Irksomness of their Condition But that they should always have in their Thoughts what St. Peter and St. Paul wrote of the Duty of Bondmen That however when they make War against Christians they should rather hazard their Lives than serve them for that they were Robbers made War against the Saints as Daniel saith and shed innocent Blood That therefore it should be their chief Care not to be partakers with them in so great a Crime and Wickedness Unto this Discourse he subjoins a Form of Prayer against the Fury of the Turks and towards the end enlarging upon the Vices of the Times which reigned amongst all Ranks and Degrees of Men he concluded that Germany which was so wholly corrupted and defiled could not continue long in Safety Now this is the Form of Prayer which he prescribes O Eternal Father we have indeed deserved to be punished but do thou thy self punish us not in thy Wrath and Displeasure but according to thy great Mercy seeing it is far better for us to fall into thy Hands than into the Hands of Men and Enemies for thy Mercy is infinite and above all thy Works We have sinned against thee O Lord and broken thy Commandements yet thou knowest O Heavenly Father that the Devil the Pope and the Turk have no Right nor Cause to afflict us for we have not wronged them but thou usest them as a Rod to correct us with who have many Ways provoked thee all our Life time They I say have nothing to charge us with but would rather that after their Example we should for ever grievously offend thee that we should sin against thy Divine Majesty by Idolatry and false Doctrine by Lying and Deceiving by theft Robbery and Rapine and by Adultery Fornication and Sorcery That 's the thing they most desire But because we worship thee God the Father and thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord with thy Holy Spirit one God everlasting that is our Crime and Wickedness for which they so hate and persecute us Should we make Defection from thee and renounce this Faith we needed not to expect any Hurt from them Look graciously towards us then O Father and help us for they are more thine Enemies than ours when they smite us they smite thee for the Doctrine we profess is not ours but thine The Devil indeed cannot endure it but would be worshipped in thy place and force Lyes upon us instead of thy Word And the Turk also would place his Mahomet in the room of thy Son Jesus Christ Now if it be a Sin to profess thee Father Son and Holy Ghost to be the only true God then certainly thou art a Sinner who teachest us so to do and requirest this Duty at our Hands And when for this Cause they persecute us they hate and afflict thee Awake then O my God and avenge thy Holy Name which they pollute and profane suffer not this Injury at their Hands who punish us not for our Sins and Trespasses but endeavour to extinguish the Light of thy Word amongst us and to destroy thy Kingdom that thou shouldest not have a People to worship and adore thy Name Now as to the Origin and Growth of the Turks since so many have writen of it it is no purpose to discourse here Their Rise hath been as great as their Beginning was small and the first of their Emperors is reckoned Ottoman who reigned about the Year of our Lord 1300. After him succeeded in order Orchanes Amurath who first crossed the Hellespont and brought an Army into Europe invading Thrace Bajazet Cyriscelebes Moses Mahomet Amurath Mahomet Bajazet Selim Solyman Much about this time Alfonso Davalo Marquess of Pescara whom we mentioned before published a Declaration addressed to the Princes of Germany wherein he Accuses and Blames the French King that in such troublesome Times he should plot and contrive new designs on purpose to frustrate and hinder the honest Endeavours of the Emperor and all the States pretending a very slight and trivial Reason for it to wit the intercepting of Anthony Rink and Caesar Fregoso after whom he had made most diligent Inquiry but could not learn what was become of them This coming to the French King's Knowledge he declared that he had a great Injury done him in that his Ambassadors had been so barbarously used That he had several times complained of it both to the Pope and Emperor and desired Satisfaction but all in vain And that therefore if he should let so unworthy an Act pass it would be to his dishonour and the greatest stain imaginable to his Reputation Afterwards on the Second of May he wrote to the Parliament of Paris to this Effect To the end said he that God may illuminate our Hearts and grant us Constancy in our Faith bring those that go astray if any such be into the right Way of Salvation again and send us Peace by means of Satisfaction for the Injuries we have received by Usurpation of our Right and Violence done to our Ambassadors or if in dispair of Peace there be a necessity of going to War that he may grant us Victory our Will is that Processions be made and Prayers in all Churches and that able Preachers be employed to give the People an account of the Cause hereof Moreover we Charge and Command that if there be any who entertain sinistrous Thoughts of our Faith and Religion and do not promise amendment that they be publickly punished for their Crime Not long after he sent the Duke of Longueville to the Duke of Cleve who having raised Men against the Summer under the Conduct of Martin Van Rossem waited for an opportunity of Action The Pope in the mean time on the First of June calls a Council and by way of preamble gives a large account how he had often before called a Council and last of all suspended its sitting till a more convenient time wherefore he clears himself of all the Blame and professes he could delay no longer though the Affairs of Christendom were still in a doubtful State. So then he appointed it to be held at Trent on the First of November whither he Summoned to appear all Patriarchs Bishops Abbots and others who had Right and Privilege to sit and Vote in Councils He exhorted also the Emperor and French King that they would either come themselves or send Ambassadors and command their Bishops to repair to it But before all others he invited the German Bishops because for their cause and at their desire chiefly all that pains was taken In the Month of July the French King declared War against the Emperor in a very cutting Stile of Language giving his Subjects free Liberty by publick Proclamation to use all manner of Hostilities against him and his Countries both by Sea and Land. Longueville and Van Rossem had a little before made an Incursion into Brabant where they put the People who were unprovided into great Terror
to be allowed to any multitude of Men Or if it be granted to them is it to be born with also in Private Persons Now if in your own Assembly matters should come to that Licentiousness that every private Man did revenge his own Quarrel pray what would you do certainly they would be made to answer for it before a Publick Judicature appointed by you What Excuse have you then who contemn Judicatures and reject the Magistrates whom God hath set over you This Law we now speak of is imprinted on the Minds of all Men and observed by the most Barbarous For else all things would be in the greatest Confusion imaginable which though you carefully observed yet in that you would be no better than very Turks or any such other People that know not our Religion For to submit to the Publick Judicatures and to obey the Magistrate maketh not a Man a Christian since Necessity obliges Men to that even against their Wills. Wherefore when you root out that very Law which is grafted in the Minds and common to all Men ye are a great deal worse than Heathens so little do ye deserve the Name of Christians which Title because you arrogate to your selves and do injury to the Name of God not deserving to be called Turks for your Violation of the Law of Nature how will you stand before the Face of Christ when he shall come to Judge us all for our Actions Take heed therefore again and again what sort of Men your Preachers are for I am afraid that bloody minded Men have crept in among you who by their Sermons inflame you that relying on your Assistance they may invade Dominion and Rule and never mind your Welfare neither here nor hereafter God reserves all Revenge to himself and the Scripture commands us to obey the Magistrate though he be wicked You ought therefore to he obedient for otherwise you will raise a Storm that will break upon your own Heads Think not that God will suffer your licentiousness to go unpunished and while you seek after Liberty you will procure to your selves the loss of Body Goods and Soul also The Wrath of God is waxed hot against you and the Devil the Enemy of Man's Salvation hath sent false Teachers into your Assemblies Follow therefore my Council beware and amend in time Now will I speak of the Christian or Evangelical Law for since ye take to your selves that Name it is but reasonable that we should examine what your Right is And in the first place Christ commandeth us not to resist evil but when Men smite us on one Cheek to turn to them the other also if one take our Coat from us he bids us also give him our Cloak He enjoyns us to do good to our Enemies and pray for thems To which purpose there are many places in Holy Scripture Now look you to it how that Enterprize of yours agrees with the Command of Christ Consider whither your Teachers have led you It is indeed the duty of Christians to suffer and bear the cross not to resist revenge nor smite with the Sword But does there any such thing appear among you The Profession of a Christian is a very hard task and but very few perform what they really ought For the better understanding whereof I will give you an Instance of this Law we are speaking of St. Peter to defend his Lord and Master smote a Servant of the High-Priest's Had he not a just Cause since they not only sought after the Life of Christ but took also from his Disciples the Doctrin of the Gospel wherein their Salvation consisted by putting to death their Master Christ Now you have not as yet suffered such a heinous Injury But what did Christ in the mean time He commanded Peter to desist pronouncing a severe Sentence against those who smote with the Sword that is who in contempt of the Magistrate practised private Revenge What did he do himself when nailed to the Cross when he was forbidden to discharge the Office of Teaching committed to him by God the Father He even bore all patiently committed his Cause to God the Father and prayed and made Intercession for his Persecutors This Example you must imitate or lay aside so specious a Name Now if you followed the steps of Christ God would make known his Power and as after the ignominious Death of his only Son he propagated the Gospel far and near in spight of all Opposition so also without doubt would he look down upon you and abundantly supply you with his saving Doctrin But now that you will carry on the work by force of Arms you shall never obtain what you would have and your Arms shall be beat out of your Hands Now will I say somewhat of my self also The whole World conspired and bent their utmost force against me and nevertheless the more violently they proceeded the greater progress did my Doctrin make Why so I used no Force raised no Commotion neither was I desirous of Revenge but reverently submitted to the Civil Magistrate and as far as I was able wrote in his Behalf and what was the chief thing of all committing the Cause to God I wholly rested on his Protection So that I am preserved alive to this very day though the Pope and my Adversaries vex and fret thereat and my Doctrin at the same time hath been preached to many People But ye rush on head-long and while you think you further the work perceive not how great a hindrance you are unto it What I hereby drive at is that in this cause you would lay aside that Title and Name of Christians for though it were never so just yet as I said before it is not lawful for a Christian to fight nor resist evil and therefore I cannot allow you that Denomination Not that I would by this justifie the Magistrates for they do many unjust things I acknowledge but nevertheless this your proceeding is altogether inconsistent with the Character of Christians insomuch that if you obstinately retain that Name and gild your bad Cause with that specious colour I declare my self your Enemy because under the pretext of the Gospel ye act quite contrary to the Doctrin of Christ Therefore will I make it my Prayer to God that he would look upon you from a far and disappoint your Designs for I perceive clearly enough that the Devil who hath not been hitherto able to oppress me by means of the Pope of Rome now goeth about to undo me by those blood-thirsty Preachers Therefore I will pray as I have said though I had rather you would so behave your selves that I might not have cause to make my Prayers against you For though I be a Sinner yet the Cause of my Prayer is just and I make no doubt but it will be heard for God will have his Name to be sanctified and hath taught us so to pray Wherefore I exhort and beseech you that you would not
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
Holy Scripture was to be preferred far before his The Cardinal then extolling the Dignity of the Pope prefers him before all Scriptures and Councils and quotes the abrogation of the Council of Basil which had decreed otherwise condemning also Gerson the Parisian Doctor and the rest who approved that Opinion On the other hand Luther denies the Authority of the Pope to be greater than that of a Council and quotes the Parisian Divines as the Approvers of his Judgment When after much Debate they could not agree Luther desired Time to consider and coming again next Day in presence of Notary and Witnesses and some of the Emperours Counsellers also he professed That he Reverenced and Submitted to the Holy Church of Rome that if he had said any thing to the contrary he disowned it but that since he was admonished and commanded To Renounce his Errour and meddle no more for the future he was of the Opinion that he had asserted nothing that disagreed with the Scripture the Judgment of the Fathers the Decretals of the Popes or right Reason it self that he did not deny indeed but that he might err and be deceived that being incident to Man and that therefore he submitted to the Judgment of a Lawful and Holy Church and referred his Cause to be tryed thereby Nay more That he was ready in any Place to give an account of his Doctrin that if he was not pleased with this he would answer his Arguments in Writing and submit to the Judgment of the Universities of Germany and Paris Cajetane urged again as he had done the Day before that Decretal of Clement as making for him and at length allowed him to exhibit his Mind in Writing which was to this purpose That at the Time he published his Theses and when after he wrote the Explication of them he had read the Decretal of Clement but that it had not satisfied him for that though it be made a Rule That the Decretals of the Pope of Rome are no less to be received than the Words of the Apostle S. Peter yet that ought so to be understood provided they agree with Holy Scripture and deviate not from the Decretals of the Ancients that S. Peter's Voice was indeed Sacred and Holy and yet he had been sharply rebuked by St. Paul and his Doctrin not received till the Church which then was at Jerusalem consented to it That the Sayings of Men were to be heard but that every thing should be referred to the Voice of Christ who alone could not be deceived That that Decretal was repugnant to many places of Holy Scripture which was the Reason that at that time he Published his Position and afterwards Commented upon the same That from that time forward he had resolved to dispute no more about it and rather to listen to the Opinions of others but that now though he had rather be instructed by others and especially the Pope of Rome yet since there lay a necessity upon him of defending his own Assertion he would essay and use his endeavours to reconcile his Positions to that Decretal if by any means it could be done Having thus addressed to the Cardinal in a Preface he falls to the handling of the matter it self and explaining the Decretal affirms That it made for him yet so that he did not thereby derogate from the dignity either of the Pope or him Then he comes to the other branch of the Accusation and by many Texts of Scripture fully proves That it is Faith which Justifies us before God And therefore he prays him to deal kindly with him and shew him his Errour for that the Texts of Scripture which he had alledged were of so great force that he believed them to be Self-evident wherefore he could not forsake that Truth since it was better to Obey God than Men. That therefore he desired to be excused from that over-hard condition of Retracting and to be Reconciled to the Pope That it was not out of Arrogance or any desire of Vain-glory that he had entred the Lists and that he wished for nothing more than that the Truth might be discovered by any more Learned and Pious than himself so that he beg'd he might not be compell'd to wound his own Conscience Cajetane took this Writing from him and upon reading made slight of it but promised however to send it to the Pope In the mean time he urged him to retract else he threatned him with the Punishment appointed by the Pope and with that bid him be gone and see his face no more unless he changed his mind Three days after Luther had been thus threatned October the Seventeenth he wrote a very humble and submissive Letter to the Legate for after that the Legate had chid him as we said and sent him away he had dealt privately with John Stupitz Provincial of the Augustine Fryars that he might incline him to make a voluntary Recantation Now in that Letter Luther gives him an account of what pass'd betwixt Stupitz and him who had omitted nothing that could be expected from an honest Man and faithful Friend He thanked him for his Good-will and Kindness towards him which he had understood from Stupit's discourse whereby he had been so much comforted that there was no Man-living he would more willingly gratifie than His Eminence He confesses that he had been too sharp and had not behaved himself with the respect and reverence that was due to the Papal Dignity but that all that was to be attribuâ—ed to the impertinence of the Collectors He begs Pardon for what he had done and promises greater modesty for the future and that he would hereafter do his Holiness Right in his Sermons That he would not mention the Indulgences in time to come provided his Adversaries were enjoyned to do the like but that he should retract the Opinions which he had divulged and hitherto defended he could not with a safe Conscience so long as he was not convinced of Errour by clear Testimonies of Scripture He therefore craves that the Tryal of the Cause might be referred to the Pope for that nothing would be more pleasant to him than to hear the Voice of the Church about such Controversies Since Cardinal Cajetane made no Answer to this Letter and had uttered some threatning Words he took his Friends counsel and two days after departed leaving behind him a certain Appeal which should afterwards be publickly affixed and about the time of his departure he wrote again to the Legate That he had omitted nothing which was his duty to do That being a weak sickly Man he had made a long Journey on Foot and come to Ausburg that he might manifest his Submission to the Pope but now that his Money was almost spent and that he would not be any longer troublesome to the Carmelite Fryers who had lodged and entertained him in their Convent he would return home especially seeing His Eminence had discharged him to come any more into
he had to do nor how to carry himself that he was constantly urged to retract his Writings that if that could any way contribute to the Advantage and Dignity of the Church of Rome he would not refuse to do so but that there were a great many ingenious and learned Men in Germany who could rightly judge of the whole Controversie so that though he should retract yet it would redound more to the Disgrace and Detriment than to the Dignity of the Church of Rome That for his Part he had done his Holiness no Injury but that it was rather those Collectors and Preachers who put on by Covetousness and greedy of Lucre had spoken foul and ignominious Things to the People that by these he had been grievously accused and informed against whereas he stood so well affected towards the Church of Rome and his Holiness himself that he had no Thoughts of Attempting any thing against it for that the Power and Authority of the Church was so great that next to Christ it was the most excellent thing in the World that he prayed his Holiness not to give credit to his Adversaries That he would never hereafter make mention of the Indulgences provided his Enemies on the other Hand were also enjoyned Silence that he would also advise the People in his Sermons to entertain Reverent and Honourable Thoughts of the Church of Rome not to impute to it the Boldness and Covetousness of some of its Members nor yet imitate his Example who being in some manner necessitated by his Adversaries had treated the Church somewhat irreverently and unbecomingly In short that he would do any thing for Peace sake That in all his Proceedings he had had this constantly before his Eyes That the Church of Rome should not be aspersed by the wickedness of some Men nor the People imposed upon by false Doctrine and that this his Care and Diligence could not be lyable to any Censure That he was not much concerned about Matters indifferent provided no Errour nor erroneous Persuasion possessed Men's Minds Before Miltitz arrived in Germany the Emperour Maximilian dyed in Austria January 12. the Electors then were Albert Archbishop of Mentz Herman Archbishop of Cologne and Richard Archbishop of Treves Ludovick Prince Palatine Frederick Duke of Saxony Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and Lewis King of Bohemia who was also King of Hungary These being according to the Custome of the Empire summoned by the Elector of Mentz met in the Month of June at Frankford a City upon the River of Main whither the King of Bohemia sent his Deputy Ladislaus Sterneberg The Archbishop of Mentz spoke first and having said much of the greatness of the Affair exhorted them to Unity and Concord shewing by many Instances in former times how much mischief the Dissention of the Electors had done to Germany and that they all ought to be the more unanimous now that they were threatned with great Dangers from the Turks and from others also who sought the Division of Germany There were two Competitours that stood for the Imperial Dignity Charles Archduke of Austria who three Years before had succeeded to Ferdinand King of Spain his Grand-Father by the Mother and Francis King of France who having defeated the Switzers four Years before at Marignano was in Possession of the Dutchy of Milan And the Ambassadours of Charles about that time were come as far as Mentz four German Miles distant from Frankford but the French Ambassadours stopt at Coblentz a Town belonging to the Archbishop of Treves upon the confluent of the Rhine and Moselle They severally by Letters and Agents recommended their own Princes to the Electors and used what Arguments they could to persuade them but especially the French who easily understood that their Pretensions were not so acceptable as differing from the Germans in Language Customs and Manners The French King having overcome the Switzers as we have said was in Possession of Lumbardy but seeing he lookt upon their Friendship to be in a manner necessary for the Safety of his own Kingdom with high Promises and great Losses he purchased it the next Year after Now therefore the Empire being void by the Death of Maximilian he sent Ambassadours to acquaint them with the Reasons why he desired to be chosen Emperour and withal to crave their Assistance and Intercession for him with the Electors Their Answer was That when they had made Friendship and entred into a League with him they had excepted the Church of Rome and the Empire That it concerned the Majesty of the Empire that the Voices of the Electors should be free so that they could not forestal that Liberty by making any previous Declaration of their Inclinations Thus the Ambassadours being dismissed they wrote to the Electors acquainting them with the Application the King had made unto them and with their Answer thereunto praying them withal that they would have no regard unto it but chuse some German Prince and thereby infinitely oblige them They wrote besides to Pope Leo and seeing it belonged to him to confirm and inaugurate the Emperour elect they besought him that he would bestir himself to hinder that that Dignity should not be bestowed upon any Foreign Prince To this he made answer That he heard there was one who aspired to that Honour that could not lawfully do it for that the Kings of Naples were the Vassals of the Pope of Rome and had obliged themselves of old not to aim at the Roman Empire but to rest satisfied with one of the two and that he had already given intimation of this to the Electors By this he meant Charles Archduke of Austria for after the Overthrow which the French King gave the Switzers September 13. 1515 when he carried with him Maximilian Sforza into France Pope Leo following the Fortune of the Victorious in the Month of December came to Bolonia and there having had an Interview and long Conference with King Francis he confirmed Friendship with him And this among others was one Cause why at this Time he favoured his Pretensions Now as to what he said of the Kingdom of Naples this is the Case When Manfred natural Son to the Emperour Frederick II Made War against the Church of Rome Pope Clement IV in the Year 1365 that he might repress him took the Course which his Predecessor Vrban IV was about to have taken as it is reported and having sent for Charles Count of Provence and Anjou into Italy declared him King of Sicily and Naples but on Condition First That he should hold the same in Fee of the Church of Rome and therefore pay the sum of forty thousand Crowns yearly and then that he should at no Time aspire to the Dignity of the Roman Empire nor accept of it though freely offered unto him When the Matter was brought into Deliberation the Arhbishop of Mentz having first consulted apart with Frederick Duke of Saxony who was of great Authority amongst the
then present Peter Bonomus Bishop of Trieste and Bernard Bishop of Trent Alexander declared That the Emperour and other Princes were required to see the Bull of the Pope performed and that the hearing of the Cause was committed to himself and Eckius Duke Frederick because it was a matter of great importance desired time to consider of it and on November 4 not being at leisure himself he gave in this Answer by some of his Council in the presence of the Bishop of Trent That he wondred very much why the Pope should desire this of him who had always taken care to do nothing unworthy of the Virtue and Glory of his Ancestors and to do his Duty both to the Empire and the Church That he understood that Eckius in his absence had given trouble not only to Luther but to several other Learned Men of his Dominions contrary to the Mind and Tenor of his Holiness's Bull which as became him he declared he very much resented That a private Person should take upon him to meddle so much in another's Jurisdiction What Luther or others have done in his Absence since the bringing of the Pope's Bull thither he knows not That it is possible several Persons may have approved of his Appeal That as for himself he never concern'd himself in it But that he should be very sorry if his Doctrin were not Orthodox That two Years ago he procured a Conference between him and Cajetane at Ausburg but they coming to no Agreement Cajetane writ a Letter to complain of him That he then answered it so as he imagined he had given him Satisfaction and for taking away all suspicion he was then willing to have dismissed Luther had not Miltitz opposed it But Richard Archbishop of Triers had been delegated by the Pope for hearing this Cause and that Luther was ready to appear in any Place provided he might have a Safe-Conduct And that he makes as fair and large Proffers as can be desired That several Good and Learned Men imagine that he has proceeded thus far not so much of his own Accord as by the Instigation of his Adversaries That it appears not yet to the Emperour nor to any other Magistrate that his Writings are convicted of Heresie or Impiety for if they had he himself should have been ready to have done the Duty of a good Prince He desires therefore That they would not proceed after this manner but rather procure that the Matter may be lovingly and quietly debated by some Godly and Learned Men that Luther may have a Safe-Conduct and that his Books may not be burnt before he has made his Defence If he should happen to be convinced by Scripture and solid Arguments that then he would by no means countenance him But though he and his Cause should be quite baffled yet he hoped his Holiness would require nothing of him but what might stand with his Honour In all other things he should always behave himself as became a Prince of the Empire and an obedient Son of the Church When the Elector had given in this Answer the Legates after some Consultation began to recite how many things the Pope had done and suffered in order to reclaim Luther but that he had not performed any part of his Promises That it was not now in the Power of the Bishop of Triers to determine in this Cause since the Pope had recalled that Hearing of it before himself to whom only it belonged to judge in matters of this Nature The conclusion of their Speech was That they could not but act conformable to his Holiness's Decree and so not long after they burn all Luther's Works This Aleander was an Italian born at Motola in the Kingdom of Naples very skilful in the Hebrew Tongue He was for some time a Reader in the University of Paris being come to Rome he rose by degrees till he was at last made Archbishop of Brindin and after that created a Cardinal And Caracciolus was also promoted to the same Dignity As soon as Luther heard of this he called together all the Students that were in Wittemberg and in the Presence of a great number of Learned Men he publickly burns the Canon-Law and the Pope's late published Decree on the tenth Day of December And in his next days Lecture he earnestly admonishes all Persons who have any regard to their own Salvation to shake off the Dominion of the Bishop of Rome In a Treatise which he soon after published he declares what it was had moved him to do this acknowledging That it was with his Consent and by his Advice and Means that these Books of the Canon-Law were burnt and that for these Reasons First It has been an Ancient Custom observed in all Ages in this manner to suppress all pernicious Books of which there is an Example in the Acts of the Apostles moreover it was his Duty who is baptized into the Faith of Christ and who is a Professor and publick Preacher of the Gospel to oppose whatever contradicts the Precepts therein contained and to instruct Men in all Sound and Wholesome Doctrins and to purge their Minds from all false and erroneous Opinions That a great many others lay under the same Obligations but if they out of Ignorance or by Cowardise neglected to do as they ought yet that he was not thereby excused unless he endeavoured faithfully to discharge what he thought in Conscience was his Duty That the Pope and those whose Interest it is to uphold his Power were become so desperately Wicked and Obstinate that they not only stopt their Ears against all good admonitions but also condemned the Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles and forced Men to the commission of the grossest Impieties Besides this he supposed those Book-Burners had no Command to act after that manner As for the Divines of Cologn and Louvain who pretended to be authorized by the Emperour to burn his Books he was now very certain that that was a meer sham In the last place because this burning of his Works and the Report of it which would be spread all over the Country might perhaps stagger some and cause great Doubts in the Minds of many more who would judge that such a thing would not be done rashly and without some very weighty Cause Therefore seeing his Adversaries were now grown past cure he had been forced to burn their Books thereby to raise up and confirm and strengthen the Minds of his Followers And he entreats all Men not to suffer themselves to be dazled by the lofty and proud Titles of his Adversaries but to take a nearer View of the Matter by which they would perceive what Impious and Pernicious Tenets are contained in the Canons and Decretals of the Popes And that he might make this the more plain to every Man's Understanding he recites some Passages out of the Canon-Law which tend manifestly to the Reproach of God the Injury of the Civil Magistrate and serve only
raise the greater hatred against him affirmed that he had been often heard to say in the Pulpit That they who entred into a League with Foreigners sold Blood and fed on Mens Flesh When upon the return of the Deputies of Zurich Zuinglius came to know of this he justified himself by Letter declaring that he had not spoken so but that in general he had said That there were some who abhorred as a wicked thing the eating of Flesh because forbidden by the Pope's Law but thought it no Crime to sell Mens Flesh for Mony and to destroy it with the Sword That he had named no Nation in particular nor was it his custom so to inveigh against his Brethren the Switzers whom for Country sake he tenderly loved That it behoved him necessarily to reprove Vice which now exceedingly abounded but that good and harmless People were no ways concerned therein Among other things Zuinglius preached that Images were to be removed out of Churches and that the Mass was to be abrogated as a wicked thing For which the Senate called another Assembly in their City whither in the Month of October many repaired and for three days the Disputes lasted However the Senate that they might do nothing rashly wrote to the Bishop of Constance who had sent none to the Assembly praying him that he would also give them his Judgment in the Matter Much about this time several Priests married Wives both in Strasburg and in other places also which occasioned much Strife and Contention For when they were accused for it they made answer That they had done nothing contrary to the Commands of God and that all Men indifferently were permitted by the Law of God to Marry The Senate of Strasburg had a long Debate about this matter with the Bishop of that City who at length on the Twentieth of January cited the Priests to appear before him by a certain day at Saverne there to hear Sentence pronounced against them for having contracted Matrimony whereby he said they had transgressed the Law of the Church and holy Fathers of the Popes Emperor and Empire done the highest injury to their Order and were guilty of Treason against the King of Heaven The Priests having received this Citation petitioned the Senate that they might make their defence and plead their Cause before them protesting that they were willing to suffer Death if they were found to have done any thing against the Commandment of God. The Senate therefore again interceded with the Bishop and that seeing they declined not a lawful Tryal and that nothing could be attempted against them without some dangerous Commotions especially since others of their Order who publickly kept their Concubines were not punished for it They prayed him that he would at least delay the matter till the Conclusion of the Diet which then was held at Noremberg for that there was no doubt but there were actions of the like nature in other places also which they had reason to expect would all be Tryed and Adjudged in that Assembly This is the same Diet which being prorogued to another time as was said before happened to meet again this year Hither also Pope Clement sent his Legate Cardinal Campegio and with him a very loving Brief to Frederick Duke of Saxony dated the Thirteenth of January Therein he tells him that he was very glad to hear of this Diet and that he particularly was to be present in it for that he conceived great hopes that some things might be done there which would tend to the welfare of Christendom and that therefore he had sent Cardinal Campegio a Man of great Vertue who would inform the Princes how solicitously he was concerned for the Publick good and discourse privately with him about the measures of setling Peace which he earnestly exhorted him to endeavour and to be Assistant to his Legate therein since at that time nothing could be more Necessary and Laudable nor more for the Dignity and Prosperity of all who were in Magistracy That he bore singular Love and Affection towards Germany which he hoped would not deviate from its Ancient Virtue but forgetting present Discontents and Animosities contribute to the quieting the Disorders of Christendom Wherefore he prayed him kindly to receive his Legate from whom he would have a further Account of all things January 26 the Switzers held an Assembly at Lucern There a Decree was made That no Man should presume to scoff at or despise the Word of God which had been taught for above these fourteen hundred Years nor the Mass wherein the Body of Christ is consecrated to his own Honour and the Comfort of the Quick and the Dead That all who being of Age received the Lord's Supper should in Lent time Confess their Sins to Priests and perform all other things in the accustomed manner That all the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church should be observed That every one should obey their own Pastors receive the Sacraments from their Hands and pay them yearly the Money which they ought and used to pay That Priests should be reverenced and honoured That no Flesh should be eaten on Days prohibited nor Eggs and Cheese in Lent That nothing of Luther's Doctrin against the received Practise and Custom of the Church should be publickly or privately taught That in Taverns and Publick-houses at Feasts and Entertainments no mention should be made of Luther's or any other New Doctrin That no Indignity should any where be offered to the Images of Saints That the Ministers of Churches should not be obliged to give an Account of their Doctrin to any but to the Magistrates That in case of any Troubles or Insurrections they should be protected and defended That such as carried about the Relicks of the Holy Ghost the Virgin Mary or S. Anthony should not be jeered nor laughed at by any That the Laws concerning Religion made by the Bishop of Constance should be observed And that they who transgressed this Decree should be presented to the Magistrate and punished Before Campegius arived at Norimberg Duke Frederick was gone from thence wherefore on the last of February he wrote him a Letter and therewith sent the Brief which he had received from the Pope In his Letter he tells him That it fell out very unluckily that he could not have the Opportunity to Discourse with him for that he had many things to impart to him in the Pope's name which could not so conveniently be done by Letters or Messengers and that the Affair was such as could hardly admit of any Delay But that since it could not be helped after kind Salutations both from the Pope and himself he comes to tell him at length That though it was a common Report that he was a Favourer of the new Heresies that now were broaching yet neither his Holiness nor he could as yet be persuaded of it for that from the very first time he had known him he had observed
to such a height That the most Holy Host that Unleavened Bread which represents the Body of Christ was scarcely safe in the Priest's Hands That these were matters of such moment as justly deserved to be bewailed That for their parts they could no longer endure them especially seeing lately in their last Convention some of the Clergy their Confederates had by a common and publick Deputation implored their Aid That these things being so they prayed them To leave their new Doctrine and continue in the ancient Religion of their Fore-fathers But that if they thought themselves in any thing agrieved and oppressed by the Pope and those that depended on him as Cardinals Bishops Prelates and the like for that they invaded sold or exchanged Church-Livings or that they usurped to themselves too great a Jurisdiction and applyed that Power which ought only to be exercised in Spiritual to Civil and Temporal Affairs That if these and many other things of that kind were burthen some and uneasie unto them they were not against the having of them reformed for that they themselves were extreamly displeased thereat and would willingly consult with them how they might cast off that Burthen On the one and twentieth day of March the Senat of Zurich gave their Answer That for these five Years now past their Ministers had preached the Gospel among them which in the beginning seemed to them to be a new kind of Doctrin indeed because they had not heard the like before but that when they came to understand that the scope and end of it was only to shew That the only Author and Finisher of Man's Salvation was Jesus Christ who shed his precious Blood and laid down his Life for the Sins of the World and alone delivered wretched Men from Eternal Death being the only Mediator betwixt God and Man they could not but with servent Desires imbrace such glad Tydings That great had been the Harmony and Consent which was in ancient Times among the Apostles and those who in the Ages after them embraced the Doctrine of Christ which they hoped would be new also among all who applyed their Minds to it rejecting Human Traditions that had no Ground in the Word of God That if Luther or any Man else taught so it was well done and yet his Name ought not to be objected to any as if they believed the Doctrine only because he taught it for that that was a malicious Aspersion and reproachful to the Word of God That moreover though they adored Christ alone and had their recourse to him yet did they not therefore offer any Injury either to the Virgin Mary or the other Saints for that all these when they were upon Earth expected Salvation only through the Name of Christ That there was now such a Light revealed that most People within their City diligently searched and read the Scriptures nor could the Ministers of the Church wrest the Scripture which all Men had in their Hands so that Schism and Heresie ought not to be objected to them but might be justly imputed to those who for worldly Gain Pomp and Honour turned the Word of God to what Sense they pleased That they were charged with Errour indeed but that it could not be made out that the Bishops of Constance Basil and Coyre and some Universities also had been several times desired to do it but nothing of that kind had been hitherto performed That besides to their last Assembly none came from the Bishops nor from them neither except some from Schafheusen and San Gall that they who were then present having diligently considered the matter agreed in Opinion with them That as to what the Bishops said That it was not lawful for them to make the Scriptures so common it was unreasonable for it being their Duty to take heed that the Sheep should not go astray it was but just that they should bring into the Way such as were out of it but that seeing they did not do it and referred all things to the Fathers and Councils they were resolved to hearken not to what Men decreed but to what Christ commanded That their Teachers and Ministers gave no Cause to Divisions in the State but that that Fault lay at their Doors who for their own Profit and Advantage taught Doctrins contrary to the Word of God for that they were those who led Men into Errour and grievously offended God who was therefore provoked to punish that Boldness with various Calamities That all that Difference and Dissension proceeded from their Covetousness who were afraid to lose any of their Profits But that if these Men followed the true Doctrin and made it their Task to enquire what God's Will was and not what Men willed there was no doubt but that they would cast off all Lust Pride and Avarice and apply themselves to the Study of Peace and Concord That many Vices unknown in former Ages had now overspread the World which the Ministers of their City freely reproved exhorting Men to the Fear of God but that if most People were not reformed by their Sermons and did not bring forth Fruit worthy of that Doctrin it was not the Fault of the Seed sown but of the Ground that received it That it was plainly to be seen That the People within their Territories did not live in that Rioting and Intemperance which reigned every where else and that particularly the Men of their Country followed not as heretofore Foreign and Mercenary Wars which doubtless cherished and fomented many Vices That as to the eating of Flesh and Egs though it might be lawfully done and was not prohibited by Christ yet they had made a Law to restrain the rashness of the People who might thereby give Offence That God was the Author of Marriage who allowed it to all That S. Paul also enjoyned That a Minister of the Church should be the Husband of one Wife and that seeng Bishops for a little Money gave Priests leave to keep Concubines a thing of foul Example and that they neither could nor would be without Women they thought it not good to resist God who instituted Matrimony That the Case was the same with the Women who are said to have vowed Chastity for they lookt upon that kind of Obligation and Vow not to be pleasing to God and that since all People had not the Gift of Continence it was in their Judgment far better for them to marry than to live in impure Celibacy That Convents and Colledges of Regulars were heretofore instituted for the Poor and Needy but that now these Revenues were for the most part enjoyed by those who had enough of their own besides to live on Nor was it reasonable that one Man should possess alone what was sufficient for the Subsistence of many That therefore it seemed just to them that these Goods should be again converted to the use of the Poor wherein nevertheless they used that Moderation that the present Possessors should enjoy
of any thing that is acted contrary to the Customs and Liberty of the Empire and therefore cannot confer upon him the Title of King of the Romans But the Duke of Saxony adds this in his Letters to the Emperor That if the matter be carry'd on in a legal way he will not shew himself unlike his Ancestors Concerning the admittance of the Helvetians into the League which the Cities very much desire the Duke gives in this Answer by his Embassadors that he cannot enter into any Society with them because they entertain a different Opinion concerning the Lord's Supper He is not indeed ignorant of how great consequence their Accession would be upon the account of their Strength and Power but this is what he least of all regards lest the event thereof should prove as dismal as is recorded in Scripture to have faln upon them who for the strengthning of themselves had recourse to any sort of unlawful Assistances During this Assembly there were Letters brought from the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave to the Embassadors of the other Princes and Cities the Contents of which were to this effect That the Emperor had permitted the Bishop of Mentz and Lewis the Prince Palatine to be Mediators of a Peace who by their Letters had desir'd that they likewise on their parts would give them the same permission and that then they would appoint a day for a Meeting After some deliberation the Embassadors do return their consent and then the Lantgrave and the Duke of Saxony make the Mediators this Answer That they are not against the Expedient provided the Exchequer will be quiet in the mean time this therefore being obtain'd of the Emperor they appoint the 30th of August for the day of Meeting The Cities which had their Embassadors in this Convention were these Strasburg Vlm Lubesk Nuremburg Constance Rutelingen Memmingen Lindaw Bibrach Isenach Kempen Hailbrun Magdeburg Bremen Brunswick and Gottingen Wigand Bishop of Bamburg had some years before made a Complaint to his Associates of the Schwaben Confederacy against George Duke of Brandenburg the substance of which was this That he had disturb'd him in his Ecclesiastical Rights that he had very much sunk his Customs that he had converted the Revenues of the Church to other uses and forc'd the Priests into this Novel and false Religion or else ejected them for their non-compliance All which things are not only a Violation of the Pope's and Emperor's Edicts but also of common Equity and the Laws of the Country and since he highly suffers by them he desires that they would either by their Interest and Authority reduce him to his Duty or else afford him such Assistance as they are oblig'd to by the League whereby he may be inabled for the time to come to defend his own and recover what he had lost But when after various Disputes a day was appointed for the hearing of this Cause at Nordlingen the Embassadors of the Protestants at the Brandenburger's entreaty came thither in the month of July With the Bishop of Bamburg were the Bishops of Auspurg Wurtzburg and Aichstadt as his Assistants and Counsellors The Plaintiff puts in his Charge wherein he sets forth how great Injury and Damage he had sustain'd and withal declares that notwithstanding the Associates of the League had under a penalty commanded the Defendant to desist from his Undertaking and to restore the Plaintiff to his own yet nothing as yet had been effected He therefore prays that he may be proceeded against according to the Prescript of the League The Defendant on the other side demurs to that part of the Charge which properly belongs to Religion and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Appeals from their Edicts and Decrees to a Council But they after some days intermission reply that they very much wonder he should put in such an Appeal as this because it is unusual and against the Prescript of the League which takes care that the Plaintiff and Defendant shall be both concluded by the Determination of select Judges That in this they had all agreed to defend the Ecclesiastical Liberties and therefore the Cognizance of this Cause does properly belong to them And since He himself had hitherto without any exception acknowledged their Jurisdiction with what reason could he now reject it As for a Council they are not by any means to be superseded by that nor ought the Preference to be giv'n unto it in this matter for these reasons therefore they do not accept his Appeal but proceed to confirm their former Edicts and if he will not yield Obedience they declare that they must proceed against him according to the Stipulation The Defendant on the contrary protests that he will stick to his Appeal in what relates to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction nor will he take any notice of their Sentence This Cause was managed by the Duke of Brandenburg both in his own Name and upon the account of his Nephew Albert Son to his Brother Casimire whose Guardian he was In the mean time the Emperor appoints a Diet of the Empire to convene at Spiers upon the Sixth of September for the composing of Religious Differences But upon the 21th of August there came to the Duke of Saxony the Counts of Nassaw and the Count de Newenar Men of great Reputation for their Vertue and being permitted by the Emperor to treat of a Reconciliation they to that end lay down five Propositions relating to the Supper of our Lord Ecclesiastical Rites the Goods of the Church Assistance against the Turk and the Election of King Ferdinand But when it appear'd from their Discourse that the Emperor lay under a perswasion as if the Duke was a Favourer both of Zuinglius his Doctrin and of the Anabaptists His answer was That 't is sufficiently known from the Augustine Confession what kind of Doctrin it is which he professes and which the Ministers within his Dominions do Preach in the Churches That 't is farther plain that while he was at the Diet of Auspurg he had held no Correspondence with those who are reputed Zuinglians nor yet afterwards till they had giv'n him an explication of their Opinion That he still continues in the same mind and shall by the Grace of God till his last breath persist in that Doctrin of which he made profession at Auspurg he therefore prays that as to that point they will vindicate him to the Emperor They tell him that as for their parts they were before very well satisfied of his Innocence and will therefore do him justice to the Emperor to whom they doubt not but this will prove very pleasing and acceptable News As to the other Propositions they were pleas'd to refer them to the next Imperial Diet. However they intreated him that he would either come himself in Person to that Diet or at least send thither his Son. His Answer was that truly he was desirous in all things to oblige the Emperor
of any Bargain Gift Reward or Promise Now the reason that the two Brothers of Bavaria were inserted in the number is this They among the rest had oppos'd the Election of King Ferdinand and having communicated their Counsels with the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave and the King of France they enter'd into the League for the defence of the Liberties of Germany And the King of France had deposited 100000 Crowns in the hands of the two Brothers that they might be in a readiness when occasion would serve The Mediating Princes upon the 20th of April return an Answer to those things which we have recited That 't is for the sake of Peace and Concord that they negotiate this Affair nor could they think that such things as these would have been propounded by them Now that a King of the Romans should be chosen whilst the Emperor is in being they have many weighty Reasons to urge which reasons have been formerly made use of to John Frederick who was then his Fathers Embassador and should now if the matter so requir'd be more copiously explain'd But since they are not alone concern'd in this business but likewise the Emperor the King and the other Princes their Colleagues they will not debate this Point any longer but leave it undecided that so they may come with greater ease to the accommodating of other things as the occasion of this Assembly does require However if it be expected that they should give them and their Allies a reason for what they do they will not decline the trial and they question not but they shall back their Cause with such Proofs as will not admit of any Exception But now if an account of these things should be brought to the Emperor they are very much afraid that they will be so far from taking any place there that they will rather prove an occasion of interrupting at least this Pacifick Treaty if not of wholly taking it away To the end therefore that a Truce and Reconciliation may be brought about as well in relation to the matter of Religion as to that of the Election and that there may not be a separation between those two Points they earnestly intreat the two Princes of Saxony the Father and Son that they will have some regard to themselves in this Affair and depart from their Resolution For then they have reason to hope that both the Emperor and King will abundantly take care that this Election shall never be prejudicial either to them or their Heirs Nay they doubt not but they will lay aside all Resentment and afford their Favour to them all especially to the Duke of Saxony in promoting that business which he now solicits and ev'n in the Cause of Religion as far as 't is possible to be done For they are very much afraid that he cannot be prevail'd with to grant them a Peace as to matters of Religion whilst the Point of Election remains undecided As for their parts 't is out of Love and Friendship that they give this advice and do intreat them so to accept it and that they would so manage themselves that they at length may see that this their Intercession was not without it's weight nor their Diligence imploy'd to no purpose Four days after John Frederick the Prince made them this return viz. That he had not expected from them such an Answer as this for in that they had among other things affirm'd That 't was for the Safety and Dignity of the Empire that a King of the Romans should be created he is under a necessity of giving an Answer to this as well in the Name of his Father as the other Associates whose perswasion it is that this Election is irregular and not at all for the Welfare of the Empire Now since they sustain the Character of Arbitrators he greatly hop'd that they would not have defended this Cause but have propounded it as a doubtful and controverted Point For as to the other things mentioned by them they do not properly belong to Arbitrators but ought to be referr'd to such a time when they may fall under a common deliberation Indeed when at Cologne the Emperor desir'd that his Brother Ferdinand should be admitted into a Partnership of the Empire there were some Reasons offer'd for the doing of it but they were not of such weight that for their sakes the Caroline Law together with the Rights and Liberty of the Empire should be violated that at the same time He together with the rest of his Father's Embassadors gave in their Reasons by way of Answer why it ought not to be done He therefore now again repeats what he said before that if the Emperor would not admit of these their Propositions then the Cause may come to be discuss'd in a fair Trial that so the reasons of their Descent may be known Now since 't is their part to act equally and impartially he did imagine that being Arbitrators in other matters they would likewise in this Controversie find out some honest Expedient which might be for the advantage of the Empire but since nothing of this is done he will not urge them any further As for his Father and his Confederates they will undoubtedly make it evident without injuring any Man how great a Breach this is upon the Laws and Liberty of the Empire and that they are not to be blamed if any inconvenience arises from thence He hopes likewise that since these things concern the Honour and Safety of the Empire the Emperor will not take it unkindly Among the other Propositions the first which belongs to that head in which the Zuinglians are concern'd has this tendency viz. to hinder the Princes from confederating with a number of Cities and so indeed the Umpires did in their debate explain it That if the Zuinglians would confess and forsake their Error then they should be included in the Peace but if otherwise then they were to be deserted no assistance to be afforded them nor any League to be made with them But last year at Smalcalde there happen'd to be a good understanding between the Protestants for when those of Strasburg together with some Cities of Schwaben had made a fuller explication of their Doctrin about the Lord's Supper which before had only been propounded in the Diet at Auspurg this their Interpretation was accepted of by the Saxons Being therefore now unanimous they all of them return the same Answer to the former Propositions and agree at last to lay down these conditions of Agreement That they who have exhibited a Confession of their Doctrin and an Apology for the same at Auspurg as likewise those who hereafter shall receive the same Doctrin shall keep themselves within those bounds and shall make no further Innovations till such time as a Council shall sit which has so often been promis'd and agreed upon that they shall not joyn themselves as to the Doctrinal part
of that Affair some of which do relate to the Method and Order of it As that it shall be a free and general Council such as the Fathers were wont to hold whose minds were undoubtedly guided by the Divine Spirit Then that all who are present at the Council shall promise to be obedient to the Decrees thereof for unless care be taken of that all their labour will be in vain For to what end will it be to enact Laws which no body will observe and which any Man may safely violate Moreover they who cannot be present themselves shall send thither their Deputies And lastly that in the mean time all things shall remain in the same posture and condition they are in and that no Innovation be made till such time as it shall be decreed by the Council About a Place the Pope has been a long time considering For 't is highly fit that such a Place be made choice of as is fruitful and able to supply Provisions and such an one as has likewise a wholesome Air. He therefore conceives that Piacenza or Bolonia will not be incommodious or at least Mantua which is a City of the Empire and near to Germany situated in a pleasant place and abounding with all things necessary They have therefore their liberty to choose one out of these three places But if there be any Princes who will neither come themselves nor yet send their Deputies the Pope however shall go on with the business of the Council And if there be any who shall refuse to obey its Decrees and shall make a Revolt from the Pope then it remains that the Emperor with other Kings and Princes undertake the Defence both of him and the Church that they may not receive any Injury But now the great reason why a Council should not be call'd immediately is this because 't is necessary beforehand diligently to weigh and consider all the Circumstances of it and therefore the Emperor who has so often giv'n them hopes of seeing a Council has pleas'd to take care that the Princes of Germany should be acquainted with the Pleasure of the Pope in this matter And now if the King of the Romans and the rest of the German Princes shall return an agreeable Answer to these Proposals it will have this effect that the Pope will Proclaim a Council within six months which shall begin to sit the year following That so in that interim Provisions and other necessaries may be got together and all Men especially those who live furthest off may have time to prepare for their Journey When he had thus harangued he deliver'd the foresaid Heads drawn up in writing to the Elector And then the Emperors Embassador began his Speech which was to this purpose That since the settlement of religious Affairs has hitherto been in vain attempted in all the former Diets and 't is judg'd that the matter may be accommodated by a Council the Emperor has therefore lately prevail'd with the Pope that one may be held after the same manner and at the same Time and Place as his Embassador has now particulariz'd The purport therefore of this his Message from the Emperor is To testifie that a Council is very acceptable to the Pope and since his Embassador has already fully spoken to the whole matter 't will not become him to enlarge any further He only prays that this his Relation may be entertain'd as a truth and a friendly Answer return'd The Elector replies that since 't is a matter of great Importance he will take some time to consider of it and therefore desires that they will not be uneasie under a short delay To which the Pope's Embassador makes answer That he is very much in the right to proceed deliberately and that so arduous an Affair doth justly deserve some time for consideration These things were done at Weimar A few days after the Duke of Saxony return'd this Answer That he heartily rejoyces to find that the Emperor and the Pope have determin'd for a Council For the Publick State of Affairs does necessarily require that such a Council be held as the Emperor has often promis'd to the Germans a Council wherein things may be regularly handled and according to the Standard of the Word of God and if this be done he doubts not but all things will go very well As for his part he earnestly prays to God that he would grant this and his advice to all the people within his Dominions shall be that they would do the same He likewise will use the best of his endeavours for the effecting of it and will take care that his Allies shall apply their Industry the same way His desire truly is to give in his Answer forthwith but there are many of the same Religion who in company with his Father made profession of this Doctrin before the Emperor at the Diet of Auspurg And therefore 't will neither be just nor yet for the advantage of the Cause to give in a private Answer without taking them into a Consultation but an Answer under all their Hands will be much better Now because the Pope and the Emperor had by their Letters dated last Winter from Bononia giv'n the States of the Empire hopes that there would shortly be an Embassy and consequently upon that a Council He therefore and his Allies had agreed to meet together at Smalcalde upon the 24th of June there to deliberate about the whole business As soon therefore as the Confederates shall meet together which will be at the day appointed they will enter into a Consultation and dispatch away their Answer with all speed either by Embassadors or Letters As for his part he shall by the Grace of God so behave himself that not only the present Age but Posterity also may see that of all things in the World he desires nothing more than that pure Religion and a flourishing Peace may be establish'd not only in Germany but also through the whole Christian World and that the Emperor as Supream Magistrate may enjoy all that Honour and Dignity which justly belongs unto him Accordingly when the Confederates had met together and concerted the whole business upon the last day of June they return an Answer by Letter in the name of their whole Body wherein they give the Emperor all possible Thanks for taking such pains for the Glory of God and the Publick Welfare nor do they in the least doubt but it is from his heart that he desires a Council They therefore pray God to confirm his Resolution and so to direct him that Truth may again be brought into fashion and that false Doctrin with corrupt Rites and Modes of Worship may be taken away and all Error may be rooted out from the hearts of Men that so the pure Worship of God and other Pious performances may be again reviv'd For they sincerely desire such a Council where the Points in Controversie may be rightly and
so small a Matter we would not expose our selves to so bitter Hatred to so much Labour Care and Danger Besides waving all Dangers if the daily Charges we are at in maintaining this Cause were compared with the Rents of these Monasteries it will soon appear how far the one comes short of the other and yet these Charges we have now born above Fifteen Years whilst our Dangers daily encrease with our Expences Let any Man also but consider the restless Endeavours and implacable Hatred of our Adversaries and then what Prince in the World can be thought so silly and inconsiderate as to put his whole Fortune to the risk for Goods of so small a value Wherefore we humbly beseech the Emperor not to entertain any such Suspicion of us for we preferr his Friendship and the publick Peace before all worldly Enjoyments Those of our Adversaries in like manner who are acquainted with the State of our Dominions and Affairs without doubt entertain no such Suspicion of us for they know that the least part of these Revenues accrue to us Now the chief and only Cause why with so much Burthen and Danger we profess this Doctrine is because God requires it of us that we should profess the Name and Gospel of his Son For he commands us to fly from all false and idolatrous Worship and by no means to approve the Cruelty of those who persecute the true Religion Now will we speak of the Possessions of Monasteries Answer the Complaints of our Adversaries and give the Reason why the Houses and Rents of Monks and Friars are converted into another Use When the Light of the Gospel began to shine in Germany and the Vices and Errors of Men were detected and condemned many and especially the more learned of their own Accord forsook that Pharisaical kind of Life and some of them that they might prosecute their Studies and follow some other honest Course of Life demanded some Allowance in Money Now this Change happening not only amongst us but also in the Monasteries of our Adversaries in all places where Monks and Friars remained we appointed good Men to inspect and censure false Doctrine and Worship For those also who chose rather to stay than to remove we provided necessary Sustenance and took particular Care that the Aged and Sick should want for nothing there being still some of these Monasteries within our Territories It was a Duty incumbent upon us indeed as Magistrates when once we knew the Truth to abolish false Religion and to take care that these Revenues should not be dissipated especially when the Monks in all places fell away and some of them had thoughts of appropriating the same to their own private Uses Besides there were none to be found in Monasteries fit to labour the Land or to mind domestick Affairs So then their State was changed for we thought it not fit to send for Monks and Friars from other places to put in their room least that might disturb our Churches and therefore we converted good part of their Revenues to pious Uses for maintenance of the Ministers of the Church free Schools and those that are afflicted with Poverty or Sickness And upon these Accounts the Revenues of Monasteries are somewhat impared but what is over and above is kept to be distributed amongst Priests whose Living are too small and poor young Scholars For the state of the Time is such now that by all means Ways ought to be thought on for educating Youth who may prove hereafter fit Instruments to serve both in Church and State. What more remains of these Goods we are ready to assign them to pious and publick Uses according to the Determination of a lawful Council when such shall be or of an Assembly of the Empire For to this Use ought the Goods of the Church to be applied as both the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Canons and Councils do testify Which being so we reciprocally do desire That our Adversaries will suffer those Goods to be applied to the like Uses For now in most Cities the Stipends of the Ministers of Parishes are either none at all or at least very inconsiderable and yet in the mean time the Bishops and other Prelates who enjoy these Possessions discharge no Office neither in Churches nor Schools Wherefore to the great Prejudice of the State publick Schools run daily more and more into Decay Therefore as we said before some Remedy must be found to heal this Wound God made Mankind and appointed Magistrates for that end that in such Assemblies Men should learn the true Knowledge of himself And therefore it is the part of Kings and Princes to take care that so necessary Duties should be performed We for our parts are ready to give Security that within our Territories these Possessions shall be applied to a right and lawful Use provided our Adversaries do the same and that 's but reason since we see idle and debauched Men that are of no use but indeed a Burthen to the State squandering away those Revenues in Luxury and Riot And would to God the Emperor knew all of our Adversaries how that in those places within their Territories where our Churches have yearly Revenues they receive them and keep them for their own Use And when we demand what belongs to us and give them mutually Leave to receive the Rents of their Churches within our Bounds they reject the Offer and are therein supported by the Imperial Chamber However it is a common Proverb That Equality is the Nurse of Peace and if they laid to Heart the Peace and Tranquility of Germany they would not certainly act in the manner they do But the Truth is they spare not their own Churches imposing and demanding new Dues of them And because they banish learned Preachers out of their Countries many Parishes are destitute and solitary and the Church Revenues squandered away Again they so exhaust the Monasteries that in some places it is a Proverb amongst the Monks That there is nothing at all left to them but the Bells to Ring and the Choire to Sing in which gives occasion to Licentiousness and threatens Religion sometime or other with a fatal blow It would be really very acceptable to us if the Emperor would examine the whole matter and dilligently inquire Where it is that the Ministers of the Church are most civilly and kindly used Schools best ordered the Functions and Ministry of the Church most decently performed whether in our Territories or amongst our Adversaries If the Emperor would give himself this trouble we needed not make any Apology to justifie and defend the matter of Fact for the thing it self would speak in our behalf and move him to set about a true Reformation of the Church But now that Cruelty is practised that harmless Priests are put to Death and that there are no limits set to Severity it will come to pass that fit Men being removed out of the way gross Barbarity will ensue and
Frederick Count Furstemberg In this Diet the Emperor on the Third of July made a heavy Complaint to all the States assembled of William Duke of Cleve for his seizing of Guelderland and at the same time presented unto them a Book which asserted his Right to that Province telling them that he had summoned him to appear there but that he had taken a Journey a quite contrary way meaning thereby into France as we said before There were Ambassadors from Cleve there present who excused their Prince and as they insisted in proving his Title the Emperor arose and departed On the One and twentieth of July all the Princes and States waited on the Emperor to make Intercession for the Duke of Cleve desiring that he might be taken into the Protection of the Empire and the Controversy referred to a friendly Arbitration wherein they promised their best Endeavours But that if the Matter could not be accommodated they humbly besought him to prosecute his Right by Law Whereunto the Emperor sent this Answer by John Naves That whereas in this Diet which was called for the sake of the Publick that Differences might be removed and Peace setled in Germany much time had been spent and to his great Trouble and Prejudice to his other Affairs nothing could be concluded because of the clashing of Opinions he wondered very much to find them so unanimous in this Cause alone which was properly his own And so he dismissed them not without Displeasure The Day following Raymond the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech wherein he reckoned up at large the Reasons why his Master had driven out of his Country Charles Duke of Savoy who some days before had accused the French King thereof before the Emperor and States During this Diet the French King sent Caesar Fregoso a Genoese and Anthony Rink a banished Spaniard Ambassadors to the Grand Seignior who falling down the River of Po on their Way to Venice were about the First of July taken and slain William de Bellay of Langey a Man of singular Sagacity and Industry was then the French King's Lieutenant in Piedmont who having Intelligence of the Fact immediately acquainted the King therewith and July the Fifth wrote also from Turin to Alfonso Davalo Marquess of Pescara Governor of Milan for the Emperor that he would procure the Releasement of the King's Ambassadors who were made Prisoners as it was manifestly known by his Men for that otherwise the Truce made Three Years before by the Intercession of the Pope would be broken Now he desired that they might be set at Liberty either because at first he knew not or else pretended not to know what was become of them The Marquess to clear himself from Suspicion made as if he knew nothing at all of the Matter and to purge himself sent Count Francisco Ladronio Ambassador to the King. Du Bellay wrote another Letter to Pescara on the Eleventh of July wherein he briskly told him I would not doubt said he to speak of Religious Matters in a general Council of the whole World and that as pertinently too as ever your Kinsman and Friend Thomas Aquinas of old did provided I knew as much in Divinity as some of your familiar Friends know of this Murther For you must know that Indico Alfonso's Grandfather by the Father side the Son of Rodorigo as Spaniard married a vast rich Fortune of the Family of Aquinas And this Alfonso was Cousin-Germain to Ferdinando Davalo of Pescara a most excellent Soldier and Commander From de Linieres a Town in Berry the King on the Twentieth of July wrote an Answer to Alfonso telling him that he should have Respect to his Honour and Reputation and that he could not slight the Injury done to his Ambassadors if they were not restored to Liberty Many Letters pass'd betwixt du Bellay and the Marquess about that Matter but nothing else was done the Marquess protesting that after diligent Enquiry he could not discover any thing and persisting therein the King complained also to the Emperor of the Injury by his Ambassador at Ratisbone where having receiv'd an Answer not to his Mind he gave sufficient Intimation that it would prove the Cause of a War. George of Austria the natural Son of Maximilian the Emperor and Archbishop of Valentia happened at that time to be upon his Return from Spain into the Low-Countries who coming to Lyons was apprehended and committed to Prison to revenge what had been done to Fregoso and Rink Much about this time Francis the Son of Anthony Duke of Lorrain married Christian the Daughter of Christiern King of Denmark Dowager of Milan The French King was vexed at this and the more that the Year before the Duke of Lorrain's Daughter was married to Renat Prince of Orange who was wholly at the Emperor's Devotion At the same time that the Emperor held the Diet at Ratisbone King Ferdinand besieged Buda wherein was the Widow of the Vayvode John with her young Son Stephen Now the Guardians of the Child and the Nobles of the Kingdom had craved Assistance from the Turks so that the Turk sent a General with Forces who in the Month of July came to Buda whither he himself came also not long after with the rest of the Army By this means King Ferdinand's Army consisting of Germans Moravians and Bohemians were forced to raise the Siege received a great Overthrow and lost Pest a Town overagainst Buda those that remained saving themselves as well as they could by Flight About the end of August the Grand Seignior sent Presents to the Child Stephen Vests of Cloth of Gold with some stately Horses acquainting his Mother at the same time that he had a desire to see the Boy and that she should send him out to him to the Camp. She being much terrified hereat but finding no other Course to be taken and that the Nobles advised her to it sent out the poor Babe with his Nurse and a great Train of Nobility to accompany him The Turk received them very courteously but afterwards caused a Proposal to be made to the Queen's Counsellors that they would deliver up Buda to him for that they were not able to defend it against the Enemy and for him to come back again with an Army when occasion required would be both troublesom and chargeable and that therefore it would be far better to let him have the keeping of the place whilst they being afraid of their own danger had not a word to say he presently gave orders to the Aga of the Janizaries to sieze the Town and the Child was not sent back to his Mother before the thing was done Being then Masters of the Town and all the Citizens disarmed they demanded also the Castle where the Queen then was In the mean time the Turk sent Messengers to com◠〈◊〉 her and bid her be of good Courage and withal made over Transilvania to her and her Son.
of Rome and Council he excused his Master's absence offered them his Labour and Services in his Name and withal told them that the distance of Place and difficulty of the Journey was the cause why the Bishops whom the Emperour had ordered to come from Spain were not yet arrived This was done during the Diet of Wormes mentioned above The Cardinals Legates return him answer That though they never questioned the Emperour's Piety yet his Speech had been very acceptable to them and that since the Pope the true Vicar of Christ and Successor of Peter the Prince of the Apostles had with the advice of the Emperour called that Council for curing the publick Evils and especially those of Germany they hoped that the Emperour would take care that nothing should be determined concerning Religion at Wormes but that all things be referred to the Council for that that was a Matter that highly concerned both the peace of his Conscience and his Reputation But that if it should happen otherwise not only the ancient Custom of the Church but the Law of God and Man also would be violated a pernicious Precedent introduced and the Dignity of the Council utterly vilified that as for himself his person and presence was very acceptable unto them However since most part of the Members were late in coming there was nothing done that Year unless that in the Advent which is the time immediately preceding the Birth of Christ some Monks preached to the Fathers according to the usual custome The Pope also in his Bull of Indulgences emitted the Thirteenth of December bewails the Misery of the Times which he affirms to be so great by reason of over-spreading Heresies that all the pains labour and care that possibly he can and does take does not all satisfie himself that therefore he had called a Council that the Wounds of the Church which wicked Hereticks had made might be healed that now seeing the salvation of all men depends upon it and then that the Fathers of the Council assisted by other mens Prayers may be the more acceptable to God He exhorts all and every one that forthwith they betake themselves to Repentance confess their Sins to a Priest three days a Week subdue the Flesh by fasting and the same days be present at Divine Service or if their Health do not allow it that they bestow something on the Poor That the poorer sort say often over their Pater noster and then receive the Sacrament To those that obey he grants Free Pardon and Remission of Sins and commands all Bishops to declare the same to the People The seventh of January after when the number of the Bishops was encreased the Council commenced And when they were all met in the chief Church after Mass the Cardinal-Legates whom we named read a Speech to the Fathers telling them that for three causes the Council was called That Heresies might be rooted out the Discipline of the Church restored and Peace resetled That the blame of the present Calamities ought to be imputed to the Clergy for that no Man did his Duty nor minded God's Husbandry as he ought and that therefore Heresies were sprung up like Briers and that though they themselves had raised no Heresie yet because they had not laboured the Land sowed the good Seed and rooted out the growing Tares they were in the same fault that they should look about them and every one examine his own Conscience whether or not he had done his Duty that certainly all the blame lay at their doors that the Discipline of the Church was neglected That a third Evil was War and that this was a punishment inflicted by God for the neglect of Religion and Discipline that the Church was now afflicted not onely with Turkish and Foreign Arms but also with Domestick and Civil whilest either Kings themselves were at War or they who had made defection from their own Pastors confounded all Order and made havock of the Goods of the Church That they themselves had given occasion to all these Evils when through Avarice and Ambition they had introduced into the World most pernicious Principles of living That therefore God's Judgment was just in smiting them so at this time and that yet the punishment was far less than what they had deserved that happy were they indeed who suffered for Righteousness-sake but that they could pretend to no such thing who deserved a far more heavy Judgment That all and every one then should confess their Faults and study to appease the Wrath of God for that unless they acknowledge them there was no hopes of amendment and then it was in vain to hold a Council and in vain also to implore the Grace and Assistance of the Holy Ghost That it was truly a great Blessing of God that he had given occasion of beginning a Council whereby as Jerusalem of old after a long Captivity so the Church after a long and violent Storm being brought into a safe Harbour might be repaired That Esdras Nehemiah and the rest of the leaders when they were returned home seriously admonished the People of Israel that confessing their own and the sins of their Forefathers they should implore the Mercy of God that the same Example was to be imitated by them that there were men in those days who hindred and laughed at the Jews who were repairing Jerusalem that in this Age also there would not be wanting those that would endeavour and do the same thing and that because they bore the Office of Judges they must have a care not to be swayed by Passions and Affections but to lay aside all hatred and friendship not to determine any thing for the love or favour of man nor flatter the ears or desires of any but to ascribe all Glory and Honour to God alone for that all Ranks and Orders of Men had strayed from the way nor was there any that did good no not one That the eyes of God himself and his Angels were upon this Assembly and that the thoughts of no man's heart could be hid from them That they should then act with sincerity and that those Bishops who were sent by Kings and Princes should indeed obey their Instructions but have in the first place the Fear of God before them and not be biassed either by love or hatred for that since it was for the sake of Peace they were met all Faction and Contention should be banished After this Oration was made the Decree of the Session was next read by John Fonseca a Spaniard Bishop of Castrimarino Therein all that profess the Christian Religion are admonished to reform their Lives to fear God often confess their Sins frequent the Churches and pray for the Publick Peace That Bishops and all other Priests be diligent at their Prayers and every Lord's Day at least say Mass and pray for the Pope the Emperour and the whole State of Christendome that they also fast and
Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France who as has been said had lately made Peace to sollicite them for Succours In the mean time after that the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave had written privately to the Emperour as we said before they publish a Declaration July the thirteenth wherein they alledge That this War was a War of Religion and that it was the Emperour's Design under a certain colour and pretext of Rebellion and as if he intended but to punish a few to divide and break the Confederates that so he might afterwards more easily destroy them one after another For confirmation of this they bring several Proofs and give a Relation of what King Ferdinand Granvell Naves and others had privately said at Ratisbonne to wit That the Contempt of the Council was the cause of this War. They affirm also That the Emperour had sent Letters to the Magistrates of Ravensberg who had lately received the Reformed Religion That they should within a few days desist from their Enterprise else he threatned to give their Town and Lands to be plundred by his Soldiers but that the Messenger was recalled with his Letters when he was upon the Rode leâ—t it might become publick that Religion was the Ground of the War. That the Archbishop of Cologne also was for attempting a Reformation excommunicated by the Pope and deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Possessions and Dignities and is threatned almost with the very same by the Emperour What was that if not a plain Declaration of the Cause of the War For it was no light Report that went about That the Cardinal of Ausbourg a great Incendiary in these Troubles was by force to be put into his place That it was also given out by some That when they were once vanquished and subdued Forces should be dispersed all over Germany to see that the Decrees made in the Council concerning Religion should in the Emperour's Name be obeyed and put into execution Moreover that many Letters gave an account That the Archbishop of Toledo chiefly and many other Prelates of Spain did contribute vast Treasures for the carrying on of this War which they would not certainly do if any Secular Interest were the cause of it That it was known besides what sort of a Decree it was that past at Ausbourg sixteen years since when the Emperour declared That he could not endure that Sect and Doctrine of Luther but that he and his Friends would hazard all they had Life Strength Blood and all that he might destroy it Root and Branch For should they indeed be subdued which God forbid then would it soon appear that no favour was to be shewn to this Religion but that rather having killed their Ministers ravished their Wives and Children they would again restore Monks and Friars and the rest of that filthy Rout That it was not lawful for the Emperour to use violence against any State nor to proscribe any Man without a Trial nor yet to call into Germany Strangers or Forreign Forces nor indeed to aspire to any Hereditary Right or Succession to the Empire because to these Conditions he was bound by a sacred and solemn Oath For could he in right do otherwise there would be no lasting Form of Government in the Common-wealth That they could not imagine what the Cause of his Quarrel was For as for my part saith the Duke of Saxony all the Difference that he and his Brother King Ferdinand had with me was two years ago wholly ended at Spire and to cement our Friendship Eleanor the Daughter of Ferdinand was freely promised to my eldest Son provided we could agree about Religion The Emperour approved of that then and when I was returning home from the Diet he sent Granvell and Naves to my Lodgings to complement me in his Name and to assure me of his Kindness and of his Good-will towards my Person Children and whole Country What Crime can I have been guilty of since that time that he should from such cruel Resolutions against me But the truth is this is our Case as we said before we refuse the Pope's Counsel and therefore incur his Hatred However he had no reason to act so nor to design such things against the House of Saxony for he knows that after the Death of Maximilian this Imperial Dignity being offered to my Uncle Frederick he by his Vote and Interest secured it to him not to mention many other good Offices which at several times the Family of Saxony have done to the House of Austria But if perhaps he be offended that I turned Julius Pflugg out of the Bishoprick of Numburg as to that I both asserted my Right in a Publick Manifesto and referred my self to any unsuspected Judges and Arbitrators that the Emperour might appoint Now as for my part saith the Landgrave I was fully reconciled unto him five years ago at Ratisbonne and if that some years past I intended to make War against the Bishops and did after assist my Cousin the Duke of Wirtemberg in the recovering of his own for all that and whatever also I might have publickly or privately acted against the Statutes and Written Laws of the Empire I had a Pardon in due form What then should be the Cause of Prejudice or Animosity I cannot at all imagine Besides when I was to wait upon him lately at Spire he was so gracious and obliging to me both in Countenance and Speech that I could not perceive the least sign of Displeasure in him It was stipulated betwixt us five years since at Ratisbonne That if at any time he should attempt any thing against the Duke of Cleve I should not at all meddle in the matter He made War afterwards against him and I performed what I promised and when afterwards he received the Duke of Cleve into favour again which was before Venlo he pardoned all that had served under him or assisted him in his Wars But if he be offended at our Absence and that we did not come to Ratisbonne both of us made our Excuses the Duke of Saxony by Ambassadors and I personally in a Conference at Spire But what Liberty or Form of Government is there then in Germany if that should give a good Cause for War when not only in former Diets but in the very same Diet also of Ratisbonne several Princes were absent And as for the War of Brunswick we cannot be blamed for it is lawful for all Men to withstand Force by Force We frequently moved and earnestly desired in several Diets That a Restraint might be put upon his Boldness but unless it were fair Words and Letters we could obtain nothing And nevertheless the Publick Letters which at our desire King Ferdinand wrote to Duke Henry were accompanied with other Private ones whereby Duke Henry was given to understand that he was not to obey them These Letters under the King 's own Hand were found in Wolffembottel and if need were could be
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
Protection if they obey and that such as refuse and are disobedient to Our Commands shall be punished in the same manner as the Principals July the two and twentieth Gerard Feldwig who lately returned from Constantinople is sent back again thither from Ratisbonne When the Emperour perceived that there was no business to be done in this Diet of the Empire he Prorogues it to the first of February the year following We spake before of the Pope's Letters sent to the Suizzers now so soon as Jerome Franco his Holiness's Nuncio had received them he sent them forward from Lucerne with Letters of his own dated July the twenty-fifth wherein he acquaints them That three days before he had received Letters from the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and that though they were much to the same purpose with some other former Letters of theirs yet because they contained somewhat that was new he had sent them in all haste a Copy of them promising to produce the Originals in the next Assembly and that because in the League which the Pope and Emperour had concluded about the latter end of June there is place left for others who would engage in the same Confederacy and because also it was stipulated That the Emperour should first try if without a War his and the Enemies of the See of Rome could be reclaimed and brought to their Duty his Holiness did earnestly desire of them that they would in plain terms tell whether or not they would enter into that League and submit to the Decrees of the Council of Trent Wherefore since they had appointed him a Day at their next Assembly at Baden to give him an Answer to his former Demands he did now write of these things unto them that they might in the mean time consider of them That therefore he begg'd of them for the Blood of our Saviour Christ's sake that they would seriously reflect how glorious and advantagious it would be to them and to their Children also if they did contribute in extinguishing the Flames of Division in Germany and approve the Decrees of the Council In that the Pope divulged the Cause of the League some looked upon it as cunning Fetch that by that means he might entangle the Emperour in many Difficulties for it is certain as shall be said hereafter that he took it very ill that the Emperour had pretended another Cause for the War. About this time Albert Son to the Duke of Bavaria married the Lady Anne Daughter to King Ferdinand and William Duke of Cleves the Lady Mary her Sister For seeing the Duke of Cleve had in vain expected the Daughter of Navar from France as hath been said before he was dispensed with by a Bull from the Pope to marry another He therefore married this Lady and both Marriages were celebrated at Ratisbonne amidst the Tumult and Noise of Wars and were designed as a Bond to strengthen a new Alliance The Session of the Council of Trent was appointed to be about the latter end of July as hath been said but it was put off to the beginning of the next Year as will appear in its proper place There was at Trent at this time besides the Cardinal-Legats the Cardinal of Trent and Cardinal Pacieco a Spaniard four Archbishops thirty three Bishops and of these 〈◊〉 French five Spanish and one Sclavonick the rest were all Italian Bishops 〈◊〉 of Divinity who were of Religious Orders thirty five and twelve others were Secular for most part all Spaniards Moreover two of those Archbishops were Titular only Olaus Magnus of Upsale and Robert Venant a Scottish-man Now the occasion of this was When Gustavus King of Sweden the Neighbour of Denmark made an Alteration in Religion in the Year 1537. John Magnus Archbishop of Upsale who disliked that Reformation leaving his own Country fled to Rome whither he came with small Attendance Afterwards going to Venice he was made Vicar and as they commonly call it Suffragan to the Patriarch of that City But being afterwards weary of that Office he returned to Rome and there being reduced to such Straits that he sold his Horses and broke up his Family he was by Pope Paul placed in the Hospital of the Holy Ghost and there died in a poor and low Condition He had a Brother Olaus with him to whom the Pope gave that Gothick Archbishoprick though it was not within the Pale of the Roman Church and sent him to the Council with an Allowance of fifteen Duckets a Month for his Maintenance The other the Scottish-man having informed the Pope of the Archbishoprick of Armagh in Ireland obtained it from him in Title He was a blind Man and nevertheless not only said Mass but rid Post also These two then the Pope would have to be present at the Council only for ostentation as if those two so distant Nations the Swedes and Irish had acknowledged his Power when in reality they enjoyed no more but the Shadow and bare Title of Prelates We told you before That Duke Maurice after a private Conference with the Emperour left Ratisbonne and went home King Fendinand following not long after he went to wait upon him at Prague Afterwards on the first of August the Emperour sent to Duke Maurice from Ratisbonne a Copy of the Proscription we mentioned before and in his Letters to him and the People relates the same things almost that were contained in the Ban and Instrument of Proscription And because he was related in Blood and Affinity to the Parties Outlawed so that he might claim some Right and Title to their Estates and Goods he strictly charges him to assist him with all his power in seising and taking possession of their Provinces nay that for preservation of his own Right he should with all diligence put himself in possession of all else the first Possessor whoever that might be should have all without any regard had to his Consanguinity and the Rights of Entail That besides if he slighted his Emperour's Command he should incur the same Pains that they had done He charges also the Nobility Gentry and Commons upon the same Penalty to obey his Proclamation and faithfully assist the Prince These Letters were equally directed to Duke Maurice and his Brother Augustus The Whole Protestant Army was now come to the Danube There the Duke of Saxony Landgrave and Council of War August the third wrote to William Duke of Bavaria signifying That it was to no purpose for them to say much of the Emperour 's Warlike Preparations since the whole Matter was well known to himself That though they had never been wanting to the Emperour in any kind of Dutifulness nor did think they had ever given him any cause of offence yet had they long since learned both from his Answer and the Discourses of other Men also that he intended a War against them as disobedient Subjects when in the mean time they were neither convicted
15th of March the Emperour dismissed at Nordligen that he might go and raise fresh Troops came thither also bringing his new Forces with him The Emperour leaving Nordlingen went to Norimberg and from thence to Egra a Town belonging to King Ferdinand upon the skirts of Bohemia The King had several times commanded those of Prague to lay down their arms and the rest of the States being by them informed of this April the fourth they write back to him That the reason why they had taken up Arms and marched with their Forces was that they might stand upon their own and Countries defence against any unjust Invasion especially now that he was absent In the mean time they begg'd of him that he would intercede with the Emperour not to pursue the War against the Duke of Saxony but refer the matter to an amicable Arbitration they also desire that he would call a Convention of States as he had promised Much about this time the Emperour came to Egra and April the 7th the day after King Ferdinand and Duke Maurice arrived there wrote to all the States of Bohemia and having repeated what he wrote the month before he told them that his designe was only against the Duke of Saxony that therefore they should supply him with Provisions furnish him Corn and return home for that otherwise both he and his Brother King Ferdinand would take it very ill That they needed not to be in any apprehensions as concerning the matter of Religion for that during the whole War he had molested no man for his Conscience At the same time the Commissioners who were at Prague send Letters again into all parts earnestly importuning the States that they would in all hast arm and come to the defence of their Country which was now in extream danger King Ferdinand April the 11th answers their last Letters from Egra writing much to the same effect that the Emperour had done That they would therefore desist from their Enterprize if not that he would take a course to bridle that rashness of theirs That he wondered exceedingly they should intercede for the Duke of Saxony since he deserved no such thing neither of the Emperour nor of himself nor yet of Bohemia That as to the Convention of States they desired he should do what was fitting as to that In the mean time the Duke of Saxony advancing takes Friburg and Meisen a Town lying upon the Elbe from Duke Maurice About this time also the Fathers of Trent remove to Bolonia and made no more Decrees after that Session wherein they treated of the Sacraments as we mentioned before The cause of their departure was given out to be the unwholsomness of the Air of the place in the judgment of Jerome Fracastorius of Verona who was Physician to the Council and had a Salary from the Pope of threescore Dukats a month The Emperour was highly offended at the matter and commanded the Bishops and Divines of his Dominions not to stir a foot from Trent So that the Council was divided one part of it being at Trent and the other at Bolonia When the Emperour came to Norimberg from Nordlingen Maximilian Count of Buren who kept Franckfurt with a Garrison of twelve Companies of Foot and about four hundred Horse being sent for came thither to him and returning afterwards to Franckfurt again April the 12th he caused two persons to be put to death of whom one named William Verden was a Townsman but the other John Gelluse a Subject of the Landgraves The reason why they were put to death was that they were said to have been suborned by the Landgrave to get a Smith to make and sell them the Keys of one of the Gates to set fire to the Town in four several places to nail up the Canon by the help of their Associates to kill the Count of Buren his Friends and Attendants the Consul and Senate of the Town in the hurry and confusion of the fire and to poyson the Fountains and Wells of the Town and especially that which served the Count of Buren's Kitchin and another in the Court. Afterwards there was a Writing published declaring that they had confessed the Conspiracy in Prison and owned the same at the place of execution But the Landgrave purged himself affirming that since Franckfurt fell into the Emperours hands he had never attempted any thing and confuting the Crimes objected against him by many and weighty reasons That sometimes indeed he had ordered John Gelluse to inform himself what way the Emperour and Count of Buren marched with their Forces and that that was all Now if through the violent pain they suffered on the Rack they confessed what was false and thereby wronged not only others but himself also he hoped that no man would therefore entertain the worse opinion of him that it was dangerous and unsafe to lay any stress upon what was extorted from men by over-rigorous torture whereof this was a proof that they themselves when they were brought to execution declared those very persons innocent whom they had named before as Complices in the Conspiracy April the 13th the Commissioners at Prague writ again to the States of the Kingdom and earnestly advise them to fulfil the League which they had with the House of Saxony they complain also that it hath been already infringed by some and therefore command that it be punctually observed by all for the future The same day they write to King Ferdinand praying that he nor the Emperour would not be offended at these their military proceedings nor attack the Elector of Saxony first because of the League they are mutually bound in and then because he was desirous the Cause might be brought to a fair tryal The very same day also King Ferdinand sent John Bishop of Olmuntz and some other Counsellors to the Convention of States at Prague which was appointed to meet the 18th day of April By them he excuses himself that he could not come in person and then demands of them that they would annul the League they lately made and lay down their Arms for that otherwise there could be no free Convention If this were denied the Commissioners had instructions to treat no farther but if they obeyed then to proceed in course however to determine nothing but refer all to him The Emperour the same day set out from Egra accompanied by his Brother King Ferdinand who had with him six hundred Cuirassiers a thousand Hussars and ten Ensigns of foot Duke Maurice and his Brother Augustus were also there with as many men At length after ten days continual march on the 22th of April he came near to Meisen where the Duke of Saxony then was who having intelligence of this drew out of the Town burnt the wooden Bridge and encamped near to Mulberg upon the Elbe But the Emperour fearing that he might retreat to Wittemberg a strong
Reasons of both Parties being heard a Committee out of the whole Diet was chosen to consider of the Matter The Result of their Deliberation was That the Sentence past against Albert should stand good but nevertheless because they saw that it would prove a most difficult Business to put it in execution they refer the whole Matter to the Emperour Some time after King Sigismund died at a great Age after he had Reigned Two and fourty years Casimire as has been said was his Father He had three Brothers of whom Ladislaus was King of Hungary and Bohemia the Father of King Louis and Anne John Albert and Alexander having successively Reigned after their Father Casimire died without Children and left the Government to their youngest Brother Sigismund to whom succeeded his Son of the same Name and Son in Law to Ferdinand King of the Romans It has been said in the former Book that Mendoza protested against the Council at Rome To that the Pope having called a Consistory of Cardinals February the first made this Answer When you told Us said he my Lord Ambassador that you had Orders from the Emperour to protest against the Council you struck us all with great grief But when afterwards we diligently considered your Commission we took heart again and first I will say somewhat to the cause of our Grief And it is because that kind of protesting is a thing of bad Example made use of chiefly by those who have either wholly shaken off their Obedience or have begun to waver in it Wherefore it grieved me exceedingly who have always born a Fatherly Love towards the Emperor and as it becomes the Pastor of the Church studied Peace and Concord And it grieved both me and the Colledge of Cardinals the more that at this time it was the thing we least expected since the Emperour when he made War against his and the Churches Enemies had Aid and Assistance from me And though my Lord Ambassador you seem to make but small account of this yet it ought to be reckoned as a singular favour For the Aid I sent was very great so as it even exceeded the reach of the Apostolical Chamber and came besides in a most seasonable time What could have been less expected then than that after a Victory and lately obtained too the Emperour should render unto me such fruits of his Faith and Benevolence Such I say as that the end of the War should be the beginning of protesting against me I have now found by Experience what the Prophet complaineth of That I looked for good Grapes but found none but sower Grapes From my entrance into the Popedom I have with much care cherished the Emperour as a most noble Plant that some time or other I might reap a most plentiful Vintage but this attempt of his hath made me almost despair of any fruit You have heard the cause of our Grief now you shall know what it is that hath given us Comfort You have used that Authority which you think has been given you of protesting against me and this sacred Colledge in a manner as was neither Honourable to us nor becoming the Character of the Emperour But in your Letters of Instructions there is not one word which shews it to have been the Emperours will that you should have acted so I say not one word that you may the better understand me that gives you power to do so The Emperour indeed Commands his Agents at Bolonia that they should so protest before our Legats there who changed the place of the Council and when you found that that was done there you would needs use the same form of Protestation here with us but in that you have transgressed the bounds of your Commission If my Lord Ambassadour you were not sensible of that before take now Admonition and acknowledge it For the Emperour's Orders are not that you should protest against us but that you should do it in this our Consistory against the Legats who were the Authors of the Translation Wherefore the Emperour in that did the Duty of a most modest Prince who confined himself within those limits and would have that Protestation to be made before me whom he knew to be the only lawful Judge of the whole Matter Had I indeed refused to take cognisance of the Affair then would he have had a cause of Protestation but you taking another course than you ought to have done made no application to me that I should examine the Matter but made use of a certain Prejudice demanding that I should annul the Decree made for translating the Council and enjoyn the greatest part of the Fathers to give place to a few who remained at Trent And what could more enervate all the Authority of the Council than that Had it not been much more reasonable that if the small number which is at Trent had had any cause of Complaint against the rest who are at Bolonia they should have brought it before me I would not then truly have rejected their demands nor would I neither now reject them Since then it is certain that your way of acting is not consonant to the Emperours Intentions we have cause to thank God who thus disposes his Mind and Purposes we have cause to Congratulate and you also to Rejoyce in your Princes behalf And though by what we have said the foundation of your Plea and Proceeding is wholly overturned so that there is no need of making Answer to your Protestation nevertheless that I may not by my silence seem to acknowledge the truth of your Accusations and thereby offend many especially the weaker sort I will refute them severally And in the first place therefore You seem to have proposed this Scope to your self that you may expose me as negligent a Shuffler and Starter of Delays to baffle the sitting of the Council and make the Emperour appear on the other hand to be a vigilant and active Prince sollicitous for the publick good and wholly bent upon the sitting of the Council Truly I do not nor ought I envy the Emperours Praises and had you stopt there and gone no farther I should have nothing to answer but because you so extol him as to depress me so celebrate his Praises as to render me in some sort Contemptible whilst you say that he urged not only me but my Predecessors Popes of Rome to call a Council the Thing it self requires that I should answer you as to these things Wherefore if it has been always the Emperours mind and desire that a Council should be held I have ever been of the same mind as well as he And besides as I am older than he so also have I wished for this sooner than he which the most eminent Cardinals who were then of this Colledge can testifie When I was made Pope I persevered in the same mind and upon the very least occasion that offered I called a Council first at Mantua and
afterwards at Vicenza but thither hardly any and hither but a few came And the Legats that I sent for six months stayed expecting the rest of the Bishops whom I called by Letters and Messengers sent unto all Parts Now you say that these Towns were not fit for Men of different Nations to meet in but Trent with you is a proper place And yet all Men know that Trent is not to be compared with them either for bigness or plenty of all things It was not the inconvenience of the place then but the Wars of Princes that was the hindrance Tell me then now which of the two was most zealous in this particular the Emperour who by Wars and Commotions hindered the Council or the Pope who was always a Lover and Promoter of Peace who never sided with any Prince but the Emperour alone and that too only in that War which seemed to secure a way for a Council Whether the Emperour was forced upon War and unwillingly engaged in it or not I shall not dispute but it is certainly known that the Wars put a stop to the progress of the Council I enter not willingly unto this Comparison because it is a contending for the praise of Virtue and Goodness which is all to be ascribed unto God but you have put me upon it my Lord Ambassadour However I will not insist any longer only advise you to reflect seriously on the several years of my Pontificate and attentively consider what care and pains we have taken And indeed the two things which I always proposed to my self were that I might entertain peace amongst Princes and call a Council wherein I have spared neither cost nor labour though I be stricken in years but neither do you find fault with any thing that preceded the Council and only accuse the Legats that without my knowledge they removed to Bolonia Then it offends you too that I call the Assembly of the Fathers at Bolonia a Council and you think that therein I do an injury to those who are at Trent but what hurt is there in that for so all Men speak The Council is translated from Trent to Bolonia Wherefore if I would do the duty of a just Judge I cannot but call it so till I be otherwise convinced by contrary Evidences especially since the greater part of the Bishops went thither with my Legats Nor ought the smaller part as you affirm but the greater to be reckoned the sounder in a dubious case And it is certain that it is in the Councils power to remove to another place but whether or not it be lawfully removed which is the thing in controversie I reserve that to my own Judgment to which it is referred and in the mean time give the name of Council to that Assembly But you say that the Authors of the Translation are devoted to me Do you think that is to be found fault with then You consequently praise those who remained at Trent because they are not so complaisant Consider what danger there is in that for Schisms and Dissentions that are very pernicious to the Church commonly spring from this when Bishops withdraw themselves from their obedience to the Pope But if by being addicted to me you mean Factious Men that right or wrong take my part I own no such For I have no other private Concerns but those of a Father towards his Children and of a Pastor towards his Flock nor hath there any such Controversie been as yet started in the Council that I should stand in need of any such addicted and pre-engaged Creatures but I chiefly required of the Bishops that they have regard to the liberty of their Conscience and I laid strict Injunctions on my Legats when they departed from me to the Council that they should take special care that the Fathers might have no cause to complain that they were not allowed the freedom of speaking their Judgments You find fault also that I will not be prevailed with by the Intreaties neither of the Emperour King Ferdinand nor of the States of the Empire to recal the Fathers to Trent and from thence gather that I take no care of Germany especially seeing with great pains and trouble the Emperour has brought it about that those who heretofore were fallen off from the Church would not now refuse the Decrees of the Council provided it were continued at Trent Truly I never refused in positive terms but that they might return to Trent if it might be done lawfully and without giving offence to other Nations Now how desirous I am of the welfare of Germany is manifest from this that I have called the Council there twice already and twice sent my Legats where the Cardinals Pairizio Morono and Pool in the first Legation stayed the space of seven Months expecting the coming particularly of the Germans and yet you your self know that none came then There came indeed from the Emperour Granvell the Bishop of Arras and you your self my Lord Ambassador and you can bear witness with how much patience our Legats expected the rest But what was the issue Ye your selves did not tarry and though my Legats prayed that one of you three at least might stay because it would be an example to others nevertheless you alledged a certain kind of excuse and a few days after departed Then two years after being indeed a more convenient time there was a second meeting there and I sent Legats the Cardinals de Monte Santacruce and Pool whither you also and Don Francesco de Toledo came But you may call to mind what a tedious expectation there was and how many Months spent in vain before any thing was done Nay more after that they had fallen to Business and many useful Decrees were made you know how few of those came who chiefly wanted that Remedy Not any of the Bishops came some few sent their Proxy's and in short they gave no hopeful signs that they would admit of any Remedy For when many flocked thither out of Spain France Italy and more remote Provinces scarcely one came from Germany which is the next of all But the state of Affairs is now much altered you say and the Emperour whose Power and Authority is now much increased will engage that if the Council return to Trent all the Germans shall submit to its Decrees Good my Lord Ambassadour if what you say be true and if the Germans be in that mind why do not they absolutely submit to the Council wherever it be Yet I would not be so understood neither as if it much concerned me in what place the Council be held But you stick so close to Trent that you say Germany is lost unless it be finished in the same place where it was begun But take heed what you say For whil'st you fasten us to the Walls of one City you do an injury to the Holy Ghost God of old set apart Jerusalem as the peculiar place of his Worship so
Prince should send for him Mention has been made in former Books how the English had given the Scots a great overthrow in Battel Nevertheless the Scots persisting still in their Resolution and relying on the Promises of the French King Somerset the Protector of England and the rest of the Privy Council published a very long Declaration and Letter dated February the Fifth exhorting them to Peace in this manner Although say they the thing it self required that ye who have the worst on 't both in your Cause and the Defence of it should have made the first step and although we are now possessed of a large part of your Country yet we cannot but give you a friendly warning to consult your own safety Before the Battel that was fought last year we invited you to Peace and Friendship and declared our minds unto you but that Paper was suppressed by the great Men and Regent of the Kingdom and never delivered unto you for they are such that if matters go well with themselves they are but little concerned what becomes of you Wherefore if they use the same arts still and will not suffer you to be informed of our Purpose and Desire we openly declare by these Presents that we have neglected no Duty that was incumbent on us Many and most bloudy Wars have been often carried on betwixt the English and Scots and it is not to be doubted but that they who read History or hear of publick Affairs do much wonder that People of the same Country and Language should entertain such bitter Dissentions and Animosities amongst themselves and do not think it a most desireable thing that some way were found out whereby the whole Island might be united and subjected to one Government but that the most expedient way that can be thought on for that is Marriage all Men confess Now God in his great mercy hath pointed out this way unto you and dropt as it were into your Lap the fairest occasion that may be Your King after he had broken his Promise having lost a Battel shortly after died whether of grief or some other cause we determine not He had three Children two Sons and a Daughter and the Sons indeed might have stood in one way of any Condition betwixt us but both of them God removed almost in one day when they were Infants and left you for Heiress a young Daughter born a little before her Fathers death He hath given us a most hopeful King Edward the Son and Heir of King Henry What Do'nt you see a Bond of a perpetual and immortal friendship betwixt us prepared to your hands Such occasion hath been often wished for indeed but for these Eight hundred years never offered before Nor can they themselves who amongst you hinder the Peace deny the truth of this but alledge that we would by this means get the chief Rule and Government into our own hands and bring you into bondage and slavery But in a Declaration we directed to you a year ago we sufficiently refuted that and now take God to witness that the Kings mind is to joyn with you in the closest and most indissoluble bond of Friendship but if you refuse and by your obstinacy move us to War again consider pray who is like to bear the blame of all the common Evils that may ensue You promised in full Parliament your young Queen in Marriage to our King Contracts and Writings were thereupon made and sealed with the great Seal of the Kingdoms Many Cautions and Securities were given nay and Hostages too until both were come to the Age of Maturity These your publick Writings we have and they are a standing Evidence against you and 〈◊〉 Earl of Arran the Regent of your Country was not only present when the Matter was transacted but had also a chief hand in carrying it on though afterwards when the Cardinal of St. Andrews and some other Prelats had suggested to him fears and jealousies and put him in great hopes he fell off from the Agreement and violated his Faith. Him now ye are to blame for all the mischief that is befallen you that ye have lost so many Towns and Castles that so many have been killed in Battel and that we have advanced so far into your Country it is all to be imputed to him But what end after all do ye expect of this obstinacy and perfidiousness We are Conquerours and yet offer you Peace We are in possession of a good part of your Kingdom and yet invite you into England The disgrace that is commonly imposed upon the vanquished that when they are united to a Conquering People they should forsake and lose the name of their own Nation we willingly spare you and are content to take the ancient name of Britians which is common to both For the love of God what is it that we can do more Will not all Men say that we had a just cause of War when they find that such generous just and Honourable Conditions have been rejected by you We lay open unto you all the ways of entring into friendship and drive not your Queen out of her Kingdom but will Establish her and her Daughter in England Again it is not our thoughts to alter your Laws for both England and France and the Emperours Dominions also are governed by different Laws They who endeavour to obstruct the Peace scare you with such Bugbears but it is their own profit and pleasure and not your welfare they seek Turn your Eyes and Thoughts then off them and weigh with your selves the State of your Country Ye have a young Princess and Heiress to a Kingdom some time or other surely she must be Married and that either to one of your own Country or to some Foreign Prince If at home our Right and Claim is still good and it will be a thing that will occasion Domestick Troubles and Envy If you take any Foreigner you will both have us for perpetual Enemies and must truckle under the wretched Bondage of Strangers Succours you must seek from a far and it is not to be expressed what hurt and damage you 'll receive from the Forces that may be sent you and with what Pride and Insolence they 'll domineer over you For they 'll be persuaded that your safety and preservation depends wholly on their Arms and Protection What 's more they 'll take from you both your Queen and Princess and carry them whither they please and if they happen to have War on any other hand which is not impossible their whole care will be to defend their own and they 'll leave you in prey to us But if they send only Officers and no Soldiers these will imperiously give Laws to you and if any thing succeed prosperously all the glory must be theirs but if any disaster happen the whole Storm will fall on you who venture your Lives and spend your dearest Bloud You may be convinced also of the danger there
consult with him in what manner they might put in execution their Commission and that afterwards when they understood that it was not possible for them themselves to have access into all places that stood in need of their help they had been necessitated to employ others This Indulgence or Indult of the Popes as they call it the Emperour presently sent to all the German Bishops admonishing them severally to use gentle and mild ways and to try all Courses by fair Language Exhortation and Entreaty before they should come to Threats and Excommunication Wherefore the Archbishop of Mentz writing amongst others to the Landgraves Governours and Counsellors and having said much of his own Pastoral Care and of the Emperour's earnest Concern for the Publick requires them to shew the Pope's Indulgence to the Ministers of the Church and command them to obey it The thing being proposed to the Preachers their answer was That their Doctrine agreed with the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that though their Lives and Conversation did not suit with their Profession yet they acknowledged no Error in their Doctrine and that therefore they stood not in need of an Indulgence from the Pope that they had preferred Marriage before an unchast single Life according to the Word of God and that they would not forsake their Wives and Children whom Christ himself commanded us to love cherish and provide for That in administring the Sacrament under both kinds in their Churches they therein followed the command of Christ and the custom of the Primitive Church and that there was no reason to admit of any Alteration therein In the Month of May Peter Martyr and the Divines of Oxford disputed publickly concerning the Lords Supper and the Presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament Martyr proposed these Points to be defended That the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed and That the Body and Bloud of Christ was not Carnally or Corporally in the Bread and Wine but sacramentally united to them Afterward there was a Book of this published wherein the presidents of the Dispute who were appointed by the King give no obscure intimation that Martyr had the better on 't in that Debate On the Tenth day of June the Queen of France was crowned at St. Denis as the custom is the Ceremony being performed by the Cardinals of Bulloigne Guise Chastillion Vendosme and Bourbon for all the rest were at Rome Six days after the King made a most splendid and magnificent Entry into Paris the chief Town of the Kingdom where he had not been seen publickly since the death of his Father and two days after the Queen During his abode there some were put to death for Lutheranisme and as it is said he himself was a Spectator of the Execution Afterwards July the Fourth he made a solemn Procession and Prayers in the Churches and next day after published a Printed Proclamation declaring the causes of it to have been That he might give God thanks for the many Blessings he had bestowed upon him that he might pray to God for the safety and preservation of himself his Wife and Children and of the whole Kingdom and Commonwealth as also for the Souls of good Men departed especially for the Kings of France his Progenitors and the late King his Father after whose Example he was resolved to take upon himself the protection and defence of the Catholick Religion the Authority and Liberty of the Apostolick See and of the Ministers of the Church that amongst others this was also a chief cause that it might publickly appear how much he detested those who contrary to the command of Christ contrary to the Traditions of the Apostles and the consent of all Antiquity deny the presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ who take away all force and efficacy from Baptism Penance good Works and the Sacraments who professedly despise the Authority and Hierarchial Order of the Church who reject the Worship and Adoration of Saints and Relicks Moreover that by that solemn Procession and Supplication he might make known what his Judgment and Inclinations were to wit that according to the Example of his Forefathers and in a certain Hereditary Imitation he so thought and believed as the Catholick Church the Apostles Creed the first Council of Nice and many other Councils of the Fathers enjoyned as also that he was fully resolved to root out of all his Territories those Heresies which were long ago condemned but now again partly revived and partly contrived by Luther Carolostadius Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melanchton Bucer Calvin and such other monstrous and pestilent Arch-Hereticks and severely to punish such as deserved it This Writing set forth in the Vulgar Tongue he sent all over France commanding it to be published to the People and accordingly publick Processions and Prayers to be made in all places A little while after he caused Monsieur de Vervius to be beheaded for surrendring the Castle and Town of Bulloigne as was mentioned in the Fifteenth Book and confined to perpetual Prison his Father in Law d' Abigny a very ancient Man who had been Governour of all the Bolonese and one of the four Mareschals of France For many Months now he had solicited the Switzers to renew with him the League they had made with his Father and though the Emperour by Messengers and Letters did what they could to dissuade them from it yet they judging it more for their Interest consented and first the Catholick Cantons with the Rhinwalders and Wallisserlanders and afterwards also those of Basil and Schafhawsen to the great astonishment of many because of those Edicts and Punishments we spoke of For it was the general opinion that no League nor Society ought to be made with him who so cruelly persecuted the Reformed Religion and by name condemned their Churches and Doctors But the Cantons of Bern and Zurick following the counsel of Zuinglius as may be seen in the third and sixth Book refused to enter into that League We took notice before of the Convocation at Leipsick But now that some talked and complained that Popery was again stealing in upon them Duke Maurice in his Letters addressed to his Governours July the Fourth tells them that he was informed many partly out of a too solicitous jealousie and partly through the suggestions of others were apprehensive that the old Errours might be by degrees introduced again that some of the Ministers of the Church and other busie and restless spirits that delighted in changed were not altogether free from fomenting of that Calumny that by several Declarations he had formerly made publick what his Purpose and Resolution was which now because of the Slanderous Reports raised he again repeated thereby to convince all that his Religion was dear unto him that therefore he required those who either out of a fond credulity or through the suggestions of others were
apprehensive of a change to lay aside all their fear and give credit to his Letters and Testimony And that as for such who went about to spread such Reports they were not to expect to go unpunished if they persisted to do so Moreover that by his Order some Heads were abstracted out of the Decree lately made at Leipsick which he would have to be taught that therefore they should enquire and learn whether the Ministers did follow that form in the Churches or openly condemned it in their Sermons However it were that they should give him notice of it that if any doubts were started the Divines of Wittemberg and Leipsick were to be consulted and that he commanded these things to be declared unto the People At this time died the Landgraves Wife and Duke Maurice's Mother in Law being heart-broken with sorrow and care for her Husbands Imprisonment and many other Calamities she had suffered There happened now a Popular Insurrection in England upon a double account the one was for enclosing of Lands for it was a Vulgar Grievance that the Nobility and Gentry had taken in and Emparked a great deal of Land which had formerly been Common and made Parks thereof for Deer the other Pretext was Religion for though the Devonshire-men were also against new Enclosures yet their chief Quarrel was for the alteration made in Religion and therefore they demanded that the six Articles made by King Henry the Eight which we mentioned in the Twelfth Book might be restored Since then they were up in Arms a thing of no small danger and would not listen to any Admonition or Advice the King and Council much against their Wills were obliged to send Forces against them that routed and killed some thousands of them The French King who exceedingly longed to recover Boloigne again laid hold on this occasion and partly by Storm and partly by Surrender took some Castles and Forts along the Sea shoar betwixt Boloigne and Calais whereby he reduced the Garison of Boloigne to great difficulties and streights The Nobility of England highly resented this Accident and because the whole Government was in the hands of the Protector the Kings Uncle all the blame was laid upon him that he had not in time provided the Places with Necessaries This Accusation and Envy increasing daily more and more the Protector by the joynt consent of the Peers was in the beginning of October apprehended at Windsor where the King then was and sent to the Tower of London The Nobles afterward by a publick Printed Proclamation signed with all their Hands declare to the People the causes of it and charge him with bad Administration of the Government And the Ringleader of them in this attempt was John Earl of Warwick Whil'st the French King is thus employed against the English the Emperour goes with his Son through Flanders Haynault and Artois making the People of those Provinces swear Allegiance to him and then both return to Antwerp about the Thirteenth of September There the Emperours Son was received in a most magnificent manner not only by the Towns people but also by the Foreign Merchants Spanish Italian German and English and being afterwards accompanied by his Aunt the Regent he visited the other Provinces also and received Homage from them We mentioned before how the Senate of Strasburg had sent a Deputy to the Emperour for adjusting the Controversy that they had with their Bishop wherefore with the Emperours leave Arbitrators were chosen on both sides to take up the matter These met in the Month of October and after a long debate the Senate allowed the Bishop three Churches that according to the Decree lately made he might therein have the Exercise of his Religion and took all the Clergy into their Care and Protection The Bishop on the other hand grants the Senate the College of St. Thomas for a publick School and all the rest of the Churches The Clergy also was to pay a yearly Tribute and some Money to the Senate and were exempted from all other Charged and Duties The Emperour as we said before prosecuted those of Magdeburg with Edicts and Proclamations and solicited the States of Saxony for Aid Most part did not refuse provided all the other States not only of Saxony but of the Empire also did the same But the Lubeckers and Luneburghers at that time having obtained leave from the Emperours Deputies went to Magdeburg with a design to make their peace but it was in vain No Man indeed attempted any open Hostility against them but being outlawed they were in continual dangers and durst not stir abroad out of the City without risking their Lives and Fortunes for it was lawful for all Men to fall foul on them The Senate therefore having in a publick Declaration complained before only of the Injury and Violence received from their Neighbours do now emit a Manifesto directed to all in general but chiefly to those that lived next to them complaining that Calumnies and false Reports went abroad of them as if they behaved themselves stubbornly and arrogantly towards the Emperour and Empire slighting Peace and publishing reproachful Papers but that therein they were wronged That they owned Charles the Emperour for their chief Magistrate and had by publick Proclamation charged all their People not to presume to utter any the least undutiful Expression of his Majesty or of any of the States that they had given no other cause of offence but that they professed the Gospel of Christ and that all the rest were but Calumnies forged by their Enemies That it was not unknown to them who had been present but in some few Assemblies how desirous they had been of peace for that they not only understood but had tasted the sweetness and comfort of it and on the contrary the miseries and calamities that attended War that it would be also a great grief and trouble to them if for their sake their Neighbours should be exposed to danger or receive any prejudice that moreover they confessed that it was neither lawful for them nor in their power obstinately to stand it out against the Emperour and Empire but that being necessitated to defend themselves from injury they had demolished some Houses and seized some Castles small Towns and Villages in time of War not indeed with a design to appropriate them to themselves but that they might not fall into the hands of Strangers nor would they refuse to deliver them up provided their Neighbours would live quietly That there were two main Reasons why they could not obtain a Peace first because they retained the pure Doctrine of the Gospel and rejected the Idol of Popery and then because the other Conditions proposed were not only heavy but intolerable to them and altogether such as could not be performed for that to betray their Liberty which had been granted them by the Emperour Otho the Great the first of that Name and
Maurice comforting them under hand told them That he would venture not only all his Fortunes but Life and Blood also for their Fathers freedom and that then it would be a fit time to surrender body for body when the state of Affairs should be such that the displeasure of some men needed not so much to be feared December the nineteenth all the Horse and Foot within Magdeburg but what were upon the Guard sally out of the Town after midnight that they might fall upon a party of the Enemies Horse that lay in a Village not far off It was indeed a dangerous attempt because they were to march betwixt the Enemies Camps however it succeeded For before the Enemy could Arm they possessed themselves of the Village and set Fire to it in several places all of them having white Shirts over their Armour Of the Enemy who ever made any resistence were killed most of them being Persons of Quality Many fought from the Houses but these being set on fire were burnt Many Gentlemen of Quality were taken and presently carried to the Town with about two hundred and sixty Horses Next Morning when by break of Day they were upon their rereat homewards they met a party of Horse commanded by George Duke of Mekleburg who presently charged them but being beset by the Horse on the Front and the Foot on the Rear he himself who first began the War was made Prisoner and carried into the Town Now about this time Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria the Emperours Son-in-Law created King of Bohemia in his absence returned from Spain and came to Ausburg being recalled by King Ferdinand his Father who then began to have some clashing with the Emperour about the Succession to the Empire for which cause also it is said that the Emperour had sent for his Sister Mary Queen of Hungary who returned thither in January having parted from thence the September before that she might interpose her Interest For the Emperour who knew of what moment it would be to unite Germany to the other vast Territories and Dominions which his Son was to Inherit had a design to lay the Foundation of a spreading Monarchy and entail it upon his Heir by the accession of the Empire But King Ferdinand who aimed at the same thing thought it no ways reasonable to suffer his own and Childrens expectation and advantage to be frustrated or empaired Besides Maximilian who was a Prince of excellent temper and every way accomplish'd spoke many Languages well but especially High Dutch was very much favoured and beloved of the People The Bull of Indiction of the Council we mentioned before was by the Popes command published at Rome about the end of December There were many things in it that might give offence as that it belonged to him to rule Councils that he called himself the Vicar of Christ that he would have the proceedings continued and not to be begun again of new That he took to himself the Place and Authority of President and that he seemed only to invite Men of his own Profession The Emperour as it was said observed these things when the Bull was brought unto him and desired him to mollifie some things in it that were too rough For it was thought he was afraid lest the Germans splitting upon that Rock would either reject the Indiction or start delays and impediments to the Work which he had brought about with so much labour and pains I will not affirm this to be true and such counsels are commonly concealed But if it be true it is certain he obtained nothing For the Pope published it in the same Form I mentioned without changing a word And there were not wanting some who thought that he did it purposely that he might terrifie the Germans from coming to the Council or if they came hold them entangled and foreclosed This was the Artifice as it 's said of Paul III. as we mentioned in the ninth Book that when he had learned from his Emissaries what the Protestants would admit of and what refuse upon his calling of the Council afterwards he clapt into his Bull of Indiction what he knew would chiefly irritate and offend them as may be seen also in this Bull of Julius which is exactly framed according to that of Paul. At that time Duke Maurice and the Elecor of Brandeburg propose Conditions of Peace to the Magdeburgers requiring them to surrender and submit themselves to them and their Archbishop That if they would do so they should still retain their Religion and the Doctrine heretofore professed at Ausburg that they should lose nothing of their Privileges Rights nor Liberties that the Fortifications of the Town and every Man 's private Estate should be safe and that no force should be used against any Man Moreover they promise to intercede with the Emperour that he would recal the Out-lawry but upon these Conditions that as other Princes and free Towns had done so they also should humbly beg pardon of his Imperial Majesty that they should deliver him up sixteen pieces of Ordnance and pay an hundred thousand Florins to redeem their confiscated Goods which sum of Money they also promised to advance for them That they should restore to the Church-men their Possessions that they themselves would judge of the hurt done on either side of the Habitations of the Clergy and Ceremonies of the Cathedral Church That to incline the Emperour to condescension they must receive a Garison into the Town until he ratified the Treaty and the other Conditions should be performed That it should be their care that the Garison Soldiers did not commit abuses But that if the Emperour rejected these Conditions they would presently draw out the Garison and leave them the Town in as safe and good a condition as they had received it However the Senate refused to surrender and would not admit of a Garison In the Month of December the States of the Archbishoprick of Magdeburg but chiefly the Clergy published a Declaration in the Vulgar Tongue against the Senate and People of Magdeburg alleaging that antiently and by right they belonged to the Jurisdiction of them and the Archbishop which might be made out by the Letters and Charters of the Emperour Otho the First That the truth was they had done many things sawcily and insolently especially against the Archbishops Burcart and Gunther but that they had been reduced to their Duty and made to suffer for it as was evident from History When say they Ernest of Saxony first and then Albert of Brandeburg were Archbishops all Controversies were made up and ended but they kept not Covenants And as often as the Bishops with common consent of the rest of the States enacted any thing for the Publick good they always shifted it off and drove at this that they might skrew themselves into Authority and give Law to the rest And when Cardinal Albert had his Cousin John
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
to him that they who were Parties whether Plaintiff or Defendant should take to themselves the power of Judging Again That it was a Decree of the Diet at Ausburg that the Council should be continued and all things carried on in a right and pious manner that their Prince had always understood it so that what had been done in the Council in former years ought not to have the force of Laws but that all things should be reviewed again from the beginning for what Law or Justice would it be when two are at Law that one of the Parties absent upon a lawful ground should be obliged to ratify and approve the Sentence pronounced in his absence Besides since not only in the former Council but in this also there had been many Decrees made contrary to holy Scripture and many ancient Errors also confirmed as might be demonstrated the Prince demanded that they should be of no authority but all submitted again to a fair and lawful Tryal And all these Heads he gave in in Writing with the confession of Doctrine Having done so their Answer was That the Fathers would in due time tell them their thoughts as to the matter and so they were dismissed The same day towards the Evening the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice were sent for to have Audience in the same place When they were come they delivered their Masters Demands in the long Speech to the same purpose as they had lately done to the Emperours Ambassadours but that it was more pithy in the close where they boggled not to say That the Worship and Service commonly performed in Papist-Churches was not the true Religion but a painted shadow of Devotion Having done speaking they delivered in the same Speech in Writing to the Clerk I mentioned and they had an Answer in the same terms as those of Wirtemberg had before Amongst other things it vexed them exceedingly as was known afterwards that their Religion had been called by so base and contemptible a name The Ambassadours purposed to have delivered their Commission in a publick Session but to avoid that which they knew would have been done the Fathers gave them a private Audience for either they must have done so or have left all to a publick Debate They had brought with them indeed the Confession of Faith that was drawn up as I said by Melanchton but for what cause I cannot tell they produced it not The day following which was the Twenty fifth of January the publick Session was held and the Legate went to Church in the pomp we mentioned before There was a greater number of Soldiers then and a greater confluence of People from several places expecting great matters should be done that day After Mass and all the Ceremonies were over it was publickly read from the Pulpit That for the sake of the Protestants all matters were put off to the Nineteenth day of March by which day they were to be present to propound what they had to say that the Council did condescend to that out of kindness to them hopeing that they came not obstinately to oppugne the Catholick Faith but with a desire to learn the Truth and at length to submit and obey the Decrees and Discipline of the Church that a safe Conduct had also been granted them in a more ample manner that nothing at all might be wanting and then that the Sacrament of Matrimony was to be handled in the next Session Three days after when nothing appeared the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice dineing with Don Francisco de Toledo desired a sight of the safe Conduct that had been promised He gave them a civil answer but when three days more were past the Deputy of Strasburg at the desire of the rest went to Poictieres and complained that now in six days time they had received nothing that there had been delay long enough before because the safe Conduct was not full enough and that now again time was protracted but that the Divines would not come before their Masters were satisfied with the safe Conduct He made answer That it was not any fault of his and that he wondered why Don Francisco de Toledo who was chief of the Embassy deferred so much that he would presently go to him and made no doubt but that the matter would be dispatched the same day that he would send him word of what he learnt from him and so going out together he went to his Lodgings This was on the Thirtieth of January Some hours after all the Ambassadours are sent for to the Lodgings of Don Francisco de Toledo where Montfort also was present but Poictieres spoke and first makes an Apology for the delay that had been made enlarging much upon their own sincerity in the affair and the honourable Intentions of the Emperour their Master and then he urges them to hasten the coming of the Divines with all speed which they thought they must needs do having once received their safe Conduct At these words Don Francisco de Toledo arose and gave every one of them a Copy of the safe Conduct signed by the Clerks of the Council They withdrew to peruse it and found that the places which they had corrected before the Session were not altered wherefore they came back to them again and complain of that shewing them what it was they desired to have done in every Article of the same The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice also were willing to know of them what answer the Fathers made to their demands which those of Wirtemberg likewise desired Poictieres spoke again and as to the safe Conduct made answer That to demand liberty to be granted to their Divines to sit in Council and decide was done a little too early by them that if they were once present and engaged in business many things perhaps might be occasionally allowed them which now were refused that no Man was indeed against it but that the holy Scripture should be the Judge in all Controversies but that when any debate arose about the interpretation of Scripture who was more to be believed than a Council That Scripture was an inanimate and dumb thing as all other Political Laws also were but that the Judges Mouth must go along with it to make it to be understood and that that had been the custom ever since the Apostles days when any doubts arose That it was not indeed expresly granted to them that they should have the exercise of their Religion in their Houses but likewise that it was not forbidden that they had no reason to fear that any thing would be done in contempt or reproach of their Religion and Doctrine because severe Orders would be made to the contrary for that it was the Emperours will it should be so as the Fathers hated all sawcy and intemperate Language and that seeing they met for the sake of peace scurrilous and opprobrious Expressions would not be allowed in any manner They answer their demands much
to his intended departure it could not be granted him That the Emperour had commanded them to suffer no Man to depart After a long Discourse when he told him That he had no more to do that what now remained would be managed by the Divines who had a Commission for that in Writing He bid him go to Count Monfort and shew him the Commission and then civilly dismissed him wishing him a good Journy home When Count Monfort had seen the Commission he could have wished he said that his Affairs would have permitted him to stay longer but that since his occasion so required he could not be against his going and so very kindly dismissed him Next day when he was just ready to set out upon his Journy the Ambassadours sending for him Poictieres told him That though they had the day before condescended to his departure yet having considered better on 't and consulted together they could not give him leave to depart That Matters were now brought to such a maturity that the fruit of the time spent was to be expected And the Actions to be begun again That if the Legate had not been somewhat indisposed something might have been determined that very day That therefore he must needs stay For if he should depart at that juncture of time the Fathers would be offended who knew that he had been there for some Months past That it was the Emperours command also that no Man should withdraw But that if he had Orders from his Principals to be gone he should shew the Letters whereby he was recalled that they might excuse themselves to the Emperour To which he made answer That he did not go because he was recalled by the Senate but because his own Affairs required it And then having told them some Reasons he declared That if it were not for these he would not have stirred one foot from thence That not only the Authority of the Senate who wished that he might tarry longer but the dignity also of their Character who desired it of him and the cause it self which he was very fond of might justly prevail with him to do so That by the coming of the Divines he could be much better spared now especially since all that remained was only to admit them to a hearing That the Ambassadours of Wirtemburg who lately arrived were also present with the Divines and that the cause was common as had been lately declared That if the Matter should be handled seriously and without intermission the Senate perhaps would substitute another in his place for that he had given them by the last Post notice of his coming away To this replied Ambassadour Poictieres that he would stay at least so long till the Action were begun again which would be very speedily And that if the Legate Crescentio recovered not they would endeavour that his Collegues should manage the Matter in his place When he perceived that excuses and entreaties would not prevail he betook himself to his last remedy which he had purposely reserved till then and told them That both he and all the rest of the Augustane Confession had leave granted them by the safe Conduct to depart whensoever they pleased Then at length said Don Francisco de Toledo they had so indeed and that they neither would nor could hinder him from going But that they could do no otherwise than to signifie to him the Emperours Commands and what it was they themselves desired So then having recommended the Publick Cause and the Divines to their Cares he took leave of their Excellencies and departed At that time the Fathers disagreed among themselves nor did they all look one way For the Spaniards Neapolitans Sicilians and all that were on the Emperours side but chiefly the Spaniards and with them the Ambassadours urged hard that the Actions of the Council might be continued But the Pope's Creatures suspecting that the Spaniards had a design to attempt the Reformation of the Court of Rome desired to see some impediments started that might prevent it And because of the Civil Broils the Chief German Bishops were already gone they looked for the same occasion and the rather that they had intelligence daily by Letters that Duke Maurice and the Confederates were already in Arms. The King of France also had employed the Cardinal of Tournon who bestirred himself actively in negotiating a Peace with the Pope And if that took effect since the French King was then in War with the Emperour no Man doubted but for his sake also the Council would be dissolved The Ambassadours of the Emperour therefore who saw and dreaded all these thing made it their whole business to bring about what they most desired by means of the Protestant Ambassadours About the later end of March a certain Franciscan Fryer preaching upon St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans before a numerous Auditory took occasion now and then to rail bitterly against Luther and his Followers and went so far as to say That they who had never had the knowledge of Christ and yet lived an honest Moral Life might be saved That this was the true meaning of the Apostle in the second Chapter of the Romans upon which he preached Some of the Protestant Divines having been present and heard this they all consulted together and wrote a Letter to the Emperours Ambassadours on the last day of March declaring that the cause of their coming was that they might illustrate and defend the Confession of Doctrine exhibited And that it was a grievance to them that nothing was done in Council whose Decrees already made contained hardly any thing else but bitter Censures and Execrations of the Doctrines they professed That a Franciscan Frier t'other day had not only said many absurd things openly which were contrary to the sense of the Church and Ancient Doctors but had also belched out many reproaches against their Doctrine and Churches And that although some said that he did these things against the will of the Fathers yet they saw how well his Sermon took with the Hearers That if that were the only cause why they were called to come thither that they might be made a spectacle and laughing-stock to others and be forced daily to hear their Doctrine reproached and railed at there was no necessity that they should have made the Journy and that all these things might have been done in Writing That therefore it was their earnest suit to them that by virtue of their Character and Authority they would procure not only that they might at length know what the Father 's found fault with in the Confession exhibited but that they also might be publickly heard as to all the Points of it The Ambassadours graciously received the Letter professing that they were glad to find an occasion offered of urging the Council to action so that if the Legate Crescentio did refuse they might put it home to his Collegues and the rest of the Fathers The Frier
of Germany were kept at distance from the publick Diets quite contrary to the custom of the Empire That in short it was fully resolved that all should be reduced under a foul and ignominious Bondage upon which account Posterity and those that came after would have just cause to curse and detest the sottish Cowardice of this time wherein the fairest ornament of the Country that is its Liberty was lost That therefore since the case was so he and the Landgrave William the Son of Philip moved by a just grief for his Father's Calamity having made a League with the King of France whom the Enemy also laboured to undermine and turn out of all had resolved to take up Arms for the deliverance of his Father-in-Law and the Duke of Saxony for the reparation of his own Honour and for recovering the common Liberty of all That no Man should then offer to hinder or disturb this his Enterprise but that all forward it and declare and give good assurances of their resolutions so to do for that otherwise if any Man did aid and assist their adversaries in any manner of way he should be lookt upon as an Enemy This Declaration was also signed by John Albert Duke of Meckelburg particularly for the maintenance of Religion since Duke Maurice had declared that for that cause also he had taken up Arms. Marquess Albert of Brandenburg published in like manner a Declaration much to the same purpose wherein he complained that the Liberty of Germany was oppressed by the very same Persons who by their office ought to maintain and enlarge the same that there was a Council now held said he wherein some few were assembled to subvert the truth that many diets of the Empire were also called whereof this was the end that with some cunning fetch and by Men corrupted with Bribes and Promises Money may be raised to the weakening and impoverishing of Germany and that was brought about chiefly by the Church-men who had the most voices in the Diets of the Empire that matters were now so ordered that the effect of all consultations in a manner depended on the will and pleasure of one single Man who was neither a Gentleman nor German Born nor yet Incorporated into the Empire to the great prejudice and disgrace of all Germans that if publick affairs must be thus managed it were far better to have no Imperial Diets at all but that Money should be given freely and liberally as often as demanded for that by so doing there would be a great deal of time saved and besides much charges spared that by the same Artifices the great Seal of the Empire was put into the hands of Strangers which now Foreigners abused at their Pleasure to the detriment of Germany that yet there was not a Man to be found who durst bewail that unless he would expose himself to the highest displeasures that nevertheless the affairs of the Germans were not in the mean time dispatch'd but put off by tedious delays so that it was almost a publick Grievance for that as matters went the Germans had need to learn other Languages if they would sollicite their own Business to any purpose that in like manner it was contrary to the ancient Liberty of the Empire that a publick Edict should be made prohibiting any Man to serve in foreign Wars that the Protestants who were received into Favour over and above most grievous Penalties should be forced also to submit to other inferiour sneaking Conditions that great summs of Money were extorted from their Tenants and Vassals for having served them in the Wars that these Burthens had been also laid upon other Princes and States who had committed no fault and as if that War had been made for the publick good Money had been imposed upon them for defraying the charges thereof and all with design that no Sinews nor Force at all might be left in Germany That it was to be reckoned up with the rest that civil suits of greatest concern were not brought before the publick Judicature of the Empire but before a few Commissioners so that it was in their Power to make or to marr great Princes besides that it was ordered by Edict that no Prince should have his own Image stampt upon his Coin that through all the Cities of Germany almost new Senators were appointed that it was a slavery imposed now generally upon all Germans that they were forced to bear with foreign Soldiers in their Country who did much mischief reduced many to Poverty and Want and practised all sorts of Insolence and Lasciviousness for that neither had his own Country been favoured though he had promised himself better Usage for his Fidelity and the good Services he had rendered the Emperour but that when during the War of Magdeburg he was absent in the service of the Publick Soldiers had been brought into his Country though his Officers had made great intercession to the contrary and that certainly both he and the other Princes also who in the late War against the Protestants put lives fortunes and all to the risk for his Honour and Safety had been bravely rewarded for their Pains in that History of the same War written by Louis D'Avila a foul-mouth'd lying fellow whilst he speaks of all Germany so coldly and with so much contempt and aversion as if they were a barbarous and obscure People unknown in the World that the indignity was so much the greater in that the Libel had been Printed with a special Priviledge and Licence from the Emperor that many things indeed were now excused by Letters sent up and down Germany but that the same was the cry still which was up some years ago and that all their talk was that degrees were to be altered according to the condition of the times and that Men must obey the present Commands or suffer Punishment that therefore since some Princes had taken up Arms to shake off this yoke of Bondage and Ignominy he was resolved to hazard his Life and all with them in the common concern That he openly declared this and required that no Man should aid and assist their Adversaries but that all should join with him and his Associates in that common Cause for that though some might take the contrary part yet ought they not to expect better usage from their victorious Adversary Since then the state and condition of all Germans would be the same and their misery alike that if any now did carry Arms against him and his Associates he was resolved to prosecute them with Fire and Sword that there went a report of him and his Associates as if they intended to call in foreign Nations nay and the Turk himself into Germany but that it was a false and absurd Calumny for what madness would it be to put themselves and Country into so great a danger That what was said of him by some was also false as if he had engaged in this War only to
too much and would for his sake prejudice others But then how candidly I manag'd that business will appear by my Letters to him Seeing then I have been thus disposed towards him and he cannot charge me to have omitted any thing which it became me to do for him I have great confidence that as becomes his natural Virtue and true Nobility he will believe my Words or rather my Actions which are full of light than these seditious men who like Bellows endeavour to kindle a Fire amongst us With how great charity and kindness I have ever entertain'd all Germans whil'st I was at Rome out of a kind remembrance I have of my dearest Country may be easily known from the Ambassadors of many of the Princes and many of the Nobility will bear me witness who were then at Rome when I was there insomuch that the Nobility of Mentz Trier Cologne Saxony Brandenburg Magdeburg Bavaria Brunswick Passaw Osnaburg Minden and Basil did all as one man repair to me who heard all their Affairs with great fidelity and by my Interest and Commendations I procured some of them Commanders Places and other Employments which were convenient for them And now as to what concerns the Landtgrave what a silly fiction the story of one Titelman is for I never had any discourse with the Landtgrave or his Sons about this Affair nor do I remember I ever mention'd him all the while I was at Rome or in Italy It is equally as unknown to me what the Ministers of his Countries Teach or Recant and I may truly aver that to my knowledge there was no such Recantation made at Rome and therefore I do not question but if he be ask'd the Landtgrave himself will confute both this and the story of his Commendation as false Now seeing the Authors of this wicked Libel have basely made all that is in it that they might by these Lyes revive that Fire which they kindled so many years since to the end that it might break out afresh and burn with equal Rage it is fit the Princes and Magistrates should diligently preserve themselves from the danger of them and when they shall be discover'd to make them such Examples of their Justice as may terrifie others from the same Offences Lastly If there should happen to be some who on the account of these slanders have taken up and ill Opinion of me I most earnestly desire them they would lay by their hard thoughts of me and that they would certainly believe that as I am a German by Birth and descended of an Illustrious and Noble Family so I will do nothing unworthy of the Virtue of my Ancestors and the Dignity of my Family Having as I said published this Paper the 27th of June he sent â—everal Letters to the same purpose to the Princes of Germany and then return'd back to Rome at the same time that Bona the Mother of Sigismund King of Poland return'd to Naples her Native Country In the mean time there were as is reported some Commotions in England and some were Imprison'd and others Beheaded and others escaped into France in which number was Andrew Dudley Brother to the late Duke of Northumberland and two of the Princess Elizabeth's Servants were taken up The 15th of May Peter Cart who had fled some months before for a Sedition was reconcil'd to King Philip and Sir John Cheeck who had been Praeceptor to Edward VI. and was come into the Low Countries to meet his Wife and going from Brussels to Antwerp they were both taken and treated with great Indignity â—nd at last shipp'd for London In the end of June Thirteen were ty'd to one Stake and burnt near London for their Religion In the mean time Charles Marquess of Baden received the Augustan Confession and borrowed Ministers of the Neighbour Princes and States to instruct People and reform his Churches The Chamber of Spire had before this time admitted one or two Ministers of the Gospel Maximilian the eldest Son of King Ferdinand going about this time from Vienna with Elizabeth his Lady a Daughter of the Emperour 's the 17th of July they arrived at Brussels which Journey they undertook after a long sollicitation to it Peter Martyr the Florentine who has been often mentioned by me lefe Strâ—â—burg about this time and went to Zurich upon the account of the revival of the old Quarrel concerning the Lord's Supper he having been ill treated in some Books written on that Subject which inclin'd him the more to setle in Zurich where he should have greater liberty to write upon it and teach his Judgment in this Point Conradus Pelicanus the old Professor of Hebrew at Zurich died also about this time and thereupon the Ministers of that City persuaded their Senate to write to that of Strasburg to send them Peter Martyr to be his Successer The 13th of July he left Strasburg to the great sorrow of many who loved him for his incomparable Learning exquilite Judgment great Civility and Modesty and his other rare Virtues About the same time the Archbishop and Cardinal of Pisa who was a Sicilian by Birth travell'd through Bafil to the Emperour in the Low Countries to whom he was sent by the Pope the Cardinal of Carassa a near Kinsman of the Pope's having been sent some small time before to the King of France There was a Report which was also confirm'd by Writing That there were great Debates between the Pope and the Emperour and that things tended to a War for that amongst other Grievances the Pope had disposessed the Family of Colonna of their Estates in Campagnia di Rome which was esteem'd an Injury to the Emperour and besides he would not admit King Philip the Emperour's Son to the Succession of the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily which are Fees holden of the See of Rome but upon very hard conditions those Kingdoms paying a Tribute to the Popes of Rome This ended in a War the next year The 15th of July Albert Duke of Bavaria in the Name of King Ferdinand began the Dyet at Ratisbon he being in the mean time detain'd from coming hither at the time appointed by his Dyets in Austria and Bohemia which as I said he was now holding Hereupon he acquainted the States with the great Difficulties which oppressed him and the Reasons why he could not be present in this Dyet He said That all Transylvania had revolted to one John by the procurement of one Peter Petrowich a Subject of his and when there was no necessity nor any just cause of War sollicited the Turk for Succours That after this Francis Beveck and George his Son had raised a Rebellion against him in Hungary and with the help of the Walachians had taken several Towns and Castles That the Turks had sent a Bassa to govern Buda That another Bassa in the time of a Treaty of Peace had besieged Sigeth from the 11th of June and had batter'd it with all the violence
her Heart she had a kindness for the Protestant Party and that underhand she and Navarre had one and the same design And thereupon he deserted her and joyned with the Guises his till then Mortal Enemies the Duchess de Valentois procuring the Reconciliation Magdalen of Savoy Wife to Montmorency was also an implacable enemy to the Reformation and hated Coligni the Admiral for that and other causes and therefore she perpetually stimulated him against the Protestants Francis Montmorency Son of the Constable was a person of great Prudence and he wisely advised his Father not to lose the least of his friends in so necessary a time for he foresaw a Tempest would arise in France of what Religion soever they were that it did not become a wise Man to endeavour to gain new friends with the loss of his old ones and to prefer the uncertain friendship of reconciled enemies before the tried affections of his old Acquaintances That if he rejected Conde Coligni and Rochefoucault on the Account of Religion he would deprive his Family of the assistance of three great Men and perhaps the Queen would think never the better of him therefore his advice to his Father was to sit still and let Coligni and the Guises fight it out without taking part on either side and in all probability Guise would be worsted and he would become the Arbitrator of the two contending Religions And in the mean time it was most certain there were many great Errors by length of time crept into the Church which he ought not to defend because they were injurious to the Majesty of God. The good old Gentleman was much moved at this Advice from his Son but made no other answer to it than That he certainly knew that if the Religion were changed the Civil Government would be changed too That he cared not what became of him if his little Masters did well and the Actions of Henry II. might not be called in question who was a wise Prince and his good Master So he perished in his first resolves believing he was obliged to defend the Cause of Religion against his best and most ancient and tried friends The Pope seeing his Jurisdiction and Authority decline so fast in Germany England and France greedily embraced a pretended Overture made by one Abraham a Syrian Impostor who pretended he was sent by the Cophthites an Eastern Sect of Christians to make a submission to the Holy See whereupon he sent Christopher Roderick and John Baptista Elianus two Jesuits to them who gained nothing by this Mission but an exact Account of the Opinions of these Cophthites and a certainty of the Frauds of this pretended Ambassador Abraham who had feign'd this Mission to the Pope for his own Ends. This Mortification was soon after attended by another not less afflictive to his Holiness for Gothard Ketler Master of the Teutonick Order in Libonia intirely submitted to Sigismond King of Poland which put an end to that Order when it had flourished there 357 years He was thereupon made Duke of Gurland and Semigallen and Governor of Livonia and Marrying a Wise withdrew himself and his Subjects from the See of Rome The Archbishoprick of Riga was also about the same time changed into a Dukedom John Kothewick the last Archbishop of that See embracing the Augustane Confession put himself under the Protection of the Crown of Poland and was by Sigismond made Duke of Lithuania This Archbishoprick was founded in the year 1215 by the procurement of the Knights of the Teutonick Order the City being then and a long time after the Seat of the Master of it who divided the Sovereignty and Administration of Justice with the Archbishop After this short Digression which the Reader is desired to Pardon I shall now return to the prosecution of the French Affairs The new Friendship between Montmorency and the Guises was a very frightful thing to the Queen Regent who sought all the way she could possible to divide their Affections for the preserving her own Authority and therefore she was very Anxioâ—sly inquisitive to find whether this new Kindness between two such Ancient Enemies tended The Prince of Conde in the mean time was declared Innocent by the Parliament of Paris the Thirteenth of June and his Discharge Recorded The Differences in Religion not only disquieted the Court but the Provinces also the two Parties reproaching each other with the Names Papist and Huguenot There were frequent Tumults raised also by the Roman Cabolicks to shew that Coligni was out when he said The Protestant Religion might be divulged throughout all the Provinces without any Disturbance And at Amiens and Pont-Oise things came to a Sedition the Catholick Artificers beginning the Quarrel and falling upon some of the Houses of some of the Protestants and they slew one Hadrian Fourre a Priest because he was reported to savour the Reformation and afterwards burnt his Body publickly for which only two were hanged This necessitated the Council to forbid all Reviling Expressions and all Tumults on the Accounts of Religion And by it all that had been banished for Religion in the Reign of Francis II. were invited to return and promised they should enjoy their Goods and Estates if they would live like good Catholicks for the future or otherwise might sell them and retire elsewhere which was after opposed by the Parliament at Paris but yet many returned on that account and many that were in Prison were discharged so that the Protestant Party appeared numerous The Cardinal of Lorrain was Alarm'd at this and represented to the King and Queen That the whole Kingdom was fill'd with Conventicles That the meaner sort ran to the Sermons out of curiosity and were easily corrupted That the Ancient Ceremonies were little frequented or regarded and that they were already derided and scorn'd by many That great numbers every day forsook the Church and went over to the Protestants So he would needs have had a new Edict forthwith published to prevent these Inconveniences This being Debated in the Council in the Month of July there was another Edict published That all should live peaceably and without any furry each to other or reproaching one the other That there be no Listing or Inrolling Men on either side That the Preachers should use no Seditious or Turbulent Expressions upon pain of Death and the Presidents of the Provâ—ces should determine of these Affairs and execute the Ediâ—t That no Sermons should be frequented by Men Armed or Unarmed in publick or in private nor any Sacraments Administred but according to the Rites of the Church of Rome And That if any Man was Convicted of Heresie and delivered to the Secular Power he should only be Banished and this was to stand till a General or a National Council should determine otherwise This was called the Edict of July The Cardinal of Lorrain had so good an opinion of his own Abilities that he was
them the more cruel they fell next upon the Priests and Monks as the Authors of their Calamities this more incensing the Roman Catholicks And they again using the most horrid barbarities that were ever practised by Men the Protestants rose likewise in their Executions on them so that if this War had continued a few years France must have been depopulated Now though in all this the Roman Catholicks were the first Agressors and forced the Protestants to this severity in their own defence yet their Writers cunningly omitting the Provocation or softing the Actions of their own Party set forth at large the Cruelties of the Hereticks as they call them and many times aggravate them above what is true but Thuanus though a Roman Catholick was too great a Man to be guilty of so false a representation and who ever pleaseth to consult him will and I have been very favourable to the Roman Catholicks in this Abstract and have not sought occasions to make them odious without cause A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK IV. The CONTENTS The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent The Prohibition of Books taken into Consideration The French Ambassadors arrive at Trent The French King's Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The French Clergy arrive there The Pope's Fear of them Maximilian Son of Ferdinand the Emperor chosen King of the Romans The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Spanish Ambassadors received in the Council The Fathers of Trent much Displeased with the Peace made in France The Queen of Navarr cited to Rome and many of the Bishops by the Inquisition The French King's Declaration against these Proceedings The Queen Mother of France complains of the Council The Pope Gains the Cardinal of Lorrain to his Side That Councils have no Authority over Princes The Ambassadors of France Protest against the Council and retire to Venice The Council ended The Censure of the Council The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. The Romish Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy and the Cup to the Laity The Siege and Surrender of Havre de Grace Charles the IX declared out of his Minority The Scotch Affairs HAVING thus dispatched what concerns the first French War I now return to the Affairs of the Rest of Christendom in the Year 1562. And here I will first begin with the History of the Council of Trent Whilst the recalling this Council was agitated with great heat the Cardinal of Ferrara the Pope's Legate in France after the Revocation of the Edict of January seeing all things there in the state he desired he took his leave of the King and returned into Italy Before he went however he took care to furnish the King with Money to carry on the Siege of Orleans which he took up of the Bankers of Paris He had raised a vast Expectation of this Council in the minds of all those who had yet any Kindness left in their Hearts for the See of Rome and the more because they thought the Edict of January which had caused the War would then fall of Course it being made only by way of Provision till a Council should determine otherwise As the Cardinal was in his Journey Fifty Horsemen came out of Orleans under the Command of one Monsieur Dampier and surprized all his Mules Horses and Treasures and when he sent a Trumpeter to demand them again the Prince of Conde made Answer That this magnificent and warlike Equipage did not befit Pastors and the Successors of St. Peter but rather Commanders and Generals of War who were in Arms for Religion Yet if he pleased to recal the 200000. Crowns which he had furnished the Triumvirate with to carry on the War against him and the Italian Forces out of France he would then restore all he had taken to his Eminence The Council which was appointed to meet at Easter of the former Year was delay'd to the beginning of this the Pope putting it off because he was as much afraid of the Spanish Bishops as of the French National Council He had been necessitated to grant great Contributions to King Philip to be levied upon his Clergy and he thought the Bishops would on that score come with exasperated Minds to the Council and all his Thoughts were bent on the keeping the Papal Power undiminished rather than on satisfying the just Compaints of the Nations At last being forced by an unresistable necessity he sent Hercules Gonzaga Jerom Seripand and Stanislaus Hosio out of his Bosom to be his Legates at Trent And not long after he added to them James Simoneta and Mark Sitico Bishop of Altemberg in Transylvania who had orders to open the Council again the Eighteenth of January 1562. That those things might be therein treated of which the Legates should propose and in the same Order for the taking away the Calamities of these Times the appeasing the Controversies of Religion the Restraining deceitful Tongues the Correcting the Abuses of depraved Manners and the obtaining a True and Christian Peace by such means as the Holy Council should approve of The French Clergy insisted That mention should be made of a Free and General Council to be call'd for the Quieting of their Differences because their Protestants would never submit to the Determinations of the former Sessions On the contrary the Spaniards professed they would only continue the former Council and therefore they used a middle way and decreed A Council should be Celebrated The Spanish Bishops were as much dissatisfied because all the Power of proposing was given to the Legates and taken from the other Bishops and complained of it to King Philip who Ordered his Ambassador to treat the Pope about it that the Council might be free The Pope Answered the Ambassador That he was not at leisure to dispute about Ablative Cases Positive and the Genders of Words and that he had something else to do And in private he spoke of the Calamities and Dangers of France with the same unconcernedness For when one of the French Cardinals deplored the Danger the See of Rome was in of losing that Kingdom he replied What then if as long as I am Bishop of this City I shall not be forced to abate any thing of the Greatness of my Table and the Magnificence of my Buildings And when they insisted to have the Manners of Men and the Discipline of the Church throughly Reform'd he said In that Particular he would satisfie France to the full and take such Care in it that they should all of them Repent that they had mentioned a Reformation Adding That he foresaw that the Kingdom would be divided on the account of Religion but he did not value the loss of it a Farthing All which Expressions saith Thuanus Are in the Letters of the French Ambassador that was then at Rome out
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
suspicion of Lutheranism disappointed of the Popedom The year of Jubily The Golden-Gate The institution of the Jubily by Boniface VIII Reduced to 50 years And then to 25. The Jubily in the year 1550 earnestly desired by Paul III. But he was disappointed The Death of Paulus Fagius Mass again said at Strasburg 1550 The sight of Mass strange at first A tumult in the Cathedral of Strasburg The Preacher leaves the Pulpit and shifts for himself Saying of Mass interrupted The Priests glad of it A treaty of Peace between the English and French. The Protector of England delivered out of Prison Factions at Rome about chusing a Pope John Maria de Monte is made Pope De Monte changing his name is called Julius III. The French Kings Edict The number of Cardinals Julius inaugurated The opening of the golden gate A Joke upon the Cardinal of Ausburg Ambassadours sent to complement the Pope Parma restored to Octavio The most obscene Letter of Camillo Oliva out of the Conclave The Emperours Letter to the States of the Empire wherein he appoints a Dyet Peace betwixt the English and French. Boloigne restored to the French. Another Manifesto of the Magdeburgers The confession oâ— Faith of the Ministers of Magdeburg The Bishop of Strasburg complains to the Emperour of the City Mass again begun there The Emperour and his Son come to Ausburg The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans in the Netherlands The Reward of Informers Many astonished at the Emperours Edict especially those of Antwerp The 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 The power of the Inquisitors The Questions in the Emperours Edict against the Lutherans The Cardinal of Lorrain the Companion of King Francis dies By whom Metz betrayed Adolph Archbishop of Cologne makes his entry into that City The Duke of Cleve has a Daughter born Duke Maurice his Protestation against the Council The Elector of Mentz Chancellor of the Empire The Cardinal of Ausburgs Sermon against the Lutherans Some Spaniards interrupt Divine Service The death of Granvell The Bishop of Arras in great power with the Emperour Brunswick besieged Dragut a notable Pirate Tripoly taken by the Imperialists The occasion of a Turkish War. At the Emperour's Command Duke Henry and the Senate of Brunswick lay down their Arms. Their Forces were by the Duke of Meckleburg turn'd against the Magdeburgers The death of John Albert Archbishop of Magdeburg Gâ—â—â—ge Duke of Meckleburg wasts the Country of Magdeburg The Magdeburgers engage the Duke of Meckleburg And are overthrown The Emperour complains of the Magdeburgers and Bremers The Princes write to the Magdeburgers and Bremeâ—s A Woman of Ausburg in great danger for a rash word The Edict about Religion in the Netherlands moderated at the intercession of the Emperour's Sister The Conditions proposed to the Bremers And to the Magdeburgâ—rs The third Declaration and undaunted Courage of the Magdeburgers Forces against the Magdeburgers A fight at Magdeburg The besieged make a sally out A Cessation of Arms. A Deputation sent to the Emperour against Magdeburg The Bremers Letter to the Princes at Ausburg The Answer of the Magdeburgers The death of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg A cruel Decree against the Mâ—gdeburgers Duke Mauric General of the War against Magdebâ—rg Which the Emperour is earnest should be prosecuted The Emperour desires to know the Reasons why the Interim was not observed The Causes why the Decree was not observed The Answer of the Deputies and Catholick Princes to these things Pope Julius his Bull for calling the Council Duke Maurice attacks the Magdeburgers Mansfield and Heideck defeated by Duke Maurice The Emperour's Edict against the Magdeburgers The Landgrave's Sons sue in behalf of their Father Lazarus Schuendi sent by the Emperour to the Landgrave's Sons c. The Landgrave thinks of making his escape But the design is discovered The Emperours Letters to Duke Maurice and Brandeburg concerning the Landgrave's flight Duke Maurice comforts the Landgrave's Sons promising his utmost endeavours The Magdebâ—rgers sally out and get the Victory The Duke of Meckleburg taken Maximilian's return into Germany The Emperour and King Ferdinand's emulation for the Empire Maximilian beloved of all Pope Julius his Bull offended many The Magdebâ—rgers are solicited to surrender The Declaration of the Clergy of Magdebâ—â—g against the Senate The actions of the Inhabitants of Magdeburg against the Clergy The value of the damage received The Magdeburgâ—s answer to the Accusations of the Clergy 1551 King Ferdinand complains of the Turks breach of Truce The Bishop of Winchester turned out of his Bishoprick and committed to prison again Osiander's new Opinion about Justification Condemned by the other Divines Albert Duke of Prussia sides with Osiander Joachim Merlin and some others are banished for Osiander's Doctrine Osiander falls foul upon the Divines of Wittemberg and Melanchton Another of his Opinions The Decree of the Dyet of Ausburg A meeting of the Princes at Norimberg Supplies decreed to King Ferdinand against the Turk The Emperours Edict against those that should assist the Magdeburgers Octavio Farnese in protection of the King of France puts a French Garison into Parma Sentence pronounced against the Landgrave Bucer dies The complaint of the Bishop of Strasburg against the Preachers Prodigies in Saxony The Popes Brief against Octavio Farnese Octavio cited to Rome The Council meets again at Trent Heideck a Friend to the Magdeburgers Farnese being conâ—umacious undertakes the defence of Parma The Emperours Declaration against Octavio The War of Parma betwixt the Emperour and French. The Popes Brief to the Switzers wherein he desires them to send their Bishops to the Council Prince Philip returns to Spain The French Kings Apology to the Pope Parma of the Patrimony of the Church Conditions of Peace proposed to the Magdeburgers The Empeâ—our calls the States to Trent Duke Maurice his Confession drawn up by Melanchton The Confession of Wirtemberg Brentius is by the Duke of Wirtemberg restored to the Ministery in the Church A Mâ—tiny in Magdeburg Duke Maurice his Letter to the Emperour The Decree of the Council of Constance The safe Conduct that the Bohemians had when they came to the Council of Basil The Ministers of Ausburg questioned about their Doctrine The Answer and Constancy of the Ministers The Ministers of Ausburg banished Preaching prohibited The liberality of the Captive Duke of Saxony towards banished Ministers The Reasons why they were served so Henry King of France makes War against the Emperour Cherie and St. Damian taken The Reasons why the French King made War against the Emperour The Turk takes Tripoly Contrary Narratives from the Emperour and King of France The Restauration of the Council of Trent Wherein Cardinal Crescentio presides The French King Letter to the Council And a Debate amongst the Fathers about the Superscription of it The Speech of the French Ambassadour The French Kings Protestation against the Council of Trent Expectative Graces The payment of Annats discharged Pragmatick Sanction The Advice of the Parliament of Paris not to abrogate
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law His League with the French King. Duke Maurice's Declaration to the States of the Empire The Declaration of Albert of Brandenburg against the Emperor The French King's Declaration against the Emperor Germany the Bulwark of Christendom The badge of Liberty The French King calls himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes The out-lawed Men who served the King of France Duke Maurice taketh the Field Albert of Brandenburg joyns Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son. Ausburg surrendred to the Princes The Cities are summoned to come to Ausburg The Prince of Salerno revolts from the Emperor The French King takes Toul Verdun and Metz. Lenencour Bishop of Metz. The French King takes an Oath of Allegiance of the Senate and People of Metz. The Princes go to Ulm and besiege it The German and French Hostages are set at Liberty Albert of Brandenburg wastes the Country about Ulm. Conditions of Peace propounded by Duke Maurice to King Ferdinand King Ferdinand's Demands Duke Maurice his Answer Otho Henry Prince Palatine recovers his own Province The Emperor raises Soldiers The Judges of the Imperial Chamber fly from Spire The French King's demands from the Strasburgers The answer of the Senate of Strasburg The Constable chides the Strasburgers They address themselves to the King. The King's Speech to the Deputies Strasburg provides a Garrison against the French. The demands of some Princes made to the French King. Duke Maurice's Letters to the French King. The French King's answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes The reasons of the French King 's leaving Germany The French King's Answer