dede he exhorteth the preachers and ministers of the church to execute theyr office diligently to preache the Gospel sincerely and to shyne before theyr stock with honest examples of lyfe that they exhorte men to prayer and mutuall loue that they rebuke vice sharpelye and sequester desperate persons from the communion of the church by the consent of the Magistrat vntyll they amende And suche as will not thus be refourmed to present vnto the Magistrate Secondly forasmoch as youthe is the store of the Churche and the publicke weale he founded three Grammer Scooles at Misene Merseburge and Porte And in euerye place he fyndeth a certen nombre of Scolars bothe theyr apparell and commons And payeth also yerely stipendes to theyr Scolemasters And to thys vse doeth he applye the reuenewes of the relygious houses wherin Monkes had dwelt and suche others He graunteth that the youthe shal remaine there for the space of sixe yeres of the same lands also he geueth in Augementation to the Uniuersitie of Lipsia two thousand crownes yerely and certen Rasers of wheat Moreouer he forbiddeth beggynge and appoynteth an yerelye somme of monye in certen places to releue poore householders After this for suche as defloure maydes and mary them not he appoynteth thys punishement that albeit they sett them foorthe afterwardes and marye them to others yet shall they be committed to pryson And commaundeth that aduouterers shall dye by the sworde And noble men that marie suche wyues as they haue accompanied with beefore he punnishethe thus that he taketh awaye from theyr children that were borne before the Marriage the possession and profites of suche landes as they holde of him in fee. In the meane time themperoure coÌming oute of Spaine arriueth with his Nauie at Genes And the .xxvi. day of May addressyng his letters from thence to the Duke of Saron the Lantzgraue and theyr consortes For as moche as they are alreadye sufficientlye warranted by hys proclamations for publyke peace and that also
tendeth to greate vnquyetnes he will not be perswaded they of necessitie doe flee to the laste remedye and doe appeale to the Bisshop of Roome and to Themperoure the hyghe protectour and aduocate of Gods churche and committe all theyr thoughtes vnto theyr tuition The chief of this assemblye was George of Brunswicke Duke Henry hys brother Prouost of the same College This thynge knowne the Archebishop settynge forthe a wrytyng sayeth there is no cause of Appellation For he had done nothynge contrary to hys dewty therfore he reiecteth theyr appellation and trusteth that they wil leaue theyr enterpryses but if not he wil procede not withstanding in those thinges that concerne gods glorye and amendemente of Churches And agayne in an other wrytynge he confuteth theyr sclaunderous reporte of Luther and Bucer and affirmeth that he was neither priuie to the condemnation of Luther before he sawe it in print nor consented to the decre of Auspurge Luther was in dede condemned at Rome but his cause not hearde violently and tyrannically But in the decree of Regenspurge he and all other Bisshops were enioyned to reforme theyr Churches And he sente for Bucer throughe the meanes of Gropper who so ofte and so hyghly commended hym in whom he also could fynd nothing blameworthye And it is a greate tooken that he shoulde bee an honest man for that Themperoure amonges many chose him to be one of the colloqutours as a man godly learned a louer of peace the same iudgement hath he also of the rest of the ministers of the churche by him appoynted After the peace concluded Themperour sent the Bysshop of Arras Granuellans son and the Frenche kyng Cardinall Bellaye ioynctely to the kynge of Englande to treate a peace but it was in vayne the king refusyng to restore Boloingue In these daies also the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinall of Turnon and Ladyes of the Frenche courte came to Themperoure at Brusselles for a mutual reioysyng of the peace Themperour had appoynted the captaynes and bandes of Spaniardes to wynter in Lorayne in the contrie there aboute In Themperours prouinces annexed to the house of BurguÌdye many were euery where desyrous to know the gospel but secretly for feare of Themperours proclamations punnishment In those parties is a Towne called Tournoye the chiefest amonge the Neruians Thither came a Frenche preacher from Strasburge beyng of them sente for one Peter Brulye of whom mention is made in the twelfth booke Whan he was commen thither in the moneth of September beyng gently receyued of them that sent for him he began to instructe them priuately And after for the same cause went to Lysle a Towne of Flaunders and retourneth aboute th end of Octobre agayne to Tournay but nowe was the matter brought to lyghte and searche made for hym throughout al the cytye the gates kept shutte Being therefore in present daunger and coulde be no longer hyd the second day of Nouember in the night season he was by serten of hys frendes let downe ouer the walles by acorde whan he touched the earthe and satte downe on the grounde one of them laining ouer the walle as softly as he coulde bad him a dew and whylest he thus leyned he fortuned to thruste of a stone that cleaued not fast to the morter whiche fallynge vpon hym as he sate brake hys legge who vexed partely with the ake of his legge partely for colde when he could not styrre thence satte styll and bewayled hys chaunce and miserie That That hearde the watchemen and suspecting as it was in dede came vnto hym take hym and carye hym to pryson When the brute hereof came into Germanye the Senate of Strasburge sendynge theyr letters did intreate for him the same did also afterwardes the Ambassadours of the prote stantes which wer that tyme at Wormes but that was somwhat to late And before these letters came whiche were seÌt in the name of the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue he was dyspatched out of the waye This was on the .xix. day of Februarye The maner of hys executioÌ was extreme For he was brent in a small fire that hys torment might be so mutch the greaeer He confessed his doctryne constantlye euen to the laste breathe And as he laye in prison comfortyng hys discyples by letters which were fettred in chaynes he exhorteth theÌ to be constaÌt The sentence was pronounced against him that he should suffer for transgressing themperours commaundement For many yeres past themperoure had set forth most streit proclamations in all hys dominyons there awaye agaynst the Lutheranes And they be red euery yere twyse lest any maÌ should pleade ignoraunce WheÌ he was sent for out of prison to be examined the Freers that wer diuines axe him before the magistrate what his opinion of the sacrament of the altare as they calle it of the messe of consecratioÌ of adoration of the host of purgatorye of the worshipping of sainctes of steewil of good workes of Iustification of Images of Baptisme of vowes of confession of synnes of the Uirginitie of our lady Wherunto he aunswered that the verey body blud of Christ is there receiued not with the mouthe but in spirit through fayth and neyther the substannce of breade nor wyne is chaunged But whan the supper is distributed to the congregation after Chrystes institution in the vulgare tongue than are they verely consecrated euen by the wordes of Chryst For that still and secret mutteryng wherwith the priestes doe treate speake to the breade and wyne belongeth rather to inchaunters and charmers than vnto Christianes The popissh masse to haue nothyng coÌmon with the Lordes supper but to be a seruice inuented by men to the reproche iniurye of Chryst the adoration of the bread consecrated to be Idolatry For there is worshipped a creature in the place of the Creatour that he knoweth not nor can fynde non other purgatory sauing the bloud of chryst which forgeueth vs not the trespas only but also the payne dew for our synnes Therfore the masse other praiers which are applied vnto the dead are not only of non effect but also wicked for asmoche as they are instituted besydes gods woorde Sainctes can not be better worshipped than yf we followe theyr faythe and vertues What soeuer cometh besydes is euyll and they whylest they lyued wolde permit no worshyp to be donne vnto them Therfore ought they not to be called on as mediatours for that the same honour apperteyneth only to Chryst through Adames sinne mans nature was wholy corrupted and the wyll weakened so that withoute Goddes grace it can doe nothyng that good is Howbeit a man regenerate dooeth through Gods motion as a good tree bryng forth good fruictes How it is faith that bryngeth vnto vs saluation that is when we trust vnto gods promesses beleue stedfastlye that for Chryst his sonne sake our sinnes are forgeuen vs. Traditions whervnto the mindes of men are
LaÌtzgraue neuerthelesse prepareth for the battell and styll shoutyng of his ordenaunce approcheth nere hys enemye and stayeth aboute fyue hoÌdreth passes from hym and sendeth woorde to Duke Morys by CoÌrade HausteÌ how he caÌnot be in quiet for that he feareth lest through occasyon of talke Duke Henry shoulde escape awaye Duke Moris sayeth how he must nedes tary till he haue spoken with him and praieth hym so longe to absteyne A little whyle after he retourneth and sheweth how Duke Henry with plentifull teares be wayleth his myserye and wyll render hym selfe and hys sonne and desyreth hym that he wolde vse no cruell wordes towardes hym When the Duke was commen and hys sonne Charles Uictor the Lantzgraue sayde vnto hym If I were in thy power as thou art nowe in myne thou woldest not suffer me to lyue longe But I wyll vse thee a greate deale better then by thy desertes what came into thy mynde that thou wouldest not obey the Emperoure refusyng the sequestration for certenlye by thys meane thouhadst wel prouyded for thee and thyne speakyng on thys wyse he appoynteth theÌ both vnto kepers But in thys meane whyle the Lantzgraues armye had lyke to haue bickered with the enemye and had not the Lantzgraue and Duke Moris with greate expedition runnen betwixte them there had ben a wonderful slaughter The Duke of Brunswickes armye pourposed to depart wholy to gether in one companye but because there was daunger leste by occasyon they shoulde attempte some newe enterpryse the Lantzgraue followeth them and ouertakyng them vpon a playne compelleth theÌ that they should teare in pieces their enseignes promiseth hym vpoÌ theyr fydelytie that they shoulde not serue agaynste hym nor hys fellowes within these sixe monethes Than taketh he a waie from theÌ all theyr munition to the nomber of xviii pieces with all that therunto belongeth and marching foreward recouereth the Castel of SteÌbrucke and sweareth the people to be trewe to hym and commaundeth to geue God thankes for the victorye Then he punnisheth Iohn Schamburge Otto Ritberg Erles for aydyng hys enemie and so discharging hys army retourneth home In thys tyme dyeth Albert Cardinall of Mentz and Sebastian Husestene succedeth hym And the Bishopricke of Maydenburge had Iohn Alberte hys cosen germayne whyche was hys suffragan therebe fore A reporte was afterwarde bruted by Duke Maurice as though with disceiptefull captious woordes he shoulde haue brought the Duke of Brunswicke into bondage that knowen he setteth foorthe a wrytynge and sheweth for what cause beyng requyred of the Duke of SaxoÌ and the Lantzgraue he coulde not denye them and recyting the whole matter in order declareth that he sustayneth iniury And yet neuerthelesse intreateth that he maye be deliuered But Luther in a booke set foorthe exhorteth the Prynces that they wolde not let goe theyr prysoner For thys victorye without bludshed was geuen them of God And in maner aboute thys tyme Countie William of Furstemberge whan he had ben prisoner at Paris vntil now paying .xxx. thousand crownes for hys raunsome was delyuered and passyng through Flaunders whan he had declared hys mysfortune to Themperoure retourneth home Themperoure wylleth hym to espye out some meane whereby thys dammage may be recompensed And herin promiseth him his fauour good will Whan Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke his soÌne were takeÌ the Duke of Saxon the Lantzssaue immediatly signifye to themperour by letters the whole matter inasmoch as he conteÌninge all his proclamations had disquieted Germany with a newe warre they require that both he his fellowes for breaking the publycke peace may be outlawed after the fourme and condicions of the SequestratioÌ before conuenaunted After thys the last of October the Lantzgraue accusing countie Ritberge to themperour making meÌtion of the former letters whan he had made the same request he sayeth how after the Duke of Brunswicke was taken he found sondrye letters of great importaunce of secret deuyses in hys tentes which shew well enough that he went about some great mischief eyther agaynste him or kinge Ferdinando For amonges others ther is an epistle whiche a prince electour wryteth agayne to hym how he maye not vpon such condicions come into that league coÌfederacy but that it is rather his dewty to vtter such maner of counsel which doubtles he wolde haue done had he not promised him vpon his fydelytie to haue kept it close Wherfore let hym moue hym nomore in the matter from henforth for yf he doe it shal be no counsell these and suche other lyke thinges hath he to shew If now he shall thynke that anythynge concerneth hys person he maye sende some trusty man of hys he shal shew him the letters let him haue a copie of the same Themperour beyng that tyme at Bruges a Towne in Flaunders the syxte daye of Nouember sendeth to the Lantzgraue Nicolaus Conricius with this message He heareth in what sorte the Duke of Brunswicke and hys sonne came into hys haÌdes And albeit he wold haue wisshed that he had accepted the condicioÌ of sequestration yet seing the matter is coÌmen to this poynt he supposeth it not nedefull to punishe hym moreouer for breakinge the publyke peace hys truste is also that he wyll so moderately vse thys victory that no man shall nede to feare hys vyolence he admonyssheth hym moreouer that accordyng to the auncyente custome of Prynces he doe intreate hys prisoners quyetlye and honestyle neyther that he enforce them to any vnreasonable condicyon or vnworthye for them but permytte that the matter maye bee frendelye and indifferentlye hearde Wherin verelye he for hys offyce and place wyll omytte nothynge And because neyther he nor hys confortes neede nowe to feare anye further daunger hee requyreth hym to dyscharge hys Armye and obserue peace And yf he haue oughte to saye to any man for the Socyetye of warre or ayde minystred he wolde trye it by the Lawe and he wyll doe herein that shall be reasonable When Conricfus had thus declared the .xviii. daye of Nouember the Lantzgraue the same day auÌswered him at Cassels For asmuch as the Duke of Brunswicke and hys fellowes haue moe wayes than one broken the imperial decrees he trusteth that Themperoure wyll playnly declare in how euill parte he taketh thys theyr doyng one of the chiefest of hys adherentes is Otto Erle of Ritberge his client whoÌ he hath punysshed therfore therbe also diuerse others of whom he myght iustely be auenged but to th entent Themperour and all men shoulde clearly see howe littell he and hys fellowes loue trouble he hathe done nothyng to them and hath discharged hys soldiours And seeyng it is thus and that he tooke in hand a nedeful defencion he desyreth ernestyle that Themperoure wolde bannishe the Duke hys fellowes for though he be taken yet are hys adherentes to bee punyshed notwithstandyng whych also wyll shew themselues styll lyke enemyes Hys prisoners are intreated metely lyberally
content with xxx thousand crownes and demaunded not aboue .xii. pieces of ordenaunce The Prince Electour of Brandenburg was an ernest suter for the Lantgraue and also preferred the matter to kyng Ferdinando But the conditions were moste vnreasonable Those were that he should allowe without exception al the decrees of the Empyre to be enacted hereafter that he shuld geue one of his sonnes for a pledge That he should release the Duke of Brunswicke Henry and his sonne and here in stande to the Emperours arbitrement That he should ayde hym against the Electour of Saxonie and his fellowes with certen centaynes of horsemen and eight enseignes of fotemen at his propre costes and charge for the space of syx monethes That he do submitte hym selfe to the Emperour and coÌfesse his faultes openly But these conditions he refused and vnlesse they were mitigated in as muche as he can not with his honour assente vnto them he signifieth in his letters to his frendes that rather he wyll abyde what fortune soeuer happen Themperour the same daye that he accorded with them of Strasburg departed from Norlinge towardes Nurrinberg And the next day after adressing his letters to the States of Duke Maurice for as much saith he as Iohn Friderick that outlaw retourning home by flight hath not only recouered those places whiche Maurice Prince Electour toke from him by our commaundement but sutch also as my brother Ferdinando had seased in those parties for that they were vnder the tuition of Boheme We are entred verely vpon our iourney to represse his boldnes and rebellion Wherfore we will that you first foresee that in suche places wherby we shal passe with our armie there want nothing that is necessary and that the souldiours be wel vsed Moreouer that contemning all the others coÌmaundementes you perfourme vnto your Prince al loue and due obedience as in dede you haue done hetherto For euen for this intent haue we taken this warre in hande that his fiersenes being oppressed peace quietnes may be for you recouered The same daye also he wryteth to the counsellours and gouernours of Prage How he is prefixed to be auenged vpon Iohn Fridericke according vnto his demerites Let them prouide therfore that his campe may be vitayled out of their countrey The .xxiiii. of Marche the nobles and cities of Boheme whiche had lately made a league whan they were assembled at Prage as it was determined they make warlike lawes and suche as are requisite for the warres if nede requyre and committe the chief gouernment to Caspar Phulgius About this tyme king Ferdinando Duke Maurice and his brother Augustus came with their forces to Priccie Whiche the Bohemers toke in displeasure that thei were entred already vpon their Frontiers Wherfore they requyre Ferdinando by their letters that he woulde not suffer straunge nations to inuade their countrey For the example is straunge and perillous They wryte moreouer to Duke Maurice and his brother Augustus that they departe immediatly out of their limites without any hurt doyng For otherwyse wyll they doe as their counsell shall serue them Wherunto Ferdinando aunswereth the .xxvi. daye of Marche howe they shall not nede to feare For they are come only into those parties to the intent they might ioyne them selues with the Emperour nowe approching Againe he wryteth to them of Prage that they bestowe no superfluous coste For the Duke of Saxon is retyred The electour had sent into the land of Boheme an Ambassadour Nicolas Minquit to renew the auncient league But he falling sicke by the way whan he was not able to go to Prage wryting his letters desyred them to sende some meÌ of credit to him with whom he may treate coÌclude Whan these letters were receiued the Noble men of Boheme wryte to the Duke of Saxon from Prage the .xxviii. daye of Marche signifieng what Minquit required and howe desyrous they be to gratifie him herein and graunt that reason would it should so be Howe beit they are impeched by reason of this troublesome tyme and present disquietnes For Duke Maurice and his brother are come with their force into Boheme intending to doe some mischief and all through the procurement of kyng Ferdinando praying him not to take this so as though they would not that the league should be renewed For they wyll both kepe the same and perseuer in the olde amitie as well as if it were already renewed They wyll also doe their indeuour that it shal be confirmed again as sone as may be For therfore is this power lenied force prepared against them for that they refuse to breake the league to moue war against hym They require him therfore that in case Duke Maurice do procede he wyl vouchsaufe to ayde them If he shal this do there is no daunger so great that they wyl refuse to venter vpon for his preseruation They saye how Ferdinando is nowe at Priccie and from thence wyll marche with his armie into the Uale of Ioachime as it is reported If he so do they ar purposed a fewe daies after to marche with their armie and leade the same thether as nede shall require The last day of Marche sauing one they wryte to the Lordes of Morauie exhorting theÌ according to their mutuall league that they would take armure and come to them with spede to the intent their common countrey may be defended from that wicked and Sodomiticall kynde of men the Spaniardes and Hussars buggerers which the Emperour and kyng FerdinaÌdo bring with them Fraunces the Frenche kyng whan he had reigned .xxxii. yeares he ended his lyfe the last daye of Marche at Rambolet whiche is a dayes iourney from Paris Whome his sonne Henry succeded a man about .xxviii. yeares of age He immediatly sendeth for the CoÌstable Annas Momorancie who had for the space of sixe yeares liued a priuate life out of fauour and restored him to his former dignitie and had him in great estimatioÌ Againe such as were in chiefest authoritie before partly grow out of fauour partly are displaced and committed to prison Those were the Cardinall of Tournon Anebalde the Admiral Grinian the gouernour of the Frenche prouince the Duke of Longeuale Bayarde Poline especially she whiche had bene the kinges darling Madame Destampes The death of kinge Fraunces chaunced vnfortunately for studentes learned meÌ For he loued all liberal sciences no man better or that shewed more liberalitie to auaunce the same Through long vse custome he had gotten muche knowledge For dining supping his talke was commonly of learning and that moste earnestly vsing many yeares for the same purpose Iames Coline a learned man and in the vulgare tonge moste eloquent And after him Peter Castellan Of these two had he learned whatsoeuer was wrytten in the bokes of Poetes Historiographers Cosmographers Moreouer he knew perfitly whatsoeuer Aristotel Theophraste Plinie and suche other like haue wrytten of the nature of Plantes
wyll geue no iust cause to be thought negligent in matters coÌcerning the churche Neuerthelesse if it so fortune through the imbecillitie of mans nature I shall not be offended if my negligence maye styre vp and sharpen the Emperours dilligence to succour the Churche so that he staye hym selfe within the precincte and limittes prescrybed that is If he followe herein the rule of ryght and lawes of the holy Fathers Finally as concerning the chiefe point of your Protestation where you contende the remouing of the counsell to be vnlawfull in as muche as the effecte of all the controuersie theron dependeth I take vnto my self the examination therof by vertue of my power and authoritie and committe the hearing of the same to the moste worthy Cardinalles Parise Burges Poole and Crescent And commaunde that in the meane tyme whylest they do examine the thing no man what so euer he be attempte any thynge to the contrary And also charge the fathers aswell that be at Bo nonie as also at Trent that if they haue any thing to saye or alledge in this matter they do it within this moneth And lest I should seme in any point to hinder the commoditie of Germany I wyll not refuse to sende myne Ambassadours thether suche as may cure the infirmitie of their people if I shal vnder stande the same not to be vnthankeful to them and to the Emperour Besydes all this whan the iudgement is ended in case it shall appere that they did not wel to remoue vnto Boloigne I will deuise by all meanes that the Synode may be coÌtinued at Trent And at fewe wordes will do what I can that in fine the auncient Religion may agayne be restored to Germany The Cardinall of Trent was before this retourned to Auspurge as I said Whan the Emperour than hearing his talke and also receiuing letters froÌ Mendoza dated at Rome about the ende of December sawe but small hope of the counsell the xiiii daye of Ianuary declareth the matter to the states in what case it standeth and how he hath signified to his Ambassadour Mendoza that he should make protestation at Rome concerning the remouing of the counsel After the same shal be done he wyll gette them the copie to wryte out And albeit the hope of the counsell is not vtterly to be neglected yet by reason of the long delay whiche is like to come betwixt he thinketh it to be requisite and necessary that in the meane tyme there be some meane founde to conserue the peace of Germany They haue in dede committed vnto hym the charge of this matter but he thinketh it expedient that out of the whole nombre be chosen a fewe good and well learned men to haue the doing hereof And he wyll also appoint certen to consult with them Wherfore he requireth them to be wylling hereunto and al affectioÌs layde asyde to coÌsider what commoditie it were for the coÌmon wealth and euery of theÌ also that a reconcilement were made Let them call to remembraunce howe before this dissention Germany was the moste florishyng Region of all others and as a mirrour and a spectacle for al nations to beholde Let theÌ consider moreouer that where he toke so muche trauel pain that the counsell might be continued at Trent that he ded the same of his duty and of a singuler zeale to the coÌmon couÌtrey Therfore were dyuers chosen to treat of the matter but when they coulde not agre the whole matter was referred to themperour Wherfore he appointed certen to penne articles of doctrine ceremonies and reformation of the clergie Those were Iuly Pflugie Byshop of Numburge Michaell Sidonie Iohn Islebie Agricola who .xviii. yeares past had defended the doctrine of the Protestauntes with Melanchton and Brentius as is wrytten in the seuenth booke These therfore wryte a boke of Articles but very secretly and whan they had bene loÌg about it and had printed it sondry tymes at length exhibite the same to the Emperour as I wyl shewe you hereafter Ioachim the Electour of Brandenburg whiche laboured sore for a reconcilement deuising first with Iames Sturmius intreated the Senate of Strasburg by his letters that for the cause of Religion they would sende vnto him Bucer For in asmuche as the Byshop had withdrawen the couÌsell the Emperour had taken an other way and that there was great hope of a reformation Whereupon Bucer is sent who taking his iurney priuely about the ende of Ianuary whan he came almoste to Auspurg stayed there tyll the Prince sent for hym In the former boke is declared how the Englyshemen ouercame the Scottes in a mighty battell But where the Scottes would not relent nor chaunge their pourpose and trusted to the Frenche kynges promesses the Duke of Somerset Protectour of England and the rest of the counsell the first day of February wryte vnto theÌ a long exhortation vnto peace Albeit say they it were requisite that the beginning should procede of you whiche in the cause are inferiours and goe by the worse And albeit we possesse a great part of your dominion yet can we not but admonishe you of your wealth and preseruatioÌ The last yeare before the battel we prouoked you to peace and amitie and declared what our mynde was but that wryting was suppressed by your captaines and gouernour of your Realme and not suffered to come to your handes For so that they may do wel them selues they care full litle what chaunceth vnto you Wherfore if they shall now also vse the same disceiptfulnes not suffer you to vnderstande any part of our wyll and counsell in this wryting we do openly proteste that we haue omitted no part of our dutie Englande hath oftentymes kepte warre with Scotlande and that exceading great And there is no doubt but they that shall reade the histories or heare of the feates done would maruell muche that the people of one countrie and langage shuld be at so great dissention amonges themselues and woulde accompt it a thing chiefly to be wyshed for if the whoale Ilande might by some meane agree in one be ruled by one gouernement But al men do confesse that there is no redier waye here unto than by mariage And this way God hauing compassion vpon you hath shewed you and offered you a moste goodly occasion as it were into your bosome Your kyng whan he had broken his promesse had an ouerthrow in battell died shortly after whether it were for sorowe or for some other cause He had thre children two sonnes a daughter and they indede might haue ben a let so that ther shuld not haue ben made an attonemeÌt betwixt vs. But God toke theÌ away both in a maner in one day whan thei were infantes left but one inheriter a daughter borne a litle before the death of her father And vnto vs hath geueÌ a king of great exspectatioÌ Edward sonne heire vnto Hery the eight What do you
For albeit that al papistry in a maner was therin established yet for asmuch as certeÌ things wer permitted to the contrary part they thought it first expedieÌt to make the bishop priuy Who after openet ãâ¦ã themperor by cardinal Stoudrate these notes or any inaduersioÌs That a priest which hath takeÌ ordres shuld mary execute stil yâ holy ministry was neuer hard of that the vse of receiuing the Lords supper vnder both kinds is abrogated nether hath any maÌautority to permit that liberty sauing the bishop of Rome the sinode that the folowers of the old religioÌ are not to be bouÌdeÌ vnto these doctrins but if any Lutheranes wil forsake their opinions thei are not to be refused That of the .ii. masses ought only to be vnderstaÌd of the Lutheranes that the singing of Psalmes ought to be restored in al places that on holy daies they must celebrate the memoriall of the patrone of the church that suche as are priestes already or hereafter shal be muste abstayne froÌ Mariage that a spedy restitution of the church goodes and iurisdictioÌ must be made For the Robbery is manifest nether must they folow herein thordinary proces of the law but determin of yâ thing that is euideÌt execute the matter by regal power WheÌ this ceÌsure was inferred tharchbishops of MeÌtz Treuers Collen vnto whoÌ it was deliuered answer theÌperor directly after the same sort especially vrge restitutioÌ declaring the same to be right necessary if christeÌ religioÌ shuld be maintained in places wher it is abolished shuld again be restored Moreouer the coÌmon peace caÌ not otherwise be established wherfore it is chiefli to be prouided that religious houses be wholy restored And in as much as the spoil extortioÌ is manifest they must go spedeli to work that gods seruice may withal spede be recouered Finally they desire him to take these things in good part with his protectioÌ to defeÌd the meÌbers of the church The .iii. other electors wer not of the same opinioÌ especially the Paulsgraue Duke Moris yet ether of theÌ had causes why they shuld not gainsai themperor The rest of the princes whiche wer for the most part bishops answer in like maner as did the iii. Archbishops As for the cities ther was no great accompt made of theÌ Themperour therfore at the Ides of Maye calleth all the States before him And in the preface speaking of his zeale towardes Germany saieth we perceiue by manifest arguments by the thing it self the neither the peace can be established nor law iustice ministred vnlesse the coÌtrouersie of religioÌ the first appeased which hath now many peares sturred vp thempire muche grudge dyssention hatred discorde ciuile warres This hath bene verely the cause why by many coÌueÌtions coÌfereÌces we haue often sought a remedy But in the meane time not only in Germany but also into other natioÌs and people of ChristeÌdome hath this same coÌtageous infection pearsed in so much that ther appereth no more present remedy than a general couÌsel which at the leÌgth at your request we procured to be holdeÌ at TreÌt and moued you also at the beginning of this conuentioÌ to submit your selues to thauthoritie of yâ same And that yâ charge might be coÌmitted vnto vs in the meane seasoÌ to deuise some godly meanes wherby they might liue quietly the meane while in Germany which coÌteÌtatioÌ and coÌfydeÌce of youres was vnto vs both thaÌ now also right acceptable What time therfore we gaue our selues wholy vnto this carefulnes demauÌded your opinions we than perceiued not without the great grief of our mynde that the disagrement in religion was thoccasion of all the former euils And vnlesse it be foresene hereafter wylbe Wherefore we thought it not good to leaue the matter in that troublesome state vntyll the decree of the counsell but that it oughte to be broughte to some moderation especially sith that oftentimes new sectes did arise Whilest we were poÌdering these things certain of high degre nobility desirous of peace louers of the coÌmon weale exhibite to vs in wryting theyr opinioÌ coÌcerning religioÌ promise due obeisaÌce We than receiuing yâ wryting deliuered the same to certaine good learned deuines that they shuld among theÌ selues consider al things diligeÌtly which after they had perused it made report that yâ same being wel vnderstand did not impugne the catholike religion and doctrine nor the lawes and coÌstitutions of the church two opinions only excepted wherof th one is of the mariage of priestes thother of the Lordes supper but said it was wel deuised to establish the concord of Germany which thing dousles vnto vs shuld be most of all acceptable for what more ioyful thing could happeÌ theÌ to se al states in mindes agreable follow one the same forme of Religion And seing it is eueÌ so we require such as haue obserued hitherto the lawes custome of the catholike church to their great coÌmendation that they perseuer in the same alter nothing as they haue promised vs heretofore And those also which haue chauÌged their religioÌ we desire most earnestly to passe with thother states professe the same religion that they do or els to coÌfyrme their doctrine after the order of this boke in euery poynt to follow the steps hereof besides that to ordaine nothing but to stay within these boundes limites and neither by wryting nor preaching to attempt any thing to the contrary but obedieÌtly to atteÌd the decre of a general couÌcel that the same may be had as shortly as is possible we wil indeuor with al diligeÌce now ar occupied in this thing wholy how to coÌceaue a forme for the reformatioÌ of the clergie WhaÌ he had spokeÌ thus by his secretary as is accustomed he coÌmauÌded the boke to be red Ther tharch bishop of meÌtz which occupieth the chiefest place amoÌg thelectors not seking what thopinioÌ of stats shold be ariseth vp as it wer in the name of al the rest geueth vnto theÌperor for so much trauel pain care diligeÌce loue of yâ couÌtrey imortal thaÌks in asmuch as thei haue already coÌmitted the thing to his fidelitie now paines hath beÌ takeÌ therin he saith it is reason that they should with most willing minds acknowledg thesame obey the decre This thaÌks geuing did theÌperor take for a coÌmon assent coÌfirmatioÌ after wold admit none excuse as I shall herafter declare coÌmaundeth the boke to be set forth in print both in latin duch also The iiii day after he declareth to the stats with how much labor cost he hath restored peace vn to Germany because the thing it self requireth that it be also prouided for in time to come he supposeth it veri mete necessari some great treasure of money beleuied and in certeine places be kept the common treasurie that if it fortune at
any time anye commotion to arrise within the Empire or without the same may be alwaies in a readinesse And when a fewe daies had passed betwene kynge Ferdinando raccompteth how he for waightie causes whiche they them selues vnderstand wel inough and nede not to be recited sendinge an Ambassade made truse with the Turke for fiue yeares wherof one is past And albeit he hath commaunded his men to do nothing to the contrary yet he requireth them neuerthelesse to geue him that aid which they haue already promised to the intent that if he breake couenauntes he may be easely resisted Again inasmuch as he doth fortifye his frontier Townes with stronge garrisons that he also be negligent in this behalf Therfore is he purposed to fortifye in all places and to kepe garrisons but for the intollerable charges of the warres in these former yeares he is not hable to sustaine so greate a burthen Wherfore he requireth them that whilest this truse shal indure they would pay the mony yerely to be imploid vnto these vses For this concerneth the quiet and preseruation of them all In the meane time Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando departinge from Auspurge goeth into Spaine to take in Mariage the Lady Mary the Emperours eldest daughter his cosin Germane The Cardinall of Trent was sente wyth him and a fewe monethes before the Duke of Alba. At the ende of Maye the horsmen of Nalpes that before were in Norgouia come into the contrie neare vnto Strausburge and there remaine by the space of three Monethes and hardly can it be expressed how arrogantly they vsed them selues Many times woulde they come into the Citie neither wanted that thinge great suspicion Duke Moris not long after the Emperours decree was setforth departeth theÌce But Marques Ihon of Brandenburge the brother of Ioachim the electoure goeth to the Emperour and kinge Ferdinando standinge by besecheth him to fauor him in this matter and speakinge somewhat of his seruice towardes him saieth that he vppon this affiaunce chiefly serued him in this last warre for that he had assured him touchinge Religion The Emperoure sheweth him howe this is the consente of the states imperiall and saieth that no man oughte to swarue from the same he replied againe that all had not assented and aunswered him plainly that he could not with a good conscience praise the same decree and still vrged his promesse and couenaunt Whan the Emperour might not preuaile he commaundeth him to departe whiche men suppose to be done for this cause least he should through his example and talke coÌfirme the mindes of others Wherfore the same day towardes euening he taketh his iourney homewardes and in all his dominion altered nothing The Prince Electoure his brother who indeuoured alwaies to please themperoure made no assistaunce Nor yet the Paulsgraue hauing the Emperoure at the same time not his very good Lorde The Ambassadoures of the Cities suche as were of the confession of Auspurge when they were vrged did intreate that they mighte firste aduertise their Senates to the intent they might answer according vnto their mindes which thing was permitted them to do The Emperoure commaunded Wuolfgange Prince of Bipount of the house of Palatine which had his Ambassadours there to come him selfe And whan he came he doth instaunt him to confirme the decre He saieth he knoweth none other Religion saue that in the which he was borne and brought vp in vnto this day Wherfore he requireth him to haue some consideration of him and saieth he wil do herein whatsoeuer he maye with a safe conscience The Emperoure for that time letteth him so departe but afterwarde he vrged him sharply by letters and by messagers as shall be rerited in his place Whilest the Senate of Auspurge consulted the Emperoure placeth souldiours throughe out the Citie There was a righte famous Minister of the Church Wuolfgange Musculus he seinge Godlinesse go to wracke and the Senate tunorouse and could not approue the booke departeth from thence to Bernes in Swisserland At Hale in Sweuia was Ihon Brentius He was in greate daunger two yeres past what time as the protestantes retourned home the Emperour came vnto Hale and now was in much more daunger For then a little before the Emperour came thither which was in the beginning of Decembre certain Spanish souldioures comming into the Towne went straightwaies vnto his house and require to be let in or els threaten much cruelty Which beinge receiued did many thinges fierselye and arrogantlye Wherefore he biddeth his wife and his family hauing none other place to repare to to get them into the hospitall house of the City and a little after followeth he him selfe leauinge one at home to geue them vitailes and thinges necessary But the next daye commeth a noble man of Spaine which was of the Cleargy and thrusting them oute at the dores kepeth the whole house to him self and going into his studie searcheth all thinges There whan he had founde certaine letters wrytten to Brentius from his frendes concerninge the trouble of this time he seketh to procure him much displeasure whan he had vttred the same to his Countrye men Wherefore he followinge the aduise of his frendes in a cold and sharpe winter nighte conueieth him self into the country least by his presence he should hinder his Citezens But when the Emperoure was come thither and shewed clemency and semed to be nothing offended for anye kinde of Doctrine taught there Brentius at the last retourned thither and executed his srunction vnto this time that the Emperoure woulde haue all men to receiue the decree made concerning Religion For beyng commaunded as many other learned men were thorowout Germany to declare what he thought of that boke Albeit he vnderstode his owne daunger yet to thintent he might perfourme hys duetie to the coÌgregation he pronouÌceth the same to be contrary to the Scriptures and so declareth it by writing Which after that it came into the Bishops handes Granuellan in themperours name coÌmaÌded thambassadours of Hale that they should finde the meanes that he might be brought bounden to Auspurge But beinge admonished by his freindes he steppeth a side into the countrey by And not longe after commeth to Hale a bande of Spanierdes the Captaine wherof goeth immediatly to the house of Brentius and seketh euery where diligently if he might find any pray to cary away but the most part of his stuffe was conueied by his frendes alies vnto another place Thus therfore he whiche had taught there xxvi yeares was exiled And his wife also thoughe she had a greuous sicknes whereof she died shortly after was banished withall his family Wherefore she pore wretch wandred vp and downe with .vi. children and knewe not where to become or to haue any refuge all men were so sore afraid of the Spaniardes And this thing augmented her disease sorow that she knewe not in the meane while what was become
of her husband But whan Ulrich Duke of Wirtemberge hard of the misery of Brentius all be it he him selfe was in great daunger yet gaue he relief secreatly to him and his family Furthermore the Cities of Sweuia following all for the moste parte the Emperoures authority promised to accomplish his commaundement Wherfore the preachers euery where remoued out of diuers places least they should commit any thing vnworthy their profession Andreas Osiander for this cause leauinge Norinberge wente into the lande of Prusse Spire and Woormez had but ether of them one which fled also to saue them selues William the Earle of Nassowe suffred Erasmus Sarcerius to depart for the same cause Moreouer the Duke of Wirtemberge in whose country were garrisons of Spaniardes euery where as hath bene saied whan the commaundement came from the Emperour caused the Boke setforthe to be recited in the Pulpit and commaundeth that no man do any thing to the contrary and if any man wil say Masse he geueth them liberty and chargeth his subiectes that they disturbe no Priest and putteth awaye those Ministers of the Church which would not allow the boke Amonges whome was Erardus Schueffius The Emperoure by Granuellane and the bishop of Arras moued the Duke of Saxon captiue to obey the decree and followe the doctrine of the Boke setforth And albeit they assaid him with fair promises and shewed him some hope of deliueraunce yet he perseuered constante in his opinion And the laste yere saithe he amoÌges the condicions whiche the Emperoure propounded this was wrytten also that I shoulde approue the decrees that shoulde be made by him and by the Counsell concerning Religion but whan he perceiued that I coulde not be induced through the terroure or feare of any pearill to assent he released the same condicion and after that neuer moued any thing to me concerning religion Whiche certenlye I toke than in steade of a great benefite and being cased hereof as of a most waighty burtheÌ al the other conditions which the Emperoure at his pleasure determined on my parson and all my goodes I suffered the more easelye and with the better wil trusting that from henceforth I shoulde be permitted to kepe my Religion free but now for so muche as he vrgeth me againe and commaundeth me to subscribe I do heare protest that I was so brought vp in my youth and after by the reading of holye scripture so confyrmed that I do beleue this doctrine to agree throughly with the wrytinges of the Prophetes and Apostles neyther can it be conuicted of any erroure For the whiche cause verelye bothe my father I and certaine other Princes exhibited in times past a confession of the same doctrine comprised in wrytinge and referred it to a lawful counsel considering therfore that God hathe illuminated me with the knowledge of his word it is not lawfull for me to forsake the truthe knowne vnlesse I woulde purchase to my self euerlasting dampnation Wherfore if I should nowe admit thys decree forasmuch as the same dothe in manye and moste waightye places dissent from the holy scripture I should condempne the doctrine of Iesu Christ which I haue professed hitherto And in word and speach should allowe that I know to be naughte and wicked But what thinge els were this than with painted and glosynge wordes to delude the deuine Maiesty and the Emperoure also Than the which thing what more wickednes can be committed For this is that same sinne against the holy ghost wherof Christe hath so diligently warned vs which shall neuer at any time be forgeuen And seinge it is so and that my conscience is tied with these bondes I most earnestly and for the mercy of God which he gaue vnto mankinde through the oblation of his soÌne pray and beseche that the Emperoure would not take in displeasure this my refusal For where as I do reteine the doctrine professed at Auspurge I do it for my soules health and setting all other thinges a parte do imagine howe after this miserable life I may be made partaker of the life and ioy euerlasting I heare say moreouer howe it is reported to the Emperour by diuers as though I nothing regarded religion but sought for a vaine glory and what thing els I know not I beseche you what thing coulde happen to me in this worlde more to be wished for especially being thus grose of bodye then liberty then to retourne to my wife and children than quiet and rest at home And I take God to witnes and than will also what time he shall take an accompt of vs all for our doinges that I respected nothinge els than that throughe the true worshippinge of God I might enioy the inheritance of the heauenly kingdoÌe Which thing I hartely desire that the Emperour would certainly beleue and be fully perswaded of me In all other thinges my will hath bene alwaies ready to gratify him and euer shal be and the infidelity and promesse which I haue made him that will I kepe as becommeth a iuste man and borne of noble parentage Furthermore I beseche him to remit all displeasure and at the lengthe to deliuer me from this continuall captiuity That I be not reported the first of all other Princes that should lead his life with him prisoner Where he perseuered thus constant and immouable they began to haÌdle him somwhat more hardly and toke from him his bokes of Scripture and was commaunded on daies forbidden to abstaine from fleshe The same preacher also whome by the Emperours licence he kept vntil this time whan he sawe present daunger hanginge ouer his head he chaunged his apparel and conueied him self awaye priuely At the same time came abrode out of the Emperoures court letters which the Lantzgraue was saide to haue wrytten to the Emperoure In those he saieth he hath commaunded his wife and couÌselloures that they should fulfil all the reast of the conditions and satisfy such as complaine for the warre past Againe he saieth how he hathe the boke wrytten of Religion And albeit there be manye thinges which he doth not wel vnderstand and the which he caÌnot affirme by the scriptures yet for somuch as they ground their thinges of antiquitie and authoritye of holy fathers he will not make him self wiser then they and doth both allow that wryting and wil deuise also that his subiectes shall obserue the same After this he offereth him his faith and seruice whether he shall warre with the Turke or with the Bishop of Rome or any forain kinges or with the Swishes or els wil vse him in Germany but he besecheth him for the loue of Christ and all saintes that he would lay awaye all displeafure and set him at liberty For now hath he bene deteyned prisoner a whole yeare and suffred punishmente inoughe and is brought to extreme misery Moreouer for a further assuraunce he will geue his two sonnes pledges vntill he be fullye satisfied And whatsoeuer way
he shall prescribe that will he be ready to accomplishe But he preuailed nothing for all these praiers was ofteÌtimes by his kepers which were Spaniardes remoued froÌ place to place first from Donauerde to Norling Than to Hailbrune after to Hale in Sweuia Whilest the Emperoure attempteth these thinges in Germany the Masse is abrogated in Englande by acte of Parlaiment And not longe after was apprehended Stephen Bishop of Winchester who contended that the lawes whiche were made in the kinges noonage were of none effect He was commauÌded the yere before to kepe his own house and not to come abrode but being newlye enlarged whan he was thoughte to haue thaimged his opinion he made a Sermon before the king and his counsell in the which whan he had declared his minde he was committed to warde The Emperoure the. xiiii day of Iune commaundeth to be red vnto the Cleargy the fourme of reformation as they call it In the which were contained these Chapiters following of ordeininge of the offices of the ecclesiasticall state of Monasteries of scholes of hospital houses of the ministration of Gods word of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the Ceremonies of the Masse of the Ceremonies of the Churche of the discipline of the Cleargye and laietie of the Pluralitie of benefices of visitations of Saintes of excommunication And amonges other thinges are these setfor the chiefly that such as come to take holy orders be diligentlye examined of their belief of maners and learning but especiallye of heresies spread abrode chiefly in this time and whether they beleue the same that the catholicke apostolicke and Church of Rome doth beleue The inquisition of manners is commaunded to be made as s Paule prescribeth in the thirde chapter of the firste Epistle to Timothe but that same which Paule amonges other thinges admonisheth that the minister of the Church shoulde be the husbande of one wife which could well gouerne his house and had obedieÌt and faithfull children is cleane omitted That no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop except he be first Priest or promise to receiue the reast of the orders so shortly as is possible That Bishops take cure of their shepe and fede them with doctrine and with the sacramentes That they also visite ofte their Churches and ouersee that other Ministers do theyr dutye that the wolues do not wortye the flocke That the monasticall life be instituted againe in places where it is left That in scholes be nothing taughte excepte it be agreable to the Catholike Church That the Sacramentes and Ceremonies of the Churche be ministred in the Latin tounge least if the people vnderstand them they should come in contempte That the Canon of the Masse remaine whole and be spoken softlye to the intente those tremblable misteries maye retaine theyr auncieÌt dignitye That in accustomed Ceremonies nothinge be aultered that Salte Water Hearbes the Paschall Lambe newe frutes also Temples Churches Chappels Chalices Aultares Coopes Uestmentes and Uessels belonginge to the Churche be hallowed throughe Prayer againste the deceites of the Deuill and inchantmentes That Tapers shall burne in the Churche and Incense be sacrificed Moreouer that supplications be made at the Churches dedicated to Sainctes let the Cleargye liue temperatelye and sobrely and eschue whoredome let them put awaye their Concubines or els be punished That the ciuile Magistrate shall assiste the Byshoppes that a reformation be made of manners and Discipline And that the Ecclesiasticall liberties may be wholye mainteined let the Saintes in euerye diocesse be put in vre againe and kepte twise euerye yeare wherein shall inquisition be made of euerye mannes manners and vices suche as may not otherwise be reformed shall be excommunicated let al men flee theyr speach and companye and not to be receiued againe into the Communion before they humbly desire forgeuenesse and promesse amendment This reformation being red the day before saide the Bishoppes after a little deliberation do confirme and saye that shortlye after they be come home they will kepe Saines howe be it in diuers thinges they desire that the Bishoppe of Rome maye be moued to geue his assente This boke also was after put forthe in Printe I shewed you before of the Ambassadoures of the Cities howe they signified the matter home but whereas they of Strausburge whiche were the chiefest of them were longe or euer they aunswered The Emperoure calleth vppon them by Granuellan who the .xxviii. day of Iune sendeth for the ambassadoures whereof Iames Sturmie was the principall and there by Henry Hasy which was interpretoure saieth howe they knowe in what sorte the states requested the Emperoure and put him in truste to deuise some meane which mighte be obserued till the Counsell whiche thinge he hathe done accordinglye and hathe caused learned men to compile a Booke which al the Princes a fewe excepted and the chiefest Cities haue approued And wheras they and certaine others intreated themperoure that they might aduertise theyr Senate at home he grauÌted them and hathe loked euer sence for an aunswere And that he hath heard nothinge hitherto he is somewhat offended and therefore hathe commaunded him to knowe what theyr meaning is They whan they had declared the cause of their longe scilence exhibite letters addressed to the Emperoure from the Senate Howe they wished for nothing more than that they might gratify him in all thinges but they and theyr Citezens were perswaded that in case they should throughly admit this decre they shuld bothe hurt their owne conscience also osfeÌd God most greuously seing he of his wisedome can consider how terrible a thing that were they desire him for Christes sake that in so waightye a matter whiche concerneth not landes or goodes but the saluation of their soules and life euerlasting he would haue some consideration of theÌ and as he hathe done to others of the contrary parte so he woulde permit also that they mighte vse the Religion confessed at Auspurge vntill the decree of the generall counsel as ofte times in assembles hathe bene determined and not compell them to professe otherwise with their mouth than theyr heart thincketh and they wil againe foresee that in their City be nothing done vnreuerently or against Religion and that euill opinions take no place And that no cause of complaint be geuen to their neighboures Whan GranuellaÌ had heard these letters he saieth how the Emperour hath had alwais a good opinion of their Citie and for as muche as all for the moste parte haue commended and ratified the decree made let them not thincke to be exempted For they are commaunded to admitte no suche kinde of aunswer therefore is this Supplication in vaiue wherefore let them aunswere plainely what the minde of the Senate is Hereunto they saye where the matter was committed to the Emperoure that did they and the other ambassadours vnderstand euermore of Politike matters and not of Religion for that they supposed it
him heretofore but whan inquisition was made there coulde nothinge in a manner be founde Neuerthelesse he will do what he can to knowe the certaintye For no man shall escape vnpunished that hathe oughte offended At this time also the states do graunte that the Emperor maye at his pleasure constitute the iudgemente of the Chamber and ioyne vnto them other iudges for assistaunce And they them selues promise to beare the charges of the same Of the treatye begonne concerninge a league before saide the winedinge vp was this that the Emperoures prouinces whiche he hathe in Germanye and lowe Dutchlande and all that belonge to the house of Burgundy should be vnder the tuition and defence of the Empire and be contributaries vnto publicke affaires yet so as they maye vse their owne lawes and iurisdiction And that Germanye shall againe looke for the like aide and defence of the Emperoures Prouinces â The .xxi. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the syfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxi. Booke THe authoures of the Interim are rewarded which neuerthelesse many impugned whereof the Duke of Saxon is accused They of Constance were so vrged to admit the Interim that ambushes of fotemen were laied to surprise the Citie whiche at the laste receweth the Interim They of Strausboroughe make theyr purgation to the Emperoure A commotion chaunseth at Bourdeux The dispaire of Spiera is recited and the conuersion of Uergerius The Scottishe Quene transported into Fraunce Maydenbourge is setforth for a praye The Admirall of Englande is beheaded they at Strausboroughe are at contention with their Byshop They of Wittemberge are accused to be Adiphoristes to wit indifferent or newters A disputation in Englande touchinge the Lordes Supper Ueruine is beheaded in Fraunce Pursute against them of Maidenburge the death of Pope Paule and the horrible actes of the same The description of the place of election at Rome and the maner of chusinge the Pope Masse againe at Strausborough a proclamation in in Fraunce against Lutheranes Pope Iulius and his little Cardinall THe last day of Iune the conuention was dissolued In the. xix boke I shewed you howe the Emperor perswaded all men to submit them selues to the Counsell and that on his warrantise who wold se that thaction shuld be lawfull Nowe therefore a decre is made that the counsel shuld be continued at TreÌt and the Emperour saith he will deuise that it be there recommeÌced so shortly as may be Which thing whaÌ it shal be brought to passe he requireth that they all especially of the clergy of the religion of Protestants which come thither vnder his saufeconduit for he wil take order than the whole matter shal be godly and christenly decided and determined according to the holy scriptures and doctrine of the fathers all affections laid apart and that they theÌ selues also shal be hard speak so much as shal be thoughte requisite After are other decrees red as is accustomed especially that of religion a strait charge geueÌ that al men obey the same as was also before declared at the Ides of May the .iii. authors of the boke are before named of whoÌ IhoÌ Islebie receiued for his paines taken a liberal reward bothe of the Emperour and also of king Ferdinando And Michel Sidonie afterward was made bishop of Merseburge in Saxony Wherof arose a iest how they defended the bishop of Romes oyle chresme as an holy thing and necessary to saluation to the intent they them selues might therby be the better gresed auoynted Not long after the Emperour sent his letters to the princes that were absent especially vnto those where he thought most nede was commandeth them immediatly to obey this decre And the teÌth day of Iuly he wryteth to Erasmus bishop of Strausburge to see the thinge which he had brought to passe through his great trauel put in execution if he wanted conuenieÌt ministers to take them els wher The report of this decree was incontinentlye spread abrode farre and wide And the Uenetians make proclamation the .xix. daye of Iuly that whosoeuer haue any bokes wherin is any thing wrytten against the catholicke faith they bringe them vnto certen men within .viii. daies for after shall inquisition be made and suche as haue deserued shal be punished to the promotours they promise a reward and to kepe their counsel The Bishop of Rome hath his ambassadours there continually as in kinges courtes also They with the eies and eares of many do se and heare muche and oftentimes are causes that such decrees be made but yet the Senate of Uenise vseth this prouision that they suffer not the Bishops or inquisitors of Rome to geue sentence of iudgemente but ioyne with them alwaies their officers and lawyers which shall heare the examination and se that nothing be done malitiouslye or cruellye against any man within their iurisdiction This law made they in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxi. what time those inquisitours vsed great cruelty against pore men in the countrye aboute Brixia as though they had bene inchauntors and had medled with the deuil and now sence Luthers doctrine was depely roted spred abrode the same law is of force stil though the bishops gnashe their tethe at it and wold neuer so fain haue it abolished About this time did the French King send aid into Scotland against the English men and amonges others the Ringraue with a force of Germaines But the Emperoure banisheth the Earle of Bichlinge Huberte and Sebastiane Scherteline al in one wryting and shortly after the Ringraue counte Hedecke Recrode and Riseberge and also desireth all foreine Princes that they would not maintaine them but gratify him herein and biddeth them whan occasion shal serue to loke for the like at his hand The Ladye Iane daughter to the King of Nauerre which was affianced and Maried .vii. yeres before to the Duke of Cleaue as we haue specified is now ioyned in Mariage with the Duke of Uandome a Prince of the bloud royal Elenor the French Quene sister to the Emperor leauing FrauÌce goeth into Flaunders Duke de Ammalle sonne to the Duke of Guyse whan he had bene a longe suter to the Emperoures Nece the Duchesse of Lorayne he marieth the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Farrare About this time Lewes Auila a Spaniard setforth in print the history of the Germane warre done by the Emperoure wrytten in the vulgare tonge where he speaketh of the takyng of Marques Alberte at Rochlice he sayeth how he was so intangled with the wantounesse of women that he coulde not prosper The same booke came forthe afterwardes in Italian Latin and Frenche Althoughe the Emperoure had moste straightlye commaunded that no man should in any wise impugne the boke set forth concerning Religion yet were diuers wrytinges published whiche did condempne the whole Doctrine thereof and
to Constance And departing from Uberlinge parte of them passe through the woodes to the intent at the springe of the daye what time they knewe the people were in the Churche at the Sermone they might inuade the City part againe remained in the woodes lokinge for the oportunity of time And it fortuned that .iii. watchmen of the Towne hearing an noyse in the wode by as they went further to see what the matter was chaunced into theyr handes Whome the Spaniardes toke and manacing them with deathe if they made anye signe or token leade them awaye with them After they couche them selues in a pece of grounde by the lake side verye closelye yet were they espied and the watche men that then were in the Suburbes beyond the Rhine geue knowledge to their Captaine that there was some ambush laid He immediatly signifieth the same to the consul this was at .ii. a clocke after midnight The consul by and by calleth the Senate commaundeth al meÌ to arme them selues though no man knew what the matter was In the breake of the day the Spaniards by little and little do appere yet but fewe to know what nombre of watchmen there were Ther againe the captain of the watch signifieth to the consul that he prouide in time for wheÌ ther is daÌger at hand Wherfore that matter was debated about four of the clocke were sent oute of the Citye aboute two hondreth Citezens into the Suburbes After they were come forth and found in manner nothing they begin somewhat to slack but beholde whan it was nowe daye lighte the Spaniardes with theyr ordenaunce beate downe a timber walle that deuided theyr ditche in the middes and by the same ditch being than almost dry assaulte thicke and fiersly the watchmen of the towne straightway also those whiche we saied remained in the woodes shewed them selues in like case and by great force and violence breake open one of the gates but the Citezens fought most valeauntly and shoting of theyr ordenaunce slewe their Captaine AlphoÌse Uiues by and by at the first incountre But whan they were scarsely able to with stand the force of so great a multitude by little and little they retire and on the bridge ouer the Rhine they foughte a longe time and hardlye at the laste were receiued againe into the City and where the ennemies battered the gate sore They discharged at them the great pieces of the walles and from ouer the gates and slue many whome they by and by tomble of the bridge into the Rhine and whan they sawe how theyr laboure was in vaine they recule back into the Suburbes and set the Bridge ende on fire to the ende the Townes men shoulde make no salt out After whan they had fulfilled theyr filthy luste they gather on a heape the dead carcases of their felowes and burne them and the suburbes together that no man should vnderstand how many were slaine of the townes men were killed aboute an hondreth Whan the alarme was geuen at Constance as the manner is the Swisses that were neare neighboures came in theyr armure to healpe them but the gouernour of theyr Country who at that time was of Lucerna called them back vnder a greate penaltye for hatred he bare to Religion Howe the Ambassadoures of Strausburge reasoned the matter with Granuellan it is before declared at their retourne home after thasseÌble they report the whole matter to the Senate After deliberation the Senate wryting their letters to themperor in Frenche for that he most deliteth in that tong our ambassadours say they retourning lately froÌ the coÌuentioÌ haue declared vnto vs what hath ben done And had sent vs the boke wrytten of religion loÌg before Their desire was most puissant Emperor before they departed from Auspurge to haue exhibited to your highnes a supplicatioÌ in wryting but the same wold not Granuellan receiue for the which cause we wryte vnto you at this present And first certeÌly we desire nothing in the world more theÌ to gratify you in all things but touching the decre of religion thus it staÌdeth calling vnto vs the deuines of our city we haue perused it ouer righte diligentlye and albeit there be things in it which do not vtterly dissent froÌ the holy scriptures yet in as much as they are so written that in many things a furcher declaratioÌ is required it shuld be very hard for vs troublesome so to receiue theÌ For we are most throughly perswaded that our doctrine ceremonies are agreable vnto gods word nether caÌ we without gods displesure hurt of our conscience forsake or alter the same before it be duely examined our men also heard For this hath bene the custome since the beginning of the primitiue church that such doutful matters as are in coÌtrouersy shuld alwaies be discussed by lawful couÌsels This way also semed euermore best in al conuentious of the Empire that the whole matter shoulde be permitted to a Godlye Counsell Wherefore we beseche you of all loues and for the bloude of Christe that was shedde for vs that the decrees of theÌpire may take place in this thinge that we may kepe this religion vntil the thing be determined by thautority of a lawful counsel For ther can no better way be fouÌd nor more profitable to establish peace or loÌger to indure but in case you shal refuse this our request require of vs obedience herein we desire you moste earnestly that our deuines may first be hard to thintent they may declare in what places we do iudge the same decre to swarue from the holy scripture which if thei mai be permitted to do we trust assuredly that both you shal vnderstaÌd thequity of our cause will mitigate the same decre Certenly we do nothing frowardly or obstinatly but that feare of God consideration of our souls helth moueth vs thus to intreat you For in al other thinges we shal so demene our selues that you may rightwel vnderstand in howe greate estimation we haue your most excellent maiesty with these letters with further coÌmissioÌ was Lewes Grempie a ciuilian sent to themperour But he maketh him such like answer as he doth to others saith there can be none other thing determined nether is now time to staÌd in questioÌ that in the couÌsel they shal be hard sufficieÌtly Wherfore he geueth coÌmaundement that within a month they shew plainly their mindes After the way before mentioned toke no place themperor in letters published doth outlaw them of Constance Ther began much busines in the city for the remembrance of the late daunger and thexpectation of the misery to come troubled theÌ excedingly especially sith ther appered no mans helpe nor succour Ther were diuers also of the citizens which with their leud talcke did heape on all these matters the Senate therfore coÌstrained through their oportunity intreateth certaine Princes and also the Swisses by letters to be meanes for them to
daily familiarity geuing vnto him his surname and armes also It was bruted at Rome and libels setforth of the same how Iuppiter kept Ganymedes although old were deforme yea the bishop him selfe would not let to tel it to the Cardinals and as it is said would recite in his mery mode how wanton a lad it was and howe importune Whilest they were occupied in the Conclaue there were letters takeÌ which Camillus Olius one about the Cardinal of MaÌtua was reported to haue wrytten to a certain louer of his Anniball Contine the .xxvi. of Ianuary and verses wrytten in the vulgare tounge where he speaketh of his affection and loue of hym that his absent he vseth such detestable and shameful wordes that they can not without offence be spoken againe Wherupon a rose a iest of them that said some filthy bishop was signified to come out that Conclaue which yelded such kinde of letters The .xiii. day of March themperour addresseth his leters to the states of the Empire Howe after the conuention at Auspurge he retourned into Flaunders that he might binde the people of his dominions to his sonne whom he sent for out of Spaine for the same purpose Hys intent was that thing once finished to retourne straightwaies into Germany but because the winde serueth not to saile at al times and the distaunce of the places were farre a sondre therfore was it long before his sonne came out of Spaine and after his arriuall the hole Sommer and a great part of Haruest was spent aboute necessaries affaires and albeit that winter was than at hand yet had he fully prefixed to haue gone into Germany but at the selfe same time he chaunced into the disease of the gout and not long after word was brought him of the death of Bishop Paul whersore he chaunged his purpose tarying thelection of the new bishop after how Iuly the third had both aduertised him of his election and had also promised very franckly and largely of his good wil zele to the coÌmon wealth and religion which thing known he thought mete not to let slip so great an occasion and longe wished for of accomplishing the thing desired especially coÌsidering how the whole wealth of Germany consisteth herein therfore some way muste be deuised that such thinges as in the last assembly were decreed and commenced may be accomplished again it must be foreseue that that causes of dissention be taken away and certaine obstinat parsons and rebels straitly punished for these causes verelye he intendeth to hold a counsel of the states unperiall wherfore he commauÌdeth them that against the .xxv. day of Iune they be readye to attende vpon him at Auspurge and to finde no manner of let but that they come them selues vnlesse it be sicknes which thinge not withstanding they shall be bounden to iustify by an othe And that they send theyr Ambassadours with large and full commission of all thinges concerninge the common wealth to thintent that in consultation there be found no let nor delay â The .xxij. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxii. Booke PEace is concluded betwixt England and Fraunce They of Maidenburge make their purgation by wryting The Emperours proclamation against the Lutheranes astonied manye Marchauntes of hys Countryes Whilest the assemble was holden at Auspurge to continue the Counsell at Trent Granuellan disceaseth George Duke of Megelburge persecuteth them of Maidenbourge who going by the worse haue also Duke Moris and other to their enconues Pope Iuly publisheth a Bull of a very straunge sorte Duke Moris being made Chieftaine againste them of Maidenburge propoundeth conditions of peace againste whome also the Cleargy publish letters to charge them Wherunto they aunswer fully and purge them selues Osiander inuenteth a new doctrine of mans iustification The decree of this assemble is to geue saufconduit to go to the counsell Bucer dieth in England Thre Sunnes and thre Mones are sene The Pope citeth Octaulan Farnese Prince of Parma againste whome also themperoure publisheth his letters Patentes Upon this the French King maketh hys excuse to the Pope The Duke of Saxon prisoner healpeth and comforteth the Ministers of the Church banished by the Emperoure an other beginninge of a Counsell at Trent and the order of the sessions in the same counsel the meane how to deuise and frame Articles of the faith the beginning of the warre of Parma ABout this time thambassadours of EnglaÌd and Fraunce whan they had longe debated the matter at the last conclude a peace And that was so much the more easy to brynge to passe for that they both saw how there were some vnto whome this contention of theyrs should in time to come be profitable gainful Wherfore the Englishmen restore to the Frenchmen Boloigne which they had kepte nowe sixe whole yeares not without the greate maruell of many and the Frenchmen pay them Mony In that peace were also the Scottes comprised After sending ambassadors on bothe parties the two Kinges confirme the peace with a new amity For the french King was made Knight of the Garter in England and the Kinge of England againe of the French order Whiche verelye amonges great Princes is as it were a cognisaunce of moste assured frendship Where they of Maidenburge were defaced with sondry Proclamations by themperour the .xxiiii. day of March they publishe an other wryting chiefly to the next inhabiters about them First they proue that they can neither by Gods lawe nor mans law be conuicted of rebellion after they declare how such as put on armure against them do make warre against Christ him selfe Thirdly they confute the crimes obiected and shewe that they be sclaunders surmised by theyr aduersaries And albeit saye they that through theyr prouocation the Emperour hathe exiled vs yet may we truely affirme that we haue as yet refused no reasonable condition so that we might inioy stil the doctrine professed at Auspurge and the liberties that oure elders haue lefte vs of the same minde be we now also neither refuse we anye kinde of dutye that ought to be done to the Emperoure or to the Empire and take god to witnes that we haue geuen none occasion of any warre or trouble but couet chiefly to obserue peace with all men and by the meane of the true religion and doctrine to attaine to the life euerlastinge And this doubtles is the cause of all the hatred that is raysed against vs. Now is it deuised by the law that the inferioure magistrate shall not impeche the right of the superioure Moreouer if it so fortune that the Magistrate passe the bouÌdes of his authoritye and commaund any thing that is wicked that he should not only be obeyed but also if he attempte any force be resisted There is no man we thincke that can denye but that all rule and gouernement dependeth of God
that any occasion of offence shuld be geueÌ any maÌ About the .xviii. daye of December the Byshop of Wardin in Hongary lately made Cardinall was slaine at home in his owne house for suspicion of a conspiracie with the Turkes The authour of this murther was Iohn Baptiste Castalde an Italian whome the Emperour had before sent into Hongary to assiste king Ferdinando with his ayde and counsell Sfortia Palauicine was also present at the same After the Byshop of Rome heard of the murther he appointed certen to examine the matter and also doeth excommunicate the parsons aboue named Whan the wydowe of Iohn Uayuode sawe that she coulde hardely defende Transsyluania she made a conuenaunt with king Ferdinando and permitted him to haue the gouernment and deliuering him the armes and ornameÌtes of the Realme retourned into the lande of Poole By this meane therfore Ferdinando possesseth in a maner all Transsyluania by the helpe of the byshop of Wardin But because he appered afterwardes to attempt newe deuises and to aspire to the gouernment he lost his life I shewed you in the fourmer boke of the preachers and ministers of the churche that were expulsed froÌ Auspurg wherfore the moste part of the church were distitute of priests not without the great grudge of the people who supposed that the senate had caused the Emperour thus to do Where therfore it was to be feared least this heate would somtime breake out at the length whan they had sought long and much they fouÌd one Caspar Huberine whiche professed the fourme of doctrine prescribed by the Emperour There be certen bokes of his wrytten concerning Religion whiche were alwayes very wel commended euen of Luther him selfe But why nowe he had altered his mynde I can not affirme Who after he came to Auspurge began not to preache by and by for that he feared the mutinie of people but at Christmas after he began to the woÌder of many which had red his bokes before The soldiours as well suche as beseged Maydenburg as those that defended the same wyntered in Thuringe and there aboutes and did much harme especially to men of the churche and amongest others also to the Archebyshop of Mentz whose limites reache vnto those places Tharchebyshops of Mentz Treuers Collon being herewith offended he for the damage receiued they for that they sawe also that the same chaunce might redounde vnto them determined to retourne home sending bothe letters and messengers to the Emperour of the same matter But the Emperour who desired greatly to haue the counsel continued answering the third day of Ianuary your letters saith he of the xxi of DeceÌber are come to my handes And bycause I had commaunded Fraunces Toletane to treate with you of suche matters as you wryte vnto me of againe for as much as the byshop of Arras had declared vnto your Procurer here certen thinges of the same sorte in my name I had thought you had bene satisfied But for so much as I heare say how for an vnpleasauÌt brute reised you intende to retourne home I thought good to admonishe you by this wryting that you geue not credit to althinges that are reported For although there hath ben now for a certen tyme a brute as though it were to be feared leaste there should be some commotioÌ in Hessia yet am I credible informed that if there be any thing at all it is but the deuise of a fewe whiche the greater part also discommendeth wherfore it is the rather to be thought that they theÌ selues wil be mindful not only of their othe and fidelitie wherby they be bounde to me but also of their dutie whiche they owe both to me and to the common wealth neither trusting to thinges vncerten will take so great daunger vpon them Moreouer I haue sent intermessagers vnto all the Princes states and cities thereaboutes and haue searched diligently what the matter shoulde be and what euery man goeth about But I haue founde all men to be obsequious and to do their dutie For surely I haue geuen none occasion of offence to any man Of Duke Maurice in dede there went a reporte also not long since whiche peraduenture had his original hereof that he had bene captaine before of the same bandes whiche after the rendring of Maydenburg assembled together and did hurt in certen places But he wryting to me his letters of late sending his Ambassadours also promiseth al his endeuour And euen at this present two of his Ambassadours shal go from hence to morrowe to the couÌsell at Trent Furthermore he hath signified that he him selfe will repayre vnto me for certeÌ weightie and necessary affaires and I knowe by certen reportes that he wyll either this daye or to morrowe at the furthest take his iourney hytherwarde out of Maydenburg Finally he maketh me so large and ample promesse of his loialtie and obeisaunce that I ought to loke for nothing at his hande but that is honorable in case there be any fayth in this worlde yet remaining And seing he is both in bloud and birthe a Germayne I can not be brought to beleue that he should attempte or imagine so craftie deuises but as concerning those bandes that were at Maydenburg I haue heard many complaine certen states be carefull least they will remoue their campe worke some greater mischief But after I vnderstode that for lacke of paiment of their wages they flocke together worke this oultrage sending Ambassadours gouernours I coÌmaunded thei see that in any wyse there were mony leuied to paie them And not that only but wryting my letters also to Duke Maurice became suertie for the same money that is owyng so that the soldiours may be discharged And this I did not bycause I was bounde but for that I loue chiefly the peace and tranquillitie of Germany Nowe therfore I loke in a maner euery moment that the same be done and suppose verely that they shal slippe awaye without the dammage of any man and all this mutinie and trouble be appeased but in case whan the payment is made the armie be not discharged than is it easely perceiued that there is some other deuise in hande Than shall we also take an other waye whiche we haue in our head at this present Nowe as touching other reportes that are brought vnto me whiche are many in dede but yet doubtfull and ful of contrarietie al these I suppose be imagined for the moste part of our ennemies and according to their olde maner and lightnes spred abrode to disturbe the counsell peace of Germany But I truste in God that suche priuie conspiracies shall at the last come to lyght and haue an ende according to their demerites For since the rendring of Maydenburge all thinges were quiet in Germany and all Princes and states do so louingly obediently demeane them selues towardes me that certenly I can not see what cause of any new mutinie can or ought to
so many yeares in framinge maye at the lengthe be established The third and chiefe poynt is that which concerneth all men and our common natiue country of Germany whose state doubtles is most miserable For contrary to the lawes and couenauntes forain souldiours are brought within the limits of thempire whiche haue now many yeres ben here setled and euery wher bothe in towne and Country consumeth other mens goods and exercise al kind of filthy lust Moreouer many times ther be new wais inuented to get mony and the auncient liberty diuers waies infringed neither is any state no not the Princes electours in this case spared thambassadors of foren kings which be sory for these things and loue the wealthe of Germany are prohibited to come at anye publike assembles clean against the manner of thempire Finally this is altogether wroughte that all men maye be broughte into a shamefull and straight bondage for the which thing doubtles our posterity and ofspring may haue moste tuste cause to detest the cowardise and slouthfulnes of this time wherin that moste precious iewell and goodly ornament that is the liberty of our couÌtry shuld be lost seing therefore that the case standeth thus at the laste is he awaked and William the Lantzgraue the sonne of Phillip whoÌe the iust sorow for his fathers miserye hathe raised and makinge a league with the french king whom thenemy seketh also to depriue of that he hath are determined for the deliueraÌce of the LaÌtzgraue and the duke of Saxon to maintaine their honor and recouer the liberty of all men to attempt the matter by force of armes therfore doth he exhort that no man disturbe this his enterprise but that al men do further and professe the same and put in good assuraunce For if it be otherwise and if any man by one meane or other and the aduersary he wil take him for his ennemy Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge subscribed also to the same letters chiefly for the preseruation of religion forsomuch as duke Moris had said howe he warred for the same cause also And the Marques Albert of BraÌdenburge publisheth a wryting in manner of the same effecte and complaineth that the liberty of Germany is oppressed eneÌ of them which of duety ought to maintain and auaunce the same he saithe ther is holden now a counsel wherin be a few assembled for to subuert the truthe and that also there be many assemblies of the Empire Wherof the end is this that by certaine corrupted with bribes and faire promises mony maye be gotten by some subtile fetche to the vtter vndoing of Germany and the same to be wrought chiefly by the cleargy which in the consistory of the Empire surmounte in nombre and now is the matter brought to that passe that the effect of al counsels dependeth almost of one mannes pleasure which is neither gentleman nor Germaine borne nor annexed to the Empire to the great reproche assuredlye and hinderance of all Germaines And if this ought to be the state of the weale publike it were much better to call none assembles at all but that mony shoulde be frelye and franckly geuen whansoeuer it is coÌmaunded and required for so shuld ther be no losse of time and besides great charges shoulde be spared By suche like craft also is the seale of thempire commen into straungers hands which foreiners at theyr pleasure abuse to the damage of Germany yet is ther no man at al that dare bewail these things vnlesse he wil enter into high displeasure Nether yet are the Germanes matters and sutes dispatched but are most loÌg delaid in so much that many men complain much of the same For the state of the things is such that the Germanes had nede to learn other laÌguages in case they should be there to do them selues anye good of the same sort is this wher against tholde custome of Germany it is prohibited that no man may serue anye foreine Prince in his warres that the protestantes being reconciled ouer aboue most greuous penalties wer constramed to admit other more vnworthy conditions and for that a great some of mony arose of the Protestants clients for seruing them in theyr warres The same burthen also was laid vpon other states and Princes that had nothinge offended and as thoughe that warre had bene made for the common wealth they were commauÌded to pay mony to recompence the charges of the warres for this intent verelye that ther should no sinewes nor force at all be lefte in all Germany Of like sort is it that ciuill controuersies of moste waighty matters are committed not to the publick iudgement of thempire but vnto a few commissioners that it may be in their power either to establish or displace great princes Againe that it is prohibited that no Prince maye set his owne Image in his coyne that newe Senators are made in euery towne of the Empire that this bondage is imposed in manner vppon all Germanes that they be constrained to suffer forreine souldiors in their country whiche bothe do verye much harme and bring many men to beggery and also practise al kinde of arrogancy and lechery that hath not ben hard of For his own land was not spared although he promised him better for the fidelitye and seruice done to themperor Howbeit at what time he was deteined by reason of the warre of Maidenburge and about matters of the common wealth was absent soldiors wer brought into his country Notwithstanding that his officers desired much to the contrary and thus certainly both he and other princes whiche in the former war against the protestants for his preseruation and dignity put in great hazarde their liues and goodes haue receiued a goodly recompence in that boke which Lewes Auila setforth of matters done in the same war a naughty and a lying fellow whilest he speaketh of all Germany so coldly so disdainfullye and straungely as though it were some barbarous or vile nation whose originall were skarcely knowen And the vnworthinesse of the thing is so much the more for that the same boke is printed and setforth by a certain especiall priueledge of themperor Now verely be many thinges excused by letters sent throughout Germany but it is the self same song that hath ben songen now many yeres and all thinges tend hitherto that they say how accordinge to the state of times the decrees must be altred and that men muste obey the present counsels or els suffer punishment And wheras certen Princes haue taken armure to repulse this ignominye and seruitude he hathe also promised them all aide and fidelity yea and his life also And this he protesteth openlye and desireth that no man aid their aduersaries but that all men woulde further this endeuoure of him and his fellowes and defend the commen cause For although very many perchaunce will followe the contrarye parte yet let no man promise him self better things if the aduersary may vanquishe for
gates for their pleasure being altogether carelesse Wherfore fynding this occasion and exhorting his men to be valiaunt ryding vpon the spurre setteth vpoÌ them quickely and putting them to flight followeth after and entring in at the gates with them whan the towns men reioysing at his sight and presence came running to him he slewe the moste parte of them He founde there great pieces of Artillerie and certen others whiche they call field pieces but without any cariage or furniture For the enemies had caried awaye all that were furnished to make the batterie at Birnte Leauing ther an enseigne of fotemeÌ he goeth to Blasseburg his chief castell After he came awaye from Brunswick Duke Henry beseged the citie and battered it sore with shot But the Byshoppes and they of Norinberge whiche supported all that armie sendyng hym worde that he should repayre to them Duke Henry demaundeth of the citezens about foure thousande crownes Whan they refused this and the Souldiours vnlesse they were payde their wages woulde beare none enseignes they being afrayde of their owne daunger promyse to geue hym so muche Than at the lengthe leuieng the siege whan he had appoynted his Soldiours a daye whan they shoulde be payed he taketh his iourney through Turinge That knowen the Duke of Saxon Iohn Friderick for that he was not as yet made at one with him goeth him selfe his thre sonnes to Gothe leauing his wife at Weymer for that she was not very wel in health Duke Henry being now furnished to take his iourney sending vnto him letters albeit sayeth he I haue had iust cause and good occasion also in these certen yeares past to reuenge the iniuries of fourmer time done vnto me yet for so muche as you were in the Emperours custody I haue attempted nothing against either your subiectes or children but haue permitted the thing to lawe iudgement But you not contented with fourmer iniuries haue holpen now of late also with your ayde and counsel Albert of Brandenburg the disturber of Germany and my vttermoste ennemy whiche I knowe for certentie although you wrought it secretly Wherfore in case my army now shal doe any hurte to your countrie there is no cause to coÌplaine therof For that beginning is of your selfe Duke Henry was determined to haue playd the vtter ennemy with Albert Uolrate Erles of Mansfeld for the last yeres war Howbeit through thintercessioÌ of Duke August whoÌ they sought vpon the matter was appeased Iohn Fridericke receiuing the Duke of Brunswickes letters began to treate with him by ambassadours to mitigate his minde so that he shuld come to Weymer with two guidons of horsemen fiue enseignes of fotemen the residue of his armie be placed in the couÌtrie therabout Hither came to him from the Prince Minquice his chauÌcelour declaring his coÌmissioÌ perswaded him throughly to quietnes And where before he required a great soÌme of monie the same now doth he partly remit remaining there two daies without doing any hurt departeth frendly At the .xviii. day of October began a disputation at LondoÌ by the Quenes coÌmaundement of the presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the altar as they terme it The matter was reasoned six daies not without opprobrious wordes where one of the Romsh dictrine Doctor WestoÌ that was proloqutour demeaned himselfe disorderly what was decreed of the same and what was th end of that parliament I wyll declare here after About the end of October Michael Serueto a Spaniarde was executed at Geneua He had many yeares since set forth diuerse bookes amongest other thinges of the trinitie vtterly repugnaunt to that coÌmon consent of the church And whan at the length he came this yeare to Geneua the Senate being certified of him coÌmauÌdeth him to be aprehended and after appointeth Caluine who before had wrytten against him other ministers of that churche to haue conference with him Wherfore there was a great and a bitter disputation amongst them where as he would many tymes tell Caluine he lied very immodestly But the Senate least any thing should be done in so weightie a matter rashely asketh counsell touching the same opinions of the Doctours of Bernes Zurick Basill and Schafusians They all make aunswer that the same thinges redounde to Gods high contumelie And where he wold not only not forsake his opinioÌ but also with opprobrious wordes cursed speakinges defende the same he was condeÌned to die Whan he came to that place of execution William Farell did exhorte hym he would not call vpon Christe the eternall sonne of God And where he she wed no token of repentauÌce yet did he not defend his cause vnto the people Many men ascribed the blame of his death to Caluine But he setting forth a booke reciteth his opinion and all the matter as it was declareth that heretikes may be punished with death The laste sauing one of October Iames Sturmie a man moste iuste and wittie and the very beaultie of the Nobilitie of Germany both for his excellent gyftes of mynde and notable lerning departeth out of this life at Strasburg whaÌ he had layne sicke of a quartaine by the space of two moneths He was past thre score and thre yeares olde In these dayes Reynold Poole an Englisheman borne a Cardinal comming from Rome goeth through Germany to the Emperour And whan he was come to the frontiers of the Paulsgraues countrie receiuing newes from the Emperour who sent vnto hym Mendoza he retourneth to Dilling whiche is a towne of the Byshops of Auspurge by the water of Thonawe and there attendeth till he shal heare more from the Emperour The Duke of Brunswicke departing from Weymer the seuenth daye of Nouember came to his fellowes Campe whiche was than at Lichtefelse a Towne belongyng to Bamberge In the whiche Towne were placed the Soldiours of Marques Albert a .ix. enseignes of fotemen the selfe same that had bene a little before at Birnthe And the Counte Plauie and his Fellowes had beseged it And what tyme the great pieces of Artillerie came from Norinberge wherwith the Towne myght be battered they makyng surrendrie the tenth of Nouember yelde them selues in their ennemies haÌdes Who taking certen of the Captaines let goe the reste without armure or enseignes That done they go to Colembach a Towne of Marques Albertes and batter it very sore And the townesmen perceiuing that they were not able to defende it from the ennemie carie out all their goodes and houshold stuffe into the castel of Blasse burge and after setting the houses on fire flie thether them selues also Thus in fine the ennemy entreth the towne and kylling diuerse that were founde there quencheth the fire and spoyleth the reste that was lefte Afterwardes whan CouÌte Plauie had taken by surrendrie the castell of Lichteberge and the townes of Biruth and Hofie and rased the walles he besegeth the castell of Blasseburge the chiefest forte that the Marques had
to the states in suche sorte as I shewed you in the last boke The ministers of the churche driuen out of the lande of Boheme the learned men that were in Meissen and in Wittemberge and amongest others MelaÌchthon comfort them with an epistle and shew the craft of the coÌtrary part who affirmed that they kept a necessary order in the churche that those whiche either had not receiued orders at the Byshops hande or had wynes could not minister the Sacramentes For this cause of expulsion they fayned that they should not seme to haue a desire to oppresse the true doctrine but these men shewe how it is a starke tyraÌny that maried priestes should be put from the holy ministery For SathaÌ was the authour of prohiting matrimony as it is euideÌt by the scriptures And that we ought not to seke to be ordeined of the byshops that are the open ennemies of the Gospell and defende idols but of that fellowship which hath pure doctrine therfore hath the keyes of the kingdome of heauen For it were to absurde dauÌgerouse if Shepeheardes should be ordeined of wolues The churche to haue had alwayes right to chouse mete ministers and that so was the decree of the counsell of Nice And they that were so chosen and tried to haue bene confirmed of them that gouerned Godly congregations The same maner to bee nowe also obserued and therfore that it is a sclaunder to saye that they disturbe or breake order Since therfore the matter is so and that for the true professing of the Gospell they be expulsed they ought to take this calamitie so muche more moderatly For God wyll not fayle them in his tyme And that they be ready with theyr next churches to shewe them all loue and hospitalitie Where the Frenche men at the Ides of DeceÌber of the yeare before had by the conduit of Brissake taken Eporedia a towne in the Alpes by the water of Durie This yeare the third daye of Marche they intercept the town of Casale nere vnto the Poo wherin was a garrison of Spaniardes and Almaynes vpon the sodayne and with in a fewe dayes after the Castell also Afterwarde bringe many other thinges into their subiection And amongest others thei rase and make euen with the grouÌd Ualence and Saluadore The sixt day of Marche August Duke of Saxony Ioachim Marques of BrandeÌburg Princes Electours The sonnes also of Duke Iohn Fridericke the Lantgraue certen other Princes of thesame countrie assemble at Numburg vpon the Riuer of Sale there renew the league of inheritauÌce whiche is betwixt the houses of Saxon BrandeÌburg Hessia as I shewed in the .xxiiii. boke also determine that they would sticke constantly to the coÌfession of Auspurg And least there should any suspicion arise of any new or secret couÌsell the fift day after that they came thether they signifie the cause of their assemble to the Emperour in wryting In the former yeare what time a compact was made betwene Augustus Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxonie this was also agreed vpon yâ the old familiar leage should be renewed To witte that league whiche was made an hondreth yeres since more after established by a lawe And therfore that they haue now met for the same cause as that league was profitable to their elders all the people so likewyse thei trusted that it shuld com theÌ luckely to passe since thei sought for nothing els but peace traÌquillitie did it to the displeasure of no man Moreouer that after the maner of their auÌcesters they haue excepted his highnes his brother king of Romains and as they intende priuatly to kepe mutual amitie amongest theÌ selues so wil they also openly doe that their dutie requireth which may become obedient Princes of thempire And that in Religion they wil not procede any further than is limited in the confession of Auspurg but for as much as in the same are coÌteined the chief articles of the Christian doctrine no wicked sedicious opinion can be found therin thei wil through Gods grace perseuer in thesame doctrine neither wil they fayle also the coÌmon welth of Germany so far forth as thei are able with their trauel counsel treasures And for as much as at this time being not moste quiet for the auoiding of a further discoÌmoditie they abide at home they haue sent Ambassadours to thasseÌblee of thempire who haue in coÌmaundemeÌt to refer al their counsels doings vnto peace so that neither for religioÌ nor any ciuile cause any force or violeÌce should be feared For the peace once established it shal be an occasion that other coÌtrouersies may be the better appeased That the state doubtles of the coÌmon welth now is such that it is great nede to ioine together all their forces mindes that a wyder entrie be not set open to the Turkes to inuade vs How they know wel enough howe greatly he desireth that so sone as may be a sufficieÌt army might be prepared to repres thennemies violence Wherfore now in case such a peace might be established ther is no doubt but the states of thempire wold gladly imploy their substaunce vpon the same war which verely hitherto by reason of sondry tumultes ciuile discordeshath bene omitted That they wil be alwaies ready haue coÌmaunded their ambassadours to offer these thinges in their name at the counsel thesame day they write to king FerdinaÌdo in a maner to the same effect as before I said the Duke August did by his Ambassadours For both they vrge yâ same coÌpact of Passawe shew how desirous they are of peace Thei coÌmend the doctrine coÌfessed at Ausperge and exhort him to confirme the peace and also pray him that he wold geue no credit to such as haply seke to disturbe the quiet of Germany At the Ides of March the Archbishop of Mentz departed out of this life whom we saied to haue bene at the counsel of Trent after was put to flight by Marques Albert Whom Daniel BreÌdel succedeth The. viii day after that byshop of Mentz which was the .xxiii. day of March dieth Pope Iuly the third Who for bicause he had so easely beyond al expectatioÌ recouered England was thought to haue coÌceaued also a woÌderful hope of Germany And had therfor sent thither Cardinal Morone who the next day after that he was dead came to the couÌsell of thempire at Auspurg But with in eight daies after hearing newes therof the last day of March he departeth thence againe and with Truckesse Cardinal of Auspurg spedeth him to the ElectioÌ at Rome The Cardinals that wer at Rome not tarieng for the rest made hast the .ix. day of April proclaime Pope Marcellus the secoÌd of that name The same that was sent Ambassadour with Cardinal Farnese to the Emperour of Paul the third as I shewed you in the .xiii. boke The Cardinal of Auspurg a fewe
the power of the counselles and churche to propounde or commaunde any newe doctrine besides the same whiche is left vs by the Prophetes of Christ and his Apostles That they speake of the consecrating of ministers to be fonde and worthy to be laughed at For that folishe and histrionicall annointing maketh nothing for the purpose Finally their wryting to be full of rayling opprobrious wordes but this they committe to God and would only aunswer the thynge in fewe wordes When this was the state of thinges king FerdinaÌdo whom both partes had requested that he would shewe some waye as before is sayde about the beginning of Auguste sendeth Ambassadours to the Electours certen other Princes with this message howe to obeye the Emperour his brother and to further the common wealth he came to Auspurge the third KaleÌdes of Ianuary not without the losse and hinderaunce of his owne affaires Againe when he was come thither how he was driuen to tary long because fewe or none were come before he could propounde any thing For the matter was differred tyll the nonas of February Than firste he declared the causes of sommoning the sayde assemblee But in consultations to haue had wonderfull delayes and not before the tenth Kalendes of Iuly was there any aunswere made hym and that but of one only point of the deliberation that is to witte of the peace in Religion and that selfe same aunswere not of one mynde but diuerse and contrary He verely fearyng this longe before had admonished them diligently that they woulde haue bene present at the counsell them selues If they followed his aduise herein the matter in his opinion might haue bene brought to an ende wyshed for Upon the other parte whiche concerneth the publique peace they doe nowe consulte but because it is to be thought that it can not be dispatched in a short tyme. Againe for bicause the state of his countries requyred his presence for as muche as the Turkes semed to attempte new matters and threaten sore notwithstanding that he treateth with them for peace Moreouer for as muche as nothing can be done or determined to any pourpose vnlesse they be present them selues therfore he thinketh good that the counsell be differred tyll an other tyme and that nowe a decree be made after this maner For as muche as through the absence of the Prynces nothynge can be determined they are agreed that all treatie be differed tyll the nexte assemblee the begynnynge whereof to be made at Regensburge aboute the Kalendes of Marche of the yeare followyng There the Princes them selues to bee present that they may together with the Emperour or with hym determine and ordeine those thynges wherof they haue nowe consulted and hereafter shall doe In the meane season the pacification of Passawe to remayne in full strength And for as muche as it conteyneth this fyrst that in the counsell of the Empyre should be treated whether that by a generall or by a prouinciall counsell of Germany or els by the conferrence of learned men the cause of Religion ought to be appeased Secondly that the thynge be done by the common couÌsel of al states not without the ordinary power of themperour Therfore he whiche loueth peace and concorde hath determined at the next assemblee to exhibitie a certen booke compiled for the reconciling of suche matters as are in controuersie but in it to be none intrapping and to be made only for this ende that the discorde shuld growe no further and that the offences might be mitigated Moreouer to thintent that they them selues may the better determine whether by the meane declared in the boke the dissention may be taken vp or whether that an other way must be sought for Therfore he requireth them to take this proroging in good part and that to the next counsell they would come them selues after his example who for the coÌmon welthe sake hath bene nowe so longe tyme out of his prouinces And that he hath chosen the place at Regenspurge for bicause for the imineÌt dauÌger of the Turke he may not depart far out of his owne countrie Let them aduertise him therfore what they wil do herein to the ende he may be certen that the matter shall not be forslowed that with vaine expectation the better part of the time do not passe away as it hath heretofore oftener than ones These requestes hearde the most part of the Princes thought it not good that he should departe before the peace confirmed For al Germany to be in great expectation of this matter And since they agree nowe better in voyces than euer they did before this time they beseche him that he woulde make an ende before his departure To the intent verely that in the next assemblee they might with so muche more expedicion take order and determine of Turkishe matters which yet remained As touching the boke which he wold exhibite many of them sayde howe the like would come of that as chaunced to the other boke whiche seuen yeares paste was wrytten also of Religion and set forth For yet it is freshe in memory with what rayling wordes it was taunted For where it was set forth and priuileged by the Emperour to haue made a coÌcorde there arose occasions therof of many offences and dissentions When Ferdinando had heard these of his Ambassadours about the eight Kalendes of September the daye before the kalendes of the same moneth he declareth what his opinion is of the wrytinges of both partes to him exhibited and amongest other matters that chief poinct that concerneth byshops that in case they chaunge their Religion they should forgo their office and goodes also by his wyll and with many wordes moueth the Protestauntes that they would assente to the same For this coÌdition sayth he taketh from you nothing but doth this only that when a byshop forsaketh his order and departeth from the olde Religion his benefices and promotioÌs may neuerthelesse remaine in the same state wherin they were instituted whiche thinge is both agreable to the ciuile lawe and also to the lawes of the Empire and to the pacification of Passawe Whiche sayeth by playne wordes that those whiche followe the olde Religion as well of the state ecclesiasticall as ciuile not to be molested in their Religion Ceremonies goodes possessions rightes priuileges but that they should inioye all these thinges quietly without the interruption of any man I can not se therfore how this condition can be denied them whiche apperteineth to the ende that we spake of that is that they may inioye their thinges quietly Whiche in dede can not be if they should release this condition For so should it come to passe that suche as happely forsake and relinquishe the holy order and auncient Religion would kepe styll neuerthelesse their office goodes and possessions neyther should it be lawefull for their colleges in the meane time to trie the lawe with them in this case And this inconuenience wil come also
in me I truste that for the vertue that is in them and true Nobilitie they wyll sooner geue credit not so muche to my saying as doyng whiche manifestly appereth and sheweth it selfe than to these sediciouse persones which as certen bellouse seke to reyse vp flame With what intier loue also and good will being absent Imbraced al Germaines for the remembraunce of the moste swete countrie that can both the Ambassadours of many Princes and many also of the Nobilitie declare whiche were than at Rome when I was of Mentz Treuers Collon Saxons of Brandenburg Maydenburge Bauarians of Brunswicke Passawe Osenburg Minden and of Basill For all these at once repared to me as a certen hauen and were faythfully holpen of me in their affayres and certen also through my labour and commendation haue ascheued offices and great promotions Now that same of the Lantgraue and of one Titelman what a fonde diuise is it For neyther had I euer any talke with the Lantgraue and his sonnes of that matter neyther can I remember that I spake one worde of it either at Rome or in Italy Much lesse can I tell what the Ministers of his dominion do teache or reuoke This in dede am I able to saye that to my knowledge there was no suche recantation made at Rome Therfore I doubte not but the Lantgraue when the matter shall so requyre wyll easely confute this same and the other also of my commendation Considering therfore that the artificers of so perniciouse libelles haue shamefully forged all thynges to the ende that the same fyre whiche many yeares since they had layde together myght nowe at the length burne and breake out all at ones it is nedefull that Princes and Magistrates take dilligent hede of them and when at the laste they shall be detected that they set suche an example as may make all others afrayde Finally in case there be any that haue conceaued any euyll opinion of me by reason of these sclaunders I earnestly praye them to laye it awaye and thynke assuredly that synce I am bothe a Germayne borne and come of a noble house I wyll doe nothinge vnworthy the vertue and Nobilitie of my auncesters When he had published this wrytinge the fifte Kalendes of Iune as before is sayde he wrote also priuatly to diuerse Princes to the same effecte and after went againe into Italy what tyme Bona the mother of Sigismunde kyng of Poole retourned home goyng to Naples In the meane season commotioÌs were in England many Gentle men for suspicion of conspiracie as it was sayde were cast in prison Wherof some were executed other some fled into Fraunce and amonges them Sir Androwe Dudley brother to the Duke of Northumberland There were two also taken out of my Lady Elizabeth her house At the Ides of May Sir Peter Carrowe who for an insurrectioÌ had fled certen monethes before reconciled to king Philip and Sir Iohn Cheke whiche was king Edwardes scholemaister retourning out of Germany into Brabant to fetche his wyfe as they were going from Brusselles to Andwarpe by the coÌmaundement of king Philip being apprehendetd are caried to London Aboute the ende of Iune not far from London there were .xiii. burnt together at one stake for Religion In the meane tyme Charles Marques of Baden receiueth the doctrine of the Gospel and of his neighbours borroweth ministers to refourme order his churches Before this also had the Senate of Spire taken a preacher or two of the Gospell Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando with his wife the Emperours daughter departing froÌ Uienne the. xvii day of Iuly came to Brusselles where he had bene long and much desirous to take that iourney Peter Martyr a Florentine of whome we haue spoken before what tyme the dissention about the Lordes supper was kindled againe he in certen bokes was touched by name weÌt from Strasburg to Zurick that he might handle that matter frely both in teaching and writing That time Conrade Pellicane died at Zurick And therfore the Senate being requested by the ministers of the churche wryting their letters to the Senate of Strasburg praye earnestly that he might be sent them So he departeth at the third Ides of Iuly not without the sighing grief of many whiche loued him for his incomparable learning his moste exacte iudgement his great gentlenes and modestie and his other vertues At the same time the Archebyshop of Pise Cardinall borne in Sicilie passing by Basil went to themperour at Brusselles being sent froÌ the Pope where a litle before Cardinal Caraffa the Popes cosin was come to the kyng of Fraunce A reporte had bene and that written that there was moste heinous displeasure betwixt the Pope themperour that the matter tended vtterly to war For amonges other thinges the Pope had taken from the house of Columnois al their possessions in Italy Whiche thing in dede semed to apperteine to the iniury of the Emperour Again it was said how he would not inueste kyng Philip his sonne in the possession of Sicilie and Naples propounding ouer hard condicions for those kingdomes paye tribute to the Byshop of Rome and depende vpon his benefite At the Ides of Iuly Albert Duke of Bauier in the name of king Ferdinando beginneth the counsel at Regensburg declareth that he is occupied with holding assemblees in Austriche and Boheme so that he could not come hither hym selfe at the time appointed and sheweth why he can not be present yet neither For by meanes of Peter Petrouice the kynges cliente who had desired ayde of the Turke all the couÌtrie of Transyluania when no necessitie vrged them when they had no iust cause reuolted from the king to the sonne of Iohn Uayuode After that Fraunces Beuecke and George his sonne making a rebellion in Hongary haue by the helpe the aide of the WalachiaÌs taken certen townes and castels Againe that the Turke hath lately sent a gouernour to Offen And that an other also what time they treated of the truce beseged the towne and castell of Zegeste the .xi. day of Iune and began to batter it sore Moreouer to be signified by the letters and messages of many that the gouernour of Bosnia leuieth an exceading great army to inuade Slauonia And also that the president of Grene gathereth no small power at the citie of Sophie intending to marche forward and that the Emperour of Turkes him selfe wyll in haruest next come in to Hongary and wynter there or if he defer it to the next spring that he wil come than with a strong army to wyn Uienne by sege For these causes therfore the kyng can not at this time leaue his countries but is wholy busied occupied in making preparation to resiste And for as much as it is not for the profit of the coÌmon wealth to differ the couÌsel any loÌger therfore hath he appointed him to begin the treaty and to procede till he may come
him selfe And in dede thre yeares since the king sent a noble Ambassade to the Turke for peace or truce and they are yet deteined at CoÌstantinople And albeit that truce was taken betwene theÌ till thambassadours were retourned home yet the Turkes in the meane season hauing broken their faith haue takeÌ many townes castels vpoÌ the frontiers And seing now also Zegest of them is beseged it appereth not what peace in very dede is to be loked for at their handes that can be firme tollerable Whiche thing seing it is so for as muche as great daunger hangeth ouer not only the remnaunt of Hongary Austriche but also ouer all Germany to be first nede to consulte imediatly of sending ayde and of coÌtribution mony which should be kept in certen places and for this warre when nede is to be defrayed by the publique treasurers And that other kynges and Princes also are sollicited by the kyng for ayde neither wyl he him selfe spare any coste or perill either of him selfe or his sonnes also but since his countries being sore inpouerished with the warres of so many yeares are not able to resiste so great an ennemy it is requisite to contribute thereunto and that spedely Moreouer for as much as in the last assemblee it was decreed also that in this assemblee wayes should be sought to appease Religion the kyng ernestly exhorteth that they would searche diligently whether a reconcilement myght be made and whiche waye They muste also treate of mony and of establyshyng peace in the Empire And the consultation of the Turkishe warre not to be set behinde but to be chiefly of them considered to the ende the present and iminent calamitie may be repulsed About the .xv. day of September the Emperour hauing a fayre wynde and his nauie in a readines taketh shipping to sayle into spayne and taketh with him both his sisters Quene Mary and Elenor companions of his iourney But before he departed he set kyng Philip his sonne in possession of all the lowe countries And to his brother kyng Ferdinando he committed the common wealth of Germany sending letters to the Electours of the Empyre wherby he requireth them that they would acknowledge the same for Emperour of Romaines obey him accordingly The last day of October Iohn Sleidane authour of this worke a man for the singular giftes of the mynde and excellent learnynge all prayse worthy departeth out of this life at Strasburg and is there honorably buried FINIS â An Apologie of Iohn Sleidane FOr as muche as I heare that diuerse men speake nothing frendly of my History and haue small thanke requited me for my exceading great paines I am constreined to set forth this wryting for defence Nowe for what causes I was moued to write this story how I proceded in that same howe I wrote for the displeasure or fauour of no man and couched thinges in order I declared in the preface of the worke And added moreouer that I was very desirous of the truthe and therin so affected that if I knewe any thing to be wrytten vntruely I would scrape it out and admonishe the Reader of myne owne accorde to geue no credit to it Doubtles I would haue thought that all men here with would haue bene satisfied especially since the very reading should proue it true that I said But in as muche as it is reported to me far otherwyse whiche to me was very lothsome and greuous I am driuen of necessitie to adde some thinges to my preface And first in dede euer since the beginning of the worlde it hath bene accustomed that matters as wel ecclesiasticall as ciuile should be coÌmitted to wryting Which thing in dede bookes do testifie and the same custome hath alwayes florished chiefly amonges noble free nations especially Grekes and Romaines The chief precept ornament of this kinde of wryting is that it be right and trewe and therfore Tully calleth an history the witnes of tymes and light of veritie the lyfe of memory and maistres of lyfe By the whiche wordes verely he doth both commende it exceadingly and also sheweth of what sort it ought to be and nowe for as muche as in this our tyme hath chaunced so great an alteration of Religion as since the tyme of the Apostles the like hath not bene no smal sturre of ciuile policie hath insued also vpon the same as is coÌmonly wont to do I verely although not the metest man of al at requeste of certen good men toke vpon me this kynd of wrytinge to the setting forth of Gods glory and with great fidelitie and diligence haue brought it to this our tyme. And that I haue herein geuen nothing to affectioÌs and haue vsed my selfe so moderatly in this argument as peradueÌture none other before me hath done that same I trusteâl indifferent iudges wil confesse For although I do gladly prufesse this doctrine of the Gospel through the benefite of God restored and reioyce exceadingly to be of that nomber and fellowship yet do I absteyne from al bitternes of wordes and declare simply the whole matter as it was done God also I take to witnes that myne intent hath not ben falsly to hurte any man For what a shameles impudencie were it of those thinges wherof the memorie yet is freshe to set forth any thyng contrary to a truthe Again they that know me throughly haue perceiued I truste no such vanitie in me Notwithstanding in case I haue erred in any pointe I will both acknowledge it willingly being admonished and also as I saide in the preface I wil proteste it openly that the Reader be not abused And as concerning my paynes I suppose verely that in searching out of the truthe no mans dilligence could haue bene no more than myne hath bene and like as many are able this to testifie so I doubte not but the thing also it selfe shall declare And in describing matters of Religion I might not omitte polytique causes For as I sayde before they came in maner alwayes together and especially in our tyme they could not be separated And that they come together this is a sure reason and grounded vppon the scripture To witte that so sone as amonges any people Religion is chaunged by and by arrise offences dissentions debates vprores factions and warres For euen for this cause Christ saith that the sonne is plucked from his father and the daughter froÌ her mother Also that his doctrine bryngeth not peace but the sworde and sayeth it shall styre vp fyre also amonges the nere of bloud And this hath bene euer the state of thinges since the worlde was made neither can it be denied and the thing it self speaketh For so sone as in our time gods benefite geuen to maÌ and the Gospell began to be preached against the Popes pardons and traditions of men by by the worlde began to reise tumultes and chiefly they of the clergie Upon this very occasion the matter was brought into the
common assemblee of the Empire And where certen Princes and cities receiued also this doctrine the fire went further abroade the matter was handled by diuerse meanes tyll at the laste it ended in warre And in all this same description a man may see what care and diligence the Emperour toke that the dissentioÌ might be takeÌ vp It is to be sene also what the ProtestanÌtes and states haue aunswered and what maner of conditions they haue oftentimes offered But when the matter fel out into warre the handling of it was variable and diuerse And the Emperour in dede that I may bryng of many examples one sending his letters to diuerse Princes and cities after also setting forth a publike wryting declared the cause of his enterprise This wrytinge wherin the foundation of themperours cause consisteth with the aunswere of the contrary part might not be omitted For than I praye you what maner of story were it to be thought whiche raccompteth but the doinges of the one part only And yet howe I haue demeaned my selfe herein howe I haue moderated and tempered my style it may be sene by conferring the dutche with the Latin wherunto I referre my selfe also The warre being now driuen of tyll wynter the Emperour had the vpper hande where the ennemies were gone euery man home These victories and triumphes of his also firste in highe Germany and after in Saxonie I recite faithfully all and this order is kept euery where For neither I take awaye nor attribute to any man more than the thing it selfe requireth permitteth whiche thing fewe men haue perfourmed as it is euident For many in the narrations put also their iudgement as well touching the persones as the thinges And to speake nothing of olde wryters it is knowen howe Platine hath described the Popes liues And a litle before our dayes a worthye knyght Sir Philip Commines set forth a notable historie of his tyme and amonges other thinges he sheweth howe after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundy who was slayne in battell a little from Naunce Lewys the .xii. king of Fraunce toke away from the daughter heire of Duke Charles either Burgundy and also the countrie of Artois And albeit that Commynes was bounde to Fraunce by his othe although he were one of the kinges counsell yet he saieth that this was not weldone of him About the .xxiiii. yeares past the Senate of Uenise appointed Peter Bembus to describe the warres which they had made with the Emperour Maximilian with Lewys the Frenche kyng and with Pope Iuly the seconde with others Which he did comprising the matter in .xii. bokes And amongest other matters he reporteth howe Lewys the .xii. kynge of Fraunce denounced warre to the Uenetians He sayeth howe the Herault of armes after that he came before the Duke and the whole Senate spake these wordes To thee Lawredane Duke of Uenise and to all other citezens of the same Lewys kyng of Fraunce commaunded me to denounce warre as to meÌ vnfaithfull possessing townes of the Byshoppes of Rome and of other kynges gotten by force and by wronge and sekyng to catche and bryng al thinges of al men disceiptfully vnder your gouernement He him selfe cometh to you armed to recouer the same These wordes would some man saye for as much as they be heinouse against the Uenetians Bembus shoulde haue omitted But he would not so but wrote them out of the coÌmon recordes into his boke and added to the aunswer made to the Herault no lesse byting And the workes was printed at Uenise with the priuilege of the Senate Paulus Iouius besides other wrytinges wherin he compriseth the forces of certen noble meÌ hath not loÌg since set forth also two Tomes of thinges done in his tyme But howe frankely he wryteth those that haue red them can testifie Not withstanding that in certen places he doth the Germanes wrong And yet the same worke came forth authorised by sondry priuileges Who so wyll may seke the ninth leafe of the seconde Tome also in the life of Leo the .x. leafe .xciii. and .xciiii. And in the lyfe of Alphonse Duke of Farrare leafe .xlii. All the bokes of good authours be full of examples And Comines is for this cause chiefly commended that he wrote so indifferently But he kepeth this maner as I sayde also before that not only he discribeth the thinges but also addeth his iudgement and pronounceth what euery man hath done be it right or wrong And albeit that I do not so yet is it vsed of many But that whatsoeuer is done on either part should be recited that same is not only reasonable but being frequented in all times is nedefull also For otherwyse can not the History be compiled Where so euer be factions where war and sedition is there doubtles are al thinges full of complaintes accusations and defensions with other coÌtrary wrytings Now he that reciteth all these thinges in suche order as they were done doeth iniurie to neither part but followeth the lawe of the story For in those brawlinges and complaintes euery thing is not by by true that one obiecteth to an other When there is grudge hatred and malice amonges them it is knoweÌ and tried howe the matter is vsed on either syde If the euill wordes that Popes and Byshops and suche other lyke haue powred out against the Protestauntes .xxxvi. yeares past were true what thinge could be imagined more wicked than they Paule the thirde being Pope sent his nephewe by his sonne Cardinall Farnese Ambassadour to the Emperour to Brussels the yeare of our Lorde M. ccccc.xl He there gaue counsell against the Protestauntes whiche not long after was set forth in printe and is of me recited in the .xiii. boke of my History After many contumeliouse wordes amonges other he sayth that the protestauntes do resiste Christ no lesse but rather more thaÌ the Turkes do For these sleye the bodies only but they leade The soules also into euerlasting pardition I pray you what more heynouse or horrible thing can be spoken And in case these thinges shuld not haue bene recited then might the Protestauntes haue hed iust cause of complaint against me but the matter is farre otherwise For neither be thinges true because he said so And if I should haue omitted this I might iustly haue commen into suspition as though I handled not the matter vprightly and would gratify more the one part And that it is thus as I haue plainly declared I doubt not but reasonable men will iudge that I haue done nothing contrary to the law of an history and so much the rather for that the moste thinges are taken out of common recordes which had ben setforth in Print before Therfore they do nothinge frendly no they do me plaine wronge which thus do sclaunder my worcke and so much the more wronge if they vnderstand thorder of compiling an history but if they knowe it not I would they should learne of such thinges as we
haue nowe declared and of others that wryte stories But when I speake of Historiographers I meane not those of our time which study only to extoll and highly commend what part they list and ouerwhelme thother with contumelious and railynge wordes They that are of such sort be not worthy to be so called Ihon Cocles .vi. yeares past setforthe Commentaries in a manner of the same argument that mine are but all thynges are heaped vp with such horrible forged and abhominable sclaunders and lyes as haue not bene hard Cardinall Poole in the boke lately setforthe calleth the Doctrine renewed in Germany Turkishe seede Of suche lyke wordes are al theyr bokes full But what like thing is found in all my woorke I haue verely wrytten the wonderfull benefite of God geuen eo thys our time orderly and as truely as I could possible and for the same purpose I gathered .xvi. yeares since what soeuer belonged herunto neither haue I wrytten rashlye but with a sure iudgemente proceaded And what labour and paines this worke hath cost me nexte the liuing God I know For his glory haue I chiefly regarded and leauing the practise of the law I haue applied in a maner all my study herevnto and verely I must confesse that throughe Gods motion I haue ben after a sort drawen vnto this labour And nowe where diuers requite me so vnworthye thanckes for my so greate trauell and paines I wil coÌmit to him whose cause chiefly I toke it in haÌd for I know vndoubtedly that I haue offred vp vnto him a most acceptable sacrifice with the same verely good conscience I comfort and sustain my self especially seing that my labor is commended of learned men whiche bothe geue me thanckes and confesse also that they haue receiued much frute therby Wherefore I desire all louers of the veritye that they wold geue no credit to the sclander of a few certen meÌ but wold gentelly accept my labors faith and dilligence nether conceiue any sinistre opinion of me Furthermore I protest that I do acknowledge the Emperour and king of Romaines for the high Magistrate whome God hath ordained and to whom in al things that be not against God we ought to obey as Christ and thapostles teach FINIS ¶ A Table containing all the Principall matters in this Boke A A Counsel promised 92 An Apology deliuered but not receiued eodem A beastly cruelty 104 A blasing starre 109 A consecrating of Cardinals 113 Andrew Gritie duke of Uenise 117 A boke of Romish Marchauntes 118 A straunge chaunge eodem Alteration in England for Reli. 125 A Prophet inspired 129 A new king of Anabaptistes 131 A boke of the misteries of the scrip 133 A blinde asse 134 A counsel called 147 An oration against the french king eo A reformation of Collon 141 A sword hallowed 142 A wryting of Auspurge 143 Athanasius Arius and Liberius 148 A propre saying of Ciprian 153 A priestes sonne not enioy his Fathers benefice 155 Auarice and concupiscence let couÌ 156 Annas Momorancy made Constable of Fraunce 157 A gentleman of Tolowse burnt 158 Andrew de Aury saluteth the king 159 A colledge erected at strasborough 160 A league of the Papistes againste the protestauntes 173 Ambassadors sent to Henry brother to George duke of Saron 176 A Friers wede maketh the deuell a. 177 An assembly at Smalcald 169 A wryting exhibited by the deuines eo A confutation of the .vi. articles 171 An oration of a yong Cardinal 172 A priuy hatred of the french king eod An exceading hot sommer 174 A disputation betwixt Eckius and Melanchthon 176 A great assemble at Regenspurge eo A mean to get mony by pardons 177 A most costly stole or Paile eodem A wollen halter to straÌgle the pope 178 A boke presented to the collotors 179 A great tempest destroid his ships 184 An assemble at Spires 186 A soden fear in the french court 88 An army against the Turke eodem Any pleasaunt life is not to be eodem A consolation of the prisoners eodem A counsel called at Trent 198 An assembly at Norinberge 163 Ambassadors to the duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue 194 A rebellion at Rochelle 197 A supplication of the protestaunts 194 A boke called Antididagma 201 An assemble at Spire 202 A league of themperor and the king of England against the french king 203 A boke of Caluine against Sorbo 204 A boke of the relikes of saints eodem A false report of themperors death eo A great assemble of Spiere 206 A straunge tale of the duke of BruÌ 209 An image buried in the stede of Eue. 209 A decre for religion 212 A peace concluded betwixte themperor and Fraunce 314 An ambassade said to the king 216 A Commention of deuines at Mil. 217 An assembly at Wormes 218 A lamentable departing 219 A soldsoure geueth the Merundo 220 A cruell fact of Miners eodem A terrible example of cruelty eodem A captain defendeth the women eodeÌ A sharp answer of the king eodem A frere obseruant stirreth themperour to warre 221 A skirmish betwixt the Duke 225 A conflict betwixt the Duke eodem A league of them of Strasborow Zuricke and Bernes 85 A confutation of the Protestantes 88 A confession of the Zwinglians 88 A story of the king of Fraunce 101 A controuersy of the bishoppe of Bantberge with the Marques of Brandenburge 103 A bishops office 111 An assemble at Regenspurge 73 An assembly at Spires 79 A treatise of peace betwixt Fraunce England 227 A brute of warre againste the Protestauntes 228 Ambassadors to themperor for tharchbishop of Collon 230 A decre of the Sinode read 231 Alphonse Diaze commeth into Germany 234. Alphonse returneth to Nuburge to kill his brother eodem A communicatioÌ of the Lantzgraue others 237 A diuision amonges thelectors 241 A statute of Trent 243 A decre of originall sinne eodem An aunswer of them of Strasborough to themperor eodem An heape of euils of ciuel war 244 A league betwixt the Pope and themperor 246 A preatence of mouinge war 247 Albert of Brunswicke hurt 265 Alteration in Sauoy 266 A warlike pollicy of themperor 267 An other pollicy of themperor eodem Aucthoritye can not beare equallitye 271 A decre of the counsel at Trent of iustification 276 A Dolphe substituted to Hermon archbishop of Collon 277 Alteration of Religion 278 Alteration in the Courte of Fraunce 282 A pergidu of the sonne 285 An assembly of the Empyre at vrmes 286 An assemble at Auspurge 291 An holy boxe sent downe from heauen you may be sure eodem A conspiraty against the Popes sonne 294 A reformation of Religion in EnglaÌd 297 Albert receiued into the tuition of the king of Pole 3021 A disordained ordre of knightes 303 A composition of peace 305 A counsel called at Trent twise 309 An euil compiled booke ofte corrected 314 Ambrosa Blaurer the chiefest minister of the church 324 At Strausburge the Consull of th ãâ¦ã riâ eodem Augustus married a wife 327 A
Commotion in Kent 430 Cardinall Pole arriueth in England 438 Controuersy for the dominioÌ of Chatz 452 Cinistre suspition spread of the Cardinal of Auspurge 456 Commotions in England for suspition of a spiratie 469 Cardinals sent from the pope to themperor and Freuch king eodem Counsel begon at Regenspurg 470 Cause why Luther was not punished 41. Complaintes of them of Zurick 51 Cause of them hatred eodem Constancy of them of Zurick 52 Confession of the Protestauntes 88 Conspiraty of the Papistes against the Protestauntes 93 Complaint of the Pope to the kinge of Pole 97 Common wealth hath neade of manye remeadies 102 ContentioÌ betwene Erasmus and Luther 114 Clement the seuenth dieth 117 Counsel of Constaunce 149 Counsel of Myllen broken of 152 Craft of Popes eodem Cardinall Montaine striken with a fury 300 Cruel actes of Marques Albert. 434 D DUke Fredericke his wisdome 2 Disputation at Lipsia 18 Dissention betwixte Leo and hys Cardinals 38 Decrees of Pius and Iulius 23 Dyssentyon at Basill for Relygyon 80 Daunger of the Turke 85 Duke Ulrich expulsed out of his countrey 113 Disputation with the king of Anabaptistes 136 Duke George of Saxon dieth 176 Doctor barnes burnte in Smithfielde 174 Dure the chiefest Towne in those partes is taken 196 Depensius driuen to recant 20 Duke of Moris maketh lawes for the ministers of the church 202 Duke Moris foundeth three Scholes eodem Duke Moris is beneficiall to the vniuersity of Lipsia eodem Dissention in Scotland 205 Duke Moris serued themperor at Landerssy 206 Duke Moris intreateth a peace 405 Duke Henry and his Sonne yeld them selues eodem Diaze goeth to Maluenda Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepareth to warre Duke Frederick chosen Emperor Donauerde taken Donauerde rendred 265 Duke Maurice consulteth agaynste the Potestauntes 266 Duke Maurice letters to the Electour 269 Duke Maurice blamed of all men 270 Duke Maurice Excuses eodem Duke Maurice nothing couetous eod Duke Maurice followeth Doeg 275 Duke Ericke discomfited 287 Duke Maurice and the elector of BraÌdenburge intreat for the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice letters to the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice intreateth liberallye to the deuines of Wittemberge 291 Duke of Placence depryued Hierom. 294 Daughter of Nauarre married to the duke of Uandome 321 Duke Henry besiegeth the city of BruÌswicke 348 Dracutus an archpirate 348 Duke Maurice general of the war 351 Duke Maurice besiegeth Maidenburg 352 Duke Maurice letters to the Emperoure 363 Duke Morice seaseth vpon the dominion of Chatz 370 Duke Morice entendeth to warre vpon themperor 373 Discipline amongst the fathers 374 Duke Maurice feared of themperours 380 Duke Maurice ambassadoure sente away 381 Duke Maurice letters to hys ambassadours 384 Duke Maurice taketh Auspurge by coÌposition 388 Diuers minds in the counsel of Trent 389 Duke Moris goeth to the field 395 Duke Moris letters to the king 399 Duke Moris nie slaine 40 Duke Moris weary of delaies 47 Duke Moris reburneth his fellowes 48 Duke Moris admitteth peace 410 Duke de Anmalle taken Prysonner 44 Duke Morleague wyth the Duke of Brunswicke 420 Duke Maurice wan the field and loste his life 422 Duke Henry of Brunswicke marrieth a wife 465 Duke Frederickes answer 26 Deuines of Paris condempn Luthers bokes 32 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepare them to warre 78 Duke of Saxon Marshall of the Empyre 90 Duke of Saxon letters to the Prynces 98 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue wryte to the French king 166 Death of the french king 282 Daughter of Scotland affiansed to the king of England 308 Death of Sigismund king of pole 305 Duke of Swaybrige molested for Religion 332 Death of Pope Paule the thyrd 336 Disputation at Baden 71 Decre for religion 70 Decre of the duke of Loraine 50 Disputation at Zuricke 44 Decre of the Swices 45 Daniel expounded how 89 Deluge at Rome and in Seland 94 Dombe sprite walking 114 Dukes Confession of the duke of Wittemberge 386 E ECkius boke against Luther 2 Erasmus iudgemente of Luther 16 Eneas Siluius 23 Erkius to Luther 28 Erasmus boke of fre wll 50 Eckius the Popes champion 52 England hath title to Fraunce 74 Erasmus boke against Gospellers 83 Erasmus wryteth to Campeius 90 English Bibles Printed at Parys 160 Ebleb a noble Gentleman dyeth for sorow 29 Execution done in the frenche kynges syght 335 Erle Hedecke frende to them of Maydenburge 361 Erenberge taken away 40 Ecclesiasticall lawes in England 432 England is tourned to her vomyt 439 Emperour sendeth for Luther 28 Emperour wryteth to Luther eodem Emperours letters to the Princes of Germany 65 Ende of the Papistes dectrine 67 Emperoure marrieth a wife 71 Exhortation of the Lantzgrane 57 Excuse of some to the Protestauntes 94. Emperor of necessity graunteth peace to Germany 108 Emperoure goeth into Italy 109 Erroures of the Anabaptist 133 Erroures of the MuÌsterians in fayth 135 English ambassadors winter at Wittenberge 139 Emperoure inuadeth the frenche prouince 140 Erasmus death eodem Emperour French king and the pope mete at Nice 59 Emperors and French kings ambassador to the Uenerians 168 Emperors priuate wryting for the protestauntes 183 Emperors letters to them of Collon 203 Emperors answer to the pope 195 Emperors letters to the states of Boheme 283 Emperors soÌne commeth into Flaunders and he is receiued at Millan 330 F FRaunce and Germany were vnited 12 Frederick the Paulsgraue sent into Spain 14 Flatterers must be eschued 18 Fraunce is offred to the spoiles 19 Feare for the host 47 Feare in Muncers camp 57 Faith ought not to wauer 65 Faber driuen out of Paris 66 Fardinando forsaking king Lewes 77 Fardinandoes title to Hongary eo Fraunces Sfortia reforced to the dukedom of Millan 83 Florence rendred 90 Florence loseth her liberty eodem Fardinando proclaimed Kinge of Romaines 98 Frances Sfortia marrieth the Emperors Niece 117 Folish pity marreth the city 122 Fredericke forsaketh the bishoppricke 128 From the horse to the asse 130 Franckfurt receiued into the league 139 False doctrine is not to be born wyth 151 Fardinando his army destroyed 154 Fardinandoes request 173 Fiers in Saxony 174 Fardinando besieged Buda 184 FardinaÌdo defeateth the request of his nobles 186 Frances Lander coÌmitted to Pryson his weaknes and recantation 200 Few Spaniardes loue the Gospel 233 Friers be disturbers of peace 236 Friers are vile in life and learnynge 237 Feare in themperors campe 259 Force ought not to be vsed in Religyon 260 Fraunce denied to aid Protestauntes 264 Fardinando Sebastian deputye proclaimeth war to Saxony 269 Fardinando to the Bohemera 283 Fardinando ambassadour to the Bohemers 284 FardinaÌdo goth which his army to Proge 291 Freight with others caried to prisone 325 Frances Spiera dispaired 327 Fraunces Spiera his recantation his death in despair with comfort 328 Forces bent against Maidenburge 350 Folish ceremonies 358 Fiue of them studentes of Lossaunce french men borne 424 Fiue condempned at London for the Gospel 440 For Churche goodes all coutrouersyes are taken away 461 Fraunce
venery displeased eodem Fredericke Counte Palatines death 465 French king taken prisoner 43 Faith of Abraham obtained greate benefites of God 56 French league against themperor 71 Frenche kinges letters to the Prynces of Germany 73 French kinges inuentions against the Emperour 79 French kinges oration 120 French kinges letters eodem French warreth againste the Duke of Sauoy 38 Frenche kinge kissed the Popes ryght fote 159 French king geueth counsel to the Duke of Wittemberge 166 French kinges answer to themperors letters 199 French king coÌpared to the Turk 207 French king hated of all men for the Turkes societe 211 Frowardnesse of the Duke of Brunswicke 225 French king is receiued into Paris 235 French dischargeth his army 410 French kinges Proclamation against condemned of thinquisition 452 G GRece and Bohemes happines 3. Gerson of Paris 8 Gesmer captain of the boures 54 Gods power appeareth in fewest men 56 Gods wrath is slow but yet sore 58 George Duke of Saxon hateth the gospel 67 Godlines is not to be sought for in the Court 68 Great ghostly fathers 89 God bridleth the power of Sathan 134 Great execution done at Gaunt 171 Granuellans oration at Wormes 174 George of Austryche apprehended at Lions 184 God offreth hys worde before he Plageth 185 Gropper commended Bucer 187 Gwelphians eodem Gibellines whiche were names of the Emperiall eodem Geneua 192 Grashopper in Germany and Italy 193 Gropper forsaketh the gospel 202 Greate Princes sue for the Popes fauour 305 Griniam the French ambassador 309 Granuellan his answer to the Lantzgraue 409 General counsel promised 72 Great slaughter 105 Great alteration in England 113 Great assemble at Regenspurge 176 Gonzage gouerne of Millane 501 God is not the author of wrong 263 Gropper had the spoile of Frede. 277 Godly preachers flie 315 Ganimede nourished by the pope 348 God woundeth and healeth 357 Germany the fortresse of Christendom 394 George duke of Megelburge slain 408 Great frendship betwixt duke Maurice and Marques Albert. 422 George Earle of Mount Pelicart marieth the Lantzgraue daughter 453 Gospell is slaundred wyth rebellyon 63 Godly constancye of the Duke of Saxons children 322 H HEbrue bookes of thre sortes 20 How the scripture muste be handled 22 Honoures chaunge manners 23 Henrye King of Englande wryteth against Luther 34 How the yoke of Papistes is to be shaken of 48 Henry Zutphan put to death 50 How the magistrate should deale wyth the Papistes 58 How wicked dominion is to be shaken of 58 Hunting hauking and fishinge prohited 60 How ministers should be ordained 62 Hipocrisy of bishops 75 How scripture should be expounded 82 Hugh Capet Earle of Paris 101 How a free counsell is to be vnderstaÌd 111 Hirman Stapred 128 Heldus the Emperoures ambassador 143 Heldus Oration at Smalcald eodem Harlots honored at Rome 157 Hatred betwixt counsellers 170 His arme discomfited 184 Howe the Turkes atcheued the Empyre 187 His death 194 His weakenes before the king 202 Holy men haue had leagues wyth men of contrary Religion 211 Hermon leueth his Bishopprick 277 How miserable is it for the Quene for to marry with a straunger 311 He that doth against his conscience procureth him self hel fire 316 Hallowing of churches 333 Hallowing of Belles 334 Hallowing of altares 334 Hedeck and Mansfield discomfyted by Duke Morice 352 How much the papistes esteme Scripture 383 Heldius answer 147 I IHon Tecel a Dominican Frier set vp conclusyons at Frankfurt 1. Indulgences to be vsed after the Canon law 2. Iames Hogestrate wrote againste Luther 3. Ihon Wickliffe an English man 32 Ihon Husse a Boheme eodem Ihon Husse appealeth froÌ the pope eo Ihon Husse and Ierom of Prage burned eodem Iniquity procedeth froÌ the priestes 40 It is not lawful for vs to kil any maÌ 43 Images burnt at Zurick 48 Ihon Fredericke of Saxon marrieth Sthel of Cleaue 74 Ihon Uaivodes letters to the states of th empyre 76 Ihon Uayuodes ambassadors takeÌ 77 Images put downe 80 Images burnt on Ashwedensday eod Inas king of Brittain 114 Idle Nunnes marchant women 120 Ihon Leidan an Anabaptiste 128 Ihon Mathew the high Prophet 130 Iesting punished eodem Ihon Leidan inuadeth the kingdoÌ eo Ihon Leidans pompe 131 Ihon Husse at Constance 199 Ihon Caluin and Peter Bruly superintendantz of the Colledge of Stras borough 168 Ihon Isleby chief of the Antimo 172 Inuectiues vnmete for princes 174 Ioy in France at themperors losse 185 Ihon Miners president of the Counsel at Agnes 219 Iustus Ionas asked whether we shall know eche other in the life to come 232 Ihon Diaze a Spaniard 233 Ihon Isseby a Reuolt 310 It is daunger to vse forain aides 311 Ihon Marques of BraÌdeÌburge refuseth thinterim 315 Isseby rewarded of themperor 320 Inquisitions of Uergetius 320 Iuly the third consecrated bishop 343 Interrogatories for the Ministers of Auspurge 383 Ihon Sleidan ambassador for Strausburg to thempire 373 Ihon Frederick demaundeth laÌds and dignities 423 Ihon a Laisco a Polonian 432 Interrogatories Ministred to the Abbot of Newstat 436 Ioy at Rome for Englande reduced to the Romish church 443 Indulgences graunted by the Pope for the conuersyon of England eodem Ihon Fredericke the electours Sonne marieth 451 Ihon Gropper made Cardinall 461 Ihon Sleidane dieth 470 Iudges of the chamber trouble the protestauntes 123 Ihon Laydon parradocsises 131 Iudges of the chambre 144 Ignorannce of the people is gaine full to the priestes 150 Iudges of the chambre shal kepe theyr place 212 Ignoraunce of the people for lacke of teachinges 237 Interim permitteth Priestes to keepe theyr wines stil 313 K KInges of Naples paye Tribute to Rome 11. King Henry the eighte calleth hys mariage in question 113 Kingdoms destroid for Idolatry 185 Kinges of Fraunce moste addict to the Pope 200 King HeÌry banished the Pope but not Popery 278 King Ferdinando moueth the Bohemers to warre 279 King of Fraunces fautour of âear 282 King Fardinandoes letters to the Bohemers 286 King Fardinando requyreth mouye of the states 314 King Phillip inuested in Flaun. 337 Kinges haue long armes 279 King Edward sore sicke 408 King Fardinando proclaimeth warre against Albert. 408 King Phillip arriueth in Eng. 437 Kinge Phillippe came to his father to Brurels 453 King Phillip entreth into And. 462 King Fardmando goeth into Boheme 466 King of Denmarke slieth 41 King of England wryteth to the princes of Sarony 44 Kinges sonnes are pledges 69 King of Hongary slain 71 King Henry hated againste the Pope 114 Kinges supper and murder 132 King of England patrone of the Protestauntes league 139 King Edward the .vi. borne 154 King of Englande refuseth the Counsell eodem King of Englande hated of the Pope eodem King of England maried the .vi. wife 187 Kinges purgation 191 King of Denmarke warreth vppon the imperials 266 King of England warneth the Protestaunts of the daunger 227 King of Denmarke aided not the Protestauntes 275 King is apparelled like a deacon 292 L LUthers letters to the Bishoppe of Mentz 1. Luthers questioÌs at
Wittenberge 1 Luthers exception eodem Luthers letters to Pope Leo. 2 Luthers answer to Siluester Prierias eodem Luthers second aunswere to Siluester Prierias 3 Luthers forsaking of Rome eodem Luther cited to Rome 4. Luther is called to AuspurgeÌ 5. Luthers conference with Cardinal Caietane eodem Luther appealeth 6 Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsel 9 Luthers letters to the Pope 17 Luthers boke to the duke of Saxon. 18 Luthers boke condemned at Louain 19. Laurence valla eodem Luthers letters to themperor 21 Luthers letters to the archbishoppe of Mentz eodem Luthers letters to the bishop of Merseburge 22 Luther cursed of the pope 23 Luther impugneth the Popes censure 24 Luthers boke of the captiuity of Babilon eodem Luthers bokes are burnt 26 Luther burneth the Canon law 27 Luther cometh to Wormes eodem Luther pledeth his cause before themperor and the hole Empire 1. Luthers answer to the princes 39 Luther sent away from Wormes 31 Luther is outlawed by themperor 33 Luther wrote suÌdry bokes in his exile eodem Luther is conueied out of daunger eo Luther returneth to Wittenberge 35 Luther foreseeth the tempest comming eodem Luther wryteth to the Bohemerâ 36 Luther wryteth against the bishops eo Luther a Frier 38 Luther compared with Mahomet 40 Luther expoundeth the Popes laying eodem Luther interpreteth the decrees of the Princes 43 Luther wrote to the Senate of Prage eodem Luther wrote of eschuing the doc 44 Luther compared to Mahomet 50 Luther disswageth al men from sedi 58 Luther did more with the worde then could haue bene done by forc eodem Luthers answer to the boures 60 Luthers office 63 Luther bloweth the troÌpet against 64 Luther to vehement 65 Luther married a Nonne eodem Luther and Zwinglius mete at 66 Luthers letters of submission to the. 67 Luthers letters to George duke of eo Leonard Cesar apprehended for the. 74 Lawes of disputation 75 Lantrech besiegeth Naples eodem Luther and Zwinglius dispute at 83 Luther wrote a boke to the bishops 96 Luther comforteth Melancthon eodem Luthers opinion of mens traditioÌs eo Letter of the duke and Lantzgraue 103 Luthers counsel 112 Luthers purgation eodem Luther comforteth thexiles eodem Luthers opinion touching the spri 116 Luthers wryting of Munster 134 Legions of soldiors in Fraunce 137 Luthers constancy 138 Like lips like lettes 151 Longolnis oration against the Lu. 167 Lascus committed to prison 175 Luthers boke against the Duke of 176 Luther is cursed of the Pope 175 Langeus letters to Alphonse 184 Luthers oration for the field 189 Lawes against deflowrers of vir 202 Laundersey besieged 205 Luthers boke of the Lordes supper 215 Luthers answer to them of Louain 218 Luthers boke against the Pope 222 Luthers Themes of iii. gouern eodem Luthers picture against the pope eodeÌ Luther a Prophet eodem Luther chosen arbitror 231 Luther wareth sicke 232 Luthers last prayer eodem Luthers birth eodem Luther sent to Rome eodem Luther eloquent in the dutch eodem Lightning caused destruction 255 Liberty is exiled out of the counsel 256 Letters for the Lantzgraue to 295 Letters of Strasborough to them 326 Luther brought in contempte the Popish Ceremonies 334 Lewes Marsile one of the prisoners 423 Libels strowed about in London 461 Lady Clinor commeth into France 86 Lantzgraue departeth from Ausp 89 Lantzgraue goeth to the freÌch king 113 Lantzgraue boroweth Monye of the French king eodem Lady Mary proclaimed bastard 114 Lantzgraue taketh his leaue of themperoure 240 M MAximilians letter to Poope Leo concerning Luther 3 Maximilians death 10 Many sectes in the popish kingdom 36 Maner of chusing themperor 10 Matrimony lawful for all men 47 Muncer a great Anabaptist 55 Muncer wil haue a token of God eodeÌ Muncer maketh gunnes eodem Muncer teacheth that all thinges shuld be common eodem Muncer raileth on the princes 56 Muncer disceyueth the people by the rainbow eodem Muncer is taken his cruel answer and he is reproued of the Lantzgraue 57 Muncer repenteth at the hour of death eodem Mishaps of the french king 82 Matters receiued in religion 89 Monestical vowes 124 Munster a city of Westphalia 137 Maidens do prophecy 130 Mariage counted whoredome 135 Many filthy actes of Monkes 156 Meanes to restore the ecclesiastical 181 Melancthon and pristor come to 201 Miners president of Aygwes 219 Miners leuieth a power againste Ualdois 219 Maluenda treateth of iustification 229 Marquin excuseth Diaze 234 Mariages in broil of warre 254 Maurice loueth his townes 276 Marques Albert sent to aid 277 Mendoza ambassade from the Frenche King to Strasburge 279 Marques Albert taken prisoner 280 Mihel Sidonie a great MasmoÌger 294 Muskel borowe field 296 Muleasses king of Tones 313 Maximilian marieth his cosen 315 Musculus departeth to Bernes 316 Maximilian warred against the Swissers 322 Maried Priestes plucked from they re wyues 329 MelanthoÌ defeÌdeth the Adiaphorist 333 Monseur Ueruine beheaded 336 Maximilian cometh out of Spayne 353 Melanthon best learned 359 Mony gathered for the warre of Mayden burge 760 Maximilian entreth into Trent 378 Marques Albertes letters agaynst theÌperoure 393 Marten van Rossem spoileth Champanie 399 Marques Albert warreth for hym selfe 406 Marques Albert the scourge of Pristes 410 Marques Albertes request to Straseburge 410 Marques Albert refuseth peace 101 Marques Albert entreth Treuers 412 Marques Antonius Ambassadoure of Uenisse 413 Marques Alberte reconciled to Themperoure 413 Marques Albert sendeth to the Emperoure 420 Marques Albert outlawed 429 Marques Albert goeth to Sewinforte and flyeth 436 Maryburge taken 473 Melanthon conforteth the mynisters of Boheme 449 Marcellus the Second choseÌ Pope 450 Marcellus the Second dyeth 450 Maurenburge vitaled 452 Mount Calue is taken by the Frenchmen 453 Masse abolished at Zuricke 54 Madnes of the Munsterians 57 Magestrates is as necessarye as the Sonne to the worlde vi Marques letters to the state of Duke Maurice 42 Ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 N NEw pardons 9 No man may be kepte froÌ the gospell 6â Newes of the Turkes Coming 200 Newes of the Turkes approche 1â Nauius hath the place of Heldus 174 Nuburge rendered to the Emperoure 264 Notes of the Interim by the Bishop of Rome 314 No man oughte to be compelled to hys fayth 319 New ambassadours from Wittenberg 375 Norinberge hath peace with the Marques 402 Nyne bournte at Lyons 423 Note how Bisshoppes seke authoritie of kinges to condemne 454 Nombers of great gonnes taken front protestauntes 29 Notes of the Interim by the bysshops of Rome 313 O O Eham condemned in Paris 19 Of the original of the Turkes 190 Of ecclesiasticall benefites 281 Out of the conclaue came most fylthys Letters 343 Ortauious Farnesius clieÌt to the freÌch kinge 360 Oration of tharchbishop of Treuers 12 Opinion of the Cyties touchynge the king of Romaines 102 Othe of the Electors 406 Oration of the Popes ambassadour to the Duke of Saxon. 109 Oration of Themperours Ambassadour 109 OratioÌ of the french ambassadours 123 Ofspring of
Who were outlawed by the Emperour 320 Who impugned the Interim 322 Uergecius vanquished with the truth 328 Uergecius repaireth to Mantua and is put out of the Counsell 329 Uergecius Preacheth the Gospell in Rhetia eodem What thynges offende many 353 Why the Clergie forsake the citee 356 Wonders in Saxonie 360 Wilie begiled 379 Warre in Italie 48 Winchester made Chaunceler 425 Warres renued betwixte the Duke of Brunswick marques Albert. 426 Uercelles surprised 429 Wiat taken and committed to pri 431 Uulpian victualed 452 Uulpian taken raced by the Frenche kyng 453 Whether peace should be giuen to the religion or no. 455 Unconstancie of Clement 53 Uictorie of themperialles eodem Winnyng of Munster 136 Warres of Geneua against the Duke of Sauoy 137 Uenecians league with the Emperour 138 Uenecians Ambassadour to the Turk 169 FINIS â Imprinted at London by Ihon Daie for Nicholas Englande M D. LX. The. 26. daie of September Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Luthers letter to the B. of Mentz B. of MaydeÌburgs charge Luthers 95 questions at Wittenberge Luthers exception The B. of Mentz clence Ihon Tecell ft. do concl at frankford Luters letters to Pope Leo. Duke Fredericks wisdom Echins booke against Luth. Siluester priers dialogue Silue priers Themes Luth. answer to Sil. priers Scriptur and choldewriters only to be also wed Iudulgences to be vsed after the Canon lawe The CiuiliaÌs vse of citing Silut prier seconde aunswer to Luth. Thomas of Aquine Albertus magnus scollar Thomas of Aquine a salt Thomas of Aquin geueth authoritie to the Pope 1274. Thom. of Aq. died Luth. seconde answer to Siluester prier Rome the seat of Antechrist Grece and Bohemes happines Lut. his forsakiÌg of Rome The caus whâ the By. of Rome is extold Princes of necessitie must reforme Ro. The bishop of Rome bounde as other to Gods commaundement Iames Hogestrate wrote against Luther Thassembly at Ausputge by Maximilian The treaty of warre against the Turke Albert archb of Mentz mabe Cardinall The cause of his Cardinalship Maximilians lettre to Pope Leo coÌcerning Luther Luther is cited to Rome The Popes letters to the duke of SaxoÌ The Popes letters to Gabriel veneius The vniuersitie of Wittenberg writeth for Luther Luther is called to Auspurg His conferens with Cardinal Caietane Luther appeleth The welspring of Pardons The pope vnder the Coun. Gerson of Paris Pope Iohn is deposed Caietan writeth to the duke of Saxonie The dukes letters to the Cardinall The Uniuersitie of Wittenberge writeth for Lut. New pardoÌn Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsell The Pope sendeth a golden Rose to the duke of Saxonie The death of Maximilian The swisses banquished Kinges of Naples paye tribute to Rome An oration of the Archebyshop of MeÌiz The oration of the Archbi of Treuers Fraunce and Germani wer ãâ¦ã ted Themperour Raffe The duke of Saxo. refuseth to be Emperour Charles is declared Emperour Friderick the Paulsgraue sent into Spaine 1500 The byrth of the Emperor The manes of chosing âhe Emperour Erasmus iudgement of Luther The disputatis at Lypsia 1520 Luters letters to the Pope The court of Rome is vnturable Conditions propounded by Luther Flatterats must be eschewed The part of a true frende Luth. boke to the duke of Saronie Confession of synnes The supper vnder bothe kindes The wishe of Pope Pius The counsell of Latherane The counsel of Pisa The Popes Shifie Fraunce is offered to the spoile At Rome they doubt of the immortalitie of the Soule Luth. Bookes condemned at Louaine Capnio Rewcline Ockam Picus mirandula Lawrence Ualla Aristotle WilliaÌ OckaÌ The story of Reuchliue Hebrew bokes of thre sortes Luthers letters to the emperor Luth. letters to the archbishop of MeÌtz His annswere to Luther How scripture must be hadled Luth. letters to the Bish oy Merseburge His aunswers to Luther The pope curseth Luther The Bulle of Leo. The decree of Pius Iuliê° Aeneas Siluius Honors chaÌge maners Luth. impugneth the popes censure Luth. booke of the captiuitie of Babilou Thre Sacrases Which are properly called Sacrament The maner of the CoronatioÌ Themperor calleth a couÌsel imperial The Pope was subiecte to themperor The lawe of Clement The courte of Rome in Fraunce The duke of Saro incensed againste Luther The answer of duke Friderike Luthers bokes are brââ Luther burneth the Canon laws Booke burners Catarinus writeth against Lut. The Emperour sent for Luther to Wormes The Empe. writeth to Luther The Bul of cursyng The constaÌcie of Luth. Lut. coÌmeth to Wormes Eckius to Luther Lu. pleadeth his cause before themperour and the whole Empire Iohn .xviii. Pope Cost sell may erre Treuers other Princes threateneth Luther Luthers answer to the Princes The offenca of Faith and maners Actes .v. Luth. sent awaye scom Wormes Iohn Wiclâffe an Englishe man Iohn Husse a Bohemer Husse appealeth from the Pope The CouÌsel of CoÌstauÌce Iohn Husse Hierome of Praga burned Thre Popes deposed The Diuines of Paris condempne Luth. bokes Thauthoritie of the Diuines of Paris The Swysses make a league wyth the Frenche kynge Thirtene townes of Swysses The libertie of the Swysses Luib is ontlawed by the Emperour Luth. is conuetghed out of daunger Sunday bokes of Luth. Of themasse to be abolisshed The best thiges please fewest men Henry kyng of Englande writeth against Luth. Themperor hath warre with FrauÌce The death of Leo the .x. Adrian succedeth Leo. The Turke taketh Belgrade Commotfôs in Spaine The lady Mart assured to theÌperor Who is author of single life Lut. rotaurneth to Wittenberge Luther foreseeth the teni pest coÌmyng Luther writeth to the Bohemers Many sectes in the popish kingdome Three sectes of the Bohemers Lu. writeth againste the Bishoppes Adrian writeth to the duke of Sa. Reucline dieth The Pope writeth letters to at the princes of Germany 1. Corin. ãâã Luthers Frere The warre of Treuers The Popes letters to Strasburge The stocke of Aorian Dissention betwixt Leo and his Cardinals A disputatioÌ at Zuricke The questions of Zuinglius The request of Adrian to dispatch Lu. Luth. compared with Bahomet Iniquitie procedeth froÌ the Priestes The synne of Rome spred ouer al the worlde Lut. expoundeth the Popes saiynge The meane to let couÌsels The answer of the prices Why Luth. was not punished The maner of a free couÌsell An alteratiû in Denmark The king of Denmarke flecth Cornelles Scepper The beginnyng of the first fruictes and tenthes A Romishe Palle Two freres brent at Brusels The Ceremonies of disgratyng Luth. interpreteth the ãâã of the Princes The Bible to be preferred before all others Lut. wrot to the Senate of Prage Luther wrot of eschewing the doctrine of men The death workes of Hutten The king of Englande writeth to the princes of Saxonie The answer of duke George Adrian the Pope dyeth Clement succedeth Zuinglius is broughtin hatred The eatyng of Fleshe A new disputatioÌ at Zu Priestes maried wiues Pope ClemeÌt sendeth Campegius to duke Fri. A decree of the Suyses
decres of Spires Certen princes resist the same Who be the authors of dissention Howe scripture shoulde be expouÌded The decre of Wormes Thorigicall of Protestantes Ciuil warre emong the Swicers Mishappes of the freÌche kyng The peace of Canbrey The Turke besegeth Uienna The sweating sicknes Sondry plages Two clerks brenct at Collon Luther and Zwinglius dispuie at Marpurg The maner of their agrement Erasmus boke againste Gospelers Fraunces Sfortia The Ambassadours of the Protestants to the Emp. The Emperours aunswere Daunger of the Turke The Ambassadours appeale GraÌunulane A boke presented to the Emperour The honeste of a byshoy An assemble at Smalcald A league of theÌ of Stransborough Zuricke and Bernes The chambre wryteth to Straush The Protestantes asseÌble at Norinberge An assemble at Auspurg The Emperours coronatioÌ at Bonony The diuines of that protest The lady Eleuour commeth into Fraunce Uergerius that popes ambassadour The princes that woulde not heare Masse The office of the Duke of Saxon. The Turks victorye in Hongary The Turks crueltie The oration of Cardinall Campega The coÌplais of the Ambassadour of Austriche The confession of the protestantes A consultation of the ProtestaÌtes doctryne A confession of the Zwinglians Thinges refused Matters receiued That the Masse is a sacrifice A fayre exposition of Daniel Good ghostly fathers The Lantgraue departeth from Auspurg Duke of Saxon Marschall of the Empyre The warre of Florence The Pope made a league with the Emperour Florence rendred Florence loseth her libertie Certen chosen to accord Religion The Protestantes were laboured Erasmus writeth to Campegius The Power of the Turk The Bohemers The Empeoracion to the ProtestaÌtes Their aunswere to the Emperour A decree made A counsell promysed Scripture is the touche stone of all doctryne An Apologie deliuered but not receiued The Emp. to the Protest Prayers mixt with threatnings The conspiracie of the Papistes againste the ProtestaÌtes The protest spoyle no maÌ The protest accused of sedition The drone bees desyre to be restored into the hyue The excuse of some to the ProtestaÌtee A deluge at Rome in Selande A coÌfutatioÌ of Zwilius doctrine Their aunswer to the same Poore Luther maketh many men ryche The decree of Auspurg Luth. wrote a booke to the byshoppes Luther comforteth Melancton Luthers opinion of mis-traditions The church oppressed with Tyranny is to be excused The papists are accused of rerages Bucer laboreth for a coÌcorde The Lantgraue made a league with Strausbotough Zurick and Basyn The league of the Protestantes at Smalcalde The coÌplait of the Pope to the kynge of Poole The Pope is a sayler The Protestauntes letters against Ferdinando The duke of Saxons letters to the Princes The causes of creating a kyng of Romaines Ferdinando proclaimed kyng of Romaines The protest letters to the kynges of Fraunce of Englande Gerson Collet Their appelation The bishops of DeÌmarke resute the Gospell The lawes permitte that the inferiour Magistrate maye in som cases resist that superiour Newes of that Turkes coÌmyng The Archebyshop of Treers departeth Bucer set order in that churches at Uimes The quene of Hungary made regeÌt of FlauÌders The aunswere of the FreÌch kyng to the protestauntes The amitie of Fraunce and Germa A story of that kyng of fraunce Charles the great Lewys the fyfte Hugh Capet The answer of the kynge of England The commoÌwealth hath nede of many remedies The opinsoÌ of the cities of the kynge of Romains The Duke of Saxons doubte of that Swycers The Palsgraue and that archbyshop of Mentz intercessonrs A controuersy of the byshop of BaÌberge with the Marques of Brandenburg The Appellation of the Marques The Erles of Nassowe Neuenar Upon what conditions the Duks of Saxon wyll come to the assemble The intercessours and Protestant Letters of that Duke the Lantgraue to the intercessours Warres in SwycerlaÌce Condicions or peace Thei of Zarick disconfited The death of Zwyng A beastlye cruelite An other slaughter The death of Oecolampadius The Assemble of RegeÌspurge Conditions of a peace betwene the Emperour and Protest Conditions of creatinge a kynge of Romaynes The othe of theelectoars The Dukes of Bauer misliked the election of FerdinaÌdo The aunswer of the Duke to the itercessours The craft of the Papistes A cancorde The Emperour of necessitie graunteth peace to Germany The ââibre of Protest The assemble at RegeÌspurge Christierne kyng of Denmarck is taken The Turck inuaded Austriche The death of the Duke of Saxon. The slaughter of that Turkysh warre A blasyng Starre The Empe. goeth into Italy The Pope serueth the tyme. The OratioÌ of the Popes Ambassad to the Duke of Saron The Popes policie The OratioÌ of the Emperours Amb. The Duke of Saxons aunswere The Prote aunswere to the Pope Emperour Wherof sprang the dissention of Religion How a free counsel is to be vnderstaÌd The couÌsels are swarued from their old puritie The Empe. part to d ãâ¦ã d Religion The Pope is plentife defendauÌt iudge The Popes snares The bishops office Uergerius The Pope sleeth the couÌsell The craft of Duke George to fynde out the Lutherians Luthers couÌsell Luthers purgation Christe was called seditious He comforteth the eriâes Pope Clement coÌmeth to Macilles For many suppose hym a bastarde A consecrating of Cardinalles Unmete mariage The Lantgraue goeth to the FreÌch kyng Duke Ulrich expulsed The Lantgraue boroweth monye of the FreÌch kyng A great alte ratioÌ in Englande Kyng HeÌry The inconstancie of Pope Clement The vniuersities of Paris others quene Anne loued the Gospell The death of Cardinall Woolsey The Lady Mary a bastarde The kinges hatred against the Pope Inas kyng The conteÌtion betwen Erasmus Luther The traged of the Grey freers The soleÌne burieng in Fraunce False doctours The dume Spirite Questions moued to that dome spirit The game prayers called to paris The condeÌpnation of fal ãâ¦ã rs Persecution against Lutherians Spirites in the Popyshe kingdome Luthers apt ãâ¦ã oÌ touching the spirites The victory of the Lant Conditions of peace Condicions betwixt Ferdinando and Duke Ulri The liberal ãâ¦ã tie of that freÌch kyng The Lantgraues letters to the Emperour The Empe. aunswere Sfortia married that Emp. Nece The death of Clement the seuenth Paule the .iii. Paule was ãâ¦ã r than Clement The practise of Prelates Andrewe Gritte Lewys his sonne Hongary Persecution in Fraunce The punyshment of the Godly The crueltie of Iohn Morin A booke of marchauÌted Crafty marchauntes Busy marchauntes A straunge chaunge The Price of the masse is derer som tyme after as the parsoÌ is the od marchaunt Pope Iohn a woman Couetous marchaunts Proude marchauntes Theuishe marchaunts Brawlynge Freers Selling of benefices Angry salutes Wyly marchauntes Idle N ãâ¦ã S. Geneuefa that goddes of Paris The kinges oration The maner of execution in Fraunce The Lutherians are ab borred The FreÌche kinges letters The Lantgraue The Emperour voiage into Barbaria Barbarossa Rochestr More beheaded Rochester Cardinall The death of Sfortia Uergerusto the Duke of Saxen The Dukes aunswer Uergerus
spake with Luther The answer of the Prot. Crueltie is vnsemely in churchmen Their craft is spied The Empe. may order counsels Pepes concempned of Heresy The oration of the FreÌch Ambassad Folysh pitie marreth a citie Of Fraunce and Germany one ofspring The iudges of the chamber trouble that ProtestaÌtes The Emp. letters The answer of the Protestauntes to the Frenche Ambassad The duty of Princes The kinges opinion of matters in controuersie The commoÌplaces of Malancthon The masse mainteineth purgatory Monasticall voues Paphnutius The Lordes suppervnder both kyndes The kynges of Fraunce and Nauane ercommunicated The protest would make no league with the kyng the oratioÌ of byshop Fore Ambassa for the kynge of Englande The alteration of Religion in Englande The state of the churche troublesome The rage of Antichrist The protest league is renewed The Erle of Nassowe The Gospel receiued at Auspurge Munster a citie of Westophalia The original of Anabaptistes their doctrie and maners Rotman a Preacher The papists coÌ sesse their ignoraunce The papists forsake the citie Frederick forsaketh the byshoprike They of muÌster oppresse the papistes Condicious of peace Iohn LeidaÌ an Anabap. Herman Stapred The Anab. banished the citie Rotman became an Anabaptist The constaÌcie of Fabritius Peter Wirtemie A Prophet inspired Eiuile war in the citie Cnipperdolyng Iohn Matthewe the high prophet Maydens do prophecie Iestyng pânyshed The prophet inspired with ãâã Cnipperdoling prophecieth From the horse to the Asse The diuisioÌ of Germany into prouice The salshod of Leidane Twelue iudges The Paradoxes of iohn Leiden Sedition in the citie Iohn LeidaÌ inuadeth the kingdome A new king of Anabap. His pompe the madnes of Cnipper The boke of restitution Who wrote against theÌ A supper The Apost of Munster The kinges murther The preachers of MuÌster They be racked Their obstiuacie The Kynge taketh hede to hym selfe the errours and mischief of Anabap. A booke of that miââries of scripture The diuisioÌ of the world This preseÌt age cumpared to Esaw The kynge beheaded the Quene A blynd asse Luthers writig of MuÌst God bridleth the power of Sathan By what meanesmen be disceaued Croked necked cattell The craft of an ignorauÌt Deuyll Gods wrath By what meanes the deuil is vanquished The errours of the Munsterians in fayth In baptisme Of mariage The assemblie at Wormes The citie was required to rendre The coÌplait of the Munsterians Two escaping betraye the citie The wynnyng of MuÌster The kyng is taken Rotman desperate The byshop of Munster demaundeth his charges The kyng his fellowes caried about ãâ¦ã Disputation with the king ãâ¦ã The bolde aunswer of the kyng The cruell death of the kyng The death of quene Katherine The warre of Geneua with the duke of Sauoy The ayde of Bernes The FreÌche king against the Duke of Sauoye The Popes counsel to inuade Sauoy Legions of Souldiours The house of vicecouÌtes The FreÌche kinges title to Millan The Emperous oration against the FreÌche king The Uenetians league with the Emperour The Duke of Florence marieth the Emperours bastarde Luthers constancie Uergerius sent to the Emperour The diuisers of the bâll The king of England is patrone of the Proâ league The english Ambassad wynter at Wittebergâ The kinges letters to the Protestants The king of England requireth a coÌference of lerned men The kinges deuorcemeÌt Receyued in to league The lamentable death of Quene Anne A counsel is called Against the FreÌch kyng The Protestantes send to the Emp. The Empe. letters to the Protestant The Empe. inuadeth the French prouinces Peronne beseged The death of Fraunces the Dolphin A reformation of Collon The death of Erasmus Commotion in Linkcolnshyre Captayne Aske The Pope wyl reforme the court of Rome The king of Scottes maried that FreÌch kinges daughter The Duke of Florence slayne by his cosyn The Swycers sewe to the king for the Gospellers Hesdine rendred Cardinall Poole the Popes Ambassadour to the Frenche kyng A sworde hallowed Pooles boke against king Henry the eyght Cold reasoÌs for the popes supremacie He inceÌseth the Emper. against the king of Englande Poole was vnthankful His hipocrisie falshod A wryting of Auspurg The Prote Ambassad to the Emp. Heldus the Emperours Ambassad His sration at Smalcald The FreÌche practises The iudges of the chaÌber The Dukes aunswere The answer of Heldus The Popes Ambassad The Popes Ambassad vispysed The Popes errours The Popes vnreasonable authoritie Of the place of the couÌsel Athanasius Arrius Liberius The craft of Paule the. Popes haue Emperours in subsectioÌ The counsel of CoÌstasice Iohn Hussâ The Protestaunâes decre for mainteining Ministers Reason why the Protest refuse the Counsel Who ought to be at the counsell The Preachers of the Gospel haue brought godly workes to lyght It is false that they styre vp ãâã heresies Byshoppes styre vp prices False doctrine is not to be borne with Why the innocentes be in perill Thaâthoritie of iudgement is in the churche The Pope is accused of Idolatry Heresye Like lippes like lettuse The craft of the Pope Thosspring of C ãâ¦ã The Counsell of Mill ãâ¦ã broken of The Potest letters to the FreÌch king The queene of Scottes dieth The king of England re suseth the Counsell A proper saying of Cipriane TeroweÌ beseged invain Ferdinando his armie destroyed The birth of kiÌg Edward the sixt The Pope hateth the kyng Rebellion in Gelderland Pope Paule euil reported The Pope entended to make Erasmus Cardinall The Pope hath a double office Wherof ãâã meth the coÌtempt of the Clergie Who ought to be made Bishoppes Unlawefull to geue benefices by legacye A pristes son may not inioy his fathers benefice Why Cardinals were fyrst made Aâarice and concupisceÌce let counsels Many filthy actes of Monkes The cowle maketh not the Monke Simony reigneth in the churche Harlottes honoured at Rome Presidentes of the couÌsel 1538 The Cardi ⪠of Capua caÌ abide no reformation The Colloquie of Erasmus MomoraÌciâ made constable of Fraâ Christiane kinge of DeÌmarke receiueth the gospell The Duke of Pruse is outlawed A gentlemaÌ of Tolouse burnt at Paris Themperor the frenche king and the pope meets at Nice Andrâw de Aurie The meting ofthemperor the kynge The FreÌche kinge kissed the Popes right foote The Bishop of Liege made his graue yet liuing English Bibles were printed at Paris The ignoraunce of the people is gainefull to priestes A colledge erected at Strausâ Iohn Caluin Peter Brulie Thomas Becket Newes of the Turkes approche The Marquses of ãâ¦ã denburge of the Protestantes Religion The lady Elizabeth sister to the Lantgraue is receiued in to the league of Protest The fecte of AntinomiaÌs Iohn Isleby A lege of the Papistes against the ProtestaÌtes The citie of Mynden ouâ lawed The Duke of Brunswick desyrous of war The Lantgraue intercepteth the Dukes letters 1539. Inuectiues vnmete for Princes The death of Iohn Duke of Cleaue The Duke of Saxony woulde not geue to Ferdinando the title of kyng of Romains The FreÌcha kyng geueth touÌsel to
money excepte perauenture they haue fyrst had carnall copulation than is it lawfull to punyshe them by the purse and the money to be employed immediatly to good vses But the vyce of Simonie whiche hath his name of Simon magus reigneth so in the churche nowe adayes that men are nothynge ashamed For they offende herein moste boldely and seke to be assoyled by geuyng of money and the benefices thus wyckedly gotten they enioye this not withstanding We doe not denye but youre holynes may pardon theyr offence touchynge the punyshement which they haue deserued but that the occasion of transgressynge may be taken awaye we thynke you had nede to deale more strayghtly and not to remitte the punyshement For what more shamefull or detestable thyng can be than this bieng and sellyng There must be a prouiso had that the clergie geue not away by legacie any part of the churche goodes without great causes lest that to the hinderauÌce of the poore some other shal haue aboundaunce to spende in riot and voluptuousnes Also licence is graunted for euery man to chouse a chaplaine where he lyste and to haue masse in priuate houses whiche ought not rashlye to be graunted lest that secrete thinges should come in contempt and especially the chiefest sacrament of all Iudulgences and pardoÌs ought not to be geuen so commonly but only ones in the yeare and that in great cities Uowes may not lightly be chaunged nor conuerted to an other worke vnlesse it be correspondent to the vowe Sometyme the last wyl of the testatours is wont to be chaunged whiche happely had bequethed some portion of money to Godly vses and that chaunceth coÌmonly by reason of the pouertie of the heires or wylmakers but there must hede be takeÌ that vnlesse the testatour fall in pouertie so that the wil can not well be perfourmed it be not suffered For it is wickednes els to alter the deades wyll And nowe that we haue declared our mindes in thiÌges coÌcerning the vniuersal churche we shal adde to the same a fewe cases whiche properly belong to the byshop of Rome Where as this citie churche of Rome is the mother and maistres of all churches it were comlye and decent that it should excelle others in Religion and honestie of life But in the churche of S. Peter haunte many vnlearned filthie priestes appareled with so vile garmentes both of their owne of their churche that it were also vndeceÌt to the like worne in the priuate houses of the porest sorte And in these garmentes say masse to the great offence of the lokers on Therfore must the Archedeacon or the CoÌmissarie be coÌmauÌded that first in this citie and after also in other places suche filthines be auoyded out of mens sight What shall we saye of the vnchaste women and strompetes whiche in apparell and all kynde of ornamentes differ nothing in this citie froÌ matrones of honour rydyng vpon their Mules through the middes of the citie euen at none dayes accompanied with the familiar frendes and seruauÌtes of the chiefest Cardinalles and suche other like Certenly we haue not sene suche intemperancie and dissolute liuing vsed in ani other citie but in this which ought in dede to be a spectacle and ensample to the whole vniuersall world These Courtisanes are also maynteyned to inhabit gorgeous houses which doubteles is great shame There be also in this citie great contentions and factions It is your parte to amende all these thinges it shal be requisite that you oppointe certen Cardinalles mete for the purpose to appease all strife and to reconcile the myndes of the citezens Last of all the prouision of the wydowes other pore people properly apperteineth to your charge And these are the thinges moste holy father whiche we haue thought mete to be refourmed And albeit we were vnmete for this charge yet haue we done that laye in vs vttered our coÌscience vprightly we are entred into a great hope that vnder your gouernment we shal see the church pure cleane quiet to the perpetuall immortall glory of your name You haue takeÌ to you the name of Paule wherfore we trust it will come to passe that after his example you will embrace the churche with a certen earnest seruent zeale God chose Paule as a singular instrument to preache the Gospell to the Gentyles so truste we also that you are chosen to cal again to light the name of Christ by the geÌtyles defaced to remedy publique diseases to reduce the flock of Christe into one shepefolde and tourne away Gods wrath which haÌgeth now ouer vs dewe for our offeÌces This reformation was in deede conceaued in woordes but neuer brouâght to effecte nor published Finally the byshop delayeth the couÌsell from the beginninge of Nouembre to the kalendes of May in the next yeare followyng and assigneth the place at Uicentia a large and a plentifull citie belongyng to the state of Uenise and sendeth thither three Cardinalles Campegius Simonet and Brunduse whiche should both begynne the treatie and receyue them that came The byshop would haue had the matter of reformation kept close as is sayde before but it was not longe hydde And what tyme it was brought from Rome into Germany Luther answered it in the duche tongue and Iohn Sturmius in the Latine framynge theyr style to the commissioners of the reformation Before Luthers booke was sette out a picture whiche playnely declared the argument For the byshop was placed in an hyghe seate and certen Cardinalles standing about him whiche with foxes tayles tied to staues lyke besomes sweepe all thinges vpsyde downe There was amoÌges these Cardinalles Nicholas Archebyshop of Capua who coulde abyde no reformation He beinge sente by Bishop Paule as it is crediblie reported contended sore that nothynge should be redressed at all And amonges other thinges he sayde howe than the Lutherianes would make their boast that they wer driueÌ of theÌ so to doe in maner by compulsion Wherupon the Byshop and the Cardinalles were coÌtenthed to be perswaded to alter no thing And yet he him selfe that so letted them is reported to haue sent a booke priuely to a certen frende of his in Germany whiche manye men take so as though he would haue both the byshop and the sayde commissioners lawghed to scorne for their labours Others thynke that the bishop was made priuie to that booke of reformation that by setting forth of the same there might appeare in hym some wyll of amendement of thynges and yet vnderstande it by an other meane as though he hym selfe would haue done greater thinges in case he had entended to haue publyshed any suche like matter And as touchynge the colloquies of Erasmus thus it standeth Amonges manye other workes wherby Erasmus wonderfully auaunced learning he made also a booke of Dialogues for chyldren And seyng it red so gredely he ofte augmented the same And as he was a man of an excellent witte
and of great eloquence he toke pleasure to wryte of sondry argumentes taken out of naturall thynges and of the lyfe of men And with a certen maruelous dexteritie and style moste pleasaunt he setteth forth precpres of Godlye and vertuouse maners and noteth with all by the same occasion olde accustomed errours and vices whereof commeth this complaynte of hym In the moneth of Februarye the Frenche kyng made Annas Momorauncie Conestable of Fraunce whiche is the hyghest degre of honoure there This office had bene euer voyde synce the death of the Duke of Bourbon For the kyng beyng greuously offended with his treason had bestowed the same vpon no man vntyll this tyme. And the same office hath had but bare lucke in more than one or two whilest they abusing their authoritie haue styred vp against them either the kynges them selues or the nobilitie In the meane tyme the Protestauntes assemble at Brunswicke about the ende of Marche to treate of matters coÌcernyng their league And they receyue Christiane kyng of Denmarke in to their league He was sonne of Frederick and had receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and had appointed Iohn Pomerane whome he called from Wittenberge to set ordre in his churches and by him was annoynted and crowned kyng Iohn also Marques of BrandeÌburg the brother of Ioachim prince Electour made meanes by the Duke of Saxon to be admitted into the league He therfore was appointed to treate with him vpon certen coÌditions at his retourne home and thaÌ to receiue hym in all their names The same requeste also made Albert Duke of Pruselande whome syxe yeares before the chamber had outlawed and that was the chiefest cause whye he was not receyued in to this societie Neuerthelesse they promysed hym all their fauour and good wyll Whan the Duke of Saxony the Lantgraue and their coÌsortes were goyng to this assemblie Henry Duke of Brunswycke denied to geue them saufe conduicte whan they should passe through his countrey For euen than he imagined warre as hereafter you shall heare In the Duke of Saxons company was Maurice nephewe to Duke George by his brother Henry a young man of seuentene yeares olde Henry was of the Protestauntes Religion and therfore the Duke toke his sonne Maurice beyng his kynsman to bring vp The kyng of Denmarke hym selfe came than also to Brunswicke In the nynth booke I spake of the persecution that was in FrauÌce for Lutheranisme It were long to recite al but this yeare at the Ides of Apryll whiche was than nyne dayes before Easter a young gentleman of Tolouse learned about twenty yeares of age was brent at Paris for eatyng of fleshe not alyue in dede but yet so as beinge hanged ryght ouer he felte the fyre kyndled vnder hym whiche after the maner there was accompted as a great benefite for that he in prison before he was brought forth to execution feared with the cruell wordes of Morine the iudge threatenyng hym confessed that he had done wyckedlye and agaynste Religion For the maner of repentaunce is there only that he shal suffer with the lesse torment But suche as abyde constant are moste cruelly tourmented Two younge men of Flaunders were in the lyke daunger but admonyshed therof by a certen Senatour learned and of a good iudgement they escaped death by flyeng awaye In the moneth of May the Bishoppe of Rome goeth to Nice a hauen towne in Ligurie Thyther also came the Emperoure and the Frenche kynge at his request chiefly he with a Nauie out of Spaine and the kynge by lande accompanied amonges others with a power of Almaignes whiche were lead by Wylliam Countie FursteÌberge After a longe treatie albeit they coulde not throughlye agree yet a trewee was made in the moneth of Iune for ten yeares Here was the lady Margaret the Emperours bastarde daughter ensured to Octauius Duke of Parma the Byshoppes nephew by his sonne Peter whom Cosmus duke of Florence woulde fayne haue maried after the death of Alexander Medices The two kynges spake not together in this place albeit the Byshoppe desyred it muche But a fewe dayes after whan he was departed they mette at Aegnes Mortes a Towne of the Prouince in the mouth of the Riuer of Rhosne whither the Emperour retorninge into Spaine came with his Nauie at the Ides of Iulye The kinge had sent to mete him Uelius his Ambassadoure and Galleis to conduicte him Whan the Emperour came nere vnto Aegnes the Conestable of Fraunce was there readye to entreate hym that he woulde arriue there with his Nauie For he saied the kynge woulde be there within these two houres and would come into his Barke to him Whan the Emperour sawe that the rest of the Shippes which were scattered the daye before by reason of a miste were come together he putteth into the hauen And not longe after commeth the kynge also and accompanied amonges others with Anthony Duke of Loraine and the Cardinall his brother goeth streight waye to the shippes The Emperour goynge forth as farre as the ladder of the shippe to mete him receaueth him in But it can not be spoken what embracynges and gratulations were there Whan they were set downe in the Sterne of the Shippe the nobles aboute the Emperour come and salute the kinge lowly and right curtesly There the Emperour sent for Andrewe Aurie his Admirall Prince of Melphite who forsoke the kynge tenne yeares before as is mentioned in the sixte Booke to come and salute the kyng Whan he came the kynge said Prince Andrewe for as muche as you are frende and seruiture to the Emperoure And that it is his pleasure that I should speake wyth you I am contente to gratifie him herein whom I esteme as my brother After whan they had talked familiarlye and frendly together by the space of an howre the kynge departeth The next day in the mornyng As sone as it was light day the Emperour gyueth commaundement by a Trompet that no man go a lande but he himselfe garded wyth certen of his nobles saileth out to dyne with the kynge When he came to lande the kinge and the quene and his two sonnes most gently do embrace him and lead him into the Palace towardes euenynge themperour aduertiseth Androwe de Aure who remained within borde howe at the request of the kinge and the queene his syster he purposed to lie in the towne that night And the next day at after diner to retourne to his Nauie Whiche he did for this intent leste he should throughe his absence conceaue some false suspicion in hys minde Wherfore the next day the Emperour came againe to the sea accompanied with the king and all his nobles And whan they had drunken together in the Emperours cabben of the shippe they departed great frendes Which thing once knowen at Paris and other places they songe Tedeum and made bonefyers The Bishop had requested them at Nice whan the peace was concluded that they woulde go to the