an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the
great hope and expectation ouer whome you haue euer beene a carefull Cornelia as well to succeede their renowmed Father in his vertues which neuer shal perish as other his humaine dignities possessions wherof if you shall not in this Historie haue the like profered to your view for no age hath left any such recorde yet cōtemne not the reading of my Author by whome you shall receiue the true first motiue of all the Ciuil and foraine warres of Fraunce in our age and her neighbour Countries with such memorable accidents and occurents as continually were ministred Not like to that impudent though excellent writer Paulus Iouius no lesse worthy to be a Bishoppe then a Historiographer who plainly auerred nay was not ashamed himselfe in his Bookes to vaunt how he made no accounte in writing a lie were it in matter of consequence or to please the appetite of great ones which shoulde set him a worke for that wher ther was one in his time which knew the fault from the truth all posterity hereafter would notwithstanding belieue and giue credite to what he should set down my Author contrariwise hath beene so little tickled with the couet of rewarde or ambition capitall enemies to the truth as that he refuseth to set his owne name to his so painefull labours mildely and with such great temperance ouerrunning the proceedings of all enemies as hee cannot iustly be suspected of any partiall leaning to the one side more then the other wishing for my own part that some one ther were according to my tast giuen who in this scribling age whereof translating humours and quoters are plentie would finish out the rest many fragments and sundrie Bookes yet lying by me as I once intended but since through an accident that happened in a pelt flong away my pen confining what I had done as I then thought to vtter darkenesse weary of giuing Liueries to other mens retayners like a conceyted builder rather delighted with an inferiour model of his owne framing then to rough-cast or adorne a more goodly and sumptuous pallace left vnto his hands reseruing my selfe to somwhat though simplier of my owne hammering and digesting which the proiect already being fausied time may finish and peraduenture bring to light if feare of receiuing foyle by that illustrious Camden doe not otherwise withdrawe my humorfoyle yet honour enough to be an imitator and carrier of thy Bookes Precious curious Camden thy owne Country prints not sufficient to extend thy name worthy to finde Kinges thy nurcing fathers and Queenes thy nurses rare Iewell of Britaine land enemie to inglorious obliuion tresurer of memorie trumpet of Albyons fame register of Antiquitie and poursiuant of eternitie It now resteth glorious and beautifull Ladies adorned with your stately ranke and place humbly to intercesse pardon for my presumption in seeking so boldely to shrowde the infirmities of my pen vnder the shadowe of your winges And that it will please you to grace with your generall safe conduct this my newe English Denizen to passe from place to place free from any Menippean search vntill he may make his rende-uous in some contemplatiue or retired hands who though he now seeme Clownish Rogish like yet notwithstāding in his own Country guise is well esteemed of very commendable In which albeit many of you bee singularly well able to iudge of him yet if it please any of the rest to vouchsafe to entertayne his broken English I dare assure that for his discourse you shall finde him very delightfull for his newes not ordinarie and for his truth can bring good securitie when soeuer he may be permitted to attend vpon your leasure not importioning his accesse vntill weried with your more weightie and serious seruices a desire may possesse you insteede of recreation to spend with him some fewe howers of the day A matter heretofore accustomed in my knowledge by manie high and loftie Ladies who often times to be meete with wearisomnes exercised themselues in studie reading of worthie writers as Marguerite Countesse of Lennox Anne Countesse of Oxford Francis Countesse of Sussex Elizabeth Countesse of Lincolne the Ladie Marie Sydney liuing my thrice honoured mistresse truely liberall and bountifull rare Mother of so heroicall an ofspring by her noble minde and cariage easily discouering greatnes of birth and Princely parentage and that wise good and godly Ladie aduancer of so many excellent personages both in Arte and Armes employing her credite with her Soueraigne then whome none had greater in doing good offices for all sortes in generall but especially preferring those in whome she might perceiue any signification of vertue to appeare That graue Matron harmelesse Courtier and faithfull seruant Francis Barones of Cobham late wife to the noble L. and trustie Councellor yet liuing to whome I was so much bound in many duties being likewise to the whole house as that both in her health and languishing Maladie she sundrie times admitted me to conferre or reade with her finding in the Ecclesiasticall Historie her most delight But no waies may I heere without extreame note of grosse ouersight pretermit in this lift that famous Religious and learned Ladie flower of her familie prouident mother blessed in her posteritie Mildred Barones of Burghlie besides her knowledge in the Latine letters wherein of a subiect she excelled such were her studies exercises and continuall Meditation in the Greeke Doctors of the Church especially Basil Ciril Chrisostome and Nazianzene as a chiefe reader in that tonge Laurence by name hath ere now confessed vnto me that in his iudgemēt she Egalled if not ouermatched any in whose profession as expected so most was to be required Neither were these excellent parts of hers onely Theoricall but still put in practise like an other Dorcas full of piety and good works as without any ostentation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides her readines in solliciting for poore and distressed sutors vnto her deare Lo. the auncients Councellor of Europe Pater Patriae piller of the state thorough whose prudent pollicie and carefull watchings iustly may be applied Neque periculum in R. P. fuit grauius unquam noc maius otium in her life time setting on her owne charge so many poore aworke her exhitition to Schollers liberallitie to Vniuersities bountie to exiled strangers and her most abounding charitie euerie quarter to all the prisons about London hath manifestly declared I hope that in so long insisting vpon the vertues of this Lady and others I shall not be misliked for insinuation lesse feare to be suspected namelesse like my Author and yet if knowne most will confirme that Non mihi promptum in adulationes ingenium But I haue the rather presumed of your patience in delighting of these honourable personages to the end to incite you to treade in their steps and imitate their examples Such as you are were they and such as they now are shall euerie one of you be who though they seeme faded and as it were
person hee sent out men of worth and reputation all Cardinals for his Legates to all Princes Now albeit this beginning had bred in the hart of euery one a great hope of a laudable conduct and moâ—â— happy end to ensue the whole plat yea after the Truce was accepted of among them which shewed themselues with great vaunts and mighty words ready for the execution of such an enterprise yet each one finding very vneasie the conduct of a matter so greatly important the euent vncertaine farre distance and more appertayning to the estates of the one then the other and which asked a farre longer time to compasse among themselues so vniuersall an vnion and affection as was requisite to this action the priuate interests and commodities cleane carried away the consideration of the publique In such sorte that these practises were not onely not brought to any assured hope of to come but were handled lightly and almost in a kinde of ceremonie each one to acquite himselfe so of his duetie according to the nature of men to whom things in the beginning seeming most terrible doe so diminish day by day and vanish by little and little in such sorte that without a chaunce of new accidents which may renew their feare they yeelde themselues but too soone assured of what may afterwards betide them so as this negligence of the publique cause immoderate affection of some particular was the more confirmed by the death of Selim whose long sicknes had delaied and his death after cleane broken the preparations of the warre who left so great an Empire to his sonne Soliman yong of age but accounted of a milde spirite and little courage though his effectes after shewed the contrary that the Christians not esteeming him borne for armes soone enough freed themselues of the feare which they had had of the actions passed Notwithstanding before the death of Selim and during the occasions as yet they had to feare the Turke the Emperour assigned a day at Ausbourge whether all the Princes christned were summoned to answere And to that end Pope Leo sent his Bulls of great pardons throughout all Christendome with promise of remission of sinnes and kingdom of heauen to all such as would help the Church with a certain summe of monie and as well to aduance forward his Indulgences as to animate the Christians to this warre he dispatched Thomas Caietan his Legate into Germanie Heereupon the quicke and prompt spirite of Luther who as the most renowmed of his owne profession had already read many sortes of Bookes in the most famous Vniuersitie of Germanye found the preachinges and cariadges of these Questors very strange Afterwards comming to doubt of the vertue of pardons because hee saide that hee neuer remembred he found in his bookes that one ought to make traffique of the sinnes of men and least that they could be redeemed with any monie but the bloud of Christ since that the Cannon did teach sinnes could not be remitted by pardons no more then that the Preachers ought to sell license to eate Egges Milke Flesh and Cheese vpon daies forbidden promising besides to forgiue all sinnes how great soeuer yea and to come sent out his letters in October 1517. to certaine Prelates of Germany praying them to take order therein to refourme the preachinges and imprinted bookes of those Questors and since sent ninety fiue propositions a little before published at Witemburge in manner of a scholasticall desputation of Purgatory Penance duetie of Charitie Indulgences and pardons to search out saide hee the truth and not to resolue protesting that he would affirme nothing therein but submit all to the iudgement of the holy Church Now he first addressed himselfe to the Archbishop of Mayence for the reasons which ensue Albert of Brandebourge hauing bene lately by Pope Leo created Archbishop of Mayence seeing that the Chaptre and Cannons excused themselues by reason of their former charges not to bee able to furnish him with monye to buye his Episcopall mantle which will cost aboue thirtye thousand Crownes before it bee brought home found meanes by accorde with the Pope to sende Iohn Tekel a Iacobin to preach pardons alreadye published else where throughout all his Diocesse and to set forth their vertue to all such as would disburse monye with charge that halfe the gaine should returne to Rome for the building vp of the Church of S. Peter for in as much as the Foucres of Germanie had imprest their monie there could not be a better meanes then this found to repaire them Such was the first howsoeuer the most apparant beginning of our euils drawne from a thrid of wooll which since hath been by so many people in so many places and so strongly winded and writhed as many millions of men haue bene thereby hanged and strangled Now beit for feare of censures or thunder of excommunication which these Questors caried about with them no man durst lifte vp his head to bande against them but Luther many Diuines and Lawyers to apease the murmures shut his mouth began to inueigh against him by a form of answer to his solate and hardye propositions among the rest Iohn Tekel published certaine theames cleane contrary at Frankfort on the Viadre in the seignorie of Brandebourghe praising therein aboue all the authoritie of the Pope the profit of pardons and the woodden Crosse which the Pope had caused to be set vp in all Temples comparing it to Iesus Christ as Leo to S. Peter whereupon Luther taking occasion to manifest himselfe sent the explication of his owne to sundry and euen to Leo himselfe in Iune 1518. declaring vnto him what follies his Questors had taught and their pickerie of the simplier people trusting vpon or abusing his authoritie and for that hee doubted he might be accused towards him he besought him to giue no credit to their calumnies considering that Frederick the Elector the vniuersitie of Wittenberge nor so many other would haue approued his actions if there had bene any impiety in them In summe hee submitted his writinges his life and his health to his good pleasure accounting whatsoeuer should proceede from him as from Christ not refusing to haue his head strooke of if he would so ordaine it Hereupon Iohn Eccius a Diuine published to the contrary a Booke entituled Les Effaceurs to cote the faultes of Luthers writings But he that most of all animated him was Siluestre Prieras Iacobin master of S. Pallaies by a booke where hauing set downe the Pope aboue the Councell yea and the scripture it selfe which said he had no vertue and authoritie but from the Church and Pope of Rome hee seemed to take occasion to digresse vpon the great vertue of Indulgences for Luther setting himselfe to answere it said that it was a booke so full of horrible lyes and blasphemies against the diuine name that there is great apparence that Sathan was the very author that if the Pope saith he
the faith with weapons or other thinges forbidden Massacrers possessors by violence other which they are accustomed to condemn curse the Maundy Thursday before Easter in the Bull which they call In caena Domini Afterwards banished by the Emperour in a generall assemblie of the Princes of th'empire you may not doubt if he were then put into a heate to skirmish more eagerly then euer he did so as that being published throughout and otherwise pricked forward by the threates and outragious speeches of Cardinall S. Kiste and other his aduersaries and besides seeing himselfe supported as wel by Frederic Duke of Saxe his Mecenas as many other Lords gentlemen and great personages attempted a matter which neuer before he durst so much as haue dreamed of cleane to abolish the Masse by his writings which he published to that end at Witemberg First with Frederic whom by little little he gained as well by his own arguments as by the authoritie of Philip de Melancthon a professor at Witemberge Iustus Ionas and other to whom this Prince had giuen in charge to examine the consequēce of so notable a change afterwards in many places of Germany so as leauing that feare which had as it were before bound him fast with the chaines of modesty he durst then make open warre against the Pope and all other that would maintaine his doctrine by the same weapons thēselues vsed beginning to effectuate the Prophecie which he turned to himselfe of Iohn Hus Hierosme of Prague The Bohemians to witnes the great displeasure which they conceaued at those mens deaths at Constance caused peeces of mony to be coyned which they called Hussites about which were engrauen those words which he vttered at his departure After one hundred yeares ye shal answere God and me As if knowing they shuld liue no longer he would haue said that the Iudges shuld thē come before the throne of God to render an accompt of their act But Luther interpreting it to himself in his commentaries vpon Daniel taketh it for a certain prophecie that Iohn Hus should be the fore-runner of his reformation bringing in Iohn Hus as if he should say they shall roast the Goose for Hus is as much to say as a Goose in the Bohemian tongue but they shall not roast the Swan which will come after me Indeede hee was burned 1414. and the differēce moued by Luther vpon the pardons began 1517. Among the cheefest of his aduersaries which openly declared themselues Henry 8. K. of England presented himselfe who aboue all the rest disalowed his iudgement vpon the Indulgences defending the opinion and power of the Pope thence he proceeded vtterly to condemne by a book dedicated to that end all the disputation of the Sacraments of the church taking his argument to write vpon the Captiuity of Babilon caused by Luther who thereunto answered very bitterlye not sticking to declare vnto him that hee made no account of the dignitie or magnificent apparance of any person Pope Lea receaued hereat so great contentment that he gaue vnto him the title of Defendor of the faith and afterwards 1524. Clement 7. of Medices sent vnto him a Rose of golde which he had consecrated three moneths before Easter Hereupon the Emperour being embarqued to passe out of Germany into Spaine where certain seditions were stirred vp in his way visited the K. of England to whom the better to assure himselfe of him against the K. of Fraunce he promised the 13. of Iune 1522. at Windsor vpon the Thames beyond London to pay annually one hundred thirtie and three thousand crownes which the french yearlye did owe vnto the English And for a greater alliance it was agreed that in time and place the Emperour should take in marriage Mary daughter to K. Henry then of the age of seauen yeares and that if this accord helde not he should pay foure hundred thousand Crownes Luthers doctrine in the meane season dispersed throughout Germany profited in many places so farre as his Disciples in their abundance not content to goe any more to the Masse egged the people to the plucking downe of Images and cheefely Andre Carolastade for which act being misliked by the Vniuersitie of Witemberg they cōdemned this attempt shewing that it was not the way wherin they ought to proceed but before all to pull out the Images of the spirite and to teach the people that onely through faith we please God and that Images serued to no end which being beaten downe in the spirite and men well taught the corporall Images would soone fall downe of themselues not for any mislike they had to haue them cleane taken away but that it ought to be done by the hand of the Magistrate for it was not permitted to euery man to do according vnto his fancy Shortly after 1523. 1524. Zuinglius did as much at Zurich in Suizerland and many other Cantons in like time followed after In summe that a man cannot tell how lightly how secretly and in what a short space this doctrine crept into the harts and braines of many thousands of Christians especially then when euery one saw that Leo had not imployed any parte of the great masse of monie come of his pardons against the Turke who in the meane time had ruyned Hungarie attempted vpon Bohemia taken Rhodes and done a thousand mischiefes against the Christians albeit that the Pope the Emperour the Ecclesiasticall Princes and others had flung all the stones they could to the contrarye euen causing the Edict and decree of Wormes to be obserued against Luther and his doctrine the which was notwithstanding hindred as well by the reformed Princes and their partakers as by the writings and ancient arguments of Luther and his companions so as there is no maruell if the people and aboue all the comminalty of townes not finding their passions staied by any lawes or pollitique ordinances licenced themselues to growe more wilfull in their impressions then euer Leo being departed whose Father was Laurence and Cosme his Grandfather who had enobled and exalted the familie of Medices Adrian the 6. of Vtrech in Holland succeeded him 1521. as well in the dignitie as hate and bitter pursuite against Luther and the Churchmen seeing the protection which many Princes gained by little and little thorough his doctrine gaue to Luther least any should attempt against his person turning the effect of their hatred vpon his disciplines gaue a beginning to most cruell and continuall persecutions of the euill affected towards the faith Now as the seede of this reformation was taken out of the conuent of Augustines so did they make seene the first treates of their bitter punishments vpon Iohn and Henry Augustine Friers of Brusselles who after many disputations with Iaques Hocstrat the Inquisitor a Iacobin hauing bene deposed of the priestly order disgraded of the lesser orders clad with laye and prophane habites after deliuered vp to the secular Iustice were burned
almost to the discretion of the Emperour who afterwards proposed a league at Vlme to appease all such troubles as might ensue either for Religion or otherwise But the whole was referred to Ausbourge Hereupon the Landgraue hauing demaunded and receiued pardon and promise that he should not remaine prisoner was stayed and commaunded to follow the Emperour after that he had accomplished all the rest of the conditions For which Maurice and Brandebourge being his suerties for his libertie grew in great rage so as the Emperour to defraye the expence of his warre got what with these ransomes and otherwise among the Catholiques and Lutherans aboue sixtene hundred thousand crownes and well fiue hundred peces of Artillerie which hee sent into Spaine Naples Milan and the low countrie The Emperour after these victories assigned a day first at Vlme then at Ausbourg to accord points in Religion reforme the Iustice of the chamber obey the Councell The Palatin Maurice and Brandebourge would not consent to any but in place free and sure In the end that thereby they might the sooner get the Landgraue out of prison they accorded one and by their example the more resolute Citties by writing graunted somewhat of their demaunde So as the Emperor being very ioyfull thereof made great instance towardes the Pope that hee woulde remoue the Councell to Trent from Bologne where he had appointed it to be held 1544. in respect of the vnholsomnes of the aire said Hierosme Fracastor who monthly had a great pension from him And vpon the difficultie which the Pope made therein hee sent Mendoza to protest of his parte before the Pope and the rest of Bologne that hee held of no account whatsoeuer should be there concluded declaring that he would prouide thereto well enough by a lawfull conuocation of the estates of Germanie 1548 which were of his very opinion being assembled at Ausbourge And further for that he would not haue the Councell to bee cleane in dispaire of being held the delaying thereof so much importing him when as power was giuen vnto him to chuse the Collocutors Iudges and witnesses he tooke Iules Flug Bishoppe of Numbourg Michael of Sidoine Iohn Alebe Agricola who 18. yeares before had beene a Lutheran Melancthon and Brence who very secretly wrote a Booke of Religion and after they had againe perused and corrected it presented it vnto him But Bucer finding many things contained therin refused to signe it saying that the Popes doctrine was there manifestly confirmed and since that in like sorte they added sundrie other things So as both the Pope and Protestants alowed of it albeit small reformation was had therein of any such Articles as were generally receiued of the Catholiques Romee generall of the Iacobins wrote against it at Rome and so did Robert Bishoppe of Auranches in Fraunce for that this booke permitted marriage to Priests and the Supper vnder both kindes The Emperour notwithstanding pressed the estates hard to sticke fast vnto it and not to innouate any thing either in their preachings or writings to the contrarie attending the decree of a Councell Afterwards the fiftenth of May the Archbishop of Mayence cheefe of the Electors thanked him for his so great care of the publike in the name of them all and saide that all ought to obey his decree The which he accounted as a common approbation and woulde not for euer after admit of any other reason or excuse to the contrarie whosoeuer would say that they had not consented thereunto In sort that he caused it to be imprinted both in the Latine and vulgar Germaine tongs Fower daies after he besought the estates to contribute by hed towardes the remedying of such inconueniences as either for Religion or otherwise might fall out in the common wealth and that the money might bee reserued as a publike treasor in some places fittest for that purpose to haue succours readie at neede and Ferdinand required as much to releeue him against the Turke the fiue yeares of truce being expired Afterwardes the Emperour somewhat and superficially reformed the state of the Church about the end of Iune 1548. and caused a Booke to be imprinted Maurice departing from Ausbourge about the end of 1548. went into his owne countrie where his estates vrging him with his promise to maintaine among them the pure confession of Ausbourge in the end hee caused to be made a forme of Religion which all ought to holde from whence great Scandale arose All the Princes and Cities except Breme and Magdebourge consented to the decree of Ausbourge an occasion that the latter was by the Emperour exposed as a pray to all such as would warre vpon him in the yeare 1549. Now as this decree of Ausbourge was alreadie as it were generally receiued throughout all Germany so greatly did the victorie and Spanish Garrisons of the Emperour together with the Saxons and Landgraues imprisonment astonish the people at such time especially when there was an apparant chaunge of Religion thoroughout all the countries of Maurice the ministers of the Churches of Lubec Lunebourg and Hambourge confuted well at length the Booke and decree of Ausbourge by another contrarie which they caused to be put in printe whereof Iohn Epin was the principall author Shortly after the Doctors of Magdebourge Nicholas Amstroff and aboue all Mathias Flaccius an Illiricque borne in the Citie of Albonne who since was one of the principall authors of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Magdebourge and Nicolas Le Cocq opposed themselues stoutly against them of Witemberge and Lipsa and condemned them in sundrie printed Bookes as dissemblers ouer simple to timorous and by indifferent and meane things how they had made a high way to the papisticall Religion the which at the first proceeding from a good beginning grew in simplicitie afterwards suffered it selfe to corrupt thorough a disordinate lycence of such thinges among the Christians of the primitiue Church who ouercome by little and little with to great a feare of displeasing and roundly resisting such as at the first woulde bring in their fantasies for sure rules of Faith in the end cleane marred vnder a Maske of things indifferent and such like humaine traditions the true and pure worde of God For conclusion they set downe this rule that all ceremonies and fashions how indifferent soeuer they may be of themselues are no more neare at this present considering that the vertue opinion and necessitie of seruice is now annexed thereunto and that the occasion of impietie is yeelded thereby Illiricque one of the authors of this learned and laborious Ecclesiasticall historie had beene certaine yeares an Auditor and Disciple of Melancthon but in this different retyred himselfe to Magdebourge and caused a Book to be imprinted wherein he rendred the reason of his act They of Hambrough wrote likewise to them of Witemberg especially to Phillip Melancthon making a Catalogue of such things as they termed Neuter or indifferent setting downe what might bee