made Cardinal But Lewes kynge of Fraunce which persisted styll in his purpose and had lately ouerthrowen the Bishops armye at Bauenna was striken with the thonderbolte of cursing and hys Realme gyuen ouer to be spoyled But after he had sytten in the Counsell fyue tymes he died the .xxi. daye of February the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundred and thyrtene and Leo the tenth dyd succede him Who continewed the counsel and restored the Cardinals to theyr former dignitie The counsell ended the .xvi. daye of Marche in yeare of our Lord M.D.xvij In this counsell was debated of the Turkishe warre of the reformation of the Churche of the Immortalitie of the Soule which was doubted of at Rome and howe they of Boheme shoulde be reduced from theyr errours whiche is the thynge that Luther speaketh of here for they receyued vnder bothe kyndes Whilest these thinges were done in Saxonie the Diuines of Louain and Collen condemne Luthers workes written to Syluester Prierias also of Penaunce of excommunication of indulgences of Preparation vnto death as prophane wicked and worthy to be brente and the Aucthor of them to be compelled to recante Whiche thynge beyng knowen Luther aunswereth to euerye article of his doctrine And in the preface lamenteth theyr state and condition For before what time they condemned Capnio he had yet some hope of them But nowe seyng there endeuour to extinguishe the clere lyght and doctrine of the Ghospell and growe euery day wourse God doubtles must nedes be greuously offended for in case they shoulde thus procede and no man should bridle them of this lybertie they would shortely condemne all bokes of Scripture and decree what they liste at theyr owne pleasure which thinge when he considereth he can thinke no lesse but that eyther Antichrist doth now reigne or els will come very shortly For theyr doctrine conteyneth no sounde nor certen thynge but is waueringe in diuers opinions he saieth moreouer that WilliaÌ„ Ockam was in time paste also condemned by the Uniuersitie of Paris but now he is receiued and set bye And lykewyse Picus Mirandula and Lawrens Ualla whyche are nowe had in estimation moreouer sayeth he the Iewes were in tymes paste the peculiare people of God but when they fledde from the lyghte of the Ghospell and refused the benefyte of Christ they were forsaken and so gaue place to the Gentyles So lykewyse is it nowe a dayes that such as be Byshoppes and Diuines which do chalenge and take vpon them the greatest authoritie in the Churche haue in dede no thinge elles but a vayne title but others that be farre from the lyke ostentation more ryghtely maye chalenge that name Brieflye howe they haue thus vexed at all tymes all good and well learned men yet dyd they neuer contende wyth the same wyth anye sounde or trewe reasons but rather by very disceipte crafte and tyranye As they dyd with Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prage the memory wherof shal endure for euer But he marueleth at their rashenes that they can not be ware by so many examples to blemishe theÌ„ selues and other Uniuersities for euer For althoughe they had neuer so sure a grounde and alledged neuer so stronge reasons agaynst those other famouse men yet touching his matter they haue dealt bothe wickedly and maliciously For if he had ought offended they might haue considered that to be the parte of a man and haue vsed a certen leuitie in iudginge of hys doctrine But where they be moued with fury to coÌ„demne althinges without respecte herein they bewrey theyr maliciouse myndes and spitte oute the poyson of theyr hatred They make great accompt of Aristotle and will defende him what soeuer he sayeth be it neuer so contrary to our religion they will make an excuse and a gloâ—e for him but they depraue his worckes agaynste all charitie where as they be consonant to the trweth to declare their malicious and cankred hertes where they oughte fyrste to haue shewed his faulte admonishynge him gently to haue reformed the same and if he had not then they might haue proceded as Christ hath gyuen in commaundement But nowe they do no small iuiurie to the Byshoppe of Rome to condempne a Boke dedicated vnto him and with a certeine preiudice to reproue his negligence but to be no newes nor maruell that they committee suche a faulte agaynste the Bishoppe seynge that they moste malapartely do contemne the lawes of God This Wylliam Ockam that he speaketh of flourished in the tyme of the Emperour Lewes the fourth aboute the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande three hundred and twentie and amonges other thinges he wrote of the power of the Bishoppe of Rome and in the same boke he handleth eight Questions diuerslye Whether the office of the highe Bishoppe and of the Emperor may be executed by one and the same parson Whether themperor hath his authoritie of God only or also of the Bishop of Rome Whether christ gaue aucthoritie to the Bishop church of Rome that they should coÌ„mit to themperor and other Princes their iurisdiction Whether that the Emperor beyng once chosen hathe thereby full aucthoritie to gouerne the common wealth Whether that other kynges besydes the Emperour and kynge of Romanes for so much as they be crowned by Priestes do receyue anye aucthoritie of them Wherfore the same kinges be in any subiection to suche as do inueste them Whether that if they vsed newe ceremonies and crowned themselues they should lose their regall power whether the election of the seuen Princes can geue as muche authoritie to the emperour as doth the lawfull succession to other kynges And debatyng manye reasons on both partes he determineth coÌ„monly with the ciuile Maiestrate And vpon this occasion mentionynge of Iohn the two and twenteth Byshoppe of that name then lyuynge who had made the lawes extrauagauntes as they terme them and had placed them wyth the Canon lawe whiche saieth Ockam are reprehended of many as altogether false and full of Heresyes and recyteth the errours maruelynge that men of witte will geue any credit to them howe beit this is the tyme saieth he that Paule wrote to Timothe for the moste parte of men nowe a daies seke not for the doctrine of Christe of his Apostles and the auncient fathers but hearken what the Byshoppe of Rome willeth or commaundeth As concernyng Capnio Rewcline thus standeth the matter Iohn Phefercorne a Iewe that professed Christianitie had sued long to the Emperour Maximilian that all the Bookes of the Iewes myghte be abolished for that they were wicked and full of superstition and were a hynderaunce that they were not conuerted to Christianitie And therefore that they shoulde be suffered to kepe none but the Bible Maximilian at the length commaundeth Uriel Archebyshoppe of Mentz that he shoulde appointe certeyne Uniuersities and Iames Hogostrate the inquisitour and Iohn Reucline to searche and consult whether it were mete and expedient for oure
an other and some of them also mainteine the false doctrine they shall not escape vnpunished It was neuer his purpose that the Papistes should be oppressed with force of Armes but that the ciuill Maiestrate shoulde compell them to do theyr dewtie and herin to extende theyr right and aucthoritie And that they neyther with theyr lenitie nor yet with dissimulation should confyrme their boldenes and lewde doynges And as touchyng the cōmon people they muste be earnestly admonished that they styrre not except the Magistrate commaunde them For that way they labore al together in vayne and God wil auenge the thing and that with some greuous punishment And wheras the Magistrates worke so slowely herin where they beare and suffer so many vnworthy things and are not moued with so manifest iniuries and mockeries of the Cleargie that is done throughe Gods permission that he alone myghte auenge all the matter and powre out all his indignation vpon them But in case this matter should come to a tumult and that God could be content with so light a punishment yet were all this maner of procedyng not onely discommendable but also vnprofitable For in a seditiō there is no reason to be had and for the most part it chaunceth that thinnocent parsons are plaged soner than others Moreouer there is no man that stirreth vp rebellion that can be excused be his matter neuer so iuste And in a great cōmotiō of people the good with the bad the honest with the wicked of necessitie must perishe together Wherfore let them haue an eye to the Magistrate and so long as he styrreth not let there be no priuate attempt For all sedition is against the cōmaundement of God who cōmaundeth that all the controuersies of priuate men shouldebe lawfully decided before a Iudge But consyderinge that Rebellion is nothyng els but a priuate reuengement no man nede to doubt but the god disaloweth abhorreth the same And that this sedition which is like to coine is reised by the Deuill hym selfe the enemye of all mankynde who for that he can not abyde the lyght of the treweth styrreth vp tumultes by men that professe the gospell that he might bringe in cōtēpt and hatred the trew doctrine that hath bene through Gods benefite in these former yeres restored as though it proceded not of God which semeth to geue an occasion to so many euils This do the aduersaries of the gospell already bragge of But theyr iudgementes are to be cōtemned Whom he vtterly dispiseth herin For he hathe neuer written nor spoken that thing that might kindle any sedition Now vnto such as will question obiect what shall we than do Howe longe shall we suffer theyr enormities seyng that the Magistrate winketh therat I answer that they ought to folow this order Fyrst let them acknowledge theyr faultes wherwith God beyng offēded hath suffered the tyrrany of the Clergie to continew so long and to stretche so farre as it doeth for their wicked cruell gouernement is the reward of our offences From the which if we wyll be deliuered we oughte fyrste to reconcile our selues vnto God through thamendement of life And than with earnest prayer to desyre gods aide against the popish knigdome by the example of king Dauid who praied God many times to breake the power and prid of the wicked Finally that the doctrine of the gospel be preached and set forth and the iuggelinges of the Papistes made manifest to the world that theyr errors beyng detected and the trueth knowē men may esteme lightly and clerely contemne what so euer shall procede from them And this to be the rediest way to ouerthrow theyr authoritie by strength and forse of Armes ye can preuaile nothinge and commonly it chaunceth that throughe warre they are made stronger But in case you cōpare Christ with the Pope the gospel with his doctrine than shall it openly appere what difference there is betwixt the lighte of the sunne mere darkenes and howe great a benefite of God it is that the way vnto the knowledge of him is made open al lettes being takē away Thā slideth faleth downe all their force and estimation which thing may appere by his example which hath more afflicted the popishe kingdome than any force of armes could haue done And therfore there is no other rebellion to be wished after For only this preachyng of the gospell which is raised vp of Christe him selfe is mightie and sharpe ynough to ouerthrow all Papistrie Hereupon let them fixe theyr eyes and mindes also and loke for no other meane Furthermore not to be his owne matter wherin he is so muche occupied for so great a weight exceadeth the strength and capacitie of mās witte And that it is more than he loked for that the matter is brought so farre forth as it is And therfore he putteth no doubt but that he which hath laide the foundation of the worke and hath gyuen increase to the same will bringe it also to the conclusion and ende maugre the heads of all his aduersaries He saieth howe the Deuill knew longe before of this great alteration and how he went about to let it and by certein men prophecied of these tymes to the intent he might driue men farre from this holsome doctrine But where he seeth his attempte to be in vaine he seeketh a newe waye and styrreth vp men to rebellion to let that there should be no reuolting from the Bishoppes kyngdome his But yet shall he faile of his purpose For through the preachinge of the pure doctrine their kingdome shall more and more be confounded In which true doctrine we must styll perseuer declaring howe mens decrees helpe nothinge at all vnto saluation Moreouer howe men must be warned that they suffre not them selues to be bounden to Monkish vowes and suche as are intangled already to forsake the same Furthermore that they giue no money to vaine and foolish vses of the church as for Tapers Belles Tabels Uessels Armes Workes Ornamentes and suche other like thinges For the lyfe of a Christian consisteth not in these thinges but in faith and Charitie Thus if the people be taught there is no doubt but that the aucthoritie and kyngdome of the Bishoppe and all his adherentes will fal in a fewe yeares But in case this doctrine be not taught nor therrours plucked oute of mens myndes Papistrie shal continew though neuer so many conspiracies be made against it Let them nowe consyder and pōder with him what he in litel time brought to passe by his doctrine only which his aduersaries can testifie that wanted their wonted commodities Wherby it may be easely perceiued what would haue come therof in case this doctrine might haue had free course but two yeres longer Wherfore the Deuill that smelleth out all the matter doeth nowe bestyrre him goeth about to let this enterprise through sedition but we must worcke wisely and commēde this benefite
written vpon certen of his Prophetes whiche of learned men are muche commended At the .xxix. daye of December the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes mete agayne at Frankeforte to finishe vp the rest concernyng the preparation of their defence In the which assemblie the cities of Goslarie Embecke were receiued into their league a litle be fore that they also of Eslyng But George the Marques of Brandenburgh and the citie of Norinberg Campedown and Hailbrune were absent For all be it they professe that same Religion yet were they not of that league The Emperour in the begynning of Ianuary toke his iourney from Bruselles to go to Regenspurge for the assemblie before mentioned By the waye when he came to Mentz at the begynnynge of February the Archebyshop there and the Palsgraue intreate hym agayne for peace whiche the Emperour grauntinge vnto they aduertyse the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue wyllynge them to doe the lyke Wherfore by theyr letters sent to and fro they appoynte to mete at Schwinfurte a towne Imperiall by the Ryuer of Moene at the begynning of Apryll There dyd they begynne to treate of a peace whiche shoulde continue vnto the generall counsell The Prynces that were intercessours were there present and by ordre geuen by the Emperour do propounde these conditions That besydes the writyng exhibited at Auspurge touching Religion they should alter nothing teache nothyng nor publyshe any thing but remayne in those boundes vntyll the tyme of the counsell so as they haue nothyng to doe with the Zwynglianes and the Annabaptistes Neither that through the occasion of Religion they do allure vnto thē other Prynces subiectes and permitte any of their Ministers to preache out of their owne countrey that they abstayne from wordes of reproche that they disturbe not the iurisdiction rytes and ceremonies of the churche that they geue their ayde agaynst the Turke and obey the decrees of the Empyre whiche concerne the common wealthe and politike gouernaunce that they be obedient to the Emperour kynge of Romaynes And if they haue made any league againste the Emperour kyng or other states of the contrary Religion to abolyshe the same If they wyl thus do they truste how the Emperour and the king wyll leaue and forget all displeasure paste The Duke had sent thether his sonne Iohn Fridericke being him selfe sore sicke There was also Fraunces Duke of Lunenburg and Counte Anhalde agayn the Ambassadours of other Prynces cities whereunto came also the Nortusians and Halbestans of Swelande After muche debatyng the intercessours aduertise by their letters the Emperour of the whole matters who was than at the assemblie of Ratisbonne to knowe his further pleasure in matters Unto that demaunde whiche was that the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes should obey the kyng of Romains They wryte an aunswere to the Emperour what lacke they fynde and what they woulde requyre hym to doe therein and deliuered the same sealed to the intercessours the .xvij. daye of Apryll the effect wherof was that Ferdinando should not take vpon hym to be kyng of Romaines but in case the Emperour had nede of a coadiutour that than by the aduyse and counsell of the Prynces Electours he should so interprete the lawe Caroline makyng an acte therof for euer the it myght be done lawefully after this sorte That as longe as the Emperour lyueth there should neuer hereafter be chosen a kynge of Romaines vnlesse the seuen Princes Electours and sixe other Prynces of the Empyre ioyned with them iudge it so mete to be done And what tyme it shall appeare to be for the profite of the common wealth that than the Archebyshop of Mentz shall appointe the rest of the Electours syxe other Prynces to mete in a place conuenient for a further consultation to be had therin And whan they shall haue considered the whole matter diligently that than the Prynces Electours only with the kyng of Boheme shall haue authoritie to electe a kyng of Romaynes who so long as the Emperour lyueth shall gouerne the cōmon wealth in the Emperours name onlye and otherwyse to take vppon hym none aucthoritie or gouernment That the Princes and states of the Empyre be not bound to him by any fidelitie or othe except it be after the Emperours death And whan a newe kynge shall be created that he be sworne after the order of the lawe Carolyne and that it be not in the Electours power to alter the same He that shal be proued to haue done contrary to that othe or els be had in great suspicion therof and maketh not his purgation shal be depriued of all ryght of Electourshyp for euer Moreouer that there be not chosen three kynges successiuelye of one house of Prynces that none be chosen kyng of Romaynes except he be of some house of the Princes of Germany Suche thynges as are establyshed by the lawe Caroline concernyng the kynges election neyther the Emperour nor kynge of Romaynes maye chaunge Whan it shal seme good to the electours to create a king of Romaines that they shall not nede to signifie the same before to the Emperour Neither that it shal be lawfull for the Emperour in this case to commaūde the Archebyshop of Mētz to assemble the Princes electours but what tyme there shall appeare iust cause to electe a kynge of Romaynes duryng the lyfe of the Emperour that the Archebyshop at a certen daye call his company to Franckfurth And that it lie not in his authoritie to appointe the assemblye els where vnlesse his collegues doe vpon weyghtie considerations permitte hym that the Archebyshop of Mentz shall not demaunde the Crowne Scepter and other ornamentes of the Empire of them of Norinberge but by the consent of his peres Neyther that he diminishe anye parte of thre monethes which after they be sommoned is graūted to the Prynces to haue cōference together for it may be daungerous to the Empyre and cōmon wealth if one or two comyng not in tyme should be absent That whilest the Electours consulte at Frankeforth all others be shut out If any of those matters be infrynged that thē the Electours be not bonde eyther to repare thether or there to remaine and what soeuer is there done to be voyde and of none effect That neyther the Emperour nor king of Romans in Italy Fraūce or other places do permitte harmes of the Princes Electours to be borne before hym or their offices to be executed but by the Electours them selues or their deputes That the kyng of Romaynes do not solemnyse his laste coronation vnlesse eyther the electours or their deputes be present that neyther the Emperour nor kyng of Romaynes be a let to the Ambassadours of foreine kynges and Princes wherby they may not come to the counselles of the Empyre there to propounde their matters for that this apperteyneth both to the lawe of nature and is also a thyng full of humanitie ciuile dutie That neither the Emperour nor kyng
kyng and his two fellowes were caried hither and thither vnto Prynces for a shewe and mockery By the whiche occasion the Lantgraues preachers enter in disputation with the kynge touchynge these opinions chieflye of the kyngdome of Christe of Magistrates of Iustification of Baptisme of the Lordes supper of the incarnation of Christe and of Mariage and by the testimonies of Scripture priuayle so farre that albeit they did not chaūge him wholy which stroue and defended his opinions stifly yet did they turne him cōfounde him so that in fyne he graunted to many things whiche not withstanding he was supposed to haue done to saue his lyfe For whan he retourned vnto him the seconde tyme he promysed if he myght haue his pardon to brynge to passe that the Anabaptistes whiche were in Hollande Brabant Englande and Freselande an exceadyng great numbre shold kepe sylence and obey the Magistrates in all thynges Afterwardes the same preachers reasoned with his fellowes also both by mouthe and wryting of mortification of Christening of Chyldren of the communion of goodes of the kyngdome of Christe What tyme they were brought to Telget the kyng beyng demaunded of the Byshop by what authoritie he durst be so bolde to vsurpe so muche libertie vpon his Citie and people He asked hym again who gaue him that power and aucthoritie ouer the Citie And wher the Byshop made aunswere that by the consent of the College the people he had that rule and iurisdiction And I sayde he was called hether of God At the thirtene kalēdas of February thei were brought again to Munster cōmitted euery man to a seuerall pryson And the same daye also came the Byshop thether accompanied with the Archbishop of Collon and the Ambassadours of the Duke of Cleue The space of two dayes followyng was spent in Godly admonitions that they myght be reduced from their heresy And in deede the kynge confessed his faulte and fled vnto Christe through prayer The other two neyther woulde acknowledge any offence and yet stode obstinatly in their opinions The next daye the king was brought vp to the skaffold and tied to a post There were two hangemen ready and eche of them a payre of tonges read hote at the three first pulles he helde his peace afterwarde callyng continually for Goddes mercy whan he had bene thus turmented an howre and more and at the last was thrust to the harte with a sharpe poynted dagger he left his lyfe and his fellowes had the same punyshement Whan thei were dead they were fastened to grates of iron and hanged out of the hyghest towre of the Citie called saynet Lambertes the king in the myddes a mans height aboue the other two In the moneth of Ianuary of this present yeare died the lady Katherine Dowager whome Henry the eyght kyng of Englande had put away thre yeares before I shewed you in the fourth booke howe Fridericke Duke of Holste was by the helpe of the Lubeckes made kyng of Denmarke After whose death there arrose mortall warre betwene his sonne Christiane that was kinge after him and the Citie of Lubecke But where as the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue Ernest Duke of Lunenburge and the Citie of Breme Hamborough Maydēburge Brunswicke Lunenburge and Hildisseme intreated a peace This yeare in the moneth of February all was pacified Than had Charles Duke of Sauoye a certen space maynteyned warre against the Citie of Geneua beynge ayded by the Byshop of the same Citie or set on rather partely for the profession of the Gospell partly for other matters And the Citie of Geneua was ioyned in league with the Citie of Bernes in Swicerlāde of whome at the length receiuing great ayde they gaue the repulse to their ennemies And they of Bernes marching further subdued al that laye cōmodious for their countrey euen to the loke of Geneua The residue of the Swicers also that bordered vpō Sauoye did the same Whylest this was a working the kynge of Fraunce whiche had longe before purposed to warre in Italye but especially synce the death of Fraunces Sfortia leuieng his Armie in the begynning of the spryng tyme maketh warre also with the Duke of Sauoye his vncle for a controuersie of inheritaunce whiche he said was due vnto him possessed and deteyned by the Duke Who beynge already much inpoueryshed by the Swycers and therfore an vnmete matche for so puissaunt an ennemye was in short tyme dispossessed in maner of his whole Duckdome For the kyng passing ouer the Alpes inuadeth also the countrey of Piedmount and amonges other taketh Turrine the chiefest town in those partes fortifieth it with workes and strength of men by the conduict of Philippe Schabotte Admirall The Duke of Sauoy had marryed Beatriche daughter to Emanuell kyng of Portugall and the Emperours syster Isabel And in the former tyme he addicted him selfe to neyther of them but now where he semed to incline to the Emperour he styred vp the king his nephew by his owne syster Lewesse against him Some reporte howe byshop Clement what tyme he was at Marseilles as in the last booke is recited gaue the kyng this counsell that in case he intended to recouer Millan he should first seke to be lorde of Sauoy and Piedmonte adioyning to the same Howe soeuer it was the kyng in the yeare followyng after a certen newe custome ordeyned through out the Realme of Fraunce legions of Souldiours to the numbre of forty thousande whiche shoulde exercise their weapons and be in a readynes when tyme of seruice came For where as aunciently the kynges of Fraunce haue alwayes maynteined cheualry and their whole force hathe bene horsemen this man would haue also footemen ready monstered that he shold not euermore haue nede of forein souldiours And the kynges purpose was to leade forth his armie and make warre thereby in Lūbardie to the intent he myght recouer the Duckdome of Millā which he had before enioyed syxe yeares together and contented that it was his and the right of his children by Ualentine his grandmother sister to Philippe Uicecounte the last Duke of Millan of that familie And thus the matter standeth The house of Uicecoūtes bare a noble brute in Lumbardie And the first of them is accompted Otho Archebyshop of Millan who in the tyme of Raffe Emperour expulsed the Turrians a noble and worthy familie whome his nephewe Matthewe his brother Theobaldus sonne succeded after hym Galeace Actius Luchine Iohn Matthew the seconde Galeace the seconde Barnabas Iohn Galeace whom the Emperour Wēceslans created the first Duke of Millan He had two sonnes Iohn and Philippe which died both without issewe and one daughter Ualentine Fraunces Sfortia a stoute warriour married the bastarde daughter of Philip and by that occasion vsurped the Dukedome of Millan secludyng Ualētine Philippes syster whome Lewys Duke of Orleaunce brother to Charles the sixt kyng of Fraunce had maried Sfortia had thre sonnes Galeace Lewis
agaynste the syxte daye of Ianuarye As concernyng that which the Archebishop of Mentz spake howe the Bishoppe of Rome had confyrmed the Emperours creation thus haue they tourned Totnam into Frenche of late yeres For in tymes past the Bishoppes of Rome were wonte to be approued by themperours when they were but pore but encreased in wealth they did not onely begyn to rule at theyr pleasure but also at the length brought it vnto this passe after muche strife and contention that in dede they permitted that the seuen Princes of Germany might electe hym but saye how it lyeth in theyr power onely to cōfirme and ratifie the same And this Authoritie haue they vsed many tymes in maner throughe all realmes but chiefly in Italy Fraunce and Germany what tyme they haue put downe kynges and substituted others in theyr place For besides other places of the Canon lawe in thepistles decretall of Gregory the ix Innocentius the iij. affirmeth that the aucthoritie of chosyng themperor was by the benefit of the Bishoppes and Churche of Rome conueighed from the Grekes to the Germanes in the tyme of great Charlemaigne and howe it is theyr partes to know iudge whether the person be mete And yet not cōtēted with that they haue also extorted his faithe by an othe from the highest Magistrate of the whole vniuersall worlde Whiche thynge hathe bene often tymes the cause of great warres and muche other mischief And in fyne Clemēt the fift bounde them to it by a lawe who lyued in the yere of our lorde a thousande and thre hundred For wheras Henry the seuenth Emperour of that name of the house of Lucemburge woulde not after thys sort be bounden for that he said it was a matter newly inuented neyther vsed in former time Clemēt for them that should come after openeth the matter at large declarynge what is in same othe conteyned that is to say that themperour shoulde defende the Church of Rome that he banish Heretikes and haue no company with wicked mē that he by al meanes possible mayneteine the Dignitie of the Bishoppes of Rome that he defend kepeal priuiledges graūted to the church of Rome at any tyme but especially such as were geuen by Cōstantine Charlemaigne Henry Otto the fourth Fridericke the secōd and Rodulphe that he chalenge no parte of the landes and possessions of the Church of Rome by any maner of title or pretence In these thinges saith he the Emperour is bounden to him And that Henry also by messengers promised hym no lesse howe soeuer he dissembled afterwarde Thys decree came forth after the death of the Emperour Henrye The same Clement was the first of all that called forth the Cardinals frō Rome to Lyons and kept his Court in Fraunce Syns the whiche time the authoritie and power of Emperours hathe decreased in Italy daylye more and more And the power and dignitie of Bishoppes bene augmented in so much that at these our dayes and a lytle before our time Emperours haue supposed that they owe this faithe and obediens to them euen of bounden dewtie But the chiefe of the Bishoppes that haue molested oure Emperours are these Gregory the seuenth and the .ix. Alexandre the thyrde Innotentius the thyrde and the fourth Nicolaus the thyrde Bonisace the eyght and Clement the fyste Nowe let vs retourne to our pourpose In the meane tyme that Cefar was yet at Collen the Byshoppe of Rome sent Marinus Carracciolus and Hierome Aleander to encense the Duke of Saxonie againste Luther who speakynge fyrste in the praise of him and his familie than tellynge of the daunger that hāged ouer all Germany for the deuilishe workes of Luther demaunded of him in fine two thinges Firste that he would commaunde all his bokes to be caste in the fyre secondarelye that he woulde eyther see hym executed or send him bounde to Rome This was before Peter Bonhomme of Tergeste and Barnarde of Trent Bishoppes They had also commission that Cesar and all other Princes of Germany beyng required of ayde should accomplishe the Byshoppes request who had committed as they sayde to this Aleander and doctor Eckius the herynge of the matter Duke Fridericke because it was a matter of importaunce axynge a tyme of deliberation the fourth daye of Nouembre maketh them aunswere by hys counsell for that he hym selfe was otherwise occupied in the presence of the Bishoppe of Trent Howe it is farre beyonde his expectation that the Bishoppe of Rome shoulde demaunde anye suche thynge of him who hathe alwayes indeuoured him selfe to do nothing vnworthy the vertue and dignitie of his auncestours to do his faithfull seruice to the Empire and his dewe obseruaunce to the Churche And howe he hath heard that whilest he hath bene frō home Eckius hath gone about to bring in trouble not onely Luther but others also of his dominion cōtrary to the order maner of the Canon lawe whiche thinge as righte is he taketh in euil part that a priuate mā should take vpō him to medle so muche in any other māsiurisdictiō What Luther or others haue done in his absence sins the Byshoppes decre was brought he knoweth not but he had neuer any thinge to do with his matter neyther nowe will haue Howebeit if he teache not rightly he is the more sory Two yere past through his labour and meanes he was broughte to Cardinall Caietaine at Auspurge But when they had spoken together they coulde not agree in so muche that Cardinall Caietane wrote vnto hym letters of complaint which he so answered at the same time that he thought he had satisfied him yea and to take awaye all suspicion he would than haue put Luther from him if Miltitius had not letted the matter Moreouer howe oftener that that the Archbishop of Treuers was appointed to heare the matter and howe Luther wyll appere in any place when so euer he is commaunded so that he may be assured and maketh so large and great an offer that no more can be required This is the opinion of good and well learned men that he hathe thus farre proceded not of his owne accorde but pricked forwarde of his aduersaries as yet he hath neyther bene so heard of the Emperor or of any others that his workes should be so conuicte of Hercsye that they ought to be burnt or els would he already haue done the duetye of a good Prince He requireth them therefore that they woulde not deale after this sorte but rather fynde the meanes that some Godlye learned menne maye be chosen that shall frendely and quietlye heare the whole matter that Luther maye haue a good safeconduicte and that his bookes be not burned before he hathe pleaded his cause And if he can by the testimonies of Scripture and sownde argumentes be conuicted than will not he holde with hys doynges And although that bothe he and his cause shoulde take the foile yet woulde he trust that the Byshoppe would requyre him to
in dede the thing which he hathe promised by wordes and writynge whiche they earnestly require him that he would do for otherwise there is no certein or longe quietnes to be loked for Germany is muche impouerished with warres and other charges and with tributes that be extraordinarie so that it is hardely hable to susteyne the necessary charges of the Common wealth and to gyue aide to the Hungarians and others against the Turke Nowe in what sorte the Germanes certein yeres past did permitte that their Bishops and others of the Clergie should for certein time be tributaries to the Bishop of Rome they suppose he is not ignoraunt they cōditioned at the same tyme that al that money when tyme serued should be employed vpon the warre against the Turke But nowe bothe the tyme is expired and his predecessors Bishoppes of Rome haue not put the money to the same vse that they ought to haue done for the whiche cause nowe that a subsidie is to be gathered in all countreis of the Empyre for the Turkishe warre men do grudge and mutine And think that those great summes of money which haue bene leuied in many yeres kepte for the same purposes should now serue the tourne and they to be no further charged They desyre therfore that from hence forth he demaunde not anye suche tribute but permitte the same to be broughte into the common treasure house of the Empire For thus shall many men be quieted in Germany and when nede shall require there shall not want money to ayde foreine nations agaynst the force and violence of the Turkes where he areth their counsell in this alteration of Religion consydering that the matter consisteth not onely in Luthers doctrine but also in many other abuses and errours crepte into the Churche and mayntened by longe custome of men that be of a corrupte life and iudgemente as he him self cōfesseth They cā see no better way to redres al these things Than by a free generall counsell whiche the Emperour and he beyng the chiefe Magistrates in Christendome may sommon in some citie of Germany As Mentz Straseboroughe Metz or Collen whiche they thynke also good for the cōmon wealth to begyn as shortly as mighte be and at the furthest within ayere Yet vnder this condition that as many as shal be there present of what estate or degree so euer they be shall take their othe to speake frely and not to hyde what so euer shall seme to make for the glory of God and the profit of the cōmen wealet or els it shal be suspected and do more harme then good And that this may the rather be done accordynglye they will see that Luther in the meane time shall write no mo bookes doubtinge not but that Fridericke the noble Duke of Saxonie wyll assiste them herein And that the Preachers shall teache the Gospell syncerely and reuerently after the interpretations approued by the Churche and that the Printers shall Print nothinge but the same shall be fyrste perused and aucthorised by certeine learned men appointed by the Byshoppes and all matters of controuersie to be reserued for the counselles And where amonges other thinges his Ambassador spake of priestes that maried wiues forsomuch as there is no punishment appointed for them in the Ciuill lawe they thinke it not a misse that suche as haue offended shoulde be punished after the Canon lawe Finally they beseche him to take in good part theyr opinion touching euery thyng for it doeth procede of a syncere minde which both tendereth the common weale and fauoureth also his dignitie In the same tyme chaunsed a great alteration in Denmarke And thus befel the case Christierne the fyrst of that name king of Dēmarke Norweye and Suecia had two sonnes Iohn and Fridericke Iohn did succede his father and had warre with the Suecians whiche rebelled notwithstandynge by composition the matter was appeased This Iohn had a sonne named Christierne who whan he was but syxe yeres of age was proclamed kynge his father yet lyuing and syxe and twentie yeres after that whē his father was dead he was crowned in the yeare of oure Lorde M.D.xiiij Durynge whose reigne the Suecians rebelled againe and set vp Steno Stura to haue the gouernement Christierne made all his power agaynste them and after many battels and sondry sieges he subdueth them commaūdyng that this Steno which was slayne in battell and buried shoulde be taken vp and brent This was in the yeare M.D.xx. the Suecians beynge thus vanquished Gustauus Erixonius a noble man hauing aide as it was thought of the Lubeckes stirred them vp to a new rebellion and had good fortune He pretēded fyrst to haue done it for Steno his children and for the more assuraunce maried his daughter when the king had lost this prouince and was euill beloued at home for he gouerned the common welth eruelly and offended all men when also his vncle Fridericke and they of Lubecke moued warre against him fearynge lest this broile at the length would tourne to his vtter destruction fled away with his children and his wife Isabell syster to Charles themperour whan he had reigned .ix. yeares and fyrste aryued in Selande themperours prouince Immediatly the states of the realme callynge a counsell do create his vncle Fridericke duke of Holse an aged man kynge beyng aided herin by thē of Lubecke And then sending abroad theyr letters to the Emperor to the Byshoppe of Rome and the other Princes of the Empire they rendre a reason why they dyd so they accuse him of most greuous crimes and say howe he is banisshed by hys iuste deseruinges The same thinge also doeth Fridericke and the Citie of Lubecke which is of most aucthoritie and power in al those parties But Christierne fyndynge a good wryter Cornelles Scepper a Flemmyng very well learned aunswereth to these crymes and desyreth the states of the Empire assembled at Norinberge of aide succour He had one sonne whom the Emperour toke vnto him and two doughters Dorothie and Christine The same yere his frendes attēpted warre to haue restored him but it was in vaine The Emperour beyng intangled with the Frenche warres The Ambassodor of Rome had complained of the preachers of Norinberge that they should teach euill doctrine and required that they might be layde faste by the feete But the Princes supposed how he was misse infourmed for the Preachers saye they are had in greate estimation with the people And if ought should be done to them all men would take it to be done of a set purpose to oppresse the trueth whiche thinge myght cause a rebellion Notwithstandyng they wyll appoint certein men that shall make inquisition of the whole matter and therin do as shall be reasonable What tyme the Princes had answered to all the Bishoppe of Romes demaundes they gather into certeine articles suche thynges as they would haue done by him and other Bishops in Germany which were such as infringed their liberties made
in vayne nor vntrewlye for God threateneth a punyshemente whiche remayneth dewe vnto you also if you handle not this busines ryghtly he that drowned the whole worlde with a flud he that swallowed vp Sodome with a fyrie shoure the same can easely destroye you also what power someuer you haue But it is to be proued easely that you take the name of God in your doinges falsely Wherfore it is not very harde to coniecture what the ende will be For he disceaueth not that sayed they shoulde dye of the sworde whiche toke vnto them selues the sworde that is which by their boldnes vsurped the aucthritie of correctyng others Where as Paule not withstanding commaundeth all men generally tobey the Magistrate with reuerence and feare What wyl you aunswere vnto this whiche will seme to followe the prescript of gods lawe and yet laye holde on the sworde and resiste the Magistrate whome God hathe ordeyned is not this to take the name of God in vayne But you wyll saye the Magistrate is suche as is vntollerable for they take from vs the doctrine of the Gospell in all other thinges they oppresse vs vnreasonably I admitte it be so yet maye not you therfore styre vp commotions and seditions for it is not euery mans pacte to punishe malefactours but this appertayneth to him only vnto whome is geuen the right and power of the sworde as the Scripture planely teacheth Againe not onely the lawes wrytten but also the lawe of nature printed in mennes myndes sheweth that no man ought to be iudge in his owne cause For we be all faulty and blinded with the loue of oure selues Neither can it be denied but that this tumult and sedition of yours is a priuate reuengement for you take vpō you the determination of matters the iniuries that you thinke are done vnto you you seke to reuēge by your own aucthoriti but the same is against Gods lawe the lawe of nature finally against equitie and iustice And seing it is so you are by no meanes able to defend this fact of yours or if you haue any commaundemēt of God concerning your doinges the same of necessitie must be declared by some notable myracle But it taketh place in you that Christe spake you can see manifestly that is to be rebuked in others but you consider not what wyekednes is in your owne cause The Magistrate doeth naught but you doe muche worse whiche contempnyng Gods commaundement doe entre in to an other mans iurisdiction whiche leaue vnto the Magistrate nothing for what remayneth whan you haue taken a waye his power and authoritie the hygher powers take your goodes or possessions they doe wrong But you take away their iurisdiction in the whiche thynge consisteth all their state both of body and goodes Nowe whether is he more wicked that taketh some parte of your goodes and spareth your lyfe or he that taketh lyfe and goodes also Waye well what is sayde and you shal be founde more wicked But we desyre not their lyfe nor their goodes you wyll saye let hym beleue you that lyst I wyl not Who so taketh awaye the chiefest thyng wyll not be afrayde to take the rest also whiche dependeth vpon the same but let it be as you saye let them enioye their goodes and their lyfe in safitie That whiche you haue done already exceadeth all measure whan you takyng from them all their authoritie wyll be Lordes and Rulers your selues Waye it with youre selues I beseche you in case your enterpryse should be commended and take place there should be no place for iudgement no Magistrate at all eche man myght vse an other as he thought good and what wold followe therof but robbyng and murtherynge one of an other for so sone as one shall thynke hym selfe to haue receyued wrong of another he wyll couet to reuenge hym selfe at his pleasure Whiche if it be amysse and not to be suffered in any man muche lesse should it be permytted to any vnlawfull assemblye or if it maye be suffered it is also to be borne with in all others But what say you if in your assemblye the cause should requyre that euery man woulde pryuatlye auenge his owne cause tell me what woulde you doe Doubtlesse he should be constrayned to stand to the publique iudgement appoynted by you What thyng doth than excuse you that contempne lawes iudgementes and reiecte the Magistrate whom God hym selfe hath appoynted ouer you This lawe wherof we speake nowe is impryuted in all mens hartes and is obserued also of the moste barbarous people for els should ther be a wonderfull confusion in all thynges whiche lawe all beit you did obserue neuer so dilygently yet shoulde you be nothynge better than Turkes or suche other lyke people that knowe not our religion For to be ruled by lawe and Magistrates maketh not a man a good christian for necessitie byndeth them to it maugre their heades Wherfore seing that you do breake this lawe whiche is ingryft in the mynde and common to all men ye are a great deale worse then the Heathen people and farre vnworthy of the name of Christians Whiche tytle because you doe vsurpe to your selues and doe iniury to Goddes name beynge not worthy in deede to be called Turkes for breakyng of the lawe of nature howe shall you stande before the face of Christe what tyme he shal iudge vs al For see therfore agayne and agayne what maner of men your preachers be for I feare lest some blouddy butchers be crept in amonges you whiche perswade you to this in their Sermons to the intēt that they may through your ayde beare Rule and reigne being carclesse for your saluation God cōmaundeth that all vengeaunce be lefte vnto him the scripture teacheth vs to obeye the Magistrate though he be frowarde you ought therfore to be obedient otherwyse you shall Reyse a cōmotion in dede but the same shall lyght in your owne neckes for GOD wil not permytte youre lycencious outrage to be vnpunyshed And whylest you seke your lybertie you shall procure to your selfe the losse of lyfe goodes and soule also For the wrath of GOD is kyndled agaynst you And the deuyll ennemye of almens saluations hath sent into your felloweshyp false teachers followyng therfore my counsell beware and amende in tyme. Nowe wyll I speake of the Christian lawe or the lawe of the gospell For as muche as you chalenge to your selues that surname is mete it shold be tryed and knowen what your lawe is in this behalf And first Christ cōmaundeth vs not to resist harme but when we are stryken on the one cheke to offer also the other and to hym that taketh awaye your coote he byddeth you to delyuer also your cloke he commaundeth vs both to praye and doe for our enemyes And in the same sense are also many other places of Scripture Nowe consyder with me howe this your enterpryse agreeth with Christes commaundement see howe farre youre
the matter in fine was quieted at Wormes about the ende of Decembre by the intercession of the Palsgraue There be some that thinke it was not altogether nothyng that he had spoken of the conspyracie And the assemblie of certen princes at Regensburg foure yeares before that encreased the same suspicion Wherfore it is supposed that some suche thing was conceaued but not brought to perfection nor fully determined Whiche thyng I doe not here affirme for a certentie but leaue vnto euery man his owne iudgement The assemblie of the Empire which I shewed before shold haue bene in the beginning of the spring tyme at Regensburg was in this warlyke preparation not at all the Emperours deputie sending worde that they should not come there The Frenche kynges letters wrytten in the later end of Marche the Emperour receiued the seuenth daye of Iune Afterwardes sendyng an aunswer by an Herault of armes the .xxiiij. day of Iune frō Moūtison I blame the not sayeth he nor accuse the for departing home for the same was done by my leaue and permission but for that thou diddest not returne againe into my custody captiue as thou diddest promyse me by thy fayth thou wouldest vnlesse thou fulfillest the conditions of peace lyke as in dede it is to be proued by wryting subscrybed with thyne owne hande This in dede if thou haddest done thou haddest played the parte of a Iuste man and of a worthye Prynce But nowe for so muche as thou hast herein broken thy faith I affirme and that without any lye that thou hast done shamefully and wyckedlye And where as thou desirest to haue a place appointed for the cōbate I am content and do assigne the place by the Ryuer that runneth besyde fount Arabie and Andey whiche thou oughtest in no case to refuse For if thou diddest their credit thine owne lyfe and thy chyldrens two yeres past what tyme being set at libertie to retourne home thou gauest them to me for pledges thou mayest aswel now also committe thy selfe to the same assuredly And to the intent it be not differred by long delay let noble men be sent thether on both parties that are skilfull in suche matters whiche shall espye out a place conuenient and agree vpon the kynde of weapons and appoynte a certen daye But in case I receyue none aunswere from the within fourty dayes after the receipt of my letters what thy mynde is herein the fault of the delaye and all the shame shall remayne towarde the and to the cryme of falsifying thy fayth shall this be added also These letters the Emperour delyuered vnto the Herault that he goyng into Fraunce should reade them before the kynge openly or if he refuse to heare them than he cōmaundeth him to deliuer them to the kyng to reade When the Herault came at the lengthe the kynge syttyng at Paris hearyng of a sermon with his nobles about hym demaunded of hym if he had brought the maner of the combat He sayde he had both that and somwhat to saye besydes that and more howe he had in commaundement to reade it before hym or els to delyuer it to his owne handes whiche he besought hym that he myght doe But the kynge vnderstandyng ryght well the Emperours request herein and lothe to haue the thyng read openly fallyng at woordes with the Herault arrose and would neyther heare hym speake any more nor receyue anye letters of hym as in deede the Emperours men affyrme in theyr wrytinges The firste of August the Emperour wryting his letters from Ualolete calleth a counsell of the Empyre of Spyres against the beginning of February to treate of Religion and the Turkysh warre He excuseth hym selfe by certen affayres by meanes whereof he can not be there present appoyntyng of his deputes his brother Ferdinando Friderike Palatyne William of Bauer the byshop of Trent and of Hyldesseme Lantrechus the Lieutenaunt of the Frenche kynges Armie after he had taken Pauie and Alexandria as you haue hearde wyntered he and his Armie at Bononie And in the begynning of the spryngtyme went forewarde and beseged Naples whiche was kept and defended by Alphonsus Daualus Ugo Moncada Ferdiando Alarco Philibert prynce of Orenge and Ferdinando Gonzago But in the moneth of Iuly a sore Pestilence consumed a great part of his Armie and Lantreth hym selfe also in the moneth of Auguste and before hym Mounsour Uaundemont brother vnto Anthony duke of Lorayne whiche serued the kyng in hope to attayne to the kingdome of Naples for that the house of Gaunte whereof the house of Lorayn hath also his ofsprynge affirme it to be their ryght After the disputation of Bernes Religion was altered in sondrye places wherupon the preachers at Strausborongh emonges other errours of the bishop of Romes doctrine taught chiefly that the masse was wicked and a great blasphemy to Gods holy name wherfore it ought to be abrogated the right vse of the Lordes supper instituted vnlesse they could proue these thinges by the testimonies of holy scripture they wyll refuse no kinde of punishment Againe the byshops ministers taught otherwyse which bred no smal contention whom afterwardes the senate for bycause they refused to dispute or conferre with the others cōmaunded to sylence The byshop in his letters to the senate exhorted them to perseuer in the auncient religiō of their elders The Senate desyreth hym agayne as they had done oftentymes before that suche thinges myght be set forth as appertayned to the trew seruice and glory of God and the residue taken away and abolyshed for the same belongeth to his office But he notwithstandinge that he would some tyme appoynte a metynge and a daye for suche matters would do nothyng in ded but only put them in feare with his letters wherin oftentimes he mingled with intreatinges threateninges that they should alter nothyng And when he was almoste in dispayre of the thynge he intreateth the Senate of the Empyre whiche was at that tyme at Spyres by their authoritie to set in foote in the matter Who sendynge their Ambassadours solemnely at the later ende of Decembre requyre them not to put downe the Masse for that it is neyther in the power of the Emperour nor of other states to chaunge the auncient Religion of theyr forefathers but eyther by a generall or els by a prouinciall counsell whiche if they supposed to be farre of or ouer long to that they would differre it at the leste vntyl the next assemblye of the Empire and there put vp their requestes where they doubted not but that they shoulde receyue a reasonable aunswere for it is forboden by the lawes that a priuate Magistrate may vndo such thinges as be agreed vpon by the common consent of the whole worlde wherfore it is reason that they should obtayne this at their handes For if they should obstinatly procede in their enterpryse and worke by force and violence both the Emperour theyr hyghe Magistrate and kynge Ferdynando also his
and penurie were powred vpon Germany the same tyme all at ones The same tyme at Collen Peter Flisted and Adolphe Clarebacke two learned men were imprysoned for that touchyng the lordes supper and other opinions they beleued otherwyse than the papistes The Senate of that citie hath authoritie to leade to pryson suche as be offendours but the Archebyshop only hath power of lyfe and death And it maye be that whome the Senate hath condempned the Archebyshoppes officers may acquite and set at lybertie but these men being deteyned in pryson halfe a yere and more were nowe at the laste condempned of both partes and brent to the great lamentation and compassion of many Some layde the blame therof in the diuines that were preachers whiche cried out daily that Gods wrath must be appeased with the deathes of these wicked meÌ„ for whoÌ„ he plaged vs with a newe kynde of disease This Adolphe was a well fauoured maÌ„ learned and eloquent And as they were lead to the fire they declared the maner of their beleue and comforted one another by the testimonies of scripture in suche sorte that all men had their eyes mindes fixed vpon them I shewed you before how Luther Zwinglius differed in opinion touching the Lordes supper And bycause there was muche contention about it the Lantgraue found the meanes that the learned men on both parties should mete at a certen daye at Marpurge to conferre vpon the matter frendlye Out of Saxony came Luther Melancthon and Ionas From the Swycers Oecolâ—padius Zwynglius From Strausborough Bucer Hedio From No rinberge Osiander And besydes these many graue and well learned men but Luther and Zwynlius only did reason the matter But after that this forsayd disease was then comen thether they brake of the disputation by the commaundement of the Lantgraue concludinge thus That for as muche as they consented in all the chiefest pointes of their doctryne it was agreed that froÌ„ henceforth they should abstaine from all contention besechyng God that he woulde shewe foorth hys lyght also in this controuersie and set them at a concorde And thus they departed frendly In the beginning of Octobre you haue hearde howe the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue were about a league three yeare synce at Spires and nowe after this decree was made they intended the same more earnestly wherof a draught was draweÌ„ at Norenberge and after debated further more in other places but because they were not all of one opinion touching the Lordes supper it was long before they were accorded wherfore they apoynted another assemblye at Smalcalde at the eyght day of Decembre What tyme Cesar was arryued in Italye Erasmus of Roterdame who for the alteration of Religion and for the auoyde of suspition was gone from Basyll to Frybourg a towne of kyng Ferdinandos in the moneth of Nouembre set forth a booke intituled against them that falsly boast them selues to be Gospelers but toucheth in dede the whole nuÌ„bre For emonges many other thinges he sayeth he knewe not one of theÌ„ whiche appeared not to be made worse then he was before This was aunswered by the deuines of Strausborough whome it concerned most and them of Basill but chiefly Bucer When the Emperour was comme to Bononie Fraunces Sfortia whiche was before in league with the byshop of Rome and the Frenche kyng after he had pleaded his cause before hym was by the intercession of Clement the vij restored to the Dukedome of Myllan vpon condition to pay hym nyne hondreth thousande crownes the one half the same yeare the resydue within ten yeares and the Emperour for a pledge reserueth to hym selfe Comes and the castell of Millan vntyll the payment of the first yeare be made ✚ The seuenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the seuenth Booke THe Ambassadours of the Protestantes sent to the Emperour do appeale from the answere he made them at Placence where they were stayed Wherof being aduertysed the Protestantes assemble at Smalcade Stausborough entreth in to league with thre cyties of the Cautons The Emperour returnyng from his coronation commeth to Auspurge where the Protestantes offer their doctrine whiche their aduersaries go about to confute and the meane whyle certen are nominated to accorde it The Emperour perswadeth with Princes of the Protestantes who notwithstanding the threatnynges euyll wordes and replications there made and the scaunders wherwith they were charged persisted in their sayde confession and hauyng geuen their last aunswere departe home Eckius and Faber forgyng of confutations against Strasborough and other townes are lyberally rewarded The compacte of Pruselande was here made frustrate The notable decree of this assemblie at Auspurge is red The Ryuer of Tibre ouerfloweth at Rome Melanchthon being heauy for this decree is comforted of Luther who was come nere vnto Auspurge Bucer went to agree hym and Zwynglius Commaundement came to make Ferdinando kyng of Romaynes whiche the electour of Saxony and other Prynces resiste I Saide before howe the Protestantes sent their Ambassadours to the Emperour Those were Iohn Khinger Alex Framentrute and Michaell Cadene of Norynbergh which goyng as far as Genes vnderstode there of the Emperours commyng out of Spayne and afterwardes the nynthe of Septembre at Placence make theyr waye and meane by Mercurine Cattunarie who was made Cardynall the daye before by Henry Earle of Nassow Alexander Schweissie and Alphouse Ualdese a Spanyarde The Emperour appointed to heare them the .xii. of Septembre Not withstanding he warned them to compryse their requestes in writing and to vse no long circumstance for because of his sondrye and moste weighty affayres Whan they came before him at theyr day he admonished them eftsones by an interpretour to knit vp the matter in fewe wordes They in lyke case as they had in commaundement repete in ordre the decree of the Empyre made thre yeares past that is newlye taken awaye by an other decree whiche if it shoulde be of force great trouble would come therof Wherfor the Prince electour of Saxony and his fellowes and the Cities also ioynynge with them dyd there proteste openly that they would not consent to this decree And their request is that he would not take this thyng displeasauntly or in euyl parte For they wyll do nothyng vntyll suche tyme as there shall be a counsell but that whiche they truste shal be allowed both before God and hym also offeryng them selues in the meane tyme after the example of their auncesters to doe any thynge for the wealth and dignitie of hym and of the Empyre eyther to serue in the warres agaynst the Turke or in any other charge they shall be put to Moreouer they beseche hym that in case it shall be reported to hym otherwyse he would gyue no credit therunto but trust vnto this information and conceaue no displeasure agaynst theÌ„ vnlesse they
heare saith he how the Frēche kyng hath requyred your ayde but not obteined which was to me great pleasure and I haue aduertised the Emperour hereof And certenly reason would it should so be For the Emperour gaue none occasion of this warre but was fully resolued this sommer to haue warred vpon the Barbarians and the ennemies of our Religion Notwithstanding the Frenche kynge immediatly after the death of Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan albeit he hath no right nor title therunto a composition made touchyng the whole matter certen yeares paste contrary to the conuenauntes sought to renewe warre and to recouer Lumbardy And at the same tyme passing the Alpes with a great armie inuaded the Duke of Sauoye a Prynce of the Empyre to the intent that hauing ones subdued his countrey he might haue the way open to passe further And nowe that the Emperour hath leuied an armie to resiste hym as he was in dede constreined I am informed that he craueth nowe ayde agayne of you Neuerthelesse for as muche as he breakyng his fidelitie hath commenced warres a freshe I desyre you that you doe not assiste hym Whereby you shall do the Emperour and me pleasure and preserue the quiet of your owne commō wealth In this meane while the Protestantes had sent an Ambassade to the Emperour in Italy to make their purgation in that he had charged them by letters to haue taken the churche goodes and further more to complayne of the iudges of the Emperiall chamber But before the Ambassadours were arriued the Emperoure the seuenthe of Iulye had sent letters to the Protestauntes from the Towne of Sauilie signifieng how he hath at al tymes both present and absent by his letters and Ambassadours sought the quiet of Germany and hath both promysed them peace in theyr Relygion and also perfourmed the same And nowe for as muche as the Frenche kynge against whome he is enforced to rayse an armie maye perauenture by false suggestion perswade with them that he would now take occasion to breake that treuce of Religion therfore hath he thought good to admonyshe them by his letters to beleue no suche thinge but assure them selues that he woulde obserue his promyse neyther would he moue warre vpon any man for religion nor styre vp any trouble in Germany for all this preparation of warre is to mainteyne his ryght and authoritie Wherfor let them quiet them selues and styre not what so euer they shal heare For this shall be both to hym acceptable and to them also profitable Whan the Emperours power was come altogether he marched through the myddest of Italye with a stronge armie tyll he came in to prouynce of Fraunce The kynge had incamped hym selfe at Auignion betwyxte the Ryuers of Rhosne and Druence and destroyinge the countrey Whereinto he perceiued the Emperour woulde come and kepyng hym selfe from geuynge the battell he brought his ennemies into great perplexitie and myserie For the Emperour enforced through the penurie and scarscitie of all thynges and the losse of manye thousandes whiche died for famine and pestilence and also for the death of Anthony Leuie dischargeth the reste of his Armye and retourneth to Genes An other Armie of his that warred this sommer in Uermandoys beseged the towne of Peronne by the cōduicte of Henry Erle of Nassowe but preuayling not leuied the siege about the same time that the Emperour retyred in the prouince and the reporte of eyther newes brought vnto Paris the same daye reioysed the citie exceadynglye For they were in verye great feare and the Preachers in their Sermons to the people inuehed sore against the Emperour And the kynges Lieutenauntes began to intrenche the cytie and kepte the gates with watche and warde William Furstemberge a Germane serued the Frenche kynge in this warre About the begynning of this warre ended his lyfe the Frenche kynges eldest sonne Fraunces the Daulphin eyghtene yeares of age the reporte went that he was poysoned and one Sebastian de moute Cuculo an Italian beyng had in suspicion was fyrste racked and after torne in pieces with sondrye horses at Lions And the kynge afterwardes in his letters to the Prynces of Germanye amonges other made a greuous complainte hereof against Anthony Leuie and Ferdinando Gonzage the Emperours Lieutenauntes in whome he layd all the blame Herman Archebyshop of Collon of long tyme intending a reformation of his churche holdeth at this tyme a counsell of his owne prouince callynge to it as the maner is the Byshoppes within his iurisdiction of Liege Utreicht Munster Osenbridge and Myndes Herein were decrees made of ceremonies and doctrine and after set forth in a booke compyled by Iohn Gropper wherein were al Popyshe Ceremonies for the moste parte paynted out with new colours whiche booke dyd not contente the Byshop than as hereafter shal be declared About this tyme also in the moneth of Iuly Erasmus of Roterdam departed out of this lyfe an olde man of thre score and ten yeares and was buried at Basill Howe excellently learned and howe eloquent a man he was and howe muche al learnyng is bounde to hym his own workes shall testifie By occasion of puttyng downe papistrie in Englande and suppressing of certen Abbeyes vnder thre hundreth markes of yearely valewe there arose a commotion in Lynkcolneshyre in a market towne they call Lowthe styred vp by Doctour Mackerell a false Monke who named him selfe captayne Cobblar and after that it was appeased by the Duke of Southfolke the kynges Lyeutenaunt an other began in Yorke shyre a grear deale worse For those Rebelles were manye and stronge and came as farre as Dankcaster where the Duke of Northfolke met them with the kinges power and when they should haue ioyned together in battell by the mediation of the Erle of Shrewisbury which was a man welbeloued of the commons the matter was taken vp without bloudshed Their chief Captaine was Robert Aske who was after executed for his treason with certen others of the Nobilitie his adherentes Unto the letters which the Emperour wrote in Iuly the Protestaūtes answer the nynth day of Septembre and where it pleased hym to wryte so gentle and so lyberally they shewe hym howe they conceaue great pleasure in theyr mindes for albeit they did neuer distruste his promise yet for as much as diuerse reportes of his displeasure came to their eares and agayne for that the iudges of the imperiall chamber and others makyng none accompte of the peace concluded did procede diuerse wayes agaynste them they had some cause to doubte and feare the matter But nowe that he hath wrytten againe so louingly and playnly they are out of all doubtes that he wyll perfourme the same and refuse the sclaunderous reportes of their aduersaries lykewyse wyll they doe and geue no credite vnto suche as shall otherwyse reporte of him and in al other thinges also doe according to their dutie than came they to the counsell which the
the expresse wordes of the composition sealed and confirmed by the Emperour hath taken vpon them to heare and determine and to call before them diuerse for the alteration of Religion for Rites ceremonies and churche goodes whiche thyng were playnly exempted in the pacification concluded But the iudges of the imperiall chamber being also of a contrary Religion bounden by their othe to geue sentence as well after the prescript of the byshop of Romes lawe as of the Emperours doe lyttle regarde the compositiō of the peace but procede directly against it Wherfore they haue iust cause to refuse theyr iudgement and to desire a reformation and that for diuerse considerations whiche are also before mentioned For first the iudges of the imperiall chamber are for the moste parte of a cōtrary Religion they are bounde by an othe to iudge after the decrees of the Byshop of Rome as wel as after the lawes of the Empire Thei beare fauour to our aduersaries and that manifestly and frowne vpon vs and our fellowes They medle with mere matters of Religion contrary to the Emperours proclamation Finally they haue condēpued our cōfederatours of Hamborough only for matters of Religiō in a great somme of gold so would procede against others in case they were not refused And as touching the names of them that are come into their league synce the peace making they had long synce wrytten and sent to the Emperour in Italy by their Ambassadours Who seing the tyme of the counsell so longe differred ioyned them selues in league with thē iudgyng it mete to preferre their conscience before any ciuile bonde last where hedesyreth to knowe the fourme and maner of their league thei maruell that he will requyre it considering that the Emperour knoweth it well inough and made meanes by the intercessours at Norinberg that they should haue left it but they made hym suche aunswere than as he moued them no more herein howe their aduersaries haue geuen the occasion hereof For what mischiefe they haue deuysed against thē it is right well knowen And this league of theirs is ordeined to iniurie no man but to defende them selues and is framed of suche condicions as if nede require it may be declared to the Emperour or any man els without any shame at all And as concerning suche thynges as he spake of the counsell and of the Emperours mynde towardes the common wealth they lyke very well all Howe they do beleue also that the Emperour knoweth not the byshoppes minde herein therfore procureth the counsell so ernestly But what opinion the Emperour hath of the bishop thei wil leaue vndiscussed Neuerthelesse for as much as his wrytte is cōtrary to the Emperours minde and altogether suspicious they can not dissemble what they thinke thereof For before the counsell do begyune he hath condempned their doctrine not only in word but in dede also and also it is wel knowen how that in all assemblies where religion is treated of albeit thei see that the Scripture maketh against them yet wyl they presume and take vpon them the authoritie of determination And although they are mynded in a lawefull counsel to accuse the byshop and his complices of false doctrine heresy and impietie yet is there no doubte but that he will after his accustomed maner be both partie and iudge also For that is his entent the wrytte it selfe wittenesseth whiche if they should ones allowe it were in vain and to late afterward to talke of any conditions or fourme of disputation in the counsell And whether this be suche a counsell than as the Emperour and the states of the Empyre haue in diuerse assemblies agreed vpon they leaue it to the opinion of any indifferent iudge For euermore those wordes a free and a Christian counsell were wyselye pourposely added and the same in deede not to be so taken as that it should be lawfull only for euery man to speake his minde there but also that neyther the bishop nor his adherentes which are depely bound through their fidelitie and promyse one to an other should pronounce sentence in their owne causes And the other ought not so to be interpreted as though there were no place in the counsell for the Turkes and suche others but that accordinge vnto holy Scripture all partes of doctrine might be examined and determined And how they know moreouer that not in one countrey only but euery where also in the whole worlde are Godly and learned men dispersed here and there whiche thinge refresheth their spirites to thinke vpon considerynge hopyng that in case this vnreasonable power of the byshop of Rome might be diminished and that all thinges shoulde not depende vpon one mans cōmaundement it would come to passe that not only their diuines but also diuers other good men in sondry countreis whiche being now oppressed with his tyrannie hyde thē in coruers and sayde nothyng would applie their whole study and endeuour to the refourmation of the churche And now as concerning the place of the counsell they knowe not where it should better be chosen than in Germany For albeit the counsell doth also appertayne to other nations yet chiefly it concerneth the Germaines whiche must come thether them selues with the ministers of their churches where as other kynges Prynces may do the thing by their deputes after the olde wōted maner of long tyme accustomed Furthermore what the situation and cōmoditie of Mātua is they wyl not dispute of but there is now warre in Italy but in case there were none yet haue they lately declared why that place ought to be of them suspected How the Duke of Mātua him selfe is affected they wyll not reason but his owne brother is one of the chiefest Cardinalles whiche maketh muche to encrease the suspition Therefore if other nations shall heare one of their reasons wherfore they doe refuse both the place and fourme of pleadyng they doubte not but they wyll allowe the same and if they did not than should they in dede conceaue of them a wronge opinion The Emperour knoweth also that in Germany be many cities as commodious for the pourpose as Mantua and the whiche ought chiefly to be respected muche commended for equitie and iustice For those secret and priuie conspiracies to dispatche men out of the waye are not so well knowen and practised in Germany as they be in some other places And where as thei cleaue and sticke on this wyse to the decrees of the Empyre and wyll not permitte them selues to be remoued from the same it ought to seme no maruell nor newes to the Emperour For also in tymes past Liberius Bishop of Rome the frende and fawtour of Athanasius required the Emperour Constantine to call a counsell at Alexandria where the defendant and plaintiues dwelled And albeit that the same place was nothing commodious for the West churche And although the Emperour alledged that Athanasius and his fellowes were by the consent of the whole
commaūded them that they shoulde espie oute diligently the faultes of the Clergie and all flatterie set apart declare them vnto him He released them also of their othe that they myghte speake their mindes franckly and had commaunded them to kepe the thinge close secret There were chosen Caspar Contarene Peter Theatrire Iames Sadolete and Renalde Poole Cardinals Fridericke Archebishop of Salerne Hierome Aleander Archbishop of Brunduse Iohn Mathew Bishoppe Uerone Gregorie Uenet Abbot and Thomas maister of the sacred Palace These in conclusion after consultation had comprehended the hole matter in writing addressinge theyr stile vnto him extolle him with great praises for the zeale he hath to the trueth wherunto the eares of certen Bishoppes in times past haue bene stopped chiefly through the faulte of flatterers whiche haue ascribed vnto them ouer muche Authoritie what tyme they haue affirmed them clearely to be lordes of althinges and haue power to do what they liste For out of this welspring as out of the horse at Troy haue spronge into the churche so many euils wherwith now it is most greuously afflicted Therfore is his wisedome and vertu great who considereth that the remedie must be fetched from thence from whence the beginning and cause of the disease proceded who followyng the doctrine of S. Paule wil be a minister and a steward and no lorde And for asmuche as he hath committed this charge vnto them they willyng to obey him herin haue accordyng to theyr meane wittes drawen certen Articles whiche do concerne him ▪ the Bishoppes and the Churche For where he susteineth a double person and is not onely the Bishop of the vniuersall Christian Churche but also the Prince of many Regions and Cities they onely touche suche thinges as concerne the Ecclesiasticall administratiō for the ciuile commen weale he gouerneth with muche commēdatiō and wisedom And fyrst of al. they say most holy father in like case as Aristotle commaundeth that lawes be not rashly altered so semeth it vnto vs also that thecclesiasticall lawes be in any case diligently maynteyned and not infringed without some vrgent cause For there can no greater plage inuade a commenwealth than what time thauthoritie of lawes is weakened and disolued whiche oure predecessours would haue to be kept as sacred and holy The next pointe is that the Bishop of Rome Christes Uicar whan for the Authoritie he hathe of Christe he geueth or graunteth anye thinge he take no money or rewarde for the same For seynge that all these thinges are giuen freely Christ will also that the same be freely distributed to others This foūdation once laide it must be foresene that you may haue very manye mete ministers of the churche to gouerne it for mens saluation In the which numbre the Bishoppes occupie the chiefe place but herein is a great abuse in that all kinde of men are receiued into this ordre confusely and without respect neither commended for their learninge nor honest lyuing and diuerse also very yong Wherof arrise sundry offences and holy thinges come in contempt and growe oute of reuerence It semeth good vnto vs therfore that first in the citie of Rome you appoint certen to make a choise of suche as desyre to take orders and after commaunde all Bishops to do the like euery mā within his owne Diocese And that you suffer none to be admitted without the consent of the said commissioners or Bishoppe Let the youth also that purpose to be made pristes haue a Scholemaster appointed to bring them vp in learnyng and vertuouse maners Moreouer in geuing of Benefices and spirituall promotions it is farre a misse in suche especially as concerne the Cure and charge of soules For here haue they this respect on lie that the Beneficed man may be well prouided for laying apart all care of his flocke Therfore whan suche an office is geuen chiefely if it be a Bishopricke it must be diligently forsene that they be good men and learned which both can and will gouerne the Churches themselues as they are bounden by the law Therfore may not an Italian enioy a benefice in Spayne or in Englande nor a Spaniarde or an Englishman in Italy Furthermore there is much fraude vsed what tyme a man leaueth his benefice and resygneth it to another reseruing to him self an yerly pension many times also the whole profytes For no pension maye be reteined vnlesse it be for the pore or some other godly vse Because the fruits are annexed to the benefice and ought no more to be sequestred from it than the bodye from the soule And he that hathe the same is bounden to vse the commodities therof honestly and so much as suffiseth the residew to employ vpon suche vses as is beforesayd Notwithstandyng it shal be lawfull for the Bishoppe if the case so require to impose this bondage that he shall pay a certen thing yerely to some pore man especially beyng of the Clergie wherby he may liue more honestly and better at ease Againe they offende exceadingly in permutatiōs for all thinges are done for lucre And albeit it is not lawefull to gyue Benefices by legacie yet is there a subtill way founde by wyttie men to defeate this law and benefyces are giuen to another yet so as they haue theyr reentrie agayne into the fame with the whole profytes and ministration And thus commeth it to passe that he beareth the name of a Bishoppe which hath no right or Authoritie and he whiche is indede and possession Bishop hath not the name at all And what thing els is this than to make to him selfe an heyre Bishoppe Clementrenewed an olde lawe wherby it was forbydden that the sonne shoulde not enioy his fathers benefice but yet is this permitted truly with an euill example For it can not be denied but the greatest part of sclaunders arryse of this that the churche goods are conuerted to priuate vses Hitherto many haue loked for a redresse of this thynge but nowe they are in vtter dispayre and speake and thinke full euill of vs therefore An other euill vse is to geue out vousons of benefices as it were in a reuertion where an other mans death is wished and looked for And others that better deserue to haue it are secluded from it matter ministered of muche strife and contention What shall we saye to those benefices whiche because they coulde not be employed vpon one man alone were called commonly incompatibles but herin is tholde discipline neglected and to some one also is permitted to haue diuerse Bishoprikes which semeth vnto vs worthy reformation Herunto belongeth these pluralities totquotes and vnitynge of benefices whan many benefices be ioyned together as the partes and membres of one body What is not this to delude the lawes Finally nowe is this disease crept in also that Bishoprickes are giuen vnto Cardinalles and that many vnto one Whiche thynge semeth vnto vs in dede a matter of importaunce and chiefly to be refourmed For the
nor yet of mind whom Luther also him selfe whom he maketh his god doth laughe at and contemne Luther thinking the same to concerne his estemation answereth sharpely and saieth it is a sclaunder And for asmuch as the aduersaryes take vpon them the title of the Churche by diuers and sundry argumentes brought in he proueth that they haue cleane forsaken the trew Church by a comparison made he sheweth that the Bishoprike of Rome which hathe altogether defyled and corrupted the trew doctryne of Chryst to be Antechrist of whom so manye yeares synce Daniell and the Apostles haue prophecyed After he obiecteth vnto them that they flye from the lyght though they speake muche of a lawfull counsell yet dare they not abyde it but yf youre church be holy sayth he why is it afearde of a counsell or what nedeth it any reformation or yf it nedeth why cal ye it holy will ye also redresse youre holynes We neuer desyred a counsell to refourme our churche For God hathe already sanctified it with his worde pourged it from all the Romishe fylthynes and restored the trew doctrine howbeit our life doeth not answere to this profession neither do we perfourme in dede so muche as both we are bounden and wishe to do but this was also the complaint of the Prophetes and Apostles whilest they liued And that felicitie shal than happen vnto vs what timr we being deliuered out of this synfull body as out of a prison shall obtaine the like condition with Angels We desyre a counsell to th entēt our churches might be openly heard and that your doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christe might be condemned that men beyng called agayne from it mighte knowe and folow the trewe Religion of Christ Nowe where ye obiecte vntd vs rebelliō and disobedience it is false euen by the testimonie of the states imperiall who know that our Princes are obeidient to themperour in all thinges For beyng called to any Assemblie or to go a warfare they haue bene euermore ready But if ye raile thus on vs because we obey not thēperours decres that condēne our doctrin We are glad and geue God thankes for shewing no obeidience that way For the thing that is dew vnto god only ought not to be giuen to themperor which should be Gods Client God hath giuen him gouernement ouer realmes and nations but he alone will gouerne his church with his worde neyther doeth he admit any man into the societie of this honor Themperor hath more than ynough to do concernyng thadministration of the common weale For vnto this office hath God appointed him and prescribed him these limites But if he procede any further than doeth he inuade and vsurpe vpon Gods iurisdiction The Duke of Brunswike had written in his inuectiues amonges other thinges that Luther had reised vp this Tragedye of Religion at the motion of Duke Friderik for enuy that Albert Arch bishop of Mentz had the Bishoprike of Madenburge Wherunto Luther answerynge this sclaunder saieth he commeth to the Duke of Brunswicke by the suggestion of Mentz And where he dissembleth to know whan he knoweth best of all I shall declare the cause original of al this busines In the seuentēth yere of grace aboue a thousande and fyue hundreth Iohn Tecell a Dominicke Frere caried about pardons to sell in Germany This Tecel themperor Maximiliā had once condemned to die and had commaunded to be drowned in the riuer at Inspruck but through the intercession of duke Friderick whose chaunce was to be there at that time he escaped the daunger He I say amonges other thinges taught howe he had so great authoritie of that bishop of Rome that although a mā had deflowred that virgin Mary had gottē hir with child he had power to forgeue hī for money Moreouer he did not onely forgeue synnes past but also what so euer a man listed to commit herafter And within a while after that came forth a Boke with the armes and title of Bishop Albert wherein the Pardoners wer cōmaunded most diligently to setforth to the people the vertu of those iudulgences Wherfore it was knowen that Tecell was hired by the said Bishoppe to make those outrageous sermons For Albert was lately than created Archbishop of Mentz vpon condicion that he shoulde redeme his Palle from Rome of his owne costes and charges For thre Bishoppes of that citie wer deceased within short space Bertolde Iames and Uriell and it was ouer chargeable for the Colledge to beare so great a burthen and so often times For that Palle stoode them in as good as xxx thousande crownes or euer it came at home So dere coulde the Bishoppe of Rome sell a sory piece of clothe This money had the Marchantes of Auspurge disbursed wherfore to pay them Albert deuised this kinde of gaine And the Bishop did graunt it him yet so as the one halfe shold be brought to Rome to the buildyng of S. Peters Church But that time knew I none of all this gere therfore wrot I to the Bishoppe of Mentz in humble wyse exhorting him that he woulde inhibite those criers but he answered not one worde The Bishoppe of Brandenburge beyng also moued admonished me to cease and not to bring my selfe in danger After this I propounded certen Theames contrary to those of Tecels which within a fewe dayes were caried ouer all Germany and were gredely red of many For all men complained of Pardons especially of those that Tecell taught And because there was neuer a Bishoppe nor yet doctor that durst gainesay them for that Tecel feared all men with the Bishoppes thunderbolt My name began to be spoken of that there was founde one at the length in all the worlde that did resist But that vaine glory was not to me verye pleasaunte For I scarsely vnderstode than what the name of Indulgences mēt This is the fyrst originall and cause of this motion whiche came not of duke Friderick but proceded of the Bishop of Mentz by the practise of his collector and briber Frere Tecell Wherfore if there be anye thing nowe that nippeth him let him thanke himselfe therfore An other cause of this trouble gaue that moste holye father Leo the tenth what time he cursed me and excommunicated me and manye in all places did triumphe ouer me neyther was there anye man so vnlearned that did not practise his style to write against me I thought assuredly at the fyrst that the Bishoppe would assoile me and condemne Tecell for that the Canon lawe maketh for me whiche teacheth plainely that Iudulgences can not deliuer soules out of Purgatory But lo whilest I loke for a ioyfull sentence from Rome I am striken with the thonderbolt and condemned for the most wicked mā aliue Than began I to defende my doynges settinge forth many bokes of the same insomuche that the matter was brought at the laste into the assemblie of thempire Thus did the wollen threde wherof the
I doe vnwisely sayeth the Lantzgraue to reason of so weightie matters my fellowes beyng absent notwithstanding by cause the matter is not handled to any preiudice I wyll procede I suppose that Themperoure made the decree of Spier for a good inteÌ„t and where the aduersaries of the same were then content to suffer it and so promised they maye not nowe go backe with theyr wordes Agayne inasmuch as we gaue Themperoure stronge ayde agaynst the Frenche kinge we truste surely that the thyng that was then agreed vpon and confirmed with seales shal not be broken Moreouer there is nothyng that ought to let a prouinciall counsel For we professe the same faythe that the Apostles the counsell of Nice Athanasius did and oure diuines are agreed vppon the chiefe and principall articles ther was in dede a controuersie amonges them coÌ„cernyng the lordes supper but the same is nowe appeased for there is none but confesseth that the body and blud of Christ is there truly receyued There be anabaptistes Dauidians and I know not who besydes whom in dede we doe punnish Therfore is it not nedeful that foreine nations shulde be present when these thinges shal be determined neuerthelesse if they gaue themselues to the knowledge of the trueth it were chieflye to be wished for That certen meane opinions shuld be establyshed that by men of honour I doe not greatly resist but I thinke that caÌ„ hardly be donne with out diuines but if the sincere preaching of the gospel and the whole supper of the Lord and the marriage of priestes might be permitted as in tyme paste Paphuntius perswaded in the counsel Nicene I suppose a concorde might be establisshed I know no place where men be constrayned to come to oure religion we do not suffer a contrary and a sondry doctryne in the selfe same place but we compell no man kyll no man nor spoyle hym of hys goodes And in case men of our relygion myght remayne harmeles in your dominioÌ„s and might haue theyr Churches seuerally assuredly I coulde be contente for myne owne parte to suffer youres to haue theyr Churches in lyke case with in my rule and dominion but for asmuche as you wyll not graunt to the same we desyre also to haue oure doctryne equiualente Therefore looke what I sayde before of the decree of Spier and the prouincyall Counsel of Germanie the same doe I take to be best now also If there bee any man sayeth Granuellan in all the worlde that loueth peace assuredly it is Themperoure who indede for the Bishop of Roomes pleasure wyll not swarue one heare breadthe from equytye He hath kept also the decree of Spier not without the greate offence of the other partye and also of the Bisshop â—ea Nauius and I doe sustayne no smal displeasure for the same cause In a Counsell prouinciall I cannot see who shuld be Iudge For al men doe not vnderstand the scripture after one sorte And because that in the Conference of learned men there appereth smal hope doubtles som other meanes muste bee founde Some Articles are indede accorded but agayne there be moe yet in coÌ„trouersie Moreouer those that be accorded Bucer doth interpret more largely than the thyng it selfe permitteth and yf they shoulde nowe reste here it were easy to iudge what wolde be the state of Th empyre at the lengthe I lyke it righte well sayeth the Lantzgraue that you saye howe Themperoure hangeth not of the Bisshop his sleue And wolde God he myghte brynge the Bisshop to hys dutye In tymes paste Bisshoppes of Roome did honour Themperour as theyr supreme Magistrate And now Emperours ar bounden to them by an othe In all controuersies Gods woorde oughte to be chyfe iudge whyche is not obscure so that che minde of men wolde frame themselues accordynglye For it sheweth vnto vs synne prouoketh vs to repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe and preacheth vnto vs Chryste who hathe taken a waye the synnes of the worlde in whose name also God the Father is to be called vpon that he woolde graunte vs hys holye spiryte Uerelye thys faythe and Doctryne hathe euer been and styll remayned in the Churche as the Lordes Prayer the Crede of the Apostles And dyuerse Songes beesydes accustomed in churches doe instructe vs of the benefite of Chryst neither must we here consyder what the greatest multitude weneth but what the trewthe is For at Ierusalem also what time diuerse of the Apostles and disciples wolde haue had the heathen people that had receiued the Gospel circumcised Peter and Paule Iames and Barnabas were of a contrary opinion the errour of the residew shewed did abrogate that yoke of the lawe At the whyche tyme the greatest parte of that congregation gaue place and obeied the iudgement of a few that were in the right We verely doe not prescribe other nations but couet only that the Germanes might agree within themselues to treate of meane waies I could be coÌ„tent so that they swarued not from the decre of Spier concernyng the establisshment of the peace and lawe and in other thynges it is to be sene what may be establysshed by Gods woorde and what maye not But I wold haue also my cosen and frend here the Paulse graue who hathe ben at many assemblies and knoweth muche of matters past to speake hys opinion herin Then he speaking of Themperours good will and disposition sayeth howe the conference had at Regenspurge was well and to muche purpose begonne And if it were renewed and the articles already accorded no more decided he thinketh they myght come to some tollerable agrement in the rest Themperoure sayeth Granuellan desyreth acoÌ„corde verie muche as hath ben ofte repeted And excepte that be establysshed it will surely redounde to the dammage of the publycke weale And albeit Themperour hath not thus muche profyt by th empyre albeit he hath not hys health also yet for the loue of Germany hathe he taken his iorney He hath taken no secret counsell eyther with the French king or with others neyther commeth he to craue ayde but to prouyde generally for all men Bothe Fraunce Englande leuie great force of men whiche is greatly to be suspected Moreouer TheÌ„perour hath to doe in Spayne by reason of the death of hys Daughter inlawe Yet all these thynges set a part he goeth to the assemblie But yf no Princes come thither what shall he doe there alone There is much calling and crying on hyn to refourme thinges and yet wyll they not come to the place appoynted for consultation Therfore it should doe well my Lordes speaking to the Paulsgraue and the Lantzgraue if you whiche are two of the chiefest wolde goe thyther Albeit sayeth the Lantzgraue that Themperoure hathe no greate reuenewes out of Thempire yet in asmuche as he hathe ayde alwayes thence agaynste the Turke agaynst the Frenche kynge and others And for that the dignitie of Thempire getteth hym great authorytie amonges other kinges and that he
out of the house where he lodged did so wtout fail for it was in the same market place Bucer who was sēt for to Auspurge came at the last to thelector of Brādēburge And now was the boke finished which I shewed you before was cōpiled of religiō which the marques deliuereth to Bucer desireth him to subscribe Whē he had red it ouer for that he saw the bishop of Romes doctrine therein established he said he could not allow the same Thelector toke this displesātly was much of fēded with him iudged the wryting moderat for so had Islebie perswaded hī Granuellā also vrged Bucer by messēgers if he wold subscribe promised hī ample rewards whē he might not preuail by large promises he begā to threatē him so he returned home not wtout dāger sor throughout al the lād of Wirtemberge were bāds of Spaniardes as before is said In the month of Aprill tharchbishop of Collō lately made priest sāg his first masse as they term it Wherat were themperor king Ferdinādo and of other Princes a great nōbre After he maketh them a moste sumpteous dinner About this time also came to Auspurge Muleasses king of Tūnes whome the Emperour .xiii. yeres paste had restored to his kingedome and expulsed barbarous as I shewed you in the ninth boke Now had his eldest son put out both his eies vsurped the crown wherfore like a miserable exile he came hither to themperor out of Barbarie And not lōg after came thither also his secōd sōne The boke cōpiled of religiō treateth first of the state of mā before after his fal of our redēptiō by Christ of charity good works of the cōfidēce in the remissi◠of sinnes of the church of vowes of authoriti of the ministers of the church of the high bishop of the sacramēts of the sacrifice of the masse of the memorial inuocatiō intercessiō of saintes of the memorial of such as haue died godly of the cōmunion to be annexed to the sacrifice of ceremonies vse of sacraments And these things amongs others are taught that those workes which besides the cōmaūdemēt of god are godly honestly wrought which are cōmōly called the works of superogatiō are to be cōmēded y◠mā cānot wtout distrust of his imbecillity beleue that his sins be forgeuē how the church hath autority to interprete the scriptures oute of the same together setforth doctrins power to minister the law to iudge of doutful matters by a general coūsel to make lawes and that ther is one high bishop which is aboue al y◠residue for the prerogatiue graūted to Peter vnto whō the gouernment of the vniuersall church was committed of Christ yet so as other bishops also haue part of the cure euery mā in his own church that by cōfirmatiō chrisme is receiued y◠holy gost so that they may resist the deceits of the deuil the flesh the world that the bishop only is minister of this sacramēt how the sins must be rehersed to the priest such as come to memory That by satisfactiō which cōsisteth in the frutes of repētāce especially through fasting praying almosgeuing are cut of the causes of sinnes temporal punishment ether taken away or mitigated that holy vnctiō hath bene in the church since the time of the Apostles that ether it might help the body or the mind it self against the firy darts of the deuil wherfor it must be vsed what time the hour of death apeareth to draw nere how mariage contracted wtout the cōsēt of the parēts ought to be ratified but yet are the childrē to be admonished in sermons that they folow thaduise of their parēts how christ at his last supper did institute the sacramēt of his body blud first that the same might be receiued of the faithful as the holsom meat of the soul secondli that it might be offred vp in memorial of his death For ther be in al .ii. sacrifices of christ the one blody vpō the crosse thother wherin vnder the form of bread and wine he him self offred vp vnto his father his body blud after deliuered y◠same to his apostles successers to be don in the memorial of him vnto the worlds end by the first was mākind reconciled to god the father but through this same that is not blody Christ is represēted to his father not that we shuld agaī deserue that remissiō of sins but that we might apply vnto our selues y◠recōcilemēt prepared by the death of Christ and that in this sacrifice wherin we celebrate the death of Christ the morial of saints must be renued that they may make intercessiō for vs to god the father help vs by their merits we must also remēber the dead cōmend thē to almightye God After this is prescribed that the old ceremonies accustomably vsed in baptisme be stil obserued the xorsisme renouncing cōfession of the faith Chrisme Moreouer that in the ceremonies of the masse ther be nothing chaūged that in al towns great churches ther be saide daily .ii. Masses at the least in the country villages one especially on holy daies and that in the canō of the inasse nothing at all be altered and that al the rest be obserued after thold vsage yet if any thing be crept in that may geue occasiō to superstitiō let it be takē away Let vestments ornaments vessels crosses altars cādels images be kept stil as certein monumēts let not those ordinari praiers godly singing of Psalmes be abrogated wher they be takē away let thē be restored let the obits for the dead be kept after the maner of thold church also sainctes holy daies yea let thē be worshipped also vnto whō it is decreed that supplicatiō shuld be made The day before Easter Witsontide let the water in the fōtstone be hallowed after a solēne maner let riot be refrained to thintent to stir vp the mind to godly exercises certen daie◠let mē fast abstain frō flesh finally though it wer to be wished that ther be diuers many ministers of the church foūd that would liue chast yet for that many haue wiues euery wher whiche they will not forsake nether can this now be altred without a great tumult therfore must we tary herein for a decre of a generall counsel likewise are we cōtēted to bear with thē that receiue the Lords supper vnder both kindes yet so as they shal not reproue others that do the contrary For vnder ether kind the body bloud of Christ is conteined wholy After this sort was the boke setforth at the last as after you shal heare but not so pēned at the beginninge For it was oft corrected the copy that Bucer saw was somwhat purer Wherfore after it had ben tost lōg much among the states of thempire it was sēt also to Rome
permit euery man in generall that he maye chuse him a priest whom he list vnto whom he may confesse his sinnes rightly And geue to the same priest authority that he may forgeue al manner of sinnes be they neuer so greuous euen those whiche are reserued to my power alone and are wonte to be excepted by name that he may remit not only the trespasse but the paine also for sinnes due that he may impose such satisfaction as behoueth and may release all vowes except chastity and Religion so yet that they be recompensed by an other worke yea trusting vpon Gods mercye and the intercession of sainctes Peter and Paule I graunt full remission of all sinnes which is wont only to be geuen but euery fifty yeare to all those that with an humble hart do conuert to God and wholy confessing their sinnes whan they shall vnderstande this indulgence to be setforth by vs will twise or thrise a weke fast and geue Almose and vse other godly exercises and after receiue the Sacrament with thanckes geuing and praiers vnto God that he with the light of his countenance would illumine those that walke in darknesse that he would geue peace and moue the heartes of kinges to concord And this so great a benefite I graunt to them also which are hindred either by reason of age or sicknesse so that they can not performe the thinges before said And to the intent that these oure wrytinges may be euery where knowne I charge and commaund all Patriarches Archbishops and suche other like that so sone as they shall haue receiued a copy of the same by and by they cause it to be published euery man through out his Prouince and since the gift is fre that they set it forth without any gain In the last boke I shewed you how Blassenburge the head castell of Marques Albert wherin the hope of the whole country cōsisted by surrendry was taken And at this time least being recouered it mighte geue an occasion of further displeasure his aduersaries do subuert and rase it to the ground not without the greate displeasure of the house of Brandenburge and the Marques kinred Ferdinando king of Romaines both before he came frō home and than also when he was commen to Auspurge to the assemble by messagers and letters exhorted the Princes to make haste and come thither in parson as in the last boke hath ben said And chiefly he had sollicited the Prince elector of Saxony to come to Auspurge who had both excused him selfe before that he could not come namely for the state of Saxony not very quiet and now sending ambassadours thither excuseth the matter againe by occasion falling into the mention of the Turk sheweth in what pearill Germany standeth which in times past being mightye and feared of others is now almost destitute and void of strength hauing receiued so many displeasures and plagues And that this euill is so much the worse that there is amonge the states so greate an alienation of mindes and distrust amonges them selues And how the Emperour him self to remeadye this disease had omitted no kind of diligence but yet that al labour hitherto hath ben taken in vain For the minds of men to be so bitterly exasperated alwais so set open to displeasure that vnneth any hope of reconcilement is to be had how a few yeares past his brother Moris had ordained that certain Ceremonies and things indifferēt should be kept still in Churches of his dominion but that the same commaundement was of so little force that it was also taunted with the libels and bitter raylings of many In so much that it was not in his power to confirm it vnles he would bring him self in daunger And therfore are many afraid for attempted any thingin this behalf Now on thother side they that be on the contrary part and impugn the doctrin professed at Auspurge how little they thincke to establish any godly and lawfull reformation it is known wel inough by the doings of former time when the matter was attempted ether by talk and conference or els by counsels Consideringe therefore that after so much labour taken and counsels holden the waye of concorde can not be found God peranenture so willinge and reuenginge oure sinnes he besecheth him earnestlye that the same Booke that conteineth the some of the Christen doctrin and was in times past exhibited at Auspurge he would not take for an euill or wicked boke But know it for a certenty to be a pure and a godlye wrytinge which can shewe vnto vs the sonne of God authoure of saluation whiche in Doctrine dothe plainly agree with thauncient churche and with those foure chiefe Counsels whiche teacheth and fetteth forthe true Christen worckes and exhorteth the people to shew obedience to the Magistrate Wherefore in case a sure peace in that assemble maye be established there is no doubte but that the Emperoure and he maye haue greate aide in Germanye againste the Turke where as elsse they that are of the Protestauntes Religion and manye of theim in dede borne and broughte vp therein will perseuer constantlye in the same Religion For vnlesse such a peace may be had that may comprise bothe Religion and also the Churche goodes and if the matter as manye times it hathe bene shoulde be differred to an other assemble and delaied from daye to daye and the people be lefte in this doutfull state of thinges to be vncertaine howe pacientlye all menne woulde take it For though he and other Princes should be quiet and do their duety and shewe all obedience yet that it maye be that menne of the meaner and baser sort may raise some tumulte and maye pretende this vncertaintye of state and feare of pearill for Religion Especiallye in those places whiche geue oportunitye to attempte suche thinges Since therefore the case of the Empire is suche he earnestlye requireth him to prouide for the common tranquillity for so muche as he hathe full authoritye of the Emperoure to determine But of late yeares this condition was propounded of his brother Moris at Passawe that in case the controuersy of Religion mighte not be reconciled that yet neuerthelesse an assured peace might be had til the thing might be throughli appeased and although the Emperor would not than admit the same condition for that he saide it apperteined to all thestates of the Empire yet in as muche as at the same time he reproued it not and with expresse woordes added to the Composition that he woulde see that in the Counsell the matter shoulde bee handeled indifferentlye neyther that there shoulde be anye crafte vsed in the voices concerning Religiō he trusteth for the same cause that he will moue in this behalfe not only those whiche were that tyme at Passawe but other states also so sone as the counsel be ginneth and perswade them to peace When thambassadours had spoken to this effect the fourth daye of February the nexte daye after king Ferdinando propoundeth
bringeth I haue doubtles with my brother that Emperour bene now these many yeares wholy occupied that they might come to a composition And therfore hath the matter bene attēpted in many counsels of the Empyre certein conferences of learned men and through our mediation hath bene begon once or twyse the counsell of Trent But where as the treatie came to no good effect that can not doubtles be imputed to vs neither is it vnknowen by what diuises and craftes the matter was than hindered Now where you require that the pure doctrine and the benefite of the peace newly made for Religion may be graūted you Like as heretofore I haue kept backe no man frō the true Religion so will I not also do it hereafter Again you are as well comprised in the same peace as are the people of other Princes For this is the meaning of the same decree that the people shall followe the Religion of their Prince And it is permitted to temporall Princes to chose whether Religiō they will for that the people ought to be content with the choise of the Prince but yet so for al that that such as shal not like that Religion whiche the Prince hath chosen may haue fre libertie to sell that they haue and go dwell in an other place without any hinderaunce or blemishe to their estimation whiche seing it is so your dutie is to perseuer in the olde and catholique Religion which I professe That the Gospel should not be purely taught after the exposition of the Apostels Martyrs fathers whiche the churche hath receiued I was neuer against The Lordes supper although it were instituted whole yet was it in the olde churche also distributed vnder one kynde as it may be declared at large Therfore it was not altered first in the time of the counsell of Constaūce but that custome had lasted many ages before Wherfore you may easely thinke how it is not lawful for me by my priuate authoritie to chaunge or abolish that lawe receiued and approued by generall counselles especially at this tyme when both now lately peace is geuen to Religiō and in the next assemblee we must treate further for a reconcilement In the which treatie doubtles I wil seke to the vttermoste of my power that dissention may be vtterly takē away But if that can not be done thā wil I take such away as may profit both your wealth and your soules health also And to the intent you may vnderstand my good wil clemencie towardes you I wil in dede staye restreine that part of my proclamatiō that cōcerneth the Lordes supper but yet vnder this conditiō that all sectes forsaken you do alter nothing of the lawes ceremonies of the churche but tary for the decree of the assemble of the Empire next cōming The ministers of the churche and scholem aisters so that they followe this order also shal not be molested as also before this time I suffered no man against right to be iniuried Seing therfore I beare you this good wil my truste is that you will desire nothing furthermore and for as muche as the publique necessitie vrgeth it shall become you to consult for the common wealth and to geue that behoueth Wherunto they make aunswer the .xii. daye of February And where in the cause of all other moste weightie whiche conteineth perpetuall felicitie and especially apperteineth to the saluation of him and his children they can obteyne nothing thei she we how they are moste hartely sory And where as say they moste mightie kyng you say that this wonted distributing of the Lordes supper was in oulde tyme receiued in the churche that same may be aboundantly cōfuted by holy scripture and also their errour detected that haue perswaded your highnes herein But where you say the meaning of the late decree made at Auspurg to be that the people should applie them selues to the Religion of their Prince Uerely for as much as a fewe yeares paste and longe before this decree we haue with common consent exhibited to your highnes supplications concerninge Religion it were lawfull for vs also in case we would dwel in the same aunswer to sell our goods and flitte with our wyues and children to some other place But what discōmoditie were herein agayne how heuie and sorowfull newes this would be to the people who seeth not When verely they shal heare that they whiche after the custome of their elders haue bene euer more ready to spende their bloud and lyfe for the preseruation and dignitie of the house of Austriche must nowe forsake their moste swete natiue countrie so many yeares inhabited and inriched by their fore fathers Therfore we admit not nor ratifie the same aunswer in this behalf but as we haue done oft heretofore for the honour of God we beseche you that you woulde permitte vs to haue that incōparable treasure of Gods worde and suffer vs to haue no let in this matter For if the condition of the cause were suche that the whole blame should be to you ascribed doubtles we could be cōtent lyke as in other thinges so in this case also to obey you willingly But since that euery man must render an accompt of his owne dedes since there is no difference of persones with God and for bycause the ende of this lyfe is euery moment at hande neither is there any thing more vncerten than life we can not but with earnest suite and labour requyre this thinge of you Wherfore we beseche you that we may haue sufficient warrauntise herein Hereunto the kyng the fourth daye after I suppose sayeth he there was no iust cause wherfore you should not be satisfied with the fourmer answer I permit that as the Apostels haue set it forth as the martirs and fathers approued of the churche haue taught and expounded the scripture it be nowe taught also I pray you what more require you herein For since God hath promysed to his churche the holy ghoste saluation is not to be sought els where You saye you are defiled with no secte of the whiche sorte be many now adayes as anabaptistes Sacramentaries Zwinglians Schnemfeldians and such other lyke This in dede is very well But if the doctrine be set at libertie and be not included within certen limites as before is sayde howe long suppose you that it wil continue pure When euery man for hym selfe wyll bragge of Goddes woorde and saye it is subiect to no creature but to God alone nor will admitte the iudgement of no man as we see it happen in many places where all is ful of trouble whylest euery mā doeth stifly mainteine his owne opinion the authoritie of the churche vtterly contemned And for as much as in your fourmer wryting you recite the laste decree of the Empire somewhat otherwyse than apperteineth therfore haue I declared how it is to be taken not that I would haue you to go dwell els where Againe to take frō you all
may leuye there alwaies force and power at hys pleasure and maye assemble greate armyes in Germany where others maye not doe the lyke how muche is thys to be estemed Our aduersaryes are more clamorous than we yet wyll they not follow good coūsell For we bothe allowed the decree of Spierand the articles accorded fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge we desired to haue enrolled for matter of recorde and admitted also al reasonable condicions of the laste conference contrary wyse they did none of al these neyther wolde they be brought to any cōformitie but with open protestation at Wormes refused the communication Now can not I go to Regenspurge the charge will be so greate There is also a matter in controuersye betwene the Electour of Saxonye Duke Moris which because theyr counsellours can not determyne it is put to my arbitrement Neuerthelesse I wyll sende Ambassadours to the assemblye with large commission Thus departing a fewe houres after commeth Nauius agayne to the Lantzgraue he telleth him how this daies talke hath pleased Themperour and solliciteth him again to come hymselfe to Regenspurge also he enquireth of hym whether he wolde talke agayne with Themperoure the same daye in the euenyng he refuseth not and whan he came Themperoure geueth hym thankes by Nauius fyrste that he came thyther secondely for that he seeth that the Paulsegraue and he are bothe desyrous of a concorde Howebeit he supposeth the Collocutours wil retourne againe to Regenspurge yf they doe not he wyll sende for them agayne but in the meane tyme he requireth him that he wolde come hym selfe to the assemblie though not at the begynnyng yet towardes the later ende He hym selfe hath verely all other affaires layde a parte taryed these three yeres in Germany to th entent he myght quyet the same Wherunto the Lantzgraue aunswered that of the departure of the Colloquitours he hearde not before thys daye he hath also recyted the causes wherfore he thinketh it was done But yf it be his desyre and that his fellowes be content that the same Diuines of the contrary parte doe retourne agayne hys also shall not tary from thence But for him selfe he may not goo thyther for that he hath ben at great charges in the warre of Brunswicke and hath lately maryed a daughter and is chosen vmpere betwene the Dukes of Saxon and for that he can not goe thyther with out a great company and because that through hys absence hys countrey might be in daunger by the confederates of the Duke of Brunswicke his prisoner Than sayeth Thēperour that hys intent is not to burthen hym with vnnecessarye charges but he desireth hym ernestlye to come for that he supposeth howe hys presence wolde further the whole consultation and that the Saxons and others myght be so in couraged And there is no cause that he shoulde be any thing affraide of Duke Heuries fellowes For neyther is their power so greate and thoughe they shoulde attempte any thynge yet wolde he let it and not suffer that any man shal disturbe the publycke quyetnes The Lantzgraue agayne recytyng the causes saieth he can promise nothyng neuerthelesse he wyll sende Ambassadours whiche shall trauell for peace whych yf they can not in all thynges obeye and gratifye hym he desyreth hym not to take it displeasauntelye neyther thynke it to be don of any obstinacie or mallice but for feare of godes displeasure For thys lyfe tyme is verey shorte and vncerten therefore must they thinke of an euerlastingnes Themperour againe speaking of hys owne paines taken sayeth the matter of Saxon maye be differred therfore let hym come and set all lettes a parte for he hym selfe beyng present myght bothe counsell and cause hys league frendes to shewe themselues tractable and be a meane that the beginning of the treaty maye be reasonable After this the Lantzgraue complayninge of dyuers that had ayded the Duke of Brunswicke maketh a briefe rehersall of the whole matter and howe he was taken and sayeth how Duke Morys he doe susteyne by them great iniurye For they are light persons and borne to styre vp trouble amonges whom Friderick Spedius tolde him yesterdaye that yf he wolde heare hym he wold open certen secret and priuie deuises that are nowe a working but in asmuche as he trusted not to the man he refused to talke with hym and wylled hym to sygnyfye vnto hym by wryting such thinges as he wold haue tolde hym presētly Whan the Lantzgraue had this declared Thēperour was maruelous angrie with Spedius wherfore after thys communication had amonges them the Lantzgraue takyng hys leaue of Themperoure was bad farewel ryght frendely And went from thence to Hedelberge and after home And Themperoure went streyght to Regenspurge And the selfe same time that is to saye at the kalendes of Aprill the Ambassadours of the Protestantes assemble at wormes to consult of the whole matter But because Themperoure sent awaye the Lantzgraue so gently they receiuing letters from hym of the same who in the meane tyme had reported the matter to the Duke of Saxon the .xxiii. daye of Aprill depart that they myght consulte of the same matters at Regenspurge whyther they must go to the imperiall assemblie In thys conuention they of Rauēspurge entred into league with the Protestantes The eight daye of Aprill was the thirde sytting of the fathers in the Counsell at Trent There are recited the bokes of the olde and new Testament and are cōmaunded to be taken for sacred and holy no parte nor iote of them omitted And the olde and common translation of the Bibell is only commaunded to be vsed in churches and Scooles It is also decreed that no man interpret the holy scripture after his owne sēce vnderstanding but that al mē follow herin the cōsent of the church and of the aunciente fathers Moreouer Printers are commaunded that they prynte or set foorth nothing but by consent of their ordinary Bysshop Furthermore it is forbidden the any man shal vse the termes or testimonyes of scripture to triflyng thynges or vayne fables about superstition inchauntmente or witchecrafte or also in ralyng slaunderous libelles and a daye was appointed for the next syttyng at the seuententhe daye of June Themperours Ambassadour there at the same tyme was Fraunces Toletane and when he had spoken much in Themperours prayse and had declared moreouer howe ioyefull that daye was to Themperoure wherin the bishop of Rome cōmenced the counsel he sheweth that he is ioyned in commission with Didaco Mendoza who hauing caught an ague is retourned to Uenise to his olde Ambassade and promysing hys seruice he sayeth we must praye to God that he wold long continew this consent of myndes in the Bisshop and Themperoure that is so godlye and holsome for the publycke weale to the intent that vices refourmed and euill weedes plucked vp by the rootes the Lordes felde maye receiue the auncient tillage In the eleuenth daye of Aprill the Bisshop