Religion About this tyme in the moneth of May appered a blasyng starre and shortly after departed Isabel wyfe to Charles the Emperour for whome the Frenche kyng so sone as he heard therof kepte a solempne funerall at Paris as the maner of kynges is I shewed you before of the counsell of Uicence whiche the byshop of Rome had proroged tyll Easter of this yeare But seyng than that none would come he publisheth his letters the tenth of Iune wherin he prorogeth the counsell no more but suspendeth it at his owne pleasure and senate of his Cardinalles The kyng of Englande had certen monethes before set forth another wryttyng touching this Synode of Uicence and declareth howe the Byshop deludeth the whole worlde For where he excused hym selfe by the Duke of Mantua it was a playne mockery For seing he taketh vppon hym so great anothoritie why did he not compelle hym If he coulde not wherfore shoulde he commaunde men to come to a place vncerten and the whiche is not in his power Nowe albeit he hathe chosen Uicence for the same pourpose yet is there no doubt but the 〈…〉 enetians men of so great wysdome wyll no more suffer their citie to be pestred with suche a multitude without garmsons of Souldiours than woulde the Duke of Mantua and that in fyne there wylbe as small resorte thether as was to Mantua There fore it is but delusion what so euer he doeth neyther oughte he to be permitted in this dissolute lybertie any longer There is nothynge in dede better nor more commodious than a lawfull counsell But whan they are applied vnto priuate lucre and commoditie and to the establyshynge of certen mens aucthoritie they brynge a wonderfull destruction to the common wealth Whan the name of the counsell and of the churche was nowe common in euery mans mouthe Luther setteth forth a booke of either of them in the vulgare speache And fyrst he treatefh of the assemblie of the Apostles at Hierusalem whiche is mentioned in the .xv. of the actes After he reciteth the contrary opinions of the Doctours especially Austen and Ciprian concernyng baptisme by the same occasion he maketh mention of those lawes that are called the Canons of the Apostles and proueth by manifest reasons that thei be false and countrefeated and those that geue them that tytle to deserue death Than doeth he recite in ordre those foure counselles which were of chiefe authoritie the counsell of Nyce Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedonie And declareth for what causes they assēbled ther and what they decreed in euery of them After he commeth to the principall question and sheweth what is the aucthoritie of a. counsell Wherfore he sayeth howe a counsel maye not confirme any newe doctryne nor commaunde any newe worke neyther bynde mens myndes with newe ceremonies not to intermedle with ciuile gouernementes nor to make any decrees to establysh the authoritie of a few But the dutie therof to be to abolyshe and condemne newe opinions contrary to holy Scripture and newe ceremonies whether they be superstitious or vnprofitable for the churche And suche thynges as are brought in controuersie to examine and determine after the written text of Gods worde After this he diffineth the churche sheweth by what tokens it ought to be knowen and by a comparyson made declaring what Christe and his Apostles taught he sayeth howe the Byshop of Rome whiche hath brought into the churche a farre cōtrary doctrine and by wicked meanes hath pylled the whole world with intollerable exactions ought to be condempned and dryuen to make restitution Amonges diuerse other thynges wherby in the same boke he declareth what blyndenes men were led into vnder the Byshop of Rome and howe shameful and vyle was the Religion he sayeth how it was come thus farre that a monke or a freers wede was thought to be sufficient to bryng a man to eternall lyfe And manye not onlye meane folkes but also great Prynces would be buried in a freers garment Those that shall come after peraduenture wyl not beleue it but yet is it true and wont to be commonly done in Italy And in our me mory Fraunces Marques of Mantua the seconde of that name put into his last wylle that he myght be buried in a gray freers cote The same did Albertus Pius Prynce of Carpes in Paris And Christopher Longelie a Bourgonnion buried at Padwey a man excellently learned and a great Ciceronian who also wrote an Oration against the Lutherians in lyke case as Alberte did diuers against Erasmus of Roterdame Immediatly after the death of Duke George Henry the Duke of Brunswycke rydeth to the Emperour into Spayne thorowe Fraunce About the same tyme Henry the eyght kyng of Englande calleth a Parliament wherein amōges other thinges were enacted certen decrees for Religiō called the syxe Articles as followeth that vnder the four me of bread and wyne was the true and natural body and bloud of Christe and that after the wordes of consecration there remayned no more substaunce of bread and wyne that the receiuing of the whole supper of the Lorde was not necessary to saluation and that Christ is wholy cōteyned vnder both kyndes How it is not lawful for priestes to marry That the vowes of chastitie ought to be perfourmed That priuate masses were to be reteyned That auricular confession is good and necessary To suche as thought and did otherwyse was appoynted punyshement dewe for heretikes And the same tyme the kynge stoode in termes to marry the Lady Anne of Cleue a mayde of an excellent beautie which after she was affianced within a few monthes was sent to Caleis whether the kyng had sent the Lorde Admirall others with his shyppes to receyue her and transporte her into Englande But he hymselfe accompanied with all the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Realme receiued her vpō blacke Heath and brought her to Grenewitche where shortly after they were married by the Archebyshop of Canturbury Some saye howe the Bishoppes had perswaded the kyng to cōsent to the syxe Articles to the intent they myght bring the Archebyshop of Cantorburye and the Lorde Crumwell whiche were great fauourers of Religion out of aucthoritie creditie This yeare in the mōth of August Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt taketh by assiege Castelneufe a towne in Slauonie borderinge vpon the Goulfe of Uenise and sleying all the Souldiours leadeth awaye many captiue A yere before in the moneth of October the Emperour and the Uenetians beyng of one confederacie had wonne it And the Emperour in dede put in a garrison of foure thousand Spanyardes and made captayne Fraunces Sarmiento Whiche chaunced to the Uenetians contrary to their expectation for that they sayde the town standing in that coaste ought rather to be theirs Therfore not longe after when they more more mislyked this societie and sawe it wold be very daungerours for them aske truce of the Turke and obteyne it In maner at the same tyme arose
with their Bishop but that he propoundeth suche conditions as if they should admit they can not retayne those thinges whiche the decree lately made at Auspurge doeth permitte and graunt them For after muche debating we haue sayeth they declared vnto him how we shall geue commaundement to our citezens that they shall obserue the holy dayes and absteyne certen dayes from fleshe Moreouer we haue bene in hande with the Ministers of the church And certen of thē we suppose wil of their owne accorde leaue the office of preaching Wherfore it shal be lawfull free for hym for all vs to establyshe Religion according to the order prescribed at Auspurge For we shal be no let vnto him and wil also commaunde our citezens to doe nothing to the contrary And seing it is thus we beseche you moste victorious Emperour that you would permitte vs ministers of the churche euē such as be maried amongest vs and put vs to no further extremitie especially considering that we wyll both shewe all moderation and geue none occasion of offence I shewed you before of them of Magdenburg how the Emperour had outlawed them And where they refused the decree of religion lately published the displeasure was augmented Where vpon the Emperour setteth forth against them new proclamations and maketh them a praye vnto all men and earnestly admonisheth the Princes and states that are their neighbours to make warre against them and to annoye them by all meanes possible It hath bene tolde you before howe the Emperour caused the preachers of Ulme to be apprehēded Thei were at the length in the seuenth moneth enlarged the third day of Marche set at libertie whā they had payd for their charges At this time that state of England waxed troublesome Edwarde Duke of Somerset that kings vncle Protectour of the Realme had a brother that was lord Admiral of whom he had cōceiued a suspiciō or at least was cōtent so to be perswaded as though he did aspire to that crown wold bring that king vnder his custody Wherfore he cōmaūdeth him to be apprehēded after examination had he was condēned to die that xx day of Marche was be He had maried Quene Catherine the laste wyfe to kyng Henry the eight and that same also increased the suspicion muche But the emulation and enuie of a woman was thought to haue bene the greatest occasion of this misauenture The Bishop of Strasburge agayne warneth the clergie to obeye the Emperours decree There is a churche of sainct Thomas the annual reuenewes wherof are by the cōsent of the Senate imployed vpon preachers and learned men whiche teache and bryng vp yougth With thē he traueled chiefly and desired to know with in what tyme they would obeye the Emperours decree and satisfie his expectation moreouer what mete men they had for this purpose and what ornamentes of the churche were yet remaining Thei take a time for a further deliberation Thomas Cranmer Archebyshop of Canturbury and primate of Englande a man of excellent learning was wholy geuē to further good learnyng and auaunce Godly religiō Who seing the state now of Germany and the daunger of learned men there sollicited with sondry letters Bucher chiefly and Paulus Fagius moste expert in the Hebrew tongue to come into England promising them all loue and frendship Wherfore by the consent and will of the Senate at the first of Aprill they take their iurney that they might there sowe the sede of pure doctrine Their comming was moste acceptable both to that kyng him self and in maner to the whole Nobilitie and people And what tyme they had staied a whyle with my Lorde of Canturbury they were both sent vnto Cambridge to be readers there The first day of Aprill Philippe of Austriche entreth into Brussels with a wonderfull pompe where his father that tyme was There were the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Electours of Brandenburg sent to sollicite the suite vnto Prynce Philippe and the Cardinall of Trent who was a great frende to Duke Maurice And albeit they put the Lantgraue which was than at Audenarde in good hope yet was nothynge brought to passe And a lyttle whyle after whan the Lātgraue being sickely would haue eaten fleshe on a certen daye forbidden the Captaine that garded hym commyng in the way turneth vp the dishe botome and casteth the meat on the ground At this same tyme the Byshop of Strasburge in the eight yeare at the least taketh holy orders as thei terme it and saith Masse he calleth a conuocation of all his Clergie at Taberne and maketh Decrees commodious for theyr pourpose After thys he sendeth messengers to the Senate of Strasburge requiring them to reedifie the Aultars and to geue him libertie to appointe the Mynisters of the Churche That they woulde release the Clergie of their Othe restoore all their priuileges and rendre agayn the ornamentes of the churches But he commaundeth the Thomistes to aunswer directly whether they wyll obeye the Emperours decree or no They speaking first of the reuerence they beare to the Emperour after of their duties and vocation at large declare vnto hym what euery man teacheth and doeth that is to wytte diuines Phylosophers Logicians Rhetoricians and suche other lyke whiche are al not only profitable both for the Scole or youth but also necessary Than shewe they by whom they were admitted into the College by the consente of the Senate and after a long declaration they desyre hym very lowely and louingly that he woulde not disturbe this order so well establyshed nor wyll them to be occupied with thinges lesse nedefull Contrarywyse the Ambassadours alledge howe that College was not founded for suche exercises of Scolars neyther ought the olde order to be chaunged If there be any amongest them whiche finde themselues greued and can not obeye with a good conscience the Byshop surely is not he that wyl perswade them to do any thyng against their wylles but that it shal be lawfull for them to geue place and as the common saying is let them either drynke or departe For in case the Senate wyl haue professours of Artes learning within the citie it is reason that they fynde the same and beare their charges not of the abbey landes which were aunciently appointed to an other vse but of their common treasure The Byshop his predecessour haue nowe bene many yeares impeched in their iurisdictiō but this may no longer be suffered Thus whan they had much contended in wordes they departed without any thynge concluded And the Senate whan they knew therof make intercession to the Byshop and in their moste gentle letters desyre and praye hym that he would at the least haue some consideration of the yought who taketh great profit and rypenes of the wyt by the same Schole Thus was the matter by letters and messengers sent betwyxt long and muche debated tyll at the laste it was taken vp by arbitrement as
welcome him into the low countrey pourge them selues of the euill reportes of theyr aduersaryes and complayne of the Duke of Brunswike and the Iudges of the Chaumber declare how desirous they be of peace and by howe many waies they haue sought it which they nowe desyre him to graunt and establishe for euer The Emperour telleth them before Granuella that after he hath consulted of the matter he wyll make them an aunswere And in maner about the same tyme that they sent this Ambassade to the Emperour they wrote also to the Frenche kynge reioysinge muche at the great good wyll and amitie betwene the Emperour and hym And with a long proces intreate hym in this cōsent of mindes to further the cause of Religion and publique quiet to the Emperour At the kalendes of Marche the Ambassadours of the Princes cities of Protestauntes met at Smalcald as was appointed with whom also came these diuines Ionas Pomerane Melancthon Cruciger Bucer And they were inioyned to deuise a fourme in wryting wherwith they shoulde thinke mete to treate with their aduersaries for the cōciliation of religion In this assemblie they cōsulted of such matters as were left vndiscussed at Arnstad as before is said In the meane time Dulcie and Burcarte were returned out of Englande the seuenth day of Marche they make reporte at Smalcalde of the state of Religion in England that for the decrees made the yere before there is no great punishement notwithstanding Hugh Latimer byshop of Woorcester and Shaxton byshop of Salisbury are deteined in prison for Religiō and as yet not released The Lorde Cromwell whiche is in moste authoritie doth appease and mitigate the kynges mynde and that also the kyng him selfe in familiar talke opened vnto them his mynde supposeth thus that the diuines of the Protestauntes thinke not rightly cōcerning the mariage of priestes the lordes supper vnder both kyndes and of the priuate masse requireth them to write vnto him of these other necessary questions at large alledging the causes and reasons of their opinions And he wyll see agayne that the learned men of his Realme shall wryte an aunswere that thus a waye may be made to come to the knowledge of the truthe Moreouer Cromwel and certen others thinke it mete and expedient to sende a great Ambassade to the kinge and Melancthon with them For if any meane agrement in religion might be had the kynge woulde bestowe a great somme of money vpon a league that he purposeth to make with them not onlye in the cause of Religion but in generall for the kyng marueleth greatly why they are confederated for Religion only for the tyme wyll come that they shal be attempted with warre vnder a contrary title And a fewe dayes after the diuines exhibite their wryting the some wherof was this Not to swarue from the steppes of the confession at Auspurge and the Apologie afterwardes annexed to the same Which sentence afterwardes all the diuines that were absent did approue by their letters sent thether This tyme came Henry the Duke of brunswick to Gaūt The day before the Ides of March thēperour answereth the protestātes Ambassadours by Cornelles Scepp gētly so so but yet in suche sorte as it coulde not be wel perceiued whether he would graunte them peace or not Wherfore the Ambassadours by the Emperours leaue going a litle asyde by and by retourne and desire hym to inhibite the processe of the Imperiall chamber and graunte them peace whereunto the Emperour sayde he had no more to aunswere them at this tyme he woulde take further delyberation This aunswere was recited at Smalcalde the tenth daye after And on Easter munday which was than the .xxix. of Marche came thether the Princes them selues That tyme was a certen contention and hatred betwyxte Granuella and Heldus which in fine came to this ende that Heldus being displaced departed from the courte and lyued a priuate lyfe For the other was aboue hym in authoritie and brought Heldus into hatred and obloquie for that he was ouer vehement in counsell matters and other affaires and had constreyned the Emperour thinkyng nothyng lesse to haue warres in maner against his wyll And whan Granuella had geuen certen manifeste instructions of his wyll and mynde to be inclyned to peace and concorde beynge requested of the Protestauntes he perswaded the Emperour also to the conditiōs of peace And he hymselfe at the begynning as though it had bene in his owne name sent to Smalcalde intercessours and Ambassadours Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles men of great wysdome and dignitie notwithstanding the first taried by the waye sore sycke Their demaundes were reasonable enough neuerthelesse they signified this that the Emperour was almost perswaded as though they cared not for Religion neyther desyred peace in theyr hartes but altogether sought to conuerte the churche goodes to theyr priuate vses delyghted in discorde bare him no good wyll but were more addicte to take their partes that were his open ennemies And these things were reported to the Emperour partly by their aduersaries partly by the Frenchemen as it is sayde for a certentie For what tyme the Emperour went through Fraunce and all thinges were lyke to growe to a perfite frendshyp then were certen thinges disclosed and the Protestauntes letters vnto the kyng shewed vnto the Emperour some do impute this to the kyng him selfe and other some to the Constable who was than of chief authoritie sought al meanes possible to quiet and agree the Princes and dyd beare the Protestantes no good wyl because of Religion ✚ The thirtene Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirtene Booke THe Protestauutes make aunswere to the Emperour demaundes shewyng how they haue more regarde to Religion than to churche goodes They confute also the argumentes of the kyng of Englande touchyng the syxe Articles The Emperour hauing punyshed them at Gaunt sendeth letters to assigne a metyng for the protestauntes against whome speaketh Alexander Farnese the Popes Legate who had followed the Emperour out of Fraunce In the meane tyme the Frenche kyng made a league with the Duke of Cleane whose syster the kyng of Englande than refused At the assemble of Hagenawe certen poinctes of Religion were agreed vpon the resydewe were referred to the conuention that kyng Ferdinando assigned at Woruies Whether Granuellan sendyng first Naues came afterwarde also hym selfe and made an Oration And after hym Campeigius the Popes Legate The conference brake offe and all was differed to that Iourney of Regenspurg In this meane whyle Luther answereth a booke set forth by the Duke of Brunswycke where is spoken of the dere mantell of the Archebyshoppes The counsell beyng begonne at Regenspurge Granuellan presenteth the booke of the Interim The Duke of Cleaue commynge into Fraunce marrieth the
him heretofore but whan inquisition was made there coulde nothinge in a manner be founde Neuerthelesse he will do what he can to knowe the certaintye For no man shall escape vnpunished that hathe oughte offended At this time also the states do graunte that the Emperor maye at his pleasure constitute the iudgemente of the Chamber and ioyne vnto them other iudges for assistaunce And they them selues promise to beare the charges of the same Of the treatye begonne concerninge a league before saide the winedinge vp was this that the Emperoures prouinces whiche he hathe in Germanye and lowe Dutchlande and all that belonge to the house of Burgundy should be vnder the tuition and defence of the Empire and be contributaries vnto publicke affaires yet so as they maye vse their owne lawes and iurisdiction And that Germanye shall againe looke for the like aide and defence of the Emperoures Prouinces ✚ The .xxi. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the syfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxi. Booke THe authoures of the Interim are rewarded which neuerthelesse many impugned whereof the Duke of Saxon is accused They of Constance were so vrged to admit the Interim that ambushes of fotemen were laied to surprise the Citie whiche at the laste receweth the Interim They of Strausboroughe make theyr purgation to the Emperoure A commotion chaunseth at Bourdeux The dispaire of Spiera is recited and the conuersion of Uergerius The Scottishe Quene transported into Fraunce Maydenbourge is setforth for a praye The Admirall of Englande is beheaded they at Strausboroughe are at contention with their Byshop They of Wittemberge are accused to be Adiphoristes to wit indifferent or newters A disputation in Englande touchinge the Lordes Supper Ueruine is beheaded in Fraunce Pursute against them of Maidenburge the death of Pope Paule and the horrible actes of the same The description of the place of election at Rome and the maner of chusinge the Pope Masse againe at Strausborough a proclamation in in Fraunce against Lutheranes Pope Iulius and his little Cardinall THe last day of Iune the conuention was dissolued In the. xix boke I shewed you howe the Emperor perswaded all men to submit them selues to the Counsell and that on his warrantise who wold se that thaction shuld be lawfull Nowe therefore a decre is made that the counsel shuld be continued at Trēt and the Emperour saith he will deuise that it be there recommēced so shortly as may be Which thing whā it shal be brought to passe he requireth that they all especially of the clergy of the religion of Protestants which come thither vnder his saufeconduit for he wil take order than the whole matter shal be godly and christenly decided and determined according to the holy scriptures and doctrine of the fathers all affections laid apart and that they thē selues also shal be hard speak so much as shal be thoughte requisite After are other decrees red as is accustomed especially that of religion a strait charge geuē that al men obey the same as was also before declared at the Ides of May the .iii. authors of the boke are before named of whō Ihō Islebie receiued for his paines taken a liberal reward bothe of the Emperour and also of king Ferdinando And Michel Sidonie afterward was made bishop of Merseburge in Saxony Wherof arose a iest how they defended the bishop of Romes oyle chresme as an holy thing and necessary to saluation to the intent they them selues might therby be the better gresed auoynted Not long after the Emperour sent his letters to the princes that were absent especially vnto those where he thought most nede was commandeth them immediatly to obey this decre And the tēth day of Iuly he wryteth to Erasmus bishop of Strausburge to see the thinge which he had brought to passe through his great trauel put in execution if he wanted conueniēt ministers to take them els wher The report of this decree was incontinentlye spread abrode farre and wide And the Uenetians make proclamation the .xix. daye of Iuly that whosoeuer haue any bokes wherin is any thing wrytten against the catholicke faith they bringe them vnto certen men within .viii. daies for after shall inquisition be made and suche as haue deserued shal be punished to the promotours they promise a reward and to kepe their counsel The Bishop of Rome hath his ambassadours there continually as in kinges courtes also They with the eies and eares of many do se and heare muche and oftentimes are causes that such decrees be made but yet the Senate of Uenise vseth this prouision that they suffer not the Bishops or inquisitors of Rome to geue sentence of iudgemente but ioyne with them alwaies their officers and lawyers which shall heare the examination and se that nothing be done malitiouslye or cruellye against any man within their iurisdiction This law made they in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxi. what time those inquisitours vsed great cruelty against pore men in the countrye aboute Brixia as though they had bene inchauntors and had medled with the deuil and now sence Luthers doctrine was depely roted spred abrode the same law is of force stil though the bishops gnashe their tethe at it and wold neuer so fain haue it abolished About this time did the French King send aid into Scotland against the English men and amonges others the Ringraue with a force of Germaines But the Emperoure banisheth the Earle of Bichlinge Huberte and Sebastiane Scherteline al in one wryting and shortly after the Ringraue counte Hedecke Recrode and Riseberge and also desireth all foreine Princes that they would not maintaine them but gratify him herein and biddeth them whan occasion shal serue to loke for the like at his hand The Ladye Iane daughter to the King of Nauerre which was affianced and Maried .vii. yeres before to the Duke of Cleaue as we haue specified is now ioyned in Mariage with the Duke of Uandome a Prince of the bloud royal Elenor the French Quene sister to the Emperor leauing Fraūce goeth into Flaunders Duke de Ammalle sonne to the Duke of Guyse whan he had bene a longe suter to the Emperoures Nece the Duchesse of Lorayne he marieth the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Farrare About this time Lewes Auila a Spaniard setforth in print the history of the Germane warre done by the Emperoure wrytten in the vulgare tonge where he speaketh of the takyng of Marques Alberte at Rochlice he sayeth how he was so intangled with the wantounesse of women that he coulde not prosper The same booke came forthe afterwardes in Italian Latin and Frenche Althoughe the Emperoure had moste straightlye commaunded that no man should in any wise impugne the boke set forth concerning Religion yet were diuers wrytinges published whiche did condempne the whole Doctrine thereof and
made with his father And although the Emperour by letters and intermessēgers did greatly disswade them yet they neuerthelesse for that they thought it more expedient for their pourpose assente ther unto first in dede those that are of the Romishe Religion and the Lepontians and Ualesians and after also they of Basill the Schafusians wherat many men marueled greatly by reason of those forsayd proclamations and executions For moste men supposed that they ought not to enter into league and societie with him whiche so cruelly persecuted the true Religiō and cōdemned their churches and doctours by name But they of Bernes and Zurick followyng the counsel of Zwinglius as I haue shewed you in the third and sixt boke abstained frō this league The conuocation of Lipsia is before mentioned But where many sayd and complained that the Romish Religion was by litle and litle restored Duke Maurice the fourth day of Iuly addressing his letters to his lieftenauntes sayeth how he heareth that ther be many which partly for ouermuch carefulnes partly being so perswaded by others feare least the olde errours should one after an other be restored And that certen ministers of the churche with other busy braines and troublesome persones are not fre from this sclaūder He hath verely at sōdry times heretofore declared by opē wryting what his minde and purpose is and for those sclaunders doth repete the same againe to the intent he may shewe testifie that he hath an especial care of Religion Wherfore he desireth those which either for lightnes of belief or through the perswasiō of others do feare an alteration to lay al feare aparte and geue credit to this his wryting and testimonie And as cōcerning them that bring vp suche reportes let them not thinke to escape vnpunished if they so continue Howbeit out of the decree lately made at Lipsia were gathered certen chapters by his commaundement which should be taught and preached Let them inquire therfore and learne to vnderstand whether the ministers of the churche do followe this fourme or whether they reprehend the same in their sermons What so euer it be he commaūdeth thē to aduertyse him and if any doubtes shall aryse to repare to that diuines of Wittemberge and Lipsia and that these thinges be declared vnto the people In these daies departed the Lātgraues wyfe mother in lawe to Duke Maurice whiche pined awaye through care sorow for her husbandes imprisonment About this time the people rebelled in England for two causes One was for landes cōmons enclosed For the people complayned that the Nobilitie had taken in much groūd whiche before lay cōmon had inclosed imparked the same for dere for other priuate vses The others in Deuonshire demaūded thesame also but they were chiefly offēded with thalteratiō of religion wold haue the syx articles wherof is mētioned in the .xii. boke to be restored What tyme therfore they flocked together in armure and the matter was ful of daunger neither would admonitions take any place The kyng and his coūsel though moste vnwilling sende forth a force against them and disconfite thē in sondry places and certen thousandes were slayne The French King espiyng this occasion which gaped after Bolain that was lost prepareth an army spedely and partly by force partly by surrendrie taketh certain castels and fortes by sea coaste betwixt Bolain and Caleis and by that meanes putteth the soldiors of Bolain to an extremity The Lordes of England toke this misfortune most greuously and because the Lorde Protector the kinges vncle had the gouernmente the whole faulte was imputed to him that he had not in time furnished the places with things necessary This blame and enuy increasing daily the protector in the beginning of Octobre was by common assent of the nobles appreheded at Windsore where the king was at the same time and brought to the Towre of London prisoner The Lords afterward declare vnto the people the causes charge him with euil gouernement of the common wealth and setforth a proclamation of the same in Print wherunto for a further testimony euery mā subscribeth his name amonges the which Ihon Earle of Warwicke was principal In the meane while that the French king attempteth these thinges against the Englishmen themperour leadeth about his sōne throughe Flaunders Henault and Artois and sweareth the people to be true and loyall vnto him After they both retourne to Andwarp about the .viii. daye of Septembre There was themperors sonne receiued with Pageauntes and showes most sumptuous not only by the Townes men but also by marchaunts straungers Spaniardes Italians Germanes and English men After this accōpanied with his aunt the regent he goeth also into thother prouinces receiue theyr fidelity by an oth I tolde you before of the Senate of Strausburge how they sent an ambassadour to the Emperour to abate the controuersy they had with theyr Bishop wherefore by themperors permission there were chosen certain arbitrers on bothe parties Whan they were met in the monthe of October after long disceptation the Senate permitteth the Bishop .iii. Churches that he may establish therin Religion according to the decree lately made Moreouer he receiueth the Cleargye into his faithe and tuition The Bishop againe couenaunteth and graunteth to the Senate the Colledge of Saint Thomas for the maintenaunce of the schole and the rest of the churches The Cleargy also payeth to the Senate an yerely tribute some of mony in other thinges they obtain their immunity and fredome The Emperour setforthe proclamations against them of Maydenburge as I haue declared before and called on the states in Saxonye for aid many refused not so that thother states not only of Saxony but also of thempire would do the same The menne of Lubecke and Luneburge by consente of themperors deputies going to Maidenburge assaied to make a reconcilemente but all in vaine At that tune did no man impugne them openly but for so much as they were outlawed they were euermore in daunger nether might they withoute pearill of life and goods depart out of that city For it was lawful for euery man to trye fortune against them Therfore the Senate where they had before cōplaind of thiniuries of their neighbors by publicke letters Now they setforth another wryting vnto al men in general but chiefly to their next neighbors and say how they are selanderously reported as though they should arrogantly and proudly demeane thē selues against themperor thempire and that they should forsake peace wryte many contumelious things but herein they sustain great wrong for they do acknowledge Charles themperor for theyr supreme magistrate and haue opēly proclaimed that nothing be said a misse against him or any state nether is there anye other cause of displeasure say they than that we professe the Gospell and word of God for thother slaunders are deuised and forged by theyr enuemies howe desyrous they be of peace it
eldest sonne of the same name haue wandred vp down at most vncertenty for that they warred against themperor but all his landes and possessions by themperors permission had his sonnes Fridericke and Wuolfgange whiche were of a contrarye Religion Whan they came to the treaty the father accuseth them of moste ingratitude and all be it the Prynces laboured the matter diligently yet coulde there be nothing determined The xxv Booke of Sledaines Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte The Argument of the xxv Booke THe warre beginning in Piedmount Duke Moris and the Marques Albert being at desiaunce loyne in battell wherin Duke Moris was slaine but the Marques lost the field Augustus his brother succedeth Duke Moris Iohn Fridericke maketh reclaime to hys landes At this time are nine martirs executed at Lions The good king Edward of Englād being dead his sister Mary is proclaimed Quene and the Popish bishops restored to their dignity Marques Albert hauing lost the field against Henry Duke of Brunswicke surpriseth the towne of Holse After he is banished A disputation in England about the Sacramente of thaultare The Lady Iane which was proclaimed Quene is beheaded greate execution is done in England The blessed death of the Duke of Saxon and his wife Alberte again exiled worketh greate crueltye Marye Quene of Englande maried to kinge Phillip Cardinall Poole geueth full absolution to England An assemble at Auspurge Many excellente parsonages are condemned in Englande being wholy reconquested to the Pope TO the intent some remeady might be founde for these troubles and tumults in Germany the Emperour in the month of May calleth an assembly of thempire the xiii day of August And whan he had besieged the Citye of Terwen in the dominion of Fraunce from the end of Aprill The xx day of Iune he taketh it by an assaulte spoyleth burneth and raseth it down to the ground The Constable sonne was taken in the same The king of Englande sendinge an honorable ambassade by the space of certaine monthes intreated a peace The same did the bishop of Rome but that was in vain In the month of May Ihon Duke of Northumberlād which after the death of the Lord Protector the Kinges Uncle had the chief gouernment as before is saide marieth one of his Sonnes to the Lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady Fraunces whiche was Nece to Kinge Henrye the eighte by his Sister the Frenche Quene That time was Kinge Edwarde greuouslye sicke Than was it warre also in Piedmont and in the hither partes of Italy For the Emperour purposed to recouer Senes sendinge thither a power from Naples vnder the conduit of the Uiceroy Peter Toletane but wheras he died and the Turkish Nauy to the whiche the Prince of Salerne going out of Fraunce had ioyned him self was sailing on the Seas of Grece and Italy the soldiors retourned home to repulse the neare and domesticall daunger Marques Albert kepinge warre in Franconie Duke Moris and his fellowes send their army thither The Marques therfore leauing a garrison at Schuinfurt and other places whan he had euerye where exacted Monye hasted with greate expedition into Saxony leading away with him many pledges oute of the dominions of Norinberge and Bamberge captiues Whan he was cōmen to Arustet there were the ambassadors of Ihon Fridericke Duke of Saxon to intreat him that he would not hurte his country he promised right gently and kept it After marching into the limites of Erfurde he spoyleth there manye villages Duke Moris amased at his soden comming which had sente his armye into Franckonie as I saide commaundeth all his Nobility after also thother states to put on armure and hyreth as many as he coulde but the Marques passing through his countrye with oute doinge anye hurte whan he came to Halberstat he taketh the gates and imposeth to the Cleargye there a greate summe of Monye after that he burneth and destroyeth the Countrye of Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke beinge aided by Duke Ericke and the Nobilitye of Brunswicke The Duke of Brunswickes armye whiche I saide before was gone into Franckonie by the conduit of Phillip his Sonne whan they had attempted Schuinfurte in vaine and saw ther was pearill at home retourne into Saxonie likewise do the Souldioures of Duke Moris whereof the Earle Hedecke had the leading and ioyn with Duke Moris about Northuse And for so much as the Marques tourned downe into the prouince of Minden Duke Moris thinckinge that he woulde haue gone throughe Hesse and againe made inuasion into Franconie from Northuse marcheth to Embecke that he mighte preuente him Than in the ende ioyninge all his forces together he incampeth in the countrye of Hildesseme at Osterode and the first day of Iuly not only he but also the Chaūcelour of Boheme Henrye Plauie in kinge Fardinandoes name Proclaime warre againste him and sending abrode theyr letters Themperor say they in these former yeares hath by common assent and consent of the princes and states established peace throughe out the Empire and gaue commaundement that what action some euer any man had he should try it at the law and worcke no force nor violence And certainly the state of Germany which hath bene nowe certaine yeares nowe sore afflicted with Ciuill warres doth much require peace and quietnesse Wherfore what time there arose warre lately within the limits of the Empire kinge Ferdinando with the healpe of others indeuoured and toke paines that the warre was appeased And here in at the lengthe had the Princes consentes that were chiefe Captains of the warre and finally through the Emperoures permission concluded peace Wherin it was prouided amongs other thinges not only that nothing be done to the contrary but that suche also as be in dāger shuld be aided and assisted but that same peace did not Marques Albert refuse only but also did wryte openly to certen renowmed princes that the same tēded to the great reproche and dommage of Germany and was more worthye to be called a treason than a peace making By which wordes you declare sufficiently what minde you beare to your natiue country Again whā you had with spoyling and burning distroied the countrye that lieth by the Rhine wheras you had no good successe in Fraunce and themperor had an army prepared throughe intercession you were reconciled to him vpon respect only that he would confirme youre composition with the Bishops of Bamberge and Wirciburge But you straightwaies abusinge this confirmation of themperor who permitted you to shew no violence haue by youre ministers manye times put in feare either prelate with most terrible threatninges saying how you would inforce them by tharmies of the Earles of Mansfeld and Oldenburge to obserue their couenauntes as it is by your own mens letters to be proued And that also you mighte bring this to passe the soldiors which you discharged after the siege
kept with a great garrison This tyme the Frenche men going priuely out of Piedmount vpon the soden take Uercelles a towne of Turin whiche the Spanyardes kept But where they thought them selues hardly able to defend the same being so nere Millan and Gonzago the Emperours lieftenaunt approched also with a power they spoyled the towne and retourned home in due season laden with boties Not long after it was signified and written both from Uenise and other places of Solyman Emperour of Turkes who had hanged his eldest sonne Mustapha for suspicion of treason They reporte that the murther was committed through the procurement of his seconde wyfe whiche coueted to haue her sonne auaunced and to succede his father I haue spoken before of the Archebyshop of Cantorbury He and Quene Iane with thre sonnes of the Duke of Northumberlande being brought to the barre in the moneth of Nouember were cōdemned to suffer for treason but according to the custome of the Realme thei were caried again to pryson and through the intercessiō of certen were reserued Sebastian Scherteline of whome ofte mention is made for whose death the Emperour had appointed a great rewarde as in the last boke is declared was at this tyme reconciled to the Emperour and king Ferdinando and recouered all his goodes At the suite of the byshoppes and their consortes the iudges of the chamber imperiall with a solemne ceremonie the fyrste of December do outlawe Marques Albert of Brandenburg as a disturber of the publique quiet and of the Empire dispatching abroade their letters hither and thether and the same set vp openly and permitted his lyfe and goodes to be spoiled of al mē Duke Henry of Brunswicke leauing Counte Plauie at the siege of Blasseburg the sixt day of December goeth with his power to Schuinfurte whiche towne in dede being situated on the banke of the Riuer of Moene the Marques kept with a strong garrison The Duke had an ayde of Soldiours that came from Norinberge and Forcheme But Marques Albert suspectinge the matter firste what vitaile so euer was in places thereaboutes he brought it into the Towne after he burnte all the buildinges about it to the intent he might take away the occasion of besieging from the ennemie that tyme of the yeare Wherfore Duke Henry without any exploicte done hauinge lost also many of his men what tyme the Marques saleed out and fought retourneth home with no great company passing through the countrie of Iohn Fridericke without harme doing Whan Marques Albert vnderstode that he was outlawed by the chāber he sueth to the Emperour that he would reuerse the iudgement But he sayeth howe he may not let the execution of the lawe So than he refuseth the iudgement as corrupted with bribes and rewardes and maketh a protestation in a wryting set forth of the same But the iudges do commaūd the next prouinces of the Empire to se the thinge executed This tyme was holden in Englande a parliament of al the States of the Realme And for so muche as in kyng Edwardes tyme there were actes made of the Lordes supper of ceremonies of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the mariage of priestes of the election of Byshoppes of ordeining the ministers of the churche of the fourme of praying and of such other like thinges In this parliamēt it was enacted that those statutes should take no place but that all men should followe the same Religion whiche was obserued at the death of kyng Hēry Moreouer that no man should moleste or disquiet suche priestes and ministrs of the churche as shal be ordeined hereafter Furthermore the diuorcement of Quene Katherine the Quenes mother is pronoūced to haue bene onlawfull Finally there was debated amonges the Nobles concerning the Quenes mariage and a greed that she should be espoused to the Emperours sonne king Philippe Of whome there went a report before that he should marie his Cosin daughter to Emanuell king of Portugale and to his aunte Elenore Whan this was agreed vpon the Emperour sendeth for Cardinall Poole The cause why the Emperour would haue hym to staie in Germany was this as many supposed least he being of the bloud roiall and well beloued in his countrie should haue bene some let to the mariage In stede of those Byshoppes whiche I sayd before were thrust in prison were created others at this tyme. For the full confirmation of the Matrimony the Emperour sent a moste honorable Ambassade into Englāde which might affiaunce Quene Mary to kyng Philippe being absent The chief Ambassadour was Counte de Egmonde They arriuinge at London about the beginning of Ianuary after they had treated of the matter a fewe dayes bryng it to passe The commons of the Realme toke this matter moste greuously and diuerse also of the Nobilitie and laiyng their heades together do rebelle The chiefe authour and rynge leader hereof was syr Thomas Wiat. Who reysing a rebellion in Kente made greuous and bitter orations against the Quene and her counsell how through the mariage of a straunger they wyll procure to the Realme of Englande a perpetuall and moste miserable bōdage and seke also that the true Religion being extinguished they may agayne establishe papistrie And Kente is a countie by the sea coaste nexte vnto Fraunce by reason of the citie of Cantorbury right famouse The brute of this commotion was brought to London the .xxv. daye of Ianuary and not long after was heard also of Henry the Duke of Suffolke who reysed vp men in Lecester shyre Wherfore the Quene assembleth what power she coulde ouer whome she maketh generall Thomas the Duke of Norfolke lately deliuered out of prison Who about the ende of the same moneth meting with his enemies at Rochester bridge being forsaken of his soldiours was faine to saue himselfe by flight and with much payne came to London Wherfore amongest these tumultes the Emperours Ambassadours to mitigate the rebellion for their own daunger together the first day of February take shipping depart And the same daie came the Quene into the citie of London making in her oration a greuous complaint against Wiat declareth what his intent is and what loue she beareth vnto them and sayeth howe she hath determined nothing of her mariage without the consent of her counsell For she hath liued a good part of her tyme a mayden and doteth not so of mariage but that she would remayne in the same kynde of lyfe styll in case her Nobles and commons iudged mete that it shoulde so bee For that the Realme should be in daunger bycause of her mariage and that all should be ful of slaughter it should be to her moste greuous Wherfore let them perseuer in doinge theyr dutie and assiste her in reuenging the treason of wicked persons For this is their dutie to doe whiche haue commaunded her as the lawefull heyre of her father by common assente to bee Quene Whan she had on
to aduertise me plainly by the bearer hereof Moreouer that according to thauncient custome and pacification of Passaw my ambassadors which shal come to the next assemble of thempire may haue safeconduit Unto this was made answer how the horsmen that were sente to the frontiers of Loraine concerned none iniury towardes him but was done for this intent that in case Marques Albert should make anye sodaine inuasion his enterprise mighte be disapoynted touching his Ambassadoures and the safeconduit for so muche as they haue no commission hereof they will aduertise theyr princes and distrust not but they will do herein that shall be reasonable About th end of Octobre themperor geueth ouer to his sōne Phillip the Dukedome of Millan sendinge messagers to inuest him herein with accustomed Ceremonies The French kinge leuiynge his siege from Rentie as before is said and not long after discharging the Swisses he placed the reast of his soldiors in garrisons And themperor not far from Hesdine which in the yeare before he toke and ouerthrew as is said espying a place conuenient began a new fortification of a Towne and to thintent he might bringe it to passe he maintaineth an army whiche in the monthe of Nouembre destroyeth all Picardy with spoyling and burning as farre as Amias Wherefore the whole force and violence of the warre lighted vppon the pore and miserable people on either side Afterwarde themperor discharging the reast of his armye interteined still a legion or two for him self The same time the French king sēt a new power into Italy and amonges others certaine Almaignes to relieue them of Senes whome the Emperors force and the dukes of Florence besieged hotely At the .xii. day of Nouembre was holden a Parliament in England For the which Cardinall Poole comming oute of Brabant wheras certen ambassadors were commen out of England to cōduit him and amonges them the Lord Paget the xxiii of Nouembre he came to London being right honorably receiued in all places whersoeuer he came and was immediatly restored to his blud and house of inheritance with common assent and consēt from the which king Henry the eight had displaced him The v. day after he came into the Parliament house and in the presence of king Phillip and the Quene whā he had shewed the cause of his ambassade he exhorteth them to return to the cōmunion of the church restore to the most holy father the bishop of Rome his due authority who wil graunt vnto thē all clemency gentlenes he admonisheth thē also to geue God thankes which hath geuen them such a king a Quene Finally wher they haue restored him to his house inheritance he taketh it for a very great benefit and saith he is so much the more boūden to restore them again to the heauēly court and coūtry which he wisheth most of al other things Whē he had spokē to this effect he goth a part Ther the bishop of Winchester being Chancelor repeting his oration and with many words exhorting thē to vnity and concord saith they are boūden to geue God great thankes who of his vnspeakable mercy hath raised them vp a prophet of their owne sede whiche is that most honorable Cardinall which is wholy inclined vnto their saluation The next day when the Nobility and commons had approued thoration requests of cardinal Poole there was drawne a fourme of a petition wherin they beseche the King and the Quene that they would make intercession to him The some of that supplication was this How it repented them sore of the scisme for that they haue denied their obedience to the Apostolicall seat and that they haue consented to the decrees made against the same but from henceforth they wil be at the commaundemente of him and the Quene and will do all that euer they can that all such lawes and statutes may be abrogated the same Parlament Wherfore they mooste humbly beseche theyr highnesse that they wold be meanes and bring to passe that being absolued from the sinnes and censures whith they haue committed againste the lawes of the Church they may be receiued again as penitent children into the bosome of Christes church that from henceforth they may serue God in the obedience of the sea and Bishoppes of Rome to the glorye of his name and increase of theyr owne saluation An other day whan the King and the Quene and Cardinall Poole were present the Chaunceloure standeth vp and pronounceth openly what the states had determined concerninge the request of the Bishoppe of Romes Legate Afterwarde dothe he exhibite the supplication aforesaide comprised in wrytinge and subscribed to the Kinge and the Quene beseching them to receiue it They when they had opened it deliuer it againe to the Chaunceloure to reade Than he demaundeth of all the companye whether they be contente herewith whiche whan they hadde affirmed the Kinge and the Quene arrise and deliuer it to the Cardinal Whan he had red it he exhibiteth vnto them the letters of his commission And than were the same red that all men mighte perceiue that he had authority geuen him by the Bishop of Rome to assoile them After he maketh an oration and declareth howe acceptable a thing vnto God is repentaunce and how much thaungels in heauen reioyse for a penitent sinner and alledging for the purpose manye examples geueth God thanckes which hath put in them a minde desirous of amendement This done he arriseth likewise do the King and the Quene and knele down vpon theyr knees There he than calling vppon the high power and mercy of God besecheth him to loke mercifully vppon the people and pardone their offences And affirming him self to be sent therfore from the highe Bishop Christes vicar to geue them absolution lifting vp and stretching forth his hand as their manner is blesseth the whole multitude and assoileth them After this they go to the chappell Here was geuinge thanckes vnto God playing of the Organes sounding of trōpets and all tokens shewed of mirth and gladnesse as at such times is accustomed They that knew Cardinal Poole before by his talke and manner of liuing marueled much at this his doing and loked for other manner of stuffe at his hand The xviii day of Decembre themperor addressing his letters frō Bruissels vnto all the states of thempire Upon how waighty and vrgēt causes saith he Marques Albert the last yere was outlawed by the iudges of the chābre condemned of treason you haue had certen knowledge by the letters which than was set vp openly and those also which came frō vs afterward And for so muche as he perseuereth obstinatelye in his troublesome and seditious purposes and vndoubtedly goeth about more mischief to thintent he may vexe and plage again oure natiue country of Germany Again forasmuch as he hath hys recourse into sondry places ther which he taketh for starting holes refuge as I am credily informed I thought it necessary for the
his wyfe Iohn Alasco Ecclesiastical lawes in Englande The Lady Elizabeth coÌ„mitted to that Tower The siege of Senes The death of Wiat. A ParlameÌ„t in England Thassemble of Auspurge A wrytinge of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. The cruell actes of Marques Albert. Marques Al. goeth to Suinfort His flight The death of Charles D. of Sauoy The letters of king Fardinando to his subiectes of the Lords Supper The states make aswer to that Kinges letters Thabbot of Newstat accused of Herisye Interrogatories ministred to him The frencheÌ„ Kinge muadeth themperours countries Mariburge taken Kinge Phillip arriueth in England The frenche kinges letters Thempeor geueth to his sonne Phyllip the dukedom of Millan Cardinall Poole arriueth in England England returneth to her vomit The Cardinal geueth that Lordes absolution The Emperors letters against Marques Albert. Thimperial counsell of Auspurge 1555. Fiue coÌ„deÌ„nd at London for the Gospell The ministers exiled out of Boheme Ioy at Rome for England reduced to that Romishe Church IndulgeÌ„ces graunted by the Pope for the conuersion of Englande Melancthon comforteth the ministers of Boheme The towne of Cassalle taken by the Frenchmen An assemble of the Princes of Saxonie at Numburge The letters of the Princes of Saxony to themp The Archbyshop of MeÌ„tz dieth The death of Pope Iuly the third Marcellus the second choseÌ„ They of Sene rendre them selues to Themp. Marcellus the second dieth Paule the fourth The secte of Iesuites The trauell of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene them perour and FreÌ„ch king A place of yâ— treaty of peace chosen by the Quene of England The Empe. letters to the states of the Empire The Duke of Alba sent to Millan Bradforde burnt in Englande Iohn Friderick thelect sonne marieth The Empe. mother dieth A tumult raised at Geneua Porte Hereules taken by Imperials PluÌ„bine besieged of Turkes Controuersie for the dominion of the Chattes Uulpian vitayled Maryburg vnailed The FreÌ„che kinges proclamation against the coÌ„demned of that inquisitours The Lucernates require of that Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell The Nauie of the kinge of DeÌ„marke Sanstorian Camillus Cardinalles led into pryson The Spanishe flete intercepted by the French King Philip came out of England to his father at Brusselles An vniuersitie erected at Dillinge A boke of Peter Asot against the coÌ„fession of the Duke of wirtemberge George Erle of Mount pelicarte marieth that Lantgraues daughter Uulpian taken and rased by the Frenchmen Mountcalue is taken by that Frenchmen The controuersie about the Lordes supper is renewed by that bremers August prince Electour had a sonne borne Ridley Latimer burnt in England Thanswere of the Parliament of Paris to that kinges proclamatioÌ„ of Lutherians Note howe byshops seke authoritie of kinges to coÌ„demne innocentes The meting of Princes about ytâ—aÌ„tgrauet matter The Emre Charles geueth the gouernemeÌ„t to his Sonns Philip. Whether peace should be geuen to Religion or no A wrytinge of the Papistes to requestes of that Protestauntes The office of Archebysh The answer of the Protestauntes to that wryting of the Papistes A wryitng of king Ferdinando to the Princes The bishops whiche chaunge their religion shuld lose their promotions a decrewher by religioÌ„ is frely permit to all men An ecclesiastical person that chaungeth his Religion shal be depriued For churchs goodes al coÌ„trouersies ar taken away The ecclesiasticall lawes shall not be exercised against the protestauntes A parliameÌ„t in England Libelles strowed about in London The byshop of Winchester dieth The wife of Iohn Friderick dieth Frances Uenery displaced Ambassad to the Princes of Germany An assemble in Austriche Iohn Gropper Cardin. King Philip entreth into Andwerpe Thambassadours of Austrtche require of kynge Ferdinando that the true ReligioÌ„ may be permitted them Truce takeÌ„ betwene the Emperour the kynge of Fraunce The answer of king Ferdinando to that Ambassa of the house of Austriche He meaneth the Emper. Sigismonde that burnte Iohn Husse The Ambassadours answer to Ferdinando The answer of king Ferdinando Duke HeÌ„ry of BruÌ„swick marieth a wyfe The byshop of Treuers dieth Fredericke Counte Palatine dieth The Duke of Pruse professeth the coÌ„fession of Auspurge A Camete sene Tharchebyshop of Cantorbu burnt for Religion The Bauarians sollicite their Prince forreligioÌ„ A father killeth his thre children The Pope toke displeasauntly that peace was geuen to religion Kyng Ferd goeth in to Boheme The Duke of Arescot brake out of pryson The Cardinall of Auspurg pourgeth himself by wryting sinisire suspicious spred of the Card. of Auspurg The pourgation of that Cardinall of Auspurg against the suspicious of certen A sclaunder deuised against certi Princes The Pope had no conference with that Emperour against religion or the libertie of Germany The Cardinall of Anspurg addicts to the olde Religion The good will of the Cardinall of Anspurg towardes the duke of Wirtemberg The loue of that Cardinall of Auspurge towardes that Germaines CommotioÌ„s in England for suspicion of a conspiracie Sir Peter Carrowe Syr Iohn Cheke takeÌ„ prisoners Xiii burnt at Stretford at the bewe The Marq. of Baben receiueth the Gospell Peter Martyr goeth to Zurick Cardinalles sent from that Pope to the Emper. and the Frenche kyng Counsell begon at Regenspurg Buda in Latin The Empe. goeth in to Spain with both his sisters Iohn Sleydane dieth
that there be no fraude vsed towardes the preuileges and liberties of thempire that he impose no custome or droicte with out the assent of thelectours neither that through his letters he diminish the custome of thelectors that dwell by the Rhine If he haue any action agaynst any man that he shall trye the lawe and vse no force to suche as will aunswere to the lawe but stande to the ordre of lawe The goodes of the Empire whiche shall chaunce to be vacant he shall geue away to no man but a lotte them to the publicke Patrimonye If he shall wynne any foreine countrey throughe the aide of the states of Germany he shal annexe it to thempire if he shal recouer any publike thinge by his owne force and power he shall restore the same to the common welth that he shall ratifie that which was done in the vacation of thempire by the countie Palatine and the Duke of Saronie That he take no counsel to vnite Thempire to his house and posteritie as his propre inheritaunce but that he leaue to the seuen Princes fre Election according vnto the lawe of Charles the fourth prescript of the Canon lawe if he do any thinge otherwise to be frustrate and of none effect That so shortly as may be he repaire into Germany to be inuested What time the Ambassadours had approued these thinges with an othe in his name they deliuered vnto eche of the electors writinges therof sealed That whiche is here spoken of the Cannon lawe is conteined in the Epistle decretall of Innocentius the thyrde which testifieth that the seuen Princes electours haue fre authoritye to create themperor And that thempire goeth not by succession but by election Which Innocētius liued about the yere of our Lord M.ii. C. Nowe let vs retourne to Luther About this same time Erasmus of Roterdam wrote letters from Andwarp to Frederick Duke of Saxonie wherein amonges other thinges he maketh mention of Luther saying that his bokes are ioyfullye receiued and red of good and well learned men and moreouer that his life is of no man reprehended for that it is farre from all suspicion of auarice or ambition But that the deuines of Louain hearinge that he is greatly oppressed with thaucthoritie of the Cardinall Caietan do nowe triumphe And in all theyr sermons and bankettes raile vpon him callynge him Heretike and Antichrist declaringe with mo wordes the same to be much contrary to theyr profession so to slaunder any man before he be comiicte of Heresye He wryteth also in a maner with the same woordes to the Archebishop of Mentz and to Cardinall Campegius tauntyng these sophisticall Diuines and Monkes whiche can not abide the studye of tonges and of eloquens nor of any good learnynge He writeth also to Luther very frendly from Louain and sayth howe he hath receyued receiued his epistle whiche declareth both the excellencie of his witte and also his christian hert shewinge him what a Tragedie his bokes haue styrred vp their and what hatred and suspicion he ronneth into of the Diuines and that he can preuaile nothinge by excusynge the the matter And howe there be many in Englande of great Estimation whiche thinke rightwell of his workes And that he himselfe hath tasted of his Cōmentaries vpō the Psalmes trusteth that they shall profit many for they like him very well but of one thing he would admonishe him that a man shall more preuaile with a certeine ciuile modestie then if he be to vehement And that he muste rather thunder against them which abuse the bishop of Romes authoritie then against the Bishoppes themselues with certeine other good counsels whiche he gaue him exhorting him to procede as he hath begonne Luther hauing thus manye aduersaries there was a disputation appoynted at Lypsia a towne of Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxonie Uncle to duke Friderike Thither came Luther Melanthon which read the Greeke Lecture at Wittenberge Thither came also Iohn Eccius a Diuine bothe stoute and bolde who the fourth day of Iulye began the disputation with Luther touching the supremacie of the bishop of Rome affirming that they which said that the church of Rome was not the fyrst and chiefest of all others euen before the time of Ciluester did erre for he that hathe the Seate and faith of Peter was euer taken for his successour and Christes Uicar in earthe For Luther had setforth one contrary to the same that suche as dyd attribute the supremacie to the Churche of Rome did ground themselues onely vpō the Bishoppes decrees whiche were made foure hundreth yeres syns Which decrees are cōtrary to all Histories written a thousande yeres past contrary to the holy scripture and to the counsell of Nice most famous of all others But Eccius mainteyneth the supremacie of the Bishoppe of Rome and called Luther which dissented from the same a Bohemer because Iohn Husse was in times past of the same opinion Luther aunswereth that the Churche of Christe was spreade abroade farre and nere twentie yeres before Peter came to Rome to establishe the Churche there therfore is it not the fyrst nor the chiefest by the law of God as he saieth then they disputed of Purgatory of Indulgēces of Penaunce of Remission of synne and of the authoritie of Priestes And ended their disputation the fourteneth day of Iuly whiche was not appointed for Luther but for Andrewe Carolostadius Eccius But Luther comming onely for the company of Carolostadius and to here was drawen forth by Eccius which had got him a saufe cōduict of Duke of George so that he muste nedes dispute For Eccius was of a lustie courage by reason of the matter it selfe Wherein he thoughte him selfe assured of the victorye At the whiche disputation Luther set forth afterwardes And of the wordes wrytinges of his aduersaries throughe his wittye obseruation he collected diuerse articles of doctrine altogether as he termeth them hereticall to thintent he mighte playnely declare howe they whilest they speake and write all thinges in the fauor of the Bishop of Rome and of a desyre to maynteine theyr cause straiynge farre a broade do confounde most thinges which beynge nerer looked to conteyne ofte tymes great errours wickednes At the same tyme Ulrichus Zwinglius taught at Zuricke and shortly after the Byshop of Rome sent thither a Pardoner one Sampson a Graye Frere of Millan to gather vp money whom Zwinglius stoutly resisteth declarynge him to be a disceyuour of the people ¶ The seconde Booke of Sleidans Commentaries ⧠The argument of the seconde Booke AT the motion of Charles Miltice Luther wryteth to the Pope and dedicateth vnto him a Boke of the Christian Libertie Themperour hauynge passed throughe Englande came into his lowe countreyes Luther writeth a Boke of Fouretene Images of consolation of confession of Uowes prouyng that the Lordes Supper ought to be permitted to all mē vnder both kyndes There was obiected the Counsell of Laterane vnder Iuly the .ii.
he gaue the glory vnto God By the way he wrote to thēperour and to the residew of the Princes states repeting the whole actiō at few words requiring thē that for so much as he hath euer wil seke a quiet agrement desireth nothing els but that the matter maye be indifferently heard iudged by Scripture they wold defende him frō the force of his enemies for that it is not his priuate cause but cōmō to al the world namely Germany whose weale he estemeth more thā his life For as muche as oftentimes mention hath bene made of Husse of the Counsell of Constaunce and of the Bohemers I shall brieflye declare the matter Iohn Wickliffe liued in Englande about the yere of our Lord M. CCC .xciij. Who wrote many thinges agaynst the See of Rome which were brought afterwardes into the lāde of Boheme Prage was thē a noble Uniuersitie And there flourished Iohn Husse a Doctor of Diuinitie who in his lectures and sermons set forthe and taught Wicliffes doctrine to be holesome and godly beyngt accused of the same to the Byshoppe of Rome Alexander the fyfte he is cited He by his procurers sheweth causes why he coulde not come Wencelaus also the king entreateth for him and requireth that he would send his Legates into Boheme to vnderstand the matter but that was in vaine Wherefore Husse condemned at Rome for an Heritike setteth forthe a writing wherin he appealeth from the Bishoppe to the Iudge Christ The church of Rome was that time full of trouble for the Cardinals beyng deuyded had chosen three Byshoppes at once Gregory the .xij. Benedicte the .xiij. and Iohn the .xxiij. Which thinge Themperor Sigismside other kynges were right sory for And caused Bishop Iohn to sommon a counsell at Constance And Sigisinunge the brother of kynge Wencelaus called thither Iohn Husse sendyng him a safe conduicte in moneth of Octobre in the yere M. CCCC.xiiij Whereupon Husse accompanied with diuerse gentlemen come vnto Constance the thirde day of Nouembre But three weekes after when he came to the priuate talke of the Bishop and his Cardinalles he was deteined prisoner Thēperour was then absent which beyng certified of the thing came thyther in greate displeasure But when they had borne him in hande that there is no promise to be kept with Heretikes he was not onely content albeit that the Bohemers made oftentimes greate sute to him not to kepe his promise but also was the fyrst that spak bitterly against him Finally the syxt day of Iuly in the yere followynge the Synnode condemned him as an Heretike and a sedicious parson his his workes also to be bursit And thus beyng condemned he was deliuered to thēperour and burned And his ashes were cast into the riuer of Rhine lest any reliques of him shold remayne After him Hierome of Prage a Scolar of his was in lyke maner executed In this Counsell besydes Themperour were the Ambassadours of sondry kynges thre Princes Electours Lewes countie Palatine Raffe duke of Saxonie and Fridericke Marques of Brandenburge And a greate numbre of other Princes Three Patriarches of Aquileia Antioche and Cōstantinople .xxviij. Cardinalles and an Civ Byshops Diuines Lawiers very many Italians Germaines Frēchmen Englishmē Hūgariās Polonians Here was the doctrine of Wicliffe condemned a decree made that his body in Englande should be taken vp and brent Furthermore it was decreed that priestes onely should receiue the hole supper of the Lord al others to be content with one kind Which thinge Husse had impugned There was also a lawe made that there should be no promise kepte with Heretikes or suspected of Heresye albeit that they came to the counsell to be examined by the Emperours saufeconduicte Fynally the three Byshoppes were deposed and by cōmon assent was chosen Martin the fyfte of that name Whan it was reported in Boheme of the death of Husse and Hierome there arose a tumulte and after also a verye bloudy and crewell warre by the conduicte of Iohn Zischa in so muche that Sigysmunde was constrayned to require the aide of the Empire But their moste crueltie was wrought against pristes for the hatred of the Bishop of Rome whose tirranny they had shaken of and receiued the doctrine of Husse About this time the Diuines of Paris condemned Luthers Bokes gatheryng out of the same certein titles as be these of the Sacramentes of thecclesiastical lawes of vowes of contrition absolution satisfaction Purgatory frewyll and suche like admonishyng all men that professe Christ to beware of suche Heretykes which vnder flattering wordes exhibite present poyson as Wiclyffe Husse and Luther as thoughe it were like that they could see more then all others or that it were to be thoughte that Christe woulde haue suffered his onelye spouse to haue wandered so longe in the darkenes of Errours And so in recytyng of his bokes they shew in which opinions what Heretikes Luther foloweth wherfore say they seyng it apperteyneth chiefly to our professiō to suppresse the errours that spring vp finding his doctrine to be pernicious we cōdēne his Bokes to be brent him self to be forsed to recāt To this decree of theyrs aunswereth Philip Melanchthon and after that Luther him selfe but skoffyngly Notwithstandyng the Diuines of Paris take vpon them herin to be the chiefe in all Europe they haue two principall Colledges Sorbone and Nauare The Bachelars of Diuinitie are exercised in disputations all the somer time by the space of .xij. houres must they answere to all mēs argumētes Here be maruelous cōtentions for the most part either of very trifles or of thinges farre exceadyng mans capacitie they be clamorous aboue measure but their strife is cōmonly ended by the hissyng clapping of theyr Auditors what time the one of the disputers is either to fōde or to tedious The Doctors of Diuinitie stāde in the latesse windowes hearkē they are called magistri nostri they be the Cēsours iudges of all doctrine plainely possesse a kingdō For no man dare publishe any thing touching Diuinitie but through their permission Leo the .x. had already made a league with the Swyses that if he had nede at any time he shold haue theyr aide The kīg of Fraūce in like case which before had cōcluded a peace with thē laboured thē to aide him with mē for his mony Zwinglius in his sermons diswaded them from the same declaringe vnto them howe vile and howe wicked a thing it is to serue a foreine Prince for money he exhorted them therfore to folow the frugalitie of their elders whiche kepte cattel and occupied husbandry and yet had done many goodly exploictes but all this was in vaine For the chiefe of them corrupted wyth bribes perswaded the reste to make a league also with the kinge and aide him with men Saue they onely of Zuricke perswaded by Zuinglius refused it and made an othe that they would
nothyng ought to be taught and such places of Scripture as appeare to be some what obscure can not be better expouÌ„ded than by other more manifest places of the same Scripture therfore wyll they dwell herein endeuourynge that the bookes of the olde and newe Testament may be taught syncerely and playnly For this is the onely meane and waye that is euermore certayne sure And as for mens tradicions they are grounded on a weake foundation The decree of the last assemblie was enacted for peace and concorde but in case this decree should take effecte it would opeÌ„ the waye to muche trouble and displeasure for euen nowe all be it the decree of Wormes was suspended doe some Princes seke to make some of their subiectes to forfyte their goodes for not obseruyng that decree where of men may easely coÌ„iecture what wyll insewe if the same decree shal nowe take place agayne and that some of them wyl vse force and coÌ„pelle men to suche thinges as can not be done with a saufe conscience But that is not well spokeÌ„ that the fourmer decree was penned with suche wordes as many did abuse the same thyng tyl the counsell were called they myght doe what they lyste this is bruted of them chieflye whiche are lytle afrayde of the last iudgement whan all thynges shal come to lyght for their partes they wyll not refuse to aunswer before indiferent iudges to suche as wyll saye that they haue in anye poynte broken the same decree Whiche thynges standyng thus they can not consent to this their decree And howe they wyll aunswere the matter both openly before all men and also to the Emperour hym selfe And in the meane tyme tyll eyther a generall or els a prouinciall counsell of Germany shal be called they wyll do nothyng that shall deserue iuste reproufe Unto this protestation of Prynces certen of the chief cities laying their heades together did subscribe as Strausborough NoreÌ„berge Ulmes Constance Rutelinge Winsseme Meminge Lindane Campedune Hailbrune Isne Wysseburge Norling and Sangall And this is in dede the first original of the name of ProtestauÌ„tes which not only in Germany but also emonges foreyn nations is nowe coÌ„mon and famous Ferdinando was departed out of the assemblie of Princes before thei had protested notwithstanding that the Duke of Saxon and his felowes required him to tary a litle After this the protestantes deuise a certen appellation wherein they doe appeale from the decree made at Spires vnto the Emperour to the next lawful general or prouinciall counsell of Germany and to all iudges that be not suspected and determined also to sende Ambassadours to the Empeperour Not long after this the men of Zurick and Bernes sent forth their armies against their ennemies of the fiue townes that made league with Ferdinando declaryng why they so did by wryting And emonges sondry causes and iniuries whiche they recite this is one that what tyme certen of their Citezens came for money that was dewe vnto them the Snites whypped them naked and the UnterualdiaÌ„s had in despyte hanged vp their Armes and also the Armes of the Cities of Basil and Strausborough vpon the gallous and howe they haue all ioynctely made a league wyth kynge FerdinaÌ„do to oppresse Religion and to roote them out of the couÌ„trey wherby they haue not onlye infringed the lawe of nature but also broken the bondes that were betwene them in conspiring with their moste vtter and mortall ennemie whome to subdue they haue long and many yeares euen froÌ„ the first beginning of their league with one assent ioyned together al their force and power When both armies were ready to ioyne in battel by the mediation of their neyghbours and by them of Strausborough the matter was taken vp FerdinaÌ„do had sent theÌ„ ayde which came as farre as the Rhine emoÌ„ges other thinges it was agreed vpoÌ„ that they should haue no warre for religion and that from henceforth they should absteyne from all opprobriouse wordes vnder a great penaltie The Frenche kynge consyderynge the state of his chyldren whiche he had lefte pledges in Spayne and what euyll successe he had of his warres in Italye hauynge loste bothe his Armie and also his chieftayne Latrechus And more ouer Androwe de Aure of Genes a Captaine of the Sea moste skylfull who about the same tyme that Lantrech the Coronell dyed reuolted from the Frenche kyng to the Emperour restoryng his countrey vnto lybertie he inclined hys mynde to peace Wherfore at Cambrey a Cytie in Artoys mette the Ladye Margaret the Emperoures Aunte and Ales the kynges mother and many other Nobles and emonges others Erarde Marchiane Cardinall and Byshop of Liege whyche concluded a peace in the moneth of Auguste wherein they recite the decree which was made thre yeare before in Spayne agaynste the Lutherians whiche they newely ratified the other conditions were partely altered For the Emperour permitteth the Frenche kyng to inioye Bourgundy in case he haue a sonne by his sister And the kyng paieth vnto the Emperour for the delyuery of his sonnes tweÌ„ty hoÌ„dreth thousand crownes accompting herein the debte dewe to the kyng of Englande Not loÌ„g after the Emperoure imbarked hym selfe in Spayne and arryued at Genes At what time also Soliman the Emperour of Turkes by the prouocation of Iohn Uaynode made by his Ambassadour Hierome Laske a Hongarian a man of an excellent wytte marcheth with an armie innumerable through HoÌ„gary into Austrice and in the moneth of Septembre layeth sege to Uienna the chief citie of that countrey He assayed to vndermyne it and where as he had ouerthrowen the walles he gyueth the assaulte desperatly but seynge the Souldioues of the garnyson whiche were Germaines whose chief captaine was Philip the Palsgrane defendyng the breache moste valiauntly by the space of one moneth about the eight day of Octobre he raised his siege and departed without his purpose many thousandes of meÌ„ in his retourne partely slayne and partly lead away into myserable and vyle captiuitie At his departure he created the Uayuode kynge at Buda This yeare also was Germany sore afflicted with a newe kynde of disease called the Sweathing sicknes Men were sodainly takeÌ„ with a pestilent sweate and within foure and twenty howres eyther they died or amended And before the remedye was knowen many thousandes peryshed It began at the Ocean sea and in a very small tyme spred ouer all Germany and with vnspeakeable spede lyke a fyre conâ—â—med all thynges farre and nere it is called in Germany the English sickenes For in the first yeare of Henry the seuenth kyng of England whiche was the yeare of our Lorde M cccc lxxxvj the same death began in that Ilande and because in a new disease the remedy was not knowen it made a wounderful destruction Moreouer this yere was small plenty of wyne and corne wherfore all those thynges whiche God in his displeasure is wonte to caste vpon vnthankefull people sedition warre sycknes
fore any communication be had or the waye prepared wherfore that whiche pleased all men at Franckefurte semeth nowe best vnto them also that in case a conuocation of Germany can not be had a communication myght be appointed For in their iudgement there can no better way be founde as they declared also of late to Counte Nuenar wherein they truste that holy Scripture euen by his commaundement shall occupie the chief place and that whan their aduersaries shall swarue from the same they maye be called agayne into the waye And albeit they maye not go thether without makinge their fellowes priuie to it and the tyme is so shorte that they can not assemble before yet whan the thing shal be cōmenced and that there shal be any hope to do any good there they wyll not let to come thether in persone Requiring hym that he would graunte the saue conduicte whiche he promysed not onlye to their Ambassadours but to their deuines also For as muche as they shal haue moste to doe in this matter laste they desyre to vnderstande his pleasure herein I tolde you before of Cardinall Farnesius he went with the Emperour from Paris in to flaunders scarsely yet come to mans state In so muche that the Emperour toke it in very euill part that the Byshop had not sent some man of rype yeares and counsell What tyme therfore they did consulte of Religion and the Turkish warre and Granuellan had spoken his mynde at the laste the young Cardinall in the presence of the Emperour and king Ferdinando said his fantasie inueighing chiefly againste the Lutherianes throughout his whole oration And amonges many other thinges he sayd it could not well be discerued whether were more against Christe the Protestantes or the Turkes For the one of them shewe their crueltie onlye against the body but the others drawe the soules also into euerlasting perdition Farnesius had ioyned with hym Marcellus Ceruinus byshop of Nicastre as gouernour of all his counselles who in the same legacie was made Cardinall This Oration of Farnesius coming abroade a fewe monethes after was set forth in prynte and Iohn Caluine made a comentary to it leste any man should mistake it At this tyme the Duke of Cleaue came to the Emperour to be at a point with him for the possession of Gelderlande but it woulde not be And therfore returnyng home agayne he began to consulte with the Frenche kynge For whan he was out of hope to recouer Millan the Emperour offering hym suche condicions as he woulde lyttle haue thought he tourned his mynde wholly from his frendshyp yet couertly and complayned that he was so farre abused And than began to mislyke the Constable whiche had put hym in this great hope was the cause that the Emperour passed through Fraunce and could neuer abyde hym after where before he did all thynges When he therfore sought all meanes priuelye howe to moleste the Emperour and the Duke of Cleaue was not able to susteyne so great a sute and displeasure alone they beganne to entre into mutuall bandes of amitie The Frenche kyng had a nece the lady Iane daughter to his syster Margarete Quene of Nauarre of eleuen yeares of age the greatest inheriter in all Fraunce both of an excellent beaultie and well brought vp vnto whose frendes the kyng made sute especially to the Quene his sister that she myght be maried to the Duke of Cleaue brought it to passe as shal be recited in his place At this tyme dyd the Byshop of Rome warre vpon the Perusians for that they refused to pay a certen custome for salte and other thynges that he had reysed vpon them And so brought the citie vnder his iurisdiction And for a like cause expulsed Ascanius a man of great power of the house of Columnois out of all his dominions The Cardinall Farnesius hauing done his commission seyng the peace did not take effecte betwixt the Emperour the Frenche kyng And also vnknowen to hym a daye was assigned at Hagenaw for the Protestauntes to decide their cause in he departed out of Flaūders came to Paris about the Ides of May. And at the feaste of Pentecoste in the Cathedral churche there he consecrated Anthony Uncle to madame Destampes the kynges darlinge Cardinall of Medone setting vpon his head a purple hatte latelye brought from Rome And salutyng the kyng by the waye he goeth with great spede to Rome Afterwarde kyng Ferdinando toke his iourney from Brusselles to goe to the assemblie at Hagenaw for it could not be holden at Spyres by reason of the plague Unto this assemblie the Frēche kyng also sente Lazarus Baysius by the aduyse of the Emperour for eyther of them dissembled theyr grief and the matter was hetherto handled with flatteryng wordes And the first daye of Iune the kyng of Fraunce set forth a sore proclamation against the sowers abroade of Heresie and the false doctrine of Luther and his companions And the twelfthe daye after the same was imprinted and proclaimed at Paris Aboute this tyme the kynge of Englande beheaded the Lorde Cromwell whome he had from lowe degree auaunced to hyghe dignitie and a little before made Erle of Essex he forsaketh the lady Anne of Cleaue and marrieth Catherine Hawarde Nece to the Duke of Norfolke The Lord Cromwell was the maker of the marriage with the house of Cleaue And where after the kynge loued Hawarde he was thought to be perswaded by hir that Cromwel whom she iudged be a lette vnto her matters might be dispatched out of the waye He was a man also not wellbeloued of the Nobilitie and was suspected as though he should seke the distruction of the Papistes In the meane tyme the Duke of Brunswicke accused moste heinously boeth the other Protestantes and chiefly Henry the Duke of Saxony that contrary to the wyl of his Brother George and condition expressed in his Testament he had altered the state of Religion that he molesteth the Byshoppes of Merseburge and Misene in their iurisdiction And that he kept to hym selfe the money that his brother lefte to the vse of the league to the some of .lx. thousande crownes Wherfore he admonyshed the Emperour to compell hym to doe his dutie whiche if he shall refuse to dispossesse hym of the inheritaunce after the fourme of the wyll And he wrought not this alone albeit he was principal but certen others also of the same confederacie Nowe wyll I speake of the assemblie at Hagenaw whiche began the fyue and twenty daye of Iune When kynge Ferdinando was come thether a moneth before A fewe dayes before the cōmencement the Protestauntes had spoken to the Palsgraue to the Archebyshops of Collon and Treuers to Ericus Duke of Brunswick and to the byshops of Ausburge and of Spyres euerye man seuerallye at his owne house that they would entreate the peace Ferdinando therfore at the forsayde daye callyng the Protestauntes before hym declareth
of this warre but yet vpon condicion that he laie to thē againe in mortgage so mutch of hys owne landes And because the thing is straūge he shal make them sufficient warrantise at the arbitrement of the bisshop If any man wyll impeche or let thys theyr enterprise hym shall they ioyntly resyst with bothe theyr forces and the one help theother and they bothe to be bounden thus to doe so longe as the warre shall indure syxe monethes besydes after that the warre shal be finished it shall be free for euery man to ioyne hym selfe vnto thys league and to be both partaker of the charges the gaine This composition also shall the Senate of Cardinalles confyrme and that which is spoken of Iune to be vnderstande of the moneth of Iune thys present yere wherin they bothe haue subscribed now to the leage before cōceaued The copie of thys confederacie the Bishoppes legate Hierome Frāch shewed after to the Swisses as shal be declared in his place Aboute thys tyme was a peace concluded betwene Fraunce and Englande and the French king permitteth the kyng of Englande to enioye Bologne vntill suche tyme as he hath payed hym hys money dewe And where at the same tyme Hēry the Dolphin had a daughter borne called after Isabell for the better confyrmation of that frendeshyp the kyng of England was desyred to be godfather at the fountstone who sent hys deputie into Fraunce Sir Thomas Cheynie knight Lorde Warden of Cinke portes Then also was the Cardinal of Saint Andrewes in Scotlande in hys owne Castell aboute diner tyme slayne by a certen gentleman whose brother he had euyll intreated for Lutheranisme And he that did the murther fled into Englād The third daie of Iuly the byshop of Rome sendeth his letters to the Swisses threatning vpō them kindnes for the frenship that had ben betwene thē his predecessours he bewayleth that som of thē are through the disceipt of the deuil law breakers plucked from the apostolicall relygion frō him as the most deare children out of the bosom armes of a most louing father Notwithstanding it is the great gift of God that many of them haue perseuered cōstant in the faith towards god the church to thintēt verely that others which through the talke of wicked men haue ben disceaued should haue an exāple set before their eyes at the length conuert vnto the religion of their forefathers for it is a great token of gods goodnes that in this discention of religiō they be at peace with in themselues wherin other places for this occasion hath ben great sedition tumultes The whiche to appease he hath euer since he was first bishop vsed al the gentle remedies he could deuise and now also is fled to the last refuge calling a generall counsel at Trent a Towne of Germany within the limites wherof this euil sede of heretikes hath chiefly increased vnto the whiche Towne they might safly com and there defend their matters yf they wold for he trusted that inso sacred a senate to the which alwaies all christen kinges and nations haue attributed very much in the assemble of so many bishoppes which through the instinctiō of the holy ghost shuld treate of religiō no man wold be so wicked that he wold not submit him selfe to so great an authoritie and which shuld not incontinently casting awaie his wicked opinions imbrace the iudgement of the catholicke church And that he hath now also the same opinion of them and by reason of theyr concord at home hath good hope that so many of them as haue continewed faithful and constant will obey the coūsell and that the rest which of no set purpos but through a certen credulytie haue ben broughte into errour will not dispyse the authoritye of the counsel which thing that they wold doe come vnto the counsell as vnto a certen heauenly Senate ouer the which God himselfe is presydent he exhorteth them moste ernestly as he hathe donne also before And sayeth howe it hathe ben a greate grief to hym that dyuerse in Germany yea of the same number that are called Prynces whyche not only doe proudely and insolently contemne the counsell but also bayte it with cursed and raylyng wordes and saye how they wil not obey the decrees therof But he was chiefly sory for this cause that through the contumacie disobedience of these obstinate persōs he is dryuen to attempt the matter by warre For he coulde no longer suffer the losse of so many soules whych through theyr heresies perished dayly nor yet the oppression of christians wherof that other belōgeth to his office pastorall and this to the dignitie of the degre wherin he is placed And whyleste he was thynkynge vppon a remedye and prayed God to shew hym the waye it chaunced luckely that Themperour a prynce of most godly zeale offended with the like faultes in a maner that he was thought good to auenge the cause of religiō against those wicked heretikes by force of armes For where as by his intercession and meanes a counsell was graunted vnto Germany it semed vnto him that such as refused and contemned that dispised also his doing authoritye wherfore this occasion offered euen of god he tooke holde of it right gladly prefixed him self to further this noble myde of Themperoure as wel with his owne treasure as also of the church of Rome for if he shuld otherwise do handel the thing negligently slackly ther is no doubt but god wold require at his hādes as of their father the soules of somany children as wer lost throughe the falsehead of heretickes and for this cause doeth he open his mind counsell vnto them that they maye see with what carefulnes he is vered and may ioyne theyr prayers with his that is with God religion They haue don verely many godly actes but neuer non more noble then this if they wil kepe the olde amitie with god as their elders haue don if they shew to the churche of Rome which hathe euer don for them their olde loue fidelitie yf in this now so godly a cause they wil geue theyr ayde assistaunce Which thing he desireth them grealy they wold doe The ambassadours of the Protestantes in the vpper part of Germany come from Ulme to Baden to the conuentiō of the Swisses declaring their message were delaied to the moneth of August Their requestes were that they wold suffer no foreine soldiours to passe through their countrey that they wold permit their men to serue them in their war if the thing so required At this time also they of Brunswicke Goslarie Hildessem Hanobrie at the commaundement of the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue Rase Wuolbutel the chief castel of the Dukes of Brunswicke which they had hitherto kept with a garnisō The Paulsegraue prince electour in this hurly burly maketh suite to themperoure at Regenspurge
treated of penaunce and extreame vnction Than also the electoure of Brandenburge Ioachim sending his ambassadour Christopher Strasie a doctour of the ciuill law offered his duety and obeisance And certainly thāmbassadour spake manye thinges at large of the great good wil of his Prince They answer again how they haue taken much pleasure to hear his whole Oration especially that part wher the Prince submitteth him self wholy to the counsell and saith that he will obserue the decrees of the same For their truste is that the thing which he hath nowe presently spoken that same will he perfourme in dede After the deathe of Ihon Albert whiche had the Archbishoppricke of Maidenburge both wealthy and large the gouernement was committed to Fridericke sonne to thelectour of Brandenburge whome the Colledge had desired for their archbishop but the matter was impeached and could not be broughte to passe at Rome And because thelectour Ioachim was before of the Protestantes religion as it was openly knowen that same was a great let Wherfore to auoid the suspicion this ambassadoure was sent who fawning vpon the Prelates omitted no poynt of exquisit diligence Ther was peace concluded at Wittenberge And all beit the siege was not leuied immediatelye yet were there frendly metinges betwene them the xii day of Octobre And the self same time Duke Moris constraineth the Chats a people in the countrye of Hesse which wer iii. yeres past by themperours sentence taken frō the Lantz graue being prisoner to be sworne vnto him by the consent of the Lātzgraues sonne by reason of the league of inheritāce as he saith which is betwene the house of Hesse and Saxon so that for default of heirs males the one house should succede thother And no man doubted but this concerned the iniury of themperor that had geuen the sentence and some new commotion and all mē marueled what would be th end therof but in the Emperors court was in a manner no talcke of it and made as they knew not therof At this time was the Duke of Somerset vncle to the kinge of Englande apprehended the seconde time and with him the Lorde Paget the Lord Gray and certain others Than had Ihon the Duke of Northumberlande the chiefe rule and gouernemente The cause of his apprehension was as it is reported that the Duke of Northumberland said howe the other laid wait for his life For this by a law newly made was deathe amonges them About the eight day of Octobre the Bishop of Rome created Cardinall George Martinuse bishop of Wardin of high authority in Hongary the common people named him Monke because he was of thordre of Paule the first Hermit How the French ambassadour was commaunded to attend for an answer at the xi daye of Octobre so that the king would acknowledge the counsell I haue tould you before Certes he came not but yet in the Counsels name was setforth a wryting to the king First they recken vp how they loked for most ample things at his hands and that for sondry causes but at the comminge of this messenger and after they had red his letters they conceiued an inward sorow for that they are fallen from their expectation and yet forsomuch as they are neither touched with the gilt of conscience nor haue geuen none any occasion of displeasure they haue not yet laid aside thold hope they had of him wherfore thopinion which he hath conceiued as though this counsel were called for the priuate profit of a few can least of all take place in so worthy a Sinode For the causes of calling this Counsell were propounded not only of this Bishop but also of Paule the thirde verelye that heresies mighte be roted oute the schole of Discipline amended and peace be restored to the Church is not this plaine inoughecan ther be any more godly or Christianlike thing be done For now are heresies spredde not only throughout Germany but in manner in all Countries which great calamity the counsell is in will to redresse This is the very cause and this is also the end of all theyr doyng and all thinges are referred to this poynt Let him therfore permit the Bishoppes of his realme to further so godly a busines For he neaded not to feare least they might not be suffred to speake frely that they thought For lately was his ambassadoure bothe quietly and patiently heard whan he told no ioyfull newes Than seing a priuate man was heardwith such a lei tie why should any man beleue that the same shuld be denied vnto publike parsons such as are placed in so high dignity how be it though he send no man yet shall the counsell neuertheles haue bothe his dignitye and authoritye for that it was lawfullye summoned and now for iust causes restored And where he signified that he would vse the remedies that his progenitoures had done before they supposed he would neuer procede so farre as to reuoke those thinges which were taken away abolished in times past to the great commodity of the kinges of Fraunce and seing that god hath so highly auaunced him and indued him with so great benefites they truste verely that he wil do nothing wherby he shuld seme vnthankeful ether towards God or to our mother holy church let him only haue a respect to his progenitors to that same title and surname of most christen king Finally to his father king Fraunces who honoured the former Sinode by sending thither his bishoppes and ambassadors Men of most excellent learning he oughte to walcke in these fotesteps which are both fresh and domestical and follow this exāple and remit priuate displeasures for the common wealthes sake Themperor and the Bishop had exhorted the Swisses that they shuld be at the counsel but it was in vaine and the Bishop in dede treated with them by Hierome Francke as before is saied but the French king gaue charge vnto Morlet that was his ambassador there that he shuld indeuor to perswade them all that they send no man thither Morlet fineding some difficultye herein sendeth for Uergerius an expert man in such affaires out of Rhoetia and axeth his counsel He both furnished him of argumentes and shortly after setforth a boke of eschuing the counsell Morlet beinge thus instructed came vnto thassemble of Baden and there alledgynge his reasons perswaded not only them which had longe sence forsaken Papistry but also all the residue of the Swisses euen as he desired Wherfore none of them came to Trent Out of Rhetia cam thither at the Bishop of Romes commaundement Thomas Plāt bishop of Chur but whan the Rhetians vnderstode by the aduertisement of Uergerius what the bishop of Rome intended howe he would by him recouer his authority amonges them he was called home againe The Spaniardes which wer in the land of Wirtemberge were sent for about this time by themperor and sent into Italy to serue in the warre of Parma By theyr departure
daies before that he went to Rome by his letters sent to the Senate of Princes Ambassadours sheweth that he desireth in dede peace by al meanes but in any wise to cōsent that the dignitie of the Sea Apostolique or the olde religion should be defaced he will neuer permitte In the meane time they of Sene who nowe by the space of eight moneths to wit euen from the time that Peter Strosse receiued the ouerthrowe as is shewed in the last boke were besieged with the power of themperour of Cosmus Duke of Florence driuen for want of all thinges where no ayde appered the xxi daye of Aprill yelde thēselues to thēperour are ruled by a garrison of soldiours lieftenaunt of themperours armie was the Marques of Marignane twyse famous by the policie of war Thre yeres since what time by thayde of the French king the Spanyardes beinge discomfited they Rased the Castell they of Sene sending Ambassadours gaue the kinge as harty thankes as they could deuise and from that time forewarde cōmended to his tuition them selues and all that they had Marcellus the second newly created Pope the xxii daye of his creation in the night that goeth before the first of May chaūged his life for death Alitle before wercome to the citie forduties sake and to salute him Hercules Duke of Farrare Guy Ubalde Duke of Urbine For they had preuēted others who neuerthelesse should haue come The Cardinals assembled in the Conclaue the .xxiii. day of May proclame Cardinal Theatine Pope Thesame was Iohn Peter of Naples Deane of the College a gentleman borne of the noble house of Carastes a man of aunciēt yeares notably learned Chaunging his name he called him self Paul the fourth Paul the third had chosen him into the nomber of Cardinals And he is the self same that began a certen new secte of those whiche are called Iesuites and haue nestled not in Italy only but also in certen places of Germany Not lōg after he created his nephew his brothers sonne Cardinal the same was a man of warre and that a chief captayne seruing for the moste part the Frenche Kyng I shewed before in the last boke how Poole thenglish Cardinal went to themperour French king to sollicite moue thē to peace and handled the cause both by wordes writinges amongest other thinges which he vsed to perswade them Whilest you saith he kepe ciuile war the Turke doeth very much to inlarge his dominion And hauing wonne by Sea land two strong holdes Belgrade the Rhodes hath made him a way open to Offen hath the possession of Tonowa And if God had not stired vp the king of Persia to be his aduersary it is to bee thought that he might haue already subdued to him self al the prouinces of Christendom By this selfsame occasion haue euil Christiās also increased in sondry places with so much a deprauation corruptiō of al discipline aswel ecclesiastical as ciuile that now your power is not great inough to suppresse thē For this declare welenough so many rebellions which are stired vp euery where the duties of religion neglected heresies scismes which in the meane time spring vp are increased After in an other place ye ought to consider saith he that you ar the Princes of the Christen Beligion And albeit that God hathe permitted Sathan thauthour of all euil which is altogether in this that he might sift the churche wynnowe it like wheate to styre vp war amongst you which are two of the chiefest moste noble mēbers of the church yet hath he not suffred his wickednes further than to prophane and ciuile matters For in Religion he hath kept you sounde of one and the same opinion and annexed to the body of the churche For els coulde there hardly be made againe any concorde betwixt you And where as so many other Princes haue reuolted from the churche and that thennemy of mankinde hath attempted so many thinges yet hath God moste benignely loked vpon you and hath made his enter prises frustrate Wherby as by a moste certen token of his goodnes and clemencie towardes you he sheweth that he wil at the length vse your ministerie wil ioyne you both together with his vicar in earth to the intent verely that such hurtful dissentions may be taken a way and that as well in the state ciuile as sacred peace may be restored to al mē Many such like thīges brought Poole threatening them also with the wrath and vēgeaunce of God vnlesse they leaue and releaue the miserie of the afflicted people And although he preuailed than nothing yet whilest the matter went forwarde in Englande he holdeth on And the matter at lēgth was brought to this point that both the Emperour and the Frenche king refused not to sende Ambassadours to the treatie of peace But the Quene of Englande who was a meane in this matter appointeth a fit and mete place in the myddes of the playne betwyxt Caleis Arde and Grauelyn Townes of the Englyshe Frenche and Flemishe dominion set as it were a treangle and intrenchynge the same rounde aboute wyth Ditches buylded there foure Pauilions Sommer houses in deede but yet fyne and fitte for the pourpose In this place therfore the .xxiii. daye of Maye this yeare the Ambassadours mete from the Emperour amongest others came the Byshop of Arras From the Frenche kyng the Cardinal of Loraine and the Conestable Out of England came as peacemakers Cardinall Poole the Bishop of Wynchester Chauncelour the Erle of Arondell and the Lorde Paget This brute blowē abroade far and nere styred vp diuerse expectations and iudgementes of men amongest the chiefly vnto whome the controuersies were not vnknowen For there came in question the Dukedome of Millan Burgundy Sauoye Piedmont Corsica Nauerne Loraine the lande of Luke the cities of Tully Uirodone and Metz. The matter being long much debated where amongst other thinges at the last the Englishe intercessours sayde how certen of these controuersies ought to be referred to the hearing of the generall counsell they departed and nothyng finished Kyng Ferdinando and the states of the Empire sendinge their letters to the Emperour the fourth Ides of Iune had praied him that in the treatie of peace he would haue consideratiō of those thinges whiche the kyng of Fraunce had taken from the Empire Where therfore nothing was done the Emperour wryting againe to the states the .xv. day after your duty saith he is to me ryght acceptable that you are so moued with the calamities of those thinges whiche both mine and also the publique ennemy of the Empire hath afflicted Doubtles I was very careful that suche thinges might be restored to their fourmer estate And before your epistle was deliuered me I had inioyned mine Ambassadours chief counsellours sent to treate of peace that amongest other thinges they should handle this same moste diligently nother should they
emperour 324 The Constancie of the ministers 325 The Duke of Saxon and the LaÌ„tgraue led awaye prisoners 325 The reformation of the Chamb. 326 They of Constaunce geue them selues to the house of Austrich 326 The slaughter that was at Burdour 327 The abhominable filthines of an archbushoppe 329 The inheritor of Scotland led into Fraunce 330 They of Madenburge are made a praye for their godlines 331 Trouble in Englande eodem The Admirall of england beheaded 331 Thomas Crammer a furtherer of learning and Codlines 331 The duke of Swaybrig plaine trouth 332 The Interim confuted by them of Bubeck and others 333 The force of Hohwater eodem The popes legates to themperour 334 The Pope graunted licence to eate fleshe 335 The Archbishop of Metz to the counsellors of the Lantgraue eodem The Godly auÌ„swer of the preachers eod The king commaundeth to go on presession eodem The French king stealeth fortes 337 The Senate of Strausburge do compound with their Bishop eodem The perill of feare of them of Maydenburge eodem The Purgation of them of Maydenburge eodem The cause why them of Maydenburge cannot gette their pardon eodem The sayng of goodnes the. 338 They betray the trouth that hold it in Silence eodem The moÌ„struous lechery of the pope 339 The Popes rauening eodem The Pope sister a whore made her brother a Cardinall eodem The mayseres of ceremonis 340 The custody of the conclaue eodem The orders of the Cardinall eodem The maner to chuse the pope 341 The factions of the Cardinall eodem The cause why pole was not pope eod The yeare of Iubiley eodem The protectour of England 343 The Frenche kinges proclamation against Lutheranes eodem The opening of the Golden gate eod Themperiours letters to the states of th empyre 344 The cleargye of Strausburge renueth their ministers 345 The talcke of faith is forbidden 346 The death of the cardinall of Loraine 347 The Archbushop of Collon entreth the City with Pompe 347 The Protestation of the Duke Moris against the Counsell 348 The knauery of Spanierdes eodem The death of Granuellan eodem The taking of the Ciue of Africa eod The ouerthrow of the Maiden Burgians 349 The princes letters to them of Mayden burge 349 The Proclamation for religion mutigated 349 The answer of the Maydenburgians 350 The death of viriche Duke of WirieÌ„b 351 The causes that the decree is not obserued eodem They repare to trent before condemned 352 Themperours Proclamation agaynst them of Maydenburge eodem The Lantgraues Sonnes sue for theyr father eodem The Lantzgraues purpose of sliyng bewrayed eodem The issuyng out victory of the Maydenburgians 353 The duke of Megelb takeÌ„ prisoner 353 They of Maydenburge are moued to render eodem The Actes agaynst the Clergy 354 The slaughter of the Citizens 355 The answer of the Citizens 356 The prayse of great Otto 358 The duke of Pruisse addicte to OuÌ„ 359 The decree of Auspurge 359 The death of Bucer 360 The pope accuseth Octauian far 360 The counsell at Trent is solde 361 The warre of Parma betwixt themperour and the French king eodem The Frenche Kinges excuse to the Pope eodem The fierse minde of the Pope 362 The confession of duke Moris by Melanthon eodem The humanity of the Duke of Wittemberge towarde Brentius eodem The burnt child the fire dreades 363 The Constancy of the Prelates 363 The Preachers exiled 364 The French king warieth vpon themperour 364 The Counsell renued at Trent 365 The French kinges letters to the. 365 The Some of Mony that is caried to Rome 366 The vniuersitie of paris appeleth from the Pope eodem The arrogantie of Pope Boniface against the king of Fraunce eodem Twelue archbishoprikes in frauÌ„ce eod Theames geuen to the diumes 367 The order of speaking eodem The maner of making the Articles of the faith eodem The maner of making the decrees eod The holy gost at the popes coÌ„maundement 368 The Frenche kinges writing against the Pope eodem The wiked lustes of the Pope eodem The cause of dissentioÌ„ betwixt the pope and themperour 369 The safe counded of the fathers at 370 The Marques of Brandenburge mocketh the Counsell eodem The duke of somerset appreheÌ„ded eod The Counsell writeth to the Frenche king 371 The FreÌ„ch king disswadeth the Swisses from the Counsell eodem The land of Wittenburge deliuered of Spanyerdes eodem The ambassadour of Wittenburge to the Counsell 372 The pacification of Maydenburge eod The noble same and constancy of Maydenburge eodem The Pope created xiii Cardinalles 373 The amba of witteÌ„berg deliuered 374 The amb of Duke Mauri 〈…〉 he Marques of Brandenb to themper 374 Their oration 375 The Lantzgraue kept prisoner against the league 375 The Lantzgraue biddeÌ„ to Supper and kept prisoner 376 The names of the Princes that intreat for the Lantzgraue 377 The Lantzgraues Sonne cometh to Duke Morice 377 The rayling of Cropper 378 Themperours letters to the Bushoppe electors 378 Their is craft in daubing 379 The ambassador of duke Maurice come to the Counsell 380 The Duke of Somerset beheaded 381 The saufeconduct altered 382 The fraukespeache of Duke Maurice Ambassadour to the fathers 383 Thambassador of the prot deluded ideÌ„ The diuines come to Norinberge 384 The bitternesse of Frere Pelarge against the Protestantes eodem The diuines of Wittenburge 386 ThaÌ„bassodours of Strasburg det 387 The blasphemio of a gray Frere 388 The requestes of the Protestauntes diuines eodem The Fathers flie from Trent 389 The answere of the Protestantes Ambassadour eodem The churche cannot erre 390 The Counsell of Basell purer then Trent eodem The last session of the Counsell eodem The French Kynge hath peace with the Pope eodem Th ende of the counsell of Trent eodeÌ„ The death of the Popes Legate eodem The seconde cause of warre 392 The Lantzgraue deteined prisoner against fidelitie eodem The thirde cause eodem The heauie burthens of Germany 393 The storie of Lewes Auila of the Protestauntes warre eodem The Frenche kynges letters 394 The armes of libertie 395 The prince of Salerne reuolteth from the Emperour 396 The FreÌ„che king subdneth Lorain eod The cardinall betraied the cites eodeÌ„ The pledges of FrauÌ„ce German 397 The couÌ„try of Oto HeÌ„ry recouered â—deÌ„ The Iudges of the chamb flie eodem The Conestable chideth with theim of Strasburge 398 The kinges answer to the princes 399 The sute of the Suises to the king eodeÌ„ TheÌ„perour flieth awaie by night 400 The duke of Saxon set at libertie eodeÌ„ The Emperours stuffe spoiled eodem The Princes restore the ministers of the churche eodem The Marques Albertus armie 401 The Frenche kyng destroieth the Emperours countrie 403 The assemble at passaue eodem The coÌ„plaint of the princes elector 403 The affinitie of Frenchmen and. 404 The libertie of Germanie restored by the power of Fraunce 405 The waie opened for the Prince of Spaine to be Emperour eodem The princes aunswere his oracioÌ„ eodeÌ„ The