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 wōderfull 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 quēch 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 diligēce 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 thē 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 kyngdō 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 thē take goodhede lest whilest they go about to abolish those lesser sectes they fal into more pernicious as al those Romish be vtterly vncurable Frō 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 〈◊〉 Boheme do reuolte yet will he set forth and commende the doctrine of Husse vnto all posteritie Wherfore he praieth and exhorteth them 〈◊〉 perseuer in that state of Religion whiche they haue defended 〈◊〉 with muche bloud and valeauntnes neither through their 〈…〉 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
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 thā 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 thē if both the gouernment and possession of landes and goodes should be left vnto them whiche should both forsake and impugne their Religiō 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 ignoraūt 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 cōfession 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 opiniō had now ben brought to a good ende But why we should not admitte that cōdicion 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 cōdemne 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 incōuenience 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 religiō 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 commaundemētes 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 Religiō 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
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 declaraciō of his fayth The byshop of Ascula executed his commaundemēt 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 whā he is brought thither that he be apprehēded 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 thē And to this precept he byndeth all men the Emperour only excepted but in no wyse wylleth that any other mās 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 cōplaintes 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 mā 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 punishemēt than shal the duke whiche wold no longer suffer such a pestilēt fellow be clere of al blame And for his own part he was of such clemēcie 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 mā 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 indifferēt 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
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 sclauÌ„ders to hate the trew doctrine The weightines of the cause also requireth that many of vs should come to the couÌ„sell 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 coÌ„cerneth 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 caÌ„do 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 innoceÌ„t persons froÌ„ wroÌ„g violeÌ„ce 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 FrauÌ„ces 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 coÌ„mission 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 lâ—cre 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 NoueÌ„bre 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
inioye theyr commodytyes on eyther partie and parte of those goodes to be imployed to the fynding of the mynisters of the Churche of free Schooles and the poore the iudges of the Chamber shall kepe theyr place vntyll the tyme prefixed whan the same shal be expired than shall all be receyued into that nomber indifferently without respecte of relygion The decre of Auspurge and all actions commenced agaynst the Protestantes for doctryne sake the case also of Goslarie and Minden to hang in suspence vntill the nexte treaty The Anabaptistes to suffer punishement long synce for them determined Yet shall the magistrates assigne learned and godlye men to shewe them theyr errour and call them agayne to amendemente The Catholickes mislyked thys decree and resisted it withal theyr force But when the byshopes of Collon Munster held with the Protestantes also the duke of Cleaue and the Marques of Baden referred althinges to thēperours pleasure which after lōg disceptation had deuised thys way as a meane tollerable for both parties They being wel shortned of their nūbre say that certēly they wil not assent to it howbeit they will not prescribe themperour nor resyst hys authorytie but are cōtent to suffer it Friderick the Paulsgraue the Marques of Brandenburge Princes electours had intreated that it might be thus decreed The protestātes desired also that the duke of Brūswickes case might haue ben cōprised in the same decree but it could not be obtayned themperour vrged thē that eyther they should restore him or els permit vnto him the prouince by sequestration til the matter be tryed And therof he treated with the Duke the Lantzgraue when they were present and after theyr departure moche more with theyr deputies The Cities at the fyrst refused the ayde of the French warre by reason of theyr intercourse and trade of Marchandise But what tyme the Prynces had assented and the Frenche kynges cause was full of hatred they subscribed also thoughe sore agaynste they re willes especyally that were nere vnto Fraunce The Ambassadours of the Dukes of Luneburge and wirtemberge refused also but they were admonysshed priuately and chastened in woordes that they alone shoulde not lette the good will of the residewe Whan the Lātzgraue was ready to goe home and came to take hys leaue of Themperoure he had most gentle intertaynement And Themperoure said howe he wolde not trouble hym at thys tyme to serue agaynste the Frenche Kynge for thys cause only that he wolde not bringe hym into hatred but whan thys warre is doone he wyll goe streight waye agaynste the Turke and than wyll he make hym hys lyeutenaunte and generall of all the warre And whan he with a certen modestie excused and abased hymselfe as vnmete for suche a charge you haue done righte well or euer nowe sayeth Themperoure bothe for youre selfe and for the others And we doubte not but that you can doe vs also ryght good seruice with these wordes taketh hys leaue of hym moste Frendely He beyng full of good hope and ioyefull that he had Themperoure so moche hys good Lorde whan he had declared the same to certen of hys Frendes retourneth home Touching the sequestration after longe and moche pleadinge they agreed that all the landes of the Dutchie of Brunswicke should be committed to Themperoure as to the hyghe Magistrate tyll the case were heard and determined eyther frendely or by ryghte and lawe And that Themperour shoulde committe the gouernement of the Contrye eyther to the Paulsgraue or to the Electoure of Brandenburg moreouer to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleaue They that shall not abyde thys ordre to suffer the penaltye of breakynge the Publycke Peace That Themperoure doe aduertyse the Duke of Brunswicke to obeye the same yf not to punish him according to the lawes of thempire These condicions at the last Themperour propounded herin perseuered Thā did the protestantes ratifie the same as shal be declared herafter The assēblie being ous finsshed thēperour goeth frō Spier to Mētz Nowe was all his armie assembled in Lorayne vpon the borders of Fraunce And about th ēd of May he had recouered the citie of Lucēburg by cōposition In this warre ther serued thēperour duke Maurice of Saxonie the Marques Albert with ether of them a thousand Horsemen moreouer Counte william of Furstemburge Captayne of the footemen and Sebastian Sherteline all of the Protestantes relygion Whylest Themperour was at Mentz there was takē in Lorayne Huberte Erle Richlynge a Germane that serued the Frenche kynge beyng brought to Mentz he is condēned to suffer The Coūtesse hys wyfe whan she was comen thither and fel downe prostrate at Themperours feete coulde fynde no fauoure And nowe were all thynges prepared for the executiō At the length was procured Maximylyan the sonne of kyng Fernando whom Themperour had lately receyued he in th ende obtayned hys pardon and saued hys life In the meane tyme Barbarousse eyther for that hys bufynes requyred so orheyng perswaded by the kynge or els fearyng leste the Frenche Kyng should conclude a peace with Themperoure retourneth home and what so euer places by the Sea syde apperteyned to Themperoure or thempire he inuadeth and spoyleth But from the Bisshop of Romes landes he refraineth as it is most lyke by the French kinges perswasion Themperours armye marchynge forewarde taketh the Towne and Castell of Lyney three myles from Barrey And from thence goeth to Sandesyre a Frenche Towne standyng vpon the riuer of Marne which was kept with a stronge garrison ouer whom Mounser Landren was Captayne who so valeauntely the yere beefore had defended the Towne of Landersey from Themperour and from Thenglishemen Whilest these thynges are thus a woorkynge Anthony the Duke of Lorayne departeth out of this lyfe not so moch for age as for thoughte and care he tooke for thys nere and almoste domesticall warre whom Fraunces hys sonne succeded whiche had maryed Themperours Nece Christine as before is sayde In thys meane whyle the Kyng of England sendeth ouer the Sea to Caleis the Duke of Northfolke with one Armye who marchynge throughe Bollonois went and beseged Moustrell here Maximilyan Countiede Bure by Themperours accorde serued the Kynge of England And immedyately after sente an other stronge Armye with the Duke of Suffolke who layed sege to Bollogne and thyther came the king in person The Frenche Kynge had appoynted Gouernoure there Mounser Ueruyne a man of honoure Whan Themperour had enuironed Sādesyre with his army he maketh the Batteri the Bretch onse made geueth thassault at that Ides of Iuly but where the townes men stode to theyr owne defence moste valeauntelye Themperialles were repulsed and fyue hondreth Soldiours slaine Fynally in the seconde moneth what tyme Landrey the gouernoure was slayne with the fall of an House and the Gunners wanted pouder the Towne was rendred Durynge thys seege Renate Prynce of Orenge beeynge stryken with a greate Peece
Lātzgraue neuerthelesse prepareth for the battell and styll shoutyng of his ordenaunce approcheth nere hys enemye and stayeth aboute fyue hōdreth passes from hym and sendeth woorde to Duke Morys by Cōrade Haustē how he cānot 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 thē 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 thē that they should teare in pieces their enseignes promiseth hym vpō theyr fydelytie that they shoulde not serue agaynste hym nor hys fellowes within these sixe monethes Than taketh he a waie from thē all theyr munition to the nomber of xviii pieces with all that therunto belongeth and marching foreward recouereth the Castel of Stēbrucke 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 Saxō 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 sōne were takē the Duke of Saxon the Lantzssaue immediatly signifye to themperour by letters the whole matter inasmoch as he contēninge 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 Sequestratiō before conuenaunted After thys the last of October the Lantzgraue accusing countie Ritberge to themperour making mētion 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 cōfederacy 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 hādes And albeit he wold haue wisshed that he had accepted the condiciō of sequestration yet seing the matter is cōmen 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 aūswered 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 whō 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
of Germany bryng al other states into their subiectiō 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 cōfederacie the chiefest cities of Germany through their force furniture haue gottē the landes possessiōs 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 thā shal become thē 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 thē again that go forth without their licēce 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 thē to worke no displeasure against them and last to signifie vnto thē 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 mē but chiefly their owne subiectes to waite narrowly that such men be apprehēded 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 coūtrey that they take diligent hede to thē selues For lately not far frō Weynmar a town of Turing a certen Italian was taken of suspiciō who cōfessed that he diuerse others had money giuē them at Rome in the byshops name that they shuld with fiering poyson do as much hurt in Germany as they possible might Cōcerning their outlawyng how themperour sent a copy therof to the Duke to the Lantgraue I haue shewed you before Wherfore whā they had receiued it in their cāpe at Ingolstad the secōd day of Septēber in the defēce of their honor estimatiō they answer in a very lōg wryting That he so highly cōmendeth his zeale good wil to-many it is nothing but dissimulatiō 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 religiō For his purpose hath bene alwayes the hauing oportunitie he might oppresse the sincere doctrine For so oft say they as he graūted peace vnto vs our religiō he did it craftely for a time only vntil we had giuē 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 cōfirme And yet two yeres since in the cōuention at Spier whan mention was made therof he sayd how he did remēber no such declaratiō The last yeare in the cōuention 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 Frēch 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 Wirtēberg 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 thē selues wherby they licked vs of our money Therfore it is playn that he intended alwayes the distructiō of religiō as the late cōfederacie 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 hād with vs that we shuld submit our selfs to the bishop of Romes coūsel but why we might not so do it is
he shall prescribe that will he be ready to accomplishe But he preuailed nothing for all these praiers was oftētimes by his kepers which were Spaniardes remoued frō place to place first from Donauerde to Norling Than to Hailbrune after to Hale in Sweuia Whilest the Emperoure attempteth these thinges in Germany the Masse is abrogated in Englande by acte of Parlaiment And not longe after was apprehended Stephen Bishop of Winchester who contended that the lawes whiche were made in the kinges noonage were of none effect He was commaūded the yere before to kepe his own house and not to come abrode but being newlye enlarged whan he was thoughte to haue thaimged his opinion he made a Sermon before the king and his counsell in the which whan he had declared his minde he was committed to warde The Emperoure the. xiiii day of Iune commaundeth to be red vnto the Cleargy the fourme of reformation as they call it In the which were contained these Chapiters following of ordeininge of the offices of the ecclesiasticall state of Monasteries of scholes of hospital houses of the ministration of Gods word of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the Ceremonies of the Masse of the Ceremonies of the Churche of the discipline of the Cleargye and laietie of the Pluralitie of benefices of visitations of Saintes of excommunication And amonges other thinges are these setfor the chiefly that such as come to take holy orders be diligentlye examined of their belief of maners and learning but especiallye of heresies spread abrode chiefly in this time and whether they beleue the same that the catholicke apostolicke and Church of Rome doth beleue The inquisition of manners is commaunded to be made as s Paule prescribeth in the thirde chapter of the firste Epistle to Timothe but that same which Paule amonges other thinges admonisheth that the minister of the Church shoulde be the husbande of one wife which could well gouerne his house and had obediēt and faithfull children is cleane omitted That no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop except he be first Priest or promise to receiue the reast of the orders so shortly as is possible That Bishops take cure of their shepe and fede them with doctrine and with the sacramentes That they also visite ofte their Churches and ouersee that other Ministers do theyr dutye that the wolues do not wortye the flocke That the monasticall life be instituted againe in places where it is left That in scholes be nothing taughte excepte it be agreable to the Catholike Church That the Sacramentes and Ceremonies of the Churche be ministred in the Latin tounge least if the people vnderstand them they should come in contempte That the Canon of the Masse remaine whole and be spoken softlye to the intente those tremblable misteries maye retaine theyr aunciēt dignitye That in accustomed Ceremonies nothinge be aultered that Salte Water Hearbes the Paschall Lambe newe frutes also Temples Churches Chappels Chalices Aultares Coopes Uestmentes and Uessels belonginge to the Churche be hallowed throughe Prayer againste the deceites of the Deuill and inchantmentes That Tapers shall burne in the Churche and Incense be sacrificed Moreouer that supplications be made at the Churches dedicated to Sainctes let the Cleargye liue temperatelye and sobrely and eschue whoredome let them put awaye their Concubines or els be punished That the ciuile Magistrate shall assiste the Byshoppes that a reformation be made of manners and Discipline And that the Ecclesiasticall liberties may be wholye mainteined let the Saintes in euerye diocesse be put in vre againe and kepte twise euerye yeare wherein shall inquisition be made of euerye mannes manners and vices suche as may not otherwise be reformed shall be excommunicated let al men flee theyr speach and companye and not to be receiued againe into the Communion before they humbly desire forgeuenesse and promesse amendment This reformation being red the day before saide the Bishoppes after a little deliberation do confirme and saye that shortlye after they be come home they will kepe Saines howe be it in diuers thinges they desire that the Bishoppe of Rome maye be moued to geue his assente This boke also was after put forthe in Printe I shewed you before of the Ambassadoures of the Cities howe they signified the matter home but whereas they of Strausburge whiche were the chiefest of them were longe or euer they aunswered The Emperoure calleth vppon them by Granuellan who the .xxviii. day of Iune sendeth for the ambassadoures whereof Iames Sturmie was the principall and there by Henry Hasy which was interpretoure saieth howe they knowe in what sorte the states requested the Emperoure and put him in truste to deuise some meane which mighte be obserued till the Counsell whiche thinge he hathe done accordinglye and hathe caused learned men to compile a Booke which al the Princes a fewe excepted and the chiefest Cities haue approued And wheras they and certaine others intreated themperoure that they might aduertise theyr Senate at home he graūted them and hathe loked euer sence for an aunswere And that he hath heard nothinge hitherto he is somewhat offended and therefore hathe commaunded him to knowe what theyr meaning is They whan they had declared the cause of their longe scilence exhibite letters addressed to the Emperoure from the Senate Howe they wished for nothing more than that they might gratify him in all thinges but they and theyr Citezens were perswaded that in case they should throughly admit this decre they shuld bothe hurt their owne conscience also osfēd God most greuously seing he of his wisedome can consider how terrible a thing that were they desire him for Christes sake that in so waightye a matter whiche concerneth not landes or goodes but the saluation of their soules and life euerlasting he would haue some consideration of thē and as he hathe done to others of the contrary parte so he woulde permit also that they mighte vse the Religion confessed at Auspurge vntill the decree of the generall counsel as ofte times in assembles hathe bene determined and not compell them to professe otherwise with their mouth than theyr heart thincketh and they wil againe foresee that in their City be nothing done vnreuerently or against Religion and that euill opinions take no place And that no cause of complaint be geuen to their neighboures Whan Granuellā had heard these letters he saieth how the Emperour hath had alwais a good opinion of their Citie and for as muche as all for the moste parte haue commended and ratified the decree made let them not thincke to be exempted For they are commaunded to admitte no suche kinde of aunswer therefore is this Supplication in vaiue wherefore let them aunswere plainely what the minde of the Senate is Hereunto they saye where the matter was committed to the Emperoure that did they and the other ambassadours vnderstand euermore of Politike matters and not of Religion for that they supposed it
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 coūtry shuld be lost seing therefore that the case standeth thus at the laste is he awaked and William the Lantzgraue the sonne of Phillip whōe 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 deliuerāce of the Lātzgraue 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 Brādenburge publisheth a wryting in manner of the same effecte and complaineth that the liberty of Germany is oppressed enē 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 cōmaunded 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 lōg 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 lāguages 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 commaūded 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
carefulnes I haue suppressed the parte of the proclamation touching the Lordes supper promysing hereafter all diligence that a reconcilement may be had For what causes I can not reuolte from the lawes and ceremonies of the churche I haue shewed For both Christ sayeth that the church must be heard and also the thing it selfe teacheth the fourmer age whiche renewyng nothing abode in the Religion of their forefathers to haue bene muche more quiet and fortunate in all thinges than this is nowe where all thinges are tourmoyled with sectes and dissentions and many men rauished toste hither and thither with euery wynde of doctrine Wherby I would the rather haue thought that you would not haue answered in this sorte And nowe albeit that this aunswere of yours may be throughly confuted yet for as much as we must treate of contributions and subsidies and therof shortly determine vnlesse you be determined to suffer extreme miserie I wyll not be ouer longe trusting also that you wyl doe both as the matter it selfe and also as the consideration of your dutie requyreth They agayne solicite the same thing and saye howe they can not leaue it And in case they can obteyne nothinge they saye it wyll be the cause that the same consultation of geuing him ayde wyl surely be hindered and letted For that they haue no commission to promyse any thing herein vnlesse they haue first good assuraunce for Religion and Ministers of the churche and for Scholemaisters that they may be authorised to teache frely In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswick taketh to wyfe the sister of Sigismunde king of Poole About this tyme dieth Iohn Isemburg Byshop of Treuers and hath Iohn Ley his successour The .xxvi. daye also of the same moneth departeth at Alzeme Fredericke the Pausgraue Prince Electour a man of great yeares Whome Otto Henrick his brothers sonne succedeth who had lōg since receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and was in daunger therfore to haue lost al his possessions Taking an othe of his people he commaundeth by and by that no man within his dominion should say Masse or vse any other ceremonies Of the trouble that Osiander styred vp in Prusse who had brought in a newe doctrine of iustificatiō is spoken in the xxii boke But where as the moste part of learned men reprehended that opinion Albert Duke of Prusse by open wryting professeth that he wyll followe the doctrine of the confession of Auspurg He commaundeth therfore the ministers of the churche that they teache according to the same and promyseth to saue them harmeles in case they obeye And to the ende the matter might be throughly appeased Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge sonne in lawe to the Duke of Pruse a Prince excellently learned going thither and hauing learned men about hym brought Iohn Funccius who was chief of the secte of Osiander to that poinct that both he acknowledged his errour and affirmed that he would confesse it openly and would hereafter teache after the confession of Auspurg Where as others would do the same they were agreed with the other diuines and the state of the churche was appeased The fourth daye of Marche began to shine a blasing starre and is sene by the space of twelue dayes In this moneth the Ambassadours of Princes and cities mete at Regēspurge and treate the cause of Marques Albert of Brandenburge For his aduersaries in the counsell of the last yeare had againe required the ayde of Princes against him but through the mediatiō of his frendes and that the matter should be heard by intercessours Where he therfore in the moneth of February of this yere came out of Fraūce into Germany his matter was heard the causes of thempire differred till the moneth of Aprill The Archebishop of Cantorbury already condēned after the death of Ryddley Latimer retourned to prison as before is said the .xxi. of this moneth is burnt at Oxforde Certen daies before being put in some hope of life through the perswasion of certen he had reuoked diuerse articles of doctrine neither shewed he constancie And when he sawe he must die he made an oration to the people and speaking many thinges of the amendement of life of maners to the ende he might haue his audience attētiue at the lēgth sheweth how greuously he had offended God by denying of the truthe reciting the chief articles of doctrine declareth briefly what he thought and confirmeth Papistrie to be the kingdome of Antichriste He had no so ner said so but he was had thence not without moste bitter railyng wordes to the place of execution And when he came thither stretching forth his right hand this hād saith he hath wickedly offended in subscribing to the wicked opinions which the ennemies of the truthe had propounded to me Wherfore it shall first suffer punishment Thus being tied to the stake so sone as the fire began to burne he stretched forth his hande into if as far as he coulde reache that it might first fele the torment And so was burnt the primate of Englande a man of greatest learning authoritie From the time that the Popishe marke was taken from him they call it degrading whiche is wont to be done with many cerimonies they put vpon him a most vile garmēt so brought him forth amonges the people to be laughed at But many hauing cōpassion of his vnworthy chaūce could not kepe thē frō sheding of teares although thei doubted nothing but that he should flitte out of this miserable lyfe in to the heauenly countrie and life euerlasting His promotions got Cardinall Poole made Archebyshop when he had Massed before And like as they of Austriche so also the Bauariās sollicited Albert their Duke cōcerning religiō in maner at the same time The Duke seing that kyng Ferdinando his father in lawe had permitted some thing to his subiectes he also when he exacted mony graunted some thing for a time that they might receiue the Lordes supper whole and on daies prohibited when necessitie requireth to eate flesh Howbeit he prosesseth with many wordes that he wyll not departe from the Religion of his auncesters nor alter any thing in ceremonies such other thinges for the same not to be lawfull for him to doe without the consent of his supreme Magistrate both spirituall and temporall And where he permitteth these two to be for a tyme only tyll some thing be established by publique authoritie or a reconcilement made For he wyll that his proclamations of fourmer tyme concerning Religion be exactely and stryghtly kept these two thinges only excepted He wyll procure also as muche as in him lieth that the Metropolitane and Byshops shall confirme this graunte and that they shall not for this cause seke to moleste any man This proclamation was written the daye before the Kalendes of Aprill The Metropolitan of whome he speaketh is the Archebyshop of Salisburg At this time certen noble men of
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 thā the rest whē 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 alteratiō 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 religiō 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
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 agaīst 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 mā 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 thē 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 mā 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 Brādēburge the Duke of Saxonie of the same name If it chaunce so thē 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 religiō 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 mē 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 cōsyder 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
saufe consciēce 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 coūtrefeit 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 tēth 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 propoūded 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 pardō 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 secōde 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 commēde 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
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 attēpted 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 lōg after these newes wer brought Leo departed not without the suspicion of poysening He was sōne 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 Hollāder 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 coūsel 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 Lōdon 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 whē 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 thē 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
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 gētely 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 preparatiō 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 cōtention 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 lamēted 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 frō 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 saluatiō 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
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 frō 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 sūwhat 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 reuerēce 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 Christiās 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 thā 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 hādes wherby it is easely perceiued what your intent purpose is you wold again haue all men free why had not Abrahā other holy mē 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
the Swycers Zuricke and Bernes agreed in one Religion the Lucernaites Urites Swites Unternaldians and Engians whiche abhorred moste this doctrine make a league with kyng Ferdinando Clement byshop of Rome the .xiij. day of Aprill sendeth Iohn Thomase of Mirandula to exhorte the prynces to warre against the Turke And al be it that he hath susteyned great losses of late yeares yet promyseth he to assiste them with ayde and to doe his endeuoure that the Emperour and the Frenche king being accorded the counsell may begynne immediatly to the intent that Germanye may embrace again the same religion that other countreis do In this assemblye the Senate of the Empire woulde not permitte Daniel Miege Ambassadour for the citie of Strasborough to sitte in counsel for by cause the Masse was abrogated before this counsell imperiall not withstanding that they were intreated to the contrary wherfore Iames Sturmius Ambassadour for the same citie sayed vnto them that in case they were thus displaced contrary to the lawe custome of the Empire let them not loke from henceforth that they wyll beare any part of charges But all might not preuayl and Ferdinando hym self aunswering the intercessours bad that any other citie that obserued the Emperours decrees should be substituted in the place of the other After a longe dispute of Religion the fourmer actes of Spires were repeted and a new decree made on this wyse They which haue hitherto obserued the Emperours decree let thē obserue the same styl vntyll the generall counsell and bynde the people to do lykewyse but suche as haue altered their Religion and can not nowe departe from the same for feare of sedition let them staye from henceforth and alter nothynge besydes vntyll the tyme of the counsell Furthermore that their doctrine whiche teache otherwyse of the Lordes Supper than the churche doth be not receyued nor the Masse abolyshed nor that in suche places where this newe kynde of doctryne is anye man be letted to go to Masse that wyll The Anabaptistes also such as defende their opinion obstinately shall suffer death the ministers of the churche are commaunded to teache according to the interpretaciō receiued by the church referring al disputable questions to be in the coūsell decided Moreouer that all states kepe the common peace none to hurte other for the cause of Religion neither one to take the defence of an others subiecte they that shall do otherwyse to be accompted in the numbre of outlawes This decree resisted the Prince electour of Saxony George Marques of Brandenborge Ernest and Frances Dukes of Lunenborough the Lātgraue counte Anhald who the .xix. of April recite openly in wryting the causes why they doe not consent thereunto And firste they doe repete the decree of the former assemblie whereby euery man hathe his Religion permitted him frely vntyll the counsell from this maye they not departe nor infrynge those thynges whiche after great delyberation were for a common quiet establyshed and with their sygnetes and othes also confirmed They woulde in deede be glad after the example of their progenitours to do all thynge that myght content the Emperour and as for their goodes and lyues also they wyll spende them wyllinglye in his hyghnes seruice but this present cause coucerneth the euerlastyng saluation of all men Wherfore they desire them not to be offended with them for that thei herein dissente from them for like as the former decree was made by the common assent of all so can not the same be broken with out all their consentes They wyll not be against that they shall in their own countrey establysh what religion shal seme good vnto them beseching God to illuminate the hartes of all men with the light knowledge of his truthe And where as there hath bene dissention and controuersie about religion certen yeares it was declared in the counsel at Norinberge who haue bene the authours and causers therof as well by the confession of the byshop of Rome hym self as also by the requestes of Prynces and states of the Empyre which were delyuered to the byshoppes legate to the numbre of foure score wherof notwithstanding as yet no redresse is made And that of al consultations this hath euer bene the ende that for the debating of controuersies and refourmyng of vices there is nothyng better than a generall counsell And where as the same left a parte they haue nowe decreed that suche as haue chaunged their Religion and can not nowe without muche trouble forsake the same shal alter nothyng from henceforth that can they neither cōmende nor allowe vnlesse they should discredite the doctrine whiche they haue professed hitherto as both true and Godly graunt moreouer that they ought to leaue the same if thei might with any tumulte or vprores And what thynges els were that thā to denye gods worde whiche is taught them purely and syncerely whiche were the moste heynous offence that coulde be committed For they must confesse it not in wordes only but in very deede also Moreouer what an hynderaunce this abnegation would be and howe muche preiudiciall to the fauourers of the Gospell it is easy to coniecture As cōcernyng the Masse it is ryght well knowen with howe strong and inuincible testimonies of holy Scripture the preachers within their dominiōs haue confuted the Popishe Masse and in steade therof instituted the Lordes supper according to the institution of Christe and the maner by the Apostles obserued wherfore they can neither admitte this part of the decree neyther permitte their subiectes to heare Masse whiche is abolyshed For though the byshop of Romes Masse were neuer so good and godly yet if they should haue in their churches two cōtrary Masses al mē may wel perceiue what grudge dissentiō would there vpon ensewe Moreouer where they do prescribe what they shal commaunde their owne subiectes and what lawes they shall make with in their owne dominions they can not a lytle maruell consyderynge that they them selues would not suffer any man to doe the lyke with them Furthermore what thyng is taught in their churches touchyng the presence of the body and bloud of Christe is so euydent to all men that it nedeth no further declaratiō Notwithstandyng as they haue sayde oftentymes so thynke they it good now also not as yet to make any decree against thē that teache otherwise for that the Emperours commissiōs teach the Latin beneth maketh no mentiō therof And agayne for as muche as the maynteners of that doctrine are nother called nor hearde whiche in so weyghty matters is muche to be considered that nothyng be determyned at any tyme and they not hearde speake whome the matter doth chiefly concerne And where as they saye that the Gospell must be taught after the interpretations approued by the churche that is very well but all the stryfe is which is the trewe church But seyng there is no doctrine more certen than Gods worde and besydes that
the .xiiij. daye of Nouembre pronounceth it to be of none effecte The fyft daye after in the Emperours presence was the decree recited before all the states and after a long discourse of the handlyng of all matters the Emperour decreeth that they shuld no longer be suffered that teache otherwyse of the Lordes supper than hath bene obserued hytherto that in the Masse eyther common or priuate nothyng be altered that chyldren be confyrmed with chresme sycke folkes annoynted with oyle consecrated that no Images be remoued and where they be taken awaye to be restored that the opiniō of them that denye man to haue fre wyll be not receyued for that it is beastly and also contumeliouse against God that nothyng be taughte any where agaynst the authoritie of the magistrate that the opynion that fayth only iustifieth take no place that the Sacramentes of the church be in numbre and place accustomed that the ceremonies of the churche rites obsequies for the dead and suche other be obserued that benefices vacant be imployed vpon mete persones that suche priestes and men of clergie whiche haue maried before this tyme be depriued of their benefices whiche immediatly after this assembly shal be geuen to others But suche as forsakyng theyr wyues wyll retourne to their olde profession and be absolued the byshop may restore by the consent of the byshop of Rome or his legate But the others to haue no refuge in any place but banyshed or extremely punyshed that the priestes be of honest conuersation their apparell decent and commonly that they auoyde all sclaunder That the preachers exhorte the people to heare Masse to praye to the virgyn Mary and other sainctes to kepe their holy dayes and fasting dayes to abstayne from meates forbodene to releue the poore to tell the Monkes howe they may not forsake theyr profession and ordre briefly that nothyng be altered in Religion they that shall do otherwyse to lose bodye and goodes that where as Abbeys be pulled downe they be reedified and what soeuer hath bene taken awaye from the clergie to be restored that the wonted ceremonies and rites may be accomplyshed And suche as be followers of the olde Religion dwellyng within the lymites of the cōtrary parte and allowe this decree shall be receyued in to the protectiō of the Empire and shall flitte whether they lyste without any hynderaunce that the byshop of Rome shal be called vpon to apoynte a counsell in some place conuenient within syxe monethes that afterwarde the same may begynne as shortly as may be and at the furthest within a yeares space that all these thynges be ratified and establyshed Al exceptions or appellations made to the contrary to be voyde and of none effect And to the intent this decree may take place and be obserued as cōcerning religion the force and power that God hath geuē them shal be wholy applied hereunto and their lyfe and bloude also spent in the same quarell Duryng this Parliament Luther by the commaundement of his Prynce was at Coburge in the borders of Frankony to the intent he myght be nerer Auspurge in case the matter requyred his aduyse or counsell And though he were absent yet to the intent he myght some what further the commō benefit he wrote a booke to the byshoppes Prelates in that assemblye wherein he sheweth what the state of the churche hath bene vnder the byshop of Rome what wicked doctrine what shamefull errours And with moste weightye wordes admonisheth thē of their dutie chargeth them to be of cruell bloudy mindes and agayne exhorteth them not to let slippe the occasion nowe to redresse their euyll He sheweth them howe his doctrine is agreable to the bookes of the Prophetes Apostles and proueth that is in vaine what soeuer they consulte or imagine against God In this malyce threatheninge of the Emperour and Byshops Melancthon was discouraged and careful in his mynde not for his owne cause but for posterities sake and gaue hym selfe wholy to pensiuenes wepynge and mournynge But when Luther knewe therof he comforteth hym with sondrye letters And for as muche as it is no mennes matter but the cause of almyghtie GGD he admonyshed hym that layinge al thought and care a parte he caste the whole burthen vpon hym And why sayeth he doest thou thus afflicte and tourment thy selfe If God hath geuen his sonne for vs why do we tremble and feare why doe we syghe and lamente Is Sath an stronger than he Wil he that hath geuen vs so great a benefite forsake vs in lyghter matters Whye shoulde we feare the worlde whiche Christe hath vanquyshed If we defende an euyll matter why doe we not chaunge or pourpose If the cause be iust and Godlye why truste we not to Gods promyses Certenly the Deuyll can take no more from vs but our lyfe But Christ liueth and reigneth for euer in whose protection consisteth the veritie He wyll not cease to be with vs vnto the Worldes ende If he be wyth vs. I beseche you where shall he be founde If we be not of his churche doe you thynke that the byshop of Rome and our other aduersaries be of it We be synners in dede dynerse wayes but yet for all that Christe is no lyer whose cause we haue in hande Let kynges and nations fret and fume as muche as euer they lyste He that dwelleth in heauen shall laughe them to skorne God hathe gouerned and maynteined this cause hetherto without our counsell the same shall also from henceforth bryng it to the ende wyshed for Touchyng lawes and traditions of men that you wryte of the aunswere is not harde For both the fyrst cōmaundement and al the Prophetes also doe cōdempne suche maner of workes They may be a bodely exercyse but if they come ones to worshyppyng it is idolatry As for any agremēt it is in vayne loked for for neyther can we depose the byshop of Rome neyther can the true doctrine be in safetie so longe as Popery shall endure In that you wyll haue the Lordes supper to be communicated wholy and geue no place to your aduersaries whiche holde it to be indifferent you doe well For it is not in our arbitremēt to decree or suffer any thynge to be vsed in the churche whiche hathe not Gods worde to beare it They crye out that we condempne the whole churche but we saye how the churche was violently taken and oppressed with tyrannye when the communion was deuided in the middes and therfore to be holden excused as the whole Synagoge was excused that in the captiuitie of Babylon it kepte not the lawe of Moses other ceremonies beyng by force prohibited that they coulde not doe it Take hede in any wyse that you graunt not to the byshops ouer muche iurisdiction lest more trouble ensue there of hereafter All this treaty of a concorde in doctryne is cleane agaynst my mynde For the labour is spent in vayne vnlesse the byshop
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 thē restore those great rychesse gotten by fraude disceiptfully let thē restore Gods glory with so many contumelies dishonored Whan they shall haue made satisfactiō 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 thēce 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 Cōstance Lindaue Mēming Cāpedowne 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 Northēme 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 vpō 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 religiō had bene staied many mens soules saued which through this heresie are nowe in daūger then might remedy haue ben foūd against the Turkish fury but where as he vnderstādeth al well by thēperours 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 tēpestuouse susteyneth the greatest part of the whole care for the same consultinge with his Cardinals cāfinde no better remedy thā the which his predecessours haue vsed that is a general coūsel 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 cōfirmeth 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 Solimā 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 cōmon 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 〈…〉 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 Saxō 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 thā 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 situatiō 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 thē 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 recōciliation of religion hath bene hetherto attēpted in vayne is supposed that by a coūsel 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 holdē 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 oftētimes 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 hereūto
and moue his fellowes also to be carefull for the same he would be glad moreouer to make a present aunswer but there be many others of the same religion who with his father Duke Iohn professed the same doctrine in the assemblie at Auspurge before the Emperour so that he can not aunswere of him selfe alone without making them priuie neither is it expedient for the cause so to doe For better it is that the same be done by comon assent And for as much as the Emperour the byshop the last wynter in their letters wrytten to the states of the Empire from Bononie put them in hope of a counsell therfore did he his fellowes appoint a day the .xxiiij. of Iune to mete at Smalcalde to consult of the whole matter wherfore he desireth thē not to be offended with this differment of time for so sone as his fellowes mete at their day prescribed they shal haue answer either by Ambassadours or by letters shortly after And he wold through Gods grace so demeane him self that not only this present age but also the time to come shold perceiue right wel that he wyshed for nothing more thā that the pure religion doctrine peace not only of Germany but of the whole comon wealth of Christendom might also floriche and that the Emperour his chiefe souereigne might haue his due honour dignitie Afterwarde whan his fellowes were come with good deliberation they framed an answere by commō assent in their letters the last of Iune Howe they gaue great thankes to the Emperour whiche for Gods glory preseruation of the cōmon wealth had taken so muche paynes of a good zeale they doubted not And therfore pray God so to confirme direct his mynde to that ende that the truthe may be set forth and embraced And false doctrine wicked worshipinge rites abolyshed and that all errours being cleane weded out of mens myndes Gods true seruice other godly vertues may agayne take place For they chiefly desire a counsel wherin the matter that is in controuersie may duely and orderly be decided Suche a counsell also the Emperour hath promysed long synce and that in all assemblies of the Empyre with great deberation hath bene decreed to be kepte in Germanye For all this dissention sprange vp fyrste of that welle that certen impudent persones ouermuche extolled indulgences and pardons At whiche tyme also other errours were perceyued and detected And all be it that byshop Leo condempned this doctryne whiche brought those errours to lyghte yet haue they hetherto impugned that condempnatiō with the testimonies of the Prophetes and Apostles And therfore hath a counsell ben alwaye thought moste nedefull as well of other Prynces and states of them wherin the cause myght be examined and openly tryed what is true and what is false for that they sawe howe many thynges were crept into Religion whiche were to be refourmed And therfore in the assemblies of the Empyre it was decreed that there should be a free and a christian counsell eyther of all nations or els of the prouince of Germany by those especiall wordes lest that eyther the sentēce of the byshop or the force and power of any other man should be preiudiciall to the cause Agayne that in all this cause iudgement should be geuen not after the byshoppes decrees and opinions of Scholemen but accordyng vnto holy Scripture For yf any mans power should be of more force than the Scriptures than due examination who doubteth But that he that shoulde contende againste the byshop shoulde lose his labour and stryue agaynste the streame Wherfore not without great considerations it hath been decreed that the counsell should be holden in Germany And the Emperour also content it shoulde so be but nowe these requestes of the bysshop to be vtterly against the decrees of the Empyre confyrmed by the seales of the Emperour and the other Prynces For all be it he speaketh of a free councel yet doubtles he intendeth an other thynge whā he goeth about to haue kynges and Prynces bounden to hym For in case he woulde haue it free what shoulde this obligation nede But nowe seyng that he is wholy bent this waye certenly this is his purpose that vnder the name of a counsell he maye maynteyne his power and aucthoritie that no man shall reprehende his faultes and errours or if any doe atttempte it that he shall not escape vnpunyshed They knowe not what other men wyll doe but surelye this demaunde of his is wrytten in suche sorte that it rather maketh them afrayde of a counsell than prouoketh them to it for who woulde bynde hym selfe after this sorte especially beynge not yet knowen what shall be the ordre of the counsell the fourme and maner whether the byshop wyll haue his adherentes to beare there moste aucthoritie or whether the controuersies shall be determined accordyng to the holy Scriptures or after the traditions and lawes of men grounded vpon no Scripture at all The lybertie of the Counsell is also restrayned in that he wyll haue it kept after the olde accustomed maner They doe not refuse the former counselles that are consonant to the Scryptures but suche as haue bene in our tyme or a lyttle before whiche haue attributed more than reason wold to the byshop of Rome and decrees of men farre differing from the auncient counselles therfore where he sayeth it shall be after the olde accustomed maner this is his crafte and policie that there shall not be that lybertye of speache and geuinge of sentences as they both desyre and also the cause requireth but that iudgement shall be geuen accordynge vnto his lawes and vsurped power whiche he taketh vppon hym as by certen of the last coūselles it is manifest but by this vsage and hadling of matters can neither the churches be pacified nor the troubled conscience quieted but are brought into further darkenes bondage wherfore seing that the bishop hath not as yet satisfied the requestes of the Emperour and states of the Empyre they ernestly desyre that Cesar considering the weightines of the cause whiche concerneth the vniuersall cōmon wealth and all nations would see that the matter might be handled indifferently For this is his office and dutie this may he doe by the lawes When in dede the byshop impugneth the truthe for it is to be forseen and prouided that the plaintife or defendaūt be not also iudge in the cause For all nations haue great hope in this counsell and doe both wyshe and pray that at the laste mens consciences troubled and sore afflicted with doubtfull dissentiō may be made free set at libertie and taught the way of saluatiō For these many hondreth yeares hath not bene so muche contention about so weighty matters as is at thys present And this stryfe aryseth of sondry errours and vices whiche haue spronge longe before our tyme But and if men be disceaued of theyr expectation and shall
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 whē 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 Notwithstāding 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 cōmaundeth 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 thē 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 thē 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 cōmaunded his learned mē to aunswer it And for as muche as they had in fewe wordes and those abscure written that their king was not so muche of theirs as of Gods appointment he demaundeth of thē wherfore they did not expresse those places of Scripture wherby they thought it lawefull thus to doe And why they dyd not confirme the thynge before with signes and wonders For of the cōminge of Christe God had declared longe before by all the Prophetes so euidently that it was well knowen not only of what house or familie but also whan and where he should be borne They had also requested that the matter might be heard wherunto the Lantgraue answered that the same might not now take place For so much as they had takē vpon them the aucthoritie of the sworde and had bene the workers of so muche mischiefe For all men see what marke they shoute at certēly to subuerte all lawes and common wealth And lyke as their intente is wicked and detestable so is nowe their requeste to haue their cause heard fayned and dissembled He doubtles sent vnto thē faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe contēpning their doctrine do resist the magistrate take other mens goodes mary sondrye wyues haue chosen them a newe kynge Where also they denye that Christe toke the humane nature of the virgyn Mary where they affirme that man hath free wyll where they compell men to make their goodes cōmon where they saye there is no remission for a sinner that falleth all these thynges are against the lawes both of God and man Whan this answer was brought vnto thē they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare tōgue of the misteries of Scripture And againe in an Epistle they amplefie their cause and defende their opinions And in this booke they deuide the course and tyme of the whole worlde into thre partes the fyrst age from Adam to Noe they saye was destroyed with the Deluge of water the secōd wherein we are nowe at this daye shal be consumed with fyre but the thyrde shall be cleane a newe worlde wherein iustice shall reigne neuerthelesse before this last tyme shall appeare this present age must be pourged by fyre but that shall not be tofore that Antichriste shall be reuealed and his power vtterly abolyshed Thā shall it come to passe that the scate of Dauid whiche is decayed shal be newly erected and Christe shall possesse his kyngdome here in earth and the wrytinges of the Prophetes shall be accomplyshed And that this present worlde now is lyke the tyme of Esaw For iustice kepeth silence and the Godly are persecuted But as after the captiuitie of Babylon so nowe also the tyme of restauration is at hande to delyuer vs from all these myseries and to rendre vnto the wycked aboundantly after their demerites as in the Apocalipse is declared And that in this same Restauration goeth before the worlde to come to the intent that all the vngodlye beynge destroyed the house and seate of iustice myght be prepared and beautified Whan the Lantgraue had red this booke he set in hande the Ministers of his churche to wryte against it The residue of the states imperial assembled at Essinge do mislyke the doinges of them that were at cōffuence affirming that they had no authoritie to impose or charge them with any burthen vnlesse it had bene by the consent of the Emperour and all states In the moneth of February Corne within the citie waxed very scarse in so muche that some also died for honger and wante of meate It fortuned that one of the Quenes pitieng the people had sayde to the rest howe she supposed that God woulde not that men should peryshe thus with famine The kyng whiche had his stoore houses furnyshed at home not only for necessitie but also for riot and voluptuousnes after he knewe it brought her forthe in to the Market place and all the reste with her and commaundynge her to knele downe stroke of her heade and whan she was dead vttered her to haue played the whore This done the residewe syng and gyue thankes to God the heauēlye father After that the kynge daunceth wyth them and exhorteth the rest of the multitude whiche had nothynge lefte them but breade and salte to dauncynge and mery pastymes Whan Easter came and no deliueraunce appered at all the kyng whiche had promysed so stoutely to inucnte some excuse fayned him selfe sicke for the space of syxe dayes After he commeth abroade amonges the people and telleth thē howe he hath ryden on a blynde Asse and that God the father hathe layde vpon his backe the synnes of the people Wherfore they are now made cleane and delyuered from euery spotte And this to be the deliueraunce whiche he promysed wherwith they ought to holde them cōtented Luther amonges other thynges whiche he set forth in the vulgar tongue about this tyme wrote also of this tragedye of Munster Alas sayeth he howe should I complayne or lamente those wretched men for the thynge it selfe declareth that there dwell deuylles thycke and threfolde but yet ought we to praye the infinite mercy of God herein and haue good cause so to doe For albeit that for the contempt of the Gospell the reproche of Goddes holy name and the shedyng of innocent bloud Germany hath iustly deserued to be plaged yet hathe God hetherto restrayned the force and violence of Sathan and hath not permitted him to haue the reignes at libertie but mercifully admonysheth vs and by this tragedye of Munster nothinge at all artificious calleth vs to the amendement of lyfe For vnlesse God had brydeled hym and holden hym backe I doubte not but that moste subtille fynde and wylie artificer would haue handled the matter farre other wyse But nowe that God hathe made a restraynte he rageth and tourmoyleth not so muche as he woulde but so much as he is permitted For the wycked spirite that seketh the subuersion of the Christian fayth goeth not this way to worke to perswade the marriage of many wyues For seyng both the vnlawfulnes and the fylthye beastlynes of the thynge is apparent in the syght of all men he perceiueth well enough that men woulde abhorre it In dede the politicke and ciuile gouernemēt may through this meane be disturbed but the kingdom of Christ must be attempted with other weapons and Ingines He that would circumuente and deceaue men maye not affectate rule and gouernment and playe the tyraunt For all men disalowe this and see playnely what his intente is But he must attayne thereunto by secrete meanes as it were by certen bypathes To goe in olde and euyll fauoured apparell to
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 â—n 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 couÌ„sel 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 SacrameÌ„tes 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 auncieÌ„t 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 coÌ„dempne 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 dauÌ„ger 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 dauÌ„gers 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
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 cōcerne 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 cōtrarie to the Scripture nor attributed the vnmeasurable power to the Bishop of Rome which he now taketh vpon him selfe And againe y◠sorte of men which do condemne persecute by the doctrine of the gospell be not the church but paricides the generatiō ofspring of Cam. And in old time in dede godly Bishops dyd oftentimes refuse coūsels seing the same to be called not to defende the veritie but either for the main tenaūce of some wicked opinon or els to establishe some mē in Authoritie Themperor Cōstantine 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 coūsell at Tyrus yet taried he not long for that he saw the chiefest of the coūsel plaie the parts both of the accusers Iudges And for that he saw certen accusers procured against him There was holdē a great counsel at Sirmiū a town in Hungry against Photynus for the matter was weightie And albe it themperour cōmaunded 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 consusiō to the church for this cause was Osius sore reproued of Hilarie whiche came not there Cyrillus Bishop of Hierusalē 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
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 brauÌ„ches 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 sodeÌ„ly 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 â–ª 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 coÌ„mitted 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 aâ—e 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 coÌ„tencion with their Archebyshop lyke as many others were in Germany Neyther wer they receyued vpon other condicion than to be defended in the counsel chaÌ„ber 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 syâ—â— booke Wherfore vpon this occasion they were enioyned at Arnstade to treate with the kyng in the name of the ProtestauÌ„tes 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 ameÌ„ded 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 accoÌ„panied 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 〈◊〉 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 cōmenced 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 Flaūders 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 Frēche 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 cōmencement 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
nor yet of mind whom Luther also him selfe whom he maketh his god doth laughe at and contemne Luther thinking the same to concerne his estemation answereth sharpely and saieth it is a sclaunder And for asmuch as the aduersaryes take vpon them the title of the Churche by diuers and sundry argumentes brought in he proueth that they haue cleane forsaken the trew Church by a comparison made he sheweth that the Bishoprike of Rome which hathe altogether defyled and corrupted the trew doctryne of Chryst to be Antechrist of whom so manye yeares synce Daniell and the Apostles haue prophecyed After he obiecteth vnto them that they flye from the lyght though they speake muche of a lawfull counsell yet dare they not abyde it but yf youre church be holy sayth he why is it afearde of a counsell or what nedeth it any reformation or yf it nedeth why cal ye it holy will ye also redresse youre holynes We neuer desyred a counsell to refourme our churche For God hathe already sanctified it with his worde pourged it from all the Romishe fylthynes and restored the trew doctrine howbeit our life doeth not answere to this profession neither do we perfourme in dede so muche as both we are bounden and wishe to do but this was also the complaint of the Prophetes and Apostles whilest they liued And that felicitie shal than happen vnto vs what timr we being deliuered out of this synfull body as out of a prison shall obtaine the like condition with Angels We desyre a counsell to th entēt our churches might be openly heard and that your doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christe might be condemned that men beyng called agayne from it mighte knowe and folow the trewe Religion of Christ Nowe where ye obiecte vntd vs rebelliō and disobedience it is false euen by the testimonie of the states imperiall who know that our Princes are obeidient to themperour in all thinges For beyng called to any Assemblie or to go a warfare they haue bene euermore ready But if ye raile thus on vs because we obey not thēperours decres that condēne our doctrin We are glad and geue God thankes for shewing no obeidience that way For the thing that is dew vnto god only ought not to be giuen to themperor which should be Gods Client God hath giuen him gouernement ouer realmes and nations but he alone will gouerne his church with his worde neyther doeth he admit any man into the societie of this honor Themperor hath more than ynough to do concernyng thadministration of the common weale For vnto this office hath God appointed him and prescribed him these limites But if he procede any further than doeth he inuade and vsurpe vpon Gods iurisdiction The Duke of Brunswike had written in his inuectiues amonges other thinges that Luther had reised vp this Tragedye of Religion at the motion of Duke Friderik for enuy that Albert Arch bishop of Mentz had the Bishoprike of Madenburge Wherunto Luther answerynge this sclaunder saieth he commeth to the Duke of Brunswicke by the suggestion of Mentz And where he dissembleth to know whan he knoweth best of all I shall declare the cause original of al this busines In the seuentēth yere of grace aboue a thousande and fyue hundreth Iohn Tecell a Dominicke Frere caried about pardons to sell in Germany This Tecel themperor Maximiliā had once condemned to die and had commaunded to be drowned in the riuer at Inspruck but through the intercession of duke Friderick whose chaunce was to be there at that time he escaped the daunger He I say amonges other thinges taught howe he had so great authoritie of that bishop of Rome that although a mā had deflowred that virgin Mary had gottē hir with child he had power to forgeue hī for money Moreouer he did not onely forgeue synnes past but also what so euer a man listed to commit herafter And within a while after that came forth a Boke with the armes and title of Bishop Albert wherein the Pardoners wer cōmaunded most diligently to setforth to the people the vertu of those iudulgences Wherfore it was knowen that Tecell was hired by the said Bishoppe to make those outrageous sermons For Albert was lately than created Archbishop of Mentz vpon condicion that he shoulde redeme his Palle from Rome of his owne costes and charges For thre Bishoppes of that citie wer deceased within short space Bertolde Iames and Uriell and it was ouer chargeable for the Colledge to beare so great a burthen and so often times For that Palle stoode them in as good as xxx thousande crownes or euer it came at home So dere coulde the Bishoppe of Rome sell a sory piece of clothe This money had the Marchantes of Auspurge disbursed wherfore to pay them Albert deuised this kinde of gaine And the Bishop did graunt it him yet so as the one halfe shold be brought to Rome to the buildyng of S. Peters Church But that time knew I none of all this gere therfore wrot I to the Bishoppe of Mentz in humble wyse exhorting him that he woulde inhibite those criers but he answered not one worde The Bishoppe of Brandenburge beyng also moued admonished me to cease and not to bring my selfe in danger After this I propounded certen Theames contrary to those of Tecels which within a fewe dayes were caried ouer all Germany and were gredely red of many For all men complained of Pardons especially of those that Tecell taught And because there was neuer a Bishoppe nor yet doctor that durst gainesay them for that Tecel feared all men with the Bishoppes thunderbolt My name began to be spoken of that there was founde one at the length in all the worlde that did resist But that vaine glory was not to me verye pleasaunte For I scarsely vnderstode than what the name of Indulgences mēt This is the fyrst originall and cause of this motion whiche came not of duke Friderick but proceded of the Bishop of Mentz by the practise of his collector and briber Frere Tecell Wherfore if there be anye thing nowe that nippeth him let him thanke himselfe therfore An other cause of this trouble gaue that moste holye father Leo the tenth what time he cursed me and excommunicated me and manye in all places did triumphe ouer me neyther was there anye man so vnlearned that did not practise his style to write against me I thought assuredly at the fyrst that the Bishoppe would assoile me and condemne Tecell for that the Canon lawe maketh for me whiche teacheth plainely that Iudulgences can not deliuer soules out of Purgatory But lo whilest I loke for a ioyfull sentence from Rome I am striken with the thonderbolt and condemned for the most wicked mā aliue Than began I to defende my doynges settinge forth many bokes of the same insomuche that the matter was brought at the laste into the assemblie of thempire Thus did the wollen threde wherof the
the reformation of the chamber shal now be shortely he exhorteth them they would not refuse to contribute theyr ayde agaynst the Turk of whose not only preparation that is exceading greate but also of hys commyng he is credebly certifyed both by letters messaugers He was infourmed of all that was dooue in the conuention by Nauius that wente vnto hym At the same tyme also he calleth a counsell of thempire at Spier agaynst the laste daye of Nouembre Departyng than frō Genes he spake with the Bisshop of Rome at Busset which is a Towne by the Riuer of Tare betwixte Placence and Cremone There agayne in lyke case as he did before by letters he required him to proclayme hymself enemie to the French Kynge but he sayde howe that was not expedient for the common welth and herin perseuered The Bisshop had geuen to hys sonne Peter Aloise Parma and Placence whiche he had obteyned latelye of the College of Cardinalles by an exchaunge made and because these Cities were sometyme the Dukes of Millan he required that the Emperour by hys authorytie would for a pece of monye confirme hys sonne in the possession of thē and create hym Duke of the same But that did themperoure which helde Millan and wolde deminishe no part of hys ryght refuse They saye moreouer howe the Bysshōppes intente was to haue perswaded themperour for a somme vfmony to haue made his Nephew Octauian Duke of Millan The Emperour breaking of this talke that he might be no longer letted whan he had deliuered vnto Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence the Casteles of Florence and Liburne which he had vntill that time in his owne custodye receyuing of hym therfore two hondreth thousand ducates he procedeth on hys iorney Before he came out of Spayne he had created hys sonne Philip kynge and gaue vnto hym in marriage the Ladye Marye Daughter vnto Iohn kynge of Portugall This yere also did Sigismunde the sonne of Sigismund kyng of Polle mary the Lady Elyzabeth the daughter of Fernando kyng of Romanes Henry the Duke of Brunsewicke going to mete Themperour in Italy heynouslye accuseth the Protestantes at Cremoise Whan Themperour was now comming out of Italy with hys armie the Protestantes whiche had lately receyued hys letters dated at Gene mete together at sinalcalde the .xxiiii. daye of Iune to consulte of sending to hym Ambassadours of matters apperteyning to the defence and kepyng of the Dutchie of Brunswicke and to theyr league to sollicite Duke Maurice of the king of Swecia of Otto Henry Palatine Wuolfange Prince of Bipounte of the Bisshop of Munster whiche than desyred all to be receyued into their league This assemblie ended the .xxi. of Iuly And moche aboute thys same tyme the Emperoure and the Kyng of England make a league agaynste the Frenche Kynge whiche ayded the Scottes as before is sayde But this confederacie the Bisshop of Rome toke in maruelous euill part and therfore thoughte the French frendeship to be nedefull for hym Whan themperour was commen to Spier about th ende of Iuly the Protestantes sende thither Ambassadours Fraunces Burcart George Bemelberg Christopher Ueninger and Iames Sturmius Being admitted the second of Auguste they speake in a maner the same in effecte that they did before to king Fernando the conclusion of theyr tale was that in case they might be sufficiently warraūted to haue peace yf the Iudgement of the chamber myght be refourmed as it was lately decreed at Regenspurg yf the inequalitie of cōtributyng may be takē away they wil not fayle to beare theyr partes in publicke necessities As touchinge the Duke of Brunswicke they re desyre is that the matter maye come to hearyng and they saye howe they will proue manifestly that he whiche firste had done open iniurye to the cities of Goslarie and Brunswicke to haue benryghtlye expulsed and dryuen oute of hys countrey Hereunto Themperoure by Nauius in the presence of Granuellane two dayes after that there was no more to bee required For they were well enouge assured of peace by the fourmer decrees the iudges of the chamber can not bee remoued before theyr cause be heard In the moneth now of October inquisitiō shal be made of them and if any fault may be found in them they shall not escape vnpunnished the moderation of contributinge can not be made without the comon assent of all states let them consider the present state of the publicke weale and because it is a matter of moste daunger vnlesse it be holpen in time let them geue theyr ayd agaynste the Turke lyke as other states doe He muste hym selfe goe now with hys whole force agaynst the Frenche Kyng and the Duke of Cleaue to thentente he maye defende hys subiectes from Iniurye The Duke of Brunswick vrgeth sore to be restored therfore let them saye theyr fantasye in that matter They desire to haue this aunswere deliuered them in wryting that they may the better consyder it Thēperour was content and the nexte day he went frō Spier to Mentz so farre the ambassadours followed hym and whan they had receyued the wryting they shewe Granuellan and Nauius wherfore they are not satisfyed touchinge the peace and because theyr desyre is that the cause of Brunswick might be hearde they haue no further comission in that matter The archebisshop of Collon came to themperoure at Spiers to intreate for the Duke of Cleaue but that was in vaine For excepthe wolde fyrst departe from the posession of Gelderlande Themperour wold heare no mention of peace And where the ambassadoure of Saxonye by hys Princes commaundemente made suite for the Duke of Cleaue to Granuellan at Mentz and to perswade dyd saye howe a priuate iniurye muste bee forgeuen for the common welthes sake especially now that the Turk inuadeth The other maketh aunswer that Themperour wil not goe frō hys pourpos what inuasyon soeuer the Turkes shall make I tolde you before how they of Heldesseme had forsaken the popisshe Religion entred into league with the Protestantes Whom Ualentyne the Bisshop of that Cytye had accused heynousely before to the chamber and to kynge Fernando and nowe also to Themperoure that they had chaunged the religion and Ceremonyes of the churche howe they had appoynted new preachers to teache the people put downe the Masse punnisshed the followers of the olde relygyon howe they haue broken and beaten downe not only aultars and fontstones but also the churches howe they haue taken into theyr handes custody all the mouables goods and Iuelles of the clergie and that of late also they haue setfoorthe gameplayes to mocke and deryde openly the Uirgin Marye and other sainctes that they pourposynge to forsake hys Iurisdiction had lynked themselues in confederacie with the Protestantes and constreyned Monkes and such others to obserue theyr religyon through violence and those that wold not obey them haue put to open shame and also bannished When Themperour had heard thys complaynte the syxte daye of
August he wryteth vnto them From Wormes and with a terrible threatenyng commaundeth them to restore relygyon and all other thinges into theyr fourmer state vntyll some publicke decree be establisshed in such matters Thre dayes after he addresseth his letters to the Senate of Collon how he heareth that certen preachers labour sore to remoue them from the aunciente religion whom they notwithstandyng haue stoutly resysted hytherto whych he was ryght ioyefull to heare of admonisshing them to perseuer in the same and kepe the citezens in theyr dewty This shal be to him most acceptable whiche he will also declare in dede in tyme to come At the kalendes of Iune the Bishop of Roome wryteth to the same effecte vnto the prebendaries of the cathedrall churche at Collon In the care sorrow of mynd which he hath of the Archebisshopppes folye conceaued he is greatly cōforted with theyr stoutenes and constancy which is not only to themselues but also to all theyr neyghbours righte holsome For nexte to the immortall God they deserue the thankes that bothe that moste noble Citie and also the whole prouince is in sayfegarde Therfore he geueth them ryght harty thankes for standyng so styffe in the cause and whylest he lyueth will neuer forget the same For albeit they did but theyr dewtie yet for the thing it self and for the example he must nedes confesse that he is moche bounden vnto them Notwithstandyng they had nede to bee constant for thys cause chiefly left if they should faynte and that the Archebyshop shoulde happely gette the vpper hande he wolde wreake hys tene on them extremly Therfore let them be stronge and stoute in the defence of Goddes name and the catholicke relygyon and of theyr owne lybertye saluation whyche that wicked Archeheretike goeth aboute to subuerte and destroye They haue no nede of a counselloure yet wolde he also thruste as it were thys spurre vnto them runnyng and desyreth them ernestlye to take good hede that he whiche is vn woorthye the name of an Archebishop doe not infect that most noble Cytie with his contagion neyther that they take hym for theyr Pastoure but for an enemie and he wyl not fayle to assist them bothe with hys counsell and otherwyse These letters dyd Iohn Poggius the Bisshops Ambassadour to Themperour sent vnto them the. xxv of August A little before thys tyme the French Kyng goyng with an army into Uermandois taketh a little Towne of Themperours called Landersey maketh it stronge with fortifications and garisons aboute the same tyme also Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt by the conduit of Poline a Frenche man arriued with a greate Nauie at Tolloye whiche is an hauen towne in the prouince of Fraunce betwene Marselles Nice Whan the Kyng knewe of hys comyng he sendeth the Duke of Uendome Angiane with a force with Galleis to assiste hym After they goe bothe to Nyce and whan they had taken the Towne and the havon the .xx. day of August they layesege to the castell An other armie of Turkes made incursyon into Hongarye whyche tooke the towne Quinquecclese and the citie and Castell of Strigone and Wanne Stulweysenburge by assaulte The Bishop of Roome had sente ayd wherof Baptista Sabella Iulye Ursine were Captianes but they came sō what to late Whan the diuines of Paris had thus triumphed ouer Lander and Depensius as beefore is sayde they publyshe those articles of Doctrine propounded to the Preacher Lander whiche in nombre were xxv The matter was solēnely donne at Paris the first daye of Auguste the people beyng called together as the maner is by a trompet those articles were recited and after also by the kynges commaundemente wer put in prynte and proclamation made vnder a great penaltie that no man should worke nor teache agaynst them and a decree also added for the searching oute of Lutheranes The diuines moreouer charge theyr studentes that are called bacchelaures and others that studie diuinitie to follow this fourme or els to be expulsed their colledge Agaynste this theyr doctryne Caluine wrote a booke whych he calleth Antidotum and paynteth them forth in their collours and moch aboute the same tyme setteth forth an other booke in Frenche of the relyques of Saynctes to thintente that bothe thys age and also the tyme to come may see in to what a case relygiō was fallē but he recyteth these thinges only which vnto him were knowē and wissheth that the same were done lykewyse in other countries And of this nombre are the Cribbe Swadling clothes and bearing clothe the foreskinne and blud of Christ partely pure partely delayed with water the sixe waterpottes that were at the mariage in the Citie of Cane in Galilee the wyne that Christe made than of water the stuffe and furniture of hys Maundie and last supper that he had with hys Apostels the Manna of the people of Israell the Crosse the cane Nayles Sponge launce Crowne of thorne Cote Shoes Handkerchef and teares of Chryst The Milke Smocke Heare Girdel Slipper Combe and Ring of the Uirgin Marie The sworde and bucklar of Michel tharchangell The Scull Iawebonne braynes and fingar of Iohn the Baptiste The Chaire Honlette Massinge garmentes brayne of S. Peter And then the bodies of Sainctes and that the same in diuerse and sondry places And he sheweth with what veneration the people worshipped these thynges whan the Pristes not without monye let them haue a syght therof and shewe them a farre of verey tryfles and thinges of nought which yf they be well considered haue nothing but craft colloure diuised of the Pristes for lucre But in vase Dutchelande ther be two famous Cities in thys behalfe Treuers and Achon for hither they saye men were wonte to come to see reliques oute of Hongary and Slauonye What tyme those marchauntes set forth theyr wares but euery seuenth yere that thauthorytie and wonder mighte bee the greater Themperoure came from Mentz to Bomia by water Ther taught Bucer at the same tyme Casper Hedio also sent for thither newly frō Strasburg by the Archbisshop a man of a verey milde nature and verey mete to instruct the people They were bothe in great daūger especially the Spaniardes beyng thete Themperour also doth wyll the Archebisshop by his ambassadours to send them a waye Melancthon was departed thence before They also not long after obteynyng lycence to departe hauing taken order with the ministers in the churches retourn home again After this Themperour wente to Dure And what tyme he came before the Towne the .xx. of Auguste the nexte daye he sent an Herauld to sommon the Towne willyng them to render it vnto hym or els he wil attempte it by force The soldiours within aunswer hym contēptuously sayinge that they are not affrayde of hym who was a good whyle sence made bayte for fysshes For the brute went howe Themperour in hys retourne out of Barbarie after the
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 oratiō to thēperour 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 Saxō 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 thē to the Iudges of the chāber 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 thē 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 Thēperour 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 thē 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 Thēperours 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 certētie that Themperour wold make a greuous complaynte on hym to the Prynces determineth a most honorable Ambassad Iohn Bellaie Cardinal Fraunces Oliuer chauncelour of Alensō 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 cōmaunded to tary within and dilligētly 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 daūger 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 hēceforthe 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 permissiō 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 Fraūce 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 frō 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
father of the comon welthe and hygh Bisshop wolde ayde the Duke of Sanoye with hys helpe counsell and of hys syngular wisdome wolde deuyse some meanes howe that cruell enemye myght be expulsed not only from Nice but also frō those places where he hathe hauens and holdes for hys refuge for thys shoulde be a thynge bothe to God most acceptable and to the whole common wealth also moste holsome and profitable with diuerse other perswations touching the same matter To this the Bishop aunswereth the .xxvi. day of February Theffect of his aunswer is thys that the castell of Nice may bee defended he wyll be no lesse carefull hereafter than he hathe ben hytherto trustyng that as they are carefull for it so wyll they be no lesse mydnfull to take paynes for the whole common welthe for this shall best become them And after a longe rehearsal of the ayde of men and captaynes which he hath sent into Hongary and Affrica agaynst the Turkes how he hath wasted his treasure in suche affayres how ofte he hath sent Ambassadours how oft traueled him self aboute the publyke weale he sayeth in fyne that lyke as they commende vnto hym Nice so doeth he commende vnto them the state of the comon welth whiche is sore afflicted and decayed And the chiefe and only waye to helpe thys matter is that the myndes of Kynges may be reconciled for out of thys welsprynge procedeth all the discommoditie that is in the comon welth And if dissention betaken awaie the fourmer beautie will come agayne For before this grudge and displeasure there were neyther heresies in Germany nor Turkee in Hongarye But so soone as the waye was made throughe ciuile discorde immediatelye sprange vp heresyes factions and hatred bothe publyke and pryuate And hitherto hath also the counsel ben letted and hyndered Therfore muste we seeke to recouer the peace that was before And after thexample of phisitions take away the fyrst cause of the disease For through peace warre and the Turk are put to flyght And by a counsel which in peace may be kepte all heresyes and what so euer is amisse may be refourmed Otherwise let them not thinke that eyther Nyce can bee defended from the enemye or any part of Christendome kept fre from daunger but that all men shal be wrapped in the same calamitie and distructiō In the moneth of March the Paulsegraue Lewis prince Electour departed out of this lyfe and his brother Fridericke did succede him The Princes electours and thother states through Themperours aduise the second day of Aprill sende letters to the Swyses to diswade them from aydyng the French kyng who to the vtter decay and ruine of Christen relygyon hathe lincked hym selfe with the Turkes and thys last yere hath conducted theyr Nauie into the sea of Lygurie where they haue warred vpon the Duke of Sauoye and taken Nice And yet remayne still in Fraunce intendiuge to worke more mischiefe to Themperour and all hys countries Wherfore they require them from hencefoorthe to suffer non of theyr men to serue the Frenche kynge who for thys wicked league with the people of Mahomet ought to be detested of all men and taken for a comon enemie And yf any be gon to hym already to call them home agayne and so to vse them selues that it maye appere they doe not neglecte the publycke preseruation Whilest they consulted of matters propounded by Themperoure The Duke the Lantzgraue and theyr confederates the fyrst daye of Aprill before Themperoure Kyng Fernando and al the states of th empyre accuse Henry the Duke of Brunswick of most heynous offences and also recite in order by wrytinge what harmes and iniuries he had done to the cytyes of Brunswicke and Goslarye theyr consortes in whose defence they wer cōstrayned to repulse that vniust violence After they reherse howe these many yeres hys whole endeuour hath ben to seeke occasyon to moue warre agaynst them proue the same by the testimonye of letters which were founde as I tolde you before whan he was expulsed in hys princypall Castell In those letters whych he had wrytten for the most parte all to the archbisshop of Mentz to the duke of Bauier and to Heldus before he was dryuē oute he wissheth oft for Themperours comyng out of Spaine And when there was any hope therof than he braggeth and threateneth And what tyme Themperour was comē and slacked the matter he complayneth of hys lyngering and delaye and be wayleth that he and hys fellowes are not satisfyed that the league made at Norinberge was neglected and layeth all the blame therof in Granuellan which is corrupted with mony by the Protestantes he raileth on hym and wissheth hym a shamfull death for his demerites and saieth how themperour is a slepe and can not be awaked And that he vseth hys name sometime only for a clooke and a terrour as Faukners are wonte many tymes to shewe foorthe a dead hauke to feare the fowle withall These and many other letters of suche lyke sorte wherin he vttereth hys mynde and affections were red openlye And moche to the same effecte had the Duke of Bauier and Heldus wrytten to him agayne And for because Henry brother to Duke George of Saxonie was in league with the Protestantes and had altered the religion as before is saide the Duke of Brunswicke had with letters messagers sollicited Themperour to take awaye hys landes trustyng that he should be set to kepe the possession of the contrie herof wer the letters also recyted Furthermore they declare hym to be a wycked mā and that he doeth contemne delude the Bisshoppes relygion which he wyll seme to maynteyne and proue it by a moste euydent testimonie Thys Duke of Brunswick had maryed the Lady Mary syster to Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge who had a gentlewoman waytyng vpon her of an excellente beautye called Eue Trottine vpon whom her husbande doted in loue and when he had perswaded the mayde he had by her diuers children After to th entent the matter should not bee perceyued and that he myght vse her company the longer he geueth her counsel to faine as though she wold go home to her parētes And he fournissheth her of horses charyote and althynges necessarye for her Iorney She departeth and where she was thought to haue gone home she was conueyed into a Castell of hys And the captayne was made priuie to it before what thyng should be done And a woman or two appoynted to wayte vpon her whom he moste trusted This Eue within a few daies after she came thither kepeth her bed and fayneth her self sycke He had before caused to be made an Image of wood whiche dyd represente the head necke and Boulke of a dead body the other partes were made set out with lynen clothes which the wemen had stuffed and filled with earth and asshes that it might seme proportionate and so set the Image of wood and the clothe
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 sōme 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 Thā 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 Thēperours mediation they were bothe appointed gardins yet so as the mothers authorytie was chiefest In those dayes also departeth the Daughter of Ferdinādo 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 thē again And so getteth of hym certen thousandes of Crownes but he neyther letted Rifeberge and cōuerted 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 Thēperoure 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
may leuye there alwaies force and power at hys pleasure and maye assemble greate armyes in Germany where others maye not doe the lyke how muche is thys to be estemed Our aduersaryes are more clamorous than we yet wyll they not follow good coūsell For we bothe allowed the decree of Spierand the articles accorded fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge we desired to haue enrolled for matter of recorde and admitted also al reasonable condicions of the laste conference contrary wyse they did none of al these neyther wolde they be brought to any cōformitie but with open protestation at Wormes refused the communication Now can not I go to Regenspurge the charge will be so greate There is also a matter in controuersye betwene the Electour of Saxonye Duke Moris which because theyr counsellours can not determyne it is put to my arbitrement Neuerthelesse I wyll sende Ambassadours to the assemblye with large commission Thus departing a fewe houres after commeth Nauius agayne to the Lantzgraue he telleth him how this daies talke hath pleased Themperour and solliciteth him again to come hymselfe to Regenspurge also he enquireth of hym whether he wolde talke agayne with Themperoure the same daye in the euenyng he refuseth not and whan he came Themperoure geueth hym thankes by Nauius fyrste that he came thyther secondely for that he seeth that the Paulsegraue and he are bothe desyrous of a concorde Howebeit he supposeth the Collocutours wil retourne againe to Regenspurge yf they doe not he wyll sende for them agayne but in the meane tyme he requireth him that he wolde come hym selfe to the assemblie though not at the begynnyng yet towardes the later ende He hym selfe hath verely all other affaires layde a parte taryed these three yeres in Germany to th entent he myght quyet the same Wherunto the Lantzgraue aunswered that of the departure of the Colloquitours he hearde not before thys daye he hath also recyted the causes wherfore he thinketh it was done But yf it be his desyre and that his fellowes be content that the same Diuines of the contrary parte doe retourne agayne hys also shall not tary from thence But for him selfe he may not goo thyther for that he hath ben at great charges in the warre of Brunswicke and hath lately maryed a daughter and is chosen vmpere betwene the Dukes of Saxon and for that he can not goe thyther with out a great company and because that through hys absence hys countrey might be in daunger by the confederates of the Duke of Brunswicke his prisoner Than sayeth Thēperour that hys intent is not to burthen hym with vnnecessarye charges but he desireth hym ernestlye to come for that he supposeth howe hys presence wolde further the whole consultation and that the Saxons and others myght be so in couraged And there is no cause that he shoulde be any thing affraide of Duke Heuries fellowes For neyther is their power so greate and thoughe they shoulde attempte any thynge yet wolde he let it and not suffer that any man shal disturbe the publycke quyetnes The Lantzgraue agayne recytyng the causes saieth he can promise nothyng neuerthelesse he wyll sende Ambassadours whiche shall trauell for peace whych yf they can not in all thynges obeye and gratifye hym he desyreth hym not to take it displeasauntelye neyther thynke it to be don of any obstinacie or mallice but for feare of godes displeasure For thys lyfe tyme is verey shorte and vncerten therefore must they thinke of an euerlastingnes Themperour againe speaking of hys owne paines taken sayeth the matter of Saxon maye be differred therfore let hym come and set all lettes a parte for he hym selfe beyng present myght bothe counsell and cause hys league frendes to shewe themselues tractable and be a meane that the beginning of the treaty maye be reasonable After this the Lantzgraue complayninge of dyuers that had ayded the Duke of Brunswicke maketh a briefe rehersall of the whole matter and howe he was taken and sayeth how Duke Morys he doe susteyne by them great iniurye For they are light persons and borne to styre vp trouble amonges whom Friderick Spedius tolde him yesterdaye that yf he wolde heare hym he wold open certen secret and priuie deuises that are nowe a working but in asmuche as he trusted not to the man he refused to talke with hym and wylled hym to sygnyfye vnto hym by wryting such thinges as he wold haue tolde hym presētly Whan the Lantzgraue had this declared Thēperour was maruelous angrie with Spedius wherfore after thys communication had amonges them the Lantzgraue takyng hys leaue of Themperoure was bad farewel ryght frendely And went from thence to Hedelberge and after home And Themperoure went streyght to Regenspurge And the selfe same time that is to saye at the kalendes of Aprill the Ambassadours of the Protestantes assemble at wormes to consult of the whole matter But because Themperoure sent awaye the Lantzgraue so gently they receiuing letters from hym of the same who in the meane tyme had reported the matter to the Duke of Saxon the .xxiii. daye of Aprill depart that they myght consulte of the same matters at Regenspurge whyther they must go to the imperiall assemblie In thys conuention they of Rauēspurge entred into league with the Protestantes The eight daye of Aprill was the thirde sytting of the fathers in the Counsell at Trent There are recited the bokes of the olde and new Testament and are cōmaunded to be taken for sacred and holy no parte nor iote of them omitted And the olde and common translation of the Bibell is only commaunded to be vsed in churches and Scooles It is also decreed that no man interpret the holy scripture after his owne sēce vnderstanding but that al mē follow herin the cōsent of the church and of the aunciente fathers Moreouer Printers are commaunded that they prynte or set foorth nothing but by consent of their ordinary Bysshop Furthermore it is forbidden the any man shal vse the termes or testimonyes of scripture to triflyng thynges or vayne fables about superstition inchauntmente or witchecrafte or also in ralyng slaunderous libelles and a daye was appointed for the next syttyng at the seuententhe daye of June Themperours Ambassadour there at the same tyme was Fraunces Toletane and when he had spoken much in Themperours prayse and had declared moreouer howe ioyefull that daye was to Themperoure wherin the bishop of Rome cōmenced the counsel he sheweth that he is ioyned in commission with Didaco Mendoza who hauing caught an ague is retourned to Uenise to his olde Ambassade and promysing hys seruice he sayeth we must praye to God that he wold long continew this consent of myndes in the Bisshop and Themperoure that is so godlye and holsome for the publycke weale to the intent that vices refourmed and euill weedes plucked vp by the rootes the Lordes felde maye receiue the auncient tillage In the eleuenth daye of Aprill the Bisshop
intelligence he had out of sondry places admonished them that the bandes of horsemen whiche for the suspicion of warre they had hyred before shuld be styl reteyned newe taken vp and prouyded but they for asmuch as thēperours demaundes pretēded no likelynes of warre but Lenitie and desire of peace thoughte verely there shuld haue ben no warre that yeare But what tyme the thing it self declared that the brute was not vayne whan nowe not only in Germany but also in Italy powers were leuied and moreouer the force of Spaniardes did approche the .xvi. daye of Iune they goe to Themperoure and for because all places are full of warlycke motions they inquyre of hym whether these thynges be don through hys commaundemente For in asmuche as the reporte goeth that he myndeth no warre agaynst the Turke nor other foreine Prince they maruell to what ende all thys preparatyon tendeth And with them were the Ambassadours of Collō and Palatine hereunto had themperoure appoynted Nauius to make them aunswer With what loue he hath imbraced Germany euer synce he fyrst was Emperoure it is no nede to recyte And is nowe of the same wyll also neyther hath he any other pourpos but that peace and iustice maye be obserued in th ēpyre and that all states may be reconcyled herein such as shall obeye hym he commaunded them to looke for all good wil of hym against those that shall doe otherwyse he sayeth howe he must procede accordyng to hys ryght and authorytie The nexte daye addressyng his letters to dyuerse Cities that were in league with the Protestantes especyally to Strasburge Norinberge Auspurge and Ulmes I doubt not sayeth he but you know well enough howe derely beloued Germany the common countrie of vs al hathe ben to me alwayes what trauell and paynes I haue taken and what charges I haue been at not with out the great dammage of my realmes and kyngdomes to thintent that weightie daungerous dissention of religion might be appeased Wherin doubtles I haue not sought myne owne priuat cōmoditie but alwayes don my indeuoure that offences taken a waie Germany might be in quiet For this the decrees doe testifye so oft by me renewed albeit that certen doe enterprete these thynges otherwyse and doe falsely ascribe vnto me the contrary Moreouer in thys my gouernemente of the common welth I haue had euermore an especyall care for the preseruation of the free Cities that they shulde not be oppressed by certen whyche yf they myghte fynde an occasyon to brynge theyr pourpose to passe wolde not fayle to do it Which thing I suppose you as you be wyse mē haue marked by former actes don Nowe though certen men haue oftentymes attēpted diuerse thinges to the hynderaunce boothe of you and of other states and of me also yet in asmuche as I could not without a greate sturre redresse them I haue suffered hytherto in good hope surelye that I shoulde at the lengthe reape the fruyte of thys my pacyence and lenitye to the profyt of the publycke weale whiche doubtles had so commen to passe had not some men by secrete and wonderfull polycyes letted thys agremente certes not for thys cause that eyther they loue Relyon or respect gods glory but that vnder a certen pretence of holynes wherwith they myghte cloke theyr wickednes they myght oppresse other states and bryng theyr goodes and landes into theyr owne handes For the reuenewes of some they haue vsurped already and violently deteyne the same to the greate iniurye of many And nowe that they haue brought the matter to thys passe that iustyce set asyde they now feare nothyng they shoute now at my office by moe wayes than one and raseshely demynisshe the same for thys intente certenly that they maye subdewe the states of Th empyre and especyallye the Cytyes partely by force and partely by craftie meanes Whose talke maketh me to beleue the thynge to be certenly trewe whan they bragge as I am credebly infourmed and threatē also that they wil attempt force and warre agaynste me The same thyng is wytnessed by so many of theyr forged sedytions and famous lybelles and pictures which they setforthe to reyse sedition and inflame the people againste me Therfore can I haue no hope that euer they shulde through my lenitie and pacience waxe the better amend or leaue these insolent facciōs For certenly hitherto I haue so littell profyted by this meane these many yeres now that they are not only become nothing at al the better but also worse then themselues more obstinate more rebelles and desperate Whiche thing certenly tendeth to the distruction of the publycke weale and vnlesse a remedy be found it wyll come to passe that Germany shall fall from hys auncyent lybertye into a moste greuous bōdage and tyranny but that maye I neyther beare nor suffer anye longer neither cā it by any meane be excused though I wold Wherfore to thintent my dygnytie may be preserued that peace and iustice maie consist in their vertu and strength that the iminent daunger may be repulsed from the Empyre and from youre heades I haue prefixed to bring those disturbers of the common welth to theyr dutye and to restore Germany to her olde beautie and lybertie Which intēt of myne I thought good to sygnifye vnto you that you shuld geue no credite vnto such as haply shal brute a broade that my pourpose is otherwise For I doe assure you vpō my honour that I doe it for none other respect thē for the same that I haue now declared Therfore I trust also that you will not faile me herein that bothe their boldnes may be repressed that youre dignitie may also be recouered If you shall thus doe I bed you looke for all goodwill at my handes which I wil further declare incase you send me an Ambassadoure touching the same the like thing in effect he wrote also to the Duke of Wirtēberge The same daye wherein these letters were in dited Granuellan and Nauius calle vnto them the ambassadours of the cities beforesaide and speaking to euerie of them seuerally in maner after one sort saye how this warre is not ment nor prepared against the Cyties but againste certen rebelles that haue committed treason and infringed themperours authoritye which haue taken the possessions of certen Princes and bishops whiche in dede by occasyon wil not spare the cities neyther Wherfore looke they shewe theyr fayth and allegeaunce to Thēperoure and ayde not his enemies that Themperoure haue no cause of displeasure agaynste them vnto whom he wissheth well◠let them wryte thys whome with spede and exhorte theyr cyties to remayne in theyr de wtye Themperoure will also wryte vnto them like wise sende ambassadours The same daye at Trent it is ordeyned that in the Abbeies of Monkes Chanons there be some learned man appointed to reade a lecture of diuinitie herunto some benefyce assigened out in steade of a pension And that no
be any man that hathe not obserued a measure herein we doubte not but yf the same were called forthe and heard speake he wolde abyde iudgement and geue none occasyon that Germanye shulde therefore be layde waste through warre They obiect to our men that they haue subuerted the ministration of iustice but you are not ignorant moste mightye Emperoure wherfore they haue cōplayned of the iudges of the chamber and howe ernestly they haue desyred a redresse whiche albeit it hath ben ofte promised yet neuer came it to effecte Therfore for the preseruation of peace you did displace them lately at Spier takynge order howe the Chamber shoulde hereafter be established Which order we were alwayes cōtent to obeye and so declared at Wormes but oure aduersaryes did vtterlye refuse it and sayde they had rather haue no iudgement at all therfore is all the blame of this matter to be imputed vnto them Finally we could neuer perceiue that euer any of oure league frēdes did aspire or couet your office or wēt aboute to oppresse others or els boasted or threatened to woorke any kynde of violence And certenly we beleued that these thynges be beatē in to your head by the Byshop of Roome and his ministers for the hatred which they beare to relygion Howbeit we doe suppose that you haue perceyued our good wil towardes you by the warres which you haue had with foreine nations And wold god he that incenseth you nowe agaynste vs had borne you euer the same good will that we doe for then had some warres either not ben attempted at al or els much soner ended Nowe in those seditions and warres that haue chaunced in Germany synce you were Emperoure how they haue demeaned themselues towardes you and howe frankly oure men haue geuen theyr ayde agaynst the Turke it is openly knowen and chiefely for the defence of youre countries of Austriche Forasmuche therfore as we doubt not but those states are free and giltles in those crimes whych are reported vnto you and yf they might be heard were able to declare they re innocency before you and all others we moste ernestlye requyre you most merciful Emperoure and father of the countrie and for the loue of God and for the preseruation of Germany beseche you to laie aside thys so great preparation and to call them before you in iudgemente that are so heynously complayned vpon to your hyghnes accordynge to the auncient maner to your predecessours accustomed whiche we trust that you will not omitte And yf you thus doe we put no doubt but that you shall soone perceyue how they haue suffered iniurye and beare there greate good wylles towardes you And in thys consultation beholde we beseche you the miserable state of Germany both by reason of the continuall dearth of thynges and also for that terrible cruell enemye the Turke consyder what fydelytie bothe theyr elders haue shewed to your auncetours and they also vnto you and to kyng Ferdinando your brother whan bothe agaynste the Turke against youre other enemies they haue sent you more aide thā any other haue donne whyche they doe not refuse to doe nowe also Ponder weye with your selfe what a mortall warre thys wylbe what calamitie euilles shall redounde therby to the innocente people as chyldren infantes women and suche other lyke And doe not through theyr perswasion whyche for mainteyning theyr rule and power doe malygne our men brynge the matter to that passe that the noble countrey of Germany or any parte therof vnto you doubtles moste addicted beynge wasted through her owne force and sore afflicted be not able any longer to resyste and withstande the Turkishe violence Wherfore we ryght humbly beseche youre excellencye that you wolde complish oure request we shall take the same in steade of a great benefyte and yf there shal be any man which after the matter hearde will refuse to obey you contrarye to lawe and equitie we will not only not allowe his doynges but wil asmuch as lieth in vs ayde you our high prince and Magistrate geuen vs of God and euermore showe all dew obedience Duke Moris which came to Regēspurg the .xxv. daie of May after he had long and much talked with themperoure priuely departeth the .xx. daye of Iune But what theffect of theyr communication was the thinge itselfe shal after declare Whan the Ambassadours of the Protestantes saw that all thinges tended to warre and violence neyther that they could with out daunger eyther consult of thynges nedefull or wryte home to theyr states they cōueyhed themselues one after another and retourned home At the Ides of Iune Themperoure sent hys Ambassadour Iohn Muschet treasurer of hygh Burgundie to the Swysses and in the preface speakynge of hys loue and zeale towardes the common wealth namely of Germanie and desire of peace he sayeth therbe certē princes of Germanie which vnder the pretence of the Gospell doe many thynges seditiousely and subuert al lawes that when there is no iudgement they nede not to feare what they doe Whose boldenes now hath so far proceded that they attēpte thynges agaynst his office and dygnytie and threaten him with war and violence and are non otherwyse lyke but that in hys absēce they intende to inuade and oppresse the common countrey for the whyche considerations he is constrained to moue warre that for the dignitie of hys place and office he maye repulse the daunger from the commō welth and restrayne them from doing such outerage neyther distrusteth he but that God will further his enterpryse And supposeth also that other states whose welth consysteth herein will assiste him with their ayde ad counsel wherfore he requireth them that they wold not be otherwyse perswaded by hys aduersaryes which hatefully spitefully deuyse many thinges agaynst him neither that they atempt any matters through theyr perswasion or permit ought to be done with in theyr limites wherby this his enterprise might be impeched or hindered For this warre is taken in hande for the welth of al Germany and for non other cause Let them remayne therfore in the olde amytie and league which is betwixt them For he will doe nothing to the contrary nor suffer that any of hys shall and whan occasion shal serue he wyll shew them all loue and fauoure as in dede he hathe done hytherto whiche thinge may be diuersely perceyued but chiefly in thys that he neuer made league with other kynges states but they were comprised in the same The Cities of hygh Germanye and the Duke of Wirtemberge hearing of Themperours aunswer that was geuen by Nauius as before is specifyed immediatly sendyng their letters to the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue the captaynes of their league shew what is nedefull to be donne and promiseth al theyr aide fidelitie doe leuie as many bandes of fotmen as they were able to make and were in the felde the fyrste of al men And theyr armie was deuided in
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 sēd their ambassadours to the kinges of Fraunce and England newely reconciled making suite to them for ayde After the Duke the Lātzgraue 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 rebellyō 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 geuē sentēce against I the Archbishop of Collon for the reformatyō of doctrine hath depriued him of hys dignitie for that Thēperoure in a maner doeth threatneth the same doeth not that sufficiētly declare the cause of the war For it is a cōmon 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 cōfyrme 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 intēd this crueltie against me But doubteles the matter is euē 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 Pūugius 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 cōfirmed 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 attēpt 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
came not our selues to Regēspurge we haue bothe made oure excuse the Duke by hys Ambassa dours and I by presente talke with hym at Spier But what is then the lybertye of Germany or state of the publicke weale yf we must haue warre therfore whan bothe in others heretofore and also in this conuention nowe at Regenspurge many other Prynces are absent And as for the warre of Brunswicke we are not to bee blamed For it is lawfull for all men to saue them selues from violence We haue often tymes desyred in sondry assemblies that hys vyolence myghte be restreyned but more than wordes letters we could obteyne nothing And yet in those letters whych Fernando at our request wrote herof to Duke Henry openly wer other letters inclosed wherby he myghte easely perceyue that he neded not to obeye the others These Letters were founde in the castel of Wuolsbuttell subscribed with the kinges owne hande and are foorth commynge and nede be But in case the lyke seueritie had ben extended to the Duke of Brunswicke as themperoure sheweth nowe vnto vs albeit we haue not deserued it there had ben no warre at all But in asmuche as he impugned vs who for the profession of the Gospell doe susteyne greate hatred they coulde winke at hys myscheuous actes And Thēperoure knoweth how we commytted the prouince taken to gardience and for the defence takē in hande we offered our selues to abyde the order of the lawe and arbitrement by hym appoynted yf he would haue taken the same way and had not forsaking the Arbiterment and contemnyng Themperours order attēpted a new warre but wolde haue tryed the matter with vs by the lawe the way had ben easy enoughe For if we being conuict in iudgement had not obeyed than shulde Themperour haue had iuste cause to put the lawe in execution but nowe that he shulde thus doe he hath not at al. Finally from the time that this Duke and his son were taken themperoure did neuer demaunde thing of vs for the same therfore there is no cause wherfore we should be accused for negletynge oure dewtie And in case it shoulde bee ascribed to vs as though we shuld impeache the law then haue we to muche wronge For in asmuche as of many yeres now those only were receiued to be iudges of the chamber whych hated our religiō most bitterly for that the same iudges all cōpositions set a part gaue sentence against vs our fellowes in matters of religion also in ciuill causes wolde let vs haue no iustice we did as we myght doe euen by order of lawe necessarely and lawfully refuse them as suspected our aduersaries protestyng that we wold declare more at large the causes of the refusal before chosen iudges Therfore can there nothing be imputed vnto vs in this be halfe Moreouer two yeres past it was decried at Spier that the chamber shuld be establyshed vprightly why it was not so don it cānot be ascribed to vs nor our fellowes And it is not vnknowē to themperoure how the last yere in the assēblie at Wormes ther did no man resist this decree of his more than they themselues whiche wyll seme to be loyall obedient princes for this intent verely that where as they be oure aduersaries they myght be oure iudges also We doe heare moreouer that this is layed to our charge as much blame worthy that we seke to allure vnto vs certē of the Nobilitie But maruell it is that we should be reproued for this matter For it is to be founde proued that this hath ben alwaies the maner in the dayes of oure forefathers that they should ioyne vnto thē not only the gentelmen of their owne coūtries but the bishops also And though there wersom fault therin it is therfore lawful to moue warre against vs our cause not heard and albeit that in the league of in heritaunce which is betwene the houses of Saxon Brandenburg Hesse themperour is excepted yet ought this to be so taken if he do not abuse his authoritie Wherfore let Albert Iohn of Brandenburge cosins who haue promised to serue Themperour against vs consider with thēselues dilligently what they doe remēber their othe wherwith they ar boūdē we wold they shuld haue this knowledg and warninge as they also which being our clientes take wages vnder thē in this war Neither are they excused if haply they wil say how thēperour is pourposed to punnish certen princes for disobedience For they knewe themselues howe there can be no such thing imputed to vs iustly But if Themperoure had accused vs of any crime as reason wold haue requyred that we could not haue confuted the same he shulde not haue neded to vse all these polycies and sollicite our fellowes to withdraw themselues from vs. For yf he coulde haue shewed our offence they wolde haue forsaken vs of theyr owne accorde and in a cause that had not ben good few wold haue a biden the commō daunger Furthermore what tyme we with the rest gaue hym ayde two yeres synce against the Frence king he promised than that when that warre shulde be finished he wolde goe into Hongary hymselfe agaynst the Turke And nowe doe the Turkes inuade Hongary and the places ther aboutes with great force power as in dede it is reported of many doubteles therbe in those parties both at Offen and Pest great garnisons of Turkes But the poore mens liues of that countrie are neglected which are now cast vnto theyr enemyes as a praye and in the meane while they seke howe to make slaughter in Germanye and that all thynge maye swymme full of theyr blud that professe Chryst And seing it is so we trust surely that moste men will pitie and lament our case and wil not assist our aduersaryes whiche seke only to extinguish the doctrine of the Gospell as they haue donne in all others places of they re dominions and bring vs into extreme bondoge but wil be content for reasonable wages rather to followe oure campe than theirs wherin is the Romish Antichriste and his adherentes whose chyfe endeuour is thys that euen with the slaughter of all Germany they maye establish agayne and confirme theyr wicked and deuelishe doctryne And in asmuche as after muche intreatinge for peace beyng of no crime as yet cōuicted we are enforced to warre to defend our selues from violence we trust that God will assist the treweth agaynst lyes and in thys hys cause wil be our hygh Emperour enseigne bearer againste the wicked deuises of the bishop Unto him verely doe we commit the whole matter and beseche hym to confounde the cruell counselles of blud thirsters and euer more and more to auaunce the maiestie glory of hys name The same daye they wryte to Iohn Marques of Brādenburge And because he is bothe in the league of the Protestantes as by his owne letters can be proued and agayne in priuate confederacie
sufficiētly declared ī 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 cōcluded also that for the appeasing of religiō 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 lādes 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 thākes 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 contēt 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 Saxō and The Archbishop of mentz I was for that matter reconciled by composition which he ratified And after at Regenspurg vpō 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 cōtemning 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 thē 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
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 perchaūce 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 assēblies of the Empyre Moreouer in sondry warres they haue lost a great number of their mē 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 brokē the same and the chief obedience is dew vnto God let him ascribe the faulte vnto him selfe For considering that he intēdeth 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 graūteth that he hath agreed with vs priuatly and that is to vs a great pleasure to heare Wherfor thē 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 punishmēt 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 preseruatiō 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 slaūderously Cochleus and Hadamar the White frere of Collon haue rayled against vs our fellowes and diuines euen now at Regēspurg 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 mā 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 bēdeth 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 cōspiracies 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 coūtreis 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 intēd 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
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 renoūced 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 declaratiō 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 cōsultation 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 cōfederacie 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 vnthākfulnes 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 furtheraūce 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 Religiō 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 thē that are the chiefest aduersaries of his errours and authoritie neither is it so muche to be considered what moueth him as what
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 mā 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 y◠kinges permissiō 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 iudgemēt 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 punishemēt for doing his duty Wherfore most triumphāt 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 coūtrey 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 cōtētion hath risē 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 Ferdinādo 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 grādfather to the king my Maister did not this much only but also promised aide against them And the Emperour Friderick your great grādfather ioyned his force and power with Casimire the father of king Sigismund against Matthie kyng of Hongary and this foresayd order of one cōfederacie 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 couenāt 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 Sigismūde 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 religiō 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 frō 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 cōsider 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 Ferdinādo 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
wyll geue no iust cause to be thought negligent in matters cōcerning the churche Neuerthelesse if it so fortune through the imbecillitie of mans nature I shall not be offended if my negligence maye styre vp and sharpen the Emperours dilligence to succour the Churche so that he staye hym selfe within the precincte and limittes prescrybed that is If he followe herein the rule of ryght and lawes of the holy Fathers Finally as concerning the chiefe point of your Protestation where you contende the remouing of the counsell to be vnlawfull in as muche as the effecte of all the controuersie theron dependeth I take vnto my self the examination therof by vertue of my power and authoritie and committe the hearing of the same to the moste worthy Cardinalles Parise Burges Poole and Crescent And commaunde that in the meane tyme whylest they do examine the thing no man what so euer he be attempte any thynge to the contrary And also charge the fathers aswell that be at Bo nonie as also at Trent that if they haue any thing to saye or alledge in this matter they do it within this moneth And lest I should seme in any point to hinder the commoditie of Germany I wyll not refuse to sende myne Ambassadours thether suche as may cure the infirmitie of their people if I shal vnder stande the same not to be vnthankeful to them and to the Emperour Besydes all this whan the iudgement is ended in case it shall appere that they did not wel to remoue vnto Boloigne I will deuise by all meanes that the Synode may be cōtinued at Trent And at fewe wordes will do what I can that in fine the auncient Religion may agayne be restored to Germany The Cardinall of Trent was before this retourned to Auspurge as I said Whan the Emperour than hearing his talke and also receiuing letters frō Mendoza dated at Rome about the ende of December sawe but small hope of the counsell the xiiii daye of Ianuary declareth the matter to the states in what case it standeth and how he hath signified to his Ambassadour Mendoza that he should make protestation at Rome concerning the remouing of the counsel After the same shal be done he wyll gette them the copie to wryte out And albeit the hope of the counsell is not vtterly to be neglected yet by reason of the long delay whiche is like to come betwixt he thinketh it to be requisite and necessary that in the meane tyme there be some meane founde to conserue the peace of Germany They haue in dede committed vnto hym the charge of this matter but he thinketh it expedient that out of the whole nombre be chosen a fewe good and well learned men to haue the doing hereof And he wyll also appoint certen to consult with them Wherfore he requireth them to be wylling hereunto and al affectiōs layde asyde to cōsider what commoditie it were for the cōmon wealth and euery of thē also that a reconcilement were made Let them call to remembraunce howe before this dissention Germany was the moste florishyng Region of all others and as a mirrour and a spectacle for al nations to beholde Let thē consider moreouer that where he toke so muche trauel pain that the counsell might be continued at Trent that he ded the same of his duty and of a singuler zeale to the cōmon coūtrey Therfore were dyuers chosen to treat of the matter but when they coulde not agre the whole matter was referred to themperour Wherfore he appointed certen to penne articles of doctrine ceremonies and reformation of the clergie Those were Iuly Pflugie Byshop of Numburge Michaell Sidonie Iohn Islebie Agricola who .xviii. yeares past had defended the doctrine of the Protestauntes with Melanchton and Brentius as is wrytten in the seuenth booke These therfore wryte a boke of Articles but very secretly and whan they had bene lōg about it and had printed it sondry tymes at length exhibite the same to the Emperour as I wyl shewe you hereafter Ioachim the Electour of Brandenburg whiche laboured sore for a reconcilement deuising first with Iames Sturmius intreated the Senate of Strasburg by his letters that for the cause of Religion they would sende vnto him Bucer For in asmuche as the Byshop had withdrawen the coūsell the Emperour had taken an other way and that there was great hope of a reformation Whereupon Bucer is sent who taking his iurney priuely about the ende of Ianuary whan he came almoste to Auspurg stayed there tyll the Prince sent for hym In the former boke is declared how the Englyshemen ouercame the Scottes in a mighty battell But where the Scottes would not relent nor chaunge their pourpose and trusted to the Frenche kynges promesses the Duke of Somerset Protectour of England and the rest of the counsell the first day of February wryte vnto thē a long exhortation vnto peace Albeit say they it were requisite that the beginning should procede of you whiche in the cause are inferiours and goe by the worse And albeit we possesse a great part of your dominion yet can we not but admonishe you of your wealth and preseruatiō The last yeare before the battel we prouoked you to peace and amitie and declared what our mynde was but that wryting was suppressed by your captaines and gouernour of your Realme and not suffered to come to your handes For so that they may do wel them selues they care full litle what chaunceth vnto you Wherfore if they shall now also vse the same disceiptfulnes not suffer you to vnderstande any part of our wyll and counsell in this wryting we do openly proteste that we haue omitted no part of our dutie Englande hath oftentymes kepte warre with Scotlande and that exceading great And there is no doubt but they that shall reade the histories or heare of the feates done would maruell muche that the people of one countrie and langage shuld be at so great dissention amonges themselues and woulde accompt it a thing chiefly to be wyshed for if the whoale Ilande might by some meane agree in one be ruled by one gouernement But al men do confesse that there is no redier waye here unto than by mariage And this way God hauing compassion vpon you hath shewed you and offered you a moste goodly occasion as it were into your bosome Your kyng whan he had broken his promesse had an ouerthrow in battell died shortly after whether it were for sorowe or for some other cause He had thre children two sonnes a daughter and they indede might haue ben a let so that ther shuld not haue ben made an attonemēt betwixt vs. But God toke thē away both in a maner in one day whan thei were infantes left but one inheriter a daughter borne a litle before the death of her father And vnto vs hath geuē a king of great exspectatiō Edward sonne heire vnto Hery the eight What do you
of her husband But whan Ulrich Duke of Wirtemberge hard of the misery of Brentius all be it he him selfe was in great daunger yet gaue he relief secreatly to him and his family Furthermore the Cities of Sweuia following all for the moste parte the Emperoures authority promised to accomplish his commaundement Wherfore the preachers euery where remoued out of diuers places least they should commit any thing vnworthy their profession Andreas Osiander for this cause leauinge Norinberge wente into the lande of Prusse Spire and Woormez had but ether of them one which fled also to saue them selues William the Earle of Nassowe suffred Erasmus Sarcerius to depart for the same cause Moreouer the Duke of Wirtemberge in whose country were garrisons of Spaniardes euery where as hath bene saied whan the commaundement came from the Emperour caused the Boke setforthe to be recited in the Pulpit and commaundeth that no man do any thing to the contrary and if any man wil say Masse he geueth them liberty and chargeth his subiectes that they disturbe no Priest and putteth awaye those Ministers of the Church which would not allow the boke Amonges whome was Erardus Schueffius The Emperoure by Granuellane and the bishop of Arras moued the Duke of Saxon captiue to obey the decree and followe the doctrine of the Boke setforth And albeit they assaid him with fair promises and shewed him some hope of deliueraunce yet he perseuered constante in his opinion And the laste yere saithe he amōges the condicions whiche the Emperoure propounded this was wrytten also that I shoulde approue the decrees that shoulde be made by him and by the Counsell concerning Religion but whan he perceiued that I coulde not be induced through the terroure or feare of any pearill to assent he released the same condicion and after that neuer moued any thing to me concerning religion Whiche certenlye I toke than in steade of a great benefite and being cased hereof as of a most waighty burthē al the other conditions which the Emperoure at his pleasure determined on my parson and all my goodes I suffered the more easelye and with the better wil trusting that from henceforth I shoulde be permitted to kepe my Religion free but now for so muche as he vrgeth me againe and commaundeth me to subscribe I do heare protest that I was so brought vp in my youth and after by the reading of holye scripture so confyrmed that I do beleue this doctrine to agree throughly with the wrytinges of the Prophetes and Apostles neyther can it be conuicted of any erroure For the whiche cause verelye bothe my father I and certaine other Princes exhibited in times past a confession of the same doctrine comprised in wrytinge and referred it to a lawful counsel considering therfore that God hathe illuminated me with the knowledge of his word it is not lawfull for me to forsake the truthe knowne vnlesse I woulde purchase to my self euerlasting dampnation Wherfore if I should nowe admit thys decree forasmuch as the same dothe in manye and moste waightye places dissent from the holy scripture I should condempne the doctrine of Iesu Christ which I haue professed hitherto And in word and speach should allowe that I know to be naughte and wicked But what thinge els were this than with painted and glosynge wordes to delude the deuine Maiesty and the Emperoure also Than the which thing what more wickednes can be committed For this is that same sinne against the holy ghost wherof Christe hath so diligently warned vs which shall neuer at any time be forgeuen And seinge it is so and that my conscience is tied with these bondes I most earnestly and for the mercy of God which he gaue vnto mankinde through the oblation of his sōne pray and beseche that the Emperoure would not take in displeasure this my refusal For where as I do reteine the doctrine professed at Auspurge I do it for my soules health and setting all other thinges a parte do imagine howe after this miserable life I may be made partaker of the life and ioy euerlasting I heare say moreouer howe it is reported to the Emperour by diuers as though I nothing regarded religion but sought for a vaine glory and what thing els I know not I beseche you what thing coulde happen to me in this worlde more to be wished for especially being thus grose of bodye then liberty then to retourne to my wife and children than quiet and rest at home And I take God to witnes and than will also what time he shall take an accompt of vs all for our doinges that I respected nothinge els than that throughe the true worshippinge of God I might enioy the inheritance of the heauenly kingdōe Which thing I hartely desire that the Emperour would certainly beleue and be fully perswaded of me In all other thinges my will hath bene alwaies ready to gratify him and euer shal be and the infidelity and promesse which I haue made him that will I kepe as becommeth a iuste man and borne of noble parentage Furthermore I beseche him to remit all displeasure and at the lengthe to deliuer me from this continuall captiuity That I be not reported the first of all other Princes that should lead his life with him prisoner Where he perseuered thus constant and immouable they began to hādle him somwhat more hardly and toke from him his bokes of Scripture and was commaunded on daies forbidden to abstaine from fleshe The same preacher also whome by the Emperours licence he kept vntil this time whan he sawe present daunger hanginge ouer his head he chaunged his apparel and conueied him self awaye priuely At the same time came abrode out of the Emperoures court letters which the Lantzgraue was saide to haue wrytten to the Emperoure In those he saieth he hath commaunded his wife and coūselloures that they should fulfil all the reast of the conditions and satisfy such as complaine for the warre past Againe he saieth how he hathe the boke wrytten of Religion And albeit there be manye thinges which he doth not wel vnderstand and the which he cānot affirme by the scriptures yet for somuch as they ground their thinges of antiquitie and authoritye of holy fathers he will not make him self wiser then they and doth both allow that wryting and wil deuise also that his subiectes shall obserue the same After this he offereth him his faith and seruice whether he shall warre with the Turke or with the Bishop of Rome or any forain kinges or with the Swishes or els wil vse him in Germany but he besecheth him for the loue of Christ and all saintes that he would lay awaye all displeafure and set him at liberty For now hath he bene deteyned prisoner a whole yeare and suffred punishmente inoughe and is brought to extreme misery Moreouer for a further assuraunce he will geue his two sonnes pledges vntill he be fullye satisfied And whatsoeuer way
made with his father And although the Emperour by letters and intermessēgers 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 Religiō and cōdemned 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 frō 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 sclaūder He hath verely at sōdry times heretofore declared by opē 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 perswasiō of others do feare an alteration to lay al feare aparte and geue credit to this his wryting and testimonie And as cōcerning 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 commaūdeth thē 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 Lātgraues 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 cōmons enclosed For the people complayned that the Nobilitie had taken in much groūd whiche before lay cōmon had inclosed imparked the same for dere for other priuate vses The others in Deuonshire demaūded thesame also but they were chiefly offēded with thalteratiō of religion wold haue the syx articles wherof is mētioned 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 coūsel though moste vnwilling sende forth a force against them and disconfite thē 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 mā 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 sōne 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 accōpanied 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 cōplaind 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 thē 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 opēly 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
After the tenth day of Nouēbre departeth out of this life the bishop of Rome Paule the thirde whan he had liued .lxxxii. yeres The daye before he died he released the customes which he had imposed vpon Saltpits and diuers other thinges not without the sighing of the people Certaine monethes before he had treated with the Emperoure for the restitution of Placence but that was in vaine and if he had liued longer he was thought verely that he woulde haue taken the French kinges part For euer sence the murther of his sonne Peter Aloise he imagined how to be reuenged His bodye was caried into the chappell of bishop Sixtus and there remained .iii. daies Many people resorted thither to kisse his fete which were put out at an Iron grate as the manner is Before he lefte his life there came forthe an Italian booke againste him sore and vehemente vnder the title of Barnardinus Ochinus but compiled as it is thoughte of others with a preface to Aschanius Colomnois whom he had banished This boke amonges other thinges which were ouer longe to recite adressinge his talcke towardes him and callinge him Antichriste In the time that Innocentius was bishop of Rome thou wast saieth he committed to prison a prelate moste abhominable for two detestable murthers and for committing Paracidie that is to wit for poysoninge thy Mother and a Nephew of thine that the whole inheritaunce might descend vnto the. And after bēing set at liberty where you were nothinge ashamed to sue for the Purple hat a man of so greate wickednes and were thrise repulsed by the colledge of cardinals your owne natural sister Iulia Farnesia at the length obteined your sute For where she threatned the high bishop that she wold be no longer at his commaundement the bishop Alexander the sixt fearing her anger and displesure chose you into the fellowship of cardinals After this also you poysoned an other sister of youres which was more than halfe whorishe after the custome of your familye Whan you were ambassador in the prouince of Aucona what time Iulye the seconde was bishop of Rome full naughtely you begiled a maid of the same citye dissemblinge what you were For making her to beleue that you wer a gentleman attending vpon the ambassadour you defloured her which shameful acte the maides vncle Cardinall of Aucona charged you most earnestly before Cleinent the seueth than Prysoner after the citye was taken Nicholas Quercey toke the with his wife Laura Farnesia thy Nece and gaue the a iobbe with hys Dagger that the scarre thereof remaineth to this daye What shoulde I speake of thy Daughter Custaunce wyth whome thou haste so ofte offended For to the end thou mightest haue her more frelye at thy pleasure thou diddest poysone her husbande Bosius Sfortia Who perceiuing your wickednes toke such an inward thoughte that he was neuer sene mery after In filthy lust assuredlye you passe farre the Emperours Commodus and Heliogabalus and that may be well proued by so many bastardes as you haue Lot lay with his daughters ignorauntly and whan he was made droncke but thou sobre hast medled not only with thy Nece but also with thy Sister and daughter Nowe that same whiche thine vngratious sonne Peter Aloise did to the Bishop of Fane how shameful is it to be spoken and how horrible a crime When Bishop Clemente was deteined prisoner in the Castell Aungele and sente the Ambassadour to the Emperor for recouering of his liberty thou wouldest not take thy iourney before he had geuen the Bishoppricke of Parma to thy Nephew Farnesius who than was but ten yeres old That done you disceiued him neuerthelesse for whan you came to Gene you fained your selfe sicke But what Marchaundise haste thou made with the Church goodes being Cardinall And since thou waste made Bishop liuing God how filthelye haste thou consumed the goodes of the Church of Rome Art thou not ashamed to haue bestowed the high office and gouernemente vppon thine vngratious Sonne with forty thousande Ducats yearely and as muche in a manner to thy Nephew Octauius I speake not what vnreasonable substaunce thou hast wasted vpon all the wemen of thy house and vppon thy Neces Sanflorians After thou darest make mention of the Turkes which are like now to inuade pore Italy Which thou doest for this intente that thou mightest haue some occasion to polle the people whiche vnder thy gouernmente do sustaine a mooste heauy and intollerable burthen Thou diddest sell to the Duke of Farrare Mutina and Reso Thou hast aliened the Cities of Parma and Placence from the church of Rome whiche were neuer begotten by the and the which Bishop Clemente was verely ashamed to do To thintent thou mightest enrich thine own house and family thou hast handled others contrary to righte and equity and such as could not or refused to beare that burthen and bondage thou hast persecuted with warre that do the Perusines declare amongs others and Ascanius Columnois He that taketh yerely of his subiectes more than ordinarye iii C. M. Ducates he that oft imposeth new customes one while of Salt an other while of other thinges he that exacteth now the tenthes and nowe the moytie of the fruites he ought verely to be taken for the enemye of Christen bloud The Turkish nauy during your bishoppricke sailed by the costes of the Church of Rome without damage and that not long sence what time Barbarous entred into our seas Wherfore that secreat trafficke that thou haste with infidels cutteth of from the all occasion that thou canst not hereafter pretend that name of the Turkishe warre And yet in the meane season you dare be bold to taunt the kinge of Fraunce for kepinge frendship with the Protestantes and the Emperoure with the King of England is it not a great shame that thou shouldest wholy depend vpon Astrology and Necromantie the thing can not be denied for the expert mē in these sciences thou hast auaunced with honors giftes and promotiōs as Cesius Marcellus Gauricus a portugal with others Which thing vndoubtedly doth manifestly reproue the of vngodlines and misbeliefe and is a cause sufficiente enoughe for whyche thou oughtest to be deposed from thy seate Many suche other like thinges are contained in the foresaid boke which is to be hadde in Printe Now let vs retourne to the dead coarse The .ix. day after began the buriall to be made nine daies together In the meane season the Cardinals that were absent repare to the Citye with all spede Trent Mantua Cibo Montane Auspurge Auria Urbine and all these were at the buriall The firste that came thither was the Cardinall of Trent For he was than at Mantua at the marriage before mentioned whan word was broughte him of the Bishops death The funerall charges did amount to the some of fifty thousand crownes The .xviii. day of Nouembre when masse was done they went into the Conclaue as they call it to chuse a new bishop
daily familiarity geuing vnto him his surname and armes also It was bruted at Rome and libels setforth of the same how Iuppiter kept Ganymedes although old were deforme yea the bishop him selfe would not let to tel it to the Cardinals and as it is said would recite in his mery mode how wanton a lad it was and howe importune Whilest they were occupied in the Conclaue there were letters takē which Camillus Olius one about the Cardinal of Mātua was reported to haue wrytten to a certain louer of his Anniball Contine the .xxvi. of Ianuary and verses wrytten in the vulgare tounge where he speaketh of his affection and loue of hym that his absent he vseth such detestable and shameful wordes that they can not without offence be spoken againe Wherupon a rose a iest of them that said some filthy bishop was signified to come out that Conclaue which yelded such kinde of letters The .xiii. day of March themperour addresseth his leters to the states of the Empire Howe after the conuention at Auspurge he retourned into Flaunders that he might binde the people of his dominions to his sonne whom he sent for out of Spaine for the same purpose Hys intent was that thing once finished to retourne straightwaies into Germany but because the winde serueth not to saile at al times and the distaunce of the places were farre a sondre therfore was it long before his sonne came out of Spaine and after his arriuall the hole Sommer and a great part of Haruest was spent aboute necessaries affaires and albeit that winter was than at hand yet had he fully prefixed to haue gone into Germany but at the selfe same time he chaunced into the disease of the gout and not long after word was brought him of the death of Bishop Paul whersore he chaunged his purpose tarying thelection of the new bishop after how Iuly the third had both aduertised him of his election and had also promised very franckly and largely of his good wil zele to the cōmon wealth and religion which thing known he thought mete not to let slip so great an occasion and longe wished for of accomplishing the thing desired especially cōsidering how the whole wealth of Germany consisteth herein therfore some way muste be deuised that such thinges as in the last assembly were decreed and commenced may be accomplished again it must be foreseue that that causes of dissention be taken away and certaine obstinat parsons and rebels straitly punished for these causes verelye he intendeth to hold a counsel of the states unperiall wherfore he commaūdeth them that against the .xxv. day of Iune they be readye to attende vpon him at Auspurge and to finde no manner of let but that they come them selues vnlesse it be sicknes which thinge not withstanding they shall be bounden to iustify by an othe And that they send theyr Ambassadours with large and full commission of all thinges concerninge the common wealth to thintent that in consultation there be found no let nor delay ✚ The .xxij. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxii. Booke PEace is concluded betwixt England and Fraunce They of Maidenburge make their purgation by wryting The Emperours proclamation against the Lutheranes astonied manye Marchauntes of hys Countryes Whilest the assemble was holden at Auspurge to continue the Counsell at Trent Granuellan disceaseth George Duke of Megelburge persecuteth them of Maidenbourge who going by the worse haue also Duke Moris and other to their enconues Pope Iuly publisheth a Bull of a very straunge sorte Duke Moris being made Chieftaine againste them of Maidenburge propoundeth conditions of peace againste whome also the Cleargy publish letters to charge them Wherunto they aunswer fully and purge them selues Osiander inuenteth a new doctrine of mans iustification The decree of this assemble is to geue saufconduit to go to the counsell Bucer dieth in England Thre Sunnes and thre Mones are sene The Pope citeth Octaulan Farnese Prince of Parma againste whome also themperoure publisheth his letters Patentes Upon this the French King maketh hys excuse to the Pope The Duke of Saxon prisoner healpeth and comforteth the Ministers of the Church banished by the Emperoure an other beginninge of a Counsell at Trent and the order of the sessions in the same counsel the meane how to deuise and frame Articles of the faith the beginning of the warre of Parma ABout this time thambassadours of Englād and Fraunce whan they had longe debated the matter at the last conclude a peace And that was so much the more easy to brynge to passe for that they both saw how there were some vnto whome this contention of theyrs should in time to come be profitable gainful Wherfore the Englishmen restore to the Frenchmen Boloigne which they had kepte nowe sixe whole yeares not without the greate maruell of many and the Frenchmen pay them Mony In that peace were also the Scottes comprised After sending ambassadors on bothe parties the two Kinges confirme the peace with a new amity For the french King was made Knight of the Garter in England and the Kinge of England againe of the French order Whiche verelye amonges great Princes is as it were a cognisaunce of moste assured frendship Where they of Maidenburge were defaced with sondry Proclamations by themperour the .xxiiii. day of March they publishe an other wryting chiefly to the next inhabiters about them First they proue that they can neither by Gods lawe nor mans law be conuicted of rebellion after they declare how such as put on armure against them do make warre against Christ him selfe Thirdly they confute the crimes obiected and shewe that they be sclaunders surmised by theyr aduersaries And albeit saye they that through theyr prouocation the Emperour hathe exiled vs yet may we truely affirme that we haue as yet refused no reasonable condition so that we might inioy stil the doctrine professed at Auspurge and the liberties that oure elders haue lefte vs of the same minde be we now also neither refuse we anye kinde of dutye that ought to be done to the Emperoure or to the Empire and take god to witnes that we haue geuen none occasion of any warre or trouble but couet chiefly to obserue peace with all men and by the meane of the true religion and doctrine to attaine to the life euerlastinge And this doubtles is the cause of all the hatred that is raysed against vs. Now is it deuised by the law that the inferioure magistrate shall not impeche the right of the superioure Moreouer if it so fortune that the Magistrate passe the boūdes of his authoritye and commaund any thing that is wicked that he should not only be obeyed but also if he attempte any force be resisted There is no man we thincke that can denye but that all rule and gouernement dependeth of God
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 amōges 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 whā 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 Whā 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 thē 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 thē that ar next thē 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 rebelliō throughout the whole Empire And they demaunded ayde of viii M. fotemē a M. CC. horsemē 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 thē they can be contente to do any thing And they of Maydēburg 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 wrōges they repulsed from them violēce 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 demaūde vnto them they refuse not that some be sent About the beginning of Nouēber dieth Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the suite hanging stil that he had with kyng Ferdinādo 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 thē 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 diligētly 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 pacificatiō 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 cōtributory herunto Secondly that in case he can not be at this warre him selfe he would appoint a generall That charge they cōmit 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 cōmō weale Themperour again replieth what charges he had ben at in the fourmer war the he might restore peace vnto Germany requireth thē to haue cōsideration 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 cōmon treasury he doth allow permit so that so muche as is takē frō thēce be within a certē time restored For that mony was not gathered for this vse And he exhorteth thē to followe this thing with their whole indeuour that they may be punished according to their
demerites Which he sheweth may thus be don if that citie be inuironed with a trēche a bulwark made the siege cōtinued til thei be subdued For vnlesse that licēcious obstinat rebellion be repressed they se how gret a daūger shame it wil be to thempire Thus therfore Duke Maurice whiche had busied him self herein as I said before was by cōmon assēt made high generall of the warre And for the charges of the war were appointed .lx. thousand crownes monethly and an hōdreth thousand crownes payed for the charges past Concerning the counsell the Emperour affirmeth to the Princes that it shal be continued againe at Trent before Easter For so doeth the Byshop promyse him Yet doeth he in the meane season vrge the decree of Auspurge and commaundeth them to declare the causes vnto hym why those orders that were wrytten two yeares synce of Religion and reformation of the Clergie be not obserued The Archebyshops Electours saye howe they haue omitted nothing and are yet wholy about the same But the cause which letteth that they are not fully accomplished is the exemptions and priuileges of certen The deputes of the Electours absent say they haue applied the thing diligently but the long continuaunce of tyme hath bene a hinderaunce For this Religion can not so sodenly be plucked out of mens myndes that they had nede to be instructed that men might by litle and litle accustome them selues who are thorowly perswaded that thesame decree dissenteth much from the holy Scriptures that nothing can be violently altered without trouble and sedition And if any man should cōstraine the prechers to it ther would no man serue in that churche For hardely can there any one be found that wyll abase him selfe hereunto for the state of the syngle lyfe and condition of the Lordes supper The residue of Prynces and states of the Romyshe Religion alledge these causes that Scholes wherin yougth is not ryghtly instructed The Ministers of the churche that diswade the people from the same decree The want of priestes The negligēce of Magistrates And saye moreouer that this thing is an hinderaūce that many of the spiritualtie liue vitiously Again that many inuey rayle vpon the decree made with bokes of reproche vnpunished Iuly the Byshop of Rome being oft treated with by the Emperour about the eight day of Nouember sending forth his bulles calleth a coūsell affirming it to be coincident to his office to call and directe counsels That he coueteth also to prouyde for the trāquillitie of Germany which hath alwayes ben most obediēt to the church Byshops of Rome who in earth are Christes Uicars Wherfore let all men repare to Trente against the first day of May whiche either by ryght custome or priuilege haue interest to be there and suche as Paule the thirde hath called before what tyme he somoned the counsell in the same place For that daye shall the counsell be there continued And if it so fortune that either for age or sicknes or affayres of the commōwealth he can not himselfe be present yet will he by his Legates be president of the same This bulle he sent after to themperour Duke Maurice being made chiftayne attempteth the thing with great force and buylding vp certē bulwarkes that the souldiours myght wynter therin about th ende of Nouember he assayleth the citie Whiche citie is diuided into thre partes Wherof one whiche is called newe he surpriseth by nyght scalyng the walles and gates and neither drumme went nor trompet blewe tofore he had brought in his souldiours The citezens reised vp with the clamour so many as were found in armure are put to the sworde the rest being taken and spoiled are expulsed Wherfore they of the citie to the intēt they might take away from the ennemy this commoditie sendyng forth their souldiours burne that part that was theirs Agayn the other part whiche is called Sudeburg they sette on fyre also receiuing the townes mē into the citie About this tyme came Lazarus Schuendie into the campe to Duke Maurice that he myght in the Emperours name gyue his counsel The same tyme was Erle Hedeck in Saxony whome the Emperour had outlawed two yeares past as before is mentioned He and Albert Erle of Maunsfeld do leuie bandes of souldiours in the cities by the Sea coaste to ayde them of Maydenburge Duke Maurice therfore in the moneth of December goeth vnto thē with part of his armie and scattereth them and allureth vnto him foure enseignes of the same men and after also counte He decke as you shall heare The .ix. daye of December the Emperour in a long proclamation and with heinouse words inueieth against them of Maydenburge and commaundeth that no man ayde them and straightly chargeth the Captains and soldiours whiche be within the citie that within fourtene daies after these letters be deliuered they departe out of the citie geue knowledge hereof vnto Duke Maurice or in his absence to Lazare Schuendie If they obeye he promyseth pardon if not he appointeth extreme punishement There was in the citie Albert Erle of Mansfelde whome the Emperour in dede had not banyshed but had tourned him out of al his possessiōs what tyme he perseuered in the fidelitie and frendship of Iohn Friderick Duke of Saxon. Howe the Emperour left the Lantgraue at Machline taking his iourney to Auspurg it is before declared Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburge were earnest suters that he might be deliuered but aunswere was made them how not he only but also his sonnes and coūsellours so demeane them selues that as yet he might not be deliuered His kepers also said vnto him how he should be caried into Spaine Wherupon he requireth ayde of his sonnes admonishynge them of the faith and duty they owe vnto hym commaundeth them to sue Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburg that they yelde them selues prysoners according to the forme of their obligation and fulfill their promise His sonnes obey him herein and sending Ambassadours most earnestly and oft admonish and sue them But they one whyle ioyntly together another whyle either of thē seuerally by him selfe some tyme by messengers sometime presently excuse the matter and declare that it is not expedient either for them or for their father that it should so be euer bring newe reasons wherby they trust he may be deliuered without any daunger Therfore they desire them to forbeare thē a whyle and to geue them respite But the Emperour who before had moued the Lātgraue by Lirane to deliuer those obligations as is declared whan he was further sued vnto he sendeth Lazare Schuendie to his sonnes and counsellours commaunding them not only from henceforth neither to cōmence action nor sue Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandēburg but that also they sende vnto him all suche maner of wrytinges surcease their sute vnlesse they obeye he threateneth thē with the greatest punishment that
them did inhabite the citie And if we had bene disposed to haue wrought any violēce 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 cōcerning 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 cōmunication and certen conuētions haue ben had for the same cause but in the principall pointes we neuer were satisfied for that thambassadours sayd how their cōmission stretched not so far Assuredly it greueth vs that exceadingly if any man shuld susteyne any dāmage for our cause But yet such as are godlymē 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 lōg before prophecied of the incōmodities that insue vpō 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 cōposition 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 amendemēt 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 possessiō 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 rūning vnto vs out of the countrey husband men women and maidens with plentie of teares desiring our aids we could not assuredly fayle thē 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 violēce 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 thē 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 Religiō 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 dāmage 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 thākes 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 certē churches nere vnto the citie so many bodies as were founde not wholy cōsumed were cōueied to an other place buried deper Again it was permitted vnto al men that such of their kinred as they foūd there they might transporte whether they would That same of thēperour 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 thēperour 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 cōcerneth the high reproche of God They thēselues had lōg before caried out of the citie their vestimentes chalices other ornamētes But their wrytinges publique monumētes we kepe safely haue not abolished as they falsly accuse vs. Moreouer their priestes wer not whipped but they thēselues spoiled the churches caried the pray els where The college or monastery of Hamerslebie which neuerthelesse belōgeth not to thē therfore did we assaile at the last for that our ennemies had a place of refuge therin there deuided the boties takē frō our felowes vs. Wher they adde moreouer that our men did many thinges there insolētly outrageously that same was forged by the monkes As cōcerning the iniuries which they say were done vnto thē in the citie thus standeth the matter About .xxv. yeres since whā 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 cōmon 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 thē before vs. Wherfore we haue done nothing contrary to our promesse or cōposition neither haue we geuē our aduersaries any cause of warre And seing the matter is thus we desire all mē that they geue no credite to their sclaundrous reportes but to lament our chaunce which are cōstreined to defend the warre that is attēpted 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 lōg sore afflicted with the inuasions of our nere neighbours we could not repulse frō vs vniust violēce Wherby we haue also the better confidence that suche as we haue prouoked with no iniury wil iudge this war to cōcerne thē 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 thē 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 coūsell Themperour the fifth day of Ianuary cōmaundeth to be red in the Senate of states Princes exhorting thē that they wold prepare thēselues The same day king Ferdinādo 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 apprehēded in Englād And where he perseuered in his opinion wold neither allowe the statutes already made nor suche as shuld be made hereafter cōcerning religion during the kinges nonage he was depriueth of his byshoprike this yeare in the moneth of Ianuary cōmitted again to warde Andrew Osiāder whom I sayd went into Prusse set forth this time a new opiniō 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 Melāchthons boke wherin are treated the cōmon places of holy scripture Where therfore he inueieth against Melanchthon he maketh also Luther his aduersary for that they were both of one opiniō Moreouer by a conference made they proued manifestly that Luther taught cleane cōtrary to him in this matter and say that his doctrine is pestiferous which saith that the iustification of fayth cōsisteth not in the bloud death of Christ wherby we are redemed
could both by giftes and other liberality The Duke of Saxon also prisoner whan he hard therof both comforted them by intermessagers and also holpe them with mony at theyr departure The cause why the Emperor proceded on thys wise against them was thought to be first for that he was stirred vp hereunto of many secondlye for that after inquisition made he found that the preachers were a let that his decre of religion toke not place Finally for that he had heard report of the consent and agrement of the diuines of Saxon Sweuelād and Strausburge And the readiest way was thought to be if they were exiled to the end the fathers at Trent might haue the lesse to do and the victory more easily in case they should hardly haue anye aduersaries to send against them They therfore being thus driuen oute and banished fled partly to the Swisses and partly to other places when the brute of this thinge was blased abrode it made manye men a fraid For that which chaunced there no man douted but the same should also be done in other places but behold whilest all men are in the same feare the french king maketh warre againste themperor and withall taketh certain ships of Flaunders carieth them away into Fraunce and spoyleth them and in Piedemount Turrin surpriseth many Townes and amonges other Cherie San damians by the conduit of Brissake Touching the shippes intercepted the imperials in a writing setforth report that whan themperour loked for nothing lesse than warre and commaunded hys subiectes to sit quiet the french Captaine Poline chaunced vppon them and as though he caried the Quene of Scotlande signified vnto them that for honoure sake after the olde accustomed facion they shuld vaile their bonnets strike saile and hailse her with shoting of their ordinaunce which thing whan they had done beinge vnarmed they were fradulently circumuented and caried awaye Many men had great maruel that the king durst in this so great good fortune and prosperity of the Emperor renounce his frendship yea it is sayed to haue chaunced to the Emperour contrary to his expectation For all be it he warred againste the Duke of Parma yet would he not seme therfore to be enemy to the French men with whome he had made peace seuen yeares before How be it the king for that he sawe howe through the side of Octauius he him self shuld also be wounded for that he had alredy intelligence that the Turkes wer sailing on the Sea Again for that he had intelligēce by intermessagers how Duke Moris was affected for so muche as the Emperoure was thought in that imbecillitye of bodye and disease that retourned ofte to be of no longe life he attempted the thing with a stout courage And in manner about the same time the Turkish Fleete whan it had assailed Malta in vaine surpriseth Tripolis a City in Affricke The blame hereof the Emperoure laying all together in the French King sendeth his ambassadors to the Princes Cities of Germany affirming this to be done through his craft and Policy But the King so sone as be knew therof ercuseth the matter and saith how the cause of the Turkish warre is for that the Emperor restoreth not to them the city of Affricke according to his promes for that King Fardinando doth hold and fortify the Castel of Zolnocke standing at the frontiers of Hongary within the Turkishe dominion for that he denieth to pay him his yearely tribute and attempteth new enterprises in Transsyluania After this he confuteth the Emperours narration wherin is declared how Tripolis was lost through the treason of Aremount the French ambassador with a contrary narration and confyrmeth the same by the letters of the great Turke Whilest these things wer a bruing the day of the consel came the first of Septēbre at the which day were ther present besides the bishops of Italy Spaine tharch bishops of Mentz Treuers to the great ioy gladnes as it appered of al mē not long after came also tharchbishop of Colō For themperor had earnestly moued thē both presētly in the coūsel at Auspurge after also by letters messagers that they shuld be ther for they exceld al others in dignity welth power the most part of that bishops in Germany are cōprised vnder theyr dominiō wherfor thincking to tary lōg they sold altheyr horses reseruing only a few made theirprouisiō for houskepīg a lōg seasō thither came also that bishops of straus Uienne Costintz Chur and Numburge others being let with affaires age or sicknes whan they had obtained licence sente theyr Proctours In the Bishop of Romes name Cardinal Crescēt was there president and had ioyned in commission with him tharchbishop of Sipount and the bishop of Uerona Themperor had sente thither Fraunces Toletane Hugh Earle Mounforte and William Pictaue diuers were there also in the place of king Ferdinando and Hongary Making therfore an assembly in the head church which they call a session the first day of Septembre whan Masse was done and other accustomed ceremonies finished sodēly came in the French Kinges ambassadoure the abbot of Bellosan with letters which were indorsed to the conuention of Trent which after he had deliuered to the bishops Legate and he had red the superscription a question arose why he shuld call it a conuention rather than a counsell and vnlesse he could shew a commission those letters were neither to be red nor yet receiued and where an exceading great clamour was raised especially by the Spanish bishops and he affirmed that his commission was comprised in the letters the bishops Legate ariseth and calleth a side the fathers into the reuestry The matter being decided that the indorsinge mighte be taken in good part they condescended to heare him Therfore whē they had red his letters priuately wherin the king did briefly signify his grief and that he had iniury done him and required them to credite his Ambassadour They all sit downe againe and than reading the letters openly make this answere Where the kinge vnder the name of a conuention doth signify the counsell it is takē of them in good part neither will they therefore conceiue any sinistrall suspicion of so great a king who hath the title of the mooste Christen but in case his mind and wil be otherwise than take they those letters as not wrytten to them After he was commaunded to declare his message Than he reciteth a long oration wrytten And first the king rehearseth what he treated by his ambassadour Paulus Thermes with the bishop and Senate of cardinals and how by all these meanes he hath nothing preuailed notwithstanding that he had opened alwaies vnto peace and saith how bishop Iuly who after thexample of his predecessoures ought to appease the controuersies of Princes hath kindled an exceading great fire at such time as he ought least to haue done it whan doubtlesse the state of the Christen common wealth was
treated of penaunce and extreame vnction Than also the electoure of Brandenburge Ioachim sending his ambassadour Christopher Strasie a doctour of the ciuill law offered his duety and obeisance And certainly thāmbassadour spake manye thinges at large of the great good wil of his Prince They answer again how they haue taken much pleasure to hear his whole Oration especially that part wher the Prince submitteth him self wholy to the counsell and saith that he will obserue the decrees of the same For their truste is that the thing which he hath nowe presently spoken that same will he perfourme in dede After the deathe of Ihon Albert whiche had the Archbishoppricke of Maidenburge both wealthy and large the gouernement was committed to Fridericke sonne to thelectour of Brandenburge whome the Colledge had desired for their archbishop but the matter was impeached and could not be broughte to passe at Rome And because thelectour Ioachim was before of the Protestantes religion as it was openly knowen that same was a great let Wherfore to auoid the suspicion this ambassadoure was sent who fawning vpon the Prelates omitted no poynt of exquisit diligence Ther was peace concluded at Wittenberge And all beit the siege was not leuied immediatelye yet were there frendly metinges betwene them the xii day of Octobre And the self same time Duke Moris constraineth the Chats a people in the countrye of Hesse which wer iii. yeres past by themperours sentence taken frō the Lantz graue being prisoner to be sworne vnto him by the consent of the Lātzgraues sonne by reason of the league of inheritāce as he saith which is betwene the house of Hesse and Saxon so that for default of heirs males the one house should succede thother And no man doubted but this concerned the iniury of themperor that had geuen the sentence and some new commotion and all mē marueled what would be th end therof but in the Emperors court was in a manner no talcke of it and made as they knew not therof At this time was the Duke of Somerset vncle to the kinge of Englande apprehended the seconde time and with him the Lorde Paget the Lord Gray and certain others Than had Ihon the Duke of Northumberlande the chiefe rule and gouernemente The cause of his apprehension was as it is reported that the Duke of Northumberland said howe the other laid wait for his life For this by a law newly made was deathe amonges them About the eight day of Octobre the Bishop of Rome created Cardinall George Martinuse bishop of Wardin of high authority in Hongary the common people named him Monke because he was of thordre of Paule the first Hermit How the French ambassadour was commaunded to attend for an answer at the xi daye of Octobre so that the king would acknowledge the counsell I haue tould you before Certes he came not but yet in the Counsels name was setforth a wryting to the king First they recken vp how they loked for most ample things at his hands and that for sondry causes but at the comminge of this messenger and after they had red his letters they conceiued an inward sorow for that they are fallen from their expectation and yet forsomuch as they are neither touched with the gilt of conscience nor haue geuen none any occasion of displeasure they haue not yet laid aside thold hope they had of him wherfore thopinion which he hath conceiued as though this counsel were called for the priuate profit of a few can least of all take place in so worthy a Sinode For the causes of calling this Counsell were propounded not only of this Bishop but also of Paule the thirde verelye that heresies mighte be roted oute the schole of Discipline amended and peace be restored to the Church is not this plaine inoughecan ther be any more godly or Christianlike thing be done For now are heresies spredde not only throughout Germany but in manner in all Countries which great calamity the counsell is in will to redresse This is the very cause and this is also the end of all theyr doyng and all thinges are referred to this poynt Let him therfore permit the Bishoppes of his realme to further so godly a busines For he neaded not to feare least they might not be suffred to speake frely that they thought For lately was his ambassadoure bothe quietly and patiently heard whan he told no ioyfull newes Than seing a priuate man was heardwith such a lei tie why should any man beleue that the same shuld be denied vnto publike parsons such as are placed in so high dignity how be it though he send no man yet shall the counsell neuertheles haue bothe his dignitye and authoritye for that it was lawfullye summoned and now for iust causes restored And where he signified that he would vse the remedies that his progenitoures had done before they supposed he would neuer procede so farre as to reuoke those thinges which were taken away abolished in times past to the great commodity of the kinges of Fraunce and seing that god hath so highly auaunced him and indued him with so great benefites they truste verely that he wil do nothing wherby he shuld seme vnthankeful ether towards God or to our mother holy church let him only haue a respect to his progenitors to that same title and surname of most christen king Finally to his father king Fraunces who honoured the former Sinode by sending thither his bishoppes and ambassadors Men of most excellent learning he oughte to walcke in these fotesteps which are both fresh and domestical and follow this exāple and remit priuate displeasures for the common wealthes sake Themperor and the Bishop had exhorted the Swisses that they shuld be at the counsel but it was in vaine and the Bishop in dede treated with them by Hierome Francke as before is saied but the French king gaue charge vnto Morlet that was his ambassador there that he shuld indeuor to perswade them all that they send no man thither Morlet fineding some difficultye herein sendeth for Uergerius an expert man in such affaires out of Rhoetia and axeth his counsel He both furnished him of argumentes and shortly after setforth a boke of eschuing the counsell Morlet beinge thus instructed came vnto thassemble of Baden and there alledgynge his reasons perswaded not only them which had longe sence forsaken Papistry but also all the residue of the Swisses euen as he desired Wherfore none of them came to Trent Out of Rhetia cam thither at the Bishop of Romes commaundement Thomas Plāt bishop of Chur but whan the Rhetians vnderstode by the aduertisement of Uergerius what the bishop of Rome intended howe he would by him recouer his authority amonges them he was called home againe The Spaniardes which wer in the land of Wirtemberge were sent for about this time by themperor and sent into Italy to serue in the warre of Parma By theyr departure
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 cōmended 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 diligēce 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 thē 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 Brandēburg for the deteyning of the Lantgraue wher into thei chaūced 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 cōsideratiō 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 conuenaūtes 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 Maydēburge 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 intelligēce 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 coūsellours vnderstode right well And where he desired that certē 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 thā spake they with your selfe and sayde how they had perswaded him to admitte the conditions propounded and that he was cōming 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 cōditions 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 imprisōment which is the chiefest point of the same peacemakyng and diligētly 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 seruaūt once or twyse for the paper fearing as it appered ouermuch diligēce But they neuertheles procede at the last whā 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 coūsell 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 bōdes of their cōmission 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 Wirtēberge which the day before they had sayd they would doe Whan they were brought in they are cōmaunded to declare their message Who after they had shewed their cōmission 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 vpō these cōditions First that by cōsent of both parties conueniēt iudges shuld be chosen which shuld heare the diuines reason iudge vprightly of matters that be in cōtrouersie 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 boūd to him he thinketh it very vnreasonable against al right that they which susteine the parsone either of plaintife or defendāt shuld chalenge to thē 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 takē 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 frō 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 examinatiō Those same articles cōprised in writīg they exhibited together with the cōfessiō of doctrine Whā this was done answer made them that the fathers whā 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 thē moste that their religion was described by so vile contēptuouse 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 cōmon treatie They had brought with thē a confession of doctrine written by Philip Melanchthon as I showed you before but where as they had no cōmaundemēt 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 nōber of soldiours much augmēted also a greater resort of people out of sōdry 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 protestātes 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 graūted thē for that the counsel trusteth that they wil come not obūinatly 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 Sacramēt 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 saufecōduict which was spoken of openly Who made them a gentle answer but whā other thre daies were past thambassadour of Strasburg at the request of the residue goeth vnto Pictaue He cōplaineth 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 saufecōduicte 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
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 gētly 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 cōmaunded 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 coūsel 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 thē 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
than shall the state and condition of all Germaines be common but in case anye manne beare armure againste him and his felowes him wil he persecute with sword and fire There goeth a brute he saieth of him and his fellowes as thoughe they wold bring into Germany forein nations and euen the Turk him selfe but this is a false and an absurd sclaunder For what a madnesse were it to procure so greate a daunger to them selues theyr countrye It is vaine also that diuers report of him as though he shoulde attempte this warre to enriche him selfe he hathe serued nowe manye yeares the Emperoure and kinge Ferdinando and hereby hathe soughte no gaine but rather praise and honor Not without the great losse of his substaunce he hath had also large offers made and not to be contemned but all those refused he hathe fixed his minde on this warre wherin the liberty and former dignity may be restored to the common country In the which warre if it fortune that the same ouermuch authority of the Clergy and prohibited by holy Scripture be infringed and weakned no man ought to blame him therfore For certainly the chiefe bishoppes of the Empire haue bene the occasion of al these euils yet is it not his intent that those Colleges which were founded chiefly for the nobility shoulde be distroyed but that the vices beinge taken awaye and those thinges amended that can not be borne with they maye remaine in their vocation and be auaunced also wherunto he will be a furtherer to them so that they will be contente and not suffer them selues to be perswaded otherwise by his enemies The king of Fraunce also in his letters setforth saithe he hathe this respecte chiefly that Religion being established he may profite the publike weale and chiefly his frendes And therfore immediately after the death of his father he had restored Scotlande to their former dignity renued the league with Swisses recouered Boloigne and broughte againe the old inhabiters and Citezens dispersed hither and thither into theyr landes and possessions he hathe made peace also with the king of England and entred with him into perfite amity and whilest he was occupied with these matters the Emperoure by secreat deuises hath Imagined many thinges for his distruction and oftner than once hath geuen occasion of warre how beit both for the common wealthes sake and priuatelye also to relieue his people he would attempt nothing but winckinge at the iniuries he gaue his minde whollye to the establishmente of his realme but this his quietnesse afterward by his aduersaries was ascribed to a certaine timerousnesse and cowardlinesse but in the meane season were broughte vnto him greuous complaints of the Princes and states of Germany whiche saide that occasion was sought partly for Religion partlye for the Turkishe warre and to punish rebellion to bringe them in to bondage and that by craftye counsels dissention and faction are mainetained and Germanye impouerished so that it can no longer be doubted but that he goeth about to make a monarchy for him selfe and the house of Austrich of the which thing verelye he conceiued an inwarde sorowe both for the common originall of either nation and also for the old amity and frendship which euer continued ferme and inuiolated so long as it might by themperoures crafte and policye For if that state should haue an alteration and Germanye lose her liberty he perceiueth well what damage and daunger the same will be for him and all his realme For Germany is not only the fortresse and strength of Fraunce but also of the whole christian commō welth And therfore hath he desired oft with earnest prayer and wishing that either nation with their forces ioyned together might so stay them selues that they should nead to be afraid of no man where no hope of this thing appeared and yet many craued his healpe he coulde not see by what meanes he mighte succoure the Empyre so rente and torne a sondre but in this consultation so waighey God which is a righteous iudge hath shewed a goodly way For Octauian Frenese Duke of Placence and Parma whome themperour and the Bishop of Rome Iuly laide in waite for required aide of him and declaringe al their iniuries hathe perswaded him to take vppon him the defence of him and the countye of Mirandula After this came also those complaintes of the Princes and states of Germany which required they might enter into league with him for that they said howe by that meanes onlye the common wealth mighte be restored but howe iuste and waighty causes they be for the whiche the Princes attempte warre he will not recite for that the same may be vnderstande by theyr owne wrytinges Notwithstanding let euery man way with him selfe whether this vnsatiable couetousnesse of oure aduersaries dothe not geue a moste iuste occasion of griefe whiche destroyinge the wealthe of the Empire swepe all into theyr owne coffers and treasury The Burgonians do nowe inuade them of Treuers Gelderland and Wirtemberge and make inuasion into their countries and destroyeth the Lātzgraues dominion diuers waies of lyke sorte is it that themperor excludeth his ambassadors from thassemblies of the Empire that he prohibiteth that no manne may serue in foreine warres that he putteth to death noble capitains and worthy seruiceable men and amonges others Uogelsperge whose execution he him self beheld at Auspurge to thintent he mighte satisfye his bloudye minde Is if not a mooste euill an example that he shoulde prouoke and hyre men with greate rewards to slay such as serue him in the warres Assuredlye it can not with fewe wordes be expressed what craftes oure ennemies vse For into the same iudgemente of the Chamber and consistorye of the Empire are admitted and placed such as by their meanes they may bring to passe and obtaine what they liste For doubtles the blame of all these euils is to be imputed to thys kinde of menne Especiallye to the iudges of the Chamber For the which causes verely he could not deny the Germains requiring his aid Therfore hath he made league with them and not only that but also is determined to imploy vpon this warre all his force and his royall parson Neither yet doth he looke for anye priuate profite or gain therby but minedeth this thinge only that Germany beinge restored and Ihon Fridericke the Duke of Saxon and the Lantz graue deliuered whome he hathe detained prisoners in longe and vnworthy captiuity he maye win praise and renowne immortall as did in times past Flamminius for deliuering Grece from bondage neither is there cause that any man shoulde feare anye force or violence For in as much as he attempteth this warre for liberty he will wholly endeuoure that no man be hurt vndeseruedly let them truste therefore to this promesse whiche he confirmeth vnto them faithfully and geue no creadit to aduersaries which say his purpose is to afflicte and plage the Cleargy For he not only intendeth no such
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 mā 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 foūd 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 expectatiō 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 frō 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 reconcilemēt The Lātzgraues sōne 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
And the kinges of Fraūce 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 cōmmon 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 daūger 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 whō 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 coūtrie And they being of thē selues not able nor of power sufficiēt to sustein such a charge alone haue desired the ayde of the king of Fraūce And he doubtles setting a part the displeasure of former yeares hath not only made thē 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 cōpounde 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 thā by his own priuate profites he would deny nothing to a Prince of his confederacie Wherfore if the woundes of the cōmon 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 thākes 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 satisfactiō 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 cōcerning the coniūctiō of Fraūce and Germany was to them right ioyfull and no lesse pleasaūt to heare that the kyng preferreth the common wealth aboue his priuate cōmodities 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
intercessours and Ambassadours sent immediatly after Duke Maurice and his fellowes into theyr campe Ambassadours whiche might mollifie their myndes perswade thē to peace During the whiche siege George Duke of Megelburge adioyned vnto Duke Maurice euen he which first of all men moued warre against them of Maydenburge was slayne with a great piece What tyme they began firste to besiege Franckfurt the Princes confederated desyre a great quātitie of batteryng pieces of the Paulsgraue Electour who sayeth them nay ones or twyse But whan he myght none otherwyse chose and they threatened to come with their whole armie he gaue them eight of the best he had with all their furniture Kyng Ferdinando retourning to Passawe at the daye which was the .xiii. day of Iuly declareth to the intercessours what the Emperours mynde was in euery thyng Uerely that the matters concerning the Empyre whiche I sayde before Duke Maurice had propounded shoulde not be heard of certen commissioners seuerally but of all men in generall in the whole assemblee of the Empyre Agayne that the cause of Religion should quietly remayne vnto the next conuention of the Empire In the which conuention that which shall seme good to be done therin from henceforth by the common aduise of the states the same to be cōfirmed and ratified Themperour also the .xi. day of Iuly answereth thintercessours to their last letters that like as they haue by their letters so hath his brother king Ferdinādo treated with him diligently to accept And he in dede would gladly haue pleased both parts but he is for diuers causes letted whiche he declareth to his brother for it lieth not in him to cōfirm approue al things indifferētly and wher by thoccasion of this cōmotion diuers without al desert are fallē into much calamity that is he as sory as one man liuing yet hath not the same chanced through confidence in him which put no mā in that hope wherunto he shuld trust For although he sēt vnto certen chief princes that they shuld remedy this euil growing at the beginning of that tumult promising thē al his indeuor yet was not this his mindē therfor that whatsoeuer shuld be propoūded he wold alow the same for such things as cōcern the hole Empire he thinketh resō they shuld be referd to the publik assēblies at the which time verely if any mā shal bring forth any iust cōplaint of him he wil not fail to do his duty which verely he hath not omitted hitherto For sith as yet there hath no such request ben brought vnto him which neuertheles ought to haue ben done before war had ben attēpted he could not cōiecture what thing shuld be required of him much les geue instructiōs to his ambassadors sēt to Passaw what thei shuld answer to euery poynt which in dede for thoffice dignity of his person he intēdeth to do him self presētly wher therfor he aloweth not al things that many perauenture go about to perswade him to ther is no cause why any mā shuld reprehend this in him but those that be intercessors ought rather to perswade exhort thē to resonable moderat condiciōs especially since they se how he doth hardly at the leaste not before he is of necessity cōstraind attempt war which he intendeth not to folow now nether if he may chuse and in case they cā deuise some reasonable conuenient way of peace And seing the case stādeth thus his trust is that they wil declare all fidelity to him rather being their chief magistrate than that they shuld geue ear to such as contrary to theyr duty haue made league with theyr ennemies and raised vp cōmotions he perceiueth and is not ignoraunt what euils approche neare whan both armies are brought forth to ioyn in battel and is exceadingly moued with the losses of the common weale chiefly of thinnocent people therfore minedeth peace as he hath done alwaies and wil refuse no condition reasonable and it is not to be ascribed vnto him that in the mean season whilest he consulted of the condicions sēt vnto him at ii seueral times certen states susteind great losses For ther was a truse al the time of the intercession and wheras during the same time the Marques Albert afflicted diuers the coulde not he do withall For euen from the beginning was he euer against the treatye of peace Moreouer in answering the same he neuer made any delay And if they had perseuered in the same way which by thē was first propoūded afterward altred answer might haue bene much soner more plainlye made yea if they had not shronke from the treaty of Lintz wherof they thē selues make mention al things might haue ben concluded lōg since wher therfor they se how he is minded towards the commō-welth he earnestly requireth them that together with his brother Fernādo vnto whō he hath opened him self wholy thei wold bring them to resonable cōditions therin haue respect to the welth and dignity of thempire for certenly he wil vse the same lenity peaceable wais frō henceforth that he hath done hitherto for that he abhorreth very much al ciuil war but in case peace can not vpon these cōdicions be established he loketh for all fidelity of them whyche are bounden to him He answered than also by king Fardinando to the letters of the French ambassador red vnto the Princes as before is said How he had peace with the French king which he obserued diligently And although he did many things arrogantly proudly yet hath he dissembled the same for a common quietnes but he albeit he promised by his ambassador very largely pretended no such thing made war against him both by Sea and land before he had proclaimed the same How be it he hathe offered this condition all ready that if Duke Moris electoure should in his name bring any reasonable conditions of peace and to former actes agreable he wold not refuse them but ther is no certen or determinate thing propounded and this his drift that wher he hath laid the blame of breaking the peace in him he saith how the way of concorde muste be set open by him also Moreouer he seketh to purge him self of the turkish confederacy as though he had wrong done him but al this is wholy forged for if the case shal so require there may be brought to light shewed the cōmentaries of Aremont the frēch ambassador wrytten at Cōstantinople for a memorial and sent to the king by one Coste a cēturion ther are forth comming also and to be sene the letters of the Turkes lieuetenant in Hongary sent at this time to the Princes confederated others but intercepted wherby it appeareth euidētly that he was the causer of the hurt that the Turkishe nauye did the last yere and motioned also that the like might haue ben done this same yere and that he is right sory that ther is no more harm don
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 boūden 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 pacificatiō 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 thēce and trāsporting 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 whā 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 commaundemēt 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 coūtry 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 brokē 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 intēt is Moreouer for so muche as there is a brute that you are hyring of greater forces though it be in an others mās 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 dāger 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 Frā 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 cōsulteth of the matter with his captaines demaundeth of them whether they will take his part Who affirming he calleth for the yong gētleman 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 daūger 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 consumptiō 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 gouernmēt For albeit that king Henry his father whā 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 deliberatiō had it was agreed to chose the lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady Fraūces 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 assēted 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 Londō 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 mē 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 certē other Nobles and the kynges scholemaister Sir Iohn Cheke knight a mā 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 pronoūce 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 cōdemned of treasō 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
kept with a great garrison This tyme the Frenche men going priuely out of Piedmount vpon the soden take Uercelles a towne of Turin whiche the Spanyardes kept But where they thought them selues hardly able to defend the same being so nere Millan and Gonzago the Emperours lieftenaunt approched also with a power they spoyled the towne and retourned home in due season laden with boties Not long after it was signified and written both from Uenise and other places of Solyman Emperour of Turkes who had hanged his eldest sonne Mustapha for suspicion of treason They reporte that the murther was committed through the procurement of his seconde wyfe whiche coueted to haue her sonne auaunced and to succede his father I haue spoken before of the Archebyshop of Cantorbury He and Quene Iane with thre sonnes of the Duke of Northumberlande being brought to the barre in the moneth of Nouember were cōdemned to suffer for treason but according to the custome of the Realme thei were caried again to pryson and through the intercessiō of certen were reserued Sebastian Scherteline of whome ofte mention is made for whose death the Emperour had appointed a great rewarde as in the last boke is declared was at this tyme reconciled to the Emperour and king Ferdinando and recouered all his goodes At the suite of the byshoppes and their consortes the iudges of the chamber imperiall with a solemne ceremonie the fyrste of December do outlawe Marques Albert of Brandenburg as a disturber of the publique quiet and of the Empire dispatching abroade their letters hither and thether and the same set vp openly and permitted his lyfe and goodes to be spoiled of al mē Duke Henry of Brunswicke leauing Counte Plauie at the siege of Blasseburg the sixt day of December goeth with his power to Schuinfurte whiche towne in dede being situated on the banke of the Riuer of Moene the Marques kept with a strong garrison The Duke had an ayde of Soldiours that came from Norinberge and Forcheme But Marques Albert suspectinge the matter firste what vitaile so euer was in places thereaboutes he brought it into the Towne after he burnte all the buildinges about it to the intent he might take away the occasion of besieging from the ennemie that tyme of the yeare Wherfore Duke Henry without any exploicte done hauinge lost also many of his men what tyme the Marques saleed out and fought retourneth home with no great company passing through the countrie of Iohn Fridericke without harme doing Whan Marques Albert vnderstode that he was outlawed by the chāber he sueth to the Emperour that he would reuerse the iudgement But he sayeth howe he may not let the execution of the lawe So than he refuseth the iudgement as corrupted with bribes and rewardes and maketh a protestation in a wryting set forth of the same But the iudges do commaūd the next prouinces of the Empire to se the thinge executed This tyme was holden in Englande a parliament of al the States of the Realme And for so muche as in kyng Edwardes tyme there were actes made of the Lordes supper of ceremonies of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the mariage of priestes of the election of Byshoppes of ordeining the ministers of the churche of the fourme of praying and of such other like thinges In this parliamēt it was enacted that those statutes should take no place but that all men should followe the same Religion whiche was obserued at the death of kyng Hēry Moreouer that no man should moleste or disquiet suche priestes and ministrs of the churche as shal be ordeined hereafter Furthermore the diuorcement of Quene Katherine the Quenes mother is pronoūced to haue bene onlawfull Finally there was debated amonges the Nobles concerning the Quenes mariage and a greed that she should be espoused to the Emperours sonne king Philippe Of whome there went a report before that he should marie his Cosin daughter to Emanuell king of Portugale and to his aunte Elenore Whan this was agreed vpon the Emperour sendeth for Cardinall Poole The cause why the Emperour would haue hym to staie in Germany was this as many supposed least he being of the bloud roiall and well beloued in his countrie should haue bene some let to the mariage In stede of those Byshoppes whiche I sayd before were thrust in prison were created others at this tyme. For the full confirmation of the Matrimony the Emperour sent a moste honorable Ambassade into Englāde which might affiaunce Quene Mary to kyng Philippe being absent The chief Ambassadour was Counte de Egmonde They arriuinge at London about the beginning of Ianuary after they had treated of the matter a fewe dayes bryng it to passe The commons of the Realme toke this matter moste greuously and diuerse also of the Nobilitie and laiyng their heades together do rebelle The chiefe authour and rynge leader hereof was syr Thomas Wiat. Who reysing a rebellion in Kente made greuous and bitter orations against the Quene and her counsell how through the mariage of a straunger they wyll procure to the Realme of Englande a perpetuall and moste miserable bōdage and seke also that the true Religion being extinguished they may agayne establishe papistrie And Kente is a countie by the sea coaste nexte vnto Fraunce by reason of the citie of Cantorbury right famouse The brute of this commotion was brought to London the .xxv. daye of Ianuary and not long after was heard also of Henry the Duke of Suffolke who reysed vp men in Lecester shyre Wherfore the Quene assembleth what power she coulde ouer whome she maketh generall Thomas the Duke of Norfolke lately deliuered out of prison Who about the ende of the same moneth meting with his enemies at Rochester bridge being forsaken of his soldiours was faine to saue himselfe by flight and with much payne came to London Wherfore amongest these tumultes the Emperours Ambassadours to mitigate the rebellion for their own daunger together the first day of February take shipping depart And the same daie came the Quene into the citie of London making in her oration a greuous complaint against Wiat declareth what his intent is and what loue she beareth vnto them and sayeth howe she hath determined nothing of her mariage without the consent of her counsell For she hath liued a good part of her tyme a mayden and doteth not so of mariage but that she would remayne in the same kynde of lyfe styll in case her Nobles and commons iudged mete that it shoulde so bee For that the Realme should be in daunger bycause of her mariage and that all should be ful of slaughter it should be to her moste greuous Wherfore let them perseuer in doinge theyr dutie and assiste her in reuenging the treason of wicked persons For this is their dutie to doe whiche haue commaunded her as the lawefull heyre of her father by common assente to bee Quene Whan she had on
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 cōmon 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 nūber 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 citezēs 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 thā 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 Londō 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 commaūded 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 wherūto 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 natiō forsakyng their countrie for the alteration of Religion and the Quenes proclamatiōs 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 Dēmarke 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
all is that in these so greate erroures very many by little and little growe vp in and that there be found diuers as wel of the chiefest Nobility as of others which setting cocke on houpe beleue nothinge at all neither regard they what reason what honesty or what thing consciēce doth prescribe and this is done both to the great hinderaunce and daunger of innocent youthe And certainly it were chiefly to be lamented if Germanye which hath had so manye yeares the chief praise of Religion and vertue shuld now be so abased and so far degenerate that it mighte not be compared with the heathen people of old time neither oughte to be preferred at this daye before the Turkes also and Barbarians nor in thys poynte to be thoughte one whit better and because there hath bene no redresse made hitherto of this great enormity althoughe many conuentions haue bene had therefore for that fewe men cared for it for because those whome it best became to remeadye it partlye wincked therat partly seruing the time had a respect more to their priuate commoditye for this cause the euer liuinge God hathe of longe time nowe plaged all Germany and certaine states priuately with diuers calamities in so muche that the same region which in times past for nombre of people excelled in strengthe and valeauntnesse and was hable easily to repulse all foraine violence the same being rent and torne with dissentions warres and commotions as well ciuill as foreines is now in greate daunger and tendeth to vtter destruction excepte God do wonderfullye preserue it Therfore is it neadfull that euery magistrate indeuor for his part herein to do his duetie and haue an especiall regarde to the cause of Religion wherein bothe Gods honoure and the honestye of life also is conteined Moreouer ther hath benmo waies than one deuised to appease religion but that an vniuersall free and godlye counsell mighte be had semed alwaies from the beginning not only to the Emperor but also vnto them all to be the best waye For because that in as much as it is a matter of our faith it apperteineth not to one only people but also vnto al other nations of christendome which must doubtlesse be called to the same that what vices soeuer be in any place they may be reformed and taken away Therfore did the Emperor both for his own duetie and at theyr request also labor this waye to the vttermost of his power and at the length brought it to passe that such a counsell was oftner than once called and sometimes also commenced but what impediment ther was at euerye time and why no frute of the same returned to the common wealth that doth he leaue to his place doubting not but many of them whiche were either at the Counsels them selues or hadde their deputies there know the matter well inough And now if they be so contente that the same ordre of the counsell maye be repared to and take place which thing verely is aboue all others to be wished for of almighty God he will not only assent thervnto most willingly but also apply the thing with all study faith and dilligence And than in dede is this thing only to be consulted of how those causes that wer before a let and impediment might be auoided and taken awaye but if for the tumultes of warre and tempest of the common wealthe they shall thincke mete it be differred vntil an other time more quiet he is content that other godly and tollerable waies be debated that in the meane season the people and all states may liue peaceably and be kept vnder an honest discipline to the glorye of God alwaies and with a safe conscience In former yeares in dede there was ofttimes mention made of a counsell prouinciall as thoughe the same were most fit and conueniente for oure purpose but for so much as bothe the name manner and fourme thereof in ouretime hath not in his opinion bene much knowen and accustomed he can determine nothing therof at this present The third way meanes hath bene diuers times assaied by talcke and conference of learned men And all be it the same hath commen to small profit yet is this well perceiued that many and that the chiefest poyntes might here by haue bene reconciled in case the matter had bene handled wyth a godlye zeale and no respecte had to priuate commoditye of either side which thinge neuerthelesse he woulde that no manne shoulde thincke spoken to his iniurye of this waye therfore we muste take further deliberation also And all be it that themperors deuise and purpose touchinge the same matter who all together mente good faith was otherwise taken in former yeares and had small thanke of either partie yet doth he againe if they shall thincke good so not mislike the same if the parties also will treat sincerely if all affections laid a part and obstinacy set a side they will haue before theyr eies Goddes glorye onlye and the common saluation of all men he will shew herein all faith and dilligence he can perceiue none other way at this present that is conuenient but in case they haue anye other thing that is more mete for this purpose it shall be lawful to declare the same An other part of this consultation is concerninge peace and whan certen yeres past there were lawes made hereof themperor and he had supposed that they had well prouided for the common quiet but th end now declareth that it was not sufficiently foresene for that they might not condempne nor outlawe the rebels and seditious parsons vnlesse they were first cited to appere and after all due order of iudgement conuicted where they in the meane season hauing time and space did afflicte diuers without any desert it was also prouided in former actes that if any man suffred iniury or were by force inuaded his next neighbors should assist him but it is not vnknowen to them what impedimentes haue chaunced Therfore must they consult and way with him diligently how these two poyntes of the law maye be amended that bothe vnquiet and troublesome persons may be made a feard and suche as are faithfull to thempire may know assuredly that they shal not want aid against force and violence which thing may now be done so much more commodiously for that the foundation hereof is laid of late at Woormes and at Frankfurt Wherfore they shal do wel if they follow the consultation there begon and bring it to an end He exorteth them moreouer to consult of establishing the iudgemēt imperiall of publicke contribution of Coyne and of other politicke thinges and hitherto to applye all their deuises by what meanes these domesticall euils dissentions tumultes seditions and force may be taken awaye and cleane roted oute and herein to consider chiefly the state of thempire and to se in how greate daunger Germany standeth not only by reason of the cruell Turke but for other ennemies also which nothing lesse than the
Turke seke the destruction of thempire let them ponder therfore what commodities they receiue of these discordes and domesticall euils which they vndoutedly haue craftelye raised and supported that in this dissention of the states they might accomplish theyr gready lust and by a soden inuasion might bring al men into their subiection and bondage for other nations which haue bene so vanquished by them and supplaÌ„ted ought to be a warninge for them to take hede to theÌ„ selues and to take such counsel wherby both the present tempest and ruine of the country may be blowen ouer and the Empire consiste and perseuer in full strengthe and authoritye and all foraine violence as in times paste so nowe also maye be manfullye and valeauntly repulsed And what so euer the Emperoure and he are able to do here in bothe with theyr aide and counsell they will do it right gladlye and that in suche sorte as all men maye vnderstande what intier loue they beare to the common Countrye And let them perswade them selues of this to be moste assured What time this Oration of kinge Fardinando was published throughoute Germanye it was wrytten at the self time out of sondry places that he had exiled out of Boheme about two hundreth ministers of the churche It was signified also bi letters how cardinal Morone shuld com froÌ„ Rome to the counsell of thempire which would assay to do the like in Germany that Cardinall Poole had already brought to passe in England For it is thought assuredly that for the recoueringe of England the bishop of Rome and all his clients conceiued a wonderful hope in their mindes For in as much as the thing had so lucky successe therfore thought they now or els neuer that God was on theyr side and that they maintained a most iuste cause neither that theyr church could be conuict of any error thus they now chiefly beleued or at the least so pretended And whan they send ambassadours into Germany they do it for this intent not to acknowledge any faut of theyrs but that they may helpe and succor as they saye mennes infirmity About the end of February Ihon Albert Duke of Megelburge who I said was in league with Duke Moris and whoÌ„ Henry the duke of Brunswicke afflicted sore the yere before what time he kept war in Saxonie marieth the daughter of Albert duke Pruisse Whan I had proceded thus farre I was aduertised oute of England that of those fiue of whome I spake a little before Bradford althoughe he were condempned was reserued in prison and that the mindes of manye through the constancy of the reaste that suffered wer wonderfully astonied and amased The xxvi Booke of Sledaines Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte The Argument of the xxvj Booke ENgland brought againe in subiection to the Bishop of Rome a wrytinge is seâ—te for the with Indulgences The Duke of Saxon by his ambassadoures maketh his purgation to Ferdinando and excuseth him selfe that he can not be at thassemble The ministers of the Churche expulsed oute of Boheme are comforted by the wrytinges of godly learned men Townes taken by the French men The Princes of Germany mete and enter also into league Pope Iuly being dead immedidiatly after that Mercellus was chosen in his stead he dieth And Paul the fourth of that name founder of the sectes of the Iesuites succedeth whilest they of Sene do yelde them to the Emperoure Cardinall Poole solliciteth themperor and the French kinge vnto peace in vaine The Quene of England being therin a meane and persecuting cruelly the true Christians At which time a rose tumultes at Geneua and Lucerues The Senate of Paris indeuoureth to mitigate and call in the Proclamation setforth by the French king against the true Christians Thinges done at Rome by the Bishop and by the Normens against the Spaniardos Uulpian taken by the French men dissention amonges the Ministers of the Churche concerning the Lordes supper Whilest the compact was made for the Lordship of Chattes themperor going into Spain committeth the gouernment to his sonne Thinges doue in thassemble of thempire concerninge Religion And extraordinary wryting of the Papistes in the same thanswer also of Ferdinando and of the Protestantes to them bothe and what decrec insued vpon the same The Parlament and state of England They of Austriche by their ambassadoures requiringe that they mighte be permitted to haue the true Religion are denied it by the diuers answers of Fardinando and sue in baine In manner at the same time the Bauarians sollicite theyr Duke about the like matter in vaine At the lengthe was truce taken betwixte the Emperoure and the Frenche kinge The Duke of Prusse imbrasing the confession of Auspurge therror of Dsiander is quenched About this time appeared a blasinge starre The matter of Marques Albert is heard Tharchbishop of Cantorbury openly and constantly professyng the true Religion is burnt The Pope seketh priuelye to infringe and disseuer the confession of Auspurge The Cardinall of Auspurge accused of treason purgeth him self declaring plainly of what nature and faction he is of A suspition of a conspiracye in Englande brodeth trouble and increaseth crueltye againste the faithfull that xiij were burnte together at a stake Fardinando alledgeth the reuoltinge of Transtiuania and diuers Townes from him And also the Turke now ready to inuade as causes and lettes why he can not come to thassemble which hitherto he had so oft differred Themperor now at length taketh shipping into Spaine leauing his soone gouernor of the lowe countries Sleidan departeth out of thys life HOw England submitted it self againe to the Bishop of Rome it hathe bene shewed in the former boke When these newes with a wonderfull expedition were broughte to Rome greate ioye a rose in the Citye and Te Deum was song in euery Church After on Christmasse euen The Bishoppe sendeth forth this wryting Since I lately heard saith he that England which of many yeares nowe was separated and plucked from the body of the Church is through the vnmeasurable mercye of God broughte againe to the Communion of the same Church and to the obedience of the sea of Rome by the singuler dilligence fidelitye trauell and industrye of kinge Phillip and Mary his wife and Cardinall Poole I toke greate pleasure in my minde And also as reason was gaue thankes vnto God as hartely as I could and omitted nothing but that the frute and profit of this my gladnesse might redound to the whole City But like as that father of whom the Gospel mentioneth hauing recouered his sonne lost not only reioyseth exceadingly and is priuately glad in his minde but also inuiteth others to feasting and making good cheare together with him Euen so I verely to thintent that al the world may vnderstand how great is my ioy and gladnes will that common thanckes and praiers be made Therfore by the power that I haue I
iust cause of grief when they being of you clerely destitute ar made subiect to foreine power But herein a great deale more inconuenience shal be when all their goodes lyfe health dignitie shall be at their pleasure the helpe of appealing being taken away For verely appellation is the refuge and sanctuary of innocencie And you are the protectour and defendour both of the appellation and also of innocentes yea besides you no man hath any right ouer the people But and if the lawe and iudgement be nowe committed to the Inquisitours and Byshops officers appellation taken away this were to set open a wyndowe and to make a waye that euen innocentes might be condemned and lose both body and goodes For they being indewed with so great power to witte the kinges ful authoritie will forget their dutie and will kepe no measure what tyme they shall see euery degree to them subiecte and not only common persones but also Noble men Princes to stande in their hande Howbeit yet this meane waye may you take that your iudges shuld heare the cause and geue sentence And if there be any obscure opinion that the same be determined by the clergie Let thē also that be with in orders be iudged of their owne men Concerning appellations let a wrytyng be obteined of the Pope wherby this may be permitted to your iudges And when the matter shall come to this issue that iudgement must be made of suche as haue appealed let there be present certen of your chosen counsellers of the ecclesiasticall order or if suche wante other tried and fit men In the inquisition let this be obserued that the Popes Inquisitour doe substitute and place vnder him in prouinces men of vpright fame and good men that the Byshop doe beare the whole charges and not the defendaunt yet so that the matter being determined the costes be required of whome it behoueth These thinges tende to this ende verely that suche maner of controuersies may be restreyned within certen boundes and limites Notwithstanding for as muche as it appeareth by the punishement of Heretickes al though it be necessary that this hath hitherto bene thereby brought to passe that their facte should be detested rather than that they should be amended Moreouer for bicause it is much better to remedy the disease in time than to geue it space whilest it may increase and after to lay to a medicine it shal be law full for you moste mercifull kyng herein to followe the maner and steppes of the olde primatiue churche For the same was not established either by fyre or sworde but the diligence of the Bishops did euer resiste Heretickes whylest they both preached to them oftentymes Gods worde and shone before them in example of good lyfe Since it was therfore in tymes past by this meane firste confirmed it may nowe by the same also be reteyned and kept so that you would only execute that whiche lieth rather in your power to do This verely that Byshoppes Pastours of shepe should them selues gouerne their churches presently Let also the inferiour ministers do the same Againe that from henceforth suche be made Byshops as are able them selues to teache the people and not to substitute deputies in their steade This is the rote that must be tilled vpon this foūdation must we builde for so may we hope well that heresies wyll by litle and litle vanishe away But in case this waye be neglected it is to be feared least thei wil increase more more what proclamatiōs so euer be finally made or what remedies so euer be vsed This was the .xvi. daye of October when they signified these thinges to the king by Ambassadours letters Then also the Princes that were vmperes for the controuersie of the gouernemēt of Chattes mete againe as was appointed First at Bacherach afterwarde for the sickenes of the Paulsgraue at Wormes The matter in dede was ended and a certen somme of money agreed vpon whiche the Lantgraue shoulde paye to the Erle and abyde styll in possession But where the Erle vnlesse the mony were payd at a certen time would haue this compact to be vaine and his action to remayne to hym whole And the Lantgraue whiche had sent his sonne thither as before reiected this condition they departed the matter not finished In this same moneth the Emperour calleth before him at Brusselles the rulers of all states and speaking of his sicknes sheweth them amongest other thinges that he would goe into Spayne and geueth ouer his gouernement his right and all his power to Philip his sonne and exhorteth them to their dutie These newes were spred abroade ouer al Europe far nere and a nauie was prepared and the day appointed for his iourney at the Ides of Nouember But by litle and litle this brute waxed colde and because wynter was at hande they sayde his nauigation was differred to the next sommer Nowe must we come to the counsell of the Empire of what matters they should treate kyng Ferdinando the fifte daye of February had propounded as is sayde in the ende of the laste booke But where many came very slowly they began not before the nonas of Marche Than at the laste the Ambassadours of the Princes Electours doe consulte of what matter they should first treate And although there were many against it yet doe all consente at the laste to treate fyrste of Religion The same also was thought mete in the Senate of the other Prynces and Cities After muche debatynge they agreed to geue peace to Religion But this thynge came chiefly in controuersie that the Protestauntes woulde haue it lawefull for all men indifferently to followe theyr doctrine But their aduersaries with muche contention did resiste them and sayde that the same was not to be permitted either to the cities that had receiued the decree of Auspurge made seuen yeare before concerning Religion or yet to the whole state of the clergie And yf any Byshoppe or Abbot woulde chaunge hys Religion they woulde haue hym remoued and an other to be substitute in his place Therfore the contention was sharpe and the Protestauntes alledged this cause for their purpose that the promesses of God as well of the olde as of the newe Testament whiche conteine our saluation doe apperteine generally vnto all men And therfore not to be lawfull for them to include the same within any certen limites or brynge them to any restreinte least that they should shutte bothe them selues and others out of the kyngdome of heauen That there is neither Turke nor Iewe of any zeale at all that would not bee glad to bringe all men to his owne Religion Howe muche more than ought we to doe the same whome God hath so earnestly and straightly charged Wherfore they are able to proue that all men in this case oughte to haue libertie graunted them bothe by the holy Scriptures and also by the decrees of the fathers and counselles
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 dissentiō might be takē vp It is to be sene also what the Protestan̄tes 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 mē 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 cōmon 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 mē hath not lōg 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 cōtrary 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 knowē 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 thā 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