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
their league the Duke of Saxon answered by his Ambassadours that for as muche as they were of a contrary opinion touchyng the Lordes supper he myght haue no fellowshyp with them Howe muche they were to be estemed for their strengthe and power he was not ignoraunt but he myght haue no respect vnto that lest it shoulde come to an euyll ende as the Scripture witnesseth to haue chaunced vnto those whiche for their defence haue not cared what ayde they haue sought Durynge this assemblie letters were brought from the Duke and Lantgraue to the Ambassadours of the other Princes and cities pourportyng howe the Archebishop of Mentz and Lewys the Palsgraue had leaue of the Emperour to treate of a peace and had requested them by letters to graunte also to the same For then woulde they appoynte a tyme to mete After deliberation had the Ambassadours aunswere that they be contended Wherfore when the Duke the Lantgraue had made reporte agayne howe they misliked not the so that the processe in the lawe myght cease in meane tyme They hauing first obteyned this of the Emperour appointed the daye the last sauing one of the moneth of Auguste Wigande byshop of Bamberge had certen yeares before complayned to his fellowes of the Sweuicall league of George Marques of Brandenburge for certen wrōges and iniuries whiche he had done vnto hym as hynderynge his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and lyuing and compellinge the priestes to thys false kynde of doctrine and if they refused erpulsynge them and imployinge the churche goodes to prophane vses And for as muche as this was contrary to equitie and iustice and against the decrees both of the bishop of Rome and the Emperour he requyreth that according to the league they would ayde and assiste hym herein Wherfore this yeare in the moneth of Iulye a daye was appoynted at Norlinge for the hearynge of this matter whether came at the request of the Marques the Ambassadours of the Protestantes And of the byshops side were the byshops of Auspurge Wircinburg and Aester as his coadiutours and counsellours When the plantife had propounded charged him with iniuries requiring the iudges to procede and gyue sentence after the prescripte of the league The defendaunt in thinges cōcerning religion and iurisdiction ecclesiasticall put in an appellation wherein he appealed from their decrees and iudgement to a generall counsell The iudges sayde howe they would not admitte theyr sentence geuen This cause did not concerne the Marques George only but also his nephewe Albert whiche was his worde In the meane tyme the Emperour calleth a counsell imperiall at Spyres at the Ides of Septembre for the appeasyng of the controuersie in Religion But the eleuenth kalendes of Septembre came vnto the Duke of Saxon the Erles of Nassowe and Nuenar men of great authoritie nobilitie and vertue and by the Emperours priuitie moue a reconciliation and to treate with hym of fyue thynges the Lordes Supper the cerimonies of the churche the churche goodes the ayde nedeful against the Turke the Election of king Ferdinādo And where it appered by their wordes how the Emperour was perswaded that he allowed the doctrine of Zwinglius the opinion of the Anabaptistes he aunswereth that what kynde of doctrine his is and what his ministers doe preache and teache is ryght well knowen by his confessiō exhibited at Auspurg in the which he pourposeth through Gods grace to remayne duryng his lyfe and that he had neuer to do with Anabaptistes nor greatly with the Zwinglians And desired thē to pourge him herein to the Emperour They sayd how they knew it before this to be so neuerthelesse they woulde declare it so to the Emperour who no doubt would be glad and ioyfull to heare it For the reste of theyr demaundes they were agreed they should be differred vntyl the next assemblie of the Empyre whether they desyre hym eyther to come him selfe or to sende his sonne He sayeth howe he woulde be glad to gratifie the Emperour in all thynges but he is now aged and vnhable to trauayle and besydes that there be certen weyghtie causes for the whiche he can neyther come hym selfe nor sende his sonne vnlesse the Emperour wyll graunte a saufe conduicte for hym and his trayne Agayne where so euer he shall become he can not want the preaching of Gods worde nor haue prescribed hym a certen kinde of meate furthermore if the disputation shall be touchyng Religion it is requysite that he bryng with hym Luther and others whiche muste also haue saufecouduicte Fynally howe he hathe oftentymes made suite to the Emperour to be inuested in his owne Dukedome after the custome of the Empyre and for other thynges whiche he coulde neuer obtayn all be it he made many fayre promyses And nowe in this laste assemblie at Auspurge Fridericke Palsgraue aunswered him so in his name as it did easely appeare that the Emperour is sore offended with hym vpon whiche consyderations he can not come vnlesse he maye through their mediation obtayne the Emperours saufe conduicte in dewe season And than he wyll come without fayle About the later ende of Auguste the Ambassadours of the Archebyshop of Mentz and the Palsgraue mette with the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes at Smalcalde speakynge muche of the loue and zeale that theyr Princes bare to theyr countrey who seynge that they coulde not agree at Auspurge and consyderynge the great daunger that myght ensue of that dissention would neuer reste tyll the Emperour had graunted them leaue to treate of peace Wherfore they thought it good to call agayne in question suche thynges as coulde not be agreed vpon at Auspurge and to begynne where they lefte there The others saye agayne howe the Protestauntes knewe not what thynges should be propounded and therfore gaue them no certen commission to determyne any thyng but wylled them to sende home in wrytinge sealed that whiche shoulde be propounded and so they must do and none otherwyse And whan after much altercation in wordes they could not otherwyse cōclude at the last it was agreed that they should mete at Spyres at a daye whiche the intercessours should assigne after that the pleasure of the Duke and the Lantgraue herein were knowen who ought in dede so shortly as myght be in the name of them selues and their fellowes to signifie their mynde therin This was decreed the seconde daye of Septembre And in the beginnyng of Octobre the Duke and the Lantgraue wrote to the Archbyshop to the Palsgraue repetinge the treaties of the Ambassadours before sayde they declare howe there coulde be no good done therein without diuines And howe they continewe iin the same Religion styll whiche they professed at Auspurge And where as in all assemblies both when the Emperour was absent and nowe also of late being present a counsell was promysed whiche shoulde forthwith be called and commenced they trusted that the Emperour would shortly procure one in Germany wherein
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
A FAMOVSE Cronicle of oure time called Sleidane's Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and common wealth during the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift with the Argumentes set before euery Booke conteyninge the summe or effecte of the Booke following Translated out of Latin into Englishe by Ihon Daus ¶ Here vnto is added also an Apology of the Authoure ✚ CHE SARÀ SARÀ ⧠✚ To the right honorable and his singular good Lord Fraunces Earle of Bedford Lord Russel one or the Quenes highnes most honorable priuy counsel Ihon Daus his daily oratour wisheth helth peace and cōsolatiō In Christ Iesu with thincrele of honor and digntiy AMonges all other wryters that compile Bookes for the knowledge and instruction of others right honorable and my singular good Lord thei in my opinion deserue best of the common welth which commit to wrytinge stories wherby men maye learne by thexamples of others set before their eies how to guide and gouern theyr life what thinges to embrace or eschue and to iudge by matters past what shal be the consequent and end of things to come For which cause the most eloquent orator Cicero calleth an history the mystres of māners the guid light of life the sercher out of vertues driuer away of vices with many such other like goodly titles which he attributeth to the same And certenly if ther wer euer any story written whereof men might reape frute and commodity or worthy to be had in hand practised in the common vse of mans life ether for the worthines ofihargumente which is concerning the state of religion and common wealth or for the report of things done lately of fresh memorye it is thys same work of Sleidane For he treateth not only of thenterprises of men with the casuall chaunces of things that happen But climing higher and auauncing the minde of man vp vnto heauen constraineth the same to maruel at the wōderful prouidence of the liuing God touching the gouernement of the Churche And induceth men to wonder at the vnsearchable counsel of God almighty who hath preserued the same in somany troublesome stormes and tempestes ful of pearil and daunger And as concerninge the author the dilligence and fidelity that he hath vsed deserueth doutles to be highly commēded of all men for so much as he hauing more respect to the common wealth than regard to his priuate commodity hath wholy imploid him self to consecrate the best and most excellent matters that maye be to euerlasting memory It is said how Thucidides was so desyrous of the verity and so doubtfull and scrupulous in wryting of his story that he gaue a great some of monye euen to his ennemies to haue the truth of matters to know how all thinges went Assuredly the same may we say also by Sleidan who as he him selfe confesseth not content to go by heare say or by common report of people hathe fished for the certenty of his Story out of common recordes or at the least by report of men worthy credit and herein hath spared nether cost nor paine For although he hath wrytten many thinges which he him self hath sene in Germany Fraunce Italy other places yet muste he of necessitye be holpen herein with the eies and eares of many to compact an history of so many seuerall nations and places so far distante one from an other Seing therefore that thys story of Ihon Sleidane is compiled of matters of so singuler and excellent perfection worthy of perpetuall memory J haue thought it expediēt for sondry causes to present your honoure with the same And that as wel for the great good wil zeale that your good Lordship beareth towards lerninge christen religion and common wealth of your natiue country As also for the place and dignity to the which by the iudgement of al mē you are most worthely called cōsidering how it shal be neither vnprofitable nor vnnedeful for your honor to vnderstand the state of other realmes and cōmon welthes with the tormoils of the church in the same which things do here aboundantly and sufficiently appear And to thend it may be easely knowen in what place euery matter may be found I haue set before the beginnyng of euery boke the some or argumēt conteining the most matters comprised in the same most humbly beseching your honour to accept this simple translatiō dedicated to your good Lord ship and wrytten for the vtility of our common coūtry into your honorable tuition that throughe your good Lordships authority the tonges of euil speakers being repressed put to silence all others that are disposed may receiue commodity and profit by readinge of the same For doutlesse a more profitable boke than this is hath not ben setforth in thenglish tong now of many yeres Thus the liuing God preserue and increase you in honor and so replenish your noble mind with the light and grace of his holy sprite to perswade and treat with the Quenes highnes moste honorable in such wise that all thinges ther condescended and agreed vpon may wholy redownd to the glory of Gods holy name The Kalendes of August Anno. 1560. ⧠The. Translator to the Boke GO forth my painful Boke Thou art no longer mine Eche man may on the loke The shame or praise is thine But seke thou for no praise No thanke nor yet reward Nor eche man for to please Haue thou no great regard The labor hath bene mine The trauell and the paine Reproches shal be thine To beare we must be fain Yet hath my study bene To profit others mo Some men thereby to win And trust it shal be so For as to pleasure many I haue bene euer glad Right so to displease any I wold be loth and sad But if thou please the best And such as be of skill I passe not for the reast Good men accept good will Thou mightst with me remaine And so eschue all blame But since thou wouldst so faine Be gon goe in Gods name ¶ To the most excellent Prince Augustus Prince Electour Duke of Saxon Lantzgraue of Turing Marques of Meissen high Mareschall of thempire his singuler good Lord Ihon Sleidane wisheth health DIuers authors most excelleut prince haue setforth vnto vs many and sondrye alterations of kingdomes And God him self wold that we shuld be taught these thinges as it were with his mouth long before they shoulde come so passe And of those foure greate Monarchyes of the worlde of theyr greate aulteration and succession he taughte vs by the Prophette Daniell Whose Prophecies for the mooste parte of them are alreadye made euidente and manifest vnto vs wyth a certaine knowledge most pleasaunt and ful of consolation And of the alteration and contention that shoulde be about Relygion and Doctrine both the same prophet hathe spoken before and S. Paule comminge after him prophecieth also manifestlye But in what sorte the same shal be it is setforth and declared by mo than one or two Howe be
praiyng him also that he woulde further his suite to the Duke his maister that Luther the childe of Sathan might be punished that the noble house of Saxonie might not thorowe him be blemished And to the same effecte also he wrote to George Spalatine whom the better to perswade he said he was wholy geuen to plucke vp euillwedes out of Christes felde And after the same sorte wrote his vice Chauncelour also to degenart desyring him to moue Duke Fridericke to the imitation of his auncestors that he commit nothing vnworthy their famouse memory Whā Meltice was come into Saxonie and had exhibited his Rose he folowed his suite right stoutly Whiche thynge once knowen Luther the thirde day of Marche writeth to the Bishop of Rome letters full of submission wherin he declareth howe greuously he is complained vpon vnto the Duke whose displeasure is no smal grief vnto him besydes that he is stil called vpon to recāte which if it might be for the honoure and dignitie of the Churche of Rome he will not refuse But since that in Germany therbe many wittie wel lerned men that are hable to iudge of the controuersie it should be rather a blotte and hinderaunce to the Churche of Rome than anye furtheraunce or dignitie for he hath done no iniurie therunto But those Collectours and Pardoners who for couetousnes vttered shamefull thynges to the people haue complained and accused him without deserte for he beareth such an affection towardes him and the Churche of Rome that he will attempt nothinge againste it And the power thereof to be so great that Christ onely excepted there is nothinge in this worlde more excellent He besecheth him not to credite his enemies And of Pardons he wyll make no further mention so that hys aduersaries maye be lykewyse commaunded to kepe silence He wyll also admonishe the people in his Sermons to thinke well of the Churche of Rome that they do not ascribe vnto it the auarice of others nor yet folowe his example who thorowe the Impudencie of his aduersaries was enforced to treate it vnreuerently briefely to do all thinges for a quietnes so that no errour or false parswasion remayne in the mindes of men Before Meltitius came into Germany Themperour Maximilian was departed out of this life in Austriche the vij daye of Januarye That time wer Princes Electours Albert of Mentz Herman of Collon Rycharde of Treuers Archebyshoppes Lewes the Palsegraue Fridericke duke of Saxonie Joachin Marques of Brandenburge the kingdome of Boheme had Lewes kinge of Hungry These beynge called to an assemblie by the Archebyshop of Mentz after the custome of the Empire in the month of June mette at Franckefourt a towne by the Ryuer of Moene all except the kinge of Boheme who sent thither his depute Ladislaus Sterneberge The Archebyshop of Mentz beginneth an oratiō who speakyng much of the weightie importaunce of the thing exhorteth them vnto concord declaryng by many exāples what an heape of euilles the dissention of the Princes Electours had brought into Germany within their fathers memorye And that they should nowe be all of one mynde and consent it is so muche the more requisite for that the greater daunger hāgeth ouer them by the Turke and others which seke the spoyle of Germanye Two did aspire to the dignitie of thempire Charles Archeduke of Austriche who had three yeres before succeded Ferdinando kinge of Spaine his graundfather on his mothers side And Fraunces the Frenche kynge whiche foure yeares past had vanquisshed the Heluetians at Marignane and possessed the Dukedome of Millan And the kynge of Spaines Ambassadoures were comen alreadye to Mentz whiche is fyue miles from Franckefurt And the Frenche Ambassadours staied at confluence a Towne of the Archebishoppes of Treuers where the Rhine and Moselle mete From whence either partie by letters and messagers commended eche their prince to the Electours with the beste reasons they had to perswade Especially the Frenche mē who perceiued their cause to be lesse fauoured for that they differed frō the Germans in lāguage lawes and maners They sente therefore to the Heluetians praiynge them to further the matter to the Princes who notwithstandyng dyd cleane contrarye exhortyng them not to chose him but some one prince of Germany And the Swises also wrote to Leo the tenthe praiynge him that for asmuche as it was hys parte to inueste and confirme the Emperour beyng once chosen he woulde se that it should not be geuen to any foreine Prince And he aunswered that he heard say there was one laboured for it that might not haue it by the lawe for the kynges of Naples are tributaries to the Bishoppe of Rome and haue promysed their faith not to couet the Empire but to be content with the one or the other and that he hath admonished the princes hereof alreadye He ment in this tale Charles of Austriche for he fauoured more the Frenche kynge euer syns he subdewed the Heluetians and led awaye Maximilian Sfortia Duke of Millan captife into Fraunce whiche was the yere of our Lorde M.D.xv. aboute the Ides of Septembre with whome in Decembre folowinge he mette at Bonony and there made a perfecte league of amitie with him Touching the kingdome of Naples thus it standeth What time Manfredus the Bastarde sonne of the Emperour Fridericke the seconde made warre agaynste the Churche of Rome Clement the fourthe Byshoppe of that name in the yeare of oure Lorde M. CCCCC.xv to th entent to represse hym did that whiche his predecessor Urban the fourth was aboute to doo And sent for Charles the Erle of Gaunte of the Prouince in Fraunce into Italy and made him kynge of Sicilie and of Naples yet vnder this condition fyrst that for suche a benefite receiued he should pay yerely to the churche of Rome fortie thousand Ducates Moreouer that he shoulde at no time sewe to be Emperour nor yet take it vpon him beynge offered freely When the Princes were comen to consulte the Archebishoppe after he had talked seuerally with Fridericke Duke of Saxonie whose Authoritie was verye greate begynneth the matter whiche he saieth is diuided into three questions Whether that Fraunces the Frenche kyng or Charles the king of Spaine or els some Germane be chosen Emperour Touchinge the French kynge saieth he I suppose we are prohibited both by our lawes and our othe also wherby it is prouided that the dignitie of the Empire should not be alienated to straungers And I thinke there is no man that doubteth but that he is a foreine prince And albeit that were no let yet were it not for the commune weale For he seketh all meanes to enlarge his kingdome he hath ioyned to it Millan he will attempte the same in Germany he will warre vpon Charles whome he hateth yea and hathe proclamed it already Germanye shall be tormoiled with vprores and we ought to forese that we styrre vp no Ciuill warres If he inuade Austriche as suerly he will do shall
do one for another we shoulde also comforte the sicke therfore he which for so many causes was so greatly bouÌ„den vnto him had for his sake gathered this litle boke beyng not otherwise able to comfort him signifiyng that like as in mans body if the head do ake it greueth the rest of the membres taking the same to apperteine priuatly to euery of them so nowe that he lieth sicke the people not with oute iuste cause are all in teares and mournyng For the greatest part of Germany doth depeÌ„de vpon him and reuerence him as their chiefe ornament and refuge Afterwarde he maketh a booke of confession where he teacheth that we ought not to leane to the trust of confessioÌ„ but to the promise of God whiche forgeueth oure sinnes And that firste of all we muste confesse vs vnto God that who so confesseth him muste hate sinne and couet to amend his life That therehersall of euery sinne particularly is not necessary nor possible to be performed with diuers other things and last of vowes wherof he wrote a seueral work afterwardes In an other certaine boke he had said that he thought it expedient if by the authority of the counsel it might be permitted that all men shuld receiue the whole supper or as they vse to speke vnder both kindes Which saying for that it was contrary to the decrees of the last counsel of Laterane did offend many and among others Ihonbishop of Misene who coÌ„maunded to be taught throughoute his dioces that the whole supper was comprised vnder one kinde and condemned Luthers boke whiche thing he vnderstanding maketh answer in such sort that he layeth not the fault thereof in the bishop but in certaine other vnlearned and troublesome persons vnto whome he saith that this wishe of his that such a decre might be made by the counsell deserued no iust reprehension no more then if he had wisshed that by a decree of the counsell it might be lawfull for pristes to haue wiues whiche Pius the seconde Bishoppe of Rome saide and wished Wherefore he oughte not to be blamed for wishyng the same He graunteth this to be a Decree of the counsell of Laterane But yet neuertheles the same to be contrarye to the fyrst and eldest counselles and the aunciente maner of the churche Agayne we dispraise the men of Boheme because they receaue vnder bothe kyndes wheras we kepe vs to the one halfe onely and yet haue they to make for them the institution of Christe and the maner obserued in the churche from the Apostels time til it was now of late daies And we haue nothing to aledge against them but the counsels of Laterane whiche is a lighte and verye weake reason for what maner of couÌ„sel that was it is wel knowen euen laughed at of the Romanes theÌ„ selues And thoughe it were of neuer so greate aucthoritie Yet for as muche as they can not proue the thinge by any reason of more antiquitie it is but a very mockery But concernyng the counsell of Laterane thus it was Iulius the seconde when he was elected Byshoppe promysed by a solemne othe with in two yeares space to holde a generall counsell this was in the yere of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundreth and three But whilest he made warre one while against the Frenche kynge another while against the Uenetians and nowe with the duke of Farrare and nowe with others and troubled all Italy Nine Cardinalles departed from him and came to Millan and called a general counsell at the Citie of Pisa the .xix. day of May the yere of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundreth and eleuen to begynne at the kalendes of September folowyng the chiefest of these was Bernardinus Cruceius William of Preneste Fraunces Cossentine wyth whome were annexed the Ambassadours of the Emperor Maximilian and of Lewes the Frenche king which intended by the same counsell to depose him from his bishopprike which he had got by briberye And nowe for as muche as he had broken his othe in that he had bene Bishoppe so many yeres and called no counsel nor pourposed to do they could suffer the christian common weale to be no lenger deluded And because these letters coulde not saufly be conueighed vnto him they set them vp in all his Townes in Italy admonishinge him to appeare there in parson at the daye appoynted Iulius vnderstandynge the matter maketh answere the fyrst of August That what time he was Cardinall he desyred nothing more than a generall counsell whiche is well knowen to kinges and princes to the whole College of Cardinals For euen for this cause was AlexaÌ„der the syxt sore offended with him And that he is still of the same minde also Howe be it that the state of Italy hath of late yeres bene so troublesome and was so lefte by Byshoppe Alexander that there coulde be no counsell called in suche aduersitie of time After he coÌ„futeth their appoyntment for the shortnesse of time and the discommoditie of the place For Pise was a Towne torne and defaced with the warres of former yeres and all the countrie aboute layde waste Neyther that men can safely repayre thither by reason of the warres betwixte the Florentines and them of Seue Moreouer howe they haue none Authoritie to call it and that theyr causes alledged be most vntrewe Wherefore he commaundeth vnder the paine of excommunicatynge that no man obeye them Then called he a Counsell agaynste the nexte yeare to begynne at Rome vpon the ninetenth daye of Aprill in the Churche Laterane Where vnto subscribed one and twentie Cardynalles For this they saye is euer the Byshoppes policie when they are afrayde of a Counsell to appoyncte an other in some place mete for theyr purpose After this he warneth the Cardinalles that were agaynste hym to leaue of theyr enterprise and come to Rome offerynge them pardon but after they would not come he bannished them the xxiiij of Octobre and namely those thre which I spake of as Heretykes scisinatykes and traitours sendynge the copie of theyr prescription to Maximilian and alother kinges And because many Byshoppes of Fraunce had ioyned them selues with these Cardinalles he bannisheth them also vnlesse they forsake them and within a certeine tyme make their pâ—â—gation Againe when the cardinals had diuerse times rised him to the counsell in vaine and had sytten eyght tymes they suspends him from al as well ciuill as Ecclestasticall iurisdiction commaunding all meÌ„ ingenerall that hereafter they obey hym not Thys was in the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundred and twelue the one twentye of Aprill The same tyme at Pauie was Philippe Decius a Euntian excellently well learned who set forthe a Booke in the defence of the Cardinalles cause againste the Byshoppe of Rome Afterwardes Maximilian forsakyng the Cardinals made a league with Iulius and with Fardinando kinge of Spaine and sent to the Counsell at Rome Mathew Lang Byshoppe of Gurce which at the sametime was
speake accordyng to the difinition of the word because it waÌ„teth the visible signe heaueÌ„ly institutioÌ„ But after that he had hard of the bishops decre besides the appellation before mentioned he setforth thaÌ„ another work wherin he confirmed and mayteyned all his opinions whiche Leo had condemned In the meane time the Emperor in Flaunders hauinge set all thinges in ordre appointeth the Princes Electours to mete him at Acon the sixte daye of Octobre there to be inuested but the priuces arritsing at Collen ten miles from Acon heard of a sore plage there wherevpon they wrote to the Emperour beynge that tyme at Louaam that he woulde chouse some other place but the Townes melt whiche had bestowed great coste in preparyng of theyr houses and victualles with wordes did extenuate the force of the plage encouraginge him to come wherfore the Emperour perceuereth styll in the same mynde saying that he can not so lightly alter and breake the law of Charles the forth which had thus ordeined it Wherefore the xxi daye of Octobre come thirther the three Archebyshoppes of Menty Collen and Treuers with the Ambassadours of the Duke of Saxonie and of the Marques of BraÌ„denburge For the duke of Saxonie lay sicke at Collen The next daye they rode forthe to mete the Emperour whom lyghting of theyr horses they receiued honorably by the mouthe of my Lorde of Mentz he answereth them as gently by the Cardinal of Salisburge Thus ioynynge together they marched towardes the towne Before the gate mete him the Paulsograue The Princes Electors had about a thousande and syre hundred horses some demy launces some archers The Emperour had two thousand al in gorgeous apparell Iohn the duke of Cleaue had foure hundred horsemen fayre Armed they contended muche with the Saxons whether should go before other in so muche that the prease beyng great the companies fayre and many suche as the lyke hath bene seldome sene in Germany the night came vpon theÌ„ before they could entre the Towne on eyther syde the Emperour rode the Archebishoppe of Collen and Mentz next after folowed the Ambassadour of the kynge of Boheme also the Cardinal of Sedune Salisburge and Croye and the Ambassadours of other kynges Prynces The Ambassadour of the Byshoppe of Rome and of the kinge of Englande were onely absent whiche was thought to be done of a set porpose lest they goinge after the Princes of Germany should seme to diminishe the dignitie of them that sent them The Emperour was broughte into oure Ladies Churche where after he had made hys prayers he talked with thelectors a part and so went to his lodgyng The next daye they met againe at the church where was suche prease of the people that haruesed men had muche a do to kepe them backe In the middes of the Churche hangeth a large crowne the floore vnderneth was covered with clothe of Arras vpon the which Themperour laye downe gruflynge whilest my lorde of Collen said ouer hym certaine prayers whiche ended the Archeby shoppes of Mentz and of Treuers toke him vp and led him to our Ladyes anltar Here falleth he downe agayne and when he had sayd his praiers he was led into his seate fayre gilted Tharchebishoppe of Collen goeth to Masse and when he had a litle proceded he demauÌ„deth of him in Latin whether he wil kepe the Catholicke faith defende the church ministre Iustice restore the Empire defende the widowes the fatherles such others as be in distresse Whether he will gyue dewe reuerence to the Bishop of Rome After that he hath assented he is led vnto the aultar and taketh his othe vpon the same and so retourneth to his seate againe After this the Archebishoppe of Collen asketh the Princes whether they will perfourme and gyue him theyr faythe and allegeaunce Whiche thing promised and againe certein praiers finished he annointeth his Brest head the boughtes of his Armes and the palmes of his haÌ„des This done the Archebishoppes of Mentz and Treuers lead him into the reustry and there apparelled like a Deacon bring him agayne to his chayre And after more prayers sayde Collen accompanied wyth the other two delyuereth hym a Sworde drawen and commendeth vnto him the common wealth And againe puttinge vp the Sworde into the skabarde he putteth also a rynge on his fynger and aboute him a Roobe royalle Moreouer he reacheth hym a Scepre and an Appell of Golde representynge the shape of the rounde worlde Then all three Archebishoppes together set the Diademe vpon hys head And so led to the Aultare he sweareth agayne that he wil do the dewtye of a good Prince Afterwardes they followe conueing him vp into an higher place and set him in a seate of stone There tharchebishoppe of Mentz speakyng in the vulgare tounge wisheth him great prosperitie commendynge vnto him moste diligently him selfe and his Peres with all the states of the Empire Likewise do the Prebendes of that Churche for he is chosen fâ—â—lowe of their Colledge by an olde custome When all this is done the Organes and the Trompetes blow vp myrthe and Melody All these thynges behelde the Lady Margarate his Aunte that was â—egent of Flaunders Whan Masse was done and themperour had receiued the Lordes supper he dubbed as many knyghtes as were willyng Which honor in times past was wont to be gyuen onely to suche as had foughten manfully agaynst theyr enemies and was the rewarde of valeauntnes And nowe the maner is that kynges with the swordes drawen shall strike softely the shoulders of them that desyre the ordre whether they be of the nobilitie or Marchauntes that couet honour From the churche they came to the Palace most sumptuously hanged and arayed where the Emperoure dined and the Electours also euery man by him selfe For in the same hall were diuers tables set on eche syde the Emperours table And the Archebishoppe of Treuers was placed right ouer against themperor accordyng to the lawe of Charles the fourth That day of an auncient custome there is roosted a whole Oxe farsed wyth other Beastes A piece whereof is serued to the Emperours table the rest haue the common people Moreouer all that day there runne two Conduictes wyth Wyne free for all men After diuer theÌ„peror retornyng to his lodging deliuereth to tharchbishop of Mentz the seales of thempire the next day he maketh a supper for the Princes Electours And the daye that folowed reparynge to the Churche when he had hearde Masse he worshipped the reliques of Sainctes and amonges others as they say a cloth that our Sauioure was lapped in when he was in his swaddlynge cloutes After this the archbyshop of Mentz pronounceth that the Bishop of Rome approuynge his Creation doeth commaunde him hereafter to vse the name of Cesar The electours beyng departed out of that contagious place Cesar taketh also his iourney and arriueth at Collen aboute the fyrste of Nouembre from whence sendyng letters throughe out Germany he calleth an assemblie of the Empire at Wormes
do nothyng but that might stande with his honoure In all other thynges throughe Gods helpe he would do as shoulde become a Prince of the Empire and an obdient childe of the church What tyme this answere was geuen them After some deliberation they began to recite howe many thynges the Byshoppe of Rome had done and suffered that Luther mighte at the length retourne into the right way but that he hath kepte no parte of his promyse And that it lyeth not nowe in the Archbishoppe of Treuers to here the matter for so muche as the Bishoppe of Rome hathe taken to him selfe the same to whom onely it apperteineth to be iudge in suche causes the conclusion of theyr talke was that they said how they must procede according to the Bishoppes decree And so not longe after they burned Luthers workes Aleander was an Italian borne right skilful in the Hebrew tonge he was sometyme a Reader in Paris commynge to Rome he grewe in estimation and was first made Archebistoppe of Brunduse after that Cardinal To the same degre of dignitie came also Carracciolus When Luther vnderstoode this he calleth forthe all the studentes of Wittenberge and in the presens of many learned men he burneth the Byshop of Romes law and the decree lately published openly the tēth day of Decembre And the next day in his lecture admonisheth al men that regarde theyr saluation to beware of that Bishoppes kyngdom Afterwarde he set forth a boke wherin he sheweth the causes why he burned the Canon lawe First that it hath bene an olde custome obserued at all times that naughtie and Pestilent bokes should be burned a testimony wherof is yet in the actes of the Apostles Moreouer that it concerneth his dewtie that is baptised in Christe whiche is a professour and an open teacher of holye Scripture to impugne wycked doctrine and to teache men that is holesome and to plucke out of mēs mindes false and erronious opinions And that the same apperteineth also to many others And although that they bryng letted eyther through ignoraunce or for feare of perill do not that they oughte to do yet can that be none excuse to him vnlesse he do his dewtie Moreouer the Bishoppe of Rome and all his rable are so obstiuate and shamelesse that not onely they wyll heare no good admonitions but also condempne the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and compell men to committe open Idolatry Furthermore he supposeth howe these booke burners haue no commission to burne his bookes no more than had the Diuines of Collen and Louain of the Emperour Finally for as muche as his workes beyng burnt and the brute therof spread abroade ouer all countreis many will growe to be weaker and doubtfull supposynge they were not caste into the fyre withoute cause therefore dyd he seynge his aduersaries past all remedy burne theyr Bookes also that he might therby erecte confyrme the mindes of men Wherfore he besecheth all men that laying a syde thambitiouse and proude titles of his aduersaries they would looke nerer to the thinge that is howe wicked and pestilent opinions are conteyned in those bokes of the Law Which thinge that it maye be the better perceyued of innumerable he hath gathered a fewe thynges whiche belonge to the reproche of almightie God to the iniurie of the ciuill magistrate and to the establisshing of their owne tyranny to the numbre of thyrtie places whereby he sheweth that he had iuste cause to burne them Than prouoketh he them to shewe the reasons wherfore they burnt his workes And the cause why fewe or none haue in diuerse ages past attempted anithing agaynste the tyrannye of Antichrist he saieth hathe bene for that the Scripture hath prophecied howe he shoulde destroy his aduersaries and haue the kynges to assist him Seyng therfore that the Prophetes and Apostles haue tolde vs before of suche tyrrible thynges to come it is easye to consydre howe greate it behoueth hys crueltye to be For so commeth it to passe ordenarily in worldly matters that of the best begynnynge of thinges procedeth the worste ende Whiche after he hathe proued by diuerse examples he inuergeth agaynste the Citie of Rome whiche beyng indewed of God with many benefites and ornamentes is vtterly gone out of kynde and with her contagion hathe infected a great part of the world that this the Byshoppes ordinaūce is agaynst the lawes agaynst good customes nether is he to be suffered for that he fleeth from lawful iudgement for that he affirmeth him selfe to be aboue all lawes and iudgementes I tolde you in the fyrste Boke how Syluester Prierias wrote agaynst Luther whan he had answered him sharpely Ambrosius Catarinus an Italian toke in had to defende him setting forthe a booke of the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome to the whiche Luther aunswereth at large and interpretynge certen places of Daniell teacheth that the Byshoppes Tyrrannye is there paynted out and proueth that suche thinges as he hathe prophecied of the kyngdome of Antichriste do altogether concerne the See of Rome After this was Catarinus made Archbyshoppe of Cossent The thirde Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirde Booke DUke Fridericke obteyneth letters of safeconduict for Luther to come to Wormes there to defende his opinions and writinges before themperor and the other states and perseuereth constantly although themperor threateneth him wyth banishment and the Pope had cursed hym in the Bulle of the Lordes supper And the Prynces seuerally soughte to peruerté him The counsell of Constaunce was set before his eyes vpon which occasion mention is made of Wyclese of Iohn Hussc and of ʒ ischa a Bohemer the Sorbonistes condempne Luthers bokes Whilest the Pope and the Frenche kynge made a league with the Swisses ʒ wmglius diswadeth thē from takyng Pensions of thē Luter beyng exiled by letters patentes auoydeth The kynge of Englande writcth agaynst him Pope Leo dyeth Adrian succedeth Solyman the greate Turke hathe luckie successe in Hongary Commotions in Spaynè themperor couetyng to appease them after he had treated wyth Englande goeth thyther The Byshoppe of Constance persecuteth ʒ wynglius Troubles at Wittenberge The Annabaptistes aryse for the which there is an assemble at Norinberge The Pope sendeth thyther letters and Ambassadours The Turke taketh the Rhodes ʒ winglius hauyng set forth hys doctrine by certeyne Articles is assayled by the Papistes but in fyne the Ghospell is receyued at ʒ uricke DUke Fridericke accompaniynge the Emperour to the assemblie at Wormes had obteyned that Cesar sayde he would call for Luther and heare his matter whiche Luther vnderstanding by the Dukes letters wrote agayne aboute the latter ende of Ianuary that he was exceadyng glad that the Emperor would vouche saufe to heare this matter which in dede is a common cause And that he shal be content to do any thing that he may do with a
depute throughout the Empyre would take the matter right greuously And they lykewyse accordyng to ther office and dutie must bothe informe the Emperour therof by their letters and also see suche redresse in the thyng as apperteyneth Whiche they would be loth and vnwilling to do wherfore they desire them aduysedly to waye the matter followe good counsel for the same shal be to the Emperour most acceptable for thē selues moste profitable When the senate had made answere to the Ambassadours what their purpose was they departed shortly after the byshop of Hildesseme came vnto thē in themperours name with the like exhortation Furthermore the bishop of Strausborough writeth letters to diuers of the senatours which were gentlemen that helde their landes of hym That for as muche as they were bounden vnto him by their othe fidelitie they should as much as in thē lieth holde with the masse not suffer it to be abolished In the meane time the senate whā the thing had bene aboue two yeres in cōtrouersie the preachers called vpō thē in their sermōs daily the citezēs also were suters callig the whole nūbre of .ccc. as in matters of weight difficultie is ther accustomed doth declare that in case they shuld abolishe the masse what daūger they were in by themperour if they did it not howe muche God would be offended wherfore they graunt thē leasure to consider and require them to consulte together so that at their next assemblie by their common wyll and consent the matter may be determyned Wherfore when the daye came their sentence that were against the Masse preuayled Where vpon a decree was made the .xx. of February that the Masse ought to be suspended and layde downe vntyll suche tyme as their aduersaries could proue it to be a seruice acceptable before God And this decree to take place aswel within their Citie as without in all places so farre as their iurisdiction stretcheth and afterwarde by their letters certifie the byshop of the same which was newes to hym as heauy as leade as he wrote agayne hym selfe in his next letters There was also great dissention about Relygion certen yeares at Basill and in fyne the senate decred that there should be one vniforme doctrine through out the whole citie and touchyng the Masse whiche as yet was sayde in a fewe places after an open disputatiō had it should be determined by voyces what were to be done therewith But where as the Papistes defende their Masse with touthe and nayle and in their parsons rayled agaynst the others vnpunyshed the Burgeses chose certen to put the Senate in remēbraūce of their promise and to requyre that those Senatours which are a let to the thynge myght be displaced when this coulde not be obtayned the Citezens flocke together and mete in the gray Freres church first without Armure and after with weapons keepe the gates Towres and strong places of the Citie with watche and warde The Senate was glad to graunte them certen requestes to apease their furye referryng the cause of their iudgement that first were sent vnto them In the meane tyme certen of those that were appoynted to make prouision in the Cytie for the reste chaunced to comme into the chiefe churche and one of them with his staffe thruste at the Image of a saincte in so muche that it fell downe and brake Upon whiche occasion they serued mo in lyke case but when the Priestes came thether whiche were much offended with their doynges they because they woulde not passe their commission departed without any further bable When worde hereof was brought to the Cytizens in the market place and reporte made that their fellowes stoode in daunger of their lyues by and by were three hondred Armed men sent to the heade Churche to helpe them Whan they came thether the others were gone But leste they shoulde appeere to haue commen thyther for nothyng they breake downe all the Idols and Images they coulde fynde there and from thence goe to all other Churches and doe the lyke And when certen of the Senatours ranne foorth to appease the tumulte the Cytezens sayde vnto them that that you haue bene consulted about these thre yeres the same shall we dispatche in one houre to the intent we shall haue no more contention about images Thus did the Senate condescende to al their requestes and twelue Senatours were displaced and emonges others Henry Meltinger that tyme boroumaister and Lucius ziegler captayne of the bourgeses A decree was also made that as well within the citie as without in all their lyberties the Masse with all maner of images should be abolyshed and that the Senate from henceforth should admitte two hondreth and thre score burgeses to consulte with them of all matters cōcerning Gods glory and the common wealth These decrees made the citezens retourne home ioyfull and all their anger was wreaked vpon their images The thyrde daye after whiche was Asshe wednesdaye the images were distributed to the poore to burne for want of Fewell But what tyme they fell out about the partyng and the matter came from woordes vnto hande strypes they agreed that they shoulde be brent Wherfore there were nyne stakes or heapes made before the head churche and set a fyre and burnt And so it fortuned that the same daye wherein the byshoppes ministers are wont to marke mens foreheades with Asshes to the intent they should remembre them selues to be earth and asshes was vnto the whole citie for consuming their Idolles into asshes mery and ioyfull The men of Zurick Bernes and Solodure hearyng of this tumulte sent Ambassadours to be meanes betwene thē but tofore they came thether the matter was appeased I tolde you a lyttle before of the assembly at Spyres whiche the Emperour had appointed to cōmence at the beginning of February but it began not tyll the Ides of Marche Thither came many princes and states the Prynce electour of Saxony brought with hym Melanchton fyrst they treated of Religion and after muche decision a decree was made as we shall tell you hereafter The Byshoppes and their complices dyd what they coulde to sequestre the Duke of Saxon and other Prynces from the Cities that they should not take counsell and agree in one whiche they hoped well to brynge to passe for as muche as they dyffered in opinion touchynge the Lordes Supper And Ferdinande with his colleges callyng before them the Ambassadours of certen cities charged them sore that contrary to the Emperours decree they had altered many thynges and fynally exhorted them to be confourmable to the myndes of others lest through their dissention the assemblye be quite dissolued They make aunswere that the alteration is not iniurious to the Emperour but that they are desyrous of concorde and woulde doe anye thynge for the Emperours sake not refusynge to stande to the iudgement of a lawfull counsell When two the moste floryshynge Cyties of
be first heard to make their purgatiō especially seyng they make alwayes offer that if they maye be more ryght instructed by the scriptures they wil do nothyng obstinatly or against their dewty Wherfore they desyre hym to accepte thē in to his defence and protection and as shortly as may be to aunswer them mercyfully and louyngly by wrytyng And because the whole matter can not be declared by mouthe as he hath also commaunded therfore haue they comprehended in wrytyng what thynge so euer is nedefull for the further knowledge of the matter whiche they delyuer vnto him the Emperour aunswereth them by an interpretour that he hath heard what their sute is and lyketh well also the obsequiens seruyce that they offer in theyr Prynces behalfe wherfore whan he hath talked with his counsell he wyll make them an aunswer reasonable Fynally the twelth of Octobre he gaue them an aunswere in writing as their request was That he vnderstode by kyng Ferdinādo his brother and the residue in commission with hym of the decree made at Spyres before thei came to him and howe he is ryght sory for the dissention that is amongest them And for as muche as it is his dewtie to forsee that suche thynges happen not or at the leste whan they are chanced to see them refourmed therfore after longe delyberation had with priuie counsell of the whole matter he findeth howe the same decree was made to the intent nothyng hereafter should be altered that there should be no place for any newe secte from henceforth as there be many al ready euyll fauoured enough and that peace and concorde myght be had throughout the Empyre Therfore the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes ought of ryght to haue consented to al these thinges for both he and other Prynces set as muche by the healthe of theyr soules and tranquillitie of their consciences as they doe And he for his parte no lesse desyreth a generall counsell for a staye to the common wealth than they do whiche not withstandyng were not all together so nedefull if the lawes and decres as that of Woormes and others whiche are made by comon assente of all states myght be obserued as they them selues wyll graunte that suche decrees oughte to be fyrme and stable Whiche thynge considered and seyng that the vse and custome is that loke what the more parte of the states of the Empyre do decree the same may not be disolued by a fewe persones therfore hath he in his letters to the Duke and his fellowes commaunded them that they doe accepte this decree as ratisfied and attempte nothyng against it but obeye the same vpon theyr allegeaunce that they owe vnto hym and the Empyre If not it wyll come to passe that for aucthoritie and examples sake he must punyshe them extremely but he supposeth that his letters be already delyuered vnto them or wylbe shortelye and that they wyll obey his cōmaundemēt wherof he wold be ryght glad especialy at this tyme wherin he is credibly infourmed howe the great Turke the common ennemy of christendom is at this present marchynge through Hongarye with all his power into Germanye Wherfore it were now requysite to haue domestical concorde to the intēt this myghty and cruell ennemy myght be repulsed against whome he intendeth so sone as he shal haue stayed all thynges in Italy to bende all his force and power wherfore he trusteth that they consyderyng well the daunger wyll doe that whiche they are bounden of dutie What tyme the Ambassadours had red this aunswere they delyuered an appellation whiche was ready made to Alexander Schneissie callyng wytnes to the thyng as the maner is Who at the fyrst would not receyue it but in fyne he was content to take it and caried it to the Emperoure and the same daye at after none he retourneth and hauyng ended his other talke he sayeth howe the Emperour commaundeth them not to styre one foote out of their Inue that they wryte nothing home nor sende any of their men til he bring them further newes in payne of for fayting life goodes if they should do other wyse Why left this charge was geuen it fortuned that Michaell Cadene was not within his lodging and being hereof immediatlye certified by a seruant he wryteth the whole matter to the Senate of Norinberge and dispatcheth awaye his letters with great expedition for he was not bounde vpon fidelitie as his fellowes were At the length the last daye sauyng one of Octobre at Parma whether they were cōmaūded to folowe Nicolais Granuellane who executed the office of Cardinall Mercurine lieng sicke she weth them that all be it The Emperour taketh in euyll parte the appellation that was sent hym yet doth he neuerthelesse permytte them to retourne home in to their countrey But he commaundeth Michaell Cadene to remayne styll vnder payne of death if he disobeye the cause wherof is this The Lantgraue when he came forth had geuen hym a booke fayre garnyshed whiche conteyned briefly the somme of the Christiane doctryne to the intent he should delyuer it to the Emperour He vpon an occasion when Cesar went to Masse did present it and the Emperour agayne delyuered it to a certen Spanyshe Byshop to vnderstande what it was He fortuned to lyght on the same place where as Christ warneth his Disciples that they desyre not soueraignitie for the same is not theyr profession but the kynges of the gentyls doe vsurpe vnto them such authoritie that place had the authour emōges other things expounded declaryng the dutie of suche as be ministers of the church but he lokyng vpon it superficially when the Emperour asked hym what it was he made aunswere as though the booke toke away the authoritie of the sworde from the Christian Magistrate and permitteted only the Gentyls to vse it whiche were farre from the Christian Religion And for this cause was he stayed Granuellan sayde this moreouer howe the Emperoures pleasure was that he shoulde delyuer the lyke booke to the Byshop of Rome And where he sought to excuse his doynges and receyued no pleasaunt aunswer perceyuyng by the wordes of Granuclane what dannger he was in he tooke his horse priuely and roode to Farrare in poste and from thence goyng to Uenyse retourned home When the Senate of Norenbergh had receyued Cadenes letters before mentioned immediatly they certified the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue theyr fellowes therof the. xxiiij of Octobre the matter being debated they agreed to mete at Smalcaldia about the ende of Nouēbre Thyther came the Duke of Saxon and Iohn Frederick his sonne Erneste and Frances brethren Dukes of Lunenburgh Philip the Lantgraue and certen counsellers of George Markes of Brandenburgh moreouer these cities Strausborough Norinberge Heilprune Rutelynge Constance Menynge Campodune Ulmes and Lindaue It is mentioned before how the Prynces and certen of these Cities differed in opinion touchynge the Lordes supper wherfore they of Strausborough had already made
a league with them of Zuricke Bernes and Basyll whiche were both nerer vnto them and accorded better in Religion to the intent they myght at all tymes be able to defende them selues from iniurye The condicions were that if they shoulde be attempted with force of armes for Religion sake that then those cities should sende ayde and men as many as shal be requisite yet so that they of Strausborough shall gyne vnto euery thousand of fote men two thousād crownes by the moneth in parte of recompence Agayne if it be their chaunce to be first assauted the citie of Strausborough shal ayde them with no mē but with thre thousand crownes euerye moneth whylest the warre shall endure Moreouer if their ennemies be founde in any part of the others dominions not to escape free but to suffer accordinge to the lawe of Armes If they shall be warred vpon all at ones then euerye cytie to beare theyr owne charges Strausborough shall in tyme of peace sende vnto Zuricke when they may conuenientlye ten thousande poundes of gunne powder and as many rasers of Wheate vnto Basyll Wherof shall be nothyng spent but in tyme of warre then to delyuer it out to the townes men vpon a reasonable price If they shall come to ayde them of Strausborough they maye spende of the powder so muche as shall be nedefull and in the warre common to them both they to paye the one halfe for the same This league was made for fyftene-yeares the fyft daye of Ianuary When this was knowen Fridericke Palatyne presydent of the counsell imperiall addressed his letters vnto them aboute the ende of the same moneth signifiyng howe it is commonly reported that they haue made a league with certen townes in Swycerlande whereat he marueyleth not a lyttle that they whiche are bounden to the Empyre should enter into league with others without the consent of the Emperour and the states of the Empyre and all be it that moste men affirme it to be trewe yet wyll not he credite the thynge before he shal vnderstande it by them selues Wherfore he requyreth them to declare playnely by wryting vnto hym whiche representeth the place of the Emperour what the league is and what conditions they are agreed vpon The Protestauntes had appoynted an other assemblye at Norinberge whyther came the Ambassadours of certen Prynces and cyties who for so muche as it was thought howe the Emperour would call a counsell shortly agreed vpon this only that in the meane tyme they should consulte what to propounde in the same and euerye moneth to aduertyse the Duke of Saxon what thynges they thought mete that the reste myght vnderstande it by hym And thus departed the fourth Ides of Ianuarye In the meane whyle the Emperour whiche was come to Bononye the fyfte daye of Nouembre the one and twentye daye of Ianuarye dispatchynge his letters into Germanye sommoned a parliament of all states at Auspurge the eyght daye of Apryll chyefiy for the cause of Religion the Turky she warre After the foure and twenty daye of Februarye he was not wtithout great pompe and solempnitie inuested by the Byshop of Rome whan he had fyrst taken his othe to be the cōtinuall defendour of the Byshoppes dignitie Before he came at Bononye as he should enter within the lymites of the byshoppes iurisdiction there were three Cardinalles sent by the byshop of Rome to demaunde and take his fidelitie that he should neuer do any iniury to the libertie of that churche He aunswered in such sorte as he declared that he would lose no part of his right signifiyng secretly that Parme and Placence belonging to the Dukedome of Millan whiche townes the churche of Rome possessed at the same tyme. Departing out of Bononie he created Fridericke Duke of Mantua In tymes past Mantua was a free citie of the Empyre but afterwardes being sore afflicted with vprores ciuile tumultes they chose Lewys Gonzaga to be their gouernour for expulsyng of a Tyraunt called Passeryne the yeare of our Lorde M .ccc. xxvii whose nephewes sonne Iohn Frances the Emperoure Sigismunde created Marques the yeare M. cccc.xxxiiij the seconde daye of Septembre and remayneth in the same estate vntil this time The first that came to Auspurge was the Duke of Saxony with his sonne Iohn Fridericke in the trayne that came behynde was Philip Melaucthō Ihon Iselbe Agricola Iustus Ionas and George Spalatine the cytie Ulmes sent to mete and welcome the Emperour but they were longe or they myght be suffered to come to his speche in fine he requyred them to renounce the protestation of the yeare before and promesse to be obedient from henceforth The men of Auspurge had mustered eyght hondreth footemen to kepe their Towne whan the Emperour hearde of it he commaunded them to be discharged and he appoynteth and sweareth others in theyr steade requyred one gats of the Cytie to be delyuered vnto hym certen dayes before that he came thether Cattinarie that was newly made Cardinall dyed this tyme at Isprouke and Granuellane had his rowme And about this tyme also the ladye Elenor with the kynges two sonnes Fraunces and Henry whiche had bene pledges for their father in Spayne foure yeares came nowe home into Fraunce After a whyle that the byshop had inuested themperour he sent vnto king Ferdinādo Peter paulle Uerger his legate with great authoritie Unto whome he gaue in cōmaundemēt especially to deuise with Ferdinando that he shuld endeuour to let hinder that prouincial coūsel of Germany that in no wyse there should any be holden He handleth his cōmissiō right diligently seketh al meanes possible to hynder the Lutherians and extended his lyberalitie towardes Iohn Faber Eckius Chocleus and Nanseas that they should play the men and made Eckius a Cannon of Ratisbonne as the bishops legate in whose presence the right of Election ceasseth the Emperour came to Auspurg at the Ides of Iune and in his company the Cardinall Campegius with the byshoppes full authoritie The Emperour had purposed to haue rydē into the citie in the middes ther Ferdinando and the Cardinall but because it was against the maner of the Empyre the Archebyshop of Mentz and Collen rode before hym and after hym Ferdinando and Campegius The nexte day was Corpus Christi day the Emperour therfore wēt deuoutly to the churche and the Cardinall of Mentz sayde Masse All the Prynces were present except the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue the two Dukes of Lunenboroug George of Brandenburge and the Countie Anholde The Emperour in dede had both wylled them to be there and to put their preachers to silence but thei neither came them selues nor yet imposed silence to their preachers which they sayd they could not for as muche as the same assemblie was appointed to the intent al mē might speake their consciences Two dayes after was a proclamation made that the preachers on both sydes should kepe silence til the
from fleshe on dayes forboden not to faste in the Lent ceason not to cōfesse their synnes is an obstinate frowardnes and not Christian lybertie These beyng recyted they confessed howe there were many thynges that woulde be refourmed The Emperour promyseth to doe his endeuour that both these thynges maye be redressed and the state of the churche also refourmed sayeth howe he trusteth surely for as muche they are agreed vpon dyuerse thynges that the Protestantes wyl retourne to the bosome of the churche and submitte them selues vnto hym whiche if they doe there is nothynge but they maye be bolde to craue and loke for at his hande but if not then must he nedes do as becometh the protectour and defendour of the churche Wherunto the Prynce of Saxony aunswered for him selfe and his fellowes For as muche as they promised at the fyrst that if they went about the reconsiliation of Religion they woulde then doe what so euer they myghte with a saufe conscience Moreouer if that any errour coulde be founde in their doctrine and proued by the testimonies of Scripture they would not stande in it furthermore that if they requyred a further declaration it should be geuen And nowe seynge that of this their doctryne some articles be admytted and some refused it is requisite that they shoulde confyrme theyr thynges the more playne and manifest reasons wherfore they desyre to haue a copie of the confutation After two dayes when the Emperour had taken long delyberation he sayde they shoulde haue a copie but vnder this condition that they should put forth no part therof in prynte Also he wyll haue no further disputation in the matter requyryng them to be ordered by hym but they shewe hym howe they can not receyue it vppon that condition The next daye whiche was the syxt of August the Lantgraue departed from thence with a small company leauing his deputes The Emperour toke this displeasauntly and commaunded the Senate that they shoulde suffer none to departe out of the Citie by the posternes in the nyght ceason And the nexte daye sendyng for the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes he dissembled not his displeasure requyryng them to tary tyll the later ende and he wyll do what he can to make a cōcord They excuse the Lantgraue by his wyues sycknes and shewe hym howe he hath lefte his deputes and saye that they wyll not departe Notwithstandynge they maruell to see the gates kept with watche warde For it hath not ben thus accustomed in any assemblye of the Empyre Cesar excuseth the matter to be done sor a murther committed and for the dissention that is betwene the Germaynes and Spanyardes but if any lyke trouble chaunce hereafter he wyl do nothing therein without makyng hym fyrst priuie to it whiche is high Marschall of the Empyre The Duke answereth that if any thyng happen wherin his duty is requyred he wyll be ready as it be commeth hym And so were the warders remoued from the gates the same daye About this tyme ended the warre of Florence wherof I shal somewhat declare by the waye What tyme Rome was sacked as I sayd before and the byshop taken the Florentines expulsed the house of Medices and after ayded the Frenchemen at the sege of Naples But when the byshop was restored to the intent he myght reuenge his kynsfolkes sending his Ambassadours into Spayne made a league with the Emperour promysing him emonges other thinges to crowne hym in case he wyll punyshe the Florentynes after their demerites The Emperour was content and shortly after arriueth at Genes Thyther came the Ambassadours of Florence to craue pardon Unto whome Cesar after he had sore blamed them made this aunswere Albeit they had deserued great punyshement yet might their fact be pardoned in case they would receiue againe the byshop of Rome for other way is there none to haue peace When they were come home with this answere after that the matter longe and muche debated the opinion of one or two preuayled whiche sayde they would defende their lybertie to the vttermoste of their power and inferred that not only the byshop but also the Emperour hym selfe was through long warres muche impoueryshed and wanted money Notwithstāding whan the Emperour was come to Bonony thei sent other Ambassadours but thei through the byshoppes counsel would not be receiued Wherfore being beseged with the armies of the bishop of Rome and the Emperour whan they had prolonged the warres almoste by the space of one yere In the moneth of August they fell to a composition with Ferdinando Gonzago the Emperours general of his armie Afterwardes the Emperour addressing his moste effectuall letters appointed Alexander Medices vnto whome he had promysed Margaret his bastarde daughter in marriage to be their Prince and ruler And he builded there a maruelous strong Castell the begynning of their seruitude and bondage When the towne was ones rendred the byshop of Rome Clement chopped of the heades of certen of the Senatours and set a new ordre in the commune wealth being assured that Alexander should be their gouernour according to the Emperours promise Now to our purpose agayne After muche debatinge at the Ides of August seuen were chosen on eche syde to frame the matter to a concorde Of the chatholyke syde were these the Byshop of Auspurg Henry Duke of Brunswike two lawayers and thre deuines Wimpine Eckius Cocleus of the Protestātes George Marques of Brādenburg Iohn Friderick of Saxon two Lawyers thre diuines Melancthon Brentius and Schnepsius These agreed vpon diuerse thinges but their chief controuersie was about the Masse the marriage of Priestes the Lordes supper monasticall vowes and the iurisdiction of Byshoppes but especially for the Masse and Uotaries for herein woulde the catholikes nothyng at all relent For other matters though they dyd myslyke them yet they sayde myght be suffered vntyll the counsell They permitted also priestes to haue wyues suche as were maried already but others not all this for auoyding of further trouble touchyng the power and Iurisdiction of byshoppes they of Saxony graūted more than the Lantgraues men the Dukes of Lunenburgh or they of Norinberge would allowe Then toke they a lesse numbre on eyther side thre Melancthon with the two Ciuiliās and Eckius with as many But in fyne they could not agree Whylest they were consulting together the Emperour doth solicite George the Marques of Brandenburge by the byshop of Mentz and others of the same familie and the Duke of Saxon by Friderick Palsgraue the Erle of Nasso and by George Truckesse that thei should leaue of their enterprise He sought to drawe awaye the Duke of Saxon from the reste as pryncipal and where he desyred to be inuested in his Duckdome after the custome of the Empyre he denied it vnlesse he would first reconcile him self to the churche of Rome and tolde to the other playnely that vnlesse he wold obeye he would take from him
haue no suche councell as hathe bene promysed what sorowe and grief that thynge wyll be to mens hartes it is easy to coniecture Agayne if the byshop shall refuse the dewe examination triall of the matter it is to be feared lest the cōmon welth and state of the churche shall be tourmoyled with sorer tempestes thā it hath bene hitherto But where as the states of the Empyre haue in all theyr assemblies cōdescended vpon an vpright counsel they distrust not but they will perseuer also in the same vtterly refusing the snares and bondes wherwith the bishop intendeth craftly to catche thē trusting that other kynges Princes wyl do the like For the bonde that he goeth about is full of craft deceitfulnes neyther can there be true iudgement vnlesse the myndes of all men be franke free so that if he procede thus hold the counsel after his owne pleasure they wyll cōmitte the whole matter vnto God whiche doubtles will defende his owne cause doctrine Howe be it in case the matter should so come to passe that the byshop should be permitted so to do they wold take further aduisement what were thā nedeful to be done And if perchaunce they shal be sūmoneth se that they shal be able to do any thing for the glory of Gods holy name they wil come thither by saufe cōduict whā they are made wel assured or send their Ambassadours to propounde what soeuer the necessitie of the cause shall requyre neuerthelesse vnder that condition that they wyll in no wyse admytte those requestes of the byshop nor acconsente to any counsell that is contrarye to the decrees of the Empire For they can not see howe this interprise of the byshop can make for the contynuall peace of the churche and the common wealth Neyther is it also semelye for hym so to doe in case he would execute the office of a true Pastour whiche is to haue a care for all men and to feede them with the true doctrine of Christ Whiche thynges standing thus they desyre them to cary this theyr aunswere to the Emperour and the bishops and that the Emperour whom thei do reuerently acknowledge to be their chief souereigne appointed of God do not take the same in euyll parte but that he woulde fynde the meanes that the counsell myght be had according to the decrees of the Empyre and that the whole controuesie may be decided by vertuous men and nothyng suspected For certenly this appertayneth to his cōmendation and vertue to employe al his power and aucthoritie to the aduauncement of true doctrine and not to the establyshynge of theyr crueltie whiche nowe these many yeares haue persecuted innocent persones only for the profession of the Gospell and holsome doctryne For the residue they committe all that euer they haue vnto the Emperour neyther is there any other thyng whiche they wyll not be glad to doe for his sake At the same tyme with kyng Ferdinando was the byshoppes Ambassadour Peter Paule Uerger whome I spoke of in the former booke And because the byshop of Rhezo was an aged man and sickly Clement commaunded Uerger that in case any impedimēt happened vnto him he should supplie his rowme but he geueth hym an especiall charge that he beare alwayes in memory what his mynd and wyll is touchyng the counsell Let hym loke therfore that in no wyse he doe passe the boundes of his commission no not one fynger breadth nor that he dryue not hym to suche an exigent that he must of necessitie kepe a counsel though king Ferdinādo would neuer so fayne haue it so and vrged hym streightly therunto ✚ The nynth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the nynth Booke GEorge Duke of Saxon marketh suche as fauoured the Gospel and accuseth Luther to the Electour of Saxony his cosyn Pope Element meting the Frenche kyng at Marseilles geueth his Niece in marriage to Henry Duke of Orleaunce The Dake of Wirtenberge dryuen out of his countrey Henry the eight kyng of Englande putteth away Quene Katherine his wyfe and forsaketh the Pope The Pageaunt of the spirite of the graye freers of Orleaunce is recited The Lantgraue recouereth the Duke dome of Wittemberge The agrement betwene kyng Ferdinando and the Duke of Saxon and the articles of peace betwixt Ferdinando and 〈…〉 ich Duke of Wirtemberge are rehersed Clement dieth Paule of the house of Fernese succedeth persecutiō at Paris by reason of certen placardes the kyng pourgeth him selfe to the Germaynes therfore The Emperour taketh the citie of Tunnes Moore and the byshop of Rochester are beheaded Pope Paule by his legate Uergerius sommoneth the counsell of Mantua wherfore the Protestauntes metyng at Smalcalde sende their aduyse in wrytinge The Lorde Langey being sent thether by the kyng of Fraunce solliciteth them to a league and debated diuers matters wher vnto the Protestauntes made aunswere The kyng of Englande also sent thether to declare what woulde be the ende to attende for suche a counsell The league of Smalcalde is renewed into whiche are newly admitted sondry Prynces and Cities WHan they had made this aunswer they appoynted diuines and lawyers to delyberate vpon the action for the counsell to come and determined to set forth the byshops aunswere in prynte and communicate the same to forein kynges and nations Also to sende Ambassadours to the Iudges of the chamber who contrary to the Emperours proclamatiō graunted out proces against certen in causes of Religion whose iudgement vnles they surceased they would refuse Moreouer to sende an Ambassade to the Archebyshop of Mentz and to the Palsgraue which were intercessours And last of all to reporte vnto the Emperour the whole matter in wryting I haue tolde you oftener than ones howe Duke George of Saxony bare malice to Luther priuely and hated his doctrine openly And where as he vnderstode that diuers of his subiectes did holde opinion that they ought to receyue the Lordes supper after the commaundemēt of Christe he charged the Ministers of his churches to geue vnto all suche as after the olde custome at Easter confessed their synnes and receiue the Sacrament after the byshop of Romes lawe certen tokens whiche they should afterwardes deliuer vnto the Senate to the intent it myght be knowē who were of the Romyshe and who were of Luthers opinion So were there founde in Lipsia whiche is the head Towne of that countrey to the numbre of lxx without tokens They had consulted with Luther before what was nedefull to be done Who wrote vnto them that suche as beleued certenly howe they ought to receiue the whole supper should doe nothing against their owne conscience but rather suffer death Wherfore being thus encouraged they sticke vnto it and whan the Prince called them before hym geuing them two monethes respite to deliberate and they woulde
confirmyng of the lordes supper of penaunce absolution matrimony vnction of the bond of charitie of the dignitie of the churche and of the authoritie to establishe the weale publicke of images masse and ministration of the sacramentes of the discipline of the churche bothe for the ministers and the people In the moneth of May the Protestantes wryting their letters frō Regenspurg to the Frenche kynge entreate for such as at the same tyme in Fraunce for the profession of the gospell wer partly in prison partly in exile partly hyd in corners and led a miserable lyfe And because many were receyued into fauour incase they woulde abiure they require that he woulde release them from that condicyon declarynge howe heynous a matrer it is to wounde the conscience The cause of thys persecution was by a sentence geuen agaynst the Merindolans in the prouince by the president Bartholomew Chassanie a lawyer which beyng terrible and cruell beyonde measure put the poore men in a wonderful feare not withstanding the full execution therof was differred tyll an other tyme and the persecution of thys yere was but a balle playe in comparison of that whiche followed foure yeares after as shal be recited in hys place Whylest these thynges were done at Regenspurge the Duke of Cleaue hauing themperour hys heuye Lorde for the possession of Gelderlande goeth priuely into Fraunce appoynting such as he would haue with hym a day and a place wher they going an other way should mete hym what tyme therfore he arryued at Paris aboute th ende of Aprill being receiued of the kynges officers and conducted throughe Orleans the sixte daye of Maye he came to the kyng at Ambose a towne in Turin by the Riuer of Loire who imbracing him none otherwise than the father would his owne sonne sent word immediatly to the kyng of Nauarre and hys syster that they shoulde repayre vnto hym with all expedition and brynge theyr Daughter with them for they wer the same time in Gascoigne And after they wer coommen the kyng by and by began to entreate of the maryage And albeit the parentes than did not greatly lyke it and the yonge mayde also was somewhat vnwyllyng not somoch of her owne iudgement or contempte of hym as by the whispering and perswasyon of sertayne whych dispysed Germanye as rude and barren in comparison of the delycacye and pleasauntenes of Fraunce yet vanquished by the kynges authoritye whiche iudged the same affinitie very fit for hys pourpose at the last they gaue place Wherfore at the Ides of Iune the maryage was solemnised the kynge hymselfe leadyng the bryde hys nece to the churche and the Cardinall of Turnon played the prest The kynge gaue them a goodly dyner And ther were thambassadours of Roome Englande Portugall Uenise and Saxonye For themperours had made an excuse After a fewe dayes the Duke retourned homewarde leauing his yong spouse in Fraunce whom her mother woulde haue to remayne with her tyll she wer of rype yeares for a man Before the Dukeof of Cleaue came into Fraunce the kyng had enlarged the Admirall that we spake of before and sent hym home to hys owne house and after in the moneth of May commaunded hym to come vnto hym whom receiued most gently he restored to hys former dignitie and called as it wer out of hel into light agayne and after a straung example and seldome heard of made the sentence geuen agaynst hym by all the princypal iudges of hys realm cleane frustrate partlye for hatred of the constable as it is thoughte and partly at the requeste of madame Destamps whych was allyed to the Admirall by a new affinitie Therfore Memorancie the Counstable which loued not thadmirall his egall and was oute of the kynges fauoure for themperours passage as before is sayed beyng had in contempt gotte hym home and led a priuate lyfe where before he had ruled the Kynge wholye hymselfe alone ✚ The fourtenth Boke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concernyng the state of relygion and the common Weale duryng the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fourtenth Booke IN the processe of the communication they treated of an order to be establyshed in the churche sondry aduyses and aunswers bee there gathered Eckius dispray syng the booke there presented accuseth hys fellow collocutours Themperoure hauing intellygence of the Turkes commyng remitreth thys colloquie to the counsel Fregose Rincon thambassadours of the French kynge to the greate Turke at taken and slayne Wherupon the Bastarde of Maximilyan is arested The Turke taketh possession in the cytie of Buda Thēperoure arryueth at Argiers The plage is in Germany and great calamities in Austriche A supplication of the princes of Austriche to kynge Ferdinando that they myght haue the Gospell Wherunto he aunswereth After the ouerthrowe in Hongary an assemblye was holden at Spires where Oliuier beeing for the French kynge made a longe Oration Cardinall Maron the Popes Ambassadour offereth a counsell at Trcent Luther Wryteth a booke intitled the sermon of Soldiours comparyng papistry with the Turkes Alcorane The warre beyng proclaymed betwene the Frenche kyng and the Emperour Marten van Rossem inuadeth Brabante decrces are made in Fraunce agaynste the Lutheranes Farell preacheth at Mentz ABoute the ende of Aprill the disputation began as I shewed yon before but Eckius was vnpatient and froward for both he abhorred the booke and mislyked hys fellowes and a lyttell after fell into an agewe so that he coulde not bee there yet went his fellowes to him and conferred with hym of al thynges And certen places of the boke exhibited were throughe conference amended by common assent but of some other they coulde not agree of the churche and authoritie therof of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Chryst of the recytall of synnes of satisfaction of the vnitie order of thecclesiastical ministers of sainctes of masse of the vse of the whole sacramente of the single lyfe So was the booke deliuered vp to themperoure as it was corrected and the Diuines of the Protestantes had written theyr mindes vpon these forsayd opinions which were leafte in controuersy this was the last of Maye Themperoure commendeth theyr good endeuour and lyketh it well And incase the matter herafter do so require he exhorteth thē to shew the like good-will and dilygence Than in the eyght day of Iune in the consistorie before the Princes and other states he maketh relation what hathe ben done and howe farre they haue proceded howe the collocutours haue handled the matter dilygentely and haue reconcyled dyuerse weyghty articles of doctryne And touching the rest that are not yet agreed vpon the diuines of the Protestantes haue opened they re myndes After he exibiteth vnto ether of them boothe the wrytinges requiring them that so shortly as may bee they woulde consulte thervpon and vtter theyr mindes in either of them And moreouer would consyder howe the state of the weale publike
the riuer of Uisurge and ioyne themselues vnto him Wherfore he goeth besegeth Warolbuttell the chiefe castel of his dominion constrayneth the people in all places to geue hym theyr saythe by an othe In the meanetyme the Lantzgraue at the commaundement of his fellowes gathereth in hys owne countrey to the nombre of seuen thousande men thre enseignes of foote men and aboute a thousand and sixe hundreth horsemen With thys power and with .xxiii. pieces of ordenaūce he marcheth to Northeme thither came vnto him duke Ernest of Brunswicke the sonne of Philip sent by the Duke of Saxon with a thousande horsemen and thre thousande footemen syxe thousande of them that were leuyed in hys owe dominyon and with xii felde peces When the Duke of Brunswicke vnderstode this leavynge the syege of the Castell whyche the garrison within defended manfullye he tourned an other waye and scrapynge together all the monye he myghte gette payeth the soldiours whyche were readye to slyppe asyde and after marchynge forwarde encampeth hymselfe at Calfelde whyche Uillage was a myle from the Lantzgraues campe In thys troublesome state Duke Ericus of Brunswicke and his mother a wydowe Iohn Marques of Brandenburge sonne inlawe to Duke Henry with certen others intreate for peace But the Lantzgraue and the Saxons saye howe they can doe nothynge herein but by the cōsent of theyr fellowes Therfore doe they make suite to duke Moris praying hym to perswade the Lantzgraue hys father inlaw He followeth theyr requeste and whan he came into the Campe the xvi daye of October he propoundeth the whole matter and desyreth that he myghte bee permytted to treate the peace But the Lantzgraue excuseth the matter as he dyd beefore The nexte daye certen bandes of Horsemen of the Duke of Brunsewyckes came nere vnto Northeme and skermyshed with the Lantzgraues Horsemen but beynge repulsed with shotte they retourne into they re Campe. The same daye at nyghte Duke Mauryce sollyciteth agayne the Lantzgraue And for because he hathe promysed Duke Henrye and hys frendes to take paynes in the thynge he desyreth to haue some condycyons propounded whych yf Duke Henry shall refuse he maye honestly leaue the matter The Lantzgraue than propoundeth suche condicyons as there was no doubte but they wolde be refused Duke Morys sendeth Chrystopher Ebleb and Comerstrate a Ciuilyan to make hym the offer In the meane while came worde how the Duke of Brunswycke was commyng with all hys power to gette the hille that was nere vnto the Lantzgraues Campe. But the Lantzgraue came fyrste thyther and leauynge three bandes of Horsemen and certen enseygnes of Footemen to defende the Campe he remoueth hys whole Armye vnto the same Hylle Not longe after they beganne to skyrmishe on bothe partyes Whylest these thynges were a working the Ambassadours of Duke Mauryce retourne they shew hym how Duke Henrye aunswered franckly and committeth hym selfe wholy to Duke Moris and wil no more impugne relygion from henseforth the matter beynge debates to and froe whan Duke Moris was verey ernest the Lantzgraue sheweth hym howe thys is the onlye way to haue peace that he put in sufficyente warrantyse for Relygion that he yelde hymselfe into the custodye of Duke Morys and delyuer hys whole prouince vnto hym and looke what Duke Morys shal iudge hym to paye for the charges of that warre for the harmes donne and of the controuersye betwixte hym and the Cytie of Goslarye the same to be ratifyed these condycyons dooeth the Lātzgraue permitte that Duke Morys as intercessoure shall propounde whiche yf he wyll receyue after conference had herin with the Duke of Saxon and the Cyties that bee nere he sayeth shal be concluded With thys commissyon Duke Morys sendeth agayne hys Ambassadours who whattyme they retourned bryng word that there is good hope but in this hurly burly and conflictr together ther can nothing be ryghtly dōne and therfore had nede of a trewes durynge the treatye Than was it almoste nyghte and by the Lantzgraues permission trewes was taken from that tyme tyll the nexte daye at nyghte In the meane season goeth Duke Morys and talketh with the Duke of Brunswicke that he myght perswade hym But he cleane refuseth all those condicyons and propoundeth others farre vnlyke them and in communication with some of Duke Mauryee counsellours within these three houres sayeth hee it shall appere whether the Lantzgraue or I bee Lorde of the Worlde as Haunyball sayde to Scipio He also brake the truse made geuyng the charge vpon the Lantzgraues forragers Wherfore the Lantzgraue hearyng what condicyons Duke Henrye had propounded he breaketh of all the treatye and thanked Duke Moris for his paines the .xx. day of October the Duke of Brūswicke by hys counsellours proueth againe Duke Moris and requireth that they maye mete agayne in a conuenyent place betwixt both campes but the Lantzgraue wolde not Than Duke Moris proclameth warre also agaynst the Duke of Brunsewycke which thyng he tolde hym before that he woulde doe vnlesse he agreed of the peace sendynge to hym hys letters from Mulluse After thys whan it was farre in the nyght the Lantzgraue sent before Conrade Haustē with eyght guydons of horsemen and aboute twelue thousande footemen with the ordenaunce he hym selfe with the rest of his force followeth after accompanyed with the two Dukes Moris and Ernest Whan the day began to appeare the forewarde came to a certen strayte vppon the toppe of an hill not far from the Duke of Brunswickes camp after also the Lantzgraue with the resydew of hys armye Here was a sore conflict and by reason of the straytnes of the place whych could not be passed but one way only the fyght was a good whyle doubtefull But in that same instant the Lantzgraue shotynge of hys Ordenaunce repulsed the enemye After takynge delyberation whan they had found other places also wher they might passe through the Lātzgraue auaunced some parte of hys armye and shotte amonges his enemyes with hys greate pieces There the Duke of Brunswicke sendeth a trompet to Duke Moris and desyreth a comunication but the Lantzgraue makynge no aunswer fyrst bringeth through all his armye than setteth them in order of battel and dischargeth hys peces at them Than agayne come other two messagers from Duke Henrye making the lyke request vnto whom the Lantzgraue made aunswer that other condicion of peace was there none but that the Duke and hys eldest sonne muste come and yelde themselues vnto hym If they so doe well and good yf not I wyll proue sayeth he what I can doe thys shew hym and conclude briefly Here goeth Duke Moris in hād agayne with his father inlawe all the armye sayeth he is conueyhed through Now what hope is therof peace I wil saieth the other that Henry and his sonne shall submitte themselues vnto me If they shall refuse I wyll trye it by battell Whan he had thys aunswer Duke Moris goeth agayne and speaketh with Brunswicke But the
contrary to faith and promyse some greater mischief should be wrought against him the Cardinall with a small trayne goeth to Creme sendeth for Hierome to come speake with him But he fearyng treason came not before he knewe assuredly that it was the Cardinall Whan thei had talked and conferred together and the Cardinall promysed largely to trauell in his cause they take their iourney both together And the Cardinall sent one or two of his company before to aduertise the Duke of their comming Than doth he cōtrary to that Octauius had signified sende playne worde howe he can not restore him And albeit the messengers sent being men graue witty spake many things to mitigate his fury yet perseuered he styl in the same Wherfore the Cardinal whan he had brought Palauicine agayne to Creme retourneth to Trent Nowe had certen of the Nobilitie before this whiche hated hym also conspired his death They hiring certen desperate murtherers wayte an occasion and many tymes seuerally come abroade with the same garde after them and eche of them pretende to do it for their priuate enemies And in the meane season euery of them demaunde of their men priuely whether thei wilfaith fully take their parte in reuenging a wrong done vnto them as they sayd by the Dukes Stewarde Who promyse their seruice not only in that but also to kyll the Lorde himself About this same tyme his father Paule the third wryteth vnto him that he should take hede to him selfe the tenth daye of December For the starres do prognosticate vnto hym some great misfortune the same day For the byshop was much geuen not only to Astrologie but also to Negromancie as it is certenly affirmed Whan the Duke had receiued his fathers letters he was in feare and carefulnes And whan that day was come he goeth out of the castell in his horse litter with a great company to view the fortification of the towne that he had begone The conspiratours were there also but whan they coulde not there accomplishe the thing desired they staye and whan he retourned home wayte vpon him and as it had bene of duty goe before him to the nombre of .xxxvi. And whan he was come with his horselitter into the castell they plucke vp the drawe bridge immediatlye that no mo shoulde followe after there by and by they approche him with their swordes drawen and calling him bitterly tyraunt sleye him within the horselitter and murther at the same tyme with him his chaplayne the maister of his horse and fiue Almaines of his garde After they runne vp and downe the castell and spoyle altogether finding great treasure and sommes of mony whiche he had appointed for the fortificatiō of the citie In the meane time was a great concourse of people about the castel inquiring what the matter ment that they heard suche noyse and crying within They make aunswer from aboue that they haue kylled the tyraunt and recouered the aunciēt libertie of the citie But where they could hardly make them to beleue the thing whan the citezens had warraunted their liues and assured them of pardon they hange out the dead body by a chaine ouer the walle and after they had swynged it a whyle to and fro they let it fall into the ditche The people came running to it iobbed it in with their daggers spurned it with their fete So great and mortal hatred they bare him After cōsulting of y◠matter they aduertise Ferdinādo Gōzage by their letters sent in post what was chaūced geue thē selues wholy to thēperour tuitiō desire to haue ayde sent thē with al spede Who sending thither a garrison in hast taketh the citie sweareth thē to be true to themperour After he writeth of al things to themperour desiring to know his pleasure herein They of Parma wer also moued to submit thēselues vnto themperour But they sending letters to the Byshop of Rome say they wyll stil remaine vnder his obeysaunce and refuse not the Father being slayne to doe homage to his sonne Octauius and acknowledge him for their Prince This is the somme of the newes which were reported to be sent vnto the Emperour and wherof the states were made partakers But others declare y◠matter to be far otherwyse saye it was pourposly done that a fewe howres after y◠the murther was cōmitted Gōzage was at the gates of the citie with a garrison but I can affirme nothing How soeuer the matter was al mē confesse that Peter Aloise was a very wicked a mischeuous fellow there be bokes in Italiā which recite his vngracious detestable lustes amonges the whiche this is one of all others moste notable wherby he is saide to haue enforced buggered with Cosmus Cherie Byshop of Fanen by the ayde of his seruaūtes that helde him Whiche filthie acte so inwardly greued that other caytif that shortly after he died for sorow and shame of the very thing And some do suppose that he gaue him poison that he should not vtter that wretched dede to themperour The Bishop notwithstanding loued his sonne derely and applied his whole study to auaunce him in honour And where oftentimes he heard of his lewde prankes he toke it not very greuously as it is reported and wold say this only that he learned not these vices of him I shewed you before how the fathers of the counsell leauing Trent remoued to Bononie And the same did the Emperour take in high displeasure And cōming to Auspurge caused the Senate of Princes to wryte to the Byshop herein Wherfore the .xiiii. day of Ianuary sending him their letters they declare the perillous state of Germany whiche they saye might haue bene eschewed if a remedy had bene founde for the disease in time that is to wite a general counsel for the which themperour hath oftener than ones ben a suter that he might haue procured the same within the precincte of Germany to the intent the byshops of the same countrey whom it chiefly cōcerned might there be present For where their iurisdictiō is gret it is not expedient that they shuld especially at this tyme be far from their own charge At the lēgth through themperours industrie whan no man wold come at Mantua nor Uicēce a coūsell in dede was called and begonne at Trent without the borders of Germany which rather belōgeth to Italy For the which cause also few Germanes came there Neither could they especially in time of war whan al wayes passages were stopped closed vp But now that this tempest is blowen ouer and the shippe at the hauons mouth all men were brought into a very good hope besides al expectaciō that the counsel shuld thus he remoued or rather diuided wherin the preseruatiō of the cōmon wealth consisteth it greueth them not a litle because of the daūger that is like to ensue therby For these .xxvii. yeres hath Germany ben tormoyled with newe pernicious sectes opinions
warned meune to beware and eschewe the same as a mooste presente Pestilence One of these was Caspar Aquila chiefe minister of the Church of Saluelde in Thuringie Thoccasion why he wrote was Islebie who retourning home from Auspurge gloried muche in the boke by the way and said there was now a golden world toward and that Aquila had also assented After he hearde of this he answereth moste vehementlye and reproueth him for his liynge and affirmeth the boke to be ful of erroneous opinions And in Fraunce also Robert bishop of Abrincen wrote against it how be it after a contrary sort and chieflye dispiseth the boke for so much as it permitteth Priestes to marrye and the common people to receiue the whole Supper of the Lord and so taketh occasion to inuey against Bucer with most opprobrious words for maryinge his seconde wife Moreouer one Romeus generall of the Austen Friers at Rome wrote againste it for the same purpose Thus doth the boke incurre reprehension on euerye side Themperour sent an ambassadour to them of Norinberge and to certain others to perswade them vnto this decre Whan he came by the way to the duke of Saxons sonnes he moued them hereunto but they constantly denied it wherfore at his returne to themperour he declareth the whole matter wherupon themperour solliciteth againe the Duke theyr father prisoner and complaineth of his sōnes how they contemne the decre lately made suffer men to speake against it both in theyr preachings wrytinges he requireth therfore that he would treat with them to content him in ether thing Wherunto he maketh answer howe he lately declared the cause whye he hym self could not allow the doctrin of the boke setforthe to Granuellan and the bishop of Arras wherfore he can not perswade hys sonnes to do that thyng whych he hym selfe can not with a quiet conscience he besecheth him to take it in good part and defēd both him and his childrē This cōstancie of his magnanimiti in so great aduersity got him great loue euery wher amōgs al men Like as in Saxony they of Breme and Maidenburge so also in high Germanye onlye they of Constance borderynge vppon the Swisses were not yet reconciled to themperor but at the last obtaining a saufcōduit they send ambassadors to Auspurge to treat a peace Themperor propoundeth right hard conditions and amōgs other things also that they shuld admit the boke setforth after that to frame their religion Thambassadors require to haue the cōditions mitigated but that was in vain and are commaunded to make answere by a certen day That knowen the Senate wryting their humble letters the xiii day of Iuly do beseche him that they be not constrained to do any thing against their soules health their own conscience how they se theyr owne daunger and are in a greate parplexitie for vnlesse they do obey they stand in pearill to lose both life and goods but if they shuld follow his appetite they must abide the vengaunce and iudgement of God Wherfore let him spare them and put not them pore wretches to so great an extremity especially seinge they haue no more offēded than others and haue for thempire for the house of Austrich suffred in time past exceding great misery now do refuse no charge that cā ought of them to be performed although their treasure is very smal their substance not great yet wil they geue for amendes .viii. M. crownes and .iiii. greate peces of ordenaunce but they beseche him to permit the same Religion whiche they haue kept now these .xx. yeres vntil the decre of a lawful coūsel and unpose no heauier burthen to the Citye than it is hable to beare Their bishop Ihon Wesel who was also called Archbishop of Londen as is mentioned in the .xii. boke had threatned thē sore at Auspurge after the Emperors boke was setforthe but within a few daies he died of the same disease that he praied might fal vpō them that is of a sodē palsy Where they say how they haue sustained great domage for the loue of the house of Austrich thus it stādeth The Emperoure Maximilian by the aid of the Sweuical league wherof we haue spoken in the fourthe boke made warre with the Swisses wherfore the Citye of Constance being than of the same league and lieth nexte them receiued much displesure The Swisses were aided by them of Rhoetia of Seon and Sāmaurice whiche were lately made their felowes and also by the Frenche Kynge Lewes the .xii. At the length by the intercession of Lewes Sfortia Duke of Millan the matter was pacified aboute the yeare of oure Lord a thousand and fiue hundreth Maximilian had in Mariage Mary Blancke the sister of Sfortia Themperor the third day of August calleth before him the consuls and all the Senate of Auspurge and diuers others of the chiefest Citezens and by Seldus the Ciuilian speaking muche of the good wil zele that he and his progenitors haue borne to them he saith their common welth hath now these many yeres bene euill seditiously gouerned the cause wherof hath bene that men of none experiēce crafts mē for nothing les mete thē to haue gouernmēt haue bene chosen senators wherfore he who beareth good will to their city to thintent this euil may be remedied displaceth them al not for any reproche vnto them but for the common welthes sake After he cōmaundeth their names to be red whō he hath apoynted senators of the which nōbre were the Welsers Relingers Būtgarners Fuggers Pētingers whō he bindeth after by an oth assigneth vnto euery of thē his office function cōmandeth thē straitly that they loue the cōmon welth obei the decre of religion be vnto him obedient He doth also abrogate al fraternities cōmaundeth vnder pain of death that from henceforth ther be no conuēticles or assēbles made And cōmaundeth that al wrytings of gildes fraternities of priuileges fredō be immediatly deliuered to the new Senate cōmaundeth this state of publike weale to be proclaimed by an officer of armes geueth charge vnder pain of death that no man do impugne the same The Senate geueth him thankes promiseth al due obeisāce In the meane while that these things were in doing al the gates were shut and the souldiours set to warde There had bene a lōg sute many yeres betwene the Lantzgraue William the Erle of Nassow for the lordship of Chats which now at the length themperor in these daies decided geuing sentence againste the Lantzgraue The .v. day of this month themperour answereth thambassadours of the City of Constance by the bishop of Arras and sendeth them away withoute their purpose and because he seeth them so little careful for peace he saith how he wil deuise an other way The same day the Spaniardes which we said went into those parties to the nombre of thre thousand fotemen go straite
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
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
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
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
carefulnes I haue suppressed the parte of the proclamation touching the Lordes supper promysing hereafter all diligence that a reconcilement may be had For what causes I can not reuolte from the lawes and ceremonies of the churche I haue shewed For both Christ sayeth that the church must be heard and also the thing it selfe teacheth the fourmer age whiche renewyng nothing abode in the Religion of their forefathers to haue bene muche more quiet and fortunate in all thinges than this is nowe where all thinges are tourmoyled with sectes and dissentions and many men rauished toste hither and thither with euery wynde of doctrine Wherby I would the rather haue thought that you would not haue answered in this sorte And nowe albeit that this aunswere of yours may be throughly confuted yet for as much as we must treate of contributions and subsidies and therof shortly determine vnlesse you be determined to suffer extreme miserie I wyll not be ouer longe trusting also that you wyl doe both as the matter it selfe and also as the consideration of your dutie requyreth They agayne solicite the same thing and saye howe they can not leaue it And in case they can obteyne nothinge they saye it wyll be the cause that the same consultation of geuing him ayde wyl surely be hindered and letted For that they haue no commission to promyse any thing herein vnlesse they haue first good assuraunce for Religion and Ministers of the churche and for Scholemaisters that they may be authorised to teache frely In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswick taketh to wyfe the sister of Sigismunde king of Poole About this tyme dieth Iohn Isemburg Byshop of Treuers and hath Iohn Ley his successour The .xxvi. daye also of the same moneth departeth at Alzeme Fredericke the Pausgraue Prince Electour a man of great yeares Whome Otto Henrick his brothers sonne succedeth who had lōg since receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and was in daunger therfore to haue lost al his possessions Taking an othe of his people he commaundeth by and by that no man within his dominion should say Masse or vse any other ceremonies Of the trouble that Osiander styred vp in Prusse who had brought in a newe doctrine of iustificatiō is spoken in the xxii boke But where as the moste part of learned men reprehended that opinion Albert Duke of Prusse by open wryting professeth that he wyll followe the doctrine of the confession of Auspurg He commaundeth therfore the ministers of the churche that they teache according to the same and promyseth to saue them harmeles in case they obeye And to the ende the matter might be throughly appeased Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge sonne in lawe to the Duke of Pruse a Prince excellently learned going thither and hauing learned men about hym brought Iohn Funccius who was chief of the secte of Osiander to that poinct that both he acknowledged his errour and affirmed that he would confesse it openly and would hereafter teache after the confession of Auspurg Where as others would do the same they were agreed with the other diuines and the state of the churche was appeased The fourth daye of Marche began to shine a blasing starre and is sene by the space of twelue dayes In this moneth the Ambassadours of Princes and cities mete at Regēspurge and treate the cause of Marques Albert of Brandenburge For his aduersaries in the counsell of the last yeare had againe required the ayde of Princes against him but through the mediatiō of his frendes and that the matter should be heard by intercessours Where he therfore in the moneth of February of this yere came out of Fraūce into Germany his matter was heard the causes of thempire differred till the moneth of Aprill The Archebishop of Cantorbury already condēned after the death of Ryddley Latimer retourned to prison as before is said the .xxi. of this moneth is burnt at Oxforde Certen daies before being put in some hope of life through the perswasion of certen he had reuoked diuerse articles of doctrine neither shewed he constancie And when he sawe he must die he made an oration to the people and speaking many thinges of the amendement of life of maners to the ende he might haue his audience attētiue at the lēgth sheweth how greuously he had offended God by denying of the truthe reciting the chief articles of doctrine declareth briefly what he thought and confirmeth Papistrie to be the kingdome of Antichriste He had no so ner said so but he was had thence not without moste bitter railyng wordes to the place of execution And when he came thither stretching forth his right hand this hād saith he hath wickedly offended in subscribing to the wicked opinions which the ennemies of the truthe had propounded to me Wherfore it shall first suffer punishment Thus being tied to the stake so sone as the fire began to burne he stretched forth his hande into if as far as he coulde reache that it might first fele the torment And so was burnt the primate of Englande a man of greatest learning authoritie From the time that the Popishe marke was taken from him they call it degrading whiche is wont to be done with many cerimonies they put vpon him a most vile garmēt so brought him forth amonges the people to be laughed at But many hauing cōpassion of his vnworthy chaūce could not kepe thē frō sheding of teares although thei doubted nothing but that he should flitte out of this miserable lyfe in to the heauenly countrie and life euerlasting His promotions got Cardinall Poole made Archebyshop when he had Massed before And like as they of Austriche so also the Bauariās sollicited Albert their Duke cōcerning religiō in maner at the same time The Duke seing that kyng Ferdinando his father in lawe had permitted some thing to his subiectes he also when he exacted mony graunted some thing for a time that they might receiue the Lordes supper whole and on daies prohibited when necessitie requireth to eate flesh Howbeit he prosesseth with many wordes that he wyll not departe from the Religion of his auncesters nor alter any thing in ceremonies such other thinges for the same not to be lawfull for him to doe without the consent of his supreme Magistrate both spirituall and temporall And where he permitteth these two to be for a tyme only tyll some thing be established by publique authoritie or a reconcilement made For he wyll that his proclamations of fourmer tyme concerning Religion be exactely and stryghtly kept these two thinges only excepted He wyll procure also as muche as in him lieth that the Metropolitane and Byshops shall confirme this graunte and that they shall not for this cause seke to moleste any man This proclamation was written the daye before the Kalendes of Aprill The Metropolitan of whome he speaketh is the Archebyshop of Salisburg At this time certen noble men of
Wittenberge 1 Luthers exception eodem Luthers letters to Pope Leo. 2 Luthers answer to Siluester Prierias eodem Luthers second aunswere to Siluester Prierias 3 Luthers forsaking of Rome eodem Luther cited to Rome 4. Luther is called to Auspurgē 5. Luthers conference with Cardinal Caietane eodem Luther appealeth 6 Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsel 9 Luthers letters to the Pope 17 Luthers boke to the duke of Saxon. 18 Luthers boke condemned at Louain 19. Laurence valla eodem Luthers letters to themperor 21 Luthers letters to the archbishoppe of Mentz eodem Luthers letters to the bishop of Merseburge 22 Luther cursed of the pope 23 Luther impugneth the Popes censure 24 Luthers boke of the captiuity of Babilon eodem Luthers bokes are burnt 26 Luther burneth the Canon law 27 Luther cometh to Wormes eodem Luther pledeth his cause before themperor and the hole Empire 1. Luthers answer to the princes 39 Luther sent away from Wormes 31 Luther is outlawed by themperor 33 Luther wrote sūdry bokes in his exile eodem Luther is conueied out of daunger eo Luther returneth to Wittenberge 35 Luther foreseeth the tempest comming eodem Luther wryteth to the Bohemer◠36 Luther wryteth against the bishops eo Luther a Frier 38 Luther compared with Mahomet 40 Luther expoundeth the Popes laying eodem Luther interpreteth the decrees of the Princes 43 Luther wrote to the Senate of Prage eodem Luther wrote of eschuing the doc 44 Luther compared to Mahomet 50 Luther disswageth al men from sedi 58 Luther did more with the worde then could haue bene done by forc eodem Luthers answer to the boures 60 Luthers office 63 Luther bloweth the trōpet against 64 Luther to vehement 65 Luther married a Nonne eodem Luther and Zwinglius mete at 66 Luthers letters of submission to the. 67 Luthers letters to George duke of eo Leonard Cesar apprehended for the. 74 Lawes of disputation 75 Lantrech besiegeth Naples eodem Luther and Zwinglius dispute at 83 Luther wrote a boke to the bishops 96 Luther comforteth Melancthon eodem Luthers opinion of mens traditiōs eo Letter of the duke and Lantzgraue 103 Luthers counsel 112 Luthers purgation eodem Luther comforteth thexiles eodem Luthers opinion touching the spri 116 Luthers wryting of Munster 134 Legions of soldiors in Fraunce 137 Luthers constancy 138 Like lips like lettes 151 Longolnis oration against the Lu. 167 Lascus committed to prison 175 Luthers boke against the Duke of 176 Luther is cursed of the Pope 175 Langeus letters to Alphonse 184 Luthers oration for the field 189 Lawes against deflowrers of vir 202 Laundersey besieged 205 Luthers boke of the Lordes supper 215 Luthers answer to them of Louain 218 Luthers boke against the Pope 222 Luthers Themes of iii. gouern eodem Luthers picture against the pope eodē Luther a Prophet eodem Luther chosen arbitror 231 Luther wareth sicke 232 Luthers last prayer eodem Luthers birth eodem Luther sent to Rome eodem Luther eloquent in the dutch eodem Lightning caused destruction 255 Liberty is exiled out of the counsel 256 Letters for the Lantzgraue to 295 Letters of Strasborough to them 326 Luther brought in contempte the Popish Ceremonies 334 Lewes Marsile one of the prisoners 423 Libels strowed about in London 461 Lady Clinor commeth into France 86 Lantzgraue departeth from Ausp 89 Lantzgraue goeth to the frēch king 113 Lantzgraue boroweth Monye of the French king eodem Lady Mary proclaimed bastard 114 Lantzgraue taketh his leaue of themperoure 240 M MAximilians letter to Poope Leo concerning Luther 3 Maximilians death 10 Many sectes in the popish kingdom 36 Maner of chusing themperor 10 Matrimony lawful for all men 47 Muncer a great Anabaptist 55 Muncer wil haue a token of God eodē Muncer maketh gunnes eodem Muncer teacheth that all thinges shuld be common eodem Muncer raileth on the princes 56 Muncer disceyueth the people by the rainbow eodem Muncer is taken his cruel answer and he is reproued of the Lantzgraue 57 Muncer repenteth at the hour of death eodem Mishaps of the french king 82 Matters receiued in religion 89 Monestical vowes 124 Munster a city of Westphalia 137 Maidens do prophecy 130 Mariage counted whoredome 135 Many filthy actes of Monkes 156 Meanes to restore the ecclesiastical 181 Melancthon and pristor come to 201 Miners president of Aygwes 219 Miners leuieth a power againste Ualdois 219 Maluenda treateth of iustification 229 Marquin excuseth Diaze 234 Mariages in broil of warre 254 Maurice loueth his townes 276 Marques Albert sent to aid 277 Mendoza ambassade from the Frenche King to Strasburge 279 Marques Albert taken prisoner 280 Mihel Sidonie a great Masmōger 294 Muskel borowe field 296 Muleasses king of Tones 313 Maximilian marieth his cosen 315 Musculus departeth to Bernes 316 Maximilian warred against the Swissers 322 Maried Priestes plucked from they re wyues 329 Melanthō defēdeth the Adiaphorist 333 Monseur Ueruine beheaded 336 Maximilian cometh out of Spayne 353 Melanthon best learned 359 Mony gathered for the warre of Mayden burge 760 Maximilian entreth into Trent 378 Marques Albertes letters agaynst thēperoure 393 Marten van Rossem spoileth Champanie 399 Marques Albert warreth for hym selfe 406 Marques Albert the scourge of Pristes 410 Marques Albertes request to Straseburge 410 Marques Albert refuseth peace 101 Marques Albert entreth Treuers 412 Marques Antonius Ambassadoure of Uenisse 413 Marques Alberte reconciled to Themperoure 413 Marques Albert sendeth to the Emperoure 420 Marques Albert outlawed 429 Marques Albert goeth to Sewinforte and flyeth 436 Maryburge taken 473 Melanthon conforteth the mynisters of Boheme 449 Marcellus the Second chosē Pope 450 Marcellus the Second dyeth 450 Maurenburge vitaled 452 Mount Calue is taken by the Frenchmen 453 Masse abolished at Zuricke 54 Madnes of the Munsterians 57 Magestrates is as necessarye as the Sonne to the worlde vi Marques letters to the state of Duke Maurice 42 Ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 N NEw pardons 9 No man may be kepte frō the gospell 6◠Newes of the Turkes Coming 200 Newes of the Turkes approche 1◠Nauius hath the place of Heldus 174 Nuburge rendered to the Emperoure 264 Notes of the Interim by the Bishop of Rome 314 No man oughte to be compelled to hys fayth 319 New ambassadours from Wittenberg 375 Norinberge hath peace with the Marques 402 Nyne bournte at Lyons 423 Note how Bisshoppes seke authoritie of kinges to condemne 454 Nombers of great gonnes taken front protestauntes 29 Notes of the Interim by the bysshops of Rome 313 O O Eham condemned in Paris 19 Of the original of the Turkes 190 Of ecclesiasticall benefites 281 Out of the conclaue came most fylthys Letters 343 Ortauious Farnesius cliēt to the frēch kinge 360 Oration of tharchbishop of Treuers 12 Opinion of the Cyties touchynge the king of Romaines 102 Othe of the Electors 406 Oration of the Popes ambassadour to the Duke of Saxon. 109 Oration of Themperours Ambassadour 109 Oratiō of the french ambassadours 123 Ofspring of
fraunce and germany 123 Originall of the Annabaptistes 127 Oration of the Popes Legates 231 Oration of Themperours Ambassadours 240 Occatiō of taking thēperours losse 267 Oration of the kinge of Poles ambassadour 301 Originall of this order of knight 303 Oratiō of the Princes ambassadors to thēperour thēperours aunswer 377 Oration of the Frēch ambassador 404 P PRinces of necessitie must reforme Rome 3 Popes vnder the Councell 7 Pope Iohn is deposid 8 Pope Prius wishe 18 Picus Myrandula 19 Pope Leo his bull 23 Priestes maried wyues 44 Popes subiect to themperour 25 Pope Clement sendeth Campeius to duke Frederike 45 Phifer compagnion to muncer 55 Phyfers entreprise 56 Preachers ought to be circumspect 59 Prayers for the dead ar superfluous 75 Paccius beheadid 78 Prayers mixed with threateninges 92 Poore Luther maketh many men 95 Persecutiō against the Lutherians 115 Paule was craftier then Clement 117 Persecution in France 118 Pope Iohn a woman 119 Proude Marchantes 115 Popes condempned for heresy 121 Paphūtius perswadeth the priestes 124 Peter wirtē began to preach again 129 Perome besieged 141 Popes haue emperors insubiectiō 149 Pope paule euell reported 154 Presidentes of the Councell 158 Preaching forbidden 173 Perswasions to warre against the Turke 187 Perpiguian besieged 192 Peace is disceptfull 196 Psalmes translated by Marot 201 Philip created king of Spaine 202 Pillugius bishop of Numburg amōges the presidentes 230 Preaching frees 231 Peace betwixt Fraūce England 246 Peter strosse disceaued the protest 265 Penstellens in Emperors campe 267 Persecution in Fraunce 270 Paulus Fagius a man learned and 〈◊〉 loquent 273 Part of the counsell of Trent flit to Bonomie 283 Peter Alois the popes sonne slaine 294 Peter martyr goeth into England 297 Prusse belongeth to Pole 303 Prusse belongeth to themperour 305 Paule geuen to astrology and coniuration 340 Paules ioye in bayne 342 Proclamatiōs against lutheranes 345 Pope Iuly somoneth a counsell 351 Pardons graunted by the Popes legat 385 Pestilence and fiering at Paris 427 Paule the fourth made Pope 450 Port hercules taken by thimperialles 452 Plinabine besieged of Turkes 452 Peter martir goeth to Zurick 469 Papistes in Swicerland made league with king Ferdnando 80 Protestantes assemble at Norunberg 86 Protestantes accused of Sedition 93 Practise of Prelates 117 Practise of the French men 144 Popes ambassadour dispised 147 Popes errours and autority 148 Paule the thirdes crafte 149 Preachers of the gospell brought godly workes to light 150 Popes accused of Idolatry 151 Pope would bie Millian 201 Princes letters to the Pope 208 Popes letters to themperour 215 Pope most desirous of warre 221 Pope cite the Archbishop of Collon 223 Popes letters to the Swisses 247 Protestauntes Ambassadours to the Swissers 247 Protestauntes accused of treason 253 Protestaūtes letters to Iohn marques of Brandenburg 251 Protestauntes aunswer to the table of out lawery 260 Purgations of the Cardinall of Auspurge against suspicions 467 Pope had no cōsideration with themperour against religiō or the liberty of Germany 468 Q QUene Anne loueth the gospell 113 Questions moued to a dombe spirite 115 Quene Marie affiaunced to the emperours sonne 430 Questions of zuinglius 39 Quene of Hungary made regent of flaunders 101 Quene of Anabaptistes behedid 133 Quene Katherine dieth 137 Quene Anne dieth lamentably 140 Quene of Scottes dieth 153 Quene Maries oration to the comons in yelde Hall 430 R ROme the seat of Antichrist 3 Reweline a diuine 19 Reweline dieth 37 Reliques of the holy gost 45 Rome is the treasure house of the hole world 72 Rome is Sacked 74 Religion reformed 76 Religiou reformid at Geneua 76 Rochester and more beheadid 121 Rochester made cardinal in the towre 121 Rotman a Preacher at Munster 127 Rotman became an Anabaptist 128 Rotman desperate 136 Reasons why the protest refuse the counsell 149 Rebellion in Gelderlande 154 Rebellion of Gaunt 168 Rebellion at Genes against the house of Aurice 276 Robert of a Brince wrote against the interim 322 Rewardes for promoters 346 Reseruations graces expectatiue 365 Reformation of the papiste 390 Rebellion in duke Moris campe 40 Renold Poole Cardinall 429 Ridley Latimer burnt in englād 454 Rage of Antichrist 125 Requestes of the princes to the king 398 S SIlens of the bishop of Mentz 1 Siluester prierias his dialogue 2 Siluester prierias themes 2 Scripture and the old writers only are to be allowed 2 Siluester prierias his second aunswer to Luther 2 Shiftes of the Popes 19 Sute betwixt the bushoppe and Swissers vanquished 11 Senate of Strasburg 48 Supper of oure Lorde vnder bothe kindes 18 Sundry plages in Germany 83 Scripture is the touch stone of all doctrine 91 Spirites in the popish kingdome 115 Selling of benetices 119 St. Geneu 〈…〉 a the goddes of Paris 120 Sedition in Munster 131 Symony raigneth in the Church 157 Symony must be taken awaye 181 Syr Henry Kneuet 185 Strife about the Bisshoprick of Numburge 186 Sebastian Scertiline a mā of war 228 Spedius a blabbe 240 Sherteline retyreth 252 Siluer mines comon to the Dukes of Saxon. 266 Scertiline departeth from the prot 267 Sedition at Naples for the Spanish in quisition 291 So I will and do commaunde 303 Sinne against the holy gost 315 Strasborough rue the Interim 326 Strasburgh writeth letter to themperour 331 Skirmishes of the princes with the emperiall 400 Syr Richard Morisme Ambassadour of Englande 403 Serueto a Spanyarde burnt at Geneua 428 Sibylle Duchesse of Saxon depar 431 Sanslorian and Carmillus lead to prison 453 Syr Peter Carrow sir Iohn Chick taken prisoners 469 Swisses made a legue with the french Kinge 32 Solempne buriyng in Fraunce 114 Sfortia Duke of Millane dieth 121 Supper of the Lord vnder both kindes 124 Spoyling and burninges of Marques Albert. 416 T THomas of Aquine Albertus magnus Scolar 3 Thomas of Aquine a Saint eod Thomas of Aquine giueth auctoritie to the Pope eodem Thomas of Aquine died eodem Treaty of warre against the turke eod The popes letters to the Duke of saxō 4 The popes letters to Gabriell Uene 5 The vniuersitie of Wittenberge wryteth for Luther to the Pope 5 The well spring of pardons 7 The Dukes letters to the Card. 8 The vniuersitie of Wittēberg writeth for luther to the duke of Saxon. 9 The pope sendeth a golden Rose to the Duke of Saxon. 10 Themperour Rafe 13 The Duke of Saxon refuseth thēp 14 The birth of themperour 14 The court of Rome is vncurable 17 The part of a true friende 18 The story of Rewcline 20 The Sacramentes 24 The maner of the Coronation 24 Thēperour calleth a counsell imper 25 The lawe of pope Clement 25 The court of Rome an Fraunce 26 The Duke of Saxon incensed against Luther 26 The Bull of Cursing 28 The Constancy of Luther 28 The pope and the coūsell maie erre 30 Treuers other princes threten lut 30 The offence of faith and maners 31 The Counsell of Constance 32 Three Popes deposid 32 Thyrtene townes of Swissers
118 The cruelty of Iohn Morine 118 The pryce of a Masse is somtime 118 The Pope the old Marchant 119 Thieuish Marchauntes 119 The maner of executiō in Fraunce 120 The Lutherians are abhorred 120 The Lantgraue is recōciled to Fer. 121 Thēperours voyage into Barbaria 121 The duke of Saxon answer to ver 121 The protest answer to Uergerius 122 The Popes craft is espied 122 Themperour may order Coūselles 122 Themperous letters to the Iudges 123 The answer of the protest to the frēch 123 The dutie of Princes 124 The kinges opiniō of matters in eod The comō places of Melanthon eod The masse mainteneth purgatory eod The kinges of Fraūce Nauar ex 125 The prot would make no league 125 The oration of Bishop Foxe ambassadour for the king of England 125 The state of the church troubelsome 125 The protest league is renewed 126 The Erle of Nassowe hath mitted 126 The Gospell receiued at Auspurge 126 The papistes cōfesse their ignorāce 128 The papiste for sake their Citie eodem Thei of Mūster oppresse the papiste eod They Anab. banished the Citie eod The constauncie of Fabricius 129 The prophecie inspired with fury 130 The diuition of Germany into prouente eodem The falsed of Iohn Berdan eodem The euyll Iudges eodem The madnes of Knipperdolan 131 The Appose of munster 132 The preachers of munster eodem The preachers raked eodem The preachers obstinacy eodem The king taketh hede to him self eod The diuition of the world 133 The presente age cōpared to Esaie 133 The craft of an ignoraunt deuill 134 The assemble at wormes 135 The citie warre requered to render 135 Two escaping betrayed the Citie 135 The king is taken 136 The king his fellowes taried ab 136 The cruell death of the King 137 The popes coūsel to inuade Sauoy 137 The house of Uicecountes in Lōb 137 The Frēch kinges title to Millain 138 Themperours oratiō against the French King 138 The duke of Florence maried the Emperours basterd 138 The kinges letters to the protest 139 The king of England requered a conference of learned men 139 The protestant sent to themprour 140 Themperours letters to the prot 140 The death of Frances Dolphin 141 The Pope wil refourme the court 141 The king of Scottes maried the Frēch Kinges doughter 141 The duke of slorener slaine by his 142 The Swicers sewe to the king for 142 The protest ambassadour to thēpe 143 The dukes of Saksones answer 144 The place of the Counsell 148 The protest decree mariyng of mi. 149 The authoritie of Iudgment in y◠150 The crafte of the Pope 151 The of spring of Cayne 152 The protest letter vnto the Frēch 152 Terwine besieged in vaine 153 The pope intendid to make Eras 154 The pope hath a duble office 155 The Couls maketh not the Mōcke 157 The cardinal of Cappira can abide 158 The Coloquie of Erasmus eodem The duke of Pruse is outlawed eod The metyng of the emperor the. 159 The bishop of lige made his graue 159 Thomas Becket archbishop of cāt 160 The Markes of Brandenburg of ye. 161 The lady Elizabeth sister to the lantzgraue is referred into the league 162 The secte of the Antinomions 162 The citie of Mynden outlawed 163 The duke of Brūswick desirous of 163 The Lantgraue intercepteth the. 163 The death of Iohn duke of cleane 164 The duke of Saxson wold not giue to Ferdinando the title of the king 165 The Cannons comenly called of y◠167 The sixe Articles eodem The lady Anne of Cleaue eodem Thēperour passeth through fraūce 168 The emperour entreth into Paris 168 Themperors French kings amb 168 The secrete of the senate vttered to 169 The treators executed eodem Themp. arriueth in Flaunders eodem The prot write to the French king eod The Lord Cromwell eodem The answer of the prot to Crōwel 170 Themp. letters to the protestantes 171 The protest answer to themperour 171 The protest comparid to Turkes 172 The duke of Cleaue ioyned with eod The pope warreth vpō the perusians eo The lord Cromwell beheadid eodem The king marieth Katherine Haw eo The duke of Brunswick accused eod The assembly of Hagenaw 173 The decree of Hagenaw 173 The death of Iohn vaynode king of 173 Three prote burnt three papistes 174 The death of Budey 174 The euill that cometh of discēsion 174 The Turke receyueth the infant of 175 The papistes seke delays 175 The admiral of Fraunce condēned 176 Themperour goddes Clyent 177 The blasphemie Friere Tecell 177 The maner of making this Palle 178 These fires were set on by the duke eo The treatie of Regenspurge eodem The chosen by themp eodem The rashnes of Eckius eodem The contentes of the boke 179 The protestauntes letters to the Frēch king for such as were persecuted 179 The Duke of Cleaue goeth priuely 179 The duke of Cleaue marieth the. 179 The Admirall restored 179 The Cōstable put out of the Court. 179 The colloquie of lerned mē at Reg. 180 The worse part ouer cometh by ye. 180 The Popes legate 181 The diligence of the prot in teach 181 The diuines of the prot answers 181 The princes electours answer 181 The answer of the popish princes 182 The bishops are inioyned to ref eod The presumptuousnes of Eckius eod The protestantes confute his lett 183 Themperours cōplaint of the duke 183 The princes make intercession for 183 The oration of the French ambass 183 The French ambassadors intercep 183 The emperours iorney into Barb. 184 The plague in Germany by the. 185 The nobilitie of Austrich put vp a. 185 The plages that God sent to Aust 185 The Turke is the scourge of God 185 The chiefe article of doctrine is in 186 The nobles reiterate theyr sute eodem The oration of the French ambass 187 The policie of the Romaines in est 187 The concord of England 187 The opinion of the popes Ambassa 188 The Pope suspecteth Germany 188 The pope cōpared with the Turke 189 Two mighty tyrannes eodem The turke shal not be of such force eo The last acte of the Turke eodem The praier of Luther 161 The Markes of piscare accuseth the. 191 The Frēch king proclaymeth war 192 The Duke of Languile Martin van Rossen inuade Brabant 192 The māner to serche out the Luth. 192 The articles of the Sorbonistes 193 Two Friers preach the gospell at Metz. 193 The duke of Saxon lantgraue moue war against the Duke of Brunswike who flieth 193 The Chaūcelor of Fraunce put in 194 The Palsgraue the Gospell 195 The enterprice of fregose Rincō 195 The French king is accused of ambission 196 The presidentes of the coūsell at Tret 196 The Scottes taken at Solymosse eod The king of scottes dieth eod The Duke of Saxon and Lantzgraue refuse the iudgment of the chāber 197 The duke of Cleaue recouereth Dure 197 The kinges oration to them of Rochell eodem The Clemency of king Fraunce eod The assembly of
house of Lucenburg 406 The battaile of Cressie eodem The Frenche kynges aunswere to the intercessours 407 Themp. letters to thintercessours 408 Their aunswere to themperour eodeÌ„ The Ambassadours commentaries intercepted 409 The aunswere of Strausburge 410 The death of Bernard Archebishop of Colon. 412 The duke of Saxon goeth home to his owne house eodem The Emperour goeth with his armie toward Loraine 413 TheÌ„perorentreth into Strasburg eod The spoyle of the souldiours eodem The death of Caspar Hedio and Andrewe Osiander eodem The Emperour besiegeth Metz. eodem The batterie of Metz. 414 The Duke of Brunswik driuen out of his countrie eodem The duke of Guise defended Metz. eod The Frenche kinges writyng against the Emperour 415 The Emperours letters of aunswere to Marques Albert. eodem The armes of Electourship eodem The Cardinall Lenoncourtes ambicion eodem The father and the sonnes contend for inheritaunce 417 Terwen raced eodem The Ladie Iane of Suffolke maried Guilford Dudley 418 The Marques maketh war i Sar. eodeÌ„ The spoilyng of Albert. 419 The complainte of Duke Moris vpon Marques Albert. eodem The marques answer to duke Mo. 420 The Bishop in his absence inuade his countrie 421 The great crueltie of marques Al. eode The death of good kyng Edward eodeÌ„ The vertues of Edward the sixt eodem The wonders before Duke Maurice death 422 The death of Orace Fernese eodem The blasphemie of the lieutenanÌ„t 424 The ladle Iane. eodem The lady Mary proclaimed quene eodeÌ„ The Duke of Northumberlande condempned 425 Thomas Palmer knighte professeth the doctrine of the Gospell eodem The constancie of the Archebishopp of Cantorburse eodem The bishops caried to prison 426 The Popishe religion restored in Englande eodem The Turkishe naute taketh the Iland of Corsica 427 The FreÌ„che king atteÌ„pteth Cam. codeÌ„ The bloode of Innocentes gainfull to many 428 The Duke of Brunswickes letters to the Duke of Saxon. eodem The Duke of Brunswicke is reconciled to the duke of Saxon. eodem The Turke hanged his sonne Mustapha 429 The Archebishop of Cantorburie and others condempned eodem The Godlie lawes of good kynge Edward repealed 430 The duke of Norffolke forsaken of his menne eodem The duke of Suffolke 431 The Ladie Iane and her husbande beheaded eodem The duke of Suffolke beheaded eodem The godly ende of IhoÌ„ Frederick codeÌ„ The godlines of his wife 432 The Lady Elizabeth committed to the Towre eodem The slege of Senes eodem The death of Wiat eodem Thassemble of Auspurge 433 The death of Char. duke of Sanot 436 The letters of king Ferdinando to his subiectes of the lordes Supper eodeÌ„ The states make aunswere to the kinges letters eodem The Abbot of Newstat accused of Hereste eodem The Frenche kyng inuadeth the Emperours countries 437 The Frenche kynges letters 438 The Emperour giueth to his soonne the dukedome of Millane eodem The Cardinall giueth the Lordes absolution 439 The Emperours letters against Marques Albert. eodem Themperiall counsel of Auspurg 440 The ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 The Towne of Cassell taken by the Frenchmen 449 The letters of the princes of Saxon to the Emperour eodem The archbishop of Metz dieth 450 The death of Pope Iuly the third eodeÌ„ Theâ— of Senes render theim selues to themperour eodem The secte of Iesuites eodem The trauaile of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene the Emperour and Frenche kyng eodem The Emperours letters to the States of the Empire 451 The duke of Alba sent to Millane eodeÌ„ The Emperours mother dieth eodem The Frenche kinges Proclamacion again condeÌ„ned of thinquisitors 452 The Lucernates require of the Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell eodeÌ„ The Naute of the Kyng of Denmarke 453 The Spanish Flete intercepted by the Frenche kyng eodem The controuersie about the lordes supper is renued by the Bremers eodeÌ„ The aunswere of the Parliamente of Paris by the kynges Proclamacion of Lutherians 454 The meting of princes about the LaÌ„tzgraues matter 455 Themperour Charles giueth the gouernement to his sonne Philip. eodeÌ„ The office of the Archbishops 456 The aunswere of the Protestantes to the writyng of the Papistes 457 The bishops which chaunge their religion should lâ—se their promocioÌ„ 459 Thecclestastical lawes shal not be exercised against the Protestantes 461 The wife of IhoÌ„ Frederick dieth eodeÌ„ The ambassadours of Austrich require of Ferdinando that true Religion male be permitted vnto them 462 Truce taken betwene the Emperoure and the kyng of Fraunce 463 The aunswere of Ferdinando to the Ambassadours of the house of Austrich eodem The Emperours Sigismonde burned Husse eodem The Ambassadours aunswere to Ferdinando 464 The aunswere of Ferdinando eodem The bishop of Treuers dieth 465 The Duke of Pruse professeth the confession of Auspurge eodem The Archebishop of Cantorburie burned for Religion eodem The Pope was displeased that peace was graunted to Religion 466 The Duke of Arestat brake out of prison eodem The Cardinalle of Auspurge purgeth hymself by writyng eodem The Cardinall of Auspurge addicte to the olde religion 468 The good will of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Duke of Wittenberge eodem The loue of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Germaines 469 Twelue burnt at Stratford bow eodeÌ„ The marques of Barden receiueth the Gospell eodem Themperour goeth into Spaine with bothe his sisters 470 VV. WHy the Bisshoppe of Rome is extolde 3 Whiche are properlie called Sacramentes 24 Who is aucthour of single life 35 What nedeth gold in the churche 47 What is true confession eodem What thyng Rebellion is 58 Wee are all blinde in our owne cause 61 Who be the aucthours of dissencion 81 Uergecius the Popes ambassadour 86 Upon what condicions the duke of Saxon will come to the assembly 103 Warres in Swiserlande 104 Whereof sprang the dissencion in Religion 110 Wilâ—e Marchauntes 120 Uergecius message to the Duke of Saxon 121 Uergecius spake with Luther 122 Who wrote against the Anabaptistes 131 Uergecius sent to the Emperour 138 Who ought to be at the Counsell 150 Why Innocentes be in perill 151 Whereof cometh contempt of the clergie 155 Who ought to be made bishop eodem Unlawfull to giue benefices by legacis eodem Why Cardinalles wer first made 156 Uergecius his oracion 176 Why the Protestantes desire a Counsell 177 What moued Luther to write against Papistes eodem Willyam Farell 192 Warre betwixte England and Scotlande 196 William Countie forsaketh the FreÌ„ch kyng 206 Whether we shal knowe eche other in the life to come 232 What Counsell the Protestauntes desired 237 What profite hath the Emperour out of Germanie 239 Ulmes reconciled to the emperour 273 Unreasonable tormente is a perillous matter 283 Wittenberg rendered 286 Wittenberge a Towne of Electorship 287 Uogelsburge apprehended 312 Uogelsburge coÌ„stancy at his death 312 Workes of superogacion 313 Whilest the Masse is set vp in Germanie it is put doune in England 317 Uiolence is not to be vsed in Religion but reason and truthe 318
the Duke of wittemberge The Duke of Saxon the Lantgr write to the FreÌ„ch kyng Duke George of Saxon â—irth Ambassadours sent to his brother Henry The Can 〈…〉 coÌ„monly called of the Apostles are false A Freers were maketh the deuyll afrayd Langelius Oration against the Lutherians The syr Articles The Lady Anne of Cleaue Barbarouse taketh Castel newes Rebellienat Gaunte The Emperour passeth throughe Fraunce 1540. The Emperour entreth into Paris The Emperours and FreÌ„ch kings Ambassade to the Uenetians The Uenetians Ambassador to the Turke The secrets of the senate vttered to the Turke The trators executed Themp. arriueth in Flaunders The Prote wryte to the FreÌ„che king An assembly at Smalcald Latimer Shaxton The Lorde Cromwell A wrytinge exhibited by the diuines The Emp. aunswer to the Protest Hatred betwixt counsellers The false perswasioÌ„ of the Emper. The answer of the Prot. to GraÌ„uellaÌ„ A confutatis of the six Articles Great execution done at Gaunt The Emp. letters to the ProotestaÌ„t The answer of the Prot. to the Emp. letters An oratieÌ„ or a yeuÌ„g Cardinall The Prote 〈◊〉 to Turkes A priuy hatred of that freÌ„che kynge against the Emperour The Duke of Cleaue ioyned with the Frenche kynge The Pope warreth vpoÌ„ the PerusiaÌ„s The Lorde Crumwell beheaded The kynge marieth Katherine Hawarde The Duke of BruÌ„swik accused the Protestaun The assemble of Hagenawe Preachyngs forbydden FerdinaÌ„dos request The decree of Hagenaw The death of Iohn Uayuode king of Hungary Fyres in Saxony Doctor Bernes burnt in Smithfielde Thre Prot. burnt and thre Papistes hanged all at one tyme. The death of Budey An erceadig hote soÌ„mer Nauius hath the place of Heldus The oratioÌ„ of Granvellan at Wor. The euils that coÌ„meth of the discention in Religion The Turke receiueth the infant of Uayuode Lascus committed to prised The papists seke delayes A disputation betwixte Eekius and Melancton The oratioÌ„ of Uergerivs The admiral of frauÌ„ce condemned A greate assemble at RegeÌ„spurg Luthers boke agaist the Duke of Brunswick Why the Protest desyre a counsell Themperor Gods client What moued Luth. to writ against the papistes The blasphemie of frere Tecell A most costly stole or palle A meane to get money by pardons Luther is cursed of the Pope A wolleÌ„ halter to strangle the pope The maner of makynge this Palle Complaints of pillage These Fyeres were set on by the duke of BruÌ„swike The treatie of Regenspurge The chosen by themp The rashnes of Eckius A boke presented to the Collocutours The conteÌ„ts of the boke The Protestantes letters to the FreÌ„ch king for suche as wer persecuted for the gospell The Duke of Cleaue goeth priuely into Fraunce The Duke marieth the daughter of Nauarre The Admirall restored The constable put out of the courte The colloquie of lerned men at Regtnspurg The worse parte ouer cometh by the nomber of voyces Meanes to restore thecclesiasticall function Simons must be takeÌ„ awaye The popes Legate The diligence of the protestantes iu teaching of children The diuines of the Prote aunwer to that Popeslegate The princes electours answer Themperour The answer of the popish princes The bishops are inioyned to reforme their church The presumtuousnes of Eckius The protestantes confute his letters and reasons The Emperours priuat wrytiug for the Protestantes The Emperours complaynte of the Duke of Cleaue The princes make intercession for the Duke of Cleaue The oratioÌ„ of the FreÌ„ch Ambassador The FreÌ„che ambassadors intercepted by thimperiall Langens letters to Alphonse George of Austriche apprehended at Lyons Ferdinando besegeth Buda His armie discomfited The Emperours torney into Barbarie A great tempest distroyed hys ships Syr Henry Kneuet The plage in Germani by the Rhine Ioye in Fraunce at temperours losse The nobilitie of Austrich put vp a supplication for the Gospell Kingdoms distroyed for â—dolatry The plages that god seÌ„t to Austriche and Germany The Turke is the scurge of God God offereth his word before he plageth The chiefe article of doctrine is iustification Ferdinando desfateth the request of his uobles The nobles resterut their â—â—te Strife about the bisshop ricke of NuÌ„ burge 1542. An assemble at Spires Gropper coÌ„mended Bucer The king of EnglaÌ„d maried the syxte wyfe Theioration of the freÌ„che ambessrdour PerswasioÌ„s to warre against the Turke The policie of the Romaines in establishing their empire The concord of England Howe the Turkes acheued their empyre GwelphiaÌ„s Wibellines The opinion of the Popes Ambassad The Pope suspecteth Germany A soden fear in the FreÌ„ch courte An Army agaynste the Turke Contention betwixte the elector of saxon Duke Moris Luthers oretion for the field The Pope â—â—pared with that Turke Two mighty Tyrantes Any pleasant lyfe is not to be loked for The Turke shal not be of such force as were the Romaines The last act of that Turke A cousolatioÌ„ of the prysoners with the Turkes The prayer of Luther Of the originall of the Turkes The Markes of Piscare accuseth the FreÌ„ch king The kinges purgation A counsell called at Trente The FreÌ„che king proclaimeth warre The Duke of Languile and Martin van Rossen invade Brabant Perpigusan beseged The maner to sâ—rche out that LutherinÌ„s S. Genefeua The articles of the Sorbe nistes Two friers preache the Gospell at Metz. WilliaÌ„ Farell grashoppers in Germany and Italy The Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue mouewar againste the duke of BruÌ„swicke who flieth An assembly at Noriberg Ambassadors to the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue Contarene in displesure with that pope cardinalles Hys death The ChauÌ„celour of Fraunceput in prison The Palsgraue receyueth the Gospell The Empe. aunswered the Popo The enterprises of Fregose Rincon Peace is disceiptful The FreÌ„che king is accused of ambition Cardinalles sent to maks a peace The Presydentes of the counsell at Trente Dure is taken Warre betwixte England Scotlande The Scotes taken at Solymosse Theyr king dieth The Duke of SaroÌ„ and the Lantzgraue refuse the iudgmeÌ„t of the chaumber The Duke of Cleauerecouereth Dure A rebellion at Rochelle 1543. The kynges oratioÌ„ to theÌ„ of Rochell The clemeÌ„cy of king FrauÌ„ces The assemblie of Nurrenberge The treatye of Norinberge A supplication of the protestantes The Turks increase by the losse of christians The decre of Norinberg The Duke of Cleaue refuseth truce The death of the bishop of Auspurg The French kinges aunswer to the Emperours letters Kinges of Fraunce most addicteth the pope The Dukes of Sauoye frend to theÌ„peroure The death praise of W. Bellay Frances LaÌ„der coÌ„mmitted to prison His weknes before the kynge His recantation Depensius driuen to recante The prayse of Clements Marot Psalmes translated by Marot The Archebisshop of Collon calleth a convocation Bucer preacheth at Bomia The bisshops boke of reformatioÌ„ Melancthon and Pistor come to Collon A booke called Antidagma Gropper forsaketh the Gospell Duke Moris maketh lawes for the ministers of the churche He foundeth three scooles He is beneficiall to the Uniuersitie of Lipsia Lawes agaynst deflowerers of Uirgins adulterers An assemble at Spier