Rome he woulde haue hys owne oppinion to take place against the iudgement of meÌ Wherfore it is wittely done of him to haue no familiarytie with so pestilent a fellowe nor to alowe hys errour In the whiche thinge all graue and wise men do muche commende his vertue And chieflye he giueth God hertie thankes that he hath giuen him suche a mynde affirming moreouer that he hath suffered and borne with his rashenes a while to see if he woulde amende but now for asmuche as he hathe nothinge preuailed with gentle admonishmentes he is compelled to vse an extreme remedy fearyng lest throughe his contagion he shoulde infecte many Wherfore callyng a counsel of Cardinalles and learned men to debate the matter he hath made a decree by the instinction of that holy spirite whiche neuer faileth the Churche of Rome the copie wherof he hath sent vnto him to the intent he might see what monstrouse errours that minister of Sathan defendeth he wilieth him therfore that vnlesse he do openly and solemnely recant with in the daye prescribed he should commit him toward for so shall he put away all shame from his house and from Germany wynne muche honor and do God highe seruice The decree is ouerlonge but the summe is this Fyrst the Byshoppe Leo callynge vpon Christe Peter and Paule and other sainctes to tourne awaye the daunger hangynge ouer the Church most lamentably complayneth that now there should spring vp a doctrine conteinyng bothe the Heresies already condemned and also newe errours and great wickednes And that in Germany that was wont to do so muche for the Churche of Rome bothe longe sins and of late dayes concernyng Husse and theÌ of Boheme But because the numbre of Christians throughout the vniuersall worlde are committed vnto his charge by Christ he can no lenger wyncke at so great a matter After reciting Luthers opinions saieth that they be against Christian charitie and the reuerens that all men owe of duetie to the Churche of Rome and agaynste the counsell of the aunciente fathers Wherfore by the consent of his Cardinalles he condemneth both him and his works to be brought forth and burned and by the aucthoritie whiche he saieth he hath he commaundeth all Magestrates namelye in Germany to se the thing executed accordingely Then commeth he to Luther shewyng with howe fatherly a loue he sought to refourme him howe he cited him to Rome and promised him to beare his charges And howe in contempte therof he appealed from him to the couÌsell contrary to the decrees of Pius and Iulius And all be it he had hereby deserued the punishement condigne for Heretikes yet did he of his clementie gyue him a longer time if happely as the prodigal child amended through his owne misery he would retourne to the bosome of the churche And to be yet also of this minde yea and moste hertely besecheth him and his adherentes to trouble the church no more promysing them great good will if they wyll cease from theyr errours Notwithstandynge he commaundeth Luther to teache no more prescribynge him .lx. dayes wythin the whiche time he shoulde amende burne his owne bokes and recante his doctrine openlye if he did not he condemneth him as an Heritike to suffer accordynge to that lawes he suspendeth him out of the Church commaunding al men to eschew his talke and his company vnder the lyke penaltie and this decree to be red in all Churches assemblies of people at certen dayes appointed Touching Pius and Iulius thus it standeth This Pius hilde a Counsell at Mantua in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.lix chiefely because of the Turkisshe warre And there amonges other he made a decree that no man should appeale from the Byshoppe to the Counsell for that vnder the Coope of heauen he said there coulde nothinge be founde better then Christes Uicar And not longe after he suspended Sigismunde duke of Austriche for takinge the Cardinall of Cusane prisoner The duke appealed from him to the counsell Wherfore the Byshoppe did excommunicate George Heimburge the worker herof commaunding the Senate of Norinburge to banishe him the Citie and to spoile him of his goodes Whiche decree was after renewed by Iuly to maynteyne him selfe agaynst the Cardinalles that swarued from him agaynst kynges and princes and the vniuersitie of Paris whiche vsed ofte suche refuge This Bishop Pius called before Aeneas Siluius was at the Counsell of Basill wrot euery thing praysing the decrees that there were made exceadyngly But when he was auaunced to this highe degree of dignitie he chauÌged his opinion and would haue the counsell subiecte to the Byshop When Luther hearde that he was condemned at Rome he goeth to his former appellation wherin he appealed from the Bishoppe to the counsell And nowe forsomuche as the Byshoppe perseuerynge in hys wicked tyrrannye hath proceded so farre to condemne him nether called nor heard nor yet conuicte of Heresye he saieth howe he appealeth from him againe to the counsel chiefly for foure causes for that he hath condemned him at his pleasure not hearyng the controuersie for that he coÌmaundeth him to denie faith to be in sacramentes necessary that he preferreth his owne decrees and dotages of men before the Scriptures and for that he leaueth no place to anye Counsell Wherefore he calleth him Tyrran a proude contemner of the Churche and fynallye Antichriste affirmynge that he will shewe and proue al these thinges whensoeuer it shall please his superiours And therfore prayeth themperour and other Magistrates to accepte this his appellation for the defence of Gods glory and the libertie of the counsell that they would bridell his tyrranny and thynke that the decree made concerned nothynge nor that they would styrre nothinge tyll the cause were lawfully decided Before he had thus appealed about the .xvij. day of Nouembre he had written a boke of the Captiuitie of Babilon in the preface wherof he saieth howe he profiteth dayely more and more in the knowledge of holy Scripture And howe a fewe yeares paste he set forth a booke of the Byshoppes pardons and that tyme wrote renerently because he stoode than in great feare of the Romisshe tyrranny and had it in great estimation but now his iudgement is farre otherwise and beynge styrred vp by the prouocation of his aduersaries he hath lerned that the See of Rome is nothynge els but the kyngdome of Babilon and the power of the stronge Hunter Niutroth Afterwardes he disputeth of the Sacramentes of the Churche and holdeth that there be but three onelye Baptisme Penaunce and the Lordes Supper and then treateth also of the other foure confirmation order Matrimonye and Unction But these he calleth no Sacramentes because they haue no sygnes annexed to the promesse other sacramentes which haue no promise to theÌ ioyned he saith are but vare signes therfore thinketh that Penaunce can not be couÌted in the numbre of theÌ if we wil properly exactly
sayeth howe he wil go to kyng Ferdinando abiding there for their aunswere He had been before in Saxony and had spokeÌ with Luther at wyttemberge And in his retourne to kyng Ferdinando he met with the Duke comming from thence homewarde The Protestauntes were appointed before to mete at Smalcalde the sixte of December for other matters Wherfore the .xxi. of the same they framed an aunswere for the byshops of Romes Ambassadour whiche they saye is not so exacte as the thynges requyreth yet for as muche as he desyred to haue the same with expedition playne manifest And first howe they haue declared their myndes concerning a counsell both in diuerse assemblies and also two yeare synce to the Emperours and byshop Clementes Ambassadours For they also wyshe to haue a lawfull counsel for the preseruation of the coÌmon wealth and common saluation of all men and haue required this of the Emperour ioyntly with other Princes who also thought it nedefull hym selfe doubting not but all good men do desyre suche a counsell as may helpe and profite the common wealth For it greueth many good men that the true and holsome doctrine is through the wicked crueltie of certen men euery where oppressed the members of the churche tone a sondre and open crymes mainteined but suche crueltie becommeth not the Rulers of the churche Wherfore if euer there were any nowe is moste nede of a counsell that bothe the olde accustmed vyces maye be roted out and also vniuste violence and crueltie be restrayned and the churche from henceforth set in due ordre They therfore wyll not fayle the common wealth herein but wyll ryght gladlye come vnto suche a counsell as in sondrye assemblies of the Empyre hath bene agreed vpon Besechyng God that all the doinges there may redounde vnto his glory and the saluation of men And wher as the bishop hath chosen Mantua to be the place they truste assuredly that the Emperour wyll not in this poynte swarue from the decrees of the Empyre and his owne promyse also in as muche as it was prouyded that the counsell should be holden in Germany For where he sayeth it is daungerous keping of the same there the truthe is farre other wyse for what peryll can be there where all the Prynces and Cyties are obedient to the Emperoure onlye Where the Cyties be so ordered that they defende straungers from iniuries and saue them from all peryll Therfore oughte it chieflye to be kepte there to the intent that matters in controuersie might duely be debated that men might frankely speake and iudge vpryghtly and feare no force nor faction but saye theyr myndes freely Two yeares paste Clement the seuenth promysed a counsell with conditions verye captions And nowe the chiefest point is craftely left out touchyng the lybertie of the counsell and more of the treatie and partlye referred to the Byshop of Rome whose office they saye it is to call and ordre the counsell Nowe is the byshop whiche hath so ofte condempned theyr religion and doctrine their opeÌ enemie But in case they should permitte theyr aduersary to geue iudgement than coulde not the counsell be free wherein by the aduyse of the Emperour and other Prynces Mete men should be chosen out of the whole numbre whiche accordyng vnto Gods worde might heare and determine the cause For a counsell is the iudiciall seate not only of the byshop of Rome but of all other states also for it is to be proued by the examples of the primatiue churche and also by holy scripture that Prynces and other states haue in tymes paste been admitted in counselles for the hearyng of matters But wheresome woulde haue the byshoppes power to be aboue the authoritie of the whole churche it is agaynst all reason and full of tyrannye For it belongeth as well to the Emperour and other ciuile states to set in foote in counselles and to chose experte men especiallye in suche causes where the byshoppes errours be impugned that is to wytte false doctrine and Idolatry for this thynge is permitted also by the byshop of Romes lawe And feinge that this is the vniuersall cause of all men and concerneth the whole common wealth it is the Emperours parte and other Prynces to forsee that vpryght iudgement be had For both other byshops of their owne people and also byshoppes of Rome haue in times paste bene condempned for Heresy and obstinacie of the Emperoure and the churche together And at this tyme there is contention of manie weightie matters whiche the byshop doth defende not in wordes only but also by wycked and cruell decrees punishyng most sharpely suche as obey not the same For as muche therfore as he is an aduersary and susteineth the one halfe of the sute the thinge it selfe requireth that the whole church the Emperour other kinges take in hande to prescribe an ordre for the deciding of the matter wherfore as they haue done euer so they requyre nowe also that the matter maye be handled vpryghtlye accordynge to the examples of holye wrytte and the olde primatiue churche And if it so maye be they wyll not be behynde with theyr partes trustynge that truthe shall come to lyghte and the glorye of our Sauioure Christe be aduaunced and tranquillitie be restored to the Churche but if it be otherwyse there is no doubte but greater commotions wyll arryse therof than hytherto hath bene seen for their partes they wil at no tyme neglecte the common wealth And as they can not forsake nor shrynke from the true doctrine so lykewyse in all other matters they will do all thynges for peace and concorde The kyng of FrauÌce whiche was fully determined to make warre in Italy sent Ambassadour WilliaÌ Bellaye to this assemblie at Smal calde Who the .xix. daye of Decembre had there an eloquent oration And first he excuseth the kynges seueritie in punyshynge certen of his owne subiectes whiche not withstanding was nothing preiudicial or hurtfull to their cause of Religion though some euill tongues dyd reporte so no more than it was displeasure to him what tyme they with all their force did suppresse the rebellion of their commons and punyshed the Anabaptistes doing yet nothing without iust cause wherfore he distrusteth not but they be men of such wysdome and grauitie that they wyll of no lyght reporte conceaue any euill opinion of so noble a kynge that is their frende who was nowe for vrgent causes not here to be spoken of constrayned against his nature to vse extreme punishment lest hauing so large a Realme he should through ouermuche lenitie set open the wyndowe of wickednes to the temeritie of manye And touching their religion and doctrine the kyng wyll not take vpoÌ him the persone of the iudge but in dede lyketh many thinges well the rest he leaueth vndiscussed After this he goeth about to wynne theyr fauour and confuteth theyr opinion whiche had warned them to be ware of forayne
our daies and therfore desyred a counsell that the wrong beyng redressed concorde might be reteined But in this our time a Counsell is muche more nedefull for as muche as the same errours and vices do remaine in sundry places and strife and contention is arrisen and many therefore are in daunger of their lyues that be innocent persons For these therfore so weightie considerations not onely we but themperour also and the residew of the states and Bishoppes haue determined that acounsell is chiefly necessary for the Church wherin the pure doctrine might be mainteined For vnlesse it were of suche sort they sawe right well howe it would styre vp a greater confusion But behold whilest we loke for such a counsell the Bishops Buls come forth quite contrary to the decrees of th empyre And because it doth not coÌcerne vs only but also the whole commen wealth of Christendom we haue thought nedefull by this publike writyng to testifie and declare wherefore we discommende this counsell For the power and Authoritie of Iudgement belongeth not onely vnto Bishoppes but vnto the churche Of which numbre verely are all kinges and all other states Wherfore al beit the Bishoppe of Rome were nothing at all accused yet were not this to be graunted him that he alone and his should be iudges excludyng other ministers of the churche but seyng manifestly that he is a partie one of the suters much lesse ought it to be permitted because it is both against Gods lawe and also the lawe of Nature But we accuse the Bishop of Rome of no smale crimes neyther do we dispute onely of his vsurped Authoritie and abhominable liuinge but we reprehende his doctrine his lawes and wicked Religion that is we accuse him as giltie of Idolatrie and Heresie Whiche crimes beyng obiected the Bishoppe ought not but the churche to geue iudgement as the olde lawes of the Bishoppes them selues do testifie Furthermore the Bishoppe is not only one of the parties but because he hath condemned oure doctrine longe before he hathe heaped vpon him selfe the greater suspition And seyng it is thus who can doubte what his iudgement shal be in the counsell concernynge our doctrine For it is not to be thought that he will contrary to his olde custome permit any other man to haue the determination of matters And wheras in his writynge he speaketh nothyng of the maner of treatie in the Counsell we haue iust cause to suspecte all thynges the more For he calleth them onely thither which are bounden vnto him diuerse wayes of whose good willes he is assured And he protesteth also this to be the cause of calling the counsel that the Heresies sprong vp of late might be weded out And albeit the same may be taken largely yet is there no doubt but he meaneth it of our doctrine For it is not credible that he speaketh of his own errours Yea after he sent forth an other writynge touchinge the reformation of the Courte of Rome wherein by expresse wordes he confesseth that the Counsell is called for this intent that the Pestiferous Heresie of Luther might be abolished And so in dede at the fyrst he couered his mynde crastely that his writte myght haue some shewe but he disclosed it afterwarde Wherfore there is doubte but that he is fullye bente to roote oute our doctrine And what madnes were it than for vs to allow this his intention For this goeth he about that suche as receiue his writyng shoulde confesse oure doctrine to be wicked and Hereticall Moreouer that Kynges and Princes whiche admitte the same shoulde be bounden to aide and asiste him Therfore seing the thing concerneth the vniuersal common wealth we beseche all men that they will consider diligentlye thys his crafte and policie For it is to be marueiled whie he conceaued his writynge with suche wordes And there is a doubt whether he did it to the intent to feare vs from the Counsel or by the approuing of the writte to haue vs intrapped But amonges vs assuredly there is no doubt but that themperours mynde is to further the common wealth neyther do we thinke that he will allowe this forme of writte But the Byshoppe hathe not onely appoynted the Counsell but hathe also pronounced sentence against vs. For he will not permitte that the matter may be tried by the Scriptures but he will aledge his own lawes custome and certen Counselles of the latter time to proue the matter But we chiefly hold affirme the mens traditions that are contrary to Gods worde oughte to be reiected For we admit the doctrine of the church but the Byshops errors tyrannie ought not to be coloured with the title of the church Tholde church neyther receiued any law coÌtrarie to the Scripture nor attributed the vnmeasurable power to the Bishop of Rome which he now taketh vpon him selfe And againe yâ sorte of men which do condemne persecute by the doctrine of the gospell be not the church but paricides the generatioÌ ofspring of Cam. And in old time in dede godly Bishops dyd oftentimes refuse couÌsels seing the same to be called not to defende the veritie but either for the main tenauÌce of some wicked opinon or els to establishe some meÌ in Authoritie Themperor CoÌstantine had assigned a counsel at Antioche But Maximus Bishop of Hierusalem albeit it was not farre of came not thither for because he knewe themperors minde what the Arrians intended And although Athanasius came to the couÌsell at Tyrus yet taried he not long for that he saw the chiefest of the couÌsel plaie the parts both of the accusers Iudges And for that he saw certen accusers procured against him There was holdeÌ a great counsel at SirmiuÌ a town in Hungry against Photynus for the matter was weightie And albe it themperour coÌmaunded the Bishops to come thither yet wold not they of the west partes obey him for that they sawe there a numbre of Arrians there encreased suspected that some false opinion shoulde there be decreed That time was Osius Bishop of Corduba a famous man whom themperor at the request of the Arrians commaunded also to come thither out of Spaine When he was come he approued that perilous counsell of Sirmie which brought afterwardes a great consusioÌ to the church for this cause was Osius sore reproued of Hilarie whiche came not there Cyrillus Bishop of HierusaleÌ neuer came at their assemblies which denied Christ to be of the same substannce with the father is accompted the fyrst that euer appealed from the counsell by writyng There was a Counsell kepte at Millan and the Bishoppes called thither by the Emperour But what time Paulinus Bishoppe of Treuers and a fewe others sawe howe Anxentius the Byshoppe of Millan and his mates went about an euill purpose they departed brake vp that Counsell After this sort did those worthy men flie at suspected counselles lest they should be made partakers of
in the seuententh and eyghtenth syttting of the Counsel of Basil But wheras Eugenius the fourth would not come to the Counsell at Basill although he were oftentimes warned and cited thither he pronounced the same to be frustrate and called an other at Farrare whither came Iohn Paleologe the last Emperour of Grece saue one and with him Iosippe the Patriarche of Constantinople and a numbre of Bishoppes in the yeare of our Lord M. CCCC.xxxvij And from Farrare they remoued to Florence where as by the consent of the Grekes it was decreed amonges other thinges that the church of Rome should haue the supremacie that the bishop of Rome was the successor of Peter the prince of thapostels the trew vicar of Christ the head of the whole church the father doctor of al christiaÌs that to him was coÌmitted by Christ the ful power to fede gouerne the church vniuersal This is the decree whereby Caietanus woulde preferre the Bishoppe of Rome before and aboue all generall Counsels For syxe yeares before whan he was yet no Cardinall but maister of the blacke Frieres he made an Oration in the seconde syttynge of the Counsell Laterane wherof we shall speake hereafter and inueiyng muche agaynste certeyne Cardinalles that had forsaken the Bishop of Rome he taunteth by the waie the Counselles of Costauntz and Basil for that the fathers at the same tune toke to them selues aucthoritie ouer the Byshoppes Wherefore saieth he it was wel done of Eugenius that he suppressed that factioÌ and suffered not his aucthoritie to be diminished This oration did Iulius the seconde in whose fauoure these thynges were spoken commaunde to be recorded And Caietane was made Cardinall by Leo the tenth Gerson of whom we spake was a Diuine of Paris right famouse and wrote diuers worckes he was presente at the Counsell of Constans and in bookes written he commendeth hyghely the decree whereby it is agreed that the Byshoppe of Rome should be subiecte to the Counsell And sayeth how the thing is worthie to be written in all Churches and publike places for a perpetuall memorye For he saieth they be pestilent Flatterers whiche brynge thys Tyrranny into the Churche as thoughe the Bishoppe of Rome ought neither to obey the Counsel nor be iudged by the same as though the Counsell should take all his force and aucthoritie of him as thoughe it coulde not be called but at his pleasure as though he were bounden to the obseruation of no lawes nor none accompt myght be taken of his doynges certeinly these monstruous sayinges muste be vtterly reiected which are against all lawes equitie and reason For all the aucthoritie of the Churche dependeth of the generall counsell and it is lawefull to appeale from the pope vnto it and those which inquire whether the Byshop of Rome or the Churche be greater make as wise a question as if they should aske whether the part be more or the whole for it aperteineth to the couÌsel to constitute to iudge and to depose the Byshop of Rome as lately it was declared at Constaunce for where as some semed to doubte in the matter and attributed ouermuche to the Byshoppe this question was there determined before Iohn the three and twentith was deposed from his Seate These and many other thinges writeth Gerson to to the same effecte And therefore is he nowe reiected of Caietane He died in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC.xxix And the vniuersitie of Paris holdeth the same opinioÌ and includeth the vnmesurable vsurpation of the Romishe Byshoppes as it were wyth in these boundes and but a fewe monthes before that Luther wrote of Indulgences the same Uniuersite appealed from Leo the tenthe for abolyshyng of a law whych was very profitable for studentes in Fraunce and opened the waye to promotion After Luthers departure from Aspurge the Cardinall writeth letters to the Duke of Saxonie the fiue twentye daye of October signifiynge how Luther in dede came to Auspurge but spake not with him till he had obteined themperours safeconduit He marueileth greatlye that so little credit is geuen to him After much treaty aboute the matter he of a certaine fatherly loue admonished Luther to amende And albeit he waxed more stubberue yet did he deuise with Stupice and others a waye of reconcilemente And that in suche forte as neyther the Churche of Rome shoulde lose her dignitie nor he his estimation And wheras there was a good foundation of this thing already laid they went preuely away first Stupice and after Luther whiche chaunced muche contrary to his expectation Luther pretendeth that he treateth of these matters onlye by the waye of reasonynge and of disputation but in his sermons to the people he affirmeth all thynges whiche maye in no wise bee permitted for so muche as hys Doctrine bothe swarueth from the churche of Rome and is also verye parnicious as it is certainlye to be proued Wherefore he dothe admonishe him to regarde his owne honour and his conscience and either to seÌd Luther to Rome or els to banishe him his countrye For it can not be that so pestilent a thinge shoulde longe continue neyther is there anye doubt but they wil procede in iudgement againste him at Rome and that he hath accordinge to his duetie signified to the bishop the whole matter and the clokynge of the same He prayeth hym therefore to geue no credit vnto suche as commended Luthers doinges neither to suffer so greate an euill to spot and blemishe that noble house of Saxonie like as he had oftentimes promised To the whiche Epistle exhibited the ninetene daye of Nouembre Duke Fredericke maketh aunswere the eighte daye of Decembre that he promised to sende Luther to Auspurge whiche beinge perfourmed they can require no more of him And that he promised him likewise to let him frendly departe And nowe that he woulde dryue hym to recante before hys matter were hearde he can not a lyttle maruell For there were dyuerse well learned men aswell in other partes as in his Countrye whyche dyd not condemyne his Doctrine And suche as were hys aduersaries were blyneded wyth Auarice and corrupted wyth filthye lucre but in case hys erroure hadde bene detected than woulde he whiche seeketh bothe the glorye of God and the safetye of hys owne conscience haue done all readye herein the duetye of a Christen Prynce And therefore where he wryteth that processe shall passe againste the sayde Luther at Rome that is beyonde all hys expectation And when he desyreth moreouer that eyther he shoulde be sente to Rome or elles into exile it is not lawfull for hym so to do Firste because he is not as yet detected of Heresye Secondely for because that the same shoulde be a greate losse to the Uniuersitie of Wittemberge whiche he had lately founded whereof Luther was a certeine lyghte and an ornament Unto whome he sent his letters that he myght reade them And he offereth him selfe as before to be readye
to dispute the matter in anye indifferente place and to be iudged by anye indifferente hearers or elles to aunswere the matter in wrytynge Whiche request because it is reasonable and for so muche as he wyll defende none errour wyllyngly he thynketh it meete to be graunted him that at the length it maye appeare wherefore he shoulde be accompted an Heretike and what he him selfe myghte chieflye folowe For lyke as he wyll maynteine no errour willyngly and as he woulde be verye lothe to swarue from the Church of Rome euen so can he not condemne him for an Heretike tofore he be detected of errour Nowe Luther who had sene the Cardinales letters as before is sayed wrote againe to hys Prince immediatlye that where as he wente not to Caietaine before he had obtayned the Emperours saufeconduit it was done by the aduise of his freindes And that the Cardinall would haue had him to recante suche thynges as he had wrytten touchynge Pardons and faythe to be necessarye in the Sacramentes for the fyrste he dyd not muche passe but to denye the other wherein consisteth the effecte of our saluatioÌ he might in no wise coÌseÌt After he declareth what places of scripture the Papistes do depraue and wraste into a wronge sense he reciteth also what was done euery day and howe at the length the Cardinall began to threaten him vndoubtedly he wisheth for nothing more than that it might be shewed him wherein he erreth But in case they at Rome shall refuse to take so muche paine for so poore a man as he is at the least wise let them write hereof to the Duke him selfe or to Themperor or to some great Bishoppe of Germanye or elles appoynt somwhere a free disputation whiche thinges all they haue denyed him hitherto And if they will thus perseuer than is it easye to be iudged whether the faulte be in him or in them And where they exhorte him to crueltie he oughte not to be perswaded by their woordes For they that will seme to note errours might muche more easely sende them in writyng into Germany thaÌ he to his great charges and present daunger of his life trauaile to Rome there to vnderstande his errours Finally wheras he boasteth that iudgement shall passe againste him at Rome vnlesse he eyther come thither or be exiled he refuseth not to be an exile although he knoweth full well that he can be in no place safe hauynge so many aduersaries liynge in waite for hym Moreouer it should be great griefe vnto him that any man shoulde for his sake incurre any daunger Wherefore lest they should attempte any thing he will departe out of the limittes of the whole countrey whither soeuer it shall please God to leade him Wherfore he geueth him thankes and prayeth for his prosperous health And reioyseth to him self that it hath pleased God that he should suffer some thinge for the glorie of Christes name TheÌ dyd the Uniuersitie of Wittenberge in the moneth of Nouembre write vnto the Duke theyr fauourable letters in Luthers behalfe Nowe they vnderstode by Luther of Cardinall Caietanes letters bothe what his request was and also what offer Luther made him at Auspurge where Luther therefore requireth that his errour maye be shewed him and submitteth him selfe to the holy Churche of Rome They beseche him that he will see to it that they do him no open wronge but shewe him if he be in erroure the way oute of holye Scripture He him selfe hopeth well in the gentlenesse of Bishop Leo but he feareth lest his aduersaries so flatter him that they will abuse him and the name of the Churche For albeit the Duke did not accomplishe the Papistes requestes but semed rather to defende Luther as tofore it maye appeare yet had he neuer read any of hys woorkes nor as yet hearde him preache as he him selfe witnesseth in letters written at Auspurge to Raphell Riare a Cardinall who for olde acquaintaunce had frindely admonished him that he shold not take vpon him the defence of Luther Whilest these thinges were in doinge Leo fearinge some alteration establissheth his Indulgences with a newe decree sayinge that this is the doctrine of the Romaine Churche which is the maistres of all others that the Bishoppe of Rome the Successour of Peter and Christes Uicare hath authoritie to graunte this so great a benefite in suche sorte as they shall profit not onely the quicke but also the deade in Purgatorie And this doctrine muste all men receyue and beleue vnlesse they will be sequestred from the Felowshippe of holy churche This decree he sent to Caietane that it mighte be published vnto all men who folowyng his commaundement publisshed the thinge at Lintz a towne in Austriche by the Riuer of Danubye or Tonoware and in decembre sendeth out copies to the Byshoppes of Germany commaunding them in Leo his name vnder a great penaltie that they should immediatly set it foorth euery man in his Dioces and commaunded it to be reuerently kept and obserued But Luther perceiuing by the Cardinals letters that sentence shoulde be geuen against him at Rome putteth vp an newe appellation the .xxviij. day of Nouembre wherin was conteined that he would not diminishe thauthoritie of the Bishoppes of Rome thinking rightly muche lesse dissent from the Churche notwithstandyng for so muche as the Byshoppe is in the same state that other mortall men be in it maye be that he maye erre and offende neither ought this to be attributed vnto him that he alone cannot erre nor be disceiued He proueth this by the exemple of Peter who for that he erred in sounde doctrine was sharpely openlye rebuked of S. Paule But and if the aucthoritie and riches of the Bishoppe of Rome be so great that he may commaunde and do what he liste and careth for no man than suche as thinke they haue wronge at his hande haue onely one remedie lefte them that is to appeale After he reciteth howe he was inforsed throughe the ouer muche asperitie of Cardinall Caietane to appeale to the Bishop of Rome in whose humanitie he had thought to haue founde some fauoure for asmuch as both he offered most reasonable coÌditions and promised to do al thinges the errour beyng taken away But nowe sins that this Appellation is condemned the offers dispised lookynge for no more helpe nor health at the Bishoppes hande as he might learne by the Cardinalles letters written to the Duke of Saxonie beynge broughte thorow extreme necessitie he appealeth from the Bishoppe of Rome to the nexte general CouÌsell which by al meanes ought to be preferred before him After this the Bishop of Rome sendeth Charles Meltice his Chamberlaine into Germanye to presente Duke Fridericke with a golden Roose which the Bishoppe yearely is wonte to consecrate with many Ceremonies and great pompe and solemnitie And after as a token of singular freindship to geue it vnto some maÌ He wrot also to Degenart Phesfinger a noble man of the Dukes counsell
Cardinall aunswered againe that it pleased him well in asmuch as he promised not to defende his doynges obstinatelye but that he would willyngly gyue place vnto suche as coulde reache better thinges And albeit he delighted muche in Religion yet had he no leasure hitherto to reade his workes and therfore wouldâiot Iudge of them but leaue it vnto others that had taken the thinge in hande Neuerthelesse he would wishe that bothe he and other expositours of scripture should handle euery thing reuerently and modestly without any reproche or enuie he is sory to heare that men dispute openly of the supremacie of the Byshoppe of Rome of Frewill of the Supper of the Lorde and suche other questions full of daunger for his part he could be contente that learned men should conferre of these matters frendly amonges them selues would not blame him for teaching the truth so it be done without bitternesse and contempte of the Ecclesiasticall power For if he professe the trueth of a good zeale it will continewe but if he do it of presumpsion or of malice it can not be permanent nor longe endure For he that abuseth Gods giftes heapeth vp doubtlesse sore vengeaunce vpon him selfe Luther wrote also to the Bishoppe of Mersebourge the same thing in effecte that as touching his doctrine he was of a clere conscience for he taught none other thinge than Christ and his Apostles did But because his maners and lyfe did not Aunswere to his professyon he wisheth that he were remoued from the office of preaching He seketh for no lucre nor desyreth any vaine glory but this thing onely that the euerlastyng veritie myght be knowen to all men Such as condemne his workes are moued with a maruelous hatred and abuse the Byshop of Romes name to fulfyll their owne affections Whereas many learned men of foren nations haue writtin to him letters reioysyng at his writinges and geuing him thankes for the same whervpon he beleueth the rather that he hath taught a sounde doctrine Wherfore he requireth him to deale fatherly with him to shewe him his faulte if he be out of the way For hitherto coulde he not obteyne so muche as that the matter might be hearde notwithstandyng that he hath with ernest prayer required it And now also a man should do him no greater pleasure than to take from him his errour Whereunto the Bishop aunswereth that he hath bene oftentimes very carefull for him how he is not a litell sory that he hath written amonges others a Boke of the Lordes Supper wherwith are many sore offended And that the people vnder his cure are greatly inflamed with that doctrine for the which he is chiefly sory After he reprehendeth in him the sharpenes of his writing saith that albeit straungers like it yet can not he allow the same but wisheth that he woulde bringe a Christian minde voide of all affections to the handlinge of the matter furthermore he chargeth him to haue spoken vnreuerently by the bishop of Rome whichâ thing neither becometh him nor is mete to be suffered Wherefore he admonisheth him to applye the dexteritie of his wit to dthirthynges that may profit the common wealth more and to leaue all thys bitter contention Last of al where he requireth that his error may be shewed him and promiseth to be tractable he saith how he can not answer therto by wryting but au other time when they shal mete he wil talk with him more at large Duke Fridericke at the same time had certaine ârtes at Rome which he had commended to Ualentine Ditleb a Germane He sent worde that his matters were not well hearde at Rome by reason of the rashnes and leud demener of Luther who had written many thinges bitterly and spitefully againste the bishop and the church of Rome and all the college of Cardinals which fellow he nourished and maintained as moste men affirmed Whan the Duke had receiued these letters he aunswereth that it was neuer his intent to defende Luthers doctrine by his maintenaunce neither dothe he take vppon him any iudgement of the thinges that Luther teacheth He heareth in dede that his doctriue is well allowed of learned men that can iudge therof and that he hath long since made this offer that if he may haue a sure sauf conduicte to rendre a reason of his Doctrine before the Bishoppes Legate what so euer he be and then if hys error can be shewed him to be moste ready to forsake hys opinion and thus hathe protested openlye And althoughe thys myghte appeare to be sufficient yet being admonished of hym long sence he wold haue forsaken the country had not Charles Meltice aduised him to the contrary For he thought it better that he should remaine here stil then to go to an other place where perauenture hauing more libertye he mighte setforth worse thinges then hitherto he hath done wherfore there can be no iust cause alledged to suspect any euil of him and trusteth to fare neuer the worse at the Bishops handes therfore For he wold be right hartely sory that any erroure spronge vp in his time shoulde be said to be defended and established by him After this he deuiseth with him more familiarely howe the contention began by reason of Eckius others what excellent wittes what good learning and knowledge of toÌges do florishe nowe in Germanye what desire the common people haue to read the scriptures how Luthers doctrine is infixed in many mens mindes so that if he be vsed otherwise then well it is like to styrre vp suche tumultes in Germany as will turne nother the bishop or no maÌ els to any profit When the Duke had thus written at the Kalends of Aprill he receiued the vi day of Iuly letters from the bishop of Rome wherin he reioysed not a little that he wold haue nothing to do wyth Luther that wicked man affirming that he had euer a very good opinion of him before this But now forasmuch as graue meÌ haue aduouched it to be true the good wil that he bare him before is hereby not a little encreased For this thing doth rightwel become him and all hys house which hath euermore done great honor to the church of Rome And that his singulare wisdome doth also herein appeare that he perceiueth him not to be sente of Christe but of Sathan the ennemye of almankinde Whiche for a mad kinde of ambition reyseth vp agayne the Heresyes of Wiclife and Husse before condemned whiche seeketh the fauoure of the people and vayne glorye whichs by the false enterpretatioÌ of Scripture giueth to the simple an occasion to sinne which dispiseth Chastitie and speaketh againste Confession and Penaunce which beareth fauoure to the Turkes and raileth against all the discipline of the church which lamentech the punishemente of Heretikes to be briefe turneth all thinges vpside down which is growen to such a pride and arrogancie that contemning the aucthoritie of Counselles and Bishoppes of
Lordes Supper vnto whome it shall be gyuen from aboue Furthermore that Colledges were fyrst instituted not for Masses but that youth myght there be vertuousely brought vp in learnynge And the landes gyuen to fynde some to teach and some to learne and the reste to the vse of the pore And this vse to haue continewed in maner to the time of Barnarde But aboute foure hundreth yeares syns this Marchaundise of Masses began whiche is vtterly to be taken awaye And albeit the originall thereof were yet more auncient yet is not so great a wickednes to be suffered And in case any busynes shold come therof the same ought not to be ascribed to the doctrine but to the wickednes of them which for their owne lucre will impugne the truthe against their conscience And that we ought not to regard such inconueniences but to procede constantlye what trouble so euer shall come therof for all these thinges were shewed before of Christ Thys yeare Themperours brother Farnando Archduke of Austriche marieth the lady Anne sister to Lewes the kinge of Hongary Emonges so many aduersaries as Luther had Henry the eyghte Kynge of Englande wrote soore agaynst him And fyrst he confuteth his iudgement touching Indulgences and defendeth the Bishops authoritie After he reproueth all his disputations concerning the Sacramentes of the Churche taking the occasion of writing out of his boke intitiled of the captiuitie of Babylon Whan Luther knewe therof he answered most vehemently shewynge that in the defence of this cause he did not one whit respecte the highnes or dignitie of any parson For this cause the Bishop Leo gaue the kynge an honorable title callyng him the defendour of the faith Howe kynge Charles was chosen Emperour it is here to fore declared And wheras euer syns certen priuate dyspleasures did growe betwixte hym and the Frenche kynge it brake out into warres But fyrst in the borders of Spaine and of Flaunders The same tyme the Frenchmen kept Parma and Placence in Italy which the Bishoppe Leo was right sory for And when they had also of late atteÌpted Rhegium he vtterly forsoke them and entred into league with the Emperour wherof the chief condicions were these That the dignitie of the Churche of Rome should be defended that suche Townes as the Frenchemen of late had taken from him should be recouered that Frances Sfortia that time a banished man should be restored to his fathers seat and to the dukedome of Millan Thus ioyning their powers together they recouered of the frenchmen Parma and Placence and by force toke the citye of Millan and droue the French king out of Lumbardy which he had kept in quiet possession fullye .vi. yeares and afterwardes restored Sfortia by the conduit of prosper Columne Fernando Daualle marques of Piscare And not loÌg after these newes wer brought Leo departed not without the suspicion of poysening He was soÌne vnto Laurens Medices and had to his great grandfather Cosmus that was that great honor of that house Leo was made Cardinall when he was but .xiii. yeares old he liued not past seuen and forty his successor was Adriane the sixt a HollaÌder who had bene tutor to the emperour About the same time Soliman lately created Emperour of Turkes moued warre vpon Lewes king of Boheme and Hungary which had maried the Lady Marye themperours sister and besides many other townes and Castels he tooke Belgrade the chief fortresse of Hungary and placed therin a garrison Whilest Cesar maketh his abode in Flaunders and Germany greate seditions arose in Spaine Wherfore to the intent he might remedye the thing in time hauing first appoynted a couÌsel to minister the law and to see to the affaires of thempire he saileth againe into Spaine But before he toke his iorney the states of Thempire were all readye assembled at Norinberge concerninge diuers matters but chieflye the Turkyshe warre And Cesar sending forth his proclamation at the later ende of Marche warneth chiefly all ecclesiasticall parsons to pray and make theyr supplications vnto God Afterwardes the fyrste of Maye was aide graunted to kynge Lewes Themperour in his retourne goeth agayne to see the kynge of Englande whom to haue his assured frende agaynst the Frenche kynge he promyseth to geue hym yerely a hundreth and three and thyrtie thousande Duckates For so muche did the Frenchkynge paye yearely to the kynge of Englande and to his syster Mary the French quene Wherfore vnlesse he mighte be saued harmeles he would attempt nothing against him This treatie was made the thirtene day of Iune in the Castell of Wyndsore .xx. myles from LoÌdon And for a more entiere loue and frendship it was agreed that the Emperour shoulde take to wyfe the lady Mary the kynges daughter by his aunte Quene Kataryne and marry her wheÌ time should serue for she was then but seuen yeares of age Whethersoeuer brake of to pay to the other foure hundred thousande crownes The Frenche kynge bendeth all his force towardes Italy to recouer that he had lost you haue heard before of Zuinglius and now Hugh Byshoppe of Constance within whose prouince Zuricke is aduertised the Senate what complaintes he heard of Zuinglius and what a kynde of newe doctrine he had broughte in he defendeth hys cause before the Senate whome he satisfied After the Byshoppe wrote his letters to the College of Canons wherof Zuinglius was one speakyng muche of new doctours that troubled the Churche he exhorteth them to take hede and beware of them And for so muche as Leo the Bishop of Rome and the Emperour also haue by most streigth proclamations condemned thys doctrine he warneth them that they obey the same and neyther alter nor chaunge any thinge till they that haue Authoritie should decree some thinge by a generall counsell this was in the moneth of Maye When this Epistle was read in the Colledge Zuinglius whome it concerned wryteth agayne to the Byshop that he vnderstondeth right well by whose motiou he doeth this He admonisheth him not to folow theyr counsell for the trueth is inuincible and can not be resysted Afterwardes with a longer letter he answereth those whiche styrred vp the Bishoppe to write Then Zuinglius and certein others intreate the Bishop by their letters that he would not hynder the doctrine of the Gospell nor suffer any longer that filthy and sklaunderous life of pristes but permitte them to marrye And of the same effecte he writeth to all the Heluetians admonishyng theÌ not to stop the course of the trewe doctrine nor to worke any displeasure agaynste maryed priestes for of the single life the Deuill him selfe was author In many of theyr Townes it is the maner that whan they receyue a newe minister of the churche they bidde him take a Leman lest he attempt to defyle honest women whiche custome althoughe it be laughed at of many yet was it wittelye diuised as the tyme serued and in so greate darkenes of doctrine
the .xiiij. daye of Nouembre pronounceth it to be of none effecte The fyft daye after in the Emperours presence was the decree recited before all the states and after a long discourse of the handlyng of all matters the Emperour decreeth that they shuld no longer be suffered that teache otherwyse of the Lordes supper than hath bene obserued hytherto that in the Masse eyther common or priuate nothyng be altered that chyldren be confyrmed with chresme sycke folkes annoynted with oyle consecrated that no Images be remoued and where they be taken awaye to be restored that the opinioÌ of them that denye man to haue fre wyll be not receyued for that it is beastly and also contumeliouse against God that nothyng be taughte any where agaynst the authoritie of the magistrate that the opynion that fayth only iustifieth take no place that the Sacramentes of the church be in numbre and place accustomed that the ceremonies of the churche rites obsequies for the dead and suche other be obserued that benefices vacant be imployed vpon mete persones that suche priestes and men of clergie whiche haue maried before this tyme be depriued of their benefices whiche immediatly after this assembly shal be geuen to others But suche as forsakyng theyr wyues wyll retourne to their olde profession and be absolued the byshop may restore by the consent of the byshop of Rome or his legate But the others to haue no refuge in any place but banyshed or extremely punyshed that the priestes be of honest conuersation their apparell decent and commonly that they auoyde all sclaunder That the preachers exhorte the people to heare Masse to praye to the virgyn Mary and other sainctes to kepe their holy dayes and fasting dayes to abstayne from meates forbodene to releue the poore to tell the Monkes howe they may not forsake theyr profession and ordre briefly that nothyng be altered in Religion they that shall do otherwyse to lose bodye and goodes that where as Abbeys be pulled downe they be reedified and what soeuer hath bene taken awaye from the clergie to be restored that the wonted ceremonies and rites may be accomplyshed And suche as be followers of the olde Religion dwellyng within the lymites of the coÌtrary parte and allowe this decree shall be receyued in to the protectioÌ of the Empire and shall flitte whether they lyste without any hynderaunce that the byshop of Rome shal be called vpon to apoynte a counsell in some place conuenient within syxe monethes that afterwarde the same may begynne as shortly as may be and at the furthest within a yeares space that all these thynges be ratified and establyshed Al exceptions or appellations made to the contrary to be voyde and of none effect And to the intent this decree may take place and be obserued as coÌcerning religion the force and power that God hath geueÌ them shal be wholy applied hereunto and their lyfe and bloude also spent in the same quarell Duryng this Parliament Luther by the commaundement of his Prynce was at Coburge in the borders of Frankony to the intent he myght be nerer Auspurge in case the matter requyred his aduyse or counsell And though he were absent yet to the intent he myght some what further the commoÌ benefit he wrote a booke to the byshoppes Prelates in that assemblye wherein he sheweth what the state of the churche hath bene vnder the byshop of Rome what wicked doctrine what shamefull errours And with moste weightye wordes admonisheth theÌ of their dutie chargeth them to be of cruell bloudy mindes and agayne exhorteth them not to let slippe the occasion nowe to redresse their euyll He sheweth them howe his doctrine is agreable to the bookes of the Prophetes Apostles and proueth that is in vaine what soeuer they consulte or imagine against God In this malyce threatheninge of the Emperour and Byshops Melancthon was discouraged and careful in his mynde not for his owne cause but for posterities sake and gaue hym selfe wholy to pensiuenes wepynge and mournynge But when Luther knewe therof he comforteth hym with sondrye letters And for as muche as it is no mennes matter but the cause of almyghtie GGD he admonyshed hym that layinge al thought and care a parte he caste the whole burthen vpon hym And why sayeth he doest thou thus afflicte and tourment thy selfe If God hath geuen his sonne for vs why do we tremble and feare why doe we syghe and lamente Is Sath an stronger than he Wil he that hath geuen vs so great a benefite forsake vs in lyghter matters Whye shoulde we feare the worlde whiche Christe hath vanquyshed If we defende an euyll matter why doe we not chaunge or pourpose If the cause be iust and Godlye why truste we not to Gods promyses Certenly the Deuyll can take no more from vs but our lyfe But Christ liueth and reigneth for euer in whose protection consisteth the veritie He wyll not cease to be with vs vnto the Worldes ende If he be wyth vs. I beseche you where shall he be founde If we be not of his churche doe you thynke that the byshop of Rome and our other aduersaries be of it We be synners in dede dynerse wayes but yet for all that Christe is no lyer whose cause we haue in hande Let kynges and nations fret and fume as muche as euer they lyste He that dwelleth in heauen shall laughe them to skorne God hathe gouerned and maynteined this cause hetherto without our counsell the same shall also from henceforth bryng it to the ende wyshed for Touchyng lawes and traditions of men that you wryte of the aunswere is not harde For both the fyrst coÌmaundement and al the Prophetes also doe coÌdempne suche maner of workes They may be a bodely exercyse but if they come ones to worshyppyng it is idolatry As for any agremeÌt it is in vayne loked for for neyther can we depose the byshop of Rome neyther can the true doctrine be in safetie so longe as Popery shall endure In that you wyll haue the Lordes supper to be communicated wholy and geue no place to your aduersaries whiche holde it to be indifferent you doe well For it is not in our arbitremeÌt to decree or suffer any thynge to be vsed in the churche whiche hathe not Gods worde to beare it They crye out that we condempne the whole churche but we saye how the churche was violently taken and oppressed with tyrannye when the communion was deuided in the middes and therfore to be holden excused as the whole Synagoge was excused that in the captiuitie of Babylon it kepte not the lawe of Moses other ceremonies beyng by force prohibited that they coulde not doe it Take hede in any wyse that you graunt not to the byshops ouer muche iurisdiction lest more trouble ensue there of hereafter All this treaty of a concorde in doctryne is cleane agaynst my mynde For the labour is spent in vayne vnlesse the byshop
is how it ought not to be grauÌted theÌ themperour doubtles other kings in their opinioÌ can iudge For that the byshop of Rome hath brought errours into the churche a doctrine cleane coÌtrary not only to Gods worde but also to the auncient touÌselles doctours mainteineth the same that he hath also made exceading many lawes against Gods coÌmaundemeÌt wherby the true knowledge is vtterly oppressed defaced the same vereli haue their diuines through Gods gift declared And therfore do they inteÌde to accuse the byshop his fellowes in any lawfull counsell of these so great matters to coudeÌpne theÌ of the same How also through euil craftes and dishonest meanes yea through force guyle they achiefe their dignities how filthie a life they leade what euil examples thei geue how they do no part of their dutie how thei neglect such as are coÌmitted to their charge wallowe in all wickednes of lyfe it is so wel knowen tried that it nedeth no further declaratioÌ For the which causes also it is not lawfull for the bishop euen by the testimony of his owne lawe to appoint there couÌsel muche lesse to be iudge in the same Neither may his sworne clientes vsurpe the persone of the iudge seing they may not in dede be any part of a lawful couÌsel moreouer the place of the couÌsel is appointed in Italy cleane coÌtrary to the decrees of themperour states of thempire which he scornefully dispiseth Thei know not more ouer as yet whether other princes of Christendom wil allowe that place that there be weighty causes for the which it shold be dauÌgerous for them theirs to come thither For albeit they should haue a saufe conduicte yet for so muche as the byshop hath there his clientes euerye where which hate this doctrine most bitterly ther is great dauÌger of lieng in wayte priuie coÌspiracies which in those parties are much to be feared Furthermore since this matter is most weighti such as vnder the sonne can arrise no greater which doubtles coÌcerneth either euer lasting saluatioÌ or daÌnatioÌ And seing that the greatnes of the matter requireth that they should in great nuÌbre with the ministers of their churche preachers be there present not to coÌmit so weighty a matter to their deputes proetours alone it should be a great griefe vnto theÌ to passe out of the limites of thempire go into Italy leauing their couÌtrey people in suche grudge of mindes as is now in Germany wtout garde and their churches any long time without preachers Wherfore they moste humbly beseche that the Emperour would way with hym selfe all these poinctes diligently and seing he is the high and supreme magistrate vnto whom chiefly belongeth the setting forth of the trew doctrine that he wold applie him self wholy that the true knowledge of God might be aduaunced for they doe embrace no wicked kynde of doctrine nor seke any other thyng than the glory of Gods holy name And this aunswere concerning the counsell agreed vnto also the Ambassadours of George Marques of Brandenburge and of the cities of Norinberge Halles and Hailbrune in other thinges they medled not because they were not of the league What time the Protestantes had thus spoken Heldus the Ambassadour aunswereth by and by speaking many thinges againe of the great good will of the Emperour of the Frenche kyng whiche had conspired with the Turkes to the distruction of the coÌmon wealth he cometh to that matter touching the iudgement of the imperial chambre and sayeth in deede that peace is graunted for matters of Religion no man to say the coÌtrary but all the strife to consiste in this which be matters of religion which not And where as they take suche for cases of religion as others do accoÌpte for ciuile prophane how farre against reason is it that the thyng should not be debated the causes obiectioÌs of either part be heard so procedeth further to the meaning of that same matter And as touching such as are lately receiued into their league that Emperour thiketh thus that they that be not coÌprised within the peace of Norinberg are bounde al to the decrees of thempire ought to yelde to the authoritie of the couÌsel And for asmuch as themperours minde is wholy addicte to peace coÌcorde he requireth estsones that they wyl ayde him with men mony for the Turkish warre nedeful charges of the imperial chaÌbre And if the Turke inuade not that thaÌ they wold a few monthes assiste themperour with like ayde against the French king whiche if they wil doe it shall not repeÌt theÌ of that seruice wherin he desireth to know a direct answer that he may aduertise themperour therof And as concerning the couÌsel they theÌ selues knowe what labour trauayle themperour had to bring it to passe And how his trust is that in the same shal be appeased all coÌtrouersie that is in religion with quietnes the state of the coÌmoÌ wealth be reformed to the glory of God preseruatioÌ of men Wherfore them perour trusteth assuredly that they should make none exceptions nor swarue from the rest of men for if they should persiste herein it would be grieffull for him to heare And after he had againe vsed sondrye perswasions amonges other that the Emperour would through saufeconduicte saue them harmelesse he requyred to haue a determinate aunswere herein and besydes the names of them which are come vnto them synce the peace of Norinberge Wherein was wrytten that Marques George the cities of Norinberge Weysenburg Hailbrine Winsem and Hales were of the same Religion but not of the league Wherefore in the Emperours name he desyred to knowe what their league was and the condition of the same The selfe same daye came thether the Romyshe legate the byshop Aques with letters from the byshop of Rome to the Duke of Saxon exhorting him to come to the counsell whome the byshop of Rome sent into Germany in the place of Peter Paule Uerger hopinge well that the newe Ambassadour should some thing haue brought to passe but he also loste his labour was as little regarded in so muche that on a certen day whan he desired to speake with the LaÌtgraue he tolde him he was at no leasure and in maner at the same instant went to see howe Luther did who at the same tyme laye sore sycke of the stone Which thyng the Ambassadour myght see out of his lodging Uergerius had geuen this Ambassadour instructions of the whole state of Germany and how euery man in the byshops behalfe must be enterteined and vsed The fourth daye after whiche was the last of February the Protestauntes aunswer Heldus That for the Emperour him self they neuer doubted but that he woulde obserue the peace made whiche he hath also promised both in publique and priuate letters but the imperiall chamber contrary to
of our determination is iust and reasonable yet is there no doubte but our aduersaries be of suche nature that they wyll blame our doyng constrewe it to the worste parte For to the entent they may bryng vs and our cause into hatred they wyll affyrme doubtlesse that we can abyde no examination nor iudgement and that we despyse al other nations amonges whome there haue often bene many excellent learned men This wyll they saye moreouer that it is wickednes to refuse the decrees of the counsell for that it is the hyghe iudicial seate of the churche whiche all men are bound to obey They wyl forge also as though we were ashamed of our doctrine or afraid to come to light or els that we sought contentioÌ where no nede is and can not endure ân vniuersall quiet Nowe if this myght be verefied of vs in dede it were not only wicked but also detestable be heard of Wherfore we must of necessitie shewe the reason of our doynge and we truste than that all good men whether they be in Germany or other places wyll not only credit no suche thynge of vs but wyll also doe their endeuour that this moste weyghty cause of all others may be handled vprightly and that the byshop of Rome be not permitted vnder the forged and coloured name of a counsell to oppresse the manifest truthe by a kynde of tyranny For we shal declare that we do not only professe the pure doctrine but also respecte nothyng els but Gods glory and the preseruation of the common wealth and that there can be no obstinacie or frowardnes obiected vnto vs. And fyrst to proue that we do not contemne the iudgement of other nations or of the churche hereby it appereth manyfestly that al our care is lest the byshop and his clientes should take vpon them the authoritie and iudgement and that all thynges myght be decided by mete and no suspected persones Whiche thyng we trust that all Godly men would lykewyse wyshe for For where as in dyuerse countreis there remayne certen olde wrytinges and complayntes of the false doctrine vices and idolatrie that were than crept into the churche we doubte not but in the same places at this daye there be some Godly and learned men also whiche vnderstande the sounde doctrine although being oppressed with the byshoppes tyrannye they are constrayned to holde their peace These in dede of iuste deserte ought to be present at the couÌsel that they myght speake their myndes frely For it is not to be accompted a free counsell that is gouerned by the byshop and his fellowes whiche defende false doctrine by power and violence and of an olde custome make decrees contrary to Gods worde For Christe what tyme he instituted this highe iudiciall seate commaunded that all matters should be referred to the churche that requyred a reformation By the whiche selfe wordes he excludeth all tyranny and lordshyp It is also a sclaunder where they saye perhaps that we are a feard to come abroade and can not abyde the opeÌ light For in the assemblie imperial at Auspurg we professed our doctrine openly before the Emperoure and all the states of the Empyre Againe this selfe same doctrine is preached openly in our dominions and our learned men haue set forth bookes of the same and diuerse of our aduersaries do confesse that through our mens wrytinges sondrye articles are called agayne to lyght whiche laye before hidde in darkenes For nowe the true doctrine shyneth agayne of penaunce of faythe in Christe of the remissioÌ of synnes of good workes of true worshipping of the vse of SacrameÌtes of the authoritie of the keyes of Magistrates of the traditions of men and suche other lyke thinges Neither are we ashamed of the Gospell as Paule sayth but haue an especiall desyre that we myght declare our mynde in these thinges before al men And where it is also obiected to our preachers that they shoulde haue reysed vp agayne the heresies before time condempned neither should nede therfore further disputation or hearing it is false may be easlye excused before them that haue red our confession and the defence annexed to the same For the doctrine that we confesse is not newe but the verey consent of the primatiue churche as moste clerely doth appere Neyther haue we admitted any heresy or wycked opinion but our men haue restored the doctrine of the auncieÌt fathers which was oppressed by bishops and monkes It is vntrue also that is reported of vs that we shoulde delight in dissention for we are sory from the botome of our hartes that the ChristeÌ commoÌ wealth is thus deuided to haue a concorde desyre a lawfull counsell But for as muche as the byshop and his fellowes do coÌdempne the true and necessary doctrine and do tormente and persecute the professers thereof exhorting others to do the same we can not but mislike their cruel tiranny For God wil be honored through the confession of his name and it is wickednes for any man to ioyne hym selfe to the byshops tyranny whiche so rageth Moreouer it is manifest that we beare and susteine all maner of charges of the common wealth as the residue of the states do Whereby it is to be seene that we woulde also gladly accorde with others in relygion in case it were lawful Besydes this we vnderstande what dauÌger hangeth ouer vs for the same For the byshoppes haue nowe these many yeares declared manifestly what they go about and how they incense kynges myndes against vs. And were it not extreme madnes to abide all these so great dauÌgers and to be at so great charges with out iust cause But we knowe assuredly that we owe this dewtie vnto God And that there is nothing to be so much respected as his commaundement and take God to wytnes that we seke for nothing els Nowe that we haue confuted theyr sklaunders we will come to the seconde part Emonges straungers many parauenture suppose that we of a certen curiositie haue impugned some light faultes which for kepinge of a quiet mighte better haue bene dissembled especiallye consydering that the state of worldly thinges is suche that in a common wealth be euer remaining some thinges whiche must be wincked at But the matter standeth farre otherwise For fyrst in dede errours and false opinions may not be dissembled with For Christ commaundeth vs to beware of false teachers Againe the controuersie is not about light errours but touching the doctrine of faith and the true knowledge of God which is the principall pointe of the Christian life and sincere worshipping of God which ought not to be passed ouer in silence but to be obserued purely and diligentlye taught in the Churche And it can not be denied but this doctrine was wholy extinguished and a newe brought in for it to the greate contuinelie of Christ Moreouer we do reprehende diuerse and sundrye errours and wickednes which others also haue espied longe before
Religion About this tyme in the moneth of May appered a blasyng starre and shortly after departed Isabel wyfe to Charles the Emperour for whome the Frenche kyng so sone as he heard therof kepte a solempne funerall at Paris as the maner of kynges is I shewed you before of the counsell of Uicence whiche the byshop of Rome had proroged tyll Easter of this yeare But seyng than that none would come he publisheth his letters the tenth of Iune wherin he prorogeth the counsell no more but suspendeth it at his owne pleasure and senate of his Cardinalles The kyng of Englande had certen monethes before set forth another wryttyng touching this Synode of Uicence and declareth howe the Byshop deludeth the whole worlde For where he excused hym selfe by the Duke of Mantua it was a playne mockery For seing he taketh vppon hym so great anothoritie why did he not compelle hym If he coulde not wherfore shoulde he commaunde men to come to a place vncerten and the whiche is not in his power Nowe albeit he hathe chosen Uicence for the same pourpose yet is there no doubt but the ãâ¦ã enetians men of so great wysdome wyll no more suffer their citie to be pestred with suche a multitude without garmsons of Souldiours than woulde the Duke of Mantua and that in fyne there wylbe as small resorte thether as was to Mantua There fore it is but delusion what so euer he doeth neyther oughte he to be permitted in this dissolute lybertie any longer There is nothynge in dede better nor more commodious than a lawfull counsell But whan they are applied vnto priuate lucre and commoditie and to the establyshynge of certen mens aucthoritie they brynge a wonderfull destruction to the common wealth Whan the name of the counsell and of the churche was nowe common in euery mans mouthe Luther setteth forth a booke of either of them in the vulgare speache And fyrst he treatefh of the assemblie of the Apostles at Hierusalem whiche is mentioned in the .xv. of the actes After he reciteth the contrary opinions of the Doctours especially Austen and Ciprian concernyng baptisme by the same occasion he maketh mention of those lawes that are called the Canons of the Apostles and proueth by manifest reasons that thei be false and countrefeated and those that geue them that tytle to deserue death Than doeth he recite in ordre those foure counselles which were of chiefe authoritie the counsell of Nyce Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedonie And declareth for what causes they asseÌbled ther and what they decreed in euery of them After he commeth to the principall question and sheweth what is the aucthoritie of a. counsell Wherfore he sayeth howe a counsel maye not confirme any newe doctryne nor commaunde any newe worke neyther bynde mens myndes with newe ceremonies not to intermedle with ciuile gouernementes nor to make any decrees to establysh the authoritie of a few But the dutie therof to be to abolyshe and condemne newe opinions contrary to holy Scripture and newe ceremonies whether they be superstitious or vnprofitable for the churche And suche thynges as are brought in controuersie to examine and determine after the written text of Gods worde After this he diffineth the churche sheweth by what tokens it ought to be knowen and by a comparyson made declaring what Christe and his Apostles taught he sayeth howe the Byshop of Rome whiche hath brought into the churche a farre coÌtrary doctrine and by wicked meanes hath pylled the whole world with intollerable exactions ought to be condempned and dryuen to make restitution Amonges diuerse other thynges wherby in the same boke he declareth what blyndenes men were led into vnder the Byshop of Rome and howe shameful and vyle was the Religion he sayeth how it was come thus farre that a monke or a freers wede was thought to be sufficient to bryng a man to eternall lyfe And manye not onlye meane folkes but also great Prynces would be buried in a freers garment Those that shall come after peraduenture wyl not beleue it but yet is it true and wont to be commonly done in Italy And in our me mory Fraunces Marques of Mantua the seconde of that name put into his last wylle that he myght be buried in a gray freers cote The same did Albertus Pius Prynce of Carpes in Paris And Christopher Longelie a Bourgonnion buried at Padwey a man excellently learned and a great Ciceronian who also wrote an Oration against the Lutherians in lyke case as Alberte did diuers against Erasmus of Roterdame Immediatly after the death of Duke George Henry the Duke of Brunswycke rydeth to the Emperour into Spayne thorowe Fraunce About the same tyme Henry the eyght kyng of Englande calleth a Parliament wherein amoÌges other thinges were enacted certen decrees for ReligioÌ called the syxe Articles as followeth that vnder the four me of bread and wyne was the true and natural body and bloud of Christe and that after the wordes of consecration there remayned no more substaunce of bread and wyne that the receiuing of the whole supper of the Lorde was not necessary to saluation and that Christ is wholy coÌteyned vnder both kyndes How it is not lawful for priestes to marry That the vowes of chastitie ought to be perfourmed That priuate masses were to be reteyned That auricular confession is good and necessary To suche as thought and did otherwyse was appoynted punyshement dewe for heretikes And the same tyme the kynge stoode in termes to marry the Lady Anne of Cleue a mayde of an excellent beautie which after she was affianced within a few monthes was sent to Caleis whether the kyng had sent the Lorde Admirall others with his shyppes to receyue her and transporte her into Englande But he hymselfe accompanied with all the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Realme receiued her vpoÌ blacke Heath and brought her to Grenewitche where shortly after they were married by the Archebyshop of Canturbury Some saye howe the Bishoppes had perswaded the kyng to coÌsent to the syxe Articles to the intent they myght bring the Archebyshop of Cantorburye and the Lorde Crumwell whiche were great fauourers of Religion out of aucthoritie creditie This yeare in the moÌth of August Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt taketh by assiege Castelneufe a towne in Slauonie borderinge vpon the Goulfe of Uenise and sleying all the Souldiours leadeth awaye many captiue A yere before in the moneth of October the Emperour and the Uenetians beyng of one confederacie had wonne it And the Emperour in dede put in a garrison of foure thousand Spanyardes and made captayne Fraunces Sarmiento Whiche chaunced to the Uenetians contrary to their expectation for that they sayde the town standing in that coaste ought rather to be theirs Therfore not longe after when they more more mislyked this societie and sawe it wold be very daungerours for them aske truce of the Turke and obteyne it In maner at the same tyme arose
nor yet of mind whom Luther also him selfe whom he maketh his god doth laughe at and contemne Luther thinking the same to concerne his estemation answereth sharpely and saieth it is a sclaunder And for asmuch as the aduersaryes take vpon them the title of the Churche by diuers and sundry argumentes brought in he proueth that they haue cleane forsaken the trew Church by a comparison made he sheweth that the Bishoprike of Rome which hathe altogether defyled and corrupted the trew doctryne of Chryst to be Antechrist of whom so manye yeares synce Daniell and the Apostles haue prophecyed After he obiecteth vnto them that they flye from the lyght though they speake muche of a lawfull counsell yet dare they not abyde it but yf youre church be holy sayth he why is it afearde of a counsell or what nedeth it any reformation or yf it nedeth why cal ye it holy will ye also redresse youre holynes We neuer desyred a counsell to refourme our churche For God hathe already sanctified it with his worde pourged it from all the Romishe fylthynes and restored the trew doctrine howbeit our life doeth not answere to this profession neither do we perfourme in dede so muche as both we are bounden and wishe to do but this was also the complaint of the Prophetes and Apostles whilest they liued And that felicitie shal than happen vnto vs what timr we being deliuered out of this synfull body as out of a prison shall obtaine the like condition with Angels We desyre a counsell to th enteÌt our churches might be openly heard and that your doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christe might be condemned that men beyng called agayne from it mighte knowe and folow the trewe Religion of Christ Nowe where ye obiecte vntd vs rebellioÌ and disobedience it is false euen by the testimonie of the states imperiall who know that our Princes are obeidient to themperour in all thinges For beyng called to any Assemblie or to go a warfare they haue bene euermore ready But if ye raile thus on vs because we obey not theÌperours decres that condeÌne our doctrin We are glad and geue God thankes for shewing no obeidience that way For the thing that is dew vnto god only ought not to be giuen to themperor which should be Gods Client God hath giuen him gouernement ouer realmes and nations but he alone will gouerne his church with his worde neyther doeth he admit any man into the societie of this honor Themperor hath more than ynough to do concernyng thadministration of the common weale For vnto this office hath God appointed him and prescribed him these limites But if he procede any further than doeth he inuade and vsurpe vpon Gods iurisdiction The Duke of Brunswike had written in his inuectiues amonges other thinges that Luther had reised vp this Tragedye of Religion at the motion of Duke Friderik for enuy that Albert Arch bishop of Mentz had the Bishoprike of Madenburge Wherunto Luther answerynge this sclaunder saieth he commeth to the Duke of Brunswicke by the suggestion of Mentz And where he dissembleth to know whan he knoweth best of all I shall declare the cause original of al this busines In the seuenteÌth yere of grace aboue a thousande and fyue hundreth Iohn Tecell a Dominicke Frere caried about pardons to sell in Germany This Tecel themperor MaximiliaÌ had once condemned to die and had commaunded to be drowned in the riuer at Inspruck but through the intercession of duke Friderick whose chaunce was to be there at that time he escaped the daunger He I say amonges other thinges taught howe he had so great authoritie of that bishop of Rome that although a maÌ had deflowred that virgin Mary had gotteÌ hir with child he had power to forgeue hiÌ for money Moreouer he did not onely forgeue synnes past but also what so euer a man listed to commit herafter And within a while after that came forth a Boke with the armes and title of Bishop Albert wherein the Pardoners wer coÌmaunded most diligently to setforth to the people the vertu of those iudulgences Wherfore it was knowen that Tecell was hired by the said Bishoppe to make those outrageous sermons For Albert was lately than created Archbishop of Mentz vpon condicion that he shoulde redeme his Palle from Rome of his owne costes and charges For thre Bishoppes of that citie wer deceased within short space Bertolde Iames and Uriell and it was ouer chargeable for the Colledge to beare so great a burthen and so often times For that Palle stoode them in as good as xxx thousande crownes or euer it came at home So dere coulde the Bishoppe of Rome sell a sory piece of clothe This money had the Marchantes of Auspurge disbursed wherfore to pay them Albert deuised this kinde of gaine And the Bishop did graunt it him yet so as the one halfe shold be brought to Rome to the buildyng of S. Peters Church But that time knew I none of all this gere therfore wrot I to the Bishoppe of Mentz in humble wyse exhorting him that he woulde inhibite those criers but he answered not one worde The Bishoppe of Brandenburge beyng also moued admonished me to cease and not to bring my selfe in danger After this I propounded certen Theames contrary to those of Tecels which within a fewe dayes were caried ouer all Germany and were gredely red of many For all men complained of Pardons especially of those that Tecell taught And because there was neuer a Bishoppe nor yet doctor that durst gainesay them for that Tecel feared all men with the Bishoppes thunderbolt My name began to be spoken of that there was founde one at the length in all the worlde that did resist But that vaine glory was not to me verye pleasaunte For I scarsely vnderstode than what the name of Indulgences meÌt This is the fyrst originall and cause of this motion whiche came not of duke Friderick but proceded of the Bishop of Mentz by the practise of his collector and briber Frere Tecell Wherfore if there be anye thing nowe that nippeth him let him thanke himselfe therfore An other cause of this trouble gaue that moste holye father Leo the tenth what time he cursed me and excommunicated me and manye in all places did triumphe ouer me neyther was there anye man so vnlearned that did not practise his style to write against me I thought assuredly at the fyrst that the Bishoppe would assoile me and condemne Tecell for that the Canon lawe maketh for me whiche teacheth plainely that Iudulgences can not deliuer soules out of Purgatory But lo whilest I loke for a ioyfull sentence from Rome I am striken with the thonderbolt and condemned for the most wicked maÌ aliue Than began I to defende my doynges settinge forth many bokes of the same insomuche that the matter was brought at the laste into the assemblie of thempire Thus did the wollen threde wherof the
out of the house where he lodged did so wtout fail for it was in the same market place Bucer who was seÌt for to Auspurge came at the last to thelector of BraÌdeÌburge And now was the boke finished which I shewed you before was coÌpiled of religioÌ which the marques deliuereth to Bucer desireth him to subscribe WheÌ he had red it ouer for that he saw the bishop of Romes doctrine therein established he said he could not allow the same Thelector toke this displesaÌtly was much of feÌded with him iudged the wryting moderat for so had Islebie perswaded hiÌ GranuellaÌ also vrged Bucer by messeÌgers if he wold subscribe promised hiÌ ample rewards wheÌ he might not preuail by large promises he begaÌ to threateÌ him so he returned home not wtout daÌger sor throughout al the laÌd of Wirtemberge were baÌds of Spaniardes as before is said In the month of Aprill tharchbishop of ColloÌ lately made priest saÌg his first masse as they term it Wherat were themperor king FerdinaÌdo and of other Princes a great noÌbre After he maketh them a moste sumpteous dinner About this time also came to Auspurge Muleasses king of TuÌnes whome the Emperour .xiii. yeres paste had restored to his kingedome and expulsed barbarous as I shewed you in the ninth boke Now had his eldest son put out both his eies vsurped the crown wherfore like a miserable exile he came hither to themperor out of Barbarie And not loÌg after came thither also his secoÌd soÌne The boke coÌpiled of religioÌ treateth first of the state of maÌ before after his fal of our redeÌptioÌ by Christ of charity good works of the coÌfideÌce in the remissiâ of sinnes of the church of vowes of authoriti of the ministers of the church of the high bishop of the sacrameÌts of the sacrifice of the masse of the memorial inuocatioÌ intercessioÌ of saintes of the memorial of such as haue died godly of the coÌmunion to be annexed to the sacrifice of ceremonies vse of sacraments And these things amongs others are taught that those workes which besides the coÌmauÌdemeÌt of god are godly honestly wrought which are coÌmoÌly called the works of superogatioÌ are to be coÌmeÌded yâ maÌ caÌnot wtout distrust of his imbecillity beleue that his sins be forgeueÌ how the church hath autority to interprete the scriptures oute of the same together setforth doctrins power to minister the law to iudge of doutful matters by a general couÌsel to make lawes and that ther is one high bishop which is aboue al yâ residue for the prerogatiue grauÌted to Peter vnto whoÌ the gouernment of the vniuersall church was committed of Christ yet so as other bishops also haue part of the cure euery maÌ in his own church that by coÌfirmatioÌ chrisme is receiued yâ holy gost so that they may resist the deceits of the deuil the flesh the world that the bishop only is minister of this sacrameÌt how the sins must be rehersed to the priest such as come to memory That by satisfactioÌ which coÌsisteth in the frutes of repeÌtaÌce especially through fasting praying almosgeuing are cut of the causes of sinnes temporal punishment ether taken away or mitigated that holy vnctioÌ hath bene in the church since the time of the Apostles that ether it might help the body or the mind it self against the firy darts of the deuil wherfor it must be vsed what time the hour of death apeareth to draw nere how mariage contracted wtout the coÌseÌt of the pareÌts ought to be ratified but yet are the childreÌ to be admonished in sermons that they folow thaduise of their pareÌts how christ at his last supper did institute the sacrameÌt of his body blud first that the same might be receiued of the faithful as the holsom meat of the soul secondli that it might be offred vp in memorial of his death For ther be in al .ii. sacrifices of christ the one blody vpoÌ the crosse thother wherin vnder the form of bread and wine he him self offred vp vnto his father his body blud after deliuered yâ same to his apostles successers to be don in the memorial of him vnto the worlds end by the first was maÌkind reconciled to god the father but through this same that is not blody Christ is represeÌted to his father not that we shuld agaiÌ deserue that remissioÌ of sins but that we might apply vnto our selues yâ recoÌcilemeÌt prepared by the death of Christ and that in this sacrifice wherin we celebrate the death of Christ the morial of saints must be renued that they may make intercessioÌ for vs to god the father help vs by their merits we must also remeÌber the dead coÌmend theÌ to almightye God After this is prescribed that the old ceremonies accustomably vsed in baptisme be stil obserued the xorsisme renouncing coÌfession of the faith Chrisme Moreouer that in the ceremonies of the masse ther be nothing chauÌged that in al towns great churches ther be saide daily .ii. Masses at the least in the country villages one especially on holy daies and that in the canoÌ of the inasse nothing at all be altered and that al the rest be obserued after thold vsage yet if any thing be crept in that may geue occasioÌ to superstitioÌ let it be takeÌ away Let vestments ornaments vessels crosses altars caÌdels images be kept stil as certein monumeÌts let not those ordinari praiers godly singing of Psalmes be abrogated wher they be takeÌ away let theÌ be restored let the obits for the dead be kept after the maner of thold church also sainctes holy daies yea let theÌ be worshipped also vnto whoÌ it is decreed that supplicatioÌ shuld be made The day before Easter Witsontide let the water in the foÌtstone be hallowed after a soleÌne maner let riot be refrained to thintent to stir vp the mind to godly exercises certen daieâ let meÌ fast abstain froÌ flesh finally though it wer to be wished that ther be diuers many ministers of the church fouÌd that would liue chast yet for that many haue wiues euery wher whiche they will not forsake nether can this now be altred without a great tumult therfore must we tary herein for a decre of a generall counsel likewise are we coÌteÌted to bear with theÌ that receiue the Lords supper vnder both kindes yet so as they shal not reproue others that do the contrary For vnder ether kind the body bloud of Christ is conteined wholy After this sort was the boke setforth at the last as after you shal heare but not so peÌned at the beginninge For it was oft corrected the copy that Bucer saw was somwhat purer Wherfore after it had ben tost loÌg much among the states of thempire it was seÌt also to Rome
the Lutherians by conuenasit promesse or othe from all those bondes to absolue monkes that be falleÌ into heresie and haue forsaken their houses and to permitte them chaunging their coates to serue in an other vocation of the churche Moreouer to geue pardon to eate milke butter chese egges and fleshe hauing a respect to the place and persone Finally to permit theÌ to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde who laying asyde all other errours shall allowe the decree of the counsel of Constance whiche will openly confesse that there is as muche receiued vnder one kynde as vnder both and that the churche erred not for making that decre of one kynde only And that this may be graunted them for a certen tyme as shal be thought mete yet so as they them selues doe this seuerally at an other tyme and place and not at the same tyme whan others doe receiue vnder one kynde only Lastly they haue authoritie to compounde with the possessioners of churche landes for the fruictes receiued and spent so as they wyll departe from the possession from hencesorth Furthermore to punishe obstinate persones by the censure of the churche and herein to craue assistaunce of the Magistrates And lykewyse to chouse and substitute Byshoppes throughout Germany whiche shall put the thing in execution These Ambassadours of Rome followynge this commission in such places as they thought moste nedefull did substitute Byshops wherof the Byshop of Strasburg was one whome they commaunded to execute thinges before rehersed And so finally to receiue into fauour ecclesiastical persons if they first would forsake and put away their wyues And meÌ saye howe they went to the Emperour to haue coÌference with hym touchyng the measure and maner of execution And after they vnderstode that it was not possible for them to go vnto al places whiche had nede of remedy of necessitie they suborned others This graunte or indulgence as they terme it of the byshoppe of Rome the Emperour sendeth immediatly to the byshoppes of Germany and warneth theÌ all seuerally to handle the matter gently and peaseably and that they first trye and and assay al wayes by fayre speach exhortations and praiers before they come to excommunication and cursyng Wherfore the Archebyshop of MeÌtz addressing his letters both to diuerse others also to the gouernours counsellours of that LaÌtgraue And speakyng many thynges of his cure and charge pastorall and of the Emperours fayth and dilygence requyreth them to exhibite this order sent from the Byshop of Rome to the ministers of the churche commaunding them to obeye the same The preachers being moued herein saye how their doctrine is consonant to the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles the lyfe it selfe in dede doeth not aunwere to the profession but yet do thei acknowledge no errour in their doctrine Wherfore thei haue no nede of the Byshops indulgence They haue preferred mariage before the filthie sengle lyfe accordinge vnto Gods worde neither can they forsake their children wyues whome Christ him self commaundeth to embrace with all loue fidelitie and beneuolence Where ther churches do receyue the Lordes supper wholy the same is done by the commaundement of Christe and after the custome of the primatiue churche And they wyll admit no alteration herein In the moneth of May was an open disputatioÌ at Oxforde betwene Peter Martyr the Diuines of the same vniuersitie coÌcerning the Lordes supper and the presence of Christ his body These conclusions dyd Martyr set vp and defende That the substaunce of bread and wyne is not chaunged That the body and bloud of Christe is not carnally or corporally in the bread and wyne but to be vnited to them sacramentally Afterwarde there was set forthe a boke of the same wherin the presidentes of the disputation appointed by the kynges commaundemeÌt do sufficiently declare that Martyr had the maistrie in that contention The tenth day of the moneth of Iune the Quene of FrauÌce was crowned at Sainct Denis as is accustomed by the Cardinalles of Bolon Gwise Chattilion Uandome and Bourbon for al the rest were at Rome The .vi. daye after the kyng with a maruelous goodly trayne and richely apparrelled entreth into Paris the head citie of his Realme where he had not bene yet sene opeÌly synce the death of his father two days after him the Quene Whyles he soiourned there diuers were put to executioÌ for Lutheranisme whiche as it is sayde he behelde him selfe After that the fourth day of Iuly he coÌmaundeth to go on procession in euery church The next day after he publisheth a wryting in prynte declaring this to be the cause therof that he might geue God thankes for his manifold benefites imployed vpoÌ him And that he might praye to God for the preseruation of hym selfe his wyfe and his children and of the whole Realme and commoÌ wealth and coÌmende vnto him the soules of godly meÌ but chiefly the kinges of FrauÌce his progenitours his father lately departed after whose example he was fully prefixed to vndertake the defence and tuition of the catholique fayth Religion the authoritie and liberties of the See Apostolique ministers of the churche amoÌgest the causes this also to be one principall that it mygh be openly knowen howe muche he abhorreth them whiche contrary to Christes commaundement contrary to the traditions of the Apostles and consent of al antiquitie denie the presence of the body and bloude of Christe whiche take away all vertue and strength from Baptisme penaunce good workes and Sacramentes whiche do vtterly coÌtemne the authoritie of the churche and order archepreistship whiche reiecte the praying adoration and reliques of saintes Moreouer that by that deuoute supplication he might testifie what his opinion and mynde is verely that after the example of his progenitours and by a certen imitation of inheritauÌce he doeth so thinke and beleue of all opinions as doeth the Catholique churche the Crede of the Apostles the first counsell of Nice and many other counselles of the holy fathers Further more that he is fully determined to bannish out of his realme and dominions the heresies long since condemned but in this tyme partely reuined and partly inuented by Luther Carolostadius Zwinglius Oecolampadius Melanchthon Bucer Caluine and suche other Archeheretikes monstrouse and pestiferous persones and to punishe moste extremely suche as shall offende herein This wryting setforth in the vulgare toÌgue he sendeth abroade into all partes of Fraunce commaunding theÌ to go a procession in all places and declare the same vnto the people Not long after he beheaded Monsour Ueruine for rendring the towne and castel of Boloigne to the king of EnglaÌd as is spoken in the .xv. boke And his father in lawe Mouns Dubees an aged maÌ which was gouernour of al Boloignois and one of the foure Mreschalles of Fraunce he coÌdemneth to perpetuall prison He had diuerse monethes past sollicited the Swisses to renewe the league whiche they had
is not vnknowen to them which haue bene at a few of the last conuentions for they do not only vnderstand but also know by experieÌce how swete is the name of peace and how comfortable a thing it is and againe what euils warre bryngeth Moreouer it shuld be greuous and displesaunt to them if theyr neighbours should for theyr sake be in daunger or receiue any domage Furthermore they do confesse that neyther is it lawfull for them neyther is it in theyr power obstinately to resist themperour and thempire but that beyng dryuen of necessitye to defende them selues and theyrs from iniury they haue beaten downe certayne buildinges and haue taken certen holds smal townes villages in the time of warre not minding to kepe them for them selues but that they shuld not come into the hands of foraine nations neyther do they refuse to rendre the same again so that theyr neighbors do attempt nothing And that there is two causes chieflye wherefore they can not obteyne peace fyrste for that they do retain the doctrin of the gospell and refuse that Romyshe Idoll Secondlye for that the condicions of peace propounded are to them not only greuous but also intollerable and altogether such as cannot be performed For if they shuld betray theyr liberty geuen theÌ by themperor great Otto the first of that name and the which they haue receiued of theyr elders and maintained vnto this day it can by no reasoÌ be defended or excused in time to come Nowe also it appeareth and is manifestly sene what thing the authoures of the booke made at Auspurge intended and where about they went for they indeuonred to plucke awaye from men the chief article of doctrine of iustification the very force of saluation They called in doubte also the Lordes supper and marriage of priestes Moreouer they teach the inuocation of deade men and what so euer dependeth of the same furthermore they go about to restore all papistry as hath bene declared of many excellent learned men certainly this so great a wickednes woulde not be winked at or passed ouer in silence yea God is to be called on with continuall praier that he suffer not the glory of his name to be thus polluted for assuredly it is an heauye and a sorowful sight that men should be violently inforced to false Religion and Idolatry the ministers of the churche cast into prison or wyth theyr wiues and chyldren dryuen into exile some also myseserablye slaine it is as much to be lamented that albeit these thinges are openly sene especiallye in the vpper partes of Germanye yet there should be men that dare affirme that Religion is not impugned Howe be it is no newes for euer synce the worlde began the state of good and godly menne hathe bene alwaies to suffer affliction Againe there be many examples both in the old and newe Testamente that declare the constancy of holy men which they vsed whan Kinges and Princes setforth theyr Proclamations contrary to Gods word For in suche cases was this alwaies of force that is wrytten in holy scriptures howe we oughte rather to obeye God than men This hathe Chrisostome Austen Ambrose and other holy men not only taught but also perfourmed in dede whan Emperoures commaunded any thinge againste the commaundementes of God in like case are they at this present They se the daÌger they are in and yet may not otherwise do for they must soner abide all pearill than to praise and receiue manifest errors It is wrytten of Gordius the martir who beinge requested of his frendes whan he was caried to execution that for sauinge of his life he woulde forsake his opinion aunsweared that the tonge ought not to speake any thinge in reproche of him that made it the which thing aswel apperteineth vnto al meÌ For this is the opinioÌ bothe of the aunciente Churche and also of certaine of the fyrste Bishoppes of Rome that they do not only betray the truth whiche teache false Doctrine but also suche as dare not professe openlye and defende the truthe knowen wherefore the whole case muste be coÌmitted to god nether ought they ether for that plesure of any maÌ or fearce of any peril to forsake the professioÌ of that Ueritie but to set before their eies thexample of Daniel who coÌtrary to that proclamatioÌ of king Darius worshipped God with the windowes set open on euerye side Certes he mighte haue done the same priuatelye and closelye withoute any daunger but for as much as the same thing concerned the profession of his faith and glory of gods holy name with a great and a constant courage he called vpon God openlye and had no respect of any daunger which being procured for him by his aduersaries lighted after on theyr owne heades Wherefore they beseche all men to attempte no force nor warre againste them whiche are members of the true Churche and that they woulde followe herein the steppes of the Christiane Souldioures of former time whych in dede would not obey whan themperoures in the warres required theyr seruice againste the Christians as is to be proued by the example of Saincte Moris the martir howe greuouslye also God was offended with the Israelites for that they being afraid of the multitude of their ennemies did not healpe theyr weake felowes is expressed in the boke of iudges that it mighte be a doctrine for al men not only not to forsake in their necessitye the brethren and fellowes of their Religion but also to ayde and succoure them They doubte nothing but that good men will be moued by these thinges For God liueth is immortall which hath full oft in times past shewed the mighty power of his right hande and nowe can also declare the same They desyre them also hartely that they would cause these letters to be exhibited to the Emperor to king Ferdinando and to other princes and states and also to make intercession for them that no extremity be wrought against them for they wil refuse to do nothing that may be godly and honestly performed they require moreouer that they would commend them vnto god by their praiers to thend verely that through the xample of the Niniuites they may from the bottom of their hartes bewail their sinnes hartely sigh vnto God that they may boldly professe this doctrine of the gospel whiche hathe nowe these .xxx. yeares bene preached and may set it forth with the godlines of life that they may shew the worckes of loue vnto all men but chiefly to the ministers of the church now banished and exiled and to theyr children and wiues and suche other miserable people And that they may kepe this holsome doctrine pure and safe from the deceites of them which vnder the pretence of restoringe Ceremonies do now bryng in againe the whole rabble of the Romishe doctrin In the month of Octobre Fraunces Duke of MaÌtua the sonne of Duke Fridericke marieth the Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinando Kinge of Romaines
sore afflicted and seing the matter is thus for so much as he dealeth so sharply roughly with him which is theldest sonne of the church he protesteth as he saith is likewise done at Rome first that for the most troublesome tumultes of warre he may not send the bishops of his realme vnto Trent again that he taketh not this for a publike or general couÌsel but rather for a certain priuate conuention which is not instituted for the profit of the common wealthe but for the vtilitye of a few Finally that nether he nor any man within his realme can be bounden to the decrees therof but declareth also furthermore that he wil vse suche remedies if the case so require as in a like matter his progenitors haue accustomed he will be euer of a sounde and sincere mind towardes religion and the Church of Rome neither wil he coÌmit any thing worthy of iust reprehension but in as much as he is burthened with thiniuries and hatred of certain without his desert he can not otherwise do at this present Therfore let theÌ take this protestation in good parte and Communicate vnto him the doctrine or testimony of this action to th end he may certify other Princes and people of Christendome concerninge the whole matter But wheras he saith he wil vse the remedies of his progenitoures thus it standeth like as in all other Regions so also in Fraunce if any Bishoppricke or Abbotship be vacant such as are called Chanons or Monkes had fre election to chuse them but the meane benefices which were not electiue as they terme it the Bishops and Patrones bestowed Moreouer all maner of sutes and controuersies touching benefices or matters of the church wer decided within euery prouince But bishops of Rome as Couetousnes increased began to subuert those elections and by reseruatioÌs and graces expectatiue as they name them haue deriued all the gaine to Rome and to them selues called also to Rome all sutes euen the fyrst instaunces as they call them And the beginning of this alteration chanced in Fraunce in the time of King Lewes the ninth but he resisted stoutly and in the yeare of our Lord M CC. lxvii made a law that thold custome shuld be reteined nether that any tribute shuld for that cause be paid to the bishop of Rome This law was verely of force many yeares but at the lengthe the violence of the bishops preuailed against it and so far as christendome stretcheth they published those foresaid graces and reseruations and were very chargeable to all men vntill the Synode of Basill toke away this kinde of pillage and restored the aunciente lawes of contributions and elections and prohibited firste frutes to be paid This decre of the counsel the King of France Charles the seuenth by thaduise of his Counsell did ratify and in the yeare M CCCC xxxviii confirmed by Proclamation But Eugenius the fourth pronounced this counsell to be frustrate and of none effect as I said in the first boke and the Bishops that succeded him reiected that decre and said it was Scismaticall and in dede Pius the second sendinge his Ambassadoure to Lewes the eleuenth sonne to Charles the seuenth moued him earnestly to abolish that same confirmation and the king asketh counsell of the Senate of Paris the moost famouse of all Fraunce which in a maner consisteth wholy of lawyers They repeting many thinges of great antiquity declare what the bishops of former time what the Counsels and finally what his progenitors Clodowey Charles that great Phillip Deodate Lewes the ninth Philip le Beau Lewes Hutine Ihon the first and laste what his father and grandfather haue herein determined and except thauncient lawes be obserued it wil come to passe say they that al thecclesiastical ordre shal be brought to confusion and that Fraunce shal be lesse populous whan so many shal run to Rome and shal be so much impouerished that churches and many such other sumptuous buildings in France shal be neglected and fall to ruine And as touching the mony matter vnles your fathers confirmation of the decree at Basill maye be of force there shal be caried yerely out of Fraunce vnto Rome ten C M. Crownes For to let other thinges passe in the time of Pius the second now bishop there haue bene vacant at the least twentye Bishopprickes which haue paid euery one of them aswel for their first frutes as for other charges vi M. There haue fallen abbotships about lx and euery one of them haue paied two thousand of other benefices haue bene void aboue two hondreth whiche haue paid v C. crownes a piece Moreouer within your realme are an hondreth thousand parishes and aboue out of the which an infinite quantity of gold hath bene gathered by that same deuise of the bishop of Rome Walke therfore in your fathers fotesteps swarue not from the decre of Basil Certainly this was the counsell of the Senate but the king being ouercommen with the Bishops either authority or policy would neades abolish the confirmation the chief worker of this matter was Cardinall Baluen in great fauor with the king whom the bishop of Rome had corrupted how be it both the kinges procurer and also the vniuersity of Paris whome it much concerned resisted with a stout courage and appealed froÌ the bishop to the counsel Afterward Lewes the twelfth had great emnity for the same cause with Iuly the secoÌd and the matter was brought into the counsel of Laterane and Fraunces the firste that succeded Lewes concluded at the length with Leo the tenth vpon certaine conditions at Bononie after he had taken Millan verely that when a Bishoppricke or Abbotship were vacante the Couent in dede should not haue thelection therof but that the king shoulde within .vi. monethes nominate some man to the Bishop of Rome whome he thought worthy of that office This same therfore is the thing amongs others which King Henry now by his ambassador signified vnto them of a remeady For kings are on this wise woÌt to bridle the bishops when they are at dissention with them and so to put in practise the confirmation of the decre of Basil espectally at this time when their thondrebolt is not so greatly feared as it was in time paste And for so muche as the Realme of Fraunce is both most large and rich also Rome can not without great hinderance want the reuenues therof And that which he signified here that he would do the same did he not longe after as you shal hear The same remeadye also in times paste vsed the King of Fraunce Phillip le Beaw against Boniface the eight For wheras he commaunded him to war against the Sarazens and refusing his excuse forbad that he shuld take no mony of the churches within his owne Realme which the King was driuen to do for the necessitye of his warres and vnlesse he obeyed the same did suspend him out of the Church he assembleth all
that he whiche is a Germain him selfe wil naturally for the couÌtrie sake in so honest a matter be helpfull to an other Germaine that is in a maner oppressed and in daunger of his lyfe Besydes this intercession of his frendes Duke Fredericke deuised so with the Cardinall at Auspurge that Luther should not nede to trauayle to Rome but should come and pleed his cause before Caietane there Who comming thether in the begynnyng of October remayned there thre dayes before he spake with the Cardinall For after Duke Friderick was gone homewarde he was aduised by his frendes not to come in the Cardinalles fyght before the Emperour Maximilian had graunted him a saufe conduicte whiche obtayned he was gently receyued of the Cardinal who sayd that he would not contende with him in disputacion but frendly appease the controuersy And according to the Byshops of Roomes commaundemente he propoundeth two thinges first that he should come to ameÌdement and reuoke suche errours as he had published secondlye that from henceforth he abstayne from suche wrytinges as disturbe the traÌ quillitie of the churche Hereunto doeth Luther make aunswer that he is priuie to no errour but if he hath erred in any thyng he desyreth it maye be shewed him wherein There the Cardinall chargeth hym that he affirmeth in his questions howe the merites of oure sauioure Christe consiste not in the treasures of pardons whiche sentence saith he is against the decree of ClemeÌt the syxte Moreouer that vnto those that come to receiue the SacrameÌt faith should be necessary wherby they myght be assured that their synnes were forgeuen neyther is this true sayeth the Cardinall Luther aunswered how he had read that decree of the Byshop shewed what his mynde is touching the same and where as mention was made of Thomas of Aquine he affirmeth that the authoritie of Scripture is to be preferred farre aboue hym Than the Cardinall extolling the Byshop of Romes authoritie preferreth him aboue all Scriptures and counselles recityng howe the couÌsell whiche had determined the contrary was abrogated he condemneth also Gerson of Paris and the fauourers of his opinion Contrariwyse Luther denieth the authoritie of the byshop to be aboue the couÌsell alledging emonges others the diuines of Paris to be of his opinioÌ After long disputacion where as they could not agree Luther asketh some deliberation The next day he retourneth And in the presence of the Secretary and certain other witnesses and foure also of the Emperours counsell he protesteth that he beareth all dew reuerence to the holy churche of Rome And if he haue spoken any thyng against the same he wyll not haue it ratified Howbeit for as much as he is admonished and commaundeth to forsake his errours and to abstayne from henceforth he supposeth that he hath spoken nothing that swarueth either from holy Scripture or the opinions of the auncient fathers the decrees of the byshoppes or also from ryght reason Yet will he not denye but that he may erre and be disceiued for so may euery man And therfore he committeth the hearing to the lawfull and holy churche referryng the whole matter to the iudgement of the same And not that only but he wil also rendre a reason of his doctrine in any place If this may not suffise he wil make aunswere in wryting to such argumentes as may be brought against him and will not refuse to stande in iudgement herein of the vniuersities of Germany and Paris The Cardinal charged him againe as he had done the daye before with the decree of Clement as though it made muche for him In fine he permitteth hym to deliuer vp a wryting theffect wherof was this What time he set vp his questions and after wrote an exposition of the same ãâ¦ã had red the decree of Clement before but his mynde was not therewith satisfied For although it be established that the decrees of the Byshop of Rome should be aswell receiued as the voyce of Peter the Apostle Yet ought this so to be taken in as muche as thei be consonaunt to holy scripture and agreable to the decrees of the auncient fathers There is no doubt but the voyce of Peter is sacred and holy yet was he soore rebuked of Paule neyther coulde his doctrine be receiued tofore the consente of the Churche whiche was than at Hierusalem hadde establyshed it The wordes of all men may be hearde but all thinges must be referred to the wordes of Christ who only can not be disceaued That decrees is against sondrye places of Scripture and that was the cause whiche he at that tyme brought in the same question and afterwarde was not affraied to make an exposition to the same Euer synce that tyme he was fully resolued to stire vp no further disputation concernyng that matter but rather to heare the opinion of others but now albeit he had leuer be instructed of others especially of the Byshop of Roome Yet for as muche as he is constrained of necessitie to defende his owne he wyl proue and do the best he can to make the same decree and his questions to accorde Whan he had made this preface before him he goeth to the matter if selfe and by a certain expositioÌ made sheweth howe that decree maketh for his purpose but yet so as he would neither that the Bishoppes authoritie nor his owne estimation should be therby infringed After this he commeth to the seconde parte of hys accusation and alledging for his purpose many places of Scripture declareth playnly howe it is faith that maketh vs iust before GOD. Wherfore he desyreth him to deale fauourably with him shewe hym his errour For the force of thinges whiche he had alledged out of the scriptures was so muche that he beleueth them to be sufficiently grouÌded vpon their owne truthe whiche he can not forsake for so much as we ought rather to obey God then meÌ And therfore he requireth that may be released of the harde burthen of recantynge for he came not in to this contencion vpon any arrogancie or desyre of vayn glorie Yea he would wyshe for nothing more than that the truthe might be opened and that any man els myght bryng that were moore learned and godly her of he beseched him that he may not be coÌpelled to hurt his own conscience The Cardinall receiued this wryting offered vnto him by Luther and whan he had red it estemed it lyghtly yet he promysed to sende it to the Byshop of Rome Than he vrged him muche to recant And vnlesse he so doe he threateneth him with the punishment appointed already by the byshop And also commaundeth him out of his sight and vnlesse he amende his maners to come no more in his presence After this threatening whiche was the .xvij. day of Octobre Luther wrote vnto him gentle letters ful of good wil and dutie For Caietane after he had thus chidden Luther sent him away wrought secretly with Iohn Stupice Prouincial of the Augustine
neuer take wages nor stypende of anye Prince to serue him in his warres After this was borne the kynges sonne Charles whome the Swyces sendynge theyr deputies Christened at the Fontestone The Heluetians or Swicesse consiste of thirtene Townes Zuricke Bernes Lucerna Ura Swite Unterualde Tugie Glarea Basille Solodure Friburge Schafusiane and Apecelle These are ioyned in a most straite leage by an othe vsynge one and the same law and gouerne as it were in common theyr common weale The fyrst of all that made this leage were the Uranites the Swyces and Unterualdians what tyme they expulsynge their nobilitie vnder whome they were oppressed procured their owne libertie This was in the yere of our Lorde M.CCC.xv After came vnto theÌ they of Lucerne next them the Tugians in the syxte place the men of Zuricke and last they of Bernes and of Basille Than ioyned wyth them in societie but not in the same lawes nor so great frendshippe the Rhetians Lepontians Sedunites Ueragrites Sangallians Mullusians and they of Rotuuille The Emperour beyng now past one twenty yeres of Age banisheth Luther by a common decree the eyght day of May takyng the begynning therof of his owne parson for that it was his part and office not onely to establishe and augment the Empire but also to forese that no blemishe nor Heresye should springe vp within the limittes of the same And that his Progenitours in dede haue bene diligent men herin Wherfore it is mete that he vnto whoÌ God hath giuen so large and ample dominioÌs should folow their steppes for vnlesse he should punishe nowe the Heresyes lately spronge vp in Germany he shoulde bothe hurte his owne conscience in the beginning now of his reigne sore blemisshe his name and dignitie that it is well knowen vnto all men what wicked doctrine Luther hathe spread abroade nowe these three or foure yeres agaynste the Byshoppe and Churche of Rome against the decrees of the auncient fathers and namely against the couÌsel of Constance to the great reproche of theÌperor SigismuÌde and the Princes of Germany that were there present Wherfore syns that in hys bokes is nothing els conteined but sedition discorde warre murther and mischief so that he appereth not to be a man that wrote theÌ but rather a Deuil in a mans likenes He for the zeale that he beareth to the common wealth and the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome doth condemne and proscribe him as aucthor of Scismes as a manyfest and an obstinate Heretike commaundynge all men vnder a great penaltie so to accepte him and after thre weekes wherin he gaue him leaue to retourne to apprehende him and bringe him vnto him and al such as shall fauour or aide him in his doynges he banisheth in like case he commaundeth also his Bokes should be brent appoyntynge a greate penaltie herafter for the Stationers commaunding this decree of his which he sayeth was made by the common consent and assent of the Princes to be well obserued Men say how this decree was made by a very fewe for diuerse of the Electours confessed that they were not made priuie to it as shall be declared hereafter of the Archebyshoppe of ColleÌ The Archbishoppe of Mentz beyng Chauncelour of the Empire maye do muche in such matters But how so euer it came to passe the Emperour hereby wanne muche fauoure in so muche that the Bishoppe of Rome cleane forsakynge the Frenche kynge made a league with him as shall be declared hereafter From the tyme of this publication Duke Fridericke appointed certein of his nobilitie whom he especially trusted to conueighe Luther out of the way in to some secrete place that he might eschewe the dauÌger whiche thinge was done bothe diligently and closelye In this carefulnes Luther wrote diuerse epistles to his Frendes and also bokes concernyng the abrogating of the priuate Masse whiche he dedicateth to his brethren the Austen Freres of Religious Uowes to his father Iohn Luther and a booke agaynst Iames Latomus a Doctor of Louaine The Austen Freres beganne nowe fyrste of all men to leaue of Massyng and for that cause Luther compiled this Booke for them that he might encourage the weake and confyrme the skylfull exhortinge them muche to perseuer in the same purpose Whiche thinge knowen Duke Friderick fearing that some great trouble or commotion should arrise therof commaunded that the opinion of the whole Uniuersitie herein should be knowen and brought vnto him The Uniuersitie chose iiij for the same purpose Iustus Ionas Philip Melanchthon Nyclas Amstorfe and Iohn Dulce Who conferryng with the Austen Freres brought worde what theyr inteÌt was And furthermore declared what an iniury was done to the lordes Supper Wherfore they beseche the Prince that he would abolish so great a wickednes not out of one Churche onely but also in all places and set vp the trew vse of the Lordes Supper accordyng to Christes commaundement and the maner of the Apostles stoutly contemnyng al the reproches of the aduersaries for it hath euerbene sene that who so taketh in hande to maynteine the trew doctrine of the Gospel must suffre many thinges and that he ought greatly to foresee that he accept reuerently this present gifte of God wherwith he is chiefly adorned by reason of the lyght of Ghospell spronge vp amonges his people Wherunto the Duke answered that he would leaue nothing vnattempted that might be for Gods glory but for so muche as the thing is ful of difficultie he thinketh good not to beto hastie for litel it is that so fewe can bringe to effect but in case the matter be grownded on the Scriptures they shall doubtles haue mo to take theyr parts And theÌ shall that alteration which shall seme both Godly and necessary more conueniently be brought to passe For he him selfe which is ignoraunt in the Scriptures caÌ not tel what time this accustomed vse of masse which you reproue came vp or when that maner that the Apostles vsed was lefte But as he taketh it the most part of Colledges and Churches were fownded for Masses whiche if they should be put downe and the landes taken awaye that were geuen for the same purpose euery man might well consyder what hurly burly would follow vpon the same Wherfore his aduise shal be that they go and consult further of the matter with the rest of good and well learned men of the vniuersitie that all theyr heades leyde together suche meanes may be fouÌde as maye kepe a Godly quiet These men after more deliberation had make him answer admoshing him as before to put downe theÌ Masse that the thinge maye be done without any tumult And thoughe it coulde not yet that whiche is righte and godlye woulde not therfore be lefte vndone that they be fewer in numbre it is no newes For euer syns the worlde began the greater part of men haue resisted the trewe doctrine moreouer that those onely shall receiue this ryght vse of the
depraued And the same that they did touchinge theyr concubines ought nowe to be euery where receiued for lawfull wines In the meane tyme Luther who had kepte him selfe closse cercertein monethes retorneth to Wittenberge fearinge lest the duke should it take in euyll part he writeth vnto him in Marche signifiyng that where as he is retourned without his commaundement he dyd so of no euill wyll or contempte he knoweth that some will beare him in hande that the same shall be daungerous for his grace for asmuche as he is condemned bothe by the Bishoppe of Rome and themperour Whose powers bothe are great this did he consyder before longe and ofte but there be three causes of his retourne fyrst that he was oftentimes requested by sundrye letters of the Churche of Wittenberge to retourne whose desyre he coulde not but accomplishe for that the same people are properly committed to his charge of God ought not to be neglected And albeit that some are muche offended with this refourmation of doctrine and reporte euill therof yet knoweth he moste certenly that this his profession is vnto God most acceptable Secondarely in the tyme of hys absence throughe the crafte of the Deuill who can not abyde this lyght of the Ghospell there was styrred vp trouble in his churche whiche vnlesse he him selfe were present coulde not be well appeased which matter was so great and weightie that it might be in no wise neglected for if the thinge might haue bene dispatched by letters he coulde righte easelye haue forborne Wittenberge Thyrdely he sayeth he feareth and doth in maner foresee a woÌderfull great tempest in Germany which so racklesly doeth contemne this present benefite of God For many in dede do embrace the trewe doctrine but in their liuyng they sklaunder it abusynge the libertie of the spirit after theyr carnall appetit Others be wholy gyuen to queÌch and oppresse the worde they rare not howe whiche contempte of his word God must nedes punnishe with one plage after an other as he did in times past the Iewes and theyr citie Hierusalem Wherefore it is his part and suche others as he is to admonishe all men hereof with their whole force and diligeÌce for albeit they should trauaile in vaine and be laughed at yet may not they therfore leaue theyr office vndone seyng that it pleaseth God who hathe committed vnto them the cure of soules wherefore he prayeth him not to be offended that he is thus retourned beyng neither called nor commaunded of him for sythe it is altogether Christes cause his trust is that he shall sustayne no displeasure or perill for his retourne The trouble whiche in his absence he sayde was in his Churche was this Andreas Caralostadius in the meane tyme that Luther was absente preached contrary doctrine and disorderlye styrred vp the people to caste the Images oute of the Churche For the which cause Luther beyng called againe of his frendes dispraiseth the rashenes of Carolostadius shewyng that fyrste the Images should haue bene remoued out of the peoples harts being instructed that God is not pleased with Images but with faith onely And then if they should be taken away the same to be done by the Magistrates and not by the tumulte and rage of the common people The same tyme began a secte of them that saide they had talke with God who had commaunded them that sleyng all wicked men they should begin a new world wherin onely the holy and innocent people should lyue and beare rule These kepte them selues priuelye in that parte of Saronie that lyeth by the riuer of Sala whose opinion as saith Luther Carolostadius also fauoured And when he could not bringe hys matters to passe at Wittenberge beynge defaced by Luthers aucthoritie he went from thens vnto them Of this sorte of men was Thomas Muncer whiche styrred vp the people against theyr magistrates in Thuringe and Franconie as shall be recyted in his place Luther hearyng that in the lande of Boheme there were some whiche in common assemblies counseiled to receiue agayne the Bishop of Romes aucthoritie or elles there shoulde neuer be ende of contention and controuersies he wryteth vnto them in the moneth of Auguste that their name was in times past odiose and hated of him before such tyme as he knewe the Bishop of Rome to be Antichriste But nowe syns God hath restored to the worlde the lyght of the Gospell he iudgeth farre otherwise and so hath professed in his workes in so muche that nowe the Byshoppe and all his Clientes are much more offended with him theÌ they are with them His aduersaries haue many tymes saied howe he was fledde into Boheme and in dede he hath ofte wisshed to go thyther but lest they shoulde call his iourney a runnynge awaye he hath altered his purpose And nowe is the matter brought to suche a passe that there is good hoope howe the Germaynes and the Bohemers shall professe the gospell the same Religion together Where many be sory that they be deuided into sectes they are not greued without iuste cause but if they reuolte vnto Papistrie they shall not onely not take awaye theyr sectes but increase and swarme in the same For there is no where mo sectes than is in the Romishe kyngdoÌ as is to be sene by the graye Freres which differ much amonges themselues And yet are all suche thinges done and mainteined by the Byshop of Rome whose kyngdome throughe mens discorde is nourished and establsshed For this is the verye cause whye he setteth Princes together by the eares and seketh alwaies to styrre vp matters of grudge and displeasure Wherfore let theÌ take goodhede lest whilest they go about to abolish those lesser sectes they fal into more pernicious as al those Romish be vtterly vncurable FroÌ the which now thorow Gods benefit Germanye is latelye delyuered And howe there is no better medicine to take awaye euill than if the Pastours of the Churche woulde setforth the doctrine of the Gospell purely and syncerely And in case they can not reteyne the weake people in theyr dewtie but that they wyll reuolte at the lest wyse let them indeuour to kepe styl the Lordes Supper wholy and the memoriall of Husse and Hierome of Prage vndetiled For it may be that the Bishop will attempt to take these two thinges from them chiefly Wherfore if any of them relent and graunr the tyrant bothe it shall not be well done of them Howe be it though ãâã Boheme do reuolte yet will he set forth and commende the doctrine of Husse vnto all posteritie Wherfore he praieth and exhorteth them ãâã perseuer in that state of Religion whiche they haue defended ãâã with muche bloud and valeauntnes neither through their ãâ¦ã yng blemishe the gospell that nowe florisheth And all beit that al thinges be not wel established amonges them yet will not God fayle them but whan he seeth time he will styrre vp some faythfull minister to reforme
eschewe the present daunger that hangeth ouer their owne heades Furthermore if there be any that say howe Luther was condemned before his matter was heard or that it were reason the thing shold be debated before he were executed they thinke not well for Christ hath taught vs the rule of faith Religion whose authoritie we must folowe and not reason of the articles of our faith nor inquire the cause of this or that precept He is in dede to be hearde when he is examined whether he spake this thinge or that in hys sermon whether he setforth this boke or that but touching faith and the Sacramentes we may not permit him to reason or defend those thinges whiche he hathe written thereof for in this we muste folowe the vse and custome of the Church and in no wise swarue from the same Againe sith hys doctrine is suche as hath bene heretofore condemned by generall counsels there is none accompt to be made therof Moreouer there should be no ende of coÌtention if it might be lawfull for euery priuate man to call in question those thinges which wittie and great learned men haue with muche deliberation established wheresoeuer is any asseÌblie or felowship of meÌ there be certein lawes which all they are bounden to obserue howe muche more oughte the same to be done what time anye thynge is openlye establisshed in the churche But seyng these men do not onely contempne the lawes and decrees of counsels and auncient fathers but also burne them they ought suerly to be punished as breakers of the common peace quietnes Neuertheles he confesseth howe that God which is the reuenger of all wronge doeth thus plage his churche for the synnes of the ministers therof as the Scripture saieth The iniquitie of the people procedeth from the priestes and elders for certenlye saieth he they haue synned at Rome these many yeres full greuously by sundry wayes euen from the highe Bishoppe to the lowest Ecclestasticall parson and not one to be excused for the which cause callynge mekely to God for pardon He wyll endeuour to redresse the thing and see that the court of Rome which perchaunce hath bene the occasion of all this mischief be fyrst sharpely refourmed And that as it hathe bene the example of vice so it may be the begynning of amendement and Patron of vertu which he saieth he must do by lytell and litell for that al sodayne mutations be daungerous and as the common prouerbe is He that bloweth his nose ouermuche shall wringe out bloude This writing dyd Luther translate in to the vulgare toungue and set to his notes in the margente and where he sayeth by lytell and lytell Luther affyrmeth that to be the space of many mens liues But in that he so frankely bewrayed the vicious lyuyng of the court at Rome he gote no great loue of the Cardinals as it is reported Neuertheles this they say is euer the bishop of romes policie when he wil deferre the couÌsel or delay the hearynge of the matter he will promise largely that whilest men trust vpon his promyse he maye fynde the meanes what by the fauoure of Princes and what by force of Armes to mainteine hys power dignitie which is like to fall in some daunger by fyre and generall counsels Whilest the Byshoppes Ambassador declared thus the Princes complained that the leagues which they had made in times past with Byshoppes of Rome were broken there diuerse wayes Whereof the Byshoppe beyng certifyed by the letters of his Ambassadour answereth them by the same that suche thynges as his predecessours dyd it lieth not in him to helpe but he misliked the handelyng of the matters at Rome when he was but a priuate man and purposed no lesse but to refourme the same thoughe no man had spoken therin and to suffer no man to susteine any wronge muche lesse them whom for the common countrey sake he coueteth chiefly to gratifie And where they desyre that their actions commenced might be retourned in to Germany so soone as the Iudges and aduocates whiche are fled oute of Rome for the Plage shall retourne he will inquire of the case and do therin that which shall seme resonable He commaunded moreouer his Ambassadour to require an aunswere of the Princes what in theyr opinion were the best way to destroy this pestiferous secte that he maye vnderstande in time what shall be his part to do therin These thinges beyng declared to the counsel the Princes and other states make aunswere Fyrste in recityng briefly his demaundes they say they are ryght glad that it hath pleased God to place him in the gouernement of the church which in this perilous time had nede of such a Pastour who beareth suche a zeale to the common wealthe and taketh suche paynes to set kynges at quietnes and emploieth hys treasure to the repressing of the Turkes violence whiche thynges they reioyse to heare of for by these ciuill warres thempire is decaied and the Turkes power increased where no man prepareth any Armye to resist him Here be the Ambassadours of the kyng and Princes of Hungary which not without great lamentation haue recited what cruell thinges they haue suffered and what daunger they stande in dayely Wherfore they desyre him which is the father Pastour of all others that he will perseuer in this most holy purpose and trauaile that eyther a suer peace or els a long treuce may be taken that in the meane time they may make preparation to withstande the Turkes violence and recouer the countreis of the Empire which are loste Whereunto they promise their aide bothe of men and money As concernyng Luther if any displeasure be growen in Germany by the meanes of his doctrine they are right hartely sory therefore as it becommeth them no lesse and desyre also to remedy the euyll knowyng it to be theyr duetie to obey both him and themperour nother wil they degenerat from their progenitours herein where he complaineth that he is not already punished according to the Emperours decree it is vpon no lyght consyderation omitted for all degrees do complayne most heinously of the courte of Rome And in maner al men are so wel instructed by the preachinges and bokes of Luther that in case the decree should be put in execution it would doubtles styre vp great sedition and many would so coustre it to be done for this intent that the trueth should be oppressed and the lyght of the Ghospell extinguisshed for the mayntenaunce of suche open crymes as were not to be borne withall which perswasion most certeinly would styrre vp a rebellion of the people against the Magistrates for it tan not be denied and he himselfe graunteth also that they lyue dissolutely vitiously at Rome to the great decay of Religion Wherefore in that he dyssembleth nothing nor clooketh the disorder of the court at Rome but promyseth a reformation it deseruith muche praise especially if he performe
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 conteÌne 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 coÌplaining 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 dominioÌs 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 coÌmaundement 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 Spâine 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 coÌmon assemblie had for the falâe 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 coÌtinued 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 offeÌded 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 coÌmaundement 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 coÌsyderinge that the reside ââo 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 couÌsel 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
wel as they do for the laste yere what tyme another Ambassador was here they wrote vnto him theyr mindes howe the daunger of this alteration should be foreseen and remedied And also what they required of him to be done for his parte Wherof if he haue brought any aunswer they desyre him to vtter it to the intent they may the better procede in the cause And as touching Turkishe matters they confesse to be as he hath sayd notwithstandyng that great warre doth not only concerne The Empire but all together kynges and princes of Christendome in like maner For vnlesse that they be at peace amonges them selfes and giue their aide ther can nothing be done to continew But for asmuch as the Turke nowe maketh great preparation vnto warres both by sea and Lande they would also knowe his opinion herin The Legate said againe that whether there were any such way by them deuised to appease the strife aboute Religion or whether it were deliuered to the Bishoppe and Cardinalles or no he can not certeinly tell but the Bishoppes good wyll is muche who hathe gyuen him full aucthoritie in all suche matters but they whiche knowe the men the maner and custome of the countrey must fynd out that way that may lead them to the ende wished for In the counsell at Wormes the Emperor by theyr common assent made a decree to haue bene executed thorowout all Germany which some obeied and some not Wherefore this great diuersitie should be in the Empire he knoweth not But he thinketh good before any thynge be determined to consulte howe it maye be executed he is not comen thither to styrre vp fyre and dissention as some reporte but all his desyre and the Bishoppes in like case is to make peace and concorde to th entent that suche as haue erred and straied may be reduced into the waie that the decrees of the counsels Themperors and Princes proclamations might be obserued concernynge their requestes whether they were made to be sent to Rome he knoweth not But three copies were brought thither to priuate men whetof he had one but the Byshoppe and the Colledge of Cardinalles coulde not be perswaded that they should be made by the Princes but thought rather that some priuate men had deuised for hatred and malice that they bare to the citie of Rome Wherin be diuerse thinges that deny the Byshoppes authoritie smell of Heresye and be suche as he can not meddle withall But for others that are not against the Bishop such as are grounded vpon equitie and reason he will not refuse to treate of Howe be it it semeth vnto him that the demaundes should haue bene propounded with more modestie if they had ought to say to the highe Bishop For so dyd lately the Spaniardes which sendyng an Ambassade to Rome declared geÌtely what theyr request was But wheras they be printed and publisshed abrode he thinketh that ouer muche And yet there is no doubte but that the Bishoppe of Rome wyll do for Germany what he can Moreouer what power the Turke hath and what preparatioÌ he maketh the bishop hath good intelligence And hath alredy great treasure in a readines and will haue more And for so muche as the concorde of Christen Princes is very requisite he hath done what he can that the Emperor the Frenche kynge and the king of England hauyng peace together might set vpon the Turke on all handes and he will employ therupon all his treasure This doeth the Bishoppe as a good sheperde foresee and care for peace and quietnes But in case the shepe wyll not folowe the voyce of the Sheperde he can do no more but take it paciently and commit the whole matter vnto God Amonges the Suyces encreased dayly coÌtention for Religion And the rest of townes sendynge theyr Ambassadors to them of Zurycke shewed theyr grief How that in tymes past all thinges were at a godly quiet and no contention of Doctrine at all But nowe through the meanes of Luther that fyrst began and Zuinglins and Leo Iude that preached amonges them interpretinge Godes worde after theyr owne iuste and appetite that godly peace and quietues of the churche and the common weale is nowe tourned into trouble and dissention And besydes that these incommodities do ensew vpon fastyng dayes they eate bothe Egges and Flesshe Religious folkes aswell men as women forsaking theyr profession and orders do marrie Gods seruice is laide downe they singe no more in the Churche they neglect confession and penaunce the Masse is railed on our Lady and the sainctes dishonoured theyr Images pulled downe and broken the sacramentes had in contepte in so muche that nowe a daies the sacred holy host that representeth Christes body can skarsely be safe in the Priestes haides These are thinges to be lameÌted and to be auenged also with the losse of life and goods Wherfore they desyre them to leaue their newe doctrine and perseuer in the olde religion of their fathers for they can beare this gere no longer But in case there be any thinge wherin they fynde them selues offended with the Bishop of Rome Cardinals Byshoppes and suche others whan they entre into benefices choppe and chaunge them and gather vp all the money in the countrey vsurping and taking ouer muche vpon them if these and suche other like things do molest and greue them they will not refuse to helpe to reforme the same for they do mislyke them very muche them selues The Senate of Zuricke aunswered the .xxi. daye of Marche that their ministers of their church had preached there fyue yeares Whose doctrine at the begynnynge semed vnto them newe because they had not heard the like before but after that they vnderstode how the ende therof was to shewe Iesus Christ the aucthor of saluation who dyed for the sinnes of the world who a loue deliuered vs wretches froÌ death euerlasting being the onely aduocate of mankinde to God the father they could not but wyth feruent desyre embrace so ioyful newes there was great agrement and concorde in times past betwixt the Apostles and those which after theyr time embraced Christes doctrine the same they trust shall be nowe also amonges such as giue their minds hereunto And if Luther or any other do so teache it is well done neyther ought Gods word to be called his doctrine And although they do honor Christ only yet do they no iniurie therfore to the virgin Marye or other saints For al they being here in earth loked for eternall saluatioÌ by the onely name of Christ and nowe is there such a light giuen that in maner all men within their citie do reade the Bible diligently so that the ministers can not wrast a wrye that is so continuallye in all mens handes wherefore there can be no secte obiected vnto them but that name accordeth to them which to mainteine their lucre and dignitie wraste Gods worde whither they list They are said to be in an error
certeine good and well learned men in euery Prouince to gather out of Luthers bookes and others all questions disputable and exhibite them to the Princes at the next assemblie that they maye procede more spedely when they shall come to the counsell And that by the meane and diligens of the magistrate the gospel may be purely taught and soberly according to the interpretatioÌs approued by the churche Moreouer that herafter therebe set forthe no mo famous Libelles and Pictures Finally that suche thinges as the Princes haue to charge the court of Rome and the Clergie be treated of and discussed in the next assemblie at Spires For the counsel Campegius dyd vndertake and promysed the Princes to declare it to the Byshop diligently The Princes at this assemblie were Lewes countie Palatine Wylliam and Lewes Dukes of Bauare Friderike Palatine Casimire Markes of Brandenburge Byshoppes of Treuers Bamberge Wirciburge Trent and Brixine and Albert of Brandenburge master of Pruselande I tolde you howe the Senate of Strasebrough intreated the Bishoppe therof for the maried priestes whome he had cited to appeare at Sabernes which came not at theyr day appointed wherfore the Bishop writeth to the Legate Campegius complaynyng of the Senate by whom he saith he is letted so that he can not execute his office nor punisshe them that haue maried contrarie to the Byshoppe of Romes lawes Thomas Murner a Graie Frere was the messager who complained greuously of the Senate to the Cardinall But the Ambassadours of the same Towne beynge present at Norinberge came before him and made their purgatioÌ that they neither had nor would be any let to the Bishoppe but had signified vnto him by their letters that looke what actioÌ he had against the maried priestes agreable to Gods law that he might come and execute it And they would assiste him but he called them out of the liberties contrary to an ordre that was takeÌ betwixt him and them And whereas they claimed theyr liberties they were condemned theyr cause neyther hearde nor knowen They sayde moreouer how the most part of the Clergie at Strausb liued viciously kepiÌg stroÌptes at home with theÌ after a lewd example And yet the Bishop doth not punish one of theÌ Wherfore if the Senate should permit him to handle these extremely for not obseruing the Bishop of Romes law let the coÌmon whoremonges that breake the lawc of God escape vnpunished doubtles the people would grudge styre thereat To this CaÌpegius answered that what coÌpaet or bargaine was betwixt theÌ he knew not but surely theyr act was manifest neded no greate triall in the law for they wer sequestred froÌ the felowship of the church by the dede doyng And for bycause others kept harlots lyued dishonestly that doeth not excuse theyr cryme he knoweth it to be the maner of the Bishops in Germany to permit theyr priestes for money to kepe lemans which is euil done in dede they shal yeld an accoÌpt for it one day Neuerthelesse it is a greater offence for priestes to Mary than to kepe at home with them many harlots for they are perswaded that they do well And these do acknowledge theyr synne for all men are not so chaste as Iohn Baptist yet was it neuer sene that they myght lawefully refuse the sole life no not amonges the Grekes which in theyr rites and customes differ much froÌ vs Wherfore he praieth them to giue theyr aide to theyr Bishoppe in this matter The Ambassadors say that if he would fyrst punishe the whoremongers than might the Senate assiste him the better in correcting of these others But he was in hand with them againe First to assist theyr Bishop And than if he woulde not punishe whoredome he would come thither him selfe and see them punished accordingely After the assemblie at Norinberge Fernando Campegius the Cardinall of Salisburge the dukes of Bauare that Bishops of Trent of Regenspurge also thambassadors of the Bishops BaÌberge Spires Straus Auspurge CoÌstance Basil Frisinge Passame Brixine mette at Ratisbone agreed vpon this opinioÌ the sixt day of Iuly For as muche as Themperor folowing herin the Iudgement and request of Leo the tenth coÌdemned at Wormes by a publik decree the doctrine of Luther as wicked And for that it is likewyse decreed in the assemblie at Norinberge aswell fyrst as last that al men should obey the same as much as in them lieth they therfore at the request of Cardinall Campegins who hath ful auethoritie of the Bishop of Rome concernynge that matter will and commande that the foresayde decree and the decrees made in the laste assemblies be obserued and kepte wythin theyr iurisdictions That the Ghospell and others Scriptures be taught in churches after the interpretation of the auÌetent fathers which in puritie of life excelled through theyr great vertu confyrmed theyr doctrine by martyrdome they that teach any Herestes already coÌdemned or any thing els to the reproch of Christ our Lady or the saints or the which may be an occasion of sedition let him be punished according to the tenure therof That no man be admitted to preach without he haue the Bishoppes license Such Ecciesiastical lawes as cardinal CaÌpegius hath writteÌ by coÌmoÌ asseÌt to take away vice to reforme maners wheÌ they be ons published shal be obserued Touching the Masse SacrameÌts and al other things let nothing be altered But done as hath bene accustomed by oure forefathers They that receyue the Lordes supper wtout confession absolutioÌ they that eate fleshe on dayes forbiddeÌ Also MoÌcks or Nones that ron out of their ordre Priestes DeacoÌs or SubdeacoÌs that marrye shal be punished Let nothing be put in Print but by the coÌsent of the Magistrate Namely of Luthers his coÌpanions let nothing be set forth nor sold That such as be of theyr iurisdiction studying now at WitteÌberge wtin thre monethes after they shall heare of this decree made retourne home or go some where els wheras Luth. poison taketh no place They that shall do otherwise shal be depraued of theyr benefices lose theyr inheritaÌce And all those that shall coÌtinew in the Uniuersitie of WitteÌberge shal neyther enioy benefice nor haue the charge to brynge vp youthe That certeine fit men be chosen in euery place to see these thinges executed That the offenders so many as can be taken be committed to warde the rest that shall be banisshed to haue no place of refuge so farre as theyr rule or dominioÌs do rtretche if any coÌmotioÌ or sedition should fortune to arrise by reason of this decree wtin any of theyr limittes that the rest shall come aide him The Ecclesiasticall lawes whiche Campegius had deuised were these Let the priestes liue honestly go comely appareled nother by nor sell as marchantes hauÌt not the Tauernes let theÌ not be couetous nor for theyr ministration extorte money gredelye let such as kepe CoÌcubines be displaced let the
shoote al at this marke to haue all equalle and of one state and condition whiche is fonde and absurde For this ciuile lyfe and gouernment of the publyque wealth can not endure vnlesse there be a difference of persones that theremaye be some free and some bounde some to rule and some to obeye The rest concerning wylde beates wooddes waters pastures paymentes of money and suche other lyke I leaue to be disputed of Lawyers for they touche not my dutie whiche is to instructe the myndes of men in Godlynesse And nowe ye men and brethren this is my mynde and counsell whiche you desyred to knowe Nowe shall it be your partes for as muche as you saye ye wyll obeye the Testimonies of Scrypture to hearken vnto the same And not by and by so soone as it shall comme to your handes to make an outcrye as though I flattered the Magistrates and taught you not ryghtly but ponder the whole matter and waye all my reasons dylygentlye For certenly the cause is your owne And aboue althinges be ware of those preachers that pricke you forwarde I knowe that sorte of men ryght well they leade you head longe into daungers that they myght get preferment and ryches through your peryll The cause why Luther doeth so muche caste in their tethe the false tytle that they bragged of was this for that in all their lettres that they wrote to prouoke and allure others to their felloweshyppe they made their boaste that they toke armure vppon them for Gods commaundement and for a certen loue and zeale to the common wealth to the intent the doctrine of the Gospell myght be set forth augmented and mayntayned that truthe equitie and honest lyuyng myght reingne and floryshe and that they myght so prouyde for theÌ and theirs that hereafter they be not oppressed with any violence and whan thei had thus at fewe woordes declared the cause of their enterpryse they woulde than commaunde their neighbours by and by to put on Armure and come vnto them immediatly and helpe them if not than would they threaten to come vpon them withall their power What tyme Luter had thus aunswered the commotioners admonyshyng also the Princes and the nobilitie by wrytynge sayeth vnto them All the trouble and busynes that is at this daye is altogether longe of you chieflye that beareth the Tytle of the Churche whiche cease not yet at this daye for all my preachynge to persecute the doctrine of the Gospel and that again your conscience secondarely you that are Prynces and cyuyl Magistrates beyng wholly addicted to exacte and gather vp money you care not by what meanes so that the poore people are no longer hable to beare the burthen and al to mainteyne your ryot pryde and voluptuousnes Wherfore there hangeth assuredly a wounderfull daunger ouer you as a sworde dependynge ouer your neckes by a twhyne threde And yet are you in the meane tyme so carelesse as though no man were hable to displace you but this securitie wyll doubtles hurte you one daye for God powreth out some tyme his indignation vpon Prynces as it is read in the Psalmes I haue oftentymes admonyshed you to beware therof but no warning wyll serue Wherfore Gods whrath wil fall upoÌ your heads vnlesse you amende your lyues The signes and wounders that are seene in all places doe pretende no good We maye easely coniecture that Gods anger boyleth against vs for that he permitteth false doctours to be so muche estemed amongst vs to the intent we beinge lead by them into errours and darkenes myght be plaged worthely Moreouer this rebellion of the people whiche wyll vtterlly destroye Germany vnlesse God moued with our Prayers send some remedy And your gouernment is at this daye after suche a sorte that men neyther can nor wyl nother ought in dede to suffer it any longer You must be cleane altered and gyue place vnto Goddes worde And if the people bryng it not to passe at this tyme others shal succede for albeit you kyl vp these yet God wil reise new which worketh this warreth against you and seketh to plage your wickednes Dyuers of you haue made your boaste that you would spende al the goodes and laÌdes you haue vpon condicion that Luthers doctrine myght cleane be taken away And what is not the thing brought no we to the effect God forbydde I should ieste in these weyghty matters The Iewes in tymes paste sayde how they had no kyng but at the last the state of their common wealth came vnto that passe that they want a kyng for euer for many of you not content with your former faultes woorke a newe iniury to the Gospell affirmyng that all this hurly burlye is the fruicte that spryngeth of my doctrine Well go to rayle on styll hardely you wyll not knowe what my doctrine is nor vnderstand the voyce of the Gospell whiche is the signe of an obstinate and a malicious minde I haue euer from the beginnyng taught quietly and haue abhorred all sedicion I haue earnestly exhorteth the people to be obedieÌt to the hygher powers nay rather I haue admonyshed theÌ to beare with your Tyranny and wicked gouernment And hereof you your selues can beare witnes Therfore hath not this sedition proceaded of me but those bloudy Prophetes no lesse ennemies to me than to you haue brought in this mischief seducing the people haue ben about this thre yeares and more and no man hath resisted them so muche as I alone If god hath now for your synne permitted sathaÌ by those bluddy prophets to styrre vp the rage and fury of the people against you and that it shall not lye in me to let or appease the storme say I pray you what faulte can be layde in me or the Gospell whan this doctrine whiche I professe hath not only borne with your crueltie hitherto but also prayed vnto God for you hath commended your authoritie and state to the people and maynteined the same with high commendacion But and if I coueted nowe to auenge the iniuries that you haue done me I myght laughe in my slyue and be a loker on this cruel tragedy or assist the furious people and as the common saiyng is increase the flamme with oyle and be as sharpe nayle in the sore wherfore noble Princes I require you earnestly that you despyse not myne admonition nor set lyght by this same sediton Not for that I feare left they shoulde be able to destroye you for I would not you should dreade that but that the Ire of God should be be fearfull vnto you For if he intede to plage you worthely whiche thynge I feare you shall not escape the daunger although the power of your ennemies be neuer so small Therfore if any place as yet remayne for counsell I pray you gyue place vnto fury and appease this matter wittely And for so much as the end is vncerten and Gods wyll vnknowen it shall be mete for you firste to trie
of the Gospel who being apprehended by the coÌmaundemeÌt of the byshop of Passauie defendeth these opinions that faythe onlye doth iustifie that there be only two Sacramentes Baptisme and the Lordes supper the Masse to be no sacrifice not to profite the quicke nor the dead The confession of Syns to depende of counsell and not of commaundement that Christe only hath made satisfaction for synnes That the vowe of chastitie byndeth not That the scripture maketh no mention of Purgatory That there is no difference of dayes That the dead be not intercessours for vs That in diuine thinges maÌ hath not free wyll When he was examined he woulde haue declared these thynges to the people more at large but he coulde not be suffered Emonges other there was Eckius who reasoned altogether in Latin that the people should not vnderstand but the other answered him in the vulgare tongue neither yet coulde he cause him to doe the lyke In fyne being condempned by the byshops owne mouthe for an heretyke he was burnt the .xvj. of August by the commaundement of William Duke of Bauar vnto whose iurisdiction he was coÌmitted after his condempnation for the byshop lest he shoulde in deede defile the sacred thynges and become prophane and irregular gyueth not sentence of lyfe and death What tyme Ferdinando who was the Emperours depute in Germany was after the death of kyng Lewis created kyng of Boheme and contended with Uaynode of transiluania for the kyngdome of Hongary Philip of Baden substituted in his place appointed a counsell of the Empyre in Cesars name coÌmaunding them to be at RegeÌsburg at the beginning of Marche in the yeare followyng to consulte of Religion and the Turkyshe warre The senate and people of Bernes whiche are of moste fame and power emoÌges the Swycers coÌsydering howe the dissention about religion encreased daily and that the Ministers of the churche not at all one doctrine doe assigne an other disputation within their Citie at the .xvij. of Decembre And settyng it forth in wryting called vnto the same all the byshops nere about them as the byshoppes of Constance Basyll Sedune and Losanna Warnyng them to come them selues and brynge their diuines with them or els to lose all their possessions that they haue with in the precincte of their lymites After this they nombre the clergie with in their iurisdiction appoyntyng that the Scripture onely of the olde and newe Testament shoulde be of force and authoritie To all that wyll come thether they graunt saufe conduicte And make this lawe that all thynge be done quietlye wythout chydynge and brawlynge that euery man shoulde speake his mynde frelye and pronounce it in suche sorte as euerye mans sayinges myght be written And what so euer shold there be agreed vpoÌ that the same shold be ratified obserued through out al their domions And to thintent men myght know what thynges shoulde be decided and comme thether all prepared they propounded ten conclusioÌs which the ministers of their church Fraunces Colbe and Bertholde Haller dyd professe and sayde they would proue by the Scriptures Whiche are these that the trewe churche wherof Christe is the only head procedeth of Gods word perseuereth in the same and heareth none other mans voyce that this self same church maketh no lawes without Gods worde therfore are we not otherwyse bounden to mens traditions bearyng the name of the churche but in as muche as they be consonant to Gods worde that Christe only hath made satisfactioÌ for the synnes of the whole worlde Therfore if any man say that there is any other waye of saluation or meane to put away synne the same dothe denye Christe howe it can not be proued by the testimonie of Scripture that the body and bloud of Christ is really and corporally receiued that the vse of Masse wherin Christ is presented and offered to his heauenly father for the quicke and the dead is against the Scripture and a contumelie to the sacrifice which Christ offered vp for vs that only Christ is to be called vpoÌ as the mediatour and aduocate of mankynde to God the father that there should be any place after this lyfe wherin soules should be pourged is not to be founde in the Scriptures wherfore all those prayers and ceremonies yearely Diriges and Obites whiche are bestowed vpon the dead also Lampes Tapers and suche other thynges profite nothyng at all That any image or lykenes should be set vp to be worshypped is against the holy Scriptures therfore if they be errected in churches for that intent they ought to be taken downe That matrimony is to no kynde of men prohybited but for to auoyde fornication is commaunded and permitted vnto all men by holy wrytte Where as euery whoremonger is euen by the testimony of Scripture sequestred from the communioÌ of the churche That the syngle life vnchast and fylthy is moste vnsemely for the order of priesthode What tyme the men of Bernes had wrytten their letters concernynge these matters vnto all the Heluetians exhortyng them both to sende their learned men and to suffer all others to passe saufelye through their countreis the Lucernates Uranites Unterualdians Engianes GlareoÌs Soloturnians and they of Friburg exhorte them with long letters to leaue their enterpryse sayinge that it is not lawfull for any nation or prouince to alter the state of religion but the same to belonge to a generall counsell wherfore they desyre them that they wold attempte no suche wycked acte but contine we in the religion whiche their parentes and elders haue obserued Fynally they saye that neyther they wyll sende nor suffer any of their men to come nor graunt saufecoÌduit to any others to passe through their countrey All this not with standyng the men of Bernesse procede in this matter and at the daye prescribed whiche was the .vij. of Ianuary begynne their disputation There came none of the byshops before named They of Basyll Zuricke Abbecell also the ShafusiaÌs Sangallians MullusiaÌs their neighbours of Rhetia sent theirs moreouer thei of Strausborough Ulmes Auspurg Lindaue Constance and Isne dyd lykewyse The doctours of the same citie before named began the disputation their conclusions defended Zwynglius Oecolampadius Bucer Capito Blanrer and diuers others And there impugned them emonges others Conrade treger an Austen freer of great fame who at the laste what tyme he sought for helpe besydes the Scriptures and the maisters of the disputation would not permitte hym so to doe for that it was forbydden by the lawe he departed out of the place The disputation ended the .xxvj. of Ianuary and the forsayde conclusions approued by the common assente of the moste parte were ratified and obserued not only at Bernes but also proclaimed by the magistrates in sondry places there aboutes Masses Aultars Images abolyshed in all places They of Constance had chaunged certen thynges before And when they had made a lawe against whoredome adultrye and dishonest or
the Swycers Zuricke and Bernes agreed in one Religion the Lucernaites Urites Swites Unternaldians and Engians whiche abhorred moste this doctrine make a league with kyng Ferdinando Clement byshop of Rome the .xiij. day of Aprill sendeth Iohn Thomase of Mirandula to exhorte the prynces to warre against the Turke And al be it that he hath susteyned great losses of late yeares yet promyseth he to assiste them with ayde and to doe his endeuoure that the Emperour and the Frenche king being accorded the counsell may begynne immediatly to the intent that Germanye may embrace again the same religion that other countreis do In this assemblye the Senate of the Empire woulde not permitte Daniel Miege Ambassadour for the citie of Strasborough to sitte in counsel for by cause the Masse was abrogated before this counsell imperiall not withstanding that they were intreated to the contrary wherfore Iames Sturmius Ambassadour for the same citie sayed vnto them that in case they were thus displaced contrary to the lawe custome of the Empire let them not loke from henceforth that they wyll beare any part of charges But all might not preuayl and Ferdinando hym self aunswering the intercessours bad that any other citie that obserued the Emperours decrees should be substituted in the place of the other After a longe dispute of Religion the fourmer actes of Spires were repeted and a new decree made on this wyse They which haue hitherto obserued the Emperours decree let theÌ obserue the same styl vntyll the generall counsell and bynde the people to do lykewyse but suche as haue altered their Religion and can not nowe departe from the same for feare of sedition let them staye from henceforth and alter nothynge besydes vntyll the tyme of the counsell Furthermore that their doctrine whiche teache otherwyse of the Lordes Supper than the churche doth be not receyued nor the Masse abolyshed nor that in suche places where this newe kynde of doctryne is anye man be letted to go to Masse that wyll The Anabaptistes also such as defende their opinion obstinately shall suffer death the ministers of the churche are commaunded to teache according to the interpretacioÌ receiued by the church referring al disputable questions to be in the couÌsell decided Moreouer that all states kepe the common peace none to hurte other for the cause of Religion neither one to take the defence of an others subiecte they that shall do otherwyse to be accompted in the numbre of outlawes This decree resisted the Prince electour of Saxony George Marques of Brandenborge Ernest and Frances Dukes of Lunenborough the LaÌtgraue counte Anhald who the .xix. of April recite openly in wryting the causes why they doe not consent thereunto And firste they doe repete the decree of the former assemblie whereby euery man hathe his Religion permitted him frely vntyll the counsell from this maye they not departe nor infrynge those thynges whiche after great delyberation were for a common quiet establyshed and with their sygnetes and othes also confirmed They woulde in deede be glad after the example of their progenitours to do all thynge that myght content the Emperour and as for their goodes and lyues also they wyll spende them wyllinglye in his hyghnes seruice but this present cause coucerneth the euerlastyng saluation of all men Wherfore they desire them not to be offended with them for that thei herein dissente from them for like as the former decree was made by the common assent of all so can not the same be broken with out all their consentes They wyll not be against that they shall in their own countrey establysh what religion shal seme good vnto them beseching God to illuminate the hartes of all men with the light knowledge of his truthe And where as there hath bene dissention and controuersie about religion certen yeares it was declared in the counsel at Norinberge who haue bene the authours and causers therof as well by the confession of the byshop of Rome hym self as also by the requestes of Prynces and states of the Empyre which were delyuered to the byshoppes legate to the numbre of foure score wherof notwithstanding as yet no redresse is made And that of al consultations this hath euer bene the ende that for the debating of controuersies and refourmyng of vices there is nothyng better than a generall counsell And where as the same left a parte they haue nowe decreed that suche as haue chaunged their Religion and can not nowe without muche trouble forsake the same shal alter nothyng from henceforth that can they neither coÌmende nor allowe vnlesse they should discredite the doctrine whiche they haue professed hitherto as both true and Godly graunt moreouer that they ought to leaue the same if thei might with any tumulte or vprores And what thynges els were that thaÌ to denye gods worde whiche is taught them purely and syncerely whiche were the moste heynous offence that coulde be committed For they must confesse it not in wordes only but in very deede also Moreouer what an hynderaunce this abnegation would be and howe muche preiudiciall to the fauourers of the Gospell it is easy to coniecture As coÌcernyng the Masse it is ryght well knowen with howe strong and inuincible testimonies of holy Scripture the preachers within their dominioÌs haue confuted the Popishe Masse and in steade therof instituted the Lordes supper according to the institution of Christe and the maner by the Apostles obserued wherfore they can neither admitte this part of the decree neyther permitte their subiectes to heare Masse whiche is abolyshed For though the byshop of Romes Masse were neuer so good and godly yet if they should haue in their churches two coÌtrary Masses al meÌ may wel perceiue what grudge dissentioÌ would there vpon ensewe Moreouer where they do prescribe what they shal commaunde their owne subiectes and what lawes they shall make with in their owne dominions they can not a lytle maruell consyderynge that they them selues would not suffer any man to doe the lyke with them Furthermore what thyng is taught in their churches touchyng the presence of the body and bloud of Christe is so euydent to all men that it nedeth no further declaratioÌ Notwithstandyng as they haue sayde oftentymes so thynke they it good now also not as yet to make any decree against theÌ that teache otherwise for that the Emperours commissioÌs teach the Latin beneth maketh no mentioÌ therof And agayne for as muche as the maynteners of that doctrine are nother called nor hearde whiche in so weyghty matters is muche to be considered that nothyng be determyned at any tyme and they not hearde speake whome the matter doth chiefly concerne And where as they saye that the Gospell must be taught after the interpretations approued by the churche that is very well but all the stryfe is which is the trewe church But seyng there is no doctrine more certen than Gods worde and besydes that
haue bene denyed them seing that he is content to heare others that be their inferiours muche in matters of lesse importaunce But when he would alter nothyng of his purpose they requyre him to leaue them their boke tyll suche tyme as it hath bene read opeÌly which graunted they came the next daye and in the audience of all the Prynces and states the Emperour hym selfe being present recite it ouer Afterwardes they delyuer it vnto hym wrytten bothe in Latin and Dutche and if they shall doubte in any thyng they offer a further declaration and in case the matter can not be determined at this present they do not refuse to abyde the counseell so often tymes promysed and looked for The Emperour whiche had layne all the wynter from Nouembretyl March at Bononie in the same place with the bishop of Rome endeuoured as muche as he myght to appease this controuersie in Religion without a counsel For by this meanes he knewe he should please Clement best whose intent was that in case the matter could not be quieted by geÌtle meanes it shuld be oppressed by force of armes Therfore the .xxvj. of June he calleth before him in his owne hous the Ambassadours of al cities declareth vnto them by Frederick the Palsgraue howe in the assemblye at Spires a decree was made wherunto the moste parte did consent where he was right glad but that certen others contemned the same for the which he was as sory Wherfore he requyred theÌ not to swarue away from the rest orels to shewe the reason why they should not obey Hereunto aunswered the Ambassadours of the cities of Protestauntes that they had done nothing contrary to their dutie For they haue no lesse desyre than their elders haue had to perfourme their fayth and obedience but where as he woulde knowe the cause why they dyd not admytte the decre they desyre some tyme to make aunswer and after the seuenth of Iuly they put vp their aunswere in wrytyng in effecte lyke vnto that whiche they sent the yeare before by their Ambassadours into Italy Two dayes after that the Emperour causeth one to demaunde of the Duke of SaxoÌ and his felowes whether they wyll exhibite any thynge more They saye nothing els but a brief somme of the same confession whiche they haue delyuered already After he commaundeth the Ambassadours of the Cities that where they saye how they can not for conscience sake kepe the decree of Spyres they should drawe articles briefly of the thynges where with they founde them selues greued And he delyuereth the confessioÌ of Saxonie to the resydue of the Prynces to be skanned And they agayne to their diuines amonges whome Faber Eckius were pryucipall Who wrote a confutation against it whiche after the Prynces had heard red many iudged it to be much extreme and thought mete that certen should be chosen to reade ouer both their wrytynges and to qualyfie them but their opinion preuayled whiche sayde it shoulde thus be exhibyted to the Emperour and the whole matter be referred vnto hym In the meane tyme they of Strausborough Constance Memming and Lindaue present the Emperour with a confession of their doctryne For touchyng the Lordes supper they beleued otherwyse than did the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes The Emperour debatyng the matter with the byshoppes Legate framed an aunswer to the doctrine of Saxon and sheweth it vnto the Prynces the fyrste daye of August The wyndyng vp of it was vehement and harde coÌmaunding them to obserue it vnder paine of outlawing But through the couÌsel the of Prynces this thing was mitigated Wherfore the third daye of Auguste he sendeth for al states and declareth to them by Frederick Palsgraue how he hath long and much consulted vpon the coÌfession of the Saxons doctryne how he hath also commaundeth certen honest and well learned men to examyne it and to iudge what is Godly therin and what is against the consent of the churche whiche they haue done accordingly and haue declared their myndes in an other wrytynge whiche also he alloweth After this was the confutation of the confession rehearsed in this ordre They had deuided the Saxons bookes in two partes The first part conteined .xxj. chapters of doctrine of these some they receiued and some they reiected certen thinges were partely admitted and partly refused alledginge manye testimonies out of the fathers and counsell They forsoke these good workes deserue nothing Iustification to be ascribed to faith only and not vnto workes also that the churche is the congregatioÌ of the godly that we can not make satisfaction for sinnes that sainctes be not intercessours for vs other thinges they admitte after a sorte as ceremonies moreouer that the true body and bloud of Christe was in the sacrament so as Christ should be vnder both the kyndes and the wyne and the bread cleane chaunged they allowed their articles of confession so that the people were bound to confesse them euery yere at Easter tellyng all their synnes diligently and receiue the Lordes supper and beleue that there be seuen sacramentes of the church prouided alwayes that no man were appointed to instructe the people but by the byshoppes leaue and consent Moreouer that all lawes and decrees of the churche should be obserued and in suche places as they be abolyshed be restored The seconde parte comprehendeth fyue thynges chiefly the communion of the Lordes supper vnder bothe kyndes as they terme it is reiected and the Emperour desyred that herein they would followe the consent and custome of all Christendome For the marriage of Priestes he sayeth it is to hym maruell they wyll requyre it syns it was neuer vsed from the Apostles tyme vnto this day wherfore it may in no wyse be graunted Their Masse is admitted so that it be consonant to the vse of the Romane churche But in case it be altered it is reiected and also affirmed that the Masse is a sacryfice for the quicke and the dead neyther that the priuate Masse oughte to be abolyshed For Daniell had prophecied long before that when Antichriste shoulde come the dayly offeryng shoulde cease whiche thyng is not yet come to passe saue only in such places where the Masse is layd downe and the Aulters destroyed the Images brent in the whyche churches nothyng is songe nor read nor no lyghtes burne any longer there in deede is the saying of the Prophet represented and verified Wherfore all men must take dilygent hede that they geue none occasion of the comyng of Antichriste the monasticall vowes to be grounded aswell vpon the authoritie of the newe Testament as of the olde wherfore they deserue punyshement whiche contrary to their profession haue forsaken their ordre That the bishop haue authoritie not only to teache but also to gouerne the common wealth therfore ought not to be abridged of their ryght and priuilege whiche they haue obteyned through the liberalitie of their elders Not to abstayne
hande The next day after they were gone the Emperour calleth before hym all the states and first he commauÌdeth 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 coÌtributaries 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 theÌ 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 SacrameÌt 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 coÌscience the cause weightie the coÌfutation 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 BrandeÌburge how they can haue no copie For that was for weightie causes denied of the Duke of Saxony and all disputatioÌ 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 heÌceforth 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 ReligioÌ 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 coÌpacte as made to the dammage of the Empyre and
of Rome woulde abolyshe all his kyngdome If they condempne our doctryne whye seeke we an vniformitie If they do allowe it why do they mainteyne their olde errours But they condemyne it openly Wherfore it is dissimulation and falshode whatsoeuer they go about they labour sore as it appereth about their ceremonies but let them fyrst restore the doctryne of fayth and workes Let them suffer the churche to haue Ministers that wyll doe their dutie They requyre that Monkes maye be set agayne in possession let them restore to vs agayne so manye innocent Godly men as they haue murthered let them restore so many soules destroied through their wicked doctrine let theÌ restore those great rychesse gotten by fraude disceiptfully let theÌ restore Gods glory with so many contumelies dishonored Whan they shall haue made satisfactioÌ for these thynges we shall than talke with them vnto whome the possession belongeth Where as Luther and certen others differed only in opinion touching the Lordes supper whiche the catholykes reioysed at and the rest muche lamented Bucer by the Duke of Saxons procurement went from Auspurge to Luther for an agrement and receyued suche aunswere as he mislyked not in so much as he went theÌce to Zwynglius and the Zwycers to the intent they might be ioyned nerer in mynde and opinion When the state of thynges stoode thus all was full of displeasure The Lantgraue maketh a league for syxe yeares with the cities of Zuricke Basill and Strausborough that if any be attempted with force for Religion they shoulde ayde one an other This was concluded in Nouembre The same tyme the Emperour addresseth his letters to the Duke of Saxon commaunding him to be with him at Collon the .xxi. of Decembre for certen weightie affayres of the common wealth Whiche after he had receiued the same the .xxviii. of Nouembre the same daye came a messenger with letters from the Archebishop of Mentz wherein was wrytten how the Emperour had required hym to cal to an assemblie to Princes Electours to create a kyng of Romaynes Wherfore he cited him to appeare at Collon the .xxix. of Decembre for this appertaineth to the byshops office as before hath bene declared Whiche thinge ones knowen the Duke of Saxon dispatchyng his letters to the Lantgraue and to all other Prynces and cities that were Protestantes prayeth and exhorteth them to mete at Smalcalde at the .xxii. of Decembre Neuerthelesse in the meane tyme he sendeth spedely to Collon Iohn Frederick his sonne and with hym certen of his priuie counsell to be there at the daye appoynted by the Emperour By whome he declareth how this citation of the archebishop of Mentz is not rightly nor orderly done how by this creation of the king of Romaines the right and libertie of the Empyre is infrynged and also the lawe of Charles the fourth broken wherfore he wyl not allowe nor ratifie their enterprise After that all were assembled at Smalcalde they deuise a league not offensiuely but defensiuely Unto this subscribed immediatly all the Princes and moreouer Albert and Gebart Erles of Manssteld Maidenborough and Bremen But Strausborough Ulmes CoÌstance Lindaue MeÌming CaÌpedowne Heilbrune Ruteling Biberack Isne do receiue it in such sorte as first to infourme their cities therof within syx wekes to make an directe answere what they wil do herein It was furthermore decreed to follicite by their Ambassadours the king of Denmarke the Dukes of Pomerane Megelbourg the cities of Embeck NortheÌme Franckfourth Brunswick Gotinge Minda Hannobria Hildesseme Lubecke Stetine other hauon townes When the byshop of Rome vnderstode what was that end of the assemblie at Auspurg he wrote his letters to the kyng of Pole others how he had trusted assuredly that the authoritie presence of the Emperour should either haue quenched or quieted Luthers heresie for vpoÌ this hope for this cause chiefly he came to mete the Emperour at Bononie to the intent he might encourage him forward who notwithstanding of his owne accorde was wel willing for if this thing had ben brought to passe religioÌ had bene staied many mens soules saued which through this heresie are nowe in dauÌger then might remedy haue ben fouÌd against the Turkish fury but where as he vnderstaÌdeth al well by theÌperours as also by the letters of his legate how they can not only be in no wise reformed but are waxed also more obdurate he which through that wyll of God gouerneth the shyp of Peter in a time so teÌpestuouse susteyneth the greatest part of the whole care for the same consultinge with his Cardinals caÌfinde no better remedy thaÌ the which his predecessours haue vsed that is a general couÌsel wherfore he doth admonish hym synce the matter is brought to this issue that either hym selfe presentlye or els by hys Deputes woulde further so holye a cause For he entendeth so shortly as may be to appoynte one in Italy in some place conuenient These letters were dated the first daye of December The xxiiii daye of Decembre the Prynces confederated at Smalcalde wryte vnto the Emperour howe they heare it commonly bruted that he pourposeth to create his brother Ferdinando kynge of Romaynes who maketh great sute for the same But what authoritie and ryght the Princes Electours haue herein by the lawe of Charles the fourth howe when the Emperour is dead an other is to be chosen in the name of the whole Empyre it is knowen to all men Notwithstandinge he being alyue and in helth and no suche chaunce happened howe the Archebyshop hath cited them to Collon against the prescripte of the lawe and agaynst the custome of the Empyre They heare moreouer howe the residue of the Electours wyll come thyther at his requeste to accomplyshe the sute of Ferdinando as it were by conuenaunt and promyse for this report is spread farre and neare Wherfore they haue thought good to admonishe hym of certen thynges And al be it they had leuer abstayne from suche kynde of talke yet for as muche as they loue both hym and theyr conntrey and especiallye the lybertie therof which they haue receyued of their auncesters agayne for because now in this later ende of the worlde many thinges are done captiously and crastely they can not otherwyse doe Fyrst therfore he knoweth ryght well how circumspectly howe depely with what wordes and bondes he bounde hym selfe to the Empyre how he gaue his fayth by an othe that he woulde obserue the lawe Carolyne whereupon the lybertie of the Empyre chiefly dependeth howe he promysed coÌfirmeth by an othe that he would neither him self do any thing against it nor suffer any other to do And certenly these conuenauntes may not be infrynged broken or chaunged without the consent and aduyse of all states But nowe in case during his lyfe and prosperitie a kyng of Romanes shuld be chosen and that his naturall brother makynge suite and labour for it
their league the Duke of Saxon answered by his Ambassadours that for as muche as they were of a contrary opinion touchyng the Lordes supper he myght haue no fellowshyp with them Howe muche they were to be estemed for their strengthe and power he was not ignoraunt but he myght haue no respect vnto that lest it shoulde come to an euyll ende as the Scripture witnesseth to haue chaunced vnto those whiche for their defence haue not cared what ayde they haue sought Durynge this assemblie letters were brought from the Duke and Lantgraue to the Ambassadours of the other Princes and cities pourportyng howe the Archebishop of Mentz and Lewys the Palsgraue had leaue of the Emperour to treate of a peace and had requested them by letters to graunte also to the same For then woulde they appoynte a tyme to mete After deliberation had the Ambassadours aunswere that they be contended Wherfore when the Duke the Lantgraue had made reporte agayne howe they misliked not the so that the processe in the lawe myght cease in meane tyme They hauing first obteyned this of the Emperour appointed the daye the last sauing one of the moneth of Auguste Wigande byshop of Bamberge had certen yeares before complayned to his fellowes of the Sweuicall league of George Marques of Brandenburge for certen wroÌges and iniuries whiche he had done vnto hym as hynderynge his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and lyuing and compellinge the priestes to thys false kynde of doctrine and if they refused erpulsynge them and imployinge the churche goodes to prophane vses And for as muche as this was contrary to equitie and iustice and against the decrees both of the bishop of Rome and the Emperour he requyreth that according to the league they would ayde and assiste hym herein Wherfore this yeare in the moneth of Iulye a daye was appoynted at Norlinge for the hearynge of this matter whether came at the request of the Marques the Ambassadours of the Protestantes And of the byshops side were the byshops of Auspurge Wircinburg and Aester as his coadiutours and counsellours When the plantife had propounded charged him with iniuries requiring the iudges to procede and gyue sentence after the prescripte of the league The defendaunt in thinges coÌcerning religion and iurisdiction ecclesiasticall put in an appellation wherein he appealed from their decrees and iudgement to a generall counsell The iudges sayde howe they would not admitte theyr sentence geuen This cause did not concerne the Marques George only but also his nephewe Albert whiche was his worde In the meane tyme the Emperour calleth a counsell imperiall at Spyres at the Ides of Septembre for the appeasyng of the controuersie in Religion But the eleuenth kalendes of Septembre came vnto the Duke of Saxon the Erles of Nassowe and Nuenar men of great authoritie nobilitie and vertue and by the Emperours priuitie moue a reconciliation and to treate with hym of fyue thynges the Lordes Supper the cerimonies of the churche the churche goodes the ayde nedeful against the Turke the Election of king FerdinaÌdo And where it appered by their wordes how the Emperour was perswaded that he allowed the doctrine of Zwinglius the opinion of the Anabaptistes he aunswereth that what kynde of doctrine his is and what his ministers doe preache and teache is ryght well knowen by his confessioÌ exhibited at Auspurg in the which he pourposeth through Gods grace to remayne duryng his lyfe and that he had neuer to do with Anabaptistes nor greatly with the Zwinglians And desired theÌ to pourge him herein to the Emperour They sayd how they knew it before this to be so neuerthelesse they woulde declare it so to the Emperour who no doubt would be glad and ioyfull to heare it For the reste of theyr demaundes they were agreed they should be differred vntyl the next assemblie of the Empyre whether they desyre hym eyther to come him selfe or to sende his sonne He sayeth howe he woulde be glad to gratifie the Emperour in all thynges but he is now aged and vnhable to trauayle and besydes that there be certen weyghtie causes for the whiche he can neyther come hym selfe nor sende his sonne vnlesse the Emperour wyll graunte a saufe conduicte for hym and his trayne Agayne where so euer he shall become he can not want the preaching of Gods worde nor haue prescribed hym a certen kinde of meate furthermore if the disputation shall be touchyng Religion it is requysite that he bryng with hym Luther and others whiche muste also haue saufecouduicte Fynally howe he hathe oftentymes made suite to the Emperour to be inuested in his owne Dukedome after the custome of the Empyre and for other thynges whiche he coulde neuer obtayn all be it he made many fayre promyses And nowe in this laste assemblie at Auspurge Fridericke Palsgraue aunswered him so in his name as it did easely appeare that the Emperour is sore offended with hym vpon whiche consyderations he can not come vnlesse he maye through their mediation obtayne the Emperours saufe conduicte in dewe season And than he wyll come without fayle About the later ende of Auguste the Ambassadours of the Archebyshop of Mentz and the Palsgraue mette with the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes at Smalcalde speakynge muche of the loue and zeale that theyr Princes bare to theyr countrey who seynge that they coulde not agree at Auspurge and consyderynge the great daunger that myght ensue of that dissention would neuer reste tyll the Emperour had graunted them leaue to treate of peace Wherfore they thought it good to call agayne in question suche thynges as coulde not be agreed vpon at Auspurge and to begynne where they lefte there The others saye agayne howe the Protestauntes knewe not what thynges should be propounded and therfore gaue them no certen commission to determyne any thyng but wylled them to sende home in wrytinge sealed that whiche shoulde be propounded and so they must do and none otherwyse And whan after much altercation in wordes they could not otherwyse coÌclude at the last it was agreed that they should mete at Spyres at a daye whiche the intercessours should assigne after that the pleasure of the Duke and the Lantgraue herein were knowen who ought in dede so shortly as myght be in the name of them selues and their fellowes to signifie their mynde therin This was decreed the seconde daye of Septembre And in the beginnyng of Octobre the Duke and the Lantgraue wrote to the Archbyshop to the Palsgraue repetinge the treaties of the Ambassadours before sayde they declare howe there coulde be no good done therein without diuines And howe they continewe iin the same Religion styll whiche they professed at Auspurge And where as in all assemblies both when the Emperour was absent and nowe also of late being present a counsell was promysed whiche shoulde forthwith be called and commenced they trusted that the Emperour would shortly procure one in Germany wherein
they and their fellowes will open their doctrine more at large In the meane tyme they beseche them to be meanes to the Emperour that there be no extremitie wrought within the Empyre but that suche as nowe do or hereafter shall professe the Gospell may lyue in quiet vntyll suche tyme as the decree authoritie of a lawfull counsell may determine the matter And if they shall thynke good to treate howe to conclude the peace and appointe a daye for it they wyll sende theyr Ambassadours thither And if in theyr doctrine exhibited at Auspurg any man shall thynke to fynde an errour and wyll shewe it or if he cannot proue it to stande to the testimony of Scripture that would they and all their fellowes be glad of And if it shall please the Emperour to assigne a daye for it at Spires graunting a saufe conduicte for them their fellowes and for Luther whome they intende to bryng with them amonges other ministers of their churche and wyll permitte them to haue free and open preachinges of Gods worde and the vse of the Lordes Supper according vnto Christes institution prescribyng no difference or choyce of meates than wyll they either come themselues or els sende theyr deputes with large commission and make declaration of their doctryne vnto all men And if at the same metyng theyr doctryne can not by the Scriptures be confuted than truste they that the Emperoure wyll no further moleste them but that they may styll perseuer in the same Religion And for as muche as they haue appealed to a lawfull general counsell and as yet nothyng is founde in theyr doctrine that is agaynst Gods worde where also by the order of the lawe and equitie duryng the appellation no extremitie ought to be shewed vnto the partie that appealleto their trust is that the Emperour wyll the rather at theyr requestes suffor Germany to haue peace and quietnes I shewed you before of an assemblye that should haue bene in Septembre at Spyres But the Emperour being aduertised by sondry letters and messengers of the Turkyshe preparation prorogeth the same to the moneth of Ianuary followynge appoyntynge the place at Regenspurge that he myghte be so muche the nearer Austriche where he perceyued the warre woulde be I shewed you before in the syrt booke howe the warre whiche they of Zurycke and Bernes would haue made vppon the fyue townes was pacifyed by the intercession of other Cities But this yeare the Sore brake out agayne and those two Cities steppynge all streightes and passages woulde permitte no victuall to be brought vnto them This was when the dayes were at the longest And where as great trouble was lyke to ensue therof the Frenche kyng and certen other cyties of the Suysses laboured to take vp the matter and drewe certen conditions of peace but all was in vaine Than did they of Zuricke and Bernes declare by wryting with what great wronges and iniuries they were coÌstreyned to stop their victualles And now for as muche as they refuse the coÌdicions of peace whiche the intercessours haue deuised and propounded they declare their malicious hartes against them and howe they haue brokeÌ the fourmer conuenauntes made betwene them wherfore it is lawefull for them to cut oâ theyr victualles And if any hurte come therof it ought to be ascribed vnto them whiche seeke nothyng elles but dissention this was the nynth daye of Septembre And what tyme these fyue townes were in great want and penury the nynth of Octobre they armed them selues secretly and marched forwarde And before any man was ware of them come vnto the borders of Zurick where as laye a garrison of a thousand men or more Which sent diuerse messengers into the citie to warne their men to come to them with spede but their ennemies approched so faste that they coulde hardely come to their reskewe For when they were come to the toppe of the Hylle whereby they must nedes passe they sawe theyr men in great dauÌger in the next valley Than exhorting incouraginge one an other they ranne downe the hyll who myght go foremoste but the nature of the hylle was suche as there coulde but one go downe at ones whiche was the cause that where as they coulde not marche in ordre of battell they were of a greater multitude vanquyshed and put to flyghte This was the eleuent daye of Octobre Amonges the nombre of them that were slayne was Zwynglius For it is the maner of Zuricke that when they go forth in warfaye the chief minister of theyr churche goeth with them Zwynglius also of hym selfe beynge a man of a stoute and bolde courage consyderyng that if he shoulde rary at home and they shoulde go by the worse what displeasare he should susteyne as one that in his Sermons woulde encourage others and hym selfe faynte whan any daunger was would nedes take such ââte as other did They shewed great crueltie vpon his dead corps and their hatred towardes him was so muche that theyr malice was not satisfied with his death He was fourty and foure yeares olde foure yeares yonger than Luther At the same moneth of August before was seen a blasyng Starre at the same tyme died Lewys the Frenche kynges mother syster vnto Charles Duke of Sauvy The citie of Bernes hearyng of this ouerthrowe comforted them of Zuricke promysing to sende them ayde to come with their whole power to auenge them of their ennemies Whan they were all commen together whiche was aboute the eight daye after the battell and they of Bernes whiche before desyred to take the matter in hande alone were than nothyng hasty the citie of Zuricke whiche had ayde sent them from the Schaffusians Mullusians and also from Sangall and Basill of the whole numbre chose out certen enseignes whiche settynge foorth in the nyghte laye in the Hylle besydes Mencinge pourposynge whan the Moue rose to take the towne of Tugie thereby vpon the sodayne But theyr ennemies whiche had encamped them selues not farre from thence knowynge of this by espeiall went thether spedely and set vpon them beynge a slepe the .xxiiij. daye of October And to put them in the greater feare they made a wonderfull clamourous outcrye Many were slayne on both partes And all be it the fyue Townes had the vpperhande yet woulde they of Zuricke nothyng relent in their Religion At the last through mediation a peace was concluded whereunto was added that they of Zuricke Bernes and Basill should forsake the league whiche they had latelye made with the cytie of Strausborough and the Lantgraue lykewyse shoulde the fyue townes breake of their league with kyng Ferdinando And hereof were obligations made and sealed in the later ende of Nouember Oecolampadius departed out of this presente lyfe as it was supposed for the inwarde sorowe and thought he conceaued for the death of Swynglius whome he loued intierly he wanted but one yeare of fifty there be of his workes
haue no suche councell as hathe bene promysed what sorowe and grief that thynge wyll be to mens hartes it is easy to coniecture Agayne if the byshop shall refuse the dewe examination triall of the matter it is to be feared lest the coÌmon welth and state of the churche shall be tourmoyled with sorer tempestes thaÌ it hath bene hitherto But where as the states of the Empyre haue in all theyr assemblies coÌdescended vpon an vpright counsel they distrust not but they will perseuer also in the same vtterly refusing the snares and bondes wherwith the bishop intendeth craftly to catche theÌ trusting that other kynges Princes wyl do the like For the bonde that he goeth about is full of craft deceitfulnes neyther can there be true iudgement vnlesse the myndes of all men be franke free so that if he procede thus hold the counsel after his owne pleasure they wyll coÌmitte the whole matter vnto God whiche doubtles will defende his owne cause doctrine Howe be it in case the matter should so come to passe that the byshop should be permitted so to do they wold take further aduisement what were thaÌ nedeful to be done And if perchaunce they shal be suÌmoneth se that they shal be able to do any thing for the glory of Gods holy name they wil come thither by saufe coÌduict whaÌ they are made wel assured or send their Ambassadours to propounde what soeuer the necessitie of the cause shall requyre neuerthelesse vnder that condition that they wyll in no wyse admytte those requestes of the byshop nor acconsente to any counsell that is contrarye to the decrees of the Empire For they can not see howe this interprise of the byshop can make for the contynuall peace of the churche and the common wealth Neyther is it also semelye for hym so to doe in case he would execute the office of a true Pastour whiche is to haue a care for all men and to feede them with the true doctrine of Christ Whiche thynges standing thus they desyre them to cary this theyr aunswere to the Emperour and the bishops and that the Emperour whom thei do reuerently acknowledge to be their chief souereigne appointed of God do not take the same in euyll parte but that he woulde fynde the meanes that the counsell myght be had according to the decrees of the Empyre and that the whole controuesie may be decided by vertuous men and nothyng suspected For certenly this appertayneth to his coÌmendation and vertue to employe al his power and aucthoritie to the aduauncement of true doctrine and not to the establyshynge of theyr crueltie whiche nowe these many yeares haue persecuted innocent persones only for the profession of the Gospell and holsome doctryne For the residue they committe all that euer they haue vnto the Emperour neyther is there any other thyng whiche they wyll not be glad to doe for his sake At the same tyme with kyng Ferdinando was the byshoppes Ambassadour Peter Paule Uerger whome I spoke of in the former booke And because the byshop of Rhezo was an aged man and sickly Clement commaunded Uerger that in case any impedimeÌt happened vnto him he should supplie his rowme but he geueth hym an especiall charge that he beare alwayes in memory what his mynd and wyll is touchyng the counsell Let hym loke therfore that in no wyse he doe passe the boundes of his commission no not one fynger breadth nor that he dryue not hym to suche an exigent that he must of necessitie kepe a counsel though king FerdinaÌdo would neuer so fayne haue it so and vrged hym streightly therunto â The nynth 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 nynth Booke GEorge Duke of Saxon marketh suche as fauoured the Gospel and accuseth Luther to the Electour of Saxony his cosyn Pope Element meting the Frenche kyng at Marseilles geueth his Niece in marriage to Henry Duke of Orleaunce The Dake of Wirtenberge dryuen out of his countrey Henry the eight kyng of Englande putteth away Quene Katherine his wyfe and forsaketh the Pope The Pageaunt of the spirite of the graye freers of Orleaunce is recited The Lantgraue recouereth the Duke dome of Wittemberge The agrement betwene kyng Ferdinando and the Duke of Saxon and the articles of peace betwixt Ferdinando and ãâ¦ã ich Duke of Wirtemberge are rehersed Clement dieth Paule of the house of Fernese succedeth persecutioÌ at Paris by reason of certen placardes the kyng pourgeth him selfe to the Germaynes therfore The Emperour taketh the citie of Tunnes Moore and the byshop of Rochester are beheaded Pope Paule by his legate Uergerius sommoneth the counsell of Mantua wherfore the Protestauntes metyng at Smalcalde sende their aduyse in wrytinge The Lorde Langey being sent thether by the kyng of Fraunce solliciteth them to a league and debated diuers matters wher vnto the Protestauntes made aunswere The kyng of Englande also sent thether to declare what woulde be the ende to attende for suche a counsell The league of Smalcalde is renewed into whiche are newly admitted sondry Prynces and Cities WHan they had made this aunswer they appoynted diuines and lawyers to delyberate vpon the action for the counsell to come and determined to set forth the byshops aunswere in prynte and communicate the same to forein kynges and nations Also to sende Ambassadours to the Iudges of the chamber who contrary to the Emperours proclamatioÌ graunted out proces against certen in causes of Religion whose iudgement vnles they surceased they would refuse Moreouer to sende an Ambassade to the Archebyshop of Mentz and to the Palsgraue which were intercessours And last of all to reporte vnto the Emperour the whole matter in wryting I haue tolde you oftener than ones howe Duke George of Saxony bare malice to Luther priuely and hated his doctrine openly And where as he vnderstode that diuers of his subiectes did holde opinion that they ought to receyue the Lordes supper after the commaundemeÌt of Christe he charged the Ministers of his churches to geue vnto all suche as after the olde custome at Easter confessed their synnes and receiue the Sacrament after the byshop of Romes lawe certen tokens whiche they should afterwardes deliuer vnto the Senate to the intent it myght be knoweÌ who were of the Romyshe and who were of Luthers opinion So were there founde in Lipsia whiche is the head Towne of that countrey to the numbre of lxx without tokens They had consulted with Luther before what was nedefull to be done Who wrote vnto them that suche as beleued certenly howe they ought to receiue the whole supper should doe nothing against their owne conscience but rather suffer death Wherfore being thus encouraged they sticke vnto it and whan the Prince called them before hym geuing them two monethes respite to deliberate and they woulde
Ambassades For he proueth that the same doth tende to theyr owne hynderaunce and bondage sayinge that there is no people so stronge that can long prosper and floryshe vnlesse they be mainteined by the league and amitie of theyr neyghbours But the frendshyp of the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Germanye hath bene of suche auncientie and both nations procedinge of one originall and lye so borderynge together that they maye be not onlye an ayde and strengthe but also an honour and beautie the one vnto the other Therfore whan the kynge hearde saye howe the Germaynes dyd hardely agree amonge them selues he was ryght sorye and as muche as in hym lyeth wysheth a reconcilement fearyng lest this dissention in Religion should come to some sorowfull ende Wherfore vnderstandinge that for theyr owne preseruation they were nowe here assembled the kynge had sent hym to declare vnto them his aduise to be thus That for as muche as a free and general counsel could not as yet be obtained the Germains within theÌ selues shold assemble altogether come to some vnitie concord for the furtherauÌce of the which cause in case they be so contented he will chose out certen well learned men and experte diuines in Fraunce and sende them into Germany to be at the same reconcilement or els if they woulde sende some of theirs in to Fraunce for the lyke purpose they should do him a maruelous great pleasure In the meane tyme he doth exhorte them to be at peace amonges them selues knitte their mindes with mutual consent brotherly loue and the king wyl neuer ayde their ennemies neyther with his helpe nor counsell in case they continue their good wyll towardes hym as they haue done alwayes hitherto In the beginnyng of this booke I shewed you howe the iudges of the imperiall chamber contrary to the Emperours decree made out proces against the Protestauntes For the iudges in dede wer of the Romish religioÌ and what tyme the Emperour was retourned from the warre of Austriche into Italy they at the suite of the clergie whiche had complayned on the Protestauntes attempted the lawe against them And albeit the Emperours proclamation were to the contrary yet did they proceede against them The protestauntes wrote herein to the Emperour And the Duke of Saxon him selfe traueled to kynge Ferdinando who coÌmaunded the lawe to cease and ratifieth the peace made by the Emperour but that would not staye them Than did the Protestauntes vtterly refuse their iudgement as suspected and their enemies declaryng the causes wherfore But that would not be admitted for they were encouraged by the Emperours letters whereby he gaue them authoritie to iudge whiche were matters of Religion and which not so that after that they proceaded not onlye in doubtfull causes but in suche also as concerned religion and nothyng els After this the Duke of Saxon obtayneth a newe commaundement from the kyng Ferdinando but all was in vayne Finally after muche adoe Ferdinando consented that he would fynde the meanes to staye all matters in the lawe whiche the Duke and his fellowes had touchyng Religion coÌprysed in the peace of Norinberge Unto suche thynges as the French Ambassadour had spoken this answere was made Albeit that of the execution done reportes went diuersly yet for that he sayeth how thei went about sedicion they can not be muche offended with the kynges doynges herein whiche in deede woulde suffer no suche thynge them selues in their owne countrey Neuerthelesse they woulde wyshe the kynge should haue a respecte vnto suche as do professe the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they protested in the assemblye at Auspurge and not to punyshe them with the rest for it can not be denied but many false and wicked opinions are crept into the churche which vnlearned and malicious persones do defende with great crueltie to maynteyne their lucre and Authoritie and they through a maruelous polycie do forge oftentimes great crymes vpon the good and innoceÌt persones to exasperate the kynges mynde agaynst them But seyng that it is the propre office of kynges and Princes to seeke Gods glorye to pourge the churche of crrours and to inhibite vniuste crueltie they desyre instantly that the same moste mightie kyng would wholy applye him selfe hereunto for if he so doe than wyll they suppose that he beareth a frendly and louyng mynde towardes them which they wyshe to be lucky and fortunate to his highnes to the churche Touchinge the auncient alliaunce and frendshyp betwixt the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Almaygne all his talke was to them ryght pleasaunt and they wyll to their powers endeuour that the same mutuall loue and amitie may long continue And as concernyng the reconcilement of opinions in religion they desyre nothyng els but that the matter may be heard indifferently and determined by a lawfull counsell And for as muche as it is not the office of the byshop of Rome only to appointe the counsell but that the same thynge also concerneth other kynges and Princes they desyre the kynge to forsee that there be no violent counsell called in a place suspect perillous to the intent that vnder the name of a counsel the true doctrine be not extinguished but that in so weyghty matters as concerne the preseruation and peace of the vniuersall churche and euery particular persone free disputations and vpright iudgement be had accordingly Whiche thinge should get the kyng immortal fame and thankes not only in this present age but also in tyme to come so longe as the worlde should endure As for the conferens to be had betwene the learned meÌ of Fraunce and Germany it requireth a long deliberation and diuerse coÌmissions extende not to suche matters But so sone as any thyng may be determined herein they wyll aduertyse the kyng by their letters For they desyre nothyng more than that holsome doctrine myght be set forth and auaunced last of all where he sayde howe the kynge would geue none ayde against them they were very glad to heare thereof wherfore in all thynges that concerne not the Emperour and the Empyre they also wyll assist no man against hym The Ambassadour had also priuate talke with Pontane with Melancthon with the Lantgraues learned men and with Iames Sturmins of sondry doctrines and declared what was the kynges opinion in euery article and the myndes also of other learned men in Fraunce especially of Paris Of the byshop of Romes supremacie of the Lordes supper of masse of the inuocation of sainctes of Images of free wyl of purgatory of iustification of monastical vowes of marriage of priestes And that in moste of these thynges the kyng agreeth with the booke that Melancthon hath wrytten of common places touchyng the byshop of Rome the kynge is wholy of Philippus opinon that he is not chief supreme by Gods lawe but by mans lawe as he affirmeth but the kyng of England denieth both And certenly the
warre against them as other wycked Prynces doe for they are holy men and good people The Lantgraue readinge ouer their booke and their letters noted what he thought blame worthy and coÌmaunded his learned meÌ to aunswer it And for as muche as they had in fewe wordes and those abscure written that their king was not so muche of theirs as of Gods appointment he demaundeth of theÌ wherfore they did not expresse those places of Scripture wherby they thought it lawefull thus to doe And why they dyd not confirme the thynge before with signes and wonders For of the coÌminge of Christe God had declared longe before by all the Prophetes so euidently that it was well knowen not only of what house or familie but also whan and where he should be borne They had also requested that the matter might be heard wherunto the Lantgraue answered that the same might not now take place For so much as they had takeÌ vpon them the aucthoritie of the sworde and had bene the workers of so muche mischiefe For all men see what marke they shoute at certeÌly to subuerte all lawes and common wealth And lyke as their intente is wicked and detestable so is nowe their requeste to haue their cause heard fayned and dissembled He doubtles sent vnto theÌ faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe conteÌpning their doctrine do resist the magistrate take other mens goodes mary sondrye wyues haue chosen them a newe kynge Where also they denye that Christe toke the humane nature of the virgyn Mary where they affirme that man hath free wyll where they compell men to make their goodes coÌmon where they saye there is no remission for a sinner that falleth all these thynges are against the lawes both of God and man Whan this answer was brought vnto theÌ they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare toÌgue of the misteries of Scripture And againe in an Epistle they amplefie their cause and defende their opinions And in this booke they deuide the course and tyme of the whole worlde into thre partes the fyrst age from Adam to Noe they saye was destroyed with the Deluge of water the secoÌd wherein we are nowe at this daye shal be consumed with fyre but the thyrde shall be cleane a newe worlde wherein iustice shall reigne neuerthelesse before this last tyme shall appeare this present age must be pourged by fyre but that shall not be tofore that Antichriste shall be reuealed and his power vtterly abolyshed ThaÌ shall it come to passe that the scate of Dauid whiche is decayed shal be newly erected and Christe shall possesse his kyngdome here in earth and the wrytinges of the Prophetes shall be accomplyshed And that this present worlde now is lyke the tyme of Esaw For iustice kepeth silence and the Godly are persecuted But as after the captiuitie of Babylon so nowe also the tyme of restauration is at hande to delyuer vs from all these myseries and to rendre vnto the wycked aboundantly after their demerites as in the Apocalipse is declared And that in this same Restauration goeth before the worlde to come to the intent that all the vngodlye beynge destroyed the house and seate of iustice myght be prepared and beautified Whan the Lantgraue had red this booke he set in hande the Ministers of his churche to wryte against it The residue of the states imperial assembled at Essinge do mislyke the doinges of them that were at coÌffuence affirming that they had no authoritie to impose or charge them with any burthen vnlesse it had bene by the consent of the Emperour and all states In the moneth of February Corne within the citie waxed very scarse in so muche that some also died for honger and wante of meate It fortuned that one of the Quenes pitieng the people had sayde to the rest howe she supposed that God woulde not that men should peryshe thus with famine The kyng whiche had his stoore houses furnyshed at home not only for necessitie but also for riot and voluptuousnes after he knewe it brought her forthe in to the Market place and all the reste with her and commaundynge her to knele downe stroke of her heade and whan she was dead vttered her to haue played the whore This done the residewe syng and gyue thankes to God the heaueÌlye father After that the kynge daunceth wyth them and exhorteth the rest of the multitude whiche had nothynge lefte them but breade and salte to dauncynge and mery pastymes Whan Easter came and no deliueraunce appered at all the kyng whiche had promysed so stoutely to inucnte some excuse fayned him selfe sicke for the space of syxe dayes After he commeth abroade amonges the people and telleth theÌ howe he hath ryden on a blynde Asse and that God the father hathe layde vpon his backe the synnes of the people Wherfore they are now made cleane and delyuered from euery spotte And this to be the deliueraunce whiche he promysed wherwith they ought to holde them coÌtented Luther amonges other thynges whiche he set forth in the vulgar tongue about this tyme wrote also of this tragedye of Munster Alas sayeth he howe should I complayne or lamente those wretched men for the thynge it selfe declareth that there dwell deuylles thycke and threfolde but yet ought we to praye the infinite mercy of God herein and haue good cause so to doe For albeit that for the contempt of the Gospell the reproche of Goddes holy name and the shedyng of innocent bloud Germany hath iustly deserued to be plaged yet hathe God hetherto restrayned the force and violence of Sathan and hath not permitted him to haue the reignes at libertie but mercifully admonysheth vs and by this tragedye of Munster nothinge at all artificious calleth vs to the amendement of lyfe For vnlesse God had brydeled hym and holden hym backe I doubte not but that moste subtille fynde and wylie artificer would haue handled the matter farre other wyse But nowe that God hathe made a restraynte he rageth and tourmoyleth not so muche as he woulde but so much as he is permitted For the wycked spirite that seketh the subuersion of the Christian fayth goeth not this way to worke to perswade the marriage of many wyues For seyng both the vnlawfulnes and the fylthye beastlynes of the thynge is apparent in the syght of all men he perceiueth well enough that men woulde abhorre it In dede the politicke and ciuile gouernemeÌt may through this meane be disturbed but the kingdom of Christ must be attempted with other weapons and Ingines He that would circumuente and deceaue men maye not affectate rule and gouernment and playe the tyraunt For all men disalowe this and see playnely what his intente is But he must attayne thereunto by secrete meanes as it were by certen bypathes To goe in olde and euyll fauoured apparell to
heare saith he how the FreÌche kyng hath requyred your ayde but not obteined which was to me great pleasure and I haue aduertised the Emperour hereof And certenly reason would it should so be For the Emperour gaue none occasion of this warre but was fully resolued this sommer to haue warred vpon the Barbarians and the ennemies of our Religion Notwithstanding the Frenche kynge immediatly after the death of Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan albeit he hath no right nor title therunto a composition made touchyng the whole matter certen yeares paste contrary to the conuenauntes sought to renewe warre and to recouer Lumbardy And at the same tyme passing the Alpes with a great armie inuaded the Duke of Sauoye a Prynce of the Empyre to the intent that hauing ones subdued his countrey he might haue the way open to passe further And nowe that the Emperour hath leuied an armie to resiste hym as he was in dede constreined I am informed that he craueth nowe ayde agayne of you Neuerthelesse for as muche as he breakyng his fidelitie hath commenced warres a freshe I desyre you that you doe not assiste hym Whereby you shall do the Emperour and me pleasure and preserue the quiet of your owne commoÌ wealth In this meane while the Protestantes had sent an Ambassade to the Emperour in Italy to make their purgation in that he had charged them by letters to haue taken the churche goodes and further more to complayne of the iudges of the Emperiall chamber But before the Ambassadours were arriued the Emperoure the seuenthe of Iulye had sent letters to the Protestauntes from the Towne of Sauilie signifieng how he hath at al tymes both present and absent by his letters and Ambassadours sought the quiet of Germany and hath both promysed them peace in theyr Relygion and also perfourmed the same And nowe for as muche as the Frenche kynge against whome he is enforced to rayse an armie maye perauenture by false suggestion perswade with them that he would now take occasion to breake that treuce of Religion therfore hath he thought good to admonyshe them by his letters to beleue no suche thinge but assure them selues that he woulde obserue his promyse neyther would he moue warre vpon any man for religion nor styre vp any trouble in Germany for all this preparation of warre is to mainteyne his ryght and authoritie Wherfor let them quiet them selues and styre not what so euer they shal heare For this shall be both to hym acceptable and to them also profitable Whan the Emperours power was come altogether he marched through the myddest of Italye with a stronge armie tyll he came in to prouynce of Fraunce The kynge had incamped hym selfe at Auignion betwyxte the Ryuers of Rhosne and Druence and destroyinge the countrey Whereinto he perceiued the Emperour woulde come and kepyng hym selfe from geuynge the battell he brought his ennemies into great perplexitie and myserie For the Emperour enforced through the penurie and scarscitie of all thynges and the losse of manye thousandes whiche died for famine and pestilence and also for the death of Anthony Leuie dischargeth the reste of his Armye and retourneth to Genes An other Armie of his that warred this sommer in Uermandoys beseged the towne of Peronne by the coÌduicte of Henry Erle of Nassowe but preuayling not leuied the siege about the same time that the Emperour retyred in the prouince and the reporte of eyther newes brought vnto Paris the same daye reioysed the citie exceadynglye For they were in verye great feare and the Preachers in their Sermons to the people inuehed sore against the Emperour And the kynges Lieutenauntes began to intrenche the cytie and kepte the gates with watche and warde William Furstemberge a Germane serued the Frenche kynge in this warre About the begynning of this warre ended his lyfe the Frenche kynges eldest sonne Fraunces the Daulphin eyghtene yeares of age the reporte went that he was poysoned and one Sebastian de moute Cuculo an Italian beyng had in suspicion was fyrste racked and after torne in pieces with sondrye horses at Lions And the kynge afterwardes in his letters to the Prynces of Germanye amonges other made a greuous complainte hereof against Anthony Leuie and Ferdinando Gonzage the Emperours Lieutenauntes in whome he layd all the blame Herman Archebyshop of Collon of long tyme intending a reformation of his churche holdeth at this tyme a counsell of his owne prouince callynge to it as the maner is the Byshoppes within his iurisdiction of Liege Utreicht Munster Osenbridge and Myndes Herein were decrees made of ceremonies and doctrine and after set forth in a booke compyled by Iohn Gropper wherein were al Popyshe Ceremonies for the moste parte paynted out with new colours whiche booke dyd not contente the Byshop than as hereafter shal be declared About this tyme also in the moneth of Iuly Erasmus of Roterdam departed out of this lyfe an olde man of thre score and ten yeares and was buried at Basill Howe excellently learned and howe eloquent a man he was and howe muche al learnyng is bounde to hym his own workes shall testifie By occasion of puttyng downe papistrie in Englande and suppressing of certen Abbeyes vnder thre hundreth markes of yearely valewe there arose a commotion in Lynkcolneshyre in a market towne they call Lowthe styred vp by Doctour Mackerell a false Monke who named him selfe captayne Cobblar and after that it was appeased by the Duke of Southfolke the kynges Lyeutenaunt an other began in Yorke shyre a grear deale worse For those Rebelles were manye and stronge and came as farre as Dankcaster where the Duke of Northfolke met them with the kinges power and when they should haue ioyned together in battell by the mediation of the Erle of Shrewisbury which was a man welbeloued of the commons the matter was taken vp without bloudshed Their chief Captaine was Robert Aske who was after executed for his treason with certen others of the Nobilitie his adherentes Unto the letters which the Emperour wrote in Iuly the ProtestauÌtes answer the nynth day of Septembre and where it pleased hym to wryte so gentle and so lyberally they shewe hym howe they conceaue great pleasure in theyr mindes for albeit they did neuer distruste his promise yet for as much as diuerse reportes of his displeasure came to their eares and agayne for that the iudges of the imperiall chamber and others makyng none accompte of the peace concluded did procede diuerse wayes agaynste them they had some cause to doubte and feare the matter But nowe that he hath wrytten againe so louingly and playnly they are out of all doubtes that he wyll perfourme the same and refuse the sclaunderous reportes of their aduersaries lykewyse wyll they doe and geue no credite vnto suche as shall otherwyse reporte of him and in al other thinges also doe according to their dutie than came they to the counsell which the
the crime And for asmuche as the Bishop signifieth plainly that this counsell is instituted to confirme his Authoritie we besech al men that they wold not impute this refusal to vs as a fault blame worthy Finally the very place of the counsell we can not like for diuerse causes For it is fitte to offer iniurie and altogether such as should let the libertie of speche And besydes there is muche hatred conceaued againste vs in foreine nations through the sclaunders of our aduersaries as though Religion and honest liuing were exiled from among vs which perswasion when mennes mindes be thus prepared is not without great perill Wherfore it were very expedient for this cause onely that the counsell should be holden in Germany to the entent that straungers might see the order and maner of oure Churches and Cities And not throughe false sclauÌders to hate the trew doctrine The weightines of the cause also requireth that many of vs should come to the couÌsell oure selues but to forsake our own limites is no maner way for vs expedient And seyng that for most weightie causes it was decreed that the counsel should be holden in Germany we se not wherfore we should depart froÌ the same Considering therfore that this case coÌcerneth the preseruation of al Christendome we beseche al kinges princes to geue no credit vnto oure aduersaries but herunto rather to applie theÌ selues that the trew knowledge of God might be restored For they caÌdo nothing that shal more redound to theyr honor The Bishop laboreth to this ende that he mighte perswade theÌ to practise crueltie the which thei ought moste chiefly to abhorre For eueÌ for this cause are they placed in this degre of dignitie that they shold honor Gods holy name be a light vnto the rest through their good ensample to defende innoceÌt persons froÌ wroÌg violeÌce And if there shal euer at any time be any lawfull counsell thaÌ shal we so defende our matter there that all men shall vnderstande how that our endeuours haue bene euer annexed with the preseruation of the common wealth In this assemblie were these The Duke of Saxon Ernestus FrauÌces bretherne Dukes of Luneburge Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the Lantzgraue Philip prince of Pomerane the three Erles of Anhalde Albert Counte Mansfelde besides many Ambassadors of the cities with most large ample coÌmission For they were admonished what thinges should there be treated Before they departed thence which was the vj. day of March they addresse their letters to the French king wherin first they excused the matter that they had not satisfied his Ambassadoure in the former assemblie and shewe the cause also whie they sende no Ambassadours as nowe vnto him ThaÌ they desyre him to continew his frendshippe and seynge they haue set open to him all waies to come to a concorde in religion and yet haue nothing preuailed that he would recompence this theirendeuor with his fauor and beneuolence Fynally they declare what their mynde is touchyng the Counsell and desyre to knowe what he hathe also determined to do herein The kinge afterwardes maketh Aunswere at the tenth kalendes of Iune he accepteth theyr satisfaction and promiseth largely concernynge hys continuall amitie towardes them confutyng the sclaunders of his aduersaries in a wrytynge the whiche he sent with all and saieth that this is his opinion of the counsell and euer hath bene that vnlesse it be lawefull and in a sure place he wyll neuer allowe the same neyther doubteth he but the kynge of Scotlande his some inlawe will also folowe his mynde herin He a lytle before at the beginning of Maye was retorned home with his wyfe which after aboute Midsomer ended her life there In the meane time the Bishoppe of Rome deferreth the Counsell till the kalendes of Nouember and the cause thereof he saieth is for that Friderick the Duke of Mantua mindeth to fortifie his citie with garnisons of souldiours and to employe cost therupon which thinge hath happened contrary to his expectation and saith he is sore affraid lest many folowyng his decree are already commen to Mantua and happely beyng excluded are dryuen to retourne home againe for the which chaunce he is in dede very sory but yet taketh the matter lesse greifefully forasmuche as the thinge hath fortuned throughe another mans faulte and not his And not longe after the king of Englande in his owne name and the nobles of his Realme publisheth a writing That there is a Counsell called by the Bishoppe of Rome which he hath none authoritie to do and called at suche a time whan mortall warre is betwene themperour and the Frenche kynge and the place appointed at Mantua whither it is neyther saufe nor commodious for all men to come He in dede desyreth a Christian Counsell wyth all his harte but vnto the Byshoppes Counsell he wyll nether come him selfe nor yet sende hys Ambassadours For this is alwayes theyr facion that for theyr own lâcre sake they wyll in suche maner of assemblies oppresse Christ and his veritie And for his parte he will haue nothynge to do with the Bishoppe of Rome nor regardeth no more his Decree than the wrytynge of anye other Byshoppe Addynge that Counselles were wont to be called by the authoritie of the Emperour and kynges which maner ought to be restored especially at this tyme whan the Byshoppe hath so many graue personages to accuse him Yet neuerthelesse can he neither be reprehended without the daunger of a mans life nor accused presently but in a lawfull Counsel nether is there any prouision made for him or his by saufconduicte and thoughe there were yet manifest daungers shoulde let hym that he coulde not come for it is no newes to the Bishoppes to falsefie theyr faith and to sprincle and desile them selues with innocent bloude And albeit it should be lawfull for others to repaire thither yet were it no saftie for him whome the Bishop hath laide waite for whoÌ he hateth deadly whom he seketh to bring in hatred with other kinges for none other cause assuredly than for that his Tyrranny is exiled out of his realme and his yerely reuenewes taken away which thinge in very dede he taketh in most euill part and so much the worse for that he feareth lest other kinges warned throughe his example will hereafter do the like And nowe also is the counsell proroged vntyll the kalendes of NoueÌbre And yet not the place appointed where it should be holdeÌ and the faulte is imputed to the Duke of Mantua Is not this to delude the whole worlde The Duke of Mantua is surely blameles which wyll not receiue so great a multitude into his citie being vnfurnyshed of a garrison but all the blame is to be ascribed to him alone who doeth nothing syncerely but worketh al thinges by craft and collusion And now in case he shall assigne an other place for the purpose he wyll eyther appointe it in some citie of his
commauÌded 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 administratioÌ for the ciuile commen weale he gouerneth with muche commeÌdatioÌ 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 fouÌdation 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 maÌ 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 permutatioÌs 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
the king of Romains but stode to the conuenauÌtes of Cadame Uienne that same Archebyshop of Londe was a Germayne borne and counsellour to Christierne kyng of Denmarke who beyng expulsed was also exiled and lost his byshopryke than came he agayne into Germany attended vpon the Emperour and afterwardes was made byshop of Constaunce Whylest this treaty was at Frankefurte certen bandes of Souldiours were assembled in Saxony and were commaunded by their gouernours to go lye in the countreis of the citie of Breme of the Duke of Lunenburge and others of the same Religion and there to remayne tyll the campe remoued It was kept very secrete at the first by whose conduicte or aucthoritie they were leuied but at length it was certenly knowen that they were mustred by Henry Duke of Brunswycke and his brother Christopher Archebyshop of Bremen They that were i ãâ¦ã ried by them complayned in dede to the imperial chaÌber but it was in vayne The ProtestauÌtes afterwardes through their industrie lest they should do any more harme procured the same men to serue them whome notwithstanding they vsed to the iniurie of no man At the request of the Princes that wer intercessours Stephen Faber was set at libertie by the Lantgraue who gaue him passeporte He had sayde of his owne accorde that he woulde not retourne to his Prince for that he trusted hym no more But whan he was released he went streight way to him In this assemblie William Duke of Cleue by his Ambassadour did exhibite a wrytinge to the Protestauntes wherin he declared by what ryght tytle he possessed Gelderlande And prayed them that they would be meanes for him to the Emperour and to commende his cause also to the Emperours Ambassadours there The Frenche kyng had aduertised Ulrich Duke of Wirtenberge by his Ambassadour that he heard saye howe he through the motion of his confederatours was determined to make warre vppon certen Byshoppes in Germany But this pourpose did not he alowe and for his good wyll he beareth hym doth admonyshe hym that he do it not For if he did he should offende the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando vnto whome he was lately reconciled and bryng him selfe and al that euer he had into great Daunger The Duke geuyng him thankes for the good admonishement sayth he is sclaundered and howe he supposeth the same to be reysed vp by the Dukes of Bauier who hathe fasly sowen a lyke bruite of hym in Germany he desyreth hym to geue no credit to it For it is neither his entent nor yet his fellowes to styre vp any trouble or to atteÌpte any thyng by force of armes vnlesse they be constrayned And doubteth not also but when they shal heare therof they wyl pourge them selues herein Wherfore whan he had declared this to his fellowes at Franckefurte the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue the .xix. daye of Aprill addresse their letters to the kynge And saye howe they vnderstande by Duke Ulriche what reporte of them was made vnto hym but to be a sclaunder forged by their ennemies and euill wyllers For they entende to make no warre and how muche they desyre peace that can the Princes tell that were intercessours For albeit they are more wayes than one prouoked albeit theyr fellowes citie is outlawed and a league made of dyuerse for the defence of vniusle decrees though bandes of Souldiours by them hired for great and vnaccustomed wages are nowe spoyling the countreys of their league frendes yet are they quiet and styre not one whytte for they loue their natiue countrey and remitte all iniuries for the coÌmon wealthes sake But their aduersaries are lead with a certen impudent hatred and followe no temperate wayes nor wyll admitte no lawefull reasonyng but seke only that Germany maye swymme with ciuile bloud And seyng it is thus they desyre hym not to credit these false reportes but to geue his ayde that the churche maye be quieted by godly meanes For this is properly the dutie of kynges to maynteine truthe and innocencie And where as they defende the cause of Religion it is done of none euyll pourpose but of a certen Godly dutie for they doubte not but that the doctrine whiche they doe professe is agreable vnto Gods worde whiche they maye in no wyse forsake About the ende of this assemblie the .xxiiij. daye of Apryll died George Duke of Saxony without chyldren For his two sonnes were departed before without issewe whereof the one had maried Elizabeth the Lantgraues syster and the other one of the house of Mandesfielde Wherfore Duke George by legacie maketh his heyres his brother Henry and his sonnes Maurice and Auguste vnder this condition that they alter not the state of Religion Whiche vnlesse they shall perfourme he geueth his whole landes to the Emperour and to kyng Ferdinando vntyll suche tyme as eyther he or his sonnes or the nexte kynsman of that familie doe accomplyshe this condition This wyl of his so made he sheweth first to the Nobilitie and coÌmons of his countrie beinge nowe olde sickly and wylleth them to confirme the same by an othe neuer to alter this his last wyll But they fearyng leste it should be the occasion of warre betwene the kinsmeÌ intreate him that he would be content to sende to his brother Henry For they truste that he wyll consente to alter nothing in Religion Whereupon Ambassadours were sent to perswade with him and whan they had alledged sondry reasons and especially sayd how there was muche ready Money and a great quantitie of Plate and goodly stuffe whiche should come wholy to his handes in case he would obeye his brothers wyll He aunswered them by and by thus Certenly your message semeth vnto me to resemble the same that is writteÌ in the Gospel what tyme Sathan promysed Christe the kyngdomes of the whole worlde so that he would falle downe and worshyp hym Doe youthynke that I sette so muche by any ryches that I would therfore forsake the truthe and pure religion Assuredly you are farre abused if you so thinke Wherfore whan they had this answere and were departed without their purpose before they came at home Duke George had lefte hys lyfe His brother Henry going immediatly to Dresda and other townes bindeth the people to hym by an othe which was the more easely done by reason he was in league with the Protestauntes Moreouer the Prince Electour of Saxony hearyng of his death hasteth home with all expedition that if nede were he myght ayde Henry The Princes of the Popysh parte for the losse of so sure a pyllour and so lucky successe of the Protestauntes were sore agreued especially the Archebyshop of Mentz and the Duke of Brunswycke as hereafter you shal heare Thus had Duke George a successour and heire cleane contrary to his wylle And he whome he hated moste of all men duryng his lyfe tyme namely Luther was sent for by the new Prince to Lipsia to preache and to alter the
as well ciuile as ecclesiasticall maye or ought to be reformed he for hys parte will leaue nothyng vndone herein doubtyng not but the bishops legate is also inclyned to the same The Senate of Princes consisteth for the moste parte of Bisshops Therefore the nomber of them preuayled whyche bothe reiected the booke exibited by themperoure and also the whole treaty of the collocutours and the reason therof was coÌprised in writing somewhat extremely but what tyme the Electours and certain other prynces that loued the common wealth would not assent therto another wryting was framed and delyuered to themperoure the second day of Iuly wherin they doo admonyshe hym that as the advocate and defendour of the churche he doe communicate the whole matter with the Bysshops Legate accordyng to the decree of Hagenaw especially those articles which the collocutours haue agreed vpon and that they bee wayghed dilligentlye whether there bee anye thynge in them that eyther in sence or in woordes is agaynst the doctryne of the godly exposytours or also the custom of the church moreouer incase any thyng be darkely spoken that it may be declared and that after that done he hymself do make reporte to the states of their opinion and what his mynde is touching the same and that he wold be in hande with the Protestantes that they woulde be contented to be instructed in the resydewe of the articles that be in controuersie or yf that can not be obtayned that than the matter be referred either to a generall counsell or els to a prouinciall Sinode of Germanye Amonges the states wer sertayne that hyndred the reformation of Relygion and it is thought that by their motion the whole treaty was referred to the Bisshops legate Themperoure aunswered to the same the .vii. day of Iuly How he had supposed that the collocutours wold haue vttered theyr myndes more playnly especially consyderyng that they had the booke so long by them but for asmoche as they stick herein he wyll follow theyr counsell and will know the legates mynd in euery poynte to th entent he will omit nothynge that conserneth hys dewtie The Protestantes also declare vnto themperour by wryting what theyr mynde is and open more at full the doctryne reconsyled and shew that it is not harde to accord the reste in lyke case and saie that they kepe theÌ selues to their confession at Auspurge Than touching the third request of the Emperour coÌcerning the ciuil gouernment of the coÌmen wealth they say howe the lawes that were made .xi. yere since at Auspurge must be put in vre execution and shew how thecclesiastical function may be restored if the gospel be taught sincerely if according to the auncieÌt lawes the ministers of churches may be chosen by the coÌsent of the people if the bishops doe retaine styll in their own haÌdes the ciuile ministration for asmuch as of an old custome they them selues neither wil nor can do it they appoint others to execute their spiritual office finde them of their reuenewes if the ministers of the churche may be frely permitted to mary If that foule bying sellyng whiche is of sondry sortes of Simon Magus is called Simony may be vtterly taken away if the goodes may be so distributed as the law made long since prescribe if chyldreÌ be brought vp invertue in their yougth learne the first principles of the christiaÌ doctrine if notable offeÌdours be expulsed out of the coÌmunioÌ of the church til they come again to ameÌdement that the Magistrate do his duty herein abolishe al idolatrie if thecclesiastical iudgemeÌtes might be had as it were censours or maisters of maners apointed to enquire diligeÌtli of the behauiour of the ministers people of their faultes vices Themperour as I told you before doth coÌmunicate the whole matter with the bishops legate nd requireth him instantly that the state of the coÌmon wealth but chiefly of the church myght be refourmed Wherunto the legate answered for as muche as the protestaÌtes in certen opinions do swarue from the coÌmon consent of the churche and yet there is some hope that in fine they wil come into the way againe he after diligent coÌsideration of the whole cause thinketh mete that there be no further determinatioÌ made touching any matter but that the whole treaty be referred to the byshop who assuredly wyl either by a generall counsell or by some other meane fitte for the tyme deuyse that thing in this controuersie that shal profit the whole common wealth but chiefly of Germanye Afterwarde to the intent he might seme to be desirous of a refourmation he calleth home to hym al the byshops there geueth them lessons how they should demeane theÌ selues in al things gouerne their families haue care of the flock coÌmitted to their charge how they should beware of errours appoint learned preachers to resiste them bestow their benefices vpon mete persones how they ought to imploy the churche goodes to the vse of the poore and not to spende theÌ in riot or in any superfluous vse howe they should se yougth brought vp in good litterature knowledge of tongues which thing the protestantes do exceadingly by that meanes allure all yougth vnto them infecte them with their doctrine how it is the dutie of the bishops to warne the pareÌtes that thei seÌde not their children to suche places where there is daunger of heresie with diuers other lyke thinges which after he delyuered in wryting to bysshops that desyred it and also themperoure Who the .xii. day of Iuly reporteth to all the states what aunswere he had made And for by cause it appeareth that there can be nomore determined in this asseÌbly concernynge relygion and the Turke maketh great preparation both by sea and lande to inuade Christendome he thinketh it chieflly requisite that the treaty be brought to an ende and that decrees bee made concernyng religion peace and ayde against the Turke wherfore he requireth to know theyr mindes whether they thinke it expedient that those articles of doctrine which the collocutours haue accorded shal be receyued till a generall or an other imperyall counsel to th entent the controuersy of Religion for the whiche they haue so many yeares bene tourmoyled may be somewhat abated that the residue not as yet agreed vpon may hereafter more easelye be brought to an vniformitie For he wyll go streight way to the Byshop that he may certenly knowe what to trust to as shortly as he can wyll retourne into Germany to se to the common wealth prouided always that these thinges be nothing preiudiciall to the decree of Auspurge Whan the diuines of the Protestantes had red the two forsayd wrytinges of Contarene they aunswer with one accorde and shewe that he doth them wrong and say that considering his learning they loked for much better things at his hande where also he exhorteth the Princes to punishment and
crueltie they reproue him therfore exceadingly and byd him not thinke that they wil euer allow such errours as thei nowe do condemne or at any time retourne vnto that churche whiche defendeth so manifest vices Whan Contarene in the meane tyme heard that his aunswere was diuersly taken by thaduise of certen he sendeth to the states the third wryting how he wil not assent the the articles newly accorded shal be receiued vntil the couÌsell but referreth al thinges in general to the highe Byshop The next day after the ides of Iuly the Princes Electours make answer to Themperours demaunde saye howe they are contented that the articles agreed vpoÌ should be receiued vntil the time of a couÌsel for the same is both expedieÌt for the auoiding of further incoÌuenieÌces hereafter wil be also a great helpe vnto a further agrement and if there be any hope that the rest myght at this tyme be accorded they desire him to shew his fauour herin but if the shortnes of time wil not suffer it that thaÌ according to his fre êmesse he wold deuise with the bishop and other kinges that there might be with al expeditioÌ a couÌsell appointed in some coÌuenient place of Germany either general or prouincial that he wold sende his legate thether if the same can not be obteined as they haue no truste it shall that than he wold retourne againe into Germanye and declare the same fidelitie to the countrie that he hathe doone hitherto and establisshe peace and quietnes But the Protestantes desyre themperour that he wolde commaund the articles of religion al ready accorded to be enacted and taught for so shal the truthe be opened more and more and this shal be as a waye to amende the diseases of the churche And that also he wolde take awaye and abrogate the decree of Auspurge as vnprofitable for concorde or at the lestwyse leaue it in suspence what their opinion is concernyng the counsel and how they wil not permit the bisshop or his clieÌtes to be iudges therof and of what sorte it ought to be they haue declared heretofore and remayne in the same opinioÌ and if percase such maner of counsel wil not be had and that ther be any assemblie of the states in germany by his coÌmaundement in the same wil they declare their doctrine After the other princes amonges whom the bisshops were chief and with them the two bretherne Dukes of Bauier and Henry of Brunswicke declare what theyr aduise is to themperour seuerally which was that so many vices sectes heresies and dissentions did now not only in Germani but also in other places in maner through out christendoÌ ouerflow that they could not be holpen but by a counsell and that there shoulde now be any alteration of religion and ceremonies thai had so many yeares continewed they could in nowise geue theire assent especially considering that the bisshop by his legate doth promise a counsel and he him selfe will moue him herein presently and say how they are determined to sticke to the old religion couÌsels doctrine of their forefathers which hath continewed from the apostles tyme vnto this day And alledgeing moch other matter but to no great pourpose they thinke it most expedient to differ the cause of religion vnto the counsell especially for that the bisshops legate is of the same opinion the residew of the cities whyche were not of the nomber of Protestantes Collon Mentz Spier wormes Tully Hagenaw Regenspurg Schwinfurth Colmaria Semund Roteburg and dyuers others whan they were excluded from cousultation and that the princes wolde not geue them the copie of the aunswere they complayne herof to themperoure as they had don ofte before requestinge him that they myght not be hindered in theyr ryght and many of them were content that the articles agreed vpon shoulde be receyued Whan themperoure had hearde all mens opinions he maketh a new propositioÌ and recytyng euery thyng in order because the whole matter cannot be determined and they most certenly stande in great daunger of the Turke and the time is farre spente he sayeth he will referre the matter to the couusel wherof both the Bisshops legat hath put him into an vndoubted hope and he himselfe also will be in hande with the Bisshop for he promiseth also to retourne shortly into Germany and desyreth the Protestantes that they wyll in the meane tyme attempt nothyng els besydes those thinges wherin the diuines are accorded Than warneth he the Bishpops than they deuyse the meanes wherby euery one of theÌ maye reforme their owne churches to the intent ther be a way prepared for a coÌmon redresse This mind of Themperoure for the moste parte al men commended and thinke inete that the Bisshops Legate should geue also an ernest streighte charge to the Bishops that they redresse and pourge theyr churches And the Protestantes concernyng the conciliation of doctryne and all other thynges promise to do according to theyr dewtie require that it may be lawful for all other Princes ther to propounde in their churches the articles nowe accorded You haue hearde how Eckius abhorred bothe the booke exhibited of themperoure and also the Collocutours Wherefore after the conference had whan the booke was agayne restored to themperoure the matter debated in the counsel of the Princes he lying sick of a feuer sendeth an epistle to the princes of this effecte that he neuer lyked that foolyshe booke wherin he fyndeth so many errours and therfore ought not to be admitted for the custome of the olde fathers and the church layde a syde the stepes and phrasis of Melanchthon are in it well perceyued moreouer he sayeth he sawe not the booke whiche his fellowes corrected and after restored to themperoure but as he laye sycke there wer red vnto hym only certen opinions of the Lutheranes Moche lesse did he allow that wrytyng that was presented to themperoure with the boke for he neuer saw it This thing knowne Iulius Pfiugius and Iohn Gropper whiche thought how the same concerned their estimation desyre the Presidentes and hearers of the conference as witnesses of the whole matter that they would defend theyr honestie againste the sclaunders of Eckius They informe themperoure of all the matter who after in a publicke writing gaue vnto them bothe a goodly and an honorable report affirming that they haue donne herein as becoÌmeth honest men It is before mentioned that the cause of religyon was referred to a generall or prouinciall counsell of Germany After that Contarene vnderstoode it the .xxvi. day of Iuly he wrote to the states and Princes requiryng that the last might be crossed and cancelled for the controuersies of religion ought not to be determined by suche maner of counselles but the same to belonge to the vniuersall churche and what someuer is determined in suche cases of any one nation to be of none effect wherfore they shall shew a greate pleasure to the Bisshop who
is the head of the churche and of counselles yf in dede they omitte the same vnto whom agayne it woulde bee displeasaunte in case they should not do it for the same would styre vp great stryfe and offence not onlye in Germany but also in other countries This he doeth admonisshe them of bothe by the commaundement of the Bysshoppe and also of hys owne dewtye The same day the Princes make hym aunswere howe the Bysshop maye auoyde all offension in case he will call a counsell whyche hathe been so longe promysed Yf not the state of Germany to bee suche as they muste of necessitie fynd some other waye to salue the sore And therfore require him earnestly that he wold of hys wysdome and gentlenes so further the cause to the Byshoppe that a remedie might be founde Moreouer the diuines of the Protestantes doe confute those letters and reasons of Contarene by a longe wrytyng and proue manifestly how it apperteyneth vnto all prouinces to establishe gods trewe seruice and Religion This done themperour causeth a decree to be made and red the xxviii of Iuly he referreth the conference of the learned men and the whole treatie vnto the counsell to the Synode of all Germany or of the states imperial in hys Iorney into Italy he promiseth to intreat diligently the Bisshop of Roome for a counsell And yf neyther generall nor prouinciall counsell can be obtayned than wyll he call a convocation of th empyre within .xviii. monethes for to quiet the cause of Religion and will deuyse that the Bifshop shall also sende hys legate thither he chargeth the ProtestaÌtes that they attempt no new thing besydes the articles alreadye accorded and the Bisshoppes that they should clense their churches of theyr faultes and enormities In that decree were certen articles that Religious houses shoulde not be defaced that the churche goodes shoulde not bee put to prophane vses that no man should be allured to a contrary Religion of the iurisdiction and Iudges of the chamber Whiche thinges whan the Protestants dyd mislyke themperour in a certen priuate wryting declareth seuerally what his opinion is herin In the doctrine not as yet conciliated he doth prescribe vnto them no measure Monkes houses wold not in dede bee pulled downe but yet mete to bee reuoked to a godly reformation the lyke is to bee thought of the churche reuenewes no man that is of an other iurisdiction oughte to be intysed to theyr Religion and so bee mayneteyned but yet shall it bee lawefull for them to receyue any that will come vnto them vncalled furthermore the decree of Auspurge concernynge relygion and doubtfull causes of the same for a common quyet he suspendeth tyll the cause be determined eyther in a counsell or other assemblie and commaundeth that no maÌ shal be reiected of the Chamber for a contrarye relygion but that the lawe shal be ministred vprightly vnto all men What tyme they had these thynges confyrmed vnder themperours seale they promise hym ayde agaynste the Turke of whose commynge it was bruted daylye more and more And the Ambassadours of Hongary and Austryche were commen thither which with greate intreaty required ayde So was there a sodayn ayde of Almaignes sent into Hongary by the coÌduict of Friderick countie Fursteinberg In thys assemblie Themperoure the thirde day of Iuly before al the states had a greuous complaynt of wyllyam Duke of Cleaue for the possession of Gelderland He exhibiteth also a booke vnto them wherin he declareth hys ryght tytle to the same and sayeth how he willed hym to haue ben there but he tooke a contrary waye signifyinge couertly Fraunce as before is sayd There were present the ambassadours of Cleaue which excused theyr prince and when they proceded to declare his title themperour xiseth vp and departeth The .xxi. day of Iuly the Princes and states all go to themperoure intreate him for the Duke of Cleaue and request hym that he wold receyue him in to the tuition of thempire permit that the case may be decided freÌdly and promise to take paynes in the thynge and in case they cannot make an ende in it they beseche hym to make clayme to it and to recouer his right by the law Wherunto themperoure maketh aunswer by Iohn Nauie Forasmoche as this assemblie is called for the common welthes sake to th entent that all dissention and discorde taken a waye Germany myght be restored to quyetnes and herin hath moch tyme ben consumed and yet nothyng concluded by reason of contention and diuersitie of myndes vnto his greate griefe and hinderance of hys owne affaires he sayeth he marueleth greatly that in this on cause which is properly hys they can so wel agree Thus he sendeth them awaye not withoute displeasure The next day Raymunde the Frenche kinges ambassadour in a longe oration written reciteth the cause of expulsing Charles Duke of Sanoye who a few daies before had accused the kinge to the Emperoure and al the states Durynge this assemblie the Frenche kynge sendeth Cesar Fregose an Italyan of Genes and Anthony Rincon a Spaniarde exiled Ambassadours to themperour of Turkes who sayling on the Riuer of Po towards Uenise wer taken and flayne abont the kalendes of Iuly That time was William Bellaye the kynges lyeutenaunt in Piedmount who beynge sertifyed of the thynge as he was maruelous circumspecte and industrious immediatly aduertiseth the kyng and also the fyfte day of Iuly wryteth from Turryn to Alphonsus Daualus marques of Piscare than gouernoure of Millan and all Lumbardie that he woulde see that the kynges Ambassadours which wer taken might be restored whom he knewe for certentie that hys menne had apprehended or els for the same cause shoulde the trewes be broken which was made thre yeares past by thintercession of the Bisshop of Rome And he required they might be restored eyther for because at the first he knewe not els dissembling that he knewe not what had hapned to them The Marques maketh it very straunge as though he knew nothing of the matter and to pourge himselfe sendeth Counte FrauÌces Ladron Ambassadour to the kynge Langeus in a certen epistle whych he wrote to the Marques the eleuenth of Iuly I would not doubte sayeth he in the counsell of the whole worlde to speake of diuine matters and that as aptely as euer did your kinsman and auncestre Thomas of Aquyne yf I were as experte in diuinitie as soom of youre familiars are perfit and priuie to this murther For Alphonsus hys graundfather called Indicus the sonne of Rodorick a Spaniard maryed a great inheriter of the house of Aquinas And this Alphonsus was cosyn germane to Fernando Dauall of Piscare a most worthye captayne The. xx day of Iuly the king answereth Alphonce by letters from Liner a Towne of Burges admonisshing hym to regarde hys honour and estimation and sheweth hym that vnles they be restored he can not neglect the iniury done to hys men Many
manifestly mayneteyne the cause of Pflugius through the suite of hys freÌdes the matter was vtterly lyke to brede ciuile warre For eyther of them had their meÌ vp in armure but through that mediation of the Lautzgraue it was appeased This was the beginning of the displeasure betwyxt them whiche after increased in tyme wrought a deadlye wounde to Germanye as shal be recited in place And certenly many men marueiled at Maurice that he would be so earnest and bitter agaynst him that brought hym vp and whome both he and his father may thanke for all theyr good fortune But certen of the couÌsellers that were with Duke George were thought to haue set forwarde this matter whiche neyther loued Religion nor yet the Prince Electour Whan the decree was made and all men prepared theÌ selues to the warre Luther set for the a booke in the vulgare tongue an exhortation to the warre whiche he dedicated vnto Philip the Lantgraue And after hathe declared the cause why he wrote of the contrary argument in his yong days the to warre against the Turkes were nothing elles but to resiste God whiche vseth hym for a scourge to afflicte vs whiche sentence Leo the tenth had amonges other thynges condempned for the Byshop of Rome so ofte as he mynded to procure a masse of monie out of Germany vsed euer this collour to gather it for the Turkishe warre and had shewed all the reasons that moued hym than and amonges others that a Christen man ought not to reuenge nor resiste euil but to suffer all thynges according to that saying of Christe of leauinge thy rote and agayne that the Emperour is not to be excited vnto warre as the head of Christendome Protectour of the churche and defendour of the faithe For the tytles are false and vayne glorious and iniurious to Christe who allone can defende his churche and the iniurie is the more for that certen kynges and Prynces are moste bytter ennemies to his true doctrine and therfore concludeth that the Turke is not to be warred vpon or resisted for the diuersitie of his religion but because he robbeth and spoyleth and maketh vniust warr and bringeth in with him most shameful examples of lyfe By a coÌparison made he proueth that the byshop of Rome is nothing better thaÌ the Turke for as he by his Alcorane so hath the Byshop by his decreetales quenched the doctrine of the Gospell That whiche he doeth by force the same doth the byshop by his curse but thei both worke reproche vnto matrimony abide punishment for the contempte of Gods lawe which ordeined holy matrimony what time god geueth theÌ ouer to their filthy lustes that they burne in most detestable desires worke most wickedly against the order of nature Finally speakig of the turkish power he admonisheth theÌ not to be carelesse in warfare but to knowe how thei haue to do with a moste fierse ennemy These and diuerse other suche lyke thinges he treateth of in that first boke but now what time the state of theÌpire had at the request of thempe king FerdinaÌdo decreed war he coÌpiled an other worke as I said a warlike exhortation or sermon to th enteÌt that such ministers of the churche as followed the warres myght haue some forme and order howe to teache and exhorte First therfore sayth he that men may vnderstande what is to be thought of the Turke the Scripture speaketh of two houge and cruell Tyrantes which shall destroy Christendome before the laste daye of iudgement one through false doctrine of whome prophecied Daniel and after him Paule this is verely the Byshop of Rome And an other by power and force of armes that is to saye the Turke of whome Daniel in the seuenth chapter speaketh Those therfore that wylbe christians let them plucke vp their hartes and loke for no peace and quietnes nor pleasauÌter life froÌ henceforth For that miserable tyme which he prophecied of before is now come but let vs comforte our selues with the comming of Christe and with our finall deliueraunce whiche immediatly after those afflictioÌs shal appeare and let vs knowe for certentie that al the woodnes and malice of the deuyll is powred wholy vpon vs by the Turke for neuer did Tyrante practyse suche crueltie as he doeth After he expoundeth the seuenth chapter of Daniel whiche is of the foure beastes coÌming out of the Sea declaring that the Turkishe Empire is there described For this is that same litle horne whiche sprang vp betwene those ten hornes of the fourth beast And albeit it is wonderfully increased yet can it not be that it should be in power like to the Romaine Empyre for the Prophet doeth there describe foure Empyres only which should succeade in order and the last to be the Empyre of Rome therfore shall there be none other that may be coÌpared in greatnes to the Romayne And for asmuche as Daniel did attribute vnto him three hornes only whiche he should plucke of from those ten his violence from henceforth shall not proceade muche further for those three are plucked of long synce Asia Grece and Egipt whiche beinge three of the greatest prouinces in the Empire the Turke now possesseth with in the whiche limites the Prophet hath included him wherfore there is good hope that from henceforth he shall possesse no prouince of the Empyre And where he is nowe so busy in Hongary and also readye to inuade Germany this is the last acte of the tragedy for it may bee that he shall inuade those countries but he can not thynke that euer he shall haue them in quiet possession as he hathe Asia Grece and Egipt for the prophecie is playne and manifest After this he treateth of all the other partes prouokyng them chiefly to repentaunce and exhorteth them all to be ready and wylling to obeye the Magistrate commaunding vnto this warre and not only to employe their goodes herein but also to serue with their bodies The prisoners also whiche eyther be nowe in the Turkes handes or hereafter shal come into the same captiuitie he comforteth with many perswasions and admonisheth them to be well ware of that fayned and pretensed Religion of the Turkes for he heareth saye howe many that haue professed Christ doe of their owne accorde falle into their Religion for that it hath a certen shewe of vertue and holines and that they suffer this bondage patiently and serue their maisters faithfully though thei be prophane and wicked neyther that they runne away from them or fordo them selues for vnpatientnes and lothsomenes of that estate but to beare alwayes in memory that same which Peter and Paule wryte of the dutie of bounde seruauntes but what tyme they shal attempte warre against the christians to hasarde their lyues rather than to serue vnder theÌ for they be murtherers and make warre against the sainctes as Daniell sayeth and shead innocent bloude therefore muste they chiefly beware that they be not partakers
vertue and as Tullye reporteth of Cesar he maketh all wyse menne a frayde to wryte Some others haue taken in hande the same Argumente and in deede better learned than he but they doo not attayne to that fynes of perfectyon In the tenth booke is mentioned of the Archebisshop of Collon how he coueted to refourme hys churche and allowed not that Synode of hys prouynce notwithstandynge that the booke went foorthe in hys name And after that in the conuention at RegeÌspurge Bisshops were enioyned bothe by kinge Fernando and also by the Bisshop of Roomes Legate that euery man in hys owne dyocesse shoulde see a godly reformation to bee had he calleth a conuocatyon of hys states whych are the clergye of the cathedrall churche the Erles the Nobilitie and Ambassadours of cities The matter beyng debated they agreed all that so godly and holsome a worke shoulde be taken in hand Therefore he appoynteth certen to conceaue in writyng a draughte of the reformation that shal be and to espye out good men to bee mynisters of the churche Thys wryting he sendeth to the Diuines of Collon and wylleth them to iudge thereof by the Scriptures and to shew theyr opinion but where hys requeste was not sasatisfyed and hauing not conuenyent ministers to instructe the people he sent for Martyn Bucer at Strasburg whoÌ both Iohn Gropper had alwayes commended vnto hym highly and he hymselfe also knewe ryght wel by familyar comunication Who commyng thither the laste yere in Decembre in the begynnyng of thys yere at the commaundemente of the prince beganne to preache at Bomia a Towne vpon the Rhine fyue miles aboue ColloÌ After at the Ides of March the Bisshop calleth a newe assemblie of states at Bomia and requireth that they wolde consulte vpon a godly reformation But where the clergie had assigned no man for this pourpos the rest of the states desyre the Archebishop that according to hys owne iudgemente hee wolde chouse mete men for the thynge Wherfore he committeth thys charge vnto Bucer that he shoulde penne oute the articles of the christian doctrine and to th entent all thynges might the better be donne he intreateth the Prince Electour of Saxonye that he wolde Ioyne vnto hym Melancthon When he was commen and Iohn Pistor froÌ the Lantzgraue and that the woorke was fynished the Archebishop sent it to the clergie of the head church in Collon whych are all of noble houses and requireth them that they wolde ponder dyligently the doctryne of that booke After at the .xxii. daye of Iuly he calleth an other Synode and exhibited vnto them the booke of reformation requiring them that euery state wold chose certen whyche myght pervse that booke ouer and conferre with hys to th entent some tollerable and godly accorde myghte in fyne bee had But the clergie before sayed vrged this obstiuately that Bucet especially and certen others appoynted of late to instructe the people myghte bee dysplaced After they require a further tyme of delyberation touching the booke and refuse to conferre with the rest He albeit he knewe well enoughe for what pourpose they made thys delaye yet to th ende they should fynd no lacke graunteth them tyme to consulte in And where they spake of remouing of Bucer and hys companions he did not refuse in case any man were able to conuicte them eyther of false doctryne or of euyll lyfe And at sondrye tymes offered them lybertie to trye it beyng ready to exhibite them before any lawefull or indifferent Iudg. WhaÌ the matter therfore stayed here they prepare a contrary booke and in title it Antididagma In the preface of the same booke after a wonderfull raylynge agaynst the Lutheranes they affirme with expresse wordes that they had rather lyue vnder the dominion of the Turkes than vnder a Magistrate that wolde followe and defend that reformation The author and diuisor of this booke as they say was Gropper For he albeit he was very familiar with Bucer two yeres before at Regenspurge Albeit that comyng home from thence he coÌmended hym maruelously not only to the Archebisshop but also euerye where to all others albeit he had written him many and that most frendely letters yet whan the matter was brought vnto this poynt he forsoke his frendeship altogether and leauynge hys prince by whom he had all hys preferment he reuolted into the tentes of his aduersaries The same did Barnarde Hagie his Chauncelour which had bothe of them many fatte benefyces The diuines of Collon affailed Bucerfore and rattled hym vp with manye opprobrious wordes But he requyred that the matter might come to disputatioÌ and protested that he wold defende this doctrine agaynste them in all assemblies In hys defence also Melanethon set forthe a booke at the same tyme and exhortinge them vnto modestie sheweth them what shamefull errours they defende Duke Moris of Saxonye maketh certen lawes at this tyme to be obserued within hys dominioÌ And fyrst in dede he exhorteth the preachers and ministers of the church to execute theyr office diligently to preache the Gospel sincerely and to shyne before theyr stock with honest examples of lyfe that they exhorte men to prayer and mutuall loue that they rebuke vice sharpelye and sequester desperate persons from the communion of the church by the consent of the Magistrat vntyll they amende And suche as will not thus be refourmed to present vnto the Magistrate Secondly forasmoch as youthe is the store of the Churche and the publicke weale he founded three Grammer Scooles at Misene Merseburge and Porte And in euerye place he fyndeth a certen nombre of Scolars bothe theyr apparell and commons And payeth also yerely stipendes to theyr Scolemasters And to thys vse doeth he applye the reuenewes of the relygious houses wherin Monkes had dwelt and suche others He graunteth that the youthe shal remaine there for the space of sixe yeres of the same lands also he geueth in Augementation to the Uniuersitie of Lipsia two thousand crownes yerely and certen Rasers of wheat Moreouer he forbiddeth beggynge and appoynteth an yerelye somme of monye in certen places to releue poore householders After this for suche as defloure maydes and mary them not he appoynteth thys punishement that albeit they sett them foorthe afterwardes and marye them to others yet shall they be committed to pryson And commaundeth that aduouterers shall dye by the sworde And noble men that marie suche wyues as they haue accompanied with beefore he punnishethe thus that he taketh awaye from theyr children that were borne before the Marriage the possession and profites of suche landes as they holde of him in fee. In the meane time themperoure coÌming oute of Spaine arriueth with his Nauie at Genes And the .xxvi. day of May addressyng his letters from thence to the Duke of Saron the Lantzgraue and theyr consortes For as moche as they are alreadye sufficientlye warranted by hys proclamations for publyke peace and that also
inioye theyr commodytyes on eyther partie and parte of those goodes to be imployed to the fynding of the mynisters of the Churche of free Schooles and the poore the iudges of the Chamber shall kepe theyr place vntyll the tyme prefixed whan the same shal be expired than shall all be receyued into that nomber indifferently without respecte of relygion The decre of Auspurge and all actions commenced agaynst the Protestantes for doctryne sake the case also of Goslarie and Minden to hang in suspence vntill the nexte treaty The Anabaptistes to suffer punishement long synce for them determined Yet shall the magistrates assigne learned and godlye men to shewe them theyr errour and call them agayne to amendemente The Catholickes mislyked thys decree and resisted it withal theyr force But when the byshopes of Collon Munster held with the Protestantes also the duke of Cleaue and the Marques of Baden referred althinges to theÌperours pleasure which after loÌg disceptation had deuised thys way as a meane tollerable for both parties They being wel shortned of their nuÌbre say that certeÌly they wil not assent to it howbeit they will not prescribe themperour nor resyst hys authorytie but are coÌtent to suffer it Friderick the Paulsgraue the Marques of Brandenburge Princes electours had intreated that it might be thus decreed The protestaÌtes desired also that the duke of BruÌswickes case might haue ben coÌprised in the same decree but it could not be obtayned themperour vrged theÌ that eyther they should restore him or els permit vnto him the prouince by sequestration til the matter be tryed And therof he treated with the Duke the Lantzgraue when they were present and after theyr departure moche more with theyr deputies The Cities at the fyrst refused the ayde of the French warre by reason of theyr intercourse and trade of Marchandise But what tyme the Prynces had assented and the Frenche kynges cause was full of hatred they subscribed also thoughe sore agaynste they re willes especyally that were nere vnto Fraunce The Ambassadours of the Dukes of Luneburge and wirtemberge refused also but they were admonysshed priuately and chastened in woordes that they alone shoulde not lette the good will of the residewe Whan the LaÌtzgraue was ready to goe home and came to take hys leaue of Themperoure he had most gentle intertaynement And Themperoure said howe he wolde not trouble hym at thys tyme to serue agaynste the Frenche Kynge for thys cause only that he wolde not bringe hym into hatred but whan thys warre is doone he wyll goe streight waye agaynste the Turke and than wyll he make hym hys lyeutenaunte and generall of all the warre And whan he with a certen modestie excused and abased hymselfe as vnmete for suche a charge you haue done righte well or euer nowe sayeth Themperoure bothe for youre selfe and for the others And we doubte not but that you can doe vs also ryght good seruice with these wordes taketh hys leaue of hym moste Frendely He beyng full of good hope and ioyefull that he had Themperoure so moche hys good Lorde whan he had declared the same to certen of hys Frendes retourneth home Touching the sequestration after longe and moche pleadinge they agreed that all the landes of the Dutchie of Brunswicke should be committed to Themperoure as to the hyghe Magistrate tyll the case were heard and determined eyther frendely or by ryghte and lawe And that Themperour shoulde committe the gouernement of the Contrye eyther to the Paulsgraue or to the Electoure of Brandenburg moreouer to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleaue They that shall not abyde thys ordre to suffer the penaltye of breakynge the Publycke Peace That Themperoure doe aduertyse the Duke of Brunswicke to obeye the same yf not to punish him according to the lawes of thempire These condicions at the last Themperour propounded herin perseuered ThaÌ did the protestantes ratifie the same as shal be declared herafter The asseÌblie being ous finsshed theÌperour goeth froÌ Spier to MeÌtz Nowe was all his armie assembled in Lorayne vpon the borders of Fraunce And about th eÌd of May he had recouered the citie of LuceÌburg by coÌposition In this warre ther serued theÌperour duke Maurice of Saxonie the Marques Albert with ether of them a thousand Horsemen moreouer Counte william of Furstemburge Captayne of the footemen and Sebastian Sherteline all of the Protestantes relygion Whylest Themperour was at Mentz there was takeÌ in Lorayne Huberte Erle Richlynge a Germane that serued the Frenche kynge beyng brought to Mentz he is condeÌned to suffer The CouÌtesse hys wyfe whan she was comen thither and fel downe prostrate at Themperours feete coulde fynde no fauoure And nowe were all thynges prepared for the executioÌ At the length was procured Maximylyan the sonne of kyng Fernando whom Themperour had lately receyued he in th ende obtayned hys pardon and saued hys life In the meane tyme Barbarousse eyther for that hys bufynes requyred so orheyng perswaded by the kynge or els fearyng leste the Frenche Kyng should conclude a peace with Themperoure retourneth home and what so euer places by the Sea syde apperteyned to Themperoure or thempire he inuadeth and spoyleth But from the Bisshop of Romes landes he refraineth as it is most lyke by the French kinges perswasion Themperours armye marchynge forewarde taketh the Towne and Castell of Lyney three myles from Barrey And from thence goeth to Sandesyre a Frenche Towne standyng vpon the riuer of Marne which was kept with a stronge garrison ouer whom Mounser Landren was Captayne who so valeauntely the yere beefore had defended the Towne of Landersey from Themperour and from Thenglishemen Whilest these thynges are thus a woorkynge Anthony the Duke of Lorayne departeth out of this lyfe not so moch for age as for thoughte and care he tooke for thys nere and almoste domesticall warre whom Fraunces hys sonne succeded whiche had maryed Themperours Nece Christine as before is sayde In thys meane whyle the Kyng of England sendeth ouer the Sea to Caleis the Duke of Northfolke with one Armye who marchynge throughe Bollonois went and beseged Moustrell here Maximilyan Countiede Bure by Themperours accorde serued the Kynge of England And immedyately after sente an other stronge Armye with the Duke of Suffolke who layed sege to Bollogne and thyther came the king in person The Frenche Kynge had appoynted Gouernoure there Mounser Ueruyne a man of honoure Whan Themperour had enuironed SaÌdesyre with his army he maketh the Batteri the Bretch onse made geueth thassault at that Ides of Iuly but where the townes men stode to theyr owne defence moste valeauntelye Themperialles were repulsed and fyue hondreth Soldiours slaine Fynally in the seconde moneth what tyme Landrey the gouernoure was slayne with the fall of an House and the Gunners wanted pouder the Towne was rendred Durynge thys seege Renate Prynce of Orenge beeynge stryken with a greate Peece
vpon they re shoulders and in theyr Armes and in theyr swaddling clothes that did many women great with childe And when they were commeÌ to the place appoynted thither was alreadye resorted a greate nomber whiche had lost theyr goodes saued themselues by flyght Not long after it was shewed them howe Miners came with all his power to geue the charge vpon them This was in the euenynge And because they must goe thorow rough and combrous places they take counsel to leaue ther behinde the women and children and a fewe others to kepe with them and amonges them the ministers of the churche the residew were appoynted to go to the Towne of Mussie And this did they vpon hope that the enemye wolde shewe mercye to the multytude of women children beyng destitute of all succour What sighes ther were fetched what imbracynges and what lamentation euerye man maye easely perceyue Whan they had gonne al nyght long and passed ouer the great hyll of Leberon they might see many Uillages and Fermes set on syre After this Minerius diuidyng hys armye into two partes Marcheth him selfe with th one towardes the Towne of Merindolum And hauing knowledge by espiall which waye the Meriudolans were fled sendeth thother parte of hys armye to hunte them oute Before they came into the wood one of the soldiours moued with pitie runneth before and from the toppe of an hygh Rocke where he iudged that the Merindolanes satte vndernethe he casteth downe two stones afterwarde calleth vnto them though he could not see them that they should immediatly flee from thence And at the selfe same time came two of those that went to Mussie to shew them that theyr enemyes approched and so cause the minister and the resydew of them that were leaft with the women to Runne their waies shewing them a narrow way through the wood wherby they might escape all daunger These were not so soone gone but the Soldiours came streight waies in a great Rage drawing oute theyr swordes with a greate outcrye bad kyll these Heretickes Neuerthelesse they seyng no men amonges them absteyned from slaughter at that time But whan they had done greate outrage and spoyled them of they re money and vittayle they leade them awaye Theyr pourpos was to haue handled them more shamefully but beyng letted by a Captayne of horsemen which comming in the meane tyme threatened theÌ with punisshment and coÌmaunded them to goe streight waye to Miners they forsake that filthye enterprise and leauinge the women dryue a waye theyr botye cattell The women were in nomber aboute fiue hondreth In the meane season Miners came to Merindolum fyndyng it without dwellers spoyleth and setteth it on fyre shewyng before that one very cruell example For fyndyng there one yonge man he commaunded that he shoulde bee tyed to an Oliue tree and shot in with dagges After he goeth to the towne of Cabrier and battereth it with hys ordenaunce and vsynge the seruice of Capitayne Polyne that brought in the Turkes nauie he perswadeth the Townes men to open theyr gates promisyng that they shoulde haue no harme But a whyle after whan the soldiours were lette in they were all slayne without respect had eyther of age or of womankynde Many fled into the Churche and some to other places dyuers in to the wyne sellar of the Castell But beyng brought foorthe into a meddowe and stripped naked they were slayne eche one not men onlye but also women greate with chylde Miners also shutteth a fourtye women in a barne full of straw and hey after setteth it a fyre and burneth it And where the sely women put of theyr clothes therewith to haue quenched the fyre and when they coulde not ranne to the great windowe whereat the hey is wont to be cast into the Barne to haue lopen out but there being kept backe with pickes and Iauelyns they were burnt all together this was the .xx. daye of Aprill This done Miners sent parte of his armie to winne the towne of Coste whaÌ they were marching on theyr way they were found oute who I tolde you a lyttell before were fled into the wyne sellar of the Castell Whervpon was Reysed an outcry and as though there had ben treason the soldiours are called backe and distroy them all The nombre of them that were slaine within the Towne and withoute were aboute eyght hondreth The infantes that escaped theyr furye were baptised agayne of theyr enemies Whan all thynges were dispatched at Cabrier there was sente a power to Costa The lord of that Towne had denysed with the Citezens before that they should carie all theyr armure into the Castell and caste downe theyr walles in foure sondry places Yf they wolde doe this he promiseth them to obteine of Miners and that easelye that there shal be no displeasure wroughte there They beeinge perswaded folow his aduise after he departeth as it were to intreat for them going not farre he meteth with the soldiours They marche one notwithstanding and the firste daie they were yet repulsed The next day they assault it with a great violence and hauyng burned all the suburbes aboute it take it easely for that the night before many escaped ouer the walles by cordes After the slaughter committed they ranne into an orchard by the Castell there the women and maides that were fled thither for feare they rauissh euery one and when they had kept them ther inclosed a daye and a nyght they handled them so beastely that those that had greate belyes and the yonger maydens dyed shortely after In the meane season the Merindolanes diuerse others that wandered in the woddes and mountaynes being intercepted were eyther sente to the Galeis or slayne many also dyed for honger Moreouer not farre from the Towne of Mussie before named certen went and hid themselues in a caue vnder a rocke to the nomber of xxv but being bewraied they were smothered with smoke and burnt all so that no kinde of crueltie was omitted Neuerthelesse diuerse which had escaped this bouchery came vnto Geneua and other places nere Therfore whan report herof was bruted in Germany it offended the myndes of many And in dede the Swyses which were not of the popisshe relygion intreated the kynge that he wolde shew mercye to such as wer fled but the Kyng sayeth how ther was iust cause for hym to doe as he did neither ought they to be more carefull what he doeth within his dominions or how he punisheth offendours than he is aboute theyr affayres In the yeare before these men had sent to the kyng a confession of theyr doctryne comprysed in writing Wherof that articles were of god the father creatour of al thinges of the sonne mediatour and aduocate of mankynd of the Holy spirite the comforter instructour of all treweth of the church whych they saye is the fellowship of all gods electe wherof Iesus Chryst is head of
touchyng the rest he will conferre with the Duke of Saxon and hys fellowes The Ambassadours whyche I tolde you before were sente by the Protestantes into Fraunce and Englande doe as they had in coÌmission but at the same tyme also TheÌperoure sought to make a peace appoynted a daye at Bruges for the Ambassadours of both kinges to mete And the Frenche kynge sente Mounser Annebalde the Amirall and the kyng of England Stephen Bisshop of Winchester But they could not accorde In the meane season the Ambassadours of the Protestantes wrought so moch that bothe the kynges were content to haue a further treaty Therfore they send ambassadours the FreÌch kyng to Arde the kyng of EnglaÌd to Cales and Guysnes They mete in the mydde waye betwixt Arde and Guysnes the .xxvi. daye of Nouember in tentes pitched in the playne felde And whan the Ambassadors of the Protestants had propounded certen coÌdicions of peace the matter was longe and moche debated betwyxt them The FreÌch meÌ wolde haue Bologne restored especially vrged that the Scotes myght be comprised in the peace But both these did the Englishmen vtterlye refuse Than was the matter reported by letters and messagers to eyther kynge but after moche intreaty ther was nothyng fynisshed Wherfore the syxte day of Ianuary the Ambossadours of the kynges and Protestantes depart and retourne home The next daye after the Frenchemen vitayled theyr forte that the kyng had builded nere vnto Bologne When the Englisshemen would haue letted that they fought together and many were slayne on bothe parties and after was the fort vitailed What tyme these aÌmbassadours of the Protestantes were in Englande the kynge by waye of communication tolde them howe they were lyke to haue a fore and a mortall warre therof was he moste certen He warned theÌ also to wryte of the same to theyr confederates And after one of hys counsellours whych was than in hygh fauour declared as moche to one of the Ambassadours naming also certeÌ practicioners messagers by whose meanes chiefly the thing was wrought Moreouer the king semed to take in maruelous euill parte that Themperour had the yere before made peace with the French king and was so moch the more offeÌded for that as he sayd he made warre with the Frenche king throughe his procurement by reason of the Turkisshe league In the moneth of Ianuarye the Protestantes conuented at Frankeforthe there they consulted of the counsell of Trente of augementyng theyr league for the charges of the warre of Brunswicke howe they will not forfake the Archebisshop of Collon howe to solicite Themperour in the assemblie of theÌpire that he wyll graunte peace for relygion and refourme the iudgment of the chaÌber In thys coÌuention the Ambassadours of the archbisshop of Collon complayne of the iniuryes of the Clergye and of the commaundementes and citations bothe of Themperour and also of the Bisshop of Roome In the meane season the Paulsegraue prynce electour ordeyned euery where ministers of the church and preachers of the Gospell he permitteth also the whole supper of the Lorde and the Mariage of pristes And the tenth daye of Ianuary in stead of the Popissshe Masse was seruice sayde in the head church of Nedelberg in the Duche tongue Wherfore the Protestantes sending an Ambassade reioyse therat and geuinge him thankes that he aunswered the Archebisshop of Collon his Ambassadours so frankelye they exhorte hym also to procede to professe the doctryne confessed at Anspurge and to doe hys endeuour that in the nexte assemblye at Regenspurge the peace and lawe maye be establysshed Wherunto he aunswereth that he hath beÌ euer desyrous of peace and wil be so long as he liueth for the Archebisshop of ColloÌ he is right sory that he is thus molested especyally in hys olde dayes Therfore what tyme they shal send their Ambassadours to Themperoure and to the Clergie and Senate of Collon to intreate for hym he wyll also sende hys with them he had trusted these many yeres to haue had some agrement in religion but in as moch as he seeth how the matter is daungerously differred neither is theire any greate hope he coulde no longer delaye the wisshe expectation of hys subiectes Therfore hathe he begonne a reformatyon of relygion whych he pourposeth to anaunce furthermore and to professe it openly At the seuententh daye of Ianuarye at Wesell mete the Ambassadours of the Prynces electours which are named of the Rhine those be Mentz Collon Treuers the Paulsegraue or CouÌte Palatyne for the dominions of all these stretche vnto the Rhine The Paulsegraue vrged the Archebishopes of Mentz and Treuers that they wolde sende theyr Ambassadoures with hys and with the Marques of Brandenburges to intreate for the Archebisshop of Collon but they fearynge to get displeasure refused it At thys tyme a rumour was noysed abrode that Themperour shoulde secretly mynde warre Wherfore the Lantzgraue wrytyng hys letters to GranuellaÌ the .xxiiij. of Ianuarie sayeth howe it is reported not onlie in Germany but also sygnyfyed oute of Italye and otherplaces that Themperoure and the Bisshop of Roome make preparation to warre vpon the Lutheranes and wyll maynteyne the counsell and beegynne the warres in the sprynge of the yere and howe they intende to set vpon the Archebysshop of Collon with the force of the lowe contrie of Germany vpon the Saxons out of Boheme to inuade high Almaigne with the power of Italie How Themperour wil also haue ten thousande foote men and certen trouppes of horsemen to garde hym and conduicte him to Regenspurge This brute is not only spread abrode commonlye but is also reported of head Captaynes and Centurions wherof some make theyr boast that they haue receyued money of theÌperoure already And seyng Themperoure hathe peace with FrauÌce and hath also taken trewes with the Turke as some do affyrme many men doe maruell to what vse and pourpose he shoulde wage men to warre Neyther he nor hys consortes whylest they consyder the peace makyng of Norinberge confyrmed after at Regenspurge Spier and other places can be easelye perswaded to beleue it shoulde bee trew especially synce they haue done ryght good seruice bothe to theÌperour and to kynge Ferdinando agaynst the Turke and other enemyes also Howbeit he thought good to declare these thynges frendly vnto hym whych are sygnyfyed to hym and hys fellowes by many letters and messagers For it maye be that the like thinges are reported to Themperoure by malycious persons of hym and hys confederatours whyche maye rayse a suspicion cause trouble and put them bothe to charges he doubteth not but that he wyll make hym an auÌwer And in asmuche as he hathe ben euer hitherto a counselloure of peace he desyreth him that from henceforthe also he wolde perswade Themperoure to the same Granuellan wrote an aunswer to thys the seuenth day of February How Themperoure hathe neyther made any compacte with the Bisshop leuyed soldiours nor geuen
for other intent then to profite the common welth not mynding that yf any thyng be there decreed there shuld any wrong be donne to the protestantes therfore for euen for this cause was appointed the confereÌce at Regenspurge the beginnyng wherof was very well in case it had proceded The Archebysshop of Collon albeit he had promised to surcease and differ the matter procedeth neuerthelesse and that by rigor and compulsion he putteth out the ordinary curates and putteth in others at hys pleasure he handeleth the Clergye extremely he stayeth and witholdeth the reuenewes and customes of the Chanons and is to precise in all thynges so that I am constrayned to assist the Clergie complaynynge vnto me of theyr iniuryes that the talke betwene you and my counsellours shoulde not be preiudiciall therwith am I well contented Hereunto againe the Lantzgraue that you beare so good an affection towardes Germany and my league frendes most victoryous Emperoure I am ryght glad and ioyful and beseche God that you maye perseuer herein And surely yf accordyng to youre excellent wysedome you doe well consyder and waye with your selfe what a commoditye Germanye is to youre magnificence to youre Realmes and prouinces you shall fynde that there is nothyng more to be wished for then that all states shoulde bee glad of you theyr supreme Magistrate And that you agayne maye haue them styll louyng and obedient For certenly yf it fortune that Germany shoulde be weakened the same wylbe chiefly to youre discommoditie And as touchyng my Lorde of Collon the matter standeth euen so as I sayde before Inasmuche as he is a Sheparde he wolde fayne haue hys flocke fedde with good and holsome foode And thynketh hys dutye to be no lesse Therefore hathe he caused a fourme thereof to be set foorthe And they that are nowe hys aduersaryes were at the begynnynge moste gredye of this reformatyon and now it is commen to passe they refuse it and drawe backewarde Here themperoure interruptynge ah sayeth he what shulde that good man refourme he scarselye vnderstandeth any Latyn And in al hys lyfe he neuer sayde but three masses wherof I heard two my selfe he is not learned But he readeth ouer diligeÌtly the Germane bookes sayeth that LaÌtzgraue as I am wel assured he vnderstaÌdeth religioÌ Againe theÌperoure to refourme is not to bring in a new faith religion Neyther doeth he sayeth the Lantzgraue graunt that he hath receyued a new Relygion but he hathe renewed that olde that was leafte of Chryst and hys Apostles And where he hath displaced certen Curates of the churche and placed others the same aperteyneth to hys charge office For yf the person be a naughty lyuer or vnlearned it is surely the Bisshops parte to substitute an other in hys steade that is fyt for it For within the iurisdictions of diuers Bisshoppes many churches lye Uacant as I am able to saye beyng destitute of Curates where the people are fedde with no kind of doctryne nor gouerned by no discipline but lyke brute beastes lyue a barbarous and dissolute lyfe where he hathe taken somwhat of his Clergye he hath thys reason for hym that he imployed a greate some of golde on the Turkisshe and Frenche warres And it is the maner of Thempire that the Prince shal for this cause commaunde his subiectes to paye therefore thys thynge deserueth no blame at all And where it is commonlye bruted that he did this for relygion that had hys aduersaryes inuented to brynge hym in hatred The nexte daye at the Paulsegraues lodging mete the Lantzgraue GranuellaÌ Nauius and Masbacke There Nauius began the talke repeteth some parte of TheÌperours coÌmunication the daye before declareth wherfore they are nowe mette and sheweth howe desyrous Themperoure is of peace and where for the same cause he appoynted a conference at Regenspurge he sayeth the diuines weÌt a waie Then aunswered the Lantzgraue that of theyr departure from thence as yet he knoweth nothyng but the Duke of Saxon and he were aduertised by letters what vnreasonable condicions were offered them at the begynning whan they might neyther haue theyr scrybes to wryte nor see the copye of the treaty nor yet be permitted to write any thyng home they hearde also howe vntemperately the Freers that were collocutours handled the matter which both wolde ouer throwe the articles that were there before reconciled and tooke awaye all hope of concorde and with the dishonest examples of life where offense to many Whether theire diuines departed therfore being in dispayre of the matter as yet he knoweth not but certenly they were not called thence TheÌ talked Granuellan and fyrst speakyng much of Themperoures good nature and loue of peace he partely excused that of the condicions of the disputation And where they were prohibited to sygnifye oughte home he sayeth that was done without Themperours commaundement There the Lantzgraue exhorting that these thynges set a side they wolde come to the present matter commendeth the decree made at Spier in the yere paste concernyng peace and order of lawe and declareth that a prouinciall counsell of Germany were moste expedient to accorde and quyet Religion and in asmuch as Italyans Spaniardes Frenchemen dissent so farre from the Germanes doctryne in hys opynion a generall counsel shuld be to little porpos Not withstandyng how soeuer the matter fall and though none agrement can be made yet sheweth he how they ought to obserue the peace that the decree of Spier mighte not be abolisshed For now was the state of relygion suche in Germany that whoso wolde assaye to extinguish it muste distroye innumerable thousandes Whyche shoulde be bothe an exceading great losse to Themperoure whom the force of Germany hathe auaunced also to other nations that loue them not chiefly the Turkes a greate reioysing and commoditie The decree of Spier sayeth GranuellaÌ was made but for a time neyther was the fault in Themperoure that it was of no more force but whom it was loÌg on it is knowen well enough In priuate counselles of seuerall natyons ther hath ben redresse made only of vices maners but of faithe and religion no mention made And now are all thinges full of disseÌtion and sectes where touching the faythe all are not of one opinioÌ Wherfore this disceptation concerneth not only the Germanes but al other chrysten people in lyke case The moste parte of the Diuines are frowarde men stubburne and obstinate with whom the case can not be dipatched Therfore muste prynces and noble men be at the skannyng therof and certen meane waie in relygion founde oute for you your selues do not permitte religion to be free For suche as are of a contrary opinion to you are punisshed with imprisonment and by the purse And seeyng Themperoure desyreth chiefly a concorde he maye in no wyse graunte that thyng which is vngodly For yf all thynges were permitted to the common people Than shoulde not the Magistrate liue in saftie
I doe vnwisely sayeth the Lantzgraue to reason of so weightie matters my fellowes beyng absent notwithstanding by cause the matter is not handled to any preiudice I wyll procede I suppose that Themperoure made the decree of Spier for a good inteÌt and where the aduersaries of the same were then content to suffer it and so promised they maye not nowe go backe with theyr wordes Agayne inasmuch as we gaue Themperoure stronge ayde agaynst the Frenche kinge we truste surely that the thyng that was then agreed vpon and confirmed with seales shal not be broken Moreouer there is nothyng that ought to let a prouinciall counsel For we professe the same faythe that the Apostles the counsell of Nice Athanasius did and oure diuines are agreed vppon the chiefe and principall articles ther was in dede a controuersie amonges them coÌcernyng the lordes supper but the same is nowe appeased for there is none but confesseth that the body and blud of Christ is there truly receyued There be anabaptistes Dauidians and I know not who besydes whom in dede we doe punnish Therfore is it not nedeful that foreine nations shulde be present when these thinges shal be determined neuerthelesse if they gaue themselues to the knowledge of the trueth it were chieflye to be wished for That certen meane opinions shuld be establyshed that by men of honour I doe not greatly resist but I thinke that caÌ hardly be donne with out diuines but if the sincere preaching of the gospel and the whole supper of the Lord and the marriage of priestes might be permitted as in tyme paste Paphuntius perswaded in the counsel Nicene I suppose a concorde might be establisshed I know no place where men be constrayned to come to oure religion we do not suffer a contrary and a sondry doctryne in the selfe same place but we compell no man kyll no man nor spoyle hym of hys goodes And in case men of our relygion myght remayne harmeles in your dominioÌs and might haue theyr Churches seuerally assuredly I coulde be contente for myne owne parte to suffer youres to haue theyr Churches in lyke case with in my rule and dominion but for asmuche as you wyll not graunt to the same we desyre also to haue oure doctryne equiualente Therefore looke what I sayde before of the decree of Spier and the prouincyall Counsel of Germanie the same doe I take to be best now also If there bee any man sayeth Granuellan in all the worlde that loueth peace assuredly it is Themperoure who indede for the Bishop of Roomes pleasure wyll not swarue one heare breadthe from equytye He hath kept also the decree of Spier not without the greate offence of the other partye and also of the Bisshop âea Nauius and I doe sustayne no smal displeasure for the same cause In a Counsell prouinciall I cannot see who shuld be Iudge For al men doe not vnderstand the scripture after one sorte And because that in the Conference of learned men there appereth smal hope doubtles som other meanes muste bee founde Some Articles are indede accorded but agayne there be moe yet in coÌtrouersie Moreouer those that be accorded Bucer doth interpret more largely than the thyng it selfe permitteth and yf they shoulde nowe reste here it were easy to iudge what wolde be the state of Th empyre at the lengthe I lyke it righte well sayeth the Lantzgraue that you saye howe Themperoure hangeth not of the Bisshop his sleue And wolde God he myghte brynge the Bisshop to hys dutye In tymes paste Bisshoppes of Roome did honour Themperour as theyr supreme Magistrate And now Emperours ar bounden to them by an othe In all controuersies Gods woorde oughte to be chyfe iudge whyche is not obscure so that che minde of men wolde frame themselues accordynglye For it sheweth vnto vs synne prouoketh vs to repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe and preacheth vnto vs Chryste who hathe taken a waye the synnes of the worlde in whose name also God the Father is to be called vpon that he woolde graunte vs hys holye spiryte Uerelye thys faythe and Doctryne hathe euer been and styll remayned in the Churche as the Lordes Prayer the Crede of the Apostles And dyuerse Songes beesydes accustomed in churches doe instructe vs of the benefite of Chryst neither must we here consyder what the greatest multitude weneth but what the trewthe is For at Ierusalem also what time diuerse of the Apostles and disciples wolde haue had the heathen people that had receiued the Gospel circumcised Peter and Paule Iames and Barnabas were of a contrary opinion the errour of the residew shewed did abrogate that yoke of the lawe At the whyche tyme the greatest parte of that congregation gaue place and obeied the iudgement of a few that were in the right We verely doe not prescribe other nations but couet only that the Germanes might agree within themselues to treate of meane waies I could be coÌtent so that they swarued not from the decre of Spier concernyng the establisshment of the peace and lawe and in other thynges it is to be sene what may be establysshed by Gods woorde and what maye not But I wold haue also my cosen and frend here the Paulse graue who hathe ben at many assemblies and knoweth muche of matters past to speake hys opinion herin Then he speaking of Themperours good will and disposition sayeth howe the conference had at Regenspurge was well and to muche purpose begonne And if it were renewed and the articles already accorded no more decided he thinketh they myght come to some tollerable agrement in the rest Themperoure sayeth Granuellan desyreth acoÌcorde verie muche as hath ben ofte repeted And excepte that be establysshed it will surely redounde to the dammage of the publycke weale And albeit Themperour hath not thus muche profyt by th empyre albeit he hath not hys health also yet for the loue of Germany hathe he taken his iorney He hath taken no secret counsell eyther with the French king or with others neyther commeth he to craue ayde but to prouyde generally for all men Bothe Fraunce Englande leuie great force of men whiche is greatly to be suspected Moreouer TheÌperour hath to doe in Spayne by reason of the death of hys Daughter inlawe Yet all these thynges set a part he goeth to the assemblie But yf no Princes come thither what shall he doe there alone There is much calling and crying on hyn to refourme thinges and yet wyll they not come to the place appoynted for consultation Therfore it should doe well my Lordes speaking to the Paulsgraue and the Lantzgraue if you whiche are two of the chiefest wolde goe thyther Albeit sayeth the Lantzgraue that Themperoure hathe no greate reuenewes out of Thempire yet in asmuche as he hathe ayde alwayes thence agaynste the Turke agaynst the Frenche kynge and others And for that the dignitie of Thempire getteth hym great authorytie amonges other kinges and that he
man be admitted to the office of reading but of whose learning maners and lyfe the Bishop or Abbot be certayne of And because the preachyng of the Gospel is nothyng lesse necessarye than the readyng it selfe the Bisshops and al other prelates of the churche are commaunded to instructe the people or yf they haue any lawful impedimeÌt to substitute others that shall Moreouer the headpristes pastoures of the people are charged at the lest euery sondaye to declare vnto men those thinges that are necessary for saluation and that they exhort them vnto vertu and feare them from vice and syn And a penaltie appoynted for such as neglect their dutye The Bisshops also are admonished to note dilligentlye what thinges are taught and incase heresies or absurde opinions be sowen abrode to vse the remedie by the lawes prescribed After are decrees made of originall synne and saye that the whole spot thereof is taken awaye through baptisme And that there remayueth in dede in them that be baptised a motion to synne or concupiscence And albeit Paul sometyme calleth it synne yet is it not done because it is synne in dede and properly so but because it inclineth to sinne But the Uirgin Marye is not comprysed in thys decree and that is to be obserued which in tyme paste was ordeyned by Bysshop Sirtus the fourthe of that name Than is the nexte daie limited to sit in the .xxix. of Iune Now did this Sixtus the fourth make a decre wherin he did excommunicate them as heretickes whyche teache that the Uirgyn Mary was conceaued in oryginall synne and that the daye consecrated by the churche of Roome in the memoryall of her conceptyon oughte not to be kept holy Thys decre is written in that part of the Byshops law that is called extrauagaÌtes In this foresayd counsell sitting Peter Danese ambassadour to the French king made an oration and speakynge many thynges of the desertes and godly zeale of the kinges of Fraunce towardes the Churche of Roome begynnynge from kynge Clodowey declareth howe kinge Fraunces descendinge of the same progenitours is in no kynde of dewtye inferyour to them who was lynked with Leo the tenth in a continuall bonde of amytie and likewyse with Adrian Clement and now with Paull the third whyche in all this tempestuous storme of Religion hathe ben well ware that no alteration hath ben within hys dominions for that he wold haue the whole iudgement of the matter to be referred to the church for albeit he be of hys owne nature moste mercifull yet hathe he put them to most greuous tormentes which by a certen priuate rashenes haue assayed to diminyshe the state of the church through the which dillygence and seueritie he hath this obteined that he deliuereth now vnto them all Fraunce in peasable wyse For in it is no new nor strauÌge doctryne which is not of auncient custome and olde discipline confyrmed And where he hathe alwayes thought it profytable for the publycke weale that in the church there shuld be one namely the bisshop of Roome as the successour of Peter vnto whom all others as to the head myght referre all theyr doynges he hath ben euermore carefull that thys magistrate myghte styll kepe the supremacye and albeit he hath often times with large offers ben moued to the contrary and to followe thexample that an other hathe shewed before hys eyes yet coulde he neuer bee remoued from hys pourpos and of late whan the counsell was called that he hearde howe certen fathers were there assembled forthewhich he commaunded certen of hys cheife Bisshops to repayre thyther whan after a few decrees were made brought into Fraunce he appointed hym and his fellowes to come and declare hys lykyng opinion touchyng the same Therfore his fyrst request is that they wold ones establishe in generall what thyng in relygion is to be followed and beleued And agayne that for thecclesiasticall persons they wolde prescribe a moste sharpe disciplyne of lyfe maners What so euer they shal decree let theÌ put no doubte but that through hys commaundement it shall be obserued in all Fraunce Moreouer for as muche as the kynges of Fraunce haue done very muche for the churche of Roome that they wolde not suffer any thyng to be dimisshed or altered the possession wherof the kynges of Fraunce haue had euer synce Lewis surnamed Pius the sonne of great Charles Finally that of all the Frenche Churches whereof he hathe the patronage left hym of hys elders they wolde confyrme all ryghtes priueleges and lybertyes With the letters before mentioned and with further credite also came Lazarus Schuendius to Strasburge the .xxiiii. daie of Iune when he had by the waye spoken with the rest of the cytyes But the Senate sendyng hym awaye not long after wrote vnto theÌperoure and for that they made no directe aunswer to Lazarus they saye it was for the straungenes and difficultie of the thing which did not concerne theÌ only but others in lyke case Nowe where he saieth that he beareth such a loue to Germany they geue hym great thaÌkes and besecheth hym to perseuer in the same and suffer not hym selfe to be styrred vp to ciuyll warre where he complayneth moreouer of certen that doe not theyr de wtie neither shew theyr dew obedience they were sory to heare it yet they trust that there be none of theyr Religion culpable in so greate a crime For the fault hath not ben in vs saye they that relygion hath not ben accorded For you knowe ryght wel noble Emperoure howe willinge and confyrmable we haue been to haue a recontilemente bothe fyue yeres paste at Regenspurge and also synce and before at all tymes where certen others through thaduise and perswasion of the Bishop haue refused the same and referred althinges to Roome But the Bisshop intendeth through violeÌce and power to reteyne styll those greate errours for the whyche arrose all thys dissentioÌ in the church doeth so handle the matter in al thinges that we maye not coÌmit the cause vnto his iudgment wherby it may wel be perceyued that we susteyne wrong yf any man shulde lay the blame in vs that thys controuersye is not appeased And where it is obiected vnto them that they shulde seke to plucke the church goodes in to theyr owne handes vnder the pretence of relygion it is vnfrendly sayde For you haue heard and knowen Cesar why oure fellowes coulde suffer no longer that monkishe lyfe in theyr dominions which was growen so farre out of order and howe they haue conuerted the same to better vses as fyndyng of Scooles and releuing of the poore Where agayne it is well knowne howe men of the contrary relygioÌ heape vp the churche goodes and abuse them to all voluptuousnes yet nothyng spokeÌ of furthermore you your selfe haue made decrees bothe at Regenspurg and lately at Spier how for a common quiet those goodes oughte to be vsed Nowe incase there
vnto the Emperour the men at Armes of Naples to the numbre of fiue hundreth at the leading of Iohn Baptiste Spinello After this the Emperour goeth marching to Hale a towne of Sweuia vnto him lately reconciled Thether came vnto hym Fridericke the Paulsgraue Prince Electour he had ayded the ProtestauÌtes with foure hondreth horsemen whiche came vnto them at Ingolstad Wherfore he goeth vnto the Emperour and sheweth hym that this was not done to resist him but to fulfyll a league wherby he was bounde to the Duke of Wyrtemberge Themperour taketh him vp sharply accompting how much he had done for him blameth him sore Neuerthelesse he remitteth the offence and warneth him that hereafter he do recompence this fault and errour with a more trusty fidelitie Alitle before the warres whan the Paulsgraue intended to haue set an ordre in his churches he had sent for Paulus Fagius a maÌ learned and eloquent to come to him from Strasburg to Hedelberg that he might be a guide in the doctrine of the Gospel and shew the way vnto others But in this successe of the Emperour all that was there begonne was quite dasshed A fewe daies after came to him Ambassadours from Ulme who after they had made their submission and craued pardon were reconciled This citie was of chiefest force and authoritie in al Sueuia Wherfore their breaking of froÌ their felowes was a great matter but they writing their letters to their freÌdes at th ende of December signifie how the cause why they so did was that the Emperour was prest to haue beseged their city rouÌd about and they were vtterly forsaken of their fellowes and sawe no mans helpe that was able to defende them against so great a power Moreouer for that certen of the chiefest of the confederates sued vnto the Emperour priuatly to be reconciled The Emperour condempneth theÌ in a hondreth thousand crownes and twelue pieces of ordenaunce and put into their citie ten enseignes of fotemen In this meane whyle the Erle of Bure inuadeth the Lantgraues dominion liyng aboue Franckfurt and the towne and castell of Darmestat he wynneth partly by force partly by surendrie he fireth the castell and spareth the people For none defended it but the inhabitauntes and a company taken out of the couÌtrey After he passeth by Franckfurt And where as he was out of hope to wynne the same by violence especially that tyme of the yeare and his soldiours in so euyl plyght he sendeth away parte of his army before to passe ouer the Rhyne and willeth them to tary him at Mentz And whan he thought nothing lesse and was now returning home behold they of Franckfurt sending Ambassadours offer to render and say they wil be at commaundement He without any tariyng turneth backward with them and entryng the town with his armie bringeth them in subiectioÌ to the Emperour And as he was a Gentleman of a plain nature whan the Senate gaue him a supper he iested with them as it is reported for rendryng so lightly and timourously saiyng howe they of Darmstat are worthy to inhabite Franckfurt and they to be remoued and dwell at Darmstat Which towne in comparison of Franckefurte is but a village Howbeit the cause why they did so amonges others was for that they sawe howe Ulme and the Duke of Wirtemberg should be reconciled And again fearing lest the marte should be taken from them for all their welth standeth by the same Neither were thei ignoraunt that they of Mentz and wormes laboured for it to the Emperour either citie for them selues to haue it froÌ them After sending Ambassadours they are receiued againe into the Emperours fauour paying him foure score thousand crownes Whan the Duke of Saxon was come with his armie to his own froÌtiers the .xxii. day of December sending his letters to the states of Duke Maurice where as I made no aunswere sayeth he to your letters bearing date the .xi. daye of October I did it purposely and would tary to se the ende but what hath ben done in the meane tyme it is openly knowen Howbeit by reason of the Cosynage league and amitie that is amonges vs and for my benefites toward your Prince certenly I loked for no suche thing either of him or yet of you Nor I woulde neuer haue thought that euer he would haue vsed me and my people in suche sorte as hs hath done Much lesse that you wold geue him suche counsell as shoulde tende to the destruction of the whole countrey and your owne dommage also But I thinke this tyme semeth vnto you conuenient wherin should be vttered the craftie deuises and counselles of certen of you contriued many yeares since but of God alwayes repressed For consider with your selues what an acte of yours was this whan you counselled Duke George to disherite his brother and hys brothers chyldren because of their contrary Religion and to make the Emperour king Ferdinando his heires vnles they would professe and restore the byshops Religion And where as the wyl and legacie toke no place but the whole inheritaunce was reduced to his brother Henry and the doctrine of the Gospell reteyned that was chiefly wrought through the meanes and industrie of me and my league frendes And albeit that he professing our Religion entred into our league also and wrytynges made of the same and sygned aswell in his owne as also in his sonnes name yet did you for as muche as your fyrste hope was frustrate moue him as much as you might to swarue from this his couenaunt And whan he was departed hys sonnes also followed the steppes of their father vndoubtedly through your counsell And like as that inheritaunce against your willes descended vnto Henry and his sonnes so did also the frendshyp that I had with Henry not a litle greue you full ofte haue assayed that the same might be vntwyned Neyther was your enterpryse altogether frustrate and that which you could not bryng to passe whylest he liued you haue now at the last obteined of his sonnes especially of Maurice of whom I had conceiued in my mynde moste hope of vertue and frendshyp For fiue yeares synce not long after he was made a Magistrate you styred him vp against me whiche had not deserued that at his handes and that in suche wyse as the matter wanted not great daunger And albeit that the tempest was bloweÌ ouer through the mediation of the Lantgraue and a bonde made that no suche thyng should be attempted hereafter but that the matter should be ordered on both parties according to thauncieÌt league yet haue you in my abseÌce perswaded hym his brother Augustus to sease vpoÌ my prouince Which thing assuredly greueth me so muche the more for that he both wryting and receiuing again ryght frendly letters did signifie no suche thinge Againe that he would do nothyng herein at the request of the Lantgraue and his fellowes The calamitie of the innocent people and of my subiectes
wherfore the fotemen which already possessed the suburbes go to the assault of the towne with a lusty courage wynne it spoyle it and taketh the ordenaunce from the ennemy Whylest these things were thus a working Marques Albert seketh whiche way he might escape and taketh the Ryner but he was intercepted by the Duke of Luneburg brought to the prince Electour The garrison within the town was six enseignes of fotemen They putting them selues into a ringe by the helpe of the other horsmen stand to their defence but vanquished with a multitude they were taken all and striped out of their armure And whaÌ they had made promyse not to serue against the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes of six monethes after they were so let go without rauÌsom The horsemen poursuing after those .iiii. enseignes of footemen that escaped ouer the bridge did slea a great numbre of them which were all for the most part Italians and Spaniards Marques Albert had what of Kyng Ferdinando what of the Emperour as good as a thousand and fiue hundred horsemeÌ ten enseignes of foot men and .xiiii. field pieces Thei fought from the breake of the day tyll none The Duke of Saxon lost not many of his men amonges them Wuolfie Theodorick a man of a noble courage who beyng stryken with a gunne lefte his lyfe a fewe dayes after The nombre of them that were slaine within the town was accompted a thousand without the town and in the Ryuer thre hondreth After the conflict the Electour with Albert his prisoner retourneth to Aldenburg and after signifieth the whole matter into Boheme sheweth that he wil do nothing against the league and desireth to haue those punished which had attempted against his subiectes with sword and fyre The Duke of Wirtemberg had condicioned so sone as he might for his sickenes to come make his submission to the Emperour he commeth therfore to Ulme in the moneth of Marche âhan he was not yet recouered and sitting in his saddel by the Emperours permission in asmuche as he could not remoue nor bowe him self by his couÌsellors kneling for him he desireth to be pardoned of his fault promising from henceforth aldew obedieÌce Whan themperour hereunto had made a gentle aunswere he departeth immediatly for the war of SaxoÌ he goeth to Norling Whilest the Duke of Wirtemberg on this wise made his submission there was a great resort and concourse of people which hauing therof knowledge before came thither flocking thicke and threfolde In those thre forsaid places of the land of Wirtemberg the Emperour had placed garrisons a good while before for the most part all Spaniardes â The nyntenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the nyntenth Booke THe fathers of Trent make their seuenth sessions The Emperour hauing accorded with them of Strasburg marcheth forth with his armie Fraunces the Frenche kyng dyeth shortly after the kyng of England The counsell of Trent is diuided The Duke of SaxoÌ taken in battell notwithstanding his condemnation to death remayneth constant in Religion Wittemberge being rendred the vniuersitie is destroyed Suite is made for the agrement of the Lantgraue who coming to the Emperour is stayed prysoner Kyng Ferdinando appeaseth them of Prage A commotion at Naples by reason of the Spanish inquisition The coronation of the Frenche kyng is described The citie of Maidenburg is outlawed An assemblee is holden at Auspurg Peter Aloesse the Popes sonne is murthered The Duke of Somerset wynneth a great battell of the Scottes Whan the Princes of the Protestauntes were vanquyshed the cities were made afrayd Stryfe aryseth for the imprysonyng of the Lantgraue Request is made that the Fathers should retourne to Trent but the Pope and suche as were gone to Boloigne le grasse stode styf in their opinions in so muche that there is great disordre in the counsell of Trent THe third day of Marche was the seuenth Session of the fathers at Trent In this are condeÌpned al suche as either say there are fewer Sacramentes of the church thaÌ seuen or that al were not of Christes institution who deny that one is of more dignitie than an other who say they be only externall signes of grace or that rightuousnes is receiued through Christe faith who deny that grace is geuen through the receiuinge of the same who say that through Baptisme Confirmation and orders is not imprinted in the soule a spirituall token or marke that can neuer be scraped out or the al men haue lyke authoritie to minister the same or that the accustomed ceremonies of the churche in the administration of the same may be omitted or altered whiche say that the doctrine of the churche of Rome mother and maistres of al others concerning Baptisme is not sincere whiche saye that Uowes made after Baptisme are of no importauÌce and are rather a derogation of the faith which they haue professed And say that Confirmation is an Idle Ceremony and was in tymes past nothing els but an instruction of youth and deny that the vertue and instinction of the holye Ghost is not present at Confirmation which ascribe the coÌfirmyng of children not to byshops only but take it to be the fuÌction of any other priest After this decrees are made of ecclesiasticall benefices That Byshops other Prelates of the church be lawfully begotten that they be of yeares maners and learning sufficient That no man of what estate or degree soeuer he be of do enioy do Byshoprickes than one and they that possesse many may kepe styll whiche of them they liste and within one yeares space shall put away the rest That suche as haue cure and charge of soules be them selues resident neyther let them substitute others in their place vnlesse it be for a tyme so as if they haue declared a cause of their absence to the Byshop and he hath allowed the same whose part it shal be to forsee that the people be not neglected and that priestes offences be punished and such vices as reigne amonges them be straitly corrected After was the .xxi. day of Aprill assigned for the next assemblie Whan king Ferdinando was come to Duke Maurice at Dresda the eight day of Marche he writeth to the Bohemers howe Iohn Friderick is prefixed to inuade them Therfore let them take hede to their matters and obeye Weittemulle whome he hath appointed his deputie in his absence The Ambassadours of Strasburg whiche as I sayde went to Ulme returning home where the Senate did not mislyke the conditions prescribed of the Emperour they are sent agayn to coÌclude throughly As they were traueling they fynde the Emperour at Norlyng there liyng sicke of the Gowte and the .xxi. day of Marche making their submission thei were reconciled The conditions were very tollerable For neyther the Emperour charged them with any garrison and was
For albeit that al papistry in a maner was therin established yet for asmuch as certeÌ things wer permitted to the contrary part they thought it first expedieÌt to make the bishop priuy Who after openet ãâ¦ã themperor by cardinal Stoudrate these notes or any inaduersioÌs That a priest which hath takeÌ ordres shuld mary execute stil yâ holy ministry was neuer hard of that the vse of receiuing the Lords supper vnder both kinds is abrogated nether hath any maÌautority to permit that liberty sauing the bishop of Rome the sinode that the folowers of the old religioÌ are not to be bouÌdeÌ vnto these doctrins but if any Lutheranes wil forsake their opinions thei are not to be refused That of the .ii. masses ought only to be vnderstaÌd of the Lutheranes that the singing of Psalmes ought to be restored in al places that on holy daies they must celebrate the memoriall of the patrone of the church that suche as are priestes already or hereafter shal be muste abstayne froÌ Mariage that a spedy restitution of the church goodes and iurisdictioÌ must be made For the Robbery is manifest nether must they folow herein thordinary proces of the law but determin of yâ thing that is euideÌt execute the matter by regal power WheÌ this ceÌsure was inferred tharchbishops of MeÌtz Treuers Collen vnto whoÌ it was deliuered answer theÌperor directly after the same sort especially vrge restitutioÌ declaring the same to be right necessary if christeÌ religioÌ shuld be maintained in places wher it is abolished shuld again be restored Moreouer the coÌmon peace caÌ not otherwise be established wherfore it is chiefli to be prouided that religious houses be wholy restored And in as much as the spoil extortioÌ is manifest they must go spedeli to work that gods seruice may withal spede be recouered Finally they desire him to take these things in good part with his protectioÌ to defeÌd the meÌbers of the church The .iii. other electors wer not of the same opinioÌ especially the Paulsgraue Duke Moris yet ether of theÌ had causes why they shuld not gainsai themperor The rest of the princes whiche wer for the most part bishops answer in like maner as did the iii. Archbishops As for the cities ther was no great accompt made of theÌ Themperour therfore at the Ides of Maye calleth all the States before him And in the preface speaking of his zeale towardes Germany saieth we perceiue by manifest arguments by the thing it self the neither the peace can be established nor law iustice ministred vnlesse the coÌtrouersie of religioÌ the first appeased which hath now many peares sturred vp thempire muche grudge dyssention hatred discorde ciuile warres This hath bene verely the cause why by many coÌueÌtions coÌfereÌces we haue often sought a remedy But in the meane time not only in Germany but also into other natioÌs and people of ChristeÌdome hath this same coÌtageous infection pearsed in so much that ther appereth no more present remedy than a general couÌsel which at the leÌgth at your request we procured to be holdeÌ at TreÌt and moued you also at the beginning of this conuentioÌ to submit your selues to thauthoritie of yâ same And that yâ charge might be coÌmitted vnto vs in the meane seasoÌ to deuise some godly meanes wherby they might liue quietly the meane while in Germany which coÌteÌtatioÌ and coÌfydeÌce of youres was vnto vs both thaÌ now also right acceptable What time therfore we gaue our selues wholy vnto this carefulnes demauÌded your opinions we than perceiued not without the great grief of our mynde that the disagrement in religion was thoccasion of all the former euils And vnlesse it be foresene hereafter wylbe Wherefore we thought it not good to leaue the matter in that troublesome state vntyll the decree of the counsell but that it oughte to be broughte to some moderation especially sith that oftentimes new sectes did arise Whilest we were poÌdering these things certain of high degre nobility desirous of peace louers of the coÌmon weale exhibite to vs in wryting theyr opinioÌ coÌcerning religioÌ promise due obeisaÌce We than receiuing yâ wryting deliuered the same to certaine good learned deuines that they shuld among theÌ selues consider al things diligeÌtly which after they had perused it made report that yâ same being wel vnderstand did not impugne the catholike religion and doctrine nor the lawes and coÌstitutions of the church two opinions only excepted wherof th one is of the mariage of priestes thother of the Lordes supper but said it was wel deuised to establish the concord of Germany which thing dousles vnto vs shuld be most of all acceptable for what more ioyful thing could happeÌ theÌ to se al states in mindes agreable follow one the same forme of Religion And seing it is eueÌ so we require such as haue obserued hitherto the lawes custome of the catholike church to their great coÌmendation that they perseuer in the same alter nothing as they haue promised vs heretofore And those also which haue chauÌged their religioÌ we desire most earnestly to passe with thother states professe the same religion that they do or els to coÌfyrme their doctrine after the order of this boke in euery poynt to follow the steps hereof besides that to ordaine nothing but to stay within these boundes limites and neither by wryting nor preaching to attempt any thing to the contrary but obedieÌtly to atteÌd the decre of a general couÌcel that the same may be had as shortly as is possible we wil indeuor with al diligeÌce now ar occupied in this thing wholy how to coÌceaue a forme for the reformatioÌ of the clergie WhaÌ he had spokeÌ thus by his secretary as is accustomed he coÌmauÌded the boke to be red Ther tharch bishop of meÌtz which occupieth the chiefest place amoÌg thelectors not seking what thopinioÌ of stats shold be ariseth vp as it wer in the name of al the rest geueth vnto theÌperor for so much trauel pain care diligeÌce loue of yâ couÌtrey imortal thaÌks in asmuch as thei haue already coÌmitted the thing to his fidelitie now paines hath beÌ takeÌ therin he saith it is reason that they should with most willing minds acknowledg thesame obey the decre This thaÌks geuing did theÌperor take for a coÌmon assent coÌfirmatioÌ after wold admit none excuse as I shall herafter declare coÌmaundeth the boke to be set forth in print both in latin duch also The iiii day after he declareth to the stats with how much labor cost he hath restored peace vn to Germany because the thing it self requireth that it be also prouided for in time to come he supposeth it veri mete necessari some great treasure of money beleuied and in certeine places be kept the common treasurie that if it fortune at
of her husband But whan Ulrich Duke of Wirtemberge hard of the misery of Brentius all be it he him selfe was in great daunger yet gaue he relief secreatly to him and his family Furthermore the Cities of Sweuia following all for the moste parte the Emperoures authority promised to accomplish his commaundement Wherfore the preachers euery where remoued out of diuers places least they should commit any thing vnworthy their profession Andreas Osiander for this cause leauinge Norinberge wente into the lande of Prusse Spire and Woormez had but ether of them one which fled also to saue them selues William the Earle of Nassowe suffred Erasmus Sarcerius to depart for the same cause Moreouer the Duke of Wirtemberge in whose country were garrisons of Spaniardes euery where as hath bene saied whan the commaundement came from the Emperour caused the Boke setforthe to be recited in the Pulpit and commaundeth that no man do any thing to the contrary and if any man wil say Masse he geueth them liberty and chargeth his subiectes that they disturbe no Priest and putteth awaye those Ministers of the Church which would not allow the boke Amonges whome was Erardus Schueffius The Emperoure by Granuellane and the bishop of Arras moued the Duke of Saxon captiue to obey the decree and followe the doctrine of the Boke setforth And albeit they assaid him with fair promises and shewed him some hope of deliueraunce yet he perseuered constante in his opinion And the laste yere saithe he amoÌges the condicions whiche the Emperoure propounded this was wrytten also that I shoulde approue the decrees that shoulde be made by him and by the Counsell concerning Religion but whan he perceiued that I coulde not be induced through the terroure or feare of any pearill to assent he released the same condicion and after that neuer moued any thing to me concerning religion Whiche certenlye I toke than in steade of a great benefite and being cased hereof as of a most waighty burtheÌ al the other conditions which the Emperoure at his pleasure determined on my parson and all my goodes I suffered the more easelye and with the better wil trusting that from henceforth I shoulde be permitted to kepe my Religion free but now for so muche as he vrgeth me againe and commaundeth me to subscribe I do heare protest that I was so brought vp in my youth and after by the reading of holye scripture so confyrmed that I do beleue this doctrine to agree throughly with the wrytinges of the Prophetes and Apostles neyther can it be conuicted of any erroure For the whiche cause verelye bothe my father I and certaine other Princes exhibited in times past a confession of the same doctrine comprised in wrytinge and referred it to a lawful counsel considering therfore that God hathe illuminated me with the knowledge of his word it is not lawfull for me to forsake the truthe knowne vnlesse I woulde purchase to my self euerlasting dampnation Wherfore if I should nowe admit thys decree forasmuch as the same dothe in manye and moste waightye places dissent from the holy scripture I should condempne the doctrine of Iesu Christ which I haue professed hitherto And in word and speach should allowe that I know to be naughte and wicked But what thinge els were this than with painted and glosynge wordes to delude the deuine Maiesty and the Emperoure also Than the which thing what more wickednes can be committed For this is that same sinne against the holy ghost wherof Christe hath so diligently warned vs which shall neuer at any time be forgeuen And seinge it is so and that my conscience is tied with these bondes I most earnestly and for the mercy of God which he gaue vnto mankinde through the oblation of his soÌne pray and beseche that the Emperoure would not take in displeasure this my refusal For where as I do reteine the doctrine professed at Auspurge I do it for my soules health and setting all other thinges a parte do imagine howe after this miserable life I may be made partaker of the life and ioy euerlasting I heare say moreouer howe it is reported to the Emperour by diuers as though I nothing regarded religion but sought for a vaine glory and what thing els I know not I beseche you what thing coulde happen to me in this worlde more to be wished for especially being thus grose of bodye then liberty then to retourne to my wife and children than quiet and rest at home And I take God to witnes and than will also what time he shall take an accompt of vs all for our doinges that I respected nothinge els than that throughe the true worshippinge of God I might enioy the inheritance of the heauenly kingdoÌe Which thing I hartely desire that the Emperour would certainly beleue and be fully perswaded of me In all other thinges my will hath bene alwaies ready to gratify him and euer shal be and the infidelity and promesse which I haue made him that will I kepe as becommeth a iuste man and borne of noble parentage Furthermore I beseche him to remit all displeasure and at the lengthe to deliuer me from this continuall captiuity That I be not reported the first of all other Princes that should lead his life with him prisoner Where he perseuered thus constant and immouable they began to haÌdle him somwhat more hardly and toke from him his bokes of Scripture and was commaunded on daies forbidden to abstaine from fleshe The same preacher also whome by the Emperours licence he kept vntil this time whan he sawe present daunger hanginge ouer his head he chaunged his apparel and conueied him self awaye priuely At the same time came abrode out of the Emperoures court letters which the Lantzgraue was saide to haue wrytten to the Emperoure In those he saieth he hath commaunded his wife and couÌselloures that they should fulfil all the reast of the conditions and satisfy such as complaine for the warre past Againe he saieth how he hathe the boke wrytten of Religion And albeit there be manye thinges which he doth not wel vnderstand and the which he caÌnot affirme by the scriptures yet for somuch as they ground their thinges of antiquitie and authoritye of holy fathers he will not make him self wiser then they and doth both allow that wryting and wil deuise also that his subiectes shall obserue the same After this he offereth him his faith and seruice whether he shall warre with the Turke or with the Bishop of Rome or any forain kinges or with the Swishes or els wil vse him in Germany but he besecheth him for the loue of Christ and all saintes that he would lay awaye all displeafure and set him at liberty For now hath he bene deteyned prisoner a whole yeare and suffred punishmente inoughe and is brought to extreme misery Moreouer for a further assuraunce he will geue his two sonnes pledges vntill he be fullye satisfied And whatsoeuer way
and Italy In the meane tyme the Archebyshoppes of Germany especially of Mentz Collon and Treuers euery man in his owne diocese holde conuocations to thintent to refourme their churches after the order prescribed by the Emperour For this had they promised him to do In the prouince of Collon Bucer had taught before as in the .xv. boke is specified and there were diuerse ministers of the churche that had maried wyues But although the Emperours decree did permitte the mariage of priestes tyl the counsell should determine the same yet sayed the Bishop of Collon how that appertained only to the Lutherians and not to suche as folowed the churche of Rome Wherfore by a decree made he disanulleth matrimonies contracted and declareth them to be incestuouse and commaundeth the children be gotten of suche to be bastardes The Archebyshop of Treuers hath but a small prouince conteining only thre Byshoprykes Metz Tully and Uerdon There neded no suche lawe For the priestes in these places had rather haue coÌcubines thaÌ wyues But in the Archebyshopryke it selfe where there appered to be more daunger he decreed as his fellowes did The iurisdiction of Mentz is moste large For vnder hym be .xii. Byshops and almost all Hesse is also win his prouince Therfore he began to instaunt and vrge them to obey the Emperours decree Like wyse did the Archebyshop of Treuers who had also some iurisdictioÌ there But the Lantgraues sonnes and the other rulers and counsellours heard these thinges with deafe eares The Archbyshop of Mentz sent also to FraÌckfurth his suffragan Michel Sidonie Who first hallowyng the churches there preacheth teacheth after his maner The Byshop of Auspurge compelled certen priestes that were not constante to abiure their religioÌ and doctrine I spake before of the Frenchmen which in sommer went to ayde the Scottes They at the last bryng away in to Fraunce Mary the yonge Quene daughter and heire to the kyng that dead is beyng thaÌ syx yeares of age that they might thus take away from the Englyshemen all hope of optaynyng her This yeare that Byshop of Rome created Charles Uandome a Frencheman Cardinal After that Maximilian of Austrich was arryued in Spayne and had maried the lady Mary themperours daughter Phylippe the Emperours sonne a younge Prince of .xxi. yeares of age being sent for of his father prepareth him selfe to take his iourney And leauing behinde hym his cosin Germane the same his brother in lawe to gouerne the common wealth in his absence whan he was imbarked had set vp sayle the .xxv. daye of Nouember he arriueth at Genes with fiftie Galeis and as many shyppes of burthen by the conduite of Androwe Daurie who had transported Maximilian accompanied with a great nomber of Nobles amongest others the Duke of Alba and the Cardinall of Trente A fewe dayes after his arriuall he remaineth wout the walles in the house of Androwe Daurie the Admirall in the meane tyme that the Shippes were vnlading and preparation made in the citie The second daye of December he entred and was receiued moste sumptuously and being there furnyshed aswell of money as all other thinges mete and requisite to trauell by lande he departeth thence the eight daye after and passing by Alexandria and Pauie goeth to Millan At Pauie were the great battering peces which the Emperour had taken from Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxon and sent thither as before is sayde At Millan where he arriued the .xix. daye of December were set vp in euery place triumphant arkes pageoÌs and images with honorable posies written At his entring were ready to receiue him the Duke of Sauoye the Ambassadours of Uenise Florence Ferrare Seines About this tyme at Bruisselles died Maximilian Erle of Bure of a disease in the throte called the Quinancie whan his Phisition had tolde hym before as they saye the very houre of his death as sone as he sawe him whose name was Andrew Wessel I shewed you before of Duke Manrice how after the decree of ReligioÌ was red he departed from Auspurg Whan he was come home he assembleth the Nobilitie and the other states And propoundeth the whole matter at Misene declaring vnto them what the Emperours mynde is They vrge the Emperours promesse and his also and requyre instauntly that they may be suffered to kepe styll the Religion professed at Auspurge After it was agreed that the diuines of Wittemberge and of Lipsia should be called to counsell Wherfore they met first at Begge after at Celle last at Iuterbock Thither came also Iohn Islebie sent froÌ the Marques of BraÌdenburg Here was a decre made of thinges indifferent suche as are called Adiaphora the last conuention of all was at Lipsia Here was a fourme of Religion written whiche all men should obserue vnder the dominions of Duke Maurice Which boke afterwardes bred much contention as shal be declared in his place In the meane tyme the Emperours sonne procedeth on his iourney and passing by Mantua and Trent he coÌmeth to Auspurge and so to Spire After he passeth through the laÌd of Luke to the Emperour his father accompanied amongest others with the Cardinall of Trent The Emperour had sente to mete hym in Germany a goodly nomber of Horsemen at the conduite of the Duke of Arescot Duke Maurice goyng forth to mete him as farre as Trent rode forth with a small coÌpany to see Mantua and Uenise and was moste honorably interteyned of the Senate He intreated diligeÌtly the Prince of Spain that he would be a meane to the Emperour for the Lantgraue his father in lawe whiche after also he signified vnto him for as muche as the other had promysed right gently he byddeth hym be of good comfort yet neuerthelesse admonyshynge hym to dissemble the matter and not to be acknowen therof At this tyme was muche trouble in the partes of Barbarie Affrica For one Zeriphius as they say arrising of a smal beginning and atteyning to a kingdome had erpulsed Fesanus a kyng by hym out of his Realme who came after to the Emperour at Auspurge complayning of his misfortune and desyryng ayde Nicolas byshop of Metz the son of Anthony Duke of Lorayne and Tutour to the Duke his Nephew as I shewed you in the xvi boke forsaking ecclesiasticall order maried one of the house of Eckmount whiche was an inheritour in Brabant So the Bishoprike returned to the Cardinal of Loraine In what sorte the Ambassadours of Strasburge treated with the Emperour at Collon is before declared Whan they were retourned home shortly after they began to conferte with the Byshop who callyng before hym the Nobilitie sheweth them what the Emperours pleasure is to haue done and commaundeth them all to obey He chargeth also straightly the Clergie of Strasburg to followe the same And where he propounded ouer harde thinges the Senate the .xii. daye of February sending Henry Cope Ambassadour with letters to the Emperour saie howe they haue treated diligently
only againste whome if anye proclamation come forthe or if any decrees be made the matter is clearely out of doubt that the same oughte to be reiected and refused but of this sort is the decre made at Auspurge concerning religion Therfore can not we obey them that woulde make vs to receiue the same Mauger our heades and take from vs the lighte of the Gospel and setforth that Romish Idoll that they might draw vs into euerlasting damnation And seinge the case standeth thus ther can no rebellion of right be obiected vnto vs again euery maÌ may easely perceiue how vnlawful it is to worke anye violence against vs for in that are not we only assaied but this thing is wrought to th end that the professors of the true doctrine might vtterlye be extinguished that through our side mighte be wounded Christe him self and al godly people For we are al the members of Christe Wherfore such as defile them selues with so wicked a facte what thing els may they loke for but Gods vengaunce Touchinge the fortes and villages taken we haue spoken in our last former wryting neither is it neadefull to repeate the same For so sone as we shal be assured of peace we will restore them to the right owners Where also our enemies haue raised a brute as though there were vsed amonges vs an intermixed vncerten lechery it is a most impudeÌt lie Therfore we beseche you for the honor of God that ye do not defile your selues with innocent blud but pray God that he would confound the bloudy couÌsels of the wicked if it fortune to be war that they wold not deny them their aid After in the month of Aprill the ministers of the church setforth a wryting wherein they recite the confession of their doctrin and declare how it is lawful for the inferior magistrate to defend him self against the superior compelling him to forsake the truth and here they speke vnto and beseche themperor that he wold geue no credit to suche as incense him to practise vniust and wicked cruelty but that he wold first truly and duely examine the whole matter Finally they make earnest request that they may haue no war and if the thinge come so to passe they desire aid also of the inhabiters next them Of the trouble that I said fortuned in the head church at Strausburge the bishop made complaint to themperor but the Senate by an ambassadour sent declareth that ther was no fault in them wherfore themperour adressing his letters to the bishop commaundeth him to renue hys worke omitted to procede therin The bishop taketh firste assurance by othe of the Senate that ther shuld be no violence shewed nor any disturbance in theyr doing Thus at the length the clargy at the feast of Pentecost which was than the .xxiiii. of May began their matter again A few daies at the first the consuls certen other Senators wer ther in thother side of the Cathedrall church least any tumult shuld be raised And the clargy of the said church had inclosed that part of the chauncel as they go into the reuestry with grates of yron that no man could come nere At th end of May themperor departeth from Brussels with his sonne Phillip goeth to thassembly at Auspurge leading with him the duke of Saxon prisoner leauing the Lantzgraue at Machlin Not long after his departing thence ther was setforth a proclamation against the Lutheranes which was written both in French Flemish the .xxix. day of April and that was after this sort albeit saith themperor I haue alwaies indeuored that thauncient and true religion might within al my dominions be obserued albeit I haue bene euermore wholly bent that therrors sectes heresies which haue now these many yeres bensowen ouer al christendom might vtterly be abolished albeit that for the same cause I haue setforth soÌdry proclamations with most extreme penalties yet hearing saye not without the great grief of my mind that not only men of our own dominioÌ but also straÌgers which dwel within our prouinces occupy the trade of marchandise haue spread abrode thinfection of this mischief far and nere in such sort as it is doutles requisite to lay to this disease some corrasine or other sharp medicine make diligent inquisitioÌ after the offenders that the same plage maye be plucked vp by the rotes as in the last assemblies prouincial I admonished the states and gouernors that euery man for his part shuld diligeÌtly apply him self hereunto and stil remain in thold and catholick religioÌ Especially coÌsidering how it is openly sene of al men what tumultes commotioÌs this infection hath stirred vp to speake nothing in the meane time of the losse of saluation of soules Wherfore by thaduise of our most derely beloued sister and assent of oure nobles we make this new law straitly charge and commaund that no man whatsoeuer he be haue bie or distribute any bokes of Luther OecolaÌpadius Zwinglius Bucer or Caluine or any other bokes set forth xxx yeres past without the names of the authors as in the registre of the deuines of Louain is furthermore conteined moreouer that no man kepe any Image or picture made in contempt or mockery of our Lady or other saincts nether that he cast down or breake any Image painted or pourtraied in the honor of any saint that no man open his house vnto priuy conuenticles wherin bothe erroures are wont to be sowen men and wemen rebaptised and also conspiracies made against the church and the common wealth that no man either priuely or apartly dispute of the holy scripture especially of hard and doubtfull matters or take vpon him thinter pretation of the same vnlesse he be a deuine aucthorised by some commendable vniuersity they that shall otherwise do shal be punished as seditious persons and disturbers of the common tranquility and if they be men they shal die with the sword and womeÌ shal be buried in the ground quick in case they wil forsake theyr error but if they will be obstinate they shall be burnt and theyr goodes confiscated whether punishment so euer they suffer Againe they shall haue none authority to make any will and whatsoeuer they shall do herein since the time they first began to infringe thys oure law shal be frustrate and take no place Furthermore we charge coÌmaund that no man receiue into his house or aid with any thing such as he knoweth to be suspected of heresy but that he aduertise immediatly thinquisitour or gouernour of the place and shal suffer punishment if he do it not Such as not of obstinate malice but throughe infirmitye haue fallen into errour and heresies and yet haue not transgressed thys our law and haue done nothing seditiouslye but of their owne accord haue retourned to amendement and after they haue abiured be receiued again to grace shal after that haue no conference amongs them selues of matters
them did inhabite the citie And if we had bene disposed to haue wrought any violeÌce against them it was not harde to be done But we attempted nothing And whan the state of our thinges was such that we were constraimed to feare the power of our ennemie we called together the fellowes of the cathedral church And for so much as the light of the Gospel is reuealed and God also requireth the profession of the same we requyred them dilligently as we had doue many tymes before that they them selues woulde choyse some experte Diuine whiche myght teache Goddes worde in the Cathedrall churche For the same were boeth of it selfe very Godly and wold also helpe greatly to increase mutuall loue and beneuolence betwene them and the citezens And where as they refused we our selues prouided the thyng And because the ennemie was at hande and had already inuaded our limites we requyred of them that they would paye vs a certen somme of mony that they should sende no letters out of the citie that they should remayne with vs and inioye their owne possessions But they not long after departed out of the citie and beyng after requyred of vs to sende theyr Ambassadours at a certen day to Salsie with whome we might treate they proudely reiected the talke Wherfore whan they vttered their malice and spitefull hatred against vs we were also constreyned to requite them with the lyke For in case they had remayned with vs all this trouble myght haue bene auopded But they burned in malice against vs and many times to our distruction forged new diuises so must we of necessitie take armure for our own defence For vnlesse we had taken their townes villages there had bene a place of refuge left for the enne my And seing they be the reuenewes of the church of Mayden burg not theirs which persecute the church they may be rightly imployed to the defence of religion against false doctrine idolatrie Neither doeth the thing want examples of fourmer tyme. Themperour hath in dede outlawed vs but by no desert of ours as we haue heretofore oftener than once declared And this fortune or state is common to vs with the Prophes Apostles finally with Christe him selfe who for the profession of that truthe were afflicted as seditiouse rebelles and moste hurt full men of all others We haue intreated the Emperour coÌcerning our religion liberties but hitherto we labour in vayne to what ende belonge all their deuises in our former wrytinges we haue sufficiently declared verely the thing it self speaketh that this is ment only how wicked papistrie may be restored This controuersie hath oftentimes bene brought to a coÌmunication and certen conueÌtions haue ben had for the same cause but in the principall pointes we neuer were satisfied for that thambassadours sayd how their coÌmission stretched not so far Assuredly it greueth vs that exceadingly if any man shuld susteyne any daÌmage for our cause But yet such as are godlymeÌ we doubt not but they will thinke as we doe will iudge all thinges to be suffered rather than the confession of the truthe shuld be forsakn For seing Christ hath so loÌg before prophecied of the incoÌmodities that insue vpoÌ this profession hath also appointed euerlasting rewardes for them that leaue their wyues chyldren and possessions for his sake why do we not truste to these certen and large promesses Certenly they that relent for feare of their owne daunger and feare displeasures those procure vnto them selues euerlastyng damnation vnlesse they repente That thing whiche our aduersaries impute vnto vs may be rightly ascribed vnto them For they lyue a fylthie shamefull and a beastly lyfe and which places as thei beare rule there can the citezens very hardly desende from them the chastitie of their wyues and daughters We toke of the commons a litle monie and not with suche an extremitie as they fayne we dyd Unto that whiche they speake of the custome aunswere myght be made yf they had spoken more playnly The Rampare wherof they make mention whiche yet belongeth nothyng to them we cut a sonder for a commune commoditie For through the meanes therof many tymes hath hurte bene done in our countrey and whan thei had taken their botie the spoylers were wont to escape that waye and to retyre them selues out of daunger Theycrie out that we haue intreated euill the Gentlemen that are our neighbours But what so euer we haue done in that behalfe we haue bene constreyned to doe it whan we had a yeare and more suffered the iniuries of many That whiche they saye concerning women and maydens we vtterlye denie such of the Nobilitie as were taken prysoners we released with their seruaunts without raunsome and the matter was quieted emongest vs by coÌposition They enlarge exceadinglye the accoumpte of the harmes done and name it to be eight hondreth thousand crownes What if we shuld shew againe into how much mysery thei haue brought vs Pictures suche other thinges haue bene set forth priuely in mo places then one but al the blame is layd on vs. Where as for certentie we haue straightly commaunded by setting vp letters openly that no man should attempte to do any thyng presumptuously against the Emperour or any other Prince And certen also haue therfore bene punished There haue bene other bookes also set forth amongest vs we denie not wherin both Idolatrie is impugned and many mens consciences erected We confesse that we had an ouerthrowe the good wyll of God being so not vtterly to distroye vs but to alure vs to the amendemeÌt of life Certenly thei died honestly and Godly for the glory of Gods holy name and preseruation of the common wealth And we doubt not but God when he seeth tyme will mercifully loke vpon our affliction and also punishe our aduersaries Neither chaunced this thing by fortune as they pretende For they intised hereunto George Duke of Megelburg with large giftes and promesses And yet in the meane tyme through a crafty policie they called the other states of the byshopryke to Stasfort as it were to consulte by what meanes they might driue those robbers as they themselues than called them out of their cositrie For it is to be proued by their own letters that they hired soldiours yea they boaste and glory that they care not greatly for common hurte and dammage For beit that they susteyne some losse and hinderaunce yet saye they howe the lande and grounde remaineth in their possessioÌ What time therfore word was brought vs that the towne Wanslebe was by them sodenly taken spoyled and brent a great nomber also of villages distroyed in so muche that there came ruÌning vnto vs out of the countrey husband men women and maidens with plentie of teares desiring our aids we could not assuredly fayle theÌ And although the thing had no good successe yet doubt we not but that we did God thanckfull seruice And now where they saye
The same do the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg and the case was comen to them al. Which they notwithstanding for that it was long or they came followed and vrged chiefly and therfore they intreated diligently the thre Archbyshops Electours and the Cardinall of Trent a great-frende to Duke Maurice and the Emperours Ambassadours that for the common wealth sake they would both be wylling them selues and also perswade the rest of the fathers herein For none of the Ambassadours would go to the legate Crescentius or any of his fellowes legates least thei should appere to attribute to them any thing But bycause they were sent to followe the Emperours mynde satisfie the decre of the Empire therfore they vsed his Ambassadours which was their high chief magistrate for their intercessours And at this present time came newes the within a few daies Duke Maurice wold come to the Emperour Whiche made al men to be of better hope a great deale more willing In this moneth was beheaded at LoÌdon the Duke of Somerset vncle as I said before to the king of Englande with him certeÌ of his frendes as Michel Stanope sir Rafe Fane sir Myles Partrich knightes And some reported that the same was done by the procurement of the Duke of Northumberland They that were of the wittier sorte began euen than to feare the good king whome after his kinsfolkes were dispatched out of the waye they sawe was more open to daunger treason For after the Duke of Somerset was dead the Duke of Northumberland put to the king newe chamberlaines amonges them his own sonnes kinsmen Whan the daye of the next session was now at hand the Emperours Oratours sending for thambassadours of Duke Maurice declare what thei haue done with the fathers in their cause How thei haue obteined a saufeconduict such as they wyshed for How also thaction may be discontinued differred vntill they come may be present at the same For that al nations people be not there assembled that lieth not in the fathers to perfourme The counsel was lawfully soÌmoned And although al meÌ come not yet standeth it neuerthelesse in his ful strength dignitie that suche decrees as are made should be reuoked let them consider them selues howe vndecent a thing it were For it belongeth to the reproche and infamie of so great an assemblie Let Diuines come only They shall both be in all matters hearde and also intreated moste gently And if any thyng offende theÌ or be done without reason if they see them selues ouermuche aggrauated they haue free libertie to departe whan they wyl They desyre them earnestly that they would geue some thynge to the tyme and not to couet to haue all thynges graunted theÌ in this one moment Whan they shall come to the action than may dyuerse thinges by occasion be obteyned whiche appeare nowe very harde The fathers they saye be very desyrous of a reformation and wyll not fayle to doe their dutie and longe sore for the Diuines comming vnto whome they wyll shewe all good wil fidelitie and haue thynges to propouÌde of great importaunce and desyre that they may begynne to the intent that by this occasion they may come forth also That whiche they requyre moreouer touchyng the submission of the Byshop of Rome they desyre them some thyng to qualifie The fathers do see and perceyue that there is som what in that high dignitie that may be reprehended and ought in dede to be redressed But yet must they procede after some fine deuise The Emperours mynde and wyll is that all thinges should be ritely and lawfully done But they finde by daily experience howe fayre and dissemblingly they must treate with the Byshops legates For verely they must vse a singular dexteritie and deale with them by policie Wherfore let them nowe contente them selues with suche thinges as are grauÌted which are surely not without their great trauell obteyned and fynde the meanes that the Diuines may make haste And than will they neyther in publique nor priuate cause omitte any parte of their dutie And whan they were come hytherto they deliuer vnto them the saufeconduicte Whiche they byd them reade and after to sende it them againe This was the .xxii. daye of Ianuary And thus sending them awaye in the selfe same momente call for the Ambassadours of the Duke of Wirtemberge And first make an excuse touching the fourmer tyme by the moste weightie affaires of the fathers But nowe if they haue anythyng to doe they be ready to further thesame They sayd how they haue had a long tyme nowe thinges to propounde and to be hearde with spede Assone as they were dimissed they sende for the Ambassadour of Strasburge and speake to the same effecte He declared briefly wherfore he was sent by reason of Coletane vnto whome he had not spoken before For this present he sayde he had nothing els to saye and how he loked dayly for letters froÌ home For immediatly after that Duke Maurice Ambassadours were come he was commaunded to wryte home what their coÌmission was and to attende what the Senate would haue done further more Howebeit he required theÌ in the meane tyme that in those matters whiche the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice had preferred vnto them they would so vse them selues that they myght come forthwith to open treatie They saide againe howe they had certen thinges to do with the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and of the Duke of Wirtemberge Whan any thing shal be done they will let hym vnderstaÌde that he may signifie the same to his citezens They verely do greatly wyshe for a concorde And the Emperour also applieth his whole endeuour study to the same They desire very muche also that thaction might beginne and doubte not but God wyll assiste that moste honest enterprise Whan this was done the Ambassadours of Saxon Wirtemberg Strasburge hauing coÌference together do way that fourme of saufe conduicte whiche they had receiued And for so muche as they had wrytten out before euery chapter of the decree of Basill the all men might see especially suche thynges as concerned any weightie matters it was not hard for them by and by to discerne in what places this dissented from that Whan they had therfore perused it ouer streight waye they perceiued that the chiefest places were partely altered and partly omitted For in the saufeconduicte that in times past was geuen to the Bohemers are these thinges amongest others That they shuld haue also authoritie to decide matters That in al matters of coÌtrouersie the holy scripture the order of the primatiue churche suche counselles interpretours as were agreable to the scripture should be in stede of the iudge That they might vse their owne seruice at home That nothing shuld be done in conteÌpt or reproche of their doctrine Wherof the first the thirde laste were cleane omitted And the second and chiefest thing in dede was sore altered
to the states in suche sorte as I shewed you in the last boke The ministers of the churche driuen out of the lande of Boheme the learned men that were in Meissen and in Wittemberge and amongest others MelaÌchthon comfort them with an epistle and shew the craft of the coÌtrary part who affirmed that they kept a necessary order in the churche that those whiche either had not receiued orders at the Byshops hande or had wynes could not minister the Sacramentes For this cause of expulsion they fayned that they should not seme to haue a desire to oppresse the true doctrine but these men shewe how it is a starke tyraÌny that maried priestes should be put from the holy ministery For SathaÌ was the authour of prohiting matrimony as it is euideÌt by the scriptures And that we ought not to seke to be ordeined of the byshops that are the open ennemies of the Gospell and defende idols but of that fellowship which hath pure doctrine therfore hath the keyes of the kingdome of heauen For it were to absurde dauÌgerouse if Shepeheardes should be ordeined of wolues The churche to haue had alwayes right to chouse mete ministers and that so was the decree of the counsell of Nice And they that were so chosen and tried to haue bene confirmed of them that gouerned Godly congregations The same maner to bee nowe also obserued and therfore that it is a sclaunder to saye that they disturbe or breake order Since therfore the matter is so and that for the true professing of the Gospell they be expulsed they ought to take this calamitie so muche more moderatly For God wyll not fayle them in his tyme And that they be ready with theyr next churches to shewe them all loue and hospitalitie Where the Frenche men at the Ides of DeceÌber of the yeare before had by the conduit of Brissake taken Eporedia a towne in the Alpes by the water of Durie This yeare the third daye of Marche they intercept the town of Casale nere vnto the Poo wherin was a garrison of Spaniardes and Almaynes vpon the sodayne and with in a fewe dayes after the Castell also Afterwarde bringe many other thinges into their subiection And amongest others thei rase and make euen with the grouÌd Ualence and Saluadore The sixt day of Marche August Duke of Saxony Ioachim Marques of BrandeÌburg Princes Electours The sonnes also of Duke Iohn Fridericke the Lantgraue certen other Princes of thesame countrie assemble at Numburg vpon the Riuer of Sale there renew the league of inheritauÌce whiche is betwixt the houses of Saxon BrandeÌburg Hessia as I shewed in the .xxiiii. boke also determine that they would sticke constantly to the coÌfession of Auspurg And least there should any suspicion arise of any new or secret couÌsell the fift day after that they came thether they signifie the cause of their assemble to the Emperour in wryting In the former yeare what time a compact was made betwene Augustus Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxonie this was also agreed vpon yâ the old familiar leage should be renewed To witte that league whiche was made an hondreth yeres since more after established by a lawe And therfore that they haue now met for the same cause as that league was profitable to their elders all the people so likewyse thei trusted that it shuld com theÌ luckely to passe since thei sought for nothing els but peace traÌquillitie did it to the displeasure of no man Moreouer that after the maner of their auÌcesters they haue excepted his highnes his brother king of Romains and as they intende priuatly to kepe mutual amitie amongest theÌ selues so wil they also openly doe that their dutie requireth which may become obedient Princes of thempire And that in Religion they wil not procede any further than is limited in the confession of Auspurg but for as much as in the same are coÌteined the chief articles of the Christian doctrine no wicked sedicious opinion can be found therin thei wil through Gods grace perseuer in thesame doctrine neither wil they fayle also the coÌmon welth of Germany so far forth as thei are able with their trauel counsel treasures And for as much as at this time being not moste quiet for the auoiding of a further discoÌmoditie they abide at home they haue sent Ambassadours to thasseÌblee of thempire who haue in coÌmaundemeÌt to refer al their counsels doings vnto peace so that neither for religioÌ nor any ciuile cause any force or violeÌce should be feared For the peace once established it shal be an occasion that other coÌtrouersies may be the better appeased That the state doubtles of the coÌmon welth now is such that it is great nede to ioine together all their forces mindes that a wyder entrie be not set open to the Turkes to inuade vs How they know wel enough howe greatly he desireth that so sone as may be a sufficieÌt army might be prepared to repres thennemies violence Wherfore now in case such a peace might be established ther is no doubt but the states of thempire wold gladly imploy their substaunce vpon the same war which verely hitherto by reason of sondry tumultes ciuile discordeshath bene omitted That they wil be alwaies ready haue coÌmaunded their ambassadours to offer these thinges in their name at the counsel thesame day they write to king FerdinaÌdo in a maner to the same effect as before I said the Duke August did by his Ambassadours For both they vrge yâ same coÌpact of Passawe shew how desirous they are of peace Thei coÌmend the doctrine coÌfessed at Ausperge and exhort him to confirme the peace and also pray him that he wold geue no credit to such as haply seke to disturbe the quiet of Germany At the Ides of March the Archbishop of Mentz departed out of this life whom we saied to haue bene at the counsel of Trent after was put to flight by Marques Albert Whom Daniel BreÌdel succedeth The. viii day after that byshop of Mentz which was the .xxiii. day of March dieth Pope Iuly the third Who for bicause he had so easely beyond al expectatioÌ recouered England was thought to haue coÌceaued also a woÌderful hope of Germany And had therfor sent thither Cardinal Morone who the next day after that he was dead came to the couÌsell of thempire at Auspurg But with in eight daies after hearing newes therof the last day of March he departeth thence againe and with Truckesse Cardinal of Auspurg spedeth him to the ElectioÌ at Rome The Cardinals that wer at Rome not tarieng for the rest made hast the .ix. day of April proclaime Pope Marcellus the secoÌd of that name The same that was sent Ambassadour with Cardinal Farnese to the Emperour of Paul the third as I shewed you in the .xiii. boke The Cardinal of Auspurg a fewe
howe those whiche take vpon them the title of olde and Catholique Religion not without the great dishonour of God handle Religion and abuse the churche goodes Neuerthelesse to establishe a peace they do permitte that they may kepe styll their lawes Rites and ceremonies and inioye all their goodes landes and possessions customes rightes and priuileges tyll suche tyme as the dissention in Religion be accorded Wherfore they can not allowe that they shoulde prescribe that condition to the Byshoppes For so should it come to passe that they them selues shoulde be bounde to impugne the approuers and felowes of their owne Religion And to theyr great dishonour they shoulde condemne their owne cause For this were saye they to graunte our Religion and doctryne not to be worthy of the Churche goodes and that the same goodes haue bene hetherto applied amisse to our Churches and Ministeries We should also confesse theyr wicked doctrine and ministerie to be grounded vpon Goddes worde and that the Churche goodes are consecrated to this fylthie lyfe of theyrs Lawes and Ceremonies But howe greate an assence woulde this thynge ingender yf we shoulde maynteyne the cause and lyuynges of them whyche doe perfourme no profitable nor necessary dutie to the Churche And shoulde betraye them who for the same Religion oughte of vs to bee moste set by The aduersaryes amonges other thinges saide this if the Clergie should be permitted to alter their Religion it would come to passe that Byshoprikes and suche other like colleges should be made prophane and by litle and litle being plucked away from the churche should come into the handes of Princes and be made their inheritaunce But they affirme that this was neuer their inteÌt But to haue had a respect to this only that being called again to their olde foundation they might be imployed to the true vses and that the same goodes might be annexed to the same churches for euer And to take awaye all doubtes they promise to put in good assuraunce that in what Byshoprikes or Colleges soeuer Religion shall be altered no part of their goodes to be alienated and that after the death or resignation of the byshop free election and administration should be permitted to the College But where after muche reasoning they could not agree they exhibite on both partes to kyng Ferdinando their reasons comprised in wrytinge and requeste hym that he wold fynde some waye This was after the Ides of Iune For they proceded very slowly The cause wherof many thought to be that the conclusion of peace betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng was loked for For that the same was thought to make not a litle for either parte But the Papistes made as it were an extraordinary wryting vehement and byting to the intent they myght the more set forth their matter And firste saye they the protestauntes haue propounded fiue conditions First that the catholiques should allowe that doctrine which many yeares past in this our time also by by so sone as it spraÌg vp of the ordinary magistrate hath bene alwayes condeÌned Secondly that the sacrileges which they by the space of these .xxx. whole yeres haue coÌmitted should be ratified allowed that neither by law nor by other godly lawful meanes the church may recouer that same goodes But they wold also haue peace to be made with them where notwithstaÌding it is forboden to haue any coÌpany with them Moreouer that thei might place in the colleges churches of archbishops of other prelates wicked ministers to set forth dotestable condeÌned doctrine to abolish the true seruice ceremonies of the church to bring in new wicked in their place that they may norish those false preachers of the churche goodes directly against tholde lawes custome of the churche Further more that it should be lawefull for all persones as well ecclesiastical as ciuile which as yet followe the catholique religioÌ to reuolt froÌ their true religion to come and followe their lore Finally when any of the Princes or Byshops do reuolt to their syde that it shall not concerne the same persone only but must apperteine to the people also that are subiecte to his gouernement and to the goodes and the whole ecclesiasticall iurisdiction Nowe although these thinges do striue with the lawes of God and man albeit thei be contrary to the othe both of themperour and of the king and of al the Prelates in so muche that the catholiques may not conueniently receiue them vnlesse they would breake both their fayeth and promesse yet for as much as they sticke obstinatly to their pourpose and threaten force also the catholiques at the length are contented so farre forth as they ought to do by the pacification of Passawe and haue declared the same sufficiently in the Senate of the Empire shewyng how they can not graunt that libertie of chaunging religion indifferently to all men For so should it come to passe that the Empire shoulde be broughte to desolation and that hyghe top of dignitie taken away from Germany For it is the dutie of Archebyshops and other Prelates that not only they do not permitte any Religion condemned but also that they should admonishe and put in feare Byshoppes and suche others yea the vnlearned that are ready to reuolte and suche as continue in their errour to present to the Catholique and Romishe churche For this maner hath euer since the tyme of the Apostels bene obserued as it is to be proued by sondry testimonies of counselles but chiefly by that of Calcedonie Neyther ought any man to thinke that suche as do reuolte should be left to their owne conscience For in thinges that concerne our fayth euery man ought not to be permitted to haue his coÌscience free But when any departeth from the commoÌ consent of the churche he ought to be punished and restreyned And in case he obeie not he must be excommunicated after the example of those counselles whiche are accompted the chief whiche condemned Arrius Macedonius Nestorius Eutyches And in dede the counsell of Calcedonie deposed Dioscorides the maynteyner of Eutyches from his Byshoprike For where it is sayde that euery man ought to haue his iudgement and conscience free And that neyther Christe nor his Apostles did euer compelle any to beleue yea when many went awaye from Christe there was none holden against his wyll this same verely is grounded vpon no foundation And is confuted by Saint Augustine at large in the two hondreth and fourth Epistle For if it should be free for Byshoppes forsaking the catholique Religion to reuolte to an other they wyll not relinquishe theyr Byshoprike for they wyll saye that they can noÌt doe it with a saufe conscience but they wyll desyre ayde of the ProtestauÌtes that they wyll assiste them in mainteining their state and keping of the people in their Religion If this be done there is no doubt but these wyl take in hande to defende them
the power of the counselles and churche to propounde or commaunde any newe doctrine besides the same whiche is left vs by the Prophetes of Christ and his Apostles That they speake of the consecrating of ministers to be fonde and worthy to be laughed at For that folishe and histrionicall annointing maketh nothing for the purpose Finally their wryting to be full of rayling opprobrious wordes but this they committe to God and would only aunswer the thynge in fewe wordes When this was the state of thinges king FerdinaÌdo whom both partes had requested that he would shewe some waye as before is sayde about the beginning of Auguste sendeth Ambassadours to the Electours certen other Princes with this message howe to obeye the Emperour his brother and to further the common wealth he came to Auspurge the third KaleÌdes of Ianuary not without the losse and hinderaunce of his owne affaires Againe when he was come thither how he was driuen to tary long because fewe or none were come before he could propounde any thing For the matter was differred tyll the nonas of February Than firste he declared the causes of sommoning the sayde assemblee But in consultations to haue had wonderfull delayes and not before the tenth Kalendes of Iuly was there any aunswere made hym and that but of one only point of the deliberation that is to witte of the peace in Religion and that selfe same aunswere not of one mynde but diuerse and contrary He verely fearyng this longe before had admonished them diligently that they woulde haue bene present at the counsell them selues If they followed his aduise herein the matter in his opinion might haue bene brought to an ende wyshed for Upon the other parte whiche concerneth the publique peace they doe nowe consulte but because it is to be thought that it can not be dispatched in a short tyme. Againe for bicause the state of his countries requyred his presence for as muche as the Turkes semed to attempte new matters and threaten sore notwithstanding that he treateth with them for peace Moreouer for as muche as nothing can be done or determined to any pourpose vnlesse they be present them selues therfore he thinketh good that the counsell be differred tyll an other tyme and that nowe a decree be made after this maner For as muche as through the absence of the Prynces nothynge can be determined they are agreed that all treatie be differed tyll the nexte assemblee the begynnynge whereof to be made at Regensburge aboute the Kalendes of Marche of the yeare followyng There the Princes them selues to bee present that they may together with the Emperour or with hym determine and ordeine those thynges wherof they haue nowe consulted and hereafter shall doe In the meane season the pacification of Passawe to remayne in full strength And for as muche as it conteyneth this fyrst that in the counsell of the Empyre should be treated whether that by a generall or by a prouinciall counsell of Germany or els by the conferrence of learned men the cause of Religion ought to be appeased Secondly that the thynge be done by the common couÌsel of al states not without the ordinary power of themperour Therfore he whiche loueth peace and concorde hath determined at the next assemblee to exhibitie a certen booke compiled for the reconciling of suche matters as are in controuersie but in it to be none intrapping and to be made only for this ende that the discorde shuld growe no further and that the offences might be mitigated Moreouer to thintent that they them selues may the better determine whether by the meane declared in the boke the dissention may be taken vp or whether that an other way must be sought for Therfore he requireth them to take this proroging in good part and that to the next counsell they would come them selues after his example who for the coÌmon welthe sake hath bene nowe so longe tyme out of his prouinces And that he hath chosen the place at Regenspurge for bicause for the imineÌt dauÌger of the Turke he may not depart far out of his owne countrie Let them aduertise him therfore what they wil do herein to the ende he may be certen that the matter shall not be forslowed that with vaine expectation the better part of the time do not passe away as it hath heretofore oftener than ones These requestes hearde the most part of the Princes thought it not good that he should departe before the peace confirmed For al Germany to be in great expectation of this matter And since they agree nowe better in voyces than euer they did before this time they beseche him that he woulde make an ende before his departure To the intent verely that in the next assemblee they might with so muche more expedicion take order and determine of Turkishe matters which yet remained As touching the boke which he wold exhibite many of them sayde howe the like would come of that as chaunced to the other boke whiche seuen yeares paste was wrytten also of Religion and set forth For yet it is freshe in memory with what rayling wordes it was taunted For where it was set forth and priuileged by the Emperour to haue made a coÌcorde there arose occasions therof of many offences and dissentions When Ferdinando had heard these of his Ambassadours about the eight Kalendes of September the daye before the kalendes of the same moneth he declareth what his opinion is of the wrytinges of both partes to him exhibited and amongest other matters that chief poinct that concerneth byshops that in case they chaunge their Religion they should forgo their office and goodes also by his wyll and with many wordes moueth the Protestauntes that they would assente to the same For this coÌdition sayth he taketh from you nothing but doth this only that when a byshop forsaketh his order and departeth from the olde Religion his benefices and promotioÌs may neuerthelesse remaine in the same state wherin they were instituted whiche thinge is both agreable to the ciuile lawe and also to the lawes of the Empire and to the pacification of Passawe Whiche sayeth by playne wordes that those whiche followe the olde Religion as well of the state ecclesiasticall as ciuile not to be molested in their Religion Ceremonies goodes possessions rightes priuileges but that they should inioye all these thinges quietly without the interruption of any man I can not se therfore how this condition can be denied them whiche apperteineth to the ende that we spake of that is that they may inioye their thinges quietly Whiche in dede can not be if they should release this condition For so should it come to passe that suche as happely forsake and relinquishe the holy order and auncient Religion would kepe styll neuerthelesse their office goodes and possessions neyther should it be lawefull for their colleges in the meane time to trie the lawe with them in this case And this inconuenience wil come also
not be repressed but also his violence hath so farre proceded that hauing taken in Hongary and Slauonie many townes Castels Fortes he hangeth now ouer that neckes of vs it is doubtles to be thought that this is the manifest vengeaunce of God whiche plageth vs for sinne and afflicteth vs for that we amende not our life and so in dede afflicteth vs that vnlesse his worde be receiued the amendement of life followe the losse not only of lyfe and goodes but also of eternall saluation is like to insue For although the whole worlde toke armure against that ennemie yet so long as it shall remayne in that state of lyfe there is no hope of victory but rather of destruction and slaughter as it is euident to haue chaunced some tyme to moste florishynge kyngdomes We treated of the same matter also in the laste assemblee and prayed you that we myght not be compelled to do any thyng against our conscience But you referred the matter to the counsell of Regenspurg How be it you may coÌsider most mightie king howe greuouse it is to them whiche thyrste for the health of their soules to be differred to a tyme vncerteÌ For in the meane time the mynde is in angwishe and in this angwyshe and perplexitie many thousandes of meÌ ende their life Doubtles the worde of God whiche through our Sauiour Iesus Christe is opened to vs should be the only rule whiche the church ought to followe And in case any thing coÌtrary to gods worde haue crept in although it be grounded of great antiquitie it must be reiected For God wil be honored worshipped as he him selfe prescribeth coÌmaundeth not as men wene and fayne But with how horrible greuous plages he reuengeth the neglecting of his coÌmaundemeÌt the obseruation of meÌs traditions both the Empires of fourmer time do shewe also the freshe and domesticall calamities of people next vs declare Therfore after moste diligeÌt searche there appereth to vs none other remedy than that those manifest errours and deprauations brought long since into the churche being caste away the pure doctrine may be receiued and frely preached to gether with suche administration of the Sacramentes as Christ him selfe did institute for to departe tourne away from the worde of God so manifest and so plaine we may not as we haue ofte shewed you at other tymes For firste we must seke for the kingdome of God Whiche being done God assisteth vs with his spirite and gouerneth our counselles and doinges To the ende therfore that he would deliuer vs from al these daungers that he would be the counseller of the warre and enseigne bearer that he may assiste vs in battel discomfite thennemies force in moste humble and earnest wyse we beseche your highnes euen for the death of Christe for our saluation and for the last iudgement that we shall abyde for as muche as this thing apperteineth to the perpetuall felicitie of you and your children and al your Realme that we which are spotted with no secte may by your leaue and permission remaine in the pure and sincere Religion vntyll a free generall counsell and that we may inioye the same benefite of peace whiche in the laste assemblee of the Empyre you haue made with the fellowes of the confession of Auspurge For seyng we be all Baptized in Christe we beseche you that our State and condicion be not worse than theirs nother that you woulde denye vs the thynge whiche you haue graunted to diuerse other of your Prouinces but that you woulde call in those Proclamations of yours sette forth concerning Religion and woulde delyuer vs from thys carefulnes wherwith we are bounde Moreouer we beseche you that you woulde set forth by proclamation that the ministers of the church that teache after the wrytinges of the Prophetes Apostels after the same maner as before is said doe minister the Sacramentes be not molested nor yet suche schomaisters Neither that they be imprisoned nor banished before they shall pleade their cause before a lawful iudge If you thus do as we trust you wil in this extreame daunger there is no doubt but God will rewarde the same moste aboundantly also the states of the Empire will sende you more ayde than they haue done hitherto And we likewise will not be behinde with our dutie but with moste willing mindes will bestowe geue what so euer shall apperteine to the coÌmon defence preseruation of our couÌtrie and wil throughly satisfie your demauÌdes so muche as shall lie in our power and habilitie to do At the selfsame time the Ambassadours of themperour and the Frenche king had met And where the controuersie coulde not be finished by a peace the fift day of the moneth of February they take truce for fiue yeares by Sea and lande as well in Flaunders and those partes as also for Italy and all other places Euery one kepeth the possession of those thinges whiche he hath gotten in the tyme of the war Themperour excepteth the exiles of Naples Scicilie He compriseth the Pope in the first place as doth also the Frenche king afterward euery maÌ his frendes allies as the maner is The same truce not long after the king caused to be proclamed both throughout Fraunce and at Metz also but the Emperour somwhat later in his couÌtries A brute went that the Pope toke it in snuffe that this truce was made and went about afterwarde to perswade the Frenche king to breake the same Others thought coÌtrariwise that it was made chiefly through his aduise that he might make warre against the Lutherians Touching prisoners nothinge could be concluded in this truce amongest whome the chiefest were the Duke of Arescot a Bourgunnion and MonmorauÌce the Conestables eldest sonne takeÌ thre yeres before at Terwin When they of Austriche as I sayde before had on this wise the day before the Kalendes of February put vp their supplication to king Ferdinando in wryting the king the eight day after aunswereth and speaking first of his good wyll towardes the common wealth and of the common calamitie and miserie of times and of Gods wrath whilest I consider saieth he and way mine owne state and place diligently whilest I thinke howe I haue euer from my yought hitherto followed the preceptes of the christen and catholique churche after the maner of my progenitours of whome I haue receiued this Religion and discipline as it were deliuered by hand I do surely finde that I may not assent to you in that whiche you require Not that I would not gladly gratifie my people but for that I see it is not lawful that I should be preiudiciall to the Christe church shoulde alter the lawes of the same and the holsome decrees at my pleasure where I must rather heare it as Christ coÌmauÌdeth How beit for as much as I know by long experieÌce what occasion of great euils this bitter contention about Religion
bringeth I haue doubtles with my brother that Emperour bene now these many yeares wholy occupied that they might come to a composition And therfore hath the matter bene atteÌpted in many counsels of the Empyre certein conferences of learned men and through our mediation hath bene begon once or twyse the counsell of Trent But where as the treatie came to no good effect that can not doubtles be imputed to vs neither is it vnknowen by what diuises and craftes the matter was than hindered Now where you require that the pure doctrine and the benefite of the peace newly made for Religion may be grauÌted you Like as heretofore I haue kept backe no man froÌ the true Religion so will I not also do it hereafter Again you are as well comprised in the same peace as are the people of other Princes For this is the meaning of the same decree that the people shall followe the Religion of their Prince And it is permitted to temporall Princes to chose whether ReligioÌ they will for that the people ought to be content with the choise of the Prince but yet so for al that that such as shal not like that Religion whiche the Prince hath chosen may haue fre libertie to sell that they haue and go dwell in an other place without any hinderaunce or blemishe to their estimation whiche seing it is so your dutie is to perseuer in the olde and catholique Religion which I professe That the Gospel should not be purely taught after the exposition of the Apostels Martyrs fathers whiche the churche hath receiued I was neuer against The Lordes supper although it were instituted whole yet was it in the olde churche also distributed vnder one kynde as it may be declared at large Therfore it was not altered first in the time of the counsell of ConstauÌce but that custome had lasted many ages before Wherfore you may easely thinke how it is not lawful for me by my priuate authoritie to chaunge or abolish that lawe receiued and approued by generall counselles especially at this tyme when both now lately peace is geuen to ReligioÌ and in the next assemblee we must treate further for a reconcilement In the which treatie doubtles I wil seke to the vttermoste of my power that dissention may be vtterly takeÌ away But if that can not be done thaÌ wil I take such away as may profit both your wealth and your soules health also And to the intent you may vnderstand my good wil clemencie towardes you I wil in dede staye restreine that part of my proclamatioÌ that coÌcerneth the Lordes supper but yet vnder this conditioÌ that all sectes forsaken you do alter nothing of the lawes ceremonies of the churche but tary for the decree of the assemble of the Empire next coÌming The ministers of the churche and scholem aisters so that they followe this order also shal not be molested as also before this time I suffered no man against right to be iniuried Seing therfore I beare you this good wil my truste is that you will desire nothing furthermore and for as muche as the publique necessitie vrgeth it shall become you to consult for the common wealth and to geue that behoueth Wherunto they make aunswer the .xii. daye of February And where in the cause of all other moste weightie whiche conteineth perpetuall felicitie and especially apperteineth to the saluation of him and his children they can obteyne nothing thei she we how they are moste hartely sory And where as say they moste mightie kyng you say that this wonted distributing of the Lordes supper was in oulde tyme receiued in the churche that same may be aboundantly coÌfuted by holy scripture and also their errour detected that haue perswaded your highnes herein But where you say the meaning of the late decree made at Auspurg to be that the people should applie them selues to the Religion of their Prince Uerely for as much as a fewe yeares paste and longe before this decree we haue with common consent exhibited to your highnes supplications concerninge Religion it were lawfull for vs also in case we would dwel in the same aunswer to sell our goods and flitte with our wyues and children to some other place But what discoÌmoditie were herein agayne how heuie and sorowfull newes this would be to the people who seeth not When verely they shal heare that they whiche after the custome of their elders haue bene euer more ready to spende their bloud and lyfe for the preseruation and dignitie of the house of Austriche must nowe forsake their moste swete natiue countrie so many yeares inhabited and inriched by their fore fathers Therfore we admit not nor ratifie the same aunswer in this behalf but as we haue done oft heretofore for the honour of God we beseche you that you woulde permitte vs to haue that incoÌparable treasure of Gods worde and suffer vs to haue no let in this matter For if the condition of the cause were suche that the whole blame should be to you ascribed doubtles we could be coÌtent lyke as in other thinges so in this case also to obey you willingly But since that euery man must render an accompt of his owne dedes since there is no difference of persones with God and for bycause the ende of this lyfe is euery moment at hande neither is there any thing more vncerten than life we can not but with earnest suite and labour requyre this thinge of you Wherfore we beseche you that we may haue sufficient warrauntise herein Hereunto the kyng the fourth daye after I suppose sayeth he there was no iust cause wherfore you should not be satisfied with the fourmer answer I permit that as the Apostels haue set it forth as the martirs and fathers approued of the churche haue taught and expounded the scripture it be nowe taught also I pray you what more require you herein For since God hath promysed to his churche the holy ghoste saluation is not to be sought els where You saye you are defiled with no secte of the whiche sorte be many now adayes as anabaptistes Sacramentaries Zwinglians Schnemfeldians and such other lyke This in dede is very well But if the doctrine be set at libertie and be not included within certen limites as before is sayde howe long suppose you that it wil continue pure When euery man for hym selfe wyll bragge of Goddes woorde and saye it is subiect to no creature but to God alone nor will admitte the iudgement of no man as we see it happen in many places where all is ful of trouble whylest euery maÌ doeth stifly mainteine his owne opinion the authoritie of the churche vtterly contemned And for as much as in your fourmer wryting you recite the laste decree of the Empire somewhat otherwyse than apperteineth therfore haue I declared how it is to be taken not that I would haue you to go dwell els where Againe to take froÌ you all
Transiluania do reuolte from kinge Ferdinand Ferdinando also prorogeth the counsel of the Empire to a time vncerten and leuieth an army whiche he sendeth downe the riuer of Danubius into HoÌgary There is a town of Alsatia called Obereyne thre leages from Strasburg A certen citezen of that towne being a labourer about vines for penury want when his wyfe was absent the tenth daye of Aprill sleeth his thre children a daughter of seueÌ yeares a sonne of foure yeares olde and a sucking babe in the cradell not fully halfe a yeare olde That tyme there was a brute and reporte went of the secret conspiracie of the Pope his adherentes against the Protestauntes It increased this opinion for that there was no doubte but that the Pope toke moste displeasauntly the decre of the last yeare made at Auspurge wherby peace and libertie was graunted to ReligioÌ It is thought also that he sollicited the Emperour to make it frustrate For he sawe how many reuolted daily from his kingdome and vnderstande what they of Austriche and what the Bauarians went about Moreouer the Archebyshops of Mentz Treuers and Collon by occasion of the bathes met that tyme together Whiche was thought to be done not without cause King Ferdinando breaking vp his assemblees in Austriche goeth into Boheme and calling the countries there about to Prage against this iminent daunger demaundeth mony and hath it graunted Than sending letters to them whiche had bene now certen monethes at Regenspurg he excuseth his absence and bicause he must retourne to Uienna he appointeth the assemblee of the Empire the first of Iune After the departure of king Ferdinando the Lantgraue came in to Meissen was a certen tyme with Auguste Duke of Saxony The tenth day of May the Duke of Arescot being prisoner in castel Uincent not far from Paris escaped and came home safe The Cardinall of Auspurge who had taried a whole yeare at Rome when he being lately retourned froÌ thence had heard how sinistrally and many euill men spake and thought of him as though he should practise with the Pope priuie and perniciouse counselles for Germany he pourgeth him by an open wryting set forth in the vulgar tongue about th ende of May. And where as the last yeare sayth he after the death of Iulius the third I went to Rome as my dutie was to do and was present at the Election of him that now ruleth I had pourposed doubtles to haue retourned home into Germany with expedition but I was deteined of the Pope who went about than a reformation of the churche And chosing certen excellent men of all nations for the same purpose chose me also although vnmete for so weightie a matter bycause I was a Germane to be of that nomber But where the charge of my Byshoprike required my presence askyng leaue of the Byshop the day before the Ides of Aprill I retourned home Neuerthelesse although I haue so vsed my self both alwayes before and after also that I came to this kynde of lyfe that I now am in whiche I wold should be spoken without boasting that no shamefull matter can be truly obiected to me although I haue bene oft the couÌsellour and authour of peace not without my great losse and hinderaunce although the welth and dignitie of my countrie hath bene to me alwayes dere yet so sone as I came againe in to Germany I heard of great meÌ and worthy credit that were my frendes how in myne absence certen wrytynges were caste abroade whiche sounded to my dishonour as though I should not only at Rome with the Pope but also euery where through out Italy with secret diuises practise this that Germany namely the league fellowes of the confession of Auspurg shuld againe be vexed with a moste greuous warre And in the same wrytinges they alledged this to be the cause of this enterprise and fecret working that the Pope did greatly mislike the decre made the last yeare at Auspurg coÌcerning religion in so much that he perswaded the Emperour that he woulde abolishe the same that he had dispensed with him for his faith promesse herein that he had promysed him all the ayde and power that he could make to subdue Germany so that themperour againe would not fayle hym in recouering the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in Germany that therfore he had made truce betwixt the Emperour and the Frenche kynge that bothe their Armies might be conuerted to this vse Thei added moreouer that this was written in the same libelle that no foreyne Soldiours should be leuied but only of Germaynes that the thing might the better be hidde Moreouer that the kyng of England wold hire eight thousande horsemen and be gouernour of the whole warre and that mounsters shoulde be take in sondry places Briefly that the whole matter shoulde be handled so circumspectly that all these powers should set forwarde together at one tyme and should inuade the Protestauntes vppon the soden than when many shall be from home at the counsel at Regenspurge Furthermore that both the Pope and the kyng of Englande sending Ambassadours to certen Prynces in Germany doe promyse them largely and that the Pope in dede prepareth a greate army of horsemen and fotemen to sende for ayde Furthermore that I should sclaunder Otto Henrick the Paulsgraue Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge and Albert Marques of Brandenburge as Heretickes and seditiouse and worthie to be driuen out of their countrie And should hyghly commende the Lantgraue in the Senate of Cardinalles for that he had forsaken his Religion and that Titell man one of the Ministers of his churche had reuoked his doctrine at Rome both by worde and wryting Now for as muche as this sclaunder toucheth not only the Pope and the Emperour but hurteth also my name and estimation And bycause it is the part of an honest man to defende both his owne and also the honour and innocencie of his Magistrate I must nedes aunswere to the same And to begynne with all it was surely very greuous and paynefull for me to heare that any were yet remayning and to be founde whiche contrary to the auncient vertue of Germany faythe and constancie doe geue their myndes to suche sclaundering and here to applie them selues that through moste wicked libelles and lewde talke they myght styre vp the Prynces of the Empyre against their hyghe Magistrate and set the Prynces together by the eares in a wycked warre How cruel troublesome and full of perill was the sclaunder diuised .xxviii. yeares past I suppose full many doe remember When kyng Ferdinando the Byshoppes of Mentz Salisburg Bamberge and Wirseburge the Prynce Electour of Brandenburge Lewys and William brethren Dukes of Bauier and George Duke of Saxony were sayd to haue conspired against Iohn Duke and Electour of Saxony and the Lantgraue where the matter was brought to that poinct that al thinges tended to a moste cruell ciuile warre Doubtles Princes ought to
againe into talke of the manner of the treaty that should be And he affirmed verely that to procede after thordre by them lately prescribed it might not be conueniently For now they were in hand with the Masse which thinge should be next discussed which matter semed vnto him mete first to be discided and after to come vnto all the rest How be it this he saith he speaketh of him selfe priuately not that his fellowes haue so willed him Thother inferreth againe howe like as their deuines haue accustomed to debate thinges from the very beginning in ordre Of the creation Of the fall of man Of originall sinne as they terme it Of iustification Of faith Of workes and finally of the Sacraments so ought they nowe also to be permitted to vse the same ordre Moreouer the same daye wherein they deliuered them the safeconduite at the end of Ianuary theyr promise was that the deuines should be hard in all matters wher in they ought to perseuer and not to subuert and altare the nature of thinges for vnlesse the former thinges be well determined all disceptation of the last that depend of the firste is to no purpose And after they could not agre of this thinge betwene them selues he answereth touching his iourney that this may not be graunted him for themperor hath commaunded them that they suffer no maÌ to depart After much talcke where he alledgeth that he hathe no more to do and whatsoeuer also remaineth shoulde be done by the diuines which had commission in wryting for the same he biddeth him go to thearle Monfort and shew him the letters of commission After verye gently he biddeth him farewell and wisheth him wel to retourne Whan thearle Montfort had sene the commission he said in dede that he would his businesse so required that he might longer remain but for so much as the time must be serued he will not be against it and so letteth him frendly depart The next daye whan he was ready to depart themperors ambassadours send for him Pictaue beginneth to speake Wher yesterday they wer agreed that he might depart now they haue more diligently considered the thing and conferred their heades together they can not geue him leaue to depart for nowe is the matter brought to that passe that the frute of the time spent is to be loked for and thaction to be commenced so that if the bishops Legate were not sickly some thinge might be determined this self same day therefore muste he still remain for if he should now depart at this instaunt the fathers wold be offended which know that he hath ben certain Monethes here present Themperours commaundement also is suche as no man at all may depart and if his magistrate haue so commaunded him he ought to exhibite the letters of the same to thintent they mighte excuse it to themperor Than said he how it was not the commauÌdement of the Senate but that his owne matters so required and alledging certain causes vnlesse it wer for the same he said he wold not stirre one fote for that both thauthority of the Senate whych would haue him to remain ther longer and also their honours that request him hereunto and the cause it self moreouer whiche he loueth of reason ought to obtain this of him Howbeit since that the deuines be commen he may now much better be absent especially seing this thing remaineth only that they be admitted to thaction Here be also thambassadors of Wirtemberge to assist the deuines and the cause is common to both as lately it was declared and if it so be that the matter be earnestly and constantlye handled it is possible that the Senate will substitute an other in his place whoÌ he hath all ready aduertised of his departure hence Ther replieth he againe willing him at the least to abide so long till thaction be commenced which should be out of hand and if perchance the Legate Crescentius recouer not his health they will yet so folow the cause that his felowes in commission shal execute the thing Whan he could neither by excusing nor intreating preuaile any thing he fleeth to the last remeady which vntill that time he had purposelye reserued and said how both he and all others that wer protestants might lawfully by theyr safeconduit depart thence at any time Than at the last saith Toletane that is so in dede neither can they let or be against it but that he may depart howbeit they could not but declare what themperor hath commaunded and what also they them selues would haue done Thus therfore he departing commendeth vnto them the cause and deuines also Than were the fathers at dissention amonges them selues and not bent al one way For the Spaniards Neapolitans and SiciliaÌs and whosoeuer wer of themperors part but chiefly the Spaniardes and themperors ambassadors wer importune that thaction might be continued but the bishop of Romes clients for that they supposed that the Spaniards weÌt about a reformation of the court of Rome sought to find some let and delay and for so much as the chiefest Bishops of Germany by reason of ciuill tumults wer departed all ready They loked also for the same occasion and so much the rather for that by daily letters and Messagers it was reported how Duke Moris and his confederats were already in armure The French kinge also by the Cardinall Tournon treated diligentlye with the Bishop of Rome for peace which if it toke effect for as much as that French king had war that time with themperor No man doubted but that for his sake also the counsel should be dissolued Wherfore themperors ambassadors which knew and feared all these things laboured this chiefly that the thing which they most coueted they might bring to passe by thambassadors of the Protestantes Thys was little perceiued than but afterward certenly knowen About th end of March a certaine graye Frier expounded the Epistle of Paule to the Romaines before a great audience and ofteÌtimes by octasion he railed bitterlly against Luther and his felowes waded so far that he said such as had no knowledge of Christ and yet liued honestly haue obteined saluatioÌ and that this also is the very meaning of Saint Paule in the second chapiter of the foresaid Epistle Whan certain deuines of the Protestants had heard him speke this opeÌly after deliberatioÌ takeÌ by coÌmon assent they write to themperors ambassadors the last day of Marche declaring for what intent they were sent verely to expound and defend the confession of the doctrine exhibited they complain that ther is none action commenced and that the decrees of the counsel already made haue in manner nothing els but a bitter reproch and detestinge of that doctrin which they do professe and that also this other daye a gray Frier spake not only many absurd things openly and contrary to the consent of the Church and exposition of thold doctors but also poured out great aboundaunce of railing words against their
doctrin and churches and all be it that many will say that he dothe these things against the wil of the fathers yet se they with what an assent he teacheth and is hard if this be thonly cause why they wer sent for hither that they might be verely a spectakle and laughing stock to others and should be compelled to hear daily thiniuries reproches of theyr doctrin ther was doubtles no nede to haue taken this iourney in hand and all these things might haue ben declared by wryting wherfore they earnestly require them according to their office and authority they would bring to passe that both the fathers would at the last declare what lack they find in the confession exhibited and that they may againe also be openly hard in all matters Those letters thambassadors receiue very geÌtly and say they are glad also that they haue an occasion ministred to vrge the matter to thintent that if the Legate Crescentius do refuse they may treat with his fellowes and with the fathers Than also the same Frier left reading excusing the matter by sicknesse The first day of Aprill Duke Moris and his league frends laid siege to the city of Auspurge and toke it the third day after by composition as in the boke that foloweth shal be declared The v. day of Aprill the Ambassadors of the Duke of Wirtemberge beinge sent for to the house of Toletane came and brought with them as they were coÌmaunded two diuines Brentius and Ihon Marpache of Strasburge Pictaue beginneth to declare first of their owne good will and zeale after of the Legates sicknesse and how vnlesse he were present neither his fellowes nor yet the fathers wold do any thing and that the fault hath not bene in them that they do not procede and sheweth that they will also hereafter omit no manner of diligence and hereof maketh protestation Thothers whan they had consulted say that they know rightwell their good will and diligence howbeit they had loked for an other and a more certain answer to their demaundes which they might haue signified to their Magistrates but now sith the matter is thus they must take couÌsel the best they can for them selues Than said he againe that the matter is not brought to that poynt neither ought it so to be taken as though ther wer no hope of any further action remaining to aduertise their Magistrates and signify vnto them in what case all thing stand it is wel done of them and according to their duty nether doubt they but they when they shal hear therof wil both maruel at this long delay and surceasing and will take it also in euill part Howbeit he requireth them to take paciently the tediousnesse of a few daies In the meane time they will trauell that they may haue a direct answer Unto this say they they will gladly for their sakes acconsent The next day with great expedition came messagers and letters that Auspurge was taken and howe the Princes marched straightway toward thalpes to stop all the wais and passages Wherefore they were commaunded to take armure in the county of Tiroll and bandes of soldiors hired and commaunded all to repair to Insprucke Now wer all the bishops of Germanye departed thence ther remained only the deputies of the bishops of Spier and Manster Whan these newes were broughte immediatly the bishops of Italy flee carying all their baggage down the riuer of Athesis Wherfore thambassadors of Wirtemberge being herewith moued what time of their own accord the councell nowe slipped away come to themperors orators and shew theÌ for what cause they purpose to go home with the diuines also Who in dede at the first were sore against it and say howe they may not assente therunto except themperors pleasure be knowne but when that might not preuaile they require to haue the causes of their departing deliuered to them by writing signed with their own hands to thintent they may make an excuse to themperor and to the fathers Pictaue demaunded this also if haply after theyr departure the fathers shall proceade in thaction what than shall the diuines say wherunto thambassadors conferring with the diuines vppon the matter say they wil make them answer and the viii day of Aprill early in the morning they deliuer vnto them a wrytinge In the same they recite what time the confession of their doctrine was exhibited wherfore the diuines came How they haue in vain sollicited hitherto that they might receiue an answer to their Princes demaundes How vnto that day ther appeared no hope of any action that should be Now also ther is war raised so that not only that bishops of Germany but also of Italy do depart that all states are now so intangled with troubles that they can loke for nothing at this present Moreouer the bishops of Germany being absente perauenture it were not expediente that anye progresse shoulde be made And if any time hereafter chance wherin this busines may be treated wel and ordrely they suppose how their Prince will not be wanting The diuines moreouer thinke thus that ther be many decrees made both in this and also in the former counsel which might be wel reproued in case they be lawfully hard And if the fathers do now procede herein it is to be thought that their doings wil be like the reast Neuerthelesse in case ether the decrees already made may be amended or such may hereafter be decreed as are consonant to the holy scripture ther is no doubt but the same will be receiued with most obedient harts This thing vnto them doutles will be most sorowful as in certain places of the confession exhibited hath bene declared which wryting verely they iudge to be good and godly and also whan time shal serue will declare it more at large They pray them therfore to take in good part their departure and say in dede how they might by vertue of the safeconduite depart thence what time they list and are not bounden to make any man priuy to it but for so much as they haue manye times proued their gentlenes they wold not omit this kind of duety Thus therfore taking their leaue they departe aboute none time and a fewe hours after they met with the Cardinall of Trent whiche rode in great poste hastr from Brixna to Trent And whan he heard that they were of Wirtemberge inquiring for Brentius he spake vnto him and gaue them all most gentle wordes Two daies after met them king Ferdinandoes daughters which went by Insprucke to Brunecke a towne in the Alpes bordering on the limits of the Uenetians Of the fathers I shewed you before how they drue not all by one line The Spanish bishops in dede semed of all others most diligente diuers also of the Germanes pretended as thoughe the thing required much reformation but the mind of them that thought best of al others was this that the schole of correction and maners of the
and wil saye they doe it of dutie to the end that they may haue the gouernment and also the possession of the goods But wher these men saye they are bounde to admitte fellowes of their ReligioÌ and to exclude no man out of the kyngdome of heauen It doth not excuse them for there is one only fayth whiche all that are christians ought to professe and obserue This faith in tymes past both Emperours and kynges and all Princes and Rulers of the Empire and the people also confirmed by an othe Uerely this catholique faith is the selfe same which we of Germany from the beginning vnto this time haue followed those excepted that haue reuolted from the same Wherfore there is nothing to be made newe but all thynges ought to be referred to this fayth and the mynde is to be subdued that it may obeye the catholique churche He that doeth otherwise and taketh to him selfe any priuate Religion he vnlesse he obeye admonishementes ought of his Byshop to be excommunicated and to be remoued from all function His goodes also ought by the ciuile Magistrate to be published neither is he to be suffered within the limites of the Empire For that same libertie or licenciousnes of Religion the fathers haue alwayes reiected as a certen confusion of the faith made this lawe that what thinges so euer were once determined of couÌsels in matters of faith shuld no more be reasoned nor called in doubt so that it is lawful for none to ordeine or propounde any thing to the coÌtrary For histories teache vs what time Ualentinian themperour admitted all kinde of sectes what trouble arose of the same Again if this shuld be receiued that whosoeuer dissenteth froÌ the catholique faith shuld be excused by his conscience Than should the Anabaptistes Zwinglians a Schuuenchfeldians suche other like also be excused in this peace coÌprised They saye how the promesses of God wherby he promiseth vs euerlasting life apperteine to all men in generall neither ought they of theÌ to be restreined As though those promesses apperteined to theÌ only whiche be of their profession But the thing is far otherwyse For what tyme they shall swarue from the communion of the churche they are excluded from the kingdom of heaueÌ euen by their own iudgement And where there is no saluation out of the churche howe should the kyngdome of heauen belonge to them whiche reiecte the Sacramentes of the churche and contemne the ordeining of priestes vnto whome Christe hathe geuen power to binde and lose And if there be no priestes consecrated amonges them howe obteyne they remission of their synnes And except their sinnes be forgeuen how shall they be made partakers of the heauenly kingdome Therfore those promises apperteine not to them only But rather they are to be thought to be of that nomber whome Christe sayeth he knoweth not They bragge that they are able to proue howe the Catholiques by sondry abuse both religion the churche goodes But let vs see what thing is herein to be blamed After the holy Scripture and the lawes of the fathers and counselles the churche goodes ought to be distributed to Byshops and ministers of the churche to be imployed vpon the poore vpon reparations and if the thing require so vpon the raunsomyng of them that are kept prysoners of the Turkes and Barbarians Uerely this custome hath continued a thousand and thre hondreth yeares since that the same goodes shoulde bee imployed to Godly ministers and vses Of the whiche sorte be to saye Masse to shewe Gods worde to repare and builde churches to fynde pore men also Monkes Freers and Nunnes But what do they putting out certen Byshops they make newe as they were prophane and ciuile officers vnto whome they geue as small a portion as they can possible They ioyne to them other ministers whiche bring the sely people into errour whilest both they contemne the sound doctrine and minister to the people the Sacrament whole and the bread in dede not consecrated to witte a creature in place of the creatour and vnder the colour of true worshipping committe Idolatrie They saye that from henceforth they wyll imploye the churche goodes aboute none other matters but to the vse of scholes nor wyll conuert no part therof to them selues well let it be so but by this vse the catholique religion should be polluted and vtterly oppressed And this vse shall be a great deale worse than if the same goodes were bestowed about prophane matters For these causes therfore it is not lawefull for the Catholiques to allowe this condition as it is wrytten This wryting as I sayed was extraordinary and priuatly made The ProtestauÌtes being aduertised hereof write against it and first shewe what is the true doctrine the same verely whiche is conteined in the wrytinges of the Prophetes Apostles Secondly they declare how muche the doctrine of the Papistes differeth from the same whiche haue so many wayes polluted the Lordes supper whiche haue brought in so filthie errours of purgatory of praying to the dead whiche take awaye and denie the remission of sinnes whilest they saye we must alwayes doubte of the grace of God whiche so muche dishonour matrimonie instituted of God which with detestable and horrible crimes are defiled in this their senglenes of lyfe eueÌ with the same vices that Saint Paule rehearseth Of these thinges it may clerely appeare who haue forsaken the true Religion And seing it is so suche ecclesiasticall persones as either haue nowe already or els hereafter shall imbrace the pure doctrine can not be of them neglected As touching the churche goodes all thinges be maruelously defiled also Truthe it is that a benefice is geuen for dutie but it is to be considered diligently of what sorte is the office of a priest or byshop And that a consideration of scholes must also be had For euen from the tyme of the Prophetes this maner hath euer remayned And nowe the prelates of churches seke chiefly that suche thinges as are due to ministrs of the churche to teachers schollers and scholes to almouse houses and hospitalles they imploye to their own vses that they may liue in al voluptuousnes The same do thei with Abbeies Colledges Doeth not the Byshop represent a great Prince who taking first the possessioÌ of his byshoprike entreth the citie with two thousand horsemen And these thinges in dede they do where there is none of them all that can doe his dutie What mynde or conscience is there Can these obiecte sacrilege and extortion to others Their doctrine is in dede condemned of Freers But through their wickednes that perswade them not to reade their wrytings And that the Pope and that the rabble do condemne and despise it to be no maruell For after the same maner was Christe and his doctrine intreated of Anna Caiphas and all the sorte of Phariseis and Byshoppes They make oft mention of counselles and of the churche But it lieth not in