' Arche and Caudebec Diepe Caen and Bayeux Man 's taken by them The Triumvirate desire no liberty should be granted to the Protestants The Triumvirate draw out of Paris The Prince of Conde maintain great Order in his Army at first A second Treaty between the Queen and Conde Boigency sack'd Bâ—ois Tours Anger 's taken by the Protestants Tours retaken by the Roman Catholicks Mans deserted by the Protestants Amiens Senlis Normandy The Roman Catholicks retake Poictiers and Bourges The Siege of Roan resolved on The Terms of the Protestants League with England The King of Navar shot at the Siege of Roan He dyes 〈◊〉 surrender'd to the King. And also Caen. Diep retaken by the Protestants The Protestants beaten in Guienne Andelot hardly obtains Succours in Germany The Prince of Conde takes the Field Pluviers taken by the Prince of Conde Corbeil besieged by the Prince of Conde The two Armies come in view of each other A Treaty with the Queen and the Terms proposed by the Prince of Conde The Prince marcheth towards Normandy to meet the English Succours * Ablium The King's Army overtake the Prince The Battel of Dreux Montmorancy taken Prisoner St. Andre by the advice of the Duke of 〈◊〉 turn the Fortune of the day and gains the Victory on the King 's â—â—de The Prince of Conde taken 〈…〉 slain 〈◊〉 Coligni The Duke of 〈◊〉 force 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Coligni would have â—ought the next day Coligni General of the Protestants 1563. The Pope fondly overjoyed with the Victory at Dreux The Prince of Conde carried to Blois The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise wounded by one Poltrot The Death and Character of the Duke of Guise The Queen earnestly desires a Peace The Treaty of Peace between the Prince of Conde and Montmorancy The Articles agreed on Coligni not pleased with the Peace The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent * Proponentibus Legatis The Prohibition of Books taken into consideration A debate whether Episcopacy and Residence are of Divine Right The French Ambassadors Arrival The Demands of the French Ambassadors in the Council The French Kings Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The Cardinal of Lorrain and the French Clergy arrive at Trent The Pope allarm'd at it as if so many Enemies had invaded him The Popes fears of the French Bishops never to be stopp'd Maximilian Son of Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans Polano in his History of the Council of Trent saith the Election was made the 24 th of November So that the first date seems to be the day of the opening of the Diet. The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Ambassador of Spain received in the Council The Fathers at Trent much dissatisfied with the Peace made in France The French Court shew their Reasons for it The Pope's Bull to the Inquisitors Several French Cardinals and Bishops cited to Rome And the Queen of Navarr also The French King declares against these Proceedings against the Queen of Navarr The Deposing of Princes and disposing of their Dominions the cause of great Calamities The Bishops defended by the King also The Queen complains of the Proceedings of the Council The Pope gained the Cardinal of Lorrain to his side Who went to Rome The Council has no Authority over Princes * Pag 721 The Ambassadors of France put a severer Protestation into the Council The Emperor opposeth the intended Proceedings of the Council against Queen Elizabeth The French Ambassadors leave Trent and go to Venice The last Session of the Council of Trent The censure of the Council The Emperor goes from Inspruck before the Council was ended His sense of the Council The Reasons why the Council had no better success The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy And the Cup to the Laity The French Affairs after the Peace till the end of the Council The Siege of Havre de Grace The Protestants fight against the English Havre de Grace surrendred to the French. A Plague in London Charles the Ninth declared out of His Minority by the Parliament of Roan The Scotch Affairs in 1562. And 1563. John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews committed for hearing Mass John Knox call'd before the Council for Sedition His bold Answer
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
a document to us how careful we ought to be not to invade the Provinces of others That therefore he should take heed lest at the perswasion of those who had always in their mouths the Reformation of the Church he should rashly put his hand to those things which peculiarly belonged to the Priests The like and more grievous also was the end of Dathan Abirom and Core when they disputed the Authority of Moses and his Brother Aaron That Ozias was a renowned King and yet God struck him with Leprosie because he would offer Incense at the Altar thereby avenging upon him the usurpation of another mans Office. That the care of the Churches was indeed an Office most acceptable to God however that it did not belong to him but to the Priests and chiefly to himself to whom God had given the power of binding and loosing Nor was it pertinent what he said that these Laws were not perpetual but temporary and only to continue till the meeting of a Council For though the design might be pious yet by reason of the person it became impious That it was God's part to call bad Priests to an account to whom men ought to refer them and not to attempt any thing besides That God had signally crowned those Princes with honour and blessings who assisted the Head of the Church the See of Rome and who rendered that love and duty which is due to the Priesthood as may be seen in Constantine the Great the Theodosius's Charlemaigne c. but that such as did otherwise were afflicted with most grievous punishments nor did he mean Nero Domitian and others of that stamp who endeavoured to stifle the Church in its infancy but such as withstood her when she was grown up and the Chair of St. Peter setled In which number were Anastasius the first Mauritius Constans the second Philip Leo and many more who being turn'd out and stript of all ended their days in ignominy and disgrace That Henry the Fourth because he had behaved himself unworthily towards him whom he ought to have reverenced as a Father was by his own Son taken and made to suffer for it at Liege That Frederick the Second a grievous Enemy of the Church of Rome was killed by his own Son. That nevertheless Rebels were not always afflicted and punished but did sometimes flourish in wealth and prosperity which came to pass as the Fathers say lest that if all wicked men were punished here it might be thought that God reserved to himself no Tribunal hereafter That there was no sin indeed that went unpunished but that it was the most grievous effect of the wrath of God when they that sin think they may do it freely and that these were in a deplorable and truly wretched condition because they went on continually heaping sin upon sin That in the same manner not only single men but even Countries and Provinces have been punished which either rejected Christ or refused to obey his Vicar That two people especially the Jews to wit and the Greeks confirm'd this clearly to us by their calamities and sufferings of whom the former put to death the Son of God and the latter more than one way slighted his Vicegerent That therefore if God manifested his wrath against them for crimes and attempts of that nature he had much more reason to be afraid if he should design any such thing seeing he sprung from those Emperours who had received as much honour from the Church of Rome as they had conferred upon her That his words however were not so to be taken as if he thought any such thing was intended by him or that he did not most earnestly desire the Controversie might be made up but only that he was concerned and sollicitous for his danger That some Priests of old having referred to Constantine the Great the decision of their Law-suits and Causes he had rejected it and would not undertake to judge those who had power to judge all men that these were the footsteps he should follow That in wishing to see an end made of all Controversies and a Reformation in the Church he did what was extreamly laudable that as to that he prayed him to lend him his assistance to whom God had committed the care and administration of those affairs That he might indeed make himself an Assistant but not the Head and chief Administrator That he was most desirous of a publick Reformation as he had made it oftener than once appear by calling Councils whensoever there was the least glimpse of hope that they could meet and that though hitherto all that he had done that way was in vain yet still he had omitted nothing on his part for effecting the same That he wished to see a Council for the sake of the publick but chiefly of Germany which was rent and torn with various Jars and Divisions but that it grieved him that he should use the counsels of those who had been long ago condemned even by his own Sentence nor did he therefore grieve because he would have them for ever barred from his friendship but because they became more rash and insolent by that Indulgence of his That since there was no way of curing the Evil but one to wit a Council therefore they must betake themselves to that That then he should make way to the calling of it and restore the so-much-desired Peace to the People of Christ or at least restrain all Hostilities in the mean time until the publick safety should be consulted about since Consultation and Debate was to be used rather than Force and Arms which being laid aside all things would succeed as they ought That there was a Council already called a good while ago though because of the Wars it had been put off till a more convenient time That he would use his endeavours with other Princes especially with him with whom he was in War that they should do the like That he should therefore comply with his Admonitions and as he held the place of his first-begotten Son embrace the sound counsels of his Father tred in the foot-steps of his Ancestors not deviating from the right way nor assuming to himself any right or authority in the management and handling of sacred matters that he should exclude all disputations about Religion from the Diets and Assemblies of the Empire and refer them to his Tribunal Nor should he neither meddle with the Revenues of the Church but lay down Arms and bring matters to a peace and accommodation or if there were no other way of obtaining peace that he should submit the whole Controversie and cause of the War to the arbitrement and decision of the Council Lastly that he should wholly rescind and annul what with too much lenity and easiness he had granted to those Rebels and Enemies of the See of Rome for that otherwise he must unless he would be wanting to his own duty be forced to the great detriment of the Church
of Rome and Council he excused his Master's absence offered them his Labour and Services in his Name and withal told them that the distance of Place and difficulty of the Journey was the cause why the Bishops whom the Emperour had ordered to come from Spain were not yet arrived This was done during the Diet of Wormes mentioned above The Cardinals Legates return him answer That though they never questioned the Emperour's Piety yet his Speech had been very acceptable to them and that since the Pope the true Vicar of Christ and Successor of Peter the Prince of the Apostles had with the advice of the Emperour called that Council for curing the publick Evils and especially those of Germany they hoped that the Emperour would take care that nothing should be determined concerning Religion at Wormes but that all things be referred to the Council for that that was a Matter that highly concerned both the peace of his Conscience and his Reputation But that if it should happen otherwise not only the ancient Custom of the Church but the Law of God and Man also would be violated a pernicious Precedent introduced and the Dignity of the Council utterly vilified that as for himself his person and presence was very acceptable unto them However since most part of the Members were late in coming there was nothing done that Year unless that in the Advent which is the time immediately preceding the Birth of Christ some Monks preached to the Fathers according to the usual custome The Pope also in his Bull of Indulgences emitted the Thirteenth of December bewails the Misery of the Times which he affirms to be so great by reason of over-spreading Heresies that all the pains labour and care that possibly he can and does take does not all satisfie himself that therefore he had called a Council that the Wounds of the Church which wicked Hereticks had made might be healed that now seeing the salvation of all men depends upon it and then that the Fathers of the Council assisted by other mens Prayers may be the more acceptable to God He exhorts all and every one that forthwith they betake themselves to Repentance confess their Sins to a Priest three days a Week subdue the Flesh by fasting and the same days be present at Divine Service or if their Health do not allow it that they bestow something on the Poor That the poorer sort say often over their Pater noster and then receive the Sacrament To those that obey he grants Free Pardon and Remission of Sins and commands all Bishops to declare the same to the People The seventh of January after when the number of the Bishops was encreased the Council commenced And when they were all met in the chief Church after Mass the Cardinal-Legates whom we named read a Speech to the Fathers telling them that for three causes the Council was called That Heresies might be rooted out the Discipline of the Church restored and Peace resetled That the blame of the present Calamities ought to be imputed to the Clergy for that no Man did his Duty nor minded God's Husbandry as he ought and that therefore Heresies were sprung up like Briers and that though they themselves had raised no Heresie yet because they had not laboured the Land sowed the good Seed and rooted out the growing Tares they were in the same fault that they should look about them and every one examine his own Conscience whether or not he had done his Duty that certainly all the blame lay at their doors that the Discipline of the Church was neglected That a third Evil was War and that this was a punishment inflicted by God for the neglect of Religion and Discipline that the Church was now afflicted not onely with Turkish and Foreign Arms but also with Domestick and Civil whilest either Kings themselves were at War or they who had made defection from their own Pastors confounded all Order and made havock of the Goods of the Church That they themselves had given occasion to all these Evils when through Avarice and Ambition they had introduced into the World most pernicious Principles of living That therefore God's Judgment was just in smiting them so at this time and that yet the punishment was far less than what they had deserved that happy were they indeed who suffered for Righteousness-sake but that they could pretend to no such thing who deserved a far more heavy Judgment That all and every one then should confess their Faults and study to appease the Wrath of God for that unless they acknowledge them there was no hopes of amendment and then it was in vain to hold a Council and in vain also to implore the Grace and Assistance of the Holy Ghost That it was truly a great Blessing of God that he had given occasion of beginning a Council whereby as Jerusalem of old after a long Captivity so the Church after a long and violent Storm being brought into a safe Harbour might be repaired That Esdras Nehemiah and the rest of the leaders when they were returned home seriously admonished the People of Israel that confessing their own and the sins of their Forefathers they should implore the Mercy of God that the same Example was to be imitated by them that there were men in those days who hindred and laughed at the Jews who were repairing Jerusalem that in this Age also there would not be wanting those that would endeavour and do the same thing and that because they bore the Office of Judges they must have a care not to be swayed by Passions and Affections but to lay aside all hatred and friendship not to determine any thing for the love or favour of man nor flatter the ears or desires of any but to ascribe all Glory and Honour to God alone for that all Ranks and Orders of Men had strayed from the way nor was there any that did good no not one That the eyes of God himself and his Angels were upon this Assembly and that the thoughts of no man's heart could be hid from them That they should then act with sincerity and that those Bishops who were sent by Kings and Princes should indeed obey their Instructions but have in the first place the Fear of God before them and not be biassed either by love or hatred for that since it was for the sake of Peace they were met all Faction and Contention should be banished After this Oration was made the Decree of the Session was next read by John Fonseca a Spaniard Bishop of Castrimarino Therein all that profess the Christian Religion are admonished to reform their Lives to fear God often confess their Sins frequent the Churches and pray for the Publick Peace That Bishops and all other Priests be diligent at their Prayers and every Lord's Day at least say Mass and pray for the Pope the Emperour and the whole State of Christendome that they also fast and
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
afterwards at Vicenza but thither hardly any and hither but a few came And the Legats that I sent for six months stayed expecting the rest of the Bishops whom I called by Letters and Messengers sent unto all Parts Now you say that these Towns were not fit for Men of different Nations to meet in but Trent with you is a proper place And yet all Men know that Trent is not to be compared with them either for bigness or plenty of all things It was not the inconvenience of the place then but the Wars of Princes that was the hindrance Tell me then now which of the two was most zealous in this particular the Emperour who by Wars and Commotions hindered the Council or the Pope who was always a Lover and Promoter of Peace who never sided with any Prince but the Emperour alone and that too only in that War which seemed to secure a way for a Council Whether the Emperour was forced upon War and unwillingly engaged in it or not I shall not dispute but it is certainly known that the Wars put a stop to the progress of the Council I enter not willingly unto this Comparison because it is a contending for the praise of Virtue and Goodness which is all to be ascribed unto God but you have put me upon it my Lord Ambassadour However I will not insist any longer only advise you to reflect seriously on the several years of my Pontificate and attentively consider what care and pains we have taken And indeed the two things which I always proposed to my self were that I might entertain peace amongst Princes and call a Council wherein I have spared neither cost nor labour though I be stricken in years but neither do you find fault with any thing that preceded the Council and only accuse the Legats that without my knowledge they removed to Bolonia Then it offends you too that I call the Assembly of the Fathers at Bolonia a Council and you think that therein I do an injury to those who are at Trent but what hurt is there in that for so all Men speak The Council is translated from Trent to Bolonia Wherefore if I would do the duty of a just Judge I cannot but call it so till I be otherwise convinced by contrary Evidences especially since the greater part of the Bishops went thither with my Legats Nor ought the smaller part as you affirm but the greater to be reckoned the sounder in a dubious case And it is certain that it is in the Councils power to remove to another place but whether or not it be lawfully removed which is the thing in controversie I reserve that to my own Judgment to which it is referred and in the mean time give the name of Council to that Assembly But you say that the Authors of the Translation are devoted to me Do you think that is to be found fault with then You consequently praise those who remained at Trent because they are not so complaisant Consider what danger there is in that for Schisms and Dissentions that are very pernicious to the Church commonly spring from this when Bishops withdraw themselves from their obedience to the Pope But if by being addicted to me you mean Factious Men that right or wrong take my part I own no such For I have no other private Concerns but those of a Father towards his Children and of a Pastor towards his Flock nor hath there any such Controversie been as yet started in the Council that I should stand in need of any such addicted and pre-engaged Creatures but I chiefly required of the Bishops that they have regard to the liberty of their Conscience and I laid strict Injunctions on my Legats when they departed from me to the Council that they should take special care that the Fathers might have no cause to complain that they were not allowed the freedom of speaking their Judgments You find fault also that I will not be prevailed with by the Intreaties neither of the Emperour King Ferdinand nor of the States of the Empire to recal the Fathers to Trent and from thence gather that I take no care of Germany especially seeing with great pains and trouble the Emperour has brought it about that those who heretofore were fallen off from the Church would not now refuse the Decrees of the Council provided it were continued at Trent Truly I never refused in positive terms but that they might return to Trent if it might be done lawfully and without giving offence to other Nations Now how desirous I am of the welfare of Germany is manifest from this that I have called the Council there twice already and twice sent my Legats where the Cardinals Pairizio Morono and Pool in the first Legation stayed the space of seven Months expecting the coming particularly of the Germans and yet you your self know that none came then There came indeed from the Emperour Granvell the Bishop of Arras and you your self my Lord Ambassador and you can bear witness with how much patience our Legats expected the rest But what was the issue Ye your selves did not tarry and though my Legats prayed that one of you three at least might stay because it would be an example to others nevertheless you alledged a certain kind of excuse and a few days after departed Then two years after being indeed a more convenient time there was a second meeting there and I sent Legats the Cardinals de Monte Santacruce and Pool whither you also and Don Francesco de Toledo came But you may call to mind what a tedious expectation there was and how many Months spent in vain before any thing was done Nay more after that they had fallen to Business and many useful Decrees were made you know how few of those came who chiefly wanted that Remedy Not any of the Bishops came some few sent their Proxy's and in short they gave no hopeful signs that they would admit of any Remedy For when many flocked thither out of Spain France Italy and more remote Provinces scarcely one came from Germany which is the next of all But the state of Affairs is now much altered you say and the Emperour whose Power and Authority is now much increased will engage that if the Council return to Trent all the Germans shall submit to its Decrees Good my Lord Ambassadour if what you say be true and if the Germans be in that mind why do not they absolutely submit to the Council wherever it be Yet I would not be so understood neither as if it much concerned me in what place the Council be held But you stick so close to Trent that you say Germany is lost unless it be finished in the same place where it was begun But take heed what you say For whil'st you fasten us to the Walls of one City you do an injury to the Holy Ghost God of old set apart Jerusalem as the peculiar place of his Worship so
them 313. Writes an Answer to the Letter of the Princes 320. Writes a sharp Letter to the Emperor to chide him for the Decree of Spires 337. Creates several Cardinals 340. Summons the Council once more to Trent Ibid. Endeavours to raise a War against the Lutherans 348. Sends his Legates to Trent 360. Writes to the Swisse Bishops to come to the Council of Trent 374. Excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of Cologne Ibid. Writes to the Switzers to perswade them to joyn against the Protestants 382. He publishes a Bull declaring the causes of the War against the Protestants 388. Makes the Count Schawenbourg Arch-Bishop of Cologne 417. His answer to the Cardinal of Trent and Mendoza 444. His Letter to his Legate at Bononia Ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassador 445. And Letter to the German Bishops ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassadors to justifie the removal of the Council to Bononia 450. His animadversions upon the Interim 459. Sends Legates into Germany 473. Who bring an Indulgence or Indult of several things 482. He dies 487. Libels come out against him with accounts of his horrid Lusts 488. His Funeral ibid. He instituted the order of the Jesuits 615. Paul IV. Caraffa chosen Pope 615. Pelargus Ambrose Reflects insolently upon the Protestants in the Council of Trent 541. De Pensier à Lutheran Divine recants at Paris 309. Pescara vide d' Avalos Peter Pence what 170. Petro Aloisio P. Paul III's Bastard D. of Parma and Piacenza 438. Is Assassinated at Piacenza 439. His flagitious life Ibid. Phefecorn John a Convert Jew 29. His Petition to Maximilian Ibid. Writes against Reuchlin 30. Phifer a Companion of Muncer's 84. Philip Landgrave of Hesse his Speech to his Soldiers against Muncer 85. His discourse with Muncer 86. Arms for fear of a Confederacy against the Reformed Religion 114. Departs privately from the Diet at Augsbourg 131. Makes a League for six years with the Reformed Switzers 141. Answers the Arbitrators 154. Endeavours to restore Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg 169. And brings it about 173. Writes to acquaint the Emperor with his Proceedings for Duke Ulric 174. Makes his submission to Ferdinand about Ulric's business 179. Commands his Divines to answer the Anabaptistis Books 198. He sends an answer to their mad Proposals Ibid. Goes to the Convention at Eysenach 244. Intercepts the D. of Brunswick's Letter 246. He Writes in his own Vindication to the German Princes 247. Excuses the D. of Wirtemberg to K. Francis by Letter 249. He answers the Emperors Letter about a Pacification 263. Joyns with the Elector of Saxony against the D. of Brunswick 298. Opposes the Duke of Brunswick 353. Submits to an accommodation Ibid. Receives the D. of Brunswick upon surrender 354. Writes to the Emperor concerning him Ibid. Writes again 355. Answers the Emperors Letter Ibid. Writes to Granvel about the War intended against the Protestants 356. Writes to Naves about the same business 358. Goes to Spire to Meet the Emperor 368. Treats with him Ibid. And with Granvel and Naves 370. And with the Emperor again 373. Is courteously dismissed Ibid. Sends notice to Ratisbon of the Emperors Preparations 376. He arms against the Emperor 384. His Forces 388. He sends his Son William to Strasbourg ibid. Refuses to Confer with the Duke of Brunswick ibid. His Men skirmish with the Spaniards 395. His bold advice to set upon the Emperor 397. Comes near the Imperialists with his Army 404. A Skirmish between him and the Prince of Sulmona 407. His Letter to the Mauricians ibid. And to Maurice 408. Is in danger upon the Retreat of the Army 412. Writes to Maurice his Son-in-Law ib. He rejects the Emperor's Proposals 423. He justifies himself from the Reproaches about Surprizing Francfort 426. Is invited to come to Leipzick 429. Articles of Peace are proposed to him 430. Which he accepts 431. Goes to Hall to the Emperor 432. Signs the Articles and submits to the same in Person ibid. Is detained Prisoner 433. Letters are spread abroad in his Name as if he allowed of the Interim 463. Is carried Prisoner into Flanders 473. And sent to Oudenard 474. His Subjects refuse the Interim 477. New Intercessions for him in vain 479. The Ministers in his Country refuse the Pope's Indult 483. He attempts an escape 504. Not succeeding is kept close Prisoner 505. He relieves the Oppressed Ministers Liberally 517. He is set at liberty and stopt again 573. He returns into his own Country 574. He accepts a Mediation in the Difference with the Count of Nassaw about Catzenelbogen 617. Which still keeps in Suspence 620. Has a Meeting with Augustus Elector of Saxony 633. Philip Prince Palatine Governor of Vienna when Solyman besieged it 121. Forces him to raise his Siege Ibid. Philip Son to Charles V. comes through the Netherlands into Italy 477. Is received at Genoa Ibid. And at Milan 478. Goes into Germany Ibid. Enters Brussels 479. Homage is done to him in the Law Countries 485. He marries Queen Mary in England 604. He has Naples and the Kingdom of Jerusalem Ibid. With the Dutchy of Milan resigned to him 605. Goes into Flanders to meet his Father 618. He enters upon the Government of the Netherlands Ibid. Sends Ambassadors into Germany to acquaint them with his New Government 628. Phlugius Julius vide Gropper Chosen by the Chapter of Naumbourg to be their Bishop 288. Is admitted one of the Presidents of the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Assists in drawing up the Interim 454. Phlugius Caspar heads the Bohemian Confederates 423. Is condemned of High Treason 434. Picards a Sect of the Bohemians 53. Picus vide Mirandula Pisa Council there 26. Called by Cardinals Ibid. Reasons of so doing Ibid. Suspends P. Julius 27. Remove to Milan Ibid. P. Pius's Decree concerning appeals 35. He altered his Opinion from what it was at the Council of Basil 36. Excommunicates Sigismund ibid. Poiet William Chancellor of France disgraced 299. Pool Reginald Cardinal sent Nuncio from the Pope to the French King 210. Writes a Book called a Defence of Ecclesiastical Unity ibid. Made Cardinal by P. Paul III. 211. Loses the Popedom on suspicion of Lutheranism 490. Is detained in Germany by the Emperor 594. Returns into England 605. Reconciles the Nation to the See of Rome 606. Writes to the Emperor and King of France to mediate a Peace 615. Popes anciently subject to Emperors 38. Pragmatick Sanction vide Paris Priests the Ceremony of their Degradation 64. Prierias Sylvester writes against Luther 3. He assert◠the Pope to be absolute head of the Church ibid. Replies to Luther 4. Princes of the Empire disagree about the Emperor's Letter against Luther 44. Complain of the Pope's Proceedings in the Affairs of Germany 60. Return an Answer to Adrian's Letter to the Diet ibid. Draw up an account of the Grievances of Germany which they gave to the Pope's Legate 63. Their answer to Campegio's Speech at Nuremberg 68. They write to Charles V. to make haste into Germany 108. They
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law His League with the French King. Duke Maurice's Declaration to the States of the Empire The Declaration of Albert of Brandenburg against the Emperor The French King's Declaration against the Emperor Germany the Bulwark of Christendom The badge of Liberty The French King calls himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes The out-lawed Men who served the King of France Duke Maurice taketh the Field Albert of Brandenburg joyns Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son. Ausburg surrendred to the Princes The Cities are summoned to come to Ausburg The Prince of Salerno revolts from the Emperor The French King takes Toul Verdun and Metz. Lenencour Bishop of Metz. The French King takes an Oath of Allegiance of the Senate and People of Metz. The Princes go to Ulm and besiege it The German and French Hostages are set at Liberty Albert of Brandenburg wastes the Country about Ulm. Conditions of Peace propounded by Duke Maurice to King Ferdinand King Ferdinand's Demands Duke Maurice his Answer Otho Henry Prince Palatine recovers his own Province The Emperor raises Soldiers The Judges of the Imperial Chamber fly from Spire The French King's demands from the Strasburgers The answer of the Senate of Strasburg The Constable chides the Strasburgers They address themselves to the King. The King's Speech to the Deputies Strasburg provides a Garrison against the French. The demands of some Princes made to the French King. Duke Maurice's Letters to the French King. The French King's answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes The reasons of the French King 's leaving Germany The French King's Answer
At that time James Hogostrate a Dominican wrote bitterly also against Luther exhorting the Pope to prosecute him with Fire and Faggot Luther gave him a short Answer upbraided him with Cruelty and Blood-thirstiness and sharply plaid upon the Ignorance of the Man advising him to go on in his Course for that to be Censured by Unlearned and Vitious Men was a ready Way to attain to Honour and Reputation However he said He hoped for better things at the Hands of Pope Leo. Whilst these things were in a Scholastick manner managed and debated by Writing on both Sides the Emperour Maximilian held a Diet at Ausburg whither Pope Leo â— sent his Legat Cardinal Thomas Cajetane All the seven Princes who because of their Right of Chusing the Emperour are called Electors were present at this Diet to consult about a Turkish War for Sâ—lym the Emperour of the Turks having lately subdued the Sultan of Egypt had reduced Syria and Egypt under his Obedience and Cardinal Cajetane having made an Hortatory Speech and in the Pope's Name offered the Treasures of the Church implored Aid of the Emperour Maximilian as being the Protector and Defender of the Church At this Time Pope Leo X made Albert Archbishop of Mentz a Cardinal and ordered him to be installed at this Diet by Cajetane with the usual Rites and Ceremonies The Emperour afterwards waited upon the new Cardinal from the Church home to his House and sent him Presents a Royal Litter with Horses Carpets and a great deal of very Rich Furniture But the Pope made him a Present of a Cap embroidered with Gold Pearls and precious Stones and of a Sword with a gilt Scabbard For generally all the Bishops of Germany have a Civil as well as Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Now it was thought That Leo conferred this Honour upon him That the Church of Rome might have a Champion in Germany conspicuous both for Nobility of Extraction and Dignity for though all Bishops are bound by an Oath to the Pope of Rome yet they who are called Cardinals are much more obliged unto him Besides he was not Ignorant how great a Stroak this Man had in the Affairs of the Empire as being by Ancient Custom the First of the Princes and as it were perpetual President of the Electoral Colledge Maximilian being informed of the Controversie raised by Luther in the Month of August wrote to Pope Leo That he had learned that Luther had vented many things in his Disputes and Sermons which for the most part seemed to be Heretical that he was the more grieved at it the more obstinately he maintained his Doctrin and had the more Approvers of his Errours and amongst those some also of great Quality That he exhorted his Holiness that by Virtue of the Chief Authority which he had he would cut off all Idle and Useless Questions and put a Stop to all Sophistry and Contention about Words for that they who gave their Minds that Way did a great deal of Mischief to Christianity since all their Scope was That what they themselves had learn'd should be approved and imbraced by all Men That care had been indeed taken in the former Age That able Preachers should be appointed to teach the People and avoid all Idle and Sophistical Nicities but that that Decree was by degrees brought into Contempt so that it ought not indeed to seem strange if they who should be the Guides of others themselves mistook the Way That it was long of these That the Writings of the Ancient Fathers and Interpreters of Holy Scripture had lain now long neglected and were become Faulty and Corrupted That it was also to be imputed to them That in these our Times many Controversies were broached in the Schools and amongst the rest that this dangerous Debaâ—â—â— about Indulgences was started That this indeed was a Matter of so great Moment as that it required a present Remedy to be applyed to the growing Evil before it should propagate its Contagion and spread further for that Delays were dangerous That for his part he was ready to approve whatever his Holiness should Determine and take care to have it received throughout all the Provinces of Germany We told you before of the Clashings and contrary Writings of Luther and Silvester Now since this Man having a publick Place in Rome eagerly pursued the Cause Pope Leo Cites Luther under a Penalty to appear at Rome and then August 23 wrote to Cardinal Cajetane his Legat in Germany to this purpose That whereas being informed That not only in Universities but also amongst the People and in Books published and dispersed over Germany Luther maintained some Impious Opinions contrary to the Doctrin of the Church of Rome the Mistriss of Faith and Religion He who out of a Paternal Care and Affection desired to put a Stop to his Rashness had commanded Jerome Bishop of Ascoli to whom the Matter properly belonged to Summon him to appear at Rome to answer the Accusations brought against him and give a Confession of his Faith. That the Bishop of Ascoli had indeed done as he was enjoyned but that he was so far from being thereby Reclaimed that obstinately persisting in his Heresie he had published Writings far more Dangerous to his great Grief and Trouble That he should therefore endeavour to have him brought to Ausburg by means of the Emperour and Princes of Germany whose Assistance he should crave herein and that being come he should put him in safe Custody that he might be sent afterwards to Rome But that if he repented of his own accord and begged Pardon for his Fault he might receive him into Favour and restore him to the Communion of the Church which never uses to exclude Penitents but if not that then he should Excommunicate him commanding all Men also to obey this Bull under the Penalty if they be Church-men of the loss of all the Church Livings they possessed and of being incapable of enjoying any for the future but if Lay-men and in Civil Office under the Pain of being declared Infamous degraded from all Honours deprived of Christian Burial and the Forfeiture of all Ecclesiastical Preferments which they held of him or of others also But to those who should perform faithful Service therein he orders either that Plenary Indulgences and Remission of Sins or else some Place and Reward should be given and to this Bull he subjects all Men the Emperour only excepted notwithstanding any Priviledge or Dispensation they might have to the contrary The same Day he wrote to Frederick Elector of Saxony who then was at Ausburg That among the other Ornaments of the House of Saxony it had been always peculiar to it to be most zealous for Religion that therefore it was not probable that any of that Family would so far degenerate from their Ancestors as to protect and defend a Man who entertained Erroneous Thoughts as to the Christian Religion That nevertheless to the great
Grief of his Heart he daily heard many and grievous Complaints of Luther a profligate Wretch who forgetting his own Order and Profession acted many things sawcily and with great Confidence against the Church of God bragging That being supported by the Favour and Protection of the Prince he stood in awe of the Authority of no Man That he made no doubt but that was falsey given out by him but that nevertheless he was willing to write these few things unto his Highness and to advise him That being always mindful of the Splendour and Dignity of himself and his Ancestors he would not only avoid giving any Offence but even all Suspicion of offending That he knew for a certain That Luther taught most impious and Heretical Doctrines which both he and the Master of his Palace had carefully observed and marked down That that was the Reason why he had both Cited him to Appear and also sent his Instructions to Cardinal Cajetane his Legat as to what further he would have done in the Matter and that seeing this was an Affair of Religion and that it properly belonged to the Church of Rome to enquire into the Faith and Belief of all Men he exhorted and charged his Highness That being thereunto required by his Legate he would use his best Endeavours to have Luther delivered up into his Hands which would be both acceptable Service to God and very Honourable to himself and Family that if upon Tryal he were found Innocent at Rome he should return Home Safe and Sound but that if he proved Guilty then would his Highness be Blameless in no longer protecting a Criminal and that he himself was so mercifully inclined as that neither he would oppress an Innocent Man nor deny a Penitent his Pardon And thus he left no Way unessayed that he might undo Luther The same Year also he wrote to Gabriel Venize the Provincial of the Augustine Fryers exhorting him That by the Authority of his Charge he would put a stop to Luther a Fryer of his Order who attempted Innovations and taught new Doctrins in Germany and solicitously ply him both by Letters and Learned Agents But that Expedition was to be used in the Matter for so it would not be difficult to quench the Flame newly broken out since things in their Infancy and Commencement could not resist Attempts that were any thing brisk but should it be deferred till the Evil had gathered Strength it was to be feared that the Conflagration might afterwards carry all before it for that it was a Contagion that spread more and more daily so that nothing seemed more to be feared than Delay That therefore he should set about the Affair with all Pains Diligence and Industry seeing he had Authority over him When Luther perceived that he was cited to appear at Rome he was very solicitous to have his Cause tryed before Competent and Unsuspected Judges in some Place of Germany secure from Violence But when that could not be obtained the University of Wittemberg sent a Letter to Pope Leo dated September 25 wherein they gave Luther an ample Testimony both of a Pious Life and Learning that seeing he was for some Positions proposed Cited to Rome and could not being a Sickly Man without endangering his Life make an Appearance they prayed his Holiness not to think otherwise of him than of an Honest Man that he had only for Disputation sake offered some things to be argued which were misinterpreted and highly exaggerated by his Adversaries that for their parts they would not suffer any thing to be asserted in Opposition to the Church and that at Luther's Request they could not but give him this Testimony which they earnestly entreated his Holiness to give Credit to With this Letter they sent another to Charles Miltitz a German and Bedchamber Man to Pope Leo Wherein they represent to him That Luther was undeservedly exposed to the Anger and Hatred of the Pope insomuch that being Cited to appear at Rome he could not as yet obtain That his Cause might be tryed somewhere in Germany That for their own Parts they were so zealous not only for Religion but also for the Holy Church of Rome That if Luther were guilty of any Impious Crime or Errour they would not bear with him But that he was a Man so Learned of so upright a Life and Conversation and had deserved so well of the whole University that as Affairs stood they could not but stand by him That Duke Frederick also so Religious and Prudent a Prince would not so long have suffered him to go unpunished if he had not thought him to be a good Man That therefore he would use his Interest and Familiarity he had with the Pope that Impartial Judges might he assigned him not at Rome but in Germany That they did not doubt but that he would act as became a Christian and Divine and make it appear that he did not Wantonly and without a Cause hunt after an Occasion of Contention That they begged this the more earnestly of him in that they had the greater Hopes that he who was himself a German would not in so just a Cause be wanting to a Country-Man who was born down by Calumnies and in danger of his Life Besides the Intercession of these Friends Frederick Prince Elector spoke also to Cardinal Cajetane at Ausburg and so far prevailed that Luther being excused from going to Rome should plead his Cause before the Emperour at Ausburg Being come thither in the Month of October it was three Days before he was admitted to the Speech of Cajetane for they to whom Duke Frederick who upon dissolution of the Diet was gone Home had recommended him forbad him to go to him before he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour Maximilian but that being at length granted he came and the Cardinal having civilly received him told him That he would not enter into any Dispute with him but end the Controversie amicably and at the same Time proposed to him two Commands in Name of the Pope First That he would repent what he had done and retract the Errours which he had published And next That for the Future he would abstain from such Writings as disturbed the Peace and Tranquility of the Church Luther makes Answer That he was not Conscious to himself of any Errour and desires That if he had erred it might be proved against him With that Cajetane objects That in his Theses he had affirmed That the Merits of our Saviour Christ were not the Treasure of Indulgences which Opinion was repugnant to the Decretal of Pope Clement VI. Again That it was necessary that they who come to receive the Sacrament should have a firm Belief that their Sins were forgiven them Luther replies That that was not so telling him withal That he had read the Pope's Decree and gave his Judgment of it but mention being made of S. Thomas he said The Authority of
his presence That generally all his Friends had advised him to appeal from him to the Pope That he would not indeed have done it of his own accord as not thinking it to be very necessary but that he could not but respect their Admonitions and the rather that he beleived Duke Frederick inclined more to have that Appeal made than that he should rashly and unadvisedly make any Retractation The Appeal was conceived in Words much to this effect That the Question about Indulgences which had been variously handled by many was never clearly determined and that about such dubious Questions it was lawful especially for Divines to dispute that he had also done so at that time when some Preachers not only Wrote and Taught rashly and unadvifedly but also used strange ways and Tricks to draw Money from the People and that he did it not as affirming any thing positively but only that he might discover the Truth that he had in like manner submitted the whole Debate to the Determination of the Learned and also of Pope Leo but that these Men had devised many Calumnies against him abused him grievously to the Pope and at length prevailed so far that the Cause was committed to the Bishop of Ascoli and Silvester Prierias that by them he had been cited to appear at Rome but that because both of them were suspected and one of them unfit to judge in such a Matter Again because no Man doubted of the unavoidable Danger he would have been exposed to if he had gone to Rome and that he had been commanded by his own Magistrate not to go Upon these Considerations and in such an Apprehension also which might affect the Stoutest and most resolute Man he had prayed Frederick Elector of Saxony That he would procure his Cause to be Tryed by some fit and competent Persons in a Place secure from Violence in Germany that so the Pope had referr'd the whole Matter to his Legate Cardinal Cajetane which doubtless was brought about by the Instigation of his Adversaries who knew the Mind and Intentions of the Cardinal And though the Legate himself might have justly been Suspected yet he had obeyed That the Cardinal had at first Meeting commanded him instantly to retract what he had written to which he then made Answer That he would give an account of what he had done either in a Personal Disputation or by Writing and refer the whole Matter not only to Universities but also to the Decision of the Church of Rome but that the Legate being wrought upon by none of these Things had still enjoyned him a Retractation and when he could not extort it had threatned severe Punishments both to him and others also that were of his Opinion That since then he found himself lyable to such unjust Prejudications he Appealed from the Pope not rightly informed in the Cause to the Pope to be better informed and that he publickly protested Now that Decretal of Pope Clement which hath been mentioned is extant in that Part of the Canon-Law which they call the Extravagants There Pope Clement reduces that Time they call the Jubilee from an hundred Years as it was appointed by Boniface VIII to fifty and speaking of the Blessing of our Saviour Christ affirms That one Drop of the Blood of Christ was sufficient for the Redemption of all Mankind but that seeing he shed so much Blood that there was no sound Part left in his Body nothing more Lamentable to be seen he had left all that was over and above as a vast Treasure for the use of the Church and commanded S. Peter who keeps the Keys of Heaven's Gates and after him his Successors to distribute that Treasure like good Stewards amongst Men who were truly Penitent and confessed their Sins pardoning the Temporal Punishment that was due unto them for their Trespasses Besides he says That the Merits of the Virgin Mary and all the Saints were put into the same Treasure so that there was an inexhaustible Stock for Indulgences This was the Decretal then upon which Cajetane grounded the Efficacy and Validity of Indulgences But Luther affirmed That there was nothing committed to S. Peter and his Successours but the Keys and Ministry of the Word whereby Christ impowers them to declare to Penitent Believers who trust in him the Remission of their Sins that that was the true and genuine Sense of the Scripture That if that was the Meaning of Pope Clement's Decretal he liked it but if not he could not approve the same That what moreover it said of the Merits of Saints was wholly repugnant to Scripture for that the best of Men were so far from doing more that they could not do what they ought and that we were not saved by their Merits but only by the Mercy of God since it ought to be our daily Prayer That God would pardon our Sins and Trespasses and not enter into Judgment with us lest we should be condemned As to what Cajetane alledged of the Pope's Power the Case is this It was decreed in the fourth and fifth Sessions of the Council of Constance That the Pope himself should be subject to the Decrees of a Council The same was also renewed and again Decreed in the third and eighteenth Sessions of the Council of Basil But Eugenius IV refusing to go to that of Basil though he had been often warned and cited to come declared it null and appointed another to meet at Ferrara whither also came John Paleologue the last Emperour of the Greeks save one with Joseph Patriarch of Constantinople and a great many Bishops and that was in the Year 1438. From Ferrara afterwards they all removed to Florence and there a Decree past with consent of the Greeks That the Church of Rome was the Chief of all Churches and the Pope of Rome the Successor of Peter the Prince of the Apostles the true Vicar of Christ the Head of the Universal Church the Father and Teacher of all Christians and that full Power was given to him from Christ of Feeding and Governing the Catholick Church This Decree Cajetane now insisted upon when he preferred the Pope before a Council Nay and six Years before also when he was not as yet Cardinal but only General of the Dominicans he made a Speech in the Second Session of the Council of Lateran of which more hereafter and having spoken many things against some Cardinals who had made a Separation he had a glance by the by at the Councils of Constance and Basil because the Fathers at that time had taken upon them Power and Authority over the Pope that therefore it was well done by Eugenius when he curbed that Faction and suffered not his Power to be diminished Pope Julius II in whose Favour this Speech was made commanded it afterwards to be entred amongst the Acts and Records of the Council though Cajetane obtained not the Cardinals Cap before the Pontificat of Pope Leo. Gerson whom
inconsiderable a Person as he was they ought at least to write to his Highness or to the Emperour or else to some Eminent Bishop of Germany and appoint a free Disputation to be held in some Place that hitherto they had denyed him all these things but that if they persevered therein it might easily be judged who were in the Fault he or they That since therefore they offered nothing but Severity and Cruelty he ought not to be moved at their Words for that it was far more easie for them to mark down what they thought to be Erroneous and to publish them for such through Germany than for him to be at vast Charges and endanger his Life in going to Rome to have his Errours examined and discussed there That after all as to what he boasted of That the Cause should be judicially tryed at Rome unless he either went thither or were banished the Country he did not refuse Banishment for that he very well knew no Place could be safe for him so long as he was pursued by the Malice and Treachery of his Adversaries that it would be also a great Grief and Trouble to him if any Man should be brought into Danger for his sake that therefore to prevent their Enterprizes he would leave the Country and go whither God pleased to call him At length he concludes with hearty Thanks to his Highness and prayes for his Welfare and Prosperity rejoycing in himself That God would think him worthy to suffer any thing for the Glory of the Name of Christ Afterwards the University of Wittemberg on the 21 November wrote to Duke Frederick That they had been informed by Luther of Cajetane's Letter what it was he demanded and what again Luther offered at Ausburg that therefore since Luther desired both that his Errour might be made appear to him and that he submitted to the Holy Church of Rome they prayed his Highness to endeavour that they might not take any Severe Course with him but convince him of his Errour by Arguments taken from Holy Scripture that he indeed had great Confidence in the Courteous and Gracious Disposition of Pope Leo but was much afraid lest his Flattering Adversaries might incense him and abuse the Name of the Church Though the Elector Frederick complied not with the Papists and took special Care that Luther should not suffer any Injury as may sufficiently appear from what hath been said yet to that very Day he had not read any of Luther's Writtings nor heard his Sermons as he himself professed in a Letter which at Ausburg he wrote to Cardinal Raphael Riario who upon account of Ancient Acquaintance had friendly admonished him not to undertake the Protection of Luther In the mean time during these Transactions Pope Leo being apprehensive of some defection in that State of Affairs on the eight of November published a Bull in confirmation of Indulgences affirming it to be the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistriss of all other Churches that the Pope the Successor of S. Peter and Vicar of Christ hath Power of granting that great Blessing which availeth not only the Living but the Dead also in Purgatory that that Doctrine was to be embraced by all if they would not be separated from the Communion of the Church This Bull he therefore sent to his Legate Cardinal Cajetane to be by him published He in obedience to the Command published it at Lintz a Town of Austria upon the Danube in presence of some Publick Notaries and Witnesses and having caused many Copies of it to be written out sent them in the Month of December after to the Bishops throughout Germany charging them in the Pope's Name under severe Penalties That they forthwith publish and seriously recommend them to the People of their Diocesses Because Luther had understood by Cajetane's Letter That they would proceed to a Sentence against him at Rome on the 28 of November he made a new Appeal In the beginning whereof he professes That he would not impeach the Authority of the Pope of Rome so long as he was sound in his Judgment and far less dissent from the Church that nevertheless seeing the Pope was like other Men it was possible he might err and do amiss and that it was not to be attributed to him as if he alone could not err nor be deceived This he affirms by the Example of S. Peter whom S. Paul rebuked openly and sharply because he had erred in the Sound Doctrine That seeing the Pope had so great Power and Wealth that he both commanded what he pleased and could not be restrained by the Authority of any Man the only Remedy that remained for those who thought themselves injured by him was in Appeal Then he relates How that being forced by the too great Austerity of Cardinal Cajetane he had Appealed to the Pope thinking he might have had some Protection in his goodness seeing he had offered most reasonable Conditions and promised to do any thing provided he were convinced of his Errour but that now seeing he perceived that this Appeal being slighted and the Conditions also rejected there was no Hopes of Help or Relief from the Pope as appeared by Cardinal Cajetane's Letter to the Elector of Saxony he was by extream Necessity brought to make his Appeal from the Pope to a future Council which was every way to be preferred before him Afterwards Pope Leo sent Charles Miltitz whom we mentioned before into Germany and presented the Elector Frederick with that Golden Rose which is yearly Consecrated by the Pope with great Pomp and many Ceremonies and commonly presented to some great Person as a Mark of singular Good-will and Favour He wrote also to Degenart Pheffinger a Nobleman and one of Duke Frederick's Council intreating him to assist Miltitz in what he was to negotiate with the Elector in his Name that Luther the Son of Satan might be restrained and that the most Noble Family of Saxony which had been always reckoned zealous for Religion might not be sullied by any Blot or Blemish To the same Purpose also he wrote to George Spalatiner and the more to persuade him told him That he was wholly taken up in rooting the hurtful Weeds out of the Field of Christ In like manner his Vice-Chancellour writing to Degenart prays him That he would exhort Duke Frederick to imitate the Example of his Ancestors that he might not do any thing unworthy of their Memory When Miltitz arrived in Saxony he presented the Rose and vigorously set about the Discharge of his Commission This coming to Luther's Knowledge on the third of March he wrote a very submissive Letter to the Pope That he had been grievously accused to Frederick Elector of Saxony as if he behaved himself perversly towards the Church of Rome which troubled him not a little for that it exceedingly grieved him to have fallen into his Holiness's Displeasure and that nevertheless he could not tell what
he had to do nor how to carry himself that he was constantly urged to retract his Writings that if that could any way contribute to the Advantage and Dignity of the Church of Rome he would not refuse to do so but that there were a great many ingenious and learned Men in Germany who could rightly judge of the whole Controversie so that though he should retract yet it would redound more to the Disgrace and Detriment than to the Dignity of the Church of Rome That for his Part he had done his Holiness no Injury but that it was rather those Collectors and Preachers who put on by Covetousness and greedy of Lucre had spoken foul and ignominious Things to the People that by these he had been grievously accused and informed against whereas he stood so well affected towards the Church of Rome and his Holiness himself that he had no Thoughts of Attempting any thing against it for that the Power and Authority of the Church was so great that next to Christ it was the most excellent thing in the World that he prayed his Holiness not to give credit to his Adversaries That he would never hereafter make mention of the Indulgences provided his Enemies on the other Hand were also enjoyned Silence that he would also advise the People in his Sermons to entertain Reverent and Honourable Thoughts of the Church of Rome not to impute to it the Boldness and Covetousness of some of its Members nor yet imitate his Example who being in some manner necessitated by his Adversaries had treated the Church somewhat irreverently and unbecomingly In short that he would do any thing for Peace sake That in all his Proceedings he had had this constantly before his Eyes That the Church of Rome should not be aspersed by the wickedness of some Men nor the People imposed upon by false Doctrine and that this his Care and Diligence could not be lyable to any Censure That he was not much concerned about Matters indifferent provided no Errour nor erroneous Persuasion possessed Men's Minds Before Miltitz arrived in Germany the Emperour Maximilian dyed in Austria January 12. the Electors then were Albert Archbishop of Mentz Herman Archbishop of Cologne and Richard Archbishop of Treves Ludovick Prince Palatine Frederick Duke of Saxony Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and Lewis King of Bohemia who was also King of Hungary These being according to the Custome of the Empire summoned by the Elector of Mentz met in the Month of June at Frankford a City upon the River of Main whither the King of Bohemia sent his Deputy Ladislaus Sterneberg The Archbishop of Mentz spoke first and having said much of the greatness of the Affair exhorted them to Unity and Concord shewing by many Instances in former times how much mischief the Dissention of the Electors had done to Germany and that they all ought to be the more unanimous now that they were threatned with great Dangers from the Turks and from others also who sought the Division of Germany There were two Competitours that stood for the Imperial Dignity Charles Archduke of Austria who three Years before had succeeded to Ferdinand King of Spain his Grand-Father by the Mother and Francis King of France who having defeated the Switzers four Years before at Marignano was in Possession of the Dutchy of Milan And the Ambassadours of Charles about that time were come as far as Mentz four German Miles distant from Frankford but the French Ambassadours stopt at Coblentz a Town belonging to the Archbishop of Treves upon the confluent of the Rhine and Moselle They severally by Letters and Agents recommended their own Princes to the Electors and used what Arguments they could to persuade them but especially the French who easily understood that their Pretensions were not so acceptable as differing from the Germans in Language Customs and Manners The French King having overcome the Switzers as we have said was in Possession of Lumbardy but seeing he lookt upon their Friendship to be in a manner necessary for the Safety of his own Kingdom with high Promises and great Losses he purchased it the next Year after Now therefore the Empire being void by the Death of Maximilian he sent Ambassadours to acquaint them with the Reasons why he desired to be chosen Emperour and withal to crave their Assistance and Intercession for him with the Electors Their Answer was That when they had made Friendship and entred into a League with him they had excepted the Church of Rome and the Empire That it concerned the Majesty of the Empire that the Voices of the Electors should be free so that they could not forestal that Liberty by making any previous Declaration of their Inclinations Thus the Ambassadours being dismissed they wrote to the Electors acquainting them with the Application the King had made unto them and with their Answer thereunto praying them withal that they would have no regard unto it but chuse some German Prince and thereby infinitely oblige them They wrote besides to Pope Leo and seeing it belonged to him to confirm and inaugurate the Emperour elect they besought him that he would bestir himself to hinder that that Dignity should not be bestowed upon any Foreign Prince To this he made answer That he heard there was one who aspired to that Honour that could not lawfully do it for that the Kings of Naples were the Vassals of the Pope of Rome and had obliged themselves of old not to aim at the Roman Empire but to rest satisfied with one of the two and that he had already given intimation of this to the Electors By this he meant Charles Archduke of Austria for after the Overthrow which the French King gave the Switzers September 13. 1515 when he carried with him Maximilian Sforza into France Pope Leo following the Fortune of the Victorious in the Month of December came to Bolonia and there having had an Interview and long Conference with King Francis he confirmed Friendship with him And this among others was one Cause why at this Time he favoured his Pretensions Now as to what he said of the Kingdom of Naples this is the Case When Manfred natural Son to the Emperour Frederick II Made War against the Church of Rome Pope Clement IV in the Year 1365 that he might repress him took the Course which his Predecessor Vrban IV was about to have taken as it is reported and having sent for Charles Count of Provence and Anjou into Italy declared him King of Sicily and Naples but on Condition First That he should hold the same in Fee of the Church of Rome and therefore pay the sum of forty thousand Crowns yearly and then that he should at no Time aspire to the Dignity of the Roman Empire nor accept of it though freely offered unto him When the Matter was brought into Deliberation the Arhbishop of Mentz having first consulted apart with Frederick Duke of Saxony who was of great Authority amongst the
they might prove of great use to others as well as to himself who was exceedingly pleased with them but that there was one thing that he would have him admonished of and that was That more might be done by a civil Modesty than by Transports and Heat that he ought rather to thunder against those who abused the Authority of Popes than against the Popes themselves that about inveterate things which cannot be suddenly pluck'd out it is better to dispute with pithy and close Arguments than to assert positively and that in this Case the Passions and Affections must be laid aside That he gave him this Admonition not that he might learn what he was to do but that he should proceed as he had begun Luther's Doctrine having in this manner caused much Strife and Contention and raised him many Enemies there was a Disputation appointed to be at Leipsick a Town in Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxony Cousin-german to the Elector Frederick thither came Luther and with him Philip Melanchthon who the Year before came to Wittemberg being sent for by Duke Frederick to be Professour of the Greek Language there thither came also John Eckius a bold and confident Divine On the Day appointed which was July 4 the Disputation was begun by Eckius who having proposed some Positions to be debated made this his last That they who affirmed that before the time of Pope Silvester the Church of Rome was not the first of all Churches did err for that he who attained to the See and Faith of S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles was always acknowledged for the Successor of S. Peter and the Vicar of Christ upon Earth The contrary Position to this was published by Luther to wit That they who attributed Primacy to the Church of Rome had no other Ground for it but the bare and insipid Decretals of the Popes made about four hundred Years ago but that these Decretals were repugnant not only to all Histories written a thousand Years since but also to Holy Scripture and the Council of Nice the most Famous of all Councils Eckius then entring upon the Dispute laid hold of that last Position and would begin the Debate about the Authority and Primacy of the Pope of Rome but Luther having made a short Preface said That he had rather that that Argument as being very Odious and not at all Necessary might have been waved and that for the sake of the Pope that he was sorry he should have been drawn into it by Eckius and that he wished now his Adversaries were present who having grievously accused him and now shunn'd the Light and a fair Tryal of their Cause did not do well Eckius also having made a Preamble declared That he had not raised this Bustle and Stir but that it was Luther who in his first Explication of his Theses had denyed That before Silvester's time the Pope of Rome preceded the rest in Order and Dignity and had averred before Cajetane That Pope Pelagius had wrested many Places of Scripture according to his own Pleasure which being so that all the Fault lay at his Door The first Debate then was about the Supremacy of the Pope of Rome which Eckius said was instituted by Divine Right and called Luther who denyed it a Bohemian because Huss had been heretofore of the same Opinion Luther to justifie himself from this Accusation proved That the Church of Christ had been spread and propagated far and near twenty Years before S. Peter constituted a Church at Rome that this then was not the First and Chief Church by Divine Right Afterwards Eckius impugned Luther's other Positions of Purgatory Indulgences Penance the Pardon of the Guilt and Remission of the Punishment of Sin and of the Power of Priest At length on the fourteenth Day ended the Dispute which had been appointed not upon the account of Luther but of Andrew Carolstad though Luther came to it in company of Carolstad only to hear but being drawn in by Eckius who had procured a Safe-Conduct for him from Duke George he entred the Lists of Disputation for Eckius was brisk and confident because of the Nature of the Subject wherein he promised himself certain Victory Luther afterwards published the whole Conference and Debate and by an ingenious Animadversion upon the Writings and Sayings of his Adversaries gathered several Heads of Doctrine downright Heretical as he said That so he might make it appear That whilst they spoke and wrote any thing in Favour of the Pope and were transported with the Zeal of defending their Cause they interspersed many things which being narrowly inspected contained a great deal of Errour and Impiety Vlrick Zuinglius taught at that time at Zurich in Suitzerland whither he came upon a call in the beginning of this Year having before preached at Claris and in the Desert of our Lady as they call it Not long after Fryer Samson a Franciscean of Milan came thither also being sent by the Pope to preach up Indulgences and squeeze Money from the People Zuinglius stoutly opposed him and publickly called him an Imposter CAROLVS V. AVSTRIACVS D.G. ROMAN IMP SEMPER AVG REX HISPAN Natus Gandavi Ao. MD. Die. XXIV Febr Electus Ao. MDXIX XXVIII Iunij Ferdinando Frat Imp Commisit VII o Sept. MDLVI Obijt XXI Sept MDLVIII THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK II. The CONTENTS Luther by the advice of Charles Miltitz writes to the Pope and presents him with his Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor departs from Spain and passes through England into the Low-Countries Luther writes a Book which he calls Tessaradecas and another about the Manner of Confession a third about Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both Kinds To this his Adversaries object a Decree of the Council of Lateran under Julius II of whose Actions you have a large Account In the mean time the Divines of Lovain and Cologn condemn Luther's Books In his Defence the Opinions of Picus Mirandula the Questions of Ockam and the Controversie of Reuchlin with the same Divines are recited Seeing himself attack'd by so many Enemies he writes to the Emperor soon after to the Archbishop of Mentz and Bishop of Mersburg The Elector Frederick finding that he had lost his Credit at Rome upon Luther's account endeavours to clear himself by Letter Luther likewise does the same The Pope Excommunicates him and he appeals again from the Decree of the Council of Mantua and puts out his Book of the Babylonish Captivity The Emperor is Crown'd at Aix la Chapelle The Pope again sollicites Frederick but not prevailing causes Luther's Books to be burnt Which when Luther understood he burnt the Popes Bull and the Canon Law and gives his Reasons for it He Answers Ambrose Catarino who had written against him IN the former Book an Account has been given of what relates to Charles Miltitz and his Negotiation at the Court of the Elector
to these joyned themselves the Embassadors of Maximilian the Emperor and of Lewis XII King of France who were also embarqued in the same Design The time when this Council was called was the Nineteenth of May in the Year of our Lord 1511 that so the first Session might begin on the First of September next ensuing The Cause they alledg'd to justifie this their Proceeding was That the Pope had broken his Oath for that although so many years of his Pontificate were already elapsed yet he had not given them any the least hopes of his having any Inclination to call a Council and that because they had very great and heinous Crimes to lay to his charge they could not any longer neglect the care of the Church which was a Duty imcumbent on them as Members of the sacred College Their intent really was to depose him from the Popedom which he had obtained by Bribery and other such honest arts and means as all Persons make use of who aspire to the Infallible Chair And because they could no way safely convey this their Remonstrance to him they caused it to be publickly affixed at Regio Modena and Parma which were all three Towns belonging to St. Peter's Patrimony and they added a Citation to him to appear Personally at a certain day therein mentioned Julius having received Information of all this returned this Answer on the Eighteenth of July That before he came to be Pope he longed for nothing more than the calling a general Council as was very well known to several Kings and to the whole College of Cardinals and that purely upon this account he lost the Favour of Alexander VI. That he continued still of the same mind but that the state of Italy had been so unsetled for several years last past and was left so by his Predecessor Alexander That it was altogether impossible to have formed a Council while things continued in that distracted condition After this he shews them that their Summons was void in it self by reason of the shortness of the time limited in it and the inconveniency of the place for that Pisa had suffered so much in the late Wars that it was now nothing almost but an heap of Ruins and that the Country round about it was all wasted and desolate nor could there be any safe passage thither because of the daily Hostilities committed between the Florentines and those of Senese To this he adds in the last place That they had no legal Power of issuing out any such Summons and that the Reasons given by them for so doing were altogether false and groundless Therefore under pain of the severest Censures he forbids all Persons to yield any Obedience to them At the same time he by a Bull subscribed by One and twenty Cardinals called a Council to meet the next year which should commence on the Nineteenth of April and be held in the Lateran Church in Rome For this they say has always been one of the Papal Artifices that whensoever upon any Pretext they took occasion for some secret motives to decline the holding of a Council though called by never so lawful an Authority at the same time to Summon another to meet in such a place in which they could with the greatest ease influence all the Proceedings in it After this he admonishes the Confederate Cardinals to desist in time and return to Rome and accept of the Pardon now offer'd them But they continuing still refractory on the Twenty fourth of October he Excommunicates them all and those three that we mentioned before in particular by name as Hereticks Schismaticks and Traytors to the Apostolick See and sends Copies of this Bull to Maximilian the Emperor and several other Princes And because there were divers Bishops of France who adhered firmly to the Cardinals interests he Excommunicates them also unless they return to their Duty and make their Purgation within a prefixed time On the other side the Cardinals having several times in vain cited the Pope to come and appear before them there in Council by a Decree made in the Eighth Session suspended him from all Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and commanded all Christians for the future to renounce his Authority and acknowledge him no longer for St. Peter's Successor This was in the Year of our Lord 1512 on the Twenty first of April But you must take notice that although the Council were removed from Pisa to Milan yet it still kept its old Name and was called the Pisane Council At this time there was a very famous Civilian at Pavia whose Name was Philip Decius he having espoused the Cardinals Cause published a Book in Defence of their Proceedings against the Pope A little after this Maximilian strikes up a League with Julius and Ferdinand King of Spain and so leaves the Cardinals in the Church to shift for themselves and sends Matthew Langus Bishop of Gurk to Rome to sit as his Proxy in the Council that was holden there and him Julius immediately promoted to the Dignity of the Purple But Lewis II King of France who was truer to his Engagements and had lately routed the Popes Forces near Ravenna could not escape the thunders of the Vatican his Subjects were absolved from their Allegiance his Kingdom put under an Interdict and an Invasion of it was now no less than meritorious But after the end of the Fifth Session on the Twenty first of February in the Year of our Lord 1513 Pope Julius dies and Leo X is chosen by the Conclave to succeed him He immediately after his Inaguration proceeds to compleat what his Predecessor had begun and because the state of Affairs in Europe was now a little more calm than at any time during the former Pontificate a great many Kings and Princes sent their Embassadors to Rome to assist at this Lateran Council The Cardinals also whom Julius had Excommunicated having since his Death nothing to give any colour to their continuing in their Obstinacy made their humble Submission and Suit to be indemnified for what was past and being received into Favour by Leo were restored to their former Dignities and Preferments as Leo himself declares in an Epistle wrote by him to Maximilian The Council broke up on the Twelfth of March in the Year of our Lord 1516 there having been seven Sessions since the Death of Julius for there were but twelve in all the whole four years that this Council lasted from its first Convention to its Dissolution The chief Transactions in it were these The Praises of Julius and Leo were the Subjects of those luscious Panegyricks with which the Auditory were almost daily entertained There were some Motions made in order to the engaging in a War against the Turks and concerning the Reformation of the Church And also there was a Debate about the Immortality of the Soul which began to admit of a Dispute now in
those of Cologne taking no notice of this proceed to Censure Capnion's Book with a Salvo as they pretend to the Credit of the Author and in February 1514 they publickly burnt it this the Bishop of Spire took as an Affront put upon him and because the Prosecutor having been legally Cited had never appeared at the Day but made Default he gave Judgment for Capnion with an Approbation of his Book and condemned Hogostrate to pay the Costs of the Suit. He that he might avoid this Sentence hastens to Rome In the mean time the Divines of his Party make their Applications to the University of Paris and by the Help of Erand Marchian Bishop of Liege who was then in the French Interests they cajoled Lewis XII so as to make him inclinable to favour their Cause Therefore after a long Consultation those of Paris also Condemn the Book as deserving to be Burnt and whose Author ought to be compelled to make a Recantation and their Judgment was That the Jewish Talmuds were justly censured by former Popes and deservedly burnt by their Predecessors This was in the same Year on August 2. To prevent this the Duke of Wirtemberg had interceeded with them by his Letters and Reuchline also himself had written very courteously as having been formerly a Scholar of that University and he sent inclosed the Judgment given by the Bishop of Spire but all to no purpose Hogostrate being come to Rome managed his Business with very great Address but there were some Cardinals who favoured Reuchline upon the account of his eminent Learning among these was Adrian who has a Piece extant concerning the Latin Tongue Leo at last appoints certain Delegates to inspect the matter and they seeming to lean towards Capnion's side Hogostrate having met with nothing but Disappointments after above three Years stay in Rome sneaked away Home into his own Country But it is not to be thought what a Scandal the Divines of Cologn brought upon themselves by this Imprudent Act of theirs for there was not a Man who pretended to any thing of Ingenuity or Scholarship in all Germany who had not a Fling at them in some smart Lampoon or Satyr applauding Reuchline and ridiculing them as Blockheads and Dunces and sworn Enemies to that Laborious but useful Study of Languages and to all other more polite Learning And Erasmus of Roterdam was not wanting to use his interest with the Cardinals in Capnion's behalf concerning which he has several Epistles yet extant which he then sent to Rome The Divines of Louvain before they would declare what was their Opinion in Luther's Case consulted first with the Cardinal Adrian Bishop of Tortona who had been a Member of their College and Order and who was at that time in Spain and being backed with the Authority of his Judgment they published their Censure Luther finding himself so hard beset on all Sides addressed himself in an Epistle to the late elected Emperour Charles V and having made his Apology That a Man of his mean Quality should presume to write to so great a Potentate he tells him That the Reasons were very weighty which had emboldned him to do this and that the Glory of Christ himself was concerned in his Cause That he had published some few small Books which had procured him the Displeasure of a great many Persons but that the Fault ought not to lye at his Door for that it was with great Reluctancy that his Adversaries had drawn him to enter the Lists That a Private Retired Life was much more agreeable to his Inclinations but that his chief Care and Study was to make known the pure and uncorrupt Doctrin of the Gospel in opposition to the false Glosses and even contradictory Ordinances of Men That there were a great number of Persons eminent both for Learning and Piety who could attest the Truth of what he said And that this alone was the Cause of all that Odium and Infamy of those Dangers Contumelies and Losses to which almost for three Years he had been continually exposed That he had omitted nothing which might contribute to an Accommodation but that the oftner he made any Proposals tending that way the more resolved his Adversaries seemed to continue the Breach That he had frequently and earnestly requested them to convince him of his Errours and to give him such Rules by the which he might the better guide himself for the Time to come but that he could never obtain any other Answer from them but barbarous Injuries and railing Buffoonery their Design being to rid the World both of him and the Gospel together That by these Means he was driven to have recourse to the last Remedy and forced according to the Example of Athanasius to fly to him as to the inviolable Sanctuary and Protection of the Law And to beseech him to take upon him the Patronage of the Christian Religion and vouchsafe to shelter him from all Violence and Injury until he should be more fully informed in the Matter If it should appear that he had been ingaged in the Maintenance of any thing that was Unjustifiable he then desired no Favour His humble Petition was only to have a fair Hearing and that every one would t'ill then suspend his Judgment That this was a part of his Duty and that therefore God had intrusted him with this Supreme Power that he might maintain and distribute impartial Justice and defend the Cause of the Poor and Weak against all the Insults of their powerful Oppressors After this he writes much to the same purpose to all the States of the Empire telling them how unwilling he was to have ingaged in this Controversie and with what bitter Malice he was prosecuted by his Enemies when his Aim was purely this by propagating the true Doctrin of the Gospel to convince Men how Inconsistent it was with those false Opinions of which they had been so long but too Tenacious Then he recites in short all that had been done by him in order to a Reconciliation how he had several times promised by a voluntary Silence to let the Cause fall upon condition his Adversaries would cease their impertinent Babling desiring nothing more than to be better informed if he was in the wrong and being willing to submit freely to the Judgment and Censure of all good Men But that these Requests of his had not as yet had their desired Effect his Adversaries continually loading him with all manner of Injuries and Reproaches That since it was so he desired them not to give Credit to any disadvantagious Reports which they might hear of him If he had at any time been guilty of any Sharpness or Petulancy in his Writings it was no more than what he had been forced to by their paultry sawcy Pamphlets which they were almost daily spawning against him In the last place he makes now the same Profers for the composing the Difference which he had so often formerly done
then present Peter Bonomus Bishop of Trieste and Bernard Bishop of Trent Alexander declared That the Emperour and other Princes were required to see the Bull of the Pope performed and that the hearing of the Cause was committed to himself and Eckius Duke Frederick because it was a matter of great importance desired time to consider of it and on November 4 not being at leisure himself he gave in this Answer by some of his Council in the presence of the Bishop of Trent That he wondred very much why the Pope should desire this of him who had always taken care to do nothing unworthy of the Virtue and Glory of his Ancestors and to do his Duty both to the Empire and the Church That he understood that Eckius in his absence had given trouble not only to Luther but to several other Learned Men of his Dominions contrary to the Mind and Tenor of his Holiness's Bull which as became him he declared he very much resented That a private Person should take upon him to meddle so much in another's Jurisdiction What Luther or others have done in his Absence since the bringing of the Pope's Bull thither he knows not That it is possible several Persons may have approved of his Appeal That as for himself he never concern'd himself in it But that he should be very sorry if his Doctrin were not Orthodox That two Years ago he procured a Conference between him and Cajetane at Ausburg but they coming to no Agreement Cajetane writ a Letter to complain of him That he then answered it so as he imagined he had given him Satisfaction and for taking away all suspicion he was then willing to have dismissed Luther had not Miltitz opposed it But Richard Archbishop of Triers had been delegated by the Pope for hearing this Cause and that Luther was ready to appear in any Place provided he might have a Safe-Conduct And that he makes as fair and large Proffers as can be desired That several Good and Learned Men imagine that he has proceeded thus far not so much of his own Accord as by the Instigation of his Adversaries That it appears not yet to the Emperour nor to any other Magistrate that his Writings are convicted of Heresie or Impiety for if they had he himself should have been ready to have done the Duty of a good Prince He desires therefore That they would not proceed after this manner but rather procure that the Matter may be lovingly and quietly debated by some Godly and Learned Men that Luther may have a Safe-Conduct and that his Books may not be burnt before he has made his Defence If he should happen to be convinced by Scripture and solid Arguments that then he would by no means countenance him But though he and his Cause should be quite baffled yet he hoped his Holiness would require nothing of him but what might stand with his Honour In all other things he should always behave himself as became a Prince of the Empire and an obedient Son of the Church When the Elector had given in this Answer the Legates after some Consultation began to recite how many things the Pope had done and suffered in order to reclaim Luther but that he had not performed any part of his Promises That it was not now in the Power of the Bishop of Triers to determine in this Cause since the Pope had recalled that Hearing of it before himself to whom only it belonged to judge in matters of this Nature The conclusion of their Speech was That they could not but act conformable to his Holiness's Decree and so not long after they burn all Luther's Works This Aleander was an Italian born at Motola in the Kingdom of Naples very skilful in the Hebrew Tongue He was for some time a Reader in the University of Paris being come to Rome he rose by degrees till he was at last made Archbishop of Brindin and after that created a Cardinal And Caracciolus was also promoted to the same Dignity As soon as Luther heard of this he called together all the Students that were in Wittemberg and in the Presence of a great number of Learned Men he publickly burns the Canon-Law and the Pope's late published Decree on the tenth Day of December And in his next days Lecture he earnestly admonishes all Persons who have any regard to their own Salvation to shake off the Dominion of the Bishop of Rome In a Treatise which he soon after published he declares what it was had moved him to do this acknowledging That it was with his Consent and by his Advice and Means that these Books of the Canon-Law were burnt and that for these Reasons First It has been an Ancient Custom observed in all Ages in this manner to suppress all pernicious Books of which there is an Example in the Acts of the Apostles moreover it was his Duty who is baptized into the Faith of Christ and who is a Professor and publick Preacher of the Gospel to oppose whatever contradicts the Precepts therein contained and to instruct Men in all Sound and Wholesome Doctrins and to purge their Minds from all false and erroneous Opinions That a great many others lay under the same Obligations but if they out of Ignorance or by Cowardise neglected to do as they ought yet that he was not thereby excused unless he endeavoured faithfully to discharge what he thought in Conscience was his Duty That the Pope and those whose Interest it is to uphold his Power were become so desperately Wicked and Obstinate that they not only stopt their Ears against all good admonitions but also condemned the Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles and forced Men to the commission of the grossest Impieties Besides this he supposed those Book-Burners had no Command to act after that manner As for the Divines of Cologn and Louvain who pretended to be authorized by the Emperour to burn his Books he was now very certain that that was a meer sham In the last place because this burning of his Works and the Report of it which would be spread all over the Country might perhaps stagger some and cause great Doubts in the Minds of many more who would judge that such a thing would not be done rashly and without some very weighty Cause Therefore seeing his Adversaries were now grown past cure he had been forced to burn their Books thereby to raise up and confirm and strengthen the Minds of his Followers And he entreats all Men not to suffer themselves to be dazled by the lofty and proud Titles of his Adversaries but to take a nearer View of the Matter by which they would perceive what Impious and Pernicious Tenets are contained in the Canons and Decretals of the Popes And that he might make this the more plain to every Man's Understanding he recites some Passages out of the Canon-Law which tend manifestly to the Reproach of God the Injury of the Civil Magistrate and serve only
first on the Frontiers of Spain and in Flanders The French held at that time Parma and Piacenza in Italy which Pope Leo was much troubled at But when more lately they had attempted Regio he fell quite off from them and made a League with the Emperour whereof the chief Conditions were That the Dignity of the Church of Rome should be defended That what the French had lately taken from it should be recovered That Francis Sforza who was then a banished Man should be restored to his Inheritance and the Dukedom of Milan Having therefore joyned their Forces under the Command of Prospero Colonna and Ferdinand d'Aval Marquess of Pesoara they recovered Parma and Piacenza from the French took the City of Milan and beat the Enemy quite out of Lombardy after they had been six whole years Masters of it Not long after Pope Leo had the News of this Overthrough he Died not without the Suspicion of Poyson He was the Son of Laurence de Medices and had to his Great-Grandfather Cosmo who raised that Family to its Splendour At Thirteen years of age Leo was made Cardinal by Innocent VIII He lived not above Seven and forty years and had for Successor Adrian VI a Hollander who had been the Emperor's Tutor LEO X. PAPA ANTEA IOANNES MEDICES FLORENTINVS Natus Ao. 1474. XIII An Adolescens Alectus fuit in Ordinem Cardinalium Electus XIo Martij Ano. 1513. Obijt 1o. Decemb 1521. Sedit An. 8 Men. 8. D. 21 While the Emperor spent his time in Germany and the Netherlands there happened great Seditions in Spain Therefore to prevent the growing evil in time having first setled a Council and Supreme Court of Judicature to administer Justice and in his absence to order the Affairs of the Empire he returned into Spain by Sea But before his departure the States of the Empire had met at Norimberg among other things to consult about the Turkish War and the Emperor having emitted a Proclamation towards the end of March enjoyned chiefly the Church-men to pray to God say Masses and make Processions for the Publick Safety and for atoning the Sins of Men. Now the grand result of this Diet was that on the First of May after they granted Aid to King Lewis against the Turk The Emperor upon his return home visited once more the King of England and to secure him for a firm Friend against the French King he promised to pay him yearly an Hundred and Thirty three Thousand Ducats For the French King by Agreement paid so much yearly to the King of England and his Sister Mary Queen Dowager of France so that unless he might be saved harmless the King of England would attempt nothing against him This Treaty was concluded betwixt them June the Thirteenth at Windsor For a greater Confirmation of their Friendship also it was agreed that the Emperor should Marry his own Cousin-german Mary the King of England's Daughter a young Lady then of Seven years of age when she should come to Maturity And that he who failed in performance of this should pay the other Four hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time the French King bends all his Force to the recovery of what he had lost in Italy Of Zuinglius you have heard before Now Hugh Bishop of Constance to whose Spiritual Jurisdiction Zurich belonged addressed himself to the Senate acquainting them with what Complaints he heard of Zuinglius who had started a new kind of Religion But Zuinglius being called before the Senate defended his own Cause and satisfied them Afterwards the Bishop wrote to the College of Canons of whom Zuinglius was one and having said many things of new Teachers who disturbed the Peace of the Church he entreats them to take heed and beware of such And because Pope Leo and then the Emperor had by most severe Bulls and Decrees condemned that Doctrin he admonishes them to obey the same and not to make any Changes or Innovations till they whom it concerned should by common advice and consent determin what was to be done This was in the Month of May. After this Letter had been read in the Convocation Zuinglius against whom it was written wrote an Answer to the Bishop That he knew very well who they were that put him upon these things and advised him not to follow their Counsels for that Truth was invincible and could not be resisted But he wrote a longer Letter afterwards to those whom he supposed to be the Authors of that Epistle After this Zuinglius and some others there joyned with him wrote a Letter to the Bishop wherein they prayed him not to act any thing against the Doctrin of the Gospel nor to suffer any longer that filthy and scandalous life of the Priests but allow them Marriage To the same purpose Zuinglius wrote to all the Switzers and counselled them not to obstruct the course of the Reformed Religion nor any ways molest the Married Priests for that the Devil was the Author of that single Life of theirs That it was a Custom in some of their own Cantons when they received any new Curate to enjoyn him to keep a Concubine lest he should attempt upon the Chastity of other Mens Wives That the Custom was laugh'd at by many but that it was prudently established at that time and in that darkness and depravation of Religion And that what they did then as to Concubines ought now to be put in practice as to lawful Wives Luther in the mean time having absconded as we said for some Months returned to Wittemberg and because he had not been recalled by Duke Frederick fearing that he might take it ill at his hands he wrote to him in the Month of March assuring him that it was out of no Ill-will or Contempt of his Authority that he was returned without his Command That he was sensible enough some would not fail to represent it as a dangerous thing to his Highness in regard that he stood Outlawed and Condemned both by the Pope and Emperor whose Power was not to be slighted That he had indeed seriously reflected on these things before hand but that for three chief Reasons he had been moved to do what he did First That he had been earnestly solicited by several Letters from the Church of Wittemberg to turn and that they were a People whom God had committed to his Charge and therefore could not be neglected That many without doubt spoke bitterly and reproachfully against this Reformation of Religion but that he was certainly convinced that this his Profession was most acceptable unto God That in the next place through the craft and subtilty of the Devil who could not endure this Light of the Gospel many troubles in his absence had been raised in his Church which unless he were there to teach them in Person could not be composed And that that was to him so weighty a Cause that it
Fire and reclaim Luther by moderate and fair ways Or if that could not be done that then they would punish him according to the Laws and the late Decree of the Emperour and Empire That by so doing they would not only wash away that Stain which now stuck to Germany but also contribute to the Salvation of many who were much damnified by his Contagion That for his own part his Natural Disposition and Profession inclined him to Mercy rather than any kind of Severity But because this was a Distemper not to be cured by gentle Medicines there was a Necessity of applying more Violent Remedies That Testimonies and Instances of this more than one might be had in Holy Scripture and that their own Predecessors in the Council of Constance after this manner punished John Huss and Jerome of Prague according to their Deserts That if they would imitate them in this Virtuous Course God would not be wanting and that then there might be greater Hopes that the Cruelty of the Turk would be restrained And that in fine he was ready to bestow all he had nay and to lay down his Life for the Welfare of the Flock committed to his Charge referring what else he had to say concerning Luther to his Legate Francis Cheregate Bishop of Teramo to whom he prayed them to give Credit What he said of a Civil War raised among some related to Richard Archbishop of Treves who was then in a War with Francis Sicking a Valiant Man and great favourer of Luther However Religion was not the Cause of that War but it was because the Bishop would not suffer two Men within his Jurisdiction for whom he had been Bail to answer the Law for so it is specified in the Letter of Defiance which Sicking sent him towards the latter end of August Pope Adrian at that time wrote Private Letters to some others to the same effect and having much inveighed against the Doctrin of Luther he required the Senate of Strasburg Not to suffer any of his or his Adherent's Books to be printed and not only to Suppress but also to burn those which were already published for that he heard That such kind of Books were printed by their Printers who refused to meddle with any thing written against them threatning the Senate with the Wrath and Vengeance of God if they did not obey him for that although they persevered in the Ancient Established Religion yet unless they took from others the Liberty of Offending and Occasion of Errour they were not to promise to themselves impunity Now for the better understanding of what he said that he had heard of Luther when he was in Spain we are to look back a little into the History of his Life Adrian was a Poor Man's Son of Vtricht a Town upon the Borders of Holland he followed his Studies in the University of Louvain and for his Learning and Probitie was recommended to Maximilian the Emperour to be Tutor to his Grand-Son Charles with him he continued till he was grown up and became fit to learn more Manly Exercises and then was sent Ambassadour into Spain to King Ferdinand who made him Bishop of Tortosa but after the Death of the King when the Government fell to his Grand-Son Charles of Ambassadour that he was before he was made Privy Counsellor There was a Difference at that time betwixt Pope Leo and the Cardinals who had conspired his Death so that having dispatched a great many of them some by Exile and some by loathsome Imprisonment he created one and thirty new Cardinals at the same time partly for his own Defence and partly to raise Money among whom also was Adrian and this was in the Year 1517. Charles came afterwards into Spain upon the Death of his Grand-Father Ferdinand whose Heir and Successor he was In the mean time Maximilian the Emperour dying Charles was chosen Emperour and upon that account being obliged to go to Germany he left the chief Care of the Government of Spain to Adrian during his Absence and not long after there happened a great Insurrection in that Kingdom Now upon the Death of Pope Leo when Julius of Medices and Alexander Fernese canvassed for the Papacy and were making all the several Interests they could to be chosen Pope Adrian who was both absent and unknown was elected January 9 this Year to the great Displeasure of the Romans who took it extreamly ill That so high an Office should be conferred upon a Stranger whom they had never seen He having received the News of his Promotion and being therewith acquainted that three Cardinals were designed to come as Ambassadours to him into Spain who nevertheless were not as yet come he thought fit March 8 to write to the Colledge of Cardinals from the Town Victoria and gave them his hearty Thanks that they had conceived such an Opinion of him telling them That though at first he had been terrified at the greatness of the Charge imposed upon him yet that looking upon it as a Call to him from Heaven in those Distracted and Divided Times he had taken Heart and hoped the best That moreover since he heard that the Cardinals who were to come to him had not as yet parted from Rome and could not so soon perform the Journey and that in the mean time unless he himself approved the Election he could not be invested with Authority for Governing the Church Besides it being a Long and Dangerous Journey for the Ambassadours to undertake therefore to ease them of that Trouble and at the same time to declare his Mind he had before some honest and proper Persons whom he had called together for that purpose signified his Resolution and approved the Election Wherefore he required them to make the same known to all Men especially in Italy and in the mean time to take care that Justice should be administred he being now wholly taken up in preparing a Fleet and other things necessary for his Passage to Rome with the first Opportunity He wrote also to the Senate and People of Rome bidding them to expect all Good Will and Favour at his Hands And so some Months after the Season offering fair he put out to Sea on his Voyage And though the Emperour at the same time was returning to Spain from the Netherlands to appease an Insurrection that had happened in his Absence yet he departed without saluting him but wrote to him a most kind Letter wherein he gave him the Reasons why he made so much hast Thus about the latter end of August he arrived at Rome it being then the third Month that Solyman Emperour of the Turks had besieged Rhodes which at length after a seven Month's Siege wherein the Knights had most valiently defended themselves though destitute of all Succours he took by Composition December 25 not only to the great Prejudice but Disgrace also of Christendom Much about the same time Cheregate the Pope's Legate
promise Fealty to Casimire Sigismund's Father yet this was altogether contrary to former Covenants and that this is true may be evinc'd ev'n from the testimony of Albert himself who about eight years since profess'd the same thing at the Diet of Nuremburg He prays therefore that the King of Poland's Demand being rejected the Sentence pronounc'd against Albert may be put in execution In this Diet the chief thing that fell under Deliberation was the War against the Turks And now Intelligence being daily brought both by Letters and Messengers that the Turk had sent before vast bodies of Horse towards the Danube and the Embassadors from Austria and other Neighbouring Countries having giv'n an account what great danger they were in It was resolv'd that there should be a general Contribution of Aids and that the States of the Empire should send supplies of Men rather than Mony towards this War. Therefore upon the 27th of July this Diet broke up and all went to prepare for the War. Upon the 6th of August the Elector of Saxony ended his days to whom John Frederick his Son succeeded When Solyman was come to Belgrade he struck off towards the left and attack'd in vain the Town and Castle of Gunza which was very bravely defended by Nicolas Jurisch from thence he sent out 1500 Horse to Plunder under the Command of Cason who making Excursions as far as Lintz which is above Vienna and having ravag'd the Country far and near exercis'd all manner of Barbarities But being about to retreat they fell among our Horse who had been sent out to hinder their Plunders and Rapine and being charg'd in diverse places they were at length almost all cut in pieces and Cason himself was slain in the action Solyman keeping more and more to the left came at last to Gratz a Town of Stiria which when the Emperor who was then at Lintz understood he consider'd what was to be done and came at last to this Resolution viz. To encamp his whole Army near Vienna and there to expect the Enemy But Solyman went back without performing any memorable Action The Emperor had sent to the King of France for his Assistance but his answer was as the Emperor then reported it that Germany was powerful enough of it self to oppose the Incursion of the Turk The King of England was also very dilatory and obscure too in his Answer Pope Clement did contribute his Aid and committed the chief management thereof to Cardinal Hippolitus of the house of Medices The Switzers though solicited by the Emperor would not stir At this time in the months of September and October there appear'd a Comet before Sun-rising When the Turks were retired the Emperor contrary to the opinion of those who advis'd him to persue the Enemy broke up his Army because Winter was near and departed from Vienna towards Italy When he was at Mantua he dispatch'd Letters dated the 10th of November to the States of the Empire wherein he signify'd that his Brother the King of the Romans was to Govern the Empire during his absence That 't was for very weighty Reasons that he had left Germany for Italy and that there he would treat with the Pope about a Council as it had been resolv'd upon at Ratisbon he hopes therefore they will preserve that Peace which he had lately ratify'd by his Edict and that they will pay the same Obedience to his Brother as to himself Going from thence to Bononia he came to a Conference with Pope Clement the Seventh and among other things he held a Consult with him about Religion and a Council He likewise enters into a League with him and the other Princes of Italy or rather he verbally renews it for half a year longer in order to maintain the Peace of Italy or indeed rather to preclude the French from any entrance thither The French Embassadors vigorously oppos'd it but Clement advis'd them to act more calmly giving them notice privately that it was not like to last long For the Emperor had brought with him a great number of Spanish Forces of which the Pope had a desire to clear Italy He therefore approv'd of this League in compliance with the times After this the Emperor in the month of March sets Sail for Spain and soon after the Pope sends Hugh Rango Bishop of Regium Embassador into Germany Who coming to the Elector of Saxony in company with the Emperor's Embassador made a Speech to this effect That some months since the Pope and Emperor entring into a Consultation at Bononia about several weighty Affairs they likewise took the Cause of Religion into their Consideration upon which account the Pope has thought it convenient to send an Embassy into Germany And though the greatness of the Affair deserves that a Man of larger abilities and experience should be imploy'd in it yet this Province is put upon him though very much against his will. The occasion therefore of his present coming is to let him understand the Pope's mind and pleasure in this matter nor are these things done without the consent and approbation of the Emperor It has been the earnest desire of Clement the Seventh ever since his entrance upon the Papacy that these Differences which have been created in Germany about Religion should be compos'd that so he might manage the Government of the Church with greater Ease and Tranquility That for the effecting of this he has more than once sent Men very eminent for their Learning into Germany but his labour has hitherto prov'd to no purpose But when the Emperor was come at last from Spain into Italy and was about to depart from thence into Germany the Pope had then great hopes that he might by his Countenance and Authority easily appease these Animosities Nor did the Emperor spare any diligence whereby he might restore his Country to its ancient Religion to which purpose though he held several Diets yet he could effect nothing especially since those his excellent Endeavours have been slackned and impeded by the Incursion of the Turk that Enemy of the Christian Name But now since the Emperor has been a second time in Italy and held a long Discourse with the Pope wherein he discover'd it to be his sense that there could not be a more proper and efficacious remedy found out than a general Council would be of which likewise the German Princes are eagerly desirous The Pope likewise declares himself to be well pleas'd with this Expedient both for the sake of the Publick and of the Emperor whom he is very willing to gratifie This is the occasion of their Embassy and they are oblig'd by their Instructions to declare this unto him in the name of the Pope But since the nature of the thing requires that they should first deliberate about the manner time and place of holding the Council they have therefore brought with them certain Heads subscribed by the Pope which contain the whole Model
the Popes Bull was not sufficient nor authentick She answer'd that it was too late to complain of the Bull now since they had approv'd it so long before And when the Dispute began to grow warm the Pope's assistance was desir'd to determine the Matter The Queen had miscarried several times neither did any of her Children live excepting the Princess Mary The Pope therefore undertook the Cause and delegated the hearing of it to the Cardinals Campegio and York And after a long debate when the King had hopes given him from Rome that things should go on his side Campegio by the Pope's Order when he was just upon the Point of the Sentence began to draw back and to throw in delays This Turn they say was occasioned by the death of General Lautrech and the loss of the French Army before Naples Andrew Auria likewise happening to revolt from Francis at the same time which made the Pope conclude that the Emperor Catharines Nephew by her Sister who was now so prosperous in Italy ought not in prudence to be disoblig'd Campegio therefore at last leaves England without bringing the Affair to any point at which the King was extreamly dissatisfied But that he might not seem to do any thing rashly he dispatch'd away several Agents into France Italy and Germany to Collect the sense of the Divines concerning his Marriage The Parisians and most of the rest seemed to declare for the unlawfulness of it though they were suspected to be bribed into their opinion Now there was one Anne Bolen in the Queens Service an incomparable handsome Maiden-Lady This Person the King began to set his Affections upon and discover'd intelligibly enough that he had a mind to marry her As soon as Cardinal Woolsey who was most intimate with the King and as they say moved first for the Divorce understood this design he changed his Resolution and writing to the Pope advised him not to null the Marriage for if he did another Woman infected with Lutheranism would succeed Catharine When the King was acquainted with the Cardinals proceedings by his Embassador at Rome he was very much offended with him and not long after removed him from his Office of Lord Chancellor and deprived him of two of the three Bishopricks which he held At last being reduc'd to a private Life and letting fall some passionate indecent Expressions importing a desire of revenge The King commanded him to dismiss the greatest part of his Servants and to come to Court with a small Retinue The Cardinal not being able to avoid it sets forward but before he reached the King he fell into an acute Distemper contracted by the dissatisfaction of his mind and died upon the way Now the Pope that Campegio might have some pretence for coming away revokes the Cause to himself at Rome And foreseeing the Marriage with Anne Bolen would be of very ill consequence to himself he plies the King with Admonitions and sometimes with Threatnings to give over his design But not being able to prevail there upon the 24th of March this year to oblige the Emperor he gave Judgment on the Queens side When the King was already divorc'd from her had declar'd his Daughter Mary Illegitimate and married the other Lady above a year since As soon as the King understood that Sentence was pronounced against him he began to hate the Pope mortally and immediately passeth an Act in which he declares himself Head of the Church of England next after Christ denies all manner of Obedience to the See of Rome and makes it death for any one to maintain the Pope's Supremacy He likewise refuseth to pay the yearly Tax which the Pope's Collector used to receive and forbids the Conveyance of any Mony to Rome under severe Penalties all which Injunctions were confirmed by the States of the Realm which they call a Parliament Francis the French King is thought to have struck a Considerable stroak in this Divorce that he might make an irreconcilable Breach between Henry and the Emperor As concerning the Tax which I mention'd the Case stands thus Ine King of England in the year 740. out of a sense of Piety made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope as the History of those times informs us and charged every house with the payment of a peny From that time the Popes sent their Collectors thither yearly to receive this Duty which was commonly call'd Peter-pence This payment having been made by the English without any Interruption from the first Grant this Henry was the first who forbad the Continuance of it any longer I have given an account in the Fourth Book how Luther and Erasmus wrote against each other concerning the Subject of Free Will. This year the Pique between them broke out again For Luther in a Letter to a Friend takes occasion to charge Erasmus very high as if he ridiculed the Christian Religion and expos'd it to question and contempt and cites several places in his Writings to make good his Accusation He also objected that the other had an equivocal two-handed way in expressing himself and made a Tyrannical use of his Elocution And in regard he takes the liberty to play with religious Arguments at that ambiguous rate when he both can and is obliged to be more clear he ought always to be construed in the worst sense This Letter was afterwards answer'd by Erasmus and smartly too who was more sensibly concern'd for nothing than to keep up the Reputation of his own Writings About this time the Franciscans made a strange tragical piece of Work of it at Orleans in France The thing was thus The Provost's Wife of that Town had order'd in her Will to be buried without any Ceremony or noise For when any one dies in France it 's the Custom for Funeral Cryers who are hired for this purpose to go about the principal Streets in the City and call the common people together with their hand-Bells When they have done this they tell the Name and Quality of the Person deceas'd and exhorting the Company to pray to God for his Soul they let them know when and where he is to be buried When the Corps goes to the Grave the Mendicant Friers are usually invited to attend it and a great many Torches are carried before the Hearse In these Solemnities people commonly strive to out-do one another for the more expensive the Funeral is the greater Crowd there is to see and admire it But this Woman I spoke of would have none of all this Her Husband therefore who loved her entirely perform'd this part of her Will and burying her by her Father and Grandfather in the Franciscans Church presented these Gentlemen with no more than six Crowns whereas they expected a much greater Sum. Afterwards when he felled a Wood and sold it they desired him to give them some Timber but were denied They took this very heinously which with their former Disgust made them resolve to
it namely because most of that Court were Roman Catholicks who are bound by Oath in giving of Sentence to observe the Canon-Law as well as the Constitutions of the Empire and that the Methods of these Judges were very singular was known to many others in Germany besides themselves To say they are tied up by Oaths does not clear them from suspicion notwithstanding this Allegation they may be lawfully refus'd which themselves were under a necessity of doing For what could they expect from those of a contrary Perswasion who condemn the Protestant Religion as impious Neither is it at all material that some few of them are delegated by his Majesty and most of them chosen out of the Provinces of the Empire for the main stress of the Cause lies in the Question of their Religion but how they ought to be qualifi'd in these respects the Decree made in the Diet at Ratisbone sufficiently shews Besides most of them are made by the Bishops or by others of their way and Interest Now when these Clergymen call all those Ecclesiastical Causes which relate to Rites and Ceremonies to the Pastoral Office and the Revenues of the Church why does not the Chamber put all those Debates which are of the same kind under the same denomination Therefore what they told him before was no more than truth that if they submit themselves to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber there will be no occasion for a Council and yet the Points contested ought to be decided there For those Gentlemen make no distinction of Causes but try all which are brought before them and are willing that their Ecclesiasticks should have not only their pretended Estates but their wicked Ceremonies restor'd them Now if such proceedings as these stand good all the Protestant Doctrin must be condemn'd They said likewise that their Lawyers were so much overaw'd and apprehensive of danger that they durst not defend their Right much less make any Exception against the Judges who if they were challeng'd kept the Bench notwithstanding and had lately sent back the Hamburgers their Letters of Recusation The reason why they instanced in the Monks and such sort of People was to let his Excellency understand that the Goods and Estates which he mention'd did not belong them but to the Ministers of the Church and were partly to be spent upon pious Uses Therefore in charging them with Rapine and detaining other Mens Goods he did them wrong neither was any thing of this nature ever objected to them before not only by one of his Quality but not by the Emperor himself They wonder he should say it was Violence to take away the Revenues of the Church from the Monks and Priests who contemn the true Religion and obstinately defend plain and notorious Errors For to these Estates which were most of them given by their Ancestors the Clergy had no other right than as they were formerly Ministers of the Church in their Dominions Now when they understood the true Doctrin and their Apprehensions were better inform'd they could not with a safe Conscience tolerate known Errors any longer and being oblig'd to remove these Corruptions they did not think it fit to let those Men enjoy the Profits of the Church who positively refus'd to reform their Religion Now if any are of opinion that they ought notwithstanding to have been tolerated in their Perswasion they are mistaken for they could not grant them such an Indulgence without being involv'd in their guilt for we may deny Christ and the Truth not only in our words but in our actions therefore his Excellency had charg'd them wrongfully in this Point For what a strange piece of imprudence would it be to endanger all their Fortunes their Reputation their Lives their Wives and Children and whatever was dear to them for the gaining such little and invidious Advantages They did not desire to possess other Mens Estates and which were not under their own Jurisdiction and if they were put upon it they could demonstrate by the Canon-Law that the Revenues of the Church did not belong to those who broached and maintain'd false Doctrin neither was worldly Interest propos'd by them in this case but their principal and only aim was That God might not be dishonour'd in their Territories and therefore those who profess'd the true Religion had been depriv'd of nothing Neither did they question but that they should give a better account of what they had taken from the Ecclesiasticks than those who assume the name of the Church to themselves and possess the Revenues of it without any right and spend them without any reason Now if they insist upon the right of Possession that is nothing to the purpose for to go no farther than the Canon-Law when Truth begins to display its light all Claims by vertue of Possession Prescription and Custom are to disappear and give place like so many shadows Therefore their Practices are contrary neither to Law nor Equity but are honest pious and consonant to the holy Scriptures That Objection likewise which his Excellency urgeth that he cannot approve that Men should be outed of their Estates is properly applicable to their Adversaries for when any of their Flock happens to turn to the true Religion he hath not only his Fortune but his life too taken from him That this is no Calumny they appeal to his Excellency who very well knows what Cruelties have been exercis'd and how much Blood hath been shed upon this one account for banishment and the ruine of their whole Families is the gentlest punishment such Converts are favour'd with And whereas he insists farther that an Accommodation would be very feasible if the point of Property was waved they grant the truth of this Allegation but then the strength of it ought to be turn'd upon their Adversaries who unless they valu'd their Wealth their Honour and their Luxury that dissolute and scandalous Life which they lead above any regard to Truth all Differences might be easily reconcil'd but though they are sensible of the Excesses and Prodigality of their Expences yet they will not endure a Reformation which is of so absolute necessity Now what truth there is in the Gentlemen of the Chambers Affirmation where they say they have done nothing contrary to their Office his Excellency may understand by what they have deliver'd to him already For their parts they desire nothing more than a legal Trial and have formerly moved that the reasons of their demurring to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber might be examin'd by Referees Now that the Causes which the Chamber have unjustly decided should be brought about again by the Emperor as his Excellency suggesteth this will be a very difficult matter to effect neither will the Parties who have had Judgment given on their side allow it And because he is desirous to know their Resolution in the present case They declare that they value nothing more than Peace that they have not done any thing
formerly Liberius Bishop of Rome a Friend and Favourer of Athanasius desir'd the Emperor Constantine to call a Council at Alexandria because the Accused and Prosecutors lived there and notwithstanding that place was inconvenient for the Eastern Churches notwithstanding the Emperor Constantius declar'd That Athanasius had been condemn'd by the Suffrages of the whole World and that his Adherents were banish'd notwithstanding he protested That Liberius was the great Disturber of the Peace of Christendom yet the Bishop did not desist in his Application and the Emperor continuing as much resolv'd in his denial was the occasion of making the Arian Heresie prevail for a long time but at last Athanasius his Cause prov'd Victorious and will continue so to the Worlds end now how many Christians lost their Lives in the defence of that Doctrin is impossible to recount They expect that their Religion will have the same Success Whether there is a fit place assign'd them to argue in or not For such reasons as these the Fathers of Basil refus'd to meet at Ferrara where the Pope Eugenius had order'd the Council to convene So likewise when the Emperor Henry the Seventh had a Dispute of great consequence with Robert King of Sicily and cited him to appear at Pisa Pope Clement the Fifth look'd upon this proceeding as unjust and thereupon undertook the King's Defence and inform'd the Emperor why he was not bound to come thither though his reasons were much less considerable than those which they had produc'd therefore their refusing such a Council as this is none of their fault but the Popes For whenever they cast the Issue of their Cause upon a Council they meant such a one as his Majesty and the States had decreed being sensible that if the whole Affair was left to the management of Popes they would regard nothing but their private Advantage suppress the true Religion and establish their own Corruptions and Impieties notwithstanding this Paul the Third has so varnish'd over the matter to the Emperor as if he proceed with the greatest fairness and sincerity imaginable when he intends the direct contrary Moreover what sort of Council it is which they demand they have already declar'd in writing not only to Clement's Legate but to Peter Paul Vergerius who was sent by Paul the Third And whereas his Excellency informs them that the Emperor's design is That Error and Immorality may be rectified and reform'd they profess they cannot see the least intimation of any such matter in the Pope's Bull for if he had design'd a real and effectual Reformation he would never have condemn'd their Doctrin before it had been publickly examin'd And though they do not doubt of the Emperor's Candour and Justice and therefore they are the more concern'd that it 's not in their power to gratifie him yet this they must say that his Majesties kindness and forwardness in this Affair cannot turn to any advantage to them For admitting the Emperor should be present at the Council himself yet it 's well known what a slender Authority the Popes allow his Majesty and other Princes in such cases Now supposing the Pope and his Clergy should shew themselves very frank and let them be present at the Debates yet they never permit them to Vote that Priviledge they reserve for their own Order so that if the Emperor and the Civil Magistrate happen to carry on the Dispute farther than is acceptable to the other they have this check upon them and at last determine the Controversie according to their own good liking And since their caution is only to avoid falling into the Pope's Ambuscadoes they desire his Majesty would please not to take it ill for it 's natural to Brutes to shun those places in which they know Snares and Traps are set for them Besides it 's sufficiently known how the Emperor Sigismund was serv'd at the Council of Constance For notwithstanding he had granted John Husse a safe Conduct in due form yet the Fathers there clip'd his Prerogative to purpose when they told him That neither his Majesty nor any Person else ought to prescribe to the Council in that matter In short the Emperor gave up the Point and yielded to their Claim and Authority and though they believe his Majesty did not do this without great regret yet that was little comfort to the other miserable Person who was surpriz'd into so great a Calamity and forc'd to suffer a cruel death for being over-credulous in depending upon the safe Conduct From which matter of Fact it plainly appears what a slender Assistance the Emperor though he was never so willing is able to afford those whom they have taken in their Toyls and as it were cag'd up Therefore they are oblig'd to be circumspect in their motions however that no blame may be charg'd upon them they declare That they are not only willing to submit to a fair Trial but also they earnestly entreat the Emperor that he would please fully to examine the weight of their Reasons and call a lawful Council in Germany where the Pope and his Party may not engross the Office of Judges And if it shall so happen that the Pope hinders the Emperor in the execution of this Design and will not suffer an honest Council to be call'd in Germany they solemnly profess to the World That it 's none of their fault which prevents the proper Measures for Agreement from being resolv'd on and all the inconveniencies which follow from these misunderstandings must be attributed to the Pope Lastly They desire him that he would make an exact Report of what they have said to the Emperor and let his Majesty understand their Inclinations to serve him After these Speeches were over and Eldo had promis'd that he would give the Emperor an account of what had past between them the Protestants proceeded to make a Provision for several other Matters viz. for the Maintenance of the Clergy for the Founding of Schools that there might be a constant supply of fit Persons for the Service both of Church and State and when they had done this they decreed what was requisite concerning their League and mutual Defence I have already mention'd what answer they gave Eldo in reference to the Turk and besides there was a rumour spreads as if Ferdinand was making Preparations for a War against John Vaivod of Transylvania and therefore desir'd Supplies to carry on that design And lest they should be guilty of an Omission in respect of the Commonwealth for want of right information in the case they decreed after Eldo was gone That the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave should send away their Agents at the Common charge that they might have certain Intelligence concerning this matter and if the Turk did invade Germany they would then convene themselves again to consult what was proper for every Man to do Moreover that all Men might understand the reasonableness of their Proceedings and the Grounds
Brother George and the Condition expressed in his Testament he had made an alteration in Religion that he obstructed the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Mersburg and Misen and that he kept to himself the summ of Threescore thousand Florins left by his Brother for the use of the League Wherefore he moved the Emperor to reduce him to Duty and if he refused to foreclose him from his Brother's Succession according to the tenour of his last Will and Testament However he did not thus alone but some others of the League joined with him though he was the chief It is now time to speak of the Assembly at Haguenaw It was opened June the Twenty-fifth King Ferdinand having been there a Month before Some days before the Commencement the Protestants had made their Applications to the Electors Palatines Cologne and Treves to Erick Duke of Brunswick and the Bishops of Ausburg and Spire to all privately in their several Lodgings that they would promote a Peace King Ferdinand therefore having on the Day above-mentioned called the Protestants before him declared unto them the Cause of the Assembly And because the Princes came not in Person which the Emperor fully expected from them he required their Deputies to shew him their Commissions and Instructions After that he nominated Commissioners Lowis Prince Palatine John Archbishop of Treves Lowis Duke of Bavaria and William Bishop of Strasburg who being accepted by the Protestants the Treaty began A great many Protestant Divines came thither also as Justus Menius Pistorius Vrbanus Regius Bucer Brentius Blaurerus Osiander Schnepsius and many more but Melancthon fell dangerously sick upon the Rode. Every one of these preached privately in their own Lodgings as it was their Custom but then especially when all the Deputies met together to consult about any matter But this coming to King Ferdinand's Knowledge he discharged them to preach any more though on the other hand the Deputies alledged that they preached not publickly but privately and that his Majesty had no cause to be offended thereat When the Conference should begin the Lantgrave and Duke of Saxony intended to be present and were already on their own Frontiers expecting the News of it that so they might set out upon their Journey The Commissioners Pacificators afterwards required the Protestants to deliver unto them the Heads of the controverted Doctrines drawn up in short They make answer to this That the Confession of their Faith and Apology had been presented at Ausburg Ten Years before to which they still adhered being ready to satisfie any that found fault with it and since they knew not what it was that their Adversaries chiefly censured in that Book they had nothing to propound but rather were to demand of them what the Doctrines were that they thought contrary to the Word of God. That if they would do so and bring the matter to a Conference as had been thought fit at Francfort they were ready to come to any fair Agreement Some Days after the Commissioners make Report That seeing they stuck to the Confession of Ausburg they had in the mean time read over that Book and all the Treaty of Ausburg and find that some Points of Doctrine had been agreed upon there and some not That therefore they were ready to use all their Endeavours to accommodate these and desired them to tell them their Thoughts therein To this the Protestants reply That some Articles had been discoursed on indeed but nothing concluded therein nor any Conciliation made there The matter being thus tossed to and fro when the Protestants urged a Conference and the others alledged that they had Commands from the Emperor and King to proceed according to the Treaty of Ausburg King Ferdinand calling them all together on the Sixteenth of July told them That since nothing could be then determined and especially because the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave were absent another Day was to be appointed when the Deputies of both Parties and learned Men should meet in an equal number and conferr among themselves about the Points of the Augustane Confession but so that it should be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg And that the Pope also if he pleased might send Commissioners thither That again since some complained that the Protestants had turned them out of their Possessions it was but just and reasonable that in the mean time whilst the Controversie about Religion depended those who were rejected should be restored to the Possession of their Church Livings or else be allowed to bring their Actions for them at Law. That moreover for avoiding all Commotions a longer Truce should be made wherein those should be now comprehended who were of the Augustane Confession before the Transaction of Nurimberg so that the Protestants should not reckon those of their Number who had joined with them since nor admit of any others neither for the future Five days after the Protestants declared what they had to expect against in these Proposals That they highly approved of a Conference and wished that the Emperor himself in Person and not his Deputies only might be present at it but that as to the Pope's sending Commissioners thither they should not prescribe Laws to the Emperor As to the Restitution of Church-Lands and the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber they made a long Answer as has been several times mentioned before alledging that the Controversie about Religion ought first to be determined but that they should exclude those who had associated with them since the Peace of Nurimberg and admit of no others for the future it was a thing they said they could not do and that they had no Instructions as to that particular On the other hand King Ferdinand and the Commissioners Pacificators urge the Restitution of Church Livings or at least that they should be put under sequestration until the Cause were determined Besides King Ferdinand told them that he would not grant them Liberty to admit of more into their Society and therefore advised them to comply with the Condditions proposed by him for that though they did refuse yet by Authority from the Emperor he would make a Decree and at the same time he appointed the next Convention to be held at Wormes the Twenty-eighth Day of October They return an Answer to him that they were satisfied with the time and place of the Conference but that they had robbed no Man and that the Question it self belonged to the Conference and future Treaty that besides no sequestration could be made without great prejudice to the State and Constitution of the Church within their Dominions and to the Schools and Poor And that since it was not long to the Time of the Conference they craved that the whole matter might be put off till then that there they would make it appear how much more sollicitous they were for the Glory of God and the Reformation of the Church than for Church-Lands and Revenues and that
Apostles Ceeed Lastly They pray the King to give credit to their relation for that if any other report be made of their Belief and Doctrine they offer to prove it false provided they may be heard The King was then engaged in a War and therefore the Matter rested but Peace being made it broke out again and at the instigation of some flamed into this so hainous a cruelty Mention was made before of the Spaniards whom the Emperour had sent into Winter-Quarters in Lorrain These having done a great deal of mischief in those places by orders from the Emperour take the Field in the Month of April and having marched to Strasbourg and passed the Rhine there they advance through Shwabia into Austria to the number of Three thousand Foot. At this time died Louis Duke of Bavaria the Brother of William leaving no Issue behind him for it had been agreed betwixt them that he should not Marry that the Inheritance might not be dismembred Great friendship and familiarity past betwixt him and Henry Duke of Brunswick For as we said they were the chief of the League made against the Protestants and the Duke of Brunswick being driven out of his Countrey fled first to him The Emperour came now to Wormes May the sixteenth and next day Cardinal Farnese I dare not affirm what the cause of this Man's coming was but it was certainly thought that he came to stir up a War against the Lutherans He acted indeed nothing publickly nor in his way from Rome did he pass through the Duke of Wirtemberg's Countrey but resting sometime at Delinghen a Town upon the Danube belonging to the Cardinal of Ausbourg he struck off another way King Ferdinand had written to the Duke of Wirtembourg that for his sake he would give him safe conduct and be civil to him to which the Duke made answer that he had rather indeed he had taken any other way but that nevertheless if he had a mind to pass through his Countrey for his sake he should be welcome But he as we said took another way and came to Wormes the day after the Emperour arrived The Emperour having made Peace with the King of France sollicited also some other Potentates that they would assist at the ensuing Council and taking that occasion his Embassadour whom he sent to the King of Poland declared to him That for many Years now past it had been the Emperour's chief care that all Christians in the World would undertake a common War against the Turk and that now almost all were inclinable to it but that the Controversie about Religion was the only hindrance to the same now that that might be removed and that the desire of the Protestants might be satisfied who still insisted upon a Council after much pains and care the Emperour had now procured a Council to be called at Trent That therefore he besought him that he would send his Embassadours thither who by their presence might honour that solemn Assembly and confirm the Decrees that should be made therein concerning religious matters But that because the Emperour thought that the Protestants who were always obstinate would neither forsake the Confession of Ausbourg nor yet obey the publick Decrees the thing it self required that Kings and Princes should interpose and unless they did obey fall upon them as the disturbers both of Church and State Now seeing he amongst others had the reputation of a Pious and Christian King it was the Emperour's desire that he would both think of the Turkish War and subscribe to the Council of Trent and that if the Protestants returned not to their Duty he would assist him with Council and Force which other Kings had likewise promised to do The King of Poland's answer was That he longed to see that day when Christian Kings and Princes putting an end to all civil and intestine Wars would convert their united Forces against the Turk and that then he should not be the last That as to the Council and Protestants he would do any thing that might conduce to the tranquility of Church and State nor would he be wanting on occasion to assist the Emperour his Friend and Allie in his greatest dangers At that time it was written from Rome That though the Pope had called the Council and sent his Legates already to Trent yet he was so desirous of a Lutheran War that he had promised an assistance of Twelve thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse that Captains and other Officers were also secretly listed by him but when it was represented to him that the Season was too far spent for doing any important Action and that another occasion was to be expected he had presently communicated the same to his Commanders and put them in hopes against the next Year On Whitsun-munday an Italian Franciscan Fryer preached before the Emperour King Ferdinand Cardinal Farnese the Bishop of Ausbourg Granvell c. and in his Sermon digressing to the Lutherans after he had bitterly inveighed against them It is time said he most powerful Emperour that at length you do your Duty too long indeed have you delayed the business ought to have been done long since God has honoured you with great Blessings and made you the Defender of his Church wherefore exert your strength and utterly destroy that pestilent sort of Men. For it is not fit they should longer see the Sun who so defile and confound all things nor must you say it shall be done for now even now I say it ought to be done and no delay interposed How many thousand Souls do you think are in daily danger of eternal damnation through their madness all which unless you apply a Remedy God will require at your hands It is said that Granvell was offended at that alarm either that he counterfeited displeasure or that he perceived it gave the Protestants a warning to be upon their guard Not many days after that Sermon Cardinal Farnese departed secretly in the night-time and made all hast back to Rome Much about the same time was published Luther's Book written in the Vulgar Language with this Title Against the Papacy of Rome constituted by Satan in which Book he first answers the Pope's Brief wherein in a high strain he dehorted the Emperour from medling with the Administration of Religion as we mentioned before then he most amply refutes those places of Scripture which the Pope makes use of for the confirmation of his Supremacy and retorts them upon him He put a Picture before his Book which plainly represented the Subject thereof The Pope sitting in a lofty Chear stretching forth his joyned Hands in solemn pomp but with the Ears of an Ass a great many Devils of various shapes surround him of which some set a triple Crown upon his Head with a Sir-reverence on the top of it others with Ropes let him down into the middle of Hell looking dreadfully underneath others bring Wood and
what I have now declared to you And therefore I trust you will not be wanting to me on your parts that both their sauciness may be curbed and that you may recover your ancient Dignity If you do so you may expect from me all good will and kindness and of this I shall make a more ample Declaration if you send me any Embassadour to that purpose The Emperour wrote also to the Duke of Wirtemberg to the same effect and the very same day the Letters were written Granvell and Naves sent for the Deputies of the Cities I mentioned and having discoursed them severally much to the same purpose told them that this War was not designed against the free Cities but against some Rebels who were guilty of High Treason had contemned the Emperour's Authority invaded the Estates and Possessions of some Princes and Bishops and who if occasion did offer would not spare the free Cities neither That therefore they advised them to be true and faithful to the Emperour and not assist his Enemies that the Emperour might have no cause to be offended with them to whom he wished well that they should with all expedition acquaint their Principals with these things and exhort them to continue in their duty and that the Emperour would himself write and send Embassadours unto them The same day a Decree pass'd at Trent that a Divinity Lecturer should be established in the Abbeyes and Monasteries of Canons Regular and Monks and that some Benefice should be annexed as a Stipend to the Office but that no man be admitted to that place but he whose learning good life and conversation the Bishop or Abbot is assured of and because the preaching of the Gospel is no less necessary than the reading of Divinity the Bishops and all other Guides of the Church are enjoyned to teach the People or if any lawful impediment hinder them that they substitute another in their place Pastors and Curates are likewise commanded that every Lord's-day at least they instruct the People in those things that are necessary to Salvation exhort them to Vertue and deter them from Vice A Penalty is appointed for those that neglect their duty and the Bishops are admonished to be diligent in examining what Doctrines are taught and that if perhaps Heresies or erroneous Opinions be broached they take a course according to Law to prevent the danger of them Then a Decree is made touching Original Sin all the guilt whereof they say is washed away by Baptism That in those who are baptised there remains indeed a disposition to sin or concupiscence and that though St. Paul call that sometimes sin yet he does it not as if it were really and properly sin but because it inclines men to sinning But that the Virgin Mary is not to be comprehended in the Decree and that as to that particular what Sixtus IV. heretofore defined is to be observed And to conclude the nine and twentieth of July is appointed to be the day for the next Session Now Sixtus IV. in the thirteenth Year of his Pontificate made a Decree whereby he excommunicates as Hereticks those who teach that the Virgin Mary was conceived in Original Sin and that the Festival of her Conception appointed by the Church of Rome was not to be observed which Decree is extant in the Extravagants of the Canon Law. In this Session of the Council the French Embassadour Peter Danes made a Speech wherein having extolled the Merits and Zeal of the Kings of France towards the Church of Rome from Clouis the first Christians King and downwards he enlarged in the Praises of King Francis who being descended of such Ancestors was inferiour to none of them in dutifulness to that See having entertained a constant friendship with Leo Adrian Clement and now with Paul III. And in all this tempest and agitation of Religion suffered no alterations within his Dominions because he would have the decision of the whole matter referred to the Church for though he was naturally a most gracious and merciful Prince yet had he inflicted most severe Punishments upon those who through private rashness had presumed to disturb the state of the Church by which strict care and animadversion he had gained this point that now he could put all France into their hands in a peaceful and quiet state For in it there was no strange nor new Doctrines nor any thing but what had been introduced and setled by ancient custom and discipline and since it had been always his opinion that there was nothing more beneficial to the Publick than that the Pope of Rome as Successour of St. Peter should be Head of the Church to whom all others should submit and refer themselves he had always been careful that none should impeach his Supremacy And that though he had been many times sollicited by large offers to do other ways and follow the example of another who had done so yet nothing could ever shake him in his resolutions but that so soon as he had heard that some Fathers were met to celebrate the Council which was lately called he had presently ordered some of his select Bishops to repair hither and that when the Decrees made in some Sessions were brought into France he had dispatched hither him and his Colleagues to declare his will and pleasure unto them First then That it was his desire that once for all they would establish what ought to be followed and believed by all men in general in matters of Religion In the next place That they would prescribe to all Church-men a most strict and austere Rule of Life and Manners assuring them that whatever they decreed in those matters should by the King's command be punctually observed all over France That moreover because the Kings of France had merited very much of the Church of Rome they would not suffer any alteration or diminution to be made in those Rights and Priviledges which the Kings of France had constantly enjoyed from the time of Louis the Debonnair the Son of Charlemaigne Lastly That they would confirm all the Rights Priviledges and Immunities of the Gallican Church the protection whereof was transmitted to him from his Predecessors June the twenty-fourth Lazarus Schuendi came from the Emperour to Strasbourg with the Letters we mentioned a little before and other more ample Instructions having met the rest we named on his way But the Senate having dismissed him not long after writ back to the Emperour acquainting his Majesty that the reason why they did not presently give their answer to Lazarus was because of the difficulty of the Matters proposed which concerned not them alone but others also that what his Majesty was pleased to say of his good Intentions towards Germany they gave him their most humble thanks praying him to continue in the same mind and not to listen to those who would incite him to a Civil War that it was a
Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France who as has been said had lately made Peace to sollicite them for Succours In the mean time after that the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave had written privately to the Emperour as we said before they publish a Declaration July the thirteenth wherein they alledge That this War was a War of Religion and that it was the Emperour's Design under a certain colour and pretext of Rebellion and as if he intended but to punish a few to divide and break the Confederates that so he might afterwards more easily destroy them one after another For confirmation of this they bring several Proofs and give a Relation of what King Ferdinand Granvell Naves and others had privately said at Ratisbonne to wit That the Contempt of the Council was the cause of this War. They affirm also That the Emperour had sent Letters to the Magistrates of Ravensberg who had lately received the Reformed Religion That they should within a few days desist from their Enterprise else he threatned to give their Town and Lands to be plundred by his Soldiers but that the Messenger was recalled with his Letters when he was upon the Rode leâ—t it might become publick that Religion was the Ground of the War. That the Archbishop of Cologne also was for attempting a Reformation excommunicated by the Pope and deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Possessions and Dignities and is threatned almost with the very same by the Emperour What was that if not a plain Declaration of the Cause of the War For it was no light Report that went about That the Cardinal of Ausbourg a great Incendiary in these Troubles was by force to be put into his place That it was also given out by some That when they were once vanquished and subdued Forces should be dispersed all over Germany to see that the Decrees made in the Council concerning Religion should in the Emperour's Name be obeyed and put into execution Moreover that many Letters gave an account That the Archbishop of Toledo chiefly and many other Prelates of Spain did contribute vast Treasures for the carrying on of this War which they would not certainly do if any Secular Interest were the cause of it That it was known besides what sort of a Decree it was that past at Ausbourg sixteen years since when the Emperour declared That he could not endure that Sect and Doctrine of Luther but that he and his Friends would hazard all they had Life Strength Blood and all that he might destroy it Root and Branch For should they indeed be subdued which God forbid then would it soon appear that no favour was to be shewn to this Religion but that rather having killed their Ministers ravished their Wives and Children they would again restore Monks and Friars and the rest of that filthy Rout That it was not lawful for the Emperour to use violence against any State nor to proscribe any Man without a Trial nor yet to call into Germany Strangers or Forreign Forces nor indeed to aspire to any Hereditary Right or Succession to the Empire because to these Conditions he was bound by a sacred and solemn Oath For could he in right do otherwise there would be no lasting Form of Government in the Common-wealth That they could not imagine what the Cause of his Quarrel was For as for my part saith the Duke of Saxony all the Difference that he and his Brother King Ferdinand had with me was two years ago wholly ended at Spire and to cement our Friendship Eleanor the Daughter of Ferdinand was freely promised to my eldest Son provided we could agree about Religion The Emperour approved of that then and when I was returning home from the Diet he sent Granvell and Naves to my Lodgings to complement me in his Name and to assure me of his Kindness and of his Good-will towards my Person Children and whole Country What Crime can I have been guilty of since that time that he should from such cruel Resolutions against me But the truth is this is our Case as we said before we refuse the Pope's Counsel and therefore incur his Hatred However he had no reason to act so nor to design such things against the House of Saxony for he knows that after the Death of Maximilian this Imperial Dignity being offered to my Uncle Frederick he by his Vote and Interest secured it to him not to mention many other good Offices which at several times the Family of Saxony have done to the House of Austria But if perhaps he be offended that I turned Julius Pflugg out of the Bishoprick of Numburg as to that I both asserted my Right in a Publick Manifesto and referred my self to any unsuspected Judges and Arbitrators that the Emperour might appoint Now as for my part saith the Landgrave I was fully reconciled unto him five years ago at Ratisbonne and if that some years past I intended to make War against the Bishops and did after assist my Cousin the Duke of Wirtemberg in the recovering of his own for all that and whatever also I might have publickly or privately acted against the Statutes and Written Laws of the Empire I had a Pardon in due form What then should be the Cause of Prejudice or Animosity I cannot at all imagine Besides when I was to wait upon him lately at Spire he was so gracious and obliging to me both in Countenance and Speech that I could not perceive the least sign of Displeasure in him It was stipulated betwixt us five years since at Ratisbonne That if at any time he should attempt any thing against the Duke of Cleve I should not at all meddle in the matter He made War afterwards against him and I performed what I promised and when afterwards he received the Duke of Cleve into favour again which was before Venlo he pardoned all that had served under him or assisted him in his Wars But if he be offended at our Absence and that we did not come to Ratisbonne both of us made our Excuses the Duke of Saxony by Ambassadors and I personally in a Conference at Spire But what Liberty or Form of Government is there then in Germany if that should give a good Cause for War when not only in former Diets but in the very same Diet also of Ratisbonne several Princes were absent And as for the War of Brunswick we cannot be blamed for it is lawful for all Men to withstand Force by Force We frequently moved and earnestly desired in several Diets That a Restraint might be put upon his Boldness but unless it were fair Words and Letters we could obtain nothing And nevertheless the Publick Letters which at our desire King Ferdinand wrote to Duke Henry were accompanied with other Private ones whereby Duke Henry was given to understand that he was not to obey them These Letters under the King 's own Hand were found in Wolffembottel and if need were could be
might be pretended and given out that Religion was not the Cause of the War as the Emperour now did Wherefore they caution all men but especially Collonels Officers and Soldiers not to serve under a Man who had violated his Faith and Promise July the thirteenth the Pope emitted a Bull wherein having said much of his own Care and Zeal for the Publick the Salvation of Mens Souls the obstinacy of Hereticks who slighted and rejected the Council that now was begun and made a pernicious War against all pious and good men he exhorts all Men in general to give themselves to fasting and praying confess their Sins chuse what Confessor every one pleased and then receive the Sacrament that so God might be prevailed with to prosper that War which the Emperour and He were obliged to undertake for the rooting out of Heresies and restoring Peace to the Church Now though it was the Emperour's design to have raised Forces with all imaginable secrecy and to have fallen upon the Protestant Confederates before they were provided yet such was their diligence and so great zeal and resolution was in the minds of Men to defend themselves in this War that July the sixteenth the Landgrave took the Field with his Forces though in the lower Germany Maximilian Count of Buren had an Army almost compleat and that it was uncertain whom he intended first to attack Before the Landgrave marched out of his own Country he sent his Eldest Son William a Youth of sixteen Years of Age to Strasbourg a City of great strength When he was upon parting Henry Duke of Brunswick sent him word out of Prison That if he would give him the hearing he would discover unto him when and how the measures of this War were concerted But the Landgrave who looked upon that to be a cunning fetch of his to attone a little for his fault or to procure his liberty declined the conference but the Duke would by no means discover the matter to any but himself The first Exploit performed by the high Germans who now were in a readiness was against their Enemies of Bavaria For when frequent intelligence was brought that the Pope's Forces having almost passed the Alps were drawing nigh the Borders of Germany they thought it best to prevent them Thus stands the case now They who come from Italy pass by Trent to Inspruck a Town belonging to King Ferdinand from thence there are two ways that lead to Bavaria where the Emperour then was either down the River of Inn by Copsteyne or else to the left hand through the middle of the Alps. Near the entry into the Alps on the German side King Ferdinand has the Castle of Erenberg standing upon a very high Hill surrounded with steep and abrupt Precipices and narrow Passes so that whoever is Master of that Castle may hinder the passage of the greatest Army that way Wherefore in the Month of July Sebastian Scherteline marches thither with a competent Body of Men by orders of the Protestant Deputies that were then assembled at Ulm as we said before and having on his march taken Fiessen a Town upon the River of Leck belonging to the Bishop of Ausbourg on the tenth of July he makes himself Master also of that Pass and Castle the Garrison having surrendered it unto him His design was to have continued his march along the Alps and to have taken Inspruck also and fortified it with a strong Garrison and so he would have commanded both the ways that lead from Italy into Germany and stopt the coming of Soldiers or Provisions to the Emperour by those places But the alarm being taken and by orders from King Ferdinand all the Country of Tirol being in Arms a considerable Body of Men came to Inspruck under the Command of Francis Castlealto Governour of Trent and having left a Garrison to defend the Town they possess themselves of the ways and passages Wherefore Scherteline having left Garrisons in the Castle of Erenberg and the Town of Fiessen retreats and marches with his Men to that Army which was raised in upper Germany and lay upon the Danube This Army which was Commanded by Heideck July the twenty-third took by composition the Town and Castle of Dilinghen belonging to the Bishop of Ausbourg and exacted of them an Oath of Fidelity to the Cause At the same time Maurice Bishop of Archstadt sent Messengers to the chief Commanders of the Army entreating them to spare him and his people and he would allow them free passage through his Country and furnish them with Provisions Below Dilinghen is the Town of Donawert which being summoned refused to surrender but when the Inhabitants saw an Army appearing to batter it they surrendered the place to the Protestants In the mean time the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave advance with their Forces and marching through Franconia where they capitulated with the Bishop of Wurtzburg for free passage and Provisions they hasten to joyn their Companions In their Camp at that time were the Embassadours of the Elector of Brandenbourg and Duke Maurice sent to negotiate a Treaty but they referring the matter to their Confederates there was nothing done in it The rich Merchants and other Banquiers of Ausbourg having packt up their Goods were already gone out of the Town but because it was reported that they lent the Emperour Money the Deputies that then were at Ulm by Letters and Messengers complain of it to the Senate of Ausbourg as of an ill thing and seriously advise them to take care that the like be not done for the future The Magistrates answer That formerly when they knew nothing of War they had lent Money indeed according to their Custom that it might not lie idle by them but that now they did not think any body did it nor should they go unpunished if it came to their knowledge that they did do so The Emperour was at that time at Ratisbonne and had as yet no Forces with him besides three thousand Spaniards about five thousand German Foot and seven hundred Horse The Spaniards he had sent for out of Hungary and they were the same who as we mentioned in the preceding Book had after the Pacification at Soissons wintered in Lorrain and having afterwards marched near to Strasbourg were the Year before sent into Hungary It fell out luckily for the Protestants that Peace being lately concluded betwixt the Kings of England and France the German Soldiers who had served the French King being dismissed listed themselves in their Service under the Command of Count Bichling and George Record who was the Landgrave's Vassal July the twentieth the Emperour by Proclamation Outlawed the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave In the beginning he gives a large account what pains he had hitherto taken that he might keep all Germany in Peace what Decrees he had made to that purpose whereby it was provided that no Force should be
generous Answer immediately departed and because of the Saxon-War went to Nordlingen Whilst the Duke of Wirtemberg performed this Ceremony of Submission there was a vast Crowd of People got together who being told of it before flocked thither to see the Shew In those three Places we named before of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Emperour had already placed Garrisons and chiefly Spaniards THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIX The CONTENTS The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent is held When the City of Strasbourg had captitulated and made Peace with the Emperour he orders his Army to advance Shortly after the Death of the King of England Francis King of France dies The Fathers that were at Trent go to Bolonia The Duke of Saxony is taken in Battel and though he was condemned to die yet with undaunted Courage he professed the Reformed Religion Wirtemberg being surrendred the University is dissolved Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg earnestly intercede for the Landgrave who being come to wait on the Emperour is detained Prisoner King Ferdinand by Letters to those of Prague appoints a Convention of States A great Commotion raised at Naples because of the Spanish Inquisition as they call it Henry King of France is Crowned and the Solemnity of the Coronation described The Emperour by Proclamation puts the City of Magdenburg to the Ban of the Empire He sollicits the Suitzers to enter into a new League A Diet is held at Ausburg Petro Aloisio the Pope's Son is assassinated in his own House The English overcome the Scots in a great Battel The Protestant Electors are prevailed with and the Free Towns terrified A Contention ariseth about the Imprisonment of the Landgrave Means are used for recalling the Fathers to Trent but they who had removed to Bolonia firmly persist in their Opinion and Resolution so that there is nothing but Confusion in the Council of Trent THE Seventh Session of the Council of Trent was held the third day of March. In it were condemned all who maintain either that the Sacraments of the Church were fewer than Seven or that they were not all instituted by Christ who deny that one is of more Dignity than another who affirm that they are only outward Signs of Grace or Righteousness received by Christ who deny that they confer Grace who hold that no spiritual and indelible Character or Mark is by Baptism Confirmation and Orders stamped upon the Soul and that all have like power to administer them or that the usual Ceremonies of the Church may be omitted or altered in the Administration of the same who say that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistress of all others concerning Baptism is not sincere That Vows made after Baptism are of no force and derogate from the Faith they have professed who assert That Confirmation is but an idle Ceremony and was no more in ancient Times but an Instruction of Youth who deny the Virtue and Influence of the Holy Ghost to be conferred in Confirmation and who assign the Office of Confirmation not to Bishops solely but indifferently also to any Priest Then they make Decrees concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices That Bishops and other Rulers of the Church be lawfully begotten of due Age and conspicuous for Good Manners and Learning That no Man of what Quality he be do by any Title whatsoever possess more than one Bishoprick and that such as have Pluralities keep which of them they please and resign the others within a Year That those who have the Cure of Souls reside upon the Place and substitute no others to officiate for them unless for a time and so as that they have made appear to their Bishop that they had a lawful cause of Absence which is to be allowed of by him who is to take care that the People be not neglected that the Faults of Priests be punished and what is amiss amongst them reformed And then the one and twentieth of April is appointed for the Day of the next Session King Ferdinand being at Dresden with Duke Maurice on the eighth day of March writes to the Bohemians acquainting them That Duke John Frederick was resolved to invade them That therefore they should be upon their Guard and obey Sebastian Weittemull whom he had appointed to be his Vicegerent in his absence The Deputies of Strasbourg who as we told you went to Ulm being come back with the Conditions prescribed by the Emperour which the Senate did not dislike are sent back again to transact and make a final Conclusion Setting out upon their Journey then they find the Emperour at Nordlingen taken ill of the Gout and having March the one and twentieth made their Submission are received into Favour They had pretty tolerable Conditions for the Emperour put no Garrison upon them was satisfied with Thirty thousand Florins and did not exact above twelve Pieces of Ordnance of them The Elector of Brandenburg in the mean time bestirred himself affectionately in behalf of the Landgrave and applied himself also to King Ferdinand But very hard Conditions were proposed which were these That he approve without exception all the future Decrees of the Diet of the Empire That he give one of his Sons in Hostage That he dismiss Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son and submit to the Emperour's Decision as to the Difference betwixt them That he send the Emperour a Supply of some Troops of Horse and eight Companies of Foot against the Elector of Saxony and the Confederates and that he pay them for six Months That he submit himself to the Emperour and openly confess his Crimes But he rejected the Conditions and acquainted his Friends by Letters That unless they were mitigated he had rather seeing he could not in Honour condescend to them undergo the worst of Fortunes The day the Emperour transacted with the Strasburgers he parted from Nordlingen to go to Norimberg And next day upon the Road having dispatched Letters to the States of Duke Maurice he tells them That forasmuch as that Outlaw John Frederick flying to his own Home had not only regained what the Prince Elector Maurice had by his Orders taken from him but those Places also which King Ferdinand his Brother possessed in that Country as Dependents on Bohemia he was now upon the march to come and repress his Boldness Wherefore he charged them in the first place that they should take care that in those Places through which he was to march with his Army nothing might be wanting that was necessary and that the Soldiers might be kindly used In the next place That they should despise the Threats of John Frederick and shew all Love and Duty to their Prince as they had hitherto done since the main Design of the present War was to daunt his insolent Fierceness and to settle Peace and Quietness amongst them The very same day he wrote to the Council and Magistrates
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
Throne So did the Electors also every one according to his Degree behind him And over the Emperour the Trumpeters were placed on a kind of Stage Then advanced Duke Maurice's first Squadron and putting Spurs to their Horses came gallopping towards the Pavillion as the Custom is Duke Maurice himself in the mean time with his other Squadron was posted over against them accompanied by a croud of Princes and Great Men and twelve Trumpeters were ranked immediately before him Out of that Company presently advanced Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolffgang Brother to the Elector Palatine and Duke Albert of Bavaria who having gallopped their Horses to the place alighted and going up to the Emperour humbly begg'd his Imperial Majesty that it would please him to confer upon Duke Maurice the publick Investiture and Ensigns of Principality and Electorship The Emperour consulting with the Electors answered by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That he was willing provided he came and demanded it in person When Duke Maurice had received this Answer he speeded forward with the whole Body Before him were carried ten Banners with the Arms of so many Countries as he desired to be Invested in So having alighted and kneeling down before the Emperour he begg'd the same thing as also did Hoier Count Mansfield in name of his Brother Augustus The Emperour therefore made answer by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That seeing they had both done him faithful Service he gave to Duke Maurice and his Male-Issue or if he had none to his Brother Augustus and the Heirs of his Body the Electorship of Saxony and all the Lands and Possessions of John Frederick except so much as had been before made over to his Children Then the Archbishop of Mentz read over the Oath which the Electors take and when Duke Maurice had said it over after him and taken it the Emperour gave him a Sword and by that Ceremony put him in a manner into possession He returned him thanks promising him all Fidelity and Obedience Afterwards the Emperour gave Duke Maurice the Banners we mentioned which were immediately thrown amongst the people as it is customary John Frederick might have seen and indeed did behold all this Ceremony from the House where he lodged for it stood in the same Market place Bucer who was sent for as we have already said came at length to Ausburg and was entertained at the Elector of Brandenburg's Court. And now the Book about Religion which as it is mentioned before was ordered to be Complied was Finished The Elector of Brandenburg presents it as it was written to Bucer and desires him to Subscribe to it but upon perusal finding that the Popish Doctrine was therein establish'd he made answer That he could not approve it The Elector of Brandenburg took that very ill and was extremely angry with him for he lookt upon it to be a moderate Book as Islebius had persuaded him Granvel pressed him to it also by Messengers and promised him large rewards if he would approve it But when he could not prevail by fair promises he began to threaten which made Bucer return home but not without danger for there were Garisons of Spaniards all over the Dutchy of Wirtemberg as has been said before In the Month of April the Archbishop of Cologne who was lately made a Priest said his first Mass The Emperour King Ferdinand and a great many Princes were present whom afterwards he entertained at a most Magnificent Dinner At this time Muleasses King of Tunis whom thirteen years before the Emperour had restored to his Kingdom having expelled Barbarossa as has been said in the ninth Book came to Ausberg His Eldest Son had invaded his Kingdom and put out his Eyes And therefore the poor banished Prince came out of Africa to implore the Emperours help as not long after another of his Sons came also That Book which was made concerning Religion treats first of the State of Man both before and since his Fall of Redemption by Christ of Charity and good Works of the assurance of the Remission of Sins of the Church of Vows of Authority of the Ministers of the Church of the Pope of the Sacraments of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Commemoration Invocation and Intercession of Saints of the Remembrance of those who are dead in the Faith of the Communion to be joyned with the Sacrifice of Ceremonies and the use of the Sacraments Now amongst other things there are these Doctrines in it that those Works which are more than what God commands and commonly called Works of Supererogation are to be commanded That Man cannot without doubting believe that his Sins are forgiven him That the Church hath the Power of interpreting Scriptures of drawing and explaining Doctrines from them the Power of Jurisdiction of deciding in doubtful Cases by a Council and of making Canons That there is one Head over the rest to wit the Pope by Virtue of the Prerogative granted to Peter That the Government of the Universal Church is committed to him by Christ yet so as that the rest of the Bishops have a share in that Cure every one in his own Church That by Confirmation and Chrism the Holy Ghost is received to enable us to resist the temptations of the Devil the World and the Flesh and that a Bishop is the only Minister of that Sacrament That the Sins which we remember are to be confessed to a Priest That by satisfaction which consists in the Fruits of Repentance especially in Fasting Alms-deeds and Prayer the causes of Sin are rooted out and Temporal Punishments either taken quite away or mitigated That extreme Unction hath been in the Church ever since the Apostles time that it might either relieve the Body or fortifie the Mind it self against the fiery Darts of the Devil That then it is to be administred when the hour of Death seemeth to draw nigh That Marriage contracted without the Parents consent ought to stand good but that Children are in Sermons to be admonished to ask the advice of their Parents That Christ at his last Supper instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood First that it should be received by Believers as the saving Food of their Souls and then that it should be offered up in memory of his Death and Passion For that there are in all two Sacrifices of Christ one a bloody Sacrifice upon the Cross and another wherein under the form of Bread and Wine he offered up his own Body and Blood to the Father and afterwards commanded his Apostles and their Successors to do the same in remembrance of him to the end of the World That by the first Mankind was reconciled to God the Father but by this unbloody Sacrifice Christ is offered up and represented to the Father not that he may again make satisfaction for Sins but that by Faith we may apply to our selves the Redemption purchased to us by his Death That in
humbly beg forgiveness and promise amendment This Formulary being read over as I said before was by the Bishops after some deliberation approved and they promised to call Synods within a little time after they were returned home Nevertheless they desired that the Pope might be moved to give his assent to some things in it This Book was Printed also afterward Mention was made before that the Deputies of the Cities sent home to consult their Principals about the Decree But when the Strasburghers who were the chief were a little backward in answering the Emperour orders Granvell to press them to it He therefore June the Twenty eighth sends for the Deputies of whom James Sturmey was the Principal and speaking to them by Henry Hasen who then was his Interpreter he told them that they themselves knew how the States had begg'd of the Emperour and referred it to his care to devise some Expedient that might be observed till the sitting of the Council That he had done it and that a Form was drawn up by good and Learned Men which all the Princes except some few and the chief Cities had approved Now seeing they and some others had besought the Emperour that they might have leave to consult their Principals which he granted and in the mean time waited for their Answer he took it ill that hitherto they had made him none and that therefore he had commanded him to learn what their mind was When the Deputies had told the reason of their Silence they produce a Letter directed to the Emperour from the Senate wherein they tell his Majesty That they desired nothing more than to be able to gratifie him in all things but that they and all their Citizens were fully persuaded that if they should at all admit of that Decree they should wound their own Consciences grievously offend God and endanger their own salvation That since he in his own Wisdom knew how heinous a thing that was they begg'd for Christs sake that in so nice a point which concerned not Lands nor Goods but the salvation of their Souls and Eternal Happiness he would have some regard to them and as he allowed others of a different Persuasion the free use of their Religion so he would suffer them to enjoy that of the Augustane Confession until a Decree should pass in Council as it had been often enacted in Dyets and that he would not compel them to say with their Mouth what their Heart did not think That they again on their parts should take all imaginable care that nothing should be done tumultuously or irreligiously in their City that no wicked and pernicious Principles or Doctrines should be suffered among them nor no cause of Complaint given to their Neighbours When Granvell had heard the Letter read he told them that the Emperour had always had a good opinion of their City and that since all generally commended and approved the Decree they must not expect to be exempted for they had Orders to admit of no such Answer that it was in vain then to Petition but that they should tell positively what the Resolution of the Senate was To which they Reply That when the matter was referred to the Emperour they and the other Deputies had always understood it of the Civil but not Religious Concerns that they thought the last had been referred to a Council where upon hearing of the Parties the Controversie should be decided but that in this Book almost all the Points of Doctrine in dispute were determined that if they should now receive them without any previous Disquisition or the Learned Men of their Party being heard they would no longer remain Controverted nor stand in need of the Authority of a Coucncil That it was no wonder that most part of the Princes and States approved the Decree since it was for their own advantage all being left whole and entire to them but a manner of Religion prescribed to the Protestants and commands laid upon them to forsake those Doctrines that had been always disputed without so much as a hearing whereas nevertheless in all the Dyets the whole Cause was referred to a Council That to force any Man to act contrary to his own Conscience though it were erroneous was a very grievous thing unless the Errour were first made appear That they believed there were a great many good Men on both sides that nevertheless differed among themselves in Judgment and Opinion That no constraint ought to be put upon such but that they should be convinced by Reason Truth and Arguments That since then in all Matters not relating to Religion they were ready to give unto Caesar the things that were Caesars they prayed him to recommend to his Imperial Majesty these humble Demands of the Senate That they were not ignorant of the Emperours great power nor of the danger they now incurred if he should think fit to make use of force That therefore if they were not fully persuaded that by the approbation of this Decree God was greatly offended it would be the greatest madness in the world not to comply with the Emperour Here again Granvell having repeated what he had said before told them that they themselves when they were received again into the Emperours favour had promised to observe what he should appoint for the welfare of the Empire That of this nature was the Decree made with the Counsel and Advice of Learned Men and by the greater part approved That therefore it could not be refused because it was consonant to the Doctrine of the Church Did they arrogate so much to themselves as to think they saw more than the Universal Church that they should make a separation from the rest That it was not lawful for them to change Religion without the common consent of the whole World. That therefore if they had no other Instructions they should inform themselves from their Senate whether they intended to obey or not That as to what they alledged that they had only understood it of Civil Affairs when the Matter was referred to the Emperour it was no matter how they understood it but how the major part of the States did The Deputies again represent that they and the rest of the Deputies of their State had in a manner been excluded from all Deliberations nay and that they had not been then consulted when the matter was referred to the Emperour so that they had understood it no otherwise than as they told him Yea and that some Princes had also understood it so for that when they made their peace with the Emperour they would not promise absolute obedience for fear it might be some time or other extended to Religion that his own Son the Bishop of Arras knew this to be true who then promised in the Emperours Name that the whole Cause of Religion should be referred to a Lawful Council That whereas he said that Decree ought to be received as
up in the Market-place and there and about the Church keep Guard 'till the Council break up These are for the most part sent for out of the Country to be ready against the day of the Session though the Town also supply a good many When they are come into the Church Mass is said that being over the Decrees of the Council are read and then a day appointed for the next Session Then also if any Ambassador have ought to say he is heard But by reason of the many various and most cumbersom Ceremonies that are used in every thing the day is far spent before their Business is over and then the Legate returns home in the same Pomp as he came The Pope's Legate takes the first place in the Council next to him the Cardinal of Trent then the Legates Collegues and after them the Electoral Archbishops On the left hand sit the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Princes And the middle Benches are filled by the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates taking place according to the Seniority of their Consecration September the second Subjects were given to the Divines to be discussed and that they might give their Opinions of them that so they might be decided in the next Session Now in giving their Opinions this method was prescribed That they should insist upon the Holy Scriptures Apostolical Traditions received and approved Councils and the Authorities of the Fathers that they should use Brevity abstain from unnecessary and superfluous Questions and avoid all Jangling and Contention As to the Order it was thought fit that the Pope's Divines should speak first and then the Emperours and so of the rest The Pope's Legate also for the finding out of the Truth and the confuting of false Opinions as they said gave them leave to read all sorts of Books There were a great many Divines present Spanish Italians and Germans whom the Pope Emperour and his Sister Queen Mary the Governess of the Low Countries had sent besides those whom the Electors of Cologne and Treves and some Spanish and Italian Bishops also brought with them All things were to be examined by them and no Man who had not the Title of Doctor as they call it was permitted to speak But in favour to the Bishops of Cologne and Treves John Gropper a Civilian and John Delph a Divine but under Doctors Degree were admitted And because in some former Sessions in Anno 1546 and the year following new Canons were made concerning Original Sin Justification Free-will and the Seven Sacraments in general and particular Decrees made concerning Baptism and Confirmation it was resolved That all these standing in force they should proceed to other things and in the first place to the Sacrament of the Eucharist Then Points were assigned to the Divines with these Instructions that they should search and try if they were Heretical and to be condemned by the holy Council And these Points were gathered out of the Books of Luther Zuinglius Bucer and other Protestant Writers Now in this manner do the Divines handle the matter They all meet daily in the Legate's Lodgings and there for several hours and in the order we mentioned every one discourses of a Point without any interruption yet so that they still submit all they say to the Judgment of the Church of Rome for none of the Protestants were present This place is open indifferently to all Men. The Pope's Legate and generally all the Fathers are there but none speak except the Divines and their several Sayings and Opinions are marked down by Clerks When they have all discoursed which then was done commonly in a Months time the Bishops meet at the Legate's Lodgings and examine the Opinions of the Divines registred by the Clerks Then some of every Nation are chosen out of the whole number that then are present who having weighed all the Opinions out of them frame that which they call a Doctrine what ought to be determined and believed in every point Afterwards they Condemn in few words but with a severe Censure the contrary Doctrine and Errors as they call them And at length all these things are reported to the whole Assembly When they are fully agreed a publick Session is held as we said before where the Decrees are read aloud and then the Bishops are asked if they approve them To which they severally answer with a Placet And so then some Divines tell their Opinions of the several Points but the Bishops only and with them a few Mitred Prelates have the power of Determining What is so decreed they command to be reverenced as Sacred and Holy and call them Canons These things indeed are acted publickly but they who are more intimately acquainted with the Affairs of Rome say That all the Decrees are already framed at Rome by the Pope's order and sent in due time to the Legate that the Divines in their Reasonings may follow that Form and Prescript for the Pope maintains several of them and many Bishops also there And it is a jocose Proverb used by some That the Holy Ghost comes ever now and then from Rome to Trent in a Cloak-bag because the Pope sent Letters with his Orders and Instructions by Post from Rome September the fourth Count Heideck came to Magdâ—burg and Duke Maurice sent by him the Conditions of Peace formerly proposed so moderated that they resolved to proceed in the Treaty In the mean time there was a Cessation of Arms which was afterward also prolonged for many days as shall be said hereafter The French King now at variance with the Pope published an Edict wherein having enlarged much upon the injury done him by the Pope upon the cause of the War of Parma and why he had taken Octavio into his protection he commands under a most severe penalty That no more Money be for the future carried to Rome for since Money was the Sinews of War what madness would it be with his and his Subjects Treasure to maintain and strengthen the power of his Enemy That it was the proper Office of the Popes to take up the differences of Princes and that did Paul III. who being almost worn out by Age made a long progress to Nizza to make the Emperour and his Father friends but that Julius took a quite different course who having lately called a Council which was indeed very necessary to the publick had stirred up a War against him on purpose that he might exclude all the Church of France which was one of the chief and that so no lawful Council might be had wherein the Errors and Faults both of the Head and Members might be reformed This Edict of the King 's was published at Paris the seventh of September when a few days before another Edict of his and a most severe one too was published against the Lutherans which partly confirmed the former Decrees of that nature and partly where they seemed not smartly
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
enrich himself that for some years past he had served the Emperor and King Ferdinand in their Wars to the great prejudice of his Estate without any other prospect or design but the purchasing of Honour and Reputation by his Services that fair and ample conditions had been several times offered him also but he had rejected them that he might espouse this War for the Liberty and ancient Dignity of his Country That if perhaps in this War the overgrown Power and Authority of the Clergy which is prohibited in holy Scripture should chance to be weakened and impaired he was not to be blamed for that since to say the Truth the chief Bishops of the Empire had been the cause of all these Evils that it was not his design though that those religious Houses which were founded chiefly for the use of the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed but that the vices being rooted out and those things reformed which could not be suffered they might continue in their own station nay and flourish too and that he would assist them therein provided they were willing and did not suffer themselves to be perswaded by his Adversaries to the contrary The French King also made publick Declaration that it had been his chief design Religion being once setled that he might do good to the publick but especially to his Friends That therefore immediately after the death of his Father he had restored Scotland to its ancient dignity renewed the league with the Switzers recovered Boloigne brought back the People that had been dispersed up and down into their own Lands and Possessions again and made a Peace and strict Friendship with the King of England But that whilst he was intent upon these things the Emperour by close and clandestine Counsels had contrived many things to his ruin and oftener than once given him a cause of War but that to give some ease and refreshment to the publick and to his own People also in private he had been still and winking at these injuries had wholly applied himself to the settling of his Kingdom that this his quietness had been by his Adversaries interpreted Cowardise and Faint-heartedness afterwards but that in the mean time sad and grievous Complaints had been brought to him from many of the Princes and States of Germany who said that under the specious Pretexts partly of Religion partly of a Turkish War and punishing of Rebellion designs had been carried on to bring them into Bondage and that through cunning and crafty counsels Factions and Divisions were fomented and Germany totally exhausted so that it was no longer to be doubted but that he aimed at an universal Monarchy for himself and the house of Austria that that truly had been a great grief to him not only because of the common origine of both Nations but also of the ancient alliance and friendship which had always remained firm and unviolate so long as the craft and subtlety of the Emperor had given it leave for that if the Government should be changed and Germany lose its liberty he well understood how dangerous and prejudicial that would be unto him that Germany was indeed the Bulwark not only of France but of all Christendom also and that therefore he had many times heartily wished and prayed that both People might have united their strength and put themselves into such a condition as not to need to fear any danger but that since there appeared no hopes of that and that in the mean time many craved his assistance but on different accounts he could see no way how he could succour the Empire so much rent and torn Nevertheless that in this so weighty a deliberation God the just Judge of all had offered him a very fit occasion for that Octavio Farnese Duke of Piacenza and Parma for whom the Emperor and Pope Julius laid Snares had implored help from him and by laying open before him all the injuries received had perswaded him to undertake the Protection of him and the Prince of Mirandula that afterwards came those complaints from the Princes of Germany who desired to enter into league with him as being the only way in their opinion to restore the State that he would not mention those weighty and just causes that the Princes had to take up Arms since they might be understood from their own declarations but yet that any Man might consider with himself whether this insatiable ambition of their Adversaries was not a just ground of grief who having ruined the Wealth of Germany swept all into their own Coffers and Treasury Were not the provinces of Utricht Liege and Cambray sufficient instances thereof And what was also Constance and many other free Cities oppressed That the Burgundians now hovering over the People of Treves Cleve and Wirtemberg had left the Prints of their footsteeps upon their Borders and many ways made havock of the Landgraves Territories that in like manner and for the same purpose the Emperor excluded his Ambassadors from the Diets of the Empire prohibited by publick Edict the Germans from serving foreign Princes in their Wars cut off brave and valiant Soldiers and amongst those Vogelsperg whom he himself to glut his revenge saw executed at Ausburg Was it not a thing of bad example that he should encourage and hire Men to kill those who served in his Wars That it was not certainly to be expressed what Arts their Enemies used for such were by them thrust in and admitted into the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and Diet of the Empire as might make it their whole business to bring about and accomplish whatever they pleased and that indeed the blame of all the Evils that had happened was to be imputed to those kind of Men but especially the Judges of the Imperial Chamber That for these reasons he could not refuse his assistance to the Germans who desired it that therefore he had made a League with them and not only done so but was resolved also to employ all his force nay his very Person in that war that he did not neither look for any private profit or advantage thereby but that it was only his intent that by asserting the Liberty of Germany delivering John Frederick Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave whom he had detained in a tedious and base Captivity he might purchase to himself Praise and immortal Glory as Flaminius had heretofore done in delivering Greece from bondage nor needed any Man to fear Violence for that since he had undertaken that War for the sake of Liberty he would take care that no Man who did not deserve it should receive any hurt that therefore they might believe the Promise which he faithfully made to them and not give credit to their Adversaries who gave it out that it was his design to afflict and plague the Clergy that he was so far from entertaining such thoughts that he took them all under his protection and defence provided they gave him
Literature and he did not only understand the Latin but the Greek and French Tongues and very much loved the Reformed Religion he also Entertained and Protected the Learned Men of Germany Italy France Scotland Spain and Poland Albert having passed the Weser and the two Armies lying near together in Saxony the ninth day of July in the Afternoon they Engaged and after a sharp Fight Maurice who was strongest in Horse gained the Victory but then being shot through the Belly with a Dagg he died two days after of the Wound Albert however escaped to Hanover without any Hurt There was about four Thousand slain the greatest part of which were Horsemen but then the number of the Prisoners was very great Henry Duke of Bunswick lost Charles and Philip two of his Sons in this Battel The day after the Fight five Hundred Bohemian Horse which were sent by Ferdinand King of the Romans came into the Camp. The Lantgrave of Hassia had also sent to Maurice his Assistance about seven Hundred Horse Thus by a wonderful Change of Affairs the Lantgrave Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Bishops sent their Forces to Maurice And Erick of Brunswick who had Married the Sister of Maurice sent his to Albert. It was also the Opinion of many that as Ferdinand King of the Romans openly espoused the Interest of Maurice and sent his Forces against Albert so the Emperor under-hand encouraged Albert and encreased his Numbers but then the Letter which the Emperor wrote afterwards which I shall give the Reader in due time takes no notice of this It is also reported that the King of France had then entered into some new designs with Maurice and that he was very much afflicted for his Death Maurice being carried into his Tent sent that Night a Letter to the Bishop of Wurtzburg on of his Allies and in it desired him to shut up the Passages and endeavour to take Albert in his Flight or at least to intercept his Retreat that way He said whatever the event of his Present Condition were he enjoyed the comfort of a good Conscience for he had entered into this War for no other ends but to repel that Destroyer and to restore the Peace of Germany he died in the three and Thirtieth Year of his Age and was buried the fourteenth day after the Fight at Fridberg a Town of Misnia by Henry his Father and Albert an Infant of his own His Presence is thought to have contributed very much to the Victory many of his own Horse having fled in the Fight and that nothing else deprived Albert of it There were fifty Foot and fourteen Horse Colours taken from the Enemy in this Battel and presented to Maurice that Evening Thus Maurice Duke of Saxony lost his Life but then he very much weakened the Forces of Albert he never afterbeing able to bring a considerable Army into the Field When the Body of Maurice was carried through Leypsick to be Buried Joachimus Camerarius made a Funeral Oration in Commendation of him enumerating also the Prodigies which preceded his Death observing that drops of Blood were found upon the Leaves of some Trees that the Dogs howled more than was usual and that some Dogs had torn others the neighing of Horses the clashing of Armour and many other such noises which were very dreadful That his Tent was blown down by a Whirlwind when none of the rest were And lastly some ominous Words which fell from the Duke and seemed to presage his Death And in truth as to what concerns the drops of Blood they were observed in many Places and amongst the rest at Strasburg to be found frequently in the beginning of July fallen upon Herbs the Leaves of Trees Stones and the Tiles of Houses There was then a vast flight of Butterflies and there were some that were of Opinion that these drops of Blood proceeded from them but then others thought they were Presages of something that was to happen Maurice and Albert being Princes of an equal Degree and Honour had till then lived in the greatest Friendship and Conjunction They had served the Emperor together in the French Smalcaldick and Magdeburgian Wars And they were in the beginning of this fourth War united against the Emperor But some differences arising between them as I have said elsewhere their Friendship ended in this dreadful manner When Maurice died Augustus his Brother was with his Wife in Denmark with his Father-in-Law the King and therefore the Nobility and States of Saxony retained with them a part of the Army for the security of the Province that is about twelve Companies of Foot and five Troops of Horse the rest were dismissed and for the most part after the Funeral returned Home The eighteenth of July Albert sent a Letter to the Subjects of Maurice wherein he insinuated that when he passed through their Country into Saxony he did not commit the least act of Hostility because he had not any anger against them That on the contrary Maurice had not only injured his Subjects but that he might gratifie some wicked and perfidious Bishops had without cause or example broke the ancient League which had been so long between the Houses of Brandenburg and Saxony and made a War upon him And therefore seeing they had assisted their Prince contrary to the Commands of the Emperor who had signed his Treaty with the Bishops he was now to consider how he might retrieve his Loss and recover his Damages and to that end he in his turn did now renounce all those terms of Friendship which till then had been between him and them The Emperor's Army having taken and destroyed Terovanne marched from thence to Artois and took the Castle of Hesdin in the Month of July by Storm In this Action Horatius a Son-in-Law of the King of France was slain and many of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and amongst them Marchiane one of the Marshals of France and an Inhabitant of the Forrest of Ardenne The account of the Battel of Saxony was brought in a very few days to the Emperor who the Twenty second of July answered Erick of Brunswick who had been sent to him by Albert as I have above related That he was very sorry the differences had been carried so far that he had much wished the Quarrel might have been compos'd and that he feared if it were not here ended it would have ill effects upon the Empire and especially upon Albert considering the great number of the Princes of great Note which were leagued against him concerned in it That therefore it was his Desire and Command that they should lay down their Arms and consider of the Means of procuring a Peace That if Albert were so content he would take care to perswade those of the other Party to acquiesce in this his Opinion He desired very earnestly that Albert would not deny him this because otherwise in the present state of Affairs he the
such thing and that without any Declaration of War. Now this to me appears the more strange because between me and you there is not the least cause of offeuce For as to the report that I should send Succors to the Marquess of Brandenburg against you that is entirely false But then as to the favour I have of late shewn to him I have only done it upon the account of the ancient Union which I mention'd and in compliance with the hospitable Custom of the Crown of France which has ever given entertainment and protection to all afflicted Princes and in a more especial manner to those of Germany in their Distresses In truth I should have been much better pleased to have seen him flourishing at home and enjoying his own than thus to see him ruined driven out and deserted I say I should rather have desired he should not have fallen into this calamity or that at least now an end might be put to it by a just and equal Treaty But now that I see him reduced into this distress by the fault of my Adversary who first pronounced the Sentence void and yet afterwards confirmed it why am I suspected if I compassionate his Fortunes But as to the giving him any assistance against the Empire that never entred into my Thoughts and you may rest assured that I will not now do it if you do not your selves first break the League of Friendship And now I have given you assurance that you shall meet with nothing but Peace and Kindness from me I desire that you would not be so far circumvented by the Artifices of those who have as little kindness for you as they have for me as to take up Arms or to contribute Men or Moneys against me for their whole Design is to make their own private a publick Concern It rather befits you to continue the Amity and to accept of the Conditions I proffer you I desire also that you would give me a clear assurance by him who delivers you this Letter what you intend and that according to the ancient Custom and the Treaty of Passaw my Ambassadors who are to attend in the next Diet may have sufficient Pasports The Answer he received was That as to the Troops sent by the Borders of Lorrain there was no Affront intended to his Majesty but it was done to the intent that if the Marquess of Brandenburg should make any irruption into the Empire his Attempts might be hindred That as to what concerned his Ambassadors and the publick Peace they had no Commands from their Principals but they would give an Account of his Demands to them and they did not doubt but they would do what was just and fit About the end of October the Emperor delivered up to his Son by his Ambassadors according to the accustomed Ceremonies the Dukedom of Milan The King of France soon after the raising the Siege of Renty in the manner I have express'd dismiss'd the Swiss and put the rest of his Forces into Quarters And the Emperor having found a convenient place not far from the Castle of Hesdin which he took and demolished the last year began the foundation of a new Town and Fort and for the building of it with the greater security kept his Army together which in the Month of November wasted with Fire and Sword the Country of Bolonois and the Territory of Amiens Thus the whole force of the War on both sides fell on the miserable and unarmed Multitude Afterwards he dismissed the greatest part of the Army and kept only with him one or two Regiments About the same time the King of France sent some Forces into Italy and amongst them some Germans for the Relief of Siena which was then sharply besieged by the Forces of the Emperor and of the Duke of Florence The Twelfth Day of November a new Parliament began in London thereupon Cardinal Pool who was then in Brabant had some Persons of great note dispatched to him to bring him over into England the Principal of which was the Lord Paget the 24th he came to London and was honourably receiv'd wheresoever he came and was soon after restored to his former Place Honour Family and Estate by the consent of the States which had been taken from him by Attainder in the Reign of Henry the Eighth The 27th day of November he came into the Parliament and in the Presence of King Philip and the Queen he discovered the Cause of his Legation and exhorted the States to return to the Communion of the Church and to restore to the most Holy Father the Pope of Rome his due Authority who was willing to receive them with the utmost Clemency and Affection He admonished them also that they should offer up their Thanks to God who had given them such a King and Queen Then returning them his Thanks for their restoring him to his Inheritance and Family which he esteemed a very great Benefit he said he was so much the more obliged to restore them also to their heavenly Court and Countrey which he wished above all things Having said this he withdrew and the Bishop of Winchester Gardiner who was Lord Chancellor having repeated his Speech and with many words exhorted them to Union and Concord He added that great Thanks were due to Almighty God for his immense Goodness and Mercy in that he had raised up a Prophet of their own Seed to wit this great Cardinal who would wholly employ himself in the promoting of their Salvation The next day when the Upper House had approved the Cardinal's Speech there was a Bill drawn in form of a Petition wherein the States supplicate the King and Queen to intertcede with the Cardinal on their behalf In it they say that they earnestly repent of the Schism that they had denied the Obedience which was due to the Apostolick See and that they had given their Assent to Acts of Parliament against it That for time to come they would be in the power of their Majesties and do all that ever they could that all such Acts might in this Parliament be repealed and therefore they did most earnestly beseech their Majesties that they would interpose and obtain an Absolution of their Sin and a Remission of the Censures which by the Canons of the Church they had incurred That they might be received into the bosom of the Church as penitent Children that in the obedience of the See of Rome and of the Pope they might serve God to the Glory of his Name and the encreasing their Salvation The 29th day when the King Queen and Cardinal were present the Chancellor arose and openly declar'd what the States had consented to in relation to the Demands of the Pope's Legate and thereupon he delivered to the King and Queen the Petition of the States in writing Sign'd and Seal'd by them and begg'd they would receive it the King and Queen receiving and opening it they again delivered
the Word of God diligently or cause it to be Preached by fit men and that for the future no man be admitted into these Functions but such as can teach the People themselves and not turn them over to be taught by Curates This is the Root which Your Majesty ought to cultivate This is the Foundation on which the Church must be built and then we may hope that in a short time Heresies will vanish but if this way is neglected there is great reason to fear they will encrease whatsoever other Remedies or Edicts are provided against them The 16th Day of October this Answer was made by the Deputies of the Parliament of Paris and in a Letter About the same time the Mediators in the Difference concerning the County of Catzenellobogen met again according to their former Agreement first at Bacheren and after at Worms on the Account of the Sickness of the Elector Palatine At last this Controversie was determined by a Sum of Money to be paid by the Landâ—grave to the Count of Nassaw the Territories in the mean time being to remain in the possession of the Landtgrave But then when the Count of Nassaw insisted That this Agreement should be void if the Money were not paid within the time limited and appointed and that in this case his Claim should be as it was before but the Landtgrave who had sent his Son the second time refused to submit to this the Meeting broke up without any effect In the same Month the Emperor call'd all the Nobility and States of the Low Countries to him to Brussels and having amongst other things spoken of his want of Health he said he would retire into Spain and therefore laid down the Government and conferr'd upon his Son Philip all the Right and Power of those Countries exhorting them to perform their Duties to him The Fame of this flew over all Christendom and a Fleet was forthwith prepared for his Passage and the 13th of November was appointed for his setting Sail but then this Rumor cool'd by degrees and it was said because the Winter was coming on the Voyage was delayed till the Summer It is now time to shew what was done in the Diet which was now Sitting at Ausburg Ferdinand King of the Romans had in a Speech made the 5th of February as I have said in the End of the last Book proposed what was to be transacted in this Convention But the Deputies and States coming slowly in there was no beginning made till the 9th of March and then the Deputies of the Electoral Princes began to consult what was first to be done And although there were at first some Dissenters yet at last they all agreed to begin with the Business of Religion and this Resolution was approved by all the other Princes and the Imperial Cities After a long Debate it was Agreed That a Peace of Religion should be granted but then the great Controversy was because those who had Imbraced the Augustan Confession insisted to have this Peace Communicated indifferently to all that they might all alike follow their several Doctrines and yet enjoy the benefit of this Peace But this was vigorously opposed by the Enemies of the Reformation who would not suffer any of the free Cities which had received the Decree made at Ausburg concerning Religion about seven Years since and commonly called the Interim nor any of the Ecclesiasticks in any Case whatsoever to be comprehended in this Peace but they stood stifly to this That if any Bishop or Abbot changed his Religion he should be removed and another put in his Place This Point was sharply debated the Protestants saying that the Promises of God both in the Old and New Testament which concern our Salvation belonged equally to all Mankind and therefore it was not lawful for them to restrain them within any limits or to streighten them for fear they thereby might exclude both themselves and others out of the Kingdom of Heaven That there was no Turk or Jew that was well affected to his Religion but desired all Men should imbrace it and therefore it was much more reasonable that we should labour to do it who are Commanded by God so to do upon the severest Threatnings And therefore in this matter all were to be left at Liberty They said also that they were able from the sacred Scriptures and the Decrees and Canons of the Fathers and Councils to prove That those who to the great dishonour of God assumed the Title of the Ancient and Catholick Religion had done very ill things in the matters pertaining to Religion and abused the Revenues of the Church Yet for Peace sake they were contented to suffer them to enjoy their Laws Rites and Ceremonies together with their Goods Possessions Tolls Rights and Priviledges till this difference in Religion could be Composed and therefore that they could not consent that they on the contrary should impose such Conditions on the Bishops because the consequence of it would be that they must hereafter be obliged to oppress the approvers and friends of their own Religion and by consequence they must defame their own Cause For this would be say they to confess that our Doctrine and Religion is such as it doth not deserve the Church Revenues and therefore those which have already been given to the Ministers of our Churches are ill bestowed and we shall hereby seem to confess that their Doctrine which is Impious and their Ministry are founded upon the Scriptures and that the Church Revenues are consecrated to their impure Lives Laws and Ceremonies Now who can tell how great the offence this may give will be if we should seem to defend the Cause and Power of those Men who afford the Church no useful or necessary Service And if on the other side we should betray and desert those whom we ought to esteem above all others because they profess the Religion we do Those of the Roman-Catholick Religion alledged on the other side amongst many other things that if Liberty were granted to the Ecclesiasticks to change their Religion their Bishopricks and Colleges would be prophan'd and by degrees be torn from the Church and fall into the hands of the Princes and by them be made Temporal Inheritances but the Protestants said this was no part of their Intention but that all that they desired was that being reduced to their first Institution they might be applied to their true uses and for ever continue annexed to the Church and that there might be no place left for this Scruple They were contented that in those Bishopricks and Colleges in which the Religion should happen to be changed nothing of the Revenues should be alienated and that after the Death or Resignation of the Bishop or Abbot both the Election of the Successor and the Administration of the Revenues should be left free to the Colleges or Chapters When therefore after a tedious debate they could not
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
in Italy In France Henry the Second having been won by the Arts of Cardinal Caraffa to break his Oath the Admiral Coligni the Sixth of January attempted to surprise Doway but was discovered and prevented but he took and plundered Leus a Town in Artois using the people with great barbarity In the mean time the Duke of Guise had passed the Alps in the depth of the winter with an Army of Twelve Thousand Foot and Five Thousand and Three Hundred armed Horse and Eight Hundred and Eight Light-Horse with which Forces he besieged Valenza a strong Town in the Dutchy of Milan and after he had battered it five daies storm'd and took the Town the twentieth day of January and a few daies after the Castle He dismantled the Town but at the request of the Pope he preserved the Castle From thence he passed into the Dukedome of Ferrara where he was respectively entertained by the Duke who had declared for the Pope but he would not go with him to Bononia fearing his Countries might be invaded by the Spaniards and their Allies in his absence but however the Duke of Guise went thither with his Forces where he found an hearty welcome but no Forces to joyn with him which much displeas'd him In the mean time the Pope finding the inconvenience of having Ostia in the enemies hands which deprived Rome of the benefit of the Sea and sending some Forces thither it was Surrendred after a short defence upon the account of an Inundation of the River After which the Pope recovered most of the other Towns as easily as he had lost them In the Spring the Duke of Guise began the War with the Sack of Compli a small City of Abruzzo which being taken by Scalado was severely treated the Spoil of this City was estimated at two hundred thousand Crowns great part of which was found in the Ruines of the City where it had been hid many Ages and was unknown to the Inhabitants The 24 of April the Duke of Guise sat down before Civitella a City of Abruzzo built upon an high Hill and very steep on the North on the top of which it had a Castle ruined by its own Inhabitants in the time of Charles VIII for fear it should have been Garrison'd by the French. This City would not yield and therefore the Duke of Guise was forced to stay before it till the Cannon could be brought from Ancona and Ferrara to batter it but when all was done this small place by the nature of its situation and the Courage of its Inhabitants baffled all their Attempts and forced the French after a long Siege to retire and leave it The Women of this Town contributed very much to the saving of it not only by working at the Breaches tho' many of them were slain by the Enemies Shot but also by taking mens Cloaths and appearing in Arms among them in the sight of the Enemy so that the Defendants seemed more numerous than indeed they were In the mean time Alva having brought an Army of 16000 Foot and 2000 Horse consisting of Spaniards Germans and Italians together with a good Train of Artillery brought him by Sea he marched out of Pescara May 10 and drove the French out of Givlia a Sea-port-Town about ten miles east of Civitella whereupon the Duke of Guise having lost above half his Army left Civitella the 15 of May when they had lain before it twenty two Days The Duke of Florence took the Opportunity of this distracted State of Affairs and by pretending he was much inclin'd to joyn with the French and Pope against the Spaniards which would certainly have ruined their Power in Italy forced King Philip to give up the City and State of Siena to him who accordingly took Possession of it July 19. This whole intreague is described at length by Thuanus but I am forced to be very short the nature of this Supplement not admitting such long Digressions Towards the latter end of the Summer Segni a strong City of Compagnia di Roma having made the best Defence it could fell at last into the Hands of the Spaniards who plundred and burnt it and slew the greatest part of the Inhabitants When the Pope heard the deplorable News of the Sack of Segni he fell into a fit of Melancholy and said He desired to be with Christ and would with great Constancy and Satisfaction expect the Crown of Martyrdom As if says Thuanus this had been the Cause of God And that he had not been brought into this great Danger and Trouble by a War which his Relations had involv'd him in with great Rashness and Ambition Those that were about him could not forbear Smiling and knowing very well That as the Pope had begun this War without Cause or Provocation so he might end it when he pleased upon Just and Honourable Terms King Philip and his General the Duke de Alva being both extremely addicted to the See of Rome And therefore taking this Opportunity they persuaded the Pope to send Alexander Placidi a Knight of great esteem to the Duke of Alva to treat about a Peace by whom also the Cardinal of Sanfloriano sent a private Account of the beating the French at S. Quintin which as it sunk the Pope's Interest so it raised the Spanish Upon this the Duke de Alva took up a Resolution to surprize the City of Rome by Night and treat with the Pope within the very Walls of Rome and he came very early in the Morning under the Walls of Rome and found the City in a profound Quiet and altogether unprovided so that in all probability he might have surprized it without the least Resistance but as he took an Oath of the Captains That they should not suffer their Soldiers to plunder or sack the City so it is verily thought upon great Reasons That his Fear the Switz and Germans would have done this whatever he or his Officers could have done or said to prevent it made him stop and by his Presence try if he could affright the Old Pope into a Compliance However Thuanus is of Opinion he truly designed to surprize the City but that his Heart failed him when it came to the Point of Execution At the same time there came Letters from the King of France to recal the Duke of Guise into France where his Presence was absolutely needful and the Pope had his Hostages returned and was left at Liberty to take the best care he could of his own Affairs Yet when the Duke of Guise came to ask the Pope's leave to return upon the account of the great Necessity of his Master's Affairs there was a sharp contest between the Duke and the Pope insomuch that his Holiness told the Duke He had done very little towards the advancing his Masters Interest or the Good of the Church in this Voyage and much less for the Improvement of his own Honour and Reputation In the
several Towns for the Protestants 388. Routed by Duke Maurice 504. Taken into the service of Duke Maurice Assists the Magdeburghers 514. Henry the VII Emperor refuses to pay Allegiance to the Pope 38. Henry the VIII Writes against Luther 50. Is called defender of the Faith Ibid. Is Pensioner to Charles the V. 51. His Daughter Mary is Betrothed to Charles Ibid. Writes to the Princes of the House of Saxony against Luther 65. Receives a Golden Rose from the Pope 75. Writes a Scornful answer to Luther's Letter 101. Makes a League with France in the absence of King Francis 102. Makes a League with Francis against Charles 112. His answer to the Protestant Princes of Germany 150. Is dissatisfied about his Marriage with Catharine 169. Sues to be Divorced Ibid. They are Dilatory at Rome Ibid. He Marries Anne Boleyn 170. Is declared in Parliament head of the Church Ibid. Revokes Peter Pence Ibid. Sends Fox Bishop of Hereford Ambassador to the Protestants at Smalcald 188. His Ambassadors winter at Wittemberg 205. His Letter to the Protestants Ibid. He beheads Anne Boleyn 206. Quells a rising in England 209. His Reasons against the Council of Mantua 231. His Reasons against the Council at Vicenza 250. He enacts in Parliament several things about Religion 251. Marries Anne of Cleve Ibid. His Answer to the Elector of Saxony's Ambassador 255. Beheads romwel Earl of Essex 267. Is divorced from Anne of Cleve Ibid. Marries Catharine Howard Ibid. Burns Papists and Protestants for Religion 269. Beheads Catharine Howard for Adultery 289. Marries Catharine Parr Ibid. Makes a successful War in Scotland 324. He makes an Expedition into France 327. Takes Bologne Ibid. Makes a Treaty of Peace with France 355. Forewarns the Protestants in Germany of their danger 356. Dies 418. Henry of Zutphen suffers for Religion in Germany 75. Henry Duke of Saxony refuses to change his Religion to gain the Dutchy 249. But gains it by George's Death 250. Henry Dauphin of France has a Daughter 382. Henry the II. of France succeeds to Francis the I. 424. Is Crowned 435. The Ceremony of it Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans severely in France 456. Enters Paris in State 484. Crowns his Queen Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans Ibid. Makes a League with the Switzers Ibid. Regains several Places from England 485. Publishes another Edict against the Lutherans 492. Sends a Letter to the Pope about his assisting Octavio Farnese 514. He declares War against the Emperor with his reasons 517. Justifies himself from Leagues with the Turk 518. Sends the Abbot of Bellozane to Trent with a Letter to the Council Ibid. He Publishes an Edict against the Pope 521. And another against the Lutherans Ibid. Answers the Emperors Declaration 522. Hinders the Switzers from sending Ambassadors to the Council of Trent 528. He sends Ambassadors to Duke Maurice 529. Makes Peace with the Pope 548. He declares War against the Emperor 553. Calls himself Protector of the Liberties of Germany 554. He takes Toul Verdun Metz 555. Takes an Oath of Allegiance from the People of Metz Ibid. His Treaty with the Strasburghers 557. His answer to the Princes Ambassadors 558. The reasons of his leaving Germany 559. His answer to the Switzers Ibid. He Wastes Luxembourg 563. His Ambassadors Speech at the Treaty of Passaw 564. He Sollicites again by Letters from Aichstadt 567. He brings his Men from Luxembourg back into Artois 571. Is offended with the Pacification at Passaw 572. Writes to the Emperor 576. Sends a Declartion to the States of the Empire 577. Carries on the War in the Low Countries 603. But is beaten in Tuscany in the Sienese War 604. His Letter to the Diet at Francfort Ibid. Takes Casal 613. Carries on the War into Montferrat 617. Hereford vide Fox Herman vide Cologne Hesse vide Philip Landgrave Hildesheym a City in the Dutchy of Brunswick embraces the Protestant Religion 300. they are accused by their Bishop to the Emperor 313. Hogostratus James a Dominican writes against Luther 4. Commissioned by Maximilian to Examine Jewish Books 30. Writes against Reuchlin Ibid. Is cast by the Bishop of Spire Ibid. Appeals to Rome Ibid. Leaves his Cause Ibid. Examines two Augustine Friars at Brussels 63. Holland an Inundation there 137. Hooper John Bishop of Glocester burnt for his Religion 607. Huberine Caspar an Interimist Preaches at Augsbourg 535. Hugh Capet makes himself King of France 150. Huglie John a Protestant burnt for Religion by the Bishop of Constance 105. Hungarians beg for assistance at the Diet of Spire 324. Their Horse join Duke Maurice 409. Husse John Preaches Wiclef's Doctrine 46. Appeals from the Pope to Christ Ibid. Went to the Council of Constance with safe Conduct 47. There burnt Ibid. Hutton Ulricus a Noble Man of Franconia 65. Favours Luther and dies Ibid. I JAmes the V. of Scotland Marries King Francis's Daughter 209. His Queen dies 230. Makes a War with England unsuccessfully 304. Dies Ibid. Jerome Bishop of Brandenbourg 2. Jerome of Prague burnt at the Council of Constance 47. Jerome Bishop of Ascoli summons Luther by P. Leo's Order to appear at Rome 5. Jews compared with Roman Clergy 29. Illyricus Matthias Flaccius Writes against the Adiaphorists 498. Imperial Chamber Vide Protestants is set up again in the Diet at Augsbourg 466. The Judges fly from Spire for fear of the Confederate Princes 557. They answer Marquess Albert's Deputation about the Franconian Bishops 577. They decree in Favour of the Bishops 578. Indulgences Preacht up in Germany 1 2. Confirmed by Pope Clement's Decree in the Extravagants 9. Why granted 273. Indult vide P. Paul the III. P. Innocent the III. Decreed to the Electoral Princes a right of chusing the Emperor 21. His decree de Majoritate Obedientia 107. Inquisition its Original 434. Inquisitors about the Emperor's Edict of Religion in the Netherlands how they proceed 498. Interim drawn up at Augsbourg 454. The heads of it 458. Often Revised and Corrected 459. Sent to Rome ibid. The Electors differ in their Opinion about it ibid. Those who draw it up are rewarded 468. It is disliked on both sides Ibid. Confuted by the Saxon Divines 481. Joachim Elector of Brandenbourg sends an Embassie to the Elector of Saxony 242. Sends Agents to Eysenach 244. Made Geneali ssimo against the Turks 292. He Strikes in with the Papists in the War against the Smalcaldick League 375. Interposes for a Peace 418. With the Landgrave Ibid. Intereedes for Saxony 427. And his Life was spared at his Intercession 428. Intercedes for the Landgrave 429. Remonstrates to the Emperor for him at Hall 433. Calls Bucer to Augsbourg 454. Angry with him for not subscribing the Interim 457. Receives the Interim 461. Acts with Duke Maurice in the Magdeburgick War 505 506. He sends Ambassadors to the Conncil of Trent 526. His Ambassadors with those of D. Maurice Sollicite the Emperor about the Landgrave 531. John XXII P. vide Aquinas John King of Denmark overthrows the Swedes 62. Dying leaves his Son
Danube 12. Lions Nine Persons burnt there for Heresy 587. De Lire is sent to the Landgrave with Conditions 442. Locusts in Germany 298. Lorrain's Cardinals of Harangue to the Pope about a Council 443. Lovain Divines rail at Luther 21. Condemn his Writings 27. Censure them publickly 31. They Propose Articles against the Reformation which the Emperor Ratified 343. Lubeckers make War against Christian K. of Denmark Son to Frederick 203. Lucern one of the Swisse-Cantons vide Switzers They study to introduce the Reformation there but in vain 618. Luther Martin Preaches against Indulgences at Wittemberg in 1517. 2. Writes Octob. 31. to Albert Bishop of Mentz and Magdebourg against it Ibid. Publishes 95 Theses against Indulgences Purgatory c. Ibid. Sends an Explication of them to the Bishop of Brandenbourg and to Stupitz Ibid. Vindicates himself to Pope Leo Ibid. Answers Eckius 3. Answers Prierias's Dialogue ibid. Rejoyns upon Silvester's reply 4. Answers Hogostratus Ibid. Desires that his Cause may be heard in Germany 6. Is urged to retract his Theses by Cajetan at Augsbourg 7. Submits to the Pope but refuses to recant Ibid. Referrs himself to the Judgment of the German Vniversities with that of Paris Ibid. Gives his Opinion in Writing to Cajetan 8. Goes from Augsbourg two days after Ibid. And Writes to Cajetan when he went away to excuse himself Ibid. Appeals from the Pope not rightly informed to his Determination after full Information 9. Luther Answers Frederick's Letter excusing his Retreat from Augsbourg 11. He appeals from the Pope to a General Council 12. He Writes Submissively to Pope Leo 13. Goes to Leipzick to Dispute 21. Opposes the Popes Supremacy against Eckius 22. Writes Submissively to the Pope at Miltitz's desire 23. His Character of the Court of Rome 24. Makes Proposals for Peace Ibid. Writes a Book of Christian Liberty 25. Another called Tessaradicus Ibid. And about confession and Vows Ibid. And Communion in both kinds Ibid. He anwsers the Lovain and Cologne Divines 27. He Writes to Charles V. 31. And to the States of the Empire Ibid. And Submissively to the Bishop of Mentz 32. And to the Bishop of Mersburgh 33. Opposes the Popes Bull and appeals to a General Council 36. Writes about the Babylonish Captivity Ibid. Condemns the Doctrine of the seven Sacraments Ib. Writes against the Popes Bull Ibid. His Books burnt by the Popes Messengers to Frederick 39. He burns the Canon-Law and the Popes Bull Ibid. His reasons for it Ibid 40. Answers Ambrosius Catharinus 40. Promises to appear at Wormes in a Letter to Frederick 41. Is put into the Bull de Coena Domini 42. Turns it into High-Dutch and writes Animadversions Ibid. Goes to Wormes ibid. Is disswaded from it Ibid. To no Purpose Ibid. Owns his Books ibid. Takes time to consider of his defence ibid. has a day allowed ibid. Pleads to his Accusation before the Emperor and States 43. Answers Eckiu's Returns upon his Plea 44. Meets Commissioners who were to hear him privately ibid. His Answer to the Commissioners 45. Parlies with them 46. Submits to the next General Council ibid. Goes home from Wormes ibid. Writes to the Emperor for Protection upon the Road ibid. And to the States ibid. Drolls in his Answer to the Parisian Censure of his Books 47. Writes Letters to strengthen his Friends in his Retirement 49. And Books against the Mass and Monastick Vows and one against Latomus ibid. Answers Henry the VIII sharply 50. Returns to Wittemberg 51. Excuses it to Frederick ibid. Disapproves the taking down of Images 52. He writes to the Bohemians to perswade them to Unity 53. Writes against false Bishops ibid. Calls himself Preacher of the Gospel ibid. Refuses to stand to the Determination of any under God 54. Translates Adrian's Instructions to the Diet with Remarks 60. Interprets the Decree of the Diet at Nuremberg 64. And adds thereto a Discourse against Private Masses 65. Admonishes the Princes of Germany 75. Writes de Servo Arbitrio against Erasmus ibid. Warns the Saxons of Muncer 86. Writes a Book to prevent Sedition ibid. His Answer to the Demands of the Boors in Schwabia 90. His Monitory Epistle to the Princes and Nobility 94. His General Epistle to Nobility and Boors 95. His Alarm against the Boors 96. Censured as too sharp ibid. He defends it afterwards ibid. Writes against Caralostadius about the Eucharist 97. Vndertakes his Protection upon his Submission ibid. Marries a Num ibid. Differs with Zuinglius about the Eucharist ibid. Writes submissively to Henry VIII 100. And to George D. of Saxony 101. Complains of K. Henry's Answer 102. Has a Conference with Zuinglius at Marpurgh 121. Writes to the Bishops at the Diet of Augsbourg 140. Comforts Melancthon ibid. He defends the League of Smalcald 148. He perswades the Leipzickers to continue Protestants 168. He justifies himself from the Charge of Rebellion ibid. Quarrels with Erasmus 170. Writes against the Anabaptists at Munster 199. Wrote against the Draught of a Reformation published by the Delegate Cardinals 238. VVrites against the Antinomians 244. Preaches at Leipzick 250. He publishes a Book about the Authority of Councils ibid. He writes against the D. of Brunswick 272. He Installs Amstorfius 288. VVrites against Phlugius ib. VVrites a Camp Sermon for those who went against the Turks 292. His Opinion about Magistracy 293. His second Camp Sermon 294. His Prayer against the rage of the Turks 295. He writes about the Sacrament 340. Answers what the Lovain Doctors wrote against the Reformation 343. Publishes a Book against the Roman Hierarchy 349. His Theses about Government ib. His Ludicrous Pictures about the Pope ibid. VVrites to disswade the Protestants from Releasing the D. of Brunswick 354. He goes to Isleben to be an Arbitrator between the Counts Mansfield 362. Falls sick ibid. His Prayers 363. Dies ibid. Is buried at Wittemberg ibid. His Life ibid. His Skill in the German Language ibid. His undaunted courage ibid. M. MAgdebourg refuses to submit to the Emperor 434. Is Proscribed 436. In great distress upon that account 485. They publish a Manifesto 486. Another Manifesto of theirs 496. They are by the D. of Mecklenbourg 500. Conditions are proposed to them 501. They publish a third Declaration ibid. They Sally out briskly upon Maurice 502. They answer the Deputation of their own States 502. They overcome D. Maurice in a Sally and take the D. of Mecklenbourg Prisoner 505. They are sollicited to surrender 506. The Declaration of the States and Clergy against them ibid. Their Answer to it 508. A Mutiny in the Town 515. They accept of a Peace 528. Their Preachers Vindicate themselves to D. Maurice 529. They get credit by their constancy ibid. Malvenda opens the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Treats of Justification ibid. Answers Bucer ibid. Mantua a Council called to meet there by P. Paul III. 207. The D. of Mantua demanded a Garrison before the Council should sit 230. Marcellus II. chosen Pope 615. Dies after a Reign of 22
The demands of their Divines in the Council 546. The Protestant Princes make a League at Nuremberg 614. They acquaint the Emperor with it ibid. Their answer in the Diet of Augsbourg to the Papists Allegations 623. Their reply to Ferdinand's Answer to their Papers 626. Prussia vide Albert of Brandenbourg vide Sigismund of Poland vide Wolfgang grand-Master R. RAtisbon Catholick Lords there with Campegio confirm the Decree at Wormes against Luther 74. Make Regulations for the Reformation of the Clergy 75. The Princes do not meet at Ratisbon at the Diet 110. The Diet removes thither from Spire 155. The Articles of the Treaty of Nurenberg are there confirmed 160. A Diet there 272. The Acts of the Diet at Ratisbon 275. The Presidents and Witnesses at the Conference 276. The Acts of the Diet 278. The Decree of the Diet 283. They promise Aid against the Turks ib. A Conference is appointed there 351. The Names of the Conferrers ibid. It is refused by the Papists 352. The Conference opened 358. The Names of the Presidents ibid. The Points disputed upon ibid. It breaks up 359. A Diet there 374. Reformation in Germany its Original 273. Religion those of the Reformed Religion begin to form a League 105. Renate Prince of Orange is killed 327. Reuchlin John Capnio Commissioned to examine Jewish Books 30. His Answer to Maximilian ibid. Answers Phefercorne's Book ibid. Is Cited to Mentz ibid. Excepts to Hogostratus as a Judge ibid. Appeals to the Pope ibid. Is acquitted at Rome ibid. Dies 55. Rhodes taken by Solyman 57. Richard Elector of Triers vide Triers Ridley Nicholas Bishop of London burnt at Oxford for Religion 619. Rochell an Insurrection there 304. Quieted 305. Rome Court of Rome it 's Description 24. A great Inundation there 137. Roman Clergy vide Jews Romans vide King of the Romans Rotman Bernard Preaches up the Reformation at Munster 190. Declares himself an Anabaptist 192. S. SAmson Friar Preaches Indulgences at Zurick 22. Savoy D. of Savoy quarrels with Geneva 203. Loses most part of his Country to the French ibid. Accuses the French King 323. Dies 602. Saxons embrace Luther's Doctrine of the Eucharist 97. Saxony Prince of Saxony's Answer to the Arbitrators 159. Quarrels in the Churches there about Indifferent things 481. Scherteline Sebastian marches towards Inspruck with his Army for the Protestants 388. Leaves the Camp 406. Retires from Strasbourg to Constance 418. A Fine is set upon his Head by the Emperor 554. He raises men in Germany for the French King ibid. Is reconciled to the Emperor and King Ferdinand 594. Schwabian Confederates beat Ulric D. of Wirtemberg 80. They refuse a Truce with the Boors ibid. They rout the Boors at Saltzbourg 81. An Account of the Schwabian League 82. The Schwabian Cities mediate betwixt Albert and the City of Noremberg 562. Schwinfurt a Town upon the Main there the Princes mediate an Accommodation 156. The Treaty is removed to Norenberg 160. Sepsy vide Sepusio Sepusio claims the Crown of Hungary after K. Lewis's death 105. vide Vaivod of Transylvania Dies 269. His Son put under Solyman ' Protection 270. Servetus Michael Burnt at Genoa 593. Seymour Edw. D. of Somerset Protector of K. Edward VI. and the Kingdom in his Minority 418. Is Imprisoned 485. Releas'd and Marries the D. of Northumberland's Daughter 492. Is again made a Prisoner 528. And Beheaded 538. Sforza Francis obtains the Dutchy of Milan of Charles V. 122. Marries Christina the K. of Denmark's Daughter 174. Dies 180. Sibylla of Cleve Wife to John Frederick Elector of Saxony sollicites the Emperor for her Husband 429. Is received Graciously by the Emperor ibid. She dies 596. Sickius Francis at War with the Bishop of Triers 56. Sickness Sweating Sickness in Germany 121. Sidonius Michael a Champion for the Mass at Augsbourg 437. Assists in Compiling the Interim 454. Siena revolts from the Emperor 573. Is Besieged by the D. of Florence 598. Retaken by the Emperor's Forces 615. Sigismund takes Cusanus Prisoner 36. Appeals from the Pope to a Couucil ibid. Calls the Council of Constance 47. Begs the assistance of the Empire against Zisca ibid. Sigismund K. of Poland Wars against Albert Great Master of the Teutonick Order 99. Makes him D. of Prussia ibid. His Answer to the Emperor's Ambassadors 348. His Plea given in by his Ambassador Alaskia about the Dutchy of Prussia 445. He dies 450. Sixtus IV's Decree concerning the Virgin Mary 377. Sleidan John sent by the Protestants Ambassador into England 352. Sent Deputy from Strasbourg to the Council of Trent 529. He applies himself to the Emperor's Ambassadors 531. Complains of Gropper to the Council of Trent 535. Joins with the Wirtemberg and Saxon Ambassadors in their Sollicitations with the Emperor's Ambassadors 537. Takes leave of the Emperor's Ambassador who stops him 545. Leaves Trent 546. Deputy from Strasbourg to the French King 557. Treats with him and the Constable ibid. Dies 638. Smalcald a Town in Franconia belonging to the Landgrave of Hesse vide Protestant League at Smalcald 142. The Confederates of the League expostulate upon the motion to chase a King of the Romans 143. The League renewed 189. A Convention of the Protestants there 212. Solyman makes War in Hungary 50. Takes Belgrade 51. And Rhodes 57. Invades Hungary 103. Besieges Vienna 121. Breaks up the Siege ibid. Makes a new Irruption into Austria 161. His Troops are defeated ibid. Imprisons Alaski Ferdinand's Ambassador 271. Strangles his Son Mustapha 594. Solmes Count vide Naves Spira Francis his dismal Story 475. Spires Bishop of Spires appointed to hear Reuchlin's Cause 30. Decrces in favour of him against Hogostratus ibid. A Diet held there 103. The States there differ about Religion 104. But their Breaches are made up ibid. And they make a Decree about Religion ibid. The Princes Assembled here write to the Senate of Strasbourg about the Mass 116. The Diet there assembled 118. They refuse the Deputies of Strasbourg to sit in the Diet ibid. They make a Decree about Religion ibid. The Princes of the Reformed Religion protest against the Decree 119. As also the Free Cities 120. A Diet call'd thither 152. Removed to Ratisbon 155. Another Diet called there 288. A mighty full Diet 317. A Decree there which angers the Papists 325. States of the Empire Some at Ratisbon desire to referr every thing to the Pope's Legate 279. They treat with tho D. of Cleve to restore Guelderland 285. They send a Message from Nurenberg to the Saxon and Landgrave about the D. of Brunswick 299. Write to the Switzers not to aid the French King 321. They acquaint Maurice the Elector of Brandenbourg with the Emperor's Resolution about the Landgrave 442. Strasbourg Priests marry there 66. The Bishop cites them ib. They justifie themselves ibid. The Bishop writes to Campegio complaining of the Senate 73. The Senate justifie themselves to Campegio ibid. And Parly with him upon his Answer 74. The Popish Clergy complain against the Senate to the