revenge themselves upon him by raising a report that his Wife was damned The principal Contrivers of the Farce were Coliman and Stephen of Arras both of them Divines and Preachers The first was likewise an Exorcist and had all his Conjuring Artillery ready which was proper upon such occasions Now they threw their business into this method They order'd one of their Novices to plant himself upon the roof of the Church This young Fellow in the dead of the night when they came to mutter over their prayers according to their custom makes a great noise upon this alarm they presently let fly some Conjurations and Exorcisms at him but not a word would he speak When they bid him make a sign to let them know if he was a dumb Spirit he falls a clattering again at a very considerable rate by which they were to understand that he could not converse more intelligibly with them When their Plot was thus well grounded they go and make a Visit to some eminent Citizens of the Town who had a particular regard for them Here they relate that a sad Accident had befallen them as Home without mentioning what it was but desir'd them that they would please to come to their Nocturnals As soon as these Townsmen came thither and Prayers were begun the Gentleman upon the top of the House makes a rout and a disturbance as his Superiors had directed him When they asked him what he would have and who he was he let them understand that he had not the liberty to speak upon this they command him to make signs to their questions Now there was a hole in the Roof by laying his Ear to which he could understand what the Exorcist said besides he had a Board in his hand which he stroke with that force upon every question that they might hear him below in the Church The first thing they asked him was whether he was buried there Then they named a great many of those who were interr'd there till at last they came to the Provosts Wife Here he makes a sign to let them know he was her Spirit Then they ask him whether he was damn'd and for what 2. Whether it was for Covetousness or Pride or Lewdness or Uncharitableness or for Luther's new Heresie Lastly they would know what he meant by that bustle and stir Whether he would have his body digg'd up out of that holy place and carried some whither else He makes answer to all these questions as he had been preinstructed by signs which stood for Yes or No according as he gave two or three knocks upon the Board And when he had let them understand that he was damned for the Lutheran Heresie and that his Body must be digg'd up the Monks desired the Townsmen they had brought thither to make Affidavit of what they had seen and subscribe the Register which they had lately made of this Accident This the Townsmen upon consideration refus'd to do for fear of disobliging the Provost and bringing themselves into trouble The Franciscans notwithstanding take up their unleaven'd Wafer which they call the Host and Body of our Lord together with all the Relicks of the Saints and carry them to another place and there they say their Mass This custom the Church of Rome enjoyns the Priests to observe when any place of Devotion is to be consecrated over again for lying under the Censure of ill Reports and Profanation And there is a particular Order in their Rituals what they are to do upon such an occasion When the Bishops Ecclesiastical Judge whom they call his Official heard this Relation he resolv'd to understand the bottom of the matter and therefore comes to the place himself and brings several considerable Persons along with him bidding the Monks begin their Exorcisms and that some of the Company should go upon the Roof and see if they could discover any Apparition Now Stephen of Arras did not like this way by any means but disswaded them from it with all the earnestness imaginable for the Spirit he said ought not to be disturb'd And though the Official was very urgent to set them a Conjuring yet he could not prevail In the mean time the Provost after he had acquainted the other Judges of the Town with his Intentions goes to Court and relates the whole Story to the King. And because the Monks insisted upon their Priviledges and Exemptions and refus'd to acknowledge the ordinary Jurisdiction of the Secular Magistrate The King sends a Commission to certain Persons of the Parliament of Paris to try the Cause and gives them full Power for Examination and Sentence The same Authority was given them by the Chancellor Anthony du Praet who was a Cardinal and the Pope's Legat for France Therefore having nothing to except against their Judges they were carried to Paris and forc'd to plead to the Indictment but no Confession could be gotten out of them However they kept them under distinct Confinements The Novice was secured in the house of one Fume a Gentleman of the Parliament and was often pressed to a discovery but would make none for fear of being murther'd by his Confederates for disgracing their Order But when the Judges promis'd him a Pardon and that he should not be returned into the Jurisdiction of his Fraternity he gave a full account of the whole Intrigue And being confronted by the other Criminals maintained his Testimony to their Faces These Monks notwithstanding they were convicted and taken almost in the very act yet they excepted against their Judges and made a noise with their Priviledges But this was to no purpose for they were condemned by the whole Court to be sent back to Orleance and imprisoned and then to be brought publickly to the Cathedral and to the place of Execution and there to make an acknowledgment of their Lewdness But at this time there happen'd to be a Persecution against the Lutherans as I shall shew afterwards which was the reason why the Sentence was not executed though it was a very gentle one considering the nature of the Crime For Lutheranism being so violently hated they were afraid if any severity had been us'd it would have looked more like an affront to the Society than a punishment of the Malefactors of it And whatever they had suffer'd most people believ'd the Lutherans would have been extraordinarily pleas'd with it Now the Order of the Franciscans hath a great Reputation for Sanctity with the generality And when these Brothers were condemn'd at Paris and carried away to Orleans several Women out of meer pity went sighing and weeping after them to the Gate of the Town When they came to Orleans they were committed to distinct Prisons where they insisted again very strongly upon their Immunities and Priviledges And at last after a long Imprisonment they were set at liberty without undergoing any greater Punishment During their Imprisonment they were very liberally supply'd with Mony especially by the Women who furnish'd
such thing and that without any Declaration of War. Now this to me appears the more strange because between me and you there is not the least cause of offeuce For as to the report that I should send Succors to the Marquess of Brandenburg against you that is entirely false But then as to the favour I have of late shewn to him I have only done it upon the account of the ancient Union which I mention'd and in compliance with the hospitable Custom of the Crown of France which has ever given entertainment and protection to all afflicted Princes and in a more especial manner to those of Germany in their Distresses In truth I should have been much better pleased to have seen him flourishing at home and enjoying his own than thus to see him ruined driven out and deserted I say I should rather have desired he should not have fallen into this calamity or that at least now an end might be put to it by a just and equal Treaty But now that I see him reduced into this distress by the fault of my Adversary who first pronounced the Sentence void and yet afterwards confirmed it why am I suspected if I compassionate his Fortunes But as to the giving him any assistance against the Empire that never entred into my Thoughts and you may rest assured that I will not now do it if you do not your selves first break the League of Friendship And now I have given you assurance that you shall meet with nothing but Peace and Kindness from me I desire that you would not be so far circumvented by the Artifices of those who have as little kindness for you as they have for me as to take up Arms or to contribute Men or Moneys against me for their whole Design is to make their own private a publick Concern It rather befits you to continue the Amity and to accept of the Conditions I proffer you I desire also that you would give me a clear assurance by him who delivers you this Letter what you intend and that according to the ancient Custom and the Treaty of Passaw my Ambassadors who are to attend in the next Diet may have sufficient Pasports The Answer he received was That as to the Troops sent by the Borders of Lorrain there was no Affront intended to his Majesty but it was done to the intent that if the Marquess of Brandenburg should make any irruption into the Empire his Attempts might be hindred That as to what concerned his Ambassadors and the publick Peace they had no Commands from their Principals but they would give an Account of his Demands to them and they did not doubt but they would do what was just and fit About the end of October the Emperor delivered up to his Son by his Ambassadors according to the accustomed Ceremonies the Dukedom of Milan The King of France soon after the raising the Siege of Renty in the manner I have express'd dismiss'd the Swiss and put the rest of his Forces into Quarters And the Emperor having found a convenient place not far from the Castle of Hesdin which he took and demolished the last year began the foundation of a new Town and Fort and for the building of it with the greater security kept his Army together which in the Month of November wasted with Fire and Sword the Country of Bolonois and the Territory of Amiens Thus the whole force of the War on both sides fell on the miserable and unarmed Multitude Afterwards he dismissed the greatest part of the Army and kept only with him one or two Regiments About the same time the King of France sent some Forces into Italy and amongst them some Germans for the Relief of Siena which was then sharply besieged by the Forces of the Emperor and of the Duke of Florence The Twelfth Day of November a new Parliament began in London thereupon Cardinal Pool who was then in Brabant had some Persons of great note dispatched to him to bring him over into England the Principal of which was the Lord Paget the 24th he came to London and was honourably receiv'd wheresoever he came and was soon after restored to his former Place Honour Family and Estate by the consent of the States which had been taken from him by Attainder in the Reign of Henry the Eighth The 27th day of November he came into the Parliament and in the Presence of King Philip and the Queen he discovered the Cause of his Legation and exhorted the States to return to the Communion of the Church and to restore to the most Holy Father the Pope of Rome his due Authority who was willing to receive them with the utmost Clemency and Affection He admonished them also that they should offer up their Thanks to God who had given them such a King and Queen Then returning them his Thanks for their restoring him to his Inheritance and Family which he esteemed a very great Benefit he said he was so much the more obliged to restore them also to their heavenly Court and Countrey which he wished above all things Having said this he withdrew and the Bishop of Winchester Gardiner who was Lord Chancellor having repeated his Speech and with many words exhorted them to Union and Concord He added that great Thanks were due to Almighty God for his immense Goodness and Mercy in that he had raised up a Prophet of their own Seed to wit this great Cardinal who would wholly employ himself in the promoting of their Salvation The next day when the Upper House had approved the Cardinal's Speech there was a Bill drawn in form of a Petition wherein the States supplicate the King and Queen to intertcede with the Cardinal on their behalf In it they say that they earnestly repent of the Schism that they had denied the Obedience which was due to the Apostolick See and that they had given their Assent to Acts of Parliament against it That for time to come they would be in the power of their Majesties and do all that ever they could that all such Acts might in this Parliament be repealed and therefore they did most earnestly beseech their Majesties that they would interpose and obtain an Absolution of their Sin and a Remission of the Censures which by the Canons of the Church they had incurred That they might be received into the bosom of the Church as penitent Children that in the obedience of the See of Rome and of the Pope they might serve God to the Glory of his Name and the encreasing their Salvation The 29th day when the King Queen and Cardinal were present the Chancellor arose and openly declar'd what the States had consented to in relation to the Demands of the Pope's Legate and thereupon he delivered to the King and Queen the Petition of the States in writing Sign'd and Seal'd by them and begg'd they would receive it the King and Queen receiving and opening it they again delivered
of Monsuer Wickfort a great Man of this present Age who saith that Sleidans History is very Good. It will I suppose be expected that I should give an account of this Translation That the Original deserved to be read in more Languages than one is I believe unquestionable and that favourable Reception it has already met with in the German French and Italian Languages besides that universal Applause with which it has been Celebrated by the Learned in all the Countries of Europe did bespeak such a Translation into English as might in some measure answer the native Beauties of this noble Work of which I shall only say that in this all imaginable care hath been taken to keep up that truly great simplicity which is the distinguishing character of this History how far this hath been performed is left to the Judgment of the judicious Reader What I have to say of my Continuation is already set down in my Introduction before it To the most Illustrious Prince AUGUSTUS Elector and Duke of SAXONY Landt-grave of THVRINGE Marquiss of MISNIA and Lord High Marshal of the EMPIRE His most Gracious Master and Lord John Sleidan wisheth much Health and Happiness Illustrious Sir DIvers Authors have discovered to us the manifold and various Accidents which attend humane affairs and the changes in States and Kingdoms And God himself has been pleased heretofore to instruct us and with his Own voice as it were to foretel us what should happen of this Nature many Ages before it came to pass And as to the first four Great Empires of the World He has been pleased by Daniel the Prophet to inform us of their Order Changes and Successions The greatest part of whose excellent Predictions are now by the event exposed and made very plain to us and afford us a knowledge which is both very sweet and full of Consolation The same holy Prophet has also foretold the changes of Religion and the contests concerning its Doctrines and the Apostle St. Paul who followed him has clearly also discovered before-hand many things of that Nature And the accomplishment of these Predictions has been delivered down to us and explain'd by various Writers who have lived in the intermediate Ages But then that change which has hapned in our times is one of the most Illustrious Events which has come to pass The Prophet has foretold that the Roman Empire should be the last and the most powerful and that it should be divided and accordingly it is reduced to the lowest degree of weakness tho it was once of an immense Bulk and vast extent so that now it only subsists within the Confines of Germany and its Fortunes have been very various and unsteady partly by reason of its Intestine Divisions and partly on the account of Foraign Combinations against it Yet after all God has at last given us the most Potent Emperor that has reigned in many Ages For in the Person of this Prince are united the Succession of many Rich and Powerful Kingdoms and Inheritances which by reason of their Situations have afforded him the opportunity of performing great things by Sea and Land above any other of our Princes And as his Power has very much exceeded all the Emperors of Germany which have Reigned since Charles the Great So the things which have happen'd in his time and under his Government have rendred him the most Conspicuous and Memorable of all our Princes And amongst these the Reformation of Religion doth justly challenge the first Place which began with his Reign For this Controversie had not been moved above XIV months when Maximilian the Emperor his Grandfather and immediate Predecessor in the Empire died And when he was chosen by the VII Electors Luther being at the self same time provoked by his Adversaries entred the Lists and maintain'd a publick Disputation against Eckius at Leipsick by which the minds of both the contending Parties were put into a great Commotion The Reign therefore of this great Prince is diligently to be considered and for the better understanding of it ought to be compared with those of the former times For God has ever used to raise up Illustrious and great Princes when the Ecclesiastical or Civil State were to be changed such were Cyrus Alexander the Macedonian C. Julius Caesar Constantine Charles the Great and the Otho 's of Saxony and now in our times at last CHARLES the V. That change I have here in this Story unfolded is such that no man who does clearly understand it can think of it without astonishment and the utmost degree of Admiration and Wonder It s beginning was small and almost contemptible and one man alone a while bore the hatred and violence of the whole World And even he too might easily at first have been quieted and laid to sleep if the condition he so often offered his Adversaries had been accepted by them For he Promised he would hold his Peace if they would do so too But when they refused this and would force him to recant and stood stifly in this Resolution that he should do it And he on the otherside as stoutly replied That he could not retract what he had Advanced till they had shewn him wherein he had err'd The debate between them improved and grew greater and the business was brought before the Dyet of Germany by which means it dilated it self to that degree we now see it in But then upon what reasons it was done What share the Popes of Rome the Vniversities and the Kings Princes and States of Christendom had in this Affair How Luther defended his Cause before the Emperor and the Princes of Germany in the Dyet How many men of great Learning joyned themselves with him How this business was from time to time agitated and debated in the Dyets What ways were proposed for an Accommodation How the Popes solicited the Emperor and other Christian Princes How they frequently promised a Reformation and a General Council What Persecutions and Slaughters were in several Places were stir'd up against those who imbraced this Doctrine What Conspiracies and Leagues were set on foot to the same end not only in Germany but in other Countries as this Religion spread it self How some forsook it and others persevered constantly in it What Tumults Contentions and Wars were occasioned by it These thing in my judgment are so great and so full of Variety that I think it were a sin to suffer them to perish in silence and not commit them to writing To this I may add that I think it very reasonable to give an account what the state of the Empire of Germany has been during the Reign of this Prince by the space of XXXVI years what Wars he has mannaged What Commotions and Disturbances have happned And what has been the fortune of the Neighbour Kingdoms and Provinces in these times But then I shall shew hereafter the method I have followed in this Work. For as this Princes Dominions
he had to do nor how to carry himself that he was constantly urged to retract his Writings that if that could any way contribute to the Advantage and Dignity of the Church of Rome he would not refuse to do so but that there were a great many ingenious and learned Men in Germany who could rightly judge of the whole Controversie so that though he should retract yet it would redound more to the Disgrace and Detriment than to the Dignity of the Church of Rome That for his Part he had done his Holiness no Injury but that it was rather those Collectors and Preachers who put on by Covetousness and greedy of Lucre had spoken foul and ignominious Things to the People that by these he had been grievously accused and informed against whereas he stood so well affected towards the Church of Rome and his Holiness himself that he had no Thoughts of Attempting any thing against it for that the Power and Authority of the Church was so great that next to Christ it was the most excellent thing in the World that he prayed his Holiness not to give credit to his Adversaries That he would never hereafter make mention of the Indulgences provided his Enemies on the other Hand were also enjoyned Silence that he would also advise the People in his Sermons to entertain Reverent and Honourable Thoughts of the Church of Rome not to impute to it the Boldness and Covetousness of some of its Members nor yet imitate his Example who being in some manner necessitated by his Adversaries had treated the Church somewhat irreverently and unbecomingly In short that he would do any thing for Peace sake That in all his Proceedings he had had this constantly before his Eyes That the Church of Rome should not be aspersed by the wickedness of some Men nor the People imposed upon by false Doctrine and that this his Care and Diligence could not be lyable to any Censure That he was not much concerned about Matters indifferent provided no Errour nor erroneous Persuasion possessed Men's Minds Before Miltitz arrived in Germany the Emperour Maximilian dyed in Austria January 12. the Electors then were Albert Archbishop of Mentz Herman Archbishop of Cologne and Richard Archbishop of Treves Ludovick Prince Palatine Frederick Duke of Saxony Joachim Marquess of Brandenburg and Lewis King of Bohemia who was also King of Hungary These being according to the Custome of the Empire summoned by the Elector of Mentz met in the Month of June at Frankford a City upon the River of Main whither the King of Bohemia sent his Deputy Ladislaus Sterneberg The Archbishop of Mentz spoke first and having said much of the greatness of the Affair exhorted them to Unity and Concord shewing by many Instances in former times how much mischief the Dissention of the Electors had done to Germany and that they all ought to be the more unanimous now that they were threatned with great Dangers from the Turks and from others also who sought the Division of Germany There were two Competitours that stood for the Imperial Dignity Charles Archduke of Austria who three Years before had succeeded to Ferdinand King of Spain his Grand-Father by the Mother and Francis King of France who having defeated the Switzers four Years before at Marignano was in Possession of the Dutchy of Milan And the Ambassadours of Charles about that time were come as far as Mentz four German Miles distant from Frankford but the French Ambassadours stopt at Coblentz a Town belonging to the Archbishop of Treves upon the confluent of the Rhine and Moselle They severally by Letters and Agents recommended their own Princes to the Electors and used what Arguments they could to persuade them but especially the French who easily understood that their Pretensions were not so acceptable as differing from the Germans in Language Customs and Manners The French King having overcome the Switzers as we have said was in Possession of Lumbardy but seeing he lookt upon their Friendship to be in a manner necessary for the Safety of his own Kingdom with high Promises and great Losses he purchased it the next Year after Now therefore the Empire being void by the Death of Maximilian he sent Ambassadours to acquaint them with the Reasons why he desired to be chosen Emperour and withal to crave their Assistance and Intercession for him with the Electors Their Answer was That when they had made Friendship and entred into a League with him they had excepted the Church of Rome and the Empire That it concerned the Majesty of the Empire that the Voices of the Electors should be free so that they could not forestal that Liberty by making any previous Declaration of their Inclinations Thus the Ambassadours being dismissed they wrote to the Electors acquainting them with the Application the King had made unto them and with their Answer thereunto praying them withal that they would have no regard unto it but chuse some German Prince and thereby infinitely oblige them They wrote besides to Pope Leo and seeing it belonged to him to confirm and inaugurate the Emperour elect they besought him that he would bestir himself to hinder that that Dignity should not be bestowed upon any Foreign Prince To this he made answer That he heard there was one who aspired to that Honour that could not lawfully do it for that the Kings of Naples were the Vassals of the Pope of Rome and had obliged themselves of old not to aim at the Roman Empire but to rest satisfied with one of the two and that he had already given intimation of this to the Electors By this he meant Charles Archduke of Austria for after the Overthrow which the French King gave the Switzers September 13. 1515 when he carried with him Maximilian Sforza into France Pope Leo following the Fortune of the Victorious in the Month of December came to Bolonia and there having had an Interview and long Conference with King Francis he confirmed Friendship with him And this among others was one Cause why at this Time he favoured his Pretensions Now as to what he said of the Kingdom of Naples this is the Case When Manfred natural Son to the Emperour Frederick II Made War against the Church of Rome Pope Clement IV in the Year 1365 that he might repress him took the Course which his Predecessor Vrban IV was about to have taken as it is reported and having sent for Charles Count of Provence and Anjou into Italy declared him King of Sicily and Naples but on Condition First That he should hold the same in Fee of the Church of Rome and therefore pay the sum of forty thousand Crowns yearly and then that he should at no Time aspire to the Dignity of the Roman Empire nor accept of it though freely offered unto him When the Matter was brought into Deliberation the Arhbishop of Mentz having first consulted apart with Frederick Duke of Saxony who was of great Authority amongst the
They who know him familiarly much Extol him and if we consider his Father Philip and Grandfather Maximilian we cannot doubt of the truth of what they say He is but Young indeed but however of years fit enough for Business and Action He will also make use of his Grandfathers Counsellors and some select Princes of Germany I told you before its true that it will be very inconvenient for the Publick if he happen to be long absent from Germany But that shall be provided against by Articles and Conditions made with him beforehand Besides seeing he himself hath large Territories in Germany he must needs come now and then to visit them The Turk must be driven out of Hungary the French of Italy the Church is to be setled and reformed And when I reflect on these things I 'm the less moved at those inconveniences which his absence threatens for the natural Briskness and Activity of his Temper the Love of his Country nay and the Necessity of his Affairs will oblige him now and then to return to us When the Archbishop and Elector of Mentz had made an end of s peaking he prayed the rest to speak their Opinions And his Collegues having spoken in few words put it to the Electoral Archbishop of Treves to speak next for he was had in great Reputation upon account of his Industry and Experience He therefore having in a short Preamble taken notice of a certain Prophet who had foretold that Maximilian should be the last German Emperour Now said he things seem to me almost to tend that way since the Archbishop of Mentz who hath indeed said many things prudently is wholly for having the Government of the Empire conferred upon a Stranger Yet I much wonder that he should prefer the King of Spain before the French King. I am really grieved at the condition and state of Germany for if we walked in the steps of our Fore-fathers we should not stand in need of Foreign Protection but now that we invite in Strangers what do we do but purchase to our selves Servitude but setting aside this Complaint I shall follow the same Order that the Elector of Mentz hath done and shall speak first of our Law and Oath The Reason of the making that Law in my Opinion was Lest if a Stranger should be chosen who had no fixed Residence in Germany the Dignity of the Empire might be by degrees transferred to Foreigners Now if this be the Sense and Meaning of that Law a Spaniard can no more be chosen than a French-Man but if Charles may be chosen because he hath Provinces within the Pale of the Empire the same must hold also in Francis who possesses both Lumbardy and the Kingdom of Arles which are both Parts of our Republick of the two then proposed let us see which is most eligible The Truth is at that Time when France was joyned to Germany which was in the Age of the Franks our Empire was in a most flourishing condition and I am not a little delighted with the Remembrance of those Times as often as I fall upon reading the Histories and Transactions of past Ages Now the very same occasion is again offered unto us which I think ought not to be slighted Foreign Nations also are of the same Opinion the Pope Venetians and all the Princes and States of Italy For the French Nation derives its Original from us uses almost the same Laws and Customs and is very loving and kind to our Countrymen besides its commodiousness for us and Italy because of vicinity If any Troubles arise Armies will presently be in readiness and French Money to pay them And if the Turk invade either Hungary or Italy as I am fully persuaded he will Asia being now in Peace what can be more desired than to have so flourishing an Emperour near us backed by the Forces of both Nations Now though the Spaniards be accounted good Soldiers yet what great Action did they ever atchieve in Italy without the Help of the Germans Besides seeing they are at a very great Distance from us we cannot expect any timely Assistance from them and though they might be willing yet could they not do us any great good for since Spain is exhausted by Colonies and Fleets they constantly send abroad it cannot spare any great Armies from home To this it may be added That we shall have the French for fellow Soldiers and Companions of all our Labours whereas if any thing succeed well with us the Spaniards will take to themselves all the Glory enjoy the Fruits of our Victories and have the Government of our Provinces but no more of this Comparison I now come to the Election If the French King be pitched upon there will be no cause of War in Italy for he hath Milan already and we shall persuade him not to attack Naples the same also will he do with the Netherlands provided they 'll be quiet Now why we should be so much concerned for the Netherlands I see no reason They have indeed been our Neighbours for a long time but they have no League nor Alliance with us and neither think themselves obliged by the Laws of the Empire nor contribute any thing to publick Taxes no more than the English or Scots Since the French King then is very powerful peaceably enjoys Lombardy and is provided of all things necessary He 'll undertake far greater and more glorious Actions I mean a Turkish War and will employ all his force in beating off the Enemy from Hungary and Italy that so he may secure the state of Germany But if he prefer Charles of Spain before him good God! what Commotions will we raise in Italy He will attempt the recovery of Milan occasion a lasting War and while a most lovely Country is thus harass'd the Turks will bend all their force against Hungary Who pray shall resist these Who can fit out a competent Army These are things to be carefully considered and not slightly pass'd over Now it is uncertain what may be the issue of an Italian War For if the French King get the better on 't he will attempt Naples and it is possible that at his instigation the Pope may annul our Election and every one is sensible how great Troubles that may occasion On the other hand if Charles of Spain be advanced we are not to expect that Italy will be restored unto us The Spaniards once in possession will retain it for ever Nor that only but it would be no easie matter neither to get this our Empire out of their hands again What have they not suffered that they might preserve Naples which all Men know how they came by By no means then are they to be called into Italy Let me now say a little of both Kings I make no doubt but Charles is a Prince of a gentle and modest disposition for so many do commend him But since he is but as yet a Youth what Judgment can be
to these joyned themselves the Embassadors of Maximilian the Emperor and of Lewis XII King of France who were also embarqued in the same Design The time when this Council was called was the Nineteenth of May in the Year of our Lord 1511 that so the first Session might begin on the First of September next ensuing The Cause they alledg'd to justifie this their Proceeding was That the Pope had broken his Oath for that although so many years of his Pontificate were already elapsed yet he had not given them any the least hopes of his having any Inclination to call a Council and that because they had very great and heinous Crimes to lay to his charge they could not any longer neglect the care of the Church which was a Duty imcumbent on them as Members of the sacred College Their intent really was to depose him from the Popedom which he had obtained by Bribery and other such honest arts and means as all Persons make use of who aspire to the Infallible Chair And because they could no way safely convey this their Remonstrance to him they caused it to be publickly affixed at Regio Modena and Parma which were all three Towns belonging to St. Peter's Patrimony and they added a Citation to him to appear Personally at a certain day therein mentioned Julius having received Information of all this returned this Answer on the Eighteenth of July That before he came to be Pope he longed for nothing more than the calling a general Council as was very well known to several Kings and to the whole College of Cardinals and that purely upon this account he lost the Favour of Alexander VI. That he continued still of the same mind but that the state of Italy had been so unsetled for several years last past and was left so by his Predecessor Alexander That it was altogether impossible to have formed a Council while things continued in that distracted condition After this he shews them that their Summons was void in it self by reason of the shortness of the time limited in it and the inconveniency of the place for that Pisa had suffered so much in the late Wars that it was now nothing almost but an heap of Ruins and that the Country round about it was all wasted and desolate nor could there be any safe passage thither because of the daily Hostilities committed between the Florentines and those of Senese To this he adds in the last place That they had no legal Power of issuing out any such Summons and that the Reasons given by them for so doing were altogether false and groundless Therefore under pain of the severest Censures he forbids all Persons to yield any Obedience to them At the same time he by a Bull subscribed by One and twenty Cardinals called a Council to meet the next year which should commence on the Nineteenth of April and be held in the Lateran Church in Rome For this they say has always been one of the Papal Artifices that whensoever upon any Pretext they took occasion for some secret motives to decline the holding of a Council though called by never so lawful an Authority at the same time to Summon another to meet in such a place in which they could with the greatest ease influence all the Proceedings in it After this he admonishes the Confederate Cardinals to desist in time and return to Rome and accept of the Pardon now offer'd them But they continuing still refractory on the Twenty fourth of October he Excommunicates them all and those three that we mentioned before in particular by name as Hereticks Schismaticks and Traytors to the Apostolick See and sends Copies of this Bull to Maximilian the Emperor and several other Princes And because there were divers Bishops of France who adhered firmly to the Cardinals interests he Excommunicates them also unless they return to their Duty and make their Purgation within a prefixed time On the other side the Cardinals having several times in vain cited the Pope to come and appear before them there in Council by a Decree made in the Eighth Session suspended him from all Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and commanded all Christians for the future to renounce his Authority and acknowledge him no longer for St. Peter's Successor This was in the Year of our Lord 1512 on the Twenty first of April But you must take notice that although the Council were removed from Pisa to Milan yet it still kept its old Name and was called the Pisane Council At this time there was a very famous Civilian at Pavia whose Name was Philip Decius he having espoused the Cardinals Cause published a Book in Defence of their Proceedings against the Pope A little after this Maximilian strikes up a League with Julius and Ferdinand King of Spain and so leaves the Cardinals in the Church to shift for themselves and sends Matthew Langus Bishop of Gurk to Rome to sit as his Proxy in the Council that was holden there and him Julius immediately promoted to the Dignity of the Purple But Lewis II King of France who was truer to his Engagements and had lately routed the Popes Forces near Ravenna could not escape the thunders of the Vatican his Subjects were absolved from their Allegiance his Kingdom put under an Interdict and an Invasion of it was now no less than meritorious But after the end of the Fifth Session on the Twenty first of February in the Year of our Lord 1513 Pope Julius dies and Leo X is chosen by the Conclave to succeed him He immediately after his Inaguration proceeds to compleat what his Predecessor had begun and because the state of Affairs in Europe was now a little more calm than at any time during the former Pontificate a great many Kings and Princes sent their Embassadors to Rome to assist at this Lateran Council The Cardinals also whom Julius had Excommunicated having since his Death nothing to give any colour to their continuing in their Obstinacy made their humble Submission and Suit to be indemnified for what was past and being received into Favour by Leo were restored to their former Dignities and Preferments as Leo himself declares in an Epistle wrote by him to Maximilian The Council broke up on the Twelfth of March in the Year of our Lord 1516 there having been seven Sessions since the Death of Julius for there were but twelve in all the whole four years that this Council lasted from its first Convention to its Dissolution The chief Transactions in it were these The Praises of Julius and Leo were the Subjects of those luscious Panegyricks with which the Auditory were almost daily entertained There were some Motions made in order to the engaging in a War against the Turks and concerning the Reformation of the Church And also there was a Debate about the Immortality of the Soul which began to admit of a Dispute now in
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
him delivered unto his Holiness which he promised to do accordingly That therefore if he had any Instructions in relation thereunto they prayed him to declare them that so they might have surer Grounds to proceed on That the Turkish Affairs were indeed such as he had described them to be which was no small Grief unto them But that that Difficult and most Important War concerned not the Empire alone but also all the Kings and Princes of Christendom for that unless they would be at Peace among themselves and contribute their Aid and Assistances no lasting Measures could be taken That nevertheless since the Turk was making vast Preparations both by Sea and Land they desired also to know his Judgment as to that matter Hereunto the Legate replyed That whether or not any Method for composing the Differences of Religion had been proposed by them or delivered to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals he knew nothing at all of it That his Holiness was in a Disposition of doing any thing that was convenient and had given him full Power and Commission to act but that it belonged to them who knew the Men and the Customs and Condition of the Country to find out a Way that might lead to the desired End. That in the Dyet of Wormes the Emperour with their unanimous Consent had made and published a Decree which was renewed again last Year and that then it was judged convenient that it should take place all over Germany but that nevertheless some had obeyed it and some not That now he was ignorant of the Reason of that and why there should be so great a Diversity and Incongruity in the Empire That therefore it was his Opinion That before any thing should be decreed they would consider how it was to be executed That he was not come thither to blow the Coals of Strife and Dissention as some said but that all the Popes Thoughts and his tended to Unity Peace and Concord that those who had erred and gone astray might be reduced into the right way and that the Decrees of Councils and the Edicts of the Emperour and States might be observed That as to their Demands whether they were made to be sent to Rome or not he could not tell That there had been only three Copies of them brought privately to Rome whereof one had fallen into his Hands but that the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals could not be persuaded that they had been framed by the Princes but thought that some private Persons rather had published them in hatred to the Court of Rome And that he had no Instructions as to that Particular That however he was not to be so understood as if he had not full Power and Commission to act in that Affair but that there were many things in these Demands which did both derogate from the Pope's Authority and savoured also of Heresie which he could not meddle in But that for those other Matters which did not intrench upon the Pope and were grounded on Justice he did not refuse to treat of them That nevertheless he thought That what they had to say to the Pope might have been more modestly propounded That the Spaniards had lately done so who having sent Ambassadours to Rome respectfully represented their Grievances But that to Print and disperse them among the People seemed to him to be a little too much though there was no Doubt to be made but that the Pope would do any thing for the sake of Germany That his Holiness was not ignorant neither of the great Power of the Turk and of his Preparations in this time of War and thought that Peace and Concord among Christian Princes was at present absolutely necessary for effecting whereof he would use his utmost Endeavours That he had also great Summs of Money in Readiness and made it his Business to raise more which he designed wholly for this War but that it was their Part because of the Neighbourhood of Hungary to assist the young Prince who was related to them both in Blood and Affinity That the Pope would also supply him with Money and had laboured from his first Entry into the Pontificate that having made Peace betwixt the Emperour the Kings of England and France the Turkish War might be prosecuted with united Forces That as the chief Pastor he made Peace his chief Care and Study but that if the Sheep would not follow the Voice of the Shepherd he could do no more That for the same Cause he had been sent Legate into Germany and that if all the Pains he had taken must be in vain his Holiness and he both must bear it patiently and commit the whole matter to God's Providence In Switzerland the Animosities and Clashings about Religion increased daily and the rest of the Cantons by their Ambassadours made their Lamentation to those of Zurich That in times past all things were Quiet and no Contention about Religion but that now some rash hot-headeded Men had troubled that lovely Peace and Tranquility both of Church and State and sowed among them the Seeds of Discord That it had been well done to have remedied this growing Evil in the beginning and in imitation of their Ancestors vindicated the Glory and Honour of Almighty God the Virgin Mary and other Saints and therein have spent their Lives and Fortunes and that now also the State of the Times required the same chiefly at their Hands for that otherwise the Disorder would bring upon them all unavoidable Ruine besides the Loss of their own Souls That the Fruits of Luther's new Doctrine began now sufficiently to appear That the Rable and Mobile would hardly now be restrained That they behaved themselves Insolently and Sawcily grew Stubborn and Unruly and seemed ripe for Rebellion as they had plainly enough intimated of late That the Contagion of this Evil had been conveighed to them by means of Zuinglius and Leo Jude who so taught the Word of God which ought to bring Peace and Concord with it and interpreted it according to their own Fancy that they opened all ways to Broils and Dissentions And that though they were not certain what their Doctrin was yet they had daily Experience of the Abuses which attended it That on Days prohibited by the Church Men did eat Flesh and Egs without any distinction That Priests and the Religious of both Sexes breaking their Vows forsook their Profession and Orders and married That the Service and Worship of God was wholly laid aside That there was no more Singing nor Prayers now in Churches Priests were Dishonoured Monasteries Dissolved Confession and Penance neglected so that some without any regard to these stood not in awe to come and receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper That Mass was railed at the Virgin Mary and other Saints reviled Pictures and Images pulled down torn and broken no Reverence nor Honour shewn to the Sacraments of the Church and that Licentiousness and Impurity was now grown
Article of that League was That they should resist the Invasions of the Turk and the Sect of Luther which was as dangerous as the violence of the Turk The Cardinal of England who could do any thing with the King was thought to have persuaded his Majesty to this Alliance for he bore no good-will to the Emperor because he look'd upon him as the cause why after the Death of Adrian he was not chosen Pope as the Imperialists have given it out in their Writings When Luther had read the King of England's Answer which was Printed and therein found Inconstancy objected unto him as if he had changed his Opinion in Matters of Religion which he looked upon not only as a private Injury done to himself but also to the Reformed Religion It much troubled him he said that to gratifie his Friends he had written so submissively unto him That Christiern King of Denmark had not left off to entreat and advise him both Personally and by Letters that he would write obligingly and had told him so much of his courteous Disposition that he had put him in hopes that being gently dealt with he would receive the Reformed Religion but that now he was sensible of his Error That he had been just so served by Cardinal Cajetane George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus of Rotterdam to whom at the desire of others he had written affectionately and all that he got by it was to render them more fierce and untractable That it was a foolish thing for him to imagin to find godliness in the Courts of Princes to look for Christ where Satan bore rule and to enquire after St. John Baptist among Courtiers who were clad in Purple That therefore since he could do no good by that gentle and loving way of Writing he would take another course for the future The French King being anxious and troubled in thoughts that the Treaty of Peace did not go forward fell into a fit of Sickness but being encouraged by the Emperor's discourse who bid him be of good cheer and hope the best he began at length to be somewhat better The Emperor also considering with himself what a great loss it would be unto him if he should chance to die inclined daily more and more to Peace So that January the Fourteenth all things were at length concluded at Madrid and in the Treaty of Peace it is stipulated among other things that the Emperor and King shall endeavour to extirpate the Enemies of the Christian Religion and the Heresies of the Sect of the Lutherans In like manner That Peace being made betwixt them they should settle the Affairs of the Publick and make War against the Turk and Hereticks excommunicated by the Church for that it was above all things necessary and that the Pope had often solicited and advised them to bestir themselves therein That therefore in compliance with his desires they resolved to entreat him that he would appoint a certain day when the Embassadors and Deputies of all Kings and Princes might meet in a convenient place with full Power and Commission to treat of such measures as might seem proper for undertaking a War against the Turk and also for rooting out Hereticks the Enemies of the Church Again that he would give leave to those Princes who laboured in so holy and pious a Work to collect and raise the Money which was usual and customary in such cases and also that he would impose a Tax upon the Clergy for the same purpose In this Pacification Eleanor the Emperor's Sister who had been married to Emanuel King of Portugal was affianced to the French King. The Emperor promised in Dowry with her Two hundred thousand Ducats and some Places in Upper Burgundy which were in Controversie betwixt them The King on the other hand promised within two Months after his return into France to deliver up to the Emperor the Duchy of Burgundy which the Kings of France had held ever since the Death of Charles Duke of Burgundy almost now fifty Years Besides he renounced all Right and Title to Naples Milan Asta Genoua and Flanders That he should not aid nor assist Henry King of Navarre Charles Duke of Gueldres Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg nor Robert Count of Mark That he should carry on no secret Designs in Italy That when the Emperor had a mind to go into Italy he should assist him with a Navy of sixteen Galleys fitted out and equipped with all things necessary except Soldiers and also Two hundred thousand Crowns to Arm and Man them That the King should pay the yearly Pension which the Emperor was bound by Agreement to pay to the King of England That he should restore Charles Duke of Bourbonne and his Associates to all their Rights Lands and Possessions suffering them to enjoy their Estates and live where they pleased And that the King should at any time stand a Tryal at Law with the Duke of Bourbonne for the Province of Marseillies to which he claims a Title The King having sworn to the Emperour to observe these Conditions was set at liberty and returned home but upon his passing the Borders of Spain he left behind him his two Sons Francis and Henry little Boys as Hostages according as it had been agreed upon and in case he should fail in performance of Articles he promised to deliver himself up Prisoner again After this the Princes of Germany in great Numbers met at Spire according to appointment as we told you in the former Book among whom also was John Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse The Emperour's Deputies were Ferdinand his Brother Bernard Bishop of Trent Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg Philip Marquess of Baden William Duke of Bavaria and Erick Duke of Brunswick When these had opened the Dyet June 25 and had told the Reasons why the Emperour had called it they farther added That above all things it was the Emperours Will and Command That the States of the Empire would with unanimous Consent take some course how the Christian Religion and the ancient Rites and Customs of the Church might be entirely and universally retained Again How they were to be punished and curbed that acted to the contrary if peradventure they should make use of Force And how also mutual Aid and Assistance was to be given that the Emperour's Edict of Wormes published five Years before and the Decree of the present Dyet might be observed and put in execution When a Committee of all the Princes and States had been chosen to treat of these things among whom were the Landgrave James Sturmey of Strasburg and Cress of Norimberg the Emperour's Deputies again assemble all the States August 3 and tell them That they understood there was a Committee of the whole appointed to confer among themselves about the matters proposed who as they supposed would first consult about Religion but that the Emperour's Will and Pleasure might be obeyed and that they might
not treat of such things as they had no Power to determine nor lose Time to the Prejudice and Hinderance of other Deliberations they would therefore impart to them what Instructions they had from the Emperour as to that matter and thereupon caused the Emperour's Letter dated at Seville March 23 to be read The Substance whereof was That he intended to go to Rome to be crowned and also to treat with the Pope about a Council But that in the mean time he willed and commanded That the States should not decree any thing in this Dyet that might any ways be contrary to the ancient Customs Canons and Ceremonies of the Church but that all things should be ordered within his Dominions according to the Form and Tenor of the Edict of Wormes which was made with their unanimous Advice and Consent That they should patiently bear with this Delay until he had treated with the Pope about a Council which should be shortly called for that by such private Regulations there was not only no good to be done but the Errours and Licentiousness of the Common People were thereby the more confirmed About this time the Emperour of the Turks marching from Belgrade and having passed the Danube and Save advanced streight towards Hungary Wherefore King Lewis sending again Ambassadours to Spire demanded Assistance Certain Intelligence came then also from Italy That Pope Clement and the Venetians had made a League with the King of France lately returned home from Spain against the Emperour as shall be said hereafter The Emperour's Letters I mentioned before being read most of the Free Cities especially of Vpper Germany delivered in their Minds in Writing as it is usual That they desired by all means to obey and gratifie the Emperour but that the Controversie about Religion increased daily especially concerning Ceremonies and Corruptions That hitherto the Decree of Wormes could not be observed for fear of a Sedition and Insurrection but that now the Danger and Difficulty was much greater as had been plainly made appear to the Pope's Legate in the former Dyet And that if the Emperour himself were present and informed of the state of Affairs he would be of the same Opinion That the Emperour indeed in his Letter promised a Council but when he wrote that Letter the Pope and he were on very good Terms together but that it was far otherwise now when the Pope having changed his Mind brought his Forces into the Field against the Emperour and that as Affairs stood it did not appear how a Council could be called That therefore it seemed most expedient to them either to send Ambassadours to the Emperour or by Letters to inform his Majesty of the whole matter and of the state of Germany and how dangerous a thing it would be to delay the business of Religion any longer or to urge the Edict of Wormes That in regard hereof his Imperial Majesty was to be intreated That for avoiding of greater Troubles he would suffer a National Council of Germany to be assembled wherein all matters might be tried and examined That this Course had been approved in the Dyet of Norimberg when another Dyet was therefore appointed to be held in this City and many of the States made preparation for the same But its being countermanded by the Emperour made way for Stirs Seditions and a bloody Civil War which might have been prevented if the Affair of Religion had at that time been lawfully decided Now if the Emperour approved not a National Council that he might be intreated to suspend the Execution of the Edict of Wormes until the meeting of a General Council for that else the Wound lately healed would fester again and grow worse Furthermore That in this Discord and Dissention so long as every Man was forced to be solicitous about their own private concerns it would be very difficult and uneasie to contribute Money for the Aid and Assistance of others Besides this Paper which was presented to the Princes August 4 they preferred also another Therein they complain That poor Men every where were over burthened by Mendicant Fryers who wheadled them and eat the Bread out of their Mouths Nor was that all neither but many times also they hooked in Inheritances and most ample Legacies to the great Prejudice of many That it was therefore their Opinion That they should not be suffered to propagate those Fraternities any more That when any of the Fryers dyed there should be none put into their place and that such of them as were willing to follow another course of Life might have some yearly Pension and that the rest of their Revenues should be brought into the publick Treasury That besides it was not reasonable that the Clergy should be exempted from all publick Burthens That that Priviledge had been granted to them of old by the Bounty of Kings but at such a time when they were both few in Number and low in Fortune But that now when they were mightily increased both in Number and Wealth the case was far different for the Cause of the Priviledge being removed the Effect also ought to cease and the rather that they did as much as other People nay more too enjoy all these Advantages for which Money Taxes and Customs used to be raised and paid Again That the great number of Holy-days was prejudicial to the People who were bound under great Penalties to keep them neglecting their necessary Work and Business and many ways offending God on those idle Days That the Law also for distinction of Meats ought in their Opinion to be abrogated and all Men left to their Liberty as to Ceremonies until the meeting of a General Council and that in the mean time the course of the Gospel should in no ways be obstructed After that Letter of the Emperour 's was read the Bishops refused to proceed in the matter of Religion and whilst the Pope and Emperour were at so great Variance they thought it best to delay till a fairer occasion of acting offered Thus there happened so great Animosity and Dissention betwixt the Commissioners who were of different Religion that all deliberation being on a sudden at a stand the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave thought of returning home and ordered their Servants to prepare for the Journey This being known Ferdinand and Richard Archbishop of Treves and others perceiving that it would be a very dangerous Matter if in so distracted a time and when all Men's Eyes and Expectations were fixed upon this Dyet they should depart not only without making any Decree but also with Minds full of Rancour took a course to make up this Breach for seeing many were of Opinion That the Insurrection the Year before and the Troubles at present sprang altogether from the Divisions about Religion they thought it convenient to apply a Remedy in Time Having therefore appeased the Minds of some a Decree was made at length to this purpose That
for in the first Year of the Reign of Henry VII of England which was in the Year of our Lord 1486 the same Plague infested that Country And because there was no Remedy known for such a new Distemper it swept away a vast number of People At this time also there was a great Scarcity of Corn and Wine so that all the Judgments wherewith God in his Anger uses to punish an unthankful people as the Sword Pestilence and Famine fell upon Germany at one and the same time At this time also were Prisoners at Cologne Peter Flisted and Adolph Clarebacke two learned Men because they differed in Judgment from the Papists concerning the Lord's Supper and other Points of Doctrin The Senate of that Town hath Right and Power to imprison Offenders but the Archbishop alone hath the Power of Life and Death and it may fall out that whom the Senate hath condemned to Death the Bishop's Judge may acquit Now these two having lain in Prison a Year and an half and more were at length condemned by both Judicatures and burnt to the great Grief and Commiseration of many Most People blamed the Preachers for that who cryed that the Wrath of God who afflicted us with a new kind of Disease was to be appeased by the Execution of the Wicked and Ungodly Adolph was a handsome Man Eloquent and Learned and when they were led to the place of Execution they made profession and gave the Reasons of their Belief confirming and encouraging one another with Texts of Scripture so that all People fixed their Eyes and Thoughts upon them We told you before of the Difference betwixt Luther and Zuinglius about the Lord's Supper when this had been tossed to and fro for above three Years with much Contention many who were troubled that this single Controversie should hinder an Uniformity in Doctrin earnestly wished that some Remedy might be thereunto applyed therefore the Landgrave having communicated the matter to his Associates and prevailed also with the Switzers appointed a Day when Learned Men of both Parties should meet at Marpurg and calmly discourse the Point From Saxony came Luther Melanchthon and Jonas from Switzerland Zuinglius and Oecolampadius from Strasburg Bucer and Hedio and from Norimberg Osiander many Grave and Learned Men were present besides though none but Luther and Zuinglius reasoned the Point But the Sweating Disease infecting that Town also the Conference was broken up by the Landgrave's order and this concluded upon That since they all agreed about the chief Points of Doctrin they should for the future refrain from all Contention and pray to God that he would also enlighten them in this Controversie and put them in the way of Concord And so they friendly parted in the beginning of October It hath been said already That at the Dyet of Spire which was held three Years before the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave made mention of entring into a League this matter was several times brought into deliberation afterwards and especially now that this Decree was made they began to think of it more seriously so that after the Dyet was over a certain Draught of it was made at Norimberg and afterwards more fully debated And when in the Month of October the Deputies of the Princes and States met at Swaback it was propounded in the Names of the Elector of Saxony and George Marquess of Brandenburg That seeing the Defence of the True Religion was the Ground and Cause of this League it behoved first that all should be unanimous in the same wherefore the summ of their Doctrin comprehended in some Chapters was read and approved by all only the Deputies of Strasburg and Vlm alledged That no mention had been made thereof in the former Assembly nor had they any Instructions concerning it They were not all of the same Opinion about the Point of the Lord's Supper as we told you before and this was the only Scruple Seeing therefore nothing could be concluded because of that another Meeting was appointed to be at Smalcalde the thirteenth of December When the Emperour was now come into Italy Erasmus of Roterdam who having left Basil because of the Change of Religion and to avoid Suspicion was come to Friburg a Town belonging to King Ferdinand in the Month of November published a little Book entituled Against some who falsly called themselves Gospel-Teachers but in reality he has a Touch at all the Reformed for among many other things he says he never knew any of them who appeared not to be a worse Man than he was before This Book was afterwards answered by the Divines of Strasburg because they and those of Basil were chiefly aimed at but above all others Bucer When the Emperour was coming to Bolonia Francis Sforza who had been before in League with the Pope and French King went to meet him and having pleaded his own Cause at the Intercession of Clement VII at length recovered the Dutchy of Milan from the Emperour but upon this among other Conditions That he should pay him nine hundred thousand Crowns one half the same Year and the rest within ten Years successively by equal Portions and as a Pledge the Emperour was to keep in his Hands Como and the Castle of Milan until the first Years Payment should be made THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VII The CONTENTS The Protestant Ambassadors sent to the Emperor appeal from the Answer they received at Piacenza where they were stopt which the Protestants understanding appoint a meeting at Smalcalde The City of Strasburg makes a League with Three of the Switz Cantons The Emperor being Crowned by the Pope at Bolonia calls a Diet of the States of the Empire at Ausburg where the Protestants exhibit a Confession of their Faith which in a contrary writing is Answered and Confuted by their Adversaries Some are appointed to accommodate the matter amicably and to find out some means of Concord The Emperor sollicites the Protestants who notwithstanding all the Exhortations that were made unto them the Objections and Calumnies wherewith they were charged stedfastly persevered in their Confession and having given in their last Answer depart The Tyber overflows at Rome Eckius and Faber demand and obtain an honourable Reward for the Refutations they wrote against those of Strasburg and other Cities The Transaction of Prusia is rescinded The Decree of Ausburg is related Luther who was come nearer to Ausburg comforts Melanchthon then in Anxiety because of that Decree Bucer goes to him that he might reconcile him with Zuinglius The creation of Ferdinand King of the Romans comes into Agitation and is withstood by the Elector of Saxony and other Princes but nevertheless he is created King and installed in the Kingdom WE told you before that the Protestants resolved upon sending Ambassadors to the Emperour These were John Ekinger Alexius Fraventrute and Michael Caden of Norimberg who being advanced as far as
not refusing in any thing else to venture their Lives and Fortunes for his Majesties sake That in the mean time they thought it very strange that the Princes and States should in that manner engage themselves to the Emperour since they had never given any cause for their so doing and were ready in imitation of their Ancestors to do any thing for his sake being resolved when occasion offered not to be the last That they also confessed what was said to be true That no Man was to be spoiled of his Goods but that they were innocent therein For that as to Monasteries and Religious Houses they had often declared That they would so manage that Affair in the mean while until the sitting of a Council that it should be visible and apparent to all Men that it was not their own private Profit and Advantage which they coveted The Emperour having duly considered these things ordered the Elector of Brandenburg again to tell them in his Name That he did not grant nor acknowledge what they bragged of their Religion That he himself also had a regard to his own Conscience and the Salvation of his Soul and would far less forsake the Ancient Religion which had been handed down through many Ages than they would do theirs That nothing could now be altered in the Decree already made that if they did admit of it well and good but if not that he had occasion given him to joyn with the rest in making a new Decree and in taking such Measures as that the Sects lately sprung up might utterly be rooted out that Peace might be restored to Germany and the Ancient Faith Religion Rites and Ceremonies be preserved in Force which were things that belonged properly to his Care and Duty That if they would not comply he would acquaint the Pope and other Kings and Princes with all their Disobedience and make use both of their Aid and Counsel in the Affair That to what they said they had given no Man any Cause of offence many things might be alledged to the contrary for that their Ministers and Preachers had had no small hand in the Rebellion and Wars of the Boors wherein near an hundred thousand Men perished and besides many things had been done within their Territories to the Ignominy Reproach and Contempt of the Pope himself and the rest of the States And that so they were not so Innocent as they pretended That it was out of no private end neither but mere duty that the Princes and States had promised and engaged to him their Services especially since the Protestants would not hearken to any Overtures of Concord that nevertheless it was neither very honourable nor decent for them to make such a defection who had formerly commended and approved the Decree of Wormes In the last place that he willed and commanded That Abbots Monks and other Ecclesiastical Persons whom they had ejected should be fully restored to their Possessions for that their Sighs and Complaints came daily to his Ears and that they made continual Instance unto him for Restitution The Protestants having taken some time to deliberate made answer That seeing they could not obtain a Copy of the Decree nor time to consider of the whole matter it was to no purpose for them to urge any farther and that therefore they committed their Cause to God in whom was their Hope of Salvation That also what besides had been objected to them of the Rebellion of the Boors they could not in the least be blamed for it and their Consciences wholly cleared them of that Guilt for that it was manifestly known what they had done at that time and that they had spared neither Danger nor Cost it having been clearly made out also four Years before in the Dyet of Spire what the Cause and Original of that Rebellion had been at which time it was resolved That Ambassadours should have been sent to his Imperial Majesty into Spain to have given him an account of the Rise and Progress of the whole matter but that that Resolution was altered That therefore it was not well done to turn the Envy of that Accident upon them and they looked upon it as an Injury since that if any Man had ought to lay to their Charge upon that or any other account whatsoever they were ready to answer it and stand a fair Tryal at Law That therefore they prayed his Majesty not to conceive any heavy Displeasure nor to give way to Hatred and Anger against them seeing they had no less than the other States bequeathed all they could command to his Use and Service When they had thus spoken they took their Leaves and departed leaving Deputies in their Places But before their Departure the Electors of Mentz Treves and Palatine sent to acquaint the Duke of Saxony and the Landgraves Deputies That what the Marquess of Brandenburg had said of giving Aid and Assistance for the Defence of Religion was done without their Orders that they had been free to tell the Emperour as much and that they had no cause of enmity against them That therefore if they had conceived any sinistrous Opinion of them they prayed them to lay it aside The Elector of Saxony admitted of their Justification telling them that they might expect all mutual Love and Friendship also from him The Day after they went away the Emperour assembled all the States and ordered Truchses first to tell the Deputies of the Cities That they should not offer to be gone before the Conclusion of the Dyet and then to declare unto them what had been acted with the Duke of Saxony and his Associates and that seeing the Cities of Strasburg Constance Memmingen and Lindaw had exhibited a particular Confession of their own he would also treat with them after that other Publick Affairs of the Empire and among the rest the Turkish War were taken into Debate At this time there happened at Rome an extraordinary Inundation of the Tyber to the great Terrour of the Inhabitants for the Tide and Winds from the Sea keeping back the Stream of the River made it overflow the Banks and do a great deal of Damage The like but much more dreadful Calamity happened to the Hollanders and their Neighbours by an irruption of the Sea which breaking through their Dykes and Banks overflowed and drowned the Country a great way up At length October 13 all the States except the Protestants being assembled in the Court-Hall the Decree was read over to the Deputies of the Cities but when they asked a Copy thereof it was denied them and ordered to be read once or twice more And now when for the most part all had approved the same the Deputies of Ausburg Frankford Vlm and Hall desired time to consider of it Eight Days after the Deputies of the Duke of Saxony and the Associates went and told the Archbishop of Mentz who is chief of the Princes of the Empire That if they might be
been any need of his counsel Now that he might in his absence contribute what he could to the Publick Good he wrote a Book to the Bishops and other Prelates in that Dyet laying before them the state of the Church under the Roman Papacy how it had been overspread with thick Darkness Impious Doctrin and Foul Errours and admonishing them of their Duty in most weighty and serious Words he upbraids them with Cruelty and Bloody-mindedness Moreover he exhorts them not to let slip the Occasion of healing the Evil alledging That since his Doctrin agreed with the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles all counsels taken against God would be in vain Whilst the Emperour and Papists were thus venting their Rage and Threats against the Protestants Melanchthon was very much dejected and disconsolate not indeed for his own sake but Posterities and those who were to come after and wholly gave himself over to Grief Sighing and Tears But when this came to Luther's Knowledge he endeavoured to Comfort and Chear him up by several Letters and seeing this was not the Work of Man but of God Almighty he advises him to lay aside all Thoughtfulness and Anxiety and cast the whole Burthen of it upon him And why said he do you in this manner Afflict and Torment your self If God gave his own Son for us why do we Doubt and Fear why are we cast down and dismayed Is Satan stronger than he Will he who has bestowed so great a Blessing upon us forsake us in smaller Matters Why are we afraid of the World which Christ hath overcome If we maintain a bad Cause why do we not change our Mind If it be Just and Holy why do we distrust God's Promises Certainly the Devil can take nothing from us but our Life but Christ liveth and reigneth for ever who taketh upon him the Defence and Protection of the Truth he will not cease to be with us until the consummation of all things If he be not with us pray where is he to be found If we be not of the Church do you think that the Pope and the rest of our Adversaries are Sinners we are 't is true and that in many things yet Christ is not therefore a Lyer whose Cause we maintain Let Kings and the Nations fret and rage as much as they please he that dwelleth in Heaven shall hold them in Derision God hath hitherto without our Counsel governed and protected this Cause he also will henceforward bring it to the desired end What you write of the Laws and Traditions of Men may easily be answered For it is not lawful for any Man to appoint or chuse a new Work as the Worship of God since both the first Commandment and all the Prophets condemn such Works They may indeed be a bodily Exercise but if they come once to be worshiped they become Idolatrous As for any Reconciliation it is in vain hoped for for neither can we depose the Pope nor can the True Religion be safe so long as Popery continues That ye give the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in Both kinds and yield not to the Adversaries in that who will have it to be indifferent you do well for it is not in our Power to appoint or tolerate any thing in the Church which cannot be defended by the Word of God. We condemn the whole Church cry they But we say That the Church was unwillingly surprised and oppressed by the Tyranny of a divided and half-Sacrament and is therefore to be excused in the same manner as the whole Synagogue was to be excused when being captive in Babylon it observed not the Law and other Rites of Moses for it was hindered by Force that it could not Take special heed that ye grant not too great a Jurisdiction to Bishops lest more Trouble ensue thereupon hereafter For my part I dislike all this Treaty about accommodating the Difference in Religion for it is all Labour in vain unless the Pope would utterly abolish his Kingdom If they condemn our Doctrin why do we seek for an Uniformity if they approve it why are the Ancient Errours retained but they openly condemn it All they do then is but Sham and Dissimulation They take a great deal of Pains as it appears about Ceremonies But let them first restore the Doctrin of Faith and Works Let them suffer the Church to have Ministers that will perform the necessary Duties They require that Monks may be again put into possession but let them on the other hand give us back so many Innocent and Pious Men whom they have slain let them restore so many Souls lost by Impious and Erroneous Doctrin let them restore those great Revenues got by Fraud and Knavery let them in short restore the Glory of God dishonoured by so many Reproaches When once they have made Satisfaction as to these things then will we reason the case with them who has the best right to the Goods of the Church Since the chief and almost sole difference betwixt Luther and some others was about the Lord's Supper as we have said before and that that exceedingly rejoyced the Papists as it grieved the others Bucer with the consent of the Elector of Saxony and his own Magistrates went from Ausburg to Luther to attempt a Reconciliation and had a very fair Answer from him insomuch that he made a Progress from thence to Zuinglius and the Switzers that he might essay to unite them more closely in Mind and Opinion This then being the state of Affairs and all things tending to Stirs and Troubles the Landgrave concluded a League for six Years with the Cities of Zurich Basil and Strasburg That if any Violence should be offered upon the account of Religion they should mutually aid and assist one another And this League was made in the Month of November At the same time the Emperour wrote to the Elector of Saxony commanding him to come to Cologne by the 21 day of December about difficult and weighty Affairs â—elating to the Publick The same Day he received this Letter which was November 28 he had a Messenger with Letters from the Archbishop of Mentz the design whereof was to acquaint him That the Emperour had desired of him that he would assemble the Princes Electors about the election of a King of the Romans and therefore he cited him to be present at Cologne December 29. This thing being known the Duke of Saxony forthwith dispatched Letters to the Landgrave and the rest of the Protestant Princes and Cities praying them to meet at Smalcalde December 22 but in the mean time he sent away in all haste his Son John Frederick with some of his Counsellors to Cologne that they might be present at the Day appointed by the Emperour To them he gave Orders to represent That the Citation of the Archbishop of Mentz was not legally made and that this same creation of a King of the Romans was a signal Violation of
the Right and Liberty of the Empire and of the Statute of the Emperour Charles IV And that therefore he did not ratifie nor approve that Proceeding When all met at Smalcalde they drew up the Draught of a League not Offensive but altogether for their own Defence This was immediately signed by the Princes as also by Albert and Gebard Counts of Mansfield the Cities of Magdeburg and Bremen but Strasburg Vlm Constance Lindaw Memmingen Kempen Hailbrun Ruteling Bibrach and Isne engaged only so far as that they would acquaint their Principles therewith and give the rest a positive Answer within six Weeks what they intended to do It was agreed upon to write to George Marquess of Brandenburg and the City of Norimberg because their Deputies had no Commission to act in that affair It was likewise decreed That Ambassadours should be sent to sollicit the King of Denmark and the Dukes of Pomerania and Mecklenburg as also the Cities of Hamburg Embden Northeime Frankford Brunswick Gottingen Minden Hannover Hildesheim Lubeck Stetin and other Maritime Cities When the Pope understood what the Issue of this Imperial Dyet was he wrote among others to the King of Poland That he had fully hoped the Presence and Authority of the Emperour would either have quite crushed or at least quieted Luther's Heresie That he had been put into this Hope from the very first time the Emperour came into Italy which had been the chief Cause why he went to Bolonia that he might spur him on though he was forward enough of himself For if that had succeeded it would have secured Religion and the Salvation of a great many who were in great Danger through that Heresie and then ways might have been found out for resisting the Fury of the Turks But now that he understood by Letters both from the Emperour and his own Legate that they were so far from being reclaimed they were more and more hardened he who sat at the Helm to steer the Ship of S. Peter in so tempestuous a time and bore the greatest share of all the Care and Trouble having consulted with the Cardinals could not think of any safer Remedy than that which his Predecessors had had recourse unto to wit a General Council That therefore he gave him warning that when this Design should be accomplished he would either be present himself or by his Ambassadours promote so Holy a Cause for that so soon as possibly he could he would call a Council to meet in some convenient Place in Italy This Brief was dated December 1. The Confederate Princes we named wrote to the Emperour from Smalcalde December 24 That they heard and it was commonly reported That he had a Design to have his Brother Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans a Dignity which he solicitously courted and canvassed for That it was a thing now known to all Men what Power and Right the Princes Electors had in that affair by virtue of the Statute of the Emperour Charles IV when upon the Death of the Emperour another was to be chosen in the Name of the whole Body of the Empire That nevertheless his Majesty being alive and in Health and no such case having as yet happened the Princes Electors had been summoned by the Archbishop of Mentz to meet at Cologne towards the latter end of this Month quite contrary to the Proscript of the Law and the Custom of the Empire That they likewise heard That at his Request the rest of the Electors were also to be there that Ferdinand's Suit and Pretention might be carried by way of Anticipation and Compact so that this being the Report that went far and near they thought good to represent a few things unto his Majesty and that though they had rather abstain from this kind of Discourse yet for the Love they bore to him and the Liberty of their Country handed down to them from their Ancestors and then in consideration that in this Decrepit Age of the World many things were surreptitiously and craftily brought to pass they could not otherwise chuse but do it That in the first place then his Majesty knew how seriously and solemnly and by what express Words and Articles he had bound and obliged himself to the Empire How he had promised by Oath to observe the Caroline Constitution on which the Liberty of the Empire chiefly depended how he had stipulated neither to act any thing himself contrary thereunto nor suffer others to do it which were Compacts and Promises that could not be violated broken nor changed unless with the Advice and Consent of all the States But that now if whilst he was alive a King of the Romans should be chosen and that his own Brother too who canvassed and made suit for it he himself could not but see that it was plainly contrary to Law contrary to the Right and Liberty of the Empire and contrary to his Compact and Stipulation and the Faith and Promise whereby he bound himself to the State Nay and how convenient and uneasie it must also be both to himself and the whole Empire when at the self same time there would be two Lords and Masters to be obeyed And that seeing they would take it very ill if they themselves should either be upbraided with the Breach of Faith and Promise or with Baseness in not defending the Rights and Liberty of the Government therefore they most earnestly besought his Majesty to impute this their Letter to the love they bore to him and their native Country and the present state of the Times That he would reflect upon things past and according to Duty interpose his Authority for preventing the Election of any new King weighing seriously with himself what Evils and Inconveniences might follow thereupon unless a Remedy were applyed in time That they would write of these things to the rest of the Electors also and were in good Hopes they would do what was expedient for the Commonwealth and endeavour to prevent any Rupture or Division among the States That in fine they were ready to serve his Majesty and do for him to the utmost of their Power Afterwards the Duke of Saxony wrote by himself to the rest of the Princes his Collegues That since he was cited by the Archbishop of Mentz to appear at Cologne he had therefore sent thither his Son and some Counsellors that in his Name they might propound and act what should be thought needful That he believed they had heard already part of his Thoughts from them and should hear the rest on December 29 That however he prayed them to desist from their Purpose and consider with him What Prejudices and Inconveniencies that Action would bring with it both to themselves and to their Posterity also through the Violation of the Rights Dignity and Liberty of the Empire That it was his Desire also That in those things which his Son and Counsellors might treat of with them they would so behave themselves as
Nurenburg Magdeburg and Vlm did both in their own Names and in the Names of the several Princes and Cities their Allies dispatch Letters of the same purport to both those Princes That they could not but know how of a long time Complaint had been made against Ecclesiastical Corruptions which had often been observ'd and with much Gravity reprehended by many eminent Men and of late for instance by John Gerson in France and John Colet in England That the same thing had of late years happen'd in Germany where a sort of Expiations commonly call'd Indulgences had been carry'd up and down by certain Monks which to the great Reproach of Christianity and the eminent endangering of mens Salvation they every where recommended and in an infamous manner expos'd to sale whereupon they were by some very good and learned Men gently admonished not to do so any more but so far were they from desisting that they flew with great Indignation in the face of their Monitors which put these upon a necessity of undertaking the defence and vindication of the Truth and upon this occasion they were forc'd to inspect and censure several other Practices On the other side the Adversaries who by their impudent Tricks and holy Cheats had given the great occasion of Scandal never rested till they had procur'd this Doctrin which was thus advanc'd against their trifling Impostures to be condemn'd as Impious before any just or legal Cognizance had been taken of it and to the end that they might utterly crush and sink it they had found out ways to render it highly odious both to the Emperor and other Princes But Truth like the Sun displaying it's light made it manifest to all beyond the possibility of denying that many ill things through the depravity of some Men's judgments had crept into the Church That the States of the Empire had in the first Diet which the Emperor held at Wormes exhibited many things by way of Petition which they said ought of necessity to be redress'd Afterwards when the matter had along time been debated in several other Conventions of the Empire between the States and the Emperor's Embassadors it was adjudg'd by the unanimous consent of all That the best and most expeditious way of ending the Controversie would be by a free Council of the Christian World. That the Emperor too was well pleas'd with this Method as soon as he knew of it and from that time the matter under deliberation was the time and place for holding the Council as may appear from the Decrees that then were made But when the Emperor was come from Spain through Italy into Germany his whole endeavour at the Diet of Auspurg was that the matter might be taken up without a Council which they believ'd he did with a good intent and therefore they made a publick recitation of their Confession in that Assembly which they presented to him and offer'd if there should be occasion a farther Explication of it That soon after a Writing was recited in answer to this their Confession of which when they requested a Copy from the Emperor they could not obtain it but upon such a condition as might have prov'd dangerous and ensnaring unto them After this there were some chosen out of the whole number to be as it were Umpires and Arbitrators in the Case but neither could they so agree although 't was profess'd on their side that they would do any thing that might be done with a safe Conscience Then were there some Proposals made by the Emperor to be observ'd till the time that a Council might be call'd but of such a nature that they could not comply with them without offending God and injuring their own Consciences But when after all a very harsh Edict had been set forth by the Emperor they were then of necessity constrain'd to Appeal to a free Religious Council And altho this be the true state of the Case this the present condition of Affairs altho they desire nothing more than that their Cause may be fairly heard and known yet they are inform'd that their Adversaries make it their sole business to exasperate the Emperor and other Princes against them by scandalous Reports that several Opinions unjustly imputed to them are scatter'd up and down such as are not only dissonant from Holy Writ but ev'n from common sense such as should any one endeavour to propagate within their Dominions he would not escape unpunish'd Again how great the dangers are wherewith they are threatned upon the score of their Profession there is no body but plainly sees in which certainly they would never involve themselves were they not assured that this their Doctrin is agreeable to the Word of God and therefore to be adher'd to for the Glory of his holy Name Tho on the other side their Adversaries did insinuate with Strangers that they did not imbrace this kind of Doctrin upon any religious account but only for an opportunity of invading the Goods of the Church but that this Calumny had already been answer'd in the former Diets and would still be more particularly refuted in a general Council In the mean time wise and judicious Men upon comparing their dangers and advantages together might easily see that this Charge is no less absurd and ridiculous than 't is cruel and malicious For is it possible that there should be any Church Possessions within their Territories so great that for their sakes they should so evidently hazard their Reputation and Honour their Wives and Children their Lives and Estates Can there be any advantages so dear and charming to which they would not mightily prefer the Favour of the Emperor and such glorious Kings as themselves Certain it is that their Ancestors and fore-Fathers had not only liv'd in Splendor at home but also help'd to sustain the Publick Charge without laying hands upon consecrated Goods nay they erected and liberally endow'd several new Churches as likewise enrich'd and beautify'd the old ones As to the Ecclesiastical Possessions within their Dominions they are but moderate and though they are necessary for the Support of those Ministers who are appointed for the Instruction of the People and whose annual Incomes are now grown very slender yet do they not refuse if a Council shall judge it fit to have them converted to other pious Uses provided it be such a Council where prejudice and partiality do not prevail But this above all is the foulest Scandal this the highest and most dangerous Charge that the Doctrine which they profess tends to the subversion of Magistrates and to the enervating the force of Laws but to this Accusation an Answer was given in that Writing which they exhibited and recited at Auspurg Nay this moreover may be said that the learned Men of these times have done more towards the adorning of Magistracy and maintaining the Dignity of Laws than any former Age hath done for they made it their business so to instruct and
forbear associating themselves in so impious a War. Some of the Cities had so dealt with those of Zurich Bern and Basil that they promis'd not to refuse the League provided they might be admitted indefinitely without exception to any of their Opinions which John Frederick promis'd he would report unto his Father As to what was propounded about providing for their defence the Cities declare That they will give in their full Answer in relation to that business in the next Assembly at Franckfort and as to the creating a King of the Romans the Princes determine as before That they will not yield Obedience And since the Emperor had by his Letters commanded them to acknowledge Ferdinand for King of the Romans it was agreed that the Prince of Saxony should in the mean time draw up the Form of an Answer which should be produc'd in publick at Franckfort and that then the Cities likewise should declare their Sentiments about creating King Ferdinand The fourth of June is the day appointed for the Convention of Franckford In the mean time during their stay at Smalcalde they receive Letters from the Emperor to acquaint them that he is from all parts allarm'd with the news of the Turks design to invade Germany with a mighty Army his Commands therefore are that they contribute their Aids without any Exception They after the manner of their Ancestors do declare that they will not decline the sustaining any Charge or the doing any good Office which they owe to the Publick but that he himself must needs know what was the purport of the Elector of Brandenburg's Speech at the Diet of Auspurg which yet he himself did afterwards in some measure qualifie as likewise what was then and there decreed concerning the Imperial-Chamber that they then did make it their earnest request that he would by his authority set aside all actions that might be issu'd out from the Imperial-Chamber upon the score of Religion but being then not able to prevail they had some few months since renew'd their Requests both by their Letters and Embassadors but could obtain no other answer but what the Palatine Frederick had at length given their Embassadors viz. That 't was to no purpose for them to proceed or expect any farther but that he would at his own leisure consider what answer was fit to be made This they confess was much beside their expectation however they could not imagine but that some time or other something would have been offer'd by way of answer Now in that they are urg'd to contribute their assistance against the Turk before they have made their own Peace at home the World may easily judge how dangerous and inconsiderate an action it would be in them to part with their own Defences and as it were ham-string themselves in so difficult a juncture when they can hardly expect any thing at home but Confiscations and Violence For should actions be let loose upon them from the Exchequer upon the account of Religion who can doubt but this would be a direct act of violence they therefore again and again entreat him that he would come to some determination at last and afford them some peace and security by suspending all Exchequer actions till the time of a Council that they on their parts would to the utmost of their power endeavour to discharge their duty not only in this War against the Turks but also in all other concerns of the Publick Their farther request is that he would acquaint them by these Embassadors what his Resolutions are in this affair In the month of March Richard Archbishop of Triers departed this life whose authority among the Electors was very considerable both for his great experience in affairs and his endeavours after Liberty There was some suspition of Poison and one of his Domesticks being put to the Torture did by his hardiness and constancy escape the danger At the earnest request which those of Vlm did make to the Senate of Strasburg Bucer was sent unto them who by the help of Oecolampadius and Ambrose Blauret constituted Churches within their Territories and drew up for them a religious Form. About this time there came into the Netherlands Mary the Emperors own Sister whose Husband as we said before was Lewis King of Hungary She was by the Emperor substituted Governess of all those Provinces in the room of Margaret his Aunt lately deceased There was a Contest between Clement the Seventh and Alfonsus Duke of Ferrara about Regiun and Modena which by mutual consent they submitted to the Arbitration of the Emperor who being at this time in the Low Countries pronounces for the Duke of Ferrara The King of France on the 21 of April returns this answer to the Letters which were sent him from the Princes and Cities That there is nothing which he more heartily wishes for than the Peace of Europe and that he is not a little pleas'd to find their Inclinations that way and that to this end they desire a Council may be call'd which to him seems not only convenient but necessary For where ever mention is made of healing the Publick Breaches there 't is always his judgment that they cannot possibly lay a firmer Foundation for it than by calling in the Blessed Spirit that gracious discoverer of Truth to their assistance and would but the rest come to this Resolution was there but a place free from all danger or suspicion set apart for the Council where every one might have liberty to speak freely his Opinion and where no allowance should be giv'n to prejudice then indeed they might reasonably hope for a prosperous Issue As to the Concern they have lest he should be alienated from them by the false Criminations of their Adversaries they have no reason to fear for it had been his constant custom not to pronounce any thing rashly even against the Reputation of his Enemies But since there is so close and so ancient a Friendship between the Kings of France and the Princes of the Empire what a grand Barbarity would it be to entertain any sinister opinion against these his Friends and Allies before their Cause is heard Now how great a value he sets upon this ancient Alliance is visible from hence that ev'n when there is War between him and the Emperor the Germans and Citizens of the Empire have always found an open ingress into France and a regress from thence where they have the advantage of Trading as freely as if they were at home so that France may properly be call'd A Mansion of the Princes and Citizens of Germany These Priviledges are very well known and yet they are not so great but that he will take an opportunity much to enlarge them for their sakes especially if according to their Declaration they will stand to the Decrees of a religious and free Council For that the Controversie as they desire may be decided rather by Arguments than the Sword
17th day of April what 't is they desire and expect from the Emperor in relation to that Affair requesting that King Ferdinand would wave his design and not carry himself as King of the Romans But if the Emperor shall think that he has occasion for a Coadjutor that then being assisted by the sense and counsel of the Electoral Princes he should Interpret the Caroline Law and by his Edict give it a perpetual Sanction which according to the rules of Justice ought to run to this purpose viz. That hereafter no King of the Romans be chosen during the life of the Emperor unless first the Electors and six other Princes of the Empire shall judge it fit to be done And when it shall plainly appear to them that 't is for the advantage of the Publick then the Elector of Mentz shall Summon his Colleagues together with the other six Princes to some convenient place there to deliberate further about the Affair and when they have throughly weigh'd and discuss'd the Matter then the Electoral Princes alone with the addition of the King of Bohemia shall have the Power of creating a King That the King of the Romans thus chosen while the Emperor is alive shall not manage the Publick Administration in his own Name but in the Emperor's nor shall he arrogate any Power or Dominion to himself That the Princes and States of the Empire shall not be bound in any Oath or Promise unto him till after the death of the Emperor Upon the creation of a new King there shall no Oath be taken but according to the tenour of the Caroline Law nor shall it be in the Power of the Electors to alter that Form And whoever shall be convicted of acting contrary to that Oath or shall be under a violent suspicion of so doing and yet not be able to clear him he shall be depriv'd of his Electoral right for ever Moreover for the avoiding of Prescription three Kings shall not be successively created out of the same Family and no Man shall be created King of the Romans who does not descend from some Family of the Princes of Germany That neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall endeavour to alter what the Caroline Law has ratify'd about the creation of a King. When the Electors shall see it convenient to create a King they shall be under no necessity of giving notice before-hand to the Emperor nor may he in that Case issue out his Orders to the Elector of Mentz to Convene the rest of the Electors but when they shall appear just and substantial Reasons for the Creation of a King during the life of the Emperor then the Archbishop of Mentz shall Summon in his Colleagues to appear at Franckfort upon an appointed day nor shall it be in his Power to appoint any other place for their Meeting unless the Colleagues shall for weighty Reasons allow of it The Elector of Mentz may not without the consent of his Colleagues demand the Crown and Scepter and other Imperial Ensigns from the City of Nuremburg Nor shall he cut off any thing from that in three months space which is allowed to the Princes for their meeting together after they are Summon'd for it might prove much to the prejudice of the Publick should the streightness of time occasion the absence of one or two of them While the Electors are upon their Consultation at Franckfort every body else shall be excluded If any Breach shall be made in these Conditions then the Electors shall not be oblig'd to appear there or to make any stay and whatsoever shall there be transacted by them shall be accounted void Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall suffer the Arms of the Electors to be display'd in Italy France or other foreign Parts or their proper Offices to be supply'd but by themselves or their Embassadors The King of the Romans shall not accept his final Inauguration but in the presence of the Electors or their Embassadors Neither the Emperor nor the King may hinder the Embassadors of Foreign Kings and Princes from coming to the Imperial Diets and there propounding their business for this is not only consonant to the Law of Nations but is also full of Humanity and Civility Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall assume to himself any peculiar Power of judging in such Causes as may be depending between the Princes of the Empire but shall suffer them to be legally try'd in the place where they ought That the Emperor be careful to Maintain those things which concern the Glory Honour and Safety of the Princes and the Empire and which he has faithfully promis'd to observe and that he rectifie whatever has been acted otherwise and that it be provided by a Law That whoever is King of the Romans he shall observe the same things If the Emperor will explain and confirm the Caroline Law in this sense the Duke of Saxony promises that he will not be wanting to his Duty whenever the Good of the Publick shall require such a Consultation but if the mediating Princes cannot obtain this of the Emperor he will not however decline a legal Trial provided that King Ferdinand does not in the mean time assume to himself or Usurp the administration of the Affairs of the Empire or any other Authority especially over them or over the two Brothers William and Lewis Princes of Bavaria But if they cannot obtain so much as this then their Request is That the Emperor would be pleas'd to give them a publick Audience in an Assembly of the Princes and other States where they will demonstrate upon what just and weighty Reasons it is that they cannot approve of this Election And now since they understand that they have upon the account of this their non-compliance incurr'd the suspicion of Rebellion not only with the Emperor but also among Foreign Kings and People they therefore earnestly desire that the Emperor would not take it amiss if they make known the reasons of this their action to all Men not only through Germany but also beyond the Limits of the Empire for this they find 't is but necessary for them to do Among other things it has been said That the Electors are to swear according to the tenour of Charles the Fourth his Law. Now the thing is thus When they are come to Franckfort having perform'd their Devotion they go up to the Altar and laying their hands upon a consecrated Book as they call it they in a set Form of words most religiously swear by that Faith which they owe both to God and the Empire that they will choose such a chief Magistrate of the Christian Commonwealth as they think to be worthy of so great a Charge and who is every way fit and qualify'd for it as far as the best of their skill and understanding will give them leave to judge and that this they do without the prepossession
the Popes Bull was not sufficient nor authentick She answer'd that it was too late to complain of the Bull now since they had approv'd it so long before And when the Dispute began to grow warm the Pope's assistance was desir'd to determine the Matter The Queen had miscarried several times neither did any of her Children live excepting the Princess Mary The Pope therefore undertook the Cause and delegated the hearing of it to the Cardinals Campegio and York And after a long debate when the King had hopes given him from Rome that things should go on his side Campegio by the Pope's Order when he was just upon the Point of the Sentence began to draw back and to throw in delays This Turn they say was occasioned by the death of General Lautrech and the loss of the French Army before Naples Andrew Auria likewise happening to revolt from Francis at the same time which made the Pope conclude that the Emperor Catharines Nephew by her Sister who was now so prosperous in Italy ought not in prudence to be disoblig'd Campegio therefore at last leaves England without bringing the Affair to any point at which the King was extreamly dissatisfied But that he might not seem to do any thing rashly he dispatch'd away several Agents into France Italy and Germany to Collect the sense of the Divines concerning his Marriage The Parisians and most of the rest seemed to declare for the unlawfulness of it though they were suspected to be bribed into their opinion Now there was one Anne Bolen in the Queens Service an incomparable handsome Maiden-Lady This Person the King began to set his Affections upon and discover'd intelligibly enough that he had a mind to marry her As soon as Cardinal Woolsey who was most intimate with the King and as they say moved first for the Divorce understood this design he changed his Resolution and writing to the Pope advised him not to null the Marriage for if he did another Woman infected with Lutheranism would succeed Catharine When the King was acquainted with the Cardinals proceedings by his Embassador at Rome he was very much offended with him and not long after removed him from his Office of Lord Chancellor and deprived him of two of the three Bishopricks which he held At last being reduc'd to a private Life and letting fall some passionate indecent Expressions importing a desire of revenge The King commanded him to dismiss the greatest part of his Servants and to come to Court with a small Retinue The Cardinal not being able to avoid it sets forward but before he reached the King he fell into an acute Distemper contracted by the dissatisfaction of his mind and died upon the way Now the Pope that Campegio might have some pretence for coming away revokes the Cause to himself at Rome And foreseeing the Marriage with Anne Bolen would be of very ill consequence to himself he plies the King with Admonitions and sometimes with Threatnings to give over his design But not being able to prevail there upon the 24th of March this year to oblige the Emperor he gave Judgment on the Queens side When the King was already divorc'd from her had declar'd his Daughter Mary Illegitimate and married the other Lady above a year since As soon as the King understood that Sentence was pronounced against him he began to hate the Pope mortally and immediately passeth an Act in which he declares himself Head of the Church of England next after Christ denies all manner of Obedience to the See of Rome and makes it death for any one to maintain the Pope's Supremacy He likewise refuseth to pay the yearly Tax which the Pope's Collector used to receive and forbids the Conveyance of any Mony to Rome under severe Penalties all which Injunctions were confirmed by the States of the Realm which they call a Parliament Francis the French King is thought to have struck a Considerable stroak in this Divorce that he might make an irreconcilable Breach between Henry and the Emperor As concerning the Tax which I mention'd the Case stands thus Ine King of England in the year 740. out of a sense of Piety made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope as the History of those times informs us and charged every house with the payment of a peny From that time the Popes sent their Collectors thither yearly to receive this Duty which was commonly call'd Peter-pence This payment having been made by the English without any Interruption from the first Grant this Henry was the first who forbad the Continuance of it any longer I have given an account in the Fourth Book how Luther and Erasmus wrote against each other concerning the Subject of Free Will. This year the Pique between them broke out again For Luther in a Letter to a Friend takes occasion to charge Erasmus very high as if he ridiculed the Christian Religion and expos'd it to question and contempt and cites several places in his Writings to make good his Accusation He also objected that the other had an equivocal two-handed way in expressing himself and made a Tyrannical use of his Elocution And in regard he takes the liberty to play with religious Arguments at that ambiguous rate when he both can and is obliged to be more clear he ought always to be construed in the worst sense This Letter was afterwards answer'd by Erasmus and smartly too who was more sensibly concern'd for nothing than to keep up the Reputation of his own Writings About this time the Franciscans made a strange tragical piece of Work of it at Orleans in France The thing was thus The Provost's Wife of that Town had order'd in her Will to be buried without any Ceremony or noise For when any one dies in France it 's the Custom for Funeral Cryers who are hired for this purpose to go about the principal Streets in the City and call the common people together with their hand-Bells When they have done this they tell the Name and Quality of the Person deceas'd and exhorting the Company to pray to God for his Soul they let them know when and where he is to be buried When the Corps goes to the Grave the Mendicant Friers are usually invited to attend it and a great many Torches are carried before the Hearse In these Solemnities people commonly strive to out-do one another for the more expensive the Funeral is the greater Crowd there is to see and admire it But this Woman I spoke of would have none of all this Her Husband therefore who loved her entirely perform'd this part of her Will and burying her by her Father and Grandfather in the Franciscans Church presented these Gentlemen with no more than six Crowns whereas they expected a much greater Sum. Afterwards when he felled a Wood and sold it they desired him to give them some Timber but were denied They took this very heinously which with their former Disgust made them resolve to
was to continue no longer than either till a general Council was conven'd or till the next Imperial Diet the Elector mov'd King Ferdinand that this last Clause might be omitted He also desir'd that those who profess'd the same Religion with other Protestants might enjoy the same Priviledges though they were not comprehended in the Treaty at Nuremburg and that no Prosecutions might be issu'd out against them To this Ferdinand reply'd that he could make no new Provision in this case without the Emperor's consent The Elector of Saxony reply'd that it was very hard since their Adversaries might recede from the Pacification when they pleas'd that himself and his Allies should be barr'd this Liberty The Security which was given them in the Treaty did not design without doubt to keep them in suspence and in the dark without being able so much as to know what they were to hope for or expect Besides as soon as ever a Proclamation for a Diet came out it would be look'd upon as a Signal to break the Peace and be like beating a Charge for new Disturbances from whence great Inconveniences would follow And he must add that if those of the same Religion with himself could not enjoy the benefit of the Pacification and happen'd to be proscrib'd or otherways aggreived it would be very uneasie to him and the rest of his Allies to connive at these things and desert their Friends in their Distress But the Elector gain'd nothing more of his Point by this Remonstrance only one of Ferdinand's chief Ministers reply'd that it was a long time yet before the Empire was to meet unless some great and unexpected occasion should happen and when there shall be a necessity for the holding of a Diet the present affair shall be setled by his Electoral Highness's and the Lantgrave's advice Upon this the Elector press'd this Request no farther But when he desir'd the Treaty might be ratify'd Ferdinand answer'd that he had not omitted to Command the Chamber to desist the last year pursuant to the Articles at Cadan But they told him that there were several Causes purely Secular and Civil intermixt with those that were Sacred now these were perfectly under their Jurisdiction for they did not relate to Faith and Religion but to Estates and yearly Revenues To this the Elector of Saxony reply'd that these mix'd Causes were the only reason which made them so earnest for a Pacification for though they did concern Mens Goods and Estates yet they were grounded upon Religion His Majesty may likewise be inform'd by the Princes of the Mediation the Elector of Mentz and the Palsgrave that these sort of Disputes were mention'd at the Treaty As for other Causes in which their Creed and their Consciences are only concern'd the Chamber never had any thing to do with those neither was there any necessity that himself and his Confederates should desire the Emperor to check the Judges upon such an account as this Besides long before the Pacification at Cadan the Chamber pretended that the fore-mention'd Causes were only Secular and therefore among other things there was a particular Provision made at Cadan that his Majesty should interpose his Authority to restrain that Court. After the Matter was thus discours'd at last the King yielded and promis'd to undertake that none of those Causes which his Highness and his Confederates at the Treaty at Nuremburg counted Religious should be try'd before the Chamber The French Embassadors Speech which I mention'd was answer'd by the Protestants as followeth Notwithstanding there goes various Reports concerning those Executions in France yet because his Excellency says those who suffer'd were contriving an Insurrection they could not blame the King's Proceedings since they did not tolerate such sort of Persons in their own Dominions But in regard all people have not every where the same Opinions of the establish'd Doctrins and Rites they entreat his Majesty that this Severity may not fall upon all Persons without distinction but that those may be spar'd who having laid open the Errors and Corruptions of the Times had reform'd their Creed into the same purity the Scriptures taught it and held to that Confession which themselves had made at Ausburg For it cannot be deny'd that many false and wicked Opinions have broke in upon the Church which are now very confidently maintain'd by ignorant and malitious Men upon Principles of Covetousness and Ambition Now it 's their way and they are Masters of it to forge Accusations against innocent and religious Persons that so they may exasperate Princes into rigour And since Kings and Princes are more peculiarly oblig'd to promote the Honour of God to purge the Church from Error and to check unreasonable Cruelty they earnestly beseech his most Christian Majesty that he would lay out his principal Endeavours upon so good a Work. If he pleases to do this they shall be assur'd that he hath a real regard for them which they hope may prove auspicious both to themselves and the Church What his Majesty discours'd concerning the ancient and constant Friendship between the French Kings and the Princes of Germany was wonderfully entertaining to them And they would make it their business that this Intimacy and good Correspondence might be continu'd for the future And whereas his Excellency offers to excuse the King from some Imputations they are very inclinable to gratifie him in this Point and acquiesce in his Apology desiring above all things that God would vouchsafe a general Peace to Christendom and Protect the Germans in their Liberties which were formerly gain'd at the expence of so much Blood. Now though that which his Excellency mention'd concerning an Accommodation in Religion belongs to an argument too large to be dispatch'd in a few words yet so prudent a Person as the King may easily perceive that the separation is wholly owing to the obstinacy of their Adversaries who have condemn'd all the reform'd Doctrin in a most violent manner They have desir'd nothing more for these many years than that the whole Cause might be argued before a lawful Council but the Pope and his Dependents have oppos'd this Overture with all the rigour imaginable 'T is true Clement the Seventh propos'd a Council under certain Conditions but then they were such as made it sufficiently apparent that he could not endure that Matters should be freely debated And this Pope though he promises a Council yet he will not suffer the Form and Method of it be disputed before-hand and besides he will have it conven'd out of the Territories of the Empire From whence it 's easie to conclude that there is foul play and deceit at the bottom and that nothing else is intended but to get the true Religion suppress'd by the Authority of a Council And since the calling of the Church together does not belong only to the Bishop of Rome but Kings and Princes are equally concern'd in it They beseech his Majesty to interpose so
safe unsuspected place where every one might freely speak his Conscience without danger Besides what I have mention'd he press'd them very earnestly to enter into a League with his Master indeed this was the principal reason of his Embassy But they insisting that they must except the Emperor whom they declar'd it was not lawful for them to Article against he concluded nothing with them and before he went away he told some Persons privately that he wondred they should refuse the Offer of sogreat a Prince and that there would come a time when they would heartily wish that they had gone in to his Interest Henry the Eighth of England also sent an Embassy to this Convention of which Edward Fox Bishop of Hereford was chief He began his Speech with telling them what a near Relation there was between the Kings of England and the Dukes of Saxony and that the King his Master had a great respect for his Electoral Highness and his Confederates especially since he saw their principal Design was to propagate the true Religion among their Neighbours And though they had a great many hard words given them upon this account yet these Reflections made no impression upon him neither did he believe them to be any other than good Men who would do nothing but what reason and their station oblig'd them to aiming only that the Gospel might be preach'd in its purity and God glorified by it This he said was also the King's Intention as appears sufficiently from the alteration which was lately made in England For now the greatest part of the Corruptions in the Church were removed by his Royal Command and the Pope's Supremacy and all his Legerdemain was banish'd the Kingdom by a general Consent no less than it was in Saxony And since there are the same Inclinations and Endeavours moving on both sides his Majesty hath a singular Esteem for them and desires them that they would go on as they have begun and unite in a general profession of the same Doctrin for this will lay a lasting foundation for Peace But how much diversity of Opinions are apt to embroil the State his Majesty is very sensible and the Anabaptists are a remarkable instance At this time the Pope pretends as if he was in earnest for a Council Now if there be any remaining Differences and they do not come up to an uniform Perswasion among themselves this will disorder their Measures when they are conven'd upon the place But here he would not be thought to reflect in the least upon their Divines for the Church was never so happy as to be perfectly free from Disputes no not in the Apostles times as appears from the clash there was between St. Peter St. Barnabas and St. Paul. We ought therefore to endeavour an Accommodation no farther than it 's warrantable by Scripture Now the Pope makes it his whole business to hinder the Church from agreeing upon such a Principle insomuch that as long as his cruel and tyrannical Government continues his Majesty despairs of seeing a Reconciliation For now this Idol this Antichrist rageth like a mad Man only because the English have lately thrown off the most scandalous Slavery and recover'd their Liberty by the King's assistance And being not able to attempt any thing by force he betakes himself to Artifice and Fraud and by forging false Accusations against his Majesty endeavours to provoke other Princes to make War upon him For though he will stick at nothing to keep up his pretended Authority yet now his particular Design is to exasperate both sides and set all in a Flame This his Majesty was willing to acquaint them with not that he feared the Pope for he was so well prepar'd that he neither valu'd him nor his whole Party but only that they might see what Antichrist was doing especially at this time when he seems so earnest for a Council though he meaneth nothing less 'T is true his Majesty grants that a regular Debate is singularly useful and very much for the advantage of Christendom but then all imaginable Care must be taken that such a Council be not conven'd as will manage the whole Controversie only for the establishment of the Pope's Greatness Therefore he entreats them they would take his advice and not allow of any Council till all Christian Princes were at Peace with each other withall desiring that the true Worship of God might be restored and that he was willing to engage with them for the compleating and support of so pious an undertaking These things he told them his Instructions obliged him to deliver publickly But besides he desired that he might discourse this affair farther in private with some persons deputed for that purpose For his Highness the King had that regard for Religion and themselves that he was ready to venture his Person and all his Fortunes in the Cause To this after some Ceremony passed upon the King for shewing himself so obliging and well disposed they answer That they desire nothing so much as that the Doctrin of the Gospel might be spread far and near that whatever they did in this case was done out of a principle of Duty And notwithstanding they have been affronted and injured in the grossest manner though they have highly disobliged Persons of the most considerable Interest though they have been often swagger'd at and meanced upon this account yet they have not slackned their industry and pursuit of the Holy Design Now the reason of all this violent and intemperate rage against them is only because they have taken the liberty to reject some false and wicked Opinions Now his Majesties promising so frankly to concur with them in this Work and his expelling the Popes Tyranny his Dominions which is the Spring-Head of all his wicked and erroneous Worship is very acceptable News to them and their Prayers to God are that he may still proceed They also return his Majesty many Thanks for his advice to them to take care of the ill Consequences of different Opinions but really there was no disagreement among them and they were resolved by Gods grace to continue in the same Religion they had profess'd at Ausburgh As to the Anabaptists they punish'd them severely when they could not be prevailed with to give over their Extravagance Besides this Sect domineer'd most in those places where the reformed Religion was prohibited What his Excellency discoursed concerning the Pope's Politick Designs gave them great satisfaction And now he had a Nuncio in Germany who promised a Council should be called at Mantua and had treated with the Elector of Saxony about it Now the Answer which they returned by common Advice to his Proposals was set down in a Paper a Copy of which should be delivered to his Excellency for the King that his Majesty might understand what their Thoughts were in this Case This Nuncio pretends as if it belonged only to the Pope to intimate and convene Councils But
to come into their League and be stiled the Patron and Defender of it That the common opinion of the Pope's Supremacy should be for ever disown'd If there was War made upon either of them upon the score of Religion or for any other reason then the Aggressor was to have no assistance The King should pay an hundred thousand Crowns towards the defence of the League the moyety of which Sum the Confederates may lay out whenever their occasions shall require it but shall be oblig'd to defray the rest of the Charge out of their own Contributions And if the War happens to be of any long continuance and the Forces of the Enemy make it necessary the King shall assist them with two hundred thousand Crowns since when things come to that extremity they have oblig'd themselves not only to spend their Fortunes but their Lives too This latter sum should be manag'd the same way with the former and not be turn'd to any other use than their own Defence and when the War was ended the remainder should be return'd The Embassadors should write the King their Master an account of these Articles and when they understood his Resolution they should acquaint the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave with it to the end that afterwards an Embassy in the Name of all the Confederates might be sent to him As soon as the Embassadors had sent away these Proposals to the King they remove to Wittemburgh where they spent the rest of the Winter during which time they argu'd with the Town-Divines concerning the Doctrins then controverted The main of their Disputation was about the Celibacy of the Clergy the Lord's Supper the Popish-Mass and the Vows of the Religious particularly they desir'd the Divines would give their Approbation of the King's Divorce but they answer'd That the Scripture would not allow them to do this when the other offer'd several Arguments to perswade them particularly that Pope Clement had been of different Opinions in this matter and had declar'd his Sentiments in a private Conference with the French King The Divines reply'd That if the case stood thus the King had great cause to do what he did but when they were urg'd to say he had most just cause they refus'd it As soon as the Embassadors had receiv'd the King's Letters out of England in which he explain'd his mind upon the Point they acquaint the Elector with it And upon the 12th day of March at Wittemburgh whither the Duke was then come they enlarge themselves very much upon the King 's good Inclinations to the Cause and that he was satisfi'd with most of the Articles if some few things were amended in them and notwithstanding all things were quiet in England and the King had no reason to fear any Person for if there were formerly any grounds for such apprehensions they were now remov'd by the death of his Wife which was divorc'd yet to recover and settle the true Doctrin if the Alliance went on he was not unwilling to furnish them with that Sum of Mony which they desir'd and intended to discourse this Point farther by word of mouth with their Embassadors As for the Honour which they offer'd him of being Defender and Patron of their League he acknowledg'd their kindness and return'd them many thanks for it and though he was sensible what an invidious and disobliging Title this was yet for the sake of the Common Good he would not decline it provided the first and the second Article were accommodated For unless there was an agreement in Doctrin between them he was of opinion that this Undertaking would not be consistent with his Honour That he was extreamly desirous that the Learned of his own and their Dominions might be brought to a Uniformity of Opinion And since he saw this could not be done unless some Points of Doctrin in their Confession and Apology were first qualifi'd in a private Conference therefore he earnestly desir'd they would send their Embassadors to him and among the rest some one eminently Learned with power to debate and determine the whole Doctrin and Ceremonies And in regard he has been so liberal in his concessions he desires by way of return First If any one makes War upon him that they would supply him for four Months either with five hundred Horse or ten Ships well equipped Secondly That they would procure him at his own charge two thousand Horse and five thousand Foot. Lastly That they themselves would publickly approve the Opinion of the Divines of Wittemburgh concerning the Divorce and defend it in the Council which was to be call'd The Elector of Saxony answer'd That this Affair concern'd all the Allies and therefore he must consult them soon after they all agree to meet at Frankford upon the twenty fourth of April both about this and other business When they came thither they answer'd the Embassadors that notwithstanding some were just then receiv'd into the League and others upon the account of their distance from home had no power to determine because they could not report the matter to their Principals yet they would take care that the Embassy to the King should be setled and regulated in this Meeting and that those who were not empowred to conclude any thing now should declare their mind to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave within a Month which should be immediately communicated to their Excellencies at what place they should please to appoint neither did they question but that this part of their Allies would approve the Embassy and be willing to be concluded by the Majority Afterwards they drew up the Commission of their Embassadors who were to go for England in which among other things it was provided that when they were arriv'd and came to Treat about the League they should in every point they agreed to expresly except the Empire and Emperor to whom they were bound to be subject both by their Oaths and Allegiance James Sturmius was design'd to represent the Cities in this Embassy The Divines were Melancthon Bucer and George Draco At this Meeting there were admitted into the League Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh Bernin and Philip his Brother Dukes of Pomeren George and Joachim his Brother Earls of Anhalt as also Ausburgh Frank furt Campodune Hamburgh and Hannover Other things were likewise debated relating to the League the method of their defence and the proceedings of the Imperial Chamber They also decreed to send some Persons to wait upon the Emperor with an Answer in writing to his Letter which was dated at Naples which I mention'd in the former Book I have frequently related already how violently averse George Duke of Saxony was to Luther's Doctrin Now this being the occasion of a great many Disputes between him and his Uncle the Elector of Saxony the Father of this present Elector at last the matter was thus compromis'd That there should be no misunderstanding between them upon the account
State and how much it will be expos'd to Misunderstandings and Tumults of the truth of this Allegation the Emperor's Edict which was then publish'd is a sufficient proof It was never their intention to plead in bar to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber in any Causes but those of Religion and they believ'd that Court could not prove the contrary upon them But they were very much troubl'd to hear from his Excellency that the Emperor had given the Chamber Authority to determine the quality of the Cause for they did believe all those Causes to be of a religious Nature and they were really such which could not be decided till the Extent of the word Religion was defin'd in a lawful Council which thing both by Letter and their Embassadors they had several times acquainted the Emperor and King Ferdinand with For this Dispute concerning the meaning and latitude of Religion is a preliminary Question and ought to be setled by the Council before other matters which relate to it are determin'd And in regard Benefices ought to be bestowed in consideration of Merit and Function They said they could not allow that those in their Dominions who were of a different Religion from themselves should enjoy the Revenues of the Church to which they had no manner of right because they were either unwilling to discharge their Office or wanted abilities to do it and since Conscience is more than ordinarily concern'd in the present case the usual Pleas of Law founded upon the right of Possession or Restitution ought not to be urg'd Moreover when the Treaty of Nuremburgh was on foot they particularly mention'd all those Suits and Difference which were then depending in the Chamber and in other Courts and represented them under the notion of Ecclesiastical Causes to the Princes of the Mediation who promis'd that they would endeavour to perswade the Emperor that they should be all exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Courts which was also promis'd by King Ferdinand at the Convention at Cadan besides it 's plain from that Clause in the Emperor's Edict which stops all Prosecutions of this nature that the Chamber of Spire has no Authority to determine the Quality of Causes And to say nothing more severe they could not choose but observe that the apparent Inclination of that Court to give Judgment against them had made a great many Persons much bolder and more contentious than they had formerly been which they were able to prove more than one way For when those of their Party moved that Court in any Cause their Suit was not only rejected but they were sent away with reproachful Language And lately the Hamburghers were commanded by them not only to restore the Clergy of their City their Goods and Estates but also to return them their old Religion and Jurisdiction back again and because they could not do this with a good Conscience they were amerced in a great Sum of Mony and therefore there needs no more Instances to let the Emperor understand what the Design of that Court is for if any Cause relates to Religion this certainly does But if the Judges are allowed to proceed in this manner the Truce serves to no purpose If the Rites and Ceremonies which were abolish'd may be lawfully restor'd by such Methods as these there will be no need of Council and yet the Emperor is pleas'd to grant that all Differences of this nature ought to be determin'd there and since their Exceptions against the Proceedings of the Court were not consider'd they were forc'd to decline the Jurisdiction of it As concerning the Persons of the Chamber there was not above one or two of the whole Bench of their Religion what Provision was made at Ratisbone for this Affair was well known it being apparent that those who were most violent against the Reformed were most acceptable to the Chamber nay a man may plainly discover how they stand affected by observing the air of their Countenances when they are trying of Causes and therefore they hope his Imperial Majesty will send them a positive Order to desist As for the Penalty which his Excellency mention'd was decreed at Ratisbone against Mal-administration that was no advantage to them Indeed if the Cause had related to Property and secular Affairs they might have had a compensation this way but matters of Religion were too weighty to be satisfied with Costs and Damages However if the Emperor is of opinion that they have intermix'd any civil Causes in their request they are willing this matter should be tried provided there may be a stop put to the Proceedings of the Chamber in the mean time Now as concerning those who came over to their Religion since the Pacification of Nuremburgh they confess'd that some few years since the Princes of the Mediation did insist at Schweenfurt that no more might be admitted into their Association which Proposition they then rejected and afterwards at the Convention at Nuremburgh they persisted in the same Opinion As to what his Excellency objects in reference to the Promises and Articles by which several of the States had engag'd themselves not to make any alteration in Religion To this the parties answer That some of them promis'd nothing others in private Treaties reserv'd this Liberty for themselves a third sort it 's true did engage themselves but it was upon the assurance which the Emperor gave them that a Council should be intimated within six Months and opened the year after But since this Assembly was delayed beyond their expectation and God had been pleas'd to give them a fuller apprehension of the true Religion they could not defer so good a Work any longer but thought it their Duty to make an open profession of that Doctrin which they were assur'd had both Truth and Piety to recommend it This the Canon-Law it self would justifie them in for from thence they had learn'd that if any Person had sworn to do a wicked Action this Oath did not oblige Besides as their Adversaries would not refuse any one who offer'd himself for a Convert so neither did they think it lawful to bar any person from coming over to themselves Therefore their earnest request to the Emperor was That the Judges might be check'd and that not only themselves but those who joyn'd them afterwards might be comprehended in the Peace For if matters should be otherwise carried and any violence should be offer'd they could not desert those they were allied to both by Vertue of their League and Religion This had been already declar'd to King Ferdinand at Vienna and that with a great deal of reason for the Cause of these later Confederates no less than their own belongs to the Cognizance of the Council But if the Judges of the Chamber will fore-stall the Hearing and hale in the business of the Council to their Court this is no less than down-right Force and Injustice against which by the Laws of Nature they are bound to defend themselves
formerly Liberius Bishop of Rome a Friend and Favourer of Athanasius desir'd the Emperor Constantine to call a Council at Alexandria because the Accused and Prosecutors lived there and notwithstanding that place was inconvenient for the Eastern Churches notwithstanding the Emperor Constantius declar'd That Athanasius had been condemn'd by the Suffrages of the whole World and that his Adherents were banish'd notwithstanding he protested That Liberius was the great Disturber of the Peace of Christendom yet the Bishop did not desist in his Application and the Emperor continuing as much resolv'd in his denial was the occasion of making the Arian Heresie prevail for a long time but at last Athanasius his Cause prov'd Victorious and will continue so to the Worlds end now how many Christians lost their Lives in the defence of that Doctrin is impossible to recount They expect that their Religion will have the same Success Whether there is a fit place assign'd them to argue in or not For such reasons as these the Fathers of Basil refus'd to meet at Ferrara where the Pope Eugenius had order'd the Council to convene So likewise when the Emperor Henry the Seventh had a Dispute of great consequence with Robert King of Sicily and cited him to appear at Pisa Pope Clement the Fifth look'd upon this proceeding as unjust and thereupon undertook the King's Defence and inform'd the Emperor why he was not bound to come thither though his reasons were much less considerable than those which they had produc'd therefore their refusing such a Council as this is none of their fault but the Popes For whenever they cast the Issue of their Cause upon a Council they meant such a one as his Majesty and the States had decreed being sensible that if the whole Affair was left to the management of Popes they would regard nothing but their private Advantage suppress the true Religion and establish their own Corruptions and Impieties notwithstanding this Paul the Third has so varnish'd over the matter to the Emperor as if he proceed with the greatest fairness and sincerity imaginable when he intends the direct contrary Moreover what sort of Council it is which they demand they have already declar'd in writing not only to Clement's Legate but to Peter Paul Vergerius who was sent by Paul the Third And whereas his Excellency informs them that the Emperor's design is That Error and Immorality may be rectified and reform'd they profess they cannot see the least intimation of any such matter in the Pope's Bull for if he had design'd a real and effectual Reformation he would never have condemn'd their Doctrin before it had been publickly examin'd And though they do not doubt of the Emperor's Candour and Justice and therefore they are the more concern'd that it 's not in their power to gratifie him yet this they must say that his Majesties kindness and forwardness in this Affair cannot turn to any advantage to them For admitting the Emperor should be present at the Council himself yet it 's well known what a slender Authority the Popes allow his Majesty and other Princes in such cases Now supposing the Pope and his Clergy should shew themselves very frank and let them be present at the Debates yet they never permit them to Vote that Priviledge they reserve for their own Order so that if the Emperor and the Civil Magistrate happen to carry on the Dispute farther than is acceptable to the other they have this check upon them and at last determine the Controversie according to their own good liking And since their caution is only to avoid falling into the Pope's Ambuscadoes they desire his Majesty would please not to take it ill for it 's natural to Brutes to shun those places in which they know Snares and Traps are set for them Besides it 's sufficiently known how the Emperor Sigismund was serv'd at the Council of Constance For notwithstanding he had granted John Husse a safe Conduct in due form yet the Fathers there clip'd his Prerogative to purpose when they told him That neither his Majesty nor any Person else ought to prescribe to the Council in that matter In short the Emperor gave up the Point and yielded to their Claim and Authority and though they believe his Majesty did not do this without great regret yet that was little comfort to the other miserable Person who was surpriz'd into so great a Calamity and forc'd to suffer a cruel death for being over-credulous in depending upon the safe Conduct From which matter of Fact it plainly appears what a slender Assistance the Emperor though he was never so willing is able to afford those whom they have taken in their Toyls and as it were cag'd up Therefore they are oblig'd to be circumspect in their motions however that no blame may be charg'd upon them they declare That they are not only willing to submit to a fair Trial but also they earnestly entreat the Emperor that he would please fully to examine the weight of their Reasons and call a lawful Council in Germany where the Pope and his Party may not engross the Office of Judges And if it shall so happen that the Pope hinders the Emperor in the execution of this Design and will not suffer an honest Council to be call'd in Germany they solemnly profess to the World That it 's none of their fault which prevents the proper Measures for Agreement from being resolv'd on and all the inconveniencies which follow from these misunderstandings must be attributed to the Pope Lastly They desire him that he would make an exact Report of what they have said to the Emperor and let his Majesty understand their Inclinations to serve him After these Speeches were over and Eldo had promis'd that he would give the Emperor an account of what had past between them the Protestants proceeded to make a Provision for several other Matters viz. for the Maintenance of the Clergy for the Founding of Schools that there might be a constant supply of fit Persons for the Service both of Church and State and when they had done this they decreed what was requisite concerning their League and mutual Defence I have already mention'd what answer they gave Eldo in reference to the Turk and besides there was a rumour spreads as if Ferdinand was making Preparations for a War against John Vaivod of Transylvania and therefore desir'd Supplies to carry on that design And lest they should be guilty of an Omission in respect of the Commonwealth for want of right information in the case they decreed after Eldo was gone That the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave should send away their Agents at the Common charge that they might have certain Intelligence concerning this matter and if the Turk did invade Germany they would then convene themselves again to consult what was proper for every Man to do Moreover that all Men might understand the reasonableness of their Proceedings and the Grounds
hazards and be at all this Expence to no purpose is perfect distraction But we are convin'd this is a Duty which God requires of us whose Commands ought to be preferr'd to all Secular Interest and we protest before God Almighty That we design nothing but his Service And now having confuted thier Accusations we shall proceed to another branch of our Apology Possibly most People of foreign Countries may think that we have been too nice in quarrelling with those things which have no great malignity in them and which might have passed without notice for Peace-sake especially when the nature of Humane Affairs in such that there will always be some Imperfections in Church and State which must be conniv'd at But the case is quite otherwise for first we are not to conceal our dislike of Errors and wrong Opinions in Religion being commanded by Christ to beware of false Teachers Besides the Contest is not about little Mistakes but concerning the Doctrin of Faith and right Apprehensions of God upon which the due performance of a Christians Duty and of Divine Worship does principally depend now these are points which cannot be passed over in silence but are to be maintain'd in their Purity and diligently taught in the Church But that this part of Truth was perfectly extinct cannot be denied and a new Doctrin introduc'd in its room to the great dishonour of our Saviour We likewise disapprove many other Errors and ungodly Practices in their Worship which some Persons who liv'd long before our time have discover'd and thereupon wish'd for a Council that those things which were amiss might be rectified and the Peace of the Church establish'd But now there is more need of a Council than ever because the same Corruptions remain and have spread their Infection further because they have occasion'd Broils and Divisions in Christendom insomuch that many innocent Persons run the hazard of losing their Lives upon this account For these weighty reasons not only our selves but the Emperor and the rest of the States and Bishops of the Empire voted a Council very necessary for the preservation of the true Religion in the Church for unless such an Expedient was made use of they foresaw the Distractions of Christendom would encrease And while we were big with the expectation of such a Council as this out comes the Pope's Bull with Contents directly contrary to the Decrees of the Empire And because we are not concern'd alone but the whole Christian Church is interessed in it we thought it necessary to set forth a publick Declaration of our Reasons in this Paper why we refuse this Council of the Pope's calling For the right of Voting does not belong solely to the Pope and Bishops but to the Church in which signification Kings and other degrees of Men and Secular Magistrates are included Therefore though the Pope was no Party in the present Debate yet there was no reason to allow him and his Adherents the whole Power of Determining and exclude the other Ministers of the Church But since he is apparently one of the Litigants himself the yielding him such a Priviledge is still more unaccountable and no less than a contradiction to the Laws of God and Nature Now we do not accuse the Pope of small Misdemeanors neither do we quarrel with him only for his Luxury and Lording it over the Church but the main of our charge lieth against his Doctrin his Canons and abominable Worship that is we arraign him for Idolatry and Heresie and when he is impeached of such Crimes as these the Church and not himself is to examine and give Sentence in the Cause according to the Provision which the old Canon-Law it self hath made for this purpose Besides the Pope hath made himself the more suspected not only by being a Party but because he hath condemn'd our Doctrin long beforehand now the case standing thus it 's easie to imagine what sort of Censure will be past upon our Doctrin in a Council of his own packing For we are not to suppose that he will give a liberty of Voting to any Persons contrary to the old customs of his Church And in regard the Bull does not mention in what order and method Debates are to be managed we have reason to suspect every thing For he only summoneth and Mustereth those who are engag'd to him upon many accounts and of whose Trustiness he is sufficiently assur'd He likewise professeth that the reason of his calling a Council is That those Heresies which have lately sprung up may be extirpated And notwithstanding these words will bear a large signification yet there is no doubt but that he meant them of our Doctrin for we have no reason to believe that he would tax his own Errors Nay afterwards he publish'd another Bull concerning the Reformation of the Court of Rome where he owneth in express words That the Council was call'd that the pestilent Lutheran Heresie might be suppress'd At first it 's true he cunningly dissembled his Intentions that he might make the Bull appear plausible but afterwards he discover'd himself It 's plain therefore that he aims only at the subversion of our Religion Now what a madness would it be for us to approve of such a Design as this For this is the thing which he driveth at namely to draw a Confession from those who admit his Bull that our Doctrin is wicked and heretical and when Kings and Princes have own'd this they may be oblig'd to contribute their good wishes and endeavours to the Cause And because the common Interest of Christendom is concern'd in this Affair we intreat all People that they would seriously consider the designing subtilty of this Man for his couching the Bull in such Terms is somewhat admirable and it is a question Whether he intended to fright us from the Council this way or else to ensnare us by approving the Instrument That the Emperor intends the welfare and security of the Commonwealth we do not in the least question and believe that his Majesty does not approve the form of the Bull. But as for the Pope he hath not so much intimated a Council as publickly given Sentence against us Neither will he allow the Scriptures to determine the Dispute but his own Canons and Customs and the Opinions of some modern Councils must overrule all other Pleas whereas it 's one of our principal Assertions That Humane Traditions are to be rejected when they are repugnant to the Word of God. That which is really the Doctrin of the Church we willingly receive but then the Errors and Tyranny of the Pope ought not to be flourish'd over with that reverend Name For first the ancient Church never admitted of any Constitutions which were contrary to Scripture nor yet gave the Pope that unlimited power which he now assumes to himself And secondly These Men who condemn and persecute the Doctrin of the Gospel are none of the Church but Parricides and Sons
Brother George and the Condition expressed in his Testament he had made an alteration in Religion that he obstructed the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Mersburg and Misen and that he kept to himself the summ of Threescore thousand Florins left by his Brother for the use of the League Wherefore he moved the Emperor to reduce him to Duty and if he refused to foreclose him from his Brother's Succession according to the tenour of his last Will and Testament However he did not thus alone but some others of the League joined with him though he was the chief It is now time to speak of the Assembly at Haguenaw It was opened June the Twenty-fifth King Ferdinand having been there a Month before Some days before the Commencement the Protestants had made their Applications to the Electors Palatines Cologne and Treves to Erick Duke of Brunswick and the Bishops of Ausburg and Spire to all privately in their several Lodgings that they would promote a Peace King Ferdinand therefore having on the Day above-mentioned called the Protestants before him declared unto them the Cause of the Assembly And because the Princes came not in Person which the Emperor fully expected from them he required their Deputies to shew him their Commissions and Instructions After that he nominated Commissioners Lowis Prince Palatine John Archbishop of Treves Lowis Duke of Bavaria and William Bishop of Strasburg who being accepted by the Protestants the Treaty began A great many Protestant Divines came thither also as Justus Menius Pistorius Vrbanus Regius Bucer Brentius Blaurerus Osiander Schnepsius and many more but Melancthon fell dangerously sick upon the Rode. Every one of these preached privately in their own Lodgings as it was their Custom but then especially when all the Deputies met together to consult about any matter But this coming to King Ferdinand's Knowledge he discharged them to preach any more though on the other hand the Deputies alledged that they preached not publickly but privately and that his Majesty had no cause to be offended thereat When the Conference should begin the Lantgrave and Duke of Saxony intended to be present and were already on their own Frontiers expecting the News of it that so they might set out upon their Journey The Commissioners Pacificators afterwards required the Protestants to deliver unto them the Heads of the controverted Doctrines drawn up in short They make answer to this That the Confession of their Faith and Apology had been presented at Ausburg Ten Years before to which they still adhered being ready to satisfie any that found fault with it and since they knew not what it was that their Adversaries chiefly censured in that Book they had nothing to propound but rather were to demand of them what the Doctrines were that they thought contrary to the Word of God. That if they would do so and bring the matter to a Conference as had been thought fit at Francfort they were ready to come to any fair Agreement Some Days after the Commissioners make Report That seeing they stuck to the Confession of Ausburg they had in the mean time read over that Book and all the Treaty of Ausburg and find that some Points of Doctrine had been agreed upon there and some not That therefore they were ready to use all their Endeavours to accommodate these and desired them to tell them their Thoughts therein To this the Protestants reply That some Articles had been discoursed on indeed but nothing concluded therein nor any Conciliation made there The matter being thus tossed to and fro when the Protestants urged a Conference and the others alledged that they had Commands from the Emperor and King to proceed according to the Treaty of Ausburg King Ferdinand calling them all together on the Sixteenth of July told them That since nothing could be then determined and especially because the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave were absent another Day was to be appointed when the Deputies of both Parties and learned Men should meet in an equal number and conferr among themselves about the Points of the Augustane Confession but so that it should be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg And that the Pope also if he pleased might send Commissioners thither That again since some complained that the Protestants had turned them out of their Possessions it was but just and reasonable that in the mean time whilst the Controversie about Religion depended those who were rejected should be restored to the Possession of their Church Livings or else be allowed to bring their Actions for them at Law. That moreover for avoiding all Commotions a longer Truce should be made wherein those should be now comprehended who were of the Augustane Confession before the Transaction of Nurimberg so that the Protestants should not reckon those of their Number who had joined with them since nor admit of any others neither for the future Five days after the Protestants declared what they had to expect against in these Proposals That they highly approved of a Conference and wished that the Emperor himself in Person and not his Deputies only might be present at it but that as to the Pope's sending Commissioners thither they should not prescribe Laws to the Emperor As to the Restitution of Church-Lands and the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber they made a long Answer as has been several times mentioned before alledging that the Controversie about Religion ought first to be determined but that they should exclude those who had associated with them since the Peace of Nurimberg and admit of no others for the future it was a thing they said they could not do and that they had no Instructions as to that particular On the other hand King Ferdinand and the Commissioners Pacificators urge the Restitution of Church Livings or at least that they should be put under sequestration until the Cause were determined Besides King Ferdinand told them that he would not grant them Liberty to admit of more into their Society and therefore advised them to comply with the Condditions proposed by him for that though they did refuse yet by Authority from the Emperor he would make a Decree and at the same time he appointed the next Convention to be held at Wormes the Twenty-eighth Day of October They return an Answer to him that they were satisfied with the time and place of the Conference but that they had robbed no Man and that the Question it self belonged to the Conference and future Treaty that besides no sequestration could be made without great prejudice to the State and Constitution of the Church within their Dominions and to the Schools and Poor And that since it was not long to the Time of the Conference they craved that the whole matter might be put off till then that there they would make it appear how much more sollicitous they were for the Glory of God and the Reformation of the Church than for Church-Lands and Revenues and that
though they could presently prove how some of their Adverse Party appropriated to themselves such Possessions yet they would deferr it till then At which time when the matter should come to be sifted it would plainly appear which of the two converted those Possessions more to their own private use than to the Honour of God. Concerning their Associates they answered as they did before praying that it might also be put off till the next Conference and that Peace might in the mean time be preserved King Ferdinand thereupon made a Decree July the Twenty-eighth wherein having recited the whole Proceedings he appointed a Conference at Wormes as we said before but conditionally if it pleased the Emperor The Princes Electors as also the Bishops of Magdeburg Saltsburg and Strasburg William and Lowis Dukes of Bavaria the Duke of Cleve and the Protestants are enjoined to send their Commissioners thither so that there should be Eleven on each side the same number of Clerks were also appointed to be there carefully to set down in Writing all the Proceedings in the Conference which was decreed to be about the Doctrines proposed at Ausburg and the Emperor was prayed to call a Diet of the Empire In the mean time by Command and Authority from the Emperor he charges all under severe Penalties to live in Peace and abstain from Violence And whereas it was urged by the Protestants that the Imperial Chamber had no power to judge of the Peace of Nurimberg he referred that to the Emperor's Cognizance The Decree being read the Protestants desired a Copy of it And because the Emperor having written to him from Brussels June the Fifteenth told him That he would declare his Thoughts as to the Imperial Chamber they begg'd to know what he had been pleased to signifie in that matter since there was no mention at all of that in the Decrce so that they knew not whether the Judges of the Chamber were discharged to proceed or not To this King Ferdinand made Answer That he had indeed Orders from the Emperor to acquaint them with his Resolution but it was upon Condition That all Church-Lands and Goods were restored or put under sequestration for that then all Proceedings were discharged but since they refused both he had no more to say but would make a Report of all to the Emperor Besides the Princes whom I named the Bishop of Trent was present and also Henry Duke of Brunswick but he went Home before the conclusion of the Assembly The Electors Palatine and Cologne and the Bishop of Strasburg were very Instrumental here for continuing the Peace for the rest hatched far different Counsels and urged the Decree of Ausburg saying That matters should not be put off with Conferences and Debates but that it ought to be taken into deliberation how the Protestants attempts might be quashed and restrained During this Assembly John the Vayvode King of Hungary died leaving behind him an Infant Son Stephen of whom Isabell the Daughter of Sigismund King of Poland had been lately brought to Bed. This was the Cause also that King Ferdinand having notice sent him of it hastened Home About this time also many Fires happened in Saxony and in Places about belonging to the Protestants for most part which burnt down some Towns and Villages The Duke of Brunswick was reported to have been the Author of this horrid Villainy as shall be said hereafter July the Fifthteenth one Robert Barnes Doctor of Divinity was burnt at London He had been for sometime banished England for the Protestant Religion but being afterward informed that King Henry applied himself to Piety and the Knowledge of the Truth he returned Home and was afterward employed in that Ambassy which was sent to Germany and was one of those who amongst other things treated with the Divines of Wittemberg about the King's Divorce as we told you in the Tenth Book But the King changing his Mind and in most things retaining the Popish Doctrine this Man who continued constant to the last was this Day Executed having at the Stake made a publick Profession of his Faith. Other two of the same Religion were burnt with him and the same Day Three others were burnt for maintaining the Pope's Supremacy and the Validity of Queen Catharine's Marriage In the Month of August died at Paris William Budey Master of the Requests a Man of extraordinary Learning and worthy to be Honoured by all Posterity were it only for this that he and Cardinal du Bellay Bishop of Paris were the Advisers of King Francis to that Noble and Generous Act of settling competent Salaries on the Professors of Languages and liberal Arts at Paris for it is hardly to be believed what plentiful Streams have flowed from this Fountain and watered not only France but other Countries also He ordered his Funeral to be made without any Pomp. This Year was memorable for extraordinary Heat and Drought however the Wine was excellently good The French King in the mean time about Autumn sent circulatory Letters to all his Bishops ordering Prayers and Supplications to be made in all Churches For though he was at Peace with the Emperor which he would not rashly break yet he was much afraid that the old Enemy of Mankind and hater of Peace might by his Engines and Instruments lay a Train for kindling a new War. The Emperor being informed of all that passed by Letters from his Brother King Ferdinand and the Commissioners Pacisicators comfirmed the Decree of Haguenaw and by Letters dated at Vtrecht the Thirteenth of August exhorted the Protestants that against the Day appointed they would send their Deputies and Divines to Wormes to all whom he granted a safe Conduct and assured them That since his Affairs would not suffer him to be there in Person he would send in his place some person of eminent Quality about him not doubting but that the Pope would send thither also for Reconciliation sake He promised likewise to call a Diet of the Empire where he intended to be personally present and to which Diet also the result of the Conference ought to be referred By other Letters afterwards dated at Brussels the Fifteenth of October he gives Granvell Commission to act and appoints him his Deputy at the future Conference Granvell was at that time at Besanzon a Town in the Franche Comte where he was Born and being so taken up with Business that he could not be there at the Day appointed he wrote to the Elector of Mentz and the other Princes designed for the Conference sending before on the Second of November John Naves of Luxemburg to excuse his Delay and crave their Patience For after he had upon some grudge wormed out Matthias Eldo as we said before he employed this Man in his place as being more obsequious and agreeable to his Humour In the mean time the Emperor called a Diet of the Empire to meet at Ratisbone in the Month of
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.
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
their Actions for that they had no designs in this War against any Person but him and did not refuse after Matters were quieted to send all the Assistance they could command to the Relief of Hungary The Diet ended on the Twenty-sixth Day of August and therein a Decree was made inflicting a Penalty on all those that did not obey the Decree of the Diet of Spire and several other things enacted in Relation to the Turkish War. None of the Princes were present at it except Walter Master of Prussia and the Bishops of Bamberg Aichstadt and Trent with the Emperor's Deputies before-named Mention has been made before of Cardinal Contarini who for the Services done in his Legation had no great Thanks from the Pope and Cardinals by whom he was charged as not having been brisk enough in opposing the Lutherans and as having endangered the Interests and Religion of Rome He had been by many Accused in his Absence and none but Cardinal Fregoso stood up for his Defence Upon his Return out of Germany into Italy he came to Luka where Pope Paul then expected the Emperor as he was to go to Barbary From thence he went to Rome with the Pope and not long after was made Legate of Bolonia where at length towards the latter end of this Year he died not without suspicion of having been Poisoned Fregoso being dead not long before They who were familiarly acquainted with him say That he was right in his Judgment as to Man's Justification He was a very learned Man and wrote a Book of the Magistrates and Republick of Venice In the same Month William Poiet Chancellor of France was by the King's Command who then was going to Perpignan apprehended a-bed in the Night time and carried to Prison The News of this occasioned much rejoicing at Paris for in the Four Years time that he discharged that Office he had offended all Ranks of Men and was now at length disgraced by the Interest of a Lady at Court though he had contracted much Envy too by the Condemnation of the Admiral as we said before He was in great Hopes and almost sure of being made a Cardinal and therefore had taken Holy Orders some Months before Though most Men said he did so that he might fortifie himself against the Hatred that many did bear him and secure his Life if at any time that heat should break out into a Flame This was the third Instance of the wantonness and inconstancy of Fortune which happened within a few Months in France For those three we named before the Admiral Constable and Chancellor being promoted to the highest pitch of Honour and Dignity could not refrain from Envying and Hating one another till at length by their own Example they gave an evident demonstration how fallacious slippery and uncertain all worldly Enjoyments are At that time Otho Henry Prince Palatine embraced the reformed Religion and so also did they of Heildesseim You heard before of the Council And now the Pope sent the Bull of Convocation thereof to the Emperor in Spain The Emperor on the Twentieth of August wrote an Answer to the Brief of his Holiness that came with it In the First place he commends his Endeavour and the Zeal he expressed for the publick Good but is troubled that the French King should be compared to him That that King was a prodigal Son said he but that he who had never swerved from his Duty ought more tenderly to be hugg'd and embraced That he had never declined any Trouble spared no Danger nor Expences for obtaining of a Council that Christendom being at Peace all their Force might be employed against the Turk but that the French King on the contrary had had far different Prospects That therefore he had just Cause to take somewhat amiss in his Brief That it was an usual Bragg of Francis that he had the Cardinals at his Beck wherefore he began to doubt whether it might not be true but however that he trusted to a good Conscience and that the Actions of them both were publickly known That his Holiness was indeed too kind and indulgent towards him for that all the Labour and Pains he had been at now for many Years was lost That he had been often admonished of his Duty many heinous Injuries pardoned and Leagues still renewed with him but that all these things made him the worse and he wholly abused his Goodness That he had satisfied him at Rome who it was that gave the Cause of the War and who had violated the League but that what had happened in the mean while since he would now inform him of to wit That no greater Demonstration could be given of his own Willingness and Desire to live in Peace than that after the Truce made at Nice he came to an Interview with him at Aigues Mortes and put himself into his Hands nay and the Year following took a Journey through France to the great Astonishment of all Men and not without the Censure of many for that seeing he had oftner than once broken his Faith and was very inconstant and changeable in all his Purposes it was no small Danger for him to have ventured his Person upon his Word and Promise That he was also assured that at that time it was moved in Council that he should be detained Now as to what some said He was obliged to go that way because of the Rebellion of Ghent it was but an idle Surmise for that that Insurrection was the Act but of a few and of the baser sort of the People too the rest of the Province being still in quiet and could easily have been repressed by the Queen his Sister but that it was his Purpose at that time to have returned into Germany through Italy had he not been perswaded by the King to alter his Resolution and travel over France as he could demonstrate by his own Letters and by the Letters of his Sons and Nobles for that he was so earnestly importuned by him upon that Account that he thought it would have reflected upon his Honour if he had pass'd any other way than through France and that whilst he was in France he had had it often from his own Mouth That he would observe the Truce but that afterwards he began to complain that Milan was not restored to him according to Promise whereas the Promise was made with this Condition If he restored his Uncle the Duke of Savoy and performed some other things That ever since that time he had framed Designs against him in several Places in Germany Italy with the Grand Seignior the Vayvode John his Widow and some Nobles of Hungary by whose Means the Turk had got Buda And that nevertheless he had all along disguised his Malice and made him large but ensnaring Promises of Friendship that he might spin out the time and surprise him unawares which he did so soon as the Occasion offered when Fregoso
King had driven the Duke of Savoy out of his Country That he designed to do the same likewise with others when time and occasion should offer And that the cause of this violent Malice of his was because the Emperor put a stop to his Attempts and Enterprizes That they themselves had heard from the Letters lately read what designs he was carrying on with the Turk what also in Germany and how it was his Resolution to obstruct the Turkish War That in like manner since the Duke of Cleve was in League with him who also retarded the Emperor's most just Enterprizes and prejudiced the Welfare of Germany Aid was to be decreed against both that their Insolence and Boldness might be repressed In the mean time the Protestants present a Petition to King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies wherein they relate at large what for many years had been done in Religion how that Peace had been granted at Nurimberg but that the Imperial Chamber had infringed it how that the Emperor two Years before had granted them a Proviso and told them his mind at Ratisbone how that there was a Decree made there for Reformation of the Imperial Chamber and rectifying of that Judicature what they also had then publickly protested unless the Decree should be fulfilled That now since none of these things were performed and that the Judges of the Chamber proceeded in their wonted way to molest them first for defending themselves against Henry Duke of Brunswick and then for non-payment of the Salaries and Charges of the Chamber they had declined all their Jurisdiction which they protested they would do long before in the General Diet That now therefore if the matter were otherwise represented to them they beg of them not to believe it for that necessity forced them to do as they did and to make use of a lawful Remedy which Justice and Equity allowed every Man to do For that should they go on in that manner usurping to themselves a power of judging and pronouncing Sentences of Proscription and other Penalties against them it would prove not only hurtful to them but also to the whole State For that who could doubt or be ignorant how seasonable and advantageous a thing it would prove to the Turks if Feuds and Animosities amongst the States should kindle a Civil War that might exhaust all their Wealth and Substance That many Instances could be given how difficult it was to pacifie and quiet Minds once exasperated and provoked That for their parts truly there was nothing they wished for more than to see a firm Peace settled and equal Justice administred in Germany That all their Animosities and Diffidences sprung from difference in Religion And that the cause of all that Dissension was that the preaching of the Gospel and true Worship of God were discountenanced and oppressed that Errors and notorious Vices were not only not removed and amended but through Ambition and the sake of Lucre even tolerated and defended That God being therefore provoked and offended by this ingratitude did afflict his People with great Calamities and would never cease to do it so long as they continued in them That it was therefore their desire that they would turn their Thoughts this way and effectuate at least that no stirs should be made upon account of Religion and that Justice should be impartially administred to all but that since this was not to be expected considering the present state of the Imperial Chamber they craved That that Judicature might be Reformed according to the Ancient Laws of the Empire and the Emperor's Declaration that other Judges might be appointed all Suits and Actions left in the same state as they were in before the Declinatory made and that Injunctions should be laid upon the Judges exactly to observe the Rules of the future Reformation and act nothing contrary to the Pacifications of former Years For that unless matters were so ordered and they sufficiently secured they would not consult about the Turkish War though otherwise there was nothing but what they coveted to do for the Publick When after much and long debate King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies made Answer That there was a Council already called at Trent where the Emperor himself would be and that without a hearing of the Cause they could not remove the Judges of the Imperial Chamber that it was ordered to be Reformed and would soon be put in Execution That they could not deny Justice to Henry Duke of Brunswick who was ejected out of all and demanded it and that that was all they could grant and no more The Protestants reply That they did not approve that Council nor would they go to it That they had no Satisfaction given them in other Matters nor sufficient Assurances made them and that therefore they would enter into no other Deliberations Notwithstanding King Ferdinand and the other States make a Decree for Fortifying the frontier Places upon the Turks Territories for contributing Money to defray the Charges thereof and appoint the Third Day of July for the Reformation of the Imperial Chamber which they ordered to be Reformed according to the model prescribed Eleven Years before at Ratisbone They Decree also That those who did refuse to furnish their proportions of the Moneys and Aid imposed should be prosecuted in name of the Publick and be distrained therefore But the Protestants protested against this Decree as made without their Advice and Counsel as containing nothing positive concerning Peace and Property and as imposing the Contributions very unequally Now because upon the Emperor's coming the War was like to prove much hotter betwixt him and the Duke of Cleve the Princes Electors and rest of the States interceded by their Deputies and with much ado obtained a Truce from Granvell not indeed positive and absolute but such as it was still at the Emperor's Discretion so soon as he set Foot in Germany to ratifie or reject it and in the mean time Zittard a very strong Town upon the Frontiers of Juliers was put into the Emperor's Hands until he should declare his Mind in the Matter The Mediators promised also to meet the Emperor with an Ambassy to make intercession on behalf of the Duke and Granvell put them in great Hopes of obtaining a gracious Answer from his Majesty The Deputies of Cleve of whom the chief was John Vlatten a learned Gentleman approved this Agreement and thanked the Mediators for the pains they had taken But in the mean while a Battle happened at the Town of Zittard March the Twenty-fourth wherein Cleve having had the better partly for that Victory and partly to comply with the French King who supplied him with Money he grew obstinate and upon the return of his Deputies rejected the Truce The News of this Success being in great haste carried into France occasioned great Rejoicing there and the French King appointed publick Thanksgiving to be made for it at Paris The
the Emperor's Subjects in the Netherlands because of King Christiern who was kept Prisoner and he desired Assistance from the Protestants but they alledged that that Cause had no Relation to the League for it was only stipulated That if any made War against him upon account of Religion that then they should join with him and assist him The Duke of Cleve having made his Peace with the Emperor sent an Ambassador to the French King to renounce the League he had with him and to demand his Wife to be sent unto him for whose Passage he had obtained a safe Conduct from the Emperor The King made Answer to the Ambassador That it was none of his Fault but that he had had both his Wife delivered and an Army sent him but that he himself was in the blame who had sent word that there was no free Passage for them through those Places nor could they be supplied with Provisions That he himself had generously performed what-ever he had promised and more too But that the Duke had not done well who forgetting his Lineage and Quality had cast himself into such Bondage That as to his Neece he might inform himself of her Parents and her self what their Resolution was for that he was no longer obliged to him in any thing The Emperor having settled of his Affairs in Guelderland came with a vast Army before Landrecy Thither also came the French King with all his Forces and there was no other likelihood but of a Battle betwixt them But the French having put Provisions into the place drew off so silently in the Night time that the Enemy perceived it not before it was Day Then at length they pursued and came up with the Rear of them of whom they slew a great many But because Winter now approached the Emperor thought it not fit to attempt any thing else only he sent some Forces to the Siege of Luxenburg and so dismissed the rest of his Army to Winter Quarters Duke Maurice served the Emperor as a Volunteer at Landrecy whereby he procured much good Will and opened himself a Way to his Friendship In the Winter time the Duke of Lorrain and some others mediated for a Peace but to no purpose The Emperor being returned home from Landrecy sent Ferrante Gonzaga Vice-Roy of Sicily to the King of England that he might edge him on more and more against the French King. We have several times spoken of Count William of Furstemberg He being now somewhat alienated from the French King made way by the means of Granvell to be received again into the Emperor's Favour and for a Proof of his Fidelity having raised some Companies of Foot in his own Territory in the middle of Winter he marched to Luxenburg and joined the Imperialists there But the French under the Command of the Duke of Longueville having put Provisions into the Place he retreated without doing any Exploit having lost many of his Men by Hunger and Cold. It was said before that the Emperor had appointed a Diet of the Empire to meet the last Day of November Therefore the Protestants assemble before at Franckfort to consult about the Affairs they were to treat of in the Diet And seeing the Meeting of it was deferred because of the French War the Elector of Saxony and Lantgrave wrote to the Emperor in November promising to come to the Diet provided he himself came and did grant them and their Confederates a safe Conduct Hereunto the Emperor wrote an Answer from Brussels dated the Tenth of December that he would come and that in the Month of January too and at the same time sent a safe Conduct Wherein nevertheless he excluded those who were engaged to his Enemies by Faith or Compact intimating thereby the secret Agents and Spies of the French King. So in the beginning of January he left the Netherlands and came to Spire On the Twenty sixth Day of this Month there happened a great Eclipse of the Sun which was beheld by all not without Admiration There were Three total Eclipses of the Moon also this Year a very prodigious thing indeed and such as Astronomers said had not happened before since the time of Charlemagne Cardinal Alexander Farnese having made his Journey through France met the Emperor on his Way to the Diet and took his Leave of him at Wormes It was believed that he was sent to mediate a Peace This Diet of Spire was exceeding great For not only was King Ferdinand present at it but all the Electors also which is a rare thing and generally all the Princes amongst whom was the Duke of Cleve too The Elector of Saxony came on the Eighteenth of February and was met upon the Rode by the Lantgrave the Archbishop of Cologne Frederick Prince Palatine and the Vice-Roy of Sicily Two Days after the Diet commnced which was opened by the Emperor's Speech to this effect That he had acquainted them by Letters from Genoa with the Causes that made him leave Spain to make another Journey into Germany and call this Diet Nor needed he now represent to them how much he had always studied the Safety and Wellfare of the Publick that all things being setled and composed at Home he might have turned his Arms against the common Enemy of Christendom and that therefore in the former Diet at Ratisbone he had earnestly proposed the raising of Forces and Supplies but that when the Year following the War undertaken against the Turk had proved unsuccessful their last Deliberations concluded in this That for the present the frontier Places should only be well fortified and garrisoned That now though it had been his earnest Desire then to have been personally present in the War according to the Duty of his Charge yet it was publickly known by whom and upon what Occasion he was and is still hindered and retarded For that by the Perswasion and Money of the French King a Turkish Fleet came last Year upon the Coast of Italy and made a Descent in the Country of the Duke of Savoy a Prince of the Empire where having taken the Town and Harbour of Nizza with all their Force they besieged and battered the Castle and that though upon the Approach of his Forces they were forced to raise the Siege yet they carried the War into other Places both of the Empire and of Spain having now nothing less in their Thoughts than to Ruin and Destroy all So that Matters are brought into extream Danger and are in a manner at the last Cast insomuch that if the Enemy be not resisted with joint Hearts and Hands Germany might too late see and bewail its own Calamity That he had many times wished he could have remedied those Evils but that the French King having attacked him at several Places at once he could neither return into Germany nor join his Aid with theirs Now that the Turk did so confidently invade Germany and
Reformed the Differences of Kings and Princes composed and Measures taken for carrying on a Turkish War But that as yet he had seen no Fruits of all his Labour and Pains For that the cause of the common disease still remained and all the parts of the State were in a visible Consumption and Decay That he took it very well at their Hands that they so affectionately recommended to him the Defence of the Castle of Nizza and that he would make it his whole care for the future that not one place only should be provided for but that the infection also might not spread to other Places and that Christendom should be delivered from the Turks and such like ungodly Men For that it was his Duty to provide for all the Members in general and to apply Remedies to the languishing Body That therefore as they recommended Nizza to him so did he again recommend to them the State of Christendom which was very much afflicted and weakened That the Chief and only way to cure it was Peace and Reconciliation amongst Kings and Princes for that all Disorders sprang from that source But that if these Dissensions were removed the whole Body would recover its former Comeliness and Beauty For that before these Clashings and Animosities there were neither any Heresies in Germany nor Turks in Hungary and Italy But that so soon as a vent was given to civil Discord then presently sprang forth Heresies and Factions both private and publick Hatred and Dissensions which was also the Cause that the meeting of the Council had hitherto been hindred and retarded That Peace was therefore to be established and in imitation of Physicians the Root of the Evil removed For that Peace would banish both War and Turk and a Council assembled in Peace and Quietness would soon Root out Heresies and reform whatever was amiss that otherwise they needed not think that either Nizza could be defended from the Enemy or any part of Christendom be exempt from Danger but on the contrary that all would be involved in the same Calamity and Destruction In the Month of March Ludovick the Elector Palatine died to whom succeded his Brother Frederick The Electors and all the other States by the Advice of the Emperor on the Second day of April wrote to the Switzers That they the Cantons had been informed by the Ambassadors which King Ferdinand and they had sent to them of the Reasons why two Years before they had decreed a War against the Turk and that it grieved them they had not then a franker Answer from them That the Emperor had then resolved to have commanded in Person in that War but that he had been diverted by the French King who had not only made War against him in divers places but had likewise sollicited Aid from the Turks And that the Year before a Turkish Fleet having at his Charges and Procurement come upon the Coast of Italy had attacked the Duke of Savoy and taken Nizza That the same Fleet was still in the Ports of France and waited only for an opportunity of doing the Emperor and Empire all the Mischief they could That this so horrid and unparallelled an Action of the French King's was so much the more to be detested that it tended directly to the aggrandizing of that wicked People and to the highest danger and disadvantage of Christendom That to them therefore it seemed very strange that they who had no less cause to be afraid of the Turks than the Germans themselves should have sent Forces to the Assistance of the French King in that War who had the Turk for his Ally and Assistant For that without their Aid he would not rashly have undertaken this Civil War That they were told also now that he was again solliciting them about fresh Supplies But since it concerned all equally not only to resist the Force of the Turks but also to take from their Confederates all Aid and Assistance for the Safety of Christendom they earnestly desired that for the future they would not suffer their Subjects to serve the French King who because of his accursed League ought to be taken for a publick Enemy but that they would recal those who were already perhaps in his pay and so demean themselves that it might appear they did not slight the publick Welfare of Christendom Whilst the Matters proposed by the Emperor were under Deliberation the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave and Confederates on the Fifth of April accused Henry Duke of Brunswick before the Emperor King Ferdinand and the whole Diet of the Empire charging him with most enormous Crimes and exhibiting against him a Bill in Writing containing an exact Relation of all the Damage he had done to the Cities of Brunswick and Goslar their Friends and Confederates for whose defence they had been necessitated to resist Force by Force and to repress his Usurpations Then they alledged against him That for some Years he had done nothing but sought after occasions of making War against them which they proved by the Letters we mentioned before that were found in his chief Castle that was taken after he had been driven out of his Country In those Letters which where all in a manner written to the Elector of Mentz the Duke of Bavaria and Eldo before he was expelled he frequently wished for the Emperor's coming out of Spain and when any Hope 's offered he huffed and threatned but after that the Emperor was come and proceeded a little too slowly he complained of his remissness and delay and lamented that neither he nor his Associates had Satisfaction and that the League made at Nurimberg was not regarded accusing and laying all the Fault upon Granvell who was as he said corrupted by the Protestants Money whom he railed against and prayed that he might come to a shameful End as he deserved He frequently also affirmed That the Emperor was a-sleep and could not be rouzed and that he made use of his Name only for a Cloak and Terrour as Fowlers used to do when they frightened the Birds with a dead Hawk Many Letters of his were read containing such stuff as this whereby he vented his Purpose and Inclinations Much to the same purpose the Duke of Bavaria and Eldo had written to him again And because Duke Henry Brother to Duke George of Saxony changing his Religion as we said had entered into the Protestant League the Duke of Brunswick had plied the Emperor by Letters and Messengers to divest him of all his Lands and Goods hoping that he himself might be put into the Possession of his Country Letters to this purpose were also read Afterwards they alledged That he was an impious Man who slighted and made a Derision of the Popish Religion Whereof he would be thought the Defender which they proved by a very notable Instance The Duke of Brunswick had Married the Lady Mary Sister to Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg who amongst other Ladies that
the Demands of the Emperor and King Ferdinand After long and great Debate about the Matter on the Twentieth of June the Diet was dissolved But though it seemed to lie heavy upon the States of the Empire to be charged with double Aid yet because they thought that the Turkish War might be more successfully carried on if the domestick Enemy were first reduced to Duty they granted the Emperor a Six Months Subsidy for entertaining Four thousand Horse and Twenty four thousand Foot against the French King of which Money the Emperor allotted a part to his Brother King Ferdinand for fortifying the Places upon the Frontiers against the Turks And for the future Turkish War they imposed a Tax and Poll all over Germany that all without Exception should pay according to their Lands and Estates and for their Heads They enacted under severe Penalties that no Man should serve Foreigners especially the French King in their Wars and Power was granted to Punish such as should be found Transgressors herein Because the Difference about Religion could not be treated of during these warlike Occupations it was referred to the next Diet to be held in the Month of December The Emperor in the mean time promised to employ some learned and pious Men to draw up a Form of Reformation He entreated the Princes to do the like also that having compared all together in future Diets something might be agreed upon by common Consent to be observed till the meeting of a General Council to be held in Germany or until a National Synod of Germany That in the mean time all should live in Peace without making any Bustle or Stir for Difference in Religion and that the Churches every where of what Religion soever should enjoy their Rents and Revenues which should be applied to the Maintenance of the Ministers of publick Schools and the Poor That the Judges of the Imperial Chamber should retain their Places during the time that was prefix'd to them After the Expiration thereof that all should be indifferently admitted to that Bench without any respect to their Religion That the Edict of Ausburg and all Suits commenced against the Protestants upon account of their Religion and Profession as also the Proscription of the Cities of Goslar and Minden should be suspended till the next Treaty That the Anabapists should suffer the Punishments long since decreed against them That nevertheless the Magistrates should employ learned and pious Men to convince them of their Error and reclaim them This Decree was much disliked by the Catholicks who with all their Force opposed it But seeing the Bishops of Cologne and Munster sided with the Protestants and Cleve and Baden submitted all to the Emperor's Pleasure who after much debate made it appear That this was a middle and tolerable way for both they being much weakened in number condescended at last not indeed to assent to it but yet that they might not seem to prescribe Rules to the Emperor nor to derogate from his Power to tolerate the same and the Electors Palatine and Brandenburg had interceded to have the Decree pass in this manner The Protestants also desired that the Cause of the Duke of Brunswick might be comprehended in that Decree but that could not be obtained And the Emperor urged That either they would restore him or else put the Province into his Hands by Sequestration until the matter should be Tried He had treated about this with the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave whilst they were present and much more with their Deputies after their Departure The Cities at first refused to contribute to the Subsidy against the French because of Intercourse and Trade But when the Princes assented to it and the French King's Cause seemed Odious to all they also subscribed though much against their Wills especially they who bordered upon France The Deputies of Lunenburg and Wirtemberg refused also but they were privately admonished and with harsh words too that they alone should not put a stop to the Resolutions of the rest When the Lantgrave upon his Return Home went to take leave of the Emperor he was most graciously received his Imperial Majesty telling him That he would not now make use of him against the French King on purpose not to expose him to hatred but that so soon as that War was over he designed to march against the Turk and that then he would make him his Lieutenant General and commit the whole management of the War to his Care And when he modestly and humbly excused himself as unfit for such a Charge You have done good Service ere now saith the Emperor both for your self and others and I make no doubt but you can render me good Services too and with these words most courteously dismissed him so that he having acquainted some of his familiar Friends with what had pass'd betwixt them returned Home full of Hopes and Joy that the Emperor was so Favourable unto him As to the Business of the Sequestration after the matter had been long canvassed and disputed it was agreed upon at length That all the Country of Brunswick should be put into the Emperor's Hands as chief Magistrate until the Controversie were either friendly taken up or fairly tried and determined by Law And that the Emperor should commit the Government of the Country either to the Prince Palatine or the Elector of Brandenburg or else to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleve that they that did not obey should incurr the penalty of the breach of the publick Peace That the Emperor should command Henry Duke of Brunswick to obey or else to punish him according to Law. The Emperor at length proposed these Conditions and persisted in that and the Protestants ratified them afterwards as you shall hear in the proper place After the Conclusion of the Diet the Emperor went from Spire to Metz. Now all his Army had Mustered in Lorrain upon the Borders of France and about the latter end of May had taken Luxenburg upon Surrender In this War Duke Maurice of Saxony and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg served the Emperor with a Thousand Horse a piece also Count William of Furstemburg an Officer of Foot and Sebastian Scherteline all Protestants Whilst the Emperor was at Metz Hubert Count Bichling a German that served the French was taken in Lorrain and brought to Metz. He was there condemned to lose his Head and his Wife who came thither and fell at the Emperor's Feet could not prevail for his Pardon so that all things were prepared for his Execution But at length Maximilian King Ferdinand's Son whom the Emperor had lately received into his Court being sollicited used his Interest with the Emperor and at last saved his Life In the mean time Babarossa either because his Affairs so required or that he was perswaded by the French King or else that he feared the King might make Peace with the Emperor returned Home and Landing made
intervals though he did not see them that they should presently fly for their lives And at the same instant two of those who had betaken themselves to Mus come and having got notice of the Enemies approach advise the Minister of the Church and the rest of those few Guards that as we said were left with the Women to be gone having shewed them a steep way through the Wood by which they might escape all danger in their flight Hardly were these gone when the raging Soldiers came in shouting and making a heavy noise and with drawn Swords preparing for the butchâ—ry However at that time they forbear to kill but having committed many insolencies and robbed the poor things of all their Money and Provisions they carry them away Prisoners They had purposed to have used them more basely but a Captain of Horse prevented it who by chance coming in threatned them and commanded them to march streight to Meinier so that they proceeded no farther but leaving the Women there who were about five hundred in number they carry off the Cattel and Booty In the mean time Meinier came to Merindole and finding it forsaken by the Inhabitants â—he plunders and sets it on fire which was ushered in by a very cruel action for having found there one single Youth he commands him to be tied to an Olive-tree and there shot to death He marches next to Cabriere and begins to batter the Town but by the mediation of Captain Poulain he perswades the Towns people upon promise of indempnity to open the Gates which being done and the Soldiers let in after a little pause all were put to the Sword without respect to Age or Sex. Many fled to the Church others to other places and some into the Wine-Cellar of the Castle but being halled out into a Meadow and stript naked they were all put to the Sword not only the Men but also the Women and many of these with Child too Meinier also shuts up about forty Women in a Barn full of Hay and Straw and then sets it on fire and after that the poor creatures having attempted but in vain to smother the fire with their Cloaths which for that end they had pull'd off betook themselves to the great Window at which the Hay is commonly pitched up into the Barn with a purpose to leap down from thence they were kept in with Pikes and Spears so that all of them perished in the flames and this happened the twentieth of April Meinier after this sends part of his Forces to besiege the Town of Coste but when they were just upon their march those were found who as we said a little before had fled into the Wine-Cellar of the Castle a noise being thereupon raised as if there had been some ambush laid the Soldiers are recalled who put every Man of them to the Sword. The number of the slain as well in the Town as abroad in the Fields amounted to Eight hundred The young Infants which survived the fury were for the most part rebaptized by the Enemy Affairs thus dispatched at Cabriere the Forces are sent to Coste The Lord of that Town had transacted before-hand with the Inhabitants that they should carry their Arms into the Castle and in four places make breaches in their Walls which if they did he promises them that he would use his interest which he knew could easily prevail with Meinier that they should receive no damage Being over-perswaded they obey and he departs with a purpose seemingly to treat and intercede for them but he was not gone far before the Soldiers met him who nevertheless proceeded in their march and attacked the place At first onset they did but little but next day they more briskly renew the assault and having burnt all the Suburbs about they easily become Masters of the place and the rather that the Night before most had deserted the Town and fled having got down over the Walls by Ropes After the victorious had put all that stood in their way to Fire and Sword they run into a Garden adjoyning the Castle and there satiate their Lust upon the Women and young Girls promiscuously who in great fear and consternation had fled thither and for a Day and Night's time that they kept them shut up there so inhumanly and barbarously they used them that the big belly'd Women and younger Girls shortly after died of it In the mean time the Merindolanes and many others who wandered with them over the Woods and Rocks being taken were either sent to the Galleys or put to death and many also were starved Not far also from the Town of Mus we mentioned before some five and twenty Men had got into a Cave and kept lurking there but being betrayed all of them were either smothered with smoak or burnt so that no kind of cruelty was omitted Some however that had escaped this butchery got to Geneva and the places thereabouts Now when the News of this was brought into Germany many were highly offended thereat and the Swizers who are not of the Popish Religion interceded with the French King that he would be merciful to those who had fled their Countrey But the King made them answer that he had just cause for what he had done and that what he did within his own Territories and how he punished the guilty concerned them no more to know than it did him what was done amongst them The Year before the Waldenses had sent the King a Confession of their Faith in Writing thereby to clear their innocence And the Heads of their Doctrine are Of God the Father Creator of all things Of the Son the Mediator and Advocate for Mankind Of the Holy Ghost the Comforter and Teacher of Truth Of the Church which they say is the Congregation of all the Elect and has Jesus Christ for the Head. Of the Ministers of the Church who they say are to be turned out if they perform not their Duty Of the Magistrate whom they confess to be God's Minister for protecting the Good and punishing the Bad that not only Honour but also Tribute and Custom is due to them according to the example of Christ who himself payed Custom Of Baptism which they say is an external and invisible Sign which represents to us both the renewing of the Spirit and the mortification of the Members Of the Lord's Supper which they say is a giving of thanks and commemoration of the benefits received by Christ. Of Matrimony which being a holy thing and instituted by God they think ought not to be denyed to any Of Good Works which they teach are to be done and practised as the Holy Scriptures declare Of false Doctrines which because they lead us away from the true Worship they say ought to be avoided In short they alledge the Old and New Testament for the Rule of their Faith and profess to believe all that is contained in the
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
with the Turk quite contrary to your Promise for when two years since Germany gave you Assistance against the King of France you pass'd your Word that so soon as that War were ended you would go in Person with an Army against the Turk but now have you patch'd up a Truce with him to the end only that you might more conventently accomplish what you had designed against us And now in the Diet of Ratisbonne you have put a colour and new face upon the matter having enlarged much upon your Affection and good Intentions towards Germany our common Country and upon the Contumacy of some Persons which you did with a design of dividing us who were Confederated upon the Account of Religion For you are not able to make out against us any Crime of Undutifulness or Disobedience and distrusting your Cause you cited not the Accused to answer before the Diet of the Empire nor indeed did so much as name them Whereas in the mean time by Letters to several Princes and Free Towns you cunningly pretended that the War you designed was not for Religion but for repressing the Contumacy and Stubbornness of some Men Nevertheless that Religion is the thing you strike at it is even apparent from this that you have procured a Council from the Pope wherein none but his Vassals and Creatures have any place Some there were indeed in that Assembly a little more free in their Speech but ways were found out that they should be recalled and turned out and worse Men put into their places It is also well known to all what sort of Decrees they are which the Fathers at Trent have already made in some Sessions It is not then the Council so often promised in the Diets as we declared unto you a year ago at Wormes and what we then alledged we would have now again here repeated That it is your Design also to compel us to approve the Council will easily appear from the Pope's Letters sent lately to the Suitzers wherein he heavily complains of many in Germany who slight the Dignity of the Council and that he says is the reason why he was willing to undertake a War And because you also had resolved for the same reason to try the Effect of your Arms he says that that had happened very luckily for his purpose and that therefore he would employ not only his own but also all the Force and Treasure of the Roman Church Since then the Pope hath discovered that Purpose of yours which you would have cloaked under another Disguise who can any longer doubt but that our Religion is struck at For we indeed are conscious to our selves of no Fact for which we should either refuse a Publick Trial or that we cannot justifie our selves in But it was your Duty to have brought us before the College of the Princes according to ancient Custom and heard our Reasons and Defences Nor did it become you thus to use us to call us to a Diet to propound Publick Affairs to ask our Counsel and Advice and in the mean time to be projecting a War against us For what indeed can be the meaning of this to leave the Turk and turn all the Rage of the War against us as if we were a great deal worse than he But our Hope and Confidence is in God that he will hinder and put a stop to so base an Undertaking For if you and King Ferdinand your Brother entertained any Grudge or Dispeasure against us that was wholly removed at Cadam Vienna Ratisbonne and Spire so that you may gloss and varnish the Matter as you please we are still certain that there is no other Cause for this War but that with the suppression of the true Religion Germany may lose its Liberty You write indeed to several Persons and endeavour to perswade them that you are very desirous the Doctrine of the Gospel should be propagated but the Decisions of the University of Louvaine confirmed by you the Punishments inflicted upon good and pious Men within your Dominions and that Confederacy made with the Roman Antichrist sufficiently declare that it is your intention to restore Popery in its full extent and to extirpate the Religion which we professed at Ausbourg And since it is so and that we made a League to live and die in this Religion and with united Forces to defend it whatsoever Quarrel or Provocation may be by any pretended against any of us it necessarily behoved us to undertake our own Defence which the Law both of God and Nature allows us And although by reason of this your Design against us we are freed from all Obligation unto you so that we needed not to have declared to you our Resolutions in the Matter yet for the greater security we hereby renounce all Allegiance Homage and Duty that we were any ways bound to perform to you not as if thereby we impeached the Rights and Prerogatives of the Empire but rather that we may assert and defend the same Wherefore we openly and solemnly declare That it is our Purpose and Resolution to defend our selves by way of Arms against the Hostilities of you and your Confederates For the Cause is too good and just that we should be afraid of any Danger This Letter they send by a young Gentleman and a Trumpeter as the Custom is to the Emperour in his Camp at Landishut But he was so far from receiving it that upon pain of Death he commands them to carry it back to their Masters adding withal That if any Man should for the future come from them to him in stead of a Present and Gold Chain he should have the Reward of a Halter Then he gave them the Instrument of Proscription above-mentioned and strictly charges them to deliver it to their Princes Before this Letter was sent it was debated what Title was to be given to the Emperour and the Duke of Saxony was of opinion that he was not to be called Emperour for that then it was not lawful to make War against him But the Landgrave was of another mind and both had those that approved them At length they hit upon this Expedient that they should call him The Pretended Emperour Then they consult whither they should march Some were for going streight to Landishut where the Emperour was but when they were told by those who knew the Country That they had Fens to pass where the Ways were so narrow that for a Mile or two a pair of Horses could not go abreast they change their mind and resolve to march to Ratisbonne where the Emperour had left both a Garrison and Artillery for that there they might chuse a convenient Ground to encamp in and if the Emperour came to the Relief of the Besieged they might hazard a Battel Having then removed their Camp they advance but with a very slow March and about the same time to wit the thirteenth of August the Italian or
was and the Decree that past therein Truly the bitter Words that were then spoken gave us ground afterwards of entring into an Association and the present League In all Diets every where the Papists were troublesom to us and would have compelled us to abstain from Meats and observe what Holy-days themselves had invented We complied also with the Emperour at Ausbourg when he largely promised That he would appoint Teachers of the People But it is well known how ignorant and vicious the Men were whom he employed in that Office. It is an ancient Custom of the Empire That when any Prince has a mind to return home from the Diet he may do it with the Emperour's leave But when my Father saith the Elector of Saxony was at the Diet of Ausbourg he could not obtain from him leave to be gone and had notice given him more times than once That if he intended to depart he would be detained whether he would or not And though my Uncle Frederick had deserved very well at his Hands yet so long as my Father lived he refused to give him the usual Investiture into his own Principality only because of his Religion and of the Edict of Wormes Besides when he consulted with the rest of the Princes at Ausbourg about substituting his Brother Ferdinand in the Empire my Father was wholly excluded from that Deliberation which Action as being disgraceful and very injurious to our Family we could not but resent And though for just reasons we might thereafter absent our selves from Publick Assemblies especially from those wherein Ferdinand acted as King of the Romans nevertheless lest we might seem to neglect the Affairs of the Publick we always came in Person or sent Deputies to them in our Name Since then the Cause of the War is manifest we adjure all our Countrymen not to give credit to any contrary Relation but that they would joyn with us in the Defence of our common Country for as for our Subjects and Vassals whom he releases from their Oath of Allegiance we make no doubt but that they will faithfully discharge their Duty towards us The Protestants having continued three days longer in their Camp after that they had let slip the Occasion of fighting at Ingolstadt during which time the Emperour had fortified himself with good Works and Ditches on the fourth of September they decamp'd that they might intercept the Passage of the Count of Buren though some were against that alledging That they needed not go to look for an Enemy a great way off when they had one under their Nose They encamped next at Newburgh which they had before strengthned with a Garrison and two days after came to Donawert December the tenth they encamp near Wenden a Town belonging to Count Oetinghen and sent out some Scouts to get Intelligence of the Count of Buren The Emperour was not ignorant of that and Buren having advice of it from him turns aside out of the way and marching from Norimberg to Ratisbonne joyns the Emperour in good condition at Ingolstadt Being disappointed then of their expectation the third day after they return to Donawert Hither came to them Christopher Count Oldenburg and Frederick Refeberb with two Regiments and Count Bichling with five Companies of Foot. In the mean time the Emperour raised his Camp and marched to Newburg where no Relief appearing the Garrison surrendred the Place The Emperour pardoned them all upon promise that for the future they would not carry Arms against him There being afterwards a flying Report that the Emperour intended to march to Ausbourg the Confederates re-pass the Danube that they might dispute his Passage but seeing after he had put a Garrison into Newburg he marched to Marxheim they returned to their former Camp. We told you before that they had sent Embassadors into France and England for Succours but it proved in vain And the French King excused himself that he could not being at peace with the Emperour nevertheless because he was not willing that he should encrease too much in Power he intreated Peter Stroza a Florentine a very rich Soldier to lend them Three hundred thousand Crowns and that he might do it the more conveniently he paid him a considerable Sum of Money which he owed him Stroza did not refuse because the Cities of Strasbourg Ausbourg and Ulm offered to be bound for it but went to wait upon the Princes in their Camp which was then at Donawert in company of John Sturmey who had been sent Embassador into France When he came there he was magnificently treated and departed as if he had been fully resolved to lend the Money but at the day when it was to have been done there was no news to be heard of him in France This was look'd upon by many to have been a Trick of the Cardinal of Tournons for he in hatred of their Religion wished no good to the Protestants and was then chiefly in favour with the King. About the end of September the Confederates write again to the Cantons of Zurich Berne Basle and Schafhawsen acquainting them with the Emperour's Intentions and with the Danger they were in if he should prevail and wishing them to consider if it would not be for their Interests to declare War against the Emperour and Pope and then to invade the adjoyning Countries belonging to the Emperour which if they did they promised them all Aid and Assistance Whereunto they afterwards made answer That not only they but the rest of the Suitzers also had an Hereditary Alliance with the Houses of Austria and Burgundy which Countries supplied them all with Corn and Wine so that should they rashly break that League the other Cantons who are of a different Religion and unwilling likewise to have their Provisions intercepted would have good reason to assist the Emperour and King Ferdinand lay open those Passages through the Alps which with great labour and pains they had shut up and also joyn in the League with them Besides that Winter now approached so that if they would they were not able to do any thing to purpose and that if they should march out of their own Country there was danger lest others might come and take possession of it That it was far better then for them to stay at home for by that means they would hinder the other Cantons from stirring That they wished them very well and prayed for their good Success as they had formerly manifested by their Actions but that they did not at all think it prudent to run themselves into so great a danger Wherefore they entreated them to take their Answer in good part The Emperour marches from Marxheim to Donawert but finding no convenient Ground to encamp in he strikes off to the Right and October the third marches to Monheim It hapned then to be foggy Weather and the Scouts that were sent out from the Protestant Camp to learn News of the Emperour's
sent a Person of Quality as Embassadour to you to acquaint you with the Reason why we undertook this War and to desire you to live in Peace and Quiet whereby you might expect all Favour from us Nevertheless setting light by all these things and having no regard to the Allegiance you owe to us you have espoused the Cause of the Outlawed Princes and their Confederates fallen into the same Crime of Rebellion with them and with Men of your Faction surprised first some Towns belonging to our Brother King Ferdinand and other States and afterward some within our Dominions also Nor content with all this you have with extraordinary boldness declared War against us and with opprobrious and scurrilous Language bespattered our Fame and Reputation have endeavoured to deprive us of our Crown and Dignity renounced your Allegiance to us and have had the boldness with the rest of your Conspirators to appear against us with an Army in the Field doing Outrage to a great many of the Dependents and Vassals of our Brother King Ferdinand and us For all which you have incurred the Penalty due to Outlawed Persons and those that are guilty of High Treason Now though this be your Case and that we have weighty and just Causes wherefore we should most severely punish you according to your Deserts nevertheless out of our accustomed Grace and Clemency and that a wretched Multitude of People may not be ruined we strictly command and charge you That upon receipt of these our Letters you forthwith deliver up your self your whole Province Goods and Fortune and whatever you can call your own without any Condition or Restriction into our hands to be disposed of at our pleasure certifying you That unless you obey we will with Fire and Sword pursue you and yours to the last For the Letter which four days since you wrote to us in your own justification does not at all satisfie nor is it sufficient to excuse you or attone for your Crime A Copy of that Letter he sent at the same time to his Subjects commanding them not to obey him for the future but send Deputies to him the Emperour to know what they were to do and absolving them from their Oath of Allegiance unto him Which if they did do he promises to take care that they may live with more ease and safety for the future but if not he threatens them with the same Penalty that he would inflict upon their Duke When the Emperour wrote this Letter his Forces under the Command of the Duke of Alva were upon the Borders of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Duke Ulrick in the mean time betakes himself to the Castle of Tuel seated out of his Country upon a very high and steep Hill and having received the Emperour's Letters upon the Road on the twentieth of December he wrote to him in a supplicant and very submissive manner That it extremely grieved him he had so far incurred his Displeasure nor would any Accident in the World have more afflicted him but that since some had interceded for him and that he himself had earnestly begg'd Pardon for his Fault he had conceived good hopes that his Anger would have been appeased That he entertained still the same hopes since he was convinced by Experience of the Clemency which he used to shew to humble Supplicants of which many Instances might be given and those but a few years since manifested to some of the Quality of Princes who perhaps had given him much greater cause of Offence than he had done That he made no doubt but that if he would have heard his Embassadours he would have written much more mildly unto him That therefore he implored his Mercy and begg'd that for Christ's sake he would pardon him and not use the Rigour against him a poor wretched Prince nor against his miserable Subjects At this time there came a Recruit to the Emperour of about Five hundred Neopolitan Cuirassiers under the Command of John Baptista Spinelli and not long after his Imperial Majesty went to Hall a Town in Schwabia lately reconciled unto him and thither the Elector Palatine Frederick came to wait on him He had sent Four hundred Horse to the Assistance of the Confederate Protestants when they were at Ingolstadt and therefore it was his Business with the Emperour to perswade him that he had not sent those Troops to fight against him but only because he was bound to do so to the Duke of Wirtemberg by virtue of a private League that was betwixt them The Emperour took him up very sharply and having reckoned up the Favours he had done him severely chid him However he pardoned him wishing him to make amends for that Fault by a more exact Fidelity for the future When in the beginning of the War the Elector Palatine had thoughts of reforming the Church within his Territories he sent for Paulus Fagius an eloquent and learned Man to come to him from Strasbourg to Heidelberg that he might be a Guide in the Doctrine of the Gospel and shew the way to others But the good Fortune and Success of the Emperour overturned all the Fabrick which was there begun to be reared Some days after the Deputies of Ulm come to the Emperour and upon a humble Acknowledgment of their Fault are received into Grace This is the chief City of all Schwabia for Power and Authority so that the dismembring of them from the rest of the Confederates was a matter of great moment But about the latter end of December they acquaint their Friends by Letters That the Reason why they did so was because the Emperour intended presently to have besieged the Town and that they were in a miserable condition deserted by their Friends and had no appearance of any humane help to defend them against so great a power And then also because some of the Confederates of best quality were seeking privately to make their peace with the Emperour They were adjudged to pay to the Emperour an hundred thousand Florins furnish him with twelve pieces of Ordnance and to receive a Garrison of ten Companies of Foot. In the mean time the Count of Buren entering the Country of the Landgrave that is above Frankfurt took the Town of Darmstadt partly by force and partly by composition burnt the Castle and spared the people The place was only defended by the Inhabitants and a Rout gathered together out of the Country Afterward he proceeds beyond Frankfurt and having no hopes of taking it by force especially at that time of the year and when the Souldiers were out of order he orders part of his Forces to pass the Rhine and to stay for him at Mentz and when there was nothing less in his thoughts being about to return home unexpected by the people of Frankfurt sent Deputies to surrender the Town and promise to obey what Commands should be laid upon them Without delay he marches thither and
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
and period of this Captivity then said the Landgrave or by what space of time is it to be limited Though the Emperour should detain you for the space of fourteen years or more said Alva yet he would do nothing contrary to his promise The Landgrave then that he might recover his liberty as soon as he could payed in all the Money not long after razed his Castles and delivered up his Artillery Now the Emperour had got a vast number of great Guns partly from him partly from the Dukes of Saxony and Wirtemberg and the Free Towns which as they say amounted to Fifty in number Of these he sent some to Milan some to Naples others to Spain and the rest he distributed in the Low-Countries there to be kept as the Monuments and Trophies of his Victory Ebleben a worthy Gentleman who as we said had been the Messenger and Truchman in negotiating the Landgrave's Pacification took his Captivity extremely ill and shortly after died for grief of it as most People thought The Emperour had resolved to fall upon the City of Magdenburg which lies upon the Elbe two days Journey below Wittemberg for they were the only People that stood it out but at the very same time Henry King of France employed Sebastian Vogelsbergh to raise Men in Germany to the number of ten Ensigns a thing the Emperour began to be jealous of Wherefore partly for this cause and partly because he thought he had another way to humble them leaving Hall he marched into Upper Germany and June the seven and twentieth sent the Marquess of Matignan with an Aid of eight Ensigns of German Foot to his Brother King Ferdinand Ferdinand was then at Leutmeritz expecting an Opportunity of Action and so soon as he had received Intelligence of the Emperor's Success and the taking of the Landgrave he wrote to those of Prague July the first commanding them to appear before him in the Castle of Prague the sixth of the same Month to answer for what they had done Being come thither with his Forces he lays open before them in a publick Assembly all the past Transactions and how many ways they had offended him accusing them of High-Treason and bidding them answer to every Particular There they humbly submit to his Will and Pleasure beseeching him not to use the Rigour of Law against them Wherefore at the Intercession of young Ferdinand the Son Augustus the Brother of Duke Maurice and some other great men the King on the tenth of July proposes these Conditions unto them That in the next Convention of States they wholy annul the League they had entred into by cancelling it and breaking all the Seals That they deliver up to him all their Charters and Writings of Liberties and Priviledges to the intent he may reform some of them and grant and confirm to them anew such as he shall think fit That they also resign all the Charters of Liberties and Immunities granted to Companies and Incorporations because some of them did give occasion to Stirs and Commotions That in like manner they give up their Castles and renounce all Jurisdiction and Customs as also all Instruments of Leagues and especially of that Association which they made amongst themselves and of that Alliance they had entred into with John Frederick That they pay for ever the Excise of Beer which had been granted him only for three years That they bring all their Artillery and Ammunition into the Castle and all their private Arms into the Town-house If they thus do he promises to spare the Multitude excepting some few whom he resolved to punish as they deserved and keep Prisoners for the Publick Good. The People being acquainted with this and fifty Prisoners set at liberty the Conditions were accepted and agreed unto Some of the Nobility being cited and not appearing at the day were sentenced to have forfeited Honour Life and Goods so that some other Cities and Nobles submitted without any Condition as Prague had done But Caspar Pflug whom the Confederates had made their General as we said was condemned of High-Treason and a Reward of Five thousand Florins set upon his Head. Afterwards in the Convention of States the League was abrogated and cancelled and the King obtained from them every thing almost that he had demanded Whilst the Emperour is triumphing in Germany a dangerous Sedition broke out at Naples The Cause of it was That the Viceroy Peter of Toledo would after the Spanish manner inquire into their Faith and Religion The Citizens murmured heavily at this and being weary of the Spanish Government rose in Arms But after a great deal of Butchery and Bloodshed committed in the City the Spaniards who were Masters of the Forts and Castles got the better on 't So that some of the Seditious being fined the rest were banished Now the Spanish Inquisition which makes such a noise now adays was heretofore set up in those Places by King Ferdinand and Isabel against the Jews who after Baptism observed their own Rites and Laws But now that Luther's Name was up it was promiscuously practised and that with great Severity and short Process too against all who were in the least supected At the very same time the French King sends seven Cardinals to Rome commanding them to stay there till fresh Orders That was thought to have been done that by their means the Pope might be wholly inclined to the Amity and Friendship of the King and that if he chanced to die being now fourscore years of age they might procure another to be chosen that was no Enemy to his Majesty Nor were there wanting some who gave it out that it was done by the advice and interest of the Constable that they being out of the way he might alone do all with the King for generally they all followed the Court whithersoever the King went. A little before the Pope had sent a Legat into France Jerome Roman a Cardinal with a most ample Commission to dispence with many things prohibited both by the Laws and Decrees of Councils At that time also he created Charles the Son of Claude Duke of Guise and Archbishop of Reims Cardinal as knowing him to be the King's Favourite On the other hand the King of France to ingratiate himself the more promises his Natural Daughter a young Lady of nine years of age in Marriage to Horatio Farnese the Pope's Grandchild by his Son. The Emperour leaving Hall came to Bamberg that at so near a distance he might awe the Bohemians the more and give Strength and as it were Sinews to his Brother King Ferdinand Whilst he was here on the third day of July he called a Diet of the Empire commanding all to meet the first of September at Ausburg the Princes in Person and all the rest by Deputies with full Power and Commission and declaring That the War had hindred him from holding a Diet at
manner he forced the Body of Cosmo Cherio Bishop of Fano having made his Servants hold him by violence till he did the Fact which abominable Villany lay so heavy upon the poor mans Heart that it is said he died of grief Nor are there wanting some who think he was poysoned by him lest he should have informed the Emperour of that detestable Sodomy Pope Paul nevertheless tenderly loved this Bastard making it his whole care to promote him and when sometimes he was told of his lewd Practices he is reported not to have been much troubled thereat but only to have usually said That he had not learn those Vices of him We mentioned before that the Fathers of the Council leaving Trent had removed to Bolonia This the Emperour was highly displeased at and when he came now to Ausburg he moved the Colledge of the Princes to represent the matter to the Pope Wherefore September the fourteenth the Bishops wrote to him representing the State and Danger of Germany which they say might have been prevented if a timely Remedy had been applied to the growing Distemper to wit a Publick Council wherein they had several times importuned the Emperour that he would procure it to be held within the Limits of Germany that so the Bishops of that Country who were most concerned might be present for seeing their Jurisdiction waâ— of ample extent it was not expedient for them especially at that time to be at a great distance from their own Charge That at length when no man would repair to Mantua or Vicenza a Council indeed was by the diligence and care of the Emperour got to be called and begun but without the Bounds of Germany still to wit at Trent which belongs rather to Italy That for that reason also not many of the Germans had come to it nor indeed could they especially in time of War when the Ways were every where beset and intercepted but that now the Storm being over when the Vessel was brought almost into Harbour and all men were in good hopes contrary to all expectation the Council wherein the Publick Safety wholly consisted should be translated to another Place or rather indeed divided was a thing that exceedingly grieved them because of the danger it threatned for that Germany had now no less than these six and twenty years struggled with new and pernicious Doctrines and Sects that the Bishops had lost almost all their Authority and that in this â—esolation and Confusion innumerable thousands of men endangered the Salvation of their Souls That in short whatever was formerly sound and sincere was by that pestilent Contagion spoil'd and corrupted and that the States of the Empire being rent asunder had lost all mutual Love and Correspondence That in these their so great Calamities they had no Refuge but to the Apostolick Church That therefore they most earnestly begg'd he would restore the Council which if he did he might expect any thing from them but if not that they could not tell where to look for Help for that noise of stormy Winds and Tempests was heard on all hands against which God had appointed the Church of Rome to be as a strong Bulwark and firm Rock of Defence That he should then have regard to their Demands and reject with himself that if he had not a care other Course may be taken to set things to rights That after all they prayed him to take these things in good part for that both the necessity of the Times and the obligation of their Duty had constrained them to write About this very time also the English obtain a great Victory over the Scots under the Conduct of the Duke of Somerset the King's Uncle The Cause of the War was the same that was before in the time of King Henry his Father to wit because the Scots would not give their Queen in Marriage to King Edward as it had been agreed upon After this Victory the English took many Places in Scotland and advanced a great way into that Country All the Diet was not of the same mind as to the Emperour's Demands for the Ecclesiastical Electors urged the Council of Trent without any Limitation or Condition And again the Deputies of the Elector Palatine Duke Maurice and Brandenburg did not refuse it provided it were free and holy wherein the Pope should not preside but should absolve the Bishops from the Oath they had taken to him wherein their Divines might also have a decisive Vote and the past Decrees be recalled However the rest of the Princes and States urged the Continuation of the Council and that the Protestants might have Safe-conduct to go thither and be heard and then be compelled to submit to and obey its Decrees The Emperour being informed of all their Opinions gave his Answer October the eighteenth desires them all to submit to the Council and deals privately with the Elector Palatine and Duke Maurice that they would assent The Prince Palatine besides was over-awed because of the late Offence he had given the year before as we said that Sore not being as yet well skinned over Duke Maurice who was both desirous that the Landgrave his Father-in-law might be set at liberty and had been lately highly promoted by the Emperour thought himself obliged to do somewhat Wherefore the Emperour having by Messengers given them large Assurances of his Favour and Good-will and put it to them that they would refer themselves to his Faith and Promise at length October the twenty fourth they give their Assent There remained no more now but the Free Towns who thought it a matter of great danger to submit themselves indifferently to the Decrees of the Council These did Granvell and Hasen industriously manage and in the mean time a Report went over the Town that they were stubborn in refusing that which all the Princes had already approved Some Threats were also let fall that they should be far more severely dealt with than formerly At length they found a way both to satisfie the Emperour and to secure themselves Being therefore called before his Imperial Majesty they told him that it was not their part to correct the Answers of the Princes but at the same time present a Paper to him declaring the Conditions upon which they were willing to approve the Council The Emperour having heard their Speech makes them an Answer by the mouth of Selden That he was very well satisfied that after the example of others they referred the matter to him and gave their consent with the rest So that he attributed more unto them than they were desirous of for they had not consented with the rest but that they might give no cause of offence were unwilling to censure the Judgment of the Princes and nevertheless that they might not afterwards be concluded thought fit to give in writing the Conditions upon which they accepted the Council that so they might leave to Posterity some
Cardinals therewith and in name of the whole Empire to demand the continuation of the Council at Trent He ordered Mendoza also to do the same but the Pope took time to consider of it and having thought fit to consult you about the matter obtained from you a dubious crafty and captious Answer Besides he answers the Emperour oddly and shews sufficiently by his tergiversation that he is little concerned for the Publick for the cause of the removal ought to have been proved by credible Witnesses The Emperour King Ferdinand and the Princes by Letters and most ample Embassies declared what the mind of the States was concerning the Council but the Pope believed and preferred the Report of some mean and base People before the Testimony of all these How many tedious and irksome Journeys hath the Emperour made upon the account of the Council What Charges and Expences hath he been at And must all these be lost For most weighty and necessary causes was the Council both called and begun at Trent the Emperour and Germans demanding it and all other Christian Princes consenting thereunto so that unless the publick Authority of all States intervene it cannot be translated to another place for indeed there was no cause for the Translation only something invented for an excuse as some slight Feaver and badness of Air forsooth and for that purpose some Physicians were suborned but chiefly Serving-Maids and Cooks Now what a trifling cause that was the thing it self and the event declared You say that you went away without the Pope's knowledge and advice but the Letter he wrote to you and the Answer he gave the Emperour imply the quite contrary Certainly you ought not to have departed nor changed the place but with consent of the Emperour to whom it belongs to protect all Councils but you posted away in so much haste that ye rejected the Opinion of those who said that the Emperour and Pope ought first to be consulted Now if you must needs have been removing ye ought to have observed at least the Decrees of the Holy Councils and remained within the bounds of Germany that the Germans for whose cause chiefly the Council was called might safely come to it but now ye have chosen Bolonia a Town seated in the heart of Italy and under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome whither it is certain the Germans will not come and therefore have you chosen it that to the great prejudice and disgrace of Christendom the Council may be either dissolved or managed at your pleasure The Emperour therefore requireth and that most earnestly that you return to that place which pleased all before especially since all things are now safe and quiet and no more cause of any fear remains But if this you refuse I do here in the name and by command of the Emperour protest against this Translation of the Council as frivolous and unlawful and that all that has been done or shall be done therein is of no force nor effect I also publickly declare That that Answer of yours is silly and full of Lyes and that the prejudice and inconveniences which hereafter shall ensue to the Publick are not to be imputed to the Emperour but to you affirming withal that you have no Power nor Authority to remove the Council And because you neglect the publick Welfare the Emperour as Protector of the Church will take the care of that upon himself in so far as it is lawful for him by Law and the Canons of Holy Church When he had read over that Protestation he delivered a written Copy of it and desired it to be entered upon Record With that the Cardinal de Monte having highly commended the pious intentions of the Fathers called God to witness that they had wrong done them saying They were ready to suffer death rather than that such a practice should be brought into the Church that the Civil Magistrate might call or controul a Council when and how he pleased That the Emperour was indeed a Son of the Church but not the Lord and Master That he and his Colleagues were the Legates of the Apostolick See and did not refuse even then to render first to God and then to the Pope an account of their Commission That after all within a few days they should have an Answer to their Protestation Much about the same time Mendoza having received Instructions from the Emperour made a Protestantion to the same effect at Rome before the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and in presence of all the Forreign Embassadours whom according to his Instructions he had invited to be Witnesses of it THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XX. THE CONTENTS In the beginning it is hotly disputed whether Prussia belong to the King of Poland or rather to the Empire The Pope makes a large Answer to the Harangue that Mendoza made before The Emperour being informed of that and seeing but very little hopes of a Council causes the Book which is called the Interim to be made The Protector of England in a very long Letter to the Scots counsels them to Peace and demands their Queen Vogelsberg is beheaded The Emperour invests Duke Maurice in the Electorship which he had bestowed upon him in the Camp before Wittemberg Bucer refuses to subscribe to the Interim The Pope also publishes a Censure of it which many of the Electors and Princes also did and many refuse it though it was published by the Emperour The Duke of Saxony though a Prisoner with great magnanimity rejects it The Landgrave by Letters which were published from the Emperours Court seems to approve it that he may obtain his freedom Whil'st the Mass is abolished in England by Act of Parliament the free Towns of Germany are solicited to accept of the Interim and especially Strasburg which is pressed by Threats to do it WE have shewn in the former Books that Marquess Albert of Brandenburg did Homage to the King of Poland and altered the Government of Prussia for which he was Outlaw'd by the Imperial Chamber As also that the King of Poland had several times solicited the Emperour and rest of the States in the Publick Diets to reverse that Outlawry because he was his Vassal and under his Protection But since to this day nothing could be obtained and that by this Victory of the Emperours some greater danger seemed to be threatned the King of Poland sends an Embassy to this Diet whereof the chief was Stanislaus Alaski He in the month of January delivered to the Emperour and Colledge of the Princes a Speech in Writing whereof the substance was That the Cause of Prussia had been some times already debated but because it had been always put off to other Diets he was commanded to open it again that the King was in good hopes because of the civil Answers he had often received from them and of the equity of his Cause they would Consider his Affair yet not as
Judges but as Honourable and Worthy Prince And in the first place saith he for clearing of the matter I am to speak some things of the Prutenick Order The Kings of Poland made over a good part of Prussia to this Order which is commonly called the Teutonick Order upon condition that they would serve them in the Wars against Infidels and the Enemies of Christendom But they having most ungratefully rebelled turned their Arms against their own Sovereigns So that many times they had Wars together and many times in Treaties the Conditions were renewed which by reason of their antiquity it is to no purpose to relate And I shall only mention that which happened almost in our memory King Casimire the Father of Sigismund having overcome them in a great Battel forced them to accept of Conditions of Peace Amongst other things it was agreed upon at that time that for the future they should acknowledge the King of Poland for their chief Magistrate and swear Allegiance unto him But there were some Masters of that Order afterwards who violated the Conditions and put themselves under the Protection of others Amongst these was Albert of Brandenburg for one who being by his Tenure obliged to do Homage to the King his Uncle within six months refused to do it so that the King who was a great lover of peace was forced to make War against him And though it never came to a pitcht Battle betwixt them yet much mischief was done by Inrodes plundering burning of Houses and smaller skirmishes in so much that Albert being overpowred came to make a Truce with the King. At the very same time some forces came to his assistance out of Germany which made him depart without concluding any thing and begin the War again afresh But being forsaken of them not long after he was now forced to do in good earnest what he had only pretended to do before that he might obtain a Peace So that by the mediation of some Peace was at length concluded upon these Conditions That he should swear Allegiance to the King and perform all those things that a true and faithful Vassal ought to do to his Liege Lord. It is certain then That Prussia hath time out of mind and ever since the Christian Religion was planted there both by the Law of Arms and by Mutual Compacts and Agreements belonged to the Crown of Poland for if any others have claimed right to it that has been done by the Insolence and Injustice of the Masters of the Order who being by the permission of our Kings Natives of Germany have often attempted to bring Prussia under the Dominion of Strangers which hath occasioned many broils and quarrels betwixt the Poles and Germans and was the cause of the Decree whereby Albert stands proscribed But what power had they who proscribed him over the Vassal of another For that he did not appear in Judgment when he was cited by those who were not competent Judges he did so by the Kings Command on whom the whole blame is to be laid if any there be Now if he be outlawed for acknowledging the King to be his chief Magistrate it is really very unjust that a Man should be punished for doing his Duty Wherefore it is the earnest Suit of the King my Master to you most Triumphant Emperour and most Noble States that that unjust and unlawful Decree of Proscription may be abolished Nor is it to be thought that the King out of any ambitious or covetous design intends to enlarge his Dominions by the accession of Prussia For how can he be suspected of any such thing who has refused most ample Provinces offered unto him And indeed he values not this Country so much but that if he could do it with his Honour he could easily dispense with it but since it properly belongs to his Dominions as it hath been already often made out he can do no otherwise for that there have been frequent strifes and contentions about it it hath been always the fault of the Masters of the Order as hath been said whom God failed not now and then to punish for their Audacious Crimes Your Grandfather Maximilian most mighty Emperour and King Ferdinand knew this very well who being mindful of the injuries which both he and his Father Frederick had received from them made a solemn promise to King Sigismund when they had an Interview at Vienna and this Promise he made too both in his own and your Names that he would never give any assistance to that Order Now Maximilian in this did no new thing but therein followed the footsteps of his Ancestors for both Sigismund the Emperour in an Interview with Ladislaus my Masters Grandfather promised not only as much but also to give assistance against them and your Great Grandfather Frederick the Emperour joyned Forces and Arms with Casimire the Father of King Sigismund against Matthias King of Hungary and the Order we now speak of who were at that time Confederates And though King Casimire being entangled in the War of this Order could not send Auxiliaries to the Emperour Frederick yet he supplied him with the Money that he owed him by virtue of their League and Agreement So that it plainly appears that this Order hath been always an Enemy to the House of Austria which hath ever been most closely united to Poland by the Bonds of Leagues and Alliances and that King Sigismund now refers to your serious Consideration For if there be any of that Order that look upon themselves as bound to fight for the Christian Religion there is nothing for them to do in Prussia since all Neighbouring States profess the Faith of Christ They are to look for other places then where they may imploy themselves and indeed Jerusalem for some Ages now has been in the possession of a harbarous Enemy for the defence of which place this Order is said to have been instituted Constantinople also is in the hands of the same People Here is work enough cut out for them if they have a mind to be doing Or if they think the pretension too old and the place too far distant there have been many strong Holds of Christendom lately taken why do not the Order march thither that either they may regain what is lost or defend what remains from the Enemy But if they delight more in Civil War any Man may then judge how ill they deserve their Name This indeed is the Case It is an Order that hath always been out of order And therefore they were not only driven out of Prussia but an hundred years ago out of Bohemia also nor hath any Man as yet sued for a Donation of those places in Bohemia out of which they were expulsed as being publick and vacant Poland alone is thought fit to be molested that way whereas it ought most of all to have been favoured for though that Order is offensive to many yet none has suffered so
much from it as Poland does Because excepting some few and those too the first Masters hardly any of the rest ever did their Duty Nay for the most part letting the Barbarians alone they turned their Arms against their own Sovereign the King of Poland And not only so but they Negotiated also a League with the Tartars a cruel sort of Men and implacable Enemies to the Christians as it is reported of Michael Cochmester So that if one should reckon up the Labours Perils Charges Wars Tumults Battels Slaughters and Desolations that this Order above all others has been the cause of he 'll find it to be hardly worth so much Now it is the Kings desire that once for all an end may be put to these Evils for if any make War against Albert Duke of Prussia the King cannot sit still and see him wronged because he is both his Uncle and Patron The threatnings of some flie about and are brought to the Kings Ears and he is very much troubled thereat for he loves peace and quietness and above all the Concord of Christendom However if any offer Violence it will be against his will indeed to take up Arms but for all that he will do it for the defence of him and his He desires the friendship of all Princes but yours especially most mighty Emperour and King Ferdinand and wishes it may be perpetual therefore he hath often interceded with you by Letters and Messengers that the Decree of Proscription against Albert might be recalled And that it hath not as yet been done he imputes it not so much to you as to the troublesome times But now that all rubs and impediments are removed out of your way he thinks it is now in your power to accomplish what sometimes you generously promised when in more Letters than one you assured him that you wanted ability rather than good will to gratifie his desires Now in case the Order will not be quiet but raise Stirs and War he is very confident that you will observe the Articles and Compacts of your Predecessors the Emperours Maximilian and Frederick One thing more I have in my Instructions and that concerns the Cities of Dantzick and Elwang Though these are under the Dominion of Poland yet are they called to the Diets of the Empire the King therefore desires that no such thing may be done for the future and since no Man but he hath any right to them that henceforward they may be suffered to enjoy their own Laws When the Emperour had heard his Demands he made a Report of them to the Diet of the Empire and gave a Copy of the Speech to Wolfgang Master of Prussia who January the Twenty third made an Answer to it in the vulgar Language and having begun with a little Preface The Hinge of the whole Controversie turns upon this saith he Whether Prussia belong to the Dominion of Poland or to the Empire and if I make out the last the decision will be very easie The State of the Case then most Triumphant Emperour most Potent King most Noble Princes and States is thus as I am about to shew you About four hundred years since when a publick War was undertaken against the Barbarians who exceedingly distressed those of our Religion in Asia and Africa the Order we now speak of was instituted by Emperours afterward bountifully endowed and by Popes confirmed The Knights of that Order for some years after sustained most difficult and dangerous Wars in those parts for the good of Christendom but at length having received a great overthrow they were scattered and dispersed into several places It happened about that time that Conrade Duke of Muscovy was sadly put to it by the Prussians who were then Enemies to the Christian Religion He being unable to defend himself any longer against them implored first the Pope of Rome that as the Custom was he would publish a Croisadoe and by promises of Heavenly Rewards encourage Men to become Soldiers Then next he joyned to himself this Order of mine bestowing upon them all the Country of Culm bordering upon Prussia and the more to excite them afterwards all Prussia it self The Emperour Frederick II. confirmed this Donation and made a promise to Horman Salcie then Master of the Order That if he would make War against the Prussians and overcome them their Land should be his for ever This was in the year 1226. so that my Order having by the help of the Emperours Popes and Princes of the Empire carried on a continual War against the Prussians for almost filty three years at length they subdued Prussia and converted it to the Christian Religion adorning it with some Bishopricks and Colledges and strengthening it by Castles and Towns which they built that for the future that Country might be as a Wall and Bariere to the Empire and a Sanctuary for the Nobility of Germany Thus one part of that Country continued in our hands until the year 1450. and the other till the time of Albert of Brandenburg When in process of time afterwards the Lithuanians joyning with the Tartars made War against the Poles and Muscovites our Knights being mindful of their Order and Institution took Arms totally routed the Lithuanians and invaded their Country So that we had a lasting Peace and Amity with the Poles until a certain Prince of Lithuania was chosen King of Poland He to revenge the loss and affront that his Country had received suddenly set upon us and with the Assistance of the Barbarians did us much hurt But being by our Men forced to retreat and stript of a considerable part of his own Dominions he made but an unlucky end of the War so that he preferred his Grievances to the Council of Constance whereupon a Decree was made That our Order should restore that part of Poland which they held by the Law of Arms. Having in this manner recovered what he had lost he forgot the kindness that was done him and renewed the War pretending that some Provinces of our Order belonged to the Dominion of Poland And though by the Mediation of the Kings of Hungary and Bohemia the matter was taken up yet the sore broke out again and at length the Cause was brought before Sigismund the Emperour who approved the former Composition that was made by the two Kings However the King of Poland could not rest thus but raised another War which lasted till twenty four years after in the Reign of Ladâ—slaus it was made an end of at Torn In which Pacification he quits all Claim and Title calls not himself Lord or Inheritor of Prussia and obliges all his Successors that within a year after they come to the Crown they swear to Ratifie that Peace make the Bishops and other States of the Kingdom take the same Oath and that every tenth year the same be renewed It was then also Stipulated that if thenceforward any King of Poland should wage War against
the Masters of Prussia his Subjects should not be obliged to obey or aid him but that they should mutually entertain a perpetual Peace And this same Pacification was sealed with about two hundred Seals as it may be made appear nevertheless that peace lasted not above fourteen years For in the year 1450 the People rebelled and conspired against the Master and although the Pope Excommunicated and the Emperour Frederick the Third Proscribed them although the Master was willing to submit to a fair Trial yet they were so far from being reclaimed that about seventy Towns and Castles made a desertion in one day Casimire King of Poland the Father of Sigismund struck in with this Conspiracy and reduced us to such streights that Lewis Erlinsuse who was then Master of the Order forced by fear of the present danger which may affect even the stoutest of Men that he might both retain the Province and live securely therein Capitulated with him upon most unreasonable Conditions without the Authority of Pope Emperour or States of the Empire Amongst others these are the Conditions of this Peace That henceforward the Masters of Prussia within six months after they enter into the Government shall come to the King of Poland and by Oath acknowledge him for their Sovereign whom they shall aid and assist against all Men That they shall receive Poles as well as Germans into their Order and admit them to Perferments and that what Lands and Possessions they shall acquire for the future the same they shall hold in fee of the King of Poland Now these are Conditions which tend not only to the private loss and prejudice of my Order but also to the publick detriment and disgrace of the Empire and Nobility of Germany And therefore there have been Masters since who perceiving the injustice of the thing made sad Complaints of it to the Popes and Emperours but for all that they have been forced to Swear And Prussia continued indeed in Vassalage to the Empire until Frederick Duke of Saxony and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg became Masters of the Order For these would not swear Allegiance to the Kings of Poland because that neither the Pope nor Emperour had ratified that Transaction of Casimire's and that in the year 1500 the Emperour Maximilian by a Decree made in the Diet of Ausburg commanded them to do Homage only to the Empire And when afterward for settling the Controversie Maximilian had appointed a Meeting at Passaw in the year 1510. whither Ambassadours were sent yet nothing could be concluded whence this last War arose besides Albert himself was four and twenty years since at the Diet of Norimberg where he took his place amongst others as a Prince of the Empire and signed the Decree that past there It is manifest then that neither the King of Poland had any right to Prussia nor Albert any colour of Law to do Homage and Swear Allegiance to him Now whereas the Ambassador reproacheth my Order with ingratitude and breach of Treaties he does us an injury and it may be made out by Authentick Records that the King of Poland seldom or never kept faith to us Was there ever any publick Instrument seen to which more Seals were put than that which was made with King Ladislaus Can greater security be given And nevertheless that Writing being cancelled and the Seals broken the War was again renewed against us and this was the Thanks we had for restoring unto them Tartary and a good part of Lithuania He names some Emperours of former times who he say's were offended with my Order but the matter is far otherwise For Sigismund not only determined the Controversie and judged in our favours as was said a little before but also sent us Aids against our Enemy Then again Frederick at that time when the People rebelled as we have already mentioned shew'd us not only all friendship and favour but also proscribed the Conspirators and for that end held a Diet of the Empire at Norimberg in which Diet a Decree past for sending us Succours The same were the good Intentions of Maximilian towards us for neither would he have us to swear Allegiance to the King of Poland but sent several Letters upon that account to King Sigismund both in his own Name and Name of the Empire and made then an Honourable Decree in our Favours The Orator goes on and in a facetious manner plays upon us asking Why we do not recover Jerusalem and such other places I am not so wholly a Stranger to Affairs but that I could could retort many things upon him but in Reverence to this August Assembly I forbear and shall only ask one Question again of him First Why the King of Poland does not recover the places which some years ago the Duke of Muscovy took from him and which are as large in extent as all Prussia is And then why in this his prosperous fortune he defends not his borders against those daily incursions of the Tartars These now are punishments for his breach of faith He saith that heretofore our whole Order was driven out of Bohemia What reason he had to alledge that I cannot tell unless he intended to prove by Example that it was lawful to rob and spoil us also of our Lands and Possessions For the Calamity of that time reached not only our Order but also overspread all Bohemia plagueing those chiefly who adhered to the Religion of their Forefathers when grievous troubles arose about the Doctrine of John Huss My Order I confess have had Wars with the Kings of Poland but that they were the Causes of the War I utterly deny Nor did they ever take up Arms unless it were to defend or recover their own Right He saith we made a League with the Tartars but that had more truely been said of themselves it being notoriously known that they have made use of their helps against those that professed the Christian Religion Besides it may be easily gathered from the situation of the Countrys whether by reason of propinquity the Tartars are more for their turns or ours Lastly what he saith of Dantzick and Elwang hath no reason to support it for both are Cities within our Jurisdiction and belong to the Empire of Germany nor hath the King of Poland any other Right or Title to them but what he has made to himself by the treachery and desertion of the Citizens as might be made out by many proofs Wherefore in consideration of all these things I humbly beg most Triumphant Emperour most Powerful King and most Noble States that the Sentence already pronounced may be put in execution For the Justice of the Cause the Dignity of the Empire the State of Religion and the Honour and Profit of the Nobility of Germany all these things I say ought and do plead for this at your Hands The Ambassadour of Poland had indeed prepared a Reply to this Speech but did not give it in for the
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
made me this Report That if rightly understood it was not inconsistent to the Catholick Religion nor with the Doctrines Canons and Constitutions of the Church except only in two Points the one concerning the Marriage of Priests and the other touching the Lords Supper But that it was a proper Expedient in its kind for establishing the Peace of Germany the thing I most wish for For what would be more agreeable than to see all the States unanimous in following one and the same form of Religion Which being so I require those who have hitherto to their praise observed the Laws and Rites of the Catholick Church that they continue in the same without wavering or starting of any Innovations as they have heretofore promised unto me and I earnestly desire those who have changed their Religion that they would either come over to the rest of the States and joyn with them in the Profession of the same Religion or moderate their Doctrine according to the Prescript of this Book and in every Point make it their Pattern Nor would I have them alter or add any thing to it but contain themselves within the limitation therein prescribed and neither in their Writings nor Sermons publish or vent any thing to the contrary but obediently expect the Decree of the Council which I shall endeavour shall be called as soon as possibly may be In the mean time it is my whole care that a Form of regulation be conceived for reformation of the Clergy When he had thus spoken by the Mouth of his Secretary as the Custom is he commanded the Book to be read So soon as that was done the Archbishop of Mentz who has the first place amongst the Electors without consulting the rest of the States started up and as in name of the whole Dyet gave the Emperour most hearty thanks for the great labour and pains he had been at for his care and diligence and for the zeal and affection he had for his Country And that seeing they had formerly referred the Matter to his prudent and faithful management and that now he had laboured to bring it to effect It was but just and reasonable said he that with most thankful hearts they should acknowledge so great favours and dutifully submit to the Decree The Emperour took the thanks for a publick consent and confirmation nor would he afterwards admit of any excuse as shall be said hereafter and commanded the Book to be printed both in Latin and in the Vulgar Tongue Four days after he represented to the States the great labour and charges he had been at in restoring Peace to Germany And that because the thing it self required that the same should be secured for the future it therefore seemed to him very necessary that some considerable sum of Money should be raised and in certain places kept in a publick Bank that if any Commotions should happen to arise within or without the Empire there must be a remedy ready at hand Some few days after that King Ferdinand also represented to the States that for necessary causes and considerations which were not unknown to them and needed not to be related he had by his Ambassadour made a Truce with the Turks for five years which had begun the year before And that though the Turk had charged his Subjects that they should act nothing to the contrary yet he nevertheless desired that they would contribute the Aids which they had promised before that if he should chance to break the truce he might be in a condition to make head against him That besides since the Turk fortified his frontier places with strong Garisons it concerned him not to be negligent And that therefore he had resolved to fortifie all proper places and keep Garisons in them But that because of the great charges he had been at in the late Wars he was not able long to support so great a burden That therefore he entreated them that they would give him a yearly Subsidie for those uses during the continuance of the truce For that that concerned the quiet and safety of them all in general In the mean time Maximilian the Son of King Ferdinand went from Ausburg to Spain to celebrate his Marriage with the Lady Mary the Emperours eldest Daughter and his own first Cousin The Cardinal of Trent was sent with him and the Duke of Alva went some Months before about the later end of May. The Neapolitan Horse who had before quartered in Nortgow came into the Country about Strasburg and continued almost three Months there behaving themselves with incredible insolence They came now and then into the Town which created no small suspition Duke Maurice not long after the publication of the Emperours Decree departed But Marquess John of Brandenburg Brother to the Elector Joachim waited upon the Emperour and in presence of King Ferdinand humbly begg'd that he would spare him as to that Decree and having taken a little notice of the services he had rendered him told him that it was chiefly the confidence he had in the Emperours promise concerning the free exercise of his Religion that made him serve in the late Wars The Emperour made answer That the Decree was made with the consent of the States of the Empire and therefore not to be dispensed with He on the other hand cryed that all had not assented nor could he with a good Conscience approve that Decree and challenged the Emperours Word and Promise When the Emperour perceived there was nothing to be done with him he bad him be gone and it was thought he did so that by his Example or Discourse he might not confirm the minds of others Wherefore the same day towards the Evening he set out on his Journy homewards and made no alteration in all his Country His Brother the Elector who had made it always his study to please the Emperour shew'd no resistance Nor the Elector Palatine neither who otherwise was not much in favour at that time with the Emperour When the Decree was put to the Deputies of the Cities that were of the Augustane Confession they prayed that they might have leave to consult their Principals about the Matter that afterwards they might answer according to their minds which was granted them Wolfgang Duke of Deux-ponts of the House Palatine had his Deputies there but the Emperour commanded him to come before him in Person which being done he pressed him to approve the Decree He made Answer That he knew no other Religion but that wherein he had been born and bred to that very day wherefore he prayed his Majesty to have some Consideration for him promising to do therein whatever he could with a safe Conscience At that time the Emperour did indeed dismiss him but plied him sharply afterwards by Messengers and Letters as shall be said in its proper place Whil'st the Senate and Council of Ausburg are consulting the Emperour posts Soldiers
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
that having done so when their Guns were discharged they were treacherously boarded and carried away It was wondered at by most Men that the French King durst break with the Emperour at a time when he flourished with so much success and prosperity and as it is said the Emperour himself expected no such thing For though he had a quarrel with Farnese Duke of Parma he would not therefore seem to be at enmity with the French with whom he had made a Peace seven years before But the French King who thought himself wounded through Octavio's Side had certain intelligence that the Turks were at Sea with a Fleet was informed by Agents of the intentions of Duke Maurice and believed that the Emperour now crazy and valetudinary could not live long bravely attempted the matter Near to the same time the Turkish Fleet having in vain attempted Malta took Tripoly in Barbary The blame of this the Emperour laid upon the French King and by his Envoys told the Princes and Free Towns that it was occasioned by French Treachery So soon as the King came to know this he justified himself affirming the cause of the Turkish War to be that the Emperour did not according to his promise restore a Town of theirs that he kept in Barbary that King Ferdinand had seized and fortified the Castle of Zolnock seated on the frontiers of Hungary within the Dominion of the Turks that he payed not his yearly Tribute and attempted Innovations in Transilvania Afterward he published a Narrative in confutation of the Emperours Relation wherein it was given out Tripoly was lost by the Treachery of d'Aremont the French Ambassadour and confirmed it by the Grand Signiors Letters During these Transactions the First of September the day of the Sessions of the Council came and then were present besides the Italian and Spanish Bishops the Archbishops of Mentz and Treves in appearance mightily congratulated and welcomed by all who were followed not long after by the Archbishop of Cologne For the Emperour had both personally at Ausburg and by Messengers and Letters dealt earnestly with them that they should be there and indeed they far exceed the rest in Dignity and Splendour and have most of the Bishops of Germany under their Jurisdiction Now seeing they thought that they were like to make a long stay there they kept but a few Horses and sold all the rest laying in Houshold Provisions also for a considerable time There came also the Bishops of Strasburg Vienne Constance Off and Naumburg the rest being detained by Business Sickness or Age begg'd leave and sent their Vicars and Proxies Cardinal Crescentio was Legate and President for the Pope to whom were joyned the Archbishop of Siponto and Bishop of Verona as his Nuncio's The Emperour sent thither Don Francis of Toledo Hugh Count of Montfort and William of Poictieres and some were there also to represent Ferdinand King of Hungary When all were assembled in Session then on the First of September in the Cathedral Church and that Mass and the rest of the Ceremonies which are commonly performed in the beginning were over unexpectedly came in the Abbat of Bellosane Ambassadour from the French King with a Letter directed to the Assembly of Trent Having delivered it to the Legat who read the Superscription a Debate arose Why he called them an Assembly rather than Council That the Letter was not to be received nor read cried they unless he did shew that he had a Commission And when in the heat of the contest a heavy noise and clamour was made especially by the Spanish Bishops and that he told them that his Commission was contained in the Letter the Popes Legate arose and called the Fathers into the Vestry The matter being canvassed they concluded that he was to have Audience because the Inscription could admit of a good sense The Letter being then read privately wherein the King briefly expressed his grief and complained that he had wrong done him they all took their places again and then the Letter being read publickly they made Answer That whereas the King called the Council an Assembly they took it in good part and would not harbour any sinistrous suspicion of him who bore the Name of Most Christian but if he meant otherwise that they lookt upon the Letter as not addressed unto them and then he was bid to speak what he had to say He therefore read a long Speech in Writing And first the King tells them what de Terme his Ambassadour at Rome had done with the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals that none of these ways could prevail though he had made all Overtures of Peace And that Pope Julius who in imitation of his Predecessors ought to compose the Controversies of Princes had raised an extraordinary Combustion in a time that he ought least of all to have done so considering the sad and distressed state of Christendom that since it was so and because he dealt so roughly and implacably with him who was the Eldest Son of the Church he protested as it had been also done at Rome first that by reason of the Troubles and Wars he could not send the Bishops of his Dominions to Trent Again that he owned not that Council for Publick and General but lookt upon it rather as some private Assembly gathered together not or publick good but for the profit and advantage of some few And lastly that neither he nor any of his Subjects could be obliged to submit to the Decrees thereof but on the contrary that if occasion required he would apply those Remedies which in the like case his Ancestors were accustomed to make use of that his Intentions indeed towards Religion and the Church of Rome should always be right and sincere nor would he do any thing that might deserve a Censure but that since he was undeservedly loaded with the injuries and hatred of some Men he could not do otherwise at this time That therefore they should take his protestation in good part and give him an Instrument thereof that he might acquaint the rest of the Princes and People of Christendom with the whole affair Now as to what he said of using Remedies according to the custom of his Ancestors the meaning of it is this As in all other Provinces so also in France if any Bishoprick or Abby fell to be vacant the free Election belonged to the Canons and Monks but for smaller Benefices which are not Elective as they tearm it the Bishops and Patrons bestowed them and then all Suits about Benefices or Church Matters were decided in the several Provinces Now the Popes of Rome as they grew more covetous began to overthrow these Elections and by Reservations and Expectative Graces as they call them drew all the Profit to Rome and to themselves and removed all Suits even those which they call of the first instance primae instantiae to Rome The beginning of this
up in the Market-place and there and about the Church keep Guard 'till the Council break up These are for the most part sent for out of the Country to be ready against the day of the Session though the Town also supply a good many When they are come into the Church Mass is said that being over the Decrees of the Council are read and then a day appointed for the next Session Then also if any Ambassador have ought to say he is heard But by reason of the many various and most cumbersom Ceremonies that are used in every thing the day is far spent before their Business is over and then the Legate returns home in the same Pomp as he came The Pope's Legate takes the first place in the Council next to him the Cardinal of Trent then the Legates Collegues and after them the Electoral Archbishops On the left hand sit the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Princes And the middle Benches are filled by the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates taking place according to the Seniority of their Consecration September the second Subjects were given to the Divines to be discussed and that they might give their Opinions of them that so they might be decided in the next Session Now in giving their Opinions this method was prescribed That they should insist upon the Holy Scriptures Apostolical Traditions received and approved Councils and the Authorities of the Fathers that they should use Brevity abstain from unnecessary and superfluous Questions and avoid all Jangling and Contention As to the Order it was thought fit that the Pope's Divines should speak first and then the Emperours and so of the rest The Pope's Legate also for the finding out of the Truth and the confuting of false Opinions as they said gave them leave to read all sorts of Books There were a great many Divines present Spanish Italians and Germans whom the Pope Emperour and his Sister Queen Mary the Governess of the Low Countries had sent besides those whom the Electors of Cologne and Treves and some Spanish and Italian Bishops also brought with them All things were to be examined by them and no Man who had not the Title of Doctor as they call it was permitted to speak But in favour to the Bishops of Cologne and Treves John Gropper a Civilian and John Delph a Divine but under Doctors Degree were admitted And because in some former Sessions in Anno 1546 and the year following new Canons were made concerning Original Sin Justification Free-will and the Seven Sacraments in general and particular Decrees made concerning Baptism and Confirmation it was resolved That all these standing in force they should proceed to other things and in the first place to the Sacrament of the Eucharist Then Points were assigned to the Divines with these Instructions that they should search and try if they were Heretical and to be condemned by the holy Council And these Points were gathered out of the Books of Luther Zuinglius Bucer and other Protestant Writers Now in this manner do the Divines handle the matter They all meet daily in the Legate's Lodgings and there for several hours and in the order we mentioned every one discourses of a Point without any interruption yet so that they still submit all they say to the Judgment of the Church of Rome for none of the Protestants were present This place is open indifferently to all Men. The Pope's Legate and generally all the Fathers are there but none speak except the Divines and their several Sayings and Opinions are marked down by Clerks When they have all discoursed which then was done commonly in a Months time the Bishops meet at the Legate's Lodgings and examine the Opinions of the Divines registred by the Clerks Then some of every Nation are chosen out of the whole number that then are present who having weighed all the Opinions out of them frame that which they call a Doctrine what ought to be determined and believed in every point Afterwards they Condemn in few words but with a severe Censure the contrary Doctrine and Errors as they call them And at length all these things are reported to the whole Assembly When they are fully agreed a publick Session is held as we said before where the Decrees are read aloud and then the Bishops are asked if they approve them To which they severally answer with a Placet And so then some Divines tell their Opinions of the several Points but the Bishops only and with them a few Mitred Prelates have the power of Determining What is so decreed they command to be reverenced as Sacred and Holy and call them Canons These things indeed are acted publickly but they who are more intimately acquainted with the Affairs of Rome say That all the Decrees are already framed at Rome by the Pope's order and sent in due time to the Legate that the Divines in their Reasonings may follow that Form and Prescript for the Pope maintains several of them and many Bishops also there And it is a jocose Proverb used by some That the Holy Ghost comes ever now and then from Rome to Trent in a Cloak-bag because the Pope sent Letters with his Orders and Instructions by Post from Rome September the fourth Count Heideck came to Magdâ—burg and Duke Maurice sent by him the Conditions of Peace formerly proposed so moderated that they resolved to proceed in the Treaty In the mean time there was a Cessation of Arms which was afterward also prolonged for many days as shall be said hereafter The French King now at variance with the Pope published an Edict wherein having enlarged much upon the injury done him by the Pope upon the cause of the War of Parma and why he had taken Octavio into his protection he commands under a most severe penalty That no more Money be for the future carried to Rome for since Money was the Sinews of War what madness would it be with his and his Subjects Treasure to maintain and strengthen the power of his Enemy That it was the proper Office of the Popes to take up the differences of Princes and that did Paul III. who being almost worn out by Age made a long progress to Nizza to make the Emperour and his Father friends but that Julius took a quite different course who having lately called a Council which was indeed very necessary to the publick had stirred up a War against him on purpose that he might exclude all the Church of France which was one of the chief and that so no lawful Council might be had wherein the Errors and Faults both of the Head and Members might be reformed This Edict of the King 's was published at Paris the seventh of September when a few days before another Edict of his and a most severe one too was published against the Lutherans which partly confirmed the former Decrees of that nature and partly where they seemed not smartly
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
determined For of the chief Points two only remained the Lords Supper and Marriage All the other Heads of Doctrine were already determined The Fathers of Basil decided all things by the holy Scriptures and the Writings which agreed with them But these would have it to belong only to them to interpret the Scriptures nor would they admit of that place of the Decree of Basil by the Ambassadours restored as we said before and changing the Words of the Decree determined that the Traditions also of the Apostles were to be followed in all doubtful and controverted Points and whensoever they wanted a Testimony of Scripture they bragg'd of Traditions handed down to them from the very Apostles as was oftner than once observed in the Disputations of the Divines And this also was the reason that when on the thirtieth of January the Protestant Deputies received the safe Conduct from the Imperial Ambassadours they declared That by Apostolical Traditions they only understood written Traditions of the Apostles which were subjoyned to the Second Part of the Bible the New Testament or the History of the four Evangelists We told you before that the first of May had been appointed the day of the next Session But Affairs being now in a desperate Case the Fathers that remained met and by reason of the Dissentions and Quarrels of Kings and Princes prorogued the Council for two years time and longer if Peace were not made This was done the twenty ninth day of April and by this time the Pope had agreed with the French King. Within a few days after the Emperours Ambassadours departed also But the Legate Crescentio was sick and stayed behind He being frightned by a Vision in the Night as it is said began both to be ill and to despair of Life notwithstanding all his Friends and Physicians could do to comfort him Nor was he mistaken in his Judgment For his Distemper increasing he died at Verona And this now was the end of the Council at this time which being with great hopes renewed thought of nothing less than of retrieving Popery and setting it shortly upon its Legs again There were present at it besides the Popes Legates and the Cardinal of Trent threescore and two Bishops and of these eight Germans five and twenty Spaniards two Sardinians four Sicilians one Hungarian the Bishop of Agria all the rest were Italians But of Divines there were forty two and of them nineteen Spaniards twelve Germans and Flemings I intended to have past in silence the occasion of the Legate Crescentio's Sickness because it was suspected to have been invented by some out of malice But seeing it hath been so reported by his Friends and Servants who waited upon him and sometimes comforted him on his Sick bed I thought sit to subjoyn it He had been very busie all day March the twenty fifth even till night in writing Letters to the Pope but then rising to refresh himself when his Work was over it seemed to him that a black Dog of extraordinary bigness with flaming Eyes and Ears reaching almost to the ground entred the Room and made streight towards him but afterwards slipt away under the Table When he came to himself again after the great fear and amazement that the sight struck him into he called in his Servants who were in the Outer-chamber and bid them bring a Candle and beat out the Dog But when no Dog could be found neither there nor in the next Chamber to it he became very pensive and so fell into Sickness as I said before It is reported also that upon his Death bed he many times cried out to those that were about him to beat off the Dog that clambered up upon the Bed. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXIV The CONTENTS Duke Maurice publishes a Declaration to all the States of the Empire entreating them not to hinder his Design but that all assist and declare for him Much to the same purpose there was another Declaration published by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg The King of France also declares himself the Protector of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes and so marching into Lorrain seizes Metz. After that be marches as far as Strasburg and from thence went to Hagenaw whither many Ambassadors and Deputies came to him to desire him that he would abstain from wasting the Country and put a stop to his Army The King removes his Camp and leaving Germany retreats again to Lorrain Duke Maurice with his associates possesses the passes of the Alpes and forces the Emperor to fly who a little before had set the Duke of Saxony his Prisoner at liberty The Princes by Proclamation at Ausburg restore all the outed and banished Ministers Whilst Duke Maurice is at Passaw treating a Peace Albert of Brandenburg uses great Cruelty against those of Norimberg and forces them to accept of a Peace many things both by Letters and Agents represented to the Princes who treat about entring into a League and by certain conditions things are softened They of Siena revolt from the Emperor who comes to Strasburg on his march to besiege Metz. WE told you before that in the last Diet of Germany the conduct of the War with Magdeburg was by the unanimous consent of the Emperor and the other States committed to Duke Maurice This War lasted a Year in which time the Duke who had the chief command of the Forces began to think of a way of setting at liberty the Landgrave his Father-in-Law since all the intercession he had hitherto made to the Emperor for that purpose had proved ineffectual Having therefore forced the People of Catzenelbogen to swear Allegiance to him made Peace with Magdeburg and sent an Embassie to Inspruck as hath been fully related in the foregoing Book he entered into League with the French King which was confirmed by Hostages mutually given and both thought fit to publish a declaration of the causes of the War that they might thereby win the favour and good-will of many Albert Marquess of Brandenburg had a great hand in making this alliance who for that end went privately into France to treat with the King. In the mean time the Soldiers as well those who had besieged Magdeburg as the Garrison that held out the City had their Winter Quarters in Mulhausen and the places thereabouts and did much damage to those of Northhausen and Erford When the Emperor demanded the reason of this from Duke Maurice who had the chief Command in the War he was answered that the outrages they committed was for want of their Pay for this was the pretext he used when in reality they were listed in his Service and had been secretly sworn to their Colours And the better to perswade at the same time he sent his Ambassadors to Trent who were to pass by Inspruck to procure a safe conduct for the Divines that were to come and to propound some other things
in the Council then he ordered the Divines to follow who being advanced on their way as far as Norimberg there stayed for Letters from the Ambassadors we mentioned as hath been fully related in the preceding Book He sent before other Ambassadors also to the Emperor Christopher Carlebitz and Ulrick Mordeysen who were to stay for his coming upon the Frontiers of Bavaria being to use them in his Treaty and Negotiation Besides he ordered Lodgings to be taken for him at Inspruck and he himself set out and advanced some days Journey in the way but then stopt shoâ—â— and making an excused by very kind 〈◊〉 which upon the roaâ— he wrote to Inspâ—â—â—â— returned home Thus from 〈…〉 time till in the very beginning of the Spring having timely recalled his Ministers he began to muster the Soldiers whom with great Secrecy he had raised in the Winter time and published his Declaration to all the States of the Empire to this purpose That there was nothing in this World so dear unto him as Peace and Concord but that the chief thing he wished for was agreement in Religion according to the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that their Adversaries had indeed put them in hopes of that both privately and by publick decrees that however nothing had been performed and that they did not only interpret these Promises and Decrees in another sense now but wholly rescinded and abrogated them that they had not spared neither to tell some that unless they were obeyed no Man needed much to trust or rely upon former Promises for that when they were made the state of the times and affairs was different but that now all must obey or expect to suffer if they refuse That not satisfied with these Expressions which yet shewed a hostile Mind they had stirred up also foreign Kings against himself and other Princes of his Rank and Profession and invented many causes of hatred against them sometimes their Religion and sometimes other Crimes whereas the thing it self made it plain that Religion was least in their thoughts but that it hath been always their aim to make the difference in Religion a step to raise them to Dominion and Rule for that it was now obvious to all Men what arts and tricks they had used to overturn and destroy the true Religion which in former years was set forth and professed at Ausburg that in order thereunto they had banished the Preachers of the Gospel out of the Empire and without staying for the decree not to say of a lawful but even of a Popish Council had begun where they should have ended with Execution that therefore he was not to be blamed if by Wars he rescued himself and People from that slavery of Mind and Conscience But that seeing the Glory of God was concerned in that who alone was able to promote and defend his word he referred all to his divine Majesty heartily beseeching him that he would give him grace constantly to persevere in the true knowledge of him to his lifes end That there was another thing he intended to speak of and that related to the Landgrave his Father-in-Law that five years since he and Joachim Elector of Brandenburg had been in the Emperors name put in hopes that if the Landgrave could be perswaded to come and humbly beg the Emperor's Pardon the Emperor would demand no more of him than what was contained in the Articles of Peace accorded to but would graciously dismiss him that therefore they had prevailed with him by Letters to comply having bound themselves to the Sons Body for Body for the Father that they should submit to the same fortune that he underwent that so he had come with full assurance to Hall and made his humble submission to the Emperor then supped with the Duke of Alva and spent a good part of the Night pretty chearfully but that when he was about to return to his Inn he had been contrary to all expectation detained and committed to Custody wherein he had now for almost five whole Years languished in great Misery and that though his Sons the Nobility and People had ratified and approved the transaction though he himself the Elector of Brandenburg and Wolffgang Prince Palatine had engaged as sureties for him that unless he did perform his Conditions they would deliver him up into his Hands and that though according to the treaty of Pacification his Fine was payed the Artillery with all the Ammunition delivered the Castles and Forts demolished Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son set at liberty and the Copy of the League and Confederacy exhibited so that no more indeed remained to be performed nevertheless neither the Prayers nor intercession of himself of the Elector of Brandenburg of his own Wife who died for grief of the People nor of other Princes could hitherto any way prevail That he had often made his application to the Emperor and because many entertained a sinistrous opinion of him had earnestly begg'd of his Majesty that he would have regard to his Honour and Reputation that he would be pleased to have respect to the good Offices that their Predecessors had rendered to his Ancestors and to what they themselves had deserved at his own and Brother King Ferdinands hands and in consideration thereof set him at liberty but that none of these Arguments could prevail with him nay that on the contrary he had compelled him being a Prisoner to answer Law-suits and against all Law and Justice especially in such difficult matters to plead his Cause under constraint not to mention how suspiciously and with how great precipitation the matter was managed a thing not before known or heard of in Germany that under that pretext of Law forsooth he might by degrees turn him and his Children out of all and reduce them to such streights that they might not be able to maintain their rank and quality for the future That it highly concerned him not to suffer this both for the near relation he had to the House of Hesse and the right he had to its Succession That this might seem strange indeed were it not now obvious to all Men that these kind of Arts tended mainly to the establishing of that Monarchy which for so many years had been a rearing That the third and chief thing he had to say concerned all Germans and their common and native Country Germany whose condition was certainly most sad and deplorable for that contrary to Laws and Treaties foreign Soldiers had been brought into the bowels of the Empire where they now after many years continuance began to take rooting devouring other Mens Goods and Estates both in City and Country and practising all kinds of filthy Lust that besides new ways of raising Money were invented and the ancient Liberty many ways imposed upon wherein no rank nor state no not the Electors themselves were spared That the Ambassadors of foreign Kings who grieve at these things and who tender the wellfare
enrich himself that for some years past he had served the Emperor and King Ferdinand in their Wars to the great prejudice of his Estate without any other prospect or design but the purchasing of Honour and Reputation by his Services that fair and ample conditions had been several times offered him also but he had rejected them that he might espouse this War for the Liberty and ancient Dignity of his Country That if perhaps in this War the overgrown Power and Authority of the Clergy which is prohibited in holy Scripture should chance to be weakened and impaired he was not to be blamed for that since to say the Truth the chief Bishops of the Empire had been the cause of all these Evils that it was not his design though that those religious Houses which were founded chiefly for the use of the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed but that the vices being rooted out and those things reformed which could not be suffered they might continue in their own station nay and flourish too and that he would assist them therein provided they were willing and did not suffer themselves to be perswaded by his Adversaries to the contrary The French King also made publick Declaration that it had been his chief design Religion being once setled that he might do good to the publick but especially to his Friends That therefore immediately after the death of his Father he had restored Scotland to its ancient dignity renewed the league with the Switzers recovered Boloigne brought back the People that had been dispersed up and down into their own Lands and Possessions again and made a Peace and strict Friendship with the King of England But that whilst he was intent upon these things the Emperour by close and clandestine Counsels had contrived many things to his ruin and oftener than once given him a cause of War but that to give some ease and refreshment to the publick and to his own People also in private he had been still and winking at these injuries had wholly applied himself to the settling of his Kingdom that this his quietness had been by his Adversaries interpreted Cowardise and Faint-heartedness afterwards but that in the mean time sad and grievous Complaints had been brought to him from many of the Princes and States of Germany who said that under the specious Pretexts partly of Religion partly of a Turkish War and punishing of Rebellion designs had been carried on to bring them into Bondage and that through cunning and crafty counsels Factions and Divisions were fomented and Germany totally exhausted so that it was no longer to be doubted but that he aimed at an universal Monarchy for himself and the house of Austria that that truly had been a great grief to him not only because of the common origine of both Nations but also of the ancient alliance and friendship which had always remained firm and unviolate so long as the craft and subtlety of the Emperor had given it leave for that if the Government should be changed and Germany lose its liberty he well understood how dangerous and prejudicial that would be unto him that Germany was indeed the Bulwark not only of France but of all Christendom also and that therefore he had many times heartily wished and prayed that both People might have united their strength and put themselves into such a condition as not to need to fear any danger but that since there appeared no hopes of that and that in the mean time many craved his assistance but on different accounts he could see no way how he could succour the Empire so much rent and torn Nevertheless that in this so weighty a deliberation God the just Judge of all had offered him a very fit occasion for that Octavio Farnese Duke of Piacenza and Parma for whom the Emperor and Pope Julius laid Snares had implored help from him and by laying open before him all the injuries received had perswaded him to undertake the Protection of him and the Prince of Mirandula that afterwards came those complaints from the Princes of Germany who desired to enter into league with him as being the only way in their opinion to restore the State that he would not mention those weighty and just causes that the Princes had to take up Arms since they might be understood from their own declarations but yet that any Man might consider with himself whether this insatiable ambition of their Adversaries was not a just ground of grief who having ruined the Wealth of Germany swept all into their own Coffers and Treasury Were not the provinces of Utricht Liege and Cambray sufficient instances thereof And what was also Constance and many other free Cities oppressed That the Burgundians now hovering over the People of Treves Cleve and Wirtemberg had left the Prints of their footsteeps upon their Borders and many ways made havock of the Landgraves Territories that in like manner and for the same purpose the Emperor excluded his Ambassadors from the Diets of the Empire prohibited by publick Edict the Germans from serving foreign Princes in their Wars cut off brave and valiant Soldiers and amongst those Vogelsperg whom he himself to glut his revenge saw executed at Ausburg Was it not a thing of bad example that he should encourage and hire Men to kill those who served in his Wars That it was not certainly to be expressed what Arts their Enemies used for such were by them thrust in and admitted into the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and Diet of the Empire as might make it their whole business to bring about and accomplish whatever they pleased and that indeed the blame of all the Evils that had happened was to be imputed to those kind of Men but especially the Judges of the Imperial Chamber That for these reasons he could not refuse his assistance to the Germans who desired it that therefore he had made a League with them and not only done so but was resolved also to employ all his force nay his very Person in that war that he did not neither look for any private profit or advantage thereby but that it was only his intent that by asserting the Liberty of Germany delivering John Frederick Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave whom he had detained in a tedious and base Captivity he might purchase to himself Praise and immortal Glory as Flaminius had heretofore done in delivering Greece from bondage nor needed any Man to fear Violence for that since he had undertaken that War for the sake of Liberty he would take care that no Man who did not deserve it should receive any hurt that therefore they might believe the Promise which he faithfully made to them and not give credit to their Adversaries who gave it out that it was his design to afflict and plague the Clergy that he was so far from entertaining such thoughts that he took them all under his protection and defence provided they gave him
assurance that they would not annoy him nor his Friends for that he had been put in good hopes by the Letters of a great many that if Liberty were once restored the Peace of the Church might also be upon lawful terms established all ambition and desire of private lucre being set aside That these were the things he thought fit to declare unto them that they might know what his will and purpose was That therefore he did require that no Person would offer to hinder or molest him or his Friends in the prosecution of so just a War and so necessary for the welfare of Germany for that otherwise if any Man should so much forget the love and duty which he owed to his Country as to think of making resistance he would destroy him with Fire and Sword and though it would be against his will to do so yet if any such should be he must be cut off as a rotten and corrupt Member from the rest of the Body lest he might hurt by Contagion and so be restrained from doing of Mischief That they might learn the rest from his Ambassador the Bishop of Byonne that he sent to them with fuller Instructions to whom he willed them to give Credit This Declaration was Printed and Published in the vulgar Tongue with a Cap betwixt two Daggers over head and this Motto The Emblem of Liberty underneath was the title of the King who called himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes Some say that this cognisance was to be found on ancient Medals and was given by the Murtherers of Julius Caesar Whereas he said that the Emperor had allotted a reward to those who should kill some of his Collonels the Story is this The Emperor had by a late Edict again proscribed the Rhinegrave Recrod Rifeberg and Scherteline who all served the King of France as we said before and had promised a reward of four thousand Florins to him that should bring in any one of them dead or alive for they were great promoters of the Cause and after the League we mentioned was made went into Germany and there raised Soldiers whom they carried into France Now Scherteline was in a manner forced to fly over to the French King after he had for some years in vain sollicited but could not by any man's Intercession be received into favour again with the Emperor nor King Ferdinand These declarations of the Princes and French King being dispersed over Germany wrought hope in some but in many fear and anxiety Duke Maurice who disguised all things held a convention of the States of his Dominion on the first of March and amongst other things declared unto them that being cited to appear by the Landgrave's Sons he could no longer shuffle with them nor frustrate their Expectation that he was therefore going to them that he might fullfil his Promise and Engagement that in the mean time they should obey his Brother Augustus whom he left to govern them in his absence and to raise Men for the defence of the Frontiers that they might not be unprovided if any thing should happen The Elector of Brandenburg was present there it being the day he had been cited to appear on but having obtained leave from the Landgrave's Sons to appear another time when he should be summoned to come and fulfil his Promise he returned Home In the mean time Duke Maurice having settled all things at home and assigned some Counsellors to his Brother Augustus went with few in Company to the Forces which as I said he had lying in Thuringe and marching forwards a little waited for the coming of the Landgrave's Son. Before he parted from home Henry Burgrave of Misnia a Man of Illustrious Birth and Chancellor of Bohemia had in King Ferdinand's Name treated earnestly with him about an accommodation Now when on the eighteenth of March the Landgrave's Son was come with his Forces to Erlebach the French Ambassador being there also they both wrote to the City of Frankfurt requiring them amongst other things not to admit a Garrison from the Emperor and although their answer from within was not plain enough nor to their satisfaction yet there was nothing else done because it concerned him to hasten his March forwards Six days after he joyned Duke Maurice and so in three days more all the Army came to Schuinfurt there Duke Maurice told him that King Ferdinand offered to Mediate and had both by Letters and Agents plainly enough intimated that he had Power also to treat about his Father's Liberty He therefore making the French Ambassador privy to it was willing he said to hear what conditions and demands King Ferdinand would propose That being resolved upon they march in great haste by Rotenburg Dinklespiel and Nordlingeâ— to Donawert at Rotenburg they were joyned by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg with his Forces both Horse and Foot wheresoever they past they brought the Towns-People under Subjection and made new Magistrates in place of those the Emperor put in whom they turned out making them also furnish Money and Ordnance and because Ausburg was but meanly Garrisoned and that about the same time part of the Wall and Rampart was fallen down on the first day of March they set forward and marching all night came before it the first of April about noon where by making some Incursions they shewed themselves to be Enemies The Emperor had sent four Companies of Foot into the Town but when four days after the Towns-People surrendred the Place they had leave given them to March away Then they summon the Cities of upper Germany and Norimberg amongst the rest commanding them to appear at Ausburg by the end of April That also sollicite Ulm which is but nine Miles distant from Ausburg to assist them with all thins necessary and enter into Society with them Much about the same time the Prince of Salerno upon occasion of a quarrel which he had with the Viceroy of Naples revolted from the Emperor and went into France Whilst these things are acting in Germany the French King having taken the Field with a vast Army made himself Master of Toul and Verdan two Imperial Cities upon the Frontiers of France After ward he marched to Lorrain and sent the young Duke a Boy of nine years of Age into France though his Mother the Dutchess Dowager had begged earnestly to the contrary and promised to give him his Daughter in Marriage Whilst he himself is taken up about these affairs the Constable Ann of Momorency who commanded the Van possesses himself of Metz a famous Imperial City on the tenth of April there being but a small Garrison in it and the French having made fair Promises protesting that their King had taken up Arms only for the defence of their Liberty For when March the fifteenth the King marched over the borders of France by Letters and Messengers whom he sent unto them he
the Senate and afterwards give him notice of their answer yet next day he sent two Gentlemen of Quality to urge an answer highly extolling the Affection and Friendship that the King bore to Germany and insisting likewise upon the cause of his taking up Arms to wit that he might retrieve the liberty of Germany from oppression Another demand they made was that seeing the Soldiers were in want of most things necessary they might be allowed to come and buy in the City what they stood in need of and that Tradesmen might have leave to carry out their Commodities and sell them in the Camp. To these things the Senate made answer that in matters of so great moment nothing was usually determined without the consent of the whole State that having debated the matter they would again send deputies and acquaint them with what their resolution was They being thus dismissed the day following the same Deputies were again sent out to the Camp which then was at Saverne When the Constable had heard their Discourse wherein they offered more than before and gave their reasons why the Soldiers could not be allowed to come into the Town he began to speak more angrily telling them in sharp Language how partial Judges they were both of the King's Favours and the Injuries received from the Emperor The conclusion of his Speech was that the King would speak to them himself to Morrow and confirm the same things he had told them Next day the Deputies being sent for to come to the King with whom were the Cardinal of Lorrain the Duke of Vendosme and the Constable they relate to his Majesty what had past in two conferences with the Constable and offer as great a quantity of Oats as they had offered of Wheat before and somewhat more Wine beseeching the King that for the ancient amity which the Kings of France had entertained with the Common wealth of Strasburg and his own gracious Disposition to take in good part what was offered That there were many Soldiers in the City and a multitude of People that had flocked thither out of the Country So that the City could not spare the Corn that they had for their necessary subsistence The King having conferred with his Council began himself to tell the cause of his coming into Germany much to the same purpose as the Constable had done the day before that Victuals were absolutely necessary and not to be refused to any who offered to pay for them unless it were an Enemy That if Soldiers were in want of Food they commonly took a course to supply themselves but how inconvenient a thing that was might easily be understood by any Man. The King refused not indeed what was offered but he would have had it in Bread on the contrary the Deputies offering Wheat they could not agree upon the matter and so they departed without coming to any Conclusion The Deputies being returned home the Senate resolved that seeing they could not spare any of the Wheat which was in the Town as much Bread as could be should be baked in the circumjacent places for the Deputies had told both the Constable and King that neither the present condition of the City nor the state of the times would allow any thing to be sent out of the Town but that if they could gather together any thing amongst their Neighbours they should have it very freely Now the Senate made this resolution lest the Soldiers might Prey upon the Goods and Substance of the Husbandmen and other Country People And so what could be got together of a sudden out of the Towns and Villages about was carried to the Camp but that was very little When the Strasburgers were informed of the seizing of Lorrain and the City of Metz they presently raised about five Thousand Soldiers for a Garrison to the City besides they demolished a great many both publick and private Buildings about the Town cut down the Trees and spoiled all the Gardens and Orchards which either hindred the Prospect or might be advantageous to an Enemy and raised new Works and Fortifications where there was greatest need That went against the grain with the French and in the last conference with the Constable he did not dissemble it to the Deputies for it was believed that they were almost in certain hopes that as they had been let into Metz upon a shew and fair pretext of Friendship so likewise they would not be held out of Strasburg but when they understood that the Town was very well Fortified and saw besides how eagerly all things were making ready for a Defence they changed their purpose as it is credible and turned another way for May the seventh they removed their Camp and marched first to Haguenaw and then to Weissemberg Hither came to the King Ambassadors from the Prince Palatine of the Rhine the Electors of Mentz and Treves the Dukes of Cleve and Wirtemberg who upon account of publick affairs were lately before assembled at Wormes Their demand was that the King would refrain from wasting the Country that he would spare the poor People and that since he declared that he made War for the Liberty of Germany he would put a stop to his Army for that if he proceeded it would prove very prejudicial to the Empire that they prayed him to set his thoughts upon Peace that they had already mentioned it to the Emperor and would do so again in hopes that all would turn to the best but as to what he wrote of entring into a League that he would have some Consideration of their Honour and Reputation for because of the Oath they had taken to the Empire they could not do that but that they would use their utmost Endeavours that publick Peace might be Established Moreover that they most earnestly besought him to spare the Territories of Strasburg which was a free City of the Empire and use his interest with Marquess Albert of Brandenburg that he would deal more kindly with the Bishop of Wurtzburg The very same day the King had Letters from Duke Maurice giving him an account of what was acted at Lintz desiring him withal since he proposed to have his Majesty comprehended in the Treaty of Peace to let him know upon what Conditions he was willing to accord with the Emperor The King having received these Letters and as it was thought finding the Contents thereof contrary to his Expectation removed his Camp two days after and leaving Germany retreated again to Lorrain but before his departure he returned an answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes we mentioned That now he had effected what he came for with his Army into Germany to wit that the Captive Princes would be set at Liberty which had been the cause of the War that so he had purchased Glory enough but that if at any time thereafter Germany did stand in need of his assistance he would spare neither Pains
the League and to demand of them Ammunition Provisions and a great summ of Money but after a long Treaty when all the other Conditions being set aside they had paid down an hundred Thousand Florins they promised them Peace both in their own Names and in the Names of all their Associates and thereupon gave them an instrument under Hand and Seal in most ample form Being therefore now attacked by Marquess Albert they send their Complaints to them and because Duke Maurice was not as yet come back from Lintz on the third of May the Landgrave's Son wrote back to them from Gundelfingen bidding them be in good Hopes but five days after when Duke Maurice was come back they both wrote promising to observe the Treaty and disapproving the action of Marquess Albert as quite contrary to their Expectation and they assure them besides that they will endeavour to have all restored that hath been taken from them and that they will instantly recall the Forces which they lent him The Norimbergers having received Marquess Albert's Letter wrote him an Answer the same Day shewing him what Duke Maurice and the Princes had promised them by Treaty and telling him that that was the reason why they had not sent Deputies to him Wherefore they earnestly pray and beseech him to restore to them the Castle in good condition and thereby gratify his Confederates He again wrote back three days after that since it was unknown to him what Transaction the Princes had made with them and that the case much concerned the French King to whom he was no less engaged than to them he demands a safe Conduct for a person of Credit whom he would send into the Town to whom they should shew the instrument of their Treaty they comply and produce the same Notwithstanding all this though Duke Maurice and the Confederate Princes carefully interposed on the eleventh of May he again sent them a threatning Note requiring them in the French King's Name chiefly to give him within a few Hours a positive Answer whether they would obey what was commanded them or not and having received an answer not to his liking he plundered burnt and razed to the Ground the Castle of Lichtenaw with the adjoyning Town and having exacted Money of the Towns-People and forced them to take an Oath to be true to him and his Cousin-German George Frederick he laid Siege to the City Wherefore the Landgrave's Son forthwith recalled two Troops of Horse which he had lent him against Wolfgang Master of the Teutonick Order commanding them to return back to him whereat he was mightily offended He therefore began a cruel War and having Plundered an Hundred Villages within their Territories about seventy Mannor and Farm-Houses belonging to the Citizens with the Churches he Burnt not only them but also three Thousand Acres of Wood in a vast Forrest of theirs which supplied both them and their Neighbours with Timber and Fuel He had before this declared War against the Nobility and others who lived thereabouts if they would not obey and especially against the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg whom also in this state of Affairs he forced to submit to very hard Conditions Insomuch that the Bishop of Bamberg to save himself and whole Province from imminent danger bought a Peace of him at a very dear rate for he was fain to make over to him twenty Towns and Lordships within his Dominion by Deed and Conveyance which he Signed the nineteenth day of May and therewith all his Superiorities and Vassalls But the Bishop of Wurtzburg paid him down two Hundred and twenty Thousand Florins and took upon him the Payment of his Debts which amounted to about three hundred and fifty Thousand Florins more The free Towns of Schuabia which as we said before assembled at Ausburg to the number of twenty six but especially those of Ausburg taking Pity on this sad and deplorable condition of the Norimbergers sent Deputies chosen out of their whole number to mediate an accommodation who being come upon safe Conduct to Norimberg exhorted the Senate to Peace for many Reasons telling them that Erenberg and the Passes of the Alpes were all in the Power of the Confederates and that the state of Italy and Hungary was such that no help nor relief was to be expected from any hand and then they shew them the Conditions proposed by Marquess Albert. The Senate gave them thanks for their Affection and the Pains they had put themselves to and having represented to them how that Marquess Albert had no cause to make War against them and how they had capitulated with Duke Maurice and the Confederates they plainly told them that since the Conditions were such as neither they could perform them nor if they did could justifie themselves to the Emperor and King Ferdinand for so doing they resolved to suffer the Extremity and commit their Cause to God being so well satisfied with their own Innocence that they could make not only the Emperor but all Princes nay the Relations and intimate Friends of Marquess Albert himself their Judges in the case When the Mediators had in as soft and fair words as they could given Marquess Albert the Senate's Answer and found him so far from relenting that he broke out into most outragious threats by Letters dated the fourth day of June they acquaint the Besieged that his Mind was implacable and that they could not by any means bring him to more reasonable terms In the mean time Marquess Albert batters the Town again more furiously than before throws Fire into several places and one Night gives the Assault burning at the same time one of the Suburbs for the greater terror At the same time came to the Camp George Thannenberg and William Schachten Ambassadors sent joyntly from Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son to treat of Peace These taking to them the assistance of the Deputies of the Cities who otherwise were about to depart as despairing of any Success after a tedious and laborious negotiation prevailed with both at length and clapt up a Peace for not only was Marquess Albert reinforced with fresh recruits that came to the Army under the Command of James Dalbeck and Christopher Oldenburg but Duke Maurice had written to the Senate also that though he was extreamly troubled at what Marquess Albert did yet he was not able to remedy it at present These were the conditions of Peace that they should pay two hundred Thousand Florins deliver six pieces of Ordnance with their Appurtenances and entertain amity with the Confederate Princes as they of Ausburg did on the other hand that he should restore all he had taken from them Wherefore about the twentieth of June the Siege was raised from before Norimberg one not only of the most famous powerful and Wealthy but also strongest Cities in Germany The Marquess puffed up with this so brave Success wrote from the Camp to those of
parts of one and the same Empire under one Prince and governed by the same Laws but that when in the vicissitude of time the Empire devolved upon the Germans the Dukes of Saxony and other Emperors as deriving their Original from the Kings of the Francs entertained constant Friendship with the French insomuch that Philip the August King of France caused that ancient League which was almost worn out by time to be written of new in Golden Characters and to be laid up in a more Sacred place and not without just Cause neither for that so long as this Union lasted both People lived in a most flourishing State That the force of Germany was then so great that they gave Laws not only to the Hungarians Bohemians Polanders and Danes but to the Italians also and the Kings of France again who fought for the maintenance of Religion obtained many glorious Victories in Europe Asia and Africa over the Saracens and Turks the declared Enemies of Christendom But that the times proved more unlucky afterwards when some Emperors as being ingrafted upon the Stock but no natural Germans nor worthy of that Dignity forsook the amity of the Kings of France and brought great Calamities upon the Empire but that through God's Blessing this Wound was Healed by the Illustrious Family of Luxembourg which hath produced some Emperors Princes of great Merit and most intimate Friends of the Kings of France For the Father of Charles IV died fighting for the King of France that the Princes of the House of Austria have entertained the same Amity and Kindness and particularly Albert the first whom neither the Promises nor Threats of the Popes could move to make War against France that he mentioned these things with this Intent that they might be convinced how little some of the Counsellors and Courtiers of the most mighty Emperor Charles V. tendered the wellfare of the Empire whilst they make it their Business not only to divide and rend asunder those two most renowned Nations but also did by their Arts and Cunning so far prevail formerly that King Francis a most excellent Prince was by their Procurement judged an Enemy and no reason given why That they did those things for their own private Gain and Advantage indeed but to the great Prejudice of the Publick That this alone was enough to shew how difficult it would be for them so long as Friendship continued betwixt both Nations to infringe the Liberty of Germany and to erect their own Monarchy that the fear of the French Arms made them now proceed more remissly and not so much urge their Spanish Yoke of Bondage as formerly that these were the Men who by Prayers and Tribute obtained Peace from the Turk that they might under the Colour of Religion and Loyalty raise Feuds and Animosities in Germany that being aided by the Forces of Germany they might make War against Germany that they might squeeze Money from all and reduce the Empire to a sad and miserable Condition placing here and there Spanish Garrisons exhausting the Magazines and making way for Arbitrary Rule For that matters were now brought to this Pass that the great Seal of the Empire the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and the right and liberty of Diets all depended on the Will and Pleasure of one Man the Bishop of Arrus For what instance could be shewn or reason given that free-born Germans who for a livelihood served Strangers in their Wars should be Punished Proscribed and have Princes set upon their Heads Not to mention so many Murthers lascivious Practices Devastations plunderings of Towns but especially the varying and altering of Religion according to occasion and the turn of Times That there was no doubt to be made but that whatever had been done of this nature for many Years past tended only to this that the Laws of the Empire being Confounded King Ferdinand either forced or wheedled by Promises and the Princes of the Empire over-awed the Prince of Spain might be designed Emperor Were not Death more eligible to brave Men than to live and see the Sun with so great Misery That no Man certainly could be imagined so Barbarous as not to be moved at these things That it ought not to be thought strange then that some Princes should at length arise and amongst others Duke Maurice Elector of Saxony who thought the danger of their Lives too little for recovering the liberty of their common Country But that finding themselves inferiour in Strength they had implored the Aid and Assistance of the King of France and that he setting aside all the Provocations received in former Years had not only imparted to them his Treasure but also employed himself wholly in the Affair having made a League with them wherein amongst other things it was provided that no Peace should be made with the Emperor without the Advice and Consent of the King Moreover that Duke Maurice though he lay under that Obligation yet that he might serve his Country and comply with the Desires of King Ferdinand had lately demanded of the most Christian King that he would let him know upon what terms he would be willing to make Peace That the Proposal had been made somewhat contrary to his Expectation indeed for considering what a great Favour he had done he thought that in matters concerning himself he ought to have Treated Personally and not at so great distance But that nevertheless since he preferred the publick far before his own private Interests he was not willing to deny any thing to a Confederate Prince That therefore if the Wounds of the State might be Healed as they ought to be and such Care taken that they might not for the future Fester again if the Captive Princes might be set at Liberty upon the Conditions prescribed by the League if the ancient Alliance betwixt France and the Empire and the League made lately with the Princes might be confirmed so as it should be perpetual if all these things might be procured the King was so well affected towards the Publick that he not only assented to the Treaty of Peace but would render hearty Thanks to God that by Counsel and Assistance he had contributed thereunto That as to private affairs since the Emperor detained many things by force and upon no just Cause had made War the King thought it reasonable that he who had first done the wrong should first also make the Satisfaction That for his part though he did not distrust his Strength yet he would so behave in all things that it should appear he was not only desirous of Peace but willing also to gratify Duke Maurice and them all To these things the Princes make answer that the Commemoration of the ancient Alliance betwixt Germany and France brought from the Records of former times had been very pleasant unto them nor was it less acceptable to understand that the King preferred the Publick before his own private Advantages and that he was willing
the Confederate Princes should make Peace with the Emperor For that it was the Interest not only of one Nation but of all Europe also that it should be so since the civil Broils that disturbed the same threatned no less than its ruin That they made no doubt but the Conditions which the King desired would be obtained For that the Emperor as before so now in these intestine Commotions was well affected towards the Publick and would not have the Liberty of Germany depressed That there was great hopes also that he would shortly set the Princes at Liberty But that as to the renewing of ancient Leagues and confirming new ones the King in his own Prudence knew very well that a matter of so great moment could not be transacted in that Assembly That nevertheless they wished the Friendship and Correspondence that had always been betwixt both People might remain firm and inviolable That it was not only their chief Desire that such private Controversies as he had with the Emperor might be adjusted but that they would also use their utmost Endeavours to accomplish it That nevertheless since the King had hinted that the Emperor detained some things that were his and that he had somewhat to re-demand from him it seemed not unreasonable to them that he would declare what his Pretensions were For that they were resolved to state the Controversie to the Emperor and interpose as Mediators and that they earnesty prayed the King to take these things in good part Now as to the Relation that is betwixt the French and Germans we discoursed in the eighth Book But as to what the French Ambassador spoke of the Family of Luxembourg the matter in short is this Henry Count of Luxembourg had a Son Henry who was afterwards Emperor and the seventh of that Name He again had a Son who by Marriage became King of Bohemia and this Prince aided Philip of Valois in his Wars against Edward the third King of England and being present in a Battel wherein the English got the Victory he was slain there leaving amongst others an eldest Son who was afterward the Emperor Charles IV. the Father of Wenceslaus and Sigismund who were both afterwards Emperors and Sigismund also King of Hungary and Bohemia he who procured the calling of the Council of Constance Albert of Austria of whom he spoke the Son of the Emperor Rodolph when he became Emperor entertained a firm Amity with Philip the Fair King of France though Pope Boniface VIII had eagerly incited him to War. Besides the delivery of the Landgrave Duke Maurice insisted chiefly on two things First that as to those things which wounded the liberty of Germany and had been reckoned up by him King Ferdinand his Son Maximilian and the Mediators would themselves forthwith determine and pronounce Sentence concerning them according to the Laws and ancient Custom of Germany And then that Religion should be let alone in Peace and no Man molested upon that account till all the difference should be fully agreed The Mediators did not disapprove this Course But the Emperor's Ambassadors in his Name interposed and said that their Master thought it but reasonable that they who for their Fidelity to him had incurred Calamities and sustained great Losses should have reparation made them When some Points after much debate had been moderated they came to this Resolution at length that the Emperor should by the third of July give his positive Answer and that in the mean time there should be a cessation of Arms wherefore on the sixteenth of June the Mediators wrote to the Emperor and exhorted him to Peace We told you that after the taking of Erenberg and the plundering of Inspruck the Confederate Princes took another way through the Alpes and about the latter end of May returned to Fiessen Marching from thence they came on the nineteenth of June with all their Forces and Encamped at Aichstadt and Episcopal City upon the Frontiers of Bavaria where they expected the coming of Duke Maurice with great Desire being in some Anxiety for his Absence At length he came and gave them a full account how Affairs stood but on the last day of June took Post back again to Passaw upon Horses purposely laid on the Road that he might be present by the day appointed and the day following the Confederate Princes decamped and after four days March came to Rottenburg a Town on the Danube bordering upon Franconia Notwithstanding all this Marquess Albert still pursued his Point and having brought Norimberg to accept of Peace compelled the Nobility and States in those Places to submit to his Orders For though he acted in the common Cause at first as he promised in his publick Declaration he would yet he was not joyned in that Confederacy and after the siege of Ulm was raised he began in a manner to act separately either because he would take all to himself that the Fortune of War gave him or that he disapproved what Duke Maurice had done or else that being put on by the French King he entertained other Designs but yet he made those who had given Oath to be true to him to swear the same also to the Confederates His next Expedition was into the Territories of the Archbishop of Mentz where along the River of Mayne he did very much damage by Fire and Pillage and demanded a vast sum of Money of him but when Agents being employed to treat could not agree about the Sum the Elector having first sunk his great Guns in the Rhine July the fifth fled for his safety At the same time Marquess Albert who left nothing unattempted demanded of the Archbishop of Treves that he would put into his Hands the chief Castle of his Territories it stands where the Rivers of Rhine and Mosell do meet upon a very high Hill both strong by Nature and very commodiously scituated This demand he made as he said in name of the French King. But the Elector having advised with his Friends made Answer that he could not comply with his Demands Because in the latter part of the Answer which the Princes Mediators made to the French Ambassador as we mentioned before they had said that it seemed reasonable to them that the King would declare what Pretensions he had and what he demanded of the Emperor The Ambassador having received Instructions from the King wrote to them from the Camp at Aichstadt June the nine and twentieth That the King had undertaken that War for no other Cause but meerly for the publick Good and especially that he might retrieve the liberty of oppressed Germany having been thereto much sollicited by some Princes of the Empire That he had not at all proposed to himself any private advantage therein as the thing it self might bear him witness For that he had not possessed himself of any thing in Germany which he could easily have done That he had also given his Confederates
those conditions of Peace which they had so sollicitously sought out and Collected especially since the chief of them had been approved at Lintz which Treaty they had proposed to themselves as a Pattern to be followed as also since those things which properly belonged to his Dignity and Character had been purposely referred to a Diet of the Empire that there they might be handled more conveniently and with greater Moderation The same day this was done Duke Maurice departed and when on the eleventh of July he was come to the Confederates who then encamped at Mergetheins he told them what had been done and that King Ferdinand was gone to the Emperor in great haste so that he believed he would speedily send Commissioners with a full and definite Answer However that in this doubtful state of Affairs they might not be idle and because in Franckfurt there was an Imperial Garrison of seventeen hundred Foot and a thousand Horse under the Command of Conrad Hanstein so that Hesse that bordered upon it was in no small danger it was resolved that they should march thither Having then burnt and plundered and done a great deal of damage to Wolffgang Master of Prussia in whose Countrey they then were they marched through the Arch-Bishop of Mentz his Territories and on the Seventeenth of July came before Franckfurt But immediately upon that the Princes Intercessors and the Ambassadors sent their Agents after Duke Maurice to the Camp to sweeten things and promote the Peace In that Siege George Duke of Meckleburg having joyned Duke Maurice the same who first of all made War against the Magdeburgers was shot with a Cannon-Bullet So soon as the Siege was laid down before Franckfurt the Confederate Princes demanded a great many great Guns from the Elector Palatine which once and again he denied them But when he could not do otherwise and they threatned to come and fetch them with an Army he gave them Eight of the best he had with all their Equipage King Ferdinand at the prefixed day returning to Passaw declared to the Mediators the Emperor's Will and Pleasure as to the several Points to wit that as to publick Matters of the Empire which Duke Maurice had proposed as we said before they should not be handled by some few Commissioners apart but by the whole Body of the Empire met in a Diet. Again That the Cause of Religion should rest till the next Diet of the Empire And that what should be thought fit to be done in that particular for the future by all the States in that Diet should be ratified and confirmed The Emperor also July the eleventh gave this Answer to the Mediators last Letter That as they had by their Letter so King Ferdinand his Brother had also very earnestly dealt with him that he would accept of the Conditions and thus he would willingly indeed have gratified both of them but that there were many Causes that hindred him which he had declared unto his Brother for he could not approve and ratifie all indifferently Now that some had underservedly fallen into calamity through the occasion of these Troubles no man living was more sorry for it than he that yet their Sufferings were not to be imputed to their confidence and relying upon him since he had put no man into such hopes as he might securely trust to For that though when the Stirs did first break out he had written to some of the chief Princes that they would endeavour to prevent that growing Evil promising them his best concurrence yet it was not his mind to approve of every thing that might be propounded That it seemed indeed reasonable to him that such things as concerned the Empire in general should be referred to the publick Diets thereof wherein if any just complaint should be by any man brought against him he would not be wanting to that Duty which hitherto he had never neglected That since no Demand of that Nature had ever been presented to him as yet which nevertheless ought to have been done before any War had been attempted he could not divine what would be demanded of him and much less give Instructions to his Ambassadors whom he sent to Passaw what they should answer to every Head which for the dignity of his Person and Character he thought it not fit to do personally That if therefore he approved not all things which some perhaps endeavoured to perswade them to do no man ought to censure him for that but that they who were the Mediators ought rather to encline and exhort them to reasonable and moderate Conditions especially since they were sensible that hardly at last and not before he was forced to it by necessity he had taken up Arms which he intended not to make use of now neither if he might chuse and if they could hit upon an equitable and proper Expedient for Peace That since the Case was so he was very confident that they would shew all Duty and Allegiance to him who was their chief Magistrate rather than listen to those who contrary to Duty had made a League with his Enemies and raised Stirs and Commotions That he was not ignorant of the Evils and Calamities that did impend when both Armies should be ready to joyn in Battel and that he was very much moved at the Damages sustained by the State but especially by the innocent People wherefore he did now as at all times before set his mind on Peace and would not refuse any reasonable Overture but that he was not at all to be charged with this That whilst he was deliberating about the Conditions sent to him at two several times some of the States had sustained wrongs for that the Truce was to have lasted all the time of the Treaty That Marquess Albert during the same time damnified several sorts of People he was not to answer for it since from the very beginning he had been against the Treaty That neither had he ever made any delay in answering and if they had continued still on the same sort as they proposed at first but altered since he could have answered much sooner and more distinctly too nay if they had not swerved from the Treaty of Lintz which they themselves mentioned all things might have been longe're now accommodated That since they were sensible then how he stood affected towards the Publick he instantly required them that together with his Brother King Ferdinand unto whom he had discovered all his mind they would induce them to reasonable Conditions and therein have respect both to the Safety and Dignity of the Empire That he for his part was resolved to use the same Lenity and peaceable Ways in time to come as utterly abhorring all Civil War But that if Peace could not be had on these Terms he expected from them all the Fruits of Allegiance that they were obliged to render unto him King Ferdinand made Answer also in the Emperor's Name to
contributed their Money and Goods at all times That it was still their resolution and they would never be backward to do all that lay in their power at any time for the Dignity and Safety of their common Countrey and that they knew it to be their duty so to do according to the Oath of Fidelity whereby they were bound to the Empire That since it was so there was no necessity that they should give any further Declaration of their intentions That the King of France himself when he was lately in Alsatia had demanded no such thing of them That moreover the Writing which he mentioned to have been published by the Confederates concerning the Cause of the War had never been sent or shewn to them and that therefore they entreted him to be satisfied and not do any injury to them or their Countrey At the very same time Marquess Albert having received intelligence that Duke Maurice enclined to Peace left a Garison in Spire and with his Army returning before Franckfurt prosecuted the Siege which Duke Maurice upon conclusion of the Peace had now raised having encamped on a higher ground on the other side of the Town and this side of the River Mayne from whence he might most commodiously batter the place For he was cruelly vexed at this Pacification and spoke very reproachfully of Duke Maurice refusing to be comprehended in the Treaty The Conditions of Peace were That the Confederate Princes shall lay down their Arms before the Twelfth day of August and disband their Forces so as they may serve King Ferdinand if he please and neither annoy the Emperor nor Germany At and before the same day also the Landgrave shall be set at liberty and safely conveyed to his own Castle of Rhinefelse which he hath upon the Rhine having first given Security for performing the Conditions imposed by the Emperor at Hall in Saxony The Duke Maurice the Elector of Brandenburg and Wolffgang Duke of Deux-ponts who were then Sureties for him shall be bound and renew their Obligation for him again That the Suit which the Landgrave hath with the Count of Nassaw concerning the Lordship of Catzenelbogen shall be brought to a new Trial before the Princes Electors and such others as both the Plaintiff and Defendant shall pitch upon for that purpose out of whom the Emperor shall afterward chuse six who shall finally determine the Matter but so that the Cause be decided within the space of two years That within six Months the Emperor shall hold a Diet of the Empire and then it is to be deliberated by what means chiefly the Difference about Religion may be composed That in the mean time all shall live in peace and no man be molested for his Religion That what shall be decreed by the common Consent of the States and Authority of the Emperor touching the manner of quieting the disturbances about Religion to wit that the difference be taken up in an amicable just and pious way the same shall be firm and stable That those of the Augustane Confession shall also be admitted into the Imperial Chamber That all other things that concern the Honour and Liberty of Germany shall be handled in the Diet of the Empire That Otho Henry Prince Palatine shall have the free enjoyment and possession of his own Countrey That all who during this War bound themselves by Oath to be true to the Confederate Princes shall be discharged from all Obligation and be their own men as before That they who have received hurt and damage in the tumult of War shall not bring any Action for it against those who did the same However That the Emperor and States may in the next Diet consider of some way how their Losses may be repaired As to what concerns the French King since he hath nothing to do with the Affairs of the Empire he may if he please declare to Duke Maurice what private Demands he hath to be made to the Emperor that so they may be all communicated by him to his Imperial Majesty That those who are Outlawed shall be received into favour again provided they act nothing for the future against the Emperor and States of the Empire provided also that they who serve the French King do within three Months time leave his Service and return into Germany That Marquess Albert of Brandenburg shall be comprehended in this Peace provided he lay down Arms and disband his Forces at before the 12th day of August And that he who shall break this Peace be reckoned an Enemy All these Articles were signed by the Princes of the first Rank who were present and by the Ambassadors and Deputies of the rest For the Instrument of this Peace was drawn up at Passaw and was also signed by the Emperor Upon the Conclusion of Peace the French Ambassador returned home for the King was highly displeased at the Pacification But being informed that the Landgrave was in great danger unless some Capitulation were made he consented to it and sent back the Hostages safe into Germany On the Third of August Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son departing from Franckfurt separated and took two several ways the Landgrave's Son went into Hesse but Duke Maurice led his Forces to Donawert and sent them by Water down the Danube to Hungary against the Turk But the Regiment commanded by Rifeberg past the River of Mayne and went to Marquess Albert to the great trouble of the Princes who feared that the Emperor might take occasion hereby to detain the Landgrave still prisoner Marquess Albert having lain some time before Franckfurt where he refused to be comprehended in the Peace on the Ninth of August departed and passing over the Rhine came and encamped near to Mentz making the Citizens take an Oath to be true unto him About the end of July the Emperor came from Villach to Inspruck and from thence taking his way through Bavaria with the German Bohemians Italians and Spaniards who arrived at Genoua about the beginning of July under the Command of the Duke of Alva on the Twentieth of August he came to Ausburg When the Arch-Bishop of Mentz who had for some days wandered as a Fugitive up and down Schuabia heard of the Emperor's coming he went to Ausburg also About this time the People of Siena at the instigation and with the aid of the French King cast out their Spanish Garrison demolish a Citadel that was there begun to be built by the Emperor's Command and declare for their former Liberty Marquess Albert in the mean time demands vast Sums of Money of the Church-men especially of Mentz and Spire but when the Money could not be raised since most of them were fled he robbed the Churches of both Cities and began to take the Lead off of the Cathedral of Spire but at the intercession of the Senate he desisted At Mentz besides he burnt not only the Bishop's Castle standing upon the Rhine his
he thought it belonged to him to appoint his Successor and the rather because there was a general and common Dispute concerning their Legitimacy and Mary did also profess the Roman Catholick Religion and if she should succeed he had reason to fear the Religion which was then established would be subverted and the Nation be endangered to be brought under the Dominion of a Foreigner He resolved therefore after great deliberation to chuse Jane Duchess of Suffolk Grand-child to Mary the younder Sister of Henry the 8th for his Successor This Resolution being approved by his Council and Nobility and the Mayor of London the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England was sent for to Court to sign it But he refused to do it till he had spoken with the King being accordingly admitted into the King's Chamber and having with great freedom discoursed this Business with him at last he consented upon the King 's extream importunity The King died as I have said the 6th of July and the fourth Day after Jane was proclaimed Queen of England and the Instrument was read at the same time reciting how King Edward for great and weighty Causes had with the Consent of his Peers disinherited Mary and Elizabeth his Sisters and transmitted the Succession of the Kingdom to Jane his Cousin The Nobility and People of England were much displeased with this not so much out of affection to the Princess Mary as out of hatred to the Duke of Northumberland there being very few or none who did not look upon him as the Author of this Project that he might bring the Crown into his own Family Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Princess Mary fled to the Castle of Framingham in Suffolk and assuming the Authority of a Queen implored the assistance of her Subjects This being known at London Northumberland levied Forces and with the consent of the Council marched out of the City with an Army to take the Queen But in the Interim that part of the Council which continued in London seeing the dissatisfaction of the People and that great Forces came in to the Assistance of the Queen in Suffolk they thereupon changed their Minds and proclaimed Mary Queen and detained Jane a Prisoner in the Tower. Assoon as the News of this change came to the Camp the Army which neither willingly embraced the Cause nor loved the General revolted also and upon the Receipt of a Letter to that purpose seized the Duke of Northumberland at Cambridge and brought him the 25th day of July a Prisoner into London It is incredible with what Reproaches the People entertain'd him Some call'd him Traytor others Parricide and other the Murtherer of a most innocent Prince For his attempting to set his Daughter-in-Law upon the Throne had caused a mighty Jealousie that he had a long time been forming this Project and in conclusion had hasted the King's Death Afterwards his Children and his Brother were taken into Custody and some other Noblemen and Sir John Cheek the King's Tutor a Person of great Learning and Virtue but this last was soon after dismissed when they had stripp'd him of almost all he had The Third of August Queen Mary entred London and going to the Tower she immediately released the Duke of Norfolk who had been almost seven years a Prisoner there Tonstal Bishop of Durbam and some others who being of the Roman Catholick Religion had been removed from their Sees whom she also restored to their Places again And as for Gardiner Bishop of Winchester though he had in a Printed Book defended the Divorce made by Henry the Eighth of Catherine the Mother of Queen Mary as I have set forth in the Ninth Book of this History yet she notwithstanding made him Lord Chancellor of England which is an Office of the greatest Dignity and Power in that Kingdom When Queen Catherine urged in her Defence the Bull of Pope Julius the Second in Approbation of her Marriage the King on the other side said it was invalid and sent Gardiner who was not then advanced to the Dignity of a Bishop to Pope Clement to procure that Bull to be by him declared void He coming to Rome in February in the Year 1529. earnestly pressed his Errand on the Pope Clement according to the Proverb had then got a Wolf by the Ears and though he was very desirous to please the King yet fearing to offend the Emperor he only said he would write to the Emperor to produce the true Bull. Gardiner consented to this but desired it might be done in two Months and when that time was elapsed that if the Bull were not then produced it might be declared false The Pope thought this way of Proceeding was contrary to the Custom and unjust and endeavoured to appease and quiet the King by good words But Gardiner said on the other side that if what the King desired were not done it would bring great Mischief on the See of Rome The Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother the 27th of April by their Ambassadors express'd their discontent at this and expostulated with the Pope as too too much inclin'd to favour the King and for that he had permitted the Case to be heard in England and at the same time they appointed Proctors to prosecute the Suit in their Names at Rome with large Commissions and Instruction Thereupon the Pope commanded Cardinal Campeio to return back to Rome to which he was induced by a Letter which he had received from Wolsely Archbishop of York wherein he had given the Pope an Account of a new Love the King had entertained as I have set forth in the said Eleventh Book The Twenty second Day of August the Duke of Northumberland having before been tried and found guilty of High Treason and received Sentence of Death was brought upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill where he made a Speech to the People and amongst other things exhorted them That they should continue stedfast in that Religion which they had received from their Ancestors affirming that he thought all the Calamities which had befallen the English especially since the Death of Henry the 8th proceeded from nothing but their having separated themselves from the rest of Christendom He had for some years before pretended to be of a contrary Opinion and had openly renounced the Roman Catholick Religion and it was said he had been prevailed upon to discourse thus upon Promises of a Pardon And although he ended his Speech with a Protestation that what he had said came from his heart yet some thought he repented it when he had look'd about him and saw there was no refuge to be expected and that he had been impos'd upon by flattering Promises Sir Thomas Palmer Knight who was beheaded at the same time professed the Protestant Religion with great constancy Northumberland was as I have said convicted of Treason and Rebellion and altho there were great Suspicions that he had poyson'd the late
it to the Chancellor that it might be read which being done the Chancellor ask'd the States if they ratified it Which being affirm'd by them the King and Queen rose up and presented it to the Cardinal He having read the Petition delivered to them the Bull of his Legation which was also openly forthwith read that all might know that the Pope had given him Power to absolve them after which he made a Speech wherein he shewed them how acceptable Repentance was to God and how much the Holy Angels rejoyced in the Repentance of a Sinner and having given them many Examples of this he gave God great Thanks that inspired into them a Mind desirous of Amendment This being done he arose as did also the King and Queen and their Majesties kneeled down whilst he addressed himself to God imploring his Mercy and beseeching him to look mercifully upon the People and to forgive them their sins And saying that he was sent as Legate from the Pope Christ's Vicar to absolve them he lifted up and stretched out his Hand over them as their manner is blessing all of them and absolving them at the same time From thence they went to the Chappel where solemn Thanks were again offered up to God with much Musick and all the Signs of a Festival Joy according to the Custom of the Nation They who were intimately acquainted with Cardinal Pool and had enjoyed his Conversation and knew his Customs did much admire this Action and did expect something from him very different from what they found The 18th of December the Emperor from Brussels sent a Letter to all the Princes and States of the Empire the Contents of which were these The great Causes for which Albert Marquess of Brandenburg was about a year since out-law'd by the Imperial Chamber of Spire and declared guilty of High Treason have been clearly shewn to you by the Letters of that Chamber which were publickly set up and also by those Letters and Commands you afterwards received from us And whereas I am informed that he stubbornly continues in his said turbulent and seditious Counsels and doth certainly design new Troubles that he may yet further afflict and vex Germany which is our common Countrey and lastly because he has made his Retreat and found shelter and refuge with some I think it necessary to renew the former Sentence for the Welfare of our Countrey I do this the rather because I believe there is not one amongst you who does not love his Countrey and desire that care may be taken for the preservation of himself his Territories and the People and that the ill designs of the said Marquess and his Adherents may be hindred and retarded Wherefore upon the Penalties heretofore proposed I again command That no man presume in any wise to assist him or his Adherents with Help Counsel Entertainment Money Victual or Ammunition and Arms As also I will that every of you make it his greatest care that neither he nor his Adherents may be suffered to gather any Forces or list any Souldiers in the Territories belonging to any of you and that every of you do to the utmost of his Power hinder those within his Territories from running over to the said Marquess and punish all such as shall be found Breakers of this our Order and disobedient to our Commands This Letter was Printed and sent into all Parts The Twenty Ninth Day of December Ferdinand King of the Romans came to Ausburg on the account of the Diet I have so often already mentioned but finding none of the Princes or States there two days after he sent Letters and Envoys to the several Princes representing to them That seeing that there being many things of the greatest moment to be transacted in this Assembly he to his great loss and trouble had left his Territories and was come thither that he might consult with them That they might together consider of the necessary and safe Means of relieving the afflicted state of Germany He therefore earnestly desired that they would forthwith personally come thither and not send their Deputies for such was the greatness of the Cause now under consideration that it could not be well otherwise dispatched That the Emperor his Brother had given him a full Power and that he would not detain them longer than was necessary The Sixteenth of January the Parliament of England was dissolved Amongst many other Acts passed in this Parliament after the Repeal of the Act of Attainder against Cardinal Pool the Acts made in the times of the former Kings R. 2. H. 4. and H. 5. against Hereticks and in favour of the Bishops were revived The Papal Power was entirely restored and whatsoever Acts of Parliament had been made against the See of Rome within Twenty years last past were repealed Most thought the Crown of England would in this Parliament have been given to King Philip but there was nothing of that Nature done In the beginning of February there were Five condemned to be burnt for persisting in the Protestant Religion and refusing to return to the Roman Catholick Religion John Hooper Bishop of Gloucester John Bradford Lawrence Sanders Rowland Taylor a Lawyer and John Rogers all men of eminent Learning The last of these was burnt in London where he had been a Preacher the rest were sent into their respective Countries Gloucester Manchester Coventry and Hadley who all of them suffered Death with great Constancy The 30th of March Ferrar late Bishop of St. Davids was burnt also at Carmarthen by Morgan his Successor in that See. There were also three Ambassadors sent from England to Rome to thank the Pope for his great Clemency shewn to them and promise his Holiness an entire Obedience and Fidelity for the future The Fifth Day of February King Ferdinand opened the Diet at Ausburg though few of the Princes were then arrived there by a Speech wherein he told them That they very well knew for what grand and necessary Causes this Diet had been first appointed to be held at Ulm by the Emperor who had afterwards commanded it to be opened in this City the 13th of November That he for his part desired to have begun it that day pursuant to the Desire and Command of his Brother but that he was kept at home by the necessity of Affairs that so he might secure his Countries from the Insults of a near Enemy in case any Attempt had been made upon them and that he might so order his Affairs at home in this Interval that all things might go regularly forward during his Absence That after this forced Delay he arrived here the 29th of December in order to the holding this Diet. He said The Sum of the Emperor's Desire was That whatever tended to the Glory of God and the Tranquillity of the Empire might be established by the Council of all the Princes and States That as to the Diligence Study Labour and Care which the
agree amongst themselves both Parties gave their Reasons in writing to King Ferdinand and desired him to find out some way They were got but thus far the thirteenth of June because the Proceedings were very slow and most Men thought that the reason was because they would first see the Event of the Treaty between the Emperor and the King of France because this would afford both Parties some considerable Advantage The Roman-Catholicks at the same time put in a third and extraordinary Paper Penn'd with great Passion and Bitterness that they might recommend their Cause so much the more to the King. In the first place say they those who follow the Augustan Confession have proposed five Conditions First That the Catholicks should approve that Doctrine which many Ages since and again in our times upon its first appearance has ever been Condemned by the ordinary Magistrate Secondly That all the Sacriledges they have perpetrated within these thirty Years should be confirmed and approved and that neither Law nor any other of the Pious and Natural ways should be left open for the Church to recover her Revenues And in the interim they would have a Peace made with them when all Communion with them is forbidden Thirdly They would be permitted to institute their wicked Ministers in the Churches and Chapters of the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and to Preach in these Churches their leud and condemned Doctrines and abolishing the true Ministry and Ceremonies of the Church they would set up in their stead new and wicked Ceremonies and maintain those false Preachers with the Revenues of the Church contrary to the ancient Laws and Customs of the Church Fourthly They would have it lawful that all those Ecclesiasticks and Lay-Princes who do yet adhere to the Roman-Catholick Religion may freely desert their true Religion and pass over to their Camp. Lastly They desire that when any Bishop or Prince makes a defection to their Party that this should not affect his Person only but that it should extend it self to the People which are subject to him and also to the Church Revenues and whole sacred Administration and Jurisdiction which belonged to him Now say they though these things are contrary to all Laws both humane and divine and to the Oaths taken by the Emperor the King a nd the Bishops so that Catholicks cannot well receive them without violating their Faith and Oath yet because they stuck stifly to these Proposals and threatned to make use of Force the Catholicks at last yielded in the Treaty of Passaw as far as they could and have since in the Diet explained themselves by shewing that they cannot-grant a Promiscuous Liberty to all that will to change their Religion For then say they the Empire would be dissolved and that high Honour would be taken from the German Nation For it is the Duty of the Archbishops and Bishops not only not to suffer any condemned Religion but peaceably to disswade and affright all Bishops and Churchmen and all Lay-men too who are inclined to make defection or if they will go on in the Error then they are to represent them to the Roman-Catholick Church for this Custom has ever been observed from the times of the Apostles as may be proved by many Testimonies out of the Councils especially from the ☞ Council of Chalcedon Nor is it fit that any Man should think that those who make defection are to be left to their own Consciences because in things pertaining to the Faith no Man's Conscience should be free But whenever any Man departs from the common Consent of the Church be ought to be punished and restrained That if he will not obey that Church he is to be Excommunicated by the example of the four Principal Councils which condemned Arius Macedonius Nestorius and Eutyches and that of Chalcedon condemned Dioscorides and removed him from his See for defending Eutyches For whereas they pretend that every Man was to be left to the freedom of his own Judgment that neither Christ nor his Apostles compelled any to Believe and which is yet more that when many deserted no Man was retained against his Will. All these Pretences are without Foundation and are abundantly refuted by St. Augustine in his two Hundredth and fourth Epistle But if now the Bishops should be suffered to desert the Catholick Religion and make defection to another they will certainly never leave their Bishopricks because they will say they cannot do it with a quiet Conscience but on the other side they will implore the assistance of the Protestants for the Preservation of their States and People in that Religion And if this be done there is no doubt but they will undertake the Protection of them and pretend it is their Duty so to do for the security of their Administration and the maintaining them in the possession of their Lands and Goods But then whereas they pretend that they ought to admit others into the Society of their Religion and not to exclude any Man out of the Kingdom of Heaven this does not excuse them because there is but one Faith which all Christians ought to profess and preserve And this Faith hath heretofore been approved and confirmed by the oaths of our Emperors Kings Princes Governours and the People of this Empire This is that Catholick Faith which we Germans have from the beginning followed to this time those only excepted who have revolted from it Therefore nothing is to be innovated but every thing ought to be referred to this Faith and Men ought to submit their Souls to the obedience of the Catholick Church and he that does otherwise and assumes unto himself a peculiar Religion if he does not submit to the Admonition of his Superiour is to be Excommunicated and removed from the exercise of his Function and his Goods are to be saized by the Civil Magistrate and his Person is not to be endured in the Empire For the Fathers have ever rejected the Liberty of Conscience and Toleration of Religion as a dissipation of the Faith and have made it a fixed Law of the Church that those Articles of Faith which are once defined by a Council shall neither be disputed nor called in doubt so as to establish any thing to the contrary For History informs us what disturbances followed the general toleration of all Sects granted by Valentinian the Emperor and if it be once granted that he who differs from the Catholick Religion shall be excused by his Conscience than are the Anabaptists Zuinglians and Schwinkfeldians to be excused also on the same account and to be comprehended in this Peace They say that the Promises of God pertaining to Eternal Life belong to all Men and that they ought not to restrain them as if these Promises belonged to none but those of their Profession but in truth the thing is quite otherwise for seeing they have forsaken the Communion of the Church they are excluded out of the Kingdom of Heaven even
that the People should follow the Religion of their Prince and it grants all Princes but the Ecclesiasticks a Liberty to chuse which of the two Religions they will embrace because the People ought to be content with the choice of the Prince but so that those who are not pleased with the Religion which the Prince hath chosen have a liberty to sell their Estates and to remove whither they please without any detriment to their Reputations It is therefore your Duty to continue in the old Catholick Religion which I profess And I have never hindred the Gospel from being Preached purely according to the Interpretation which the Church has received from the Holy Apostles Martyrs and Fathers And as to the Lord's Supper though it was instituted in both Species yet in the ancient Church it was distributed under one as may be shewn at large It was not therefore first changed in the times of the Council of Constance but that Custom was much more ancient than that Council and thence you may easily infer that it is not lawful for me to change and abolish by my own private Authority or Law what has been received and approved by the Canons of a Council especially now when a Peace has been so lately made in the business of Religion and when in the next Diet it is designed to Treat of an Union in which I am resolved to extend all my Powers for the taking totally away of this Difference but if this cannot be done then I will enter upon such Courses as may secure both your Fortunes and Salvations And in the mean time that you may see how much I am inclined to help and favour you I will put a stop to that part of my Edict which relates to the Lord's Supper but upon condition notwithstanding that renouncing all Sects you shall change nothing in the Laws and Ceremonies of the Church and that you shall expect the Decree of the next Diet. The Ministers of the Church and the School-masters so long as they follow this form shall not be molested nor have I suffered any Man to be injured without Law so that being thus disposed towards you I hope you will desire nothing more and because the publick necessity is now very urgent it befits you to consult together and to grant what is needful To this they answered the twelfth day of February That in the greatest of all Cases which pertained to their Salvation and to that of their Children that they should be so far denied was a very grievous affliction to them That which your Majesty affirms concerning the present Custom of distributing the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper having been received by the ancient Church may be largely refuted by the sacred Scriptures and also thereby their Error may be shewn who perswade themselves it was so And whereas you say the meaning of the Decree made at Ausburg was that the People should accommodate themselves to the Religion of their Prince Certainly then seeing many Years before this Decree was made by the common Consent of the Diet we have at all times supplicated to you for the freedom of our Religion if this Answer must stand we shall be allowed also to sell our Estates and with our Wives and Children to go and live elsewhere But then who is there who does not see the mischief of this and how sad and mournful the Report of this must necessarily be to your People When they shall be told that they who after the manner of their Ancestors have been accustomed to spend their Blood and Lives for the Honour and Safety of the House of Austria must now desert their Beloved Country which has for so many Ages been inhabited and cultivated by their Ancestors And therefore this Answer as to this Part of it is not received nor allowed by us but as often before so we now again beseech your Majesty by all that is Sacred to grant us that incomparable Treasure the Word of God and that you would not in this put any obstacle in our way But if this were a thing of that Nature that you only were to answer to God for it certainly as in all other things so in this we would have obeyed you But seeing every Man must give an account for his own Action and that there is no respect of Persons with God and seeing every moment may be the last of our Lives and that there is nothing more uncertain than our Lives we cannot but with the utmost Study and Industry desire and pray that we may be secured by the Grant of this Petition The fourth day after the King answered that he did not think there was any reasonable Cause why they should not be satisfied with his former Answer For that said he I have allowed that you should be taught as the Apostles have delivered and as the Martyrs and Fathers received by the Church have interpreted the Scriptures What do you require more in this Particular For seeing God has promised his Holy Spirit to his Church Salvation is not to be sought any where else You say that you are not corrupted by any Sect of which there are many as Anabaptists Sacramentarians Zuinglians Schwenckfeldians and the like this indeed is true but if a promiscuous Doctrine is once allowed which is not restrained within those Bounds I have prescribed how long do you think this Purity will last When every Man will boast he has the Word of God for him and that it is not subject to any Creature nor any Being but God and none of them will submit to any Censure as we see comes to pass in many Places where every thing is filled with disorder whilst every Man defends his Opinion with Obstinacy despising absolutely the Authority of the Church And because you recite the last decree of the Diet in your former Address a little otherwise than it is therefore I have explained how it is to be understood not that I would have you leave my Country and that I might abate your Sollicitude I have suppressed that part of my Edict which concerns the Lord's Supper promising my best Endeavours that there may be a Reconciliation I have shewn my reasons why I cannot make a defection from the Laws and Ceremonies of the Church For that Christ has commanded us to hear the Church and Experience teacheth us that the former Age which did not innovate but continued in the Religion of their Ancestors were more quiet and happy in all things than this is wherein all Places are disturbed by Sects and Dissentions and the greatest part of Mankind are tossed and driven hither and thither with every wind of Doctrine And even for this Cause I thought you would not have answered in this manner And now though it were very easy to make a large Reply to your last Paper yet because it is necessary at present to enter into the consideration of the Contributions and Subsidies and to take a speedy Resolution
a Vindication of himself wherein he denied the matter charged upon him and thereupon the Author of this Calumny being discovered he was deservedly executed And I hope this here will have the same event and that God who is the just Avenger of such ill Practices will discover the Authors of this pernitious Invention In the mean time I offer up my Prayers to God That he would give them a better mind and disappoint their wicked Counsels that they may not prevail to the Destruction of our Country For seeing this slander is of the same nature with the former it may easily be concluded the Authors of this had the same Design with the former or rather that it was made by it that what was discover'd and prevented then may now have its effect Now the main design of this Calumniator is to create a belief that the Pope and the Emperour have resolved to rescind the Decree made for the Peace of Religion by a War and that the King of England and the Bishops of Germany are to lend their assistances to it Now I say this feigned and false Invention is designed for the exasperating the minds of Men that their Prejudices and Disaffections being increased a Civil War may be stirr'd up amongst us to overwhelm our Country with the Blood of its Inhabitants And although I do not doubt but the Emperour and the othe Princes who are injur'd by this Seditious and Infamous Libel will take care to defend themselves and to right their own Cause yet at the same time I believe it is a part of my own Duty to clear the Reputation of our Supreme Magistrate And I protest whil'st I was at Rome in my presence or to my knowledge there was not one word spoken concerning the Peace of Religion and therefore it is very falsly laid to the Pope's charge that his main design is to persuade the Emperour and other Kings to destroy that Decree by Force and Arms I say this is false and can never be proved and by consequence what is charged upon the Emperour is false too for seeing there has been no Treaty between them how can a War be agreed and the recovering the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Conquest of Germany be resolv'd on This Slander pretends That the Truce is made between the Emperour and the King of France to the intent that the Souldiers which are disbanded on both sides may be employ'd in in this War Now the causes of that Truce are sufficiently set forth in the printed Copies of the Treaty and the Souldiers which were thereupon disbanded are not entertain'd by any Prince except what Forces King Ferdinand has order'd to be levy'd and sent into Hungary against the Turk and some few which have been taken into Pay by the Bishops of Ausburg Norimburg Bamberg and Wurtsburg that they may not be taken altogether unprovided So that all this Invention as it relates to the Pope the Emperour and the Bishops is false in all its parts Now as to what concerns my self I have hitherto followed the Ancient True and Catholick Religion as becomes a German pursuing the footsteps of my Ancestors and continuing in the Communion of that Church in which I had my Education as I have already declared by a Letter I sent to the last Diet and by my Deputies which I sent thither and I intend by the blessing of God to continue in this Opinion nor will I do any thing which is contrary to Honesty and my Duty and yet after all I desire to live peaceably with all men And whereas I am said to have entred into a secret Treaty with the Pope the Emperour the King of England some Princes of the Empire and some private persons to stir up a War this is most false and that also which concerns the Elector Palotine and the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Marquess of Brandenburg is most false and can never be proved and those who spread such Reports of me by Word or Writing are Slanderers and the Enemies of our Country That which relates to the Elector Palatine stands thus The Office and Dignity I enjoy requires me to endeavour the preservation of the Rights of my Bishoprick and that I should preserve the People committed to my Charge in the Ancient and Catholick Religion being therefore inform'd that Otto Henry Elector Palatine endeavorued to gain over to his Religion some Towns that were in my Diocess and that he had placed Preachers in them I could not but take this ill and I had just cause given me to defend my self against him by a Suit at Law and thereupon I being absent my Councel by my Order commenced a Suit against him in the Chamber of Spire where it is still depending nor have I in any thing else so much as in Word hurt or injur'd his Honour so far have I been from designing any thing against his Countries and if it had lain in my power to have served him his Countries or People I would not have omitted it and for this I believe his People would be my Witnesses because they know I have kept my Faith to them and have assisted them sometimes when they were in great distresses To which I may add That I have ever had particular affection for the Palatine Family and I have ever been ready to do it all the good I could nor is that Disposition at all changed in me and I have the same kindness for Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who is a Good Wise Politick Prince and a great lover of Peace upon the account of these rare qualities I have had a great propension for him ever since I first knew him and have study'd to make this appear in my actions But then as to the driving Him or the Elector Palatine out of their Countries it never entred into my thoughts and if I had known of any Design which had tended to the damage of their Reputations or Estates I should certainly have been very much grieved and have done what was in my power to prevent it I have hitherto so behav'd my self at all times that I believe no man can find any thing in my actions which is contrary to my Profession and for the future I will ever carry my self so that I will raise a greater belief than I now have in the minds of men out of an hope that as I have given no just cause of offence to them so they at last will be prevail'd upon to remunerate me with an equal degree of kindness And as to the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg he himself knows how greatly I am concern'd for his misfortunes for what is it which I have not done and tried in order to restore the Peace of the Empire and to put a stop to that Quarrel In truth I took so much pains and care in that Affair that tho' I aim'd at the Publick Good by it yet at last I was suspected by some as one that favoured his Interest
troubled Israel Then Anna du Bourg beginning with a Discourse of the Eternal Providence of God to which all things are subject when he came to the Question proposed said There were many Sins and Crimes committed by Men which the Laws had already forbidden and yet the Gallows and Tortures which were imployed had not been able to prevent the frequent Perjuries Adulteries profuse Lusts and Profane Oaths which were not only connived at but cherished On the contrary every Day new punishments are invented against a sort of Men who could never yet be convicted of any wicked Attempt for how can they injure the Prince who never name him but in their Prayers for him Are they accused of breaking our Laws perverting the Allegiance of our Cities or Provinces No the greatest Tortures could never extort a Confession that they so much as thought of any such thing Are they not accused of Sedition only because they have by the Candle of Scripture discovered the shameful and encreasing Villanies and corruptions of the Roman Power which they desire may be reformed Christopher Harlay and Peter Seguier the two Presidents said with great Modesty that the Court had hitherto justly and rightly discharged its Duty in this Particular and that it would still do the same without changing to the Glory of God and therefore neither the King nor People of France would have cause to repent the trusting to it Christopher de Thou with great freedom reflected on the King's Attorney and Advocates for presuming to defame the Proceedings of that Court and indangering its Authority Renatus Baillet desired the Judgments which were blamed might be re-examined and more maturely considered Minart having made a short Preface to soften the Envy which had been raised against them only added That he thought the King's Edicts were to be observed After these Maistre the President made a sharp Harangue against the Sectaries instancing in the Severities which Philip the August is said to have employed against the Albingenses 600 of which he burnt in one day and in the Waldenses which were massacred with Fire and Smoak partly in their Houses and partly in the Dens and Caves they had fled to The King having obliquely reproached the Court for entring upon this Debate without his Order added He now clearly saw what he had heard before That there were some among them who despised both his Authority and the Popes That this was the fault of but a few but it was dishonourable to the whole body of them but only they that were guilty should suffer the Punishment And therefore he exhorted the rest to go on in their Duty The Reflections of la Faur and du Bourg who mentioned the Story of Ahab and the frequent Adulteries exaseperated the King more than the rest and therefore he commanded Montmorancy to apprehend them who again ordered Gabriel de Montgomery a Captain of the Guard to take them and carry them to the Bastile Afterwards Paul de Foix Anthony Fumee Eustace de la Porte were also taken into Custody but la Ferriere du Val and Viole were concealed by their Friends and escaped this Storm Men censured these Proceedings as they stood affected but the Wiser were much disgusted That the King should be so far imposed on by others as to come personally into his Court to subvert those Laws he ought to have protected That he should make use of Threats and Imprisonments saying That this was a clear Instance that he was subject to the Passions of others and who could think but these things were the foreunners of great Changes The Ministers of the Reformed Religion notwithstanding held a Synod at S. German June 28 one Morelle being President in which they setled the order of their Synods the Authority of the Presidents the taking away the Supremacy in the Church the election of Ministers and their Office and Duty Deacons and Presbyters Censures the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity of contracting and dissolving Marriages which yet were only temporary Decrees to be varied as future Synods should think fit but to oblige particular Persons till so altered About the same time came Embassadours from the Protestant Princes of Germany with Letters to the King subscribed by Frederick Cout Palatine of the Rhine Augustus Duke of Saxony Joachim Elector of Brandenburg Christopher Duke of Wirtimberg and Wolfang Count of Weldentz In which they represent to the King How much they were afflicted to see so many Pious Quiet and Holy Men who professed the same Religion Imprisoned Spoiled Banished and put to Death as Seditious Persons in France That they thought themselves bound by Christian Charity and the Alliance which was between them and France to beseech him well to consider this Affair which concerned the Name of God and the Salvation of so many Souls that he ought to free himself from Prejudice and imploy great Judgment and Reason in it They assured him they were no less solicitous for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Subjects than he and upon the Differences of Religion had maturely considered how they might be composed That they had found by degrees and insensibly through Avarice and Ambition many Corruptions had crept into the Church which were dishonourable to the Majesty of God and Scandalous to Men and that they ought to be reformed by the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures the Decrees of the Primitive Church and the Writings of the most Ancient Fathers That the Corruptions and Disorders of the Court and Church of Rome had long since been complained of in France by W. Parisiensis John Gerson Nicholas Clemangius and Wisellius of Groeningen the Restorer of the University of Paris under Lewis XI and other Divines That King Francis his Father of Blessed Memory was convinced of this and had wisely endeavoured to put an end to the Differences of Religion and to reform the Discipline of the Church That now France was not involved in War abroad they besought him the Difference of Religion might by his Authority and Conduct be quietly ended That this might easily be effected if the King would but appoint Learned and Peaceable Men who should examin their Confession of Faith without Partiality or Prejudice by the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Fathers That in the interim he should suspend all Legal Severities discharge the Imprisoned recal the Banished restore their Estates to those that had been ruin'd This they said would be acceptable and pleasing to God Honourable to the King Profitable to France and very Grateful to them The King entertained the Embassadors kindly and having read the Letter said he would suddenly send them a satisfactory Answer but by that time they were arrived at the Borders of France the Fire their coming seem'd to have abated raged more horribly than ever June 19. a Commission was issued to Jean de Saint Andre the President and Promoter of these Troubles Jo. James de Memme Master of the Requests Lewis Gayaut
knew nothing of Navar but heard that Conde should have been their Captain Whence the Duke of Guise concluded That Coligni and Andelot were cetainly in it though Queen Catherine was of a contrary Opinion but however Conde who was then in the Castle with the King was commanded not to depart without leave which he wisely dissembled Some few were Tried for this Conspiracy but many more were Hang'd up by Night and many Merchants were Slain as they travelled about their business for their Mony but under Pretence they were in the Conspiracy so that there was nothing but Slaughter and Murthers to be seen About the same time Oliver the Chancellor of France died not so much of Old-age or Sickness as Discontent at the Cruelcy and Iniquity of the Times his Death was foretold by some of the Conspirators who reproached him for his unworthy Complyances And when the Cardinal of Lorain visited him in his last Sickness he express'd his Resentments against him and died weeping and sighin for what he had done Michel de l' Hospital a great and a good Man succeeded him by the procurement of Queen Catherine Though this Conspiracy was principally design'd against the Guises yet they desired the World should believe these Men had first made a Defection from God by Heresie and then had conspird against the King Queen Catherine and the King's Brothers The Thirty first of March the King wrote to all the Governors of the several Provinces to take great care that the Reliques of this Conspiracy did not imbroil their Provinces after which there was the like Account sent to the Elector Palatine and the rest of the Protestant Princes of Germany The Princes of Germany thereupon among other things desired the King to consider whether he had not yielded more than was fit to some about him meaning the Guises who out of an inbred Malice and Cruelty exercised great Cruelties on Men that were never convicted of any Crime There they beseech his Majesty that he would put a stop to the Sufferings of these Innocents and seeing they imbrace the same Religion with us we cannot but desire an end may be put to those cruel and hasty Executions This Germany has found say they to be the only Remedy and France has no other left to restore its Peace than by granting a Peace to the Minds and Consciences of Men. Coligni the Admiral leaving the Court Queen Catherine ordered him to go into Normandy and to enquire diligently into the Causes of the late Conspiracy He laid the blame of it on the boundless Ambition of the Guises and advised the Queen to observe inviolably the late Edict for Liberty of Conscience and to put a stop to the Persecution of the Innocent as she valued the safety of the King and the quiet of the Kingdom Some of the Captives who had escaped out of the Prisons at Blois wrote Letters to the Cardinal of Lorain telling him they knew the Escape of the Conspirators was very afflictive to his Eminence That therefore they were gone to seek them and hoped in a short time to return better attended This rallery was a great Mortification to that fearful Minister who feared new Commotions and persuaded the King to put out a General Pardon for all Roman Catholicks In May the King put out another Edict which was call'd the Edict of Romoraulin by which he took the Cognizance of Heresie from the Civil Magistrates and gave it solely to the Bishops which about five years before had been so vigorously opposed by the Parliament of Paris De l' Hospital the Chancellor is said to have consented to it only to prevent the violent Guises from introducing the Spanish Inquisition which they had recommended to Henry II and were now promoting with all their might in France From henceforward the Cardinal of Lorain became more placable to those of the Religion and to stop the Mouths of those who desired an Assembly of the three Estates persuaded Queen Catherine to call an Assembly of the Princes at Fountain-bleau to consult of the Publick Affairs About this time Conde left the Court and by a Letter gave his Brother the King of Navar an Account of the Ill-will the Guises bore towards him and that a Debate had been held in the King's Cabinet-Council for the taking him into Custody That therefore he had been forced to betake himself to him into Bearne This Letter was soon after discovered to the Guises who had entertained Spies in the Family of Conde who presently wrote a Letter to Conde full of sugared Expressions of Kindness and Affection which Conde presently sent to his Brother who very much approved his Resolution but advised him to return to Court and clear his Innocence which Conde did not think safe Perrenot the Brother of Cardinal Granvell in an Audience he had of Queen Catherine told her there was no way to restore the Peace of France but by Banishing the Guises some time from Court and Recalling the Princes of the Blood and Montmorancy to their former Stations The Twenty first of August the Assembly of the Princes and Notable Men of France was Opened at Founain-bleau The Chancellor in his Speech among other things complained That the Hearts of the People of France were incensed against the King and his Principal Ministers but the Cause of it was not known and therefore it was so difficult to find out and apply a fitted Remedy For That the greatest part of the Men of this Kingdom being weary of what is present fearful of what is to come divided by different Religions and desirous of Change are willing to imbroil the Kingdom And therefore their principal Business was to find out the cause of this Disease and apply a fitting Remedy to this Sickly Body Coligni the Admiral who was present the next day presented a Petition to the King which had been given him whilst he was in Normandy by a vast number of his Subjects desiring that the Severity of the Laws against them might be mitigated till their Cause had been duly considered and determined That they might have Publick Places assigned them for the Exercise of their Religion lest their Private Meetings should be suspected by the Government And they invoked God to bear Witness That they had never entertained any disloyal Thought against his Majesty nor would do so But on the contrary they offered up to God most devout Prayers for the Preservation and Peace of his Kingdom The Bishop of Valence a Learned Grave and Experienced Person confirmed this Opinion shewing the great Corruptions in the Church had given Birth and promoted these Divisions in the Minds of Men which were rather exasperated than extirpated by harsh means and bloody Persecutions Then he shewed the great Use of General Councils for the composing the Differences in the Church And therefore he said He wondred how the Pope could quiet his Conscience one Hour whilst he saw so
had and might err of the Dignity of Scripture and whether the Scriptures were to be preferr'd before the Church or did borrow their Authority from the Church Claud d' Espence a learned Man who desired very much the Church might regain her former Peace being Commanded by the Cardinal of Lorrain to answer Beza began with a Declaration that he had a long time wished that there might have been Conferences and said he had ever abhorred those Bloody Proceedings which had been used against those miserable Men. Then he said he wondered by what Authority the Protestants took upon them the Office of the Ministery and by whom they were Ordain'd and Instituted and that seeing the had received Imposition of hands from no body how could they be accounted lawful Ministers for it was manifest they had no Ordinary call And they must prove an Extraordinary Vocation by Miracles which they had not And thence he concluded they never came into the Church either by an Ordinary or an Extraordinary call As to Traditions if any Controversie arose about the Sense of Scriptures which could not be otherwise adjusted they must of necessity have recourse to the Fathers who had their Authority from their lawful and ordinary Call or Succession because upon them the Guifts of the Spirit were bestowed As it was written of the Levites whose Answers were not to be question'd That many things were setled by Traditions which were not written in the Scriptures As that the Father was not begotten That the Son was of the same Substance with the Father That Infants were to be Baptized That the Blessed Virgin continued a Virgin after she brought forth That the Decrees of General Councils should be valid and that they cannot err in Matters of Faith and that it cannot be shewn that any of the later Councils have corrected the former Beza replied that the Imposition of hands was no necessary note of a lawful Call The two principal were a due Inquiry into the Doctrine and Manners of the Person and an Election of them to the Ministery That they were not to expect Imposition of hands from the Bishops who opposed the Truth and persecuted those that Preached it And that Miracles were not always necessary to an extraordinary Call which he endeavoured to prove by Isaiah Daniel Amos Zachariah and St. Paul. In the next congress Beza spoke much about the Calling of the Protestant Ministers but in such a manner as tended more to the exasperating of the Prelates than the appeasing them so that these two days were spent in mere squabble without order and to no purpose There was then in France John Laines a Spaniard General of the Jesuits who came thither with Hippolito d' Este Cardinal of Ferrara sent by Pope Pius IV. as Legate to the King. This Laines being present this day at the Conference call'd the Protestant Ministers Monkeys Foxes and Monsters and said they were to be turn'd over to the Council call'd by the Pope Then he fell upon the Queen for medling in things that did not belong to her but to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops and he said it was not lawful whil'st a General Council was in being for the Queen to appoint by her private Authority a Conference here The Queen was much enraged at the Insolence of this Man but out of Reverence to the Legate suppress'd her resentment after this Day there were no more Publick Conferences but they Drew out three of a Side and endeavoured to form such an Exposition of the Lord's Supper as both Parties might agree in which in the End proved impossible to be done and so the Conference of Poissi ended which was the first Liberty that was granted to dispute the Established Religion in France and was blamed by some as a thing of ill Example and approved by others as the only means left to prevent the Storm which hung over their heads But it had not that effect so the Ministers and especially Beza who was invited by the Queen were honourably dismiss'd The Fame of this Conference being diffused through Italy and Spain Philip the Second was strangely surprized at it so the Queen sent Jacques de Monbron a Person of good Birth and Repute to excuse it That Prince would hardly be induced to hear the reason of it and turning him over to the Duke de Alva he blamed their fearfulness and advised them to return to the same Severities which had been used in the Reigns of Henry II. and Francis II. promising his Masters Assistance for the Extirpation of the Protestants Adding That the King had been solicited to it by the Catholick Nobility and People of France and that he could not neglect their Petition but he must be wanting to himself That he did not fear such vain reproaches as that with foreign Forces he invaded what was anothers because in this Cause the Spanish Forces were no foreigners when the Religion of their Ancestors was at the stake By this it appeared to the Court of France That there was a Correspondence between their Catholicks and the Spaniards and one Arthur Desier a Priest was taken much about this time near Orleans going into Spain with a Letter from some great Men to King Philip to persuade him to undertake the Protection of their Infant King and of the Catholick Religion which was in great danger to be ruin'd for which he was ordered to be Penance by the Parliament of Paris and committed to the Carthusian Monks to be kept a Prisoner for ever but afterwards he made his Escape This Sentence was pronounced against him the 14 th of July In the End of this Year one Jean Tanquerel a young Divine proposed as his Thesis in a Disputation That the Pope as Christ's only Vicar and the Monarch of the Church can by his Spiritual and Secular Power command all faithful Princes as his Subjects and if they disobey his Precepts deprive them of their Dignities and Kingdoms which being complain'd off to the King the Chancellor sent a Commission to inquire into it and Tanquerel being fled it was ordered that the Parritor of the Theological Faculty should make a Recantation of it in his Name in the School of the Sorbonne before the Dean and all the Fellows and Students of that Faculty in the Presence of the President of the Parliament of Paris the King's Counsel and Solicitor and for the future the Parliament forbad all such questions to be given And ordered the Sorbonne to send two of their Fellows to beg the King's Pardon This Decree passed the 2 d of December and was put in Execution ten days after The Pope had till now dreaded a General Council as tending to the abatement of his Power and on that score had delayed it till Cosmus Duke of Florence and the fear of a National Council in France prevail'd upon him to reassume that which was began by Paul III. continued by Julius III. and was at
Triumvirate were resolved not to leave the Court and that they only pretended the Danger of laying down their Arms before him without taking any Notice of the Hostages he had offered for their Security in that case suspected there was fraud in the bottom and would not comply neither alledging That the King's Presence was their security whereas he had nothing but the Equity of his Cause to Plead After this the Triumvirate put in a Petition to the King Desiring that an Edict might be made 1. That no Religion but the Roman Catholick should be Admitted in the Kingdom 2. That all the King 's Domesticks Captains Governours and Magistrates should be of that Religion and whoever did not publickly profess it should be deprived of all Honour and Publick Employments saving to them their Estates 3. That all Bishops and Clergymen should profess the same or be deprived of their Revenues which should be brought into the Exchequer 4. That all the Churches which were destroyed spoil'd or defaced should be restored and those that were guilty of these Sacriledges punished 5. That all should lay down their Arms upon what pretence soever they had been Listed or by whom soever And they that had no Commission from the King should be treated as Traitors That the King of Navar only should have the Right of Levying Men till these Troubles were ended by a Treaty or a Victory and they to be paid out of the Treasury And on these Terms they were willing not only to leave the Court but the Nation and to go into Exile And till this was done they could not leave the Court. This was Answered at large by another Paper Printed the 20th of May with great sharpness The 26th and 27th of May the King of Navar commanded all the Protestants to depart from Paris ordering that no injury should be done to them or their Goods in their retreat or absence on pain of Death And perceiving that nothing could be effected by Treatise the Triumvirate drew their Forces out of Paris consisting in Four thousand Foot and Three thousand Armed Horse about which time the Queen invited the Prince of Conde to a Conference and they met in the beginning of June at Thoury a Village in la Beausse with all the Cautions usual in such Cases But that Treaty proving ineffectual the Prince of Conde drew his Army out too which was then Four thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse The Prince of Conde had more of the Nobility of France in his Army than the other fide either out of Love to the Religion or hatred to the Guises or by the secret Orders of the Queen Besides his Army had a severe Discipline and Publick Prayers were said Morning and Evening at the head of each Company There were no Oaths no Quarrels heard of but the Psalms were devoutly Sung in the Camp there was no Dice no Tables no Rapines all was Modesty and the least Faults were severely punished so that the Country Man or Merchant might live or travel by the Army in perfect security and their great desire was that they might be led against Paris The 21th of May the Army marched from Orleans and there was another Treaty for a Peace and another Conference with the Queen who thanked him and all the Great Men that camâ— with him for the good Service they had done her and the King in a time of such great need saying they were worthy of the highest Rewards and Honours and praying them to persevere in it and to Consult the good of the Kingdom She excused what she had done in the mean time for the other Party by saying They were more in number who embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and therefore it was necessary there should be no other Religion suffered in France than that At this Conde replied he could not submit to so hard a Condition For if the Peace of Religion were taken away a War would follow which would be very difficult and lasting This proving ineffectual too the Prince of Conde marched to La Ferte Alez and took and sack'd Boigency a Town upon the Loire The Triumvirats Army marched right to Blois which the Protestants had taken not long before and Garison'd but the Place being weak they retreated to Orleans and left it to the Catholicks who Exercised unheard of Cruelties and put most of the Protestants to the Sword or drown'd them in the River though they recovered the Town without one blow striking From thence they marched to Tours which had but a little before been surprized and reformed by the Protestants contrary to the will of the Wiser People who foresaw the ill consequence of it The Country in the mean time was exposed to Rapine under pretence of Extirpating Hereticks the great Men conniving at it or being well pleased And a War was Proclaimed against the Protestants and all Men were commanded to treat them as the Enemies of Mankind on the account of the Sacriledges committed in the Churches because the Church Plate was taken to be Minted for Money to pay the Army and the Images and Altars were generally beaten down where the Protestants prevail'd Whereupon the Peasants left their Work and fell to Rob and Plunder their Neighbours and to exercise unheard of Cruelties and Barbarities they thinking the Protestants were to be treated like Mad Dogs This forced the Gentry in a short time to Arm against them and they treated the Monks and Priests in their own Kind and Hang'd up those Catholick Peasants The Protestants took Anger 's the 5th of April almost without any opposition and both Parties lived peaceably to the 21th when they pulled down the Images in the Churches which so incensed the Roman Catholicks that the 5th of May they let in Succours in the Night whereupon followed a Fight in which the Protestants were worsted and the Roman Catholicks prevailed The other Party were plunder'd whereupon some Women were ravished and others slain to the Number of about eleven Tours being retaken all the Protestants were by one means or another made away the President of the City not escaping their Cruelty because he was suspected to be a Protestant tho' he had never declared himself such so that the Governours were forced to erect Gallows to put a stop to the bloody Barbarity which they themselves had raised in the People The Protestants of Mans were much affrighted when they heard of the Massacre of those of Tours because they also had broken down the Images and pulled up and defaced some of their Tombs Whereupon the 12th of July they left the City in the Evening to the number of 800 and went to Alenzon The Bishop upon this put in 500 Roman Catholicks for a Garison who reacted all the Cruelties upon the Protestants and suborned Men to swear against such as they supposed had defaced the Images or prophaned the Churches whereupon they were severely punished for others Faults The
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
her And what can be more contrary to Natural Equity than to condemn unheard It is forbidden by the Canons and Decrees of Councils and there is a noble example of this in Ammianus Marcellinus where Pope Liberius being urged by Constantius to condemn Athanasius chose rather to be banished than to sentence him without hearing And in the Judgment against Sixtus the Third who was accused of Incest Valentinian the Emperor observed the same method and made him appear and answer in a Synod before Fifty Bishops For the same reason the Sentence of Nicholas the First against Lotharius the Son of St. Lewis for having two Wives was thought void and null Nor was this Sentence against the Queen of Navarr of better force because she was absent and unheard That the Popes have always shewn that respect to Crown'd heads as to admonish them by their Legates before they decreed ought against them So Alexander the Third sent two Cardinals to Henry the Second into England when he was accused of the Death of Thomas a Becket A. B. of Canterbury That he might purge himself before them of this crime So of late Clement the Seventh did the like in the case of Henry the Eighth to whom he sent Cardinal Campeius And if it were granted that the Judgment were rightly passed how could the Dominions of the Queen be exposed for a prey and given to the first Invader they belonging to the King as Lord of the Fee Therefore the King believes that the Pope is deceived by false reports and instigated by the craft of his Ministers who not regarding the publick peace have drawn him from his natural goodness to Counsels which are dishonourable to his Holiness and destructive to his Authority and to that of the See of Rome tending to the alienating of the hearts of his friends from him and the disturbing of the Peace of Christendom And his Majesty is the more perswaded of the truth of this because his Holiness so earnestly espoused the Interest of Anthony the Husband of this Queen in his life-time and endeavoured to perswade King Philip to restore to him the Kingdom of Navarr or at least to give him the Island of Sardinia as an Equivalent But then there is nothing more offends the King than the considering that whereas so many Kings Princes and Free States above Forty years since have defected from the See of Rome and committed the offence charged upon the Queen and so by the rule of Justice ought to be first punished as first offending yet the Pope has not proceeded in the same way or with equal severity against any of them so that from hence it is clear that an occasion is sought by her enemies to oppress and ruin her by surprize whilest she is a Widow her Children Orphans the King of France who ought to protect her being a Minor and disturbed by Civil Wars and for this reason the King is the more obliged to defend her from injury and himself from contempt seeing without acquainting him with it they have begun this Process against a Queen so nearly related to him That if this Accusation had been made on the account of Religion and for the Glory of God the Pope ought in the first place to have shewn his care of her soul and from the Word of God to have administred fitting Remedies and not to have proscribed her Kingdoms and Dominions and given them for a prey to the first Invader The Pope has a Supremacy given him That he may consult the Salvation of Souls and the repose of Christendom and not that he may deprive Princes of their Kingdoms and dispose of their possessions at his pleasure which the former Popes have never been able to do in Germany and other places without bringing great reproach and dishonour on the Church and disturbances upon the World. That therefore the King desired with the greatest humility that he could or ought that the Sentence against the Q. of Navarr should be revok'd and all the Pope's Ministers should be inhibited from proceeding in this cause by a publick Act and if this were not done the King should be forced against his will to make use of the same remedies his Ancestors had imployed in the like cases according to the Laws and Rights of his Kingdom But before all things he protested he should do this unwillingly and therefore they only should bear the blame who by their rashness had forced him to use the power God had given him in so just a cause and to implore the assistance of his friends against them There was at the same time distinct Memorials and larger Instructions sent to the French Ambassador for the Defence of the Bishops and D'Oysel who was an active Minister prevail'd upon the Pope to have the Proceedings against the Bishops stopt and the Sentence against the Queen of Navarr revok'd and abolished So that at this day it is not to be found amongst the Constitutions of Pope Pius the Fourth The 18th of May there having been no consideration had of the XXXIII Articles put into the Council the 4th of January the Queen wrote to Lanssac her Ambassador complaining very bitterly of the delays and shifts which had been made in this business and said that the hope good men had hitherto had of the success of this Council and the opinion of their sincerity who met in it would both vanish without any fruit and their dissimulation and connivance would more and more inflame the wrath of God against us who had now made it manifest unto all men that the affairs of the Church needed a Reformation and a severe correction and to that purpose had invited and brought together from all parts of the Earth so many men famous for their Piety and Learning to this Council and if after all this he shall see us still stubbornly resist his will he will be necessitated to punish those men who have hindred so good a work and so necessary to the peace of the Church That therefore the King had wrote to the Cardinal of Lorrain to assemble a Congregation of the French Clergy and after a mature deliberation had amongst themselves to demand earnestly of the Fathers of the Council that these things might be considered and determin'd as soon as was possible But the Cardinal was by this time won over to the Pope's side and was willing to sacrifice the safety of France and the King's Will to the Interest of the former In order to this he delayed the Execution of his Orders from day to day and at last that he might totally disappoint them asked leave of the King to go to Rome believing the Kings Ambassadors would do nothing in his absence And not long after Lanssac obtained leave to return into France The Cardinal of Lorrain went from Trent towards Rome the 18th of September and with him five of the French Bishops But the other French Ambassadors did nevertheless insist stoutly
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his Father-in-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
Beheaded The Deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Saxony The differences between him and Augustus The Strangers leave England The Princess Elizab. committed to the Tower. The Siege of Siena Sir Tho. Wiat executed A Parliament The Diet of Germany The Norimbergerr Answer to Albert. Albert goes into Saxony The Duke of Savoy dies The Edict of King Ferdinand concerning Religion Papal Queries The French War iâ— the Low-Countries In Italy Prince Philip arrives in England Naples Resigned The Diet of ankfurt The French King's Letter to this Diet. Milan resigned to King Philip A Parliament in England †The Attainder was reversed the 22th of November England reconciled to the See of Rome The Emperor's Letter to the States of Germany Ferdinand comes to Ausburg 1555. The Parliament of England dissolved Five burnt in England The Diet opened in Germany A National Council of Germany long disused The Effect of this Speech April 10. 1556. England submits to the Court of Rome 1556. †Atrocia Blasseburg ruined Ferdinand invites the Princes to the Diet. The Protestâ—ne Ministers Comfort the banished Bohemians The French War in Piâ—dmont The Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg and other Princes League together The Letter of these Princes to the Emperor The Elector of Mentz dies Julius III. dies Siena taken by the Emperor's Forces Marceilus II. dies Paul the IV. Elected Cardinal Pool's Letter for a Peace †In 1521. * In 1522. Queen Mary mediates between the Emperor and King of France The Letter of the German Princes to the Emperor His Answer The Persecution in England An Insurrection in Geneva The Turks Fleet. Porto Ercole taken Catzenellobâ—gen The English Ambassadors Return from Rome The Danish Navy †1549. Latimer and Ridley burnt at Oxford †I suppose our Author was mis-informed as to this Particular The Parliament of Paris Answer to the King's Edict Caâ—zenellobogen The Low Countries resigned by the Emperor to King Philip. The Diet of Germany †In 1548. The Allegations of the Roman-Catholicks A Virulent Paper put in by the Roman-Catholicks against the Protestants Liberty of Conscience contrary to Catholick Religion The Protestants Answer Rom. 1. The Answer of King Ferdinand The form of the Recess prâ—posed Ferdinand's Answer to the Papers The Protestants Reply Ferdinand's Answer to the Protestants The Decree then made A Parliament begun the 21st of October in England The Pope requires the restitution of Abby-Lands Bishop Gardiner Dies †A suppression of his Urin. A Duke of Venice deposed King Philip and Ferdinand send Ambassadors to the Princes of Germany King Philip entereth upon the Government of the Netherlands The Address of the States of the Lower Austria for Liberty of Conscience King Ferdinand's Answer The States of the Lower Austria reply English affairs †The 12th of September Cranmer Burnt The Subjects of Bavaria petition for Liberty of Conscience Transylvania revolts The Cardinal of Ausburg's Apology for himself The Marquess of Baden embraceth the Augustan Confession Peter Martyr goes to Zurich * The cause by them alledged was That Ferdinand contrary to his promise had put Spanish Souldiers into their Towns which ruin'd their Country Thuan. †The Inhabitants and Garrison finding the Castle too little to be defended made a sudden Sally and recovered the Town the 23d of July the Turks were forced with great loss and shame to draw off * Which was then said to be much debased and corrupted to the damage of the People †These short Accounts seem added by another hand after the Author was dead if not that of the Emperour's Journey The Introduction The Revolt of Transylvania Sigeth besieged and most bravely defended by the Germans The Situation of Sigeth Babotz besieged The Character of Haly the Turks General Gran surprized by Scalado Charles V resigns the Netherlands and Spain to his Son. And the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand The Emperour's Ambassadours to the Electoral Princes The Emperour sets sail for Spain His Speech at his landing The description of the Place in which he lived Thuanus John Sleidan's Death and Character Natura iracundus pene implacabilis Natalis Comes Paul IV a furious Hare-brained Prince He annexes the Kingdom of Naples to the See of Rome The Duke de Alva begins a a War upon the Papacy Anagni taken Rome prepared for a Siege The Seige of Ostia 1557. The French Affairs Valenza taken Ostia retaken by the Pope The War in Italy under the Duke of Guise The Duke de Alva takes the Field Segni taken by the Spaniards The Duke of Guise recall'd A Peace between King Philip and the Pope * Caviiâ— The Affairs of England Ferrara rescued from Ruine by the Duke of Florence The Dyet of Ratisbonne A Remonstrance of the Protestant Princes Albert Marquis of Brandenburg dies The County of Catzenellobogen setled by Agreement The Conference at Wormes The War between France and Spain Queen Mary joyns with Spain The Siege of St. Quintin The Battel of St. Quintin Montmorancy ruin'd by being taken Prisoner The Day of the Battel St. Quintin taken by Storm A Letter of Charles V to his Son Philip. The French Army grows great A Persecution in France The misrepresentations of the Roman Catholicks against the Protestants The Siege of Calais 1558. The Site of Calais Guines taken A Turkish Fleet land in several Places of Italy and carry many into Slavery The Dauphine married to Mary Queen of Scotland The first Proposals of a Peace between France and King Philip. Andelot Marshal of France ruined by the Arts of the Guises Thionville besieged and taken The Defeat of Thermes near Graveling Dunkirk surprized And Vinoxberg The English Fleet unsuccessful The Treaty of Cambray began The Parliament of England meet and Queen Mary dies The German Affairs * That is the Ecclesiastical and Civil Government The Death and Character of Charles the Fifth His Opinion concerning Justification Queen Elizabeth succeeds The Scotch Affairs Scotland begins to entertain the Reformation 1559. The Death of Frederick I King of Denmark Christian II King of Denmark dies Frederick II conquereth Dieâ—marsh The Affairs of Italy New Bishopricks erected in the Low-Countries King Philip desirous of a Peace with France that he might be at leisure to extirpate Heresie That Design discover'd to the Prince of Orange The Dyet of Germany Conditions proposed by the Protestants for a Council The Emperor Confirms the Peace of Passaw The French Embassadors come to the Dyet The Life and Death of David George a famous Impostor The Treaty of Cambray produces a Peace at last The Peace occasions a Persecution in France The King goes to the Parliament of Paris to aw it into a Compliance Yet some retained their Freedom at the Price of their Lives The King's Answer A French Synod held by the Protestant Ministers The Protestant Princes of Germany write to the King of France A Commission issued to try the suspected Members of Parliament Du Bourg first tried The sad Condition of France during the Persecution Henry
II of France slain The various Characters of Henry II of France Francis II a Lad of sixteen Years of Age succeeds him And the Persecution goes on Slaunders against the Protestants Other Slanders spread against the poor persecuted Protestants Du Bourg condemned to Death Minart a Persecutor slain Du Bourg led to Execution His Character The rest of the Members of Parliament were restored Images erected in the Streets to be Worshiped King Philip prepares for Spain He takes Ship at Flushing He raiseth a great Persecution in Spain Constantio the Confessor of Charles V burnt after he was dead Twenty eight Nobles burnt at Vallidolid The Death of Pope Paul IV. The People of Rome express their Hatred of him and the Inquisition The Deaths of several Princes Pius IV elected He changeth his Manners to the Worse Scotâ—h Affairs Linlithgow The English Affairs relating to Scotland Fradcis II of France claims England in the Right of Mary his Wife The French Provocations against the English The Scotch Complaints against the French. Queen Elizabeth holds off at first but at last is forced to unite with the Protestants of Scotland Reasons assigned for the driving the French out of Scotland The War resolved The War begun Four Divines and two thousand Men sent from France to Convert the Scots The Lords of Scotland Arm against them and depose the Regent She prevails over them 1560. The Scotch Lords go on with their Reformation The English Forces enter Scotland and besiege Leith The French proffer to restore Calais to the English The Death and Character of Mary Queen-Regent of Scotland The French forced to leave Scotland A Parliament in Scotland A Conspiracy in France The Conspiracy of Blois formed at Nantes Thuanus his Reflection on this Conspiracy The discovery of the Conspiracy Andelot and Coligny come to Court on an Invitation Oliver the Chancellor of France hated the Persecution and desired a Reformation Renaudie slain The King of Navar Conde Coligni and Andelot suspected Oliver the Chancellor dies Coligni sent into Normandy by the Queen The Clergy labour to bring the Inquisition into France Conde leaves the Court. An Assembly of the Princes of France Coligni delivers a Petition from the Protestants to the King. The Bishop of Valence seconds it And adviseth the King to call a National Council The Cardinal of Lorrain replies to Coligni A Decree passed for an Assembly of the three Estates and the suspension of the Laws against Hereticks A design upon Lyons The Protestants of France increase wonderfully during the Peace In some places they grow insolent The King of Navarr and Prince of Conde promise to come to the Assembly of the States The Archbishop of Vienne dies The States meet at Orleans Navarr and Conde secured Francis II dies Charles IX succeeds The Prince of Conde fre'd The Protestant Religion breaks out in the Netherlands The Archbishop of Toledo suspected to be a Lutheran A General Council desired by many and opposed by the Pope But prosecutes the Caraffa's to ruine The Duke of Florence come to Rome His Arguments for a General Council With other concurrent Accidents at last prevail'd The Pope's Ambassadors to thee Christian Princes Gustavus King of Sweden dies A Difficulty proposed The Deputy of the Commons speaks against the Clergy And is seconded by the Deputy of the Nobility The Clergy apologize for themselves The Persecution in Piedmont which Occasioneth a War. 1561. A Persecution in the Low-Countries The French Affair Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants The younger Montmorency's Advice to his Father The pretended Submission of the Cophthites Livonia falls off from the See of Rome The Queen suspects the designs of the Nobility The Differences of Religion occasion Tumults An Edict to restrain them The Edict of July The Cardinal of Lorrain procures the Conference of Pâ—issy Mary Queen of Scotland leaves France The Three Estates of France Assembled at Pont-Oyse The Clergy of France give the King Taxes to save their Revenues and Jurisdictions The Conference oâ— Poissy The Protestant Ministers Their demands The Conference began The Chancellor's Speech Beza speaks Tournon replies with rage The Queens Answer The Points debated Claud d' Espence opposeth Beza The Ordination of the Protestant Ministers Question'd Beza Replieâ— Laines General of the Jesuits his Rudeness in the Conference * In the History of the Council of Trent call'd Jaques de Montbrun A Popish Position gives great Offence in France The Council of Trent recall'd The Pope's Bull. Vergerius opposeth the Council Ambassadors sent to the Protestant Princes to invite them to the Council Their Answer to the Emperor The Pope's Legates Admitted Their Answer to the Legates The occasions of the meeting at Naumburg The English reject the Council Erick King of Sweden Crown'd The Cardinal of Caraffa Hanged A National Council desired in France The King of Navar drawn over to the Popish Party by the King of Spain's Arts. A new invented Convention for the Reguâ—lating matters of Religion in France A Tumult aâ— Dijon Scotch Affairs Queen Mary resolves to return into Scotland The Protestant Religion setled in Scotland The Queen angry with the Proceedings Queen Mary goes into Scotland Her beginning very gracious to the Protestants The Preachers would not Tolerate the Queen See Spotiswood pag. 182. Great kindness in shew between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary begins to favour the Romish Party Yet she augments her Revenues out of the Church Lands 1562. The French Affairs A Debate concerning Toleration The Edict of January which granted Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants Injunctions published by the Queen's Order concerning Images Images of the Trinity forbidden The King of Navar pretends still to promote the Reformation The Edict of January opposed by the Guises and others The Duke of Guise called to Court by the King of Navar The Massacre of Vassy happen'd accidentally in that â—ourny The Duke of Guise uses ill Arts to secure his Servants who began the Tumult The Prince of Conde complains of it to the King. The Duke of Guise entereth Paris The Queen upon this puts her self and the King into the Protection of the Prince of Conde * Aedilit All things in France tend to a Civil War. The Queen out of Fear joyns with the Catholick Lords commonly call'd the Triumvirate Conde comes up towards Fontain-bleau The Triumvirate seize the King. Montmorancy appears very zealous against the Protestants at Paris The Prince of Conde betrayed by the Queen into a disadvantageous War. Orleans surprized by the Prince of Conde Conde Justifies the War. The Catholicks begin the War to deprive the Protestants of the Liberty granted them by the Edict of January The Prince of Conde and the Ministers write to the Princes of Germany The King and Queen affirm they were at Liberty in their Declaration The Massacre of Sens. The Princes of Germany much divided about the true cause of this French War. Roan taken very easily by the Protestants And after that Pont del
' Arche and Caudebec Diepe Caen and Bayeux Man 's taken by them The Triumvirate desire no liberty should be granted to the Protestants The Triumvirate draw out of Paris The Prince of Conde maintain great Order in his Army at first A second Treaty between the Queen and Conde Boigency sack'd Bâ—ois Tours Anger 's taken by the Protestants Tours retaken by the Roman Catholicks Mans deserted by the Protestants Amiens Senlis Normandy The Roman Catholicks retake Poictiers and Bourges The Siege of Roan resolved on The Terms of the Protestants League with England The King of Navar shot at the Siege of Roan He dyes 〈◊〉 surrender'd to the King. And also Caen. Diep retaken by the Protestants The Protestants beaten in Guienne Andelot hardly obtains Succours in Germany The Prince of Conde takes the Field Pluviers taken by the Prince of Conde Corbeil besieged by the Prince of Conde The two Armies come in view of each other A Treaty with the Queen and the Terms proposed by the Prince of Conde The Prince marcheth towards Normandy to meet the English Succours * Ablium The King's Army overtake the Prince The Battel of Dreux Montmorancy taken Prisoner St. Andre by the advice of the Duke of 〈◊〉 turn the Fortune of the day and gains the Victory on the King 's â—â—de The Prince of Conde taken 〈…〉 slain 〈◊〉 Coligni The Duke of 〈◊〉 force 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Coligni would have â—ought the next day Coligni General of the Protestants 1563. The Pope fondly overjoyed with the Victory at Dreux The Prince of Conde carried to Blois The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise wounded by one Poltrot The Death and Character of the Duke of Guise The Queen earnestly desires a Peace The Treaty of Peace between the Prince of Conde and Montmorancy The Articles agreed on Coligni not pleased with the Peace The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent * Proponentibus Legatis The Prohibition of Books taken into consideration A debate whether Episcopacy and Residence are of Divine Right The French Ambassadors Arrival The Demands of the French Ambassadors in the Council The French Kings Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The Cardinal of Lorrain and the French Clergy arrive at Trent The Pope allarm'd at it as if so many Enemies had invaded him The Popes fears of the French Bishops never to be stopp'd Maximilian Son of Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans Polano in his History of the Council of Trent saith the Election was made the 24 th of November So that the first date seems to be the day of the opening of the Diet. The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Ambassador of Spain received in the Council The Fathers at Trent much dissatisfied with the Peace made in France The French Court shew their Reasons for it The Pope's Bull to the Inquisitors Several French Cardinals and Bishops cited to Rome And the Queen of Navarr also The French King declares against these Proceedings against the Queen of Navarr The Deposing of Princes and disposing of their Dominions the cause of great Calamities The Bishops defended by the King also The Queen complains of the Proceedings of the Council The Pope gained the Cardinal of Lorrain to his side Who went to Rome The Council has no Authority over Princes * Pag 721 The Ambassadors of France put a severer Protestation into the Council The Emperor opposeth the intended Proceedings of the Council against Queen Elizabeth The French Ambassadors leave Trent and go to Venice The last Session of the Council of Trent The censure of the Council The Emperor goes from Inspruck before the Council was ended His sense of the Council The Reasons why the Council had no better success The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy And the Cup to the Laity The French Affairs after the Peace till the end of the Council The Siege of Havre de Grace The Protestants fight against the English Havre de Grace surrendred to the French. A Plague in London Charles the Ninth declared out of His Minority by the Parliament of Roan The Scotch Affairs in 1562. And 1563. John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews committed for hearing Mass John Knox call'd before the Council for Sedition His bold Answer
could hardly believe those who told them that they had not only seen the Emperor but also spoken with him The Prince was also so fatally credulous as to be perswaded of the same thing Now this was thought to be an Invention of the French that those of Cleve might not lose Heart and being terrified at the Emperor's Power make Peace with him The Emperor having received this Answer Fortified his Camp provided all things necessary and on the Twenty fourth of August began to Batter the Town by break of Day and afterward gave the Assault especially by the Spaniards who went on with great Chearfulness and Resolution and though they were often beat off and lost many Men yet they gave not over till they forced the Place and treated the Towns-people as the Inhabitants are commonly used when a Town is taken by Storm We must know that in this Town was kept the Head of St. Ann the Mother of our Lady and was usually exposed to the view of vast numbers of People who flocked thither yearly on the Six and twentieth day of July the Anniversary of that Saint to pay their Devotions to it But the Spaniards being now Conquerours took that Head inclosed in a golden Reliquary and with great Pomp carried it in Procession to the Grey Friars Church least it should have perished in the Ruines and Flames of the Church The Town being plundered and burnt the Emperor advanced and had surrendered to him first Liege and then Reremund a strong Town of Guelderland standing where the Rivers of Roure and Maese do meet For the unexpected Calamity of Duren had put all Men into extraordinary Fear and Consternation From Ruremund he went to Venlo Thither at last came the Duke of Cleve to him in the Camp accompanied with Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors of Herman Archbishop of Cologne where he having made his Humble Submission and the Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors earnestly interceding for him the Emperor at length arose and ordered the Prince of Orange and Granvell to prescribe Conditions unto him upon which he was received into Favour again the Seventh of September The Conditions were That he should not depart from the Religion of the Catholick Church That if he had made any Alterations he should restore things again as they were before That he should promise Allegiance and Obedience to the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Empire That he should renounce his League with France and Denmark That he should make no League wherein the Emperor King Ferdinand and their Heirs were not excepted That he should deliver up the whole Possession of Guelderland and release the People from their Oath And that he should Assist the Emperor in Recovering Guelderland if perhaps any places should refuse to Surrender The Emperor on the other Hand restored to him the Province of Juliers lately Conquered by War except Two Towns Hensberg and Zittard which he kept in his Hands for a time till he should make trial of his Fidelity and Obsequiousness Whilst the Emperor was upon his March against the Duke of Cleve the French King advanced through Champange towards the Country of Luxenburg and sent for his Sister's Daughter the Lady Joanna who had been Two Years before betrothed and publickly Married as we said to the Duke that he might carry her to her Husband She went most unwillingly as hath been mentioned also before but however she obeyed the King her Uncle The King had appointed Cardinal du Bellay Bishop of Paris as the fittest Person to perswade her to wait upon her and keep her Company during the whole Journey Now when she was come as far as Soissons on her way to the King News was brought That the Duke of Cleve was subdued which much rejoiced her as well perceiving that that might put an end to all her Sufferings and Constraint and indeed she was not mistaken for the King was exceedingly troubled at the News and so she returned Home But nevertheless he proceeded and again took the City of Luxenburg about the latter end of September which after deliberation he fortified At the same time Henry King of England who had lately made a League with the Emperor sent over some Forces into the Netherlands who joining the Imperialists Besieged Landrecy In the mean time Charles Boisset a Lawyer was in the beginning of October sent from the Emperor to Metz who having consulted with the Senate the Monks and Churchmen upon his first coming sent for one of the Preachers whom he severely chid and commanded upon pain of Death to depart the City within three Days and not to converse with any Citizen for the future Afterwards the Emperor's Edict was on the Fifteenth of October publickly read wherein the Emperor commanded the Senate not to admit of any new Doctrines and to punish those that were guilty that way Wherefore the Senate published their Orders to the Citizens that they should persist in the ancient Religion produce all prohibited and suspected Books within a Weeks time obey the Canons of the Church abstain from flesh on days prohibited shew Reverence to Church-Men and that those who upon account of difference in Religion had put themselves into the protection of the Protestants and promised Fidelity unto them should within a certain time renounce the same Denouncing several Penalties against Offenders herein as Fines Banishment and other Punishments according to their several Deserts When Barbarossa had in vain Besieged the Castle of Nizza whither the Emperor's Forces were coming out of Lombardy under the Command of the Marquess of Piscara he drew off and went to his Winter Quarters in Thoulon somewhat sooner than the Season of the Year required for the King had assigned him that Town the Citizens and Inhabitants being commanded to leave it Scotland was this Year much disturbed with intestine Broils and Divisions the Nobles disagreeing among themselves For those of the Nobility who were Prisoners in England as we said being generously dismissed by the King cordially espoused his Interests But the Cardinal of Scotland who enjoyed great Revenues from Church-Livings in France and the Queen the Duke of Guise's Daughter maintained the French King 's Part. After the Death of the King of Scots it was the chief Design of Henry VIII that the young Queen of Scots might be affianced to Prince Edward his Son. In that matter the Nobles we mentioned did him good Service And having perswaded the Earl of Arran the Regent they seized the Cardinal of St. Andrews and kept the Queen Besieged in a Castle till they had confirmed the Marriage and drawn up Writings thereupon But the French King interfering in the Matter the Nobility also pitying the Queen's Condition and the Regent falling off to the other side they broke their Articles which gave occasion of a new War betwixt the English and them as shall be said hereafter The King of Denmark was also in War with