we leaue them in the Breres hath Themperour Maxilimilian deserued thus of vs and of the Empire And if those countreis be ouer runne howe longe thinke you shall our libertie continewe We maye not truste their fayre promises for oftentimes couetousnesses and ambition cary awaye men headlonge from doyng theyr dewtie In times paste there were many noble houses in Fraunce Which nowe be but fewe in nombre for the kinge in maner hathe all in his owne handes They say he is a stouce prince the more like to brynge all to a Monarchie but we seke to maintaine this present state of nobilitie he promiseth great aide agaiÌst the Turke which in dede is a thinge to be wished for that Germany mighte ioyne wyth Fraunce and Italy but first he wil bend his power againste the house of Burgundy and warre vppon Flaunders and Naples and shall we aide him in these enterprises And least any maÌ should say I prophecied of dreames and doubtfull matters he is now in leuying his armye Forasmuche therfore as we are letted by oure lawes othe and loue of our natiue country I protest and iudge him vnmete to be elected And nowe to the rest of the parties I suppose that some of you thyncke it vnmete that Charles shoulde be chosen because Spaine is so farre of and that through his absence it should not go well with Germany either for the Turkishe warre or for ciuile dissentions Which thinges I do not onlye graunte to be true but also when I consider depelye I am so moued that in maner I quake for feare for I waye this also If the emperour at any time come into Germany in displesure and bring with him the Spaniardes we shal be in daunger to lose our liberty I consider moreouer that it may be that the Spaniards wil hardly at any time restore vnto vs again this dignitie of thempire And if by their force and power they recouer Millan they will kepe it hereafter to them selues So that almost it semeth better to create one of our owne nation that is fit for it after the example of our elders whiche passinge ouer foreine Princes haue chosen an inhabiter of the contrie This wil not I deny but the state of that tyme was theÌ farre otherwise and the worlde a great deale better But nowe if the Emperour be of small power thinke you that Austriche and other countries will obey him Or if the Frenche kinge warre vpon Charles as without doubte he wyll do eyther in the lowe countrey or in Italie shall he geue them the lokyng on or shal our new Emperour suffer straunge nations to spoile a great parte of the Empire Yea and as the world goeth now a daies it is to be thought that the Princes of Germany contemnynge theyr Emperour will ioyne them selues some with the house of Austriche and some with the Frenchemen When Fridericke the third was Emperour Charles the Duke of Burgundie warred in Germany And Philip Maria Duke of Millan in Italy and no maÌ did represse them but the same was to our dishonour Moreouer a greater shame whan the Emperour was beseged in Austriche Yea and driuen then oute of his owne countrey by the Hungarians And yet at the same time dyd the lande of Boheme take his parte and so did also my graundefather Albert Marques of BraÌdeÌburge the Duke of Saxonie of the same name If it chaunce so theÌ you see what is like to ensew at these daies when some princes are addicted to others for stipendes I leaue of to speake howe many incidente causes maye chaunce for the whiche the Princes and Cities maye refuse to shewe their obeidience Moreouer now we are like to haue great tumultes troubles for religioÌ For ther are spronge vp disputations of indulgences the authoritie of the Byshoppe of Rome and of the Ecclesiasticall lawes whiche seme as yet curable but or euer it be longe they will cause a great Ruine and alteration of the Churche For manye do subcribe and myghtye Nations maynteine the cause the Saxons and the Heluetians neither can this mischief be holpen but by a generall counsell And howe shall an Emperour of small power eyther call a counsell or defende the same especially if other kinges be agaynst it there remayneth the Turkish warre the which we must not onely defende but make also to recouer that is lost and restore Grece vnto libertie for the doynge whereof we haue nede of the aide of many and sundry nations which if the Emperour haue but small power and litle authoritie howe shall he gather greate Armies of meÌ For which causes I iudge it mete to chose some mightie Prince and Charles of Austriche to be preferred before all other Princes of Germanie And if any incommoditie should put you in feare so to do I thinke it is a great deale lesse then that will be which shall ensew in case the gouernement be committed to anye other For he is bothe a Germayne borne and hath many countries holdynge of the Empire and will not see his owne countrey brought in bondage besydes that he shall sweare neither to alienate nor diminish thempire nor to break or infringe our liberties And albeit these be great causes which I haue here mentioned yet should they not moue me one whit vnlesse his towardnes were wel knowen For he loueth Religion Justice and chastitie he hateth all crueltie and hath a good witte which vertues shall euer admonishe him to mainteine the comonwealth They that know him throughly do muche commende him And if we consyder well hys father Philippe and his graundfather Maximilian we can not doubt of him He is of no great age but yet fitte and ripe to gouerne He shall haue his graundefathers counsellours and certeine Princes of Germany chosen for the purpose And whereas I said before that the worst were if he shoulde be longe oute of Germany we shall condition with him for that matter and for asmuche as he hathe greate possessions in Germany it can not be but that some time he will come see them So shall the Turke be driuen out of Hungary and the Frenchemen oute of Italy the Church shal be refourmed and established and many others holpen which thynges when I coÌsyder I care the lesse for his absens for his owne naturall courage the loue of his countrey and the verye necessitie of thinges shall prouoke him to come ofte amonge vs. When the Archebyshop had ended his Oration and had exhorted the rest to speake their myndes the others after they had talked a litle together desired the Archebishoppe of Treuers to succede Who for his syngular witte and experience was of muche estimation And he began his tale of a prophete that sayd Maximilian should be the last Germaine Emperour Nowe saieth he me thinketh it is almost comen to passe forasmuche as my Lorde of Mentz who hath spoken many thinges wittely hath gon aboute to perswade vs to commit the gouernement of the Empire to a
and against the iudgement of the churche of Roome whiche is the maistres of faith and religion And that he of a fatherly loue desyrous to represse his rashenes hath geuen in commaundement to Hierome byshop of Ascula vnto whome this thing properly apperteyneth to somone hym to Rome that both he might aunswere to matters that he is charged with and might also make a declaracioÌ of his fayth The byshop of Ascula executed his commaundemeÌt But he did not only comme to any amendement but stubbernly persistinge in his heresy did set forth muche more pestilent workes than he did before to the great grief and vexation of his mynde wherfore let him fynde the meanes that he may be brought to Auspurge and herein requiring the ayde of the Emperour and Princes of Germany whaÌ he is brought thither that he be appreheÌded and sent to Rome wherfore if he repent of his owne accorde and desyre remission of his offence than let hym be pardoned and restored to the churche whiche is neuer wont to exclude a true penitent if not let him be excommunicated He commaundeth moreouer that all men shall obeye these his letters and they that shall do otherwyse if they be ecclesiasticall persones he confiscateth all their goodes and promotions and therwith taketh awaye all hope possibilitie to obtaine any more hereafter And others that be in ciuile office to be depriued of al honours offices and other commodities and finally to want christen buriall But vnto all those that shall dooe him faithfull seruice herein his pleasure is they shall haue eyther that common and ful remission of sinnes or haue also some rewarde geuen theÌ And to this precept he byndeth all men the Emperour only excepted but in no wyse wylleth that any other maÌs fredome or priuilege shuld be of any force herein The same day also he writeth to Frederick Duke of Saxon who was the same tyme at Auspurg howe that emonge other ornamentes of the house of Sarony this was euer propre vnto it greatly to fauour Religion wherfore he sayeth it is not lyke that any of that noble familie should so farre degenerate from his elders as to mayntayne any man that would impugne the same notwithstanding he harde dayly greuous coÌplaintes of Martin Luther who bearyng him selfe highly on his princes fauour and forgetting both his ordre and profession doth many thinges wickedly against the churche regarding the authoritie of no maÌ and albeit he doubteth not but that he braggeth of his Princes fauoure falselye yet he thought it good to wryte vnto him herein and to admonishe him that being euer myndefull of his owne honour and dignitie of his auncestours he myght eschewe not only the crime it selfe but also the lest suspicion of the same for he sayeth he is well assured that he teacheth manye wicked and pestilent heresies whiche he and the maister of his palace haue dylygently noted and that same is verely the cause why he hath cited hym to appere at Rome and written to Cardinall Caietane his Ambassadour what he would haue furthermore donne in the matter and for so muche as this is a matter of Religion and doeth appertaine properlye to the churche of Rome to examine euerye mans faythe he requyreth hym and neuerthelesse chargeth and commaundeth hym that beynge requested here vnto by his Ambassadour he doe his endeuoure and brynge to passe that Luther maye bee delyuered into his custodye wherein he shall bothe dooe GOD hygh seruice and also the thynge that shall be to hym selfe and to all hys familie ryght honourable And in case there shall bee founde no faulte in hym Whan he shall be examined at Roome he maye retourne home safe and sounde but in case there bee founde Crime worthie punishemeÌt than shal the duke whiche wold no longer suffer such a pestileÌt fellow be clere of al blame And for his own part he was of such clemeÌcie that neither wold he oppres an innococent nor exclude out of his fauour one that were willyng to amende Thus sought he all meanes possible to oppresse Luther The same yeare moreouer he wrote vnto Gabriel prouinciall of Thaustine fryers that he should spedely seke the redresse of Martin Luther a frier vnder his iurisdiction who soweth newe opinions in Germany quickly to quenche the flamme newly kyndled lest in proces of tyme takyng force and strengthe it be paste remedy and so set all on a fyre For this disease increaseth dayly neyther is there any thynge so much to be feared as delaye Therfore he must applye this thynge with all study labour deuise and diligence for so muche as he hathe authoritie ouer hym Whan Luther perceiued him selfe to be cited to Rome he laboured muche to haue his matter heard in Germany before some indifferent iudges and in a place not subiect to iniury But when he coulde by no meanes bryng it to passe the vniuersitie of Wittenberge in their letters to the byshop of Rome written the .xxv. of Septembre gaue hym a maruelouse good reporte both of his lyfe and learnyng They saye howe he is cited to Rome for certain questions howbeit by reason of sickenes and daunger of his lyfe he is notable they beseche hym to haue none other opinion of him than of a good man He propownded certen thinges to dispute of only and not to determine whiche his aduersaries haue interpreted in the woorse parte and haue exasperated the matter They proteste howe they wyll admitte nothinge against the churche and being requested of Luther they coulde not but geue hym this testimony to the whiche they beseche him to geue credit With these letters they sende others also to Charles Meltice a Germaine and Chamberlaine to byshop Leo vnto whome they declare how Luther without any of his desertes was brought into great hatred with the byshop in so muche as being cited to Rome he could not yet fynde so muche fauour that his cause might be herde in Germany They saye howe they be so affected not only toward religion but also towardes the holy churche of Rome that in case there were any cryme or wicked errour in Luther they would not beare with him but he is a man of suche learnyng and honestie of lyfe and hath so well deserued of them of the whole vniuersitie that they can not faile him in this case Neyther would Duke Frederick being so faithful and wittie a Prince vnlesse he iudged him to be an honest maÌ suffer him so long vnpunyshed Wherfore they require him that through the fauour and estimacion that he hath with the byshop he would bryng to passe that some indiffereÌt iudges might be appointed him not at Rome but in Germany And they doubte not but that he will declare him selfe lyke a Christen man and a good diuine that he hath not rashely or without cause sought the occasion of strife And this they require him the more earnestly for so muche as they haue conceiued a greater hope of him
depraued And the same that they did touchinge theyr concubines ought nowe to be euery where receiued for lawfull wines In the meane tyme Luther who had kepte him selfe closse cercertein monethes retorneth to Wittenberge fearinge lest the duke should it take in euyll part he writeth vnto him in Marche signifiyng that where as he is retourned without his commaundement he dyd so of no euill wyll or contempte he knoweth that some will beare him in hande that the same shall be daungerous for his grace for asmuche as he is condemned bothe by the Bishoppe of Rome and themperour Whose powers bothe are great this did he consyder before longe and ofte but there be three causes of his retourne fyrst that he was oftentimes requested by sundrye letters of the Churche of Wittenberge to retourne whose desyre he coulde not but accomplishe for that the same people are properly committed to his charge of God ought not to be neglected And albeit that some are muche offended with this refourmation of doctrine and reporte euill therof yet knoweth he moste certenly that this his profession is vnto God most acceptable Secondarely in the tyme of hys absence throughe the crafte of the Deuill who can not abyde this lyght of the Ghospell there was styrred vp trouble in his churche whiche vnlesse he him selfe were present coulde not be well appeased which matter was so great and weightie that it might be in no wise neglected for if the thinge might haue bene dispatched by letters he coulde righte easelye haue forborne Wittenberge Thyrdely he sayeth he feareth and doth in maner foresee a woÌderfull great tempest in Germany which so racklesly doeth contemne this present benefite of God For many in dede do embrace the trewe doctrine but in their liuyng they sklaunder it abusynge the libertie of the spirit after theyr carnall appetit Others be wholy gyuen to queÌch and oppresse the worde they rare not howe whiche contempte of his word God must nedes punnishe with one plage after an other as he did in times past the Iewes and theyr citie Hierusalem Wherefore it is his part and suche others as he is to admonishe all men hereof with their whole force and diligeÌce for albeit they should trauaile in vaine and be laughed at yet may not they therfore leaue theyr office vndone seyng that it pleaseth God who hathe committed vnto them the cure of soules wherefore he prayeth him not to be offended that he is thus retourned beyng neither called nor commaunded of him for sythe it is altogether Christes cause his trust is that he shall sustayne no displeasure or perill for his retourne The trouble whiche in his absence he sayde was in his Churche was this Andreas Caralostadius in the meane tyme that Luther was absente preached contrary doctrine and disorderlye styrred vp the people to caste the Images oute of the Churche For the which cause Luther beyng called againe of his frendes dispraiseth the rashenes of Carolostadius shewyng that fyrste the Images should haue bene remoued out of the peoples harts being instructed that God is not pleased with Images but with faith onely And then if they should be taken away the same to be done by the Magistrates and not by the tumulte and rage of the common people The same tyme began a secte of them that saide they had talke with God who had commaunded them that sleyng all wicked men they should begin a new world wherin onely the holy and innocent people should lyue and beare rule These kepte them selues priuelye in that parte of Saronie that lyeth by the riuer of Sala whose opinion as saith Luther Carolostadius also fauoured And when he could not bringe hys matters to passe at Wittenberge beynge defaced by Luthers aucthoritie he went from thens vnto them Of this sorte of men was Thomas Muncer whiche styrred vp the people against theyr magistrates in Thuringe and Franconie as shall be recyted in his place Luther hearyng that in the lande of Boheme there were some whiche in common assemblies counseiled to receiue agayne the Bishop of Romes aucthoritie or elles there shoulde neuer be ende of contention and controuersies he wryteth vnto them in the moneth of Auguste that their name was in times past odiose and hated of him before such tyme as he knewe the Bishop of Rome to be Antichriste But nowe syns God hath restored to the worlde the lyght of the Gospell he iudgeth farre otherwise and so hath professed in his workes in so muche that nowe the Byshoppe and all his Clientes are much more offended with him theÌ they are with them His aduersaries haue many tymes saied howe he was fledde into Boheme and in dede he hath ofte wisshed to go thyther but lest they shoulde call his iourney a runnynge awaye he hath altered his purpose And nowe is the matter brought to suche a passe that there is good hoope howe the Germaynes and the Bohemers shall professe the gospell the same Religion together Where many be sory that they be deuided into sectes they are not greued without iuste cause but if they reuolte vnto Papistrie they shall not onely not take awaye theyr sectes but increase and swarme in the same For there is no where mo sectes than is in the Romishe kyngdoÌ as is to be sene by the graye Freres which differ much amonges themselues And yet are all suche thinges done and mainteined by the Byshop of Rome whose kyngdome throughe mens discorde is nourished and establsshed For this is the verye cause whye he setteth Princes together by the eares and seketh alwaies to styrre vp matters of grudge and displeasure Wherfore let theÌ take goodhede lest whilest they go about to abolish those lesser sectes they fal into more pernicious as al those Romish be vtterly vncurable FroÌ the which now thorow Gods benefit Germanye is latelye delyuered And howe there is no better medicine to take awaye euill than if the Pastours of the Churche woulde setforth the doctrine of the Gospell purely and syncerely And in case they can not reteyne the weake people in theyr dewtie but that they wyll reuolte at the lest wyse let them indeuour to kepe styl the Lordes Supper wholy and the memoriall of Husse and Hierome of Prage vndetiled For it may be that the Bishop will attempt to take these two thinges from them chiefly Wherfore if any of them relent and graunr the tyrant bothe it shall not be well done of them Howe be it though ãâã Boheme do reuolte yet will he set forth and commende the doctrine of Husse vnto all posteritie Wherfore he praieth and exhorteth them ãâã perseuer in that state of Religion whiche they haue defended ãâã with muche bloud and valeauntnes neither through their ãâ¦ã yng blemishe the gospell that nowe florisheth And all beit that al thinges be not wel established amonges them yet will not God fayle them but whan he seeth time he will styrre vp some faythfull minister to reforme
Religion so that they wyll be constant and vtterly refuse the fylthines and wickednes of the Romisshe Bishoppe As concernyng the Bohemers thus it standeth After the death of Iohn Husse the people of Boheme wer deuided into three sectes Oue part toke the Bishoppe of Rome for the head of the Churche and the Uicar of Christ Another sorte receyued the Lordes Suppes in both kyndes and in their Masses had certeine thynges rehersed in their vulgare tounge differing in nothing els from the Papistes The thyrde sort were called Picardes they call the Bishop of Rome Antichriste and the whore of Babilon described in the Reuelation they admitte nothynge but the Bible they chose theyr owne priestes and Bishoppes they forbid no man to mary they pray not for the dead as for holy dayes and ceremonies they haue but very fewe After this Luther compiled a Boke againste the false named order of Bishops in the preface wherof he saith it is to them great shame that so many of them as they be with their great liuinges and honourable titles prosessyng them to be maisters of the whole Scriptures that they dare not come to dispute with him onelye before indifferent Iudges beyng so ofte prouoked therunto Wherfore he saieth that from hence forth he will no more submitte his writynges vnto them as he dyd at Wormes for the Doctrine is not his but Christes Who lyueth and reigneth for euer who will once restraine theyr madnes and bluddye enterprises By the decrees of the Bishop of Rome and theÌperor the name and marke of that great Beast is taken from him for the which he thaÌketh God highly that hath deliuered him out of the stiking doÌgeon of most filthy errors and wicked doctrine and lightened him with the trewe knowledge of his worde wherof he is so certein that he will not herafter submit his doctrine to the iudgement no not of any Angell but by the testimony therof to iudge both him selfe and all them and the Angels also Wherfore he warneth theÌ to put no trust in theyr tyrany for the more that they swell in theyr malice and enuie against hym the more boldely will he proceds in his purpose for Christ liueth and reygneth which can and will confounde their cruell and bloddy enterprises he would wishe in dede theyr amendment but if that wil not be he wil haue such continual warre with theÌ as shall neuer be recoÌciled And where as they charge him that his franke rebuking of theÌ shuld styrre vp the people against him in that they do him muche wronge for it is to be proued by the Scriptures that such repreheÌsions are necessary when the pastors of Churches bevnlearned wicked obstinate neither doynge their dutie theÌselues nor permitting others to do that would can do it right well Now to the couÌsel at Norinberge Lewis king of HuÌgary sent his ambassadors who lameÌtably coÌplaining of the Turkes great crueltie desyred stroÌge coÌtinual aide Thither sent also AdriaÌ Bishop of Rome Hierome Rorare one of his chaÌberlaines with letters to duke Friderike signifiyng that he was right glad to heare of thasseÌbly at Norinberge trusting that there shal be some thing done that shall coÌcerne the coÌmon weale for the which cause he hath also determined by the coÌsent of his Cardinals toseÌd his Ambassador thither And in that meane while thought good to seÌde this maÌ before to signifie vnto him whoÌ he hath euermore loued derely his good will affectioÌ towardes the common wealth as he shall better know by his Ambassador that foloweth he exhorteth praieth hi that he which is a price of theÌpire in the tuition of the which Empire the church of Rome coÌsisteth wold trauaile coÌsult diligeÌtly for the things that coÌcerne the dignitie of thapostolical church and the traÌquilitie of the coÌmon weale to folow herein the steppes of his noble progenitors desyringe him to giue further credite to Ierome in suche thynges as he hath wylled him to debate with him FarnaÌdo Archduke of Austriche was a straight executer of the senteÌce giuen the yere before against Luther in the Dukedome of Wittenberge which he helde at the same time he set forth a sore proclamation the .xxvj. day of NoueÌbre promisyng rewardes to the promotors in all his own prouinces he punished extremely all those that obeied not the Popes lawes This yere departed Reucline a pure aged man whoÌ Erasmus of Roterodame commended with a goodly Dialoge attributyng vnto hym immortalitie and the excellencie in the knowledge of all three tonges At the latter ende of Nouembre Adrian Bishop of Rome sendeth letters to the whole assemblie at Norinberge That sins the time he was first chosen to thoffice of Apostleship he neuer wished for thinge more than that he might in euery coÌdition accomplish the dewtie of a good pastour suffring no one shepe of his flocke to go farre a stray for asmuch as might be done through his vigilant eye and carefulnes And herof he taketh God to be his witnes who hath auaunced him vnworthy to this dignitie which he neuer loked for And to the intent he might more easely atteine to his purpose he hath greatly exhorted all kynges and princes to absteine froÌ ciuil warres And if they will nedes make warre to bende all theyr forse and power againste the enemies of the Christian faith And the same that he assaied to perswade others he hathe performed him self hauing sent a great sum of money to the knights of the Rhodes which at this present are in great daunger of theÌperor of Turkes Afterwardes calling home his remeÌbrauÌce of forein periles loking more narrowly vpoÌ domestical euils he heareth to his great discoÌfort that Martin Luther who hath ofteÌtimes bene gently fatherly admonished at the length whan there was none other remedy coÌdemned banisshed by certein Uniuersities by Leo his predecessor also by themperor by the coÌmon coÌsent is not yet put to sileÌce but styll at libertie setting forth dayly new bokes by the which the christiaÌ religioÌ al honest liuing is sore decaied Which thing greueth hi so much the more for that he heareth saye howe diuerse of the nobilitie fauoure hym and that the matter is so farre gone that Ecclesiasticall parsons are in dauÌger to lose both laÌdes dignitie through out Germany touching the which things certein haue already styrred vp ciuil war It is trewly spokeÌ of Paule that iiedes there must be Heresies but as thinges staÌd now it chauÌseth most out of ceason But the deuill is disposed to wrap vs in sondry calamities at one time for through his instigation the fury of the Turkes the Heresie of Luth. oppresse vs both at once And although it were for vs possible to discoÌfite the foreine enemie yet so loÌg as this domestical aduersarie is vnuaÌquished it should litel preuaile What time he was yet in Spaine he hearde muche of Luthers false opinions albeit it greued him
of our determination is iust and reasonable yet is there no doubte but our aduersaries be of suche nature that they wyll blame our doyng constrewe it to the worste parte For to the entent they may bryng vs and our cause into hatred they wyll affyrme doubtlesse that we can abyde no examination nor iudgement and that we despyse al other nations amonges whome there haue often bene many excellent learned men This wyll they saye moreouer that it is wickednes to refuse the decrees of the counsell for that it is the hyghe iudicial seate of the churche whiche all men are bound to obey They wyl forge also as though we were ashamed of our doctrine or afraid to come to light or els that we sought contentioÌ where no nede is and can not endure ân vniuersall quiet Nowe if this myght be verefied of vs in dede it were not only wicked but also detestable be heard of Wherfore we must of necessitie shewe the reason of our doynge and we truste than that all good men whether they be in Germany or other places wyll not only credit no suche thynge of vs but wyll also doe their endeuour that this moste weyghty cause of all others may be handled vprightly and that the byshop of Rome be not permitted vnder the forged and coloured name of a counsell to oppresse the manifest truthe by a kynde of tyranny For we shal declare that we do not only professe the pure doctrine but also respecte nothyng els but Gods glory and the preseruation of the common wealth and that there can be no obstinacie or frowardnes obiected vnto vs. And fyrst to proue that we do not contemne the iudgement of other nations or of the churche hereby it appereth manyfestly that al our care is lest the byshop and his clientes should take vpon them the authoritie and iudgement and that all thynges myght be decided by mete and no suspected persones Whiche thyng we trust that all Godly men would lykewyse wyshe for For where as in dyuerse countreis there remayne certen olde wrytinges and complayntes of the false doctrine vices and idolatrie that were than crept into the churche we doubte not but in the same places at this daye there be some Godly and learned men also whiche vnderstande the sounde doctrine although being oppressed with the byshoppes tyrannye they are constrayned to holde their peace These in dede of iuste deserte ought to be present at the couÌsel that they myght speake their myndes frely For it is not to be accompted a free counsell that is gouerned by the byshop and his fellowes whiche defende false doctrine by power and violence and of an olde custome make decrees contrary to Gods worde For Christe what tyme he instituted this highe iudiciall seate commaunded that all matters should be referred to the churche that requyred a reformation By the whiche selfe wordes he excludeth all tyranny and lordshyp It is also a sclaunder where they saye perhaps that we are a feard to come abroade and can not abyde the opeÌ light For in the assemblie imperial at Auspurg we professed our doctrine openly before the Emperoure and all the states of the Empyre Againe this selfe same doctrine is preached openly in our dominions and our learned men haue set forth bookes of the same and diuerse of our aduersaries do confesse that through our mens wrytinges sondrye articles are called agayne to lyght whiche laye before hidde in darkenes For nowe the true doctrine shyneth agayne of penaunce of faythe in Christe of the remissioÌ of synnes of good workes of true worshipping of the vse of SacrameÌtes of the authoritie of the keyes of Magistrates of the traditions of men and suche other lyke thinges Neither are we ashamed of the Gospell as Paule sayth but haue an especiall desyre that we myght declare our mynde in these thinges before al men And where it is also obiected to our preachers that they shoulde haue reysed vp agayne the heresies before time condempned neither should nede therfore further disputation or hearing it is false may be easlye excused before them that haue red our confession and the defence annexed to the same For the doctrine that we confesse is not newe but the verey consent of the primatiue churche as moste clerely doth appere Neyther haue we admitted any heresy or wycked opinion but our men haue restored the doctrine of the auncieÌt fathers which was oppressed by bishops and monkes It is vntrue also that is reported of vs that we shoulde delight in dissention for we are sory from the botome of our hartes that the ChristeÌ commoÌ wealth is thus deuided to haue a concorde desyre a lawfull counsell But for as muche as the byshop and his fellowes do coÌdempne the true and necessary doctrine and do tormente and persecute the professers thereof exhorting others to do the same we can not but mislike their cruel tiranny For God wil be honored through the confession of his name and it is wickednes for any man to ioyne hym selfe to the byshops tyranny whiche so rageth Moreouer it is manifest that we beare and susteine all maner of charges of the common wealth as the residue of the states do Whereby it is to be seene that we woulde also gladly accorde with others in relygion in case it were lawful Besydes this we vnderstande what dauÌger hangeth ouer vs for the same For the byshoppes haue nowe these many yeares declared manifestly what they go about and how they incense kynges myndes against vs. And were it not extreme madnes to abide all these so great dauÌgers and to be at so great charges with out iust cause But we knowe assuredly that we owe this dewtie vnto God And that there is nothing to be so much respected as his commaundement and take God to wytnes that we seke for nothing els Nowe that we haue confuted theyr sklaunders we will come to the seconde part Emonges straungers many parauenture suppose that we of a certen curiositie haue impugned some light faultes which for kepinge of a quiet mighte better haue bene dissembled especiallye consydering that the state of worldly thinges is suche that in a common wealth be euer remaining some thinges whiche must be wincked at But the matter standeth farre otherwise For fyrst in dede errours and false opinions may not be dissembled with For Christ commaundeth vs to beware of false teachers Againe the controuersie is not about light errours but touching the doctrine of faith and the true knowledge of God which is the principall pointe of the Christian life and sincere worshipping of God which ought not to be passed ouer in silence but to be obserued purely and diligentlye taught in the Churche And it can not be denied but this doctrine was wholy extinguished and a newe brought in for it to the greate contuinelie of Christ Moreouer we do reprehende diuerse and sundrye errours and wickednes which others also haue espied longe before
of Germany bryng al other states into their subiectioÌ it is by many of their doings so well knowen that it nedeth no further declaration For verely vnder the swete name of Religion they haue allured into their coÌfederacie the chiefest cities of Germany through their force furniture haue gotteÌ the landes possessioÌs of others How they now also go to worke compelle other Princes subiects to take their partes and disturbe many in their religion and inforce them to another kinde of lyfe cast also diuerse in pryson and fetters and threaten them cruelly and robbe and spoyle churches the thyng it selfe declareth For this is the very cause why they couet to haue them in their league that by this meane being made stronger they might the more easely accomplyshe their pretensed purpose he doubted not but they also perceiue these thinges and vnderstande ryght well what incommoditie or discommoditie they may loke for by their societie And seing the matter is thus and inasmuche as they ar not ignoraunt both of his good will also of the causes of the warre he trusteth that they wyl refuse their league and kepe their soldiours at home and call home suche are gone to serue into the warre vnder a set penaltie and doe nothing contrary to the auncient leagues and by the example of the residue obserue peace and amitie For this shall both redounde to theyr owne prayse and shal be to hym also ryght acceptable vnto the which letters they wryte again after the same sort as they answered thambassadour before and desire him to accept in good part their delay in answering And in asmuch as he affirmeth that this war is nether to oppresse Religion nor yet the libertie of the countrey they say how they will do again none other wyse thaÌ shal become theÌ For if any be gone out of their confynes a warfare the same is done without their leaue and knowledge as oft times it chaunceth And their maner is not to call theÌ again that go forth without their liceÌce but what time they retourne home to punish them And as they did moue the Swisses so likewyse the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue sollicited the Bohemers but thei made such aunswer as it appered wel that their myndes were alredy perswaded through thaccusation of king Ferdinando Whan they perceiued this by their letters about the end of August they wryte again and shewe them manifestly that this war is attempted against religion and sent vnto them the bokes whiche haue bene lately set forth concerning the same and require theÌ to worke no displeasure against them and last to signifie vnto theÌ what they intend to do About the same time also thei publish a wryting wherin they say how they are aduertised by them that are credit worthy how the bishop and Antichrist of Rome an instrument of the deuil authour of this war who in certen yeres past by his hired ministers set many townes of fire in Saxon hath now sent forth impoysoners to infecte their welles and standing waters to thintent that the same which war and that sword can not distroy these may dispatche with their poyson Wherfore they do admonish vniuersally al meÌ but chiefly their owne subiectes to waite narrowly that such men be appreheÌded and being put to torture whan they shall haue tried their mischief that they suffer accordingly And within a fewe days after the Duke of Saxon his sonne Iohn William in his letters published geueth warning to his couÌtrey that they take diligent hede to theÌ selues For lately not far froÌ Weynmar a town of Turing a certen Italian was taken of suspicioÌ who coÌfessed that he diuerse others had money giueÌ them at Rome in the byshops name that they shuld with fiering poyson do as much hurt in Germany as they possible might CoÌcerning their outlawyng how themperour sent a copy therof to the Duke to the Lantgraue I haue shewed you before Wherfore whaÌ they had receiued it in their caÌpe at Ingolstad the secoÌd day of SepteÌber in the defeÌce of their honor estimatioÌ they answer in a very loÌg wryting That he so highly coÌmendeth his zeale good wil to-many it is nothing but dissimulatioÌ for since the time he was first chosen Emperour he hath always sought meanes how to bring it in bondage For this was verely the cause why he leauing Spaine and his other countreis hath retourned so oft in to Germany and bene at so importunate charges Of like sort is the same which he speaketh of religioÌ For his purpose hath bene alwayes the hauing oportunitie he might oppresse the sincere doctrine For so oft say they as he grauÌted peace vnto vs our religioÌ he did it craftely for a time only vntil we had giueÌ money to serue the publique vses necessities of thempire After he called the decrees made in doubt into question helde the matter so long in suspence till he had made peace with the French king taken truce with the Turck that the bishop he espiyng a time conuenient had appointed the counsell of Trent concluded vpon a league but hereof wil we bring probations Fiue yeares past at Regenspurg he made a decree of religion and wher as in diuerse pointes we misliked the same he declared his minde more at large and gaue it vs in wryting sufficiently The same in other assemblies after his deputies king Ferdinando did coÌfirme And yet two yeres since in the coÌuention at Spier whan mention was made therof he sayd how he did remeÌber no such declaratioÌ The last yeare in the coÌuention at Wormes the Byshop of Hildesseme said openly before al the Princes how themperour promised the catholikes that the decree of Spier shuld take no place after the FreÌch warres A few monethes past when he went to the conuention at Regenspurg Granuellan spake it to me sayth the Lantgraue in the presence of the Paulsgraue of my counsellours the Ambassadour of the Duke of WirteÌberg how that decree of Spier was applied vnto the time And that now themperour can not longer mainteyn the same against the other states Sixe yeres past at Hagenaw king Firdinando whan he sheweth his commission to the catholiques said that vnto vs should no decrees be obserued For they were made for fear of the Turkish warre what time he had nede of our ayde What thinke you Was not this a goodly cause and a fetch to supplant vs our felowes They confesse the craft theÌ selues wherby they licked vs of our money Therfore it is playn that he intended alwayes the distructioÌ of religioÌ as the late coÌfederacie declareth taried but only for a time to serue his purpos because he wold appere to haue the matter lawfully decided he was euer in haÌd with vs that we shuld submit our selfs to the bishop of Romes couÌsel but why we might not so do it is
hand and aduiseth him to consider with him selfe how great is the force of Germany and how muche daunger is in the thing And if perchauÌce one or two haue offended there may a meane be founde how to pacifie the matter without warre Wherunto he made this aunswere there nedeth no pacifieng of the matter For he wil conquer Germany or hazard all that euer he hath in the worlde For the power therof is not so great that he nedeth muche to feare it For twenty yeares synce and more hath he layde the foundation of this matter Oftentymes they haue giuen hym ayde in sondry and many warres lately also against the kyng him self They haue bene at great charges in many asseÌblies of the Empyre Moreouer in sondry warres they haue lost a great number of their meÌ so is their strength decayed And al theft thinges hath he done for this intent that Germany might he distitute of power voyd of force and strength therfore is this tyme commodious to worke this feate in He that heard this talke of his by the mouth of the Ambassadour an honest man and worthy of credit reported the same vnto vs. Why should he than impute the cause of the war to vs seing he hath intended the same of so long tyme before Whan we were than priuate persones and drowned in the dregges of the Romish Religion And if he had stande to his decrees and conuenauntes than we wold haue done our duty but in asmuch as he hath brokeÌ the same and the chief obedience is dew vnto God let him ascribe the faulte vnto him selfe For considering that he inteÌdeth destruction both to Religion and libertie he geueth an occasion wherby we may resist him with a good conscience For in this case is it lawful to resist as it is to be proued both by sacred prophane histories For God is not the authour of vniust violence nether are we bounden to him otherwyse than if he fulfyll the conditions for the whiche he was created Emperour He grauÌteth that he hath agreed with vs priuatly and that is to vs a great pleasure to heare Wherfor theÌ doth he moue war for those matters for the which once a faithful agrement was made For it can not be proued that we haue committed any rebellion ether before or after the same compositions But thus the case standeth He made a decree at Wormes .xxv. yeares past and set forth a proclamation against Luther and such as imbraced his doctrine appointed moste extreme punishmeÌt And that same acte now in this warre he intendeth to put in execution His Crown and Scepter we neuer coueted For we are content with our owne landes and reuenewes and praye God that in his feare we may kepe and maynteine the same If it be true that he sayth why haue we so oft geuen him ayd and lately but two yeares synce against the kyng of Fraunce For the whiche desert and benefit he ought in dede to forget al displeasure though no reconcilement had bene made We neuer reported him euil but for the opinion of his vertu haue al ways commended hym highly And as for famous libelles and pictures nether haue our diuines nor yet any others set forth against hym Yea our diuines and learned men haue euer more extolled him with great prayses exhorted the people in their sermons to do the same and praye to God for his preseruatioÌ Perauenture they haue set forth somwhat against the byshop of Rome but there was no cause why we should inhibie them so to do But how vilaynously and slauÌderously Cochleus and Hadamar the White frere of Collon haue rayled against vs our fellowes and diuines euen now at RegeÌspurg whan the assemblie was holden to appease the controuersie it is manifestly knowen He obiecteth vnto vs conspiracies and conuenticles wherin he doth vs great iniury as in all other thinges For we are borne and bred in Germany where men be far void of suche crafty deuises as haue bene wrought against vs these many yeares past and now first bewray them selues Howbeit that we might defende our selues against vniust violence we made a league and denie it not and did it only to defende our selues and to iniury no maÌ and wherfore we made it we haue now in two seuerall writinges declared And fiue yeares since saith the Lantgraue when I went through with the Emperour at Regenspurg Granuellan sayd then to me and to my chauncelour how the Emperour was nothing offended with our league but could be content also that we should receiue in to the same as many as we would After he speaketh in darke wordes as though we should haue moued the Turke to inuade Germany But this shall the thing it selfe confute For we haue always giuen ayd against the Turke yea more than euer our progenitours haue done and that at suche tymes as we were not bounden for that the couuenauntes were not kept and whan diuerse others whiche had promysed ayde perfourmed nothing But you haue heard already how he and his brother haue deuised so with the Turke that he might oppresse sodainly vs only and our fellowes He had ayde giuen him lately by a publique decree against Fraunce Than he promysed that whan that warre should be finished he would go streight against the Turke After he made peace with the enemy without their knowledge with whose money he had made warre behold now he beÌdeth al his force against vs. Is it not a goodly matter to se the munition brought out of Austriche to the warre in Germany and in the meane season to suffer Hongary to be ouer runne with the Turkes The seditions coÌspiracies and treasons wherwith he chargeth vs are none at all nether is ther any other cause of war than the same before rehearsed He sayth he hath graunted vs ouer muche and wynked at our doinges to the grudge of his own conscience but this is fayned also For his desire was long since to haue made warre against vs and could not being impeched hitherto and was of necessitie constrained to differre it till he had quieted the Duke of Cleaue the king of Fraunce and the Turke For what hys mynde hath bene those extreme and moste greuous executions of godly men in his couÌtreis do declare And that also he agreed with vs heretofore we now first perceiue that it was done for this intent that being dispatched of other affaires he might entent that being dispatched of other affaires he might inteÌd this warre only Wherof assuredly I coulde suspecte nothyng sayth the Lantgraue by reason of the great good wyll and humanitie that he shewed me lately at Spier At the which time also Nauis wylled my Chauncelour that in any case this talk might be kept secret Finally the ende of his accusation is to pluck our fellowes from vs. And therfore ascribeth vnto vs Tyranny extortion and disturbaunce of the clergie but vndeseruedly For we punysh extortions and murther in our
was he constrayned in sadues to intreat for peace Whiche being ones concluded by the mediation of certen it was conditioned that he should geue his fayth to the kyng by an othe and doe all thynges as becommeth a faythful and trusty Cliente It is certen therfore that the lande of Prusse hath euer synce the memory of maÌ and from the tyme they fyrst receiued the Christen Religion both by the lawe of armes and also by sondry conuenauntes aparteyned to the Realme of Polle For if any others haue made any title or claime to it the same hath ben through the arrogancie wrong of the maisters of thorder who being through yâ kinges permissioÌ Germains borne haue about oftentimes to intitle others in the ryght of Prusse Whiche thing assuredly hath bred muche distention betwixte the Germaines and Polonians and caused also this same decree wherin Duke Albert was outlawed But what ryght haue they to outlaw an other mans cliente For in that he came not to iudgemeÌt when he was sited not of his iudges that ded he by the kynges commaundement vnto whome all the faulte is to be imputed in case there be any at all But if he should be outlawed for this cause that he acknowlegeth the king for his Magistrat that were very vnreasonable that any man should suffer punishemeÌt for doing his duty Wherfore most triumphaÌt Emperour and states most noble the king doeth hartly requyre you that this vniust and vnlawfull decree of outlawery prescription may be repressed Neither is there any cause why any man should thynke that the kyng would for any ambition or desyre to enlarge his kyngdome bryng Prusse vnder his subiection For he that hath refused most Goodly prouinces that haue bene frely offred him how should he come then into the suspicion of this matter Certenly that couÌtrey is not so much worth vnto hym but that if he myght with his honour he coulde be content to forgoe it But sith it doth properly belong vnto his dominion he can not other wyse doe For the cause why oftentimes trouble coÌteÌtion hath riseÌ about it was euer through the faulte of the Maisters of the order as I shewed you before And God in dede hath often plaged their bolde enterpryses And these thinges knew ryght well most noble Emperour and king FerdinaÌdo your grandfather Maximilian who remembring the iniuries which he and his father Friderick receiued of them made a faithfull promyse to kyng Sigismunde what tyme they met at Uienne promised as well in his owne as in your names also that he woulde geue no maner of ayde vnto this order And this dyd Maximilian after no newe example but followyng the trade of his auncestours For both the Emperour Sigismunde metyng with kyng Ladislaus graÌdfather to the king my Maister did not this much only but also promised aide against them And the Emperour Friderick your great graÌdfather ioyned his force and power with Casimire the father of king Sigismund against Matthie kyng of Hongary and this foresayd order of one coÌfederacie And although that kyng Casimire being let impeched with the warres of this ordre could sende themperour Fridericke that time no ayde of men yet did he ayde him with monie so much as his couenaÌt was Wherby it is euident how this order hath always ben enemies to the hous whiche hath euer bene linked to Polle with bondes of leagues and affinities Wherof king SigismuÌde requireth you to haue some consideration For in case there be any of the same order that thinke them selues bounde to fight for the christian faith and Religion there is nothing for them to do in Prusse For all that be round about it doe professe the christiane religioÌ Therfore must they seke vnto other places where they may exercise them selues For now of many yeares Hierusalem is possessed of a barbarous ennemy for the defence of the whiche place it is said how this order was in times past instituted Constantinople also is kept of the same nation Here lieth their worke busines Or if this be thought ouer olde or to far of there are many strong cities of Christendome wonne lately Why do not these worthy knyghtes go thether that thei might either recouer that is loste or defende the rest froÌ the ennemy But if they delight more in ciuile warre than euery man may iudge howe vnworthy they are of that name But thus the case standeth this order hath bene alwayes without order For the whiche cause also they were expulsed not out of Prussie only but out of Boheme lyke wyse well nexe an hondreth and fiftie yeares past And yet hath no man hetherto desyred the same places out of the whiche they were expulsed as common and vacant to be geuen them But only Polle sement fit to be molested herein whiche ought moste of all to be fauoured For albeit that order hath offended many yet hath it done moste hurt of all to the Realme of Polle For sauing a few of the first scarsly were there any maisters of that order that did their duty but contrariwyse for the moste part leauing the Barbarous ennemies haue tourned their weapons against their Magistrate kynges of Poolle And not that only but haue brought into their confederacie also the Tartarians a cruell kynde of people and mortall ennemies to all Christians as is wrytten of Michell Cochmester Wherfore if any man would make the rekening coÌsider the paines perilles charges warres tumultes battails slaughters desolations wherof this order hath chiefly bene cause of he shal find that it is hardly so much worth And the kinges desire is that there myght ones be an ende of these euils For if any man should attempte warre against Albert Duke of Prusse the kyng wyll not altogether sit styll and see hym take wrong for as muche as he is both Uncle to hym and Patrone There are threateninges and menaces brought to the kynges eares whiche doubtles he is sory to heare For he loueth peace and quietnes but chiefly the concorde of Christendome Howe be it in case any man shall attempte violence he wyll in dede vnwillyngly put on Armure yet for all that wyll he doe it to defende him and his He desyreth the frendshyp of all Prynces but chiefly yours moste mighty Emperour and kyng FerdinaÌdo and wysheth the same to continue for euer He hath often times heretofore intreated you by letters and messengers that the prescription decreed against Duke Albert might be abolyshed But where the same is not done hetherto he doeth not so muche impute it vnto you as to the aduersitie of tyme. But nowe that alwayes are made playne and lettes taken awaye he supposeth you haue occasion now to perfourme the thyng whiche you haue right franckely promysed whan not by one lettre or two you haue signified how that you were more ready in wyll than in power to gratifie hym But in case this order wyll not cease but steare vp warre and
doctrin and churches and all be it that many will say that he dothe these things against the wil of the fathers yet se they with what an assent he teacheth and is hard if this be thonly cause why they wer sent for hither that they might be verely a spectakle and laughing stock to others and should be compelled to hear daily thiniuries reproches of theyr doctrin ther was doubtles no nede to haue taken this iourney in hand and all these things might haue ben declared by wryting wherfore they earnestly require them according to their office and authority they would bring to passe that both the fathers would at the last declare what lack they find in the confession exhibited and that they may againe also be openly hard in all matters Those letters thambassadors receiue very geÌtly and say they are glad also that they haue an occasion ministred to vrge the matter to thintent that if the Legate Crescentius do refuse they may treat with his fellowes and with the fathers Than also the same Frier left reading excusing the matter by sicknesse The first day of Aprill Duke Moris and his league frends laid siege to the city of Auspurge and toke it the third day after by composition as in the boke that foloweth shal be declared The v. day of Aprill the Ambassadors of the Duke of Wirtemberge beinge sent for to the house of Toletane came and brought with them as they were coÌmaunded two diuines Brentius and Ihon Marpache of Strasburge Pictaue beginneth to declare first of their owne good will and zeale after of the Legates sicknesse and how vnlesse he were present neither his fellowes nor yet the fathers wold do any thing and that the fault hath not bene in them that they do not procede and sheweth that they will also hereafter omit no manner of diligence and hereof maketh protestation Thothers whan they had consulted say that they know rightwell their good will and diligence howbeit they had loked for an other and a more certain answer to their demaundes which they might haue signified to their Magistrates but now sith the matter is thus they must take couÌsel the best they can for them selues Than said he againe that the matter is not brought to that poynt neither ought it so to be taken as though ther wer no hope of any further action remaining to aduertise their Magistrates and signify vnto them in what case all thing stand it is wel done of them and according to their duty nether doubt they but they when they shal hear therof wil both maruel at this long delay and surceasing and will take it also in euill part Howbeit he requireth them to take paciently the tediousnesse of a few daies In the meane time they will trauell that they may haue a direct answer Unto this say they they will gladly for their sakes acconsent The next day with great expedition came messagers and letters that Auspurge was taken and howe the Princes marched straightway toward thalpes to stop all the wais and passages Wherefore they were commaunded to take armure in the county of Tiroll and bandes of soldiors hired and commaunded all to repair to Insprucke Now wer all the bishops of Germanye departed thence ther remained only the deputies of the bishops of Spier and Manster Whan these newes were broughte immediatly the bishops of Italy flee carying all their baggage down the riuer of Athesis Wherfore thambassadors of Wirtemberge being herewith moued what time of their own accord the councell nowe slipped away come to themperors orators and shew theÌ for what cause they purpose to go home with the diuines also Who in dede at the first were sore against it and say howe they may not assente therunto except themperors pleasure be knowne but when that might not preuaile they require to haue the causes of their departing deliuered to them by writing signed with their own hands to thintent they may make an excuse to themperor and to the fathers Pictaue demaunded this also if haply after theyr departure the fathers shall proceade in thaction what than shall the diuines say wherunto thambassadors conferring with the diuines vppon the matter say they wil make them answer and the viii day of Aprill early in the morning they deliuer vnto them a wrytinge In the same they recite what time the confession of their doctrine was exhibited wherfore the diuines came How they haue in vain sollicited hitherto that they might receiue an answer to their Princes demaundes How vnto that day ther appeared no hope of any action that should be Now also ther is war raised so that not only that bishops of Germany but also of Italy do depart that all states are now so intangled with troubles that they can loke for nothing at this present Moreouer the bishops of Germany being absente perauenture it were not expediente that anye progresse shoulde be made And if any time hereafter chance wherin this busines may be treated wel and ordrely they suppose how their Prince will not be wanting The diuines moreouer thinke thus that ther be many decrees made both in this and also in the former counsel which might be wel reproued in case they be lawfully hard And if the fathers do now procede herein it is to be thought that their doings wil be like the reast Neuerthelesse in case ether the decrees already made may be amended or such may hereafter be decreed as are consonant to the holy scripture ther is no doubt but the same will be receiued with most obedient harts This thing vnto them doutles will be most sorowful as in certain places of the confession exhibited hath bene declared which wryting verely they iudge to be good and godly and also whan time shal serue will declare it more at large They pray them therfore to take in good part their departure and say in dede how they might by vertue of the safeconduite depart thence what time they list and are not bounden to make any man priuy to it but for so much as they haue manye times proued their gentlenes they wold not omit this kind of duety Thus therfore taking their leaue they departe aboute none time and a fewe hours after they met with the Cardinall of Trent whiche rode in great poste hastr from Brixna to Trent And whan he heard that they were of Wirtemberge inquiring for Brentius he spake vnto him and gaue them all most gentle wordes Two daies after met them king Ferdinandoes daughters which went by Insprucke to Brunecke a towne in the Alpes bordering on the limits of the Uenetians Of the fathers I shewed you before how they drue not all by one line The Spanish bishops in dede semed of all others most diligente diuers also of the Germanes pretended as thoughe the thing required much reformation but the mind of them that thought best of al others was this that the schole of correction and maners of the
that betwene the Byshop and them there wyll be no great good wyll For where it is reason that according to the lawes of the foundation mete persones should gouerne and rule holy offices and if they do against those lawes or relinquishe their state that thaÌ their Collegers should remoue them and forsee that the same reuolting hurt but him alone Certenly their demaunde ought not to be refused Wherfore I exhorte you agayne and agayne that you contende no further herein For amonges other thinges you ought to consider how they do not prescribe vnto you what meane and waye is to be kept in gouerning of suche offices Colleges and benefices as to your selues you haue vsurped nor yet what is to be done with the ministers of churches of your dominions whiche breake the lawes set forth by you and neglecte their dutie For lyke as it should be greuously and euyll taken of you in case they would haue suche ministers as forsake and impugne your Religion of you to be reteyned So should it be muche more greuouse vnto theÌ if both the gouernment and possession of landes and goodes should be left vnto them whiche should both forsake and impugne their ReligioÌ For what other thing myght hereof be loked for but debate strife and contention The foundation therfore of the thinge that is nowe in hande to witte peace it selfe by this meane should be vtterly taken away The eight daye after they aunswere Howe it is not their intent to prescribe the clergie herein muche lesse that the holy gouernmentes should be brought to desolation or that their nature altered they should be made ciuile or prophane For we' ar not ignorauÌt say they that some part of the Empire consisteth in these matters and possessions whiche we couet not to deminishe or decaye but by al meanes to mainteyne them It would haue pleased vs right well that this question had neuer bene moued but to haue stande in the decrees of fourmer yeares made at Norinberge Regenspurg Spiers whiche include in the peace al the parteners of the coÌfession of Auspurge And at the first in dede the Ambassadours of the thre Archebyshops Electours did wittely consider this also But after when this doubte began to be moued of others they went vnto their syde They that first moued this question had peraduenture some cause so to doe but what hath insued therof nowe appereth For if this let had not chaunced by the way al the matter in our opinioÌ had now ben brought to a good ende But why we should not admitte that coÌdicion there wer Godly and weighty causes For euery man doeth easely perceiue howe muche it should be to the contempte and hinderaunce of our Religion if we should permitte that suche as imbrace the same should be displaced and depriued of all their honour dignitie and accompted in the nomber of heretikes What the first foundations of Colleges were and what vices haue crept in since we wyl here passe ouer in silence But we suppose that many of the same statutes be not against our Religion Again to assente that none of the ecclesiasticall state should be of that Religion whiche as the true Christen Religion we professe were doubtles no smal offence For by the same facte we should coÌdemne it as wicked and vnworthy the state of pristes whiche ought chiefly to set forth Religion And seing it is thus moste mightie kyng we beseche you to waye these thinges in your mynde and for the authoritie that you haue of the Emperour you would suffer that part to be omitted But he maketh aunswere that nothynge more can be graunted them And sayeth moreouer that those thinges are nowe permitted them which of so many yeares could neuer be obteined Therfore let them haue consideration hereof for els shall they be fayne to departe without any thing finished Whiche if it so come to passe and any incoÌuenience arise therof there is no cause why the blame shuld be layde either in the Emperour or in him who so quietly patiently hath handled the matter and hitherto hath remayned Whiche nowe he can defer no longer Therfore he geueth them ten dayes that in the meane time they may wryte these thinges home to their Princes and make him a direct answer When the daye came these men for that they had omitted no diligence that al others were prouided for concerning religioÌ and for that they might not prescribe any measure herein to the king or Emperour doe assent especially since the king also released certen thinges as hereafter shal be shewed Therfore the seuenth Kalendes of October the decree made was red openly as the maner is to this effect For the doctrine of Protestauntes faith and Religion the Emperour king Ferdinando and the residue of Princes and states shall hurte no man of the whole Empire in any wyse neither shall they compell any man to forsake his Religion ceremonies and lawes whiche in their dominion the Protestauntes haue already ordeined or hereafter shall ordeyne by commaundemeÌtes or any other meane nor yet contemne the same But permitte them this Religion free and also their goodes faculties customes possession and rightes so that peaceably they may inioy them That the controuersie also of Religion be appeased by none other but by godly frendly and quiet meanes In like case shall they that be of the confession of Auspurg demeane them selues towardes the Emperour king Ferdinando and the rest of Princes and states addicte to the olde Religion as well sacred as ciuile towardes the whole state ecclesiastical and colleges of the same whether so euer they shal finally remoue to dwel so that their ministerie be well ordered as beneath shall be sayde To all these shal they permitte their Religion lawes and ceremonies possessions customes and all other rightes frely neither by any meane hinder but that they may quietly inioye them and what so euer displeasure or strife shall arise be determined on either syde after the custome lawes of the Empire That suche as be of neyther ReligioÌ be not comprysed in this peace If any Archebyshop Byshop Prelate or other ecclesiastical persone shall reuolte from the olde Religion he shall immediatly departe from his Byshoprike office benefice and also from all the prosites that he receiueth therof And it shall be lawfull and free for the College or those to whome the same thing shal by ryght or custome apperteyne to chose or substitute an other in his place whiche is of the olde Religion to the intent that the ryghtes of the foundation election presentation confirmation and such other like may remayne to them whole with the quiet possession of the goodes Yet so that nothinge hereby be taken away from the foresayde reconcilement of Religion that shal be And bicause diuerse states of the Empire and their progenitours haue taken to them certen ecclesiasticall gouernementes abbeies and suche other like goodes of the church haue disposed the same to the
haue nowe declared and of others that wryte stories But when I speake of Historiographers I meane not those of our time which study only to extoll and highly commend what part they list and ouerwhelme thother with contumelious and railynge wordes They that are of such sort be not worthy to be so called Ihon Cocles .vi. yeares past setforthe Commentaries in a manner of the same argument that mine are but all thynges are heaped vp with such horrible forged and abhominable sclaunders and lyes as haue not bene hard Cardinall Poole in the boke lately setforthe calleth the Doctrine renewed in Germany Turkishe seede Of suche lyke wordes are al theyr bokes full But what like thing is found in all my woorke I haue verely wrytten the wonderfull benefite of God geuen eo thys our time orderly and as truely as I could possible and for the same purpose I gathered .xvi. yeares since what soeuer belonged herunto neither haue I wrytten rashlye but with a sure iudgemente proceaded And what labour and paines this worke hath cost me nexte the liuing God I know For his glory haue I chiefly regarded and leauing the practise of the law I haue applied in a maner all my study herevnto and verely I must confesse that throughe Gods motion I haue ben after a sort drawen vnto this labour And nowe where diuers requite me so vnworthye thanckes for my so greate trauell and paines I wil coÌmit to him whose cause chiefly I toke it in haÌd for I know vndoubtedly that I haue offred vp vnto him a most acceptable sacrifice with the same verely good conscience I comfort and sustain my self especially seing that my labor is commended of learned men whiche bothe geue me thanckes and confesse also that they haue receiued much frute therby Wherefore I desire all louers of the veritye that they wold geue no credit to the sclander of a few certen meÌ but wold gentelly accept my labors faith and dilligence nether conceiue any sinistre opinion of me Furthermore I protest that I do acknowledge the Emperour and king of Romaines for the high Magistrate whome God hath ordained and to whom in al things that be not against God we ought to obey as Christ and thapostles teach FINIS ¶ A Table containing all the Principall matters in this Boke A A Counsel promised 92 An Apology deliuered but not receiued eodem A beastly cruelty 104 A blasing starre 109 A consecrating of Cardinals 113 Andrew Gritie duke of Uenise 117 A boke of Romish Marchauntes 118 A straunge chaunge eodem Alteration in England for Reli. 125 A Prophet inspired 129 A new king of Anabaptistes 131 A boke of the misteries of the scrip 133 A blinde asse 134 A counsel called 147 An oration against the french king eo A reformation of Collon 141 A sword hallowed 142 A wryting of Auspurge 143 Athanasius Arius and Liberius 148 A propre saying of Ciprian 153 A priestes sonne not enioy his Fathers benefice 155 Auarice and concupiscence let couÌ 156 Annas Momorancy made Constable of Fraunce 157 A gentleman of Tolowse burnt 158 Andrew de Aury saluteth the king 159 A colledge erected at strasborough 160 A league of the Papistes againste the protestauntes 173 Ambassadors sent to Henry brother to George duke of Saron 176 A Friers wede maketh the deuell a. 177 An assembly at Smalcald 169 A wryting exhibited by the deuines eo A confutation of the .vi. articles 171 An oration of a yong Cardinal 172 A priuy hatred of the french king eod An exceading hot sommer 174 A disputation betwixt Eckius and Melanchthon 176 A great assemble at Regenspurge eo A mean to get mony by pardons 177 A most costly stole or Paile eodem A wollen halter to straÌgle the pope 178 A boke presented to the collotors 179 A great tempest destroid his ships 184 An assemble at Spires 186 A soden fear in the french court 88 An army against the Turke eodem Any pleasaunt life is not to be eodem A consolation of the prisoners eodem A counsel called at Trent 198 An assembly at Norinberge 163 Ambassadors to the duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue 194 A rebellion at Rochelle 197 A supplication of the protestaunts 194 A boke called Antididagma 201 An assemble at Spire 202 A league of themperor and the king of England against the french king 203 A boke of Caluine against Sorbo 204 A boke of the relikes of saints eodem A false report of themperors death eo A great assemble of Spiere 206 A straunge tale of the duke of BruÌ 209 An image buried in the stede of Eue. 209 A decre for religion 212 A peace concluded betwixte themperor and Fraunce 314 An ambassade said to the king 216 A Commention of deuines at Mil. 217 An assembly at Wormes 218 A lamentable departing 219 A soldsoure geueth the Merundo 220 A cruell fact of Miners eodem A terrible example of cruelty eodem A captain defendeth the women eodeÌ A sharp answer of the king eodem A frere obseruant stirreth themperour to warre 221 A skirmish betwixt the Duke 225 A conflict betwixt the Duke eodem A league of them of Strasborow Zuricke and Bernes 85 A confutation of the Protestantes 88 A confession of the Zwinglians 88 A story of the king of Fraunce 101 A controuersy of the bishoppe of Bantberge with the Marques of Brandenburge 103 A bishops office 111 An assemble at Regenspurge 73 An assembly at Spires 79 A treatise of peace betwixt Fraunce England 227 A brute of warre againste the Protestauntes 228 Ambassadors to themperor for tharchbishop of Collon 230 A decre of the Sinode read 231 Alphonse Diaze commeth into Germany 234. Alphonse returneth to Nuburge to kill his brother eodem A communicatioÌ of the Lantzgraue others 237 A diuision amonges thelectors 241 A statute of Trent 243 A decre of originall sinne eodem An aunswer of them of Strasborough to themperor eodem An heape of euils of ciuel war 244 A league betwixt the Pope and themperor 246 A preatence of mouinge war 247 Albert of Brunswicke hurt 265 Alteration in Sauoy 266 A warlike pollicy of themperor 267 An other pollicy of themperor eodem Aucthoritye can not beare equallitye 271 A decre of the counsel at Trent of iustification 276 A Dolphe substituted to Hermon archbishop of Collon 277 Alteration of Religion 278 Alteration in the Courte of Fraunce 282 A pergidu of the sonne 285 An assembly of the Empyre at vrmes 286 An assemble at Auspurge 291 An holy boxe sent downe from heauen you may be sure eodem A conspiraty against the Popes sonne 294 A reformation of Religion in EnglaÌd 297 Albert receiued into the tuition of the king of Pole 3021 A disordained ordre of knightes 303 A composition of peace 305 A counsel called at Trent twise 309 An euil compiled booke ofte corrected 314 Ambrosa Blaurer the chiefest minister of the church 324 At Strausburge the Consull of th ãâ¦ã riâ eodem Augustus married a wife 327 A
it the alteration that hath chaunced in this our time is most notable of all others The Romain Empire whyche should both be the last and also much greater then the rest the prophet said shuld be deuided and brought from that huge and vnmeasurable great quantity to a right small thing as it is now manifest whiche only consisteth within the limites of Germany and hathe bene manye times in great hasard and daunger partly by reason of domesticall euils and partly throughe the factions of forain enemies But at the length God hath geuen vs such an Emperour as a more mighty hath not bene these many hondreth yeres For vnto him haue descended mooste ample realmes and prouinces which as they be most ritch and welthy so also be they mooste commodious for the doing of thinges in sondrye places bothe by sea and lande And like as he him self excelleth in power all other Emperors of Germanye that haue bene sence the tyme of Charles the great so also by reason of the thinges that haue chaunced in his time and gouernment is he most famous and notable But amonges all other thinges the alteration of Religion hath the chiefest place whiche with the beginninge of his raigne toke her originall For at that time whan the Emperour Maximilian departed out of this present life that matter had not ben in hand aboue .xiiii. monthes but what time the Princes electours chose this manne Emperour in a manner the self same time Luther beinge prouoked came forthe to reason the matter and disputed openly with Eckius at Lipsia and than fell men to theyr study on ether side Wherefore thempire of this man ought to be considered dilligentlye and waied with the memory of former times For god hath at euery time stirred vp certain great princes more no table thaÌ the rest wheÌ ether the state of religion or comon welth shuld be altred of the which sort was Cirus Alexander of Macedonie Iulius Caesar Constantine Charlemaigne Also Ottous of Saxonie and now he of whom we speake Charles the fift And certenly this alteratioÌ is of such sort wherof we now make mention that no man that knoweth the thing perfectly can thinck theof without great maruel and wonder For the beginning was ful small and in manner to be contemned and one man alone susteined the malice violence of all the world And yet might he him self haue ben appeased and quieted in case his aduersaries would haue taken the condition which at the beginning he offred them For he promised to kepe silence so that they would do the like But when they refused that and prescribed him a recantation and herein perseuered and he said that vnlesse they could first shewe his erroure he coulde not chaung his opinion the dissention increased the matter was brought before the counsell of thempire now is come to such a great maner as we se And by what meanes it came so to pas what thing the Bishops of Rome what the vniuersities what Kings Princes haue at tempted how he him self hath pleaded his own cause before themperour and counsell of princes how diuers men of excellent learning haue ioyned them selues with him howe the matter again hath ben debated in thassembles of thempire howe meanes of reconcilement haue bene assaid how oftentimes the Bishops of Rome haue bene in hand with the Emperour and other Kinges how oft they haue put them in hope of a reformation and of a counsel what persecution and burning ther hath ben what leagues and conspiracies haue hen made how this same religioÌ hath ben setforth not only in Germany but in other places also how diuers haue reuolted and others remained constant what tumultes warres and battels haue risen by this occasion these I say so great and sondry things to leaue vnspoken and not to commit them to memory by wryting I think ther is no man but would iudge it blame worthy Moreouer it is not to be passed ouer in silence what was the state of the common wealthe during this mans Empire by the space now of six and thyrty yeres what wars he hath kept what commotions and tumultes haue ben in the meane season and what things haue chaunced in all realmes and prouinces Neuerthelesse thordre that in this argumente shal be obserued hereafter shal be declared For like as this Emperor raigneth ouer moste large and ample dominions so hath he had also most strong and puissant enemies Wherfore the matters haue ben wonderful great that haue chaunced in this our memorye and duringe the raigne of thys Emperor And therfore certen yeres past diuers worthy and wel lerned men when they chanced to talke of such matters began to perswade with me that whosoeuer had chanced in these dais especially touching the cause of Religion I shuld put in wrytinge And here vnto dyd exhort me not for that I could do this best or for that ther wer not others much more mete for this purpose but because they saw me delite much in that same kinde of exercise and therefore supposed that through acerten natural inclination to the thing I should not bestow my time and labor amisse I my self doubtlesse who knew wel enough what a daungerous sea I muste enter into and how that case required an other maner of man endued with a greater wit eloquence Albeit I was almost in despair that I could bring the thing to passe yet vanquished by theyr auchority which had that opinion in me I determined to assay the thing And beginning from the time that Luther began to inuey against the selling of pardons brynging the matter still vnto the disputation of Lipsia appoynted by Duke George that same that I hadde so composed I sente vnto them that were my setters on at Woormes where that time was the counsel of thempire ten yeres past to read and peruse ouer They afterward by their letters by mouth also did more importune me that I should procede but not longe after ther chaunced a sorowfull time to Germany whan there arose warre which as it was a great let and hindraunce to study learning so did it also disturbe and let all my purpose doings For nether could I procede as I desired many times must I tarye and make delay but so sone as I was relieued from those euils especially those iii. yeares paste I imploide all my study and trauel herein and neuer reasted till I came to thend wished for And surely this worke is made chiefly and principally concerning Religion neuerthelesse for obseruynge an order I thought good also to put in polliticke matters Now as touching the whole narration after what sort that is euery man by reading shall easely perceiue Nothing becommeth an history better then truth sidelity And doubtlesse I least any man should finde lacke in me in this behalf haue traueled diligently For I haue written nothinge by lighte reportes or by hear say but I haue compiled my worke of publick records
Religion that excepte their Bybles all other Bookes shoulde be burned This was in the yere of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundred and ten Reuchline which was both a lawier and right skilful in the Hebrewe tongue when he had receiued the Archbishoppes letters he wrote againe his mynde and said how the Hebrewes bokes were of three sortes there were Histories Bookes of Phisicke and of Prophecies and these laste to also of dyuers sortes in the whiche albeit there were many fonde and supersticiouse thinges yet are they for this purpose profytable for that they will serue well to confute their Errours and their dotages This his opinion he sente to the Archebyshoppe sealed After that Phefercorne knewe this he made not a lytell a doe but set oute a Booke agaynste him callinge hym the fautoure and defendour of the Iewes Reuchline in the defence of his estimation aunswereth him with another by the which he offended certein vniuersities but especially Collen in the which were then of moste reputation Iames Hogostrate and Arnolde ToÌgre who wrot an Inuectiue against him in like case as Phefercorne had done dedicating the same to theÌperor MaximiliaÌ And after that they wente to the lawe with him before the Archebyshoppe of Mentz and Hogostrate was plaintife whome Reuchline as his ennemy resused And first aunswered the vlatter by attourney and in fine came him self to Mentz accompanied with diuers gentlemen and other learned men whiche Ulriche Duke of wirtemberge had sent with him but after they had soughte meanes to haue quieted the matter and coulde not he appealeth vnto Rome The Bysshoppe of Rome committeth the hearyng therof to George Palatine Bishop of Spires commaunding that no maÌ els shoulde medle with all This notwithstandyng they of Colon condeÌned Reuchlines boke and burned it in the moneth of February in the yere M.D.xiiij This did the Bishoppe of Spires take in maruelous euil part And because the Plaintife beynge called at seuerall tymes as the maner is appered not he geueth sentence with Reucline approuynge his Booke to be good and condemneth this Hogostrate in costes and domage But he to the intent to make this sentence frustrate trauayleth to Rome In the meane time his fellowes at home labored and wrot to Paris and to Lewis the Frenche kinge by the mediation of Erarde Marchiaue Byshoppe of Liege who was at the same tyme greate with Lewis the twelfeth Wherofore the Uniuersitie of Paris after longe debatynge of the matter condempned the booke also as worthye to be burnte and the author to be dryuen to recant and those Hebrews bokes to be brent in like maner as they haue bene in times past This was in Auguste followynge The Duke of Wirtemberge had intreated them by his letters And Reucline him selfe wrote vnto them gentely for that he had bene there studieÌt and sent them the Copie of the Sentence pronounced by the Bishoppe of Spires but all was in vaine When this Hogostrate had sued at Rome three yeres and could not preuaile he retourneth home againe as he wente For diuers of the Cardinalles vnto whome Leo committed the hearynge of the matter loued Reuchline intierlye for hys excellente learnynge and amonges others Adrianus that wrote a booke of the Latin tounge He was also commended vnto them by Erasmus of Roterodame whose Epistles in hys behalfe do yet remaine Before the menne of Louaine hadde publyshed theyr sentence of Luther they tooke theyr aduise of Adriane Cardinall of Derthuse in Spayne a Hollander borne and brought vp amonges them at Louaine by whome they were boldned to do it Wherefore when Luther had so manye and so greate ennomyes he wrote an Epistle to the newlye created Emperoure Charles the fifte and fyrste crauynge pardone that beinge a manne of so lowe degree he shoulde attempt to write to so highe a Prince he saithe the matter is weightye that causeth him to doe it and altogether suche as appertaineth to the glory of Christ signifying how he had written certaine bokes whiche had procured him the displeasure of manye through no desert of his for he was broughte into this contention by his aduersaries agaiust his wikhe had muche rather haue setten still but this hath bene his chief and only studye that the pure doctrine of the go spell might appere against the false traditions of men and that many good and excellent learned men can beare witnes of the same And this to be the cause of all the hatred disdaine reproches pearils and displesures that he hath bene in these thre yeres that he had done as much as lay in him that the matter might be taken vp But the oftner that he sought quietnes the more were his aduersaries offended and where he hath oftentimes required them to shew him wherin he had erred and to teach better thinges hitherto they haue aunswered in maner nothing but by railing wordes and cruell iniuries sekinge only how to quench both him and the doctrine of the Gospell For the which causes he is now constrained to vse the last remedy and after the ensamples of Athanasius to flie vnto him for succour besechynge him to take vpon him the tuition of the christian doctrine and to defende him againste all violence and iniurie till the matter be further knowen that he will desyre no defence in case he be proued to maynteyne an euill cause but desyreth onely that the thing may be tried and knowen and nothing to be determined before That this apperteineth to his office and for this cause hath he this highe power geuen him of God to minister Iustice and to mainteine right and equitie And to defende the pore and weake agaynst the iniuries of the stronger In like effect he writeth after that to all the states of the Empire reciting in fewe wordes howe vnwillynge he was to fall into this contention howe desyrous he hathe bene to haue it taken vp what conditions he hath offered and yet doeth the same Not longe after he writeth to the Archebishop of Mentz Cardinall with greate submission beynge sory as he saieth that he is complained vpon to him by suche as were wont to praise his doinges But he admonisheth him to gyue no credit to talebearers and to beware of Flatterers by the example of kynge Dauid disceaued by the flatteter Siba that he would set a part all sinistrall suspicion of him and of his workes vntill suche time as he had leasure to reade them him selfe for there were two kindes of men that condemned his writinge one was of them that neuer red them another of suche as read them in dede but with a malicious minde these did depraue his doynges wherin if any man coulde fynde any errour and teache him that were better he woulde be glad to folowe it and hathe oftentymes so protested And for asmuche as he trusted well in his great humanitie and was borne and brought vp in the same prouince that he hath cure of he coulde not but write thus vnto hym The
saufe conscieÌce Wherfore he besecheth him to prouide so that he may be out of all daunger that good and well learned men may be chosen for him to dispute with that he be not condemned before he be conuicte of Heresie that in the meane time his aduersaries may refraine theyr wonted rayling and cease from burnynge of his Bookes And that in case he shall nede hereafter to enterprise anye thinges els for Gods glorye and the trouthes sake that he be not by the Emperor impeched herin promisyng not to fayle but to come to Wormes whan he shall haue receyued themperors sauffeconduit Where he trusteth in such sorte to demeane him selfe and his cause before indifferent iudges that all the worlde may vnderstande that he hath done nothing by rebellion but for the common wealth chieflye of Germany to haue taken al this trauell to reduce men from many grosse errours to the sownde and pure doctrine He desyreth him moreouer that the Emperor and he woulde haue a regarde to the horrible bondage and miserable estate of Christientie oppressed throughe mere Papistrie Wherfore Cesar Collicted by the Duke wrote vnto Luther the syxte day of Marche That for so muche as he had setforth certeine bookes he was determined to heare the matter him selfe before the princes wherfore these be to signifie vnto him that he hath free libertie to passe and repasse safely without any daunger as more plainely doeth appere by the saufe conduict sent here with he commaundeth him therfore to take his iorney spedely and not to fayle to be with him within one and twentie dayes The Byshoppes of Rome haue accustomed on Thursedaye in the Passion weeke solemnely to curse and banne certeine kyndes of men Fyrst Heretikes secondarely Pirates then suche as eyther Reyse vp new customes or extorte that is forboden Also suche as couÌtrefeit the Bulles or Iustrumentes of the courte of Rome Moreouer they that sell any Armure to Turkes or Sarasyns and suche other vnlawfull wares They that let or hinder corne to be brought to Rome they that hurt any man suyng or belongynge to the Courte of Rome Furthermore all suche as worke any damage or violence to the possessyons or neighbours dominions of the Churche of Rome as namely the Citie of Rome Sicilie Naples Cardinie Corf Hetruria Spolete Sabine Ancona Flaminie Campanie Bononie Farrare Beneuent Perusie Auenion The former Bishoppes haue named for Heretikes the Garasians Pateronians the pore menne of Lions the Arnoldistes Speronistes Wicleuistes Hussites and the Fratricelles Leo the teÌth put to also the Lutherians and curseth them full blacke this curse is commonly called the Bull of the Lordes Supper Which Luther got afterwardes and translated it into Duche not without much myrthe and pastime When Luther had receued the Emperours letters he went to Wormes with the same Heralt but when he came almooste there there were diuerse that diswaded hym puttynge him in mynde howe his bokes were brent which was a certen preiudice of his condemnation and howe the same might chaunce to him as ded to Iohn Husse but he with a stoute courage contemned all perill sayinge that it was plainely the Deuyll that woulde put him thus in feare seynge that his kingdome should quayle by the confession of the trewth in so notable a place so came he to Wormes the syxt day of April The next day he was brought before the Emperour and the whole counsell of Princes Where as by the Emperours commaundement Eckius the the Lawyer spake vnto him on this wise There be two causes Martin Luther for the whiche the Emperor by the consent of the Princes and all the states hath sent forth commaundyng me to enquire of thee the same First wherther thou wilt acknowledge these Bookes to be thine and made by thee Againe whether thou wilt reuoke any thing in them or stande to the defence of all that is written therin Luther had brought with him a lawies of Wittenberge one Hierome Schurffe he had that the titles of the Bokes should be read and shewed which done Luther briefly repeting the questions propouÌded as concerning my Bookes saieth he I confesse and acknowledge them to be myne but whether I will defende all that I haue written to the intente I make trewe aunswere and do nothyng rashely and forsomuch as the thinge is of weightie importaunce I require a time to take deliberation When the thing was debated Albeit saieth he that thou myghtest easely haue knowen by the Emperours letters why thou waste sent for therfore nowshouldest seke no delay to answere yet Cesar of his clemencie graunteth thee one dayto take aduisement commaunding thee to be here to more we this time do declare what thou wilte do herein by mouthe and not by writynge For that he made this delay many supposed that he would not be constant When he came the next daye Eckius sayde vnto him yesterday thou wouldest not aunswere to the seconde demaunde but required a time whiche myghte ryght well haue bene denied the for euery man ought to be so certen of his fayth that he should aunswere therto at al times much lesse should a great diuine doubt or premeditate an answere but what so euer the matter be What sayest thou nowe wilt thou defend thine owne writinges Then Luther addressyng his aunswer to the Emperor and the Counsell of the Princes besought them to heare him paciently and if he should ought offende them eyther in wordes maners or gestures vnsemely for suche a presens to beare with him and pardoÌ him for the kinde of lyfes sake that he hath bene brought vp in for of my selfe saith he I can witnesse nothinge els but that I haue taughte syncerly hitherto those thinges whiche I beleue do concerne the glorye of God and the saluation of men And as concernyng my bookes I answered yesterday that they were made written by me but if any other hath added to any thyng that will I not take for mine Now to the secoÌde question The bokes that I haue wrytten be of sundrie argumentes For some apperteine onely to the doctrine of fayth and vertue whiche myne aduersaries them selues do commeÌde If I should abiure them I should not play the parte of an honest man others there be wherein I reprehended the Byshoppe of Rome and hys doctrine whereby he hath sore afflicted the Christian common wealth For who seeth not how pitifully mens consciens are vexed with his lawes and decrees Or who can deny howe craftely and disceiptfully he robbeth all countreis and chieflye Germany and maketh not yet an ende of hys rauenynge If I should abolishe these bokes I shoulde confyrme their tyrrannye And it shoulde be the greater preiudice to be done nowe by the authoritie of the Emperour and the Princes The thirde kynde is written agaynste certeine priuate men whiche woulde defende the Romishe wickednes and seke euery where to in trap me in the which I confesse to haue bene more vehement then became
neuer take wages nor stypende of anye Prince to serue him in his warres After this was borne the kynges sonne Charles whome the Swyces sendynge theyr deputies Christened at the Fontestone The Heluetians or Swicesse consiste of thirtene Townes Zuricke Bernes Lucerna Ura Swite Unterualde Tugie Glarea Basille Solodure Friburge Schafusiane and Apecelle These are ioyned in a most straite leage by an othe vsynge one and the same law and gouerne as it were in common theyr common weale The fyrst of all that made this leage were the Uranites the Swyces and Unterualdians what tyme they expulsynge their nobilitie vnder whome they were oppressed procured their owne libertie This was in the yere of our Lorde M.CCC.xv After came vnto theÌ they of Lucerne next them the Tugians in the syxte place the men of Zuricke and last they of Bernes and of Basille Than ioyned wyth them in societie but not in the same lawes nor so great frendshippe the Rhetians Lepontians Sedunites Ueragrites Sangallians Mullusians and they of Rotuuille The Emperour beyng now past one twenty yeres of Age banisheth Luther by a common decree the eyght day of May takyng the begynning therof of his owne parson for that it was his part and office not onely to establishe and augment the Empire but also to forese that no blemishe nor Heresye should springe vp within the limittes of the same And that his Progenitours in dede haue bene diligent men herin Wherfore it is mete that he vnto whoÌ God hath giuen so large and ample dominioÌs should folow their steppes for vnlesse he should punishe nowe the Heresyes lately spronge vp in Germany he shoulde bothe hurte his owne conscience in the beginning now of his reigne sore blemisshe his name and dignitie that it is well knowen vnto all men what wicked doctrine Luther hathe spread abroade nowe these three or foure yeres agaynste the Byshoppe and Churche of Rome against the decrees of the auncient fathers and namely against the couÌsel of Constance to the great reproche of theÌperor SigismuÌde and the Princes of Germany that were there present Wherfore syns that in hys bokes is nothing els conteined but sedition discorde warre murther and mischief so that he appereth not to be a man that wrote theÌ but rather a Deuil in a mans likenes He for the zeale that he beareth to the common wealth and the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome doth condemne and proscribe him as aucthor of Scismes as a manyfest and an obstinate Heretike commaundynge all men vnder a great penaltie so to accepte him and after thre weekes wherin he gaue him leaue to retourne to apprehende him and bringe him vnto him and al such as shall fauour or aide him in his doynges he banisheth in like case he commaundeth also his Bokes should be brent appoyntynge a greate penaltie herafter for the Stationers commaunding this decree of his which he sayeth was made by the common consent and assent of the Princes to be well obserued Men say how this decree was made by a very fewe for diuerse of the Electours confessed that they were not made priuie to it as shall be declared hereafter of the Archebyshoppe of ColleÌ The Archbishoppe of Mentz beyng Chauncelour of the Empire maye do muche in such matters But how so euer it came to passe the Emperour hereby wanne muche fauoure in so muche that the Bishoppe of Rome cleane forsakynge the Frenche kynge made a league with him as shall be declared hereafter From the tyme of this publication Duke Fridericke appointed certein of his nobilitie whom he especially trusted to conueighe Luther out of the way in to some secrete place that he might eschewe the dauÌger whiche thinge was done bothe diligently and closelye In this carefulnes Luther wrote diuerse epistles to his Frendes and also bokes concernyng the abrogating of the priuate Masse whiche he dedicateth to his brethren the Austen Freres of Religious Uowes to his father Iohn Luther and a booke agaynst Iames Latomus a Doctor of Louaine The Austen Freres beganne nowe fyrste of all men to leaue of Massyng and for that cause Luther compiled this Booke for them that he might encourage the weake and confyrme the skylfull exhortinge them muche to perseuer in the same purpose Whiche thinge knowen Duke Friderick fearing that some great trouble or commotion should arrise therof commaunded that the opinion of the whole Uniuersitie herein should be knowen and brought vnto him The Uniuersitie chose iiij for the same purpose Iustus Ionas Philip Melanchthon Nyclas Amstorfe and Iohn Dulce Who conferryng with the Austen Freres brought worde what theyr inteÌt was And furthermore declared what an iniury was done to the lordes Supper Wherfore they beseche the Prince that he would abolish so great a wickednes not out of one Churche onely but also in all places and set vp the trew vse of the Lordes Supper accordyng to Christes commaundement and the maner of the Apostles stoutly contemnyng al the reproches of the aduersaries for it hath euerbene sene that who so taketh in hande to maynteine the trew doctrine of the Gospel must suffre many thinges and that he ought greatly to foresee that he accept reuerently this present gifte of God wherwith he is chiefly adorned by reason of the lyght of Ghospell spronge vp amonges his people Wherunto the Duke answered that he would leaue nothing vnattempted that might be for Gods glory but for so muche as the thing is ful of difficultie he thinketh good not to beto hastie for litel it is that so fewe can bringe to effect but in case the matter be grownded on the Scriptures they shall doubtles haue mo to take theyr parts And theÌ shall that alteration which shall seme both Godly and necessary more conueniently be brought to passe For he him selfe which is ignoraunt in the Scriptures caÌ not tel what time this accustomed vse of masse which you reproue came vp or when that maner that the Apostles vsed was lefte But as he taketh it the most part of Colledges and Churches were fownded for Masses whiche if they should be put downe and the landes taken awaye that were geuen for the same purpose euery man might well consyder what hurly burly would follow vpon the same Wherfore his aduise shal be that they go and consult further of the matter with the rest of good and well learned men of the vniuersitie that all theyr heades leyde together suche meanes may be fouÌde as maye kepe a Godly quiet These men after more deliberation had make him answer admoshing him as before to put downe theÌ Masse that the thinge maye be done without any tumult And thoughe it coulde not yet that whiche is righte and godlye woulde not therfore be lefte vndone that they be fewer in numbre it is no newes For euer syns the worlde began the greater part of men haue resisted the trewe doctrine moreouer that those onely shall receiue this ryght vse of the
Lordes Supper vnto whome it shall be gyuen from aboue Furthermore that Colledges were fyrst instituted not for Masses but that youth myght there be vertuousely brought vp in learnynge And the landes gyuen to fynde some to teach and some to learne and the reste to the vse of the pore And this vse to haue continewed in maner to the time of Barnarde But aboute foure hundreth yeares syns this Marchaundise of Masses began whiche is vtterly to be taken awaye And albeit the originall thereof were yet more auncient yet is not so great a wickednes to be suffered And in case any busynes shold come therof the same ought not to be ascribed to the doctrine but to the wickednes of them which for their owne lucre will impugne the truthe against their conscience And that we ought not to regard such inconueniences but to procede constantlye what trouble so euer shall come therof for all these thinges were shewed before of Christ Thys yeare Themperours brother Farnando Archduke of Austriche marieth the lady Anne sister to Lewes the kinge of Hongary Emonges so many aduersaries as Luther had Henry the eyghte Kynge of Englande wrote soore agaynst him And fyrst he confuteth his iudgement touching Indulgences and defendeth the Bishops authoritie After he reproueth all his disputations concerning the Sacramentes of the Churche taking the occasion of writing out of his boke intitiled of the captiuitie of Babylon Whan Luther knewe therof he answered most vehemently shewynge that in the defence of this cause he did not one whit respecte the highnes or dignitie of any parson For this cause the Bishop Leo gaue the kynge an honorable title callyng him the defendour of the faith Howe kynge Charles was chosen Emperour it is here to fore declared And wheras euer syns certen priuate dyspleasures did growe betwixte hym and the Frenche kynge it brake out into warres But fyrst in the borders of Spaine and of Flaunders The same tyme the Frenchmen kept Parma and Placence in Italy which the Bishoppe Leo was right sory for And when they had also of late atteÌpted Rhegium he vtterly forsoke them and entred into league with the Emperour wherof the chief condicions were these That the dignitie of the Churche of Rome should be defended that suche Townes as the Frenchemen of late had taken from him should be recouered that Frances Sfortia that time a banished man should be restored to his fathers seat and to the dukedome of Millan Thus ioyning their powers together they recouered of the frenchmen Parma and Placence and by force toke the citye of Millan and droue the French king out of Lumbardy which he had kept in quiet possession fullye .vi. yeares and afterwardes restored Sfortia by the conduit of prosper Columne Fernando Daualle marques of Piscare And not loÌg after these newes wer brought Leo departed not without the suspicion of poysening He was soÌne vnto Laurens Medices and had to his great grandfather Cosmus that was that great honor of that house Leo was made Cardinall when he was but .xiii. yeares old he liued not past seuen and forty his successor was Adriane the sixt a HollaÌder who had bene tutor to the emperour About the same time Soliman lately created Emperour of Turkes moued warre vpon Lewes king of Boheme and Hungary which had maried the Lady Marye themperours sister and besides many other townes and Castels he tooke Belgrade the chief fortresse of Hungary and placed therin a garrison Whilest Cesar maketh his abode in Flaunders and Germany greate seditions arose in Spaine Wherfore to the intent he might remedye the thing in time hauing first appoynted a couÌsel to minister the law and to see to the affaires of thempire he saileth againe into Spaine But before he toke his iorney the states of Thempire were all readye assembled at Norinberge concerninge diuers matters but chieflye the Turkyshe warre And Cesar sending forth his proclamation at the later ende of Marche warneth chiefly all ecclesiasticall parsons to pray and make theyr supplications vnto God Afterwardes the fyrste of Maye was aide graunted to kynge Lewes Themperour in his retourne goeth agayne to see the kynge of Englande whom to haue his assured frende agaynst the Frenche kynge he promyseth to geue hym yerely a hundreth and three and thyrtie thousande Duckates For so muche did the Frenchkynge paye yearely to the kynge of Englande and to his syster Mary the French quene Wherfore vnlesse he mighte be saued harmeles he would attempt nothing against him This treatie was made the thirtene day of Iune in the Castell of Wyndsore .xx. myles from LoÌdon And for a more entiere loue and frendship it was agreed that the Emperour shoulde take to wyfe the lady Mary the kynges daughter by his aunte Quene Kataryne and marry her wheÌ time should serue for she was then but seuen yeares of age Whethersoeuer brake of to pay to the other foure hundred thousande crownes The Frenche kynge bendeth all his force towardes Italy to recouer that he had lost you haue heard before of Zuinglius and now Hugh Byshoppe of Constance within whose prouince Zuricke is aduertised the Senate what complaintes he heard of Zuinglius and what a kynde of newe doctrine he had broughte in he defendeth hys cause before the Senate whome he satisfied After the Byshoppe wrote his letters to the College of Canons wherof Zuinglius was one speakyng muche of new doctours that troubled the Churche he exhorteth them to take hede and beware of them And for so muche as Leo the Bishop of Rome and the Emperour also haue by most streigth proclamations condemned thys doctrine he warneth them that they obey the same and neyther alter nor chaunge any thinge till they that haue Authoritie should decree some thinge by a generall counsell this was in the moneth of Maye When this Epistle was read in the Colledge Zuinglius whome it concerned wryteth agayne to the Byshop that he vnderstondeth right well by whose motiou he doeth this He admonisheth him not to folow theyr counsell for the trueth is inuincible and can not be resysted Afterwardes with a longer letter he answereth those whiche styrred vp the Bishoppe to write Then Zuinglius and certein others intreate the Bishop by their letters that he would not hynder the doctrine of the Gospell nor suffer any longer that filthy and sklaunderous life of pristes but permitte them to marrye And of the same effecte he writeth to all the Heluetians admonishyng theÌ not to stop the course of the trewe doctrine nor to worke any displeasure agaynste maryed priestes for of the single life the Deuill him selfe was author In many of theyr Townes it is the maner that whan they receyue a newe minister of the churche they bidde him take a Leman lest he attempt to defyle honest women whiche custome althoughe it be laughed at of many yet was it wittelye diuised as the tyme serued and in so greate darkenes of doctrine
enacted that mighte helpe the Common ãâã for the which cause he hathe sent thither Cardinall Campegius ãâã man of excellent vertue who can enfourme the Princes of his carefulnesse and ãâã towardes the Common weale and deuise with him priuately of the meanes of peace and quietnesse whereunto he exhorteth him ãâã gyue his mynde for the same thyng concerneth the prosperitie and dignitie of al magistrats And how he beareth a great good will vnto Germany hauynge good hope that they wyll not fall from their auncient vertue but helpe to eschewe publike daungers Wherfore he requireth him to shewe all good will and fauoure to hys Legate of whome he shall heare all thinges more at large At the sixe and twentie day of Ianuary the HeluetiaÌs called a conuocation at Lucerne There was a decree made that no man shoulde mocke or contemne Gods worde whiche had bene taught these thousande and foure hundred yeares nor the Masse wherein the bodye of Christ is consecrated to his honor and comfort of the quicke the dead that suche as be of lawfull age to receyue the Lordes supper do coÌfesse them selues to the priestwise in the Lent season that al men absteine from fleshe on daies forbidden and in Lent also from egges and chese That nothing of Luthers or any newe doctrine be taught priuely nor openly That suche as cary about the reliques of the holy gost the virgin Mary or of S. Anthony be not laughed at and that they do obserue all other olde customes they that offende herein to be presented to the Magistrates punished WheÌ CaÌpegius was coÌmen to Norinberge Duke Friderike was departed thence wherefore he wrote vnto hym the laste daye of February and sendinge also the Bishoppes letters he lamenteth that vnhappye chaunce that he can not speake wyth him presently hauyng many thynges to talke with him from the Bishop of Rome whiche can not so well be done by letters and messengers and be of suche sorte as maye abyde no delaye But seynge it will be no better after muche gretyng made in the Bishops name and his own he saieth that albeit the reporte be great that he should be a fauorer of these newe spronge vp Heresyes yet can not the Bishoppe hitherto nor he be so perswaded for the manyfold and excellent vertues which they perceiue to be in him And especially for that he hath bene euer a great fauourer of Religion and of the Apostolicall Churche whereupon he will not truste the iudgementes of others nother leaue the good opinion that he hath of him before he shall see cause and know it him self Germany hath bene wonderfully altered with in these fewe yeres coÌcernyng Religion but he vnderstandeth howe muche the commoÌ people do differ from the nobilitie and Princes the rulers of the lawes amonges whom he is as principal aswel by his own as also by deserte of his auÌcesters which haue euermore done great honor to the church of Rome Wherfore the Bishop requireth him that in these dauÌgerous dayes he woulde after the example of his elders declare his vertue of stoutenes not onely in mislyking this lybertie of the people but also in extremely punishing the same for vnlesse theyr licentious boldnes and malapertenes be restrained it will bring the lyke miserie and confusion into Germany that it did before tyme into Boheme and Hongary which are not yet quieted For they that do stubberuely contemne the sacred Lawes and Ecclesiasticall Magistrate will also vndoubtedly worke their violence against the Ciuil Magistrates whom they loue not Manye are nowe glad to see the Pastours of Churches and the Courte of Rome thus troubled and dispised whiche perceaue ful litel what daunger they them selues stande in But the Byshoppe whiche as the master of a shyppe sitteth watching at the Healme doeth foresee this storme approching and hath sent hym to warne all the Princes and him especially to beware of this tempest which is like to distroy not onely the citie of Rome but also Germany it selfe And for the same cause also hath sent letters by him and willed him to treate diligently with him of all these matters to the intente the tranquilitie and quietnes of Germany might be recouered For he is purposely sent to lifte vp them that are fallen and to receiue vnto grace such as are peniteÌt Whereunto albeit he is not very fit yet trustynge vpon his gentlenes he wil attempt it with al diligence wherfore seing that he hath taken this wery and painefull iorney he praieth him that he maye not want his helpe and fauor herein And that he woulde write agayne shortly what he thinketh best to be done And he will do for him againe what he can in the worlde After in the Counsell of the Princes he fyrste declareth howe that no man was willyng at Rome to take this voiage into Germany at the last was he appointed as one that may thanke the Germanes for all his promotions hauing two thinges to treate of Religion and the Turkishe warre And fyrst he marueleth muche that so manye greate and worthy Princes can beare with this alteration suffer the same Religion Rites and Ceremonies wherin they were borne brought vp and theyr fathers also and progenitours dead in to be thus defared and set at naught Which thing if it be not spedely reformed wil styre vp doubtles great commotions and rebellion of the people agaynste theyr magistrates This the hyghe Bishoppe fearing and consyderyng hath sent hym to deuise a way with them howe to remedie this matter Whose diligens herein if it be refused which as a good father and pastour wissheth well to all his Children and shepe there is no cause hereafter to laye any blame in him As touchynge the Turkes he denieth not but that there was money gathered for the same purpose and brought to Rome which albeit it was not employed all that wayes yet may not the coÌmon welth therfore in this calamitie of time be neglected what hurt that cruell enemie hathe done it is not vnknowen for by the negligens and cowardise of our owne men he hathe taken the Rhodes and the chiefest foretresse of Hongary The Rhodes endured an harde siege many monethes and at laste wantynge all thynges necessarye whan they saw no aide would come they yelded the like chauÌce was in Hongary Which if he should subdew wholly and bringe vnder his subiection it is to be feared lest they wyll become our enemies muche worse than be the Turkes But vnlesse this contention procedynge of this new doctrine be fyrst taken away the other part of the common wealth can not in his opinion be well holpen Hereunto the Princes answere that wheras he beareth this good will vnto Germany they are glad that he came thither and amonges them all they wyll chose certeine to conferre with him supposing that he hath some order prescribed him of the Bishoppe and his cardinals which they haue willed him to folow knowyng the matter so
wel as they do for the laste yere what tyme another Ambassador was here they wrote vnto him theyr mindes howe the daunger of this alteration should be foreseen and remedied And also what they required of him to be done for his parte Wherof if he haue brought any aunswer they desyre him to vtter it to the intent they may the better procede in the cause And as touching Turkishe matters they confesse to be as he hath sayd notwithstandyng that great warre doth not only concerne The Empire but all together kynges and princes of Christendome in like maner For vnlesse that they be at peace amonges them selfes and giue their aide ther can nothing be done to continew But for asmuch as the Turke nowe maketh great preparation vnto warres both by sea and Lande they would also knowe his opinion herin The Legate said againe that whether there were any such way by them deuised to appease the strife aboute Religion or whether it were deliuered to the Bishoppe and Cardinalles or no he can not certeinly tell but the Bishoppes good wyll is muche who hathe gyuen him full aucthoritie in all suche matters but they whiche knowe the men the maner and custome of the countrey must fynd out that way that may lead them to the ende wished for In the counsell at Wormes the Emperor by theyr common assent made a decree to haue bene executed thorowout all Germany which some obeied and some not Wherefore this great diuersitie should be in the Empire he knoweth not But he thinketh good before any thynge be determined to consulte howe it maye be executed he is not comen thither to styrre vp fyre and dissention as some reporte but all his desyre and the Bishoppes in like case is to make peace and concorde to th entent that suche as haue erred and straied may be reduced into the waie that the decrees of the counsels Themperors and Princes proclamations might be obserued concernynge their requestes whether they were made to be sent to Rome he knoweth not But three copies were brought thither to priuate men whetof he had one but the Byshoppe and the Colledge of Cardinalles coulde not be perswaded that they should be made by the Princes but thought rather that some priuate men had deuised for hatred and malice that they bare to the citie of Rome Wherin be diuerse thinges that deny the Byshoppes authoritie smell of Heresye and be suche as he can not meddle withall But for others that are not against the Bishop such as are grounded vpon equitie and reason he will not refuse to treate of Howe be it it semeth vnto him that the demaundes should haue bene propounded with more modestie if they had ought to say to the highe Bishop For so dyd lately the Spaniardes which sendyng an Ambassade to Rome declared geÌtely what theyr request was But wheras they be printed and publisshed abrode he thinketh that ouer muche And yet there is no doubte but that the Bishoppe of Rome wyll do for Germany what he can Moreouer what power the Turke hath and what preparatioÌ he maketh the bishop hath good intelligence And hath alredy great treasure in a readines and will haue more And for so muche as the concorde of Christen Princes is very requisite he hath done what he can that the Emperor the Frenche kynge and the king of England hauyng peace together might set vpon the Turke on all handes and he will employ therupon all his treasure This doeth the Bishoppe as a good sheperde foresee and care for peace and quietnes But in case the shepe wyll not folowe the voyce of the Sheperde he can do no more but take it paciently and commit the whole matter vnto God Amonges the Suyces encreased dayly coÌtention for Religion And the rest of townes sendynge theyr Ambassadors to them of Zurycke shewed theyr grief How that in tymes past all thinges were at a godly quiet and no contention of Doctrine at all But nowe through the meanes of Luther that fyrst began and Zuinglins and Leo Iude that preached amonges them interpretinge Godes worde after theyr owne iuste and appetite that godly peace and quietues of the churche and the common weale is nowe tourned into trouble and dissention And besydes that these incommodities do ensew vpon fastyng dayes they eate bothe Egges and Flesshe Religious folkes aswell men as women forsaking theyr profession and orders do marrie Gods seruice is laide downe they singe no more in the Churche they neglect confession and penaunce the Masse is railed on our Lady and the sainctes dishonoured theyr Images pulled downe and broken the sacramentes had in contepte in so muche that nowe a daies the sacred holy host that representeth Christes body can skarsely be safe in the Priestes haides These are thinges to be lameÌted and to be auenged also with the losse of life and goods Wherfore they desyre them to leaue their newe doctrine and perseuer in the olde religion of their fathers for they can beare this gere no longer But in case there be any thinge wherin they fynde them selues offended with the Bishop of Rome Cardinals Byshoppes and suche others whan they entre into benefices choppe and chaunge them and gather vp all the money in the countrey vsurping and taking ouer muche vpon them if these and suche other like things do molest and greue them they will not refuse to helpe to reforme the same for they do mislyke them very muche them selues The Senate of Zuricke aunswered the .xxi. daye of Marche that their ministers of their church had preached there fyue yeares Whose doctrine at the begynnynge semed vnto them newe because they had not heard the like before but after that they vnderstode how the ende therof was to shewe Iesus Christ the aucthor of saluation who dyed for the sinnes of the world who a loue deliuered vs wretches froÌ death euerlasting being the onely aduocate of mankinde to God the father they could not but wyth feruent desyre embrace so ioyful newes there was great agrement and concorde in times past betwixt the Apostles and those which after theyr time embraced Christes doctrine the same they trust shall be nowe also amonges such as giue their minds hereunto And if Luther or any other do so teache it is well done neyther ought Gods word to be called his doctrine And although they do honor Christ only yet do they no iniurie therfore to the virgin Marye or other saints For al they being here in earth loked for eternall saluatioÌ by the onely name of Christ and nowe is there such a light giuen that in maner all men within their citie do reade the Bible diligently so that the ministers can not wrast a wrye that is so continuallye in all mens handes wherefore there can be no secte obiected vnto them but that name accordeth to them which to mainteine their lucre and dignitie wraste Gods worde whither they list They are said to be in an error
certeine good and well learned men in euery Prouince to gather out of Luthers bookes and others all questions disputable and exhibite them to the Princes at the next assemblie that they maye procede more spedely when they shall come to the counsell And that by the meane and diligens of the magistrate the gospel may be purely taught and soberly according to the interpretatioÌs approued by the churche Moreouer that herafter therebe set forthe no mo famous Libelles and Pictures Finally that suche thinges as the Princes haue to charge the court of Rome and the Clergie be treated of and discussed in the next assemblie at Spires For the counsel Campegius dyd vndertake and promysed the Princes to declare it to the Byshop diligently The Princes at this assemblie were Lewes countie Palatine Wylliam and Lewes Dukes of Bauare Friderike Palatine Casimire Markes of Brandenburge Byshoppes of Treuers Bamberge Wirciburge Trent and Brixine and Albert of Brandenburge master of Pruselande I tolde you howe the Senate of Strasebrough intreated the Bishoppe therof for the maried priestes whome he had cited to appeare at Sabernes which came not at theyr day appointed wherfore the Bishop writeth to the Legate Campegius complaynyng of the Senate by whom he saith he is letted so that he can not execute his office nor punisshe them that haue maried contrarie to the Byshoppe of Romes lawes Thomas Murner a Graie Frere was the messager who complained greuously of the Senate to the Cardinall But the Ambassadours of the same Towne beynge present at Norinberge came before him and made their purgatioÌ that they neither had nor would be any let to the Bishoppe but had signified vnto him by their letters that looke what actioÌ he had against the maried priestes agreable to Gods law that he might come and execute it And they would assiste him but he called them out of the liberties contrary to an ordre that was takeÌ betwixt him and them And whereas they claimed theyr liberties they were condemned theyr cause neyther hearde nor knowen They sayde moreouer how the most part of the Clergie at Strausb liued viciously kepiÌg stroÌptes at home with theÌ after a lewd example And yet the Bishop doth not punish one of theÌ Wherfore if the Senate should permit him to handle these extremely for not obseruing the Bishop of Romes law let the coÌmon whoremonges that breake the lawc of God escape vnpunished doubtles the people would grudge styre thereat To this CaÌpegius answered that what coÌpaet or bargaine was betwixt theÌ he knew not but surely theyr act was manifest neded no greate triall in the law for they wer sequestred froÌ the felowship of the church by the dede doyng And for bycause others kept harlots lyued dishonestly that doeth not excuse theyr cryme he knoweth it to be the maner of the Bishops in Germany to permit theyr priestes for money to kepe lemans which is euil done in dede they shal yeld an accoÌpt for it one day Neuerthelesse it is a greater offence for priestes to Mary than to kepe at home with them many harlots for they are perswaded that they do well And these do acknowledge theyr synne for all men are not so chaste as Iohn Baptist yet was it neuer sene that they myght lawefully refuse the sole life no not amonges the Grekes which in theyr rites and customes differ much froÌ vs Wherfore he praieth them to giue theyr aide to theyr Bishoppe in this matter The Ambassadors say that if he would fyrst punishe the whoremongers than might the Senate assiste him the better in correcting of these others But he was in hand with them againe First to assist theyr Bishop And than if he woulde not punishe whoredome he would come thither him selfe and see them punished accordingely After the assemblie at Norinberge Fernando Campegius the Cardinall of Salisburge the dukes of Bauare that Bishops of Trent of Regenspurge also thambassadors of the Bishops BaÌberge Spires Straus Auspurge CoÌstance Basil Frisinge Passame Brixine mette at Ratisbone agreed vpon this opinioÌ the sixt day of Iuly For as muche as Themperor folowing herin the Iudgement and request of Leo the tenth coÌdemned at Wormes by a publik decree the doctrine of Luther as wicked And for that it is likewyse decreed in the assemblie at Norinberge aswell fyrst as last that al men should obey the same as much as in them lieth they therfore at the request of Cardinall Campegins who hath ful auethoritie of the Bishop of Rome concernynge that matter will and commande that the foresayde decree and the decrees made in the laste assemblies be obserued and kepte wythin theyr iurisdictions That the Ghospell and others Scriptures be taught in churches after the interpretation of the auÌetent fathers which in puritie of life excelled through theyr great vertu confyrmed theyr doctrine by martyrdome they that teach any Herestes already coÌdemned or any thing els to the reproch of Christ our Lady or the saints or the which may be an occasion of sedition let him be punished according to the tenure therof That no man be admitted to preach without he haue the Bishoppes license Such Ecciesiastical lawes as cardinal CaÌpegius hath writteÌ by coÌmoÌ asseÌt to take away vice to reforme maners wheÌ they be ons published shal be obserued Touching the Masse SacrameÌts and al other things let nothing be altered But done as hath bene accustomed by oure forefathers They that receyue the Lordes supper wtout confession absolutioÌ they that eate fleshe on dayes forbiddeÌ Also MoÌcks or Nones that ron out of their ordre Priestes DeacoÌs or SubdeacoÌs that marrye shal be punished Let nothing be put in Print but by the coÌsent of the Magistrate Namely of Luthers his coÌpanions let nothing be set forth nor sold That such as be of theyr iurisdiction studying now at WitteÌberge wtin thre monethes after they shall heare of this decree made retourne home or go some where els wheras Luth. poison taketh no place They that shall do otherwise shal be depraued of theyr benefices lose theyr inheritaÌce And all those that shall coÌtinew in the Uniuersitie of WitteÌberge shal neyther enioy benefice nor haue the charge to brynge vp youthe That certeine fit men be chosen in euery place to see these thinges executed That the offenders so many as can be taken be committed to warde the rest that shall be banisshed to haue no place of refuge so farre as theyr rule or dominioÌs do rtretche if any coÌmotioÌ or sedition should fortune to arrise by reason of this decree wtin any of theyr limittes that the rest shall come aide him The Ecclesiasticall lawes whiche Campegius had deuised were these Let the priestes liue honestly go comely appareled nother by nor sell as marchantes hauÌt not the Tauernes let theÌ not be couetous nor for theyr ministration extorte money gredelye let such as kepe CoÌcubines be displaced let the
Doctours haue lead you astraye For it is the parte of Christians to suffer and beare the Crosse not to resyste not to reuenge not to stryke with the sworde And what lyke thyng appeareth in you The profession of a Christian man is exceadynge harde and verye fewe doe perfourme in deede that whiche they are bounden to And to make the thyng more playne I shal bring you an example out of the same lawe Peter to defende his Lorde and Maister stroke the byshoppes seruaunt Was it not a iuste cause seynge they dyd not onlye seke the lyfe of Christe but with that to take a waye also from his dissciples the doctryne of the Gospell wherin consisted their saluation But suche lyke cruell iniury hath not yet touched you but what sayde Christe to this He commaunded Peter to cease froÌ his defence geuing a sore sentence against them that stryke with the sworde that is to saye whiche concempning the Magistrate will auenge their owne cause What dyd he when he was nayled to the Crosse when he was prohibyted to execute his office committed vnto hym of God the father Uerely toke it paciently committyng the whole matter to GOD his father vnto whome he maketh intercession for his persecutors these steppes must be folowed of you or els must you leaue and laye asyde the goodlye name and tytle of Christianytie But in case you woulde followe the example of Christ the power of God would appeare And as after the moste vnworthie death of his onlye sonne he set forth the Gospel farre and nere against the wyll of all his aduersaries so would he vndoubtedly loke vpon you also and send his holsome doctrine aboundantly But now consydering the matter is attempted by force of armes you shall neyther obtayne your purpose nor escape in the daye of battell Now wyl I speake suÌwhat of myself also I had the whole worlde against me with all their force and myght And yet the more and greater that theyr violence was the better successe had my doctryne How so I vsed no force I styred vp no commotion I was not desyrous of vengeaunce But I obeyed the ciuyle Magistrate with reuereÌce and wrote in his commendation and set hym forth as muche as lay in me and that whiche was pryncipall committyng my cause into Goddes handes I rested wholy in his protection And thus haue I bene preserued vnto this daye though the Byshop of Rome with al the reste stampe and stare at it I haue decayed his kyngdome more then any force of armes could haue done and my doctryne is spread ouer sondrye nations But you rushe forth headlong vnaduisedly and whylest you thynke to further the thynge you consyder not howe muche you hynder the same Wherfore in this quarell you must set aparte the name and tytle of ChristiaÌs for though it were neuer so iuste yet for so muche as a Christen man maye not fyght nor resiste iniury I maye in no wyse graunte you that tytle and surname And yet I speake not this to defende or pourge the Magistrates for I confesse them to doe many thynges vniustly notwithstandyng your doynges are here farre from the profession of Christianitie In so muche that in case you wyll obstinatly kepe styll that name and with this colour shaddowe your euell cause I protest to be your ennemie for because vnder the pretence of the Gospel ye doe that is clean contrary to Christes doctrine Therfor wyll I pray vnto God that he wyll mercyfully loke vpon you and subuerte your enterpryse For I perceyne this euydently that the deuill goeth about in asmuche as he coulde not hytherto oppresse me by the Byshop of Rome to destroye me now by the bloudy preachers Wherfore I wyll praye notwithstandyng that I had leuer you would so demeane youre selues that I should not nede to make my prayers against you For al be it I am a synner yet hauing so iust a cause to pray I doubt not but my praier shal be heard For GOD wyll haue his name to be sanctified and so hath he commaunded also that we should praye Wherfore I exhorte and beseche you that you despise not the prayers of me and others lest ye fele to your vtter vndoing what they can bryng to passe but you can haue in your prayers no suche lyke faythe or affiaunce for the Scripture and your gylty conscience doe declare your proceadynges to be prophane and vngodly But I praye you howe many of you haue prayed vnto God in this cause I suppose not one For you put your whole truste and affiaunce in your great armie But assure your selfe for as muche as you so doe all youre atattemptes at the last wyll tourne to your owne destruction Nowe as concernyng your demaundes they are easely answered whiche though they were grounded vpon equitie and were agreable to the lawe of nature yet touchyng theyr Pryncipall parte they stande not vpryghte because you wyll extorte them by vyolence from the hygher powers whyche is agaynst all lawe and equitie Agayne he that deuysed them for you is no good man For the places of Scripture whiche he alledgeth to incense you and brynge you into daunger he reciteth no wholy nor truly which if you loke better vpon them make nothing with you but against you But al your brauery is about the Gospell that it is taken from you but that can not be for if it be restrained in one place you may repare to an other wher it is frely preached For the place maye not be kepte by force but we must forsake it and flee to another as Christe hym selfe hathe taught vs. Your firste demaunde for ordeynyng of Ministers is not amysse so it be done in dewe order For if the landes or possessions that fynde the mynister were geuen by Magistrates then it is not lawefull for the people to gyue them to whome they lyst But first muste the Magistrate be required to place one whiche if he refuse to do than shal the people chuse one and maintaine him of their own charges if the Magistrate wil not suffer this than let the minister chosen by the people flee and with him who so lyst if it be done otherwyse it can not be wtout wrong or mischief That of the tenthes is most vnreasonable For what other thing is this thaÌ to take away al rule power You must be liberal but of your own not of an other mans but nowe ye vse the matter as if you had al authoritie in your own haÌdes wherby it is easely perceiued what your intent purpose is you wold again haue all men free why had not AbrahaÌ other holy meÌ bondmen reade Paul he shall instructe you touchynge bondemen wherfore this request is full of violence and robberye and striueth with the Gospell For he that is a Seruaunt may neuerthelesse be deuoute and vse the Christian lybertie as well as he that is sycke or kepte in pryson You
shoote al at this marke to haue all equalle and of one state and condition whiche is fonde and absurde For this ciuile lyfe and gouernment of the publyque wealth can not endure vnlesse there be a difference of persones that theremaye be some free and some bounde some to rule and some to obeye The rest concerning wylde beates wooddes waters pastures paymentes of money and suche other lyke I leaue to be disputed of Lawyers for they touche not my dutie whiche is to instructe the myndes of men in Godlynesse And nowe ye men and brethren this is my mynde and counsell whiche you desyred to knowe Nowe shall it be your partes for as muche as you saye ye wyll obeye the Testimonies of Scrypture to hearken vnto the same And not by and by so soone as it shall comme to your handes to make an outcrye as though I flattered the Magistrates and taught you not ryghtly but ponder the whole matter and waye all my reasons dylygentlye For certenly the cause is your owne And aboue althinges be ware of those preachers that pricke you forwarde I knowe that sorte of men ryght well they leade you head longe into daungers that they myght get preferment and ryches through your peryll The cause why Luther doeth so muche caste in their tethe the false tytle that they bragged of was this for that in all their lettres that they wrote to prouoke and allure others to their felloweshyppe they made their boaste that they toke armure vppon them for Gods commaundement and for a certen loue and zeale to the common wealth to the intent the doctrine of the Gospell myght be set forth augmented and mayntayned that truthe equitie and honest lyuyng myght reingne and floryshe and that they myght so prouyde for theÌ and theirs that hereafter they be not oppressed with any violence and whan thei had thus at fewe woordes declared the cause of their enterpryse they woulde than commaunde their neighbours by and by to put on Armure and come vnto them immediatly and helpe them if not than would they threaten to come vpon them withall their power What tyme Luter had thus aunswered the commotioners admonyshyng also the Princes and the nobilitie by wrytynge sayeth vnto them All the trouble and busynes that is at this daye is altogether longe of you chieflye that beareth the Tytle of the Churche whiche cease not yet at this daye for all my preachynge to persecute the doctrine of the Gospel and that again your conscience secondarely you that are Prynces and cyuyl Magistrates beyng wholly addicted to exacte and gather vp money you care not by what meanes so that the poore people are no longer hable to beare the burthen and al to mainteyne your ryot pryde and voluptuousnes Wherfore there hangeth assuredly a wounderfull daunger ouer you as a sworde dependynge ouer your neckes by a twhyne threde And yet are you in the meane tyme so carelesse as though no man were hable to displace you but this securitie wyll doubtles hurte you one daye for God powreth out some tyme his indignation vpon Prynces as it is read in the Psalmes I haue oftentymes admonyshed you to beware therof but no warning wyll serue Wherfore Gods whrath wil fall upoÌ your heads vnlesse you amende your lyues The signes and wounders that are seene in all places doe pretende no good We maye easely coniecture that Gods anger boyleth against vs for that he permitteth false doctours to be so muche estemed amongst vs to the intent we beinge lead by them into errours and darkenes myght be plaged worthely Moreouer this rebellion of the people whiche wyll vtterlly destroye Germany vnlesse God moued with our Prayers send some remedy And your gouernment is at this daye after suche a sorte that men neyther can nor wyl nother ought in dede to suffer it any longer You must be cleane altered and gyue place vnto Goddes worde And if the people bryng it not to passe at this tyme others shal succede for albeit you kyl vp these yet God wil reise new which worketh this warreth against you and seketh to plage your wickednes Dyuers of you haue made your boaste that you would spende al the goodes and laÌdes you haue vpon condicion that Luthers doctrine myght cleane be taken away And what is not the thing brought no we to the effect God forbydde I should ieste in these weyghty matters The Iewes in tymes paste sayde how they had no kyng but at the last the state of their common wealth came vnto that passe that they want a kyng for euer for many of you not content with your former faultes woorke a newe iniury to the Gospell affirmyng that all this hurly burlye is the fruicte that spryngeth of my doctrine Well go to rayle on styll hardely you wyll not knowe what my doctrine is nor vnderstand the voyce of the Gospell whiche is the signe of an obstinate and a malicious minde I haue euer from the beginnyng taught quietly and haue abhorred all sedicion I haue earnestly exhorteth the people to be obedieÌt to the hygher powers nay rather I haue admonyshed theÌ to beare with your Tyranny and wicked gouernment And hereof you your selues can beare witnes Therfore hath not this sedition proceaded of me but those bloudy Prophetes no lesse ennemies to me than to you haue brought in this mischief seducing the people haue ben about this thre yeares and more and no man hath resisted them so muche as I alone If god hath now for your synne permitted sathaÌ by those bluddy prophets to styrre vp the rage and fury of the people against you and that it shall not lye in me to let or appease the storme say I pray you what faulte can be layde in me or the Gospell whan this doctrine whiche I professe hath not only borne with your crueltie hitherto but also prayed vnto God for you hath commended your authoritie and state to the people and maynteined the same with high commendacion But and if I coueted nowe to auenge the iniuries that you haue done me I myght laughe in my slyue and be a loker on this cruel tragedy or assist the furious people and as the common saiyng is increase the flamme with oyle and be as sharpe nayle in the sore wherfore noble Princes I require you earnestly that you despyse not myne admonition nor set lyght by this same sediton Not for that I feare left they shoulde be able to destroye you for I would not you should dreade that but that the Ire of God should be be fearfull vnto you For if he intede to plage you worthely whiche thynge I feare you shall not escape the daunger although the power of your ennemies be neuer so small Therfore if any place as yet remayne for counsell I pray you gyue place vnto fury and appease this matter wittely And for so much as the end is vncerten and Gods wyll vnknowen it shall be mete for you firste to trie
graunte that theyr doctryne should be establyshed by the testimonye of Goddes worde And where of a syngular clemencie and loue of peace he hathe wylled the decree to be thus deuysed and herein hathe abased hym selfe ouer muche therfore he requyreth them that they wyll admytte the same in lyke case as other Prynces doe and consyder with them selues that vnlesse they so doe what great occasion they shall gyue to muche michief for the whiche they shal rendre a strayght accompte to God one daye Moreouer howe it was neuer set forth by no wryting that it should be lawfull to spoyle men and afterwardes to excuse it thus as though he that hath sustayned losse shoulde make no restitution And as concernynge the Apologie wrytten against the confutation he had shewed them before that he would admytte no further disputation about Relygion for as muche as he maye not nother is it any part of his office And for this cause hath he refused it For vnlesse they wyll allowe and confirme this decree he wyll doe as he shall see cause that thynge whiche shall be come his estate office The Marques sayde this moreouer howe they knewe what trauell and paynes the reste of the Prynces and states had taken that this controuersie myght be ended quietly And nowe besought them to way with them selues howe muche it were bothe for their priuate profyte and also to the common wealthes to obey the Emperour and admitte the decree whiche vnlesse they wyll do doubtlesse al the other states wyl do herein what soeuer themperour shal coÌmaunde theÌ For they haue promysed hym already vpon their fidelititie that they wil in this quarell spende with him al their substaunce their bloud and their life also to fynishe vp the matter and he hath promysed theim againe to bende hytherwardes all his force and power and not to departe out of the limites of the Empire before he haue brought it to passe And that he was commaunded to saye this muche to them by all the Prynces and states Agayne the Protestauntes maynteyne theyr doctryne to be agreable to Gods worde whiche the gates of hell are notable to resist and the same to be further declared in the wryting lately preseÌte but for the decree made they can not alowe it with a saufe conscience wherfore thei desyre to haue a copie therof to the intent after good deliberation they maye frame a determinate aunswere whiche shall be as conformable as Gods worde shall permitted them And in al other causes they wyll not sticke to spende lyfe and goodes for his sake but to heare that the Princes and states haue bounden them selues to the Emperour in suche sorte they can not a little maruell consyderynge they haue giuen them none occasion so to do and that there is nothing whiche they are not ready after the example of their auncesters to do for the Emperour and when nede requyreth wyll not be the last And where as he sayed that no man ought to be spoyled of his goodes they doe confesse the same also and herein are nothynge culpable For as touchynge Religious houses they haue oftentymes protested so to vse the matter vntyll the counsell as it maye be certenly sene and perceyued that they seeke not their owne priuate lucre or commoditie After muche deliberation the Emperour aunswered them agayne by the Marques of Brandenburge that he wyl not confesse nor graunt that which they baoste of their religioÌ And that he hath also a regard to his conscience and his soules health as well as they and wyll cleaue to the auncient Religion of the olde fathers In the decree made there can nothyng be chaunged if they wyll allowe it well and good if not he hath an occasion gyuen hym to deuyse with the rest for an other decree to be made wherby these newe spronge vp sectes maye be plucked vp by the rotes Germany set vp at quietnes and the auncieÌt Religion of the churche fayth and cerimonies be had in estimation whiche thing belongeth chiefly to his office and dutie For except they wyll be ordered he wyll declare all to the hyghe byshop and to other kynges and vse both their counsell and ayde herein Unto that where they saie they haue gyuen none occasion of offence there is much to be obiected For their preachers were a great occasion of the coÌmotion rusticall warre wherin almoste an hondreth thousande were slayne And many thinges haue bene done in their dominions to the open reproche contempt and mockery of the byshop of Rome and of hym and of other states also therfore not to be so clere without blame as they would make it Moreouer that the prynces and states haue of no priuate affection but according to their duty offered their assistaunce especially seynge howe they wyll admitte no waye of vnitie and concorde Fynally he wylleth and coÌmaundeth them to restore in to theyr former estate the Abbottes MouÌkes and other ecclesiastical persons whiche they haue expulsed For he heareth their dayly complayntes is troubled almoste continuallye about the restitution of them After a lytle respyte the Protestantes do replie thus For as muche as they can not obtayne the Copie of the decree nor tyme to consulte of the whole matter it is but foly to make any further discoursynge thereof Wherfore they do committe the whole cause vnto God in whom thei repose the chiefe hope of their saluation But where they are charged with the sedition of the commons thei be vtterly clere in that matter for what they did at the same tyme and howe they spared neither cost peryll nor paynes it is manifestly knowen to all men And the cause originall of that sedition was declared also foure yeares synce in the assembly of Spyres Wherfore it is not well done to lay this thyng to their charge but therein they suffer iniurie for if there be any man that wyll trye the lawe with them in this or any other matter they refuse not to abyde iudgement Wherfore they beseche hym he woulde conceaue no hainous displeasure against them nor be incensed with hatred malice coÌsidering that al they haue is as well at his commaundemeÌt as any thyng els of the other states When they had thus sayde they axed leaue and departed leauing certayne of their couÌsellers for their deputes But before they went the Archebyshoppes of Mentz and Triers and also the Palsgraue sent to declare vnto them that the same that the electour of Brandenburg spake of gening their ayde and assistaunce for the defence of Religion was done without their commaundement whiche thynge also they hyd not from the Emperour shewyng him howe they had none occasion of ennemitie or displeasur against them Wherfore in case they had conceaued any euyll opinion against them they desyred them to leaue it The Prince of Saxony was content with that purgation and bad them againe to loke for al good wyll and frendshyp at his
the .xiiij. daye of Nouembre pronounceth it to be of none effecte The fyft daye after in the Emperours presence was the decree recited before all the states and after a long discourse of the handlyng of all matters the Emperour decreeth that they shuld no longer be suffered that teache otherwyse of the Lordes supper than hath bene obserued hytherto that in the Masse eyther common or priuate nothyng be altered that chyldren be confyrmed with chresme sycke folkes annoynted with oyle consecrated that no Images be remoued and where they be taken awaye to be restored that the opinioÌ of them that denye man to haue fre wyll be not receyued for that it is beastly and also contumeliouse against God that nothyng be taughte any where agaynst the authoritie of the magistrate that the opynion that fayth only iustifieth take no place that the Sacramentes of the church be in numbre and place accustomed that the ceremonies of the churche rites obsequies for the dead and suche other be obserued that benefices vacant be imployed vpon mete persones that suche priestes and men of clergie whiche haue maried before this tyme be depriued of their benefices whiche immediatly after this assembly shal be geuen to others But suche as forsakyng theyr wyues wyll retourne to their olde profession and be absolued the byshop may restore by the consent of the byshop of Rome or his legate But the others to haue no refuge in any place but banyshed or extremely punyshed that the priestes be of honest conuersation their apparell decent and commonly that they auoyde all sclaunder That the preachers exhorte the people to heare Masse to praye to the virgyn Mary and other sainctes to kepe their holy dayes and fasting dayes to abstayne from meates forbodene to releue the poore to tell the Monkes howe they may not forsake theyr profession and ordre briefly that nothyng be altered in Religion they that shall do otherwyse to lose bodye and goodes that where as Abbeys be pulled downe they be reedified and what soeuer hath bene taken awaye from the clergie to be restored that the wonted ceremonies and rites may be accomplyshed And suche as be followers of the olde Religion dwellyng within the lymites of the coÌtrary parte and allowe this decree shall be receyued in to the protectioÌ of the Empire and shall flitte whether they lyste without any hynderaunce that the byshop of Rome shal be called vpon to apoynte a counsell in some place conuenient within syxe monethes that afterwarde the same may begynne as shortly as may be and at the furthest within a yeares space that all these thynges be ratified and establyshed Al exceptions or appellations made to the contrary to be voyde and of none effect And to the intent this decree may take place and be obserued as coÌcerning religion the force and power that God hath geueÌ them shal be wholy applied hereunto and their lyfe and bloude also spent in the same quarell Duryng this Parliament Luther by the commaundement of his Prynce was at Coburge in the borders of Frankony to the intent he myght be nerer Auspurge in case the matter requyred his aduyse or counsell And though he were absent yet to the intent he myght some what further the commoÌ benefit he wrote a booke to the byshoppes Prelates in that assemblye wherein he sheweth what the state of the churche hath bene vnder the byshop of Rome what wicked doctrine what shamefull errours And with moste weightye wordes admonisheth theÌ of their dutie chargeth them to be of cruell bloudy mindes and agayne exhorteth them not to let slippe the occasion nowe to redresse their euyll He sheweth them howe his doctrine is agreable to the bookes of the Prophetes Apostles and proueth that is in vaine what soeuer they consulte or imagine against God In this malyce threatheninge of the Emperour and Byshops Melancthon was discouraged and careful in his mynde not for his owne cause but for posterities sake and gaue hym selfe wholy to pensiuenes wepynge and mournynge But when Luther knewe therof he comforteth hym with sondrye letters And for as muche as it is no mennes matter but the cause of almyghtie GGD he admonyshed hym that layinge al thought and care a parte he caste the whole burthen vpon hym And why sayeth he doest thou thus afflicte and tourment thy selfe If God hath geuen his sonne for vs why do we tremble and feare why doe we syghe and lamente Is Sath an stronger than he Wil he that hath geuen vs so great a benefite forsake vs in lyghter matters Whye shoulde we feare the worlde whiche Christe hath vanquyshed If we defende an euyll matter why doe we not chaunge or pourpose If the cause be iust and Godlye why truste we not to Gods promyses Certenly the Deuyll can take no more from vs but our lyfe But Christ liueth and reigneth for euer in whose protection consisteth the veritie He wyll not cease to be with vs vnto the Worldes ende If he be wyth vs. I beseche you where shall he be founde If we be not of his churche doe you thynke that the byshop of Rome and our other aduersaries be of it We be synners in dede dynerse wayes but yet for all that Christe is no lyer whose cause we haue in hande Let kynges and nations fret and fume as muche as euer they lyste He that dwelleth in heauen shall laughe them to skorne God hathe gouerned and maynteined this cause hetherto without our counsell the same shall also from henceforth bryng it to the ende wyshed for Touchyng lawes and traditions of men that you wryte of the aunswere is not harde For both the fyrst coÌmaundement and al the Prophetes also doe coÌdempne suche maner of workes They may be a bodely exercyse but if they come ones to worshyppyng it is idolatry As for any agremeÌt it is in vayne loked for for neyther can we depose the byshop of Rome neyther can the true doctrine be in safetie so longe as Popery shall endure In that you wyll haue the Lordes supper to be communicated wholy and geue no place to your aduersaries whiche holde it to be indifferent you doe well For it is not in our arbitremeÌt to decree or suffer any thynge to be vsed in the churche whiche hathe not Gods worde to beare it They crye out that we condempne the whole churche but we saye how the churche was violently taken and oppressed with tyrannye when the communion was deuided in the middes and therfore to be holden excused as the whole Synagoge was excused that in the captiuitie of Babylon it kepte not the lawe of Moses other ceremonies beyng by force prohibited that they coulde not doe it Take hede in any wyse that you graunt not to the byshops ouer muche iurisdiction lest more trouble ensue there of hereafter All this treaty of a concorde in doctryne is cleane agaynst my mynde For the labour is spent in vayne vnlesse the byshop
of Rome woulde abolyshe all his kyngdome If they condempne our doctryne whye seeke we an vniformitie If they do allowe it why do they mainteyne their olde errours But they condemyne it openly Wherfore it is dissimulation and falshode whatsoeuer they go about they labour sore as it appereth about their ceremonies but let them fyrst restore the doctryne of fayth and workes Let them suffer the churche to haue Ministers that wyll doe their dutie They requyre that Monkes maye be set agayne in possession let them restore to vs agayne so manye innocent Godly men as they haue murthered let them restore so many soules destroied through their wicked doctrine let theÌ restore those great rychesse gotten by fraude disceiptfully let theÌ restore Gods glory with so many contumelies dishonored Whan they shall haue made satisfactioÌ for these thynges we shall than talke with them vnto whome the possession belongeth Where as Luther and certen others differed only in opinion touching the Lordes supper whiche the catholykes reioysed at and the rest muche lamented Bucer by the Duke of Saxons procurement went from Auspurge to Luther for an agrement and receyued suche aunswere as he mislyked not in so much as he went theÌce to Zwynglius and the Zwycers to the intent they might be ioyned nerer in mynde and opinion When the state of thynges stoode thus all was full of displeasure The Lantgraue maketh a league for syxe yeares with the cities of Zuricke Basill and Strausborough that if any be attempted with force for Religion they shoulde ayde one an other This was concluded in Nouembre The same tyme the Emperour addresseth his letters to the Duke of Saxon commaunding him to be with him at Collon the .xxi. of Decembre for certen weightie affayres of the common wealth Whiche after he had receiued the same the .xxviii. of Nouembre the same daye came a messenger with letters from the Archebishop of Mentz wherein was wrytten how the Emperour had required hym to cal to an assemblie to Princes Electours to create a kyng of Romaynes Wherfore he cited him to appeare at Collon the .xxix. of Decembre for this appertaineth to the byshops office as before hath bene declared Whiche thinge ones knowen the Duke of Saxon dispatchyng his letters to the Lantgraue and to all other Prynces and cities that were Protestantes prayeth and exhorteth them to mete at Smalcalde at the .xxii. of Decembre Neuerthelesse in the meane tyme he sendeth spedely to Collon Iohn Frederick his sonne and with hym certen of his priuie counsell to be there at the daye appoynted by the Emperour By whome he declareth how this citation of the archebishop of Mentz is not rightly nor orderly done how by this creation of the king of Romaines the right and libertie of the Empyre is infrynged and also the lawe of Charles the fourth broken wherfore he wyl not allowe nor ratifie their enterprise After that all were assembled at Smalcalde they deuise a league not offensiuely but defensiuely Unto this subscribed immediatly all the Princes and moreouer Albert and Gebart Erles of Manssteld Maidenborough and Bremen But Strausborough Ulmes CoÌstance Lindaue MeÌming CaÌpedowne Heilbrune Ruteling Biberack Isne do receiue it in such sorte as first to infourme their cities therof within syx wekes to make an directe answere what they wil do herein It was furthermore decreed to follicite by their Ambassadours the king of Denmarke the Dukes of Pomerane Megelbourg the cities of Embeck NortheÌme Franckfourth Brunswick Gotinge Minda Hannobria Hildesseme Lubecke Stetine other hauon townes When the byshop of Rome vnderstode what was that end of the assemblie at Auspurg he wrote his letters to the kyng of Pole others how he had trusted assuredly that the authoritie presence of the Emperour should either haue quenched or quieted Luthers heresie for vpoÌ this hope for this cause chiefly he came to mete the Emperour at Bononie to the intent he might encourage him forward who notwithstanding of his owne accorde was wel willing for if this thing had ben brought to passe religioÌ had bene staied many mens soules saued which through this heresie are nowe in dauÌger then might remedy haue ben fouÌd against the Turkish fury but where as he vnderstaÌdeth al well by theÌperours as also by the letters of his legate how they can not only be in no wise reformed but are waxed also more obdurate he which through that wyll of God gouerneth the shyp of Peter in a time so teÌpestuouse susteyneth the greatest part of the whole care for the same consultinge with his Cardinals caÌfinde no better remedy thaÌ the which his predecessours haue vsed that is a general couÌsel wherfore he doth admonish hym synce the matter is brought to this issue that either hym selfe presentlye or els by hys Deputes woulde further so holye a cause For he entendeth so shortly as may be to appoynte one in Italy in some place conuenient These letters were dated the first daye of December The xxiiii daye of Decembre the Prynces confederated at Smalcalde wryte vnto the Emperour howe they heare it commonly bruted that he pourposeth to create his brother Ferdinando kynge of Romaynes who maketh great sute for the same But what authoritie and ryght the Princes Electours haue herein by the lawe of Charles the fourth howe when the Emperour is dead an other is to be chosen in the name of the whole Empyre it is knowen to all men Notwithstandinge he being alyue and in helth and no suche chaunce happened howe the Archebyshop hath cited them to Collon against the prescripte of the lawe and agaynst the custome of the Empyre They heare moreouer howe the residue of the Electours wyll come thyther at his requeste to accomplyshe the sute of Ferdinando as it were by conuenaunt and promyse for this report is spread farre and neare Wherfore they haue thought good to admonishe hym of certen thynges And al be it they had leuer abstayne from suche kynde of talke yet for as muche as they loue both hym and theyr conntrey and especiallye the lybertie therof which they haue receyued of their auncesters agayne for because now in this later ende of the worlde many thinges are done captiously and crastely they can not otherwyse doe Fyrst therfore he knoweth ryght well how circumspectly howe depely with what wordes and bondes he bounde hym selfe to the Empyre how he gaue his fayth by an othe that he woulde obserue the lawe Carolyne whereupon the lybertie of the Empyre chiefly dependeth howe he promysed coÌfirmeth by an othe that he would neither him self do any thing against it nor suffer any other to do And certenly these conuenauntes may not be infrynged broken or chaunged without the consent and aduyse of all states But nowe in case during his lyfe and prosperitie a kyng of Romanes shuld be chosen and that his naturall brother makynge suite and labour for it
Emperour his vncle The chiefest consultation in this assemblie was about the Turkyshe warre And whan newes came daylye by letters messengers howe the Turke had sent before great bandes of horsmen to the Ryuer of Danubius and also the Ambassadours of Austriche and of other countreys nere had declared in what daunger they werein they decreed to geue their ayde so as al the states of the Empyre shuld ayde not with mony but with soldiours Wherfore the .xxvj. daye of Iuly ended this assembly and al men prepared them to warre At the Ides of Auguste the Duke of Saxon Prynce electour ended his lyfe and Iohn Fridericke his sonne did succede him Whan Solyman the Emperour of Turkes was come to Belgrade he taketh the waye on the left hande and attempteth the towne and castell of Giunte in vayne being manfully defended by Nichas Iurixe after that he sent forth Captaine Cason with fiftene thousande horsemen to spoyle the countrey who inuaded the countrey as far as Lintzie aboue Uienne and destroying all farre and nere leaueth no kynde of crueltie vnpractised but in his retourne he fel in to the lappes of our horsemen which were made out to kepe hym from the spoyle and so beyng fought with in sondry places to his vtter destruction at the lengthe hym selfe was slayne Solyman tournyng more and more on the left hande marcheth vnto Gratin a towne of Stiria Whiche thynge ones knowen the Emperour beyng than at Lintze taketh aduisement what was beste to be done At the last it was determied that he should encampe with his whole armie at Uienna abydyng his ennemie there Thus in fyne SolimaÌ retyreth without any notable exploict done The Emperour had intreated the Frenche kyng for ayde but he made him aunswere as the Emperour that tyme reported that Germanye was able enough to resyste the Turke alone The kyng of Englande also wrote agayne somewhat doubtfullye The byshop of Rome Clement sent hym ayde by the conduicte of Hipolitus a Cardinall of the house of Medices The Swycers beyng requested by the Emperour would not for all that styre one fote This yeare was sene a blasyng Starre in Septembre and Octobre before the sonne rising After the Turke was retyred with his armie the Emperour mislykyng their aduyse that thought good to pursue the ennemye dischargeth his armie for that wynter was at hande and from Uienne toke his iourney into Italy And being at Mantua he appointeth in his letters wrytten to the states of the Empyre that his brother kyng of Romaines shall gouerne the coÌmon welth in his absence he was for weightie causes gone in to Italy and there woulde treate with the byshop of Rome concerning a counsell as it was decreed at Ratisbone He wylleth all menne therfore to maynteyne the peace whiche was of late proclaymed and be as obedient to his brother as they would be to him selfe Departyng from thence to Bononie he entred into talke with Clement the seuenth deuysynge amonges other thynges of Religion and a generall counsel He maketh also a legue with hym and with the resydue of the Prynces in Italy in wordes to mayntayne the peace and quiet of Italy But in verye deede to kepe out the Frenche men The Embassadours of the Frenche kyng were sore against it but the byshop admonished them not to be so ernest priuely signifiyng that it should not long endure for the Emperour had brought with hym a great nombre of Spanyardes which the byshop wold fayne haue dispatched out of Italy And for this cause made the league obser ãâ¦ã g the occasion of tyme. The Emperour shortly after sayled into Spayne in the moneth of Marche And not longe after that the byshop of Rome sendeth a legate into Germanye Hughe Rangon byshop of Rhegio And whan he came to the Duke of SaxoÌ accompanied with the Emperous Ambassadour he made a long oration the effect wherof was this How after muche and long conference had betwene the byshop and the Emperour about the controuersie that is in Religion in fyne they concluded that for the remedy therof there is no waye better thaÌ a generall counsell wherof they perceiued the Prynces of Germany to be also very desyrous And this to be the cause of his message euen to declare vnto hym and the other Prynces how both the byshop and the Emperour are determined to haue a counsell free and common for all men suche as the olde fathers were accustomed to haue in tymes past whose myndes vndoubtedly were gouerned by the holye ghoste prouided alwayes that suche as shall repare thyther make faythfull promesse to obserue the decrees therof for els should all their labour be spent in vayne if they should make lawes whiche none woulde obserue and kepe As concerning a place both for holsome ayre and plentye of victuall commodious the byshop thinketh either Placence or Bononie not vnmete for the purpose or els Mantua whiche is a citie of the Empyre nere vnto Germany of a goodly situatioÌ and plentiful of all thynges necessary of the whiche thre it shall be lawfull for them to chose one Whereunto if the kinge of Romaines he and other Prynces of Germany woulde make some reasonable aunswere Than the byshop consulting also with other kynges would cal the same within this halfe yeare to begynne within one yeare after to the intent suche as dwel very farre of may prepare theÌ selues to take their iorney Whan he hadde spoken this and more he deliuereth certen Articles comprysed in wryting to the Prynce Electour from the byshop of Rome Afterwardes the Emperours Ambassadour speaketh on this wyse For as muche as in al former assemblies the recoÌciliation of religion hath bene hetherto atteÌpted in vayne is supposed that by a couÌsel the matter might be pacified therfore hath the Emperour of late obtayned that same of the byshop of Rome that is to say that it be holdeÌ after the same maner time place as his Ambassadour hath declared And therfore is he sent of the Emperour to beare witnesse that the byshop of Rome is content to haue a counsell and because his Ambassadour hath spoken sufficientlye of the whole matter he nedeth to saye no more but to desyre hym to credite his tale and make hym a frendly aunswere The Duke of Saxon sayeth that because the matter is weightie he wyll take delyberation this was at Weymer After a fewe dayes the Duke aunswereth that where the Emperour and the byshop haue agreed vppon a counsell he is exceadinge glad for the state of the common wealth doth chiefly requyre such a one as ofteÌtimes the Emperour hath promised the Germanes wherin the cause may be duely examined according to the prescripte of Gods worde Whiche if it might be he would nothing doubte but that all thinges should go wel he wil both pray vnto God to graunt this and also admonishe the people vnder his iurisdiction to do the lyke he will applie his whole studie hereuÌto
and moue his fellowes also to be carefull for the same he would be glad moreouer to make a present aunswer but there be many others of the same religion who with his father Duke Iohn professed the same doctrine in the assemblie at Auspurge before the Emperour so that he can not aunswere of him selfe alone without making them priuie neither is it expedient for the cause so to doe For better it is that the same be done by comon assent And for as much as the Emperour the byshop the last wynter in their letters wrytten to the states of the Empire from Bononie put them in hope of a counsell therfore did he his fellowes appoint a day the .xxiiij. of Iune to mete at Smalcalde to consult of the whole matter wherfore he desireth theÌ not to be offended with this differment of time for so sone as his fellowes mete at their day prescribed they shal haue answer either by Ambassadours or by letters shortly after And he wold through Gods grace so demeane him self that not only this present age but also the time to come shold perceiue right wel that he wyshed for nothing more thaÌ that the pure religion doctrine peace not only of Germany but of the whole comon wealth of Christendom might also floriche and that the Emperour his chiefe souereigne might haue his due honour dignitie Afterwarde whan his fellowes were come with good deliberation they framed an answere by commoÌ assent in their letters the last of Iune Howe they gaue great thankes to the Emperour whiche for Gods glory preseruation of the coÌmon wealth had taken so muche paynes of a good zeale they doubted not And therfore pray God so to confirme direct his mynde to that ende that the truthe may be set forth and embraced And false doctrine wicked worshipinge rites abolyshed and that all errours being cleane weded out of mens myndes Gods true seruice other godly vertues may agayne take place For they chiefly desire a counsel wherin the matter that is in controuersie may duely and orderly be decided Suche a counsell also the Emperour hath promysed long synce and that in all assemblies of the Empyre with great deberation hath bene decreed to be kepte in Germanye For all this dissention sprange vp fyrste of that welle that certen impudent persones ouermuche extolled indulgences and pardons At whiche tyme also other errours were perceyued and detected And all be it that byshop Leo condempned this doctryne whiche brought those errours to lyghte yet haue they hetherto impugned that condempnatioÌ with the testimonies of the Prophetes and Apostles And therfore hath a counsell ben alwaye thought moste nedefull as well of other Prynces and states of them wherin the cause myght be examined and openly tryed what is true and what is false for that they sawe howe many thynges were crept into Religion whiche were to be refourmed And therfore in the assemblies of the Empyre it was decreed that there should be a free and a christian counsell eyther of all nations or els of the prouince of Germany by those especiall wordes lest that eyther the senteÌce of the byshop or the force and power of any other man should be preiudiciall to the cause Agayne that in all this cause iudgement should be geuen not after the byshoppes decrees and opinions of Scholemen but accordyng vnto holy Scripture For yf any mans power should be of more force than the Scriptures than due examination who doubteth But that he that shoulde contende againste the byshop shoulde lose his labour and stryue agaynste the streame Wherfore not without great considerations it hath been decreed that the counsell should be holden in Germany And the Emperour also content it shoulde so be but nowe these requestes of the bysshop to be vtterly against the decrees of the Empyre confyrmed by the seales of the Emperour and the other Prynces For all be it he speaketh of a free councel yet doubtles he intendeth an other thynge whaÌ he goeth about to haue kynges and Prynces bounden to hym For in case he woulde haue it free what shoulde this obligation nede But nowe seyng that he is wholy bent this waye certenly this is his purpose that vnder the name of a counsell he maye maynteyne his power and aucthoritie that no man shall reprehende his faultes and errours or if any doe atttempte it that he shall not escape vnpunyshed They knowe not what other men wyll doe but surelye this demaunde of his is wrytten in suche sorte that it rather maketh them afrayde of a counsell than prouoketh them to it for who woulde bynde hym selfe after this sorte especially beynge not yet knowen what shall be the ordre of the counsell the fourme and maner whether the byshop wyll haue his adherentes to beare there moste aucthoritie or whether the controuersies shall be determined accordyng to the holy Scriptures or after the traditions and lawes of men grounded vpon no Scripture at all The lybertie of the Counsell is also restrayned in that he wyll haue it kept after the olde accustomed maner They doe not refuse the former counselles that are consonant to the Scryptures but suche as haue bene in our tyme or a lyttle before whiche haue attributed more than reason wold to the byshop of Rome and decrees of men farre differing from the auncient counselles therfore where he sayeth it shall be after the olde accustomed maner this is his crafte and policie that there shall not be that lybertye of speache and geuinge of sentences as they both desyre and also the cause requireth but that iudgement shall be geuen accordynge vnto his lawes and vsurped power whiche he taketh vppon hym as by certen of the last couÌselles it is manifest but by this vsage and hadling of matters can neither the churches be pacified nor the troubled conscience quieted but are brought into further darkenes bondage wherfore seing that the bishop hath not as yet satisfied the requestes of the Emperour and states of the Empyre they ernestly desyre that Cesar considering the weightines of the cause whiche concerneth the vniuersall coÌmon wealth and all nations would see that the matter might be handled indifferently For this is his office and dutie this may he doe by the lawes When in dede the byshop impugneth the truthe for it is to be forseen and prouided that the plaintife or defendauÌt be not also iudge in the cause For all nations haue great hope in this counsell and doe both wyshe and pray that at the laste mens consciences troubled and sore afflicted with doubtfull dissentioÌ may be made free set at libertie and taught the way of saluatioÌ For these many hondreth yeares hath not bene so muche contention about so weighty matters as is at thys present And this stryfe aryseth of sondry errours and vices whiche haue spronge longe before our tyme But and if men be disceaued of theyr expectation and shall
certen of the chiefest in all the citie that fauour red them moste and tell them what an heuy case is chaunced at theyr house yet do they not vtter what it is but entreate them to take the paynes to come to their seruice at night When they came and the seruice was begonne he that was a lost made a great noyse Beinge demaunded what he would and who he was he signified that he could not speake than is he commaunded to aunswere to their interrogatories by signe there was an hole made where by laying to his eare he might heare and perceyue what the coniurer sayde Than was there a table at hande wherupon being asked a question he clapped beat so that he myght easely be heard beneth Wherfore he was fyrste demaunded whether he were any of them that haue bene buried there After that rekening vp their names in order whose bodies had there bene buried at the laste they come to the Mayres wyfe there by a signe made he sheweth that he is the spirite of her Than they questioned with her whether she were dampned and for what deserte or offence Whether it were for couetousnes pryde or letchery or that she did not the workes of charitie or els for this newe sprong vp heresye and Lutheranisme Furthermore what she ment by this noyse disquietnes Whether that her body being buried within holy grounde shoulde be digged vp and caried to some other place Unto all these thinges he aunswered by sygnes in like case as he was commaunded wherby he affirmed or denied any thynge in so muche as he stroke vpon the table twyse or thryse And wheÌ he had thus sygnified that Luthers heresy was the cause of her dampnation and that her body must be taken vp the freers desyre the citezens that were present to beare witnes of such thynges as they had sene and heard set their handes to it in wryting But they taking aduisement lest they should both offende the Mayor and bring them selues in trouble refused to subscribe NotwithstaÌding the freers take the pyxe with the hoste as they terme it and all the reliques of sainctes and cary them to an other place and there say their Masses Which thing is acustomably done by the bishop of Romes lawe what tyme a churche is suspended and must be hallowed againe And when the byshops iudge deputed whome they call officiall heard of this he came thether to vnderstande the matter better and associatynge hym selfe with certen honest men coÌmaundeth them to coniure in his presence would haue chosen certen to go vp into the Uault to se in case any spirit doth appere there But Steuen of Aras was sore againste this thinge and exhorted them instantly it might not be sayinge that the spirite ought not to be molested And albeit the official did earnestlye vrge them to coniure before hym yet coulde he not bryng theÌ to it In the meanetyme the Maior makynge his frendes priuie what he would doe went to the kynge and enfourmed hym of the whole matter And for as much as that freers by reason of their priuileges refused to come vnto iudgement the kyng chose certen out of the court of Parliament at Paris to examine the matter and gaue themfull authoritie The same did also Anthony Prate Chauncelour and the Cardinal that was the byshop of Romes Legate in Fraunce Wherfore hauing no exception they were caried to Paris and constrayned to make answere but they woulde confesse nothyng Yet were they kept a parte and the Nouice whiche Fumeus a Senatour had at home with him being often tymes examined woulde vtter nothyng fearyng leste he shoulde after be murthered of them for sclaundering their ordre but when the iudges had promised hym that he should escape free should come no more in the Freers handes he declareth the whole matter in ordre and brought before the others aduouched the same They albeit they were conuicted and in maner taken with the deede yet refused their iudges and bragged of their priuileges but that was in vayne for they were condempned in open iudgement that they shoulde be caried agayne to Orleaunce and put in pryson And afterwardes brought openly to the Cathedral churche and so to the place of punishment where malefactours are executed and there shoulde confesse their owne wyckednes But euen at the same time chaunceth apersecution against the Lutherians which was the cause that the same sentence albeit it was to gentle for so great an offence was not put in execution For because the name of the Lutherians was moste odiouse they feared lest the punishment of these men should not haue bene so muche thought dewe for theyr offence as done to the reproche of the ordre And what soeuer misfortune happened vnto them many iudged that the same woulde be a moste pleasaunt syght and spectacle for the Lutherians And this ordre of Franciscanes was of the common people estemed holye And what time they were caried out of Paris certen women moued with pitie followed them vnto the gate of the vniuersitie with manye teares and syghinges After they came vnto Orleaunce and were bestowed in seuerall prysons they beganne to boaste agayne of theyr liberties and pryueleges and at lengthe after longe imprysonment they were discharged and set at lybertie without any punyshement Whylest they were prysoners they wanted nothynge but hadde all thynges ministred vnto them aboundauntly especially of women Had not these persecutions and fyrynges before mentioned letted the thing the kynge had determined as in dede it was reported to plucke downe all theyr house and make it euen with the grounde But in the Romyshe kyngdome were wonte to be very many spyrites For it was beleued certenly that dead mens soules dyd walke after they were buried Wherefore they shewed that eyther they were dampned or els for a tyme were tourmented in the fyre of purgatory and woulde sollicite their nerest kynsfolkes and frendes to sucour them And moste commonly requyred them eyther to performe their vowes and pylgrimages which they had behight to some sainct in their lyfe tyme or els to cause a trentall of masses to be sayd for theÌ Whiche thynge increased maruelously the opinion of Purgatory and brought the masse in to highe authoritie and was to the priestes gainful aboue measure But after that Luthers doctrine was spred abroad and knowen those spirites by lytle and lytle vanyshed cleane out of syght For Luther taught by the scriptures howe the soules of dead men were at quiet rest loking for the last daye of iudgement and that suche terrible noyses and visions were styred vp by the deuyl who letteth none occasion slyppe to confirme mens myndes with idolatrie false opinions and to quenche the benefite of our sauiour Christe Whan the Lantgraue had bargayned with the Frenche kynge in the begynnyng of the spring tyme he leuied his armie And than wrytyng their letters both vnto kyng Ferdinando they declared the cause
warre against them as other wycked Prynces doe for they are holy men and good people The Lantgraue readinge ouer their booke and their letters noted what he thought blame worthy and coÌmaunded his learned meÌ to aunswer it And for as muche as they had in fewe wordes and those abscure written that their king was not so muche of theirs as of Gods appointment he demaundeth of theÌ wherfore they did not expresse those places of Scripture wherby they thought it lawefull thus to doe And why they dyd not confirme the thynge before with signes and wonders For of the coÌminge of Christe God had declared longe before by all the Prophetes so euidently that it was well knowen not only of what house or familie but also whan and where he should be borne They had also requested that the matter might be heard wherunto the Lantgraue answered that the same might not now take place For so much as they had takeÌ vpon them the aucthoritie of the sworde and had bene the workers of so muche mischiefe For all men see what marke they shoute at certeÌly to subuerte all lawes and common wealth And lyke as their intente is wicked and detestable so is nowe their requeste to haue their cause heard fayned and dissembled He doubtles sent vnto theÌ faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe conteÌpning their doctrine do resist the magistrate take other mens goodes mary sondrye wyues haue chosen them a newe kynge Where also they denye that Christe toke the humane nature of the virgyn Mary where they affirme that man hath free wyll where they compell men to make their goodes coÌmon where they saye there is no remission for a sinner that falleth all these thynges are against the lawes both of God and man Whan this answer was brought vnto theÌ they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare toÌgue of the misteries of Scripture And againe in an Epistle they amplefie their cause and defende their opinions And in this booke they deuide the course and tyme of the whole worlde into thre partes the fyrst age from Adam to Noe they saye was destroyed with the Deluge of water the secoÌd wherein we are nowe at this daye shal be consumed with fyre but the thyrde shall be cleane a newe worlde wherein iustice shall reigne neuerthelesse before this last tyme shall appeare this present age must be pourged by fyre but that shall not be tofore that Antichriste shall be reuealed and his power vtterly abolyshed ThaÌ shall it come to passe that the scate of Dauid whiche is decayed shal be newly erected and Christe shall possesse his kyngdome here in earth and the wrytinges of the Prophetes shall be accomplyshed And that this present worlde now is lyke the tyme of Esaw For iustice kepeth silence and the Godly are persecuted But as after the captiuitie of Babylon so nowe also the tyme of restauration is at hande to delyuer vs from all these myseries and to rendre vnto the wycked aboundantly after their demerites as in the Apocalipse is declared And that in this same Restauration goeth before the worlde to come to the intent that all the vngodlye beynge destroyed the house and seate of iustice myght be prepared and beautified Whan the Lantgraue had red this booke he set in hande the Ministers of his churche to wryte against it The residue of the states imperial assembled at Essinge do mislyke the doinges of them that were at coÌffuence affirming that they had no authoritie to impose or charge them with any burthen vnlesse it had bene by the consent of the Emperour and all states In the moneth of February Corne within the citie waxed very scarse in so muche that some also died for honger and wante of meate It fortuned that one of the Quenes pitieng the people had sayde to the rest howe she supposed that God woulde not that men should peryshe thus with famine The kyng whiche had his stoore houses furnyshed at home not only for necessitie but also for riot and voluptuousnes after he knewe it brought her forthe in to the Market place and all the reste with her and commaundynge her to knele downe stroke of her heade and whan she was dead vttered her to haue played the whore This done the residewe syng and gyue thankes to God the heaueÌlye father After that the kynge daunceth wyth them and exhorteth the rest of the multitude whiche had nothynge lefte them but breade and salte to dauncynge and mery pastymes Whan Easter came and no deliueraunce appered at all the kyng whiche had promysed so stoutely to inucnte some excuse fayned him selfe sicke for the space of syxe dayes After he commeth abroade amonges the people and telleth theÌ howe he hath ryden on a blynde Asse and that God the father hathe layde vpon his backe the synnes of the people Wherfore they are now made cleane and delyuered from euery spotte And this to be the deliueraunce whiche he promysed wherwith they ought to holde them coÌtented Luther amonges other thynges whiche he set forth in the vulgar tongue about this tyme wrote also of this tragedye of Munster Alas sayeth he howe should I complayne or lamente those wretched men for the thynge it selfe declareth that there dwell deuylles thycke and threfolde but yet ought we to praye the infinite mercy of God herein and haue good cause so to doe For albeit that for the contempt of the Gospell the reproche of Goddes holy name and the shedyng of innocent bloud Germany hath iustly deserued to be plaged yet hathe God hetherto restrayned the force and violence of Sathan and hath not permitted him to haue the reignes at libertie but mercifully admonysheth vs and by this tragedye of Munster nothinge at all artificious calleth vs to the amendement of lyfe For vnlesse God had brydeled hym and holden hym backe I doubte not but that moste subtille fynde and wylie artificer would haue handled the matter farre other wyse But nowe that God hathe made a restraynte he rageth and tourmoyleth not so muche as he woulde but so much as he is permitted For the wycked spirite that seketh the subuersion of the Christian fayth goeth not this way to worke to perswade the marriage of many wyues For seyng both the vnlawfulnes and the fylthye beastlynes of the thynge is apparent in the syght of all men he perceiueth well enough that men woulde abhorre it In dede the politicke and ciuile gouernemeÌt may through this meane be disturbed but the kingdom of Christ must be attempted with other weapons and Ingines He that would circumuente and deceaue men maye not affectate rule and gouernment and playe the tyraunt For all men disalowe this and see playnely what his intente is But he must attayne thereunto by secrete meanes as it were by certen bypathes To goe in olde and euyll fauoured apparell to
the expresse wordes of the composition sealed and confirmed by the Emperour hath taken vpon them to heare and determine and to call before them diuerse for the alteration of Religion for Rites ceremonies and churche goodes whiche thyng were playnly exempted in the pacification concluded But the iudges of the imperiall chamber being also of a contrary Religion bounden by their othe to geue sentence as well after the prescript of the byshop of Romes lawe as of the Emperours doe lyttle regarde the compositioÌ of the peace but procede directly against it Wherfore they haue iust cause to refuse theyr iudgement and to desire a reformation and that for diuerse considerations whiche are also before mentioned For first the iudges of the imperiall chamber are for the moste parte of a coÌtrary Religion they are bounde by an othe to iudge after the decrees of the Byshop of Rome as wel as after the lawes of the Empire Thei beare fauour to our aduersaries and that manifestly and frowne vpon vs and our fellowes They medle with mere matters of Religion contrary to the Emperours proclamation Finally they haue condeÌpued our coÌfederatours of Hamborough only for matters of ReligioÌ in a great somme of gold so would procede against others in case they were not refused And as touching the names of them that are come into their league synce the peace making they had long synce wrytten and sent to the Emperour in Italy by their Ambassadours Who seing the tyme of the counsell so longe differred ioyned them selues in league with theÌ iudgyng it mete to preferre their conscience before any ciuile bonde last where hedesyreth to knowe the fourme and maner of their league thei maruell that he will requyre it considering that the Emperour knoweth it well inough and made meanes by the intercessours at Norinberg that they should haue left it but they made hym suche aunswere than as he moued them no more herein howe their aduersaries haue geuen the occasion hereof For what mischiefe they haue deuysed against theÌ it is right well knowen And this league of theirs is ordeined to iniurie no man but to defende them selues and is framed of suche condicions as if nede require it may be declared to the Emperour or any man els without any shame at all And as concerning suche thynges as he spake of the counsell and of the Emperours mynde towardes the common wealth they lyke very well all Howe they do beleue also that the Emperour knoweth not the byshoppes minde herein therfore procureth the counsell so ernestly But what opinion the Emperour hath of the bishop thei wil leaue vndiscussed Neuerthelesse for as much as his wrytte is coÌtrary to the Emperours minde and altogether suspicious they can not dissemble what they thinke thereof For before the counsell do begyune he hath condempned their doctrine not only in word but in dede also and also it is wel knowen how that in all assemblies where religion is treated of albeit thei see that the Scripture maketh against them yet wyl they presume and take vpon them the authoritie of determination And although they are mynded in a lawefull counsel to accuse the byshop and his complices of false doctrine heresy and impietie yet is there no doubte but that he will after his accustomed maner be both partie and iudge also For that is his entent the wrytte it selfe wittenesseth whiche if they should ones allowe it were in vain and to late afterward to talke of any conditions or fourme of disputation in the counsell And whether this be suche a counsell than as the Emperour and the states of the Empyre haue in diuerse assemblies agreed vpon they leaue it to the opinion of any indifferent iudge For euermore those wordes a free and a Christian counsell were wyselye pourposely added and the same in deede not to be so taken as that it should be lawfull only for euery man to speake his minde there but also that neyther the bishop nor his adherentes which are depely bound through their fidelitie and promyse one to an other should pronounce sentence in their owne causes And the other ought not so to be interpreted as though there were no place in the counsell for the Turkes and suche others but that accordinge vnto holy Scripture all partes of doctrine might be examined and determined And how they know moreouer that not in one countrey only but euery where also in the whole worlde are Godly and learned men dispersed here and there whiche thinge refresheth their spirites to thinke vpon considerynge hopyng that in case this vnreasonable power of the byshop of Rome might be diminished and that all thinges shoulde not depende vpon one mans coÌmaundement it would come to passe that not only their diuines but also diuers other good men in sondry countreis whiche being now oppressed with his tyrannie hyde theÌ in coruers and sayde nothyng would applie their whole study and endeuour to the refourmation of the churche And now as concerning the place of the counsell they knowe not where it should better be chosen than in Germany For albeit the counsell doth also appertayne to other nations yet chiefly it concerneth the Germaines whiche must come thether them selues with the ministers of their churches where as other kynges Prynces may do the thing by their deputes after the olde woÌted maner of long tyme accustomed Furthermore what the situation and coÌmoditie of MaÌtua is they wyl not dispute of but there is now warre in Italy but in case there were none yet haue they lately declared why that place ought to be of them suspected How the Duke of MaÌtua him selfe is affected they wyll not reason but his owne brother is one of the chiefest Cardinalles whiche maketh muche to encrease the suspition Therefore if other nations shall heare one of their reasons wherfore they doe refuse both the place and fourme of pleadyng they doubte not but they wyll allowe the same and if they did not than should they in dede conceaue of them a wronge opinion The Emperour knoweth also that in Germany be many cities as commodious for the pourpose as Mantua and the whiche ought chiefly to be respected muche commended for equitie and iustice For those secret and priuie conspiracies to dispatche men out of the waye are not so well knowen and practised in Germany as they be in some other places And where as thei cleaue and sticke on this wyse to the decrees of the Empyre and wyll not permitte them selues to be remoued from the same it ought to seme no maruell nor newes to the Emperour For also in tymes past Liberius Bishop of Rome the frende and fawtour of Athanasius required the Emperour Constantine to call a counsell at Alexandria where the defendant and plaintiues dwelled And albeit that the same place was nothing commodious for the West churche And although the Emperour alledged that Athanasius and his fellowes were by the consent of the whole
our daies and therfore desyred a counsell that the wrong beyng redressed concorde might be reteined But in this our time a Counsell is muche more nedefull for as muche as the same errours and vices do remaine in sundry places and strife and contention is arrisen and many therefore are in daunger of their lyues that be innocent persons For these therfore so weightie considerations not onely we but themperour also and the residew of the states and Bishoppes haue determined that acounsell is chiefly necessary for the Church wherin the pure doctrine might be mainteined For vnlesse it were of suche sort they sawe right well howe it would styre vp a greater confusion But behold whilest we loke for such a counsell the Bishops Buls come forth quite contrary to the decrees of th empyre And because it doth not coÌcerne vs only but also the whole commen wealth of Christendom we haue thought nedefull by this publike writyng to testifie and declare wherefore we discommende this counsell For the power and Authoritie of Iudgement belongeth not onely vnto Bishoppes but vnto the churche Of which numbre verely are all kinges and all other states Wherfore al beit the Bishoppe of Rome were nothing at all accused yet were not this to be graunted him that he alone and his should be iudges excludyng other ministers of the churche but seyng manifestly that he is a partie one of the suters much lesse ought it to be permitted because it is both against Gods lawe and also the lawe of Nature But we accuse the Bishop of Rome of no smale crimes neyther do we dispute onely of his vsurped Authoritie and abhominable liuinge but we reprehende his doctrine his lawes and wicked Religion that is we accuse him as giltie of Idolatrie and Heresie Whiche crimes beyng obiected the Bishoppe ought not but the churche to geue iudgement as the olde lawes of the Bishoppes them selues do testifie Furthermore the Bishoppe is not only one of the parties but because he hath condemned oure doctrine longe before he hathe heaped vpon him selfe the greater suspition And seyng it is thus who can doubte what his iudgement shal be in the counsell concernynge our doctrine For it is not to be thought that he will contrary to his olde custome permit any other man to haue the determination of matters And wheras in his writynge he speaketh nothyng of the maner of treatie in the Counsell we haue iust cause to suspecte all thynges the more For he calleth them onely thither which are bounden vnto him diuerse wayes of whose good willes he is assured And he protesteth also this to be the cause of calling the counsel that the Heresies sprong vp of late might be weded out And albeit the same may be taken largely yet is there no doubt but he meaneth it of our doctrine For it is not credible that he speaketh of his own errours Yea after he sent forth an other writynge touchinge the reformation of the Courte of Rome wherein by expresse wordes he confesseth that the Counsell is called for this intent that the Pestiferous Heresie of Luther might be abolished And so in dede at the fyrst he couered his mynde crastely that his writte myght haue some shewe but he disclosed it afterwarde Wherfore there is doubte but that he is fullye bente to roote oute our doctrine And what madnes were it than for vs to allow this his intention For this goeth he about that suche as receiue his writyng shoulde confesse oure doctrine to be wicked and Hereticall Moreouer that Kynges and Princes whiche admitte the same shoulde be bounden to aide and asiste him Therfore seing the thing concerneth the vniuersal common wealth we beseche all men that they will consider diligentlye thys his crafte and policie For it is to be marueiled whie he conceaued his writynge with suche wordes And there is a doubt whether he did it to the intent to feare vs from the Counsel or by the approuing of the writte to haue vs intrapped But amonges vs assuredly there is no doubt but that themperours mynde is to further the common wealth neyther do we thinke that he will allowe this forme of writte But the Byshoppe hathe not onely appoynted the Counsell but hathe also pronounced sentence against vs. For he will not permitte that the matter may be tried by the Scriptures but he will aledge his own lawes custome and certen Counselles of the latter time to proue the matter But we chiefly hold affirme the mens traditions that are contrary to Gods worde oughte to be reiected For we admit the doctrine of the church but the Byshops errors tyrannie ought not to be coloured with the title of the church Tholde church neyther receiued any law coÌtrarie to the Scripture nor attributed the vnmeasurable power to the Bishop of Rome which he now taketh vpon him selfe And againe yâ sorte of men which do condemne persecute by the doctrine of the gospell be not the church but paricides the generatioÌ ofspring of Cam. And in old time in dede godly Bishops dyd oftentimes refuse couÌsels seing the same to be called not to defende the veritie but either for the main tenauÌce of some wicked opinon or els to establishe some meÌ in Authoritie Themperor CoÌstantine had assigned a counsel at Antioche But Maximus Bishop of Hierusalem albeit it was not farre of came not thither for because he knewe themperors minde what the Arrians intended And although Athanasius came to the couÌsell at Tyrus yet taried he not long for that he saw the chiefest of the couÌsel plaie the parts both of the accusers Iudges And for that he saw certen accusers procured against him There was holdeÌ a great counsel at SirmiuÌ a town in Hungry against Photynus for the matter was weightie And albe it themperour coÌmaunded the Bishops to come thither yet wold not they of the west partes obey him for that they sawe there a numbre of Arrians there encreased suspected that some false opinion shoulde there be decreed That time was Osius Bishop of Corduba a famous man whom themperor at the request of the Arrians commaunded also to come thither out of Spaine When he was come he approued that perilous counsell of Sirmie which brought afterwardes a great consusioÌ to the church for this cause was Osius sore reproued of Hilarie whiche came not there Cyrillus Bishop of HierusaleÌ neuer came at their assemblies which denied Christ to be of the same substannce with the father is accompted the fyrst that euer appealed from the counsell by writyng There was a Counsell kepte at Millan and the Bishoppes called thither by the Emperour But what time Paulinus Bishoppe of Treuers and a fewe others sawe howe Anxentius the Byshoppe of Millan and his mates went about an euill purpose they departed brake vp that Counsell After this sort did those worthy men flie at suspected counselles lest they should be made partakers of
the crime And for asmuche as the Bishop signifieth plainly that this counsell is instituted to confirme his Authoritie we besech al men that they wold not impute this refusal to vs as a fault blame worthy Finally the very place of the counsell we can not like for diuerse causes For it is fitte to offer iniurie and altogether such as should let the libertie of speche And besydes there is muche hatred conceaued againste vs in foreine nations through the sclaunders of our aduersaries as though Religion and honest liuing were exiled from among vs which perswasion when mennes mindes be thus prepared is not without great perill Wherfore it were very expedient for this cause onely that the counsell should be holden in Germany to the entent that straungers might see the order and maner of oure Churches and Cities And not throughe false sclauÌders to hate the trew doctrine The weightines of the cause also requireth that many of vs should come to the couÌsell oure selues but to forsake our own limites is no maner way for vs expedient And seyng that for most weightie causes it was decreed that the counsel should be holden in Germany we se not wherfore we should depart froÌ the same Considering therfore that this case coÌcerneth the preseruation of al Christendome we beseche al kinges princes to geue no credit vnto oure aduersaries but herunto rather to applie theÌ selues that the trew knowledge of God might be restored For they caÌdo nothing that shal more redound to theyr honor The Bishop laboreth to this ende that he mighte perswade theÌ to practise crueltie the which thei ought moste chiefly to abhorre For eueÌ for this cause are they placed in this degre of dignitie that they shold honor Gods holy name be a light vnto the rest through their good ensample to defende innoceÌt persons froÌ wroÌg violeÌce And if there shal euer at any time be any lawfull counsell thaÌ shal we so defende our matter there that all men shall vnderstande how that our endeuours haue bene euer annexed with the preseruation of the common wealth In this assemblie were these The Duke of Saxon Ernestus FrauÌces bretherne Dukes of Luneburge Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the Lantzgraue Philip prince of Pomerane the three Erles of Anhalde Albert Counte Mansfelde besides many Ambassadors of the cities with most large ample coÌmission For they were admonished what thinges should there be treated Before they departed thence which was the vj. day of March they addresse their letters to the French king wherin first they excused the matter that they had not satisfied his Ambassadoure in the former assemblie and shewe the cause also whie they sende no Ambassadours as nowe vnto him ThaÌ they desyre him to continew his frendshippe and seynge they haue set open to him all waies to come to a concorde in religion and yet haue nothing preuailed that he would recompence this theirendeuor with his fauor and beneuolence Fynally they declare what their mynde is touchyng the Counsell and desyre to knowe what he hathe also determined to do herein The kinge afterwardes maketh Aunswere at the tenth kalendes of Iune he accepteth theyr satisfaction and promiseth largely concernynge hys continuall amitie towardes them confutyng the sclaunders of his aduersaries in a wrytynge the whiche he sent with all and saieth that this is his opinion of the counsell and euer hath bene that vnlesse it be lawefull and in a sure place he wyll neuer allowe the same neyther doubteth he but the kynge of Scotlande his some inlawe will also folowe his mynde herin He a lytle before at the beginning of Maye was retorned home with his wyfe which after aboute Midsomer ended her life there In the meane time the Bishoppe of Rome deferreth the Counsell till the kalendes of Nouember and the cause thereof he saieth is for that Friderick the Duke of Mantua mindeth to fortifie his citie with garnisons of souldiours and to employe cost therupon which thinge hath happened contrary to his expectation and saith he is sore affraid lest many folowyng his decree are already commen to Mantua and happely beyng excluded are dryuen to retourne home againe for the which chaunce he is in dede very sory but yet taketh the matter lesse greifefully forasmuche as the thinge hath fortuned throughe another mans faulte and not his And not longe after the king of Englande in his owne name and the nobles of his Realme publisheth a writing That there is a Counsell called by the Bishoppe of Rome which he hath none authoritie to do and called at suche a time whan mortall warre is betwene themperour and the Frenche kynge and the place appointed at Mantua whither it is neyther saufe nor commodious for all men to come He in dede desyreth a Christian Counsell wyth all his harte but vnto the Byshoppes Counsell he wyll nether come him selfe nor yet sende hys Ambassadours For this is alwayes theyr facion that for theyr own lâcre sake they wyll in suche maner of assemblies oppresse Christ and his veritie And for his parte he will haue nothynge to do with the Bishoppe of Rome nor regardeth no more his Decree than the wrytynge of anye other Byshoppe Addynge that Counselles were wont to be called by the authoritie of the Emperour and kynges which maner ought to be restored especially at this tyme whan the Byshoppe hath so many graue personages to accuse him Yet neuerthelesse can he neither be reprehended without the daunger of a mans life nor accused presently but in a lawfull Counsel nether is there any prouision made for him or his by saufconduicte and thoughe there were yet manifest daungers shoulde let hym that he coulde not come for it is no newes to the Bishoppes to falsefie theyr faith and to sprincle and desile them selues with innocent bloude And albeit it should be lawfull for others to repaire thither yet were it no saftie for him whome the Bishop hath laide waite for whoÌ he hateth deadly whom he seketh to bring in hatred with other kinges for none other cause assuredly than for that his Tyrranny is exiled out of his realme and his yerely reuenewes taken away which thinge in very dede he taketh in most euill part and so much the worse for that he feareth lest other kinges warned throughe his example will hereafter do the like And nowe also is the counsell proroged vntyll the kalendes of NoueÌbre And yet not the place appointed where it should be holdeÌ and the faulte is imputed to the Duke of Mantua Is not this to delude the whole worlde The Duke of Mantua is surely blameles which wyll not receiue so great a multitude into his citie being vnfurnyshed of a garrison but all the blame is to be ascribed to him alone who doeth nothing syncerely but worketh al thinges by craft and collusion And now in case he shall assigne an other place for the purpose he wyll eyther appointe it in some citie of his
offices of Cardinals and Bishoppes be distinct and diuerse and agree not in one person for the Cardinalles were ordeined for thys cause onely that they should remayne about you most holy father and neuer departe from your syde and should gouerne the vniuersall Churche together with you But vnto Bishoppes it belongeth to fede theyr flocke committed to them of God which in dede can not be done vnlesse they be present with them as we see the Shepardes be with their Shepe Moreouer the thynge it selfe doeth harme by that example For with what face or audacitie shall we redresse the faultes of others which are most apparent and best sene in our fellowshyppe For they may not thinke that because they are placed in dignitie they may therfore take more libertie no but let them vnderstande that they oughte rather to vse more temperauncie for because they ought to shine before others in life and maners neyther must we folow the Phariseis whiche made lawes and themselues kept them not but Christ who florished in word and worke This libertie also is a great let to good Counsels whan the minde is before possessed with lust and Auarice Besydes this diuerse cardinals frequent the courtes of kynges to obteyne of them Bishoprikes and for this cause are so addicte vnto them that they dare vtter nothynge frankely And woulde God this waye were inhibited And the Cardinals otherwise prouided for that they might honestly fynde them selues and theyr families and that Equalitie were obserued herin that the yerely reuenewes of all were egall Which thinge semeth vnto vs not harde to be broughte to passe if we could forsaking all couetousnes folowe the fotesteppes of Christ Whan these faultes are redressed and mete ministers in the Churche appointed it is chiefly to be loked to that the Bishoppes do inhabite amonges theyr owne people for they be the husbandes of the Church But what more heuie or sorowefull sighte can be shewed than euerye where to se congregations forsaken and flockes destitute of Pastors deteyned in the handes of Hirelinges Therfore oughte they to be extremely punisshed whiche leade their flockes to deserte and to be excommunicated or outlawed onely but also to lose theyr liuinges for euer vnlesse they craue pardon of you within a short tyme. For by auncient lawes it was decreed that a Bishoppe might not be aboue three wekes absent from his congregation We se also that very many Cardinals are absent from Rome and do nothynge that properlye belongeth to their office We graunt it to be expedient that certeine of them be resident in theyr owne prouinces For by them as by certein brauÌches and rotes of trees stretched out farre and wide in the Christiane worlde men are kept in theyr dewtie and dewe obeidience of this our common wealth but yet were it requisite that the most parte of them were by you called againe to Rome For so shoulde they bothe execute theyr office and also theyr presence shoulde be there bothe honourable and profitable to the courte of Rome Moreouer in punyshynge of crimes and vices there wanteth a greate seueritie of discipline For suche as haue offended and deserued punishment fynde a meane wherby to conuey themselues out of the iurisdiction of their Bishoppe or iudge ordinary or in case they cannot do this than go they to the master of the Pentionaries and fyne with him for a pece of money And that do they chiefly that are of the clergie which thing doeth offende many Wherfore we beseche you in the bloud of Christ wherewith he redemed washed and sanctified his churche that this licentious libertie may vtterly be abolished For seyng that no common wealth maye longe endure wherein synne is vnpunished howe muche more ought the same to be looked to in the Churche Emonges the Monckes also are many abhominable Actes committed wherefore we thinke good that their Colledges and Couentes be dissolued not sodeÌly or through violence but so that no maÌ from henceforth be admitted into that order For so shall they by litle and litle decay And afterwardes may honester men be placed in theyr houses Neuerthelesse we thinke mete that all yong Nouices which haue not yet professed religion by a vow solempnely made be presently remoued from thence There muste also be diligent hede taken that they be mete persons which are set to here confession And herin ought the Bishoppe to haue a vigilante eye but chiefly that there be nothinge done for money For the same free gyfte which we spake of before concerneth not you onelye but all others in like maner Moreouer in the houses of Nunnes and sacred Uirgins namely ⪠where they be gouerned of Monkes are many and that open crimes committed after a most filthy and detestable example therfore must the ouersight of suche be takeÌ from the Monkes coÌmitted vnto others of whom no perill or suspicion can be had Now wheras in many places and chiefly in Italie certen wicked opinions are disputed not onely in vniuersities but also in churches it deserueth muche dispraise Therfore the Bishoppes muste be charged that in suche places wheras vniuersities or Scholes be they admonish the teachers that they propounde no suche thynge herafter but instructe and bringe vp youth in vertue and feare of God nor that they haue any open disputations of matter of diuinitie but within theyr priuate houses Likewise muste Princes and Magistrates be admonished to giue commaundement to the Printers that they set not forthe all sortes of bokes but suche onely as be permitted There is commonly read in al scooles a boke of Colloquies compiled by Erasmus of RoterdaÌ wherin be many thynges whiche may beate in to younge and tender myndes vngodlynes and infecte the frayle and bryckel age Therfore this and suche other lyke bookes must be bannyshed the Scooles Further more where it is permitted to Monkes that haue professed Religion by a vowe to put of theyr owne wede and putte on other apparell we thinke it not well done for the garment is as a badge of the monasticall vowe Therfore if they ones forsake theyr cootes let them be depriued of theyr lyuinges and all ecclesiasticall function Also suche as cary about the relyques of saincte Anthony and other lyke are in our iudgementes worthy to be vtterly abolyshed for through innumerable superstitions they brynge the ignoraunt people in to erroure and playnly abuse them Oftentymes also they aâe permytted to marrye whiche haue taken holy orders but this ought to be graunted to no man but for vrgent causes as whan the whole stocke and defence of a Realme is brought to one man And because the Lutherians permitte all men to marry without respecte therfore must we more stifly resyste the same Nother may they be suffered to mary together which are at the seconde degree of bloud or affinitie vnlesse it be vpon moste weyghtie considerations but suche as are further of maye haue more lybertie graunted them and that to be done without
a sedition at Gaunte Whiche citie is of great force and aucthoritie in those parties and hath oftentymes made many sore bickeringes for their lybertie with the Gouernours of Flaunders in whose dominion it standeth The Emperour hauing intelligence hereof where he firste had thought to haue gone through Italy into Germany he altered his purpose and determined to passe through Fraunce seyng the kyng required hym instantly so to doe and promysed hym all thynges franckely In the meane tyme the Palsgraue and the Marques of Brandenburge intercessours addressyng their letters to the Emperour of the pacification at Franckfurte had requyred hym to permitte a conference of learned men to be had at Norinberge But he sayde that the death of his wyfe and certen other affaires would not suffer hym to entende suche matters Whan the intercessours had sent a copie of these to the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and yet had not signified whether the Emperour had confirmed that truce of .xv. monethes The .xix. daye of Nouember an assemblie was appoynted at Arustet a towne of Turingia Here they consulted to augmente their confederacie for their nedefull defence in case the Emperour wyll not allowe the peace makyng at Franckefurte for well disposyng the churche goodes to sende Ambassadours into Englande touching the syxe Articles and to mitigate the kinges mynde to moue the Frenche kynge that innocente persones be not tormented for ReligioÌ Moreouer to sende Ambassadours to the Emperour so sone as they shall vnderstande of his commyng into Flaunders And for because certen of the confederatours were absent and other some had not commission to determine of certeÌ matters an other daye was assigned at Smalcalde at the kalendes of Marche wherin to treate of the reste Here were receiued into the League the men of Rigen a citie in Linonia whiche were at coÌtencion with their Archebyshop lyke as many others were in Germany Neyther wer they receyued vpon other condicion than to be defended in the counsel chaÌber by the commoÌ procurers therfore payed to the confederatours a thousande and fyue hundreth crownes Henry Duke of Saxon was taken into the league two yeares before without any charge because he was but poore but yet vpon condition that if he were at any tyme enriched he should beare like charge with the reste Nowe therfore that he was auaunced to this goodly inheritaunce in this Assemblie they treated with hym touching the same whiche assemblie ended the tenthe of Decembre The Prynces were not there present but had sent their deputes And the Duke of Saxon had sent Iohn Dulcie and Fraunces Burcarte vicechauncelour into Englande in the moneth of Nouembre to be is his name present at the marriage betwene the kynge and the Lady Anne of Cleane for he had married her syster Sibille as is mentioned in the syââ booke Wherfore vpon this occasion they were enioyned at Arnstade to treate with the kyng in the name of the ProtestauÌtes for these matters before sayd The Emperour receyuing a saufe conduictetoke his iourney with a small company in the moneth of Nouembre Whan he came to the frontiers of Fraunce borderynge vpon Spayne he met the kynges two sonnes Henry and charles which were come thether in poste and the Constable which was gone thether long before with a great parte of the nobilitie of Fraunce of whom being receyued and conduicted through the myddes of Fraunce the greatest cities whaÌ he came to Loche in Burges he mette with the kynge hym selfe who was than scarcely ameÌded of a late disease After passyng through Or leaunce on Newe yeares daye rydynge in the myddes betwene the kynges two sonnes he entred into the citie of Paris and the Constable bare the sworde before him For no kinde of ioyful myrth and gladnes no honour or solemnitie that the mynde of man coulde delight in was left vndone Thether came the Byshoppes Legate Alexander Farnesius Cardinall who together with Cardinall Bellaye the Byshop of the citie Receiued the Emperour into the Cathedrall churche at Paris Where the Emperour remaining seuen dayes afterwardes departeth the kynge hym selfe accompanying hym into Uermandois and his sonnes brought hym as farre as Ualencenes a towne in Henaulte The kynge was brought into a great and almoste a sure hope to recouer Millan but it chaunced farre otherwyse as hereafter I purpose to declare What tyme the Emperour was with the Frenche kynge in Fraunce they sent both their Ambassadours to the Uenetians moste nobly accoÌpanied The Emperour sent Alphonse Daualle gouernour of Millan and the king Claudie Hannebalde Lieutenant of Piedmonte These exhorted the Senatours with a longe discours to ioyne them selues in amitie with these two most myghty Princes and to put to theyr good willes and power to ouerthrow the Turke But they whan they had most honorably dimissed the Ambassadors considering the thing more diligently thought mete to reconcile them selues to the Turke with whom they had trewce already Wherfore concluding at the last to rendre vnto him Nanplia and Epidaurum they obteyned at his hande peace Some saye that the Frenchemen albeit exhorted them openly as did themperours Ambassadour yet secretly whispered in their eares that they should prouide for themselues not enter into such a daunger for the which they were fyrst like to smarte the king him selfe in an Apologie against themperour reporteth that the common wealth of the Uenetians of him destroyed was through his meanes releued and recouered Aloisius Bardnarius the Ambassadoure of the Uenetians sente to the Turke for peace ãâã as commaunded fyrst to offer al other conditions and reserue those two cities for extreme necessitie But the Turke which by priuie espiall knewe the determination of the Senate longe before did expostulate with him that he did not declare his commission plainely and directly And without those two places deliuered would not conclude Who beyng amased seyng the priuities of the common wealth were bewrayed full sore againste his will permitteth him to haue them at laste But whan he was retourned to Uenise and had declared the whole matter the Senatours greatly astonied after moste diligente inquisition apprehende certen and fyndynge them giltie cut of theyr heades One of them was fledde into the Frenche Ambassadours lodgyng the Bishoppe of Mompelier as into a Saintuary wherefore officers were sent to haue searched all the house But whaÌ they might not be suffered to enter the Senate commaundeth certeine great pieces to be fetched out of theyr ordenaunce house to ouerthrow the lodging Wherupon the Frenchmen consyderinge theyr owne daunger bring him forth vnto them The Senate afterwarde wrote vnto the kinge the cause why they so dyd lest he shoulde thynke his Ambassadour had susteined wrong When themperour came into Flaunders kyng Ferdinando comming out of Austriche met there also After the Protestantes Ambassadors as it was condescended at Arnstad who the xxiiii daye of February beyng admitted to the Emperours speach at Gaunt
fore any communication be had or the waye prepared wherfore that whiche pleased all men at Franckefurte semeth nowe best vnto them also that in case a conuocation of Germany can not be had a communication myght be appointed For in their iudgement there can no better way be founde as they declared also of late to Counte Nuenar wherein they truste that holy Scripture euen by his commaundement shall occupie the chief place and that whan their aduersaries shall swarue from the same they maye be called agayne into the waye And albeit they maye not go thether without makinge their fellowes priuie to it and the tyme is so shorte that they can not assemble before yet whan the thing shal be coÌmenced and that there shal be any hope to do any good there they wyll not let to come thether in persone Requiring hym that he would graunte the saue conduicte whiche he promysed not onlye to their Ambassadours but to their deuines also For as muche as they shal haue moste to doe in this matter laste they desyre to vnderstande his pleasure herein I tolde you before of Cardinall Farnesius he went with the Emperour from Paris in to flaunders scarsely yet come to mans state In so muche that the Emperour toke it in very euill part that the Byshop had not sent some man of rype yeares and counsell What tyme therfore they did consulte of Religion and the Turkish warre and Granuellan had spoken his mynde at the laste the young Cardinall in the presence of the Emperour and king Ferdinando said his fantasie inueighing chiefly againste the Lutherianes throughout his whole oration And amonges many other thinges he sayd it could not well be discerued whether were more against Christe the Protestantes or the Turkes For the one of them shewe their crueltie onlye against the body but the others drawe the soules also into euerlasting perdition Farnesius had ioyned with hym Marcellus Ceruinus byshop of Nicastre as gouernour of all his counselles who in the same legacie was made Cardinall This Oration of Farnesius coming abroade a fewe monethes after was set forth in prynte and Iohn Caluine made a comentary to it leste any man should mistake it At this tyme the Duke of Cleaue came to the Emperour to be at a point with him for the possession of Gelderlande but it woulde not be And therfore returnyng home agayne he began to consulte with the Frenche kynge For whan he was out of hope to recouer Millan the Emperour offering hym suche condicions as he woulde lyttle haue thought he tourned his mynde wholly from his frendshyp yet couertly and complayned that he was so farre abused And than began to mislyke the Constable whiche had put hym in this great hope was the cause that the Emperour passed through Fraunce and could neuer abyde hym after where before he did all thynges When he therfore sought all meanes priuelye howe to moleste the Emperour and the Duke of Cleaue was not able to susteyne so great a sute and displeasure alone they beganne to entre into mutuall bandes of amitie The Frenche kyng had a nece the lady Iane daughter to his syster Margarete Quene of Nauarre of eleuen yeares of age the greatest inheriter in all Fraunce both of an excellent beaultie and well brought vp vnto whose frendes the kyng made sute especially to the Quene his sister that she myght be maried to the Duke of Cleaue brought it to passe as shal be recited in his place At this tyme dyd the Byshop of Rome warre vpon the Perusians for that they refused to pay a certen custome for salte and other thynges that he had reysed vpon them And so brought the citie vnder his iurisdiction And for a like cause expulsed Ascanius a man of great power of the house of Columnois out of all his dominions The Cardinall Farnesius hauing done his commission seyng the peace did not take effecte betwixt the Emperour the Frenche kyng And also vnknowen to hym a daye was assigned at Hagenaw for the Protestauntes to decide their cause in he departed out of FlauÌders came to Paris about the Ides of May. And at the feaste of Pentecoste in the Cathedral churche there he consecrated Anthony Uncle to madame Destampes the kynges darlinge Cardinall of Medone setting vpon his head a purple hatte latelye brought from Rome And salutyng the kyng by the waye he goeth with great spede to Rome Afterwarde kyng Ferdinando toke his iourney from Brusselles to goe to the assemblie at Hagenaw for it could not be holden at Spyres by reason of the plague Unto this assemblie the FreÌche kyng also sente Lazarus Baysius by the aduyse of the Emperour for eyther of them dissembled theyr grief and the matter was hetherto handled with flatteryng wordes And the first daye of Iune the kyng of Fraunce set forth a sore proclamation against the sowers abroade of Heresie and the false doctrine of Luther and his companions And the twelfthe daye after the same was imprinted and proclaimed at Paris Aboute this tyme the kynge of Englande beheaded the Lorde Cromwell whome he had from lowe degree auaunced to hyghe dignitie and a little before made Erle of Essex he forsaketh the lady Anne of Cleaue and marrieth Catherine Hawarde Nece to the Duke of Norfolke The Lord Cromwell was the maker of the marriage with the house of Cleaue And where after the kynge loued Hawarde he was thought to be perswaded by hir that Cromwel whom she iudged be a lette vnto her matters might be dispatched out of the waye He was a man also not wellbeloued of the Nobilitie and was suspected as though he should seke the distruction of the Papistes In the meane tyme the Duke of Brunswicke accused moste heinously boeth the other Protestantes and chiefly Henry the Duke of Saxony that contrary to the wyl of his Brother George and condition expressed in his Testament he had altered the state of Religion that he molesteth the Byshoppes of Merseburge and Misene in their iurisdiction And that he kept to hym selfe the money that his brother lefte to the vse of the league to the some of .lx. thousande crownes Wherfore he admonyshed the Emperour to compell hym to doe his dutie whiche if he shall refuse to dispossesse hym of the inheritaunce after the fourme of the wyll And he wrought not this alone albeit he was principal but certen others also of the same confederacie Nowe wyll I speake of the assemblie at Hagenaw whiche began the fyue and twenty daye of Iune When kynge Ferdinando was come thether a moneth before A fewe dayes before the coÌmencement the Protestauntes had spoken to the Palsgraue to the Archebyshops of Collon and Treuers to Ericus Duke of Brunswick and to the byshops of Ausburge and of Spyres euerye man seuerallye at his owne house that they would entreate the peace Ferdinando therfore at the forsayde daye callyng the Protestauntes before hym declareth
is the head of the churche and of counselles yf in dede they omitte the same vnto whom agayne it woulde bee displeasaunte in case they should not do it for the same would styre vp great stryfe and offence not onlye in Germany but also in other countries This he doeth admonisshe them of bothe by the commaundement of the Bysshoppe and also of hys owne dewtye The same day the Princes make hym aunswere howe the Bysshop maye auoyde all offension in case he will call a counsell whyche hathe been so longe promysed Yf not the state of Germany to bee suche as they muste of necessitie fynd some other waye to salue the sore And therfore require him earnestly that he wold of hys wysdome and gentlenes so further the cause to the Byshoppe that a remedie might be founde Moreouer the diuines of the Protestantes doe confute those letters and reasons of Contarene by a longe wrytyng and proue manifestly how it apperteyneth vnto all prouinces to establishe gods trewe seruice and Religion This done themperour causeth a decree to be made and red the xxviii of Iuly he referreth the conference of the learned men and the whole treatie vnto the counsell to the Synode of all Germany or of the states imperial in hys Iorney into Italy he promiseth to intreat diligently the Bisshop of Roome for a counsell And yf neyther generall nor prouinciall counsell can be obtayned than wyll he call a convocation of th empyre within .xviii. monethes for to quiet the cause of Religion and will deuyse that the Bifshop shall also sende hys legate thither he chargeth the ProtestaÌtes that they attempt no new thing besydes the articles alreadye accorded and the Bisshoppes that they should clense their churches of theyr faultes and enormities In that decree were certen articles that Religious houses shoulde not be defaced that the churche goodes shoulde not bee put to prophane vses that no man should be allured to a contrary Religion of the iurisdiction and Iudges of the chamber Whiche thinges whan the Protestants dyd mislyke themperour in a certen priuate wryting declareth seuerally what his opinion is herin In the doctrine not as yet conciliated he doth prescribe vnto them no measure Monkes houses wold not in dede bee pulled downe but yet mete to bee reuoked to a godly reformation the lyke is to bee thought of the churche reuenewes no man that is of an other iurisdiction oughte to be intysed to theyr Religion and so bee mayneteyned but yet shall it bee lawefull for them to receyue any that will come vnto them vncalled furthermore the decree of Auspurge concernynge relygion and doubtfull causes of the same for a common quyet he suspendeth tyll the cause be determined eyther in a counsell or other assemblie and commaundeth that no maÌ shal be reiected of the Chamber for a contrarye relygion but that the lawe shal be ministred vprightly vnto all men What tyme they had these thynges confyrmed vnder themperours seale they promise hym ayde agaynste the Turke of whose commynge it was bruted daylye more and more And the Ambassadours of Hongary and Austryche were commen thither which with greate intreaty required ayde So was there a sodayn ayde of Almaignes sent into Hongary by the coÌduict of Friderick countie Fursteinberg In thys assemblie Themperoure the thirde day of Iuly before al the states had a greuous complaynt of wyllyam Duke of Cleaue for the possession of Gelderland He exhibiteth also a booke vnto them wherin he declareth hys ryght tytle to the same and sayeth how he willed hym to haue ben there but he tooke a contrary waye signifyinge couertly Fraunce as before is sayd There were present the ambassadours of Cleaue which excused theyr prince and when they proceded to declare his title themperour xiseth vp and departeth The .xxi. day of Iuly the Princes and states all go to themperoure intreate him for the Duke of Cleaue and request hym that he wold receyue him in to the tuition of thempire permit that the case may be decided freÌdly and promise to take paynes in the thynge and in case they cannot make an ende in it they beseche hym to make clayme to it and to recouer his right by the law Wherunto themperoure maketh aunswer by Iohn Nauie Forasmoche as this assemblie is called for the common welthes sake to th entent that all dissention and discorde taken a waye Germany myght be restored to quyetnes and herin hath moch tyme ben consumed and yet nothyng concluded by reason of contention and diuersitie of myndes vnto his greate griefe and hinderance of hys owne affaires he sayeth he marueleth greatly that in this on cause which is properly hys they can so wel agree Thus he sendeth them awaye not withoute displeasure The next day Raymunde the Frenche kinges ambassadour in a longe oration written reciteth the cause of expulsing Charles Duke of Sanoye who a few daies before had accused the kinge to the Emperoure and al the states Durynge this assemblie the Frenche kynge sendeth Cesar Fregose an Italyan of Genes and Anthony Rincon a Spaniarde exiled Ambassadours to themperour of Turkes who sayling on the Riuer of Po towards Uenise wer taken and flayne abont the kalendes of Iuly That time was William Bellaye the kynges lyeutenaunt in Piedmount who beynge sertifyed of the thynge as he was maruelous circumspecte and industrious immediatly aduertiseth the kyng and also the fyfte day of Iuly wryteth from Turryn to Alphonsus Daualus marques of Piscare than gouernoure of Millan and all Lumbardie that he woulde see that the kynges Ambassadours which wer taken might be restored whom he knewe for certentie that hys menne had apprehended or els for the same cause shoulde the trewes be broken which was made thre yeares past by thintercession of the Bisshop of Rome And he required they might be restored eyther for because at the first he knewe not els dissembling that he knewe not what had hapned to them The Marques maketh it very straunge as though he knew nothing of the matter and to pourge himselfe sendeth Counte FrauÌces Ladron Ambassadour to the kynge Langeus in a certen epistle whych he wrote to the Marques the eleuenth of Iuly I would not doubte sayeth he in the counsell of the whole worlde to speake of diuine matters and that as aptely as euer did your kinsman and auncestre Thomas of Aquyne yf I were as experte in diuinitie as soom of youre familiars are perfit and priuie to this murther For Alphonsus hys graundfather called Indicus the sonne of Rodorick a Spaniard maryed a great inheriter of the house of Aquinas And this Alphonsus was cosyn germane to Fernando Dauall of Piscare a most worthye captayne The. xx day of Iuly the king answereth Alphonce by letters from Liner a Towne of Burges admonisshing hym to regarde hys honour and estimation and sheweth hym that vnles they be restored he can not neglect the iniury done to hys men Many
soeuer they lyghted they eate vp bothe grasse and corne Concerning the Duke of Brunswicke of his moste bitter inuectyues against the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and of the burnyng of certen places in Saxony I haue spoken oftener than once And nowe where he vexed with continuall inuasions and robberies Goslarie and Brunswicke cities of the Empire inlincked with the Protestantes and would not obeye the decrees of the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando who at their request had commaunded him to cease from all violence the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue in the name of al their confederates make warre against him and with in a short space brynge all his countrie into their subiection and his strong castell of Wolsebutell standing not farre froÌ the citie of Brunswycke wherein he put all his truste they wanne by composition he taried not long hymselfe but whan they began to inuade he fled with his eldest sonne Charles Uictor to the Duke of Bauier In that forsayde castell were founde sondrie letters wherby it was evident to see what thinge he and the Duke of Bauier the Byshop of Mentz Heldus and diuerse others went about but that shal be after repeted in place conuenient The Protestauntes in a wrytyng set forth declare a Large the causes of this their doinge and shewe howe they dyd not begynne this warre but of necessitie defended their fellowes In the fourmer assemblie at Spier they had intreated kyng Ferdinando that in the Emperours name and his own he would coÌmaunde him to suffer the Goslarians to lyue in rest by hym Ferdinando followed their myndes who at the same tyme had nede of their ayde agaynste the Turke and sendyng his Ambassadours warned hym sharpely to surcease but he aunswered contemptuously and proudlye and would not leaue whereupon ensued this desension before rehersed for they had shewed kyng FerdinaÌdo at Spier that vnlesse he obeyed his decree they would not suffer their fellowes to susteyne this wrong At the Ides of Iuly was an other assemblie of the Empyre at Norynberg for so it was decreed at Spier because of the warre in HoÌgary Kyng Ferdinando was present and the Emperours deputies were Fridericke the Palsgraue the Bishop of Auspurge Fridericke counte Furstemberge Hugh Monforte Iohn Nauie Ferdinando propoundeth howe the Emperour toke it in very good parte that they sente an army into Hongary who had purposed to haue bene at the same warre him selfe with all his power and therfore had called an assemblie of the states in Spaine but in this coÌfutation he fell into a great sickenes and so was constrayned of necessitie to differ it tyll an other tyme And whan he was nowe fully resolued of the matter and how to haue sent his force out of Italy and Burgundye before than brake foorthe thenterprises of hys enemyes in so much that he hath cause to feare some perill not only in Iâaly but also in Flaunders and Artoys Wherof notwithstanding he hath geuen none occasion who chieflye loueth the comon tranquillitie but as they knowe well enough how thenemies haue euer sins the assemblie at Spier endeuoured to leuie men in Suyserlande in Germany to begin the warres thus is the Emperour against his mind impeached and letted so that he can neyther come hym selfe nor send his force which he hathe nede of for his owne defence neuerthelesse he is fully mynded before the nexte yeare goe aboute to retourne into Germany and accomplishe the warre in hys mynde so long intended And that he will haue on the Sea also a nauie well prepared furnisshed that the Turke beyng assayled with double warre maie not bende hys whole power agaynste Hongary Moreouer whan he cometh into Germany he wil leaue nothyng vnattempted that maye make for the godly and tollerable reconcilemeÌt of Relygyon And after complayning that almen did not obey the decree of the last assemblie for some sent no soldiours others sente but not the full nombre som were sent foorth without money there wanted also of the munitioÌ furniture that was promysed which thinges for because the captaynes made complaynte of he vewed himself and sawe it was so And for that the whole iorney was letted herby to the detriment daunger of the empire he is commen vnto this assemblie not without his losse hinderaunce to require theÌ that in so nedefull a time they would not faile the coÌmon wealth Before FernaÌdo toke his iorney from Uienna to come to the assemblye at Norinberge beeing aduertised of the war of Brunswick he sent a messager to exhorte theÌ to surcease And now that he was comen to Norinberge by coÌmoÌ aduise were sent Ambassadours the soÌme of whose oration was this that they should not try the matter by force of armes especially at this time for in case they did it were to be feared lest the Turkish war should behindered ciuil warrestered vp in Germany Unto this the Duke and the Lantzgraue made aunswere the .xi. of Auguste oute of theyr campe before the Castell of Wulfebuttel recyting the causes of this enterprised defence declare that the thyng might not otherwise haue ben doon And that albeit they were dryuen of necessitie to take thys warre in hande to theyr greate charges yet haue they neuerthelesse sent ayde to the Turkishe warre fully as moche as they wer boundeÌ neyther wolde they fayle also to dooe the lyke hereafter And yf all other men wold doe the same ther should be no nede to feare the dissolution of the armie But the lacke that is in many men is reported by the mouthes and letters of diuers which seing it is so and forasmoche as the Duke of Brunswick coulde by non other meane be quieted contemning both the Emperours and kyng Ferdinando his coÌmaundement and also the decrees of the Empire they desire them not to misconstre this their doyng for they seeke no man by this warre but him only neyther doe they refuse whan thinges be appeased to sende al their force to the aide of HoÌgary as much as they are able to make This assemblie ended the sixe and twenty daye of August a penaltie was set for suche as obeyed not the decree of Spier and certein other thinges for the warre requisite were enacted There were no Prynces there sauinge Walter the Master of Prussia and the Bishops of Bamberge Eistet and Trente and themperours deputes before named You haue harde before of Cardinall Contarene He for hys ambassade had no greate thanke of the Bishoppes and Cardinalles and was charged that he was not vehemente enoughe in resystynge the Lutheranes and that he had almoste brought the common welth of Roome in daunger Where as many blamed hym sore in hys absence Cardinall Fregose only stode in hys defence Retournyng out of Germany into Italy he came to Lukes where the Bisshop Paule attended for the Emperours comming to goe into Barbarye Than going with the Bisshop to Roome he was shortly after created Legate of Bononie where
at the last he departed thys yere in th end of August not without the suspicion of poison Whan his frende Cardinall Fregose was also dead a little before they that knowe him well say that he beleued ryghtly touching mans iustification he was a man excellently learned and wrote a boke of the Magistrates comon welthe of the Uenetians In this same moneth the Chaunceloure of FrauÌce williaÌ Poret by the kings coÌmaundement who went thaÌ to Perpignan was taken in the night as he laye in his bed carried to prison What time the brute therof came to Paris al men reioised exceadingly For in those foure yeres that he had ben in that office he had offended all sortes of men and from some lady of the kynges courte came this misfortune to him The condeÌnation also of the Admiral augmeÌted the hatred as before is said He was in a great in maner an assured hope to bee made a Cardinall therfore two or three monethes before he wold nedes take holy orders which thing notwithstaÌding som meÌ saied he did that forasmuch as he was in the hatred of mani he might the better beare it escape the daunger of his life in case that heat should at any tyme breake out boyle ouer This was the third mockeri of fortune that chaunced in FrauÌce with in a few monethes together For where these three before mentioned the Constable Admirall and Chauncelour were in the highest degre of dignitye They burned in mutuall mallice declared by theyr ensample the disceiptefullnes vncertentye and slyppernes of woordly thynges At this tyme Otto Henry the Palsegraue embraced the doctryne of the Gospell The same dyd they of Heildessem I tolde you before of the counsell the Byshop sent immediatly letters and Bulles therof to the Emperoure into Spayne Wherunto Cesar aunswereth the fyue and twenty daye of Auguste Fyrst he coÌmendeth his endeuour and zeale towardes the common wealth but it greueth hym that the Frenche kyng should be compared vnto him for he is that prodigall chylde but for hym selfe which neuer swarued from his dutie he sayeth he ought more derely to be imbraced for he hath refused no paynes peryll nor coste that a counsel myght once be had that the whole common wealth beyng pacified they myght sette vpon the Turke on all handes Contrary wyse he mynded euer an other waye wherfore he fyndeth some lacke in his letters The other was wonte to make his boaste that he had the Cardinalles at hys becke Wherfore he doubteth whether the thynge be trewe or countreseared But howe soeuer it be he resteth vpon a good conscience both their doinges are openly knowen He hym selfe hath bene ouergentle to hym and fauoured hym a great deale to muche For all the labour he hath taken these many yeares is in vayne he hath ofte bene warned of his dutye sondrye great iniuries haue bene remitted leagues with hym haue often tymes bene remoued but with all these thynges he is waxed worse and vtterly doeth abuse his lenitie and patience Who brake the league and gaue the occasion of warre he hathe declared at Rome What hathe happened since he wyll vtter now also For how frendly desirous of peace he hath bene hereby may easely appeare that after the truce taken at Nice he came into talke with him at Aegnes mortes coÌmitted him self vnto him the yeare followyng he passed through Fraunce to the great admiration and not without the reprehension of many For seing he hath oftener than once broken his fayth and is fickell vnconstant in all his counselles it was sure a great daunger to hazarde his persone vpoÌ his fidelitie promesse Moreouer he knoweth for certeintie that thei deliberated to deteine him at the same time And where as many say that for the rebellion of Gaunt he must nedes passe that waie that was nocause at all For that rebellion was stired vp of a very fewe that of the basest sorte of men al the couÌtrey remayned in their allegeaunce and fidelitie the quene his sister could haue remedied those matters How beit where he was prefixed to retourne into Germany through Italy he was moued by his intreaty to chaunge his purpose went through FrauÌce which thing he is able to proue by his own letters by the letters of his soÌnes nobles For he requested this thing of him so ernestly that he rekened he should be dishonoured in case he toke any other way than through Fraunce And what tyme he was with hym in Fraunce he affirmed many times that he wold obserue the truces made But after he began to complayne that Millan was not redred vnto him according to the promesse where not withstandinge vnto the same promesse was added thys condicyon that he should restore hys vncle the Duke of Sauoie and doe serten other thinges And yet syns that tyme hathe he practised agaynste hym in sondry places in Germanie in Italy with the Turke with Iohn Uaiuod and his wyfe the widdow and with certen noble men of Hongatye by whose meanes the Turke had the citie of Offen And yet in the meane season he coulde full well cloake hys mallice promise hym greate frendshyp through a subtill fetche and polycie that he myght tracte the tyme and set vppon hym vnware And than tooke he first occasyon what tyme hys ministers Fregose and Rincon were intercepted In the which thing how he wolde in dede haue satisfyed hym he hymselfe can tell whiche was chosen vmpere in the arbitrement betwene them This therfore dyd he pretende to bee the cause of a newe trouble and disturbaunce of the weale publicke whan he had prefyxed it long before But what Fregose and Rincon attempted by hys commaundemente in Italye and Turkie and what seruyce they had oftetymes donne hym was knowen well enoughe For they wente aboute throughe treason to haue broughte the Christen common welth into great daunger therfore coulde not they inioye the benefyte of the peace Nicene whyche had them selues infrynged the publycke peace Agayne they wente by stealthe and priuelye throughe Lumbardie with a companye of oute lawes whyche is deathe by the custome of the countrye He blameth sore the Marques of Piscare but he offered to abide iudgment And whye he shoulde refuse it and also forsake other satysfactions it is not vnknowne he certenly thinking he had been satisfyed passed ouer into Barbarie and sendynge hys Ambassadoure commended vnto hym the publycke peace and queyet And albeit hee made fayre promises yet did he attempte diuerse thinges agaynste hym in Germany Denmarke other places he inteÌded also to inuade Nauarre Agayne in the assemblie at Spier he did what he coulde to nurryshe stryfe in religion whilest he promysed seuerally to eyther partye hys amytie and fauour he indeuoured moreouer to diswade the states of the empire from the Turkisshe warre he sollycited the Turke he sent a power into Italye and mooued warre agaynste hym
many thinges of the Roades invasions of the Turkes craueth aide After this immediatly the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue with their confederates addressing their oratioÌ to theÌperour you know saye they moste victorious Emperoure howe we haue offered oure selues euer syns the beginnynge to declare before this moste honorable Senate the cause of our defence taken agaynst Henry of Brunswicke And be yet also of the same will and mynde doubtyng not but when the matter shal be hearde there shall appeare vnto you weyghty and iust causes wherfore we were dryuen to it of necessitie and that it is not lawfull for hym to be present here in the counsell of Princes Howbeit because we see hym put hymselfe in prease to occupie a place in thys most noble consistorye moche agaynste oure willes in as moche as we can or maye we doe protest that wee neyther take hym nor acknoweledge hym for a Prynce of Thempire neyther will that any right of oures shoulde through hys presence be diminished Wherunto the Duke of Brunswicke aunswereth streyghte waye by hys Chauncelour The Duke of SaxoÌ sayeth he the Lantzgraue and theyr fellowes breakyng both gods law and mans law infringing the statutes of thempire and the faythe publicke by violence and open wronge haue spoiled me of my countrey For the which cause I haue accused theÌ to the Iudges of the chaÌber And seeyng it is so they ought to haue no place in the Senate of Thempire and yf they had any they haue nowe lost the same by committing that acte and are worthye whose companye all men shoulde eschewe But if it so be that I muste nedes syt by theÌ in comon counselles I protest that I do neyther attribute this place vnto them nor will therfore that the same should be preiudicial to my case The Protestantes were verye desyrous euen than to haue recited the cause of theyr enterpryse and the whole matter in wrytynge leste hys complaynte shoulde appere to be trewe or settle in mennes heartes But TheÌperour by Fridericke Palatyne and by Nauius required them forasmoch as the day was farre spent that they wold differre it affirming also that he wolde assigne theÌ a day for the pourpos and so they followed hys mynde And because as the Princes sat in counsell it fortuned that the Lantzgraue sate next to the Duke of Brunswicke the Prince of Palatine Iohn Suner for the auoyding of stryfe arryseth out of hys place and sytteth downe in the myddes betwixte them bothe protestyng before that the same shoulde bee no preiudice to hym or to his familye Yt was thought he did it at TheÌperours request The day before the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue had intreated Fridericke the Paulsegraue and Iohn Nauie that they wold so deuise with Themperour that the Duke of Brunswicke might not come in the comon assemblie but it could not be obtayned Themperour alledging that he might not be excluded vnlesse the causes were fyrst declared The Frenche kyng knowing for certeÌtie that Themperour wold make a greuous complaynte on hym to the Prynces determineth a most honorable Ambassad Iohn Bellaie Cardinal Fraunces Oliuer chauncelour of AlensoÌ Affricane Malley presydent of Diuion whan these wer commen to Nance a Towne in Lorayne they remayne there lookyng for Themperours saufcondict For the king had sent before to Spier an Heraulte for the same cause with letters to Themperour and seuerall letters also to the Princes Electours wherin he required saufe conduite for hys Ambassadours And when he came to Spier about the ende of Februarye in hys rich cote of armes as is accustomed he was stayed by Granuellan vnto whom he delyuereth the kyng his maisters letters written to Themperoure whan he myghte not otherwyse doe and declareth the cause of hys comyng requyring that Thambassadours which are not farre of maye accordyng to the law of Armes haue saufconduite beyng coÌmaunded to tary within and dilligeÌtly watched that no man should come to speake with hym the fourth day after he was dismissed with most sharpe wordes that he had played a fond part and was in dauÌger to haue lost hys head whych durste presume to come thyther For the kynge beyng enemy to Germany hathe not to doe with in the lymites of Th empyre neyther is he worthy to enioye the law of Nations let hym retourne home therfore and tell the kynge thus Howe ther is no cause that herafter either he or any other may comefor him And nowe in dede this fault is forgiuen and perdoned more of themperours clemencie than of his desert but let him take hede from heÌceforthe or els he wil not escape vnpunnisshed For he hath don against the law of armies neyther was it laweful for hym to haue comen into Themperours habitation without his leaue and permissioÌ And touchyng the letters whyche he sayeth he hath the kyng hath so well deserued of the Christen publicke weale and chefely of Germanye that in thys present state of thynges Themperour neyther wyll nor ought to receyue them lest by hys accustomed maner of writing and promises eyther he or also others myghte be disceaued This aunswer was delyuered vnto hym wrytten in Frenche And thus was he sent back with the kynges letters wrytten to Themperour and Prynces and certen horsemen were sente with hym to conduite him to Nance To this were not the Princes made priuie And many thoughte it was done agaynst the custome of th empyre Thys thyng knowen the Ambassadours were in a pecke of troubles and toke great thought how to retourne home without daunger and vsing the counsell of Authony Duke of Lorayne they went a waye secretly in the nyght season and so retourned into FrauÌce Whylest they yet remayned at Nance Christine the Dukes daughter in lawe was sente to Spier that the thing which neither he could nor certen others that might she which was Themperours Nece by his sister through her intreaty teares and by a certen commendation of her kind obtayne but yet was this in vayne For Themperour was wholy bent to haue warre And hys counsellours sayde he muste so doe to mayntaine hys estimation and dignytie The Duke of Lorayne albeit he was addicte to neyther had long syns couenaunted with them both that he myght be a newter yet for asmoche as the warre was to be kepte vpon hys frontiers and sawe howe that coulde not be done without hys greate losse domage was verye carefull for peace The .ix. daye of Februarye certen Priuces through Themperours motion wryt letters froÌ Spire to the Bisshop of Roome partely commendyng hym for that the laste yere he adioyned hys force with Themperours to rescue the Castell of Nice partly requiring him that for as moch as the enemye is now reparyng his nauie at Tollone to repare agayne to Nice and to win that Castell which shoulde be a greate shame and a sore anoyeaunce vnto Italy the Churche of Roome all the common welth he which is the
relygion lyke as you haue hearde before After those places of scripture which the Bisshop doeth vsurpe to establyshe hys supremacie he confuteth moste aboundantly and applyeth them to make agaynst hym Before the booke he set a picture whych by and by declareth the soÌme of the argumente The Bysshop sytteth in an hyghe chayre with hys handes ioyned and stretched out in solemne apparel but he hathe asse eares And aboute hym are many deuelles of diuers shapes wherof some set a triple crowne vpon hys head with a tourde in the toppe of it others let hym downe by cordes into hell vnder neth hym hortyble to be holde some bryng wood and colle others as ryght seruyceable staye his feete that he may descend rightly and softely Not longe after came foorthe certene theames of hys whyche he had heretofore disputed of the three gouermentes Ecclesiasticall politycke and Oeconomike Whiche he sayeth God hathe ordeyned agaynste the furye of the Deuill but he vtterlye excludeth the Bysshop from all these for that he condemneth and oppresseth the Gospell for that he bryngeth vnder hys subiection all lawes and euen the ciuile lawe And in asmoche as he forbiddeth matrymony to whom it pleaseth hym Therfore he calleth him the beast which is named in Germany of the beare and the wolfe together There is nothynge sayeth he more fierce and cruell then she Wherfore when a token is geuen and that she is once hearde of streyghte wayes all men get them to theyr weapons to the intent they maye kyll her And yf hapely she should take a caue or anye inclosure and gouernour or Iudges of the soyle wolde exempte her or also defende her she shoulde be persecuted notwithstanding and he that should let or disturbe the hunters myght be slayne lawefully After the selfe same sorte must the Bisshop be resysted if he doe attempte and moue warre lyke a wyld and a rauenyng beast with what aide someuer he is mayneteyned For they that wil serue or helpe a theefe ought to looke for the rewarde of the thynge which they deserue ThaÌ did he also sende foorth an other picture very fonde in dede but yet as it were a prophesye of the thyng to come The Bisshop in hys prelates apparell sitteth vpon a greate sowe with manye dugges whyche he diggeth in with his spurres hauyng two fyngers of hys ryght hand nexte hys thume stretched ryghte vp as the maner is he blesseth suche he chaunceth to mete with In hys lefte hande he holdeth a new smokinge tourde at the smell wherof the sowe lyfteth vp her snowte and with her wyde mouthe and nose thirlles catcheth after her praye but he in derysion blamyng the beast full bytterly I shall ryde thee saieth he with my spurres whether thou wylt or noe Thou haste troubled me longe aboute a counsell that thowe myghtest rayle on me at thy pleasure and accuse me franckelye Beholde nowe thys same is that counsell that thou so greatlye desyrest by the sowe he sygnifyeth Germany These tryfles of hys many mentaunted as vnsemely for hym and not verey modest But he had hys reasons whye he did so was thought to haue had a greater foresyghte in thynges And certenly in hys bookes are diuerse and sondry prophecyes wherof the ende prooved some trewe the residew as yet are in the hande of God In the meane season Themperoure taketh order with Granuellan and Nauius to be in hand with the protestantes touching the counsel and the Turkish warre but after longe decision nothyng could be concluded Grinian the french Ambassadour for because he vnderstode not the latyn tounge conprysed hys matter in wrytyng and vttered it by an interpretour the .xx. daye of Iune the somme of thys oration was to exhort them al to the counsell This Grinian was a nere frende to the Cardinall of Tournon who is thought to haue ben the occasyoner of thys Ambassade for he had ben with Themperoure at Brusselles as I sayde before and had treated of matters concernynge the counsell And than was it thus agreed that the kinge should sende an Ambassadour to exhorte them to the counsell whych Themperoure and he had already approued for thys was thought to bee a meane to make the Protestantes affraid At this tyme dyeth Fraunces Duke of Lorayne leauing behynde hym a yonge sonne Charles a chylde of two yeres olde The Duke had a brother called Niclas Bisshop of Mentz betwene him and the childes mother Christien Themperours Nece arrose a contention aboute the wardeshyp Al the Nobilitie fauoured hym more and lothed the womans gouernement but through TheÌperours mediation they were bothe appointed gardins yet so as the mothers authorytie was chiefest In those dayes also departeth the Daughter of FerdinaÌdo which was maried two yeres before to the son of Sigismunde king of Polle But out of Spayne was brought glad tydinges of the birth of Charles Themperoures Nephewe the sonne of kynge Philip for the whyche cause the Spaniardes made greate Ioye at wormes But a few dayes after came worde that the mother of the childe was dead To Themperoure being at Wormes came the Marques of Piscare and broughte with hym certen of the chiefe inhabiters of Millan It was thought how Themperour was than determined to marye the Daughter of Kynge Fernando to the Duke of Orleans and therfore had sent for these men to vnderstande the state of Lumbardie whiche he had promised to geue hym for her dowarye Whylest Themperoure helde this assemblie the Duke of Brunsewicke goeth to the Frenche kinge That time did Fridericke Rifeberge leuie a certen power of footemen in the Borders of Saxonie for the king of England Henry of Brunswicke espying that occasion promyseth and perswadeth the frenche kyng that incase he wyll geue him monie he shall easely fynde the meanes to scatter theÌ again And so getteth of hym certen thousandes of Crownes but he neyther letted Rifeberge and coÌuerted the monye receyued to warre against the Protestantes as shal be declared herafter Unto this conuentyon came no Princes as I sayde before but after TheÌperoure was there the Paulsgraue Electoure came also and at the request of the Protestantes maketh intercession But whan Themperour saw how they wold graunt nothyng to the Turkisshe warre vnlesse they obteyned theyr requeste concerning the counsell and the chamber he sendeth an Ambassadoure to the Turke for trewes Gerarde Ueltuniche a man verye well learned and experte in toungues Duryng thys conuention the Senate of Mentz maketh inquirye after suche as by the olde custome had not receyued at Easter and banisshed them the Towne that were founde herein culpable I shewed you before howe the clergie and Uniuersitie of Collon had appealed to Themperoure and bisshop that they myght hereby hynder thenterprises of theyr Archebisshop but where he stil proceded and wolde not displace the preachers and ministers of the church whyche thyng they chiefly requyred they renewe theyr sute to Themperoure making of hym a greuous
LaÌtzgraue neuerthelesse prepareth for the battell and styll shoutyng of his ordenaunce approcheth nere hys enemye and stayeth aboute fyue hoÌdreth passes from hym and sendeth woorde to Duke Morys by CoÌrade HausteÌ how he caÌnot be in quiet for that he feareth lest through occasyon of talke Duke Henry shoulde escape awaye Duke Moris sayeth how he must nedes tary till he haue spoken with him and praieth hym so longe to absteyne A little whyle after he retourneth and sheweth how Duke Henry with plentifull teares be wayleth his myserye and wyll render hym selfe and hys sonne and desyreth hym that he wolde vse no cruell wordes towardes hym When the Duke was commen and hys sonne Charles Uictor the Lantzgraue sayde vnto hym If I were in thy power as thou art nowe in myne thou woldest not suffer me to lyue longe But I wyll vse thee a greate deale better then by thy desertes what came into thy mynde that thou wouldest not obey the Emperoure refusyng the sequestration for certenlye by thys meane thouhadst wel prouyded for thee and thyne speakyng on thys wyse he appoynteth theÌ both vnto kepers But in thys meane whyle the Lantzgraues armye had lyke to haue bickered with the enemye and had not the Lantzgraue and Duke Moris with greate expedition runnen betwixte them there had ben a wonderful slaughter The Duke of Brunswickes armye pourposed to depart wholy to gether in one companye but because there was daunger leste by occasyon they shoulde attempte some newe enterpryse the Lantzgraue followeth them and ouertakyng them vpon a playne compelleth theÌ that they should teare in pieces their enseignes promiseth hym vpoÌ theyr fydelytie that they shoulde not serue agaynste hym nor hys fellowes within these sixe monethes Than taketh he a waie from theÌ all theyr munition to the nomber of xviii pieces with all that therunto belongeth and marching foreward recouereth the Castel of SteÌbrucke and sweareth the people to be trewe to hym and commaundeth to geue God thankes for the victorye Then he punnisheth Iohn Schamburge Otto Ritberg Erles for aydyng hys enemie and so discharging hys army retourneth home In thys tyme dyeth Albert Cardinall of Mentz and Sebastian Husestene succedeth hym And the Bishopricke of Maydenburge had Iohn Alberte hys cosen germayne whyche was hys suffragan therebe fore A reporte was afterwarde bruted by Duke Maurice as though with disceiptefull captious woordes he shoulde haue brought the Duke of Brunswicke into bondage that knowen he setteth foorthe a wrytynge and sheweth for what cause beyng requyred of the Duke of SaxoÌ and the Lantzgraue he coulde not denye them and recyting the whole matter in order declareth that he sustayneth iniury And yet neuerthelesse intreateth that he maye be deliuered But Luther in a booke set foorthe exhorteth the Prynces that they wolde not let goe theyr prysoner For thys victorye without bludshed was geuen them of God And in maner aboute thys tyme Countie William of Furstemberge whan he had ben prisoner at Paris vntil now paying .xxx. thousand crownes for hys raunsome was delyuered and passyng through Flaunders whan he had declared hys mysfortune to Themperoure retourneth home Themperoure wylleth hym to espye out some meane whereby thys dammage may be recompensed And herin promiseth him his fauour good will Whan Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke his soÌne were takeÌ the Duke of Saxon the Lantzssaue immediatly signifye to themperour by letters the whole matter inasmoch as he conteÌninge all his proclamations had disquieted Germany with a newe warre they require that both he his fellowes for breaking the publycke peace may be outlawed after the fourme and condicions of the SequestratioÌ before conuenaunted After thys the last of October the Lantzgraue accusing countie Ritberge to themperour making meÌtion of the former letters whan he had made the same request he sayeth how after the Duke of Brunswicke was taken he found sondrye letters of great importaunce of secret deuyses in hys tentes which shew well enough that he went about some great mischief eyther agaynste him or kinge Ferdinando For amonges others ther is an epistle whiche a prince electour wryteth agayne to hym how he maye not vpon such condicions come into that league coÌfederacy but that it is rather his dewty to vtter such maner of counsel which doubtles he wolde haue done had he not promised him vpon his fydelytie to haue kept it close Wherfore let hym moue hym nomore in the matter from henforth for yf he doe it shal be no counsell these and suche other lyke thinges hath he to shew If now he shall thynke that anythynge concerneth hys person he maye sende some trusty man of hys he shal shew him the letters let him haue a copie of the same Themperour beyng that tyme at Bruges a Towne in Flaunders the syxte daye of Nouember sendeth to the Lantzgraue Nicolaus Conricius with this message He heareth in what sorte the Duke of Brunswicke and hys sonne came into hys haÌdes And albeit he wold haue wisshed that he had accepted the condicioÌ of sequestration yet seing the matter is coÌmen to this poynt he supposeth it not nedefull to punishe hym moreouer for breakinge the publyke peace hys truste is also that he wyll so moderately vse thys victory that no man shall nede to feare hys vyolence he admonyssheth hym moreouer that accordyng to the auncyente custome of Prynces he doe intreate hys prisoners quyetlye and honestyle neyther that he enforce them to any vnreasonable condicyon or vnworthye for them but permytte that the matter maye bee frendelye and indifferentlye hearde Wherin verelye he for hys offyce and place wyll omytte nothynge And because neyther he nor hys confortes neede nowe to feare anye further daunger hee requyreth hym to dyscharge hys Armye and obserue peace And yf he haue oughte to saye to any man for the Socyetye of warre or ayde minystred he wolde trye it by the Lawe and he wyll doe herein that shall be reasonable When Conricfus had thus declared the .xviii. daye of Nouember the Lantzgraue the same day auÌswered him at Cassels For asmuch as the Duke of Brunswicke and hys fellowes haue moe wayes than one broken the imperial decrees he trusteth that Themperoure wyll playnly declare in how euill parte he taketh thys theyr doyng one of the chiefest of hys adherentes is Otto Erle of Ritberge his client whoÌ he hath punysshed therfore therbe also diuerse others of whom he myght iustely be auenged but to th entent Themperour and all men shoulde clearly see howe littell he and hys fellowes loue trouble he hathe done nothyng to them and hath discharged hys soldiours And seeyng it is thus and that he tooke in hand a nedeful defencion he desyreth ernestyle that Themperoure wolde bannishe the Duke hys fellowes for though he be taken yet are hys adherentes to bee punyshed notwithstandyng whych also wyll shew themselues styll lyke enemyes Hys prisoners are intreated metely lyberally
for other intent then to profite the common welth not mynding that yf any thyng be there decreed there shuld any wrong be donne to the protestantes therfore for euen for this cause was appointed the confereÌce at Regenspurge the beginnyng wherof was very well in case it had proceded The Archebysshop of Collon albeit he had promised to surcease and differ the matter procedeth neuerthelesse and that by rigor and compulsion he putteth out the ordinary curates and putteth in others at hys pleasure he handeleth the Clergye extremely he stayeth and witholdeth the reuenewes and customes of the Chanons and is to precise in all thynges so that I am constrayned to assist the Clergie complaynynge vnto me of theyr iniuryes that the talke betwene you and my counsellours shoulde not be preiudiciall therwith am I well contented Hereunto againe the Lantzgraue that you beare so good an affection towardes Germany and my league frendes most victoryous Emperoure I am ryght glad and ioyful and beseche God that you maye perseuer herein And surely yf accordyng to youre excellent wysedome you doe well consyder and waye with your selfe what a commoditye Germanye is to youre magnificence to youre Realmes and prouinces you shall fynde that there is nothyng more to be wished for then that all states shoulde bee glad of you theyr supreme Magistrate And that you agayne maye haue them styll louyng and obedient For certenly yf it fortune that Germany shoulde be weakened the same wylbe chiefly to youre discommoditie And as touchyng my Lorde of Collon the matter standeth euen so as I sayde before Inasmuche as he is a Sheparde he wolde fayne haue hys flocke fedde with good and holsome foode And thynketh hys dutye to be no lesse Therefore hathe he caused a fourme thereof to be set foorthe And they that are nowe hys aduersaryes were at the begynnynge moste gredye of this reformatyon and now it is commen to passe they refuse it and drawe backewarde Here themperoure interruptynge ah sayeth he what shulde that good man refourme he scarselye vnderstandeth any Latyn And in al hys lyfe he neuer sayde but three masses wherof I heard two my selfe he is not learned But he readeth ouer diligeÌtly the Germane bookes sayeth that LaÌtzgraue as I am wel assured he vnderstaÌdeth religioÌ Againe theÌperoure to refourme is not to bring in a new faith religion Neyther doeth he sayeth the Lantzgraue graunt that he hath receyued a new Relygion but he hathe renewed that olde that was leafte of Chryst and hys Apostles And where he hath displaced certen Curates of the churche and placed others the same aperteyneth to hys charge office For yf the person be a naughty lyuer or vnlearned it is surely the Bisshops parte to substitute an other in hys steade that is fyt for it For within the iurisdictions of diuers Bisshoppes many churches lye Uacant as I am able to saye beyng destitute of Curates where the people are fedde with no kind of doctryne nor gouerned by no discipline but lyke brute beastes lyue a barbarous and dissolute lyfe where he hathe taken somwhat of his Clergye he hath thys reason for hym that he imployed a greate some of golde on the Turkisshe and Frenche warres And it is the maner of Thempire that the Prince shal for this cause commaunde his subiectes to paye therefore thys thynge deserueth no blame at all And where it is commonlye bruted that he did this for relygion that had hys aduersaryes inuented to brynge hym in hatred The nexte daye at the Paulsegraues lodging mete the Lantzgraue GranuellaÌ Nauius and Masbacke There Nauius began the talke repeteth some parte of TheÌperours coÌmunication the daye before declareth wherfore they are nowe mette and sheweth howe desyrous Themperoure is of peace and where for the same cause he appoynted a conference at Regenspurge he sayeth the diuines weÌt a waie Then aunswered the Lantzgraue that of theyr departure from thence as yet he knoweth nothyng but the Duke of Saxon and he were aduertised by letters what vnreasonable condicions were offered them at the begynning whan they might neyther haue theyr scrybes to wryte nor see the copye of the treaty nor yet be permitted to write any thyng home they hearde also howe vntemperately the Freers that were collocutours handled the matter which both wolde ouer throwe the articles that were there before reconciled and tooke awaye all hope of concorde and with the dishonest examples of life where offense to many Whether theire diuines departed therfore being in dispayre of the matter as yet he knoweth not but certenly they were not called thence TheÌ talked Granuellan and fyrst speakyng much of Themperoures good nature and loue of peace he partely excused that of the condicions of the disputation And where they were prohibited to sygnifye oughte home he sayeth that was done without Themperours commaundement There the Lantzgraue exhorting that these thynges set a side they wolde come to the present matter commendeth the decree made at Spier in the yere paste concernyng peace and order of lawe and declareth that a prouinciall counsell of Germany were moste expedient to accorde and quyet Religion and in asmuch as Italyans Spaniardes Frenchemen dissent so farre from the Germanes doctryne in hys opynion a generall counsel shuld be to little porpos Not withstandyng how soeuer the matter fall and though none agrement can be made yet sheweth he how they ought to obserue the peace that the decree of Spier mighte not be abolisshed For now was the state of relygion suche in Germany that whoso wolde assaye to extinguish it muste distroye innumerable thousandes Whyche shoulde be bothe an exceading great losse to Themperoure whom the force of Germany hathe auaunced also to other nations that loue them not chiefly the Turkes a greate reioysing and commoditie The decree of Spier sayeth GranuellaÌ was made but for a time neyther was the fault in Themperoure that it was of no more force but whom it was loÌg on it is knowen well enough In priuate counselles of seuerall natyons ther hath ben redresse made only of vices maners but of faithe and religion no mention made And now are all thinges full of disseÌtion and sectes where touching the faythe all are not of one opinioÌ Wherfore this disceptation concerneth not only the Germanes but al other chrysten people in lyke case The moste parte of the Diuines are frowarde men stubburne and obstinate with whom the case can not be dipatched Therfore muste prynces and noble men be at the skannyng therof and certen meane waie in relygion founde oute for you your selues do not permitte religion to be free For suche as are of a contrary opinion to you are punisshed with imprisonment and by the purse And seeyng Themperoure desyreth chiefly a concorde he maye in no wyse graunte that thyng which is vngodly For yf all thynges were permitted to the common people Than shoulde not the Magistrate liue in saftie
by his ambassadour Sir Wuolsie Affesten knight to knowe what is the cause of this war against whom the preparation is made he desyreth him also to leaue warre besech him to geue him licence to be an intercessour in the cause A few daies after themperour maketh him aunswer by Granuellan and Nauius that it is not hard for him to know both what is the cause whom the war concerneth After he reciteth the same thinges in effecte that he did before in his letters to the Cities that they obey him not that they haue practised thinges against him in Germani and in forein nations vnder the pretence of religioÌ how they wil be bounden to no lawes take other mens goodes and possesons bothe sacred and prophane styre vp other states to Rebellion reiecte the Decrees of Thempire and woorke altogether by crueltye and a kynde of Tyrranye Therefore he purposeth in thys Warre to appease not only relygion but all other displeasures in lyke case restore peace libertie vnto Germany and such as shal do their dewtie to defend through his protection and those that be disturbers of the coÌmon quiet be oppressours of libertye to punnish sore and extremly according to theyr demerites This aunswer of Themperoure the Paulsgraue the tenth day of Iuly when it was brought him the day before sendeth to the Duke of SaxoÌ the Lantzgraue the Duke of Wirtemberge declaryng the common daunger that hanged ouer Germany especially by the straunge soldiour if the war should waxe mortal he besecheth them to condescend graunt to as much as they maye For albeit the likelynes of thinges is sharpe sorrowfull to be holde yet he supposeth that in case they wold make their submissioÌ to TheÌperoure follow his mynd in certen thinges it wolde be agreat furtheraunce to bryng the matter to a concord And these be thinges wherby he perceiueth Themperoure wil be appeased fyrst if they wil craue perdon for theyr offence secondly if any maÌ hath don any thing vniustly that it be ameÌded fynally yf they possesse ought of any other mans that they wold permit that to Themperoure or to some other as they shall thynke mete Wherin if he maye doe any good he promiseth hys fayth trauaile In the meane time the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue to whom this soden tumult chaunced much vnloked for especially for that themperour lately departed so frendly froÌ Spier being aduertised of the whole matter with great diligence gather theyr forces also and warne their fellowes to do the lyke not to suffer theÌselues to be diswaded through the craftie counsel of certeÌ And whan they were assembled to take counsell the fourthe daye of Iuly sendyng their letters to themperoure we haue heard they saye most mercyful Emperoure by our Ambassadours sent at your coÌmaundement to Regenspurg how what time they had heard of preparation for warre the fellowes of our league religion did sollicite you dillygently that you wold force that Germany susteined no doÌmage And albeit you aunswered so at that tyme that we myght wel suspect somthing yet wer we in a good hope that the same war had not ben moued against vs or any state of thempire for so much as being called of you to that asseÌblie we sent our ambassadours thither with ful authoritie who also consulted vpon your demaundes shewed what their aduise was in so much as we could suspect no displeasure moreouer that aunswer of youres doeth coÌcerne thynges past but yet to come whilest you saye that you will establishe the common welth accordyng to youre authoritie punnishe those that shal be disobedient Wherfore we could not thinke that before you had published your demaundes and before we had made any aunswer you wold haue prepared war But at lengthe whan by manye coniectures and chyefely by youre letters adressed to certen prynces and Cities and also by the wordes of Granuellan and talke of Nauius we perceyued that youre purpose was to punyshe certen Prynces that were disobedyent and the brute was euerye where that the warre was bente agaynste vs we tooke it in dede heuely and greuousely as becommeth vs no lesse and thought good to sende thys epistle to you to pourge oure selues And fyrste we are truly able to affirme that we oure leagefrendes haue alwayes dorne the common charges imposed vpon vs more than others whan some also haue gonne free Moreouer the ayde that you desyred in the last assemblie at Spier we found the meanes that you had them graunted and perfourmed the same oure selues And now that after all these seruices donne we shulde be charged with disobedience it doeth not only greue vs but is also muche displeasaunt and bytter We wolde haue wished surely and it had ben also reasou that we shulde fyrst haue ben accused and hearde before it had commen to hande strypes and that oure accusation had ben thus blased abrode For so shulde we bothe easely haue proued our owne innocencye and coÌfuted theyr sklaunder that of vs to you haue thus coÌplayned How louingly you dealt with vs bothe lately at Spier and also fiue yeres synce at Regenspurge it is openly knowen so that to vs can be obiected no rebellyon or dede vnworthy we will omytte that at youre request we put the possession of the Dukedome of Brunswicke to arbiterment one yere paste and were in daunger therby to haue lost oure lyues and goodes Furthermore you are not ignorant what time you wer created Emperoure at Frankefurt in what sort you bound your selfe to Th empyre what you promised by a moste sacred othe howe your doynges shulde be accordyng to the lawes of the Empyre whaÌ any such crime as you now obiect vnto vs shuld be layd to any mans charge And where you intende to worke violence agaynst vs before oure matter be hearde or knowen we will committe that vnto god and when we shall heare of what matters you doe accuse vs we shal so make aunswer that all men shall vnderstand that we bothe suffer iniurye and that you also through the instigation of the Roomish antichrist and the wicked counsell of Trent do attempt this war to the intent both the doctrine of the gospell also the libertie of Germanye may be oppressed and wil proue that there is none other cause the coÌdicion state of our thinges requyreth that we shuld thus muche declare vnto you you shall take it therfore in that part For it had ben a a great deale more pleasaunt for vs to haue gratifyed you and approued our fauour and dilligence Themperoure the seueÌth of Iuly writing letters to the Archebishop of Collon for the welth of Germany sayeth he that is to saye that common quiet right equitie the dignitie of this our office libertie of Thempire may be recouered which thynges in dede certen seditious persons haue almoste expulsed out of the coÌmon welth and vnlesse they should be
restrayned wold take them cleane a waye I am constrayned to attempte war that I may reduce them to theyr dewtie And for as muche as I heare saye how they goe aboute all that euer they can to allure you others to their fellowship I commaund you fyrst that throughout your whole prouince you let proclame and doe foresee that no man serue in this war vnlesse he serue me and my captaynes suche as shall haue commission to shewe secondly yf any be gonne foorthe already to serue that you call them againe immediately and commaund them to tary at home and attende vpon our commaundement And suche as will not obey that you punnish them extremelye so demeane youre selfes that I maye perceyue that you loue the quyet of Germany except you thus doe know for certentie that it shal be to your great daunger losse of all that you haue These letters whan the Archebishop had receiued he published in all places and commaunded they shuld be obeied Besydes he gaue commaundement that they shulde praye in Churches that God of hys mercy wolde tourne awaye the greate daunger that nowe hanged ouer Germany At the same tyme the Protestantes seÌd their ambassadours to the kinges of Fraunce and England newely reconciled making suite to them for ayde After the Duke the LaÌtzgraue had wrytten thus to Themperoure priuately as before is sayd at that Ides of Iuly they set forth a publicke writing also wherin they declare howe thys warre is made againste Religion and this to bee Themperours intent that vnder a serten pretence of rebellyoÌ and as though he wolde punnysh but a fewe he myght plucke awaye the fellowes of the league one from an other and so muche the more easelie at the length subuert them all And hereof they bryng manye proues and reporte what kynge Fernando what Granuellan what Nauius and others spake priuately at Regenspurge verelye that the contempt of the counsell was cause of thys warre Moreouer they saye howe Themperoure sent commaundement to them of Rauensburge whyche had lately receyued the doctryne of the Gospell that within a few dayes they shuld for sake theyr enterpryse or els wolde he geue theyr Citie and Landes to be deuyded amonges the Soldiours but the Messager was called backe with the letters by the waye leste it shuld come forthe a brode that the war were agaynst relygion Forasmuch also as the byshop of Rome hath geueÌ senteÌce against I the Archbishop of Collon for the reformatyoÌ of doctrine hath depriued him of hys dignitie for that TheÌperoure in a maner doeth threatneth the same doeth not that sufficieÌtly declare the cause of the war For it is a coÌmon brure how theyr drift is that the Cardinal of Auspurg who hath set this matter a fyre shall throughe violence be substituted in hys place It is reported moreouer that when they bee vanquished bandes of Soldiours shal be placed in all partes of Germany whych in Themperours name shall see the decrees of the counsell concernyng relygion maynteyned and put in execution Furthermore it is wrytten by dyuers men howe the Archebysshop of Toledo chiefly and such other prelates in Spayne do geue a great summe of monye to thys warre which they wold not haue donne if it had not ben for religion It is wel knowen also what maner of decree was made at Auspurge .xvi. yeres synce what tyme Themperoure protested that he could not abyde thys secte and doctryne of Luther but that to distroye the same vtterly he wold bestowe all hys force treasure lyfe and blud also For yf they were once oppressed as God forbid than shuld it quickely appere whether they wolde spare thys religion and wolde not rather slaye the ministere of the churche inforce theyr wyues and their children and restore Monkes and Freers and all that relygious rabbell But Themperoure may not lawfully worke force agaynst any state nor bannish any man before his cause behearde nor bryng foreyn soldiours within the bondes of Germany or chaleng to hym self any inherytance or succession belonginge to thempire For he is bounden to these condicions and hath confyrmed them by an othe For yf it were lawful for him to doe otherwise the state of the publycke weale could not long endure And what cause of displeasure shulde haue agaynste them they cannot in the worlde perceiue For touching me saieth the Duke of Saxon what so euer dissention was betwene him his brother Fernando and me it was wholy quenched two yeares paste at Spier and for a nerer frendship the lady Elenore daughter to kynge Ferdinando was promised freely to my eldest sonne so that we could agree in religion The same did Themperoure than coÌfyrme what tyme I shoulde retourne home from that assemblie he sent to me into my owne lodging Granuellan Nauius with moste large wordes offered all good wil and frendship to me and my children my whole countrey And what great cryme haue I commytted synce that time that he should inteÌd this crueltie against me But doubteles the matter is eueÌ so as we haue shewed you before because we refuse the bisshoppes counsell we incurred displeasure But reason wolde that he shulde not imagine these thinges againste the house of Saxon For he knoweth how after the death of Maximilian mine vncle Duke Fridericke hauing the crowne imperiall offered hym through hys voyce and meanes gaue it vnto hym to omitte in the meane tyme many other benefites which the house of Saxon hathe imploied on the house of Austriche And in case he were offended for putting Iulius PuÌugius from the Bishopricke of Nunburge I haue in bookes setfoorthe declared my ryght and tytle of Patronage and if Themperour wold appoynte indifferent iudges offered to abyde theyr iudgment Nowe concerning my owne parte sayeth the Lantzgraue I was throughly reconciled to hym fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge And for that I intended a fewe yeares past to haue warred on certen Bisshops and for that afterwardes I did helpe my cosyn the Duke of Wirtemberg to recouer hys owne all thys and what so euer I had haply don besydes agaynste the lawe wrytten or decrees of Thempire eyther priuely or apartely it was for geuen me and wrytinges made therof coÌfirmed with handes and seales Therfore can not I deuise or imagin what should be the cause of thys grudge Againe whan I spake with him nowe lately at Spyre he shewed hym selfe so frendelye bothe in wordes and countenaunce that I could perceyue no sparke of displasure And it was couenaunted fyue yere synce at Regenspurge that if he shuld atteÌpt any thyng herafter agaynst the Duke of Cleaue that I shuld not meddle in the matter After he moued war agaynst him and I kept touche and promise And than what time he receyued the same Duke agayne to hys fauoure whiche was before Uerlone he perdoned all that had serued or assisted hym with ayde But yf he should take in euill parte our absence that we
it Al this time was themperoure at Regenspurg besides thre thousand Spaniardes about fiue thousand fotemen of Almaignes and seuen hundreth horsemen he had no more power commen to him at that time He had sent for the Spaniardes out of Hongary And it were the same whyche after the peace concluded with the French kyng wintered in Lorayne after went through Germany into Hongary as I shewed you in the laste booke The peace lately made betwene Fraunce England chauÌced luckely for the Protestantes for that the Almaignes which had serued the French king came vnto theÌ through the coÌduite of Counte Bichling George recrode which was client to the Lanzgraue TheÌperour that xx day of Iuly by his letters patens doeth outlaw the Duke of SaxoÌ and the Lantzgraue In the beginning he accompteth at large what paynes he hath taken hytherto that Germany myght throughly be quyeted what decrees he hath made for the same that no force shulde be don to any man for any kynde of matter but that al thinges might be don by law and custom Agayne he sheweth how the states of th empyre be bounden to him and what fidelitie they ought to perfourme But all these thinges saieth he neglected Iohn Fridericke Electour of Saxonie and Philip Lanzgraue of Hesse by a certen rash boldenes haue at all tymes as muche as in them laye hindred all oure trauaile and paynes taken for the publicke weale neyther haue they ben obedient and haue not only them selues resisted vs but haue also intised other states to doe the lyke and with them to make vnlawful coÌspiracies And the Lantzgraue certen yeares past pretending a cause I knew not what attempted war against som of the chiefest states of thempire and inuading their dominions did extort agreat somme of monie And after they both together set vpoÌ an other prince of th empyre the cause not knowen and droue him out of his prouince kepte it to them selues They haue also gotten into theyr owne gouernmeÌt sondry Bishoprickes and offices as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuile the Lordes wherof are of an auncyente custome vnder the iurisdiction of Th empyre haue theyr place in the consistory amonges other states and as yet also thoughe they haue ofte complayned and sued to vs in all assemblies they deteine them styll in that seruitude They haue also spoyled many of theyr goodes and yerely reuenewes and receyued into theyr tuition the clientes and subiectes of others And nowe lately also throughe a certen singuler boldnes haue sollicited diuers states that they should not come at thys conuention to thintent they myght let our procedynges and brynge vs in contempt And all these thinges doe they so much the more boldely for that they contemne iudgementes and neyther acknowledge nor feare the magistrate For throughe theyr fault the hyghe iudiciall place of Th empyre is taken awaye the lawes kepe silence and of a long tyme now there hathe ben no iustice ministred to the great losse and domage of many and after a straunge example suche as hathe not ben hearde of before And that which is worste of all they worke all these thynges vnder that goodly and pleasaunt name of Religion peace and lybertie For these vse they as clokes to couer theyr doinges where they desyre nothyng lesse than eyther the agrement of relygion or of Germany the peace and libertie certes they can proue by neuer a place of scripture that it is lawfull for them obstinately to resiste theyr hyghe Magistrate in any case but the contrary is most manifest aswell by holy scripture as also by autenticke historyes that those auncient professours of the christen doctryne which confirmed their faithe not in wordes only but also by theyr dedes and death did obey heatheÌ princes Wherfore doubtles they ought much lesse to denie vs theyr dewtie vnder the pretence of religion And when they denie that they declare euidently that theyr intente is to take froÌ vs the crowne imperiall scepter and all oure authoritie and vsurpe the same to theÌselues and when they haue confounded all thinges to oppresse religioÌ law peace and lybertye And thus auaunced hyghly with new honours and possessions to bring all men vnder theyr tyrany For this do their wordes testifye ful of malicious threatninges and also their famous libelles and pictures dispersed into all places to the great mockerye contempt of our name Moreouer they haue not only made leagues againste vs in those their conuenticles but haue also styred vp forein kinges against vs secretly aided the same with theyr helpe couÌsel Ther be somme olso that cantel what they haue attempted to induce that Turke into Germany Which thing is the rather to be credited for that the same shuld be verey fitte and commodious for their pourpos Wherfore by these theyr doinges they breake theyr allegeaunce that they owe vnto vs and infringe the dignitie of oure office they reiecte all decrees which they neuer estemed otherwyse than yf they had beÌ made for thys intent that others myght not repulse violence froÌ them selues but that it were permitted to theÌ only to doe iniurie to all meÌ Therefore they haue fallen into that moste heynous crime of treason and into the condygne punishement for suche an offence by the lawes prescribed And because theyr doinges beknowen there is no nede to declare theÌ And albeit that through the authoritie that we haue we might haue punnished them long synce according vnto their demerites yet for the loue of peace and to auoyde trouble we haue fauoured them verye muche graunted to them ofte in many thynges more also than became vs and herin haue oftener than once hurte our owne conscience and minished oure authoritie and not well prouyded for others Thus did we fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge deale moste gentlye with the Lantzgraue two yeres past at Spier with the Duke of Saxon of thys hope verely that they beyng vanquished through our great lenitie pacience and clemencie shulde at the length leaue theyr vngodly deuises and shuld nede of no extreme remedy But where in dede I perceyued that this did no good at all that they abused our gentlenes inasmuche as contemning the decrees of thempire breaking conuenauntes they procede obstinately throughe a licencious lust to rule take other mens landes possessions and wil be bounden to no lawes But seke to subuert the whole state of the publicke weale And certenly vnlesse they be first put to silence neyther can Relygion be accorded nor the other partes of the coÌmon weale established and refourmed we are constrayned to vse agaynst theÌ the authoritie that god hath geuen vs. And because theyr rebellion is manifest insomuch as they themselues cannot denye agayne for that they woorke by violence and will abyde no iudgment Therfore doe we outlaw them as false rebelles seditious of treason giltie and disturbers of the coÌmon quiet and we are prefixed to punnishe them as they haue
sufficieÌtly declared iÌ our bokes set forth of And his purpose was to maintain execute the decrees of the counsell for the accomplishement wherof he had longe before sollicited certen forrein Princes but fearing lest by this mean he should set in his top all that cleaued to religion he pretended an other cause and fained rebellion that he might withdrawe our fellowes and whan he had vanquished the chiefest myght after compell the residue to obey his commaundement And albeit that he and his brother thought to kepe maruelous secret this their subtill and craftie counsell yet through the singular goodnes of God it commeth to lyght dayly more and more For the Bishop himselfe by his Ambassadours declared to the Switzers the cause of the warre and copie of the league Wherby it is manifest that not they alone but al other that professe the same doctrine are in the lyke daunger that this is their indeuour to restore papistrie in all places Let all men iudge therfore how truly this matter was handled when lately in the conuention at Regenspurg they went about to perswade and coÌcluded also that for the appeasing of religioÌ they would vse lawfull and quiet remedies He tolde me hym selfe sayth the Lantgraue lately at Spier that he was in no league with the Byshop The same affirmed Granuellan This is verely that same fatherly mynde and affection This is that zeale and loue of peace wherof they speake so muche Did euer man heare of the lyke thing that he wold perswade the Princes quite contrary to that whiche he hath had so long prefixed in his minde We know right well what dutie the Princes owe vnto the Emperour and againe what he ought to perfourme vnto them For as we are bounden to hym so is he againe bounden also vnto vs And wher as our cause not heard he doth outlawe vs and seketh to put vs besides our laÌdes and possessions in that he breaketh the bonde of the ciuile lawe wherby the patrone is bounden againe to his cliente Nowe where he chargeth vs with rebellion it is nothing and he him selfe knoweth that he doth vs wrong For euen for the same cause saith the Lantgraue he gaue me thaÌkes lately at Spier for that I haue omitted no diligence to appease religion But where he sayth that I prepared warre punyshed certen states by the purse I denie it not and there was iust cause so to do Neuerthelesse it is openly knowen how through the mediation of Lewys the Paulsgraue and Richard the Archbyshop of Treuers all this matter was quietly ended he him self also writing his letters all be it he had taken the matter displeasauntly yet for as muche as I had discharged mine armie signified that he required no more Again what time he spake to me of the same sixtene yeares synce at Auspurg I made my purgation in suche sorte before king Ferdinando Friderick the Paulsgraue and certen others that he was conteÌt and satisfied Wherfore he ought not to make that mattir any part of occasion of this warre And where as I restored Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of George Duke of SaxoÌ and The Archbishop of mentz I was for that matter reconciled by composition which he ratified And after at Regenspurg vpoÌ his faith and assuraunce he toke away cleane and abolyshed al displeasure Now he speaketh also of the warre with the Duke of Brunswick but the cause therof we haue expressed in wrytting and after that in a moste frequent audience of the Empyre he him self being also present we declared more at large two yeares paste The Duke that tyme made answere but the Emperour refused to heare our confutation of the same And why wold he not heare and examine dewly the whole matter and by the aduyse of the Princes haue taken some ordre in the thing Certenly because he desyred ayde for the Frenche Turkyshe warre of a purpose he let it slepe and wold haue it put to gardens and herein we fulfilled his desire at Wormes were content that Frederick the Paulsgraue and his Cosin Iohn Simmer should kepe and gouerne the prouince by vs taken vntill such tyme as the matter should be lawfully decided and determined That done he assured vs that the Duke of Brunswick should also assent to the same and wryting his letters charged hym earnestly that he should obeye but he coÌtemning his commaundement raysed warre against vs and was taken therin as it appereth by a wryting set forth by me and Duke Maurice Therfore did we nothing in this warre contrary to our dutie nothing against the lawes and herein we appeale to egall iudgement But here by it is to be sene what fauour he beareth to Religion For albeit that the Duke of Brunswick contemned his commaundement most rashely although at what tyme he heard of the sequestration he spake of Themperour many lewde and opprobrious wordes yet because he was a moste bitter enemy of our Religion he did althyngs vnpunyshed Where he sayth that we haue brought certen vnder our subiection it is farre otherwyse and we haue ofte made aunswere to the same This in dede may be wel verified of him whiche hath brought vnder his iurisdiction diuerse prouinces of the Empire and also Byshoprikes and against this present warre hath assembled nobles and gentlemen that he might al lure them to him for our distruction This verely we graunt that we haue receiued diuers into our tuition fidelitie that if they should be in daunger for the doctrine of the Gospell we should defende them And that we suppose to be our duty for God commaundeth to succour the afflicted And none haue more nede these many yeares nowe of helpe and defence than those that are taken for Lutherians But in other things that do not concerne Religion we defend them not no we haue always exhorted them to geue the magistrate their right and honour due He obiecteth to vs that we should haue exhorted som not to repare to the Assemblie But that is both vayne and absurde For where as our Ambassadours wer lately assembled at Wormes and he went to Regenspurge we commaunded theÌ that al other thinges set a part they should go also to that assemblie Unto all other assemblies of th empyre ether we haue comen our selues or always sent our Ambassadours Concerning that he sayth of the chamber and iudgement it hath ben ofte confuted heretofore Moreouer he maketh mention of an Heathen Magistrate to declare that we might not resist hym But we haue not only done our duty but also more than we ought to do haue geuen him more than euer our auncesters haue accustomed to our great losse and hinderaunce And that he hath no cause of complaint at all it shall appere by that we shall here recite A certen Ambassadour of the Frenche kyngs sent vnto hym lately by occasion fell in talke of this warre He saieth it is a very great enterprise that he taketh in
dominioÌs extremely and therby haue purchased no small hatred to our selues But lately that innocent man Iohn Diazius was so cruelly and detestably murthered as neuer man was from the beginning of the worlde vntyll this day That Fratricide his brother appreheÌded and accused Certen Princes made request that so horrible a fact myght be punyshed but what insued therof the matter it selfe declareth He imputeth the cause of all displeasure and trouble vnto vs But his decree of Wormes was cause of all together wherunto our aduersaries cleaued as to a moste sure foundation especially the Duke of Brunswick whiche made a confederacie with diuerse before the conuentioÌ of Auspurg where as what maner of decree was made it is openly knowen Certenly those cruell and fierce wordes ther pronounced caused vs to make the league and coÌfederacie that we are in at this daye The Byshops adhereÌtes haue bene euermore busy with vs in al assemblies and would haue compelled vs to the choise of meates and holy dayes of their owne makyng Moreouer we permitted the Emperour at Auspurg whan he promysed vs faire and largely that he should appoint preachers But it is knowen wel enough how wicked and how ignoraunt men he assigned to that office It is an auncient custome of thempire that whaÌ any Prince is minded to retourne home from thassemblie he may do it by the Emperours leaue How be it my father sayth the Duke of Saxon what tyme he was at Auspurg could not obtaine licence of him to departe and heard it also reported that in case he prepared to goe he should yet be stayed against his wyll And albeit my vncle Friderick had done muche for hym yet would he neuer as long as my father liued confirme hym in his own Dukedome only because of the decree of Wormes and Religion Seing therfore that the cause of this warre is manifestly knowen we desyre all men to geue no credit to the contrary and defende with vs their common and natife countrey As for our own subiectes and clientes whom he hath released of their allegeauÌce which they owe vnto vs we doubt not but they wyl do their duty vnto vs as they are bunden The protestauÌtes letting slippe that occasioÌ of fight at Ingolstad as before is sayd and remayning there thre dayes after whan the Emperour in the meane season had fortified his Campe strongly the fourth day of SepteÌber they remoued thence that they might encountre with the Erle of Bure or stop his passage Notwithstanding that some were against it and said how they nede to go no further to seke the enemy which was in sight and before their eies They pitched the next tyme at Neuburg which they had fortified with a garnison before two days after they marched to Donauerd The tenth day of September they encaÌped besydes Uending a towne of the Erles of Oeting sending from thence espialles to bring them some intelligence of the Erle of Bure That perceiuing the Emperour sent aduertisement to the Erle who turning out of his way and marching from Norinberg to Regenspurg came to the Emperour at Ingolstad in safitie Wherfore the Protestauntes being frustrated of their hope the third day after returne vnto Donauerde Hether came vnto them Christopher Counte Oldenburg and Friderick Rifeberg with two legions and the Erle of Bichling with fiue enseignes of fotemeÌ In the meane tyme the Emperour remoued his campe to Nuburg And whan no aide came the souldiours of the garnyson rendred the towne The Emperour pardoned them al taking stipulation of them that they shoulde no more weare armure against him Than the report went how the Emperour would to Auspurg Wherfore the Germaines passe ouer Thonawe to let him of his iourney But whan he leauing a garnison at Nuburg marched toward Marxeme they returne back into their former campe I tolde you before how they had sent Ambassadours for ayde both into Fraunce and Englande but that was in vaine And the king of Fraunce in dede excused the matter for that hauing made peace with the Emperour he sayd he could not How beit for that he would not haue the Emperours power increased he desyred Peter Strosse a FloreÌtine a man of war and exceading riche to lende them thre hondreth thousand crownes and to the intent he might the easelier doe it he payeth a great somme of money that he ought him He was content for asmuche as they of Strasburg Auspurg and Ulmes became suerties goeth forth with Iohn Sturmius that was sent Ambassadour into Fraunce to the Princes in their campe at Donauerde Whan he came thither he was honorably receiued and departed in suche sorte as he would assuredly defray the money but when the tyme came that he shuld disburse it he could no where be found in all Fraunce Many men suppose that this was wrought by the policie of the Cardinall of Tournon Who for the hatred he bare to ReligioÌ wyshed all aduersitie to the protestauntes and was than chief in authoritie with the king About th ende of September the protestauntes write again to them of zurick Bernes Basill to the Schafusians and shew them what themperour inteÌdeth what daunger they shal stand in also in case he get the victory and will them to consider whether it be not wisdome for theÌ to declare them selues ennemies to the Emperour and byshop of Rome after to inuade the Emperours countrie next theÌ If they wyll so doe they promyse them all ayde and fidelitie Wherunto they make aunswere Howe not they only but all the rest of the Swysses in lyke case haue a league by inheritauÌce with the house of Austriche and Burgundy out of the whiche countreis they haue all their wyne and bread corne Whiche league if they should them selues infringe the Swisses their fellowes whiche be of a contrary Religion should haue iuste cause to assiste the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando and to opeÌ the strayte passages in the Alpes whiche they haue through their great labour shut vp and closed and so ioyne with their ennemies Moreouer wynter is now at hande so that albeit they would neuer so fayne yet can they do no great thing this yeare and if they should leaue their owne countrey naked it is to be feared leste others would take possession in the meane season Therfore it is muche better that they tary styl at home For so shall not their fellowes styre as they haue already declared It is not vnknowen that they beare them ryght good wil and wyshe them to prosper after their owne hartes desyre howebeit they thinke it not mete for theÌ to enter into so great daunger And therfore desyre them to take it in good parte The Emperour remoueth from Marxeme to Donauerde but fyndyng no place conuenient to encampe in he tourneth on the left hand and the thyrde daye of October marcheth to Monheyme It fortuned than to be a great myste and the escoutes that were sent
they wold or not The horsmen of Hongary are commonly called Hussares an exceadyng rauenous and cruell kynde of men Wherfore leuing their force also whan they were now passing out of their owne limites Sebastian Weittemulle general of the armie sending his letters the .xx. day of October proclameth warre to the Duke of Sarons people For that certen yeares past their Prince seased into his handes the Abbeye of Dobrilug and that he renouÌced lately his fidelitie to the Emperour and his confederates breaking the league that was betwene the Bohemers and the house of Saxon. And albeit the thing requireth no declaratioÌ for as muche as he is outlawed by the Emperour yet lest any thing might appeare to be omitted he would for his discharge geue them this aduertisement About this tyme the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes assemblie at Ulmes for common coÌsultation to be had And wher as out of Saxonie came diuerse messages of the state of things there the Electour sending his letters the .xxvii. day of October chargeth his Ambassadours that were at Ulme to declare the whole matter to their Fellowes and require them to consider his case for asmuche as he hath spared no peryll nor paine that he might defende this higher part of Germany from distruction The counsellours of the warre a few daies past sent worde to the cities of Saxony that they should helpe hym But what they wil do he is vncerten and though they would yet feareth he greatly that they shall not be able to resist so great a multitude of enemies and that there is daunger lest or euer they be ready the enemy wyl haue inuaded his countrey These thinges therfore let them require of their fellowes first in asmuche as it should be a great grief and discommoditie for him in this extremitie to leaue any longer destitute his wyfe children people that they wold geue him counsell herein Moreouer that they would graunte him more ayde wherof the Lantgraue and the counsellours of the warre haue put him in hope already Finally that they do make no peace with the ennemy before he haue recouered that he hath lost Hereunto the Ambassadours aunswere franckly chiefly they intreate him that he would tary with the armie tyll the Emperour shall haue broke vp his campe for this wynter and shewe what daunger it should be if he now departed And if Ferdinando and Maurice doe him any wrong they promyse him ayde and say how ther is no doubt but his fellowes both Princes states wyll according to their league be faithfull and helpfull to hym and wyll conclude no peace before he haue recouered his owne And in case he thought good they would also in lyke maner as the Lantgraue and counsellours of the warre haue done signifie so much to Duke Maurice They trust also vndoubtedly that suche states as be of their coÌfederacie in Saxony wyll doe their dutie herein The forsayd .xxvii. day of October Duke Maurice wryteth his letters from Dresda to the Prince Electour that what the Emperour hath commaunded hym to doe and in what peryll the matter consisteth he hath heard lately by the letters of the states of his countrey And now for so muche as the Emperour hath assured him and his people concerning Religion therfore is he determined to the intent that both the Emperour may be satisfied and that his ryght also may remayne vnto hym whole through the aduise of his counsel to fynde the meanes that his lande and prouince doe not come into the handes of straungers and this doth he both in his owne and also in his brother Augustus name denounce to hym And if in tyme to come he shall be agayne reconciled to the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando he wyll not refuse if they wyll suffer it that the states of his iurisdiction shall treate betwyxt them both for an order in the whole matter The selfe same wordes he writeth also to Iohn William the Electours sonne and warneth hym to see the letters adressed to his father conueyed to him In the meane whyle the Bohemers and Nussars make inuasion into Uoetiande the next cositrey of the Electours sleying spoyling burning and rauishing out of measure But the Bohemers taried not long for because as I sayd before they serued vnwyllyngly and at the eleuenth day of Nouember forsakyng their enseignes slyppe home euery man But the Hongarians such others as Ferdinando had hyred ioyne them selues vnto Duke Maurice who taketh by rendring first Swiccauie after Ecne berg and Aldeburg and for the moste parte all the Electours townes and sweareth them vnto hym sauing Gothe Isenack and Wittemberg The newes therof being brought into themperous campe styred vp great ioy and gladnes which the Emperour declared by a great peale of ordenaunce as is accustomed In these dayes the Emperour chaungeth his Campe againe for lyke causes as he did before and chouseth a more commodious and drye ground that he myght somwhat refresh the poore souldiours and releue them also with vitaile All others for the moste part counselled him that the souldiours might retire vnto places where they should wynter But he him selfe was of opinion to continew the armie in the field and maintaine warre All men for the moste part cried out vpon Duke Maurice whiche serued him so sknekyshely whome he oughte to haue honoured as his father who was in a maner the only authour of all that he had he to requite him with such vnthaÌkfulnes And ther came forth in his reproche and dispraise both libelles and verses moste bitter whiche charged him with falsefying his fayth with treason and moste ingratitude and so muche the more that he wold do nothing herein at the intreaty of neyther his wyfe nor his father in lawe That thing knowen he publisheth a wryting to purge him selfe and sheweth what maner of Religion is in his countrey what he hath promised the people and how for the furtherauÌce of Religion he hath founded certen Scholes After he saith how the Emperour hath assured him and his people and not hym only but other Princes also concerning ReligioÌ and preseruation of the lybertie of Germany neyther is he of wyll that any thyng be done violently but that the cause maye in lawfull wyse be appeased accordyng vnto many decrees of the Empyre already enacted Wherfore he geueth credit to his promesse and letters by the ensample of those Princes whiche do now serue hym and doe not only at home but in the campe also and a warfare professe this Religion For suche as be familiar with hym and are dayly in his sight may easely knowe his mynde and in case they perceiued any such thyng without all doubt they would not tary with hym And where as the bishop aydeth him that is done for bicause the warre is attempted against theÌ that are the chiefest aduersaries of his errours and authoritie neither is it so muche to be considered what moueth him as what
is the Emperours minde which maketh the warre Wherfore seing that Religion is assured he seeth no cause why he should not obey themperour in al other thinges For Christ commaundeth to geue both to God and also to the Emperour that whiche is his What trauell and payn he hath taken that this matter might without ciuile warre haue ben pacified it is not vnknowen to the Emperour to kyng Ferdinando and to diuerse others But where as no peace could be graunted and the Emperour sent out streight coÌmaundement to sease vpon the landes of Iohn Friderick and that also kyng Ferdinando hauing leuied the forces of Hongary Boheme and Austriche was ready to inuade and would not be intreated but sent in his armie and had taken already certen syluer mynes whiche were common betwene his cosin and hym he was dryuen of necessitie to prouide that they got not the resydue or inuaded further And what his purpose was he first declared boeth to the Lantgraue to the Duke his Cosyn and also to his Sonne And seing it is so he desyreth that no man mistake his doyng nor credit suche thynges as shall haply be reported by hym For in mainteyning of Religion he wylbe constant and hath none other respecte in this thinge than that the landes and dignities of the house of Saxon shuld not come into straungers handes About this tyme began again persecutioÌ in Fraunce There is a town in those parties called Melda ten miles from Paris the byshop therof in former yeares was WilliaÌ Brissonet Who being desirous of purer doctrine appointed good preachers instructours of the people excluding al freers And what tyme for the same cause the diuines of Sorbone procured him some daunger he shewed no constancie but refused his enterpryse Notwithstanding the remnaunt of that doctrine remayned in the mindes of many and this yeare about thre score townes men consulting of the matter chouse them selues a preacher of the worde and assembling in priuate houses whan the Sermon was ended on certen dayes they receiue the Lordes supper after the order of the Gospell and Christes institution This thing could not long be kepte secret especially sythe that dyuerse also came to them out of the countrey Wherfore beyng taken whan they were all together they are put in pryson and after their examination caried to Paris in cartes There receyuing sentence of death and caried home agayne fourtene of them bounden to seuerall stakes were burnte quicke all at one tyme the residewe were whypped and bannished As they were retournyng home warde from Paris one commeth runnyng to them out of the next village and exhorteth them to perseuer to the ende Wherfore beyng apprehended he suffered lyke punyshement as the others did Before ther were brent they were put on the torture to the intent they should vtter the fellowes and followers of theyr doctrine but they could extorte nothyng out of them Many supposed this to be done of pourpose to breake the amitie that was than in knitting betwene the kynge and the Protestauntes Duke Maurice letters of defiaunce to the Duke of Saxon were delyuered in the Campe the syxt daye of Nouember In the fourmer booke I haue shewed you howe the Byshop the .xvi. daye of Apryll gyuing sentence agaynst the Archbyshop of Collon depriued hym of al his ecclesiasticall offices Nowe where he heard fyrst therof for any certentie the fourth daye of Nouember as he hymselfe mentioneth a fewe dayes after settyng forthe a wryting and declaryng the causes why he can not acknowledge the Byshop for hys iudge who is accused already both of heresy and idolatrie he appealeth from that sentence vnto a lawfull counsell of Germany and whan the same shall begynne he sayeth he wyll persecute his suite against the Byshop The Protestauntes Ambassadours whiche I shewed you before were assembled at Ulme aboute the ende of October whan they could not agree in sentences in the moneth of Nouember they went to the Campe at Gienge that the consultation might be the easier There is propounded for so muche as some fellowes of their religioÌ geue no ayde of their coÌfederates they of Luneburg Pomerane certen others and again the rest of the States and cities in Saxonie helpe not muche and nothyng is brought out of Fraunce and by reason that the soldiours doe dayly slippe awaye for the tyme of the yeare and other discommodities the armie is deminished they must chouse one of these thre thynges eyther to geue the battell or departe the field retyring the soldiours into places where they may wynter or els make peace and truce The matter being debated they condescended to make mention of peace and they assigned Adam Trotte who through the cause of the Electour of Brandenburg had accesse to Marques Iohn his brother to breake the matter But where as the Emperour whiche by espiall knewe throughly before all their case and discommoditie and had lately receyued glad tydiuges out of Saxony propounded verey harde conditions it is determined that all the reste of their force beyng led into Saxonie a thousande horsemen and eight thousande fotemen should wynter there in certen places at the coste and charges of the Duke of Wirtemberge and the cities of the vpper partes of Germany After the thre and twenty day of Nouember they retyre makyng fyrst a decree that an other Ambassade should be sent into Fraunce and Englande And at the two and twenty daye of Ianuarye to mere agayne at Frankefurte And thus was the warre gouerned nothyng luckely of the whiche misfortune this was thought to be the the principal cause that the matter was not wrought by the order and wyll of one For where the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue were in authoritie egall it chaunced that many goodly oportunities through disceptation were omitted The same whiche was also decreed of placyng their Soldiours came to none effecte whan many refused to be contributaries any longer After the Emperour had intelligence of theyr departure he maketh forth horsemen immediatly to vnderstande of their iourney And shortly after commaundeth the Duke of Alba and the Erle of Bure to followe and he him selfe also goeth forth with the Horsemen of Germany leauing the fotemen and coÌmaunding them to remayne The moste part of the protestaÌtes were already in their campe where they should reste al nyght But the Lantgraue albeit he led the forwarde the same day yet he taried with the Duke of Saxon and either of theÌ had ten guidons of horsemen only and about fiue hondreth guÌners With these they stayed vpon an hill and plaÌted redy such field pieces as they had with theÌ And thus abiding their ennemies whan it was almost darke night the Emperour calleth his meÌ back and than went they also softely forwarde tyll they came to their Campe be besydes Heydenem in the lande of Wirtemberg escapyng moste present dauÌger For if the Emperour had geuen the charge they whiche were so fewe
irritated the thing it selfe requireth that with a certen humble submission he do craue pardon Wherfore let hym haue a respect to him selfe and his chyldren and to the common multitude and dryue not the nayle to the head neyther bryng the matter in to extreme daunger He wryteth also the same in effecte to the Duke of Saxonie The Emperour a lytle before that the Protestauntes departed in Nouember had appointed certen to leuie streight wayes a newe Armie and to make warre in the next partes of Saxonie leste the States and Cities there should ayde the Duke and the Lantgraue Ouer this Armie whiche was to the nombre of .xxi. thousande fotemen and a thousand and two hondreth horsemen he made general Ioyce Grunninge Gouernour of Selande They compell Conrade Erle of Deckelburg in league with the Protestauntes and the cities of Osnabruge and Mynden and the Erle of Lippen with certen others to obeye their coÌmaundement and take the Castell of Ritberge and marche from thence to Breme This was in the moneth of February Here serued the Emperour Philippe Ebersten Erle Christopher Urisberger Frideriche Spedie Whan the Electour of Saxonie hearde of the Emperours successe addressing his letters to the Senate of Strasburge the .xiii. daye of February he signifieth vnto them howe he hath recouered his owne and wonne almoste all that Duke Maurice had in the countreis of Thuring and Meyssen caused his Nobilitie to be sworen vnto him hath allotted vnto him the by shoprick of MaideÌburg And where as the Duke of Wirtemberg and the most part of that cities in vpper Germany haue compounded with themperour vpon conditions moste vnreasonable omitting the mention of religion haue promised themperour ayde against him his fellowes that hath chaunced vnto him beyond al expectation and is altogether repugnauÌt to the maner of the league How be it he heard say how they remained constant that was great pleasure to him Wherfore let them holde on and fainte not doe as becometh confederates and if the thing require so let them defende maintein theÌ selues with the ayde of the Swisses and the French king his desire is assuredly to shew them alloue and fidelitie but he is letted by domestical warre wherin if God will make an ende to his coÌmoditie they shal not want his helpe The Ambassadours of the states cities of Saxony be already assembled at Maydenburg with whom he treateth of those matters for the which the conuention was appointed at Franckfurt and his trust is that they will perfourme their dutie especially the cities wil not forsake the coÌfederatie At the Ides of February cometh to Strasburge an Ambassadour from the Frenche kyng Mendoza a Spaniard an exile promiseth largely But the Senate had already decreed to send to themperour an Ambassade for peace And so he departed with out any thing done The Ambassadours to theÌperour were Iames Sturmius Matthie Pharrer Marke Hagie The cause of their Ambassade was that going to Ulme thei should know for certentie vpon what conditions themperour might be coÌpounded with Themperour had than of his counsel Anthony bishop of Arras For his father GranuellaÌ was gone to Besanson Nauius the same time had chauÌged his life for death In whose roume afterward succeded George Selde a Ciuilan to him were annexed by reasoÌ of so much busines as was in Germany Iohn Marquard of BadeÌ Harry Hasie who had bene consellour before to the Paulsgraue very lately to the prince of Bippount right expert in matters of Germany Kyng Ferdinando to the intent he myght styre vp the Bohemers that refused to serue as I saide before the sixte daye of February marcheth forth with Ferdinando his sonne and commeth to Letmerice a Frontier towne of Boheme What tyme he taried there a day or two for the nobles and states of the realme he had a longe Oration And for as muche as Duke Maurice desyreth his helpe he exhorteth them to put on Armure as wel for the auncient league betwene both the people as also for that they are theÌperours clicÌtes And because diuerse say that their libertie herby is infringed he promiseth theÌ assuraÌce that it shal be no hinderauÌce to theÌ in time to come The states whiche than were present say how they can determine nothing with out the consent of the rest They require him therfore so shortly as he can to call them altogether Certen others of them promise their seruice duty Those were gouernours of townes vnto whome the king gaue thaÌkes and to the others declared at large how this was no time to stande in question when the thing it selfe requireth a present remedy against the ennemie What time the warre shal be finished he wyll not refuse to call an assemblie will deminishe no part of their liberties wherfore let them stande content and follow him At the length fearing his displeasure whan the king had taunted theÌ somwhat sharply thei gaue their assent also and in case thei serue not in persone they promise to finde others About the Ides of February the nobilitie and men of Prage writing their letters pray the king in so muche as he perseuereth in his coÌmaundemeÌtes after a new and straunge example that against the .xx. daye of Marche he wold coÌmaunde all the states to be at Prage Or if he can not in case they do assemble than and determine some thing they desire him not to take it displeasauntly He again reciteth what was done at Letmerice and promiseth an assemblie against the .xviii. day of April and warneth them in the meane time that they attempt nothing neither assemble together in any wyse The fourth day after they had thus wrytten thei make a league to maintein their libertie After that Marques Albert was come into Saxony Duke Maurice assigned him to lie in the towne of Rochlice The reuenues wherof had the Lantgraues syster a wydowe daughter in lawe to Duke George That knowen Iohn Fridericke Prince Electour who was than at Aldenburge three myles from the same at the kalendes of Marche sendeth before Ernest Duke of Luneburge and Uolrate Erle of Mansdfelde with certen guydoÌs of horsmen and after them Recrode with his legion of fotemeÌ by night He him selfe with the rest of his armie followeth after In the next morning before it was day lyght a few horsemen sent before to escoute did set vpon the watche and some they toke the rest fled into the town In the suburbes were foure enseignes of fotemen They accompanied with certen horsemen going forth as sone as day appered giue the charge But hauing the repulse they retourne back into the suburbes But whan the Electour was come with the rereward and shot of his ordenaunce into the town from the next hill by the fotemeÌ also entring perforce fyred the suburbes Those forsaid enseignes of fotemen flye awaye by the brydge the horsemen also through the Riuer of Mulda
not se a bond prepared of a perpetual euer lasting amitie betwene vs It hath bene ofteÌtimes wished for but in these eight hondreth yeares past chauÌced neuer so good an opportunitie And this can not they deny which hinder the peace amongest you But by this meane say they we wold procure to our selues lordship to you bondage But the haue we in our letters sent to you the last yeare past sufficiently coÌfuted and now take God to witnesse that the king is minded to ioyne with you in moste assured frendshyp If you shal refuse prouoke vs againe to warre through your frowardnes vnto whome shall the faulte of common euilles be ascribed You haue promised the daughter heyre of your Realm in mariage to our king by common assent of parliameÌt Writinges were made of the same and confirmed with the common seale of the Realme Many great assuraunces were deuised you were coÌtented to put in pledges till they came both to lawfull age These wrytinges of yours are in our custody as a perpetuall witnes againste you At all the whiche thinges Hamelton Erle of Arraine gouernour of your Realme was not only present but President also and chief doer But the same after the Cardinal of Saint Andrewes and certeÌ other prelates of the Clergie had put him in feare and terrour and shewed hym agayne great hope an other waye he broke his faith and conuenauntes In whome assuredly of what so euer euils is chaunceth in the meane tyme the whole blame is to be imputed In that you haue lost so many fortes and Castelles that after the battell foughten you wanted so many thousandes of your men that we haue so farre inuaded your Realme it is chiefly to be ascrybed vnto hym But what ende at the length doe you loke of this obstinacy and vuloyaultie Hauyng the victory we offer you peace We possesse a great part of your kyngdome and yet make England common to you The same that men vanquyshed are wont to suffer as a great ignomie that what tyme they are vnited with the people that haue the victorye they should forsake and lose the name of their owne nation that doe we frely graunte vnto you and refuse not to receiue that auncient name of Britaines common to both nations What thing for the loue of God can of vs be more performed Will not as men iudge this that we haue iust cause to warre whan they shall knowe that so liberall so reasonable and honest condicions could take no place with you We set open for you always to come vnto our frendship neither do we expulse your Quene out of your Realme but wil also establish her and her daughter in England Again we intende not to abrogate your lawes For both Englande and Fraunce and the Emperours countreyes also do vse sondry lawes They that seke to hinder the peace doe put you in suche feare But they prouide only for their owne commoditie and pleasure and care not for your wealth But tourne you awaye your eyes and mynde from them and consider the state of your common wealth You haue a mayde inheritour of your Realme she must doubtles mary at the length Therfore she shall eyther be maryed to one of your owne nation or to some foreine Prince If she mary at home our ryght and title remayneth yet neuerthelesse vnto vs whole and that thinge wyll styre vp ciuile tumultes and dissention If she take a straunger ye shal both haue vs your continual ennemies and in a moste miserable bondage shall ye serue a foreine nation You must seke for ayde that is farre from you And the forces that shall be sent it can not be spoken what hurt they wyll do you and howe prowdely and arrogauntly they wyll deale with you For thus wyl they be perswaded that in their ayde and defence consisteth your whole preseruation What they wyll take from you your Quene and Princes and traÌsport her whether they lyste and if they shall haue warre on any syde as it may be they shall they wyll be wholly addicte to defende them and theirs and not care for you but leaue you vnto vs for a pray And if it fortune that they sende no soldiours but cap only They shall prescribe and commaunde you and if any thynge shall be well done wyll haue all the prayse therof But if any misfortune chauÌce the whole storme shall lyght in your neckes that lose your lyfe and bloud What daunger also it is to vse foreyne aydes a domesticall example may teache you The Brytaines the people of this same Ilande sente for the Saxons in tymes paste to ayde theÌ and after by the same were expulsed out of their countrie and dryuen into the mountanes and fennes Some tyme there dwelte betwyxt Englande and Scotlande the Pictes a fierse and a warlyke people whome the Scottes after they had a while defended from the ennemy at the length so oppressed that their name remayneth not at this daye Did not the same happen to the Frenche men by theÌ of Frankonie to the Grekes not longe synce and to the Hongarians in this our memory whan they vsed the ayde of the Turkes c. Did not the Gothians in tyme paste by the same meane wynne all Italy and the Lumbardes the whole countrie that nowe is called Lumbardie Longe not you and ye wyse be to proue the insolent pryde and arrogancie of the foreyne Soldiour but compare that infinitie Rable of euylles with mariage infinitie and an honourable peace And herein set before your eyes The maner and example of Nations nere vnto vs. The Emperour Charles the fyft by this meane possesseth Spayne and Burgundy The Frenche kynge by the same meane hath annexed litle Brytain vnto the crowne of FrauÌce The lyke also doe other nations For there be but two wayes whereby warres are finished that is either by force and victory or els by mariage If you hate force why doe you not admit the other whiche is offered you and whiche once you conuenaunted and graunted to We are not ignoraunte who they be that diswade you from holsome counsel Uerely this do certen of the Clergie and the gouernour of the Realme also But take you hede lest they whiche so ofte haue broken their fidelitie do lose your whole libertie leste they beyng corrupte with brybes as with the hyre and rewarde of treason delyuer vp your Castelles and Fortes to Straungers Whiche thyng whan they shall doe they wyl fayne in wordes that they doe it to the intent that they shall defende them from vs but in very dede that thei being assured through their ayde may them selues brydle you as they lyste And than who seeth not in what case you and your Realme shall stande in O miserable and wretched frowardnes We are inclosed on euery side with the Dccean Sea as with walles ditch most strong If there were only the agrement of mindes amongest vs there
of her husband But whan Ulrich Duke of Wirtemberge hard of the misery of Brentius all be it he him selfe was in great daunger yet gaue he relief secreatly to him and his family Furthermore the Cities of Sweuia following all for the moste parte the Emperoures authority promised to accomplish his commaundement Wherfore the preachers euery where remoued out of diuers places least they should commit any thing vnworthy their profession Andreas Osiander for this cause leauinge Norinberge wente into the lande of Prusse Spire and Woormez had but ether of them one which fled also to saue them selues William the Earle of Nassowe suffred Erasmus Sarcerius to depart for the same cause Moreouer the Duke of Wirtemberge in whose country were garrisons of Spaniardes euery where as hath bene saied whan the commaundement came from the Emperour caused the Boke setforthe to be recited in the Pulpit and commaundeth that no man do any thing to the contrary and if any man wil say Masse he geueth them liberty and chargeth his subiectes that they disturbe no Priest and putteth awaye those Ministers of the Church which would not allow the boke Amonges whome was Erardus Schueffius The Emperoure by Granuellane and the bishop of Arras moued the Duke of Saxon captiue to obey the decree and followe the doctrine of the Boke setforth And albeit they assaid him with fair promises and shewed him some hope of deliueraunce yet he perseuered constante in his opinion And the laste yere saithe he amoÌges the condicions whiche the Emperoure propounded this was wrytten also that I shoulde approue the decrees that shoulde be made by him and by the Counsell concerning Religion but whan he perceiued that I coulde not be induced through the terroure or feare of any pearill to assent he released the same condicion and after that neuer moued any thing to me concerning religion Whiche certenlye I toke than in steade of a great benefite and being cased hereof as of a most waighty burtheÌ al the other conditions which the Emperoure at his pleasure determined on my parson and all my goodes I suffered the more easelye and with the better wil trusting that from henceforth I shoulde be permitted to kepe my Religion free but now for so muche as he vrgeth me againe and commaundeth me to subscribe I do heare protest that I was so brought vp in my youth and after by the reading of holye scripture so confyrmed that I do beleue this doctrine to agree throughly with the wrytinges of the Prophetes and Apostles neyther can it be conuicted of any erroure For the whiche cause verelye bothe my father I and certaine other Princes exhibited in times past a confession of the same doctrine comprised in wrytinge and referred it to a lawful counsel considering therfore that God hathe illuminated me with the knowledge of his word it is not lawfull for me to forsake the truthe knowne vnlesse I woulde purchase to my self euerlasting dampnation Wherfore if I should nowe admit thys decree forasmuch as the same dothe in manye and moste waightye places dissent from the holy scripture I should condempne the doctrine of Iesu Christ which I haue professed hitherto And in word and speach should allowe that I know to be naughte and wicked But what thinge els were this than with painted and glosynge wordes to delude the deuine Maiesty and the Emperoure also Than the which thing what more wickednes can be committed For this is that same sinne against the holy ghost wherof Christe hath so diligently warned vs which shall neuer at any time be forgeuen And seinge it is so and that my conscience is tied with these bondes I most earnestly and for the mercy of God which he gaue vnto mankinde through the oblation of his soÌne pray and beseche that the Emperoure would not take in displeasure this my refusal For where as I do reteine the doctrine professed at Auspurge I do it for my soules health and setting all other thinges a parte do imagine howe after this miserable life I may be made partaker of the life and ioy euerlasting I heare say moreouer howe it is reported to the Emperour by diuers as though I nothing regarded religion but sought for a vaine glory and what thing els I know not I beseche you what thing coulde happen to me in this worlde more to be wished for especially being thus grose of bodye then liberty then to retourne to my wife and children than quiet and rest at home And I take God to witnes and than will also what time he shall take an accompt of vs all for our doinges that I respected nothinge els than that throughe the true worshippinge of God I might enioy the inheritance of the heauenly kingdoÌe Which thing I hartely desire that the Emperour would certainly beleue and be fully perswaded of me In all other thinges my will hath bene alwaies ready to gratify him and euer shal be and the infidelity and promesse which I haue made him that will I kepe as becommeth a iuste man and borne of noble parentage Furthermore I beseche him to remit all displeasure and at the lengthe to deliuer me from this continuall captiuity That I be not reported the first of all other Princes that should lead his life with him prisoner Where he perseuered thus constant and immouable they began to haÌdle him somwhat more hardly and toke from him his bokes of Scripture and was commaunded on daies forbidden to abstaine from fleshe The same preacher also whome by the Emperours licence he kept vntil this time whan he sawe present daunger hanginge ouer his head he chaunged his apparel and conueied him self awaye priuely At the same time came abrode out of the Emperoures court letters which the Lantzgraue was saide to haue wrytten to the Emperoure In those he saieth he hath commaunded his wife and couÌselloures that they should fulfil all the reast of the conditions and satisfy such as complaine for the warre past Againe he saieth how he hathe the boke wrytten of Religion And albeit there be manye thinges which he doth not wel vnderstand and the which he caÌnot affirme by the scriptures yet for somuch as they ground their thinges of antiquitie and authoritye of holy fathers he will not make him self wiser then they and doth both allow that wryting and wil deuise also that his subiectes shall obserue the same After this he offereth him his faith and seruice whether he shall warre with the Turke or with the Bishop of Rome or any forain kinges or with the Swishes or els wil vse him in Germany but he besecheth him for the loue of Christ and all saintes that he would lay awaye all displeafure and set him at liberty For now hath he bene deteyned prisoner a whole yeare and suffred punishmente inoughe and is brought to extreme misery Moreouer for a further assuraunce he will geue his two sonnes pledges vntill he be fullye satisfied And whatsoeuer way
the Lutherians by conuenasit promesse or othe from all those bondes to absolue monkes that be falleÌ into heresie and haue forsaken their houses and to permitte them chaunging their coates to serue in an other vocation of the churche Moreouer to geue pardon to eate milke butter chese egges and fleshe hauing a respect to the place and persone Finally to permit theÌ to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde who laying asyde all other errours shall allowe the decree of the counsel of Constance whiche will openly confesse that there is as muche receiued vnder one kynde as vnder both and that the churche erred not for making that decre of one kynde only And that this may be graunted them for a certen tyme as shal be thought mete yet so as they them selues doe this seuerally at an other tyme and place and not at the same tyme whan others doe receiue vnder one kynde only Lastly they haue authoritie to compounde with the possessioners of churche landes for the fruictes receiued and spent so as they wyll departe from the possession from hencesorth Furthermore to punishe obstinate persones by the censure of the churche and herein to craue assistaunce of the Magistrates And lykewyse to chouse and substitute Byshoppes throughout Germany whiche shall put the thing in execution These Ambassadours of Rome followynge this commission in such places as they thought moste nedefull did substitute Byshops wherof the Byshop of Strasburg was one whome they commaunded to execute thinges before rehersed And so finally to receiue into fauour ecclesiastical persons if they first would forsake and put away their wyues And meÌ saye howe they went to the Emperour to haue coÌference with hym touchyng the measure and maner of execution And after they vnderstode that it was not possible for them to go vnto al places whiche had nede of remedy of necessitie they suborned others This graunte or indulgence as they terme it of the byshoppe of Rome the Emperour sendeth immediatly to the byshoppes of Germany and warneth theÌ all seuerally to handle the matter gently and peaseably and that they first trye and and assay al wayes by fayre speach exhortations and praiers before they come to excommunication and cursyng Wherfore the Archebyshop of MeÌtz addressing his letters both to diuerse others also to the gouernours counsellours of that LaÌtgraue And speakyng many thynges of his cure and charge pastorall and of the Emperours fayth and dilygence requyreth them to exhibite this order sent from the Byshop of Rome to the ministers of the churche commaunding them to obeye the same The preachers being moued herein saye how their doctrine is consonant to the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles the lyfe it selfe in dede doeth not aunwere to the profession but yet do thei acknowledge no errour in their doctrine Wherfore thei haue no nede of the Byshops indulgence They haue preferred mariage before the filthie sengle lyfe accordinge vnto Gods worde neither can they forsake their children wyues whome Christ him self commaundeth to embrace with all loue fidelitie and beneuolence Where ther churches do receyue the Lordes supper wholy the same is done by the commaundement of Christe and after the custome of the primatiue churche And they wyll admit no alteration herein In the moneth of May was an open disputatioÌ at Oxforde betwene Peter Martyr the Diuines of the same vniuersitie coÌcerning the Lordes supper and the presence of Christ his body These conclusions dyd Martyr set vp and defende That the substaunce of bread and wyne is not chaunged That the body and bloud of Christe is not carnally or corporally in the bread and wyne but to be vnited to them sacramentally Afterwarde there was set forthe a boke of the same wherin the presidentes of the disputation appointed by the kynges commaundemeÌt do sufficiently declare that Martyr had the maistrie in that contention The tenth day of the moneth of Iune the Quene of FrauÌce was crowned at Sainct Denis as is accustomed by the Cardinalles of Bolon Gwise Chattilion Uandome and Bourbon for al the rest were at Rome The .vi. daye after the kyng with a maruelous goodly trayne and richely apparrelled entreth into Paris the head citie of his Realme where he had not bene yet sene opeÌly synce the death of his father two days after him the Quene Whyles he soiourned there diuers were put to executioÌ for Lutheranisme whiche as it is sayde he behelde him selfe After that the fourth day of Iuly he coÌmaundeth to go on procession in euery church The next day after he publisheth a wryting in prynte declaring this to be the cause therof that he might geue God thankes for his manifold benefites imployed vpoÌ him And that he might praye to God for the preseruation of hym selfe his wyfe and his children and of the whole Realme and commoÌ wealth and coÌmende vnto him the soules of godly meÌ but chiefly the kinges of FrauÌce his progenitours his father lately departed after whose example he was fully prefixed to vndertake the defence and tuition of the catholique fayth Religion the authoritie and liberties of the See Apostolique ministers of the churche amoÌgest the causes this also to be one principall that it mygh be openly knowen howe muche he abhorreth them whiche contrary to Christes commaundement contrary to the traditions of the Apostles and consent of al antiquitie denie the presence of the body and bloude of Christe whiche take away all vertue and strength from Baptisme penaunce good workes and Sacramentes whiche do vtterly coÌtemne the authoritie of the churche and order archepreistship whiche reiecte the praying adoration and reliques of saintes Moreouer that by that deuoute supplication he might testifie what his opinion and mynde is verely that after the example of his progenitours and by a certen imitation of inheritauÌce he doeth so thinke and beleue of all opinions as doeth the Catholique churche the Crede of the Apostles the first counsell of Nice and many other counselles of the holy fathers Further more that he is fully determined to bannish out of his realme and dominions the heresies long since condemned but in this tyme partely reuined and partly inuented by Luther Carolostadius Zwinglius Oecolampadius Melanchthon Bucer Caluine and suche other Archeheretikes monstrouse and pestiferous persones and to punishe moste extremely suche as shall offende herein This wryting setforth in the vulgare toÌgue he sendeth abroade into all partes of Fraunce commaunding theÌ to go a procession in all places and declare the same vnto the people Not long after he beheaded Monsour Ueruine for rendring the towne and castel of Boloigne to the king of EnglaÌd as is spoken in the .xv. boke And his father in lawe Mouns Dubees an aged maÌ which was gouernour of al Boloignois and one of the foure Mreschalles of Fraunce he coÌdemneth to perpetuall prison He had diuerse monethes past sollicited the Swisses to renewe the league whiche they had
made with his father And although the Emperour by letters and intermesseÌgers did greatly disswade them yet they neuerthelesse for that they thought it more expedient for their pourpose assente ther unto first in dede those that are of the Romishe Religion and the Lepontians and Ualesians and after also they of Basill the Schafusians wherat many men marueled greatly by reason of those forsayd proclamations and executions For moste men supposed that they ought not to enter into league and societie with him whiche so cruelly persecuted the true ReligioÌ and coÌdemned their churches and doctours by name But they of Bernes and Zurick followyng the counsel of Zwinglius as I haue shewed you in the third and sixt boke abstained froÌ this league The conuocation of Lipsia is before mentioned But where many sayd and complained that the Romish Religion was by litle and litle restored Duke Maurice the fourth day of Iuly addressing his letters to his lieftenauntes sayeth how he heareth that ther be many which partly for ouermuch carefulnes partly being so perswaded by others feare least the olde errours should one after an other be restored And that certen ministers of the churche with other busy braines and troublesome persones are not fre from this sclauÌder He hath verely at soÌdry times heretofore declared by opeÌ wryting what his minde and purpose is and for those sclaunders doth repete the same againe to the intent he may shewe testifie that he hath an especial care of Religion Wherfore he desireth those which either for lightnes of belief or through the perswasioÌ of others do feare an alteration to lay al feare aparte and geue credit to this his wryting and testimonie And as coÌcerning them that bring vp suche reportes let them not thinke to escape vnpunished if they so continue Howbeit out of the decree lately made at Lipsia were gathered certen chapters by his commaundement which should be taught and preached Let them inquire therfore and learne to vnderstand whether the ministers of the churche do followe this fourme or whether they reprehend the same in their sermons What so euer it be he commauÌdeth theÌ to aduertyse him and if any doubtes shall aryse to repare to that diuines of Wittemberge and Lipsia and that these thinges be declared vnto the people In these daies departed the LaÌtgraues wyfe mother in lawe to Duke Maurice whiche pined awaye through care sorow for her husbandes imprisonment About this time the people rebelled in England for two causes One was for landes coÌmons enclosed For the people complayned that the Nobilitie had taken in much grouÌd whiche before lay coÌmon had inclosed imparked the same for dere for other priuate vses The others in Deuonshire demauÌded thesame also but they were chiefly offeÌded with thalteratioÌ of religion wold haue the syx articles wherof is meÌtioned in the .xii. boke to be restored What tyme therfore they flocked together in armure and the matter was ful of daunger neither would admonitions take any place The kyng and his couÌsel though moste vnwilling sende forth a force against them and disconfite theÌ in sondry places and certen thousandes were slayne The French King espiyng this occasion which gaped after Bolain that was lost prepareth an army spedely and partly by force partly by surrendrie taketh certain castels and fortes by sea coaste betwixt Bolain and Caleis and by that meanes putteth the soldiors of Bolain to an extremity The Lordes of England toke this misfortune most greuously and because the Lorde Protector the kinges vncle had the gouernmente the whole faulte was imputed to him that he had not in time furnished the places with things necessary This blame and enuy increasing daily the protector in the beginning of Octobre was by common assent of the nobles appreheded at Windsore where the king was at the same time and brought to the Towre of London prisoner The Lords afterward declare vnto the people the causes charge him with euil gouernement of the common wealth and setforth a proclamation of the same in Print wherunto for a further testimony euery maÌ subscribeth his name amonges the which Ihon Earle of Warwicke was principal In the meane while that the French king attempteth these thinges against the Englishmen themperour leadeth about his soÌne throughe Flaunders Henault and Artois and sweareth the people to be true and loyall vnto him After they both retourne to Andwarp about the .viii. daye of Septembre There was themperors sonne receiued with Pageauntes and showes most sumptuous not only by the Townes men but also by marchaunts straungers Spaniardes Italians Germanes and English men After this accoÌpanied with his aunt the regent he goeth also into thother prouinces receiue theyr fidelity by an oth I tolde you before of the Senate of Strausburge how they sent an ambassadour to the Emperour to abate the controuersy they had with theyr Bishop wherefore by themperors permission there were chosen certain arbitrers on bothe parties Whan they were met in the monthe of October after long disceptation the Senate permitteth the Bishop .iii. Churches that he may establish therin Religion according to the decree lately made Moreouer he receiueth the Cleargye into his faithe and tuition The Bishop againe couenaunteth and graunteth to the Senate the Colledge of Saint Thomas for the maintenaunce of the schole and the rest of the churches The Cleargy also payeth to the Senate an yerely tribute some of mony in other thinges they obtain their immunity and fredome The Emperour setforthe proclamations against them of Maydenburge as I haue declared before and called on the states in Saxonye for aid many refused not so that thother states not only of Saxony but also of thempire would do the same The menne of Lubecke and Luneburge by consente of themperors deputies going to Maidenburge assaied to make a reconcilemente but all in vaine At that tune did no man impugne them openly but for so much as they were outlawed they were euermore in daunger nether might they withoute pearill of life and goods depart out of that city For it was lawful for euery man to trye fortune against them Therfore the Senate where they had before coÌplaind of thiniuries of their neighbors by publicke letters Now they setforth another wryting vnto al men in general but chiefly to their next neighbors and say how they are selanderously reported as though they should arrogantly and proudly demeane theÌ selues against themperor thempire and that they should forsake peace wryte many contumelious things but herein they sustain great wrong for they do acknowledge Charles themperor for theyr supreme magistrate and haue opeÌly proclaimed that nothing be said a misse against him or any state nether is there anye other cause of displeasure say they than that we professe the Gospell and word of God for thother slaunders are deuised and forged by theyr enuemies howe desyrous they be of peace it
limites which they shall not passe Wherfore we desire all men that they wold ioyne their praiers with ours attempt no warre against vs. For if we be once oppressed the selfesame calamitie shall redounde vnto al Germany without any respect And seing the case standeth thus certenly the very zeale loue and preseruation of our natiue countrey require this of you that you should with your ayde assiste vs whiche for the doctrine of the Gospel are afflicted After they of Maydenburg had this ouerthrowe incontinently very many prepare them selues vnto warre And amoÌges others Duke Maurice the Electour of Brandenburg with his cosyn Marques Albert and Henry Duke of Brunswicke Moreouer the whole Nobilitie were also called vpon to bring horsemen Many supposed these forces to be leuied for this intent that the Duke of Megelburge myght be expulsed out of the contrey And at the first in deede certen would seme to haue taken armure for this cause that he should not straie to farre But whaÌ they were all assembled the eight daye of October marchyng forewarde they incamped not farre from the citie and the syxt daye after at nyght they runne forth with a great clamoure euen to the ditches and gates of the citie to proue what the townes men coulde or durst doe But they beyng repulsed with great shotte loste many of theyr men And as they retyred them selues to their Campe in hyghe displeasure by the waye they set on fyre the poore Lazarus house cleane contrary to the lawe of armes The next daye they bickered agayne whan the Townes men had made saley out For they were full of courage and where as dyuerse others very many also of the Nobilitie repaired thither for the hatred of the Duke of Brunswick expert men of warre worthy captaines The .xii. day of October was truce taken certen Ambassadours came into that citie to treate a peace But that was in vayne Whylest these thinges were in working that states of tharchbishoprike of Maydenburg amongst whom the clergie is principal mete at Hale the .xv. day of October sende Ambassadours to themperour Princes of thempire WhaÌ they came to Auspurg the .x. day after thei accuse moste heinously the senate people of Maydenburg And for somuch as Duke Maurice had taken vnto him the power of that Duke of Megelburg they had also theÌ selues sent him ayde neither lyeth it in their abilitie to susteyne so great charges long They require that the Princes woulde finde some meane to quenche this common flame that so shortly as may be how both the soldiours may be paide also those naughtie outlawes punished tofore they recouer againe their strength courage after their late ouerthrow For els wil the souldiours reuolte to thennemy Which thing wil be a moste present daunger not only to theÌ that ar next theÌ but to al other states also For they intende nothing els but the destruction of that high Magistrate are wholy addicted to steire vp the people to rebellioÌ throughout the whole Empire And they demaunded ayde of viii M. fotemeÌ a M. CC. horsemeÌ The same day were red the aunswers of the Bremers senate of Maydenburg which they made to that Princes letters as befor is said And that Bremers first declare how greatly thei alwaies haue desired peace the Emperours frendship how ofte they haue sued vnto him for peace not only by their own Ambassadours but also by that king of Denmarke the cities the border on the sea shew what strayte condicions were offered And yet to th ende it may appere how much they esteme themperours authoritie they saye that they wil not refuse to sende Ambassadours promyse that if they may haue their Religion libertie permitted theÌ they can be contente to do any thing And they of MaydeÌburg how in the fourmer assemblie of the Empire they made great sute to the Emperour for peace but the condicions imposed were intollerable and saye that synce that tyme they haue susteined great dammage where there was no ende nor measure of wroÌges they repulsed from them violeÌce yet moderatly And the cause of all the hatred to be that they couet to retayne the trew doctrine and to flee Idolatrie As concernynge the daye prescribed because they are commaunded to sende Ambassadours with full authoritie they can fynde none that wyll go in that sorte Moreouer how George Duke of Megelburg hath lately moued warre against them and confesseth openly that he doth this by the commaundement of the Emperour and th empyre And nowe also the ennemies armie lieth before their citie If they may be remoued and their Ambassadours well assured shall and may reporte the demauÌde vnto them they refuse not that some be sent About the beginning of NoueÌber dieth Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the suite hanging stil that he had with kyng FerdinaÌdo as before is sayd His sonne Christopher succeded him After the Emperour had receiued the aunswers of the two cities concerning the Bremers he thinketh good to tary for theÌ in asmuch as they say they wil come But as touching them of Maydenburge for so much as the thing is farre otherwyse than they say and because they aunswer frowardly and in a maner contemptuously he requireth them to procede in consulting what is to be determided against them chiefly that they wold waie diligeÌtly the requestes of the states of the Byshoprike herein do that thing whiche may both be for the commoditie dignitie of th empyre The Princes states perceiued right well that there would neuer be pacificatioÌ made vpon these conditions Wherfore thei require that more gentle thinges might be propounded But the Emperour perseuereth in his purpose So they at the length albeit against many of their willes namely of the cities assente vnto him promyse their ayde But againe they desire the Emperour first that he him self would be coÌtributory herunto Secondly that in case he can not be at this warre him selfe he would appoint a generall That charge they coÌmit to Duke Maurice if it seme so good vnto him say that the charges of this war must be borne of that same mony that is now already leuied for the vses affayres of the coÌmoÌ weale Themperour again replieth what charges he had ben at in the fourmer war the he might restore peace vnto Germany requireth theÌ to haue coÌsideration therof Touching Duke Maurice he is wel pleased saieth that he knoweth no man at this present time that is more fit for that charge than he that for diuerse causes And that the mony shuld be taken out of the coÌmon treasury he doth allow permit so that so muche as is takeÌ froÌ theÌce be within a certeÌ time restored For that mony was not gathered for this vse And he exhorteth theÌ to followe this thing with their whole indeuour that they may be punished according to their
may be deuised But that was yet in vayne Moreouer he releaseth by his letters the Princes bounde and pronouÌceth them fre from that bonde Wherfore whan the Lantgraue sawe no hope he was fully prefixed to make an escape if he might and deuiseth sondry meanes with his seruauntes whoÌ he had sent for out of Hesse some of them Gentlemen of good houses But they being afrayd of the daunger sought delayes At the last he perswadeth two Conrade Bredesten and Iohn Rommelie which all the waye from Hesse vnto Machlin layed post horses whiche he might leape vpon and escape But the matter came to light by a certen man of his who had told one Frendely at Machlin that within a fewe houres his maister shuld be at libertie The same going from one to an other was reported to the captaine of the garde in the very same moment and instant that he should haue fled in Than was al that matter dashed and two of his seruauntes were slayne out of hand others taken and beheaded and he him selfe caried to a straiter pryson The Emperour when he knewe therof toke it most displeasauÌtly and wryting his letters to Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburg signifieth that this so bolde an enterpryse apperteineth to the iniury of hym and his dominion and saith he wil be sore auenged of them that haue geuen him either aide or counsell herein The copie of these letters they sende to William the Lantgraues sonne and amongest other thynges they saye that in case there be any suche parte played from henceforth they wyl stande no more bounde to them Yet neuerthelesse Duke Maurice seuerally comforted them and to deliuer their father promyseth to spende not only his goodes but his life and bloud also And than sayeth ther shal be a tyme conuenient to yelde him selfe whan the state of thinges shal be suche as the displeasures of certen are lesse to be feared The .xix. daye of December all the fotemen and horsemen of Maydenburge that were not appointed to the watche issue out of the citie at after midnight that they might oppresse the stoute courage of their ennemies in a vyllage not farre of The enterpryse was very daungerous for that they must passe through theyr ennemies campe But yet it chaunsed luckely for before the ennemy could be armed thei had taken the Uillage and set it on fyre in diuers places They had all put ouer their harnesse white shirtes as the maner is in Camisado So many of their ennemies as resisted wer slayn which wer many noble gentlemen Diuerse fought out of the houses but the same being set on fire they were burnt Uery many of the Nobilitie wer taken and immediatly brought into the citie with two hoÌdreth and lx horses On the morrowe as sone as the daye appeared they retired home warde and by the way met a troupe of horsemen whiche were led by the Duke of Megelburge who at the laste geuing the charge whan the horsemen pressed him before and the fotemen gaue the onset at his back was takeÌ and brought into the citie euen he whiche had first begon the warre In these dayes also came out of Spaine to Auspurg Maximilian of Austriche the Emperours sonne in law created king of Boheme in his absence called home by his father king Ferdinando betwene whom and the Emperour was than a great contention about the succession of the Empire for the whiche cause also the Emperour was sayde to haue sent for his syster Mary who retourned thither in the moneth of Ianuary that she might be a meane where she had departed from thence in September before For the Emperour who knewe what commoditie it were to annexe Germany to his inheritaunce coueted to establishe his sonne whiche should reigne ouer so many large and diuers Regions with this as a sure fortresse But kyng FerdinaÌdo hauing the same respect thought that nother his nor the expectation and commoditie of his children ought to be diminished herein Moreouer Maximilian who was a Prince of great towardnes could speake sondry languages especially the highe dutche and in Prince like maners excelled was very muche fauoured and beloued of all meÌ Those letters wherby the counsell was denunciatour as before I haue said the Byshop promulgat at Rome at the latter ende of December In the whiche are many thynges whiche myght offende mens myndes of the which sorte is that he sayth it is his part to gouerne counselles that he calleth hym selfe Christes vicar that he will haue the action continued and not repeted from the beginning that he chalengeth to him self the place and authoritie of the president that he semeth to call thither only meÌ of his own order These thinges also the Emperour whan the letters were deliuered hym is sayde to haue noted right well to haue required of him that suche thinges as were somwhat rough might be altered fearing as it was thought least the Germaines being affrayde of these thinges as mariners be of Rockes would either refuse the sommoning or els fynde some let or delay in this busines which he with so great labour had brought to passe I wyll not affirme this to be true and suche maner of couÌselles ar wont to be kept secret But if it be trwe it is manifest that he obteined nothyng For the same fourme that I spake of the Byshop published not one worde altered Yea there be some that suppose he dyd it of a sette pourpose that he might feare awaye the Germaines from the counsell that they should not come there or if they came he might haue them intrapped by certen snares Certenly Paule the thirde was reported to haue vsed this policie as I haue sayde in the ix boke that after he had learned by his espialles what the Protestauntes could beare and what they refused calling than a counsell he would vrge and propounde those thinges chiefly where with he knewe their myndes to be moste offended as a man may aso perceiue in this bull of Iulius whiche is framed after that same of Paule the thirde In these dayes Duke Maurice and the Electour of Brandenburge offer conditions of peace to them of Maydenburg requyre them to render them selues and shewe their fidelitie vnto them to their Archebyshop Thus if they wyll doe they shal be permitted to haue and retaine the ReligioÌ and doctrine exhibited in times past at Auspurge there shal be nothing deminished of their priuileges lawes and lyberties the fortifications also of the citie and goodes shal remayne safe and no violence offered vnto any man Moreouer they promyse to make intercession to the Emperour that he wyl abolysh the sentence of publication verely vpon these conditions That as other Princes and cities so they also may humbly desire pardon and deliuer him .xvi. pieces of ordenaunce and an hondreth thousand crownes to the end they may inioye their goodes already confiscated And that somme of mony they saye they
them did inhabite the citie And if we had bene disposed to haue wrought any violeÌce against them it was not harde to be done But we attempted nothing And whan the state of our thinges was such that we were constraimed to feare the power of our ennemie we called together the fellowes of the cathedral church And for so much as the light of the Gospel is reuealed and God also requireth the profession of the same we requyred them dilligently as we had doue many tymes before that they them selues woulde choyse some experte Diuine whiche myght teache Goddes worde in the Cathedrall churche For the same were boeth of it selfe very Godly and wold also helpe greatly to increase mutuall loue and beneuolence betwene them and the citezens And where as they refused we our selues prouided the thyng And because the ennemie was at hande and had already inuaded our limites we requyred of them that they would paye vs a certen somme of mony that they should sende no letters out of the citie that they should remayne with vs and inioye their owne possessions But they not long after departed out of the citie and beyng after requyred of vs to sende theyr Ambassadours at a certen day to Salsie with whome we might treate they proudely reiected the talke Wherfore whan they vttered their malice and spitefull hatred against vs we were also constreyned to requite them with the lyke For in case they had remayned with vs all this trouble myght haue bene auopded But they burned in malice against vs and many times to our distruction forged new diuises so must we of necessitie take armure for our own defence For vnlesse we had taken their townes villages there had bene a place of refuge left for the enne my And seing they be the reuenewes of the church of Mayden burg not theirs which persecute the church they may be rightly imployed to the defence of religion against false doctrine idolatrie Neither doeth the thing want examples of fourmer tyme. Themperour hath in dede outlawed vs but by no desert of ours as we haue heretofore oftener than once declared And this fortune or state is common to vs with the Prophes Apostles finally with Christe him selfe who for the profession of that truthe were afflicted as seditiouse rebelles and moste hurt full men of all others We haue intreated the Emperour coÌcerning our religion liberties but hitherto we labour in vayne to what ende belonge all their deuises in our former wrytinges we haue sufficiently declared verely the thing it self speaketh that this is ment only how wicked papistrie may be restored This controuersie hath oftentimes bene brought to a coÌmunication and certen conueÌtions haue ben had for the same cause but in the principall pointes we neuer were satisfied for that thambassadours sayd how their coÌmission stretched not so far Assuredly it greueth vs that exceadingly if any man shuld susteyne any daÌmage for our cause But yet such as are godlymeÌ we doubt not but they will thinke as we doe will iudge all thinges to be suffered rather than the confession of the truthe shuld be forsakn For seing Christ hath so loÌg before prophecied of the incoÌmodities that insue vpoÌ this profession hath also appointed euerlasting rewardes for them that leaue their wyues chyldren and possessions for his sake why do we not truste to these certen and large promesses Certenly they that relent for feare of their owne daunger and feare displeasures those procure vnto them selues euerlastyng damnation vnlesse they repente That thing whiche our aduersaries impute vnto vs may be rightly ascribed vnto them For they lyue a fylthie shamefull and a beastly lyfe and which places as thei beare rule there can the citezens very hardly desende from them the chastitie of their wyues and daughters We toke of the commons a litle monie and not with suche an extremitie as they fayne we dyd Unto that whiche they speake of the custome aunswere myght be made yf they had spoken more playnly The Rampare wherof they make mention whiche yet belongeth nothyng to them we cut a sonder for a commune commoditie For through the meanes therof many tymes hath hurte bene done in our countrey and whan thei had taken their botie the spoylers were wont to escape that waye and to retyre them selues out of daunger Theycrie out that we haue intreated euill the Gentlemen that are our neighbours But what so euer we haue done in that behalfe we haue bene constreyned to doe it whan we had a yeare and more suffered the iniuries of many That whiche they saye concerning women and maydens we vtterlye denie such of the Nobilitie as were taken prysoners we released with their seruaunts without raunsome and the matter was quieted emongest vs by coÌposition They enlarge exceadinglye the accoumpte of the harmes done and name it to be eight hondreth thousand crownes What if we shuld shew againe into how much mysery thei haue brought vs Pictures suche other thinges haue bene set forth priuely in mo places then one but al the blame is layd on vs. Where as for certentie we haue straightly commaunded by setting vp letters openly that no man should attempte to do any thyng presumptuously against the Emperour or any other Prince And certen also haue therfore bene punished There haue bene other bookes also set forth amongest vs we denie not wherin both Idolatrie is impugned and many mens consciences erected We confesse that we had an ouerthrowe the good wyll of God being so not vtterly to distroye vs but to alure vs to the amendemeÌt of life Certenly thei died honestly and Godly for the glory of Gods holy name and preseruation of the common wealth And we doubt not but God when he seeth tyme will mercifully loke vpon our affliction and also punishe our aduersaries Neither chaunced this thing by fortune as they pretende For they intised hereunto George Duke of Megelburg with large giftes and promesses And yet in the meane tyme through a crafty policie they called the other states of the byshopryke to Stasfort as it were to consulte by what meanes they might driue those robbers as they themselues than called them out of their cositrie For it is to be proued by their own letters that they hired soldiours yea they boaste and glory that they care not greatly for common hurte and dammage For beit that they susteyne some losse and hinderaunce yet saye they howe the lande and grounde remaineth in their possessioÌ What time therfore word was brought vs that the towne Wanslebe was by them sodenly taken spoyled and brent a great nomber also of villages distroyed in so muche that there came ruÌning vnto vs out of the countrey husband men women and maidens with plentie of teares desiring our aids we could not assuredly fayle theÌ And although the thing had no good successe yet doubt we not but that we did God thanckfull seruice And now where they saye
to pike a thanke that our intent was to oppresse the nobilitie and states of this Byshoprike it is a starhe lie and can not be proued For we haue euerntore honoured the Nobilitie But if we haue indammaged suche as haue done violeÌce toward our men as they haue passed by to and fro who is so vnreasonable a iudge that will impute that thing vnto vs as a crime blame worthy Touching that they reporte of the swordes founde after the battell is a fained thing As for the haltars collars we denie not For the vse of theÌ was right necessary for our wagons and other cariage as it is manifest The condicions of peace that were offered by Duke Maurice the Marques of Brandenburg we could not admit for causes moste weightie For in case we had yelded receiued a power it is easy to vnderstande what should haue bene the state both of ReligioÌ and the common wealth also God of his infinite mercy hath opened vnto vs the knowledge of his Gospel Whom we befeche to graunt vnto vs this so great a benefite perpetually but those whiche promise vs assistaunce herein howe it is credible that they can or also wyll perfourme the same whan they them selues be of wauering myndes in Religion and study to please men that our aduersaries may recouer their goodes and that daÌmage done on both parties may be egally borne we refuse not But that they should retourne in the citie agayne set vp their idolatrie that can we by no meanes suffer Thei say how they were no impediment to vs in religion but certenly they wanted no wil therunto But we haue cause to geue God thaÌkes that sent shrewed cowes short hornes The bodies of dead men were not so intreated as thei report But where as for our own defence we plucked down certeÌ churches nere vnto the citie so many bodies as were founde not wholy coÌsumed were coÌueied to an other place buried deper Again it was permitted vnto al men that such of their kinred as they fouÌd there they might transporte whether they would That same of theÌperour Otto the first is moste false a shameful lie by them deuised For we are not ignorant what honour is due to that chief magistrate especially to him of whom they speake theÌperour Otto who did many worthy actes was a moste earnest defendour protectour of that libertie of Germany That seruice which they call holy Godly which they complaine that we haue disturbed in their churches is nothing lesse than holy but coÌcerneth the high reproche of God They theÌselues had loÌg before caried out of the citie their vestimentes chalices other ornameÌtes But their wrytinges publique monumeÌtes we kepe safely haue not abolished as they falsly accuse vs. Moreouer their priestes wer not whipped but they theÌselues spoiled the churches caried the pray els where The college or monastery of Hamerslebie which neuerthelesse beloÌgeth not to theÌ therfore did we assaile at the last for that our ennemies had a place of refuge therin there deuided the boties takeÌ froÌ our felowes vs. Wher they adde moreouer that our men did many thinges there insoleÌtly outrageously that same was forged by the monkes As coÌcerning the iniuries which they say were done vnto theÌ in the citie thus standeth the matter About .xxv. yeres since whaÌ they on the eight day before Easter whiche is called Palm sondaye were in hand with their fond trifling ceremonies they were laughed at by the coÌmon people that thether resorted but whose rashnes boldnes proceded further such as brake glasse wyndowes they were suerly punished of vs banished for other iniuries we knowe none neither haue they euer brought theÌ before vs. Wherfore we haue done nothing contrary to our promesse or coÌposition neither haue we geueÌ our aduersaries any cause of warre And seing the matter is thus we desire all meÌ that they geue no credite to their sclaundrous reportes but to lament our chaunce which are coÌstreined to defend the warre that is atteÌpted against vs to thintent we might mainteine the pure doctrine of the Gospel the liberties receiued of our elders for the which thinges also godly kinges magistrates of fourmer times the Machabeis men of most stoute courage haue refused no perill or daunger We wishe for peace moste chiefly aboue al thinges But that is denied vs hetherto Wherfore being loÌg sore afflicted with the inuasions of our nere neighbours we could not repulse froÌ vs vniust violeÌce Wherby we haue also the better confidence that suche as we haue prouoked with no iniury wil iudge this war to coÌcerne theÌ nothing stande in the awe feare of God the reuenger of al vnrighteousnes For the self same cause that hath stired vp this trouble against vs wyl shortly after wrap vp theÌ also in great distresse perils so many as couet to retein maintein the pure doctrine The letters wherwith the byshop of Rome had called the couÌsell Themperour the fifth day of Ianuary coÌmaundeth to be red in the Senate of states Princes exhorting theÌ that they wold prepare theÌselues The same day king FerdinaÌdo informeth the states how in that truce time the Turks waxe busy in Hongary build a castel within his dominion went about to surprise his castel of Zolnock fortifie theirs with a garrison how also they haue made an inrode into Transsyluania Wherof verely he hath geuen them none occasion doth al that he can that the truce taken may be obserued but in case the Turke shal refuse he desired to haue aide geuen him I told you in the xx boke of Stephen byshop of Winchester for what cause he was appreheÌded in EnglaÌd And where he perseuered in his opinion wold neither allowe the statutes already made nor suche as shuld be made hereafter coÌcerning religion during the kinges nonage he was depriueth of his byshoprike this yeare in the moneth of Ianuary coÌmitted again to warde Andrew OsiaÌder whom I sayd went into Prusse set forth this time a new opinioÌ affirming the man is not iustified by faith but by the rightuousnes of Christ dwelling in vs saith that Luther was also of his opinion But the rest of the diuines his fellowes did stoutly impugne it affirming that he said of Luther to be false who not many monthes before his death left a most ample goodly testimony in the preface of the first Tome of MelaÌchthons boke wherin are treated the coÌmon places of holy scripture Where therfore he inueieth against Melanchthon he maketh also Luther his aduersary for that they were both of one opinioÌ Moreouer by a conference made they proued manifestly that Luther taught cleane coÌtrary to him in this matter and say that his doctrine is pestiferous which saith that the iustification of fayth coÌsisteth not in the bloud death of Christ wherby we are redemed
wryting and thynketh thus that those whiche ought of dutie reuerently to receiue and obeye the rule and order of doctrine woulde prescribe theyr Elders whiche thynge is both absurde and vncommely Other aunswere coulde he get none at thys present but yet woulde he bee in hande wyth hym agayne And biddeth them also to be of good comforte Within a fewe dayes after what tyme Maximilian of Austriche approched nere the Cardinal going forth to mete him at Mantua admonisheth the Ambassadours of Wixtemberg that for so much as he must nedes departe thei should repare to Toletane the Emperours Ambassadour Who both by vertue of his office and authoritie may profite them greatly and will do it right gladly euen for his sake whiche hath coÌmended the matter vnto him They followyng his counsell spake vnto him Who promising them gently many thynges so departeth But whan thei came againe the second tyme he began to make an excuse by reason of the disputations that the Diuines should nowe haue wher at the fathers must be present Whiche finished he would espie an occasion It is to be thought that he receiued a muche like aunswere as the Cardinall had done before But least he shuld take awaye all hope of being heard hereafter he alledged this cause especially considering bothe howe the Emperour hath had procured the counsell and that it was permitted by a publique decree of the Empire that euery man myght frely propounde of what matters soeuer he wold In the meane season the Ambassadour of Strasburge goeth to the Emperours Ambassadour William Pictaue in the absence of the Erle Monforte And for so muche as they were all of lyke condition and authoritie he sheweth him the commission of his Ambassade as the maner and custome is and sayeth he is sent thither to the intent he might conferre and consulte with the residue of the profession of Auspurge howe this controuersie of religion and doctrine myght be appeased and a publique quiet established He taking a copie of his commission whiche he sayde he would sende to the Emperour and speakyng many thinges of the doctrine and dignitie of the counsell like as he was in dede a learned man and an oratour offered his seruice and diligeÌce This was the laste of Nouember And at the same tyme the Diuines had Theames deliuered them touchynge the sacrifice of the Masse as they terme it that they myght speake their myndes of the same after the maner before mentioned Howe Duke Maurice sent his Ambassadours to the Emperour for the Lantgraue is declared before And with theÌ were ioyned the Ambassadours of the Prince Electour of Brandenburge Wherfore being admitted to his speache aboute the begynnynge of December whan they had in theyr Prynces name done theyr commendations You knowe saye they moste redoubted Emperour in what distresse ar the moste Noble Princes electours Duke Maurice the Marques of BrandeÌburg for the deteyning of the Lantgraue wher into thei chauÌced beyond all expectation whilest by their singuler industrie they wolde procure vnto you an easye and honorable victorye demynysh the charges of the warre and restore to the common countrye peace and quietnes Which thing hath ben the cause also that they haue ofte intreated you sometime by their Ambassadours and somtime in their own persons that you wold haue coÌsideratioÌ of them and set him at lyberty At the which time verely they added this moreouer that in case ye requyred a further assuraunce besydes the suertyshipp wherwith they both and Wulfegange countie Palatyne with all the people of Hesse are bounden to you they wolde not refuse Unto these their requestes you made aunswer to Christopher Carlebyce Iames Schillinge whom they sent laste vnto you that to deliuer hym before it should appeare what the action of the Emperiall assemblee should be whiche was than at hande you myght not Againe that you promised nothing els but that if he kept conuenauÌtes he should not be deteined in prison perpetual And where they being occupied with other affaires could not them selues come to the assemblee they moued you agayne by their counsellours and letters at Auspurg but you writing againe the cause why you were offended wyth him and might not deliuer him did pronounce them free from the bonde wher by they are bounde to the Lantgraues sonnes Wherfore they determined to moue your highnes againe And woulde haue come their selues but you knowe howe they were both letted by the war of MaydeÌburge and the Marques also by sicknes And therfore wold haue the thing done by vs. And first in dede whan your pleasure was that the Lantgraue should submitte him self vnto you without condition they receiued intelligeÌce by the Byshop of Arras what your mynde was this verely that he should admitte and obserue the conditions of you propounded and deliuered vnto them Nowe if he should haue ben perswaded to render him selfe in this sorte it was assuredly nedeful to declare vnto him that he shold neither be deteined prisoner nor farther burthened than was in the pacification prescribed So therfore the Prince did assure him Which thing also your couÌsellours vnderstode right well And where he desired that certeÌ articles of that same peacemaking might be further declared vnto him also requested that he might not be staied in the same matter aboue .vi. daies the thing signified to the bishop of Arras in other thinges also the Princes in a maner obteined what they would And albeit that in this same treaty the case was not vnderstande of all men after one sorte in so muche that he whan he came was contrary to their promyse committed to warde Yet did they neuer blame you Cesar for the same neyther stode they in termes with you therfore for that they had had to do only with your counsellours not with you sauing than whan the Lantgraue was coming and had signified vnto them that they should come vnto him to Numburg For thaÌ spake they with your selfe and sayde how they had perswaded him to admitte the conditions propounded and that he was coÌming not far of and how they if you wold permit them wold go to mete him And for so moch as he was come thither vpon ther fidelitie they besought you that he might not otherwyse be burthened then was in the pacification comprised Which thing when your selfe had graunted then frankely they went forth brought him to Hale And in the last treatie ther was no mention made that he shoulde be detayned prisoner Which thing thei suppose that your owne men can also testify namely the Bishop of Arras with whom onely they had conference and Seldus whome he many times ded associate vnto him For after the coÌditions admitted and his humble submission the Princes beleued verely that he shoulde haue bene released immediately and that for many causes they thought so Fyrst bycause youre counselours made no mention of imprisoÌment which is the chiefest point of the same peacemakyng and diligeÌtly marked of
Whiche thinges considered they them selues deuise a new fourme following the fotesteppes of the decree of Basil But in the meane tyme Toletane sent his seruauÌt once or twyse for the paper fearing as it appered ouermuch diligeÌce But they neuertheles procede at the last whaÌ the thing was finished Duke Maurice Ambassadours come againe vnto Toletane comparing th one with thother shewe him what lack they find therin Than began he to stomack the matter was right sore offended For why should they not be content with the whiche they with great labour dilligence had obtained For suche as should come were assured sufficiently For the chiefest point is wherby it is prouided that they may safely come safely goe All other thinges serue nothing to that purpose but only concerne the maner of treatie in the couÌsell Which thing might a great deale better be determined what time the Diuines be present than now They make aunswer how they may not passe the boÌdes of their coÌmission which is that they may not receiue a saufeconduicte contrary to that of Basill Two dayes after the fathers assemble all in the house of the byshops legate and with them themperours Ambassadours Who call before them there thambassadours of the Duke of WirteÌberge which the day before they had sayd they would doe Whan they were brought in they are coÌmaunded to declare their message Who after they had shewed their coÌmission made a brief preface bring forth the confession of doctrine written deliuer it to the scribe of the counsel as the maner is And said also that Diuines should come from their Prince whiche should treate of all things more aboundantly howbeit vpoÌ these coÌditions First that by coÌsent of both parties conuenieÌt iudges shuld be chosen which shuld heare the diuines reason iudge vprightly of matters that be in coÌtrouersie For in asmuch as the Prince perceiueth that the doctrine of his diuines doth for the most part disagre with the doctrine of the bishop of Rome of other bishops whiche ar many wayes bouÌd to him he thinketh it very vnreasonable against al right that they which susteine the parsone either of plaintife or defendaÌt shuld chalenge to theÌ selues thauthoritie of iudgement Secondly that it was decreed in thassembles of thempire at Auspurg that the counsel shuld be continued althinges Godly rightly done And this was euermore so takeÌ of their Prince that such thinges as were decreed in the counsel in fourmer yeares ought not to haue the force of a law but that all thinges should be repeted froÌ the beginning For what right or reason were it whan two men go to the lawe that the thing whiche is decreed whan the one hath iust cause to be absent should be taken for ferme and stable Moreouer seing many dcerees were made not only in the fourmer but also in this same counsell contrary to the holy Scriptures and also many olde errours established their Prince requireth that the same be of none authoritie but the al thinges may come to a dew examinatioÌ Those same articles coÌprised in writiÌg they exhibited together with the coÌfessioÌ of doctrine WhaÌ this was done answer made them that the fathers whaÌ they sawe time should shew them their opinion thus were they dimissed Thesame daye in the euening they sent like wise for thambassadours of Duke Maurice They whan they came recite with a long oration the demaundes of their Prince in like sorte as they did of late to the Emperours Ambassadours sauing that the ende was more pithie Wher this was said moreouer that the same seruice order that is vsed in the popish churches was not the true religion but a countrefeated thing as it were a shadowe of religion Whan they had made an end of thoration they were answered with the selfsame wordes as before were the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg Amongst other thinges this greued theÌ moste that their religion was described by so vile conteÌptuouse a name Which was afterward well knowen Thambassadours had intended to haue vttered their message openly in the publique assize But to auoyde this which they knew certenly they wolde do they were heard priuatly For either must thei nedes do this or els leaue al to the coÌmon treatie They had brought with theÌ a confession of doctrine written by Philip Melanchthon as I showed you before but where as they had no coÌmaundemeÌt of this thing I know not for what cause thei did not present the same The next day which was the .xxv. of Ianuary was thopensassions the bishops legate was brought to the church with the pompe before rehersed Than was the noÌber of soldiours much augmeÌted also a greater resort of people out of soÌdry places for that they supposed that the treatie of thesame day shuld be very notable Whan the masse all other ceremonies were fully finished it was recited in the pulpit how for the protestaÌtes cause the whole matter should be differred till the .xix. daye of Marche before the whiche day they will be here in good time to propound their matters And this to be frendly grauÌted theÌ for that the counsel trusteth that they wil come not obuÌinatly to impugne the catholique faithe but for a zeale to knowe the truth that they will in fine admitte obeie the decrees of the churche schole of correction How they haue more ouer a larger saufeconduicte so that no lack can be founde Furthermore that in the next sitting the treatie shal be of the SacrameÌt of Matrimonie The third daye after whan nothing came forthe at al the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice their fellowes demaunded of Fraunces Toletane with whom they chaunced to dine that day a copie of thesame saufecoÌduict which was spoken of openly Who made them a gentle answer but whaÌ other thre daies were past thambassadour of Strasburg at the request of the residue goeth vnto Pictaue He coÌplaineth that this is the sixt daye wherin they can heare nothing And that before was a longer delay for that the saufeconduicte was not sufficient nowe is the time tracted again And certenly the diuines wil not come before suche time as the magistrates be contented with their saufeconduicte He saide howe there was no faulte in him marueiled why Toletane thus differred them who had the chiefest place amongest them He would go talke with him doubted not but the matter should be dispatched the same day That thing whiche he should learne by him he wolde she we him And thus went to him This was the last daye sauing one of Ianuary Within a fewe houres after al thambassadours were commaunded to come to the house of Toletane who deliuered to euery of them a copie of the saufecoÌduicte signed vnderneth by the scribes of the counsell There was also the Earle Monfort Pictaue beginneth the talke first in dede he excuseth the delay made and than speaking much of their own zeale and
the Emperor Than will he amongs other thinges treat with him also of these matters presently and that also with his diuines should come Moreouer the ambassadors and diuines of certain Princes and Cities amonges the which he named the Duke of Pomeranes cosins the copy of the which letters th one of thambassadors for that his felowe was not yet retourned from his iourney sendeth to the Cardinall of Trent at Brixna which was lately gon thither For he because he was both most seruiceable to the Emperor and also loued Duke Moris by reason of muche familiarity dearely well and chiefly wished that the counsel might procede toke very heauely this dissention growing wherof ther was much talk And that was the cause that thambassador sent these letters wherwith he knew he should be comforted And he verely after he had receiued those letters where before he doubted now at the length he began to take more comforte and to hope well and wrote againe to thambassador that so sone as Duke Moris shall come to Insprucke he will go thither immediatly to him or a great way further For by reason of the amity and frendship that was betwene them he thoughte he could perswade him to peaceable waies And these letters were subscribed wyth Duke Moris own hand and to them was also annexed letters of theyr commission to exhibite if nede required for the same was before neglected Not long after tharchbishop of Treuers to refresh him self departeth from Trent homeward the xvi day of February For that they said how themperor had geuen him leaue that so sone as he might recouer his health he should come thither again yet left he the Frier Pelarge ther that he might be present at al actions Tharchbishops of Mentz and Collon brought him goinge a mile or two on his way And he tourned on the lefthande and toke not his iourny by Insprucke wher themperor lay Shortly after many began to mutter how the counsell shoulde be proroged and that Duke Moris making league with the freÌch king prepared to warre vpon themperor This rumour was not great at the first but it increased daily and secreatly was one sent from Trent to themperor to vnderstaÌd his pleasure After also came one thither from themperor but all thinges were kept very close The seconde daye of Marche whiche was than Ashewedensday the Bishop of Romes Legate settinge vp papers on the churche walles whiche they call indulgences or pardones graunteth remission of sinnes to al men in generall but specially to Bishops Ambassadoures and deuines whiche either haue or will confesse their sinnes by a time prescribed will go to certaine Churches in Trent on daies appoynted And there saying fiue Pater nosters fiue Aue Maries other praiers will pray to God for the concord of Princes for the consent and vnity of the church and for the lucky successe of the counsell and how this so great a benefit is geuen by the high bishop Iuly the third who is careful for the health of soules that men may as wel enioy the same at Trent as at Rome Wherfore many ran daily to the churches both Bishops others especially Spaniardes obseruing the difference of daies For they attributed to this religion one while les time an other while more In this great taciturnitye as before is saide the ambassadoure of Strasburge inquired of themperors ambassador Pictaue of the state of thinges who said how the brute that went that the counsel shoulde be proroged was vntrue and that themperor would haue them in any wise to proceade and continue their action where also ther hath nothing bene done of late that is for theyr cause whiche haue put the fathers in hope of the comming of the diuines This was in the beginning of Marche whan Duke Moris had aboute th end of February called backe the deuines from Norinberge who after the brute was raised that he should come to themperor wheÌ he had passed a certain way of his iourny retourneth home and beginneth to take munsters as in the nexte boke shal be recited When these things wer knowen and sondry messagers came daily one after another and that the matter was now out of doubt the Archbishops of Mentz and Colon vnto whome came lately great plenty of vitaile out of the nether partes of Germany prepared theÌ selues to horsbacke with great expedition and the eleuenth day of March they depart in the dawning of the day wheras ouer nighte the bishops of Romes Legate accompanied with the residue of the Bishops of Italy and Spaine came vnto them to bid them farewel The same day came thither new ambassadours from the duke of Wirtemberge Werner Munchinge and Hierome Gerarde a ciuilian They go the next day to themperors ambassadoures and shewing their commission in wryting desyre to haue an answer of theyr Princes demaunds exhibited to the fathers the .xxiiii. of Ianuary And say moreouer how the deuines wil be ther within these few dais to declare more at large the confession of doctrine that was lately put vp the whole assembly Wherat they meruailed greatly I know not for what cause except it wer that one of theÌ had made all things ready to take his iourny and was purposed to go home which than of necessity must tary ther ful sore against his will It was answered them how they must deuise and haue conference of the matter with the fathers and loke what they shall hear of them they will let them vnderstand In the meane tune duke Moris ambassadors were in great distres and carefulnes For they wer supposed both to haue handled the matter craftely and to haue bene priuy to their princes doings and to haue plaid all together the dissemblers where they againe affirmed that neither they knew any thing that was don at home nor yet receiued any letters from thence and knew not which way to retourne home out of daunger And for so muche as they sawe that the longer they taried the more daunger it were for them the xiii day of March they depart as priuely as they coulde assone as the day apeared and speding them hastly to Brirna axe thaduise of the Cardinall of Trent what is best to be done At the last th one of thambassadors which before he came to Trent had made longe abode at Iuspruck and in his princes name had with the rest made intercession to themperor for the LaÌtzgraue hauing first receiued except I be disceiued a safe conduit came to Insprucke made his purgation to themperors counsel proueth that he was not made priuy to this war in such sort as they did credit him From theÌce he goeth straight home and thother taking his iourny through Carnia returneth into Saxonie When tharchbishops of Mentz and Collon approched nere vnto Inspruck they were honorably receiued of such as themperor sent to mete them Amonges whom was the bishop of Arras After they both talking long much with the Emperor alone spede
so many yeares in framinge maye at the lengthe be established The third and chiefe poynt is that which concerneth all men and our common natiue country of Germany whose state doubtles is most miserable For contrary to the lawes and couenauntes forain souldiours are brought within the limits of thempire whiche haue now many yeres ben here setled and euery wher bothe in towne and Country consumeth other mens goods and exercise al kind of filthy lust Moreouer many times ther be new wais inuented to get mony and the auncient liberty diuers waies infringed neither is any state no not the Princes electours in this case spared thambassadors of foren kings which be sory for these things and loue the wealthe of Germany are prohibited to come at anye publike assembles clean against the manner of thempire Finally this is altogether wroughte that all men maye be broughte into a shamefull and straight bondage for the which thing doubtles our posterity and ofspring may haue moste tuste cause to detest the cowardise and slouthfulnes of this time wherin that moste precious iewell and goodly ornament that is the liberty of our couÌtry shuld be lost seing therefore that the case standeth thus at the laste is he awaked and William the Lantzgraue the sonne of Phillip whoÌe the iust sorow for his fathers miserye hathe raised and makinge a league with the french king whom thenemy seketh also to depriue of that he hath are determined for the deliueraÌce of the LaÌtzgraue and the duke of Saxon to maintaine their honor and recouer the liberty of all men to attempt the matter by force of armes therfore doth he exhort that no man disturbe this his enterprise but that al men do further and professe the same and put in good assuraunce For if it be otherwise and if any man by one meane or other and the aduersary he wil take him for his ennemy Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge subscribed also to the same letters chiefly for the preseruation of religion forsomuch as duke Moris had said howe he warred for the same cause also And the Marques Albert of BraÌdenburge publisheth a wryting in manner of the same effecte and complaineth that the liberty of Germany is oppressed eneÌ of them which of duety ought to maintain and auaunce the same he saithe ther is holden now a counsel wherin be a few assembled for to subuert the truthe and that also there be many assemblies of the Empire Wherof the end is this that by certaine corrupted with bribes and faire promises mony maye be gotten by some subtile fetche to the vtter vndoing of Germany and the same to be wrought chiefly by the cleargy which in the consistory of the Empire surmounte in nombre and now is the matter brought to that passe that the effect of al counsels dependeth almost of one mannes pleasure which is neither gentleman nor Germaine borne nor annexed to the Empire to the great reproche assuredlye and hinderance of all Germaines And if this ought to be the state of the weale publike it were much better to call none assembles at all but that mony shoulde be frelye and franckly geuen whansoeuer it is coÌmaunded and required for so shuld ther be no losse of time and besides great charges shoulde be spared By suche like craft also is the seale of thempire commen into straungers hands which foreiners at theyr pleasure abuse to the damage of Germany yet is ther no man at al that dare bewail these things vnlesse he wil enter into high displeasure Nether yet are the Germanes matters and sutes dispatched but are most loÌg delaid in so much that many men complain much of the same For the state of the things is such that the Germanes had nede to learn other laÌguages in case they should be there to do them selues anye good of the same sort is this wher against tholde custome of Germany it is prohibited that no man may serue anye foreine Prince in his warres that the protestantes being reconciled ouer aboue most greuous penalties wer constramed to admit other more vnworthy conditions and for that a great some of mony arose of the Protestants clients for seruing them in theyr warres The same burthen also was laid vpon other states and Princes that had nothinge offended and as thoughe that warre had bene made for the common wealth they were commauÌded to pay mony to recompence the charges of the warres for this intent verelye that ther should no sinewes nor force at all be lefte in all Germany Of like sort is it that ciuill controuersies of moste waighty matters are committed not to the publick iudgement of thempire but vnto a few commissioners that it may be in their power either to establish or displace great princes Againe that it is prohibited that no Prince maye set his owne Image in his coyne that newe Senators are made in euery towne of the Empire that this bondage is imposed in manner vppon all Germanes that they be constrained to suffer forreine souldiors in their country whiche bothe do verye much harme and bring many men to beggery and also practise al kinde of arrogancy and lechery that hath not ben hard of For his own land was not spared although he promised him better for the fidelitye and seruice done to themperor Howbeit at what time he was deteined by reason of the warre of Maidenburge and about matters of the common wealth was absent soldiors wer brought into his country Notwithstanding that his officers desired much to the contrary and thus certainly both he and other princes whiche in the former war against the protestants for his preseruation and dignity put in great hazarde their liues and goodes haue receiued a goodly recompence in that boke which Lewes Auila setforth of matters done in the same war a naughty and a lying fellow whilest he speaketh of all Germany so coldly so disdainfullye and straungely as though it were some barbarous or vile nation whose originall were skarcely knowen And the vnworthinesse of the thing is so much the more for that the same boke is printed and setforth by a certain especiall priueledge of themperor Now verely be many thinges excused by letters sent throughout Germany but it is the self same song that hath ben songen now many yeres and all thinges tend hitherto that they say how accordinge to the state of times the decrees must be altred and that men muste obey the present counsels or els suffer punishment And wheras certen Princes haue taken armure to repulse this ignominye and seruitude he hathe also promised them all aide and fidelity yea and his life also And this he protesteth openlye and desireth that no man aid their aduersaries but that all men woulde further this endeuoure of him and his fellowes and defend the commen cause For although very many perchaunce will followe the contrarye parte yet let no man promise him self better things if the aduersary may vanquishe for
matter but also receiueth al them into his defence and tuition so that they do not annoy him nor yet his league frendes For after libertye recouered he is put in good hope by many mens letters that the concord of the churche shall and may also be restored and that by lawfull meanes whan all ambition and priuate lucre is farre remoued And what so euer he may helpe hereunto he will do it gladly These are the things wherof he thought good to admonish them to th end they may vnderstand what his will and purpose is wherfore he requireth them that in so iuste warre which of necessity is attempted for the wealth of Germany no maÌ would impeche or hinder him or his confederates for otherwise if any man be so cleane voide of all loue and duety that he oweth to his country that he intend to make resistaunce him wil he destroy with sword and fire and albeit he shal do so vnwillingly yet if any such shal be the same as a naughty and a corrupt membre must be cut of from the reast of the body least it do hurt by his infection and in such sorte be restrained that it do no more harme The rest they may know of his ambassador Ihon Fraxine Bishop of Bayon whom he hath sent vnto them with further of his pleasure vnto whome he praieth them to geue creadit This wrytinge beinge set forth in print in the vulgare tonge had ouer the head a bonnet betwene two daggers and wrytten by that the same was the badge of liberty And vnderneath that was the title of the kinge who named him selfe the reuenger of the libertye of Germany and of the Princes captiue This badge or cognoisaunce many say was fouÌd in old coynes and vsed by them that slue Iulius Cesar Where he saieth how themperor had assigned a reward for them that coulde slay certaine of his captaines thus standeth the case Themperor by proclamation lately setforthe had againe with wordes mooste waighty outlawed the Rinegraue Recrode Riseberge and Scherteline which in dede serued all the French king as I haue said before and appointed foure thousande crownes in rewarde for him that could bring forth any of them either quicke or dead For they furthered the cause very muche and whan this league was made going into Germany prested souldioures and broughte them into Fraunce And Scherteline in dede whan he had sued many yeres in vaine and coulde by the intercession of no man be reconciled to themperor or King Fernando being in a manner constrained fled to the French king These letters of the kinge and the Princes dispearsed abrode in Germany raised in some hope but in manye feare and carefulnes Duke Moris which wrought all thinge by dissimulation the first of March holdeth an assemble of the states of his dominion and amonges other thinges he propoundeth because he is sued of the Lantzgraues sonnes to present him self he may no longer seke delaies or disceine their expectatioÌ Therfore wil he go vnto them to kepe his faith and promesse let them therfore in the meane time obey his brother August whome he hath made his deputye in his absence and let them gather a force to defend the country that nothing chaunce vnto them vnprouided Thelector of Brandenburge was present at this treaty for that he was sommoned to appeare but when the Lantzgraues sonnes did permit him that he shoulde at the next processe appeare and discharge his bond he retourneth home Duke Moris hauing put in ordre his thinges at home and appoynted certain counselloures to assiste his brother Auguste he goeth with a few small company to those forces which I saide before he had in the country of Turing and marching forth abideth for the Lantzgraues sonne Before he departed froÌ home the Burggraue of Meyssen as they call him Henry of the noble house of the Plauians Chauncelor of Boheme in the name of king Ferdinando treated with him diligently for a reconcilemeÌt The LaÌtzgraues soÌne leading forth his armye when he came to Erlebache the eightene daye of Marche where also was the French ambassadour Fraxine they bothe request them of Franckfurt by letters amonges other thinges that they receiue no garrison of the Emperours into their city And all beit that they answered neither plainlye nor purposelye yet for so much as they must go forward there was none other thing done The sixt daye after he ioyneth with Duke Moris And when they were commen wyth their whole armye thre dayes after to Schwinfurt Duke Moris declareth vnto him how king Fardinando woulde make intercession and signified the same plainlye both by letters and ambassadoures as thoughe he had authoritys of the Emperoure to treat yea touching the deliuery of his father He therfore making priuy to it the French ambassador refuseth not that the conditions and requestes of king Fardinando should be heard which thing determined they march with great expedition by Roteburge Dingelspelle and Norling to Donauerde At Roteburge Marques Albert ioyneth him selfe to them with hys power bothe of horse men and fote men Whiche waye so euerthey wente they broughte the Citezens into theyr subiection and displacing those whiche the Emperoure before had chosen do ordain newe Magistrates And exact of them also mony and munition And because Auspurge was kept with no great garrison And again because in the selfe same daies a certain piece of the wall and Rampeare was fallen downe they marched with exceading greate iourneis and the laste daye of Marche reasted not so much as in the night season and came thither the firste daye of Aprill at midday and making roades there declared them selues to be ennemies In the Citye were foure enseignes of fotemen sente by them peroure but where the Townes men the fourth day after rendred the city they wer permitted to depart Than they that sommoned the Cities of high Germany and amonges them also Norinberge and commaund them to be before them at Auspurge at th end of Aprill and also vrge them of Wuolmes whiche were but nine miles from Auspurge that they should aide them with all thinges and come into theyr society Aboute this time the Prince of Salerne by occasion of falling oute with the Uiceroy of Naples reuolteth from the Emperoure and goeth into Fraunce Whilest these thinges are done in Germany the Frenche kinge marching forth with an huge army surpriseth Tullie Uerdome townes of thempire at the borders of Fraunce after he inuadeth Lorayne and sendeth the yong Prince into Fraunce aboute nine yeres of age though the Lady Dowager his mother intreated neuer so much to the contrary promiseth him his daughter in mariage Whilest the king him self was occupied with these affaires his lieftenaunt the Constable Annas Memoraunce who led the Uantward surpriseth Metz a famous city of thempire the tenthe day of Aprill whan bothe the garrison within was small and the French men made fair promisses and saide howe the kinge made this warre to
them be of good comforte And the fift day after whan Duke Maurice was retourned they wryte both promisse to kepe conuenauntes saying that this acte of the Marques is cleane besides their expectation neither do they like it but will do all their indeuour that they may recouer their own wyll also call back immediatly suche ayde as they haue lent him Whan they of Norinberge had receiued the letters of Marques Albert they wrote againe the same day signifiyng what thing Duke Maurice and the princes had promised them by composition and saie how that was the cause that they sent no Ambassadours to him Wherfore they earnestly pray and beseche hym that he wyll restore fully the castell taken and gratifie his fellowes herein Thre dayes after he wrote againe For so muche as he doth not know how they haue compounded with them and yet it concerneth the Frenche king very muche vnto whome he is no lesse addicted than to the others he requireth to haue saufeconduicte for a credible man of his whome he wyll sende into their citie to se the instrument of their accorde They followe his mynde and let him se it But he neuerthelesse although Duke Maurice his fellowes were meanes and diligently intreated him to the contrary the .xi. daye of May wryteth to them againe And in the Frenche kinges name especially doeth charge them that within a fewe houres they would aunswer him playnely whether they wyll be obedient And where he receiued not suche aunswer as he would the towne and castell of Lightnawe he spoyleth burneth ouerthroweth and maketh euen with the grounde And whan he had exacted mony of the townes men he caused them to sweare to be true subiectes to hym to his cosin George Friderick also Marques of Brandenburg and besegeth the citie Wherfore the the Lantgraues sonne calleth agayne by and by two guidons of horsemen whiche he let hym haue against Woulfgange the maister of the order and commaundeth to come vnto him wherwith he was sore offended He attempted therfore cruell warre and whan he had burned and spoyled an hondreth villages in their dominioÌ and about thre score and ten maners and fermes of the citezens and the churches also he setteth on fyre moreouer an exceading great wood that they had whiche serued not them only but also other inhabiters therby of tymber and firewood and burned therof aboue thre thousand acres And he had before this proclaymed open warre to all others there aboutes that wold not obeye both of the nobilitie and others but chiefly to the Byshop of Bamberge and of Wirtemburg whome also in this case he droue to moste vnreasonable conditions And verely the bishop of Bamberge to saue hymselfe and his prouince from present daunger bought peace of him for wonderful losses For he was fayne to geue him .xx. townes signories within his iurisdiction made hym wrytinges of the same the .xix. daye of May and also permitteth him to haue all his wardes and clientes And the Byshop of Dirtemburge payde hym two hondreth twenty thousand crownes and also taketh vpon hym and promyseth to paye his debtes whiche amounted to the summe of thre hondreth and fiftie thousand crownes The cities of Sweuia hauing compassion of this vnworthie and lamentable fortune of the Norinbergians whiche were lately assembled at Auspurge as before is sayd to the nomber of .xxvi. by Ambassadours chosen out of the whole nomber make intercession especially they of Auspurge And whan they were come by saufecoÌduicte to Norinberge alledging many reasons they exhorte them to peace and tell them of the takyng of the strayte passages in the Alpes and of the castell of Erenberge and declare that the state both of Hongarie and Italie is suche that there can be no ayde nor succour loked for of any man After they exhibite the condicions propounded by Marques Albert. They geue them thankes for their good wyll and paynes taken and declare both howe the Marques hath no cause to war against them and also what was treated with Duke Maurice his felowes And because the conditions be suche as partly they are not able to perfourme them and partly can by no meanes be excused to the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando they saye they wyll abyde the extremitie and commit the matter vnto God For they knowe them selues so cleare that they can be contented to be iudged herein not only by the Emperour but by all other Princes also yea by the next frendes kinsfolkes of the Marques him selfe Whan the intercessours had reported these thinges agayne to the Marques and had duely placed their wordes with termes apte and conuenient and he not only relented nothing but also threatened moste cruell thynges The fourth daye of Iune they aduertise them by their letters that his mynde is set all on crueltie and howe they could not bring him to any more reasonable conditions And nowe the Marques shoteth of his ordenaunce into the citie with much more violence than before and one night maketh the batterie more ouer to put theÌ in the more terrour he burneth one of the suburbes And about the same tyme came into the Campe to hym George Thanberge and William Schacthe sent as Ambassadours from Duke Maurice the Lantgraues sonne to make peace They taking to them the Ambassadours of the cities whiche being in dispayre of the matter were els mynded to departe after a long laborious treatie at the length perswade both partes and conclude a peace For the Marques has his armie lately augmented by Iob Dalbeck and Christopher OldeÌburge Erles and Duke Maurice wryting his letters to the senate signified that he was moste greuously offended with this the Marques doinge yet now could not remedie it The condicions of peace were these They should paye two hondreth thousand crownes and deliuer him sixe great pieces of artyllarie with all thinges furnished They should beare their fauour to the Princes confederated as they of Auspurg do That he hym selfe should againe restore suche thinges as he had taken from them Wherfore about the .xx. day of Iune was leuied the siege of the moste famous and mightie citie in maner of all Germany best furnished of all thinges but especially moste strongly fortified The Marques full of lusty courage by reason of thys lucky successe the .xx. daye of Iune wryteth letters to them of Woulmes out of his campe Wherin was conteined howe the Norinbergians to their exceading great hinderaunce by hym vanquished had receiued conditions of peace would do what so he and his fellowes shall coÌmaunde them Nowe therfore is he determined to besege them also but far otherwyse muche more streightly than he did of late And if fortune fauour his pourpose he will spare no mankinde that is past seuen yeares olde except thei retourne in time and immediatly sending Ambassadours do fully satisfie him and his league frendes and also make their purgation of their rebellion lately committed And
And the kinges of FrauÌce for the maintenaunce of religion haue warred many times against thennemies of Christendom The Saracenes Turkes both in Asia Affricke Europe and haue had moste noble victories But after chaunced a time more vnfortunate whan certen Emperours as newly entred and not very Germaines nor worthy of the dignitie haue forsaken that amitie with the kinges of Fraunce and haue induced great calamitie to the common wealth But this sore plage through Gods benefite was healed by the noble house of the Dukes of Lutcemburg out of the whiche haue issued certen Emperours men of great vertue linked moste assuredly to the kinges of Fraunce For the father of themperour Charles the fourth died in battell for the kyng of Fraunce The like good will beare also the Princes of Austriche amongest others Albert the firste who neither for promesse nor threatening of the hyghe Byshops could be brought to warre against Fraunce These thynges he reciteth for this intent that they may see howe euell certen councellours and ministers of the moste puissaunt Emperour Charles the fyfte prouyde for the common wealth whylest they worke not thys thinge only that they plucke a sonder the one from the other these two moste excellent nations but also through their craft and subtiltie haue brought this to passe longe synce that the moste noble Prince kyng Fraunces was iudged an ennemie his cause not harde This do they to their owne priuate gaine but to the exceading great hinderasice of the coÌmmon wealth For how harde it were for them during the amitie of the two nations to infringe the libertie of Germany and to buylde vp that their kyngdome it doeth hereof sufficiently appeare for that they being nowe affrayde of the force of Fraunce be not so importune as they were nor doe not so muche vrge that Spanyshe yoke and bondage These be verely they whiche by intreatie and tributes obteyning peace of the Turke vnder the colour of Religion and obedience haue brought in dissentions and factions into Germany who ayded with the power of Germaynes haue warred against Germany whiche haue exacted money of all men and made the State of the Empyre miserable by placing here and there garrisons of Spanyardes by vnarmyng the armaries and openyng the waye to confiscation For the matter is brought to that passe that bothe the seale of the Empyre and the iudgement of the chamber and also the ryght and libertie of assemblies depende only vpon the pleasure of the Byshop of Arras For what example is this or what equitie is it that suche as to get their liuing serue in foreine warres should be therfore executed outlawed and with great rewardes set forth be in dauÌger of murtheryng to omit in the meane season so many murthers lecherous actes spoylynges and robbinges of townes and especially the handlyng of Religion whiche hath not bene after one maner but diuers according to the tyme. Certenly what so euer hath bene done these many yeares nowe tendeth all to this ende that contrary to the lawes of the Empyre kyng Ferdinando being herunto eyther compelled or els by fayre promesses allured the Prynces also by a certen feare and terrour subdued the Prince of Spayne might be made Emperour And shuld not noble courages wyshe for death rather than to beholde the lyght of the Sun in suche distresse and miseries Assuredly there can no man be imagined so very a coward or so barbarouse whoÌ these thyngs would not moue Wherfore no man ought to maruell that in the ende ther should arrise some Princes and amongest them Duke Maurice thelectour of Saxony which thought it their parts euen with the hazarde of their liues to recouer the libertie of their natife couÌtrie And they being of theÌ selues not able nor of power sufficieÌt to sustein such a charge alone haue desired the ayde of the king of FrauÌce And he doubtles setting a part the displeasure of former yeares hath not only made theÌ partakers of al his fortunes but hath also imploied him selfe wholy to the same busines making a league with them wherein amongest other thinges it is prouided that thei may not coÌpounde with the ennemie but by the kinges consent Howbeit Duke Maurice although he be tied with that same bonde yet for the weale of his countrie and to followe the mynde of kyng Ferdinando requiring him hereunto hath lately demaunded of the moste christian king how he could be content to haue peace Whiche thing chaunced vnto him in dede som what contrary to his expectation for that considering his benefite is so great he supposed that in matters touching him he shuld not haue sent to him a far of but to haue deuised with him presently Neuerthe lesse because he setteth much more by publique thaÌ by his own priuate profites he would deny nothing to a Prince of his confederacie Wherfore if the woundes of the coÌmon wealth may be healed as they ought from henceforth assuraunce made that they breake not out again if the captine Princes may be released vpon suche conditions as be in the league expressed Moreouer in case the olde leagues of Fraunce with the Empire and this new confederacie also made of late with the Princes may so be confirmed that they may take place for euer if these thines I saye may be brought to passe he is so well affected towardes the common wealth that not only he wyll assent gladly to the treatie of peace but also wyl giue God hartie thaÌkes that his aduise and helpe hereunto hath not wanted As touching his priuate matters for so much as the Emperour deteineth many thinges by force and hath made warre vpon no iust cause the king thinketh it reason that he the hath first done wrong should first seke also to make satisfactioÌ He verely althoug he neither distruste his force nor yet his cause will so demeane him selfe that it may be well perceyued both how desirous of peace he is and how willing also to gratifie Duke Maurice them all Hereunto the Princes aunswere Howe that recitall of antiquitie repeted of fourmer memory coÌcerning the coniuÌctioÌ of FrauÌce and Germany was to them right ioyfull and no lesse pleasauÌt to heare that the kyng preferreth the common wealth aboue his priuate coÌmodities and is not against but that the Princes confederate may conclude a peace with the Emperour For that it should so be it is for the profite not only of one nation but also of all Europe whiche afflicted with ciuil discorde ten deth to distruction And suche conditions of peace as the kyng requyreth they doubte not but that they may be obteyned For the Emperour both before this tyme and also in this trouble thinketh well of the common wealth and wyll not haue the libertie of Germany deminished There is good hope moreouer that he wyll shortly delyuer the captiue Princes But that both the olde leagues should be renewed and the newe confirmed the king of his wysdome vnderstandeth that
Saxony They also whiche at the same time became sureties for him Duke Moris thelector of Brandenburge and Wuolfgange Duke of Sainebricke renuing their obligation entre again into bondes The suit that the Lantzgraue hath with the Earle of Nassow for the Lordship of Chats shall be examined by the Princes Electors and of suche also as bothe the plaintife and also the defendaunt shal assign to the same matter of the whiche afterward themperor shall chuse out sixe which shall determin the case yet so that the matter be discussed within two yeres space Within sixe monethes the Emperoure shall holde an assemble of the Empire to consult chiefly howe and by what meaue the dissention of Religion may best be appeased In the meane time all men shall obserue peace and no man shall be molested for religion and what so euer shall be decreed concerning the manner of appeasing Religion by the common assent of the states and by the authority of the Emperor that is to wit that the controuersy may be quieted by godly and rightfull waies the same to be firme and stable Unto the iudiciall place or Chamber of the Empire shall be admitted also those whyche are of the Protestantes Religion All other thinges which proprely concerne the dignity and libertye of Germany ought to be intreated of in the conuention of thempire Otto Henry the Paulsgraue is also permitted frely to enioye his lande and dominion during this warre so many as by geuing their faith to the Princes confederated haue bouÌden them selues vnto them shall be free from all bondes and theyr owne men as before they that haue sustained any domage in this warly tumulte shall commence none action therfore against those that haue done it yet shal it be the part of themperor and states in the nexte assemble to deuise some meane whereby they maye receiue some recompence for the losses they haue receiued As concerning the French king for so much as matters of thempire concern him nothing it shal be lawful for him to declare vnto duke Moris such priuate actions as he hath against themperor that they maye after be related to themperor The outlawes are receiued to mercy so as they attempt nothing hereafter against themperor and thother states so that they also which serue in the French kinges warres retourne againe into Germanye within three moneths cleane forsaking him and his seruice he that shal breake this peace shall be iudged an ennemye Unto all these thinges the princes that wer ther present of the chiefest dignity and the deputies of others subscribed For this pacificatioÌ was deuided at Passaw whiche was signed also by themperor Whan this peace was concluded Fraxineus the Frenche kinges ambassador retourneth home And certenly the king toke this composition greuously but hearing that the Lantzgraue should be in great daunger excepte this compact were made he assented and sent againe the pledges safe into Germany The third day of August Duke Moris and the Lantzgraues sonne departinge from Frankfurt go two seuerall waies This man into Hesse and thother leadeth his army to Donauerde and sendeth them downe the riuer of Thonawe into Hongary against the Turke inuading but that legion which was vnder the leding of Riseberge passing ouer the riuer of Moene went to Marques Albert not withoute the greate care of the Prynces which feared least themperor woulde take an occasion hereby not to dimisse the Lantzgraue Marques Albert liyng before Frankfurt where he might haue bene comprised in the peace and would not The ix day of August he departeth theÌce and traÌsporting his army ouer the rhine ineampeth besides Mentz and broughte the citezens into his subiection About th end of Iuly themperor returning from Uillace to Insprucke and the eight day after departing thence and marchinge throughe Bauier with Almaignes Bohemers Italians and Spaniardes which at the beginning of Iuly arriued at Genes at the conduit of the Duke of Alba the xx day of August came to Auspurge Tharchbishop of Mentz whaÌ he had wandred certain daies in Swenia so sone as he vnderstode of the Emperors comming he taketh his iourney thither At this present time they of Senes through the procurement and aid of the french king cast out a garrison of Spaniards and pull downe a castell that was begon ther to be builded by themperors commaundemeÌt and recouer theyr former libertye In the meane season Marques Albert imposeth a great some of mony to thecclesiasticall persons especially of Mentz and Spiers whan the same could not be leuied by reason that many wer fled he spoyleth the churches of either city and began to take the lead of the cathedrall church at Spier but at the request of the Senate he surceased And at Mentz he burneth the bishops castell standinge by the Rhine his owne lodging and fiue churches Moreouer all the shippes yea those that were laden with wine and wheat And calling away those souldiours of his that he had ther placed in garrison marcheth towards the borders of Treuers The xiii day of August Herman archbishop of Collon a pure aged man ended his life in his natiue couÌtry and had such end as he desired For he had many times wished that either he might setforth the doctrin of the gospel put in good order the churches of his prouince or liue a priuate life and being sometime by his frendes admonished how much enuye he shoulde procure vnto him self by this alteration of religion he was wonte to make them answer how there could chaunce nothing vnto him vnloked for and that his minde was established againste all that might fortune he came of the noble house of the Earles of Weden The Lantzgraue being set at liberty as couenaunte was and taking his iourney homeward whan he was commen to Utrecht a Towne standing by the mase by the commaundemente of Quene Mary regent of Flaunders which was there presente he was attached againe and committed to the custodye of the same Spaniardes which had kept him these v. yeres And the cause hereof was for that Riseberge who had serued the Lantzgraues sonne went with all his force vnto Marques Albert as before is said Wherin the Quene said how the peace was brokeÌ and therfore might not she let him depart before she knewe themperors pleasure therein Duke Moris as I said comminge to the water of Thonawe the xxii day of August sendeth his army before the footemen downe the riuer and the horsmen by lande he him selfe for his priuate affaires rideth home in poste mineding shortly to return to them againe Whan Marques Albert came to the frontiers of Treuers George Holie a captain of themperors had brought ten enseigns of fotemen to defend the citye but kepte oute by the Townes men which refused to haue any garrison he bringeth again his men to Lucemburge And the Marques the xxvii of August sommoneth the towne to be rendred vnto him The next day being receiued he bestoweth his soldiors in the city and places there
immediatly after declared also to others For besides many others displeasures that you did the Bishoppricke of Halberstat which themperor as you knowe hathe committed to my protection you imposed a great some of Monye and spoyled theyr colledges in the country neuerthelesse The same did you also in the Archbishoppricke of Maidenburge which is likewise comprised vnder my tuition and haue exacted Monye of the Northusians and Mullusians And Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke with whome I haue made a league righte honest in dede and not repugnant to the treatye of Passawe you haue persecuted with sword and fire so sone as I had aduertised you by letters of the league and the reast of my fellowes These thinges doubtles be not correspondent to certain of your former letters Now therfore although that king Ferdinando I and our fellowes do greatly desire peace especiallye of Germany euer sence the pacification of Passaw to indeuor that al thinges may be quiet Especially in these parties which thing also very manye of the nobility of Brunswicke which serue now in your camp can testify yet for so much as you haue remoued the war into these parties declare manifestly whan you inuade our fellowes what your inteÌt is Moreouer for so muche as there is a brute that you are hyring of greater forces though it be in an others maÌs name which you are not hable to find except you permit them to robbe and spoyle and worke what mischief they list in so much that not only Frankonie but other prouinces also stand in great danger of you which your selfe can not dissemble whilest you saye you will brynge to passe that no man els shall be in better case than you are For these causes I say and for so muche as you leaue no place vnto Concorde king Fernando I and our fellowes seing we are next the daÌger are constrained to put on armure to repulse from vs violence and iniury to the end we may deliuer our natiue countrye and recouer the Publike quietnesse For this do the lawes of the Empire not only permit but inioyne vs also and the high court of the chambre imperiall commaundeth vs to aid and assist our neighbors of FraÌ konye And althoughe at this time that you leuye men in you pretend to do it in themperors name yet knowe we assuredly that the same is forged and famed For he hath declared what his mind is not only to you but to vs and other also and shortly you shal know more what he thincketh But since this our enterprise is attempted for the common wealthes sake and therfore neaded no declaration of our mind yet to thintent you shall not be ignorant we both do protest that we will do hereafter as the thinge it selfe shall require that this your dissolute and more than Tirannicall cruelty may be suppressed And this verelye in oure owne name and oure fellowes we do you to vnderstand and hear testify that the blame of all the calamity that shall chaunce in this warre is wholy to be imputed vnto you which will come to no reasonable condition nether doubt we this also but the euerliuing God will assiste rather those that seke the safegard of their countrye than him that goeth about destruction and warreth on his natiue country What time these letters were deliuered in the campe of Marques Albert the Ambassadoures of the electoure of Brandenburge were sente to perswade a peace Whan he had red the letters he coÌsulteth of the matter with his captaines demaundeth of them whether they will take his part Who affirming he calleth for the yong geÌtleman that brought the letters and tourning his talke to him Thy Prince saith he hathe thrise broken his faith before this and hath done wickedly thys is the fourth fact of the same sort let him come hardly I wil proue what he can do This tell him in my name With these wordes he geueth him certaine crownes in rewarde and sendeth him a waye There the ambassadoures that were intercessors shall we do nothing than say theyrnothing saith he you may retourne home Whan therfore he perceiued the waight of the warre he sendeth Duke Ericke of Brunswick to the Emperor the third day of Iuly and signifieth vnto him how through the policy of certen ther wer many aduersaries raised againste him whiche indeuor that the couenaunts be not only not kepte but also that he might be expulsed out of al his lands and possessions by reason of a new conspiracy and that is he able to proue that certen Princes electors and the chiefest of all Germanye haue conspired to chuse a newe Emperour And the cause why the Bishoppes be so sore against him is long of the iudges of the Chamber He prayeth hym therfore that he would not be offended if he shall attempt ought against them His aduersaries also to bryng hym in hatred and to allure mo vnto them haue reysed this brute of him as though he hath conspyred with him to oppresse the libertie of Germany This doubtlesse haue certen Prynces obiected vnto hym and letters are caste abroade in Germany as sent from the Byshop of Arras howe he verely for this intent hyreth an armie that he myght accomplyshe his wyll For the Duke of Alba shall brynge his sonne the Prynce of Spayne into Germany to the next conuention of the Empyre that he may be denounced the successour of the Empyre With this is kyng Ferdinando so fully perswaded that entryng into league with his ennemies he hath proclaimed warre againste hym He hath verely excused this vnto many ryght dilligently but the suspicion increaseth dayly Therfore is he subiecte vnto great perilles and daungers in a maner for this cause only that he wyll not forsake his frendshyp Wherfore he humbly besecheth hym that he wyll bothe ratifie those compositions of the Byshoppes and also defende hym and his This if he wyll doe he wyll brynge vnto hym whan the matter shall be agreed vpon .ix. thousande horsemen and an hondreth enseignes of footemen In the meane tyme the Norinbergians and the Byshops in the absence of Marques Albert inuade his dominion he publishyng letters blamed sore them of Norinberge as those that had broken their fayth and conuenauntes and entrynge into league with the faulse Byshoppes imbraced agayne the Popishe doctrine Wherunto they afterwarde setting forth a boke make aunswere and recite the whole matter in order euer synce the yeare before howe cruel warre he hath kept how they made compacte with hym howe after by the Emperours permission and consente they made a league with the Byshoppes aboute them howe he hathe refused mooste reasonable conditions offered by the same Byshoppes and againe moued warre agaynste them and howe at what tyme bothe for the league made and also for the commaundement of the Chamber they ayded theyr fellowes he inuaded agayne theyr Countrie lately Amongest others of hys wycked Actes they recite this as a rare example of suche
chayne of Golde as a token of honour Fiue of them studied at Losanna Frenchemen in dede borne but founde at the charges and liberalitie of the Lords of Bernes Whan therfore they had heard that they were taken and vnderstode their dauÌger they made diligent sute to the king desiring him thei might be geuen to them But it was in vayne where the kyng alledged that he might not doe it by the lawes The Cardinall of Tournon was thought to haue bene the occasion hereof I spake a litle before of the death of the moste noble Prince Edwarde the sixte kyng of England He was in a consumptioÌ and in the moneth of Ianuary he fell sicke And where as his sicknes increased being carefull for his Realme and Religion he conferreth with his counsell of the matter and inquireth of them vnto whome chiefly he should committe the gouernmeÌt For albeit that king Henry his father whaÌ he died had appointed next in succession vnto him Mary and Elizabeth as before is sayd yet for so muche as he him selfe was of lawefull yeres he accoumpted it to lie in his power to make his heire especially seing that moste men doubted of the lawful birth of his syster and Mary was also of the Byshop of Romes Religion which if she should haue the gouernment he sawe howe there was great daunger least both this present Religion should be subuerted and the Realme also be gouerned by a straunger Wherfore after deliberatioÌ had it was agreed to chose the lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady FrauÌces nece to kinge Henry the eight Whan the rest of the Counsell and the Maior of London and the Lordes of the Realme had this allowed The Archebyshop of Cantorbury primate of Englande was sent for to the court that he myght subscribe whiche he refuseth to doe vnlesse he maye first heare the kyng speake Wherfore being admitted to his speache whan he had reasoned the matter with him familiarly as he laye he asseÌted being of him earnestly required hereunto Whan the kyng was departed whiche was the syxt daye of Iuly as before is sayd the fourth daye after the Lady Iane is proclaimed Quene and a proclamation openly set forth howe kyng Edwarde by the consent of his Nobles for moste weighty causes had disherited the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth his systers and lefte the succession of the Realme to the Lady Iane. The Nobilitie and commons toke this moste displeasauntly not so muche for the loue of the Lady Mary as for the hatred of the Duke of Northumberlande where no man in a maner doubted but that he was the authour of this counsell to the intent that by this meane he myght as it were conuey the kingdome into his own house Whylest these thinges were a workyng the Lady Mary fleeth into Norfolke and from thence to the castell of Framingham in Suffolke and wryting abroade for ayde taketh vpon her as Quene That knowen the Duke of Northumberlande assembleth a power and setting forth of LondoÌ marcheth towardes her by the consent of the reste to apprehende her But in the meane season the counsellours that remayned in the citie perceiuing the hartes of the people that the forces of Norfolke and Suffolke resorted to Quene Mary chaunging their myndes and pourpose proclaimed Quene Mary and kepe the lady Iane in pryson After these newes came into the Campe al meÌ for the moste parte bycause they serued against their wylles hated the Duke do reuolte And whan letters and commission came from Frammingham thei take the Duke at Cambridge and the .xxv. daye of Iuly bryng him agayne into the citie It is vncredible with what rebukes railinges the people receiued hym whylest some cal him traytour some parracide others the murtherer of the moste innocent kyng For in as much as he was thought to haue brought his sonnes wyfe to the Roial crowne there arose a suspicion that he had imagined these thynges longe before and layde in wayte for the kynges lyfe After were apprehended his sonnes and his brother and certeÌ other Nobles and the kynges scholemaister Sir Iohn Cheke knight a maÌ of great vertu and learning Yet was he discharged afterwardes but put in a maner from all his lsuing After came Quene Mary to London entring into the holde which they call the Towre deliuereth out of prison the Duke of Norfolke who had bene almoste seuen yeares in captiuitie Gardiner Byshop of Winchester and Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and certen other Byshops of the popyshe Religion whiche had bene put from their Byshoprikes and restoreth them to their fourmer places And certenly that byshop of Winchester although in bookes set forth he had defended the doing of king Henry what tyme he diuorsed him selfe from the Lady Katherine the mother of Quene Mary as in the .ix. booke is mentioned yet nowe he obteined the place of the chauncelour whiche is there the highest degree of dignitie For where the lady Katherine alledged the Byshop of Romes licence Iuly the second who had confirmed that matrimony and the kyng againe sayde it was naught and therfore sent the Byshop of Winchester before he was Byshop to Rome that Clement might pronouÌce thesame frustrate Who comming thither in the moneth of February in the .xxix. yeare was an importune suter The Bishop of Rome who as the prouerbe is helde the woulfe by both eares where as both he coueted to gratifie the kyng and also feared themperours displeasure aunswereth that he wyll wryte to themperour that the true licence vnder seale might be shewed He assenteth in dede but he requireth to haue two monethes only appointed for the same matter Whan that tyme shal be runne out Gardener requireth the the licence might be compted vnlawfull But that thought the Byshop of Rome both straunge and also vnreasonable and seketh with gentle wordes to satisfie the kyng But the Ambassadour tolde hym playnly that vnles he might obteyne the kynges request it would be to the great hinderaunce of the See of Rome Agayne the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando the .xxvii. daye of Aprill by Ambassadours declare their grief and expostulate with byshop Clement that he fauoured the kyng onermuche and would haue the matter iudged in Englande and also appointed their procurers with large and ample commission whiche should treate and followe the cause in their names at Rome Wherfore the Byshop commaunding at the last Campegius to retourne home reuoketh the suite to him selfe so much the rather for that he vnderstode by the Cardinall of Yorke of the kynges new loue as I said in the .ix. booke The .xxii. daye of August the Duke of Northumberland coÌdemned of treasoÌ was beheaded and whan he was brought to the Scaffolde made an oration and amonges other thinges he exhorteth the people to perseuer in the same religion whiche they had receiued of their forefathers as it wer from hand to hande For he iudgeth this to be the only cause of
thys wyse pacified them she appointed certen to defende the citie and assigneth the Erle of Penbroke to haue the charge abroade Nowe was Wiat proclaimed before by an Heraulte of Armes Rebell and Traytour to the Realme and to bryng hym in greater hatred there were read his requestes sent vnto the Quene wherof the fyrste as they saye was that he would haue the Quene in his custody that it should be lawfull for him to determine concerning her mariage and either to reteine or displace her counsellours at his pleasure The third daye after was proclaimed a pardon to all the coÌmon people so that they would forsake the captaines and authours of rebellion and to him that would bring Wiat prysoner was appointed a great rewarde The Duke of Suffolke was also accompted in the nuÌber of traitours And wheras the same daye the conspiratours came nere vnto the citie the Quene cutteth in two London bridge ouer the Ryuer of Temse least any should go out to them The next day thei come into Southwarke supposing that the citezeÌs would haue ioyned with them But they were holden in with a garrison In the meane season the Duke of Suffolke is taken in an other parte of the Realme by the Erle of Huntington whome the Quene sent after him with horsemen Whan the confederates had spent two daies at the citie and traueled on that syde in vayne taking an other way they passe ouer the Temse at King stone ten miles aboue London and so marche towardes the citie There at the laste was Wiat and his felowes intercepted of that power whiche the Quene had sent out with the Erle of Penbroke and committed to pryson The next daye whiche was the seuenth daye of the same moneth proclamation was made vnder payne of death that who so euer had receiued any of these rebelles into his house should brynge them forthe and present them immediatly A fewe dayes after the Duke of Suffolke is brought prysoner to London And the .xii. daye of February the Duke of Northumberlandes sonne Guilford Dudley and the lady Iane his wyfe the Duke of Suffolkes daughter which after kyng Edwarde I sayde was admitted Quene were both beheaded for that contrary to the lawfull succession they had aspired to the crowne And the Lady Ianes mishappe in a maner all men lamented that so vertuouse a Lady so wel brought vp and so learned should chaunce into so great a calamitie for none other cause verely thaÌ that she had not refused the kingdome offered She made an oration to the people very Godly and modeste and calling to God for mercy through Iesus Christe toke a clothe of one of her gentilwomen and couered her own face and bound it about her eies and than offered to the hangeman her necke to be striken of The self same daye was Corteney Erle of Deuonshire whome the Quene a fewe monethes before had deliuered from long captiuitie agayn taken vpon suspicion of a conspiracie made After this in LondoÌ and Westminster where the Quene than was many were caried to execution and that of the Nobilitie not a fewe Some of them also escaping and amongest them a worthie Knight syr Peter Carrew fled into Fraunce The Duke of Suffolke also the .xxi. daye of February was beheaded whan he had bene condemned foure dayes before Whylest these thynges are done in Englande Sibille of Cleaue the wyfe of Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxon the foresaed .xxi. daye of February departeth at Weymer and the .xi. daye after her the Prynce hym selfe whan he had layen a whyle sicke They died bothe in the true knowledge of God And suerly he whan his wyues tombe was a making in the churche had commaunded a certen place to be reserued for hym by the syde therof for that he should shortely followe after Neyther was he disceaued in his opinion For the thyrd daye of Marche about ten of the clocke before noone whan he had heard a Sermon liyng in his bed callyng vppon Gods mercy and commending his spirite vnto God he flitted out of this myserable life into the heauenly countrie And nowe was the composition made betwene hym and Duke Augustus For where the kyng of Denmarke sendynge Ambassadours as I sayd before made great intercession after much and diuerse and almost an half yeares disceptation now at this tyme was the matter appeased vpon these condicions Iohn Fridericke departeth from the Electourshyp from Meissen and from the Townes of mettell mines Duke Augustus disceasing without Heires males all these thinges retourne to the Duke of Saxon his heires males In the meane tyme the Duke of Saxon may vse the name and the armes of Electourship as well in sealing of letters as in coyninge of monie Duke Augustus also graunteth to hym and to his sonnes certen townes and gouernementes and for the debtes that were behynde of certen fourmer yeares whiche Duke Maurice had not payed to his sonnes he payeth downe to the summe of an hondreth thousand crownes He redemeth also the Castell and towne of Conigsperge standing in Franconie and layed to morgage to the Bishop of Wirtemburge for .xl. thousande crownes and restoreth it to the Duke of Saxon his sonnes Finally the league of inheritaunce of the house of Saxon in these fourmer yeares infringed is renewed and established agayne The same composition Iohn Fridericke lying on his deth bed not long before he ended his lyfe confirmed with his wryting and seale and commauÌded that his sonnes should doe likewyse Wherfore with a noble courage vanquishyng all euilles and miseries wherinto he chaunced he died not in prison nor in the custody of foreine soldiours wheruÌto he was appointed but through the notable benefit of God set at libertie and retourning home to his wyfe his children and his owne religion ended his lyfe moste peaceably leauing to his sonnes and subiectes peace and quietnes His wyfe also the Duchesse hauing her owne wyshe left this earthly mansion For often tymes she had saied that she coulde be content to dye with all her harte so that she might first se her husband safe at libertie And the same many times did she pray to the liuing God for with many teares and sighinges The same daye that she ended her lyfe had Duke August a sonne borne named Alexander In these same dayes the rest of the straungers that were in Englande yea and many of the same natioÌ forsakyng their countrie for the alteration of Religion and the Quenes proclamatioÌs conueye them selues into Germany wherof some tary at Wesell some at Franckefurte and many also at Strasburg Iohn Alascus a Polonian a noble man borne brother to Hierome a man of excellent learning went thence before wynter with diuerse others into DeÌmarke But where as he was ther not very frendly receiued by reason of his contrary opinion touching the Lordes supper and for thesame cause was denied to dwell in the lower partes of Saxony he came at the
common assemblee of the Empire And where certen Princes and cities receiued also this doctrine the fire went further abroade the matter was handled by diuerse meanes tyll at the laste it ended in warre And in all this same description a man may see what care and diligence the Emperour toke that the dissentioÌ might be takeÌ vp It is to be sene also what the ProtestanÌtes and states haue aunswered and what maner of conditions they haue oftentimes offered But when the matter fel out into warre the handling of it was variable and diuerse And the Emperour in dede that I may bryng of many examples one sending his letters to diuerse Princes and cities after also setting forth a publike wryting declared the cause of his enterprise This wrytinge wherin the foundation of themperours cause consisteth with the aunswere of the contrary part might not be omitted For than I praye you what maner of story were it to be thought whiche raccompteth but the doinges of the one part only And yet howe I haue demeaned my selfe herein howe I haue moderated and tempered my style it may be sene by conferring the dutche with the Latin wherunto I referre my selfe also The warre being now driuen of tyll wynter the Emperour had the vpper hande where the ennemies were gone euery man home These victories and triumphes of his also firste in highe Germany and after in Saxonie I recite faithfully all and this order is kept euery where For neither I take awaye nor attribute to any man more than the thing it selfe requireth permitteth whiche thing fewe men haue perfourmed as it is euident For many in the narrations put also their iudgement as well touching the persones as the thinges And to speake nothing of olde wryters it is knowen howe Platine hath described the Popes liues And a litle before our dayes a worthye knyght Sir Philip Commines set forth a notable historie of his tyme and amonges other thinges he sheweth howe after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundy who was slayne in battell a little from Naunce Lewys the .xii. king of Fraunce toke away from the daughter heire of Duke Charles either Burgundy and also the countrie of Artois And albeit that Commynes was bounde to Fraunce by his othe although he were one of the kinges counsell yet he saieth that this was not weldone of him About the .xxiiii. yeares past the Senate of Uenise appointed Peter Bembus to describe the warres which they had made with the Emperour Maximilian with Lewys the Frenche kyng and with Pope Iuly the seconde with others Which he did comprising the matter in .xii. bokes And amongest other matters he reporteth howe Lewys the .xii. kynge of Fraunce denounced warre to the Uenetians He sayeth howe the Herault of armes after that he came before the Duke and the whole Senate spake these wordes To thee Lawredane Duke of Uenise and to all other citezens of the same Lewys kyng of Fraunce commaunded me to denounce warre as to meÌ vnfaithfull possessing townes of the Byshoppes of Rome and of other kynges gotten by force and by wronge and sekyng to catche and bryng al thinges of al men disceiptfully vnder your gouernement He him selfe cometh to you armed to recouer the same These wordes would some man saye for as much as they be heinouse against the Uenetians Bembus shoulde haue omitted But he would not so but wrote them out of the coÌmon recordes into his boke and added to the aunswer made to the Herault no lesse byting And the workes was printed at Uenise with the priuilege of the Senate Paulus Iouius besides other wrytinges wherin he compriseth the forces of certen noble meÌ hath not loÌg since set forth also two Tomes of thinges done in his tyme But howe frankely he wryteth those that haue red them can testifie Not withstanding that in certen places he doth the Germanes wrong And yet the same worke came forth authorised by sondry priuileges Who so wyll may seke the ninth leafe of the seconde Tome also in the life of Leo the .x. leafe .xciii. and .xciiii. And in the lyfe of Alphonse Duke of Farrare leafe .xlii. All the bokes of good authours be full of examples And Comines is for this cause chiefly commended that he wrote so indifferently But he kepeth this maner as I sayde also before that not only he discribeth the thinges but also addeth his iudgement and pronounceth what euery man hath done be it right or wrong And albeit that I do not so yet is it vsed of many But that whatsoeuer is done on either part should be recited that same is not only reasonable but being frequented in all times is nedefull also For otherwyse can not the History be compiled Where so euer be factions where war and sedition is there doubtles are al thinges full of complaintes accusations and defensions with other coÌtrary wrytings Now he that reciteth all these thinges in suche order as they were done doeth iniurie to neither part but followeth the lawe of the story For in those brawlinges and complaintes euery thing is not by by true that one obiecteth to an other When there is grudge hatred and malice amonges them it is knoweÌ and tried howe the matter is vsed on either syde If the euill wordes that Popes and Byshops and suche other lyke haue powred out against the Protestauntes .xxxvi. yeares past were true what thinge could be imagined more wicked than they Paule the thirde being Pope sent his nephewe by his sonne Cardinall Farnese Ambassadour to the Emperour to Brussels the yeare of our Lorde M. ccccc.xl He there gaue counsell against the Protestauntes whiche not long after was set forth in printe and is of me recited in the .xiii. boke of my History After many contumeliouse wordes amonges other he sayth that the protestauntes do resiste Christ no lesse but rather more thaÌ the Turkes do For these sleye the bodies only but they leade The soules also into euerlasting pardition I pray you what more heynouse or horrible thing can be spoken And in case these thinges shuld not haue bene recited then might the Protestauntes haue hed iust cause of complaint against me but the matter is farre otherwise For neither be thinges true because he said so And if I should haue omitted this I might iustly haue commen into suspition as though I handled not the matter vprightly and would gratify more the one part And that it is thus as I haue plainly declared I doubt not but reasonable men will iudge that I haue done nothing contrary to the law of an history and so much the rather for that the moste thinges are taken out of common recordes which had ben setforth in Print before Therfore they do nothinge frendly no they do me plaine wronge which thus do sclaunder my worcke and so much the more wronge if they vnderstand thorder of compiling an history but if they knowe it not I would they should learne of such thinges as we