State and how much it will be expos'd to Misunderstandings and Tumults of the truth of this Allegation the Emperor's Edict which was then publish'd is a sufficient proof It was never their intention to plead in bar to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber in any Causes but those of Religion and they believ'd that Court could not prove the contrary upon them But they were very much troubl'd to hear from his Excellency that the Emperor had given the Chamber Authority to determine the quality of the Cause for they did believe all those Causes to be of a religious Nature and they were really such which could not be decided till the Extent of the word Religion was defin'd in a lawful Council which thing both by Letter and their Embassadors they had several times acquainted the Emperor and King Ferdinand with For this Dispute concerning the meaning and latitude of Religion is a preliminary Question and ought to be setled by the Council before other matters which relate to it are determin'd And in regard Benefices ought to be bestowed in consideration of Merit and Function They said they could not allow that those in their Dominions who were of a different Religion from themselves should enjoy the Revenues of the Church to which they had no manner of right because they were either unwilling to discharge their Office or wanted abilities to do it and since Conscience is more than ordinarily concern'd in the present case the usual Pleas of Law founded upon the right of Possession or Restitution ought not to be urg'd Moreover when the Treaty of Nuremburgh was on foot they particularly mention'd all those Suits and Difference which were then depending in the Chamber and in other Courts and represented them under the notion of Ecclesiastical Causes to the Princes of the Mediation who promis'd that they would endeavour to perswade the Emperor that they should be all exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Courts which was also promis'd by King Ferdinand at the Convention at Cadan besides it 's plain from that Clause in the Emperor's Edict which stops all Prosecutions of this nature that the Chamber of Spire has no Authority to determine the Quality of Causes And to say nothing more severe they could not choose but observe that the apparent Inclination of that Court to give Judgment against them had made a great many Persons much bolder and more contentious than they had formerly been which they were able to prove more than one way For when those of their Party moved that Court in any Cause their Suit was not only rejected but they were sent away with reproachful Language And lately the Hamburghers were commanded by them not only to restore the Clergy of their City their Goods and Estates but also to return them their old Religion and Jurisdiction back again and because they could not do this with a good Conscience they were amerced in a great Sum of Mony and therefore there needs no more Instances to let the Emperor understand what the Design of that Court is for if any Cause relates to Religion this certainly does But if the Judges are allowed to proceed in this manner the Truce serves to no purpose If the Rites and Ceremonies which were abolish'd may be lawfully restor'd by such Methods as these there will be no need of Council and yet the Emperor is pleas'd to grant that all Differences of this nature ought to be determin'd there and since their Exceptions against the Proceedings of the Court were not consider'd they were forc'd to decline the Jurisdiction of it As concerning the Persons of the Chamber there was not above one or two of the whole Bench of their Religion what Provision was made at Ratisbone for this Affair was well known it being apparent that those who were most violent against the Reformed were most acceptable to the Chamber nay a man may plainly discover how they stand affected by observing the air of their Countenances when they are trying of Causes and therefore they hope his Imperial Majesty will send them a positive Order to desist As for the Penalty which his Excellency mention'd was decreed at Ratisbone against Mal-administration that was no advantage to them Indeed if the Cause had related to Property and secular Affairs they might have had a compensation this way but matters of Religion were too weighty to be satisfied with Costs and Damages However if the Emperor is of opinion that they have intermix'd any civil Causes in their request they are willing this matter should be tried provided there may be a stop put to the Proceedings of the Chamber in the mean time Now as concerning those who came over to their Religion since the Pacification of Nuremburgh they confess'd that some few years since the Princes of the Mediation did insist at Schweenfurt that no more might be admitted into their Association which Proposition they then rejected and afterwards at the Convention at Nuremburgh they persisted in the same Opinion As to what his Excellency objects in reference to the Promises and Articles by which several of the States had engag'd themselves not to make any alteration in Religion To this the parties answer That some of them promis'd nothing others in private Treaties reserv'd this Liberty for themselves a third sort it 's true did engage themselves but it was upon the assurance which the Emperor gave them that a Council should be intimated within six Months and opened the year after But since this Assembly was delayed beyond their expectation and God had been pleas'd to give them a fuller apprehension of the true Religion they could not defer so good a Work any longer but thought it their Duty to make an open profession of that Doctrin which they were assur'd had both Truth and Piety to recommend it This the Canon-Law it self would justifie them in for from thence they had learn'd that if any Person had sworn to do a wicked Action this Oath did not oblige Besides as their Adversaries would not refuse any one who offer'd himself for a Convert so neither did they think it lawful to bar any person from coming over to themselves Therefore their earnest request to the Emperor was That the Judges might be check'd and that not only themselves but those who joyn'd them afterwards might be comprehended in the Peace For if matters should be otherwise carried and any violence should be offer'd they could not desert those they were allied to both by Vertue of their League and Religion This had been already declar'd to King Ferdinand at Vienna and that with a great deal of reason for the Cause of these later Confederates no less than their own belongs to the Cognizance of the Council But if the Judges of the Chamber will fore-stall the Hearing and hale in the business of the Council to their Court this is no less than down-right Force and Injustice against which by the Laws of Nature they are bound to defend themselves
Electors opened the Case and told them That the whole Question consisted in three Points to wit Whether Francis King of France Charles King of Spain or else some German was to be chosen As to the French King saith he I think we are barred from chusing him by our Oath and Laws whereby it is provided That this Dignity of the Empire should not be transferred to Strangers and no Man doubts I think but that he is a Foreign Prince Again though his Country were no Hindrance yet it is not for the Interest of the Publick because the French King will think of enlarging his Dominions and make War against Charles King of Spain whom he hateth nay and hath already denounced it so that Germany will be involved in great Troubles But we ought to take Care That no Civil-War be raised among us Austria belongs to the Dominion of Charles If the French King invade this as certainly he will shall we leave it to his Mercy Hath the Emperour Maximilian deserved no better of us and the Empire Do you think that our own Liberty will be long safe if these Provinces be once subdued He hath lately enlarged his Borders by the accession of the Dutchy of Milan the same will he attempt to do in Germany We ought not to be moved by their large and magnificent Promises for Covetousness and Ambition transports Men commonly and makes them forget their Duty There were many Princes heretofore in France but now their Number is contracted within a very narrow Compass for the King now is in a manner sole Monarch they say he is a Prince of great Courage but that aims wholly at Monarchy Aristocracy is the Goverment we ought chiefly to retain They promise great Matters of making War against the Turks that were to be wished indeed as a thing of greatest Advantage to the State nor am I ignorant of how great Moment a conjunction of Germany France and Italy would prove but he will make the first Essay of all their Power and Prowess upon the Provinces of King Charles He 'll attempt the Netherlands and set upon Naples that he may recover it as an Hereditary Kingdom belonging unto him And shall we Arm him for the accomplishment of these things Nor is it to be said that I am Prophecying of future and uncertain Contingences for he is already raising an Army Since therefore the Laws our Oath and the Love of our Country lay an Obligation upon us I declare it to be my Opinion that we cannot chuse him Now will I proceed to the other parts Some of you I believe are against the Election of Charles because Spain lyes at a great distance from us and that Germany will suffer by his Absence either through a Turkish War or Civil Dissensions For my own part I not only acknowledge these things to be true but when also I consider them more attentively I am stricken with horror and apprehension For I think with my self that if the Emperour being any way provoked should come into Germany and bring Spaniards with him our Liberty would be in great danger Nay it runs in my mind too that the Spaniards will be very loath to part with or ever restore to us again this Imperial Dignity but if they chance by their force and valour to recover Milan will endeavour to keep it to themselves So that I am almost inclined to think it safest to chuse a fit Person of our own Country in Imitation of our Progenitors who passing by Strangers have been often content with Natives I would not be thought to deny this however the State of Affairs had another face then and the Age was much happier But now if we have an Emperour weak in Power do ye think that those of the Netherlands and Austria the Subjects of Charles of Spain will be Obedient unto him Or should the French King make War against Charles as he certainly will either in Flanders or Italy must he be an idle Spectator And must this our new Emperour suffer a great part of the Empire to be dismembred by Foreign Nations Nay as the Times are now it is probable that the Princes of Germany despising their own Emperour will make Alliances and Joyn some with the Austrians and others with the French. In the time of the Emperour Frederick III Charles Duke of Burgundy made War in Germany as Philip Maria Duke of Milan did in Italy without controul and certainly much to our disgrace Nay which was more ignominious the Emperour was at that time blockt up in Austria and driven out of his own Country by the Hungarians and nevertheless the Bohemians were then joyned with him as were also my Grand-father Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert Duke of Saxony If that happened then you see what is to be expected at present when some will be Pensioners to some and others to other Princes not to mention many causes that may intervene why Princes and Cities will refuse to give obedience Grievous Troubles and Stirs seem now also to be threatned upon account of Religion for there are Debates arisen about Indulgences the Power of the Pope and Ecclesiastical Laws which look indeed as yet as if they were curable but will in a short time bring along with them great Desolation and Alterations in the Church for very many espouse that Cause and especially the Saxons and Switzers most valiant People nor can the evil be remedied but by a Council Now how can an Emperour low in Power either procure the calling of a Council or defend it especially if other Kings oppose the same There is a Turkish War also to be thought on and that not only Defensive but Offensive also that we may regain what we have lost and above all things restore Greece to its Liberty Now for accomplishing of this there will be need of the Forces of many Nations And how shall an Emperour of small Power and Authority be able to procure them For these Reasons then it is my Judgment that we should chuse some Potent Prince and that Charles Arch-Duke of Austria ought to be preferred before the other Princes of Germany As for those Inconveniences which may seem to scare us I think they are far less than those that would arise if the chief Government were put into the hands of any other For he is both a German by Extraction and has many Provinces holding of the Empire nor will he permit our common Country to truckle under the Bondage of any but will give us a solemn Oath That he shall neither suffer the Empire to be transferred nor our Rights and Liberties diminished The Reasons I have alledged are indeed of very great weight and yet I should not have been moved by them if his Temper and Disposition were not known for he is Religious Just and Modest a hater of Cruelty and a Prince of pregnant Parts These his Vertues will always mind him of his Duty and of the Care of the Government
he was resolved to treat France without any favour In order to this the Pope puts out a Bull dated the 7th of April by which he grants power to the Cardinals appointed Inquisitors General for all Christendom to proceed smartly and extrajudicially as shall seem convenient to them against all and singular the Hereticks and their Abettors and Receivers and those who are suspected to be such abiding in the Provinces and places in which the filth of the Lutheran Heresie hath prevailed and to which it is notorious there is not a safe and free entrance tho' the said persons are adorn'd with the Episcopal Archiepiscopal Patriarchal Dignity or Cardinalate without any other proof to be made of the safety or freedom of the Access But so that Information be first made and that they be cited by an Edict by them to be affixed to the Doors of the Palace of the Holy Inquisition c. admonishing and requiring them to appear personally and not by their Proctors before the said Inquisition within a certain and limited time as the said Inquisition shall think fit upon pain of Excommunication denounced Suspension and other lawful pains And if they shall not so appear they shall be proceeded against in the secret Consistory and a sentence decreed against them tho' absent as convict and confirm'd with a clause of Derogation Tho' this Bull was contrary to all Laws yet the Inquisitors presumed upon it to cite some Bishops of France and with them Odet de Coligni Cardinal de Chustillon who had embraced the Opinions of the Protestants and was now call'd Count de Beauvais he having been formerly Bishop of that City St. Roman Archbishop d'Aix John Monluck Bishop of Valence Jean Anthony Caracciolo Son of the Prince de Melphe Jean Brabanson Bishop of Pamiez Charles Guillart Bishop of Chartres And as if this had been intended but for a step to her the Princess Joan Labrett Queen of Navarr Relict of Anthony late King of Navarr All which I say by a Bull dated the 28th of September and affixed at Rome were cited to appear before the Inquisition within six Months and the Queen was told That if she did not she should be deprived of her Royal Dignity Kingdom or Principality and Dominions as one convicted and the same should be pronounced to belong to whosoever should invade it The King and Queen of France and all the Nobility were extremely exasperated with these proceedings of the Pope and the Bull being read in the Council of State D'Oisel the then Ordinary Ambassador in the Court of Rome was ordered to acquaint the Pope That the King could scarce give any credit to the first reports which were spread in several Pamphlets in France till the Citation which was fixed up in several places in Rome was read to him at which he was much troubled because the Queen of Navarr was in Majesty and Dignity equal to any other Prince in Christendom and had from them the Title of Sister 2. That the danger which threatned her was of ill example and might in time be extended to any of them and therefore they were all bound to assist and defend her in this common cause and the more because she was a Widow 3. But the King of France above all other because nearly related to her and her late Husband who was one of the principal Princes of the Blood Royal and had lost his Life in his service in the last War against the Protestants leaving his Children Orphans the Eldest of which was now in the King's Court and under his care That the King could not neglect the cause of this sorrowful Widow and her Orphan and Children who appeal'd to his fidelity and the Memory of his Ancestors who had in all times of affliction succoured the Princes of Germany Spain and England That Philip the Bold the Son of St. Lewis had with a potent Army defended an Orphan-Queen of Navarr and brought her into France where she was after Married to Philip the Fair from whom Joan the present Queen of Navarr was lineally descended And that John Labrett the Grandfather of this Queen being in like manner persecuted by one of the Popes and driven out of a part of his Kingdom the rest had been defended and preserved by Lewis the Twelfth and his Successors That the Popes themselves have heretofore fled to the French for protection when they have been expelled out of their Sees who had often restored them defended and enriched them with the grant of many Territories That this Queen was so near a Neighbour and such an Allie to the Crown of France that no War could be made upon her without the great damage of France That all Princes were Interested in the Friendship and Peace of their Neighbours and obliged to keep all Wars at a distance from them for the preservation of their own quiet and security Since therefore his Majesty saw by this Bull that there was a design to deprive his Ancient Allies of their Dominions and at pleasure to set up others in their stead he had just reason to fear that as the Spaniards had heretofore on such pretences possess'd themselves of all the Countries to the Pyrenaean Hills so that in time they might pass them too and descend into the Plains of France and so a dismal and destructive War might be rekindled between these powerful Princes to the great hazard and ruin of Christendom Lastly the Queen of Navarr being a Feuditary of the Crown of France and having great Possessions in that Kingdom was under the Protection of the Laws of it and could not be drawn out of it to Rome either in Person or by Proxy no Subject of France being bound to go to Rome but if the Pope had any cause against them he was obliged to send Judges to determine upon the place even in those Cases that came before him by Appeal That therefore this Citation was against the Majesty Law and Security of the Crown of France and tended to the diminishing of the esteem of that King and Kingdom That if the Form of this Proceeding were considered what could be more contrary to the Civil Law than to force a man out of his proper Court and condemn him in another without any hearing For there are Laws That no accused person shall be cited out of the Limits of the Jurisdiction in which he lives and that the Citation shall not be obscure and perfunctory but declared to the proper person or to his family And the Constitution of Pope Boniface the Eighth That Citations set up in certain places of Rome should be of force was recall'd by Clement the Fifth and the Council of Venna as hard and unjust or at least mitigated and it was decreed that they should not be used but when there was no safe coming to the person accused But in France where the Queen of Navarr resides it cannot be pretended that there is no safe coming to
be parallell'd in any age since the Apostles and there having followed it a great Commotion in the Civil State as is usual Tho I was not the fittest person to undertake this Work yet at the request of many good Men I entred upon it for the glory of God and with great fidelity and diligence have brought it down to our own Times And I have some hope that all who are not highly prejudiced will confess that I have not given the Reins to my Passions in any thing in this affair and that I have behaved my self perhaps with more Moderation than any other Writer For though I willingly profess that Doctrine of the Gospel which by the mercy of God was now restored and rejoyce exceedingly that I am a Member of the Reformed Church yet I have carefully abstained from all exasperating Language and simply delivered every thing as it came to pass I call God to Witness also that I never designed to injure or hurt any mans reputation falsly for what a madness would it have been to have delivered any thing otherwise than it was in an affair which is fresh in all mens memory And I hope those who are intimately acquainted with me have never yet discovered any such vanity in me And yet if after all I have by chance committed any Error or Mistake I will readily confess it when ever I shall be shewn it and also caution my Reader openly that he may not be mislead by me as I have said in my Preface As to the pains I have taken and the diligence I have used in this Work no man could possibly have done more to find out the Truth as many men can bear me Witness and the very Work it self will in great part shew In this History of Religion I could not omit what concerned the Civil Government because as I have already said they are interwoven each with th' other especially in our times so that it was not possible to separate them This union of the Sacred and Civil State is sufficiently discovered in the Scriptures and is the cause that the change of Religion in any Nation is always attended presently with offences distractions contentions strifes tumults factions and wars For this cause Christ saith the Son shall be against the Father and the Daughter against the Mother and that his Doctrine would not bring Peace but a Sword and raise a fiery contention amongst the nearest relations And that this has ever been the state of affairs since the beginning of the World cannot be denied and is also very manifest from the thing it self For in our Times no sooner did this benefit vouchsafed us by God and the Doctrine of the Gospel begin to be preached against the Papal Indulgences and the Traditions of Men but presently all the World but especially the Clergy became tumultuous and unquiet This occasioned the bringing this affair before the Dyet or Publick Convention of the States of Germany and when there upon some Princes and free Cities imbraced this Doctrine this fire spread it self and the cause was exagitated with great variety till at last it burst out into a War. Now in the Description I have made of it will appear what care and diligence the Emperor imployed to put a stop to this dissention what the Protestants also from time to time Answered and what Conditions they frequently offered And when it came to a War the event was various and perplexed as for instance the Emperor to give one Example out of many wrote to some of the Princes and Cities and afterwards Published in Print a Declaration of his intentions and designs This Declaration was the foundation of the Emperors cause and by the Laws of History was to be represented together with the Answer of the Adverse Party For without this what kind of History would it be thought which should only represent what one party said And yet in this how I behaved my self how I managed my Style and tempered it may be easily seen by comparing my Latin Version of that Declaration with the German Edition of it to which I refer my self When the War was prolonged till the Winter came on the Emperor at last prevail'd upon the return of his Enemies into their Countries These his Victories and Triumphs first in the Upper Germany and then the Electorate of Saxony are related by me with great Truth And I observe the same method every where For I neither take from nor add to any mans Actions more than the truth of the thing requires and allows And in truth it is apparent this has been done by few For the greatest part of the Writers give their own Judgments both of the things and persons they mention in their Histories To omit the more Ancient Historians we know how Platina has Written the Lives of the Popes and Philip Comines a Knight has in our Memory published an Illustrious History of his own Times and among other things which he there delivers tells us that after Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy was slain before Nancy in Battel Lewis XII King of France ravished from his Daughter and Heir Artois and both the Burgundies and altho Comines was a sworn Subject of France and a Counseller to that Prince yet he saith this was ill done About XXIV years since Peter Bembus was imployed by the Senate of Venice to Write the Story of the War between that State and Maximilian the First Emperor of Germany Lewis King of France and Julius II Pope of Rome and some others which he hath done in twelve Books And he too tells us how Lewis XII denounced War against the Venetians and that his Herald appearing before the Senate and the Duke spoke these Words Luredano Duke of Venice and ye the rest of the Citizens of Venice Lewis King of France my Master has commanded me to tell you that he is coming with an Army against you because like a parcel of perfidious men yea have possessed your selves by force and fraud of the Towns belonging to the Pope and other Princes and are rest lesly endeavouring by crafty means to Ravage and subject under your Dominion all that belongs to your Neighbours which he is now resolved to require at your hands Perhaps some may think that Bembus ought to have taken no notice of these Words because they reflect so bitterly upon his Country-men but he thought otherwise and transcrib'd them from the Publick Records into his History adding the Answer which was given with equal sharpness to the Herald and this Work was after Printed with the Privilege of the Senate at Venice Paulus Jovius besides his Lives of the Illustrious Men has lately Published two Tomes of the History of our Time how freely he Writes will appear to any one who reads them and although he treats the Germans very injuriously yet his Work comes forth with many Privileges to defend it He that pleaseth may examine what he saith Tom. II. Fol. 9. and in the Life
his presence That generally all his Friends had advised him to appeal from him to the Pope That he would not indeed have done it of his own accord as not thinking it to be very necessary but that he could not but respect their Admonitions and the rather that he beleived Duke Frederick inclined more to have that Appeal made than that he should rashly and unadvisedly make any Retractation The Appeal was conceived in Words much to this effect That the Question about Indulgences which had been variously handled by many was never clearly determined and that about such dubious Questions it was lawful especially for Divines to dispute that he had also done so at that time when some Preachers not only Wrote and Taught rashly and unadvifedly but also used strange ways and Tricks to draw Money from the People and that he did it not as affirming any thing positively but only that he might discover the Truth that he had in like manner submitted the whole Debate to the Determination of the Learned and also of Pope Leo but that these Men had devised many Calumnies against him abused him grievously to the Pope and at length prevailed so far that the Cause was committed to the Bishop of Ascoli and Silvester Prierias that by them he had been cited to appear at Rome but that because both of them were suspected and one of them unfit to judge in such a Matter Again because no Man doubted of the unavoidable Danger he would have been exposed to if he had gone to Rome and that he had been commanded by his own Magistrate not to go Upon these Considerations and in such an Apprehension also which might affect the Stoutest and most resolute Man he had prayed Frederick Elector of Saxony That he would procure his Cause to be Tryed by some fit and competent Persons in a Place secure from Violence in Germany that so the Pope had referr'd the whole Matter to his Legate Cardinal Cajetane which doubtless was brought about by the Instigation of his Adversaries who knew the Mind and Intentions of the Cardinal And though the Legate himself might have justly been Suspected yet he had obeyed That the Cardinal had at first Meeting commanded him instantly to retract what he had written to which he then made Answer That he would give an account of what he had done either in a Personal Disputation or by Writing and refer the whole Matter not only to Universities but also to the Decision of the Church of Rome but that the Legate being wrought upon by none of these Things had still enjoyned him a Retractation and when he could not extort it had threatned severe Punishments both to him and others also that were of his Opinion That since then he found himself lyable to such unjust Prejudications he Appealed from the Pope not rightly informed in the Cause to the Pope to be better informed and that he publickly protested Now that Decretal of Pope Clement which hath been mentioned is extant in that Part of the canon-Canon-Law which they call the Extravagants There Pope Clement reduces that Time they call the Jubilee from an hundred Years as it was appointed by Boniface VIII to fifty and speaking of the Blessing of our Saviour Christ affirms That one Drop of the Blood of Christ was sufficient for the Redemption of all Mankind but that seeing he shed so much Blood that there was no sound Part left in his Body nothing more Lamentable to be seen he had left all that was over and above as a vast Treasure for the use of the Church and commanded S. Peter who keeps the Keys of Heaven's Gates and after him his Successors to distribute that Treasure like good Stewards amongst Men who were truly Penitent and confessed their Sins pardoning the Temporal Punishment that was due unto them for their Trespasses Besides he says That the Merits of the Virgin Mary and all the Saints were put into the same Treasure so that there was an inexhaustible Stock for Indulgences This was the Decretal then upon which Cajetane grounded the Efficacy and Validity of Indulgences But Luther affirmed That there was nothing committed to S. Peter and his Successours but the Keys and Ministry of the Word whereby Christ impowers them to declare to Penitent Believers who trust in him the Remission of their Sins that that was the true and genuine Sense of the Scripture That if that was the Meaning of Pope Clement's Decretal he liked it but if not he could not approve the same That what moreover it said of the Merits of Saints was wholly repugnant to Scripture for that the best of Men were so far from doing more that they could not do what they ought and that we were not saved by their Merits but only by the Mercy of God since it ought to be our daily Prayer That God would pardon our Sins and Trespasses and not enter into Judgment with us lest we should be condemned As to what Cajetane alledged of the Pope's Power the Case is this It was decreed in the fourth and fifth Sessions of the Council of Constance That the Pope himself should be subject to the Decrees of a Council The same was also renewed and again Decreed in the third and eighteenth Sessions of the Council of Basil But Eugenius IV refusing to go to that of Basil though he had been often warned and cited to come declared it null and appointed another to meet at Ferrara whither also came John Paleologue the last Emperour of the Greeks save one with Joseph Patriarch of Constantinople and a great many Bishops and that was in the Year 1438. From Ferrara afterwards they all removed to Florence and there a Decree past with consent of the Greeks That the Church of Rome was the Chief of all Churches and the Pope of Rome the Successor of Peter the Prince of the Apostles the true Vicar of Christ the Head of the Universal Church the Father and Teacher of all Christians and that full Power was given to him from Christ of Feeding and Governing the Catholick Church This Decree Cajetane now insisted upon when he preferred the Pope before a Council Nay and six Years before also when he was not as yet Cardinal but only General of the Dominicans he made a Speech in the Second Session of the Council of Lateran of which more hereafter and having spoken many things against some Cardinals who had made a Separation he had a glance by the by at the Councils of Constance and Basil because the Fathers at that time had taken upon them Power and Authority over the Pope that therefore it was well done by Eugenius when he curbed that Faction and suffered not his Power to be diminished Pope Julius II in whose Favour this Speech was made commanded it afterwards to be entred amongst the Acts and Records of the Council though Cajetane obtained not the Cardinals Cap before the Pontificat of Pope Leo. Gerson whom
he is led to the Altar and there takes his Oath to perform all this and so returns again to his Throne Then the Elector of Cologn demands of those that were present Whether they will yield him due Faith and Allegiance which being promised and some other Prayers recited he anoints him on the Breast the Head the Bendings of the Arms and the Palms of the Hands And being thus anointed the Archbishops of Mentz and Triers lead him into the Vestry and there having clothed him like a Deacon place him again in his Throne After other Prayers the Archbishop of Cologn accompanied by the two other Archbishops delivers him a Sword drawn and commends the Commonwealth to his Care and when he has sheathed this Sword puts a Ring on his Finger and vests him with the Imperial Robe gives him a Scepter and Globe and the three Archbishops together put the Crown on his Head From thence he is lead to the Altar and there swears again That he will do the Duty of a good Prince after which accompanied by the Archbishops he goes up into a part of the Church which is purposely raised higher than the rest and is there placed in a Seat of Stone Then the Archbishop of Mentz making a Speech in the Vulgar Tongue wishes him great Prosperity commending to him himself his Colleagues and the States of the Empire The Prebendaries of the Church do likewise congratulate him into whose number he is chosen by an ancient Custom And after all he is entertained by a Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick The Lady Margaret the Emperour's Aunt who was Governess of the Low Countries was present during the whole Ceremony When Mass was over and the Emperour had received the Sacrament he Knights as many as offered themselves which Honour used to be given anciently only to those who had signalized their Courage in War and was the Reward of Valour And now the manner is for Kings to strike gently with their naked Sword the Shoulders of those that are to receive the Honour And by this Ceremony only now a days many are made Knights not only of the Nobility but Tradesmen and others From the Church they proceed to the Palace which is magnificently adorned there the Emperour Dines and the Electors also every one by himself there being Tables placed in the same Hall on both Sides the Emperour's the Archbishop of Triers sitting right against the Emperour according to one of the Laws of Charles IV. By an ancient Custom a whole Ox is roasted that Day with several other things in his Belly part of it is brought to the Emperour's Table and the rest is given to the Rabble and two Conduits run all the while with Wine After Dinner the Emperour returning to his Lodging delivers the Seal of the Empire to the Archbishop of Mentz and the next Day he treats the Electors The Day following repairing to the Church when he had heard Mass he worships the Holy Relicks as they call them and among these a Linen-Cloth in which they say our Blessed Saviour was wrapt when he lay in his Cradle After this the Archbishop of Mentz pronounces That the Pope confirms the Election and commands That Charles V should hereafter be called Emperour The Electors being departed for fear of the Contagion the Emperour also takes his Journey and arriving at Cologn about the beginning of November he sends his Letters all over the Empire to call a Dyet on January 6 at Wormes As to what the Archbishop of Mentz said concerning the Pope's Confirmation it is now indeed grown into a Custom contrary to what it was formerly for heretofore the Bishops of Rome used to be approved of by the Emperours but increasing in Power they began not only to rule at Pleasure but brought it at last to that pass after much Strife and Contention That the Right of Electing should be in the Electors but they themselves only should have the Power of Confirming and Ratifying it And this Authority they have made use of in almost all Kingdoms chiefly in Italy Germany and France deposing the lawful Princes and puting others in their room For besides other Places of the Canon Law in the Decretal Epistles of Pope Gregory IX Innocent III affirms That the Right of chusing the Emperour by the Favour of the Bishops and See of Rome was translated from the Greeks to the Germans in the time of Charles the Great and 't is their Busines to judge of the fitness of the Person and not contented with this they make the chief Magistrate of the World swear Allegiance to them which very thing has been the Cause of great Wars and much mischief But at length Clement V who lived in the Year of our Lord 1300 bound them to it by a Law which he inserted into the Body of the Canon Law for when the Emperour Henry VII of the Family of Luxemburg refused the Oath as a new thing not practised in former Times Pope Clement to secure all for the future opens the Matter at large declaring what is contained in that Oath that is to say That the Emperour should defend the Roman Church root out Hereticks and avoid the Company of Wicked Men that he should by all means possible maintain the Dignity of the Popes defend and keep all priviledges granted at any Time to the Church of Rome but especially such as were given by Constantine Charles the Great Henry Otho IV Frederick II and Rodolph that he claimed no Right upon any account whatsoever over the Lands and Possessions of the Roman Church and that he would defend all other Churches in their Rights and Priviledges He declares that the Emperour is obliged to all this and that Henry himself promised as much by his Envoys however afterwards he refused to own it But this Decree of the Popes came not out till after Henry was dead This is that Clement who first of all summoned the Cardinals from Rome to Lions in France and kept his Court there since which time the Authority and Power of the Emperours has decreased daily in Italy and the Power and Dignity of the Popes been augmented so that Emperours of a later date imagined that they owe them this Obedience and Allegiance But the chief of those Popes that have been in this Matter troublesome to our Emperours are Gregory VII Alexander III Innocent III Gregory IX Innocent IV Nicholas III Boniface VIII and Clement V. But to return from whence we have digressed While the Emperour was at Cologn the Pope began again to incense Frederick Duke of Saxony against Luther by Marinus Caracciolus and Jerome Aleander who speaking first in praise of him and his Family and telling the Danger that hung over Germany by reason of Luther's pernicious Writings demanded at length two things First That he would command all his Books to be burnt And Secondly That he would either execute him himself or send him Prisoner to the Pope There were
Fire and reclaim Luther by moderate and fair ways Or if that could not be done that then they would punish him according to the Laws and the late Decree of the Emperour and Empire That by so doing they would not only wash away that Stain which now stuck to Germany but also contribute to the Salvation of many who were much damnified by his Contagion That for his own part his Natural Disposition and Profession inclined him to Mercy rather than any kind of Severity But because this was a Distemper not to be cured by gentle Medicines there was a Necessity of applying more Violent Remedies That Testimonies and Instances of this more than one might be had in Holy Scripture and that their own Predecessors in the Council of Constance after this manner punished John Huss and Jerome of Prague according to their Deserts That if they would imitate them in this Virtuous Course God would not be wanting and that then there might be greater Hopes that the Cruelty of the Turk would be restrained And that in fine he was ready to bestow all he had nay and to lay down his Life for the Welfare of the Flock committed to his Charge referring what else he had to say concerning Luther to his Legate Francis Cheregate Bishop of Teramo to whom he prayed them to give Credit What he said of a Civil War raised among some related to Richard Archbishop of Treves who was then in a War with Francis Sicking a Valiant Man and great favourer of Luther However Religion was not the Cause of that War but it was because the Bishop would not suffer two Men within his Jurisdiction for whom he had been Bail to answer the Law for so it is specified in the Letter of Defiance which Sicking sent him towards the latter end of August Pope Adrian at that time wrote Private Letters to some others to the same effect and having much inveighed against the Doctrin of Luther he required the Senate of Strasburg Not to suffer any of his or his Adherent's Books to be printed and not only to Suppress but also to burn those which were already published for that he heard That such kind of Books were printed by their Printers who refused to meddle with any thing written against them threatning the Senate with the Wrath and Vengeance of God if they did not obey him for that although they persevered in the Ancient Established Religion yet unless they took from others the Liberty of Offending and Occasion of Errour they were not to promise to themselves impunity Now for the better understanding of what he said that he had heard of Luther when he was in Spain we are to look back a little into the History of his Life Adrian was a Poor Man's Son of Vtricht a Town upon the Borders of Holland he followed his Studies in the University of Louvain and for his Learning and Probitie was recommended to Maximilian the Emperour to be Tutor to his Grand-Son Charles with him he continued till he was grown up and became fit to learn more Manly Exercises and then was sent Ambassadour into Spain to King Ferdinand who made him Bishop of Tortosa but after the Death of the King when the Government fell to his Grand-Son Charles of Ambassadour that he was before he was made Privy Counsellor There was a Difference at that time betwixt Pope Leo and the Cardinals who had conspired his Death so that having dispatched a great many of them some by Exile and some by loathsome Imprisonment he created one and thirty new Cardinals at the same time partly for his own Defence and partly to raise Money among whom also was Adrian and this was in the Year 1517. Charles came afterwards into Spain upon the Death of his Grand-Father Ferdinand whose Heir and Successor he was In the mean time Maximilian the Emperour dying Charles was chosen Emperour and upon that account being obliged to go to Germany he left the chief Care of the Government of Spain to Adrian during his Absence and not long after there happened a great Insurrection in that Kingdom Now upon the Death of Pope Leo when Julius of Medices and Alexander Fernese canvassed for the Papacy and were making all the several Interests they could to be chosen Pope Adrian who was both absent and unknown was elected January 9 this Year to the great Displeasure of the Romans who took it extreamly ill That so high an Office should be conferred upon a Stranger whom they had never seen He having received the News of his Promotion and being therewith acquainted that three Cardinals were designed to come as Ambassadours to him into Spain who nevertheless were not as yet come he thought fit March 8 to write to the Colledge of Cardinals from the Town Victoria and gave them his hearty Thanks that they had conceived such an Opinion of him telling them That though at first he had been terrified at the greatness of the Charge imposed upon him yet that looking upon it as a Call to him from Heaven in those Distracted and Divided Times he had taken Heart and hoped the best That moreover since he heard that the Cardinals who were to come to him had not as yet parted from Rome and could not so soon perform the Journey and that in the mean time unless he himself approved the Election he could not be invested with Authority for Governing the Church Besides it being a Long and Dangerous Journey for the Ambassadours to undertake therefore to ease them of that Trouble and at the same time to declare his Mind he had before some honest and proper Persons whom he had called together for that purpose signified his Resolution and approved the Election Wherefore he required them to make the same known to all Men especially in Italy and in the mean time to take care that Justice should be administred he being now wholly taken up in preparing a Fleet and other things necessary for his Passage to Rome with the first Opportunity He wrote also to the Senate and People of Rome bidding them to expect all Good Will and Favour at his Hands And so some Months after the Season offering fair he put out to Sea on his Voyage And though the Emperour at the same time was returning to Spain from the Netherlands to appease an Insurrection that had happened in his Absence yet he departed without saluting him but wrote to him a most kind Letter wherein he gave him the Reasons why he made so much hast Thus about the latter end of August he arrived at Rome it being then the third Month that Solyman Emperour of the Turks had besieged Rhodes which at length after a seven Month's Siege wherein the Knights had most valiently defended themselves though destitute of all Succours he took by Composition December 25 not only to the great Prejudice but Disgrace also of Christendom Much about the same time Cheregate the Pope's Legate
might severely punish so great a Negligence both by publick and private Calamities That Luther's way was not unlike to the Sect of Mahomet which allows Men to marry several Wives and afterwards to put them away by which Law that villanous Juggler bewitched Men and drew the greatest part of the World over to his Religion That Luther did not indeed expresly allow that but that he absolved all those who had made to God Vows of Chastity from the obligation of the Law exhorted them to Marriage and let loose the Reins to Men's Lusts that so he might allure more People into that Association and Confederacy which he was hatching to the Ruine of Christendom and particularly of Germany That therefore it was their Parts punctually to put into execution the Sentences of the Pope and Emperour that they might avenge the Glory of God wipe off the Reproach that stuck to their Country and remove from themselves an infectious Pestilence That nevertheless such of them as should retract and return into the right way might be pardoned and received again into Favour but that they who obstinately maintained their Errors ought to be punished with the utmost severity that the rest being terrified by such an Example might learn to persevere in the true Faith and Religion That if it should be objected by some That Luther was condemned before he had been heard and that it was Reasonable that he should be tryed before he suffered such men reasoned amiss for that Christ himself had laid down a Rule of Faith and Religion whose Authority we ought to submit unto and not dispute about Articles of Faith nor enquire into the Reasons of this or that Precept That he was to be heard indeed when he was examined Whether in his Sermons he had said so or so or whether he had published this or that Book but that he ought not to be admitted to defend those things which he had broached concerning the Faith and Sacraments for here the Custom and Doctrin of the Church was to be observed and not to be deviated from And since most of his Opinions were already condemned by the Authority of Councils no regard ought to be had unto them That there could not be a greater Injury done to Ecclesiastical Assemblies than to cavil at or reject their Decrees nor could there be any End of Controversies if what Learned and Wise Men had after long and serious Deliberation determined should by every Private Person be questioned and examined That all Societies of Men had certain and fixed Laws which they were bound to observe how much more then ought not that to be done when any thing is established by Publick Authority in the Church That seeing then these Men did not only reject but even burn the Decrees of the Councils and Fathers they ought certainly to be punished as Disturbers of the Publick Peace That in the mean time it was not to be dissembled nor past over in Silence that God who is the Revenger of all Iniquity did in this manner afflict his Church for the Sins of the People but chiefly of the Rulers and Ministers of the Church since the Scripture saith That the iniquity of the people proceeded from the priests For that in Truth for these many Years past the Sins of Rome had been manifold and grievous and that even from the Head down to the inferior Clergy that Evil and Contagion had been propagated that no Man did his Duty all had gone astray and that none were free from Guilt no not one So that all Glory was to be given unto God alone from whom Pardon and Remission was humbly to be implored That since things were then in such a State he would take care That the Court of Rome which perhaps had given occasion to so great Evils should first of all be strictly reformed that so the Cure might begin at the Root and Cause of the Distemper which he thought himself the more obliged to do in that it was most earnestly desired by most Men That for his own part he was against his Will and with Reluctancy promoted to the Chair and would have been far better pleased with a Private Life But that being moved by the Fear of God and present State of Affairs he could not at length decline that burthensome Care That indeed no desire of Dominion and Rule had been a Motive to him to accept of that Charge but only that he might have an Opportunity of consulting and doing what he could for the Publick Good and Welfare of Christendom Now that he did not instantly reform the Vices and Abuses which he plainly saw the Reason was because the Disease which he designed to cure was very inveterate and Complicate also so that he must proceed gently and by degrees lest by attempting too sudden and speedy a Cure he should increase the Distemper For that all sudden Changes were dangerous and it was an old Proverb That he who blowed his Nose too hard would squeeze out Blood. This Writing Luther translated afterwards into High Dutch and illustrated with Marginal Notes wherein he observes That what the Pope said of Proceeding in the Reformation gradually and by little and little ought so to be understood as that for the space of every Step an interval of some Ages ought to be allowed However it was said That his Holiness had but little Thanks from the Cardinals for that he so plainly acknowledged the Corruptions of the Court of Rome Although this be reported to be a common Fetch of the Popes when they would delay or break the Measures of calling a Council or bringing Matters to a Hearing to make fair and large Promises that they may have time to ingratiate themselves with Kings and Princes till an Opportunity offer of Deciding the matter by the Sword for by Promises they raise Hopes and Expectations in Mens Minds and in the mean time take Measures for retaining their Power and Dignity which they know to be indangered by General Councils In the mean time whilst the Legate proceeded in this manner the Princes complained That the Compacts and Agreements which they had heretofore made with the Popes were many ways violated at Rome The Pope being acquainted with this by Letters from his Legate ordered him to tell them That he could not help what had been done by his Predecessors But that he had ever been even whilst he was a Private Man much displeased with that usual way of Proceeding of the Court of Rome and that he had already resolved of himself though no Application had been made to him about it to reform all these things and not to suffer any Man to be wronged far less them whom for Countrys sakehe desired chiefly to gratfie That as to what they demanded That all Law-Suits commenced at Rome might be remitted to Germany he told them That most of the Judges and Advocates had left the City because of the Plague but that so soon as they
many Noble and Excellent Virtues in him and especially that he was Devout in his Religion and a most obedient Son of the Catholick and Apostolick Church So that he would not trust the Judgments of others nor have the former good Opinion he had of him before he understood the Matter from himself That within these few Years Germany indeed was in a manner transformed and had taken to it self new Rites but that he very well knew what difference to put betwixt the Mobile and the Nobility and Princes the Dispencers of Laws among whom he had the Preheminence both for his own Virtue atd Desert and the Merits of his Ancestors who had always much honoured the Church of Rome That therefore it was the Desire and Wish of his Holiness That in these troublesome Times he would imitate the Examples of his Fore-fathers and by his Carriage and Conduct make that Virtue more Illustrious and Conspicuous For that since Seditions and dangerous Commotions followed the Heels of one another there was a Necessity of Fortitude and Resolution in the Magistrate not only in disliking the Licentiousness of the People but also in severely punishing the same That this Severity of Discipline was the rather and the more exactly to be practised in his Country that a greater Combustion might arise there if not timely prevented For it was obvious enough to be understood what they themselves were to expect if the Reformation of the Laws and Ceremonies of the Church were left to the Discretion of the People and that Bohemia and Hungary were sad Instances of that in which Places the Troubles and Seditions that were heretofore raised for the like Causes were not to this very present quieted as they ought to be That the States of Germany would be much the same if the Rashness and Boldness rather than Liberty of the People were not repressed That they who wantonly contemned the Laws and Constitutions of the Church and Church Men would without doubt at length attempt upon the Civil Magistrates also whom otherwise they had no great Kindness for That some took delight to see the Prelates of the Church and the Court of Rome so tossed and despised But in the mean time considered not in how great Danger they were themselves But that the Pope who as the Pilot of a Ship sat aloft to watch and look carefully out foresaw this approaching Storm and had therefore sent him as his Legate to forewarn all the Princes and himself in particular of their Danger and to stir them up to the suppressing of those Disorders which threatned not so much the City of Rome as Germany it self with Ruine That for the same Cause he had received Letters from him and Injunctions to treat with his Highness about all these things that so Peace and Tranquility might be restored to Germany For that he was sent for this Purpose that he might raise up those that were fallen and receive Penitents again into Favour and that though he was not altogether so fit for these things yet trusting to his Highnesses Favour he resolved to set about them with all Diligence That since then he had undertaken so painful and tedious a Journey wholly upon that Design he prayed his Highness That he would be pleased to favour and assist him and send him a speedy Answer what he thought best to be done and that for his own part he would be ready to do any thing for his Highnesses sake He made afterwards a Speech in the Colledge of the Princes and having premised some Apologies for himself told them That no Man could be found at Rome who was willing to undertake that Legation but that at length he had been charged therewith who owed all his Fortune and Promotion to the Germans That he had Instructions to treat of two things chiefly to wit of Religion and the Turkish War And that in the first place he did indeed very much wonder That so many great and honourable Princes should bear with this Change of Doctrine and suffer the Religion Rites and Ceremonies wherein they were born and bred and their Fathers and Progenitors died to be thus abolished and trampled upon at the Humour and Persuasion of a few Men without considering with themselves What would be the End and Event of such an Innovation which certainly if it were not timely prevented could not but produce most dreadful Troubles and the Rebellion of Subjects against their Magistrates That his Holiness having ground to fear these things had sent him as his Legate to joyn with them in devising of Means to Remedy this Evil not that he would prescribe to them or demand any thing of them but only assist with his Counsel and apply some healing Medicine to the publick Sore That if they refused the good Offices of the Pope who as a kind Father and dutiful Pastor wished well to his Children and Flock the Blame could not be hereafter laid at his Door That as to the Turk he did not deny but that all the Money which had been raised and carried to Rome for these Wars had not been employed that way but that therefore the Publick ought not to be neglected in these Calamitous Times That no Man was ignorant of the Mischiefs that most cruel Enemy had done that the thing it self spoke and it was plain to be seen by all Men how that through the Security and Slothfulness of the Christians he had lately taken Rhodes and the chief Strength of Hungary and had now opened to himself a Way to advance whithersoever he pleased That the Knights of Rhodes had indeed endured a long Siege till being destitute of all things necessary and no Relief sent them they had been fored to surrender That the like was the Fortune of Hungary which if wholly subdued and brought under Subjection to him it was to be feared would become a more terrible Enemy to Christendom than the Turks themselves were But that after all it was his Opinion That unless the Differences about Religion were once removed the Affairs of State could never prosper To these things the Princes made Answer That they thanked him for the Good-will he bore towards Germany and were very glad that the Pope had employed him in that Legation That they would chuse some of their Number with whom he might treat and communicate his Thoughts to That however they supposed he had Instructions and Orders of Proceeding prescribed to him by his Holiness and the Colledge of Cardinals who were acquainted with the whole State of Affairs wherefore it was their Desire to hear what Counsel he had to give them That they very well understood and saw the Danger which that Change of Religion threatned them with and that therefore when the Year before there was another Legate from the Pope there they had proposed a Way and Method for Accommodating the Affair That they had also given to the same Legate their Demands to the Pope in Writing to be by
Campegio who had full Power and Commission from the Pope in that Affair did will and command that that Edict and the Decrees lately made in the Diet should be observed throughout all their Dominions and Jurisdictions That the Gospel and all other Scriptures should be taught in Churches according to the Interpretation of Antients who were conspicuous for purity of Life and confirmed their Doctrin by Sufferings and Martyrdom That all who taught old Heresies or any thing else that was reproachful to Christ his Mother or the Saints or which tended to Sedition should be punished according to the Tenor of the Edict That no Man should be admitted to Preach without a Licence from the Bishop That they who Preach'd already should be Examin'd and that no Place should be given to private and clandestine Sermons That the Ecclesiastical Regulations made by Campegio with common consent against Vice and for reforming of Manners when once they were published should be observed That 〈◊〉 Alterations should be made in the Sacraments Mass and other Rites of Worship but all things done as formerly in the times of their Ancestors That they who without Confession and Absolution received the Lord's Supper they who on days prohibited did eat Flesh and other forbidden Meats all Monks and Nuns who forsook their Order and all Priests Deacons and Subdeacons that Married should be severely punished That nothing should be Printed without the Magistrates leave but especially that none of the Books of Luther and his Adherents should be Published or Sold That those within their Dominions who studied at Wittemberg should within three Months after they had notice of this Decree return home or go some where else where Luther's poysonous Doctrin had not reached That they who were disobedient herein should be deprived of all their Benefices and lose their Inheritance That they who continued in that University should be incapable of any Church-Living or of the Privileges of Teaching Youth And that for the more effectual putting these things in execution some fit Men should be commissioned to make diligent enquiry into all Matters and therein assist the Governors of Places That the guilty should be committed to Prison and punished according to their Deservings That they who should be proscribed and banished should have no place of refuge within their Territories And that if any Stirs or Insurrections happened within any of their Limits by reason of this Decree that they should mutually help and assist one another but so that it should be no derogation to any League that they might have with others Moreover because as they said the vicious Lives of the Priests had given cause to Luther's Heresie by the Advice of the Legate Campegio they made these following Laws for Reformation of the Clergy That they should live Vertuously be cloathed Decently not Traffick avoid Taverns and Publick-Houses not be Covetous nor extort Money for administration of holy Things That such as kept Concubines should be turned out of Place And that the number of Holy-days should be moderated Campegio had a great mind to have had these things enacted in the Diet of the Empire but seeing he could not accomplish that by reason of the aversion that some had to Popery he held this separate Convention When Luther understood that the Emperor and most part of the Princes urged the execution of the Decree of Wormes he bewailed the state of Germany which being so often admonished neglected its own Interest He expostulated also with the Princes themselves that being so palpably and grossly cheated by the Popes of Rome they should so zealously maintain their Dignity and attempt the Destruction of him a single Man who wish'd their Welfare and Prosperity Wherefore in regard of their high Ingratitude and inexcusable Obstinacy he said there was a dreadful Tempest hanging over Germany He admonished them also not to be rash in engaging in a War or contributing Money against the Turk who in Counsel and Moderation far exceeded our Princes That while our Lives and Manners were such there was no Victory to be expected That it was a very ridiculous and absurd thing for the Emperor who could not add a minutes time to his own Life to call himself Defender of the Faith and Church That the King of England was guilty of the like boldness in taking to himself the same Title But that he prayed God to set such Magistrates over his People as might prove zealous in promoting the Glory of his Divine Majesty The Pope sent the Golden Rose which he had lately consecrated as the Custom is three Weeks before Easter to Henry King of England as a certain Pledge in token of his singular Good-will and favour towards him At this very time came forth a Treatise written by Erasmus concerning Free-will which Luther afterwards answered in a Book entituled de Servo Arbitrio or Bond-will The King of England and Cardinal of York put Erasmus upon the handling of that Subject as he himself acknowledges in a Letter to the Cardinal which is printed Now also Anthony Duke of Lorrain ordered by Proclamation That since Luther's Doctrin was condemned by the Pope and Emperour and by the most famous Universities none of his Subjects should in their Sermons teach any such Doctrin that they also who had any of Luther's Books should bring them in by a Day prefixt or otherwise incur a Penalty by him appointed This Year Henry of Zutphen was for preaching the Gospel put to a sad and painful Death at Dietmarsh upon the Borders of Germany he had gone thither upon a Call after he had preached two Yers at Bremen We told you before of a Dyet that in November was to be held at Spire but that Design was altered and when the Emperour knew of the Decree which appointed it he wrote from Spain to the States of the Empire on the thirteenth of July and blamed them very much for so doing For that since some Years before he had with the Advice and Consent of all the States in the Dyet of Wormes solemnly condemned the Doctrin of Luther as pestilent and Heretical and had commanded his Books which upon due examination had been condemned by the Pope to be burnt he could not he said but think it very strange and be troubled that they should only prohibit Scandalous Books and Pictures to be sold as if the Edict of Wormes had been illegally made That he was also somewhat more troubled that they should both desire to have a Council in Germany and also make address to the Legate Campegius to write to the Pope about it as if that did not concern the Pope or him more than them for if they thought it so much for the Interest of Germany to have a Council why did they not make their Application to him that he might obtain it from the Pope That now though he was sensible how much that Decree of theirs entrenched both upon the Pope's Authority and his own
grew greater and greater daily wherefore they desired that the Princes would regulate that according to Equity and the Rule of the Gospel and lay no more Burthens upon them than what had been accustomed of old That it was their Desire also That they who helds Lands Goods and Possessions by the Favour and Grant of the Prince and Magistrate should not be charged higher for them than had been covenanted at first That in like manner since some of them paid yearly Taxes and Impositions more than their Estates could bear it was but reasonable that the Princes should therein remit somewhat that they who laboured the Land might have some Profit at least for their Pains and not be reduced to Poverty That in Money-Fines they designed also greater Equity That new Laws were daily made and Money often extorted from them not for reforming them but for Favour Hatred or some other by-End That they therefore demanded That Penalties might be inflicted according to the Form and Manner anciently prescribed and not according to the particular Affections of Men That some also took in Lands and Meadows which were Common that they would have all things of that Nature laid open again unless any private Man should purchase the same Lastly That whereas upon the Death of a Tenant it was a Custom That his Wife and Childred should pay somewhat for a Heriot that that was a most unreasonable thing and therefore they would have the Magistrate wholly to abolish it To this their Publick Declaration Luther to whom they had appealed made Answer and turning his Discourse to them It is true said he and I confess That Princes who admit not of the Preaching of the Gospel who many ways burthen and oppress the People justly deserve that God should cast them down from the Throne for they have no excuse to make for themselves And though this be true yet must you take heed that you bring with you a pure and unblameable Conscience otherwise you will cast away both Body and Soul Nor ought you to consider how great your own Strength is and how much your Adversaries are to be blamed but how Just and Lawful the Cause is which you defend Consider therefore diligently and believe not what all Men preach for Satan hath under Pretence of the Gospel at this time raised up many Seditions and Bloody Preachers For my part I will give you true and sincere Counsel and it is your Duty to listen to good Advice when it is given you Neither am I moved at the Calumnies and Reproaches of Men if I can save but some from the Wrath and Vengeance of God I mind not the rest of the Rabble but as they despise me I fear not them But to the purpose You take to your selves indeed the name of God and call your selves a Congregation of Christian People giving it out That you will in all things follow the Law which God hath set before you But without doubt you know that the Name of God is not to be taken rashly and in vain for God threatens a Punishment which is due to you also if you go not about this Business in the right way He that drowned the whole World by the Flood and destroyed Sodom with Fire and Brimstone can easily sweep you away also what Power soever you may have now it may easily be proved that in your Actions you take the Name of God in vain So that it is not hard to conjecture what the end will be for he deceiveth not that saith They who take the Sword shall perish by the Sword That is They who boldly take to themselves the power of Correction whereas nevertheless S. Paul commandeth all Men in general to obey the Magistrate with fear and reverence What will you answer to this who pretend to follow the Rule of God's Word and notwithstanding take the Sword and resist the Magistrate whom God hath appointed Is not that to take the Name of God in vain But you 'll say The Magistrate behaves himself so that he is altogether Intolerable for he deprives us both of the Doctrin of the Gospel and in all things else oppresses us to the highest degree Grant it be so yet you are not therefore to raise Stirs and Commotions for it is not every Man's part to curb Malefactors but that belongeth to him who hath the Right and Power of the Sword as the Scripture plainly teaches Again it is evident not only from positive Laws but even from the Law of Nature That no Man ought to be Judge in his own Cause for we are all corrupt and blinded with Self-love Nor can it be denyed but that this Tumult and Sedition of yours is a Private Revenge for you take upon you to be Judge in your own Cause and also to revenge the Injuries that you fancy to be done to you by your own Authority which is a thing repugnant to the Laws of God of Nature and common Equity And seeing it is so you have no Colour of Reason or Justice whereby you can defend your Fact or if you have any Command from God to do as you do the same must be proved by you by some signal Miracle But it is verified in you what Christ saith you clearly see the faults of other men but perceive not the wickedness and injustice of your own cause The Magistrate acts unjustly but more unjustly you who in Contempt of God's Command invade the Jurisdiction of another who leave nothing for the Magistrate to do for what remaineth when you have taken from him his Power and Authority I appeal to your selves He that taketh from any Man a considerable part of his Goods but leaveth him some and he that taketh away both Goods and Life what think you which of the two is the more Cruel The Magistrate takes from you your Possessions it is unjust But you take from him his Jurisdiction wherein consists all his Fortune both as to Body and Estate you are therefore more Criminal than the Magistrate But say you we attempt not their Lives nor Fortunes believe that who will I do not He that taketh from a Man the chief thing he hath will not stand in aw to take the rest also which dependeth thereon But be it as you say Let them enjoy their Estates and Lives in Safety yet what you have already done exceedeth all Bounds when depriving them of all Power and Authority you your selves will be Lords and Masters Consider with your selves I pray in case your Enterprize should succeed there would be no Judicature no Magistrate at all and every private Man might use his Neighbour after his own Will and Pleasure and what is there then to be expected but mutual Murders and Robberies for no sooner will one Man think himself wronged by another but presently he 'll essay to revenge himself as he thinks best Now if this be in it self unjust and not to be suffered in any person how much less ought it
and Designs of his Enemies That when Francis Sforza was by his Generals besieged in the Castle of Milan and some great Men invited him to enter into a League he had not listned to them But that he was now very ill requited for all these good Offices for that his Soldiers had done great Injuries and given great Affronts both to him and the Church of Rome Again That he had neither performed Conditions nor repaid the Money that was advanced upon that account That the Aversion he had also to him sufficiently appeared in that he concealed from him the Conditions upon which he had made Peace with the King of France That he had obstinately rejected all the Intercessions made by him for Sforza That in Spain and Naples he had made Laws derogatory to the Liberty of the Roman Church and his own Dignity and that having sent the Duke of Bourbonne to the Siege of Marseilles he had raised a new War in Italy That for these Reasons therefore he had been obliged to enter into a League with some who loved the Peace and Welfare of Italy That if he also was desirous of Peace and would imbrace it well and good but if not That he wanted neither Force nor Power to defend Italy and the Interest of Rome The King of England was comprehended in this League and with great Promises invited to be Protector of it To this Letter of his the Emperour wrote an answer from Granada dated September 18 wherein he represented unto him How much he had deserved at his Hands as that by his Intercession and Assistance he had been made Pope That when he was chosen Emperour he would not accept it till Leo X had approved the Election and also owned his Right to the Kingdom of Naples but that he afterwards and Albert Prince of Carpi had by Leo's Orders attempted several things against him and entring into a League with the French had used all their Endeavours to get Naples and Sicily out of his hands That afterwards when the Times changed and the French in vain attempted Regio in Modena a Town depending on the Pope he with the Assistance of Pope Leo's Troops had made War against the King of France in which War his Holiness himself was Legate from Pope Leo and at that time had from him for a Reward a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats out of the Revenues of the Archbishop of Toledo That the French being beat out of Italy by the Conduct of the Duke of Bourbonne he could not deny him the Liberty of making War in France that he might recover what the French King had taken from him because of his Revolting But that after the Siege of Marseilles was raised the French King had at the Instigation of his Holiness himself as most Men affirmed renewed the War in Lumbardy That Naples indeed held of the See of Rome nevertheless said he should you make War in those places you would thereby lose all your Right and Title for that the same Reasons which make a Vassal and Feudatary lose his Fief make the Sovereign Lord lose also his Dominion Before the French King was taken you did indeed mediate for a Peace but your design was That under a Colour of Sequestration you might get into the Possession of the Dutchy of Milan and therefore the Venetians and Florentines influenced by you withdrew their Auxiliary Forces which they were bound by League to furnish For the French King both openly confesses That being sollicited by you he had made a new League before he returned home out of Spain and I have certain Intelligence also That you have absolved him from the Oath whereby he stands obliged to me Besides you have attacked me in a Hostile manner before the Letter wherein you denounce War came to my Hands And you have laid a Design not only to drive me out of Italy but also to degrade me from the Imperial Dignity This I can prove by the Letters of Ferdinand D' Avalos Marquess of Pescara whom you inticed into that League with a Promise of the Kingdom of Naples I have Right to challenge the Dutchy of Milan for more Reasons than one and nevertheless for the sake of the Peace of Italy I suffered Sforza to enjoy it and when he was dangerously sick would have put the Duke of Bourbonne in his Place perceiving that it would be acceptable to you and the rest of Italy Now that he was blockt up in the Castle of Milan the Reason was Because he had incurred the Crime of High Treason by making a League with you and that the Conspiracy being detected he would neither deliver up the Castles of Cromona nor Milan to my Officers nor yet purge himself of the Crimes objected to him and stand a fair Tryal Your Demand was That I should freely pardon him all but that I neither could nor ought to do lest I might thereby give a bad Example for Vassals to rebel against their Sovereigns and Lords If my Soldiers took Provisions and other Necessaries from the People of Parma and Piacenza it is not to be thought strange because these Cities belong to the Dominion of Milan and not at all to the Church of Rome As to the Peace made with France I concealed nothing of it from your Ministers for the Conditions are such as I would not have them to be-kept secret for they tend both to the maintaining the Peace of the Publick and to the restraining of the Enemy of Christendom Those few Laws made in Spain aim only at this That the Rights of Patronage which were granted to me by Pope Adrian may be suppressed at Rome But see the baseness of the thing Rome receives more Money and Profits out of my Kingdoms and Provinces than from all Christendom beside That may be proved by the Demands of the Princes of Germany when complaining heavily of the Court of Rome they desired a Remedy to their Grievances But out of the Respect I bore to the Church of Rome at that time I slighted their Complaints which being so and seeing I have given you no cause of Offence I earnestly desire you to desist from Hostility I shall do the like And seeing God hath set us up as two great Luminaries let us endeavour that the World may be enlightned by us and that no Eclipse may happen by our Dissentions Let us consider the whole state of Christendom and think of resisting Infidels and of suppressing the Sect and Errours of the Lutherans In this the Glory of God is concerned and here we should begin Afterwards let other Affairs and Controversies be heard you shall always find me ready to assist you But if I cannot prevail and you will needs go on like a Warriour I Protest and Appeal to a Council that all Quarrels may be therein decided and demand that it may speedily be called What he says of Luminaries he borrows it from the Words of Pope Innocent III who said That God
been any need of his counsel Now that he might in his absence contribute what he could to the Publick Good he wrote a Book to the Bishops and other Prelates in that Dyet laying before them the state of the Church under the Roman Papacy how it had been overspread with thick Darkness Impious Doctrin and Foul Errours and admonishing them of their Duty in most weighty and serious Words he upbraids them with Cruelty and Bloody-mindedness Moreover he exhorts them not to let slip the Occasion of healing the Evil alledging That since his Doctrin agreed with the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles all counsels taken against God would be in vain Whilst the Emperour and Papists were thus venting their Rage and Threats against the Protestants Melanchthon was very much dejected and disconsolate not indeed for his own sake but Posterities and those who were to come after and wholly gave himself over to Grief Sighing and Tears But when this came to Luther's Knowledge he endeavoured to Comfort and Chear him up by several Letters and seeing this was not the Work of Man but of God Almighty he advises him to lay aside all Thoughtfulness and Anxiety and cast the whole Burthen of it upon him And why said he do you in this manner Afflict and Torment your self If God gave his own Son for us why do we Doubt and Fear why are we cast down and dismayed Is Satan stronger than he Will he who has bestowed so great a Blessing upon us forsake us in smaller Matters Why are we afraid of the World which Christ hath overcome If we maintain a bad Cause why do we not change our Mind If it be Just and Holy why do we distrust God's Promises Certainly the Devil can take nothing from us but our Life but Christ liveth and reigneth for ever who taketh upon him the Defence and Protection of the Truth he will not cease to be with us until the consummation of all things If he be not with us pray where is he to be found If we be not of the Church do you think that the Pope and the rest of our Adversaries are Sinners we are 't is true and that in many things yet Christ is not therefore a Lyer whose Cause we maintain Let Kings and the Nations fret and rage as much as they please he that dwelleth in Heaven shall hold them in Derision God hath hitherto without our Counsel governed and protected this Cause he also will henceforward bring it to the desired end What you write of the Laws and Traditions of Men may easily be answered For it is not lawful for any Man to appoint or chuse a new Work as the Worship of God since both the first Commandment and all the Prophets condemn such Works They may indeed be a bodily Exercise but if they come once to be worshiped they become Idolatrous As for any Reconciliation it is in vain hoped for for neither can we depose the Pope nor can the True Religion be safe so long as Popery continues That ye give the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in Both kinds and yield not to the Adversaries in that who will have it to be indifferent you do well for it is not in our Power to appoint or tolerate any thing in the Church which cannot be defended by the Word of God. We condemn the whole Church cry they But we say That the Church was unwillingly surprised and oppressed by the Tyranny of a divided and half-Sacrament and is therefore to be excused in the same manner as the whole Synagogue was to be excused when being captive in Babylon it observed not the Law and other Rites of Moses for it was hindered by Force that it could not Take special heed that ye grant not too great a Jurisdiction to Bishops lest more Trouble ensue thereupon hereafter For my part I dislike all this Treaty about accommodating the Difference in Religion for it is all Labour in vain unless the Pope would utterly abolish his Kingdom If they condemn our Doctrin why do we seek for an Uniformity if they approve it why are the Ancient Errours retained but they openly condemn it All they do then is but Sham and Dissimulation They take a great deal of Pains as it appears about Ceremonies But let them first restore the Doctrin of Faith and Works Let them suffer the Church to have Ministers that will perform the necessary Duties They require that Monks may be again put into possession but let them on the other hand give us back so many Innocent and Pious Men whom they have slain let them restore so many Souls lost by Impious and Erroneous Doctrin let them restore those great Revenues got by Fraud and Knavery let them in short restore the Glory of God dishonoured by so many Reproaches When once they have made Satisfaction as to these things then will we reason the case with them who has the best right to the Goods of the Church Since the chief and almost sole difference betwixt Luther and some others was about the Lord's Supper as we have said before and that that exceedingly rejoyced the Papists as it grieved the others Bucer with the consent of the Elector of Saxony and his own Magistrates went from Ausburg to Luther to attempt a Reconciliation and had a very fair Answer from him insomuch that he made a Progress from thence to Zuinglius and the Switzers that he might essay to unite them more closely in Mind and Opinion This then being the state of Affairs and all things tending to Stirs and Troubles the Landgrave concluded a League for six Years with the Cities of Zurich Basil and Strasburg That if any Violence should be offered upon the account of Religion they should mutually aid and assist one another And this League was made in the Month of November At the same time the Emperour wrote to the Elector of Saxony commanding him to come to Cologne by the 21 day of December about difficult and weighty Affairs â—elating to the Publick The same Day he received this Letter which was November 28 he had a Messenger with Letters from the Archbishop of Mentz the design whereof was to acquaint him That the Emperour had desired of him that he would assemble the Princes Electors about the election of a King of the Romans and therefore he cited him to be present at Cologne December 29. This thing being known the Duke of Saxony forthwith dispatched Letters to the Landgrave and the rest of the Protestant Princes and Cities praying them to meet at Smalcalde December 22 but in the mean time he sent away in all haste his Son John Frederick with some of his Counsellors to Cologne that they might be present at the Day appointed by the Emperour To them he gave Orders to represent That the Citation of the Archbishop of Mentz was not legally made and that this same creation of a King of the Romans was a signal Violation of
orderly determin'd and such a Council too the Emperor has formerly promis'd and it has been decreed upon weighty deliberation in many Diets of the Empire that the same should be call'd together in Germany For the Fountain from whence these Dissentions have been deriv'd was the overgrown Impudence of some Men who preach'd up things here call'd Indulgencies At which time likewise certain egregious Errors such as could not be dissembled were detected and expos'd And though Pope Leo condemn'd this Doctrin which laid open those Errors yet to this his condemnation they confronted the Testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles Wherefore they always thought a Council to be highly necessary wherein they might come again to a right understanding of the Cause that is wherein it might be made plainly appear what is Truth and what is Error And this was not only their own sense but also the judgment of all the other Princes and States because they plainly saw and confess'd that many things had crept into Religion which ought either to be taken away or reform'd and because they well knew what it was that Men did wish for and what was requisite for the Publick Good. But when the Pope had condemn'd this their Doctrin Decrees were made in the Imperial Diets in these very words viz. That a free and Christian Council should be conven'd either of all Nations in general or else of the German Empire only And the reason that they were conceiv'd in these very words was that the Cause might not be prejudg'd or over-rul'd either by the foresaid Sentence of the Pope or by the force and power of any Man whatever And that Judgment might be made of the whole Controversie not from the Pontificial Laws or the Opinions of the Schools but from the Holy Scriptures For if any Man's authority be so great as to overballance the Holy Scriptures and right reason who can doubt but that all their pains and endeavours will be in vain when plac'd in opposition to the Pope For 't is well enough known what Progress has been made that way in some past Councils where a Reformation indeed has been set on foot but by the Interposition of the Popes has still been wholly set aside It has therefore been for very weighty Reasons decreed that a Council should be held in Germany and this has likewise been approv'd of by the Emperor But these Proposals of the Pope do altogether run counter to the Decrees of the Empire which have pass'd the Seals both of the Princes and the Emperor For though he speaks of a Free Council yet who can doubt but that he has quite another Prospect since his great Endeavours are to bring over Kings and Princes to his side For was he willing it should be Free to what purpose would these Engagements be But since he is so very industrious this way 't is manifest that his design must be this to keep up and maintain his Power and Tyranny by the Authority of a Council that so no body may dare to reprehend these Errors and Corruptions or if any one be so hardy he may pay very soundly for it What others will do they cannot tell but their opinion is that these his Proposals are of such a nature and so contriv'd that they are apt to deter Men from a Council rather then invite them to it For who will ingage himself at this rate especially when it does not yet appear what is like to be the Order form Method of the Council When it is not yet known whether the Pope will not set up his own Authority as Supream there and whether he is willing the Controversie should be discuss'd according to the Holy Scriptures or according to those Traditions and Canons which are not confirm'd by any Testimonies from Scripture The Freedom of the Council is likewise in danger from that expression of his That it shall be manag'd after the ancient and received manner Now though they do not in the least reject those Decrees of ancient Councils which are consonant to the Holy Scriptures Yet they think that there is a vast difference between those Councils and these which have been held within their own Memory or somewhat before wherein the Pope and Humane Decrees have been advanc'd to an extravagant Pitch Therefore when he saies it shall be held after the wonted manner it is a captious expression and may include that there shall not be such a freedom of Votes as they desire and the Cause it self requires but that Judgment shall be giv'n according to his own Laws and that Power which he has arrogated to himself as it has been done in some of the last Council But such proceedings as these are so far from reconciling the Churches and extricating doubtful and afflicted Consciences that they will rather involve them in thicker Darkness and plunge them into a deeper Slavery Since therefore the Pope has not yet answer'd the desire of the Emperor and the other States their earnest Request is that the Emperor would consider the vastness of the Cause wherein the whole Christian Commonwealth is concern'd and endeavour that it may be justly and legally manag'd For this is his proper Province and he has Power by the Laws to do it whenever Truth shall be obstructed by the Pope For care is to be taken that he may not be both Party and Judge at the same time Besides all People are set on tiptoes with the hopes of this Council and 't is the Subject of their most eager wishes and prayers that they may at last be deliver'd from the doubts and anguish of an afflicted Conscience and be set into the right way to Salvation For there have not been for many Ages such struglings about such momentous Affairs as there are now the occasion of which are those numerous Errors and Corruptions which long before our time have broke into the Church Now if the general expectation shall be thus made frustrate and such a Council as has formerly been promis'd cannot be obtain'd we may easily imagine what a surprising sorrow and affliction it will strike upon the minds of Men. Moreover if the Pope shall refuse to come to a fair Judgment of things it is much to be fear'd that both the Church and State will be agitated with more dangerous Tempests than ever But since all the States of the Empire have in all their Diets decreed for a regular Council they cannot doubt but they will stick to their Principles and kick in pieces those Snares which the Pope is preparing for them They likewise expect the same things from the other Princes For this Engagement which is now working is altogether full of trick and design and 't is impossible that Men should ever make a true and right judgment of things unless all their minds be kept free and unbiass'd But if he be resolv'd to go on and to have a Council after his own way they will then commit the whole Affair to God
revenge themselves upon him by raising a report that his Wife was damned The principal Contrivers of the Farce were Coliman and Stephen of Arras both of them Divines and Preachers The first was likewise an Exorcist and had all his Conjuring Artillery ready which was proper upon such occasions Now they threw their business into this method They order'd one of their Novices to plant himself upon the roof of the Church This young Fellow in the dead of the night when they came to mutter over their prayers according to their custom makes a great noise upon this alarm they presently let fly some Conjurations and Exorcisms at him but not a word would he speak When they bid him make a sign to let them know if he was a dumb Spirit he falls a clattering again at a very considerable rate by which they were to understand that he could not converse more intelligibly with them When their Plot was thus well grounded they go and make a Visit to some eminent Citizens of the Town who had a particular regard for them Here they relate that a sad Accident had befallen them as Home without mentioning what it was but desir'd them that they would please to come to their Nocturnals As soon as these Townsmen came thither and Prayers were begun the Gentleman upon the top of the House makes a rout and a disturbance as his Superiors had directed him When they asked him what he would have and who he was he let them understand that he had not the liberty to speak upon this they command him to make signs to their questions Now there was a hole in the Roof by laying his Ear to which he could understand what the Exorcist said besides he had a Board in his hand which he stroke with that force upon every question that they might hear him below in the Church The first thing they asked him was whether he was buried there Then they named a great many of those who were interr'd there till at last they came to the Provosts Wife Here he makes a sign to let them know he was her Spirit Then they ask him whether he was damn'd and for what 2. Whether it was for Covetousness or Pride or Lewdness or Uncharitableness or for Luther's new Heresie Lastly they would know what he meant by that bustle and stir Whether he would have his body digg'd up out of that holy place and carried some whither else He makes answer to all these questions as he had been preinstructed by signs which stood for Yes or No according as he gave two or three knocks upon the Board And when he had let them understand that he was damned for the Lutheran Heresie and that his Body must be digg'd up the Monks desired the Townsmen they had brought thither to make Affidavit of what they had seen and subscribe the Register which they had lately made of this Accident This the Townsmen upon consideration refus'd to do for fear of disobliging the Provost and bringing themselves into trouble The Franciscans notwithstanding take up their unleaven'd Wafer which they call the Host and Body of our Lord together with all the Relicks of the Saints and carry them to another place and there they say their Mass This custom the Church of Rome enjoyns the Priests to observe when any place of Devotion is to be consecrated over again for lying under the Censure of ill Reports and Profanation And there is a particular Order in their Rituals what they are to do upon such an occasion When the Bishops Ecclesiastical Judge whom they call his Official heard this Relation he resolv'd to understand the bottom of the matter and therefore comes to the place himself and brings several considerable Persons along with him bidding the Monks begin their Exorcisms and that some of the Company should go upon the Roof and see if they could discover any Apparition Now Stephen of Arras did not like this way by any means but disswaded them from it with all the earnestness imaginable for the Spirit he said ought not to be disturb'd And though the Official was very urgent to set them a Conjuring yet he could not prevail In the mean time the Provost after he had acquainted the other Judges of the Town with his Intentions goes to Court and relates the whole Story to the King. And because the Monks insisted upon their Priviledges and Exemptions and refus'd to acknowledge the ordinary Jurisdiction of the Secular Magistrate The King sends a Commission to certain Persons of the Parliament of Paris to try the Cause and gives them full Power for Examination and Sentence The same Authority was given them by the Chancellor Anthony du Praet who was a Cardinal and the Pope's Legat for France Therefore having nothing to except against their Judges they were carried to Paris and forc'd to plead to the Indictment but no Confession could be gotten out of them However they kept them under distinct Confinements The Novice was secured in the house of one Fume a Gentleman of the Parliament and was often pressed to a discovery but would make none for fear of being murther'd by his Confederates for disgracing their Order But when the Judges promis'd him a Pardon and that he should not be returned into the Jurisdiction of his Fraternity he gave a full account of the whole Intrigue And being confronted by the other Criminals maintained his Testimony to their Faces These Monks notwithstanding they were convicted and taken almost in the very act yet they excepted against their Judges and made a noise with their Priviledges But this was to no purpose for they were condemned by the whole Court to be sent back to Orleance and imprisoned and then to be brought publickly to the Cathedral and to the place of Execution and there to make an acknowledgment of their Lewdness But at this time there happen'd to be a Persecution against the Lutherans as I shall shew afterwards which was the reason why the Sentence was not executed though it was a very gentle one considering the nature of the Crime For Lutheranism being so violently hated they were afraid if any severity had been us'd it would have looked more like an affront to the Society than a punishment of the Malefactors of it And whatever they had suffer'd most people believ'd the Lutherans would have been extraordinarily pleas'd with it Now the Order of the Franciscans hath a great Reputation for Sanctity with the generality And when these Brothers were condemn'd at Paris and carried away to Orleans several Women out of meer pity went sighing and weeping after them to the Gate of the Town When they came to Orleans they were committed to distinct Prisons where they insisted again very strongly upon their Immunities and Priviledges And at last after a long Imprisonment they were set at liberty without undergoing any greater Punishment During their Imprisonment they were very liberally supply'd with Mony especially by the Women who furnish'd
For what danger can there be in Germany where all the Princes and Cities acknowledge the Emperor's Authority where the Towns are so well Govern'd that Strangers are secur'd from all Affronts and us'd with all the Civility imaginable As for his saying that those who came to the Council should have as much satisfaction of the Pope in their safe Conduct as was customary to receive and in his Power to give They said they did not well understand the meaning of this Period especially when they reflected upon the Practises of the last Age Christendom they were sure had need of a free and religious Council and to such an one they had formerly appeal'd But now since he declares the Form and Method is not to be stated before-hand and gives broad hints as if the setling of this Point belonged to the Pope they cannot imagine that there is likely to be any liberty there Two years since Clement the Seventh made them a Promise of a Council but clog'd it with ensnaring Conditions And now the main Point that is the setling the Freedom of the Council and the Form and Method of Voting is partly omitted out of design and partly given up to the Pope wherein he affirms to have a Right to intimate Councils and preside in them Now the Pope who hath condemn'd their Religion so often is no less than a down-right Adversary but if he who is an Adversary is allow'd to be a Judge too then the Council can never be free To put it into a right Form there ought to be certain unexceptionable Persons chosen out of the whole Company with the consent of the Emperor and other Kings and Princes and the Controversie refer'd to this Committee to be examin'd and determin'd by them according to the Rule of God's Word For Councils are not the Pope's Court only but others also in publick and elevated stations in a Christian-Commonwealth have an Interest in them For it 's easie to demonstrate both from the Scriptures and the practise of the Primitive Church that formerly Princes and other Persons of Quality were concern'd in the Debates of Councils But to prefer the Pope's Power to the Authority of the Universal Church is an unreasonable and tyrannical Assertion The Emperor therefore and the rest of the States are oblig'd to insist upon their Priviledge in Councils and make choice of proper Persons especially in the present case where the Corruptions of the Bishops of Rome their false Doctrin and unlawful Worship is oppos'd for this is no more than what the Canon-Law it self alloweth And since all Christendom both Church and State are concern'd in this Affair it behoveth the Emperor and other Princes to take care that the Controversie may be fairly determined Formerly several Bishops have been condemn'd by their own Diocess and so have Popes by the Emperor and the Church for persisting in their Errors But at this time of day there was a warm Contest about a great many weighty Points which the Pope does not maintain only by force of Argument but by ungodly and sanguinary Bulls and punishes those with the utmost severity who refuse to obey him Therefore since He is an Adversary and a Party in the Cause depending the universal Church the Emperor and other Princes ought in all Justice to interpose their Authority and prescribe the Laws of Disputation and Voting They now therefore repeat the same request they have always made that the Controversie may be managed without design and a just liberty reserv'd for defence for this is both equitable in its self and likewise agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and the proceedings of the ancient Church If the Differences between them are examined with this Order and Integrity they will assist the Council as far as lies in their Power and have great hopes that Truth will be discover'd this way the Glory of our Saviour promoted and the Church re-establish'd in her former Tranquility But if things are otherwise carry'd there is no question but much greater Disturbances will follow In short they would never omit any opportunity to serve the common Interest of Christendom and as they could not depart from the true Religion so in all other cases they would make it their business to promote an Accommodation The French King who was now resolv'd to march an Army into Italy sent William Bellay Seigneur of Langey Embassador to this Convention at Smalcade This Gentleman had his Audience upon the 19th of December And first he excuses the King in reference to the late Severities 'T is true he had punish'd some of his own Subjects but this was no manner of reflection upon them though some ill dispos'd Persons did not stick to say that by executing those Criminals he had as it were condemn'd their Perswasion before-hand But he desires that they would not take any notice of such extravagant Calumnies but examine the whole matter impartially For there was a great many in Germany who were utterly averse to their Opinion and some others did not altogether approve it nay themselves who are now agreed were not always of the same mind His Majesty is very glad that they are come to an uniformity in Doctrin at the last Neither does he question but that their Modesty and Candour is such that they will not offer to prescribe to any Body nor force people into their Religion against their wills His Majesty uses to speak very kindly and obligingly of them and owns that they have determin'd some things most primitively but wishes there had been more temper shewn in other cases For though he is sensible that Negligence Superstition and a long succession of Ages have given occasion to the bringing of several insignificant and needless Ceremonies into the Church yet he does not understand why they should all be abolish'd upon this account without distinction or publick Authority For Ceremonies add both strength and grandeur to Religion and the Contemners of them have always been punish'd with great severity And since they have joyn'd so unanimously in the suppression of the Boars Insurrection since they restrain and chastise the Anabaptists since they are unwilling to be thought to do any thing without a cause why are they not so kind as to entertain the same opinion of a Prince who is their Friend why do they not suppose that He had very pressing Reasons and absolute necessity to punish those Subjects of his though possibly some of them were none of the greatest Malectors what their Crimes were is not proper to relate in this place For oftentimes it is not convenient to assign the reason publickly why things are done and Punishments are sometimes abated sometimes more rigorously executed according to the nature of the Times Now his Majesty who hath so large a Dominion to Govern is oblig'd to have a regard to the future as well as the present and was to take care that his Clemency did not encourage a great many others to grow wicked
For though he was bred and born to nothing but Gentleness and good Nature yet he was constrain'd for some time to put a force upon his Temper and act disagreeably to his Inclinations And as he was willing to hear Men discourse upon any Subject so he could not choose but be displeas'd with those who attempt any rash Alterations without consulting their Superiors whose right it is to Determine Besides those whom he had done Justice upon were of a quite different Perswasion from them Now as to their Religion the King is of opinion that whatever they have done in that was agreed by common consent but how justifiable their Tenents were he should not examine For in cases of that difficulty he was not willing to pretend to be a better Judge than others but believed there were some things to be approved and disapproved in both Communions For the nature of Man is such that if he is once allow'd to pronounce upon his own Sentiments he is in danger of falling into Error and Mistake Afterwards he endeavours to gain their good opinion more directly and confutes those Persons who say that the Germans ought to take care how they hold any Correspondence with foreign Embassadors maintaining that there was great disadvantage and slavery at the bottom of this advice For no State is so well fortify'd in it self as to be able to subsist and flourish for any considerable time without the Friendship and Alliance of its Neighbours Now there hath been a very ancient and intimate Correspondence between the Kings of France and the Princes of the Empire for both Nations are descended from the same Original and by reason of their situation and nearness they may be both a Guard and an Ornament to each other Therefore his Majesty is very much troubled when he hears of any Misunderstandings among the Germans and endeavours to his Power to make up the Breach And has often been afraid lest this disagreement in Religion should have some unfortunate consequence And since he now understands they have form'd an Association to defend their Priviledges and Honour not excluding those of a different Perswasion he hath great hopes that this Expedient will open a way for the reconciling of Opinions Being therefore acquainted with these Occurrences he was willing to send his Embassador to let them know his sense in the Case Now in regard the present State of Affairs is such that a free and general Council cannot be conven'd as yet The King thinks it most proper that all the Germans should meet in the mean time and by joynt consent pitch upon some Method for an Accommodation which may easily be effected provided things are not manag'd with obstinacy and Men do not account it a discredit to change their opinions upon Conviction and to yield to better Information If they proceed in this manner his Majesty will joyn with them and assist them in this Undertaking For the present Pope himself confess'd when the Case was moved to him by the King that Humane Traditions are not to be so rigidly insisted on but that they may be set aside when the exigency of the Times and the Peace of Christendom require it and declar'd that if the Controversie was regularly and fairly debated he would yield a great many things in compliance with the present Conjuncture and to promote a general Agreement Now if they are desirous that some learned French Divines should be present at this Conference or if they please to send any of their own Clergy into France upon this account his Majesty will be extreamly satisfy'd with it and leaves it wholly to themselves to do as they think convenient In fine he desires them that they would live amicably together and fortifie their Interest by keeping up a good Correspondence among themselves for this besides other advantages would contribute to the peace of their Country And as for his Majesty he would not assist their Enemies either with Supplies or Advice as long as they continued the same affection to him which they had hitherto shew'd In the beginning of this Book I observ'd that the Judges of the Chamber of Spire prosecuted the Protestants contrary to the Emperor's Edict The case was this These Judges were most of them Roman Catholicks and being address'd to for Justice by the Ecclesiasticks after the Emperor was return'd into Italy from the War in Austria who complain'd of the Protestants They order'd a Suit to be commenc'd against them And though the Protestants put in their Exceptions and alledg'd that the Cause was of an Ecclesiastical nature and consequently included in the Emperor's Edict who has barr'd all Process relating to Religion yet they over-rul'd these Allegations and went on in their way The Protestants therefore wrote into Italy to the Emperor complaining how they were disturb'd and procure another Mandate from him Upon this the Judges send the Emperor word that they were at a loss how to act and how to obey his Majesties Commands For the Parties often contested the nature of the Causes whether they belonged to Religion or not therefore they desire to know his Majesties Pleasure in this Case The Emperor answers their Request and gives them Authority to determine whether the Causes which come before them relate to Religion or not Being thus fortify'd they proceed briskly not only interposing in mixt Causes but in those which were purely Spiritual for besides Restitution to the Ecclesiasticks they command the Mass and all the Ceremonies and Worship of the Roman Church to be set up again Now while these things were doing it happen'd that the Elector of Saxony had occasion to go to Cadan to King Ferdinand about some other business where he complain'd how himself and his Confederates were us'd and after they had agreed those other Points which I have mention'd Ferdinand confirm'd the Imperial Edict and commanded the Pacification to be observ'd and order'd the Chamber to forbear all Prosecutions But they took no notice of this Order The Protestants therefore solemnly protested against the Jurisdiction of their Court assigning the Reasons they had to look upon them as Adversaries and refer the Dispute to Henry of Megelburg Robert Duke of Bavaria Christiern Duke of Holstein George Duke of Wirtemburg to the Senate of Auspurg and Wormes or to any other indifferent Arbitrators to determine whether the grounds of their Recusation were reasonable or not For things were come to that pass that their Council durst not speak out nor plead their Cause home for fear of disobliging the Court and coming into trouble But the Judges set aside this Recusation and declar'd it null and void as being contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Empire Afterwards the Elector of Saxony came to Vienna to King Ferdinand as hath been already related where he got a new Order against the Chamber but all to no purpose as shall be shewn in its place And because the Pacification granted by the Emperor
for a general Meeting at Smalcalde and because the time for the Council drew near and being well assur'd that the Emperor's Embassador would speak to that Point they thought it convenient to take some of the most considerable Divines along with them Therefore at the day prefix'd Luther Melancthon Osiander Bucer and several others came thither besides the Princes of the Empire and Ambassadors of the Cities In January Eldo parts from Ferdinand King of the Romans at Vienna and being acquainted upon his Journey by the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave that they were conven'd he comes on to Smalcalde and upon the 15th of February makes a Speech when the Convention was full In which he tells them That the Emperor enjoyn'd him to open his Commission only to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave but since it was their opinion that their Confederates should be acquainted with it also he would comply with them in this Point For his part he did not know all the Agents of the Confederates therefore if any of them who were present were unconcern'd in this Answer of the Emperors he would not have them imagine that any thing was already concluded with their Principals especially those of Ausburgh who both in Spain and Italy have often privately made their Application to the Emperor about Religion which they also did lately at Genoa by an Agent who was told by the Emperor that he would send them an Answer into Germany by one of his Ministers but they would not stay for his coming but have made an alteration in Religion without him which can be construed no less than mockery and contempt of the Emperor Therefore when he came to Ausburgh he was oblig'd to alter his measures and not to treat with them upon any Point but to write an impartial account of the whole affair to the the Emperor When he had said this he produceth his Credentials and greeting them in the name of the Emperor continues his Harangue And tells them That it was matter of great satisfaction to the Emperor to hear that they had taken so much care to purge themselves from all suspicions of making an Alliance with England or France That he did not question the sincerity of their Apology and applauded them for their Vertue and Loyalty in being so wisely cautious as not to be impos'd upon by the insinuations and insidious pretences of the French. Then he goes on to speak concerning the War of Savoy and the French King where he is very copious saying That this Prince did not only hinder the Emperor from fighting the Turk with his whole Forces but likewise held Correspondence with him and instigated this common Enemy to invade Christendom That it was his constant business to create Misunderstandings among the Germans and to heighten their discontents into a Civil War and at this time he is doing his best to perswade them that the Emperor will not perform his Engagements but he desires they would give no credit to such designing Reports for his Imperial Majesty was a Person of that Honour and Integrity that they need not fear he would recede from his Articles in any point especially since he had given them several Instances already of his punctual Performance As touching the Proceedings of the Chamber of Spire the Emperor had ordered That no Causes relating to Religion should be tried there when the Judges had receiv'd this Order they wrote back to the Emperor that there were frequent Disputes concerning the nature of the Causes whether they belong'd to Religion or not upon which the Emperor commanded them to try all those Causes which they believ'd foreign to Religion without any regard to the Perswasion of the Parties for he was very sorry the course of Justice should be stopp'd and how difficult a matter it was to settle this Point appears sufficiently at the Pacification at Nuremburgh Now since that time a great many Causes have been brought before the Chamber and when the Judges would have proceeded to a determination they the Protestants demurr'd to their Jurisdiction and gave them unbecoming Language of which Complaints have been made to the Emperor by the respective Plaintiffs who alledge That they are barr'd from recovering their Right by Law which Carriage the Emperor was very much troubl'd to hear especially since most of the Judges were chosen out of the Provinces of the Empire and can very rarely be suspected of Partiality besides the Emperor himself after a full Examination of the Case does believe that several Causes which they tell him belong to Religion ought not to be referr'd to that Head but his Opinion is when any Controversie ariseth concerning the nature and ranging of the Cause that this Point ought not be decided by the Parties but by the Judges For their parts they ought to be satisfi'd if the Chamber does not intermeddle in the Causes of Religion And if the Judges do any thing contrary to the Emperor's Edicts they shall certainly hear of it and be punish'd according to the Law made at Ratisbone for that purpose But then on the other side the Emperor thought fit to give them warning against being influenced by any private Male-contents and not to do any thing rashly nor prescribe to the Chamber such Practices as these would be unlawful and turbulent throw a particular Contempt upon the Emperor's Authority and would tend likewise to the dishonour of the Judges some of which are descended of Noble Families and others are considerable for their Probity and Learning therefore he desires they would not obstruct the Proceedings of Justice As concerning their third Request That those who were not comprehended in the Treaty at Nuremburgh might enjoy the benefit of that Pacification the Emperor was so much employ'd about giving Directions for the War when their Embassadors came to his Camp that he had no leizure to examine that matter who though he understood that there was a change of Religion introduc'd in some places yet he heard nothing of any new Admissions into the League But if the meaning of their Request be this That it may be lawful for all other People of the Empire who are under quite different promises already who have approv'd the Decrees of the Diets and oblig'd themselves to stand by the old Religion to recede from their Solemn Promises and Engagements revolt from the ancient Religion and set up a new one at their Pleasure and to this purpose make an Alliance with the Confederates such a Liberty as this was both out of the Emperors Power and very much against his Conscience to grant as his Majesty had commanded him to acquaint them and if the Emperor should grant this thing or if the States of the Empire should do it of their own accord and his Majesty afterwards confirm it how ill this would agree with the Pacification at Nuremburgh it 's obvious for them to understand For if every one may go back from his
Nuremburgh Hall and Hailbrun but being not Confederates they did not concern themselves in the other points When the Protestants had deliver'd themselves to this effect Eldo return'd them an Answer ex tempore where after he had enlarged himself again upon the Emperor's kind Inclinations towards them and concerning the French King his conspiring with the Turk to ruine Christendom he came to the business of the Chamber That no Man was to be prosecuted there for any thing relating to Religion he granted was undeniable But then the Pinch of the Controversie was what matters ought to be comprehended under this notion and what not for those Causes which they call'd Religious others believ'd to be of a civil and secular nature and it was very unjust in them to be unwilling to have the Point argu'd and not to hear the reasons and defence of the other side It 's possible they might mention some Causes to the Princes of the Mediation at Nuremburgh and threw them into the Classis of Religion but then the Emperor did not receive them as such because he did not perfectly understand under what denomination they were to pass Nay possibly those very Princes had not then any exact knowledge of the nature of the Causes nor have at present but only as they are inform'd by those who are concerned in the Dispute who will be sure to say nothing to their own disadvantage Now it 's agreeable to the Municipal Laws to Equity and the holy Scriptures that in all Disputes both Parties should have a sufficient Hearing and that no Sentence should be pronounced upon the Information of one side though the Allegations should be never so true Therefore the Emperor in referring this Debate to the Imperial Chamber had done nothing but what became a Person in his place His Majesty being of opinion that if the Reasons of the Protestants Proceedings were so weighty as they pretended they ought to be brought into view and made publick This was the way to clear the Controversie about the Preliminary Points and to satisfie all Parties what Causes were to be referr'd to the Council and what not And also whether those who had lost their Goods and Estates were to have Restitution made them neither did the Emperor believe the Judges would do any thing in this matter contrary to their Duty and solemn Obligations of this they had given his Majesty an assurance in their Letters intimating that they had not in the least concern'd themselves with any Causes relating to Religion which account they also wrote to himself and added particularly concerning the Hamburgers that all the while the Suit was depending between them and their Ecclesiasticks they did not so much as make the least mention of Religion but when Judgment was given against them and was ready to be executed then they began to insist upon it besides the Judges are willing to give an account of their Proceedings which ought to content them especially since he so lately acquainted them that the Emperor intends to give them Satisfaction as soon as he is assur'd that the Chamber has done them any Injury For his Majesty resolves not only to make good the Damages they have sustain'd but all Causes which appear to have been illegally decided shall be heard over again and all unjust Verdicts set aside and revers'd and for his part he declares he cannot apprehend what the Emperor can or ought to do more than this And whereas they alledge that those who refuse to be of their Religion ought not to be repossess'd of their Estates he does not see any manner of Equity in that Plea for we are not to pronounce in these cases till both Parties have had a Hearing in a legal way For they could not be ignorant that no Law gives any Man the liberty to rob another for the sake of Religion or upon any other account therefore he could not admire this method of proceeding let the Practisers of it be who they would Now to prevent such arbitrary and unaccountable Courses as these there was a Treaty concluded at Nuremburgh upon certain conditions and afterwards by the Emperor's Edict there was a general Peace setled and proclaim'd through the whole Empire And to speak truth it was his opinion that the business of Religion might be much more easily accommodated if they did not graspe so eagerly at the Temporalties Now these secular Advantages ought not to be so highly valu'd in the present Affair especially considering the Gospel prescribes us other Measures and teaches us to set our thoughts and inclinations upon other designs Their saying that either the dispute of the Hamburgers related to Religion or none can was very surprizing to him when there are a great many other Causes which the Chamber hath a right to take Cognizance of both by the Constitution of the Laws and by Vertue of that Edict which the Emperor set forth at Wormes but his Majesty out of a singular kindness to them had order'd the Process of them all to be stopped And since the Emperor will do nothing contrary to what he hath agreed to and expects the same exactness from them he desires they would give him a Categorical answer to this question As to their personal Objections against the Chamber he lately told them those Judges were chosen out of the heart of Germany and though there were very few of the Bench of their Perswasion yet it was not probable Justice would be less impartially administred upon that account because the Judges had no power to act Arbitrarily but were tied up to Rule and bound by Oath to give Sentence according to the Laws and Customs of the Empire which method was constantly observ'd when he was one of their number But let this matter be as it will if they have offended they will be sure to be punish'd neither does he pretend to justifie or excuse them indeed they did not desire he should but are willing to submit their whole Proceedings to Examination Now concerning those who came into their League and Religion afterwards he had lately acquainted them that the Emperor had yet receiv'd no certain account of that matter and his Majesty conceiv'd that those who were not expresly comprehended in the Pacification at Nuremburgh were bound to observe the precedent Laws of the Empire and wait for the determination of the Council And whereas they say that some of their late Confederates made no promises at all some reserv'd themselves a liberty in this point by private Treaties and others thought they did engage it was upon an assurance that a Council would be call'd in a short time whatever the truth of these Allegations may be he does not intend to examine at present but yet as to those who pretend a private Agreement he dares adventure to give them an answer on the Emperors's behalf if they can produce an Instance of any such thing For he could not believe that the Emperor had ever
almost the same minute went and made Luther a visit who lay very ill of the Stone which disrespect the Embassador might see if he pleas'd out of his own Lodgings Before the Bishop of Aix went upon his Employ Vergerius by the Popes Command acquainted him with the State of Germany and how he was to make his Court and salute every Person The fourth day after being the last of February the Protestants gave in their answer to Eldo That they did not question but that the Emperor would stand to the Pacification which he had engag'd himself to do several times both in his publick and private Letters but the Chamber of Spire and himself also in his Speech had advanced such an Interpretation which would not only render that Treaty less intelligible but perfectly void it and make it insignificant For the drift of his Discourse is to prove that only those Matters and Disputes are to be referr'd to Religion which are comprehended in the Edict at Wormes and in some other Decrees of the Empire and not those which are risen since and concern private Persons though they were expresly mention'd at Nuremburgh to the Princes of the Mediation but the Design of this Treaty was quite different from what his Excellency pretends For notwithstanding by the Instigation of Pope Leo the 10th the Emperor happen'd to publish his Edict at Wormes at a time when the true Faith was understood but by a very few yet afterwards that Edict as far as it related to them was suspended by several Decrees of the Empire more particularly in the Diet at Spire about eleven years since where it was agreed That the whole Controversie should be referr'd to a Council with the addition of this remarkable Clause that in the mean time all Magistrates in their respective Jurisdictions should discharge their Office in such a manner as they might be able to give a good account of their actions to God and the Emperor from whence it plainly appears that the foremention'd Edict was laid asleep so that they had no occasion to insist upon a new suspension of it at Nuremburgh For why were all Debates remitted to a lawful Council if the Edict of Wormes was always to be in force or if their Religion had always been accounted condemned But there was a wide difference between the Matter of that Edict and the Pacification at Nuremburgh for the former consider'd nothing but matter of Fact and was design'd for Prosecution the question at that time being only Whether the Edict was violated or not If a breach was prov'd then it 's likely the Chamber if the Decree of the Diet at Spire had not interpos'd might have exercis'd their Jurisdiction as in a secular affair But those things which were the occasion of that Convention and Treaty at Nuremburgh relate to Faith and Religion which beside other Proofs appears plainly from the Emperor's Letters Patents For though the Chamber had no Authority to try any Causes of this nature before yet to prevent Disturbance there was a more comprehensive Provision sign'd at Nuremburgh to make them forbear Besides it appears from the very words of the Emperor's Letters Patents that not only those Disputes which relate to matters of meer Religion were comprehended in the Treaty at Nuremburgh but all others also which are occasioned by the Change of Rites and Ceremonies and arise from Causes of a resembling nature Farther all Agreements are to be interpreted with respect to the circumstances of the thing which was the ground of the Controversie Now from the time of the Decree at Spire till the Treaty at Nuremburgh they do not remember that any of their Partty have been prosecuted or have had the least Disturbance given them by any particular Courts under the Emperor or Princes It 's true the Chamber had usurp'd an Authority in these Matters and commenc'd a Suit against some Persons for changing Religion together with the Rites and Ceremonies as also concerning Property and Estate And when there was a misunderstanding about these things they made express mention of them to the Princes of the Mediation Therefore that Treaty is to be understood to extend not only to those Points which result from the Edict of Wormes but to those also which were controverted at the very time of the Convention For otherwise what made them labour and trouble themselves at the rate they had done why were they at such Expences to remove a Grievance which was already mortifi'd by a solemn Decree of the Empire and from which they had no reason to apprehend the least inconvenience But being afraid the Chamber would occasion a Disorder in the State by commencing of Suits they agreed to a Cessation which can relate to no other Debates but those which were then the Principal Subject of the Controversie and explain'd to the Princes of the Mediation as such And whereas he alledgeth that the Emperor did not know under what Classis those Disputes were to be rang'd this seemeth improbable because that Convention was order'd on purpose to take up those Differences which unless they had been accommodated it was thought some publick Disturbances would have immediately follow'd Neither indeed it is credible that the Princes of the Mediation omitted the sending the Emperor an account of these things or that his Majesty if he disapprov'd any part of them should dissemble his dislike That the Emperor may allow this Liberty for the preservation of Peace is beyond all question and that the Peace cannot continue unless these Terms are granted they have lately prov'd And since by the Laws of the Empire no Man may take away his Neighbours Property therefore they explain'd themselves upon this Point to the Princes of the Mediation at Nuremburgh and declar'd That if the Chamber gave them any trouble for seizing upon the Fortunes of their Monks and Priests who had rejected the Doctrin and Worship of the true Religion they would look upon it as a Force and an Injury And whereas his Excellency thinks it unjust for them not to allow the Chamber to determine the nature of the Cause Whether it is Religious or Secular adding likewise That the more Reasons they had to support their Resolution the more publick they ought to make them They said they had given a sufficient Answer to this Objection before and thought it would have been urg'd no more upon them For though they are not afraid to make their Defence in open Court nay they are very desirous the whole Cause might be tried before equal Judges yet they could not depart from that Order which the Emperor had made in the present Case by which they were not remitted to the Judgment of the Chamber but all Process was stopp'd by his Imperial Prohibition with this Proviso That if any Person acted to the contrary his Majesty or his Embassador was to be acquainted with it As touching the Chamber it was easie for them to answer why they could not admit
hazards and be at all this Expence to no purpose is perfect distraction But we are convin'd this is a Duty which God requires of us whose Commands ought to be preferr'd to all Secular Interest and we protest before God Almighty That we design nothing but his Service And now having confuted thier Accusations we shall proceed to another branch of our Apology Possibly most People of foreign Countries may think that we have been too nice in quarrelling with those things which have no great malignity in them and which might have passed without notice for Peace-sake especially when the nature of Humane Affairs in such that there will always be some Imperfections in Church and State which must be conniv'd at But the case is quite otherwise for first we are not to conceal our dislike of Errors and wrong Opinions in Religion being commanded by Christ to beware of false Teachers Besides the Contest is not about little Mistakes but concerning the Doctrin of Faith and right Apprehensions of God upon which the due performance of a Christians Duty and of Divine Worship does principally depend now these are points which cannot be passed over in silence but are to be maintain'd in their Purity and diligently taught in the Church But that this part of Truth was perfectly extinct cannot be denied and a new Doctrin introduc'd in its room to the great dishonour of our Saviour We likewise disapprove many other Errors and ungodly Practices in their Worship which some Persons who liv'd long before our time have discover'd and thereupon wish'd for a Council that those things which were amiss might be rectified and the Peace of the Church establish'd But now there is more need of a Council than ever because the same Corruptions remain and have spread their Infection further because they have occasion'd Broils and Divisions in Christendom insomuch that many innocent Persons run the hazard of losing their Lives upon this account For these weighty reasons not only our selves but the Emperor and the rest of the States and Bishops of the Empire voted a Council very necessary for the preservation of the true Religion in the Church for unless such an Expedient was made use of they foresaw the Distractions of Christendom would encrease And while we were big with the expectation of such a Council as this out comes the Pope's Bull with Contents directly contrary to the Decrees of the Empire And because we are not concern'd alone but the whole Christian Church is interessed in it we thought it necessary to set forth a publick Declaration of our Reasons in this Paper why we refuse this Council of the Pope's calling For the right of Voting does not belong solely to the Pope and Bishops but to the Church in which signification Kings and other degrees of Men and Secular Magistrates are included Therefore though the Pope was no Party in the present Debate yet there was no reason to allow him and his Adherents the whole Power of Determining and exclude the other Ministers of the Church But since he is apparently one of the Litigants himself the yielding him such a Priviledge is still more unaccountable and no less than a contradiction to the Laws of God and Nature Now we do not accuse the Pope of small Misdemeanors neither do we quarrel with him only for his Luxury and Lording it over the Church but the main of our charge lieth against his Doctrin his Canons and abominable Worship that is we arraign him for Idolatry and Heresie and when he is impeached of such Crimes as these the Church and not himself is to examine and give Sentence in the Cause according to the Provision which the old canon-Canon-Law it self hath made for this purpose Besides the Pope hath made himself the more suspected not only by being a Party but because he hath condemn'd our Doctrin long beforehand now the case standing thus it 's easie to imagine what sort of Censure will be past upon our Doctrin in a Council of his own packing For we are not to suppose that he will give a liberty of Voting to any Persons contrary to the old customs of his Church And in regard the Bull does not mention in what order and method Debates are to be managed we have reason to suspect every thing For he only summoneth and Mustereth those who are engag'd to him upon many accounts and of whose Trustiness he is sufficiently assur'd He likewise professeth that the reason of his calling a Council is That those Heresies which have lately sprung up may be extirpated And notwithstanding these words will bear a large signification yet there is no doubt but that he meant them of our Doctrin for we have no reason to believe that he would tax his own Errors Nay afterwards he publish'd another Bull concerning the Reformation of the Court of Rome where he owneth in express words That the Council was call'd that the pestilent Lutheran Heresie might be suppress'd At first it 's true he cunningly dissembled his Intentions that he might make the Bull appear plausible but afterwards he discover'd himself It 's plain therefore that he aims only at the subversion of our Religion Now what a madness would it be for us to approve of such a Design as this For this is the thing which he driveth at namely to draw a Confession from those who admit his Bull that our Doctrin is wicked and heretical and when Kings and Princes have own'd this they may be oblig'd to contribute their good wishes and endeavours to the Cause And because the common Interest of Christendom is concern'd in this Affair we intreat all People that they would seriously consider the designing subtilty of this Man for his couching the Bull in such Terms is somewhat admirable and it is a question Whether he intended to fright us from the Council this way or else to ensnare us by approving the Instrument That the Emperor intends the welfare and security of the Commonwealth we do not in the least question and believe that his Majesty does not approve the form of the Bull. But as for the Pope he hath not so much intimated a Council as publickly given Sentence against us Neither will he allow the Scriptures to determine the Dispute but his own Canons and Customs and the Opinions of some modern Councils must overrule all other Pleas whereas it 's one of our principal Assertions That Humane Traditions are to be rejected when they are repugnant to the Word of God. That which is really the Doctrin of the Church we willingly receive but then the Errors and Tyranny of the Pope ought not to be flourish'd over with that reverend Name For first the ancient Church never admitted of any Constitutions which were contrary to Scripture nor yet gave the Pope that unlimited power which he now assumes to himself And secondly These Men who condemn and persecute the Doctrin of the Gospel are none of the Church but Parricides and Sons
Thus all her Furniture and Goods being in haste pack'd up she departed in a hurry under the Conduct and Convoy of some Turkish Officers and Souldiers and then September the Second the Grand Seignior with his two Sons made his entry into Buda where in the Cathedral Church hallowed after their manner he gave God Thanks for his good Success and then returned into the Camp from whence having put Garrisons into Buda and Pest he retreated homewards with the rest of his Army and upon his March set at Liberty Alaski whom he had left Prisoner at Belgrade because of the Apprehension of Fregoso and Rink For the French King being exceedingly incensed at that Fact had by his Ambassador Paulain acquainted Solyman with the whole matter When the Diet at Ratisbone was over the Emperor went immediately into Italy and had an interview with the Pope at Luke whilst the Army he had raised of Germans Italians and Spaniards were putting on Board the Ships But because Winter now approached the Pope essayed to divert him from the expedition Nevertheless though he had notice of the overthrow in Hungary he was resolved to go that he might give the Turk a Diversion elsewhere so that setting Sail from Porto Venere he took his Course by Corsica Majorca and Minorca and on the Twenty-third of October arrived before Algiers a Sea-Port Town in Barbary His Army consisted of Two and twenty thousand Foot and somewhat more than a Thousand Horse The Van consisting of Spaniards was commanded by Ferrante Gonzaga Viceroy of Sicily the main Body being Germans by the Emperor himself and the Reserve who were Italians and Knights of Rhodes by Camillo Colonna That Day the Emperor arrived and next Day after the Weather was fair and the Sea calm but on the Third Day a great Storm arising with continual Rains hindered all Action so that the Emperor having lost many Ships his Guns and all his Ammunition and Provisions besides some Thousands of his Men was forced to depart without effecting any thing and to come again to Spain in the Month of November Thus went our Affairs to wrack both by Sea and Land in Africa as well as Europe This was likewise a fatal Year to Germany by reason of the Plague which raged especially along the Rhine there died of it amongst others at Strasburg one Capito and at Basile Simon Gryney both Men of extraordinary Learning the former by Profession a Divine and the other a Philosopher but a great Student also in Divinity The Emperor upon his leaving of Germany employed Frederick Prince Palatine to Negotiate the Restitution of Guelderland with the Duke of Cleve by the Mediation of the Princes Electors These sent Agents to the Duke to admonish him both of his own private danger and of the publick Disorders he might be the occasion of by standing it out too stiffly He on the other hand alledged That he was the next lawful Heir and that he had entered by fair means into Possession but however was willing to submit his Right and Title to a fair Trial at Law and that therefore he earnestly begg'd of them that they would perswade the Emperor to Equity and not suffer any Force or Violence to be used against him Upon the Emperor's departure out of Italy he left Granvell there that he might both sollicite the Pope about a Council and settle the State of Siena which was all in fermentation with Factions and Seditions When the News of the disaster in Africa was brought into France in December following it occasion'd open rejoicing for most Men were vexed at the Murther of Fregoso and Rink and said That now was the time to revenge them King Ferdinand after his bad Success called a Convention of his States at Prague the chief City of Bohemia There at length amongst other things the Nobility of Austria on the Thirteenth of December present a Petition to the King and in the first place to insinuate into his Favour they offer to employ their Lives and Fortunes in defence of his Honour and Dignity Then they deplore the sad State of the publick and their own Condition who had the Turk a most cruel Enemy and a Conqueror too so near them Wherefore said they it was high time to look out for Remedies and especially that the Wrath of God might be appeased who being offended with the Sins of Men plagued them with so great a Judgment For that in the whole Body politick there was nothing pure nor sound that all Discipline both publick and private was laid aside which was the Source of their common Evils but that the contempt of the Word of God was the chief Cause why he so scourged and afflicted them For both Sacred and Profane Histories inform us say they that God hath many times severely punished most flourishing Kingdom 〈◊〉 for those lighter Sins which sprug from our Nature and Dispositions but for false Worship and the Contempt of his Word The Jewish Nation was led away Captive into Assyria and Babylon for despising the Prophets and devising a new Religion and Worship to themselves At length they were utterly cut off and Jerusalem destroyed for their Crucifying of the Son of God. Those most flourishing Empires in former times the Babylonish Persian and Grecian now oppressed by the Turks have for the same Causes so lost their Religion Laws Goverment and Dignity that hardly any Print of them remains at this day and whilst partly they rejected and partly loathed the Blessings of God they have fallen into horrible Darkness and most ignominious Slavery Nor did all this change come of a sudden for the Turks waged War for the space of Six hundred Years and more before they subdued Greece which happened then at length when after so many Invitations and Admonitions they would not mend their Manners but added Sin to Sin and Transgression Now if a Man should compare those Kingdoms formerly so splendid and powerful wherein so many famous Wits flourished with that barbarous and brutish Monarchy of the Turks he would find that since the Flood a sadder Calamity never happened But if such powerful People were not able to resist so weak a Nation as the Turks were in the beginning God being pleased so to punish their Sins What are we to expect who are in the same fault indeed but in a far worse condition since we have to do with an Enemy much more powerful than we We see how God plagues us especially in these parts with War Pestilence and Famine The most cruel Enemy hath lately seized Buda the Capital City of the Realm Fire hath raged through Bohemia and what miseries have we not suffered now these Sixteen Years How much Blood hath there been spilt and how many Thousand Souls carried away into Slavery Now is the Power of the Turk grown to such an height that he lifts up his Head above all other Kings and Potentates And because he obtaineth almost continual Victories
Francis Olivier Chancellor of Alenzon and Affrican Malley President of the Parliament of Dijon These stopp'd on their way at Nancey in Lorrain whither they came in the Month of January and expected a safe Conduct from the Emperor for the King had sent a Herald before to Spire upon that account with Letters to the Emperor and privately also to the Princes Electors wherein he demanded a safe Conduct for his Ambassadors When about the end of February the Herald arrived there in his Coat of Arms as Custom is he was stopp'd by Granvell to whom he both delivered his Master's Letters written to the Emperor for he could do no otherwise and also told the cause of his coming demanding that according to the Law of Nations he might have a safe Conduct for the Ambassadors who were not far off but he was confined to his Lodgings carefully observed that no Body might come to speak with him and Four Days after sent going with a severe Reprimand That he had done an unwise Act and run the danger of his Head in daring to come thither For that the King his Master who was an Enemy to Germany had nothing to do within the Bounds of the Empire nor any Right neither to the Law of Nations That he should therefore return Home and tell his King so but let him not nor any other venture to come again That now the Emperor was pleased to pardon his Fault more out of his own Mercy and Goodness than for any Desert of his but that he should have a care for the future otherwise he would suffer for it For that he had gone beyond the Privilege of Heralds and ought not to have entered within the Emperor's Court without his Leave That as to the Letters which he said he had the King had so deserved of all Christendom and especially of Germany that as Affairs stood the Emperor would not nor could not receive them least by his usual way of Writing and Promises either he or others might be deceived This Answer was given him written in French And so he was sent back with the King's Letters to the Emperor and Princes and a Party of Horse appointed to bring him going as far as Nancey Now there was nothing of this imparted to the Princes which was thought by most to be done contrary to the Custom of the Empire When this came to the Knowledge of the Ambassadors they were in great Streights being anxious how they could get home again without Danger But having consulted with Anthony Duke of Lorrain they departed secrtly in the Night time and so returned into the next Place of France Whilst they were as yet in Nancey Duke Anthony's Daughter-in-Law came to Spire that what neither he nor others could do She being the Emperor's Sisters Daughter by Prayers and Tears and the Favour of her Sex might obtain But that was also in Vain for the Emperor was wholly bent upon War and his Counsellors said he could not do otherwise with Honour and Reputation Now though the Duke of Lorrain espoused neither Party and had long since conditioned with both that he might be Neuter yet when he found that the Seat of the War was like to be on his Frontiers which could not but be to his great Prejudice he was exceedingly desirous of Peace February the Ninth some Princes at the Emperor's Suggestion wrote from Spire to the Pope telling his Holiness That they had been exceedingly rejoiced when last Year they heard how that the Turks and their Confederates had been by the Emperor's Forces and the Assistance he had sent driven from the Siege of the Castle of Nizza and forced to fly for their Safety and that their Joy was the greater that they were given to understand that the Loss of that Rampart would much endanger not only the Provinces and Patrimony of the Church but also all Italy and indeed Christendom But that now since they were informed by credible Hands that they were again fitting out their Fleet and Forces at Thoulon with a Design to reduce that Castle under their Power it did not a little trouble them both because of the Danger and Disgrace of it also And that was the Reason why out of the Duty and Love they bore him who was the common Father of Christendom they now wrote to his Holiness Wherefore they earnestly besought him that he would befriend Charles Duke of Savoy with his Counsel and Assistance and in his own singular Prudence consider with himself how much it would be safer and more advantageous for the Publick to beat off the Enemy at his first Approach than to dally away the time and not to run to Arms till the most commodious Castle of Italy should be lost That his Holiness would also think of some Measures whereby so barbarous an Enemy might not only be driven away from before that Castle but also out of those Places where he had safe Harbour and Retreat For if he look'd upon the Turk and his Confederates as Enemies which they could not but think he would for the Love he bore to the Flock whereof he was the chief and universal Bishop If he should employ all the Forces and Substance of the Church this way they made no doubt but God would deliver his People out of the Hands of their Enemies That since then he saw how much the Publick Safety depended on that Castle they again begged of him that he would use his Endeavours not to let it fall into the Hands of Strangers which would be very acceptable Service to God and beneficial to the publick Interest of Christendom To this the Pope made Answer February the Twenty Sixth That the Safety of the Castle of Nizza had hitherto been and should still be his Care for the future That the good Will and Kindness they expressed was very acceptable unto him and he hoped that as they were concerned for Nizza so they would be no less sollicitous for the Publick which was the thing they ought chiefly to do That it was publickly known how he stood affected in relation to the common Enemy from his very first Inauguration into the Pontificate That he had constantly given Aid against him furnished Commanders and a Fleet both in Hungary and Africa That in short he had left nothing undone whereby he might defend Christendom from the Yoke of so barbarous and cruel an Enemy so that during the Ten Years that he had been at the Helm he had been exhausted by continual Expences which he was at when even the publick Treasure was at a low Ebb his Revenues being much lessened and impaired by the Defection of many How could he be thought wanting in any thing who had not only sent frequent Ambassies but himself also taken many Progresses for the good of the Publick That two Years since he had called a Council at Trent a Town within the Dominion of Germany to the end that Peace might be restored to the Empire Vices
was of opinion nothing could be desired but what was by publick Edicts already provided That if Violence or Injustice were offered to any person he also thought they might sue for and have remedy from the Imperial Chamber That he likewise entreated them to consider speedily of raising Money for Subsidies and of constituting Judges in the Imperial Chamber and if perhaps the latter should not be agreed upon that they would be pleased to entrust him with that Affair lest for want of Jurisdiction the Publick might suffer prejudice That the Emperour had the Turkish War constantly in his thoughts and that there had been no War with that People in this Age wherein he did not wish himself concerned That for that end he had once and again crossed over into Africa and some years since marched as far as Vienna with a purpose to engage them That what he had promised also at Spire for the safety of Germany he was ready to make good provided they also on their parts contributed the appointed Aids That therefore he required them to take that solely and wholly into their consideration and because the Season was far spent to come to a final resolution about it That he had frequent Advices that the Grand Seignior himself was marching into Hungary with greater Forces than ever that he might afterwards invade Germany That they should therefore deliberate and resolve whether they would attack him or only defend themselves and send their resolutions to the Emperour who had engaged the Pope and King of France into the War and was hopeful also that others would not be wanting and that if possibly because of the streightness of time and the barrenness of the year they should not think it convenient to carry the War into his Country that then they should think of making a defence and raising of Money that both they might be able to make head against him in time and that the Emperour also being moved by their alacrity and readiness might carry on the War in person as he himself promised long since to do That in the next Diet they might treat of moving the War against the Turk for the recovery of what was lost and of Religion but that their present Consultations required dispatch and expedition for that should the thing be longer protracted the Enemy might possess themselves of the frontier places and passes of Hungary and other adjoyning Countries and so having defeated and broken the Light Horsemen which are of greatest use in Hungary and stopt all intercourse and communication betwixt places the people might be reduced to the utmost point of despair so as to fall off from us and submit to the dominion of the Enemy which how dangerous a loss that would prove and how chargeable afterward to be retrieved was a thing that all who had eyes must see To these things the Protestants and with them the Archbishop of Cologne and Elector Palatine make answer on the third of April That this Diet was appointed chiefly for the cause of Religion That in some former Conferences a way had been opened to a Reconciliation which gave greater hopes now of a final Accommodation That it would be therefore most acceptable to them that that Article should first of all be handled That it was much the interest of Germany it should be so and that if they had the fear of God before their eyes they did not doubt of success But that if either the weightiness of the matter the shortness of time or the imminent danger from the Turks would not allow it yet it was necessary that that Chapter of the Decree concerning the Peace should be more amply explained That indeed Peace was granted as to matters of Religion until a Council should meet but that they owned not that Council of Trent for such a lawful Council as had been promised in the Diet of the Empire and that why they did not acknowledge it they had already often declared That therefore they needed such a Peace as should not be limited to the Popish Council but might take place until the whole affair should in a Pious and Christian manner be transacted And that because there could be no firm and lasting Peace unless there were an equal administration of Justice and that in the last Diet of Spire it had been enacted what was to be done as to that particular they should not be wanting in paying obedience to that Decree That if these two points were then decided they would be ready to take the Turkish War into deliberation The rest of the Princes and States and amongst these the Archbishops of Mentz and Treves resolved that the Cause of Religion should be referred to the Council now called that the Chamber should be constituted and Justice administred according to the written Laws and that a Committee should be chosen out of all the States to advise about the Turkish War. One half of the Subsidies of the Chamber they promise to pay within six Years and pray the Emperor to advance the rest King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies make answer to what the Protestants urged That the Decree of Peace made at Spire at that time pleased them without any other caution or exception tho the Council had then had been called and shortly after again indicted that fit Men also should be admitted into the Colledge of the Chamber according to the Decree of Spire and that Matters being so it was but just they should insist no longer upon that particular but consult with the rest about the Turkish War To which they reply That seeing for the shortness of time and the imminent danger of the Enemy Matters of Religion could not be handled and that no good was to be expected from the Popish Council they prayed that before the end of this Diet the Emperor would appoint another wherein ways of reconciliation might in a friendly manner be sought after That it was decreed at Spire first That no stirs should be raised for Religion and then that all dissention and animosity should by a pious and friendly debate be healed and made up that upon this foundation the Peace of Germany rested nor would they have desired anything more if things had continued so But now when the Pope that he might disturb and hinder this reconciliation hath called a Council wherein he alone with those of his party has the power of deciding and whose decision as all men say must put an end to the pacification it was absolutely necessary for them that they should have more ample security nor was it any new thing that they required but the very same which is contained in the Decree of Spire That the reason why they refused the Pope's Determination and Councils was long since published to the World and that three Years ago when the Pope by his Legat at Spire had promised a Council they had protested against it as appears by the publick Records in short
produced Now had we acted with the same severity against the Duke of Brunswick as the Emperour does now against us though innocent there would have been no War at all But because he attacked us who are obnoxious and exposed to great hatred upon account of the Gospel and our Religion all his Trespasses were connived at Nor is the Emperour ignorant that we both put the Province we had taken under Sequestration and offered our selves to submit to the Verdict of Arbitrators appointed by his Majesty concerning the Defence we undertook against him If he had followed this course and had not in contempt of the Emperour's Edicts rejected the Sequestration and raised new Stirs but come to a fair Trial at Law with us all would have gone in the right way For if being cast we had not submitted to the Sentence then would the Emperour have had a good and lawful Cause of putting the Laws in execution against us whereas for what now he does he has none Nay more since the time Duke Henry and his Son were made Prisoners the Emperour never demanded any thing of us upon that account We are not then to be accused of Undutifulness Now if it be laid to our charge That we hinder the Course of Justice it is the greatest wrong can be done to us for since for many years past none were admitted to be Judges and Assessors in the Imperial Chamber but the sworn Enemies of our Religion that these slighting all Transactions and Agreements gave Sentence against us and our Confederates in Causes of Religion that in Civil Causes also they would do us no Justice we did no more but what we might lawfully do in refusing them as suspect and our Enemies offering withal to give more ample Reasons for our declining them before Judges chosen for that purpose Nothing then can be objected to us as to that Besides it was decreed at Spire two years since That the Chamber should be equally constituted and it cannot be imputed to us and our Associates that it is not done It is known also to the Emperour that in the Diet at Worms last year none did more oppose that Decree of his than those very Princes who would seem to be most dutiful and obedient for that very Reason That because they are our Adversaries they might be our Judges We are moreover informed That it is laid to our charge as a Crime that we endeavour to bring over some of the Nobility to our Party But it is strange that we should be blamed for that it being manifest from the Records of the Empire that it was the Practice of our Forefathers to associate to themselves not only the Nobility but the Bishops also And grant there were any fault in that is it therefore lawful without a fair Trial to make War against us Now though the Emperour be excepted in that Herediatary League which is betwixt the Houses of Saxony Brandenbourg and Hesse yet it is still so to be understood provided he abuse not his Power and Authority Let Albert and John Marquesses of Brandenbourg who have engaged in the Emperour's Service against us seriously consider then what they do and remember the Oath they are tied by We have thought fit to make this known to them and to those also who being our Vassals serve under them in this War. Nor will it excuse them to pretend that it is the Emperour's Design only to punish some Princes for their Disobedience since they themselves know that no such thing can justly be objected to us But if the Emperour had laid any Crime to our charge as in reason he ought to have done and we could not have justified our selves there would have been no necessity then of using such Artifices or of solliciting our Confederates to a Defection seeing if the Crime had been proved most part would have forsaken us of their own accord and few would have ventured a Risque with us in a bad Cause Furthermore when two years since we with others concluded to assist the Emperour against the French King he then promised That so soon as that War was ended he would march into Hungary in Person against the Turk But now when the Turks as it is reported by many do with vast Armies make Incursions into Hungary and the adjacent Countries and have besides strong Garrisons in Buda and Pest the poor Wretches of that Country are left as a Prey to the cruel and harbarous Enemy and no care taken of them that the Blood of those who profess the Name of Christ may in the mean time with more ease be shed in Germany This being so we are in good hopes that most Men will pity and commiserate our Condition and not joyn with our Enemies who have no other intent than to stifle the Light of the Gospel amongst us as we see it is in all other Places of their Dominions and to bring us under the worst kind of Bondage and Slavery but that they will acccept of moderate Pay with us rather than serve in the Armies of the Antichrist of Rome and his Adherents whose chief Endeavours are that even with the Ruine and Destruction of Germany they may again establish their impious and impure Doctrine And since now we are forced after we have earnestly begg'd for Peace and are convicted of no Crime to defend our selves against unjust Violence we trust that God Almighty will side with Truth against Falshood and in this his own Cause be our Chief Leader and Standard-bearer against the wicked Contrivances of the Pope For to him alone we wholly commit our Cause praying his Divine Majesty that he would confound the Devices of blood-thirsty Men and more and more promote his own Honour and Glory The same day they write to John Marquess of Brandenbourg wishing him as being one of the Protestant League which might be proved by his own Letters and then as an ancient Confederate of theirs also upon a particular account not to take Arms against them but to act and demean himself according to the Articles and Covenants of the League for that otherwise they would divulge the Matter and publickly accuse him of transgressing his Duty To which he made answer That he denied not but that he served the Emperour since he had given him assurance that his Design was not against the Religion That he was indeed of the Smalcaldick League but in so far only as concerned the Augustane Confession That as to the private League the Emperour was expresly therein excepted which being so that they had no reason to find fault with him for his Service nor to accuse him of having done any thing contrary to his Honour and Obligation Having received that Answer they publish a Manifesto and amongst other things refute what he had said of the Augustane Confession proving by his own Letters that he was bound to assist them and the Confederates if Matters should come to that pass although it
used against any man for any cause whatsoever but that all things should be done according to the standing Laws and ancient Customs and then he sheweth how the States of the Empire are bound in Duty and Allegiance to him But without any regard had to any of these things says he John Frederick Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse have with insolent boldness at all times as much as in them lay frustrated all the pains and labour we have been at for the publick good and have continued disobedient nor did they themselves only resist our Authority but inticed likewise the other States to enter into unlawful Combinations with them Besides the Landgrave some Years since under I know not what pretext made War against some of the chief States of the Empire and marching into their Countries raised great vast Sums of Money there then afterward both in conjunction together without any cause given invaded a certain Prince of the Empire drove him out of his Country and seized his Territories Nay they have also appropriated to themselves some Bishopricks and other both Secular and Ecclesiastical Fiefs the Owners whereof by ancient Custom are Members of the Empire and have place in the Assembly of the States and still detain them in that Bondage though they have often sued to Us and implored our Protection in several Diets They have also spoiled many of their Estates and yearly Revenues and received into their Homage the Clients and Vassals of others Lately also they were so strangely bold as to sollicite some of the States not to repair to this Diet that they might thereby hinder the dispatch of all Affairs and bring Us and Our Authority into contempt And all these things they do with the greater security and liberty that they slight Justice and neither fear nor stand in awe of any Magistrate for through their fault the Supreme Judicature of the Empire is suppressed the Laws are silent and now for a long time which is a thing not to be paralelled there has been no Administration of Justice to the great prejudice of many And what is most grievous all these things they act under the specious and sweet Name of Religion Peace and Liberty for these plausible Titles they make use to veil and cloak their Actions when in the mean time they desire nothing less than Agreement in Religion or the Peace and Liberty of Germany Surely they can prove by no Text of Scripture that it is lawful for them in any manner of way obstinately to resist the Supream Magistrate but the contrary is easily made out both from the Word of God and approved History to wit that the ancient Professours of the Christian Doctrine who not only confirmed their Faith by their words and actions but sealed it also by their death obeyed even profane and Pagan Kings How much less then ought they under a pretext of Religion to deny Us their Duty and Obedience for by denying it they make it manifest that their Design is to Usurp our Crown Scepter and Authority and having put all into confusion and disorder to oppress Religion Law Peace and Liberty that with the accession of new Titles and Possessions they may constrain all men to truckle under their Tyranny And indeed nothing less can be gathered from their haughty Words and Menaces and from those scandalous Libels and Pictures scattered abroad in all places among the People to the great dishonour and contempt of Our Person and Authority Moreover they have not only made Leagues against Us in those Conventicles of theirs but also stirred up foreign Kings against Us and under-hand assisted them both with Supplies and Councel Some may be found also that can tell Tales how far they have gone that they might invite the Turk into Germany which is indeed the more credible that such a Juncture would have proved very commodious for their designs By these Acts of their then they break their Allegiance to Us trample upon the Dignity of Our Character and evacuate the force of all Decrees which they look upon as made for no other end but that others should be barr'd from the liberty of resisting Violence and they only allowed a permission to do wrong to all men For all which Causes they have fallen into that most heinous Crime of High Treason and incurred the Penalties thereunto due by the Laws as plainly appears by their Villanies which are so notorious that it is to no purpose to spend time in proving them Now though we might have long ago used Our Authority and punished them according to their deserts nevertheless for peace-sake and for avoiding all stirs and troubles We still shewed them Our Favour and in many things condescended to them more than was becoming and in that We often offended our own Conscience lessened our Authority and neglected the Interests of others Thus We used most gentle means five years ago with the Landgrave at Ratisbonne and two years since with the Duke of Saxony at Spire and that in hopes that being gained by our extraordinary lenity and forbearance they might at length break off their ill purposes and save themselves and Us the trouble of any more violent Remedy But now that We find all our endeavours to have been in vain and that they have plainly cheated Us by their Words in regard that slighting our Decrees and the Laws of the Empire they obstinately go on even contrary to their own Covenents and Engagements and through an unbridled Desire of Rule invade other mens Rights and Possessions having no respect to Law but in all their Actions aiming at the overthrow of the Government so that unless they be restrained there will be so little possibility of composing the Differences of Religion that all the parts of the State must remain discomposed and out of order We are forced to use the power that God hath put into Our hands against them And since their Rebellion is so notorious that they themselves cannot deny it and that they carry all things on in a violent way refusing to submit to Law and Justice We therefore Proscribe and Outlaw them as false Traitors perfidious and seditious Rebels and are resolved to bring them to condign punishment that they may no longer be a hinderance unto Us in setling the State and doing those things which properly belong to Our Character and Place We therefore strictly Charge and Command all and every one of Our Subjects that they presume not in any manner to aid and assist them or otherwise take their part under the pain of forfeiture of Lives and Fortunes and that such as are now in their Service return to their Duty and Obedience to Us without pretending any League or Association to the contrary all which we hereby rescind and annul We moreover absolve all the Nobility Gentry and Commons of their Dominions from their Oath of Allegiance to them assuring them in the Word of an Emperour of all Security and
only we but all those also who profess the Reformed Religion are in danger and that the great Design in hand is wholly to re-establish Popery Let all men judge then of the fairness of their Proceedings when in the late Diet at Ratisbonne they endeavoured to perswade and solemnly averred that they would use only lawful and peaceful Remedies for healing the breaches of Religion Lately said the Landgrave he told me at Spire That he was not engaged in any League with the Pope the same also said Granvell This then is that Fatherly Affection that Zeal for and Love of Peace whereof they so much brag and so often Was ever the like heard that they should endeavour to perswade Princes of one thing and in the mean time resolve the quite contrary We are sensible enough of the Duty of the Princes to the Emperour and what on the other hand he is engaged to perform as we stand obliged to him so is he mutually to us Now that he Proscribes and Outlaws us without a fair hearing and endeavours to turn us out of all he therein dissolves the Obligation in Law whereby the Lord or Superiour is mutually bound to his Tenant or Vassal That he objects to us the Crime of Rebellion it is a meer sham also and he himself knows that he does us wrong in that For not long since said the Landgrave he gave me Thanks at Spire that I had used my utmost diligence to compose the Differences about Religion Now whereas he says that I prepared for War and exacted Money of some States I do not indeed deny it and weighty reasons I had too for making Preparations But it is publickly known that by the mediation of Louis the Elector Palatine and of Richard Archbishop of Traves that whole matter was husht nay he himself acquainted me by his Letters that though he had been highly displeased with me for what I had done yet because I had laid down Arms he required no more besides when sixteen years ago he spoke to me of the same Affair at Ausbourg I justified my self so well in presence of King Ferdinand Frederick Prince Palatine and some others that he was satisfied therewith he cannot then make that any part of his present quarrel That I assisted Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of the Duke of Saxony and George Archbishop of Mentz that matter was also taken up and I received again into favour which transaction he himself ratified and afterward at Ratisbonne fully pardoned me upon his Royal Word He now also speaks of the War of Brunswick but the cause of that we made manifest by a publick Declaration and two years since gave a fuller account of the same in a most frequent Diet of the Empire where he was present Duke Henry did indeed answer then but the Emperour refused to hear our Replies Now the reason why he did not bring the Tryal to a full issue and with the Advice of the rest of the Princes give Sentence therein at that time was forsooth because demanding then Supplies against the French and Turks he purposely put a stop to the Suit and ordered a Sequestration wherein we also condescended to him at Wormes though we were not obliged and it was agreed on both hands that Frederick Prince Palatine and his Cousin John Prince Palatine of Simmeren should hold and govern the Province which we had taken until the Cause should be brought to a final decision according to Law this being done he past his Word to us that the Duke of Brunswick should likewise comply and by Letters strictly enjoyned him to do so but he slighting the Orders raised War against us and therein was made Prisoner as appears by a Declaration published by me and Duke Maurice In this War then we did nothing undutifully nothing contrary to Law and appeal to impartial Judgment But from that very thing it will easily appear what his Intentions are as to our Religion For though Duke Henry most sawcily despised his Orders and when he heard of the Sequestration reviled him in very reproachful Language yet because he is an implacable Enemy to our Religion he was never called to any Account for it Where he saith That we have brought some under subjection to us it is far otherwise and has been answered by us several times before But that may be truly said of him who hath reduced some Provinces and Bishopricks of the Empire under his Jurisdiction and against this War hath had in many places Meetings of Nobles that he might to our destruction engage them to himself This we acknowledge indeed That we have received some into our Protection upon account that if they should incur any danger for professing the Gospel we might stand by and defend them and that we look upon to be our duty since God commands us to help the afflicted Now for many Years past and at this time especially none stand more in need of Help and Protection than they who are reckoned Lutherans In other things that related not to Religion we never gave them any Countenance but always exhorted them to give the Magistrate his due He objects to us also That we disswaded others from repairing to the Diet but that is very impertinent since on the first of April last we sent Orders to our Deputies who met at Wormes when he was going to Ratisbonne That waving all other Business they should repair to that Diet and that we either came in Person or sent our Deputies to all the other Diets of the Empire What he saith of the Imperial Chamber and the interruption of Justice hath been many times refuted already He moreover brings an Instance of the Heathen Magistrates to shew That it is not lawful to resist him Whereas we have not only done our Duty but more also than either we ought or our Forefathers were accustomed to do to our own great loss and prejudice and that upon that account he hath not the least cause of complaint it will appear by what shall be said hereafter A certain Embassadour lately sent to him from the French King hapned occasionally to speak of this War telling him That he undertook a Matter of very great concern That he would do well to consider with himself how powerful Germany was and how dangerous the Attempt That if one or two perhaps had offended a Course might be taken to accommodate the Matter without a War. Whereunto he is said to have made this Answer That there was no need of an Accommodation That he would subdue Germany or put all to the risque for that the Strength thereof was not so very great that he needed to be afraid of it That it was now above twenty years since he had laid down his Measures for accomplishing that Design That in several Wars they had given him frequent Supplies and lately too against the King his own Master That they had been at great Charges in several Diets That they had lost
himself alone who had viewed the Places before resolved to keep the Army together and pursue the War. Duke Maurice was generally blamed by all Men That he should have so ungratefully served him whom he ought to have honoured as his Father and who was in a manner the sole Author of all his Fortune so that many very invective Libels and Copies of Verses were published against him wherein to his reproach and ignominy he was accused of breach of Faith betraying of his Religion and highest Ingratitude and the more that neither the Intreaties of his Wife nor Father-in-Law could any way prevail with him When this came to his knowledge he published a Manifesto in his own justification declaring what the Religion was that was professed in his Territories what he himself had promised to his People and how that for the promoting of Religion he had founded and endowed publick Schools Then he alledges That the Emperour had given all Assurances to him and his People and not to him only but to other Princes also concerning their Religion and of his own Resolution to maintain the Liberty of Germany that nothing should be done by Force and Violence but that the Cause should be tried and decided according to Law and many Imperial Decrees made for that effect That therefore he gives credit to his Promises and Letters according to the Example of those Princes who now serve under him and yet profess their own Religion not only in their own Houses at home but also abroad in the Camp and Army That those who are familiarly known to him and daily conversant with him may easily discover his Mind and that doubtless if they found any such Resolution in him they would not remain with him And that whereas the Pope assists him it is because the War is made against those who chiefly withstand his Errours and usurped Power but that it ought to be considered not what moveth him but what the Intentions of the Emperour are who carrieth on the War That it does not neither increase the Suspicion that the Emperour retains the Popish Religion also in his Provinces seeing that is left to his own discretion and no Rules can be imposed upon him as to that there being no Prince nor Magistrate that in that matter will suffer himself to be prescribed to by others That since Religion then was secured he sees no reason why in all other things he should not obey the Emperour seeing it was Christ's Command That we should render unto God the things that are Gods and to Caesar the things that are Caesar's That it was not unknown to the Emperour King Ferdinand and many others what care and pains he had taken that these sad Differences might have been amicably composed nor was it his fault that they were not That if he had had no other Reason to make him desirous of Peace but that by Civil War the Turk increased both in Power and Confidence as the History of Greece alone might sufficiently convince all Men yet that that was more than enough to incline him to it But that when there was no more talk of Peace and that strict Orders were brought him from the Emperour that he should seize into his Hands the Lands and Goods of John Frederick and that King Ferdinand was already hovering over that Country not only with his Bohemians but also with Austrians and Hungarians raised for this War it was not lawful for him to resist the Magistrate who is excepted in all Leagues and Confederations That what is said of him as if he coveted all the Lands of his Cousin was an injury done unto him and that he justified himself in that a good while ago by Letters to the Landgrave his Father-in-Law and to the Duke of Saxony himself That he wished Matters were now in the same Condition as they were when he wrote so unto them and that there were none who endeavoured to appropriate to themselves his Possessions but now that the State of Affairs was much altered that King Ferdinand was not to be intreated but would pursue his Point by an Army that his Forces which came from Bohemia had already possessed themselves of some Silver Mines which are in common to him with his Cousin it necessarily behoved him to take care that they might not invade the rest also and make greater Progresses and that he had acquainted the Landgrave and his Cousin with his Design before That in consideration of all which it was his earnest desire no Man would misinterpret his Actions nor give credit to those things which probably might be reported of him abroad seeing he resolved to be constant in the defence of his Religion and had no other aim but that the Lands and Dignities of the House of Saxony should not fall into the Hands of Strangers Now again were the Persecutions in France revived William Brissonet who some years before had been Bishop of Meaux a Town ten Miles from Paris being a great Lover of the Reformed Religion debarred the Monks and Friars and appointed fit Pastors to instruct the People But when for his so doing the Divines of the Sorbonne began to be troublesom unto him and to threaten him with Danger his Constancy failed him and he fell off from his Enterprise Nevertheless the Remains of that Doctrine stuck in the Minds of many and this year at length about threescore of the Towns-people having laid their Heads together chose to themselves a Minister and meeting in Houses privately on certain Days after Sermon took the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper according to the Institution of the Gospel That could not be long kept secret especially since some came from the Country also to the Meetings Wherefore being all apprehended together they are cast into Prison and after they were examined carried to Paris in Carts Being there condemned to die and brought home again fourteen of them were burnt alive at so many Stakes The rest were partly whipped and partly banished As they were returning home from Paris a certain Person met them from the next Village upon the Road and exhorted them to Perseverance for which he was laid hold on and suffered the same Punishment as they did Before they were burnt they were put to the Rack to make them discover their Companions and Fellows in Religion but nothing could be extorted from them Many were of opinion that this was done on purpose at the Instigation of some to break off the Treaty that then was on foot betwixt the King and the Confederates of Smalcalde The Letters of Duke Maurice wherein he defied the Duke of Saxony were on the sixth of November delivered in the Camp. In the former Book we gave you an Account That the Pope having on the sixteenth of April pronounced Sentence against the Archbishop of Cologne excommunicated him and deprived him of all his Ecclesiastical Dignities and Preferments Some days after that he had certain
is in making use of Foreign Aids by a Domestick Instance The Britains who were the ancient People of this Island heretofore called in the Saxons to their Aid and by the same were afterward driven out of their Country and forced into the Mountains and Bogs Betwixt the English and Scots formerly lived the Picts a sturdy and Warlike People the Scots having some time defended them against their Enemies at length so utterly subdued them that the very Name of them is at this day extinct Did not the same thing happen to the Gauls from the Francks or French to the Greeks in former times and to the Hungarians in our own memory when they made use of the Assistance of the Turks Did not the Goths by the same means anciently gain Italy and the Lombards all Insubria since called Lombardy Do not long if you be wise to have a trial of the Pride and Insolence of Foreign Soldiers but put an end to all these Wars and Troubles by Marriage and Honourable Alliance and in that follow the Custom and Example of Neighbouring Nations The Emperour Charles V. by this means holds now Spain and Burgundy And the French King in the same manner purchased to himself Bretanny The like do all other Nations For there are but two ways of putting an end to Wars either by force and Conquest or by Marriage-Alliance If you hate to be forced why do you not comply and embrace the Marriage that is offered and to which you formerly agreed We are not ignorant who they are that dissuade you from wholesome Counsel They are some Churchmen and the Regent of the Kingdom himself but look to it that they who have so often violated their Faith do not betray your Liberty that being corrupted by Bribes the Reward of Treason they deliver not up your Castles and Forts into the hands of Strangers Which when they do they 'll pretend that it is to defend them from us but their true design is that being supported by them they themselves may curb you as they list And then who is so blind as not to see what your Condition and what the State of the Kingdom will be O wretched and pernicious Stubbornness We are on all hands environed by the Ocean as with a most strong Rampart and Wall Nothing is wanting to make us happy but an Union and Conjunction of Minds and then we might make one of the most flourishing Monarchies in the World. Now if this cannot work upon you let the Calamity that is already fallen upon and the Misery that still hangs over your heads move you at least Let the fear of God move you for he is the Avenger of the Breach of Promises and Covenants and detesteth the desire of War which he most severely punishes We demand your Queen who is betrothed unto our King and follow that way of Peace which God in his infinite goodness hath shew'd unto us intreating you also to walk in the same steps and if we cannot prevail we protest that we are necessitated to make War and by Gods assistance whose Word and Voice ye despise we will pursue our Right by Sword and Fire Wherefore if there be any good Men among you who are grieved at the Calamities of their Country who think that Faith and Promise is to be kept let them come over to us and whoever they be we will shew them all Love and Favour The King hath also by Proclamation lately granted a free Trade betwixt us as a sign of his good will towards you And if he find his Kindness well bestowed he intends to do greater matters for you and hath commanded us to declare these things unto you in his Name In the former Book we spoke of Sebastian Vogelsberg who brought to the King of France ten Ensigns of Foot from Germany and who having disbanded his Men returned home in Autumn The Emperour took it heinously that he had served the French King and waiting his opportunity gave Orders to Lazarus Schuendy to apprehend him who coming to Weissemburg where he had a Habitation took him and brought him to Ausburg Presently he is put to the Rack and Examined about some who were before suspected of having entred into a French Confederacy and though with great constancy both of Body and Mind he had endured the Torture without any Confession yet because he was accused of having sided with Rebels that he had offended against the Emperours Edicts and that he had carried on Treacherous Designs he was condemned to die and with him two Captains James Mantell and Wolf Thomas Therefore on the Seventh of February four days after he came thither he was brought out into the Market Place where some Companies of Foot were drawn up and a vast multitude of Spectators gathered together When he was come to the place of Execution which was higher than the rest looking abuot him with a present and undaunted Mind and perceiving Persons of great Quality placed in the Windows and adjoyning Houses to see he civilly addressed himself to them and gave them an account of his past life telling them that he had formerly served the Emperour in the Wars and that the Crime for which he was now to die was only that the year before he had carried some Forces to the French King at the time of his Coronation Vogelsberg was a proper handsome Man who not shewing the least sign of fear and terror attracted towards him the Eyes of all the Spectators After him the two Captains also whom we mentioned were beheaded The Sentence was given against them by two Judges who followed the Court and Camp of the Emperour the one a Spaniard Briviesca and the other a German Nicholas Zinner both Lawyers Vogelsberg had accused Schuendy as having entrapped and circumvented him but these publish a Paper shewing the cause why he was condemned and justifie Schuendy as having acted nothing but by the Emperours Order protesting that the Accusation was false At this time all over France but chiefly at Paris Lutheranisme is again persecuted with Fire and Faggot whil'st in the mean time the publick Deliberations in England tend to the utter abolishing of the Popish Mass The Emperour as we said before had in the Camp before Wittenberg bestowed upon Duke Maurice the honour of Electorship and greatest part of the Territories of John Frederick But in this Dyet he put him as it were in possession of it by a publick and solemn Ceremony as he had promised this was done on the Four and twentieth of February which was the Emperour's Birth Day Now the manner of the Ceremony was thus There was a large and open Pavillion made of Boards in the Market place with an ascent up to it by Steps Thither came the Emperour about three in the Afternoon attended by the Electors from thence he went into an adjoyning House and put on his Robes and coming out again afterwards with the Electors went and placed himself on his
Emperour not to be offended with me for my refusal That I retain the Doctrine of the Augustane Confession I do it for the Salvation of my Soul and slighting all worldly things it is now my whole study how after this painful and miserable Life is ended I may be made partaker of the Blessed Joys of Life Everlasting It is reported to the Emperour by some as I hear that it is not Religion I regard in what I do but vain-glory and I know not what other by-end Good now what worldly thing is it that could be more desirable to me especially being of a gross and unweildly Body than my liberty than to return to my Wife and Children than quiet and rest at home I call God to witness now and will do then when he shall call us to an account for all we have done in the Flesh that I had no other thing before my Eyes than that in serving and worshipping of him truly I might attain to the enjoyment of the Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven And it is my hearty desire to the Emperour that he would think and believe so of me In every thing else I have always been and ever shall be ready to serve him and will discharge the Duty and Fidelity I promised him as it becomes an honest Man and one of my quality After all I beseech him that he would pardon all my offences and free me at length from this tedious Captivity that I may not of all Princes be the first who may be said to have lived and died his Prisoner When they saw that he persisted firm and immoveable in his Resolution they began to use him a little more harshly all holy Books were taken from him and he was enjoyned to abstain from Flesh on days forbidden The Preacher also whom till now the Emperour had suffered to be with him finding himself in imminent danger privately slipt away in disguise Letters were then published and these out of the Imperial Court too which the Landgrave was said to have written to the Emperour In these Letters he says that he had sent Orders to his Wife and Counsellors that they should fulfil the rest of the Conditions and satisfie those who had any cause of Grievance because of the past War Then that he had read the Book that was written about Religion and though there were some things in it which he did not throughly understand and could not prove from the holy Scriptures yet because they were backed by Antiquity and the Authority of the holy Fathers he would not be wiser than they but had approved the Writing and would also take care that it should be observed by his Subjects After that he offers him his faithful service whether he should have War with the Turk Pope other Kings or the Switzers or else if he pleased to make use of him in Germany But prayed him for Christs and all his Saints sake that he would forget his Offences and give him his Liberty That now he had been a whole year Prisoner wherein he had endured punishment enough and was redacted to great hardships Moreover that for greater security he would give his two Sons Hostages until he should be fully satisfied and that he would readily submit to what he pleased to enjoyn him Nevertheless all these Prayers did not prevail for he was by his Spanish Keepers carried about from place to place at every turn first from Donawert to Wordlingen then to Hailbrun and last to Hall in Swabia Whil'st the Emperour is busied in carrying on these Exploits in Germany the Mass is by Act of Parliament abolished in England and not long after Stephen Bishop of Winchester is apprehended for maintaining that the Laws made during the nonage of the King were of no force He had been confined to his House the year before but being lately enlarged when it was thought he had changed his Opinion he made a Sermon before the King and his Nobles wherein having told them his mind plainly he is committed to Prison The Emperour caused the Form of Reformation as they called it to be read over to the Churchmen June the Fourteenth These were the Heads of it Of Ordination of the Duties of Ecclesiastical Orders of Monasteries of Schools of Hospitals of the Dispensation of Gods Word of the Administration of the Sacraments of the Ceremonies of the Mass of Ecclesiastical Ceremonies of the Discipline of the Clergy and People of the Pluralities of Benefices of Visitation of Synods and of Excommunication The Matters therein enjoyned amongst others are chiefly these That they who sue for Holy Orders be diligently Examined as to their Faith Manners and Learning especially as to the Heresies most in vogue at that time and if they believe as the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Church believes The Inquisition into Manners is commanded to be made according to the Pattern set down by Paul in the third Chapter of the first Apostle to Timothy but that which St. Paul amongst other things advises That a Minister of the Church be the Husband of one Wife who rules his own House well and has obedient Children is left out That no Man be admitted to the Office of a Bishop unless he be a Priest or promise to take the rest of Orders with the first opportunity That Bishops take care of their own Flocks feeding them with sound Doctrine and the Sacraments That they now and then visit their Churches and be careful that the other Ministers do their Duty lest the Wolves break in among the Flock That the Monastick Life be again established in those places where it has been discontinued That nothing be taught in Schools but what agrees with Catholick Doctrine That the Latine Tongue be retained in the Administration of the Sacraments and Ceremonies lest they should fall into contempt if the People understood the Language That that which is commonly called the Canon of the Mass remain entire and be pronounced with a low Voice that the dignity of those dreadful Mysteries may be kept up That nothing be changed in the usual Ceremonies That Salt Water Hearbs the Paschal Lamb New Fruits also Churches Chalices Altars Copes Vestments and Vessels be Consecrated by Prayer against the Snares of the Devil and Charms That Wax Tapers also be lighted and Incense offered in Churches That Prayers also be made in Churches and Chapels dedicated to Saints That the Clergy live Temperately and Soberly and avoid Fornication That they put away their Concubines or be punished That the Civil Magistrate assist the Bishops in reforming Discipline and Manners and preserving entire the Liberties of the Church That Diocesan Synods be brought into use again and held twice a year and that in them the Manners and Vices of every one be enquired into That those who cannot otherwise be reformed be Excommunicated That all Men do avoid their Speech and Company And that they be not admitted again to Communion before they
Scriptures and Doctrine of the Fathers without prejudice or affection and that they themselves should be heard to the full Then other Decrees are read over as it is customary especially that concerning Religion and all are strictly charged to obey it as was before declared May the Fifteenth We named before the three Authors of the Book called the Interim One of them John Islebius had liberal Rewards both from the Emperour and King Ferdinand for his pains but Michael Sidonius got afterward the Bishoprick of Mensburg in Saxony this gave occasion to some to joke upon them and say that they only maintained amongst other things the Popish Chrisme and Oyl to be used as sacred and necessary to Salvation that they themselves might come off the better greased Not long after the Emperour sent his Letters to the Princes that were absent especially to those who seemed most to stand in need of it commanding them forthwith to obey that Decree And July the Tenth he wrote to Erasmus Bishop of Strasburg to use endeavours that that which with so much labour and pains he had brought about should be put into execution and that if he wanted fit Men he should provide himself somewhere else The Report of this Decree was soon spread abroad far and near And the Venetians July the Nineteenth publish a Proclamation charging all who had Books containing any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith to bring them in within eight days to some certain Men appointed for that afterwards inquisition would be made and such as deserved be punished promising Reward and Secresie to Informers The Pope hath a Legat or Nuncio always there as in the Courts of Princes also these see and hear with the Eyes and Ears of many and are often the Causes why Decrees of that nature are made But the Senate of Venice useth this Circumspection that they suffer not the Romish Bishops and Inquisitors to be sole Judges but always joyn with them the Governours of Places and Lawyers to Examine the Evidences and take care that no Sentence pass against any Man within their Jurisdiction out of malice or for love of gain They made this Law in the year 1521. when in the Country of Brescia the Inquisitors tyrannised cruelly over poor Wretches as if they had been Sorcerers and in Compact with the Devil And now when the Doctrine of Luther had taken deep rooting and was spread far and near that Law was in force still whatever the Papist muttered who would have it abrogated Much about this time the King of France sent Auxiliary Forces into Scotland against the English and amongst these some Germans under the Conduct of the Rhinegrave But the Emperour Proscribes Hubert Count Bichling and Sebastian Scherteline in one and the same Proclamation and not long after the Rhinegrave Count Heideck Pecrod and Pifeberg beseeching all Foreign Princes not to entertain nor protect them but to gratifie him in that particular and assuring them that they might expect the like from him when occasion offered The Duke of Vendosme a Prince of the Royal Blood of France Married the Lady Jane Daughter to the King of Navarre who seven years before had been betrothed and given to the Duke of Cleve as has been said Eleanor the Emperours Sister Queen Dowager of France leaves France and goes to live in the Netherlands The Duke of Aumale Son to the Duke of Guise after he had long courted the Duchess of Lorrain the Emperours Sisters Daughter Married the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Ferrara About that time Louis d' Avila a Spaniard wrote the History of the Emperours Wars in Germany in the vulgar Language which was afterwards Translated into Italian Latin and French where he speaketh of the taking of Marquess Albert he saith That he minded his pleasures so much with Women that he neglected his Duty and misbehaved himself at Nochlitz Though the Emperour had given most strict charge that no Man should in any manner impugne the Book that was published about Religion nevertheless several Pieces came abroad that confuted all the Doctrine contained in it and admonished Man to beware of it as a most dangerous Plague Amongst these was Caspar Eagle Minister of the Church of Salfield in Thuringe The occasion of Writing was given by Islebius who was upon his way home from Ausburg and bragg'd mightily of that Book saying That a Golden Age was now at hand and that Eagle had also assented to it When this came to his Ears he wrote a most bitter Answer giving him the Lye and affirming the Book to be stuffed with false Doctrines In France also Robert Bishop of Auranches wrote against it but upon a different account and rejected the same chiefly because it allowed Marriage to Priests and the Sacrament in both Kinds to the Laity where taking occasion by the way he bitterly inveighs against Bucer for Marrying a second Wife Romey also General of the Order of St. Dominick wrote against it for the same Reasons at Rome So that the little Book was found fault with by both sides The Emperour had sent an Ambassadour to the City and State of Norimberg to persuade them to submit to the Decree that was made On his way thither he solicited the Sons of the Duke of Saxony to the same purpose but they all resolutely refused Upon his return he gave the Emperour a full account of his Negotiation Wherefore the Emperour makes his application again to the Captive Prince complaining of his Sons that not only they rejected the Decree lately made but also suffered the Ministers to rail against it in their Pulpits and Writings wherefore he desires him to use his Authority with them that they would give him satisfaction as to both these Points To this he makes Answer That he had lately satisfied Granvell and the Bishop of Arras why he himself did not approve the Doctrine of the published Book which being so he would not persuade his Sons to do that which he could not with a good Conscience do himself that he earnestly besought him to take it in good part and to favour both him and his Sons with his protection This constancy of his and singular fortitude of Mind in bearing Adverse Fortune purchased him the Love and Esteem of all Men. As the States of Bremen and Magdenberg were the only People in Saxony who were not reconciled to the Emperour so were also those of Constance that border upon the Switzers the only in Upper Germany but at length having obtained a safe Conduct they send Deputies to Ausburg to Negotiate a Peace The Emperour proposed very hard Conditions to them and amongst these that they should receive the Publick Book and conform their Religion unto it The Deputies desire some mitigation of the Conditions but that was in vain and they are commanded to bring their Answer by a day prefixt The Senate being made
fair promises of his Zeal and good inclinations towards Religion and the welfare of the Publick That so soon as this came to his knowledge he had thought that so fair an occasion of acting ought not to be slighted especially since the safety and preservation of Germany depended on it That therefore a course was to be taken that those things which had been decreed in the last Dyet and begun should be perfected and accomplish'd And then that care should be taken both that the causes of Division be removed and some obstinate and rebellious persons quelled That for these causes he purposed to hold a Dyet of the Empire and therefore charged and commanded all whom it concerned not to fail to meet at Ausburg the twenty fifth day of June and that nothing should hinder them from coming but sickness and of that also they should make Faith upon Oath And that they send their Deputies and Representatives with full Power and Instructions to treat of all things relating to the Publick that no delay nor hinderance may obstruct the Deliberations THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXII The CONTENTS A Peace is concluded between England and France The Magdeburgers refute the Crimes objected to them and prove them to be the Calumnies of their Adversaries The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans is published which astonished many Whil'st the Dyet is held at Ausburg for continuing the Council of Trent Granvell dies The Emperour takes Tripoly a Town in Africa George Duke of Meckleburg puts all to Fire and Sword in the Country of Magdeburg Duke Maurice and some others also takes up Arms against the Magdeburgers Pope Julius Emits a Bull for calling of the Council Duke Maurice commanding in chief against the Magdeburgers offers them Conditions of Peace The Clergy also publish an odious Paper against them to which they make a large Answer and refute the Crimes objected Osiander broacheth a new Doctrine concerning Mans Justification The Emperour makes a Decree at Ausburg for safe Conduct to be given to those that would repair to the Council Bucer dies Three Suns and as many Moons are seen in Saxony The Pope by a Bull heavily accuses Octavio Farnese and the Emperour publishes also an Edict against him In the mean time the King of France justifies him to the Pope The captive Duke of Saxony helps and comforts the Ministers proscribed by the Emperour The Council of Trent revived and an account given of the form and order of the publick Sessions The manner of framing Articles of Faith is set down The King of France publishes an Edict against the Pope A Relation of the beginning of the War of Parma ABOUT this time the Ambassadours of England and France after long and tedious Debating concluded a Peace and they were the more inclinable to it because both of them perceived the Advantages that some were like in time to make of their Enmity and Dissension Therefore the English restore to the French Boloigne that had been now whole six years almost in their possession at which many wondered though the French paid Money for it and the Scots were also comprehended in this Peace The two Kings having afterward sent Ambassadours mutually to one another confirmed this Peace by new marks of Friendship for the French King was made Knight of the Garter and the King of England one of the Order of France which amongst great Princes is as it were a Badge and Cognizance of Amity The Magdenburghers being severely lashed by the Emperours many Edicts publish again March the Twenty fourth another Manifesto addressed chiefly to their Neighbours First they alleadge that neither by the Law of God nor Man could they be convicted of Rebellion then they declare that they who take up Arms against them make War against Christ himself In the third place they refute the Crimes objected to them and affirm them to be Calumnies of their Adversaries And though say they the Emperour at their instigation hath Outlawed us yet we may truely affirm that we never as yet refuted any Reasonable Conditions provided the Doctrine of the Augustane Confession and the Liberty left us by our Ancestors were allowed us we are still of the same mind nor do we decline the performance of any kind of Duty that either the Emperour or Empire can justly challenge of us and we call God to witness that we have not given any cause of War or Commotions but are above all things desirous to entertain peace with all Men and by the help of the true Religion and Worship to attain Life Everlasting which is indeed the cause of all this hatred that is raised against us Now it is established by Law that as the Inferior Magistrate is not to impeach the right of the Superior so also that if the Magistrate transgress the bounds of Authority and command any thing that is wicked he is not only not to be obeyed but if he use force to be resisted also For that all Power is of God we think no Man will deny and if any Edict or Decree be made against him it is not to be doubted but that they may be rejected and disobeyed Now the Decree made at Ausburg concerning Religion is of that nature and therefore we cannot obey those who forcing it upon us depriveus of the Light of the Gospel and offer us the Idol of Popery that they may draw us into Eternal Damnation Which being so we cannot justly be accused of any Rebellion Besides it is obvious to any Man how unlawful it is to use violence against us since it is not we that are only struck at but that the great design is utterly to destroy the Professors of the true Doctrine and through our side to wound Christ himself and all the Godly for we are all the Members of Christ and therefore what else can they expect who defile themselves by so impious a Crime but the Vengeance of God Almighty In a former Declaration we took notice of some Castles and Villages sezed by us and it is needless here to repeat what was there said for so soon as we have assurance of peace we shall restore them to the Right Owners It is also reported by our Adversaries that unlawful and Promiscuous Lust is tolerated amongst us but it is a most Impudent Lye. We therefore beg of you by all that is sacred that you would not pollute your selves with Innocent Bloud but pray to God with us that he would confound the Bloudy Counsels of the Wicked and if any War happen to break forth that you will not deny your assistance Afterward in the Month of April the Ministers of the Church publish a Paper wherein they exhibit a Confession of their Faith and prove that it is lawful for an Inferior Magistrate to resist a Superior that would constrain their Subjects to forsake the Truth And here they address themselves to the Emperour beseeching him that he would not
enough penn'd sharpened them and skrewed them up to the highest pitch of Rigour inviting and encouraging Informers by ample promises of Rewards Which the King as it was thought did with this design that he might curb those who were desirous of a change of Religion in France that they should not take to themselves the greater liberty because of his clasing with the Pope at this time Again that they who honoured the Church of Rome might entertain no suspicion of him as if his mind hankered after a new Religion And lastly that both the Pope and College of Cardinals might perceive that they might have access still to his Friendship when they pleased Afterward a Declaration came forth out of the Emperour's Court wherein the original of the War of Parma is related and how just a cause of Offence the Pope had against Octavio and the Prince of Mirandula of how restless a mind the French King was who laid hold on all occasions and made it his whole study and endeavour to hinder and disappoint the Emperour's most honest and lawful Designs But that the Emperour was so little moved at all these things that he would proceed with greater Courage and Resolution Octavio had given it out that he was necessitated to put himself under the protection of the French King because of the Injuries and Treacheries of Ferdinando Gonzaga but in this Declaration that is refuted For that if there were any cause of fear he himself gave the occasion who had oftener than once laid wait for the life of Gonzaga Then there is an account given how Piacenza fell into the Emperour's hands for that Petro Aloisio the Pope's Bastard Son being invested into Parma and Piacenza governed the Poeple tyrannically and like another Nero practised his detestable Lust not only upon Women but Men also as his custom was that therefore he was slain and murdered in his own House by the Citizens who could no longer suffer so great Cruelties That the Towns-people then perceiving the present danger they were in if they should fall again under the Jurisdiction of the Pope and Church of Rome had no other way of security left than to resign themselves over to the Emperour especially since of old they had been free Denizons of the Empire That therefore they had applied themselves to Gonzaga praying him to receive them into the Emperour's protection for that otherwise they must look for help and patronage somewhere else That it was an idle thing in him then to pretend fear seeing the Emperour had bestowed many favours upon the Family of Farnese that he had chosen Octavio to be his Son-in-law given his Father Peter Aloisio the City of Novara in Fee and Inheritance and honoured him with the Title of Marquess But that they had been very ungrateful at all times but particularly when under a counterfeit mask of Friendship they assisted him in subduing some Rebels of Germany their whole design was at the same time to have taken from him Milan and Genoua for that Joannin D'Oria a brave and valiant Man was basely killed in that Scuffle and Tumult whilst he discharged his duty to the Emperour and stood up for the safety of his Country There came out an answer to this afterward in name of the French King wherein a relation is given how that the Emperour to endear Paul III. to himself had given to his Son Petro Aloisio the Title and Quality of Marquess how that he had taken his Son Octavio to be his own Son-in-law how that he had gratifyed and obliged his other Son Alexander with many Ecclesiastical Preferments and in short how that he had made a League with the Pope wherein it was provided as it is said that the Emperour should confirm the Decree of the College of Cardinals concerning the Principality of Parma and Piacenza to the Family of the Farneses But that when the Emperour was at War in Germany and pretended it was not for Religion but to punish the Rebellion of some that he had taken up Arms it was a very unacceptable Contrivance to the Pope as wel perceiving that by so doing he minded only his own private Concerns and aimed at Dominion And that he had not been out in his Judgment neither for that when the War being over the Emperour stood not much in need of the assistance of the Farneses he had given no dark intimations of his ill will to the Pope for that then his Governours in Italy had had an eye and mind to Piacenza and that not long after Ruffians being subborned to murder Petro Aloisio in his Chamber before that the Citizens heard of the Murder Soldiers had been brought into the Town who seized the Castle in the Emperour's Name That if the Emperour had not been privy to the Fact it had been but reasonable that after the death of Paul the Third he should have restored it to the Church but that he not only restored it not but had also endeavoured to take Parma from his Son-in-law and had even in the life-time of Paul laid his measures for effecting it insomuch that the Trouble and Vexation which the Pope thereupon conceived shortened his days That afterwards Assassines had been apprehended at Parma who voluntarily confessed That they had been employed by Ferdinando Gonzaga to kill Octavio that being reduced then into such streights that they from whom he expected help and his own Father-in-law too had designs upon him to rob him both of Life and Fortune he had implored help and protection from him which upon his humble Supplication he could not refuse THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXIII The CONTENTS The Fathers of Trent meet in Session aâ—d draw up the form of a safe Conduct for coming to the Council The French King consents not nay he persuades the Switzers to send none to it Peace is fully concluded with the Magdeburgers The Conditions of the Peace are set down Some Cities of Germany send Deputies to the Council The Ambassadors of the Duke of Wirtemberg are deluded Duke Maurice having sent Ambassadors to the Emperour about the Landgrave and obtaining nothing but shifts and delays he presently resolves upon a War. The Bishop of Waradine lately made Cardinal by whose help King Ferdinand had made himself Master of all Transilvania almost is slain in his own House The Emperour in his Letters which he sendeth to appease the Electoral Archbishops tells them That he expects nothing but what is fair and honest from Duke Maurice who the better to cloak and conceal his designs sends his Deputies also to the Council with whom others joyn and demands a safe Conduct for his Divines to come but especially that they who are of a contrary persuasion should not sit as Judges in the Council They depart without success when it began to be spread abroad that their Master Duke Maurice was a preparing for War. The Tridentine Fathers disagree among themselves Shortly after news
in the Council then he ordered the Divines to follow who being advanced on their way as far as Norimberg there stayed for Letters from the Ambassadors we mentioned as hath been fully related in the preceding Book He sent before other Ambassadors also to the Emperor Christopher Carlebitz and Ulrick Mordeysen who were to stay for his coming upon the Frontiers of Bavaria being to use them in his Treaty and Negotiation Besides he ordered Lodgings to be taken for him at Inspruck and he himself set out and advanced some days Journey in the way but then stopt shoâ—â— and making an excused by very kind 〈◊〉 which upon the roaâ— he wrote to Inspâ—â—â—â— returned home Thus from 〈…〉 time till in the very beginning of the Spring having timely recalled his Ministers he began to muster the Soldiers whom with great Secrecy he had raised in the Winter time and published his Declaration to all the States of the Empire to this purpose That there was nothing in this World so dear unto him as Peace and Concord but that the chief thing he wished for was agreement in Religion according to the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that their Adversaries had indeed put them in hopes of that both privately and by publick decrees that however nothing had been performed and that they did not only interpret these Promises and Decrees in another sense now but wholly rescinded and abrogated them that they had not spared neither to tell some that unless they were obeyed no Man needed much to trust or rely upon former Promises for that when they were made the state of the times and affairs was different but that now all must obey or expect to suffer if they refuse That not satisfied with these Expressions which yet shewed a hostile Mind they had stirred up also foreign Kings against himself and other Princes of his Rank and Profession and invented many causes of hatred against them sometimes their Religion and sometimes other Crimes whereas the thing it self made it plain that Religion was least in their thoughts but that it hath been always their aim to make the difference in Religion a step to raise them to Dominion and Rule for that it was now obvious to all Men what arts and tricks they had used to overturn and destroy the true Religion which in former years was set forth and professed at Ausburg that in order thereunto they had banished the Preachers of the Gospel out of the Empire and without staying for the decree not to say of a lawful but even of a Popish Council had begun where they should have ended with Execution that therefore he was not to be blamed if by Wars he rescued himself and People from that slavery of Mind and Conscience But that seeing the Glory of God was concerned in that who alone was able to promote and defend his word he referred all to his divine Majesty heartily beseeching him that he would give him grace constantly to persevere in the true knowledge of him to his lifes end That there was another thing he intended to speak of and that related to the Landgrave his Father-in-Law that five years since he and Joachim Elector of Brandenburg had been in the Emperors name put in hopes that if the Landgrave could be perswaded to come and humbly beg the Emperor's Pardon the Emperor would demand no more of him than what was contained in the Articles of Peace accorded to but would graciously dismiss him that therefore they had prevailed with him by Letters to comply having bound themselves to the Sons Body for Body for the Father that they should submit to the same fortune that he underwent that so he had come with full assurance to Hall and made his humble submission to the Emperor then supped with the Duke of Alva and spent a good part of the Night pretty chearfully but that when he was about to return to his Inn he had been contrary to all expectation detained and committed to Custody wherein he had now for almost five whole Years languished in great Misery and that though his Sons the Nobility and People had ratified and approved the transaction though he himself the Elector of Brandenburg and Wolffgang Prince Palatine had engaged as sureties for him that unless he did perform his Conditions they would deliver him up into his Hands and that though according to the treaty of Pacification his Fine was payed the Artillery with all the Ammunition delivered the Castles and Forts demolished Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son set at liberty and the Copy of the League and Confederacy exhibited so that no more indeed remained to be performed nevertheless neither the Prayers nor intercession of himself of the Elector of Brandenburg of his own Wife who died for grief of the People nor of other Princes could hitherto any way prevail That he had often made his application to the Emperor and because many entertained a sinistrous opinion of him had earnestly begg'd of his Majesty that he would have regard to his Honour and Reputation that he would be pleased to have respect to the good Offices that their Predecessors had rendered to his Ancestors and to what they themselves had deserved at his own and Brother King Ferdinands hands and in consideration thereof set him at liberty but that none of these Arguments could prevail with him nay that on the contrary he had compelled him being a Prisoner to answer Law-suits and against all Law and Justice especially in such difficult matters to plead his Cause under constraint not to mention how suspiciously and with how great precipitation the matter was managed a thing not before known or heard of in Germany that under that pretext of Law forsooth he might by degrees turn him and his Children out of all and reduce them to such streights that they might not be able to maintain their rank and quality for the future That it highly concerned him not to suffer this both for the near relation he had to the House of Hesse and the right he had to its Succession That this might seem strange indeed were it not now obvious to all Men that these kind of Arts tended mainly to the establishing of that Monarchy which for so many years had been a rearing That the third and chief thing he had to say concerned all Germans and their common and native Country Germany whose condition was certainly most sad and deplorable for that contrary to Laws and Treaties foreign Soldiers had been brought into the bowels of the Empire where they now after many years continuance began to take rooting devouring other Mens Goods and Estates both in City and Country and practising all kinds of filthy Lust that besides new ways of raising Money were invented and the ancient Liberty many ways imposed upon wherein no rank nor state no not the Electors themselves were spared That the Ambassadors of foreign Kings who grieve at these things and who tender the wellfare
parts of one and the same Empire under one Prince and governed by the same Laws but that when in the vicissitude of time the Empire devolved upon the Germans the Dukes of Saxony and other Emperors as deriving their Original from the Kings of the Francs entertained constant Friendship with the French insomuch that Philip the August King of France caused that ancient League which was almost worn out by time to be written of new in Golden Characters and to be laid up in a more Sacred place and not without just Cause neither for that so long as this Union lasted both People lived in a most flourishing State That the force of Germany was then so great that they gave Laws not only to the Hungarians Bohemians Polanders and Danes but to the Italians also and the Kings of France again who fought for the maintenance of Religion obtained many glorious Victories in Europe Asia and Africa over the Saracens and Turks the declared Enemies of Christendom But that the times proved more unlucky afterwards when some Emperors as being ingrafted upon the Stock but no natural Germans nor worthy of that Dignity forsook the amity of the Kings of France and brought great Calamities upon the Empire but that through God's Blessing this Wound was Healed by the Illustrious Family of Luxembourg which hath produced some Emperors Princes of great Merit and most intimate Friends of the Kings of France For the Father of Charles IV died fighting for the King of France that the Princes of the House of Austria have entertained the same Amity and Kindness and particularly Albert the first whom neither the Promises nor Threats of the Popes could move to make War against France that he mentioned these things with this Intent that they might be convinced how little some of the Counsellors and Courtiers of the most mighty Emperor Charles V. tendered the wellfare of the Empire whilst they make it their Business not only to divide and rend asunder those two most renowned Nations but also did by their Arts and Cunning so far prevail formerly that King Francis a most excellent Prince was by their Procurement judged an Enemy and no reason given why That they did those things for their own private Gain and Advantage indeed but to the great Prejudice of the Publick That this alone was enough to shew how difficult it would be for them so long as Friendship continued betwixt both Nations to infringe the Liberty of Germany and to erect their own Monarchy that the fear of the French Arms made them now proceed more remissly and not so much urge their Spanish Yoke of Bondage as formerly that these were the Men who by Prayers and Tribute obtained Peace from the Turk that they might under the Colour of Religion and Loyalty raise Feuds and Animosities in Germany that being aided by the Forces of Germany they might make War against Germany that they might squeeze Money from all and reduce the Empire to a sad and miserable Condition placing here and there Spanish Garrisons exhausting the Magazines and making way for Arbitrary Rule For that matters were now brought to this Pass that the great Seal of the Empire the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and the right and liberty of Diets all depended on the Will and Pleasure of one Man the Bishop of Arrus For what instance could be shewn or reason given that free-born Germans who for a livelihood served Strangers in their Wars should be Punished Proscribed and have Princes set upon their Heads Not to mention so many Murthers lascivious Practices Devastations plunderings of Towns but especially the varying and altering of Religion according to occasion and the turn of Times That there was no doubt to be made but that whatever had been done of this nature for many Years past tended only to this that the Laws of the Empire being Confounded King Ferdinand either forced or wheedled by Promises and the Princes of the Empire over-awed the Prince of Spain might be designed Emperor Were not Death more eligible to brave Men than to live and see the Sun with so great Misery That no Man certainly could be imagined so Barbarous as not to be moved at these things That it ought not to be thought strange then that some Princes should at length arise and amongst others Duke Maurice Elector of Saxony who thought the danger of their Lives too little for recovering the liberty of their common Country But that finding themselves inferiour in Strength they had implored the Aid and Assistance of the King of France and that he setting aside all the Provocations received in former Years had not only imparted to them his Treasure but also employed himself wholly in the Affair having made a League with them wherein amongst other things it was provided that no Peace should be made with the Emperor without the Advice and Consent of the King Moreover that Duke Maurice though he lay under that Obligation yet that he might serve his Country and comply with the Desires of King Ferdinand had lately demanded of the most Christian King that he would let him know upon what terms he would be willing to make Peace That the Proposal had been made somewhat contrary to his Expectation indeed for considering what a great Favour he had done he thought that in matters concerning himself he ought to have Treated Personally and not at so great distance But that nevertheless since he preferred the publick far before his own private Interests he was not willing to deny any thing to a Confederate Prince That therefore if the Wounds of the State might be Healed as they ought to be and such Care taken that they might not for the future Fester again if the Captive Princes might be set at Liberty upon the Conditions prescribed by the League if the ancient Alliance betwixt France and the Empire and the League made lately with the Princes might be confirmed so as it should be perpetual if all these things might be procured the King was so well affected towards the Publick that he not only assented to the Treaty of Peace but would render hearty Thanks to God that by Counsel and Assistance he had contributed thereunto That as to private affairs since the Emperor detained many things by force and upon no just Cause had made War the King thought it reasonable that he who had first done the wrong should first also make the Satisfaction That for his part though he did not distrust his Strength yet he would so behave in all things that it should appear he was not only desirous of Peace but willing also to gratify Duke Maurice and them all To these things the Princes make answer that the Commemoration of the ancient Alliance betwixt Germany and France brought from the Records of former times had been very pleasant unto them nor was it less acceptable to understand that the King preferred the Publick before his own private Advantages and that he was willing
a Vindication of himself wherein he denied the matter charged upon him and thereupon the Author of this Calumny being discovered he was deservedly executed And I hope this here will have the same event and that God who is the just Avenger of such ill Practices will discover the Authors of this pernitious Invention In the mean time I offer up my Prayers to God That he would give them a better mind and disappoint their wicked Counsels that they may not prevail to the Destruction of our Country For seeing this slander is of the same nature with the former it may easily be concluded the Authors of this had the same Design with the former or rather that it was made by it that what was discover'd and prevented then may now have its effect Now the main design of this Calumniator is to create a belief that the Pope and the Emperour have resolved to rescind the Decree made for the Peace of Religion by a War and that the King of England and the Bishops of Germany are to lend their assistances to it Now I say this feigned and false Invention is designed for the exasperating the minds of Men that their Prejudices and Disaffections being increased a Civil War may be stirr'd up amongst us to overwhelm our Country with the Blood of its Inhabitants And although I do not doubt but the Emperour and the othe Princes who are injur'd by this Seditious and Infamous Libel will take care to defend themselves and to right their own Cause yet at the same time I believe it is a part of my own Duty to clear the Reputation of our Supreme Magistrate And I protest whil'st I was at Rome in my presence or to my knowledge there was not one word spoken concerning the Peace of Religion and therefore it is very falsly laid to the Pope's charge that his main design is to persuade the Emperour and other Kings to destroy that Decree by Force and Arms I say this is false and can never be proved and by consequence what is charged upon the Emperour is false too for seeing there has been no Treaty between them how can a War be agreed and the recovering the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Conquest of Germany be resolv'd on This Slander pretends That the Truce is made between the Emperour and the King of France to the intent that the Souldiers which are disbanded on both sides may be employ'd in in this War Now the causes of that Truce are sufficiently set forth in the printed Copies of the Treaty and the Souldiers which were thereupon disbanded are not entertain'd by any Prince except what Forces King Ferdinand has order'd to be levy'd and sent into Hungary against the Turk and some few which have been taken into Pay by the Bishops of Ausburg Norimburg Bamberg and Wurtsburg that they may not be taken altogether unprovided So that all this Invention as it relates to the Pope the Emperour and the Bishops is false in all its parts Now as to what concerns my self I have hitherto followed the Ancient True and Catholick Religion as becomes a German pursuing the footsteps of my Ancestors and continuing in the Communion of that Church in which I had my Education as I have already declared by a Letter I sent to the last Diet and by my Deputies which I sent thither and I intend by the blessing of God to continue in this Opinion nor will I do any thing which is contrary to Honesty and my Duty and yet after all I desire to live peaceably with all men And whereas I am said to have entred into a secret Treaty with the Pope the Emperour the King of England some Princes of the Empire and some private persons to stir up a War this is most false and that also which concerns the Elector Palotine and the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Marquess of Brandenburg is most false and can never be proved and those who spread such Reports of me by Word or Writing are Slanderers and the Enemies of our Country That which relates to the Elector Palatine stands thus The Office and Dignity I enjoy requires me to endeavour the preservation of the Rights of my Bishoprick and that I should preserve the People committed to my Charge in the Ancient and Catholick Religion being therefore inform'd that Otto Henry Elector Palatine endeavorued to gain over to his Religion some Towns that were in my Diocess and that he had placed Preachers in them I could not but take this ill and I had just cause given me to defend my self against him by a Suit at Law and thereupon I being absent my Councel by my Order commenced a Suit against him in the Chamber of Spire where it is still depending nor have I in any thing else so much as in Word hurt or injur'd his Honour so far have I been from designing any thing against his Countries and if it had lain in my power to have served him his Countries or People I would not have omitted it and for this I believe his People would be my Witnesses because they know I have kept my Faith to them and have assisted them sometimes when they were in great distresses To which I may add That I have ever had particular affection for the Palatine Family and I have ever been ready to do it all the good I could nor is that Disposition at all changed in me and I have the same kindness for Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who is a Good Wise Politick Prince and a great lover of Peace upon the account of these rare qualities I have had a great propension for him ever since I first knew him and have study'd to make this appear in my actions But then as to the driving Him or the Elector Palatine out of their Countries it never entred into my thoughts and if I had known of any Design which had tended to the damage of their Reputations or Estates I should certainly have been very much grieved and have done what was in my power to prevent it I have hitherto so behav'd my self at all times that I believe no man can find any thing in my actions which is contrary to my Profession and for the future I will ever carry my self so that I will raise a greater belief than I now have in the minds of men out of an hope that as I have given no just cause of offence to them so they at last will be prevail'd upon to remunerate me with an equal degree of kindness And as to the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg he himself knows how greatly I am concern'd for his misfortunes for what is it which I have not done and tried in order to restore the Peace of the Empire and to put a stop to that Quarrel In truth I took so much pains and care in that Affair that tho' I aim'd at the Publick Good by it yet at last I was suspected by some as one that favoured his Interest
troubled Israel Then Anna du Bourg beginning with a Discourse of the Eternal Providence of God to which all things are subject when he came to the Question proposed said There were many Sins and Crimes committed by Men which the Laws had already forbidden and yet the Gallows and Tortures which were imployed had not been able to prevent the frequent Perjuries Adulteries profuse Lusts and Profane Oaths which were not only connived at but cherished On the contrary every Day new punishments are invented against a sort of Men who could never yet be convicted of any wicked Attempt for how can they injure the Prince who never name him but in their Prayers for him Are they accused of breaking our Laws perverting the Allegiance of our Cities or Provinces No the greatest Tortures could never extort a Confession that they so much as thought of any such thing Are they not accused of Sedition only because they have by the Candle of Scripture discovered the shameful and encreasing Villanies and corruptions of the Roman Power which they desire may be reformed Christopher Harlay and Peter Seguier the two Presidents said with great Modesty that the Court had hitherto justly and rightly discharged its Duty in this Particular and that it would still do the same without changing to the Glory of God and therefore neither the King nor People of France would have cause to repent the trusting to it Christopher de Thou with great freedom reflected on the King's Attorney and Advocates for presuming to defame the Proceedings of that Court and indangering its Authority Renatus Baillet desired the Judgments which were blamed might be re-examined and more maturely considered Minart having made a short Preface to soften the Envy which had been raised against them only added That he thought the King's Edicts were to be observed After these Maistre the President made a sharp Harangue against the Sectaries instancing in the Severities which Philip the August is said to have employed against the Albingenses 600 of which he burnt in one day and in the Waldenses which were massacred with Fire and Smoak partly in their Houses and partly in the Dens and Caves they had fled to The King having obliquely reproached the Court for entring upon this Debate without his Order added He now clearly saw what he had heard before That there were some among them who despised both his Authority and the Popes That this was the fault of but a few but it was dishonourable to the whole body of them but only they that were guilty should suffer the Punishment And therefore he exhorted the rest to go on in their Duty The Reflections of la Faur and du Bourg who mentioned the Story of Ahab and the frequent Adulteries exaseperated the King more than the rest and therefore he commanded Montmorancy to apprehend them who again ordered Gabriel de Montgomery a Captain of the Guard to take them and carry them to the Bastile Afterwards Paul de Foix Anthony Fumee Eustace de la Porte were also taken into Custody but la Ferriere du Val and Viole were concealed by their Friends and escaped this Storm Men censured these Proceedings as they stood affected but the Wiser were much disgusted That the King should be so far imposed on by others as to come personally into his Court to subvert those Laws he ought to have protected That he should make use of Threats and Imprisonments saying That this was a clear Instance that he was subject to the Passions of others and who could think but these things were the foreunners of great Changes The Ministers of the Reformed Religion notwithstanding held a Synod at S. German June 28 one Morelle being President in which they setled the order of their Synods the Authority of the Presidents the taking away the Supremacy in the Church the election of Ministers and their Office and Duty Deacons and Presbyters Censures the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity of contracting and dissolving Marriages which yet were only temporary Decrees to be varied as future Synods should think fit but to oblige particular Persons till so altered About the same time came Embassadours from the Protestant Princes of Germany with Letters to the King subscribed by Frederick Cout Palatine of the Rhine Augustus Duke of Saxony Joachim Elector of Brandenburg Christopher Duke of Wirtimberg and Wolfang Count of Weldentz In which they represent to the King How much they were afflicted to see so many Pious Quiet and Holy Men who professed the same Religion Imprisoned Spoiled Banished and put to Death as Seditious Persons in France That they thought themselves bound by Christian Charity and the Alliance which was between them and France to beseech him well to consider this Affair which concerned the Name of God and the Salvation of so many Souls that he ought to free himself from Prejudice and imploy great Judgment and Reason in it They assured him they were no less solicitous for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Subjects than he and upon the Differences of Religion had maturely considered how they might be composed That they had found by degrees and insensibly through Avarice and Ambition many Corruptions had crept into the Church which were dishonourable to the Majesty of God and Scandalous to Men and that they ought to be reformed by the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures the Decrees of the Primitive Church and the Writings of the most Ancient Fathers That the Corruptions and Disorders of the Court and Church of Rome had long since been complained of in France by W. Parisiensis John Gerson Nicholas Clemangius and Wisellius of Groeningen the Restorer of the University of Paris under Lewis XI and other Divines That King Francis his Father of Blessed Memory was convinced of this and had wisely endeavoured to put an end to the Differences of Religion and to reform the Discipline of the Church That now France was not involved in War abroad they besought him the Difference of Religion might by his Authority and Conduct be quietly ended That this might easily be effected if the King would but appoint Learned and Peaceable Men who should examin their Confession of Faith without Partiality or Prejudice by the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Fathers That in the interim he should suspend all Legal Severities discharge the Imprisoned recal the Banished restore their Estates to those that had been ruin'd This they said would be acceptable and pleasing to God Honourable to the King Profitable to France and very Grateful to them The King entertained the Embassadors kindly and having read the Letter said he would suddenly send them a satisfactory Answer but by that time they were arrived at the Borders of France the Fire their coming seem'd to have abated raged more horribly than ever June 19. a Commission was issued to Jean de Saint Andre the President and Promoter of these Troubles Jo. James de Memme Master of the Requests Lewis Gayaut
knew nothing of Navar but heard that Conde should have been their Captain Whence the Duke of Guise concluded That Coligni and Andelot were cetainly in it though Queen Catherine was of a contrary Opinion but however Conde who was then in the Castle with the King was commanded not to depart without leave which he wisely dissembled Some few were Tried for this Conspiracy but many more were Hang'd up by Night and many Merchants were Slain as they travelled about their business for their Mony but under Pretence they were in the Conspiracy so that there was nothing but Slaughter and Murthers to be seen About the same time Oliver the Chancellor of France died not so much of Old-age or Sickness as Discontent at the Cruelcy and Iniquity of the Times his Death was foretold by some of the Conspirators who reproached him for his unworthy Complyances And when the Cardinal of Lorain visited him in his last Sickness he express'd his Resentments against him and died weeping and sighin for what he had done Michel de l' Hospital a great and a good Man succeeded him by the procurement of Queen Catherine Though this Conspiracy was principally design'd against the Guises yet they desired the World should believe these Men had first made a Defection from God by Heresie and then had conspird against the King Queen Catherine and the King's Brothers The Thirty first of March the King wrote to all the Governors of the several Provinces to take great care that the Reliques of this Conspiracy did not imbroil their Provinces after which there was the like Account sent to the Elector Palatine and the rest of the Protestant Princes of Germany The Princes of Germany thereupon among other things desired the King to consider whether he had not yielded more than was fit to some about him meaning the Guises who out of an inbred Malice and Cruelty exercised great Cruelties on Men that were never convicted of any Crime There they beseech his Majesty that he would put a stop to the Sufferings of these Innocents and seeing they imbrace the same Religion with us we cannot but desire an end may be put to those cruel and hasty Executions This Germany has found say they to be the only Remedy and France has no other left to restore its Peace than by granting a Peace to the Minds and Consciences of Men. Coligni the Admiral leaving the Court Queen Catherine ordered him to go into Normandy and to enquire diligently into the Causes of the late Conspiracy He laid the blame of it on the boundless Ambition of the Guises and advised the Queen to observe inviolably the late Edict for Liberty of Conscience and to put a stop to the Persecution of the Innocent as she valued the safety of the King and the quiet of the Kingdom Some of the Captives who had escaped out of the Prisons at Blois wrote Letters to the Cardinal of Lorain telling him they knew the Escape of the Conspirators was very afflictive to his Eminence That therefore they were gone to seek them and hoped in a short time to return better attended This rallery was a great Mortification to that fearful Minister who feared new Commotions and persuaded the King to put out a General Pardon for all Roman Catholicks In May the King put out another Edict which was call'd the Edict of Romoraulin by which he took the Cognizance of Heresie from the Civil Magistrates and gave it solely to the Bishops which about five years before had been so vigorously opposed by the Parliament of Paris De l' Hospital the Chancellor is said to have consented to it only to prevent the violent Guises from introducing the Spanish Inquisition which they had recommended to Henry II and were now promoting with all their might in France From henceforward the Cardinal of Lorain became more placable to those of the Religion and to stop the Mouths of those who desired an Assembly of the three Estates persuaded Queen Catherine to call an Assembly of the Princes at Fountain-bleau to consult of the Publick Affairs About this time Conde left the Court and by a Letter gave his Brother the King of Navar an Account of the Ill-will the Guises bore towards him and that a Debate had been held in the King's Cabinet-Council for the taking him into Custody That therefore he had been forced to betake himself to him into Bearne This Letter was soon after discovered to the Guises who had entertained Spies in the Family of Conde who presently wrote a Letter to Conde full of sugared Expressions of Kindness and Affection which Conde presently sent to his Brother who very much approved his Resolution but advised him to return to Court and clear his Innocence which Conde did not think safe Perrenot the Brother of Cardinal Granvell in an Audience he had of Queen Catherine told her there was no way to restore the Peace of France but by Banishing the Guises some time from Court and Recalling the Princes of the Blood and Montmorancy to their former Stations The Twenty first of August the Assembly of the Princes and Notable Men of France was Opened at Founain-bleau The Chancellor in his Speech among other things complained That the Hearts of the People of France were incensed against the King and his Principal Ministers but the Cause of it was not known and therefore it was so difficult to find out and apply a fitted Remedy For That the greatest part of the Men of this Kingdom being weary of what is present fearful of what is to come divided by different Religions and desirous of Change are willing to imbroil the Kingdom And therefore their principal Business was to find out the cause of this Disease and apply a fitting Remedy to this Sickly Body Coligni the Admiral who was present the next day presented a Petition to the King which had been given him whilst he was in Normandy by a vast number of his Subjects desiring that the Severity of the Laws against them might be mitigated till their Cause had been duly considered and determined That they might have Publick Places assigned them for the Exercise of their Religion lest their Private Meetings should be suspected by the Government And they invoked God to bear Witness That they had never entertained any disloyal Thought against his Majesty nor would do so But on the contrary they offered up to God most devout Prayers for the Preservation and Peace of his Kingdom The Bishop of Valence a Learned Grave and Experienced Person confirmed this Opinion shewing the great Corruptions in the Church had given Birth and promoted these Divisions in the Minds of Men which were rather exasperated than extirpated by harsh means and bloody Persecutions Then he shewed the great Use of General Councils for the composing the Differences in the Church And therefore he said He wondred how the Pope could quiet his Conscience one Hour whilst he saw so
was by the late King's Order and would explain the Mystery no further About twelve Days after he went to the Castle of Hane in Picardy and there attended the Orders of the new King. Francis the Second was buried with small State and less Expence to the great hatred of the Guises who in the mean time were very busie to revive the Differences between Queen Catharine and the King of Navarr who wisely prevented their Design by offering the first Place to the Queen and reserving the second to himself as President of the Kingdom This passed into a Decree the twenty first of December The Protestant Religion which had got such footing in France that it seemed not possible to root it out without the Ruine of that Kingdom began this Year to shew it self more openly in Flanders and the Netherlands the Nobility espousing it in great numbers together with the rest of the States Nor could Margaret their Governess under King Philip obtain the continuance of the Taxes for the maintenance of the Spanish Forces Nor would they of Zealand acquiesce tho the Pay was sent from other Places till these Troops were sent into Spain Nor would they grant any Supplies to be disposed of by the Governess but reserved that to themselves that the Soldiers in the Frontier Towns might be certainly and regularly paid This was vigorously opposed by the new Bishops instituted by Paul IV as tending to the remitting the Reins of the Ecclesiastical Government as well as the Civil Bartholomeo Caranza Archbishop of Toledo in Spain was also suspected to incline to the Protestant Religion and on that account was imprisoned by the Inquisition and his Revenues were brought into the King's Treasure By an Appeal to Rome he saved his Life but was never able to recover his See again but died many Years after at Rome in a Private State. Thuanus saith He knew him and that his Learning Integrity and the Holiness of his Conversation was such as made him worthy of that Dignity The great Progress of the Protestant Religion in all Places made all Good Men saith Thuanus desire that the General Council which had been intermitted might be reassumed and carried on but Pope Pius IV had the same Fears of it his Predecessors had lest his own Power should be abated And therefore though he judged this the only means to root out Heresies and very necessary yet he delayed it and unless he were compelled by Force or some present Danger it was apparent he would never admit it But having resolved on the other side right or wrong by Force or Fraud to accomplish his own Desires and hoping to reap great Advantages from the Ruine of the Caraffa's though he had been much assisted by them in the obtaining of the Papacy he applied himself to this with great Application and Industry and under the Mask of Friendship And having laid his Plot he committed Charles Caraffa the Cardinal and his Kinsman the Cardinal of Naples to the Castle of S. Angelo But Anthony Marquess de Monte Bello being then not at Rome though cited also escaped the Danger and fled for his Life Though daily Accounts came to Rome of the Tumults and Disorders of France the Pope took no notice of them Though the Duke of Florence who was great with him for he pretended to be descended of that Family did very much urge his Holiness to consider the State of Affairs in France and Scotland And told him It was Uncharitable to see so many thousands of Souls Lost and Impolitick to necessitate Princes by the despair of a General Council to betake themselves to National Synods This was much inforced by the Noise the Speech of the Chancellor of France had made in the late Assembly which was then very hot in Italy He had among other things assured the French Clergy That if the Pope would not hold a General there should very speedily be a National Council assembled in France and had exhorted all the Bishops to prepare themselves for it To this the Pope answered with great anxiety seeking Pretences of Delay and pretending he was going to Ancona and that by the way he would speak with the Duke of Florence who was a wise Prince and his Kinsman and regulate that Affair by his Advice Cosâ—â—us Duke of Florence perceiving that this Journey of the Pope to Ancona was a Sham and being invited by the Pope to Rome resolved to go thither to promote this and some other Private Business he had with the Pope Before this King Philip having heard of the National Council designed in France had sent Anthony de Toledo to advise the King and Council in this and lay before them the inevitable Danger of a Schism which would follow upon it On the other side Ferdinand the Emperour insisted That seeing the Council was begun on the account of the Germans it should be renewed in Germany and all that was already determined should be re-debated anew Others thought it reasonable That seeing the French were now equally concerned with the Germans the Council should be assembled in some City in the Confines of France and the Empire as at Constance or if the Germans would agree to it at Besanzon The Pope was rather inclined to have it at Trent or rather to bring it deeper into Italy and had some Thoughts of Vercelli a City in the Borders of France though he could not yet resolve certainly to hold it any where for he good Man was more desirous that Geneva which had much infected France and Germany should be reduced by a War than that the Controversies of Religion should be committed to the peaceable Determination of a Council And to that end he had persuaded the Duke of Savoy to make a War upon the Vaudois his Subjects Whilst the Pope was in this incertainty in October the Duke of Florence came to Rome and persuaded the Pope by his Arguments to resolve on the calling of a Council the next Year that he might provide a General Remedy for a General Disease He shewed him That there was no Danger such a Council would pass any severe Sentence on the Manners and Abuses of the Court of Rome And that it was fit he should desire the Discipline and Corrupt Manners of the Church of Rome should be reformed That he ought sincerely to promote it and cause select Divines to be assembled out of all Christian Kingdoms and to hear them favourably that so the Peace of Christendom might be restored which was now torn in Pieces by Diversity of Opinions About the same time the Death of Francis II the Advancement of the King of Navarr and the great Kindness Queen Catharine on his account shewed to the Protestants very much terrified the Pope and compelled him to entertain the Thoughts of a Council in good earnest which till then had been talked of with no great sincerity The Pope thereupon sent Lawrence Lenzi Bishop of Firmo
her And what can be more contrary to Natural Equity than to condemn unheard It is forbidden by the Canons and Decrees of Councils and there is a noble example of this in Ammianus Marcellinus where Pope Liberius being urged by Constantius to condemn Athanasius chose rather to be banished than to sentence him without hearing And in the Judgment against Sixtus the Third who was accused of Incest Valentinian the Emperor observed the same method and made him appear and answer in a Synod before Fifty Bishops For the same reason the Sentence of Nicholas the First against Lotharius the Son of St. Lewis for having two Wives was thought void and null Nor was this Sentence against the Queen of Navarr of better force because she was absent and unheard That the Popes have always shewn that respect to Crown'd heads as to admonish them by their Legates before they decreed ought against them So Alexander the Third sent two Cardinals to Henry the Second into England when he was accused of the Death of Thomas a Becket A. B. of Canterbury That he might purge himself before them of this crime So of late Clement the Seventh did the like in the case of Henry the Eighth to whom he sent Cardinal Campeius And if it were granted that the Judgment were rightly passed how could the Dominions of the Queen be exposed for a prey and given to the first Invader they belonging to the King as Lord of the Fee Therefore the King believes that the Pope is deceived by false reports and instigated by the craft of his Ministers who not regarding the publick peace have drawn him from his natural goodness to Counsels which are dishonourable to his Holiness and destructive to his Authority and to that of the See of Rome tending to the alienating of the hearts of his friends from him and the disturbing of the Peace of Christendom And his Majesty is the more perswaded of the truth of this because his Holiness so earnestly espoused the Interest of Anthony the Husband of this Queen in his life-time and endeavoured to perswade King Philip to restore to him the Kingdom of Navarr or at least to give him the Island of Sardinia as an Equivalent But then there is nothing more offends the King than the considering that whereas so many Kings Princes and Free States above Forty years since have defected from the See of Rome and committed the offence charged upon the Queen and so by the rule of Justice ought to be first punished as first offending yet the Pope has not proceeded in the same way or with equal severity against any of them so that from hence it is clear that an occasion is sought by her enemies to oppress and ruin her by surprize whilest she is a Widow her Children Orphans the King of France who ought to protect her being a Minor and disturbed by Civil Wars and for this reason the King is the more obliged to defend her from injury and himself from contempt seeing without acquainting him with it they have begun this Process against a Queen so nearly related to him That if this Accusation had been made on the account of Religion and for the Glory of God the Pope ought in the first place to have shewn his care of her soul and from the Word of God to have administred fitting Remedies and not to have proscribed her Kingdoms and Dominions and given them for a prey to the first Invader The Pope has a Supremacy given him That he may consult the Salvation of Souls and the repose of Christendom and not that he may deprive Princes of their Kingdoms and dispose of their possessions at his pleasure which the former Popes have never been able to do in Germany and other places without bringing great reproach and dishonour on the Church and disturbances upon the World. That therefore the King desired with the greatest humility that he could or ought that the Sentence against the Q. of Navarr should be revok'd and all the Pope's Ministers should be inhibited from proceeding in this cause by a publick Act and if this were not done the King should be forced against his will to make use of the same remedies his Ancestors had imployed in the like cases according to the Laws and Rights of his Kingdom But before all things he protested he should do this unwillingly and therefore they only should bear the blame who by their rashness had forced him to use the power God had given him in so just a cause and to implore the assistance of his friends against them There was at the same time distinct Memorials and larger Instructions sent to the French Ambassador for the Defence of the Bishops and D'Oysel who was an active Minister prevail'd upon the Pope to have the Proceedings against the Bishops stopt and the Sentence against the Queen of Navarr revok'd and abolished So that at this day it is not to be found amongst the Constitutions of Pope Pius the Fourth The 18th of May there having been no consideration had of the XXXIII Articles put into the Council the 4th of January the Queen wrote to Lanssac her Ambassador complaining very bitterly of the delays and shifts which had been made in this business and said that the hope good men had hitherto had of the success of this Council and the opinion of their sincerity who met in it would both vanish without any fruit and their dissimulation and connivance would more and more inflame the wrath of God against us who had now made it manifest unto all men that the affairs of the Church needed a Reformation and a severe correction and to that purpose had invited and brought together from all parts of the Earth so many men famous for their Piety and Learning to this Council and if after all this he shall see us still stubbornly resist his will he will be necessitated to punish those men who have hindred so good a work and so necessary to the peace of the Church That therefore the King had wrote to the Cardinal of Lorrain to assemble a Congregation of the French Clergy and after a mature deliberation had amongst themselves to demand earnestly of the Fathers of the Council that these things might be considered and determin'd as soon as was possible But the Cardinal was by this time won over to the Pope's side and was willing to sacrifice the safety of France and the King's Will to the Interest of the former In order to this he delayed the Execution of his Orders from day to day and at last that he might totally disappoint them asked leave of the King to go to Rome believing the Kings Ambassadors would do nothing in his absence And not long after Lanssac obtained leave to return into France The Cardinal of Lorrain went from Trent towards Rome the 18th of September and with him five of the French Bishops But the other French Ambassadors did nevertheless insist stoutly
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his father-in-Father-in-Law His League with the French King. Duke Maurice's Declaration to the States of the Empire The Declaration of Albert of Brandenburg against the Emperor The French King's Declaration against the Emperor Germany the Bulwark of Christendom The badge of Liberty The French King calls himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes The out-lawed Men who served the King of France Duke Maurice taketh the Field Albert of Brandenburg joyns Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son. Ausburg surrendred to the Princes The Cities are summoned to come to Ausburg The Prince of Salerno revolts from the Emperor The French King takes Toul Verdun and Metz. Lenencour Bishop of Metz. The French King takes an Oath of Allegiance of the Senate and People of Metz. The Princes go to Ulm and besiege it The German and French Hostages are set at Liberty Albert of Brandenburg wastes the Country about Ulm. Conditions of Peace propounded by Duke Maurice to King Ferdinand King Ferdinand's Demands Duke Maurice his Answer Otho Henry Prince Palatine recovers his own Province The Emperor raises Soldiers The Judges of the Imperial Chamber fly from Spire The French King's demands from the Strasburgers The answer of the Senate of Strasburg The Constable chides the Strasburgers They address themselves to the King. The King's Speech to the Deputies Strasburg provides a Garrison against the French. The demands of some Princes made to the French King. Duke Maurice's Letters to the French King. The French King's answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes The reasons of the French King 's leaving Germany The French King's Answer
' Arche and Caudebec Diepe Caen and Bayeux Man 's taken by them The Triumvirate desire no liberty should be granted to the Protestants The Triumvirate draw out of Paris The Prince of Conde maintain great Order in his Army at first A second Treaty between the Queen and Conde Boigency sack'd Bâ—ois Tours Anger 's taken by the Protestants Tours retaken by the Roman Catholicks Mans deserted by the Protestants Amiens Senlis Normandy The Roman Catholicks retake Poictiers and Bourges The Siege of Roan resolved on The Terms of the Protestants League with England The King of Navar shot at the Siege of Roan He dyes 〈◊〉 surrender'd to the King. And also Caen. Diep retaken by the Protestants The Protestants beaten in Guienne Andelot hardly obtains Succours in Germany The Prince of Conde takes the Field Pluviers taken by the Prince of Conde Corbeil besieged by the Prince of Conde The two Armies come in view of each other A Treaty with the Queen and the Terms proposed by the Prince of Conde The Prince marcheth towards Normandy to meet the English Succours * Ablium The King's Army overtake the Prince The Battel of Dreux Montmorancy taken Prisoner St. Andre by the advice of the Duke of 〈◊〉 turn the Fortune of the day and gains the Victory on the King 's â—â—de The Prince of Conde taken 〈…〉 slain 〈◊〉 Coligni The Duke of 〈◊〉 force 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Coligni would have â—ought the next day Coligni General of the Protestants 1563. The Pope fondly overjoyed with the Victory at Dreux The Prince of Conde carried to Blois The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise wounded by one Poltrot The Death and Character of the Duke of Guise The Queen earnestly desires a Peace The Treaty of Peace between the Prince of Conde and Montmorancy The Articles agreed on Coligni not pleased with the Peace The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent * Proponentibus Legatis The Prohibition of Books taken into consideration A debate whether Episcopacy and Residence are of Divine Right The French Ambassadors Arrival The Demands of the French Ambassadors in the Council The French Kings Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The Cardinal of Lorrain and the French Clergy arrive at Trent The Pope allarm'd at it as if so many Enemies had invaded him The Popes fears of the French Bishops never to be stopp'd Maximilian Son of Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans Polano in his History of the Council of Trent saith the Election was made the 24 th of November So that the first date seems to be the day of the opening of the Diet. The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Ambassador of Spain received in the Council The Fathers at Trent much dissatisfied with the Peace made in France The French Court shew their Reasons for it The Pope's Bull to the Inquisitors Several French Cardinals and Bishops cited to Rome And the Queen of Navarr also The French King declares against these Proceedings against the Queen of Navarr The Deposing of Princes and disposing of their Dominions the cause of great Calamities The Bishops defended by the King also The Queen complains of the Proceedings of the Council The Pope gained the Cardinal of Lorrain to his side Who went to Rome The Council has no Authority over Princes * Pag 721 The Ambassadors of France put a severer Protestation into the Council The Emperor opposeth the intended Proceedings of the Council against Queen Elizabeth The French Ambassadors leave Trent and go to Venice The last Session of the Council of Trent The censure of the Council The Emperor goes from Inspruck before the Council was ended His sense of the Council The Reasons why the Council had no better success The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy And the Cup to the Laity The French Affairs after the Peace till the end of the Council The Siege of Havre de Grace The Protestants fight against the English Havre de Grace surrendred to the French. A Plague in London Charles the Ninth declared out of His Minority by the Parliament of Roan The Scotch Affairs in 1562. And 1563. John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews committed for hearing Mass John Knox call'd before the Council for Sedition His bold Answer