commaūded them that they shoulde espie oute diligently the faultes of the Clergie and all flatterie set apart declare them vnto him He released them also of their othe that they myghte speake their mindes franckly and had commaunded them to kepe the thinge close secret There were chosen Caspar Contarene Peter Theatrire Iames Sadolete and Renalde Poole Cardinals Fridericke Archebishop of Salerne Hierome Aleander Archbishop of Brunduse Iohn Mathew Bishoppe Uerone Gregorie Uenet Abbot and Thomas maister of the sacred Palace These in conclusion after consultation had comprehended the hole matter in writing addressinge theyr stile vnto him extolle him with great praises for the zeale he hath to the trueth wherunto the eares of certen Bishoppes in times past haue bene stopped chiefly through the faulte of flatterers whiche haue ascribed vnto them ouer muche Authoritie what tyme they haue affirmed them clearely to be lordes of althinges and haue power to do what they liste For out of this welspring as out of the horse at Troy haue spronge into the churche so many euils wherwith now it is most greuously afflicted Therfore is his wisedome and vertu great who considereth that the remedie must be fetched from thence from whence the beginning and cause of the disease proceded who followyng the doctrine of S. Paule wil be a minister and a steward and no lorde And for asmuche as he hath committed this charge vnto them they willyng to obey him herin haue accordyng to theyr meane wittes drawen certen Articles whiche do concerne him ▪ the Bishoppes and the Churche For where he susteineth a double person and is not onely the Bishop of the vniuersall Christian Churche but also the Prince of many Regions and Cities they onely touche suche thinges as concerne the Ecclesiasticall administratiō for the ciuile commen weale he gouerneth with muche commēdatiō and wisedom And fyrst of al. they say most holy father in like case as Aristotle commaundeth that lawes be not rashly altered so semeth it vnto vs also that thecclesiasticall lawes be in any case diligently maynteyned and not infringed without some vrgent cause For there can no greater plage inuade a commenwealth than what time thauthoritie of lawes is weakened and disolued whiche oure predecessours would haue to be kept as sacred and holy The next pointe is that the Bishop of Rome Christes Uicar whan for the Authoritie he hathe of Christe he geueth or graunteth anye thinge he take no money or rewarde for the same For seynge that all these thinges are giuen freely Christ will also that the same be freely distributed to others This foūdation once laide it must be foresene that you may haue very manye mete ministers of the churche to gouerne it for mens saluation In the which numbre the Bishoppes occupie the chiefe place but herein is a great abuse in that all kinde of men are receiued into this ordre confusely and without respect neither commended for their learninge nor honest lyuing and diuerse also very yong Wherof arrise sundry offences and holy thinges come in contempt and growe oute of reuerence It semeth good vnto vs therfore that first in the citie of Rome you appoint certen to make a choise of suche as desyre to take orders and after commaunde all Bishops to do the like euery mā within his owne Diocese And that you suffer none to be admitted without the consent of the said commissioners or Bishoppe Let the youth also that purpose to be made pristes haue a Scholemaster appointed to bring them vp in learnyng and vertuouse maners Moreouer in geuing of Benefices and spirituall promotions it is farre a misse in suche especially as concerne the Cure and charge of soules For here haue they this respect on lie that the Beneficed man may be well prouided for laying apart all care of his flocke Therfore whan suche an office is geuen chiefely if it be a Bishopricke it must be diligently forsene that they be good men and learned which both can and will gouerne the Churches themselues as they are bounden by the law Therfore may not an Italian enioy a benefice in Spayne or in Englande nor a Spaniarde or an Englishman in Italy Furthermore there is much fraude vsed what tyme a man leaueth his benefice and resygneth it to another reseruing to him self an yerly pension many times also the whole profytes For no pension maye be reteined vnlesse it be for the pore or some other godly vse Because the fruits are annexed to the benefice and ought no more to be sequestred from it than the bodye from the soule And he that hathe the same is bounden to vse the commodities therof honestly and so much as suffiseth the residew to employ vpon suche vses as is beforesayd Notwithstandyng it shal be lawfull for the Bishoppe if the case so require to impose this bondage that he shall pay a certen thing yerely to some pore man especially beyng of the Clergie wherby he may liue more honestly and better at ease Againe they offende exceadingly in permutatiōs for all thinges are done for lucre And albeit it is not lawefull to gyue Benefices by legacie yet is there a subtill way founde by wyttie men to defeate this law and benefyces are giuen to another yet so as they haue theyr reentrie agayne into the fame with the whole profytes and ministration And thus commeth it to passe that he beareth the name of a Bishoppe which hath no right or Authoritie and he whiche is indede and possession Bishop hath not the name at all And what thing els is this than to make to him selfe an heyre Bishoppe Clementrenewed an olde lawe wherby it was forbydden that the sonne shoulde not enioy his fathers benefice but yet is this permitted truly with an euill example For it can not be denied but the greatest part of sclaunders arryse of this that the churche goods are conuerted to priuate vses Hitherto many haue loked for a redresse of this thynge but nowe they are in vtter dispayre and speake and thinke full euill of vs therefore An other euill vse is to geue out vousons of benefices as it were in a reuertion where an other mans death is wished and looked for And others that better deserue to haue it are secluded from it matter ministered of muche strife and contention What shall we saye to those benefices whiche because they coulde not be employed vpon one man alone were called commonly incompatibles but herin is tholde discipline neglected and to some one also is permitted to haue diuerse Bishoprikes which semeth vnto vs worthy reformation Herunto belongeth these pluralities totquotes and vnitynge of benefices whan many benefices be ioyned together as the partes and membres of one body What is not this to delude the lawes Finally nowe is this disease crept in also that Bishoprickes are giuen vnto Cardinalles and that many vnto one Whiche thynge semeth vnto vs in dede a matter of importaunce and chiefly to be refourmed For the
declareth howe the Church hath power and authoritie to iudge of euery doctrine and to appoint ministers But fyrste he defyneth the Churche to be where so euer the Ghospell is syncerely taught And the Byshoppes he calleth Images and heades without braynes wherof there is not one that doth his duetie in any place namely in Germany And not longe after he wrote of the eschewynge of mens doctrine wherin he saieth he holdeth not with them which do in dede conteÌ„ne the lawes and traditions of men And yet do nothynge which belongeth to the dwetie of a trewe Christian After this he prescribeth how the Masse and Communion should be vsed in the Churche of Wittenberge And saieth howe he hath hitherto wrought slouthfullye by reason of mens infirmitie and to haue had a care one lye howe he myghte plucke wicked opinions out of mens myndes but nowe that many be confyrmed it is time to suffer vngodlines in the churche no longer but that all cloking and simulation set a parte sincere workyng maye ensewe vpon pure doctrine And to this he addeth an other wrytyng of holy ceremonies to be obserued in the Churche And againe of the abhomination of the priuate Masse which they call the Canon Wherin he exhorteth the people to flee froÌ„ the accustomed sacrifices of the masse as they woulde do from the Deuyll hym selfe for the demonstration wherof he reciteth in order the Canon of the Masse declaryng howe full it is of blasphemies againste God Amonges other learned men of Germany that fauoured Luther Ulriche Hutten a noble man borne was one who died this yere not farre from Zurick There be certein workes of his remaining which declare his excellent witte In the iij. boke I shewed you how Luther made answere to Henry king of Englande Whiche after the kynge had read he writeth his letters to the Princes of Saxonie Fridericke and John his brother to his vncle George and greuously coÌ„plaining of Luther he sheweth them what daunger hangeth ouer them and all Germany by reason of his doctrine And that it is not a thinge to be contemned or neglected for the great crueltie of the Turkes which is nowe spred so farre a broad had his beginning of a naughtie man or two And Boheme hard by them may be a warning for them to see the thing reformed in time he admonisheth theÌ„ also that they suffer not Luther to translate the newe Testament into the Uulgare tong for he is wel knoweÌ„ to be such a practisioner that there is no doubt but suche thinges as are well written he with his euill translation wil corrupt and depraue Unto these letters Duke George answereth very frendly blaming also Luther excedingly whose bokes he saith he hath banished out of al his dominioÌ„s as the most hurtfull enemies that can be Moreouer howe he is righte sory that he hath written so extremely against him and hath giuen coÌ„maundement throughe out all his countrey that no man reade it nor sell it and howe he hath punished the Printer that brought the fyrste Copie thyther In the assemblie at Norinberge besydes matters of Religion the Princes entreated of peace and lawes of the punnisshement of those that obeyde not the lawes of the Empire of continuall aide againste the Turke Which two last were not agreed vpon And al the cities of thempire because certein thinges were enacted which they sowe should be preiudiciall to them sent theyr Ambassadours into Spâ—ine to the Emperour Which ariuynge at Ualolet the sixt day of August The thyrde day after declared theyr message Unto whom the Emperor aunswered gently and frankely Notwithstandynge he sayde the Byshoppe of Rome had complained to him in his letters of Strauseborough Norinberge and Auspurge as fauorers of Luthers doctrine he trusted it were not trewe yet woulde he not hyde it from them to th entent they might obserue the Byshoppes decrees and his as he thinketh they will do These Ambassadors pourge them selues faiyng that they do what they can to accomplishe his will and pleasure In the meane time dieth Byshoppe Adrian at the Ides of Septembre in his place was chosen Clement the vii of the house of Medices They of Zuricke onely folowed Zuinglius doctrine the rest of the Suices hated the same Wherfore in a coÌ„mon assemblie had for the falâ—e purpose at Bernes some accused Zuinglius that he preached openly howe that suche as made league with other nations dyd sell bloud and eate mens fleshe Zuinglius heringe therof wrote that he spake not so but that he said in generall howe there were some which abhorred as a wicked thing to eate fleshe beyng forbidden by the Bishoppe of Romes lawe which thinke it none offence to sell mens fleshe for gold and destroy it with weapon But herin he named no nation And seyng that vice doeth nowe so muche abound it is his dewtie to rebuke it but the same doeth nothing concerne the good and innocent parsons Zuinglius amonges other things taught that images shuld be had out of the Church and the Masse to be put down as a wicked thing For the which cause the Senate called a new assemblie in their Citie whither came great resorte in the moneth of October And the disoutation coÌ„tinued thre daies About this time in sundry places and namely at Strausburgh Priestes maried wiues which thinge made muche contention For being accused for so doyng they answered that they had done nothinge agaynste Gods lawe permittinge all men to marie indifferently The Senate of Strausburghe had muche a do with the Bishoppe in this case who called them the .xx. day of Ianuary to appeare before hym at the towne of Sabernes to heare what sentence shoulde be gyuen agaynst them for contractyng of Matrimonye wherein he saieth they haue broken the lawes of the Churche of the holy Fathers and Byshoppes of Rome of the Emperoure also and of the Empire and haue done great iniurie to the order and offeÌ„ded the diuine Maiestie When the Priestes had receiued this Citation they make suite to the Senate to haue theyr cause hearde before them And refuse not to suffer death if they be founde to haue done any thing againste the coÌ„maundement of God The senate intreateth the Bishoppe that for as much as they refuse not to come to theyr aunswere if he should punish them it were like to brede much trouble coÌ„syderinge that the reside â—â—o kepe Harlots openly and are nothynge saied to he would at the lest defferre it to th ende of the imperial counsell Which was than at Norinberge where doubtles suche like cases should be decided To this later couÌ„sel holden this yere at Norinberge Clement the Bishop of Rome sent his Legate Cardinal Campegius who had his letters moreouer to Friderike duke of Saxonie written very friendly in Ianuary Signifiynge howe he reioysed to heare of this assemblye where he shoulde be presente him selfe trustynge that some thynge shoulde be there
after deliberation make hym 〈◊〉 full aunswere by wryting IN the first assembly at Smalcalde this emōges other thynges was agreed vppon that for as muche as their aduersaries did aggrauate the cause and profession of the Gospell with manye sclaunders and broughte it euerye where in to great hatred they shoulde wryte pryncipally to the kynges of Fraunce and of Englande that they would not credite nor be perswaded herin Wherfore the .xvj. daye of February the Protestauntes wryte their seuerall letters to them both of one effecte How they knowe vndoubtedly of the olde complaint that hath bene of long tyme concernyng the vice and faultes of the clergie whiche many notable men and of late memory in Fraunce Iohn Gerson and in Englande Iohn Colet haue sore noted reprehended the same thing hath happened of late yeares in Germany For where as certen freers wēt about with indulgences pardōs whiche they so highly cōmended to the great contumelie of Christe no lesse daunger of mens saluation that they got a shameful an vnreasonable gayne therby And being gētly admonyshed by certen good wel learned men that thei should not so do did not only abstayne from suche vsage but also cruelly condempned them for Heretykes whiche gaue them good counsell in so muche that they were constrayned to stande in the defence of the trewthe vpon whyche occasion many other thynges were espyed and reprehēded but the aduersaries whiche through their impudent marchādise gaue occasion of offence woulde neuer be in quiet tyll this doctryne whiche reuealyng their crafty iuglyng was without dewe examination condempned for wycked And to the intent they might wholy oppresse it haue brought it into great hatred with the Emperour and other kynges Neuerthesse the truthe breakyng out lyke the sonne beames discouered the faultes moste manifestly whiche of euyl customes and preposterous iudgementes were crepte in to the churche in so muche they could not be denied by the byshop of Rome hym selfe whē they had bene exhibyted before to the Emperour by the states of the Empyre in the assemblie at Wormes and after had bene treated of in all assemblies of the Empyre all men iudging for certentie that for reformation therof there were no waye better than a free and a lawfull counsell wherewith the Emperour was also content But at his commyng out of Spayne into Germany through Italy he was addicted wholy at Auspurge to quiet the matter without a counsel And so thei discourse the whole treaty at Auspurge as hath bene before rehersed and howe for the sore decree there made they were compelled to appeale to a free and Godly coūsell lest they should both haue hurt theyr conscience and offended God moste greuously Afterwardes thei confute the false opinions and sclaunders that theyr aduersaries ascribe vnto them to bryng them into hatred with all men and chieslye that the doctrine whiche they do professe is against the authoritie of Magistrates and dignities of lawes but their confession exhibited at Auspurge doth fully aunswere this matter wheren is the office and state of a Magistrate by theyr doctrine declared to be of Gods ordinaūce and agayne the people taught to owe all due obedience to the Magistrate for Gods cōmaundement and for cōscience sake so that it may be truly sayde that the learned men of this tyme and doctrine haue more hyghly commēded the dignitie of lawes and Magistrates than any former age hath done for els seing they are also appointed of God to haue rule and gouernment of others What madnes were it for thē to permitte that doctrine whiche should geue licencious lybertie take awaye obedience and styre vp the people against them Wherfore after this and dyuers other thynges they saye howe that for so much as these sclaunders are reported by them and howe it forceth very much for the cōmon wealth of christendome that they beyng kynges of such wysdome and authoritie should be ryghtly infourmed in the matter therfore haue they thought good in their owne purgatiō to wryte this much vnto them earnestly desyring them to geue no credit vnto sclaūders nor to conceaue any sinistre opinion of them but to keepe theyr iudgement in suspence tyll they may come to the place where to make theyr purgation openly whiche thing they chiefly desyre they beseche them also to exhorte the Emperour that for the weyghty importaunce of the matter and the profit of the whole churche he would call a godly and a free counsell in Germany so shortly as myght be And that he woulde worke no extremitie against them vntyll suche tyme as the cause may be lawfully decided determyned For hitherto haue they alwayes done their duty to the common wealth of the Empyre and nowe that they professe this doctrine they are brought in daunger of no selfe wyll nor obstinacie but for Gods worde and glory whereby they haue the better hope also that they wyll graunte to theyr requestes herein For it were hyghe prayse worthy if they coulde throughe theyr aucthoritie and mediation bryng to passe that these controuersies be not decided by force of armes but that an vpryght iudgement be had that abuses maye be remoued the Churches reconciled and no force or violence done vnto mens consciences Finally if they maye vnderstande by their letters of theyr good wylles towardes them it shall be to theyr great cōforte In February the Duke of Saxon summoneth all his fellowes to be at Smalcade the .xxix. of Marche to cōsulte howe to resiste the force of their ennemies if any thynge be attēpted againste them those were the Prynces and cities before mentioned But the Duke being discrased sent thether his sonne Iohn Frederick At the former meting it was agreed to sollicite Fredericke the kyng of Deumarke and the cities by the sea coaste of Saxonie touchynge their league And nowe that they met agayne rehersall was made what had bene done in the meane tyme and what aunswere euery one made And the kyng in dede saide howe he fauoured the doctrine of the Gospel but in his realme were so many bishoppes of great power and aucthoritie by reason of their rychesse clientes and noble kyndred that he coulde not enter into this league as kyng but as concernyng his other countreis lieng within the Empyre he was contēt Henry the Duke of Megelburge excused the matter for that his deputes had subscribed to the decree of Auspurge notwithstandinge he would be no ennemy to them Berninus Prince of Pomerane was not against it but that his elder brother had as yet in maner that whole gouernment They of Lubecke refused not but for as muche as they had bene at great charges in the warres they desyred that the same myght ve consydered And if it fortuned that Christerne kyng of Dēmarke whome thei had holpe to dryue out of his realme should warre against them they desyred to knowe what ayde they should looke for agayne at theyr handes The citie of Lunenbourge sayde that
an armie to go towardes Millan and by this occasion here is mentioned of the ryght whiche he pretendeth to haue there The Emperour beynge aduertysed of his enterprises commeth to Rome and accuseth the kyng and solliciteth the Pope to holde a counsell The Protestauntes make a league with the kyng of Englande The Pope publisheth the counsell to be kept at Mantua There is warre betwyxt the Emperour and the Frenche kynge The Archebyshop of Collon reformeth his countreis NOWe must we come to the siege of Munster the Metropolitane citie of Westphalia But first are certen thinges to be repeted euen from the beginning vntyll such tyme as the citie was finally taken and the chief malefactours executed I spake of Thomas MuÌ„cer in the fist boke howe he reysed a tumulte of the communaltie and shewed what his doctrine was and also howe he endeth his lyfe Out of his schole procedeth a kynde of prople whiche for their practise and doctrine are called Anabaptistes of whom also is some thing meÌ„tioned before for thei prohibite the christening of children and are theÌ„ selues baptised again affirming that all others ought to do lykewyse and take away al efficacitie from the former baptisme They pretende certen outwarde holynes They teache howe it is not lawful for the christians to go to the law nor to beare office nor to take an othe neither to haue any thynge priuate that al thiÌ„gs ought to be coÌ„moÌ„ vnto al meÌ„ And thê at the begiÌ„ning but afterwardes thei propounde a great deale more heinous matters as I shall hereafter declare And whan they began to spreade ouer all Germany and that Luther almoste all other learned men inueyhed against them and the Magistrate also punyshed them in so much that there could no great nuÌ„bre of them cleaue together At the length they placed them selues in this forsayde citie whiche in dede was of great strengthe and that fortuned thus Not farre from the citie of Munster is there a churche of sainct Morice wherin in the yeare of our Lorde M D. xxxij Barnarde RotmaÌ„ preached the Gospell and had a great audience out of the citie And he where they deuised to receiue him in to the citie The catholickes to hinder that gyue hym a meane summe of money to the intent he should go to some other place to exercise him selfe in learning So he departeth to certen places where he thought to attayne to some further knowledge After a fewe monethes retourneth wherewith they beinge sore offended doe their endeuour to debarre him from preaching but that was in vayne he had so great fauoure of the people Within a whyle certen of the beste and principall Senatours receyue hym into the Citie And where he was kept out of the churche they set vp a pulpet for hym in the churche porche and heare hym without But where as his audience encreased daylye requeste made that the churche myght be open for hym or els should the dores be broken vp And he not longe after through the aduise of certen that the people had chosen writinge his letters into Hessia not far of the Lantgraues countrey desyreth that certen good and well learned men myght be sent thether to helpe hym to preache the Gospell Wherfore a couple were sent thether from Marpurge And when they came thether they consulted with Rotman and thre others howe they myght bannyshe the byshop of Romes authoritie fyrste of all that after they myghte teache the Gospel to the more profit of the hearers For the compassing wherof this waye semed vnto them best They drawe out certen articles of the byshops errors to the numbre of thyrty and delyuer them to the Senate beynge in the meane tyme so prepared that vnlesse they could proue by the Scriptures that all these were directly against Gods worde they would refuse no punyshment The Senate coÌ„maundeth the catholiques of the clergie to come into the court there propoundeth vnto them the forsayde articles of errours And for because they haue alwayes pretended that theyr doctrine was pure and grounded vppon Goddes worde and the Preachers denye the same and wyll ieoperde theyr lyues to proue it They demaunde whether they wyll confute by the Scriptures suche thynges as are obiected Beyng thus spoken vnto and perceyuynge that the Senate tooke pleasure in the thynge they aunswere in fewe wordes that they haue nothyng to alledge for them selues And where they haue affirmed hitherto their doinges to be ryght and good that was done by wening and ignoraunce Than the Senate for as muche as they were conuicte of false doctrine and had nothyng to saye for them selues and confessed their owne naughtines commaundeth from henceforth that they teache no more but geue place in all churches to these newe Preachers whiche haue detected their errours After by the consent of the Senate and the common people churches were assigned to euerye of them where they shoulde preache Whiche thynge the Popyshe priestes toke very displeasauntly especially those that were of the cathedrall churche beynge for the moste parte gentlemen borne of good houses Who at what tyme they coulde not otherwyse preuayle departe thence in great dislikynge and go vnto the byshop of the citie and layinge their heades together doe deuise to stoppe all wayes and passages that there should no corne be brought vnto the citie And a lyttle whyle after whan all the wayes were stopped on euery syde the byshop and the others afore sayde for a further consultation to be had come to Telget which is a litle town a myle without the citie from whence was a messenger sent to the senate with letters of this effect That they shoulde forsake their enterpryse and restore the olde and former state or els they would take theÌ„ for their ennemies The byshop was countie Fraunces Waldeck The last before hym had Frederick brother to the Archebyshop of Collon But he eyther for that he coulde not haue his health in those parties or els for because he smelled some thynge not long before forsoke the place of his owne accorde and was content to lyue a priuate lyfe at home in his countrey The Munsterians consulting of the matter deteyne the messenger setting forth vpoÌ„ Christmas eueÌ„ at night about iâ— C. of them coming vpon theÌ„ soden taking the towne keping the gates that none shold escape they apprehend theÌ„ al. The bishop was gone theÌ„ce the day before as it happened By by they cary the prisoners in to the citie amoÌ„ges whom wer the chief of the clergie diuers others of the nobilitie The senate demaundeth of theÌ„ what their inteÌ„t is and whether they purpose hereafter to disturbe the preaching of that Gospell They make a gentle answer how they wyl do their endeuour that the same doctrine may floryshe wherupon a coÌ„uenaunt is made the copie wherof the Senate sent vnto the Lantgraue requestinge him for the Gospell common wealthes sake he would further
welcome him into the low countrey pourge them selues of the euill reportes of theyr aduersaryes and complayne of the Duke of Brunswike and the Iudges of the Chaumber declare how desirous they be of peace and by howe many waies they haue sought it which they nowe desyre him to graunt and establishe for euer The Emperour telleth them before Granuella that after he hath consulted of the matter he wyll make them an aunswere And in maner about the same tyme that they sent this Ambassade to the Emperour they wrote also to the Frenche kynge reioysinge muche at the great good wyll and amitie betwene the Emperour and hym And with a long proces intreate hym in this cōsent of mindes to further the cause of Religion and publique quiet to the Emperour At the kalendes of Marche the Ambassadours of the Princes cities of Protestauntes met at Smalcald as was appointed with whom also came these diuines Ionas Pomerane Melancthon Cruciger Bucer And they were inioyned to deuise a fourme in wryting wherwith they shoulde thinke mete to treate with their aduersaries for the cōciliation of religion In this assemblie they cōsulted of such matters as were left vndiscussed at Arnstad as before is said In the meane time Dulcie and Burcarte were returned out of Englande the seuenth day of Marche they make reporte at Smalcalde of the state of Religion in England that for the decrees made the yere before there is no great punishement notwithstanding Hugh Latimer byshop of Woorcester and Shaxton byshop of Salisbury are deteined in prison for Religiō and as yet not released The Lorde Cromwell whiche is in moste authoritie doth appease and mitigate the kynges mynde and that also the kyng him selfe in familiar talke opened vnto them his mynde supposeth thus that the diuines of the Protestauntes thinke not rightly cōcerning the mariage of priestes the lordes supper vnder both kyndes and of the priuate masse requireth them to write vnto him of these other necessary questions at large alledging the causes and reasons of their opinions And he wyll see agayne that the learned men of his Realme shall wryte an aunswere that thus a waye may be made to come to the knowledge of the truthe Moreouer Cromwel and certen others thinke it mete and expedient to sende a great Ambassade to the kinge and Melancthon with them For if any meane agrement in religion might be had the kynge woulde bestowe a great somme of money vpon a league that he purposeth to make with them not onlye in the cause of Religion but in generall for the kyng marueleth greatly why they are confederated for Religion only for the tyme wyll come that they shal be attempted with warre vnder a contrary title And a fewe dayes after the diuines exhibite their wryting the some wherof was this Not to swarue from the steppes of the confession at Auspurge and the Apologie afterwardes annexed to the same Which sentence afterwardes all the diuines that were absent did approue by their letters sent thether This tyme came Henry the Duke of brunswick to Gaūt The day before the Ides of March thēperour answereth the protestātes Ambassadours by Cornelles Scepp gētly so so but yet in suche sorte as it coulde not be wel perceiued whether he would graunte them peace or not Wherfore the Ambassadours by the Emperours leaue going a litle asyde by and by retourne and desire hym to inhibite the processe of the Imperiall chamber and graunte them peace whereunto the Emperour sayde he had no more to aunswere them at this tyme he woulde take further delyberation This aunswere was recited at Smalcalde the tenth daye after And on Easter munday which was than the .xxix. of Marche came thether the Princes them selues That tyme was a certen contention and hatred betwyxte Granuella and Heldus which in fine came to this ende that Heldus being displaced departed from the courte and lyued a priuate lyfe For the other was aboue hym in authoritie and brought Heldus into hatred and obloquie for that he was ouer vehement in counsell matters and other affaires and had constreyned the Emperour thinkyng nothyng lesse to haue warres in maner against his wyll And whan Granuella had geuen certen manifeste instructions of his wyll and mynde to be inclyned to peace and concorde beynge requested of the Protestauntes he perswaded the Emperour also to the conditiōs of peace And he hymselfe at the begynning as though it had bene in his owne name sent to Smalcalde intercessours and Ambassadours Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles men of great wysdome and dignitie notwithstanding the first taried by the waye sore sycke Their demaundes were reasonable enough neuerthelesse they signified this that the Emperour was almost perswaded as though they cared not for Religion neyther desyred peace in theyr hartes but altogether sought to conuerte the churche goodes to theyr priuate vses delyghted in discorde bare him no good wyll but were more addicte to take their partes that were his open ennemies And these things were reported to the Emperour partly by their aduersaries partly by the Frenchemen as it is sayde for a certentie For what tyme the Emperour went through Fraunce and all thinges were lyke to growe to a perfite frendshyp then were certen thinges disclosed and the Protestauntes letters vnto the kyng shewed vnto the Emperour some do impute this to the kyng him selfe and other some to the Constable who was than of chief authoritie sought al meanes possible to quiet and agree the Princes and dyd beare the Protestantes no good wyl because of Religion ✚ The thirtene Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirtene Booke THe Protestauutes make aunswere to the Emperour demaundes shewyng how they haue more regarde to Religion than to churche goodes They confute also the argumentes of the kyng of Englande touchyng the syxe Articles The Emperour hauing punyshed them at Gaunt sendeth letters to assigne a metyng for the protestauntes against whome speaketh Alexander Farnese the Popes Legate who had followed the Emperour out of Fraunce In the meane tyme the Frenche kyng made a league with the Duke of Cleane whose syster the kyng of Englande than refused At the assemble of Hagenawe certen poinctes of Religion were agreed vpon the resydewe were referred to the conuention that kyng Ferdinando assigned at Woruies Whether Granuellan sendyng first Naues came afterwarde also hym selfe and made an Oration And after hym Campeigius the Popes Legate The conference brake offe and all was differed to that Iourney of Regenspurg In this meane whyle Luther answereth a booke set forth by the Duke of Brunswycke where is spoken of the dere mantell of the Archebyshoppes The counsell beyng begonne at Regenspurge Granuellan presenteth the booke of the Interim The Duke of Cleaue commynge into Fraunce marrieth the
throughe mallice and hatred kindled amonges the states theire whole treasure shal be consumed in ciuile warre how fyt and profitable the same wil be for the Turkes there is no man but knoweth wel enough For howe harde a thing it is after that althynges be exasperated to quyet the matter it maye by dyuers examples be shewed They verely doe wishe for nothyng more than that a fyrme peace vpright iustice and publicke quiet might be stablished in Germany certenly of the dissention that is in religion arriseth al this grudg diffidence And that dissention springeth of that same wel for that the doctryne of the gospel and Gods trewe relygyon are prohibited for that errours and open crimes are not only not taken awaye or a mended but also for ambition and lucre sake are defended and maynteyned Therfore god beyng offended prouoked to wrath for thys vnthankfulnes doeth plage vs with greate calamities and will not cease hys hand so longe as we perseuer in the same They praye them therfore that they wolde applye theyr studye hereunto and at the lestewyse so trauell in this matter that for relygion sake there bee no trouble moued and that iustice maye bee ministred to all men indifferentlye but for somoche as that can not be as the state of the chamber is at thys present they requyre that accordyng to the olde lawes of the empire and Themprours declaratiō that iudgemente may be reformed and other iudges appoynted and actions to remayne in the same state as they were in before the refusall made and the iudges to bee charged that they obserue exactely the fourme of the reformation that shal be and attempt nothynge agaynst the peace makinges of former yeres For vnlesse the thyng maye thus bee ordered and that they may haue a sufficiente warraunte to haue peace they cannot consulte of the Turkishe warre althoughe they desyre to doe anye thynge they maye for the common welth The matter beyng longe and mothe debated whan bothe kynge Fernando and Themperours attourneis sayed howe the counsell was alreadye appoynted ar Trente and Themperoure also would come thyther And that the Iudges of the chamber coulde not be remoued without theyr cause were hearde and that the redresse is already decreed and shortely shall take effecte And howe they coulde not denye the Duke of Brunswicke by them expulsed makyng claime to hys owne to haue the lawe neyther that they had Aucthorytye to make any further graunte The Protestauntes shew them agayne that they neyther allowe that Counsell neyther wyll they come there neyther are they satisfyed in other thynges nor sufficiently assured neyther can they take any further delyberation Notwithstandinge Fernando and the other states make a decree for the fortyfying of the places nere to the Turkes dominion and for contribution monye for the same and appoynte the thirde daye of Iuly for reformation of the Chamber ordeynynge that it shoulde be redressed after the fourme prescribed eleuen yeares paste at Regenspurge appointing a penaltie for those that shall refuse to contribute their ayde accordyngly But the Protestantes agayne do proteste that they doe not assente vnto this decree because it was made withoute theyr aduise because there is no certen thing establisshed touching the peace law and because there is great pertialitie cōcerning the contribution When for Themperours cominge the matter was lyke to tende to a mortal warre betwene him the Duke of Cleaue The Princes electours and other states by theyr Ambassadours doe intreat hardely at the last obteyne a trewes of Granuellan not certē and determinat but suche as shoulde stande at Themperours pleasure so soone as he shoulde sette foote into Germanye whether he wyll approue or refuse it and in the meane season Sittarde a verey stronge towne in the frontier of Gulicke shoulde haue been in the Emperours possession vntyll he had declared what hys mynde were The intercessours promysed thys also that they wold send Ambassadours to mete with the Emperoure to in treate him in the matter And Granuellan put them in greate hope that theye shoulde receyue of hym a gentle aunswer Thys treatye thambassadours of Cleaue the chiefe whereof was Iohn Ulatten a noble man of birthe and well learned dyd well allowe and gaue thankes to the intercessours for theyr paynes taken but in the meane whyle was a battell foughten at the Towne of Sittarde the .xxiiii. daye of Marche And where as the Duke of Cleaue wanne the feelde partely by reason of this victorye and partly throughe the perswasion of the Frenche Kynge that fed hym with money he waxed obstinate forsakynge the treuce whan hys ambassadours were retourned home The newes of this prosperous battel brought spedely into Fraunce caused great reioysynge and at Paris by the Kynges commaundemente they sange Te deum The Dukes of Banier bretherne by theyr Ambassadours make intercession to the Protestantes in thys conuentyon and amonges other condicions they propounde thys also that all the Duke of Brunsewickes landes myght be committed to the custody of Themperoure or certen princes of Germany tyll the matter be further examined but herein could be nothynge determyned In this assemblye Christopher Bysshop of Auspurge dyed of a soden paulsey when he had appoynted to make a feaste on the nexte daye He was of the house of Stadious a man learned and peaceable whom Otto Truckesse suceded Here was a decree made but not entered of recorde as was accustomed neyther was it of authorytye It was longe or the Frenche Kynge receyued Themperours Letters wrytten to the Bisshop of Roome therefore nowe at the laste he aunswereth them at the full Where Themperoure wolde be preferred before hym as though he had well deserued of the church of Roome it is a mockerie and a vayne thyng For neyther are Themperours auncesters to bee compared with hys nor he hymselfe also with hym in thys behalfe certenly he is a good sonne and moche prayse worthye whose Armie dyd besiege vexe and take prisoner the father and good man of the house Clemente the .vii. and sacked the chiefe citie of the whole world and polluted the Churches and Temples of God immortall by sondry wayes and lefte there vndonne no kynde of mischiefe fylthy luste and crueltye who vnto this so greate an outerage gaue also hym selfe a prettye mocke what tyme he made vowes and supplycatyons in Spayne for the delyueraunce of hys father whom he moste streyghtely deteyned at home captiue But hys Progenitours kinges of Fraunce euer syns Charles Martell Pipine and Lewis haue studyed alwayes to auaunce and enryche the Bysshoppes of Roome He prayseth moche his owne dilligence and zeale to the common welthe but the thynge is farre otherwyse yf it bee indged a ryghte for throughe hys order and conduite haue many thousandes of Christians ben slayne of the Turkes within a shorte space in Hongary ones or twyse in the Goulfe of Uenise at Castelneufe after that in Barbarfa at Argiers Whither at
August he wryteth vnto them From Wormes and with a terrible threatenyng commaundeth them to restore relygyon and all other thinges into theyr fourmer state vntyll some publicke decree be establisshed in such matters Thre dayes after he addresseth his letters to the Senate of Collon how he heareth that certen preachers labour sore to remoue them from the aunciente religion whom they notwithstandyng haue stoutly resysted hytherto whych he was ryght ioyefull to heare of admonisshing them to perseuer in the same and kepe the citezens in theyr dewty This shal be to him most acceptable whiche he will also declare in dede in tyme to come At the kalendes of Iune the Bishop of Roome wryteth to the same effecte vnto the prebendaries of the cathedrall churche at Collon In the care sorrow of mynd which he hath of the Archebisshopppes folye conceaued he is greatly cōforted with theyr stoutenes and constancy which is not only to themselues but also to all theyr neyghbours righte holsome For nexte to the immortall God they deserue the thankes that bothe that moste noble Citie and also the whole prouince is in sayfegarde Therfore he geueth them ryght harty thankes for standyng so styffe in the cause and whylest he lyueth will neuer forget the same For albeit they did but theyr dewtie yet for the thing it self and for the example he must nedes confesse that he is moche bounden vnto them Notwithstandyng they had nede to bee constant for thys cause chiefly left if they should faynte and that the Archebyshop shoulde happely gette the vpper hande he wolde wreake hys tene on them extremly Therfore let them be stronge and stoute in the defence of Goddes name and the catholicke relygyon and of theyr owne lybertye saluation whyche that wicked Archeheretike goeth aboute to subuerte and destroye They haue no nede of a counselloure yet wolde he also thruste as it were thys spurre vnto them runnyng and desyreth them ernestlye to take good hede that he whiche is vn woorthye the name of an Archebishop doe not infect that most noble Cytie with his contagion neyther that they take hym for theyr Pastoure but for an enemie and he wyl not fayle to assist them bothe with hys counsell and otherwyse These letters dyd Iohn Poggius the Bisshops Ambassadour to Themperour sent vnto them the. xxv of August A little before thys tyme the French Kyng goyng with an army into Uermandois taketh a little Towne of Themperours called Landersey maketh it stronge with fortifications and garisons aboute the same tyme also Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt by the conduit of Poline a Frenche man arriued with a greate Nauie at Tolloye whiche is an hauen towne in the prouince of Fraunce betwene Marselles Nice Whan the Kyng knewe of hys comyng he sendeth the Duke of Uendome Angiane with a force with Galleis to assiste hym After they goe bothe to Nyce and whan they had taken the Towne and the havon the .xx. day of August they layesege to the castell An other armie of Turkes made incursyon into Hongarye whyche tooke the towne Quinquecclese and the citie and Castell of Strigone and Wanne Stulweysenburge by assaulte The Bishop of Roome had sente ayd wherof Baptista Sabella Iulye Ursine were Captianes but they came sō what to late Whan the diuines of Paris had thus triumphed ouer Lander and Depensius as beefore is sayde they publyshe those articles of Doctrine propounded to the Preacher Lander whiche in nombre were xxv The matter was solēnely donne at Paris the first daye of Auguste the people beyng called together as the maner is by a trompet those articles were recited and after also by the kynges commaundemente wer put in prynte and proclamation made vnder a great penaltie that no man should worke nor teache agaynst them and a decree also added for the searching oute of Lutheranes The diuines moreouer charge theyr studentes that are called bacchelaures and others that studie diuinitie to follow this fourme or els to be expulsed their colledge Agaynste this theyr doctryne Caluine wrote a booke whych he calleth Antidotum and paynteth them forth in their collours and moch aboute the same tyme setteth forth an other booke in Frenche of the relyques of Saynctes to thintente that bothe thys age and also the tyme to come may see in to what a case relygiō was fallē but he recyteth these thinges only which vnto him were knowē and wissheth that the same were done lykewyse in other countries And of this nombre are the Cribbe Swadling clothes and bearing clothe the foreskinne and blud of Christ partely pure partely delayed with water the sixe waterpottes that were at the mariage in the Citie of Cane in Galilee the wyne that Christe made than of water the stuffe and furniture of hys Maundie and last supper that he had with hys Apostels the Manna of the people of Israell the Crosse the cane Nayles Sponge launce Crowne of thorne Cote Shoes Handkerchef and teares of Chryst The Milke Smocke Heare Girdel Slipper Combe and Ring of the Uirgin Marie The sworde and bucklar of Michel tharchangell The Scull Iawebonne braynes and fingar of Iohn the Baptiste The Chaire Honlette Massinge garmentes brayne of S. Peter And then the bodies of Sainctes and that the same in diuerse and sondry places And he sheweth with what veneration the people worshipped these thynges whan the Pristes not without monye let them haue a syght therof and shewe them a farre of verey tryfles and thinges of nought which yf they be well considered haue nothing but craft colloure diuised of the Pristes for lucre But in vase Dutchelande ther be two famous Cities in thys behalfe Treuers and Achon for hither they saye men were wonte to come to see reliques oute of Hongary and Slauonye What tyme those marchauntes set forth theyr wares but euery seuenth yere that thauthorytie and wonder mighte bee the greater Themperoure came from Mentz to Bomia by water Ther taught Bucer at the same tyme Casper Hedio also sent for thither newly frō Strasburg by the Archbisshop a man of a verey milde nature and verey mete to instruct the people They were bothe in great daūger especially the Spaniardes beyng thete Themperour also doth wyll the Archebisshop by his ambassadours to send them a waye Melancthon was departed thence before They also not long after obteynyng lycence to departe hauing taken order with the ministers in the churches retourn home again After this Themperour wente to Dure And what tyme he came before the Towne the .xx. of Auguste the nexte daye he sent an Herauld to sommon the Towne willyng them to render it vnto hym or els he wil attempte it by force The soldiours within aunswer hym contēptuously sayinge that they are not affrayde of hym who was a good whyle sence made bayte for fysshes For the brute went howe Themperour in hys retourne out of Barbarie after the
together for the cloth was so shapē that it couered also the otherpartes which were of wood The body therfore being thus ordered and lapped in the wynding shete is layed foorth on the floure streyght waies cometh one of the womē to the parlour dore where the Captain was and declareth how Eue is dead He by and by commaundeth a coffin to be made to lay her body in And to make men affrayde that no body should come nere hir they fayne that she dyed of the plage and perfume the house with the graines of Iuniper other sauoury thinges After is the corps brought foorth and with a solemne pompe caryed to the graye Freres Churche And there was honorably buried with messe and dirige And the Freres pray for her al the yere long and desyre the people in theyr sermons to doe the same Moreouer by the Dukes commaundemente there was a funerall made for her in the Chapell of the Castell where it was sayde she dyed and lykewyse in hys head Castell of woulsebutell whiche is not farre from the Citie of Brunswicke for thither came also the reporte of her death And at this Obite or exequie was his wyfe the Dutches with her women trayne of maydens all in mournynge apparell thithere came manye Pristes that were sente for oute of the contrye whyche had a dyner made them and monye geuen in rewarde to euery man somewhat after the olde accustomed maner amonges the papistes In the meane tyme Eue whose deathe so many bewayled liueth and fareth well in the Castell of Stansseburge where oftentymes the Duke visiteth her and syus that tyme hath had by her seuen children he perswadeth hys wyfe also to sygnyfye to her parentes and frendes that Eue is dead But when it was bruted abrode that she was alyue and kepte in the Castell of Stansseburge hys wyfe which had also an Inkling therof conceaueth a vehement suspicion inquyreth of the seruaūtes howe the matter stoode but he forbad that any man shoulde come at her of those that knewe any thyng but thys suspicion sticked faste in her mynde so longe as she lyued and wryting ofte vnto hym bewayled her miserye Thys fact of hys was recyted emonges others in the same presence to th entent all men might vnderstande what opinion he had of hys owne relygion The conclusion of theyr accusation was this to proue for howe iuste necessarye causes they attempted war agaynst hym who contemnyng the Proclamations of Themperour and of kinge Fernando had disturbed the Publicke peace and had wrought all kynde of Iniurye to theyr fellowes and confederates The Duke of Brunswicke was not present at thys action Themperoure so willing it For the Protestantes desyred that he myght haue ben presente and herein had moued Themperour On Easter Monday which than was the .xiiij. day of Aprill Themperours soldiours led by the Marques of Piscare foughte a battell in Piedmont with the Frenchemen at the Towne of Carignane and lost the felde and many thousandes of them were slayne The generall of the Frenche armie was Angian Duke of Uandosme before mentioned Whanreport came of that ouerthrow many men supposed that Themperoure wolde not haue refused the treatye of peace but he was ernestly bent to haue warre made preparation accordyngly The Duke of Brūswicke aunswereth to the accusation of the Protestantes the .xxiij. day of Aprill And powryng out a greate heape of reproches obiecteth vnto thē conspiracie rebellion treasō extortiō societie wirth the Turkes and Frenche men and touching the letters founde in his castel he excuseth as well as he maye and yf theyr closettes were searched he saieth there might a great deale worse stuffe befounde But the matter concernyng Eue hys darlyng he toucheth but a little to this reproche the Protestantes make aunswere agayne And whan Themperoure wolde suffer the matter to be pleaded no more openly they exhibite a wryting the same afterwardes doth the Duke of Brunswicke The xxvij day of Aprill Charles the Duke of Sauoye agayne by hys ambassadoures accuseth the French kyng and besydes the violence and iniuryes of the foormer yeres he sayeth how he hathe styred vp the Turkes lieutenante Barbarousse who beyng ayded by the Frenche men hath taken by composition hys Citie of Nice and agaynst his fidelitie and promesse spoyled it and leadyng many awaye into captiuitie hath sette it on fyre he requireth therfore that they would help hym in thys hys extreme miserye especiallye seeyng the enemies are fully prefixed to retourne to the sege of the castel He hath craued ayde of the Bishop of Roome and he hath graunted hym only that trybut whiche the clergie are wonte to paye hym yerely But that is a verye smal reliefe in thys hys pouertie where he scarsely possesseth the tenth parte of hys dominion And that he came not hym selfe to the counsel he excuseth hym by hys age the longe Iorney and the iminent daunger of hys enemye And saieth moreouer how he is not hable to beare the charges whiche hath scant somuche as wyll fynde hym hys sōne hys familie Aboute th ende of Aprill the Swises assemble at Badē make aunswer to the letters of the states of th empyre Howe they re captaynes beyng demaunded the question affirme that they saw no band of Turkes in the Frenche campe nor hearde any thynge therof For than woulde not they haue serued And that the Frenche kynge beyng of them moued herin doeth complayne that when he sent Ambassadours the last winter they coulde not be admitted which if they myght haue ben hearde speake coulde easely haue confuted thys slaūder And that if Themperoure refuse not peace he promiseth both the Bohemers that wrote to hym in Februarie and also the Germanes hys ayde agaynst the Turke Nowe as touching themselues somme of them in dede are bounden to serue the French kyng in his warres by composition some agayne are only in league of amit 〈…〉 with hym haue ben these many yeres out of whose dominions if an◠runne into Fraunce it is done contrary to theyr will and knowledge as the lyke may also happen in some places in Germany But they rekon it beste that the kynges Ambassadours shoulde be hearde and peace establyshed Wherin if they may do any good they wil with al their heartes This tyme did the kyng of England send a great Nauie into Scotlande Who chauncynge of a good wynde whan they were arriued take fyrste Lythe a notable hauon after Eddenborough the head cytie of Scotlad And when the Castell was kept agaynst them which for the situation was vnprenuable they burnt it in the begynnyng of the moneth of May. In thys Assemblie Themperoure with a solemn ceremonie created woolfang Master of Prusse openly and gaue him the armes aperteynynge to that office whyche Alberte of Brandenburge the brother of George and Casimire had enioyed many yeres marieng a wyfe vsurped the same to hym selfe was therfore oute lawed by the chāber twelue
intelligence he had out of sondry places admonished them that the bandes of horsemen whiche for the suspicion of warre they had hyred before shuld be styl reteyned newe taken vp and prouyded but they for asmuch as thēperours demaundes pretēded no likelynes of warre but Lenitie and desire of peace thoughte verely there shuld haue ben no warre that yeare But what tyme the thing it self declared that the brute was not vayne whan nowe not only in Germany but also in Italy powers were leuied and moreouer the force of Spaniardes did approche the .xvi. daye of Iune they goe to Themperoure and for because all places are full of warlycke motions they inquyre of hym whether these thynges be don through hys commaundemente For in asmuche as the reporte goeth that he myndeth no warre agaynst the Turke nor other foreine Prince they maruell to what ende all thys preparatyon tendeth And with them were the Ambassadours of Collō and Palatine hereunto had themperoure appoynted Nauius to make them aunswer With what loue he hath imbraced Germany euer synce he fyrst was Emperoure it is no nede to recyte And is nowe of the same wyll also neyther hath he any other pourpos but that peace and iustice maye be obserued in th ēpyre and that all states may be reconcyled herein such as shall obeye hym he commaunded them to looke for all good wil of hym against those that shall doe otherwyse he sayeth howe he must procede accordyng to hys ryght and authorytie The nexte daye addressyng his letters to dyuerse Cities that were in league with the Protestantes especyally to Strasburge Norinberge Auspurge and Ulmes I doubt not sayeth he but you know well enough howe derely beloued Germany the common countrie of vs al hathe ben to me alwayes what trauell and paynes I haue taken and what charges I haue been at not with out the great dammage of my realmes and kyngdomes to thintent that weightie daungerous dissention of religion might be appeased Wherin doubtles I haue not sought myne owne priuat cōmoditie but alwayes don my indeuoure that offences taken a waie Germany might be in quiet For this the decrees doe testifye so oft by me renewed albeit that certen doe enterprete these thynges otherwyse and doe falsely ascribe vnto me the contrary Moreouer in thys my gouernemente of the common welth I haue had euermore an especyall care for the preseruation of the free Cities that they shulde not be oppressed by certen whyche yf they myghte fynde an occasyon to brynge theyr pourpose to passe wolde not fayle to do it Which thing I suppose you as you be wyse mē haue marked by former actes don Nowe though certen men haue oftentymes attēpted diuerse thinges to the hynderaunce boothe of you and of other states and of me also yet in asmuche as I could not without a greate sturre redresse them I haue suffered hytherto in good hope surelye that I shoulde at the lengthe reape the fruyte of thys my pacyence and lenitye to the profyt of the publycke weale whiche doubtles had so commen to passe had not some men by secrete and wonderfull polycyes letted thys agremente certes not for thys cause that eyther they loue Relyon or respect gods glory but that vnder a certen pretence of holynes wherwith they myghte cloke theyr wickednes they myght oppresse other states and bryng theyr goodes and landes into theyr owne handes For the reuenewes of some they haue vsurped already and violently deteyne the same to the greate iniurye of many And nowe that they haue brought the matter to thys passe that iustyce set asyde they now feare nothyng they shoute now at my office by moe wayes than one and raseshely demynisshe the same for thys intente certenly that they maye subdewe the states of Th empyre and especyallye the Cytyes partely by force and partely by craftie meanes Whose talke maketh me to beleue the thynge to be certenly trewe whan they bragge as I am credebly infourmed and threatē also that they wil attempt force and warre agaynste me The same thyng is wytnessed by so many of theyr forged sedytions and famous lybelles and pictures which they setforthe to reyse sedition and inflame the people againste me Therfore can I haue no hope that euer they shulde through my lenitie and pacience waxe the better amend or leaue these insolent facciōs For certenly hitherto I haue so littell profyted by this meane these many yeres now that they are not only become nothing at al the better but also worse then themselues more obstinate more rebelles and desperate Whiche thing certenly tendeth to the distruction of the publycke weale and vnlesse a remedy be found it wyll come to passe that Germany shall fall from hys auncyent lybertye into a moste greuous bōdage and tyranny but that maye I neyther beare nor suffer anye longer neither cā it by any meane be excused though I wold Wherfore to thintent my dygnytie may be preserued that peace and iustice maie consist in their vertu and strength that the iminent daunger may be repulsed from the Empyre and from youre heades I haue prefixed to bring those disturbers of the common welth to theyr dutye and to restore Germany to her olde beautie and lybertie Which intēt of myne I thought good to sygnifye vnto you that you shuld geue no credite vnto such as haply shal brute a broade that my pourpose is otherwise For I doe assure you vpō my honour that I doe it for none other respect thē for the same that I haue now declared Therfore I trust also that you will not faile me herein that bothe their boldnes may be repressed that youre dignitie may also be recouered If you shall thus doe I bed you looke for all goodwill at my handes which I wil further declare incase you send me an Ambassadoure touching the same the like thing in effect he wrote also to the Duke of Wirtēberge The same daye wherein these letters were in dited Granuellan and Nauius calle vnto them the ambassadours of the cities beforesaide and speaking to euerie of them seuerally in maner after one sort saye how this warre is not ment nor prepared against the Cyties but againste certen rebelles that haue committed treason and infringed themperours authoritye which haue taken the possessions of certen Princes and bishops whiche in dede by occasyon wil not spare the cities neyther Wherfore looke they shewe theyr fayth and allegeaunce to Thēperoure and ayde not his enemies that Themperoure haue no cause of displeasure agaynste them vnto whom he wissheth well◠let them wryte thys whome with spede and exhorte theyr cyties to remayne in theyr de wtye Themperoure will also wryte vnto them like wise sende ambassadours The same daye at Trent it is ordeyned that in the Abbeies of Monkes Chanons there be some learned man appointed to reade a lecture of diuinitie herunto some benefyce assigened out in steade of a pension And that no
Herbes Beastes Metalles Precious stones and by dayly vse and hearing did remember them He was wont also to deuise muche of the Mathematical sciences and to reason oft of the Scriptures About his table stoode alwayes the notable men of eche degree And in as muche as the talke was inferred of sondry argumēts it was harde but that one or other would alwayes propounde some matter And that might euery man do lawfully in case he were any thing knowen The example also and this desire of the kyng excited men vnto great diligēce that they might in reasoning before him deserue prayse In his owne tongue he was always accompted right eloquēt and graue Throughout Grece and Italy he had that sought and copied out for him the workes of olde writers And he made a goodly librarie whiche yelded certen notable bookes afterwardes The keper wherof was Castellan Alitle before his death he had sent to the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue for the mayntenaunce of the war to eyther of thē an hondreth thousand crownes and what tyme he departed the mony was scarsely deliuered About the same tyme also the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes retourne out of England into Fraunce that they myght finishe vp the rest of their matters And lyke as they found kyng Henry there whan they fyrst arriued so now retourning from thence they fynde king Fraūces extremely sicke Wherfore this happened also to the reste of the Emperours good fortune that those two moste mightie kynges which neither wanted oportunitie nor as many men than supposed wyll also to impeche and hynder his enterpryses died both in a maner at one tyme. That force of the Emperours whiche after they had oppressed certen noble men and taken the citie of Mynden I sayde went marching to Breme at the ende of this same moneth had such an ouerthrowe that he lost the chief captaine of the warre Grunninge gouernour of Selande And whan the power of the Bremers was increased by the accesse of Hamborough men Urisberger who after the death of Grunning had then the chief gouernment remouing his campe and fetching a long circuite about for the fennes that lay in his way began to beseige the citie on the other syde Thither came shortly after also Ericus Duke of Brunswyck whom the Emperour at the Ides of Marche sent away from him at Norlinge to the intent he should leuie a newe power of horsemen and fotemen and leade them into those parties The Emperour remouing from Norling to Norinberge went from thence to Egre a towne of king Ferdinādos in the borders of Boheme The king had at sondry times admonished the citie of Prage their weapons The residue of the states by them therof aduertised the fourth day of Aprill wryte againe That the cause why they haue put on armure led forth their armie is to defende their countrie from vniust violence especially in his absēce And pray him to intreate themperour that he war not against the Duke of Saxō but suffer that his case may be frendly debated They desire also to haue a parlament as the promise was At the which time the Emperour cōming to Egre and the. vi◠day of April whan Ferdinano Maurice were come that day before he writeth to all the states of Boheme and repeting briefly what he had writtē in the moneth before sheweth thē that he seketh only the Duke of Saxon. Wherfore let them bring forth their vitayle furnishe them of corne retourne home As concerning religiō they nede not to feare for in all this war he hath molested no mā for religiō At the same tyme the commissioners that were at Prage dispatching their letters into all partes warne the states moste earnestly that they would put on armure and come with all haste possible to desend their countrey for the matter is brought to an extreme daunger Ferdinando the eleuenth of Aprill aunswereth their last letters from Egre of lyke effecte in a maner as the Emperour did Therfore let them leaue their enterprise or els wil he fynde the meanes to represse their rashenes wel enough Where they intreate for the Duke of Saxon he can not a lyttle maruell For he hath not deserued so neither of the Emperour nor of him nor yet of the lande of Boheme Touching their request for a parliament he wyll doe herein as shall become hym In the meane tyme the Duke of Saxon taketh from Duke Maurice Fridberge and Misen a towne by the Ryuer of Albis And about this tyme the Fathers that were at Trente remoue to Bolonia la grace neither after that session wherein they treated of the Sacramentes made they any decrees at al. The cause of their departure as it is sayde was for that the ayre of this place was not greatly holsome after the opinion of Hierosme Fracastor Phisition to the Fathers of the counsell who had of the Byshop of Rome therfore threscore duckates a moneth The Emperour toke this matter moste displeasauntly and commaunded the Byshoppes and Diuines of hys dominions not to remoue from thence one fote Wherupon parte of the counsell was at Trente and an other parte at Bononie What tyme the Emperour marched from Norlinge to Norinberge the Erle of Bure whiche kept Frankefurte with twelue enseignes of fotemen and about foure hondreth horsemen being sent for came thither And whan he was come agayne to Franckefurt the .xii. daye of Aprill he putteth two to death wherof the one Iohn Uerden was of the same towne the other William Gelluse was a subiect of the Lantgraues The cause of their execution was for that they were sayde to be sent by the Lantgraue that they should bye of a Smyth the keyes of one gate that they should set the town on fyre in foure sondrye places that they should dryue in Iron nayles into the Canons and other great pieces so that they might not be shot of That whylest others were quenching the fyres they with the helpe of their fellowes should slaye the Erle of Bure and his familie the Consull and the Senate That they should infecte the welles of the town with poysō especially that which serued the Erles kitchin and an other whiche is in the Court. After came forth a wrytting pourporting howe they confessed in pryson this cōspiracie and perseuered in the same whā they were led to execution But the Lantgraue pourgeth hym selfe and affirmeth that synce that tyme that Franckefurt came in to the Emperours handes he hath attempted nothing and cōfuteth the crimes obiected with many weighty wordes he had at sondry times in dede cōmaunded Geluse to vnderstād which way themperour the Counte of Bure marched with their armie but that thing only But in case thei being vāquished by the sharpnes of the torture extremitie of the payn haue spoken that is false haue not iniuried others only but him also he desireth that the same be not wrasted to his disdayne and
prease to enter without his expresse commaundement Whan they had surrendred the Duchesse of Saxon Sibille of Cleaue going forth with her sonne and her husbandes brother cometh into the campe and making her supplication moste humblie besecheth themperour with plentifull teares to be good to the Duke her husbande The Emperour enterteined her ryght curteously put her in good comfort After he licenseth the Duke to go into the citie there to remayne eight dayes with his wyfe and his children The same daye that the souldiours issued out of Wittemberge at the Duke of Saxons commaundement whiche was the .xxiii. day of May the Emperour sent in Almaigne fotemē at the leading of Nicolas Madruce Two dayes after king Ferdinando and his two sonnes came into the towne accōpanied with the Electour of Brandenburg and Duke Maurice to see it only and making no long abode retourneth into the campe At after none also the Emperour hym selfe entreth and whan he was come into the Castel he saluteth the Duchesse again comforting her wylleth her to be of a good chere I shewed you before of the death of Fraunces the Frenche kyng Who the .xxiiii. day of May was buried in the churche of saint Denis consecrated for the buriall of kynges and with him his two sonnes Fraunces and Charles wherof the one departed .xi. yeares past and the other two yeares since as before is sayd and remayned vnburied hitherto In the meane season that the funerall was in preparing for kyng Fraunces his picture for a certen space appareled with riche array with hys crowne Scepter and other ornamentes was layde vpon his bed wherunto at certen howres both dynner and supper was serued with lyke solemnitie as was accustomed being a lyue After were these garmentes taken away and mourning apparell put on There were continually present .xlviii. Monkes suche as are commonly caled begging Freers Those sange Masses and Diriges for hym without ceasing About the dead corps were set .xiiii. great tapers and ouer against stoode two aultars wherupon from the first day light tyll it was noone was sayde Masse continually There was also a chapel iust by wherin were burning innumerable Tapers lightes About the chariot wherin the coarse was caried went .xxiiii. Freers with so many Tapers And before them went fiue hondreth poore men in mourning apparell with euery man a torche Besydes other nobles of Fraunce there were present .xi. Cardinalles The funerall Sermon made Peter Castellane Byshop of Macon of whome is mentioned before He amonges other thynges declareth howe the king was prefixed to buylde a College wherin all artes and tongues should haue bene red and taught And that sixe hondreth shuld haue bene founde there to learning And to the same vse had assigned out fiftie thousand crownes yearely I shewed you before how Duke Ericke of Brunswick went to Breme Howbeit at the .xxii. day of May he departeth from the siege to defend his owne coūtrey from spoyling The same did Urisberger whiche led an other part of the armie and they first agreed vpon a place where they should mete againe with their powers This Duke chaunceth vpō his ennemies Which was the force of Hamburge that came to ayde the Bremers They fought sore till it was within night and in fine Duke Erich being discomfited and driuen backe with his horsemen into the Riuer of Uisurge lost many of his men Neuerthelesse he him selfe escaped but lost all his munitiō and after comming to the Emperour layde all the faulte in Urisberger that came not to helpe him With the Bremers and their fellowes were Counte Albert of Mansfelde Erle Hedecke Thumserne Conrade Phenninge and diuers others But after the Duke of Saxon had cōdicioned with the Emperour al these forces slipped away Whilest these thinges are a doing the Electour of Brandenburg and Duke Maurice intreate diligently for the Lantgraue And to the intent the thing might the more conueniently be accōplished they sende for him to Lipsia but where the Emperour would in any wyse that he should submit him selfe without condicion and deliuer all his Castels and munition also he retourneth home without concluding any thing and the same day cometh to Weissefelse foure miles from Lipsia The next day by the waye ryding as he talked with Christopher Eblebe of the condicions that were propounded and of his fortune and estate If I knew sayth he that the Emperour might be intreated to suffer me to retourne home againe and to let me haue one of my Castels furnished with ordenaunce I could be content for a common quiet to Rase all the reste and deliuer all the munition accordingly Than sayeth Eblebe I wyll reporte this tale vnto Duke Maurice and within a fewe dayes wyll eyther repare vnto you agayne or aduertise you of the certētie hereof by letters in the meane season I desire you to surcease from other deuises Going therfore vnto Duke Maurice not long after he retourneth with letters to hym frō Duke Maurice and the Electour of Brandenburge bearyng date the fourth day of Iune out of the campe before Wittemberge whiche were of this importaunce That so sone as they vnderstode more of his mynde by Eblebe they became agayne peticioners to the Emperour and what they haue obteyned that doth the copie it selfe and conditions of peace whiche Eblebe bryngeth him declare And in as muche as the conditions are tollerable they doubte not but he wyll admitte the same especially considering in how great daūger he standeth Their aduise is therfore that he refuse them not but submitte hym selfe to the Emperour without condition For he nedeth not to feare lest the Emperour shuld burthē him with great thinges or deteine him prysoner for they wyll become suertie for that matter And if any thing should chaūce vnto him besydes that whiche is conteined in the copie of peace that he shall now receiue by Eblebe or if he should be deteyned styll in captiuitie they wyll not refuse to abyde the same fortune and being called vpon by his children wyl offer them selues to make him recompēce And for Religion he shall haue the same assuraunce that they and Marques Iohn haue already And seing it is so and in as muche as this composition shal be not only for hym selfe but also to the common wealth expedient they hartely require hym that he would come withall expedition and bryng with him the Duke of Brunswick and his sonne and receiue the cōditions and followe their assuraunce and fidelitie herein And let him not be afrayd that his prysoners should be taken from him by the way For they will beare him out of all that daunger and whan he shall be entred on his way he shall mete with horsemen of theirs that shall conduite him in saufetie The copie of the peace was this That he do submitte him self and his prouince to the Emperour without condition that he come to the Emperour him selfe and humbly require to be pardoned that he behaue him self to the
the byshops in maner beare no authoritie And in this dissolute oultrage and coÌ„fusion of things innumerable thousandes are in daunger of their saluation Briefly through this same pestilent euill is infected corrupted whatsoeuer before was clere the states of thempire plucked a sonder do obserue no frendship amoÌ„ges them selues In these so many and great euils their only refuge is to the Apostolicall churche Wherfore they hartely pray him euen for the wealth of Germany that he would restore the counsell Whiche if he would there is nothing but he myght loke for at their haÌ„des But if not they caÌ„not see from whence they should seke remedy For stormes and tempestes arrise on euery syde whiche all to repulse God hath ordained the holy churche of Rome as a certen bulwarke and rocke moste strong Let him haue therfore a consideration of their requestes and thinke no lesse but it may be except he prouide for the contrary that some other meanes and deuises may be founde to dispatche this matter For the rest they pray him to take these thinges in good parte For their duty and state of tyme compelleth them so to wryte In these dayes also the Englyshmen vanquish the Scottes in a maigne battell and slewe of theÌ„ many thousandes at the conduict of the Duke of Somerset the kinges vncle The cause of the warre was the same that was before during the lyfe of kyng Henry that is to witte for that the Scottes would not geue their Quene to wyfe vnto king Edward as their promise was After this victory the Englishe nation wan a great part of Scotlande and enlarged their limites farre Concerninge the Emperours demaundes all men were not of one opinion For the Electours that were of the clergie do vrge the counsell of Trent without conditioÌ„ But the Ambassadours of the Paulsgraue Duke Maurice and Marques of Brandenburg refused not the same sobeit it were fre and Godly wherin the Byshop should not be iudge and should release other Byshops of their othe and that their diuines also might haue licence to reason and the decrees already made be retracted But all other Princes and states were desirous that the counsell might be continued that the Protestauntes going thether by saufeconduict may be heard constrained to obey the decrees of the counsell Themperour hearing al their mindes the .xviii. day of Octob. answereth desireth them al to submit them selues to the couÌ„sell and treateth with the Paulsgraue and Duke Maurice seuerally that they shuld geue their assent And the Paulsgraue in dede was put in feare vnlesse he consented by reason of the late offence in the yeare before where as that sore was not throughly healed Duke Maurice again which both coueted that the Lantgraue his father in lawe shuld be deliuered And was also muche auaunced of late by the Emperour sawe wel he must nedes do some thing Wherfore whaÌ„ themperour had by messengers seÌ„t betwixt promised largely of his good wil towards theÌ„ and desired instauntly that they would committe the thing to his fidelitie they at the last the .xxiiii. day of October consente therto The rest were only cities whiche sawe what a daungerous matter it were to submitte them selues to the decrees of the couÌ„sell without exception With them did Granuellan and Hasie intreate longe and muche And the meane whyle it was bruted throughout the citie howe they were franticke and out of their wyttes that refused the thyng whiche all the Princes had than approued There were heard moreouer threatnynges that they should be scourged worse than they were of late In fine a meane was founde that both the Emperour was satisfied and they also assured For being called before the Emperour They saye it is not their parte to correcte the aunswers of Princes and delyuer hym with all a wryting wherin they testifie vpon what conditions they doe admitte the counsell The Emperour hearynge their tale aunswereth them by Seldie howe he is verey glad and ioyfull that after the example of others they referre the matter vnto hym and geue their coÌ„sent with the reste So did he attribute more vnto them than they desyred For they did not assente to the reside we but to auoyde displeasure they woulde finde no faulte with the sentence of the Princes And yet leste any thyng should be preiudiciall to them hereafter they declared by wryting in what sort they lyked the counsell that in tyme to come myght remayne a testimony of their myndes This was about the ende of October And the same tyme came thyther Kyng Ferdinando and after also the Electour of Brandenburge The Emperour therfore immediatly in the beginnyng of Nouember sent the Cardinall of Trente to Rome in poste to moue the Byshop to call agayne the Synode to Trente In the moneth of Nouember Christine wyfe to the Lantgraue his sonnes and certen choise counsellours in their letters wrytten to all the Princes and States of the Empyre declare by what meanes he was taken at Hale commyng thyther vnder saufe conduite And in as muche as all the condicions by the Emperour prescribed that could or ought to be perfourmed are accomplished the monie payd the Duke of Brunswick his son set at libertie al the letters of the confederates exhibited the oth of the nobilitie assurasice of the suerties made al his munition deliuered his fortes rased Moreouer in as much as thei are ready neither refuse thei to be pledges theÌ„selues vntil such time as the rest be fulfilled also they can not wout the gret grief vexatioÌ„ of mind se him in this miserable case For before he went to Hale he was in no suche case but that he might haue kept his castelles an honest tyme against the force of the ennemy And that also can the Emperours commissioners whiche sawe the thinges afterwarde testife But for the compassion he had of the people chose peace before war Wherfore they moste hartely praye them to intreate the Emperour in his behalfe and fynde the meanes that being shortly restored to libertie he may retourne home For in case he should be longer dâ—teined it would be doubtles to the vtter decaye of his health And to haue the better successe in their sute the Lantgraues wyfe came her selfe to Auspurg And both her selfe and also by Duke Maurice and the Electour of Brandenburg solliciteth the Princes to sue for him Whiche thing knowen the Emperour before intercession was made the .xxv. day of NoueÌ„ber declareth to the states that he heareth what report is made vnto theÌ„ And in as much as the talke of men is diuerse he wil declare vnto them the plain truthe of the matter so reciteth from the beginning how ofte and by whome the Lantgraue had bene sued for And howe he aunswered theÌ„ al that he shuld yelde and submitte himself without condicion rase his castels and deliuer his munition and than he tolde Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburg that he should
any time anye commotion to arrise within the Empire or without the same may be alwaies in a readinesse And when a fewe daies had passed betwene kynge Ferdinando raccompteth how he for waightie causes whiche they them selues vnderstand wel inough and nede not to be recited sendinge an Ambassade made truse with the Turke for fiue yeares wherof one is past And albeit he hath commaunded his men to do nothing to the contrary yet he requireth them neuerthelesse to geue him that aid which they haue already promised to the intent that if he breake couenauntes he may be easely resisted Again inasmuch as he doth fortifye his frontier Townes with stronge garrisons that he also be negligent in this behalf Therfore is he purposed to fortifye in all places and to kepe garrisons but for the intollerable charges of the warres in these former yeares he is not hable to sustaine so greate a burthen Wherfore he requireth them that whilest this truse shal indure they would pay the mony yerely to be imploid vnto these vses For this concerneth the quiet and preseruation of them all In the meane time Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando departinge from Auspurge goeth into Spaine to take in Mariage the Lady Mary the Emperours eldest daughter his cosin Germane The Cardinall of Trent was sente wyth him and a fewe monethes before the Duke of Alba. At the ende of Maye the horsmen of Nalpes that before were in Norgouia come into the contrie neare vnto Strausburge and there remaine by the space of three Monethes and hardly can it be expressed how arrogantly they vsed them selues Many times woulde they come into the Citie neither wanted that thinge great suspicion Duke Moris not long after the Emperours decree was setforth departeth thēce But Marques Ihon of Brandenburge the brother of Ioachim the electoure goeth to the Emperour and kinge Ferdinando standinge by besecheth him to fauor him in this matter and speakinge somewhat of his seruice towardes him saieth that he vppon this affiaunce chiefly serued him in this last warre for that he had assured him touchinge Religion The Emperoure sheweth him howe this is the consente of the states imperiall and saieth that no man oughte to swarue from the same he replied againe that all had not assented and aunswered him plainly that he could not with a good conscience praise the same decree and still vrged his promesse and couenaunt Whan the Emperour might not preuaile he commaundeth him to departe whiche men suppose to be done for this cause least he should through his example and talke cōfirme the mindes of others Wherfore the same day towardes euening he taketh his iourney homewardes and in all his dominion altered nothing The Prince Electoure his brother who indeuoured alwaies to please themperoure made no assistaunce Nor yet the Paulsgraue hauing the Emperoure at the same time not his very good Lorde The Ambassadoures of the Cities suche as were of the confession of Auspurge when they were vrged did intreate that they mighte firste aduertise their Senates to the intent they might answer according vnto their mindes which thing was permitted them to do The Emperoure commaunded Wuolfgange Prince of Bipount of the house of Palatine which had his Ambassadours there to come him selfe And whan he came he doth instaunt him to confirme the decre He saieth he knoweth none other Religion saue that in the which he was borne and brought vp in vnto this day Wherfore he requireth him to haue some consideration of him and saieth he wil do herein whatsoeuer he maye with a safe conscience The Emperoure for that time letteth him so departe but afterwarde he vrged him sharply by letters and by messagers as shall be rerited in his place Whilest the Senate of Auspurge consulted the Emperoure placeth souldiours throughe out the Citie There was a righte famous Minister of the Church Wuolfgange Musculus he seinge Godlinesse go to wracke and the Senate tunorouse and could not approue the booke departeth from thence to Bernes in Swisserland At Hale in Sweuia was Ihon Brentius He was in greate daunger two yeres past what time as the protestantes retourned home the Emperour came vnto Hale and now was in much more daunger For then a little before the Emperour came thither which was in the beginning of Decembre certain Spanish souldioures comming into the Towne went straightwaies vnto his house and require to be let in or els threaten much cruelty Which beinge receiued did many thinges fierselye and arrogantlye Wherefore he biddeth his wife and his family hauing none other place to repare to to get them into the hospitall house of the City and a little after followeth he him selfe leauinge one at home to geue them vitailes and thinges necessary But the next daye commeth a noble man of Spaine which was of the Cleargy and thrusting them oute at the dores kepeth the whole house to him self and going into his studie searcheth all thinges There whan he had founde certaine letters wrytten to Brentius from his frendes concerninge the trouble of this time he seketh to procure him much displeasure whan he had vttred the same to his Countrye men Wherefore he followinge the aduise of his frendes in a cold and sharpe winter nighte conueieth him self into the country least by his presence he should hinder his Citezens But when the Emperoure was come thither and shewed clemency and semed to be nothing offended for anye kinde of Doctrine taught there Brentius at the last retourned thither and executed his srunction vnto this time that the Emperoure woulde haue all men to receiue the decree made concerning Religion For beyng commaunded as many other learned men were thorowout Germany to declare what he thought of that boke Albeit he vnderstode his owne daunger yet to thintent he might perfourme hys duetie to the cōgregation he pronoūceth the same to be contrary to the Scriptures and so declareth it by writing Which after that it came into the Bishops handes Granuellan in themperours name cōmāded thambassadours of Hale that they should finde the meanes that he might be brought bounden to Auspurge But beinge admonished by his freindes he steppeth a side into the countrey by And not longe after commeth to Hale a bande of Spanierdes the Captaine wherof goeth immediatly to the house of Brentius and seketh euery where diligently if he might find any pray to cary away but the most part of his stuffe was conueied by his frendes alies vnto another place Thus therfore he whiche had taught there xxvi yeares was exiled And his wife also thoughe she had a greuous sicknes whereof she died shortly after was banished withall his family Wherefore she pore wretch wandred vp and downe with .vi. children and knewe not where to become or to haue any refuge all men were so sore afraid of the Spaniardes And this thing augmented her disease sorow that she knewe not in the meane while what was become
he shall prescribe that will he be ready to accomplishe But he preuailed nothing for all these praiers was oftētimes by his kepers which were Spaniardes remoued frō place to place first from Donauerde to Norling Than to Hailbrune after to Hale in Sweuia Whilest the Emperoure attempteth these thinges in Germany the Masse is abrogated in Englande by acte of Parlaiment And not longe after was apprehended Stephen Bishop of Winchester who contended that the lawes whiche were made in the kinges noonage were of none effect He was commaūded the yere before to kepe his own house and not to come abrode but being newlye enlarged whan he was thoughte to haue thaimged his opinion he made a Sermon before the king and his counsell in the which whan he had declared his minde he was committed to warde The Emperoure the. xiiii day of Iune commaundeth to be red vnto the Cleargy the fourme of reformation as they call it In the which were contained these Chapiters following of ordeininge of the offices of the ecclesiasticall state of Monasteries of scholes of hospital houses of the ministration of Gods word of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the Ceremonies of the Masse of the Ceremonies of the Churche of the discipline of the Cleargye and laietie of the Pluralitie of benefices of visitations of Saintes of excommunication And amonges other thinges are these setfor the chiefly that such as come to take holy orders be diligentlye examined of their belief of maners and learning but especiallye of heresies spread abrode chiefly in this time and whether they beleue the same that the catholicke apostolicke and Church of Rome doth beleue The inquisition of manners is commaunded to be made as s Paule prescribeth in the thirde chapter of the firste Epistle to Timothe but that same which Paule amonges other thinges admonisheth that the minister of the Church shoulde be the husbande of one wife which could well gouerne his house and had obediēt and faithfull children is cleane omitted That no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop except he be first Priest or promise to receiue the reast of the orders so shortly as is possible That Bishops take cure of their shepe and fede them with doctrine and with the sacramentes That they also visite ofte their Churches and ouersee that other Ministers do theyr dutye that the wolues do not wortye the flocke That the monasticall life be instituted againe in places where it is left That in scholes be nothing taughte excepte it be agreable to the Catholike Church That the Sacramentes and Ceremonies of the Churche be ministred in the Latin tounge least if the people vnderstand them they should come in contempte That the Canon of the Masse remaine whole and be spoken softlye to the intente those tremblable misteries maye retaine theyr aunciēt dignitye That in accustomed Ceremonies nothinge be aultered that Salte Water Hearbes the Paschall Lambe newe frutes also Temples Churches Chappels Chalices Aultares Coopes Uestmentes and Uessels belonginge to the Churche be hallowed throughe Prayer againste the deceites of the Deuill and inchantmentes That Tapers shall burne in the Churche and Incense be sacrificed Moreouer that supplications be made at the Churches dedicated to Sainctes let the Cleargye liue temperatelye and sobrely and eschue whoredome let them put awaye their Concubines or els be punished That the ciuile Magistrate shall assiste the Byshoppes that a reformation be made of manners and Discipline And that the Ecclesiasticall liberties may be wholye mainteined let the Saintes in euerye diocesse be put in vre againe and kepte twise euerye yeare wherein shall inquisition be made of euerye mannes manners and vices suche as may not otherwise be reformed shall be excommunicated let al men flee theyr speach and companye and not to be receiued againe into the Communion before they humbly desire forgeuenesse and promesse amendment This reformation being red the day before saide the Bishoppes after a little deliberation do confirme and saye that shortlye after they be come home they will kepe Saines howe be it in diuers thinges they desire that the Bishoppe of Rome maye be moued to geue his assente This boke also was after put forthe in Printe I shewed you before of the Ambassadoures of the Cities howe they signified the matter home but whereas they of Strausburge whiche were the chiefest of them were longe or euer they aunswered The Emperoure calleth vppon them by Granuellan who the .xxviii. day of Iune sendeth for the ambassadoures whereof Iames Sturmie was the principall and there by Henry Hasy which was interpretoure saieth howe they knowe in what sorte the states requested the Emperoure and put him in truste to deuise some meane which mighte be obserued till the Counsell whiche thinge he hathe done accordinglye and hathe caused learned men to compile a Booke which al the Princes a fewe excepted and the chiefest Cities haue approued And wheras they and certaine others intreated themperoure that they might aduertise theyr Senate at home he graūted them and hathe loked euer sence for an aunswere And that he hath heard nothinge hitherto he is somewhat offended and therefore hathe commaunded him to knowe what theyr meaning is They whan they had declared the cause of their longe scilence exhibite letters addressed to the Emperoure from the Senate Howe they wished for nothing more than that they might gratify him in all thinges but they and theyr Citezens were perswaded that in case they should throughly admit this decre they shuld bothe hurt their owne conscience also osfēd God most greuously seing he of his wisedome can consider how terrible a thing that were they desire him for Christes sake that in so waightye a matter whiche concerneth not landes or goodes but the saluation of their soules and life euerlasting he would haue some consideration of thē and as he hathe done to others of the contrary parte so he woulde permit also that they mighte vse the Religion confessed at Auspurge vntill the decree of the generall counsel as ofte times in assembles hathe bene determined and not compell them to professe otherwise with their mouth than theyr heart thincketh and they wil againe foresee that in their City be nothing done vnreuerently or against Religion and that euill opinions take no place And that no cause of complaint be geuen to their neighboures Whan Granuellā had heard these letters he saieth how the Emperour hath had alwais a good opinion of their Citie and for as muche as all for the moste parte haue commended and ratified the decree made let them not thincke to be exempted For they are commaunded to admitte no suche kinde of aunswer therefore is this Supplication in vaiue wherefore let them aunswere plainely what the minde of the Senate is Hereunto they saye where the matter was committed to the Emperoure that did they and the other ambassadours vnderstand euermore of Politike matters and not of Religion for that they supposed it
warned meune to beware and eschewe the same as a mooste presente Pestilence One of these was Caspar Aquila chiefe minister of the Church of Saluelde in Thuringie Thoccasion why he wrote was Islebie who retourning home from Auspurge gloried muche in the boke by the way and said there was now a golden world toward and that Aquila had also assented After he hearde of this he answereth moste vehementlye and reproueth him for his liynge and affirmeth the boke to be ful of erroneous opinions And in Fraunce also Robert bishop of Abrincen wrote against it how be it after a contrary sort and chieflye dispiseth the boke for so much as it permitteth Priestes to marrye and the common people to receiue the whole Supper of the Lord and so taketh occasion to inuey against Bucer with most opprobrious words for maryinge his seconde wife Moreouer one Romeus generall of the Austen Friers at Rome wrote againste it for the same purpose Thus doth the boke incurre reprehension on euerye side Themperour sent an ambassadour to them of Norinberge and to certain others to perswade them vnto this decre Whan he came by the way to the duke of Saxons sonnes he moued them hereunto but they constantly denied it wherfore at his returne to themperour he declareth the whole matter wherupon themperour solliciteth againe the Duke theyr father prisoner and complaineth of his sōnes how they contemne the decre lately made suffer men to speake against it both in theyr preachings wrytinges he requireth therfore that he would treat with them to content him in ether thing Wherunto he maketh answer howe he lately declared the cause whye he hym self could not allow the doctrin of the boke setforthe to Granuellan and the bishop of Arras wherfore he can not perswade hys sonnes to do that thyng whych he hym selfe can not with a quiet conscience he besecheth him to take it in good part and defēd both him and his childrē This cōstancie of his magnanimiti in so great aduersity got him great loue euery wher amōgs al men Like as in Saxony they of Breme and Maidenburge so also in high Germanye onlye they of Constance borderynge vppon the Swisses were not yet reconciled to themperor but at the last obtaining a saufcōduit they send ambassadors to Auspurge to treat a peace Themperor propoundeth right hard conditions and amōgs other things also that they shuld admit the boke setforth after that to frame their religion Thambassadors require to haue the cōditions mitigated but that was in vain and are commaunded to make answere by a certen day That knowen the Senate wryting their humble letters the xiii day of Iuly do beseche him that they be not constrained to do any thing against their soules health their own conscience how they se theyr owne daunger and are in a greate parplexitie for vnlesse they do obey they stand in pearill to lose both life and goods but if they shuld follow his appetite they must abide the vengaunce and iudgement of God Wherfore let him spare them and put not them pore wretches to so great an extremity especially seinge they haue no more offēded than others and haue for thempire for the house of Austrich suffred in time past exceding great misery now do refuse no charge that cā ought of them to be performed although their treasure is very smal their substance not great yet wil they geue for amendes .viii. M. crownes and .iiii. greate peces of ordenaunce but they beseche him to permit the same Religion whiche they haue kept now these .xx. yeres vntil the decre of a lawful coūsel and unpose no heauier burthen to the Citye than it is hable to beare Their bishop Ihon Wesel who was also called Archbishop of Londen as is mentioned in the .xii. boke had threatned thē sore at Auspurge after the Emperors boke was setforthe but within a few daies he died of the same disease that he praied might fal vpō them that is of a sodē palsy Where they say how they haue sustained great domage for the loue of the house of Austrich thus it stādeth The Emperoure Maximilian by the aid of the Sweuical league wherof we haue spoken in the fourthe boke made warre with the Swisses wherfore the Citye of Constance being than of the same league and lieth nexte them receiued much displesure The Swisses were aided by them of Rhoetia of Seon and Sāmaurice whiche were lately made their felowes and also by the Frenche Kynge Lewes the .xii. At the length by the intercession of Lewes Sfortia Duke of Millan the matter was pacified aboute the yeare of oure Lord a thousand and fiue hundreth Maximilian had in Mariage Mary Blancke the sister of Sfortia Themperor the third day of August calleth before him the consuls and all the Senate of Auspurge and diuers others of the chiefest Citezens and by Seldus the Ciuilian speaking muche of the good wil zele that he and his progenitors haue borne to them he saith their common welth hath now these many yeres bene euill seditiously gouerned the cause wherof hath bene that men of none experiēce crafts mē for nothing les mete thē to haue gouernmēt haue bene chosen senators wherfore he who beareth good will to their city to thintent this euil may be remedied displaceth them al not for any reproche vnto them but for the common welthes sake After he cōmaundeth their names to be red whō he hath apoynted senators of the which nōbre were the Welsers Relingers Būtgarners Fuggers Pētingers whō he bindeth after by an oth assigneth vnto euery of thē his office function cōmandeth thē straitly that they loue the cōmon welth obei the decre of religion be vnto him obedient He doth also abrogate al fraternities cōmaundeth vnder pain of death that from henceforth ther be no conuēticles or assēbles made And cōmaundeth that al wrytings of gildes fraternities of priuileges fredō be immediatly deliuered to the new Senate cōmaundeth this state of publike weale to be proclaimed by an officer of armes geueth charge vnder pain of death that no man do impugne the same The Senate geueth him thankes promiseth al due obeisāce In the meane while that these things were in doing al the gates were shut and the souldiours set to warde There had bene a lōg sute many yeres betwene the Lantzgraue William the Erle of Nassow for the lordship of Chats which now at the length themperor in these daies decided geuing sentence againste the Lantzgraue The .v. day of this month themperour answereth thambassadours of the City of Constance by the bishop of Arras and sendeth them away withoute their purpose and because he seeth them so little careful for peace he saith how he wil deuise an other way The same day the Spaniardes which we said went into those parties to the nombre of thre thousand fotemen go straite
be reuealed That an inuentory of their goodes be taken whiche are absent and flit from thence and that the same be deteined That they delyuer vp all publique writinges And that some man that is expert therin declare whereunto euery of them aperteineth After this he cōmaundeth all the ministers of the churche to depart out of the citie within eight daies In this moneth Augustus brother vnto Maurice Duke of Saxony taketh to wyfe the lady Anne the daughter of Christian king of Dēmarke In the cōuenaūts of mariage it was condicioned that Duke Maurice should assigne him his portion not out of the lādes of Iohn Fridericke but of his owne inheritaunce The same time was a great cōmotion in Guienne for saltpits customes The head citie of all that countrie is Burdewx a great towne of much welth lieth open to the Sea which in time past was vnder the dominion of Englād They also chiefly rebelled had slaine the kings Lieftenaunt Wherfore whan so shrewed an example was shewed the thing tended to a further daunger the French king sent thither the Conestable of Fraunce Duke Danmal with a power of .xxxi. enseignes of fotemē wherof .xi. were Almaignes and a force of horsemen Which thing once knowen they of Burdeux make meanes to the Conestable say that they are cōtented that he shal enter with the Frenchmē armed but they beseche him not to suffer the Germanes to come within their citie He made answer that thei shuld not prescribe him the Germains serue the king aswell as the rest Therfore wil he doe herein as he shall thinke good And albeit they set not open the gates of their citie yet hath he keyes wherwith to vnlock that same Wherfore thus he entred the xix day of October And whā he had placed his men here there in due order and also planted his ordenaunce in place conuenient first he cōmaundeth the citezēs to bring forth al their armure weapons the same to be caried into the castel so were spent two daies The third daye they began to make inquisitiō from house to house a great nōber of sedicious persones were apprehēded After they came to an horrible slaughter For they wer not executed with one kind of death There were also brought forth .xiiii. Gentlemē with haulters about their neckes wherof one or two were executed But the Almaine Captaines made intercession for the rest and begged their pardon of the Constable This soroufull and bluddy spectacle lasted .xii. daies And besides those that were put to death in this tyme very many were also condempned to the Galees Moreouer all wrytinges wherin their fredomes and priuileges of the cōmon wealth were conteined were burnt all they themselues making the fyre And because they had murthered the kynges Lieftenaunt the Constable driueth them to scrape vp the earth wherwith he was couered and buried without any toole euen with their nayles and fingers Whan they had thus scraped the dead coarse out of his graue the same was buried againe with a great solemne pompe of Freers priestes All the citezens folowe after to the nomber of fiue thousande with euery man a candell in his hande And as they came before the Conestables lodging the Bere was set downe and stayed betwene times Than doe they fall downe there vpon their knees and with a lamentable crie beseche him of mercie they deteste their owne offence and geue thankes vnto the kyng for that he hath not punyshed the same more extremely Whan all these thinges were finished the .ix. daye of Nouember they departe thence leauing behinde them a garnison About this tyme there chaunced a maruelous thing in Italy There is besydes Padwey a towne belonging to the state of Uenise called Citadella Herein dwelte a citezen named Fraūces Spiera an experte man in the lawe and a great pleader of causes Who with a wonderfull feruent zeale began to imbrace the doctrine of the Gospel And whan he profited therin dayly more and more he declared not only at home amonges his frendes what he thought of euery article but also abroad amonges all men wheresoeuer he came This thnig could not long be hidde and at the length was reported to the Boshop of Romes Legate whiche was than at Uenise Iohn Case Archbyshop of Beneuento Whan Spier vnderstode this he perceyued easely in what daunger he stode Whan he had therfore taken long deliberation and cōsulted euery way what was best to be done at the last he resolued being sent for to goe speake with the Legate Wherfore going to Uenise and confessing his errour as he thought or els said for feare craueth pardon and promiseth obebience from henceforth The Legate although he were glad of this voluntary cōfession yet for an example to all others he commaundeth him that retourning home he do openly suche thinges as he hath spoken before He was cōtent And albeit he began euen than to repent him of his doing yet through the instigation of his frendes affirming that the whole hope not of him only but also of his wyfe children and substaunce consisted herein he did obeye But shortly after he fell into sickenes both of body and minde and began to dispayre of Gods mercy Therfore by the aduise of his frendes he was caried from Citadella to Padwey that he might haue ready at hand both helpe of good Phisitions and cōfort of learned men The Phisitions Iohn Paulus Crassus Bellacata Frisimelega as sone as they sawe him iudged by by the disase to come of a vehement thought and that there was no better remedy than the cōsolation of the mynd Wherfore many learned men resorted to him daily and by the testimonies of holy scripture whiche declare vnto vs the great mercy of God they endeuoured to cure his mynde But he sayd he could not in dede denye these thynges howbeit they concerned him nothing For in as muche as he had once abiured the truthe knowen for feare of perill he affirmed that he was appointed to euerlasting tourmentes and that in his minde he felte and sawe them already neither could he loue God but hate him exceadingly And here in he perseuered neither would he nowe eate any more meate and whan it was crommed into him by violence oftentymes would spitte it out againe It were long to recite all thinges whiche eyther he him selfe spake or other men alledged out of the holy scriptures to bryng him from desperatiō What tyme therfore all their counselles were spent in vaine and both the infirmitie of his body also the anguysh of his mynde increased daily more and more he was caried home againe and there died miserably in the same state and desperatiō As he lay sicke at Padwey there came often to comfort hym amongest many others Peter Paule Uerger Byshop of Instinople whiche is in Histria a towne vnder the dominion of the state of Uenise It hath bene declared in the
who was afterward supposed to haue holpen greatly that the towne of Metz a city of thempire came into the hands of Hēry the french king as hereafter shal be declared In the last session at Trent was decreed amōgs other things that such as had mo Bishopprickes than one should kepe of them which they list forgoe the rest as before in the .xix. boke is specified Neuertheles so long as Paul liued the thing was not put in executiō but whē this mā was made bishop the cardinals of Fraūce obeyed it in dede in aparence but to no losse of theyrs For wheras diuers of thē had ii or iii bishoppricks many others aspired to that dignity by an exchāge made they permitted some other to inioye one and in steade of one bishoppricke which they left they had of them again many abbotships or such other like promoitōs In the month of Iuly Adolphe bishop of Colon making a composition with the Senate entreth the city of Colon with an exceading great pomp and train hauing gotten together all his Clients kinred and alies that they might honor him with theyr presence the same day He was accompanied as they report with ii M. horse aboue And the duke of Cleue verely had brought him a notable bād of horsmē he had lately a daughter born by his wife Mary the daughter of king Ferdinando Her Godmothers at the fount stone where both the Emperors sisters Elenore the French Quene and Mary Quene of Hongary and tharchbishop of Colon was her Godfather but not long after ther arose a great dissention betwene the Duke and the Archbishop about thecclesiasticall iurisdiction The .xxvi. day of Iuly the Emperor beginneth the counsel imperial at Auspurge Wherin he propoundeth of followynge the generall Counsel of obseruing the decre of religion lately made at Auspurge of punishinge rebelles of restoryng the iurisdiction and goodes of the Church This assēbly was armed also albeit that the state of things was sōwhat more quiet The princes of Mentz and of Treuers were presente the reast of thelectours sent ambassadours Moreouer there were presente Wuolfgāge master of Prusse and the bishop of Wirciburge Eistet Costintz Auspurge Trent Cambray Merseburge and none of thother princes besides the duke of Bauier at the length also Hēry the duke of Brūswick The matter being debated the most part were content that the counsel should be followed but duke Moris by his deputies declareth that he can allow the same none otherwise vnlesse the whole matter from the beginninge may be retracted the deuines of the protestants not only heard but that they may also haue power to decide matters that the bishop of Rome do submit him self to the counsel not occupy the place of a iudge there and that he release the bishops of their othe to thintēt they may speke their mind frely After this protestation of his was red opēly his deputy wold haue had it recorded as the manner custom is but the same was denied him the whole doing of such matters is in the power of tharch bishop of Mentz chauncelour of thempire Themperor afterward moued the bishop for a counsel The seuenth day of August the cardinall of Auspurge in his Sermonne inueighed soore againste the Lutheranes And a few dayes after certain Spanyardes in mockery and contempt of the Citezens which were than hearing the Gospell preached plaied certain partes in the church in such sort that the matter was like to haue tourned to some great tumult But at the comming of the Consull the thing was by a goodly meane appeased and quieted About th end of the month of August Granuellan who came lately from Bezonse a Towne in high Burgundie to Auspurge leaueth his life not withoute themperoures greate heauines as it is reported he had succeded Marcurine Castinarie Cardinal as I shewed you in the .vii. boke and by the space of xx yeares had ben in chief authority and was priuy in manner alone to all themperours secreat counsels and working In whose place and function succeded his sonne Anthony bishop of Arras a man of great learning who before in thabsēce of his father was wōt to answer the matters of the common welth was very familier with themperor In the mene seasō Henry the duke of Brunswick laieth siege to the city of Brunswick to the which he had born great hatred these many yeres for religiō for other things whan he had don theyr coūtry much harm by firing and spoiling yet could not win the city through the mediatiō of certen themperor cōmādeth both partes to leue theyr war and pleade theyr cause before him Thys was in the month of Septembre The Emperours army besieged than Affrick a towne of Barbarie some men suppose it to be Leptis howbeit Liuie maketh also mentiō of the city of Affricanes that city kept Dracutus a notable Archpirate who had lately ioyned hī self with the Turke Themperor had cōmitted the chiefe gouernenient to the Uiceroy of Sicilie Who after he had beaten the town wyth his ordenaunce a certain time being certified that Dragutus was comming with a newe army saw he had nede to make haste Wherfore the tenth day of Septembre he geueth the assault bothe by sea and land and within a fewe houres space taketh it by force The Knightes of the Rhodes that were vpon the sea did themperor that day good seruice but the Spaniards which fought by lād and excelled in nombre whan the City was taken had the mooste part of the spoyle The nombre of the prysoners was great aboute an .viii. thousand which being put into Shippes were led awaye captiue into Sicilie Sardinie and to other places The situation of the city is said to be very pleasant by reason of grene medowes and hilles set with Oliues palme trees and fair springes of water Not far from thence is reported to be a goodlye corne Country which with a most ample increse yeldeth again to the plowmē that it hath receiued Cosmus the duke of Florence sent themperor men in this war vnder the conduit of Iordane Ursine Alastor Balion For because winter was now at hand and vitaile coulde not be prouided the Uiceroy leauing there a garrison of Spaniards retourneth with his army into Sicilie Dragutus fled to the Turke traueling to Constantinople This thing was thoccasion of a new warre which the Turke attempted afterward not only againste the Emperour but also against King Fardinando Whan themperour had commaunded Duke Henry and the Senate of Brunswick to lay a side their weapons their armies were discharged on bothe parties but all those forces afterwarde George Duke of Megelburge the sonne of Albarte a younge man that had serued Duke Henry allured vnto him The cleargy of Maidenburge and Prelates of the head church most of them gentlemen borne who were chiefly offended with the city had waged him with great rewards promesses as it
was the whole country deliuered from a most greuous seruitude wherwith it had ben oppressed by the space of fiue yeares onlye the Castell of Asperge the Emperoure reserued to him self placing in it a garrison of Almaines In these daies also Henry Hasie by the Emperors commaundement traueling throughout Sweaden euery wher chaungeth the state of the common wealth and ordeineth newe Senators he dischargeth also the preachers and Scholemasters vnles they wyll obey the decre of Religion as was latelye done at Auspurge It is mentioned before how Duke Moris and the Duke of Wirtemberge had commaunded Articles of Doctrine to be wrytten which after shuld be exhibited how also the Senate of Strashurge had ioyned them selues vnto this theyr doing Wherfore the duke of Wirtemberge sending two ambassadoures Ihon Theodoricke Pleninger and Ihon Hecline commaunded them both to exhibite openly this confession of doctrine and to say also that the deuines shuld come which shal treat al thinges more plentifully and defend the same so that they may haue safecōduit according to the decre of Basill They so sone as they came to Trent which was almoste at the end of Octobre go vnto the Earle Mounforte and exhibite vnto him the commission of theyr ambassade and shew him how in theyr princes name they would propound certaine thinges in the counsell he in his talke tended to this end that he thoughte good they should repair to the bishoppes Legate but they seinge that if they should confer with him any thing it wold apere that they shoulde attribute vnto him the chiefe right and authoritye of iudgemente wherin they perceiued a preiudice and hinderance of their matter Wherfore they come not at him but wryting letters to theyr prince fary for an answer of his pleasure herein In the meane season the deuines do reason after theyr manner of the questions before propounded concerning penaunce and vnction The third day of Nouembre Counte Hedeck being sent of Duke Moris came to Maidenburge and calling out the captains of the souldiors into a place without the city made a ful end and wrytinges of the same matter were drawen and sealed And the soldiors in dede were assured by safe conduit that they might safely depart This was the viii daye of the same month but so sone as they were discharged they were priuelye reteined and hired againe by the duke of Megelburge which was now by the pacification released for Duke Moris purposely woulde not do it in his owne name And the conditions of peace were these That they should humbly craue pardon of themperor that they shuld do nothing against the house of Austrich and Burgundy that they submit thē selues to the chambre that they obey the last decre of Auspurge That they answer al mē to the law That they cast down the fortification of the city at themperoures pleasure That they admit into theyr city themperors garrison at all times and set open theyr gates for him That they pay L M. crowns to themperors cofers That for the charges of the warres they deliuer to themperor xii great pieces of ordenaunce that they set at liberty the duke of Megelburge thother prisoners Whan the soldiors of the garnison wer gon out of the citye the same daye which were to the nombre of ii M fotemen and an hondreth horsmen Duke Moris sent in v. enseignes of footemen and the nexte day the Senate going forth to mete him he entreth the city with hys whole army and receiueth them al into thobeisance of themperor thempire of him self which had bene chiefe captain of the same warre after leauing there a garrison he leadeth away the reast Than causeth he the preachers to be sente for and by his counselloures Faccie Carlebice and Mortisie he complaineth of iniurye done him by reason of the bokes and pictures setforth by them as though he shuld haue forsaken the doctrin of the gospel as though he should haue moued warre against the city for the constant professing of the true doctrine wherfore he hath iust cause to be offended if he would followe his affections but all these thinges he remitteth for the common wealthes sake requireth that they wold from henceforth exhort the people to amend their liues and honor the Magistrates he commaundeth also praiers to be openly made for the Emperoure for him selfe and for all other Magistrates he saith moreouer howe there is at this presente a counsell holden at Trent wherin he will exhibit the confession of a godly doctrine as well in his owne name as also of other Princes and states let thē pray therfore that God would prosper and turn to good the whole action of the counsell and that they raile not againste the same as they haue accustomed to do They deliberating vppon the matter make answer that in dede they set not forth those pictures how be it they iudge them worthy no reprehension and that certaine with in his dominion haue by the space of iii. yeares swarued from the pure doctrine of the Gospell it cannot be denied for there be bokes and monuments extant and that the city was besieged because of the Gospell it is easy to proue if a man consider only the fyrste authors of the warre In admonishinge the people they haue omitted nothing the same wil they also do hereafter for the counsel which is assembled to quench the verity wherin that Romish Antichriste obteineth the highest place they can none otherwise pray than that God may confound breake and dissipate their enterprises and deuises for there is no good thinge to be loked for at theyr handes Such conditious of peace were in dede spread abrode but certaine it is that they were well assured both for their liberty and religion Duke Moris also had rather the City should be open for him then for themperour as thend declared afterward After this sorte they of Maidenburge being deliuered besides thexpectation of many got them selues great praise and renowne amonges foraine nations for so much as in manner they alone throughout al Germany declared by theyr example what thing constancy may do Moreouer thend of theyr misery was thentry and beginning of the warre against them by whose aid and counsel they were afflicted as here after shal be declared Whilest Duke Moris was in the city he declared sufficiently what his intent was that is to wit how he wold hazard his life to deliuer his father inlawe Neither did he dissemble the same the next daye after being moued by a certen man He had sent Ambassadours to the Emperour before for the deliueraunce of the Lantgraue And had also ioyned with him herein the king of Denmarke and many Princes of Germany as you shall heare hereafter And vnlesse he could bringe it to passe was fully determined to attempte the thing by force and was already at a compact with the French kyng touching the same who had sent to him priuely Iohn Fraxinie Byshop of Baion a man
maintaine theyr liberty For what time the Frenche king went out of his owne pale which was aboute the eighte day of Marche sendinge vnto them letters and messagers he desired only that they would prepare him vitaile that he might passe through theyr country with his armye promisinge all benenolence And he vsed for his minister the Cardinall Lenoncurt bishop of the Citye who setforth his good will and zeale to the Senate The conestable also wrote vnto them moste frendlye but whan he came neare vnto the citye with his force he desired to be let in and obteined the next day he was master of the gates and of al the fortifications Thither came also afterwardes the kinge him selfe at the xviii day of Aprill and there remaining four daies after he had taken thothe of the Senate and people he appoynted Mounsir Gōnorie to be theyr gouernoure and commanded their armure to be deliuered and caried into one place and the Citye to be fortified likewise doth he in the Townes before named and in Loraine and sending his messagers before to Strasburge to Haganawe and other places neare and to the bishoppe of Strasburge required to be aided with Wheate and Uitaile Whan Auspurge was taken as I said and thold Senate restored which themperoure had displaced and the liberty of geuinge of voices restored also to the people the Princes contederated marched towarde Woulmes that refused theyr league Whan they came thither the xii day of Aprill they ride aboute this Citye And whan they were shot at with the greate pieces they damaunde to be satisfied for the iniuries done them with the summe of three hondreth thousande Crownes which denied they becommed their enemies But duke Moris goinge from thence wente to Lintz a towne of Austriche that he mighte vnderstande by kinge Farnando the conditions of peace For he as I said by the Emperoures consent was a meane to intreat a peace Afterwarde the Emperoure exhorted by his letters the chiefest Princes of Germanye that they woulde assaye to quenche this fire and deuise some meanes of peace the whiche he woulde not be againste And where as diuerse required his aide for that thei were able to do nothing against so great a power comforting their myndes he answereth that he hopeth wel that the treatie of peace commenced shall haue a lucky successe if not than will he neyther faile them nor the common weale Whan Woulmes had bene beseged six daies the Princes the .xix. day of Aprill remoued to Stocach a towne of Hegouia There they receiued mony in the French kinges name for thre monethes as is conuenaunted and Gamey Marchiane the Frenche pledge was deliuered For the other Nantoliet died by the waye The Princes pledges whiche they gaue to the Frenche kyng were Christopher Duke of Megelburg and Philip the Lantgraues sonne The last of Aprill the Princes retourne to Thonaw certen myles beneth Woulmes In the meane seasō Marques Albert burneth the townes and villages belonging to Woulmes and extorteth money and taketh their castell of Helfesteyne situated on a high hill and placeth therin a garrison and the towne of Gissing nere vnto it whiche is thre myles frō Woulmes with certen villages by the same he condemneth to paye .xviii. thousand crownes Whā Duke Maurice was come to Lintz he propoundeth of deliuering the Lantgraue his father in lawe of appeasing the dissention of Religion and doctrine of wel ordering the common wealth of peace to be made with the French kyng their fellowe and confederate of the outlawes to be receiued agayne into fauour Those were the Ryngrane and others before named and also Erle Hedecke whiche in fourmer yeares gaue hym selfe into the tuition of Duke Maurice as before is sayde Howheit the Emperour had appointed no rewarde against his lyfe least he should offende Duke Maurice as it is to be thought Unto these demaundes Ferdinando with whom were Maximilian his sonne and his sonne in lawe Albert Duke of Bauier and also the Emperours Ambassadours maketh aunswere Howe the Emperour is content that the Lantgraue be set at lybertie yet so that the warre maye cease immediately Touchinge Religion and the common wealth he is well pleased that the matter be determined in the next conuention of German But the Emperour is very lothe that the Frenche kyng shoulde be herein comprised Neuerthelesse Duke Maurice may knowe of him in what sorte he wyl be accorded The outlawes may also be taken to mercie in case they wyl obeye the condition offered by the Emperour Moreouer Ferdinādo requested that whan peace were once concluded Duke Maurice would helpe him in Hongary and that the soldiours should not slippe away to the Frenche kyng Wherunto whan Duke Maurice had aunswered and sayde that that he could determine nothing without the consent of his fellowes they departed so as at the .xxvi. day of May they should mete againe at Passawe whiche is a towne betwene Lintz and Regenspurge where the Ryuers of Thonawe and Oene mete Thither should come also the Princes that were intercessours and their deputies On Maydaye the Lantgraues sonne and Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburg leade the armie of Gundelfinge there lye eight whole dayes together lokyng for Duke Maurice retourne out of Austrich Whan he was come the next daye was the armie munstred at Lawginge a towne of Otto Henry the Pausgraues For they had also recouered his prouince possessed by the Emperour and had expulsed the Byshop of Auspurge out of his countrie And verely Otto the Paulsgraue ioyned hym selfe vnto their league From thence they goe towarde the Alpes And it chaunced at the same tyme that kyng Ferdinando had obteyned of them a truce whiche beginning the .xxvi. daye of May should ende the eight daye of Iune In the meane tyme Themperour leuied a power at the fote of the Alpes whiche assembled at the Towne of Rwe In this hurly burly the Byshop of Auspurge Cardinall which before was not very ryche and had nowe susteyned great losse as I sayde went to Rome that he myght obteyne of the Byshop new promotions and benefices wherwith he might fill vp those sinkes agayne After this the iudges of the chamber imperial flie away from Spiers For by the Frenche king and the Princes in their forsaide wrytinges signified plainly a displeasure ascribed to thē in a maner the blame of all their trouble The Frenche king came with his armie by the borders of Loraine to Saberne the third day of May foure myles from Strasburg a town belonging to the bishop He had before requested them of Strasburg to ayde his armie with thinges necessary For the whiche cause Ambassadours were sent vnto him to Sarburg seuen myles from Strasburg whiche should offer him a certen quantitie of wheate wyne those were Peter Sturmie Fridericke Gotesseme and Iohn Sleidane But the Conestable accompted that as nothynge whiche they offered And albeit the Ambassadours departed from hym in suche sorte as that they would aduertyse
the Senate and after make reporte vnto hym yet sente he the nexte daye two Gentlemen for a spedy aunswere speakyng muche of the kynges great good wyll and zeale towardes Germany and also for what intent the kyng had moued his warre verely that he might restore the libertie of Germany oppressed An other request was that for so much as the soldiours had nede of many thinges they might bie the same in their citie and that artificers might be suffered to bryng forth their wares and sel them within the campe Wherunto the Senate made this answere that in suche matters of weightie importaunce there is nothing wont to be determined but by the consent of the whole state Whan the matter shal be debated they wyll sende agayne Ambassadours to declare what their mynde is Whan they were thus sent away the next daye the same Ambassadours were sent again into the campe which was than at Saberne Whan they were heard speake and offered some what more thā before and had also declared causes why the soldiours might not be permitted to come within the citie the Conestable began to speake displeasauntly and makyng a comparison how partiall iudges they were both of the kynges benefites and also of the Emperours iniuries gaue very sharpe language The conclusion of his talke was that the nexte daye they shoulde heare the kyng hym selfe speake whiche would affirme al that he had nowe sayde On the morrowe were the Ambassadours sent for before the kyng with whome was the Cardinal of Loraine the Duke of Uandome and the Conestable And there reporte vnto hym what talke they haue had with the Conestable at two seuerall times and offer as many rasers of Otes as thei did before of wheate and after also some what more wyne beseching the king that both for the olde amitie that the kinges of Fraunce haue had with the state of Strasburge and also of his owne humanitie he would take in good parte their offer For they haue great force of soldiours within their citie and a great nomber of people also be fled thither out of the countrie so that the citie can not spare that corne that they haue for theyr prouision The kyng after he had fyrst conferred with his counsell began him selfe to declare for what cause he came into Germany to the selfe same effect that the Conestable had the daye before Saying that vitayle was moste necessary and not to be denied any man that would paye for the same vnles he wer an ennemy If the Soldiours want that they wyl fynd a waye howe to come by the same But what inconuenience wold come therof euery man may easely perceiue That thing whiche was offered the kyng in dede refused not but he would haue had it deliuered in bread Thābassadours again in corne Where vpon when they coulde not agree they departed with out the matter concluded Whan the Ambassadours were retourned the Senate made a decree For as muche as no parte of that wheate whiche is in the citie can be spared that there should be as much bread made as myght be in the places theraboutes For the Ambassadours had alledged both to the Conestable and the kyng also that the state of the citie and condiciō of time was suche that from thence was nothing to be loked for But in case any thyng myght be gathered in the countrie belonging to the same they should haue it right gladly And this did the Senate decre least any extremitie shuld be wrought vpon the plowmen and people of the countrey And so that whiche could sodenly be gotten in townes and villages with out the citie was caried to the Campe but that same was very litle Whan the countrey of Loraine and citie of Metz were taken they of Strasburge immediatly toke vp to the nomber of fiue thousand souldiours to defende their citie agayne they pulled down very many aswel publique as priuate buildinges about the citie and cut downe trees and orcherdes and what so euer did let the prospecte or that might be a succour to the ennemie and where moste nede was began to fortifie their citie This same was a great displeasure to the Frenchmen and in the later communication the Conestable did not dissemble the same to the Ambassadours For it is thought howe they were in a certen hope that like as by a certen face of frendship they entred Metz so also they should not haue bene shut out of Strasburg But whan they knewe that the citie was exceading strong and sawe moreouer all thinges prouided so diligently for the defence of the same chaunging their purpose as it is to be thought they tourned an other way and remouinge their campe the seuenth day of May marched towarde Haganawe and Wisseburg Hither came vnto the king Ambassadours from the Paulsgraue Electour from the Archebyshoppes of Mentz and of Treuers commissioners and from the Dukes of Cleaue and Wirtemberge whiche for the common wealthes sake were lately assembled at Wourmes Whose requeste was this that the kyng would absteyne from spoyling the countrie and spare the poore people And for so muche as he protesteth to make warre for the lybertie of Germany that he woulde staye with his armie For if he shuld goe further the same wold be to the great losse and dammage of the Empyre And they requyre hym to geue his mynde to the wayes of peace whereof they bothe haue alreadye made mention to the Emperoure and wyll doe also hereafter and truste that all shall be well Where he writeth of entring into league with him they desire him to consider herein their honour and estimation For by reason of their othe and faith they owe to the Empire they are not able to perfourme it But yet will they do their endeuour that a generall peace may be established Furthermore they require him moste instauntly that he would spare the dominiōs of Strasburg whiche is a fre citie of the Empyre and that by his mediation Marques Albert would intreate more gently the Byshop of Wirciburge At the selfsame tyme which was the .xi. day of May letters were brought to the king frō Duke Maurice wherin was wrytten what was done at Lintz Duke Maurice required moreouer that the kyng whom he wold haue also comprised in the treatie of peace would declare vpon what conditions he would accorde with the Emperour Whan these letters were receiued the kyng vnto whome this thing was thought to haue chaunced vnloked for two dayes after remoueth his campe and leauing Germany marcheth agayne towardes Loraine But before his departure he aunswereth the Ambassadours of the Princes before named How he hath already obteined the same thyng for the whiche he came with his army into Germany For the captiue Princes shall be deliuered And this was the cause of his warre He therfore hath wonne honour enough And if there chaunce any tyme hereafter wherin Germany may requyre his ayde he wyll spare neither paynes coste nor perill And nowe leading
vnto their glorie whiche thing in dede the prisoner also hym selfe woulde not Whā he was at libertie he followed the Emperour neuerthelesse whyther soeuer he went In the selfe same tyme quene Marie the Emperours syster helde an assemblee at Achen in lowe ducheland to make a league with the princes about her And the Duke of Cleaue in dede excuseth the matter by Ambassadours But Adolphe Archebishop of Collon comming thither entreth into league with the house of Burgsidy Likewise doth the Byshop of Luke George of Austriche Whan Duke Maurice came to Insprucke what thinge soeuer was founde there of the Emperours and of the Spaiardes and the Cardinalles of Auspurge it was spoyled But to kyng Ferdinandos and the citezens goodes there was no harme done And for so muche as there remayned but thre daies only vnto the truce whiche for the treatie of peace was taken as before is mentioned Duke Maurice went from thence to Passawe And the other Princes Marching the same way they came the .xxviii. day of May retourne to Fiessa and afterwarde by menssengers as well in their own as in the name also of Duke Maurice they publyshe letters at Auspurge of this effect In what sorte saye they the ennemies of truthe haue alwayes done their indeuour that all Godly Preachers oppressed the Romishe idolle might be restored and that the yought being brought vp in those errours and false opiniōs might by litle and litle increase in the same that thing is so manifest that it nedeth no further demōstration For euen at the same time whan they did not sticke to proteste that they sought not Religion they wrought with all their force that the pure doctrine might be cleane roted out For they did not only caste the Godly preachers in pryson but in this citie also compelled them by an othe with great vngentlenes that they should departe out of the limites of the Empire And albeit that same othe was very wicked and therfore is grounded vpon no lawe nor reason yet least any sclaunder might aryse we haue called home agayne those selfe same preachers and scholemaisters whiche our aduersaries had exiled thinking it our dutie so to doe Wherfore all suche as after this sorte were bannished as before is sayd we do clerely release from that bonde of othe wherunto through force violence contrary to the lawes thei were bounde and restore them vnto libertie in ioyning them that not only in this citie but also in other places according to their vocation they teache Gods worde syncerely according to the confession here in tymes past exhibited and rightly and godly bring vp yougth in learning trusting vnto our defence and tuition We cōmaunde also that no man moleste them with wordes or iniuries as though they should do contrary to their faith geuen For inasmuche as not through their deserte but only for the profession of the truthe they haue liued many monethes in exile we doubte not but all good men wyll lamente their chaunce and accompte them worthy of all good wyll and fauour And for as much as those which in their absence haue preached in this citie be men suspected and vnconstant insomuch that they may not conueniently be with these that we haue called agayne by reason of their contrarietie in teachinge we require the Senate to put them to silence and so to demeane them selues that this decree of ours may stande in ful strēgthe and authoritie Whan the Princes had thus proclaimed the seuenth day of Iune the fift day after they restore the ministers of the churche to their places and geue them agayne authoritie to preache to the great reioysing contentation of the people Before Duke Maurice retourned from Lintz Marques Albert going a parte with his armie doeth much harme with spoyling and burning to Wuolfgang maister of the Almaigne order as they call hym and whan he had exacted mony of him inuadeth the countrie of Norinberge and the fift day of May taketh by composition Lightnaw a castell of theirs standyng fiue myles from the citie with the towne ioyning to the same His armie was of two thousand horsemen and .xix. enseignes of fotemen The nexte daie sending his letters to them of Norinberge albeit the Frenche king saieth he and the Princes cōfederated haue declared by wrytinge sufficiently and at large what they thought of the common wealth and how thei were bent to recouer the libertie of Germany and Religiō also vpō hope and confidence that all good men with wylling myndes woulde not only imbrace this their enterpryse but would also with all their force and indeuour further thesame whiche many haue done in dede yet haue you neyther declared what your mynde and pourpose is nor as I heare haue sent no Ambassadours to the assemblee appointed at Auspurge but prepare all thinges for defence plantyng your ordenaunce here there on your walles and Bulwarkes and hiring force of soldiours make auaunt that you wyll perseuer to the vttermoste extremitie as I am credible informed and it maketh me to beleue it the more for that hetherto you haue sent no Ambassadours to me for peace Whiche some notwithstandinge haue done bothe Princes and Cities further of Where therfore the same wryting of the kyng and Princes confederated doth manifestly declare that suche as either shall resiste this enterpryse of theirs or not further thesame shall be taken as ennemies And againe for so muche as I am adioyned to the same warre to the ende to bryng all those in whose limites I come to do their dutie and to leaue behynde my backe no fortified place out of the whiche any force or saleinge out is to be feared therfore haue I taken from you whiche as yet haue not satisfied my expectation the castell of Lightnaw whiche was a great annoyaunce to my campe preseruing the souldiours of the garrison whome neuerthelesse I might haue otherwyse vsed But bycause the chief thing yet remaineth I require you both in the Frenche kinges name and my fellowes that you wyll make a direct aunswer what you are purposed to doe for the defence of the libertie of Germany and for the stablishyng of Religion and let me vnderstande it tomorrowe that I may knowe what thyng is to be loked for of you and in what sorte I ought to accept you Howbeit what tyme Duke Maurice and his fellowes were at Schwinfurte whiche was the .xxvi. daye of Marche as before is sayde they demaunded of them of Norinberge faith societie munition vitayle a great somme of monie But after muche debating all other conditions omitted what tyme they had paied them an hondreth thousand crownes they promysed them peace as well for them selues as their fellowes by letters deuised in moste ample wyse Nowe therfore what tyme Marques Albert assayled them they make complainte to them And bycause Duke Maurice was not yet retourned from Lintz the Lantgraues Sonne wrytynge to them agayne the thyrde daye of May from Gundelfynge byddeth
aboutes The bishop in the meane season was in the castel which I said was situated where the Rhine and Moselle mete neither was there any prelate of the same ordre there Themperor remaininge certaine daies at Auspurge displaceth the Senate whiche the princes had lately ordeined and abrogateth all the tribes restoreth the same state of the common weale and the Senate by him established of the ministers of the churche he remoueth thre and the reaste he permitteth to teach and minister according to the fourm and order of the confession of Auspurge which thinge declared in the pulpit made many mēright glad This was the xxv day of that mōth of August Wheras in the yeare before they were in a manner the same day exiled as I haue in the xxii boke declared After that departing thence the first day of Septembre and leauing behind him a garrison of vi enseignes of fotemen two daies after he came to Wuolmes but his army wente an other waye till they came to the borders of Wirtemberge which was done for their sakes of Wuolmes least theyr country which had shewed to themperor so greate fidelity should sustain a new domage The same day that themperor departed from Auspurge he sente awaye Ihon Fridericke the Duke of Saxon with most gentle wordes promised very largely of his beneuolence towardes him who on the next day toke hys iourney homeward The Lātzgraue also being released the fourth of Septembre retourneth home the sixt day after The same time came forth the fourth Tome of Luthers worckes To the whiche Melanchthon making a preface reioyseth much at the Dukes returne and highly commendeth his constancy which he vsed in the time of his most aduersity In the meane time that Marques Albert was at Treuers all the churches were shut vp who remaining there viii daies whan he had burned certen Abbaies and a castel of the bishops not far from the towne he leaueth in the city a garrison of xii enseignes Afterward marching towards Sircke which is a towne of the Duchie of Loraine in the midway betwixt Metz and Treuers the xiii day of Septēbre he passeth ther with his army ouer the riuer of Moselle and inuadeth the land of Lucemburge and from thence retourneth again into Loraine and euery wher doth very much harme attending to se what manner of condition the french king would offer him How he had sore afflicted the bishops in Franctonie it is before recited but whan themperor approched neare being sued to of the Bishops he dothe discharge those compactes and chargeth them that they stand not to them but seke to recouer theyr owne the same doth he permit also to them of Norinberge and after exhorteth them that for the defence of theyr country they would make a league the same thinge wryteth he to them of Sweuia to the inhabiters of the Rhine and others aswell princes as cities Wherfore these foresaide Bishops with the state of Norinberge do fortify them selues afterwarde by a league and what time Marques Albert at the Emperors comming went into Loraine the bishop of Bamberge aboute the end of August and in Septembre recouered the townes of Forcheme and diuers others Themperor passing out of the land of Wirtemberge held the way toward Spiers but whan he came to Bret which is a town of the Prince Palatines altering his purpose he tourned on the lefthand marched towards Strasburge At his coming vi miles frō the city came vnto him ambassadors Iames Sturmie Friderick Gottesseme and Lewes Grempre to intreat him that he would spare their country and lead his army another way neither that he him self would enter into the city with any great power or alter any thing in their cōmon wealth Who after he had right gently receiued them saith how he knoweth rightwell how worthely and valiauntly that city hath lately shewed it selfe and what a benefit they haue done to him the whole Empire which thing he wil beare in perpetuall memory and in very dede wil declare as occasion serueth how much he is bounden to them for the same Afterward he excuseth diligently his sodain cōming by reason of the ships brēt by Marques Albert for the newes that came how the Frenchmen inuade Alsatia and also for the time of that yere which requireth expedition that they may come to thenemy so sone as is possible wherfore he wil lead his army a long by the Citye wherinto he him self wil enter with his owne family only and taking a dinner wil not tary ther one night Whan therfore the .xv. day of September he was cummen into a certaine village a mile without the City his whole army destowed here and there in the country abouts he remaind ther v. dais In the which time all his cariage was conueied down the Rhine wherin was no small difficulty and assone as it was day commaūding his army to march forth he him self with no great company about none came into the City which he had neuer sene before and was both louingly honorably receiued of the Senate It was his chance to passe by the headchurch whan he came thither he alighted and being led in by the priestes making ther small abode went straight to dinner The Senate than presenteth him with a gift after the custome of the city praying him to accept it in good part he answereth that it is to him right acceptable and that whiche he had spoken certaine dais past cōcerning his good wil towards them for theyr stout gouerning of theyr state in a most doubtfull and pearillous time he repeteth again and for that the townes men haue hurt done them without the city by the soldiors in their Orchardes and heritages he saith he is right sory but for somuch as it is vnpossible to saue al vpright amonges so great a multitude he praieth them to take it patiently chiefly for that this warre is made for thempire Afterward toward the Euening entring into the way of Hagenaw he tourned into the next village and ther reasted al night What time he was at Strasburge going to Metz he commaunded thambassadors of forain Princes which followed his court to go to Spier and there remain That time was sir Richard Morisine knight ambassador of Edward the vi King of England who amongs mē learned hath a worthy name and for the state of Uenise Marcke Anthony Amulie who also was him self very well learned and a great fauorer of learning In those few dais that themperor staid at the city no man would beleue what hurt the souldiours did in the country and it was an heauy sight to se the pore husband mē their wiues and children come running into the citye spoyled of all that euer they had The matter was complained vppon to the Duke of Alua by the Senate And all be it he saide he was very sory for it and would se that the like shuld not be done from henceforthe yet did it preuail
Nurremberge eodeÌ„ The treatye of Norunberge 198 The Turkes increase by the losse of Christians 198 The decree of Norunberge 199 The duke of cleaue refuseth truce eod The death of the bishop of Auspurge eo The duke of Sauoye frend to thep 200 The death and prayse of William Bellay 200 The prayse of Clement Marot 201 The Archbishop of Collon calleth a coÌ„uocation eodem The Bishops boke of reformatioÌ„ eod The protestauÌ„tes ambassadour to theÌ„peror 203 Themperors viage against the duke of Cleaue eodem They of Hyldesseme are accused to the Emperour eodem The Popes to the clergie of Collon eod The French king fortifieth landersey 204 The Turkes nauie arriueth in the. eo The Castell of Nice besieged eodem Two cities full of Relicques eodem The duke of Cleaue craueth pardoÌ„ 205 The duke condicions to him imp eod The doughter of Nauarris sent to 205 The preachers of the gospell thrust eod The siege is leued at Nice eodem The yonge Quene of Scottes affiaunced to king Edward eodem The duke of Cleaue renounceth yâ— 206 The departure of the French men 206 Three Eclipses of the moone eod The causes of the Turkes prospe 207 The protestaÌ„tes oratioÌ„ to the emp. eo The duke of Brunswick accuseth eod The French ambassador to the asse eod The French herauâ—t euill receyued 208 The ambassadors retorne by night eo The Popes aunswer eodem The meane to heale the comon eodeÌ„ The Princes letters to the swisses 209 The protestantes accuseth duke of eod The tenure of his letters eodem The duke of Brunswicke contemneth his owne religion eodem The French victory at Carignaue 210 The duke of sanoye accuseth the. eod The swisses aunswer the Princes eod The English Nauie inuadeth scot eod The oration of the French ambas 211 The duke of Saxon is set through 211 The states of thempire decree a 〈…〉 212 Themperours genâ—elnes to the lantz 212 The Duchye of Brunsewicke com 212 Thamperours Iorny into fraunce 212 The king besieged Bollognie 213 The death of the Prince Orenge 213 The feare slight of the Parisians 213 The conditions of the peace 214 The towne of Pery was burnt 214 Three most mighty enimies of FrauÌ„ce that is themperour the Germaynes and the kyng of England 214 The enemies of the Romish church 215 The pope cannot abide no super eod TheÌ„perour is the popes eldest sonne eo The creation of Cardinalles eodem The Clergie of Collon to the arch 216 The clergie appeale â—o the pope 216 The articles of Lonaine 217 The protestauntes make aunswer 218 The counsell trent vnlawfull eodem The deuise of the popish princes eodeÌ„ Their be in the FreÌ„ch prouince a people called valdois 219 The Cardinall of fournon 219 The Meridolâ—ns flie into the woodes 219 The Swisses intreate for the valdois 220 The confession of the valdois doctrine 221 The death of Lewis duke of bauier eo TheÌ„perours ambassadour to the king of Poole eodem The kinges answer to theÌ„perour eod The wilde Beast 222 The ignorance of Grimian eodem The death of Fraunces Duke of Loraine eodem The birth of Charles sonne to kynge Philip. 223 The Duke of Brunsewicke getteth mony of the French king 223 Themperours taketh truce with the Turke eodem The clergie and vniuersitie of Collon agaynst theyr Archebishop eodem Themperour citeth the Archbish eod The decree of Auspurg 224 The warre of Fraunce EnglaÌ„d eod The protestantes sende Ambassadours into Fraunce and England eod The death of the duke of OrelauÌ„ce eo The armie of the duke of brunswick eo The lantz goeth against him eodem The vanitie of the Duke of Brunswicke 225 The death of the Cardinal of Mentz 226 The Lantzgraues letters to theÌ„p eod Themperour to the Lantzgraues eod The Palsegraue ordeneth ministers in his Churches 227 The protestantes accused of conspi 228 The laÌ„tzgraues letters to Nauius 229 The colloquie of the learned menne at Regenspurg 229 The colloquie dissolued 230 The popes Legates in the counsell of Trent eodem The beginning of the Counsell 231 The warning of Esoras Nehem. 231 The seconde session of the Synode 231 The quiet departure of Luther 232 The inuincible constaunce of Luth. 232 The victory conquest of the word 233 The traytorous minde of AlphoÌ„se 234 The murtherer killeth Daze 235 TheÌ„perours letter for a paracide eod Themperour visiteth the Lantzgraues doughter eodem The Lantzgraue cometh to themp eo The Lantzgraue spake vnto theÌ„p 236 The boke of reformatioÌ„ at Collon 236 The archbushoppe of Collon is accouÌ„ted vnlearned 237 The diuines are stubburne and ob 238 Themperour ought to couÌ„sell the pope to his dutie 239 The ende of the Scripture eodem The best thinges please fewest eod The minde of the Paulsgraue eodem The Lantzgraue is arbittor betwixt the duke of Saxon duke moris eod Themperour thaÌ„keth lantzgraue eod The thirde sessioÌ„ in the Sinode at 240 The popes letters to the Bushoppe of Sedune Chur certaine Abb. eod The Archbushoppe of Collon excomunicated by the pope eodem TheÌ„perour cometh to Reuspurg 241 The murther of Diaze vnpunished 241 The brute of warre against the prot eo The falshode of Marques Albert and Iohn Brandenburge eodem The Lantzgraue is circumspect eod Themperours letters to the Cities of the protestauntes 242 Themperours Crafte eodem The oration of the Frenche Amb. 243 The French kinges request 243 The pope tiraunt 244 The clergie abused the church goods eo The good will of the protestauÌ„ts eod Themperour had secrete talke with duke Moris 245 Themperours ambassadour to ye. eod The cities of wirteÌ„berg put on ar eod The oratioÌ„ of Balthazar to the sold eod The protestauntes letters to the Uenetians 246 The Churche goodes in Spaine to be imployde 246 The cardinal Scotlande slaine 246 The teares of the Crocodile 247 The pope attempteth the matter 247 The Paulsgraue axeth the cause of 247 The Paulsgraue seketh to recoÌ„sile the protestaunte to themperours 248 The duke of SaxoÌ„ letters to theÌ„p eod Themperour periured eodem The authors of this warre eodem Themperours letters to the Archebusshoppe of Cellon 248 Themperours policie 249 The Cardinal of Auspurg the fire braÌ„d of this warre 249 The Iudges of the Chamber bee Papistes 250 The league betwixte the three houses Saxon Brandenburg and Hesse 250 Thintent of the Papistes 251 The Popes bull agaynste the Protestauntes 251 The diligence of the Protestantes in leuyng theyr armye 251 The Lantzgraue sente his sonne to Strausburge 251 The fyrste enterprise to the Protestauntes 251 The Castell of Erenburge 251 Themperoures power 252 The Duke of Saxon Lantzgraue are out lawed by Themperoure 252 The popes letters to the Swysses 257 The pope bringeth themperour into hatred 254 The nuÌ„ber of the fathers at trent 254 The king of Swetia receiueth the. 254 TheÌ„perours letters to dukemoris 254 The protestauntes letters to the Duke of Bauer 255 The Swysses auÌ„swer to the Prote 255 The death of Diazius vnpunished 256 The Protestantes proclaime
graunte that theyr doctryne should be establyshed by the testimonye of Goddes worde And where of a syngular clemencie and loue of peace he hathe wylled the decree to be thus deuysed and herein hathe abased hym selfe ouer muche therfore he requyreth them that they wyll admytte the same in lyke case as other Prynces doe and consyder with them selues that vnlesse they so doe what great occasion they shall gyue to muche michief for the whiche they shal rendre a strayght accompte to God one daye Moreouer howe it was neuer set forth by no wryting that it should be lawfull to spoyle men and afterwardes to excuse it thus as though he that hath sustayned losse shoulde make no restitution And as concernynge the Apologie wrytten against the confutation he had shewed them before that he would admytte no further disputation about Relygion for as muche as he maye not nother is it any part of his office And for this cause hath he refused it For vnlesse they wyll allowe and confirme this decree he wyll doe as he shall see cause that thynge whiche shall be come his estate office The Marques sayde this moreouer howe they knewe what trauell and paynes the reste of the Prynces and states had taken that this controuersie myght be ended quietly And nowe besought them to way with them selues howe muche it were bothe for their priuate profyte and also to the common wealthes to obey the Emperour and admitte the decree whiche vnlesse they wyll do doubtlesse al the other states wyl do herein what soeuer themperour shal cōmaunde thē For they haue promysed hym already vpon their fidelititie that they wil in this quarell spende with him al their substaunce their bloud and their life also to fynishe vp the matter and he hath promysed theim againe to bende hytherwardes all his force and power and not to departe out of the limites of the Empire before he haue brought it to passe And that he was commaunded to saye this muche to them by all the Prynces and states Agayne the Protestauntes maynteyne theyr doctryne to be agreable to Gods worde whiche the gates of hell are notable to resist and the same to be further declared in the wryting lately presēte but for the decree made they can not alowe it with a saufe conscience wherfore thei desyre to haue a copie therof to the intent after good deliberation they maye frame a determinate aunswere whiche shall be as conformable as Gods worde shall permitted them And in al other causes they wyll not sticke to spende lyfe and goodes for his sake but to heare that the Princes and states haue bounden them selues to the Emperour in suche sorte they can not a little maruell consyderynge they haue giuen them none occasion so to do and that there is nothing whiche they are not ready after the example of their auncesters to do for the Emperour and when nede requyreth wyll not be the last And where as he sayed that no man ought to be spoyled of his goodes they doe confesse the same also and herein are nothynge culpable For as touchynge Religious houses they haue oftentymes protested so to vse the matter vntyll the counsell as it maye be certenly sene and perceyued that they seeke not their owne priuate lucre or commoditie After muche deliberation the Emperour aunswered them agayne by the Marques of Brandenburge that he wyl not confesse nor graunt that which they baoste of their religiō And that he hath also a regard to his conscience and his soules health as well as they and wyll cleaue to the auncient Religion of the olde fathers In the decree made there can nothyng be chaunged if they wyll allowe it well and good if not he hath an occasion gyuen hym to deuyse with the rest for an other decree to be made wherby these newe spronge vp sectes maye be plucked vp by the rotes Germany set vp at quietnes and the aunciēt Religion of the churche fayth and cerimonies be had in estimation whiche thing belongeth chiefly to his office and dutie For except they wyll be ordered he wyll declare all to the hyghe byshop and to other kynges and vse both their counsell and ayde herein Unto that where they saie they haue gyuen none occasion of offence there is much to be obiected For their preachers were a great occasion of the cōmotion rusticall warre wherin almoste an hondreth thousande were slayne And many thinges haue bene done in their dominions to the open reproche contempt and mockery of the byshop of Rome and of hym and of other states also therfore not to be so clere without blame as they would make it Moreouer that the prynces and states haue of no priuate affection but according to their duty offered their assistaunce especially seynge howe they wyll admitte no waye of vnitie and concorde Fynally he wylleth and cōmaundeth them to restore in to theyr former estate the Abbottes Moūkes and other ecclesiastical persons whiche they haue expulsed For he heareth their dayly complayntes is troubled almoste continuallye about the restitution of them After a lytle respyte the Protestantes do replie thus For as muche as they can not obtayne the Copie of the decree nor tyme to consulte of the whole matter it is but foly to make any further discoursynge thereof Wherfore they do committe the whole cause vnto God in whom thei repose the chiefe hope of their saluation But where they are charged with the sedition of the commons thei be vtterly clere in that matter for what they did at the same tyme and howe they spared neither cost peryll nor paynes it is manifestly knowen to all men And the cause originall of that sedition was declared also foure yeares synce in the assembly of Spyres Wherfore it is not well done to lay this thyng to their charge but therein they suffer iniurie for if there be any man that wyll trye the lawe with them in this or any other matter they refuse not to abyde iudgement Wherfore they beseche hym he woulde conceaue no hainous displeasure against them nor be incensed with hatred malice cōsidering that al they haue is as well at his commaundemēt as any thyng els of the other states When they had thus sayde they axed leaue and departed leauing certayne of their coūsellers for their deputes But before they went the Archebyshoppes of Mentz and Triers and also the Palsgraue sent to declare vnto them that the same that the electour of Brandenburg spake of gening their ayde and assistaunce for the defence of Religion was done without their commaundement whiche thynge also they hyd not from the Emperour shewyng him howe they had none occasion of ennemitie or displeasur against them Wherfore in case they had conceaued any euyll opinion against them they desyred them to leaue it The Prince of Saxony was content with that purgation and bad them againe to loke for al good wyll and frendshyp at his
hande The next day after they were gone the Emperour calleth before hym all the states and first he commaūdeth the Ambassadours of the cities by Truckesse that they shuld not departe before the end of the Assemblie after that declareth what had bene done with the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes and because the cities of Strausborough Constance Memmyng and Lyndaue had exhibited a seuerall byll by them selues he sheweth howe he wyll treate with them in lyke case After are debated other matters of the Empyre chiefly of the Turkyshe warre This tyme at Rome the Ryuer of Tiber ouerflowed exceadingly to the great terrour of the citie by reason that the wynde blewe sore against the streame droue backe the course of the water from the sea wherfore it did much hurte A lyke deluge and more cruell was in Hollande and Zelande where the Sea brake in ouer the walles that are made to kepe it out in those parties and drowned al the countrey farre and nere Finally the xiiij daye of Octobre whan al the states besydes the Protestauntes were called and assembled in the courte the decree was red to the Ambassadours of the Cities who requyryng a Copye were sayde naye but it was repeted ones or twyse When al for the moste parte had allowed it they of Auspurge Ulmes Hales and Franckeforth desyred further delyberation the eight day after the deputes of the Duke of Saxon his fellowes declare vnto the Archebishop of Mentz whiche is chief emonge the Prynces that if they maye haue their Religion quiet vntill the counsell they are also contented to become cōtributaries with them for money and ayde towardes the Turkyshe warre wherfore the next daye beyng called into the courte there was red before them a certen tenure of the peace wherin they only were comprised whiche had consented vnto the decree made where about rose a contention the Ambassadours affirming that it concerned them nothynge at all or if it did howe it ought to be vttered with playner wordes to take awaye all ambiguitie They said how they would moue it to the Emperour After two dayes the Emperour sent for home to his house thē of Strausborough and their fellowes and before all the states commaundeth the confutation of their doctryne to be red openly a wrytyng long and tedious and also where it touched the Lordes supper ful bytter and sower The authors therof were John Faber and Eckius And for because the argument was odiouse they left out no kind of excusation wherby to kyndle the Emperour and Prynces agaynst them the ende was this For as muche as in their Religion they professed an opinion contrary to al the reste and allowed that moste heynous errour of the Sacramēt had also cast their Images our of their churches abolyshed the Masse and plucked downe Colleges builded in tymes past through the lyberalitie of kynges Emperours maynteyned sondry sectes and dispersed their bookes wrytten of suche matters throughout Germany therfore he requyreth them eftsones to come to amendement and receyue agayne the auncient Religion for otherwise wyll not he fayle to do the thing which his office requireth They aunwer not long after that in this confutation they were charged with many thinges that were vntrue for in ther cities is nothyng done out of ordre but the same is extremely punyshed wherfore seing thei be clere in cōscience the cause weightie the cōfutation ouerlong can not be aunswered before they make certificat home to their cities they desyre fyrst therfore to haue a copie secondarely that credite be not geuen to this accusation before suche tyme as their pourgation be heard and examined In all other matters they wyll do any thyng for his sake The Emperour sayeth he wyll take aduisement and the fyst daye after she weth them by the Marques of Brandēburge how they can haue no copie For that was for weightie causes denied of the Duke of Saxony and all disputatiō of fayth is nowe prohibited But if they desyre to be reconciled and retourne agayne to the churche he is content that they shall heare the confutation red agayne ones or twyse but he chargeth them to professe the same kynde of doctrine that al other Prynces and states do and to gyue ayde against the Turke for vnlesse they forsake theyr stubburnes he wyll worke by the counsell of the byshop of Rome and other kynges as shal become hym After this they make a further sute to obtayne a copie and the same not graunted to haue peace and quietnes in their Religion tyll the begynnynge of the counsell and therin to haue their cause decided and they wyl in the meane time geue theyr ayde against the Turke so farforth as their power wyll extende or els could they graunte nothing The Maques promysed them to be a petitioner for them to the Emperour At after noone was red vnto them a graunt of peace wherein were only conteyned suche as receiued the decree as was rehearsed before to the deputes of the Dukes of Saxon and his fellowes wherunto they aunswered in lyke case that the same touched them nothyng and desyred to knowe further of the Emperours pleasure herein In this meane whyle had they of Ulmes Auspurge Franckeforth and Halles forsaken the decree made as concerning Religion and vrged sore to haue a cousel But Faber and Eckius craue a great rewarde of the Princes for makyng the confutations and had it And promyse from hēceforth to bestowe theyr trauayle in the defence of the Romyshe Religion For they and dyuerse others sought preferment by the meanes of Luther and in dede Faber was afterwardes by kyng Ferdinando made byshop of Uienne Wherupon Erasinus of Roterdame was wont to say merely howe poore Luther made many ryche In the meane ceason the Saxons and their fellowes put vp a supplication to the Emperour intreating hym to establyshe a peace throughout the Empyre that no man be put in trouble or daunger for Religiō But where this coulde not be obtayned they wryte an Epistle to all states makyng a brief rehearsall what thinge hath bene done desyryng that the names of their Prynces be not put in to the later ende of the decree emonges the reste And for as muche as they haue sued for peace in vayne they saye howe they can graunte none ayde to the Turkyshe warre More ouer where it is prouided in the decree that they only shall haue place in iudgement and counsell chamber whiche allowe the decree made they requyre that the same may be chaunged and amended for els can they beare no parte of the charges whiche the chambre requyreth What tyme they had thus denounced they departed the next daye beyng the .xij. of Nouembre I shewed you in the fyft booke howe Marques Albert of Brandenburge was by the kyng of Pole made Duke of Pruselande But the Emperour beyng sued vnto by Walter Cronberge disallowed all that treatie or cōpacte as made to the dammage of the Empyre and