determined That for his own part he would in this and in all other Causes of the Empire for the Love and Affection he bore to his Country do what in Duty he ought And that therefore he demanded of them all that every one of them would testifie the like Zeal and Good-will towards the Publick The Princes after deliberation had were of Opinion That Religion should be the first thing debated Four Days after Cardinal Campegius made a Latin Speech to the Princes in presence of the Emperour exhorting them That in the cause of Religion they would obey the Emperour whose Virtue and Piety he much extolled that he also would in the Pope's Name endeavour that all should profess the same Faith and with reconciled Minds undertake a War against the Turk Next the Deputies of Austria represented the great Damages they had sustained from the Turks and demanded Aid After this the Elector of Saxony George Marquess of Brandenburg the Duke of Lunenburg and the Landgrave entreated the Emperour to hear their Confession of Faith that was drawn up in Writing He ordered it to be produced and laid down They again insisted and because it was a matter that concerned their Reputation their Lives and Fortunes and the Salvation of their Souls and because perhaps he had been misinformed in the thing they desired it might be heard The Emperour commanded them to wait upon him next Day at Home but in the mean time desired to have the Writing presently They again with all imaginable importunity urged and entreated that it might be read Nor did they think said they that that would have been denied them since he heard Men of far inferiour Rank about Matters of much less importance But when he would not change his Resolution they desired him to leave the Writing with them until it should be read That being granted they come next Day and in the Assembly of all the States read it in the Emperour 's hearing Afterwards they gave it him in Latin and High-Dutch offering to explain any thing in it that might seem obscure and that if the matter could not perhaps be now determined they did not refuse to submit to a Council so often promised and expected The Emperour who had spent the whole Winter from November to March with the Pope in Bolonia and had lived in the same Palace with him designed wholly if he could to accommodate the Difference about Religion without a Council as knowing that to be most acceptable to Pope Clement whose scope was That if the matter could not be composed by fair means it should be crushed by force of Arms. Wherefore June the twenty sixth he sent for the Deputies of all the Cities to come to his Lodgings and there made Frederick Prince Palatine declare unto them in his Name That in the last Dyet of Spire a Decree had been made which was obeyed by most much to his Satisfaction but that some others had rejected the same which he took very ill at their Hands That therefore he required them not to separate from the rest or else to give their Reasons why they did not comply To this the Deputies of the Protestant Cities made answer That they had done nothing undutifully nor were they less desirous than any of their Ancestors had ever been to testifie all Loyalty and Obedience to his Imperial Majesty but that since he demanded to know the Reasons why they had not admitted of the Decree they desired time to deliberate Afterwards on the seventh of July they gave their Answer in Writing much to the same effect as they had done the Year before when as we said they sent Ambassadours to him into Italy Unto which Embassie and the Reasons there alledged they also referred themselves Two Days after the Emperour caused the Question to be put to the Elector of Saxony and his Associates Whether or not they would exhibit any thing more They said no only resumed in few Words the summ of the Confession of Faith already delivered Afterwards he commanded the Deputies of the Cities who pretended That in Conscience they could not obey the Decree of Spire to give in Writing those Heads which they scrupled at and delivered the Duke of Saxony's Confession to the rest of the Princes to be examined by them who presently gave it to their Divines of whom the chief of all were John Faber and Eckius These battered it with a contrary Writing and Confutation which being read over before the Princes some of them judged it to be too sharp and thought fit that some Men should be chosen to peruse the Writings of both Parties and to soften them but their Opinion prevailed who would have it delivered to the Emperour as it was and the whole matter to be committed to him In the mean time the Cities of Strasburg Constance Memmingen and Lindaw delivered a Confession of their Faith to the Emperour also in Writing These as we said before differed in Opinion from the Elector of Saxony and his Associates about the Lord's Supper The Matter being deliberated with the Pope's Legate the Emperour ordered an Answer to be made to the Saxou-Writing which he communicated to the Princes on the first of August The conclusion of it was severe and hard no less than the Ban of the Empire being threatned to those who obeyed not But that was qualified by the Advice of the Princes wherefore August the third he called together all the States and made Frederick Prince Palatine tell them That he had long and much considered the Saxon Confession of Faith and also ordered some Honest and Learned Men to give their Judgment of it What was Orthodox therein and what contrary to the Doctrin and Consent of the Church That they had done so and had given their Judgment in another Writing which he approved Then was the Confutation of the Confession written by the Divines of the contrary Perswasion read and it proceeded in this Method They divided the saxon-Saxon-writing into two Parts the first contained one and twenty Chapters of these they had admitted some and rejected others some were admitted in part and in part rejected alledging many Testimonies of Fathers and Councils Among the rejected were these That Good Works are not Meritorious That Justification is attributed to Faith alone and not to Works also That the Church is the Congregation of the Godly That Men cannot make Satisfaction for Sins That the Saints do not make intercession for us Other things they admitted of with certain modification as the Doctrin concerning Ceremonies as also that the real Body and Blood of Christ was so in the Sacrament that Christ was under each Species and that the Bread and Wine were wholly changed The Doctrin about Confession they admitted provided the People were obliged to confess yearly at Easter to declare all their Sins exactly receive the Lord's Supper and believe that there are seven Sacraments in the Church They made a Proviso also That
offered a yearly Tribute for procuring it That nevertheless the Amity he had with the Turk was so far from being prejudicial that it would be extreamly useful to Christendom if not prevented by the Emperor 's insatiable Ambition for that the Title of most Christian had been given to the Kings his Predecessors in whose Steps by God's Grace he intended to tread and never do any thing that might make him seem unworthy of so glorious a Name That it was an outragious Injury then to disperse such a Calumny of him amongst all People for what a Madness nay Fury would it be to assist the Enterprises and encrease the Power of him who in a very short time after would ruin himself That neither was the Council of Trent retarded or hindered by him since he could reap no Benefit from so doing and that it was a thing very inconsistent with the Examples and Customs of his Ancestors who had many times promoted Councils and done them all the good Offices they could but that the Emperor was so transported with Malice and Hatred against him that he made all even his best Actions Criminal and was of that Temper himself that nothing would serve him but to rule over and make Slaves of all People cloaking this his Ambitions in the mean time with such specious Words and Pretexts that he would be thought forsooth to be a very virtuous and pious Prince That therefore since things were so he prayed his Holiness not to give Credit to Slanders but to think so of him as that there was nothing but what he would do for the Publick for him and for the Church of Rome A little before this died William du Bellay of Langey often mentioned before a Man of great Honour and Virtue and the Ornament of the French Nobility for his extraordinary Learning Eloquence Experience and singular Dexterity in management of all Affairs Very unlike to most Courtiers whose chief Care is to enrich themselves But he a Man of an Heroick Disposition had no other Prospect but by solid and true Virtue to purchase to himself lasting Glory and faithfully to serve his Prince though with Prejudice to his own private Fortune We told you before of the Parisian Preacher Francis de Landre who having made an ambiguous Answer to the Heads of Doctrine proposed to him and persisting still in his way of Teaching was sent to Prison some Days before Easter This was done at the Instigation of the Sorbonn Doctors who had accused him to the Lieutenant Criminal Some Days after the King came to St. Germins and being informed of the whole Matter sent for Landre to appear before him He came according to Command but being terrified by some Mens Words who told him That the King was exceedingly incensed against him he did not shew that Constancy which many expected from him and being ordered to return to Paris he was on the Twenty ninth Day of April forced to condemn what before he had taught For that Day there assembled in the Cathedral Church the Judges and Counsellors of Parliament the Provost de Merchands with the rest of the Magistrates and a great number of Divines Then the Church Doors were shut and Guards in Arms set to keep off the People When all had taken their Places his Opinions were read to him and being asked his Judgment as to every Particular he answered as they would have him confessed he had erred promised Obedience for the future and then acknowledged the Heads of Doctrine which the Divines first and then the King's Counsellors propounded to him to be true and Holy. The same thing was done though with less Solemnity a little after with de Pensier another Teacher of the People Who at first having flattered and not made his Recantation plainly enough he was forced another Day after to make a Sermon to the People wherein he explained openly and distinctly all the Points of Doctrine he had taught to the Satisfaction of the Divines who were present There lived then in France one Clement Marot who in the vulgar Tongue far surpassed all the Poets of that or the former Ages He was not so well acquainted with the Latin however he had much improved himself by the Conversation of the Learned Nor was there any thing in the Books of the Poets but he was so much Master of it as to translate and apply it to his Purpose Thus he borrowed some things in his Elegies but not professedly from Tibullus Propertius and Ovid And out of Catullus he took his Epithalamium on the Marriage of Hercules Duke of Ferrara and Renate of Bretagne Daughter of Lowis XII of France He translated also most elegantly the First Book of Ovid's Metamorphosis Now in his latter Years he employed the Talent he had that way on Holy Scripture and intended to have turn'd all the Psalms of David into French Metre but he lived only to finish Fifty of them which are now extant and read not without great Esteem of his excellent Wit. For nothing can be more taking more neat and clear nor more quaint and proper than his Stile He published them this Year at Geneva whither he had fled because he was not safe in France as being suspected of Lutheranism He had Two Years before published Thirty Psalms at Paris but with a great deal of Trouble and could not have it done till the Doctors of the Sorbonne had given a Licence That the Book contained nothing contrary to the Christian Faith. This perhaps is wide of our Purpose but I thought it not amiss to commend the Name of so excellent an Artist to other Nations also For in France helives to all Posterity and most are of Opinion that hardly any Man will ever be able to match him in that kind of Writing and that as Cicero says of Caesar He makes wise Men afraid to write Others and more learned Men too than he have handled the same Subject but came far short of the Beauty and Elegancy of his Poems It has been mentioned in the Tenth Book that the Archbishop of Cologne had a great mind to reform his Church and approved not of that Synod of his Province though a Book on that Subject was published in his Name Now after that it was decreed in the Diet of Ratisbone and Injunctions laid upon the Bishops both by the Emperor and the Popes Legate that they should in their several Provinces and Diocesses set about a Holy Reformation He called a Convention of his States which consist of the Clergy of the Cathedral Church Earls Nobility and the Deputies of Cities After some Deliberation it was agreed upon by all that so holy and wholsom a Work should be taken in hand wherefore he employed some to draw up in Writing a Form of future Reformation and look out for good and able Ministers of the Church This Writing he sent to the Divines of Cologne desiring them to examine it and give their Judgment
of Monsuer Wickfort a great Man of this present Age who saith that Sleidans History is very Good. It will I suppose be expected that I should give an account of this Translation That the Original deserved to be read in more Languages than one is I believe unquestionable and that favourable Reception it has already met with in the German French and Italian Languages besides that universal Applause with which it has been Celebrated by the Learned in all the Countries of Europe did bespeak such a Translation into English as might in some measure answer the native Beauties of this noble Work of which I shall only say that in this all imaginable care hath been taken to keep up that truly great simplicity which is the distinguishing character of this History how far this hath been performed is left to the Judgment of the judicious Reader What I have to say of my Continuation is already set down in my Introduction before it To the most Illustrious Prince AUGUSTUS Elector and Duke of SAXONY Landt-grave of THVRINGE Marquiss of MISNIA and Lord High Marshal of the EMPIRE His most Gracious Master and Lord John Sleidan wisheth much Health and Happiness Illustrious Sir DIvers Authors have discovered to us the manifold and various Accidents which attend humane affairs and the changes in States and Kingdoms And God himself has been pleased heretofore to instruct us and with his Own voice as it were to foretel us what should happen of this Nature many Ages before it came to pass And as to the first four Great Empires of the World He has been pleased by Daniel the Prophet to inform us of their Order Changes and Successions The greatest part of whose excellent Predictions are now by the event exposed and made very plain to us and afford us a knowledge which is both very sweet and full of Consolation The same holy Prophet has also foretold the changes of Religion and the contests concerning its Doctrines and the Apostle St. Paul who followed him has clearly also discovered before-hand many things of that Nature And the accomplishment of these Predictions has been delivered down to us and explain'd by various Writers who have lived in the intermediate Ages But then that change which has hapned in our times is one of the most Illustrious Events which has come to pass The Prophet has foretold that the Roman Empire should be the last and the most powerful and that it should be divided and accordingly it is reduced to the lowest degree of weakness tho it was once of an immense Bulk and vast extent so that now it only subsists within the Confines of Germany and its Fortunes have been very various and unsteady partly by reason of its Intestine Divisions and partly on the account of Foraign Combinations against it Yet after all God has at last given us the most Potent Emperor that has reigned in many Ages For in the Person of this Prince are united the Succession of many Rich and Powerful Kingdoms and Inheritances which by reason of their Situations have afforded him the opportunity of performing great things by Sea and Land above any other of our Princes And as his Power has very much exceeded all the Emperors of Germany which have Reigned since Charles the Great So the things which have happen'd in his time and under his Government have rendred him the most Conspicuous and Memorable of all our Princes And amongst these the Reformation of Religion doth justly challenge the first Place which began with his Reign For this Controversie had not been moved above XIV months when Maximilian the Emperor his Grandfather and immediate Predecessor in the Empire died And when he was chosen by the VII Electors Luther being at the self same time provoked by his Adversaries entred the Lists and maintain'd a publick Disputation against Eckius at Leipsick by which the minds of both the contending Parties were put into a great Commotion The Reign therefore of this great Prince is diligently to be considered and for the better understanding of it ought to be compared with those of the former times For God has ever used to raise up Illustrious and great Princes when the Ecclesiastical or Civil State were to be changed such were Cyrus Alexander the Macedonian C. Julius Caesar Constantine Charles the Great and the Otho 's of Saxony and now in our times at last CHARLES the V. That change I have here in this Story unfolded is such that no man who does clearly understand it can think of it without astonishment and the utmost degree of Admiration and Wonder It s beginning was small and almost contemptible and one man alone a while bore the hatred and violence of the whole World And even he too might easily at first have been quieted and laid to sleep if the condition he so often offered his Adversaries had been accepted by them For he Promised he would hold his Peace if they would do so too But when they refused this and would force him to recant and stood stifly in this Resolution that he should do it And he on the otherside as stoutly replied That he could not retract what he had Advanced till they had shewn him wherein he had err'd The debate between them improved and grew greater and the business was brought before the Dyet of Germany by which means it dilated it self to that degree we now see it in But then upon what reasons it was done What share the Popes of Rome the Vniversities and the Kings Princes and States of Christendom had in this Affair How Luther defended his Cause before the Emperor and the Princes of Germany in the Dyet How many men of great Learning joyned themselves with him How this business was from time to time agitated and debated in the Dyets What ways were proposed for an Accommodation How the Popes solicited the Emperor and other Christian Princes How they frequently promised a Reformation and a General Council What Persecutions and Slaughters were in several Places were stir'd up against those who imbraced this Doctrine What Conspiracies and Leagues were set on foot to the same end not only in Germany but in other Countries as this Religion spread it self How some forsook it and others persevered constantly in it What Tumults Contentions and Wars were occasioned by it These thing in my judgment are so great and so full of Variety that I think it were a sin to suffer them to perish in silence and not commit them to writing To this I may add that I think it very reasonable to give an account what the state of the Empire of Germany has been during the Reign of this Prince by the space of XXXVI years what Wars he has mannaged What Commotions and Disturbances have happned And what has been the fortune of the Neighbour Kingdoms and Provinces in these times But then I shall shew hereafter the method I have followed in this Work. For as this Princes Dominions
of Leo X. Fol. 93 94. and in the Life of Alfonso Duke of Ferrara Fol. 42. and in truth the Works of all good Authors have many Examples of this Nature Comines is chiefly commended because he Wrote so equally but then he ever pursues this Method as I have said already that he not only sets down what was done but also gives his own Judgment of it and tells us what every one did well or ill and although I would not have done this yet it is the most usual practice of Historians But then that what was done or said by both Parties should be exactly related is not only just and equal and the constant usage from the most Ancient times but also absolutely necessary for without it it is impossible to Write an History Where ever there are Factions Wars and Seditions be sure there are Complaints Accusations and Answers and all places are fill'd with opposite and contradictory Papers Now he that truly relates these as they are doth neither of the Parties any injury but follows the Laws of an Historian For in these Brawls and Contentions every thing which the Parties object against each other is not presently true and certain Where there is Contention Hatred and Enmity it is very well known and experienced how things are managed for the most part on both sides If what the Popes and their Adherents have within thirty six years last past belched out against the Protestants were all true there could be found nothing more wicked and impious than they Paul III. Pope of Rome sent the Cardinal of Farnese his Son in the year 1540. to the Emperor into the Low Countries He gave some Advices against the Protestants which were afterwards Printed and are recited in the thirteenth Book of my History After many other reproachful expressions he saith the Protestants fight as much against Christ as the very Turks do for they only kill their Bodies but the Protestants bring their Souls too to eternal destruction Here then I make a stand and desire to know what could possibly have been spoken more grievous and horrible than this Now if these things had not been related certainly the Protestants would have had just cause of complaint against me But the thing is quite otherwise for neither is it true because the Cardinal said it and if I had passed it by I might justly have been suspected as one that was too much addicted to a Party and so would not tell the Truth I do not doubt but all impartial men will yield that I have in this which I have said clearly given the true Laws of History and I can as little think they will judge that I have broke those Laws the far greatest part of my History being extracted out of Pieces which were Printed before They act therefore very unfriendly or rather injuriously with me who traduce and defame my Writings and the more are they guilty if they understand the Laws of History but if they know them not then I desire they would learn them from what I have written and from other Historians But then when I mention other Historians I do not mean those of our times whose only business it is to extol their own Party with immoderate praises and wonderful commendations and to overwhelm the other Party with slaunders and reproaches for these men are not worthy of the Title of Historians Above six years since John Cochleus Published some Commentaries containing an History of the same nature with mine but then he has stuffed them with horrible unheard of and invented slaunders Cardinal Pole in a Book which he lately Printed calls the Protestant Religion lately established in Germany a Turkish Seed And their Books are generally full of such reflections But what is there like this in my Work In truth I have made it my business to Write in order and as truly as I could the Story of that wonderful blessing God has been pleased to bestow upon the men of this Age And to that purpose about sixteen years since I Collected all that I thought necessary to that Work nor have I since made any headlong haste in the Writing of it but gone leisurely on with a steady Judgment The labour I have taken in this great Work is known to none but God and my self and I had respect to nothing but the glory of God in it and laying aside the Study of the Civil Law which is my profession I accordingly almost spent my whole time upon it so that all things considered I think I may aver that I was drawn to it by an Impulse from God and I will commend my cause to him seeing I have met so ill a recompence from some men for my great labour and pains it being his cause I have defended and I am fully assured he will look upon that Work as a most pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice the conscience of which sustains and comforts me and the more because I see many Learned Men approve and applaud my Work paying me their thanks for it and acknowledging the benefit they have reaped by it Therefore I desire all those who are the hearty Lovers of Truth that they would not believe the slaunders of ill men but kindly entertain my Work and approve my faith and diligence without admitting any suspition of me Lastly I profess that I acknowledge Charles the V. now Emperor of Germany and Ferdinand King of the Romans his Brother to be the supreme Magistrates appointed by God whom I ought in all things to Obey as Christ and his Apostles have commanded excepting only those things which are forbidden by God. SS TD ACERRIMVS E.R. HOSTIS MARTINVS LUTHERVS Nascitur Islebiae X Nov 1483. Monasterium Augustin Ingreditur Ao. 1505. Titulum D is Assumsit A o 1512. Obijt in Patria XVIII o die Februarij 1546. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BEGUN IN GERMANY BY Martin Luther c. BOOK I. The CONTENTS Martin Luther bravely withstands the Venal Indulgences dispersed abroad by Leo X Pope of Rome not only in his Publick Sermons but also in some Theses and Positions which he offered to defend and which he sent to the Archbishop of Mentz The first that opposed them were Tetzel Eckius Silvester Prierias and Hogostrat In the mean time the Pope sends Cajetane Legat to the Emperour Maximilian Luther is Cited to appear at Rome By means of Frederick Elector of Saxony he Answers Cajetane in the Diet of Ausburg Cajetane by Menaces and the Thunder of the Canons endeavours to maintain the Papal Power and Tyranny After the departure of Luther Cajetane sollicites Duke Frederick by Letters but in vain By a new Bull the Pope confirms and publishes the Indulgences in Germany To draw in Duke Frederick he presents him with a Golden Rose The Emperour Maximilian in the mean while dies Many Heads at work about the Succession to the Empire At length Charles Archduke of Austria is chosen Emperour the News whereof is
celebrate and commend the Doctrin of Huss to all Posterity That therefore he prayed and exhorted them to persevere in that way which they had hitherto defended with the loss of much Blood and with highest Resolution and not cast a Reproach upon the flourishing Gospel by their Defection That although all things were not established among them as they ought to be yet God would not be wanting in time to raise up some Faithful Servant of his who would reform what was amiss provided they continued constant and utterly rejected the Uncleanness and Impiety of the Romish Papacy Now as to the Bohemians the case standeth thus after the death of John Huss whom we mentioned before the people were divided into three Sects the first of those who own the Pope of Rome to be Head of the Church and the Vicar of Christ The second those who receive the Sacrament in both kinds and in celebrating Mass read some things in the vulgar tongue but in all other matters differ not from the Papists The third are those who are called Picards or Beghardi these call the Pope of Rome and all his Party Antichrist and that Whore that is described in the Revelations They admit of nothing but the Bible they chuse their own Priests and Bishops deny no man marriage perform no Offices for the Dead and have but very few Holy Daies and Ceremonies Luther afterwards published a Book against the Order of Bishops falsly so called and in the Preface taking to himself the name of Minister or Preacher at Wittemberg he saith That it was no wonder to him nor indeed contrary to expectation if for that title he should be scoffed and laughed at by them from whom he had met with violence in far more weighty concerns That they had nothing but Tyranny and Oppression to stop his mouth with and that when he was ready to justifie his Doctrin by Argument and Reason they did but slight and reject him But that on the other hand when they themselves were put to it to prove the truth of their Doctrin they stopt their ears That it was a great shame and reproach that so many of them who besides many other splendid and magnificent Titles they bore professed themselves Masters of the whole Scripture being so often challenged by him alone durst not joyn issue and come to a fair tryal with him about the matter that therefore since they behaved themselves haughtily towards him he was resolved to yield to them in nothing and had taken to himself that name of Minister or Preacher as not doubting but that he might with far better conscience arrogate to himself that Title than they could the Name of Bishops That the Doctrin which he professed was not his but Christs so that they needed not to put any trust in violence or oppression thinking thereby to daunt him for that the more hatred and rage they vented against him the more resolutely was he resolv'd to proceed in spight of all their fury and madness That though they should even cut his Throat yet his Doctrin would prove immortal That Christ lived and reigned for ever who would in his own due time put a stop to their outragios and bloody Desings That by the Emperors Edict and the Bull of the Pope his name was lately taken from him and that charactar of the Great Beast wholly blotted out Which he was so far from taking ill that he heartily thanked God for delivering him out of the dark dungeon of so many filthy Errors and false Doctrins and enlightning him with the true Knowledge of his Word That since it was so then and that God had committed to him the Office of Preaching the Gospel it was but reasonable that he should take to himself a Title when false Teachers gloried so much in such gawdy Names That therefore he would not for the future submit his Writings to their Censure that he had condescended too much at Wormes But that now he was so certain of his Doctrin that he would not submit it to the Judgment no not of an Angel but by the Evidence thereof would judge not only himself and them all but even Angels also That they who rejected this Doctrin could not attain to Salvation nor Life Eternal because it proceeded not from Man but from the Eternal God That if it pleased God to bless him with longer Life he would use his utmost Diligence that the Gospel should be preached to all people That they indeed sought after their own Ease and Quietness and to lead an Idle and Voluptuous Life being mightily troubled at the Disturbance of the State but that he would make it his Business that they should not enjoy that Peace which they so earnestly coveted and that though he might be killed by them yet that would not ease them of Troubles and Disquiet and that what way soever they might deal with him yet God would never cease to prosecute them 'till he either utterly destroyed them or made them humbly to confess their Fault and beg pardon of the invincible Lord of Hosts That he heartily wished they might repent and submit to sound Counsel in time but if that could not be obtained he bad them everlasting Defiance and was resolved never to be reconciled with them That whereas some also made his freedom of Speech a Crime as if by libelling and scribling he designed to raise Stirs and Commotions they did him a great deal of Wrong since that he could make it out by several Texts of Scripture and many Instances that it was necessary to take this Course when the Governours of the Church were unlearned impious and obstinate and would neither do their Duty themselves nor suffer others to do it for them who were both able and willing to set about it Mention hath been made before of the Dyet of Norimberg Hither Lewis King of Hungary and the Peers of that Kingdom sent also Ambassadours who made sad Complaint of the Cruelty of the Turk and begged strong and lasting Aids against him Pope Adrian sent thither a Legate also but before he came into Germany October 5 one of the Popes Bed-Chamber-Men delivered a Brief from his Holiness to Duke Frederick wherein he tells him That it had been acceptable News to him to hear of the Dyet of Norimberg but that he had been overjoyed to understand that he was resolved to be there in Person for that there was great Hopes that some things might be enacted there that would tend to the Honour and Welfare both of Church and State That for that Reason also he had with the Advice and Consent of the College of Cardinals resolved to send a Legate into Germany but that whilst his Legate was preparing for his Journey he had thought fit to send before the Bearer whom he had charged to wait upon his Highness for whom he had always had a very great esteem and acquaint him with the Care and sincere Intentions he had
they began to treat of a Marriage and though the Parents at that time were not altogether for it and that the Young Lady was more averse not so much of her own Judgment or that she slighted the Person of the Man as through the Whispers and Tattles of some who despised Germany as a wild and rude Country in respect of the Pleasantness and Deliciousness of France yet being over-ruled by the King's Authority who look'd on that affinity as very advantageous to him they yielded Wherefore on the Fifteenth of June the Marriage was solemnized the King leading the Bride his Neece to Church The Cardinal of Tournon said Mass and the King gave a most magnificent Wedding Feast whereat were present the Pope's Nuncio the Ambassadors of England Portugal Venice and Saxony for the Emperor's Ambassador had excused himself Some Days after the Duke of Cleve returned home leaving his Young Wife in France whom her Mother would have to be with her until she were grown up to maturity Before the Duke of Cleve came into France the King ordered the Admiral whom we mentioned before to be set at Liberty to go Home and then in the Month of May to come to his Majesty who most graciously received him and restored him to his former Honour and Dignity raised him as it were from Death to Life and by a new and unprecedented Example annulled the Sentence pass'd against him by the Select and Chief Judges of the Kingdom partly in spight of the Constable as it was believed and partly at the intercession of Madam d'Estampes who had contracted a new Relation by Affinity with the Admiral Wherefore the Constable Montmorency who loved not the Admiral his equal and was fallen much in the King's Favour because of the Emperor's Passage through France as hath been said being besides altogether slighted and despised at Court went Home and in an uncertain Condition led a private Life whereas before he had had the King wholly to himself The End of the Thirteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIV The CONTENTS In the Conference of Ratisbone they treat of reforming the Ecclesiastical State and Means are proposed for accomplishing of that Diverse Opinions and Answers are here related Eckius loathing the Book offered by the Protestants accuses his Collegues Vpon the Report of the Approach of the Turk the Emperor commands the Conference to be put off till the meeting of the Council Fregoso and Rink the Ambassadors sent from the French King to the Turk are taken and slain and therefore the Bastard Son of Maximilian is arrested at Lyons and committed to Prison The Turk makes his Entry into Buda The Emperor comes to Algiers The Plague rages in Germany Austria sorely afflicted The Peers of Austria desire Leave to profess and exercise the Protestant Religion and are eluded by King Ferdinand The Christians being worsted in Hungary the Emperor calls a Diet of the States of the Empire to meet at Spire where Oliver the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech The King of England cuts off his Queens Head and marries a Sixth Wife Morono the Pope's Legate being sent to Spire declares the calling of a Council at Trent Luther publishes a little Book a Military or Camp-Sermon wherein he compares the Papacy with the Turks War breaking out again betwixt the Emperor and French King. Longueville and Martin van Rossem invade Brabant Perpignon is besieged Edicts against the Lutherans are published at Paris Farel preacheth at Metz. Locusts overspread Germany and Italy An Imperial Diet held at Nurimberg Poiet apprehended in the Night time and committed to Prison Otho Prince Palatine embraces the Protestant Religion THE Conference commenced about the end of April as we said before But Eckius grew impatient and morose for he was sick of the Book disliked his Collegues and not long after fell into a Fever so that he could not be present However his Associates went and consulted him about all Matters Some Places of the Book indeed were by common Consent corrected in the Conference and some others they could not agree upon as about the Church and the Power thereof the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ the Confession of Sins Satisfaction the Unity and Order of the Ministers of the Church Saints the Mass the Sacrament to be received in both Kinds and the single Life of the Clergy So the Book as it was corrected was delivered to the Emperor and therewith the Sentiments of the Protestant Divines in Writing concerning the controverted Points of Doctrine now mentioned this was on the last Day of May. The Emperor commended their Zeal and took it kindly entreating them to shew the like Diligence and good Inclination if at any time after the Case did so require On the Eighth of June after he made a Report of what was done and how far they had proceeded in the Session of the Princes and States That the Conferrers had carefully handled the Matter and reconciled many weighty Points of Doctrine and that the Protestant Divines had declared their Thoughts touching the rest which were not as yet accommodated Then he shewed them both the Writings desiring they would take them speedily into Consideration give their Judgment of the same and think of a way how both Church and State might be reformed That for his part he would not omit anything that might contribute thereunto and doubted not but that the Pope's Legate inclined that way too The Senate of Princes consists for most part of Bishops and therefore they who were for rejecting the Book offered by the Emperor and all proceeding by Conference carried it by majority of Voices and gave their Resolution accordingly in Writing though in Terms somewhat too harsh But seeing the Electors and some other Princes who tendered the Wellfare of the Publick did not consent to it there was another Writing drawn up and on the Second of July presented to the Emperor whom therein they advised that as Advocate and Defender of the Church he would communicate the whole Affair to the Pope's Legate according to the Decree of Haguenaw but particularly those Heads which the Conferrers had agreed upon that they might be carefully weighed if there were any thing to be found in them in Sense or Words inconsistent either with the Doctrine of Holy Interpreters or the Custom and Practice of the Church That in the next place what was said more obscurely might be explained and that he himself would be pleased afterwards to acquaint the States with his Thoughts and Resolution as to the whole and to deal with the Protestants that they would suffer themselves to be instructed in the remaining Points in Controversie or if that could not be obtained that then a General or National Council of Germany should be called to determine all Matters in debate Among the States there were some who made it their Business to obstruct the Reformation of Religion