State and how much it will be expos'd to Misunderstandings and Tumults of the truth of this Allegation the Emperor's Edict which was then publish'd is a sufficient proof It was never their intention to plead in bar to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber in any Causes but those of Religion and they believ'd that Court could not prove the contrary upon them But they were very much troubl'd to hear from his Excellency that the Emperor had given the Chamber Authority to determine the quality of the Cause for they did believe all those Causes to be of a religious Nature and they were really such which could not be decided till the Extent of the word Religion was defin'd in a lawful Council which thing both by Letter and their Embassadors they had several times acquainted the Emperor and King Ferdinand with For this Dispute concerning the meaning and latitude of Religion is a preliminary Question and ought to be setled by the Council before other matters which relate to it are determin'd And in regard Benefices ought to be bestowed in consideration of Merit and Function They said they could not allow that those in their Dominions who were of a different Religion from themselves should enjoy the Revenues of the Church to which they had no manner of right because they were either unwilling to discharge their Office or wanted abilities to do it and since Conscience is more than ordinarily concern'd in the present case the usual Pleas of Law founded upon the right of Possession or Restitution ought not to be urg'd Moreover when the Treaty of Nuremburgh was on foot they particularly mention'd all those Suits and Difference which were then depending in the Chamber and in other Courts and represented them under the notion of Ecclesiastical Causes to the Princes of the Mediation who promis'd that they would endeavour to perswade the Emperor that they should be all exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Courts which was also promis'd by King Ferdinand at the Convention at Cadan besides it 's plain from that Clause in the Emperor's Edict which stops all Prosecutions of this nature that the Chamber of Spire has no Authority to determine the Quality of Causes And to say nothing more severe they could not choose but observe that the apparent Inclination of that Court to give Judgment against them had made a great many Persons much bolder and more contentious than they had formerly been which they were able to prove more than one way For when those of their Party moved that Court in any Cause their Suit was not only rejected but they were sent away with reproachful Language And lately the Hamburghers were commanded by them not only to restore the Clergy of their City their Goods and Estates but also to return them their old Religion and Jurisdiction back again and because they could not do this with a good Conscience they were amerced in a great Sum of Mony and therefore there needs no more Instances to let the Emperor understand what the Design of that Court is for if any Cause relates to Religion this certainly does But if the Judges are allowed to proceed in this manner the Truce serves to no purpose If the Rites and Ceremonies which were abolish'd may be lawfully restor'd by such Methods as these there will be no need of Council and yet the Emperor is pleas'd to grant that all Differences of this nature ought to be determin'd there and since their Exceptions against the Proceedings of the Court were not consider'd they were forc'd to decline the Jurisdiction of it As concerning the Persons of the Chamber there was not above one or two of the whole Bench of their Religion what Provision was made at Ratisbone for this Affair was well known it being apparent that those who were most violent against the Reformed were most acceptable to the Chamber nay a man may plainly discover how they stand affected by observing the air of their Countenances when they are trying of Causes and therefore they hope his Imperial Majesty will send them a positive Order to desist As for the Penalty which his Excellency mention'd was decreed at Ratisbone against Mal-administration that was no advantage to them Indeed if the Cause had related to Property and secular Affairs they might have had a compensation this way but matters of Religion were too weighty to be satisfied with Costs and Damages However if the Emperor is of opinion that they have intermix'd any civil Causes in their request they are willing this matter should be tried provided there may be a stop put to the Proceedings of the Chamber in the mean time Now as concerning those who came over to their Religion since the Pacification of Nuremburgh they confess'd that some few years since the Princes of the Mediation did insist at Schweenfurt that no more might be admitted into their Association which Proposition they then rejected and afterwards at the Convention at Nuremburgh they persisted in the same Opinion As to what his Excellency objects in reference to the Promises and Articles by which several of the States had engag'd themselves not to make any alteration in Religion To this the parties answer That some of them promis'd nothing others in private Treaties reserv'd this Liberty for themselves a third sort it 's true did engage themselves but it was upon the assurance which the Emperor gave them that a Council should be intimated within six Months and opened the year after But since this Assembly was delayed beyond their expectation and God had been pleas'd to give them a fuller apprehension of the true Religion they could not defer so good a Work any longer but thought it their Duty to make an open profession of that Doctrin which they were assur'd had both Truth and Piety to recommend it This the Canon-Law it self would justifie them in for from thence they had learn'd that if any Person had sworn to do a wicked Action this Oath did not oblige Besides as their Adversaries would not refuse any one who offer'd himself for a Convert so neither did they think it lawful to bar any person from coming over to themselves Therefore their earnest request to the Emperor was That the Judges might be check'd and that not only themselves but those who joyn'd them afterwards might be comprehended in the Peace For if matters should be otherwise carried and any violence should be offer'd they could not desert those they were allied to both by Vertue of their League and Religion This had been already declar'd to King Ferdinand at Vienna and that with a great deal of reason for the Cause of these later Confederates no less than their own belongs to the Cognizance of the Council But if the Judges of the Chamber will fore-stall the Hearing and hale in the business of the Council to their Court this is no less than down-right Force and Injustice against which by the Laws of Nature they are bound to defend themselves
Holy Scripture was to be preferred far before his The Cardinal then extolling the Dignity of the Pope prefers him before all Scriptures and Councils and quotes the abrogation of the Council of Basil which had decreed otherwise condemning also Gerson the Parisian Doctor and the rest who approved that Opinion On the other hand Luther denies the Authority of the Pope to be greater than that of a Council and quotes the Parisian Divines as the Approvers of his Judgment When after much Debate they could not agree Luther desired Time to consider and coming again next Day in presence of Notary and Witnesses and some of the Emperours Counsellers also he professed That he Reverenced and Submitted to the Holy Church of Rome that if he had said any thing to the contrary he disowned it but that since he was admonished and commanded To Renounce his Errour and meddle no more for the future he was of the Opinion that he had asserted nothing that disagreed with the Scripture the Judgment of the Fathers the Decretals of the Popes or right Reason it self that he did not deny indeed but that he might err and be deceived that being incident to Man and that therefore he submitted to the Judgment of a Lawful and Holy Church and referred his Cause to be tryed thereby Nay more That he was ready in any Place to give an account of his Doctrin that if he was not pleased with this he would answer his Arguments in Writing and submit to the Judgment of the Universities of Germany and Paris Cajetane urged again as he had done the Day before that Decretal of Clement as making for him and at length allowed him to exhibit his Mind in Writing which was to this purpose That at the Time he published his Theses and when after he wrote the Explication of them he had read the Decretal of Clement but that it had not satisfied him for that though it be made a Rule That the Decretals of the Pope of Rome are no less to be received than the Words of the Apostle S. Peter yet that ought so to be understood provided they agree with Holy Scripture and deviate not from the Decretals of the Ancients that S. Peter's Voice was indeed Sacred and Holy and yet he had been sharply rebuked by St. Paul and his Doctrin not received till the Church which then was at Jerusalem consented to it That the Sayings of Men were to be heard but that every thing should be referred to the Voice of Christ who alone could not be deceived That that Decretal was repugnant to many places of Holy Scripture which was the Reason that at that time he Published his Position and afterwards Commented upon the same That from that time forward he had resolved to dispute no more about it and rather to listen to the Opinions of others but that now though he had rather be instructed by others and especially the Pope of Rome yet since there lay a necessity upon him of defending his own Assertion he would essay and use his endeavours to reconcile his Positions to that Decretal if by any means it could be done Having thus addressed to the Cardinal in a Preface he falls to the handling of the matter it self and explaining the Decretal affirms That it made for him yet so that he did not thereby derogate from the dignity either of the Pope or him Then he comes to the other branch of the Accusation and by many Texts of Scripture fully proves That it is Faith which Justifies us before God And therefore he prays him to deal kindly with him and shew him his Errour for that the Texts of Scripture which he had alledged were of so great force that he believed them to be Self-evident wherefore he could not forsake that Truth since it was better to Obey God than Men. That therefore he desired to be excused from that over-hard condition of Retracting and to be Reconciled to the Pope That it was not out of Arrogance or any desire of Vain-glory that he had entred the Lists and that he wished for nothing more than that the Truth might be discovered by any more Learned and Pious than himself so that he beg'd he might not be compell'd to wound his own Conscience Cajetane took this Writing from him and upon reading made slight of it but promised however to send it to the Pope In the mean time he urged him to retract else he threatned him with the Punishment appointed by the Pope and with that bid him be gone and see his face no more unless he changed his mind Three days after Luther had been thus threatned October the Seventeenth he wrote a very humble and submissive Letter to the Legate for after that the Legate had chid him as we said and sent him away he had dealt privately with John Stupitz Provincial of the Augustine Fryars that he might incline him to make a voluntary Recantation Now in that Letter Luther gives him an account of what pass'd betwixt Stupitz and him who had omitted nothing that could be expected from an honest Man and faithful Friend He thanked him for his Good-will and Kindness towards him which he had understood from Stupit's discourse whereby he had been so much comforted that there was no Man-living he would more willingly gratifie than His Eminence He confesses that he had been too sharp and had not behaved himself with the respect and reverence that was due to the Papal Dignity but that all that was to be attribuâ—ed to the impertinence of the Collectors He begs Pardon for what he had done and promises greater modesty for the future and that he would hereafter do his Holiness Right in his Sermons That he would not mention the Indulgences in time to come provided his Adversaries were enjoyned to do the like but that he should retract the Opinions which he had divulged and hitherto defended he could not with a safe Conscience so long as he was not convinced of Errour by clear Testimonies of Scripture He therefore craves that the Tryal of the Cause might be referred to the Pope for that nothing would be more pleasant to him than to hear the Voice of the Church about such Controversies Since Cardinal Cajetane made no Answer to this Letter and had uttered some threatning Words he took his Friends counsel and two days after departed leaving behind him a certain Appeal which should afterwards be publickly affixed and about the time of his departure he wrote again to the Legate That he had omitted nothing which was his duty to do That being a weak sickly Man he had made a long Journey on Foot and come to Ausburg that he might manifest his Submission to the Pope but now that his Money was almost spent and that he would not be any longer troublesome to the Carmelite Fryers who had lodged and entertained him in their Convent he would return home especially seeing His Eminence had discharged him to come any more into
for a general Meeting at Smalcalde and because the time for the Council drew near and being well assur'd that the Emperor's Embassador would speak to that Point they thought it convenient to take some of the most considerable Divines along with them Therefore at the day prefix'd Luther Melancthon Osiander Bucer and several others came thither besides the Princes of the Empire and Ambassadors of the Cities In January Eldo parts from Ferdinand King of the Romans at Vienna and being acquainted upon his Journey by the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave that they were conven'd he comes on to Smalcalde and upon the 15th of February makes a Speech when the Convention was full In which he tells them That the Emperor enjoyn'd him to open his Commission only to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave but since it was their opinion that their Confederates should be acquainted with it also he would comply with them in this Point For his part he did not know all the Agents of the Confederates therefore if any of them who were present were unconcern'd in this Answer of the Emperors he would not have them imagine that any thing was already concluded with their Principals especially those of Ausburgh who both in Spain and Italy have often privately made their Application to the Emperor about Religion which they also did lately at Genoa by an Agent who was told by the Emperor that he would send them an Answer into Germany by one of his Ministers but they would not stay for his coming but have made an alteration in Religion without him which can be construed no less than mockery and contempt of the Emperor Therefore when he came to Ausburgh he was oblig'd to alter his measures and not to treat with them upon any Point but to write an impartial account of the whole affair to the the Emperor When he had said this he produceth his Credentials and greeting them in the name of the Emperor continues his Harangue And tells them That it was matter of great satisfaction to the Emperor to hear that they had taken so much care to purge themselves from all suspicions of making an Alliance with England or France That he did not question the sincerity of their Apology and applauded them for their Vertue and Loyalty in being so wisely cautious as not to be impos'd upon by the insinuations and insidious pretences of the French. Then he goes on to speak concerning the War of Savoy and the French King where he is very copious saying That this Prince did not only hinder the Emperor from fighting the Turk with his whole Forces but likewise held Correspondence with him and instigated this common Enemy to invade Christendom That it was his constant business to create Misunderstandings among the Germans and to heighten their discontents into a Civil War and at this time he is doing his best to perswade them that the Emperor will not perform his Engagements but he desires they would give no credit to such designing Reports for his Imperial Majesty was a Person of that Honour and Integrity that they need not fear he would recede from his Articles in any point especially since he had given them several Instances already of his punctual Performance As touching the Proceedings of the Chamber of Spire the Emperor had ordered That no Causes relating to Religion should be tried there when the Judges had receiv'd this Order they wrote back to the Emperor that there were frequent Disputes concerning the nature of the Causes whether they belong'd to Religion or not upon which the Emperor commanded them to try all those Causes which they believ'd foreign to Religion without any regard to the Perswasion of the Parties for he was very sorry the course of Justice should be stopp'd and how difficult a matter it was to settle this Point appears sufficiently at the Pacification at Nuremburgh Now since that time a great many Causes have been brought before the Chamber and when the Judges would have proceeded to a determination they the Protestants demurr'd to their Jurisdiction and gave them unbecoming Language of which Complaints have been made to the Emperor by the respective Plaintiffs who alledge That they are barr'd from recovering their Right by Law which Carriage the Emperor was very much troubl'd to hear especially since most of the Judges were chosen out of the Provinces of the Empire and can very rarely be suspected of Partiality besides the Emperor himself after a full Examination of the Case does believe that several Causes which they tell him belong to Religion ought not to be referr'd to that Head but his Opinion is when any Controversie ariseth concerning the nature and ranging of the Cause that this Point ought not be decided by the Parties but by the Judges For their parts they ought to be satisfi'd if the Chamber does not intermeddle in the Causes of Religion And if the Judges do any thing contrary to the Emperor's Edicts they shall certainly hear of it and be punish'd according to the Law made at Ratisbone for that purpose But then on the other side the Emperor thought fit to give them warning against being influenced by any private Male-contents and not to do any thing rashly nor prescribe to the Chamber such Practices as these would be unlawful and turbulent throw a particular Contempt upon the Emperor's Authority and would tend likewise to the dishonour of the Judges some of which are descended of Noble Families and others are considerable for their Probity and Learning therefore he desires they would not obstruct the Proceedings of Justice As concerning their third Request That those who were not comprehended in the Treaty at Nuremburgh might enjoy the benefit of that Pacification the Emperor was so much employ'd about giving Directions for the War when their Embassadors came to his Camp that he had no leizure to examine that matter who though he understood that there was a change of Religion introduc'd in some places yet he heard nothing of any new Admissions into the League But if the meaning of their Request be this That it may be lawful for all other People of the Empire who are under quite different promises already who have approv'd the Decrees of the Diets and oblig'd themselves to stand by the old Religion to recede from their Solemn Promises and Engagements revolt from the ancient Religion and set up a new one at their Pleasure and to this purpose make an Alliance with the Confederates such a Liberty as this was both out of the Emperors Power and very much against his Conscience to grant as his Majesty had commanded him to acquaint them and if the Emperor should grant this thing or if the States of the Empire should do it of their own accord and his Majesty afterwards confirm it how ill this would agree with the Pacification at Nuremburgh it 's obvious for them to understand For if every one may go back from his
Nuremburgh Hall and Hailbrun but being not Confederates they did not concern themselves in the other points When the Protestants had deliver'd themselves to this effect Eldo return'd them an Answer ex tempore where after he had enlarged himself again upon the Emperor's kind Inclinations towards them and concerning the French King his conspiring with the Turk to ruine Christendom he came to the business of the Chamber That no Man was to be prosecuted there for any thing relating to Religion he granted was undeniable But then the Pinch of the Controversie was what matters ought to be comprehended under this notion and what not for those Causes which they call'd Religious others believ'd to be of a civil and secular nature and it was very unjust in them to be unwilling to have the Point argu'd and not to hear the reasons and defence of the other side It 's possible they might mention some Causes to the Princes of the Mediation at Nuremburgh and threw them into the Classis of Religion but then the Emperor did not receive them as such because he did not perfectly understand under what denomination they were to pass Nay possibly those very Princes had not then any exact knowledge of the nature of the Causes nor have at present but only as they are inform'd by those who are concerned in the Dispute who will be sure to say nothing to their own disadvantage Now it 's agreeable to the Municipal Laws to Equity and the holy Scriptures that in all Disputes both Parties should have a sufficient Hearing and that no Sentence should be pronounced upon the Information of one side though the Allegations should be never so true Therefore the Emperor in referring this Debate to the Imperial Chamber had done nothing but what became a Person in his place His Majesty being of opinion that if the Reasons of the Protestants Proceedings were so weighty as they pretended they ought to be brought into view and made publick This was the way to clear the Controversie about the Preliminary Points and to satisfie all Parties what Causes were to be referr'd to the Council and what not And also whether those who had lost their Goods and Estates were to have Restitution made them neither did the Emperor believe the Judges would do any thing in this matter contrary to their Duty and solemn Obligations of this they had given his Majesty an assurance in their Letters intimating that they had not in the least concern'd themselves with any Causes relating to Religion which account they also wrote to himself and added particularly concerning the Hamburgers that all the while the Suit was depending between them and their Ecclesiasticks they did not so much as make the least mention of Religion but when Judgment was given against them and was ready to be executed then they began to insist upon it besides the Judges are willing to give an account of their Proceedings which ought to content them especially since he so lately acquainted them that the Emperor intends to give them Satisfaction as soon as he is assur'd that the Chamber has done them any Injury For his Majesty resolves not only to make good the Damages they have sustain'd but all Causes which appear to have been illegally decided shall be heard over again and all unjust Verdicts set aside and revers'd and for his part he declares he cannot apprehend what the Emperor can or ought to do more than this And whereas they alledge that those who refuse to be of their Religion ought not to be repossess'd of their Estates he does not see any manner of Equity in that Plea for we are not to pronounce in these cases till both Parties have had a Hearing in a legal way For they could not be ignorant that no Law gives any Man the liberty to rob another for the sake of Religion or upon any other account therefore he could not admire this method of proceeding let the Practisers of it be who they would Now to prevent such arbitrary and unaccountable Courses as these there was a Treaty concluded at Nuremburgh upon certain conditions and afterwards by the Emperor's Edict there was a general Peace setled and proclaim'd through the whole Empire And to speak truth it was his opinion that the business of Religion might be much more easily accommodated if they did not graspe so eagerly at the Temporalties Now these secular Advantages ought not to be so highly valu'd in the present Affair especially considering the Gospel prescribes us other Measures and teaches us to set our thoughts and inclinations upon other designs Their saying that either the dispute of the Hamburgers related to Religion or none can was very surprizing to him when there are a great many other Causes which the Chamber hath a right to take Cognizance of both by the Constitution of the Laws and by Vertue of that Edict which the Emperor set forth at Wormes but his Majesty out of a singular kindness to them had order'd the Process of them all to be stopped And since the Emperor will do nothing contrary to what he hath agreed to and expects the same exactness from them he desires they would give him a Categorical answer to this question As to their personal Objections against the Chamber he lately told them those Judges were chosen out of the heart of Germany and though there were very few of the Bench of their Perswasion yet it was not probable Justice would be less impartially administred upon that account because the Judges had no power to act Arbitrarily but were tied up to Rule and bound by Oath to give Sentence according to the Laws and Customs of the Empire which method was constantly observ'd when he was one of their number But let this matter be as it will if they have offended they will be sure to be punish'd neither does he pretend to justifie or excuse them indeed they did not desire he should but are willing to submit their whole Proceedings to Examination Now concerning those who came into their League and Religion afterwards he had lately acquainted them that the Emperor had yet receiv'd no certain account of that matter and his Majesty conceiv'd that those who were not expresly comprehended in the Pacification at Nuremburgh were bound to observe the precedent Laws of the Empire and wait for the determination of the Council And whereas they say that some of their late Confederates made no promises at all some reserv'd themselves a liberty in this point by private Treaties and others thought they did engage it was upon an assurance that a Council would be call'd in a short time whatever the truth of these Allegations may be he does not intend to examine at present but yet as to those who pretend a private Agreement he dares adventure to give them an answer on the Emperors's behalf if they can produce an Instance of any such thing For he could not believe that the Emperor had ever
Protestants because of their Religion The End of the Twelfth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIII The CONTENTS The Protestants make Answer to the Emperor's Demands and by many Arguments prove that they aim more at Piety and Religion in their Actions than at appropriating to themselves Church-lands and Possessions They also refute the Arguments of the King of England The Emperor having punished the City of Ghent orders a Meeting of the Protestants who answer his Letters The Pope sends his Legate Farnese the same who went with the Emperor from Paris to the Netherlands He makes a long invective Speech against the Protestants In the mean time the French King makes a League with the Duke of Cleve to whom he gives his Sisters Daughter in Marriage At this time the Pope was making War against the People of Perusia The King of England turns away Ann the Sister of the Duke of Cleve Some Points of Religion are accommodated in the Assembly of Haguenaw The rest are repriev'd to the Convention at Wormes appointed by King Ferdinand whither Granvell came and made a Speech Campeggio the Pope Legate came after who also makes a Speech The Conference is broken off and all the Negotiation put off till the Diet of Ratisbone Luther makes a smart Answer to the Book of Henry Duke of Brunswick wherein Mention is made of the dear Pall which the Pope of Rome sells The Treaty commences at Ratisbone The Emperor passes over into Barbary Granvell presents the Book called the Interim to the Conferrers The Duke of Cleve marries the King of Navarr's Daughter TO these things the Protestants April the Eleventh make Answer and in the first place say they we return our hearty Thanks to the Heer Granvell who hath always advised the Emperor to Moderation in this Affair a Virtue which deserves the highest Commendation And we pray God to confirm him in this so laudable a Resolution for what can be more glorious than to allay publick Grievances by prudent and moderate Counsels without Slaughter and Bloodshed Now we pray all Men in general not to think that we delight in the Clashings and Dissensions of Churches that we propose to our selves any private Advantage or that it is out of Frowardness that we have separated from other Nations contrary to the inveterate Custom of many Ages It was not out of Wantonness Rashness or Unadvisedness that we have exposed our selves to the implacable Hatred of our Adversaries that we have undergone so much Trouble and Toil so great Charges and Losses and the continual Dangers of so many Years No but when Division in Doctrine broke out in the Church which hath happened oftner than once of old we could not in Conscience resist the Truth for the Favour of Men and far less approve the Actions of those who with great Cruelty persecute the Innocent Nay on the contrary for so many weighty Reasons for such true and holy Causes we are constrained to oppose them and separate from them For it is manifestly known that they defend gross and intolerable Errors not only in Word but by Violence and Force of Arms Now it is the Duty of the Magistrate to protect his Subjects from unjust Force And because we hear that we lie under Suspicion as if we only minded our own Profit and Advantage and not the Glory of God nor Reformation of the Church we beseech the Heer Granvell that he would justify us in that Matter to the Emperor We are sensible enough of the Calumnies of that Nature which are dispersed far and near by our Adversaries with intent to bring our Persons and the true Religion we profess into contempt and hatred But in the Emperors honourable Council whom God hath placed in so eminent a Sphere Truth only should be enquired into and regarded and all false Informations discountenanced For the Reason why they hunt about for Pretexts to load us with that Aspersion and publickly traduce us is because they maintain a weak and unjust Cause because they see their own Errors blamed and condemned by all Men and cannot withstand the pure Light of the Gospel But it suits ill with the Character and Duty of Bishops so to urge and importune the Emperor about Lands and Revenues as if the Christian Religion stood or fell with them when in the mean time they take not the least Notice of those many and enormous Errors and Vices which they themselves cannot dissemble It ought indeed to be their first care to see Religion and the purer Doctrine preserved in their Churches But now their Thoughts are wholly taken up how they may defend their Wealth and Power their Luxury and Splendor They know well enough that the Contest is not about Church-lands and Possessions they themselves know that these are not the things we aim at but they use that as a Cloak and Veil to cover their own wicked Counsels in resisting the Truth that they may inflame the Minds of Kings and Princes to the Destruction of this Religion For no Man of our Profession hath invaded any part of Church Possessions within the Territories and Dominion of another nor deprived any Bishop of ought that was his but the Bishops themselves have slighted their Jurisdiction when the Profits thereof began to fall and indeed they know not how to administer the same Again The Colleges of the Canons Regular still enjoy all they had but they on the other hand have appropriated to themselves the Revenues of many of our Churches and discharge their People from paying us any yearly Rent And whereas they were wont formerly to allow somewhat of their yearly Revenues to the Ministers of the Church and Schoolmasters they are now so far from contributing anything that way that the Cities are necessitated to be at all the Charges And it is not like that these Cities which both lie under heavy Burthens and are exposed to great Dangers do espouse and maintain this Cause meerly for Covetousness sake But our Enemies especially such of them as hunt after Church Preferments maliciously accuse us so to the Emperor We could heartily wish that the Emperor were rightly informed of the present State of Monasteries why monastick Institutions have been change and how these Goods are employed partly for maintaining the Ministers of the Church and Teachers of the People and partly for other pious Uses We would the Emperor also understood how our Adversaries hook in to themselves all Profits and rob and spoil not only Monasteries but other Churches also so that within their Precincts many Churches are wholly slighted and the People degenerate into Paganism But before we speak any more of that Matter we beseech Granvell that in his own excellent Judgment he would weigh these things with himself For grant we might from hence reap some Advantage yet it may easily be imagined that the Controversie proceeds not from this but from a far different and more considerable Cause and that for
Bulla coenae Domini the Bull of the Lord's Supper Which formulary of Excommunication came afterwards into Luther's hands and he rendred it into High-Dutch besprinkling it with some very Witty and Satyrical Animadversions So soon as Luther received the Letter he parted from Wittemberg and took his Journey towards Wormes accompanied by the same Herald that brought the Letter But when he was come within a few Miles of the place many dissuaded him from proceeding because his Books had been lately burnt which they looked upon as a Pre-judging of his Cause and a Condemning of him before a Hearing they therefore advised him to look to himself as being in great danger and to take warning from what happened to John Huss in the former Age. However with great resolution he slighted all danger affirming that that terrour and fear was suggested to him by the Devil who saw his Kingdom would be shaken by an open Confession of the Truth and in so illustrious a Place So then continuing his Journey he arived at Wormes on the Sixteenth of April Next day being sent for he appeared before the Emperour and a great Assembly of the Princes where Eckius a Lawyer by Orders from the Emperour spoke to him to this purpose For two Reasons said he Martin Luther the Emperour with consent of all the Princes and States commanded you to be sent for and hath charged me to put the Question to you first Whether or not you will confess that you wrote these Books and acknowledge them for your own And then Whether or not you will retract any thing in them or stand to the defence of what you have written Luther had brought along with him a Lawyer of Wittemberg one Jerome Schurff and he craved that the Titles of the Books might be read and produced Which being done Luther resumed in short what had been said unto him And then as to the Books saith he I confess and own them to be mine But whether I will defend what I have written that 's a Matter of great consequence and therefore that I may make a pertinent Answer and do nothing rashly I desire time to consider on 't The Matter being debated Although said he you might easily have understood by the Emperor's Letters the cause you were sent for and ought therefore to answer peremptorily without any delay yet the Emperour is graciously pleased to allow you one day for Deliberation commanding you to appear again at the same hour to morrow and give your positive Answer by Word of Mouth and not in Writing Most People began to think by his asking time to consider that he did relent and would not prove constant When next day he appeared at the hour appointed You did not said Eckius to him answer the second Question that was put to you yesterday having desired time to deliberate in which could have been lawfully denied you for every one ought to be so well persuaded in his Faith as to be ready at all times to give a reason of it to those who demand the same much more ought not you who are so learned and experienc'd a Divine to have doubted or have needed time to premeditate an Answer But to let that pass What do you now say Will you defend those Writings of yours Then Luther addressing himself to the Emperour and the Council of the Princes and having earnestly besought them to hear him patiently If I offend said he most Mighty Emperour and most Illustrious Princes either in the impropriety of Expressions unworthy of such an Auditory or in the clownishness and indecency of Carriage and Behaviour I humbly beg Pardon for it and desire it may be imputed to the course of life that now for some part of my age I have followed For the truth is I have nothing to say for my self but that with uprightness and simplicty I have hitherto taught those things which I believe do tend to the Glory of God and Salvation of Men Yesterday I answer'd as to my Books and owned them to have been written and published by me though if any thing should happen to be added unto them by others I would by no means acknowledg that for mine Now as to the second Question that was put to me thus stands the case All the Books that I have written are not of the same kind nor do they treat of the same subject for some of them relate only to the Doctrin of Faith and Piety which even my Adversaries do commend and should I abjure these I might justly be accused of neglecting the duty of an honest Man There are others wherein I censure the Roman Papacy and the Doctrin of Papists which have plagued Christendom with the greatest of Evils For who does not see how miserably the Consciences of Men are rack'd by the Laws and Decrees of Popes Who can deny but that they have by Craft and Artifice robb'd all Countries and especially Germany and that even to this day they set up no bounds nor period to their Pillage and Rapine Now if I should retract those Books I must confirm that Tyranny which would be of far worse consequence when it came to be known that I did it by the Authority of the Emperour and Princes There is a third sort of Books which I have written against some private Persons who have undertaken to defend that Knavery of Rome and to ensure me with Cavils and Calumnies and in these I confess I have been more vehement than became me but I arrogate no Sanctity to my self nor is it of Life and Manners but of the true Doctrin that I make Profession and yet I would not willingly retract any thing in these neither for by so doing I should but open a door to the Insolence of many Nevertheless I would not be so understood as if I vainly pretended that I could not Err But seeing it is the property of Man to Err and be Deceived I cannot defend my Self and Cause better than by that saying of our Saviour's who being smitten by a certain Servant as he was speaking of his Doctrin If said he I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil Now if Christ who is all Perfection refused not to hear the Evidence of a wretched Servant against him how much more ought not I a vile Sinner by nature and lyable to many Errours make my apperaance when I am called and hear every Man that would object and witness any thing against my Doctrin Wherefore I beg for God's sake and all that is Sacred that if any Man have any thing to object against the Doctrin which I profess he would not dissemble it but come forth and convince me of Errour by Testimonies of Scripture which if he do I will not be obstinate but shall be the first to throw my Books with my own hands into the Fire And this may be an Argument that I have not been led by rashness or any head-strong passion but have
to such a height That the most Holy Host that Unleavened Bread which represents the Body of Christ was scarcely safe in the Priest's Hands That these were matters of such moment as justly deserved to be bewailed That for their parts they could no longer endure them especially seeing lately in their last Convention some of the Clergy their Confederates had by a common and publick Deputation implored their Aid That these things being so they prayed them To leave their new Doctrine and continue in the ancient Religion of their Fore-fathers But that if they thought themselves in any thing agrieved and oppressed by the Pope and those that depended on him as Cardinals Bishops Prelates and the like for that they invaded sold or exchanged Church-Livings or that they usurped to themselves too great a Jurisdiction and applyed that Power which ought only to be exercised in Spiritual to Civil and Temporal Affairs That if these and many other things of that kind were burthen some and uneasie unto them they were not against the having of them reformed for that they themselves were extreamly displeased thereat and would willingly consult with them how they might cast off that Burthen On the one and twentieth day of March the Senat of Zurich gave their Answer That for these five Years now past their Ministers had preached the Gospel among them which in the beginning seemed to them to be a new kind of Doctrin indeed because they had not heard the like before but that when they came to understand that the scope and end of it was only to shew That the only Author and Finisher of Man's Salvation was Jesus Christ who shed his precious Blood and laid down his Life for the Sins of the World and alone delivered wretched Men from Eternal Death being the only Mediator betwixt God and Man they could not but with servent Desires imbrace such glad Tydings That great had been the Harmony and Consent which was in ancient Times among the Apostles and those who in the Ages after them embraced the Doctrine of Christ which they hoped would be new also among all who applyed their Minds to it rejecting Human Traditions that had no Ground in the Word of God That if Luther or any Man else taught so it was well done and yet his Name ought not to be objected to any as if they believed the Doctrine only because he taught it for that that was a malicious Aspersion and reproachful to the Word of God That moreover though they adored Christ alone and had their recourse to him yet did they not therefore offer any Injury either to the Virgin Mary or the other Saints for that all these when they were upon Earth expected Salvation only through the Name of Christ That there was now such a Light revealed that most People within their City diligently searched and read the Scriptures nor could the Ministers of the Church wrest the Scripture which all Men had in their Hands so that Schism and Heresie ought not to be objected to them but might be justly imputed to those who for worldly Gain Pomp and Honour turned the Word of God to what Sense they pleased That they were charged with Errour indeed but that it could not be made out that the Bishops of Constance Basil and Coyre and some Universities also had been several times desired to do it but nothing of that kind had been hitherto performed That besides to their last Assembly none came from the Bishops nor from them neither except some from Schafheusen and San Gall that they who were then present having diligently considered the matter agreed in Opinion with them That as to what the Bishops said That it was not lawful for them to make the Scriptures so common it was unreasonable for it being their Duty to take heed that the Sheep should not go astray it was but just that they should bring into the Way such as were out of it but that seeing they did not do it and referred all things to the Fathers and Councils they were resolved to hearken not to what Men decreed but to what Christ commanded That their Teachers and Ministers gave no Cause to Divisions in the State but that that Fault lay at their Doors who for their own Profit and Advantage taught Doctrins contrary to the Word of God for that they were those who led Men into Errour and grievously offended God who was therefore provoked to punish that Boldness with various Calamities That all that Difference and Dissension proceeded from their Covetousness who were afraid to lose any of their Profits But that if these Men followed the true Doctrin and made it their Task to enquire what God's Will was and not what Men willed there was no doubt but that they would cast off all Lust Pride and Avarice and apply themselves to the Study of Peace and Concord That many Vices unknown in former Ages had now overspread the World which the Ministers of their City freely reproved exhorting Men to the Fear of God but that if most People were not reformed by their Sermons and did not bring forth Fruit worthy of that Doctrin it was not the Fault of the Seed sown but of the Ground that received it That it was plainly to be seen That the People within their Territories did not live in that Rioting and Intemperance which reigned every where else and that particularly the Men of their Country followed not as heretofore Foreign and Mercenary Wars which doubtless cherished and fomented many Vices That as to the eating of Flesh and Egs though it might be lawfully done and was not prohibited by Christ yet they had made a Law to restrain the rashness of the People who might thereby give Offence That God was the Author of Marriage who allowed it to all That S. Paul also enjoyned That a Minister of the Church should be the Husband of one Wife and that seeng Bishops for a little Money gave Priests leave to keep Concubines a thing of foul Example and that they neither could nor would be without Women they thought it not good to resist God who instituted Matrimony That the Case was the same with the Women who are said to have vowed Chastity for they lookt upon that kind of Obligation and Vow not to be pleasing to God and that since all People had not the Gift of Continence it was in their Judgment far better for them to marry than to live in impure Celibacy That Convents and Colledges of Regulars were heretofore instituted for the Poor and Needy but that now these Revenues were for the most part enjoyed by those who had enough of their own besides to live on Nor was it reasonable that one Man should possess alone what was sufficient for the Subsistence of many That therefore it seemed just to them that these Goods should be again converted to the use of the Poor wherein nevertheless they used that Moderation that the present Possessors should enjoy
almost the same minute went and made Luther a visit who lay very ill of the Stone which disrespect the Embassador might see if he pleas'd out of his own Lodgings Before the Bishop of Aix went upon his Employ Vergerius by the Popes Command acquainted him with the State of Germany and how he was to make his Court and salute every Person The fourth day after being the last of February the Protestants gave in their answer to Eldo That they did not question but that the Emperor would stand to the Pacification which he had engag'd himself to do several times both in his publick and private Letters but the Chamber of Spire and himself also in his Speech had advanced such an Interpretation which would not only render that Treaty less intelligible but perfectly void it and make it insignificant For the drift of his Discourse is to prove that only those Matters and Disputes are to be referr'd to Religion which are comprehended in the Edict at Wormes and in some other Decrees of the Empire and not those which are risen since and concern private Persons though they were expresly mention'd at Nuremburgh to the Princes of the Mediation but the Design of this Treaty was quite different from what his Excellency pretends For notwithstanding by the Instigation of Pope Leo the 10th the Emperor happen'd to publish his Edict at Wormes at a time when the true Faith was understood but by a very few yet afterwards that Edict as far as it related to them was suspended by several Decrees of the Empire more particularly in the Diet at Spire about eleven years since where it was agreed That the whole Controversie should be referr'd to a Council with the addition of this remarkable Clause that in the mean time all Magistrates in their respective Jurisdictions should discharge their Office in such a manner as they might be able to give a good account of their actions to God and the Emperor from whence it plainly appears that the foremention'd Edict was laid asleep so that they had no occasion to insist upon a new suspension of it at Nuremburgh For why were all Debates remitted to a lawful Council if the Edict of Wormes was always to be in force or if their Religion had always been accounted condemned But there was a wide difference between the Matter of that Edict and the Pacification at Nuremburgh for the former consider'd nothing but matter of Fact and was design'd for Prosecution the question at that time being only Whether the Edict was violated or not If a breach was prov'd then it 's likely the Chamber if the Decree of the Diet at Spire had not interpos'd might have exercis'd their Jurisdiction as in a secular affair But those things which were the occasion of that Convention and Treaty at Nuremburgh relate to Faith and Religion which beside other Proofs appears plainly from the Emperor's Letters Patents For though the Chamber had no Authority to try any Causes of this nature before yet to prevent Disturbance there was a more comprehensive Provision sign'd at Nuremburgh to make them forbear Besides it appears from the very words of the Emperor's Letters Patents that not only those Disputes which relate to matters of meer Religion were comprehended in the Treaty at Nuremburgh but all others also which are occasioned by the Change of Rites and Ceremonies and arise from Causes of a resembling nature Farther all Agreements are to be interpreted with respect to the circumstances of the thing which was the ground of the Controversie Now from the time of the Decree at Spire till the Treaty at Nuremburgh they do not remember that any of their Partty have been prosecuted or have had the least Disturbance given them by any particular Courts under the Emperor or Princes It 's true the Chamber had usurp'd an Authority in these Matters and commenc'd a Suit against some Persons for changing Religion together with the Rites and Ceremonies as also concerning Property and Estate And when there was a misunderstanding about these things they made express mention of them to the Princes of the Mediation Therefore that Treaty is to be understood to extend not only to those Points which result from the Edict of Wormes but to those also which were controverted at the very time of the Convention For otherwise what made them labour and trouble themselves at the rate they had done why were they at such Expences to remove a Grievance which was already mortifi'd by a solemn Decree of the Empire and from which they had no reason to apprehend the least inconvenience But being afraid the Chamber would occasion a Disorder in the State by commencing of Suits they agreed to a Cessation which can relate to no other Debates but those which were then the Principal Subject of the Controversie and explain'd to the Princes of the Mediation as such And whereas he alledgeth that the Emperor did not know under what Classis those Disputes were to be rang'd this seemeth improbable because that Convention was order'd on purpose to take up those Differences which unless they had been accommodated it was thought some publick Disturbances would have immediately follow'd Neither indeed it is credible that the Princes of the Mediation omitted the sending the Emperor an account of these things or that his Majesty if he disapprov'd any part of them should dissemble his dislike That the Emperor may allow this Liberty for the preservation of Peace is beyond all question and that the Peace cannot continue unless these Terms are granted they have lately prov'd And since by the Laws of the Empire no Man may take away his Neighbours Property therefore they explain'd themselves upon this Point to the Princes of the Mediation at Nuremburgh and declar'd That if the Chamber gave them any trouble for seizing upon the Fortunes of their Monks and Priests who had rejected the Doctrin and Worship of the true Religion they would look upon it as a Force and an Injury And whereas his Excellency thinks it unjust for them not to allow the Chamber to determine the nature of the Cause Whether it is Religious or Secular adding likewise That the more Reasons they had to support their Resolution the more publick they ought to make them They said they had given a sufficient Answer to this Objection before and thought it would have been urg'd no more upon them For though they are not afraid to make their Defence in open Court nay they are very desirous the whole Cause might be tried before equal Judges yet they could not depart from that Order which the Emperor had made in the present Case by which they were not remitted to the Judgment of the Chamber but all Process was stopp'd by his Imperial Prohibition with this Proviso That if any Person acted to the contrary his Majesty or his Embassador was to be acquainted with it As touching the Chamber it was easie for them to answer why they could not admit
to disturb it and have given their Reasons why they refuse to submit to the Chamber But if those Judges will go on at their old rate they are resolv'd not to take any notice of their Sentence and if any violence was offer'd the Law of Nature allow'd all Persons to defend themselves and therefore they could not desert their Confederates when they were in danger especially since they knew that when they were suppress'd the same Fate must be undergone by themselves As concerning their Allies who came over to their League and Religion since the Pacification at Nuremburgh they are sorry the Emperor should know nothing of it for when they sent their Embassadors into Italy they gave them their Names in writing that they might deliver them upon demand and whereas they told him that some of their Confederates had made a particular Agreement for their Liberty in Religion this was be to understood of the Treaty at Cadan and concerning the Duke of Wirtenburgh to whom this Freedom was allowed and since the Emperor may know this already they need not produce any farther proof As for the rest when they had gain'd a better notion of Religion and saw the Council was delay'd they concluded their Conscience was much to be preferr'd to a State-Obligation They did not question what his Excellency told them concerning the good Intentions of the Emperor yet they heard their Adversaries were forming Designs quite contrary to such Inclinations and endeavour'd to exasperate his Majesty against them which beside other proofs they had reason to believe from the practices of the Chamber Therefore their request is That their Case may be consider'd and that such a Peace may be granted in which they may lawfully acquiesce If they have satisfaction in this Point they shall not be backward in complying with his Demands in reference to the Turks and the Imperial Chamber Lastly They said they were something surpriz'd at his requesting them to explain their League for the Emperor understood it already and desir'd them by the Princes of the Mediation at Nuremburgh that they would recede from it but they then gave such an Answer that it was urg'd no more to them They may thank their Adversaries for forcing them upon these measures For it 's no secret what sort of Design they are carrying on and have been contriving for these many years As for their League it 's made only for defence and form'd upon such conditions that if it was requisite they need not be asham'd to shew it not only to the Emperor but to all the World. What he had related concerning the Council and his Majesties kind Inclinations towards the Empire was very acceptable to them and they believ'd his Majesty was unacquainted with the Popes Designs which made him so earnestly promote the calling of a Council Now what opinion his Majesty had of the Pope they would not dispute but since his Bull was ensnaringly worded and quite contrary to the Intentions of the Emperor they could not dissemble their Sentiments of it For before the Council was open'd he hath been so forward as to condemn their Doctrin not only by his Pen but by his Practice Besides it is very well known how himself and his Predecessors though they cannot choose but see the Scripture makes against them have usurp'd and appropriated the Authority of determining to themselves in all Assemblies where there are any Disputes about Religion And though they intend when there is a Council lawfully conven'd and constituted to Impeach the Pope and his Adherents of false Doctrin Heresie and Impiety yet they do not question but that he will pretend to be Umpire and Judge according to his old custom That he aims at such an Usurpation is apparent by his Bull which if they should once approve it will be to no purpose for them to talk afterwards about methodizing the Debate of the Controversie Now whether this be such a Council as his Majesty and the States of the Empire resolv'd upon in several Diets they leave to all indifferent Persons to determine For those words A Free and Christian Council were always added on purpose and for very good reasons Neither was the former part of the Clause to be so taken as if no more was meant by it than that every one should have the liberty to propound his Opinion But to prevent the Pope and his Associates who were engag'd to each other upon the account of perswasion and dependencies from being Judges in their own Cause nor was the word Christian to be so interpreted as if none but Turks and Infidels were prohibited the Council but that all the points of Doctrin might be examin'd and decided by the holy Scriptures For they were assur'd that there were pious and learned Men not only in one Country but all the World over And it is a very entertaining Speculation to them to consider that if the Pope's Exorbitant Power was retrench'd and all things were not under the command of one Man then there was reason to hope that not only their Divines but a great many good Men of divers Countries who are now kept under by his Holinesses Tyranny and forc'd either to conceal or but to whisper their Grievances would contribute their utmost-Endeavours towards the Reformation of the Church Now as to the Seat of the Council they said they could not imagine any place could be more proper than Germany for notwithstanding other Nations ought to have a share in the Council the Germans and particularly themselves were chiefly concern'd in it for they were oblig'd to be there in Person and to bring the Ministers of their Churches along with them whereas other King 's and Princes might dispatch their business by their Embassadors according to the ancient and usual custom Concerning the situation and conveniency of Mantua they had no mind to dispute but at this time there was War in Italy and though there was none yet they had lately given him the reasons why they ought to suspect that Country How the Duke of Mantua stood affected they would not examine at present but it was certain his own Brother was a Cardinal of great Note which circumstances encreased their suspicion Therefore when foreign Countries understand their reasons why they refuse the place and way of proceeding in the Council they do not question but that they will approve them nay if they had done otherwise other Nations they believe would have had an ill opinion of them for it besides his Majesty knows there are many Cities in Germany no less commodious than Mantua and which is more especially to be consider'd they are celebrated for their Justice and Fair-dealing For those Clandestine ways of dispatching Men are not so much known and practised in Germany as in some other places Now their insisting so much upon the Decrees of the Empire and being so unalterably resolv'd to stand by them ought not to seem strange or unpresidented to the Emperor For
upon which they refus'd the Council they thought it convenient to set them down in writing which Paper they afterwards publish'd in Print where they address themselves to foreign Princes and Nations to this effect Paul the Third say they hath lately publish'd a Bull in which he hath intimated a Council at Mantua which will be opened upon the 23th of May and hath offer'd some Reasons why these Measures were pitch'd upon Besides he hath dispatch'd his Nuncios to foreign Kings and Princes both Germans and others to acquaint them with the Council and invite them either to come thither themselves or send their Embassadors and in regard we have been solicited by him and by the Emperor upon this account we think our selves oblig'd to demonstrate how dangerous and disadvantageous a Compliance with him in this Point will be not only to us but to all Christendom And though we proceed upon none but justifiable grounds yet when we consider the temper of our Adversaries we have reason to believe they will censure our actions and interpret them in the worst sense For it 's likely in order to the bringing us and the whole Cause under their Jurisdiction they will not stick to affirm that we will not abide by any Trial nor submit to any Judge That we contemn other Nations which have been often remarkable for a great many Men of Learning They will say also that it 's a wicked thing to refuse Submission to the determinations of a Council which is the highest Tribunal of the Church and ought to be obeyed by all Persons They will likewise pretend as if we were asham'd of our Tenents and durst not bring them into view or that we watched an opportunity to make an unnecessary Breach and could not reconcile our selves to the Peace of Christendom Now if this Charge against us were true it were not only wicked in it self but it would be a kind of a Calamity to hear it For these reasons we are under a necessity of publishing our own Justification and we hope the consequence of it will be that all honest Men both in Germany and other places will not only forbear believing any thing of this nature of us but that they will make it their business that this most important Affair may be rightly manag'd and that it may not be in the Pope's Power to Tyrannize over apparent Truth and suppress it under the pretended and venerable Authority of a Council For we will not only make it appear that we hold no Opinions in Religion but what are sound and Orthodox but likewise that we aim at nothing but the Glory of God and the good of the Commonwealth and that no Man can justly charge us with obstinancy and perverseness And in the first place how far we are from contemning the Judgment of other Nations and of the Church is evident by our endeavouring to prevent the Pope and his Party from setting up for Judges and that all things may be debated by proper and unsuspected Persons which they believe is the unanimous desire of all good Men For in regard in some Countries there are now extant several ancient Books complaining of false Doctrin Immorality wicked Ceremonies and Practices which were then crept into the Church they do not question but that in those very places there are at this day several Persons of Learning and Piety who understand the true Doctrin though at present they are brow-beaten and overaw'd into silence by the Pope's Tyranny Now these are the Men who ought to appear in Councils that they may speak their mind freely for that is not to be accounted a lawful Council which is govern'd by the Pope and his Party who maintain their unorthodox Tenents by dint of Violence and Power and according to their old custom make Canons contrary to the Word of God. For our Saviour when he erected his Supream Tribunal upon Earth ordered That whatever required Reformation should be brought before the Church in which very words all manner of Tyranny and Dominion is excluded Farther they asperse us falsely if they say we are afraid to make our publick Appearance and will not endure the Light. For in the Diet at Ausburgh we made an open Profession of our Doctrin in the Presence of the Emperor and all the States of the Empire Besides this very Religion is publickly taught in our Dominions several of our Subjects have written Books of it and own'd it in Print and many of our Adversaries confess that our Writers have recover'd a great number of ancient Tenents which before were quite smother'd and suppress'd For now the true Doctrin is come to Light again which gives us the right notion of Repentance of Faith in Christ of Remission of Sins of good Works Religious Worship the use of the Sacraments the Power of the Keys of Magistracy Humane Traditions and such like Neither to speak in St. Paul's Language are we asham'd of the Gospel but wish above all things that we had an opportunity to declare our sense of these Points in the most publick Audience And whereas it 's objected to our Party as if they had reviv'd old condemn'd Heresies and therefore there is no need of any farther Dispute or Examination of the Cause this Suggestion is false and those who have read our Confession and the Defence annex'd to it will not require much Apology from us For the Doctrin which we Profess is no new one but was approv'd by the Primitive Church as may be made good to a demonstration Neither have we receiv'd any Heresie or wicked Opinion but on the contrary our Divines have regain'd the Doctrin of the Ancients in several Points which the Popes and Monks had suppress'd It is another Calumny to say that we are pleas'd with publick Animosities and Divisions for we are sorry at our very Souls that Christendom is so miserably distracted and earnestly desire a Council in order to a Reconciliation And since the Pope and his Adherents have condemn'd that Doctrin which is both true and necessary to be believ'd since they punish and persecute the Professors of it and excite others to follow their Example we could do no less than reprove them for their Cruelty and Insolence For God requireth us to Honour him by an open Confession and to hold any farther Correspondence with the Pope when he rages at such a barbarous rate would be a very wicked Alliance Besides it cannot be deni'd but we perform all Offices and undergo all Burthens which the Commonwealth requires as well as the rest of the States from whence it appeareth that we would willingly comply with others in Religion too if our Consciences would give us leave especially when we understand what danger hangeth over our Heads upon this account For the Popes for many years last past have told us pretty plainly what they would be at and how busie they have been in exasperating the Passions of Princes against us Now to run all these
the Arguments and Reasons with the Explanations of the same should be taken in Writing Affirming it to be an unreasonable thing in this most holy Cause to follow the Opinion of any Party and not rather the Rule of God's Word or to force any Man to think or speak contrary to it Whilst Time was in this manner spun out the Protestants often complained of it craving that the Augustane Confession of Faith being laid before them they might according to the Decree of Haguenaw fall presently to Business especially since it was to be a friendly no captious and ensnaring Conference to clear only the Way to Concord and Agreement The Divines also urged the same who were there in great Number as Melancthon Capito Bucer Osiander Brentius Calvin Alese a Scot sent from the Elector of Brandenburg and many others to whom were added Simon Griney and John Sturmey At length about the Thirteenth of January the Catholicks chose John Eckius and the others Philip Melancthon to begin the Conference And in the first place that they might proceed in order Original Sin was the first Subject of which they spake by Turns in the publick Assembly But when all were intent on this came Letters from the Emperor on the Third Day of the Conference directed to Granvell and the other Deputies whereby he put off all further Proceedings till the Diet of Ratisbone whither he ordered the Protestants chiefly to repair and recalled Granvell with all speed These Letters being read in the Session which was January the Eighteenth Granvell exhorted them to obey the Emperor and come to Ratisbone For that his Majesty was most desirous of Peace and that if any rough Word had perhaps escaped him in the heat of Conference he prayed them not to take it ill from him who was ready to do all Services to the Publick Hereunto the Protestants made Answer That they were very sorry that the Conference had not begun much sooner and that they could not now proceed any further therein But that since the Emperor so commanded it behooved them to obey So that now they would return home that they might make Report of all that had pass'd and doubted not but their Principals would be ready to gratify the Emperor That nevertheless if perhaps they should come or send their Deputies somewhat too late it must be excused because of the shortness of Time. At this Assembly was also Petro Paulo Vergerio Bishop of Cabo d'Istria in outward Appearance as for the French King but in reality sent from the Pope who thought he might do him better Service there if he went by the Character of another He made a Speech here of the Unity and Peace of the Church which he printed and gave about and therein insisted chiefly to shew that there was no Thoughts to be had of a National Council for that Assembly looked somewhat like such a thing and seemed to make way for it Now of all things the Pope could not endure that and Vergerio was fully acquainted with his Thoughts By the Means of this Man then and other such Instruments the Conference was impeded and at length dissolved for by drilling on the time and raising Delays they sought to themselves Starting-Holes and Evasions In the beginning of January the Emperor left Flanders and came to Metz the chief City of Lorrain from thence he took his Journey by Spire to Ratisbone and wrote the Letter to Granvell we mentioned upon the Rode He then took his Way by Nurimberg a City he had not seen before and was there magnificently received February the Eleventh Philip de Chabot-Brion Admiral of France a Man of great Honour being brought into Suspicion with the King of Miscarriages in the War of Savoy which we mentioned before was after a long and brisk Trial found Guilty of Bribery and Treason and being deprived of all his great Honours and Dignities without any Hope of Restitution he was committed to Prison in the Castle of Vincennes not far from Paris William Poiet Chancellor of France pronounced this Sentence against him at Melun all the chief Men Judges and Lawyers of France being called to this Trial. And though Sentences so passed were usually most firm and inviolable yet not long after he was absolved by the King's Authority as shall be related hereafter At this time also Maurice son of Henry Duke of Saxony married Agnes Daughter to the Lantgrave In the Month of March most of the Princes and States came to Ratisbone where the Emperor had sometime expected them The Lantgrave came also towards the latter End of the Month with a great Train and the next Day went with his Guards to wait on the Emperor who received him very graciously The Duke of Saxony sent thither a splendid Ambassy and Divines amongst whom was Melancthon From the Pope came also Casparo Contarini a Cardinal of great Reputation There were present also the Elector of Brandenburg Frederick and Otho Henry Princes Palatine William and Lowis Dukes of Bavaria Henry Duke of Brunswick Charles Duke of Savoy George Marquess of Brandeburg Philip Duke of Pomerania the Bishops of Mentz Saltzburg Bremen Bamberg Spire Ausburg Aichstadt Constance Heildesseim Brixen and Passaw About this time was published and brought to Ratisbone Martin Luther's very invective Book written in High Dutch against Henry Duke of Brunswick In the former Book we took notice of Duke Henry's railing Papers against the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave And seeing in a Libel lately published he called the Duke of Saxony Heretick Seditious Cain Monster Aesop endued with no Vertue neither of Body nor Mind whom Luther himself though he was his Idol and in a manner Second God did but laugh at and despise Luther who thought his Reputation herein concern'd wrote a most bitter Answer and affirmed it to be a Calumnie And because the Adversaries challenged to themselves the Title of the Church he proved by many Arguments that they had made Defection from the true Church and having stated a Comparison maintained that the Roman Papacy which had corrupted and defiled the true Doctrine of Christ was the Antichrist foretold by Daniel and the Apostles so many Ages before Which being so that the Revenues of the Church belonged not to them and that it was a wicked thing in them to demand the Restitution of the same Then he objected to them That they shunned the Light. And why saith he do you now desire now promise now put off and now refuse a Council If your Church be so holy why is it so much afraid of a Council What need it be reformed But if it need it How came ye to call it Holy Would you even reform your own Holiness For our Parts never demanded a Council for reforming our Churches for God hath already sanctified them by his Word purged out of them all Popish Uncleanness and restored to us his pure Doctrine Our Lives it 's true come not up
publick and understand also the Reasons why he came not sooner into Germany that what trouble pains and charges he was at in supporting the Government of the Empire he would in due time make it so plain to them that all should be convinced that nothing was dearer unto him than the Welfare of Germany nor would he mention neither what vast Expences he was put to daily in maintaining a Fleet at Sea to withstand the Encroachments of the Turks That he was come and in great haste too to this Diet though his Health and other Affairs had been a great hindrance unto him That besides he had moved the Pope to send a Legate hither and that accordingly Cardinal Contarini was come a Man of great Vertue and a Lover of Peace That therefore since this Diet was called chiefly for settling the Affairs of Religion and that nothing was yet determined therein though it might be of dangerous consequence if an end were not put to these Divisions it was his earnest desire that a Reconciliation might be made and that he would willingly contribute thereunto whatever lay in his Power That he expected the like Will and Inclinations from them and therefore was importunate with them that they would consult about measures for accommodating the Controversies and the manner of proceeding therein and that they might perceive how much he loved Concord it was his Advice provided they knew of no better Expedient that of the whole number a few good and learned Men that were desirous of Peace and Germans Born should be chosen to conferr amicably about the matters in Controversie and how they might be adjusted and then to make their Report to him and their own States that the thing being afterwards deliberated amongst them and communicated to the Popes Legate a Decree might accordingly pass That this course had been looked upon as the most convenient both at Ausburg heretofore and lately at Wormes but with this proviso That it be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg To these things the Protestants answered April the Ninth and having praised and extolled the Virtues and Goodness of the Emperor they craved that the Conference of Wormes might be continued as being transferred to this place That to what his Majesty offered of commissionating some new they would give their Answer they said when they should learn from him who the Persons were But the other Princes and States having given their Answer April the Twelfth throughly approve his Council and mainly urge That the Decree of Ausburg may continue in Force and Authority Afterward the Emperor demanded of both especially of the Protestants that they would referr the choice of the Persons to him and confide in him as to that particular who would do nothing but what should tend to the Peace and Welfare of the Country When that was granted him on the Thirteenth of April he caused Frederick Prince Palatine in his Name to appoint for the Conference Julius Pflug John Eckius John Gropper Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer and John Pistorius that they should handle the controverted Points of Doctrine and then make a Report thereof to him and the Princes He afterwards called them before him April the Two and twentieth and gave them a long and serious Admonition that in handling of this matter they should not be swayed by Passion nor Affection but have regard only to the Glory of God. They all modestly excused themselves desiring that other fitter persons might be appointed except Eckius who said that he was prepared and ready but when the Emperor urged it upon them they submitted and at the same time entreated him to add some more to their number who might be present partly as presidents and Moderators and partly as Witnesses and Hearers of the Proceedings He therefore named Frederick Prince Palatine and Granvell for Presidents and Theodorick Count Manderschitt Eberhard Ruden Henry Haseu Francis Burcart John Fig and James Sturmey for Witnesses Now when they all met April the Twenty seventh Frederick Prince Palatine made a Speech and advised the Conferrers seriously to set about the matter and conferr amicably Then Granvell presented to them a Book in Writing which he said had been delivered to the Emperor by some good and learned Men as a proper means for a future Reconciliation That it was therefore the Emperor's Pleasure that they should peruse and weigh that Book as a lawful Argument and Matter to treat on commend what all of them approved therein and correct what was amiss That Book contained these Heads of Doctrine Of the Creation of Man and of the Uprightness of Nature before the Fall Of free Will Of the cause of Sin Of original Sin Of Man's Justification Of the Church and the Marks and Authority thereof Of the Mark of the Word Of Repentance after the Fall Of the Authority of the Church in discerning and interpreting Scripture Of the Sacraments Of Orders Baptism Confirmation the Lord's Supper Penance and Absolution Matrimony Extream Unction Of the Bond of Charity Of the Hierarchy of the Church and its Authority in settling Discipline and Government Of Images Of the Mass Of the Administration of the Sacraments and of the Discipline of the Church both as to Ministers and People In the Month of May the Protestants wrote from Ratisbone to the French King interceding for those of the Protestant Religion in Provence who were partly in Prison partly banished and partly forced to abscond and lead a miserable Life for their Profession and because some were received into Favour if they would renounce their Religion they desired he would release them from that condition shewing what a grievous thing it was to force Mens Consciences This Persecution proceeded from a Sentence pronounced the Year before against the Inhabitants of Merindole a Village of Provence by the Parliament of Aix which being exceeding terrible and cruel put the poor people into extream Terror and Apprehension However the full Execution of it was put off to another time and this Year's Persecution was but a Play in respect of that which followed four Years after as shall be said in the proper place Whilst these things are in agitation at Ratisbone William Duke of Cleve whose implacable Enemy the Emperor was because of his Possession of Guelderland went privily into France having appointed a day and place for those whom he designed to have with him to come to him by several ways When about the end of April he arrived at Paris he was received by the King's Officers and being conducted by Orleans on the Sixth of May he came to the King who was then at Amboise a Town in Turin upon the Loire The King embracing him as a Father would a Son sends presently word to the King of Navarre and his Sister that they should come to him as soon as possibly they could and bring their Daughter with them for they were at that time in Guienne Upon their coming
Thus all her Furniture and Goods being in haste pack'd up she departed in a hurry under the Conduct and Convoy of some Turkish Officers and Souldiers and then September the Second the Grand Seignior with his two Sons made his entry into Buda where in the Cathedral Church hallowed after their manner he gave God Thanks for his good Success and then returned into the Camp from whence having put Garrisons into Buda and Pest he retreated homewards with the rest of his Army and upon his March set at Liberty Alaski whom he had left Prisoner at Belgrade because of the Apprehension of Fregoso and Rink For the French King being exceedingly incensed at that Fact had by his Ambassador Paulain acquainted Solyman with the whole matter When the Diet at Ratisbone was over the Emperor went immediately into Italy and had an interview with the Pope at Luke whilst the Army he had raised of Germans Italians and Spaniards were putting on Board the Ships But because Winter now approached the Pope essayed to divert him from the expedition Nevertheless though he had notice of the overthrow in Hungary he was resolved to go that he might give the Turk a Diversion elsewhere so that setting Sail from Porto Venere he took his Course by Corsica Majorca and Minorca and on the Twenty-third of October arrived before Algiers a Sea-Port Town in Barbary His Army consisted of Two and twenty thousand Foot and somewhat more than a Thousand Horse The Van consisting of Spaniards was commanded by Ferrante Gonzaga Viceroy of Sicily the main Body being Germans by the Emperor himself and the Reserve who were Italians and Knights of Rhodes by Camillo Colonna That Day the Emperor arrived and next Day after the Weather was fair and the Sea calm but on the Third Day a great Storm arising with continual Rains hindered all Action so that the Emperor having lost many Ships his Guns and all his Ammunition and Provisions besides some Thousands of his Men was forced to depart without effecting any thing and to come again to Spain in the Month of November Thus went our Affairs to wrack both by Sea and Land in Africa as well as Europe This was likewise a fatal Year to Germany by reason of the Plague which raged especially along the Rhine there died of it amongst others at Strasburg one Capito and at Basile Simon Gryney both Men of extraordinary Learning the former by Profession a Divine and the other a Philosopher but a great Student also in Divinity The Emperor upon his leaving of Germany employed Frederick Prince Palatine to Negotiate the Restitution of Guelderland with the Duke of Cleve by the Mediation of the Princes Electors These sent Agents to the Duke to admonish him both of his own private danger and of the publick Disorders he might be the occasion of by standing it out too stiffly He on the other hand alledged That he was the next lawful Heir and that he had entered by fair means into Possession but however was willing to submit his Right and Title to a fair Trial at Law and that therefore he earnestly begg'd of them that they would perswade the Emperor to Equity and not suffer any Force or Violence to be used against him Upon the Emperor's departure out of Italy he left Granvell there that he might both sollicite the Pope about a Council and settle the State of Siena which was all in fermentation with Factions and Seditions When the News of the disaster in Africa was brought into France in December following it occasion'd open rejoicing for most Men were vexed at the Murther of Fregoso and Rink and said That now was the time to revenge them King Ferdinand after his bad Success called a Convention of his States at Prague the chief City of Bohemia There at length amongst other things the Nobility of Austria on the Thirteenth of December present a Petition to the King and in the first place to insinuate into his Favour they offer to employ their Lives and Fortunes in defence of his Honour and Dignity Then they deplore the sad State of the publick and their own Condition who had the Turk a most cruel Enemy and a Conqueror too so near them Wherefore said they it was high time to look out for Remedies and especially that the Wrath of God might be appeased who being offended with the Sins of Men plagued them with so great a Judgment For that in the whole Body politick there was nothing pure nor sound that all Discipline both publick and private was laid aside which was the Source of their common Evils but that the contempt of the Word of God was the chief Cause why he so scourged and afflicted them For both Sacred and Profane Histories inform us say they that God hath many times severely punished most flourishing Kingdom 〈◊〉 for those lighter Sins which sprug from our Nature and Dispositions but for false Worship and the Contempt of his Word The Jewish Nation was led away Captive into Assyria and Babylon for despising the Prophets and devising a new Religion and Worship to themselves At length they were utterly cut off and Jerusalem destroyed for their Crucifying of the Son of God. Those most flourishing Empires in former times the Babylonish Persian and Grecian now oppressed by the Turks have for the same Causes so lost their Religion Laws Goverment and Dignity that hardly any Print of them remains at this day and whilst partly they rejected and partly loathed the Blessings of God they have fallen into horrible Darkness and most ignominious Slavery Nor did all this change come of a sudden for the Turks waged War for the space of Six hundred Years and more before they subdued Greece which happened then at length when after so many Invitations and Admonitions they would not mend their Manners but added Sin to Sin and Transgression Now if a Man should compare those Kingdoms formerly so splendid and powerful wherein so many famous Wits flourished with that barbarous and brutish Monarchy of the Turks he would find that since the Flood a sadder Calamity never happened But if such powerful People were not able to resist so weak a Nation as the Turks were in the beginning God being pleased so to punish their Sins What are we to expect who are in the same fault indeed but in a far worse condition since we have to do with an Enemy much more powerful than we We see how God plagues us especially in these parts with War Pestilence and Famine The most cruel Enemy hath lately seized Buda the Capital City of the Realm Fire hath raged through Bohemia and what miseries have we not suffered now these Sixteen Years How much Blood hath there been spilt and how many Thousand Souls carried away into Slavery Now is the Power of the Turk grown to such an height that he lifts up his Head above all other Kings and Potentates And because he obtaineth almost continual Victories
Irksomness of their Condition But that they should always have in their Thoughts what St. Peter and St. Paul wrote of the Duty of Bondmen That however when they make War against Christians they should rather hazard their Lives than serve them for that they were Robbers made War against the Saints as Daniel saith and shed innocent Blood That therefore it should be their chief Care not to be partakers with them in so great a Crime and Wickedness Unto this Discourse he subjoins a Form of Prayer against the Fury of the Turks and towards the end enlarging upon the Vices of the Times which reigned amongst all Ranks and Degrees of Men he concluded that Germany which was so wholly corrupted and defiled could not continue long in Safety Now this is the Form of Prayer which he prescribes O Eternal Father we have indeed deserved to be punished but do thou thy self punish us not in thy Wrath and Displeasure but according to thy great Mercy seeing it is far better for us to fall into thy Hands than into the Hands of Men and Enemies for thy Mercy is infinite and above all thy Works We have sinned against thee O Lord and broken thy Commandements yet thou knowest O Heavenly Father that the Devil the Pope and the Turk have no Right nor Cause to afflict us for we have not wronged them but thou usest them as a Rod to correct us with who have many Ways provoked thee all our Life time They I say have nothing to charge us with but would rather that after their Example we should for ever grievously offend thee that we should sin against thy Divine Majesty by Idolatry and false Doctrine by Lying and Deceiving by theft Robbery and Rapine and by Adultery Fornication and Sorcery That 's the thing they most desire But because we worship thee God the Father and thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord with thy Holy Spirit one God everlasting that is our Crime and Wickedness for which they so hate and persecute us Should we make Defection from thee and renounce this Faith we needed not to expect any Hurt from them Look graciously towards us then O Father and help us for they are more thine Enemies than ours when they smite us they smite thee for the Doctrine we profess is not ours but thine The Devil indeed cannot endure it but would be worshipped in thy place and force Lyes upon us instead of thy Word And the Turk also would place his Mahomet in the room of thy Son Jesus Christ Now if it be a Sin to profess thee Father Son and Holy Ghost to be the only true God then certainly thou art a Sinner who teachest us so to do and requirest this Duty at our Hands And when for this Cause they persecute us they hate and afflict thee Awake then O my God and avenge thy Holy Name which they pollute and profane suffer not this Injury at their Hands who punish us not for our Sins and Trespasses but endeavour to extinguish the Light of thy Word amongst us and to destroy thy Kingdom that thou shouldest not have a People to worship and adore thy Name Now as to the Origin and Growth of the Turks since so many have writen of it it is no purpose to discourse here Their Rise hath been as great as their Beginning was small and the first of their Emperors is reckoned Ottoman who reigned about the Year of our Lord 1300. After him succeeded in order Orchanes Amurath who first crossed the Hellespont and brought an Army into Europe invading Thrace Bajazet Cyriscelebes Moses Mahomet Amurath Mahomet Bajazet Selim Solyman Much about this time Alfonso Davalo Marquess of Pescara whom we mentioned before published a Declaration addressed to the Princes of Germany wherein he Accuses and Blames the French King that in such troublesome Times he should plot and contrive new designs on purpose to frustrate and hinder the honest Endeavours of the Emperor and all the States pretending a very slight and trivial Reason for it to wit the intercepting of Anthony Rink and Caesar Fregoso after whom he had made most diligent Inquiry but could not learn what was become of them This coming to the French King's Knowledge he declared that he had a great Injury done him in that his Ambassadors had been so barbarously used That he had several times complained of it both to the Pope and Emperor and desired Satisfaction but all in vain And that therefore if he should let so unworthy an Act pass it would be to his dishonour and the greatest stain imaginable to his Reputation Afterwards on the Second of May he wrote to the Parliament of Paris to this Effect To the end said he that God may illuminate our Hearts and grant us Constancy in our Faith bring those that go astray if any such be into the right Way of Salvation again and send us Peace by means of Satisfaction for the Injuries we have received by Usurpation of our Right and Violence done to our Ambassadors or if in dispair of Peace there be a necessity of going to War that he may grant us Victory our Will is that Processions be made and Prayers in all Churches and that able Preachers be employed to give the People an account of the Cause hereof Moreover we Charge and Command that if there be any who entertain sinistrous Thoughts of our Faith and Religion and do not promise amendment that they be publickly punished for their Crime Not long after he sent the Duke of Longueville to the Duke of Cleve who having raised Men against the Summer under the Conduct of Martin Van Rossem waited for an opportunity of Action The Pope in the mean time on the First of June calls a Council and by way of preamble gives a large account how he had often before called a Council and last of all suspended its sitting till a more convenient time wherefore he clears himself of all the Blame and professes he could delay no longer though the Affairs of Christendom were still in a doubtful State. So then he appointed it to be held at Trent on the First of November whither he Summoned to appear all Patriarchs Bishops Abbots and others who had Right and Privilege to sit and Vote in Councils He exhorted also the Emperor and French King that they would either come themselves or send Ambassadors and command their Bishops to repair to it But before all others he invited the German Bishops because for their cause and at their desire chiefly all that pains was taken In the Month of July the French King declared War against the Emperor in a very cutting Stile of Language giving his Subjects free Liberty by publick Proclamation to use all manner of Hostilities against him and his Countries both by Sea and Land. Longueville and Van Rossem had a little before made an Incursion into Brabant where they put the People who were unprovided into great Terror
the Demands of the Emperor and King Ferdinand After long and great Debate about the Matter on the Twentieth of June the Diet was dissolved But though it seemed to lie heavy upon the States of the Empire to be charged with double Aid yet because they thought that the Turkish War might be more successfully carried on if the domestick Enemy were first reduced to Duty they granted the Emperor a Six Months Subsidy for entertaining Four thousand Horse and Twenty four thousand Foot against the French King of which Money the Emperor allotted a part to his Brother King Ferdinand for fortifying the Places upon the Frontiers against the Turks And for the future Turkish War they imposed a Tax and Poll all over Germany that all without Exception should pay according to their Lands and Estates and for their Heads They enacted under severe Penalties that no Man should serve Foreigners especially the French King in their Wars and Power was granted to Punish such as should be found Transgressors herein Because the Difference about Religion could not be treated of during these warlike Occupations it was referred to the next Diet to be held in the Month of December The Emperor in the mean time promised to employ some learned and pious Men to draw up a Form of Reformation He entreated the Princes to do the like also that having compared all together in future Diets something might be agreed upon by common Consent to be observed till the meeting of a General Council to be held in Germany or until a National Synod of Germany That in the mean time all should live in Peace without making any Bustle or Stir for Difference in Religion and that the Churches every where of what Religion soever should enjoy their Rents and Revenues which should be applied to the Maintenance of the Ministers of publick Schools and the Poor That the Judges of the Imperial Chamber should retain their Places during the time that was prefix'd to them After the Expiration thereof that all should be indifferently admitted to that Bench without any respect to their Religion That the Edict of Ausburg and all Suits commenced against the Protestants upon account of their Religion and Profession as also the Proscription of the Cities of Goslar and Minden should be suspended till the next Treaty That the Anabapists should suffer the Punishments long since decreed against them That nevertheless the Magistrates should employ learned and pious Men to convince them of their Error and reclaim them This Decree was much disliked by the Catholicks who with all their Force opposed it But seeing the Bishops of Cologne and Munster sided with the Protestants and Cleve and Baden submitted all to the Emperor's Pleasure who after much debate made it appear That this was a middle and tolerable way for both they being much weakened in number condescended at last not indeed to assent to it but yet that they might not seem to prescribe Rules to the Emperor nor to derogate from his Power to tolerate the same and the Electors Palatine and Brandenburg had interceded to have the Decree pass in this manner The Protestants also desired that the Cause of the Duke of Brunswick might be comprehended in that Decree but that could not be obtained And the Emperor urged That either they would restore him or else put the Province into his Hands by Sequestration until the matter should be Tried He had treated about this with the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave whilst they were present and much more with their Deputies after their Departure The Cities at first refused to contribute to the Subsidy against the French because of Intercourse and Trade But when the Princes assented to it and the French King's Cause seemed Odious to all they also subscribed though much against their Wills especially they who bordered upon France The Deputies of Lunenburg and Wirtemberg refused also but they were privately admonished and with harsh words too that they alone should not put a stop to the Resolutions of the rest When the Lantgrave upon his Return Home went to take leave of the Emperor he was most graciously received his Imperial Majesty telling him That he would not now make use of him against the French King on purpose not to expose him to hatred but that so soon as that War was over he designed to march against the Turk and that then he would make him his Lieutenant General and commit the whole management of the War to his Care And when he modestly and humbly excused himself as unfit for such a Charge You have done good Service ere now saith the Emperor both for your self and others and I make no doubt but you can render me good Services too and with these words most courteously dismissed him so that he having acquainted some of his familiar Friends with what had pass'd betwixt them returned Home full of Hopes and Joy that the Emperor was so Favourable unto him As to the Business of the Sequestration after the matter had been long canvassed and disputed it was agreed upon at length That all the Country of Brunswick should be put into the Emperor's Hands as chief Magistrate until the Controversie were either friendly taken up or fairly tried and determined by Law And that the Emperor should commit the Government of the Country either to the Prince Palatine or the Elector of Brandenburg or else to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleve that they that did not obey should incurr the penalty of the breach of the publick Peace That the Emperor should command Henry Duke of Brunswick to obey or else to punish him according to Law. The Emperor at length proposed these Conditions and persisted in that and the Protestants ratified them afterwards as you shall hear in the proper place After the Conclusion of the Diet the Emperor went from Spire to Metz. Now all his Army had Mustered in Lorrain upon the Borders of France and about the latter end of May had taken Luxenburg upon Surrender In this War Duke Maurice of Saxony and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg served the Emperor with a Thousand Horse a piece also Count William of Furstemburg an Officer of Foot and Sebastian Scherteline all Protestants Whilst the Emperor was at Metz Hubert Count Bichling a German that served the French was taken in Lorrain and brought to Metz. He was there condemned to lose his Head and his Wife who came thither and fell at the Emperor's Feet could not prevail for his Pardon so that all things were prepared for his Execution But at length Maximilian King Ferdinand's Son whom the Emperor had lately received into his Court being sollicited used his Interest with the Emperor and at last saved his Life In the mean time Babarossa either because his Affairs so required or that he was perswaded by the French King or else that he feared the King might make Peace with the Emperor returned Home and Landing made
to the rack These refer them to other Judges before whom when they had appeared the Prisoners had Counsel assigned them and these Advocates spun out the Matter from day to day till at length the Accusers were ordered to bring in their Indictment in Latin and Spanish whilest in the interim it was given out that Letters were come from the Emperour as he was upon his Journey to Ratisbonne commanding a Nolle Prosequi because that he would have the Matter to be brought to a tryal before Himself and his Brother in the next Diet. When nothing else could be obtained Otho Henry and the Elector Palatine require the Senate of Inspruck to send the Prisoners with security to Newbourg where the Crime was committed but by the Emperour's Letters they excuse themselves At the time the Murther was committed the Emperour came to Spire on his Journey to Ratisbonne And whilest he stopt at Deux-pontz a Town belonging to Wolffgang Prince Palatine the Princess his Wife Daughter to the Landgrave at that time lay in The Emperour gave her a Visit and having pass'd some Compliments upon her distributed large Presents amongst the Women but because he had nothing about him that was fit to give the Lady herself he sent her a Present afterwards from Spire whither he came about the latter end of March. The Landgrave as we said before had been advised by Naves to come and wait upon the Emperour whilest he was on his Progress to Ratisbonne Granvell had put him in mind of the same thing also in the Month of February when the Emperour was at Maestricht Having then obtained a safe Conduct from the Emperour he came to Spire whither came also the Elector Palatine and William Massenbach Embassadour from the Duke of Wirtemberg and this was on the twenty-eight day of March. The Landgrave therefore went to the Emperour and his Chancelour speaking in his Name had a private Conference with him wherein having told the reason and occasion of his coming We have Advice said he most mighty Emperour not from one Place only nor out of Germany alone but from foreign Countreys also that your Majesty at the Pope's instigation are hatching bad purposes against the Confederates of the Augustan Confession It is a current Report also that in the Treaty of Peace you perswaded the French King to assist you in punishing them nay more that you sollicite the Turk for a Truce that you may the more conveniently accomplish your Designs and that therefore a Council it is said was called by the Pope and is begun that by vertue of the Decrees that are quickly to pass there the Matter may be put into execution Now that which makes us give some credit to this Report and does not a little startle us is the Process carried on so vigorously against the Archbishop of Cologne and that heavy Proclamation published against him at the Suit and Importunity of his Enemies And forasmuch as we so freely contributed our aid and assistance to your Majesty against the French and Turks and were ready to have done greater things as we made it appear at Spire because we contributed also more than our Ancestours were accustomed to do and that your Majesty both at Spire and Ratisbonne gave us large assurances of Peace Liberty and Property these are things we did not at all look for We are nevertheless in good hopes Sir that before your Majesty leave Germany you will by a National Council of the Empire cause Religion to be setled according to the Warrant of God's Word and if perhaps the difference cannot be taken up that you will command the Peace which was promised to us at Spire to be inviolably observed and that in such manner that no Decree of the Council nor Diet of the Empire may be able to alter or annul it To these things the Emperour made answer by Naves That there had indeed several Reports been brought to him of them as if they intended some Stirs but that he did not believe them especially after that he had seen his Letters to Naves and that he believed them far less now That he could bring no proof of what he said concerning the French King that he had only a Peace with him and nothing else that it was the humour of the French to brag and talk rashly of things That he moved the Turk to a Truce chiefly for the sake of Germany for since that in almost all Diets Grievances had been represented of the heavy Burdens and Charges and the Poverty of the People he looked upon that to be the most proper way that during the Truce they might have time to treat of carrying on the War against him abroad and of setling Religion at home However that there was nothing as yet determined in the matter but that he would discourse his Brother about it That after a great deal of labour and pains he had been at the Council which for so many Years they had importuned him about was now met that whatever he had done in that Affair was with a very good intention to the Publick and that it was very ill done in some who perhaps put a contrary interpretation upon it That he had used the Archbishop of Cologne kindly but that he was unwilling to put the least stop to his Proceedings That he himself was witness of what preparation he was in for a War That he had none about him but his Friends and Servants That he raised no Troops and that the reason why he had sent for him was because he looked upon him as a lover of Peace and that therefore he desired to know of him how he thought Matters of Religion might be composed or what he did believe might be obtained from his Confederates but that if at present he was unwilling to give a positive answer as to that he would appoint Commissioners to confer with him about the matter With that the Landgrave speaking himself If Sir said he I could contribute any thing to the Peace and Safety of Germany and to the preservation of true Friendship betwixt your Majesty and all the States of the Empire I would certainly spare no Labour nor Pains on my part and for that cause I chiefly came hither I should have been glad indeed that more of the Confederates had been here but because of the narrowness of the time that could not be for the Elector of Saxony is at a great distance and James Sturmey is detained by sickness I believe indeed your Majesty has had various Reports brought unto you but really Matters are no otherwise than as I wrote to the Hier Naves For we entred into no Resolution against your Majesty at Franckfort but all we did was only how we might persevre in our Religion and be able to defend ourselves against unjust Violence We had intelligence of the French King as if in view of the affinity of the Duke of Orleans with your Majesty
he had promised you Supplies against us That your Majesty sued to the Turk for a Truce was a thing many wise men wondered at and could not but conclude it was for some great Matter seeing you were at peace with the King of France but now that your Majesty says you do it for the sake of the Publick I have nothing indeed to say to the contrary for it is long since Germany stood in need of some ease from the great Charges it hath been at We did indeed earnestly demand a Council but it was a free pious Council and that in Germany too now that we do not reckon the Council of Trent for such we fully declared to your Majesty at Wormes for all Laicks as they call us being excluded the Bishops and others who are bound by Oath to the Pope take to themselves solely the Power of Judging and Decreeing That I should propose some way for accommodation in Religion is a thing Sir I dare not venture upon without the concurrence of my Allies and I 'm sure that if I did so I should have but little thanks from either side for my pains but in the mean time provided it draw not into consequence I do not refuse a Conference with such as your Majesty shall please to appoint for that purpose The truth is I have no great hopes in the Council but believe that a Provincial Assembly of Germany might not prove unuseful for other People differ too much from us as yet in Opinions and Doctrine but in Germany matters are now come to that pass that they cannot be changed so that nothing could be better than if your Majesty would allow a liberty of Religion there but so that all should live together quietly and in peace I make no doubt but that the Conference you appointed at Ratisbonne was done by your Majesty with a very good intent but I had it from those that were present How some bitter Monks bring again under debate Points that were adjusted some Years since in the same place and are of so bad a Life and Conversation that no good at all can be expected from them Without all doubt the Archbishop of Cologne is a good Man and does what he does purely because he thinks it his Duty especially seeing the Decree of the Diet at Ratisbonne commits the care of the Reformation of his Church to him which truly he set about in a very moderate manner taking away no more than what was necessary should be and making but very small Alterations in the Goods of the Church Now the Book he published for that purpose agrees with the Holy Scriptures and is backed by the Testimonies of the ancient Doctors Tertullian Augustine Ambrose and others who lived nearest the Age of the Apostles if any harsh course then be taken against him for that matter it will be a warning to others who have made far greater Alterations To this the Emperour replied That he passed by the Treaty of Franckfort neither did believe the things that were told him of it nor had given any cause why he should but that yet he was much better satisfied by his discourse That he had indeed procured a Council to be called that it might both be beneficial to the Publick and that the Fathers who were there might of their own accord reform themselves and that it was none of his design that violence should be offered to those of the Augustan Confession because of any Decree that might pass there that the Conference of Ratisbonne was appointed for that very reason which had begun very well indeed if it had continued so That the Archbishop of Cologne though he had promised to supersede and delay did nevertheless proceed and force men to do as he would have them That it was the intent of the Decree of Ratisbonne that the Bishops should reform their own Churches but not introduce a new Faith and Religion and that it was added besides that they should draw up a formulary of Reformation and give it in to be considered of in the next Diet of the Empire but that he having turned out the ordinary Ministers and Pastors of the Church had of himself appointed new ones nay and more that he withheld the Revenues and Stipends of the Canons and appropriated part of them to himself carrying all things by his Edicts with a high hand so that the Clergy being necessitated to implore his help and protection he could not but according to the Power and Character he bore put a stop to him by contrary Edicts and Commands that in fine he was well pleased that the Conference betwixt his Commissioners and him should in no ways be captious nor ensnaring To which the Landgrave made answer That it exceedingly rejoyced him to see his gracious Majesty so well-affected towards Germany and his Associates and that he prayed God he might persevere in the same mind For said he if your Majesty according to that excellent Judgment God has endowed you with do but seriously consider and weigh with yourself how advantageous Germany is to your Majesty your Kingdoms and Provinces you 'l find that there is nothing more to be wished for than that all Ranks and Qualities may rejoyce and delight in you their chief Magistrate and your Majesty again use them as loving and dutiful Subjects For truly if Germany happen to be weakened it will recound chiefly to your Majesty's disadvantage I have likewise most joyfully heard what your thoughts and intentions are concerning the Decrees of the Council but that they should reform themselves is a thing I fear not to be expected for they are bound by Oath to the Pope judge alone in their own cause and though they stand in need chiefly of a reformation yet they look upon that as a thing can do them no great good and which will prove prejudicial to their yearly Revenues I doubt things are not carried at the Conference of Ratisbonne in the way and method they should be for not only Copies of the Proceedings are denied but also in the beginning our Commissioners were not allowed to have Clarks and Notaries As to the Archbishop of Cologne I can say no more but what I have already said He is a Shepherd and therefore desires to give good and wholsom Food to his Flock He thinks that to be his Duty and therefore caused a Form of Reformation to be drawn up nay and those who are now his Adversaries and especially Gropper were in the beginning most desirous of a Reformation but when they find it is come to that they shuffle and draw back Here the Emperour interrupting Ha said he what can that good Man reform He has hardly a smattering in the Latine Tongue In all his life-time he never said but three Masses of which I myself heard two nor does he know so much as the very Rudiments of Learning But he carefully peruses German Books answered he and what I know
only we but all those also who profess the Reformed Religion are in danger and that the great Design in hand is wholly to re-establish Popery Let all men judge then of the fairness of their Proceedings when in the late Diet at Ratisbonne they endeavoured to perswade and solemnly averred that they would use only lawful and peaceful Remedies for healing the breaches of Religion Lately said the Landgrave he told me at Spire That he was not engaged in any League with the Pope the same also said Granvell This then is that Fatherly Affection that Zeal for and Love of Peace whereof they so much brag and so often Was ever the like heard that they should endeavour to perswade Princes of one thing and in the mean time resolve the quite contrary We are sensible enough of the Duty of the Princes to the Emperour and what on the other hand he is engaged to perform as we stand obliged to him so is he mutually to us Now that he Proscribes and Outlaws us without a fair hearing and endeavours to turn us out of all he therein dissolves the Obligation in Law whereby the Lord or Superiour is mutually bound to his Tenant or Vassal That he objects to us the Crime of Rebellion it is a meer sham also and he himself knows that he does us wrong in that For not long since said the Landgrave he gave me Thanks at Spire that I had used my utmost diligence to compose the Differences about Religion Now whereas he says that I prepared for War and exacted Money of some States I do not indeed deny it and weighty reasons I had too for making Preparations But it is publickly known that by the mediation of Louis the Elector Palatine and of Richard Archbishop of Traves that whole matter was husht nay he himself acquainted me by his Letters that though he had been highly displeased with me for what I had done yet because I had laid down Arms he required no more besides when sixteen years ago he spoke to me of the same Affair at Ausbourg I justified my self so well in presence of King Ferdinand Frederick Prince Palatine and some others that he was satisfied therewith he cannot then make that any part of his present quarrel That I assisted Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of the Duke of Saxony and George Archbishop of Mentz that matter was also taken up and I received again into favour which transaction he himself ratified and afterward at Ratisbonne fully pardoned me upon his Royal Word He now also speaks of the War of Brunswick but the cause of that we made manifest by a publick Declaration and two years since gave a fuller account of the same in a most frequent Diet of the Empire where he was present Duke Henry did indeed answer then but the Emperour refused to hear our Replies Now the reason why he did not bring the Tryal to a full issue and with the Advice of the rest of the Princes give Sentence therein at that time was forsooth because demanding then Supplies against the French and Turks he purposely put a stop to the Suit and ordered a Sequestration wherein we also condescended to him at Wormes though we were not obliged and it was agreed on both hands that Frederick Prince Palatine and his Cousin John Prince Palatine of Simmeren should hold and govern the Province which we had taken until the Cause should be brought to a final decision according to Law this being done he past his Word to us that the Duke of Brunswick should likewise comply and by Letters strictly enjoyned him to do so but he slighting the Orders raised War against us and therein was made Prisoner as appears by a Declaration published by me and Duke Maurice In this War then we did nothing undutifully nothing contrary to Law and appeal to impartial Judgment But from that very thing it will easily appear what his Intentions are as to our Religion For though Duke Henry most sawcily despised his Orders and when he heard of the Sequestration reviled him in very reproachful Language yet because he is an implacable Enemy to our Religion he was never called to any Account for it Where he saith That we have brought some under subjection to us it is far otherwise and has been answered by us several times before But that may be truly said of him who hath reduced some Provinces and Bishopricks of the Empire under his Jurisdiction and against this War hath had in many places Meetings of Nobles that he might to our destruction engage them to himself This we acknowledge indeed That we have received some into our Protection upon account that if they should incur any danger for professing the Gospel we might stand by and defend them and that we look upon to be our duty since God commands us to help the afflicted Now for many Years past and at this time especially none stand more in need of Help and Protection than they who are reckoned Lutherans In other things that related not to Religion we never gave them any Countenance but always exhorted them to give the Magistrate his due He objects to us also That we disswaded others from repairing to the Diet but that is very impertinent since on the first of April last we sent Orders to our Deputies who met at Wormes when he was going to Ratisbonne That waving all other Business they should repair to that Diet and that we either came in Person or sent our Deputies to all the other Diets of the Empire What he saith of the Imperial Chamber and the interruption of Justice hath been many times refuted already He moreover brings an Instance of the Heathen Magistrates to shew That it is not lawful to resist him Whereas we have not only done our Duty but more also than either we ought or our Forefathers were accustomed to do to our own great loss and prejudice and that upon that account he hath not the least cause of complaint it will appear by what shall be said hereafter A certain Embassadour lately sent to him from the French King hapned occasionally to speak of this War telling him That he undertook a Matter of very great concern That he would do well to consider with himself how powerful Germany was and how dangerous the Attempt That if one or two perhaps had offended a Course might be taken to accommodate the Matter without a War. Whereunto he is said to have made this Answer That there was no need of an Accommodation That he would subdue Germany or put all to the risque for that the Strength thereof was not so very great that he needed to be afraid of it That it was now above twenty years since he had laid down his Measures for accomplishing that Design That in several Wars they had given him frequent Supplies and lately too against the King his own Master That they had been at great Charges in several Diets That they had lost
consonant to Right That for his own part there was nothing but what he was willing to do for the sake of Germany and in that he could appeal to the Emperour 's own Testimony That he had omitted nothing which belonged to the Office of a good Shepherd and most loving Father That he saw indeed what it was that the Emperour King Ferdinand and the States of the Empire demanded but that still he thought they desired it so as that it might consist with the Good and Peace of all other Nations and the Liberty of the Church When Mendoza perceived that the Pope took that Assembly at Bolonia for a Council he resolved to have protested against it upon the spot but the Dean of the Sacred Colledge and some Cardinals interposing he was perswaded to send that Answer to the Emperour wait for Instructions from him and to put off the Protestation until the 20th day When Mendoza then wrote an account of the whole matter to the Emperour the Pope also on the first of January writes an Answer to the Letter of the German Bishops which we mentioned before wherein having commended them for their Piety he tells them That they had good and lawful cause to be concerned for the Publick amidst those Stirs of heretical and seditious men for that he himself was extreamly affected thereat and that because it was a matter which concerned his Pastoral Office it was continually in his thoughts how to find a Remedy for it That for that reason also so soon as he was promoted to the Pontificate he had betaken himself to the Refuge which they themselves mentioned and of his own accord had called a Council first at Mantua and then at Vicenza but seeing that proved unsuccessful he had pitched upon Trent a Town on the very Borders of Germany whither they might come without danger and that a War breaking forth about the same time which hindered free access to the place though his Legates had been already sent thither he was necessarily obliged to defer the matter till another opportunity which happening by the Peace that was afterwards made he had again called the Council and acquainted all Princes and States therewith by Letters That though a year and more had intervened betwixt that time and the last War yet none of them came to it nor indeed excepting one or two sent their Deputies neither for though perhaps because of the danger of neighbouring Hereticks it was not fit they should have come so far and left their own charges at home nevertheless they might have been present by their Proxies as he himself had dispensed with him in his Bulls That a great number of Bishops and other Prelates came to Trent not only from Italy but from more distant Provinces also and that by their unanimous and harmonious consent Decrees had past there as well concerning Religion as Discipline wherein a great part of those wicked Doctrines that are maintained by the Hereticks of these times are refuted and condemned which was to him indeed matter of great joy and gave him cause not to dislike that place wherein sate an Assembly so useful to the Christian World Now that it was removed from thence it was done without his knowledge and the news thereof brought to him before he suspected any such thing but that there was no doubt that the Council had power to do so and that therefore he did believe they had a lawful cause for doing it unless he were sure of the contrary and that thought some few had left the Council yet it was not therefore divided for what the greater part did was to be considered That moreover it was not translated into a Town which was either too far distant from Trent or unsafe and inconvenient for that the interval was not too great and then it was a place highly commended both for the wholsomness of the Air and also for plenty of all Provisions and good Accommodation and Lodging That that City as being under the Jurisdiction of the Church ought not to seem the more unsafe to Germany which had received long ago not only the Christian Faith and Religion from the Church but many other Monuments also of Bounty and Liberality That besides it was to be considered that the Neighbouring Princes and People were under the Emperour's Jurisdiction That though this was the case yet he was not much concerned in what place chiefly the Council should be held but that if any other place were chosen by the common consent of the Fathers he should not oppose it provided the Fathers might have their freedom and be under no constraint there That the reason that was urged why they desired and wished them to return to Trent was that the Germans might come to the Council more willingly That he commended indeed this desire and endeavour of theirs nor doubted he but that for their parts they were not very anxious about the place but that they might know by the Letter of the Fathers at Bolonia what sort of Obstacles they were that lay in the way That the reason why he was so slow in answering them was that not long after he had received their Letter the Cardinal of Trent came to him from the Emperour and that seeing the Demands which both he and the Embassadour Mendoza made to him jump'd exactly with their Letter he did not think fit to answer them till he had first answered the Emperour That since they had treated that Affair with him not only privately but also publickly and often in the Consistory of the Cardinals he had by an Express sent and consulted the Fathers assembled at Bolonia and afterwards communicated their Answer to Mendoza when the Cardinal of Trent was gone a Copy of which Answer he now sent them that they might see what was first to be done before there could be any thought of returning That therefore he prayed them to have regard to the Peace of the Church and come to Bolonia with the rest either in Person or send their Proxies thither to continue the Council or if the place should not seem so fit that they should there debate the matter with the rest of the Fathers That now in the close of their Letter they hinted that it was to be feared lest if he neglected his duty other courses would be taken he was not at all moved thereat seeing he had omitted no duty in that Station and Dignity wherein God Almighty had placed him as in a Watch-Tower to take care of the whole Flock but especially of those who had gone astray from the rest That seeing nothing was wanting to him then and that it was publickly known how much he tendered the Welfare of Germany he was the less apprehensive of any Accident but rested satisfied in the Conscience of his own Integrity and honest Endeavours That as for themselves and the Emperour of whose Constancy and Sincerity there was no doubt to be made he thought
Cardinals therewith and in name of the whole Empire to demand the continuation of the Council at Trent He ordered Mendoza also to do the same but the Pope took time to consider of it and having thought fit to consult you about the matter obtained from you a dubious crafty and captious Answer Besides he answers the Emperour oddly and shews sufficiently by his tergiversation that he is little concerned for the Publick for the cause of the removal ought to have been proved by credible Witnesses The Emperour King Ferdinand and the Princes by Letters and most ample Embassies declared what the mind of the States was concerning the Council but the Pope believed and preferred the Report of some mean and base People before the Testimony of all these How many tedious and irksome Journeys hath the Emperour made upon the account of the Council What Charges and Expences hath he been at And must all these be lost For most weighty and necessary causes was the Council both called and begun at Trent the Emperour and Germans demanding it and all other Christian Princes consenting thereunto so that unless the publick Authority of all States intervene it cannot be translated to another place for indeed there was no cause for the Translation only something invented for an excuse as some slight Feaver and badness of Air forsooth and for that purpose some Physicians were suborned but chiefly Serving-Maids and Cooks Now what a trifling cause that was the thing it self and the event declared You say that you went away without the Pope's knowledge and advice but the Letter he wrote to you and the Answer he gave the Emperour imply the quite contrary Certainly you ought not to have departed nor changed the place but with consent of the Emperour to whom it belongs to protect all Councils but you posted away in so much haste that ye rejected the Opinion of those who said that the Emperour and Pope ought first to be consulted Now if you must needs have been removing ye ought to have observed at least the Decrees of the Holy Councils and remained within the bounds of Germany that the Germans for whose cause chiefly the Council was called might safely come to it but now ye have chosen Bolonia a Town seated in the heart of Italy and under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome whither it is certain the Germans will not come and therefore have you chosen it that to the great prejudice and disgrace of Christendom the Council may be either dissolved or managed at your pleasure The Emperour therefore requireth and that most earnestly that you return to that place which pleased all before especially since all things are now safe and quiet and no more cause of any fear remains But if this you refuse I do here in the name and by command of the Emperour protest against this Translation of the Council as frivolous and unlawful and that all that has been done or shall be done therein is of no force nor effect I also publickly declare That that Answer of yours is silly and full of Lyes and that the prejudice and inconveniences which hereafter shall ensue to the Publick are not to be imputed to the Emperour but to you affirming withal that you have no Power nor Authority to remove the Council And because you neglect the publick Welfare the Emperour as Protector of the Church will take the care of that upon himself in so far as it is lawful for him by Law and the Canons of Holy Church When he had read over that Protestation he delivered a written Copy of it and desired it to be entered upon Record With that the Cardinal de Monte having highly commended the pious intentions of the Fathers called God to witness that they had wrong done them saying They were ready to suffer death rather than that such a practice should be brought into the Church that the Civil Magistrate might call or controul a Council when and how he pleased That the Emperour was indeed a Son of the Church but not the Lord and Master That he and his Colleagues were the Legates of the Apostolick See and did not refuse even then to render first to God and then to the Pope an account of their Commission That after all within a few days they should have an Answer to their Protestation Much about the same time Mendoza having received Instructions from the Emperour made a Protestantion to the same effect at Rome before the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and in presence of all the Forreign Embassadours whom according to his Instructions he had invited to be Witnesses of it THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XX. THE CONTENTS In the beginning it is hotly disputed whether Prussia belong to the King of Poland or rather to the Empire The Pope makes a large Answer to the Harangue that Mendoza made before The Emperour being informed of that and seeing but very little hopes of a Council causes the Book which is called the Interim to be made The Protector of England in a very long Letter to the Scots counsels them to Peace and demands their Queen Vogelsberg is beheaded The Emperour invests Duke Maurice in the Electorship which he had bestowed upon him in the Camp before Wittemberg Bucer refuses to subscribe to the Interim The Pope also publishes a Censure of it which many of the Electors and Princes also did and many refuse it though it was published by the Emperour The Duke of Saxony though a Prisoner with great magnanimity rejects it The Landgrave by Letters which were published from the Emperours Court seems to approve it that he may obtain his freedom Whil'st the Mass is abolished in England by Act of Parliament the free Towns of Germany are solicited to accept of the Interim and especially Strasburg which is pressed by Threats to do it WE have shewn in the former Books that Marquess Albert of Brandenburg did Homage to the King of Poland and altered the Government of Prussia for which he was Outlaw'd by the Imperial Chamber As also that the King of Poland had several times solicited the Emperour and rest of the States in the Publick Diets to reverse that Outlawry because he was his Vassal and under his Protection But since to this day nothing could be obtained and that by this Victory of the Emperours some greater danger seemed to be threatned the King of Poland sends an Embassy to this Diet whereof the chief was Stanislaus Alaski He in the month of January delivered to the Emperour and Colledge of the Princes a Speech in Writing whereof the substance was That the Cause of Prussia had been some times already debated but because it had been always put off to other Diets he was commanded to open it again that the King was in good hopes because of the civil Answers he had often received from them and of the equity of his Cause they would Consider his Affair yet not as
a Dalmatian Bishop of Waradin Cardinal He was a Man of great Authority in Hungary and commonly called Monk because he was of the Order of Paul the first Hermit It has been declared before that the French Ambassador was ordered to attend on the eleventh of October to receive his answer provided the King owned the Council but he came not and nevertheless in name of the Council a Letter to the King was published And first they tell him that for many Reasons they had expected every thing that was good and great at his hands but that upon the coming of his Ambassdor and reading of his Letter it was a great Grief to them to find themselves frustrated of their hopes and that nevertheless since they were not conscious to themselves of any wrong they had done nor of any cause of offence that they had given they had not as yet wholly laid aside the hopes they formerly conceived of him that the Opinion he entertained then as if the Council had been called for the particular interest and advantage of some few ought least of all to take place in that so great an Assembly That the Causes of calling the Council were published not only by the present Pope but also by his Predecessor Paul III. to wit that Heresies might be rooted out that Discipline might be reformed and that the Peace of the Church might be restored Was not that manifest enough Could there any thing be done more Piously or Christianly That Heresies did now spread not only over Germany but in some manner over all Provinces that the Council would apply a Remedy to this great evil that this was the ground and this also the end of all their Deliberations and that all they did aimed only at that that therefore he would suffer the Bishops within his Dominions to come and assist in carrying on so holy a Work that he had no cause to fear but that they should have liberty to speak freely what they thought that with much patience and attention his Ambassador had been lately heard though his Message had not been so very pleasant and that since a private person had been heard with so much mildness and favour why should any Man believe that that would be denied to publick persons and Men of such Dignity too That notwithstanding though he should not send one single person yet both the Authority and Dignity of the Council would subsist as being both lawfully called at first and for just Causes now again restored but that as to what he intimated of using Remedies such as his Ancestors had made use of they did not think that he would ever proceed so far as to revive those things which have heretofore been abolished to the great advantage of the Kings of France And that seeing God had blessed him with so many benefits and favours they could not but hope that he would not do any thing whereby he might seem unthankful to God or to holy Mother Church That he should only look back upon his Progenitors upon his own Title of Most Christian King and in a word upon his Father King Francis who honoured the former Council by the Ambassadors and most learned Bishops whom he sent to it that he should imitate that late and domestick Example and sacrifice private Offences to the publick Good. The Emperour and Pope had exhorted the Switzers to come to the Council but it was in vain And the Pope as we said before made use of the Ministery of Jerom Francâ— his Nuncio there to bring that about But the French King sent Instructions to the Ambassador La Morliere who resided in those places that he should endeavour to persuade them all not to send any person to it La Morliere finding that to be a difficult task sent for Vergerio an expert Man in those Affairs to come to him from amongst the Grisons who supplied him with Arguments and a little after published a Book against repairing to the Council La Moliere thus provided came to the Convention at Baden and there alledging his Reasons he persuaded not only those who long before had shaken off Popery but also all the other Cantons to what he desired of them so that none came from them to Trent From the Grisons came by Orders from the Pope Thomas Plant Bishop of Coyre but when the Grisons understood from Vergerio what the Pope was driving at that is by his means to recover his Authority over them he was recalled The Spaniards who Quartered here and there in the Country of Wirtemburg were about this time called out by the Emperour and sent into Italy because of the War of Parma By their departure the whole Province was relieved from a very heavy Bondage under which it had groaned for almost five whole years only the Castle of Achsperg the Emperour still retained with a Garison of Germans in it About the same time also Henry Hasen at the Emperour's Command went over Schwabia and in all places changed the State of the Government putting in new Senators as had been done three years before at Ausburg He turned out also all Preachers and School-masters as had been done lately at Ausburg unless they would obey the Decree about Religion That Duke Maurice and the Duke of Wirtemberg had ordered the Heads of Doctrine to be drawn up which should afterwards be exhibited and that the Senate of Strasburg joyned with them also in that design it hath been said before The Duke of Wirtemburg therefore sent two Ambassadors John Theodorick Plenninger and John Heclin with Instructions publickly to produce that written Confession of Doctrine and to acquaint the Council That Divines would come to treat of it more at large and to defend the same provided they might have a safe Conduct granted them according to the form of that of Basil So soon as they arrived at Trent which was about the later end of October they waited upon Count Montfort shew him their Commission and Credential Letters and acquainted him that they had some things to pâ—opose in Council in their Princes Name His Discourse seemed to insinuate that it behoved them to apply themselves to the Pope's Legate But they perceiving that if they should have any Communication with him it would be construed as if they owned him to have the chief Right and Authority in judging which would be a prejudice and great disadvantage to their Cause did not go to him but gave their Prince an account of what they had done and expected new Orders from him how to behave themselves In the mean time the Divines were employed after their usual manner in examining and discussing the Points we mentioned of Penance and Extream Unction November the third Count Heideck came from Duke Maurice to Magdeburg and having called out the Officers of the Garison to a Castle hard by the City he fully concluded a Peace and thereupon drew up and signed Articles wherein
the League and to demand of them Ammunition Provisions and a great summ of Money but after a long Treaty when all the other Conditions being set aside they had paid down an hundred Thousand Florins they promised them Peace both in their own Names and in the Names of all their Associates and thereupon gave them an instrument under Hand and Seal in most ample form Being therefore now attacked by Marquess Albert they send their Complaints to them and because Duke Maurice was not as yet come back from Lintz on the third of May the Landgrave's Son wrote back to them from Gundelfingen bidding them be in good Hopes but five days after when Duke Maurice was come back they both wrote promising to observe the Treaty and disapproving the action of Marquess Albert as quite contrary to their Expectation and they assure them besides that they will endeavour to have all restored that hath been taken from them and that they will instantly recall the Forces which they lent him The Norimbergers having received Marquess Albert's Letter wrote him an Answer the same Day shewing him what Duke Maurice and the Princes had promised them by Treaty and telling him that that was the reason why they had not sent Deputies to him Wherefore they earnestly pray and beseech him to restore to them the Castle in good condition and thereby gratify his Confederates He again wrote back three days after that since it was unknown to him what Transaction the Princes had made with them and that the case much concerned the French King to whom he was no less engaged than to them he demands a safe Conduct for a person of Credit whom he would send into the Town to whom they should shew the instrument of their Treaty they comply and produce the same Notwithstanding all this though Duke Maurice and the Confederate Princes carefully interposed on the eleventh of May he again sent them a threatning Note requiring them in the French King's Name chiefly to give him within a few Hours a positive Answer whether they would obey what was commanded them or not and having received an answer not to his liking he plundered burnt and razed to the Ground the Castle of Lichtenaw with the adjoyning Town and having exacted Money of the Towns-People and forced them to take an Oath to be true to him and his Cousin-German George Frederick he laid Siege to the City Wherefore the Landgrave's Son forthwith recalled two Troops of Horse which he had lent him against Wolfgang Master of the Teutonick Order commanding them to return back to him whereat he was mightily offended He therefore began a cruel War and having Plundered an Hundred Villages within their Territories about seventy Mannor and Farm-Houses belonging to the Citizens with the Churches he Burnt not only them but also three Thousand Acres of Wood in a vast Forrest of theirs which supplied both them and their Neighbours with Timber and Fuel He had before this declared War against the Nobility and others who lived thereabouts if they would not obey and especially against the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg whom also in this state of Affairs he forced to submit to very hard Conditions Insomuch that the Bishop of Bamberg to save himself and whole Province from imminent danger bought a Peace of him at a very dear rate for he was fain to make over to him twenty Towns and Lordships within his Dominion by Deed and Conveyance which he Signed the nineteenth day of May and therewith all his Superiorities and Vassalls But the Bishop of Wurtzburg paid him down two Hundred and twenty Thousand Florins and took upon him the Payment of his Debts which amounted to about three hundred and fifty Thousand Florins more The free Towns of Schuabia which as we said before assembled at Ausburg to the number of twenty six but especially those of Ausburg taking Pity on this sad and deplorable condition of the Norimbergers sent Deputies chosen out of their whole number to mediate an accommodation who being come upon safe Conduct to Norimberg exhorted the Senate to Peace for many Reasons telling them that Erenberg and the Passes of the Alpes were all in the Power of the Confederates and that the state of Italy and Hungary was such that no help nor relief was to be expected from any hand and then they shew them the Conditions proposed by Marquess Albert. The Senate gave them thanks for their Affection and the Pains they had put themselves to and having represented to them how that Marquess Albert had no cause to make War against them and how they had capitulated with Duke Maurice and the Confederates they plainly told them that since the Conditions were such as neither they could perform them nor if they did could justifie themselves to the Emperor and King Ferdinand for so doing they resolved to suffer the Extremity and commit their Cause to God being so well satisfied with their own Innocence that they could make not only the Emperor but all Princes nay the Relations and intimate Friends of Marquess Albert himself their Judges in the case When the Mediators had in as soft and fair words as they could given Marquess Albert the Senate's Answer and found him so far from relenting that he broke out into most outragious threats by Letters dated the fourth day of June they acquaint the Besieged that his Mind was implacable and that they could not by any means bring him to more reasonable terms In the mean time Marquess Albert batters the Town again more furiously than before throws Fire into several places and one Night gives the Assault burning at the same time one of the Suburbs for the greater terror At the same time came to the Camp George Thannenberg and William Schachten Ambassadors sent joyntly from Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son to treat of Peace These taking to them the assistance of the Deputies of the Cities who otherwise were about to depart as despairing of any Success after a tedious and laborious negotiation prevailed with both at length and clapt up a Peace for not only was Marquess Albert reinforced with fresh recruits that came to the Army under the Command of James Dalbeck and Christopher Oldenburg but Duke Maurice had written to the Senate also that though he was extreamly troubled at what Marquess Albert did yet he was not able to remedy it at present These were the conditions of Peace that they should pay two hundred Thousand Florins deliver six pieces of Ordnance with their Appurtenances and entertain amity with the Confederate Princes as they of Ausburg did on the other hand that he should restore all he had taken from them Wherefore about the twentieth of June the Siege was raised from before Norimberg one not only of the most famous powerful and Wealthy but also strongest Cities in Germany The Marquess puffed up with this so brave Success wrote from the Camp to those of
a Vindication of himself wherein he denied the matter charged upon him and thereupon the Author of this Calumny being discovered he was deservedly executed And I hope this here will have the same event and that God who is the just Avenger of such ill Practices will discover the Authors of this pernitious Invention In the mean time I offer up my Prayers to God That he would give them a better mind and disappoint their wicked Counsels that they may not prevail to the Destruction of our Country For seeing this slander is of the same nature with the former it may easily be concluded the Authors of this had the same Design with the former or rather that it was made by it that what was discover'd and prevented then may now have its effect Now the main design of this Calumniator is to create a belief that the Pope and the Emperour have resolved to rescind the Decree made for the Peace of Religion by a War and that the King of England and the Bishops of Germany are to lend their assistances to it Now I say this feigned and false Invention is designed for the exasperating the minds of Men that their Prejudices and Disaffections being increased a Civil War may be stirr'd up amongst us to overwhelm our Country with the Blood of its Inhabitants And although I do not doubt but the Emperour and the othe Princes who are injur'd by this Seditious and Infamous Libel will take care to defend themselves and to right their own Cause yet at the same time I believe it is a part of my own Duty to clear the Reputation of our Supreme Magistrate And I protest whil'st I was at Rome in my presence or to my knowledge there was not one word spoken concerning the Peace of Religion and therefore it is very falsly laid to the Pope's charge that his main design is to persuade the Emperour and other Kings to destroy that Decree by Force and Arms I say this is false and can never be proved and by consequence what is charged upon the Emperour is false too for seeing there has been no Treaty between them how can a War be agreed and the recovering the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Conquest of Germany be resolv'd on This Slander pretends That the Truce is made between the Emperour and the King of France to the intent that the Souldiers which are disbanded on both sides may be employ'd in in this War Now the causes of that Truce are sufficiently set forth in the printed Copies of the Treaty and the Souldiers which were thereupon disbanded are not entertain'd by any Prince except what Forces King Ferdinand has order'd to be levy'd and sent into Hungary against the Turk and some few which have been taken into Pay by the Bishops of Ausburg Norimburg Bamberg and Wurtsburg that they may not be taken altogether unprovided So that all this Invention as it relates to the Pope the Emperour and the Bishops is false in all its parts Now as to what concerns my self I have hitherto followed the Ancient True and Catholick Religion as becomes a German pursuing the footsteps of my Ancestors and continuing in the Communion of that Church in which I had my Education as I have already declared by a Letter I sent to the last Diet and by my Deputies which I sent thither and I intend by the blessing of God to continue in this Opinion nor will I do any thing which is contrary to Honesty and my Duty and yet after all I desire to live peaceably with all men And whereas I am said to have entred into a secret Treaty with the Pope the Emperour the King of England some Princes of the Empire and some private persons to stir up a War this is most false and that also which concerns the Elector Palotine and the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Marquess of Brandenburg is most false and can never be proved and those who spread such Reports of me by Word or Writing are Slanderers and the Enemies of our Country That which relates to the Elector Palatine stands thus The Office and Dignity I enjoy requires me to endeavour the preservation of the Rights of my Bishoprick and that I should preserve the People committed to my Charge in the Ancient and Catholick Religion being therefore inform'd that Otto Henry Elector Palatine endeavorued to gain over to his Religion some Towns that were in my Diocess and that he had placed Preachers in them I could not but take this ill and I had just cause given me to defend my self against him by a Suit at Law and thereupon I being absent my Councel by my Order commenced a Suit against him in the Chamber of Spire where it is still depending nor have I in any thing else so much as in Word hurt or injur'd his Honour so far have I been from designing any thing against his Countries and if it had lain in my power to have served him his Countries or People I would not have omitted it and for this I believe his People would be my Witnesses because they know I have kept my Faith to them and have assisted them sometimes when they were in great distresses To which I may add That I have ever had particular affection for the Palatine Family and I have ever been ready to do it all the good I could nor is that Disposition at all changed in me and I have the same kindness for Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who is a Good Wise Politick Prince and a great lover of Peace upon the account of these rare qualities I have had a great propension for him ever since I first knew him and have study'd to make this appear in my actions But then as to the driving Him or the Elector Palatine out of their Countries it never entred into my thoughts and if I had known of any Design which had tended to the damage of their Reputations or Estates I should certainly have been very much grieved and have done what was in my power to prevent it I have hitherto so behav'd my self at all times that I believe no man can find any thing in my actions which is contrary to my Profession and for the future I will ever carry my self so that I will raise a greater belief than I now have in the minds of men out of an hope that as I have given no just cause of offence to them so they at last will be prevail'd upon to remunerate me with an equal degree of kindness And as to the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg he himself knows how greatly I am concern'd for his misfortunes for what is it which I have not done and tried in order to restore the Peace of the Empire and to put a stop to that Quarrel In truth I took so much pains and care in that Affair that tho' I aim'd at the Publick Good by it yet at last I was suspected by some as one that favoured his Interest
her Heart she had a kindness for the Protestant Party and that underhand she and Navarre had one and the same design And thereupon he deserted her and joyned with the Guises his till then Mortal Enemies the Duchess de Valentois procuring the Reconciliation Magdalen of Savoy Wife to Montmorency was also an implacable enemy to the Reformation and hated Coligni the Admiral for that and other causes and therefore she perpetually stimulated him against the Protestants Francis Montmorency Son of the Constable was a person of great Prudence and he wisely advised his Father not to lose the least of his friends in so necessary a time for he foresaw a Tempest would arise in France of what Religion soever they were that it did not become a wise Man to endeavour to gain new friends with the loss of his old ones and to prefer the uncertain friendship of reconciled enemies before the tried affections of his old Acquaintances That if he rejected Conde Coligni and Rochefoucault on the Account of Religion he would deprive his Family of the assistance of three great Men and perhaps the Queen would think never the better of him therefore his advice to his Father was to sit still and let Coligni and the Guises fight it out without taking part on either side and in all probability Guise would be worsted and he would become the Arbitrator of the two contending Religions And in the mean time it was most certain there were many great Errors by length of time crept into the Church which he ought not to defend because they were injurious to the Majesty of God. The good old Gentleman was much moved at this Advice from his Son but made no other answer to it than That he certainly knew that if the Religion were changed the Civil Government would be changed too That he cared not what became of him if his little Masters did well and the Actions of Henry II. might not be called in question who was a wise Prince and his good Master So he perished in his first resolves believing he was obliged to defend the Cause of Religion against his best and most ancient and tried friends The Pope seeing his Jurisdiction and Authority decline so fast in Germany England and France greedily embraced a pretended Overture made by one Abraham a Syrian Impostor who pretended he was sent by the Cophthites an Eastern Sect of Christians to make a submission to the Holy See whereupon he sent Christopher Roderick and John Baptista Elianus two Jesuits to them who gained nothing by this Mission but an exact Account of the Opinions of these Cophthites and a certainty of the Frauds of this pretended Ambassador Abraham who had feign'd this Mission to the Pope for his own Ends. This Mortification was soon after attended by another not less afflictive to his Holiness for Gothard Ketler Master of the Teutonick Order in Libonia intirely submitted to Sigismond King of Poland which put an end to that Order when it had flourished there 357 years He was thereupon made Duke of Gurland and Semigallen and Governor of Livonia and Marrying a Wise withdrew himself and his Subjects from the See of Rome The Archbishoprick of Riga was also about the same time changed into a Dukedom John Kothewick the last Archbishop of that See embracing the Augustane Confession put himself under the Protection of the Crown of Poland and was by Sigismond made Duke of Lithuania This Archbishoprick was founded in the year 1215 by the procurement of the Knights of the Teutonick Order the City being then and a long time after the Seat of the Master of it who divided the Sovereignty and Administration of Justice with the Archbishop After this short Digression which the Reader is desired to Pardon I shall now return to the prosecution of the French Affairs The new Friendship between Montmorency and the Guises was a very frightful thing to the Queen Regent who sought all the way she could possible to divide their Affections for the preserving her own Authority and therefore she was very Anxioâ—sly inquisitive to find whether this new Kindness between two such Ancient Enemies tended The Prince of Conde in the mean time was declared Innocent by the Parliament of Paris the Thirteenth of June and his Discharge Recorded The Differences in Religion not only disquieted the Court but the Provinces also the two Parties reproaching each other with the Names Papist and Huguenot There were frequent Tumults raised also by the Roman Cabolicks to shew that Coligni was out when he said The Protestant Religion might be divulged throughout all the Provinces without any Disturbance And at Amiens and Pont-Oise things came to a Sedition the Catholick Artificers beginning the Quarrel and falling upon some of the Houses of some of the Protestants and they slew one Hadrian Fourre a Priest because he was reported to savour the Reformation and afterwards burnt his Body publickly for which only two were hanged This necessitated the Council to forbid all Reviling Expressions and all Tumults on the Accounts of Religion And by it all that had been banished for Religion in the Reign of Francis II. were invited to return and promised they should enjoy their Goods and Estates if they would live like good Catholicks for the future or otherwise might sell them and retire elsewhere which was after opposed by the Parliament at Paris but yet many returned on that account and many that were in Prison were discharged so that the Protestant Party appeared numerous The Cardinal of Lorrain was Alarm'd at this and represented to the King and Queen That the whole Kingdom was fill'd with Conventicles That the meaner sort ran to the Sermons out of curiosity and were easily corrupted That the Ancient Ceremonies were little frequented or regarded and that they were already derided and scorn'd by many That great numbers every day forsook the Church and went over to the Protestants So he would needs have had a new Edict forthwith published to prevent these Inconveniences This being Debated in the Council in the Month of July there was another Edict published That all should live peaceably and without any furry each to other or reproaching one the other That there be no Listing or Inrolling Men on either side That the Preachers should use no Seditious or Turbulent Expressions upon pain of Death and the Presidents of the Provâ—ces should determine of these Affairs and execute the Ediâ—t That no Sermons should be frequented by Men Armed or Unarmed in publick or in private nor any Sacraments Administred but according to the Rites of the Church of Rome And That if any Man was Convicted of Heresie and delivered to the Secular Power he should only be Banished and this was to stand till a General or a National Council should determine otherwise This was called the Edict of July The Cardinal of Lorrain had so good an opinion of his own Abilities that he was