for his worthynes in all Germany and now vsing the head and hand of duke Maurice and his frendes and hauyng the helpe of as many as hated the Spanyardes that is to say almost all Protestantes and Papistes to in Germany he should easely haue obtained what soeuer he had gone about But that bonde is now broken for euen this day when I was writyng this place came word to this Court that Marches Albert and Duke Maurice had fought where the Marches had lost the field and Duke Maurice had lost his life which whole battaile because it is notable I would here at length describe but that I should wander to farre from my purposed matter and therfore I in an other place or els some other with better oportunitie shall at large report the matter Ye see the cause why and the time wheÌ„ Duke Maurice fell from the Emperour And because he was so notable a Prince I will describe also the maner how he proceded in all these doyngs as I learned amongest them that did not greatly loue him And because it were small gayne to flatter him that is gone and great shame to lye vppon him that is dead for pleasyng any that be alyue I so will report on hym as his doynges since my commyng to this Court haue deserued He was now of the age of xxxij yeares well faced in countenance complection fauour and heard not much vnlike to Syr Raffe Sadler but some deale higher and well and strong made to beare any labour and payne He was once men say geuen to drinckyng but now he had cleane left it contented with small diet and litâ—e sleepe in this last yeares and therefore had a wakyng and workyng head and became so witty and secret so hardy and ware so skillfull of wayes both to do harme to others and keepe hurt from him selfe as he neuer tooke enterprise in hand wherein he put not his aduersary alwayes to the worse And to let other matter of Germany passe euen this last yeare within the compasse of eight monethes he professed him selfe open enemy agaynst foure the greatest powers that I know vpon earth The Turke the Pope the Emperour the French king obtained his purpose and wan prayse agaynst theÌ„ all foure For he in person and pollicie courage dispatched the Turkes purpose and power this last yeare in Hungary The Councell at Trent which the Pope the Emperour went so about to establish he onely brought to none effect first by open protestatioÌ„ agaynst that Councell and after by his commyng with his army to Insburge he brought such feare to the Bishops there gathered that they ran euery one farre away froÌ„ thence with such speed as they neuer durst hetherto speake of meeting there agayne And how he delt with the Emperour both in forcyng him to flye from Insburge and compellyng him to such a peace at Passo my whole Diarium shall at full instruct you And of all other he serued the FreÌ„ch kyng best who fayre pretendyng the deliuery of the ij Princes captiues and the maintenaunce of Religion libertie in Germany purposed in very deede nothyng els but the destruction of the Emperor the house of Austria for what cared he for religion abroad who at home not onely followeth none him selfe priuately in his life but also persecuteth the trouth in others openly with the sword But I do him wrong to say he followeth none who could for his purpose be coÌ„tent at one time to embrace all for to do hurt enough to the Emperor would become at once by solemne league ProtestaÌ„t Papish Turkish deuillish But such Princes that cary nothyng els but the name of bearing vp Gods word deserue the same prayse and the same end that that Prince dyd who semed so ready to beare vp the Arke of the Lord yet otherwise pursued Gods true Prophetes his word Agayne how much the French kyng cared for the libertie of Germany he well declared in stealyng away so vnhonorably from the Empire the Citie of Metz. But he thinckyng to abuse Duke Maurice for his ambitious purpose in very deede in the end Duke Maurice vsed him as he should for first he made him pay well for the whole warres in Germany as it is sayd .200000 crownes a moneth And after when the French kyng fell to catching of Cities duke Maurice tendryng the state of his countrey brake of with hym and began to parle with the good kyng of Romanes at Luiz which thyng wheÌ„ the FreÌ„ch kyng heard came within ij miles of the Rhene he straight way hyed more hastly with more disorder for all his great hast out of Germany as they say that were there then the Emperour being sicke without company and pressed by his enemy dyd go from Insburg And see how nobly Duke Maurice did which for the loue of his couÌ„trey durst fall from the FreÌ„ch kyng before he atchieued any thyng agaynst the Emperour And rather theÌ„ Germany should leese her Cities so by the French king he had leuer hassard both the leesing of his enterprice also the leauyng of hys father in law still in prison with the Emperour But as he had wit to take money pleÌ„ty of the French kyng so had he wit also to furnish him selfe so froÌ„ home as he durst first fall out with the French kyng durst also after to set vpoÌ„ the Emperour till he had brought his honest purpose to passe For there is not almost any in this Court but they will say duke Maurice did honestly in deliuering his father by strong hand which before left no fayre meane vnproued to do that humbly by entreaty which after was coÌ„pelled to bryng to passe stoutly by force And I pray you first marke well what he did and then iudge truly if any thing was done that he ought not to do For first he him selfe with the Marches of Bradenburge most humbly by priuate sute laboured for the Lansgraues deliuery offring to the Emperour princely offers and not to be refused as a huge summe of money a fayre quantitie of great ordinaunce certaine holdes of his some to be defaced some geueÌ„ to the Emperour and also personall pledges of great houses for hys good haberaunce all the residue of his life After wheÌ„ this sute was not regarded they againe procured all the Princes states of Germany beyng at the Diet at Augusta an .1548 to be huÌ„ble intercessors for him offring the selfe same coÌ„ditions rehearsed before addyng this more to become sureties them selues in any bande to his Maiestie for his due obedience for tyme to come Thirdly by the Prince of Spayne Duke Maurice neuer left to entreat the Emperour yea he was so carefull of the matter that his Ambassadors followed the Prince euen to his shipping at Genoa who had spokeÌ„ ofteÌ„ presently before wrote earnestly froÌ„ thence to his father for the Lansgraues deliuery it would not be And wise meÌ„ may say
open remedy and wanted no displeasure for inward grief Duke Ernestus Marches Albert and Lazarus Swendy sate at supper togethers as they were talkyng of the Interim the Marches soddenly brast out into a fury saying what deuill will the Emperour neuer leaue striuyng with God in defacyng true Religiō and tossyng the world in debarryng all mēs liberties addyng that he was a Prince vnkynd to euery man and kept touch with no mā that could forget all mens merites would deceiue whom soeuer he promised The Duke liked not this hoate talke in hys house and at his table but sayd Cosin you speake but merely and not as you thincke adding much the prayse of the Emperours gentlenes shewed to many and of his promise kept withall Well quoth the Marches if he had bene either kynde where men haue deserued or would haue performed that hee promised neither should I at this tyme accuse hym nor you haue sit here in this place to defende hym for he promised to geue me this house with all the landes that thereto belongeth but ye be affrayd Cosin quoth the Marches lest this talke be to loud and so heard to farre of when in deede if the Commissarie here be so honest a man as I take him and so true to his master as he should be he will not fayle to say what he hath heard and on the same cōdition Commissary I bryng thee good lucke and drancke of vnto hym a great glasse of wine Lazarus Swendyes talke then sounded gētly and quietly for he was sore affrayed of the Marches But he was no soner at home with the Emperour but word was sent straight to Duke Maurice that the Marches who was as thē come to Madenburg if he would needes serue there should serue without wages Ye may be sure the Marches was chafed a new with this newes who already had lost a great sort of hys men and now must leese hys whole labour thether and all his wages there besides the losse of hys honour in takyng such shame of hys enemies receiuyng such vnkyndnes of the Emperour The Marches was not so greeued but Duke Maurice was as well contented with this commaundement for euen then was Duke Maurice Secretary practisyng by Baron Hadeckes aduise with the French kyng for the sturre which dyd follow and therfore was glad when he saw the Marches might be made hys so easely whiche came very soone to passe so that the Marches for the same purpose in the ende of the same yeare went into Fraunce secretly and was there with Shertly as a commō Launce Knight and named hymselfe Captaine Paul lest the Emperour spials should get out his doynges where by the aduise of Shertly hee practised with the French kyng for the warres which followed after This matter was told vnto me by Iohn Mecardus one of the chief Preachers in Augusta who beyng banished the Empiere when and how ye shall heare after was fayne to flye and was with Shertly the same yeare in Fraunce The Marches came out of Fraunce in the begynnyng of the yeare .1552 and out of hand gathered vp men but his purpose was not knowne yet the Emperour mistrusted the matter beyng at Insburg sent Doct. Hasius one of hys counsell to know what cause he had to make such sturre This Doct. Hasius was once an earnest protestāt and wrote a booke on that side was one of the Palsgraues priuy counsell But for hope to clime higher he was very ready to be entised by the Emperour to forsake first his master then God By whō the Emperour knew much of all the Princes Protestants purposes for he was commonly one whom they had vsed in all their Dietes and priuate practises which thing caused the Emperour to seeke to haue hym that by his head he might the easelyer ouerthrow the Protestantes with them God and hys word in all Germany This man is very lyke M. Parrie her graces cofferer in head face legges and bellye What aūswere Hasius had I can not tell but sure I am the Marches then both wrote his booke of complayntes agaynst the Emperour and set it out in Printe And also came forward with banner displayed and tooke Dillyng vpon Danuby the Cardinall of Augustus towne which Cardinall with a few Priestes fled in post to the Emperour at Inspurg where he found so cold cheare and so litle comfort that forthwith in all hast he posted to Rome Horsemen and footemen in great companies still gathered to the Marches and in the ende of March he marched forward to Augusta where he Duke Maurice the young Lansgraue the duke of Mechelburg George and Albert with William Duke of Brunswycke and other Princes confederate met together and besieged that Citie Where I will leaue the Marches till I haue brought Duke Maurice and hys doinges to the same time and to the same place ¶ Duke Maurice NOt many yeares agoe whole Saxony was chiefly vnder two Princes the one duke Iohn Fredericke borne Elector who yet liueth defender of Luther a noble setter out and as true a follower of Christ and his Gospell The other hys kynsman Duke George who is dead Knight of the order of the Golden Fleece a great mā of the Emperour a mayntainer of Cocleus and a notable piller of Papistry Duke Iohn Fredericke is now 50. yeares of age so byg of personage as a very strong horse is scarse able to beare hym yet is he a great deale bygger in all kynde of vertues in wisedome iustice liberalitie stoutnes temperancy in hym self and humanitie towardes others in all affaires and either fortunes vsing a singular trouth and stedfastnes so that Luice de Auila and the Secretary of Ferrare who wrote the story of the first warres in Germany and professe to be his ernest enemies both for matters of state and also of Religion were so compelled by his worthynes to say the truth as though theyr onely purpose had bene to write his prayse He was fiue yeares prisoner in this Court where he wan such loue of all men as the Spanyardes now say they would as gladly fight to set hym vp agayne as euer they dyd to pull hym downe For they see that he is wise in all his doynges iust in all hys dealynges lowly to the meanest princely with the biggest and excellyng gentle to all whom no aduersitie could euer moue nor pollicy at any tyme entice to shrincke from God and his word And here I must needes commend the Secretary of Ferrare who beyng a Papist and writyng the history of the late warres in Germany doth not kepe backe a goodly testimony of Duke Frederickes constancy toward God and hys Religion When the Emperour had taken the Duke prisoner he came shortly after before the Citie of Witemberg and beyng aduised by some bloudy coūsellours that Duke Frederickes death should by the terrour of it turne all the Protestantes from theyr Religion caused a write to be made for the Duke to be executed the
next mornyng vppon a solemne scaffold in the sight of his wife children and the whole Citie of Wittemberg This write signed with the Emperours own hand was sent ouer night to the Duke who whē the write came vnto hym was in hys tent playing at Chesse with his Cosin and fellow prisoner the Lansgraue of Lithenberg and readyng it aduisedly ouer layd it downe quietly beside and made no countenance at all at the matter but sayd Cosin take good heede to your game and returnyng to his play as quietly as though he had receiued some priuate letter of no great importance dyd geue the Lansgraue a trim mate The Emperour I doubt not chiefly moued by God secondly of his great wisedome and naturall clemency when he vnderstode his merueilous constancie chaunged his purpose and reuoked the write and euer after gaue him more honour and shewed him more humanitie then any Prince that euer I haue read of haue hetherto done to his prisoner He is also such a louer of learnyng as his Librarie furnished with bookes of all tounges and sciēces passeth all other Libraries which are yet gathered in Christendome For my frend Ieronimus Wolfius who translated Demosthenes out of Greeke into Latine who had sene the Frēch kings Library at Augusta hath told me that though in six monethes he was not able onely to write out the titles of the bookes in the Fuggers Library yet was it not so byg as Duke Frederickes was which he saw in Saxony I thinke he vnderstandeth no straunge toung saue somewhat the Latin and a litle the French And yet it is merueilous that my frend Iohannes Sturmius doth report by writyng what he heard Phillip Melancthon at a tyme say of this noble Duke that he thought the Duke did priuately read write more euery day thē did both he and D. Aurifaber which two were counted in all mens iudgementes to be the greatest readers and writers in all the Uniuersitie of Wittemberg And as hee doth thus read with such diligence euen so he can report with such a memory what soeuer he doth read and namely histories as at his table on euery new occasion he is accustomed to recite some new story which hee doth with such pleasure and vtterance as men be content to leaue their meat to heare him talke and yet hee hym selfe is not disdaynfull to heare the meanest nor will ouerwhart any mans reason He talketh without tauntyng and is mery without scoffyng deludyng no man for sport nor nippyng no man for spight Two kindes of men as his Preachers did tell me at Vilacho he will neuer lōg suffer to be in his house the one a commō mocker who for his pride thincketh so wel of his owne wit as his most delight is to make other mē fooles and where God of his prouidence hath geuen small wit he for his sport wil make it none and rather then he should leese his pleasure he would an other should leese his wit as I heare say was once done in England and that by the sufferaunce of such as I am sorry for the good wil I beare them to heare such a report the other a priuy whisperer a pickthācke a tale teller medling so with other mēs matters as he findeth no leysure to looke to his owne one such in a great house is able to turne and tosse the quietnes of all Such two kinde of men sayth the Duke besides the present troubling of others neuer or seldome come to good end them selues He loueth not also bold and thicke skinned faces wherein the meanyng of the hart doth neuer appeare Nor such hid talke as lyeth in wayte for other mens wittes But would the wordes should be so framed with the toung as they be alwayes ment in the hart And therfore the Duke him selfe thincketh nothyng which he dare not speake nor speaketh nothyng whiche hee will not do Yet hauyng thoughtes grounded vppon wisedome his talke is alwayes so accompanied with discression and his deedes so attende vppon true dealyng as he neither biteth with wordes nor wringeth with deedes except impudency follow the fault which Xenophon wittely calleth the farthest point in al doyng and then he vseth to speake home as he did to a Spanyard this last yeare at Villacho who beyng of the Dukes garde when he was prisoner and now preasyng to sit at his table when he was at libertie Because many nobles of the Court came that day to dine with the duke The gentleman Husher gently desired the Spanyard to spare his rowme for that day for a great personage ▪ But hee countenancyng a braue Spanish bragge sayd Seignor ye know me well enough and so sat him downe The Duke heard him and preuentyng hys mans aunswere sayd In deede you be to well knowen by the same tokē the last tyme you were here you tooke a gobblet away with you therfore when you haue dyned you may go without farewell and haue leaue to come agayne when ye be sent for In the meane while an honest man may occupy your place But in remembryng so good a Prince I haue gone to farre from my matter And yet the remembraunce of him is neuer out of place whose worthynes is neuer to be forgotten Duke George of Saxony a litle before he dyed hauyng no child did dishinherite Duke Henry his brother by his last wil because he was a Protestant and gaue away his whole inheritaunce to Ferdinando kyng of Romaines But Duke Iohn Fredericke by force of armes set and kept his Cosin Duke Henry in his right And he dying soone after left behynd hym two sonnes Duke Maurice and Duke Augustus who likewise in their youth were defended in theyr right by the wisedome and force of Duke Iohn Fredericke Duke Maurice was brought vp in Duke Iohn Frederickes house as if hee had bene hys owne sonne and maryed the Lansgraues daughter After it came to passe that the Emperour attempted to establish Papistry in Germany with the sword agaynst which purpose the Lansgraue and duke Iohn Fredericke armed them selues not to resist the Emperour as the Papistes say but to kepe Gods Religion vp if any by violence would pull it downe refusing neuer but requiryng alwayes to referre them and theyr doctrine to a lawfull and free generall Councell where truth in Religion might be fully tryed in the hearyng of euen and equall iudges and that by the touchstone of Gods Canonicall Scriptures Duke Maurice in the begynnyng of his warre was suspected neither of the Lansgraue nor of Duke Fredericke beyng sonne in law to the one and nighe kinsman to the other and agreeyng in Religiō with both Yea he was not onely not suspected But as I heard skilful mē say he was ready with his counsell promised his ayde to helpe forward the enterprice or els Hance Fredericke beyng a Prince of such wisedome would not haue left at home behind hym an enemy of such a force Francisco Duke Maurice Agent with the Emperour was