setting forth That since the Marriage of their Queen to the Dauphine of France the Government of Scotland had been chaâ—â—ed the French Soldiers laid all waste The principal Employments were given to Frenchmen their Forts and Castles put into their Hands and their Money adulterated to their Advantage That the Design was apparently to possess themselves of Scotland if the Queen should happen to die without Issue Cecil who was the Queens Prime Minister imployed Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland to find out what the Lords of the Articles designed and what Means they had to attain their Ends and upon what Terms they expected Succours from England They said They desired nothing but the Glory of Jesus Christ the sincere Preaching of the Word of God the extirpation of Superstition and Idolatry the Restraint of the Fury of Persecution and the Preservation of their ancient Liberties That they knew not for the present how to effect this but they hoped the Divine Goodness which had begun the Work would bring it to its desired End with the Confusion of their Enemies That they earnestly desired to enter into a Friendship with the Queen of England to the Preservation of which they would Sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes The Consideration of these things was not warmly entertained in England be cause the Scots had little Money and were not over-well cemented among themselves so they were only advised Not to enter rashly into a War. But as soon as the English knew that the Marquess of Elboeuf the Queen of Scots Unkle was listing Men in Germany by the Rhinegrave for a War in Scotland That Cannons were sent to the Ports and Preparations amde to conquer that Kingdom and that in greater Quantities than seemed necessary to reduce a few unarmed Scots That the French to draw the Danes into this War had proffered That the Duke of Lorrain should renounce his Right to Denmark And that they were renewing their Solicitations with the Pope To give a declaratory Sentence for the Queen of Scot against the Queen of England Thereupon Sir Ralph Sadler a wise Man was sent to the Earl of Northumberland and Governour of the middle Marches on the Borders of Scotland to assist him and Sir James Croft Governour of Berwick The English Council could not see whither all this tended unless the French designed to invade the Kingdom of England as well as assume the Title and Arms of it Upon this the Council of England began to consider in good earnest and with great Application of the Scotch Affairs it was thought a thing of very ill and dangerous Example that one Prince should undertake the Protection of the Subjects of another Prince who were in Rebellion But then it was thought impious not to assist those of the same Religion when persecuted for it And it was certainly a great Folly to suffer the French the sworn Enemies of England when they challenged the Kingdom of England too and were at Peace with all the rest of the World to continue armed in Scotland which lay so near and convenient for the Invasion of England on that side which had the greatest number of Roman Catholicks both of the Nobility and Commons This was thought a betraying the Safety and Quiet of the whole Nation in a very cowardly manner And therefore it was concluded It was no Time now for lazy Counsels but that it was best to take up their Arms and as the English Custom was To prevent their Enemies and not stay till they should begin with us It was always as lawful to Prevent an Enemy as to repel him and to defend our selves the same way that others Attack us That England could never be Safe but when it was Armed and Potent and that nothing could contribute more to this End than the securing it against Scotland That in order to this the Protestants of Scotland were to be protected and the French Forces driven out of it and this was not to be done by Consultations but by Arms. That the neglect of these Methods had not long since lost Calais to our great Hindrance and Shame That a little before whilst the French pretended to preserve the Peace with great Fidelity they had surprized the Fort of Ambleteul and some other Places near Bologne and by that means forced the English to surrender that important Place That we must expect the same Fate would attend Berwick and the other Fronteer Garrisons if they did not forthwith take Arms and not rely any longer on the French Pretences of maintaining the Peace which were never to be believed their Counsels being secret their Ambition boundless and their Revenues immense so that it was then a Proverb in England France can neither be Poor nor Quiet three Years together And Queen Elizabeth was used to say that Expression of Valentinean the Emperour was good Francum amicum habe at non vicinum Let a Frank be thy Friend but not thy Neighbour So that upon the whole it was concluded That it was Just Honest Necessary and our Interest to drive the French as soon as was possible out of Scotland Hereupon William Winter Master-Gunner in the Fleet was sent with a Fleet to Edinburgh Frith who to the great terror of the French fell upon their Ships of War on that Coast and their Garrison in the Isle of Inchkeith The Duke of Norfolk then Lieutenant of the North was also sent towards Scotland William Lord Grey who had well defended Guines against the French tho' unsuccessfully was made Governour of the Eastern and Middle Marches and Thomas Earl of Sussex who had been Lieutenant of Ireland in the Reign of Queen Mary was sent thither again with the same Character and commanded to have a particular care the French did not excite the barbarous and superstitious Irish to a Rebellion under the Pretence of Religion The French in the interim were not idle but the Regent reproach'd the Lords of the Congregation so the Protestants were call'd in a Proclamation that they had brought Englishmen frequently into their Houses that came with Messages unto them and returned Answers back to England though they made no Answer to them because they did not think it convenient either to deny it or openly to Avow it for the present and the King of France and Queen Mary wrote each a distinct Letter to the Lord James Stewart threatning him with Punishment as his wickedness deserved and by Word of Mouth let him know That he would rather lose the Crown of France than not be revenged on the Seditious Tumults raised in Scotland And one Octavian a French Captain landed soon after with a French Regiment great Sums of Mony and Ammunition of War and was forthwith sent back by the Regent for one hundred Horse and four Ships of War and in the mean time she fell to Fortifie Isith or Leith expelling all the former Inhabitants and making it a Colony of French only it being a Sea-Port-Town
fit to receive Supplies and a Place that might serve the French Companies for a Refuge if they should happen to be reduced to any great streight This was done about September as appears by a Letter of the Nobility about it in that Month. The Regent's Reputation was by this time at so low an Ebb that nothing she said was believed and all she offered suspected About this time M. Pelleuce Bishop of Amiens afterwards Bishop of Sens arrived at Leith attended by three Doctors of the Sorbon Furmer Brochet and Feretier he pretended he came to dispute with the Preachers of the Congregation and he sent to some of the Nobility residing then at Edinburg desiring a Hearing But for fear their Arguments might not prove so effectual as was expected Le Broche a French Knight came over at the same time with two thousand Foot to reinforce their Sylogisms The Congregation-Nobility reject however their armed Logick and would have nothing to do with them The Eighteenth of October the Lords assembled their Forces at Edinburg and the Regent with the Bishop of St. Andrews Glasgow Dunkeld and the Lord Seaton the same day entred Leith And some Messages having pass'd betwixt them they proceeded so far at last as to suspend the Queen-Regent's Commission discharging her of all Authority till the next Parliament prohibiting the Officers to serve under her or by colour of her Authority to exercise their Offices from thenceforth This Decree bears Date the Twenty third of October The Twenty fifth they summoned the Town of Leith commanding all Scots and Frenchmen to depart within twelve hours But failing in this Attempt the Regent took Edinburg and restored the Mass there and all those of the contrary Religion were forced to flee into England or where they could find shelter Hereupon the Queen sent for more Forces and the Marquis d' Elboeuf was sent from Diep with eighteen Ensigns of Horse which were dispersed at Sea by Tempest so that he arrived not at Leith before the Spring of the next year The Lords retired first to Sterling and then to Glasgow where they reform'd all things after their usual manner and in the mean time they sent William Maitland and Robert Melvil to Queen Elizabeth where at last they obtained what they designed in the manner I have express'd The French hearing this resolved to suppress the Lords before the English should come up to their Assistance and thereupon began to waste and spoil the Country to Sterling but though they met with little Resistance yet they could not attain their End. In February an Agreement was made between the English and the Scotch Commissioners sent by the Lords for the Preservation of the Scotch Liberties and Freedoms from a French Conquest and for the Expulsion of the French Forces out of Scotland the Articles of which were Sign'd the Twenty seventh of that Month. About this time the English Fleet under Captain Winter came up and took all the French Ships in the Fyrth of Edinburg which much amazed the French who were then marching for St. Andrews by the Sea-side whereupon they returned to Leith About the same time the Lords of the Congregation reformed Aberdene but the Earl of Huntley coming up in good time saved the Bishop's Palace which had else been reformed to the Ground The English Land-Forces to the number of two thousand Horse and six thousand Foot entred Scotland under the Command of the Lord Gray in the beginning of April The English at first beat the French into Leith and battered the Town very diligently but remitting in their Care and Industry the French made a Sally out of Leith and cut off a great number of the English which made them more vigilant The last of April a Fire happened in the Town which burnt the greatest part of it with much of the Soldiers Provisions The Seventh of May the Town was Storm'd but the Ladders proving too short an hundred and sixty of the English were slain and nothing was gain'd Soon after there came up two thousand English more In the mean time the French King sent to Queen Elizabeth that if she would withdraw her Army out of Scotland he would restore Calais to her To which she replied She did not value that Fisher-Town so much as to hazard for it the State of Britain Thereupon the French perceving no Peace could be had without the French were recall'd out of Scotland and disdaining to treat with the Scots who were their Subjects they began a Treaty with the Queen of England In the mean time Mary of Lorain Queen Regent of Scotland died in the Castle of Edinburg the Tenth of June partly of Sickness and partly of Displeasure Before her Death she sent for the Duke of Wastellerand the Earl of Argile Glencarne Marshall and the Lord James and bewailing the Calamities of Scotland prayed them to continue in Obedience to the Queen their Soverign and to send both the French and English out of the Kingdom so asking their Pardon and granting them hers she took her leave with many Tears kissing the Nobility one by one and giving the rest her Hand to kiss She was a Wife Good Religious Princess full of Clemency and Charity and would doubtless have prevented the Calamities of Scotland which befel there in the end of her days if she had been left to her own Measures but being governed by the Orders of France she was forced to do and say what she did to her great dishonour and disquiet which too at last ended in the Ruine of those she most desired to Promote as it always happens in Breach of Faith. She would often say That if her own Counsel might take Place she doubted not but to compose all the Dissention within that Kingdom and to settle the same in a perfect Peace upon good Conditions Soon after her Death or as Thuanus saith a little before it Embassadors from France and England came to Edinburg who sending for the Scoth Nobility began to treat about the sending the French out of Scotland which was at last agreed and the Sixteenth of July the French embark'd on the English Fleet for France and the English Army the same day began their march by Land for Berwick and the Fortifications of Leith and Dunbar were dismantled but sixty Frenchmen were left to keep the Castle of Dunbar and the same number the Isle of Inchkeeth until the States should find means to maintain the said Forts upon their own Charges from all Peril of Foreign Invasion In August the Parliament met which established a Confession of Faith contrary to the Roman Religion and pass'd three other Acts one for Abolishing the Pope's of Jurisdiction and Authority another for Repealing the Laws formerly made in favour of Idolatry and a third for the Punishing the Hearers and Sayers of Mass and with these Acts Sir James Sandelands was sent into France for the Royal Assent of the King
of Monsuer Wickfort a great Man of this present Age who saith that Sleidans History is very Good. It will I suppose be expected that I should give an account of this Translation That the Original deserved to be read in more Languages than one is I believe unquestionable and that favourable Reception it has already met with in the German French and Italian Languages besides that universal Applause with which it has been Celebrated by the Learned in all the Countries of Europe did bespeak such a Translation into English as might in some measure answer the native Beauties of this noble Work of which I shall only say that in this all imaginable care hath been taken to keep up that truly great simplicity which is the distinguishing character of this History how far this hath been performed is left to the Judgment of the judicious Reader What I have to say of my Continuation is already set down in my Introduction before it To the most Illustrious Prince AUGUSTUS Elector and Duke of SAXONY Landt-grave of THVRINGE Marquiss of MISNIA and Lord High Marshal of the EMPIRE His most Gracious Master and Lord John Sleidan wisheth much Health and Happiness Illustrious Sir DIvers Authors have discovered to us the manifold and various Accidents which attend humane affairs and the changes in States and Kingdoms And God himself has been pleased heretofore to instruct us and with his Own voice as it were to foretel us what should happen of this Nature many Ages before it came to pass And as to the first four Great Empires of the World He has been pleased by Daniel the Prophet to inform us of their Order Changes and Successions The greatest part of whose excellent Predictions are now by the event exposed and made very plain to us and afford us a knowledge which is both very sweet and full of Consolation The same holy Prophet has also foretold the changes of Religion and the contests concerning its Doctrines and the Apostle St. Paul who followed him has clearly also discovered before-hand many things of that Nature And the accomplishment of these Predictions has been delivered down to us and explain'd by various Writers who have lived in the intermediate Ages But then that change which has hapned in our times is one of the most Illustrious Events which has come to pass The Prophet has foretold that the Roman Empire should be the last and the most powerful and that it should be divided and accordingly it is reduced to the lowest degree of weakness tho it was once of an immense Bulk and vast extent so that now it only subsists within the Confines of Germany and its Fortunes have been very various and unsteady partly by reason of its Intestine Divisions and partly on the account of Foraign Combinations against it Yet after all God has at last given us the most Potent Emperor that has reigned in many Ages For in the Person of this Prince are united the Succession of many Rich and Powerful Kingdoms and Inheritances which by reason of their Situations have afforded him the opportunity of performing great things by Sea and Land above any other of our Princes And as his Power has very much exceeded all the Emperors of Germany which have Reigned since Charles the Great So the things which have happen'd in his time and under his Government have rendred him the most Conspicuous and Memorable of all our Princes And amongst these the Reformation of Religion doth justly challenge the first Place which began with his Reign For this Controversie had not been moved above XIV months when Maximilian the Emperor his Grandfather and immediate Predecessor in the Empire died And when he was chosen by the VII Electors Luther being at the self same time provoked by his Adversaries entred the Lists and maintain'd a publick Disputation against Eckius at Leipsick by which the minds of both the contending Parties were put into a great Commotion The Reign therefore of this great Prince is diligently to be considered and for the better understanding of it ought to be compared with those of the former times For God has ever used to raise up Illustrious and great Princes when the Ecclesiastical or Civil State were to be changed such were Cyrus Alexander the Macedonian C. Julius Caesar Constantine Charles the Great and the Otho 's of Saxony and now in our times at last CHARLES the V. That change I have here in this Story unfolded is such that no man who does clearly understand it can think of it without astonishment and the utmost degree of Admiration and Wonder It s beginning was small and almost contemptible and one man alone a while bore the hatred and violence of the whole World And even he too might easily at first have been quieted and laid to sleep if the condition he so often offered his Adversaries had been accepted by them For he Promised he would hold his Peace if they would do so too But when they refused this and would force him to recant and stood stifly in this Resolution that he should do it And he on the otherside as stoutly replied That he could not retract what he had Advanced till they had shewn him wherein he had err'd The debate between them improved and grew greater and the business was brought before the Dyet of Germany by which means it dilated it self to that degree we now see it in But then upon what reasons it was done What share the Popes of Rome the Vniversities and the Kings Princes and States of Christendom had in this Affair How Luther defended his Cause before the Emperor and the Princes of Germany in the Dyet How many men of great Learning joyned themselves with him How this business was from time to time agitated and debated in the Dyets What ways were proposed for an Accommodation How the Popes solicited the Emperor and other Christian Princes How they frequently promised a Reformation and a General Council What Persecutions and Slaughters were in several Places were stir'd up against those who imbraced this Doctrine What Conspiracies and Leagues were set on foot to the same end not only in Germany but in other Countries as this Religion spread it self How some forsook it and others persevered constantly in it What Tumults Contentions and Wars were occasioned by it These thing in my judgment are so great and so full of Variety that I think it were a sin to suffer them to perish in silence and not commit them to writing To this I may add that I think it very reasonable to give an account what the state of the Empire of Germany has been during the Reign of this Prince by the space of XXXVI years what Wars he has mannaged What Commotions and Disturbances have happned And what has been the fortune of the Neighbour Kingdoms and Provinces in these times But then I shall shew hereafter the method I have followed in this Work. For as this Princes Dominions
that the One and twenty days which he had allowed him to return in being expired every one should endeavour to apprehend him and bring him into lawful Custody Banishing in the same manner all that should any ways aid or assist him He ordered all his Books also to be destroyed appointing a severe Penalty for Stationers that should meddle with them for the future And this Decree which he said was made with the common Consent and Advice of the Princes and States he commanded to be inviolably observed by all It was said that there were but a few who had a hand in framing this Decree For some of the Electors acknowledged that they were not privy to it as shall be said of the Elector of Cologn in its proper place The Elector of Mentz who is Chancellor of the Empire had a great stroak in Matters of that nature However it be the Emperor by this Sentence procured to himself much Favour so that the Pope fell quite off from the Frienship of France and made a League with him as you shall hear by and by After the Publication of this Sentence Duke Frederick appointed some Gentlemen in whom he could most confide to convey Luther into some more private place remote from the concourse of People that so he might be out of danger and this was performed with great secrecy and diligence In this his Retirement he wrote several Letters to his Friends and some Books also as one for abolishing private Mass which he dedicated to his Brethren the Augustine Friers Another concerning Monastick Vows dedicated to his Father John Luther and one against James Latome a Divine of Lovain He exhorted the Augustines to Courage and Constancy telling them that they had a strong support in Duke Frederick who was a wise Prince a lover of Truth and most averse from rash Judging They of all others were the first that began to leave off saying of Mass and therefore it was that Luther composed for them the Book we now mentioned that he might both encourage the weak and confirm the strong earnestly exhorting them to persevere in that purpose Duke Frederick hearing of this and fearing that some great disturbance might thereupon ensue commanded that the Opinion of the whole University should be taken about the matter and brought to him For that purpose the University chose four of their Members Justus Jonas Philip Melancthon Nicholas Amstorff and John Dulce These having had a Conference with the Augustines made a report of what their resolution was and at the same time declared how great injury was done to the Lord's Supper Wherefore they prayed the Duke that he would abolish that great Impiety not in one Church only but in all places also and restore the true use of the Lord's Supper according to the Institution of Christ and the Practice of his Apostles without regard to the Reproaches and Calumnies of Gain-sayers For that it was the course of this World that he who would undertake the defence of the true Doctrin of the Gospel must suffer many things That he ought to make it his chief study reverently to acknowledg that singular Mercy wherewith God had now blest him in making the Light of the Gospel to shine among the People To these things Duke Frederick made Answer That he would omit nothing that might conduce to the propagating of Piety but that since the matter was very difficult he did not think it fit to make too much haste and that hardly any thing could be effected by them who were so few in number But that if the Matter were grounded on Scripture many would certainly come over to them and then such a change as might seem to be pious and necessary would more conveniently be brought about That for his own part who was ignorant of the Scripture he could not tell when that accustomed Rite of the Mass which they condemned was first introduced into the Church and when that which the Apostles are said to have followed was left off That all Churches generally and Colleges wer founded for the Mass being endowed for that end with great Revenues so that should Mass be now abolish'd the Goods and Lands heretofore given for that use would be taken from the right Possessors That any Man might see what disturbance and confusion that would breed And that since they had referred the whole Affair to him it was his advice to them That having consulted the rest of the good and learned Men of the University they would proceed in the matter moderately and devise with themselves such means as might be proper for keeping Peace and Piety among them The Commissioners having consulted together made their Reply and again advise him to abrogate the Mass alledging that it might be done without Tumult and that though it could not yet that which was just and good ought not therefore to be omitted That their being fewer in number was no new thing since that from the beginning of the World the greatest part of Mankind had always opposed the true Religion That none would accept and approve the right way of administring and receiving the Lord's Supper but they to whom it should be given from above That Colleges were founded of old not for Mass but for the pious Education of Youth and these Possessions given for the Maintenance of the Masters and Scholars and for the Use of the Poor which Custom had lasted almost to the time of St. Bernard but that about Four hundred years since this trafficking about Masses came in play which now ought to be utterly abolished That though it were of ancient date yet such a Profanation was not to be tolerated And that if Stirs and Commotions should arise from thence it was not to be imputed to the Religion but to the Wickedness of the Adversaries who for Gain sake withstand the Truth against their own Conscience That however Men ought not to regard such inconveniences but to proceed absolutely whatever Tumults the World might raise for that all these things had been long ago foretold by Christ This year the Emperor's Brother Ferdinand Archduke of Austria married the Lady Ann Sister to Lewis King of Hungary Among so many Adversaries as Luther had Henry VIII King of England opposed him also in Writing and in the first place refuted his Opinion about Indulgences and defended the Papacy Afterwards he censured all his Disputations concerning the Sacraments of the Church taking occasion of writing from the Book of the Captivity of Babylon When this came to Luther's knowledge he wrote a most bitter Answer declaring That in defence of this Cause he valued no Man's Honour nor Greatness However Pope Leo gave the King an honourable Title for this calling him Defender of the Faith. How Charles of Austria came to be chosen Emperor hath be shewn before But some private Quarrels happening afterwards betwixt Him and the French King it came to a War at last though
through the dextrous management of the Magistrates and Mediators matters were peaceably accommodated And when upon an Insurrection in Brisgow they had surprized Friburg the chief Town in those Places Ernest Marquess of Baden who had great Possessions there fled to Strasburg and prayed the Senate to intercede for him whereupon James Sturney and Conrad Joham were sent as Deputies from the Senate who with the Deputies that came from Basil and some other Places dealt fairly with them and persuaded them to return home so that after the Difference had been debated and concluded at Basil on the twenty fifth Day of July they broke up from Lava four Miles from Strasburg and dispersed but Promises were not punctually observed to them neither for many of them were executed after they came home The Switzers also zealously bestirred themselves in quieting an Insurrection in Sontgow a neighbouring Province belonging to Archduke Ferdinand and the Dominion of Austria making it appear to the Seditious what the Magistrates Duty was and what the Peoples Now their Demands were almost the same in all Places which beginning first in Schwabia ran immediately all about like Wild-fire as we told you before so that from Thuringe and the Borders of Saxony as you shall hear hereafter it reached as far as the Alpes there having been a Rising also in the Country of Saltzburg But all things being setled in Franconia and Schwabia the Army of the Schwabian League marched thither also and destroyed and banished many among whom was their General Geismeier who with part of his Forces by difficult and inaccessible Paths crossed the Alpes and fled to the Venetians who having bestowed a yearly Pension upon him he went to live in Padoua where he was at length treacherously assassinated in his own House And this was the end of the Boors War which from a small beginning grew to such a height and spread so far for the Contagion was diffused over most parts of Germany and not only in the Country but also in Cities and Towns many Tumults and Riots happened as particularly in Cologn where for the space of a whole Month almost the City Companies daily met in Arms continuing so even in the Night-time also and were designing the Destruction not only of the Clergy but of the Senate likewise but the Tumult was quieted without any Blood save of one or two Seditious who many Months after were executed for it All do not agree upon the Number of those that were slain in this War which lasted but one summer they who speak the least say That in all places there died fifty thousand That Schwabian League so often mentioned was made long before first for eight Years then for three afterwards for twelve and then again for ten but in the year of our Lord 1522 it was renewed for eleven Years a little before the Emperour returned to Spain Those who ingaged in this League were first the Emperour as Archduke of Austria and his Brother Ferdinand who had been lately possessed of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Archbishop of Mentz the Prince Palatine the Bishops of Saltzburg Bamberg Wurtzburg Aichstadt and Ausburg the Brother William and Lewis Dukes of Bavaria Otho Henry and Philip the Prince Palatines Brothers George Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert his Nephew Philip Landgrave of Hesse besides many others of the Nobility and Clergy to whom were joyned most of the Cities of Schwabia and among these all Norimberg April 13 Mass was abolished in Zurich by Command of the Magistrates and that not only in the City but over all their Territory also in place whereof the Lord's Supper was appointed all Ceremonies being laid aside the Reading of the Scriptures Prayers and Preaching succeeded and a Law was published against Fornication and Adultery and Judges were appointed to determine Matrimonial Causes THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK V. The CONTENTS Thomas Muncer broaching a new kind of Doctrin That all Goods should be had in Common drew a vast number of Country People after him one Phifer being his Companion and chief Counsellor After the Death of Duke Frederick the neighbouring Princes raise an Army against the Muncerians nor did his Seditious Preaching nor vain Promises hinder but that many of his Companions were killed and he himself lost his Head. Luther had already written against him to the Senate of Mulhausen Here are recited the Demands of the Boors to which Luther answers shews the Nature of the Disorder and exhorts the Magistrates to punish such Villains The Emperour knowing of these Troubles and Disorders calls a Dyet at Ausburg Caralostadius leaving Wittemberg endeavours to purge himself in a Book that he published Luther marries a Nun and comes to Marpurg that he might confer with Zuinglius about the Lord's Supper Whilst the French King was Prisoner Pope Clement having received Letters from his Mother incites the Parliament of Paris against the Lutherans Le Fevre was forced to fly out of France the King being informed of that sent Orders That they should not molest Men of Learning The Master of Prusia is made Duke and receives the Reformed Religion THIS great and terrible War was in a great measure occasioned by busie and pragmatical Preachers of whom Thomas Muncer mentioned before was the Ring-leader who at length leaving off the Preaching of the Gospel broached an odd and new kind of Doctrin at Alstet a Town belonging to the Elector of Saxony upon the Borders of Thuringe There he began to teach first of all not only against the Pope but against Luther also condemning both their Doctrins as Corrupt and Erroneous That the Pope bound Men's Consciences with strict Bonds and hard Laws which Luther did indeed loose but then run to the other Extream allowing too much Liberty and not Teaching those things which were of the Spirit That it was lawful to neglect the Decrees of the Pope as not conducing to Salvation for obtaining whereof Men must said he first of all avoid manifest Sins as Murther Adultery Blasphemy Incest and Mortifie the Body by Fasting and simple Cloathing look gravely speak little and wear a long Beard These and such like things he called the Cross the Mortification and Discipline of the Flesh Those he said who were in this manner prepared must retire from Company and the Speech of Men and fix their Thoughts upon God that they may know what he is if he taketh any Care of us if Christ suffered Death for our sake and if our Religion be to be preferred before that of the Turks That we were to crave of God a Sign also to assure us that he taketh care of us and that we are in the true Religion that if he did not presently give us a Sign we must nevertheless persevere in instant Prayers nay and expostulate seriously with God that he dealt not well with us For that since the Scripture promiseth That he will grant such things as are asked
of the taking of Rome having made a League with the King of England he sent a puissant Army into Italy under the command of Lautrech a Gascoin for the relief of the Pope He being come into Lombardy and joyned by the Venetians took first Alexandria and then Pavia partly by composition and partly by assault where the Soldiers enraged that their King should have been taken there having made great slaughter of the Towns-people plundered it July the twenty seventh Charles Duke of Bourbonne who had been lately killed at the taking of Rome was condemned of High Treason by the Parliament of Paris his name and memory declared infamous his arms torn and his goods and lands forfeited Anthony du Prat the Chancellour pronounced the Sentence Bourbonne bore a mortal hatred to the French King and being about to besiege Marseilles as we mentined in the Fourth Book he wrote to the Cardinal of York among other things that he would spare neither pains nor perils in assisting King Henry for the recovery of the Right and Title he had to France For above two hundred years the English have laid claim to the whole Kingdom of France but especially to Normandy Gascony and Guienne By these Letters therefore Bourbonne oblique stirred up the King of England to prosecute his Right there and they coming after into the hands of the French King incensed him far more against the Duke There was at that time in Bavaria one Leonard Cesar a Professor of the Gospel who being apprehended by orders from the Bishop of Passaw maintained these points of Doctrin That man was Justified by Faith alone That there was but two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper That the Mass was not a Sacrifice and availed not the Quick and the Dead That the Confession of sins was a counsel and not a precept That Christ alone made Satisfaction for us That the Vow of Chastity was not obligatory That the Scripture did not speak of Purgatory That there was no distinction of Days That the Dead were no Intercessors and that in spiritual and divine matters Man had no Free-will When he was brought to Tryal he would have spoken more fully of all these Points to the People but was not suffered Eckius was one of those that tryed him and all spoke in Latin that the People might not understand save only the Prisoner who discoursed in Dutch but could not get them to do the same At length he was condemned for a Heretick and being delivered over to the Temporal Magistrate William Duke of Bavaria under whose Jurisdiction he lived August 16 he was burnt for the Bishop did not pronounce Sentence of Death against him lest he might pollute holy things and become irregular by having a Hand in his Blood. Ferdinand who had been the Emperour's Deputy in Germany after the Death of King Lewis being chosen King of Bohemia and standing in competition with the Vaivode of Transilvania for the Crown of Hungary which occasioned a War. Philip Marquess of Baden who was substituted unto him called a Dyet in the Emperour's Name to be held at Ratisbonne in the beginning of March following whither the States should repair to consult of Religion and the Turkish War. You heard before of the Disputation of Baden but since the Acts of the Dispute and Conference were not communicated to those of Berne the most noted and powerful Canton of all the Switzers though they had desired it and that the Differences about Religion increased all the Ministers not agreeing among themselves in Doctrin they appointed another Disputation to be had within their own City December 17 whereof they made publick Intimation and called thereunto the Bishops of Constance Basil Sitien and Lausenne warning them to come in person and bring their Divines with them else they threatned them with the loss of all the Lands and Possessions they had within their Territories afterwards they made a List of the Clergy-Mâ—n of their Jurisdiction and appointed the Scriptures of the Old and News Testament to be the only Rule and to have the sole Authority in all the Debates giving likewise a Safe-Conduct to all that pleased to come This Order they also made That all things should be carried on modestly without railing or reproach and that every Man should freely speak his Mind and so distinctly that what they said might be taken by Clerks they also ordained That what should be agreed upon and determined in that Conference should be of Force and have its course through all their Dominions And that all might know what they were to dispute about and come the better prepared they published Theses to the number of ten which their Ministers Francis Colb and Berthold Holler offered to maintain and prove by Scripture And these were That the true Church whereof Christ is the only Head springs from the Word of God perseveres therein and will not hear the Voice of another That this same Church made no Laws besides God's Word That therefore the Traditions of Men who bear the name of the Church no farther oblige us than as they are consonant to the Word of God That Christ alone made Satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World That therefore if any Many say There is any other way of Salvation or of expiating of Sins he denies Christ That it cannot be proved by Scripture That the Body and Blood of Christ are really and Corporally received That the Rite of the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Heavenly Father for the Quick and the Dead is repugnant to Scripture and a Reproach to that Sacrifice which Christ made for us That Christ alone is to be prayed unto as the Mediator and Advocate for us with God the Father That it is not to be found in Holy Scripture that there is any place where Souls are purged after this Life That therefore the Prayers and all the Ceremonies and Anniversary Offices which are performed for the Dead Tapers Lamps and the like are of no use at all That it is contrary to Holy Scripture that any Image or Picture should be proposed to be worshiped That therefore if they be placed in Churches for that end they are to be removed That Marriage is forbidden to no Order of Men but that for avoiding of Fornication the Scripture permits all to marry And that since all Whoremongers are by Testimony of Scripture really separated from the Communion of the Church impure and unchast Celibacy is least of all becoming the Order of Priesthood When those of Berne had written concerning these things to all the Cantons exhorting them to send their learned Men and to give Safe-Conduct to all others who pleased to come The Cantons of Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwald Zug Glaris Friburg and Solothurne answered by a long Letter seriously exhorting them That they would desist from their Enterprize putting them in mind of their League and Association and of the Disputation of Baden whereof they themselves
not indeed for maintaining their Religion but for asserting their Rights and Liberties Thereupon presently they ran to Arms possessed themselves of the Towers and Gates and having placed Guards in proper Places kept Watch and Ward in the same manner as in a Camp when there is Danger from a neighbouring Enemy Next Day the Senate desired Time to consult referring the Matter to those who lately had been Intercessors The Citizens did not refuse that but in the mean time would have those they accused turned out and that they should prosecute their Suit at their own Private Charges but that for themselves who maintained the Cause of the Publick and of Posterity their Charges should be defrayed by the Publick The Senate granted these and some other slighter matters that thereby they might mitigate their Anger The same Day some of the Town's-People who had Orders to go the Rounds about the City and see that no Abuses were committed went into the Cathedral Church where one of them with his Pike pushed at the Image of a certain Saint which thereupon tumbled down and was broken This gave them an occasion to lay Hands afterwards on more but the Priests who were extreambly troubled at that interposing they that they might not go beyond their Commission departed without any further Quarrel When the Report of this was brought to the Market-place and made greater than indeed it was three hundred armed Men were forthwith sent to the Church to the assistance of their Brethren who were said to be hard put to it and in Danger But before they came the rest were gone However that they might do something for their coming they broke down all the Images they found there and so proceeding did the like in all the rest of the Churches Then some of the Senate came running to prevent any Tumult or Riot to whom the Citizens said What you have been consulting about any time these three Years whether you had best do it or not in one Hours time we have dispatched that there may be no difference among us hereafter about Images So that the Senate condescended to all they desired and twelve Senators were turned out but without Disgrace among whom were Henry Meltinger at that time Burgo-master and Lucius Zeigler Dean of Guield A Decree also passed That Mass should be abolished and Images broken down both in the City and abroad also in the Country throughout all their Jurisdiction That besides the Senate should for the future admit of two hundred and threescore of the Members of the City Companies to deliberate with them about those things which concerned the Glory of God and the Welfare of the State. When the Citizens had got those two Decrees made they joyfully returned home to their Houses and wreakt their Fury only upon the Images The third Day after which was Ashwednesday the Wooden Images were distributed among the Poor to be made use of for Fewel But they quarrelling and falling to Fisty-cuffs about dividing the Spoil it was thought fit to burn them publickly Wherefore there were nine Piles of them made before the Cathedral Church and burnt And so it happened That the very same Day on which the Papists used to sprinkle the People's Foreheads with Ashes to put them in Mind that they are but Dust and Ashes was a pleasant and joyful Day to the City because then the Images were reduced into Ashes February 12 the Common Council of the Companies which were mentioned approved the Acts of the Senate and the next day after an Oath was taken by all the Companies and then all quietly departed When the Cantons of Zurich Berne and Solothurn had Intelligence of these Stirs they presently sent Deputies to make Mediation but before they came all was over We made mention a little before of the Dyet of Spire which the Emperour appointed to meet in the beginning of February but it was not opened before the beginning of March The Princes and States made a great appearance there and the Elector of Saxony brought Melanchthon with him The first thing they fell upon was matter of Religion and after much Debate they made a Decree therein as shall be said hereafter Now the Drift of the Papists was to divide the Duke of Saxony and the other Princes from the Cities that they might not consult and joyn together in Design And because all the Cities were not of the same Judgment the Princes were about the Lord's Supper they were in good Hope they might accomplish their Desires but that was in vain as you shall hear hereafter King Ferdinand also and his Colleagues sent for the Deputies of some of the Cities separately April 5 and severely chid them for having made many Innovations contrary to the Emperour's Edict but then he exhorted them to comply and joyn in Opinion with the rest of the States lest through their Dissentions the Dyet might be dissolved They made answer That what Innovations they had made were no ways prejudicial to the Emperour that above all things they desired Concord would do any thing for the Emperour and did not refuse to submit to the Judgment of a lawful Council Zurich and Berne the two far most powerful Cantons of Switzerland being agreeed in Religion as we have said the Cantons of Lucerne Vri Vnderwalt Switz and Zug who above all others spighted that Doctrin made a League with King Ferdinand In the mean time Pope Clement April 23 sent John Tomaso of Mirandula to incite the Princes to the Turkish War and to tell them That though of late Years he himself had sustained great Losses nevertheless he promised Aid and that he would make it his endeavour that Peace being made betwixt the Emperour and French King a Council should forthwith commence that Germany might at length embrace the same Religion that other Provinces did The Council of the Empire we mentioned some Months before had been removed from Esling to Spire whither the City of Strasburg having sent their Deputy Daniel Meige to consult and act with the other Counsellours about the Affairs of the Publick he was not admitted to sit because the Strasburghers had lately abolished the Mass and would not stay till the Conclusion of the present Dyet This being known the rest of the Cities perceiving it to be a Precedent which concerned themselves also did mediate and demanded that the Custom of the Empire might be observed That though they might have done some things contrary to the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church yet ought they not therefore to be denyed their Right before the Controversie were determined in a Lawful Council especially seeing no such thing had hitherto been attempted nor had any Person been as yet in the least debarred from his Right in the publick Dyets of the Empire upon account of Religion Afterwards James Sturney Deputy for the City in that Dyet protested That if contrary to the Laws and Custom of the Empire they were in this
in the mean time that Alexander would be made their Duke for that was the Advice he himself had given the Emperour when he sent his Legate to him into Spain But now to our purpose again After much debate on the Thirteenth of August Seven were chosen on each side to adjust measures of a Reconciliation On the side of the Catholicks were the Bishop of Ausburg Henry Duke of Brunswick two Lawyers one of Cologne and another of Baden and three Divines Wimpin Eckius and Cochleus For the Protestants were George Marquess of Brandenburg John Frederick Duke of Saxony two Lawyers three Divines Melanchthon Brentius and Schnepsius These agreed upon some Points but the great Controversie was about the Mass the Marriage of Priests the Lord's Supper in both kinds Monastick Vows and the Jurisdiction of Bishops but especially about Mass and Monastick Vows for in that the Papists would not bate an Ace but for the other Points though they disapproved them yet they said they might be tolerated until the meeting of a Council Marriage they allowed also to Priests but only to those who had Wives already not to the rest and all that to prevent further troubles As to the Power and Jurisdiction of the Bishops the Saxons granted a little too much and more than was allowed of by the Commissioners for the Landgrave Lunenburg and Norimberg Afterwards it was thought fit to abridge this number so that there were Three chosen on each side Melanchthon with Two Lawyers and Eckius with as many but Melanchthon was enjoyned to grant no more Thus when they could not agree in Opinions the Papists were for having the matter again debated by more Persons but the Protestants perceiving that their design was to find out more ways of Accommodation declined that Treaty but if they thought fit to consider of ways of setling Peace until the meeting of a Council they were not against it During these Negotiations the Emperour dealt with George Marquess of Brandenburg by means of the Elector of Mentz and others of the same Family and with the Duke of Saxony by the Mediation of Frederick Prince Palatine the Count of Nassau and George Truchses that they would desist from their Enterprize He endeavoured also to divide the Duke of Saxony from the rest as being the chief of all and refused to invest him in his Dukedom according to the Custom of the Empire unless he would first be reconciled to the Church of Rome The other he threatned That unless he did comply he should lose the Ward and Guardianship of his Nephew Albert his Brother Casimires Son. They endeavoured to perswade the Landgrave That if he would obey the Emperour Vlrick Duke of Wittemberg should be restored and his Controversie with the Count of Nassau concerning Catzenelbogen accommodated by the Emperour's Mediation In this Dyet the Pope gave leave to King Ferdinand to make use of the Ornaments and the Gold and Silver Plate of all the Churches of Germany and also to lay a Tax upon the Clergy for the Turkish War But the Princes would not consent to it and made application to the Emperour that he would vacate that Bull. August the Eighteenth Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote from Fribourg to Cardinal Campegius That the Power of the Emperour was indeed great but that all did not acknowledge it That the Germans so acknowledged his Authority as that they commanded rather than obeyed That Luther's Doctrin was spread all over Germany so that from the Ocean as far as Switzerland that Chain of Mischief was stretched That if the Emperour should declare That he would in all things comply with the Interest and desire of the Pope it was to be feared he would have but few to approve his doings That there was great danger also threatned from the Turk who was so powerful that all the Force of Europe was hardly able to match him That many instances could be given how unsafe it was to go to War with Soldiers that were unwilling to fight That the Emperour without doubt was inclined to Peace though by a certain destiny he was drawn into War That for many years now France and Italy had suffered much by Wars but that unless care were taken this War would prove more fatal than all the rest That People were generally persuaded that the Pope had the chief hand in all these things but that it was to be feared the Emperour might run the greatest risque That they who loved Sects deserved indeed to be punished but that the welfare and safety of the Publick ought more to be regarded That the State of the Church had been sore distressed in former times when the Arians Pagans Donatists Manichees broached their Doctrins and Barbarous Nations also made War against it and yet it weathered all those Storms at length That Time and Patience sometimes cured the worst Distempers That the Bohemians were tolerated though they acknowledged not the Pope That if the same thing were allowed to the Lutherans it would not be amiss in his Judgment And that though this would be bad enough yet was it much easier to be born with than a War. September the Seventh the Emperour sent for all the Catholick Princes and States to come to Court about Noon and two hours after for the Duke of Saxony and his Associates where all being removed except his Brother King Ferdinand the Bishops of Constance and Seville Granvel and Truchses he ordered Frederick Prince Palatine to speak to them in his Name to this purpose That having given them so kind and gracious an Admonition after they had presented their Confession of Faith he had confidently hoped that they would have complied with him And that although he was disappointed of his hopes therein yet at the intercession of the Princes he had condescended that some Commissioners should be chosen on each side to endeavour a Reconciliation which had put him again in fresh hopes of a future Accommodation But that now he had learnt to his great trouble that they dissented from the rest in the chief Points of Doctrin a thing that he could not have expected at their hands for that he did not imagine that they who were but few in number would have introduced Novelties contrary to the Ancient and most Sacred Custom of the Universal Church or that they would have framed to themselves a singular kind of Religion different from what was professed by the Catholicks by himself his Brother King Ferdinand and by all the Princes and States of the Empire Nay and utterly disagreeing with the Practice of all the Kings in the World and of their own Ancestors too But that since they now demanded to have a General Council called and a Decree past in this Dyet for securing the Publick Peace He who above all things loved peace would use his Interest with the Pope and the rest of the Christian Princes that as soon as the Place could be agreed upon a Council should be
of any thing that is acted contrary to the Customs and Liberty of the Empire and therefore cannot confer upon him the Title of King of the Romans But the Duke of Saxony adds this in his Letters to the Emperor That if the matter be carry'd on in a legal way he will not shew himself unlike his Ancestors Concerning the admittance of the Helvetians into the League which the Cities very much desire the Duke gives in this Answer by his Embassadors that he cannot enter into any Society with them because they entertain a different Opinion concerning the Lord's Supper He is not indeed ignorant of how great consequence their Accession would be upon the account of their Strength and Power but this is what he least of all regards lest the event thereof should prove as dismal as is recorded in Scripture to have faln upon them who for the strengthning of themselves had recourse to any sort of unlawful Assistances During this Assembly there were Letters brought from the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave to the Embassadors of the other Princes and Cities the Contents of which were to this effect That the Emperor had permitted the Bishop of Mentz and Lewis the Prince Palatine to be Mediators of a Peace who by their Letters had desir'd that they likewise on their parts would give them the same permission and that then they would appoint a day for a Meeting After some deliberation the Embassadors do return their consent and then the Lantgrave and the Duke of Saxony make the Mediators this Answer That they are not against the Expedient provided the Exchequer will be quiet in the mean time this therefore being obtain'd of the Emperor they appoint the 30th of August for the day of Meeting The Cities which had their Embassadors in this Convention were these Strasburg Vlm Lubesk Nuremburg Constance Rutelingen Memmingen Lindaw Bibrach Isenach Kempen Hailbrun Magdeburg Bremen Brunswick and Gottingen Wigand Bishop of Bamburg had some years before made a Complaint to his Associates of the Schwaben Confederacy against George Duke of Brandenburg the substance of which was this That he had disturb'd him in his Ecclesiastical Rights that he had very much sunk his Customs that he had converted the Revenues of the Church to other uses and forc'd the Priests into this Novel and false Religion or else ejected them for their non-compliance All which things are not only a Violation of the Pope's and Emperor's Edicts but also of common Equity and the Laws of the Country and since he highly suffers by them he desires that they would either by their Interest and Authority reduce him to his Duty or else afford him such Assistance as they are oblig'd to by the League whereby he may be inabled for the time to come to defend his own and recover what he had lost But when after various Disputes a day was appointed for the hearing of this Cause at Nordlingen the Embassadors of the Protestants at the Brandenburger's entreaty came thither in the month of July With the Bishop of Bamburg were the Bishops of Auspurg Wurtzburg and Aichstadt as his Assistants and Counsellors The Plaintiff puts in his Charge wherein he sets forth how great Injury and Damage he had sustain'd and withal declares that notwithstanding the Associates of the League had under a penalty commanded the Defendant to desist from his Undertaking and to restore the Plaintiff to his own yet nothing as yet had been effected He therefore prays that he may be proceeded against according to the Prescript of the League The Defendant on the other side demurs to that part of the Charge which properly belongs to Religion and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Appeals from their Edicts and Decrees to a Council But they after some days intermission reply that they very much wonder he should put in such an Appeal as this because it is unusual and against the Prescript of the League which takes care that the Plaintiff and Defendant shall be both concluded by the Determination of select Judges That in this they had all agreed to defend the Ecclesiastical Liberties and therefore the Cognizance of this Cause does properly belong to them And since He himself had hitherto without any exception acknowledged their Jurisdiction with what reason could he now reject it As for a Council they are not by any means to be superseded by that nor ought the Preference to be giv'n unto it in this matter for these reasons therefore they do not accept his Appeal but proceed to confirm their former Edicts and if he will not yield Obedience they declare that they must proceed against him according to the Stipulation The Defendant on the contrary protests that he will stick to his Appeal in what relates to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction nor will he take any notice of their Sentence This Cause was managed by the Duke of Brandenburg both in his own Name and upon the account of his Nephew Albert Son to his Brother Casimire whose Guardian he was In the mean time the Emperor appoints a Diet of the Empire to convene at Spiers upon the Sixth of September for the composing of Religious Differences But upon the 21th of August there came to the Duke of Saxony the Counts of Nassaw and the Count de Newenar Men of great Reputation for their Vertue and being permitted by the Emperor to treat of a Reconciliation they to that end lay down five Propositions relating to the Supper of our Lord Ecclesiastical Rites the Goods of the Church Assistance against the Turk and the Election of King Ferdinand But when it appear'd from their Discourse that the Emperor lay under a perswasion as if the Duke was a Favourer both of Zuinglius his Doctrin and of the Anabaptists His answer was That 't is sufficiently known from the Augustine Confession what kind of Doctrin it is which he professes and which the Ministers within his Dominions do Preach in the Churches That 't is farther plain that while he was at the Diet of Auspurg he had held no Correspondence with those who are reputed Zuinglians nor yet afterwards till they had giv'n him an explication of their Opinion That he still continues in the same mind and shall by the Grace of God till his last breath persist in that Doctrin of which he made profession at Auspurg he therefore prays that as to that point they will vindicate him to the Emperor They tell him that as for their parts they were before very well satisfied of his Innocence and will therefore do him justice to the Emperor to whom they doubt not but this will prove very pleasing and acceptable News As to the other Propositions they were pleas'd to refer them to the next Imperial Diet. However they intreated him that he would either come himself in Person to that Diet or at least send thither his Son. His Answer was that truly he was desirous in all things to oblige the Emperor
Almighty who will undoubtedly Vindicate his own Cause and Religion However if things shall come to that pass that the Pope must have his mind in this business which they can hardly believe they will yet consider what is further to be done And if they happen to be cited and see that they can do any thing for the Glory of God they will then make their appearance if they may but have convenient Security giv'n them upon the Publick Faith. Or else they will send thither their Embassadors who shall publickly propound whatever the necessity and reason of their Cause requires This however shall be the condition that the present Propositions of the Pope shall not be accepted of nor any such Council allow'd as is contrary to the Decrees of the Empire For they cannot see how this Project of the Pope has the least tendency to advance a lasting Peace either to the Church or State nor does it become him to act after this Rate if he intends to discharge the Duty of a faithful Pastor which obliges him to advise Men for the best and to dispense unto them the wholsome Food of sound Doctrin Now since these things are so they earnestly desire them to deliver in this their Answer to the Emperor and the Pope hoping that the Emperor whom with all Reverence they acknowledge to be the Supream Magistrate constituted by God will not receive it with any Resentment but will use his Interest that â—uch a Council may be call'd as is agreeable to the Decrees of the Empire and that the whole Controversie may be discuss'd by pious and unsuspected Men. For it will without doubt very much redound both to his Glory and Advantage if he shall imploy all his Power and Authority towards the propagating of sound Doctrin and not to strengthen the cruel hands of those Men who have been for many years committing Outrage upon innocent Men only for their honest profession of such a Doctrin as is most agreeable to the Gospel Now for what remains they tender the Emperor their Service in all things and shall yield him a ready Compliance in all his other Affairs There was then with King Ferdinand Vergerius the Pope's Legate who has been mention'd in the former Book And because the Bishop of Rhegium was both ancient and infirm Clement had giv'n Orders to Vergerius to take upon him the Embassy if any difficulty should arise and that he should be sure to keep always in his View what the Pope's design and intentions were in relation to a Council He must therefore keep himself very close to his Orders and the foremention'd Proposals and not recede one hairs breadth from them But must take care not to run the Pope into streights and bring him under a necessity of holding a Council though he be never so hardly press'd by King Ferdinand himself THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOKS IX The CONTENTS George Duke of Saxony his Malicious Artifice to discover the Protestants related He complains of Luther to his Cozen German the Elector of Saxony Pope Clement marrieth his Niece at Marseilles to Henry Duke of Orleans Son to the French King. The Duke of Wirtenburgh is outed of his Dominions Henry King of England is divorced from his Queen and denieth the Pope's Supremacy The misfortune of the Franciscans at Orleans described The Duke of Wirtenburg has his Country recovered for him by the Lantgrave A Peace concluded between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony The Articles of it explained Paul Farnese is chosen Pope upon the death of Clement A new Persecution in France occasioned by the fixing of Papers in several places containing Disputes about Religion A great many are burned upon this account The French King excuseth his Severity to the Germans The Emperor takes the Town of Tunis and the Castle Gulette Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester are beheaded in England Pope Paul intimates a Council at Mantua by his Nuncio Vergerius The Protestants also who were now convened at Smalcalde after they had debated the Point write an Answer to Vergerius The French King sends his Embassador Langey to this Convention who presseth them to enter into a League and toucheth upon a great many Heads to which the Protestants return an Answer The King of England also dispatcheth an Embassy thither to put them in mind what Consequences may reasonably be expected from the Council The League made at Smalcalde is renewed and strengthened by the addition of a great many Princes and Cities WHen they had given the Embassadors this Answer they made these following Decrees First That a Committee of Divines and Lawyers should be chosen to draw up a Scheme of those Points which they were to insist upon at the Council in relation to Form and Debate 2ly That their Answer to the Pope should be published and imparted to foreign Princes and States 3ly They decreed to dispatch away their Agents to the Judges of the Chamber of Spire who hath prosecuted some Persons upon the account of their Religion contrary to the Emperors Edict Which Prosecutions if they were not ceas'd the Protestants resolved to demurr to the Jurisdiction of their Court. 4ly That an Embassy should be sent to the Elector of Mentz and the Palsgrave who were Princes of the Mediation and an account of all their Proceedings transmitted afterwards in writing to the Emperor I have already mentioned in several places that George Duke of Saxony had a particular hatred to Luther's Person as well as a general aversion to his Doctrin Now this Prince understanding that many of his Subjects maintained that the Lords Supper was to be received according to our Saviour's Command ordered the Parochial Clergy that those who came to them at Easter and confessed themselves conformably to the ancient Custom and received the Eucharist according to the Canons of the Church of Rome should have Tickets given them which they were to deliver into the Senate that so the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans might be distinguish'd This scrutiny discovered seventy Persons at Leipsick the Capital Town of that Country without Tickets These Persons had consulted Luther before what they should do who wrote them word that those who were justly perswaded that the Communion was to be received in both kinds should do nothing against their Conscience but rather run the hazard of losing their Lives This advice kept them constant to their Opinion so that when they were summoned to appear before their Prince and had almost two months time allowed to consider they could not be prevail'd upon to alter their Resolution though they were singly dealt withal in private but rather chose to be banish'd the Town which was executed accordingly Luther in the Letter which I spoke of called the Duke of Saxony The Devil's Apostle This Language made a great Noise and Disturbance and the Duke immediately complained against him in a Letter to the Elector his Cozen German that he had
them sufficiently both for the procuring of Diet and Interest too But if that Persecution and burning of Christians which I just hinted had not happen'd and taken the King from his design he was resolv'd as they say to have pulled down their Convent and levell'd all their Works And here we may observe that before the Reformation there was abundance of Apparitions For the Spirits of the dead as was supposed us'd to be very troublesome to this World as soon as their Funeral was over and come and tell people either why they were damn'd or tormented for a time in Purgatory begging their near Relations or Friends to have pity on them Now it was common for them to desire either that their Vows which they had made to the Saints might be discharged or that the Prayers and Sacrifice of the Mass might be repeated as often as they gave directions for their enlargement This practise confirm'd the belief of Purgatory wonderfully and gave a mighty Reputation to Masses and enrich'd the Priests more than can be well imagin'd But after Luther's Doctrin appear'd and got Footing these Goblins went off by degrees and vanish'd For Luther proves from the Holy Scriptures that departed Souls are at rest and confin'd till the last Judgment And that those Disturbances those horrible Noises and Sights are caused by the Devil who omits no opportunity to establish an unlawful Worship and to confirm Men in mistaken Notions concerning Religion that so he may make the Incarnation of our Saviour ineffectual The Lantgrave after he had contracted with the French King raiseth an Army in the beginning of the Spring and before he proceeded any farther the Duke of Wirtemburg and himself wrote to King Ferdinand to justifie what they had done but receiving no other satisfaction from Ferdinand than that he was willing to have the Difference decided by Law at last they brought their Men into the Field And upon the 13th of May meeting with the Enemy who were ten thousand strong in Foot they played their Cannon upon them and routed them near Laufen a Town in the Dukedom of Wirtemburg Philip Prince Palatine who was Ferdinand's General was wounded with a Musket-shot in this Action and lost his Feet And a great many of his Soldiers were drown'd in the River Neckar which they attempted to cross in their flight After this Defeat almost all the Dukedom of Wirtemburg submitted to Vlrick their Prince And at last Auspurg which was built upon an extraordinary steep Rock together with Aurach Tubingen and Nipha all strong Forts upon the account of their situation surrendred themselves Upon the first of May Ferdinand published a Proclamation and wrote particularly to all the Protestants That none should be aiding to the Faction of these Princes but resist them to the utmost of their Power The Emperor also set forth an Edict to the same purpose a few days before insomuch that no body gave them any assistance openly and all Peoples thoughts were in suspence and concern'd about the Consequences of this Commotion While this War was carrying on the Archbishop of Mentz and George Duke of Saxony who was Father in law to the Lantgrave endeavour'd a Reconciliation between King Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony and at last upon the 29th of June they concluded a Pacification upon these Conditions That no Violence should be offer'd upon the account of Religion nor no Law Suits commenced and that the Peace which the Emperor had made should be kept That Ferdinand by the Emperors Authority should stop all manner of Processes of the Chamber of Spire against the Protestants under which denomination neither the Anabaptists nor the Sacramentarians nor such other Sectarists were to be comprehended The Elector of Saxony and his Confederates should be oblig'd to acknowledge Ferdinand King of the Romans and give him that Title Ferdinand also engaged himself to procure a Decree of the Emperor and the rest of the Electors to this effect When there shall be an occasion to make a King of the Romans in the Emperor's life time that then the Electors shall meet before-hand and consult whether there is good and sufficient reason for such a creation if it appears there is then they shall proceed according to the Form of the Caroline Law All Creations contrary to this Provision shall be reputed null In case this Decree is not made within ten months the Elector of Saxony and his Allies are not to be obliged by this Treaty The Emperor likewise shall within the said term confirm the Elector of Saxony his Succession to his Fathers and Ancestors Dominions And lastly that Ferdinand should endeavour to get the Emperor's Approbation of the Elector of Saxony his Marriage with the Duke of Cleave's Daughter While these things were debating another Treaty was brought on where the Elector of Saxony engageth as a Person Commissioned by the Lantgrave and the Duke of Wirtemburg that those Princes will make good whatever is concluded by him At last after a long Dispute which continued till all the Dukedom was recover'd by force they came to this Agreement By vertue of which Duke Vlrick and his Heirs-Male were to come under Vassalage to Ferdinand as Arch-Duke of Austria and hold the Dukedom of Wirtemburg of him as Lord of the Fee And if the Family of the Wirtemburgs should happen to be extinct or have no Heirs-Male that then this Territory was to descend upon the Arch-Dukes of Austria who were to hold it of the Empire to which they should be oblig'd to pay Homage and Service upon this account Vlrick was bound to acknowledge Ferdinand King of the Romans and never enter into any League against him The Lantgrave and Vlrick were to make Restitution of those Estates and Goods which had been seized on during the War To force no persons to change their Religion To permit the Clergy the enjoyment of their Revenues without any molestation That those who have withdrawn either upon the account of danger or contempt may return home if they please and others who have a mind to depart the Country shall have the liberty to carry their Effects with them The Ordnance with which Auspurg was fortified shall be deliver'd to Ferdinand The mony which Ferdinand hath borrowed and converted to his own use he shall pay himself but that which hath been laid out for the advantage of the Country shall be discharged by Vlrick Duke Vlrick and his Heirs shall do Homage to Ferdinand and his Heirs Kings of Bohemia for those Lands in the Dutchy of Wirtemburg which they hold of that Kingdom Philip Prince Palatine and the rest of the Prisoners shall be dismissed without Ransome The Lantgrave and Vlrick are oblig'd within a certain time to be specified to beg King Ferdinand his Pardon either in their own Persons or by their Embassadors at which time the Duke shall be put into full Possession by Ferdinand who promiseth to intercede for their Pardon with
to this our Profession nor do we perform so much indeed as we ought and wish we did But the same was also the Complaint of the Prophets and Apostles whilst they were in the Flesh and we shall enjoy that Happiness at length when being delivered from this sinful Body as out of a Prison we shall be advanced to a State equal to the Angels The thing we demand a Council for is that our Churches Plea may be heard openly that your Doctrine contrary to Christ's Doctrine may be condemned and that Men being reclaimed from it may know and embrace the true Worship of God. Now that you object to us the Crime of Sedition and Disobedience it is false even by the Testimony of the States of the Empire For our Princes have been both obedient to the Emperor and ready also when called to go either to War or to the Diets of the Empire But if you reproach us with that because we submit not to the Emperor's Edicts which condemn our Religion we rejoice and give God also Thanks that therein we are not Obedient For what belongs to God alone is not to be given to Caesar who ought and does hold all of God. God hath indeed set the Emperor over Kingdoms and Provinces but he alone will govern his Church by his own Word nor does he allow any to share with him in that Honour The Emperor hath more than enough to do in governing the State which is the Office God hath allotted him and confined him within those Limits But if he stretches his Authority farther he then invades God's Property and Jurisdiction Amongst other things Henry Duke of Brunswick alledged in his invective Papers That Luther had raised this Tragedy of Religion at the Instigation of Duke Frederick who was vexed that Albert the Archbishop of Mentz should have the Bishoprick of Magdeburg Luther therefore answering that This Calumny saith he was by the Archbishop of Mentz suggested to Duke Henry and because he pretendeth not to know what no Man knows better I 'll now lay open the Cause and Original of these Revolutions In the Year of our Lord 1517. John Tetzel a Dominican carried about Indulgences to sell in Germany Now this same Tetzel the Emperor Maximilian had once condemned to die and at Inspruck ordered him to be thrown into the River but at the Intercession of Duke Frederick who happened to be there at that time he escaped This Man I say amongst other things taught that he had so great Power from the Pope That if a Man had even defloured the Virgin Mary and got her with Child he could pardon the Crime for Money Besides he pardoned not only Sins already committed but such also as should be committed in time to come And not long after came forth a Book with the Arms of the Archbishop Albert wherein the Collectors were enjoined most carefully to preach up to the People the Virtue and Efficacy of Indulgences wherefore it came to be known that Tetzel was hired by Archbishop Albert to make such Declamations for he had been lately created Archbishop of Mentz on Condition that he himself should be at the Charges of procuring his Pall from Rome For Three Bishops of that City had died within a short space of Time Bertolde James and Vriel and it was too heavy a Burthen for the Chapter to be at so vast a Charge and so often For that Pall is said to cost almost Thirty Thousand Florins before it be brought Home so well knows the Pope how to sell his Cloth and this Money was advanced by the Merchants of Ausburg So that for Reimbursment of the same Albert bethought himself of this Device which was allowed by the Pope on Condition that one half of the Money raised should be sent to Rome for the building of St. Peter's Church But I was ignorant of all these things at that time and therefore wrote a very submissive Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz exhorting him to restrain those Preachers but he made no Answer Having made Application also to the Bishop of Brandenburg he advised me to desist and not to run my self into Danger Afterwards I emitted some Positions contrary to the Tetzelian Doctrine which within few Days slew all over Germany and were greedily read by most Men For the Indulgences were a common grievance especially those that Tetzel taught And Because there was no Bishop nor Doctor neither that offered to oppose this Abuse since Tetzel frightned them with the Thunder of Rome My Name began to be talked of that there was one Man at length to be found in the World who durst speak against it But I had rather have been without that Applause nor indeed did I rightly understand at that time what the Name of Indulgences meant This is the Original and first Cause of the Troubles which Duke Frederick did not raise but the Archbishop of Mentz by means of Tetzel his Emissary and Hucster Wherefore he must e'en thank himself if any thing grate him now Another cause of the Commotions was given by the Holy Father Leo X. when he thundered out Curses and Excommunication against me and in all places Men so crowed over me that the unlearnedest Dunce of 'em all was for whetting his Pen upon me The truth is I thought at first that the Pope would have absolved me and condemned Tetzel because the Canon Law was on my side which plainly teaches That Souls are not delivered out of Purgatory by Indulgences But Good God! whilst I expected glad Tidings from Rome I was struck down with a Thunderbolt and condemned as the wickedest of all Men living Then I thought it time to defend what I had done and publish several Books for that purpose so that at long run the Matter came to be stated in the Diet of the Empire Thus ye see how a single Thread of an Archiepiscopal Cloak hath drawn after it so much Disturbance and is now grown so great and twisted so hard that his Holiness is in danger to be hanged with it Which being so let them e'en lay their Hand upon their Breast and blame themselves who have acted so impudently and saucily for my part I sit still and laugh in my sleeve For he that dwelleth in Heaven hath smitten them and had them in derision being unwilling that Ungodliness should reign any longer but that his People should be brought out of that Egyptian Darkness into the clear Light and joyful sight of the Sun. Now this Pall that hath been once and again mentioned is given only to Archbishops and as a singular Favour to some few Bishops as to the Bishop of Bamberg in Germany for one This is the Ceremony of making it On the day of the Virgin St. Agnes which is the One and twentieth of January when in the Mass that is said in St. Agnes Church in Rome they come to the words Agnus Dei qui tollis c. Two white Lambs are laid upon the
being brought of the taking of Ausburg by surrender they fly for it Crescentio the Legate being frightened by an Apparition fell sick and despaired of Life what ever his Servants and Physicians could do or say to comfort him IN order to a pacification Duke Maurice held a Convention of his own States about the end of September at Wittemberg whither as it had been agreed upon the City of Magdeburg sent their Deputies who ten days after returned home under the safe Conduct of Marquess Albert of Brandeburg We told you before how Duke Maurice had by Letters interceded with the Emperour that his Divines might have a safe Conduct from the Council the Emperour therefore sent Orders to his Ambassadors to prefer the Matter to the Fathers and bring it to pass A Session was then held on the eleventh of October wherein was read first a Decree explaining the Doctrine of the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist of the manner of its Institution of Transubstantiation as they call it of the Worship and Adoration of this Sacrament of keeping of the Host and of carrying it about to the Sick and of the Preparation that is required for the worthy Receiving thereof And then all Christians are forbidden to believe or teach otherwise than according to the Doctrine of that Decree Then were the Canons read over and in them were all the Points condemned which as we said before had been drawn out of the Books of Luther and others nevertheless to comply with the Emperour they left four of them undecided â—o wit Whether or not it be necessary to Salvation and commanded by the Law of God that all receive the Sacrament in both kinds whether he who receives it only in one kind receives less than he who takes it in both whether the Church erred when she appointed that the Priests only should receive in both kinds and the rest under one whether the Sacrament be to be given also to young Children The Protestants they said desired to be heard as to these Points before the Council determined any thing in them and to have a safe Conduct to come Since therefore they had hitherto earnestly lookt for their coming and were in good hopes that they might return to the ancient Unity and Concord of the Church they granted them a safe conduct to come and return home and did defer the decision of these Points 'till the twenty fifth day of January that by that day they might be present and alledge what they had to say That then also because of the Affinity that was betwixt the two the Sacrifice of the Mass should be handled These things then were publickly read by them as if their Adversaries had desired only to be heard concerning those matters whereas no such thing had ever entered into their Thoughts Besides Duke Maurice no body had made address to the Emperour and he also did it in the manner we mentioned before there being far greater matters to be propounded than those were But what the design was in giving out that Sham one may guess it though nothing can be positively affirmed though one of two it must needs be for either they had had a lame and sinistrous account of Duke Maurice's demand or they themselves cunningly misunderstood it which is the more likely of the two because of the safe Conduct which they gave for when Duke Maurice desired a safe Conduct for his People in the same form and manner as the Bohemians of old obtained one They in a few words and very superficially drew up a draught without the usual formalities to wit that all Germans indifferently might come to the Council and freely debate confer and treat about the Matters there to be handled either in full Council or with some Commissioners appointed and that either by Word or Writing as they pleased without contumelious and reproachful Language or Reflections and when they should think fit to depart and return home that the Council as to that granted them safe Conduct so far as was in their power And that they might also for the Crimes committed or to be committed though they were most grievous and savoured of Heresie choose to themselves Judges at their own discretion The same day the eleventh of October they made some Canons touching Reformation which related to their own Jurisdiction And then the twenty fifth of November was appointed to be the day of the next Session when Penance and Extream Unction should be handled Joachim Elector of Brandeburg sent also his Ambassador Christopher Strassen a Lawyer to offer his Duty and Obeisance and the Ambassador made a long Harangue indeed concerning the good Intentions of his Master They make answer That with great pleasure they had heard all his Speech especially that part of it wherein the Prince submits himself wholly to the Council and promises to observe the Decrees thereof that they were in hopes that what had been now said by him would be effectually performed by the Prince his Master Upon the death of John Albert who had enjoyed the spacious and rich Archbishoprick of Magdeburg as we said Frederick the Elector of Brandeburg's Son was by the Chapter chosen Archbishop But the Matter stuck at Rome and could not be dispatched it being a great Obstacle in the way that as it was publickly known the Elector Joachim had before been of the Protestant Religion To remove that suspicion therefore was the Ambassador whom I named sent who used his utmost diligence by sawning and cajoling to work upon the Prelates Peace was concluded at Wittemberg and though the Siege was not presently raised yet October the twelfth they began to have friendly Meetings together At the same time Duke Maurice made those of Catzenelbogen a People of the Dominion of Hess who three years before had by the Emperour's Sentence been taken from the Landgrave then Prisoner as we said before to swear Allegiance to him with the consent of the Landgrave's Sons and that because of an Hereditary League as he said betwixt the Houses of Hess and Saxony whereby for want of Heirs Male the one is to succeed to the other No Man doubted but that this was an injury done to the Emperour who had pronounced the Sentence and that it tended to some new commotion and all wondred what would come on 't yet hardly any notice was taken of it in the Emperour's Court but all was seemingly connived at About this time the Duke of Somerset Uncle to the King of England was a second time apprehended and with him the Lord Paget the Lord Gray and some others John Duke of Northumberland had then the chief Government and the reason of his apprehension was said to be That he had conspired the death of Northumberland as he himself alledged for that by a late Law was made Felony amongst them About the fifteenth of October the Pope made George Martinhausen
such thing and that without any Declaration of War. Now this to me appears the more strange because between me and you there is not the least cause of offeuce For as to the report that I should send Succors to the Marquess of Brandenburg against you that is entirely false But then as to the favour I have of late shewn to him I have only done it upon the account of the ancient Union which I mention'd and in compliance with the hospitable Custom of the Crown of France which has ever given entertainment and protection to all afflicted Princes and in a more especial manner to those of Germany in their Distresses In truth I should have been much better pleased to have seen him flourishing at home and enjoying his own than thus to see him ruined driven out and deserted I say I should rather have desired he should not have fallen into this calamity or that at least now an end might be put to it by a just and equal Treaty But now that I see him reduced into this distress by the fault of my Adversary who first pronounced the Sentence void and yet afterwards confirmed it why am I suspected if I compassionate his Fortunes But as to the giving him any assistance against the Empire that never entred into my Thoughts and you may rest assured that I will not now do it if you do not your selves first break the League of Friendship And now I have given you assurance that you shall meet with nothing but Peace and Kindness from me I desire that you would not be so far circumvented by the Artifices of those who have as little kindness for you as they have for me as to take up Arms or to contribute Men or Moneys against me for their whole Design is to make their own private a publick Concern It rather befits you to continue the Amity and to accept of the Conditions I proffer you I desire also that you would give me a clear assurance by him who delivers you this Letter what you intend and that according to the ancient Custom and the Treaty of Passaw my Ambassadors who are to attend in the next Diet may have sufficient Pasports The Answer he received was That as to the Troops sent by the Borders of Lorrain there was no Affront intended to his Majesty but it was done to the intent that if the Marquess of Brandenburg should make any irruption into the Empire his Attempts might be hindred That as to what concerned his Ambassadors and the publick Peace they had no Commands from their Principals but they would give an Account of his Demands to them and they did not doubt but they would do what was just and fit About the end of October the Emperor delivered up to his Son by his Ambassadors according to the accustomed Ceremonies the Dukedom of Milan The King of France soon after the raising the Siege of Renty in the manner I have express'd dismiss'd the Swiss and put the rest of his Forces into Quarters And the Emperor having found a convenient place not far from the Castle of Hesdin which he took and demolished the last year began the foundation of a new Town and Fort and for the building of it with the greater security kept his Army together which in the Month of November wasted with Fire and Sword the Country of Bolonois and the Territory of Amiens Thus the whole force of the War on both sides fell on the miserable and unarmed Multitude Afterwards he dismissed the greatest part of the Army and kept only with him one or two Regiments About the same time the King of France sent some Forces into Italy and amongst them some Germans for the Relief of Siena which was then sharply besieged by the Forces of the Emperor and of the Duke of Florence The Twelfth Day of November a new Parliament began in London thereupon Cardinal Pool who was then in Brabant had some Persons of great note dispatched to him to bring him over into England the Principal of which was the Lord Paget the 24th he came to London and was honourably receiv'd wheresoever he came and was soon after restored to his former Place Honour Family and Estate by the consent of the States which had been taken from him by Attainder in the Reign of Henry the Eighth The 27th day of November he came into the Parliament and in the Presence of King Philip and the Queen he discovered the Cause of his Legation and exhorted the States to return to the Communion of the Church and to restore to the most Holy Father the Pope of Rome his due Authority who was willing to receive them with the utmost Clemency and Affection He admonished them also that they should offer up their Thanks to God who had given them such a King and Queen Then returning them his Thanks for their restoring him to his Inheritance and Family which he esteemed a very great Benefit he said he was so much the more obliged to restore them also to their heavenly Court and Countrey which he wished above all things Having said this he withdrew and the Bishop of Winchester Gardiner who was Lord Chancellor having repeated his Speech and with many words exhorted them to Union and Concord He added that great Thanks were due to Almighty God for his immense Goodness and Mercy in that he had raised up a Prophet of their own Seed to wit this great Cardinal who would wholly employ himself in the promoting of their Salvation The next day when the Upper House had approved the Cardinal's Speech there was a Bill drawn in form of a Petition wherein the States supplicate the King and Queen to intertcede with the Cardinal on their behalf In it they say that they earnestly repent of the Schism that they had denied the Obedience which was due to the Apostolick See and that they had given their Assent to Acts of Parliament against it That for time to come they would be in the power of their Majesties and do all that ever they could that all such Acts might in this Parliament be repealed and therefore they did most earnestly beseech their Majesties that they would interpose and obtain an Absolution of their Sin and a Remission of the Censures which by the Canons of the Church they had incurred That they might be received into the bosom of the Church as penitent Children that in the obedience of the See of Rome and of the Pope they might serve God to the Glory of his Name and the encreasing their Salvation The 29th day when the King Queen and Cardinal were present the Chancellor arose and openly declar'd what the States had consented to in relation to the Demands of the Pope's Legate and thereupon he delivered to the King and Queen the Petition of the States in writing Sign'd and Seal'd by them and begg'd they would receive it the King and Queen receiving and opening it they again delivered
except ye are resolved to feel the greatest of all Calamities and Miseries I will not be larger now and I trust you will in this do what the necessity of Affairs and the consideration of your Duty shall require But they on the contrary urged the same things over again and said they could not desist and if they obtained nothing the consideration of the Supplies would thereby be obstructed and hindred because they had no Command to promise any thing till they had obtained a sufficient Security for the freedom of Preaching their Religion their Ministers and Schoolmasters In this Month of February Henry Duke of Brunswick Married the Sister of Sigismond King of Poland and about the same time John Isemburg Archbishop of Trier Died and was succeeded by John Ley. The twenty sixth of the same Month the Elector Palatine Frederick died at Alzem in a great old Age and Otto Henry his Brother's Son succeeded him who had before imbraced the Reformation and had thereby run the hazard of being deprived of all his Fortunes He having taken the Oath of Allegiance of his People presently put out an Edict that no Man should say Mass or use the other Ceremonies of the Church in his Dominions In our twenty second Book we have given an account of the disturbances raised in Prussia by Osiander who had brought in a new Doctrine concerning Justification but the greatest part of the Learned Men disliking his Opinion Albert Duke of Prussia by a publick Declaration set forth that he was resolved to follow the Doctrine of the Augustan Confession and therefore he Commanded the Ministers of the Churches to Teach according to it and promised them to pass by what was past if they obeyed thiâ— Edict for the future That therefore this Controversy might be truly composed and not break out afresh John Albert Duke of Meckelburg the Son-in-Law of the Duke of Prussia a Prince of very great Learning went thither and calling in the Assistance of some other Learned Men he reduced John Funcius the principal Man of the Osiandrians to an open acknowledgment of his Error and obtained a Promise from him that he would for the future Teach according to the Augustan Confession and this being done by the other Divines of that Province too there was a Reconciliation made between the Parties and that Church was setled in Peace The fourth day of March a Comet appeared and was seen for twelve days together and in the same Month the Deputies of the German Princes and Cities met at Ratisbon and began with the consideration of the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg because his Adversaries in the last Diet had desired the Assistance of the Princes against him But his Kindred interposing on his behalf it was at last decreed that he should have the publick Faith for his Security and that this Cause should be determined by Arbitrators and upon his return into Germany out of France in the Month of February there was accordingly a Treaty begun which was now assumed by the Diet the affairs of the Empire being delayed to the Month of April Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury had been long since condemned and after the Death of Ridley and Hooper was returned back to his Prison as I have said but now the twenty first of March he was burnt at Oxford Some few days before upon promise of Life and at the urgent Perswasion of some that were sent to him he had recanted most of his former Doctrines and appeared unconstant but when he saw he must die he made an Exhortation to the People wherein he spoke much of Repentance and amendment of Life the People being very attentive to him then he said how much he had offended God by denying the Truth and recapitulating the principal Points of Doctrine he shortly explain'd his Belief as to each of them and proved that the Papacy was the Kingdom of Antichrist Here he was interrupted and after many Reproaches he was hurried to the Place of Execution When he was tied to the Stake and the Fire was kindled about him he stretched forth his Right Hand saying This has Sinned by subscribing those wicked Doctrines which the Enemies of the Truth proposed to me and therefore it shall first be Punished he thereupon thrust it into the Flames as far as he could that it might first be Tormented Thus was the Primate of England Burnt a Person of great Learning and Authority At the time the Papal Character was taken from him by what they call a Degradation which is attended with many Ceremonies he was forced to wear mean Cloaths made of Canvas and he was now brought out in this Habit that he might be scorned but it had a contrary Effect for that the greatest part of the Spectators commiserating his Condition could not forbear weeping over him though they did not doubt but he was changing this miserable Life for an Immortal one and passing into his Heavenly Country Cardinal Pool soon after was enriched with his Spoils and made Archbishop of Canterbury having the Winter before been made a Priest for he was only a Cardinal-Deacon when he came over As the Inhabitants of the Lower Austria sollicited King Ferdinand to grant them the free Exercise of the Lutheron Religion so the Subjects of the Duke of Bavaria about the same time became very troublesom to Albert their Duke upon the same account This Prince observing that King Ferdinand his Father-in-law had yielded something he also having then need of Money did for a time comply with his Subjects and granted them liberty to take the Sacrament of the Lord 's Supperin both Kinds and to eat Flesh on the days prohibited in case of great necessity Yet at the same time he made a long Protestation That he would not desert the Religion of his Ancestors nor suffer any thing to be changed in the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church which he said was not lawful for him to do without the consent of the Supreme both Civil and Ecclesiastical Magistrate And that he granted these two things for so long time only as till there was a publick Order made to the contrary or a Reconciliation between the contending Parties for that it was his will that all his former Orders concerning Religion should be exactly observed in all other Points but these Two and that in these he would take all the care he could that the Metropolitans and Bishops should confirm these his Concessions and should not on these accounts trouble any of them This Edict was dated the last day of the month of March. About this time some of the Nobility of Transylvania revolted from King For dinand whereupon he commanded the Dyet to be prorogu'd to an uncertain day and began to levy Forces which were afterwards sent down the Dâ—â—ube towards Hungary There is a Town call'd Oberen seated in Alsatia three miles from Strasburg an Inhabitant of this place who was a Vine-Dresser being then in
Leith but this she said she could not do 'till she had consulted with the Nobility of Scotland and when the Ambassador replied They could not but approve of what they had made she replied They did but not all and when I come amongst them it will appear what mind they are of The Duke of Guise and the rest of the great Men of that Family attended her to Calais and the Marquess of Elboeuf and Francis Grand Prior of France went with her She took Ship the 14th of August and arrived at Leith in Scotland the 20th She was much concerned for fear Queen Elizabeth might intercept her in her way home and therefore sent again for the English Ambassador but when he still insisted to have the Treaty of Leith ratisied she delayed it Her Uncle the Cardinal of Lorrain advised her to leave her Jewels and Treasures in France 'till she were safe in Scotland but she said It was folly to be more concerned for her Jewels than for her Person which she must hazard The truth is her Fear was well grounded for Queen Elizabeth sent a Fleet to way-lay her but the two Navies passed by one another in a dark foggy day unperceived and she safely arrived at Leith the 21th of August The beginning of her Government was very gracious and she condescended to grant That no Change or Alteration should be made in the present State of Religion only she said she would use her own Religion apart and have a Mass in private which was and by many was thought very reasonable she having been Educated in the Roman Church and being a Sovereign Princess Yet the Preachers in their Sermons publickly condemned that Toleration of their Queen as unlawful and the Earl of Arran being exasperated by his Imprisonment on the account of Religion in France by the Order of the Guises from whence he made his Escape replied That he did neither agree to Publick nor Private Mass which highly displeased the Queen And Archimbald Douglas Provost of Edinburg put out an Order commanding all Papists to be gone for which the Queen committed him to the Castle of Edinburg And one of the common sort of Men broke the Tapers in the Court which were prepared for her Chapel and a Tumult had ensued to the Ruine of the other Preparatives for her Chapel if some wiser Men had not interposed amongst whom the Lord James was one of the greatest and forwardest to suppress this insolent Disorder On the other side the Marquess of Elboeuf was much offended to see the Protestant Religion exercised openly in Scotland and the Earl of Huntley a vain Man proffer'd the Queen his Service to reduce all the North Parts of Scotland to the Popish Religion which was wisely rejected In the middle of September the Duke of Aumarl and the rest of the French which had come home with the Queen went back to France but the Marquess of Elboeuf who stayed with her all the Winter She sent William Lord Maitland to Queen Elizabeth with Letters full of kind and friendly Expressions and desiring the like Returns from her And amongst other things that she would declare her the lawful Heir to the Crown of England in case she Queen Elizabeth should dye without Issue which Queen Elizabeth denied but said She would never wrong her nor her Cause if it be just in the least point and that she knew not any whom she would prefer before her or who if the Title should fall to be controverted might exclude her The Queen of Scots caused a new Provost of Edinburg to be Elected changed the Common Council and put out a Proclamation That all her good and faithful Subjects should repair to and remain within the Birgh at their pleasure for doing their lawful Business which was in opposition to the Provost's Order She kept her Masses too more publickly and with greater pomp of all which the Ministers complain'd in vain in their Sermons The Nobility had divided the Church Lands amongst them and had now another Game to persue and were striving who should be most in the Queen's Favour The Queen's Expences being soon found too great for the poor Revenues of the Crown of Scotland to maintain The Remainder of the Church Lands was divided into three parts one was assigned to the Queen one to the Ministers and the third was left to the Bishops and Parsons of the Romish Communion which they were forced to yield to to prevent the loss of all they now subsisting merely by the Queen's Favour The Earl of Huntley to be made Lord Chancellor turned Roman Catholick again which encouraged one Winyet a Priest to write a Book against the Reformation for which he was censured and forced to leave Scotland Not long after which she created the Lord James her Brother first Earl of Marr and then of Murray the Lord Ereskin claiming and at last obtaining the Earldom of Marr which much offended Huntley which had enjoyed both these Titles ever since the death of James the Fifth This made Huntley enter into many base and unworthy Designs to murder Murray which were all by one means or other discovered and at last ended in the Death of Huntley and the Executiou of John Gordon his eldest Son a hopeful young Gentleman in the Year following The beginning of the Year 1562 was very unquiet in France The King had called an Assembly of the Delegates of all the Parliaments of France in the end of the last year which was to meet at St. Germain the 17th of January of this year to consider of the means of appeasing these Broils and preserving the Peace of France The King opened this Assembly with a short Speech which was seconded by a larger made by the Chancellor who having given a short account of the several Edicts that had been made before in the business of Religion and shewn how they had all by one means or other been defeated He added That Laws were of no use if they were not Religiously observed But then said he if the Question is put Why are not the Laws executed Must not you that are the Judges bear the blame For if they excuse themselves and say That it was not in their power to execute them I will accept the Answer upon condition they will ingenuously confess That neither was it in the King's power And that this Affair of Religion by a secret Judgment of God for the Castisement of our Luxury Indevotion and Neglect of his Glory is so disposed that we may by the severity of the Punishment be brought to Repentance In the year 1518 when these Commotions first began there is no Man but knows how corrupt the Manners and how loose or rather profligate the Discipline of the Church was throughout the World For to omit the Court of Rome in which there was nothing right and sound we had here in France a young King brought up in Pleasures tho' he afterwards was
of which I have faitfully Transcribed them and the Letters are now in my Hands The History of this Council is so well described by Petro Soave Polano a Venetian which is in English that I need the less insist upon it but I shall however remark some few things from Thuanus and others for the Enlarging or Confirming the Credit of that History which is much cryed down by the Roman Catholicks as certainly they have good Reason to be offended with that Author who with so much Truth and Impartiality has discovered the Artifices of that Assembly for the keeping up the Grandeur of the Court of Rome and the Suppression and Baffling that Reformation which the most Learned of the Church of Rome then so much desired and panted after The Second Session was held the Twenty sixth of February in which a Decree pass'd against Reading Books suspected of Heresie and a safe Conduct and an Invitation was given to all that would come to the Council Seventeen Bishops were by Name appointed to bring in a Catalogue of such Books as were intended or thought fit to be Prohibited Polano observes that they carried this so high as to deprive Men of that Knowledge which was necessary to defend them from the Vsurpations of the Court of Rome by which means its Authority was maintained and made Great For the Books were Prohibited and Condemned in which the Authority of Princes and Temporal Magistrates is defended from the Vsurpations of the Clergy and of Councils and Bishops from the Vsurpations of the Court of Rome in which their Hypocrisies or Tyrannies are manifested by which the People under pretence of Religion are deceived In summ a better Mystery was never found out than to use Religion to make Men insensible However this may help to keep those in their Church which they now have it doth certainly by Experience render them very Contemptible to all others and unable to defend their Religion which is especially true of their Laity The Fourth of March the business of the Safe Conduct was dispatched in a Congregation and a Debate was raised and pursued with great Heat by the Spanish Bishops That Episcopacy was instituted by God without any Medium and that Residence and their Pastoral Deligence in feeding their Flock was of Divine Right which they desired might be Confirmed by the Decree of the Council But because this tended to the Establishing the Authority of the Bishops and the Abating that of the Pope his Holiness was much concern'd at it and having consulted the Cardinals about it they by common consent Delayed and by ambiguous Answers deluded the Fathers at Trent and at last totally baffled them in this Point The Second Session was appointed to be the Twelfth of April which was then prorogued to the Fourth of June and from thence to the Fifteenth of the same Month. In the mean time the King of France sent Lewis de Sanct Gelais Sieur de Lanssac Arnold de Ferrier Presiders of Paris and Guy du Faur Sieur de Pibrac his Ambassadors to the Council who arrived at Trent the Nineteenth of May. Lanssac soon after wrote a Letter to give an Account of their being come to the French Resident at Rome in which he said he thought they ought in the first Place to take care that an Event contrary to their Expectation might not attend the Council that the Pope should Order his Legates to shew great patience to those who spake proceed slowly in all things attend the Arrival of those Bishops who were coming and aâ—ow a Liberty without condition to all that were to Vote or Speak and not fall under the old Reproach of having the Holy Ghost sent them from Rome in a Portmanteau and lastly that they should take care that what was Decreed at Trent to the Glory of God should not be malignantly Interpreted and Traduced or it may be Corrupted at Rome by a Company of Idle Men He desired therefore he would endeavour to obtain these things of the Pope as he did but the Pope took this Liberty very ill and desired That no Prejudice might be done to his Authority by the French Bishops Adding That he reserved the Reformation of the Ecclâ—siastical Discipline and of the Court of Rome to himself and that he might with greater Convenience attend this and the Transactions at Trent he intended to go to Rononia The pretence of this Journey was the Crowning of the Emperor in that City who was said to be coming thither for that purpose But the reality was the Pope was afraid the World should think him more solicitous for the preservation of the Papal Power than for his Pastoral Cure. The Twentieth of May the French Ambassadors were admitted in a Congregation where they made an unacceptable Oration an abstract of which is in Polano Thuanus saith The Speech was made the Fourth of June and that amongst other things they desired That the Missals and Breviaries might be Reformed and the Lectures which were not taken out of the Holy Scriptures might be cut off That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper might be allowed in both Kinds according to the desire of many Nations And also the Liberty of eating Flesh and that the Severity of their Fasts might be abated That Marriage should be allowed to the Clergy of some Countries That the multitude of Humane Constitutions should be retrenched and Prayers in the Vulgar Tongue faithfully Translated mixed with the Latin Hymns Before this the Ambassador of the Duke of Bavaria had also demanded the giving of the Cup in the Lords Supper to the Laity as absolutely necessary for the Preserving those who had not yet separated themselves from the Communion of the Church of Rome but were much offended with this denial and for the Recovery of those who had lefâ— it And accordingly there were about Fifty of the most Learned of the Fathers of the Council who were for granting it and amongst them Gonzaga President of the Council though all his Collegues dislented But the Spanâ—sh Bishops opposed it and others thought it was fit first to send Legates into Germany who should see and report it to the Council whether it were necessary and how it might be done This was debated in a Congregation the Twenty eighth of August but in the Twenty second Session held the Seventeenth of September it was rejected and all were Anathematized That did not allow the Church to have taken away the Cup from the Laity c. upon just Grounds When the Germans still insisted that it might be granted again to some People the Council to free themselves from their importunity turned them over to the Pope who according to his Prudence was to do what he thought Useful and Salutary Before this the Pope being press'd to Grant the Cup by the French Ambassador about a Year since had referred it to the Conclave of Cardinals and they and he had referred it to the Council and now the
Liberty ibid. She thanks Conde for his good Service 75. She treats with him 75 79. She feareth the Duke of Guise after the battle of Dreux yet makes him General 81. After he was slain she more earnestly desired a Peace than before 83. She excuses the Peace when made 91. She complains of the proceedings in the Council of Trent 94. Catzenello bogen resigned 13. Cavii 11. Charles V. Emperor resigns Spain and the Empire 5. Goes into Spain 7. His Letter to his Son 15. His Death and Character 23. Charles the IX King of France succeeds his Brother 47. Carried by force to Paris 72. Is declared out of his Minority at fourteen years of Age 99. Charles Cardinal Caraffa strangled 64. Christian King of Denmark dies 26. The Church ever pure and spotless 51. Civitella a small City in Italy baffles the French 10. Coligni Admiral of France taken in St. Quintin 15. Suspected to be in the conspiracy of Bloys 43. Recommends a toleration as necessary 44. Delivereth a Petition for the Proâ—estants 45. Made General after the Battle of Dreux 81. Disownes the having any hand in the Murder of the Duke of Guise 83. Dislikes the Peace of Orleans 84. Colonna mark Antony 8. Conde Lewis the concealed head of the conspiracy of Amboys 42. Detained for it 43. Leaves the Court 44. Imprisoned 〈◊〉 Orleans 47. Freed upon the Death of the King 48. Acquitted in the Parliament of Paris 56. Reconcil'd to the Duke of Guise 58. The Queen desires his Protection 71. He declareth a War against the Catholick Lords 73. Taken at the battle of Dreux 80. Makes a Peace at Orelans 84. The Conference of Poissy resolved on 58. Began 59. One at Wormes 13. Conquet in Britain taken by the English 21. The Conspiracy of Bloys 42. Discovered first by a Protestant 43. Constantio Confessor to Charles V. burnt after he was dead for Heresie 35. The Copthites pretend submission to the Pope 57. Cosmus Duke of Florence obtains the possaession of Siena 10. Procures a Peace for the Duke of Ferrara 11. And the Assembling of the Council of Trent 49. Ruines the Power of the Caraffa's 26. Councils are not to change the Doctrines or Customes of the Church 45. A National Council decreed in France 46. That of Trent procured to avoid it 49. Recall'd 62. Writ against by Vergerius ibid. Protested against by the Protestant Princes of Germany 63. Opened 86. Complained of by the Queen of France 94. Accused for invading the Rights of Princes 95. Protested against by the French ibid. 96. Ended and Censured 96. The reason why it had no better Success 97. D DAvid George a famous Anabaptist his Life Doctrine and Death 28 29. Diepe taken by the Protestants 74. Surrendred 78. Diana Dutchess of Valentinois 30. Dietmarsh conquered 26. Diets at Ratisbonne 12. At Augsbourg 27. At Naumburg 63. At Francfort 89 13. At Brisgow 89. A Disputation rejected when enforced by an Army 41. Doway attempted by the French 9. Dreux the battle of 80. Dunbar dismantled 42. Dunkirk taken by the French 20. E EGmont Count General at Graveling 21. Elizabeth Queen succeeds 22. Is severely treated by the Pope 23. She at first refuseth but at length leagues with the Protestant Scots 40. She is kind to Mary of Scotland 67. And after this Leagueth with the Prince of Conde 77. She rejects the Council of Trent 64. And the Council designed to depose her 90. The Question Whether Episcopacy is of Divine Institution Debated in the Council and rejected 87. Erick King of Sweden succeeds Gustavus his Father 49. Is Crowned 64. F FAith not to be kept with Hâ—reticks 37. Broken by R. Catholicks 53 54. Designed to be broken when time serves 91. A Turkish Fleet sent to the Assistance of the French 19. The English Fleet make an unfortunate Expedition into France 21. One of LI. Ships attend Charles V. into Spain 7. A Fleet of 90. carries his Son Philip thither 35. The English fleet procureth the victory at Graveling 22. Ferdinand Brother of Charles V. His War in Transylvania and Hungary 4 5. The Resignation of the Empire to him 6. He is elected Emperor 22. He confirms the Peace of Passaw 12. 28. He gives a brisk answer to the French Ambassador ibid. He Solicites the Protestant Princes to submit to the Council of Trent 62. Paul IV. refuseth to acknowledge him to be Emperor 22. He expresses his dislike of the proceedings of the Council of Trent in a Letter to the Pope 90. Hindereth them from proceeding against Queen Elizabeth 96. Ferrara the Cardinal of 85. The Duke of Ferrara makes his Peace 11. His Death 36. Francis Otho Duke of Lunenberg dies 36. Francis II. Succeeds Henry II. his Father in France 33. Having before Married Mary Queen of the Scots 19. He is reported to have the Leprosie 34. Claims England in the Right of his Wife 38. Dies 47. Francford quarrels fatal 11. Frederick I. King of Denmark dies and is Succeeded by Frederick II. His Son 25. He conquereth Dietmarsh 26. His answer to the Popes Legate 63. Frederick III. Duke of Bauaria 36. G GUise the Duke of sent into Italy 10. Recalled 11. Made General in France 16. Takes Calais 17. But is the cause of the defeat near Graveling 20. He is made Lieutenant General of France 43. He procureth the persecution in France 30. Reconcil'd to Conde 58. Recal'd to Court by the K. of Navar 70 71. He frights the Queen into a Compliance with the R. Catholick Lords 72. Becomes General in the end of the Battle of Dreux 81. And is slain by one Poltrot before Orleans 82. Gran a City in Hungary surprized 5. Gustavns King of Sweden dies 49. Guines taken 18. H. HAly General of the Turkish Forces in Hungary his Actions Character and Death 4. Hamilton John Archbishop of St. Andrâ—â—s committed for hearing Mass 99. Havre de Grace surrendered to the English 77. Retaken by the French 98. Helinoa Queen of France dies 36. Henry II. King of France breaks his Oath by the Procurement of the Pope 9. He recovereth Calais out of the hands of the English 17. Zealous for the Roman Catholick Religion 20. He discovereth a secret design between him and K. Philip to the Prince of Orange 27. Is perswaded to persecute the Protestants of France 30. He is incensed against the Parliament of Paris 31. The Protestant Princes of Germany write to him 32. His Death and Character 33. His designs against England 38. K. Philip desireth a Peace that he may be at leisure to extirpate Heresie 27. All Hereticks to be persecuted with Fire and Sword 30 31. Faith not to be kept with such 53 54 91. Princes to be deposed for Heresie 92 93. Philip much commended for his Severity to Hereticks in the Council of Trent 91. No Peace to be made with such ibid. Dangerous to Government 51. Hospital made Chancellor of France 44. His Speech to the Assembly of Princes ibid. He assures the Clergy there should be a National Council
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law His League with the French King. Duke Maurice's Declaration to the States of the Empire The Declaration of Albert of Brandenburg against the Emperor The French King's Declaration against the Emperor Germany the Bulwark of Christendom The badge of Liberty The French King calls himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes The out-lawed Men who served the King of France Duke Maurice taketh the Field Albert of Brandenburg joyns Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son. Ausburg surrendred to the Princes The Cities are summoned to come to Ausburg The Prince of Salerno revolts from the Emperor The French King takes Toul Verdun and Metz. Lenencour Bishop of Metz. The French King takes an Oath of Allegiance of the Senate and People of Metz. The Princes go to Ulm and besiege it The German and French Hostages are set at Liberty Albert of Brandenburg wastes the Country about Ulm. Conditions of Peace propounded by Duke Maurice to King Ferdinand King Ferdinand's Demands Duke Maurice his Answer Otho Henry Prince Palatine recovers his own Province The Emperor raises Soldiers The Judges of the Imperial Chamber fly from Spire The French King's demands from the Strasburgers The answer of the Senate of Strasburg The Constable chides the Strasburgers They address themselves to the King. The King's Speech to the Deputies Strasburg provides a Garrison against the French. The demands of some Princes made to the French King. Duke Maurice's Letters to the French King. The French King's answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes The reasons of the French King 's leaving Germany The French King's Answer
II of France slain The various Characters of Henry II of France Francis II a Lad of sixteen Years of Age succeeds him And the Persecution goes on Slaunders against the Protestants Other Slanders spread against the poor persecuted Protestants Du Bourg condemned to Death Minart a Persecutor slain Du Bourg led to Execution His Character The rest of the Members of Parliament were restored Images erected in the Streets to be Worshiped King Philip prepares for Spain He takes Ship at Flushing He raiseth a great Persecution in Spain Constantio the Confessor of Charles V burnt after he was dead Twenty eight Nobles burnt at Vallidolid The Death of Pope Paul IV. The People of Rome express their Hatred of him and the Inquisition The Deaths of several Princes Pius IV elected He changeth his Manners to the Worse Scotâ—h Affairs Linlithgow The English Affairs relating to Scotland Fradcis II of France claims England in the Right of Mary his Wife The French Provocations against the English The Scotch Complaints against the French. Queen Elizabeth holds off at first but at last is forced to unite with the Protestants of Scotland Reasons assigned for the driving the French out of Scotland The War resolved The War begun Four Divines and two thousand Men sent from France to Convert the Scots The Lords of Scotland Arm against them and depose the Regent She prevails over them 1560. The Scotch Lords go on with their Reformation The English Forces enter Scotland and besiege Leith The French proffer to restore Calais to the English The Death and Character of Mary Queen-Regent of Scotland The French forced to leave Scotland A Parliament in Scotland A Conspiracy in France The Conspiracy of Blois formed at Nantes Thuanus his Reflection on this Conspiracy The discovery of the Conspiracy Andelot and Coligny come to Court on an Invitation Oliver the Chancellor of France hated the Persecution and desired a Reformation Renaudie slain The King of Navar Conde Coligni and Andelot suspected Oliver the Chancellor dies Coligni sent into Normandy by the Queen The Clergy labour to bring the Inquisition into France Conde leaves the Court. An Assembly of the Princes of France Coligni delivers a Petition from the Protestants to the King. The Bishop of Valence seconds it And adviseth the King to call a National Council The Cardinal of Lorrain replies to Coligni A Decree passed for an Assembly of the three Estates and the suspension of the Laws against Hereticks A design upon Lyons The Protestants of France increase wonderfully during the Peace In some places they grow insolent The King of Navarr and Prince of Conde promise to come to the Assembly of the States The Archbishop of Vienne dies The States meet at Orleans Navarr and Conde secured Francis II dies Charles IX succeeds The Prince of Conde fre'd The Protestant Religion breaks out in the Netherlands The Archbishop of Toledo suspected to be a Lutheran A General Council desired by many and opposed by the Pope But prosecutes the Caraffa's to ruine The Duke of Florence come to Rome His Arguments for a General Council With other concurrent Accidents at last prevail'd The Pope's Ambassadors to thee Christian Princes Gustavus King of Sweden dies A Difficulty proposed The Deputy of the Commons speaks against the Clergy And is seconded by the Deputy of the Nobility The Clergy apologize for themselves The Persecution in Piedmont which Occasioneth a War. 1561. A Persecution in the Low-Countries The French Affair Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants The younger Montmorency's Advice to his Father The pretended Submission of the Cophthites Livonia falls off from the See of Rome The Queen suspects the designs of the Nobility The Differences of Religion occasion Tumults An Edict to restrain them The Edict of July The Cardinal of Lorrain procures the Conference of Pâ—issy Mary Queen of Scotland leaves France The Three Estates of France Assembled at Pont-Oyse The Clergy of France give the King Taxes to save their Revenues and Jurisdictions The Conference oâ— Poissy The Protestant Ministers Their demands The Conference began The Chancellor's Speech Beza speaks Tournon replies with rage The Queens Answer The Points debated Claud d' Espence opposeth Beza The Ordination of the Protestant Ministers Question'd Beza Replieâ— Laines General of the Jesuits his Rudeness in the Conference * In the History of the Council of Trent call'd Jaques de Montbrun A Popish Position gives great Offence in France The Council of Trent recall'd The Pope's Bull. Vergerius opposeth the Council Ambassadors sent to the Protestant Princes to invite them to the Council Their Answer to the Emperor The Pope's Legates Admitted Their Answer to the Legates The occasions of the meeting at Naumburg The English reject the Council Erick King of Sweden Crown'd The Cardinal of Caraffa Hanged A National Council desired in France The King of Navar drawn over to the Popish Party by the King of Spain's Arts. A new invented Convention for the Reguâ—lating matters of Religion in France A Tumult aâ— Dijon Scotch Affairs Queen Mary resolves to return into Scotland The Protestant Religion setled in Scotland The Queen angry with the Proceedings Queen Mary goes into Scotland Her beginning very gracious to the Protestants The Preachers would not Tolerate the Queen See Spotiswood pag. 182. Great kindness in shew between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary begins to favour the Romish Party Yet she augments her Revenues out of the Church Lands 1562. The French Affairs A Debate concerning Toleration The Edict of January which granted Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants Injunctions published by the Queen's Order concerning Images Images of the Trinity forbidden The King of Navar pretends still to promote the Reformation The Edict of January opposed by the Guises and others The Duke of Guise called to Court by the King of Navar The Massacre of Vassy happen'd accidentally in that â—ourny The Duke of Guise uses ill Arts to secure his Servants who began the Tumult The Prince of Conde complains of it to the King. The Duke of Guise entereth Paris The Queen upon this puts her self and the King into the Protection of the Prince of Conde * Aedilit All things in France tend to a Civil War. The Queen out of Fear joyns with the Catholick Lords commonly call'd the Triumvirate Conde comes up towards Fontain-bleau The Triumvirate seize the King. Montmorancy appears very zealous against the Protestants at Paris The Prince of Conde betrayed by the Queen into a disadvantageous War. Orleans surprized by the Prince of Conde Conde Justifies the War. The Catholicks begin the War to deprive the Protestants of the Liberty granted them by the Edict of January The Prince of Conde and the Ministers write to the Princes of Germany The King and Queen affirm they were at Liberty in their Declaration The Massacre of Sens. The Princes of Germany much divided about the true cause of this French War. Roan taken very easily by the Protestants And after that Pont del