the .xiiij. daye of Nouembre pronounceth it to be of none effecte The fyft daye after in the Emperours presence was the decree recited before all the states and after a long discourse of the handlyng of all matters the Emperour decreeth that they shuld no longer be suffered that teache otherwyse of the Lordes supper than hath bene obserued hytherto that in the Masse eyther common or priuate nothyng be altered that chyldren be confyrmed with chresme sycke folkes annoynted with oyle consecrated that no Images be remoued and where they be taken awaye to be restored that the opiniō of them that denye man to haue fre wyll be not receyued for that it is beastly and also contumeliouse against God that nothyng be taughte any where agaynst the authoritie of the magistrate that the opynion that fayth only iustifieth take no place that the Sacramentes of the church be in numbre and place accustomed that the ceremonies of the churche rites obsequies for the dead and suche other be obserued that benefices vacant be imployed vpon mete persones that suche priestes and men of clergie whiche haue maried before this tyme be depriued of their benefices whiche immediatly after this assembly shal be geuen to others But suche as forsakyng theyr wyues wyll retourne to their olde profession and be absolued the byshop may restore by the consent of the byshop of Rome or his legate But the others to haue no refuge in any place but banyshed or extremely punyshed that the priestes be of honest conuersation their apparell decent and commonly that they auoyde all sclaunder That the preachers exhorte the people to heare Masse to praye to the virgyn Mary and other sainctes to kepe their holy dayes and fasting dayes to abstayne from meates forbodene to releue the poore to tell the Monkes howe they may not forsake theyr profession and ordre briefly that nothyng be altered in Religion they that shall do otherwyse to lose bodye and goodes that where as Abbeys be pulled downe they be reedified and what soeuer hath bene taken awaye from the clergie to be restored that the wonted ceremonies and rites may be accomplyshed And suche as be followers of the olde Religion dwellyng within the lymites of the cōtrary parte and allowe this decree shall be receyued in to the protectiō of the Empire and shall flitte whether they lyste without any hynderaunce that the byshop of Rome shal be called vpon to apoynte a counsell in some place conuenient within syxe monethes that afterwarde the same may begynne as shortly as may be and at the furthest within a yeares space that all these thynges be ratified and establyshed Al exceptions or appellations made to the contrary to be voyde and of none effect And to the intent this decree may take place and be obserued as cōcerning religion the force and power that God hath geuē them shal be wholy applied hereunto and their lyfe and bloude also spent in the same quarell Duryng this Parliament Luther by the commaundement of his Prynce was at Coburge in the borders of Frankony to the intent he myght be nerer Auspurge in case the matter requyred his aduyse or counsell And though he were absent yet to the intent he myght some what further the commō benefit he wrote a booke to the byshoppes Prelates in that assemblye wherein he sheweth what the state of the churche hath bene vnder the byshop of Rome what wicked doctrine what shamefull errours And with moste weightye wordes admonisheth thē of their dutie chargeth them to be of cruell bloudy mindes and agayne exhorteth them not to let slippe the occasion nowe to redresse their euyll He sheweth them howe his doctrine is agreable to the bookes of the Prophetes Apostles and proueth that is in vaine what soeuer they consulte or imagine against God In this malyce threatheninge of the Emperour and Byshops Melancthon was discouraged and careful in his mynde not for his owne cause but for posterities sake and gaue hym selfe wholy to pensiuenes wepynge and mournynge But when Luther knewe therof he comforteth hym with sondrye letters And for as muche as it is no mennes matter but the cause of almyghtie GGD he admonyshed hym that layinge al thought and care a parte he caste the whole burthen vpon hym And why sayeth he doest thou thus afflicte and tourment thy selfe If God hath geuen his sonne for vs why do we tremble and feare why doe we syghe and lamente Is Sath an stronger than he Wil he that hath geuen vs so great a benefite forsake vs in lyghter matters Whye shoulde we feare the worlde whiche Christe hath vanquyshed If we defende an euyll matter why doe we not chaunge or pourpose If the cause be iust and Godlye why truste we not to Gods promyses Certenly the Deuyll can take no more from vs but our lyfe But Christ liueth and reigneth for euer in whose protection consisteth the veritie He wyll not cease to be with vs vnto the Worldes ende If he be wyth vs. I beseche you where shall he be founde If we be not of his churche doe you thynke that the byshop of Rome and our other aduersaries be of it We be synners in dede dynerse wayes but yet for all that Christe is no lyer whose cause we haue in hande Let kynges and nations fret and fume as muche as euer they lyste He that dwelleth in heauen shall laughe them to skorne God hathe gouerned and maynteined this cause hetherto without our counsell the same shall also from henceforth bryng it to the ende wyshed for Touchyng lawes and traditions of men that you wryte of the aunswere is not harde For both the fyrst cōmaundement and al the Prophetes also doe cōdempne suche maner of workes They may be a bodely exercyse but if they come ones to worshyppyng it is idolatry As for any agremēt it is in vayne loked for for neyther can we depose the byshop of Rome neyther can the true doctrine be in safetie so longe as Popery shall endure In that you wyll haue the Lordes supper to be communicated wholy and geue no place to your aduersaries whiche holde it to be indifferent you doe well For it is not in our arbitremēt to decree or suffer any thynge to be vsed in the churche whiche hathe not Gods worde to beare it They crye out that we condempne the whole churche but we saye how the churche was violently taken and oppressed with tyrannye when the communion was deuided in the middes and therfore to be holden excused as the whole Synagoge was excused that in the captiuitie of Babylon it kepte not the lawe of Moses other ceremonies beyng by force prohibited that they coulde not doe it Take hede in any wyse that you graunt not to the byshops ouer muche iurisdiction lest more trouble ensue there of hereafter All this treaty of a concorde in doctryne is cleane agaynst my mynde For the labour is spent in vayne vnlesse the byshop
Cardinalles thought mete to conferre also with the fathers of the counsell leste any thyng should be done rashely And to the intent that the decrees already made aswell that of remouing the counsell as also the reste myght wholy remayne Therfore sayeth he for so muche as I am both carefull for the welth of Germany and for the Emperours sake would haue no long delay I commaunde you that calling for the assistaunce of the holy Ghoste you declare the whole matter to the fathers And what answere shal be made to the Emperour you wryte hither with all spede Cardinall Montane as he was commaunded bryngeth the matter in counsell after wryteth agayne to the Byshop Albeit the counsell were lawfully remoued frō Trent to Bononie Albeit that in the session of the Fathers the same daie that the decree was made of remouing the Synode al mē were openly warned to repare to Boloigne Although he and the other Fathers wryting their letters after to Trent admonished thē louingly to take their iourney yet do some remaine there vntyll this daye Whiche thing verely aperteineth to the contemt of the counsell and offendeth many Therfore the Fathers do not see howe they should sauing the dignitie and estimation of the Synode consulte of their retourne vnlesse that suche as be at Trent do first come to Bononie ioyne thē selues with the residue acknowledge the authoritie of the counsel Againe it is nedefull that the Fathers be put in assuraūce that Germany will submitte it selfe to the counsell and allowe the decrees therof that either are made already or heafter shal be in such sort that they be retracted of no man Moreouer in as muche as the brute goeth that it shal be a counsell to the people agreable the fathers desyre also to haue assuraunce in that behalfe For if that should take place all order and maner of counselles synce the Apostles tyme vnto this day shuld be chaūged They desyre also to know how they shal be assured that they may all there safely and frely remayne and whan they shall thinke good departe thence no man to let them Finally this assuraunce is also requisite that whan for certen causes it semeth good to the moste part it may be lawfull for the Fathers to go some where els and remoue the counsell Furthermore whan it shall appeare those matters to be sufficiently aunswered for the whiche the counsell was called the fathers may be at libertie to surcease and make an ende These are the thinges whiche the fathers after great deliberation whan they had called for the grace of the holy spirite haue answered vnto his requestes praiyng his holines to take them in good worth Whan these letters were deliuered the Byshop the .xxvii. daye of Decēber at after Masse sendeth for the Emperours Ambassadour Mendoza into the senate of Cardinalles and sheweth him what the Synode of Boloigne hath answered whose opinion he saieth is not misliked either of him or of the Cardinalles as consonant to right and reason For his part there is nothing that he would not wyshe to do for Germany And this can the Emperour witnesse For nothing that concerned the dutie of a good pastour and a moste louing father hath bene of him omitted He perceiueth in dede what the Emperour what king Ferdinādo and the States of the Empire require but he supposeth howe they desire it in suche wyse as it may stande with the peace and commoditie of other nations and with the libertie of the churche Whan Mendoza sawe howe the Bishop toke that company at Boloigne for the counsell he was fully mynded to haue protested to the contrary immediatly But through the intercession of certen Cardinalles and the Deane of the College he was content to aduertise the Emperour of this aunswere and to awayte for his letters and differre the protestation vntill the .xx. day after Whan therfore Mendoza had signified the whole matter to the Emperour The Byshop also made aunswere to the former letters of the Germane Byshops at the kalendes of Ianuary Wherein he commendeth their vertue and interlaseth his owne prayses amonges He sheweth how desyrous he hath bene euer of a counsell and first called the same at Mantua after at Uicence last at Trente whither came many Bishoppes of other nations but fewe or none out of Germany Moreouer what holsome decres were there made and how proftable for the commō wealth and that they departed from thence without his knowledge yet doeth he defende their doinges to be lawefull Further more he defende their doinges to be lawfull Furthermore he discourseth at large what the Cardinall of Trent and Mendoza demaunded in the Emperours name whose requestes in asmuche as they were with theirs agreable he would not answere before he had aunswered the Emperour Finally where they say it is to be feared lest if he be slacke other meanes wyl be found that can not moue him for as muche as he hath omitted no part of his duty whome God hath placed in this seate of dignitie as it were in a hyge watche toure to haue charge of the whole slocke but especially of those that go astraye from the rest Againe it may be that newe deuises shal be attempted against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome For Christ him selfe the architectour therof what tyme he layd the foūdation of the church of Rome did prognosticate of great stormes but that their enterpryse should haue any lucky successe he feareth not for that Christe hath buylded the same vpon a moste strong Rocke Diuers haue heretofore attempted the lyke thinge whome God hath made an example for all men to beholde And if there be any at this day whiche are not affrayde of the plages and punishment of others set before their eyes he sore lamēteth their case for the destruction that will ensue Howbeit he exhorteth them chiefly to remayne and perseuer still in that faith vertue and constancie which they haue perfourmed hetherto And suffer no counselles to take place in their cōuentions against the dignitie of the churche Whan therfore the Byshop and Synod assembled at Boloigne dwelt stil in their opinion The Emperours Ambassadours for the same cause sent to Bononie Fraūces Uargas and Martin Uelascus the .xvi. daye of Ianuary whā they had desyred a Senate they come before the cōsistory There was present Cardinall Mountane and about .xliiii. bishops and prelates of the churche There Uargas reciteth his commission wherin the Emperour had geuen him and his fellowe authoritie to pleade whiche he had also exhibited lately before And beginning to speake was interrupted by Cardinal Montane President of the counsell In this commission and wrytyng the Emperour calleth it not the counsell but conuention of Bononie Wherfore sayeth Cardinal Mountane albeit this assemble is not bounde to heare your Oration forasmuch as your commission exhibited doth not concerne this holy Synode yet lest any man should haue any cause to complayne we refuse
which I haue gathred vp dilligently of the verity wherof no man nodeth to dout I had also the aid and helpe of a worthye and noble man lames Sturmie who hath ben occupied in publicke and waighty affaires these xxx yeres and mo to his commendation who of his gentlenes shewinge me frendship whan I somtime doubted and sticked fast on the rockes and shelues he as an expert sailer many times brought me again into the right course void of daÌ„gers the most part of the work he red ouer at my request before his sicknesse wherof he died admonished me diligently of suche things as wer nedeful Here is also much mention made of forein matters especially french Englishe And therein haue I also folowed the same ordre and haue put in nothing but that which was tried certenly knowne and the French matters for the most part I my self haue sene in these .ix. yeres that I dwelt ther. For diuers executions and burnings whereof is mention made again many decrees made and actions commenced by the diuines of Paris againste certen ministers of the Church and shortly after articles of religion setforth factions of the court chaunced at the same time whan I was in those parties but warlike matters suche other like affaires I do not omit for that I mighte in no wise do Yet haue I not professed to to treat of them expresly For as I said a little before this laboure was purposed chiefly to the cause of religion Therfore wold I haue the reader warned that whan he shal come vnto such places he loke for no long discourse of those affaires For nether is it mine intent they may read it in other mens works which haue taken in hand to wryte of that part so much as herein shal be wanting An other thing that I said is to be obserued in a history is fidelity or vprightnes that is to wit that nothing be told of affection which although it some very harde because it is of few performed and albeit that perauenture I shall not perswade all men that I haue ben dilligently ware of the same yet I require them instantly that I be not burthened with any suspition before there be cause This worke of mine is wholy compiled as I sayde of publick recordes collected with great dilligence wherof also a great part was setforth in print before partly in the Latin partly in the vulgare some in Italian and some also in French And it hath many orations and demaunds and answers and diuers accusations and consutations also All these thinges I recite plainly simply and truely as euerye thinge was done For neither I adde to any thing of mine own or speak mine own iudgement but leaue that to the reader free neither vse I also any collour of Rhethorick nor wryte any thing in the hatred or fauor of any man I frame my stile only and vse mine own words that the speache may be alwaies like and equal and I bestow eche thing in his place as they followed in ordre In those first yeres Bishop Leo and Adrian spake many thinges bitterly againste Luther from whose wrytinges as I take away nothing so likewise do I adde nothing vnto Luthers answers neyther make I their complainct worsse nor yet his defence better The Bishops that succeded theÌ„ Clement and Paule and this man especially whan Luthers dostrine was now spred abroade farre and neare making digression from his person haue inueyed most spitefully against princes also and cities Here I follow the same ordre and throughout the whole volumne kepe the self same trade Wherfore I beseche the reader that he lay a part all disliking and know firste the matter it self and tender my laboure which hath surely bene very great with theyr good wil and fauor For certenly vnlesse the same causes which moued me to write at the first had not eftsones allured me to procede deuour all tediousnes I had long since forsaken my enterprise when ther appeared so great variety much a do but my stomack strength came to me first because I supposed that the same shuld concern the glory of God who had opened in this our time his omnipotency wonderful counsel And again the comon vtility moued me For euen in Germany few remember the things past forain nations know no certenty at all many mennes mindes disposed to dislikinges thinck farre otherwise of many matters than they ought Furthermore I had a respect to posterity if at the leaste wise my wrytinges may abide light and continuaunce besides this also many things of the like fort are by others put in wryting nether truely nor modestly And ther is one of our natioÌ„ that setforth a boke vi yeres since at Mentz moste full of lies and slaunders trisling rayling wordes And in these last yeares past came forth two tomes at Florence the authour wherof handleth in dede in most larg and ample wise the history of his time but wherso euer he speaketh of Germain matters especially concerning Relegion he bewraieth the disease of his mind For the things be vntrue false and sclaunderous what so euer he wryteth as it may be euidently proued I omit here so manye Orations Epistles Prefaces whiche are setforthe in â—rinte whan they touch these matters they do handle all things not only of hatred and mallice but swarue also most far from the truth For these causes I say I thought good to proceade and not to permit that the ordre of actes done should be vntruely set out ether for this present age or els for the time to come For in this kind of thing what is more vile or les to be suffred thaÌ„ that the same things which shuld make the reader more expert shuld wyth false tales lies be depraued Assuredly the Magistrate ought to foresee that nothyng be done herein licentiously And thys faulte is vsed in oure dayes that verye manye of those wryters seke to pike a thanke and whilest they indâ—uour to please and gratifye one man they deserue euil of many and induce mo into errour Doutlesse I for my part whiche yet I would shuld be spoken without ostentation am so affected herein that if I knew ther wer anye thing in this work vntruely wrytien I my self wold scrape out the same and frankly warn the reader that be should geue no credit to it But I trust assuredly that no vntruthe can be obiected to me For what study paines and dilligence I haue taken these certen yeres that I might know eche thing exactly both manye good men can witnesse and as I trust also the thing it self shall declare Notwithstanding although I comprise those thinges that haue chaunced in thys Emperors gouernement al be it he be yet aliue and hath the gouernment although many thynges mo yet may fortune in his daies yet forsomuch as these former actes do chalenge the first chiefest and greatest part vnto them I wold not that the
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 Upō this the Pope sendeth Cardinal Caietane taduertise Thēperour 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 goldē 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 pretēded to haue ouer all Churches had sent forth into al realmes vnder his Bulles of Lead indulgēces pardōs 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 cōmaunded 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 remēbraunce 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 questiōs 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 pardōs 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 pardōs 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 cōtrary 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
freers that he shuld induce him to recant of his own accorde Wherfore Luther in the same letters maketh mention what Stupice did with him verely omitting nothing that becōmeth a faithfull and frendly man to dooe he geueth him thankes for his beneuolence towardes him whiche he perceiueth well by the talke of Stupicious wherby doubtles he was much comforted so that nowe he would gratifie no man more rather than hym he graunteth that he was ouer quicke and had to little regarde to the Byshop of Rome his authoritie Howe be it the same is to be imputed to the importunitie of the Collectours he desyreth to be forgeuen this fault and promyseth to be more modeste hereafter and affirmeth also that he wyll in his sermons satisfie the Byshops request And as cōcerning indulgences he wil speake no more therof so that his aduersaries may be lykewyse commaunded to silence How be it to reuoke his sentence already taught and defended he can not with a safe conseience tyll suche tyme as by the testimonies of holy scripture he be cōdemned of errour He therfore requyreth that the hearing of the matter may be referred to the Byshop of Rome for there is nothing ran dooe hym more pleasure than to heare the voyce of the churche Whan the Cardinall would make none aunswere to these letters and had manased him in wordes through the counsell of his frendes he departed thence two dayes after leauing behind him an Appellation to be openlye set vp about the tyme of his departure And or euer he went he wrote agayne to the Cardinall that he hath done what he was able howe he came on foote being sickly a longe iournaye to Auspurg to the intent he might declare his dutie towardes the Byshop of Rome And nowe hauing litle monye left and being lothe to be longer chargeable to the house of the white freres his host he is dryuen to retourne and the rather for that he can not abyde his sight and hath forboden him his presens Wherefore all his freindes in a maner had counsailed him to appeale from him to the Bishoppe him selfe whiche he woulde not haue done but by the aduise of his freindes And chifely because that he supposeth that Duke Friderick had also rather that some appellatiō were made than that any thinge should be rashely or vnaduisedly reuoked The appellation was made muche after this sort How that same question touching Indulgences hath bene diuersely handled of many but neuer throughly determined And that in suche doubtefull questions it hath bene alwayes lawfull namely for Diuines to reason which thing also he did at the selfe same time whan certein clamorous Pardoners did not onely write and teache rashely and vncircumspectlye but also polled the people exceadingly and yet did he this not to affirme anye thinge but to trie out the trueth he committed also the whole controuersie to the iudgemente of learned men and euen to the Bishoppe of Rome but his Pardonars haue inuented such sclaunders against him and haue complayned so sore to the Byshoppe and brought the matter to suche passe at the last that the matter was committed to the Bishop of Ascula Syluester Prierias by whō he was cited to Rome but for so much as both these wer suspected the one of thē also vnfit to be iudge in such a matter Moreouer if he shold haue gone to Rome no mā douted but he shold haue ben in great daūger of his lif And last for that he was cōmaūded by his prince to remain at home for these causes also for such feare as may come vpō the most cōstant mā liuing he had desyred duke Friderick to bring to passe that the hearyng of the matter might be referred to some skilful and fitte men in Germany in a place not suspected nor subiect to iniurie Wherfore the Bishop of Rome hath committed the whole matter to his Ambassador Cardinal Caietane whiche doubtles was done at the instaunce of his aduersaries whiche knewe alreadye the mynde and wyll of the Cardinall And all thoughe he myghte not wythoute iuste cause be suspected yet dyd he obey but the Cardinall by and by at the fyrste metynge commaunded him to reuoke his workes whereunto he aunswered that he woulde iustifye that that he had done eyther in present disputation or by writinge And yet would submit the whole matter not onely to the vniuersities but also to the iudgement of the churche of Rome But he with al these thynges beynge nothing satisfied commaunded him styll to recante And where he coulde not bringe on the same he threatened with greuous punishment bothe him and others also that were of his opinion Therfore where as he findeth him selfe sore greued with suche preiudices he doeth appeale from the Byshoppe of Rome not well infourmed in this matter to the Bishop that shal be better instructed in the same And this he protesteth openlye Furthermore that same decree of Clement is to be founde in that parte of the Cannon lawe that is called extrauagaunte There Clemente appoynteth the yere of Iubile which Boniface the eight had ordained euery hundreth yeare to be nowe euerye fiftithe yeare and speakinge of the benefite of our sauioure Christe he sayeth howe that one droppe of Christes bloud had bene sufficient to haue redemed all man kynde wherefore the ouerplus he hathe left as a treasure wyth Peter and his successours to dyspose and distribute vpon penitente personnes that confesse theyr synnes lyke good Stewardes and so to releue them from Temporall punisshemente dewe vnto them for theyr synnes Moreouer and besyde the merittes of the Uirgin Marie and of all Sainctes belonge vnto thys place saieth he so that the matter and power of remyttynge synnes is vnmeasurable Wherefore vpon this decree Caietaine groundeth the authoritie of pardons But Luther sayth howe that there was nothyng committed to Peter and hys successours besydes the keyes and ministration of the worde wherein Christ commaundeth that through the trust in him the remissiō of sinnes shold be shewed to the beleuers And this to be the true sence meanyng of Scripture And if the decree of Clement meane thus he can be content otherwise he can not alow the same And that whiche is spoken moreouer of the merites of Saintes is wholy agaynst the holy Scriptures For men what soeuer they be can not onely not do more than they oughte but also not so muche as they are bounden neither are they saued by their owne merites but by the sole and mere mercy of God for all men must pray dayly that God the father will forgeue vs our offences and that he stand not in iudgement agaynst vs lest we be damned Touchynge that whiche the Cardinall inferreth for the authoritie of the Byshoppe of Rome thus standeth the case It was enacted in the fourth and fifte syttyng of the coūsell of Constaunce that the Bishop of Rome him selfe should obey the decrees of the Synode The same was afterwarde established and repeted
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
and moue his fellowes also to be carefull for the same he would be glad moreouer to make a present aunswer but there be many others of the same religion who with his father Duke Iohn professed the same doctrine in the assemblie at Auspurge before the Emperour so that he can not aunswere of him selfe alone without making them priuie neither is it expedient for the cause so to doe For better it is that the same be done by comon assent And for as much as the Emperour the byshop the last wynter in their letters wrytten to the states of the Empire from Bononie put them in hope of a counsell therfore did he his fellowes appoint a day the .xxiiij. of Iune to mete at Smalcalde to consult of the whole matter wherfore he desireth thē not to be offended with this differment of time for so sone as his fellowes mete at their day prescribed they shal haue answer either by Ambassadours or by letters shortly after And he wold through Gods grace so demeane him self that not only this present age but also the time to come shold perceiue right wel that he wyshed for nothing more thā that the pure religion doctrine peace not only of Germany but of the whole comon wealth of Christendom might also floriche and that the Emperour his chiefe souereigne might haue his due honour dignitie Afterwarde whan his fellowes were come with good deliberation they framed an answere by commō assent in their letters the last of Iune Howe they gaue great thankes to the Emperour whiche for Gods glory preseruation of the cōmon wealth had taken so muche paynes of a good zeale they doubted not And therfore pray God so to confirme direct his mynde to that ende that the truthe may be set forth and embraced And false doctrine wicked worshipinge rites abolyshed and that all errours being cleane weded out of mens myndes Gods true seruice other godly vertues may agayne take place For they chiefly desire a counsel wherin the matter that is in controuersie may duely and orderly be decided Suche a counsell also the Emperour hath promysed long synce and that in all assemblies of the Empyre with great deberation hath bene decreed to be kepte in Germanye For all this dissention sprange vp fyrste of that welle that certen impudent persones ouermuche extolled indulgences and pardons At whiche tyme also other errours were perceyued and detected And all be it that byshop Leo condempned this doctryne whiche brought those errours to lyghte yet haue they hetherto impugned that condempnatiō with the testimonies of the Prophetes and Apostles And therfore hath a counsell ben alwaye thought moste nedefull as well of other Prynces and states of them wherin the cause myght be examined and openly tryed what is true and what is false for that they sawe howe many thynges were crept into Religion whiche were to be refourmed And therfore in the assemblies of the Empyre it was decreed that there should be a free and a christian counsell eyther of all nations or els of the prouince of Germany by those especiall wordes lest that eyther the sentēce of the byshop or the force and power of any other man should be preiudiciall to the cause Agayne that in all this cause iudgement should be geuen not after the byshoppes decrees and opinions of Scholemen but accordyng vnto holy Scripture For yf any mans power should be of more force than the Scriptures than due examination who doubteth But that he that shoulde contende againste the byshop shoulde lose his labour and stryue agaynste the streame Wherfore not without great considerations it hath been decreed that the counsell should be holden in Germany And the Emperour also content it shoulde so be but nowe these requestes of the bysshop to be vtterly against the decrees of the Empyre confyrmed by the seales of the Emperour and the other Prynces For all be it he speaketh of a free councel yet doubtles he intendeth an other thynge whā he goeth about to haue kynges and Prynces bounden to hym For in case he woulde haue it free what shoulde this obligation nede But nowe seyng that he is wholy bent this waye certenly this is his purpose that vnder the name of a counsell he maye maynteyne his power and aucthoritie that no man shall reprehende his faultes and errours or if any doe atttempte it that he shall not escape vnpunyshed They knowe not what other men wyll doe but surelye this demaunde of his is wrytten in suche sorte that it rather maketh them afrayde of a counsell than prouoketh them to it for who woulde bynde hym selfe after this sorte especially beynge not yet knowen what shall be the ordre of the counsell the fourme and maner whether the byshop wyll haue his adherentes to beare there moste aucthoritie or whether the controuersies shall be determined accordyng to the holy Scriptures or after the traditions and lawes of men grounded vpon no Scripture at all The lybertie of the Counsell is also restrayned in that he wyll haue it kept after the olde accustomed maner They doe not refuse the former counselles that are consonant to the Scryptures but suche as haue bene in our tyme or a lyttle before whiche haue attributed more than reason wold to the byshop of Rome and decrees of men farre differing from the auncient counselles therfore where he sayeth it shall be after the olde accustomed maner this is his crafte and policie that there shall not be that lybertye of speache and geuinge of sentences as they both desyre and also the cause requireth but that iudgement shall be geuen accordynge vnto his lawes and vsurped power whiche he taketh vppon hym as by certen of the last coūselles it is manifest but by this vsage and hadling of matters can neither the churches be pacified nor the troubled conscience quieted but are brought into further darkenes bondage wherfore seing that the bishop hath not as yet satisfied the requestes of the Emperour and states of the Empyre they ernestly desyre that Cesar considering the weightines of the cause whiche concerneth the vniuersall cōmon wealth and all nations would see that the matter might be handled indifferently For this is his office and dutie this may he doe by the lawes When in dede the byshop impugneth the truthe for it is to be forseen and prouided that the plaintife or defendaūt be not also iudge in the cause For all nations haue great hope in this counsell and doe both wyshe and pray that at the laste mens consciences troubled and sore afflicted with doubtfull dissentiō may be made free set at libertie and taught the way of saluatiō For these many hondreth yeares hath not bene so muche contention about so weighty matters as is at thys present And this stryfe aryseth of sondry errours and vices whiche haue spronge longe before our tyme But and if men be disceaued of theyr expectation and shall
not alter their purpose they were bannyshed the town Luther in his letters to them of Lipsia called Duke George the Apostle of Sathan whiche thinge breade muche trouble For Duke George did accuse hym before his cosyn the Electour of Saxon howe he had not only rayled on hym but had also styred vp his subiectes to rebellion The Prince Electour in his letters charged Luther withal and amonges other thynges sayth that vnlesse he can make his purgation herein he must of necessitie punyshe hym Wherfore vpon this occasion Luther wryteth a booke wherein he confuteth this accusation declaryng howe he gaue them counsel not to resiste their Prince commaunding them not to doe wickedly but rather to suffer death or exile whiche concerneth no rebellion For that is to be ascribed vnto them that teache howe the Magistrate shoulde be resisted by force of armes and they are sedicious in deede of whome also Peter the Apostle hath prophecied but this belongeth to the profession of the Gospel to be condempned as seditious Christ hym selfe was for this cause put to death moste vnworthy as though he would haue bene kyng of Iewes and haue made the people to rebelle against the Emperour After to the same booke he adioyneth an epistle wherwith he doth comforte those banyshed men of Lipsia admonishyng thē to take their exile paciently and also to geue God thankes whiche hathe graunted them his constancie of mynde and perseuerance I shewed you of the league concluded betwene the Emperour and Clement the seuenth but when the Emperour was retourned into Spayn Clement at the request of the Frenche kyng toke shipping and arriued at Marceilles in haruest tyme and for the more intier frēdship he marrieth his niece Katherine Medices vnto Henry the kynges sonne Duke of Orleans a younge Prynce of fiftene yeares of age And because the occasion serueth I purpose here to speake a litle touching the house of Medices and Syluester Euerarde Iohn were the first accompted of that name whiche were all Senatours of Florence but the fyrst that ennobled that house was Cosmus who was the rychest marchaunt not only of his owne citie but also of all Italy His sonne Peter had two sonnes Laurence and Iulian. And Iulian had a sonne borne after he was dead called Iuly who was afterwardes Clement the seuenth Not withstanding that they reporte diuersly touching his byrth Lawrēce had the sonnes Peter Iulian and Iohn Who was made byshop of Rome Leo the tent Iulian had no chyldrē Peter expulsed out of Florence and at the lenght drowned in the mouth of Lyre by reason of a tēpest left a sonne named Lawrence who married Galla of the house of Bolonois and by her had this Katherine of whome here mention is made Clement which made his abode at Marseilles a moneth and somewhat more to gratifie the kyng and his nobles made foure frenche Cardinalles whome he perceiued to be moste in fauoure with the kyng Odet Chastilion Philip Bolon Claude Gifrie and Iohn Uenerie byshop of Lisiens No man doubted but this affinitie pretended an alteration of the state of Italy and many marueled at the vniqualitie of the mariage In so muche that Clement hym selfe as the report goeth was doubtfull and woulde not beleue that they ment good ernest before the mariage was solempnised Within a fewe monethes after the Lantgraue goeth to the French king the cause wherof was this In the yeare of our Lorde 1519. Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge was driuen out of his countrey by the confederatours of the Sweuicall league for takyng of Rutelyng a towne imperiall whiche was in confederacie with them Which Prouince first the Emperour had of the rest and after in the diuision of the inheritaunce Ferdinādo receiued it of the Emperour In the assemblie at Auspurg certen princes were peticioners that the Duke whiche had bene eleuen yeares in exile might thā be restored But it was in vayne for the Emperour reciting the causes from the beginning for whiche he was exiled dyd create his brother Duke there openly of that countrey Wherfore the Lantgraue being a dere frende and a nere kinsman to Duke Ulriche thought to attempte some thing at this present but being disapoynted by certen which had promysed theyr ayde he differred the matter vntyll better oportunitie serued And nowe in the Emperours absence cōsidering how the Sweuicall league made for eleuen yeares was dissolued he goeth into Fraunce and layeth to pledge the Countrey of Mount Pelicarte vnto the kyng for a summe of mony in the name of Duke Ulriche vpon condicion that if he redeme it not within thre yeres to be than the inheritaunce of the realme of Fraunce Besides this some of money the kyng also promysed him to lende hym another som in hope that the lande should not be redemed At this tyme fortuned a wonderfull alteration in Englande and the occasion was this Henry the seuenth kyng of Englande had two sonnes Arthur and Henry Arthur maried Katherine daughter to Ferdinando kyng of Spayne diyng without ishewe Henry the father who coueted much that this alliaunce with the Spanyarde myght continue by the lycence of the byshop of Rome Iuly the seconde deuyseth to marrie this Katherine to his other sonne also whiche was kyng after him who departed the yeare of grace 1509. Wherfore Henry the eight of that name after he had maried her his father beyng dead and he nowe of manye yeares sufficiently establyshed in his kyngdome propoundeth this scrupulositie of his conscience to certen byshoppes and calleth in questiō whether it were lawfull to marrye his brothers wyfe and of longe tyme abstayned from her company The byshoppes hauynge priuate talke with the Quene by the kinges assignement declare vnto her that the byshop of Romes lycence was herein neyther good nor lawfull She aunswereth that it is to late nowe to examyne the licence whiche so longe synce they had allowed She had dyuerse tymes miscaried of chylde and brought forth none that prospered sauynge one daughter called Marie The byshop of Rome committeth the hearynge of the matter vnto two Cardinalles Campegius whome he sent into Englande and the Cardinalle of Yorke After longe and muche debatyng whan the kynge was put in hope from Rome that sentence should be geuen on his syde Campegius in maner at the same instant that iudgement should haue passed by the byshop of Romes admonyshement began to drawe backe and fynde delayes The cause wherof as men suppose was that through the death of the Duke and captaine Lawtrech and distruction of the Frenche armie about Naples that Androwe de Aurie the moste experte man of the sea forsakyng the Frēch kyng was fled vnto the Emperour All the whiche thynges chaunced so at the same tyme that the byshop was afrayde to offende the Emperour being nephewe to Quene Katherine whiche had suche lucky successe in all his assayes in Italy Wherfore Campegius in fyne retourned without
present the best thynge that is about the house But what greater iniurye can be done than to sell a thynge that is not his owne yea and to sell it vnto those that haue moste ryght to it and to sondry men one thyng Tel me I pray the who bought the belles hanged them vp Unto whō belongeth the churche flowre Is it their patrimony no forsouthe Why than do they sel the ryngyng of the belles and the church floure so dere and so oftentymes Perauenture they wyll saye it is the right of the churche I graunt but not of that churche whiche Christe hath washed instituted and iustified but of the same wherein they walke that is replenyshed with theftes robberies and all other kynd of vice For Christe commaundeth all these thynges to be geuen frely But it is a sporte and a pleasaunt syght to see howe the Rauens wyll stryue amonges them selues for the carion For when any ryche man is dead by and by come they flockyng and swarming gaping eche man for his praye full busely especially those that are called beggyng freers For the graye freers contende with the Dominickes and the white freers with the Austen oftentimes about the buriyng a kynde of people that is idle sloughtful and not only vnprofitable but also very chargeable and worthy to be whipped out of euery good common wealth These thynges that I haue sayde can not be denied and are sene dayly and yet is this miserable worlde so assotted and mortall men so blynded that they can not vnderstande with what spyrite they are moued Whan a benefice or prebende is fallen Lord God what busie suite what gadding and prickyng vp and downe what diligent inquisition is made to knowe the yearely value what it is worthe to be absent what to be resident vpon it what profites arryse of the christenyng of childrē of mariages pilgrimages reliques of saintes what may be leuied of buriynges habites and diriges by legacies and laste willes But the moste auauntage is gotten by suche sainctes as for some notable propertie and power are sore feared as sainct Laurēce and S. Anthony S. Roche and suche other angry sainctes whiche muste be pleased with vowes and great giftes But oh ye kinges and Princes why do you wynke at so wicked and detestable thinges Why do you so longe suffer so paciently so many great enormities They wyll in dede refuse to be reformed by you and yet doubtles haue you the rule ouer them whether they wyl or no. For God hath geuē you the sword and authoritie to punyshe And why do you not vse the same than and be auenged of this moste cruell kynde of extortioners God requyreth this dutie at your handes whiche if ye do neglecte he wyll not leaue it vnpunyshed Would to God you were as diligent in auauncing his glory as they are vigilante and circumspect in handlyng of their matters for they let slyppe none occasion They kepe so good watche that nothing can escape them hauing as many eyes as had eyther Ianus or Argus If they here the sound of the bel they runne thither streight if any welthie persone be sicke they put them selues in prease and will neuer awaye tyll they haue their rewarde At euery mariage wil they be and must blesse the brides bed and saye ouer it certen praiers chast and holy men I warrant you whiche liue a sengle lyfe moste filthely to the entent they may more at libertie play their partes in all naughtines And this whiche I haue spoken here of marchauntmen concerneth also marchaunt women called nunnes wherof ther be sondry orders But it can not be expressed with wordes what idolatry and wickednes all this rabble had induced At the last arryse thou O God auenge thy self for the glory of thy name into whose league or societie no man ought to presume to come And where as this foresayd buchery began in the moneth of Nouembre In Ianuary followyng the kyng came to Paris and to appease Gods wrath he goeth a pylgrymage to diuers sainctes with an vncredible nombre and concourse of people They worshyp at Paris sainct Geneuefa a virgin aboue al other sainctes Whose image was nowe caried about with great pōpe and solempne procession Whiche is neuer wont to be done but in tyme of extreme daunger whan either Gods wrath is pacified or that they muste fyght a great battell or els when they feare great penury and skarsitie of corne and wyne For than flye they vnto her as vnto the laste ancker and only porte of theyr succour And the people are perswaded that her helpe was neuer yet desyred in vaine in so mutch as some wyll saye howe God can do verey mutche but saynct Geneuefa is the sauiour of Paris It is caried of foure butchers by an olde custome whiche prepare them selues hereunto certen dayes before by fasting and prayer and there be officers appoynted to make rowme waye whiche is not done without great payne For when the image is borne about the people runne vnto it on euery syde with great deuotion and well are they that may touche it with theyr fyngers ende or els with theyr cappe or handkerchief so that the thronge and prease of people is beyonde all reason Whan masse was done and the kyng had dyned in the byshops palace by our ladies churche in the presence of his chyldren and the foreyne Ambassadours and al his nobilitie he made an oration full of affections testifying the inward sorow which he had conceaued of the presumption and naughtines of these wicked persones Than after he had made a longe discourse concernynge his obedience to the churche he exhorted them all to beware of the pestiferous secte for none should escape without punyshement that was taken with the maner And if he knewe any part of his owne body infected with this contagion he sayed he woulde teare it away least it should growe any further But to make amendes towardes God the same daye were syx brought forth whiche beynge fastened to the engines as before is sayde in sondry places as the kynge should passe by home to his owne house were burnt the fyre beyng kyndled at the same instaunt that the kyng should go that waye by and they beseching hym of mercie and pardon It is the custome of Fraunce to doe execution at after none And there when silence is proclaimed are redde the causes of his punyshemen But whan any man is executed for heresy if it be touchyng the iustification of fayth only without respect of workes or against praying to sainctes or if he haue affyrmed that Christe only is the byshop and aduocate of mankinde or if he haue eaten fleshe on dayes forboden whiche is death with them there is no suche thyng spoken of but generally is reported to haue offended the diuine Maiestie and bene cōtumelious against the virgyn Mary other sainctes and to haue broken the lawes of our
crueltie they reproue him therfore exceadingly and byd him not thinke that they wil euer allow such errours as thei nowe do condemne or at any time retourne vnto that churche whiche defendeth so manifest vices Whan Contarene in the meane tyme heard that his aunswere was diuersly taken by thaduise of certen he sendeth to the states the third wryting how he wil not assent the the articles newly accorded shal be receiued vntil the couÌ„sell but referreth al thinges in general to the highe Byshop The next day after the ides of Iuly the Princes Electours make answer to Themperours demaunde saye howe they are contented that the articles agreed vpoÌ„ should be receiued vntil the time of a couÌ„sel for the same is both expedieÌ„t for the auoiding of further incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces hereafter wil be also a great helpe vnto a further agrement and if there be any hope that the rest myght at this tyme be accorded they desire him to shew his fauour herin but if the shortnes of time wil not suffer it that thaÌ„ according to his fre ê“messe he wold deuise with the bishop and other kinges that there might be with al expeditioÌ„ a couÌ„sell appointed in some coÌ„uenient place of Germany either general or prouincial that he wold sende his legate thether if the same can not be obteined as they haue no truste it shall that than he wold retourne againe into Germanye and declare the same fidelitie to the countrie that he hathe doone hitherto and establisshe peace and quietnes But the Protestantes desyre themperour that he wolde commaund the articles of religion al ready accorded to be enacted and taught for so shal the truthe be opened more and more and this shal be as a waye to amende the diseases of the churche And that also he wolde take awaye and abrogate the decree of Auspurge as vnprofitable for concorde or at the lestwyse leaue it in suspence what their opinion is concernyng the counsel and how they wil not permit the bisshop or his clieÌ„tes to be iudges therof and of what sorte it ought to be they haue declared heretofore and remayne in the same opinioÌ„ and if percase such maner of counsel wil not be had and that ther be any assemblie of the states in germany by his coÌ„maundement in the same wil they declare their doctrine After the other princes amonges whom the bisshops were chief and with them the two bretherne Dukes of Bauier and Henry of Brunswicke declare what theyr aduise is to themperour seuerally which was that so many vices sectes heresies and dissentions did now not only in Germani but also in other places in maner through out christendoÌ„ ouerflow that they could not be holpen but by a counsell and that there shoulde now be any alteration of religion and ceremonies thai had so many yeares continewed they could in nowise geue theire assent especially considering that the bisshop by his legate doth promise a counsel and he him selfe will moue him herein presently and say how they are determined to sticke to the old religion couÌ„sels doctrine of their forefathers which hath continewed from the apostles tyme vnto this day And alledgeing moch other matter but to no great pourpose they thinke it most expedient to differ the cause of religion vnto the counsell especially for that the bisshops legate is of the same opinion the residew of the cities whyche were not of the nomber of Protestantes Collon Mentz Spier wormes Tully Hagenaw Regenspurg Schwinfurth Colmaria Semund Roteburg and dyuers others whan they were excluded from cousultation and that the princes wolde not geue them the copie of the aunswere they complayne herof to themperoure as they had don ofte before requestinge him that they myght not be hindered in theyr ryght and many of them were content that the articles agreed vpon shoulde be receyued Whan themperoure had hearde all mens opinions he maketh a new propositioÌ„ and recytyng euery thyng in order because the whole matter cannot be determined and they most certenly stande in great daunger of the Turke and the time is farre spente he sayeth he will referre the matter to the couusel wherof both the Bisshops legat hath put him into an vndoubted hope and he himselfe also will be in hande with the Bisshop for he promiseth also to retourne shortly into Germany and desyreth the Protestantes that they wyll in the meane tyme attempt nothyng els besydes those thinges wherin the diuines are accorded Than warneth he the Bishpops than they deuyse the meanes wherby euery one of theÌ„ maye reforme their owne churches to the intent ther be a way prepared for a coÌ„mon redresse This mind of Themperoure for the moste parte al men commended and thinke inete that the Bisshops Legate should geue also an ernest streighte charge to the Bishops that they redresse and pourge theyr churches And the Protestantes concernyng the conciliation of doctryne and all other thynges promise to do according to theyr dewtie require that it may be lawful for all other Princes ther to propounde in their churches the articles nowe accorded You haue hearde how Eckius abhorred bothe the booke exhibited of themperoure and also the Collocutours Wherefore after the conference had whan the booke was agayne restored to themperoure the matter debated in the counsel of the Princes he lying sick of a feuer sendeth an epistle to the princes of this effecte that he neuer lyked that foolyshe booke wherin he fyndeth so many errours and therfore ought not to be admitted for the custome of the olde fathers and the church layde a syde the stepes and phrasis of Melanchthon are in it well perceyued moreouer he sayeth he sawe not the booke whiche his fellowes corrected and after restored to themperoure but as he laye sycke there wer red vnto hym only certen opinions of the Lutheranes Moche lesse did he allow that wrytyng that was presented to themperoure with the boke for he neuer saw it This thing knowne Iulius Pfiugius and Iohn Gropper whiche thought how the same concerned their estimation desyre the Presidentes and hearers of the conference as witnesses of the whole matter that they would defend theyr honestie againste the sclaunders of Eckius They informe themperoure of all the matter who after in a publicke writing gaue vnto them bothe a goodly and an honorable report affirming that they haue donne herein as becoÌ„meth honest men It is before mentioned that the cause of religyon was referred to a generall or prouinciall counsell of Germany After that Contarene vnderstoode it the .xxvi. day of Iuly he wrote to the states and Princes requiryng that the last might be crossed and cancelled for the controuersies of religion ought not to be determined by suche maner of counselles but the same to belonge to the vniuersall churche and what someuer is determined in suche cases of any one nation to be of none effect wherfore they shall shew a greate pleasure to the Bisshop who
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 amōges 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 burthē 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 sōne 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 kingdōe 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 hādle 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 coūselloures 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 cānot 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
Transiluania do reuolte from kinge Ferdinand Ferdinando also prorogeth the counsel of the Empire to a time vncerten and leuieth an army whiche he sendeth downe the riuer of Danubius into Hōgary There is a town of Alsatia called Obereyne thre leages from Strasburg A certen citezen of that towne being a labourer about vines for penury want when his wyfe was absent the tenth daye of Aprill sleeth his thre children a daughter of seuē yeares a sonne of foure yeares olde and a sucking babe in the cradell not fully halfe a yeare olde That tyme there was a brute and reporte went of the secret conspiracie of the Pope his adherentes against the Protestauntes It increased this opinion for that there was no doubte but that the Pope toke moste displeasauntly the decre of the last yeare made at Auspurge wherby peace and libertie was graunted to Religiō It is thought also that he sollicited the Emperour to make it frustrate For he sawe how many reuolted daily from his kingdome and vnderstande what they of Austriche and what the Bauarians went about Moreouer the Archebyshops of Mentz Treuers and Collon by occasion of the bathes met that tyme together Whiche was thought to be done not without cause King Ferdinando breaking vp his assemblees in Austriche goeth into Boheme and calling the countries there about to Prage against this iminent daunger demaundeth mony and hath it graunted Than sending letters to them whiche had bene now certen monethes at Regenspurg he excuseth his absence and bicause he must retourne to Uienna he appointeth the assemblee of the Empire the first of Iune After the departure of king Ferdinando the Lantgraue came in to Meissen was a certen tyme with Auguste Duke of Saxony The tenth day of May the Duke of Arescot being prisoner in castel Uincent not far from Paris escaped and came home safe The Cardinall of Auspurge who had taried a whole yeare at Rome when he being lately retourned frō thence had heard how sinistrally and many euill men spake and thought of him as though he should practise with the Pope priuie and perniciouse counselles for Germany he pourgeth him by an open wryting set forth in the vulgar tongue about th ende of May. And where as the last yeare sayth he after the death of Iulius the third I went to Rome as my dutie was to do and was present at the Election of him that now ruleth I had pourposed doubtles to haue retourned home into Germany with expedition but I was deteined of the Pope who went about than a reformation of the churche And chosing certen excellent men of all nations for the same purpose chose me also although vnmete for so weightie a matter bycause I was a Germane to be of that nomber But where the charge of my Byshoprike required my presence askyng leaue of the Byshop the day before the Ides of Aprill I retourned home Neuerthelesse although I haue so vsed my self both alwayes before and after also that I came to this kynde of lyfe that I now am in whiche I wold should be spoken without boasting that no shamefull matter can be truly obiected to me although I haue bene oft the coūsellour and authour of peace not without my great losse and hinderaunce although the welth and dignitie of my countrie hath bene to me alwayes dere yet so sone as I came againe in to Germany I heard of great mē and worthy credit that were my frendes how in myne absence certen wrytynges were caste abroade whiche sounded to my dishonour as though I should not only at Rome with the Pope but also euery where through out Italy with secret diuises practise this that Germany namely the league fellowes of the confession of Auspurg shuld againe be vexed with a moste greuous warre And in the same wrytinges they alledged this to be the cause of this enterprise and fecret working that the Pope did greatly mislike the decre made the last yeare at Auspurg cōcerning religion in so much that he perswaded the Emperour that he woulde abolishe the same that he had dispensed with him for his faith promesse herein that he had promysed him all the ayde and power that he could make to subdue Germany so that themperour againe would not fayle hym in recouering the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in Germany that therfore he had made truce betwixt the Emperour and the Frenche kynge that bothe their Armies might be conuerted to this vse Thei added moreouer that this was written in the same libelle that no foreyne Soldiours should be leuied but only of Germaynes that the thing might the better be hidde Moreouer that the kyng of England wold hire eight thousande horsemen and be gouernour of the whole warre and that mounsters shoulde be take in sondry places Briefly that the whole matter shoulde be handled so circumspectly that all these powers should set forwarde together at one tyme and should inuade the Protestauntes vppon the soden than when many shall be from home at the counsel at Regenspurge Furthermore that both the Pope and the kyng of Englande sending Ambassadours to certen Prynces in Germany doe promyse them largely and that the Pope in dede prepareth a greate army of horsemen and fotemen to sende for ayde Furthermore that I should sclaunder Otto Henrick the Paulsgraue Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge and Albert Marques of Brandenburge as Heretickes and seditiouse and worthie to be driuen out of their countrie And should hyghly commende the Lantgraue in the Senate of Cardinalles for that he had forsaken his Religion and that Titell man one of the Ministers of his churche had reuoked his doctrine at Rome both by worde and wryting Now for as muche as this sclaunder toucheth not only the Pope and the Emperour but hurteth also my name and estimation And bycause it is the part of an honest man to defende both his owne and also the honour and innocencie of his Magistrate I must nedes aunswere to the same And to begynne with all it was surely very greuous and paynefull for me to heare that any were yet remayning and to be founde whiche contrary to the auncient vertue of Germany faythe and constancie doe geue their myndes to suche sclaundering and here to applie them selues that through moste wicked libelles and lewde talke they myght styre vp the Prynces of the Empyre against their hyghe Magistrate and set the Prynces together by the eares in a wycked warre How cruel troublesome and full of perill was the sclaunder diuised .xxviii. yeares past I suppose full many doe remember When kyng Ferdinando the Byshoppes of Mentz Salisburg Bamberge and Wirseburge the Prynce Electour of Brandenburge Lewys and William brethren Dukes of Bauier and George Duke of Saxony were sayd to haue conspired against Iohn Duke and Electour of Saxony and the Lantgraue where the matter was brought to that poinct that al thinges tended to a moste cruell ciuile warre Doubtles Princes ought to
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