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 thē 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 whō God hath giuen so large and ample dominiōs 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 coūsel of Constance to the great reproche of thēperor Sigismūde 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 thē 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 Collē 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 daūger 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 intēt 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 thē 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 cā 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 foūde as maye kepe a Godly quiet These men after more deliberation had make him answer admoshing him as before to put downe thē 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
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 sōnes 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 defēd both him and his childrē This cōstancie of his magnanimiti in so great aduersity got him great loue euery wher amōgs 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 saufcōduit they send ambassadors to Auspurge to treat a peace Themperor propoundeth right hard conditions and amōgs other things also that they shuld admit the boke setforth after that to frame their religion Thambassadors require to haue the cōditions 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 offēded than others and haue for thempire for the house of Austrich suffred in time past exceding great misery now do refuse no charge that cā 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 coūsel 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 thē 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 vpō them that is of a sodē palsy Where they say how they haue sustained great domage for the loue of the house of Austrich thus it stādeth 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 Sāmaurice 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 experiēce crafts mē for nothing les mete thē to haue gouernmēt 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 cōmaundeth their names to be red whō he hath apoynted senators of the which nōbre were the Welsers Relingers Būtgarners Fuggers Pētingers whō he bindeth after by an oth assigneth vnto euery of thē his office function cōmandeth thē straitly that they loue the cōmon welth obei the decre of religion be vnto him obedient He doth also abrogate al fraternities cōmaundeth vnder pain of death that from henceforth ther be no conuēticles or assēbles made And cōmaundeth that al wrytings of gildes fraternities of priuileges fredō be immediatly deliuered to the new Senate cōmaundeth 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 obeisāce 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 lōg 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
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 CoÌ„stantinople 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 coÌ„tribution 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 ✚ 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 coÌ„mitted 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 coÌ„monly 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 affectioÌ„s and haue vsed my selfe so moderatly in this argument as peradueÌ„ture none other before me hath done that same I trusteâ—l 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
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 tēth 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 mēs 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 ordinaūce 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 ʒ ischa a Bohemer the Sorbonistes condempne Luthers bokes Whilest the Pope and the Frenche kynge made a league with the Swisses ʒ wmglius diswadeth thē from takyng Pensions of thē 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 ʒ 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 ʒ winglius hauyng set forth hys doctrine by certeyne Articles is assayled by the Papistes but in fyne the Ghospell is receyued at ʒ 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
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 cōmaunded his learned mē 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 thē 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 cōminge 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 takē 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 certēly 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 thē faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe contēpning 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 cōmon 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 thē they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare tōgue 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 secōd 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 Thā 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 cōffuence 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 heauēlye 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 thē 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 cōtented 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 gouernemēt 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
Religion About this tyme in the moneth of May appered a blasyng starre and shortly after departed Isabel wyfe to Charles the Emperour for whome the Frenche kyng so sone as he heard therof kepte a solempne funerall at Paris as the maner of kynges is I shewed you before of the counsell of Uicence whiche the byshop of Rome had proroged tyll Easter of this yeare But seyng than that none would come he publisheth his letters the tenth of Iune wherin he prorogeth the counsell no more but suspendeth it at his owne pleasure and senate of his Cardinalles The kyng of Englande had certen monethes before set forth another wryttyng touching this Synode of Uicence and declareth howe the Byshop deludeth the whole worlde For where he excused hym selfe by the Duke of Mantua it was a playne mockery For seing he taketh vppon hym so great anothoritie why did he not compelle hym If he coulde not wherfore shoulde he commaunde men to come to a place vncerten and the whiche is not in his power Nowe albeit he hathe chosen Uicence for the same pourpose yet is there no doubt but the 〈…〉 enetians men of so great wysdome wyll no more suffer their citie to be pestred with suche a multitude without garmsons of Souldiours than woulde the Duke of Mantua and that in fyne there wylbe as small resorte thether as was to Mantua There fore it is but delusion what so euer he doeth neyther oughte he to be permitted in this dissolute lybertie any longer There is nothynge in dede better nor more commodious than a lawfull counsell But whan they are applied vnto priuate lucre and commoditie and to the establyshynge of certen mens aucthoritie they brynge a wonderfull destruction to the common wealth Whan the name of the counsell and of the churche was nowe common in euery mans mouthe Luther setteth forth a booke of either of them in the vulgare speache And fyrst he treatefh of the assemblie of the Apostles at Hierusalem whiche is mentioned in the .xv. of the actes After he reciteth the contrary opinions of the Doctours especially Austen and Ciprian concernyng baptisme by the same occasion he maketh mention of those lawes that are called the Canons of the Apostles and proueth by manifest reasons that thei be false and countrefeated and those that geue them that tytle to deserue death Than doeth he recite in ordre those foure counselles which were of chiefe authoritie the counsell of Nyce Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedonie And declareth for what causes they assēbled ther and what they decreed in euery of them After he commeth to the principall question and sheweth what is the aucthoritie of a. counsell Wherfore he sayeth howe a counsel maye not confirme any newe doctryne nor commaunde any newe worke neyther bynde mens myndes with newe ceremonies not to intermedle with ciuile gouernementes nor to make any decrees to establysh the authoritie of a few But the dutie therof to be to abolyshe and condemne newe opinions contrary to holy Scripture and newe ceremonies whether they be superstitious or vnprofitable for the churche And suche thynges as are brought in controuersie to examine and determine after the written text of Gods worde After this he diffineth the churche sheweth by what tokens it ought to be knowen and by a comparyson made declaring what Christe and his Apostles taught he sayeth howe the Byshop of Rome whiche hath brought into the churche a farre cōtrary doctrine and by wicked meanes hath pylled the whole world with intollerable exactions ought to be condempned and dryuen to make restitution Amonges diuerse other thynges wherby in the same boke he declareth what blyndenes men were led into vnder the Byshop of Rome and howe shameful and vyle was the Religion he sayeth how it was come thus farre that a monke or a freers wede was thought to be sufficient to bryng a man to eternall lyfe And manye not onlye meane folkes but also great Prynces would be buried in a freers garment Those that shall come after peraduenture wyl not beleue it but yet is it true and wont to be commonly done in Italy And in our me mory Fraunces Marques of Mantua the seconde of that name put into his last wylle that he myght be buried in a gray freers cote The same did Albertus Pius Prynce of Carpes in Paris And Christopher Longelie a Bourgonnion buried at Padwey a man excellently learned and a great Ciceronian who also wrote an Oration against the Lutherians in lyke case as Alberte did diuers against Erasmus of Roterdame Immediatly after the death of Duke George Henry the Duke of Brunswycke rydeth to the Emperour into Spayne thorowe Fraunce About the same tyme Henry the eyght kyng of Englande calleth a Parliament wherein amōges other thinges were enacted certen decrees for Religiō called the syxe Articles as followeth that vnder the four me of bread and wyne was the true and natural body and bloud of Christe and that after the wordes of consecration there remayned no more substaunce of bread and wyne that the receiuing of the whole supper of the Lorde was not necessary to saluation and that Christ is wholy cōteyned vnder both kyndes How it is not lawful for priestes to marry That the vowes of chastitie ought to be perfourmed That priuate masses were to be reteyned That auricular confession is good and necessary To suche as thought and did otherwyse was appoynted punyshement dewe for heretikes And the same tyme the kynge stoode in termes to marry the Lady Anne of Cleue a mayde of an excellent beautie which after she was affianced within a few monthes was sent to Caleis whether the kyng had sent the Lorde Admirall others with his shyppes to receyue her and transporte her into Englande But he hymselfe accompanied with all the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Realme receiued her vpō blacke Heath and brought her to Grenewitche where shortly after they were married by the Archebyshop of Canturbury Some saye howe the Bishoppes had perswaded the kyng to cōsent to the syxe Articles to the intent they myght bring the Archebyshop of Cantorburye and the Lorde Crumwell whiche were great fauourers of Religion out of aucthoritie creditie This yeare in the mōth of August Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt taketh by assiege Castelneufe a towne in Slauonie borderinge vpon the Goulfe of Uenise and sleying all the Souldiours leadeth awaye many captiue A yere before in the moneth of October the Emperour and the Uenetians beyng of one confederacie had wonne it And the Emperour in dede put in a garrison of foure thousand Spanyardes and made captayne Fraunces Sarmiento Whiche chaunced to the Uenetians contrary to their expectation for that they sayde the town standing in that coaste ought rather to be theirs Therfore not longe after when they more more mislyked this societie and sawe it wold be very daungerours for them aske truce of the Turke and obteyne it In maner at the same tyme arose
in the life euerlasting we shal know one an other And what time they were all desyrous to learne that of hym what sayeth he chaunced to Adam He had neuer seene Eue but what tyme God shaped her he was caste into a maruelous depe and sounde slepe But awakyng out of the same whan he sawe her he axeth not what she is or whence she came but sayeth she is fleshe of his flesshe and bone of his bones But howe knew he that Uerely beyng full of the holy ghost replenisshed with the trew knowledge of god he spake thus In lyke maner shall we also in another lyfe be renewed by Chryst and shall know more perfitly our parentes wyues children what so euer is besydes than Adam that tyme knewe Eue. After supper whan he went a side to praie as he was accustomed the payne of his stomake began to increase There by the aduise of certen he dranke of an Unicornes horne in wine After he slept quietly in the trindle bed of the stowfe by the space of an houre or two Than awakyng he goeth to hys chamber and laieth hym downe againe to rest and biddyng hys frendes good nyghte that were with hym he wylled them to praye to god that he wold graunt vs to kepe still the doctryne of the gospell For the Bisshop and the counsell at Trente are a workynge some great mischief Whan he had thus sayed and al was hushte he slepeth a good whyle but the force of hys disease increasing vpon hym at after midnight he complayneth of the straytenes of hys stomake and perceyuing that th ende of his lyfe drewe nere he calleth to God with these wordes O god my heauenly father and the father of oure Lord Iesus Chryst God of al consolatiō I geue the thankes that thou hast reuealed vnto me thy sonne Iesus Chryst whō I haue beleued whom I haue professed whom I haue loued whom I haue set foorthe honored whom the Bisshop of Roome and al that wicked rabel doe persecute and dishonour I beseche thee my Lord Iesus Chryst receyue my soule my heauēly father although I be taken out of thys lyfe albeit I must now leaue thys body yet know I assuredly that I shall remayne with thee for euer and that noman can take me out of thy handes Not long after thys prayer sayde whan he had ones or twyse cōmended hys soule into the handes of God as though he had fallen a slepe by little and littel he departeth oute of this lyfe withoute any paine of hys body that could be perceyued And thus he dyed in hys owne natyfe countrey whyche he had not seene of manie yeres the .xviii. daye of Februarye to the greate lamentation of many The Erles of Mansfelde were desirous that he myght haue ben buried in theyr countrey because he was borne there but at the commaundemēt of the Prince electour he was honorably caried to Wittemberge and buryed the fyft daye after of yeres he was aboute lxiii for he was borne the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande .iiii. hondreth fourescore and three the tenthe daye of Nouember of ryght honest good parentes Iohn and Margarite he learned hys fyrst prynciples at home from thence beynge sente to Maydēburge and then to Isenacke he farre excelled all hys fellowes After he came to Erford and gaue hym selfe wholie to the studye of logicke and Philosophye And whan he had ben there a whyle makyng neyther parētes nor frēdes priuie to it he professed hym selfe into the College of Austen Freres applyed all hys studye to the scripture forsakyng the lawe whyche he studied before That time was an Uniuersitie newly erected at Wittemberge wherefore Stupicious of whom mention is made in the fyrste booke hauynge the charge hereof bryngeth Luther thyther to reade diuinitie Than was Luther sent to Roome by the conuente of hys order aboute a suite that hanged there in the lawe Thys was in the yere of our lord M.D.x. Whan he was retourned home through the motion of hys frendes he commenced Doctour at the charges of Duke Fridericke What force and plētie of eloquence was in him his workes doe sufficiently declare certenly the Dutch toungue he beautifyed and enryched exceadingly and hathe the chiefe commendation therin and hathe translated out of the latin toungue such thynges as were thought vnpossible and expresseth the matter with most apte proper termes and many tymes by one worde he setteth before youre eyes the whole matter He wryteth in a certeine place of the Bisshop howe he hathe polluted the Lordes supper and hathe also applied the masse to them that be dead he sayeth he hathe pearsed with hys masse not only in to all corners of Christendome but also into Purgatorye it selfe but he vseth the Dutche word whyche representeth that noise as is wont to be made whan a man doeth rattle or shake together a nomber of dead mens bones or cast aboute amonges them he was of courage inuincible What tyme he beganne fyrste to preache agaynst pardons he knewe not what the matter mente as he hym selfe confesseth and did that thing only and therfore wrote than verey lowly bothe to the Bisshop others but whan he had profited in the knowledge of scripture dayly more and more and perceyued that his doctryne was agreable to Gods worde he withstode the violence of hys enemies the malice of the whole world with a most stoute courage and lyke awalle of Brasse remayned styll vnmouable despysynge all daunger Whan Themperoure helde a counsell of the states imperyall at Auspurge immediately after he was crowned at Bononie by Clement the seuenth a terrible tempest was lyke to enswe as in the seuenth booke is specifyed Than did he couinfort bothe hys Frendes priuately all others openly and applying to thys pourpose the .xlvi. Psalme God sayeth he is oure sure castell and Bulwarke that olde enemye of mankynde taketh the matter in hande now with all hys force and power he layeth to all hys munition And indede our powers is but small neyther can we longe susteyne so greate a violence Howbeit that noble champion whom God hym selfe hath chosen vnto hym he hathe put on Armure and fyghteth for vs If you are who that is knowe forcertentie that he is that Iesus Chryst who muste nedes haue the victory and conquest And albeit the whole compasse of thys worlde be full of Deuilles yet are we not affrayde but with a most assured confidence doe looke for a ioyefull successe For although Sathangnasshe hys teethe and rage neuer so fiersely yet shall he nothyng preuayle agaynste vs For he is iudged already and throughe the worde only falleth downe all hys armure Thys worde shall not the aduersaryes take from vs but will they nyll they shall leaue it behynde them For he is in our tentes and armye who with his spirite and gyftes defendeth vs yf they take awaie lyfe goodes wife chilchildren take it patiently For they