made Cardinal But Lewes kynge of Fraunce which persisted styll in his purpose and had lately ouerthrowen the Bishops armye at Bauenna was striken with the thonderbolte of cursing and hys Realme gyuen ouer to be spoyled But after he had sytten in the Counsell fyue tymes he died the .xxi. daye of February the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundred and thyrtene and Leo the tenth dyd succede him Who continewed the counsel and restored the Cardinals to theyr former dignitie The counsell ended the .xvi. daye of Marche in yeare of our Lord M.D.xvij In this counsell was debated of the Turkishe warre of the reformation of the Churche of the Immortalitie of the Soule which was doubted of at Rome and howe they of Boheme shoulde be reduced from theyr errours whiche is the thynge that Luther speaketh of here for they receyued vnder bothe kyndes Whilest these thinges were done in Saxonie the Diuines of Louain and Collen condemne Luthers workes written to Syluester Prierias also of Penaunce of excommunication of indulgences of Preparation vnto death as prophane wicked and worthy to be brente and the Aucthor of them to be compelled to recante Whiche thynge beyng knowen Luther aunswereth to euerye article of his doctrine And in the preface lamenteth theyr state and condition For before what time they condemned Capnio he had yet some hope of them But nowe seyng there endeuour to extinguishe the clere lyght and doctrine of the Ghospell and growe euery day wourse God doubtles must nedes be greuously offended for in case they shoulde thus procede and no man should bridle them of this lybertie they would shortely condemne all bokes of Scripture and decree what they liste at theyr owne pleasure which thinge when he considereth he can thinke no lesse but that eyther Antichrist doth now reigne or els will come very shortly For theyr doctrine conteyneth no sounde nor certen thynge but is waueringe in diuers opinions he saieth moreouer that WilliaÌ„ Ockam was in time paste also condemned by the Uniuersitie of Paris but now he is receiued and set bye And lykewyse Picus Mirandula and Lawrens Ualla whyche are nowe had in estimation moreouer sayeth he the Iewes were in tymes paste the peculiare people of God but when they fledde from the lyghte of the Ghospell and refused the benefyte of Christ they were forsaken and so gaue place to the Gentyles So lykewyse is it nowe a dayes that such as be Byshoppes and Diuines which do chalenge and take vpon them the greatest authoritie in the Churche haue in dede no thinge elles but a vayne title but others that be farre from the lyke ostentation more ryghtely maye chalenge that name Brieflye howe they haue thus vexed at all tymes all good and well learned men yet dyd they neuer contende wyth the same wyth anye sounde or trewe reasons but rather by very disceipte crafte and tyranye As they dyd with Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prage the memory wherof shal endure for euer But he marueleth at their rashenes that they can not be ware by so many examples to blemishe theÌ„ selues and other Uniuersities for euer For althoughe they had neuer so sure a grounde and alledged neuer so stronge reasons agaynst those other famouse men yet touching his matter they haue dealt bothe wickedly and maliciously For if he had ought offended they might haue considered that to be the parte of a man and haue vsed a certen leuitie in iudginge of hys doctrine But where they be moued with fury to coÌ„demne althinges without respecte herein they bewrey theyr maliciouse myndes and spitte oute the poyson of theyr hatred They make great accompt of Aristotle and will defende him what soeuer he sayeth be it neuer so contrary to our religion they will make an excuse and a gloâ—e for him but they depraue his worckes agaynste all charitie where as they be consonant to the trweth to declare their malicious and cankred hertes where they oughte fyrste to haue shewed his faulte admonishynge him gently to haue reformed the same and if he had not then they might haue proceded as Christ hath gyuen in commaundement But nowe they do no small iuiurie to the Byshoppe of Rome to condempne a Boke dedicated vnto him and with a certeine preiudice to reproue his negligence but to be no newes nor maruell that they committee suche a faulte agaynste the Bishoppe seynge that they moste malapartely do contemne the lawes of God This Wylliam Ockam that he speaketh of flourished in the tyme of the Emperour Lewes the fourth aboute the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande three hundred and twentie and amonges other thinges he wrote of the power of the Bishoppe of Rome and in the same boke he handleth eight Questions diuerslye Whether the office of the highe Bishoppe and of the Emperor may be executed by one and the same parson Whether themperor hath his authoritie of God only or also of the Bishop of Rome Whether christ gaue aucthoritie to the Bishop church of Rome that they should coÌ„mit to themperor and other Princes their iurisdiction Whether that the Emperor beyng once chosen hathe thereby full aucthoritie to gouerne the common wealth Whether that other kynges besydes the Emperour and kynge of Romanes for so much as they be crowned by Priestes do receyue anye aucthoritie of them Wherfore the same kinges be in any subiection to suche as do inueste them Whether that if they vsed newe ceremonies and crowned themselues they should lose their regall power whether the election of the seuen Princes can geue as muche authoritie to the emperour as doth the lawfull succession to other kynges And debatyng manye reasons on both partes he determineth coÌ„monly with the ciuile Maiestrate And vpon this occasion mentionynge of Iohn the two and twenteth Byshoppe of that name then lyuynge who had made the lawes extrauagauntes as they terme them and had placed them wyth the Canon lawe whiche saieth Ockam are reprehended of many as altogether false and full of Heresyes and recyteth the errours maruelynge that men of witte will geue any credit to them howe beit this is the tyme saieth he that Paule wrote to Timothe for the moste parte of men nowe a daies seke not for the doctrine of Christe of his Apostles and the auncient fathers but hearken what the Byshoppe of Rome willeth or commaundeth As concernyng Capnio Rewcline thus standeth the matter Iohn Phefercorne a Iewe that professed Christianitie had sued long to the Emperour Maximilian that all the Bookes of the Iewes myghte be abolished for that they were wicked and full of superstition and were a hynderaunce that they were not conuerted to Christianitie And therefore that they shoulde be suffered to kepe none but the Bible Maximilian at the length commaundeth Uriel Archebyshoppe of Mentz that he shoulde appointe certeyne Uniuersities and Iames Hogostrate the inquisitour and Iohn Reucline to searche and consult whether it were mete and expedient for oure
declareth howe the Church hath power and authoritie to iudge of euery doctrine and to appoint ministers But fyrste he defyneth the Churche to be where so euer the Ghospell is syncerely taught And the Byshoppes he calleth Images and heades without braynes wherof there is not one that doth his duetie in any place namely in Germany And not longe after he wrote of the eschewynge of mens doctrine wherin he saieth he holdeth not with them which do in dede conteÌ„ne the lawes and traditions of men And yet do nothynge which belongeth to the dwetie of a trewe Christian After this he prescribeth how the Masse and Communion should be vsed in the Churche of Wittenberge And saieth howe he hath hitherto wrought slouthfullye by reason of mens infirmitie and to haue had a care one lye howe he myghte plucke wicked opinions out of mens myndes but nowe that many be confyrmed it is time to suffer vngodlines in the churche no longer but that all cloking and simulation set a parte sincere workyng maye ensewe vpon pure doctrine And to this he addeth an other wrytyng of holy ceremonies to be obserued in the Churche And againe of the abhomination of the priuate Masse which they call the Canon Wherin he exhorteth the people to flee froÌ„ the accustomed sacrifices of the masse as they woulde do from the Deuyll hym selfe for the demonstration wherof he reciteth in order the Canon of the Masse declaryng howe full it is of blasphemies againste God Amonges other learned men of Germany that fauoured Luther Ulriche Hutten a noble man borne was one who died this yere not farre from Zurick There be certein workes of his remaining which declare his excellent witte In the iij. boke I shewed you how Luther made answere to Henry king of Englande Whiche after the kynge had read he writeth his letters to the Princes of Saxonie Fridericke and John his brother to his vncle George and greuously coÌ„plaining of Luther he sheweth them what daunger hangeth ouer them and all Germany by reason of his doctrine And that it is not a thinge to be contemned or neglected for the great crueltie of the Turkes which is nowe spred so farre a broad had his beginning of a naughtie man or two And Boheme hard by them may be a warning for them to see the thing reformed in time he admonisheth theÌ„ also that they suffer not Luther to translate the newe Testament into the Uulgare tong for he is wel knoweÌ„ to be such a practisioner that there is no doubt but suche thinges as are well written he with his euill translation wil corrupt and depraue Unto these letters Duke George answereth very frendly blaming also Luther excedingly whose bokes he saith he hath banished out of al his dominioÌ„s as the most hurtfull enemies that can be Moreouer howe he is righte sory that he hath written so extremely against him and hath giuen coÌ„maundement throughe out all his countrey that no man reade it nor sell it and howe he hath punished the Printer that brought the fyrste Copie thyther In the assemblie at Norinberge besydes matters of Religion the Princes entreated of peace and lawes of the punnisshement of those that obeyde not the lawes of the Empire of continuall aide againste the Turke Which two last were not agreed vpon And al the cities of thempire because certein thinges were enacted which they sowe should be preiudiciall to them sent theyr Ambassadours into Spâ—ine to the Emperour Which ariuynge at Ualolet the sixt day of August The thyrde day after declared theyr message Unto whom the Emperor aunswered gently and frankely Notwithstandynge he sayde the Byshoppe of Rome had complained to him in his letters of Strauseborough Norinberge and Auspurge as fauorers of Luthers doctrine he trusted it were not trewe yet woulde he not hyde it from them to th entent they might obserue the Byshoppes decrees and his as he thinketh they will do These Ambassadors pourge them selues faiyng that they do what they can to accomplishe his will and pleasure In the meane time dieth Byshoppe Adrian at the Ides of Septembre in his place was chosen Clement the vii of the house of Medices They of Zuricke onely folowed Zuinglius doctrine the rest of the Suices hated the same Wherfore in a coÌ„mon assemblie had for the falâ—e purpose at Bernes some accused Zuinglius that he preached openly howe that suche as made league with other nations dyd sell bloud and eate mens fleshe Zuinglius heringe therof wrote that he spake not so but that he said in generall howe there were some which abhorred as a wicked thing to eate fleshe beyng forbidden by the Bishoppe of Romes lawe which thinke it none offence to sell mens fleshe for gold and destroy it with weapon But herin he named no nation And seyng that vice doeth nowe so muche abound it is his dewtie to rebuke it but the same doeth nothing concerne the good and innocent parsons Zuinglius amonges other things taught that images shuld be had out of the Church and the Masse to be put down as a wicked thing For the which cause the Senate called a new assemblie in their Citie whither came great resorte in the moneth of October And the disoutation coÌ„tinued thre daies About this time in sundry places and namely at Strausburgh Priestes maried wiues which thinge made muche contention For being accused for so doyng they answered that they had done nothinge agaynste Gods lawe permittinge all men to marie indifferently The Senate of Strausburghe had muche a do with the Bishoppe in this case who called them the .xx. day of Ianuary to appeare before hym at the towne of Sabernes to heare what sentence shoulde be gyuen agaynst them for contractyng of Matrimonye wherein he saieth they haue broken the lawes of the Churche of the holy Fathers and Byshoppes of Rome of the Emperoure also and of the Empire and haue done great iniurie to the order and offeÌ„ded the diuine Maiestie When the Priestes had receiued this Citation they make suite to the Senate to haue theyr cause hearde before them And refuse not to suffer death if they be founde to haue done any thing againste the coÌ„maundement of God The senate intreateth the Bishoppe that for as much as they refuse not to come to theyr aunswere if he should punish them it were like to brede much trouble coÌ„syderinge that the reside â—â—o kepe Harlots openly and are nothynge saied to he would at the lest defferre it to th ende of the imperial counsell Which was than at Norinberge where doubtles suche like cases should be decided To this later couÌ„sel holden this yere at Norinberge Clement the Bishop of Rome sent his Legate Cardinal Campegius who had his letters moreouer to Friderike duke of Saxonie written very friendly in Ianuary Signifiynge howe he reioysed to heare of this assemblye where he shoulde be presente him selfe trustynge that some thynge shoulde be there
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 coūsel 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 cōmit 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 thē 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 reseruatiōs 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 frō the bishop to the counsel Afterward Lewes the twelfth had great emnity for the same cause with Iuly the secōd 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 wōt 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
Whiche thinges considered they them selues deuise a new fourme following the fotesteppes of the decree of Basil But in the meane tyme Toletane sent his seruaūt once or twyse for the paper fearing as it appered ouermuch diligēce But they neuertheles procede at the last whā the thing was finished Duke Maurice Ambassadours come againe vnto Toletane comparing th one with thother shewe him what lack they find therin Than began he to stomack the matter was right sore offended For why should they not be content with the whiche they with great labour dilligence had obtained For suche as should come were assured sufficiently For the chiefest point is wherby it is prouided that they may safely come safely goe All other thinges serue nothing to that purpose but only concerne the maner of treatie in the coūsell Which thing might a great deale better be determined what time the Diuines be present than now They make aunswer how they may not passe the bōdes of their cōmission which is that they may not receiue a saufeconduicte contrary to that of Basill Two dayes after the fathers assemble all in the house of the byshops legate and with them themperours Ambassadours Who call before them there thambassadours of the Duke of Wirtēberge which the day before they had sayd they would doe Whan they were brought in they are cōmaunded to declare their message Who after they had shewed their cōmission made a brief preface bring forth the confession of doctrine written deliuer it to the scribe of the counsel as the maner is And said also that Diuines should come from their Prince whiche should treate of all things more aboundantly howbeit vpō these cōditions First that by cōsent of both parties conueniēt iudges shuld be chosen which shuld heare the diuines reason iudge vprightly of matters that be in cōtrouersie For in asmuch as the Prince perceiueth that the doctrine of his diuines doth for the most part disagre with the doctrine of the bishop of Rome of other bishops whiche ar many wayes boūd to him he thinketh it very vnreasonable against al right that they which susteine the parsone either of plaintife or defendāt shuld chalenge to thē selues thauthoritie of iudgement Secondly that it was decreed in thassembles of thempire at Auspurg that the counsel shuld be continued althinges Godly rightly done And this was euermore so takē of their Prince that such thinges as were decreed in the counsel in fourmer yeares ought not to haue the force of a law but that all thinges should be repeted frō the beginning For what right or reason were it whan two men go to the lawe that the thing whiche is decreed whan the one hath iust cause to be absent should be taken for ferme and stable Moreouer seing many dcerees were made not only in the fourmer but also in this same counsell contrary to the holy Scriptures and also many olde errours established their Prince requireth that the same be of none authoritie but the al thinges may come to a dew examinatiō Those same articles cōprised in writīg they exhibited together with the cōfessiō of doctrine Whā this was done answer made them that the fathers whā they sawe time should shew them their opinion thus were they dimissed Thesame daye in the euening they sent like wise for thambassadours of Duke Maurice They whan they came recite with a long oration the demaundes of their Prince in like sorte as they did of late to the Emperours Ambassadours sauing that the ende was more pithie Wher this was said moreouer that the same seruice order that is vsed in the popish churches was not the true religion but a countrefeated thing as it were a shadowe of religion Whan they had made an end of thoration they were answered with the selfsame wordes as before were the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg Amongst other thinges this greued thē moste that their religion was described by so vile contēptuouse a name Which was afterward well knowen Thambassadours had intended to haue vttered their message openly in the publique assize But to auoyde this which they knew certenly they wolde do they were heard priuatly For either must thei nedes do this or els leaue al to the cōmon treatie They had brought with thē a confession of doctrine written by Philip Melanchthon as I showed you before but where as they had no cōmaundemēt of this thing I know not for what cause thei did not present the same The next day which was the .xxv. of Ianuary was thopensassions the bishops legate was brought to the church with the pompe before rehersed Than was the nōber of soldiours much augmēted also a greater resort of people out of sōdry places for that they supposed that the treatie of thesame day shuld be very notable Whan the masse all other ceremonies were fully finished it was recited in the pulpit how for the protestātes cause the whole matter should be differred till the .xix. daye of Marche before the whiche day they will be here in good time to propound their matters And this to be frendly graūted thē for that the counsel trusteth that they wil come not obūinatly to impugne the catholique faithe but for a zeale to knowe the truth that they will in fine admitte obeie the decrees of the churche schole of correction How they haue more ouer a larger saufeconduicte so that no lack can be founde Furthermore that in the next sitting the treatie shal be of the Sacramēt of Matrimonie The third daye after whan nothing came forthe at al the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice their fellowes demaunded of Fraunces Toletane with whom they chaunced to dine that day a copie of thesame saufecōduict which was spoken of openly Who made them a gentle answer but whā other thre daies were past thambassadour of Strasburg at the request of the residue goeth vnto Pictaue He cōplaineth that this is the sixt daye wherin they can heare nothing And that before was a longer delay for that the saufeconduicte was not sufficient nowe is the time tracted again And certenly the diuines wil not come before suche time as the magistrates be contented with their saufeconduicte He saide howe there was no faulte in him marueiled why Toletane thus differred them who had the chiefest place amongest them He would go talke with him doubted not but the matter should be dispatched the same day That thing whiche he should learne by him he wolde she we him And thus went to him This was the last daye sauing one of Ianuary Within a fewe houres after al thambassadours were commaunded to come to the house of Toletane who deliuered to euery of them a copie of the saufecōduicte signed vnderneth by the scribes of the counsell There was also the Earle Monfort Pictaue beginneth the talke first in dede he excuseth the delay made and than speaking much of their own zeale and
carefulnes I haue suppressed the parte of the proclamation touching the Lordes supper promysing hereafter all diligence that a reconcilement may be had For what causes I can not reuolte from the lawes and ceremonies of the churche I haue shewed For both Christ sayeth that the church must be heard and also the thing it selfe teacheth the fourmer age whiche renewyng nothing abode in the Religion of their forefathers to haue bene muche more quiet and fortunate in all thinges than this is nowe where all thinges are tourmoyled with sectes and dissentions and many men rauished toste hither and thither with euery wynde of doctrine Wherby I would the rather haue thought that you would not haue answered in this sorte And nowe albeit that this aunswere of yours may be throughly confuted yet for as much as we must treate of contributions and subsidies and therof shortly determine vnlesse you be determined to suffer extreme miserie I wyll not be ouer longe trusting also that you wyl doe both as the matter it selfe and also as the consideration of your dutie requyreth They agayne solicite the same thing and saye howe they can not leaue it And in case they can obteyne nothinge they saye it wyll be the cause that the same consultation of geuing him ayde wyl surely be hindered and letted For that they haue no commission to promyse any thing herein vnlesse they haue first good assuraunce for Religion and Ministers of the churche and for Scholemaisters that they may be authorised to teache frely In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswick taketh to wyfe the sister of Sigismunde king of Poole About this tyme dieth Iohn Isemburg Byshop of Treuers and hath Iohn Ley his successour The .xxvi. daye also of the same moneth departeth at Alzeme Fredericke the Pausgraue Prince Electour a man of great yeares Whome Otto Henrick his brothers sonne succedeth who had lōg since receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and was in daunger therfore to haue lost al his possessions Taking an othe of his people he commaundeth by and by that no man within his dominion should say Masse or vse any other ceremonies Of the trouble that Osiander styred vp in Prusse who had brought in a newe doctrine of iustificatiō is spoken in the xxii boke But where as the moste part of learned men reprehended that opinion Albert Duke of Prusse by open wryting professeth that he wyll followe the doctrine of the confession of Auspurg He commaundeth therfore the ministers of the churche that they teache according to the same and promyseth to saue them harmeles in case they obeye And to the ende the matter might be throughly appeased Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge sonne in lawe to the Duke of Pruse a Prince excellently learned going thither and hauing learned men about hym brought Iohn Funccius who was chief of the secte of Osiander to that poinct that both he acknowledged his errour and affirmed that he would confesse it openly and would hereafter teache after the confession of Auspurg Where as others would do the same they were agreed with the other diuines and the state of the churche was appeased The fourth daye of Marche began to shine a blasing starre and is sene by the space of twelue dayes In this moneth the Ambassadours of Princes and cities mete at Regēspurge and treate the cause of Marques Albert of Brandenburge For his aduersaries in the counsell of the last yeare had againe required the ayde of Princes against him but through the mediatiō of his frendes and that the matter should be heard by intercessours Where he therfore in the moneth of February of this yere came out of Fraūce into Germany his matter was heard the causes of thempire differred till the moneth of Aprill The Archebishop of Cantorbury already condēned after the death of Ryddley Latimer retourned to prison as before is said the .xxi. of this moneth is burnt at Oxforde Certen daies before being put in some hope of life through the perswasion of certen he had reuoked diuerse articles of doctrine neither shewed he constancie And when he sawe he must die he made an oration to the people and speaking many thinges of the amendement of life of maners to the ende he might haue his audience attētiue at the lēgth sheweth how greuously he had offended God by denying of the truthe reciting the chief articles of doctrine declareth briefly what he thought and confirmeth Papistrie to be the kingdome of Antichriste He had no so ner said so but he was had thence not without moste bitter railyng wordes to the place of execution And when he came thither stretching forth his right hand this hād saith he hath wickedly offended in subscribing to the wicked opinions which the ennemies of the truthe had propounded to me Wherfore it shall first suffer punishment Thus being tied to the stake so sone as the fire began to burne he stretched forth his hande into if as far as he coulde reache that it might first fele the torment And so was burnt the primate of Englande a man of greatest learning authoritie From the time that the Popishe marke was taken from him they call it degrading whiche is wont to be done with many cerimonies they put vpon him a most vile garmēt so brought him forth amonges the people to be laughed at But many hauing cōpassion of his vnworthy chaūce could not kepe thē frō sheding of teares although thei doubted nothing but that he should flitte out of this miserable lyfe in to the heauenly countrie and life euerlasting His promotions got Cardinall Poole made Archebyshop when he had Massed before And like as they of Austriche so also the Bauariās sollicited Albert their Duke cōcerning religiō in maner at the same time The Duke seing that kyng Ferdinando his father in lawe had permitted some thing to his subiectes he also when he exacted mony graunted some thing for a time that they might receiue the Lordes supper whole and on daies prohibited when necessitie requireth to eate flesh Howbeit he prosesseth with many wordes that he wyll not departe from the Religion of his auncesters nor alter any thing in ceremonies such other thinges for the same not to be lawfull for him to doe without the consent of his supreme Magistrate both spirituall and temporall And where he permitteth these two to be for a tyme only tyll some thing be established by publique authoritie or a reconcilement made For he wyll that his proclamations of fourmer tyme concerning Religion be exactely and stryghtly kept these two thinges only excepted He wyll procure also as muche as in him lieth that the Metropolitane and Byshops shall confirme this graunte and that they shall not for this cause seke to moleste any man This proclamation was written the daye before the Kalendes of Aprill The Metropolitan of whome he speaketh is the Archebyshop of Salisburg At this time certen noble men of
A FAMOVSE Cronicle of oure time called Sleidane's Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and common wealth during the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift with the Argumentes set before euery Booke conteyninge the summe or effecte of the Booke following Translated out of Latin into Englishe by Ihon Daus ¶ Here vnto is added also an Apology of the Authoure ✚ CHE SARÀ SARÀ ⧠✚ To the right honorable and his singular good Lord Fraunces Earle of Bedford Lord Russel one or the Quenes highnes most honorable priuy counsel Ihon Daus his daily oratour wisheth helth peace and cōsolatiō In Christ Iesu with thincrele of honor and digntiy AMonges all other wryters that compile Bookes for the knowledge and instruction of others right honorable and my singular good Lord thei in my opinion deserue best of the common welth which commit to wrytinge stories wherby men maye learne by thexamples of others set before their eies how to guide and gouern theyr life what thinges to embrace or eschue and to iudge by matters past what shal be the consequent and end of things to come For which cause the most eloquent orator Cicero calleth an history the mystres of māners the guid light of life the sercher out of vertues driuer away of vices with many such other like goodly titles which he attributeth to the same And certenly if ther wer euer any story written whereof men might reape frute and commodity or worthy to be had in hand practised in the common vse of mans life ether for the worthines ofihargumente which is concerning the state of religion and common wealth or for the report of things done lately of fresh memorye it is thys same work of Sleidane For he treateth not only of thenterprises of men with the casuall chaunces of things that happen But climing higher and auauncing the minde of man vp vnto heauen constraineth the same to maruel at the wōderful prouidence of the liuing God touching the gouernement of the Churche And induceth men to wonder at the vnsearchable counsel of God almighty who hath preserued the same in somany troublesome stormes and tempestes ful of pearil and daunger And as concerninge the author the dilligence and fidelity that he hath vsed deserueth doutles to be highly commēded of all men for so much as he hauing more respect to the common wealth than regard to his priuate commodity hath wholy imploid him self to consecrate the best and most excellent matters that maye be to euerlasting memory It is said how Thucidides was so desyrous of the verity and so doubtfull and scrupulous in wryting of his story that he gaue a great some of monye euen to his ennemies to haue the truth of matters to know how all thinges went Assuredly the same may we say also by Sleidan who as he him selfe confesseth not content to go by heare say or by common report of people hathe fished for the certenty of his Story out of common recordes or at the least by report of men worthy credit and herein hath spared nether cost nor paine For although he hath wrytten many thinges which he him self hath sene in Germany Fraunce Italy other places yet muste he of necessitye be holpen herein with the eies and eares of many to compact an history of so many seuerall nations and places so far distante one from an other Seing therefore that thys story of Ihon Sleidane is compiled of matters of so singuler and excellent perfection worthy of perpetuall memory J haue thought it expediēt for sondry causes to present your honoure with the same And that as wel for the great good wil zeale that your good Lordship beareth towards lerninge christen religion and common wealth of your natiue country As also for the place and dignity to the which by the iudgement of al mē you are most worthely called cōsidering how it shal be neither vnprofitable nor vnnedeful for your honor to vnderstand the state of other realmes and cōmon welthes with the tormoils of the church in the same which things do here aboundantly and sufficiently appear And to thend it may be easely knowen in what place euery matter may be found I haue set before the beginnyng of euery boke the some or argumēt conteining the most matters comprised in the same most humbly beseching your honour to accept this simple translatiō dedicated to your good Lord ship and wrytten for the vtility of our common coūtry into your honorable tuition that throughe your good Lordships authority the tonges of euil speakers being repressed put to silence all others that are disposed may receiue commodity and profit by readinge of the same For doutlesse a more profitable boke than this is hath not ben setforth in thenglish tong now of many yeres Thus the liuing God preserue and increase you in honor and so replenish your noble mind with the light and grace of his holy sprite to perswade and treat with the Quenes highnes moste honorable in such wise that all thinges ther condescended and agreed vpon may wholy redownd to the glory of Gods holy name The Kalendes of August Anno. 1560. ⧠The. Translator to the Boke GO forth my painful Boke Thou art no longer mine Eche man may on the loke The shame or praise is thine But seke thou for no praise No thanke nor yet reward Nor eche man for to please Haue thou no great regard The labor hath bene mine The trauell and the paine Reproches shal be thine To beare we must be fain Yet hath my study bene To profit others mo Some men thereby to win And trust it shal be so For as to pleasure many I haue bene euer glad Right so to displease any I wold be loth and sad But if thou please the best And such as be of skill I passe not for the reast Good men accept good will Thou mightst with me remaine And so eschue all blame But since thou wouldst so faine Be gon goe in Gods name ¶ To the most excellent Prince Augustus Prince Electour Duke of Saxon Lantzgraue of Turing Marques of Meissen high Mareschall of thempire his singuler good Lord Ihon Sleidane wisheth health DIuers authors most excelleut prince haue setforth vnto vs many and sondrye alterations of kingdomes And God him self wold that we shuld be taught these thinges as it were with his mouth long before they shoulde come so passe And of those foure greate Monarchyes of the worlde of theyr greate aulteration and succession he taughte vs by the Prophette Daniell Whose Prophecies for the mooste parte of them are alreadye made euidente and manifest vnto vs wyth a certaine knowledge most pleasaunt and ful of consolation And of the alteration and contention that shoulde be about Relygion and Doctrine both the same prophet hathe spoken before and S. Paule comminge after him prophecieth also manifestlye But in what sorte the same shal be it is setforth and declared by mo than one or two Howe be
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 christiās that to him was cōmitted 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 factiō 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 coūsel 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 opiniō 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 sēd 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
Religion that excepte their Bybles all other Bookes shoulde be burned This was in the yere of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundred and ten Reuchline which was both a lawier and right skilful in the Hebrewe tongue when he had receiued the Archbishoppes letters he wrote againe his mynde and said how the Hebrewes bokes were of three sortes there were Histories Bookes of Phisicke and of Prophecies and these laste to also of dyuers sortes in the whiche albeit there were many fonde and supersticiouse thinges yet are they for this purpose profytable for that they will serue well to confute their Errours and their dotages This his opinion he sente to the Archebyshoppe sealed After that Phefercorne knewe this he made not a lytell a doe but set oute a Booke agaynste him callinge hym the fautoure and defendour of the Iewes Reuchline in the defence of his estimation aunswereth him with another by the which he offended certein vniuersities but especially Collen in the which were then of moste reputation Iames Hogostrate and Arnolde Tōgre who wrot an Inuectiue against him in like case as Phefercorne had done dedicating the same to thēperor Maximiliā And after that they wente to the lawe with him before the Archebyshoppe of Mentz and Hogostrate was plaintife whome Reuchline as his ennemy resused And first aunswered the vlatter by attourney and in fine came him self to Mentz accompanied with diuers gentlemen and other learned men whiche Ulriche Duke of wirtemberge had sent with him but after they had soughte meanes to haue quieted the matter and coulde not he appealeth vnto Rome The Bysshoppe of Rome committeth the hearyng therof to George Palatine Bishop of Spires commaunding that no mā els shoulde medle with all This notwithstandyng they of Colon condēned Reuchlines boke and burned it in the moneth of February in the yere M.D.xiiij This did the Bishoppe of Spires take in maruelous euil part And because the Plaintife beynge called at seuerall tymes as the maner is appered not he geueth sentence with Reucline approuynge his Booke to be good and condemneth this Hogostrate in costes and domage But he to the intent to make this sentence frustrate trauayleth to Rome In the meane time his fellowes at home labored and wrot to Paris and to Lewis the Frenche kinge by the mediation of Erarde Marchiaue Byshoppe of Liege who was at the same tyme greate with Lewis the twelfeth Wherofore the Uniuersitie of Paris after longe debatynge of the matter condempned the booke also as worthye to be burnte and the author to be dryuen to recant and those Hebrews bokes to be brent in like maner as they haue bene in times past This was in Auguste followynge The Duke of Wirtemberge had intreated them by his letters And Reucline him selfe wrote vnto them gentely for that he had bene there studiēt and sent them the Copie of the Sentence pronounced by the Bishoppe of Spires but all was in vaine When this Hogostrate had sued at Rome three yeres and could not preuaile he retourneth home againe as he wente For diuers of the Cardinalles vnto whome Leo committed the hearynge of the matter loued Reuchline intierlye for hys excellente learnynge and amonges others Adrianus that wrote a booke of the Latin tounge He was also commended vnto them by Erasmus of Roterodame whose Epistles in hys behalfe do yet remaine Before the menne of Louaine hadde publyshed theyr sentence of Luther they tooke theyr aduise of Adriane Cardinall of Derthuse in Spayne a Hollander borne and brought vp amonges them at Louaine by whome they were boldned to do it Wherefore when Luther had so manye and so greate ennomyes he wrote an Epistle to the newlye created Emperoure Charles the fifte and fyrste crauynge pardone that beinge a manne of so lowe degree he shoulde attempt to write to so highe a Prince he saithe the matter is weightye that causeth him to doe it and altogether suche as appertaineth to the glory of Christ signifying how he had written certaine bokes whiche had procured him the displeasure of manye through no desert of his for he was broughte into this contention by his aduersaries agaiust his wikhe had muche rather haue setten still but this hath bene his chief and only studye that the pure doctrine of the go spell might appere against the false traditions of men and that many good and excellent learned men can beare witnes of the same And this to be the cause of all the hatred disdaine reproches pearils and displesures that he hath bene in these thre yeres that he had done as much as lay in him that the matter might be taken vp But the oftner that he sought quietnes the more were his aduersaries offended and where he hath oftentimes required them to shew him wherin he had erred and to teach better thinges hitherto they haue aunswered in maner nothing but by railing wordes and cruell iniuries sekinge only how to quench both him and the doctrine of the Gospell For the which causes he is now constrained to vse the last remedy and after the ensamples of Athanasius to flie vnto him for succour besechynge him to take vpon him the tuition of the christian doctrine and to defende him againste all violence and iniurie till the matter be further knowen that he will desyre no defence in case he be proued to maynteyne an euill cause but desyreth onely that the thing may be tried and knowen and nothing to be determined before That this apperteineth to his office and for this cause hath he this highe power geuen him of God to minister Iustice and to mainteine right and equitie And to defende the pore and weake agaynst the iniuries of the stronger In like effect he writeth after that to all the states of the Empire reciting in fewe wordes howe vnwillynge he was to fall into this contention howe desyrous he hathe bene to haue it taken vp what conditions he hath offered and yet doeth the same Not longe after he writeth to the Archebishop of Mentz Cardinall with greate submission beynge sory as he saieth that he is complained vpon to him by suche as were wont to praise his doinges But he admonisheth him to gyue no credit to talebearers and to beware of Flatterers by the example of kynge Dauid disceaued by the flatteter Siba that he would set a part all sinistrall suspicion of him and of his workes vntill suche time as he had leasure to reade them him selfe for there were two kindes of men that condemned his writinge one was of them that neuer red them another of suche as read them in dede but with a malicious minde these did depraue his doynges wherin if any man coulde fynde any errour and teache him that were better he woulde be glad to folowe it and hathe oftentymes so protested And for asmuche as he trusted well in his great humanitie and was borne and brought vp in the same prouince that he hath cure of he coulde not but write thus vnto hym The
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 wouldâ—iot 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 â—rtes 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 toÌ„ges 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
saufe consciēce Wherfore he besecheth him to prouide so that he may be out of all daunger that good and well learned men may be chosen for him to dispute with that he be not condemned before he be conuicte of Heresie that in the meane time his aduersaries may refraine theyr wonted rayling and cease from burnynge of his Bookes And that in case he shall nede hereafter to enterprise anye thinges els for Gods glorye and the trouthes sake that he be not by the Emperor impeched herin promisyng not to fayle but to come to Wormes whan he shall haue receyued themperors sauffeconduit Where he trusteth in such sorte to demeane him selfe and his cause before indifferent iudges that all the worlde may vnderstande that he hath done nothing by rebellion but for the common wealth chieflye of Germany to haue taken al this trauell to reduce men from many grosse errours to the sownde and pure doctrine He desyreth him moreouer that the Emperor and he woulde haue a regarde to the horrible bondage and miserable estate of Christientie oppressed throughe mere Papistrie Wherfore Cesar Collicted by the Duke wrote vnto Luther the syxte day of Marche That for so muche as he had setforth certeine bookes he was determined to heare the matter him selfe before the princes wherfore these be to signifie vnto him that he hath free libertie to passe and repasse safely without any daunger as more plainely doeth appere by the saufe conduict sent here with he commaundeth him therfore to take his iorney spedely and not to fayle to be with him within one and twentie dayes The Byshoppes of Rome haue accustomed on Thursedaye in the Passion weeke solemnely to curse and banne certeine kyndes of men Fyrst Heretikes secondarely Pirates then suche as eyther Reyse vp new customes or extorte that is forboden Also suche as coūtrefeit the Bulles or Iustrumentes of the courte of Rome Moreouer they that sell any Armure to Turkes or Sarasyns and suche other vnlawfull wares They that let or hinder corne to be brought to Rome they that hurt any man suyng or belongynge to the Courte of Rome Furthermore all suche as worke any damage or violence to the possessyons or neighbours dominions of the Churche of Rome as namely the Citie of Rome Sicilie Naples Cardinie Corf Hetruria Spolete Sabine Ancona Flaminie Campanie Bononie Farrare Beneuent Perusie Auenion The former Bishoppes haue named for Heretikes the Garasians Pateronians the pore menne of Lions the Arnoldistes Speronistes Wicleuistes Hussites and the Fratricelles Leo the tēth put to also the Lutherians and curseth them full blacke this curse is commonly called the Bull of the Lordes Supper Which Luther got afterwardes and translated it into Duche not without much myrthe and pastime When Luther had receued the Emperours letters he went to Wormes with the same Heralt but when he came almooste there there were diuerse that diswaded hym puttynge him in mynde howe his bokes were brent which was a certen preiudice of his condemnation and howe the same might chaunce to him as ded to Iohn Husse but he with a stoute courage contemned all perill sayinge that it was plainely the Deuyll that woulde put him thus in feare seynge that his kingdome should quayle by the confession of the trewth in so notable a place so came he to Wormes the syxt day of April The next day he was brought before the Emperour and the whole counsell of Princes Where as by the Emperours commaundement Eckius the the Lawyer spake vnto him on this wise There be two causes Martin Luther for the whiche the Emperor by the consent of the Princes and all the states hath sent forth commaundyng me to enquire of thee the same First wherther thou wilt acknowledge these Bookes to be thine and made by thee Againe whether thou wilt reuoke any thing in them or stande to the defence of all that is written therin Luther had brought with him a lawies of Wittenberge one Hierome Schurffe he had that the titles of the Bokes should be read and shewed which done Luther briefly repeting the questions propoūded as concerning my Bookes saieth he I confesse and acknowledge them to be myne but whether I will defende all that I haue written to the intente I make trewe aunswere and do nothyng rashely and forsomuch as the thinge is of weightie importaunce I require a time to take deliberation When the thing was debated Albeit saieth he that thou myghtest easely haue knowen by the Emperours letters why thou waste sent for therfore nowshouldest seke no delay to answere yet Cesar of his clemencie graunteth thee one dayto take aduisement commaunding thee to be here to more we this time do declare what thou wilte do herein by mouthe and not by writynge For that he made this delay many supposed that he would not be constant When he came the next daye Eckius sayde vnto him yesterday thou wouldest not aunswere to the seconde demaunde but required a time whiche myghte ryght well haue bene denied the for euery man ought to be so certen of his fayth that he should aunswere therto at al times much lesse should a great diuine doubt or premeditate an answere but what so euer the matter be What sayest thou nowe wilt thou defend thine owne writinges Then Luther addressyng his aunswer to the Emperor and the Counsell of the Princes besought them to heare him paciently and if he should ought offende them eyther in wordes maners or gestures vnsemely for suche a presens to beare with him and pardō him for the kinde of lyfes sake that he hath bene brought vp in for of my selfe saith he I can witnesse nothinge els but that I haue taughte syncerly hitherto those thinges whiche I beleue do concerne the glorye of God and the saluation of men And as concernyng my bookes I answered yesterday that they were made written by me but if any other hath added to any thyng that will I not take for mine Now to the secōde question The bokes that I haue wrytten be of sundrie argumentes For some apperteine onely to the doctrine of fayth and vertue whiche myne aduersaries them selues do commēde If I should abiure them I should not play the parte of an honest man others there be wherein I reprehended the Byshoppe of Rome and hys doctrine whereby he hath sore afflicted the Christian common wealth For who seeth not how pitifully mens consciens are vexed with his lawes and decrees Or who can deny howe craftely and disceiptfully he robbeth all countreis and chieflye Germany and maketh not yet an ende of hys rauenynge If I should abolishe these bokes I shoulde confyrme their tyrrannye And it shoulde be the greater preiudice to be done nowe by the authoritie of the Emperour and the Princes The thirde kynde is written agaynste certeine priuate men whiche woulde defende the Romishe wickednes and seke euery where to in trap me in the which I confesse to haue bene more vehement then became
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 thē 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 whō God hath giuen so large and ample dominiōs 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 coūsel of Constance to the great reproche of thēperor Sigismūde 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 thē 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 Collē 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 daūger 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 intēt 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 thē 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 cā 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 foūde as maye kepe a Godly quiet These men after more deliberation had make him answer admoshing him as before to put downe thē 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
but no man can shewe it they haue often times required herin the Bishoppe of Constaunce of Basill and of Courtes certeine Uniuersities and them also but vnto this day ther is nothing done Therfore their Ministers gyue none occasion of diffention in the commō wealth but the Bishoppes and suche as for their owne profit teache that which is contrary to Godes worde For they deceiue the people offende God greuously which feare to lose any of theyr commodities and wer loth to forsake theyr pride and auarice As touchyng the eatyng of Egges and Fleshe Albeit it be free and not forbidden by Christ yet haue they made a lawe to auoide offence and rashenes God is the Aucthour of Matrimony and hath ordeined it for almen S. Paule also commaūdeth that the minister of the church should be the husband of one wife And sins that Bishoppes do permit priestes for money to kepe Concubines and Harlots by a filthy example And they neither can nor wyll be without women they thinke it not good to resist God who ordeyned holy wedlocke sufferyng them that haue not the gifte of Chastitie to marrie rather than in singlenes to lyue a fylthy lyfe Colledges and such other places were fyrst founded for the pore but now for the most part they possesse them which haue enough besides And often times it is sene that one hath as much as wold find many Wherfore they think it reasonable that suche goods were againe conuerted to the vse of the poore wherin notwithstandyng to vse this moderation that suche as be in possession already be permitted to enioye the rente during theyr liues leste any man shoulde haue cause to complaine That the Iewels of the Churche apperteine not to the trewe worshipping of God But this to be more acceptable vnto God what time the pore and nedye are releued The order of Priesthode is not of them dispised but muche set by in case they do their dewtie and teach syncerely But as for the rest of the rabble that doeth no good but harme If it be by litell and litel diminished without offence and theyr possessions put to some godly vse there is no doubte but the same woulde be vnto God most acceptable For whether that God do accept their singing and seruice in Latin it is muche to be doubted of For many of them vnderstande not what they say and yet are they hired to do the same The order of Monkes is the inuention of man and not the ordinaunce of God Howe muche Auricular confession is of valewe that numbreth the sinnes they wil leaue vndiscussed but that wherby trewe penitentes haue accesse vnto Christe theyr mediator they iudge not onely profitable but also necessary for consciences troubled and pressed down with the burthen of sinne And this to be trewly to repent when a mā doeth amende his life The Sacraments which were instituted of God are not of them contemned but had in great reuerence notwithstandyng they must be vsed accordyng vnto Gods worde and the Lordes supper not to so applied as if it were an oblation or a sacrifice And if the Clergie that thus complaineth can fynde out any error amonges thē or prone that they be hindred or empeched by thē they will make them amendes if not it were reason that they should be commaunded to do theyr dewtie that is to teache the treuth and to abstaine from sklaūdering of others Where as they desyre to be deliuered from the pillage and vsurped aucthoritie of the Bishoppe of Rome and his clientes they are exceadyng glad to heare it whiche thinge can be done by no meanes better than if Godes worde may be throughly receiued for so longe as theyr lawes and decrees shall take place let vs looke for no deliueraūce For it is onely the preaching of Gods word that shaketh theyr power and dignitie For the force of the Gospell and veritie is suche that they distrusting theyr owne strength seeke forthe aide of kynges Wherefore if they should in this case vse the helpe of Scripture it is requisite that the same be done lyke wise in all other thinges that all that God is offended with may be abolished for the reformation whereof they wyll be glad to bestowe not onely theyr trauaile counsel but their goods also for this would haue bene done longe syns Wherefore they desyre them to accept this in good part and to weighe it diligently They conet nothing more than peace and quiotnesse and will do nothing contrary to theyr league But in this case which concerneth theyr euerlastyng saluation they can not otherwise do vnlesse theyr errour can be detected they desyre them therfore that if they thinke theyr doctrine to be against the Scriptures it maye be shewed them before the ende of Maye For so longe will they tary for an answere from them and frō the Byshoppes and also from the Universitie of Basill In the meane while the Bishoppe of Constaunce calling a conuotion made a boke to answere them of Zuricke the ende wherof was to declare that where the Scripture speaketh againste Images it is to be vnderstand onely of the Idoles that were amonges the Iewes and Gentiles And that the Images receyued of the churche are to be kept styll Then treateth he of the Masse the which he proueth by many testimonies of Bishoppes of Rome and theyr coūsels to be an oblation and a sacrifice This boke sendeth he to Zuricke the fyrst daye of Iune exhortynge the Senate with many weightie wordes that they neither take downe theyr Images nor abrogate the Masse nor suffer the people to be taught otherwise The Senate make the answere the eighteneth day of Auguste howe that they are glad that he hathe setforth this booke for now it shall appere whether partie defendeth the iuster quarell After they declared the mindes of theyr learned menne teaching the contrary by the Scriptures But before they wrote an aunswer the Senate had commaunded throughout theyr incisdiction all Images to betaken downe brent Yet without any trouble this was in the moneth of Iune and within a fewe monethes after the Canons of Zuricke make a compact with the Senate and order was taken how the landes and goods of their Colledge should be imploied The Emperor sent to the Counsel at Norinberge Iohn Hawnart and complainyng that the decree made at Worines by their common assent and counsell was broken to the great losse of Germany he commaunded that from hence forth it should be diligentlye obserued The Princes answer that they wyll do herein what they can Finally the .xviij. of Aprill it was there decreed that by the assent of the Emperour the Bishop of Rome so shortly as might be shoulde all a free counsel in Germanye in some place conueniente That the estates of the Empire do assemble at Spires the xi of Nouember there to consult what they shall folowe vntill the begynninge of the counsell That the Princes shall assigne
nūbre of holye dayes be in measure These woulde Campegius haue enacted in the counsell of the Empire But when he could not bring it to passe he held this assembly a part Whan Luther vnderstode that the Emperoure and diuerse Princes woulde practise the decree of Wormes he bewaileth the state of Germanye whiche beynge so ofte admonisshed neglecteth her own wealthe And calleth vpon the Princes them selues that beynge so openly and wickedly disceaued of the Romishe Byshoppes they maynteyne neuertheles theyr dignitie and seke all his distructiō which wissheth best vnto them Wherfore he saith for this great ingratitud and frowardenesse inexcusable there hangeth a most terrible Plage ouer Germany He warneth them also that they attempte not rasshelye to warre vpon the Turke who in counsell and moderation doeth farre excell our Princes And liuing as we do we may hope of no victorye Furthermore he calleth it a mockery that thēperour and the kynge of Englande which can not lengthen theyr lyues one momēt should cai them selues defendors of the Church and the faith He besecheth God to sende suche Magistrates as will seke and tendre Gods glory The golden Rose which the Pope had lately consecrated as is atcustomed three weekes before Easter he sendeth to Heury the eyghte kynge of Englande as a notable token of his singular good wyll and beneuolens Aboute this tyme came forth Erasmus boke of Freewill Wherunto Luther aunswered with a contrary tytell of Bondewyll The kynge of Englande and the Cardinal of Yorke caused Erasmus to write his booke as he him selfe confesseth in a certeine Epistle to the Cardinall which is in printe About this time also Anthony Duke of Loraine made this decree For so muche as Luthers Doctrine is condemned of the Bishop of Rome of the Emperor of famous Uniuersities he commaundeth that none of his do preache any such doctrine And that all suche as haue any bokes set forthe by Luther do exhibite the same within a certeine day appointynge a penaltie to suche as dyd disobey This yere Henry Zutphā was put to death with exceadinge paines and torment for the doctrine of the gospel by thē of Dietmary which is in the marces of Germany for beyng called he went thither after he had taught two yeres amonges the Bremers I tolde you before of a coūsell that should haue bene at Spires the same was altered and themperor when he knewe writing his letters out of Spaine to the states of thēpire at the Ides of Iuly doth blame them exceadinly for the decree made For wheras certeine yeres paste in the counsell at Wormes by the common assente of all states he had with moste weygtie wordes condemned Luthers doctrine as Hereticall and pestilent where also the Byshoppe of Rome had after dewe examination condemned his Bokes commaundyng them to be brēt he marueyleth greatly and is sory also that they shoulde forbed onely his sclaunderous Bookes or skornefull Pictures to be sold as though that decree at Wormes were not ryghtly and orderly made And moreouer he is not a lytell moued that they woulde both haue a counsell holden in Germany and haue spoken to the Legate Campegius that he would write to the Byshop herin as thoughe the same concerned not more the Bishoppe or him than it doeth them for if they thought it so expedient for Germany to haue a counsel why made they not him preuie to it that he might haue obteyned the thing of the Byshop And nowe albeit he perceiueth rightwell howe muche the Bishoppes authoritie and his also is by this decree diminished yet consyderynge that the waye shal not be vnprofitable for the cōmon wealth he approueth the counsell also yet so that it may be done by the Bishoppes authoritie and in tyme and place conueniente so as he maye be presente there him selfe as he is fully determined And whereas they haue appoynted an assemblie agaynste the .xi. day of Nouembre to establisshe Religion till the begynnyng of the counsell where they haue also chosen certeine learned men to gather the summe of a Doctrine he neyther can nor wyll consent therto in any wyse But accordynge to hys office in so muche as he is the defendor and protectour of the Byshop of Romes Churche he doth by all meanes prohibite this decrre lest he should procure to him selfe the displeasure of God of the Bishop also for what greater cōtumelie cā be wrought against the christiā church thā if the reuerēs dew to the highest power should be thus shakē of if Germany which hath bene euer most cōmended for vertu obeidiēce should a lone alter that religiō which no Princes nor the bishop of Rome him self euer durst do Which neuer man forsoke hitherto but he felt of Gods vengeaunce for his wickednes if they should forsake abolish that hath bene of so long cōtinewaūce in all Christendō at the craftye perswasion of Luther who endeuoureth with painted words to disceaue abuse mē as in times past did Mahomet what plages of god might they loke for He besecheth God to loke mercifully vpon Germany and not to suffer so great a mischiefest to take place ther so lōg as he liueth Wherfore let thē obey the decre of Wormes vnlesse they will smart for it defer all matters of religiō till a general coūsell may be had at the Bishop of Rome his appointmēt which are theyr chief magistrats After the selfe same sorte writeth he also priuatly to certein states amōges others to the senate of Strauso And thus was the decre of the next assēblie abolished for themperor hauing both his hands full of the Frenche warres sought to winne the Bishop of Rome by all meanes possible This sommer Charles duke of Bourbon Cōstable of Fraūce which the yere before partly by his owne accorde partely laboured by themperor fell frō the French king beseged Marselles but in vain Whom departing thence into Italy the kyng foloweth with great expedition and taking many holdes in Lūbardy the citie of Millan it selfe towardes wynter he besegeth Pauie a towne by the riuer of Ticine In the moneth of Nouembre the countrey people of Suelande began to ryse against theyr lord the countie Lupse for charges wherwith they complayned to be ouer muche burthened Lykewise others in other places nere vnto the same rebelled against theyr magistrats in so much that the counsel of thēpire which gouerneth the cōmon welth in themperors absence beyng then at Eslinge sent theyr ambassadors appeased certeine cōtrouersies But this broile ceased not as shal be told herafter This was that begining of the greatest most daūgerous cōmotion that pearsed afterwards throughout a great part of Germany What tyme Luthers doctrine was set forth in all places the Clergie did resist it with all their forse fearyng to lose all theyr goodes and benefices And certein of Straceborugh complained to the senate of the Empire of the townes men that
they did infringe theyr liberties and priueleges diuerse waies howe they had appointed maryed priestes and Monkes as Capito Bucer others to haue the gouernement of their Churches that they receiued the Lordes supper vnder both kindes that they had rasshely cast the Images out of theyr churches For the which cause two of the chiefest counselors of thempire Friderick coūtie Palatine and Philip marques of Baden in their letters written frō Esling in the moneth of Ianuary admonishing the senate to leaue of theyr chaūge restore eche thing to his place Diuers of the Swices namely the Schafusians they of Basill where Oecolampadius then taught begā by litel litel to giue ouer theyr displeasure towards them of Zuricke but in maner al the rest could by no meanes be pacified And whā the Captaine of Turege wherunto Zurick belongeth had taken a priest in the night was cariyng him awaye he makinge an outcry calling for helpe of his neighbours reised vp a sodē tumult and euery man gote him to his weapons Whan they of Zuricke had suffered this and many other iniuries the fourth day of Ianuary they wrote theyr letters to al theyr confederates and felowes complaining on this wise Christ say they cōmaundeth that to him that stryketh thee on the one cheeke thou shalte offer the other And we folowinge this his doctrine haue suffered many thinges and that patiētly But now sith ther is no ende nor measure of iniuries we are inforced to flie to that same which Christ him self vsed And if we haue done any euill we desyre that the same may be taught shewed vs. Undoubtedly for as much as we susteine suche hatred and malice and are euery where euill reported of all men the thynge it selfe requireth and constreineth vs to to make answere Wherfore we wil declare the cause of al this malice confute the sclaunders and shewe howe we be affected towards our common countrey And fyrste in dede wheras Fraunces the Frenche kyng had made great and long suite to enter into league with vs and had your consent therto we notwithstandynge that you were ofte in hande with vs did vtterly refuse the same And that for diuerses causes but chiefly for that the maner liked vs not to witte that we shold sende our strength and souldiours vnto straungers which for money should be hired to warre on them that neuer did them harme to bring vp suche an euill example and maineteine them in Idlenes whiche if they should die in the warres theyr wiues and childrē should come to extreme miserie For we iudged it an vusittynge thynge to oure owne great losse and hynderaunce to serue the kynges torne and to brynge our countrey men into suche a bondage to him And therefore haue we iudged it best to retaine and kepe the same libertie both of bodie and goods which our elders with great valeaūtnes and blouddy handes haue gotten vs wyth like vertue and constauncie And this is al the matter this is the very cause and as it wer the welspringe and begynnyng of all the displeasure for if we woulde haue ratified the league we thinke there should haue rysen no displeasure at all For when you were often tymes in hande with vs that we should not forsake your league we shewed you our mynde that was to kepe amitie with the kynge accordynge to the composition of peacetions of our olde league that was made for the wealth and preseruaalready established And moreouer that we would obserue the condition of our common Countrey And because we perseuer herein we haue gotten displeasure abroade For syns the lyghte of the ghospell sprange vp we haue shaken of our shoulders that moste weigtie burthen whiche the Bishoppe of Rome and his adherentes had laide vpon vs abolished manifest errours This occasion haue some of you taken of late and by your Ambassadors sent haue intreated vs that we should conuerte and amende And we aunswere thereunto as before that we worke after the prescripte of Goddes worde if any man can shewe vs that we be in errour we will alter our purpose if not surely it is more reason to obey God than men Than stode vp Egly the Captein of Lucerne threatenyng vs that vulesse we forsake the doctrine of Luther and Zuinglius the Lucernates Uranites Switensians Unterualdians Tugiaus and they of Friburge will sit no more in counsel with vs from henceforth And not longe after that they had confyrmed this thing amonges them selues by a law the Captaine of Turege had taken in the night season Iohn Oxeline a preacher of the ghospell in hys owne house and caried him away prisoner Which vnto vsis a double iniurie in that our owne man is taken out of our owne liberties And whereas many ran oute the same night of al parts at the outcry and did many thinges wickedly all the blame was layde vpon vs and our men that happened to be amonges them Nowe the seconde matter that you charge vs with all procedeth of that assemblie whiche Ferdinando Archeduke of Austriche helde the last yere at Regenspurge with the rulers of his countrie also with the Bishoppes and suche others as hate the doctrine of the Ghospell But what they endeuor and go about it is not vnknowen verely to make dissention amonges vs and to plucke vs a sonder Which thinge greueth vs the more that you will credite suche as in time past you haue knowen at the leaste some of them to be lewde and wycked parsous whome we also vnderstandyng theyr craft and treason haue banished out of our limittes Euen they nowe for so muche as we woulde gyue no eare to them are fled vnto you and accuse vs nowe as though we had brokē the league that was made with the house of Austrich They say how we sent aide to them of Walsute against theyr Prince Ferdinando but that is vntrew For wher 's the Walsutensiās were in daūger for theyr Religion and could not be suffered to speake for them selues a fewe of our men against our knowledge ran thither to saue the harmeles men from iniurie and violence Whom so sone as we knew therof we called backe againe Therefore is the grounde of theyr accusation vntrewe And Ferdinando haue any thing more to shewe that the league should be brokē let him bring it forth and he shall be aunswered in suche sort as al men may plainly see whether parte hath kept couenauntes Where therefore you haue had secret talke with Ferdinando his Ambassadours a part from oures we can not a litell maruel for if you treated of tholde league than ought our mē to haue bene made priuie to the same but if it were of Religion whye than deale you not with vs after the same conditions which we haue many times offered you The report góth that you haue conspired to destroy the secte of Luther whiche althoughe it were trew yet for so much as we are ioyned in league aswel with him as
All theyr requestes wer euery where a like beginning in Suelāde and passing so vnto others reaching from Thuringe and the borders of Saxonie vnto the toppe of the Alpes and into the coūtrey about Salisburge whither after the rebellion appeased in Frāckonie came also the armye of the Princes confederated and distroied and banished many amōges whom was theyr captein Geismer who passed through the Alpes by streyght passages with a part of his hoste to the Uenetians of whom he had an yerely stipende and dwelled at Padwey wheras after he was slaine by treason And this was th end of the Bowres warre in the whiche were slaine in one sommer at the least fiftie thousande The Princes that were of the confederacie and league of Swelād so oft mentioned werethese Cesar as Prince of Austriche and his brother Fernando tharchbishop of Mentz the Palsegraue the Bishoppe of Salisburge Bamberge Wirciburge Aistet and Auspurge Wylliam and Lewes brethren Dukes of Bauar Otho Henricke Philip brethren Counties Palatine George Marques of Brandēburge and Albert his nephewe Philip the Lantzgraue of Hasse diuers others both of the nobilitie and Clergie Moreouer the most part of all the cities in Sweuia and amōges other Norinberge About the eight day of Aprill the Masse was put downe at Zuricke by the commaundement of the Senate aswell within the citie as without And in stead of that was instituted the Lordes Supper Lykewise all Ceremonies abolished the Doctrine of Godes worde taketh place and a lawe made againste Fornication and adulterie and Iudges appointed to heare the causes of Matrimony ✚ The fyfthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common We ale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fyfth Booke MUncer by his newe doctrine teaching goodes to be had in common inflamed the rage of the people hauinge Phifer to his companion Duke Fredericke departeth the princes assemble against Muncer Who perswading the people to resist is discomsited and after executed Luther had written against him toy e senate of Misshuse the requestes which the wurs made at the beginning are here recited Wherunto Luther answereth sheweth their disordre exhorting the magistrate to destroy such wicked men Themperor vnderstanding these troubles appoynteth a counsel at Auspurge Carolostadius exiled from Wittenberg goeth about to make his purgation Luther marieth a nonne ʒ winglius and he meete at Marseburge to conferre of theyr controuersie of the Lordes supper Whilest the French king was prisoner Pope Clement receiuing letters from the kynges mother solliciteth the parlamente of Paris to make persecusion Faber was constrained to flee wherof the king wing aduertised causeth such suites and actions against learned men to surcease the common welth of Pruse is altered from the Knightes of Germany to a Duke donie and receiueth the Gospell AGreat occasion of this terrible Warre came by rashe lewd preachers wherof Thomas Muncer was principall who leauing of the preaching of the Gospell set forth a new kind of doctrine in Alstet atowne of the Dukes of Saxonye in Thuringe and taughte not only against the byshop of Rome but against Luther also contendinge that bothe their doctrines were vyle and naught the byshop byndeth mens consciences with straight and ouer harde lawes whiche bondes he saide Luther in deede hath lowsed but offended in the contrary parte in geuing ouermuche libertie and not teaching those thinges that are of the spirite The bishops decrees we maye fafely contemne for that they helpe nothynge vnto saluation whiche to obtayne saith he we must first eschewe open crymes as murther adultery blaspheming of gods name the body must be chastened and made leane with fasting simple apparel the coūtenaunce must be framed vnto grauitie speake seldome weare a long beard These such other like thigs he called the crosse the mortifiēg of the flesh a discipline wherw t he that was furnished he said must get him out of cōpany thike oft of god what he is whether he hath any care ouer Whether Christ died for our sakes Whether our religion be better thā the Turkes Moreouer to axe of God a sygne wherby he maye testifie that he careth for vs and that we be in the true Religion And albeit he shew not a token by and by yet must we neuertheles procede praie still yea expostulate and braule with God that he dealeth not well with vs For seyng that the Scriptures promiseth that he will graunt such thinges as be demaunded it is not righte that he doeth not exhibite a signe to a man that seketh the true knowledge of him This expostulation anger saieth he is of God well accepted for that he perceiueth herby our earnest minde and zeale And than no doubt but being thus instantly sollicited he will declare him selfe by some notable signe and quenche the thirste of our minde dealinge with vs as he did intymes paste with tholde fathers He taughte moreouer that God opened hys minde by dreames wherin he builded the foundation of his intēt and loke whose dreame he could interprete him would he praise openly in his sermon And when he had by this meanes allured many to him then began he to take stipulation of them and wrot theyr names that promised him by an othe to ayde him in his pretensed mischiefe For he said he was commaunded of God to distroy all wicked Princes and subsistute new in theyr places He taughte moreouer that all thinges should be cōmon al mē of like fredom dignitie wherupon the cōmon people leauīg theyr daily labor toke such things as they neded of others that had store euē agaist their wils The dukes of Sax. had banished him what time he begā fyrst to preach seditiously thence wēt he to Norin frō thēce to Mulhuse wherhe altered the senate droue out the Mōkes entred into theyr possessiōs takig vpō hi not only as a preacher but also as a Senator determining al matters as he list For he sayd how he had all thinges shewed him by reuelation loke what he said was to thē sacred holy These partes plaied he for the space of two or thre monethes And whē the Bowres were vp in Swelande Frankonie to the nūbre of fourtie thousand had discomfited a great parte of the nobilitie taken spoyled fyred many holdes castels as before is mentioned thē began he to set hāde on seing the time seruing so well for his purpose he cast felde peces in the Gray friers and gote a wonderfull numbre of people out of the Coūtrie thinking to get some thīg He had of his counsell one Phifer a bold and a desperate felow which was much gyuen to dreames and visions in the nighte who dreamed that he sawe in a certeine stable an innumerable sorte of Myse which he put to flight al This toke he as that God had cōmaunded him to lead forth his armie
before a noble yong man Whom Muncer against the lawes of Armes had slayne wherwith the princes being more displeased caused the trompettes to soūde to the battel set their mē in order Thā Philip Lantzgraue of Hesse though he were yongest of them all ryding vp downe frō one cōpany to another exhorted the soldioures to be valcaūt And although the thinges were trew wherof they were accused yet were it not lawfull for the subiectes to rebell against their princes or magistrats vnto whom God hath giuen the sword wold haue them obeyed as may be proued by sundry places of Scripture He wente not aboute to execuse eyther his owne faultes or any other Princes but to confesse theyr fault graunt that many thinges ought to be amended yet ought the people neuerthelesse to absteyne from all seditiō For where they alledge that they are not permitted to haue the doctrine of the Gospel it is no iust cause to make any rebellion Whan Peter stroke with the sworde he was rebuked of Christ if any Princes do persecute the trew religion they ought to beare with them yea suffer death rather than to resist by force of Armes They take the name of the gospell for a cloke but theyr intent is in dede to take other mens goods to sley the Magistrates to force other mens wiues that no crimes should be punished and for asmuche as they pretende the name of holynes in these so shamefull deedes there is no doubte but God wyll plage their Hypocrisie and reuenge the blasphemie of his holye name When he had with these and suche other like wordes encouraged hys men to fyght they gaue the charge on theyr enemies and fyrst wente of the ordinaunce And the other poore wretches standyng all amased and as men rauished of theyr wittes neither defended them selues nor sought theyr saftie by flight but songe in Duche mytre requiringe the aide of the holy ghost For many trustyng to Muncers promise looked for helpe from heauen When the greate peces were shotte of and that they entred theyr campe and had slayne many at the laste they fled towarde the towne of Franckuse others went againe to thother syde of the Hill and in the valley beneth skirmished wyth certeine horsemen and slewe two or three of them For the Horsemen scattered them selues when theyr enemies fledde and folowed the chase oute of a raye But when they missed of their company they wer in such a rage that to reuenge theyr felowes death they slewe fyue thousand And immediatly after the battell was the towne taken and thre hundreth there beheaded Muncer was fled into the Towne and hyd him selfe in a house not farre from the gate Hither by chaunce came a gentleman and his seruaunt goyng vp to see the house founde in a chamber aboue one lying in his bed He asketh what he is and if he be not one of the rebels that fled He sayd nay he had layue there sycke a good whyle of the Ague His Purse as it chaused laye vpon his bed that chatcheth vp the other thinkyng to haue a pece of money After he had opened it he foūd letters which Albert Countie Mansfelde had sent to Muncer admonishynge him to cease from his enterprise and styrre not vp the people to rebellion When he had red the letters he demaunded of him whether the letters were written vnto him He denied it thother threatened him then he desyred him to be content and confessed that he was Muncer Then was he led to duke George of Saxonie to the Lātz graue and beynge demaunded of them why he had thus abused the poore and simple people He aunswered that he had done nothinge but his dewtie And that the Magistrates whiche can not abyde Godes word ought thus to be punished The Lantzgraue replied and proued to him by Scriptures howe God hath commaunded the Magistrate to be honoured and obeyed howe he hath forbidden all sedition and that it is not lawfull for anye Christian to reuenge his owne wronge Wherunto he aunswered nothing And beynge examined vpon the Racke when he cried oute for paine The duke said vnto him thou art nowe Muncer in payne but remembre againe the losse of so many men as beyng wickedly abused thys day haue bene distroied Then with a greate laughter he saide they would haue it so Afterwardes being led to Helderunge a towne of the coūtie Māsseldes vpon the Pymebanke there he appeached many companions confederats of his conspiracie which were beheaded at Mulhuse and amonges others Phifer before mentioned When he should be executed he was not hable to receite his belefe but as Henry duke of Brūswicke saide it before him But when he shoulde die he acknowledged his offence and error And beynge inuironed with soldiours he exhorted the Princes that they would shewe more mercy to poore men and reade ouer diligently the bokes of Scripture that are written of kynges He had no souer spokē thus but the sword was in the neck of him and for an exāple his head set vp on a pole in the middes of the feldes What time he was banished out of Saxonie as I saide before wanderyng from place to place and at the last as it was reported purposed to come to Mulhuse Luther hearing thereof wrote his letters to the Senate admonishyng them in no case to receiue Muncer For he was a sedicious parson and imagined nothing but murther and mischiefe signifiyng what thinges he had attempted at Alstet and other places Moreouer his doctrine to be fonde and pernicious whereof he wylled them to beware for shortly would his craft be knowen with other frendly wordes which he saide if they contempted and fell after into misery he shold be without blame that had so diligently warned them and they should repente them to late Likewise before anye tumolt was in Germany And yet all thynges lyke to come to suche a passe Luther set forth a boke wherein he warned all men to abstayne from sedition declaryng that the same is not the way to refourme the tyrrany of the Clergie which shall fall and be confounded by no force of men but by the spirite of God and commyng of our Sauior Christ as appere in Daniell and sainct Paule This to be the grounde of hys opinion and to be right well assured that they that seke to redres the thinge by force of Armes shall trauaile in vayne Yet for so muche as some great tumult and daunger hāgeth ouer the Cleargie the thing requireth counsell he wyll Franckly declare his opinion And fyrst to be the Magistrates dewtie to foresee that the people susteine no hinderaunce through the fault of others And that trew religion be not defaced by false doctrine This to be theyr propre office to vse all theyr power that is giuen them to the glory of God and welth of the people But for as muche as they do the contrary and let one
of God with high prayses which hath set vp this light of his knowledge before our eies The Iuggling of the Papistes are bewraied theyr ignoraunce briberie tyrrany and all theyr fylthynes wher with they haue so longe disceaued the world be nowe disclosed and they whiche heretofore haue bene feared of all men are nowe broughte to that exigente that they But where they nowe appeare in theyr likenes and are beholden naked with the eies of all men what vncleanes they haue hid hertofore and are nowe driuen to force of Armes it can not be that their state should longe endure And if there chaunce any part of theyr power to remaine which this doctrine of the ghospell shall not infringe all that shall be abolished by the commyng of Christ We must therfore applye it manfully and procede in the same course but yet it muste be done in order For some are farre out of frame which being not furnished with learnyng after they haue heard two or three Sermōs by and by take muche vpon them callyng them selues Lutherianes and reproue bitterly some that as yet knowe nothing Wherin they do much offende for so ought they not to do And he requireth that no man vsurpe hys name But rather indeuour that seing we professe the name of Christ we may rightly chalenge that to ourselues that we may be surnamed Christians And he that teacheth hath nede to be wel ware what they be that he dealeth with For some be obstinate and froward that both wyl contemne sounde doctrine and also bring others into errour such must they quite eschew after the precept of Christ to cast no pearels before Hogges But wheras they not cōtented eyther with theyr own ignoraunce or obstinacie do seke to seduce others and bringe them frō the crew doctrine thā must they be sharpely withstande not for theyr owne sakes but that same of the multitude might at the least be saued Agayne therebe others not obstynate but symple and without knowledge with whom they must deale gently and not hastely or rashely shewyng them in order wherein the saluation of men consisseth And accordyng to theyr smalle capacitie to applye all theyr speache tyll by lytle and lytle they increase and be confyrmed In the last boke I shewed you of the Bowres that were vp in Sweuelande before Muncer came forth into the felde These people handled the matter with more attempraunce at the begynning declaringe by articles written what thinges they would haue reformed by theyr Princes and Magistrates And in case they were abused in any thing they would not be styfe nor wilfull but promised to folowe better coūsell theyr requestes were these Fyrst that they might chuse them suche ministers as should preache Gods worde sincerely without any mixture of mens traditions Secondarely that herafter they would pay no tithes but of corne onely and the same to be distributed by the discretion of good men partly to the Ministers of the Church partly vpon the pore and partly aboute commen affaires Thyrdly that they haue bene hitherto vnworthelye kept in bondes consydering howe they are all made free in the bloude of Christ they refuse not to haue a Magistrate knowyng that he is ordeyned of God and wyll obey him in all honest thinges but they can not abyde to be any longer bounde vnlesse it be shewed reasonable by the testimonies of Scripture Againe that it standeth not with equitie that they are forbidden to Hunte Hauke and Fishe and that in many places they may not be suffered to chase the wilde beastes out of the corne Seynge from the beginnyng of the world God hath gyuen man right rule ouer all kinde of beastes we desyre that some equalitie herein maye be had that rather the commoditie of a multitude than of a fewe mighte be consydered Moreouer wodes be in few mens handes to the great discommoditie of the people wherfore theyr minde is to haue all suche common both for fewel and also for building as be no priuate mans inheritāce And for other woddes to be frendly vsed by the owners Furthermore they be sore burthened diuerse waies dayly more and more Wherfore they desyre the Princes to moderate the same after the rule of the gospell and charge them no further than in times past hath bene accustomed They would also that such as haue goods landes or possessions by the benefite or graunte of Princes or Magistrates be no further charged than was couenaunted at the beginninge lykewise some of them pay more rent yerely than theyr Fermes be worth wherfore it is reason that the lordes remit some part therof to the intente they the tyll the grounde may reape some fruite of their trauaile and not liue in extreme pouertie Brieflye in paimentes of money they woulde require more equitie for dayly are diuised new lawes and meanes to get money of them for no amendement but oftentimes the thing is hādled by fauour or displeasure or some one or other pertialtie Wherfore they require that all affections set a part this thing be vsed from hence forth as the maner was first prescribed Finally that some haue taken in lādes and Meddowes that are common which they will redresse vnles they be agreed withall last of al that wheras the goodmā of the house departeth the wife and children are wont to paye some what whiche because it is vnreasonable they would that the Magistrates shoulde vtterly take it away Unto these Articles beyng once published answereth Luter vnto whom they had referred their matter And framing his stile vnto thē It is trew sayeth he I graunt you that suche Princes as do not admit the preaching of the Gospell and oppresse the people diuerslye are worthy whom God should thrust out of gouernement for they haue none excuse And albeit this be trew yet must you take heede that you bring hither a pure and vnspotted conscience or els shall you suffer the losse bothe of body and soule neyther ought you to consyder what power you are of or howe much your aduersaries are to be blamed but howe iust the quarel is that you defende Take diligent hede therfore and beleue not the preachinges of all men For Sathan hathe at this tyme vnder the pretence of the Gospell styred vp many sediciouse and bloudy doctours I wyll counsell you ryghtly and truely as I am bōden it shall be your parte to geue eare and mynde to heare it Nether shal it moue me one whitte though many shal reporte euyll and rayle vppon me It shall suffice if at the lest wyse I may delyuer some from Goddes vengeaunce for the rest of them I passe not and as they contempne me so shall not I feare them But for the purpose you take to your selues an holy name and call your selue a Christian felloweshyp and bragge that you wyll followe in all thinges the lawe prescribed of God But you know certenly that the name of God may not be taken
Doctours haue lead you astraye For it is the parte of Christians to suffer and beare the Crosse not to resyste not to reuenge not to stryke with the sworde And what lyke thyng appeareth in you The profession of a Christian man is exceadynge harde and verye fewe doe perfourme in deede that whiche they are bounden to And to make the thyng more playne I shal bring you an example out of the same lawe Peter to defende his Lorde and Maister stroke the byshoppes seruaunt Was it not a iuste cause seynge they dyd not onlye seke the lyfe of Christe but with that to take a waye also from his dissciples the doctryne of the Gospell wherin consisted their saluation But suche lyke cruell iniury hath not yet touched you but what sayde Christe to this He commaunded Peter to cease frō his defence geuing a sore sentence against them that stryke with the sworde that is to saye whiche concempning the Magistrate will auenge their owne cause What dyd he when he was nayled to the Crosse when he was prohibyted to execute his office committed vnto hym of God the father Uerely toke it paciently committyng the whole matter to GOD his father vnto whome he maketh intercession for his persecutors these steppes must be folowed of you or els must you leaue and laye asyde the goodlye name and tytle of Christianytie But in case you woulde followe the example of Christ the power of God would appeare And as after the moste vnworthie death of his onlye sonne he set forth the Gospel farre and nere against the wyll of all his aduersaries so would he vndoubtedly loke vpon you also and send his holsome doctrine aboundantly But now consydering the matter is attempted by force of armes you shall neyther obtayne your purpose nor escape in the daye of battell Now wyl I speake sūwhat of myself also I had the whole worlde against me with all their force and myght And yet the more and greater that theyr violence was the better successe had my doctryne How so I vsed no force I styred vp no commotion I was not desyrous of vengeaunce But I obeyed the ciuyle Magistrate with reuerēce and wrote in his commendation and set hym forth as muche as lay in me and that whiche was pryncipall committyng my cause into Goddes handes I rested wholy in his protection And thus haue I bene preserued vnto this daye though the Byshop of Rome with al the reste stampe and stare at it I haue decayed his kyngdome more then any force of armes could haue done and my doctryne is spread ouer sondrye nations But you rushe forth headlong vnaduisedly and whylest you thynke to further the thynge you consyder not howe muche you hynder the same Wherfore in this quarell you must set aparte the name and tytle of Christiās for though it were neuer so iuste yet for so muche as a Christen man maye not fyght nor resiste iniury I maye in no wyse graunte you that tytle and surname And yet I speake not this to defende or pourge the Magistrates for I confesse them to doe many thynges vniustly notwithstandyng your doynges are here farre from the profession of Christianitie In so muche that in case you wyll obstinatly kepe styll that name and with this colour shaddowe your euell cause I protest to be your ennemie for because vnder the pretence of the Gospel ye doe that is clean contrary to Christes doctrine Therfor wyll I pray vnto God that he wyll mercyfully loke vpon you and subuerte your enterpryse For I perceyne this euydently that the deuill goeth about in asmuche as he coulde not hytherto oppresse me by the Byshop of Rome to destroye me now by the bloudy preachers Wherfore I wyll praye notwithstandyng that I had leuer you would so demeane youre selues that I should not nede to make my prayers against you For al be it I am a synner yet hauing so iust a cause to pray I doubt not but my praier shal be heard For GOD wyll haue his name to be sanctified and so hath he commaunded also that we should praye Wherfore I exhorte and beseche you that you despise not the prayers of me and others lest ye fele to your vtter vndoing what they can bryng to passe but you can haue in your prayers no suche lyke faythe or affiaunce for the Scripture and your gylty conscience doe declare your proceadynges to be prophane and vngodly But I praye you howe many of you haue prayed vnto God in this cause I suppose not one For you put your whole truste and affiaunce in your great armie But assure your selfe for as muche as you so doe all youre atattemptes at the last wyll tourne to your owne destruction Nowe as concernyng your demaundes they are easely answered whiche though they were grounded vpon equitie and were agreable to the lawe of nature yet touchyng theyr Pryncipall parte they stande not vpryghte because you wyll extorte them by vyolence from the hygher powers whyche is agaynst all lawe and equitie Agayne he that deuysed them for you is no good man For the places of Scripture whiche he alledgeth to incense you and brynge you into daunger he reciteth no wholy nor truly which if you loke better vpon them make nothing with you but against you But al your brauery is about the Gospell that it is taken from you but that can not be for if it be restrained in one place you may repare to an other wher it is frely preached For the place maye not be kepte by force but we must forsake it and flee to another as Christe hym selfe hathe taught vs. Your firste demaunde for ordeynyng of Ministers is not amysse so it be done in dewe order For if the landes or possessions that fynde the mynister were geuen by Magistrates then it is not lawefull for the people to gyue them to whome they lyst But first muste the Magistrate be required to place one whiche if he refuse to do than shal the people chuse one and maintaine him of their own charges if the Magistrate wil not suffer this than let the minister chosen by the people flee and with him who so lyst if it be done otherwyse it can not be wtout wrong or mischief That of the tenthes is most vnreasonable For what other thing is this thā to take away al rule power You must be liberal but of your own not of an other mans but nowe ye vse the matter as if you had al authoritie in your own hādes wherby it is easely perceiued what your intent purpose is you wold again haue all men free why had not Abrahā other holy mē bondmen reade Paul he shall instructe you touchynge bondemen wherfore this request is full of violence and robberye and striueth with the Gospell For he that is a Seruaunt may neuerthelesse be deuoute and vse the Christian lybertie as well as he that is sycke or kepte in pryson You
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 thē 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 interpretaciō receiued by the church referring al disputable questions to be in the coūsell 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 Lātgraue 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 cōmende 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 thā 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 cōcernyng the Masse it is ryght well knowen with howe strong and inuincible testimonies of holy Scripture the preachers within their dominiōs 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 cōtrary Masses al mē may wel perceiue what grudge dissentiō 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 declaratiō Notwithstandyng as they haue sayde oftentymes so thynke they it good now also not as yet to make any decree against thē that teache otherwise for that the Emperours commissiōs teach the Latin beneth maketh no mentiō 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 opēly 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 gētle 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 thē 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 Saxō 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 confessiō 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 cōmaunding them to obserue it vnder paine of outlawing But through the coūsel 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 cōfession 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 congregatiō 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
Zwynglians was ment that the Prynces myght be sequestred from the moste parte of the cities and in this treaty the intercessours did so expounde it that if the Zwynglians would acknowledge theyr errour and forsake it they myght also be comprysed in this peace if not to be refused neyther to ayde them nor enter into league with them But the last yeare at Smalcalde the Protestantes were accorded And what time thei of Strausborough and certen cities of Sweuia had more playnly expounded their opinion propounded at Auspurge concerning the Lordes Supper their declaration was excepted of the Saxons And therfore now with one mynde they aunswere all one and the same thynge to eueryry requeste and at the length propounde these conditions of peace That they which at Auspurge did exhibite the confession of theyr doctrine and an Apologie of the same and suche as hereafter shall receiue the same doctrine do consiste within these lymites and renewe nothynge furthermore vntyll the counsell so often tymes promysed and poynted vpon That they ioyne not with them as concernyng theyr doctryne whiche teache otherwyse of the Lordes Supper of Baptisme than is specified in their wryting exhibited at Auspurg that thei neyther allure vnto them nor maynteyne an other mans Subiecte through the occasion of Religion Howe be it if it shall be lawfull for any men eyther by lawe or condition to go whether they wyll whan they shal haue first declared the same to their Lordes or Magistrates they may flitte and remoue if they wyll and be receiued That they sende forth no preachers without their owne limites to preache vnlesse that eyther the Magistrate of that place desyre or permitte hym so to doe whan any assembly shall happen to be there For if he refuse than it shal be lawfull for them to doe it at home And if they shal be eyther at the counselles of the Empyre or sende the power agaynste the Turke let them at suche tymes vse theyr owne preachers and also the Lordes Supper accordyng to Christes cōmaundement let them absteyne from the reproches not withstanding let the Ministers of the churche according to their dutie reprehende errours and vices with a modestie and shewe them the thynge that is ryght That such as be of their Religion be not secluded from the chamber imperiall that the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction remayne in place as it nowe is And that it shall not be lawfull for byshoppes to moleste or brynge in trouble any man for professyng this doctrine That sentences geuen concernynge Religion iurisdiction Ceremonies churche goodes whiche are not yet put in execution be differed tyll a generall counsell Let them vse the churche goodes whiche remayne in those places wherunto those gooodes do properly appertayne neyther let any thyng be violentlye taken from any man and that the yerely reuenewes be brought to the same places as they haue bene of olde tyme accustomed tyll the counsell shall otherwyse determine it In al ciuile matter let euery man do his office and dutie let all men tende the common wealth and shewe mutuall faith and beneuolence When the matter was brought vnto this poynt and woulde come no nerer the intercessours continue styll theyr purpose and to the intent that all thynges myght be reported to the Emperour more spedely they appointe an other metynge at Norynberge the thyrde daye of Iune And there at the laste albeit the ful agrement was not had yet for as muche as the Turke inuading Austriche necessitie requyred to make all the power againste hym that myght be gathered the Emperour doth establyshe an vniuersall peace throughout Germany and decreeth that no man be molested for Religion vntyll the tyme of the generall counsell and if there be none vntyll the states of the Empyre shall fynde an other meane to redresse this controuerste vnto such as shal do otherwyse he appoynteth great punyshement And sayeth he wyll do all his endeuoure that it may be called within this half yeare and begynne within a yeare after And if this can not be obteined that then the matter shal be discussed in the counsell of the Empyre wherfore he chargeth and commaundeth that all suytes and proces in the lawe commenced for Religion shal in the meane tyme be let falle and suspended And if any thyng be otherwyse done against the protestauntes he commaūdeth it to be voyde and of none effect Agayne the Protestauntes which were than seuen Princes and .xxiiij. cities offer vnto hym their obediences and seruice and promyse him ayde against the Turke This peace was concluded by the intercessours the .xxiij. of Iuly and the Emperour whom they aduysed by letters and messengers confirmed it the seconde of August caused it to be proclaymed openly commaunding the counsell of the Empyre and other iudges to obey the same It was decreed in the counsell at Auspurge that the iudgement of the counselles chamber should be refourmed Wherunto the Emperour appointed two in his name and moreouer chose the archebyshop of Mentz and the Palsgraue Prynces Electours also the byshop of Spyres and of Strausborough and Philip the Marques of Brandenbourgh Euery one of these sent his depute to Spyres at the begynnynge of Marche who made there certen lawes whiche concerned partly the iudges pattly the aduocates and partly the suters Which they exhibited to the Emperour in this assemblie at Regenspurge who lyked the reformation well and added a fewe thynges to the same In the laste booke before this you haue hearde howe the Emperour vnded the conuenantes betwene Alberte Duke of Pruse and Sigismunde king of Pole But where as Albert perseuered in his purpose he was outlawed at this tyme by the Iudges of the Emperiall chambre at the sute of Walter Cronberge Whiche thynge whan the kynge of Pole vnderstoode he sent his Ambassadour to this assemblie to declare howe the lande of Pruse hath of olde tyme bene vnder the defence and tuition of his realme Wherfore he desyreth that this sentence of outlawerye maye be reuersed But Cronberge with a long oration had the thyrde daye of Iune proueth it to be vnder the iurisdiction of the Empyre and to belong nothing at al to the kynges of Pole And al be it that his predecessours vanquyshed in battell were constrained to geue their fidelitie to Casmire father vnto Sigismunde yet was the same cleane contrary to the conuenauntes made before tyme whiche thynge he is able to proue by the testimony of Albert him selfe who cōfessed the same eight yeares synce in the assemblie at Norinberge Therfore requyreth he that the requeste of the kynge of Pole set a parte the sentence geuen agaynst Alberte may be put in execution This yeare Christierne kynge of Denmarke who had bene ten yeares a banyshed man prouyded a nauie intendyng to recouer his kyngdome but he was taken on the sea and committed to warde and about the same tyme died hauing a towarde young man to his sonnne and broughte vp with the
sayeth howe he wil go to kyng Ferdinando abiding there for their aunswere He had been before in Saxony and had spokē 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 cōmon 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 opē 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 Fraūce whiche was fully determined to make warre in Italy sent Ambassadour Williā 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 vpō 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
in the meane tyme 〈◊〉 a thousand The kyng the quene with theyr familie serued what tyme they had eateÌ„ wel and that supper was almoste done the king him selfe reacheth bread vnto euerye one with these wordes take eate shewe the death of the Lorde And the Quene geuing the Cuppe sayeth drynke and shewe the Lordes death This done the Prophete before mentioned goeth in to the pulpet and demaundeth of them whether they wyll obey Gods worde Whan they had all sayde yea It is the heauenly fathers commaundement saith he to sende forth preachers of his worde to the numbre of twenty eight whiche going into the foure partes of the worlde may preache the same doctrine that is taught in this Citie Than he reciteth their names and she weth whether eche man shall go Wherfore sixe were sent to Osenbridge as many to WarreÌ„dorfe eight to Soest and as many to Cosâ—elde And than the kynge and the Quene suppe with the rest of the seruitours and the Preachers that were appoynted to be sent forth In supper tyme the kynge ryseth vp and sayeth he hath a little busines that the father hath communded him it chaunced that a souldiour was taken prysoner whome the kyng accuseth of treason as an other Iudas and beheaded hym his selfe After this he retourneth to his supper and telleth merely what he had done After supper these foresaid eight twenty were sent away about nyght and besydes their charges euery man had deliuered him a piece of golde whiche they were commaunded to leaue in suche places as would not admitte their doctrine Whiche should be a token of their destruction and death euerlasting for refusyng of peace and holsome doctrine offered Who setting forth whan euery man came to his place they cried throughout the townes that men shoulde repent and do penaunce or els they should shortly be destroyed they spread their clothes vpon the grounde before the Magistrate and threwe down vpon the same the pieces of golde whiche they had receiued affirming how they are sent of the father to offer them peace which if they wyl receyue thei bid theÌ„ to communicate their ryches But if they refuse so to doe than do they by this sygne witnesse their acte and vnthankefulnes For this is the same tyme that all the Prophetes haue spoken of before wherin God would haue ryghteousnes obserued through out the whole vniuersall worlde And whan the kyng shal accordyng to his duty haue brought the matter so to passe that iustice shall reigne in all places than shall Christ deliuer vp the kyngdome to his father What tyme they had spoken thus they were apprehended and fyrst by gentle meanes and afterwardes by tormentes being examined of their beliefe and kynde of lyfe and the fortification of the citie They make aunswere howe they only haue the true doctrine and that woulde they witnesse and stande to the death For since the Apostles tyme hitherto the worde of God was neuer preached ryghtly neither hath there bene any iustice And that there be foure Prophetes wherof two are iuste Dauid and Iohn Leidane and two vniuste the byshop of Rome Luther who is worse than the other is Being damauÌ„ded why they did expulse the innocent people out of the citie contrary to their fidelitie and promyse taking their goodes their wyues and their childre and by what place of Scripture they could proue and defend this their iustice They say that nowe is the tyme come wherin Christ sayd how the meke should possesse the earth And that after the same sorte in times paste God gaue the goodes of the Egiptians vnto the people of Israell Afterwardes speakyng of the numbre of men and victualles within the citie they affirmed that diuerse and many had aboue fiue wiues Moreouer howe they loked dayly for a greater power out of Hollande and Friselande So sone as they should come the kyng would marche forwarde with his whole Armie to subdue and coÌ„quere the world destroying kinges and Princes for that they had not ministred iustice After their racking whan they perseuered styl in their purpose and would acknowledge no Magistrate besides their owne kynge they were rewarded with the losse of their heades Neuerthelesse one escaped But nowe was the citie on euery syde so narrouly and straightlye besieged that there was no waye to go out Wherfore the citezens fearing famine being carefull for their owne perill thought to apprehende the kynge and sende hym to the byshop bouÌ„de But the king hearing therof chose out twelue amonges them all whiche he thought were moste faithful vnto him and called them Dukes and appointed to euery of them a garde and some part of the towne to kepe lest there should aryse anye tumulte amonges the people Than maketh he promyse to the multitude howe at Easter they should be deliuered both from siege and penurie But vnto the twelue Dukes whiche he chose he promised more ample thinges a great deale telling them howe they shoulde haue the chiefe rule and gouernment namyng also what couÌ„treis townes and Castels he would geue vnto euery one of them He sayd he would only spare the Lantgraue for that he trusted that he woulde take his parte at the length I shewed you before of the assemblie appointed at Confluence in the moneth of Decembre for the states of the prouince of Rhine Unto whom also Friderick the Prince Electour of Saxony annexed him selfe of his owne accorde In this assemblie after consultation had was decreed to ayde the byshop of Munster immediately with thre hundreth horsemen and thre thousande footemen for syxe monethes ouer the whiche garryson and the whole warre also Wiricke Countie Obersted had the charge They decreed moreouer to sollicite the residue of the states imperiall for their ayde And because the Emperour was in Spayne to entreate king FerdinaÌ„do that against the moneth of Aprill he assigne a generall metyng for the same purpose After this they admonishe them that were beseged by their letters earnestly wrytten that they should leaue forsake theire enterprise whiche was so dishonest and wicked as nothynge could be more And vnlesse thei would obey and submit them selues vnto their laweful magistrate they do proteste that the byshop who nowe besegeth them shal not wante the ayde of the whole Empyre This was at the ende of Decembre And at the Ides of Ianuary in the yeare a M D. xxv Thei write again with many wordes in dede but to smal purpose yet so as they coÌ„mended and mainteined their quarel but vnto that whiche was obiected vnto them for makynge of a kynge they aunswered nothynge at all Howe be it in theyr letters to the Lantgraue they go about to excuse the matter speakinge many thynges of the salle and destruction of all wickedmen and of the deliuerauÌ„ce and kyngdome of the Godly in this lyfe And sende him withall the booke of Restauration before mentioned admonyshyng him to amende and that he attempte no
the expresse wordes of the composition sealed and confirmed by the Emperour hath taken vpon them to heare and determine and to call before them diuerse for the alteration of Religion for Rites ceremonies and churche goodes whiche thyng were playnly exempted in the pacification concluded But the iudges of the imperiall chamber being also of a contrary Religion bounden by their othe to geue sentence as well after the prescript of the byshop of Romes lawe as of the Emperours doe lyttle regarde the compositiō of the peace but procede directly against it Wherfore they haue iust cause to refuse theyr iudgement and to desire a reformation and that for diuerse considerations whiche are also before mentioned For first the iudges of the imperiall chamber are for the moste parte of a cōtrary Religion they are bounde by an othe to iudge after the decrees of the Byshop of Rome as wel as after the lawes of the Empire Thei beare fauour to our aduersaries and that manifestly and frowne vpon vs and our fellowes They medle with mere matters of Religion contrary to the Emperours proclamation Finally they haue condēpued our cōfederatours of Hamborough only for matters of Religiō in a great somme of gold so would procede against others in case they were not refused And as touching the names of them that are come into their league synce the peace making they had long synce wrytten and sent to the Emperour in Italy by their Ambassadours Who seing the tyme of the counsell so longe differred ioyned them selues in league with thē iudgyng it mete to preferre their conscience before any ciuile bonde last where hedesyreth to knowe the fourme and maner of their league thei maruell that he will requyre it considering that the Emperour knoweth it well inough and made meanes by the intercessours at Norinberg that they should haue left it but they made hym suche aunswere than as he moued them no more herein howe their aduersaries haue geuen the occasion hereof For what mischiefe they haue deuysed against thē it is right well knowen And this league of theirs is ordeined to iniurie no man but to defende them selues and is framed of suche condicions as if nede require it may be declared to the Emperour or any man els without any shame at all And as concerning suche thynges as he spake of the counsell and of the Emperours mynde towardes the common wealth they lyke very well all Howe they do beleue also that the Emperour knoweth not the byshoppes minde herein therfore procureth the counsell so ernestly But what opinion the Emperour hath of the bishop thei wil leaue vndiscussed Neuerthelesse for as much as his wrytte is cōtrary to the Emperours minde and altogether suspicious they can not dissemble what they thinke thereof For before the counsell do begyune he hath condempned their doctrine not only in word but in dede also and also it is wel knowen how that in all assemblies where religion is treated of albeit thei see that the Scripture maketh against them yet wyl they presume and take vpon them the authoritie of determination And although they are mynded in a lawefull counsel to accuse the byshop and his complices of false doctrine heresy and impietie yet is there no doubte but that he will after his accustomed maner be both partie and iudge also For that is his entent the wrytte it selfe wittenesseth whiche if they should ones allowe it were in vain and to late afterward to talke of any conditions or fourme of disputation in the counsell And whether this be suche a counsell than as the Emperour and the states of the Empyre haue in diuerse assemblies agreed vpon they leaue it to the opinion of any indifferent iudge For euermore those wordes a free and a Christian counsell were wyselye pourposely added and the same in deede not to be so taken as that it should be lawfull only for euery man to speake his minde there but also that neyther the bishop nor his adherentes which are depely bound through their fidelitie and promyse one to an other should pronounce sentence in their owne causes And the other ought not so to be interpreted as though there were no place in the counsell for the Turkes and suche others but that accordinge vnto holy Scripture all partes of doctrine might be examined and determined And how they know moreouer that not in one countrey only but euery where also in the whole worlde are Godly and learned men dispersed here and there whiche thinge refresheth their spirites to thinke vpon considerynge hopyng that in case this vnreasonable power of the byshop of Rome might be diminished and that all thinges shoulde not depende vpon one mans cōmaundement it would come to passe that not only their diuines but also diuers other good men in sondry countreis whiche being now oppressed with his tyrannie hyde thē in coruers and sayde nothyng would applie their whole study and endeuour to the refourmation of the churche And now as concerning the place of the counsell they knowe not where it should better be chosen than in Germany For albeit the counsell doth also appertayne to other nations yet chiefly it concerneth the Germaines whiche must come thether them selues with the ministers of their churches where as other kynges Prynces may do the thing by their deputes after the olde wōted maner of long tyme accustomed Furthermore what the situation and cōmoditie of Mātua is they wyl not dispute of but there is now warre in Italy but in case there were none yet haue they lately declared why that place ought to be of them suspected How the Duke of Mātua him selfe is affected they wyll not reason but his owne brother is one of the chiefest Cardinalles whiche maketh muche to encrease the suspition Therefore if other nations shall heare one of their reasons wherfore they doe refuse both the place and fourme of pleadyng they doubte not but they wyll allowe the same and if they did not than should they in dede conceaue of them a wronge opinion The Emperour knoweth also that in Germany be many cities as commodious for the pourpose as Mantua and the whiche ought chiefly to be respected muche commended for equitie and iustice For those secret and priuie conspiracies to dispatche men out of the waye are not so well knowen and practised in Germany as they be in some other places And where as thei cleaue and sticke on this wyse to the decrees of the Empyre and wyll not permitte them selues to be remoued from the same it ought to seme no maruell nor newes to the Emperour For also in tymes past Liberius Bishop of Rome the frende and fawtour of Athanasius required the Emperour Constantine to call a counsell at Alexandria where the defendant and plaintiues dwelled And albeit that the same place was nothing commodious for the West churche And although the Emperour alledged that Athanasius and his fellowes were by the consent of the whole
worlde condempned and excōmunicated Albeit that he contended Liberius to be one man emōges all others that sought to disturbe the publique quiet Yet neuerthelesse did he relent nothyng and than whan the Emperour had denied the same a long time after the errour of Arrius reigned but in fine the doctrine of Athanasius had the vpper hande and preuayled for euer And who is able to recite what bloud was spilte in the quarell of his doctrine And the condition of their Religion to be like vnto the same whether aconuenient place be geuen or otherwyse For a lyke cause also suche as were at the counsell of Basill refused Ferrare where as Eugenius the byshop had summoned an other counsell The Emperour Henry the seuenth had a great sute and cōtrouersie with Robert kyng of Sicilie had cited hym to appere to Pisa but the same was thought vnreasonable to the byshop Clement the firste whiche bothe defended the kyng also shewed reasons wherfore he was not boside to come thether nothynge so weighty as these of ours Therfore wher they no we refuse suche maner of counsel the faulte ought not to be imputed vnto them but to the byshop For so ofte as they haue referred their matter to a counsell they ment it of suche a counsell as the Emperour and states of the Empyre had decreed For they were not ignorant that in case the byshoppes might be permitted to haue the whole orderyng of the matter but that they would worke all to their owne auauntage and oppressing the true doctrine woulde establyshe theyr owne wyckednes And yet for all that doth Paul the thyrde so collour the matter with wordes to the Emperour as though he woulde vse the thynge vpryghtly and sincerely where he intendeth the contrary Moreouer what counsell they requyred thei haue declared by writing to Peter Paule Uerger the Ambassadour not only of Clement but also of Paule the thyrde And where as he sayth that the Emperours mynde is that errours and vices might be reformed there is none apparence therof at all in the byshops wryting For in case he intended a true and a nedefull reformation he would not haue cōdempned theyr doctrine before they were heard And albeit they distruste not the Emperours equitie and are so muche the more sory that they can not gratifie hym herein yet are they nothing furthered through this his good wyl and diligence For albeit the Emperour him selfe be present at the counsell yet is it well enough knowen what authoritie the bishoppes wyll permitte eyther hym or other kynges also to haue in suche maner of cases For the moste that they wyll graunte to shal be perauenture to vse their counsell in matters for as to determine any they wyll not permitte them but reserue that authoritie to themselues only to the entent that in case the Emperour and ciuile Magistrates went some thynge to farre they myght hereby as with a bridel hamper them in in fine determine al thinges at their own pleasure They desire therfore that the Emperour would not be offeded with them in that they seke to eschew these snares of the bishop where with he wold intrappe them For this is geuē naturally euen vnto brute beastes to shunne the place where they knowe they are layde in wayte for to be taken Furthermore it is commonly knowen howe the matter was handled in the counsell of Constance with the Emperour Sigisinūde For albeit he had graunted a saufeconduicte to Iohn Husse yet did the byshops deminishe his authoritie saying howe it was lawfull neyther for him nor no man els to prescribe or measure them in this behalf wherwith the Emperour being vāquished gaue place to their authoritie whiche they chalenged to them selues not with out sighinge in their opinion but yet to the miserable destruction of hym who trustinge vppon the saufe conduicte fell into that calamitie Wherby it appereth euidently how muche the Emperour is able to helpe thē herein though he wold neuer so fayne after they haue ones intrapped them and enclosed thē as it were in a pinnefolde therfore must they worke circūspectly and yet for all that lest any thyng should be imputed to them they are ready not only to abyde lawfull iudgement but also moste earnestly beseche the Emperour to waye and pounder these so weightie matters diligently and to call a lawfull counsell in Germany wherin neither the byshop nor his consortes shall occupie the place of iudgemēt And if the byshop wyl let or impeche the Emperour in so doing and shal not permitte a sincere counsel to be holden in Germany they do proteste opēly that the faulte is not in them that the matter is not brought to a cōcorde What incommoditie also shall arise therof the same to be wholy ascribed to the Byshop in conclusion they requeste hym to make this same reporte vnto the Emperour and declare their good wylles and dutie to wardes hym Whan the matter was thus decided amonges them And Heldus had promysed them to make relation to the Emperour of all thynges the Protestauntes decree also howe to mainteyne the ministers of their churches in lyuing for the erecting of free scholes that their churches and common wealth might neuer want learned men last of suche thynges as concerne their league and defence As concerning the Turke they had aunswered the Ambassadour before that if they and theirs might haue quietues in other matters they would be glad and wyllynge to ayde the Emperour against hym but nowe the brute went howe kyng Ferdinādo prepared warre against John Uayuode and therfore requyred ayde In the whiche perplexitie lest haply they should not do theyr dutie to the common wealthe it was decreed in the absence of Heldus that the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue sendynge abroade espialles of the common charges should get intelligence what thynges were a brewyng if the Turke entended to inuade Germany that they should than assemble agayne to consulte what eche mans dutie is herein Moreouer to the entent that all men myght vnderstand what iust cause they had to refuse the counsell they condescended to compryse the whole matter in wryting Whiche after wardes they set forth in print and speaking of foreine kynges and nations Paule the thyrde saye thei hath sent forth his bulles of late to sommō a counsel at Mantua to begynne nowe at the .xxiij. daye of May and alledgyng certen causes therof Moreouer he hath sente his Ambassadours to kynges and Prynces as well Germanes as others to aduertyse them of the counsell and to exhorte them eyther to come thither thē selues or send their protectours And where he moued vs also by his Ambassadour here vnto and so did the Emperour in lyke maner the thynge it selfe requireth that we should therfore declare what peryll and losse it were not for vs only but also for the whole common wealth of Christendome if men should obeye hym herein And notwithstandyng that the cause
vnto them the cause of that assemblye And because the Prynces came not them selues whiche the Emperour thought verely they woulde haue done he wylleth them to she we their commission and aucthoritie After he nameth intercessours Lewys the Paulsgraue Iohn Archebyshop of Treuers Lewys Duke of Bauier and William Byshop of Strasborough When they were contente with them they beganne the treaty Thether came also the diuines of the Protestantes a great number Iustus Menius Pistorius Urbanus Regius Bucer Brentius Blanrer Osiander Shirepsius and many others Melanchthō fell sore sycke by the waye These preached at home euery man to their company but chiefly what tyme al the Ambassadours mette together to consulte vpon any matter But Ferdinando whan he vnderstoode it forbade them the Ambassadours agayne shewed hym howe they preached not openly but only priuatly neyther was there anye cause why he should be offended The Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue were about to come in case the talke had gone forwarde and taried vpon the frōtiers to the entent that hearing newes therof they might haue bene there by and by The intercessours requyre the Protestātes to deliuer them in a brief somme the Articles that are in controuersy they say how they did exhibite the somme and confession of their doctrine ten yeares synce at Auspurge an Apologie to the same whiche they sticke vnto and to none other beyng ready to make aunswere if any man fynde lacke therin And for because they knowe not what thynge chiefly their aduersaries do reprehende therin they haue nothyng to exhibyte but the same is rather to be requyred at their hādes to shewe what they suppose to be contrary to Gods worde Whiche if they doe and that the matter come to disputation as was thoughte mete at Franckefurte they wyll not be against a cōcorde They shew them againe within a fewe dayes after that forasmuche as they dwel styll in their confession exhibited at Auspurge they doe fynde in readinge of the treaty there that certen thinges were brought to a conciliation and certen not Nowe that the reste also myght come to a reconcilement they wyll doe their endeuours and desyre them to vtter their myndes herein The Protestauntes agayne saye that there was in dede a talke of certen Articles but nothyng concluded nor anye agrement at al made there Thus the matter being debated to and fro where the Protestauntes requyred that they myght come to disputation and they againe sayd howe it was cōmaunded them by the king and the Emperour that they should procede accordinge to the treaty at Auspurge Kyng Ferdinando the .xvi. daye of Iuly callyng them al before hym forasmuche sayth he as the matter standeth thus that nothyng can nowe be determined and that chiefly for the absence of the Duke of Saxō the Lātgraue an other day must be appointed wher in the Ambassadours learned men of both partes shall mete of lyke number to conferre of the Articles professed at Auspurge And than after a longe controuersie betwyxt the kyng and the Protestauntes for the peace of them and all their confederatours about the restitution of churche goodes and the iudges of the chamber Ferdinando the .xxviij. daye of Iuly maketh a decree and reciting the whole matter appoynted the day for a cōmunication to be at Wormes the. xxviij daye of October vpon condicion that the Emperour be so content The Prynces Electours the Dukes of Bauier and the Duke of Cleaue and the byshoppes of Madenburge Salisburge and Strasburge are commaunded to sende thether their counsellours and the Protestauntes also theirs so that there be eleuen on eyther part And also as many Scribes to wryte diligently what euery man sayeth the conference to be had of the Protestantes doctrine professed at Auspurge and that request be made to the Emperour that he wyll call a counsell of the Empyre And in the meane tyme he commaundeth all men to obserue peace and abstayne from violence vnder a great penaltie appointed by the Emperours commaundemēt Prynces before mentioned at this assemblie were Christopher the byshop of Trent Henry Duke of Brūswycke but he went home before the matter was ended The greatest peace makers in this assemblie were the byshop of Collon and the Paulsgraue Electours and also the byshop of Auspurge For all the reste were extreme agaynst the Protestauntes Duryng this assemblie died Iohn Uaiuode kyng of Hōgary leauing behinde hym a younge sonne Stephen whome Isabell daughter to Sigismunde kyng of Pole had borne hym a lytle before whiche was a cause also that kyng Ferdinādo beyng aduertysed therof by letters hasted homewarde About this time also were certen townes and villages of the Protestantes set on fyre in Saxony there aboutes and burnt vp cleane This wicked acte was sayde to be done by the Duke of Brunswyck as shal be declared hereafter The seconde kalendes of Iuly Robert Barnes Doctour of Diuinitie was brent at London in Smithfield He was for a certen tyme fled out of Englande for the doctrine of the Gospell and what tyme he vnderstode howe kynge Henry gaue his mynde to the knowledge of the truthe he retourned home agayn and was after in the Ambassade sent into Germany and was one of them whiche treated with the diuines at Wittēberge touching the kinges diuorsement as is wrytten in the tenth boke But where as the kyng had exiled the name of the byshop of Rome but kept styl his doctrine this man whiche loued the truthe was chieflye by the meanes of the byshop of Wynchester this daye executed after he had protested hys fayth openly there in the place of execution And with hym also were brent two others of the same Religion And the same daye in the selfe same place were three others hanged vpon the Gallowes that helde with the supremacie of the byshop of Rome so that neyther rāke Papists nor ernest Protestauntes escaped punishement In the moneth of August ended his lyfe at Paris Williā Budey maister of the requestes a man of great learning and worthy to be had in perpetuall memory for this cause only that he and Cardinal Bellaye byshop of Paris did counsell and perswade Fraunces the Frenche kyng to do a moste noble acte that is to appoint great stipendes for the readers of tongues and good artes at Paris For out of this welspryng no mā can beleue what clere and plentiful ryuers flowe out not only into Fraunce but also into other countreis The lyke hath Henry the eight done in Englande both in Cambridge and Oxforde And Buden would be buried without any solemnitie This yeare was notable by reason of an intollerable heate and drought Than also was excellent good wyne In the meane tyme the kyng of Fraunce dispatchyng abroade his letters to all his byshoppes commaunded them to go a procession in all places For albeit he had peace with the Emperour whiche he would not willingly breake yet feared he greatly leste
these matters of the maner of the othe of the nōber also of the disputers and of geuing of voyces they had a longe altercation For when the catholickes perceyued that the counsellours of the Paulsgraue the Marques of Brādenburg electours also of the Duke of Cleaue were inclined towardes the Protestants fearing lest they shoulde be ouer coōmen with voices of a set pourpose differred the matter from day to day tyll such tyme as they had other worde from themperour as herafter I shall declare And the second daye of Ianuary they doe propounde new and straunge condicyons that of the whole nomber ther should be chosē two diuines to reason the matter that the scribes should wryte theyr argumentes and delyuer them to the presydentes that the lesse parte shoulde not bee bounden to followe the opinion of the greater vnlesse themperoure and the states of th empyre shoulde thynke it expediente that the notaryes shoulde not write all the talke of the reasoners but the bare sentences whether they wer agreed vpon or left in controuersie that the decree of Auspurge and such other lyke shoulde neuertheles be of force But the Protestantes agayn require that forasmuche as ther bee .xxii. on bothe partes appoynted to conferre euery man mighte speake hys mynde And that not only the bare sentences but also the Argumentes and reasons with the probations of the same be committed to wrytyng They declare also that it is vnreasonable in this most holy cause of al others to follow the opinion of any part not rather the prescripte of gods worde or to compell any man that he shoulde eyther thynke or speake against it Whilest the time was thus prolonged the Protestantes oftētimes cōplain thereof and desire that the disputation of the doctrine propounded at Auspurge may accordinge to the decree of Hagenawe be forthewith commenced especially consyderyng the same to be a frendly disceptation and not captious to th entent a certen way vnto concorde might be prepared The diuines also which were there very many required the same as Melancthon Capito Bucer Osiander Brentius Caluine Alesius a Scot sent thither by the marques of Brandenburge diuers others vnto whom wer annexed Symon Grineus and Iohn Sturmius At the last aboute the Ides of Ianuary the catholickes choose Iohn Eekius and thothers Melancthon to dispute together And first of all to th entent they might procede in order they Reason of originall synne by course in open consistory but beholde the thirde day after the disputation began Themperours letters wer brought to Granuellan and to the rest of Ambassadours wherin he differreth the whole matter vntill the assemble at Regenspurge commaunding chiefly the Protestantes to come thither Granuellan to repare vnto hym with all syede These letters beyng red in the consistorie the xviii daye of Ianuary Granuellan exhorteth them to obey themperoure and come vnto Regenspurge for he is very desyrous of peace And yf he him self by occasion of talke hath spoken any thyng roughly he desyreth them not to take it in euell part and promiseth to beare hys good wyll towards the publyke weale Whereunto the Protestantes say how they are ryght sory that the disputation had not begō a great whyle souner and that they cānot now procede further therin but for asmuch as themperour doeth so commaund they must obey Wherfore they wyll now retourn home to declare howe all thinges stande and doubte not but their Princes and cities will gratifye thēperour herin Notwithstandyng in case it be longe or euer they come or sende they ar to be holden excused by reason the time is but shorte In thys assemble was also Peter Paul Uerger bishop of Iustinople in worde as for the Frenche kyng but sent in dede by the Bishop of Roome who supposed that he myght serue hys tourne better beynge there in another mans name he made an oration of the vnitie peace of the churche and settyng it foorthe in prynte he gaue it there to dyuers Wherein he goeth about chiefly to proue that we maye not ones thynke vpon a counsell prouinciall for that same Assembly dyd represente a certen shew of the lyke thyng and semed to prepare the waye for the Byshop coulde abyde nothynge worse and Uergerius knewe hys mynde full well By hym therefore and by suche others of the bisshops ministers the thynge was letted and at the lengthe dyssolued For in tractyng of the tyme fyndyng of delayes they seeke startyng holles and wayes to escape In the begynnyng of Ianuary themperoure takyng hys Iorney from Brussels came vnto Mentz the head citie of Lorayne from thence by Spires he goeth to Regenspurge by the way sent those for sayd letters to Grāuellā he traueled by Norinberge whiche citie he had not sene before and was receyued with moste sumptuous preparation The eleuenth day of Februarye Philyp Schabotte Admirall of Fraunce a man of great honour beyng brought into suspicion with the kynge for not acquitinge himselfe in the warre of Sauoye beefore mentyoned after longe and mooche inquisityon of hys demeanoure was condemned of extortyon and treason and depriued of al his honour dignities which he had most ample without all hope of restitution and was committed to prison at Uincen not farre frō Paris William Poiet Chaūcelor of Fraūce gaue this sentence at Mellon at the which Iudgement were all the notable men and Iudges in the lawe in all Fraunce Albeit that sentences geuen after this sort are wont euer to be dissolued or altered yet by the kynges authoritie not longe after he was cleane released as ye shall heare afterwardes About this time also Maurice the son of Henry Duke of Saxonie maried Agnes daughter to the Lantzgraue In the moneth of Marche diuers Princes and states resorted to Regenspurge when themperor had taried for them a certen space Thither came also the Lantzgraue with a great company almost atthende of Marche And the nexte daye wente to themperor with his garde about him of whom he was receiued right gentlye The duke of Saxonie sent thither a most honorable Ambassador and Diuines among whom was Melanchton From the Bishoppe of Rome also came Caspar Contarene a right famous Cardinall There were present the prince Elector of Brandenburg Friderick and Otto Henry Paulsegraues William and Lewis dukes of Bauier Henry duke of Brunswike Charles duke of Sauoie George marques of Brandenburge Philip Duke of Pomerane moreouer the Bishops of Mentz Salisburg Breme Bamberg Spires Auspurge Eistet Constance Hildessene Brixie Passaw Aboute this time came forth and was brought to Regenspurge a boke of Martin Luthers very vehement written in the vulgare tounge against the Duke of Brunswycke In the last boke before this I mētioned of this dukes inuectiues against the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue And where in a booke set forth of late he called the Duke of Saxō Heretike rebel Cain Monster Eesope hauing nether vertu or qualitie of body
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 couÌ„sell 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 couÌ„sel for the same is both expedieÌ„t for the auoiding of further incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces 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 ê“messe he wold deuise with the bishop and other kinges that there might be with al expeditioÌ„ a couÌ„sell appointed in some coÌ„uenient 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 clieÌ„tes 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 coÌ„maundement 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 couÌ„sels 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 coÌ„mon 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 becoÌ„meth 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
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 conferēce 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 diligētly the Germane bookes sayeth that Lātzgraue as I am wel assured he vnderstādeth religiō Againe thēperoure 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 Granuellā Nauius and Masbacke There Nauius began the talke repeteth some parte of Thēperours cōmunication 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 wēt 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 Thē 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 Granuellā was made but for a time neyther was the fault in Themperoure that it was of no more force but whom it was lōg 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 dissētion and sectes where touching the faythe all are not of one opiniō 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 inteÌ„t 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 coÌ„cernyng 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 dominioÌ„s 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 â—ea 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 coÌ„trouersie 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 coÌ„tent 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 acoÌ„corde 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 TheÌ„perour 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
sufficiētly declared ī our bokes set forth of And his purpose was to maintain execute the decrees of the counsell for the accomplishement wherof he had longe before sollicited certen forrein Princes but fearing lest by this mean he should set in his top all that cleaued to religion he pretended an other cause and fained rebellion that he might withdrawe our fellowes and whan he had vanquished the chiefest myght after compell the residue to obey his commaundement And albeit that he and his brother thought to kepe maruelous secret this their subtill and craftie counsell yet through the singular goodnes of God it commeth to lyght dayly more and more For the Bishop himselfe by his Ambassadours declared to the Switzers the cause of the warre and copie of the league Wherby it is manifest that not they alone but al other that professe the same doctrine are in the lyke daunger that this is their indeuour to restore papistrie in all places Let all men iudge therfore how truly this matter was handled when lately in the conuention at Regenspurg they went about to perswade and cōcluded also that for the appeasing of religiō they would vse lawfull and quiet remedies He tolde me hym selfe sayth the Lantgraue lately at Spier that he was in no league with the Byshop The same affirmed Granuellan This is verely that same fatherly mynde and affection This is that zeale and loue of peace wherof they speake so muche Did euer man heare of the lyke thing that he wold perswade the Princes quite contrary to that whiche he hath had so long prefixed in his minde We know right well what dutie the Princes owe vnto the Emperour and againe what he ought to perfourme vnto them For as we are bounden to hym so is he againe bounden also vnto vs And wher as our cause not heard he doth outlawe vs and seketh to put vs besides our lādes and possessions in that he breaketh the bonde of the ciuile lawe wherby the patrone is bounden againe to his cliente Nowe where he chargeth vs with rebellion it is nothing and he him selfe knoweth that he doth vs wrong For euen for the same cause saith the Lantgraue he gaue me thākes lately at Spier for that I haue omitted no diligence to appease religion But where he sayth that I prepared warre punyshed certen states by the purse I denie it not and there was iust cause so to do Neuerthelesse it is openly knowen how through the mediation of Lewys the Paulsgraue and Richard the Archbyshop of Treuers all this matter was quietly ended he him self also writing his letters all be it he had taken the matter displeasauntly yet for as muche as I had discharged mine armie signified that he required no more Again what time he spake to me of the same sixtene yeares synce at Auspurg I made my purgation in suche sorte before king Ferdinando Friderick the Paulsgraue and certen others that he was contēt and satisfied Wherfore he ought not to make that mattir any part of occasion of this warre And where as I restored Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of George Duke of Saxō and The Archbishop of mentz I was for that matter reconciled by composition which he ratified And after at Regenspurg vpō his faith and assuraunce he toke away cleane and abolyshed al displeasure Now he speaketh also of the warre with the Duke of Brunswick but the cause therof we haue expressed in wrytting and after that in a moste frequent audience of the Empyre he him self being also present we declared more at large two yeares paste The Duke that tyme made answere but the Emperour refused to heare our confutation of the same And why wold he not heare and examine dewly the whole matter and by the aduyse of the Princes haue taken some ordre in the thing Certenly because he desyred ayde for the Frenche Turkyshe warre of a purpose he let it slepe and wold haue it put to gardens and herein we fulfilled his desire at Wormes were content that Frederick the Paulsgraue and his Cosin Iohn Simmer should kepe and gouerne the prouince by vs taken vntill such tyme as the matter should be lawfully decided and determined That done he assured vs that the Duke of Brunswick should also assent to the same and wryting his letters charged hym earnestly that he should obeye but he cōtemning his commaundement raysed warre against vs and was taken therin as it appereth by a wryting set forth by me and Duke Maurice Therfore did we nothing in this warre contrary to our dutie nothing against the lawes and herein we appeale to egall iudgement But here by it is to be sene what fauour he beareth to Religion For albeit that the Duke of Brunswick contemned his commaundement most rashely although at what tyme he heard of the sequestration he spake of Themperour many lewde and opprobrious wordes yet because he was a moste bitter enemy of our Religion he did althyngs vnpunyshed Where he sayth that we haue brought certen vnder our subiection it is farre otherwyse and we haue ofte made aunswere to the same This in dede may be wel verified of him whiche hath brought vnder his iurisdiction diuerse prouinces of the Empire and also Byshoprikes and against this present warre hath assembled nobles and gentlemen that he might al lure them to him for our distruction This verely we graunt that we haue receiued diuers into our tuition fidelitie that if they should be in daunger for the doctrine of the Gospell we should defende them And that we suppose to be our duty for God commaundeth to succour the afflicted And none haue more nede these many yeares nowe of helpe and defence than those that are taken for Lutherians But in other things that do not concerne Religion we defend them not no we haue always exhorted them to geue the magistrate their right and honour due He obiecteth to vs that we should haue exhorted som not to repare to the Assemblie But that is both vayne and absurde For where as our Ambassadours wer lately assembled at Wormes and he went to Regenspurge we commaunded thē that al other thinges set a part they should go also to that assemblie Unto all other assemblies of th empyre ether we haue comen our selues or always sent our Ambassadours Concerning that he sayth of the chamber and iudgement it hath ben ofte confuted heretofore Moreouer he maketh mention of an Heathen Magistrate to declare that we might not resist hym But we haue not only done our duty but also more than we ought to do haue geuen him more than euer our auncesters haue accustomed to our great losse and hinderaunce And that he hath no cause of complaint at all it shall appere by that we shall here recite A certen Ambassadour of the Frenche kyngs sent vnto hym lately by occasion fell in talke of this warre He saieth it is a very great enterprise that he taketh in
the Emperoure The Swisses therfore immediatlye call assembles and agree to it but those that are of the Romish religion promise vnder this condicion if they shall receiue the decree of the Empire lately made concerning Religion and admit againe the Cleargy into the Citye Wherefore whan the Citezens did sore vrge it the Senate doth publish the same decre after they go to it by voyces and they preuailed which said it was to be receiued For they all cried oute they were vtterlye vndone in case they shuld longer remain in that state and that themperors power was exceading great and almoste infinite which they were neuer hable to resiste Whan this ordinaunce was made by the people the Senate aduertiseth the Swisses what was done They sende ambassadours to the Emperoure to fele his minde whether he coulde be conte to suffer an intercession and also intreate him to vse them with mercye The Emperoure made them suche aunswere as they mighte easelye perceiue that he liked not their sute For he saide he maruailed greatly that they would do any thing for suche as were outlawed Wherefore many within the City that misliked the alteration of Religion got them vnto other places amonges the whiche was Ambrose Blaurer the chiefest minister of the church ther. The Lindauians whiche dwell ouer againste Constance on the other side of the Lake had aunswered the Emperour before righte stoutly but now being afraid by the example of theyr neighbours they receiue the decree also Whan the Ambassadoure of Strausburge was retourned home from Auspurge and had informed the Senate of themperors commaundement Ther was called a great court as they terme it which is neuer wont to be done but in matters of great difficulty and most waighty importaunce They be in numbre iii C .xx. of euery tribe Whan they gaue their suffrages that most part thought mete to stand to it stoutly and not to receiue the decre after a few daies they consult again there theyr voices were somewhat abated and permitted to certen chosen Senatours that they shuld deuise the best way for the common welth The horsmē of Naples were not far from the City as before is said And wher themperor at the same time departed frō Auspurge it was thought verely that he wold haue come to Strausburge and that was a terror to many men that chanced lately at Constance wherefore very many both gentlemen Marchauntes and diuers others fearinge to lose their substance and loth to displease themperor whē they had in the Senate house renoūced their fredome of the citie wēt to dwell els where not without the reprehension of many The Emperour remouing from Auspurge and leauing there a garrison for the alteration of religion state of the cōmon wealth marched with the rest of his force to Ulme Whan he was come thither he displaceth the Senatours and ordeyneth new and cōmaundeth the ministers of the churche to prison amongest the whiche was Martin Frecht for that they refused the decree of Religion The Senate being wholy addicted to Themperour receiueth the decree During the conuentiō at Auspurg at the request of Granuellan they had desired Frecht to repare to Auspurg and helpe forwarde the cause of Religion and to be either with Plugius Sidonie or with Islebie Who for that he suspected the matter that no mā of other cities was ther of his vocatiō refused it Being after cōmaūded to declare his minde what he thought of the decre made he cōprised thesame in writing And now whē themperour was come to Ulme the Senate calleth for him thother ministers of the churche asketh theyr opinion They answer as before shewe what thing in the decree they like and what they mislike Being demaunded where the preachers of Auspurge haue receiued the same by an othe and yet neuerthelesse preache the Gospell why they can not do likewyse They saye how they neither knowe what they haue done neither is it their part to render an accompt of other mēs doinges They verely at the first what tyme they were admitted to this vocation did promyse by their fidelitie to preache the doctrine of the Gospell purely and syncerely without the traditions of men If the Senate nowe do mislyke that waye they requyre them to release thē of their othe Being commaūded to go home at after none they are called for againe There certen chosen men of the Senate say vnto them the Emperour this day doeth arreste you prisoners and you shal forthwith be caried to his pallace God strengthē you with his spirite They for as muche as it pleaseth God so saye they wyll refuse no peryll and pray for them agayne Thus departing out of the Senate house they were led by Sergeauntes to the courte thynkyng that they should haue come before the Emperour After long expectation and great resort of people thei were caried to a Senatours house called George Besser where Granuellan and the Byshop of Arras lodged At the last beyng let in after long debate whan Granuellan did instaunte them to obey the Emperours decree they declared why they myght not so doe thei were taken vp with sharp rebukes After the residue were cōmaūded out to go a litle aside thā thei assay Frecht with gētle But where he perseuered still in his opinion they treate also with the rest seuerally Of the whiche foure remained constāt two reuolted With Granuellan the byshop of Arras were also Pasius Seldus Immediatly thei were fettered in chaines and caried to the cōmon Geale with Spaniardes Germaine soldiours ouer whome Iohn the Erle of Nassow was captain And as they passed by Freights house his brother George chaūced to loke out at the wyndowe being desired of him to loke well to his wife his familie he praieth God to strengthē him his fellowes biddeth them be of good cōforte for the which saying he was also caried to prison This was the .xvi. daye of August Thus being deteined four daies the fift day whā thēperour went thence being fast bonde in chaynes they were caried in cartes to Kirchene garded with CC. Spaniardes There whan they had remained by the space of eight daies vnder Altestege Captaine of Germaines they were cōmitted to the custody of Madronio a captayne of Spaniardes From Ulme came thēperour to Spire at th end of the moneth of August Whilest he was there came one frō him to Strasburg to fetche away that xii great pieces which they had promysed to geue him that yeare before The day before the kalendes of Septēber the byshop of Rome at the request of thēperour sendeth into Germany thre byshops of Fane Uerone Ferento What their cōmissiō was shal be declared in their place Themperour making no long abode at Spire whan he came to Mentz he went down the ryuer of Rhine into lowe ducheland leadeth away captiue the Duke of Saxon the Lātgraue who was lately brought thither frō Hale in
fourmer bokes howe the Byshoppes of Rome Clement and Paule haue vsed the seruice of Uergerius before in germany Certes he was in hygh fauour with king Ferdinando whilest he was in Hongary in so much that whan his daughter Catharine was borne Uergerius George Marques of Brandenburge and Iohn Archebyshop of Lunden were her godfathers at the fountestone But after he reuolted from the Byshop of Rome by a wonderfull occasion Whan he was sent for to Rome from the conference of Wormez whiche was in the beginning of the yeare M. CCCCC xli as before is said The Byshop going about to make newe Cardinalles appointed him also amongest others But there were some that priuely whispered in his eare that he was now through muche familiaritie with the Germains become a Lutherane After that Uergerius had heard this by Cardinall Ginucius vnto whome the Byshop had tolde it he was maruelously astonied And to the intent he myght pourge hym selfe he goeth home into his countrey and begynneth a boke whiche he intituled against the Apostatas of Germany And whylest to confute their argumentes he tourneth ouer diligently the bookes of his aduersaries and pondering depely their reasons he feleth hym selfe taken and vanquished Than casting away all hope of his Cardinalshyp he goeth to his brother Iohn Baptist Byshop of the citie of Pole and reciting the whole matter asketh his counsell His brother being afrayde at the beginning lamenteth his case much But after he was perswaded by hym to applie hym selfe to the searching of the Scripture and had considered diligently that article of iustification comparinge the sentences together he geueth place and iudgeth the bishop of Romes doctrine to be false Wherupon they reioysed the one to the other And as the very duty of Byshops is began to instruct the people in Istria and preache diligently the benefite of Christe imployde vpon mankynde and declare what workes God requireth of vs to the intent they myght call men againe to the true Religion But there sprang vp many aduersaries especially Freers suche as are called obseruauntes who reported the thing to the inquisitours the chief wherof was Anniball Gryson and ioyned with him in commissiō Hierome Mutius whiche after wrote an inuectiue against Uergerius and not that only but set forth a boke also wherin for the Hatred of Religion he diffameth Germany with moste sclaunderous rayling wordes Whan Grison was come to Pole and to Iustinople he rusheth into mens houses and searched if they had any bokes prohibited Than whan he had spokē many thynges in his Sermon he cursed all those that wold not presente such as were suspected of Lutheranisme Yet he promysed a lesse punishment vnto suche as would come to amendement of their owne fre wyll aske hym pardon But on those that would not wyllyngly cōfesse their crime and were after accused of others he sayde he would be auenged by fyre and entringe into euery house feared all men Wherfore there were founde diuerse that accused them selues for feare refused nothyng Of the which nomber the rycher sorte pryuely and poorer openly were constrayned to confesse their errour Suche as confessed how they had red the newe Testament in the vulgare tongue he disswaded moste earnestly to abstayne hereafter Than the common multitude whose myndes were stryken with feare accused one an other full busely without any respect had eyther of kynred frendshyp or benefites For the sonne spared not the father nor the wyfe her husbande nor the cliente his Lorde and patrone The complaintes were all for the moste parte of triflyng matters suche as one reprehended in an other for superstitiō Hereunto were added preachinges against the doctrine of Uergerius And on a certen daie whan there was a great audience of people assembled in the head churche of Iustinople The inquisitour Grison whiche sayed masse than pourposly getteth him vp into the pulpet in a rych vestiment amongs other things to the intent he might thrust in his sting at this time saith he and these certen yeares past you haue had many stormes and much vnseasonable weather which destroyeth one whyle your Oliues an otherwhyle your Corne And nowe marreth your Uines now eftsones your cattell other goods And the cause of all these euilles commeth of your Byshop and the other sort of Heretikes And neuer loke for any better vnlesse they be first restrayned Therfore the next way is to set vpon them stone them Through this their violence Uergerius was constreined to repaire to Mantua vnto the Cardinall Hercules Gunsage with whome he was familiarly acquainted But where bothe diuerse at Rome and also Iohn Case the Byshops Legate with the Uenetians admonyshed the Cardinall by letters and messengers that he should no longer mainteine suche a man he goeth to Trent where the coūsel was holden at the same time to make his pourgation Whan the Byshop of Rome knewe therof albeit he had rather haue had hym deteyned prisoner yet least any suspicion should aryse namely in Germany as though the counsell were not free he wryteth agayne to his Legates there that they permitte hym not to haue any place in the session but that they commaunde hym to departe from thence Being after this sorte repulsed he wēt to Uenise Here the Bishops Legate before named exhorteth him by al meanes that he would go to Rome But he whiche vnderstode his daūger refused Than the other a fewe daies after cōmaunded him in the Byshops name that he retourne no more to Iustinople Therfore went he to Padwey And whylest he there was he behelde this miserable example before rehearsed Wherewith being wehemently moued whan he had sene presently the wrath of God wherwith that wretched man was stryken he began more and more to be confirmed and than he determined plainly to forsake contrie and all that euer he had and go into volūtary exile rather and to be in place where he might frely professe Christe Whiche he did within a fewe monethes after and taking his iourney out of the countrey of Bergome he came in to Rhetia bordering vpon t the same And whan he had preached the Gospel there and also in the vale of Tely that ioyneth next vnto Italy certen yeares Christopher the Duke of Wirtemberge sent for hym to Cubinga Before he departed out of Italy the Byshop of Polle his brother was dead and it was suspected that he was poysoned Moreouer many notable mē besides Uergerius sawe Spiera in the same state and amongest others Matthewe Gribalde a Ciuilian of Padwey who compry sing in wryting the whole matter whiche he presently saw and heard set it forth in printe As Uergerius did also and Sigismunde Gelowe a Polonian and Henry Scotte The Archbyshop of Beneuento before mentioned compyled a booke of Buggery and so filthy as nothyng can be deuised more For he is nothing ashamed to extolle and prayse the moste detestable vice of all others yet commonly vsed in Grece
all the calamitie that hath come into Englande of longe tyme nowe but chiefly since the death of King Henry that they are seperated from the reste of the body of christianitie Of many yeares nowe he had bene of a contrary opinion as he pretended at the leaste and had vtterly forsaken the Popish doctrine And the cause why he nowe spake thus as they saye was for that he was put in hope to be pardoned And albeit that the reste of his talke being finished he sayd he spake as he thought yet be ther some that affirme he was sory for so saiyng what time he loking round about him perceiued no succour sawe that he was begiled And other that suffered at the same time one sir Thomas Palmer knight professed the doctrine of the Gospell with moste constancie And the Duke was condēned as I said of rebellion treason And albeit there were great suspiciōs the he had geuen the king poison yet was he nothing at al examined for that matter Nor in the sentēce pronoūced against hym any mētion made therof Of Peter Martyr the Florentine we haue spoken before whiche going into England six yeres past by the kinges sending for was reader of the diuinitie lecture at Oxforde Whome many made muche of for his excellent learning and vertue but he wanted not also euil willers Wherfor when the king was dead he was commaunded not to styre one fote thence without the pleasure of the Quene firste knowen nor cary away any thyng that he had vnder a great penaltie in case he should doe otherwyse He was content to obeye but whan he sawe he was longe delayed he wryteth to the counselours of the Realme concerning his state and if he had ought offended he requireth that his accuser might be brought forth and the matter examined Wherupon through their permission he came to London There he fyndeth the Archebyshop of Cantorbury his Patrone and frend of whome the Popysh preachers had reysed a brute as though he should be vnconstant wauering as though by his commaundement the Masse were restored at Cantorbury as though he had promysed the selfe same thing to the Quene And bragged with al of a disputatiō that should be After he knewe of this immediatly he set forth a writynge to pourge him selfe and sayth how a terten priest vnknowyng to hym had sayde Masse at Cantorbury he denieth the other thing also yea he protesteth if the Quene wyll geue him leaue to proue that the actes of kyng Edwarde concernyng the Lordes supper and other articles of doctrine be consonaunt to the holy Scriptures and that the Romyshe Masse is cleane repugnant from the institution of Christe for the declaration wherof he desyreth no great nomber but euen a very fewe and amonges them Peter Martyr to ayde and assiste hym And for so muche as the contrary parte adourned their Religion by the commendatiō of antiquitie saiyng that it hath continued aboue a thousand and fiue hondreth yeares he affirmeth that thei be not able to proue the same but he wil proue that the doctrine whiche in kyng Edwardes daies was set forth and is as yet obserued in England is the very natiue and auncient Religion instituted and left vs of Christ and his Apostles Whan he had publyshed this wryting at London about the fift daye of September Peter Martyr the same tyme came thither from Oxforde as I sayd aduertysed by hym of the whole matter commendeth his doing and sheweth him the he wyll refuse neyther paynes nor peryll herein But beholde whylest they are in this expectation the Archebyshop of Cantorbury was committed to pryson and also the Archebishop of Yorke and Rydley Byshop of London H. Byshop of Worcester and certen other Byshops for the profession of the Gospell and for sermons made against Quene Mary by the counselles commaundemēt before she atcheued the crowne Moreouer Hughe Latimer is than also apprehended whome kyng Edward deliuered out of the tower layd in there by his father for doctrine In the meane tyme Peter Martyr albeit he perceiued his daūger yet for that he had nothing offended against the lawes of the Realme trusting to his innocencie thought not good to departe before he had obteyned leaue Wherfore whan he had brought that to passe and receiued his passeporte signed with the Quenes hande he came to And werpe from thence to Collon and after to Strasburge from whence he went firste into Englande and a litle before hym Bernardine Ochine both in health It was once written and signified into Germany that the Emperour should haue geuen coūcell to his auntes daughter Quene Mary that she should gouerne with mercy and not alter Religion nor marie without the Realme For what daūger were in that in case she should chaunge the Religion he knewe best of all men Whether this were so in dede I can not affirme The ende it selfe declareth it to be farre otherwyse For euen for the doctrine of the Gospel straungers being cōmaunded to departe and the natiue countrie men there caste in pryson the Romyshe Religion was wholye restored as shal be declared hereafter The first daye of October after Quene Mary was crowned And not longe after began the Parliament at London But the conuention of the Empyre which the Emperour called against the .xiii. day of Auguste as I shewed in the beginning of this boke was proroged to the first of October than to the moneth of Ianuary After that same battel wherin Duke Maurice was slayne Henry the Duke of Brunswick and the Marques Albert euery of them for them selfe make them selues strong and gather their power about them The Byshoppes and States of Norinberge fed Duke Henry wyth monie But all men for the moste parte marueled at Marques Albert from whence he had al that store Wherfore it was spoken commonly that Quene Mary the Emperours sistes supported him with mony But the Emperours folkes denie that vtterly and maruell that there are any so fonde so to thinke But what tyme the mony was brought to the Duke of Brunswicke somewhat to late he was in very great daunger For whan the Marques had intelligence therof he practised with the soldiours to forsake hym who abode this delaye moste impatiently But very luckely in the selfe same momente whan that heate and mutine began to ryse the .x. day of September was brought a remedy and all the tempeste appeased Duke Henry for his better assuraunce fel at a cōposition with Duke Ericke his cosin whiche was his ennemy before The kyng of Denmarke had long since sent his Ambassadour into Saxon to further the matters of Duke Augustus his sonne in lawe They at the length through the helpe of the Electour of Brandenburges Ambassadours reconcile hym to Marques Albert. The conditiōs were these that Duke Augustus should neither prosecute his brothers warre nor ayde the ennemies of Marques Albert. The same shall the Marques doe and if he
permit euery man in generall that he maye chuse him a priest whom he list vnto whom he may confesse his sinnes rightly And geue to the same priest authority that he may forgeue al manner of sinnes be they neuer so greuous euen those whiche are reserued to my power alone and are wonte to be excepted by name that he may remit not only the trespasse but the paine also for sinnes due that he may impose such satisfaction as behoueth and may release all vowes except chastity and Religion so yet that they be recompensed by an other worke yea trusting vpon Gods mercye and the intercession of sainctes Peter and Paule I graunt full remission of all sinnes which is wont only to be geuen but euery fifty yeare to all those that with an humble hart do conuert to God and wholy confessing their sinnes whan they shall vnderstande this indulgence to be setforth by vs will twise or thrise a weke fast and geue Almose and vse other godly exercises and after receiue the Sacrament with thanckes geuing and praiers vnto God that he with the light of his countenance would illumine those that walke in darknesse that he would geue peace and moue the heartes of kinges to concord And this so great a benefite I graunt to them also which are hindred either by reason of age or sicknesse so that they can not performe the thinges before said And to the intent that these oure wrytinges may be euery where knowne I charge and commaund all Patriarches Archbishops and suche other like that so sone as they shall haue receiued a copy of the same by and by they cause it to be published euery man through out his Prouince and since the gift is fre that they set it forth without any gain In the last boke I shewed you how Blassenburge the head castell of Marques Albert wherin the hope of the whole country cōsisted by surrendry was taken And at this time least being recouered it mighte geue an occasion of further displeasure his aduersaries do subuert and rase it to the ground not without the greate displeasure of the house of Brandenburge and the Marques kinred Ferdinando king of Romaines both before he came frō home and than also when he was commen to Auspurge to the assemble by messagers and letters exhorted the Princes to make haste and come thither in parson as in the last boke hath ben said And chiefly he had sollicited the Prince elector of Saxony to come to Auspurge who had both excused him selfe before that he could not come namely for the state of Saxony not very quiet and now sending ambassadours thither excuseth the matter againe by occasion falling into the mention of the Turk sheweth in what pearill Germany standeth which in times past being mightye and feared of others is now almost destitute and void of strength hauing receiued so many displeasures and plagues And that this euill is so much the worse that there is amonge the states so greate an alienation of mindes and distrust amonges them selues And how the Emperour him self to remeadye this disease had omitted no kind of diligence but yet that al labour hitherto hath ben taken in vain For the minds of men to be so bitterly exasperated alwais so set open to displeasure that vnneth any hope of reconcilement is to be had how a few yeares past his brother Moris had ordained that certain Ceremonies and things indifferēt should be kept still in Churches of his dominion but that the same commaundement was of so little force that it was also taunted with the libels and bitter raylings of many In so much that it was not in his power to confirm it vnles he would bring him self in daunger And therfore are many afraid for attempted any thingin this behalf Now on thother side they that be on the contrary part and impugn the doctrin professed at Auspurge how little they thincke to establish any godly and lawfull reformation it is known wel inough by the doings of former time when the matter was attempted ether by talk and conference or els by counsels Consideringe therefore that after so much labour taken and counsels holden the waye of concorde can not be found God peranenture so willinge and reuenginge oure sinnes he besecheth him earnestlye that the same Booke that conteineth the some of the Christen doctrin and was in times past exhibited at Auspurge he would not take for an euill or wicked boke But know it for a certenty to be a pure and a godlye wrytinge which can shewe vnto vs the sonne of God authoure of saluation whiche in Doctrine dothe plainly agree with thauncient churche and with those foure chiefe Counsels whiche teacheth and fetteth forthe true Christen worckes and exhorteth the people to shew obedience to the Magistrate Wherefore in case a sure peace in that assemble maye be established there is no doubte but that the Emperoure and he maye haue greate aide in Germanye againste the Turke where as elsse they that are of the Protestauntes Religion and manye of theim in dede borne and broughte vp therein will perseuer constantlye in the same Religion For vnlesse such a peace may be had that may comprise bothe Religion and also the Churche goodes and if the matter as manye times it hathe bene shoulde be differred to an other assemble and delaied from daye to daye and the people be lefte in this doutfull state of thinges to be vncertaine howe pacientlye all menne woulde take it For though he and other Princes should be quiet and do their duety and shewe all obedience yet that it maye be that menne of the meaner and baser sort may raise some tumulte and maye pretende this vncertaintye of state and feare of pearill for Religion Especiallye in those places whiche geue oportunitye to attempte suche thinges Since therefore the case of the Empire is suche he earnestlye requireth him to prouide for the common tranquillity for so muche as he hathe full authoritye of the Emperoure to determine But of late yeares this condition was propounded of his brother Moris at Passawe that in case the controuersy of Religion mighte not be reconciled that yet neuerthelesse an assured peace might be had til the thing might be throughli appeased and although the Emperor would not than admit the same condition for that he saide it apperteined to all thestates of the Empire yet in as muche as at the same time he reproued it not and with expresse woordes added to the Composition that he woulde see that in the Counsell the matter shoulde bee handeled indifferentlye neyther that there shoulde be anye crafte vsed in the voices concerning Religiō he trusteth for the same cause that he will moue in this behalfe not only those whiche were that tyme at Passawe but other states also so sone as the counsel be ginneth and perswade them to peace When thambassadours had spoken to this effect the fourth daye of February the nexte daye after king Ferdinando propoundeth
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 intēt 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 sprāg vp of the ordinary magistrate hath bene alwayes condēned Secondly that the sacrileges which they by the space of these .xxx. whole yeres haue cōmitted 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 notwithstāding it is forboden to haue any cōpany with them Moreouer that thei might place in the colleges churches of archbishops of other prelates wicked ministers to set forth dotestable condēned 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 religiō to reuolt frō 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 cōscience free But when any departeth from the commō 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 nōt doe it with a saufe conscience but they wyll desyre ayde of the Protestaūtes 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
in the league 33 The liberty of the Swisses eodem The Masse to be abolished eodem Themperour hath war with frauÌ„ce 34 The death of pope Leo the tenth eod The Turke taketh Belgrade eodem The Lady Mary assured to themper 35 The Sectes of Bohemers 36 The Pope writeth to the Princes of Germany 37 The Watre of Treuers 38 The Popes letters to Strasburg eod The stocke of Adrian eodem The disputation of Zurick 39 The request of Adrian to dispatch Luther 39 The sinne of Rome spread ouer all the world 40 The meane to let Counselles 40 The answere of the Princes 41 The maner of a free Counsell 41 Two Friers burnt at Brussels 43 The Ceremonies of disgreding eod The death and workes of Hutten 44 The aunswer of Duke George eodem The eating of flesh eodem The Princes aunswer to CaÌ„peius 46 The decree of wormes repeted eodem The Pope is well monyed eodem The Swisses are assendid with them of Zurick eodem The Marchaundise of the Clergie 47 The aunswer of them of Zurick 47 The decree of Norinberge 48 Thomas Moouer a Graye frier 48 The lamentation of Luther 49 The Golden Rose sent to the kynge of England 50 Themperour blameth the princes eod Themperour defendour of the Romish Churche eodem The duke of BurboÌ„ne besiegeth Marselles eodem The beginning of the Rusticall war eod The papistes fight for their belly 51 To serue foreyne Princes is vyle eod The crafte of Papistes eodem The pouerty and boÌ„dage of the Swissers 52 The Riches liberty of thesame 52 The Comotion of the vulgare people 53 Their Demaundes 53 The Duke of Wittenberg attempted Warre eodem The slaughter of the Boores. eodem The great cruelty of the Boores. eod The warre of the Boores in Loraine 54 The slaughter of the Boores. 54 The cruelty of tharchbishop of treu 54 The death of Frederick duke of 56 The Princes make a power 56 The slaughter of the Muncerians 57 The vnreasonable laughter of muÌ„c 57 The dewty of a good Magistrate 58 Thautors of rebellion are without excuse 58 The best way to ouerthrow the popes auctoritie 58 The practice of the Deuell 59 The popish kingdome not long eod The demaundes of the preachers eod The Boores vse godly titles 60 The state of a Magistrate wherin 61 The Christian Lawe eodem The Christian profession is hard eod The nature of veritie 62 The craft of the deuill to oppresse eod The aunswer to the Boores dema eod Tythes must be payde eodem The false title of the Boores. 63 The rayser of tumultes 63 The part of a wise man 64 The dutie of a Magistrate eodem The ende of tiranny eodem Their can be nothing worse then 65 The popes letters to them of Paris 66 The kinges letters for Faber eodem The story of Pruse eodem The chief point of luthers doctrine 67 Thomas woolsey cardinall a butchers Sonne 68 The peace taken at Madrice 68 Themperours letters 69 The Turke inuadeth Hongary 69 The beginning of the prot league 70 The popes benefites to themperour 71 Themperours aunswer 71 The kingdome of Naples 72 The pope and thempâ—ar two great 72 The Pope is a waryour 72 Themperour confuteth the French 73 The princes letters to themperour 73 The beginning of the Anabaptistes 74 The French army inuadeth Italy 74 The power of Bernes 75 The duke of Burbon condemned at 75 The prebendes of Constance dep 76 The victory of the Gospell eodem The English French ambassad eod The French king offreth themp eodeÌ„ Themperours answer to the French 78 The Papistes forbidden to Preach 79 The ambassadours of thimperiall chaÌ„ber to Strasborow 79 The Bishoppes letters 79 The masse put down at strasborow 80 They of Basill take armure 80 The Masse put downe 80 The assembly of Spires 80 The ambassadors of Strasborow 81 The decree of Spires 81 The decree of wormes 82 Thoriginall of protestantes 82 The peace of Cambray 82 The Turke besiegeth Uienna 83 The sweating Sicknes 83 Two Clerkes burnt at Collon 83 The protest ambassadors to theÌ„p 84 Themp. aunswer to the protestantes 84 Thambassadours appeale 85 The honesty of a Bishoppe 85 The ChaÌ„bre writeth to Smalcald 86 TheÌ„perors Coronation at Bonony 86 The diuines of the protestantes 86 The princes that wold not haue masse 87 The Duke of Saxons office eodem The turkes victory in HoÌ„gary eodem The turkes cruelty eodem ThaÌ„bassadour of Austrich his comp 88 Thinges refused in religion 89 That the Masse is a sacrifice 89 The warre of florens 90 The pope in league with theÌ„p eodem The Turkes power eodem The protestantes were laboured eodeÌ„ The Bohemers borne withall 91 TheÌ„p oration to the protestantes 91 The ProtestaÌ„tes answer to themp 91 Themperour to the Protestantes 93 The protestantes spite no man 93 The drone bees desire to be restored 93 The answer to the coÌ„futation of zwin 94 The decree of Auspurge 95 The Church oppressed with tiraÌ„ny 96 The papistes are accused of aerag 96 The Lantzgraue made a league with Strasborow Zurick and Basill 96 The league of the protest at smalcald 97 The pope is a Sayler 97 The prot letters against FerdinaÌ„do 67 The causes of creating king of rom 98 The protestantes letters to the king of England and Fraunce 99 The protestantes appellation 99 The bishoppes of Denmark resist 100 The lawes permit the inferrour magistrate in some causes to resist the. 100 Tharchbishop of Treuers departeth 101 The aunswere of the French kinge to the protestantes 101 The amytie of FrauÌ„ce Germany 101 The auÌ„swer of the king of EnglaÌ„d 102 The duke of Saxons doubt of the. 102 The Palsgraue tharchbishop of 102 The Appellation of the Marques 103 Therles of Nassow Nauenar come to the Duke of Saxon to intreate 103 The intercessors and protestantes 103 They of Zurick discomfited 104 The death of Swinglius 104 The death of Decolampadius 105 The assembly of Regenspurge 105 The dukes of Bauier misliked the. 106 The annswer of the duke to the in t 107 The crafte of the Papistes 107 The number of Protestantes 108 The assembly at Regenspurg eodem The Turke inuadeth Austrich eodem The death of the duke of Saxon. eodem The slaughter of the turkes 109 The pope serueth the time eodem The Popes policie eodem The duke of Saxons answer eodem The protestantes answer to the pope 110 The couÌ„sell are swarued from their 110 Themperours part is to defend rel 111 The Pope is plaintife defendant 111 The Popes snares eodem The Pope slieth to the CouÌ„sell eodem The craft of duke George to find of 112 The inconstancy of pope Clement 113 The vniuersitie of paris Sentens 113 The death of Cardinall Wolsey 114 The tragedy of the graye friers 114 The game players carried to paris 115 The condemnation of false Friers 115 The victory of the Lantgraue 116 The liberality of the French king 117 The Lantgraues letters to theÌ„p eodeÌ„ Themperours aunswer eodem The punishment of the Godly
the wardshyp of his nephewe Albert the sonne of his brother Casimire And they went about to perswade with the Lantgraue that in case he would agree vnto the Emperour Ulriche the Duke of Wyrtemberge should be restored and that an agrement myght be had by the Emperours meanes betwene hym and the Erle of Nassoe for the rule of Chattes In this Assemblie the byshop of Rome had graunted to kyng Ferdinando all maner of Plate and ornamentes of golde and syluer of all the churches in Germany for the Turkyshe warre and also to take a subsydie of the clergie but the Princes woulde not suffer it sollicityng the Emperour to make that decree frustrate The .xviij. of August Erasmus of Roterdame wryteth to Cardinall Campegius from Friburge Howe the Emperours power is in dede great but all men doe not acknowledge this name The Germanes do so acknowledge it that they rule rather thē obey Luthers doctryne is sowen abroade throughout Germany farre and neare in so muche that the chayne of this mischiefe reacheth from the Ocean sea vnto the vttermoste borders of Swycerlande Nowe if the Emperour shall attempt to accomplyshe the byshop of Romes desyre in all thynges it is to be feared lest he shall haue but fewe to commende his doinges Moreouer in what great daunger of the Turke we stande in whose power all the force of Europe is skant able to resyste And what a thynge it is to fyght with vnwyllyng souldiours it is manyfest by mo examples than one The Emperour doubtlesse is of nature inclyned to peace Neuerthelesse by a certen desteny haled and inforced to warres Fraunce and Italy haue bene sore afflicted wyth warre nowe of many yeares But this warre wyll doe more harme than all the reste if it be not well forseen Men are commonly perswaded that all these thynges are done through the instigation and counsell of the hyghe byshop But the feare is lest a great parte of the peril redounde to the Emperour him selfe Thei that loue sectes are in dede worthy of punyshement but yet ought rather a respecte to be had for the preseruation of the common wealth The state of the churche was in tymes past full miserable whan the Arrians Pagans Donatistes and the Manycheis sowed abroade their opinions and also the Barbarous nations made warre Notwithstandyng it waded out of all these daungers at the length For verely tyme it selfe wyl at laste bring remedy also vnto most daungerous diseases The Bohemers were borne with al though they did not acknowledge the byshop of Rome If the same were also permitted to the Lutheriās it were not amisse in his conceipt and all be it this were verye muche yet were it a great deale lesse euyll than warre The seuent daye of Septembre the Emperour sendeth for home to his house all the Pryntes and states catholicke about none And two houres after for the duke of Saxōs and his fellowes and commaunding all others asyde sauyng his brother Ferdinando the byshoppes of Constance and Hispalia Granuellan and Truckesse he speaketh by Fredericke Palsgraue on this wyse how he had trusted assuredly that beyng so frendly and gently warned after their confession exhibited they would haue taken his parte And all be it that his hope was in vaine yet at the request of the Princes he was content that certen should be chosen on eyther partie to conferre and to make an agrement And thus was he brought agayne in to a newe hope of a concorde But nowe he vnderstandeth to his great grief that they dissente from the others in the chiefest opinions whiche is cleane contrary to his expectation for he wold neuer haue thought that they beyng so fewe in numbre wold haue induced suche newe fanglednes against the auncient sacred custome of the whole vniuersal churche or chouse vnto them selues a seuerall religion so farre differinge frō the bishops of Romes religion his from king Ferdinandos al the princes states of the Empire yea from all the kinges and princes of the whole worlde But now for as much as their desire is to haue a generall counsel here to haue a quiet decree made he whiche chiefly coueteth quietnes wyll deuise with the byshop of Rome and other christiā Prynces to haue one called so soone as they can agree vppon a place This wyll he vndertake to brynge to passe but yet vnder this condition that in the meane tyme they shall obserue the same Religion that he and other Prynces doe For to procure a counsell and to suffer this gere to hange waueringe and not to prohibite this newe fanglednes euery man sayeth plainely howe sore and preiudiciall it woulde be to hym and others They make an delyberate aunswere that neyther they haue brought vp newe secte nor swarued frō the Christian churche In that he refused not a counsell they gyue hym great thankes desyryng hym that so shortely as is possible there maye be had in Germany a lawfull and a free counsell as in the laste and former assemblye of Spyres it was agreed vpon But to receiue again the ceremonies of the Romyshe churche ones abolished they can not with a good conscience The Emperour after long consultation aunswereth them agayne by Truckesse that he hath red ouer diligently all their disceptation and fyndeth that they swarue very muche from the Christian churche Marueylyng also at the lyghtnes of the other parte that they would graunte to so muche and agayne at their styffenes that would not take theyr offer And where they craue a counsell by the decrees of the Empyre it can take no place in them which refused the last decree protested against it and appealed from it whiche appellatiō notwithstanding he maketh none accompte of For reason woulde that the lesse parte should be comfourmable to the more But howe small an handfull are they to be compared with the great byshop and hym and with the rest of the Christian Prynces Wherfore he desyreth to knowe whether they wyl maynteyne any further talke or discourse of the matter for he wyll spare no payne nor trauayle to brynge them to an attonement whiche if they shall refuse to doe and yet perseuer in theyr purpose than muste he doe as becommeth the protectour of the churche And because it is now nere night he gyueth them leaue to take aduisement tyll the morrowe The next daye whan all the States were assembled at the howre appoynted Pontane a Ciuilian was set to aunswere for the Duke and his companions If the Emperoure in dede doe vnderstande the whole matter he wyll than geue credite to their fyrste tale and doubt not but that theyr doctryne shall be adiudged by the testimonie of a Godly and a free counsell to be agreable to Gods worde Wherfore it is the lesse to be marueyled that they dyd not receyue suche thynges as were of late offered and graunted That appellation of necessitie was obiected againste that parte of the decree where it made
agaynste the doctryne of the Gospell and the maner of the primatiue churche For the reste they doe obeye Agayne that counsell was promysed in the begynnyng of the assemblie longe before the decree was made And not there onelye but also in all other assemblies of the Empyre Thys was euer the opinion of all men Wherfore seyng that they haue appealed both vnto hym and also to a free counsell they truste he wyll not disanulle the thynge tyll sentence be lawfully geuen But whether the lesse parte in this controuersie ought to gyue place to the more it is not to be discussed in this place And for their appellation whiche was done of necessitie they wyll make further aunswere at the counsell Where as therfore all the fourmer assemblies haue determined vpon a counsell they beseche hym that he woulde not breake those decrees but gyue his cōsent herein to the good wylles and desyre of all other states And where also he offereth his paynes to haue the matter debated further they rendre him great thankes How be it it is manifest by that which is done already how much they did submitte them selues at the laste And where he marueleth at the Byshoppes syde that they woulde graunte so many thynges it is easy to coniecture therby what iudgement he is of And therfore were it in vayne to treate any more therof for as much as it should be but a let and a hynderaunce to other matters But they wyll not be agaynst it to deuyse howe peace maye be kepte throughout the Empyre as they offered in the begynnynge In the meane tyme they wyll doe nothyng but that whiche they truste wyll be allowed of God and of a lawfull counsell beyng commaunded a syde at the last they were called in agayne And for as much as the matter was weyghty the Emperour sayd he woulde take good aduisement therein and desyred the Duke of Saxon whiche was the chiefest of them that he woulde not depart And in deede Georde Truckesse and Uehus a doctour of Ciuile had deuysed a reconcilement touchyng the Masse and Uowes but it was in vayne Wherfore the Emperour chouseth out certen of the Romysh Relygion to make a decree the effecte wherof was this That the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes had exhibited the confession of their doctryne whiche was afterwardes confuted by the testymonies of holy Scripture And howe through his great paynes and trauel of other states the matter was brought to this conclusion that they receyued certen opinions of the churche and certen they did refuse Wherfore to declare him selfe howe desyrous he is of peace and howe he coueteth to doe nothyng vpon a wyll of his singular humanitie and gentlenes he graunteth them space to take aduisement in vntyll the .xv. of April to the intent they maye in this meane whyle waye and determyne with themselues whether they can be content in the other articles to professe the same that the byshop of Rome and he doe and all the rest of christendome In the meane tyme he wylleth that all men kepe peace throughout the Empyre and that neither the Duke of Saxō nor his fellowes suffer in the meane time any new thynge to be prynted concerning Religion within their dominiōs also that they alter nothing els that they neyther allure nor compelle any man vnto their Religion And that they do not let their subiestes that would followe the olde Religion Moreouer that they do not disturbe Religiouse persones but that they may saye their seruice heare confession and minister the Lordes supper after their wonted facion How they shall consulte with him and the other states to punyshe the Anabaptistes and Sacramentaries Fynally because there hath bene no counsell of a longe tyme and manye thynges are to be refourmed as wel in the Laitie as the Clergie therfore wyll he labour and sollicite the byshop and other Prynces that within halfe a yeare one shall be sommoned and begynne a yeare after The Duke of Saxon and his fellowes after consultation had set Pontane to make aunswere that where the decree mentioneth how theyr doctryne was confuted by the Scriptures that do not they cōfesse nor graunte But to thynke thus that it is so grounded vpon the Scriptures that there is nothynge to be founde in it that is vngodly and that would they haue proued manyfestly if they had obteined a copie of the consutation Notwithstāding lest it should be passed ouer in silence they haue made an aunswere as sone as they hearde it red to so muche as they could beare in memorye whiche al be it it dyd not aunswere to euery partycular for want of the copie yet doubte they not but if it would please the Emperour to peruse it he shoulde fynde theyr doctrine as yet fyrme and stable and neyther pearsed nor shaken with any of theyr aduersaries weapons Whē he had thus farre proceded he delyuereth this Apologie to the Emperour whiche after Fridericke Palsgraue receiued of him at the Emperours beckenynge whome Ferdinando had whyspered in the eare he delyuer it agayne After this Pontane proceadeth where as it is decreed that they shoulde not alter or publyshe anye thynge in prynte they haue in the last assemblye touchyng this thyng made such aunswere as they thought was sufficiēt and be yet of the same mynd and wyll doe nothynge that may be iustly reproued Moreouer they haue nothynge a doe with sectes And although the doctrine be trewe whiche they professe yet dyd they neuer brynge any man to it by compulsion nor wyll not hereafter As touchyng the Anabaptistes such as doe contempne the sacrament of the Altar they neuer suffered any suche kynde of men within theyr lymites but theyr diuines haue preached agaynst them And the Anabaptistes haue also bene punyshed in suche sorte as no suche sectes can take roote or remayne emonges thē Fynally for as muche as this is a matter of most weyghty importāce whiche verely concerneth eyther the euer lastyng saluation or damnation and losse of their soules and for because the Ambassadours of their fellowes whiche are absent haue nede to aduertyse thē of all thinges they doe earnestly beseche hym to graunte them a copie of the decree to the intent they may consider and condescende vpon an aunswere agaynste the daye The next daye the Emperour sent them worde by the Prynce electour of Brandenburge that where they so stoutelye affyrme theyr doctryne to be trewe and Godly he can not maruell enough consyderynge howe it is not onlye confuted nowe euen by the authoritie of scripture but also condempned in all former counselles longe syns And he marueyleth so muche the more for that they doe ascrybe vnto hym and the resydue of Prynces errour and false Religion for if that shoulde be trewe as they saye than shoulde bothe his and the Dukes of Saxons progenitours also whiche haue kepte and maynteyned the same Religion be accompted for Heretikes Wherfore he can not be perswaded nor