Scriptures and Doctrine of the Fathers without prejudice or affection and that they themselves should be heard to the full Then other Decrees are read over as it is customary especially that concerning Religion and all are strictly charged to obey it as was before declared May the Fifteenth We named before the three Authors of the Book called the Interim One of them John Islebius had liberal Rewards both from the Emperour and King Ferdinand for his pains but Michael Sidonius got afterward the Bishoprick of Mensburg in Saxony this gave occasion to some to joke upon them and say that they only maintained amongst other things the Popish Chrisme and Oyl to be used as sacred and necessary to Salvation that they themselves might come off the better greased Not long after the Emperour sent his Letters to the Princes that were absent especially to those who seemed most to stand in need of it commanding them forthwith to obey that Decree And July the Tenth he wrote to Erasmus Bishop of Strasburg to use endeavours that that which with so much labour and pains he had brought about should be put into execution and that if he wanted fit Men he should provide himself somewhere else The Report of this Decree was soon spread abroad far and near And the Venetians July the Nineteenth publish a Proclamation charging all who had Books containing any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith to bring them in within eight days to some certain Men appointed for that afterwards inquisition would be made and such as deserved be punished promising Reward and Secresie to Informers The Pope hath a Legat or Nuncio always there as in the Courts of Princes also these see and hear with the Eyes and Ears of many and are often the Causes why Decrees of that nature are made But the Senate of Venice useth this Circumspection that they suffer not the Romish Bishops and Inquisitors to be sole Judges but always joyn with them the Governours of Places and Lawyers to Examine the Evidences and take care that no Sentence pass against any Man within their Jurisdiction out of malice or for love of gain They made this Law in the year 1521. when in the Country of Brescia the Inquisitors tyrannised cruelly over poor Wretches as if they had been Sorcerers and in Compact with the Devil And now when the Doctrine of Luther had taken deep rooting and was spread far and near that Law was in force still whatever the Papist muttered who would have it abrogated Much about this time the King of France sent Auxiliary Forces into Scotland against the English and amongst these some Germans under the Conduct of the Rhinegrave But the Emperour Proscribes Hubert Count Bichling and Sebastian Scherteline in one and the same Proclamation and not long after the Rhinegrave Count Heideck Pecrod and Pifeberg beseeching all Foreign Princes not to entertain nor protect them but to gratifie him in that particular and assuring them that they might expect the like from him when occasion offered The Duke of Vendosme a Prince of the Royal Blood of France Married the Lady Jane Daughter to the King of Navarre who seven years before had been betrothed and given to the Duke of Cleve as has been said Eleanor the Emperours Sister Queen Dowager of France leaves France and goes to live in the Netherlands The Duke of Aumale Son to the Duke of Guise after he had long courted the Duchess of Lorrain the Emperours Sisters Daughter Married the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Ferrara About that time Louis d' Avila a Spaniard wrote the History of the Emperours Wars in Germany in the vulgar Language which was afterwards Translated into Italian Latin and French where he speaketh of the taking of Marquess Albert he saith That he minded his pleasures so much with Women that he neglected his Duty and misbehaved himself at Nochlitz Though the Emperour had given most strict charge that no Man should in any manner impugne the Book that was published about Religion nevertheless several Pieces came abroad that confuted all the Doctrine contained in it and admonished Man to beware of it as a most dangerous Plague Amongst these was Caspar Eagle Minister of the Church of Salfield in Thuringe The occasion of Writing was given by Islebius who was upon his way home from Ausburg and bragg'd mightily of that Book saying That a Golden Age was now at hand and that Eagle had also assented to it When this came to his Ears he wrote a most bitter Answer giving him the Lye and affirming the Book to be stuffed with false Doctrines In France also Robert Bishop of Auranches wrote against it but upon a different account and rejected the same chiefly because it allowed Marriage to Priests and the Sacrament in both Kinds to the Laity where taking occasion by the way he bitterly inveighs against Bucer for Marrying a second Wife Romey also General of the Order of St. Dominick wrote against it for the same Reasons at Rome So that the little Book was found fault with by both sides The Emperour had sent an Ambassadour to the City and State of Norimberg to persuade them to submit to the Decree that was made On his way thither he solicited the Sons of the Duke of Saxony to the same purpose but they all resolutely refused Upon his return he gave the Emperour a full account of his Negotiation Wherefore the Emperour makes his application again to the Captive Prince complaining of his Sons that not only they rejected the Decree lately made but also suffered the Ministers to rail against it in their Pulpits and Writings wherefore he desires him to use his Authority with them that they would give him satisfaction as to both these Points To this he makes Answer That he had lately satisfied Granvell and the Bishop of Arras why he himself did not approve the Doctrine of the published Book which being so he would not persuade his Sons to do that which he could not with a good Conscience do himself that he earnestly besought him to take it in good part and to favour both him and his Sons with his protection This constancy of his and singular fortitude of Mind in bearing Adverse Fortune purchased him the Love and Esteem of all Men. As the States of Bremen and Magdenberg were the only People in Saxony who were not reconciled to the Emperour so were also those of Constance that border upon the Switzers the only in Upper Germany but at length having obtained a safe Conduct they send Deputies to Ausburg to Negotiate a Peace The Emperour proposed very hard Conditions to them and amongst these that they should receive the Publick Book and conform their Religion unto it The Deputies desire some mitigation of the Conditions but that was in vain and they are commanded to bring their Answer by a day prefixt The Senate being made
a great Persecution there The Death of Pope Paul IV. The Deaths of several other Princes Pius IV Elected Scotch Affairs The English Affairs relating to Scotland and France The Scotch Complaints against the French. The War against the French in Scotland The Death and Character of Mary Queen Regent of Scotland The French Expelled thence A Conspiracy in France The King of Navar Conde Coligni suspected to be in it An Assembly of the Princes of France A Decree passed for an Assembly of the three Estates The Protestants of France encrease Francis II dies A General Council desired and obtain'd by the Duke of Florence Gustavus King of Sweden dies The Estates of France open'd The Persecution of Piedmont which occasioneth a War. THE First day of January Frederick I King of Denmark who was Elected by the Dyâ—â— of that Kingdom in the Year 1523 instead of Christian II deposed by his Subjects for his Cruelty died at Koldingen a Town in the Dukedom of Sleswick when he had lived Fifty six Years Three Months and Twenty Days and reigned Thirty four Years He was a Prince of great Moderation and Justice he overthrew the united Army of Christopher Duke of Oldenburg and of the City of Lubeck who had invaded his Inheritance near Alsens a City of Fionia with a great slaughter of their Forces Having by this Victory obtain'd a Peace he caused the holy Scriptures to be translated into the Danish Tongue and open'd an University and a Library at Coppenhagen Not long before his Death he visited his deposed Uncle who was then in Prison and having discours'd very friendly with him a great while they mutually forgave each other By his Queen Dorothy Daughter of Magnus Duke of Saxony he had five Children Frederick II who succeeded him in his Kingdom Magnus Bishop of Vpsal in Livonia Joane Ann married to Augustus Elector of Saxonâ— and Dorothy married to Henry Duke of Lunenburg The Twenty third of the same Month Christian his Predecessor in that Kingdom followed him being in the Seventy seventh year of his Age he had lived in Prison ever since the Year 1532 having given saith my Author Tuanus this Lesson to all Princes That if they will Reign well and happily they must govern their Affections and not out of a violent lust of insulting over their Subjects give up themselves to the conduct of their Passions and that they ought to assure themselves that God is a severe Revenger always ready and delighting to pluck off their Thrones the most Proud and Insolent who shall abuse that Power he has intrusted them with Frederick I being dead who was a Prince utterly averse from war and neither moved by Ambition nor Covetousness to invade what was anothers his Son Frederick began a War upon the Inhabitant of Dietmarsh who had heretofore been subject to the Dukes of Holstein the Bishop of Breme and the Kings of Denmark successively and had often regain'd their Liberty with great Loss and Dishonour to those Princes that had attempted to reduce this small Province but now their time was come and Adolph Duke of Holstein this year made a final Conquest of them for Frederick King of Denmark in the space of one Month. In the beginning of this Year was a great change of Affairs at Rome The Kindred of the Pope had already made themselves hated by all Christendom and now the Pope himself too fell out with them They had engaged the Pope in the War with Spain which had brought so much Loss and Shame upon that See and its Dominions In the time of those Confusions they had acted many things with great Rapacity Intemperance and Insolence without the Pope's knowledge who finding his Treasure exhausted had by their Advice raised great and extraordinary Taxes upon his People and besides all this had sold the Places of the Criminal and Civil Judges suppressed the monthly Payments of his Officers and seized many of the Lands belonging to the Religious Orders and had levied two Tenths upon all the Benefices The War with King Philip being ended and the Pope having with a calm and dispassionate mind heard the Complaints made against his Relations by one Jermiah a Fryer of the Theatin Order and especially against the Cardinal of Caraffa began more nearly to inspect his own Affairs and the Lives of his Relations About the same time Cosmus Duke of Florence made great Complaint also of the Caraffa's because not content with the extorting what they pleas'd from the Hospitals Monasteries and Clergy within the Pope's Dominions which they lookt upon as their own they had also by their private Authority done the same Wrongs in the Dukedom of Florence and indeed all over Italy He thereupon order'd Bongianni Gianfigliacci his Resident at Rome to complain of this to the Pope but then the Caraffa's had prevented him from having any Audience whereupon Cosmus wrote a Letter to the Pope which was by the means of Cardinal Vitelli an Hater of their Insolence deliver'd to the Pope He having read it sent presently for his old Monitor Jermiah and by him ordered Vitelli to give him a more exact account of their Misdemeanors There was nothing more incensed the Pope against them who was Imperious and Jealous of his Papal Power to the utmost degree than that the Cardinal had agreed without his knowledge or consent with the Duke de Alva that his Brother should accept of a Compensation from King Philip instead of Paliani which Place the Pope had designed to unite to his See. Whereupon he presently commanded the Cardinal to leave the Vatican and not to come any more into his Presence The Twenty seventh of January the Pope summon'd great Consistory and in it discharged him of the Prime Ministry of Affairs and of the Government of Bononia He took also from the Duke of Paliani his Brother the Command of the Forces of the Ecclesiastick State and of the Gallies and deprived the Marquess di Monte Belli of the Custody of the Vatican Palace declaring against them with that fury that some of the Cardinals attempted to appease him and among them Ranutio Cardinal of Farnese To whom he replied That your Grandfather had done much better if like me he had sacrificed his private Affections to his Pastoral Office and having severely chastised your Father's abominable Lusts and Villanies had thereby prevented the scandal the Impunity of them hath given to the whole World. So that nothing that could be said or done could reduce the old Man from his Resolves against them but tended rather to the encreasing of his Fury And hereupon he forthwith abolish'd some Imposts pretending they were exacted without his knowledge By all which he hoped to obtain the repute of a Just and Upright Prince and to cast the Odium of the ill things which had been done in his Popedom upon his Relations After this he betook himself wholly to the promoting the Inquisition which he call'd the most
knew nothing of Navar but heard that Conde should have been their Captain Whence the Duke of Guise concluded That Coligni and Andelot were cetainly in it though Queen Catherine was of a contrary Opinion but however Conde who was then in the Castle with the King was commanded not to depart without leave which he wisely dissembled Some few were Tried for this Conspiracy but many more were Hang'd up by Night and many Merchants were Slain as they travelled about their business for their Mony but under Pretence they were in the Conspiracy so that there was nothing but Slaughter and Murthers to be seen About the same time Oliver the Chancellor of France died not so much of Old-age or Sickness as Discontent at the Cruelcy and Iniquity of the Times his Death was foretold by some of the Conspirators who reproached him for his unworthy Complyances And when the Cardinal of Lorain visited him in his last Sickness he express'd his Resentments against him and died weeping and sighin for what he had done Michel de l' Hospital a great and a good Man succeeded him by the procurement of Queen Catherine Though this Conspiracy was principally design'd against the Guises yet they desired the World should believe these Men had first made a Defection from God by Heresie and then had conspird against the King Queen Catherine and the King's Brothers The Thirty first of March the King wrote to all the Governors of the several Provinces to take great care that the Reliques of this Conspiracy did not imbroil their Provinces after which there was the like Account sent to the Elector Palatine and the rest of the Protestant Princes of Germany The Princes of Germany thereupon among other things desired the King to consider whether he had not yielded more than was fit to some about him meaning the Guises who out of an inbred Malice and Cruelty exercised great Cruelties on Men that were never convicted of any Crime There they beseech his Majesty that he would put a stop to the Sufferings of these Innocents and seeing they imbrace the same Religion with us we cannot but desire an end may be put to those cruel and hasty Executions This Germany has found say they to be the only Remedy and France has no other left to restore its Peace than by granting a Peace to the Minds and Consciences of Men. Coligni the Admiral leaving the Court Queen Catherine ordered him to go into Normandy and to enquire diligently into the Causes of the late Conspiracy He laid the blame of it on the boundless Ambition of the Guises and advised the Queen to observe inviolably the late Edict for Liberty of Conscience and to put a stop to the Persecution of the Innocent as she valued the safety of the King and the quiet of the Kingdom Some of the Captives who had escaped out of the Prisons at Blois wrote Letters to the Cardinal of Lorain telling him they knew the Escape of the Conspirators was very afflictive to his Eminence That therefore they were gone to seek them and hoped in a short time to return better attended This rallery was a great Mortification to that fearful Minister who feared new Commotions and persuaded the King to put out a General Pardon for all Roman Catholicks In May the King put out another Edict which was call'd the Edict of Romoraulin by which he took the Cognizance of Heresie from the Civil Magistrates and gave it solely to the Bishops which about five years before had been so vigorously opposed by the Parliament of Paris De l' Hospital the Chancellor is said to have consented to it only to prevent the violent Guises from introducing the Spanish Inquisition which they had recommended to Henry II and were now promoting with all their might in France From henceforward the Cardinal of Lorain became more placable to those of the Religion and to stop the Mouths of those who desired an Assembly of the three Estates persuaded Queen Catherine to call an Assembly of the Princes at Fountain-bleau to consult of the Publick Affairs About this time Conde left the Court and by a Letter gave his Brother the King of Navar an Account of the Ill-will the Guises bore towards him and that a Debate had been held in the King's Cabinet-Council for the taking him into Custody That therefore he had been forced to betake himself to him into Bearne This Letter was soon after discovered to the Guises who had entertained Spies in the Family of Conde who presently wrote a Letter to Conde full of sugared Expressions of Kindness and Affection which Conde presently sent to his Brother who very much approved his Resolution but advised him to return to Court and clear his Innocence which Conde did not think safe Perrenot the Brother of Cardinal Granvell in an Audience he had of Queen Catherine told her there was no way to restore the Peace of France but by Banishing the Guises some time from Court and Recalling the Princes of the Blood and Montmorancy to their former Stations The Twenty first of August the Assembly of the Princes and Notable Men of France was Opened at Founain-bleau The Chancellor in his Speech among other things complained That the Hearts of the People of France were incensed against the King and his Principal Ministers but the Cause of it was not known and therefore it was so difficult to find out and apply a fitted Remedy For That the greatest part of the Men of this Kingdom being weary of what is present fearful of what is to come divided by different Religions and desirous of Change are willing to imbroil the Kingdom And therefore their principal Business was to find out the cause of this Disease and apply a fitting Remedy to this Sickly Body Coligni the Admiral who was present the next day presented a Petition to the King which had been given him whilst he was in Normandy by a vast number of his Subjects desiring that the Severity of the Laws against them might be mitigated till their Cause had been duly considered and determined That they might have Publick Places assigned them for the Exercise of their Religion lest their Private Meetings should be suspected by the Government And they invoked God to bear Witness That they had never entertained any disloyal Thought against his Majesty nor would do so But on the contrary they offered up to God most devout Prayers for the Preservation and Peace of his Kingdom The Bishop of Valence a Learned Grave and Experienced Person confirmed this Opinion shewing the great Corruptions in the Church had given Birth and promoted these Divisions in the Minds of Men which were rather exasperated than extirpated by harsh means and bloody Persecutions Then he shewed the great Use of General Councils for the composing the Differences in the Church And therefore he said He wondred how the Pope could quiet his Conscience one Hour whilst he saw so
marching to Villar where they intended to do the like they met the Soldiers who had heard what was done going to Plunder Bobbi stopped them and with their Slings so pelted them that they were glad to shift for their lives and left these Reformers to do the same thing at Villar The Captain of Turin attempting to stop this Rage was beaten and the Dukes Officers were glad to seek to their Pastors for a Pasport After this they beat the Captain of Turin in a second Fight By this time the whole Army drew into the Field and the Inhabitants of these Valleys not being able to resist them they burnt all their Towns and Houses and destroyed all the People they took In these Broils Monteil one of the Duke of Savoy's Chief Officers was slain by a Lad of eighteen years of age and Truchet another of them by a Dwarf The Duke of Savoy had sent seven thousand Soldiers to destroy this handful of Men and yet such was their Rage and Desperation and the Advantage of their Country that they beat his Soldiers wheresoever they met them And in all these Fights their Enemies observed that they had slain only fourteen of the Inhabitants and thence concluded that God fought for them So the Savoyards began to treat of a Peace which at last was concluded to the Advantage of these poor despicable People The Duke remitting the eight thousand Crowns they were to pay by the former Treaty and suffering them to enjoy the Liberty of their Religion So that he got nothing by this War but loss and shame the ruin of his People on both sides and the desolating of his Country A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION BOOK III. The CONTENTS A Persecution in the Low-Countries The French Affairs Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants but ordereth Montmorency to oppose them She suspects the designs of the Nobility The differences of Religion occasion Tumults in France Various Edicts made The Cardinal of Lorrain procures the Conference of Poissi Mary Queen of the Scots leaves France The three Estates of France Assemble at Pont-Oyse The Conference of Poissi The Rudeness of Laines General of the Jesuits This Conference disliked abroad The Council of Trent recalled Opposed by Vergerius The Popes Legates sent to Princes to invite them to the Council A Diet of the Protestant Princes at Naumburg The Queen of England rejects the Council The Ruin of the Caraffa's The King of Navarre drawn over to the Romish Party by the Arts of the King of Spain Scotch Affairs The Protestant Religion setled there by a Parliament Queen Mary Arrives there Her beginning favourable to the Protestants Great kindness at first in shew between her and Queen Elizabeth The French Affairs The Edict of January 1562. Injunctions published by the Queen concerning Images The King of Navarre pretends to promote the Reformation The Edict of January opposed by the Guises The Massacre of Vassi The Duke of Guise entereth Paris All things in France tend to Civil War. The Queen joyns with the Roman Catholick Party out of fear Orleans surprized by the Prince of Conde The Massacre of Senlis Roan taken by the Protestants Several Treaties for a Peace The Siege of Roan The King of Navarre shot His Death and Character The Prince of Conde leaves Orleans Besieges Corbeil The two Armies come in view He marches towards Normandy The Battel of Dreux in which Montmorency is taken St. Andre slain and the Prince of Conde taken Coligni and the Duke of Guise become Generals The Pope fondly rejoyces at this Battel The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise Assassinated His Death and Character The Queen desires and at last makes a Peace which is disliked by Coligni THIS Year there began a sharp Persecution against all that were suspected to favour the Reformation in the Netherlands and for the greater terror they burnt the Houses of all those they Convicted for holding private Meetings Perrenot Bishop of Arras and Cardinal Granvel hoping by this means to prevent the spreading of a Religion in that Country which had made such progresses in Germany and France They that imbraced this Religion were no less scandalized by the multiplying the Bishopricks and thereupon drew up a Confession of their Faith to be exhibited to King Philip beseeching him in the end of it that he would put a stop to the bloody Executions which destroyed so many of his innocent People This Confession was the same in substance with that published by the French Protestants and amongst other things they took particular care to insert That the Civil Magistrate was the Ordinance of God and therefore was to be obeyed Their Tributes to he duly paid and all manner of Respect and Reverence to be shewed to them and that Prayers were to be made to God for their preservation In the month of February the new King of France left Orleans and went to Fontainbleau where the Prince of Conde waited upon him and being introduced into the Privy Council asked the Chancellor if there were any Accusation depending against him and was told by him and the whole Council they were intirely satisfied of his innocence and leave was given him to demand an Acquital in the Parliament of Paris And a Decree was made to that purpose and Published by the Order of the Council March 13. after which he went to Paris to prosecute his Discharge before that Court. In the mean time Queen Catharine the Regent of France seemed very much â—o favour the Protestant Party and by her Arts and Dissimulation so far prevailed upon the spirit of the King of Navarre who was their Head that he told the Danish Ambassador he did not doubt but he should see the Reformed Religion settled in France within one year The Queen on the other side told Montmorency That she connived at them for the present that she might the more easily elude the designs of the King of Navarre by seeming to comply with him But then she said he and the other great Men of that Kingdom ought to oppose them and to complain that the Religion of their Ancestors was every where violated and despised She designed by this First To divide the great Men in the Point of Religion Secondly To weaken the Interest of the King of Navarre And thirdly To preserve the Romish Religion in France But Montmorency who was her Instrument designed only the last yet he was very active in it The Queen in the interim carried her dissimulation so far that she ordered Jean de Monluc Bishop of Valence who was a great favourer of the Reformation and no Enemy to the Protestants Doctrine to Preach frequently at Court and She and the King were sometimes present at his Sermons He would sometimes speak very freely against the Corruptions that were in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church and obliquely tax the Papal Authority The favour the Queen shewed to this Bishop made Montmorency suspect that in
Poissi But that this Affair had not succeeded according to his wish and that even in the Dispute about Images which seemed to have less of Difficulty they had yet not been able to agree But that whatever Men pretended he would by the help of God endeavour that the Confession of Faith which could not be destroyed without the Ruin of the Peace of the Nation should insensibly be established as far as the Infancy of the King and the present State of Things would permit He wrote also to the same purpose to the Duke of Wirtemberg and to Philip Landtgrave of Hesse The Elector Palatine wrote an Answer dated the 20th of April from Heidelburg wherein he said he was sorry to see the Affections of the Protestants cool in this Affair and therefore he exhorted him to go on in this commendable Design of Reforming Religion When the Edict of January came to be published the Guises and Montmorancy who were now reconciled and were absent at the time of making it employed all their Industry to prevent its having its effect alledging it was not made as it ought and would prove destructive to the Kingdome of France and having brought over Navar to their Party tho' they foresaw they should meet with great and almost insuperable Difficulties yet they thought they should at last gain their Ends. The Duke of Guise went therefore to his Country House and his Brother Charles the Cardinal soon after followed him thither So they both went to Zaberen a Town belonging to the Bishop of Strasburg where Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg met him on pretence he came to visit a Lady that was his Kinswoman bringing with him John Brent and James Andrea two eager defenders of the Augustane Confession against the Zuinglians whose Doctrine was generally followed by the Protestants in France here they conferred together three days The Cardinal of Lorrain pretended to have a great affection for the Duke of Wirtemberg and the rest of the German Princes he said also That since the Conference of Poissi he had a good opinion of the Augustane Confession and that he had often persuaded the Protestants to subscribe it and they had ever refused it because they did not so much desire the Reformation of Religion and of the Church Discipline as the spreading lewd and monstrous Opinions which tended to the filling France and Germany with new Tumults That the King of Denmark wisely foresaw this who congratulating by his Ambassador the attempt to reform the Church expressed at the same times his fear that they should embrace the Zuinglian and Geneva Confession instead of the Augustane and thereupon carefully advised the King of Navar to consider this That the Duke of Wirtemberg and the other Princes of Germany ought to fear the same thing if they desired the Peace of Germany or that of the Church For that as Germany and France were near each other so their Interests were so interwoven that the Good or Evil would be common to them That as they were derived from one of the Illustrious Families of Germany and enjoyed one of the principal Stations in France so they had left that Kingdom to confer with him the Duke of Wirtemburg and to settle by mutual Consent what might be useful and salutary to both these States and that they might conjointly oppose the Endeavours of the Zuinglians and their Doctrine They pretended they did not do this with intention to hinder the Reformation of Religion and the Worship of God For that they desired above all things but that they sought to prevent that Tempest which these Sectaries were raising both in France and Germany And therefore they desired the Duke to interpose his Authority with the Princes of Germany and to induce them to have a good Opinion of their Designs The Duke of Wirtemburg having consulted with Brent and Andrea his two Divines who were very desirous the Helvetian Confession should not be entertained in France commended the Cardinals affections towards himself and the Empire and said he approved of his Counsel for the hindering the Reception of that Confession in France which without doubt would cause great Commotions But then he said this was upon condition that the Reformation should be carried on in France in the mean time and that no Severities or Proscriptions should be employed against those who had made defection from the See of Rome The Cardinal was thought to have said this to the intent to dispose the German Protestant Princes to send Supplies against the French Protestants when it should come to a War or at least to make them less apt to succour the Prince of Condé and the Protestants Thus that Conference ended The Duke of Guise and the Cardinal returned to Joinville in Champaigne where soon after he received a Letter from the King of Navar that he should come to Court as fast as was possible whither he forthwith went. In the Borders of Champaigne there is a Town called Vassy which has high Walls and is the Capital of a Presecture The Protestants had a Meeting-place in this Town able to contain twelve Hundred persons in which at times they preached and administred Sacraments after their way because they had as yet no setled Minister but procured one from Troyes The Bishop of which place was a favourer of them But now there was one Leonard Morel come from Geneva to settle there which was ill taken by Claude de Sainctes the Governour of the Town and by the Prior Curate and Neighbours who had frequently complained of it to Jerome de Burgos Bishop of Chaalon sur Marne in Champaigne under whom the place was The year before the Bishop came thither and had a disorderly Dispute with the Minister about imposition of Hands managed by one of his Divines which he brought with him before the People Governour and Bishop which had no good effect Antonia de Bourbon the Mother of the Guises a zealous Roman Catholick was also much offended with the nearness of this place and desired very much to be rid of it and she reproached her Son for his over-great patience in a thing wherein the Glory of God her own Honour and the Religion of his Ancestors was concerned Hereupon the first of March he went to Vassy with Lewis the Cardinal his Brother Du Brossay and his Son and a great Retinue designing rather to suppress and dissipate this Conventicle by his Presence than to offer Violence to any private person As he went he heard a Bell ring at an unusual time and asking the reason of it was told It was to call the Protestants to their Meeting Hereupon his Foot-men began to make a Noise as if there had been a Military Enterprize but the Duke went on and entred Vassy where there were 60 Horse ready to receive him and he was to dine that day at Sclaron The Curate and Prior were very earnest with him to go by the Conventicle but whilst he delayed them
Germans to return to the Charge they pretending their Pistols were lost They also disordered and discouraged the French Horse so that the Prince of Conde was forced to flee he had received a wound in the Hand and his Horse was shot in the Thigh and fell and Danville coming up as he was remounting he was taken Prisoner Soon after this Montmorancy was in vain endeavoured to be recovered In the interim Coligni rallying 300 Armed Horse and 1000 Germans charged St. Andre and the Duke of Guise with greater Fury than they had shewed in the first In this Rencounter St. Andre was slain by one Baubigny whom he had injured after he was taken and carried off He was a Person of great Natural Parts but very lewd and wicked tho' a Man of Courage under Henry the Second he had been in good Esteem and was now employed on the account of his Abilities 'till the Divine Vengeance overtook him for his Crimes and cut him off by the Hand of one he least feared of all the World which may give great Men a good hint not to do Injuries on presumption of their Power but to revere Fortune The King's Army was again declining when the Duke of Guise came up with a Party of Foot and charging Coligni in the Flank he retreated because not supported with equal Numbers but with a soft pace and carrying off two Pieces of Cannon The Duke of Guise followed him a while but Night coming on he was forced to give over the Pursuit Coligni went to Neufville and Guise returned to the Camp. The fight lasted four hours It was observed there was no Forlorn Hope tho' the Armies faced each other an hour before the Fight began That both the Generals were taken and the Victory changed several times between them and was at last doubtful to whom it belonged Coligni would have perswaded the Germans to fight the next day which had certainly ruined the King's Army if they would have done it but they would not The Duke of Nevers was mortally wounded by a Servant of his own by accident There was about 8000 slain of which 3000 were Protestants 1500 Germans were taken by the Duke of Guise and sent home without Arms. Montmorancy was hurried to Orleans and Conde was kindly treated by the Duke of Guise who was now become General in the King's Army That Night they two lay together in one Bed as well as supped at one Table to both their great Commendations The next day the Duke of Guise sent an account of what had happen'd to the Queen to Paris who by this time was sufficiently afraid of his prevailing Fortune tho' she had no great Good-will for the Prince of Conde but then she rarely dissembled her Thoughts and ordered publick Thanks to be given to God for the Victory and sent the Duke of Guise a Commission to be General of the King's Forces The day after the Fight Coligni drew up the remainder of the Protestant Army in Battel array and marching towards the Enemy that he might obscure the Fame of the overthrow and recollect such as had escaped he lodged that Night at Gailard and the next at Aunea a Castle in Beause where he was by common Consent made General during the absence of the Prince of Conde From thence he marched to Puiset and so to Patey where he stayed two days and then designed to surprise some Forces he heard were sent to Blois he followed them as far as Freteval in Vendosme and arrived at Baugy with a design to repair the Bridge and disperse his Forces into Winter Quarters in Sologne and Berry whither he heard the Duke of Guise intended to send his that they might be the nearer to besiege Orleans in the beginning of the Year Tho' there are some Particulars relating to the Year 1562 which I shall hereafter return to yet I think it the best way to carry on the Thread of the French Affairs to the end of the War here and then return back to the other The Duke of Guise in the beginning of January thought fit to solicit Frederick Rolshouse a Subject of the Landtgrave of Hesse who said He was sent by his Master an old Friend and Allie of the Crown of France to deliver the King from the Restraint he was put under by the Enemies of his Government and to assist the faithful Defenders of the French Interest Thereupon the 22th of January the Queen went to Bloise where she published a Declaration in the King's Name and her own to assure the Landtgrave That all those Reports which had been spread abroad of the Restraint of her and her Son were false and set on foot by the Protestants only as a colour of their Sedition that they might arm and raise Forces in Germany and therefore she hoped that when he and the rest of the German Princes should understand the truth of this they would not aid or abet the Rebels of France against their lawful Prince contrary to the Oaths given by their Ancestors This Declaration was signed for the greater confirmation by Alexander the King 's youngest Brother Henry Prince of Navar Charleâ— Cardinal of Bourbon Lewis de Bourbon Duke de Monpensier and Charles de Bourbon Prince de Roche-sur-Yon Soon after the Fight also at Dreux there was a General Pardon published to all that should return to their Allegiance to the King. When the Pope heard of this Victory he was strangely joyed at it conceiving this one Battel would put an end to the Power of the Protestants in France he expecting that effect from Force and Violence which the French hoped for only from a Council But however he thought himself now delivered from a great part of his Cares and made it his business to precipitate the Council tho' he knew the Germans would protest against it whom he did not at all regard and as for the King of France he thought the Joy of the Victory would give him satisfaction enough The Conncil was as much joyed as any body but especially the Cardinal of Lorraine for his Brother 's good Fortune in this Battel to whom all was ascribed in a Speech made there the 10th of January Coligni entering Berry led his Army to Ceel the second of January a place which the Priests of that Province had chosen to secure the Church Treasures in which now to their great damage they persuaded the Townsmen to defend it being soon taken and all that Plate melted down and the Inhabitants very severely used for their Resistance and several of them hanged the Priests escaping in the Tumult In Beausse the Duke of Guise took Estampes after which he besieged Pluviers with 800 Horse who took the Suburbs the Garison of which sallying out retired to Orleans leaving their Carriages behind them Whilst the Duke of Guise was busie in preparing Necessaries for the Siege of this great City Andelot who had undertaken the Defence of it was as intent
the Council of Trent 90. His Severity much commended there 91. He is sollicited to endeavour the Preservation of the Romish Religion in France 61. Poltrot who Assassinated the Duke of Guise an account of him 82. Princes the Pope hath power to depose them and to dispose of their Dominions 62 92. Denied by the King of France 94. Prioli Lawrence Duke of Venice dies and is succeeded by Jerome his Brother 36. Q. QUintin Jean makes a long Apology for the Clergy in the Assembly of the three Estates at Orleance 51. He dies of Grief for the Reflections made on it ibid. St. Quintin besieged 14. Taken 15. R. REligion ought not to be the occasion of Rebellions 50. A Remonstrance of the Protestant Princes of Germany 12. Riga Reformed 57. Rouen or Roan taken by the Protestants 74. Twice besieged and at last taken by the Roman Catholicks 77. Rome prepared for a Siege 8. And might have been taken S. SArdinia the Isle of proffered to the King of Navar 65. Savoy enclined to a Reformation 97. St. Quintin See Quintin Sanfloriano a Cardinal 10. Sactaries never to be suffered 51. But to be severely treated 91. Segni a strong City in the Papacy taken 10. Seldius Vice-Chancellor Ambassador 6. Siena consigned to the Duke of Florence 10. Sigeth a City in Hungary twice besieged 4. Sleidan John his Death and Character 7. Succession in the Clergy 61. A Synod held by the Protestants of France in the time of a violent persecution 31. T. THermes a Marshal of France defeated 20. Thionville taken 10. A Toleration granted to the Protestants of France 68. Transylvania revolts 4. The Treaty of Cambray 22 30. V. VAlence the Bishop of favours the Reformation 45. Valenza taken 9. Vallidolid 35. Vassey a Town in Champaigne 70. Vergerius Paul a Cardinal writes against the Council of Trent 62. Vienne the Archbishop of for a National Council 45. The Vocation or Call of the Ministry 61. Vinoxberg taken 20. W. WAr in Italy 8. Between France and Spain 14. In Piedmont 53. The Reasons of the Scotch War 40. The beginning of the Civil War of France 72. Wentworth Lord Governour of Calais 17. William Prince of Henebery dies 36. Dr. Wotton Ambassador in France 14. At Cambray 39. Z. ZEaland the Province of oppose the Continuance of the Spanish Forces in the Netherlands 48. ERRATA In the History PAge 27. line 20. for Church read Lurch l. 23. r. Lewis XII p. 31. l. 7. r. Tortosa p. 32. l. 41. r. Ambitious as Lucifer himself That he p. 36. l. 38. concerning r. call'd p. 39. l. 47. r. Brindisi p. 43. l. 29. Ensure r. Ensnare p. 45. Work r. Rock p. 46. § 2. l. 1. resum'd r. repeated p. 80. Sturney r. Sturmius as oft as it occurs p. 94. l. 38. our r. your p. 115. l. 36. Cantreck r. Lautrec p. 119. l. 5. Anbald r. Anhalt p. 134. l. 52. r. Vey p. 143. l. 10. convenient r. inconvenient p. 157. l. 14. r. Nordlinghen p. 170. l. 37. 740. r. 728. p. 184. l. 58. r. Mecklenbourgh p. 189. l. 1. r. out of his c. p. 200. l. 63. danger r. hunger p. 206. l. 21. Campodune r. Kempten p. 209. l. 61. first r. fifth p. 215. l. 21. impression upon r. inroad into p. 230. l. 34. r. Pomerania p. 232. l. 36. r. Aleander p. 242. l. 10. r. John the Vaivod p. 264. l. 52. r. did not only c. p. 269. l. 45. r. Budaeus p. 270. l. 24. r. than that that long c. p. 284. l. 26. Indico r. Ynigo l. 45. r. Rene. p. 287. l. 16. Mark r. Work. p. 288. l. 48. Religion r. Provinces p. 289. Compert r. Rampart p. 292. l. 28. r. Vendosme l 29. Nivern r. Nevers p. 293. Concord r. Counsel p. 294. l. 6. r. first place to be c. p. 317. l. 14. edge r. Egge p. 338. l. 38. Ozias r. Uzziah p. 356. l. 40. r. Mentz p. 361. l. 53. Esdras r. Ezrah p. 363. l. 13. slept r. stept p. 443. l. 8. r. Ebbleben p. 435. r. Nevers p. 439. l. 30. implorable r. implacable p. 441. l. 50. severity r. security p. 447. l 20. r. Vicenza l. 24. r. Morone l. 27. r. Santacruce p. 468. l. 35. Pecord r. Record r. Riseberg l. 48. r. Rochlitz p. 471. would r. should p. 473. l. 11. r. Fano p. 475. l. 28. r. Casa p. 477. l. 19. Gelou r. Gelenius p. 478. l. 50. Fez r. Tunis p. 481. l. 19. r. Matthias Flaccius Hlyriucus and as oft as it occurs p. 518. l. 23. r. Vienna p. 519. l. 34. r. Lewis Hutin p. 531. l. 41. with r. of p. 545. l. 60. would r. should p. 554. l. 38. r. Bay. onne p. 580. In the Contents l. 4. Albert r. Maurice p. 594. l. 33. r. Blasseburg p. 618. l. 58. r. Barbara In the Continuation PAg. 8. l. 55. Security r. Severity p. 10. l. 18. r. brought together an Army p. 28. l. 15. drought r. draught p. 25. l. 2. 1233. r. 1523. p. 28. r. 600000 Crowns p. 56. l. 62. perished r. persisted p. 59. r. from Zurich p. 60. l. 41. thing r. nothing p. 90. l. 11. Annals r. Annates The Life of John Sleidan The fate of this History in the Life of the Author And in after times La naissance de l' Heresie l. 1. Sect. 4. p. 4. Chap. 4. Sect. 1. Secâ—â—â—dorf In Anno 1556. Praeloquiâ— p. 8. Memoires Touchant les Ambassadeurs p. 442. 8o. part I. An account of this Version 1517. Pope Leo sends out Indulgences Luther Preaches against Indulgences And writes about them to the Archbishop of Mentz Luther's Theses concerning Indulgences Tetzel the Dominican opposes Luther Luther published an Explication of his Positions 1518. And wrote to the Bishop of Brandenburg to John Stupitz and Pope Leo. Eckius writes aganst Luther and he answers So also does Silvester Prierias And lays down the Heads he is to insist upon Luthers Answer to Silvester Prierias Silvester's Reply Who Thomas Aquinas was Luther answers Silvesters Reply James Hogostrate writes against Luther whom he answers A Diet at Ausburg The Archbishop of Mentz made Cardinal Maximilian's Letter to Pope Leo about Luther and his Doctrin Luther Cited by the Pope to appear at Rome Pope Leo writes to Frederick Elector of Saxony Pope Leo writes to the Provincial of the Augustine Fryers Luther desired his Cause might be tryed in Germany And the University of Wittemberg write to the Pope in his behalf And also to one of the Popes Bed-chamber that Luthers Cause may be heard in Germany Duke Frederick deals with Cardinal Cajetane at Ausburg Cajetane's conference with Luther Luther writes to Cajetane when he was going home and appeals from him to the Pope The Form of Luther's Appeal Pope Clement's Decree about Indulgences The Decrees of the Councils of Constance and Basil concerning the Power of the Pope An account of Gerson Cajetane's Letter to the Elector of Saxony The Elector's Answer Luther's Answer to the
II of France slain The various Characters of Henry II of France Francis II a Lad of sixteen Years of Age succeeds him And the Persecution goes on Slaunders against the Protestants Other Slanders spread against the poor persecuted Protestants Du Bourg condemned to Death Minart a Persecutor slain Du Bourg led to Execution His Character The rest of the Members of Parliament were restored Images erected in the Streets to be Worshiped King Philip prepares for Spain He takes Ship at Flushing He raiseth a great Persecution in Spain Constantio the Confessor of Charles V burnt after he was dead Twenty eight Nobles burnt at Vallidolid The Death of Pope Paul IV. The People of Rome express their Hatred of him and the Inquisition The Deaths of several Princes Pius IV elected He changeth his Manners to the Worse Scotâ—h Affairs Linlithgow The English Affairs relating to Scotland Fradcis II of France claims England in the Right of Mary his Wife The French Provocations against the English The Scotch Complaints against the French. Queen Elizabeth holds off at first but at last is forced to unite with the Protestants of Scotland Reasons assigned for the driving the French out of Scotland The War resolved The War begun Four Divines and two thousand Men sent from France to Convert the Scots The Lords of Scotland Arm against them and depose the Regent She prevails over them 1560. The Scotch Lords go on with their Reformation The English Forces enter Scotland and besiege Leith The French proffer to restore Calais to the English The Death and Character of Mary Queen-Regent of Scotland The French forced to leave Scotland A Parliament in Scotland A Conspiracy in France The Conspiracy of Blois formed at Nantes Thuanus his Reflection on this Conspiracy The discovery of the Conspiracy Andelot and Coligny come to Court on an Invitation Oliver the Chancellor of France hated the Persecution and desired a Reformation Renaudie slain The King of Navar Conde Coligni and Andelot suspected Oliver the Chancellor dies Coligni sent into Normandy by the Queen The Clergy labour to bring the Inquisition into France Conde leaves the Court. An Assembly of the Princes of France Coligni delivers a Petition from the Protestants to the King. The Bishop of Valence seconds it And adviseth the King to call a National Council The Cardinal of Lorrain replies to Coligni A Decree passed for an Assembly of the three Estates and the suspension of the Laws against Hereticks A design upon Lyons The Protestants of France increase wonderfully during the Peace In some places they grow insolent The King of Navarr and Prince of Conde promise to come to the Assembly of the States The Archbishop of Vienne dies The States meet at Orleans Navarr and Conde secured Francis II dies Charles IX succeeds The Prince of Conde fre'd The Protestant Religion breaks out in the Netherlands The Archbishop of Toledo suspected to be a Lutheran A General Council desired by many and opposed by the Pope But prosecutes the Caraffa's to ruine The Duke of Florence come to Rome His Arguments for a General Council With other concurrent Accidents at last prevail'd The Pope's Ambassadors to thee Christian Princes Gustavus King of Sweden dies A Difficulty proposed The Deputy of the Commons speaks against the Clergy And is seconded by the Deputy of the Nobility The Clergy apologize for themselves The Persecution in Piedmont which Occasioneth a War. 1561. A Persecution in the Low-Countries The French Affair Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants The younger Montmorency's Advice to his Father The pretended Submission of the Cophthites Livonia falls off from the See of Rome The Queen suspects the designs of the Nobility The Differences of Religion occasion Tumults An Edict to restrain them The Edict of July The Cardinal of Lorrain procures the Conference of Pâ—issy Mary Queen of Scotland leaves France The Three Estates of France Assembled at Pont-Oyse The Clergy of France give the King Taxes to save their Revenues and Jurisdictions The Conference oâ— Poissy The Protestant Ministers Their demands The Conference began The Chancellor's Speech Beza speaks Tournon replies with rage The Queens Answer The Points debated Claud d' Espence opposeth Beza The Ordination of the Protestant Ministers Question'd Beza Replieâ— Laines General of the Jesuits his Rudeness in the Conference * In the History of the Council of Trent call'd Jaques de Montbrun A Popish Position gives great Offence in France The Council of Trent recall'd The Pope's Bull. Vergerius opposeth the Council Ambassadors sent to the Protestant Princes to invite them to the Council Their Answer to the Emperor The Pope's Legates Admitted Their Answer to the Legates The occasions of the meeting at Naumburg The English reject the Council Erick King of Sweden Crown'd The Cardinal of Caraffa Hanged A National Council desired in France The King of Navar drawn over to the Popish Party by the King of Spain's Arts. A new invented Convention for the Reguâ—lating matters of Religion in France A Tumult aâ— Dijon Scotch Affairs Queen Mary resolves to return into Scotland The Protestant Religion setled in Scotland The Queen angry with the Proceedings Queen Mary goes into Scotland Her beginning very gracious to the Protestants The Preachers would not Tolerate the Queen See Spotiswood pag. 182. Great kindness in shew between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary begins to favour the Romish Party Yet she augments her Revenues out of the Church Lands 1562. The French Affairs A Debate concerning Toleration The Edict of January which granted Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants Injunctions published by the Queen's Order concerning Images Images of the Trinity forbidden The King of Navar pretends still to promote the Reformation The Edict of January opposed by the Guises and others The Duke of Guise called to Court by the King of Navar The Massacre of Vassy happen'd accidentally in that â—ourny The Duke of Guise uses ill Arts to secure his Servants who began the Tumult The Prince of Conde complains of it to the King. The Duke of Guise entereth Paris The Queen upon this puts her self and the King into the Protection of the Prince of Conde * Aedilit All things in France tend to a Civil War. The Queen out of Fear joyns with the Catholick Lords commonly call'd the Triumvirate Conde comes up towards Fontain-bleau The Triumvirate seize the King. Montmorancy appears very zealous against the Protestants at Paris The Prince of Conde betrayed by the Queen into a disadvantageous War. Orleans surprized by the Prince of Conde Conde Justifies the War. The Catholicks begin the War to deprive the Protestants of the Liberty granted them by the Edict of January The Prince of Conde and the Ministers write to the Princes of Germany The King and Queen affirm they were at Liberty in their Declaration The Massacre of Sens. The Princes of Germany much divided about the true cause of this French War. Roan taken very easily by the Protestants And after that Pont del
be parallell'd in any age since the Apostles and there having followed it a great Commotion in the Civil State as is usual Tho I was not the fittest person to undertake this Work yet at the request of many good Men I entred upon it for the glory of God and with great fidelity and diligence have brought it down to our own Times And I have some hope that all who are not highly prejudiced will confess that I have not given the Reins to my Passions in any thing in this affair and that I have behaved my self perhaps with more Moderation than any other Writer For though I willingly profess that Doctrine of the Gospel which by the mercy of God was now restored and rejoyce exceedingly that I am a Member of the Reformed Church yet I have carefully abstained from all exasperating Language and simply delivered every thing as it came to pass I call God to Witness also that I never designed to injure or hurt any mans reputation falsly for what a madness would it have been to have delivered any thing otherwise than it was in an affair which is fresh in all mens memory And I hope those who are intimately acquainted with me have never yet discovered any such vanity in me And yet if after all I have by chance committed any Error or Mistake I will readily confess it when ever I shall be shewn it and also caution my Reader openly that he may not be mislead by me as I have said in my Preface As to the pains I have taken and the diligence I have used in this Work no man could possibly have done more to find out the Truth as many men can bear me Witness and the very Work it self will in great part shew In this History of Religion I could not omit what concerned the Civil Government because as I have already said they are interwoven each with th' other especially in our times so that it was not possible to separate them This union of the Sacred and Civil State is sufficiently discovered in the Scriptures and is the cause that the change of Religion in any Nation is always attended presently with offences distractions contentions strifes tumults factions and wars For this cause Christ saith the Son shall be against the Father and the Daughter against the Mother and that his Doctrine would not bring Peace but a Sword and raise a fiery contention amongst the nearest relations And that this has ever been the state of affairs since the beginning of the World cannot be denied and is also very manifest from the thing it self For in our Times no sooner did this benefit vouchsafed us by God and the Doctrine of the Gospel begin to be preached against the Papal Indulgences and the Traditions of Men but presently all the World but especially the Clergy became tumultuous and unquiet This occasioned the bringing this affair before the Dyet or Publick Convention of the States of Germany and when there upon some Princes and free Cities imbraced this Doctrine this fire spread it self and the cause was exagitated with great variety till at last it burst out into a War. Now in the Description I have made of it will appear what care and diligence the Emperor imployed to put a stop to this dissention what the Protestants also from time to time Answered and what Conditions they frequently offered And when it came to a War the event was various and perplexed as for instance the Emperor to give one Example out of many wrote to some of the Princes and Cities and afterwards Published in Print a Declaration of his intentions and designs This Declaration was the foundation of the Emperors cause and by the Laws of History was to be represented together with the Answer of the Adverse Party For without this what kind of History would it be thought which should only represent what one party said And yet in this how I behaved my self how I managed my Style and tempered it may be easily seen by comparing my Latin Version of that Declaration with the German Edition of it to which I refer my self When the War was prolonged till the Winter came on the Emperor at last prevail'd upon the return of his Enemies into their Countries These his Victories and Triumphs first in the Upper Germany and then the Electorate of Saxony are related by me with great Truth And I observe the same method every where For I neither take from nor add to any mans Actions more than the truth of the thing requires and allows And in truth it is apparent this has been done by few For the greatest part of the Writers give their own Judgments both of the things and persons they mention in their Histories To omit the more Ancient Historians we know how Platina has Written the Lives of the Popes and Philip Comines a Knight has in our Memory published an Illustrious History of his own Times and among other things which he there delivers tells us that after Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy was slain before Nancy in Battel Lewis XII King of France ravished from his Daughter and Heir Artois and both the Burgundies and altho Comines was a sworn Subject of France and a Counseller to that Prince yet he saith this was ill done About XXIV years since Peter Bembus was imployed by the Senate of Venice to Write the Story of the War between that State and Maximilian the First Emperor of Germany Lewis King of France and Julius II Pope of Rome and some others which he hath done in twelve Books And he too tells us how Lewis XII denounced War against the Venetians and that his Herald appearing before the Senate and the Duke spoke these Words Luredano Duke of Venice and ye the rest of the Citizens of Venice Lewis King of France my Master has commanded me to tell you that he is coming with an Army against you because like a parcel of perfidious men yea have possessed your selves by force and fraud of the Towns belonging to the Pope and other Princes and are rest lesly endeavouring by crafty means to Ravage and subject under your Dominion all that belongs to your Neighbours which he is now resolved to require at your hands Perhaps some may think that Bembus ought to have taken no notice of these Words because they reflect so bitterly upon his Country-men but he thought otherwise and transcrib'd them from the Publick Records into his History adding the Answer which was given with equal sharpness to the Herald and this Work was after Printed with the Privilege of the Senate at Venice Paulus Jovius besides his Lives of the Illustrious Men has lately Published two Tomes of the History of our Time how freely he Writes will appear to any one who reads them and although he treats the Germans very injuriously yet his Work comes forth with many Privileges to defend it He that pleaseth may examine what he saith Tom. II. Fol. 9. and in the Life
made of those Vertues in him which are required to be in an Emperour The Publick stands in need of such a Prince who besides other things may settle and reform the state of the Church as the Elector of Mentz wisely hinted Now of all Men King Francis is most capable of effecting this for he is a Prince both of Wit and Judgment uses to confer often with Learned Men about Religion and reads many Books himself Besides the present state of Affairs requires a Prince and General who is an expert Soldier diligent and fortunate And who pray upon this occcasion can outvie King Francis His Valour is already known and tried and he surpasses all his Ancestors in the greatness of his Actions for he lately overcame in Battel the Switzers a most Warlike People and since the time of Julius Caesar almost invincible A Youth then is not to be preferred before so great a Commander The Elector of Mentz confesses indeed that it would be inconvenient if Charles should continue long out of Germany but bids us set our minds at rest for all that However for my part I look upon it to be a Matter of the highest Danger that an Emperour should remain a long while out of the Borders of the Empire For who will withstand the sudden Irruptions of the Turks who will restrain unexpected Tumults Quarrels and Civil Commotions Who will if a Storm arise guide the Ship in the Pilot's absence When he is absent he will have no certain intelligence of our Affairs many things will be falsely reported unto him no Germans but only Spaniards will be of his Council He will now and then make Edicts and send them to us in a most unseasonable time and if being provoked by the Calumnies and Accusations of malicious Men he chance afterwards to come into Germany with an Army of Strangers at his back What think you will be the fortune of the Empire then Wherefore if it seems good to you and if Fate will so have it that at this time a Foreign King should put our Crown upon his Head I am clearly of the Opinion that the French should be preferred before the Spaniard But if the Law be against the chusing of the French King it is no less against the King of Spain nor are we by any nice Interpretation to take King Charles for a German but rather to find out some Prince who hath no Residence but in Germany and who is a German by Birth Manners Humour and Language Against this the Archbishop of Mentz hath started many Inconveniences and thinks That by reason of Weakness and low Fortune such an Emperour will be contemptible but if we chuse a fit Person Germany is strong and powerful enough to bear that Burthen Rodolph I the eleventh Emperour before Maximilian brought no great strength with him to the Throne but he was a Virtuous and Valient Prince and raised the Empire which was then sunk very low and harassed by many Wars to such a state that it became formidable to all the Kings about it Nor do I think you are ignorant what a high Opinion Foreign Princes and among these Lowis XII of France conceived of the Emperour Maximilian only because of his Parts and Valour Great hath always been the Fame and Reputation of the German Princes which is not extinct as yet but is still fresh and green and among others there are at this Day three chief Families in Germany Bavaria Saxony and Brandenburgh and some excellent and deserving Men of them If then we can agree and chuse one of them and as we ought assist him with our Forces we need not be afraid of Foreigners for provided we be unanimous among our selves all will be well enough wherefore passing by all Strangers let us chuse one among our selves we need not doubt of success and we can produce many Domestick Instances of our own Fortitude and Behaviour of which I shall now only mention one Matthias King of Hungary a potent and fortunate Warrior once declared War against your Father Duke Frederick but when he saw a good Army ready to oppose him his Heat and Courage was soon cooled So also I think a way may be found out now that an Emperour chosen of our own Country may retain his Authority both at Home and abroad In the third Place spake Frederick Duke of Saxony and having represented to the Colledge That the French King was excluded by Law but that Charles was a German Prince and had a Residence and Habitation in Germany he told them That the Body Politick stood in need of a very powerful Head but that he knew none that was to be compared to Charles that therefore his Judgment was That he should be declared Emperour but yet on certain Conditions both that Germany might be secured of its Liberty and the Dangers which had been mentioned avoided When the rest had at length approved this Opinion How said the Elector of Treves do I foresee the Fate of Germany and a Change a coming But since it seems good to you I will not oppose your Judgment This was on the twenty eighth Day of June It was now late Night and therefore they broke up but met again next Day Then it began to be debated What Conditions were to be offered to Charles the Emperour Elect and this Debate continued for some Days when at length the Conditions were agreed upon they were drawn up in Writing and sent to Mentz to his Ambassadours When they had received them the several Voices were set down in Writing and as the Custom is signed and Sealed The Day before the Empire had been offered to Frederick Elector of Saxony but he bravely refused it and as has been said gave his Vote for Charles of Spain and when upon that Account the Ambassadours of Charles offered him a great summ of Money he not only rejected it but commanded all about him likewise not to take a Farthing The Nobility and all the People being afterwards called together the Archbishop of Mentz in a speech made to them in S. Bartholomew's Church declared That Charles Archduke of Austria and King of Spain was chosen King of the Romans in the place of Maximilian deceased that they ought to give God thanks that he had been so unanimously chosen and exhorted them to be Faithful and Obedient to him Then running out in his Praises he gave them the Reasons why they had chosen him of all others which was received by the States and People with Humming and Applause Afterwards the Ambassadours who had drawn nearer and were now but at a Miles Distance were sent for These were Matthew Cardinal of Saltzburg Erard Bishop of Liege Bernard Bishop of Trent Frederick Prince Palatine Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg Henry Count of Nassaw Maximilian of Sibenburg and some other Counsellors These being come and having consulted with the rest about the Administration of the Government till the Emperour Charles should come into Germany
condemned all those who presumed to act contrary to this Decree and declared their Appeals invalid And not long after he Excommunicated Sigismund Duke of Austria for taking Cardinal Nicholas Cusanus Prisoner Sigismund Appeals from him to the Council and the Pope Excommunicates George Heinburg a Lawyer that drew up the Appeal as a Traytor and Heretick and writes to the Senate of Nuremberg to Banish him and Confiscate his Estate This Decree of his Julius II confirmed that he might defend himself against those Cardinals who had revolted from him against Kings and Princes and the Divines of Paris who often made use of such Appeals Pope Pius who was before called Aeneas Silvius was present at the Council of Basil and wrote the History of it wherein he highly commends the Decrees that were made there but at last being advanced to the Papacy he changed his Opinion and declared that the Council ought to be subject to the Pope Luther when he found himself condemned at Rome renews his former Appeal from the Pope to General Council And now since the Pope continues in his Tyranny and Impiety and proceeds so far as to condemn him neither called nor heard nor convict of Heresie he says he Appeals again from him to a General Council for these four Reasons Because he condemns him at pleasure without hearing the Controversie because he forbids him to hold Faith to be necessary in the Sacraments because he prefers his own Opinions and Fancies to the Holy Scriptures and for rendring all Councils useless Therefore he calls him rash and obstinate a Tyrant a proud Despiser of the Church and Antichrist himself and says he will prove all this whensoever it shall please his Superiors and for that reason desires the Emperour and other Magistrates that for the Glory of God and in defence of the Liberties of a General Council they would admit his Appeal that they would bridle the Tyranny of the Pope take no notice of his Bull nor do any thing in the business till the Cause be fairly heard and decided Before he appealed after this manner which was upon the Eighteenth day of November he had put out a Book concerning the Babylonish Captivity and in the Preface he says that he advances every day more and more in the Knowledge of the Scripture that formerly he had published a small Treatise concerning the Pope's Indulgences and that then he writ very modestly having a very great Veneration for the Roman Tyranny But that now he was of another Opinion and that being stirred up by the provocation of his Adversaries he had discovered that the See of Rome was nothing else but the Kingdom of Babylon and the Power of Nimrod the mighty Hunter Afterwards he disputes concerning the Sacraments of the Church and holds there are but Three Baptism Penance and the Lord's Supper And having discoursed concerning these he proceeds to consider the others also Confirmation Orders Matrimony and Extreme Vnction but he allows them not the Name or Title of a Sacrament and says that they are properly Sacraments which are Promises with Visible Signs annexed to them the others which have no Signs are bare Promises and therefore he thinks that Penance ought not to be reckoned in the number of Sacraments if we would speak properly because it wants a Visible Sign of Divine Institution Luther after he had heard of the Pope's Bull besides the Appeal we have been speaking of publishes a Book wherein he confirms and maintains all those opinions which Leo had condemned In the mean time the Emperour having setled all things in the Low-Countries appoints the Electors to meet him at Aix la Chapelle on the Sixth of October in order to his Coronation But at that time the Plague raged there very much therefore the Electors when they were arrived at Cologn about ten Miles from Aix la Chapelle and the report of the Plague encreased daily they writ to the Emperour being then at Louvain to desire him to chuse some other place for the Coronation But the Townsmen who had laid out a great deal of Money in trimming up their Houses and furnishing themselves with Provisions did by a proper Messenger assure him that there was no Danger The Emperour therefore persisted in his Resolution and declares That he cannot well alter the Order of Charles IV which appoints the Coronation to be there Therefore upon the 21 of October the Archbishops of Mentz Cologn and Triers with the Ambassadours of the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburg arrive there for the Duke of Saxony himself by reason of his Ilness was forced to stay at Cologn The next Day they go out to meet the Emperour and when they came near him they alighted off their Horses and the Archbishop of Mentz made a Speech to him which he answered graciously by the Cardinal of Saltzburg And so joyning their Company together they marched towards the Town Before the Gate the Count Palatine meets him The Horse that accompanied the Electors were about a thousand six hundred some Archers and some with Lances those that attended upon the Emperour were about two thousand all bravely clothed John Duke of Cleve being a Neighbour had brought thither four hundred Horse very well armed who contended so long with those of Saxony about the Precedency that Night came on them before the whole Cavalcade which was the finest that ever was seen in Germany could enter the Town On each side the Emperour rode the Archbishops of Cologn and Mentz being followed by the Ambassadour of the King of Bohemia the Cardinals of Sedune Saltzburg and Croye and the Ambassadours of other Kings and Princes the Pope's only and the King 's of England were absent and that designedly lest by giving place to the Princes of Germany they might seem to diminish the Honour of their Masters The Emperour was brought into our Lady's Church where after he had made his Prayers he talked with the Electors apart and so went to his Lodging The next Day they met again at the Church but there was such a Croud of People that the Guard had much ado to keep them back In the middle of the Church there hangs a large Crown the Floor underneath was covered with rich Carpets where the Emperour for some time lay prostrate while the Archbishop of Cologn says certain Prayers over him After that is done he Archbishop of Mentz and Triers take him up and lead him to the High Altar Here he falls down again and having said his Prayers is lead to his Throne that was richly overlaid with Gold the Archbishop of Cologn begins Mass and having proceeded a little way he demands of him in Latin Whether he will keep the Catholick Faith defend the Church administer Justice and maintain the Dignity of the Empire protect the Widows and the Fatherless and such other distressed Persons and whether he will give due Honour to the Bishop of Rome When he has assented
depart allowing you one and twenty Days to return home in He will also inviolably observe the Safe-Conduct he gave you but charges you not to teach the People by Word nor Writing as you are upon your Way homeward Being thus dismissed he gave Glory to God and April 26 departed being conducted by the same Herald who brought him before He wrote to the Emperor upon the Road and after he had in few words resum'd all that had past he begg'd of His Imperial Majesty That since he had been alwaies hitherto and still was willing to submit to Conditions of Peace and Agreement and desired no more but that the Controversie might be determined by any impartial Judge according to the Authority of holy Scripture he would be pleased to Protect him against the violence and fury of his adversaries That 't was not his private Cause but the publick Concern of the whole World and especially of Germany whose safety and welfare he preferr'd before his own life To the same purpose also he wrote to the rest of the Princes and States and that whensoever it should seem good to the Emperor and them he would come upon safe conduct whithersoever they pleased and debate his cause before impartial and unsuspected Judges Whereas in this work there is frequent mention made of Huss the Council of Constance and the Bohemians I 'll give the Reader a short account of the whole matter In the year of our Lord 1393 there was one John Wickliff in England who wrote many things against the Roman Papacy which were afterwards carried into Bohemia At that time there was a famous University in Prague and therein slourished John Huss a Divine by profession This man Preach'd up Wickliffs Doctrin as holy and saving and dispersed it far and near But being accused of this he was cited to appear before Pope Alexander V. he by his Proctors alledged causes why he could not come And King Wenceslaus also interceded for him desiring the Pope to send Legats into Bohemia to try the matter there but that could not be obtained Huss being therefore condemned for an Heretick published a Book wherein he appealed from the Pope to Christ as Judge The Church of Rome at that time was in a very troublesom State. For the Cardinals being divided into factions had chosen three Anti-Popes Gregory XII Benet XIII and John XXIII which highly displeased other Kings as well as the Emperor Sigismund who having solicited Pope John he at length called the Council of Constance Now Sigismund who was the Brother of King Wenceslaus called John Huss thither and in October 1414 sent him a safe conduct in due form Whereupon Huss being accompanied by some persons of quality came to Constance on the third of November but three weeks after being called to a private Conference with the Pope and Cardinals he was detained prisoner The Emperor Sigismund was absent then and being inform'd of the matter was highly displeased and came thither But the Papists urging that Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks he not only remitted the offence though the Bohemians importun'd him to the contrary and demanded performance of the safe conduct but was also the first that spake bitterly against him In fine on the sixth of July following the Council condemn'd him as an Heretick and Seditious Person and ordered the Books he had written to be burnt Being thus condemn'd he was delivered over to the Emperor and burnt his ashes being afterwards cast into the Rhine that no relick of him might remain After him Jerome of Prague his Disciple and Hearer was put to Death in the same manner In this Council besides the Emperour were the Ambassadours of many Kings three Electoral Princes of the Empire Lewis Prince Palatine Rodulph Duke of Saxony and Frederick Marquess of Brandenburg and a vast number of the other Princes three Patriarchs of Aquileia Antioch and Constantinople eight and twenty Cardinals an hundred and fifty five Bishops very many Divines and Lawyers Italians Germans French English Hungarians and Polonians The Doctrin of Wickliff was here also condemned and a Decree made that his Body should be taken up and burnt in England It was besides Decreed that none but Priests should receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both kinds and that all others should be content with one kind which had been impugned by Huss A Law was also made that Faith should not be kept with Hereticks or persons suspected of Heresie though they should come under the Emperours Safe-Conduct to be tryed in Council Lastly the three Popes were degraded and by common Consent Martin V chosen When the News of the Execution of Huss and Jerome was brought into Bohemia it occasioned a terrible Commotion and afterwards a very cruel and bloody War under the Conduct of John Zischa so that Sigismond was forced to beg the Assistanc of the Empire but the greatest Cruelty was exercised against the Priests in hatred to the Pope whom they Cursed whose Dominion they shook off and embraced the Doctrin of Huss adoring his Memory Much about this Time the Divines of Paris condemned Luther's Books and out of that which is entitled Of the Captivity of Babylon and some others also they gathered certain Heads as of the Sacraments the Canons of the Church the Equality of Works Vows Contrition Absolution Satisfaction Purgatory Free-Will the immunity of the Clergy Councils the Punishments of Hereticks Philosophy School-Divinity and many more of the like sort admonishing the Reader and all who professed the Name of Christ to beware of such pernicious Doctrins For that it was the Custom of Hereticks to propose specious Matters at first which sinking once down into the Mind could hardly ever be got out again but that under those alluring Words present Poyson lay hid Then they reckoned up in Order the Hereticks of the several Ages and among these Wickliff John Huss and last of all Luther whom they mightily blamed as an arrogant and rash Man that he should imagine himself alone to know more than all others contemn the Judgments of all the Holy Fathers and Interpreters of all Councils and Schools and that he should reject the Custom and Consent of the Church observed for so many Ages as if it were credible That Christ would have left all that while his only Spouse to wander in so great Darkness of Errour but that it was the usual way with Hereticks to wrest Scripture to their own Sense Having then reckoned up some Books written by him they shew what Hereticks Luther imitated in such and such Opinions and that seeing it properly belonged to their Office and Profession to stifle springing Heresies as much as lay in their Power they had therefore diligently perused his Books that they might direct all Men how to have a Care of them and that after much Reading of his Writings they found that his Doctrin was pernicious deserving to be burnt and that
when need should require might rebuke them mildly and so correct them as not to give Ground to the least Suspicion that they endeavoured to stop the Course of the Gospel That such as did not take Admonition should not go un punished That in the last place they would make it their Business That Printers should print no new things for the future and that some Holy and Learned Men appointed for the Purpose by the Magistrates within their several Jurisdictions should peruse and examine what came from the Press and that what they disapproved should not be sold That these things seemed to them proper for uniting People's Minds and setling a Reformation For that though all things were not out of hand reformed yet some Progress might in the mean time be made therein till the rest should be determined by the Authority of a Council That whereas among other things his Legate had spoken of Priests who married Wives because there was no Punishment appointed for them by the Civil Law it seemed not amiss to them That such as had offended that way should suffer according to the Prescript of the Canon Law. To conclude they pray his Holiness to take in good part their Judgment as to those several things for that it proceeded from a true and sincere Mind which tendered the Publick Wel-fare and concerned the Dignity of the Holy See. About this Time there happened a great Alteration of Affairs in Denmark which was briefly thus Christiern the first of that Name King of Denmark Norway and Sweden had two Sons John and Frederick upon the Death of the Father John succeeded who had Wars with the Swedes that had rebelled however the Quarrel was taken up and ended John had a Son named Christiern who at six Years of Age was proclaimed King and upon the Death of his Father six and twenty Years after succeeded to the Crown in the Year of our Lord 1514. During his Reign the Swedes again rebelled and set upon one Steno Stura to be their Governour King Christiern in the mean time employed all his Force against them and after many Battles and Sieges at lenth obtained the Victory causing the Body of Steno who had been killed in Battle to be raised out of the Grave and Burnt And this happened in the Year 1520. The Swedes being thus subdued one Gustavus Erixon a Nobleman of the Kingdom incited as it is believed and aided by the Lutbeckers again stirred them up to Rebellion and that successfully too At first he pretended to act for the Children of Steno but growing stronger he invaded the Throne and to confirm his Title married the Daughter of Steno Christiern having lost this Province was ill beloved at home also for he governed tyrannically and by his Cruelty offended all his Subjects Wherefore fearing that these Clouds which were a gathering might at length break out into a Storm to his ruine and destruction and the rather because the Lubeckers and his Unkle Frederick were arming against him this Year which was the ninth of his Reign he fled with his Children and Queen Isabel the Sister of Charles the Emperour and arrived first in Zealand a Province belonging to his Imperial Majesty Immediately after the States of the Kingdom assembling and and being assisted by the Lubeckers created Frederick his Unkle Duke of Holstein an aged Man their King and then having published a Declaration to the Emperour the Pope and to the rest of the Princes of the Empire they give Reasons for what they had done accusing him of most grievous Crimes for which they said he was justly Banished Frederick did the same which was imitated by the City of Lubeck a Commonwealth of the greatest Power and Authority in all those Parts But Christiern finding an able Pen-men Cornelius Skepper a Flemming a very learned Man answered the Accusations that were brought against him and begged Assistance from the States of the Empire assembled at Norimberg He had one Son whom the Emperour afterwards took and two Daughters Dorothy and Christian The same Year his Friends and Relations undertook a War for his Restauration but in vain the Emperour being then engaged in a War with France The Popes Legate had accused the Ministers of the Church of Norimberg of Preaching impious and unsound Doctrin and demanded that they might be committed to Prison But the Princes told him that they believ'd he had been misinform'd That the Preachers also were highly honoured and esteemed by the people so that if any thing were attempted against them the Mobile would look upon it as done purposely to suppress the Truth which might cause some insurrection That nevertheless they would appoint a Committee to enquire into all matters for the future and do whatever should be thought just and reasonable When they had in this manner answer'd all demands they on their parts proposed what they would have had done by the Pope and the Bishops in Germany and drew up their grievances into certain Heads and Articles which they delivered to the Legate praying the Pope that since the things they complained of were altogether unjust and could no longer be suffered that his Holiness would with all speed abolish them for that otherwise they themselves must needs take some course to shake off from them that burden and recover their ancient Liberty They had made the same complaint in the Diet at Wormes and having presented the same Articles to the Emperor they prayed him to interpose his Authority Neither did they at that time conceal those things from the Bishops who having hitherto made no reformation therein they made their application to the Pope because as we said before he had given them ample and generous Promises by his Legate Now the things which they desired might be redressed were all such as encroached upon the rights and liberties of the Princes drained Germany of Money and kept men under most heavy Bondage As to the Tribute payed by the Clergy the case in short is this The power of the Pope daily increasing and growing to a head among other ways of raising Money this also was found out That the Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Persons should according to the Rate of their Benefice pay such a Summ of Money yearly to the Pope which was commonly called First-Fruits and Tenths Some do ascribe this Device to Pope John XXII and others to Boniface IX the pretext was Specious and Popular to wit That there might always be a Treasure in readiness to be employed in the Wars against the Saracens and Turks And because at that time the Authority of the Popes was a Sacred thing they easily persuaded all People the English only excepted who for small Benefices refused to pay Now this Law continued in Force until the Council of Basil where because of the many Complaints brought from several Places concerning that a Decree past That no more Money should upon that account be exacted for the future
grievously informed against him by some of that Faculty though unjustly and without a Cause That then he had appointed some great Men eminent for Learning to inspect his Books and Writings for which he stood accused But that they having carefully perused and examined them all had given him a very ample and honourable Testimony That seeing it was so and that he was had in gread Reputation by the Italians and Spaniards for the opinion they conceived of his Learning and Virtue as he hath since learnt he would therefore take it ill if that innocent Man should be molested or exposed to any Danger And seeing that if at any other time so now especially he would have Justice strictly administred throughout all his Kingdoms And again because for the future he intended by all ways to favour Men of Learning therefore he commanded them That if any Process had been commenced against them since his Departure they should make report of the fame to his Mother who managed the Government that he might be certified thereof by her and that they might expect his Will and Pleasure therein and not to proceed any farther but to supersede all Action until either he should return which he hoped by the Blessing of God would shortly be or else some Order should be taken in the matter by himself or his Mother These Letters dated at Madrid in Spain November the twelfth were delivered to the Parliament of Paris the eight and twentieth day of the same Month. It was a thing almost natural to the Divines of the past Age to teaze and molest learned Men and the reason was because they saw themselves despised for their Ignorance This Year there happened a change in the State and Government of Prusia a Province in the utmost parts of Germany upon the Baltick-Sea Let us trace the matter a little farther back During the Empire of Henry VI the Son of Frederick Barbarossa when the Christians were in War for the Recovery of Jerusalem the Knights of the German or Teutonick Order were instituted who because they fought for Religion wore a white Cross upon their Cloaths as a Badge and cognizance of their Profession This happened in the Year of our Lord eleven hundred and ninety The first Master of that Order was chosen as is reported in the Camp before Ptolemais Afterwards these Knights subdued Prusia in the time of the Emperour Frederick II And after that being grown strong they had for some time waged War with the Kings of Poland they were overcome in Battle and swore Allegiance to Casimire king of Poland the Father of King Sigismund From the first Master to Marquess Albert of Brandenburg there had been three and thirty Masters Now Albert was chosen in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and eleven For the space of two Years he had a bloody War with Sigismund King of Poland and in the Year one thousand five hundred and twenty one a Truce was made for four Years In the mean time Marquess Albert often sollicited the Emperour and States of the Empire for Aid and came himself in Person to the Dyet of Norimberg We mentioned before where he took his Place as a Prince of the Empire for the cause of the War was because he refused to swear Allegiance to the King of Poland But now when the Emperour was ingaged in a War with France the Turk invaded Hungary and Germany was so embroiled by the Rebellion of the Boors that no help was to be expected from thence the Truce being likewise expired he made Peace with the King of Poland swore Allegiance to him as to his chief Magistrate and imbraced the Reformed Religion Hereupon he changed his Order challenged Prusia as his own and being before but Master was now by the King's consent inaugurated Duke of Prusia and some time after married the Lady Dorothy Daughter to the King of Denmark founding also the University of Coningsberg By this means he got the whole Order upon his Top For although he was in Possession of Prusia and under the Protection of the King of Poland yet by common consent Walter Cronberg was chosen in his place who retained the Name and represented the old Dignity of the Order and in all Dyets grievously accused Albert as you shall hear in the proper place But he having published a Manifesto gave his Reasons for what he had done and declared That being forsaken of the Empire he was driven by extream Necessity to submit himself to the King of Poland The Letters of Pope Leo X to Sigismund and Albert are extant wherein he exhorts them to Concord and either refer the Difference they had to his Legate whom he would send or submit it to the Determination of the Council of Lateran because it was most convenient that the Debates of Kings should be decided by a Council THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VI. THE CONTENTS Luther-writes to the King of England and George Duke of Saxony to regain their favour But both reject him Now he had been put on to do so by Christiern King of Denmark The sickness of the French King who was Prisoner hastened the Treaty at Madrid The King having obtained his Liberty two of his Sons are left Hostages While the Princes of Germany meet in the Diet at Spire the Emperor of the Turks marches streight into Hungary A Disputation begun at Baden The Pope and Venetians make a League with the French King. The Emperor and King make bitter Complaints of one another Rome being taken by the Duke of Bourbon the King sends Lautreck into Italy The Errors of the Anabaptists begin to spread A Disputation appointed at Berne about Reformation of Religion A Context between King Ferdinand and the Vayvode of Transilvania Berken suffers Death at Antwerp The Emperor sends a Herald with a Challenge to the French King. Lautreck Besieges Naples but the Plague rages in his Camp. Mass is abolished at Strasburg A Dissention arises at Basil about Religion The Catholick Switzers make a League with Ferdinand A Dyet held at Spire and from thence the Name of Protestant had its Original A Civil War among the Switzers A Treaty at Cambray Solyman Besieges Vienna A new Disease breaks out in Germany The Protestants frame a League Erasmus his Book against Protestants Sforza is again received into favour with the Emperor WE gave an Account before of the King of England and Luther's clashing by Letters But Luther in the mean time having heard of some things that sounded to the King's Praise and Commendation was mightily rejoiced at the News and wrote very submissively unto him That he doubted not but that he had highly offended him by the Book he published but that he had not done it so much of his own accord as at the instigation of others which made him in confidence of his Royal Grace and Condescension so much applauded by many take the boldness to write to him
in the mean time that Alexander would be made their Duke for that was the Advice he himself had given the Emperour when he sent his Legate to him into Spain But now to our purpose again After much debate on the Thirteenth of August Seven were chosen on each side to adjust measures of a Reconciliation On the side of the Catholicks were the Bishop of Ausburg Henry Duke of Brunswick two Lawyers one of Cologne and another of Baden and three Divines Wimpin Eckius and Cochleus For the Protestants were George Marquess of Brandenburg John Frederick Duke of Saxony two Lawyers three Divines Melanchthon Brentius and Schnepsius These agreed upon some Points but the great Controversie was about the Mass the Marriage of Priests the Lord's Supper in both kinds Monastick Vows and the Jurisdiction of Bishops but especially about Mass and Monastick Vows for in that the Papists would not bate an Ace but for the other Points though they disapproved them yet they said they might be tolerated until the meeting of a Council Marriage they allowed also to Priests but only to those who had Wives already not to the rest and all that to prevent further troubles As to the Power and Jurisdiction of the Bishops the Saxons granted a little too much and more than was allowed of by the Commissioners for the Landgrave Lunenburg and Norimberg Afterwards it was thought fit to abridge this number so that there were Three chosen on each side Melanchthon with Two Lawyers and Eckius with as many but Melanchthon was enjoyned to grant no more Thus when they could not agree in Opinions the Papists were for having the matter again debated by more Persons but the Protestants perceiving that their design was to find out more ways of Accommodation declined that Treaty but if they thought fit to consider of ways of setling Peace until the meeting of a Council they were not against it During these Negotiations the Emperour dealt with George Marquess of Brandenburg by means of the Elector of Mentz and others of the same Family and with the Duke of Saxony by the Mediation of Frederick Prince Palatine the Count of Nassau and George Truchses that they would desist from their Enterprize He endeavoured also to divide the Duke of Saxony from the rest as being the chief of all and refused to invest him in his Dukedom according to the Custom of the Empire unless he would first be reconciled to the Church of Rome The other he threatned That unless he did comply he should lose the Ward and Guardianship of his Nephew Albert his Brother Casimires Son. They endeavoured to perswade the Landgrave That if he would obey the Emperour Vlrick Duke of Wittemberg should be restored and his Controversie with the Count of Nassau concerning Catzenelbogen accommodated by the Emperour's Mediation In this Dyet the Pope gave leave to King Ferdinand to make use of the Ornaments and the Gold and Silver Plate of all the Churches of Germany and also to lay a Tax upon the Clergy for the Turkish War But the Princes would not consent to it and made application to the Emperour that he would vacate that Bull. August the Eighteenth Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote from Fribourg to Cardinal Campegius That the Power of the Emperour was indeed great but that all did not acknowledge it That the Germans so acknowledged his Authority as that they commanded rather than obeyed That Luther's Doctrin was spread all over Germany so that from the Ocean as far as Switzerland that Chain of Mischief was stretched That if the Emperour should declare That he would in all things comply with the Interest and desire of the Pope it was to be feared he would have but few to approve his doings That there was great danger also threatned from the Turk who was so powerful that all the Force of Europe was hardly able to match him That many instances could be given how unsafe it was to go to War with Soldiers that were unwilling to fight That the Emperour without doubt was inclined to Peace though by a certain destiny he was drawn into War That for many years now France and Italy had suffered much by Wars but that unless care were taken this War would prove more fatal than all the rest That People were generally persuaded that the Pope had the chief hand in all these things but that it was to be feared the Emperour might run the greatest risque That they who loved Sects deserved indeed to be punished but that the welfare and safety of the Publick ought more to be regarded That the State of the Church had been sore distressed in former times when the Arians Pagans Donatists Manichees broached their Doctrins and Barbarous Nations also made War against it and yet it weathered all those Storms at length That Time and Patience sometimes cured the worst Distempers That the Bohemians were tolerated though they acknowledged not the Pope That if the same thing were allowed to the Lutherans it would not be amiss in his Judgment And that though this would be bad enough yet was it much easier to be born with than a War. September the Seventh the Emperour sent for all the Catholick Princes and States to come to Court about Noon and two hours after for the Duke of Saxony and his Associates where all being removed except his Brother King Ferdinand the Bishops of Constance and Seville Granvel and Truchses he ordered Frederick Prince Palatine to speak to them in his Name to this purpose That having given them so kind and gracious an Admonition after they had presented their Confession of Faith he had confidently hoped that they would have complied with him And that although he was disappointed of his hopes therein yet at the intercession of the Princes he had condescended that some Commissioners should be chosen on each side to endeavour a Reconciliation which had put him again in fresh hopes of a future Accommodation But that now he had learnt to his great trouble that they dissented from the rest in the chief Points of Doctrin a thing that he could not have expected at their hands for that he did not imagine that they who were but few in number would have introduced Novelties contrary to the Ancient and most Sacred Custom of the Universal Church or that they would have framed to themselves a singular kind of Religion different from what was professed by the Catholicks by himself his Brother King Ferdinand and by all the Princes and States of the Empire Nay and utterly disagreeing with the Practice of all the Kings in the World and of their own Ancestors too But that since they now demanded to have a General Council called and a Decree past in this Dyet for securing the Publick Peace He who above all things loved peace would use his Interest with the Pope and the rest of the Christian Princes that as soon as the Place could be agreed upon a Council should be
been any need of his counsel Now that he might in his absence contribute what he could to the Publick Good he wrote a Book to the Bishops and other Prelates in that Dyet laying before them the state of the Church under the Roman Papacy how it had been overspread with thick Darkness Impious Doctrin and Foul Errours and admonishing them of their Duty in most weighty and serious Words he upbraids them with Cruelty and Bloody-mindedness Moreover he exhorts them not to let slip the Occasion of healing the Evil alledging That since his Doctrin agreed with the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles all counsels taken against God would be in vain Whilst the Emperour and Papists were thus venting their Rage and Threats against the Protestants Melanchthon was very much dejected and disconsolate not indeed for his own sake but Posterities and those who were to come after and wholly gave himself over to Grief Sighing and Tears But when this came to Luther's Knowledge he endeavoured to Comfort and Chear him up by several Letters and seeing this was not the Work of Man but of God Almighty he advises him to lay aside all Thoughtfulness and Anxiety and cast the whole Burthen of it upon him And why said he do you in this manner Afflict and Torment your self If God gave his own Son for us why do we Doubt and Fear why are we cast down and dismayed Is Satan stronger than he Will he who has bestowed so great a Blessing upon us forsake us in smaller Matters Why are we afraid of the World which Christ hath overcome If we maintain a bad Cause why do we not change our Mind If it be Just and Holy why do we distrust God's Promises Certainly the Devil can take nothing from us but our Life but Christ liveth and reigneth for ever who taketh upon him the Defence and Protection of the Truth he will not cease to be with us until the consummation of all things If he be not with us pray where is he to be found If we be not of the Church do you think that the Pope and the rest of our Adversaries are Sinners we are 't is true and that in many things yet Christ is not therefore a Lyer whose Cause we maintain Let Kings and the Nations fret and rage as much as they please he that dwelleth in Heaven shall hold them in Derision God hath hitherto without our Counsel governed and protected this Cause he also will henceforward bring it to the desired end What you write of the Laws and Traditions of Men may easily be answered For it is not lawful for any Man to appoint or chuse a new Work as the Worship of God since both the first Commandment and all the Prophets condemn such Works They may indeed be a bodily Exercise but if they come once to be worshiped they become Idolatrous As for any Reconciliation it is in vain hoped for for neither can we depose the Pope nor can the True Religion be safe so long as Popery continues That ye give the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in Both kinds and yield not to the Adversaries in that who will have it to be indifferent you do well for it is not in our Power to appoint or tolerate any thing in the Church which cannot be defended by the Word of God. We condemn the whole Church cry they But we say That the Church was unwillingly surprised and oppressed by the Tyranny of a divided and half-Sacrament and is therefore to be excused in the same manner as the whole Synagogue was to be excused when being captive in Babylon it observed not the Law and other Rites of Moses for it was hindered by Force that it could not Take special heed that ye grant not too great a Jurisdiction to Bishops lest more Trouble ensue thereupon hereafter For my part I dislike all this Treaty about accommodating the Difference in Religion for it is all Labour in vain unless the Pope would utterly abolish his Kingdom If they condemn our Doctrin why do we seek for an Uniformity if they approve it why are the Ancient Errours retained but they openly condemn it All they do then is but Sham and Dissimulation They take a great deal of Pains as it appears about Ceremonies But let them first restore the Doctrin of Faith and Works Let them suffer the Church to have Ministers that will perform the necessary Duties They require that Monks may be again put into possession but let them on the other hand give us back so many Innocent and Pious Men whom they have slain let them restore so many Souls lost by Impious and Erroneous Doctrin let them restore those great Revenues got by Fraud and Knavery let them in short restore the Glory of God dishonoured by so many Reproaches When once they have made Satisfaction as to these things then will we reason the case with them who has the best right to the Goods of the Church Since the chief and almost sole difference betwixt Luther and some others was about the Lord's Supper as we have said before and that that exceedingly rejoyced the Papists as it grieved the others Bucer with the consent of the Elector of Saxony and his own Magistrates went from Ausburg to Luther to attempt a Reconciliation and had a very fair Answer from him insomuch that he made a Progress from thence to Zuinglius and the Switzers that he might essay to unite them more closely in Mind and Opinion This then being the state of Affairs and all things tending to Stirs and Troubles the Landgrave concluded a League for six Years with the Cities of Zurich Basil and Strasburg That if any Violence should be offered upon the account of Religion they should mutually aid and assist one another And this League was made in the Month of November At the same time the Emperour wrote to the Elector of Saxony commanding him to come to Cologne by the 21 day of December about difficult and weighty Affairs â—elating to the Publick The same Day he received this Letter which was November 28 he had a Messenger with Letters from the Archbishop of Mentz the design whereof was to acquaint him That the Emperour had desired of him that he would assemble the Princes Electors about the election of a King of the Romans and therefore he cited him to be present at Cologne December 29. This thing being known the Duke of Saxony forthwith dispatched Letters to the Landgrave and the rest of the Protestant Princes and Cities praying them to meet at Smalcalde December 22 but in the mean time he sent away in all haste his Son John Frederick with some of his Counsellors to Cologne that they might be present at the Day appointed by the Emperour To them he gave Orders to represent That the Citation of the Archbishop of Mentz was not legally made and that this same creation of a King of the Romans was a signal Violation of
forbear associating themselves in so impious a War. Some of the Cities had so dealt with those of Zurich Bern and Basil that they promis'd not to refuse the League provided they might be admitted indefinitely without exception to any of their Opinions which John Frederick promis'd he would report unto his Father As to what was propounded about providing for their defence the Cities declare That they will give in their full Answer in relation to that business in the next Assembly at Franckfort and as to the creating a King of the Romans the Princes determine as before That they will not yield Obedience And since the Emperor had by his Letters commanded them to acknowledge Ferdinand for King of the Romans it was agreed that the Prince of Saxony should in the mean time draw up the Form of an Answer which should be produc'd in publick at Franckfort and that then the Cities likewise should declare their Sentiments about creating King Ferdinand The fourth of June is the day appointed for the Convention of Franckford In the mean time during their stay at Smalcalde they receive Letters from the Emperor to acquaint them that he is from all parts allarm'd with the news of the Turks design to invade Germany with a mighty Army his Commands therefore are that they contribute their Aids without any Exception They after the manner of their Ancestors do declare that they will not decline the sustaining any Charge or the doing any good Office which they owe to the Publick but that he himself must needs know what was the purport of the Elector of Brandenburg's Speech at the Diet of Auspurg which yet he himself did afterwards in some measure qualifie as likewise what was then and there decreed concerning the Imperial-Chamber that they then did make it their earnest request that he would by his authority set aside all actions that might be issu'd out from the Imperial-Chamber upon the score of Religion but being then not able to prevail they had some few months since renew'd their Requests both by their Letters and Embassadors but could obtain no other answer but what the Palatine Frederick had at length given their Embassadors viz. That 't was to no purpose for them to proceed or expect any farther but that he would at his own leisure consider what answer was fit to be made This they confess was much beside their expectation however they could not imagine but that some time or other something would have been offer'd by way of answer Now in that they are urg'd to contribute their assistance against the Turk before they have made their own Peace at home the World may easily judge how dangerous and inconsiderate an action it would be in them to part with their own Defences and as it were ham-string themselves in so difficult a juncture when they can hardly expect any thing at home but Confiscations and Violence For should actions be let loose upon them from the Exchequer upon the account of Religion who can doubt but this would be a direct act of violence they therefore again and again entreat him that he would come to some determination at last and afford them some peace and security by suspending all Exchequer actions till the time of a Council that they on their parts would to the utmost of their power endeavour to discharge their duty not only in this War against the Turks but also in all other concerns of the Publick Their farther request is that he would acquaint them by these Embassadors what his Resolutions are in this affair In the month of March Richard Archbishop of Triers departed this life whose authority among the Electors was very considerable both for his great experience in affairs and his endeavours after Liberty There was some suspition of Poison and one of his Domesticks being put to the Torture did by his hardiness and constancy escape the danger At the earnest request which those of Vlm did make to the Senate of Strasburg Bucer was sent unto them who by the help of Oecolampadius and Ambrose Blauret constituted Churches within their Territories and drew up for them a religious Form. About this time there came into the Netherlands Mary the Emperors own Sister whose Husband as we said before was Lewis King of Hungary She was by the Emperor substituted Governess of all those Provinces in the room of Margaret his Aunt lately deceased There was a Contest between Clement the Seventh and Alfonsus Duke of Ferrara about Regiun and Modena which by mutual consent they submitted to the Arbitration of the Emperor who being at this time in the Low Countries pronounces for the Duke of Ferrara The King of France on the 21 of April returns this answer to the Letters which were sent him from the Princes and Cities That there is nothing which he more heartily wishes for than the Peace of Europe and that he is not a little pleas'd to find their Inclinations that way and that to this end they desire a Council may be call'd which to him seems not only convenient but necessary For where ever mention is made of healing the Publick Breaches there 't is always his judgment that they cannot possibly lay a firmer Foundation for it than by calling in the Blessed Spirit that gracious discoverer of Truth to their assistance and would but the rest come to this Resolution was there but a place free from all danger or suspicion set apart for the Council where every one might have liberty to speak freely his Opinion and where no allowance should be giv'n to prejudice then indeed they might reasonably hope for a prosperous Issue As to the Concern they have lest he should be alienated from them by the false Criminations of their Adversaries they have no reason to fear for it had been his constant custom not to pronounce any thing rashly even against the Reputation of his Enemies But since there is so close and so ancient a Friendship between the Kings of France and the Princes of the Empire what a grand Barbarity would it be to entertain any sinister opinion against these his Friends and Allies before their Cause is heard Now how great a value he sets upon this ancient Alliance is visible from hence that ev'n when there is War between him and the Emperor the Germans and Citizens of the Empire have always found an open ingress into France and a regress from thence where they have the advantage of Trading as freely as if they were at home so that France may properly be call'd A Mansion of the Princes and Citizens of Germany These Priviledges are very well known and yet they are not so great but that he will take an opportunity much to enlarge them for their sakes especially if according to their Declaration they will stand to the Decrees of a religious and free Council For that the Controversie as they desire may be decided rather by Arguments than the Sword
thousand Soldiers who upon the approach of the Enemy gave notice to those in the City by several Messengers to fly with all speed to their assistance but such was the Expedition of the Enemy that they could not come in so opportunely to their Relief for having got upon the top of a Mountain over which they were to pass they beheld from thence their Friends in the Valley beneath very hardly press'd and in a dangerous condition having therefore encourag'd one another they made a confused descent from the Mountain the nature of which was such that they could not pass above one at a time Being therefore not able to draw up all their Forces they were over-whelm'd with multitudes and having lost many of their Men they at last turn'd their backs This happen'd upon the 11th day of October Among the number of the slain Zuinglius was found For the custom of Zurich is such that upon any Expedition the principal Minister of their Church goes out along with them Now Zuinglius who was in his own nature a very stout and couragious Man consider'd likewise with himself that if he should stay at home and the battel should go against them he must needs draw upon himself a great Odium for animating other Men by his Preaching and yet shrinking back himself in the time of danger he therefore resolv'd to run the common risque They us'd his dead body very barbarously which shew'd that their revenge could not be satisfy'd ev'n with his death He was aged 44 years being four years younger than Luther There was a Comet seen almost all the month of August and about that time died Lovice Mother to the King of France she was Sister by the Father's side to Charles Duke of Savoy Those of Bern who were to make War upon Vnderwalt having understood the misfortune send to encourage their Friends of Zurich and to promise their assistance assuring them that they will shortly be with them with all their Forces desiring that it might be left to them to revenge their Quarrel But when upon a meeting which was held about eight days after the battel they of Bern appear'd somewhat slack in performance the people of Zurich having receiv'd Aids from Basil Schaffhausen Suntgaw and Mulhausen draw out from their whole Body some select Troops who Marching out in the night do plant themselves in a Mountain near Memmingen that so they might be ready as soon as the Moon was up to make an effort and surprise on a suddain the City Zug But the Enemy who lay encampt not far off having notice of the Project flew to their Arms with all speed and marching before it was light came upon them unawares setting up mighty Shouts and Cries for the greater incussion of Terror This was upon the 20th of October Many were on both sides kill'd and though the five Cantons had the better of it yet those of Zurich would not in the least abate of their zeal for Religion At length a Peace being made up through the mediation of Friends this among other Articles was inserted That those of Zurich Bern and Basil should depart from that League which they had lately made with the City of Strasburg and the Lantgrave and that the five Cantons should do the same with Ferdinand And thus having drawn up Instruments which did mutually oblige them the Confederacy was on both sides dissolv'd Towards the end of November OEcolampadius departed this life He had conceiv'd an extraordinary grief at the death of Zuinglius which was thought to have heightned his Distemper there having been an intimate familiarity betwixt them He was aged 49 years There are some Exercitations of his extant upon the Prophets which are highly approv'd of by the Learned On the 19th of December the Protestant Embassadors met again at Frankfort and there came to an Agreement for a mutual Defence which was the only thing they wanted In this Convention those of Gossar Emberk and Embden were admitted into the League as those of Esling had been a little before But George Duke of Brandenburg was absent as were likewise the Embassadors of Nuremburg Camin and Heilsburg who though they profess'd the same Doctrin yet as we hinted before were averse to the League The Emperor leaving the Low-Countries in the beginning of January directed his Journey towards Ratisbon in order to hold a Diet there as we have said before Having in his way thither arrived at Mentz on the last day of January the Archbishop of Mentz and the Prince Palatine intercede with him again for Peace about which when he had permitted them to hold a Treaty they sent advise to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave that they would likewise give their Concurrence Wherefore after some intercourse of Letters it was agreed that a Convention should be held in the beginning of April at Schwinfurt a Town of the Empire situated upon the Main Here they began to treat about establishing a Peace till the sitting of a Council The mediating Princes were there present themselves and by the Emperors Order laid before them these Injunctions That they should Innovate Teach and Publish nothing about Religion besides the Writing that was exhibited at Auspurg but should keep themselves within those bounds till such time as a Council should sit That they should not hold Communication with the Zuinglians or the Anabaptists lest under the pretext of Religion they should draw over to them and receive under their Protection the Subjects of another State. That they should not suffer any of their own Subjects to teach without the limits of their Dominions That they forbear all Reproaches and give no disturbance to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction or to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church That they Contribute their assistance against the Turks and that they be Obedient to those Decrees which respect the Publick Good and the administration of the Empire That they be Obedient to the Emperor and the King of the Romans and that they dissolve whatever League has been made against the Emperor the King or those States that are of a different Religion If they will comply in these things they hope that both the Emperor and the King will lay aside all Resentments that have been formerly occasion'd The Duke of Saxony being detain'd by Indisposition had sent thither John Frederick his Son there were likewise present Francis Duke of Lunenburg and Ainhault as likewise the Embassadors of the other Princes and Cities to whom were lately added the Cities of Nortingen and Hall and Suabe After things had been long debated the Mediating Princes dispatch'd in writing all the Transactions to the Emperor who was holding his Diet at Ratisbone to the end that they might understand what his Pleasure was As to that Proposition which requir'd that the Duke of Saxony and his Allies should yield Obedience to the King of the Romans they commit to writing and deliver to the Mediators upon the
17th day of April what 't is they desire and expect from the Emperor in relation to that Affair requesting that King Ferdinand would wave his design and not carry himself as King of the Romans But if the Emperor shall think that he has occasion for a Coadjutor that then being assisted by the sense and counsel of the Electoral Princes he should Interpret the Caroline Law and by his Edict give it a perpetual Sanction which according to the rules of Justice ought to run to this purpose viz. That hereafter no King of the Romans be chosen during the life of the Emperor unless first the Electors and six other Princes of the Empire shall judge it fit to be done And when it shall plainly appear to them that 't is for the advantage of the Publick then the Elector of Mentz shall Summon his Colleagues together with the other six Princes to some convenient place there to deliberate further about the Affair and when they have throughly weigh'd and discuss'd the Matter then the Electoral Princes alone with the addition of the King of Bohemia shall have the Power of creating a King That the King of the Romans thus chosen while the Emperor is alive shall not manage the Publick Administration in his own Name but in the Emperor's nor shall he arrogate any Power or Dominion to himself That the Princes and States of the Empire shall not be bound in any Oath or Promise unto him till after the death of the Emperor Upon the creation of a new King there shall no Oath be taken but according to the tenour of the Caroline Law nor shall it be in the Power of the Electors to alter that Form And whoever shall be convicted of acting contrary to that Oath or shall be under a violent suspicion of so doing and yet not be able to clear him he shall be depriv'd of his Electoral right for ever Moreover for the avoiding of Prescription three Kings shall not be successively created out of the same Family and no Man shall be created King of the Romans who does not descend from some Family of the Princes of Germany That neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall endeavour to alter what the Caroline Law has ratify'd about the creation of a King. When the Electors shall see it convenient to create a King they shall be under no necessity of giving notice before-hand to the Emperor nor may he in that Case issue out his Orders to the Elector of Mentz to Convene the rest of the Electors but when they shall appear just and substantial Reasons for the Creation of a King during the life of the Emperor then the Archbishop of Mentz shall Summon in his Colleagues to appear at Franckfort upon an appointed day nor shall it be in his Power to appoint any other place for their Meeting unless the Colleagues shall for weighty Reasons allow of it The Elector of Mentz may not without the consent of his Colleagues demand the Crown and Scepter and other Imperial Ensigns from the City of Nuremburg Nor shall he cut off any thing from that in three months space which is allowed to the Princes for their meeting together after they are Summon'd for it might prove much to the prejudice of the Publick should the streightness of time occasion the absence of one or two of them While the Electors are upon their Consultation at Franckfort every body else shall be excluded If any Breach shall be made in these Conditions then the Electors shall not be oblig'd to appear there or to make any stay and whatsoever shall there be transacted by them shall be accounted void Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall suffer the Arms of the Electors to be display'd in Italy France or other foreign Parts or their proper Offices to be supply'd but by themselves or their Embassadors The King of the Romans shall not accept his final Inauguration but in the presence of the Electors or their Embassadors Neither the Emperor nor the King may hinder the Embassadors of Foreign Kings and Princes from coming to the Imperial Diets and there propounding their business for this is not only consonant to the Law of Nations but is also full of Humanity and Civility Neither the Emperor nor the King of the Romans shall assume to himself any peculiar Power of judging in such Causes as may be depending between the Princes of the Empire but shall suffer them to be legally try'd in the place where they ought That the Emperor be careful to Maintain those things which concern the Glory Honour and Safety of the Princes and the Empire and which he has faithfully promis'd to observe and that he rectifie whatever has been acted otherwise and that it be provided by a Law That whoever is King of the Romans he shall observe the same things If the Emperor will explain and confirm the Caroline Law in this sense the Duke of Saxony promises that he will not be wanting to his Duty whenever the Good of the Publick shall require such a Consultation but if the mediating Princes cannot obtain this of the Emperor he will not however decline a legal Trial provided that King Ferdinand does not in the mean time assume to himself or Usurp the administration of the Affairs of the Empire or any other Authority especially over them or over the two Brothers William and Lewis Princes of Bavaria But if they cannot obtain so much as this then their Request is That the Emperor would be pleas'd to give them a publick Audience in an Assembly of the Princes and other States where they will demonstrate upon what just and weighty Reasons it is that they cannot approve of this Election And now since they understand that they have upon the account of this their non-compliance incurr'd the suspicion of Rebellion not only with the Emperor but also among Foreign Kings and People they therefore earnestly desire that the Emperor would not take it amiss if they make known the reasons of this their action to all Men not only through Germany but also beyond the Limits of the Empire for this they find 't is but necessary for them to do Among other things it has been said That the Electors are to swear according to the tenour of Charles the Fourth his Law. Now the thing is thus When they are come to Franckfort having perform'd their Devotion they go up to the Altar and laying their hands upon a consecrated Book as they call it they in a set Form of words most religiously swear by that Faith which they owe both to God and the Empire that they will choose such a chief Magistrate of the Christian Commonwealth as they think to be worthy of so great a Charge and who is every way fit and qualify'd for it as far as the best of their skill and understanding will give them leave to judge and that this they do without the prepossession
of any Bargain Gift Reward or Promise Now the reason that the two Brothers of Bavaria were inserted in the number is this They among the rest had oppos'd the Election of King Ferdinand and having communicated their Counsels with the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave and the King of France they enter'd into the League for the defence of the Liberties of Germany And the King of France had deposited 100000 Crowns in the hands of the two Brothers that they might be in a readiness when occasion would serve The Mediating Princes upon the 20th of April return an Answer to those things which we have recited That 't is for the sake of Peace and Concord that they negotiate this Affair nor could they think that such things as these would have been propounded by them Now that a King of the Romans should be chosen whilst the Emperor is in being they have many weighty Reasons to urge which reasons have been formerly made use of to John Frederick who was then his Fathers Embassador and should now if the matter so requir'd be more copiously explain'd But since they are not alone concern'd in this business but likewise the Emperor the King and the other Princes their Colleagues they will not debate this Point any longer but leave it undecided that so they may come with greater ease to the accommodating of other things as the occasion of this Assembly does require However if it be expected that they should give them and their Allies a reason for what they do they will not decline the trial and they question not but they shall back their Cause with such Proofs as will not admit of any Exception But now if an account of these things should be brought to the Emperor they are very much afraid that they will be so far from taking any place there that they will rather prove an occasion of interrupting at least this Pacifick Treaty if not of wholly taking it away To the end therefore that a Truce and Reconciliation may be brought about as well in relation to the matter of Religion as to that of the Election and that there may not be a separation between those two Points they earnestly intreat the two Princes of Saxony the Father and Son that they will have some regard to themselves in this Affair and depart from their Resolution For then they have reason to hope that both the Emperor and King will abundantly take care that this Election shall never be prejudicial either to them or their Heirs Nay they doubt not but they will lay aside all Resentment and afford their Favour to them all especially to the Duke of Saxony in promoting that business which he now solicits and ev'n in the Cause of Religion as far as 't is possible to be done For they are very much afraid that he cannot be prevail'd with to grant them a Peace as to matters of Religion whilst the Point of Election remains undecided As for their parts 't is out of Love and Friendship that they give this advice and do intreat them so to accept it and that they would so manage themselves that they at length may see that this their Intercession was not without it's weight nor their Diligence imploy'd to no purpose Four days after John Frederick the Prince made them this return viz. That he had not expected from them such an Answer as this for in that they had among other things affirm'd That 't was for the Safety and Dignity of the Empire that a King of the Romans should be created he is under a necessity of giving an Answer to this as well in the Name of his Father as the other Associates whose perswasion it is that this Election is irregular and not at all for the Welfare of the Empire Now since they sustain the Character of Arbitrators he greatly hop'd that they would not have defended this Cause but have propounded it as a doubtful and controverted Point For as to the other things mentioned by them they do not properly belong to Arbitrators but ought to be referr'd to such a time when they may fall under a common deliberation Indeed when at Cologne the Emperor desir'd that his Brother Ferdinand should be admitted into a Partnership of the Empire there were some Reasons offer'd for the doing of it but they were not of such weight that for their sakes the Caroline Law together with the Rights and Liberty of the Empire should be violated that at the same time He together with the rest of his Father's Embassadors gave in their Reasons by way of Answer why it ought not to be done He therefore now again repeats what he said before that if the Emperor would not admit of these their Propositions then the Cause may come to be discuss'd in a fair Trial that so the reasons of their Descent may be known Now since 't is their part to act equally and impartially he did imagine that being Arbitrators in other matters they would likewise in this Controversie find out some honest Expedient which might be for the advantage of the Empire but since nothing of this is done he will not urge them any further As for his Father and his Confederates they will undoubtedly make it evident without injuring any Man how great a Breach this is upon the Laws and Liberty of the Empire and that they are not to be blamed if any inconvenience arises from thence He hopes likewise that since these things concern the Honour and Safety of the Empire the Emperor will not take it unkindly Among the other Propositions the first which belongs to that head in which the Zuinglians are concern'd has this tendency viz. to hinder the Princes from confederating with a number of Cities and so indeed the Umpires did in their debate explain it That if the Zuinglians would confess and forsake their Error then they should be included in the Peace but if otherwise then they were to be deserted no assistance to be afforded them nor any League to be made with them But last year at Smalcalde there happen'd to be a good understanding between the Protestants for when those of Strasburg together with some Cities of Schwaben had made a fuller explication of their Doctrin about the Lord's Supper which before had only been propounded in the Diet at Auspurg this their Interpretation was accepted of by the Saxons Being therefore now unanimous they all of them return the same Answer to the former Propositions and agree at last to lay down these conditions of Agreement That they who have exhibited a Confession of their Doctrin and an Apology for the same at Auspurg as likewise those who hereafter shall receive the same Doctrin shall keep themselves within those bounds and shall make no further Innovations till such time as a Council shall sit which has so often been promis'd and agreed upon that they shall not joyn themselves as to the Doctrinal part
them sufficiently both for the procuring of Diet and Interest too But if that Persecution and burning of Christians which I just hinted had not happen'd and taken the King from his design he was resolv'd as they say to have pulled down their Convent and levell'd all their Works And here we may observe that before the Reformation there was abundance of Apparitions For the Spirits of the dead as was supposed us'd to be very troublesome to this World as soon as their Funeral was over and come and tell people either why they were damn'd or tormented for a time in Purgatory begging their near Relations or Friends to have pity on them Now it was common for them to desire either that their Vows which they had made to the Saints might be discharged or that the Prayers and Sacrifice of the Mass might be repeated as often as they gave directions for their enlargement This practise confirm'd the belief of Purgatory wonderfully and gave a mighty Reputation to Masses and enrich'd the Priests more than can be well imagin'd But after Luther's Doctrin appear'd and got Footing these Goblins went off by degrees and vanish'd For Luther proves from the Holy Scriptures that departed Souls are at rest and confin'd till the last Judgment And that those Disturbances those horrible Noises and Sights are caused by the Devil who omits no opportunity to establish an unlawful Worship and to confirm Men in mistaken Notions concerning Religion that so he may make the Incarnation of our Saviour ineffectual The Lantgrave after he had contracted with the French King raiseth an Army in the beginning of the Spring and before he proceeded any farther the Duke of Wirtemburg and himself wrote to King Ferdinand to justifie what they had done but receiving no other satisfaction from Ferdinand than that he was willing to have the Difference decided by Law at last they brought their Men into the Field And upon the 13th of May meeting with the Enemy who were ten thousand strong in Foot they played their Cannon upon them and routed them near Laufen a Town in the Dukedom of Wirtemburg Philip Prince Palatine who was Ferdinand's General was wounded with a Musket-shot in this Action and lost his Feet And a great many of his Soldiers were drown'd in the River Neckar which they attempted to cross in their flight After this Defeat almost all the Dukedom of Wirtemburg submitted to Vlrick their Prince And at last Auspurg which was built upon an extraordinary steep Rock together with Aurach Tubingen and Nipha all strong Forts upon the account of their situation surrendred themselves Upon the first of May Ferdinand published a Proclamation and wrote particularly to all the Protestants That none should be aiding to the Faction of these Princes but resist them to the utmost of their Power The Emperor also set forth an Edict to the same purpose a few days before insomuch that no body gave them any assistance openly and all Peoples thoughts were in suspence and concern'd about the Consequences of this Commotion While this War was carrying on the Archbishop of Mentz and George Duke of Saxony who was Father in law to the Lantgrave endeavour'd a Reconciliation between King Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony and at last upon the 29th of June they concluded a Pacification upon these Conditions That no Violence should be offer'd upon the account of Religion nor no Law Suits commenced and that the Peace which the Emperor had made should be kept That Ferdinand by the Emperors Authority should stop all manner of Processes of the Chamber of Spire against the Protestants under which denomination neither the Anabaptists nor the Sacramentarians nor such other Sectarists were to be comprehended The Elector of Saxony and his Confederates should be oblig'd to acknowledge Ferdinand King of the Romans and give him that Title Ferdinand also engaged himself to procure a Decree of the Emperor and the rest of the Electors to this effect When there shall be an occasion to make a King of the Romans in the Emperor's life time that then the Electors shall meet before-hand and consult whether there is good and sufficient reason for such a creation if it appears there is then they shall proceed according to the Form of the Caroline Law All Creations contrary to this Provision shall be reputed null In case this Decree is not made within ten months the Elector of Saxony and his Allies are not to be obliged by this Treaty The Emperor likewise shall within the said term confirm the Elector of Saxony his Succession to his Fathers and Ancestors Dominions And lastly that Ferdinand should endeavour to get the Emperor's Approbation of the Elector of Saxony his Marriage with the Duke of Cleave's Daughter While these things were debating another Treaty was brought on where the Elector of Saxony engageth as a Person Commissioned by the Lantgrave and the Duke of Wirtemburg that those Princes will make good whatever is concluded by him At last after a long Dispute which continued till all the Dukedom was recover'd by force they came to this Agreement By vertue of which Duke Vlrick and his Heirs-Male were to come under Vassalage to Ferdinand as Arch-Duke of Austria and hold the Dukedom of Wirtemburg of him as Lord of the Fee And if the Family of the Wirtemburgs should happen to be extinct or have no Heirs-Male that then this Territory was to descend upon the Arch-Dukes of Austria who were to hold it of the Empire to which they should be oblig'd to pay Homage and Service upon this account Vlrick was bound to acknowledge Ferdinand King of the Romans and never enter into any League against him The Lantgrave and Vlrick were to make Restitution of those Estates and Goods which had been seized on during the War To force no persons to change their Religion To permit the Clergy the enjoyment of their Revenues without any molestation That those who have withdrawn either upon the account of danger or contempt may return home if they please and others who have a mind to depart the Country shall have the liberty to carry their Effects with them The Ordnance with which Auspurg was fortified shall be deliver'd to Ferdinand The mony which Ferdinand hath borrowed and converted to his own use he shall pay himself but that which hath been laid out for the advantage of the Country shall be discharged by Vlrick Duke Vlrick and his Heirs shall do Homage to Ferdinand and his Heirs Kings of Bohemia for those Lands in the Dutchy of Wirtemburg which they hold of that Kingdom Philip Prince Palatine and the rest of the Prisoners shall be dismissed without Ransome The Lantgrave and Vlrick are oblig'd within a certain time to be specified to beg King Ferdinand his Pardon either in their own Persons or by their Embassadors at which time the Duke shall be put into full Possession by Ferdinand who promiseth to intercede for their Pardon with
far that they may not have a servile and obnoxious Council conven'd in a dangerous place but that things of that weight and importance in which the peace and welfare of the Church in general and every Person in particular is so much concern'd may be examin'd with Freedom and Security By appearing in this manner not only the present Age but all future Posterity will be mightily oblig'd to his Majesty and return him immortal Thanks for so great a Favour As to what his Excellency mov'd concerning a Conference of learned Men it deserves to be consider'd throughly and at leisure Besides being not aware of such a Proposal most of their Convention had no Commission to treat about it But as soon as they come to a determination in the Case they would write his Majesty an account of it for they desir'd nothing more than that Truth might be propagated as far as was possible Lastly they were very glad to hear his Majesty promise not to furnish out any Supplies against them and therefore neither would they assist his Enemies in any case where the Emperor and the Empire were unconcern'd This Embassador had private Conferences with Pontanus Melanchton with the Lantgraves Divines and James Sturmius concerning several Controversal Points where he told them what the King and the French Clergy especially those of Paris thought of each of them Particularly what their sense was concerning the Pope's Primacy the Eucharist the Mass and Invocation of departed Saints and Images what Notions they had about Purgatory Justification Monastick Vows and the Celibacy of the Clergy In most of these Controversies he said the King was inclinable to Melanchton's opinion in his Book Of Common Places Concerning the Pope he told them that the King and Philip were agreed for his Majesty did not believe his Holiness's Primacy was founded on Divine Right but Ecclesiastical Constitutions but the King of England would allow him neither one Right nor the other And truly the Pope hath pretended to more than his share in deposing Kings and Emperors at his Pleasure And they say he is about that Business now with the King of England notwithstanding the King his Master and several Cardinals had interceded with him to forbear Indeed the Divines say He is Head of the Church jure Divino but they fail'd in their proof when the King put them upon it They likewise defend the common Opinion concerning a fire in Purgatory For this Doctrin keeps up their Masses their Obits and Legacies and all the Trade they have upon those accounts But if the Mass was once put down their Authority would be sapp'd and the Vitals of their Grandeur wounded Now when the King had given these Gentlemen several months time to prove their Opinion about Purgatory by Scripture at last they gave him this Answer That it was not prudential to furnish their Adversaries with Arguments lest they should turn them upon themselves As to Monastery-Vows his Majesty believes he can prevail so far with this present Pope that young people shall not be engaged to that sort of life till they have reach'd their full age and that they may go off when they please and Marry But his Majesty does by no means think it convenient that those Societies should be dissolv'd but continu'd as Nurseries of Piety and Learning The Divines likewise press the Celibacy of the Clergy and here the King hath found out a middle Expedient That those who have Wives shall keep them but that others shall not have the liberty to Marry under pain of Suspension For to that which is usually urg'd concerning Paphnutius his perswading the Nicene Fathers that Priests might be married The Divines answer That it could not be prov'd that Matrimony was ever allow'd to Priests 'T is true before their Ordination they did not deny but that they were sometimes married Concerning the receiving the Lords Supper in both kinds the King had some discourse with Clement the Seventh about it and he hoped this Pope might be perswaded to make a Decree that every one might have the liberty to do as they thought fit Moreover his Majesty observ'd that within the memory of our Fathers the whole Communion was given in France to all persons without distinction indeed this was not done in the Bodies of the Church but in Chappels and Oratories This relation the King had from some very old Persons who affirm'd that this was the custom in France about 120 years ago Besides the French Kings receive in both kinds which practice when his Majesty objected to the Divines in Disputation they told him that Kings were anointed as well as Priests and that the Scripture mention'd A Royal Priesthood and that others who had none of these peculiar Reasons to plead could not have this liberty The King likewise owned that many passages in the publick Service of the Church ought to be corrected and some quite struck out That Clement the Seventh committed this affair to the care of Cardinal de la Cruz a Spaniard who printed a Book about it which the Parisian Divines condemn'd as Heretical For there is a sort of people among them who are not contented to cry out upon the Germans as Heterodox and wicked but let the same Censurers fly at the Cardinals and Popes themselves upon occasion And since the present Affair is so momentous and difficult in all the parts of it his Majesty is wholly intent upon it that the Peace of the Church may be recover'd He had likewise conferr'd with the Dukes of Bavaria to the same purpose who seem'd to him to be more rigid than the Divines of Paris though afterwards one of their Counsellors of State said that they were grown more moderate and the same thing was told him by Julius Phlugius concerning George Duke of Saxony and the Elector of Mentz The King therefore was of opinion that a publick Consultation was altogether necessary before the beginning of which if they pleas'd to send some few of their eminent Divines into France to confer with the Sorbonists his Majesty would take it very kindly and so order the Conference that some violent high-flying Men should be mixt with others of more temper and moderation that by this means the Truth might be wrought out and come to light When he had said this he desir'd that the Protestants would not accept of any place for a Council without his Majesties advice and the King of England's who would both of them return them the same Civility 'T is not many years ago since Lewis the Twefth of France insisted that the Pope could not call a Council without the consent of the Emperor and other Princes This was also the Opinion of the King of Navarre and when they were both Excommunicated by Julius Ferdinand of Spain seiz'd upon Navarre as Executioner of the Pope's Sentence Now the King his Master was of these Princes mind neither could he approve any Council unless it was held in a
behaviour and condition of the Citizens protect the Innocent and slight the Fortifications which the Anabaptists had rais'd The Bishop also was to demolish those Forts he had built in the Town and to punish the Captives the King Knipperdoling and Creching according to their deserts with the first opportunity and not to keep them any longer Concerning that which was decreed about Religion the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave the Duke of Wirtemburgh and Earl of Anhalt openly remonstrated against it the same Protestation was made by the Cities besides they were not willing the old Fortification of the Town should be raz'd as concerning the new ones they had nothing to object The King and his two fellow Prisoners were carry'd up and down the Country to the Princes to shew and expose them this gave some of the Lantgraves Preachers an opportunity of conversing with the King with whom they dispute chiefly these following Points viz. concerning the Kingdom of Christ concerning Magistracy Justification Baptism the Lord's Supper the Incarnation of Christ and Matrimony and here though he defended himself with obstinacy enough yet they press'd him so hard with Testimonies of Scripture that though he did not yield in every thing yet they made him bend and let go his hold insomuch that at last he gave up the greatest part of the Cause which some think he did only to save his life For when they came to him again he promis'd upon condition of being pardon'd that he would engage to oblige the Anabaptists who were very numerous in Holland Brabant England and Friezland to give over Preaching and to obey the Magistrates in every thing Afterwards these Divines argued with his Companions both by word of mouth and writing concerning Mortification the Baptism of Infants Community of Goods and the Kingdom of Christ When they were brought to Telget the Bishop demands of the King by what Authority he could justifie the liberty he had taken in his Town and with his Subjects To whom he replies in a question Who gave him the Jurisdiction over the City When the Bishop made answer That he was chosen into this Government by the consent of the Chapter and the People The other replies That he was call'd to this Office by God. Upon the 19th of Jan. they are brought back to Munster and committed to distinct Prisons upon the same day likewise the Bishop came to Town with the Archbishop of Cologn and the Embassadors of the Duke of Cleve The two following days were spent in pious Exhortations to bring them off from their Error Now the King did own his fault and prayed to our Saviour but the other two would not acknowledge that they had done any thing amiss but obstinately defended their Opinions The next day the King was brought out into a place whose situation was higher than ordinary and tied to a Stake there were two Executioners by him with red-hot Pincers He was silent for the three first snatches but afterwards he did nothing but cry out to God for Mercy when he had been torn in this manner above the space of an hour he was run through the Body with a Sword and so died His Companions had the same punishment When they were dead they were each of them fasten'd to an Iron-Cage and hung at the top of the Tower in the City the King hangs in the middle and about a Man's height higher than the other two In January this year Catherine of Spain died who Henry King of England had divorc'd above three years since as I observ'd before In the Fourth Book I gave an account how Frederick Duke of Holstein was made King of Denmark by the assistance of the Lubeckers When he was dead there happen'd to be a very troublesome War between his Son and Successor Christian and the Lubeckers but by the mediation of the Elector of Saxony of the Lantgrave and Earnest Duke of Luenburgh of the Towns of Bremen Hamburgh Magdeburgh Brunswick Lunenburgh and Hildesheim the Quarrel was at last taken up this year in February At that time the Duke of Savoy was engag'd in a War with Geneva being assisted in it or rather provoked to it by the Bishop of that City partly because the Reformed Religion was introduced there partly for other reasons Now the Citizens of Geneva were Allies of the Canton of Bern who assisting them at last with their whole Forces the Enemy was beaten off and oblig'd to retreat and the Caenton-men of Bern pursuing them as far as the Lake Leman seiz'd upon as much of the Dukes Country as lay convenient for their Frontiers the same thing was done by the rest of the Switzers which joyn upon Savoy During this Action the French King who long before intended to make War in Italy especially after the death of Francis Sforza whom we mention'd before levies an Army in the beginning of the Spring and falls upon the Duke of Savoy who was his Uncle He grounded his Quarrel upon his Claim to an Inheritance which he said belong'd to him but was seiz'd on by the other The Duke of Savoy being weaken'd before and unable to Match so powerful an Enemy was outed of most of his Dominions in a short time For the King passing over the Alpes invades Piedmont and besides other Conquests takes Turin the Capital City of that Country and fortifies it with new Works and a Garison the Command of the Army in this Action being given to Philip Chabot Admiral of France The Duke of Savoy was married to Beatrix Daughter to Emanuel late King of Portugal and the Emperor to Isabella Sister to John who now Reigns and whereas formerly he had kept himself Neuter now by seeming to incline to the Emperor's side he provok'd the French King to break with him who was his Nephew by his own Sister Louise Some say Pope Clement when he was at Marseilles of which I gave account in the last Book gave the King this Council That if ever he intended to recover Millain his way was first to possess himself of Savoy and Turen However this was the next year the King sets a new Custom on foot and raiseth a standing Army of Foot to the number of about forty thousand which being quarter'd in several Provinces were to be kept in Discipline and always to be ready for Service upon occasion And as the French Kings had formerly been very considerable for their Cavalry which they always kept in pay He was resolv'd to add a well-disciplined Infantry to them that he might not always be oblig'd to hire foreign Soldiers The King's design was to March his Army into the Neighbouring State of Millain to recover that Dutchy which he had formerly been possess'd of for six years together and claim'd it as the Inheritance of him and his Children in the right of Valentina his great Grandmother who was Daughter to Philip Visconti the last Duke of Millain of that Family The Pedigree runs thus
People and when he understood it was very kindly received he afterwards enlarged it And being a person of incomparable Sence and Elocution he diverts his Reader with variety of Arguments drawn from Conversation and such familiar Subjects as all people are acquainted with Where with admirable Address and a most entertaining Stile he intermixes moral and pious Discourses and sometimes upon Occasion reflects upon the old overgrown Errors and Corruptions of the Church which was the reason the Cardinals complained against him In February the French King makes Anne Montmorency who was Lord Steward of his Household Master of the Horse they call it Constable of France which is the highest Honour the Subject is capable of This Office had been kept void about fifteen Years ever since Charles Duke of Bourbon enjoyed it For the King was so extreamly offended with his Revolt that he would not trust any other Person with it till now Besides this Station hath been unfortunate to several others before who by their irregular Management of so great a Power have either provoked the King or the Nobility In the mean time about the latter end of May the Protestants meet at Brunswick there they treat of Matters relating to the League and receive Christian King of Denmark into it He was Son to Frederick and was converted to the Reformed Religion and committed the Modelling and Government of his Churches to John of Pomeren whom he had sent for from Wittenbâ—rg and was crowned by him John Marquess of Brandenburg Brother to Joachim the Elector desired the Duke of Saxony to move the Convention that he might be admitted into the League The Duke therefore had a Commission to treat with him after he came home upon certain Conditions and to receive him in the Name of the whole Party The same thing was desired by Albert Duke of Prussia who was Six Years since out-lawed by the Imperial Chamber which was the principal Reason why the Protestants did not admit him into their Society however they all promised to be kind to him When the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave and their Friends were upon their Journey to this Convention Henry Duke of Brunswick denied to give them a safe Conduct through his Territories For now he was contriving a War against them as will appear afterwards In the Retinue of the Elector of Saxony there was one Maurice a young Gentleman of Seventeen Years of Age Nephew to George Duke of Saxony by Henry his Brother This Henry was a Protestant therefore the Elector took his Son Maurice who was his Kinsman into his own Tuition The King of Denmark also came himself to Brunswick In the Ninth Book I mentioned the Persecution of the Lutherans in France the Particulars of which will be tedious to relate but this Year upon the Fifteenth Day of April which was Nine Days before Easter a young Gentleman of Tholouse about Twenty Years of Age and a studious Person was burnt at Paris for eating Flesh It 's true he was not burn'd perfectly alive but hanged over a Fire where the Gallows was so contrived that he must in some measure feel the Flames which were kindled under him which way of Execution was granted him as a customary Favour of that place because before he came out of Prison he confessed he had done a wicked and irreligious Action into which Confession he was overawed by Judge Morin who took some Pains with him to fright him But this was all he got by his Submission for Repentance goes for no more there than only to procure a Man some abatements of Torture in dying But those who continue firm are executed with the utmost Severity as hath been shown already There was likewise Three Low-country Men in the same Danger and upon the same Occasion but having notice of it given them by a Gentleman of the Parliament a Man of great Sence and Learning they secured themselves by Flight In May the Pope takes a Journey to Nice de Provence a Port Town belonging to the Duke of Savoy whether the Emperor and the French King came also chiefly at his Request The Emperor sailed with his Fleet from Spain but the King took his Progress up the Continent having a Body of Germans among the rest of his Attendance commanded by William of Furstenburg After a long Debate though they could not agree in the main yet in June they concluded a Truce for Ten Years And here Margaret the Emperor 's natural Daughter was contracted to Octavius the Pope's Grandchild by his Son. This Lady was courted before by Cosmo Duke of Florence after the Death of Alexander di Medici The Kings had not their Interview at this place though the Pope desired it very much But some few days after he went away they met at Aigues Mortes a Town in Languedoc situate at the Mouth of the Rhone the Ancients called it Marius his Ditch Here the Emperor landed with his Fleet upon the Seventeenth Day of July in his Return to Spain But before he reached the Port the French King sent Velius his Admiral with several Galleys to attend his Imperial Majesty who when he had sailed almost up to Aigues the Constable of France came and entreated him That he would let his Fleet come to an Anchor in the Haven for the King would be there within Two Hours and wait upon him in his Galley Accordingly the Emperor made the Port as soon as those Ships came up which had lost the Body of the Fleet by reason of a Mist which fell the Day before Not long after the King came and went in a Shallop to the Fleet having in his Train Anthony Duke of Lorrain and the Cardinal his Brother The Emperor came as far as the Ladder of the Galley to meet him and there handed him in Where it 's not to be expressed what Embracings and Ceremony passed between them After they were seated in the Stern those Noblemen who attended the Emperor made very low and respectful Reverences to the French King There the Emperor ordered Granvell to bring Andrew Doria Prince of Melfi his Admiral into their Presence to pay his Respects to the French King from whom he had revolted Ten Years since as was observed in the Sixth Book When he came the King saluted him by his Title and told him since he was a Friend and Servant of the Emperor's and that it was his Pleasure he should see him he would gratify his Majesty in that point whom he esteemed as a Brother After they had conversed about an Hour in a familiar and obliging way the King took his Leave The next day early in the Morning the Emperor orders publick Notice to be given to all the Galleys That no Man should go ashore but himself attended with several Noblemen maketh up to Land in order to dine with the King As soon as he came to the Key the King and Queen and their two Sons receive him with all the Civility
Brother George and the Condition expressed in his Testament he had made an alteration in Religion that he obstructed the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Mersburg and Misen and that he kept to himself the summ of Threescore thousand Florins left by his Brother for the use of the League Wherefore he moved the Emperor to reduce him to Duty and if he refused to foreclose him from his Brother's Succession according to the tenour of his last Will and Testament However he did not thus alone but some others of the League joined with him though he was the chief It is now time to speak of the Assembly at Haguenaw It was opened June the Twenty-fifth King Ferdinand having been there a Month before Some days before the Commencement the Protestants had made their Applications to the Electors Palatines Cologne and Treves to Erick Duke of Brunswick and the Bishops of Ausburg and Spire to all privately in their several Lodgings that they would promote a Peace King Ferdinand therefore having on the Day above-mentioned called the Protestants before him declared unto them the Cause of the Assembly And because the Princes came not in Person which the Emperor fully expected from them he required their Deputies to shew him their Commissions and Instructions After that he nominated Commissioners Lowis Prince Palatine John Archbishop of Treves Lowis Duke of Bavaria and William Bishop of Strasburg who being accepted by the Protestants the Treaty began A great many Protestant Divines came thither also as Justus Menius Pistorius Vrbanus Regius Bucer Brentius Blaurerus Osiander Schnepsius and many more but Melancthon fell dangerously sick upon the Rode. Every one of these preached privately in their own Lodgings as it was their Custom but then especially when all the Deputies met together to consult about any matter But this coming to King Ferdinand's Knowledge he discharged them to preach any more though on the other hand the Deputies alledged that they preached not publickly but privately and that his Majesty had no cause to be offended thereat When the Conference should begin the Lantgrave and Duke of Saxony intended to be present and were already on their own Frontiers expecting the News of it that so they might set out upon their Journey The Commissioners Pacificators afterwards required the Protestants to deliver unto them the Heads of the controverted Doctrines drawn up in short They make answer to this That the Confession of their Faith and Apology had been presented at Ausburg Ten Years before to which they still adhered being ready to satisfie any that found fault with it and since they knew not what it was that their Adversaries chiefly censured in that Book they had nothing to propound but rather were to demand of them what the Doctrines were that they thought contrary to the Word of God. That if they would do so and bring the matter to a Conference as had been thought fit at Francfort they were ready to come to any fair Agreement Some Days after the Commissioners make Report That seeing they stuck to the Confession of Ausburg they had in the mean time read over that Book and all the Treaty of Ausburg and find that some Points of Doctrine had been agreed upon there and some not That therefore they were ready to use all their Endeavours to accommodate these and desired them to tell them their Thoughts therein To this the Protestants reply That some Articles had been discoursed on indeed but nothing concluded therein nor any Conciliation made there The matter being thus tossed to and fro when the Protestants urged a Conference and the others alledged that they had Commands from the Emperor and King to proceed according to the Treaty of Ausburg King Ferdinand calling them all together on the Sixteenth of July told them That since nothing could be then determined and especially because the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave were absent another Day was to be appointed when the Deputies of both Parties and learned Men should meet in an equal number and conferr among themselves about the Points of the Augustane Confession but so that it should be no derogation to the Decree of Ausburg And that the Pope also if he pleased might send Commissioners thither That again since some complained that the Protestants had turned them out of their Possessions it was but just and reasonable that in the mean time whilst the Controversie about Religion depended those who were rejected should be restored to the Possession of their Church Livings or else be allowed to bring their Actions for them at Law. That moreover for avoiding all Commotions a longer Truce should be made wherein those should be now comprehended who were of the Augustane Confession before the Transaction of Nurimberg so that the Protestants should not reckon those of their Number who had joined with them since nor admit of any others neither for the future Five days after the Protestants declared what they had to expect against in these Proposals That they highly approved of a Conference and wished that the Emperor himself in Person and not his Deputies only might be present at it but that as to the Pope's sending Commissioners thither they should not prescribe Laws to the Emperor As to the Restitution of Church-Lands and the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber they made a long Answer as has been several times mentioned before alledging that the Controversie about Religion ought first to be determined but that they should exclude those who had associated with them since the Peace of Nurimberg and admit of no others for the future it was a thing they said they could not do and that they had no Instructions as to that particular On the other hand King Ferdinand and the Commissioners Pacificators urge the Restitution of Church Livings or at least that they should be put under sequestration until the Cause were determined Besides King Ferdinand told them that he would not grant them Liberty to admit of more into their Society and therefore advised them to comply with the Condditions proposed by him for that though they did refuse yet by Authority from the Emperor he would make a Decree and at the same time he appointed the next Convention to be held at Wormes the Twenty-eighth Day of October They return an Answer to him that they were satisfied with the time and place of the Conference but that they had robbed no Man and that the Question it self belonged to the Conference and future Treaty that besides no sequestration could be made without great prejudice to the State and Constitution of the Church within their Dominions and to the Schools and Poor And that since it was not long to the Time of the Conference they craved that the whole matter might be put off till then that there they would make it appear how much more sollicitous they were for the Glory of God and the Reformation of the Church than for Church-Lands and Revenues and that
the Arguments and Reasons with the Explanations of the same should be taken in Writing Affirming it to be an unreasonable thing in this most holy Cause to follow the Opinion of any Party and not rather the Rule of God's Word or to force any Man to think or speak contrary to it Whilst Time was in this manner spun out the Protestants often complained of it craving that the Augustane Confession of Faith being laid before them they might according to the Decree of Haguenaw fall presently to Business especially since it was to be a friendly no captious and ensnaring Conference to clear only the Way to Concord and Agreement The Divines also urged the same who were there in great Number as Melancthon Capito Bucer Osiander Brentius Calvin Alese a Scot sent from the Elector of Brandenburg and many others to whom were added Simon Griney and John Sturmey At length about the Thirteenth of January the Catholicks chose John Eckius and the others Philip Melancthon to begin the Conference And in the first place that they might proceed in order Original Sin was the first Subject of which they spake by Turns in the publick Assembly But when all were intent on this came Letters from the Emperor on the Third Day of the Conference directed to Granvell and the other Deputies whereby he put off all further Proceedings till the Diet of Ratisbone whither he ordered the Protestants chiefly to repair and recalled Granvell with all speed These Letters being read in the Session which was January the Eighteenth Granvell exhorted them to obey the Emperor and come to Ratisbone For that his Majesty was most desirous of Peace and that if any rough Word had perhaps escaped him in the heat of Conference he prayed them not to take it ill from him who was ready to do all Services to the Publick Hereunto the Protestants made Answer That they were very sorry that the Conference had not begun much sooner and that they could not now proceed any further therein But that since the Emperor so commanded it behooved them to obey So that now they would return home that they might make Report of all that had pass'd and doubted not but their Principals would be ready to gratify the Emperor That nevertheless if perhaps they should come or send their Deputies somewhat too late it must be excused because of the shortness of Time. At this Assembly was also Petro Paulo Vergerio Bishop of Cabo d'Istria in outward Appearance as for the French King but in reality sent from the Pope who thought he might do him better Service there if he went by the Character of another He made a Speech here of the Unity and Peace of the Church which he printed and gave about and therein insisted chiefly to shew that there was no Thoughts to be had of a National Council for that Assembly looked somewhat like such a thing and seemed to make way for it Now of all things the Pope could not endure that and Vergerio was fully acquainted with his Thoughts By the Means of this Man then and other such Instruments the Conference was impeded and at length dissolved for by drilling on the time and raising Delays they sought to themselves Starting-Holes and Evasions In the beginning of January the Emperor left Flanders and came to Metz the chief City of Lorrain from thence he took his Journey by Spire to Ratisbone and wrote the Letter to Granvell we mentioned upon the Rode He then took his Way by Nurimberg a City he had not seen before and was there magnificently received February the Eleventh Philip de Chabot-Brion Admiral of France a Man of great Honour being brought into Suspicion with the King of Miscarriages in the War of Savoy which we mentioned before was after a long and brisk Trial found Guilty of Bribery and Treason and being deprived of all his great Honours and Dignities without any Hope of Restitution he was committed to Prison in the Castle of Vincennes not far from Paris William Poiet Chancellor of France pronounced this Sentence against him at Melun all the chief Men Judges and Lawyers of France being called to this Trial. And though Sentences so passed were usually most firm and inviolable yet not long after he was absolved by the King's Authority as shall be related hereafter At this time also Maurice son of Henry Duke of Saxony married Agnes Daughter to the Lantgrave In the Month of March most of the Princes and States came to Ratisbone where the Emperor had sometime expected them The Lantgrave came also towards the latter End of the Month with a great Train and the next Day went with his Guards to wait on the Emperor who received him very graciously The Duke of Saxony sent thither a splendid Ambassy and Divines amongst whom was Melancthon From the Pope came also Casparo Contarini a Cardinal of great Reputation There were present also the Elector of Brandenburg Frederick and Otho Henry Princes Palatine William and Lowis Dukes of Bavaria Henry Duke of Brunswick Charles Duke of Savoy George Marquess of Brandeburg Philip Duke of Pomerania the Bishops of Mentz Saltzburg Bremen Bamberg Spire Ausburg Aichstadt Constance Heildesseim Brixen and Passaw About this time was published and brought to Ratisbone Martin Luther's very invective Book written in High Dutch against Henry Duke of Brunswick In the former Book we took notice of Duke Henry's railing Papers against the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave And seeing in a Libel lately published he called the Duke of Saxony Heretick Seditious Cain Monster Aesop endued with no Vertue neither of Body nor Mind whom Luther himself though he was his Idol and in a manner Second God did but laugh at and despise Luther who thought his Reputation herein concern'd wrote a most bitter Answer and affirmed it to be a Calumnie And because the Adversaries challenged to themselves the Title of the Church he proved by many Arguments that they had made Defection from the true Church and having stated a Comparison maintained that the Roman Papacy which had corrupted and defiled the true Doctrine of Christ was the Antichrist foretold by Daniel and the Apostles so many Ages before Which being so that the Revenues of the Church belonged not to them and that it was a wicked thing in them to demand the Restitution of the same Then he objected to them That they shunned the Light. And why saith he do you now desire now promise now put off and now refuse a Council If your Church be so holy why is it so much afraid of a Council What need it be reformed But if it need it How came ye to call it Holy Would you even reform your own Holiness For our Parts never demanded a Council for reforming our Churches for God hath already sanctified them by his Word purged out of them all Popish Uncleanness and restored to us his pure Doctrine Our Lives it 's true come not up
Frederick Count Furstemberg In this Diet the Emperor on the Third of July made a heavy Complaint to all the States assembled of William Duke of Cleve for his seizing of Guelderland and at the same time presented unto them a Book which asserted his Right to that Province telling them that he had summoned him to appear there but that he had taken a Journey a quite contrary way meaning thereby into France as we said before There were Ambassadors from Cleve there present who excused their Prince and as they insisted in proving his Title the Emperor arose and departed On the One and twentieth of July all the Princes and States waited on the Emperor to make Intercession for the Duke of Cleve desiring that he might be taken into the Protection of the Empire and the Controversy referred to a friendly Arbitration wherein they promised their best Endeavours But that if the Matter could not be accommodated they humbly besought him to prosecute his Right by Law Whereunto the Emperor sent this Answer by John Naves That whereas in this Diet which was called for the sake of the Publick that Differences might be removed and Peace setled in Germany much time had been spent and to his great Trouble and Prejudice to his other Affairs nothing could be concluded because of the clashing of Opinions he wondered very much to find them so unanimous in this Cause alone which was properly his own And so he dismissed them not without Displeasure The Day following Raymond the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech wherein he reckoned up at large the Reasons why his Master had driven out of his Country Charles Duke of Savoy who some days before had accused the French King thereof before the Emperor and States During this Diet the French King sent Caesar Fregoso a Genoese and Anthony Rink a banished Spaniard Ambassadors to the Grand Seignior who falling down the River of Po on their Way to Venice were about the First of July taken and slain William de Bellay of Langey a Man of singular Sagacity and Industry was then the French King's Lieutenant in Piedmont who having Intelligence of the Fact immediately acquainted the King therewith and July the Fifth wrote also from Turin to Alfonso Davalo Marquess of Pescara Governor of Milan for the Emperor that he would procure the Releasement of the King's Ambassadors who were made Prisoners as it was manifestly known by his Men for that otherwise the Truce made Three Years before by the Intercession of the Pope would be broken Now he desired that they might be set at Liberty either because at first he knew not or else pretended not to know what was become of them The Marquess to clear himself from Suspicion made as if he knew nothing at all of the Matter and to purge himself sent Count Francisco Ladronio Ambassador to the King. Du Bellay wrote another Letter to Pescara on the Eleventh of July wherein he briskly told him I would not doubt said he to speak of Religious Matters in a general Council of the whole World and that as pertinently too as ever your Kinsman and Friend Thomas Aquinas of old did provided I knew as much in Divinity as some of your familiar Friends know of this Murther For you must know that Indico Alfonso's Grandfather by the Father side the Son of Rodorigo as Spaniard married a vast rich Fortune of the Family of Aquinas And this Alfonso was Cousin-Germain to Ferdinando Davalo of Pescara a most excellent Soldier and Commander From de Linieres a Town in Berry the King on the Twentieth of July wrote an Answer to Alfonso telling him that he should have Respect to his Honour and Reputation and that he could not slight the Injury done to his Ambassadors if they were not restored to Liberty Many Letters pass'd betwixt du Bellay and the Marquess about that Matter but nothing else was done the Marquess protesting that after diligent Enquiry he could not discover any thing and persisting therein the King complained also to the Emperor of the Injury by his Ambassador at Ratisbone where having receiv'd an Answer not to his Mind he gave sufficient Intimation that it would prove the Cause of a War. George of Austria the natural Son of Maximilian the Emperor and Archbishop of Valentia happened at that time to be upon his Return from Spain into the Low-Countries who coming to Lyons was apprehended and committed to Prison to revenge what had been done to Fregoso and Rink Much about this time Francis the Son of Anthony Duke of Lorrain married Christian the Daughter of Christiern King of Denmark Dowager of Milan The French King was vexed at this and the more that the Year before the Duke of Lorrain's Daughter was married to Renat Prince of Orange who was wholly at the Emperor's Devotion At the same time that the Emperor held the Diet at Ratisbone King Ferdinand besieged Buda wherein was the Widow of the Vayvode John with her young Son Stephen Now the Guardians of the Child and the Nobles of the Kingdom had craved Assistance from the Turks so that the Turk sent a General with Forces who in the Month of July came to Buda whither he himself came also not long after with the rest of the Army By this means King Ferdinand's Army consisting of Germans Moravians and Bohemians were forced to raise the Siege received a great Overthrow and lost Pest a Town overagainst Buda those that remained saving themselves as well as they could by Flight About the end of August the Grand Seignior sent Presents to the Child Stephen Vests of Cloth of Gold with some stately Horses acquainting his Mother at the same time that he had a desire to see the Boy and that she should send him out to him to the Camp. She being much terrified hereat but finding no other Course to be taken and that the Nobles advised her to it sent out the poor Babe with his Nurse and a great Train of Nobility to accompany him The Turk received them very courteously but afterwards caused a Proposal to be made to the Queen's Counsellors that they would deliver up Buda to him for that they were not able to defend it against the Enemy and for him to come back again with an Army when occasion required would be both troublesom and chargeable and that therefore it would be far better to let him have the keeping of the place whilst they being afraid of their own danger had not a word to say he presently gave orders to the Aga of the Janizaries to sieze the Town and the Child was not sent back to his Mother before the thing was done Being then Masters of the Town and all the Citizens disarmed they demanded also the Castle where the Queen then was In the mean time the Turk sent Messengers to com◠〈◊〉 her and bid her be of good Courage and withal made over Transilvania to her and her Son.
that he would confirm his Son in the Possession of them and give him the solemn Investiture of a Prince The Emperor who held Milan and would not part with any part of his Right refused that The Pope had also a Design as it was said to have purchased from the Emperor with Money the Dukedom of Milan for his Grandson Octavio But the Emperor that he might be no longer hindered broke up the Interview and having compounded with Cosmo of Medicis Duke of Florence for the Castles of Florence and Leghorn which till then he had in his Hands and having delivered them up to the Duke for the Summ of above Two hundred thousand Crowns which he received for them he went on in his Progress Before he left Spain he had created his Son Philip King and gave him in Marriage the Infanta Mary Daughter of John King of Portugal This Year also Sigismund the Son of Sigismund King of Poland married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romans Henry Duke of Brunswick having made a Journey into Italy to meet the Emperor grievously accused the Protestants at Cremona And now the Emperor being upon his March with an Army from Italy the Protestants who had lately received his Letters dated from Genoa on the Twenty fourth of June met at Smalcald and there consulted about sending Ambassadors to him concerning those things that related to the securing the Dutchy of Brunswick and their own League and about Application to be made to Duke Maurice to the King of Sweedland to Otho Henry Prince Palatine to Wolfgang Duke of Deux-Ponts and to the Bishop of Munster who all desired to be admitted into the League This Assembly ended the One and twentieth Day of July Much about this time the Emperor and King of England made a League against the French King who assisted the Scots as we said before But the Pope was much offended at this Alliance and therefore looked upon the Friendship of France as necessary for his Interests When about the end of July the Emperor came to Spire the Protestants sent thither their Ambassadors Francis Burcart George Bemelberg Christopher Veninger and James Sturmey who being admitted to Audience on the Second of August spoke much to the same Purpose as we told you before they had done to King Ferdinand The Effect of their Speech was That if they had sufficient Security given them of Peace if the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber were reformed as had been lately decreed at Ratisbone and if the Inequality of Contributions were rectified they would not be wanting to their Duty in bearing their Parts in the publick Necessities That as to the Duke of Brunswick they desired the Cause might be brought to a fair Trial and then they offered to prove that he who had first done open Injury to those of Goslar and Brunswick Two free States was justly expulsed and driven out of his Country To these things the Emperor Two Days after made Naves give his Answer in Presence of Granvell That they could require no more of him for that their Peace had been sufficiently secured by former Decrees That the Judges of the Imperial Chamber could not be removed without a Hearing That in the Month of October ensuing Enquiry would be made into their Proceedings and that they should not go unpunished if they were found Guilty of any Fault That a Moderation in the Contributions could not be made but with the common Advice and Consent of all the States That they should reflect upon the present State of the Publick and that seeing it was in great Danger without speedy Help they should follow the Example of the rest of the States and contribute their Aid against the Turk That he the Emperor was now to make all the Head he could against the French King and Duke of Cleve that he might defend his Subjects from Injury That Henry Duke of Brunswick did earnestly urge a Restitution and therefore they should declare their Mind as to that Point They desired to have that Answer given them in Writing that they might consider it more carefully to which the Emperor consented and next Day leaving Spire went to Mentz The Ambassadors who had received the Answer in Writing followed him thither and made a Reply to Naves and Granvell showing them that they had not sufficient Assurances given them of Peace and urging the Emperors Declaration at Ratisbone mentioned in the former Book they altogether persisted in demanding the same things and that since their Desire was That the Cause of Brunswick might be brought to a Hearing they had no farther Instructions they said in that Particular They on the other hand alledged that the Emperor could do no more and repeating what had been said before told them That if the Duke of Brunswick were not restored he would certainly take some Course for recovering his own And this being all that could be had the Ambassadors departed to make their Report to their Masters The Archbishop of Cologne came to the Emperor at Spire and interceded for the Duke of Cleve But it was to no purpose for that unless he first delivered up the Possession of Guelderland the Emperor would not hear of Peace And when the Ambassador of Saxony by Orders from his Prince interceded for the same Duke with Granvell at Mentz and to perswade him alledged that a private Wrong should be sacrificed to the Good of the Publick especially when now the Turk was coming upon them His Answer was That the Emperor would not desist from his Enterprise whatever the Turk might do You heard before That the People of Heildesheim having abandoned the Popish Religion entered into the Protestant League therefore Valentine the Bishop of that City grievously accused them to the Imperial Chamber and King Ferdinand before and now to the Emperor That they had changed the old Religion and Ceremonies of the Church That they had appointed new Preachers to instruct the People abolished the Mass punished the Followers of the ancient Religion not only thrown down Altars and Fonts but demolished also Churches partly carried away the Goods Furniture and Ornaments of the Clergy and partly detained them in their Custody having seized the Keys of the Places where they were kept That they had lately made publick Plays wherein they had exposed the Virgin Mary and the rest of the Saints to the Scorn and Derision of the Mobile That they purposed to withdraw themselves from under his Jurisdiction had entered into the League and put themselves under the Protection of the Protestants That they compelled by Force Monks and other Religious to conform to their Religion and not only openly reviled but also banished out of their Territories those who would not comply The Emperor hearkening to this Accusation on the Sixth of August wrote to them from Wormes and with severe Threatnings commanded them to restore Religion and all things else to their
could hardly believe those who told them that they had not only seen the Emperor but also spoken with him The Prince was also so fatally credulous as to be perswaded of the same thing Now this was thought to be an Invention of the French that those of Cleve might not lose Heart and being terrified at the Emperor's Power make Peace with him The Emperor having received this Answer Fortified his Camp provided all things necessary and on the Twenty fourth of August began to Batter the Town by break of Day and afterward gave the Assault especially by the Spaniards who went on with great Chearfulness and Resolution and though they were often beat off and lost many Men yet they gave not over till they forced the Place and treated the Towns-people as the Inhabitants are commonly used when a Town is taken by Storm We must know that in this Town was kept the Head of St. Ann the Mother of our Lady and was usually exposed to the view of vast numbers of People who flocked thither yearly on the Six and twentieth day of July the Anniversary of that Saint to pay their Devotions to it But the Spaniards being now Conquerours took that Head inclosed in a golden Reliquary and with great Pomp carried it in Procession to the Grey Friars Church least it should have perished in the Ruines and Flames of the Church The Town being plundered and burnt the Emperor advanced and had surrendered to him first Liege and then Reremund a strong Town of Guelderland standing where the Rivers of Roure and Maese do meet For the unexpected Calamity of Duren had put all Men into extraordinary Fear and Consternation From Ruremund he went to Venlo Thither at last came the Duke of Cleve to him in the Camp accompanied with Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors of Herman Archbishop of Cologne where he having made his Humble Submission and the Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors earnestly interceding for him the Emperor at length arose and ordered the Prince of Orange and Granvell to prescribe Conditions unto him upon which he was received into Favour again the Seventh of September The Conditions were That he should not depart from the Religion of the Catholick Church That if he had made any Alterations he should restore things again as they were before That he should promise Allegiance and Obedience to the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Empire That he should renounce his League with France and Denmark That he should make no League wherein the Emperor King Ferdinand and their Heirs were not excepted That he should deliver up the whole Possession of Guelderland and release the People from their Oath And that he should Assist the Emperor in Recovering Guelderland if perhaps any places should refuse to Surrender The Emperor on the other Hand restored to him the Province of Juliers lately Conquered by War except Two Towns Hensberg and Zittard which he kept in his Hands for a time till he should make trial of his Fidelity and Obsequiousness Whilst the Emperor was upon his March against the Duke of Cleve the French King advanced through Champange towards the Country of Luxenburg and sent for his Sister's Daughter the Lady Joanna who had been Two Years before betrothed and publickly Married as we said to the Duke that he might carry her to her Husband She went most unwillingly as hath been mentioned also before but however she obeyed the King her Uncle The King had appointed Cardinal du Bellay Bishop of Paris as the fittest Person to perswade her to wait upon her and keep her Company during the whole Journey Now when she was come as far as Soissons on her way to the King News was brought That the Duke of Cleve was subdued which much rejoiced her as well perceiving that that might put an end to all her Sufferings and Constraint and indeed she was not mistaken for the King was exceedingly troubled at the News and so she returned Home But nevertheless he proceeded and again took the City of Luxenburg about the latter end of September which after deliberation he fortified At the same time Henry King of England who had lately made a League with the Emperor sent over some Forces into the Netherlands who joining the Imperialists Besieged Landrecy In the mean time Charles Boisset a Lawyer was in the beginning of October sent from the Emperor to Metz who having consulted with the Senate the Monks and Churchmen upon his first coming sent for one of the Preachers whom he severely chid and commanded upon pain of Death to depart the City within three Days and not to converse with any Citizen for the future Afterwards the Emperor's Edict was on the Fifteenth of October publickly read wherein the Emperor commanded the Senate not to admit of any new Doctrines and to punish those that were guilty that way Wherefore the Senate published their Orders to the Citizens that they should persist in the ancient Religion produce all prohibited and suspected Books within a Weeks time obey the Canons of the Church abstain from flesh on days prohibited shew Reverence to Church-Men and that those who upon account of difference in Religion had put themselves into the protection of the Protestants and promised Fidelity unto them should within a certain time renounce the same Denouncing several Penalties against Offenders herein as Fines Banishment and other Punishments according to their several Deserts When Barbarossa had in vain Besieged the Castle of Nizza whither the Emperor's Forces were coming out of Lombardy under the Command of the Marquess of Piscara he drew off and went to his Winter Quarters in Thoulon somewhat sooner than the Season of the Year required for the King had assigned him that Town the Citizens and Inhabitants being commanded to leave it Scotland was this Year much disturbed with intestine Broils and Divisions the Nobles disagreeing among themselves For those of the Nobility who were Prisoners in England as we said being generously dismissed by the King cordially espoused his Interests But the Cardinal of Scotland who enjoyed great Revenues from Church-Livings in France and the Queen the Duke of Guise's Daughter maintained the French King 's Part. After the Death of the King of Scots it was the chief Design of Henry VIII that the young Queen of Scots might be affianced to Prince Edward his Son. In that matter the Nobles we mentioned did him good Service And having perswaded the Earl of Arran the Regent they seized the Cardinal of St. Andrews and kept the Queen Besieged in a Castle till they had confirmed the Marriage and drawn up Writings thereupon But the French King interfering in the Matter the Nobility also pitying the Queen's Condition and the Regent falling off to the other side they broke their Articles which gave occasion of a new War betwixt the English and them as shall be said hereafter The King of Denmark was also in War with
the Emperor's Subjects in the Netherlands because of King Christiern who was kept Prisoner and he desired Assistance from the Protestants but they alledged that that Cause had no Relation to the League for it was only stipulated That if any made War against him upon account of Religion that then they should join with him and assist him The Duke of Cleve having made his Peace with the Emperor sent an Ambassador to the French King to renounce the League he had with him and to demand his Wife to be sent unto him for whose Passage he had obtained a safe Conduct from the Emperor The King made Answer to the Ambassador That it was none of his Fault but that he had had both his Wife delivered and an Army sent him but that he himself was in the blame who had sent word that there was no free Passage for them through those Places nor could they be supplied with Provisions That he himself had generously performed what-ever he had promised and more too But that the Duke had not done well who forgetting his Lineage and Quality had cast himself into such Bondage That as to his Neece he might inform himself of her Parents and her self what their Resolution was for that he was no longer obliged to him in any thing The Emperor having settled of his Affairs in Guelderland came with a vast Army before Landrecy Thither also came the French King with all his Forces and there was no other likelihood but of a Battle betwixt them But the French having put Provisions into the place drew off so silently in the Night time that the Enemy perceived it not before it was Day Then at length they pursued and came up with the Rear of them of whom they slew a great many But because Winter now approached the Emperor thought it not fit to attempt any thing else only he sent some Forces to the Siege of Luxenburg and so dismissed the rest of his Army to Winter Quarters Duke Maurice served the Emperor as a Volunteer at Landrecy whereby he procured much good Will and opened himself a Way to his Friendship In the Winter time the Duke of Lorrain and some others mediated for a Peace but to no purpose The Emperor being returned home from Landrecy sent Ferrante Gonzaga Vice-Roy of Sicily to the King of England that he might edge him on more and more against the French King. We have several times spoken of Count William of Furstemberg He being now somewhat alienated from the French King made way by the means of Granvell to be received again into the Emperor's Favour and for a Proof of his Fidelity having raised some Companies of Foot in his own Territory in the middle of Winter he marched to Luxenburg and joined the Imperialists there But the French under the Command of the Duke of Longueville having put Provisions into the Place he retreated without doing any Exploit having lost many of his Men by Hunger and Cold. It was said before that the Emperor had appointed a Diet of the Empire to meet the last Day of November Therefore the Protestants assemble before at Franckfort to consult about the Affairs they were to treat of in the Diet And seeing the Meeting of it was deferred because of the French War the Elector of Saxony and Lantgrave wrote to the Emperor in November promising to come to the Diet provided he himself came and did grant them and their Confederates a safe Conduct Hereunto the Emperor wrote an Answer from Brussels dated the Tenth of December that he would come and that in the Month of January too and at the same time sent a safe Conduct Wherein nevertheless he excluded those who were engaged to his Enemies by Faith or Compact intimating thereby the secret Agents and Spies of the French King. So in the beginning of January he left the Netherlands and came to Spire On the Twenty sixth Day of this Month there happened a great Eclipse of the Sun which was beheld by all not without Admiration There were Three total Eclipses of the Moon also this Year a very prodigious thing indeed and such as Astronomers said had not happened before since the time of Charlemagne Cardinal Alexander Farnese having made his Journey through France met the Emperor on his Way to the Diet and took his Leave of him at Wormes It was believed that he was sent to mediate a Peace This Diet of Spire was exceeding great For not only was King Ferdinand present at it but all the Electors also which is a rare thing and generally all the Princes amongst whom was the Duke of Cleve too The Elector of Saxony came on the Eighteenth of February and was met upon the Rode by the Lantgrave the Archbishop of Cologne Frederick Prince Palatine and the Vice-Roy of Sicily Two Days after the Diet commnced which was opened by the Emperor's Speech to this effect That he had acquainted them by Letters from Genoa with the Causes that made him leave Spain to make another Journey into Germany and call this Diet Nor needed he now represent to them how much he had always studied the Safety and Wellfare of the Publick that all things being setled and composed at Home he might have turned his Arms against the common Enemy of Christendom and that therefore in the former Diet at Ratisbone he had earnestly proposed the raising of Forces and Supplies but that when the Year following the War undertaken against the Turk had proved unsuccessful their last Deliberations concluded in this That for the present the frontier Places should only be well fortified and garrisoned That now though it had been his earnest Desire then to have been personally present in the War according to the Duty of his Charge yet it was publickly known by whom and upon what Occasion he was and is still hindered and retarded For that by the Perswasion and Money of the French King a Turkish Fleet came last Year upon the Coast of Italy and made a Descent in the Country of the Duke of Savoy a Prince of the Empire where having taken the Town and Harbour of Nizza with all their Force they besieged and battered the Castle and that though upon the Approach of his Forces they were forced to raise the Siege yet they carried the War into other Places both of the Empire and of Spain having now nothing less in their Thoughts than to Ruin and Destroy all So that Matters are brought into extream Danger and are in a manner at the last Cast insomuch that if the Enemy be not resisted with joint Hearts and Hands Germany might too late see and bewail its own Calamity That he had many times wished he could have remedied those Evils but that the French King having attacked him at several Places at once he could neither return into Germany nor join his Aid with theirs Now that the Turk did so confidently invade Germany and
waited on her had one Eve Trottine a Young Lady of extraordinary Beauty and a noble Family The Duke began to be desperately smitten with her and having by his Courtship prevailed enjoyed her and had some Children by her But that the intrigue might not be discovered and that he might still have her Company he put a Stratagem into her Head that she should pretend to return Home to her Parents and he furnished her with a Waggon Horses and all things necessary for her Journey Away went she and it was thought she was going Home but she was conducted another Way to a Castle of his whereof the Governor was before-hand instructed by him what he was to do and had a Woman or two in whom he most confided to assist him in the Plot. Some Days after Eve came there she took her Bed pretending to be Sick. Now the Duke had before caused an Image to be made of Wood representing the Head Neck and Breast of a dead Body The other Parts of the Body were done and shaped in Linen which the Women stuffed with Dust or Earth that so it might seem to be solid and then fitted the wooden Head and Bust to it which was likewise covered over with the Linen Cloth. The Body then being thus ordered and wrapped in a Shroud was laid forth on the Floor and presently one of the Women ran to the Governor's Parlour Door crying out that Eve was dead Whereupon he streight ordered a Coffin to be made to put the Body in And to scare People from approaching the Corps it was given out that she died of the Plague and Juniper Berries and other Odoriferous Things were burnt to perfume the Rooms Afterwards the Corps was carried in funeral Pomp to the Grey Friars Church where it was honourably buried the Franciscans performing all the usual Ceremonies and praying for the Soul departed as they did for a whole Year after and in their Sermons exhorted the People to do the like By the Duke of Brunswick's Order also an Office of Funeral was performed for her in the Chapel of the Castle where it was said she died Priests being invited thither from the Neighbourhood The same was done in the chief Castle Wolfem-Battel which is not far distant from the City of Brunswick For hither came also the Report of her Death Now at this Office his Wife the Dutchess was present with her Women and Maids all in Mourning Many Priests were invited to it who had afterwards a Dinner and every one of them a piece of Money in Gratuity according to the ancient Custom observed amongst the Papists In the mean time Eve whose Death was bewailed by so many was in very good Health in the Castle of Stauffenburg where she was still visited by Duke Henry who since that time had Seven Children by her He also perswaded his Dutchess to write to the Lady Eve's Parents and Relations to acquaint them with her Death But when afterwards there was a Report raised That she was still alive and kept in Stauffenburg his Dutchess who had some inkling of that conceived a violent Suspicion and enquired of the Servants about the Truth of the Matter But he commanded that none of whom she might learn any thing should come near her However that Suspicion stuck in her Mind as long as she lived which made her write many Letters to him bewailing her own Misfortune This prank of his amongst other things was also publickly read in that Session that all might know what Opinion he had of his own Religion The Effect of the Accusation was to shew how just and necessary Causes they had of taking up Arms against him who despising the Edicts of the Emperor and King Ferdinand had disturbed the publick Peace and done all the Injury he could to their Associates and Confederates The Duke of Brunswick was not present at this Action it being the Emperor's Pleasure that he should not For the Protestants wished he might have been there to have heard all and had for that purpose made Application to the Emperor On Easter Monday which then fell on the Fourteenth of April the Imperialists under the Conduct of Alfonso Marquess of Pescara fought a Battle with the French in Piedmont near the Town Carignan and were defeated with the loss of many Thousands of Men. The French General was the Duke of Vendosme whom we mentioned before Many thought that the News of this overthrow would have inclined the Emperor to admit of a treaty of Peace but he continued firm in his purpose of War. The Duke of Brunswick on the Thirteenth of April gave an Answer to the Accusation of the Protestants and foully bespattered them with Reproaches laying to their Charge Conspiracy Rebellion Treachery Rapine French and Turkish Leagues and what not As to the Letters found in his Castle he justified himself as well as he could Alledging That if their own Closets were searched far worse might be found in them but he slightly touched at that which was objected to him concerning his Intrigue with his beloved Mistress Eve. To this Recrimination the Protestants replied And since the Emperor would have no more of it in the publick Diet they exhibited and dispersed a written Paper of the whole matter which Brimswick also afterwards did April the Eighteenth Charles Duke of Savoy by his Ambassadors accused the French King in the Assembly of the Princes That besides the Violence and Injuries done him in former Years he had stirred up Barbarossa the Turkish Admiral who being assisted by French Forces had taken his Town of Nizza by Surrender and contrary to Faith and Promise had Plundered and Burnt it carrying away many into slavery He therefore craves their Aid in this his distressed Condition especially seeing it was more than probable that the Enemy would return to the Siege of the Castle That having demanded Assistance from the Pope he had only granted him the yearly Rent which he used to receive from the Clergy But that that was but a very small matter in his so low and mean Condition when he scarcely possessed the Tenth part of his own Dominion He likewise excused himself for not coming to the Diet in person because of his Age the length of the Journey and the imminent danger of the Enemy and besides that he was not able to bear the Charges of it having scarcely enough to maintain himself his Son and Family About the end of April the Switzers who then held a Convention at Baden answered the Letter of the States of the Empire That having put the Question to their Commanders and Officers they affirmed That they had seen no Turks in the French Camp nor had heard any thing of Aid from them otherwise they would not have served the French. That when they had put the same to the French King he complained that the Ambassadors he sent last Winter had been rejected who if they had been heard would easily have refuted that
Savoy to all that he had taken from him That the French King should also keep Hesdin And that the Emperor should use all his Endeavours to procure a Peace betwixt England and France That as to the Duke of Cleve since the King and Queen of Navarre did affirm that their Daughter never consented to that Marriage but on the contrary had protested against it in the solemn and usual manner the French King should within Six Weeks send that Protestation to the Emperor that he might consider what was to be done In this Peace were comprehended the Pope King Ferdinand the Kings of Portugal Poland and Denmark the Venetians and Switzers the Dukes of Savoy Lorrain Florence Ferrara Mantua and Vrbin the States of Genoa Luca and Siena the Princes Electors and States of the Empire that were obedient to the Emperor The Peace being concluded the Emperor dismissed his Forces and returned home from Soissons All Men wondered at this Pacification for the Emperors familiar Friends promised themselves certain Victory before the Emperor took the Field and bragg'd that within a few Months France should be their own or at least the King become Tributary having Three such powerful Enemies against him the Emperor the Empire and the King of England The End of the Fifteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVI The CONTENTS The Pope writes to the Emperour admonishing and expostulating with him sharply threatens his first-begotten Son and the same year promotes a great many new Cardinals A Council is again called The Clergy and Colledge of Cologne once more vigorously withstand their Archbishop Peter Bruly having preached the Reformed Religion at Tournay is therefore burnt alive The Divines of Paris assemble at Melun During the Diet at Wormes wherein many things are handled they of Merindolle and Cabrieres commonly called the Waldeneses are miserably harassed and at length turn'd out of all Though the Pope had called a Council yet he is wholly bent upon a War against the Protestants Luther publishes a little Book wherein he sets him off in his colours Grignian is sent Embassadour to the Protestants that he may perswade them to approve the Council The Emperour cites the Archbishop of Cologne to appear before him A hot War between the Kings of England and France The Duke of Orleans dies A War breaks out betwixt Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave wherein the latter prevails The Elector Palatine embraces the Reformed Religion Rumour of War against the Protestants is spread abroad A Conference appointed at Ratisbonne about matters of Religion This being broken up a Council is called at Trent and the Sessions begin Luther in the mean time dies IN the heat of War the Pope sends Letters to the Emperour bearing date August 23. acquainting him that he had an account of what nature the Decrees were which he had lately made at Spire but that in discharge of his own Duty and for the love he bore to him he could not dissemble his thoughts concerning them and that the Example of Eli the High-Priest was a warning to him to do so whom God severely punished for his too great indulgence to his Sons That in the same manner since these Decrees tended to the danger of his own Soul and great disturbance of the Church he could not but give him this Admonition First then that he should not leave the uniform practice of the Church nor customs of his Forefathers but carefully observe the same Discipline Method and Rule which Method is that when any Debate happens about Religion the whole Decision ought to be referred to the Church of Rome Whereas he lately in appointing a General and National Council and a Diet of the Empire had had no regard to him who by Divine and Humane Right hath alone power of calling Councils and determining matters of Religion Nor was that all he was to be blamed for but also that he allowed not only private men but even the Asserters of damned Heresies to judge of Religion that he gave judgment concerning Ecclesiastical Possessions and the Controversies that arose about them that he restored to Honours and Dignity such as were out of the Communion of the Church and long ago condemned by his own Edicts without the consent of those who persevered in their ancient Allegiance and Religion Did these things agree with the sacred Laws and Ordinances Nay rather did they not overturn all Discipline and Order That it was his opinion however that these things proceeded not from himself but that ill affected persons out of the hatred they bore to the Church of Rome had counselled and sollicited him to give some signe of his aversion to the same but that it grieved him the more to see that he should be drawn in and perswaded by them in that he clearly perceived the prejudice it carried along with it would be greater both to himself and the Church unless he repented That this his fear also grew greater and greater when he considered who the persons were with whom he had contracted friendship for that as ill company corrupts good manners so also it was very dangerous to make Alliances with wicked and vicious men That he made no doubt but they had used specious pretext to him since there is no counsel so bad but may be varnished over with some plausible colour but that in truth he who searches the Scriptures will meet with many and famous instances of the wrath and vengeance of God against those who had usurped to themselves the Offices of the High-Priest That Adversaries object Negligence to Priests as an odious crime and make use of that as a Spur to incite Princes whilst they exhort them to undertake the care and conduct of Religion a thing indeed that seems fair and laudable but which has no foundation in reason to support it That as in private houses the Master of the Family allotted to every one their several businesses and would not suffer any to set about the work of another lest Order might thereby be disturbed so also in the Church which is the house of God every one had his duty assigned to him which he was to discharge so that it was undecent that Inferiours should take upon them the Offices of Superiours and that that was so much the more to be observed by how much the Church surpasses any other house in greatness and glory That seeing then the chief Office of the Church is by God recommended to Priests it was a great injury in him to act their parts and take upon him their honour That it was known what happened to Uza who put his hand to hold up the Cart wherein the Ark of God was which was tottering and ready to fall That no man but would think he had done right when in the absence of the Levites he lent a hand to support the Cart which was in danger of falling Nevertheless that God's striking of him with a sudden death was
desist from Hostility else the Duke of Saxony would not be destitute of assistance Since then that whole Country was exposed to present danger and that the Elector importuned them for help they could not but assist him that they had resolved indeed to have given him part of the Army they had but because the Enemy lay near them and that they were in hopes to bring the matter shortly to the decision of a Battle wherein all their safety consisted It had not been thought convenient that they should weaken themselves by lessening their number at such a time that that was the thing the Enemy expected that being diverted and employed in other places they could not bring their whole strength against them That since that was the case then they pray'd them that upon the publick account they would with all expedition send some supplies of Foot to Wittemberg and Weimar and that what money they were still owing by virtue of the League they would pay it all in to the Electors Son and Counsellors For that the common cause lay at stake and that if their Confederates should once be run down it would be their own case next Mention has been made of the Bohemians before These served King Ferdinand in his Wars indeed but much against their will because of an ancient League they had with the House of Saxony and then also because in their opinion there was no necessity for the War and that it was generally thought that the Elector had wrong done him But King Ferdinand overperswaded them and sent for Souldiers out of Hungary and Silesia that he might constrain them to it whether they would or not The Hungarian Horse are commonly called Hussars a rapacious and fierce sort of Men. When these Forces were now mustered and ready to march out of their own Country Sebastian Weittemall their General on the twentieth of October proclaimeth War against the People of the Duke of Saxony for that some years since their Prince had seized into his Hands the Abby of Dobrilugh and that he had lately renounced his Allegiance to the Emperour and his Allies thereby violating the League that was made betwixt the Bohemians and House of Saxony And although there was no need of a Denunciation of War in respect that he stood Outlawed by the Emperour yet lest any thing should seem to be omitted he was willing by this Intimation to discharge his Duty At this time the Deputies of the Confederates met at Ulm that they might consult about their common Affairs and seeing frequent Advices came from Saxony of the present State of Affairs there the Elector October the twenty seventh wrote to his Representatives at Ulm That they should lay the whole Matter before the Confederates and desire them that they would consider his Case since he had spared no Labour nor Danger that he might keep that Storm from falling upon the Upper Germany That the Council of War had indeed some days past sent word to the Cities and others within the Circle of Saxony that they should assist him but that it was uncertain what they would do and that though they should do it yet he was apprehensive that they would be over-matched by the Multitude of the Enemies and that there was danger lest before they could be in a readiness the Enemy might have already invaded the Country That they should therefore demand these things of the Protestant Deputies in the first place That because it would be a great Trouble and Inconvenience to him in this Extremity to be any longer absent from his Wife Children and People they would give them their Advice as to that Particular In the next place That they would grant him more ample Supplies which the Landgrave and Council of War had already put him in good hopes Lastly That they would not make Peace with the Enemy till all that were taken from him should first be restored The Deputies give a generous and frank Answer to these Proposals and in the first place beseech him to stay with the Army until the Emperour should send his Soldiers into Winter-Quarters laying before him how dangerous a thing it would be if he should leave them That if King Ferdinand and Duke Maurice used any violence against him they promised Assistances seeing it is not to be doubted say they but that the Confederate Princes and States will be true to him and stand by him as by their League they are obliged and make no Peace before he be restored to all his own That if he thought it fit they would also as the Landgrave and Council of War had done signifie the same to Duke Maurice That they were also most confident that the Confederate States of the Circle of Saxony would do their Duty in that particular The same day we mentioned to wit the twenty seventh of October Duke Maurice writes to the Elector from Dresden That he had been lately informed by the States of his Dominion what Orders he had received from the Emperour and in what danger his Affairs were but now that the Emperour had given him and his People security as to their Religion he had therefore with the Advice of his Council resolved to take such a Course as that he may both satisfie the Emperour and secure his own Right and Property lest his Lands and Country should fall into the Hands of Strangers and that therefore he signified so much to him both in his own and Brother Augustus his Name That if he chance hereafter to be reconciled to the Emperour and King Ferdinand he shall not refuse provided they be willing that the States of his Dominion determine any Debate that may be betwixt them He writes almost in the same words to John William the Elector's Son willing him to take care that the Letters he had written might be transmitted to his Father In the mean time the Bohemians and Hussars make an Incursion into Voetland the next Land belonging to the Elector and commit all sorts of Villanies burn slay plunder and ravish But the Bohemians made but a short stay for seeing as we said they served unwillingly November the eleventh they forsake their Colours and return home The Hungarians however and King Ferdinand 's mercinary Soldiers joyn Duke Maurice who takes by Surrender Zuirkau and afterwards Schneberg and Aldenburg and most of the rest of the Elector's Towns whom he forced to swear Fealty to him except Gothen Isenach and Wittemberg When this News was brought into the Emperour's Camp it caused great Rejoycing which was expressed by the discharging of Great Guns as the Custom is At the same time the Emperour removes his Camp for the same Cause as before chusing a drier and more commodious Ground that he might refresh the Soldiers who were extreamly harassed and supply the want of Provisions Most part were of opinion that the Soldiers should be sent into Winter-quarters but he
much from it as Poland does Because excepting some few and those too the first Masters hardly any of the rest ever did their Duty Nay for the most part letting the Barbarians alone they turned their Arms against their own Sovereign the King of Poland And not only so but they Negotiated also a League with the Tartars a cruel sort of Men and implacable Enemies to the Christians as it is reported of Michael Cochmester So that if one should reckon up the Labours Perils Charges Wars Tumults Battels Slaughters and Desolations that this Order above all others has been the cause of he 'll find it to be hardly worth so much Now it is the Kings desire that once for all an end may be put to these Evils for if any make War against Albert Duke of Prussia the King cannot sit still and see him wronged because he is both his Uncle and Patron The threatnings of some flie about and are brought to the Kings Ears and he is very much troubled thereat for he loves peace and quietness and above all the Concord of Christendom However if any offer Violence it will be against his will indeed to take up Arms but for all that he will do it for the defence of him and his He desires the friendship of all Princes but yours especially most mighty Emperour and King Ferdinand and wishes it may be perpetual therefore he hath often interceded with you by Letters and Messengers that the Decree of Proscription against Albert might be recalled And that it hath not as yet been done he imputes it not so much to you as to the troublesome times But now that all rubs and impediments are removed out of your way he thinks it is now in your power to accomplish what sometimes you generously promised when in more Letters than one you assured him that you wanted ability rather than good will to gratifie his desires Now in case the Order will not be quiet but raise Stirs and War he is very confident that you will observe the Articles and Compacts of your Predecessors the Emperours Maximilian and Frederick One thing more I have in my Instructions and that concerns the Cities of Dantzick and Elwang Though these are under the Dominion of Poland yet are they called to the Diets of the Empire the King therefore desires that no such thing may be done for the future and since no Man but he hath any right to them that henceforward they may be suffered to enjoy their own Laws When the Emperour had heard his Demands he made a Report of them to the Diet of the Empire and gave a Copy of the Speech to Wolfgang Master of Prussia who January the Twenty third made an Answer to it in the vulgar Language and having begun with a little Preface The Hinge of the whole Controversie turns upon this saith he Whether Prussia belong to the Dominion of Poland or to the Empire and if I make out the last the decision will be very easie The State of the Case then most Triumphant Emperour most Potent King most Noble Princes and States is thus as I am about to shew you About four hundred years since when a publick War was undertaken against the Barbarians who exceedingly distressed those of our Religion in Asia and Africa the Order we now speak of was instituted by Emperours afterward bountifully endowed and by Popes confirmed The Knights of that Order for some years after sustained most difficult and dangerous Wars in those parts for the good of Christendom but at length having received a great overthrow they were scattered and dispersed into several places It happened about that time that Conrade Duke of Muscovy was sadly put to it by the Prussians who were then Enemies to the Christian Religion He being unable to defend himself any longer against them implored first the Pope of Rome that as the Custom was he would publish a Croisadoe and by promises of Heavenly Rewards encourage Men to become Soldiers Then next he joyned to himself this Order of mine bestowing upon them all the Country of Culm bordering upon Prussia and the more to excite them afterwards all Prussia it self The Emperour Frederick II. confirmed this Donation and made a promise to Horman Salcie then Master of the Order That if he would make War against the Prussians and overcome them their Land should be his for ever This was in the year 1226. so that my Order having by the help of the Emperours Popes and Princes of the Empire carried on a continual War against the Prussians for almost filty three years at length they subdued Prussia and converted it to the Christian Religion adorning it with some Bishopricks and Colledges and strengthening it by Castles and Towns which they built that for the future that Country might be as a Wall and Bariere to the Empire and a Sanctuary for the Nobility of Germany Thus one part of that Country continued in our hands until the year 1450. and the other till the time of Albert of Brandenburg When in process of time afterwards the Lithuanians joyning with the Tartars made War against the Poles and Muscovites our Knights being mindful of their Order and Institution took Arms totally routed the Lithuanians and invaded their Country So that we had a lasting Peace and Amity with the Poles until a certain Prince of Lithuania was chosen King of Poland He to revenge the loss and affront that his Country had received suddenly set upon us and with the Assistance of the Barbarians did us much hurt But being by our Men forced to retreat and stript of a considerable part of his own Dominions he made but an unlucky end of the War so that he preferred his Grievances to the Council of Constance whereupon a Decree was made That our Order should restore that part of Poland which they held by the Law of Arms. Having in this manner recovered what he had lost he forgot the kindness that was done him and renewed the War pretending that some Provinces of our Order belonged to the Dominion of Poland And though by the Mediation of the Kings of Hungary and Bohemia the matter was taken up yet the sore broke out again and at length the Cause was brought before Sigismund the Emperour who approved the former Composition that was made by the two Kings However the King of Poland could not rest thus but raised another War which lasted till twenty four years after in the Reign of Ladâ—slaus it was made an end of at Torn In which Pacification he quits all Claim and Title calls not himself Lord or Inheritor of Prussia and obliges all his Successors that within a year after they come to the Crown they swear to Ratifie that Peace make the Bishops and other States of the Kingdom take the same Oath and that every tenth year the same be renewed It was then also Stipulated that if thenceforward any King of Poland should wage War against
that having done so when their Guns were discharged they were treacherously boarded and carried away It was wondered at by most Men that the French King durst break with the Emperour at a time when he flourished with so much success and prosperity and as it is said the Emperour himself expected no such thing For though he had a quarrel with Farnese Duke of Parma he would not therefore seem to be at enmity with the French with whom he had made a Peace seven years before But the French King who thought himself wounded through Octavio's Side had certain intelligence that the Turks were at Sea with a Fleet was informed by Agents of the intentions of Duke Maurice and believed that the Emperour now crazy and valetudinary could not live long bravely attempted the matter Near to the same time the Turkish Fleet having in vain attempted Malta took Tripoly in Barbary The blame of this the Emperour laid upon the French King and by his Envoys told the Princes and Free Towns that it was occasioned by French Treachery So soon as the King came to know this he justified himself affirming the cause of the Turkish War to be that the Emperour did not according to his promise restore a Town of theirs that he kept in Barbary that King Ferdinand had seized and fortified the Castle of Zolnock seated on the frontiers of Hungary within the Dominion of the Turks that he payed not his yearly Tribute and attempted Innovations in Transilvania Afterward he published a Narrative in confutation of the Emperours Relation wherein it was given out Tripoly was lost by the Treachery of d'Aremont the French Ambassadour and confirmed it by the Grand Signiors Letters During these Transactions the First of September the day of the Sessions of the Council came and then were present besides the Italian and Spanish Bishops the Archbishops of Mentz and Treves in appearance mightily congratulated and welcomed by all who were followed not long after by the Archbishop of Cologne For the Emperour had both personally at Ausburg and by Messengers and Letters dealt earnestly with them that they should be there and indeed they far exceed the rest in Dignity and Splendour and have most of the Bishops of Germany under their Jurisdiction Now seeing they thought that they were like to make a long stay there they kept but a few Horses and sold all the rest laying in Houshold Provisions also for a considerable time There came also the Bishops of Strasburg Vienne Constance Off and Naumburg the rest being detained by Business Sickness or Age begg'd leave and sent their Vicars and Proxies Cardinal Crescentio was Legate and President for the Pope to whom were joyned the Archbishop of Siponto and Bishop of Verona as his Nuncio's The Emperour sent thither Don Francis of Toledo Hugh Count of Montfort and William of Poictieres and some were there also to represent Ferdinand King of Hungary When all were assembled in Session then on the First of September in the Cathedral Church and that Mass and the rest of the Ceremonies which are commonly performed in the beginning were over unexpectedly came in the Abbat of Bellosane Ambassadour from the French King with a Letter directed to the Assembly of Trent Having delivered it to the Legat who read the Superscription a Debate arose Why he called them an Assembly rather than Council That the Letter was not to be received nor read cried they unless he did shew that he had a Commission And when in the heat of the contest a heavy noise and clamour was made especially by the Spanish Bishops and that he told them that his Commission was contained in the Letter the Popes Legate arose and called the Fathers into the Vestry The matter being canvassed they concluded that he was to have Audience because the Inscription could admit of a good sense The Letter being then read privately wherein the King briefly expressed his grief and complained that he had wrong done him they all took their places again and then the Letter being read publickly they made Answer That whereas the King called the Council an Assembly they took it in good part and would not harbour any sinistrous suspicion of him who bore the Name of Most Christian but if he meant otherwise that they lookt upon the Letter as not addressed unto them and then he was bid to speak what he had to say He therefore read a long Speech in Writing And first the King tells them what de Terme his Ambassadour at Rome had done with the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals that none of these ways could prevail though he had made all Overtures of Peace And that Pope Julius who in imitation of his Predecessors ought to compose the Controversies of Princes had raised an extraordinary Combustion in a time that he ought least of all to have done so considering the sad and distressed state of Christendom that since it was so and because he dealt so roughly and implacably with him who was the Eldest Son of the Church he protested as it had been also done at Rome first that by reason of the Troubles and Wars he could not send the Bishops of his Dominions to Trent Again that he owned not that Council for Publick and General but lookt upon it rather as some private Assembly gathered together not or publick good but for the profit and advantage of some few And lastly that neither he nor any of his Subjects could be obliged to submit to the Decrees thereof but on the contrary that if occasion required he would apply those Remedies which in the like case his Ancestors were accustomed to make use of that his Intentions indeed towards Religion and the Church of Rome should always be right and sincere nor would he do any thing that might deserve a Censure but that since he was undeservedly loaded with the injuries and hatred of some Men he could not do otherwise at this time That therefore they should take his protestation in good part and give him an Instrument thereof that he might acquaint the rest of the Princes and People of Christendom with the whole affair Now as to what he said of using Remedies according to the custom of his Ancestors the meaning of it is this As in all other Provinces so also in France if any Bishoprick or Abby fell to be vacant the free Election belonged to the Canons and Monks but for smaller Benefices which are not Elective as they tearm it the Bishops and Patrons bestowed them and then all Suits about Benefices or Church Matters were decided in the several Provinces Now the Popes of Rome as they grew more covetous began to overthrow these Elections and by Reservations and Expectative Graces as they call them drew all the Profit to Rome and to themselves and removed all Suits even those which they call of the first instance primae instantiae to Rome The beginning of this
they would never have had an hand sure in enticing a Noble Prince their Kinsman and near Relation into such streights and in being the Instruments of his Imprisonment Nor indeed had they any knowledge thereof till after Supper that the Duke of Alva told them That he must remain in the Castle as in Custody But however it be they acted generously and fairly as we said in the beginning And since they also engaged their Faith and Promise your Majesty may easily perceive how heavy it must needs lye upon them their Children and Relations if after so many and frequent intercessions and all security given he be longer detained Prisoner You see in like manner most mighty Sir since you have German-blood in your Veins what they ought to do for their Honour and Reputations sake according to the ancient and received Custom of the German Nobility when the Sons of the Captive Prince claim their Right and put them to it to answer according to the Form of their Obligation and that they could not excuse themselves to other Princes though either the Power of suing or the Bond and Obligation which they have were taken from them Now if the Landgrave who is neither by Compact nor Promise given but upon the occasion we mentioned kept Prisoner did through impatience and the irksomness of so long a custody essay some means of procuring his own Liberty and if perhaps his Servants did attempt somewhat against his Guards the Princes earnestly desire that that may not be prejudicial to them But seeing that by reason of their Obligation they lie under great streights out of which none but your Majesty under God can relieve them since you know how they came to strike upon that Rock and since your Majesty has good experience of their Loyalty Affection and Duty when in the worst of times according to the Example of their Ancestors they ventured their Fortunes Lives and Blood in your Service it is their most hearty and earnest suit to your Majesty that you would relieve them by releasing your Prisoner and therein have regard to them who honour and love you and not to what the Landgrave hath done Especially since not a few of their Families have spared neither cost nor danger in serving you Ancestors and the House of Austria and Burgundy And if it be feared that if he were at liberty he would flinch from his Articles you are not ignorant Sir granting it should be so of what the Nobility and People of Hesse are bound to by Oath and what the Princes have given your Majesty security for But if you demand more ample security they have not only offered that already but now again do it and have impowered us to treat about the same They are of opinion also that all the Conditions which could presently be performed are already fulfilled But if you would know the reason why the Castles have not been so soon demolished they make no doubt but that the Prisoners Sons can satisfie your Majesty and then if any more be wanting to be done they will use their utmost endeavours that you have all just content given you Wherefore if ever they themselves their Fathers or Grand-fathers have done any thing that has been acceptable to your Majesty to the Emperour Maximilian or to any of your Progenitors or if you think that they can be able to do any thing for the future that may be pleasant and agreeable to you They beg of you again and again that you would now suffer them to reap some fruit of it and that you would give Life to that Hope and Promise which you made to them First at Hall then at Naumburg and lastly at Ausburg that so they may serve and honour you from henceforth with greater promptitude and alaâ—rity and have cause to glory that the Fidelity and Service which they have formerly performed to your Majesty hath been well bestowed and amply rewarded For if otherwise they can obtain nothing at present you may conjecture Dread Sovereign what inconvenience will ensue upon it when they are forced to appear publickly and justifie their own innocence But it is still their Hope Sir that you will listen to their Prayers They 'll take that indeed as the greatest favour you can oblige them by and not only they but the Landgrave himself his Sons and all their Relations will ever make it their earnest endeavours to express their gratitude for the same And because their Reputation is so deeply engaged in the thing they have solicited other Princes to intercede with them also whose Ambassadours stand now before your Majesty And for this end have they done it that what they themselves by Prayers Agents and Letters could not hitherto obtain from you by their Recommendation and Favour they might effect and they pray your Majesty to take it so When thus they had spoken they presented to him the Letters of Ferdinand King of the Romans Albert Duke of Bavaria and the Brothers of Lunenburg in favour of the Landgrave Now the Princes who interceded by Ambassadours were Frederick the Elector Palatine Wolffgang Duke of Deuxponts John Marquess of Brandeburg Henry and John Albert Dukes of Meckleburg Ernest Marquess of Baden and Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg Their Ambassadours presently after the foregoing Speech had been spoken shew'd their Commissions and then told their Errand The Electoral Princes Duke Maurice and the Marquess of Brandeburg say they being in great perplexities upon occasion of the Landgrave's detention as they said and intending to supplicate your Majesty in his behalf most gracious Emperour have entreated our Princes to intercede joyntly with them that through their Recommendation the suit might have greater weight with your Majesty Which Office in so reasonable a thing they could not deny them considering the intimate Friendship and Relation they have to one another Since the Case is so then as the Ambassadours of both the Princes have now made it sufficiently appear And seeing if he should be longer detained it must needs redound to the disadvantage and opprobry of those who have pawned their Faith and Honour to him the Princes who have sent â—s pray and beseech your Majesty to take these things into serious consideration for they think themselves very much concerned also that the Dignity Honour and Reputation of the other Princes do not suffer nor can any thing afflict them more than that their Fame should be â—ullied with any stain which cannot be avoided unless the Captive Prince be set at liberty They therefore earnestly beg that these Prayers and Intercessions may prevail with your Majesty and that he may be speedily released especially since he hath acknowledged his fault humbly begg'd pardon for the same and hath been now a long while in custody but above all because the necessary Obligation of two Electors does require it who in acting a fair and generous part and endeavouring to gratifie your Majesty have run themselves into these
determined For of the chief Points two only remained the Lords Supper and Marriage All the other Heads of Doctrine were already determined The Fathers of Basil decided all things by the holy Scriptures and the Writings which agreed with them But these would have it to belong only to them to interpret the Scriptures nor would they admit of that place of the Decree of Basil by the Ambassadours restored as we said before and changing the Words of the Decree determined that the Traditions also of the Apostles were to be followed in all doubtful and controverted Points and whensoever they wanted a Testimony of Scripture they bragg'd of Traditions handed down to them from the very Apostles as was oftner than once observed in the Disputations of the Divines And this also was the reason that when on the thirtieth of January the Protestant Deputies received the safe Conduct from the Imperial Ambassadours they declared That by Apostolical Traditions they only understood written Traditions of the Apostles which were subjoyned to the Second Part of the Bible the New Testament or the History of the four Evangelists We told you before that the first of May had been appointed the day of the next Session But Affairs being now in a desperate Case the Fathers that remained met and by reason of the Dissentions and Quarrels of Kings and Princes prorogued the Council for two years time and longer if Peace were not made This was done the twenty ninth day of April and by this time the Pope had agreed with the French King. Within a few days after the Emperours Ambassadours departed also But the Legate Crescentio was sick and stayed behind He being frightned by a Vision in the Night as it is said began both to be ill and to despair of Life notwithstanding all his Friends and Physicians could do to comfort him Nor was he mistaken in his Judgment For his Distemper increasing he died at Verona And this now was the end of the Council at this time which being with great hopes renewed thought of nothing less than of retrieving Popery and setting it shortly upon its Legs again There were present at it besides the Popes Legates and the Cardinal of Trent threescore and two Bishops and of these eight Germans five and twenty Spaniards two Sardinians four Sicilians one Hungarian the Bishop of Agria all the rest were Italians But of Divines there were forty two and of them nineteen Spaniards twelve Germans and Flemings I intended to have past in silence the occasion of the Legate Crescentio's Sickness because it was suspected to have been invented by some out of malice But seeing it hath been so reported by his Friends and Servants who waited upon him and sometimes comforted him on his Sick bed I thought sit to subjoyn it He had been very busie all day March the twenty fifth even till night in writing Letters to the Pope but then rising to refresh himself when his Work was over it seemed to him that a black Dog of extraordinary bigness with flaming Eyes and Ears reaching almost to the ground entred the Room and made streight towards him but afterwards slipt away under the Table When he came to himself again after the great fear and amazement that the sight struck him into he called in his Servants who were in the Outer-chamber and bid them bring a Candle and beat out the Dog But when no Dog could be found neither there nor in the next Chamber to it he became very pensive and so fell into Sickness as I said before It is reported also that upon his Death bed he many times cried out to those that were about him to beat off the Dog that clambered up upon the Bed. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXIV The CONTENTS Duke Maurice publishes a Declaration to all the States of the Empire entreating them not to hinder his Design but that all assist and declare for him Much to the same purpose there was another Declaration published by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg The King of France also declares himself the Protector of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes and so marching into Lorrain seizes Metz. After that be marches as far as Strasburg and from thence went to Hagenaw whither many Ambassadors and Deputies came to him to desire him that he would abstain from wasting the Country and put a stop to his Army The King removes his Camp and leaving Germany retreats again to Lorrain Duke Maurice with his associates possesses the passes of the Alpes and forces the Emperor to fly who a little before had set the Duke of Saxony his Prisoner at liberty The Princes by Proclamation at Ausburg restore all the outed and banished Ministers Whilst Duke Maurice is at Passaw treating a Peace Albert of Brandenburg uses great Cruelty against those of Norimberg and forces them to accept of a Peace many things both by Letters and Agents represented to the Princes who treat about entring into a League and by certain conditions things are softened They of Siena revolt from the Emperor who comes to Strasburg on his march to besiege Metz. WE told you before that in the last Diet of Germany the conduct of the War with Magdeburg was by the unanimous consent of the Emperor and the other States committed to Duke Maurice This War lasted a Year in which time the Duke who had the chief command of the Forces began to think of a way of setting at liberty the Landgrave his Father-in-Law since all the intercession he had hitherto made to the Emperor for that purpose had proved ineffectual Having therefore forced the People of Catzenelbogen to swear Allegiance to him made Peace with Magdeburg and sent an Embassie to Inspruck as hath been fully related in the foregoing Book he entered into League with the French King which was confirmed by Hostages mutually given and both thought fit to publish a declaration of the causes of the War that they might thereby win the favour and good-will of many Albert Marquess of Brandenburg had a great hand in making this alliance who for that end went privately into France to treat with the King. In the mean time the Soldiers as well those who had besieged Magdeburg as the Garrison that held out the City had their Winter Quarters in Mulhausen and the places thereabouts and did much damage to those of Northhausen and Erford When the Emperor demanded the reason of this from Duke Maurice who had the chief Command in the War he was answered that the outrages they committed was for want of their Pay for this was the pretext he used when in reality they were listed in his Service and had been secretly sworn to their Colours And the better to perswade at the same time he sent his Ambassadors to Trent who were to pass by Inspruck to procure a safe conduct for the Divines that were to come and to propound some other things
desired only that they would furnish him with Provisions and that he might March with his Army through their Country promising them all Good-will and Friendship He made use of the Cardinal of Lenoncour as his Agent who commended his Zeal and good Intentions to the Senate The Constable had written to them also most friendly but when he was come nearer the Town with his Forces he desired to be let in and obtained it and next day he made himself Master of the Gates and all the Works and Fortifications Afterward on the eighteenth of April the King himself came also and stayed four days there He obliged the Senate and People to take an oath of Allegiance to him and appointed Monsieur Gonnâ—r to be their Governour with orders to disarm them to carry all their Weapons into one place and to fortifie the Town the same he did in those Cities we mentioned In Lorrain also and by Messengers sent before to Strasbourg Haguenaw all the neighbouring places and to the Bishop of Strasburg he demanded supplies of Corn and Provisions Ausburg being taken as we said the old Town-Council whom the Emperor had turned out restored and the Power of Election also being again confirmed to the Companies the confederate Princes marched to Ulm which had refused to enter into League with them When on the twelfth of April they were come thither they rode about the Town but being shot at with the great Guns from within they demanded satisfaction for the Injury done unto them and rated it at three hundred Thousand Florins which being refused they fell to Hostilities But Duke Maurice went from thence to Lintz a City of Austria that he might understand from King Ferdinand what the conditions of Peace were for he as I said was by consent of the Emperor Mediator The Emperor in the mean time had by Letters exhorted the chief Princes of the Empire to use their endeavours to quench this Conflagration and find out some means of Peace wherein he would not be wanting and when some implored sucours from him as being unable to act any thing against so great force to encourage them he made answer that there was a treaty of Peace on Foot which he hoped would take effect but if otherwise that he would not be wanting neither to them nor the Publick The Princes having besieged Ulm six days on the nineteenth of April removed to Stocach a Town in Hegow where they received three Months Pay in the French King's Name as it had been agreed and Gamey de la Mark the French Hostage was delivered up for the other de Nantueil died on the way thither The Hostages whom the Princes gave the King were Christopher Duke of Meckelburg and Philip the Landgrave's Son. April the last the Princes returned to the Danube some Miles below Ulm. In the mean time Albert of Brandenburg burnt and destroyed the Towns and Villages belonging to Ulm raised Contributions from them and took their Castle of Helfenstein seated on a high Hill putting a Garrison therein He also raised a Contribution of eighteen Thousand Florins from the Town of Gislingen three Miles distant from Ulm and some adjoyning Villages When Duke Maurice came to Lintz he offered Proposals about the setting at Liberty the Landgrave his Father-in-Law about settling the difference concerning Religion the right Establishment of the Government about the making Peace with the French King their Confederate and the reception of the outlawed Persons into Favour These were the Rhinegrave and others whom we mentioned before amongst whom also was Count Heideck who some years before had put himself under the Protection of Duke Maurice as hath been said but on whose head the Emperor had set no rate that he might not offend Duke Maurice as it is credible To these demands King Ferdinand with whom were his Son Maximilian his Son-in-Law the Duke of Bavaria and the Emperor's Ambassadors made answer that the Emperor did not refuse but that the Landgrave might be set at Liberty yet so that they presently laid down their Arms that as to Religion and the regulation of the Government he was pleased that the matter might be determined in the next Diet of the Empire but that the Emperor was very loth that the French King should be comprehended that however Duke Maurice might learn of him upon what terms he would make Peace that the proscribed might also be received into Favour provided they would submit to the condition offered by the Emperor King Ferdinand demanded besides that after the conclusion of the Peace Duke Maurice would assist him in Hungary and that the Soldiers should not take on under the French King. But Duke Maurice having answered that without the consent of his Associates he could not conclude any thing they broke off the Treaty at that time and appointed another meeting to be on the twenty sixth of May at Passaw a Town lying between Ratisbonne and Lintz where the River Inn falls into the Danube that the Princes Mediators and their Deputies should also be there On the first of May the Landgrave's Son and John Albert Duke of Meckelburg led the Army to Gundelfingen and there lay eight Days waiting for Duke Maurice's return from Austria Next day after he came the Army was Mustered at Laugingen a Town belonging to Otho Henry Prince Palatine for they had recovered his Province out of the Emperor's Hands and driven the Bishop of Ausburg out of his Country Otho Prince Palatine having also joyned in League with them From thence they direct their March towards the Alpes but it happened at this time that King Ferdinand obtained a Truce from them which was to last from the twenty sixth of May to the eighth of June In the mean time the Emperor was raising Forces at the Foot of the Alpes who assembled at the Town la Rue During these Commotions the Cardinal Bishop of Ausburg who otherwise was not rich and had suffered much damage went to Rome that he might obtain from the Pope new Promotions and Benefices to fill up the chinks again After this the Judges of the Imperial Chamber fled from Spire for both the French King and the Princes had in their Declarations hinted their displeasure against them plainly enough and cast the blame of all the troubles upon them The French King marched with his Army along the Borders of Lorrain and May the third came to Saverne a Town belonging to the Bishop of Strasburg within four Miles of that City He had before demanded a supply of things necessary from the Strasburgers and therefore Deputies had been sent to him to Sarbruck seven Miles from the City to offer him a certain supply of Corn and Wine and the Deputies were Peter Sturmey Frederick Gottesseim and John Sleidan but the Constable undervalued that offer as nothing answering his Expectation and though the Deputies left him with a promise to make their report to
the Left-hand and made his escape to Villach a Town in Carinthia upon the Drave having a little before set at Liberty John Frederick Duke of Saxony whom he had kept Prisoner full five Years that the Enemy might not Glory as if they had done it which the Prisoner himself did not at all desire who though he had his Liberty yet waited on the Emperor whithersoever he went. The Emperor's Sister Mary Queen of Hungary Governess of Flanders at the same time held a Convention of the States of the Low-Countries at Aix la Chapelle about making a League with the Neighbouring Princes The Duke of Cleve indeed excused himself but Adolph Archbishop of Cologne went thither and made an Alliance with the House of Burgundy so also did George of Austria Bishop of Liege When Duke Maurice came to Inspruck all that belonged to the Emperor the Spaniards and Cardinal of Ausburg was plundered but no damage at all done to the Goods of King Ferdinand or the Towns-People And because the Truce that was made for the future Treaty as I said expired within three days Duke Maurice went from thence to Passaw but the Confederate Princes returned by the same way they came to Fiessen May the twenty eighth and then by Messengers whom they sent caused a Proclamation to be published at Ausburg both in their own and Duke Maurice's Name to this Effect Forasmuch say they as in our former publick Papers we have declared that we took up Arms chiefly for the defence of Religion and the Liberty of Germany the thing it self requires and we are bound in duty that able Teachers be provided to instruct both the People and Youth Now that it hath always been the endeavour of the Enemies of the Truth by the oppression of the Godly Teachers to restore the Idol of Popery and to breed and educate Youth in those Errors and false Doctrines which might stick to them when they were grown up is so manifest in it self that it needeth no farther Demonstration For even at that time when they had the confidence to say that there was no design against Religion they employed all their Power and Skill that they might utterly extirpate the purer Doctrine nor did they only cast the Godly Preachers into Prison but even in this City with great Inhumanity compelled them to take an Oath presently to depart out of the limits of the Empire And though that was a most impious Oath and therefore contrary to Law and Justice yet to avoid all cavilling we have recalled those Ministers and Schoolmasters who were thrust out by our Adversaries thinking it to be our Duty to do so Wherefore by these Presents we do absolve and free all those who have been thus turned out from that Oath which contrary to Law they were forced to take and restore them again to their liberty enjoyning them that not only in this City but in other places also where they have a Call to Preach the pure word of God according to the confession of Faith heretofore exhibited in this place and rightly to breed up and instruct the Youth in all Pious Learning under our Patronage and Protection We moreover command and charge that no Man upbraid nor molest them as if they acted contrary to their Faith and Promise for since they have now for several Months lived in Banishment not for any fault of theirs but only for the Profession of the Truth we make no doubt but good Men will pity their Condition and think them worthy of all favour and kindness And because they who in their absence have taught in the City are suspected and inconstant Men so that by reason of the different way of Teaching they cannot conveniently be with those whom we have recalled we require the Senate to silence them from Preaching and so to demean themselves that this our Edict and Proclamation may have its full force and effect This Proclamation being published on the seventh of June five Days after the Ministers were restored and Preached again in their Churches to the great delight and joy of the People Before Duke Maurice was come back from Lintz Marquess Albert of Brandenburg being detached with his own Forces from the rest of the Army burnt and plundered where-ever he came in the Territories of Wolfgang Master of the Teutonick Order and having exacted Money from him marched into the Country of Norimberg and on the fifth of May took by Composition the Castle of Lichtenaw five Miles distant from the City with the adjoyning Town both belonging to the Jurisdiction of that State. His Army consisted of two Thousand Horse and nineteen Ensigns of Foot. Next day he wrote to the Senate to this purpose although said he the French King and Confederate Princes have by publick Declarations made known at large what their Intentions were as to the publick and at the same time that they would recover the Liberty of Germany and settle Religion in confidence that not only all good Men would with thankful Minds embrace their Design but also to the utmost of their Power assist it as some indeed have done but as for you ye have neither declared what your Mind and Resolution is nor as I hear have sent your Deputies to the Assembly appointed to be held at Ausburg but have prepared all things for a Defence planting Ordnance here and there upon your Walls and Works and raising new Forces so that as I am told you brag that you will hold it out to the last which I am the more apt to believe because hitherto you have sent no Deputies to me to sue for Peace a thing nevertheless that hath been done by some Princes and Cities more remote Since therefore it hath been publickly declared by the King and confederate Princes that they who either resisted or did not actually aid and assist them in this their Enterprise should be accounted Enemies again since it is my charge in the same War to bring those into whose limits I come to do their Duty and to leave no strong hold behind us from whence any force or eruption might be feared for this cause then have I taken from you who have not hitherto answered Expectation the Castle of Lichtenaw which much incommoded my Camp having spared the Garrison whom nevertheless I might have used more rigorously But because the main thing remains still to be done I require you both in the name of the French King and of the confederate Princes that you openly declare what you are resolved to do for the defence of the Liberty of Germany and the settlement of Religion and send me your answer by to Morrow that I may understand what is to be expected from you and how I ought to look upon you Now it is to be observed that when Duke Maurice and the Confederates met at Schuinfurt March the twenty sixth as has been said they sent agents to the Norimbergers to invite them into
the League and to demand of them Ammunition Provisions and a great summ of Money but after a long Treaty when all the other Conditions being set aside they had paid down an hundred Thousand Florins they promised them Peace both in their own Names and in the Names of all their Associates and thereupon gave them an instrument under Hand and Seal in most ample form Being therefore now attacked by Marquess Albert they send their Complaints to them and because Duke Maurice was not as yet come back from Lintz on the third of May the Landgrave's Son wrote back to them from Gundelfingen bidding them be in good Hopes but five days after when Duke Maurice was come back they both wrote promising to observe the Treaty and disapproving the action of Marquess Albert as quite contrary to their Expectation and they assure them besides that they will endeavour to have all restored that hath been taken from them and that they will instantly recall the Forces which they lent him The Norimbergers having received Marquess Albert's Letter wrote him an Answer the same Day shewing him what Duke Maurice and the Princes had promised them by Treaty and telling him that that was the reason why they had not sent Deputies to him Wherefore they earnestly pray and beseech him to restore to them the Castle in good condition and thereby gratify his Confederates He again wrote back three days after that since it was unknown to him what Transaction the Princes had made with them and that the case much concerned the French King to whom he was no less engaged than to them he demands a safe Conduct for a person of Credit whom he would send into the Town to whom they should shew the instrument of their Treaty they comply and produce the same Notwithstanding all this though Duke Maurice and the Confederate Princes carefully interposed on the eleventh of May he again sent them a threatning Note requiring them in the French King's Name chiefly to give him within a few Hours a positive Answer whether they would obey what was commanded them or not and having received an answer not to his liking he plundered burnt and razed to the Ground the Castle of Lichtenaw with the adjoyning Town and having exacted Money of the Towns-People and forced them to take an Oath to be true to him and his Cousin-German George Frederick he laid Siege to the City Wherefore the Landgrave's Son forthwith recalled two Troops of Horse which he had lent him against Wolfgang Master of the Teutonick Order commanding them to return back to him whereat he was mightily offended He therefore began a cruel War and having Plundered an Hundred Villages within their Territories about seventy Mannor and Farm-Houses belonging to the Citizens with the Churches he Burnt not only them but also three Thousand Acres of Wood in a vast Forrest of theirs which supplied both them and their Neighbours with Timber and Fuel He had before this declared War against the Nobility and others who lived thereabouts if they would not obey and especially against the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg whom also in this state of Affairs he forced to submit to very hard Conditions Insomuch that the Bishop of Bamberg to save himself and whole Province from imminent danger bought a Peace of him at a very dear rate for he was fain to make over to him twenty Towns and Lordships within his Dominion by Deed and Conveyance which he Signed the nineteenth day of May and therewith all his Superiorities and Vassalls But the Bishop of Wurtzburg paid him down two Hundred and twenty Thousand Florins and took upon him the Payment of his Debts which amounted to about three hundred and fifty Thousand Florins more The free Towns of Schuabia which as we said before assembled at Ausburg to the number of twenty six but especially those of Ausburg taking Pity on this sad and deplorable condition of the Norimbergers sent Deputies chosen out of their whole number to mediate an accommodation who being come upon safe Conduct to Norimberg exhorted the Senate to Peace for many Reasons telling them that Erenberg and the Passes of the Alpes were all in the Power of the Confederates and that the state of Italy and Hungary was such that no help nor relief was to be expected from any hand and then they shew them the Conditions proposed by Marquess Albert. The Senate gave them thanks for their Affection and the Pains they had put themselves to and having represented to them how that Marquess Albert had no cause to make War against them and how they had capitulated with Duke Maurice and the Confederates they plainly told them that since the Conditions were such as neither they could perform them nor if they did could justifie themselves to the Emperor and King Ferdinand for so doing they resolved to suffer the Extremity and commit their Cause to God being so well satisfied with their own Innocence that they could make not only the Emperor but all Princes nay the Relations and intimate Friends of Marquess Albert himself their Judges in the case When the Mediators had in as soft and fair words as they could given Marquess Albert the Senate's Answer and found him so far from relenting that he broke out into most outragious threats by Letters dated the fourth day of June they acquaint the Besieged that his Mind was implacable and that they could not by any means bring him to more reasonable terms In the mean time Marquess Albert batters the Town again more furiously than before throws Fire into several places and one Night gives the Assault burning at the same time one of the Suburbs for the greater terror At the same time came to the Camp George Thannenberg and William Schachten Ambassadors sent joyntly from Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son to treat of Peace These taking to them the assistance of the Deputies of the Cities who otherwise were about to depart as despairing of any Success after a tedious and laborious negotiation prevailed with both at length and clapt up a Peace for not only was Marquess Albert reinforced with fresh recruits that came to the Army under the Command of James Dalbeck and Christopher Oldenburg but Duke Maurice had written to the Senate also that though he was extreamly troubled at what Marquess Albert did yet he was not able to remedy it at present These were the conditions of Peace that they should pay two hundred Thousand Florins deliver six pieces of Ordnance with their Appurtenances and entertain amity with the Confederate Princes as they of Ausburg did on the other hand that he should restore all he had taken from them Wherefore about the twentieth of June the Siege was raised from before Norimberg one not only of the most famous powerful and Wealthy but also strongest Cities in Germany The Marquess puffed up with this so brave Success wrote from the Camp to those of
Ulm to this Effect That the Norimbergers to their great loss being now subdued by him had accepted Conditions of Peace and promised to submit to what should be commanded them by him and the rest of the Confederates That he resolved to besiege them but in a far different manner and more closely than had been lately done that if Fortune favoured his Enterprise he would not spare Man nor Man-child above seven Years of Age unless they returned to their duty in time and instantly sent Deputies to give him and the Confederates Satisfaction and so wipe off the stain of their late Rebellion that he had ordered him by whom he sent his Letter to bring back their Answer which he commanded them to give positively that he might know their final Resolution To this Letter they gave a very short Answer that so long as they had Health and Life they would never condescend to his Demands The French King upon his March out of Germany having his Army divided into three Bodies came to Walterfingen a small Town in the Dominion of Lorrain upon the River Sare There all his Forces being united again on the twenty fifth of May he Marched and having past the Mosel entred the Dutchy of Luxembourg burning plundering and wasting the Country wherever he came being provoked by the Example of Van Rossem as they themselves affirm he also retook the Town of Asteney deserted by the Garrison for Van Rossem was now returned Home Having afterwards Encamped he took by Composition the little Town of Danvilliers and soon after Ivey one of the chief Forts in the Country In that Town was Ernest Count Mansfield Governour of the whole Province with the flower of the Youth who fell all into the Enemies Hands the Town was afterwards sacked by the unruly Soldiers against the King's Will as it was said but let us now return to Duke Maurice He was gone as we told you to Passaw about the treaty of Peace There on the first of June having resumed what was done in the Treaty at Lintz he declared his Mind more fully and plainly as to all Points There were present the Emperor's Ambassadors King Ferdinand Albert Duke of Bavaria the Bishops of Saltzburg and Aichstadt the Ambassadors of all the Princes Electors as also of the Dukes of Cleve and Wirtemberg and many others His grievances were That the Government of the Empire which ought to be free was in the Hands of Strangers that the Authority of the Princes Electors was impaired and that many things were done without their Advice or Knowledge that some things also were dismembred and alienated from the Empire that ways were taken to deprive them of their right of Electing the Emperor that in the Diets of the Empire the Opinions and Votes of the Electors were almost slighted that the private Assemblies of the Electors were out of a certain fear intermitted that their Jurisdiction was diminished whilst contrary to ancient Custom the Imperial Chamber admitted of Appeals from them that the Controversies of the States of the Empire were purposely fomented and never taken up till both Parties had received Damage that it was a hard matter to be admitted to Audience in the Emperor's Court where Cases were often mistaken for want of understanding the Language and that not only the Charges was great but much time also lost in waiting there that matters were not handled amicably in the Diets and that if any Man made a Proposal for the publick good it was taken ill that by those frequent and long lasting Diets Germany was Exhausted and Business often neglected at Home and nevertheless the Publick not a whit the better but many times the worse and more entangled thereby that severe Edicts were made that no Man should serve in foreign Wars that such as made their Peace were obliged not to fight against the Provinces of the Emperor and so were torn off from the Empire that they who according to Duty served their Lords in the Smalcaldick War were fined that they who persevered in the Emperor's Friendship were also made to Pay and that under pain of having their Lands and Goods put to Sale if they did not make present Payment and that their Ambassadors for not assenting immediately were commanded upon pain of Death not to depart from Court without Leave that foreign Soldiers had been several times brought into Germany and after the last War was over had been quartered up and down in the Country where they did many things dissolutely and licentiously glorying that Germany was subdued and would be annexed to the Patrimony of the Emperor who would have Castles and Citadells built in the chief Cities thereof that a vast number of great Guns and store of Ammunition had been carried as in Triumph out of Germany into strange Countries that some out of Vain-glory and Ambition had caused the Arms of German Princes to be put upon the Guns which were Cast for themselves as if they had been taken from them that Books were Published and that with Priviledge from the Emperor too to the great infamy and disgrace of Germany as if it had been Conquered and brought under Bondage that in the publick Diets some as representing the Emperor's Provinces were admitted into the Assembly of the Princes and States and that was done with secret Designs that the number being encreased they might carry all by Plurality of Voices that four Years since the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber had been Erected and Laws made by a very few Persons which were afterward promulgated to the great Prejudice of many especially of those of the Augustan Confession who were all excluded from that Bench that therefore the thing it self required that these Laws should be reviewed and better examined in the next Diet. These and other things of the like nature he propounded and forasmuch as they chiefly concerned the Emperor he demanded that they should be forthwith redressed and the Empire restored to its ancient Dignity and others not suffered to baffle and despise it The Mediators having consulted together were of opinion that these Demands were very reasonable but yet that in respect to the Honour and Dignity of the Emperor which was concerned and that he might be the more easily perswaded it was their Judgment that some things which related to the publick Reformation of the Government might be referred to a general Diet of the Empire The Bishop of Bayonne the French Ambassador was there who on the third of June made a Speech before the Princes to this Effect That in old time and before the name of Francs was known there had been so great a resemblance of Life and Manners betwixt the Gauls and Germans that the Germans are the People whom the Romans long ago called the Brethren of the Gauls but that when the Francs had planted themselves in Gallia now France there was such a Coalition of both Nations that they made but
Leave to manage the War at their own Pleasure and that though whilst he himself lay still with his Army upon the Rhine the Enemy had invaded his Country at Home yet he did not stir till he had Information from Duke Maurice that those things for which the War had been undertaken might be obtained in a peaceable manner That he had not a little rejoyced at that News seeing matters went according to his own Hearts desire For that it had been his Advice and Counsel first that the Princes should not let slip so fair an occasion as they had offered them nor that they should not be so far overseen as to suffer themselves to be imposed upon and gulled as formerly and then that since he had given them so eminent an Instance of his Good-will and Friendship a firm Amity might be setled betwixt the two Nations that so he might afterwards have more leisure to mind the other concerns of the Publick That now since Duke Maurice had desired to know of him upon what terms he was willing to listen to Peace It was his Opinion and he must say it that the Emperor had made War against him for no just Cause but that it was not the Custom of the Kings of France to sue for Peace from an Enemy especially from one to whom neither in Strength nor any thing else they were inferiour So that to propound any thing unless there were certain hopes that it would be granted he did not at all think it proper That he entertained so good Thoughts of them that he was confident they would require nothing of him but what might stand with his Honour and Dignity and that he on the other hand had so great a Love and Esteem for them that were they to Treat of the General Peace of the whole World he would be ready for their sakes to remit part of his own Right That he was very willing they should have the Cognisance and Determination of his Demands provided the Emperor submitted to the same and earnestly wished that with the first occasion some Meeting might be held upon that account and that if so then all Men should understand both how much he loved the Publick and how falsly it was given out by his Enemies that he had made a League with the Turks But that if nothing of what he said should take place if all Consultations conspired for his ruin and that the Alliance which he had good reason to expect with the Germans should not be contracted the blame ought not to be imputed to him if greater Troubles did arise This Letter was publickly read before the Princes on the first of July Duke Maurice came to Passaw by the day appointed and next day was the Emperor's Answer brought to King Ferdinand who having thereupon called a Meeting told the Princes that the Emperor had written his Mind but that he did not assent to most things proposed and that since it was so it was to no purpose to tell them what Answer he had given to every Particular But nevertheless that he might make it appear how desirous he was of Peace and how well he wished Germany he would go himself in great Diligence to the Emperor and doubted not but that he might be able to perswade him That in the mean time he earnestly desired Duke Maurice would not be impatient but condescend to a short delay of eight Days which was the least time he could take to go and come in This the Duke immediately refused and King Ferdinand pressed it very hard but all in vain for Duke Maurice calling together the Princes and Ambassadors told them that they themselves knew very well who had been present at all Transactions for the space of a whole Month that he had omitted nothing which might have contributed to the setling of a Peace and doubted not but they would upon Honour testifie as much That therefore he desired them to continue their Good-will and Favour towards him and promote the common Cause of Germany That no more could be granted by him and that because of his forwardness to Treat he began almost to be suspected by his Confederates The Princes having made him a generous Answer and commended his Zeal for the Publick apply themselves to King Ferdinand and desire that in the Emperor's Name he would come to a final Determination That they believed whatever he should do would be ratified by his Imperial Majesty King Ferdinand made Answer that he had no such Power granted him by his Brother else he would not offer to take upon him the trouble of that Journey and that indeed he durst not transgress the Limits that were prescribed to him We told you before that the Princes Mediators had by Letters of the sixteenth of June exhorted the Emperor to Peace To these Letters now the Emperor wrote an Answer from Villach the last day of the same Month to this purpose That from his first entring into the Government he had always been studious of Peace and desired nothing else at present That they needed not then to have recommended it so much unto him but to those rather who had been the Authors of these Troubles they should have have spoken in that Strain and that by their Allegiance to him and the Empire he required them to do so That as to his own private Concerns he was ready for their Sakes to condescend to many things provided that in the way of Treaty the Imperial Authority might not be impeached nor matter left for greater Broils but that as to the substance of the Pacification he had signified his Mind to his Brother King Ferdinand from whom they might learn the Particulars To these Letters they wrote back an Answer on the fifth of July when King Ferdinand returned to the Emperor representing to his Majesty that at his desire and suggestion they came to this Treaty and the more willingly too because he had declared That he would do any thing for the publick Good That with great Labour Care and Diligence they had found out a way of Pacification and that therefore they begged and that most earnestly that he would consider the case of their common Country That many and those the chief States of the Empire had already suffered great Calamity and that the condition of Affairs was such now and so little time given to Deliberation that the rest of the Princes and States especially those who were nearest the Flame could not how willing soever they might be perform the Duty and Loyalty they owed him nay that they were necessitated to take such Courses as might soonest rid them of the imminent Calamity and Misery wherewith they were threatned That if he would not incline to Peace but try the fortune of War sad disorders and dangerous alterations would thereby be occasioned in Germany which might afterwards be communicated to his own Provinces That he could not do better then than to acquiesce to
do further declare to you and yours that you ought to be resposable for all the Calamities which shall ensue in this War you having refused to submit to any just and equal Conditions of Peace And we do not doubt but that Almighty God will rather assist us who seek nothing but the Preservation of our Country than you who have committed great Injuries in and began an unjust War against it When this Declaration was delivered to Albert the Ambassadors of the Elector of Brandenburg were in his Camp who were come to perswade him to a Peace And he having read it called his Commanders together and asked them if they would try their Fortunes with him which they promised him they would and thereupon he called the young Gentleman who brought him the Letter and speaking to him said Your Prince has already thrice broke his Faith with me and done ill by me and this is his fourth Action of the same Nature Let him come and I will try what he can do and this tell him from me And thereupon having according to the Custom given him some Crowns he sent him away Whereupon the Ambassadors who were come to Mediate a Peace addressed themselves to him and said What then Sir shall we do nothing No said he you may go Home But having a little more closely reflected on the Consequences of the War the third of July he sent Erick of Brunswick to the Emperor to inform him That by the Cunning of some Men many Enemies were stirred up against him to the End that not only the Pacts that had been made with him might not be performed but also that he might be driven out of his Country and deprived of his Possessions that there was no doubt but if Fortune favoured their Designs they would soon declare for the French Interest For in truth France had invited them with the Proffer of great Advantages to enter into a new Conspiracy as he could prove And that some of the Electors and great Princes had already conspired to set up a new Emperor That the Imperial Chamber was the only Promoter of the Designs of the two Bishops against him and therefore he desired the Emperor his Majesty would not take it ill that he had been compelled to make use of Force against them He further insisted That his Enemies in order to excite the publick Envy against him had spread abroad a Report as if he had Combined with the Emperor to oppress the Liberty of Germany and that some of the Princes had objected this to him and he said there were Letters to the same purpose spread about Germany which were pretended to be written from Arras that he Levied Forces to assist the Emperor in this Design For that the Emperor intended to send his Son the Prince of Spain and the Duke De Alva to the next Diet that he might there be declared Successor of the Empire That King Ferdinand was so fully perswaded of the Truth of this that he had entred into a League with his Enemies and has saith he declared a War against me he said he had excused this very carefully and to many but yet the suspition got strength every Day and that in truth all the Dangers and Difficulties to which he was exposed arose from no other cause than his adhering to the Emperor Therefore he did most humbly supplicate his Majesty to confirm his Treaty with the Bishops and to undertake the Protection of him and his in Consideration of which he promised he would bring nine Thousand Horse and one Hundred Foot Companies into the Emperors Service when-ever his Majesty should require them In the mean time the Forces of the City of Norimberg and the two Bishops in the Absence of Albert invaded his Territories Whereupon he put out a Declaration against the City of Norimberg accusing them of breaking their Faith and Promises to him and insinuating that by joyning in a League with those two Perfidious Bishops as he called them they seem'd well disposed to re-imbrace the Roman-Catholick Religion They on the other side Printed and Published an Answer soon after relating all things in the order they had happened and beginning with the Actions of the former Year they shew how cruel a War he had begun what Pacts they had made with him how with the Consent of the Emperor they had entred into a League with their Neighbour Bishops How Albert had rejected the most equal Terms the Bishops had offered to him and had nevertheless begun a War upon them how he had lately again Invaded the Territories belonging to this City only because pursuant to their League and in obedience to the Commands of the Imperial Chamber they had sent Succours to their Allies Amongst other ill things which they charged him with they mention this as an Instance of Cruelty which had never been practised by any Man before him That when he had made himself Master of Altorfe and Lawffe two Towns in their Territories he shut up in them not only the Inhabitants of these Towns but a great number of Men which he had brought together out of the Neighbouring Country together with their Cattel and then had Fired the said Towns in many places at the same time and especially at the Gates designing apparently to burn all these People with the Towns and that in this Fire many Women and Children and Aged and Sick Persons who could not make their way either through or over the City Walls were miserably burnt to Death And as to what he alledged concerning their changing their Religion they shew that Pretence was vain for that the League was only entred to the Intent to preserve themselves and theirs from unjust Force And as for Albert they said it was well known how little he regarded any Religion as they could shew by many Instances which they would certainly have inserted here but out of Reverence to the noble House of which he was descended and some other Princes that were his near Relations they would forbear doing it The fifth day of July Sigismond King of Poland Married Catherine one of the Daughters of Ferdinand King of the Romans which Lady had before been the Wife of the Duke of Mantoua Sigismond had before this in the Year 1535 Married Elizabeth another of the Daughters of Ferdinand and Sister of Catherine as I have related above in the fifteenth Book of this History Edward the sixth King of England a Prince of great and unquestioned Vertue and Hope died the sixth day of July as was commonly given out of a Consumption being about sixteen years of Age to the great Grief of all Pious Men. There followed in England after his Death great Changes as I shall relate hereafter There was soon after a report spread abroad that he was Poysoned However it is certain Europe has not in many Ages produced a Prince of so great Expectation From his Infancy he was well instructed in Religion and
against him yet in the first of those Meetings we offered that if he would lay down his Arms and commit the case to the Determination of the Law with good Security we also would lay down our Arms and submit our Cause to the Arbitriment of the mediating Princes or to the Judgment of the Emperor and the States and the same Condition was tendered by the Bishops also by the Advice and Command of the Ambassadors of King Ferdinand The Council of the mediating Princes out of a desire of Peace proposed that if the Confederates in the Circle of Franconia would promise to restore him his Territories as they then were both sides should lay down their Arms and take new Securities for the future that then the Proscription should as to that part be â—oid and the whole Controversy should be committed to a friendly and a legal Treaty But he in Contempt and Scorn called the Intercessors his Enemies Broakers and said he would not suffer himself to be reduced into such Streights that he did not desire the Outlawry should be reversed that he would hazard the loss of what was left and many other such like things using light and scurrilous Reflections mixed with Threats against all the Princes and States as may be shewn in his Letters Printed at Holansperg And in the next Congress though we offered him more advantageous terms yet he was never the more inclined to a Peace no his whole design then was to prevail against us by Frauds and Ambushes which deserved no great Commendation and are very unworthy of a Prince For at the request of the Mediators he promised to lay down his Arms and to referr the whole Case to the Emperor and some Princes This Compromise was accordingly confirmed by the Emperor's Letters of the fourth of April from Brussells wherein he commanded the States of Franconia to lay down their Arms and to commit the Affair to his Diligence and Faith but the close design which Albert had in this was as it appears by what followed to stop the Emperor's Proceedings for a time that the Execution of the Outlawry might not be committed to the other Provinces of the Empire also that in the mean time he might bring that Army he was then underhand Levying into the Field and oppress us before were aware But by the Blessing of God this Project was discovered his Letters about that time which he sent to his Captains who were dispersed here and there being Intercepted In which he said that he had submitted to the terms Proposed at Rotenburg that he might gain time and surprize his Enemies that if the Interceeding Princes should require them to disband they should not comply with them in it but should continue in a Body and upon no terms be separated and that by way of Excuse they should alledge there were many Months Pay due to them and that they could not disband till they had that Money but that they would remain where they were without doing any Injury till their Arrears were Payed To the same purpose also are his Letters to his Commanders to fall promiscuously and without distinction upon whomsoever they could When therefore his secret Treachery was thus discovered and his Ambassadors at Rotenburg would give ours no positive and certain Answer whether he would stand to the Arbitriment of the Emperor or no by the advice of the Ambassadors of Ferdinand we were forced as we say in our Letters sent then to the Emperor to commit our Cause to God the Emperor and Empire This being the true state of things any Man will hereby be able easily to understand that we are loaded with so many Reproaches Slanders and Miseries only because in Obedience to the Emperor and the Imperial Chamber which is our Supream Court we have endeavoured to repress his Violence and Fury And therefore we earnestly desire all those who love Vertue and Justice and hate Force and Injury that they would consider that if the Sentence given against him by the Imperial Chamber be not put in Execution and his Insolence humbled not only we but they too will thereby be equally in danger Let no Man therefore give him any Assistance Refuge or Protection but as it becomes Princes and the Lovers of their Country let them not only not hinder the Execution of the Decree but with all their might promote the Execution of it and in all things act so that others may by this Example be deterred And we beseech them not to give any Credit to his defamatory and slanderous Libels against us and that if he shall again enter into any Designs against us that then they would lend us their Help and Advice In the Month of May Albert having received the Money above-mentioned for the Ransom of Aumale went into Saxony and getting some forces together marched by unfrequented ways toward Schweinfurt and the tenth of June he entred the Town on that side it was not Besieged with eight hundred Horse and seven Foot Companies But finding the Town very much Impoverished the third day after he entred it he Plundered it and in the Night time drew out all the Soldiers as well Horse as Foot to the number of eighteen Companies together with the Cannon and leaving no Guards to secure the Gates he marched in the dead time of the Night to Kitzingen a Town seated a little lower upon the Mayn When the day broke and the Besiegers saw the Gates of the City without any to defend them they gave the Alaâ—â— in the Camp and began to prepare to follow him but in the Interim many of the Soldiers and especially those that served under Henry Duke of Brunswick rushed into the Town and took and destroyed what the other had left So that the Princes and Commanders were forced to set Fire to the Town in several Places to compel their Soldiers to return to the Camp that Albert might not have time to escape whilst they were Plundering the Town Though Albert had the advantage of some hours in his March yet being retarded by the Cannon and other heavy Carriages he was easily overtaken and forced by the Van-Guard to make a stand to defend himself but the rest of the Army soon coming up when he saw that he was not able to defend himself against so great a Number advising his to shift for themselves as well as they could he with a few Horsemen took his Flight and Swimming over the Mayn arrived safely at Kitzingen with the loss of all his Baggage and Cannon The eighth day after his principal Fortress called Blasseburg was surrendred and fell into the Hands of Ferdinand King of Bohemia Henry Plaw Chancellor of Bohemia the indefatigable Enemy of this Place died before it some few days before it was yielded Thus Albert Marquess of Brandenburg was driven out of all his Territories Whilst things went thus in Franconia Henry Duke of Brunswick demanded Money of most of the Princes Nobility and Cities in the
Lower Saxony and forced them of Meckelburg Lunenburg Anbalt and Mansfeld to pay it Another part of his and the Bishop's Forces having beat Albert and taken Schweinfurt as I have said they Treated Rotenburg an Imperial City and the County of Henneburg very severely and seemed resolved that if they did not contribute to the Expences of this War which they pretend did belong to all they would levy it by Force but by the Interposition of others this difference was Composed and no Force was made use of About this time Charles Duke of Savoy who as I have related above was stript of the greatest part of his Territories died leaving as his Heir Philibert his Son who had served many Years as a Soldier undr the Emperor Ferdinand King of the Romans published an Edict commanding his Subjects not to change any thing in the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and that according to the old Custom they that received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should content themselves with one of the Spectes the Bread only But the Princes the Nobility and Cities having often before Petitioned him in this Business did now by a Letter very humbly desire that according to Christ's Command and Institution and the custom of the ancient Church which they backed also with many Reasons they might be allowed the partaking of the whole and entire Eucharist The King answering this Letter the twenty third of June from Vienna said he did not in the least suppose when he published that Edict that it should be made by them the Subject of a Dispute and Cavil For said he my only design was that the People in my Dominions should remain in the ancient and true Religion and in the Obedience of the Catholick Church out of the Communion of which none can be Saved and that they might receive this most excellent Sacrament according to the Laws and Customs of the Church and that they might not be perverted from that duty they owe both to the Civil Magistrate and the Church either by the perverse Opinions of some Men or by a certain over great Curiosity or Pride He said this was the only intention and design of that Edict and that he had not in it commanded any new thing but had required only the continuance of an ancient Institution which has been brought down to me from hand to hand by my Ancestors the Emperors Kings and Dukes of Austria and which has to this Day been diligently observed by me as becomes a Christian Prince and which I have heretofore frequently commanded my Subjects to continue in And therefore I did not in the least suspect that you would attempt any thing against the tenor of this Edict who so earnestly contend that in all other things no change may be made and that you may enjoy your Laws and Rights without Violation For certainly this is a new thing and of late taken up by you upon some Opinion which you argue so largely for as if it befitted you to judge of my Commands who am your principal and highest Magistrate and as if that ought of right to be allowed you which some of you of late years have of their own Authority privately assumed to themselves and usurped contrary to the Canons of the Church and against my Will. But then it being as you say a grave and difficult question as you your selves aver I will think further of it and in due time I will return such an answer to it as shall shew that I am very much concern'd for the Salvation of my People But in the mean time I expect all manner of submission from you and that you should not in the least act any thing contrary to my Edict To this Letter the States made a reply in Writing also to this Effect What we have so often said most serene Prince concerning the Command of our Saviour we now again repeat for he instituted his Supper in clear and perspicuous Words that it might be received by all in the self same manner as he prescribed And it is not lawful for any mortal Man to change or alter his Institution and Prescription This was also the ancient custom of the Church and that which is now used crept in by insensible degrees as we can demonstrate For the Council of Constance confesseth that it was so instituted by Christ Seeing therefore this pertains to the Salvation of our Souls certainly neither Curiosity nor Pride have put us upon it And upon this very score we the rather hope that you will direct your future deliberation by the Commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of the ancient Church and in no wise oppress our Consciences which just request we make to your Majesty by all that is sacred by the Glory of God and by the Salvation of our Souls We acknowledge that by the Will of God you are our Supream Magistrate and we do this with the utmost willingness and we say that there is nothing which you may not or ought not to expect from us but in this one thing we desire you would spare us In the Diocess of Wurtzburg in Franconia there is a Monastery called Nenstadt the Abbot of which John Frisius falling into the suspicion of Lutheranism was cited the fifth day of May to appear within six days after at Wurtzburg and answer to such things as should be then enquired of him The Interrogatories then administred to him were Whether it be lawful to Swear Whether a Man is bound by his Vow Whether it be lawful to make a Vow of Poverty Chastity and Obedience Whether such Vows oblige Whether Matrimony or Celibacy doth best become the Ministers of the Church Whether there is one true and Apostolical Church Whether she is perpetually governed as the Spouse of Christ by the Holy-Ghost Whether she does always decree what is true and Salutary Whether the Church is to be deserted for the Vices and Errors of some Men in it Whether she upon the account of the Head the Vicar of Christ may rightly be called the Roman-Church Whether all the Books of both Testaments which the Canon has are lawful and true Whether the Sacred Scriptures are to be interpreted according to the Sentence of the Holy Fathers the Doctors of the Church and the Councils or according to that of Luther and such others Whether besides the sacred Scriptures there be not need of other Traditions such as those of the Apostles and others of the same Nature Whether the same Faith Authority and Obedience is due to these Traditions which is due to the sacred Scriptures Whether the civil Magistrate is to be obeyed in Politick or Civil Affairs and the Ecclesiastick in Sacred or Holy things Whether the Sacraments of the Church are Seven Whether Children are to be Baptized Whether Baptism ought to be administred in the Latin Tongue Whether Salt Oil Water Characters and Exorcisms ought to be made use of in
we Petitioned your Majesty that we might not be forced to act against our Consciences but then your Majesty referred this Cause to the Diet at Ratisbone But you may be pleased in the mean time to consider how grievous it is to those who do most ardently desire the Salvation of their Souls to be turned off to an uncertain time When in the interim the Mind is in Anguish and in this anxiety and doubt many Thousands must end their Days Certainly the Word of God which was reveal'd to us by Jesus Christ our Saviour ought to be the only Rule which the Church should follow and if any thing has crept into the Church contrary to that Word how ancient soever it may seem to be it is to be rejected For God will be Adored and Worshipped in the manner he has Prescribed and Commanded and not as Men shall think and feign God has always inflicted horrible and fearful Punishments on those who have neglected his Commandments and in the stead of them have introduced the observation of humane Inventions as may be shewn from the Calamities of the more ancient Kingdoms and those which are nearer and have happened in our own Countries seem to speak the same thing Therefore after the most diligent Search we can find no other Remedy than the casting away those manifest Errors and Corruptions which have been brought into the Church and the receiving and free Profession of pure Doctrine attended with such an administration of the Sacraments as Christ himself has instituted and appointed For it is utterly unlawful for us to depart and turn aside from so plain and clear a Command of God as we have often already shewen For we are first to seek the Kingdom of God which being done he will be present by his Spirit with us and govern our Actions and Counsels That therefore he may deliver us from these so great dangers and be the Counsellor and Leader of us in this War stand for us in the Battel and protect us from our Enemies Rage We beseech your Majesty by the Death of Christ by the Salvation of our Souls and by that judgment which shall pass upon all Men because this thing tends to the perpetual Felicity of your Majesty your Children and Countries That it may be lawful for us who are not corrupted by any Sect with your good Leave to live in the true and pure Religion and to enjoy the benefit of that Peace which you lately made in the Diet with those who profess the Augustan Faith. For seeing we are all Baptized alike in Christ we desire our Condition may not be worse than theirs and that you would not deny us what you have granted to some other of your Provinces and that you would recal those Edicts you have put out concerning Religion and deliver us from the Fears which now afflict us and we desire you would by a new Edict secure the Peace of those Ministers who teach according to the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles and distribute the Sacraments in form abovesaid and that our Schoolmasters may not be Banished or Imprisoned till they have defended themselves before a Lawful Judge And if your Majesty please to do this as we verily believe you will in this extream danger then we do not at all fear but that God will abundantly recompence the same and the States of the Empire will grant greater Supplies than they have at any time heretofore and we for our Parts will not be wanting in our Duty but will chearfully give whatever shall be requisite for the defence and safety of our Country and will to the utmost of our Abilities omply with all your Demands About this time the Ambassadors of the Emperor and the King of France met again and not being able to conclude a Peace between their Princes the fifth of February they agreed on a Truce for five Years by Sea and Land as well in Italy and the Low-Countries as in all other Places That both of them should in the interim possess those Places which he had gained during the War That the Fugitives of Naples and Sicily should be excluded out of this Truce and that the Pope should in the first place be comprehended in it and after him all the Kindred and Servants of both the Princes as the manner is This Truce was soon after Proclaimed by the King of France in his Kingdom and at Metz and some time after it was Proclaimed by the Emperor in his Provinces There was soon after a Report that the Pope was displeased with this Truce and that he endeavoured to perswade the King of France to break it On the other side some said the Pope was the great Promoter of it because he was then contriving a War against the Lutherans In this Truce nothing could be brought to an Agreement which concerned the Captives The Principal of which were the Duke of Arescoâ— a Low-Country Nobleman and the eldest Son of Montmorency Constable of of France who was taken about three Years since in Terovanne The States of the Lower Austria addressed to the King as I have shewn above the thirty first of January that Prince the eighth day after having in the Preface deplored the Calamities and Disorders of the Times and the Wrath of God he assured them of the great Inclinations of his Soul to serve the Commonwealth but then said he whilst I consider diligently my Condition and Place and that I have from my Infancy followed the Precepts of the Christian and Catholick Church as my Ancestors have ever done from whom this Religion and Discipline have been handed down to me In truth I find that I cannot lawfully grant what you ask Not because I would not gratifie my People but because I see it is not lawful for me to prejudice the Christian Church and to change her Laws and salutary Decrees at my Will and Pleasure seeing as Christ saith I am rather bound to hear her Yet nevertheless because I have many years since observed what grievous Calamities have been occasioned by this dismal division in Religion I have been labouring with my Brother the Emperor that theremight be a Composure of them and the thing has been attempted in many Diets and in some Conferences and by our means there has been once or twice a Council begun at Trent but then that the acts of it have produced no Fruit ought not be charged upon us and it is not so obscurely carried but it is known by what Councils and Arts the same has been hindered And now whereas you desire the benefit of the pure Religion and of the peace of Religion lately made may be granted to you Truly as I never yet forced any Man from the true Religion so for time to come I shall not in the least do it nor are ye less comprehended in that Peace of Religion than the Subjects of any other German Prince The plain meaning of the Decree of the said Diet being
except ye are resolved to feel the greatest of all Calamities and Miseries I will not be larger now and I trust you will in this do what the necessity of Affairs and the consideration of your Duty shall require But they on the contrary urged the same things over again and said they could not desist and if they obtained nothing the consideration of the Supplies would thereby be obstructed and hindred because they had no Command to promise any thing till they had obtained a sufficient Security for the freedom of Preaching their Religion their Ministers and Schoolmasters In this Month of February Henry Duke of Brunswick Married the Sister of Sigismond King of Poland and about the same time John Isemburg Archbishop of Trier Died and was succeeded by John Ley. The twenty sixth of the same Month the Elector Palatine Frederick died at Alzem in a great old Age and Otto Henry his Brother's Son succeeded him who had before imbraced the Reformation and had thereby run the hazard of being deprived of all his Fortunes He having taken the Oath of Allegiance of his People presently put out an Edict that no Man should say Mass or use the other Ceremonies of the Church in his Dominions In our twenty second Book we have given an account of the disturbances raised in Prussia by Osiander who had brought in a new Doctrine concerning Justification but the greatest part of the Learned Men disliking his Opinion Albert Duke of Prussia by a publick Declaration set forth that he was resolved to follow the Doctrine of the Augustan Confession and therefore he Commanded the Ministers of the Churches to Teach according to it and promised them to pass by what was past if they obeyed thiâ— Edict for the future That therefore this Controversy might be truly composed and not break out afresh John Albert Duke of Meckelburg the Son-in-Law of the Duke of Prussia a Prince of very great Learning went thither and calling in the Assistance of some other Learned Men he reduced John Funcius the principal Man of the Osiandrians to an open acknowledgment of his Error and obtained a Promise from him that he would for the future Teach according to the Augustan Confession and this being done by the other Divines of that Province too there was a Reconciliation made between the Parties and that Church was setled in Peace The fourth day of March a Comet appeared and was seen for twelve days together and in the same Month the Deputies of the German Princes and Cities met at Ratisbon and began with the consideration of the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg because his Adversaries in the last Diet had desired the Assistance of the Princes against him But his Kindred interposing on his behalf it was at last decreed that he should have the publick Faith for his Security and that this Cause should be determined by Arbitrators and upon his return into Germany out of France in the Month of February there was accordingly a Treaty begun which was now assumed by the Diet the affairs of the Empire being delayed to the Month of April Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury had been long since condemned and after the Death of Ridley and Hooper was returned back to his Prison as I have said but now the twenty first of March he was burnt at Oxford Some few days before upon promise of Life and at the urgent Perswasion of some that were sent to him he had recanted most of his former Doctrines and appeared unconstant but when he saw he must die he made an Exhortation to the People wherein he spoke much of Repentance and amendment of Life the People being very attentive to him then he said how much he had offended God by denying the Truth and recapitulating the principal Points of Doctrine he shortly explain'd his Belief as to each of them and proved that the Papacy was the Kingdom of Antichrist Here he was interrupted and after many Reproaches he was hurried to the Place of Execution When he was tied to the Stake and the Fire was kindled about him he stretched forth his Right Hand saying This has Sinned by subscribing those wicked Doctrines which the Enemies of the Truth proposed to me and therefore it shall first be Punished he thereupon thrust it into the Flames as far as he could that it might first be Tormented Thus was the Primate of England Burnt a Person of great Learning and Authority At the time the Papal Character was taken from him by what they call a Degradation which is attended with many Ceremonies he was forced to wear mean Cloaths made of Canvas and he was now brought out in this Habit that he might be scorned but it had a contrary Effect for that the greatest part of the Spectators commiserating his Condition could not forbear weeping over him though they did not doubt but he was changing this miserable Life for an Immortal one and passing into his Heavenly Country Cardinal Pool soon after was enriched with his Spoils and made Archbishop of Canterbury having the Winter before been made a Priest for he was only a Cardinal-Deacon when he came over As the Inhabitants of the Lower Austria sollicited King Ferdinand to grant them the free Exercise of the Lutheron Religion so the Subjects of the Duke of Bavaria about the same time became very troublesom to Albert their Duke upon the same account This Prince observing that King Ferdinand his Father-in-law had yielded something he also having then need of Money did for a time comply with his Subjects and granted them liberty to take the Sacrament of the Lord 's Supperin both Kinds and to eat Flesh on the days prohibited in case of great necessity Yet at the same time he made a long Protestation That he would not desert the Religion of his Ancestors nor suffer any thing to be changed in the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church which he said was not lawful for him to do without the consent of the Supreme both Civil and Ecclesiastical Magistrate And that he granted these two things for so long time only as till there was a publick Order made to the contrary or a Reconciliation between the contending Parties for that it was his will that all his former Orders concerning Religion should be exactly observed in all other Points but these Two and that in these he would take all the care he could that the Metropolitans and Bishops should confirm these his Concessions and should not on these accounts trouble any of them This Edict was dated the last day of the month of March. About this time some of the Nobility of Transylvania revolted from King For dinand whereupon he commanded the Dyet to be prorogu'd to an uncertain day and began to levy Forces which were afterwards sent down the Dâ—â—ube towards Hungary There is a Town call'd Oberen seated in Alsatia three miles from Strasburg an Inhabitant of this place who was a Vine-Dresser being then in
mean time the Duke de Alva withdrew his Army to the Town of Colonna The Duke of Florence had now obtained what he desired by gaining the State of Sienna the Duke of Guise was gone for France the Pope's Forces were sufficiently baffled and his Towns lay at the Mercy of the Enemy his Treasures were spent and the Venetians had absolutely refused to assist him So that the Pope was now forced to come to a Treaty of Peace in good earnest and it was well he had the King of Spain and the Duke de Alva to treat with considering in what State his Affairs were The Peace was however agreed at last upon these Terms I. That the Duke de Alva in the Name of his Master should beg the Pope's Pardon and it should be granted II. That the Pope should renounce the Amity with France III. That the King of Spain should restore to the Pope one hundred Towns and Castles he had taken in this War the same being dismantled first and that they should restore those Estates they had seized to the proper owners IV. That both Parties should remit all Wrongs Injuries and Losses Sustained during the War and Pardon all that had taken Arms on either Side And that Paliano should be put into the Hands of Bernardo Carbone a Kinsman of the Caraffa's to be kept by him for both Parties with a Garrison of eight hundred Men till they should otherwise dispose of it by mutual Consent These Articles were publickly signed at Cava the fourteenth of September but there was a private Article signed the same Day That John Caraffa should have such a Recompence for Paliano as should be adjudged an Equivalent by the Senate of Venice who were the Arbitrators in this Treaty The Place meant was Rossano a Populous and Rich City in the Kingdom of Naples which was to be granted to him by the King of Spain with the Title of a Principality which he might transfer to whom he pleased if not an Enemy of the King of Spain's That upon the delivery of this Grant and Place Paliano should be dismantled and Caraffa should yield up all his Right in it to the King of Spain which he also might assign to whom he pleased if he were not Excommunicated or the Pope's sworn Enemy which was added to exclude Mark Anthony Colonna and was easily granted by the Duke de Alva in complyance with the Morose and Inexorable Humour they are Thuanus's Words of the Old Gentleman who would soon die and then the King might dispose of Paliano as he thought fit The Duke de Alva in a short time after went to Rome and on his Knees begged the Pope's Pardon with as much Humility as could have been wished And the Pope absolved him and his Master with as much Haughtiness as ever need to have been used The great Desire I had to lay all this Italian War together has made me omit some things that happened in the former Year among which one was the Death of Francis Venero Duke of Venice to whom succeed Laurentius Prioli a Learned Wise Eloquent and Magnificent Gentleman so that for many Years after his Death the Venetians regretted the Loss of him and wished for such another In England the Persecution was so far from extirpating the Reformation that it made it spread but the Quarrels at Frankford among our English Exiles about the Liturgy had a more Pestilent Influence upon that Religion then and in after Times than the former had The Queen in the mean time was very busie in raising the Religious Houses and had nothing to disgust her till the breaking off of the Truce between her Husband and the King of France which very much afflicted her every way The Duke of Guise shipped his Men at Civita Vechia for France and himself took Post-Horses and went by Land. The Cardinal of Caraffa went soon after the Pope's Nuntio to King Philip and Augustino Trivultio to the King of France to procure a Peace between those two Potent Princes who had been engaged in this War by the Pope and his Relations In the Interim the Duke of Ferrara was exposed to the Resentment of King Philip and had certainly been ruined if the Prudence of Cosmo Duke of Florence had not prevented it First by sending slow and small Supplies against the Duke of Ferrara and then by maintaining and fomenting Differences between the Spanish Commanders at last by representing to the Duke de Alva who visited him at Legorn That the King of Spain had no other way of setling his Affairs in Italy than by quieting those Commotions his just Resentment against the Duke of Ferrara had raised That all Italy being weary of Wars promised themselves a Peace would follow upon the Victory of that Prince but now if he should go on to make one War the cause of another he must expect to lose their Affections and that mere Desparation would enforce them to take other Measures and seek new Allies and new Counsels This convinced that Duke That it was his Master's Interest to make a Peace with Ferrara because then there would be neither Prince nor Commonwealth in Italy that would have any dependence upon France Our Author John Sleidan has only given us the Letter or Speech which began the Dyet at Ratisbonne but dyed before he could give us any account of the Transactions there After they had consulted of those things which related to the State and the Turkish War there arose some debate concerning the composing the Differences of Religion And here it was first agreed That all that had been done in the Treaty of Passaw and the Dyet of Ausburg concerning the Peace of Religion should remain firm and immoveable But then those of the Augustane Confession presented to King Ferdinand by their Deputies a Protestation in Writing to this purpose That King Ferdinand had performed a most useful Office for the good of Christendom by setling a Peace in the Matters of Religion between the Princes and the States of Germany But then he had annexed a Limitation which was very Grievous That no Archbishop Bishop Abbat or other Ecclesiastical Person should receive the Augustane Confession but that he should resign his Office and be deprived of the Revenues thereunto belonging That those of the Augustane Confession did not consent to this Limitation nor can they now consent to it because this was a denying them the Benefit of imbracing the Saving and True Doctrin of the Gospel by which not only the Bishops but their Subjects too were driven out of the Kingdom of God which was not fit to be done Besides it was a Reproach to their Religion to suffer those who should imbrace the Augustane Confession to be judged unworthy of the Sacred Ministery And therefore they could not approve this Restriction in the Dyet of Ausburg without doing Injury to the Glory of God and their own Consciences neither can they now consent to it
fondly perswaded he could confute all the Doctrines of the Protestants out of the Fathers and thereby acquire a great Reputation to himself if he could procure à Conference with their Pastors It was therefore resolved that there should be a Meeting for that purpose at Poissy near St. Germain the Tenth of August and that Pasports should be granted to their Ministers which were to come thither on that account All of both sides being invited thither at the same time The Queen Regent was very much for this Disputation but the greatest part of the Roman Catholicks were against it as thinking it a dangerous thing to suffer the Doctrine which had hitherto been received to be brought under debate and the Religion of their Ancestors to be disputed In the Interim Mary Queen of the Scots left France and return'd into Scotland the Cardinal of Lorrain attending her as far as Calais There was also a Theatrical Reconciliation between the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise by the Order of the King the later protesting That he had no hand in the Imprisonment of the Prince and the Prince telling Guise That the Adviser and Procurer of his Commitment was a Wicked Man and a Villain To which Guise Answered That he believed so too but was not concern'd in it After which by the King's Command they embraced each other as Kinsmen and Friends and promised a firm and sincere Friendship each to other and there was great Rejoycing in the Court. The Assembly of the States was Prorogued last year till May of this and then was on the account of the great Affairs prorogued to August and Appointed to be opened at Pont-Oyse In this Assembly the Agreement between the Queen Regent and the King of Navar was Confirm'd by the three Estates which was very difficultly obtain'd by the later This Assembly was opened at St. Germain where James Breâ—agne d Autum who spoke for the Commons declaiming sharply against the Ignorance of the Priests and the Corrupt Manners and Depraved Discipline of the Clergy so that they were unfit to Lead or Instruct the People but rather disgusted and displeased them doing all things for Hire and nothing as their Duty enslaving themselves to Pleasures and wallowing in Luxury and Idleness To this he assigned the Calamities which at present oppress'd France He therefore moved the King to take away all their Jurisdiction that he should employ their over-great Riches to Pious Uses and call a National Council which was the only present and certain Cure of those Evils That free Pasports should be given to all that would come to it and that the King or some of the Princes of the Blood should preside in it whilst Business of Religion was debated That the late Decree against Conventicles should be no prejudice to those of the Reformed Religion who rejected the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome nor any Presription as to length of time which could not make what in it self was false true and the Business of Religion was to be quietly and friendly debated according to the Word of God and not with the Sword and Reproaches He that spoke for the Nobility excused the Clergy and desired the King to preserve their Priviledges and Dignities But then he moved to have the greatest part of the Church Lands sold to pay the Debts of the Crown pretending that a third part of the Purchase Money put out to Use would be as good to them as the whole Land. That the Edict of July might be recall'd and only multiplicity of Sects and ill Language under the pretence of Liberty prohibited That a National Council might be call'd in which the King should preside That all Jurisdictions should be taken from the Church and annexed to the Crown There were also many other things demanded in this Assembly which tended to the Ruine of the Clergy the Papal Authority growing into Contempt and the greatest part either out of a desire to promote Piety or of Love to Novelty favouring the Protestant Party and daily increasing their numbers by joyning with them The Clergy to prevent this Storm wisely gave the King four Tenths for six years which very much appeased the King and the Principal Courtiers towards them The Queen by the Advice of Monluc Bishop of Valence wrote about this time a long Letter to the Pope dated the 5th of August In which stating the dangers which attended the differences in Religion she exhorted him to provide speedy Remedies because they were become so numerous that they could no longer be suppressed by the Sword that many of the Principal Nobility and Magistrates embraced that way and had drawn over such Numbers and so united them that they were become sormidable to the State yet by the Rare Blessing of Heaven they had no Anabaptists Libertines c. none that denied the Apostles Creed or the Interpretation of it received in the Seven General Councils That therefore most were of opinion that notwithstanding these differences they ought to be received into the Communion of the Church which would end in the Peace of the Church That the use of Images which was forbidden by God and as to Adoration disproved by St. Gregory ought to be taken away That Exorcisms and some of the Prayers used in Baptism might be omitted The Lords Supper Administred to all the Laity in both Kinds and the Decree of the Council of Constance ought not to be preferred before the Command of God That the Prayers might be used in the Vulgar Tongue and all that would Communicate might do so the first Sunday of every Month That the Psalms might be sung in the French Tongue A Publick Confession of Sins Prayers for the Prince the Magistrates Clergy Good Weather Fruitful Seasons and all Affliction might be in the same Tongue That the late invented Feast of the Holy Sacrament might be abolished it being unnecessary and the cause of great Scandal and Offence and that this Mystery was Instituted for a Spiritual Worship and not for Shew and Pomp That the use of the Latine Tongue which was foreign and unknown was a great fault the Prayers of the Church belonging not only to the Clergy but to all but as now it stands Who can say Amen to a Prayer in a Language he knows not That if yet the Latine must be used it were fit an Interpretation should be made of the Prayers in the Vulgar Tongue That the Receiving of the Priest in the Sacrifice of the Mass the People only looking Idely on is contrary to the Institution That the Psalms ought to be in the Vulgar Tongue and also the Private Prayers of the People That these things might be granted without derogating from the Papal Authority The Pope was infinitely offended with this Letter and the more because of the same of a National Council shortly to be holden in France but then he dissembled his Resentment and became the more sincere in the Assembling a General
Ulrick Duke of Meckleburg Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg Charles Marquis of Baden Ernest Prince of Henneberg and the Ambassadors of Joachim Duke and Elector of Brandenburg and of John and George Fredirick of that Family of Philip Landtgrave of Hesse and of Barnim and Jo. Frederick Dukes of Pomerania upon the report of a Council suddenly to be assembled met at Naumburg to which Place the King of Denmark and the Princes of Lunenburg sent only Letters of Friendship to assure those that met that they would stand by them The design of it was to put an end to those Controversies which had arisen amongst the Protestants themselves to renew their Subscriptions to the Augustane Confession to consider and by mutual Consent to resolve whether they should go to the Council or refuse it They had great Controversies amongst themselves about the various Editions of the Augustane Confession which had been explained enlarged and as to the Expressions very often changed and the Elector of Saxony was for the retaining the first Edition and putting the Smalcaldick Articles by way of Preface to it but the rest not consenting to it he left Naumburg and return'd When they came to consider the Council of Trent they were no less divided in that too Some were for an absolute rejection of it others were for the fending Ambassadors from the several States who should propose the giving an Account of their Faith in a free and truly Christian Synod and enter a great Complaint against the Pope and Court of Rome make their Exceptions to the Council on the account of the Suspition of the Judges the perverse Method or Order of Proceedings and the Inconvenience of the Place this they conceived would â—itigate the Envy had been raised against them and shew that their Enemies and not they were the obstructers of Concord and Union After this they sent Deputies to the Duke of Saxony deploring his departure before the End of the Conference and giving him an Account of the Form of Confession they had Agreed to Subscribe and desiring him that he would also subscribe it or at least restrain his Divines from traducing and defaming it as they had before done by some things agreed at Frankford Soon after Augustus Duke of Saxony Married Anne Daughter of Morice of the Family of Nassaw and Brother to William Prince of Orange Jerolamus Martinego who was sent to Treat with Queen Elizabeth for the same end as I have said already came into Flanders and from thence according to the ancient Custom sent for Leave to come into England but was denied it the Council of England not thinking it fit to admit a Nuncio from the Pope when there Religion would be apt upon such an Encouragement to Imbroil our Affairs upon began to Treat with Throcomorton our Ambassador in that Court That Queen Elizabeth would be pleased to send her Ambassadours to the Council in which he was seconded by Letters from the Kings of France Spain and Portugal and the Cardinal of Portugal and the Duke de Alva To which she replied That from her Heart she desired a General Council but she would have nothing to do with a Papal That she would have nothing to do with the Pope neither whose Authority was banished out of England by the consent of the Three Estates That it belonged not to him but to the Emperour to call a Council and that she acknowledged no greater Authority in him than in any other Bishop The Twenty fifth of July Erirk King of Sweden was Crown'd with great Pomp at Stockholme upon the Baltick Sea. Charles Cardinal of Caraffa and Nephew of the last Pope was strangled the Sixth of March in the Castle of St. Angelo upon pretence That he had Exasperated Paul IV. his Uncle with his false Stories and put him upon a War That he had caused the Truce between France and Spain to be broken had entered underhand Treaties with the Protestant Princes of Germany and also with the Turk the Enemies of Christianity but in reality because the Pope was much offended with the sharp Answers the Cardinal made after he was imprison'd The Pope being thereupon made sensible that the Cardinal was a Person of great Spirit and Interest and if ever he were dismiss'd he would at one time or other Revenge the Quarrel upon the Popes Relations so that his Holiness contrary to his first Intentions found it was needful to cut him off though against Law as his own Canonists generally said The Count de Paliani Brother of the Cardinal of Caraffa had the same fate but on other pretences In France all that desired the Peace of the Church and the Reformation of Religion concluded the Pope would not hold a Council whatever he pretended and therefore urged the having of a National Council which was opposed by the Guises and their Faction for fear the Protestant Party should prevail in it against the Catholick They did whatever they could to perswade the King and Council from it and procured the Pope to perswade Philip King of Spain to interest himself in it who sent Anthony Bishop of Toledo to perswade the Queen to send the French Clergy to the Council of Trent and that in the mean time to prevent a Schism the thoughts of a National Council should be laid aside He had Orders also as occasion offered to threaten those who favoured the Protestants and to give assurances of his Masters readiness to support the young King which was ill taken in France as a kind of usurping a Right to interpose their Spanish Pride in the French Affairs Toledo died in France and Maurice his Successor became very importunate with the Queen to begin a Persecution against the Protestants which was as stiffly opposed by the King of Navar who demanded his Kingdom and interrupted all the Spanish Proceedings by his frequent Complaints to the young King. King Philip finding to his Cost that this Princes Power was greater in France than he imagin'd began a Design upon him to make him more pliant to his Desires This was to reject his Wife and Marry Mary Queen of the Scots and then declaring himself Head of the Catholicks in France the King of Spain was to give him Sardinia for Navar and to help him to Conquer England and so two Heretical Queens were for Heresie to be laid aside and the Pope was to Consecrate and Bless the Business The King of Navar detesting the Project of Repudiating his Queen the Exchange of Sardinia was driven on with more eagerness pretending it was the greatest Island in the Mediterranean Sea next Sicily and the most fruitful rich and populous and situate very conveniently for a Conquest of Barbary This Project being also seconded by the Popes Nuncio the Cardinal of Ferrara prevented the calling of a National Council which Wise Men thought was the only thing that could have prevented the Civil War which after broke out to the almost total Ruine of France
and seemed unwilling to do it the meaner part of his Attendants ran thither and began to call the Protestants who were there assembled Dogs and Rebels to God and the King. The Protestants also return'd their reproaches upon them and so at last they fell from words to flinging stones after which those that were on Horseback lighted and broke into the place where the Meeting was which was a Granary and was for some time defended by those within but they at last prevailing drew their Swords and began to stab and wound the Protestants A great Cry arising Guise was forced to go thither to put a stop to the Massacre but he by Accident receiving a small Wound this so inraged his Retinue that he could not restrain them in this Tumult about 60 persons were kill'd and 200 wounded amongst which last was Morell who was sent Prisoner to Disâ—er Though this Tumult happened against his will and contrary to his expectation yet the Duke of Guise to excuse himself and his Servants sent for the chief of the Protestants who were taken and severely chid them for having by this unlawful Meeting given occasion to this Tumult and blamed the Queen of Scots Bailiff for to her the Place belonged for suffering such Conventicles to be held there And caused several Depositions to be made that the Tumult was begun by the Protestants though it was in truth begun by his own Servants Fame encreased the Fact and made it appear worse in all the Circumstances than in truth it was and every one judged of it as he stood affected the Protestants blaming it and the Catholicks defending it as necessary to put a stop to the Insolence of a few ill Men to prevent worse But Wise men saw it would not stop here but that Seditious Men would take the same Methods throughout the Kingdom The Duke of Guise went to Reims and from thence to Nantueil the King being then at Monceaux in the Diocess of Meax whither Conde came and made a great Complaint of the Massacre of Vassy aggravating it above the Truth adding That it was a thing of ill Example and ought to be severely Punished The Queen on the other side was very much troubled and wrote to the King of Navar to take care of this Affair who was then at Paris and advised the Duke of Guise not to go to Paris till he had been with the King to which he made no other Answer than That he was so taken up with entertaining his Friends that he was not at leisure to wait upon the King. And his next care was to excuse it to the Duke of Wirtemburg to whom he sent a Letter to that purpose laying the fault on the Insolence of the Rabble which trusting in their number had begun to fling Stones at his Servants The King of Navar went to Monceaux in the mean time where he met with severe Complaints against this Tumult and stisly averr'd that the Protestants had been the beginners of the fray excusing the Duke of Guise and entertaining those that complain'd of it with very great roughness Beza who was there replied That if it were so the Duke of Guise ought to have complained to the King and not to have permitted his Servants to have become their own Judges and turning to the King of Navar he said He was sent by the Church to complain of this wrong which has ever been readier to suffer than to act Injuries and that yet he ought to rememeber that Anvil had broke many Hammers in the mean time the Duke of Guise went to Paris without taking any notice of the King where he was entertain'd with greater Ceremony and Respect and had a greater Attendance than became a Subject the Queen began to fear the King of Navar Guise and Montmorancy would under the Pretence of Religion set up a Triumvirate which would bring her and the King under their Power so that she had no other remedy but to put her self and her Son under the Protection of the Prince of Conde and by her Letter to desire him to stand by them But then she did this very privately and by her Emissaries that she might not alienate the hearts of the People and of a great part of the Nobility from her by seeming to promote the new Religion and by the Envy of that be excluded from having any share in the Government In the mean time that she might consult her own safety she went with the King of Navar to Melun whither M. de Marle and Claude Martel one of the Officers of Paris who was in great esteem amongst the People came to her and represented the great Danger Paris was exposed to by the Forces of the Prince of Conde and said it was necessary She and the King should come thither forthwith and he having many armed Men about him he desired the Citizens might have their Arms restored to them which had been taken away by Montmorancy which last she rather delayed than denied because she saw they would have them whether she would or no. From thence she went to Fontain-bleau to gain time to consider what was to be done and was in suspence whether she should go for Orleans whither Conde was going or trust to the Regal Authority and go to Paris Navar went in the mean time from Mâ—lâ—n to Paris and Lodged with Mommorancy where there was a Council held every day without the Prince of Conde And the Government of the City was taken from young Montmorancy by the Advice of his Father and given to the Cardinal of Bourbon Every thing now tended to an open rupture and rumours were spread abroad that the Catholicks in all Parts of the Nation were ill used by the Protestants which Reports were true or false set on foot by the Cardinal of Lorrain The Populace was exasperated and having regain'd their Arms were the more enraged for the having had them taken away and therefore could no longer be kept in order The Prince of Conde seeing his Danger that he might not seem to expose his own Party to the sury of their Enemies proposed to the Cardinal that he would leave the City if Guise and the other Confederates would do so too at the same time that it might not be endangered by an intestine Sedition which was accepted and the Duke of Guise went to Fontainbleau with a great Retinue to the King and Queen and the Prince of Conde went to Meaux and la Ferte Aucoulph upon the Marne As soon as they were thus gone M. de Marle took into the City MD men for its Security which Montmorancy the younger had refused to do whilest the City was under his Care The Duke of Guise when he went to Fontain-bleau carried with him many Armed men that he might fright the Queen from her Cabals with the Prince of Conde and so draw her by a secret Fear to joyn with him and the Stratagem took She
much addicted to Pleasures which at last fatal to him and drew him into this War. The Queen had entered a Treaty with the Inhabitants of Diep for the recovery of that place before Roan was taken and they were amazed with the Dangers that City was in and the depredations the German and French Horse made upon them that so soon as they heard Roan was taken they sent a Petition to the King who granted them all that they desired but the publick Exercise of their Religion Whereupon part of them went away with the English and the rest retired to Antwerp and other places in the Low-Countries So the Town was delivered up to the young Montmorancy the second of November who obtained leave from the Queen for them to meet privately for the Exercise of their Religion The same Conditions were granted to them of Caen. The next Care was to clear Haure de Grace of the English whither the Earl of Warwick came two days after the surrender of Roan The 20th of December the Protestants surprized Diep again without any considerable opposition the Inhabitants no way consenting to it and excusing it to the Queen as done without their aid knowledge or consent and thereupon great numbers of them went into the Low-Countries fearing they should be treated with the same Curelty as they of Roan had been when that City was taken for which they were ill used by Montgomery who was the procurer of this Surprize The News of the loss of Roan was brought to the Prince of Condé when he was in great pain for Andelott sent by him into Germany to bring him some Protestant Forces This ill News came attended with the defeat of Monsieur de Burie in which 2000 were slain in the Field and many more lost in the Retreat the 9th of October The same day this Victory was won at La Ver in Guienne Monsieur de Bazourdan attempted to surprize Montauban in the night which proved ineffectual and he lost 200 of his Men in this design From thence they marched to Thelose which was then also in the hands of the Protestants and reduced to great Extremities but the Inhabitants being supported by the frequent Sermons of their Pastors were encouraged to hold out and on the contrary the Sieur de Terride thought it a great disparagement to be baffled here too and grew stubborn in his Resolves to carry this place because his Forces had miscarried at Montauban and so the Siege was continued till the Pacification in April following In this Siege Sazourdan was slain the 22th of October by a Shot from the Town The Sieur d'Andelott who was sent into Germany to obtain Succours met with great Difficulties the Court of France having sent one Envoy after another to break his Measures and render the Protestant Princes averse to War And when the Emperour had called a Diet to meet in November for the choosing Maximilian his Son King of the Romans the Prince of Condé sent one Jaques Spifame heretofore Bishop of Nevers an eloquent and brisk Man who gave in the Confession of Faith published by the French Protestants in the Assembly of the States for the vindicating them from the aspersions of those monstrous Opinions which their Enemies had raised from them He also made three elegant Speeches one to the Emperour one to Maximilian in his Bed-Chamber and one to the three Estates to purge the by the Order of the Queen and for the delivery of the King out of Restraint The Landtgrave of Hess in the mean time the 10th of October had assembled at Bucarat 3000 Horse and 4000 Foot to which the Prince de Porcean brought in 100 of the French Nobility on Horse-back as far as Strasburg D' Andelott was then afflicted with a Tertian Ague yet he travelled with that Industry that he arrived at Orleans the 6th of November bringing up with him besides 300 Horse and 1500 Foot which had escaped from the Rout at Ver. And very welcom they were the taking of Roan and the defeat of Ver having reduced their Reputation Forces and Hopes to a very low ebb The Prince of Condé hereupon marching out of Orleans the first of November with the whole Army and a Train of Artillery consisting of 8 Pieces the 11th of November he took Pluviers in the Forrest of Orleans a populous Town by Surrender and because they had presumed to defend it with 4 Foot Companies he hanged two of the Captains and all the Priests he found in it and disarm'd the Common Soldiers and made them take an Oath that they should not hereafter bear Arms against him In this place he found great quantities of Provisions part of which he sent to Orleans and reserved the rest for the use of his Army The Terror of this prevailed so far upon the Garison of Baugy that they durst not stay for a Summons but retired to Chasteaudun Montmorancy and the Duke of Guise were by this time returned form Roan to Paris and the Mareschal de St. Andre having in vain endeavoured to stop the passage of Monsieur d' Andelott was come back to Sens a City he suspected from whence he went to Estampes but hearing the Prince of Condé was near he left two Companies to defend that place who soon surrendered it and retired towards Paris Here also the Prince found great quantities of Provisions which were of great use to his Army Here the Prince of Conde entered into a Consultation whether they should march away for Paris and take and rifle the Suburbs of that great City But the King Queen and a numerous Army being there they concluded the City could not be taken and consequently that this Ravage would turn to their damage and disgrace and make a Peace difficult if not impossible when so many innocent People had been ruin'd and undone To all this Francis Lanoy added that there was an apparent danger whilst the Soldiers were dispersed and eager upon the Prey that the Army might make a Sally out of Paris and cut them in pieces with little or no resistance Having therefore taken La Ferte Aucoulph upon the Marke Dourdan and Mont-Leberi he sate down before Corbeil which was under the Government of Monsieur Pavan with the Regiment of Picardy and some Companies of that of Champagne The taking of which place and cutting off the Provisions would have very much incommoded the City of Paris The 17th of November the Prince of Condé summoned the place the being denied it a small Skirmish ensued and the next day S. Andre entered it with Succours from Paris About the same time the News of the death of the King of Navar was brought into the Protestant Camp and the Queen's Emissaries began to give out Speeches that the Prince of Conde should succeed in his Post And the Queen her self sent to invite him to a Conference which was rejected The 22th there was another Conference desired which served for
Coligni sent the same day a Letter to the Queen to intreat her to keep Poltrot that the truth of his innocence might be made out from him before he were Executed The Duke of Guise in the mean time dead the 24th of February having purged himself of the Massacre of Vassay and Advised the Queen to make a Peace as soon as was possible He was a Great Man in the Opinion of his Enemies a good Soldier and both fortunate and prudent in his Actions but falling into a divided Factious State he was by his Brother Charles a violent Man misled though he often detested his Advises Though he had no Command in the Battel of Dreux yet he alone procured the Victory this made him the sole General and being terrible to the Protestants it hastened his Ruine but then it had ill Consequences though at first it occasioned a speedy Peace in after times The Children of the Duke growing up in the Civil Wars which followed inherited the popularity of their Father and under the Pretences of Religion and the Sloath of the Kings of France endeavoured first to Revenge their Fathers Death on the Protestants and at last turned their Arms against the Royal Family to the great hazard of its Ruine and their own too Soon after the Duke of Guise was wounded the Queen sent Henry de Cloet and the Bishop of Limoges to the Princess of Conde and Andelot to treat of a Peace several times And when he was dead she yet more earnestly desired it fearing Conde and Montmorancy the Heads of the two Parties Or as Davila saith being desirous to drive out the Foreign Forces before they could settle themselves aud above all the English out of Havre de Grace Besides she wanted a General to Head the Kings Forces Montmorency being then a Prisoner and none of the rest being equal to the Prince of Conde Coligni or Andelot besides the Royal Revenues were by the War reduced to so low an Ebb that they were forced to borrow of their Neighbours to support the War. In the mean time Francis de Briqueville Baron de Columbiers was employed by Coligni to take Bayeux before which he came the 12th of February and though at first repulsed yet upon the bringing four Cannon from Caen he took the City the Fourth of March the Garison helping him to plunder it and many of the Inhabitants especially of the Clergy were slain because they were thought to have occasion'd the resistance which was made Soon after St. Lo was deserted and fell into the hands of the Protestants and after it Auranches Vire had expell'd the Protestants and pretended to defend it self but was taken by Storm towards Night which increased the Calamities of the Inhabitants Honfleur was taken by De Mouy the Fourteenth of March. About this time Coligni having made Montgomery Governor of Normandy went from Caen with a gallant Army towards Lisieux where he was excluded by the Garison and from thence to Bernay which presuming to do so too he took the Town and made a great slaughter of the Inhabitants destroying all their Images and Altars and handling their Priests very severely The 7th of March the Prince of Conde and Montmoraney were brought to the Island Boaria near Orleans under strong Guards and a Treaty of Peace was opened And Montmorancy declaring he would never consent to the Edict of January other Conditions were proposed to the great dissatisfaction of the Protestants Conde upon his promise had leave given him to enter Orleans where he treated with the Protestant Ministers but finding them resolved to stand to the Edict of January the 12th of March he came to an Agreement with the Queen which was subscribed by the King the 19th of the same Month. The Terms of which were That 1. All the Nobility should permit what Religion they pleased who had Sovereign Authority in their Jurisdictions That all Noblemen should have the free Exercise of Religion in their Families if they did not live in Corporate Towns. That in every Generalite or Prefecture one City should be assigned for those of the Religion And that wherever they had at this day a Liberty they should still enjoy it All Offences were remitted and the Royal Moneys spent in the War and Conde was acknowledged the Kings faithful and Loyal Kinsman and the Nobility Captains and all others who had assisted him were pronounced to have done all things for the Kings Service and with a good Intention Coligni was kept in Normandy by the Flattering Prosperity of his Arms and though he was by many Letters from the Prince of Conde pressed to hasten his Journey to Orleans yet he did not arrive there before the 23 of March. The next day he could not dissemble his discontent at the Terms of the Treaty of Peace telling the Prince publickly That he wondered how they could be prevailed upon to clap up a Peace upon such disadvantageous Conditions when the Affairs of the Protestants were in so flourishing a state That they ought to have remembred that in the beginning of the War the Triumvirate had consented that the Edict of January should be restored and that now two of them the King of Navar and the Duke of Guise were slain and Montmorancy was their Prisoner and consequently a Security for the Prince of Conde Why should not they have had the same Terms That the restraint of the Profession of the Protestant Religion to one place in a Province was to give up that by a dash of the Pen which their Sword could never have obtained That what was granted to the Nobility could not be denied and they would soon see it was safer to serve God in the Suburbs of great Cities than in their Private Families and that it was uncertain whether their Children would be at all like them But however nothing could rescind an Agreement made by common consent Thus ended the first Civil War of France I have transcribed this whole Account of the first Civil War of France from the great Thuanus abridging it as much as was possible and pursuing the Actions only of the great Armies because if I had taken in all he relates of the various Actions between the two Parties in the several great Cities and Provinces it would have swell'd infinitely beyond the design of this Work or otherwise have been so dark as not to be easily intelligible And if the Reader compare this short Account with that given by Davila he will soon see how little the sincerity of that Historian is to be relied on and how small the Reason is for him to treat the Huguenots as Rebels in all the Course of this War. When the War first began the Protestants acted purely on the defensive but after several local Massacres they began to pull down Images and Altars in Revenge for the blood-shed of the other Party and finding to their cost this did but enrage the Roman Catholicks against them and made
Elector of Saxony The University of Wittemberg interceeds with Duke Frederick for Luther Pope Leo's Bull for the Indulgences Luther's Appeal from the Pope to a Council 1519. Luther's Letter to Pope Leo. The Emperour Maximilian dies Competitours for the Empire Charles King of Spain and Francis King of France The Speech of the Elector of Mentz about the Election of the Emperour The Speech of the Archbishop of Treves The Vote of Frederick Elector of Saxony Charles of Austria chosen Emperour The Elector's Letter to the Emperour His Answer The French King vexed that Charles should be preferred before him The Genealogy of Charles the Emperour The way of chusing the Emperour The Heads of the Golden Bull. * Or Charter because it was sealed with a Seal of Gold instead of Wax The Conditions prescribed to the Emperour Charles V. Erasmus his Judgment of Luther to the Elector of Saxony He writes also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio As also to Luther A Disputation at Leipsick betwixt Luther and Eckius Zuinglius preaches at Zurich 1520. Miltitz treatâ— with Luther Luther writes to the Pope A Description of the Court of Rome Bernard in his Books of Consideration to Eugenius What Eckius gained by his Dispute Luther makes some overtures for a Peace The mischief of Flatterers Luther's Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor's Voyage out of Spain into Germany Luther's Book to Frederick intitled Tessaradecas His Book concerning Confession Another concerning Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both kinds That the Bohemians always receive it so The Dignity of the Lateran Council The Pisane Council It was called by the Cardinals The Reasons why they did it The Pope's Answer to the Cardinals He prohibits all Persons to come to the Council called by the Cardinals and summons another himself An old trick of the Popes He Excommunicates the Cardinals The Cardinals Proceedings against the Pope The Council remov'd from Pisa to Milan Decius writes in Defence of the Cardinals Maximilian leagues with Julius Matthew Langus created a Cardinal in the Lateran Council Pope Julius dies and Leo X succeeds him The End of the Lateran Council The Immortality of the Soul called in Question at Rome Luther's Book condemn'd at Lovain and Cologn His Answer Ockam condemned at Paris A Comparison between the Jews and Roman Clergy The Authority of Aristotle with the Divines of Loâ—vain and Cologn Phefercorne's Judgment concerning the suppressing the Jewish Writings The Opinion of Reuchline His Book burnt Approved of by the Bishop of Spire Condemned at Paris The Censure of the Louvain Divines upon Luther's Writings His Letter to the Emperour To the States of the Empire To the Archbishop of Mentz The Archbishop's Answer Luther's Letter to the Bishop of Mersburgh The Bishop's Answer The Pope's Answer to the Elector The Pope's Bull. The Pope and Cardinals condemn Luther's Doctrin and command his Books to be burnt The Decrees of Pius and Julius concerning Appeals Luther is Excommunicated Luther opposes the Pope's Bull. The Electors come to Aix la Chapelle The Emperour enters the Town iâ— great state The Ceremonies of the Coronation The Emperour's Oath The manner of making Knights A Dyet summoned to meet at Wormes The Popes anciently subject to the Emperours The Emperours swear Allegiance to the Popes Luther's Works burnt He burns the Canon-Law 1521. Duke Frederick obtains from the Emperor that Luther should have a publick Hearing in the Diet of Wormes Luther's Letter to Duke Frederick The Emperour 's safe Conduct to Martin Luther The Bull De coena Domini The Pope Excommunicates the Lutherans Luther goes to Wormes Luther pleads his own Cause before the Emperor and whole Empire But asked time to deliberate first Eckius Interrogates Luther Luther's Harangne to the Emperor and States of the Empire Eckius to Luther Luther's answer to his Demands Eckius's â—eply to Luther Luther's Answer The Emperour's Letter to the Princes And the Princes Disagreement about it A Committee of the States for treating with Luther Vey's Speech to Luther before the Committee Luther's Answer to the Commissioners Luther submits his Works to a General Council Luther returns Home accompanied by a Herald Luther's Letters to the Emperour and States The History of the Council of Constancâ—e Huss condemned for an Hâ—retick first by the Pope And then by the Council He and Jerome of Prague burnt Wickliff's Doctrine condemned and his Body taken up and burnt The Parisian Divines condemn Luther's Books Melanchton and Luther answer the Sâ—rbonists The Switzers make Leagues with the Pope and French King But the Canton of Zurick refused the League The Emperour by a publick Decree Proscribes Luther Luther conveyed out of the way The Augustines of Wittemberg forbear saying of Mass And give Duke Frederick their Reasons for so doing Duke Frederick's Answer about abolishing the Mass The Marriage of the Archduke Frederick King Henry of England writes against Luther The Emperor's War with the French King. Pope Leo dies Adrian succeeds Leo. The Emperor returns to Spain to appease Seditions there 1522. A Diet at Norimberg A League betwixt the Emperor and King of England Mary the King of England's Daughter betrothed to the Emperor The Letter of the Bishop of Constance to the Canons of Zurich Zuinglius writes to the Bishop of Constance And to the Switzers The Custom of some Cantons about Priests Concubines Luther returns to Wittemberg And by Letters aquaints Duke Frederick with the Reasons of it Carolostadius casts Images out of the Churches of Wittemberg The Sect of Muncer and other Enthusiasts Luther's Letter to the Bohemians Three Sects in Bohemia Luther's Book against false Bishops Pope Adrian's Brief to the Elector of Saxony Pope Adrian's Letter to the States of Germany A War betwixt the Archbishop of Treves and Francis Sicking Adrian writes to the Senate of Strasburg A short History of Pope Adrian Adrian being declared Pope writes to the Colledge of Cardinals Adrian goes to Rome The Turk taketh Rhodes 1523. The Assembly of Zurich The Reformation received at Zurich Pope Adrian's Instructions about the restraining of Luther Luther's Interpretation of the Pope's Instructions The Princes Answer to Pope Adrian's Legate Troubles in Denmark Christiern King of Denmark banish'd Frederick Duke of Holstein made King of Denmark King Christiern in a publick Declaration answers the Accusations of the Danes and Swedes The Ministers of Norimberg accused by the Pope's Legate The Grievances of Germany presented to the Legate The Acts of the Dyet of Norimberg published Two Augustine Friers burnt at Brussels Luther's Interpretation of the Decree of Norimberg Vlrick Hutton dies Henry King of England's Letters of Admonition to the Dukes of Saxony George Duke Saxony Answers the King of England Pope Adrian dies Priests Marry at Strasburg 1524. An Assembly of the Switzers at Lucern Cardinal Campegius's Letter to Frederick Duke of Saxony Campegius's Speech to the Princes of the Empire The Princes Answer to the Pope's Legate The Legates Reply The Cantons of Switzerland expostulate
with those of Zurich about Religion The Answer of the Senate of Zurich The Bishop of Constance's Book to those of Zurich Their Answer to it Images abolished at Zurich The Recess or Decree of the Dyet of Norimberg The Bishop Strasburg's Complaint to Cardinal Campegius The Senate's Justification Campegius's Plea with the Deputies of Strasburg The Resolution of some Catholicks at Ratisbone The Regulations for Reformation of the Clergy Luther's Admonition to the Princes of Germany The Pope sends a Golden Rose to the King of England Erasmus his Book of Free-will Henry of Zutphen suffers The Duke of Bourbonne Besieges Marseilles An Insurrection of the Boors Complaints of the Popish Clergy against the Senate of Strasburg 1525. Oecolampadius preaches at Basil A Tumult at Zurich The Zurichers expostulate with the rest of the Cantons The Senate of Strasburg gives an Answer to the Council of the Empire The Apology of the Ministers of Strasburg The French King made Prisoner Vlrick Duke of Wertemberg in vain attempts to recover his Country The Boors take the Field The Boors worsted The Boors Army in Algow dispersed The Cruelty of some Boors at Winsperg An Insurrection of the Boors also in Lorrain And 18000 of them are slain Another Slaughter of the Boors at Wormes Geismeier the General of the Boors assassinated A Sedition in Cologn The number of those that were killed The Princes and Cities ingaged in the Schwabian League Mass abolished at Zurich Muncer a great Sectarian Muncer preaching at Mulhausen got new Magistrates created and the Monks ejected whose Monasteries he and others took possession of Phifer Muncer's Companion and his enthusiastick Pretences Frederick Elector of Saxony dies The Princes Forces against the Boors Muncer's seditious Speech A Consternation in Muncer's Camp. The Speech of the Langrave of Hesse to his Soldiers The Princes Army overcome the Muncerianâ— Muncer taken His Discourse to the Princes His unseasonable laughing upon the Rack Luther advises to have a care of Muncer He published a Book dehorting the Boors from Sedition The Boors Demands Luther's Answer to the Grievances of the Boors Luther's Monitory to the Princes and Nobility Luther's common Epistle to the Nobles and Boors Luther sends an Allarm against the Boors The Emperour's Letters for calling the Dyet of Auâ—burg Carolostadius his Exposition of This is my Body Luther marries a Nun. Zuinglius differs from Luther about the Lord's Supper Pope Clement's Letters to the Parliament of Paris The Sorbonists persecute James Fevre The French King writes in his behalf A Change in Prusia The Original of the Teutonick Order The Master of Prusia deserts the Empire Is made Duke and imbraces the Reformed Religion Luther writes to the King of England Luther writes also to George Duke of Saxony The King of England's sharp Answer to Luther A League betwixt France and England Luther's Complaint of the King of England The French King sick in Prison 1526. The Treaty of Peace at Madrid betwixt the Emperor and French King. The French King leaving his two Sons Hostages is set at liberty The Dyet of Spire The Emperour's Letter to the States of the Empire about observing the Decree of Wormes The Turks invade Hungary The Judgment of some Cities in the Dyet of Worraes A Complaint of some Cities of Germany against Mendicant Fryers Against the Immunities of the Clergy Against Holydays A Dissention among the States at Spire about Religion The decree of Spire concerning Religion The beginning of a League among those of the reformed Religion Lewis King of Hungary slain The Marriage of Charles V. A Disputation at Baden The Points disputed The Issue of the Disputation John Huglie a Priest burnt for Religion The League of the Pope French and Veretians against the Emperour The Pope's expostulatory Letter to the Emperor The Emperour's Answer to the Pope The Emperour's Letter to the Colledge of Cardinals The French King's Letters to the Princes of Germany The Emperour's Letter to the Princes of Germany The Princes Letter to the Emperour The Demands of the Pope Venetians and French who were Confederates 1527. The Emperour's Answer unto them The Elector John Frederick marries the Daughter of the Duke of Cleve Rome taken and plundered by the Duke of Bourbonne The 〈◊〉 of the Diet of Ratisbonne The sect of the Anabaptists The French King renews a War in Italy Alexandria and Pavia taken by the French. Leonard Cesar Burnt for Religion Ferdinand made King of Bohemia A Dispute at Berne 1528. Popery abolished in the Canton of Berne Ambrose Blancer at Constance There Mass Images and Ceremonies are abolished As also at Geneva The Kings of England and France send Ambassadours to the Emperour The French King challenges the Emperour to a Duel A War betwixt Ferdinand and the Vaivode The Vaivod's Complaint to the Princes of Germany King Ferdinand's Title to Hungary The Elector of Saxony and Landgrave prepare for War. The Emperour's Answer to the French King's Challenge A Dyet appointed at Spire Naples besieged by the French. A Contention at Strasburg about the Mass The Popish Preachers silenced by the Senate there 1529. Mass by common Consent abolished at Strasburg A Dissention about Religion at Basil Mass abolished at Basil And Images burnt The Dyet of Spire Five Cantons of Switzerland make a League with King Ferdinand The Deputy of Strasburg not admitted to sit in the Council of the Empire The Decree of the Dyet of Spire The Protestation of the Princes against the Decree of Spire Some Cities joyn in this Protestation The Original of the Name of Protestants The Protestants appeal to the Emperour A Civil War among the Switzers Peace betwixt the Emperour and French concluded at Cambray Solyman besieges Vienna But is forced to raise the Siege The Vaivode made King at Buda A New Disease in Germany Two Learned Men burnt at Cologne for Religion A Conference at Marpurg betwixt Luther and Zuinglius Erasmus writes a Book against the Reformers Which is answered Sforza recovers the Dutchy of Milan The Protestant Ambassadours with the Emperour The Ambassadors appeal from the Emperour's Answer and are confined to their Lodgings Caden presents a Book about Religion to the Emperour in name of the Landgrave For which being stopt and in danger he makes his escape and returns home The Assembly of the Protestants at Smalcalde The League betwixt the City of Strasburg and the Switzers 1530. The French King's Sons return to France with his Queen The Emperour makes his entry into Ausburg The Emperour's Speech in the Dyet of Ausburg Campegius's Speech to the Princes The Protestants Confession of Faith presented at Ausburg The Popish Divines confute the Augustane Confession The Duke of Saxony's general Answer to the Confutation of the Popish Divines The Landgrave departed from the Dyet The Florentine War. Commissioners for reconciling Religion The Pope gives King Ferdinand leave to make use of the Ornaments and Goods of the Church The Emperour's Speech to the Protestants The Protestants Answer Truchses his Speech
The States of the Empire treat with Cleve about the Restitution of Guelderland to the Emperor The Supplication of the Nobility of Austria to King Ferdinand for obtaining free Exercise of Religion King Ferdinand's Answer The Austrians renew their Supplications A Quarrel betwixt the Elector of Saxony and Canons of Naumburg about the Bishop 1542. Luther writes against the Bishop A Diet at Spire King Ferdinand's Speech in the Diet. Gropper recommends Bucer to the Arch-bishop of Cologne Who thereupon comes to Cologne The Lady Catharine Howard Queen of England Beheaded King Henry's Sixth Wife The French Ambassador's Speech at Spire The Speech of the Pope's Legate in the Diet of Spire The Catholick Princes and States consent to the Council offered by the Pope at Trent But the Protestants protest against it The French King prepares for War. An Expedition against the Turk under the Conduct of the Elector of Brandenburg A Quarrel betwixt the Elector and Duke Maurice of Saxony Luther's Camp-Sermon His Position condemned by the Pope The Explication of that Position Luther's other Military-Sermon Luther's Prayer against the Fury of the Turks Of the Original of the Turks and of their Kings The Marquess of Pescara accuses the French King. The King purges himself Prayers appointed at Paris for the Success of the War. The calling of the Council of Trent The French King declares War And Longueville and Rossem invade Brabant The French King demands Aid from the Turk against the Emperor The Form of inquiring who are Lutherans Francis de Landre a Preacher at Paris The Articles of Doctrine proposed to him His Answer Two Dominicans Preach the Gospel at Metz And so did William Farell But the Emperor wrote to the Senate to suffer no Change in Religion Locusts in Germany and Italy The Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave make a successful War against the Duke of Brunswick Their Declaration of the Reasons of it The Diet of Nurimberg The Message of the States of the Empire to the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave Their Answer The Decree of the Diet of Nurimberg Contarini accused of Miscarriages Contarini and Fregoso Cardinals die The Chancellor of France cast into Prison Otho Prince Palatine and the people of Heildesseim embrace the Reformed Religion The Emperours Letter to the Pope about the Council Cardinals Pacificators sent from the Pope to the Emperor and French King. The Emperor's Answer to the Cardinal Pacificators The Country of Juliers wasted by the Imperialists and Duren taken A war betwixt the English and Scots The King of Scots dies The Protestants decline the Imperial Chamber The Duke of Cleve retakes Duren A Sedition at Rochell The French King's Speech to the Seditious Rochellers 1543. The Diet of Nurimberg The Ambassadors of the Netherlands accuse the Duke of Cleve at Nurimberg Granvell's Speech in the Emperor's name at Nurimberg The Protestants Petition The Decree of the Diet of Nurimberg The Protestants oppose this Decree Pacification attempted betwixt the Emperor and the Duke of Cleve A Battle at Zittard The Dukes of Bavaria intercede for the Duke of Brunswick The Bisop of Ausburg dies The French Kings Answer to the Emperor's Letter The Death of Bellay of Langey and his Encomium Landre makes a publick Recantation of all that he had taught and confessed his Error And so does de Pensier Clement Marot The Archbishop of Cologne's Reformation of the Church Bucer Preaches at Bonn. Melancthon Pistorius come to Cologne The Clergy of Cologne oppose the Reformation The Antididagma of the Clergy of Cologne The Divines of Cologne oppose Bucer who is defended by Melancthon The Laws of Duke Maurice of Saxony He founds three publick Schools A Law against those who deflower Virgins Against Adulterers The Emperor's Letters to the Protestants An Interview betwixt the Pope and Emperor Petro Aloisio obtained the Possession of Parma and Piacenza which the Emperor refused to confirm The Emperor delivers up to Cosmo of Medicis the Castles of Florence and Legborn The Marriage of Philip King of Spain The Marriage of the King of Poland An Assembly of the Protestants at Smalcald A League betwixt the Emperor King of England The Protestant Ambassadors to the Emperor at Spire The Emperor's Answer to the Protestant Ambassadors The Electors of Cologne and Saxony mediate for the Duke of Cleve but in vain The Heildesheimers accused to the Emperor The Emperor's threatening Letter to those of Heildesheim His Letter to the Senate of Cologne The Pope's Letter to them also The Turkish Fleet in Provence The Castle of Nizza Besieged The Turks Invade Hungary Calvin's Antidote and Book of Relicks The Emperor comes to Bonne where Bucer and Hedie preached The Emperors Expedition against Cleve and his Victory A vain report of the Emperor's being drowned The Emperor takes Liege and Ruremund by Surrender The Duke of Cleve upon Submission is Reconciled to the Emperor The Conditions of his Peace The French King takes Luxenburg again Landrecy Besieged The Emperors Envoy to the City of Metz. Divisions in Scotland The Queen of Scots betroth'd to Prince Edward of England The Danes make War against the Imperialists The Duke of Cleve renounces his League with France and demands his Wife The French Flight at Landrecy The Protestants assemble at Franckfort The Elector of Saxony and Lantgrave write to the Emperor His Answer to them 1544. Extraordinary Eclipses of the Sun Moon Alexander Farnese sent Legate to the Emperor The Diet at Spire very full The Emperor's Speech at the opening of it The Protestants Plea about the Affair of Brunswick Brunswick's Accusation of the Protestants A French Ambassy to the Diet of Spire The French Herald ill received at Spire The Letter of some Princes to the Pope The Pope's Answer Ludovick Elector Palatine dies his Brother Frederick succeeds The Letter of the States of the Empire to the Swisse The Protestants Accuse the Duke of Brunswick A pleasant Story of the Duke of Brunswick and his Miss Eve Trottine The French Victory at Carignan The Proceedings of the Duke of Saxony and the Confederates with the Duke of Brunswick The Duke of Savoy's Accusation of the French King. The Switzers Answer to the Letter of the States of the Empire An English Expedition against Scotland and Edinborough taken Wolfgang made Master of Prussia The complaint and desire of the Ambassadors of Hungary The Speech of the French Ambassadors that was not heard in the Diet. An Accommodation betwixt the Emperor Ferdinand and the Duke of Saxony Ferdinand is acknowledged for King of the Romans Eleanor the Daughter of King Ferdinand betrothed to the Duke of Saxony's Son. The King of Denmark's Accommodation with the Emperor The Decree of the States for a Subsidy against the French and other Matters The Decree of Spire displeases the Catholicks The Cities and two Princes refused to give Aid against the French. The Dutchy of Brunswick Sequestrated into the Emperor's Hands The Emperors Expedition into France Count Bichling was condemned to die but saved by
Letter to Duke Maurice's Son-in-Law The Letter of the Council of War to Duke Maurice The Protestants Letters from the Camp to some Imperial Cities and Princes The Bohemians invade Saxony unwillingly Hussars Hungarian Horse Ferdinand's General denounceth War against the Saxons A Convention of the Confederate Deputies at Vlm. The Duke of Saxony's Demands from the Protestants The Answer of the Deputies Duke Maurice his Letters to the Elector His Letters also to the same purpose to the Elector's Son. An Irruption into the Province of the Elector of Saxony The Bohemians depart The Hungarians joyn Duke Maurice Most of the Towns of Saxony fall into the hands of Duke Maurice The Emperour removes his Camp. Duke Maurice ill spoken of Pasquils against Duke Maurice Duke Maurice justifies himself by a publick Manifesto The Persecution of Meaux in France William Briâ—sonet Fourteen burnt The Archbishop of Cologne appeals to a Council An Embassie into France and England The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave in great danger Bophinghen Nordlingen Oetinghen and Dinkespiel surrender to the Emperour The Duke of Saxony raises Money of the Papists The Landgrave's Letter to Duke Maurice his Son-in-law The Emperour's Letter to the Duke of Wirtemberg The Emperour commands the Duke of Wirtemberg to deliver up himself and all his into his hands And his Subjects not to obey him Wirtemberg's supplicatory Letters to the Emperour Neopolitan Cuirossiers come to the Emperour Frederick Elector Palatine is reconciled to the Emperour Paulus Fagius called to Heidleberg The City of Vlm reconciled to the Emperour The Landgrave's Country harassed by the Imperialists Buren takes Darmstadt Frankfurt surrenders to Buren His free Jest that he put upon them The cause of the surrender Frankfurt is reconciled to the Emperour and is fined The Elector of Saxony's Letter to the States of Duke Maurice The King of Denmark sent no aid to the Protestants The Duke of Alva invades the Dutchy of Wirtemberg 1547. The Conditions upon which the Duke of Wirtemberg is reconciled to the Emperor The Emperor's Answer to the Embassadors of Wirtemberg The Protestant Cities of Memmingen Bibrach Ravensburg Kempen and Isne are reconciled to the Emperor Memmingen fined A Sedition in Genoa against the Family of Doria. Joannin Doria killed A Decree of the Council of Trent concerning Justification The Siege of Leipsick The Duke of Saxony recovers his own and takes Duke Maurice's Towns. The Bohemians refuse to take Arms against the Duke of Saxony King Ferdinand's Answer to the Bohemians Demands Marquess Albert of Brandenburg is sent with assistance to Duke Maurice The Emperour goes to Vlm. Lindaw and Esling are received into his Favour Adolph Count Schavenburg is put in the place of Herman Archbishop of Cologne The Emperour's Embassadors perswade the States to relinquish Herman and accept of Schavenburg for their Archbishop The Duke of Cleve mediates and gets Herman to divest himself of his Bishoprick Herman resigns the Bishoprick of Cologne Frederick Herman's Brother turned out of the Provostship of Bonne which was given to Gropper The Death of Henry King of England to whom his Son Prince Edward succeeds Severity against Norfolk Henry detested the Pope not his Doctrine Henry left Guardians to his Son. Thomas Cranmer Primate of England They of Ausbourg capitulate with the Emperour Scheterline odious to the Emperour The Elector of Brandenburg Interposes for Peace and with the Landgrave too The Emperour raises new Forces against Saxony Joyce Grunning compels Count Deckelburg the town of Minden and others to obey and take Orders from him Saxony's Letters to those of Strasbourg Mendoza the French Embassador to Strasbourg The City of Strasbourg send an Embassie to the Emperour Naves dies George Selden succeeds John Marquard Henry Hasen King Ferdinand's Demands to the Bohemians The Nobility and Citizens of Prague desire a Convention of States to be called The League of the Bohemians Rochliez kept out by Marquess Albert. The Duke of Saxony takes Rochiltz by Storm and carries off the Enemies Ordnance Marquess Albert made Prisoner Wolf Theodorick dies of his Wounds The Duke of Wirtemberg makes his Submission to the Emperor The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent concerning the Sacraments And also concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices King Ferdinand's Letters to the Bohemians Strasburg's Pacification with the Emperour Their Fine The Conditions proposed to the Landgrave The Landgrave rejects them The Emperour's Letters to the States of Duke Maurice As also to those of Prague Caspar Pflug Head of the Bohemian Confederates The Bohemians Letters to King Ferdinand and Duke Maurice Ferdinand answers the Bohemians Saxony's Embassador to the Bohemians The Bohemians Letter to the Moravians Francis the French King dies to whom Henry succeeds A change of Affairs in the French Court. Francis the Mecenas of Scholars His Learning A famous Library His liberality towards the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave The death of the Kings of England and France advantageous to the Emperour The overthrow of an Imperial Army Grunning dies Bremen besieged The Bohemians Letter to King Ferdinand The Emperors Letter to the States of Bohemia The Bohemians prepare for War against King Ferdinand's Forces King Ferdinand writes to his Bohemians Saxony takes some Towns from Duke Maurice Some of the Fathers of the Council of Trent go to Bohemia The Count of Buren holds Francfurt Two men put to death at Franckfurt The Landgrave's Justification The Bohemians friends to the Duke of Saxony King Ferdinand's Commissioners to the Convention of the Bohemians Ferdinand's Army The Emperor's Expedition against the Duke of Saxony The Emperours celerity in overtaking the Saxons The Elector of Saxony made Prisoner Duke Ernest of Brunswick taken A Prodigy of the Sun. King Ferdinand's Commissioners to the Bohemians and their Deputies to him The Duke of Saxony condemned to death by the Emperour The great fortitude of Saxony Brandenburg's intercession for Saxony The Conditions proposed by the Emperour to Saxony Albert of Brandenburg and Ernest of Brunswick set at liberty Who were excluded out of the Peace A Diet of the Empire at Ulm. King Ferdinand's Letter to the Bohemians The Duke of Saxony discharges the Soldiers in Wittemberg of their Military Oath and then they surrender the Place to the Emperour The Dutchess of Saxony makes intercession to the Emperour for her Husband The Funeral of King Francis Duke Erick of Brunswick defeated The Intercession of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg for the Landgrave Christopher Eblben Duke Maurice's Letter to the Landgrave The Articles of Peace The Landgrave accepts the Conditions Wittemberg falls to Duke Maurice Lazarus Schuendi razes Gothen King Ferdinand's Letter to the Bohemians What was done at the Diet of Vlm. This Diet is adjourned to Ausbourg The Landgrave comes to the Emperour at Hall. A Draught of the Articles of Peace presented to the Landgrave different from that which he had received The Landgrave signes the Articles of Peace The Landgrave begs Pardon of the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by the
Duke of Aumales Marraige Louis d' Avilaâ— History of the German War. Islebius brags of the Interim The Bishop of Auranches writes against the Interim So does Romey the Dominican The constancy of the Sons of the Duke of Saxony The Duke of Saxony avows to the Emperour his rejecting of the Interim The Deputies of Constance with the Emperour Their humble Letters to him The Bishop of Constance dies of an Apoplexy which he had imprecated unto his People Maximilian's War against the Switzers The Emperour changeth the Senate of Ausburg The Companies are abolished The Emperour gives sentence in favour of Nassaw against the Landgrave The Spaniards march privately to Constance Alfonsus Vives was killed and the Spaniards draw off without success A Custom of the Switzets The Letter of the Strasburgers to the Emperour Their Judgment of the Interim The Emperours answer to those of Strasburg The people of Constance proscribed They pray some Princes and the Suitzers to intercede with the Emperour for them The Emperous answer to the intercessors Those of Lindaw receive the Interim The Strasburgers consult about the Interim Many of them renounce their freedoms in the City and depart The Senate of Vlm changed The constancy of four Divines of Vlm The Ministers of Vlm put into Chains The Emperour comes to Spire The Popes Legats sent to Germany The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave carried Prisoners into the Low Countries The Deputies of Strasburg with the Emperour The Bishops of Strasburg's Letter to the Clergy about the observation of the Decree Their Letter to the Emperour The Deputies of Strasburg are dismissed and ordered to agree with their Bishop The Emperour keeps the Duke of Saxony with him The Landgrave he sends to Oudenard The Reformation of the Chamber The Duke of Brunswick brings an Action against the Protestants and so do some others The people of Constance give themselves up to the house of Austria King Ferdinand upon Conditions takes them into his protection And then lays his Commands upon them The Marriage of Duke Augustus of Saxony A Sedition at Bourdeaux The Bourdeaux-men receive the Constable and his Soldiers The Punishments inflicted by the Constable at Bourdeaux The Bells are taken from them and their Charters burnt The dead Body of the King's Lieutenant being by the Citizens scraped out of the ground with their Nails is splendidly buried The horrible History of Francis Spira John Caso Archbishop of Benevento the Pope's Legate at Venice Spira falls sick and also into despair admitting of no comfort He dyes despairing of Salvation Vergerio The strange Conversion of Vergerio to the reformed Religion Vergerio writes a Book against the Apostates of Germany John Baptista Vergerio Bishop of Pola The Inquisitors against Vergerio An Invective against Vergerio The Inquisition of Pola and Justinopolis Grisonio's exhortation against the Lutherans Vergerio goes to Trent to justifie himself in Council But is deny'd a place in it Vergerio preached the Gospel against the Grisons from thence was called to Tubingen Vergerio's Brother dies not without suspition of Poyson The Book of an Archbishop on the praise of Sodomy Marriages contracted by the Ministers of the Church of Cologne are annulled and declared to be incestuous The Custom of the Province of Treves The Interim is in vain pressed upon the Landgrave's subjects Siâ—onius consecrates a new the Churches of Franckfurt The Queen of Scots carried over into France Philip the Emperour's Son passes through Italy to the Low Countries Philip is magnificently received at Genova 1549. As also at Milan The Count of Buren dies A Convention of States in Saxony A Form of Religion is drawn up for Saxony The Emperous Son comes to Germany The Duke of Arescot is sent to meet him Duke Maurice's intercession for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law Troubles in Africa Upon what occasion the Cardinal of Lorrain was made Bishop of Metz. The City of Strasburg's Letter to the Emperour The People of Magdenburg exposed as a prey because of Religion The Preachers of Vlm freed out of Prison Tumults in Engâ—and The Admiral of England beheaded The Bishop of Strasburg enjoyns the Clergy to obey the Emperours Edict The diligence of Archbishop Cranmer in Promoting Piety Bucer and Fagius go over Sea to England The Emperours Son makes his entry into Brussels Intercession made for the Landgrave but in vain The Bishop of Strasburg says Mass The Plea of the Professors of Strasburg to the Bishop The Answer of the Bishops Agents to the Professors of Strasburg The intercession of the Senate of Strasburg for their Professors Christopher Welsinger a Civilian The Duke of Deux-ponts is again urged to approve the Decree His Letter to the Emperour The Ingenuous Confession of the Duke of Deux-ponts The refutation of the Interim by those of Lower Saxony The beginning of the divisions in the Churches of Saxony The Hamburghers Letter to Melaâ—chton about indifferent matters Melanchton's Answer The Electoral Archbishops held Provincial Synods The Heads of their Decrees Of Consecrations and Exorcisms The manifold use of Holy Water Salt in Baptism The Churching of Women 1589. The Ceremony of the Dedication of a Church The Consecration of Bells The way of Consecrating Altars The making of Oyl and the Chrism The Popish Ceremonies brought into contempt through the preaching of Luther A Papal Decree concerning the use of Holy Water The Pope's Legates to the Emperour The Pope's Indulgence The Power of the Bishops delegated Of Monks fallen into Heresie Of the Communion in both kinds Of the Profits of Church Lands The Subdelegation of the Bishops Delegate The Emperour sends the Pope's Indult to the Bishops of Germany The Archbishop of Mentz sends the Pope's Indult to the Landgravians A godly Answer of the Preachers A Dispute at Oxford in England about the Lord's Supper The Coronation of the Queen of France The King and Queen of France make their entry into Paris A Persecution in France Solemn Processions and Prayers at Paris Luther and other Hereticks to be rooted out of France Monsieur Vervine beheaded A League betwixt the Switzers and French. Duke Maurice's Letters to his Subjects The Landgraves Wife dies An Insurrection in England The French King recovers some Places from England The Duke of Somerset committed to Prison The Emperour makes the Low-Countries do Homage to his Son Prince Philip. The Senate of Strasburg agree with their Bishop The danger of the Republick of Magdeburg by reason of the Emperours Proscription Their Apologetick Declaration Two Reasons why they cannot obtain Peace Gordius the Martyr The Marriage of Francis of Mantua The death of Paul III. A Book against Paul III. The Murders of Paul III. Paul's Sister being a Whore makes him a Cardinal He murders another Sister His Lusts The Funeral Charges of Paul III. A description of the Conclave of Rome 54 Cardinals in the time of Paul III. The way of chusing the Pope How many Voices every Cardinal may give Three Factions of Cardinals The Conclave full of chinks Pool upon
the Pragmatical Sanction The Pragmatical Sanction in danger A Transaction about it The pragmatick Sanction a curb to the Popes Twelve Archbishopricks in France And ninety six Bishopricks The order of Sessions in a Council Subjects allotted to the Divines Who chiefly examined all Points The way of making Articles of Faith. The way of making Canons The Holy Ghost in the Pope's hands The French King's Edict against the Pope A most severe Edict of the French King's against the Lutherans The Emperour's Declaration against the King of France The French King's Justification The cause of the difference betwixt the Emperour and the Pope For making Peace with Magdeburg Duke Maurice holds a Convention of States He also desires a safe Conduct from the Council for his Divines The Decree of the Council concerning the Lord's Supper Four Heads left undecided to be disputed about The form of the safe conduct from the Council Brandeburg's Ambassador claws the Fathers of the Council Frederick of Brandeburg elected Archbishop of Mâ—gdâ—burg The end of the War of Magdeburg Duke Maurice makes the Hessians swear Aâ—legiance to him The Protector of England again made Prisoner Martinhausen made Cardinal The Council's Letter to the French King. The French King frightens the Switzers from the Council Vergerio's Book about avoiding the Council The Bishop of Coyre recalled from the Council The Duchy of Wirtemberg rid of the Spaniards Hasen's Exploits in Schwabia The Duke of Wirtemberg's Ambassadors at the Council The Pacification of Magdeburg The Conditions of Peace The Magdeburgers having received Duke Maurice swear to be true to the Emperour Duke Maurice's Complaint to the Preachers of Magdeburg The Preacherâ— Answer The constancy and renown of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice hatches a War against the Emperour An Ambassadour from the French King Duke Maurice Maximilian comes from Spain His Ships plundered by the French. Sâ—eidan sent Deputy from Strasburg to the Council Thirteen Cardinals created The Decree of the Council concerning Penance The Decree concerning Extreme Unction Wirtemburgs Ambassadours apply themselves to the Cardinal of Trent And are gulled The Deputy of Strasburg applies himself to the Emperours Ambassadour The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg solicited the Emperour about the Landgrave The names of the Princes that interceded for the Landgrave The Speech of their Ambassadouâ— The Danish Ambassadour intercedes for the Landgrave The Emperours Answer to the Mediators The Conference of Duke Maurice and Prince William the Landgrave's Son. 1552. Maximilian honourably received at Trent Groppers immodesty in the Council The Bishop of Waradin murdered in Hungary King Ferdinand gets Transilvania Huberine an Interimist The Soldiers of Magdeburg create trouble to the Elector of Mentz The Letters of the Spiritual Electors to the Emperour The Emperours Answer The Wirtemberg Ambassadours desires to Count Montfort The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice come to the Council And declare their Instructions The diligence of the Protestant Ambassadors in the Council The Protector of England beheaded The Discourse of the Emperour's Ambassadors with those of Duke Maurice A draught of the safe Conduct given to the Ambassadors of Duke Maurice The safe Conduct of Basil perverted and altered The form of the safe Conduct of Basil Upon examination of the Council's safe Conduct a new form of one is drawn up according to the Decree of Basil The Speech of the Wirtemberg Ambassadors to the Fathers at Trent and the Exhibition of the Confession of Doctrine The Confession of Wirtemberg given in to the Fathers The Ambassadours of Saxony sent for by the Fathers The Confession of Faith written by Melanchton is not produced Another Session of the Council The safe Conduct is delivered without any alteration Poictiere's Discourse as to the Ambassadours Demands The Answer made to the Demands of the Ambassadours The Ambassadours of Wirtemberg depart from the Council The Divines of Saxony come to Norimberg on their way to the Council The bitter Reflection of Ambrose Pelarg upon the Protestants The Ambassadour of Duke Maurice his Complaint of the sawciness of Pelarg. Pelarg Justifies himself before the Cardinal of Trent Duke Maurice's Letters to his Ambassadours The Elector of Treves returns home A Rumour of a War with the Emperour Indulgences published by the Popes Legate The Electors of Mentz and Cologne return home New Ambassadours from Wirtemberg to the Council Duke Maurice's Ambassadours depart secretly from Trent Divines of Wirtemberg and Strasburg come to Trent The Confession of the Duke of Wirtemberg The Protestation of the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg The Deputy of Strasburg's Discourse with the Ambassadour Poctieres The Deputy of Strasburg being upon his return home is stopt Divisions amongst the Fathers of the Council The French King negotiates a Peace with the Pope The Demands of the Protestant Divines to the Council Duke Maurice takes Ausburg upon surrender The Ambassadour Poictieres Conference with those of Wirtemberg and Strasburg The flight of the Fathers at Trent The Writing of the Wirtemberg Ambassadours given to the Imperialists The different Opinions and Intentions of the Fathers of the Council The last Session of the Council of Trent at this time Peace betwixt France and the Pope The death of the Popes Legate The number of Bishops and Divines in the Council of Trent The cause of the Sickness of the Popes Legate The care Duke Maurice took for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law His League with the French King. Duke Maurice's Declaration to the States of the Empire The Declaration of Albert of Brandenburg against the Emperor The French King's Declaration against the Emperor Germany the Bulwark of Christendom The badge of Liberty The French King calls himself the Defender of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes The out-lawed Men who served the King of France Duke Maurice taketh the Field Albert of Brandenburg joyns Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son. Ausburg surrendred to the Princes The Cities are summoned to come to Ausburg The Prince of Salerno revolts from the Emperor The French King takes Toul Verdun and Metz. Lenencour Bishop of Metz. The French King takes an Oath of Allegiance of the Senate and People of Metz. The Princes go to Ulm and besiege it The German and French Hostages are set at Liberty Albert of Brandenburg wastes the Country about Ulm. Conditions of Peace propounded by Duke Maurice to King Ferdinand King Ferdinand's Demands Duke Maurice his Answer Otho Henry Prince Palatine recovers his own Province The Emperor raises Soldiers The Judges of the Imperial Chamber fly from Spire The French King's demands from the Strasburgers The answer of the Senate of Strasburg The Constable chides the Strasburgers They address themselves to the King. The King's Speech to the Deputies Strasburg provides a Garrison against the French. The demands of some Princes made to the French King. Duke Maurice's Letters to the French King. The French King's answer to the Ambassadors of the Princes The reasons of the French King 's leaving Germany The French King's Answer
to the Swisses The Skirmishes the Princes had with the Imperialists Erenberg again taken A Mutiny in the Camp of Duke Maurice The Emperor flies in the Night time And escapes to Villach The Duke of Saxony set at Liberty A Convention of the States of the Low-Countries about making a League The Bishops of Cologne and Liege make League with the House of Burgundy The Emperor's House Plundered The Declaration of the Princes for restoring the outed Ministers The Princes restore the Ministers Devastations made by Marquess Albert. Albert's Letter to those of Norimberg The treaty of the Norimbergers with Duke Maurice Their Complaint to the Princes The Answer of the Princes The Norimbergers Answer to Albert's Letter Albert's cruelty towards the Norimbergers The Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg severely fined by Albert. The Cities of Schuabia Mediators betwixt the Norimbergers and Marquess Albert The Norimbergers make Peace with Marquess Albert The Siege of Norimberg removed Albert's Letter to the City of Ulm. The City of Ulm's Answer to Albert. The French King wastes the Country of Luxembourg And sacks Danvilliers and Ivey The Treaty of Passaw Duke Maurice's Grievances The Opinion of the Princes Moderators concerning the Grievances proposed by Duke Maurice The French Ambassador's Speech The Princes answer to the Speech of the French Ambassador Of the Family of Luxembourg Albert of Austria Duke Maurice insists chiefly on two Points The Mediators by Letters exhort the Emperor to Peace Albert of Brandenburg deserting the Confederates makes War in his own Name Albert falls foul of the Electors of Mentz and Treves The Elector of Mentz flies for it Albert demands of the Elector of Treves his chief Castle Duke Maurice impatient of Delay His Speech in the Assembly of the Princes The Emperor's Letter to the Princes Mediators The Mediators Letter to the Emperor Duke Maurice returns to the Confederates Duke Maurice besieges Francfurt George Duke of Meckleburg killed with a great Shot The Elector Palatine unwillingly supplies the Princes with Cannon Conditions of Peace proposed by the Emperor The Emperor's Answer to the Mediators Letter The Emperor's Answer to the French Ambassadors Letter Duke Maurice accepts the Peace The French King reduces his Army The Duchess of Lorain commanded to leave France Wolffgang Master of Prussia driven out of his Countrey Albert persecutes the Bishops on the Rhine The Bishop of Spire dies Albert's Demands to the Senate of Strasburg The Answer of the Senate Albert besieges Franckfurt The Heads of the Pacification at Passaw The French King offended at the Pacification of Passaw Rifeberg joyns with Albert. Who slighting the Peace makes war against the Bishops of Mentz and Spire The Arch-Bishop of Mentz comes to Ausburg The Sienese revolt from the Emperor Marquess Albert robs she Churches of Mentz Spire The Death of Herman Archbishop of Cologne The Landgrave set at liberty is stopt again Duke Maurice sends his Forces into Hungary Those of Treves refuse a Garison And receive Albert. The Emperor again changes the Senate of Ausburg and restores the Ministers of the Church The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave return home Melanchthon congratulates the return of the Duke of Saxony Marquess Albert's March into the Country of Luxembourg The Emperor charges the Franconians to recover what Albert had taken from them The Emperor marches with his Army to Lorrain The Deputies of Strasburg desires of the Emperor His Answer The Emperor makes his Entry into Strasburg Where the Senate makes him a Present Foreign Ambassadors with the Emperor Richard Morison from England and Marco Antonio Amulio from Venice The Rapine of the Soldiers Which the Duke of Alva did not or could not repress The outlawed Persons slight the Peace and stay in France Hedio and Osiander Dye The Emperor besieges Metz. Marquess Albert makes his Peace with the Emperor Rifeberg goes over to the French King. A Fight betwixt Albert and the French at Pont à Mousson The Bishop of Bayonne escapes and D'Aumale is taken George Lichtemberg The Imperialists take Hesdin The French King writes to the Emperor The Siege of Metz. The Duke of Brunswick again driven out of his Country by Count Mansfield The Master of the Teutonick Order takes Elwang The Duke of Wirtemberg regains Elwang The People of Ulm demolish Helfestein The Emperor raises the Siege of Metz. 1553. Lutheran Books burnt by the Hangman at Metz. The Imperial Chamber order War to be made against Marquess Albert The French Declaration to the States of the Empire Marquess Albert's Complaint of the Franconian Bishops His Deputation also to the Imperial Chamber The Chambers Answer The Emperor writes to Marquess Albert. The Commissioners of the Dukes of Saxony John Frederick and Maurice meet to make them Friends The Ambition of Cardinal Lenoncourt Marsey garrisoned by French. Princes meet at Heidelberg to make Peace betwixt Marquess Albert and the Bishops of Franconia Marquess Albert slighting Peace betakes himself to Arms and publishes a Declaration The Duke of Wirtemberg and the Master of the Teutonick Order are reconciled The Decree of the Imperial Chamber against Marquess Albert and who were enjoyned to put it in Execution Duke Maurice makes a League with the Duke of Brunswick Albert Burns and Plunders He takes Bamberg The Norimbergers raise Bohemian Horse The Duke of Brunswick plagues his Neighbours Cleve and Cologne made Friends A convention of the Princes at Franckfurt The Emperor's Answer to his Ambassadors Letters The Counts of Oetingen force a good Father into Banishment Terovanne besieged and taken English Affairs The War in Germany The Declaration against Alcert Albert's Answer Albert's Territories Invaded Sigismond King of Poland Edward VI. Dies A Battel in which Maurice Elector of Saxony is Slain Maurice Duke of Saxony dies Prodigies which seemed to foretel his Death Hesdin taken The Emperor's Advice to the Princes of Germany Augustus Brother of Maurice succeeds The Diet of Saxony Nine Persons burnt at Lyons in France English Affairs †Sleidan has Norfolk Queen Mary entreth London The Story of Gardiner Northumberland beheaded Peter Martyr One Thornton Suffragan at Dover †Four or five †This Manifesto is extant at large in Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation The Bishop imprisoned The Religion changed in England German Affairs Albert defated again Hoffe taken Corsica taken By the French and Turks The Waa in France Cambray besieged Several Princes of Germany meet †The Duchess de Valentois Albert retires into France Brunswick sieged †He was Prolocutor of the lower House of Convocation and Dean of Westminster but the Dispute began the twenty third of October tho' it was proposed the eighteenth in the Convocation Servetus a Spaniard burnt Sturmius dies Cardinal Pool detained in Germany The War against Albert Prosecuted English Affairs †Outlawed †Outlawed A Parliament in England †This was not done till March of the next Year 1554. †In this our Author seems to be â—isinformed for he said nothing of Religion in Publick The Lady Jane
Beheaded The Deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Saxony The differences between him and Augustus The Strangers leave England The Princess Elizab. committed to the Tower. The Siege of Siena Sir Tho. Wiat executed A Parliament The Diet of Germany The Norimbergerr Answer to Albert. Albert goes into Saxony The Duke of Savoy dies The Edict of King Ferdinand concerning Religion Papal Queries The French War iâ— the Low-Countries In Italy Prince Philip arrives in England Naples Resigned The Diet of ankfurt The French King's Letter to this Diet. Milan resigned to King Philip A Parliament in England †The Attainder was reversed the 22th of November England reconciled to the See of Rome The Emperor's Letter to the States of Germany Ferdinand comes to Ausburg 1555. The Parliament of England dissolved Five burnt in England The Diet opened in Germany A National Council of Germany long disused The Effect of this Speech April 10. 1556. England submits to the Court of Rome 1556. †Atrocia Blasseburg ruined Ferdinand invites the Princes to the Diet. The Protestâ—ne Ministers Comfort the banished Bohemians The French War in Piâ—dmont The Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg and other Princes League together The Letter of these Princes to the Emperor The Elector of Mentz dies Julius III. dies Siena taken by the Emperor's Forces Marceilus II. dies Paul the IV. Elected Cardinal Pool's Letter for a Peace †In 1521. * In 1522. Queen Mary mediates between the Emperor and King of France The Letter of the German Princes to the Emperor His Answer The Persecution in England An Insurrection in Geneva The Turks Fleet. Porto Ercole taken Catzenellobâ—gen The English Ambassadors Return from Rome The Danish Navy †1549. Latimer and Ridley burnt at Oxford †I suppose our Author was mis-informed as to this Particular The Parliament of Paris Answer to the King's Edict Caâ—zenellobogen The Low Countries resigned by the Emperor to King Philip. The Diet of Germany †In 1548. The Allegations of the Roman-Catholicks A Virulent Paper put in by the Roman-Catholicks against the Protestants Liberty of Conscience contrary to Catholick Religion The Protestants Answer Rom. 1. The Answer of King Ferdinand The form of the Recess prâ—posed Ferdinand's Answer to the Papers The Protestants Reply Ferdinand's Answer to the Protestants The Decree then made A Parliament begun the 21st of October in England The Pope requires the restitution of Abby-Lands Bishop Gardiner Dies †A suppression of his Urin. A Duke of Venice deposed King Philip and Ferdinand send Ambassadors to the Princes of Germany King Philip entereth upon the Government of the Netherlands The Address of the States of the Lower Austria for Liberty of Conscience King Ferdinand's Answer The States of the Lower Austria reply English affairs †The 12th of September Cranmer Burnt The Subjects of Bavaria petition for Liberty of Conscience Transylvania revolts The Cardinal of Ausburg's Apology for himself The Marquess of Baden embraceth the Augustan Confession Peter Martyr goes to Zurich * The cause by them alledged was That Ferdinand contrary to his promise had put Spanish Souldiers into their Towns which ruin'd their Country Thuan. †The Inhabitants and Garrison finding the Castle too little to be defended made a sudden Sally and recovered the Town the 23d of July the Turks were forced with great loss and shame to draw off * Which was then said to be much debased and corrupted to the damage of the People †These short Accounts seem added by another hand after the Author was dead if not that of the Emperour's Journey The Introduction The Revolt of Transylvania Sigeth besieged and most bravely defended by the Germans The Situation of Sigeth Babotz besieged The Character of Haly the Turks General Gran surprized by Scalado Charles V resigns the Netherlands and Spain to his Son. And the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand The Emperour's Ambassadours to the Electoral Princes The Emperour sets sail for Spain His Speech at his landing The description of the Place in which he lived Thuanus John Sleidan's Death and Character Natura iracundus pene implacabilis Natalis Comes Paul IV a furious Hare-brained Prince He annexes the Kingdom of Naples to the See of Rome The Duke de Alva begins a a War upon the Papacy Anagni taken Rome prepared for a Siege The Seige of Ostia 1557. The French Affairs Valenza taken Ostia retaken by the Pope The War in Italy under the Duke of Guise The Duke de Alva takes the Field Segni taken by the Spaniards The Duke of Guise recall'd A Peace between King Philip and the Pope * Caviiâ— The Affairs of England Ferrara rescued from Ruine by the Duke of Florence The Dyet of Ratisbonne A Remonstrance of the Protestant Princes Albert Marquis of Brandenburg dies The County of Catzenellobogen setled by Agreement The Conference at Wormes The War between France and Spain Queen Mary joyns with Spain The Siege of St. Quintin The Battel of St. Quintin Montmorancy ruin'd by being taken Prisoner The Day of the Battel St. Quintin taken by Storm A Letter of Charles V to his Son Philip. The French Army grows great A Persecution in France The misrepresentations of the Roman Catholicks against the Protestants The Siege of Calais 1558. The Site of Calais Guines taken A Turkish Fleet land in several Places of Italy and carry many into Slavery The Dauphine married to Mary Queen of Scotland The first Proposals of a Peace between France and King Philip. Andelot Marshal of France ruined by the Arts of the Guises Thionville besieged and taken The Defeat of Thermes near Graveling Dunkirk surprized And Vinoxberg The English Fleet unsuccessful The Treaty of Cambray began The Parliament of England meet and Queen Mary dies The German Affairs * That is the Ecclesiastical and Civil Government The Death and Character of Charles the Fifth His Opinion concerning Justification Queen Elizabeth succeeds The Scotch Affairs Scotland begins to entertain the Reformation 1559. The Death of Frederick I King of Denmark Christian II King of Denmark dies Frederick II conquereth Dieâ—marsh The Affairs of Italy New Bishopricks erected in the Low-Countries King Philip desirous of a Peace with France that he might be at leisure to extirpate Heresie That Design discover'd to the Prince of Orange The Dyet of Germany Conditions proposed by the Protestants for a Council The Emperor Confirms the Peace of Passaw The French Embassadors come to the Dyet The Life and Death of David George a famous Impostor The Treaty of Cambray produces a Peace at last The Peace occasions a Persecution in France The King goes to the Parliament of Paris to aw it into a Compliance Yet some retained their Freedom at the Price of their Lives The King's Answer A French Synod held by the Protestant Ministers The Protestant Princes of Germany write to the King of France A Commission issued to try the suspected Members of Parliament Du Bourg first tried The sad Condition of France during the Persecution Henry
' Arche and Caudebec Diepe Caen and Bayeux Man 's taken by them The Triumvirate desire no liberty should be granted to the Protestants The Triumvirate draw out of Paris The Prince of Conde maintain great Order in his Army at first A second Treaty between the Queen and Conde Boigency sack'd Bâ—ois Tours Anger 's taken by the Protestants Tours retaken by the Roman Catholicks Mans deserted by the Protestants Amiens Senlis Normandy The Roman Catholicks retake Poictiers and Bourges The Siege of Roan resolved on The Terms of the Protestants League with England The King of Navar shot at the Siege of Roan He dyes 〈◊〉 surrender'd to the King. And also Caen. Diep retaken by the Protestants The Protestants beaten in Guienne Andelot hardly obtains Succours in Germany The Prince of Conde takes the Field Pluviers taken by the Prince of Conde Corbeil besieged by the Prince of Conde The two Armies come in view of each other A Treaty with the Queen and the Terms proposed by the Prince of Conde The Prince marcheth towards Normandy to meet the English Succours * Ablium The King's Army overtake the Prince The Battel of Dreux Montmorancy taken Prisoner St. Andre by the advice of the Duke of 〈◊〉 turn the Fortune of the day and gains the Victory on the King 's â—â—de The Prince of Conde taken 〈…〉 slain 〈◊〉 Coligni The Duke of 〈◊〉 force 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Coligni would have â—ought the next day Coligni General of the Protestants 1563. The Pope fondly overjoyed with the Victory at Dreux The Prince of Conde carried to Blois The Siege of Orleans The Duke of Guise wounded by one Poltrot The Death and Character of the Duke of Guise The Queen earnestly desires a Peace The Treaty of Peace between the Prince of Conde and Montmorancy The Articles agreed on Coligni not pleased with the Peace The Cardinal of Ferrara leaves France The Causes of the Delay of the Council The Pope's Legates sent to Trent * Proponentibus Legatis The Prohibition of Books taken into consideration A debate whether Episcopacy and Residence are of Divine Right The French Ambassadors Arrival The Demands of the French Ambassadors in the Council The French Kings Reflections on the Proceedings of the Council The Cardinal of Lorrain and the French Clergy arrive at Trent The Pope allarm'd at it as if so many Enemies had invaded him The Popes fears of the French Bishops never to be stopp'd Maximilian Son of Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans Polano in his History of the Council of Trent saith the Election was made the 24 th of November So that the first date seems to be the day of the opening of the Diet. The Emperor dislikes the Proceedings of the Council The Ambassador of Spain received in the Council The Fathers at Trent much dissatisfied with the Peace made in France The French Court shew their Reasons for it The Pope's Bull to the Inquisitors Several French Cardinals and Bishops cited to Rome And the Queen of Navarr also The French King declares against these Proceedings against the Queen of Navarr The Deposing of Princes and disposing of their Dominions the cause of great Calamities The Bishops defended by the King also The Queen complains of the Proceedings of the Council The Pope gained the Cardinal of Lorrain to his side Who went to Rome The Council has no Authority over Princes * Pag 721 The Ambassadors of France put a severer Protestation into the Council The Emperor opposeth the intended Proceedings of the Council against Queen Elizabeth The French Ambassadors leave Trent and go to Venice The last Session of the Council of Trent The censure of the Council The Emperor goes from Inspruck before the Council was ended His sense of the Council The Reasons why the Council had no better success The State of Religion in Piedmont A Tumult in Bavaria for the Cup. Reasons against granting Marriage to the Clergy And the Cup to the Laity The French Affairs after the Peace till the end of the Council The Siege of Havre de Grace The Protestants fight against the English Havre de Grace surrendred to the French. A Plague in London Charles the Ninth declared out of His Minority by the Parliament of Roan The Scotch Affairs in 1562. And 1563. John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews committed for hearing Mass John Knox call'd before the Council for Sedition His bold Answer
Grief of his Heart he daily heard many and grievous Complaints of Luther a profligate Wretch who forgetting his own Order and Profession acted many things sawcily and with great Confidence against the Church of God bragging That being supported by the Favour and Protection of the Prince he stood in awe of the Authority of no Man That he made no doubt but that was falsey given out by him but that nevertheless he was willing to write these few things unto his Highness and to advise him That being always mindful of the Splendour and Dignity of himself and his Ancestors he would not only avoid giving any Offence but even all Suspicion of offending That he knew for a certain That Luther taught most impious and Heretical Doctrines which both he and the Master of his Palace had carefully observed and marked down That that was the Reason why he had both Cited him to Appear and also sent his Instructions to Cardinal Cajetane his Legat as to what further he would have done in the Matter and that seeing this was an Affair of Religion and that it properly belonged to the Church of Rome to enquire into the Faith and Belief of all Men he exhorted and charged his Highness That being thereunto required by his Legate he would use his best Endeavours to have Luther delivered up into his Hands which would be both acceptable Service to God and very Honourable to himself and Family that if upon Tryal he were found Innocent at Rome he should return Home Safe and Sound but that if he proved Guilty then would his Highness be Blameless in no longer protecting a Criminal and that he himself was so mercifully inclined as that neither he would oppress an Innocent Man nor deny a Penitent his Pardon And thus he left no Way unessayed that he might undo Luther The same Year also he wrote to Gabriel Venize the Provincial of the Augustine Fryers exhorting him That by the Authority of his Charge he would put a stop to Luther a Fryer of his Order who attempted Innovations and taught new Doctrins in Germany and solicitously ply him both by Letters and Learned Agents But that Expedition was to be used in the Matter for so it would not be difficult to quench the Flame newly broken out since things in their Infancy and Commencement could not resist Attempts that were any thing brisk but should it be deferred till the Evil had gathered Strength it was to be feared that the Conflagration might afterwards carry all before it for that it was a Contagion that spread more and more daily so that nothing seemed more to be feared than Delay That therefore he should set about the Affair with all Pains Diligence and Industry seeing he had Authority over him When Luther perceived that he was cited to appear at Rome he was very solicitous to have his Cause tryed before Competent and Unsuspected Judges in some Place of Germany secure from Violence But when that could not be obtained the University of Wittemberg sent a Letter to Pope Leo dated September 25 wherein they gave Luther an ample Testimony both of a Pious Life and Learning that seeing he was for some Positions proposed Cited to Rome and could not being a Sickly Man without endangering his Life make an Appearance they prayed his Holiness not to think otherwise of him than of an Honest Man that he had only for Disputation sake offered some things to be argued which were misinterpreted and highly exaggerated by his Adversaries that for their parts they would not suffer any thing to be asserted in Opposition to the Church and that at Luther's Request they could not but give him this Testimony which they earnestly entreated his Holiness to give Credit to With this Letter they sent another to Charles Miltitz a German and Bedchamber Man to Pope Leo Wherein they represent to him That Luther was undeservedly exposed to the Anger and Hatred of the Pope insomuch that being Cited to appear at Rome he could not as yet obtain That his Cause might be tryed somewhere in Germany That for their own Parts they were so zealous not only for Religion but also for the Holy Church of Rome That if Luther were guilty of any Impious Crime or Errour they would not bear with him But that he was a Man so Learned of so upright a Life and Conversation and had deserved so well of the whole University that as Affairs stood they could not but stand by him That Duke Frederick also so Religious and Prudent a Prince would not so long have suffered him to go unpunished if he had not thought him to be a good Man That therefore he would use his Interest and Familiarity he had with the Pope that Impartial Judges might he assigned him not at Rome but in Germany That they did not doubt but that he would act as became a Christian and Divine and make it appear that he did not Wantonly and without a Cause hunt after an Occasion of Contention That they begged this the more earnestly of him in that they had the greater Hopes that he who was himself a German would not in so just a Cause be wanting to a Country-Man who was born down by Calumnies and in danger of his Life Besides the Intercession of these Friends Frederick Prince Elector spoke also to Cardinal Cajetane at Ausburg and so far prevailed that Luther being excused from going to Rome should plead his Cause before the Emperour at Ausburg Being come thither in the Month of October it was three Days before he was admitted to the Speech of Cajetane for they to whom Duke Frederick who upon dissolution of the Diet was gone Home had recommended him forbad him to go to him before he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour Maximilian but that being at length granted he came and the Cardinal having civilly received him told him That he would not enter into any Dispute with him but end the Controversie amicably and at the same Time proposed to him two Commands in Name of the Pope First That he would repent what he had done and retract the Errours which he had published And next That for the Future he would abstain from such Writings as disturbed the Peace and Tranquility of the Church Luther makes Answer That he was not Conscious to himself of any Errour and desires That if he had erred it might be proved against him With that Cajetane objects That in his Theses he had affirmed That the Merits of our Saviour Christ were not the Treasure of Indulgences which Opinion was repugnant to the Decretal of Pope Clement VI. Again That it was necessary that they who come to receive the Sacrament should have a firm Belief that their Sins were forgiven them Luther replies That that was not so telling him withal That he had read the Pope's Decree and gave his Judgment of it but mention being made of S. Thomas he said The Authority of
he mentioned was a Parisian Divine of great Reputation who wrote several things he was present at the Council of Constance and wrote much in Praise of that Decree which subjects the Pope to a Council saying That it deserved to be hung up in all Churches and publick Places for perpetual Memory for that they were most pernicious Flatterers who introduced that Tyranny into the Church as if the Pope ought not to obey a Council nor be judged by it as if a Council received all its Authority and Dignity from him as if it could not be called without his Permission and as if he were not obliged by any Laws nor to be called to an account for his Doings that these monstrous Words were utterly to be avoided which were repugnant to the Laws common Equity and natural Reason for that all the Power of the Church was in a Council that it was lawful to Appeal from him to it and that they who asked Whether the Pope or a Council was the greater did just as if they should demand Whether the whole were greater than a part since a Council had Power of Making Judging and Deposing the Pope and had given a late Instance of it at Constance for seeing some seemed to doubt of that and attributed a little too much to the Pope that Question had been decided before Pope John XXIII was degraded These things and much more to the same purpose Gerson writes and was therefore now rejected by Cajetane He dyed in the Year 1429. But the Doctors of the University of Paris were of the same Opinion confining that vast Usurpation of the Popes within these very Limits so that some Months before Luther published any thing of Indulgences they appealed from Pope Leo X to a Council because of his abrogating the Pragmatick Sanction which was very useful to the Students and Scholars of France and opened a way also to Honour and Preferment After Luther was gone Cardinal Cajetane wrote to Duke Frederick October 25 That Luther had come to Ausburg but had not spoken with him 'till he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour and that he wondred very much That they put so little Confidence in him that after much Discourse he had admonished the Man To come over and retract and that though he had been somewhat obstinate yet he had come to Terms of Reconciliation with Stupitz and some others so that both the Dignity of the Roman Church and his own Reputation were saved But that when there had been a good Foundation of the Matter laid Stupitz first and then Luther had departed privately which happened quite contrary to his Expectation That he pretended indeed as if all he had done was only for Disputation sake and to discover the Truth but that in his Sermons to the People he positively asserted all which was not to be suffered since his Doctrin was both different from that of the Church of Rome and very pernicious also as might be affirmed for a certain Truth He therefore advises him That he would consult his own Honour and Conscience and either send Luther to Rome or banish him his Country that such a Pestilent Business could not long subsist nor was it to be doubted but a Sentence would pass at Rome and that he himself as in Duty bound had acquainted the Pope with the whole Matter and the crafty Trick that had been plaid him That he prayed him not to give credit to those who seemed to favour Luther's Writings and that he would not cast such a Blemish and Stain upon his most Noble Family as he had often promised he would not Duke Frederick on the eighth of December answered this Letter which was delivered unto him November 19. to the Effect following That he had promised to take Care That Luther should come to Ausburg which being fulfilled he could do no more That he on the other Hand had past his Word That he would in a friendly manner dismiss Luther but that in the mean Time he would have had him to retract without hearing his Arguments and Plea or he having been fairly tryed seemed very strange unto him for that there were a great many Learned and Good men not only within his Territories but in other Places also who were far from condemning his Opinion And that they who withstood him were moved to it through Covetousness and Malice because he had spoiled their Trade and lessened their Profits That if it had been plainly made appear that he had erred he had so great regard to the Glory of God and the Peace of his own Conscience as of his own accord he would have long ago discharged the Duty of a Christian Magistrate That what he told him then of continuing the Process against Luther at Rome was a thing he did not so much as dream of and that what he also demanded of him that he should either make him appear at Rome or banish him his Country he could not do it First because his Errour was not as yet demonstrated and then because it would be a great loss to the University of Wittemberg founded by himself which being famous for many Learned and Studious Men had a great esteem for Luther for his Merits and the good Services he hath done there That he had sent him his Letter to read and that he had protested as he had often done before That he was ready to maintain his Opinion by Disputation in any unsuspected Place and hearken to the Judgments of others who could better inform him or else to answer in Writing That indeed it seemed Reasonable That he should be allowed to do so which he also desired might be done that it might at length appear both why he was to be accounted an Heretick and also what he himself was to follow for as he could not wittingly and willingly approve any Errour or withdraw himself from the Obedience of the Church of Rome so neither would he condemn Luther before his Errour and Crime were detected Duke Frederick had sent Luther Cajetane's Letter as we said just now Luther therefore presently made Answer to the Prince That he had been advised by his Friends not to appear before the Legate till he had obtained a Safe Conduct from the Emperour that he would have had him retract what he had written concerning Indulgences and of the Necessity of Faith in going to the Sacraments That for the former indeed he was not much concerned but that he should deny the other he could not do it he said Since the Stress of our Salvation rested upon it That the Texts of Scripture were depraved and wrested by the Papists He also gave a Relation of every Days Proceedings and how Cardinal Cajetane at length fell to Threatnings That in Reality he desired nothing more than to be convinced wherein he had erred that he would willingly submit to better Information That if they would not be at so much Pains for so mean and
Electors opened the Case and told them That the whole Question consisted in three Points to wit Whether Francis King of France Charles King of Spain or else some German was to be chosen As to the French King saith he I think we are barred from chusing him by our Oath and Laws whereby it is provided That this Dignity of the Empire should not be transferred to Strangers and no Man doubts I think but that he is a Foreign Prince Again though his Country were no Hindrance yet it is not for the Interest of the Publick because the French King will think of enlarging his Dominions and make War against Charles King of Spain whom he hateth nay and hath already denounced it so that Germany will be involved in great Troubles But we ought to take Care That no Civil-War be raised among us Austria belongs to the Dominion of Charles If the French King invade this as certainly he will shall we leave it to his Mercy Hath the Emperour Maximilian deserved no better of us and the Empire Do you think that our own Liberty will be long safe if these Provinces be once subdued He hath lately enlarged his Borders by the accession of the Dutchy of Milan the same will he attempt to do in Germany We ought not to be moved by their large and magnificent Promises for Covetousness and Ambition transports Men commonly and makes them forget their Duty There were many Princes heretofore in France but now their Number is contracted within a very narrow Compass for the King now is in a manner sole Monarch they say he is a Prince of great Courage but that aims wholly at Monarchy Aristocracy is the Goverment we ought chiefly to retain They promise great Matters of making War against the Turks that were to be wished indeed as a thing of greatest Advantage to the State nor am I ignorant of how great Moment a conjunction of Germany France and Italy would prove but he will make the first Essay of all their Power and Prowess upon the Provinces of King Charles He 'll attempt the Netherlands and set upon Naples that he may recover it as an Hereditary Kingdom belonging unto him And shall we Arm him for the accomplishment of these things Nor is it to be said that I am Prophecying of future and uncertain Contingences for he is already raising an Army Since therefore the Laws our Oath and the Love of our Country lay an Obligation upon us I declare it to be my Opinion that we cannot chuse him Now will I proceed to the other parts Some of you I believe are against the Election of Charles because Spain lyes at a great distance from us and that Germany will suffer by his Absence either through a Turkish War or Civil Dissensions For my own part I not only acknowledge these things to be true but when also I consider them more attentively I am stricken with horror and apprehension For I think with my self that if the Emperour being any way provoked should come into Germany and bring Spaniards with him our Liberty would be in great danger Nay it runs in my mind too that the Spaniards will be very loath to part with or ever restore to us again this Imperial Dignity but if they chance by their force and valour to recover Milan will endeavour to keep it to themselves So that I am almost inclined to think it safest to chuse a fit Person of our own Country in Imitation of our Progenitors who passing by Strangers have been often content with Natives I would not be thought to deny this however the State of Affairs had another face then and the Age was much happier But now if we have an Emperour weak in Power do ye think that those of the Netherlands and Austria the Subjects of Charles of Spain will be Obedient unto him Or should the French King make War against Charles as he certainly will either in Flanders or Italy must he be an idle Spectator And must this our new Emperour suffer a great part of the Empire to be dismembred by Foreign Nations Nay as the Times are now it is probable that the Princes of Germany despising their own Emperour will make Alliances and Joyn some with the Austrians and others with the French. In the time of the Emperour Frederick III Charles Duke of Burgundy made War in Germany as Philip Maria Duke of Milan did in Italy without controul and certainly much to our disgrace Nay which was more ignominious the Emperour was at that time blockt up in Austria and driven out of his own Country by the Hungarians and nevertheless the Bohemians were then joyned with him as were also my Grand-father Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert Duke of Saxony If that happened then you see what is to be expected at present when some will be Pensioners to some and others to other Princes not to mention many causes that may intervene why Princes and Cities will refuse to give obedience Grievous Troubles and Stirs seem now also to be threatned upon account of Religion for there are Debates arisen about Indulgences the Power of the Pope and Ecclesiastical Laws which look indeed as yet as if they were curable but will in a short time bring along with them great Desolation and Alterations in the Church for very many espouse that Cause and especially the Saxons and Switzers most valiant People nor can the evil be remedied but by a Council Now how can an Emperour low in Power either procure the calling of a Council or defend it especially if other Kings oppose the same There is a Turkish War also to be thought on and that not only Defensive but Offensive also that we may regain what we have lost and above all things restore Greece to its Liberty Now for accomplishing of this there will be need of the Forces of many Nations And how shall an Emperour of small Power and Authority be able to procure them For these Reasons then it is my Judgment that we should chuse some Potent Prince and that Charles Arch-Duke of Austria ought to be preferred before the other Princes of Germany As for those Inconveniences which may seem to scare us I think they are far less than those that would arise if the chief Government were put into the hands of any other For he is both a German by Extraction and has many Provinces holding of the Empire nor will he permit our common Country to truckle under the Bondage of any but will give us a solemn Oath That he shall neither suffer the Empire to be transferred nor our Rights and Liberties diminished The Reasons I have alledged are indeed of very great weight and yet I should not have been moved by them if his Temper and Disposition were not known for he is Religious Just and Modest a hater of Cruelty and a Prince of pregnant Parts These his Vertues will always mind him of his Duty and of the Care of the Government
Prince Cassimire was appointed to raise Forces so and to post them that the Publick might receive no Damage in the mean while Afterwards the Electors wrote Letters and sent Ambassadours to the Emperour into Spain to acquaint him with all that had been done The chief of the Ambassie was Frederick Prince Palatine but in the mean time some Messengers were privately dispatched with the News of whom one is said to have posted from Frankford to Barcelona in nine Days time The Prince Palatine arrived about the latter end of November and delivered the Elector's Letters the summ whereof was That he would be pleased to accept of the Empire that was offered unto him and all Delay laid aside to come with all speed into Germany The Emperour made a Generous Answer by the Mouth of Mercurine Cattinario That though great Troubles seemed to be threatned on the one Hand from the Turks and on the other from the French yet he neither could nor would be wanting to their common Country especially when so great Princes made such a Judgment of him and required that at his Hands that therefore he accepted the Honour and Charge that was offered him and would put to Sea with the first Opportunity in order to his coming into Germany Much in the same Words also he wrote back to the Electors and so having nobly presented Prince Frederick he dismissed him Thus then was he made Emperour the Fifth of that Name at the Age of nineteen Years The French King was the more troubled at this Repulse that he knew his Affairs were thereby exposed to greater Danger for he had rather that any Man should have had that Dignity than Charles of Spain whose Power being already suspected by him he saw now by this means mightily encreased and confirmed He had been at vast Charges and very free of his Gold in making Friends to promote his Designs The same is said to have been done also by the Flemings but of this I dare not be positive But let us trace back a little the Genealogie of Charles Charles V of France called the Sage gave to his youngest Brother Philip the Dutchy of Burgundy that had fallen unto him Philip afterward married Margaret the only Daughter of Lewis Earl of Flanders and had by her a Son John to him was born Philip the Father of Charles the Hardy who being killed before Nancy left behind him a Daughter Mary the Heiress of vast Territories She at length was married to Maximilian the Son of the Emperour Frederick III and bore to him Philip who married Jane Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain by whom he had Charles and Ferdinand the Infanta Jane being with Child went to Ghent and was there brought to Bed of Charles on February 24 1500. Here we must say somewhat by the by of Ferdinand the Emperour's Grand-Father by the Mother He was King of Arragon and Sicily and had in Marriage Isabel the Daughter and Heiress of John II King of Spain having afterwards obtained the Kingdom of Naples also Now the Children he had by her were John Isabel Jane Mary and Catharine John and Isabel dying without Issue the whole Succession of the Kingdom by the Laws of the Country fell to the next Sister Jane and by this means all the Inheritance of the Duke of Burgundy a most powerful Prince and of Ferdinand King of Spain descended to Charles the Son of Jane for in the Division of the Inheritance the Possessions of the House of Austria fell to Ferdinand So that for many Ages Germany had not had a more Powerful Emperour Charles lost his Father when he was a Child of six Years of Age and his Grand-father Ferdinand when he was about sixteen after whose Death he went into Spain and there continued till being chosen Emperour he came into Germany as shall be said hereafter And since we are now come to this Place it will not be amiss to say somewhat of the manner of chusing the Emperour Charles King of Bohemia and the fourth Emperour of that Name in the Year of our Lord 1356 made a Law concerning this which is called Bulla Aurea the Golden Bull These among others are the Heads of that Law That when the Emperour Dies the Archbishop of Ments so soon as he comes to know of it shall presently Summon the rest of the Electors to meet within three Months on a certain Day at Frankford or to send their Deputies with full Power and Commission for chusing the Emperour or King of the Romans That if the Archbishop of Mentz should be negligent his Colleagues nevertheless should meet within the time aforesaid accompanied with not above two hundred Horse a piece when they enter the Town and of them only fifty with Arms. He who neither comes nor sends his Deputy or departs before the Business is done is to lose his right of Election for that time That the Magistrates of Frankford be true and faithful to the Electors and during their Assembly suffer none besides the Electors and their Families to enter the Town When they are met they are to hear Mass in S. Bartholomew's Church for imploring the Assistance and Grace of the Holy Ghost and then take an Oath to be tendred unto them by the Archbishop of Mentz That they shall not act by vertue of any Compact Bribe Promise or Gratuity afterwards they are to fall to the Business and not depart before an Emperour be chosen that if the matter be protracted longer than thirty Days they shall have no Victuals but Bread and Water allowed them He who is chosen by the greater Part shall be in the same condition as if he had been elected nemine contradicente The Emperour being in this manner chosen the first thing he is to do is To confirm to the Electors all their Priviledges and whatever concerns their Dignity Honour Liberty and Immunity It is moreover provided and enacted that they mutually allow one another free Passage through their Territories what Place they are severally to have in the Dyets and Assemblies of the Empire how Votes are to be taken and what their several Places and Charges are when the Emperour Dines or does any thing else in publick Moreover that in the time of an interreign the Elector Palatine shall have the administration of the Government in Schwabia Franconia and the Circle of the Rhine and the Elector of Saxony in the Circle of Saxony that upon the death of an Elector his eldest Son or Brother-german shall succeed to him that if an Elector be under the Age of eighteen Years his nearest Kinsman by the Father's side shall supply his Place until he be of Age that the Electors meet yearly and consult of the Affairs of the Publick that Frankford be the Place of Election but Aix la Chapelle the Place of the first Instalment and Sclavonian Languages that they may be able to discourse with many Nations We spoke before of the Conditions
to uphold and establish their own Tyranny He quoted about thirty of these places by which he shewed That he had just and sufficient Reasons to burn their Books Then he challenges them to produce but one good Reason to justifie their burning his Works But that so few or none had for some Ages past opposed the Power of Antichrist he says Therefore came to pass because the Scripture had foretold That he should vanquish all his Adversaries and be strengthened by the Alliance of Kings Since then the Prophets and Apostles have predicted such dreadful things one cannot but form to himself a very frightful Idea of his Cruelty That the Constitution of Sublunary things was such that out of the best Beginnings sometimes did arise the greatest Corruptions when he had proved this by some Examples he applies it to the City of Rome which being loaded with all the greatest Blessings of Heaven had wholly degenerated from what it was formerly and with its Poysonous Contagion infected a great part of the World That this Ordinance of the Popes was contrary to Law and all received Customs nor were the Usurpations of that Bishop any longer to be endured since he declined a fair Tryal and would not be bound up by any Decree or Judgment whatsoever In the former Book we told you how Silvester Prierias had wrote against Luther When this had been answered by him very sharply Ambrose Catarine an Italian took up the Cudgels and published a Book in Defence of the Pope's Supremacy To this Luther answers very fully and having expounded some places in Daniel he teaches That the Papal Tyranny was there painted out and that what he has foretold of the Kingdom of Antichrist was only truly applicable to the See of Rome This Catarine was afterwards made Archbishop of Cosenza THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK III. The CONTENTS The Emperour is prevailed with by Duke Frederick to write to Luther who relying upon his Majesty's Letter as upon a safe Conduct comes to Wormes there he undauntedly justified what he had written or taught in presence of the Emperour and a great Assembly of the Princes and constantly persevered therein though he was Curs'd and Excommunicated by the Pope in his Bull de Coena Domini threatned with Banishment by the Emperour and tamper'd with by the Princes severally to make him recant his Opinions The Council of Constance is proposed unto him from whence taking occasion he speaks of Wickliff John Huss and John Zischa a Bohemian The Divines of Paris condemn Luther's Books While a League is making betwixt the French King and the Swisse Zuinglius dissuades them from taking Pay or Pensions from any Prince to serve them in their Wars Luther being Outlawed by the Emperour's Proclamation retreats into a more private place The King of England also writes against him Pope Leo X dies and Adrian succeeds him Solyman the Magnificent is prosperous in Hungary The Emperour endeavours to suppress Seditions in Spain and makes a League with the King of England The Bishop of Constance Presecutes Zuinglius Troubles at Wittemberg The Anabaptists rise which gave occasion to the Diet of Norimberg Thither Pope Adrian sent his Brief and Legate Solyman takes Rhodes Zuinglius having set forth the Heads of his Doctrin is attack'd by the Papists but at length the Reformed Religion is received at Zurich WHile Duke Frederick waited upon the Emperour to the Diet of Wormes he procured a Promise of him that he would send for Luther and give him a publick Hearing Luther being informed of this by Letters from Duke Frederick towards the latter end of January wrote back an Answer expressing the great Satisfaction he had that the Emperour would be pleased to take the Cognizance of that Cause which was indeed a publick concern to himself and that for his part he would do all that he could with a safe Conscience and without prejudice to the Reformed Religion Wherefore he entreated the Prince that he would endeavour to obtain a safe Conduct for him that his Person might not be in danger That good and learned Men might be chosen with whom he should Dispute That he might not be condemned before he were convicted of Errour and Impiety That in the mean time his Adversaries might desist from that rage of theirs and not burn his Writings And that if for the future he should attempt any thing else for the glory of God and the discovery of Truth he might have the Emperour's leave to do it That so soon as the Emperour gave him a safe Conduct he would nt fail to come to Wormes and there so maintain his Cause before impartial Judges that all Men should be convinced that he had done nothing frowardly but all for the good of Christendom and chiefly that for the welfare of Germany he had been at this labour and pains in endeavouring to reclaim his Countrymen from many and most gross Errours to the purity of the Gospel and true Religion He moreover prayed that the Emperour and he would seriously reflect upon that dreadful bondage and miserable condition wherewith Christendom was oppressed by the Roman Papacy Wherefore the Emperour being sollicited by Duke Frederick wrote to Luther March the Sixth That since some Books had been published by him he had consulted with the Princes and was resolved to hear from himself Personally what he had to say That therefore he granted him free liberty to come and appear before him and afterwards to return home which that he might safely do he had engaged the Publick Faith as more fully appeared in the safe Conduct sent with his Letter He therefore commanded him forthwith to set out upon his Journey and not fail to be present in the space of One and twenty days That he should not fear any violence or injury for that he would take care that he should not suffer the least prejudice It hath been an old Custom with the Popes of Rome solemnly to Curse and Excommunicate some sorts of Men on Thursday in the Passion Week As first Hereticks next Pyrates then those who impose new Toll and Customs or exact such as are prohibited those who Falsifie or Counterfeit the Bulls and publick Instruments of the Court of Rome who supply the Turks and Saracens with Arms and other Counterband Goods who hinder the Importation of Corn to Rome who offer violence to any that follow and attend the Court of Rome who invade or damnifie the Possessions of the Church of Rome or Places thereunto adjoyning as namely the City of Rome Sicily Naples Sardinia Corsica Tuscany Spoleto Sabina Aucona Flaminia Campania Bolonia Ferrara Benevento Perugia and Avignon Some former Popes among Hereticks named the Garasians Pateronians the Poor Men of Lyons the Arnoldists Speronists Wicliffites Hussites and Fratricelli But Leo X this year clapt Luther and his Followers in with the rest and solemnly Curs'd them on Holy-Thursday This Bull is commonly called
sufficiently weiged the greatness of the Matter and the troubles that this Doctrin hath occasion'd Nay truly I am exceedingly rejoyced to see that the Doctrin I profess hath given occasion to these Troubles and Offences for Christ himself tells us That it is the property of the Gospel to raise grievous Strife and Contentions where-ever it is taught and that among those very Persons too who are most closely linked together by the Bonds of Nature and Blood. It ought seriously then to be consider'd and maturely thought on most Noble Patriots what is fit to be decreed and care had lest by condemning the Doctrin which by the Blessing of God is now offered unto you you yourselves be the cause of the greatest Calamities to Germany Regard should likewise be had that the Government which the young Emperour who here presides hath lately taken upon him be not reckoned inauspicious and fatal by Posterity through any bad Act or Precedent that may entail its Inconveniences upon them For it may be proved by many places of Scripture that Governments have then been in greatest danger when the Affairs of the Publick were managed only by Human Prudence and mere Secular Councils Nevertheless I design not by what I say most Illustrious and Prudent Princes to prescribe or point out to you what you are to do but only to declare the Duty which I shall always be ready to perform to Germany our native Country which ought to be dearer unto us than our very Lives After all I most earnestly beseech you to take me into your Protection and to defend me against the Violence of mine Enemies When he had made an end of Speaking Eckius looking upon him with a stern Countenance You answer not to the Purpose said he nor is it your part to call again into question or doubt of what hath been heretofore determined by the Authority of Councils It is a plain and easie Answer that is demanded of you Do you approve and will you defend your Writings To which Luther made answer Since it is your Command said he most mighty Emperour and most Illustrious Princes that I should give a plain Answer I 'le obey and this therefore is my Answer That unless I be convinced by Testimonies of Holy Scripture and evident Reason I cannot retract any thing of what I have written or taught for I will never do that which may wound my own Conscience neither do I believe the Pope of Rome and Councils alone nor admit of their Authority for they have often erred and contradicted one another and may still err and be deceived The Princes having considered this Answer Eckius again told him You answer said he Luther somewhat more irreverently than becomes you and not sufficiently to the purpose neither when you make a distinction among your Books But if you would retract those which contain a great part of your Errours the Emperour would not suffer any Injury to be done to such others as are Orthodox and right You despise the Decrees of the Council of Constance where many Germans famous both for Learning and Virtue were present and revive Errours that were condemned therein requiring to be convinced by Holy Scripture you do not well and are very far out of the way for what the Church hath once condemned is not to be brought under Dispute again nor must every private Person be allowed to demand a Reason for every thing for should that once be granted that he who opposes and contradicts the Church and Councils must be convinced by Texts of Scripture there would never be any end of Controversies For that Reason therefore the Emperour expects to hear from you in plain Terms What you will do with your Books I beseech you said Luther that by your leave I may preserve a Sound and upright Conscience I have answered plainly and have nothing else to say for unless my Adversaries convince me of my Errour by true Arguments taken from Scripture it is impossible I can be quiet in mind Nay I can demonstrate that they have erred very often and grosly too and for me to recede from the Scripture which is both clear and cannot err would be an Act of greatest Impiety Eckius muttered something to the contrary That it could not be proved that ever a General Council had erred But Luther declared That he could and would prove it and so the matter concluded at that time Next Day the Emperour wrote to the Princes assembled in Council That his Predecessors had professed the Christian Religion and always obeyed the Church of Rome So that since Luther opposed the same and persisted obstinately in his Opinion his Duty required that following the Steps of his Ancestors he should both defend the Christian Religion and also succour the Church of Rome That therefore he would put Luther and his Adherents to the Ban of the Empire and make use of other proper Remedies for the extinguishing that Fire However that he would make good the Safe-Conduct he had granted him and that he might return Home with Safety This Letter of the Emperours was long and much debated in the Assembly of the Princes and some there were as it was reported who following the Decree and Pattern of the Council of Constance thought that the Publick Faith was not to be observed to him But Lewis the Elector Palatine and others also were said to have vigourously withstood that Resolution affirming That such a thing would lye as an eternal Stain and Disgrace upon Germany Wherefore most were of Opinion that not only the Publick Faith and Promise should be kept to him but also that he should not be rashly condemned because it was a Matter of great moment whatever should be decreed by the Emperour whom at that Age they perceived to be incited and exasperated against Luther by the Agents and Ministers of Rome Some Days after the Bishop of Treves appointed Luther to come to him the 24 of April There were present at that Congress Joachim Elector of Brandenburg George Duke of Saxony the Bishop of Ausburg and some other great Men And when Luther came conducted by the Emperour's Herald and was introduced by the Bishop's Chaplain Vey a Lawer of Baden spake to him to this Purpose These noble Princes have sent for you Martin Luther said he not to enter into any Dispute but to treat friendly with you and to admonish you privately of those Things which seem chiefly to concern your self for they have obtained leave from the Emperour to do so And in the first place as to Councils it is possible that at some Times they have decreed things different but never contrary and granting they had err'd yet their Authority is not therefore so fallen that it should be lawful for every Private Man to trample upon it Your Books if Care be not taken will be the cause of great Troubles and many interpret that which you have published of
that the One and twenty days which he had allowed him to return in being expired every one should endeavour to apprehend him and bring him into lawful Custody Banishing in the same manner all that should any ways aid or assist him He ordered all his Books also to be destroyed appointing a severe Penalty for Stationers that should meddle with them for the future And this Decree which he said was made with the common Consent and Advice of the Princes and States he commanded to be inviolably observed by all It was said that there were but a few who had a hand in framing this Decree For some of the Electors acknowledged that they were not privy to it as shall be said of the Elector of Cologn in its proper place The Elector of Mentz who is Chancellor of the Empire had a great stroak in Matters of that nature However it be the Emperor by this Sentence procured to himself much Favour so that the Pope fell quite off from the Frienship of France and made a League with him as you shall hear by and by After the Publication of this Sentence Duke Frederick appointed some Gentlemen in whom he could most confide to convey Luther into some more private place remote from the concourse of People that so he might be out of danger and this was performed with great secrecy and diligence In this his Retirement he wrote several Letters to his Friends and some Books also as one for abolishing private Mass which he dedicated to his Brethren the Augustine Friers Another concerning Monastick Vows dedicated to his Father John Luther and one against James Latome a Divine of Lovain He exhorted the Augustines to Courage and Constancy telling them that they had a strong support in Duke Frederick who was a wise Prince a lover of Truth and most averse from rash Judging They of all others were the first that began to leave off saying of Mass and therefore it was that Luther composed for them the Book we now mentioned that he might both encourage the weak and confirm the strong earnestly exhorting them to persevere in that purpose Duke Frederick hearing of this and fearing that some great disturbance might thereupon ensue commanded that the Opinion of the whole University should be taken about the matter and brought to him For that purpose the University chose four of their Members Justus Jonas Philip Melancthon Nicholas Amstorff and John Dulce These having had a Conference with the Augustines made a report of what their resolution was and at the same time declared how great injury was done to the Lord's Supper Wherefore they prayed the Duke that he would abolish that great Impiety not in one Church only but in all places also and restore the true use of the Lord's Supper according to the Institution of Christ and the Practice of his Apostles without regard to the Reproaches and Calumnies of Gain-sayers For that it was the course of this World that he who would undertake the defence of the true Doctrin of the Gospel must suffer many things That he ought to make it his chief study reverently to acknowledg that singular Mercy wherewith God had now blest him in making the Light of the Gospel to shine among the People To these things Duke Frederick made Answer That he would omit nothing that might conduce to the propagating of Piety but that since the matter was very difficult he did not think it fit to make too much haste and that hardly any thing could be effected by them who were so few in number But that if the Matter were grounded on Scripture many would certainly come over to them and then such a change as might seem to be pious and necessary would more conveniently be brought about That for his own part who was ignorant of the Scripture he could not tell when that accustomed Rite of the Mass which they condemned was first introduced into the Church and when that which the Apostles are said to have followed was left off That all Churches generally and Colleges wer founded for the Mass being endowed for that end with great Revenues so that should Mass be now abolish'd the Goods and Lands heretofore given for that use would be taken from the right Possessors That any Man might see what disturbance and confusion that would breed And that since they had referred the whole Affair to him it was his advice to them That having consulted the rest of the good and learned Men of the University they would proceed in the matter moderately and devise with themselves such means as might be proper for keeping Peace and Piety among them The Commissioners having consulted together made their Reply and again advise him to abrogate the Mass alledging that it might be done without Tumult and that though it could not yet that which was just and good ought not therefore to be omitted That their being fewer in number was no new thing since that from the beginning of the World the greatest part of Mankind had always opposed the true Religion That none would accept and approve the right way of administring and receiving the Lord's Supper but they to whom it should be given from above That Colleges were founded of old not for Mass but for the pious Education of Youth and these Possessions given for the Maintenance of the Masters and Scholars and for the Use of the Poor which Custom had lasted almost to the time of St. Bernard but that about Four hundred years since this trafficking about Masses came in play which now ought to be utterly abolished That though it were of ancient date yet such a Profanation was not to be tolerated And that if Stirs and Commotions should arise from thence it was not to be imputed to the Religion but to the Wickedness of the Adversaries who for Gain sake withstand the Truth against their own Conscience That however Men ought not to regard such inconveniences but to proceed absolutely whatever Tumults the World might raise for that all these things had been long ago foretold by Christ This year the Emperor's Brother Ferdinand Archduke of Austria married the Lady Ann Sister to Lewis King of Hungary Among so many Adversaries as Luther had Henry VIII King of England opposed him also in Writing and in the first place refuted his Opinion about Indulgences and defended the Papacy Afterwards he censured all his Disputations concerning the Sacraments of the Church taking occasion of writing from the Book of the Captivity of Babylon When this came to Luther's knowledge he wrote a most bitter Answer declaring That in defence of this Cause he valued no Man's Honour nor Greatness However Pope Leo gave the King an honourable Title for this calling him Defender of the Faith. How Charles of Austria came to be chosen Emperor hath be shewn before But some private Quarrels happening afterwards betwixt Him and the French King it came to a War at last though
we mentioned came to Norimberg and January 1 sent from thence the Pope's Letters we spoke of to the Senate of Strasburg offering his Service if they pleased to write him an Answer Zuinglius began now to give great Offence and whilst many both within and without the City preached against his Doctrin as Impious and Erroneous but especially the Dominican Fryers and that he justified the same offering to prove it to be consonant to the Holy Scriptures the Senate of Zurich called a Convocation of all the Clergy within their Jurisdiction to meet at Zurich January 29 about the Difference in Religion where all men should be heard as much as was Requisite They invited also the Bishop of Constance by Letters either to come himself or send one in his Place So then a numerous Assembly met at the Day appointed and among others John Faber whom the Bishop sent to represent him to whom the Burgomaster of the Town made a Speech to this Effect That because there was a great Dissension arisen about Religion the present Assembly had been called That if any man had ought to say against the Doctrin of Zuinlius he might freely propound the same Now Zuinlius had before comprized his Doctrin into certain Heads and common places to the number of sixty seven Articles and had published them to the end that all might come prepared to Argue and Dispute the Matter openly in the Assembly Wherefore when now the Burgomaster had done speaking he again propounded them and invited them to fall to the Dispute With that Faber having declared the Cause of his being sent endeavoured to persuade them That that was a Debate not proper for such a Place and that it belonged to a General Council which was shortly to be called But Zuinglius urging him to Dispute and if he had any thing to say not to dissemble it He made answer That he would refute his Doctrin in Writing Thus they two having exchanged many Words and no Body else appearing to take up the Cudgels the Senate dissolved the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Territories That the Traditions of Men being laid aside the Gospel should be purely taught from the Books of the Old and New Testament THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK IV. The CONTENTS Pope Adrian by his Legate propounded several things confessing that now for many Years there had been various and grievous Corruptions in the Court of Rome The Princes of Germany answer him and declare upon what Conditions they would have a Council An alteration of Affairs in Denmark King Christiern flyeth The Imposts of Germany First-Fruits and Vacances are treated of Mention is made of the Pall of Archbishops Two Augustine Fryers are burnt at Brussels Luther interprets the Decree made at Norimberg He publishes some Books The King of England makes a heavy complaint of Luther Pope Adrian dies to whom Clement succeeds Troubles arise in Switzerland about the Doctrin of Zuinglius and at Strasburg about the Marriage of Priests Campegius is sent by Pope Clement Legate to the Dyet of Norimberg where he writes to Duke Frederick and then exhorts the Princes in a Speech he made to them To which they answer and he again replies thereunto The Switzers expostulate with those of Zurich who answer the Ambassadours of the other Cantons The Bishop of Constance's Book in defence of Images Which nevertheless are thrown down and burnt throughout all the Canton of Zurich The Emperour sends an Ambassadour to the Dyet of Norimberg The Senate and Bishop of Strasburg bring their Controversie before Cardinal Campegius After the Dyet is over Ferdinand and others make a League against the Reformation BEsides the Letters we mentioned Pope Adrian gave his Legates Instructions in Writing that he should signifie to the Princes How much he was grieved at the Troubles and Seditions which were occasioned by Luther not only because of the Damage that thereby accrued to mens Souls and the Ruine and Dissipation of the Flock which Christ had committed to his keeping but also because such a mischievous thing should have happened among that Nation and People from whom he derived his Birth and Being and who had always been a People free from the very least Suspicion of Heresie That therefore it was his most earnest Desire That some speedy Remedy might forthwith be applyed to the Evil lest by longer Delay the same thing might happen to the Germans which heretofore befel the Bohemians That for his own part he would spare neither Pains nor Charges in that Affair That therefore he besought them that according to their several Abilities they would do the same there being many and weighty Reasons for their so doing as the Glory and Honour of God which was chiefly violated by that Heresie all the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church being thereby not only impaired but in a manner quite abolished Charity and Brotherly Love since he that directed not him into the right way who was gone astray must be accountable to God for his Omission The Shame and Disgrace of the Nation since Germany which was wont to be chiefly praised for Religion was now by reason of that Defection fallen into Contempt and Ignominy Their own Fame and Reputation for since they might easily make an End both of Luther and of his Heresies if they did it not they would seem to be very sickle and inconstant and to degenerate from their Ancestors who left behind them at Constance a noble Instance of their Virtue and was it not a most heinous Injury that he did both to themselves and their Fore-fathers for since these followed the Religion of the Roman Catholick Church they were in his Judgment who condemned that Religion all debarred from Salvation That they should consider and weigh with themselves what the Purpose of these Men was and what their Doctrin drove at Which was nothing else than under a Colour of Christian Liberty to endeavour the Subversion of all Laws and all Respect and Obedience to Magistrates and that though Luther seemed at first only to impugn the Ecclesiastical Power as Impious and Tyrannical yet it was his Drift that having once persuaded People That Christians were by no Laws obliged to obey the Magistrate he might open a way for all Men to break out into what extravagant Courses they pleased And that therefore they themselves lay thereby exposed to great Dangers That as yet indeed they cunningly and craftily disguised their Purpose flattering the Magistrate That with impunity they might be suffered to wreak their Spleen and Malice upon the Church-men But that these being once oppressed without doubt they would try their Fortune also with the rest That they themselves now plainly saw and felt by Experience the Animosities Hatred Quarrels and Troubles which that Heresie had already occasioned in the State and it was to be feared That if these Evils were not timely repressed God who had given them the Power of the Sword
it as far as they could At length April the eighteenth it was Decreed That with the Emperors consent the Pope should with all convenient speed call a free Council in some proper place in Germany that November the eleventh the States should assemble again at Spire to consult what was to be followed until the Council should commence and that the Princes in their several Provinces should appoint some pious and learned men to collect out of the Books of Luther and others all disputable points to be presented to the Princes in the next Diet that they might proceed more orderly when they should come to be examined in Council Furthermore that the Magistrates should take special care that the Gospel should be purely and soberly taught according to the sense and interpretation of Expositors approved by the Church that no infamous Libels and Pictures should any more be published and lastly that those things wherewith the Princes had lately charged the Court of Rome and the Clergy should be treated of and discussed in the next Diet of Spire As concerning the Council Campegius promised to make a Report to the Pope as the Princes at this Dyet had desired him who were Lewis Prince Palatine William and Lewis Dukes of Bavaria Frederick Prince Palatine Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg the Bishops of Treves Bamberg Wurtzburg Trent and Brixen and Albert of Brandenburg Master of Prusia You have heard before what the Senate of Strasburg offered to their Bishop concerning the Priests whom he had cited to appear before him at Savern But they not appearing at the Day he wrote to the Legate Campegius complaining That he was hindered by the Senate in the execution of his Jurisdiction so that he could not punish those who contrary to the Sacred Canons had married Wives And besides that contrary to the Pontifical Constitutions the Senate made Priests Free-men of the City Thomas Murner a Franciscan Fryer went at that time from Strasburg to Norimberg and made a grievous Complaint of the Senate to the Cardinal But the Deputies of the Republick that were sent to the Dyet hearing of the Bishop's Complaint went to the Legate to purge themselves and justifie the Senate who they said had not hitherto nor were they yet purposed to be any Lett or Hindrance to the Bishop but on the contrary that they had expresly signified to him by Letters That if he had any Action against married Priests grounded on the Law of God he might freely put it into Execution and that he would be assistant to him therein That however the Senate took it ill that the Bishop should flinch from his Agreement for that it had been stipulated That when he had any Action against a Clergy-man he should try it before his City-Official but that without any regard to this Agreement he had cited the Defendants to appear out of the City and that when in their own Defence they pleaded the Articles of the Compact and did not appear they had been condemned without a Hearing That if the Senate should now suffer any Sentence to be executed against them whilst they appealed to Law and Equity there was no doubt but that it would occasion a Tumult and Uproar among the People That as to their making Priests Free-men of the City it had been an ancient Custom so to do that the Senate also had not long since been desired by the Bishop to take the Clergy into their Protection and that that was the usual way of doing it To these things the Legate made answer That having read the Bishop's Letter and the state of the Case which he had sent him he found that their being cited to appear without the City was not contrary to the Order and Course of Law and that the Bishop had the same Power that his Vicar had that therefore he prayed That the Senate would assist the Bishop in punishing them After a great deal of Discourse wherein the Deputies maintained that Justice was to be administred in the Capital City they furthermore told the Legate That the greatest part of the Clergy of Strasburg gave very bad Example by their lewd and scandalous Lives keeping Concubines in their Houses to the great offence of the People which was altogether connived at and no Man as yet punished by the Bishop for the same That if now the Senate should suffer him to punish those who observed not the Pope's Law whilst they who broke the Law of God had liberty to Whore and give all the bad Examples of a most filthy and vicious Life who would doubt but that they would thereby expose themselves to a great deal of Danger To this he replyed That he knew not what Agreements there were betwixt them but that the Crime of those Men was notorious and needed not any great Tryal at Law since they were ipso facto excommunicated That therefore the Bishop was to be assisted That the Whoredom and dishonest Lives of other Men did not excuse their Crime That they who lived so did very ill and that the Bishop neglected his Duty in conniving at them That he knew it to be a received Custom in Germany That the Bishops for Money allowed Fornication to the Priests for which they were to render an account some time or other but that it was not Lawful therefore for those to marry And that it was a far greater Sin for Priests to have Wives than to keep several Concubines for that the one were persuaded that they did right and the other knew and confessed that what they did was sinful That all Men had not the Continence of S. John Baptist and that no Instance could be given That it was lawful for them to forsake Single Life no not among the Greeks who in Rites differed from the Church of Rome That therefore he again intreated them to aid and assist the Bishop To these things the Deputies said That if the Bishop would begin and punish the Whoring Priests first then the Senate could much more conveniently assist him afterwards in any lawful Proceeding against the others But he again urged That they should first assist their Bishop and if he punished not the Fornicators that he would come in Person and see it done as they severally deserved After the Diet of Norimberg and Archduke Ferdinand Campegio Archbishop of Salisburg the Dukes of Bavaria the Bishops of Trent and Ratisbone with the Deputies of the Bishops of Bamberg Spire Strasburg Ausburg Constance Basil Freisingen Passaw and Brixen met at Ratisbone and on the Sixth of July came to this Resolution That whereas the Emperor in compliance with the Opinion and Desire of Pope Leo X had by a publick Decree at Wormes condemned the Doctrin of Luther as impious and erroneous and that whereas it had been decreed both in the former and last Diets of Norimberg That all should obey it as much as lay in their power They therefore at the Suit of Cardinal
through the dextrous management of the Magistrates and Mediators matters were peaceably accommodated And when upon an Insurrection in Brisgow they had surprized Friburg the chief Town in those Places Ernest Marquess of Baden who had great Possessions there fled to Strasburg and prayed the Senate to intercede for him whereupon James Sturney and Conrad Joham were sent as Deputies from the Senate who with the Deputies that came from Basil and some other Places dealt fairly with them and persuaded them to return home so that after the Difference had been debated and concluded at Basil on the twenty fifth Day of July they broke up from Lava four Miles from Strasburg and dispersed but Promises were not punctually observed to them neither for many of them were executed after they came home The Switzers also zealously bestirred themselves in quieting an Insurrection in Sontgow a neighbouring Province belonging to Archduke Ferdinand and the Dominion of Austria making it appear to the Seditious what the Magistrates Duty was and what the Peoples Now their Demands were almost the same in all Places which beginning first in Schwabia ran immediately all about like Wild-fire as we told you before so that from Thuringe and the Borders of Saxony as you shall hear hereafter it reached as far as the Alpes there having been a Rising also in the Country of Saltzburg But all things being setled in Franconia and Schwabia the Army of the Schwabian League marched thither also and destroyed and banished many among whom was their General Geismeier who with part of his Forces by difficult and inaccessible Paths crossed the Alpes and fled to the Venetians who having bestowed a yearly Pension upon him he went to live in Padoua where he was at length treacherously assassinated in his own House And this was the end of the Boors War which from a small beginning grew to such a height and spread so far for the Contagion was diffused over most parts of Germany and not only in the Country but also in Cities and Towns many Tumults and Riots happened as particularly in Cologn where for the space of a whole Month almost the City Companies daily met in Arms continuing so even in the Night-time also and were designing the Destruction not only of the Clergy but of the Senate likewise but the Tumult was quieted without any Blood save of one or two Seditious who many Months after were executed for it All do not agree upon the Number of those that were slain in this War which lasted but one summer they who speak the least say That in all places there died fifty thousand That Schwabian League so often mentioned was made long before first for eight Years then for three afterwards for twelve and then again for ten but in the year of our Lord 1522 it was renewed for eleven Years a little before the Emperour returned to Spain Those who ingaged in this League were first the Emperour as Archduke of Austria and his Brother Ferdinand who had been lately possessed of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Archbishop of Mentz the Prince Palatine the Bishops of Saltzburg Bamberg Wurtzburg Aichstadt and Ausburg the Brother William and Lewis Dukes of Bavaria Otho Henry and Philip the Prince Palatines Brothers George Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert his Nephew Philip Landgrave of Hesse besides many others of the Nobility and Clergy to whom were joyned most of the Cities of Schwabia and among these all Norimberg April 13 Mass was abolished in Zurich by Command of the Magistrates and that not only in the City but over all their Territory also in place whereof the Lord's Supper was appointed all Ceremonies being laid aside the Reading of the Scriptures Prayers and Preaching succeeded and a Law was published against Fornication and Adultery and Judges were appointed to determine Matrimonial Causes THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK V. The CONTENTS Thomas Muncer broaching a new kind of Doctrin That all Goods should be had in Common drew a vast number of Country People after him one Phifer being his Companion and chief Counsellor After the Death of Duke Frederick the neighbouring Princes raise an Army against the Muncerians nor did his Seditious Preaching nor vain Promises hinder but that many of his Companions were killed and he himself lost his Head. Luther had already written against him to the Senate of Mulhausen Here are recited the Demands of the Boors to which Luther answers shews the Nature of the Disorder and exhorts the Magistrates to punish such Villains The Emperour knowing of these Troubles and Disorders calls a Dyet at Ausburg Caralostadius leaving Wittemberg endeavours to purge himself in a Book that he published Luther marries a Nun and comes to Marpurg that he might confer with Zuinglius about the Lord's Supper Whilst the French King was Prisoner Pope Clement having received Letters from his Mother incites the Parliament of Paris against the Lutherans Le Fevre was forced to fly out of France the King being informed of that sent Orders That they should not molest Men of Learning The Master of Prusia is made Duke and receives the Reformed Religion THIS great and terrible War was in a great measure occasioned by busie and pragmatical Preachers of whom Thomas Muncer mentioned before was the Ring-leader who at length leaving off the Preaching of the Gospel broached an odd and new kind of Doctrin at Alstet a Town belonging to the Elector of Saxony upon the Borders of Thuringe There he began to teach first of all not only against the Pope but against Luther also condemning both their Doctrins as Corrupt and Erroneous That the Pope bound Men's Consciences with strict Bonds and hard Laws which Luther did indeed loose but then run to the other Extream allowing too much Liberty and not Teaching those things which were of the Spirit That it was lawful to neglect the Decrees of the Pope as not conducing to Salvation for obtaining whereof Men must said he first of all avoid manifest Sins as Murther Adultery Blasphemy Incest and Mortifie the Body by Fasting and simple Cloathing look gravely speak little and wear a long Beard These and such like things he called the Cross the Mortification and Discipline of the Flesh Those he said who were in this manner prepared must retire from Company and the Speech of Men and fix their Thoughts upon God that they may know what he is if he taketh any Care of us if Christ suffered Death for our sake and if our Religion be to be preferred before that of the Turks That we were to crave of God a Sign also to assure us that he taketh care of us and that we are in the true Religion that if he did not presently give us a Sign we must nevertheless persevere in instant Prayers nay and expostulate seriously with God that he dealt not well with us For that since the Scripture promiseth That he will grant such things as are asked
of him it was not just to deny a Sign to Man that sought after the true Knowledge of him This Expostulation and Anger said he was very acceptable unto God who thereby perceived the fervent Zeal and Inclination of our Minds and that there was no doubt but that being importuned in this manner he would discover himself by some manifest Sign quench the Thirst of our Souls and deal with us as he did with the Patriarchs of old He also taught That God revealed his Will in Dreams laying in them the Foundation of his Designs and if a Man dreamt a Dream that he could make any thing of he would run out upon his Praises in his Sermons When by this means he had drawn many over to his Party he proceeded by degrees to what he had long before intended and in the Town we mentioned before he began to make a List of the Names of those who entred into an Association by Oath and promised their Assistance to destroy all wicked Princes and Magistrates and set up new ones in their Places for he pretended to have a Command from God to do so So long as he talked only of Dreams and the like Frederick Duke of Saxony bore with him especially seeing Luther wrote in his behalf but when he began to preach Seditiously he was banished and after he had absconded for some Months came to Norimberg and being shortly after sent packing thence he came to Mulhausen a Town of Thuringe for whilst he lived at Alstet he had perverted some Citizens of Mulhausen by whose means afterward he obtained the Liberty of Preaching there and because he was disliked of by the Senate he got the Rabble in a Tumultuary manner to make new Magistrates which was the beginning of great Troubles After that the Towns-people cast out the Monks and seized their Houses of which the chief and richest Monastery fell to Muncer's share who now acted the part not only of a Preacher but Magistrate also for all things he said were to be determined by the Bible and Divine Revelation and he arbitrarily decided all Cases so that what he said was lookt upon as Sacred and Holy. He taught also That it was most consonant to Human Nature that all Goods should be common and that without any distinction of Dignity and Quality they should be indifferently enjoyed by all Men. This Doctrin took mightily with the common People who leaving off their Work made bold with the Rich taking from them what they wanted without asking their Leave Thus he went on for some Months And when now the Boors of Schwabia and Franconia had got together to the Number of forty thousand and had driven out a great part of the Nobility and Gentry taken plundered and burnt several Forts and Castles as hath been said he himself began to set Hand to the Work thinking the time now come of doing his Business and having cast some great Guns in the Monastry of the Grey Fryers he allured to him many Country People in hopes of bettering their Fortunes He was assisted in all his Counsels by one Phifer a bold and desperate Fellow who bragged much of Dreams and nocturnal Visions and among others they gave it out That he had in his Sleep seen a prodigious number of Mice in a certain Stable and chased them all away which he interpreted to be a Command from God to take up Arms and march into the Field for the extirpation of all the Nobility and Gentry But though Muncer preached seditiously to the People yet he was somewhat more reserved and was not willing to hazard all before the whole Country was up in Arms And that he might the more easily accomplish this he wrote to all the Labourers who wrought in the Mines in the Country of Mansfield advising them by all means to fall upon their Princes without any respect for that those who were up in Franconia would draw nearer to Thuringe In the mean time Phifer who was impatient of all Delay marching out with his Men wasted the neighbouring Country of Isefield spoiled Castles and Churches drove away many of the Nobility and Gentry and put some of them into Irons after which he returned home loaded with Booty This happy Success encouraged the Rabble exceedingly especially seeng their Neighbours were also in Arms and invaded the Country of Mansfield Wherefore Muncer thinking that the Insurrection was now Universal set out from Mulhausen with three hundred Men and joyned those of Franckhausen At the same time dyed Frederick Duke of Saxony without Issue having never been married to whom succeeded his Brother John. In the mean time Albert Count Mansfield having speedily raised some Troops of Horse fell upon the Boors and killed two hundred of them This so terrified them that they proceeded no further but went to Franckhausen and there waited for more Forces so that being thus stopt in their Carere by this small ruffle the neighbouring Princes raised fifteen hundred Horse and a few Foot-Soldiers These were John Elector of Saxony and his Cousin Duke George Philip Landgrave of Hâ—sse and Henry Duke of Brunswick The Boors had posted themselves on a Hill not far from Franckhausen and so fenced themselves with Waggons and Carts that it was hard to attack them but they wanted great Guns were besides ill armed and for most part unskilful in Fighting so that the Princes moved with Compassion sent Messengers unto them and advised them to deliver up the Authors of the Sedition lay down their Arms and go home promising them Pardon if they would do so FRIDERICUS III. DICTUS SAPIENS SAXONIÆ DUX c S.R. IMP ARCHIM et ELECTOR Successit Ernesto Patri Ao. 1486. Witteburgensem Academiam Instituit Ao. 1502. Imperium R oblatum contemsit Ao. 1529. Obijt Coelebs 5. Maij. 1525. Muncer being now apprehensive of his own Danger came forth and with a grave and demure Countenance spake to them as follows Ye see said he my Brethren and fellow Soldiers Tyrants not far from you who though they have conspired our Destruction yet are so faint-hearted that they dare not attempt any thing against us but offer idle and ridiculous Conditions that they may persuade you to lay down your Arms. Now it is well known to all of you That I undertook not this Enterprize by my own private Authority for I never applyed my self that way but at the Command of God Which being so it is the Duty of you and me to obey and not to forsake this Station where God himself hath placed us He commanded Abraham of old to Sacrifice his own Son and he though ignorant what might be the Event disposed himself to Obedience without gainsaying wherefore God both preserved his Son and conferred great Blessings also upon himself So we in like manner who are exactly in the same Condition ought to perservere and commit the Event to God and there is no Doubt to be made but all things will succeed according
laboured the Land bred up Cattel and many ways got Estates by the favour of the Magistrate under whose Protection they were That what they alledged moreover that they were not allowed to have the Doctrin of the Gospel preached among them that was no just cause neither of Rising in Rebellion That when Peter smote with the Sword Christ sharply rebuked him for it That if any Princes did persecute the true Religion yet ought they rather to submit and suffer Punishments than resist by force of Arms That they pretended Religion and the Gospel but in reality intended nothing but Robbery Rapine and such like villanous Crimes And that they were the greater Villiains in that they impudently cloaked their wicked and bloody Designs under so specious a Title for that they aimed at nothing less than to seize other Mens Goods and Estates destroy all Magistrates force others Mens Wives and Children and to have free liberty to commit all sorts of Crimes And that seeing they committed such horrid Abominations under a veil of Purity and Sanctity it was not to be doubted but God would revenge that Blasphemy That therefore they ought to fight valiantly against them as against notorious Robbers in defence of the publick Peace their own private Fortunes and Estates Wives and Children That the cause of the War was most just and that they would never have taken up Arms if they had not known it to be acceptable Service to God who put the Sword into the hands of Magistrates not that they should Rob others but defend their Subjects from unjust Force Robbery and Oppression This Speech being made they charged the Enemy and first played upon them with their great Guns but the poor Wretches stood like Men amazed and out of their senses neither defending themselves nor flying for it but singing that Dutch Song wherein the Assistance of the Holy Ghost is implored for most of them trusting to Muncer's Promises expected Aid from Heaven After the great Guns were discharged when they began to break into their Camp and put all they met to the Sword then at length they fled towards Franckhausen but some of them betook themselves to the other side of the Hill and for a short time made Head against a few Horse and skirmished with them in an adjoyning Valley killing one or two of them For when the Enemy was every where put to flight the Horse dispersed themselves to follow the pursuit where-ever they saw any running for it But having lost some of their Men as has been said Anger and Revenge made them more eager in pursuing so that they killed about five thousand of the Fugitives Presently after the Battel Franckhausen was taken and therein about Three hundred seized and put to death Muncer had fled into the Town and hid himself in a House not far from the Gate whither a Gentleman accidentally came and his Servant going up to view the House found a Man lying abed in a Garret Having asked who he was if he had fled from the Fight and if he was one of the Rebels he denied and said he had been a long while sick of a Fever and Ague His Purse by chance lay by the Bed which the other snatched up that he might take what was in it and having opened it he found therein a Letter written by Albert Count Mansfield to Muncer wherein he admonished him to desist from his Enterprize and not inflame the Common People into a Rebellion After he had read it he asked him if the Letter were directed to him but he denying the other offered him violence whereupon he begg'd quarter and confessed himself to be Muncer Being therefore taken he was carried Prisoner to George Duke of Saxony and the Langrave who asked him why he had so seduced poor miserable Men To which he answer'd That he had done nothing but his Duty and that the Magistrates who could not endure the Preaching of the Gospel were in that manner to be curbed The Langrave replied and proveâ— by Texts of Scripture that Magistrates were to be honoured That all Sedition and Rebellion was prohibited by God and that it was not lawful for Christians to revenge Wrongs by their own private Authority To that he was silent and crying out for pain upon the Rack George Duke of Saxony told him Thou art now said he in pain Muncer but consider on the other hand the slaughter of those poor Wretches who being basely abused by thee have perished to day At which bursting out in laughter he said They would have it so Being afterwards carried to Heldrunghen a Town in the Dominion of Mansfield and there severely tortured he confessed his Design and discovered many of his Accomplices in the Conspiracy The Princes going from Heldrunghen to Mulhausen put a great many of the Rebels to death and among the rest Phifer whom we named before Hither also Muncer was shortly after brought into the Camp who in those streights was mightily dejected and troubled in mind and could not rehearse the Articles of his Creed as is usually done on such occasions but as Henry Duke of Brunswick said it before him However when he was about to die he openly acknowledged his Error and Crime and being invironed with Soldiers exhorted the Princes to shew more Mercy to poor Men which would be a means to prevent the like danger for the future advising them likewise diligently to peruse the Chronicles and Books of Kings that are contained in the Scriptures Having made an end of his Speech his Head was struck off and for an Example set upon a Pole in the open Fields When Muncer as we said before being banished Saxony wandred up and down and that there was a report that he intended to go to Mulhausen Luther being informed of this wrote to the Senate seriously admonishing them not to receive him That he was a seditious Person and designed nothing but Robbery and Violence That it was known what he had attempted at Alstet and Zwikaw That he had Spies and Emissaries who every where crept into the Congregations of Men That they could not be prevailed with so much as to come to a fair Tryal That their Doctrin was not only Seditious but Frivolous also Silly and full of Nonsence which they should therefore carefully avoid for that the cheat of it would shortly be discovered That if they thought it not fit to do so they would at last delay for some time until they might learn what they were to think of them That he gave them that Advice as one who was their Friend and concerned for their Welfare but that if they slighted it and fell afterwards into any calamity he would not be blamed for it who had given them such fair and timely warning That the Senate would do well to ask him who had given him Commission and Power to Preach and from whence he had his Call And that if he named God for his Author that then
Article of that League was That they should resist the Invasions of the Turk and the Sect of Luther which was as dangerous as the violence of the Turk The Cardinal of England who could do any thing with the King was thought to have persuaded his Majesty to this Alliance for he bore no good-will to the Emperor because he look'd upon him as the cause why after the Death of Adrian he was not chosen Pope as the Imperialists have given it out in their Writings When Luther had read the King of England's Answer which was Printed and therein found Inconstancy objected unto him as if he had changed his Opinion in Matters of Religion which he looked upon not only as a private Injury done to himself but also to the Reformed Religion It much troubled him he said that to gratifie his Friends he had written so submissively unto him That Christiern King of Denmark had not left off to entreat and advise him both Personally and by Letters that he would write obligingly and had told him so much of his courteous Disposition that he had put him in hopes that being gently dealt with he would receive the Reformed Religion but that now he was sensible of his Error That he had been just so served by Cardinal Cajetane George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus of Rotterdam to whom at the desire of others he had written affectionately and all that he got by it was to render them more fierce and untractable That it was a foolish thing for him to imagin to find godliness in the Courts of Princes to look for Christ where Satan bore rule and to enquire after St. John Baptist among Courtiers who were clad in Purple That therefore since he could do no good by that gentle and loving way of Writing he would take another course for the future The French King being anxious and troubled in thoughts that the Treaty of Peace did not go forward fell into a fit of Sickness but being encouraged by the Emperor's discourse who bid him be of good cheer and hope the best he began at length to be somewhat better The Emperor also considering with himself what a great loss it would be unto him if he should chance to die inclined daily more and more to Peace So that January the Fourteenth all things were at length concluded at Madrid and in the Treaty of Peace it is stipulated among other things that the Emperor and King shall endeavour to extirpate the Enemies of the Christian Religion and the Heresies of the Sect of the Lutherans In like manner That Peace being made betwixt them they should settle the Affairs of the Publick and make War against the Turk and Hereticks excommunicated by the Church for that it was above all things necessary and that the Pope had often solicited and advised them to bestir themselves therein That therefore in compliance with his desires they resolved to entreat him that he would appoint a certain day when the Embassadors and Deputies of all Kings and Princes might meet in a convenient place with full Power and Commission to treat of such measures as might seem proper for undertaking a War against the Turk and also for rooting out Hereticks the Enemies of the Church Again that he would give leave to those Princes who laboured in so holy and pious a Work to collect and raise the Money which was usual and customary in such cases and also that he would impose a Tax upon the Clergy for the same purpose In this Pacification Eleanor the Emperor's Sister who had been married to Emanuel King of Portugal was affianced to the French King. The Emperor promised in Dowry with her Two hundred thousand Ducats and some Places in Upper Burgundy which were in Controversie betwixt them The King on the other hand promised within two Months after his return into France to deliver up to the Emperor the Duchy of Burgundy which the Kings of France had held ever since the Death of Charles Duke of Burgundy almost now fifty Years Besides he renounced all Right and Title to Naples Milan Asta Genoua and Flanders That he should not aid nor assist Henry King of Navarre Charles Duke of Gueldres Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg nor Robert Count of Mark That he should carry on no secret Designs in Italy That when the Emperor had a mind to go into Italy he should assist him with a Navy of sixteen Galleys fitted out and equipped with all things necessary except Soldiers and also Two hundred thousand Crowns to Arm and Man them That the King should pay the yearly Pension which the Emperor was bound by Agreement to pay to the King of England That he should restore Charles Duke of Bourbonne and his Associates to all their Rights Lands and Possessions suffering them to enjoy their Estates and live where they pleased And that the King should at any time stand a Tryal at Law with the Duke of Bourbonne for the Province of Marseillies to which he claims a Title The King having sworn to the Emperour to observe these Conditions was set at liberty and returned home but upon his passing the Borders of Spain he left behind him his two Sons Francis and Henry little Boys as Hostages according as it had been agreed upon and in case he should fail in performance of Articles he promised to deliver himself up Prisoner again After this the Princes of Germany in great Numbers met at Spire according to appointment as we told you in the former Book among whom also was John Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse The Emperour's Deputies were Ferdinand his Brother Bernard Bishop of Trent Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg Philip Marquess of Baden William Duke of Bavaria and Erick Duke of Brunswick When these had opened the Dyet June 25 and had told the Reasons why the Emperour had called it they farther added That above all things it was the Emperours Will and Command That the States of the Empire would with unanimous Consent take some course how the Christian Religion and the ancient Rites and Customs of the Church might be entirely and universally retained Again How they were to be punished and curbed that acted to the contrary if peradventure they should make use of Force And how also mutual Aid and Assistance was to be given that the Emperour's Edict of Wormes published five Years before and the Decree of the present Dyet might be observed and put in execution When a Committee of all the Princes and States had been chosen to treat of these things among whom were the Landgrave James Sturmey of Strasburg and Cress of Norimberg the Emperour's Deputies again assemble all the States August 3 and tell them That they understood there was a Committee of the whole appointed to confer among themselves about the matters proposed who as they supposed would first consult about Religion but that the Emperour's Will and Pleasure might be obeyed and that they might
for establishing Religion and maintaining Peace and Quietness it was necessary there should be a lawful General or Provincial Council of Germany held within a Year And that no Delay nor Impediment might intervene That Ambassadours should be sent to the Emperour to pray him That he would look upon the Miserable and Tumultuous State of the Empire and come into Germany as soon as he could and procure a Council As to Religion and the Edict of Wormes it was concluded That in the mean while until either a General or National Council might be had all should so behave themselves in their several Provinces as that they might be able to render an Account of their Doings both to God and the Emperour Before the passing of that Decree the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave sent for the Deputies of Strasburg Norimberg and Ausburg and told them That because they perceived their Religion was dear unto them and that it plainly appeared what the Bishops and Papists drove at they were thinking Whether a League and Association might not be made for mutual Assistance in case any of them should be in Danger for their Religion and because they conceived good Hopes of those of Frankford and Vlm they did not refuse to communicate also with them To this the Deputies made answer That they had no Instructions from their Principals as to that but that they would carefully acquaint them therewith The Duke of Saxony had two Divines with him George Spalatine and John Islebe and the Landgrave had also brought his Preachers with him the rest of the Princes requested That they might not preach to prevent Disturbances but that was in vain Ferdinand also before the Decree was made having sent for the Deputies of all the Cities and represented to them the Kindness that he and his Predecessors of the House of Austria had always had for them exhorted them to be obedient to the Emperour and not to listen to the Counsels and Persuasions of some that would pervert them It was also decreed That Aid should be sent to the King of Hungary But by that time the Dyet was dissolved which was about the latter end of August the Turk having already entred Hungary overcame King Lewis in Battle who was also slain as he fled in the Pursuit All the Princes Electors except Brandenburg were present at the Dyet of Spire This Summer the Emperour married the Infanta Isabel Daughter to King Emanuel of Portugal and Sister to King John who succeeded to his Father At the same time the Dyet was held at Spire the twelve Cantons of the Switzers kept a Conference and Disputation at Baden thither came the chief Catholick Divines as Faber Eckius Munner and the Bishops of Constance Basil Coyre and Lausanne under whose Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction these Cantons were sent their Deputies Theses were published there which Eckius very confidently defended As that the real Body and Blood of Christ is present in the Eucharist That it is really offered for the Quick and the Dead That the Virgin Mary and the rest of the Saints are to be prayed to as Intercessours That the Images of Saints were not to be removed That there is a Fire of Purgatory after this Life Oecolampadius and some others impugned them Zuinglius was absent and wrote to the Switzers the Reasons why he did not come but confuted Eckius his Theses in Writing John Faber who was highly esteemed by the Bishop of Constance bearing great hatred to Zuinglius is reported to have put the Switzers upon this Match of Disputation and persuaded seven Cantons at first to which all the rest assented afterwards except Zurich to whom the rest sent both Letters and Messengers praying them That against the day appointed they would send thither their Deputies and especially Zuinglius who was one of the chief Men they wanted and to whom they gave a Safe-Conduct But he having some Reasons to move him and chiefly That he would not trust his Life with those of Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwald and Zug besides his being forbidden by the Senate to go thither excepted against the Place appointed for the Dispute but was satisfied with Zurich Berne or San-Gall The Issue of the whole Debate was That all should continue in the Religion which hitherto they had observed and admit of no new Doctrins within their Territories but submit to the Authority of a Council This was done about the latter end of June But before this the Bishop of Constance had caused one John Huglie a Priest to be burnt at Merspurg because he disliked some things in the Popish Doctrin King Lewis being thus unfortunately killed Ferdinand contended That the Kingdom was his by Agreement but he had a Competitour John Sepsy Vaivode of Transilvania This competition bred a division among the Nobility and States that broke out into a War which proved fatal to Germany and the neighbouring People For the Emperour of the Turks afterwards took the Vaivode into his Protection and Buda being delivered up made him a King on condition That he should be Feudatary and hold of him The French King being returned home out of Spain where he left his two young Sons Francis and Henry Hostages gave it out That the Conditions of Peace which he had agreed unto were Unjust and that he would not stand to them After Ambassadours had been therefore sent to and fro the Pope and Venetians made a League with him whereof the chief Articles were That for the Defence and Security of Italy they should maintain an Army of thirty thousand Foot and about six thousand Horse That they should provide a Fleet of eight and twenty Galleys with Tenders That the Enemy being defeated in Lumbardy and Italy they should attack the Kingdom of Naples by Sea and Land That being conquered it should be annexed to the Patrimony of S. Peter and belong to the Church yet so as the King of France who pretended a Title thereunto should have seventy five thousand Crowns yearly paid out of it That the Honour and Dignity of the Family of Medices should be maintained in the State of Florence That the French King should give up the Dutchy of Milan to Francis Sforza whom the Imperialists had besieged in the Castle of Milan and forced to surrender and whom also he promised to assist with his own Aid and Switz-Forces and to give him a Wife of the Blood-Royal of France but upon this Condition That he should pay him fifty thousand Crowns yearly and maintain his Brother Maximilian who was Prisoner in France A little after Pope Clement wrote to the Emperour reckoning up the good Offices that he had done him That for his sake he had refused Advantagious Conditions offered him by the French King That when the King was taken he had upon a certain Condition advanced an hundred thousand Crowns to the Commanders of his Army That he had several times discovered unto him the Counsels
not indeed for maintaining their Religion but for asserting their Rights and Liberties Thereupon presently they ran to Arms possessed themselves of the Towers and Gates and having placed Guards in proper Places kept Watch and Ward in the same manner as in a Camp when there is Danger from a neighbouring Enemy Next Day the Senate desired Time to consult referring the Matter to those who lately had been Intercessors The Citizens did not refuse that but in the mean time would have those they accused turned out and that they should prosecute their Suit at their own Private Charges but that for themselves who maintained the Cause of the Publick and of Posterity their Charges should be defrayed by the Publick The Senate granted these and some other slighter matters that thereby they might mitigate their Anger The same Day some of the Town's-People who had Orders to go the Rounds about the City and see that no Abuses were committed went into the Cathedral Church where one of them with his Pike pushed at the Image of a certain Saint which thereupon tumbled down and was broken This gave them an occasion to lay Hands afterwards on more but the Priests who were extreambly troubled at that interposing they that they might not go beyond their Commission departed without any further Quarrel When the Report of this was brought to the Market-place and made greater than indeed it was three hundred armed Men were forthwith sent to the Church to the assistance of their Brethren who were said to be hard put to it and in Danger But before they came the rest were gone However that they might do something for their coming they broke down all the Images they found there and so proceeding did the like in all the rest of the Churches Then some of the Senate came running to prevent any Tumult or Riot to whom the Citizens said What you have been consulting about any time these three Years whether you had best do it or not in one Hours time we have dispatched that there may be no difference among us hereafter about Images So that the Senate condescended to all they desired and twelve Senators were turned out but without Disgrace among whom were Henry Meltinger at that time Burgo-master and Lucius Zeigler Dean of Guield A Decree also passed That Mass should be abolished and Images broken down both in the City and abroad also in the Country throughout all their Jurisdiction That besides the Senate should for the future admit of two hundred and threescore of the Members of the City Companies to deliberate with them about those things which concerned the Glory of God and the Welfare of the State. When the Citizens had got those two Decrees made they joyfully returned home to their Houses and wreakt their Fury only upon the Images The third Day after which was Ashwednesday the Wooden Images were distributed among the Poor to be made use of for Fewel But they quarrelling and falling to Fisty-cuffs about dividing the Spoil it was thought fit to burn them publickly Wherefore there were nine Piles of them made before the Cathedral Church and burnt And so it happened That the very same Day on which the Papists used to sprinkle the People's Foreheads with Ashes to put them in Mind that they are but Dust and Ashes was a pleasant and joyful Day to the City because then the Images were reduced into Ashes February 12 the Common Council of the Companies which were mentioned approved the Acts of the Senate and the next day after an Oath was taken by all the Companies and then all quietly departed When the Cantons of Zurich Berne and Solothurn had Intelligence of these Stirs they presently sent Deputies to make Mediation but before they came all was over We made mention a little before of the Dyet of Spire which the Emperour appointed to meet in the beginning of February but it was not opened before the beginning of March The Princes and States made a great appearance there and the Elector of Saxony brought Melanchthon with him The first thing they fell upon was matter of Religion and after much Debate they made a Decree therein as shall be said hereafter Now the Drift of the Papists was to divide the Duke of Saxony and the other Princes from the Cities that they might not consult and joyn together in Design And because all the Cities were not of the same Judgment the Princes were about the Lord's Supper they were in good Hope they might accomplish their Desires but that was in vain as you shall hear hereafter King Ferdinand also and his Colleagues sent for the Deputies of some of the Cities separately April 5 and severely chid them for having made many Innovations contrary to the Emperour's Edict but then he exhorted them to comply and joyn in Opinion with the rest of the States lest through their Dissentions the Dyet might be dissolved They made answer That what Innovations they had made were no ways prejudicial to the Emperour that above all things they desired Concord would do any thing for the Emperour and did not refuse to submit to the Judgment of a lawful Council Zurich and Berne the two far most powerful Cantons of Switzerland being agreeed in Religion as we have said the Cantons of Lucerne Vri Vnderwalt Switz and Zug who above all others spighted that Doctrin made a League with King Ferdinand In the mean time Pope Clement April 23 sent John Tomaso of Mirandula to incite the Princes to the Turkish War and to tell them That though of late Years he himself had sustained great Losses nevertheless he promised Aid and that he would make it his endeavour that Peace being made betwixt the Emperour and French King a Council should forthwith commence that Germany might at length embrace the same Religion that other Provinces did The Council of the Empire we mentioned some Months before had been removed from Esling to Spire whither the City of Strasburg having sent their Deputy Daniel Meige to consult and act with the other Counsellours about the Affairs of the Publick he was not admitted to sit because the Strasburghers had lately abolished the Mass and would not stay till the Conclusion of the present Dyet This being known the rest of the Cities perceiving it to be a Precedent which concerned themselves also did mediate and demanded that the Custom of the Empire might be observed That though they might have done some things contrary to the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church yet ought they not therefore to be denyed their Right before the Controversie were determined in a Lawful Council especially seeing no such thing had hitherto been attempted nor had any Person been as yet in the least debarred from his Right in the publick Dyets of the Empire upon account of Religion Afterwards James Sturney Deputy for the City in that Dyet protested That if contrary to the Laws and Custom of the Empire they were in this
determined That for his own part he would in this and in all other Causes of the Empire for the Love and Affection he bore to his Country do what in Duty he ought And that therefore he demanded of them all that every one of them would testifie the like Zeal and Good-will towards the Publick The Princes after deliberation had were of Opinion That Religion should be the first thing debated Four Days after Cardinal Campegius made a Latin Speech to the Princes in presence of the Emperour exhorting them That in the cause of Religion they would obey the Emperour whose Virtue and Piety he much extolled that he also would in the Pope's Name endeavour that all should profess the same Faith and with reconciled Minds undertake a War against the Turk Next the Deputies of Austria represented the great Damages they had sustained from the Turks and demanded Aid After this the Elector of Saxony George Marquess of Brandenburg the Duke of Lunenburg and the Landgrave entreated the Emperour to hear their Confession of Faith that was drawn up in Writing He ordered it to be produced and laid down They again insisted and because it was a matter that concerned their Reputation their Lives and Fortunes and the Salvation of their Souls and because perhaps he had been misinformed in the thing they desired it might be heard The Emperour commanded them to wait upon him next Day at Home but in the mean time desired to have the Writing presently They again with all imaginable importunity urged and entreated that it might be read Nor did they think said they that that would have been denied them since he heard Men of far inferiour Rank about Matters of much less importance But when he would not change his Resolution they desired him to leave the Writing with them until it should be read That being granted they come next Day and in the Assembly of all the States read it in the Emperour 's hearing Afterwards they gave it him in Latin and High-Dutch offering to explain any thing in it that might seem obscure and that if the matter could not perhaps be now determined they did not refuse to submit to a Council so often promised and expected The Emperour who had spent the whole Winter from November to March with the Pope in Bolonia and had lived in the same Palace with him designed wholly if he could to accommodate the Difference about Religion without a Council as knowing that to be most acceptable to Pope Clement whose scope was That if the matter could not be composed by fair means it should be crushed by force of Arms. Wherefore June the twenty sixth he sent for the Deputies of all the Cities to come to his Lodgings and there made Frederick Prince Palatine declare unto them in his Name That in the last Dyet of Spire a Decree had been made which was obeyed by most much to his Satisfaction but that some others had rejected the same which he took very ill at their Hands That therefore he required them not to separate from the rest or else to give their Reasons why they did not comply To this the Deputies of the Protestant Cities made answer That they had done nothing undutifully nor were they less desirous than any of their Ancestors had ever been to testifie all Loyalty and Obedience to his Imperial Majesty but that since he demanded to know the Reasons why they had not admitted of the Decree they desired time to deliberate Afterwards on the seventh of July they gave their Answer in Writing much to the same effect as they had done the Year before when as we said they sent Ambassadours to him into Italy Unto which Embassie and the Reasons there alledged they also referred themselves Two Days after the Emperour caused the Question to be put to the Elector of Saxony and his Associates Whether or not they would exhibit any thing more They said no only resumed in few Words the summ of the Confession of Faith already delivered Afterwards he commanded the Deputies of the Cities who pretended That in Conscience they could not obey the Decree of Spire to give in Writing those Heads which they scrupled at and delivered the Duke of Saxony's Confession to the rest of the Princes to be examined by them who presently gave it to their Divines of whom the chief of all were John Faber and Eckius These battered it with a contrary Writing and Confutation which being read over before the Princes some of them judged it to be too sharp and thought fit that some Men should be chosen to peruse the Writings of both Parties and to soften them but their Opinion prevailed who would have it delivered to the Emperour as it was and the whole matter to be committed to him In the mean time the Cities of Strasburg Constance Memmingen and Lindaw delivered a Confession of their Faith to the Emperour also in Writing These as we said before differed in Opinion from the Elector of Saxony and his Associates about the Lord's Supper The Matter being deliberated with the Pope's Legate the Emperour ordered an Answer to be made to the Saxou-Writing which he communicated to the Princes on the first of August The conclusion of it was severe and hard no less than the Ban of the Empire being threatned to those who obeyed not But that was qualified by the Advice of the Princes wherefore August the third he called together all the States and made Frederick Prince Palatine tell them That he had long and much considered the Saxon Confession of Faith and also ordered some Honest and Learned Men to give their Judgment of it What was Orthodox therein and what contrary to the Doctrin and Consent of the Church That they had done so and had given their Judgment in another Writing which he approved Then was the Confutation of the Confession written by the Divines of the contrary Perswasion read and it proceeded in this Method They divided the Saxon-writing into two Parts the first contained one and twenty Chapters of these they had admitted some and rejected others some were admitted in part and in part rejected alledging many Testimonies of Fathers and Councils Among the rejected were these That Good Works are not Meritorious That Justification is attributed to Faith alone and not to Works also That the Church is the Congregation of the Godly That Men cannot make Satisfaction for Sins That the Saints do not make intercession for us Other things they admitted of with certain modification as the Doctrin concerning Ceremonies as also that the real Body and Blood of Christ was so in the Sacrament that Christ was under each Species and that the Bread and Wine were wholly changed The Doctrin about Confession they admitted provided the People were obliged to confess yearly at Easter to declare all their Sins exactly receive the Lord's Supper and believe that there are seven Sacraments in the Church They made a Proviso also That
called that he promised them this upon his Royal Word but on this Condition still That in the mean time they should follow the same Religion which he and the rest of the Princes professed For that to procure the calling of a Council and yet to suffer things to continue at such uncertainties and not to put a stop to those Innovations all men did see how prejudicial that must needs prove both to himself and others They having consulted returned this Answer That they had not caused any new Sect nor separated from the Christian Church That they heartily thanked his Majesty for that he was not against a Council and begg'd that with the first opportunity an Holy and Free Council might be called in Germany as it had been decreed both in the last and former Dyet of Spire but that to receive the Rites and Doctrins of the Church of Rome which were now abolished they could not do it with a safe Conscience After long Deliberation the Emperour caused Truchses to tell them That he had carefully read over and perused the Memoires of the Conference and found that they dissented very much from the Christian Church That he wondred also at the Condescension of the Commissioners who had granted so many things and at their stiffness in not accepting what had been offered That whereas they grounded their demanding of a Council upon the Decrees of the Empire they had no Right to do so since they rejected the last Decree of Spire against which they had protested and appealed from it though he looked upon their Appeal as void and null since it was but reasonable that the smaller number should be determined by the greater and what an inconsiderable Party were they if compared with the Pope with himself and the rest of the Princes That therefore he desired to know of them if they were willing to enter into any further Treaty and Conference for that he would spare no pains nor trouble that he might by any means make way for Concord and Agreement but that if they refused a Treaty and would needs pursue their designs then he must do as became the Protector of the Church And that because it was drawing towards Night he gave them till next morning to consider on the matter Next day when all the States were met at the hour appointed Pontane a Lawyer made answer in Name of the Duke of Saxony and his Associates to this effect That if the Emperour understood the whole Affair as it was acted he would then believe their former Relation Nor did they doubt but their Doctrin would be judged consonant to the Word of God in the Judgment of an Holy and Free Council And that so it was the less to be wondred at that they did not accept of what had been lately granted and offered That that Appeal was for necessary Causes made only against that part of the Decree which struck at the Doctrin of the Gospel and the Custom of the Primitive Church That in all things else they obeyed it That besides at the very opening of that Dyet and long before the Decree was made a Council had been promised them by his Deputies Nor so only neither but in all the Dyets of the Empire that had constantly been the Opinion of all That since then they had appealed to his Imperial Majesty and a free Council they were in hopes that he would not derogate from their Appeal until a lawful Sentence should pass thereupon That it was not a place to dispute whether or not in this Controversie the smaller number should be concluded by the greater That that had indeed been the chief Reason which had obliged them to appeal and that they would in Council give their Reasons more fully for what they had done That therefore since all former Dyets had decreed a Council without any limitation or condition they earnestly desired that he would not rescind those Decrees but therein condescend to the Will and Resolution of the rest of the States That they rendred his Majesty most hearty Thanks That he was pleased to offer them a farther Conference and Treaty but that seeing it easily appeared by the Acts of the last Conference that they had condescended as far as possibly they could and that he himself wondred at the Papists for granting so much it might with small Difficulty be gathered what his Majesty's Judgment was in the case so that it would be in vain to appoint any other Treaty because it would bring a Delay and hindrance to other Affairs But that they were very willing to consult of any way that might preserve the Peace of the Empire until the meeting of a Council as they had said at first and that in the mean time they would do nothing but what they should think pleasing both to God and to a lawful Council also After they had been commanded to withdraw they were at length called in again and because it was a weighty affair the Emperour said he would consider of it and withal desired the Duke of Saxony as being the chief of the Party not to depart from the Dyet George Truchses and Veh a Lawyer of Baden propounded some things privately concerning the Mass and Vows in order to a Reconciliation but that was in vain And therefore the Emperour commanded a Committee to be chosen for framing a Decree The Parties chosen were the Archbishop of Mentz the Elector of Brandenburg the Bishops of Saltsburg Strasburg and Spire George Duke of Saxony William Duke of Bavaria and Henry Duke of Brunswick When the Duke of Saxony was thinking of returning home the Emperour September the eighteenth desired of him that he would stay but four Days longer In the mean time the Princes of the Committee drew up the Form of a Decree and September the two and twentieth the Emperour sent for the Duke of Saxony and his Associates to come to Court and in a full Assembly of the Princes caused that to be read which concerned Religion which was That the Duke of Saxony and his Associates had exhibited a Confession of their Faith which had afterwards been refuted by Testimonies of Scripture and that through the Pains that he himself and the rest of the States had been at things were after brought to this pass that they had received some Doctrins of the Church and rejected others which being so that therefore to shew how desirous he was of Peace and how far from acting any thing unadvisedly or out of Private Interest he was graciously pleased to grant them time to consult until the fifteenth Day of April that in the mean time they might consider with them selves and come to a Resolution if in the remaining Points of Doctrin they would acquiesce to what the Pope he himself and the whole Christian World besides professed That in the mean while it was his Will and Pleasure that all Men throughout the Empire should live in Peace that the Duke of
not refusing in any thing else to venture their Lives and Fortunes for his Majesties sake That in the mean time they thought it very strange that the Princes and States should in that manner engage themselves to the Emperour since they had never given any cause for their so doing and were ready in imitation of their Ancestors to do any thing for his sake being resolved when occasion offered not to be the last That they also confessed what was said to be true That no Man was to be spoiled of his Goods but that they were innocent therein For that as to Monasteries and Religious Houses they had often declared That they would so manage that Affair in the mean while until the sitting of a Council that it should be visible and apparent to all Men that it was not their own private Profit and Advantage which they coveted The Emperour having duly considered these things ordered the Elector of Brandenburg again to tell them in his Name That he did not grant nor acknowledge what they bragged of their Religion That he himself also had a regard to his own Conscience and the Salvation of his Soul and would far less forsake the Ancient Religion which had been handed down through many Ages than they would do theirs That nothing could now be altered in the Decree already made that if they did admit of it well and good but if not that he had occasion given him to joyn with the rest in making a new Decree and in taking such Measures as that the Sects lately sprung up might utterly be rooted out that Peace might be restored to Germany and the Ancient Faith Religion Rites and Ceremonies be preserved in Force which were things that belonged properly to his Care and Duty That if they would not comply he would acquaint the Pope and other Kings and Princes with all their Disobedience and make use both of their Aid and Counsel in the Affair That to what they said they had given no Man any Cause of offence many things might be alledged to the contrary for that their Ministers and Preachers had had no small hand in the Rebellion and Wars of the Boors wherein near an hundred thousand Men perished and besides many things had been done within their Territories to the Ignominy Reproach and Contempt of the Pope himself and the rest of the States And that so they were not so Innocent as they pretended That it was out of no private end neither but mere duty that the Princes and States had promised and engaged to him their Services especially since the Protestants would not hearken to any Overtures of Concord that nevertheless it was neither very honourable nor decent for them to make such a defection who had formerly commended and approved the Decree of Wormes In the last place that he willed and commanded That Abbots Monks and other Ecclesiastical Persons whom they had ejected should be fully restored to their Possessions for that their Sighs and Complaints came daily to his Ears and that they made continual Instance unto him for Restitution The Protestants having taken some time to deliberate made answer That seeing they could not obtain a Copy of the Decree nor time to consider of the whole matter it was to no purpose for them to urge any farther and that therefore they committed their Cause to God in whom was their Hope of Salvation That also what besides had been objected to them of the Rebellion of the Boors they could not in the least be blamed for it and their Consciences wholly cleared them of that Guilt for that it was manifestly known what they had done at that time and that they had spared neither Danger nor Cost it having been clearly made out also four Years before in the Dyet of Spire what the Cause and Original of that Rebellion had been at which time it was resolved That Ambassadours should have been sent to his Imperial Majesty into Spain to have given him an account of the Rise and Progress of the whole matter but that that Resolution was altered That therefore it was not well done to turn the Envy of that Accident upon them and they looked upon it as an Injury since that if any Man had ought to lay to their Charge upon that or any other account whatsoever they were ready to answer it and stand a fair Tryal at Law That therefore they prayed his Majesty not to conceive any heavy Displeasure nor to give way to Hatred and Anger against them seeing they had no less than the other States bequeathed all they could command to his Use and Service When they had thus spoken they took their Leaves and departed leaving Deputies in their Places But before their Departure the Electors of Mentz Treves and Palatine sent to acquaint the Duke of Saxony and the Landgraves Deputies That what the Marquess of Brandenburg had said of giving Aid and Assistance for the Defence of Religion was done without their Orders that they had been free to tell the Emperour as much and that they had no cause of enmity against them That therefore if they had conceived any sinistrous Opinion of them they prayed them to lay it aside The Elector of Saxony admitted of their Justification telling them that they might expect all mutual Love and Friendship also from him The Day after they went away the Emperour assembled all the States and ordered Truchses first to tell the Deputies of the Cities That they should not offer to be gone before the Conclusion of the Dyet and then to declare unto them what had been acted with the Duke of Saxony and his Associates and that seeing the Cities of Strasburg Constance Memmingen and Lindaw had exhibited a particular Confession of their own he would also treat with them after that other Publick Affairs of the Empire and among the rest the Turkish War were taken into Debate At this time there happened at Rome an extraordinary Inundation of the Tyber to the great Terrour of the Inhabitants for the Tide and Winds from the Sea keeping back the Stream of the River made it overflow the Banks and do a great deal of Damage The like but much more dreadful Calamity happened to the Hollanders and their Neighbours by an irruption of the Sea which breaking through their Dykes and Banks overflowed and drowned the Country a great way up At length October 13 all the States except the Protestants being assembled in the Court-Hall the Decree was read over to the Deputies of the Cities but when they asked a Copy thereof it was denied them and ordered to be read once or twice more And now when for the most part all had approved the same the Deputies of Ausburg Frankford Vlm and Hall desired time to consider of it Eight Days after the Deputies of the Duke of Saxony and the Associates went and told the Archbishop of Mentz who is chief of the Princes of the Empire That if they might be
the Right and Liberty of the Empire and of the Statute of the Emperour Charles IV And that therefore he did not ratifie nor approve that Proceeding When all met at Smalcalde they drew up the Draught of a League not Offensive but altogether for their own Defence This was immediately signed by the Princes as also by Albert and Gebard Counts of Mansfield the Cities of Magdeburg and Bremen but Strasburg Vlm Constance Lindaw Memmingen Kempen Hailbrun Ruteling Bibrach and Isne engaged only so far as that they would acquaint their Principles therewith and give the rest a positive Answer within six Weeks what they intended to do It was agreed upon to write to George Marquess of Brandenburg and the City of Norimberg because their Deputies had no Commission to act in that affair It was likewise decreed That Ambassadours should be sent to sollicit the King of Denmark and the Dukes of Pomerania and Mecklenburg as also the Cities of Hamburg Embden Northeime Frankford Brunswick Gottingen Minden Hannover Hildesheim Lubeck Stetin and other Maritime Cities When the Pope understood what the Issue of this Imperial Dyet was he wrote among others to the King of Poland That he had fully hoped the Presence and Authority of the Emperour would either have quite crushed or at least quieted Luther's Heresie That he had been put into this Hope from the very first time the Emperour came into Italy which had been the chief Cause why he went to Bolonia that he might spur him on though he was forward enough of himself For if that had succeeded it would have secured Religion and the Salvation of a great many who were in great Danger through that Heresie and then ways might have been found out for resisting the Fury of the Turks But now that he understood by Letters both from the Emperour and his own Legate that they were so far from being reclaimed they were more and more hardened he who sat at the Helm to steer the Ship of S. Peter in so tempestuous a time and bore the greatest share of all the Care and Trouble having consulted with the Cardinals could not think of any safer Remedy than that which his Predecessors had had recourse unto to wit a General Council That therefore he gave him warning that when this Design should be accomplished he would either be present himself or by his Ambassadours promote so Holy a Cause for that so soon as possibly he could he would call a Council to meet in some convenient Place in Italy This Brief was dated December 1. The Confederate Princes we named wrote to the Emperour from Smalcalde December 24 That they heard and it was commonly reported That he had a Design to have his Brother Ferdinand chosen King of the Romans a Dignity which he solicitously courted and canvassed for That it was a thing now known to all Men what Power and Right the Princes Electors had in that affair by virtue of the Statute of the Emperour Charles IV when upon the Death of the Emperour another was to be chosen in the Name of the whole Body of the Empire That nevertheless his Majesty being alive and in Health and no such case having as yet happened the Princes Electors had been summoned by the Archbishop of Mentz to meet at Cologne towards the latter end of this Month quite contrary to the Proscript of the Law and the Custom of the Empire That they likewise heard That at his Request the rest of the Electors were also to be there that Ferdinand's Suit and Pretention might be carried by way of Anticipation and Compact so that this being the Report that went far and near they thought good to represent a few things unto his Majesty and that though they had rather abstain from this kind of Discourse yet for the Love they bore to him and the Liberty of their Country handed down to them from their Ancestors and then in consideration that in this Decrepit Age of the World many things were surreptitiously and craftily brought to pass they could not otherwise chuse but do it That in the first place then his Majesty knew how seriously and solemnly and by what express Words and Articles he had bound and obliged himself to the Empire How he had promised by Oath to observe the Caroline Constitution on which the Liberty of the Empire chiefly depended how he had stipulated neither to act any thing himself contrary thereunto nor suffer others to do it which were Compacts and Promises that could not be violated broken nor changed unless with the Advice and Consent of all the States But that now if whilst he was alive a King of the Romans should be chosen and that his own Brother too who canvassed and made suit for it he himself could not but see that it was plainly contrary to Law contrary to the Right and Liberty of the Empire and contrary to his Compact and Stipulation and the Faith and Promise whereby he bound himself to the State Nay and how convenient and uneasie it must also be both to himself and the whole Empire when at the self same time there would be two Lords and Masters to be obeyed And that seeing they would take it very ill if they themselves should either be upbraided with the Breach of Faith and Promise or with Baseness in not defending the Rights and Liberty of the Government therefore they most earnestly besought his Majesty to impute this their Letter to the love they bore to him and their native Country and the present state of the Times That he would reflect upon things past and according to Duty interpose his Authority for preventing the Election of any new King weighing seriously with himself what Evils and Inconveniences might follow thereupon unless a Remedy were applyed in time That they would write of these things to the rest of the Electors also and were in good Hopes they would do what was expedient for the Commonwealth and endeavour to prevent any Rupture or Division among the States That in fine they were ready to serve his Majesty and do for him to the utmost of their Power Afterwards the Duke of Saxony wrote by himself to the rest of the Princes his Collegues That since he was cited by the Archbishop of Mentz to appear at Cologne he had therefore sent thither his Son and some Counsellors that in his Name they might propound and act what should be thought needful That he believed they had heard already part of his Thoughts from them and should hear the rest on December 29 That however he prayed them to desist from their Purpose and consider with him What Prejudices and Inconveniencies that Action would bring with it both to themselves and to their Posterity also through the Violation of the Rights Dignity and Liberty of the Empire That it was his Desire also That in those things which his Son and Counsellors might treat of with them they would so behave themselves as
of any thing that is acted contrary to the Customs and Liberty of the Empire and therefore cannot confer upon him the Title of King of the Romans But the Duke of Saxony adds this in his Letters to the Emperor That if the matter be carry'd on in a legal way he will not shew himself unlike his Ancestors Concerning the admittance of the Helvetians into the League which the Cities very much desire the Duke gives in this Answer by his Embassadors that he cannot enter into any Society with them because they entertain a different Opinion concerning the Lord's Supper He is not indeed ignorant of how great consequence their Accession would be upon the account of their Strength and Power but this is what he least of all regards lest the event thereof should prove as dismal as is recorded in Scripture to have faln upon them who for the strengthning of themselves had recourse to any sort of unlawful Assistances During this Assembly there were Letters brought from the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave to the Embassadors of the other Princes and Cities the Contents of which were to this effect That the Emperor had permitted the Bishop of Mentz and Lewis the Prince Palatine to be Mediators of a Peace who by their Letters had desir'd that they likewise on their parts would give them the same permission and that then they would appoint a day for a Meeting After some deliberation the Embassadors do return their consent and then the Lantgrave and the Duke of Saxony make the Mediators this Answer That they are not against the Expedient provided the Exchequer will be quiet in the mean time this therefore being obtain'd of the Emperor they appoint the 30th of August for the day of Meeting The Cities which had their Embassadors in this Convention were these Strasburg Vlm Lubesk Nuremburg Constance Rutelingen Memmingen Lindaw Bibrach Isenach Kempen Hailbrun Magdeburg Bremen Brunswick and Gottingen Wigand Bishop of Bamburg had some years before made a Complaint to his Associates of the Schwaben Confederacy against George Duke of Brandenburg the substance of which was this That he had disturb'd him in his Ecclesiastical Rights that he had very much sunk his Customs that he had converted the Revenues of the Church to other uses and forc'd the Priests into this Novel and false Religion or else ejected them for their non-compliance All which things are not only a Violation of the Pope's and Emperor's Edicts but also of common Equity and the Laws of the Country and since he highly suffers by them he desires that they would either by their Interest and Authority reduce him to his Duty or else afford him such Assistance as they are oblig'd to by the League whereby he may be inabled for the time to come to defend his own and recover what he had lost But when after various Disputes a day was appointed for the hearing of this Cause at Nordlingen the Embassadors of the Protestants at the Brandenburger's entreaty came thither in the month of July With the Bishop of Bamburg were the Bishops of Auspurg Wurtzburg and Aichstadt as his Assistants and Counsellors The Plaintiff puts in his Charge wherein he sets forth how great Injury and Damage he had sustain'd and withal declares that notwithstanding the Associates of the League had under a penalty commanded the Defendant to desist from his Undertaking and to restore the Plaintiff to his own yet nothing as yet had been effected He therefore prays that he may be proceeded against according to the Prescript of the League The Defendant on the other side demurs to that part of the Charge which properly belongs to Religion and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Appeals from their Edicts and Decrees to a Council But they after some days intermission reply that they very much wonder he should put in such an Appeal as this because it is unusual and against the Prescript of the League which takes care that the Plaintiff and Defendant shall be both concluded by the Determination of select Judges That in this they had all agreed to defend the Ecclesiastical Liberties and therefore the Cognizance of this Cause does properly belong to them And since He himself had hitherto without any exception acknowledged their Jurisdiction with what reason could he now reject it As for a Council they are not by any means to be superseded by that nor ought the Preference to be giv'n unto it in this matter for these reasons therefore they do not accept his Appeal but proceed to confirm their former Edicts and if he will not yield Obedience they declare that they must proceed against him according to the Stipulation The Defendant on the contrary protests that he will stick to his Appeal in what relates to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction nor will he take any notice of their Sentence This Cause was managed by the Duke of Brandenburg both in his own Name and upon the account of his Nephew Albert Son to his Brother Casimire whose Guardian he was In the mean time the Emperor appoints a Diet of the Empire to convene at Spiers upon the Sixth of September for the composing of Religious Differences But upon the 21th of August there came to the Duke of Saxony the Counts of Nassaw and the Count de Newenar Men of great Reputation for their Vertue and being permitted by the Emperor to treat of a Reconciliation they to that end lay down five Propositions relating to the Supper of our Lord Ecclesiastical Rites the Goods of the Church Assistance against the Turk and the Election of King Ferdinand But when it appear'd from their Discourse that the Emperor lay under a perswasion as if the Duke was a Favourer both of Zuinglius his Doctrin and of the Anabaptists His answer was That 't is sufficiently known from the Augustine Confession what kind of Doctrin it is which he professes and which the Ministers within his Dominions do Preach in the Churches That 't is farther plain that while he was at the Diet of Auspurg he had held no Correspondence with those who are reputed Zuinglians nor yet afterwards till they had giv'n him an explication of their Opinion That he still continues in the same mind and shall by the Grace of God till his last breath persist in that Doctrin of which he made profession at Auspurg he therefore prays that as to that point they will vindicate him to the Emperor They tell him that as for their parts they were before very well satisfied of his Innocence and will therefore do him justice to the Emperor to whom they doubt not but this will prove very pleasing and acceptable News As to the other Propositions they were pleas'd to refer them to the next Imperial Diet. However they intreated him that he would either come himself in Person to that Diet or at least send thither his Son. His Answer was that truly he was desirous in all things to oblige the Emperor
after all they will not appear there unless the Publick Faith be giv'n for their Security although they think there is no need of it yet they question not but the Mediators will easily obtain it of the Emperor The Protestants reply That they had already acquainted them how far their Commission reach'd namely that whatever Propositions should be made they should carry them home in writing and therefore they have no Power to act in those Affairs which they desire or to propound any other Methods of agreement As for their Princes they are great Lovers of Peace and all their Counsels are directed that way as may easily be manifested from their former Actions That they themselves are likewise of the same mind and do acknowledge it to be their duty to labour for the advancement of the Health and Happiness of the Publick When nothing else could be done they at last agreed upon meeting at Spiers upon such a day as the Mediators should think fit but first they are to understand the pleasure of the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave who at the first opportunity are to return their Opinions in that matter both in their own names and the names of their Allies This Decree was made on the second day of September But in the beginning of October the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave dispatch their Answer in writing to the Elector of Mentz and the Prince Palatine wherein they shew from the example of the former Treaty that nothing can be done to any purpose in relation to the matters propos'd without the assistance of Divines As for themselves they still persist in that Religion of which they made profession at Auspurg And since almost in every Diet not only in the absence of the Emperor but also of late when he was present a Council had been promis'd and promis'd too with such an Air as if it was to have been call'd and to begin its Session soon after the breaking up of the Diet They now hope that the Emperor will take care to procure one in Germany with all speed Then and there both they and their Associates shall make a larger Explication of their Doctrin and shall omit nothing that may make for a pious Reconciliation But for the prevention of Tumults in the Empire their earnest and hearty desire is that they will prevail with the Emperor to suffer those to live in peace who either are already Professors of the Evangelical Doctrin or shall hereafter make Profession of it till such time as the Decrees and Authority of a legal Council shall intervene Now if they shall think fit to treat about Articles of Peace and shall appoint a day for that purpose they will send thither their Embassadors But if any one thinks that there still remains any Error at the bottom of that Doctrin which they exhibited at Auspurg and shall evince the same or if he cannot do that shall submit himself to the Testimony of Holy Scriptures it will prove a matter highly agreeable both to them and their Confederates If for this end the Emperor shall prefix a day for a meeting at Spiers if he will vouchsafe a convenient Security to them and their Friends and likewise to Luther whom among other Ministers of the Church they will bring along with them if he will permit the Word of God to be freely and publickly Preach'd and the Supper of our Lord to be administred according to Christ's Institution and if he will not oblige them to any distinction of Meats then they will either come thither themselves or else send their Embassadors with necessary Orders and then before the Eyes of all they will give in a rational Explication of their Doctrin But if in that Assembly this Confession of their Faith cannot be refuted from Holy Scripture then they hope that the Emperor will stir no more in this matter but suffer them quietly to enjoy their Religion Now because they have Appeal'd to a legal Council and nothing has as yet been found in their Doctrin repugnant to the Word of God and since it is evident both from Law and Custom that during an Appeal the Appellant ought not to be rigorously proceeded against they have good confidence that the Emperor at their Intercession especially will preserve the Peace of Germany We have spoke before of a Diet of the Empire to be held at Spiers on the Sixth of September but the Emperor being certified by several Letters and Messengers of the Turks Preparations he Adjourns it till the next January and sets out Ratisbon for the place because that is so much nearer to Austria where he foresaw the Seat of the War would be We have shewn in the Sixth Book how the War which above two years ago those of Bern and Zurich were about to make upon the five Confederate Cantons was prevented by the Interposition of the neighbouring Cities This year the Sore was rub'd up afresh and these two Cities having possess'd themselves of all their Passages and Avenues would not suffer any Provisions to be carry'd unto them This happen'd about the Summer Solstice and now the face of things looking as if some great Storm was approaching the King of France together with those of Glarys Friburg Soleurre and Appenzel after their Mediation and after a long Debate they propound these Articles That the remembrance of all Reproaches be laid aside and such things forborn for the future and that the Calumniators be at present pardon'd that those who were banish'd for the sake of Religion be recall'd that the five Cantons may indeed retain their own Religion but however they shall not forbid their People the reading both of the Old and New Testament that no Molestation be giv'n to the Associates of Zurich and Bern and that they afford one another mutual Assistances These Overtures being made in vain those of Zurich and Bern do publish a Writing wherein they declare that they had been forc'd by great and manifold Injuries to put a stop as they had done to the Provisions of their Adversaries and since they had rejected the Conditions of Peace which were propounded by the Mediators and by that means giv'n a plain demonstration of their Hostile Intentions since they had violated the Agreement made some years before wherein it was provided that no body should be put upon for the sake of Religion they think they may very lawfully hinder them from Victuals If therefore any Disturbance shall arise from hence it ought to be laid at their doors who are in love with nothing so much as Quarrels This was done upon the ninth day of September But when those of the five Cantons were very much press'd with the want of Necessaries having privately hired Forces they march'd out on the ninth of October and arrived at the Confines of Zurich with greater celerity than could be imagin'd In these Coasts those of Zurich had planted a Guard of above a
Almighty who will undoubtedly Vindicate his own Cause and Religion However if things shall come to that pass that the Pope must have his mind in this business which they can hardly believe they will yet consider what is further to be done And if they happen to be cited and see that they can do any thing for the Glory of God they will then make their appearance if they may but have convenient Security giv'n them upon the Publick Faith. Or else they will send thither their Embassadors who shall publickly propound whatever the necessity and reason of their Cause requires This however shall be the condition that the present Propositions of the Pope shall not be accepted of nor any such Council allow'd as is contrary to the Decrees of the Empire For they cannot see how this Project of the Pope has the least tendency to advance a lasting Peace either to the Church or State nor does it become him to act after this Rate if he intends to discharge the Duty of a faithful Pastor which obliges him to advise Men for the best and to dispense unto them the wholsome Food of sound Doctrin Now since these things are so they earnestly desire them to deliver in this their Answer to the Emperor and the Pope hoping that the Emperor whom with all Reverence they acknowledge to be the Supream Magistrate constituted by God will not receive it with any Resentment but will use his Interest that â—uch a Council may be call'd as is agreeable to the Decrees of the Empire and that the whole Controversie may be discuss'd by pious and unsuspected Men. For it will without doubt very much redound both to his Glory and Advantage if he shall imploy all his Power and Authority towards the propagating of sound Doctrin and not to strengthen the cruel hands of those Men who have been for many years committing Outrage upon innocent Men only for their honest profession of such a Doctrin as is most agreeable to the Gospel Now for what remains they tender the Emperor their Service in all things and shall yield him a ready Compliance in all his other Affairs There was then with King Ferdinand Vergerius the Pope's Legate who has been mention'd in the former Book And because the Bishop of Rhegium was both ancient and infirm Clement had giv'n Orders to Vergerius to take upon him the Embassy if any difficulty should arise and that he should be sure to keep always in his View what the Pope's design and intentions were in relation to a Council He must therefore keep himself very close to his Orders and the foremention'd Proposals and not recede one hairs breadth from them But must take care not to run the Pope into streights and bring him under a necessity of holding a Council though he be never so hardly press'd by King Ferdinand himself THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOKS IX The CONTENTS George Duke of Saxony his Malicious Artifice to discover the Protestants related He complains of Luther to his Cozen German the Elector of Saxony Pope Clement marrieth his Niece at Marseilles to Henry Duke of Orleans Son to the French King. The Duke of Wirtenburgh is outed of his Dominions Henry King of England is divorced from his Queen and denieth the Pope's Supremacy The misfortune of the Franciscans at Orleans described The Duke of Wirtenburg has his Country recovered for him by the Lantgrave A Peace concluded between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony The Articles of it explained Paul Farnese is chosen Pope upon the death of Clement A new Persecution in France occasioned by the fixing of Papers in several places containing Disputes about Religion A great many are burned upon this account The French King excuseth his Severity to the Germans The Emperor takes the Town of Tunis and the Castle Gulette Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester are beheaded in England Pope Paul intimates a Council at Mantua by his Nuncio Vergerius The Protestants also who were now convened at Smalcalde after they had debated the Point write an Answer to Vergerius The French King sends his Embassador Langey to this Convention who presseth them to enter into a League and toucheth upon a great many Heads to which the Protestants return an Answer The King of England also dispatcheth an Embassy thither to put them in mind what Consequences may reasonably be expected from the Council The League made at Smalcalde is renewed and strengthened by the addition of a great many Princes and Cities WHen they had given the Embassadors this Answer they made these following Decrees First That a Committee of Divines and Lawyers should be chosen to draw up a Scheme of those Points which they were to insist upon at the Council in relation to Form and Debate 2ly That their Answer to the Pope should be published and imparted to foreign Princes and States 3ly They decreed to dispatch away their Agents to the Judges of the Chamber of Spire who hath prosecuted some Persons upon the account of their Religion contrary to the Emperors Edict Which Prosecutions if they were not ceas'd the Protestants resolved to demurr to the Jurisdiction of their Court. 4ly That an Embassy should be sent to the Elector of Mentz and the Palsgrave who were Princes of the Mediation and an account of all their Proceedings transmitted afterwards in writing to the Emperor I have already mentioned in several places that George Duke of Saxony had a particular hatred to Luther's Person as well as a general aversion to his Doctrin Now this Prince understanding that many of his Subjects maintained that the Lords Supper was to be received according to our Saviour's Command ordered the Parochial Clergy that those who came to them at Easter and confessed themselves conformably to the ancient Custom and received the Eucharist according to the Canons of the Church of Rome should have Tickets given them which they were to deliver into the Senate that so the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans might be distinguish'd This scrutiny discovered seventy Persons at Leipsick the Capital Town of that Country without Tickets These Persons had consulted Luther before what they should do who wrote them word that those who were justly perswaded that the Communion was to be received in both kinds should do nothing against their Conscience but rather run the hazard of losing their Lives This advice kept them constant to their Opinion so that when they were summoned to appear before their Prince and had almost two months time allowed to consider they could not be prevail'd upon to alter their Resolution though they were singly dealt withal in private but rather chose to be banish'd the Town which was executed accordingly Luther in the Letter which I spoke of called the Duke of Saxony The Devil's Apostle This Language made a great Noise and Disturbance and the Duke immediately complained against him in a Letter to the Elector his Cozen German that he had
not only affronted and railed on him but that he endeavoured to harangue his Subjects into a Rebellion The Elector writes to Luther about it and tells him among other things that unless he can clear himself of the Crime objected against him he must be forc'd to punish him This made Luther purge himself in Print where he affirms that he did not advise any persons to resist their Prince though his Commands were wicked but rather submit to Banishment Now this cannot in any reasonable Construction be called teaching of Rebellion Those only are chargeable with that Imputation who assert the Magistrate may be lawfully resisted by force of Arms. And as for the Duke his swearing his Subjects to Persecute the reformed Religion he refers it to all Men of sense to determine how defensible such a method is Nay he knows his temper so well that if the Prince Elector should oblige his own Subjects to return him any usage of the like nature he does not question but that he would look upon it as Seditious Now as touching Magistracy and Laws no Man can raise their Character and Sacredness higher nor represent them with more advantage than he has done in his Writings Indeed when Popery governed Christendom this Doctrin concerning Magistrates underwent the same fate with other material Truths the mistakes about it making part of the ignorance of those things for then most People were perswaded that such an active sort of life was not acceptable to God Almighty But those who advance such Tenents as these are Seditious to purpose and St. Peter has given us a Prophetick description of their doom But he did wonder at the Duke's accusing him in this manner for the Professors of the true Religion have always been loaded with the Charge of Sedition Our Saviour himself was haled away and ignominiously put to death under this pretence as if he design'd to set up himself for a King and endeavour'd to draw off the People from their Allegiance to the Emperor To this little Book he added a Consolatory Letter to the Leipsickers who were banished exhorting them to bear their present Adversity patiently and also to give God thanks for that Fortitude and Constancy which they have hitherto shewed That the satisfaction which the Enemies of the Gospel took in their success would not last long but fall off sooner than was generally imagined As all their former Attempts by the especial Mercy of God had been disappointed and brought to nothing I have already mention'd the Interview between the Emperor and Clement the Seventh Now when the Emperor was returned into Spain the Pope at the request of the French King sailed through the Sea of Genoa to Marseilles where he arrived in Autumn and that there might be a more intimate Correspondence between them he married his Niece Catharine de Medices to Henry the Kings Son who was Duke of Orleance and about fifteen years of age And in regard the occasion seems to require it I shall give a short account here of the Family of the Medices Sylvester Averard and John stand in the Head of the Pedigree and were Noblemen of Florence But Cosmo was the first who raised the Grandeur of the Family being far the richest Man not only of his own City but of all Italy Cosmo his Son Peter begat Laurence and Julian Julian had a Son born after his death called Julius who was afterwards Clement the Seventh although there are different Reports concerning his Extraction Laurence had Peter Julian and John who was at last Pope Leo the Tenth Julian left no Children Peter who was banished Florence and afterwards cast away in a Storm at the mouth of Garigliano had a Son named Laurence who married a French Woman of the House of Bolen and had this Catharine we now speak of by her The Pope staid about a month at Marseilles and before he returned home to oblige the King and his Nobility he made four French Men Cardinals whom he knew to be the Kings Favorites viz. Odet Castillon Philip of Bolen Claude Gifre and John Vener Bishop of Lisieux Most People believ'd this Affinity would produce a change of Affairs in Italy and the disproportion of the Match was generally wonder'd at Nay they say Clement himself doubted the Event and scarce believed the French King in earnest till the Marriage was consummated Some few months after the Lantgrave took a Journey to the French King the occasion of it was this In the year 1519. Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburg was expelled his own Dominions by the Confederates of the League of Schwaben because he had lately taken Ruteling a Town of the Empire and under the Protection of the League This Country the Emperor purchas'd of the Confederates and afterwards gave it his Brother Ferdinand when they divided their Inheritance Now in the Diet at Auspurg several of the Princes interceded that Vlrick who had now been banish'd eleven years might be restored But this motion was to no purpose for the Emperor at that time after he had declar'd the Reasons at large why Vlrick was dispossess'd he publickly gave his Brother the Ducal Ornaments and Badges of Soveraignty for that Country The Lantgrave therefore who was nearly related to the Duke and very much his Friend had thoughts of attempting something in his behalf at that juncture but being disappointed by Persons who had promis'd their assistance he deferr'd his Design till he had a better opportunity But now the Emperor being absent and the League of Schwaben which was made for a eleven years past exired away he goes for France and Mortgages Mount Pellicarde to the King in Duke Vlrick his name for a certain sum of Mony Upon condition that if the Duke did not discharge the Mortgage within three years the Premises should be annexed to the Crown of France Besides this Sum the King promis'd to lend him another and gave him some hopes that he would not demand it again At this time there was a very great alteration of Affairs in England which happen'd in this manner Henry the Seventh King of England had two Sons Arthur and Henry Arthur married Catharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain and died without Issue Henry the Father who desired the Alliance he had contracted with Spain might be continued procured a Dispensation from Pope Julius the Second and got Catharine contracted to his other Son who succeeded him in the Kingdom at his death in the year 1509. Henry the Eighth therefore who married this Lady soon after his Father died when he had reigned a great many years and was well setled in his Kingdom acquaints some of the Bishops that he was dissatisfied in his Conscience puts them upon an Enquiry whether it was lawful for a Man to marry his Brothers Relict and as it 's said abstain'd from the Queen's Bed for several months The Bishops by the King's Order discourse the Queen privately and acquaint her that
the Emperor also Nothing shall be required of either side for the Charges of the War. The Lantgrave and Vlrick oblige themselves to supply Ferdinand with five hundred Horse and 3000 Foot out of the Forces they have now in pay and to send them at their own Charge to the Siege of Munster where they shall swear Allegiance to Ferdinand and continue in his Service for three months if there be occasion Sabina Vlrick his Dutchess shall enjoy her Joynture without any Interruption Lastly this Treaty shall be ratify'd by the Nobility and all the Commons Munster a City of Westphalia which the Anabaptists had possess'd themselves of was besieged at that time as shall be shewed afterwards in its proper place Now to carry on this Siege Ferdinand required Supplies of them And here we may observe that at last when the Territory of Wirtemburg was almost all recover'd the mony was brought to the Duke which the French King agreed to lend upon the Mortgage though it 's true it was none of the King's fault that it came no sooner but his Treasurers who disliking the drawing of the Conveyance delayed the affair longer than his Majesty intended Now when the Peace was concluded and the Army disbanded the other mony came which the King promis'd to furnish him with without Security But before the year came about Vlrick paid off the Mortgage and redeem'd Mount Pellicarde As for the mony that was borrowed upon Honour which was no inconsiderable Sum the King made him a Present of it Peter Paul Vergerius the Pope's Nuncio took this Pacification very ill and reprimanded King Ferdinand in his Master Clement's Name for coming to an Accommodation with the Lutheran Princes The King told him he did it only to prevent greater Broils and Disturbances and that he was oblig'd to comply with the necessity of the times When Vlrick was banished his Country his Son Christopher was about four years of age who at first was Educated by William Duke of Bavaria his Uncle but afterwards he was sent to Inspruck a Town under Ferdinand his Jurisdiction And when the Emperor upon the Turk's retreat return'd into Italy which I have already mention'd Then this young Prince left the Emperor's Train and went into Bavaria which was hard by his Fathers Dominions being before advis'd and importun'd by his Relations and Friends to make this Escape For he being the only Heir it was thought the Austrian Party had a design to carry him into a foreign Country and make him a Clergy-Man But after his Father was restord he travelled into France and put himself into King's Service After things were accommodated the Lantgrave upon the 21st of July wrote to the Emperor into Spain by a Currier where he acquainted him with the Conditions of the Pacification and begg'd his Pardon for himself and Duke Vlrick and promis'd that both of them would pay his Majesty and King Ferdinand all Obedience for the future To this the Emperor returns him an answer from Valencia dated September the first in which he tells him that he had receiv'd an account of the whole business from his Brother Ferdinand To whom he had already declar'd his Resolution in writing and now had sent his Embassador to do it by word of mouth Therefore he referreth him to his Brother who would shortly acquaint him with his Clemency and Inclination to Peace afterwards he adviseth him to make good his promise and shew himself obedient and not to engage in any turbulent Designs During the Wars in the Dutchy of Wirtemburg Francis Sforza the Second Duke of Milan married Christina Daughter to Christiern the Captive King of Denmark and Niece to the Emperor by his Sister The French King was about to make War upon this Duke but the death of Clement the Seventh with whom he had lately entred into a League was thought to have hindred him from prosecuting his Design at present This Pope died at the later end of September of a distemper in his Stomach which had continu'd a great while upon him and was occasion'd by his altering his Diet in his old age which he did by the advice of his Physician Curtio Paul the Third of the House of Farnese was his Successor who not long after created Alexander and Ascanio Cardinals both of them his own Grandchildren and very much under the age of Manhood his natural Son Aloisio was Father to the former and the other was the Son of his Daughter Constanza Afterwards he recalls Vergerius out of Germany and enquires concerning the State of Religion there and consults with the Cardinals how they may prevent a National Council till by private and unsuspected Contrivances they have embroil'd the Emperor and other Princes in a War. At last he resolv'd to send Vergerius back into Germany to proffer that Nation a general Council as they call it More particularly his Instructions were to take care that his proceedings might not be like those of Clement fall under the suspicion of artifice and reserve and that he should go to all the Princes acquainting them that the Pope would call a Council at Mantua and there the Regulations of it should be setled But he was more especially to observe what Form the Protestants would insist upon in reference to the Qualifications Votings and Disputations of the Council that when this was known there might be such Terms and Laws imposed upon them which he was assur'd they would not consent to He also commanded him to exasperate the Princes of the Empire against the King of England whose Dominions he was now thinking to give to any Body that could Conquer them He was likewise to consider if there was no possible Expedient to bring over Luther and Melancton In this Consistory there were nine Cardinals and Bishops pitch'd upon to draw up a Form for the Reformation of Ecclesiastical Persons and Concerns which afterwards became publick as shall be discours'd in its place Now the reason why Vergerius was sent back into Germany was because King Ferdinand had recommended him to the Pope as a Person extraordinarily well qualified for the manage of that Employment At this time Andrew Grittus was Doge of Venice a Person of very great Reputation for his Prudence and Experience This Nobleman when he liv'd at Constantinople had a natural Son named Lewis who being brought up there from his Childhood and having by his singular Industry and Ingenuity rais'd a vast Estate and gain'd himself a considerable Interest by his Liberality got acquainted with the Courtiers first and afterwards by the Recommendation of Ibrahim the Grand Visier who then had the sole direction of Affairs was so well known to Solyman that he admitted him to a private Discourse And pursuing this lucky opportunity he worked himself so far into Solyman's Favour that at last he was sent into Hungary with a very splendid and numerous Attendance having a Commission to possess himself of that part of
satisfaction and at the same time hiring Forces from several places passeth over the Alpes and invades the Duke of Savoy a Prince of the Empire that so by conquering that Province he might make his way for farther Victory which proceedings forc'd the Emperor to raise an Army for the defence of that Country And though he was very desirous of Peace not only at first but after he had been at great Charges in fortifying and defending his own Dominions not refusing to deliver up the Dutchy to the other upon certain Conditions as appears by his late Declaration made at Rome before the Pope and Conclave of Cardinals and several Ambassadors of Princes yet the French King rejecting all these Proposals persisted in his former Resolution And now I understand he is perpetually soliciting you for Supplies pretending you ought to assist him by vertue of a League made between you in regard the Emperor sets upon him in his own Country and pursues him in his retreat But the case in clearly misrepresented for it is He not the Emperor who began this War and forc'd his Imperial Majesty to take up Arms against his Will. And though now he chooses rather to fall back than stand the Charge of the Emperors Army though the Emperor presseth upon him as he retreats yet the Emperor cannot be said to begin the War upon this account for by pursuing the Enemy he does nothing but what is justifiable and prudent that he may receive satisfaction for the damage he hath sustain'd and restore a general Peace to Christendom And therefore the reason drawn from the Alliance with which the French King flourishes so much ought not to be insisted on Now this being the true state of the matter and since he has broken his Faith and begun the War again himself I desire you would not suffer any Forces to be sent to him which will be very acceptable to the Emperor and my self and will very much import the Peace and Security of your State. In the mean time the Protestants sent Embassadors into Italy to the Emperor who complain'd of the Mal-administration of Justice in the Chamber of Spire and excus'd their seising upon the Goods of the Ecclesiasticks which the Emperor had before expostulated with them in a Letter But before the Embassadors came thither the Emperor had dispatch'd Letters to the Protestants from Savigliano upon the seventh of July viz. Notwithstanding he had often told them both by Writing and by his Embassadors that his Inclinations were wholly bent to settle the Peace of Germany that all Differences especially those of Religion might be amicably accommodated and that no Man might have any disturbance upon that account notwithstanding he had hitherto actually perform'd what he had written yet because the French King whose unjust Designs he was forc'd to oppose with an Army had falsely suggested to them as if he would break the Peace at the first convenient opportunity Therefore he was willing to write to them and to caution them again not to give any credit to such a Report but to assure themselves that he would always stand to his Articles and not make War upon any Persons upon the score of Religion nor raise any Commotions in Germany As for this present preparation for War it is only design'd for the maintaining his just Right and Authority therefore he desires them that they would rest satisfi'd and not grow apprehensive and suspicious upon any Disturbance that may happen Such management as this will both be very acceptable to him and beneficial to themselves And now the Emperor having gather'd his Forces passeth through the midst of Italy and Invades Provence with a powerful Army The King encamped at Avignion between the Rivers Rhone and la Durance and by wasting that part of the Country which he saw the Emperor would make his descent into and afterwards declining a battle he reduc'd him to great streights For a scarcity of all sorts of Provisions happening in the Emperor's Camp after he had lost Antonio Leva and a great many thousands of his Souldiers were destroy'd by Famine and contagious Diseases he was oblig'd to dismiss the remainder of his Forces and return to Genoa Another Army of his was employ'd the same Summer in the Country of Vermandois and besieg'd Perone Henry Nassaw being the General but he was forc'd to retire without Success much about the same time that the Emperor left Provence the News of both which accidents being brought to Paris the same day occasion'd great rejoycing in that City For they were in a great Consternation and the People were harangued with bitter Invectives against the Emperor The King's Lieutenants in the mean time giving order to fortifie the Town with Ramparts and Ditches and to Garrison all the Gates William of Furstenburgh a German served the French King in this War about the beginning of which Francis the French King's eldest Son died being eighteen years of Age The report was that he was poison'd and one Sebastian Montecuculi an Italian being suspected and put to the question was quarter'd with Horses at Lyons And the King writing afterwards to the Princes of Germany among other things complain'd severely of this matter laying all the Scandal and Infamy of the Fact upon Antonio Leva and Ferrand Gonzaga the Emperor's Servants At this time Herman Archbishop of Cologne who had long since projected a Reformation of the Church held a Provincial Council at the desire of his People and according to custom summon'd all the Bishops belonging to his Jurisdiction thither viz. The Bishops of Leige Vtretch Munster Osnaburgh and Minden This Council made several Canons concerning Doctrin and Ceremonies which were afterwards compil'd into a Book by John Gropper Professor of the Canon-Law in which almost all the Popish Tenents are palliated and coloured with new Interpretations But this Book when it was publish'd did not give satisfaction and some few years after the Archbishop himself was not pleas'd with it as I shall shew hereafter This year in July Erasmus of Rotterdam died being about seventy years of age he was buried at Basil whither he return'd from Friburgh How great a Person he was what a Master of Stile and how much all learned Men are oblig'd to him his Works sufficiently testifie About this time there was a great Insurrection in England occasion'd by the rejecting the Popes Supremacy declaring the Lady Mary who was generally belov'd illegitimate and punishing some Persons for not obeying the King's Injunctions Now this Rebellion encreas'd so fast in a short time that the King thought it proper to draw his Forces together and March against them And when they were encamp'd near each other they came to a Parley where after some of the Rebels were mollified and had satisfaction given them the rest of the Rabble laid down their Arms and went off Most of the Authors of this Disturbance were executed after the heat of
of England publish'd a Manifesto in the name of himself and his Nobility to this effect That the Pope had call'd a Council without any Authority to do it That it was conven'd at an improper time when the Emperor and French King were deeply engag'd in War against each other That Mantua was an exceptionable place as being neither commodious nor safe for all Persons For his part he heartily desired a Christian Council but he would neither come nor send his Embassadors to this of the Pope's packing For it hath been their way in these Synods to betray Christ and the Truth for their own advantage He had nothing to say to the Bishop of Rome and was no more concern'd in his Bulls than in the Orders of any other Bishop Councils he said us'd to be call'd by the Emperor and other Princes which Custom ought to be retrieved especially at this time when there are such severe Complaints to be made against the Pope and yet no Man without danger of his life could publickly accuse and reprove him unless the Council was rightly constituted Besides neither himself nor any of his Subjects had a safe Conduct granted them and though they had yet there would remain dangers apparent enough to make him decline coming For it 's no new thing with the Popes to break their Promises and imbrue themselves in the blood of the Innocent And granting it might be safe for other Persons to come thither yet there were very good reasons why it could not be so for him when the Pope endeavours to draw him into an Ambuscado hates him mortally and does his utmost to make him as odious to other Princes as is possible and all for no other reason but because he took the liberty to free his own Dominions from his Holiness's Tyranny and stopped the return of his Peter-pence and some other pretended Revenues This thing he is sensible the Pope takes extreamly ill at his hands and so much the more because he is afraid other Princes may follow his example And now the Council forsooth is deferr'd till the first of November yet we are not told where it will be held at last and the blame of this disappointment is laid upon the Duke of Mantua now what is all this but abusing the World The Duke of Mantua was certainly in the right in refusing to admit such a body of Men into his Town without a Garrison and therefore all the fault must lie at his door who never acts with any sincerity but hath always something of circumvention and design at the bottom and if he happens to change the Seat of the Council we must expect the Town he pitches upon will either belong to some Prince he holdeth as it were under Vassalage or else it must be in his own Jurisdiction The truth is he hath a very large Dominion and fine Towns in it which his Predecessors made themselves Masters of by violence and fraud neither hath he much mended his Title to them since And in regard most Men of sense despair of an honest Council the best way in his judgment is for all Magistrates to reform Religion themselves in their respective Territories Now if the Pope pretends Custom to the contrary his Argument will not hold for St. Cyprian will vouch for us in the case that Custom when it 's not founded upon Truth is no more than ancient Error This expedient therefore which he hath mention'd already is in his opinion the most proper but if any person can propose a better he is ready to comply with it The Emperor spent all this year in Spain but in June his Army in Flanders under Florus Count of Bures took the Town and Castle of St. Paul in Artois by Storm and put all the Garrison to the Sword from thence he marched to Therouenne and set down before it but without success At last they came to a Truce there for ten months which was to take place only in that Country For in Peidmont the War went on as vigorously as before where the Imperialists recover'd the Town of Quiers by Assault and made a great slaughter among the besieged both Soldiers and Townsmen And afterwards when the Garrison of Turin was straitned for want of Provisions and all the Passes and Avenues possess'd by the Enemy The French King levied an Army in Autumn and marched it thither under the Command of the Dolphin and Anne Momorency who cut through the Blockade with their Swords and victualled the Town In October King Ferdinand his Army consisting of Saxon Horse Meisseners Francovians Austrians Carinthians Bohemians and those Hungarians which the Germans call Hussars besieged Exechium or Essek situate upon the Drave which the Turks had put a strong Garrison into Now when they had thrown away a great deal of time upon this Place and were forc'd to draw off at last for want of Provisions they were inclosed by the Enemy in their retreat who had posted themselves in all the Woods and Passes they were to retire though when they were reduc ' to these straits first some few Captains and other Officers and the Body of the Hungarians ran away and it was not long before Cazzianer the General followed them But the rest especially the German Horse who scorn'd such a dishonourable Flight encourag'd one another to Resolution and stood the Charge of the Enemy but being over-power'd with numbers they were most of them cut off and many of the Officers were taken Prisoners and carried to Constantinople where they were forc'd to submit to a miserable Slavery October the 12th the King of England had a Son born named Edward by Jane Seimour whom he married after the death of Anne of Bolein In the mean time the Pope understanding there was a Truce in Flanders made it his business to procure a Cessation in Italy and in other places that he might have the better opportunity to finish the grand Affair First therefore the Truce was agreed upon for a certain Term when that was expir'd it was continued for another till at last a Peace was made as I shall shew afterwards Now the Popes design in reconciling these Princes was to perswade them to joyn their Forces against his mortal Enemy the King of England and against the Lutherans About this time Christiana of Denmark the Emperor's Neice by his Sister and Dowager of Millain left Italy and returned into Flanders through Germany there was a Match treated of between this Lady and the Duke of Cleve but it came to nothing Now also the People of Gelderland began to rebel against their Prince Charles Count Egmond who was all along of the French-Faction having a violent aversion to the Burgundians And it was thought he was then attempting to bring his Province under the Jurisdiction of the French but his Subjects making a general Insurrection against him he was outed of almost all so that he had not above
Stephen came up the Lantgrave asked him who he was He gave him the same Answer with the Young Man Whither he was going To Spire How did the Duke do Very well Afterwards being asked whether he would vouch the Truth of what he had said upon the word of an Honest Man He told him Yes and so was dismissed But the Lantgrave had rid but a very little way before one of his Servants comes and tells him that this person was Secretary to Henry of Brunswick which being confirmed by another who had an Opportunity of knowing him the Lantgrave orders the Man to be fetched back and carried to Cassell till he came from Hunting In the mean time Stephen who was secured in a Stove pulls out a Leathern Bag from under his Coat and snatches some Letters out of it and makes out of Doors as fast as he could this one of the Servants taking notice of immediately gives a private hint of it to the Lord-Chamberlain of the Houshold who was there by chance and looked down into the Court out of a Chamber-Window Stephen therefore being examined about his Letters produced them upon which the Lord Chamberlain took them into his Custody and delivered them to the Lantgrave at his return Now there were two Letters taken from him one for the Elector of Mentz and the other for Matthias Eldo these Letters had Notes or little Table Books tacked to them in which he had set down the Heads of his Instructions These Circumstances therefore raising a violent suspicion of something more than ordinary especially because of the Notes made the Lantgrave open them both the Contents of that to the Elector of Mentz was That he had received his Highnesses Letter and was glad that he was pleased to remember him upon all accounts for his part he was entirely at his Highness's Service and had now sent his Secretary Stephen a Person of approved Fidelity to acquaint him with every thing material particularly with the News out of Bavaria therefore he desires that he would give credit to him Afterwards he gives the Elector and his Friends his good Wishes but sends the other party to the Devil The Tenour of his Letter to Eldo was much the same he told him He had sent Stephen to him again with â—nstructions and desired he would receive him kindly and believe him as much as if he had spoke in Person That he was resolved to stick to the Emperor's Interest as long as he lived not doubting but that his Majesty's Conduct would be unexceptionable in all respects The Purport of his private Instructions to the Elector of Mentz was to this Effect That the Lantgrave was disordered to that degree that he could not sleep and so immoderately given to Hunting that he was almost crazed for this reason their Business might be the more opportunely dispatch'd and that part of it was finished already As for the Lantgrave's Designs they were not carried so privately but that the Bavarians understood them and it was certainly reported that he intended either to invade his Electoral Highness or Himself Therefore he desires him that he would perswade his Chapter to come into the League that it is likewise advisable for his Highness to resign himself wholly to this Alliance without any farther regard to those who will desert him one time or other to his great disadvantage The Duke of Bavaria and himself intend to conferr together shortly and fix upon something by common advice The States of Schwaben had also been sollicited to enter into the League which Negotiation was now almost brought to a Point His Notes to Eldo were these viz. He hoped the Emperor would shortly return hither from Spain and if his Majesty continued firm to his Resolution all things were like to go well for then he both hoped and believed that other Princes who had not yet declared themselves would not be averse to this Undertaking If all the Confederates were as hearty and vigorous as himself they should be sufficiently prepared But let them behave themselves as they please he is resolved to stand to his present Engagement and to be always at the Emperor's Service Farther he thinks it proper that the Chamber should command the Lantgrave to disband his Army in the mean time the Duke of Bavaria and himself will be ready and in case the other refuseth to obey then he would have the Chamber order him and Bavaria to take care there be no harm done enjoining likewise the rest of the Princes to send in their Supplies according to the Tenour of the Decree The Lantgrave understanding these things and seeing himself in great danger and that they were contriving a pretence for a Rupture he immediately writes to his Father-in-law George Duke of Saxony and gives him an account of the whole matter of Fact upon which they grounded their suspicion and shewed how he had been misrepresented and that he intended no such thing as a War. At the same time Matthias Eldo posted through France into Spain to the Emperor Afterwards the Lantgrave wrote to King Ferdinand and his Sister Mary Regent of Flanders to the Princes Electors and the Dukes of Bavaria in the same Apologizing way that he did before to his Father-in-law George Duke of Saxony When the Duke of Brunswick understood his Mystery was discovered and that the Lant grave had wrote Letters in his own Vindication he answered him That his taking his Secretary Prisoner was not the only Affront he had received from that Party for he was ill used by the Elector of Saxony the last Year when King Ferdinand commanded him in the Emperor's Name to make a visit to George Duke of Saxony and afterwards when he returned from concluding the League at Nuremberg for then the Elector attempted to intercept him To this the Elector of Saxony answered That seeing himself and his Friends had been denied a safe Conduct by him contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Empire when they went to Brunswick he could thing him no less than an Enemy Formerly he may remember that he has often passed through his own and his Brother's Dominions incognito with a small Attendance and disguised in the Habit of a Servant and though he had notice of all this yet he never gave him any disturbance But afterwards when himself and his Allies were refused the Civility of Travelling through his Country he does not understand why his Highness should expect a greater Liberty from othes than he is willing to grant This gave them an occasion to keep their Pens drawn upon one another till at last they fell to downright railing which singular Humour unpractised before by Princes was begun by Brunswick who charged the Elector with almost all imaginable Crimes in the most opprobrious Language as the printed Papers sufficiently shew About this time John Duke of Cleves departed this Life and was succeeded by his Son William who from his Childhood had been bred to Learning and
the Emperor and King Ferdinand with whom he had concluded an Agreement some few Years since would be disobliged which would make him run a great Hazard in his whole Fortune Duke Vlrich gave his Majesty Thanks for his Caution and told him That he was wronged in this Relation and believed the Dukes of Bavaria were the Authors of this Calumny who had falsly spread such a Report as this of him in Germany therefore he desires his Majesty that he would not give any Credit to it for neither himself nor any of his Allies intended to raise any Disturbance or do any Act of Hostility unless they were forced to it in their own Defence and he did not question but that they when they heard of it would purge themselves As soon therefore as the Protestants at Francfort had received an Account of this Complaint from the Duke the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave wrote an Answer to the French King in the Name of all the Confederates dated April the Nineteenth in which they acquaint him That they understood by the Duke of Wirtemberg what Reports had been made to his Majesty concerning them but all these Accusations were nothing but Calumnies raised by Enmity and Ill-Will for they were not about making any Preparations for War but were very desirous of Peace as the Princes of the Mediation could testify For though they had received several Provocations though a confederate Town of theirs had been proscribed and a League claped up by some of the other Party to back their unjust Decrees notwithstanding their Adversaries had raised Forces and given them extraordinary Pay who were now making hostile Depredations in the Territories of their Allies yet they were contented to sit still all this while without the least Motion towards an Opposition for the Love they had for their Country made them willing to forgive all manner of Injuries for the Sake of the Commonwealth But their Adversaries were of a violent and implacable Temper and would not harken to any moderate Proposals nor submit the Differences between them to a legal Determination but were wholly bent to fill the Empire with the Blood and Slaughter of its own Subjects And seeing the Case stands thus they entreat his Majesty not to believe any false Suggestions but endeavour to promote the Interest of the Church by Religious and defensible Methods for the Protection of Truth and Innocence is a Duty peculiarly incumbent upon Kings As for their standing up in the Defense of Religion it was only to discharge their Conscience and not out of any sinister and secular Design neither did they question but that their Doctrine was agreeable to the Word of God which they had not the Liberty to depart from upon any Consideration whatever Upon the Twenty Fourth of April at the breaking up of the Diet George Duke of Saxony departed this Life leaving no Issue behind him for his Two Sons were already deceased without Children one of which was married to Elizabeth the Lantgrave's Sister and the other to a Daughter of the House of Mansfield George therefore made his Brother Henry and his Sons Morice and Augustus his Heirs by Will upon Condition That they should not make any Alteration in the State of Religion If this Condition was Unperformed then he bequeaths all his Dominions to the Emperor and King Ferdinand till his Brother or his Nephews or the next of the male Line of the Blood should fulfil what was enjoined Now after he was grown old and had but an ill Health he acquainted the Nobilility and Commonalty with his Will and desired them That they would ratify it and swear to stand by the Contents But they being affraid that this would occasion a War in the Family prayed him to send to his Brother Henry and treat with him about it for they did not question but that he would agree that no Change should be made in Religion Upon this Ambassadors are sent who besides several other Arguments to perswade him insisted principally That there was a great deal of Money in the Exchequer abundance of rich Furniture and Plate all which would be his own provided he complied with his Brother To which he made this remarkable Answer immediately Truly says he your Ambassy puts me in mind of that Passage in the new Testament where the Devil promised our Saviour all the Kingdoms of the World upon Condition he would fall down and worship him Do you think that any Temptation of Riches has such an ascendant over me as to make me forsake a Religion which I know to be pure and Orthodox I assure you you are much mistaken in your Expectations Now having received this Answer and had their Audience of Leave without effecting any part of their Negotiation It so happen'd That George their Master was dead before they returned Home which when his Brother Henry understood he immediately went to Dresâ—en and to the other great Towns and made the People swear Allegiance to him which they were the more inclinable to do because he was supported with the Interest of the League at Smalcald The Elector of Saxony also who knew how George's Will stood and what his designs were as soon as he heard of his Death made haste Home that he might be ready to assist Henry if need were This was a very considerable Addition to the Protestant Interest and a great and unexpected disappointment of the Roman Catholick Princes who were extreamly troubled at it especially the Elector of Mentz and Henry Duke of Brunswick as I shall have occasion to mention afterwards Thus George had an Heir and Successor quite contrary to his Inclinations and Luther whom he hated above all Men living was invited to Leipsick by the New Prince where he preached several Sermons and began to enter upon a Reformation This Year in May a Comet was seen and just about the same time Isabella the Emperor Charles's Wife died the French King as soon as he heard of it solemnized her Funeral at Paris according to the usual Ceremony among Princes I have already mentioned the Council of Vicenza which the Pope had Prorogued till Easter this Year but the Company not appearing at the time upon the Tenth of June he published another Bull in which he did not Prorogue it to a certain day but suspended it during the pleasure of the Conclave and himself Some few Months since the King of England published another Paper concerning the Council of Vicenza shewing how the Pope abus'd the World for his laying the Fault upon the Duke of Mantua is a ridiculous Excuse For if he hath so great a Power as he pretends why does he not force him to his Pleasure If he cannot do this why does he summon people upon uncertainties to a place which he hath not the command of And now though he hath pitched upon Vicenza for the same purpose yet there is no question but so wise a State as that of
occasioned so much Labour and Toil might be in some part lessen'd and the rest which were not as yet adjusted the more easily handled afterwards For that he intended to go streight to the Pope that he might know for a certain what was to be expected and as soon as he could afterwards come back into Germany and mind the Affairs of the Government That in the mean time all these things were to be understood without prejudice to the Decree of Ausburg When the Protestant Divines had read Contarim's Two Papers before mentioned with unanimous consent they published an Answer wherein they complained that they had injury done unto them declaring withal that considering his Learning they had expected far better things at his Hands And whereas he excited the Princes to severe and cruel Courses they extreamly blamed him for it assuring him that he needed not to imagine that they would ever approve those Errors which they then condemned or ever return to that Church which defended such notorious Vices Contarini in the mean time hearing that that Answer of his we mentioned was variously taken by the perswasion of some sent a third Paper to the States telling them that he did not at all assent that some Doctrines should be look'd upon as accorded and be tolerated until the sitting of the Council but that all indifferently should be referred to the Pope July the Fourteenth the Princes Electors in Answer to that which the Emperor had desired their Judgment of told his Majesty That they were content that the Articles agreed upon should be received until the time of the Council for that it would be a means to prevent Quarrellings for the future and contribute very much to a farther Reconciliation That if there were any Hopes that the rest also might be accommodated in the same Diet they prayed him graciously to promote it But that if the exigency of the time would not allow of that that then he would be pleased according to his own voluntary promise to deal with the Pope and other Kings that a General Council might with all Expedition be called and meet in some convenient place within Germany or else a National Council to which his Holiness should consent and send his Legate And that if neither of the two could be obtained according to their Hopes that he himself would return into Germany and shew the same care for the Country which till then he had done by settling Peace and Quietness therein But the Protestants Petitioned the Emperor that he would confirm the Heads of Doctrine already accorded by a Law and command them to be taught for that so Truth would be more and more discovered and a way made to the healing of the Wounds of the Church That he would also utterly abolish or at least supersede the Decree of Ausburg as not at all conducing to Concord That they had formerly declared their thoughts as to the Council how it ought to be constituted and that neither the Pope nor any that depended on him should have the Power of judging therein and that they persisted in the same Opinion still But that if such a Council could not be had and that he ordered a Convention of States to be held in Germany they would therein propose and maintain their Doctrine The rest of the Princes amongst whom the Bishops held the chief Rank and with them the Brothers Dukes of Bavaria and Henry Duke of Brimswick gave the Emperor their Opinion separately to wit that there was so great an inundation of Vices Sects Heresies and Dissentions not only over all Germany but in other places also and in a manner all over Christendom that there was no redressing of them but by a General Council But that they could not give their consent that any Change or Alteration should be now made in the Religion and Ceremonies which had been in use for so many Years or had been instituted of old especially seeing the Pope by his Legate promised a Council and that his Majesty intended in person to sollicite his Holiness thereunto That it was their earnest desire the Pope would make that his Care that so Errors being at length rooted out the Wrath of God might be appeased and Mankind kept in the right way of Salvation That if a General Council could not be had the next course must be a National Synod or a Diet of the States of the Empire That they however for their parts were resolved to persevere in the Ancient Religion the Councils and Doctrine of the Fathers handed down from the Apostles to the present Age and to obey the Decrees of the Empire but especially that of Ausburg hoping also that they who had commended the Decree that was made at Ausburg would not recede from it especially since it had been lately resolved on at Haguenaw that if any thing were acted contrary thereunto they should stand to the defence of it and that his Majesty himself had always excepted the same in all Treaties Now that the Reconciled Doctrines should be received for a time they did not approve on 't for that some of them were superfluous and not controverted to wit the First Second and Third and that that of Original Sin had been handled in a different manner at Wormes That besides the thing it self required that there should be a new Conference appointed for that there were some words used in the Writings contrary to the common Acceptation of the Church and Fathers That some Sentences also were thrust in which ought to be qualified and corrected That lastly the things which were accorded were of no great moment but that since the chief Points were not agreed upon that 's to say The Lord's Supper The Adoration of the Hoast Transubstantiation The Mass The Marriage of the Clergy The receiving of the Sacrament in both Kinds Confession Penance Satisfaction and other Points of that Nature which were so impugned by the Protestants that there had been no Hopes of Agreement Besides since the Catholick Conferrers went too far so that their Opinions deserved a Censure And that lastly since it tended to the Contempt of the Pope his Majesty himself and the rest of the States of the Empire Upon all these Considerations it seemed most expedient to them that the whole Affair of Religion should be deferred till the meeting of a Council especially since the Pope's Legate was of the same Opinion The other free Cities which were not of the Number of the Protestants as Cologne Metz Spire Wormes Toul Haguenaw Ratisbone Schweinfurt Colmar Gemund Rotenburg and many others finding themselves excluded from Deliberation and that the Princes did not communicate to them a Copy of the Answer complained of it to the Emperor as they had done several times before beseeching his Majesty that they might not be baulked in their Right and assuring him that most of them were willing to receive the Doctrines agreed upon The Emperor having heard
Thus all her Furniture and Goods being in haste pack'd up she departed in a hurry under the Conduct and Convoy of some Turkish Officers and Souldiers and then September the Second the Grand Seignior with his two Sons made his entry into Buda where in the Cathedral Church hallowed after their manner he gave God Thanks for his good Success and then returned into the Camp from whence having put Garrisons into Buda and Pest he retreated homewards with the rest of his Army and upon his March set at Liberty Alaski whom he had left Prisoner at Belgrade because of the Apprehension of Fregoso and Rink For the French King being exceedingly incensed at that Fact had by his Ambassador Paulain acquainted Solyman with the whole matter When the Diet at Ratisbone was over the Emperor went immediately into Italy and had an interview with the Pope at Luke whilst the Army he had raised of Germans Italians and Spaniards were putting on Board the Ships But because Winter now approached the Pope essayed to divert him from the expedition Nevertheless though he had notice of the overthrow in Hungary he was resolved to go that he might give the Turk a Diversion elsewhere so that setting Sail from Porto Venere he took his Course by Corsica Majorca and Minorca and on the Twenty-third of October arrived before Algiers a Sea-Port Town in Barbary His Army consisted of Two and twenty thousand Foot and somewhat more than a Thousand Horse The Van consisting of Spaniards was commanded by Ferrante Gonzaga Viceroy of Sicily the main Body being Germans by the Emperor himself and the Reserve who were Italians and Knights of Rhodes by Camillo Colonna That Day the Emperor arrived and next Day after the Weather was fair and the Sea calm but on the Third Day a great Storm arising with continual Rains hindered all Action so that the Emperor having lost many Ships his Guns and all his Ammunition and Provisions besides some Thousands of his Men was forced to depart without effecting any thing and to come again to Spain in the Month of November Thus went our Affairs to wrack both by Sea and Land in Africa as well as Europe This was likewise a fatal Year to Germany by reason of the Plague which raged especially along the Rhine there died of it amongst others at Strasburg one Capito and at Basile Simon Gryney both Men of extraordinary Learning the former by Profession a Divine and the other a Philosopher but a great Student also in Divinity The Emperor upon his leaving of Germany employed Frederick Prince Palatine to Negotiate the Restitution of Guelderland with the Duke of Cleve by the Mediation of the Princes Electors These sent Agents to the Duke to admonish him both of his own private danger and of the publick Disorders he might be the occasion of by standing it out too stiffly He on the other hand alledged That he was the next lawful Heir and that he had entered by fair means into Possession but however was willing to submit his Right and Title to a fair Trial at Law and that therefore he earnestly begg'd of them that they would perswade the Emperor to Equity and not suffer any Force or Violence to be used against him Upon the Emperor's departure out of Italy he left Granvell there that he might both sollicite the Pope about a Council and settle the State of Siena which was all in fermentation with Factions and Seditions When the News of the disaster in Africa was brought into France in December following it occasion'd open rejoicing for most Men were vexed at the Murther of Fregoso and Rink and said That now was the time to revenge them King Ferdinand after his bad Success called a Convention of his States at Prague the chief City of Bohemia There at length amongst other things the Nobility of Austria on the Thirteenth of December present a Petition to the King and in the first place to insinuate into his Favour they offer to employ their Lives and Fortunes in defence of his Honour and Dignity Then they deplore the sad State of the publick and their own Condition who had the Turk a most cruel Enemy and a Conqueror too so near them Wherefore said they it was high time to look out for Remedies and especially that the Wrath of God might be appeased who being offended with the Sins of Men plagued them with so great a Judgment For that in the whole Body politick there was nothing pure nor sound that all Discipline both publick and private was laid aside which was the Source of their common Evils but that the contempt of the Word of God was the chief Cause why he so scourged and afflicted them For both Sacred and Profane Histories inform us say they that God hath many times severely punished most flourishing Kingdom 〈◊〉 for those lighter Sins which sprug from our Nature and Dispositions but for false Worship and the Contempt of his Word The Jewish Nation was led away Captive into Assyria and Babylon for despising the Prophets and devising a new Religion and Worship to themselves At length they were utterly cut off and Jerusalem destroyed for their Crucifying of the Son of God. Those most flourishing Empires in former times the Babylonish Persian and Grecian now oppressed by the Turks have for the same Causes so lost their Religion Laws Goverment and Dignity that hardly any Print of them remains at this day and whilst partly they rejected and partly loathed the Blessings of God they have fallen into horrible Darkness and most ignominious Slavery Nor did all this change come of a sudden for the Turks waged War for the space of Six hundred Years and more before they subdued Greece which happened then at length when after so many Invitations and Admonitions they would not mend their Manners but added Sin to Sin and Transgression Now if a Man should compare those Kingdoms formerly so splendid and powerful wherein so many famous Wits flourished with that barbarous and brutish Monarchy of the Turks he would find that since the Flood a sadder Calamity never happened But if such powerful People were not able to resist so weak a Nation as the Turks were in the beginning God being pleased so to punish their Sins What are we to expect who are in the same fault indeed but in a far worse condition since we have to do with an Enemy much more powerful than we We see how God plagues us especially in these parts with War Pestilence and Famine The most cruel Enemy hath lately seized Buda the Capital City of the Realm Fire hath raged through Bohemia and what miseries have we not suffered now these Sixteen Years How much Blood hath there been spilt and how many Thousand Souls carried away into Slavery Now is the Power of the Turk grown to such an height that he lifts up his Head above all other Kings and Potentates And because he obtaineth almost continual Victories
never been Guilty either of Treason or Treachery and remitting him his Fine of Seven hundred thousand Crowns and these Letters he ordered to be entered upon Record both in Paris and other places This was done the twelfth of March. The King being at this time in the Castle of Vincennes near to Paris News was brought to him in the night time of a sudden Tumult as if the Enemy out of the Emperor's Territories was about to make an Irruption into the Country of Vermandois in Picardie Wherefore the Princes who were present at Court were instantly dispatched thither to wit the Dukes of Vendosuce Guise Aumale Nivern and many others with a great number of Gentlemen but when they came there all was â—ush'd no Man living stirring Now some said that this was a Rumour purposely raised to perswade the People that the Emperor sought for a War which the King would not seem to be Author of though he had already fully resolved it as shall be said hereafter For as much as the State of Germany was such as hath been before related Aid was voted and an Army ordered to be levied which being augmented and reinforced by King Ferdinand's Forces might be able to make Head against the Turk and recover what had been lost Joachim Elector of Brandenburg was by common Consent and the Will of the Emperor made Generalissimo who immediately leaving Spire prepared himself for the Expedition For this War there was a Poll raised all over Germany and Leave granted to Magistrates to impose a Tax on their People upon this Account It was also resolved that Assistance should be craved from the Switzers and other Kings especially the King of Denmark and the Italians Moreover a Decree was made that all should live in Peace within the Confines of the Empire and not attempt any Stirs or Commotions And so the Diet was dissolved on the Eleventh of April About the same time a great Quarrel broke out in Saxony betwixt the Prince Elector and Duke Maurice who now succeeded to his Father Henry lately deceased The Dispute was about their Limits and a certain Town though Duke Maurice also plainly espoused the Interest of Pflug who was recommended to him by his Relations The Matter was in all probability like to have come to a Civil War for both mustered their Men but by the Mediation of the Lantgrave it was accommodated This was the beginning of a Rancour betwixt them which encreasing afterwards with the time gave a sad Blow to Germany as shall be said hereafter And many indeed wondered at Duke Maurice that he should have hatched such violent and fierce Designs against him to whom both he and his Father owed in a manner all their Fortune Some of his Counsellors were thought to have contributed not a little thereunto who being very familiar with Prince George had no great Kindness neither for the Religion nor the Elector The War being now resolved upon and all preparing for the Expedition Luther published a little Book in the vulgar Tongue being a Military or Camp-Sermon Let us trace the Matter a little farther back In his younger Years he had amongst other things written That to war against the Turk was down-right fighting against God who smote us by him as with a Scourge This Tenet of his was with the rest condemned by Leo X. and his other Adversaries also cried that he disswaded People from making War against the Turk Wherefore afterwards either of his own Head or being put upon it by others he undertook the handling of that Subject and in the Year 1528. published a little Book which he dedicated to Philip the Lantgrave giving the Reason of his Position and why he wrote so at that time For in those Times of Darkness saith he no Man instructed People aright concerning the civil Magistrate whence he derived his Power or what his Duty was Most People and some learned Men also looked upon that Office as Profane and dangerous to the Conscience too Nay Kings and Princes themselves were so much perswaded of this by the Priests and Monks that they sought to themselves new Means of Salvation whereof this was the chief and main Prop That they should not only hear Masses but also settle large Fonds for having them said to the Worlds End For seeing they thought that the Life they lead was not very acceptable to God they sought to better their Condition by those Assistances The Princes who then lived can testity the Truth of this for not to mention others when I published a Book concerning the Magistrate Prince Frederick was much rejoiced therewith and hugg'd it as his Delight because it gave him some Light as to his own State and Condition The Pope alone and his Ministers reigned every where and was a kind of God upon Earth But the Magistrate lay neglected and grovelling in Darkness wholly ignorant of that noble Testimony and Promise which he had from God. The Pope would needs be esteemed a Christian and in the mean time he incited People to War against the Turks Then arose a Controversy betwixt us for I made it my whole Business to prove what was the Duty of a Christian Man and because I had not then as yet wrote any thing of the civil Function the Papists cried I flattered the Magistrate Now again that I have commented on that Subject they give out that it is Seditious when nevertheless no Man perhaps since the Age of the Apostles if you only except St. Austin hath treated that matter more clearly or fully Amongst other things which I taught then I explained that saying of Christ's Of giving thy Coat with thy Cloak and of suffering Injuries which place the Pope and all his School had wholly depraved affirming it most erroneously to be a Concord but not Precept When therefore they took to themselves the Name of Christians and that too above all others and nevertheless would suffer no Injury but must fight against the Turk I opposed it and following that saying of our Saviour made it out that a Christian ought not to resist Evil but suffer all patiently And then it was that I published that Position which Leo amongst others condemned and I did it the rather that I might detect the Knavery and Cheats of the Court of Rome for the Popes were not in earnest about the War but made use of it as a Colour and Pretext whenever they had a mind to squeeze Money from Germany Wherefore they damned that Position of mine not because it disswaded from the War but because it barricadoed the Way by which our Money and Wealth was carried to Rome Again I did not approve it then neither that they continually edg'd on our Princes to War when in the mean time there was no Reformation of Life and Manners to be seen among us But chiefly that they called that War a Christian War as if we fought against the Turks for being the Enemies of
Milan Philip made King of Spain The Emperor and King of England make a League against the French King. The Pope writes to the Clergy of the Cathedral of Cologne and animates them The French King takes Landrecy a small Town from the Emperor A Diet is held at Spire where the French King is so grievously accused that his Herald was dismissed with very rough Language There the Protestants lay most enormous Crimes to the Charge of Henry Duke of Brunswick There also the Duke of Savoy by his Ambassadors again accuses the French King. The Speech which the French Ambassadors were to have made in the Assembly of all the States at Spire is printed and published In the same Diet also an accord was made betwixt the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Duke of Saxony The States of the Empire vote the Emperor Money against the French King. Bulloign is besieged by the English The Town of Landrecy is taken A panick fear at Paris The Emperor makes Peace with the King of France at Soissons and the Conditions of the Peace are related WHEN the War was not hot on all Hands August the Twenty-sixth the Pope sent Legates Mediators Cardinal Michael Bishop of Viseo a Portugese to the Emperor and Cardinal James Sadoleto to the French King to intercede with them that they would sacrifice their private Injuries to the publick Good and set their Minds in Peace He sent Legates also to the Council at Trent The Emperor made Answer to the Legate of Viseo and wrote to the Pope much to the same purpose as he did in the Letter we mentioned before and therefore again moved him to declare himself the Enemy of France For that his Holiness had often protested That he would severely punish him that should violate a Truce or make a League with the Turk That that was the only solid way of settling the Peace of Christendom With this Letter he dismissed the Legate on the Eighteenth of October Because the Duke of Longueville and Martin Van Rossem had raised an Army in the Territories of the Duke of Cleve as has been mentioned before the Imperialists under the command of the Prince of Orange invade the Country of Juliers put all to Fire and Sword and upon Composition take Duren the chief Town in these Parts For the Duke of Cleve had succeeded to the Principalities of Juliers and Mons in Right of his Mother At the same time also the Imperial Army having done no Action in Hungary only in vain attempted the Siege of Pest returned Home but much weakened by the Plague that had swept away many Thousands of them Maurice Duke of Saxony served as a Voluntier in this War being a Youth of about Sixteen Years of Age who having one Day gone abroad out of the Camp with one Man only to wait upon him met accidentally and engaged some Turks where he had his Horse shot under him The Gentleman who as I told you waited on him covered him with his Body and defended him till some Horse came in to their Relief aad saved the Prince So that to save his Life he lost his own for being brought into the Camp full of Wounds he died not long after This was the issue of the Hungarian War whither the Pope had sent Three thousand Foot under the Command of Alexander Vitellio About this time a hot War broke out betwixt England and Scotland upon occasion that the Year before the King of Scots having promised to meet his Uncle the King of England at York to treat about their Borders had been disswaded by his Mother and many of the Nobility and so did not come But the Scots about the beginning of December this Year had a great defeat and many of their Nobility were taken in Battle and that of their own accord too because they dispised their General as being a Man of inferior Birth and could not endure to be Commanded by him This the King laid so much to Heart that returning Home he died of Grief the Twelfth of December after his Queen being brought to Bed of his Daughter Mary but Eight Days before which was a thing that also encreased his Melancholy seeing he had no Male-Issue living for the Year before he had lost Two Sons in two several places within the space of Twenty-four Hours His Queen was Mary the Daughter of Claude Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain The Scots being in this distress the French King sent them a supply of Men and Artillery After the Death of the King the Administration of the Government was put into the Hands of James Hamilton Earl of Arran the King's Cousin twice removed Next to him in power was the Cardinal of St. Andrews one much addicted to the Interest of France We have spoken before the Duke Henry of Saxony who entered into the Protestant League both in his own and Son Maurice's Name But after his Death Duke Maurice being called on upon that account made Answer That his Father could not bind for him nor was he tied by his Obligation Henry Duke of Brunswick being forced to fly his Country as was said before brings his Action against the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrace and Confederates before the Imperial Chamber who being afterwards cited to appear in the Month of December declined that Writ and Judicature in all Causes whatsoever and by their Agents under publick Intimation thereof protesting at the same time that they did not refuse a lawful and ordinary Jurisdiction but excepted against the Judges who were of a different Religion who adhered to the Decree of Ausburg made Twelve Years before and approved it upon Oath who for that reason were at great variance with them and bore malice against them who looked upon them as Hereticks thinking that Justice was not to be administred unto them and who had many times given manifest indications of this their prejudice and aversion It had been decreed in the Diet of Ratisbone that in the Month of January this Year the Imperial Chamber should be reformed To this Decree the Protestants assented provided Men of their perswasion might be admitted to that Bench which the Emperor granted to them as we said before and King Ferdinand afterward renewed in the Diet of Spire appointing that Reformation to be made in the Month of June whereby he had obtained Supplies from them for the Turkish War. For unless that were done they publickly then protested That they would not only contribute no more to the Charges of the Chamber but also not obey the Orders of that Court. Since therefore nothing had as yet been done in that matter they sent Agents as I told you with Instructions to decline and protest against the Judicature But the Judges of the Imperial Chamber in a publick Writing afterward rejected their declinatory Protestation It was decreed in the late Diet of Nurimberg That because of the Turkish War the States should assemble there again on the
King had driven the Duke of Savoy out of his Country That he designed to do the same likewise with others when time and occasion should offer And that the cause of this violent Malice of his was because the Emperor put a stop to his Attempts and Enterprizes That they themselves had heard from the Letters lately read what designs he was carrying on with the Turk what also in Germany and how it was his Resolution to obstruct the Turkish War That in like manner since the Duke of Cleve was in League with him who also retarded the Emperor's most just Enterprizes and prejudiced the Welfare of Germany Aid was to be decreed against both that their Insolence and Boldness might be repressed In the mean time the Protestants present a Petition to King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies wherein they relate at large what for many years had been done in Religion how that Peace had been granted at Nurimberg but that the Imperial Chamber had infringed it how that the Emperor two Years before had granted them a Proviso and told them his mind at Ratisbone how that there was a Decree made there for Reformation of the Imperial Chamber and rectifying of that Judicature what they also had then publickly protested unless the Decree should be fulfilled That now since none of these things were performed and that the Judges of the Chamber proceeded in their wonted way to molest them first for defending themselves against Henry Duke of Brunswick and then for non-payment of the Salaries and Charges of the Chamber they had declined all their Jurisdiction which they protested they would do long before in the General Diet That now therefore if the matter were otherwise represented to them they beg of them not to believe it for that necessity forced them to do as they did and to make use of a lawful Remedy which Justice and Equity allowed every Man to do For that should they go on in that manner usurping to themselves a power of judging and pronouncing Sentences of Proscription and other Penalties against them it would prove not only hurtful to them but also to the whole State For that who could doubt or be ignorant how seasonable and advantageous a thing it would prove to the Turks if Feuds and Animosities amongst the States should kindle a Civil War that might exhaust all their Wealth and Substance That many Instances could be given how difficult it was to pacifie and quiet Minds once exasperated and provoked That for their parts truly there was nothing they wished for more than to see a firm Peace settled and equal Justice administred in Germany That all their Animosities and Diffidences sprung from difference in Religion And that the cause of all that Dissension was that the preaching of the Gospel and true Worship of God were discountenanced and oppressed that Errors and notorious Vices were not only not removed and amended but through Ambition and the sake of Lucre even tolerated and defended That God being therefore provoked and offended by this ingratitude did afflict his People with great Calamities and would never cease to do it so long as they continued in them That it was therefore their desire that they would turn their Thoughts this way and effectuate at least that no stirs should be made upon account of Religion and that Justice should be impartially administred to all but that since this was not to be expected considering the present state of the Imperial Chamber they craved That that Judicature might be Reformed according to the Ancient Laws of the Empire and the Emperor's Declaration that other Judges might be appointed all Suits and Actions left in the same state as they were in before the Declinatory made and that Injunctions should be laid upon the Judges exactly to observe the Rules of the future Reformation and act nothing contrary to the Pacifications of former Years For that unless matters were so ordered and they sufficiently secured they would not consult about the Turkish War though otherwise there was nothing but what they coveted to do for the Publick When after much and long debate King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies made Answer That there was a Council already called at Trent where the Emperor himself would be and that without a hearing of the Cause they could not remove the Judges of the Imperial Chamber that it was ordered to be Reformed and would soon be put in Execution That they could not deny Justice to Henry Duke of Brunswick who was ejected out of all and demanded it and that that was all they could grant and no more The Protestants reply That they did not approve that Council nor would they go to it That they had no Satisfaction given them in other Matters nor sufficient Assurances made them and that therefore they would enter into no other Deliberations Notwithstanding King Ferdinand and the other States make a Decree for Fortifying the frontier Places upon the Turks Territories for contributing Money to defray the Charges thereof and appoint the Third Day of July for the Reformation of the Imperial Chamber which they ordered to be Reformed according to the model prescribed Eleven Years before at Ratisbone They Decree also That those who did refuse to furnish their proportions of the Moneys and Aid imposed should be prosecuted in name of the Publick and be distrained therefore But the Protestants protested against this Decree as made without their Advice and Counsel as containing nothing positive concerning Peace and Property and as imposing the Contributions very unequally Now because upon the Emperor's coming the War was like to prove much hotter betwixt him and the Duke of Cleve the Princes Electors and rest of the States interceded by their Deputies and with much ado obtained a Truce from Granvell not indeed positive and absolute but such as it was still at the Emperor's Discretion so soon as he set Foot in Germany to ratifie or reject it and in the mean time Zittard a very strong Town upon the Frontiers of Juliers was put into the Emperor's Hands until he should declare his Mind in the Matter The Mediators promised also to meet the Emperor with an Ambassy to make intercession on behalf of the Duke and Granvell put them in great Hopes of obtaining a gracious Answer from his Majesty The Deputies of Cleve of whom the chief was John Vlatten a learned Gentleman approved this Agreement and thanked the Mediators for the pains they had taken But in the mean while a Battle happened at the Town of Zittard March the Twenty-fourth wherein Cleve having had the better partly for that Victory and partly to comply with the French King who supplied him with Money he grew obstinate and upon the return of his Deputies rejected the Truce The News of this Success being in great haste carried into France occasioned great Rejoicing there and the French King appointed publick Thanksgiving to be made for it at Paris The
Dukes of Bavaria Brothers by their Deputies dealt with the Protestants in the Diet and amonst others propounded also this Condition unto them That all the Country of the Duke of Brunswick should be sequestrated in the Hands of the Emperor or some Princes of Germany until the matter were decided by a fair Trial But nothing could be then concluded as to that Christopher Bishop of Ausburg died of an Apoplexy at this Diet having appointed a Feast at his House the next Day He was of the Family of the Stadio's a learned Man and not averse to Peace To him succeeded Otho Truchses The Decree here made was neither inserted into the publick Records as the Custom was nor had it the force of a Law. It was somewhat late before the French King saw the Letter which the Emperor wrote to the Pope as we mentioned in the foregoing Book and therefore now at length he made Answer to it in a very long Epistle That for the Emperor to expect to be preferred before him as having deserved much of the Church of Rome was an idle and ridiculous Thing For that neither were the Emperor's Ancestors to be compared with his nor he himself neither with him upon that account That he was an excellent Son indeed and worthy of the highest Praise who sent an Army to besiege vex and take Prisoner his Father the good old Man Clement VII who sack'd the chief City of the World many ways profaned and polluted the Holy Churches and committed all kinds of Wickedness Lust and Cruelty Who to so great a barbarity added Scorn and Derision commanding Prayers and Processions to be made in Spain for the Delivery of the Holy Father whom all the while he himself kept close Prisoner That on the contrary his Predecessors Kings of France from the times of Charles Martell King Pipin and so downward had all along studied to honour and advance the Popes of Rome That he run much out in commending his own great Care and Zeal for the Publick but it would appear to be far otherwise if Matters were rightly examined For that under his Conduct and Command many Thousand Christians had been cut off by the Barbarians not long since in Hungary once and again at Castle Novo in the Bay of Ambracia and afterwards at Algiers in Barbary when he gave it out that he must needs go thither but indeed fled and left Germany open to the approaching Enemy That it was through his fault that the Infant-Child of the Vayvode John King Ferdinand his own Brother and Hungary fell into this Calamity That he gloried much that he had ventured to come to Aigues Mortes to settle a Peace but that if any Body ought to be praised for that it was himself who first went up to him into the Galley and sent his Sons also thither afterwards with no small danger both from him who trusted no Man and also from Andrea Doria Admiral of the Fleet a crafty subtile Fox That he afterward made a Journey through France at his desire indeed but after that by Letters and Agents he had craved it of him and offered him Milan That it was true he pretended other Causes now but in reality he was forced by the Insurrection of Ghent to pass that way That it never entered his Thoughts to have stopp'd him and what he said of the Deliberations of the Counsel of Francis in order to have detained him was altogether false That he had done the Duke of Savoy no wrong but that since the Duke had withheld from him his Mother's Dowry and Inheritance would not suffer him to redeem Nizza and besides had basely used his Lieutenants and Souldiers he had regained by force of Arms what by Law he could not fairly recover especially since all his Actions generally were influenced by the Emperor whose proper and peculiar Talent it was to incite the Subjects of other Princes to Revolt and then to leave them in the Lurch witness the Dukes of Bourbone Brunswick and Marquess of Saluces Nay and to be Troublesom and Injurious to his own Kinsmen and Relations too as to Christiern King of Denmark his own Brother King Ferdinand and to himself especially who had Married his Eldest Sister That it was to be imputed to him and his Brother and to no Body else that the Turk lately had Invaded Hungary and seized the chief Town of it he having treacherously made War against the young Son and Heir of the Vayvode That in the Diet of Ratisbone all the States of the Empire were sollicited to give Supplies pretendedly against the Turk but in reality against a poor unfortunate Child whom they designed to have turned out of all That as often as he had sent Ambassadors into Germany he had done it without any crafty or treacherous Intent And that he was falsly charged with fomenting Factions and wheadling with both Perswasions in Religion For that on the Concord and Welfare of Germany his own Safety depended and that all Men knew what his own Religion was That it was true he had sent Ambassadors lately thither and upon most weighty Grounds disswaded them from the Turkish War And that the sad and dismal success of that War made it sufficiently appear that his Counsel was good and safe but that all the Emperor drove at was to keep Germany in continual Dissension that it might thereby be prepared and made fitter for servitude That on the other hand how great an Injury had been done to himself in violating his Ambassadors Rink and Fregoso all Men were sensible since they had been sent to the Turk for the good of all Christendom but chiefly of Hungary and Germany For that the Grand Seignior had been frequently sollicited by him to live in Peace with the Christians and that he had always received this Answer from the Port That he had no Quarrel with the Christians as such but with the Emperor Charles and King Ferdinand from whom he had received Injuries and whose boundless Ambition he could not brook so that the Emperor doubled his Injury in laying a snare for them wherein he had never intended to make him Satisfaction but had in a manner always shamm'd him off and fooled him with shifting Answers and that therefore he had never dissembled the Offence he had received but had declared plainly enough That if he had not Satisfaction given him he would not sit down with the Affront That he had indeed essayed all other Means before he came to Arms and had detained the Archbishop of Valencia to see if that way at least he might recover his Ambassadors whom then he took to be alive So that having in vain taken all other Courses he had been forced at length to take up Arms and to defend himself against Hostilities which the Emperor was the Author of That he objected to him as a great Crime his League with the Turk which he himself had often sought for but could not obtain though he had
that the War against him hitherto hath been so unsuccessful the Reason was plain For first He was informed of the Difference in Religion of the publick and private Janglings of the States of the Temper of Affairs and of what was done and acted in the Empire upon all Occasions by the French King to whom these things were carried In the next place because he was sure of Aid and Assistance from the French King as it was by Letters and Witnesses made out in the last Diet and hath been since verified in effect and though it would have been Advantageous to the Publick to have instantly withstood those Enterprises of France and nipp'd them in the Bud that they might not spread farther yet he was pleased with the Answer they made as to that particular in the last Diet of Nurimberg That however since he animated and excited the common and most cruel Enemy of Christendom against the Publick it was his Expectation that they would look upon the War which he was obliged to make against them no otherwise than if it were undertaken against the Turk himself And that they would not only condemn his Actions and Counsels but also give him their Assistance that being delivered from a Domestick Enemy he might be able to employ all his Force against the Turk That moreover he heard to his Trouble that the Aids which were decreed in former Diets were not given as they ought to have been and much too late for the Necessities of the Publick For that since his Brother King Ferdinand had placed all his Hopes in them who was not able to do much himself as being exhausted by the Charges of the former Years the Turk had this last Year taken from us other Towns and Castles which Misfortune might certainly have been prevented if the Aids that were decreed had been seasonably furnished That since that was the State of Affairs then and that it was the main Design of the Turk that Hungary as the Rampart being subdued and many Ways made open into Germany he might over-run it since the thing it self required it that the Hungarians should be relieved least being destitute of Succours they might be forced to submit to the Turkish Yoke and of Friends to become Enemies it was his Desire that in a Matter of so great Importance they would take it into Consideration how to raise present and lasting Aids not only for a defensive but offensive War also that so they might preserve their Wives Children and Country from utter Ruin and Destruction That in the mean time as to those things which have hitherto been a great Hindrance to all publick Actions he desired as much as in him lay to apply a Remedy That in the matter of Religion they themselves were sensible what Labour and Pains he had been at for many Years past and lately also at Ratisbone but that seeing Differences could not there be accommodated the whole Affair had been referred to a Council and other Diets And then that the Pope at his Sollicitation had called a Council wherein he had resolved to have been present himself if the French King had not made War against him That what had been done in the mean while they had learn'd without doubt from his Deputies But now that the same Difference still remained and was very pernicious to the Publick he put it to themselves to consider on it what way chiefly it might be removed and ended and to represent to him what they themselves thought best to be done in the Matter That he had also taken care already and would omit nothing for the future That the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber the Ground-Work and Stay of publick Peace might be lawfully constituted The same Day King Ferdinand's Ambassadors made a long Narration of the Turkish Invasions and demanded Assistance Presently after the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave and their Confederates addressing their Speech to the Emperor You know say they most Victorious Emperor that from the very beginning we professed that in this most Honourable Assembly we would declare the Ground of our defending our selves by Arms against Henry Duke of Brunswick and we are still in the same Mind and Resolution not doubting but that after a full hearing of the Matter it will clearly appear to you that we had just and weighty Causes which necessarily obliged us to undertake that defensive War and that he ought not to sit here and consult with the Princes But since we perceive he thrusts himself into this Assembly without our Approbation and Consent all that we can and may lawfully do that the publick deliberations may not be hindred or retarded is that we protest we neither own nor acknowledge him for a Prince of the Empire and that his Presence shall be no ways prejudicial to our Right Whereunto the Duke of Brunswick immediately made Answer by the Mouth of his Chancellor The Elector of Saxony saith he the Lantgrave and their Confederates in defiance to all Law both of God and Man contrary to the Constitutions of the Empire and the publick Faith and Peace have by force of Arms and the highest Injustice robbed me of my Country for which they stand indicted before the Imperial Chamber so that they can have no place in the Diet of the Empire and if any had they have now lost it by that Crime and deserve that all Men should avoid their Company But if I must needs sit with them in Publick Consultations I protest that I consent not that they should have this place and that it shall be no prejudice nor derogation to my Cause The Protestants were then for having read their Plea containing the whole matter of Fact and the Reasons of what they had done in Writing least his Accusation might appear to be true or make an impression upon the Minds of those that heard it But the Emperor ordered Frederick Prince Palatine and Naves to desire them to deferr it till another time because the Day was far spent promising to assign them a Day for a Hearing to which they acquiesced And because the Lantgrave happened then to 〈◊〉 next to the Duke of Brunswick John Prince Palatine arose and to prevent any Quarrel sate himself down in the middle betwixt them having first protested that the same should be no prejudice to him nor his Family and this was thought to have been done by the Emperor's Advice The Day before the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave had prayed Frederick Prince Palatine and Naves that they would procure the Emperor's Order for Brunswick not to appear in the publick Session But that could not be obtained the Emperor alledging that he could not be excluded till the Causes of it were first known The French King might easily imagine that the Emperor would make a sad complaint of him to the Princes of the Empire he therefore resolved to send a most splendid Ambassy to them in the Persons of Cardinal John du Bellay
the Demands of the Emperor and King Ferdinand After long and great Debate about the Matter on the Twentieth of June the Diet was dissolved But though it seemed to lie heavy upon the States of the Empire to be charged with double Aid yet because they thought that the Turkish War might be more successfully carried on if the domestick Enemy were first reduced to Duty they granted the Emperor a Six Months Subsidy for entertaining Four thousand Horse and Twenty four thousand Foot against the French King of which Money the Emperor allotted a part to his Brother King Ferdinand for fortifying the Places upon the Frontiers against the Turks And for the future Turkish War they imposed a Tax and Poll all over Germany that all without Exception should pay according to their Lands and Estates and for their Heads They enacted under severe Penalties that no Man should serve Foreigners especially the French King in their Wars and Power was granted to Punish such as should be found Transgressors herein Because the Difference about Religion could not be treated of during these warlike Occupations it was referred to the next Diet to be held in the Month of December The Emperor in the mean time promised to employ some learned and pious Men to draw up a Form of Reformation He entreated the Princes to do the like also that having compared all together in future Diets something might be agreed upon by common Consent to be observed till the meeting of a General Council to be held in Germany or until a National Synod of Germany That in the mean time all should live in Peace without making any Bustle or Stir for Difference in Religion and that the Churches every where of what Religion soever should enjoy their Rents and Revenues which should be applied to the Maintenance of the Ministers of publick Schools and the Poor That the Judges of the Imperial Chamber should retain their Places during the time that was prefix'd to them After the Expiration thereof that all should be indifferently admitted to that Bench without any respect to their Religion That the Edict of Ausburg and all Suits commenced against the Protestants upon account of their Religion and Profession as also the Proscription of the Cities of Goslar and Minden should be suspended till the next Treaty That the Anabapists should suffer the Punishments long since decreed against them That nevertheless the Magistrates should employ learned and pious Men to convince them of their Error and reclaim them This Decree was much disliked by the Catholicks who with all their Force opposed it But seeing the Bishops of Cologne and Munster sided with the Protestants and Cleve and Baden submitted all to the Emperor's Pleasure who after much debate made it appear That this was a middle and tolerable way for both they being much weakened in number condescended at last not indeed to assent to it but yet that they might not seem to prescribe Rules to the Emperor nor to derogate from his Power to tolerate the same and the Electors Palatine and Brandenburg had interceded to have the Decree pass in this manner The Protestants also desired that the Cause of the Duke of Brunswick might be comprehended in that Decree but that could not be obtained And the Emperor urged That either they would restore him or else put the Province into his Hands by Sequestration until the matter should be Tried He had treated about this with the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave whilst they were present and much more with their Deputies after their Departure The Cities at first refused to contribute to the Subsidy against the French because of Intercourse and Trade But when the Princes assented to it and the French King's Cause seemed Odious to all they also subscribed though much against their Wills especially they who bordered upon France The Deputies of Lunenburg and Wirtemberg refused also but they were privately admonished and with harsh words too that they alone should not put a stop to the Resolutions of the rest When the Lantgrave upon his Return Home went to take leave of the Emperor he was most graciously received his Imperial Majesty telling him That he would not now make use of him against the French King on purpose not to expose him to hatred but that so soon as that War was over he designed to march against the Turk and that then he would make him his Lieutenant General and commit the whole management of the War to his Care And when he modestly and humbly excused himself as unfit for such a Charge You have done good Service ere now saith the Emperor both for your self and others and I make no doubt but you can render me good Services too and with these words most courteously dismissed him so that he having acquainted some of his familiar Friends with what had pass'd betwixt them returned Home full of Hopes and Joy that the Emperor was so Favourable unto him As to the Business of the Sequestration after the matter had been long canvassed and disputed it was agreed upon at length That all the Country of Brunswick should be put into the Emperor's Hands as chief Magistrate until the Controversie were either friendly taken up or fairly tried and determined by Law And that the Emperor should commit the Government of the Country either to the Prince Palatine or the Elector of Brandenburg or else to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleve that they that did not obey should incurr the penalty of the breach of the publick Peace That the Emperor should command Henry Duke of Brunswick to obey or else to punish him according to Law. The Emperor at length proposed these Conditions and persisted in that and the Protestants ratified them afterwards as you shall hear in the proper place After the Conclusion of the Diet the Emperor went from Spire to Metz. Now all his Army had Mustered in Lorrain upon the Borders of France and about the latter end of May had taken Luxenburg upon Surrender In this War Duke Maurice of Saxony and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg served the Emperor with a Thousand Horse a piece also Count William of Furstemburg an Officer of Foot and Sebastian Scherteline all Protestants Whilst the Emperor was at Metz Hubert Count Bichling a German that served the French was taken in Lorrain and brought to Metz. He was there condemned to lose his Head and his Wife who came thither and fell at the Emperor's Feet could not prevail for his Pardon so that all things were prepared for his Execution But at length Maximilian King Ferdinand's Son whom the Emperor had lately received into his Court being sollicited used his Interest with the Emperor and at last saved his Life In the mean time Babarossa either because his Affairs so required or that he was perswaded by the French King or else that he feared the King might make Peace with the Emperor returned Home and Landing made
evening In the mean time Duke Maurice had a Conference with Duke Henry that he might perswade him but he rejected all the Conditions proposed offered others of a far different nature and in a Conference with some of Maurice's Counsellors told them Within these three Hours said he it shall be seen whether the Landgrave or I be Master of the World as Hannibal said to Scipio Nay besides he broke the Truce having fallen upon the Landgrave's Foragers So soon then as the Landgrave was made acquainted with the Conditions proposed by Duke Henry he breaks off the Treaty and thanks Duke Maurice for his Mediation October the 20th Duke Henry by some of his Counsellors again sollicits Maurice and desires a meeting in some convenient place betwixt the two Camps but the Landgrave refused it wherefore Duke Maurice also declares War against Duke Henry as he had foretold him by Letters from Mulhausen unless he did agree to a Peace And now in the dead of the night the Landgrave sent before a Detachment of eight Troops of Horse and about a thousand Foot with twelve pieces of Cannon under the command of Conrad Hansteen whil'st he with the rest of the Army and the Dukes Maurice and Ernest follow after About break of day the Van-guard came to a Pass upon a rising ground not far from Duke Henry's Camp and afterwards the Landgrave arrived with the rest of the Army Here happened a sharp conflict and because of the narrowness of the ground which could only be passed in one place the Fight was for some time doubtful but in the nick of time the Landgrave fired upon the Enemy and beat them back and after a Council of War when in other places the Pass had ben opened he advanced with part of his Army and played upon the Enemy with his Ordinance Then Brunswick sends a Trumpeter to Duke Maurice and desires a Parley but the Landgrave giving no answer marches through first his whole Army and draws them up in batallia thundering upon the Enemy with his Artillery Then again two Messengers come from Duke Henry and earnestly demand the same thing to whom the Landgrave There is no other condition of Peace said he than that Duke Henry and his eldest Son deliver themselves up into my hands if they 'll do so well but if not I 'll try what I can do Go tell him this from me and dispatch what ye do Here again Duke Maurice applied himself to his Father-in-law All the Army said he is now got through the Pass but what is there no hopes of Peace None answered he unless Duke Henry and his Son surrender themselves to me If they will not I ll try the issue of a Battel Duke Maurice having got this answer goes and discourses Duke Henry Nevertheless the Landgrave proceeds to action keeps firing draws nearer the Enemy and halts about five hundred yards short of them sending Duke Maurice word by Conrad Hansteen that he could not desist lest under pretext of a Conference Duke Henry might escape Maurice sends back word that he must stay a little till he had spoken with him and prays him that he would so long forbear A little after he comes back bringing word that Duke Henry with flouds of tears bewailed his misfortune and was willing both he and his Son to render themselves prisoners but withal prayed him that he would not be too harsh in upbraiding of him When Duke Henry with his Son Charles Victor was come into the Landgrave's presence the Langrave told him Were I now in you power as you are in mine I should not have long to live yet I will use you more generously than you deserve But how came it into your mind to disobey the Emperour by rejecting the Sequestration for had you submitted to it you might have provided for Yourself and Family Having spoken to this purpose he puts them both under Guards but in the mean while the Landgrave's Army had like to have come to blows with the Enemy and if the Landgrave and Duke Maurice had not with all speed interposed there had been a great slaughter Duke Henry's Forces thought of marching off in an entire Body but because there was danger lest they might again take occasion of coming to action the Landgrave follows them and coming up with them in an open Plain compels them to tear their Colours and take an Oath that within six Months time they should not carry Arms against him or his Confederates He then takes from them all their Artillery amounting to eighteen pieces of Ordinance and Ammunition and marching forwards recovers Stenbruck-Castle makes the People again swear Fealty to him gives God thanks for his Victory punishes John Count of Schawmbourg and Otho Count of Ritberg because they had assisted his Enemy and then having dismissed his Forces he returns home At this time died Albert Cardinal of Mentz to whom succeeded Sebastian Husestene but John Albert his Counsin-German got the Bishoprick of Magdeburg who had been his Coadjutor therein before A Report was afterwards spread abroad that Duke Maurice had by captious and crafty Expressions drawn Duke Henry into these streights whereupon he published a Manifesto declaring how that being desired he could not but assist the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave relates the series of the whole Affair proves that they did him wrong and nevertheless interceeds for his liberty But Luther published a Book wherein he exhorts the Princes not to let their Prisoner go for that Victory without Blood was sent from Heaven Much about the same time Count William of Furstemberg having been hitherto kept Prisoner at Paris upon payment of his Ransom of Thirty thousand Crowns of Gold is set at liberty and taking his journey through Flanders where he acquainted the Emperour with his misfortune he returned home The Emperour advised him to cast about for some way how he might repair the loss he had sustained and therein promised him much kindness At the very same time died Alphonso Davalos Governour of Milan for the Emperour into whose place succeeded Ferdinand Gonzaga Duke of Mantua who had been before Viceroy of Sicily The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave presently acquainted the Emperour with the taking of the Duke of Brunswick and his Son And because he had in contempt of all the Edicts disturbed Germany with a new War they craved that both he and his associates for violating the publick Peace might be put to the Ban of the Empire according to the Tenor and Conditions of the Sequestration before agreed upon Afterwards October the last the Landgrave being at the Siege of Ritberg writes again to the Emperour and having desired the same thing as in the former Letter which he mentions He informs him that after the defeat and taking of the Duke of Brunswick he had found in his Camp several Letters concerning very weighty Matters too and secret Contrivances which sufficiently shew'd that
he had designed some great things against his Majesty or King Ferdinand for that amongst others there was a Letter wherein a certain Prince Elector writes back to him that upon those Conditions he cannot enter into that League and Confederation but that it is rather his duty to discover such Counsels which if he had not given him a promise of Secrecy he had certainly done let him not therefore trouble him any more with that hereafter otherwise he 'll disclose it That he had this and some others of that kind in his hands And if his Majesty thought it for his interest he might send some trusty Servant to whom he would shew these Letters and let him take a Copy of them from the Original The Emperour who then was at Bruges a Town in Flanders November the sixth sent Nicholas Conritz to the Landgrave with this Message That he heard how Henry Duke of Brunswick and his Son came into his hands and though he could have wished that he had accepted the Condition of the Sequestration nevertheless as the state of Affairs now stood he did not think it needful he should at present be punished for breaking the publick Peace that he trusted also he would make so moderate a use of this Victory that no man needed to apprehend any violence from him He put him in mind however that after the ancient Custom of Princes he would generously and civilly use his Prisoners and not force them to any condition unjust or beneath themselves but refer all to a friendly and lawful Debate and Arbitration wherein he himself would not be wanting in any thing that his Character and Quality required and that because he and his Confederates had no reason now to fear any danger he should dismiss his Forces and keep the peace and that if he had Complaints against any Man upon the account of assisting or associating with his Enemy he should try it out by Law and that therein he would do him justice When November the eighteenth Conritz had delivered this Message at Cassels the same day the Landgrave gave this answer Since Brunswick and his Associates had by more ways than one broken the Edicts of the Emperour and Empire he hoped the Emperour would openly declare how ill he took such proceedings That one of the chief of his Associates was Otho Count of Ritberg a Vassal and Tenant of his own whom upon that account he had punished that there were some others also on whom he might justly be revenged But that the Emperour and all men might see how far he and his Confederates were from stirs he had not attempted any thing against them but had disbanded his Soldiers since the case was so and that what they had done was upon their own necessary defence he earnestly begg'd that the Emperour would proscribe Duke Henry and his Associates for though he himself were prisoner yet his Auxiliaries ought to be punished from whom there was nothing but Hostilities to be expected that the Prisoners were used civilly enough and that he should make a report of the rest to the Duke of Saxony and other Confederates The Embassadours who as we said before were by the Protestants sent into France and England discharged their Commission very well but at the same time the Emperour also promoted the Peace and at Bruges appointed a day for the Embassadours of both Kings to meet The French King sent Claud Annebaud the Admiral the King of England Stephen Bishop of Winchester but the Treaty broke up without any success In the mean time however the Protestant Embassadours prevailed so far that both Kings condescended to a more ample Treaty and therefore sent Embassadours the French King to Ardres and the King of England to Calis and Guysnes On the twenty sixth of November the Embassadours met midway betwixt the two Towns under Tents in the open Fields where after that the Protestant Embassadours had proposed some Overtures of Peace the Matter was long and much debated betwixt them the French urging chiefly the restitution of Bologne and that the Scots might be comprehended in the Peace But the English plainly refused that the matter afterward was transacted betwixt the two Kings by Letters and Messengers and nevertheless after much treating nothing could be effected Wherefore January the sixth the Embassadours of the Kings and Protestants depart to their own homes The day after as the French were carrying in Provisions to the new Fort which as it has been said the King had built on the Shore the English attempted to have hindred them and so came to an Engagement but though many were killed on both sides the Fort was nevertheless victualled When the Protestant Embassadours whom I named were in England the King occasionally in discourse told them that they were threatned with a most dreadful War that he knew it for a certain and therefore that they should acquaint their Friends therewith A Privy-Counsellor also of eminent authority about the King at that time afterwards told one of the Embassadours the same thing naming some Skirmishers and Pickeerers that were to bring the business about The King seemed also vexed that the Emperour had the Year before made Peace with the French King and the rather he said that it was at his sollicitation that he had made War with France because of the Turkish League In the Month of January there was a meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt Their Consultations there were about the Council of Trent the prolonging of their League the Charges of the War with Brunswick the not forsaking of the Archbishop of Cologne the solliciting of the Emperour in the next Diet that he would give peace to Religion and establish the Imperial Chamber In this Assembly the Deputies of the Archbishop of Cologne complain of the Injuries of the Clergy and of the Commands and Citations both of the Emperour and Pope In the mean while the Elector Palatine appoints every-where Ministers in Churches to Preach the Gospel he also allows the Sacrament in both kinds and Marriage to Priests and January the tenth instead of the Popish Mass in the chief Church of Heidleberg Divine Service was celebrated in the Vulgar Tongue The Protestants therefore by an Embassie congratulate with him and thank him that he had given a civil Answer to the Embassadours of the Archbishop of Cologne They also exhort him to proceed to profess the Doctrine of the Augustan Confession and that he would use his endeavours in the next Diet that Peace and Justice might be established To these things he makes answer That he was always desirous of peace and will be so as long as he has life That it grieved him much the Archbishop of Cologne should be so molested especially in his old age that therefore when they should send Deputies to the Emperour the Clergy and Senate of Cologne to intercede for him he would send Deputies along with them That for many
confident your Majesty will find that they have had wrong done them and that they have been upright in their intentions towards their Prince Cast an eye we beseech your Majesty upon the sad condition of Germany wretched indeed both through a long scarcity and dearth of all things and also because of the Turk that formidable and perpetual enemy of the Empire Consider Sir what fidelity the Parents of those great men have shew'd to your Ancestours how true themselves have always been to you and your Brother King Ferdinand when against the Turk and your other Enemies they assisted you even more liberally than any of the rest and are still ready to do the same Consider seriously with yourself how bloudy and dismal a War this is like to prove what sad Evils and Calamities it will bring upon multitudes of innocent People Babes Children Women and the like and do not at the instigation of those men who that they may preserve their own Dominion and Power are our implacable Enemies bring things to such a pass that renowned Germany or indeed any part of that Loyal Countrey being weakened and exhausted of all its strength should become unable any more to resist or put a stop to the progress of the cruel Turk We therefore humbly beseech your Majesty to hearken to the Prayers of your Petitioners whereby you 'l confer upon us the greatest favour we can receive And if any man after a fair hearing and tryal shall contrary to Law and Equity refuse to obey your Commands we will be so far from approving what he does that according to our allegiance we will to the utmost of our power assist your Majesty whom God has set over us as our supreme Lord and Master in reducing of him Duke Maurice who came to Ratisbonne May the twenty-fifth having had a long Conference with the Emperour in private on the twentieth of June departed but what the subject of that Conference was will afterwards of itself appear The Deputies of the Protestants finding all things tending to open War and not daring to consult together about their necessary Affairs nor to write to their Principals for fear of danger drop off one after another and return home June the fifteenth the Emperours sends John Muscher Treasurer of Upper Burgundy Embassadour to the Suizers And after he had premised some things of his good will towards them his affection towards the Publick especially towards Germany and of his desire of the peace thereof he acquaints them that some Princes under pretext of the Gospel did many seditious things overturned all Law that there being no administration of Justice they might boldly act what they pleased that their boldness was now come to such a height that they attempted against his Honour and Dignity threatened open Violence and War and gave no obscure intimations that it was their design in his absence to invade and oppress the common Countrey That for these reasons he was forced to take Arms that for the dignity of his Place and Character he might free the Publick from danger and restrain their insolence nor did he doubt but that God Almighty approved his endeavours that he expected the rest of the States whose safety and preservation lay at stake would assist him with their aid and council That he therefore intreated them that they would not suffer themselves to be perswaded by his adversaries who spightfully broached many odious and evil things of him nor at their instigation act or suffer any thing to be acted within their borders whereby this his purpose might be hindered or retarded For that it was a War undertaken for the welfare of all Germany and for no other cause That they should therefore persist in the ancient Amity and League that was betwixt them that he would do nothing contrary to it himself nor suffer that any of his should but be ready upon all occasions to give them Testimonies of his Love and Favour as hitherto he had done which as by many other instances so chiefly it might be understood by this that he never made Peace with any other Kings or Potentates but that they were comprehended in it The Towns of the Upper Germany and the Duke of Wirtemberg hearing of the Emperour's Answer which Naves made in his Name as we mentioned before wrote instantly to the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave the Heads of the League and acquainting them with what was doing promise all the assistance and fidelity they can they raise as many Foot as possibly they could and were indeed the first in Arms. Their Army was divided into two Bodies the one that of Prince Ulrick consisting of Four and twenty Ensigns of Foot and many Gentlemen amongst them and the other that which the Towns hir'd and paid When these had joyned at Ulm June the twenty-first they march to Gunsperg and being next day drawn up they encamp in two Bodies The Commanders were John Heideck Schertelin Balthazar Gutling Sebastian Besserer Matthew Langemantel John Harder and Joyce Rosenberger These take an Oath of the Forces of the Cities as the custom is obliging them to certain Conditions and command them to obey and take their Orders from Schertelin until the Princes the Heads of the League should come themselves Then having gone to Wirtemberg's Men and done the like with them they appoint Heideck upon the same conditions to be their Commander This being done Balthazar Gutling a Gentleman by Birth and Counsellor to the Duke of Wirtemberg with the consent of all the rest spake to his Princes Men to this purpose Gentlemen and most dear Fellow-Soldiers The Pope of Rome Satan's Vicar is again about raising a Combustion such as may consume and utterly destroy Germany our Native Countrey and to this he is moved not only by the bitter and irreconcilable hatred wherewith he persecutes the true Religion but also by revenge for the Calamities he suffered some years ago when Rome was taken and sackt by the Germans He hath therefore spurr'd on Charles our most mighty Emperour to make War against our Princes and States who are joyned together in league in hopes that by force and all manner of cruelty he may compel them to submit to his Religion and to observe the Rites of his Diabolical Worship For indeed it is reported for a certain that that proud and accursed slave of Satan hath already a considerable Body of choice Horse and Foot in Arms whom he intends to send to the Emperour it goes current also that the Spaniards are upon their march against us now-what havock and desolation what misery and mischief our Countrey is to expect from foreign Soldiers all men of sence foresee Our Princes and States therefore knowing it to be their duty not only to protect and defend their Subjects from all violence and injury but also to labour and provide that they be not deceived by any false Religion and thereby endanger their own Salvation
Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France who as has been said had lately made Peace to sollicite them for Succours In the mean time after that the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave had written privately to the Emperour as we said before they publish a Declaration July the thirteenth wherein they alledge That this War was a War of Religion and that it was the Emperour's Design under a certain colour and pretext of Rebellion and as if he intended but to punish a few to divide and break the Confederates that so he might afterwards more easily destroy them one after another For confirmation of this they bring several Proofs and give a Relation of what King Ferdinand Granvell Naves and others had privately said at Ratisbonne to wit That the Contempt of the Council was the cause of this War. They affirm also That the Emperour had sent Letters to the Magistrates of Ravensberg who had lately received the Reformed Religion That they should within a few days desist from their Enterprise else he threatned to give their Town and Lands to be plundred by his Soldiers but that the Messenger was recalled with his Letters when he was upon the Rode leâ—t it might become publick that Religion was the Ground of the War. That the Archbishop of Cologne also was for attempting a Reformation excommunicated by the Pope and deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Possessions and Dignities and is threatned almost with the very same by the Emperour What was that if not a plain Declaration of the Cause of the War For it was no light Report that went about That the Cardinal of Ausbourg a great Incendiary in these Troubles was by force to be put into his place That it was also given out by some That when they were once vanquished and subdued Forces should be dispersed all over Germany to see that the Decrees made in the Council concerning Religion should in the Emperour's Name be obeyed and put into execution Moreover that many Letters gave an account That the Archbishop of Toledo chiefly and many other Prelates of Spain did contribute vast Treasures for the carrying on of this War which they would not certainly do if any Secular Interest were the cause of it That it was known besides what sort of a Decree it was that past at Ausbourg sixteen years since when the Emperour declared That he could not endure that Sect and Doctrine of Luther but that he and his Friends would hazard all they had Life Strength Blood and all that he might destroy it Root and Branch For should they indeed be subdued which God forbid then would it soon appear that no favour was to be shewn to this Religion but that rather having killed their Ministers ravished their Wives and Children they would again restore Monks and Friars and the rest of that filthy Rout That it was not lawful for the Emperour to use violence against any State nor to proscribe any Man without a Trial nor yet to call into Germany Strangers or Forreign Forces nor indeed to aspire to any Hereditary Right or Succession to the Empire because to these Conditions he was bound by a sacred and solemn Oath For could he in right do otherwise there would be no lasting Form of Government in the Common-wealth That they could not imagine what the Cause of his Quarrel was For as for my part saith the Duke of Saxony all the Difference that he and his Brother King Ferdinand had with me was two years ago wholly ended at Spire and to cement our Friendship Eleanor the Daughter of Ferdinand was freely promised to my eldest Son provided we could agree about Religion The Emperour approved of that then and when I was returning home from the Diet he sent Granvell and Naves to my Lodgings to complement me in his Name and to assure me of his Kindness and of his Good-will towards my Person Children and whole Country What Crime can I have been guilty of since that time that he should from such cruel Resolutions against me But the truth is this is our Case as we said before we refuse the Pope's Counsel and therefore incur his Hatred However he had no reason to act so nor to design such things against the House of Saxony for he knows that after the Death of Maximilian this Imperial Dignity being offered to my Uncle Frederick he by his Vote and Interest secured it to him not to mention many other good Offices which at several times the Family of Saxony have done to the House of Austria But if perhaps he be offended that I turned Julius Pflugg out of the Bishoprick of Numburg as to that I both asserted my Right in a Publick Manifesto and referred my self to any unsuspected Judges and Arbitrators that the Emperour might appoint Now as for my part saith the Landgrave I was fully reconciled unto him five years ago at Ratisbonne and if that some years past I intended to make War against the Bishops and did after assist my Cousin the Duke of Wirtemberg in the recovering of his own for all that and whatever also I might have publickly or privately acted against the Statutes and Written Laws of the Empire I had a Pardon in due form What then should be the Cause of Prejudice or Animosity I cannot at all imagine Besides when I was to wait upon him lately at Spire he was so gracious and obliging to me both in Countenance and Speech that I could not perceive the least sign of Displeasure in him It was stipulated betwixt us five years since at Ratisbonne That if at any time he should attempt any thing against the Duke of Cleve I should not at all meddle in the matter He made War afterwards against him and I performed what I promised and when afterwards he received the Duke of Cleve into favour again which was before Venlo he pardoned all that had served under him or assisted him in his Wars But if he be offended at our Absence and that we did not come to Ratisbonne both of us made our Excuses the Duke of Saxony by Ambassadors and I personally in a Conference at Spire But what Liberty or Form of Government is there then in Germany if that should give a good Cause for War when not only in former Diets but in the very same Diet also of Ratisbonne several Princes were absent And as for the War of Brunswick we cannot be blamed for it is lawful for all Men to withstand Force by Force We frequently moved and earnestly desired in several Diets That a Restraint might be put upon his Boldness but unless it were fair Words and Letters we could obtain nothing And nevertheless the Publick Letters which at our desire King Ferdinand wrote to Duke Henry were accompanied with other Private ones whereby Duke Henry was given to understand that he was not to obey them These Letters under the King 's own Hand were found in Wolffembottel and if need were could be
Popish Forces arrive at Landishut to the great satisfaction of the Emperour who having intelligence of the approach of the Confederates had by several Messengers entreated them to hasten their March. They consisted of Ten thousand Foot and Five hundred Light-Horsemen who were commanded by Octavio Farnese the Pope's own Grand-son whom he made their General Several famous Officers served under him as Alexander Vitelli John Baptista Savelli Sfortia Palavicini Frederick Savelli Paolo Vitellio Julio Ursini Alexio Lascaris Jerome of Pisa John Maria of Padoua Nicolao Piumbino Nicolao Petiliano and others With these Cosmo de Medices Duke of Florence sent Two hundred Horse under the Conduct of Rudolph Balione and Hercules Duke of Ferrara an hundred Commanded by Alfonso his Bastard-brother To Octavio the Pope joyned his Brother Cardinal Alexander Farnese to be a kind of Spy over the Emperour's Counsels and to incite and spur him on to Action Upon Farnese's departure out of Italy he is said to have boasted That he would make such Slaughter in Germany that his Horse might swim in the Lutherans Blood. Not long after came also the Spaniards whom the Emperour had sent for out of Milan and Naples to the number of about Six thousand all old Soldiers Some of the Chief Officers were Philip Lanoio Prince of Sulmona Alvaro de Sandi Alphonso Vivas and James Acre over whom was Ferdinando de Toledo Duke of Alva the Emperour's Lieutenant-General and next to him John Baptista Castaldo The Cardinal of Ausbourg was Commissary-General In the Emperour's Service were also Maximilian Archduke of Austria Emanuel Philibert Son to the Duke of Savoy Erick Duke of Brunswick and Philip the Son of Duke Henry who was Prisoner George Duke of Meckleburg George Duke of Brunswick Duke Henry's Brother a Church-man Ferderick Count of Furstemberg Renard Count of Solmes and many others In the Protestant Camp were John Ernest Duke of Saxony the Elector's Brother John Frederick the Elector's Son Philip Duke of Brunswick with his four Sons Ernest Albert John and Wolfgang Francis Duke of Lunenburg Wolfgang Prince of Anhalt Christopher Count Henneberg George Count Wirtemberg Albert Count Mansfield with his two Sons John and Volrat Louis Count Oetinghen with his Son of the same Name William Count Furstenberg Christopher Count Oldenburg Hubert Count Bichling and Count Heideck besides Record Rifeberg and eight Ensigns of Suitzers All the Forces being then Rendezvoused except those which the Count of Buren was bringing from the Lower Germany the Emperour decamped and marched towards Ratisbonne So soon as that was known some began to suspect that his Design was upon Misnia and Saxony and therefore the Confederates having caused Bridges to be made pass their Army over the Danube But having advanced a little towards Nortgow Advice comes from Ratisbonne that the Emperour was marching to Ingolstadt That made them change their March and by rough and stony Ways return again to the Danube lest the Emperour should possess himself of Newburg three Miles above Ingolstadt and of Donawert and by that means have an open Passage into the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Next day after they were come to Nassefels the Landgrave advanced with a small Party of Men that he might view Ingolstadt not knowing that the Emperour's Forces were there for he had heard but of a few Spaniards in Garrison and those he intended to provoke to a Skirmish But as he was advancing a Party of the Prince of Sulmona's Horse sally out and charging the Landgrave some were killed on both sides and many wounded Prisoners also were taken who gave intelligence that the Emperour was that day to encamp at Ingolstadt The Elector of Saxony was highly displeased at that Action of the Landgrave and threatned to leave the Army if any such thing for the future were done without his knowledge The whole Army in the mean time was drawn out but after they had for some time stood to their Arms in posture of giving Battel they retreated again to their Camp. In the fore-part of the Night following the Spaniards break into Count Heideck's Quarters who commanded under the Duke of Saxony and kill him an hundred Foot-Soldiers Some of their own Men they lost also so that there was a great Tumult in the Camp which was much encreased by the darkness of the Night The day following being the twenty ninth of August some Captains of Horse and Foot were sent out to view the Situation of the Enemies Camp. Those some Italian Horse who were in Ambush suddenly charge and many being killed on both sides the Protestants were fain to retreat to their Camp without any Success Wherefore next day the Landgrave himself marches out with a small Party of chosen Men to try if he could make any sure Discovery and having found a Foard though the Scouts that had been sent out before him said there was none he returns to the Duke of Saxony and acquaints him that the Horse might pass the River On the last of August then they resolved to march by break of day and possess themselves of a higher Ground where the Beacon of Ingolstadt sometime stood and from thence play upon the Enemies Camp with their Ordnance that so perhaps they might draw the Emperour out to Battel When the Night was far gone the Duke of Saxony sends word to the Landgrave at two several times That the Emperour was gone and that his Camp was all in a Smoke But he giving no credit to that Report orders out five Troops of Horse under the command of William Schacht to possess themselves of the Foard and to make Bridges for passing over the Infantry and Artillery A little after he himself follows in great haste with the rest of his Forces and whole Train of Artillery When he was come to the River Schacht tells him That the Emperour was not removed which News he sent to the Duke of Saxony and marching forwards made himself Master of the Hill we mentioned and planted some Field-pieces upon it His Men also he posted on the right and left which also the Duke of Saxony did as soon as he arrived THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVIII The CONTENTS The Landgrave's Advice to fall upon the Enemy is not approved The Suitzers will not joyn in this War. Wherefore the Landgrave and Duke of Saxony sollicite the Bohemians and fully answer the Emperour's Accusations They remove their Camp that they may hinder the passage of the Count of Buren Peter Stroza promises to lend them Money but basely disappoints them Donawert is surrendered to the Emperour In the mean time Duke Maurice assembles all the States of his Dominions against the Duke of Saxony to these the Landgrave makes answer The Bohemians and Hungarians invade the Territories of the Duke of Saxony and there spoils plunder satiate their unlawful Lusts and put all to Fire and Sword. Duke Maurice takes most part of his Towns by surrender At Meaux
only we but all those also who profess the Reformed Religion are in danger and that the great Design in hand is wholly to re-establish Popery Let all men judge then of the fairness of their Proceedings when in the late Diet at Ratisbonne they endeavoured to perswade and solemnly averred that they would use only lawful and peaceful Remedies for healing the breaches of Religion Lately said the Landgrave he told me at Spire That he was not engaged in any League with the Pope the same also said Granvell This then is that Fatherly Affection that Zeal for and Love of Peace whereof they so much brag and so often Was ever the like heard that they should endeavour to perswade Princes of one thing and in the mean time resolve the quite contrary We are sensible enough of the Duty of the Princes to the Emperour and what on the other hand he is engaged to perform as we stand obliged to him so is he mutually to us Now that he Proscribes and Outlaws us without a fair hearing and endeavours to turn us out of all he therein dissolves the Obligation in Law whereby the Lord or Superiour is mutually bound to his Tenant or Vassal That he objects to us the Crime of Rebellion it is a meer sham also and he himself knows that he does us wrong in that For not long since said the Landgrave he gave me Thanks at Spire that I had used my utmost diligence to compose the Differences about Religion Now whereas he says that I prepared for War and exacted Money of some States I do not indeed deny it and weighty reasons I had too for making Preparations But it is publickly known that by the mediation of Louis the Elector Palatine and of Richard Archbishop of Traves that whole matter was husht nay he himself acquainted me by his Letters that though he had been highly displeased with me for what I had done yet because I had laid down Arms he required no more besides when sixteen years ago he spoke to me of the same Affair at Ausbourg I justified my self so well in presence of King Ferdinand Frederick Prince Palatine and some others that he was satisfied therewith he cannot then make that any part of his present quarrel That I assisted Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of the Duke of Saxony and George Archbishop of Mentz that matter was also taken up and I received again into favour which transaction he himself ratified and afterward at Ratisbonne fully pardoned me upon his Royal Word He now also speaks of the War of Brunswick but the cause of that we made manifest by a publick Declaration and two years since gave a fuller account of the same in a most frequent Diet of the Empire where he was present Duke Henry did indeed answer then but the Emperour refused to hear our Replies Now the reason why he did not bring the Tryal to a full issue and with the Advice of the rest of the Princes give Sentence therein at that time was forsooth because demanding then Supplies against the French and Turks he purposely put a stop to the Suit and ordered a Sequestration wherein we also condescended to him at Wormes though we were not obliged and it was agreed on both hands that Frederick Prince Palatine and his Cousin John Prince Palatine of Simmeren should hold and govern the Province which we had taken until the Cause should be brought to a final decision according to Law this being done he past his Word to us that the Duke of Brunswick should likewise comply and by Letters strictly enjoyned him to do so but he slighting the Orders raised War against us and therein was made Prisoner as appears by a Declaration published by me and Duke Maurice In this War then we did nothing undutifully nothing contrary to Law and appeal to impartial Judgment But from that very thing it will easily appear what his Intentions are as to our Religion For though Duke Henry most sawcily despised his Orders and when he heard of the Sequestration reviled him in very reproachful Language yet because he is an implacable Enemy to our Religion he was never called to any Account for it Where he saith That we have brought some under subjection to us it is far otherwise and has been answered by us several times before But that may be truly said of him who hath reduced some Provinces and Bishopricks of the Empire under his Jurisdiction and against this War hath had in many places Meetings of Nobles that he might to our destruction engage them to himself This we acknowledge indeed That we have received some into our Protection upon account that if they should incur any danger for professing the Gospel we might stand by and defend them and that we look upon to be our duty since God commands us to help the afflicted Now for many Years past and at this time especially none stand more in need of Help and Protection than they who are reckoned Lutherans In other things that related not to Religion we never gave them any Countenance but always exhorted them to give the Magistrate his due He objects to us also That we disswaded others from repairing to the Diet but that is very impertinent since on the first of April last we sent Orders to our Deputies who met at Wormes when he was going to Ratisbonne That waving all other Business they should repair to that Diet and that we either came in Person or sent our Deputies to all the other Diets of the Empire What he saith of the Imperial Chamber and the interruption of Justice hath been many times refuted already He moreover brings an Instance of the Heathen Magistrates to shew That it is not lawful to resist him Whereas we have not only done our Duty but more also than either we ought or our Forefathers were accustomed to do to our own great loss and prejudice and that upon that account he hath not the least cause of complaint it will appear by what shall be said hereafter A certain Embassadour lately sent to him from the French King hapned occasionally to speak of this War telling him That he undertook a Matter of very great concern That he would do well to consider with himself how powerful Germany was and how dangerous the Attempt That if one or two perhaps had offended a Course might be taken to accommodate the Matter without a War. Whereunto he is said to have made this Answer That there was no need of an Accommodation That he would subdue Germany or put all to the risque for that the Strength thereof was not so very great that he needed to be afraid of it That it was now above twenty years since he had laid down his Measures for accomplishing that Design That in several Wars they had given him frequent Supplies and lately too against the King his own Master That they had been at great Charges in several Diets That they had lost
to be attempted in the night-time A parcel of stout Fellows German and Spanish Foot are pickt out of the whole Army and commanded to put on white Shirts over their Arms With these and a party of Horse the Duke of Alva is sent out in the beginning of the night with orders to march in all silence towards the Enemy whilst the Emperour himself should follow presently after with the rest of his Forces When the Duke of Alva was come near the Enemies Camp he found their Guards doubled and them in arms So that this attempt was likewise in vain for some hours before they had got notice of it from a Spy. And now by reason of the want of Forrage and Provisions and the continual Rains of the Season not only the Plague broke out in the Emperour's Camp but at the same time also Cardinal Farnese with some Italian Troops left them For the very same reason the Emperour was forced to change his ground and on the last of October to return to his old Camp near Lawgingen October the 20th the Landgrave wrote an Answer to the Letter of the Nobility and States of Duke Maurice as we said before were sent from Friburg the 11th of the same month That he was heartily sorry that the War was carried into those Countries but much more that in time of common danger they would not joyn their Forces according to the manner and custom of their Ancestors that it seemed very strange to him above all things that they should not perceive this to be a War mainly designed against their Religion since both the Popes Letter to the Suitzers and the League that he has made with the Emperour which by his order was produced and shewn to the Cantons make it manifest even past all doubt for after that that League was concluded many Troops came from the Pope to the Emperour and those Italians that by chance were made Prisoners unanimously affirm That the end they were sent for was to fight against the Lutherans That moreover the Confederates for Religion suffered more grievously in this War than all others having their houses plundered and burnt their Wives and Daughters basely ravished the hands of their young Children and Infants cut off and that merely for hatered to their Religion That whereas they say the Emperour has given them security as to their Religion it is no more but a sham for should he be asked whether or not it were his pleasure that the Lutheran Religion should be subjected to the Authority and Decrees of the Popish Council no doubt the Artifice would soon discover it self that they did not do well then to trust to that promise That besides he wondered very much they should be startled at that proscription of the Emperours since they themselves know that he hath no right to do so unless they had been first cited and judicially convicted but that it was a thing extreamly to be lamented to see that most noble Family and the people of Saxony so divided whereas if they joyned their Forces and were unanimously resolved to defend their Country the danger they now fear'd so much might easily be removed That he had indeed discoursed the Elector but found him wholly averse from the Expedient they proposed to him For if he should in another turn of Fortunes Wheel demand any such thing of Duke Maurice he made no doubt but that he would refuse and they themselves disswade him from it That therefore he did not like their counsel and the rather that Duke Maurice had lately written to both of them acquainting them that he was grieved at the discourses of some men who gave it out that he was lying at the catch for his Cousins Province for that they did him an injury and prayed them not to give credit to such reports That upon the receipt of those Letters they were satisfied with his excuse and troubled themselves no more about any such matter but that if he should now take possession of his Lands they themselves were sensible what judgment men would pass thereupon That he therefore desired them to put a stop to it or else they were to expect not only a Forreign but a Civil War also for if upon the account of the Proscription any violence be used against him that both he himself and the rest of the Confederates who are in the same condition must needs joyn in his assistance and that what the issue of that may prove may be easily foreseen That they should therefore endeavour that the Houses of Saxony and Hesse be not divided but that Duke Maurice assist him and his Confederates which would redound greatly both to his honour and safety He wrote the same day to Duke Maurice much to the same purpose and advises him not to be moved at the Emperours Edicts and Proscription but to call to mind the good Offices that both he and his Father had received from the Elector and him That he himself was sensible what kindnesses his Father and he received from them both when his Uncle Duke George by his last Will and Testament provided that the Emperour should keep possession of his whole Province until his Brother should forsake the Protestant Religion That besides since Duke George having given his Father a yearly Pension and it being to be feared left out of hatered to the Religion he might withdraw it The Protestants at that time promised him that if any such thing should happen they would bountifully contribute and give him the same yearly Allowance That he should therefore desist from his Enterprize and not attempt any thing in the Province of the Elector of Saxony contrary to his will and pleasure for that otherwise the assistance of the Confederates would not be wanting unto him That the Embassadours of Poland had been with the Emperour in the Camp indeed and given the Duke of Saxony and him an account of what they had done but that the Conditions were such as made not for Peace The Council of War wrote much in the same strain to Duke Maurice and the States of his Country protesting that if any violence were used towards the Duke of Saxony they would stand by him and not slight the Injury but the Elector himself gave them no Answer at that time as will appear more fully hereafter The same day the Landgrave and Council of War wrote to the Cities of Magdeburg Brunswick Bremen Hamburg Goslar Hildesheim Gottingen Hanover Embden Minden to the Duke of Pomerania the Dukes of Lunenburg and the Prince of Anhalt and informed them of the great danger that threatened Saxony and chiefly the Elector to whose Borders the Enemy was already advanced That the work was begun by King Ferdinand who had drawn the Bohemians into this War That besides Duke Maurice joyned with him pretending for his reason that he was outlaw'd by the Emperour but that they had sent word to Duke Maurice that he should
few chosen out of the rest of the States that so villanous a purpose was contrived Since therefore I am now by Gods blessing come with an Army to my own Borders again I am fully resolved to be even with your Prince and to use all necessary means for the defence and recovery of my Country and in so doing I shall endeavour by a just Revenge to make you also especially the Authors of such damnable Counsels truly sensible how heynous an injury it is that I have received It troubles me indeed that matters are brought to such a pass and I am sorry for the Calamities of our common Country but since you gave the beginning to them and that I am necessitated to free my Country from unjust Violence and Oppression I protest that all the Evils that may thereupon ensue are not to be imputed to me Such of you also as have had no hand in this Crime and are ready to make your innocence appear to me may freely do it and be graciously received The King of Denmark though a Confederate sent no assistance to the Protestants The Emperour removing from Hall to Hailbrun and having received the Towns-people into favour sent the Duke of Alva into the Country of Wirtemberg as we said before who having taken some places upon capitulation did a great deal of damage there But at the sollicitation of the Prince Palatine on the third of January the Duke of Wirtemberg made his Peace on these terms That by reason of is his sickness he send Embassadours to make his submission and humbly beg the Emperour's pardon That within six weeks time he would do the same in person That he observe the Emperour 's publick Decrees That he give no assistance to the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave of Hesse but aid the Emperour in putting into execution the Outlawry published against them That he suffer not the Emperour's Enemies to have any Commerce within his Territories That he make no League wherein the Emperour King Ferdinand and the House of Austria shall not be comprehended If any of his Subjects bear Arms against the Emperour King Ferdinand and House of Austria he punish them severely That he take an Oath of his Nobility not to serve in any such Wars That he give free and open passage to the Emperour whenever it shall please him to march through his Country That he deliver up all the Ammunition and Ordnance which the Confederates have left in his Country That for the charges of the War he pay three hundred thousand Florins one half in hand and the rest within five and twenty days That for security Achsperg Kirchen and Schortendorff shall be put into the Emperour's hands as cautionary Towns to be garrisoned by him at his pleasure That he compound with those whom he hath damnified in this War and if he cannot that he stand to the Emperour's Award That both he and his Son shall submit to the Court of high Burgundy when they go to law in those places That he punish none of his Subjects who surrendered themselves to the Emperour That King Ferdinand retain his whole Right and Title That within six weeks his Son Christopher and his people ratifie and confirm the Articles and that his Brother George enjoy not the benefit of this Peace January the third as we said these Articles were drawn up in writing and five days after the Embassadours of Duke Ulrick Balthasar Gultling Lodovick Fravenburg and John Fesler a Lawyer came to Hailbrun and falling at the Emperour's feet told his Majesty that their Prince being by sickness hindered from coming in person had sent them to make his excuse That he did openly confess his fault was heartily sorry for the Crime he had committed and by all that was sacred begg'd to be received again into favour and that the utmost rigour might not be used against him and his people for that he both ratified the Articles of Peace and so soon as his health did permit would come in person to beg his Pardon and would never be unmindful of so great a favour To this Naves makes answer in the Emperour's name That he was satisfied with his confession of his fault and begging pardon for the same and that in mercy and compassion he was willing to spare the multitude and forgive him provided he perform the Conditions of Pacification and be diligent in doing his duty for the future After them came the Embassadours of Memmingen Bibrach Ravensburg Kempen and Isne and humbly confessed their fault and begg'd pardon that they had offended him to which they said they were induced partly by their own errour and partly by the inticement of others but that they fled to him as to a Fountain of Mercy beseeching him to forgive and restore them to their former state and condition without any diminution of their ancient Liberties and Priviledges The Emperour thereupon takes an Oath of them That they would be faithful to him for the future obey the same Laws as the rest of the States did renounce the League they had entered into with the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave and no ways assist them and that thenceforward they should engage in no League against him Upon these Conditions he receives them again into favour and fines the City of Memmingen in fifty thousand Florins Before they appeared in the Emperour's presence they desired to have assurance given them that their Religion should not be altered But Naves whom the Emperour made use of then as his chief Spokes man in those affairs bid them have a special care not to mention any such thing for that otherwise he would look upon it as a sign that they distrusted him especially since he had sufficiently declared himself as to that particular in the beginning of the War That therefore they should rest content and require no further security And this was thought to have been done lest that if it had been refused them it would have seemed that other things were aimed at than what the Emperour had professed in his publick Declarations and that if it had been granted in express terms it would have offended the Pope whose design was that by this War the Protestant Religion should be utterly extirpated At that time a Sedition broke forth in Genoa against the Family of Doria the Head of which was then Andrea the ablest Sea-Commander living who by the Emperour's interest was advanced to be the Leading-man in that Commonwealth The chief Ringleader of this Tumult was the Count of Fieschi and in the Scuffle Joannin Doria a Relation of Andrea's a man of great valour was amongst others killed And had not the Count of Fieschi dropt into the Sea and perished there it was thought much mischief would have been done and the Republick been in very great danger but he being taken off the rest of the Conspirators slunk away and so a great calm presently succeeded that storm The
generous Answer immediately departed and because of the Saxon-War went to Nordlingen Whilst the Duke of Wirtemberg performed this Ceremony of Submission there was a vast Crowd of People got together who being told of it before flocked thither to see the Shew In those three Places we named before of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Emperour had already placed Garrisons and chiefly Spaniards THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIX The CONTENTS The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent is held When the City of Strasbourg had captitulated and made Peace with the Emperour he orders his Army to advance Shortly after the Death of the King of England Francis King of France dies The Fathers that were at Trent go to Bolonia The Duke of Saxony is taken in Battel and though he was condemned to die yet with undaunted Courage he professed the Reformed Religion Wirtemberg being surrendred the University is dissolved Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg earnestly intercede for the Landgrave who being come to wait on the Emperour is detained Prisoner King Ferdinand by Letters to those of Prague appoints a Convention of States A great Commotion raised at Naples because of the Spanish Inquisition as they call it Henry King of France is Crowned and the Solemnity of the Coronation described The Emperour by Proclamation puts the City of Magdenburg to the Ban of the Empire He sollicits the Suitzers to enter into a new League A Diet is held at Ausburg Petro Aloisio the Pope's Son is assassinated in his own House The English overcome the Scots in a great Battel The Protestant Electors are prevailed with and the Free Towns terrified A Contention ariseth about the Imprisonment of the Landgrave Means are used for recalling the Fathers to Trent but they who had removed to Bolonia firmly persist in their Opinion and Resolution so that there is nothing but Confusion in the Council of Trent THE Seventh Session of the Council of Trent was held the third day of March. In it were condemned all who maintain either that the Sacraments of the Church were fewer than Seven or that they were not all instituted by Christ who deny that one is of more Dignity than another who affirm that they are only outward Signs of Grace or Righteousness received by Christ who deny that they confer Grace who hold that no spiritual and indelible Character or Mark is by Baptism Confirmation and Orders stamped upon the Soul and that all have like power to administer them or that the usual Ceremonies of the Church may be omitted or altered in the Administration of the same who say that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistress of all others concerning Baptism is not sincere That Vows made after Baptism are of no force and derogate from the Faith they have professed who assert That Confirmation is but an idle Ceremony and was no more in ancient Times but an Instruction of Youth who deny the Virtue and Influence of the Holy Ghost to be conferred in Confirmation and who assign the Office of Confirmation not to Bishops solely but indifferently also to any Priest Then they make Decrees concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices That Bishops and other Rulers of the Church be lawfully begotten of due Age and conspicuous for Good Manners and Learning That no Man of what Quality he be do by any Title whatsoever possess more than one Bishoprick and that such as have Pluralities keep which of them they please and resign the others within a Year That those who have the Cure of Souls reside upon the Place and substitute no others to officiate for them unless for a time and so as that they have made appear to their Bishop that they had a lawful cause of Absence which is to be allowed of by him who is to take care that the People be not neglected that the Faults of Priests be punished and what is amiss amongst them reformed And then the one and twentieth of April is appointed for the Day of the next Session King Ferdinand being at Dresden with Duke Maurice on the eighth day of March writes to the Bohemians acquainting them That Duke John Frederick was resolved to invade them That therefore they should be upon their Guard and obey Sebastian Weittemull whom he had appointed to be his Vicegerent in his absence The Deputies of Strasbourg who as we told you went to Ulm being come back with the Conditions prescribed by the Emperour which the Senate did not dislike are sent back again to transact and make a final Conclusion Setting out upon their Journey then they find the Emperour at Nordlingen taken ill of the Gout and having March the one and twentieth made their Submission are received into Favour They had pretty tolerable Conditions for the Emperour put no Garrison upon them was satisfied with Thirty thousand Florins and did not exact above twelve Pieces of Ordnance of them The Elector of Brandenburg in the mean time bestirred himself affectionately in behalf of the Landgrave and applied himself also to King Ferdinand But very hard Conditions were proposed which were these That he approve without exception all the future Decrees of the Diet of the Empire That he give one of his Sons in Hostage That he dismiss Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son and submit to the Emperour's Decision as to the Difference betwixt them That he send the Emperour a Supply of some Troops of Horse and eight Companies of Foot against the Elector of Saxony and the Confederates and that he pay them for six Months That he submit himself to the Emperour and openly confess his Crimes But he rejected the Conditions and acquainted his Friends by Letters That unless they were mitigated he had rather seeing he could not in Honour condescend to them undergo the worst of Fortunes The day the Emperour transacted with the Strasburgers he parted from Nordlingen to go to Norimberg And next day upon the Road having dispatched Letters to the States of Duke Maurice he tells them That forasmuch as that Outlaw John Frederick flying to his own Home had not only regained what the Prince Elector Maurice had by his Orders taken from him but those Places also which King Ferdinand his Brother possessed in that Country as Dependents on Bohemia he was now upon the march to come and repress his Boldness Wherefore he charged them in the first place that they should take care that in those Places through which he was to march with his Army nothing might be wanting that was necessary and that the Soldiers might be kindly used In the next place That they should despise the Threats of John Frederick and shew all Love and Duty to their Prince as they had hitherto done since the main Design of the present War was to daunt his insolent Fierceness and to settle Peace and Quietness amongst them The very same day he wrote to the Council and Magistrates
well-garrisoned Town and the Capital of that Province he thought it was his best way to use diligence ordering the Army then after a days rest to march forward April the 24th he came in the morning to the Elbe On the other side of the River the Duke of Saxony had placed several bodies of men with Field-pieces to hinder the Emperour from making a Bridge or foarding over the River and also to defend the Bridge of Boats which he himself had But when they saw that the Emperour was upon them with his whole Army and that a body of about a thousand Spaniards that leaped into the water above the middle fired thick and furiously upon them they set fire to the Boats which burnt part of them and by little and little fell off from the Bank. With that some Spanish Foot threw themselves naked into the River with their Swords in their mouths and swimming over to the other side stopt those Boats which after the Saxons had broken them off from the rest of the Bridge were carried down with the stream and though they were fired at from all hands brought them off Afterwards a Bridge was made of them and some other Boats which came along with the Imperial Army in Waggons for passing over the Foot and Baggage In this juncture of affairs the Duke of Saxony who then was hearing a Sermon having sent his Baggage and Carriages away first follows after himself and directs his march to Wittemberg But the Emperour who perceived that all depended on diligence and dispatch having found out a Foard orders the Hussars and Light-horsemen first to pass over the River and then he himself follows with the Cuirassiers and past it without danger Wherefore not thinking it convenient to stay till the Foot and Carriage were got over he advances and three miles beyond the Elbe finds the Duke of Saxony at the Forest of Lochawer there having made a short Speech to encourage his Souldiers he engages the Enemy The Army which consisted wholly of Cavalry were divided into two bodies In the Van were the Duke of Alva Lanoy Antonio Tolerano Baptista Spinelli and Duke Maurice the other and main Body was commanded by the Emperour in person King Ferdinand and his two Sons and the Son of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Saxony might have made his part good against all that Force and perhaps had the better on 't too if all his Army had been together But he had left considerable Garrisons in Wittemberg and here and there all over the Country and William Thunsern with the Forces under his command was absent nor could they all be got together in time considering what hast the Emperour made So that after a bloudy fight which lasted till night he was at length over-powred by number and having received a wound in the left cheek whilst he bravely defended himself was taken and brought to the Duke of Alva first and then carried before the Emperour So soon as he came into his presence I yield my self your Prisoner most gracious Soveraign said he and pray you that I may be kept and used like a Prince To whom the Emperour Am I now your Soveraign then said he you shall be used as you deserve But King Ferdinand was a little more sharp upon him and upbraided him for having attempted to out him and his Children of all they had Duke Ernest of Brunswick the Son of Duke Philip was taken with him but the Elector's eldest Son being wounded escaped to Wittemberg There was a vast number of Prisoners taken and about four hundred escaped by flight and came to Wittemberg amongst whom were Count Bichling and Recrode The Horse that pursued the Fugitives got a vast deal of Booty and took all the Artillery and Ammunition that the Duke of Saxony as we said had sent before The day that the Emperour came near to Meisen which was the 22th of April as also the next day the day he past the River and fought and some days after the Sun lookt very dull obscure and pale and as if it had been environed with a kind of Mist so that most people who lived very far from Saxony and were ignorant of what was doing judged that some great matter was thereby portended Nor was that only observed in Germany but in France and England also as many thousands of people can witness Mention has been made before of the Commissioners of King Ferdinand that were sent to the Convention of States at Prague but the Peers of the Realm having heard their demands return answer That in making a League and taking up Arms they had done nothing amiss nor contrary to the custom of Bohemia They next resolve that Deputies should be sent to King Ferdinand to represent the same thing to him and to beseech him to intercede with the Emperour for the Duke of Saxony But before the Deputies were dispatched a Courier from King Ferdinand brought the news of the Emperour's Victory and of the taking of the Duke Then changing their resolution they promise to furnish Provisions and Corn and beseech King Ferdinand to use his interest with the Emperour that all that Army might be led into Hungary against the Turk of whose approach they had frequent reports that other Kings might also be moved to joyn in the War and if that succeeded that they should not be the last The Duke of Saxony being taken the Emperour marches to Wittemberg and arrived there with his whole Army the 4th of May. There three days after he condemns John Frederick to death for Rebellion as he said When this came to his ears he shew'd no sign of a dejected mind onely made answer That he did not expect the Emperour would have used him in that manner That nevertheless if he were firmly resolved it should be so he desired to be certainly informed of it that he might have time to order some affairs relating to his Wife and Children But the Elector of Brandenburg having received news of the Battle immediatly set out upon his Journey and arriving at the Camp on the sixth of May mitigated the Emperour and prevailed with him to alter his Sentence and save the Duke of Saxony's life The Emperour thereupon propounded Conditions which being accepted and ratified by the Duke he redeemed his life Amongst other Conditions prescribed unto him this was one That he should approve whatever the Council or Emperour did decree concerning Religion but when he would by no means consent to that persevering in his resolution in spight of all danger the Emperour commanded that Article to be struck out The other Conditions were That he renounce the Electoral Dignity both for himself and Children and refer it to the Emperour to be disposed of at his pleasure That he deliver up to the Emperour Wittemberg and Gothen the other Bulwark of the Country yet so as he may carry out all the Furniture and Provisions except a
third part of the Artillery and Victuals the Emperour suffering the Garrisons to march out but without Colours That Saxony give Marquess Albert of Brandenburg his liberty without a ransom and restore all that was taken from him and the Emperour on the other hand dismisses Duke Ernest of Brunswick having first made him promise fidelity That the Duke of Saxony restore what has been taken in this War from those of Mansfield the Master of Prussia and the people of Solms That he renounce all title to Magdenburg Halberstadt and Hall That he promise to submit to the Imperial Chamber which the Emperour shall constitute and contribute to the charges thereof That he give his consent to the releasing of Henry Duke of Brunswick and his Son and commence no action against them That he forsake all Leagues made against the Emperour and King Ferdinand and make none for the future wherein they their Provinces and Allies shall not be comprehended That all his Goods and Chattels be confiscated to the Emperour which he bestows upon his Brother King Ferdinand and Duke Maurice but so that Duke Maurice give him and his Children a yearly Pension of fifty thousand Florins That if it seem good to the Emperour the Duke of Saxony shall by Duke Maurice's permission retain the Town and Castle of Gothen with all the Profits thereof but that he shall dismantle the Castle and not fortifie the Town That because the Duke of Saxony was greatly in debt Duke Maurice shall for the payment of those Debts that were contracted before the League of Smalcalde give his Children a Supply of an hundred thousand Florins Again that he shall pay all the other Debts wherewith the confiscated Lands given him by the Emperour are asserted so that all the Suits and Controversies betwixt them may by this means be ended That the Duke attempt nothing against any who served the Emperour nor against the King of Denmark neither That he shall observe the Decrees of the Emperour and States of the Empire That since the Emperour has pardoned his life he shall for the future remain Prisoner and be in the custody of the Emperour or of his Son the Prince of Spain That his Children enjoy those Goods as has been said provided they and the people of the Country approve and ratifie the Conditions of Peace That Albert Count Mansfield and his Children Count Bichling the Rhingrave Recrode and Thumsern be excepted out of the Peace though the last if within a month he disband his Forces shall be comprehended Before these things were transacted the Emperour from his Camp before Wittemberg May the sixth summons the States of the Empire to meet at Ulm the 15th of June in order to the entering into a League The Deputies he sent thither were the Cardinal of Ausburg Marquess John of Brandenburg De Lire and Henry Hasin King Ferdinand sent also Embassadors thither To what the Commissioners at Prague lately said that in making of a League they had done nothing new or contrary to the custom of the Country King Ferdinand gives his Answer from the Camp before Wittemberg May the 15th that it was a thing altogether strange and new and done in prejudice and contempt of his authority Then he lays before them what they had acted in his absence how many ways they had rebelled and by variety of Arguments endeavours to prove that that League was made against the Emperour and him He charges them therefore to abolish and rescind the same to deliver to every one their Seals back again and to put the draught of the League into the hands of his Commissioners which if they did not that he should advise what was to be done Though the Emperour had capitulated with the Duke of Saxony as we told you yet the Garrison of Wittemberg consisting of about 3000 men and the Citizens also refused to surrender the place unless their Prince himself would command them for the Towns-people were extreamly terrified at the licentiousness of the Souldiery when from the very Walls they could see what mischief was done in the Country about especially by the Spaniards and Hungarians Therefore when on the one and twentieth day of May the Brother and Son of the Duke of Saxony with some Counsellors who were come from the Town to him in the Camp he discharges them of their Military Oath and orders them within three days to depart and leave the Place The Towns-people having received these Orders beseech the Emperour that he would not suffer the Forreign Soldiers to enter the Town He promised it to them and made good his word giving them power to keep out all who should offer to press in without express Orders from him The Town being then surrendred the Dutchess of Saxony Sibylla of Cleve attended by her Son and Brother-in-law came into the Camp where falling upon her Knees before the Emperour with Floods of Tears she begg'd Favour for her Husband The Emperour received her most graciously and comforted her giving the Duke leave also to go into the Town and spend a whole Week with his Wife and Children The same day that the Garrison marched out by the Duke of Saxony's order the Emperour sent in some German Foot under the Command of Nicholas Madruccio Two days after King Ferdinand with his Sons the Elector of Brandenburg and Duke Maurice went into the Town only to see it and after a short stay there returned again to the Camp. In the afternoon the Emperour also entred the Town and going into the Castle saluted the Dutchess of Saxony again comforting her and bidding her take heart and not be discouraged We spoke before the Death of Francis King of France who on the twenty-fourth of May was buried in the Church of St. Denis the Burying-place of their Kings and with him two of his Sons Francis and Charles of whom the first died eleven years and the other two years before but were kept unburied till now In the mean time whilst Preparations were making for the Funerals of King Francis for some days his Effigies in most rich Apparel with his Crown Scepter and other Regal Ornaments lay upon a Bed of State and at certain Hours Dinner and Supper was served up before it with the very same Solemnity as was commonly performed when he was alive When the Regal Ornaments were taken off they clothed the Effigies in Mourning and eight and forty Mendicant Friers were always present who continually sung Masses and Diriges for the Soul departed About the Corps were placed fourteen great Wax Tapers and over against it two Altars on which from Day-light to Noon Masses were said besides what were said in an adjoyning Chappel also full of Tapers and other Lights Four and twenty Monks with Wax Tapers in their Hands were ranked about the Hearse wherein the Corps was carried and before it marched fifty poor men in Mourning every one with a Taper in his Hand Amongst other
appear and answer to all Suits of Law that may be brought against him by any man That his Children ratifie these Conditions The same shall his Nobility and other his Subjects do also and that if he observe not his Convents they shall apprehend him and deliver him up to the Emperour That for his performance of all these Conditions the Elector of Brandenburg Duke Maurice and Wolffgang the Prince Palatine's Son-in-law shall be his Sureties and unless he obey promise to employ all their Force against him and compel him to perform his Articles After the Landgrave had received these Articles with the common Consent and Assent of his States he accepted them yet so as that he desired a fuller Explication to be made to him as to some Points The Emperour being now about to remove his Camp June the sixth draws the Garrison of his Soldiers out of Wittemberg Immediately thereupon Duke Maurice puts one of his own in their place and having the same day sent for the Burgomasters and Council into the Castle he assures them that he will not in the least diminish their Priviledges and Liberty and at the same time takes an Oath of them that they shall be true and faithful to him For Wittemberg is the chief Town of the Electorate which the Emperour lately conferred upon Duke Maurice when all the Goods and Chattels of John Frederick were confiscated as has been said Then the Towns-people and Nobility entreated Duke Maurice that he would repair their University which in the tumult and hurry of War was broken up and run into decay That he promised to do and at the same time ordered that the Boors who had fled should be called home again promising to supply them with Materials for Building and Corn for Seed and Sustenance the poorer sort gratis and the rest to be paid again He afterwards re-settles Julius Pflug in the possession of the Bishoprick of Naumburg and turns out Nicholas Amstorst who as we said in the Fourteenth Book had been put in by John Frederick Moreover Lazarus Schuendi was by the Emperour sent with a Party of Soldiers to raze the Castle of Gothen and set at liberty Marquels Albert of Brandenburg who was there kept Prisoner The Winter before the Archbishop of Magdenburg had transacted with John Frederick as we said and resigned to him the Province but now in this Turn of Fortune both the Emperour and Clergy being vexed at it Frederick Son to the Elector of Brandenburg was put upon him to be his Coadjutor King Ferdinand returning from the Camp at Wittemberg to Bohemia stopp'd at Leutmevitz a Town upon the Borders of it From thence in the beginning of June he writes to all the States of Bohemia complaining again of the League which he said was made in opposition to him Wherefore he charges them to depart from it and to write to him severally what their Resolution was as to that That he knew many had been drawn in and had erred through ignorance whom he purposed to pardon and intended not to call any to account but such as had wilfully impeached his Authority When the States were met at Ulm the Emperour's Commissioners whom we named represent to them at large how great care the Emperour and King Ferdinand had always had of the Peace and Quiet of Germany in all their Actions as well publick as private But that without any regard thereunto had the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave of Hesse had not only rebelled themselves but forced others also to do the like and slighting all Law and Justice had put all Germany into confusion and disorder That therefore the Emperour was necessitated for the support of his Dignity and Authority to take up Arms and make War to the great danger of his Person and prejudice to his Exchequer That it was very well known what damage those Rebels and Outlaws had done to the Territories of Mentz Magdenburg Halberstadt Aichstadt Ausburg Fulde to the People of Stolberg Mansfield and the City of Gemâ—nd and that since the Emperour bent all his thoughts to the keeping of Germany in peace it seemed very requisite unto him that some League should be made for that purpose That King Ferdinand was of the same mind and that both would enter into the Association that so not only the present Troubles but any other also that should perhaps arise hereafter might be easily quelled So that they being resolved to use their utmost diligence and endeavours for the welfare of the common Country they expected the like mutually from them But the Plague breaking out at Ulm superceded their Consultations and made them adjourn themselves to Ausbourg where the Emperour intended to hold a great Assembly of the Empire as shall be said hereafter All affairs being now setled at Wittemberg the Emperour removes to Hall in Saxony a Town lying upon the River Saal intending from thence to march into Hesse if the Landgrave did not make his Peace The Landgrave being now in these streights and there being no other course for him to take he resolved to rely upon the promises and assurances given him by Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg and so setting out on his Journey June the 18th in the evening he arrived at Hall riding on horseback betwixt Duke Maurice and Brandenburg who went to meet him as far as Naumburg About an hour after came also Henry Duke of Brunswick with his Son Charles Victor that had been Prisoner his other Son Philip and Duke Erick of Brunswick who after the overthrow which he received in battle as hath been said was lately come thither Next morning Christopher Carlebitz coming to the Landgrave presents him the Articles of Peace to be signed to which a new Clause was added That all the heads and points therein contained should be understood according to the Emperours meaning and interpretation Wherefore because that Clause was not inserted in the Draught which Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg sent the Landgrave sends word to the Bishop of Arras that he could not sign it The Bishop cast the blame upon the negligence and omission of the Clerk that transcribed them and again urged him to sign which then he did The Bishop of Arras put it to him besides that since he would have the same security as to Religion that Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg had he should on his part also engage and promise to the Emperour to submit to the Decrees of the Council of Trent To which he made answer That no such thing had been mentioned to him before nor was it specified in the Articles of Peace and that he had rather be without that security from the Emperour than be obliged to give any such Promise But after a long debate about the matter and some threats too when he was told that the Emperour had already taken his seat in the Hall expecting him and was displeased with his
delay that therefore he should make hast lest in might go worse with him at length he thus subscribed That he would submit to the Decrees of a free holy and General Council wherein both Head and Members might be reformed as Duke Maurice and Brandenburg should do for they had promised him not to recede from the Augustane Confession This being done and the Emperour set on a Throne in his own Lodgings the two Electors I named introduce the Landgrave who approaching the Emperour fell upon his knees and next to him his Chancellor Guntherod who read aloud a Writing to this purpose Forasmuch most mighty Emperour as in the late War the Landgrave has grievously offended your Majesty so as that you may justly punish him with utmost rigour he is most heartily sorry for it and therefore as he promised before wholly refers himself to your Majesties will and pleasure and prays you by all that is sacred that according to your wonted clemency you would pardon his Fault reverse the Outlawry he hath incurred restore him to his former state and take him and all his into your Majesties protection This he will look upon as the highest favour that can be conferred upon him and be from henceforward loyal dutiful and obedient to your Majesty in all things The Emperour after some deliberation ordered George Selden to give his answer That though he had deserved the severest of punishments as was publickly known and appeared also by his own confession yet he was content out of his own generosity and because some Princes had interceded for him that he should be acquitted of the proscription and punishment he had deserved and that he should suffer no more neither by imprisonment nor fine than what was prescribed by the Articles of Peace That he also pardoned his Nobility Gentry and Commons provided they kept their Engagements and hereafter acknowledged this his so gracious favour towards them There were present at this solemn submission and pacification Maximilian Archduke of Austria Philibert Prince of Piedmont the Duke of Alva the Master of Prussia the Bishops of Arras Naumburg and Heildesseim Henry Erick Charles and Philip Dukes of Brunswick the Popes Nuncio and the Embassadours and Deputies of Bohemia Denmark Cleve and of some free Sea-port-Towns besides many of the Nobility The Landgrave thinking all safe and well thanked the Emperour but having kneeled a little too long and the Emperour marking him no sign to rise he rose unbidden A little after the Elector of Brandenburg approached and told him that he must sup with Duke Maurice and him at the Duke of Alva's Lodgings nor could he all this while smell out any thing for all that They went then to the Duke of Alva's and supt After Supper Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg fall into discourse with the Duke of Alva and Bishop of Arras and the Landgrave in the mean time for diversion play'd at Dice When it was now late in the night Duke Maurice and Brandenburg call him to them aside and bid Eustace and Eccleben let him know in thier names That all their life-time they had behaved themselves as became Princes and Men of Honour and faithfully performed whatever they promised That they had expected the same fidelity and honest dealing from others but that now the Duke of Alva and Bishop of Arras had told them that he must lodge there that night and have a Guard set over him which was the greatest grief and trouble that ever befel them but that they would speak with the Emperour himself and were in good hopes that he would not be detained To which he made answer That that was the thing in the world he least expected that upon their word and assurance he had come thither and that they knew well enough how they had bound themselves to him and his Children and that therefore they might look to 't how they would satisfie their Promise and Obligation However since there was a necessity of staying Duke Maurice and some of Brandenburg's Counsellors tarried with him all night Next day they waited upon the Emperour and made a heavy complaint to him shewing him how much their Honour lay at stake for that if there had been but the least suspicion of such a thing neither would they have advised him to come thither nor would he have come to that place where he was to lose his liberty They therefore beseech his Majesty that he would have regard to those who had mediated and give him leave to be gone since they had engaged their Faith and Honour unto him that it should be so The Emperour told them That he had indeed past his word not that he should not at all be detained but that he should not be made a perpetual Prisoner and that was all he meant From the Emperour they went to his Counsellors and chiefly to the Bishop of Arras After a long and brisk Debate they send the Landgrave word that he had liberty to be gone if he pleased With all my heart replied he provided I may be conducted home in safety Here again his two Friends intercede but all in vain for two days after he had notice given him that he should prepare to go along with the Emperour but that he flatly refused declaring that he would not budge unless he were dragg'd by force There again Duke Maurice and Brandenburg earnestly besought and adjured him not to refuse and the more to encourage him gave him their hands in presence of some Noblemen that they would not depart from the Emperour's Court till he had his liberty Having gone with him then to Naumburg they went afterwards to sollicite his affair with the Emperour But three days after to wit June the 26th they send Carlebitz to him to pray him that he would not take it ill that they waited not upon the Emperour any longer for that he had plainly charged them not to do it and that if they should do otherwise he would be sent away into Spain That nevertheless they understood that if he would pay in the hundred and fifty thousand Florins and faithfully promise to fulfil the rest of the Conditions he would be set at liberty within a fortnight that they were to go shortly to the Diet at Ausbourg where they would bestir themselves in his Cause with all zeal fidelity and diligence The Landgrave who suffered his confinement very impatiently made answer That he would take care the money should be payed and his Castles demolished and therefore trusted that what they had put him in hopes of would be fulfilled Afterwards when he was come out of the Borders of Thuringe and arrived at Grevetall with his Spaniards he shew'd the Duke of Alva his Letters of safe conduct and obligation of surety But Alva told him that the Emperour had promised nothing to the Mediators but that he should not be kept in perpetual imprisonment And what is to be the term
manner he forced the Body of Cosmo Cherio Bishop of Fano having made his Servants hold him by violence till he did the Fact which abominable Villany lay so heavy upon the poor mans Heart that it is said he died of grief Nor are there wanting some who think he was poysoned by him lest he should have informed the Emperour of that detestable Sodomy Pope Paul nevertheless tenderly loved this Bastard making it his whole care to promote him and when sometimes he was told of his lewd Practices he is reported not to have been much troubled thereat but only to have usually said That he had not learn those Vices of him We mentioned before that the Fathers of the Council leaving Trent had removed to Bolonia This the Emperour was highly displeased at and when he came now to Ausburg he moved the Colledge of the Princes to represent the matter to the Pope Wherefore September the fourteenth the Bishops wrote to him representing the State and Danger of Germany which they say might have been prevented if a timely Remedy had been applied to the growing Distemper to wit a Publick Council wherein they had several times importuned the Emperour that he would procure it to be held within the Limits of Germany that so the Bishops of that Country who were most concerned might be present for seeing their Jurisdiction waâ— of ample extent it was not expedient for them especially at that time to be at a great distance from their own Charge That at length when no man would repair to Mantua or Vicenza a Council indeed was by the diligence and care of the Emperour got to be called and begun but without the Bounds of Germany still to wit at Trent which belongs rather to Italy That for that reason also not many of the Germans had come to it nor indeed could they especially in time of War when the Ways were every where beset and intercepted but that now the Storm being over when the Vessel was brought almost into Harbour and all men were in good hopes contrary to all expectation the Council wherein the Publick Safety wholly consisted should be translated to another Place or rather indeed divided was a thing that exceedingly grieved them because of the danger it threatned for that Germany had now no less than these six and twenty years struggled with new and pernicious Doctrines and Sects that the Bishops had lost almost all their Authority and that in this â—esolation and Confusion innumerable thousands of men endangered the Salvation of their Souls That in short whatever was formerly sound and sincere was by that pestilent Contagion spoil'd and corrupted and that the States of the Empire being rent asunder had lost all mutual Love and Correspondence That in these their so great Calamities they had no Refuge but to the Apostolick Church That therefore they most earnestly begg'd he would restore the Council which if he did he might expect any thing from them but if not that they could not tell where to look for Help for that noise of stormy Winds and Tempests was heard on all hands against which God had appointed the Church of Rome to be as a strong Bulwark and firm Rock of Defence That he should then have regard to their Demands and reject with himself that if he had not a care other Course may be taken to set things to rights That after all they prayed him to take these things in good part for that both the necessity of the Times and the obligation of their Duty had constrained them to write About this very time also the English obtain a great Victory over the Scots under the Conduct of the Duke of Somerset the King's Uncle The Cause of the War was the same that was before in the time of King Henry his Father to wit because the Scots would not give their Queen in Marriage to King Edward as it had been agreed upon After this Victory the English took many Places in Scotland and advanced a great way into that Country All the Diet was not of the same mind as to the Emperour's Demands for the Ecclesiastical Electors urged the Council of Trent without any Limitation or Condition And again the Deputies of the Elector Palatine Duke Maurice and Brandenburg did not refuse it provided it were free and holy wherein the Pope should not preside but should absolve the Bishops from the Oath they had taken to him wherein their Divines might also have a decisive Vote and the past Decrees be recalled However the rest of the Princes and States urged the Continuation of the Council and that the Protestants might have Safe-conduct to go thither and be heard and then be compelled to submit to and obey its Decrees The Emperour being informed of all their Opinions gave his Answer October the eighteenth desires them all to submit to the Council and deals privately with the Elector Palatine and Duke Maurice that they would assent The Prince Palatine besides was over-awed because of the late Offence he had given the year before as we said that Sore not being as yet well skinned over Duke Maurice who was both desirous that the Landgrave his Father-in-law might be set at liberty and had been lately highly promoted by the Emperour thought himself obliged to do somewhat Wherefore the Emperour having by Messengers given them large Assurances of his Favour and Good-will and put it to them that they would refer themselves to his Faith and Promise at length October the twenty fourth they give their Assent There remained no more now but the Free Towns who thought it a matter of great danger to submit themselves indifferently to the Decrees of the Council These did Granvell and Hasen industriously manage and in the mean time a Report went over the Town that they were stubborn in refusing that which all the Princes had already approved Some Threats were also let fall that they should be far more severely dealt with than formerly At length they found a way both to satisfie the Emperour and to secure themselves Being therefore called before his Imperial Majesty they told him that it was not their part to correct the Answers of the Princes but at the same time present a Paper to him declaring the Conditions upon which they were willing to approve the Council The Emperour having heard their Speech makes them an Answer by the mouth of Selden That he was very well satisfied that after the example of others they referred the matter to him and gave their consent with the rest So that he attributed more unto them than they were desirous of for they had not consented with the rest but that they might give no cause of offence were unwilling to censure the Judgment of the Princes and nevertheless that they might not afterwards be concluded thought fit to give in writing the Conditions upon which they accepted the Council that so they might leave to Posterity some
Monument of their sincere intentions This happened about the latter end of October and at the same time King Ferdinand came thither as shortly after the Elector of Brandenburg did wherefore the Emperour sent the Cardinal of Trent in all hast to Rome in the beginning of November that he might move the Pope to recall the Council of Trent In the month of November Christina Wife to the Landgrave his Sons and some select Counsellours wrote Letters to all the Princes and States of the Empire acquainting them How he was made Prisoner when under safe conduct he came to Hall And that seeing all the Conditions prescribed by the Emperour which then could or ought to be performed were fulfilled his Fine being paid Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Sons set at liberty all the Letters of the Confederates delivered up the Nobility sworn and the Obligation of the Sureties given all the Ordnance given up and the Castles and Forts demolished and that then seeing they themselves were willing to be Hostages for him till all the rest should be performed they could not but with great grief and sorrow of heart look upon this his sad fate and shameful captivity for that when he went to Hall his affairs were not in so desperate a condition but that he might for some time have kept out his Castles against the force of the Enemy the truth of which could be attested even by the Commissioners whom the Emperour sent afterwards into those parts but that in compassion to the people he had preferred Peace before War That it was therefore their most earnest desire that they would intercede wiâ—â— the Emperour and use all endeavours that he might be set at liberty and suffered to return home since that if he should be longer detained it would extreamly endanger his health Now the more effectually to sollicite this affair the Landgrave 's Wife came to Ausburg and both her self in person and by the intervention of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg sollicited the Princes to interpose When this came to the Emperours knowledge before any intercession was made November the 25th he represents to the States that he heard what suggestions were made unto them and that because various Reports were spread abroad and the Discourses of men were different he would give them a plain and true account of the whole matter And in the first place said he when last year the Confederate Protestants were encamped near Giengen the Landgrave sent Adam Trot who by means of the Elector of Brandenburg might sollicite his Peace but he had this answer from me That there was no other terms to be expected than that he should come in person and without any capitulation surrender himself to me When he was returned home after that flight he made frequent applications to me by the mediation of Duke Maurice at several places as Hailbrun Ulm Nordlingen and Egra treating only for himself without any mention of John Frederick or the Confederates nay he continued to urge the same thing when I was upon my march into Saxony To all this I made answer to Duke Maurice That because the Landgrave had offended me so much and so often no severity could satisfie me unless he came and presented himself in person and delivered all his Castles and strong Holds into my hands But when the Duke of Saxony was taken and that he saw the whole stress of the War like to be turned against him he came to Leipsick and there propounded some unsatisfactory Conditions Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg did intercede for him indeed and offered to be bound body for body for him that he should perform the Conditions but thinking it base and unjust that they whom I had always found faithful and true to me should put themselves in danger for another man I rejected that security and demanded his own person Not long after when the War of Saxony was over and I had repassed the Elbe he left Leipsick and sending one of his Nobles into the Camp by the mediation of Duke Maurice and Brandenburg propounds these Conditions That he would without any limitation surrender himself unto me demolish his Castles and deliver up all his Ordnance He only desir'd that he might be allowed to keep one of his Forts either Zengheim or Cassel and then as many great Guns as might be sufficient for the defence of one place Thereupon Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg desiring to know that if he so surrendered himself what the effect of it would be and how far it might reach they were fairly and ingenuously told that he should suffer neither any corporal punishment be kept perpetual Prisoner nor be farther fined than was agreed upon by the Articles of Pacification but it was likewise added that the Landgrave should not be made acquainted with this which was also put in writing in their presence and no other hopes given at that time as I think they themselves can bear me witness So then he came to Hall and having made his submission to me the Elector of Brandenburg asked me if I would not speak with him and give him my hand as I had done to others whom I had received into favour I answered That it was not fit I should do that before he had his full liberty I afterwards gave the Duke of Alva orders that he should carry him to the Castle and set a Guard over him He invites Duke Maurice the Elector of Brandenburg and the Landgrave to Supper and when afterwards he stopt him a Dispute arose and many words were exchanged When this came to my ears the first question that I desired might be put as to that affair was Whether or not they thought I did justly or unjustly in keeping him Prisoner I plainly told them also That rather than the sincerity of my words should be made liable to any suspicion I was content to set aside all the Treaty and suffer the Landgrave to return home that so I might take the course with him I intended Then did Duke Maurice and Brandenburg confess That I had done nothing unjustly and that they would maintain it if any man should offer to speak to the contrary only they prayed and interceded that his imprisonment might not be too long To this their Request I made answer That I would first consider and see whether or not he stood to his Promise and performed his Articles But now though I did believe he might fulfil the Conditions yet it is no slight matter that I have still to charge him with for neither hath he produced the Papers and discovered all the secrets of the Smalcaldick League as he promised nor hath he neither demolished his Castles as they ought to be and not long since too he hath tampered with his Keepers that contrary to their duty to me they would obey him This is the plain and naked truth of the whole matter which I thought fit to
Cardinals therewith and in name of the whole Empire to demand the continuation of the Council at Trent He ordered Mendoza also to do the same but the Pope took time to consider of it and having thought fit to consult you about the matter obtained from you a dubious crafty and captious Answer Besides he answers the Emperour oddly and shews sufficiently by his tergiversation that he is little concerned for the Publick for the cause of the removal ought to have been proved by credible Witnesses The Emperour King Ferdinand and the Princes by Letters and most ample Embassies declared what the mind of the States was concerning the Council but the Pope believed and preferred the Report of some mean and base People before the Testimony of all these How many tedious and irksome Journeys hath the Emperour made upon the account of the Council What Charges and Expences hath he been at And must all these be lost For most weighty and necessary causes was the Council both called and begun at Trent the Emperour and Germans demanding it and all other Christian Princes consenting thereunto so that unless the publick Authority of all States intervene it cannot be translated to another place for indeed there was no cause for the Translation only something invented for an excuse as some slight Feaver and badness of Air forsooth and for that purpose some Physicians were suborned but chiefly Serving-Maids and Cooks Now what a trifling cause that was the thing it self and the event declared You say that you went away without the Pope's knowledge and advice but the Letter he wrote to you and the Answer he gave the Emperour imply the quite contrary Certainly you ought not to have departed nor changed the place but with consent of the Emperour to whom it belongs to protect all Councils but you posted away in so much haste that ye rejected the Opinion of those who said that the Emperour and Pope ought first to be consulted Now if you must needs have been removing ye ought to have observed at least the Decrees of the Holy Councils and remained within the bounds of Germany that the Germans for whose cause chiefly the Council was called might safely come to it but now ye have chosen Bolonia a Town seated in the heart of Italy and under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome whither it is certain the Germans will not come and therefore have you chosen it that to the great prejudice and disgrace of Christendom the Council may be either dissolved or managed at your pleasure The Emperour therefore requireth and that most earnestly that you return to that place which pleased all before especially since all things are now safe and quiet and no more cause of any fear remains But if this you refuse I do here in the name and by command of the Emperour protest against this Translation of the Council as frivolous and unlawful and that all that has been done or shall be done therein is of no force nor effect I also publickly declare That that Answer of yours is silly and full of Lyes and that the prejudice and inconveniences which hereafter shall ensue to the Publick are not to be imputed to the Emperour but to you affirming withal that you have no Power nor Authority to remove the Council And because you neglect the publick Welfare the Emperour as Protector of the Church will take the care of that upon himself in so far as it is lawful for him by Law and the Canons of Holy Church When he had read over that Protestation he delivered a written Copy of it and desired it to be entered upon Record With that the Cardinal de Monte having highly commended the pious intentions of the Fathers called God to witness that they had wrong done them saying They were ready to suffer death rather than that such a practice should be brought into the Church that the Civil Magistrate might call or controul a Council when and how he pleased That the Emperour was indeed a Son of the Church but not the Lord and Master That he and his Colleagues were the Legates of the Apostolick See and did not refuse even then to render first to God and then to the Pope an account of their Commission That after all within a few days they should have an Answer to their Protestation Much about the same time Mendoza having received Instructions from the Emperour made a Protestantion to the same effect at Rome before the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and in presence of all the Forreign Embassadours whom according to his Instructions he had invited to be Witnesses of it THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XX. THE CONTENTS In the beginning it is hotly disputed whether Prussia belong to the King of Poland or rather to the Empire The Pope makes a large Answer to the Harangue that Mendoza made before The Emperour being informed of that and seeing but very little hopes of a Council causes the Book which is called the Interim to be made The Protector of England in a very long Letter to the Scots counsels them to Peace and demands their Queen Vogelsberg is beheaded The Emperour invests Duke Maurice in the Electorship which he had bestowed upon him in the Camp before Wittemberg Bucer refuses to subscribe to the Interim The Pope also publishes a Censure of it which many of the Electors and Princes also did and many refuse it though it was published by the Emperour The Duke of Saxony though a Prisoner with great magnanimity rejects it The Landgrave by Letters which were published from the Emperours Court seems to approve it that he may obtain his freedom Whil'st the Mass is abolished in England by Act of Parliament the free Towns of Germany are solicited to accept of the Interim and especially Strasburg which is pressed by Threats to do it WE have shewn in the former Books that Marquess Albert of Brandenburg did Homage to the King of Poland and altered the Government of Prussia for which he was Outlaw'd by the Imperial Chamber As also that the King of Poland had several times solicited the Emperour and rest of the States in the Publick Diets to reverse that Outlawry because he was his Vassal and under his Protection But since to this day nothing could be obtained and that by this Victory of the Emperours some greater danger seemed to be threatned the King of Poland sends an Embassy to this Diet whereof the chief was Stanislaus Alaski He in the month of January delivered to the Emperour and Colledge of the Princes a Speech in Writing whereof the substance was That the Cause of Prussia had been some times already debated but because it had been always put off to other Diets he was commanded to open it again that the King was in good hopes because of the civil Answers he had often received from them and of the equity of his Cause they would Consider his Affair yet not as
Throne So did the Electors also every one according to his Degree behind him And over the Emperour the Trumpeters were placed on a kind of Stage Then advanced Duke Maurice's first Squadron and putting Spurs to their Horses came gallopping towards the Pavillion as the Custom is Duke Maurice himself in the mean time with his other Squadron was posted over against them accompanied by a croud of Princes and Great Men and twelve Trumpeters were ranked immediately before him Out of that Company presently advanced Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolffgang Brother to the Elector Palatine and Duke Albert of Bavaria who having gallopped their Horses to the place alighted and going up to the Emperour humbly begg'd his Imperial Majesty that it would please him to confer upon Duke Maurice the publick Investiture and Ensigns of Principality and Electorship The Emperour consulting with the Electors answered by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That he was willing provided he came and demanded it in person When Duke Maurice had received this Answer he speeded forward with the whole Body Before him were carried ten Banners with the Arms of so many Countries as he desired to be Invested in So having alighted and kneeling down before the Emperour he begg'd the same thing as also did Hoier Count Mansfield in name of his Brother Augustus The Emperour therefore made answer by the Mouth of the Archbishop of Mentz That seeing they had both done him faithful Service he gave to Duke Maurice and his Male-Issue or if he had none to his Brother Augustus and the Heirs of his Body the Electorship of Saxony and all the Lands and Possessions of John Frederick except so much as had been before made over to his Children Then the Archbishop of Mentz read over the Oath which the Electors take and when Duke Maurice had said it over after him and taken it the Emperour gave him a Sword and by that Ceremony put him in a manner into possession He returned him thanks promising him all Fidelity and Obedience Afterwards the Emperour gave Duke Maurice the Banners we mentioned which were immediately thrown amongst the people as it is customary John Frederick might have seen and indeed did behold all this Ceremony from the House where he lodged for it stood in the same Market place Bucer who was sent for as we have already said came at length to Ausburg and was entertained at the Elector of Brandenburg's Court. And now the Book about Religion which as it is mentioned before was ordered to be Complied was Finished The Elector of Brandenburg presents it as it was written to Bucer and desires him to Subscribe to it but upon perusal finding that the Popish Doctrine was therein establish'd he made answer That he could not approve it The Elector of Brandenburg took that very ill and was extremely angry with him for he lookt upon it to be a moderate Book as Islebius had persuaded him Granvel pressed him to it also by Messengers and promised him large rewards if he would approve it But when he could not prevail by fair promises he began to threaten which made Bucer return home but not without danger for there were Garisons of Spaniards all over the Dutchy of Wirtemberg as has been said before In the Month of April the Archbishop of Cologne who was lately made a Priest said his first Mass The Emperour King Ferdinand and a great many Princes were present whom afterwards he entertained at a most Magnificent Dinner At this time Muleasses King of Tunis whom thirteen years before the Emperour had restored to his Kingdom having expelled Barbarossa as has been said in the ninth Book came to Ausberg His Eldest Son had invaded his Kingdom and put out his Eyes And therefore the poor banished Prince came out of Africa to implore the Emperours help as not long after another of his Sons came also That Book which was made concerning Religion treats first of the State of Man both before and since his Fall of Redemption by Christ of Charity and good Works of the assurance of the Remission of Sins of the Church of Vows of Authority of the Ministers of the Church of the Pope of the Sacraments of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Commemoration Invocation and Intercession of Saints of the Remembrance of those who are dead in the Faith of the Communion to be joyned with the Sacrifice of Ceremonies and the use of the Sacraments Now amongst other things there are these Doctrines in it that those Works which are more than what God commands and commonly called Works of Supererogation are to be commanded That Man cannot without doubting believe that his Sins are forgiven him That the Church hath the Power of interpreting Scriptures of drawing and explaining Doctrines from them the Power of Jurisdiction of deciding in doubtful Cases by a Council and of making Canons That there is one Head over the rest to wit the Pope by Virtue of the Prerogative granted to Peter That the Government of the Universal Church is committed to him by Christ yet so as that the rest of the Bishops have a share in that Cure every one in his own Church That by Confirmation and Chrism the Holy Ghost is received to enable us to resist the temptations of the Devil the World and the Flesh and that a Bishop is the only Minister of that Sacrament That the Sins which we remember are to be confessed to a Priest That by satisfaction which consists in the Fruits of Repentance especially in Fasting Alms-deeds and Prayer the causes of Sin are rooted out and Temporal Punishments either taken quite away or mitigated That extreme Unction hath been in the Church ever since the Apostles time that it might either relieve the Body or fortifie the Mind it self against the fiery Darts of the Devil That then it is to be administred when the hour of Death seemeth to draw nigh That Marriage contracted without the Parents consent ought to stand good but that Children are in Sermons to be admonished to ask the advice of their Parents That Christ at his last Supper instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood First that it should be received by Believers as the saving Food of their Souls and then that it should be offered up in memory of his Death and Passion For that there are in all two Sacrifices of Christ one a bloody Sacrifice upon the Cross and another wherein under the form of Bread and Wine he offered up his own Body and Blood to the Father and afterwards commanded his Apostles and their Successors to do the same in remembrance of him to the end of the World That by the first Mankind was reconciled to God the Father but by this unbloody Sacrifice Christ is offered up and represented to the Father not that he may again make satisfaction for Sins but that by Faith we may apply to our selves the Redemption purchased to us by his Death That in
this Sacrifice wherein we commemorate the Death of Christ the memory of the Saints is to be celebrated that they may intercede with God the Father for us and help us by their Merits That we must also remember the Dead and pray to God for them In the next place it is enjoyned that all the antient Ceremonies which are commonly used in Baptism Exorcism Abrenunciation Confession of Faith and Chrism be retained and that nothing be changed neither in the Ceremonies used at Mass That in every Town and every Church two Masses a day at least be said but in Country Parishes and Villages one especially on Holy-days That nothing at all be altered in the Canon of the Mass and that all the rest be observed according to antient command but that if any thing have crept in which may give occasion to Superstition it be taken away That Vestments Ornaments Vessels Crosses Altars Candles and Images be still kept as certain Monuments That the usual Prayers and that holy singing of Psalms be not taken away and where they are taken away that they be restored That the Obsequies and Funerals of the Dead be performed after the manner of the antient Church and that the Saints Holy-Days and those others also wherein Prayers are appointed to be said be observed That on Easter Eve and Whitsunday Eve the Water in the Font be Consecrated That for subduing Lusts and exhorting the Mind to the duties of Piety on certain days men abstain from eating of Flesh and fast That lastly though it were to be wished that there might be found many Ministers of the Church who would live chastly nevertheless since many up and down have Wives whom they would not turn away And that that cannot without great troubles now be altered a Decree of Council concerning that be expected That the same course be held with those who receive the Sacrament in both kinds yet so still as that they censure not those who do otherwis for that the whole Body and Blood of Christ is contained under either kind After this manner the Book was indeed published as you shall hear hereafter but it was not so compiled at first For it was often Reviewed and Corrected as has been said and the Copy which was shew'd to Bucer was somewhat foster After it had been for a long time then tossed to and again amongst the States privately it was also sent to Rome For though all the Points of Popery in a manner were established in it yet because some things were granted to their Adversaries it was thought fit first to consult the Pope about it His Holiness afterward sent the Emperour by Cardinal Sfondrato some Animadversions thereupon which were these That a Priest in Orders should marry a Wife and still execute his Priestly Office was never heard of That the Custom of receiving the Sacrament in both kinds was abrogated and in those two things no man had power to dispense but the Pope and Council That the Followers of the Old Religion were not to be astricted to these Positions but that if there were any Lutherans that would forsake their new Opinions they were not to be rejected That the singing of Psalms ought to be restored in all places that on Holy-days the Commemoration of the Patron of every Church was to be Celebrated That they who are now or shall hereafter be Priests must abstain from Marriage That a speedy restitution must be made of Church-goods and Jurisdictions for seeing the Robbery and Invasion was manifest the usual forms of Process were not to be observed but as in a self-evident Case it was to be done by an high Hand and Imperial Authority This Censure being interposed the Electors of Mentz Treves and Cologne to whom it was communicated answer the Emperour in the very same manner urge chiefly Restitution and conclude it to be absolutely necessary if the Christian Religion ought to be preserved and recovered again in those places where it was abolished and that peace also could no other ways be setled That therefore care was to be taken in the first place that Churches and Religious Houses should be compleatly restored And that because the Usurpation and Robbery was manifest it was to be done brevi manu that the Worship of God might with all expedition be restored Finally they prayed his Majesty to take these things in good part and defend the Members of the Church by his Power and Protection But the other three Electors were not of that Opinion chiefly the Prince Palatine and Duke Maurice However they had both very good cause not to stand too stifly to it with the Emperour The rest of the Princes who were for the most part Bishops answered in the same manner as the Elector of Mentz and his Colleagues had done and as for the free Towns no great account was made of them Wherefore on the fifteenth of May the Emperour called all the States before him and having premised a few Things of his Love and Affection towards Germany I have found by manifest and clear Arguments said he and the thing it self speaks it that no Peace can be had nor Justice done before an end be made of that Controversie about Religion which now for many years hath caused various Quarrels and Animosities much Hatred Dissension and War in the Empire This hath been the cause why in frequent Dyets and by several Conferences I often sought for a Cure But in the mean time the Contagion not only over-spread all Germany but infected also other Christian People so that no presenter remedy could be thought on than the calling of a General Council This at your earnest solicitation I procured after much ado to be called at Trent and in like manner advised you at the opening of this Dyet that you would submit to the Authority thereof and leave it to my care in the mean time to find out some pious Expedient whereby Germany might live in peace and indeed your compliance therein and confidence in me was then and is still very acceptable unto me Being then wholly intent upon so necessary a Design and having demanded your Opinions to my great grief and sorrow I found that difference in Religion had not only been the cause all our past Evils but unless prevented would be so also for the future And therefore I thought it not good to leave things in that troublesome state until a Decree should be past in Council but to bring them to some moderation and the rather for that new Sects did here and there spring up Whilst I was pondering these things some Persons of eminent Rank and Quality Friends to Peace and Lovers of the Publick presented to me their thoughts of Religion drawn up in writing and promised to observe them Now so soon as that Writing was put into my Hands I referred it to some good and learned Divines to peruse it diligently and examine the Contents thereof When they had consider'd it they
Age being sent for by his Father prepares to be gone and leaving behind him his Cousin German and Brother in-Law to govern the Kingdom in his absence he set sail with a Fleet of fifty Gallies and almost as many Merchants Ships under the command of Andrea Doria who had brought over Maximilian and on the twenty fifth day of November arrived at Genoua accompanied with a great train of Nobility amongst whom was the Duke of Alva and the Cardinal of Trent For some fews days after his arrival he lodged without the Walls in the Palace of Andrea Doria the Admiral till the Ships should be unloaded and the preparations within the City finished But on the second of December he made his entry and was magnificently received Being there furnished not only with Money but also other necessaries for a journy by Land eight days after he departed and passing by Alessandria and Pavia went to Milan At Pavia were the great Guns that the Emperour took from the Duke of Saxony John Frederick as we said and these also he viewed At Milan where he arrived the nineteenth of December triumphal Arches and Statues with honourable Inscriptions were erected for him in many places at his entry he was received by the Duke of Savoy and the Ambassadours of Venice Florence Ferrara and Siena About that time Maximilian Count of Buren died of a Quinsie at Brussels where the Emperour then was his Physician Andrew Vesalius having at first sight foretold him as they say the very hour of his death Duke Maurice as we told you after the Decree about Religion was read left Ausburg So soon as he came home he called a Convention of the Nobility and other States at Meissen where he propounds the whole Matter and declares to them what the Emperours will and pleasure was They urge him with his own and the Emperours promises and insist upon having the Religion of the Augustan Confession allowed them Afterwards it was thought fit that the Divines of Wittemburg and Leipsick should be consulted Who accordingly met first at Begy then at Zell and afterwards at Juterbock Whither also came John Islebius sent from the Elector of Brandenburg Here was a Decree made concerning things indifferent and what are called Adiaphorous The last Convention was at Leipsick and there a form of Religion was drawn up which all Men within the Territories of Duke Maurice were to observe but this Book gave afterwards great offence as shall he declared in its proper place In the mean time the Emperours Son proceeded in his journy and passing by Mantua and Trent he came first to Ausburg then to Spire and so continuing forward through the Country of Luxemburg he came to his Father the Cardinal of Trent amongst others waiting upon him The Emperour upon his approaching sent a party of goodly Horse under the command of the Duke of Arescot to meet him Duke Maurice also having gone to meet him as far as Trent took a short progress with a small number of Attendants to go see Mantua and Venice and was most honourably entertained by the Senate He earnestly begg'd of Prince Philip that he would intercede with the Emperour for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law which he did and sent him word of it bidding him be in good hopes for that he had received a fair answer but that withal he should dissemble and seem not to know of any such thing About this time there happened troubles in Africa for one Zeriff rising from a very small beginning was at last advanced to a Kingdom and drove his next Neighbour the King of Fez out of his Country who afterwards came to the Emperour at Ausburg to bewail his own misfortune and implore his aid Nicholas Bishop of Metz Son to Anthony Duke of Lorrian and Guardian to his Brothers Son as we mentioned in the sixteenth Book renouncing his Ecclesiastical Orders married a Lady of the House of Egmont which has large Possessions in Brabant so that the Bishoprick fell to the Cardinal of Lorrain We told you before what past betwixt the Emperour and the Deputies of Strasburg at Cologne A little while after they returned home they began to treat with the Bishop who having assembled the Nobility declares to them what the Emperours pleasure was and charges all to obey laying the same commands also upon the Clergy of Strasburg But seeing he propounded harder conditions than were expected on the twelfth of February the Senate sent Henry Cope as their Deputy with Letters to the Emperour wherein they acquaint him that they had taken great care to treat with their Bishop but that he propounded such Conditions to them that if they accepted them they could not enjoy those things which were allowed them by the Decree lately made at Ausburg For after a long debate they say we told him that we would enjoyn our Citizens to keep Holy-days and on certain days abstain from eating of Flesh Besides we have dealt with the Ministers of our Church and we believe some of them will of their own accord lay down their Office of Preaching We are willing and free then that he settle Religion according to the Platform prescribed at Ausburg For no hinderance shall be made on our parts nor by the Citizens neither whom we shall strictly charge not to offer the least opposition Now this being our Case most victorious Emperour we pray your Majesty that you would be pleased to suffer us to keep our own Ministers even such of them as are married and not reduce us to extremity especially since we are ready to behave our selves with all moderation and shall not give the least cause of offence Mention has been made before of the Emperours proscribing the Republick of Magdenburg But their rejecting of the Decree lately made about Religion did much inflame their former offence So that now the Emperour proceeded against them with new Edicts and Proclamations exposing them as a prey to all inviting the neighbouring Princes and States to make War against them and to do them all the hurt and damage that by any means whatsoever they could It hath been said before that the Ministers of Ulm were by the Emperours Orders made Prisoners but at length after seven Months confinement they are now in the third day of March set at liberty having first payed their charges About this time began the State of England to be troublesome Edward Duke of Somerset the King Uncle and Protector of the Kingdom as we said before had a Brother who was Lord High Admiral Of him the Protector conceived some suspition or suffered himself to be persuaded that he aspired to the Crown and intended to get the King into his power whereupon he ordered him to be apprehended and brought to his Tryal where being condemned to die he was beheaded on the twentieth of March. He had married Catharine Parr the Queen Dowager of
King Henry the Eight and that also somewhat increased the suspition But the envy and emulation of another great Lady was thought to have contributed much to this disaster The Bishop of Strasburg again enjoyns the Clergy to obey the Emperours Edict Now there is in that City a Church dedicated to St. Thomas the yearly Revenues whereof were by the Senate allotted for stipends to the Ministers of the Gospel and the other learned Men who had the Education and Instruction of the Youth Those chiefly he urged to tell him within what time they would satisfie the Emperours Decree and Expectation then what fit Men they had for that purpose and what Ornaments of the Church were yet in being But they took time to advise with Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England a Man of excellent Learning who made it his whole business to revive and promote Piety and Learning Wherefore when he saw in what state Germany was and the danger learned Men there were in by frequent Letters he solicited Bucer chiefly and Paulus Fagius one most expert in the Hebrew Language to come over into England assuring them of all love and friendship wherefore by permission from the Senate on the first of April they set out upon their Journey that they might go thither and sow the Seed of pure Doctrine Their coming was very acceptable not only to the King but to most of the Nobility also and the People And after they had been for some time with the Archbishop of Canterbury they were both sent to teach in Cambridge On the first of April Prince Philip of Austria with a most splendid Pomp made his entrance into Brussels where his Father was The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg were there being sent to solicite the intercession of Prince Philip and the Cardinal of Trent who was a great Friend to Duke Maurice But though they put the Landgrave who then was at Oudenard in good hopes yet nothing could be effected and not long after when the Landgrave for his healths sake would have eaten Flesh the Captain of the Guard coming in threw down the Dish Meat and all that was brought him upon the Ground At the same time the Bishop of Strasburg after eight years takes at length Orders and says Mass and holding a Convocation of his Clergy at Saverne made such Decrees as suited their purpose Then he requires of the Senate of Strasburg by Messengers that they rebuild the Altars restore to him the liberty of appointing the Ministers of the Church absolve the Clergy from their Oath restore their Priviledges and produce all the Ornaments of the Churches But the Professors he strictly charges to give him a positive answer whether they would obey the Emperours Edict or not They having spoken at large of their submission and deference to the Emperour and then of their several Charges and Employments openly declare what it is they teach and do that being Divines Philosophers Logicians and Rhetoricians and Men of the like Profession they were not only useful but also necessary in the Church and Schools then they shew by whom they were admitted into the College with the Approbation of the Senate and after a long Declaration of their Case they humbly and lovingly pray that he would not disturb an Order so well established nor put them upon minding of other Affairs that were not near so necessary The Agents on the other hand make answer that that College was not Instituted for such kind of Scholastick Employments and that the Antient Order ought not to be changed That if there were any among them that thought themselves grieved and could not with a good Conscience comply the Bishop was not the Man that would persuade them to any thing against their wills But that they were free to give place and as the common Proverb is Either to drink or be gone For that if the Senate had a mind to have Professors of Arts and Sciences in the Town it was but reasonable that they should be maintain'd out of the Publick Treasury and not by the Rents and Profits of the College which was appointed for other uses That the Bishop and the Predecessors had for many years past been hindred in the Exercise and execution of their Right but that he would not suffer it any longer After a long debate about the Matter they depart without coming to any conclusion and when the Senate came to know of it they interceded with the Bishop by most kind and friendly Letters praying and beseeching him that he would have some regard at least to the Youth who were much improved in Parts and Learning by the Endeavours and Education of that School In this manner was the Matter long tossed to and again by Messengers and Letters till at length by the interposition of Mediators it was taken up and compounded as shall be mentioned hereafter It was thought that the Bishop who had been always look'd upon as a Man of a mild and peaceable Nature that loved his ease did not act thus so much out of his own inclination as at the instigation of his Friends who represented to him that this occasion of recovering his Jurisdiction was not to be slighted and that unless he prosecuted it he might also incur the Emperour's displeasure In all these Transactions he made use of one Christopher Welsinger a Civilian who had sometimes studied at Wittemberg But the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Strasburg employed as their Advocate one John Tischell a Doctor of the Laws The last Book mentioned how that after the promulgation of the Decree about Religion Wolfgang Duke of Deux-ponts was sent for to come to Ausburg The Emperour had pressed him by several Letters to obey the Decree and because he had referred the matter to the Bishops the Emperour put the Question to him whether or not he himself approved the Decree And if he would turn out the Ministers of the Church who did not conform thereunto He therefore wrote to the Emperour in French resuming in a few words what had been done the Summer before at Ausburg and telling His Majesty That upon his return home he had intimated to his people and commanded them to observe that part of the Decree which related to the keeping of Holy days and the eating of Flesh that he had also several times carefully read over the whole Decree about Religion wherein he confessed there were many things that agreed with that Faith whereby he expected Salvation and many also that were inconsistent with it But that nevertheless he had charged the Ministers of the Church to weigh seriously all the Points of it and afterwards make their Report to him how they thought the matter might be ordered that since all of them with one voice affirmed that they could not with a safe Conscience approve it in all points he thought it not
Emperour and Princes of the Empire So soon as these came to Ausburg which was ten days after they bring a heavy accusation against the Senate and People of Magdeburg and in consideration that Duke Maurice had taken into his Service the Forces of the Duke of Meckleburg that they had also sent him Supplies and that they were not able long to support such Charges they desire the Princes to take some speedy course to quench the common Flame that both the Soldiers may be paid and these outlaw'd Criminals brought to condign Punishment before they recovered Strength and Courage after their late overthrow for that otherwise the Soldiers would run away to the Enemy which would put not only them who were the next Neighbours into present danger but also all the States of the Empire That it was their whole design to overturn the Government and to raise a popular Insurrection all over the Empire and therefore they proposed a Supply of eight thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse The same day the Answers of the Bremers and Magdeburgers to the Princes Letters we mentioned before were publickly read and the Bremers in the first place plead the earnest desire they have always had of Peace and the Emperour's Friendship that for obtaining it they had not only employed Deputies of their own but used the mediation also of the King of Denmark and the Maritime Cities and that the Conditions proposed were very hard But however that it might appear how great the Emperour's Authority was with them they would not refuse to send Deputies and promised to do any thing provided they might be allowed their Religion and Liberty The Magdeburgers again alledge that in the former Dyet they had made most humble and earnest suit to the Emperour for a Peace but that the Conditions were intolerable and the Wrongs since that time they sustained so grievous that finding no end nor measure of suffering Injuries they had been necessitated to resist force by force but still moderately That the cause why they were so much hated was only that they desired to retain the true Doctrine and eschew Idolatry That as affairs stood they could find none that would undertake to go in their Name with full power to the Diet against the Day appointed as they were commanded That besides George Duke of Meckleburg had unexpectedly made War upon them and declared openly that he did it by command from the Emperour and Empire That now also the City was blockt up by the Enemy but that if these did withdraw and safe Conduct were given to their Deputies with liberty to return and make a report of their Demands they would not refuse to send some About the beginning of November Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg died whilst the suit which he had with King Ferdinand as we said before was still depending and his Son Christopher succeeded him When the Emperour had received the Answers of the two Cities he said the Bremers were to be expected because they had promised to come but as to the Magdeburgers since the matter was quite otherwise than what they said and because they answered with a kind of contempt he bids them proceed in consulting what was to be done with them and chiefly that they should take the Demands of the States of the Bishoprick into their serious consideration and do therein what they should think fit both for the welfare and dignity of the Empire The Princes and States easily perceived that no Peace could ever be made upon these Conditions and therefore they desired easier Terms might be proposed but the Emperour persisted in his purpose So they at last though much against the minds of many especially of the free Towns assent and promise Assistance but on the other hand they pray the Emperour that he would also contribute And then that if he could not command in person he would appoint a General to carry on this War and for that end propose to him Duke Maurice if he thought fit but as for the Charges of it it was their judgment that they should be paid out of the Money already raised for the future occasions of the Publick The Emperour on his part made answer That he had been at vast Charges in the former War to restore Peace to Germany and therefore desires them to take it into their Consideration That as to Duke Maurice he was very well pleased nor did he know any man at that time more fit for the Charge than he was and that for several Reasons But that Money should be taken out of the publick Treasury he so far approved and allowed it as that what was taken out should within a certain time be refunded again for that that Money was not raised for this use and he exhorted them to prosecute the matter with all their Force that they might be punished according to their Deservings which was easy enough to be done he told them if Castles and Redoubts were raised about the Town and the Siege vigorously carried on without intermission till they were forced to yield but that there was need of expedition because of the season of the Year and the opportunity of Action For that if that headstrong and obstinate Rebellion were not suppressed it was obvious to them how much it would redound to the prejudice and disgrace of the Empire So then Duke Maurice who as we said had already thrust himself into Action having mustered the Forces under him is now publickly entrusted with the management of the War For defraying the Charges whereof a Subsidy is granted of threescore Thousand Florin's a Month and an hundred Thousand allotted for the Charges already made The Emperour in the next place assured the Princes That the Council should be again continued at Trent before Easter for that he had the Pope's Promise for it In the mean time he urges the Decree of Ausburg and bids them tell him the Reasons why the Regulations that were made two Years before for the Reformation of Religion and the Clergy were not observed The Electoral Archbishops answer That they had not omitted any thing and were at present wholly taken up about it but that the cause why it did not take effect was the Exemptions and Privileges that some pretended to The Representatives of the absent Electors said That all Endeavours had been used but that an inveterate continuance had withstood the effect for that this Religion was not so soon to be pluckt out of Men's minds but that there was need of Instruction and bringing them over by degrees who were fully persuaded that that Decree was in many things repugnant to the Holy Scriptures that no violent Change could be made without Troubles and Stirs and that if any Man should constrain the Preachers to it there would be no Service in the Churches for that hardly any one could be sound that would stoop to it because of that Article of Celibacy and of
the Lord's Supper The other Princes and States of the Catholick Religion give for Reasons the Schools and Colleges wherein the Youth is not rightly Educated the Protestant Ministers who srighten the People from that Decree the Poverty of Priests and the Negligence of the Magistrates that the dissolute and impure Lives of some Church-men also was a great hinderance and lastly that many in scandalous Books and Pamphlets did scurrilously rail and inveigh against the Decree without any Punishment Pope Julius having been often importuned by the Emperour about the thirteenth of November issued forth his Bull of Indiction for calling of the Council affirming it to be in his power to call and direct Councils That he was desirous also to procure the Peace of Germany which had been always most dutiful to the Catholick Church and Popes of Rome who are Christ's Vicars upon Earth That therefore all should come by the first of May to Trent who by any right custom or privilege ought to have place there and whom Paul the Third formerly called when he summoned the Council to meet at the same place for that from that day forward the Council should be continued And that if by reason of Age Sickness or publick Affairs he could not come and preside therein in person yet he would do so by his Legates This Bull he afterwards sent to the Emperour Duke Maurice being now Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces against Magdeburg vigorously persued the Enterprise and having built some Castles and Redoubts for lodging the Soldiers in the Winter time about the end of November he attack'd the Town The City is divided into three parts one of which that is called the New Town he surprized by scaling the Walls and Gates with great silence in the Night time and gave no Alarm before he had brought in his Soldiers The Towns-people rouzed by the Noise were such of them as were in Arms put to the Sword and the rest being taken and plundered were turned out But the Magdeburgers that they might force the Enemy from that advantageous Post sent Soldiers to set fire to it on that side which belonged to them and afterwards burnt the other part of the Town also which is called Sudeburg and received the Inhabitants into the City Much about this time Lazarus Schuendi came to the Camp that in the Emperour's Name he might assist Duke Maurice with his Counsel At that time Count Heideck whom as has been said the Emperour proscribed two Years before was in Saxony where he and Albert Count Mansfield were raising Forces in the Neighbouring Cities which are called the Maritime Towns for the Relief of the Magdeburgers Duke Maurice therefore in the Month of December marches against them with part of the Army and disperses them taking four Companies of their Men into his Service the same he did afterward to Count Heideck as shall be related hereafter On the fourteenth of December the Emperour published a very long and severe Edict against the Magdeburgers charging all Men not to aid nor assist them and commanding the Officers and Soldiers that were in the Town within fourteen days after sight of his Proclamation to depart out of the City and to certify the same to Duke Maurice or in his absence to Lazarus Schuendi upon promise of Pardon if they obeyed but if otherwise upon pain of his heaviest displeasure Albert Count Mansfield was in the Town who had not indeed been Outlaw'd by the Emperour but was turned out of all for his having continued to the last true and faithful to John Frederick Duke of Saxony We told you that the Emperour upon his going to Ausburg from the Netherlands had left the Landgrave Prisoner at Mechline The Elector of Brandenburg and Duke Maurice had indeed earnestly solicited his Enlargement but they were told that both he himself and his Sons and Counsellors did so behave themselves that he could not as yet be set at liberty nay his Keepers also told him that he was to be carried to Spain He therefore craved the assistance of his Sons whom he minded of the Duty they owed to him and charged them to enter their Action against the Elector of Brandeburg and Duke Maurice and force them to make their appearance according to the tenor of their Obligation and to fulfil their promise His Sons obey and by frequent Messages admonish and cite them They again sometime joyntly and sometimes severally now by Messengers and then in Person excuse themselves shewing them that it was neither for their own nor Father's Interest to do so and after alledge new Reasons which gave them confidence that he might be set at liberty without any danger They therefore begg'd Pardon and that they would have a little longer patience But the Emperour who as has been said had by De Lire solicited the Landgrave before to deliver up the Letters Obligatory being again put to it sent Lazarus Schuendi to his Sons and Counsellors commanding them not only to desist for the future from suing Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg but also to send him all Papers and Obligation of that nature and to let fall their Action under the severest Penalties but this was all in vain By publick Letters also he discharges the Princes engaged and declares them free from all obligation When therefore the Landgrave saw no hopes remaining he resolved at all ventures to make his escape if he could and cast about and devised how he might effect it with his Servants whom he had sent for out of Hess and were some of them Gentlemen of good Families but they fearing the danger went but slackly about the business At length he prevails with two of them Conrad Bredenstein and John Rommelun these laid fresh Horses all the way from Hess to Mechline for him to fly upon and make his escape But the design took vent through the fault of a Servant of his own who in familiarity blabb'd it out to a friend of his at Mechline that within a few hours his Master would be at liberty This being carried from hand to hand came at length to the Captain of the Guard 's ears and so the design was baulked in the very nick when it was to have been put in execution Two of his Servants were therefore run through upon the spot some others taken and beheaded and he himself made a close Prisoner The Emperour was highly displeased at this attempt and wrote to Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandeburg telling them That so bold an enterprise was injurious both to him and his Government and that he would severely revenge himself upon those that therein had assisted him either with aid or counsel They sent Copies of these Letters to Prince William the Landgrave's Son and amongst other things acquaint him that if any such thing were attempted for the future they would be absolved from all obligation unto them Nevertheless Duke
and put away the opinion he conceived of him for that that would much redound to the benefit of the Publick But that if he was not satisfied with this Excuse and would prefer War before Peace he himself must see how prejudicial and dangerous that would prove to all Italy and Europe also and be the cause in like manner that no firm nor lasting Treaty could be set on foot about matters of Religion That therefore if sad Commotions should thereupon ensue if the Council now called could not meet or if it did assemble should be dispersed if in that state of affairs he could not send any of his Bishops to Trent the fault was not to be imputed to him who was willing not only to offer but to receive Conditions of Peace as he did publickly protest But the Pope relying upon the Aid and Promises of the Emperour was nothing softened by that Embassy On the Seventeenth of June Duke Maurice again granted a safe Conduct to the Magdeburgers for Deputies to be sent to Treat with him about a Peace who being dispatched and conducted by Marquess Albert of Brandeburg found Duke Maurice at Pirn a Town of Misnia for he was gone home and seemed to act remisly So soon as they came he propounded these Conditions to them in the Emperours Name That they shall make no League against the Emperour King Ferdinand Austria nor the Netherlands That they shall observe all the Decrees of the Empire That they shall stand Tryals at Law and satisfie the Clergy for the damage they have received of them That they shall demolish their Works and Fortifications That they shall admit of a Garison of Twelve hundred Soldiers That they shall receive the Emperour King Ferdinand and their Generals at all times and with as many Men as they please That they deliver up twelve great Guns pay down an hundred thousand Florins and ratifie and confirm all these Conditions upon Oath Though they were not in a condition to perform these Articles yet did they not wholly reject them and at Count Heidecks intercession they were by little and little qualified The Emperour had before sent Letters of safe Conduct to Germany especially to the States of the Augustane Confession requiring them to repair to Trent by the First of May. But because by reason of the War of Parma the Council was put off till the beginning of December as has been said before he again warns them by any means to come and promises them all imaginable Justice and fair dealing Though there were a great many of that persuasion nevertheless what ought chiefly to have been done they did not confer Counsels together either that they despaired of any success in the matter or that they were afraid to offend the Emperour or again that they grew faint-hearted when they saw the danger at hand Of all the Free Towns none but Strasburg sent Messengers to enquire both what their Neighbours and those more remote were resolved to do And Duke Maurice had ordered Philip Melanchton to draw up the heads of their Doctrine which might afterwards be publickly produced That being finished and perused by all the Divines and Ministers who by the Princes command met at Leipsick on the Eighth of July it was by them all unanimously approved Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg took the like course also and caused Brentius to compose a Book of the same nature And though both Writings agreed in the very same points yet Duke Maurice would exhibit his own a-part lest if many together should propound the same thing in common the Emperour might take Umbrage at it and suspect some Association However having mutually communicated the Books to one another the Divines of Wirtemberg approved the Saxons Book and the Saxons that of Wirtemberg as the Divines of Strasburg did both And so it was agreed upon that when time served some should be sent to the Council to propose and defend that Doctrine The Duke of Wirtemberg after his Fathers example made much of John Brentzen for his Excellent Learning using his assistance in the restauration of the Reformed Religion he also restored him again to the Ministery and gave him the Living of Sutgart July the Five and twentieth Marquess Albert of Brandeburg in the absence of Duke Maurice by a Trumpeter rejects the answer that the Magdeburgers made to the Conditions of Peace proposed by Duke Maurice at Pirn He had got a small Ruffle the day before for they had engaged with greater Forces than ever they had done hitherto On the Thirteenth of August there had like to have been a great Mutiny within the Town For a Letter was brought to the Soldiers which mentioned that there were some of the Senate who would betray the Town and named Henry Alman for one Whereupon the Soldiers flocking together demand him He appeared and protested that it was an injury done unto him that it was a trick of the Enemy that by cunning and treachery they might bring about what they could not accomplish by force and fair â—ighting and that if the thing could be proved against him he did not refuse to submit to any punishment so that the whole Senate having engaged for his fidelity the matter was quieted and some Citizens and Soldiers were chosen to view the Letters that should be sent to and again for the future Fight days after Duke Maurice wrote to the Emperour acquainting him that for his own part he was satisfied with the safe Conduct he gave and could not find any great fault in it but that he was informed there was a Decree made in the Council of Constance that Hereticks or such as were suspected of Heresie should be brought into Inquisition if they came to the Council and sentence pronounced against them for their Crime although the Emperour had given them safe Conduct That that Decree was extant amongst the Acts of the Council and actually put in execution upon John Huss who had been put to death notwithstanding the safe Conduct of the Emperour Sigismund upon the security whereof he came That since it was so he could not send any of his Divines to Trent unless the Prelates assembled there should in the Name of the whole Council grant also their safe Conduct as it had been done in the Council of Basil which immediately succeeded that of Constance That the Bohemians being moved by the forementioned instance would not then go thither till first they had a safe Conduct from the whole Council that therefore he intreated his Majesty that either by his Authority or Interest he would obtain that from them for that unless a safe Conduct were granted in the same form as heretofore at Basil it ought not to be prejudicial to him or any else of the same profession if they suffered none of theirs to repair to the Council Now of the Bohemians and John Huss who was burnt at Constance and of the War that followed
he shew'd him his Commission as it was usual telling him That he was sent to joynt with the rest of the Augustane Confession in the prosecution of such means and counsels as might tend to the composing of the difference about Religion and Doctrine and the settling of publick Peace and Tranquillity He having taken a Copy of his Commission which he promised to send to the Emperour and spoken much of the Doctrine and of the dignity of the Council as he was indeed a Learned Man and accustomed to the Bar offered his pains and service This was the last of November And the same day the Divines had the Sacrifice of the Mass assigned them as the subject of their Disputations of which they were to give their Opinions in the manner before mentioned We told you a little before that Duke Maurice had sent Ambassadours to the Emperour in behalf of the Landgrave and with them were joyned the Ambassadours with the Elector of Brandeburg Being admitted the to Audience about the beginning of December and having made their Complements in the names of their Princes You know say they most gracious Emperour the streights and difficulties that the most Illustrious Princes Electors Duke Maurice and the Marquess of Brandeburg lye under upon the account of the Landgrave's confinement which contrary to all expectation they have run themselves into whilst they made it their chief study to procure to your Majesty an easie and honourably Victory lessen the charges of War and recover peace and quietness to their common Country And this also hath been the cause why they have solicited your Majesty sometimes by their Ambassadours and sometimes in person that you would have some consideration of them and set him at liberty offering your Majesty at the same time more ample security if that which they Welsfgang Prince Palatine and all the people of Hesse had granted were not thought sufficient To these their demands Sir you made answer telling Christopher Carlebitz and James Schilling whom they sent last to you that you could not conveniently set him at liberty before it appeared what the issue of the Imperial Dyet then at hand would prove And again that you promised no more but that if he performed his Articles he should not be detained perpetual Prisoner But when their other urgent Affairs would not suffer them to come to the Dyet they made fresh Addresses to your Majesty by Letters and their Agents at Ausburg To these you were pleased to write an Answer wherein having told them why you had more reason to be offended with him than before and that you could not discharge him you absolved them from the Obligation wherein they stood bound to the Sons of the Prisoner Wherefore they were resolved to renew their suit to your Majesty and would have come themselves but you know Sir how they were both hindered by the War of Magdeburg and Brandeburg also by Sickness they therefore have employed us to do it in their name And first then when it was your pleasure that the Landgrave should submit to your Majesty without any Conditions they understood from the Bishop of Arras that your intention was that he should accept and observe the Conditions you thought fit to communicate to them Now if he was to be persuaded to render himself up in this manner it was absolutely necessary to make known to him that he should neither be kept Prisoner nor be liable to more than what was contained in the Articles proposed And so the Princes gave him assurance as was well enough known to your Majesties Counsellors Besides when he desired an Explanation of some of the Articles of the Pacification and that he might be dispatched within six days this was granted him by the Bishop of Arras as in most other particulars the Princes obtained what they would And though in this Treaty things were not understood by both parties in the same sense so that upon his coming in contrary to the assurance given by them he was put into custody yet they never accused you Sir upon that account nor debated the Matter with your Majesty seeing they had treated only with your Counsellors and not with you save only then when the Landgrave was upon his Journy and sent them word to come to him to Norimburg For then they came and waited upon your Majesty to acquaint you that they had persuaded him to embrace the Conditions proposed and that they were going a little way to meet him if you pleased to give them leave Beseeching your Majesty that since relying upon their assurances he was now coming no more should be imposed upon him than what was contained in the Articles of Pacification and your Majesty having graciously promised this they then went to Hall and brought him Now in the last Treaty no mention at all was made of Detention and Custody which they think those you imployed can honestly testifie that is the Bishop of Arras with whom alone they treated and Selden whom sometimes he brought with him And indeed the Princes thought that so soon as he had signed the Articles and made his humble submission he should have been dismissed and many Reasons too they had to make them believe so First because your Counsellours made no mention of detention which is the chief clause in that Instrument and doubtless most of all weighed and considered by the Landgrave Again because in the Articles of Peace there are many things which cannot be performed by a Prisoner but only by a free Prince Besides because when he humbly begg'd pardon you forgave him his fault promising to recal the proscription and to give him a publick Remission under the Great Seal Moreover because you ratified and approved the security by them given whereby it is provided that if he perform not his Articles the People should deliver him up Prisoner and his Sureties compel him to Duty by force of Arms. Since all this was to no purpose and superfluous if they had thought that he was to have suffered in his own person Now when no such thing ever entred their thoughts nor was mentioned by your Majesties Counsellors they confidently sent for him obliging themselves to his Son that if any thing else happened to him they would answer body for body for him and undergo the same Fortune as he did This was their mind and thoughts of the whole Matrer which was also confirmed when after the submission the Duke of Alva invited the Landgrave and them to Supper Since indeed they could not so interpret that Invitation and Hospitable Entertainment according to the manner of Princes and the Custom of Germany that he should go to Alva's Lodgings as to a Prison and that they should wait and attend upon him to his Gaol For if they had had but the least suspition of it who can believe that ever they would have done so For as they are Princes of the Empire and Electors too descended of most Illustrious Families
in the way as they had been lately answered before the Session as we said before to wit That all Publick Action was at a stand upon their account and put off till another time but to have the Decrees debated again of new they prayed them not to cast such an aspersâ—on upon so many Excellent Men that they would engage their Faith and Word that when the Divines came they should be heard concerning all things that as to the bringing the Pope to submit to the Council and to absolve the Bishops from their Canonical Oath was a thing that properly belonged to his Holiness himself and that therefore the Fathers would do nothing therein till first they had acquainted him with it that as to the demands of Wirtemberg since they were almost of the same nature the Opinion of the Fathers was the same that therefore they besought them that for such trifling matters they would not suffer the occasion so long wished for of accomplishing a most holy design to be obstructed and disappointed to the prejudice of all the Provinces in Europe which might otherwise reap the fruits thereof but that they would use their endeavours and persuade their Masters that the Divines might be sent with all speed and that they could not at that time do the Publick better Service Many words having past betwixt them when the Ambassadours had insisted upon this chiefly that it was very unreasonable that one of the Parties in a Suit should be both Judge and Party and pass sentence upon the thing controverted at length they depart protesting that they received the Copy of the safe Conduct upon no other condition but that they might send it to their several Masters which they would forthwith do with great expedition that they would promote the matter as much as possibly they could and that they did not despair of their coming The Ambassadours of Duke Maurice presently sent the safe Conduct both to their Prince and Divines who they thought were then at Ausburg the like did the Deputy of Strasburg but those of Wirtemberg carried their Copy themselves setting out on their Journy homewards on the first of February by permission from their Prince who appointed others in their places as shall be said hereafter A little before this the Divines came from Duke Maurice to Norimberg and amongst these Melanchton being ordered to stay there till the Ambassadours sent the safe Conduct from Trent but some days after they arrived they had other orders sent them not to proceed any farther in their Journy but to expect the event of the Prince's Negotiation with the Emperour to whom as it was said he was going After the Decrees are published in the Session it was usual to assign the Divines Subjects for their future Disputations as hath been mentioned before but all things were now at a stand since the last Session whereof more causes than one were alleadged However it was given out publickly to have been done for the sake of the Protestants for in the beginning of February when one of the Ambassadours of Saxony and the Deputy of Strasburg went for their pleasure into the adjoyning part of Italy as far as Venice the other in the mean time who had seen Italy before dealt with the Emperours Ambassadours because he expected the Divines in a very short time they being then as he thought come as far as Ausburg that all Business might be deferred till they came and that the Fathers would patiently beaâ— with so small a delay The Archbishop of Treves had with him one Ambrose Pelarg a Dominican Fryar who on a Festival day which was the Seventh of February preaching on that Text of Scripture concerning the Tares mingled with the Wheat said amongst other things that the Tares must be in any manner rooted out provided it could be done without endamaging the Wheat applying all his Discourse to Hereticks who were signified by the Tares Now it was reported to the Ambassadours of Saxony that he had railed bitterly against Hereticks and had also said that no saith nor promise though made to them was to be kept Having therefore made diligent enquiry into the thing he went to the Cardinal of Trent who had authority there and the Emperours Ambassadours and complained of what he had heard The Fryer being sent for confessed that he had spoken of Hereticks in general and that they were to be destroyed by Fire Sword the Halter or any way whatsoever provided that could be done without a greater Inconvenience or Tumult but that he had not said a word of not keeping Faith to them and that if he had he must have endangered his own life for having transgressed a Decree of the Empire Afterwards they send for the Ambassadours and having read over the Fryers Justification bid him look for nothing from the Fathers but candour and fair dealing that if any thing should happen to be rashly blurted out though that was a thing severely prohibited they ought not to be moved thereat Whether the Fryer was wronged or not I cannot certainly tell for some of the Hearers being asked about it varied in their Relation Much about this time came Letters from Duke Maurice to his Ambassadours dated the last day of January Therein he ordered them that they should urge those things which they had not as yet obtained of the Fathers that now he was wholly taken up in making preparations to come to the Emperour that then amongst other matters he would treat of those things with him that besides his Divines the Deputies and Divines of some other Princes and Cities would also come amongst whom he named the Cousins Dukes of Pomerania The one of the Ambassadours because his Collegue was not as yet returned from his Expedition sent a Copy of this Letter to the Cardinal of Trent who lately before was gone to Brixen for he being much devoted to the Emperours service as he had a great love for Duke Maurice with whom he had lived with great intimacy and above all things wished the progress of the Council he was much troubled at this growing dissension that was in every bodies mouth and that was the reason why the Ambassadours sent a Copy of the Letter because he knew it would ease and refresh his Mind No sooner had he received that Letter but he wrote the Ambassadour an Answer That whereas he had had some doubts before he now began to take breath again and to hope that all would be well that so soon as Duke Maurice arrived at Inspruck he would immediately go thither if it were a great deal farther off to meet him for he thought that upon account of the friendship and intimacy that had been betwixt them he could prevail with him to follow peaceable courses Now the Letters were signed by Duke Maurice's own Hand and thereto was their Commission joyned which they might produce if there were occasion for that had been omitted before
Not long after February the Sixteenth the Elector of Treves to refresh himself departed from Trent homewards which the Emperour as it was said allowed of only upon this condition that so soon as ever his health did permit he should return thither again but he left Pelarg behind him that he might be present at all the Actions The Electors of Mentz and Cologne brought him going a Mile or two on his Journy but he struck off to the left hand and did not go by Inspruck where the Emperour then was Not long after it began to be whispered by many that the Council would be Prorogued and that Duke Maurice having made a League with the French King was preparing to make War with the Emperour This was indeed but a faint rumour in the beginning but growing stronger and stronger daily there was one privately sent from Trent to know the Emperours thoughts of the matter Afterwards one came thither also from the Emperour but all things were industriously concealed On the Second of March which then was Ashwednesday the Popes Legate affixed publick Indulgences upon the Church-doors granting Plenary Remission of Sins to all in general but especially to the Bishops Ambassadours and Divines who having either already or would within a certain time confess their Sins should go to some Churches of Trent on certain days and there by saying five Pater Nosters and as many Ave-Maria's with the other Prayers should pray to God for the Concord of Princes the Unity of the Church and the happy progress of the Council That this so great a benefit was granted by Pope Julius III. out of his great care for the salvation of Souls and that it might be obtained at Trent as well as at Rome The Bishops and the rest therefore thronged daily to the Churches especially the Spaniards observing a distinction of days for sometime they spent more time and sometimes less about their Devotion In this so great silence the Deputy of Strasburg having in a Conference with Poictieres enquired of him concerning the state of Affairs was told by him that it was an idle Report spread abroad of proroguing the Council and that the Emperour would have them by all means to proceed and continue their Actions that it was for their sake also that for several days nothing had been done since they had given hopes of the coming of their Divines This was about the beginning of March when towards the later end of February Duke Maurice had recalled his Divines from Norimberg who after the Report was raised of his going to War upon the Emperour having made some progress in his Journy thitherwards returned home and began to raise Soldiers as you shall learn in the following Book When these things began to be publickly known and that the many Messengers who came upon one anothers heels put the matter past all doubt the Electors of Mentz and Cologne to whom plenty of Provisions had been lately brought from the Lower Germany having with great expedition provided themselves Horses on the Eleventh of March departed from Trent about break of day the Legate with the Italian and Spanish Bishops having been to take leave of them the Evening before The same day new Ambassadours came to Trent from the Duke of Wirtemberg Wern Munching and Jerome Gerard a Lawyer Next day after they went to wait on the Emperours Ambassadours and having shew'd their Commission desired to have an answer to their Princes Demands which were presented to the Fathers on the Twenty fourth day of January and acquainted them withal that within a few days the Divines would come and give a fuller account of their Doctrine and Confession of Faith. That seemed very strange to them but for what reason I know not unless it were that it was said one of them had all things in readiness for their Journy and was thinking of returning home who then must needs tarry against his will. Their answer was That they must communicate the matter to the Fathers and that when that was done they would inform them of what they had said In the mean while the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice were in great perplexity and anxiety for they were thought to have acted craftily and being privy to their Masters Council to have dissembled all along when they in the mean time affirmed That they neither knew what was doing at home had received no Letters from thence nor could tell how they could return home without danger And since they perceived that the longer delay they made the greater their danger was like to be March the Thirteenth as soon as it was day with great silence they slipt away and posting to Brixen consulted the Cardinal of Trent what they had best do At length one of the Ambassadours who had lived long at Inspruck before he came to Trent and had in his Princes name made intercession with the rest to the Emperour for the Landgrave Having if I be not mistaken obtained a safe Conduct came to Inspruck and purged himself so well to the Emperours Counsellors of having any knowledge of Warlike Preparations that he gained credit from them From thence he went streight home but the other took his Journy through Carniola and so returned safe into his own Country When the Electors of Mentz and Cologne came to Inspruck they were honourably received by those whom the Emperour sent to meet them amongst whom was the Bishop of Arras Having after had long and private Conferences with the Emperour they pursued their Journy for the matter required dispatch Six days after the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice left Trent four Divines of Wirtemberg and two of Strasburg came thither of whom Brentius was one Wherefore the Ambassadours repair instantly to Count Montfort and name the Divines to him that were come praying that he and his Collegues would use their endeavours that the Fathers might give an answer to their demands and fall to business again Next day being the Nineteenth of March appointed for the Session as was said before the Fathers met in the House of the Legate The Ambassadours of Portugal who arrived a little before was present who having shewed his Commission was in solemn manner received by the Fathers and admitted to his place After that the publick Session was put off till the first of May and all this privately nothing else being done In the mean time the Duke of Wirtemberg caused the Confession of Faith which his Ambassadours presented in Council to be printed of which those who came last and afterwards the Divines had brought some Copies with them and those being communicated to some were sought after by many For the Popes Legate kept the written Copy that as I said was presented on the Twenty fourth of January and suffered but very few to read it which was not known till then so that when it was now published some Italian and Spanish Bishops and Divines made great enquiry after it
enrich himself that for some years past he had served the Emperor and King Ferdinand in their Wars to the great prejudice of his Estate without any other prospect or design but the purchasing of Honour and Reputation by his Services that fair and ample conditions had been several times offered him also but he had rejected them that he might espouse this War for the Liberty and ancient Dignity of his Country That if perhaps in this War the overgrown Power and Authority of the Clergy which is prohibited in holy Scripture should chance to be weakened and impaired he was not to be blamed for that since to say the Truth the chief Bishops of the Empire had been the cause of all these Evils that it was not his design though that those religious Houses which were founded chiefly for the use of the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed but that the vices being rooted out and those things reformed which could not be suffered they might continue in their own station nay and flourish too and that he would assist them therein provided they were willing and did not suffer themselves to be perswaded by his Adversaries to the contrary The French King also made publick Declaration that it had been his chief design Religion being once setled that he might do good to the publick but especially to his Friends That therefore immediately after the death of his Father he had restored Scotland to its ancient dignity renewed the league with the Switzers recovered Boloigne brought back the People that had been dispersed up and down into their own Lands and Possessions again and made a Peace and strict Friendship with the King of England But that whilst he was intent upon these things the Emperour by close and clandestine Counsels had contrived many things to his ruin and oftener than once given him a cause of War but that to give some ease and refreshment to the publick and to his own People also in private he had been still and winking at these injuries had wholly applied himself to the settling of his Kingdom that this his quietness had been by his Adversaries interpreted Cowardise and Faint-heartedness afterwards but that in the mean time sad and grievous Complaints had been brought to him from many of the Princes and States of Germany who said that under the specious Pretexts partly of Religion partly of a Turkish War and punishing of Rebellion designs had been carried on to bring them into Bondage and that through cunning and crafty counsels Factions and Divisions were fomented and Germany totally exhausted so that it was no longer to be doubted but that he aimed at an universal Monarchy for himself and the house of Austria that that truly had been a great grief to him not only because of the common origine of both Nations but also of the ancient alliance and friendship which had always remained firm and unviolate so long as the craft and subtlety of the Emperor had given it leave for that if the Government should be changed and Germany lose its liberty he well understood how dangerous and prejudicial that would be unto him that Germany was indeed the Bulwark not only of France but of all Christendom also and that therefore he had many times heartily wished and prayed that both People might have united their strength and put themselves into such a condition as not to need to fear any danger but that since there appeared no hopes of that and that in the mean time many craved his assistance but on different accounts he could see no way how he could succour the Empire so much rent and torn Nevertheless that in this so weighty a deliberation God the just Judge of all had offered him a very fit occasion for that Octavio Farnese Duke of Piacenza and Parma for whom the Emperor and Pope Julius laid Snares had implored help from him and by laying open before him all the injuries received had perswaded him to undertake the Protection of him and the Prince of Mirandula that afterwards came those complaints from the Princes of Germany who desired to enter into league with him as being the only way in their opinion to restore the State that he would not mention those weighty and just causes that the Princes had to take up Arms since they might be understood from their own declarations but yet that any Man might consider with himself whether this insatiable ambition of their Adversaries was not a just ground of grief who having ruined the Wealth of Germany swept all into their own Coffers and Treasury Were not the provinces of Utricht Liege and Cambray sufficient instances thereof And what was also Constance and many other free Cities oppressed That the Burgundians now hovering over the People of Treves Cleve and Wirtemberg had left the Prints of their footsteeps upon their Borders and many ways made havock of the Landgraves Territories that in like manner and for the same purpose the Emperor excluded his Ambassadors from the Diets of the Empire prohibited by publick Edict the Germans from serving foreign Princes in their Wars cut off brave and valiant Soldiers and amongst those Vogelsperg whom he himself to glut his revenge saw executed at Ausburg Was it not a thing of bad example that he should encourage and hire Men to kill those who served in his Wars That it was not certainly to be expressed what Arts their Enemies used for such were by them thrust in and admitted into the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and Diet of the Empire as might make it their whole business to bring about and accomplish whatever they pleased and that indeed the blame of all the Evils that had happened was to be imputed to those kind of Men but especially the Judges of the Imperial Chamber That for these reasons he could not refuse his assistance to the Germans who desired it that therefore he had made a League with them and not only done so but was resolved also to employ all his force nay his very Person in that war that he did not neither look for any private profit or advantage thereby but that it was only his intent that by asserting the Liberty of Germany delivering John Frederick Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave whom he had detained in a tedious and base Captivity he might purchase to himself Praise and immortal Glory as Flaminius had heretofore done in delivering Greece from bondage nor needed any Man to fear Violence for that since he had undertaken that War for the sake of Liberty he would take care that no Man who did not deserve it should receive any hurt that therefore they might believe the Promise which he faithfully made to them and not give credit to their Adversaries who gave it out that it was his design to afflict and plague the Clergy that he was so far from entertaining such thoughts that he took them all under his protection and defence provided they gave him
Cost nor Danger to gratifie them that now he intended to return home especially since his Enemies had invaded France that he was not a little troubled at the Complaints of the poor People however no Army could be kept in so strict Discipline but that licentious Soldiers would still be doing some Mischief That nevertheless he made it his chief Care that both as little damage should be done as was possible and that offences of that nature should be most severely punished that as to what they wrote of the Emperor and a Peace he expected they would be as good as their words That Germany through his Care Pains and Power being now respited from those Calamities under which it groaned it chiefly concerned them to look to it that they did not basely lose that Liberty which was restored to them by his Endeavours That he could not deny them the request they made to him concerning Strasburg though when he was in those Parts with his Army the Soldiers of that City had behaved themselves very sawcily and insolently towards his Men. When the King was gone into Germany the Emperor's Forces in the Netherlands under the Command of Martin de Rossem entred France Burnt and Plundered Champaigne far and near and took Asteney upon the Meuse a Town within the Territories of Lorrain but lately seized by the French. This was thought to have been one reason why the French King drew off his Army another was that he was not well pleased with what Duke Maurice had done and then lastly because he was disappointed in his hopes of Strasburg Upon his removal from Weissemburg Ambassadors came to him from all the Cantons of Switzerland To King Ferdinand belongs the Province of Sontgow which borders upon Switzerland and they of Ensissheim are the chief People of the Country These being apprehensive of their own Danger had entreated the Switzers that for the Interest and Favour they had with the French King they would interceed for them which they willingly undertook having their charges born and this was the reason of their coming to the King to whom also they recommended the neighbouring Cities of Colmar Schlestadt and Strasburg alledging that this whole Country was linked to them in strict Friendship because of its Neighbourhood from whence also in time of need they had plentiful supplies of Corn so that what damage was done to the one the other must needs feel To these the King made answer May the twentieth not far from Deux-ponts That he pardoned the People of Ensissheim provided they set at Liberty those of his Soldiers whom they had in Prison But as to the rest for whom they had spoken he had never intended them any hurt and that though the Soldiers of Strasburg had received his Men who went thither to buy Goods somewhat roughly before the Gates and had turned them back yet he would not break off Friendship with them were it no more but for their sakes that made the Intercession That now he was in possession of Lorrain and so they his near Neighbours he would act nothing contrary to the rules and customs of Neighbourhood and that he expected from them the same Friendship and good Offices Before that Ambassadors came to the King when he was at Saverne from the Senate of Basil much about the same Business and had also a gracious Answer from him We told you before how Duke Maurice departed from Lintz so soon as the Conference was over King Ferdinand also hastened to Inspruck to give the Emperor an account of his Negotiation Now Duke Maurice returning to the Camp marched with his Associates towards the Alpes as hath been mentioned before and being come pretty near unto them at the instigation of the French Ambassador he resolved to fall upon the Soldiers whom the Emperor had ordered to be raised in those Places When then May the seventeenth he was advanced almost as far as Fiessen a Town lying at the entry into the Alpes upon the River of Leck he sent out Scouts to learn Intelligence of the Enemy all of them in a manner brought him back word that they had fortified themselves in the streights and passes of the Mountains that there was no way to hurt them Wherefore the Princes sent out some choice Men pickt out of the whole Army who having made an excursion near the Enemies Camp intercepted some Straglers and brought them with them back to the Army These made several discoveries so that next day the Princes advanced with the Foot and having with them but two hundred Horse marched into Fiessen and not far from La Rue came to the narrow Passes possessed by about eight Hundred Imperialists with two Field-Pieces Those they Charged and forcing their way into the Streights drove the Enemy out who flying to the Camp near La Rue put their Comrades into great Fear and Consternation The Princes following close in the pursuit break in upon them also and at length put them to flight of whom about a Thousand were taken killed or drowned in the Leck with the loss of one pair of Colours Next Morning they march on to Erenberg a Castle we have often named and having by good Fortune taken the Fort underneath the Castle with some great Guns and by that means being Masters of the Passes they clambered up a very steep Hill over against them and in spight of all the Shot that were poured down upon them got up to the Castle which they took upon Composition There was a Garrison there of thirteen Ensigns whereof they took nine and the other four got off and of these three were of Germans and one of Italians in all were taken about three Thousand Men with very small loss on the side of the Princes But Duke Maurice fell into great danger after for resolving to march forward the Soldiers commanded by Rifeberg refused to move unless they had some extraordinary Pay in hand for taking of the Castle but Duke Maurice told them that it was an unreasonable Demand and at the same time commanded one of the Mutineers who bawled out louder than the rest to be apprehended With that the rest make at him both with Pikes and Butt of Musquet so that flying in all haste with much ado he saved his Life May the twenty first two Regiments of Foot were detached to march over the Alpes to Inspruck two days Journey distant all the Horse with one Regiment of Foot more lying about Fiessen and La Rue to defend the passage Duke Maurice and the associate Princes following after next day joyned the Foot at Zirlen a Town not above two good Miles from Inspruck but the Emperor having Intelligence of the taking of Erenberg in great haste fled from Inspruck by Night with his Brother King Ferdinand who came thither a little before to negotiate a Peace as has been said and taking his way through the Alpes as they go to Trent he struck off to
parts of one and the same Empire under one Prince and governed by the same Laws but that when in the vicissitude of time the Empire devolved upon the Germans the Dukes of Saxony and other Emperors as deriving their Original from the Kings of the Francs entertained constant Friendship with the French insomuch that Philip the August King of France caused that ancient League which was almost worn out by time to be written of new in Golden Characters and to be laid up in a more Sacred place and not without just Cause neither for that so long as this Union lasted both People lived in a most flourishing State That the force of Germany was then so great that they gave Laws not only to the Hungarians Bohemians Polanders and Danes but to the Italians also and the Kings of France again who fought for the maintenance of Religion obtained many glorious Victories in Europe Asia and Africa over the Saracens and Turks the declared Enemies of Christendom But that the times proved more unlucky afterwards when some Emperors as being ingrafted upon the Stock but no natural Germans nor worthy of that Dignity forsook the amity of the Kings of France and brought great Calamities upon the Empire but that through God's Blessing this Wound was Healed by the Illustrious Family of Luxembourg which hath produced some Emperors Princes of great Merit and most intimate Friends of the Kings of France For the Father of Charles IV died fighting for the King of France that the Princes of the House of Austria have entertained the same Amity and Kindness and particularly Albert the first whom neither the Promises nor Threats of the Popes could move to make War against France that he mentioned these things with this Intent that they might be convinced how little some of the Counsellors and Courtiers of the most mighty Emperor Charles V. tendered the wellfare of the Empire whilst they make it their Business not only to divide and rend asunder those two most renowned Nations but also did by their Arts and Cunning so far prevail formerly that King Francis a most excellent Prince was by their Procurement judged an Enemy and no reason given why That they did those things for their own private Gain and Advantage indeed but to the great Prejudice of the Publick That this alone was enough to shew how difficult it would be for them so long as Friendship continued betwixt both Nations to infringe the Liberty of Germany and to erect their own Monarchy that the fear of the French Arms made them now proceed more remissly and not so much urge their Spanish Yoke of Bondage as formerly that these were the Men who by Prayers and Tribute obtained Peace from the Turk that they might under the Colour of Religion and Loyalty raise Feuds and Animosities in Germany that being aided by the Forces of Germany they might make War against Germany that they might squeeze Money from all and reduce the Empire to a sad and miserable Condition placing here and there Spanish Garrisons exhausting the Magazines and making way for Arbitrary Rule For that matters were now brought to this Pass that the great Seal of the Empire the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and the right and liberty of Diets all depended on the Will and Pleasure of one Man the Bishop of Arrus For what instance could be shewn or reason given that free-born Germans who for a livelihood served Strangers in their Wars should be Punished Proscribed and have Princes set upon their Heads Not to mention so many Murthers lascivious Practices Devastations plunderings of Towns but especially the varying and altering of Religion according to occasion and the turn of Times That there was no doubt to be made but that whatever had been done of this nature for many Years past tended only to this that the Laws of the Empire being Confounded King Ferdinand either forced or wheedled by Promises and the Princes of the Empire over-awed the Prince of Spain might be designed Emperor Were not Death more eligible to brave Men than to live and see the Sun with so great Misery That no Man certainly could be imagined so Barbarous as not to be moved at these things That it ought not to be thought strange then that some Princes should at length arise and amongst others Duke Maurice Elector of Saxony who thought the danger of their Lives too little for recovering the liberty of their common Country But that finding themselves inferiour in Strength they had implored the Aid and Assistance of the King of France and that he setting aside all the Provocations received in former Years had not only imparted to them his Treasure but also employed himself wholly in the Affair having made a League with them wherein amongst other things it was provided that no Peace should be made with the Emperor without the Advice and Consent of the King Moreover that Duke Maurice though he lay under that Obligation yet that he might serve his Country and comply with the Desires of King Ferdinand had lately demanded of the most Christian King that he would let him know upon what terms he would be willing to make Peace That the Proposal had been made somewhat contrary to his Expectation indeed for considering what a great Favour he had done he thought that in matters concerning himself he ought to have Treated Personally and not at so great distance But that nevertheless since he preferred the publick far before his own private Interests he was not willing to deny any thing to a Confederate Prince That therefore if the Wounds of the State might be Healed as they ought to be and such Care taken that they might not for the future Fester again if the Captive Princes might be set at Liberty upon the Conditions prescribed by the League if the ancient Alliance betwixt France and the Empire and the League made lately with the Princes might be confirmed so as it should be perpetual if all these things might be procured the King was so well affected towards the Publick that he not only assented to the Treaty of Peace but would render hearty Thanks to God that by Counsel and Assistance he had contributed thereunto That as to private affairs since the Emperor detained many things by force and upon no just Cause had made War the King thought it reasonable that he who had first done the wrong should first also make the Satisfaction That for his part though he did not distrust his Strength yet he would so behave in all things that it should appear he was not only desirous of Peace but willing also to gratify Duke Maurice and them all To these things the Princes make answer that the Commemoration of the ancient Alliance betwixt Germany and France brought from the Records of former times had been very pleasant unto them nor was it less acceptable to understand that the King preferred the Publick before his own private Advantages and that he was willing
those conditions of Peace which they had so sollicitously sought out and Collected especially since the chief of them had been approved at Lintz which Treaty they had proposed to themselves as a Pattern to be followed as also since those things which properly belonged to his Dignity and Character had been purposely referred to a Diet of the Empire that there they might be handled more conveniently and with greater Moderation The same day this was done Duke Maurice departed and when on the eleventh of July he was come to the Confederates who then encamped at Mergetheins he told them what had been done and that King Ferdinand was gone to the Emperor in great haste so that he believed he would speedily send Commissioners with a full and definite Answer However that in this doubtful state of Affairs they might not be idle and because in Franckfurt there was an Imperial Garrison of seventeen hundred Foot and a thousand Horse under the Command of Conrad Hanstein so that Hesse that bordered upon it was in no small danger it was resolved that they should march thither Having then burnt and plundered and done a great deal of damage to Wolffgang Master of Prussia in whose Countrey they then were they marched through the Arch-Bishop of Mentz his Territories and on the Seventeenth of July came before Franckfurt But immediately upon that the Princes Intercessors and the Ambassadors sent their Agents after Duke Maurice to the Camp to sweeten things and promote the Peace In that Siege George Duke of Meckleburg having joyned Duke Maurice the same who first of all made War against the Magdeburgers was shot with a Cannon-Bullet So soon as the Siege was laid down before Franckfurt the Confederate Princes demanded a great many great Guns from the Elector Palatine which once and again he denied them But when he could not do otherwise and they threatned to come and fetch them with an Army he gave them Eight of the best he had with all their Equipage King Ferdinand at the prefixed day returning to Passaw declared to the Mediators the Emperor's Will and Pleasure as to the several Points to wit that as to publick Matters of the Empire which Duke Maurice had proposed as we said before they should not be handled by some few Commissioners apart but by the whole Body of the Empire met in a Diet. Again That the Cause of Religion should rest till the next Diet of the Empire And that what should be thought fit to be done in that particular for the future by all the States in that Diet should be ratified and confirmed The Emperor also July the eleventh gave this Answer to the Mediators last Letter That as they had by their Letter so King Ferdinand his Brother had also very earnestly dealt with him that he would accept of the Conditions and thus he would willingly indeed have gratified both of them but that there were many Causes that hindred him which he had declared unto his Brother for he could not approve and ratifie all indifferently Now that some had underservedly fallen into calamity through the occasion of these Troubles no man living was more sorry for it than he that yet their Sufferings were not to be imputed to their confidence and relying upon him since he had put no man into such hopes as he might securely trust to For that though when the Stirs did first break out he had written to some of the chief Princes that they would endeavour to prevent that growing Evil promising them his best concurrence yet it was not his mind to approve of every thing that might be propounded That it seemed indeed reasonable to him that such things as concerned the Empire in general should be referred to the publick Diets thereof wherein if any just complaint should be by any man brought against him he would not be wanting to that Duty which hitherto he had never neglected That since no Demand of that Nature had ever been presented to him as yet which nevertheless ought to have been done before any War had been attempted he could not divine what would be demanded of him and much less give Instructions to his Ambassadors whom he sent to Passaw what they should answer to every Head which for the dignity of his Person and Character he thought it not fit to do personally That if therefore he approved not all things which some perhaps endeavoured to perswade them to do no man ought to censure him for that but that they who were the Mediators ought rather to encline and exhort them to reasonable and moderate Conditions especially since they were sensible that hardly at last and not before he was forced to it by necessity he had taken up Arms which he intended not to make use of now neither if he might chuse and if they could hit upon an equitable and proper Expedient for Peace That since the Case was so he was very confident that they would shew all Duty and Allegiance to him who was their chief Magistrate rather than listen to those who contrary to Duty had made a League with his Enemies and raised Stirs and Commotions That he was not ignorant of the Evils and Calamities that did impend when both Armies should be ready to joyn in Battel and that he was very much moved at the Damages sustained by the State but especially by the innocent People wherefore he did now as at all times before set his mind on Peace and would not refuse any reasonable Overture but that he was not at all to be charged with this That whilst he was deliberating about the Conditions sent to him at two several times some of the States had sustained wrongs for that the Truce was to have lasted all the time of the Treaty That Marquess Albert during the same time damnified several sorts of People he was not to answer for it since from the very beginning he had been against the Treaty That neither had he ever made any delay in answering and if they had continued still on the same sort as they proposed at first but altered since he could have answered much sooner and more distinctly too nay if they had not swerved from the Treaty of Lintz which they themselves mentioned all things might have been longe're now accommodated That since they were sensible then how he stood affected towards the Publick he instantly required them that together with his Brother King Ferdinand unto whom he had discovered all his mind they would induce them to reasonable Conditions and therein have respect both to the Safety and Dignity of the Empire That he for his part was resolved to use the same Lenity and peaceable Ways in time to come as utterly abhorring all Civil War But that if Peace could not be had on these Terms he expected from them all the Fruits of Allegiance that they were obliged to render unto him King Ferdinand made Answer also in the Emperor's Name to
the French Ambassador's Letter lately read in the Meeting of the Princes as we said before That his Imperial Majesty had had Peace with the French King which he punctually observed and that though some things had been done by him insolently and haughtily yet for publick Peace sake he had dissembled them but that though he had by his Ambassador promised great Matters yet when he pretended no such thing he had made War against him both by Sea and Land without any previous Declaration That moreover he the Emperor had offered already that if the Elector Duke Maurice did propose in his name any reasonable Conditions of Peace that did quadrate with his past Actions he would not refuse them but that no certain nor definite Proposition had been made it being his drift that as he had laid the blame of the breach of Peace at his door so he would have him also make the first step towards an Agreement That moreover he laboured to vindicate himself from having made a League with the Turk as if it had been an aspersion cast upon him But all that was no more than a Sham for if it were needful the Memoirs of the French Ambassador d'Aremont written for the help of his memory at Constantinople and sent to the King by one Captain la Coste might be produced and shewn That the intercepted Letters of the Turks Lieutenant in Hungary written to the Princes now in League and others might also be exhibited That it appeared manifestly from them that he himself was the Author of the damage done by the Turkish Fleet last year and did spur them on to have done as much this year being heartily sorry that they had not done more mischief than they did That in short it was the Design of him and the Grand Signior utterly to ruine him and his Brother King Ferdinand that they might afterwards plunge their Neighbors and chiefly the Germans into the depth of danger and distress but that how well these things agreed with his fair Promises and how safe like to prove to Germany any man might easily understand for the thing it self declared plainly what mind he was of how that the chief States of the Empire had been most underservedly harrassed oppressed and almost utterly undone the same year That many others had been exposed to the worst of dangers That by the help of the Germans who joyned with him some places of the Empire had been reduced under his tryannical Power and were now fortified by him the whole fault was his and his only That the Case being so then he did not see what credit was to be given to the Lies and Forgeries of his Ambassadors Letter and that it had been far better in his Judgment to have rejected it than to have admitted any such Answer That if they carefully considered the Matter he made no doubt but they would see what Projects he was carrying on by means of his Ambassador and that since that Writing did not at all concern the Treaty in hand it seemed not to him necessary to make any further Answer to it July the Thirteenth King Ferdinand sent Henry of the illustrious Plawen-Family Burgrave of Misnia and Chancellor of Bohemia to the Camp before Franckfurt who coming to Duke Maurice on the twenty fourth of July and having for some time debated Matters with him at length perswaded him to Peace So that on the last of July contrary to all mens expectation the whole Matter was concluded as shall be related hereafter Amongst the other Arguments used to perswade him this was one that he would consider with himself what danger he would be exposed to if he accepted not the Conditions both from the Emperor who had a very strong Army on foot and also from his Cousin John Frederick whom the Emperor had set at liberty and was now upon sending him home and that the Landgrave's Son should consider also into how great peril he must needs bring his Father in Prison and the whole Province too After the Peace was made the great Guns which as we said before the Elector Palatine was forced to furnish were carried into the Town that they might not fall into the hands of the Marquess Albert. In the Month of July the French King having taken some Towns in the Duchy of Luxembourg as hath been said before brought his Army into Artois but without any memorable Action done to refresh his Men and save them from infection he disbanded them and returned home himself having fortified and garison'd the Places which he had taken and given the Command of all to the Duke of Guise a Prince of great Authority in France But he commanded the Duchess Dowager of Lorain the Emperor's Sisters Daughter to depart out of the Kingdom She on the Twelfth of July came to Strasburg and staid there several days having with her her Husband's Sister who was also sent going by the French King. Wolffgang Master of the Teutonick Order mentioned before who in the Imperial Diets takes place next to the Archbishops came also to Strasburg being driven out of his own Countrey Marquess Albert who had joyned the Confederates on their March to Frankfurt leaving them at the Siege marched towards the rhine and there forced Worms and Spire to submit to pay him Money and furnish great Guns whithersoever he went the Priests were all fled before or else changing their Habit staid and pretended to be of some other Profession And when he came near to Franconia the neighbouring Bishops and other Prelates all fled for their own Safety the Archbishop of Mentz also who for fear of Marquess Albert was gone before as hath been said on the Twenty fifth of July came as an Exile to Strasburg where having lodged one night he passed over the Rhine The Bishop of Spire a very aged man fled to Saverne and not long after died there The Bishop of Wormes by Mediation of the Palatine returned home after he had paid a Composition of twelve thousand Florins Marquess Albert having taken the Cities we mentioned on the twenty eighth of July wrote to the Senate of Strasburg both in his own and French King's Name requiring them to give him and the Confederates access into the City at all times to receive a Garison when there should be occasion and to take an Oath of Fidelity for that this War was carried on for the common concern and relief of Germany and that it would neither be honourable nor safe for them to stand out and not joyn with the rest seeing he and his Confederates had now again mustered all their Forces to accomplish that Design The Senate two days after wrote him back an Answer That for many years past it had been their chief wish that the true Religion of Christ and the ancient Liberty might flourish all over Germany and that they had not only directed all their Counsels and Actions to that scope but also
contributed their Money and Goods at all times That it was still their resolution and they would never be backward to do all that lay in their power at any time for the Dignity and Safety of their common Countrey and that they knew it to be their duty so to do according to the Oath of Fidelity whereby they were bound to the Empire That since it was so there was no necessity that they should give any further Declaration of their intentions That the King of France himself when he was lately in Alsatia had demanded no such thing of them That moreover the Writing which he mentioned to have been published by the Confederates concerning the Cause of the War had never been sent or shewn to them and that therefore they entreted him to be satisfied and not do any injury to them or their Countrey At the very same time Marquess Albert having received intelligence that Duke Maurice enclined to Peace left a Garison in Spire and with his Army returning before Franckfurt prosecuted the Siege which Duke Maurice upon conclusion of the Peace had now raised having encamped on a higher ground on the other side of the Town and this side of the River Mayne from whence he might most commodiously batter the place For he was cruelly vexed at this Pacification and spoke very reproachfully of Duke Maurice refusing to be comprehended in the Treaty The Conditions of Peace were That the Confederate Princes shall lay down their Arms before the Twelfth day of August and disband their Forces so as they may serve King Ferdinand if he please and neither annoy the Emperor nor Germany At and before the same day also the Landgrave shall be set at liberty and safely conveyed to his own Castle of Rhinefelse which he hath upon the Rhine having first given Security for performing the Conditions imposed by the Emperor at Hall in Saxony The Duke Maurice the Elector of Brandenburg and Wolffgang Duke of Deux-ponts who were then Sureties for him shall be bound and renew their Obligation for him again That the Suit which the Landgrave hath with the Count of Nassaw concerning the Lordship of Catzenelbogen shall be brought to a new Trial before the Princes Electors and such others as both the Plaintiff and Defendant shall pitch upon for that purpose out of whom the Emperor shall afterward chuse six who shall finally determine the Matter but so that the Cause be decided within the space of two years That within six Months the Emperor shall hold a Diet of the Empire and then it is to be deliberated by what means chiefly the Difference about Religion may be composed That in the mean time all shall live in peace and no man be molested for his Religion That what shall be decreed by the common Consent of the States and Authority of the Emperor touching the manner of quieting the disturbances about Religion to wit that the difference be taken up in an amicable just and pious way the same shall be firm and stable That those of the Augustane Confession shall also be admitted into the Imperial Chamber That all other things that concern the Honour and Liberty of Germany shall be handled in the Diet of the Empire That Otho Henry Prince Palatine shall have the free enjoyment and possession of his own Countrey That all who during this War bound themselves by Oath to be true to the Confederate Princes shall be discharged from all Obligation and be their own men as before That they who have received hurt and damage in the tumult of War shall not bring any Action for it against those who did the same However That the Emperor and States may in the next Diet consider of some way how their Losses may be repaired As to what concerns the French King since he hath nothing to do with the Affairs of the Empire he may if he please declare to Duke Maurice what private Demands he hath to be made to the Emperor that so they may be all communicated by him to his Imperial Majesty That those who are Outlawed shall be received into favour again provided they act nothing for the future against the Emperor and States of the Empire provided also that they who serve the French King do within three Months time leave his Service and return into Germany That Marquess Albert of Brandenburg shall be comprehended in this Peace provided he lay down Arms and disband his Forces at before the 12th day of August And that he who shall break this Peace be reckoned an Enemy All these Articles were signed by the Princes of the first Rank who were present and by the Ambassadors and Deputies of the rest For the Instrument of this Peace was drawn up at Passaw and was also signed by the Emperor Upon the Conclusion of Peace the French Ambassador returned home for the King was highly displeased at the Pacification But being informed that the Landgrave was in great danger unless some Capitulation were made he consented to it and sent back the Hostages safe into Germany On the Third of August Duke Maurice and the Landgrave's Son departing from Franckfurt separated and took two several ways the Landgrave's Son went into Hesse but Duke Maurice led his Forces to Donawert and sent them by Water down the Danube to Hungary against the Turk But the Regiment commanded by Rifeberg past the River of Mayne and went to Marquess Albert to the great trouble of the Princes who feared that the Emperor might take occasion hereby to detain the Landgrave still prisoner Marquess Albert having lain some time before Franckfurt where he refused to be comprehended in the Peace on the Ninth of August departed and passing over the Rhine came and encamped near to Mentz making the Citizens take an Oath to be true unto him About the end of July the Emperor came from Villach to Inspruck and from thence taking his way through Bavaria with the German Bohemians Italians and Spaniards who arrived at Genoua about the beginning of July under the Command of the Duke of Alva on the Twentieth of August he came to Ausburg When the Arch-Bishop of Mentz who had for some days wandered as a Fugitive up and down Schuabia heard of the Emperor's coming he went to Ausburg also About this time the People of Siena at the instigation and with the aid of the French King cast out their Spanish Garrison demolish a Citadel that was there begun to be built by the Emperor's Command and declare for their former Liberty Marquess Albert in the mean time demands vast Sums of Money of the Church-men especially of Mentz and Spire but when the Money could not be raised since most of them were fled he robbed the Churches of both Cities and began to take the Lead off of the Cathedral of Spire but at the intercession of the Senate he desisted At Mentz besides he burnt not only the Bishop's Castle standing upon the Rhine his
encrease those Suspicions That it was his Duty to administer Justice equally to all Men and to discharge all proceeding by Force and Violence that the only way then was to agree the matter amicably and that he doubted not but if he did prudently weigh with himself all things he would take that Course In the mean time that the Affair might be the more easily managed and with greater Advantage he would recommend it to the Care of his own Kinsmen the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg to interpose their Mediation That the Bishops had by several Letters made heavy Complaints to him but nevertheless he was confident they would not refuse a Treaty That he had referred it to John Marquess of Brandenburg to make an end of the difference betwixt Henry Duke of Brunswick and his Nobility and that he had appointed the Duke of Bavaria and Wirtemberg also to take up the matter betwixt the Counts of Oetingen Father and Son. Much about this time both Count Mansfield's Army was dispersed and the Commissioners of John Frederick and Duke Maurice met to make them Friends For the former in all his publick Letters and the Money he Coyned took to himself the title of Elector and gave the two cross Swords which are the Arms and Cognizance of the Electoral Dignity as also by the Emperor's Permission he again fortified the Castle of Gothen Now Duke Maurice took that heinously and complained of it to his own States They were all unanimously of Opinion that a Peaceable Course should be taken to adjust all Controversies betwixt them and therefore Commissioners were sent as we said but in vain At this time also the Bishop of Metz Robert Cardinal Lenoncourt wholly addicted to the French King came to Metz where he challenged all the Jurisdiction to himself as being a Prince of the Empire and appointed a new Senate into which some Churchmen were admitted nay besides he fortified Marsey a Town upon the Frontiers of Germany and put a French Garrison into it Letters of his had been intercepted before wherein he desired of the King that he would allow him the Jurisdiction which the Bishops his Predecessors had enjoyed For that it was his purpose to establish a new Senate and to admit no Man into it but he that was wholly at his Majesties Devotion that otherwise those of the Emperor's Faction would remain there and others remove which would prove very disadvantageous to his Interest For that unless all suspected Persons were turned out he needed not Promise to himself the quiet Possession of that Town That it was his great desire to give him some Proof of his Inclinations to gratifie him since it had been his chief End in removing into those Parts and accepting of that Bishoprick that he might do him some signal piece of Service At that time Marquess Albert was at Heidelberg with the Elector Palatine and had sent the Letters we mentioned to the Imperial Chamber from thence Then came also the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg by the Emperor's Command to Heidelberg upon the account of Pacification the Duke of Cleve came thither also There the matter was long debated but when the Bishops had offered vast sums of Money and especially Bamberg that he might quietly possess his own Towns and the Mediators had approved the Condition Marquess Albert who would have no less than the Performance of their Compacts which the Emperor had ratified who had Officers at the same time raising Horse in Saxony and was now assured of assistance from other Hands departed without any Conclusion made to the great offence of the Mediators He thereupon presently betook himself to Arms and by a Declaration of the twenty seventh of March gave a full relation of the matter wherein he heavily complains of his Adversaries for their Breach of Articles refutes the Argument alledged by the Bishops that it was not lawful for them to alienate any Church Lands and declares that he was necessarily obliged to maintain his Right by Force of Arms. The Duke of Wirtemberg was personally present and the Bishop of Bamberg had sent his Deputies The Controversie that the Duke of Wirtemberg had with the Master of the Teutonick Order was by the Mediation of the Princes accommodated and the Master for the recovery of his Towns was to pay thirty Thousand Florins On the second of April being Easter-Day Duke Maurice came also to Heidelberg to meet the Princes having made great haste in coming but three days after he hastened as fast home again The Mediators we named entred into a mutual League to defend themselves from Injuries wherein the Archbishops of Mentz and Treves were also Comprehended When Marquess Albert having rejected the Conditions proposed to him at Heidelberg was bringing together an Army the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg obtained an Order from the Imperial Chamber directed to them the Archbishop of Mentz the Prince Palatine Duke Maurice the Master of Prusia John Frederick Duke of Saxony the Duke of Wirtemberg the Landgrave the State of Norimberg and all the Neighbours commanding them to aid and assist them and this was on the second of May. Duke Maurice who otherwise entertained Jealousies of Marquess Albert and thought himself also obliquely aimed at by that War for his own Security made a League with the Duke of Brunswick and promised Assistance to the Bishops and the City of Norimberg In the mean time Marquess Albert having mustered his Forces Advances Plunders and Burns where-ever he came in the Territories of Norimberg and the Bishops takes Bamberg the Capital City of the Province declares War against the Nobility of Franconia if they did not comply with him and takes Schweinfurt an Imperial City into which he put a Garrison The Norimbergers who held some Towns and Farms in Fee of the Crown of Bohemia Prayed King Ferdinand that for the defence of those Places they might have leave to raise Horse in his Territories the King condescended and permitted them to raise five Hundred But these were intercepted by Marquess Albert upon their March who seised also some of those Farms and Towns we mentioned On the other side Henry Duke of Brunswick who had taken on a great part of Count Mansfield's Army sent his Son Philip to make War upon his Neighbours who having ravaged the Countries of the Bishops of Munster and Winden of Duke Erick his Kinsman and the State of Bremen extorted a vast Sum of Money from them At the same time the Controversie which the Duke of Cleve had with the Elector of Cologne about Jurisdiction was composed by the Mediation of the Electors Palatine and Treves Not long after the Electors Palatine and Mentz and the Ambassadors of the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg by orders from the Emperor met at Franckfurt upon occasion of the War of Franconia The Emperor's Ambassadors there were Lowis Count Connigstein Renard Count Solmes
and Henry Hasen some were also there from King Ferdinand And when then the Bishops urged the Emperor's Abolition but Marquess Albert his Confirmation the Electors advised the Emperor's Ambassadors to write to their Master to know from his Majesty which of the two he would stand by the Emperor on the seventeenth of June made answer to this purpose When the Year before he had heard of the Transâ—â—â—tion made betwixt Marquess Albert and the Bishops he had at the desire of some rescinded it and charged the Bishops not to observe it as being a bad President that any Man should be forced to truckle under another for doing their Duty to him and the Empire But that then again when Marquess Albert would not Capitulate with him unless these Compacts were Confirmed to avoid greater Inconveniences which then threatned all Germany he had complied with the Times and that because he had a good Army on Foot that Count Mansfield raised Forces for him also in Saxony and that he being engaged in the French War could not restrain him there being none in Germany that could resist him so much as one day he had made Peace with him in Confidence that he might afterward please him especially if the Princes who were his Kinsmen would interpose their Mediation and that truly if it had pleased God to have given him Success before Metz he was sure of a way how to have satisfied him For that he had done him singular good Service in that War which made him desirous to gratifie him That when afterwards the Siege did not succeed he had essayed to make an Agreement by their means but that he was much troubled that he should have rejected the Conditions proposed and again fallen to War wherefore he had appointed this other Meeting at Franckfurt That now he had Information that he was making War not only against the Bishops but others also which both vexed him and was also contrary to his Articles for that when he was received into Favour he had promised to be faithful and true in all things both to him and the Empire for the time to come That if he would now be but Conformable and Obedient he would forget all that was past but that since he himself was suspected by some of being Partial they should endeavour all they could to bring matters to a Pacification and expect no farther Declaration from him That by so doing they would very much gratifie him who was resolved for the future to act nothing without their Counsel and Consent But after all there was nothing concluded at Franckfurt Much about the same time the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg met by the Emperor's Order at Laugingen to make Peace betwixt the Counts of Oetingen Father and Son. For ever since the time of the Smalcaldick War to the Siege of Metz Lowis Father and Son had wandered up and down without any certain Habitation because they had been in Arms against the Emperor However his Sons Frederick and Woffgang who differed from him in Religion possessed all his Lands and Estate When the matter was brought to a Treaty the Father accused them of the highest Ingratitude and though the Princes took extraordinary Pains to set things to rights yet nothing could be effected The End of the Twenty fourth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXV The CONTENTS Whilst the War goes on in Piedmont and Tuscany Maurice Duke of Saxony and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg declared a War against each other and a Battel is fought betwixt them in which Maurice is shot in the Belly by an Hand-Gun and dies two days after but Albert was beaten Augustus the Brother of Albert succeeds him from whom John Frederick demands Restitution of his Patrimony Nine Protestants burnt at Lâ—yons Edward the Sixth King of England's Sickness Death and Character Jane Duchess of Suffolk proclaimed but Mary prevails She restores the Roman Catholick Bishops and holds a Parliament Hesdin destroyed Cambray assaulted Albert beaten in a second Battel by Henry of Brunswick He retires to Hoff and is Outlaw'd Jane Gray and her Father the Duke of Suffolk and many others executed on the Account of Wiat's Rebellion John Frederick and his Lady end their Days in great Piety and Peace Albert Outlaw'd again A second Parliament and the Marriage of Queen Mary and King Philip. Pool reconciles England to the See of Rome A Diet at Ausburg The Transactions of England and the Condemnations of some of the Protestant Bishops and others The Opening of the Diet at Ausburg and the Speech made by Ferdinand on that Occasion The Thoughts of men insinuated IN order to the appeasing these Commotions and Wars in Germany the Emperor summoned a Diet in May to meet the Thirteenth of August and having towards the latter end of April besieged Terovanne a strong City of Artois but then in the hands of the French The Twenty first of June he took it and exposed it absolutely to the Will of his Army who plundered burnt and dismantled it Francis the Son of the Constable of France who was Governor of the City was also taken Prisoner The English had sent some Months before a splendid Embassy and sollicited a Peace which was also laboured by the Pope's Nuncio but with no Success In May John Duke of Northumberland who after the Execution of the Protector the Uncle of Edward the Sixth was become the first Minister of State in England marries Guilford Dudley his Fourth Son to Jane the Eldest Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk and Grand-child of Mary younger Sister of Henry the Eighth King Edward being then in great danger of Death by reason of a Sickness There was at the same time a War in Piedmont and Tuscany the Emperor being intent upon the recovery of Siena and to that purpose having ordered Peter Duke of Toledo then Vice-Roy of Naples to prosecute this Design with the Forces of that Kingdom but he dying and the Turkish Fleet which had on Board the Prince of Salerno who was sent from France on that occasion to facilitate the Turkish Designs upon the Kingdom of Naples being then expected in Italy the Army return'd to defend that Kingdom against this approaching and nearer danger Albert carrying on the War in Franconia Maurice and his Allies sent an Army thither Whereupon Albert putting Garrisons into Schweinfurt and some other places when he had levied great Sums of Money and carried away many of the Inhabitants of Norimberg and Bamberg as Hostages turn'd suddenly towards Saxony At Arnstad the Ambassadors of John Frederick Duke of Saxony met him and desired that he would not damnifie the Territories of their Master which he readily promised and faithfully performed Entring therefore into the Territory of Erford he plundered many of its Villages This sudden Invasion gave Maurice a great disturbance his Forces being then sent away into Franconia whereupon he summoned first the Nobility and then the Commons to
he thought it belonged to him to appoint his Successor and the rather because there was a general and common Dispute concerning their Legitimacy and Mary did also profess the Roman Catholick Religion and if she should succeed he had reason to fear the Religion which was then established would be subverted and the Nation be endangered to be brought under the Dominion of a Foreigner He resolved therefore after great deliberation to chuse Jane Duchess of Suffolk Grand-child to Mary the younder Sister of Henry the 8th for his Successor This Resolution being approved by his Council and Nobility and the Mayor of London the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England was sent for to Court to sign it But he refused to do it till he had spoken with the King being accordingly admitted into the King's Chamber and having with great freedom discoursed this Business with him at last he consented upon the King 's extream importunity The King died as I have said the 6th of July and the fourth Day after Jane was proclaimed Queen of England and the Instrument was read at the same time reciting how King Edward for great and weighty Causes had with the Consent of his Peers disinherited Mary and Elizabeth his Sisters and transmitted the Succession of the Kingdom to Jane his Cousin The Nobility and People of England were much displeased with this not so much out of affection to the Princess Mary as out of hatred to the Duke of Northumberland there being very few or none who did not look upon him as the Author of this Project that he might bring the Crown into his own Family Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Princess Mary fled to the Castle of Framingham in Suffolk and assuming the Authority of a Queen implored the assistance of her Subjects This being known at London Northumberland levied Forces and with the consent of the Council marched out of the City with an Army to take the Queen But in the Interim that part of the Council which continued in London seeing the dissatisfaction of the People and that great Forces came in to the Assistance of the Queen in Suffolk they thereupon changed their Minds and proclaimed Mary Queen and detained Jane a Prisoner in the Tower. Assoon as the News of this change came to the Camp the Army which neither willingly embraced the Cause nor loved the General revolted also and upon the Receipt of a Letter to that purpose seized the Duke of Northumberland at Cambridge and brought him the 25th day of July a Prisoner into London It is incredible with what Reproaches the People entertain'd him Some call'd him Traytor others Parricide and other the Murtherer of a most innocent Prince For his attempting to set his Daughter-in-Law upon the Throne had caused a mighty Jealousie that he had a long time been forming this Project and in conclusion had hasted the King's Death Afterwards his Children and his Brother were taken into Custody and some other Noblemen and Sir John Cheek the King's Tutor a Person of great Learning and Virtue but this last was soon after dismissed when they had stripp'd him of almost all he had The Third of August Queen Mary entred London and going to the Tower she immediately released the Duke of Norfolk who had been almost seven years a Prisoner there Tonstal Bishop of Durbam and some others who being of the Roman Catholick Religion had been removed from their Sees whom she also restored to their Places again And as for Gardiner Bishop of Winchester though he had in a Printed Book defended the Divorce made by Henry the Eighth of Catherine the Mother of Queen Mary as I have set forth in the Ninth Book of this History yet she notwithstanding made him Lord Chancellor of England which is an Office of the greatest Dignity and Power in that Kingdom When Queen Catherine urged in her Defence the Bull of Pope Julius the Second in Approbation of her Marriage the King on the other side said it was invalid and sent Gardiner who was not then advanced to the Dignity of a Bishop to Pope Clement to procure that Bull to be by him declared void He coming to Rome in February in the Year 1529. earnestly pressed his Errand on the Pope Clement according to the Proverb had then got a Wolf by the Ears and though he was very desirous to please the King yet fearing to offend the Emperor he only said he would write to the Emperor to produce the true Bull. Gardiner consented to this but desired it might be done in two Months and when that time was elapsed that if the Bull were not then produced it might be declared false The Pope thought this way of Proceeding was contrary to the Custom and unjust and endeavoured to appease and quiet the King by good words But Gardiner said on the other side that if what the King desired were not done it would bring great Mischief on the See of Rome The Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother the 27th of April by their Ambassadors express'd their discontent at this and expostulated with the Pope as too too much inclin'd to favour the King and for that he had permitted the Case to be heard in England and at the same time they appointed Proctors to prosecute the Suit in their Names at Rome with large Commissions and Instruction Thereupon the Pope commanded Cardinal Campeio to return back to Rome to which he was induced by a Letter which he had received from Wolsely Archbishop of York wherein he had given the Pope an Account of a new Love the King had entertained as I have set forth in the said Eleventh Book The Twenty second Day of August the Duke of Northumberland having before been tried and found guilty of High Treason and received Sentence of Death was brought upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill where he made a Speech to the People and amongst other things exhorted them That they should continue stedfast in that Religion which they had received from their Ancestors affirming that he thought all the Calamities which had befallen the English especially since the Death of Henry the 8th proceeded from nothing but their having separated themselves from the rest of Christendom He had for some years before pretended to be of a contrary Opinion and had openly renounced the Roman Catholick Religion and it was said he had been prevailed upon to discourse thus upon Promises of a Pardon And although he ended his Speech with a Protestation that what he had said came from his heart yet some thought he repented it when he had look'd about him and saw there was no refuge to be expected and that he had been impos'd upon by flattering Promises Sir Thomas Palmer Knight who was beheaded at the same time professed the Protestant Religion with great constancy Northumberland was as I have said convicted of Treason and Rebellion and altho there were great Suspicions that he had poyson'd the late
scarce have been possible to have reduced you to Concord And when so many other Princes have made a defection from the Church and that Enemy of Mankind has invented such variety of Stratagems against you yet God in his divine Goodness has look'd upon you and defeated the devices and attempts of the Devil By which he has given us a certain Token not only of his Goodness and Clemency towards you but also of his Intentions to use your Services and to unite you two to his Vicar on Earth for the taking away these destructive Contentions and restoring a general Peace both as to Church and State. These and many other such Arguments did that Cardinal offer to the Consideration of these Princes threatning them also with the Wrath and Vengeance of God if they did not desist and suffer their People which was grievously Harrassed and impoverished to recover Now though these Arguments did not prevail then yet when he went into England he went on with his design of reconciling them and at last he prevailed so far as to dispose both the Emperor and King of France to send their Ambassadors to treat of a Peace The Queen of England who was the Mediator in this Treaty appointed a place betwen Calais Ardee and Graveling three Towns belonging to these three Princes in the Center of which she chose out a dry and convenient place in the middle of a Plain and having moted the same she caused four houses to be built which though not intended for any long duration were yet made very convenient and Beautiful In this place the Ambassadors met the twenty third of May. There met for the Emperor amongst others the Bishop of Arras for the King of France the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Constable and for the English as Mediators were present Cardinal Pool the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Paget A Rumour spread it self throughout Christendom which caused great Expectations and various Judgments in the Minds of Men and especially in those who were best acquainted with the Controversies of these Times for that in this Treaty the Dukedoms of Milan and Burgundy Savoy Piedmont Corsica Navarr Lorrain and Luxemburg and the Cities of Toul Verdun and Metz were to be contended for and setled The Affair being much and long debated and the Mediating English insisting to have some of these things referred to the determination of a Council nothing at last was done but the Treaty was broke up The tenth of June Ferdinand and the States of Germany wrote a Letter to the Emperor wherein they desired him that in this Treaty he would particularly concern himself for the restitution of those Places which the King of France had taken from the Empire When therefore the Meeting was ended without any Effect the Emperor the twenty fifth of June wrote to the Diet to this Purpose It is very grateful to me to see you thus affected with the Calamities of those who have been so much afflicted by the publick Enemy of the Empire and of me and truely their Cause was most dear to me and I accordingly before I received your Letter had commanded my principal Ambassadors who were to attend this Treaty that they should persist in the restitution of these places to their former State with the utmost diligence and they should not remit any thing as to that Article And although I for my part having opened all the ways I could to a Peace thought that the King of France would for the sake of Peace not have been stubborn and refractory yet after all the Congress is for the present broke up without any good Effect Yet however that I may consult the good of Christendom I will not refuse to make a Peace if any tollerable Conditions are offered and when time serves I will do my endeavour to have those places restored to the Empire and to put them for the future into a better Condition than they were before The Emperor had a little before sent the Duke de Alva into Milan that he might take care of the War there as his General Ferdinand Gonzaga having obtained a release from that Post and being about this time gone from Flanders to live privately at Home There was also a strong Report which prevailed much about this time that Mary Queen of England was with Child About this time also the Persecution in England grew sharper Bradford who was condemned to be burnt in the manner I have set down in the end of my twenty fifth Book and was afterwards respited and kept in Prison was burnt in July Frederick the eldest Son of John Frederick Duke and Elector of Saxony Married Agnes the Daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse and which had been the Wife of Maurice the last Elector of Saxony Many of the neighbouring Princes met on the occasion of this Marriage and appointed a second Meeting at Naumburg to consult of their affairs About the same time Joan the Mother of the Emperor died and Ferdinand her second Son celebrated her Obsequies at Ausburg About the same time there was a tumult raised at Geneva in the night time by some of the Senators of that City who designed by this means to make themselves and their Party Masters of that Commonwealth these Men had also a great aversion for John Calvin who had fled thither on the account of the Persecâ—tions in France and now the driving him out of this City was one of the principal Motives of this Insurrection In the night time there was a sudden Commotion made in several parts of the City and the Cry was The French are in Arms and the City is betrayed The French in the mean time keeping within their Houses and so the design miscarried and many of them who were in this leud Conspiracy were Executed and some others were forced to fly for the safety of their Lives The reason why they would have had the French Banished out of the City was because many of the French Fugitives and Sojourners in the City had been lately taken into the number of the Citizens by which they believed their Party was weakned and the other encreased The Turkish Fleet came this Year into the Tyrrhenian Sea as it had done several years before and much terrified Tuscany That therefore there might be the less dammage done by this Navy the Marquess di Marignano General of the Emperors Forces about the thirteenth of June suddenly set upon Porto Ercole which was then in the Hands of the French and by the Valour of his Soldiers took the Castle and slew all the French that were there in Garrison after this the Turks too besieged Piombino but receiving great Losses in their Attacks and not being likely ever to take it they left that place and attempted the Island of Elba belonging to the Duke of Florence but to no purpose neither About this time there were some Civil Laws published by the King of France at
be entirely reserved to them But so that those Princes and States in whose Territories the same are shall not hereby lose that civil Right they had before this difference of Religion in and to the said Goods And moreover that they may with the same Goods provide for the necessary Services of the Churches Parishes Alms Hospitals of the Poor and Sick according to their first Constitution without any Consideration of which of the Religions the Person is who shall be thus assisted or relieved and maintained And if upon the account of this Alimony or the manner of it any Difference or Suit shall arise they shall mutually or by consent chuse Arbitrators who having heard the Controversy shall within six Months determine and appoint what shall be deducted for such Uses and Services and conferred or bestowed upon the same And in the mean time till the Suit is thus determined they who are to pay this Allowance shall not be interrupted in their Possession but shall continue to yield and pay during the Suit what they anciently used to give or Pay. In October and November there was a Parliament held in England and most Men thought the Crowning King Philip would have been one of the principal Affairs of it but this was never proposed But the Queen sollicited the restitution of the Abby-Lands because the Pope required it but the great Men and Nobility had got them and therefore nothing could be done in that Affair But the Queen restored the first Fruits and the tenths to the Church During this Session of Parliament certain sharp and virulent Pamphlets were spread abroad in London in which were some things tending to stirring up the Minds of the People against the Spaniards and others for alienating the Mind of the Queen from King Philip her Husband and an Inquisition being made after the Authors of them nothing could be found Before the end of this Parliament Gardiner Bishop of Winchester died of a Dropsie the twelfth of November who was then Lord Chancellor of England which Office in February following was given to Heath Archbishop of York who had travelled with Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury in Germany and did then profess the Reformed Religion About the fifth of November died the Wife of John Frederick Elector of Saxony who was the Daughter of the Landgrave whose Marriage I have mentioned above Francisco Venerio Duke of Venice was deposed for having unfaithfully managed the business of the Corn and sought his own private more than the publick Good. When the Emperor had resigned the Soveraignty and Government of the Low Countries Philip his Son sent Ambassadors to the principal Princes and Cities of Germany to acquaint them with it and to offer them his Friendship and Alliance And at the same time the Ambassadors of King Ferdinand solicited the said Princes and Cities to be present at the day prefixed for the opening of the Diet because a great danger hung over his Head from the Turks who had demanded of him the resigning into his Hands of the Principality of Transylvania which was very strong by Nature and exceeding Fruitful and afforded great numbers of Horsemen He called also a Diet of his own Provinces for the same purpose in which the States of lower Austria desired to have Liberty of Conscience granted them But the King turned them over to the general Diet at Ratisbon for an answer to this and he also appointed them to meet again the thirteenth of January of the next Year at Vienna The Marquess di Marignano dying at Milan the Emperor or his Son sent the Cardinal of Trent to supply his Place and the Duke de Alva was made Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples About Christmas the Pope according to his Custom created some new Cardinals amongst whom he named John Gropper Coadjutant to the Archbishop of Cologne who has been often mentioned by me who refused the acceptance of this Dignity And then Cardinal Pool was first promoted from a Cardinal Deacon to a Cardinal Presbyter and began to say Mass which by the Papal Laws is not allowed to the Deacons In the beginning of January there were horrible Tempests in Saxony Misnia and Bohemia attended with Thunder Lightning and violent Winds which every where did great dammages especially to the Churches In the same Month at Wintertbur a Town of Switzerland two Miles from Zurich in the Night time after Supper a Fire appeared in one of the Turrets of the Church which seemed by its noise and brightness to threaten the Ruin of that Fabrick but when the Inhabitants came to put it out it was a delusion and they found no Fire this happened twice in this Month viz. the fourth and the fourteenth day Some of the Cantons being after this solicited by the Pope went to Rome which caused a very great Suspition in many King Philip being to enter upon his new Government upon the Resignation of his Father began it with a pompous and splendid Entrance the eighteenth day of January into Antwerp which was then the Principal City of those Countries The Persecution of the Protestants in England was then very sharp The thirteenth of January the Deputies and States of Austria met at Vienna as they had been Commanded when the King shewed them in a long and grave Speech how great the danger was which threatned them from the Tarks and therefore admonished them forth with to expedite their Succours aud to grant him Money that he might be in a Condition to repress his Cruelty and Rage Then those which belonged to the lower Austria acquainted him that they were commanded linded by their Principals in the first Place to transact the business of Religion That therefore they informed his Majesty what they had been doing for fourteen years last past how often they had addressed to him and supplicated him in this affair and what kind of Edicts he had in the mean time issued out contrary to their Expectation And therefore say they seeing all our Counsels against the Turks have been disappointed and as yet we have been so far from repressing him that he has rather more and more prevailed against us and has taken many Cities Towns Castles and strong Forts in Hungary and Sclavonia and now hangs over our Heads we may therefore justly aver that it is a manifest Judgment of God who chastiseth us for our Sins and afflicts us because we have not amended our Lives and that in such manner that it is visible that if his Word is not received and a Reformation of Life promoted we shall lose not only our Lives and Fortunes but Eternal Salvation too For though the whole Earth were to Arm against that Enemy whilst it remains in this unreformed state of Life there is no Victory to be hoped for but instead of it Ruin and Destruction as hath often heretofore happened to the most flourishing Kingdoms We did something towards this in the last Convention when
great Poverty took the opportunity when his Wife was abroad and murder'd all his Children the eldest was a Girl of seven years of age the second a Boy of four years old and the youngest an Infant of about six months old and in the Cradle This Murther was committed the 10th of April There was then also a strong Report That the Pope and his Partisans had entred a secret Combination against those of the Augustan Confession This Opinion was the more easily entertain'd because it was certainly known that the Pope was much incens'd against the Decree made the last year at Ausburg by which Peace and Liberty were granted to those of that Religion And it was believed he had sollicited the Emperour to declare that Edict to be void for he saw that men daily made a defection from his Kingdom and he well knew what had been desired by the Inhabitants both of Austria and Bavaria To this was added a meeting of the Archbishops of Ments Trier and Cologne at the Batbes and it was suspected this meeting was not for nothing King Ferdinand having put an end to the Dyet of Austria went into Bobemia and summon'd a Dyet of that Kingdom and of the near Provinces at Prague in which he demanded and obtain'd Moneys for his defence against the Turks After this he sent Letters to the Deputies who had now expected him some months at Raticbon in which he excus'd his not coming to them and acquainted them with his being necessitated to go to Vienna before he could come thither and then he prorogued their Session to the first of June After King Ferdinand was return'd out of Bobemia the Lgndtgrave went into Misnia and staid some time with Augustus Duke of Saxohy The 10th day of May the Duke of Areschot who was a Prisoner in the Castle of Vincenne which stands not far from Paris made his escape and came safely home The Cardinal of Ausburg about the same time being return'd from Rome where he had continu'd about a year and hearing how suspitiously most men spoke and thought of him as one that was engag'd in close Designs with the Pope for the Ruin of Germany In the end of May he put out a Vindication of himself in the German-Tongue which was to this purpose When the last year after the Death of Julius II. saith he I went to Rome as the duty of my Place obliged me I was one of those who elected the present Pope I then intended to take the first opportunity of returning into Germany but I was detained by the Pope who was then deliberating about the Reformation of the Church and having for that purpose chosen some Learned Men of all Nations he was pleased to appoint me for one though I was not worthy of such a Trust because I was a German But then because my Bishoprick requir'd my presence here I at last obtain'd leave of the Pope to return home which I could not obtain till the last day of March immediately after which I began my Journey hither Now though I have ever since my Advancement to this Dignity and before behaved my self so that no ill thing can truly be laid to my charge which I desire may not be taken for a proud boast and although I have ever been an Adviser and Promoter of Peace to my great damage and hindrance and have ever taken all the care I could for the Honour and Safety of my Countrey yet as soon as ever I arriv'd in Germany I was acquainted by my Friends who are worthy of credit That during my absence there was a Book printed here to defame me as if I had enter'd into a Combination with the Pope and other Italian Princes to involve Germany and especially those of that Nation who embrace the Augustan Confession in a calamitous War. Now they pretended in this Paper That the cause of this Attempt and of this close Treaty was that the Pope was very much offended with the Decree made in the last Dyet at Ausburg that he had laboured to persuade the Emperour to reverse it that he had absolved that Prince from the Oath he had given them that he had promised the Emperour all the help and assistance he could give him for the Conquest of Germany provided the Emperour would assist him in the Recovery of his Spiritual Jurisdiction in Germany that he had to that end procur'd a Truce between the Emperour and the French King that both their Forces might be employ'd in this Work. And they added That German Soldiers were at present to be listed and no other to the end the Design might be the better conceal'd that the King of England was to send 8000 Horse and to be General in this War and that Levies were made in several places In short that all things were manag'd with that care that all the Forces were to begin their March at the same time and suddenly to in vade the Empire whil'st most of the Princes were from home at the Dyet of Ratisbon that both the Pope and the King of England had sent Envoys to several of the Princes of Germany and made them great promises the Pope especially that he would send a great Body of Horse and Foot to their Assistance that I have traduced Otto Henry Elector Palatine Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg as Lutherans Seditious men and worthy to be driven out of their Countreys that the Lantgrave was in the mean time much commended by me in an Assembly of the Cardinals because he had made a defection from his Religion and one of his Ministers called Titelman had both by Word and Writing recanted his Religion at Rome Now because these slanders do not only affect the Pope and the Emperour but Me also and my Reputation and because it is the duty of a good man to justifie his own and his Princes Honour and Innocency it is fit I should answer all the Accusations In the first place therefore I say it is a great affliction to me to find there are still some men who contrary to the old German Virtue Constancy and Fidelity can be induced to lend an assent to such slanders as these and seem to design by these leud Libels and Reports to excite the minds of the Princes of the Empire against their Head and to engage them in a cruel and wicked War amongst themselves I believe many can remember that dismal turbulent and dangerous Galumny which about 32 years since was invented and spread abroad That King Ferdinand the Archbishops of Mentz Saltzburg and Wurtsburg the Elector of Brandenburg William and Lewis of Bavaria and George Duke of Saxony were all combin'd in a League against John Elector of Saxony and the Landtgrave which prevail'd so far that it had like to have ended in a destructive War. Certainly the Princes ought not to forget those times For that Villany was discovered the several Princes as they were obliged having printed each of them
a Vindication of himself wherein he denied the matter charged upon him and thereupon the Author of this Calumny being discovered he was deservedly executed And I hope this here will have the same event and that God who is the just Avenger of such ill Practices will discover the Authors of this pernitious Invention In the mean time I offer up my Prayers to God That he would give them a better mind and disappoint their wicked Counsels that they may not prevail to the Destruction of our Country For seeing this slander is of the same nature with the former it may easily be concluded the Authors of this had the same Design with the former or rather that it was made by it that what was discover'd and prevented then may now have its effect Now the main design of this Calumniator is to create a belief that the Pope and the Emperour have resolved to rescind the Decree made for the Peace of Religion by a War and that the King of England and the Bishops of Germany are to lend their assistances to it Now I say this feigned and false Invention is designed for the exasperating the minds of Men that their Prejudices and Disaffections being increased a Civil War may be stirr'd up amongst us to overwhelm our Country with the Blood of its Inhabitants And although I do not doubt but the Emperour and the othe Princes who are injur'd by this Seditious and Infamous Libel will take care to defend themselves and to right their own Cause yet at the same time I believe it is a part of my own Duty to clear the Reputation of our Supreme Magistrate And I protest whil'st I was at Rome in my presence or to my knowledge there was not one word spoken concerning the Peace of Religion and therefore it is very falsly laid to the Pope's charge that his main design is to persuade the Emperour and other Kings to destroy that Decree by Force and Arms I say this is false and can never be proved and by consequence what is charged upon the Emperour is false too for seeing there has been no Treaty between them how can a War be agreed and the recovering the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Conquest of Germany be resolv'd on This Slander pretends That the Truce is made between the Emperour and the King of France to the intent that the Souldiers which are disbanded on both sides may be employ'd in in this War Now the causes of that Truce are sufficiently set forth in the printed Copies of the Treaty and the Souldiers which were thereupon disbanded are not entertain'd by any Prince except what Forces King Ferdinand has order'd to be levy'd and sent into Hungary against the Turk and some few which have been taken into Pay by the Bishops of Ausburg Norimburg Bamberg and Wurtsburg that they may not be taken altogether unprovided So that all this Invention as it relates to the Pope the Emperour and the Bishops is false in all its parts Now as to what concerns my self I have hitherto followed the Ancient True and Catholick Religion as becomes a German pursuing the footsteps of my Ancestors and continuing in the Communion of that Church in which I had my Education as I have already declared by a Letter I sent to the last Diet and by my Deputies which I sent thither and I intend by the blessing of God to continue in this Opinion nor will I do any thing which is contrary to Honesty and my Duty and yet after all I desire to live peaceably with all men And whereas I am said to have entred into a secret Treaty with the Pope the Emperour the King of England some Princes of the Empire and some private persons to stir up a War this is most false and that also which concerns the Elector Palotine and the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Marquess of Brandenburg is most false and can never be proved and those who spread such Reports of me by Word or Writing are Slanderers and the Enemies of our Country That which relates to the Elector Palatine stands thus The Office and Dignity I enjoy requires me to endeavour the preservation of the Rights of my Bishoprick and that I should preserve the People committed to my Charge in the Ancient and Catholick Religion being therefore inform'd that Otto Henry Elector Palatine endeavorued to gain over to his Religion some Towns that were in my Diocess and that he had placed Preachers in them I could not but take this ill and I had just cause given me to defend my self against him by a Suit at Law and thereupon I being absent my Councel by my Order commenced a Suit against him in the Chamber of Spire where it is still depending nor have I in any thing else so much as in Word hurt or injur'd his Honour so far have I been from designing any thing against his Countries and if it had lain in my power to have served him his Countries or People I would not have omitted it and for this I believe his People would be my Witnesses because they know I have kept my Faith to them and have assisted them sometimes when they were in great distresses To which I may add That I have ever had particular affection for the Palatine Family and I have ever been ready to do it all the good I could nor is that Disposition at all changed in me and I have the same kindness for Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who is a Good Wise Politick Prince and a great lover of Peace upon the account of these rare qualities I have had a great propension for him ever since I first knew him and have study'd to make this appear in my actions But then as to the driving Him or the Elector Palatine out of their Countries it never entred into my thoughts and if I had known of any Design which had tended to the damage of their Reputations or Estates I should certainly have been very much grieved and have done what was in my power to prevent it I have hitherto so behav'd my self at all times that I believe no man can find any thing in my actions which is contrary to my Profession and for the future I will ever carry my self so that I will raise a greater belief than I now have in the minds of men out of an hope that as I have given no just cause of offence to them so they at last will be prevail'd upon to remunerate me with an equal degree of kindness And as to the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg he himself knows how greatly I am concern'd for his misfortunes for what is it which I have not done and tried in order to restore the Peace of the Empire and to put a stop to that Quarrel In truth I took so much pains and care in that Affair that tho' I aim'd at the Publick Good by it yet at last I was suspected by some as one that favoured his Interest
That this Limitation was an Hindrance to the so much desired Union of Religion seeing thereby the Bishops were deprived of the Liberty of speaking their Minds freely in Matters of Religion because they should thereby forfeit their Office and Revenues if they approved of the True Religion That on the contrary the Peace would be much stronger between the Princes and States of the Empire if Religion were perfectly Free. That therefore the Electors Princes and States who had imbraced the Augustane Confession desired now as they had also formerly done in the Dyet of Ausburg That this grievous Limitation and Restriction might be abolished and that it might be free for all Ecclesiastical Persons to imbrace the Augustane Confession and suffer their Subjects to imbrace it That they of the Augustane Confession did not by this desire that the Revenues of the Church should be dissipated or turned to Profane Uses or annexed to certain Families but they would take great Care to prevent these Inconveniences and do their utmost in it And that by this means the true Intention of the Founders should be observed tho' the Profession of the True Religion should be permitted for it was without doubt their Design to have the Pious and Sincere Service and Worship of God Promoted and Setled tho' they err'd in their Choice That the Electors Princes and States aforesaid would suffer the Publick and Civil Business of the Empire to be dispatched in this Dyet at Ratisbonne but then they had commanded them their Deputies not to give any consent to any thing till the said Limitation were taken away But then if it was once Abolished and Repealed they were ready and willing to assist and promote the Publick Affairs in this Dyet to the utmost of their Abilities This Protestation or Remonstrance was very often renewed afterwards in several of their Dyets but being always opposed by the Princes of the opposite Religion and by the Emperours it could never be obtained because they ever thought That the granting this Liberty would end in the Rnine of the Roman Catholick Religion On the other side those of that Religion wrote sharply against the Peace of Religion as it was then established by the Treaty of Passaw and the Dyet of Ausburg calling it a Lawless Confusion and in private saying That as it was obtained by a War so it must by a War be revoked In the Year 1556 the Thirty first of July Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of Jesuites died in the Sixty fifth year of his Age. He was born in Spain and at first served as a Soldier which Employment he deserted in the Year 1521 upon a Wound received at Pampelune In the Year 1528 he began to gather Companions In the Year 1534 or 35 this Order was first framed by him and in the Year 1609 he was Canonized by Pope Paul IV. And as Petavius saith it was confirm'd by Paul III in 1540 the Twenty seventh of September James Lainez a Spaniard was this Year his Successor and the second General of that Order which had then obtain'd One hundred Colleges in several Parts of Christendom as one of that Society assures us In the beginning of this year Albert the Son of Casimir Marquis of Brandenburg having lately by the Interposition of some of the Princes obtain'd leave from the Dyet to return into Germany to defend his Case and sojourning then with Charles Marquis of Baden at Pforzheim in Schwartzwalt being extremely worn out with the Troubles of his Affairs and a Disease which sprung from the Intemperance of his former Life died the Eighth Day of January This Prince was an Illustrious Example of the Instability of Human Greatness and of the Divine Justice For He that was once surrounded with so many Thousands of Fighting Men that his Name was terrible to all Men and almost the whole German Empire lay exposed to his Ravage at last by a change of his Fortunes was deserted by all Men and now ended his Life in great Misery and Poverty being despised by his very Enemies as the great Thuanus represents it The Eleventh of March the Dyet began at Ratisbonne the last year was ended In it there was a Decree of Recess made That a Friendly Conference should be held the Fourteenth of August at Wormes for putting an End to the Differences of Religion That a double Supply of Eight Months should be granted to King Ferdinaud to enable him to carry on the War against the Turks That the Peace of Religion and that of the State should be preserved with great and exact care and for the Renewing the Imperial Chamber of Spire which is the Supreme Court of the Empire In April died John Count Palatin of Simeren President of the said Imperial Chamber and the Father of Frederick who about two years after succeeded Otho Henry in the Palatinate of the Rhine He was a Prince of great Learning and managed this Trust with the highest Commendations both for his Prudence and Justice Soon after the great Controversie between the Families of Nassaw and Hesse which had been depending Fifty Years and is often mention'd by Sleidan concerning the County of Catzenellobogen was friendly ended at Frankfort upon the Main by the Interposition and Mediation of Otho Henry and Augustus Electors William Duke of Cleves and others who were made Judges in this Affair for both Parties the Landgrave of Hesse by their award retaining that County upon paying to William Prince of Orange 1600 Crowns and resigning up to him the Earldom of Diez for 1050 Crowns When the time of the Conference appointed by the Dyet drew near the Divines who were of the Augustane Confession had a Meeting at Frankford on the Main the First of August to adjust their own private Differences before they entred into a Conference with the Roman Catholicks so that this latter was not begun till the beginning of September At the opening of it Julius Pflug Bishop of Naumburg who was President in this Conference desired those of the Augustane Confession that they would in the first place shew openly their Disagreement with and Detestation of the Zuinglians Osiandrians Synergists and Adiaphorists Because the Peace of Religion was only granted to those of the Augustane Confession by the Dyet and this Conference was appointed with none but them and the Emperor besides knew that most of them had Orders to do this That therefore some benefit at least might result from this Conference they would once for all by a common consent condemn these Erros and there would be much less danger and difficulty in the rest The younger Ministers and Deputies of Saxony easily assented and producing their Instructions were very forward to separate the Augustane Confession from these Errors But Philip Melancthon an old wise Man who saw the drift of this cunning Gamester said the Examination and Explication of their several Doctrins ought to go before the Determination and Condemnation of them and that
thousand Horse and a great number of Peasants who being inraged at the Spoil of their Country were desirous of an opportunity to Revenge their Losses This being known to Thermes who expected the Duke of Guise every day according to his order he recollected his scattered Forces and although he was not well took Horse and posted to his Camp near Graveling being very solicitous though too late to secure his Retreat to Calais Count Egmont being now at his heels with his Forces A Council of War was thereupon held in the Night and it was resolved that the French should take the advantage of the Ebb the next Day and march by the Sea-shore towards Calais They passed the River Aa that Morning without any difficulty at the Low-water which Egmont observing he passed it too and met the French. Thermes who saw now there was no security but in their Valour having the Sea to the North the Dike of Boulaie on his Back and the Enemy on his Front and Side thereupon drew up his Men in the order of Battel being secure on two Sides to the South which was his left-hand he placed his Wagons and planted his Field-pieces in the Front which consisted in six Culverins and three Faulcons and on his Wings he placed his Horse that they might cover the Gasconers who were in the Front the other French were in the Middle and the Germans in the Reer Count Egmont had for haste left all his Cannon on the other side of the River and would not stay for it fearing the French might in the mean time escape him dividing his Horse into five Parts he commanded the Light Horse to begin the Fight his Foot were divided into three Parts according to their Nations Flemings Germans and Spaniards He himself was one of the first that charged the Gasconers who at first stood their ground stoutly and Count Egmont's Horse was slain under him but his Army being most in number when they came to close Fight Horse to Horse and Foot to Foot the Flemings being much encouraged by the hopes of Victory and the French despairing of any other Escape the Fight was a long time doubtful the Gasconers fought manfully the Germans were only Spectators and the French Horse could do little for want of Ground in the very heat of the Battel twelve English Ships coming up put an end to the Fight by gauling the French on the Right Wing with their Canon on that side they thought themselves most secure Fifteen hundred were kill'd in the Fight and many more perished in the Flight being knock'd on the head by the Peasants who were inraged by their Rapins others were drown'd and Thermes Villebone Senarpont the Count of Chaulness and Merviliers were taken Prisoners and the English Fleet took up Two hundred in the Sea and carried them into England to the Queen This Victory cost the Flemings Five hundred Men and was gain'd the Thirteenth of July The Duke of Guise hearing of this Defeat return'd to Pierre-pont in the Borders of Picardy and Champagne the Twenty eighth of July that he might be ready at hand to prevent any Attempt might be made on France The Townsmen meeting as the Custom is in a place call'd the Scholars Field without the Suburbs of St. German near Paris a few of them who were addicted to the Protestant Religion began to sing David's Psalms in French Metre thereupon the People began to leave their Sports and joyning with them sung the same Psalms After this a greater number and among them Anthony King of Navarr and Jonae his Lady who was already suspected to favour that Religion fell into the same Practice The Clergy were much allarm'd at this affirming that this new Invention was design'd to bring the ancient Custom which they had received from the Church of Rome their Mother of singing the Publick Service in the Latin Tongue into contempt by introducing the use of one understood by the meanest of the People Whereupon they represented this as very Seditious to the King who order'd an Enquiry after the Authors of it to be made and forbad the Use of this Custom for the future on pain of Death About the same time News was brought of the arrival of an English Fleet of an Hundred and twenty Ships upon the Coast of Normandy under the Lord Clinton Haure de Grace and Diepe being feared they sent the President of Boulogn to take care of those Places but the Fleet went on and at Conquet a Port of Britain the Thirty first of July they landed an Hundred and fifty Pesants at first opposing them but Seven thousand Men being landed and the Ships with their Cannon playing upon them the Inhabitants left the place and fled The English entred the Town and plundred it but Kersimont the Governor of that Province coming up with Six thousand which he had hastily raised he forced the English with the loss of Six hundred of their Men to return on board their Ships about an Hundrd of them fell into the hands of the French and among them one Hollander who told the Fnench that thirty Dutch Ships under the Command of one Wakenheim had joyn'd this Fleet at the Isle of Wight by the order of King Philip and that they were ordered to take Brest which the French thereupon fortified and took great care of Whereupon the Lord Clinton finding no Good was to be done returned having made a very expensive and unprosperous Voyage The French by this time had got together a very great Army which the King saw drawn up near Pierre-pont and King Philip's was not less but then neither of these Princes were disposed to try the Hazards of the War any further and Montmorency having agreed for his Ransome at the rate of one hundred and sixty five thousand Crowns and being now grown old and averse from the Thoughts of War he and Christierna the Mother of the Duke of Loraine went to and fro between the two Princes to promote a Treaty of Peace Vendosme Vidame of Chartres who was made Governour of Calais after Thermes was taken Prisoner had a Design upon S. Omers but it was discovered and prevented In the middle of September Ambassadours from England France and Spain met at Cambray to treat of a Peace in good earnest and the first thing they agreeed upon was the withdrawing of the two Armies because they seemed very dissonant from the End of that Meeting The greatest Difficulty they met with was about Calais which the French were resolved to keep pretending it was an ancient Piece of their Dominions tho' lately recovered And the English on the other side would never consent to the Treaty if it were not restored But before this Contest could be brought to a conclusion Mary Queen of England dyed which ended the Controversie for the present and thereupon this Congress was dissolved and another Meeting appointed in the same Place in January following The fifth of November the English Parliament
Holy Tribunal and here he shewed a very great severity bringing not only Men suspected of Heresie but of some other Crimes within their Jurisdiction Then commanding all Monks and Nuns to their several Houses he Imprison'd some and sent others to the Gallies for not presently obeying him His Rigour was so great in this last that many left his State and went and setled in the State of Venice He spent Fifty thousand Crowns in Corn to relieve the Poor in a time of Scarcity and setled Bishops at Malacha and Cochin two Cities belonging to the Portuguese in the East-Indies and made the Bishop of Goa an Archbishop exempting him from the Jurisdiction of the Bishoprick of Lisbon He also erected many new Sees in the Low-Countries at the request of Philip King of Spain to the Diminution of the Jurisdiction and Diocesses of many French and German Bishops These Sees were setled at Mechlen Antwerp Harlem Daventrie Leewarden Groningen Midleburg Bosleduc Namur St. Omers Ipress Gant and Bruges and were put under the Archbishops of Cambray Mechlin and Vtrecht This change gave great offence to the Low-Countries who esteem'd itrather an Inslaving than an Honouring of their Country to have so many New Sees setled among them and the more because among other Reasons assigned by the Pope one was That these Countries were on all sides encompass'd with Nations which had cast off the See of Rome so that the Salvation of the Souls of this People was much endanger'd by Schism which rendred this Settlement hateful to all those who favour'd the Reformation so that this was one of the principal Causes of the War which followed which in the end proved fatal to many of these New Bishopricks In the interim this Consideration had that effect upon the Spirit of King Philip that it greatly disposed him above all others to enter into a Treaty of Peace with France He saw that not only the Licence which attended a War but the vast number of Germans which he was forced to employ by their conversing with his Subjects in the Netherlands begat in them a good Opinion of Luther and the Reformation Henry II of France imprudently communicated to William of Nassaw Prince of Orange when he was Embassador for Philip in France when they were one day Hunting together That King Philip and he had agreed first to extirpate all the Sects which were then rising in the Netherlands and after that they would joyn their Arms and do the like in all other places which being discovered by that Prince to the Netherlanders they entred into Consultation for the preserving themselves from the Pride of the Spanish Government and made those insolent Demands of King Philp when he was going into Spain This Counsel was then generally attributed to the Cardinal of Lorain and Perrenot Bishop of Arras and all concluded That under the pretence of suppressing Heresie King Philip and Henry of France had laid a Design of Ruining the Civil Liberties of France and the Netherlands When the Commissioners met for the concluding the Treaty of Peace between these Princes they found themselves delivered from one difficulty the Restitution of Calais by the Death of Queen Mary of England but then Thionville Verdun and Toul three Imperial Cities had been taken in this War by the French and King Philip thought he was bound in Honour and by his Interest too to see them restored to the Empire and yet he saw the French were as well resolved to keep them Nor was indeed his Interest in the Restitution so great as that of the French was to keep them he having very effectually provided for his own Security and Benefit by the gaining other Places Hereupon these Princes by mutual consent sent Embassadors to the Dyet of Germany began this Year the Twenty fifth of February at Ausburg The first thing that was done in them was the celebrating the Funeral of Charles V with great Solemnity His Encomium was pronounced by Lewis Madruse then Bishop of Trent the afterwards a Cardinal After this Ceremony an Account was given of the Conference at Wormes for the Reconciling the Differences of Religion and there appearing no hope of an Accommdation Ferdinand the Emperor promised he would take care to have the General Council renewed and that all should obey its Decrees and Determinations But the Deputies of the Duke of Saxony and of several other Princes of the Empire opposed this affriming that there being no hopes of restoring the Peace of the Church by a Popish Council the Edicts of Passaw and Ansburg were religiously to be observed But the Emperor persisting in his former Opinion they said they were not against a Free and General Council in Germany so be it were legally assembled by the Emperor and not by the Pope and in which the Pope should appear as a Party subject to the Council and not as President and Judge of all others and provided the Bishops and Clergy might be freed from the Oath they had taken to the Pope that they might freely speak their Thoughts That the sacred Scriptures might be the only Rule by which they should judge and determin these Controversies rejecting all humane Traditions and Customs that were contrary to the Word of God If the Divines who had embraced the Augustane Confession might not only be heard but admitted to give their votes in the Decision of these Controversies and have good Security given them for their going thither and that they should enjoy the Liberty granted them by the Decree of Ausburg without any fraud or violence That the Points in Dispute should not be determin'd as is usual in Civil Affairs by the plurality of Votes but by the Rule and Prescription of the Word of God That in the first place the Decrees of the Council of Trent already made should be cancell'd as vitious and not legally assembled and that these things should be debated a new And lastly That if these things could not be obtain'd of the Pope the Emperor should maintain the Peace of Religion and the Edict of Passaw These were the Conditions the Protestants proposed for the holding of a Council The Emperor who despaired of reconciling the differences of Religion on these Terms and having no other way left him for preserving the Peace of Germany Confirm'd the Peace of Passaw After this they took into Consideration the Reduction of the Monies of Germany to their ancient value and purity and heard the Complaints of William of Furstemberg Great Master of the Knights of Livonia who obtain'd a Grant of an Hundred thousand Crowns for the Levying of an Army for their Protection against the Russ But this Sum seeming less than the necessity of their Affaris and of the Times required the Livonians neglected it and betook themselves to the Protection of Sigismund Augustus King of Poland to whom they assign'd Nine of their strongest Places upon condition that they might at any time redeem them by
being attended by a Fleet of 90 Ships He met with so great a Tempest on the Shoars of Gallicia that the Ship in which he went perished the King being hardly got out of her into a small Bark that waited upon him Thuanus saith He ascribed his Delivery to Heaven and said He was preserved by the singular Providence of God to extirpate Lutheranism And Meteren That this Tempest was an Omen of the great Calamities that attended him and his States a great part of the Fleet being Shipwrecked He soon fell to the Work he believed God had call'd him and began with the extirpation of Heresie some few had been put to Death before his arrival here and there but the greatest part were kept that he might have the joy of seeing them burnt at Vallidolid and Seville September 24. this pompous Shew was begun in the Person of John Ponce a Son of the Count de Baylen who was brought forth with great State and burnt as an Obstinate Lutheran and with him John Gonsalo a Preacher After these Isabella Venia Maria Viroesia Cornelia and Bohorquia which was a Spectacle of great Compassion and Envy the last of these being not above 21 Years old yet suffering with great Constancy After these followed Ferdinad de St. Jean and Julian Ferdinando John de Leone and Frances Chavesia a Nun Christopher Losada a Physician and Christopher de Arles a Monk and Garsia de Arras This last was the Man who had brought that Spark into Spain and by his constant and learned Preaching improved it so far that he had brought over to his Opinion the greatest Part of the Monks of S. Isiodore and of the Inhabitants of Seville yet afterwards he had deserted his Companions and disputed against them too before the Inquisitors but being at last convinced of the Wickedness of it he repented and being brought before the Inquisitors reproached them as fitter for Mule-Drivers than Judges of the true Faith of which they were brutishly Ignorant tho they impudently assumed that Title and Office. Giles and Constantio were reserved to bring up the Reere but they both died yet their Bodies were burnt This last was Confessor to Charles V in the last two Years of his Life and Retirement Soon after his Death he was imprisoned and died in durance His Body was carried about in a preaching Posture and the dreadful ghastly look it had brought Tears from some whilst others laughed at the theatrical Hypocrisie and Bloody Folly of the Monks From hence this Cruel Scene was removed to Vallidolid in October following where in the presence of Philip 28 of the Principal Nobility of that Country were bound to Stakes and most Catholickly and Charitably burnt Whether Thuanus were weary of the former Cruelties or wanted exact Informations of the Particulars of this last I cannot say but the last is most probable but however he gives none of their Names or Qualities and saith there was some Variation in the Time. Thus Spain was preserved from Heresie as they call it not by the Learning or Piety of the Clergy but the Bloody Zeal of King Philip. Pope Paul IV being worn out with Years and very much afflicted with a Dropsie July 29 sent for the Cardinals and told them He was going the way of all Flesh and having advised them to chose a good Successor recommended to them The most Holy Office of the Inquisition as he called it which was the only thing that could preserve that most Holy See. He after this pointed in another Discourse to King Philip whom he said God had raised up as the great Defender of the Catholick Faith and he added That he did not doubt but the Christian Religion would by his Counsels however now afflicted be restored to its Ancient State. He dyed August 18. aged 83 Years having sat Pope four Years two Months and twenty three Days Whilst he was yet dying the People broke open all the Prisons especially those of the Inquisition which they also set on Fire and they were hardly restrained from burning the Palace of Minerva where that Court Sits with the same Fury they beat down the Image of the Pope and broke off its Head and Right-hand and three Days it lay exposed in the Streets to the Contempt and Scorn of all Men after which it was thrown into the Tiber. After this the Arms of the Caraffa's were demolished all over the Town His Body was buried with little Pomp and a Guard of Soldiers drawn up to secure it from the Rage of the Populace It is observed That this Year was fatal to the Princes of Europe August 17 Lawrence Prioly Duke of Venice died and was succeeded by Jerome his own Brother his rare Virtues dispensing with the Venetian Laws of not suffering Honours to continue in the same Family lest they might seem Hereditary September 1 died Hercules di Este Duke of Ferrara he married Renata a Daughter of Lewis XII King of France and was happy in all his Government except his taking part with Henry II in that unjust War against King Philip as Thuanus calls it But he was happy in this That by his Prudence he extricated himself and came off with little or no Damage in his Treaty of Peace with that Potent and provoked Prince February 12. died Otho Henry Duke of Bavaria Count Palatine of the Rhine and was succeeded by Frederick III. April 29 died Francis Otho Duke of Lunenburg January 24 died William Prince of Henneberg so that within the space of one Year died Charles V two Kings of Denmark a King of France a Duke of Venice a Pope the Elector Palatine the Duke of Ferrara and three Queens Helionora of France Mary of Hungary and Bona Sfortia Queen of Poland The Conclave was very much divided in the Election of a new Pope between the French and Spanish Factions each Side labouring to have a Pope of their own Interest So that this Contest lasted three Months till at last the Embassadors of the other Princes began to remonstrate That this long Delay tended only to the improving the Differences in Religion and the increasing the Enemies of that See. At last after a Vacancy of four Months and seven Days John Angelo Medici was elected December 26. by the Suffrage of forty four Cardinals He was born at Milan of obscure Parents and took the Name of Pius IV He began his Reign with a Pardon of the Insolencies the People of Rome had committed upon the Arms and Statue of Pope Paul IV his Predecessor But he soon changed for he that till then had seemed the most Courteous Patient Good Grateful and Liberal of Men presently became quite another Man and took up other Manners He rescinded all the Acts of his Predecessor and presently acknowledged the Imperial Dignity to be lawfully invested in Ferdinand the Brother of Charles V and received his Embassadors with great Civility and Respect To return near Home
was by the late King's Order and would explain the Mystery no further About twelve Days after he went to the Castle of Hane in Picardy and there attended the Orders of the new King. Francis the Second was buried with small State and less Expence to the great hatred of the Guises who in the mean time were very busie to revive the Differences between Queen Catharine and the King of Navarr who wisely prevented their Design by offering the first Place to the Queen and reserving the second to himself as President of the Kingdom This passed into a Decree the twenty first of December The Protestant Religion which had got such footing in France that it seemed not possible to root it out without the Ruine of that Kingdom began this Year to shew it self more openly in Flanders and the Netherlands the Nobility espousing it in great numbers together with the rest of the States Nor could Margaret their Governess under King Philip obtain the continuance of the Taxes for the maintenance of the Spanish Forces Nor would they of Zealand acquiesce tho the Pay was sent from other Places till these Troops were sent into Spain Nor would they grant any Supplies to be disposed of by the Governess but reserved that to themselves that the Soldiers in the Frontier Towns might be certainly and regularly paid This was vigorously opposed by the new Bishops instituted by Paul IV as tending to the remitting the Reins of the Ecclesiastical Government as well as the Civil Bartholomeo Caranza Archbishop of Toledo in Spain was also suspected to incline to the Protestant Religion and on that account was imprisoned by the Inquisition and his Revenues were brought into the King's Treasure By an Appeal to Rome he saved his Life but was never able to recover his See again but died many Years after at Rome in a Private State. Thuanus saith He knew him and that his Learning Integrity and the Holiness of his Conversation was such as made him worthy of that Dignity The great Progress of the Protestant Religion in all Places made all Good Men saith Thuanus desire that the General Council which had been intermitted might be reassumed and carried on but Pope Pius IV had the same Fears of it his Predecessors had lest his own Power should be abated And therefore though he judged this the only means to root out Heresies and very necessary yet he delayed it and unless he were compelled by Force or some present Danger it was apparent he would never admit it But having resolved on the other side right or wrong by Force or Fraud to accomplish his own Desires and hoping to reap great Advantages from the Ruine of the Caraffa's though he had been much assisted by them in the obtaining of the Papacy he applied himself to this with great Application and Industry and under the Mask of Friendship And having laid his Plot he committed Charles Caraffa the Cardinal and his Kinsman the Cardinal of Naples to the Castle of S. Angelo But Anthony Marquess de Monte Bello being then not at Rome though cited also escaped the Danger and fled for his Life Though daily Accounts came to Rome of the Tumults and Disorders of France the Pope took no notice of them Though the Duke of Florence who was great with him for he pretended to be descended of that Family did very much urge his Holiness to consider the State of Affairs in France and Scotland And told him It was Uncharitable to see so many thousands of Souls Lost and Impolitick to necessitate Princes by the despair of a General Council to betake themselves to National Synods This was much inforced by the Noise the Speech of the Chancellor of France had made in the late Assembly which was then very hot in Italy He had among other things assured the French Clergy That if the Pope would not hold a General there should very speedily be a National Council assembled in France and had exhorted all the Bishops to prepare themselves for it To this the Pope answered with great anxiety seeking Pretences of Delay and pretending he was going to Ancona and that by the way he would speak with the Duke of Florence who was a wise Prince and his Kinsman and regulate that Affair by his Advice Cosâ—â—us Duke of Florence perceiving that this Journey of the Pope to Ancona was a Sham and being invited by the Pope to Rome resolved to go thither to promote this and some other Private Business he had with the Pope Before this King Philip having heard of the National Council designed in France had sent Anthony de Toledo to advise the King and Council in this and lay before them the inevitable Danger of a Schism which would follow upon it On the other side Ferdinand the Emperour insisted That seeing the Council was begun on the account of the Germans it should be renewed in Germany and all that was already determined should be re-debated anew Others thought it reasonable That seeing the French were now equally concerned with the Germans the Council should be assembled in some City in the Confines of France and the Empire as at Constance or if the Germans would agree to it at Besanzon The Pope was rather inclined to have it at Trent or rather to bring it deeper into Italy and had some Thoughts of Vercelli a City in the Borders of France though he could not yet resolve certainly to hold it any where for he good Man was more desirous that Geneva which had much infected France and Germany should be reduced by a War than that the Controversies of Religion should be committed to the peaceable Determination of a Council And to that end he had persuaded the Duke of Savoy to make a War upon the Vaudois his Subjects Whilst the Pope was in this incertainty in October the Duke of Florence came to Rome and persuaded the Pope by his Arguments to resolve on the calling of a Council the next Year that he might provide a General Remedy for a General Disease He shewed him That there was no Danger such a Council would pass any severe Sentence on the Manners and Abuses of the Court of Rome And that it was fit he should desire the Discipline and Corrupt Manners of the Church of Rome should be reformed That he ought sincerely to promote it and cause select Divines to be assembled out of all Christian Kingdoms and to hear them favourably that so the Peace of Christendom might be restored which was now torn in Pieces by Diversity of Opinions About the same time the Death of Francis II the Advancement of the King of Navarr and the great Kindness Queen Catharine on his account shewed to the Protestants very much terrified the Pope and compelled him to entertain the Thoughts of a Council in good earnest which till then had been talked of with no great sincerity The Pope thereupon sent Lawrence Lenzi Bishop of Firmo
Persons and Estates should be Confiscated But they on the contrary were resolved to stand by their former Confession They were thereupon commanded not to admit any Teacher who was not sent by the Archbishop of Turin or the Council there and that if any Teachers came among them from Geneva they should discover or apprehend them upon pain of Death and loss of all they had For three years after this the people of this Perswasion were let alone and no way molested but this Year the Duke of Savoy much against his will and Inclinatiion was drawn by the Pope to make a War upon them In the begining of March Jean de Carquignau and one Mathurim and his Wife were taken and burnt and several of the Neighbour Valleys were Plundred several of the Inhabitants were put to death and about Sixty sent to the Gallies and some recanted and profess'd the Roman Catholick Religion After this one Thomas Jacomel a Dominican was sent with one Turbis for his Assistant who was a bloody man to inquire diligently and severely into all that were suspected but the Nobility interposing there was no great Severity shewn The Monks of the Abbey of Pignoral which was seated in the Entry of the Valley on the other side kept a parcel of Souldiers in Pay and trapping as many of these poor People as they could as they passed to and fro they used them very cruelly and some others of the Nobility did the same thing and a Sedition following upon it they fined the poor Inhabitants One Thousand six Hundred Crowns Upon this a sharp war insued which ended in the Ruine of the Aggressors of the Church of Rome The Pastor also of Perosia was taken and burnt with a slow Fire with many of his Flock and the Inhabitants were spoiled of all they had and forced to Flee to the Mountains Being thus inraged with hard Usages in the Month of July Fifty of them set upon One Hundred and Twenty Souldiers belonging to the Abbey of Pignoral put them to flight and slew the greatest part of them and about Four Hundred more of their party coming up they took the Abbey of Pignoral and delivered all their people which were imprisoned there In October following News being brought that the Duke of Suvoy was sending an Army to destroy them They resolved that it was not lawful to take Arms against their Prince but that they would take what they could carry away and betake themselves to the Mountains and there attend the good pleasure of God who never forsakes his own and can turn the Hearts of Princes which way he pleaseth There was not one Man amongst them who repined against this Decree In after times they had Pastors who taught them otherwise and told them it was not their Prince but the Pope that they resisted and that they fought not for their Religion but for their Wives and Children The second of November the Forces of the Duke of Savoy entered their Borders and the Soldiers attempting to get above them they betook themselves to their Slings and maintained a Fight against them though they were but few in number the space of a whole day with no great loss At last the General finding they were not to be forced gave them leave to Petition the Duke of Savoy That they might live in Peace assuring him that nothing but utter ruin could have forced them to take Arms against him for which they humbly implored his Highness's Pardon and begging the Liberty of their Consciences and that they might not be forced to submit to the Tradtions of the Church of Rome but might with his good leave enjoy the Religion they had learned from their Ancestors This Petition was seconded by the Duchess of Savoy who was a merciful Princess â—and had great Power over the Affections of the Duke It being ever her judgment that this People were not to be so severely used who had not changed their Religion a few days agon but had been in Possession of it from their Ancestors so many Ages Upon this they were to be received to mercy but the Soldiery fell upon them when they suspected nothing and Plundered them three days together The General seemed to be much concerned at this breach of Faith yet after this they were fined eight thousand Crowns which they were forced to borrow on great Usury and they were also commanded to bring all their Arms into the Castles the Duke had Garrisoned in their Country And at last they were commanded to eject all their Pastors which was granted with the tears of their People that they might avoid the fury of the Soldiers The General pretended not to be satisfied that their Pastors were in good truth gone and when they suffered them to search their Houses the Soldiers Plundered them again and then burnt their Town There was one Town called Angrogne in a Valley of the same name the General pretended to shew them more favour and agreed that they should have one Pastor left them but they forced him also to flee into the Mountains afterwards and Plundered his House and all his Neighbours and then injoyned the Sindicks who are their chief Magistrates to find up and bring in the Pastor threatning that otherwise they would burn and destroy the whole Territory and when they had so done then they withdrew In the mean time their Messengers were gone with the Petition mentioned above to the Duke to Vercelli where they attended forty days before they could get Audience and then they were forced to promise they would admit the Mass and when the Prince had upon these terms forgiven their taking Arms against him they were commanded to ask Pardon too of the Popes Nuncio which at last they did During their absence the Inhabitants of Angrogne had suffered no Sermons but in private that they might not exasperate the Prince or make the Affairs of their Deputies more difficult But they resolved when these were returned they would exercise their Religion openly and not give any thing to the maintaining of the Soldiers whether their Request were granted or denied In the beginning of January the Deputies returned and when their Principals understood what had been done they wrote of the rest of the Valleys to give them an account of it and defired a publick Consultation or Diet. At which it was resolved that they should all joyn in a League to defend their Religion which they believed was agreeable to the Word of God professing in the mean time to obey their Prince according to the Commandments of God and that they would for the future make no Agreement or Peace but by a common Consent in which the freedom of their Religion should be saved Upon this they grew more Confident refused the Conditions offered by the Duke of Savoy and the promises made by their Deputies And the next day they entered into the Church of Bobbi in Arms and broke down all the Images and Altars and after a Sermon
they would not be wanting to the King Queen and Kingdom at a time of so much need nor suffer themselves to be prejudiced by the false pretences of his Enemies but rather would support and strengthen him in the War which he had engaged in for the Glory of God and the Safety of the King and Kingdom The 11th of April he caused the League which the Protestants had entred into to be printed also which was to last only till the King should be of full Age to undertake the Government of his Kingdom in his own Name and at the same time he caused that entred into by the Triumvirate to be printed which they pretended was Confirm'd by the Authority of the Council of Trent which was about that time opened The same Seventh day of April the King and Queen put out a Declaration at Paris wherein they affirmed that the report of their Captivity was false and scandalously feigned by the Prince of Conde for a colour to his Seditious Practises And that they came willingly and not by force to Paris that they might consult of the means of settling this Commotion The Third day after another Paper was Published by the Queen Navar Bourbon the Cardinal and Duke of Guise and Montmorancy by the Advice of Aumale the Chancellor St. Andre Brisac and Montmorancy the Younger for the Confirming the Edict of January the Pardon of all past offences and forbidding the troubling or endangering any Man on the account of Religion And giving liberty to the Protestants to meet and Preach any where except in Paris and the Suburbs thereof At the same time an Envoy was dispatched to the Elector Palatine and the rest of the Princes of Germany to consult them about the Council of Trent About the same time there was a Barbarous Massacre made of the Protestants at Sens by the Procurement of Hemar President of Sens and as it was believed not without the knowledge of the Cardinal of Guise who was Archbishop of that See who was thereupon said to have had a hand also in that of Vassy There was a report spread in the City that the Protestants had a design to surprize the City and deface the Images whereupon the Rabble rose and drowned in the River and Slew in all 100 People of all Ages and Sexes Plundered and pull'd down their Houses and rooted up their Vines of which Conde made a grievous Complaint to the Queen in a Letter of the 19th of April But there being many Complaints of the like nature brought from other parts of the Nation against the Protestants the thing was neglected And Davila takes no notice of it About the same time many Cities throughout the Kingdom of France were surprized by the Protestants which was in many places not possible to be done without Slaughter and the Profanation of the Churches though their Captains at first carried themselves as moderately as they could The Prince of Conde understanding by a Letter he received from the Elector Palatin That the Princes of Germany were much divided about the Causes of this War and Especially the Catholicks He wrote a Letter to Ferdinand the Emperor the 20th of April to inform him of the Causes of these Tumults asserting the King and Queen were carried away against their wills and that he had been forced to betake himself to Arms to restore them to their former Liberty and therefore he beseeched the Emperour to favour him as an Asserter of the Royal Interest The 15th of April Roan was taken by the Protestants almost without any Tumult or Resistance And when Henry Robert de la Mark Duke de Bouillon Governour of Normandy was sent thither by the King of Navar to Command them in the King's Name to lay down their Arms they slighted his Authority and gave Reasons for what they had done alledging amongst others the Attempts upon the Protestants at Amiens and Abbeville which they said were sufficient to terrifie the most Peceable from laying down their Arms but then they were willing to deliver the Keys of the City to him and to keep it for his use and in his Name He leaving the City thereupon they took St. Catherine's a Monastery without the City and put a Garison into it A Tumult arising the next Night some of the Catholicks were slain and others put into Prison So from the Third of May till the City was re-taken the Exercise of the Romish Religion was totally omitted Soon after they took Pont de l' Arche which being taken by the Roman Catholicks the Protestants took Caudebec beneath Roan and when they might have demolished it they endeavoured to keep it but it was soon after re-taken by the Roman Catholicks and so the City was restrain'd on both sides Upon this 300 Horse and 1500 Foot were sent against them which for some time had the better of the Citizens The Protestants took Diepe the 21th of April without any Resistance and pull'd down the Images and Altars in the Churches The 21th of June Aumale left Roan and Besieged Diepe In the County of Calais the Protestants were the stronger were also taken and Reform'd by the Protestants Man 's was taken by the Protestants the Third of April without Resistance and in the mean time Forces were raised by both Parties the Queen in her Heart being pleased to see the Prince of Conde Espouse her Cause and desiring to abate the Pride of the Guises and therefore she was earnest to have a Treaty hoping by this means to have both the Parties at her Devotion The Prince of Conde the first of May had sent her a Letter with some Terms for an Accommodation which were That the Edict of January which had been violated by the Conspirators should be observed 2. The Injuries committed upon the Protestants severely punished by the Magistrates 3. Guise and his Brothers and Montmorancy who had raised this War should leave the Court and return to their several Governments till the King was of Age to undertake the Government and determine himself this Controversy And then he would lay down his Arms and retire to his home The Fourth of May it was Answered That the King would observe the Edict of January every where but at Paris That all Slaughters Spoilings and Injuries committed should be inquired into and punished but he would not send Guise Montmorancy and St. Andre from the Court because he was satisfied as to their Loyalty needed their Counsel and ought not to set any Mark of Dishonour on them But then they were willing for the sake of the Publick Peace to retire if those that were in Arms in Ocleans and all over the Nation would first go home restore the Places taken by them to their former Liberty and yield that Obedience to the King they ought and that the King of Navar should still retain the Command of the Army The Prince of Conde perceiving by this Answer that the
a pretence to withdraw the Army from Corbeil which by this time was too well mann'd for the Prince to deal with whereupon he marched towards Paris the Catholick Army being then come up and in sight so that the two Armies pelted each other with their Cannon Two days after the Prince came to Juvicy and the next to Saussaye there the motion for a Conference was again renewed and the Queen was to come as far as Port Angel for that purpose But the Prince either not being well or fearing some Treachery excused himself and sent Coligni to treat with Montmorancy his Uncle Montmorancy on the other side to dissipate the Prince's Jealousie crossed the Seyne and came to him From thence the Prince marched on towards Paris and three days after Coligni who led the Vangard attack'd the Suburbs of St. Victor which caused a grievous Consternation in Paris so that if there had been then no Garison in the City the Inhabitants would have opened their Gates and fled for their Lives and Jacques Gillis President of the Parliament at Paris a violent Persecutor of the Protestants died for fear they were come to take Revenge on him for the Blood he had shed and he was succeeded by Christopher de Thou a person of great moderation and integrity and a lover of his Country but addicted to none of the Factions that embroiled France who was promoted by the Queen The Prince's Army consisted then in 8000 Foot 5000 Horse and 7 Cannons The 2d of December the Queen attended by the Cardinal of Bourbon the Prince of Roche sur Yon Montmorancy and his Son and the Seigneur de Gonnor met the Prince Coligni Genly Gramont and Esternay at a Conference The Prince demanded that the Protestants might freely meet whereever they desired it and not elsewhere That then the English and other Strangers should depart the Nation and the Cities should be restored into their former State. That no person should be called to account for any thing done during the War. That there should be a free General Council held if it might be had within six Months and if not then a National Council of France The Queen as to the first excepted Paris Lyons the Cities on the Fronteers all those that had Parliaments and all that had no Meetings since the Edict of January the Churches to be restored and no Exercises in them but what was according to the ancient form and Conde desired they might meet in the Suburbs of the Fronter Cities The Conference was continued four days and then ended without any Agreement the Protestants by that time being resolved to try the Fortune of a Battel The 10th of December the Prince withdrew the Army from Paris and retreated to Paloyseau the next day he marched to Limoux and the third to Valenza a place of Pleasure the fourth to St. Arnoul the Inhabitants of which out of fear shut their Gates whereupon it was taken and plundered and the Priest severely treated and here the Army stayed two days The King's Army for so now it was called marched to Estamps and finding it Garison'd by the Princes Forces they left it and marched to Chartres which was a stronger place and had a greater Garison The Prince of Conde was enraged to be thus deluded by a Sham-Treaty and had some Thoughts to have return'd to Paris which was wisely prevented by Coligni who advised him to march towards Normandy and joyn with the English at Havre de Grace who had a good Body of Foot which they wanted most of all and where they expected Money from England which tho' it was very difficult yet the Germans beginning to be mutinous for their Pay it was resolved upon The 15th of December he marched to Ably and the next day to Gallardon which refusing him entrance was taken and the Inhabitants ill used from hence he went to Mintenon where he crolled the Sâ—yne and went to Aulnay Here the King's Army overtook them and pass'd the 〈◊〉 beâ—ore him unperceived there was in it 16000 Foot and 2000 Horse which lay encamped between the Villages of L'Espine and Blainville and the Horse being fewer than those with the Prince was divided into four Squadrons and placed between the Foot which were covered by these two Villages on both sides and on the right hand with Wagons too but the Duke of Guise was with a Party of Horse on the left Wing Andelot had that day a fit of his Tertian Ague yet he took his Horse and went to view the King's Army and finding it very dangerous to attack them in that Post advised they should turn toward Treon but Montmorancy ordered the Cannon to play just as they were going to march that way which caused some disorder in the first Troops of Conde's Army Whereupon he fell in upon the Swiss whereas he ought to have charged the opposite Horse and by this means besides he exposed his own Foot naked to the Van-Guard of the Enemy which passed by untouched however the Swiss were broken into and dispersed and the German Horse made a great Slaughter of them Danville eldest Son to Montmorancy came thereupon with three Troops to their Relief in which Action Gabriel Montmorancy his Brother was slain Rochefoucault fell upon the next Squadron of Swiss but was repulsed by their Pikes with loss At the same time Coligni fell upon Montmorancy who was in the Rere and broke it all in pieces Montemorancy had his Horse slain under him and as he mounted another was wounded in the Face and taken by one R. Sewart Beauvuis was also taken but died soon after of his Wounds And Anglure de Givry and the Duke de Aumale were beaten down and trod to Death by the Horse The Regiment of Bretagne was also dispersed so that there was only one Squadron of Swiss entire which repelled the Germans and there were some French Horse which make a Front but at length they were charged in the Rere by de Mouy but then he also was charged by Biron with three Troops in the Flank and soon after taken his Horse being slain The Van-Guard in which the Duke of Guise stood was all this while entire he was in the Army as a private Gentleman and had no Command because he would not sight under Montmorancy At his Advice St. Andre fell then upon the Prince of Conde when all his Forces were weary and dispersed and first broke the Prince's Foot which were very much slaughtered by the Spaniards that followed the Gascongners and Germans who first broke in upon them After this Guise Damville and St. Andre all united with the rest of the King's Horse fell upon the Prince's Horse which being disordered by three Field-pieces fired upon them was soon broken Andelot doing all that was possible to rally the Germans but it proving impossible he rode to Teron and at last escaped Conde and Coligni got together 200 Horse but could not persuade the
the Council together with the Coadjutors of other Bishops that so he might have the more Votes believing he was now in the utmost degree of Danger and as if he had not had enough of his own he borrowed some Prelates of his Friends too And amongst them he got leave of the Duke of Savoy that Anthony Bobba Bishop of Cassale who was then that Princes Ambassador in the Court of Rome and Lewis Vanini de Teodolis Bishop de Bertinoro a Person of great Learning and Eloquence who had excused his Attendance in the Council upon his want of Health should now forthwith be dispatched to Trent When this last was going thither he is said to have consolated and strengthened the good Pope in his Anxiety and Fears of the Event with an Assurance That he would certainly get the Victory over the Council which was a very Acceptable Saying to the Pope and that he for that good News Kiss'd the Bishop of Bertinoro when he took his Leave to go to Trent bidding him be careful to get the Victory he had promised him And when after this some flying Reports came to Rome that some Questions were moved in the Council to the prejudice of the Papal Authority by the Bishops he was so moved at it that in the Consistory before all the Cardinals he cried out he and the Romans were betrayed whilest he maintained an Army of Enemies at Trent with great expence By which expression he aimed at the Italian Bishops who were his Pensioners and kept there by him in great numbers And Jo. Baptista Adriani writes He was just upon the Point of inhibiting the Council and had done it if Cosmus Duke of Florence had not averted him from that dangerous and shameful project The 8th day of September Maximilian the Eldest Son of Ferdinand the Emperor was chosen King of the Romans at Francfort upon the Maine in a Diet there assembled for that purpose Stroschen a Polander by birth who was then Ambassador for Solyman the Emperor of the Turks was present at Francfort and saw this Ceremony being sent to settle a Truce for eight years between those Princes which had been a long time sought by Busbequius at Constantinople The Emperor was by this League to pay Thirty Miliions of Hungarian Duckets for a Tribute by the year In this Diet the Princes of the Augustane Confession and their Allies gave in their opinion concerning the Council in Writing as they promised they would in the Convention at Naumburg They said they could not come to this Impious Council which was Indicted by Pope Pius the Fourth because not so assembled as was prescribed in their Appeals to a pious free and lawful Council given in heretofore in several Diets of Germany This Diet ended about the end of December and the Emperor went by Wormes Spire Weissemburg Strasburg Schlestat and Basil to Friburg in Brisgow being in all places received with great Honour and in the last of these places he held a Diet for Alsatia and then by Constance he went in February to Inspruck where he staid some time on the account of the Council of Trent which he hoped might be ended in the less time if he were near it The French Ambassadors when they came to the Council of Trent were furnished with certain Instructions what they were to ask but had Orders to suppress them till they had conferr'd with the Emperors Ambassadors which happened to have much what the same demands But by this time the Court of France seeing there was no care taken to satisfie the Emperor and that things were carried with great slowness ordered their Ambassador to open their Grievances which were contain'd in Thirty four Articles and were accordingly unfolded to the Council the 4th of January as they may be seen at large in Polano his History Pag. 609. I shall not here trouble the Reader with them The 10th of January the King of France ordered his Ambassador to assure the Pope that the Annals which were taken away in the Assembly of the States of France lately held at Orleans should for the future be paid to the Pope he hoping by this means to have him more ready to grant his desires tending to the peace of the Church which the Pope's Ambassador largely promised On the 14th of February a Decree was made concerning the Residence of Bishops and Pastors with great difficulty and opposition which all tended to the obtaining the Judgment of the Council That the Pope has full power to feed and govern the Universal Church The French who hold that a Council is above the Pope were contented to conceal their opinion in this point for fear the Pope should take that opportunity to dissolve the Council without any good done by it But then they were resolved to defend their said opinion if it were opposed whatever happened and upon no terms to lose or yield it King Philip also laboured very hard that the power of the Bishops should be raised and that of the Pope and the Conclave brought lower which they of the Pope's party interpreted as a design to diminish the Spanish Liberties because the Bishops and Chapters of Spain would be more subjected to the will of the King than the Court of Rome would By which means they at last prevailed so far upon that jealous Nation that the power of the Bishops in the end was very much abated and that of the Pope was enlarged and exalted and the Bishops were contented to act as the Popes Delegates and by his Authority and in his Name to exercise their Functions About this time it was that the Cardinal of Lorrain went again to the Emperor to Inspruck which caused a great fear in the Pope's party in the Council for that they suspected he went to adjust with that Prince the ways to bring the Papal power under In the beginning of March the Emperor wrote a Letter to the Pope after he had consulted the Bishops of Quinque Ecclesiae who went to Inspruck to him wherein he signified to his Holiness That after his Son in the last Diet was Elected King of the Romans and Crown'd and that he had visited his Cities upon the Rhine he was come to Inspruck to promote the Affairs of the Church in the Council as became the Supreme Advocate and procurator of the Church but that to his great grief he understood that things were so far from going as was to be desired and as the publick State of Affairs required that it was to be feared if speedy remedies were not applied the Council would be ended in such manner as it would give offence to all Christendom and become ridiculous to all those who had made a defection from the Church of Rome and fix them more obstinately in those opinions they had embraced tho' very differing from the Orthodox Faith. That there had not been any Session celebrated for a long time and that it was commonly given out the Fathers and Doctors in
66. Agricola vide Islebius Aix Parliament of Aix make a Cruel Decree against the Waldenses 343. Albert of Brandenburg Bishop of Mentz and Magdeburg 2. Luther writes to him Vide Luther Is made Cardinal 4. His Speech to the Electors at Frankfort 14. He Proclaims Charles the Fifth's Election 18. Answers Luther's Letter kindly 31. Makes a Speech to Charles the Fifth 37. Is concerned in the Ban by which Luther was Proscribed 49. Sends Ambassadors to the Protestants at Smalcald 153. Dies 354. Albert of Brandenburg Grand Master of the Teutonick Order wars with Sigismund King of Poland 99. Demands Succours from Germany Ibid. Swears Allegiance to Sigismund Ibid. Marries and is made Duke of Prussia Ibid. What he did is rescinded by the Emperor 139. He is Proscribed 161. He assists Osiander and Banishes those Ministers who refuse his Doctrine 511. Albert Marquis of Brandenburg assists Duke Maurice 417. He keeps Rochlitz 420. Is taken Prisoner by the Duke of Saxony Ibid. Set at liberty 428. Goes into France to mediate a League between the French King and Duke Maurice 549. His Declaration of War against the Emperor 551. He joins D. Maurice and the Landgrave's Son 555. He wasts the Country about Ulm 556. He is very cruel to the Norembergers 561. Fines the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg 562. Makes Peace with the Norembergers Ibid. He writes to the City of Ulm to yield to him 563. He deserts the Confederates and wars in his own Name 567. Breaks in upon the Bishops of Mentz and Triers Ibid. Demands his chief Castle of the Bishop of Triers Ibid. He falls upon the Bishops upon the Rhine 571. His Demands of the Strasburgers Ibid. He besieges Frankfort 572. Makes War against the Bishops of Mentz and Spire Ibid. And robs the Churches of those Bishopricks 573. Is receiv'd at Triers Ibid. Marches into Luxemburg 574. Makes a Peace with the Emperor 575. Beats the French at Pont a Mousson Ibid. Complains to the Franconian Bishops 577. Refuses an Accommodation at Heidelberg and declares War against the Bishops of Franconia 578. Takes Bamberg and spoils the Country Ibid. Makes War upon Duke Maurice 581. War is declared against him Ib. His Answer to their Declaration 584. His Territories are invaded Ibid. He is routed by D. Maurice 585. Writes a Letter to D. Maurice's Subjects 586. Renews the War against the D. of Brunswick 591. Is routed by him Ibid. He retires towards France 592. He is Proscribed 594. Sues in vain to have it taken off 595. He Remonstrates to the Diet of Ausburg against the Norembergers 599. By continuing the War he is at last Outed of all 601. Goes into France 604. Writes to the Diet at Frankfort Ibid. Albert Count Mansfield goes against Muncer's Rabble 84. He routs them Ibid. Albert of Brunswick killed 404. Albertus Magnus vide Aquinas Aleander Hieronymus sent against Luther to Frederick by the Pope 38. Made a Cardinal 39. Alexander de Medicis recovers Florence 132. is killed by his Kinsman Lorenzo Medicis 209. Alaski sent by Ferdinand Ambassador to Solyman 270. Imprisoned by him 271. Aloisia Mother to Francis I. writes to Pope Clement during his Captivity 98. Makes a League with Henry the VIII 102. Amstorfius vide John Frederick Elector of Saxony Anabaptists their Original 110. Their Doctrines at Munster 190. Their Book called the Restitution 196. Their Supper Ibid. their 28 Apostles Ibid. Who were all Executed 197. They write to the Landgrave 198. Their Hellish Doctrines Ibid. Their Book of the Mysteries of Christ 199. Angelical Doctor vide Aquinas Anne Boleyne Wise to Hen. VIII Beheaded 208. Anthony D. of Lorrain forbids his Subjects to read Luther's Books 75. Defeats the Boors in his Country 81. Kills 18000 of them Ibid. Of which many after Promise of Life was granted Ibid. He negotiates a Peace between the Emperor and French King in vain 320. Dies 327. Antinomians their Original 244. Apparition of Ghosts frequent in the times of Popery 172. Aquinas Tho. chiefly quoted to prove Indulgences 3. Studied at Cologne and Paris 4. Scholar to Albertus Magnus Ibid. Sainted by Pope John XXII Ibid. Dies An. 1274. Ibid. Called Angelical Doctor Ibid. Arbitrators Elector of Mentz and Prince Palatine chosen to mediate between the Protestant Princes and the Emperor 154. Their Answer to the Prince's Propositions 158. Aristotle better used by the Lovain Doctors than Luther 29. Arnstadt a Town in Thuringia a Convention of Protestants there 251. Arras vide Anthony Perenot Granvell D'Avalos Ferd. Marquess of Pescara heartens the Imperialists to Fight at Pavia 79. Accuses the French King 295. Augsburg a Diet there 4. The Diet at Ausburg removed to Spire 97. They embrace the Protestant Religion 109. Commissioners to frame a Decree there 135. The Tenor of it Ibid. The Decree of that Diet 139. They publish a Book against the Ecclesiasticks 212. They promise to lend no more money to the Emperor 389. They capitulate with the Emperor 418. A Diet called to Ausburg 435. It is an Armed Diet 437. It is opened Ibid. A Decree there about a free Council 467. Another Armed Diet at Augsburg 499. The Decree of the Diet about a Council 512. Their Divines examined of a sudden by Granvell and sent out of Germany 516. Is surrendred to D. Maurice and the Confederate Princes 555. Great Contests about Religion in the Diet 621. The Allegations of the Papists against the Protestants 622. The Decree of the Diet 626. Augsburg Cardinal of vindicates himself 633. Augustane Confession read to Charles the Fifth 129. Oppugned by the Popish Divines 130. Augustine Monks at Wittemberg forbear saying Mass 49. Two Augustine Friars examined at Brussels 63. Burnt 64. Augustus suceeds his Brother Maurice in the Electorate of Saxony 587. Calls a Convention of his States what 's their Answer to his Proposals Ibid. Refuses to appear at the Diet of Ausburg 612. Austrian Nobility Petition Ferdinand for Liberty of Conscience 285. They renew their Instances 287. They Address again 628. Their Reply to Ferdinand's Answer 630. Ferdinand's Answer to their Reply 632. B BAden a Disputation there of both Parties of Switzers 105. The Points disputed of Ibid. Bamberg Wigand Bishop of Quarrels with the Elector of Brandenburg 152. Barbarossa the Turkish Admiral takes Castlenovo 251. Lies with his Fleet at Thoulon 314. He Besieges the Castle of Nizza Ibid. When he could not take it he retires to Thoulon 316. As he retires from Thoulon makes sad ravages in Italy 326. Barnes Rich. Burnt at London 269. Basil-Council asserted the Superiority of Councils to a Pope 10. Oecolampadius Preaches there 76. Great Dissentions about Religion 116. Images broken down and burnt upon Ash-Wednesday 117 Mass abolished there Ibid. The Form of the safe Conduct which was granted at the Council of Basil 539. Bavaria the Dukes oppose the Election of Ferdinand King of the Romans 158. The D. of Bavaria intercedes for the D. of Brunswick 307. Beaton David Cardinal Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews killed 382. Becken Otho gives the
Landgrave of Hesse an Account of a Confederacy of the German Princes 114. Beghardi vide Picards Belgrade vide Solyman Bellay Sieur de Langey sent by K. Francis to Smalcald 183. His Speech to the Protestants there Ibid. Dies 309. S. Bernard his Letter to P. Eugenius 24. Bern the Cantons of Bern desire a Publick Dispute at Bern 110. They Publish Theses of Disputation 111. There is a Disputation held Ibid. They abolish Popery 112. They join with the Zurichers to stop Provisions to the other Cantons 155. They are slack in sending the Zurichers Relief 156. Bichling Count condemned to die for siding with the French 326. Is pardoned Ibid. Blancer Ambrose disputes at Bern 111. Preaches up the Reformed Religion at Constance 112. Leaves his Monastery Ibid. Assists Bucer in constituting a Protestant Church at Ulm. 149. Bohemians Communicate in both Kinds 26. Their Suppression consulted about in the Fourth Lateran Council 27. Sects amongst them 53. They invade Saxony unwillingly 408. They return Home 409. They refuse to Fight against the Elector of Saxony 417. The Nobility of Prague desire a Convention to be called 420. A League amongst them Ibid. They Write to Ferdinand and Duke Maurice 423. They Write to the Moravians to defend their Liberties 424. They Write to Ferdinand interceding for the Duke of Saxony 425. And prepare for War. Ibid. They stand by the Duke of Saxony 426. They promise to comply 427. Pope Boniface the 8th appointed a Jubile every 100 Years 9. Book Printed in French against the Hucksters of Sacred things 178. An Account of it Ibid. Boors rise in Swaben 76. Are quieted Ibid. Rise again there 79. Publish their Demands Ibid. They treat with the Deputies of the Empire at Ulm. 80. They are Routed by George Truchses at Lippen Ibid. The Boors in Algow disperse themselves Ibid. They Rise in Franconia Ibid. Killed Count Helfenstein at Winsperg Ibid. Are Routed by Truchses 81. He punishes those who killed Count Helfenstein Ib. Another body takes Wirtzburg Ibid. Are Routed by Truchses Ibid. Vp in Lorrain Ibid. There Defeated Ibid. And every where else in Germany Ibid. Many killed Treacherously after Promise of Life Ibid. The demands of the Boors in Schwabia 90. Bourbon vide Charles D. of Bourdeaux a Sedition there 474. Quelled and the Inhabitants Punished Severely 475. Brandenburg Duke of Appeals to a General Council from the Bishop of Bamberg 152. Brandenburg Elector vide Joachim the Marquesses of Brandenburg act against the Protestants 376. Bremer's Answer to the Proposals made to them by the Princes 502. Brentius John in great Distress at Hall about the Interim 461. Received by the D. of Wirtemberg 462. He draws up a Confession of the Divines in the Dutchy and is esteemed by the Duke 515. Bruly Peter Preaches the Reformed Religion in the Netherlands 341. Is seized upon at Tournay Ibid. The Protestants in Germany intercede for him Ibid. He is Examined 342. Burnt Ibid. Brunswick Hen. D. of hot against the Protestants 239. His Letters to the Bishop of Mentz and Eldo intercepted by the Landgrave 246. He Quarrels with the Elector of Saxony 247. Accuses the Protestants 267. Hires Incendiaries to burn some Towns in Saxony 275. Who is accused of it to the Emperor Ibid. He is thrown out by the Saxon and the Landgrave 298. Appeals to the Imperial Chamber 304. Protestants in the Diet of Spire 319. The Story of the Dukes Mistress Eve Trottine 322. He answers the Calumnies of the Confederates 323. His Country sequestred into the Emperor's Hands 326. He cheats the French King of his Money 351. His Dutchy sequestred to the Emperor 352. He is Obstinate Ib. Raises an Army 352. Makes great spoil in the Dutchy of Brunswick Ibid. Is opposed by the Landgrave 353. Emploies D. Maurice to Mediate for him Ibid. Breaks the Truce Ibid. Fights the Landgrave 354. Surrenders at Discretion Ibid Offers to betray the Popish Councils to the Landgrave 388. Is set at Liberty and goes to the Emperor at Hall 432. Commences his Actions against the Landgrave in the Imperial Chamber 474. Besieges Brunswick 500. Outed of his Country by Volrat Count Mansfield 576. Complains of it to the Emperor at Metz. Ibid. Leagues with Maurice 578. Plagues his Westphalian Neighbours 579. Routs Albert 591. Besieges Brunswick 593. Makes an Agreement with John Frederick D. of Saxony Ibid. Prosecutes the War in Albert's Country 594. Raises Money from the Cities in the lower Saxony 602. Bucer Mart. meets Luther at Marpurg 121. Endeavours to unite Luther and Zuinglius 141. Constitutes a Church at Ulm 149. Goes to Cologne at Gropper's Invitation 288. Is kindly received by the Bishop Ibid. Preaches at Bon 310. Is opposed by the Clergy of Cologne 311. Opposes Malvenda about Justification at Ratisbon 359. Goes from the Conference Ibid. Is sent for to Ausburg 454. Rejects the Interim 457. Goes into England 479. And dies at Cambridge 513. Buda Besieged by Ferdinand 284. Taken by Solyman by a Trick 285. Budaeus Will. dies 269. Bull de Coena Domini what 42. Bull Golden what 19. Buren Maximilian Count of comes to assist the Emperor 397. He joins the Emperor 403. Takes Darmstadt 414. And Frankfort upon Composition Ibid. Dies 478. C CAden Mich. sends an Account to Nuremberg of their Ambassadors being confined at Piacenza 125. Presents a Protestant Book to Charles ibid. For which he is in danger ibid. But makes his Escape ibid. Caesar Leonard Burnt for Relgion 110. Calvin John Preaches at Strasburg 241. Answers Cardinal Farness's Speech against the Protestants 266. Writes an Antidote against the Sorbonâ— Doctors and a Book of Reliques 314. Is expelled Geneva 616. Campegio Cardinal goes to Nuremberg 66. Writes to the Elector Frederick Duke of Saxony 67. His Speech to the Princes of the Empire 68. His Reply to their Answer 69. His Answer to the Deputies from Strasburg 73. makes a Speech at the Diet at Worms 271. Capua Nich. Archbishop of Capua against Reformation 238. Sends a Copy of the Draught into Germany ibid. Caracciolus Martinus sent to Frederick by the Pope against Luther 38. Made a Cardinal 39. Cardinal The Delegate Cardinals draw a Model of Reformation 233. The Cardinals at the Council of Trent answer Mendoza's Speech 360. Carolostadius Andrew disputes with Eckius at Leipzick 22. Pulls down Images at Wittemberg 52. Goes over to the Enthusiasts ibid. Writes against Luther about the Eucharist 97. Excuses himself from being engaged with the Boors ibid. Begs Luther's Protection ibid. Capnio vide Reuchlin Cajetan Tho. Card. sent by Pope Leo to the Diet at Ausburg 4. Exhorts the Princes of the Empire to defend it against Selymus the Turk ibid. Treats with Luther at Ausburg 7. Commands Stupits to treat privately with Luther 8. Exclaims against the Council of Constance in the Council of Lateran 10. Writes to Frederick complaining against Luther ibid. Publishes Leo's Bull at Lintz 12. Sends it to the Bishops of Germany ibid. Exasperated the Breach of Luther 24. Casa John Archbishop of
an Embassie to the Switzers 380. Makes a League against the Reformed 381. Acquaints the Elector Palatine with the Reasons why he made War upon the Protestants 383. His Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne 385. His Forces at Ratisbon 389. He Outlaws the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave ibid. Invites D. Maurice to take Possession of the Landgrave's and the Saxon's Territories 391. Refuses to hear the Protestant Messengers 394. And answers their Objections ib. Is joined by the Pope's Troops ibid. An account of his Army 395. He marches to Ratisbon ibid. His great Courage 398. He and the Pope pretend different causes of the War Ibid. His Letter to the Protestant Switzers Ibid. He takes Donawert by Surrender 405. Is Master of the Danube 406. Is oppressed at Gienghen a Town on the Danube and uses Tricks to get off 407. The Plague in his Camp Ibid. Removes his Camp 410. Recovers by Surrender several Towns in Frankenland 412. Writes a severe Letter to the Duke of Wirtemberg Ibid. Commands his Subjects not to obey him 413. Takes Ulm by Surrender Ibid. Is reconciled to the Duke of Wirtemberg 415. Several Protestant Cities yield to him 416. Goes to Ulm 417. He receives Lindaw and Essing into favour Ibid. Commands the Arch-Bishop of Cologne to stand by the Popes Sentence Ibid. He raises Forces against the Elector of Saxony 419. He receives the Strasburghers Submission 423. His Letters to the States of D. Maurice Ibid. And to those of Prague Ibid. Another Letter of his to the States of Bohemia 425. His Expedition against the Duke of Saxony 426. His clerity in overtaking him 427. Defeats him and takes him Prisoners Ibid. Condemns the Duke of Saxony to Death Ibid. Proposes conditions of Peace to him and calls a Diet at Ulm 428. Proposes Conditions of Peace to the Landgrave 430. Answers the Landgrave at Hall 432. Detains him Prisoner treacherously 433. Intends to fall upon Magdebourg but is diverted by Vogelsberg's raising Troops in Germany 434. Is reconciled to some Towns in Saxony 435. Publishes his Pacification with the Landgrave Ibid. Squeezes Money from the Germans 436. And proscribes Magdebourg Ibid. Solicites the Switzers to make a League 437. Makes a Truce with the Turk Ibid. Moves the College of Princes to desire the Pope to remove the Council to Bononia 439. Answers the Proposals made by the Cities of the Empire at Augsbourg 441. Sends an Embassy to the Pope about the Council Ibid. Excuses the Landgrave's Confinement Ibid. Refuses to set him at Liberty 442. Confines him closely 443. He makes a Report to the States concerning a Council 453. Raises Money of the States at the Diet 460. Makes a Reformation in Ecclesiastical Matters 463. Which is approved of by the Bishops 464. His answer to the States about Disbanding of the Army 466. He Writes to the Princes about receiving the Interim 468. Proscribes several who served under the Protestants Ibid. Changes the Government of Augsbourg 469. Determines for the Count of Nassaw against the Landgrave 470. Sends Spaniards privately to Constance Ibid. Answers to the desires of the Strasburghers 471. Outlaws the City of Constance Ibid. And will hear no Plea's in their behalf Ibid. He dissolves the Government of Ulm. 472. Goes to Spire and so into the Netherlands with the Saxon and the Landgrave 473. He detains the Duke of Saxony 474. Sends the Popes Indult to the German Bishop 483. Writes to the States out of the Netherlands and appoints a Diet 493. He comes to Augsbourg with his Son 496. His severe Decree against the Lutherans in the Netherlands 497. Which is very injurious at Antwerp upon account of Trade 498. His Army besieged Tripoly 500. He commands the Duke of Brunswick to lay down Arms Ibid. He complains of the Magdebourghers and Bremers 501. Moderates the Edict of Religion in the Netherlands Ib. He is very earnest that the Magdebourghers should be Prosecuted 503. And desires to know why the Interim is not observed Ibid. His Edict against the Magdebourghers 504. Is very severe upon the Landgrave after his fruitless endeavours to escape 505. Quarrels with his Brother about a Successor to the Empire Ibid. His Edict against all that Assist the Magdebourghers 512. He pronounces sentence against the Landgrave for the Lordship of Dietz 513. Publishes a Declaration against Octavio Farnese 515. Calls the States to the Council of Trent Ibid. Accuses the French King of Assisting the Turk 518. Publishes a Declaration against him 522. His answer to the Ambassadors who intercede for the Landgrave 534. He answers the complaints of the Spiritual Electors 535. His Ambassadors have long and frequent Conferences with the Saxon Wirtemberg and Strasburg Agents at Trent 538. Raises Soldiers to oppose the Confederate Princes 557. His Men make an Incursion into Champaigne 558. He flies from Inspruck to Villach 560. Sets the Duke of Saxony at liberty Ibid. His Letter to the Princes Mediators 568. His answer to their Letter 569. His answer to the French Ambassadors Letter 570. Changes the Government of Augsbourg 573. He charges the Franconians to oppose Marquess Albert 574. goes into Lorrain and to Strasbourg Ibid. Lays siege to Metz 575. His Army in the Netherlands takes Hesdin 576. He rises from the siege of Metz Ibid. He Writes to Marquess Albert 577. His answer to his own Ambassadors about the Controversy between Albert and the Franconian Bishops 579. Befieges and takes Terouanne 580. Retakes Hesdin 586. His advice to the Princes of Germany Ibid. He Furnishes Albert with Money underhand 591. Carries the War into Picardy Ibid. Ratifies the Proscription of Albert made by the Imperial Chamber 598. His Letter to the States of Germany 606. His answer to the German Princes 616. Makes the Duke of Alba his General in Milan Ibid. His Fleet engages the French Fleet 618. He resigns the low Countries to his Son Philip 620. Goes into Spain 638. Charles Prince of Spain Born 350. Christian I. King of Denmark dies 62. Christian II. King of Denmark overthrows Steno Stura 62. Burns his dead Body Ibid. Loses Sweden Ibid. Is banished from Denmark Ibid. Appeals to the Diet at Nurenberg Ibid. Is taken Prisoner 161. His Son dies Ibid. Christina Wife to the Landgrave Sollicites for the Landgrave's Release 441. Dies for Grief 485. Christopher Succeedes his Father Ulric in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg 502. His Dutchy is rid of the Spaniards 528. He sends Ambassadors to the Council of Trent Ibid. They are gulled in the Council by the Cardinal of Trent and the Emperors Ambassadors 530. They apply themselves to Count Monfort 537. They join with the Saxon Ambassadors and the Deputies to Sollicite a hearing of the Protestant Divines in the Council of Trent 537. c. They leave the Council 541. New Ambassadors are sent from the Duke of Wirtemberg to Trent 543. The Wirtemberg Divines go to Trent Ibid. Who exhibit their Confession Ibid. They Publish their Protestation there 544. At the breaking up of the Council the Writemberg ambassadors
them 313. Writes an Answer to the Letter of the Princes 320. Writes a sharp Letter to the Emperor to chide him for the Decree of Spires 337. Creates several Cardinals 340. Summons the Council once more to Trent Ibid. Endeavours to raise a War against the Lutherans 348. Sends his Legates to Trent 360. Writes to the Swisse Bishops to come to the Council of Trent 374. Excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of Cologne Ibid. Writes to the Switzers to perswade them to joyn against the Protestants 382. He publishes a Bull declaring the causes of the War against the Protestants 388. Makes the Count Schawenbourg Arch-Bishop of Cologne 417. His answer to the Cardinal of Trent and Mendoza 444. His Letter to his Legate at Bononia Ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassador 445. And Letter to the German Bishops ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassadors to justifie the removal of the Council to Bononia 450. His animadversions upon the Interim 459. Sends Legates into Germany 473. Who bring an Indulgence or Indult of several things 482. He dies 487. Libels come out against him with accounts of his horrid Lusts 488. His Funeral ibid. He instituted the order of the Jesuits 615. Paul IV. Caraffa chosen Pope 615. Pelargus Ambrose Reflects insolently upon the Protestants in the Council of Trent 541. De Pensier à Lutheran Divine recants at Paris 309. Pescara vide d' Avalos Peter Pence what 170. Petro Aloisio P. Paul III's Bastard D. of Parma and Piacenza 438. Is Assassinated at Piacenza 439. His flagitious life Ibid. Phefecorn John a Convert Jew 29. His Petition to Maximilian Ibid. Writes against Reuchlin 30. Phifer a Companion of Muncer's 84. Philip Landgrave of Hesse his Speech to his Soldiers against Muncer 85. His discourse with Muncer 86. Arms for fear of a Confederacy against the Reformed Religion 114. Departs privately from the Diet at Augsbourg 131. Makes a League for six years with the Reformed Switzers 141. Answers the Arbitrators 154. Endeavours to restore Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg 169. And brings it about 173. Writes to acquaint the Emperor with his Proceedings for Duke Ulric 174. Makes his submission to Ferdinand about Ulric's business 179. Commands his Divines to answer the Anabaptistis Books 198. He sends an answer to their mad Proposals Ibid. Goes to the Convention at Eysenach 244. Intercepts the D. of Brunswick's Letter 246. He Writes in his own Vindication to the German Princes 247. Excuses the D. of Wirtemberg to K. Francis by Letter 249. He answers the Emperors Letter about a Pacification 263. Joyns with the Elector of Saxony against the D. of Brunswick 298. Opposes the Duke of Brunswick 353. Submits to an accommodation Ibid. Receives the D. of Brunswick upon surrender 354. Writes to the Emperor concerning him Ibid. Writes again 355. Answers the Emperors Letter Ibid. Writes to Granvel about the War intended against the Protestants 356. Writes to Naves about the same business 358. Goes to Spire to Meet the Emperor 368. Treats with him Ibid. And with Granvel and Naves 370. And with the Emperor again 373. Is courteously dismissed Ibid. Sends notice to Ratisbon of the Emperors Preparations 376. He arms against the Emperor 384. His Forces 388. He sends his Son William to Strasbourg ibid. Refuses to Confer with the Duke of Brunswick ibid. His Men skirmish with the Spaniards 395. His bold advice to set upon the Emperor 397. Comes near the Imperialists with his Army 404. A Skirmish between him and the Prince of Sulmona 407. His Letter to the Mauricians ibid. And to Maurice 408. Is in danger upon the Retreat of the Army 412. Writes to Maurice his Son-in-Law ib. He rejects the Emperor's Proposals 423. He justifies himself from the Reproaches about Surprizing Francfort 426. Is invited to come to Leipzick 429. Articles of Peace are proposed to him 430. Which he accepts 431. Goes to Hall to the Emperor 432. Signs the Articles and submits to the same in Person ibid. Is detained Prisoner 433. Letters are spread abroad in his Name as if he allowed of the Interim 463. Is carried Prisoner into Flanders 473. And sent to Oudenard 474. His Subjects refuse the Interim 477. New Intercessions for him in vain 479. The Ministers in his Country refuse the Pope's Indult 483. He attempts an escape 504. Not succeeding is kept close Prisoner 505. He relieves the Oppressed Ministers Liberally 517. He is set at liberty and stopt again 573. He returns into his own Country 574. He accepts a Mediation in the Difference with the Count of Nassaw about Catzenelbogen 617. Which still keeps in Suspence 620. Has a Meeting with Augustus Elector of Saxony 633. Philip Prince Palatine Governor of Vienna when Solyman besieged it 121. Forces him to raise his Siege Ibid. Philip Son to Charles V. comes through the Netherlands into Italy 477. Is received at Genoa Ibid. And at Milan 478. Goes into Germany Ibid. Enters Brussels 479. Homage is done to him in the Law Countries 485. He marries Queen Mary in England 604. He has Naples and the Kingdom of Jerusalem Ibid. With the Dutchy of Milan resigned to him 605. Goes into Flanders to meet his Father 618. He enters upon the Government of the Netherlands Ibid. Sends Ambassadors into Germany to acquaint them with his New Government 628. Phlugius Julius vide Gropper Chosen by the Chapter of Naumbourg to be their Bishop 288. Is admitted one of the Presidents of the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Assists in drawing up the Interim 454. Phlugius Caspar heads the Bohemian Confederates 423. Is condemned of High Treason 434. Picards a Sect of the Bohemians 53. Picus vide Mirandula Pisa Council there 26. Called by Cardinals Ibid. Reasons of so doing Ibid. Suspends P. Julius 27. Remove to Milan Ibid. P. Pius's Decree concerning appeals 35. He altered his Opinion from what it was at the Council of Basil 36. Excommunicates Sigismund ibid. Poiet William Chancellor of France disgraced 299. Pool Reginald Cardinal sent Nuncio from the Pope to the French King 210. Writes a Book called a Defence of Ecclesiastical Unity ibid. Made Cardinal by P. Paul III. 211. Loses the Popedom on suspicion of Lutheranism 490. Is detained in Germany by the Emperor 594. Returns into England 605. Reconciles the Nation to the See of Rome 606. Writes to the Emperor and King of France to mediate a Peace 615. Popes anciently subject to Emperors 38. Pragmatick Sanction vide Paris Priests the Ceremony of their Degradation 64. Prierias Sylvester writes against Luther 3. He assert◠the Pope to be absolute head of the Church ibid. Replies to Luther 4. Princes of the Empire disagree about the Emperor's Letter against Luther 44. Complain of the Pope's Proceedings in the Affairs of Germany 60. Return an Answer to Adrian's Letter to the Diet ibid. Draw up an account of the Grievances of Germany which they gave to the Pope's Legate 63. Their answer to Campegio's Speech at Nuremberg 68. They write to Charles V. to make haste into Germany 108. They
if the Pope would not call a General 48 49. His Speech in the States at Orleans 50. At the opening of the Conference of Poissy 60. At the opening of the Assembly of the Delegates 68. He opposeth the Declaring a War against the Prince of Conde 72. He procures Charles IX to be declared of Age 99. And ascribes the driving the English out of France to the Liberty of Conscience granted to the Protestants ibid. I. IGnatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of Jesuits his Death and Story 13. Images set up in the Streets of Paris to be worshipped 35. Ordered not to be worshipped any where 69. The Reasons why the Protestants destroyed them 84. The Images of the twelve Apostles of massy Silver lost 76. The Worship of Images and Reliques commanded by the Council of Trent 96. The Inquisition promoted by Pope Paul IV. 27 36. Desired by the Clergy of France 44. Allowed to proceed summarily against the greatest persons 92. Cites the Queen of Nawar and several of the French Prelates but is opposed by the King of France 92 93 94. K. KErsimont Governour of Britain 2. Kirkwall taken and burnt 23. Knox John stirreth the Scots to reform 37. His Maxims occasion great devastations of Church-building 66. He is accused as the Author of a Tumult 99. L. LAines the second General of the Iesuits very rude in the Conference of Poissy 61. The Protestant League 77. Leith made a French Colony 40. Summon'd by the Scotch Nobility 41. Besieged by the English ibid. Surrendred and dismantled 42. Livonia falls off from the See of Rome 57. Lorrain the Cardinal of opens the first Proposals for a Peace with K. Philip 19. Reprehends Henry II. of France 33. He is suspected the Author of a Slander 34. He reflecteth severely on Coligni 45. Designs to make a Speech for the three Estates 51. He opposeth the Progress of the Reformation 57. Procureth the Conference of Poissy 58. Disputes in it 60. Opposeth a National Council 64. Leaves the Court 65. Adviseth Mary Queen of Scots to leave her Jewels in France 66. Treats with the Protestant Princes of Germany 69. He goes to the Council of Trent 88. Visits the Emperor at Inspruck 90. He is ordered to defend the Peace of Orleans 91. He is gain'd over to the Pope's side 94. He goes to Rome ibid. Returns to Trent 96. M. MAns taken by the Protestants 74. Deserted 76. Mary Queen of England raiseth some Religious Houses 11. She joins with King Philip against France 14. Is advertised by him of the Designs of the French upon Calais 18. Makes an unfortunate attempt by her Fleet on France 21. She dies when there was a Parliament sitting 22. Mary Queen Regent of Scotland summoneth a Parliament 36. Breaks her Faith 37. She leaves Edinburg and goes to Dunbar 38. Reproaches the Lords of the Congregation for holding correspondence with the English 40. She is deposed 41. Her Death and Character 42. Mary Queen of Scotland Married to the Dauphine of France 19. Resolves to return into Scotland 65. Arrives there 66. Endeavoureth to restore Popery 67. Refuseth a Petition against it 99. Mary Queen of Hungary dies 36. Marriage of the Clergy why forbidden and continued so 97. Massacre at Vassy 70. Of Sens 74. Mills Walter the last Martyr in Scotland 24. Melancthon Philip dies 50. Minart Anthony a bloody Persecutor 30 31. He is shot dead in the Streets 34. Popish Misrepresentations of the Protestants in France 16 33 34. Montmorancy Constable of France averse to the Spanish War 14. Taken Prisoner in the Battel of St. Quintin 15. Discharged and laboureth for a Peace 22. Designed for ruin by the Guises 46. Procures the laying aside the use of the Arms of England 39. Entereth Orleans 48. He is set against the Reformation and the King of Navar by the Queen 56. Taken in the Battel of Dreux 80. He refuseth to consent to the Liberty of Conscience 84. He takes Havre de Grace 99. Montmorancy Francis Son of the former gives his Father wise advice 56. N. NAples the Kingdom of annexed to the See of Rome 9. Navar Henry King of suspected to be in the Conspiracy of Bloys 43. And in that of Lions 46. He is sollicited to come to the Assembly of the States by his Brother the Cardinal ib. Comes and is confin'd 47. Discharged and advanced ibid. Becomes terrible to the Pope 49. Favoureth the Reformation 56. Very earnest for a National Council 65. He joins with the Popish party 69. Excuseth the Massacre of Vassy 71. Is shot at Roan and dies 77. His Character ibid. The Queen Cited before the Inquisition after his Death 92. A National Council desired in France 45 64. O. OLiver Chancellor of France imployed against the Members of Parliament who were suspected of Heresie 33. Desirous of a Reformation and an hater of Bloody Persecutions 43. Obtains a Pardon for the Conspirators of Boyse ibid. He dies weeping for what he had done 44. Orleans an Assembly of the three Estates of France opened there 47 50. Surprized by the Protestants 73. Besieged 82. Ostia besieged and taken 9. Retaken ibid. Otho Henry Duke of Bavaria dies 36. Orange William of Nassaw Prince of Ambassador for Charles V. 6. Being Ambassador in France he learns a Secret 27. P. PAliano Fortified 9. Restored to King Philip 11. A Parliament in England 22. In Scotland 36. Another that setles a Confession of Faith 42. Another which confirms and settles it 66. One held at Edinburg in which Mary Queen of the Scots passed several Acts in favour of the Reformation 99. The Parliament of Paris awed by Henry II. 31. Claims the Right of declaring the King out of his Minority 99. Paul IV. Pope his Temper 7. His War against King Philip 8. He ruins his Relations 26. He refuseth to acknowledg Ferdinand Emperor of Germany 22. And Queen Elizabeth Queen of England 23. Erects many Bishopricks 27. His death and the rage of the People against him 36. Peace made between King Philip and the Pope 11. Proposed between France and Spain 19. That of Passaw confirmed 28. That of Cambray fatal 30. That of Orleans disproved by Coligni 84. And by the the Fathers of Trent 91. Perrenot Bishop of Arras 19. A Persecution in France 16. One designed in the Netherlands 27. One in France 30. In Spain 35. In Piedmont 52. In the Netherlands 55. Philbert Duke of Savoy his Marriage 33. Pius IV. Elected 36. Delays the calling of a Council 48. Is at last perswaded to renew that at Trent 62. Despiseth France 86. Afraid of the French Bishops coming to that Council 88. Is promised a victory over the Council 89. Reproached by the King of France 96. Pretends to be-free from the Obligation of all Laws ibid. Philip II. King of Spain engaged in a War against Paul IV. 8. And France 9. Leaves the Netherlands 35. He is much commended by Pope Paul IV. 31. Endeavoureth to raise the power of the Bishops and depress the Pope's in
to the Protestants in the Name of the Emperour Their Answer Commissioners chosen for framing a Decree The Tenor of that Decree What the Protestants find fault with in the Decree The Protestants depart from the Dyet A great Inundation at Rome The like in Holland The Draught of the Decree read to the Deputies of the Cities but a Copy of it denied to them Some Cities urge a Council Faber and Eckius well rewarded which occasioned a merry Saying of Erasmus The Agreement of the King of Poland and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg made null The Decree of Ausburg Luther's Book to the Bishops and Prelates Luther comforts dejected Melanchthon Bucer Essaies a Reconciliation betwixt Luther and Zuinglius c. The Landgrave makes a League with Zurich Basil and Strasburg upon account of Religion The Elector of Saxony cited by the Archbishop of Mentz for chusing a King of the Romans The Smalcaldick League among the Protestants The Pope's Complaint to the King of Poland The Protestants Letter to the Emperour about the Election of a King of the Romans The Reasons of creating a King of the Romans 1531. Ferdinand declared King of the Romans The Protestants Letters to the Kings of England and France The Protestants Confession at Anspurg The Protestants Appeal to a free Council Calumny against the Protestants A Convention of the Protestants at Smalcalde News of the Turks Incursions The death of the Archbishop of Trierâ— The Queen of Hungary is made Governess of the Netherlands The Emperor is made Umpire between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara The King of France his Answer to the Protestants How the French and Germans come to be akin How Charles the Great was saluted Emperor Lewis the Fifth the last of Charle's Race Hugh Capet Invades the Kingdom The King of England's Answer to the Protestants The Opinions of the Cities concerning a King of the Romans The reason why the Switzers are not admitted into the League The Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and the Duke of Brandenburg The Elector of Brandenburg's Appeal to a Council A Diet appointed at Spiers Arbitrators for a Peace apply themselves to the Duke of Saxony Upon what Conditions the Duke of Saxony will come to the next Diet. The Elector of Mentz and the Prince Palatine send Embassadors to the Protestants The Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave's Letters to the Arbitrators The Diet appointed to be held at Ratisbon A quarrel among the Switzers Articles of Peace propounded The five Cantons are hindred from Provisions The War breaks out between them Those of Zurich are vanquish'd Zuinglius is slain Those of Zurich again defeated OEcolampadius dies 1532. Conditions of a Pacification laid down by the Arbitrators Or the Law of Charles the Fourth The condition of creating a King of the Romans The form of the Oath which is taken by the Electors according to the Caroline Law. The Princes of Bavaria oppose the Election of King Ferdinand The Arbitrators Answer to the Protestants The Prince of Saxony's Answer to the Arbitrators The Tricks of the Popish Party The Agreement between the Zuinglians and the Lutherans The Protestants lay down their conditions of a Pacification The Emperor upon necessity confirms a Peace to all Germany The number of the Protestants Delegates appointed to reform the Imperial Chamber The King of Denmark taken Prisoner Albert Duke of Prussia proscrib'd An Irruption of the Turks into Austria The Turkish Horse destroy'd The Emperor goes for Italy 1533. The Popes Embassador's Oration to the Duke of Saxony The Emperor 's Embassador's Speech to the Duke The Duke's answer to the Embassador A full and large Answer of the Protestants to the Pope and the Emperor George Duke of Saxony makes Search after the Lutherans Luther publishes a Book to justifie himself An account of the Family of the Medices Clement creates four French Men Cardinals The Lantgrave endeavours the Restitution of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg 1534. A great Revolution in England Woolsey dieth with discontent Peter-pence forbidden A Pique between Luther and Erasmus The Imposture of the Franciscaâ—s at Orleans Apparitions frequent in the times of Popery The Lantgrave his Expedition A Pacification between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony A Treaty between Ferdinand and the Duke of Wirtemburg Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburg recovereth his Country Christopher Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg his Son. The Lantgrave his Letter to the Emperor Francis Sforza marrieth Clement the Seventh dies Paul the Third chosen Pope Andrew Grittus Doge of Vinice Lewis Andrew his Son. A Persecution in France 1535. St. Genevefe the Protectress of Paris The French King writes to the Germans The Lantgrave goes to Ferdinand in order to a Reconciliation The Emperor sails into Africk Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More are beheaded The death of Francis Sforza Vergerius meets the Lantgrave at Prague Vergerius gives the Lantgrave a Copy of his Speech The Protestants Answer to Vergerius The French Embassador's Speech at Smalcalde The Judges of the Chamber are troublesome to the Protestants The Protestants disown the Jurisdiction of the Chamber The Elector of Saxony treats with King Ferdinand The Protestants Answer to the French Embassador The French King's opinion concerning the Points in Controversie The English Embassador his Speech to the Protestants The Protestants Answer to the English Embassador The League of Smalcalde renewed Ausburgh receives the reformed Religion Munster a City in Westphalia The Anabaptists and their Doctrin Rotman a Preacher of the reformed Religion The Papists are commanded to prove their Doctrin by the Holy Scriptures They confess their Ignorance John of Leyden a Botcher and Anabaptist Herman Stapred an Anabaptist The Anabaptists are expell'd Munster A Civil War in Munster Petrus Wirtemius John Mathew an Anabaptist orders that all Mens Goods should be common The Prophesies of the Anabaptists John of Leydon proclaimed King of the Anabaptists The Anabaptists Book concerning the Restitution The Anabaptists Supper The Apostles of the Anabaptists A meeting of the Princes at Coblentz The Doctrin of the Anabaptists and their wickedness The Anabaptists Book concerning the Mysteries of the Scripture The King executes one of the Queens himself Luther's opinion concerning the people of Munster A Diet held at Wormes Another Diet at Wormes The King of Munster is carried about for a sight 1536. The King of the Anabaptists is executed War between Denmark and Lubeck A War between the Duke of Savoy and Geneva The French King makes War upon the Duke of Savoy The Family of the Visconti of Millain The Emperor makes a Speech against the French King. The Venetinns make a League with the Emperor Vergerius is sent away to the Emperor The Articles of the League between the King of England and the Protestants The English Embassadors Winter at Wittemburgh The King of England's Letter to the Protestants The Protestants meet at Frankford Anne of Bullein Queen of England is beheaded A Bull of Paul the Third for the Convocation of a Council Ferdinand sends
Maximilian Barbarossa's Incursions Anthony Duke of Lorrain dying his Son Francis succeeds to him The English make an Expedition into France Boloigne besieged Sandizier taken upon Surrender Renate Prince of Orange killed The Consternation of the Parisians Boloigne taken by the English The Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King at Soissons and the Conditions of it The Pope's Letters to the Emperour written at the instigation and upon the confidence of the French King. The Bishop of Winchester's Book against Bucer Cardinals created to gratifie Princes The Council is again called The Controversie about the Lords Supper is renewed The Plea of the Clergy of Cologne with the Archbish The Clergy of Cologne appeal to the Pope and Emperour George of Brunswick President The writing of the Archb against the Conspiracy of his Clergy The Clergy of Cologne subscribe the Appeal The Emperour's Embassie to the King of England The Netherlanders loveâ— of the Reformed Religion Peter Bruley burnt The Intercession of Strasbourg and the Protestants for Bruley The Emperour 's severe Edicts against the Lutherans Bruiey's Answer to the Monks Interrogatories Of the Body and Bloud of Christ Of the Mass Of the Adoration of the Bread. Of Purgatory Of Masses and Prayers for the Dead How the Saints are truly worshipp'd Of Free-will Of Faith. Of Traditions that enslave Minds Of Images Of Baptism Of Vows Of Confession Of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary The Assembly of the Divines of Paris at Melun Luther's Positions contrary to those of the Divines of Louvaine An Imperial Diet at Wormes The first Session The Protestants make answer to Ferdinand The deliberation of the Popish States King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Petition Grignian the the French Embassador to the States The Persecution of the Waldenses at Merindole A cruel Sentence of the Parliament of Aix against the Waldenses Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix Philip Cortine Forces raised by Meinier against the Waldenses A Soldier gives the Fugitives forewarning Merindole is burnt Cabriere surprised by craft Is demolished A honourable piece of Cruelty of Meinier The number of the slain Coste is taken and the Inhabitants most barbarously used The Intercession of the Swizers for the Merindâ—lanes The King's Answer to the Swiss The Heads of the Waldensian Doctrine The Spaniards marched through Germany into Austria The Death of Louis Duke of Bavaria The Emperour and Cardinal Farnese come to Wormes The Emperour's Embassie to the King of Poland The King of Poland's Answer to the Emperour The Pope very greedy of Lutheran blood A bloody Sermon of a Franciscan Fryer Cardinal Farnese parts from Wormes for Rome Luther's Book against the Papacy of Rome A Picture set before the Book Luther's Theses of the three Hierarchies The Emperour's Treaty with the Protestants The Plea of Grignian the French Embassadour Francis Duke of Lorrain dies King Ferdinand's Daughter dies The Birth of Charles the Son of Philip King of Spain The Emperour's Daughter-in-law dies Piscara comes to Wormes The Duke of Brunswick chouses the French King of Money The Emperour makes a Truce with the Turk The Senate of Metz inquire after Protestants The Archbishop of Cologne is cited by the Emperour and Pope The Emperour takes the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne into his protection The Archbishop of Cologne is cited The Pope's prejudice against the Archbishop An Assembly and Conference appointed at Ratisbonne Conferours are appointed for the pacification of Religion The Papists refuse the Conference The Dutchy of Brunswick adjudged to the Emperour The stubbornness of the Duke of Brunswick The Elector of Cologne sends a Proctor to the Emperour War betwixt the French and English at Bologne The Death of the Duke of Orleans The Duke of Brunswick takes the field He takes Stembruck The Landgrave's Expedition against the Duke of Brunswick Maurice interceeds for Peace The Conditions of Peace proposed A Truce granted Duke Henry breaks the Truce A Fight betwixt Brunswick and the Landgrave The Duke of Brunswick surrenders himself with his Son to the Landgrave The Death of Albert of Mentz Maurice purges himself of the suspicion of betrying Brunswick Luther's Book against the setting the Duke of Brunswick at liberty William of Furstenberg is set at liberty The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave's Letters to the Emperour about the taking of the D. of Branswick The Landgrave's Letter to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by an Embassadour The Landgrave's Answer A Treaty of Peace betwixt the Kings of France and England 1546. The King of England forewarns the Protestants of their danger A Meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt The Elector Palatine appoints Preachers of the Gospel A Meeting of the Electors of the Rhine for the Archbishop of Cologne A Report of a War against the Protestants The Landgrave's Letter to Granvell Granvell answers the Landgrave A Meeting of some Princes at Franckfurt Sebastian Scherteline Deputies from the Protestants are sent to the Emperour and Clergy of Cologne The Protestants accused of a Conspiracy The Conference of Naves and Renard Count of Solmes The Landgrave's Letters to Naves The Conference of learned Men at Ratisbonne Presidents Colloqutors and Witnesses of the Conference The Conference begins The Heads of Doctrine to be chiefly handled The Conditions of the Conference Malvenda treats of the Point of Justification Bucer answers Malvenda as to the Article of Justification Billick the Carmelite Malvenda answers Bucer The Emperour's Letter to the Doctors Pflugg admitted amongst the Presidents The Conference is broken up The Protestant Embassadours with the Emperour in favour of the Elector of Cologne The Emperour's Answer to them The Pope's Legates sent to Trent Mendoza's Speech to the Fathers in Name of the Emperour The Cardinals answer Mendoza Preaching Monks acted the first part in the Council A Bull of Indulgences The commencement of the Council The first Session The Decree of the first Session The second Session of the Council of Trent Luther chosen Umpire betwixt the Counts of Mansfield Whether we shall know one another in the life to come Luther's Prayer before his death Luther's death His dead Body is carried to Wittemberg The Birth and Life of Luther He was sent to Rome Luther's Eloquence in the German Language His Constancy and Courage The Authors of the Decree of Ausbourg John Diazi went to the Conference at Ratisbonne John Diazi's Conference with Malvenda Malvenda's Letter to the Emperour's Confessour Diazi goes to Newbourg Alfonso Diazi's Brother comes into Germany The Cain-like and traitorous Mind of Alfonso John Diazi is killed by his Brother's means What was done with the Ruffians at Inspruck The Emperour comes to Spire on his Journey to Ratisbonne He visits the D. of Deuxpont's Lady Daughter to the Landgrave The Landgrave comes to the Emperour The Landgrave's Speech to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave The Landgrave's words to the Emperour Monks the disturbers of the Peace The Emperour's Answer to the
Landgrave The Landgrave again speaks to the Emperour The ignorance of the Archbishop of Cologne observed by the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Conferences of some Princes Granvell speaks The Landgrave answers Granvell's words Divines are awkward and obstinate The Landgrave's words The Opinion of Paphnutius about the Lord's Supper and marriage of Priests Granvell speaks after the Landgrave The Landgrav's Answer The Elector Palatine's Opinion in this Conference Granvell's Answer The Landgrav's Speech The Landgrave Arbitrator betwixt the Dukes of Saxony The Emperour advises the Landgrave to come to the Diet. The Emperour thanks the Landgrave The Landgrave's Answer to the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Landgrave to the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Landgrave's Answer Spede's soppishness The Landgrave takes leave of the Emperour An Assembly of the Protestant Deputies at Wormes They of Ravensbourg enter into the Protestant League The third Session of the Council of Trent and the Acts of it The Speech of Don Francisco de Toledo in the Council The Pope's Letters to the Bishops of Switzerland The Switzers highly commended The Archbishop of Cologne excommunicated by the Pope The Emperour 's coming to Ratisbonne Diazi's murder unrevenged The Emperour's Speech at Ratisbonne Truce with the Turk by the mediation of the French King. A Division amongst the Electors The Protestants opinion of the Council of Trent A constant report of a War against the Protestants The Cardinal of Trent is sent to Rome to sollicit the promised assistance The Preparations of War. Albert and John of Brandenbourg take charge under the Emperour The Landgrave's Segacity The Protestants ask the Emperour the warlike preparations The Emperour answers the Protestants The Emperour's Letter to the Protestant Cities The Emperour writes to the Duke of Wirtemberg Granvell and Naves discourse the Deputies of the Protestants Cities A Decree of the Council of Trent The Office of Pastors Decrees concerning Original Sin. The Decree of Sixtus IV. concerning the Virgin Mary The Speech of the French Embassador He means the King of England The Demands of the French King. The Answer of those of Strasbourg to the Emperour Duke Maurice had a private Conference with the Emperour The Protestant Deputies return home The Emperour's Embassie to the Suizers The Duke of Wirtemberg and the Towns of Vpper Germany rise in Arms. The first of the Protestant Commanders Balthazar Gutling's Speech to the Soldiers A Meeting of the Protestant Deputies at Vlme Their Letters to the Venetians the Nobility of Germany the Grisons and those of Tyrol The Emperour's League with the Pope against the Reformed The Church Revenues in Spain given for maintaining a War against the Lutherans Peace betwixt France and England Henry the Dauphin of France has a Daughter The Cardinal of Scotland killed The Pope's Letter to the Suizers The Embassadours of the Protestants to the Suizzers Wolffembottel is demolished The Prince Palatine enquires after the cause of the War. The Elector Palatine desires to reconcile the Protestants to the Emperour Saxony and the Landgrave arm The Protestants Letters to the Emperour The Authors of the War against the Protestants The Emperour's Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne The Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France Saxony and Landgrave publish a Declaration concerning the War. The Bishop of Ausbourg a great Incendiary The Protestants Letters to the Marquess of Brandenbourg Brandenbourgs Answer A Manifesto against Brandenbourg The Forces of the Landgrave The Landgrave sends his Son to Strasbourg The Duke of Brunswick offers to betray the Papists Councels against the Protestants The first Exploit of the Protestants Fiessen taken Erenberg is taken by Scherteline Francis Castlealto Dilinghen and Donawert taken by the Protestants These of Ausbourg furnish the Emperour with Money The Emperour's Forces at Ratisbonne The Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave Outlawed by the Emperour The Marriages of Bavaria and Cleves amidst the noise of War. The Session of the Council is put off The number of the Fathers of the Council of Trent Titular Archbishops Olaus Magnus of Vpsale and Venant a Scot. The King of Sweden reforms Religion The Archbishop reduced to poverty dies Duke Maurice his Progress to King Ferdinand The Emperour's Letters to Duke Maurice and to his Brother Augustus wherein he desires them to take possession of the Inheritances of the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave and so prevent others The Protestants Letters to the Duke of Bavaria A great Misfortune occasioned by Lightning at Mechelin The Suitzers Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Demand of the Suitzers The Protestants declare War against the Emperour The Emperour refuses to receive the Protestants Letters The Emperour's Answer to the Protestants Messenger A Dispute about what Title should be given to the Emperour The Protestants march to Ratisbonne The Pope's Forces come to the Emperour The Officers of the Pope's Army The Horse of the Duke of Florence and Ferrara A bloody Saying of Farnese The Commanders of the Emperour's Army German Princes in the Emperour's Camp. The Princes in the Protestants Camp. The Emperour marches to Ratisbonne A Skirmish betwixt the Landgrave's Men and the Spanish Garrison The Spaniards break into the Protestants Camp. The Count of Buren marches with his Forces to joyn the Emperour The Landgrave's bold and good Advice The oversight of the Protestants in not laying hold on their oppertunity was the beginning of their miscarriage in the War. The Emperour 's great Courage The Answer of the Suitzers to the Emperour The Pope and Emperour pretended not the same Cause for the War of Germany The Emperour's Letter to the Protestant Suitzers The Protestant Cantons Answer to the Emperour The Protestants Address to the Bohemians The Protestants Declaration concerning Incendiaries and Poysoners sent out by the Pope The Protestants Answer to the Instrument of Proscription The Emperour's Expression about the subduing of Germany * Who had refused the Empire when it was offered unto him The Protestants raise their Camp. The Count of Buren joyns the Emperor The French King refused to send the Protestants Assistance The Protestants grosly deceived by Stroza an Italian The Protestants write to the Reformed Suitzers The Suitzers Answer The Catholick and Protestant Camps near one another The River Egra Albert of Brunswick dies of his wounds Donawert surrendered to the Emperor The Duke of Alva insults over the Landgrave A change of affairs in Saxony Duke Maurice consults against the Protestants The Letters of Duke Maurice's Friends to the Protestants Duke Maurice writes to the Landgrave to the same purpose The Embassie of John William of Saxony to Duke Maurice Scherteline leaves the Protestant Camp. The Emperor Master of the Danube The Protestants lose an opportunity of taking the Emperour A Stratagem A Skirmish betwixt the Landgrave and Prince of Sulmona Another Stratagem used by the Emperor The Plague in the Emperors Camp. Farnese with some Troops returns home The Landgrave's Answer to the Mauricians The Landgrave's
suspicion of Lutheranism disappointed of the Popedom The year of Jubily The Golden-Gate The institution of the Jubily by Boniface VIII Reduced to 50 years And then to 25. The Jubily in the year 1550 earnestly desired by Paul III. But he was disappointed The Death of Paulus Fagius Mass again said at Strasburg 1550 The sight of Mass strange at first A tumult in the Cathedral of Strasburg The Preacher leaves the Pulpit and shifts for himself Saying of Mass interrupted The Priests glad of it A treaty of Peace between the English and French. The Protector of England delivered out of Prison Factions at Rome about chusing a Pope John Maria de Monte is made Pope De Monte changing his name is called Julius III. The French Kings Edict The number of Cardinals Julius inaugurated The opening of the golden gate A Joke upon the Cardinal of Ausburg Ambassadours sent to complement the Pope Parma restored to Octavio The most obscene Letter of Camillo Oliva out of the Conclave The Emperours Letter to the States of the Empire wherein he appoints a Dyet Peace betwixt the English and French. Boloigne restored to the French. Another Manifesto of the Magdeburgers The confession oâ— Faith of the Ministers of Magdeburg The Bishop of Strasburg complains to the Emperour of the City Mass again begun there The Emperour and his Son come to Ausburg The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans in the Netherlands The Reward of Informers Many astonished at the Emperours Edict especially those of Antwerp The 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 The power of the Inquisitors The Questions in the Emperours Edict against the Lutherans The Cardinal of Lorrain the Companion of King Francis dies By whom Metz betrayed Adolph Archbishop of Cologne makes his entry into that City The Duke of Cleve has a Daughter born Duke Maurice his Protestation against the Council The Elector of Mentz Chancellor of the Empire The Cardinal of Ausburgs Sermon against the Lutherans Some Spaniards interrupt Divine Service The death of Granvell The Bishop of Arras in great power with the Emperour Brunswick besieged Dragut a notable Pirate Tripoly taken by the Imperialists The occasion of a Turkish War. At the Emperour's Command Duke Henry and the Senate of Brunswick lay down their Arms. Their Forces were by the Duke of Meckleburg turn'd against the Magdeburgers The death of John Albert Archbishop of Magdeburg Gâ—â—â—ge Duke of Meckleburg wasts the Country of Magdeburg The Magdeburgers engage the Duke of Meckleburg And are overthrown The Emperour complains of the Magdeburgers and Bremers The Princes write to the Magdeburgers and Bremeâ—s A Woman of Ausburg in great danger for a rash word The Edict about Religion in the Netherlands moderated at the intercession of the Emperour's Sister The Conditions proposed to the Bremers And to the Magdeburgâ—rs The third Declaration and undaunted Courage of the Magdeburgers Forces against the Magdeburgers A fight at Magdeburg The besieged make a sally out A Cessation of Arms. A Deputation sent to the Emperour against Magdeburg The Bremers Letter to the Princes at Ausburg The Answer of the Magdeburgers The death of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg A cruel Decree against the Mâ—gdeburgers Duke Mauric General of the War against Magdebâ—rg Which the Emperour is earnest should be prosecuted The Emperour desires to know the Reasons why the Interim was not observed The Causes why the Decree was not observed The Answer of the Deputies and Catholick Princes to these things Pope Julius his Bull for calling the Council Duke Maurice attacks the Magdeburgers Mansfield and Heideck defeated by Duke Maurice The Emperour's Edict against the Magdeburgers The Landgrave's Sons sue in behalf of their Father Lazarus Schuendi sent by the Emperour to the Landgrave's Sons c. The Landgrave thinks of making his escape But the design is discovered The Emperours Letters to Duke Maurice and Brandeburg concerning the Landgrave's flight Duke Maurice comforts the Landgrave's Sons promising his utmost endeavours The Magdebâ—rgers sally out and get the Victory The Duke of Meckleburg taken Maximilian's return into Germany The Emperour and King Ferdinand's emulation for the Empire Maximilian beloved of all Pope Julius his Bull offended many The Magdebâ—rgers are solicited to surrender The Declaration of the Clergy of Magdebâ—â—g against the Senate The actions of the Inhabitants of Magdeburg against the Clergy The value of the damage received The Magdeburgâ—s answer to the Accusations of the Clergy 1551 King Ferdinand complains of the Turks breach of Truce The Bishop of Winchester turned out of his Bishoprick and committed to prison again Osiander's new Opinion about Justification Condemned by the other Divines Albert Duke of Prussia sides with Osiander Joachim Merlin and some others are banished for Osiander's Doctrine Osiander falls foul upon the Divines of Wittemberg and Melanchton Another of his Opinions The Decree of the Dyet of Ausburg A meeting of the Princes at Norimberg Supplies decreed to King Ferdinand against the Turk The Emperours Edict against those that should assist the Magdeburgers Octavio Farnese in protection of the King of France puts a French Garison into Parma Sentence pronounced against the Landgrave Bucer dies The complaint of the Bishop of Strasburg against the Preachers Prodigies in Saxony The Popes Brief against Octavio Farnese Octavio cited to Rome The Council meets again at Trent Heideck a Friend to the Magdeburgers Farnese being conâ—umacious undertakes the defence of Parma The Emperours Declaration against Octavio The War of Parma betwixt the Emperour and French. The Popes Brief to the Switzers wherein he desires them to send their Bishops to the Council Prince Philip returns to Spain The French Kings Apology to the Pope Parma of the Patrimony of the Church Conditions of Peace proposed to the Magdeburgers The Empeâ—our calls the States to Trent Duke Maurice his Confession drawn up by Melanchton The Confession of Wirtemberg Brentius is by the Duke of Wirtemberg restored to the Ministery in the Church A Mâ—tiny in Magdeburg Duke Maurice his Letter to the Emperour The Decree of the Council of Constance The safe Conduct that the Bohemians had when they came to the Council of Basil The Ministers of Ausburg questioned about their Doctrine The Answer and Constancy of the Ministers The Ministers of Ausburg banished Preaching prohibited The liberality of the Captive Duke of Saxony towards banished Ministers The Reasons why they were served so Henry King of France makes War against the Emperour Cherie and St. Damian taken The Reasons why the French King made War against the Emperour The Turk takes Tripoly Contrary Narratives from the Emperour and King of France The Restauration of the Council of Trent Wherein Cardinal Crescentio presides The French King Letter to the Council And a Debate amongst the Fathers about the Superscription of it The Speech of the French Ambassadour The French Kings Protestation against the Council of Trent Expectative Graces The payment of Annats discharged Pragmatick Sanction The Advice of the Parliament of Paris not to abrogate
it might plainly appear That the Interest of the Publick and their native Country were dear unto them At the same time the Duke of Lunenburg the Landgrave and the Counts of Anhalt and Mansfield wrote at large to the Electors to the same purpose seriously advising them that they would not offer such Injury to the Laws and Rights of their Country and the rather since it was a common Report That there were Bribes and Promises in the case which was directly contrary to the Caroline Constitutions Afterwards on the last of December both the Princes and Cities we named before wrote to the Emperour a common Letter in all their Names wherein they resumed all the Proceedings at Ausburg what Sollicitations they had made for Peace what Answer his Majesty made at length especially concerning the Actions of the Crown and what kind of Decree was afterwards made there and that though his Majesty had himself qualified that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg by telling them that the Agreement he had made with the rest of the Princes was not Offensive but only for the Defence of himself and Cause yet nevertheless if that Authority specified in the Decree should be given to the Imperial Chamber who could doubt but that it might extend to Force and Violence Since therefore both they and their Ancestors had given evident Proofs of their Zeal and Affection both towards him and his Predecessors they prayed That as he had in Word softned that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg's so he would also really and indeed mitigate and put a stop to those Prosecutions of the Chamber that they might have assurance until the meeting of a Free and Holy Council that they needed not be afraid of any thing And that if they could obtain this at his Majesties Hands they would hereafter as in Times past contribute their Money Aid and Assistance not only towards the Turkish War but also for the other Publick Uses of the Government In the first meeting of the Princes Electors at Cologne the Emperour gave these Reasons for creating a King of the Romans Because he himself had several Kingdoms and People to govern and could not be always in Germany Because Christendom and especially Germany was in a Troublesome and Dangerous State by Reason of the Difference in Religion the Power and Force of the Turks the late Insurrection and Rebellion of the Boors and because many things were undutifully and disobediently acted in Germany for that though by their own Advice and Consent in former Years there had been a Senate and Judicature of the Empire appointed yet it was not obeyed as it ought to have been And that therefore it seemed absolutely necessary to him for the Welfare of the State that a King of the Romans should be chosen who might under him and in his absence be as it were another Head of the Empire that he ought to be a Man of Parts Vigilant Industrious and Powerful a Lover of Peace and Concord acquainted with the Affairs of the Empire and in short altogether such as he himself might Trust and Relie upon But that he knew no Man more capable of that Province than his own Brother Ferdinand King of Bohemia and Hungary whose Limits and Kingdoms were as a Wall and Rampart for the Safety and Preservation of Germany against the cruelty of the Turks The Princes Electors after deliberation had praid the Emperour that he would not leave Germany but settle his Court and Residence in it But he persisting in his Purpose on the Fifth of January they declared Ferdinand King of the Romans The Elector of Saxony did all he could which was to make his Son give Reasons why he could not approve that Election and to protest against it as illegall Long before the Dyet of Ausburg broke up there was a Report spread abroad That Ferdinand would be promoted to that Dignity From Cologne they went all afterwards to Aix la Chapelle where King Ferdinand was Installed on the eleventh of January who presently dispatched Letters to give notice of it all over Germany The Emperour also commanded by Proclamation That all should own him for King of the Romans and wrote separately to the Protestants to the same purpose In the mean while that the Emperour was at Cologne the Protestants Letter was delivered unto him wherein they desired to be exempted from the Prosecutions of the Imperial Chamber as we said before Thereunto he made answer at Aix la Chapelle January 13 by the Mouth of Frederick Prince Palatine That they needed not to go any farther or wait longer for any Answer for that he had not as yet considered of it but that he would in time think on what answer he should give them Having done so he went into Brabant a Province of the Netherlands THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VIII The CONTENTS The Princes assembled at Smalkalde dispatch Letters to the Kings of England and France wherein they let them understand what false Reports are gone abroad against them They solicite the King of Denmark and the Maritime Cities to joyn with them in the League as far as they shall think it convenient The Switzers are not admitted into this Confederacy The King of France returns an Answer to the Protestants Letters and the King of England does the same The Embassadors of the Cities deliver in at Franckford their Sentiments concerning the Creation of a King of the Romans and there likewise the Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and George Duke of Brandenburg is agitated The Emperor appoints a Diet to meet at Spiers to which the Elector of Saxony refuses to come There are some Conditions laid down upon which the Protestants do promise to make their appearance there A Civil War breaks out between those of Zurich and the five Confederate Cantons in which Zuinglius is slain Soon after OEcolampadius departs this life A Treaty is held about entring into a Peace with the Protestants till such time as a Council should sit Christiern King of Denmark is taken Prisoner Solyman the Grand Seignior invades Austria and is driven out of it again The Elector of Saxony dies The Pope sends an Embassador into Germany to propound certain Rules and Methods for the holding of the intended Council to each of which the Duke of Saxony having diligently consider'd the matter returns a very full Answer within a few days IN the former Convention at Smalkalde this among other things was agreed upon that since the Adversaries were very busie in throwing dirt upon their Cause and endeavour'd every where by numerous Calumnies to bring their Profession of the Gospel into Disgrace the Kings of England and France should in the first place be written to that they would not suffer themselves to be influenc'd by such false Reproaches Accordingly on the 16 day of Febr. the Dukes of Saxony Brandenburg Lunenburg and the Lantgrave together with the Cities of Strasburg
Nurenburg Magdeburg and Vlm did both in their own Names and in the Names of the several Princes and Cities their Allies dispatch Letters of the same purport to both those Princes That they could not but know how of a long time Complaint had been made against Ecclesiastical Corruptions which had often been observ'd and with much Gravity reprehended by many eminent Men and of late for instance by John Gerson in France and John Colet in England That the same thing had of late years happen'd in Germany where a sort of Expiations commonly call'd Indulgences had been carry'd up and down by certain Monks which to the great Reproach of Christianity and the eminent endangering of mens Salvation they every where recommended and in an infamous manner expos'd to sale whereupon they were by some very good and learned Men gently admonished not to do so any more but so far were they from desisting that they flew with great Indignation in the face of their Monitors which put these upon a necessity of undertaking the defence and vindication of the Truth and upon this occasion they were forc'd to inspect and censure several other Practices On the other side the Adversaries who by their impudent Tricks and holy Cheats had given the great occasion of Scandal never rested till they had procur'd this Doctrin which was thus advanc'd against their trifling Impostures to be condemn'd as Impious before any just or legal Cognizance had been taken of it and to the end that they might utterly crush and sink it they had found out ways to render it highly odious both to the Emperor and other Princes But Truth like the Sun displaying it's light made it manifest to all beyond the possibility of denying that many ill things through the depravity of some Men's judgments had crept into the Church That the States of the Empire had in the first Diet which the Emperor held at Wormes exhibited many things by way of Petition which they said ought of necessity to be redress'd Afterwards when the matter had along time been debated in several other Conventions of the Empire between the States and the Emperor's Embassadors it was adjudg'd by the unanimous consent of all That the best and most expeditious way of ending the Controversie would be by a free Council of the Christian World. That the Emperor too was well pleas'd with this Method as soon as he knew of it and from that time the matter under deliberation was the time and place for holding the Council as may appear from the Decrees that then were made But when the Emperor was come from Spain through Italy into Germany his whole endeavour at the Diet of Auspurg was that the matter might be taken up without a Council which they believ'd he did with a good intent and therefore they made a publick recitation of their Confession in that Assembly which they presented to him and offer'd if there should be occasion a farther Explication of it That soon after a Writing was recited in answer to this their Confession of which when they requested a Copy from the Emperor they could not obtain it but upon such a condition as might have prov'd dangerous and ensnaring unto them After this there were some chosen out of the whole number to be as it were Umpires and Arbitrators in the Case but neither could they so agree although 't was profess'd on their side that they would do any thing that might be done with a safe Conscience Then were there some Proposals made by the Emperor to be observ'd till the time that a Council might be call'd but of such a nature that they could not comply with them without offending God and injuring their own Consciences But when after all a very harsh Edict had been set forth by the Emperor they were then of necessity constrain'd to Appeal to a free Religious Council And altho this be the true state of the Case this the present condition of Affairs altho they desire nothing more than that their Cause may be fairly heard and known yet they are inform'd that their Adversaries make it their sole business to exasperate the Emperor and other Princes against them by scandalous Reports that several Opinions unjustly imputed to them are scatter'd up and down such as are not only dissonant from Holy Writ but ev'n from common sense such as should any one endeavour to propagate within their Dominions he would not escape unpunish'd Again how great the dangers are wherewith they are threatned upon the score of their Profession there is no body but plainly sees in which certainly they would never involve themselves were they not assured that this their Doctrin is agreeable to the Word of God and therefore to be adher'd to for the Glory of his holy Name Tho on the other side their Adversaries did insinuate with Strangers that they did not imbrace this kind of Doctrin upon any religious account but only for an opportunity of invading the Goods of the Church but that this Calumny had already been answer'd in the former Diets and would still be more particularly refuted in a general Council In the mean time wise and judicious Men upon comparing their dangers and advantages together might easily see that this Charge is no less absurd and ridiculous than 't is cruel and malicious For is it possible that there should be any Church Possessions within their Territories so great that for their sakes they should so evidently hazard their Reputation and Honour their Wives and Children their Lives and Estates Can there be any advantages so dear and charming to which they would not mightily prefer the Favour of the Emperor and such glorious Kings as themselves Certain it is that their Ancestors and fore-Fathers had not only liv'd in Splendor at home but also help'd to sustain the Publick Charge without laying hands upon consecrated Goods nay they erected and liberally endow'd several new Churches as likewise enrich'd and beautify'd the old ones As to the Ecclesiastical Possessions within their Dominions they are but moderate and though they are necessary for the Support of those Ministers who are appointed for the Instruction of the People and whose annual Incomes are now grown very slender yet do they not refuse if a Council shall judge it fit to have them converted to other pious Uses provided it be such a Council where prejudice and partiality do not prevail But this above all is the foulest Scandal this the highest and most dangerous Charge that the Doctrine which they profess tends to the subversion of Magistrates and to the enervating the force of Laws but to this Accusation an Answer was given in that Writing which they exhibited and recited at Auspurg Nay this moreover may be said that the learned Men of these times have done more towards the adorning of Magistracy and maintaining the Dignity of Laws than any former Age hath done for they made it their business so to instruct and
thereon according to Scripture But they not satisfying his Desire and finding none that were proper for instructing the People he sent for Martin Bucer from Strasburg one whom both John Gropper had always highly commended to him and he himself also throughly understood by the Conferences he had had with him Accordingly he came in the Month of December the Year before and by the Command of the Prince began in the beginning of this Year to preach at Bonn a Town upon the Rhine five Miles above Cologne On the Fifteenth of March after the Bishop held a new Convention of States at Born and proposed to them to consider of a Reformation of the Church But seeing the Clergy had sent no Deputies to this Convention the rest of the States desired the Archbishop to chuse Men proper for that Affair according to his own Judgment Therefore it was committed to the Care of Bucer to draw up the Heads of the Christian Doctrine and that all things might be done more exactly the Archbishop intreated the Elector of Saxony to associate Philip Melancthon with him When these Two and John Pistorius sent by the Lantgrave had finished the Work the Archbishop sent it to the Clergy of the Cathedral Church who are all descended of Noble Families requiring them to examine carefully the Doctrines contained in that Book And then he called another Convention of States to meet on the Two and twentieth of June after where he laid before them the Book of Reformation desiring that every State might commissionate some to peruse the Book with those that he should appoint that at length some tolerable and pious Reconciliation might be established But the Clergy we mentioned obstinately urged that Bucer chiefly and some other Preachers lately appointed might be turned out And then desired time to consider of the Book but refused to consult with the rest The Archbishop though he well perceived their Design in interposing this Delay yet that they might have no Cause of Complaining granted them time to deliberate But that as to the removing of Bucer and his Colleagues as they demanded he did not refuse it provided any Man could convict them either of erroneous Doctrine or of bad Life and Conversation which he several times gave them Liberty to prove against them being ready to present them to be tried before any lawful Judge Whilst Matters stood thus they prepared a contrary Book which they called Antididagma and in the Preface thereof after a great deal of Railing against the Lutherans they professed in plain Terms That they had rather live under the Turk than under a Magistrate that would embrace and defend that Reformation Gropper as they say was the Author and Contriver of that Book For though he had been very familiar with Bucer Two Years before at the Diet of Ratisbone though after his return Home from thence he had exceedingly commended him not only to the Archbishop but to all Men also and in all Places and though he had sent him many and most loving Letters yet when Matters were brought to this pass he fell totally off from his Friendship and forsaking the Archbishop to whom he was obliged for all his Fortune struck in with the Adversaries The same also did Bernard Hagey the Chancellor who were both enriched with fat Benefices The Divines of Cologne did violently oppugne Bucer and loaded him with most grievous Reproaches He on the contrary desired a friendly Debate and professed in all Assemblies that he would maintain this Doctrine against them Melancthon also wrote a little Book at that time in his Defence and having exhorted them to Modesty and the Study of the Truth he shewed them what horrid Errors they defended Duke Maurice of Saxony made some Laws at this time to be observed throughout his Territories and in his Preface before them he exhorts the Doctors and Ministers of the Church to be diligent in doing their Duty preaching the Gospel in purity and to be a shining Light to their Flock by the Examples of a virtuous Life that they exhort Men to Prayer and mutual Love and Charity sharply rebuke Vice and with the consent of the Magistrate Excommunicate incorrigible Offenders till they be brought to Repentance and that they present such to the Magistrate as will not be reformed that way neither In the next place because Youth is in a manner the seminary both of Church and State he Founded Three publick Schools at Meisen Mersburg and Port and in each place he appoints a certain number of Free Scholars whom he finds in Victuals and Apparel and pays their Masters Yearly Salaries employing for that purpose the Revenues of those Religious Houses wherein Monks and the like had lived before To the Students he allows Six Years to remain there and be taught Out of the same Revenues he also gave an Augmentation to the University of Leipsick of Two thousands Florins a Year and some Measures of Wheat In like manner he prohibited Begging and for Relief of poor Families allotted Money to be yearly consigned in certain places Moreover against Uncleanness he enacted That such as deflowered Virgins and did not marry them though they procured them to be married to others should nevertheless be committed to Prison but Adulterers he commanded to be put to Death That Noblemen and Gentlemen who married the Women whom they had enjoyed before Marriage should be thus punished That the Children whom they had by them before their Marriage could not succeed to any Lands or Inheritances which they held of him in Fee. The Emperor in the mean time arrived at Genoa from Spain by Sea and writing from thence May the Twenty Sixth to the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave and Confederates he entreats them That now seeing the publick Peace was sufficiently secured by his Edicts and that there would be a Reformation of the Imperial Chamber very speedily that they would not refuse to contribute Assistance against the Turk who had not only made extraordinary Preparations but was also upon his March as he had certain Intelligence both by Messengers and Letters He had received an Account of all that pass'd in the Diet from Naves who went unto him And at the same time he appointed a Diet of the Empire to meet at Spire the last Day of November From Genoa he went to an Interview of the Pope at Busseto a Town upon the River Tava betwixt Piacenza and Cremona There again he demands of him as he had done before by Letters That he would declare the French King an Enemy but he made Answer That that would not be expedient for the publick State of Christendom and persisted therein The Pope had lately bestowed upon his Son Petro Aloisio Parma and Piacenza which upon an Exchange he had obtained from the College of Cardinals And because those Two Cities had formerly belonged to the Dukes of Milan he desired of the Emperor
Metz that Prince having established there a Garrison a Governour and a President of Justice amongst other things it was there enacted that if any Brother Sister Uncle Tutor or Guardian Prostituted any Woman or Maiden that was under their Charge he should have an Iron Hoop put about his Neck and be so exposed for some time to the scorn hatred and reproaches of all Men and he should be beaten afterwards with Rods and Banished the City and if any Father or Mother should do the same it should be Death Many Men wondred at these Laws and thought it was rather in order to teach Men Crimes that were rarely or never heard of than to restrain them from these Faults But in truth it shews the Corruption of our Times We have often already mentioned the famous Controversy which has been so many Years depending between the Landgrave and William Count of Nassaw concerning the Dominion of Catzenellobogen in the Landgravat of Hassia that an end might be put to this Difference and the rise of greater Mischiefs prevented some of the Neighbour Princes interposed as Honorary Arbitrators To this end the Elector Palatine Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg and William Duke of Cleve met in the beginning of July at Wormes and the Landgrave sent William his eldest Son to manage this Treaty for him There were some Conditions proposed and a Debate insued but at last they resolved to take further time to consider of it and appointed another time to meet and determine it In the mean time the French destroyed as many of the Castles in Montisferrat as they had in their Possession for fear any of them being surprized by the Spaniards might be imployed to hinder the supplying of Casale with Necessaries There was in this Dukedom a strong Castle called Vulpiano which has belonging to it a Town of some moment and was then in the possession of the Spaniards and upon the reception of the Duke de Alva great part of the Forces in these Parts being assembled to welcome their new General he took this opportunity to furnish that Place with Provisions and about the same time the French re-victualled Marienbourg a Town in Hainault which they took the last year from the Emperor About this time also the King of France published an Edict by the perswasion of his Friends commanding all his Presidents to Punish without delay or any regard had to any Appeal all those who by the Ecclesiastical Chancellors and the Inquisitors should be condemned for Hereticks This Edict was by the Cardinal of Lorrain brought into the Parliament of Paris that according to the Custom of France they might approve publish and register it But those Senators being surprized with the novelty of the design because it took away all benefit of Appeals took time to consider of it and some time after sent some of their Members to acquaint the King with their Thoughts of this Edict as I shall set forth in due time There is a City in Switzerland called Lucerne which is the Capital of one of their Cantons and lies not far from Italy The Inhabitants desired they might be suffered to imbrace the Reformation those Cantons which were of the Roman-Catholick Religion hereupon differed amongst themselves whilst some were for the granting this Liberty and others opposed it and it was thought this would have caused some intestine Commotions against them but at last the Party prevailed who were for maintaining the old Religion and that those who were not for it might have their liberty to withdraw Whereupon a great number of the Inhabitants of that City went to Zurich which City was very Hospitable towards them and assisted them with great Liberality About this time the English Ambassadors who were sent to Rome as I have said in the end of the last Book returned home The Pope much approved their Repentance and begging his Pardon But then he would not allow of the retaining of the Church Lands Amongst these Ambassadors was Thirlby Bishop of Ely. The King of Denmark had also sent a Fleet to the Northward which caused various Discourses amongst Men for some said it was done at the Instigation of the Emperor who designed the putting his Son or Brother in the Possession of Scotland others said it was for the Service of the French King others said it was to prevent any attempts might be made by the Emperor or his Son who by the accession of the Crown of England to his other Dominions was become very formidable and it was also thought that on this Score the Hanse Towns ccontributed to the Charge of this Fleet. After all these various Reports had been bandied up and down at last they all vanished and it was said that the Navy was designed against none but the Pirates The State of Rome at this time was also very unquiet the Pope having some of the great Men in suspition and thereupon having doubled the Guards and fixed the military Stations in several places of the City he ordered the Cardinal of Santa Flora Sfortia and Canâ—llus Colona to be Imprisoned Because these were Creatures of the Emperor most Men thought the Pope design'd something further against that Prince which distrust was yet more encreased afterwards upon the Pope's demanding a vast sum of Money which had been lent to Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence and one of the Emperor's Favourites by the two last Popes Clement VII and Julius the III. during the Seige of Siena but in a short time those great Men were discharged upon Bail. About the same time a Fleet failed from Spain for Flanders loaden with all sorts of Merchandize this coming upon the Coast of Normandy the French who had long before heard it was coming set upon it with great Force and there followed an horrible Engagement in which many of their Ships on both fides were burnt and funk and great numbers of the Men perished by Fire and Sword and drowning but in the end the French took some of Spanish Ships and carried them into the Port of Dieppe from whence they came this happened in the Month of August in the end of which Month King Philip left England and went to his Father to Brussels attended by great numbers of the Nobility of England Some few Years since Truccesius Cardinal of Ausburg had opened an University at Diliâ—gbon a City upon the Danube in the Diocess of Ausburg by the Permission and Consent of Julius the III. who confirmed this University by a Bull and gave it great Immunities and Priviledges as may be seen in this Bull which has since been published in Print Amongst many others who about this time retired to this Place was Peter Asoto a Spanish Dominican who had been many years the Emperor's Confessor This Year this Person began an Answer to the Book which contains the sum of the Christian Faith which Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg tendered as I have said by his Ambassadors to the Fathers assembled
and Queen which was refused and he severely treated for undertaking that Embassy by the Guises The Oppression of the Princes of the Blood in France by the House of Guise and of the Protestants by the Roman Catholicks caused a dreadful Conspiracy which drew in all the desperate People of that once most Fourishing Kingdom to the great hazard of its Ruine The concealed Head of this Conspiracy was Lewis Prince of Conde the apparent Godfrey de la Barre Sieur de Renaudie a Young Gentleman of an Ancient and Noble Family of Perigort who falling into a long and ruinous Suit for a Living which his Uncle had intercepted and detained from him in Angoumois had not only been overthrown by his Opposite but had also for some fraud in the management been severely Fin'd and Banish'd for some time he at Lausanne and Geneva had contracted a Friendship with some others of his Country who had fled thither on the account of Religion by whom he had been brought over to that Persuasion and after returning into France in disguise he had wandred over a great part of the Kingdom and made many Friends of that Religion and being a Stout Subtil Man and exasperated by the things he had suffered he undertook this dangerous Employment willingly as a means to revenge the Wrongs he had undergon The Conspirators met the First of February at Nantes in great numbers on diverse Preteces and there form'd the fatal Design of Blois for the Surprizing the King and the Court the Fifteenth of March and the bringing the Guises to a Tryal for all their Encroachments on the French Privileges and Abuses of the Royal Authority The whole Design is so well expressed in Davila his History of the Civil Wars of France that I shall rather refer the Reader thither for his Satisfaction in it than attempt to reduce it into a Dark and scarce perhaps Intelligible Compendium It was very extraordinary that before ever this Kingdom had in the least been shaken by any Commotion the Majesty of the King the Authority of the Governors and Magistrates being all in their former vigor that such great numbers of Men in all Parts of the Kingdom should enter into so unheard so dangerous a Design But such was the Hatred they bore to the House of Guise and the Detestation that all Men began to entertain of the bloody Practises against the Protestants that though so every many were engaged in it yet they all kept Faith each to other and conceal'd the Secret so that the Guises had notice of it from Italy Spain and Germany before any of their Spies in the Kingdom scented or suspected it At last one Pierre Avanelles an Advocate of the Parliament of Paris and a Protestant out of pure Conscience for the preventing so great a Scandal and Mischief discovered this Conspiracy to Stephen L' Allemont Sieur de Vouzay Secretary to the Cardinal of Lorain he having got knowledge of it from La Renaudie the Chief Agent in it who lodged in his House The King was then gone from Blois to Ambois which was a small and strong Town which had also a great and a very strong Castle and easily to be defended Here de Vouzay acquainted the King and the Council with it and was immediately Imprison'd to be produced as a Witness against the Conspirators if it proved to be true and to be treated as an Impostor if it happened otherwise The Guises were very desirous that Andelot and Coligni the Admiral should be invited to Court fearing or hoping rather that they too were in the Plot. And they accordingly came presently to the Queen-Regent and Coligni in a Discourse before Oliver the Chancellor inveighed sharply against the violent Proceedings in Matters of Religion which had exasperated a great part of the People against the Government and concluded That he believed the granting Liberty of Conscience and suspending the Severity of the Laws till the Controversies of Religion were composed by a Lawful and Free Council would very much appease and quiet them Oliver who desired a Reformation and hated the bloody Methods then in use was glad of this Proposition and recommended to the Guises the granting of a general Pardon and Liberty of Conscience till a Free Counsel could be had as an excellent Remedy of these Evils Which was presently granted excluding notwithstanding those who under pretence of Religion had conspired against the King his Mother Brothers or Ministers Which was published the Twelfth of March in the Parliament of Paris which yet never shock'd the Conspirators who were well resolv'd The same day Renuadie came to Carreliere in Vendosmois not far from Ambois and appointed the rest to meet him the Seventeenth of the same Month the King having changed his Abode they were forced to change the Day That day Deligneris another of the Conspirators and a Captain repenting the Undertaking discovered it to Queen Catherine The Guises had by this time got a good Body of the Nobility about the King and a Party of the Conspirators being met in Arms near Tours the Inhabitants of that City would not endeavour to take them but suffered them to escape to Saumur the Seventeenth of March was the day now appointed for this great Design and Renaudie who knew nothing of the Discovery marched boldly up to Ambois and though great part of his Foot were cut in pieces in the Woods as they came up in small Parties or taken Prisoners by the Horse who were sent out for that purpose many of which were presently hang'd on the Battlements of the Castle in their Boots and Spurs yet Renaudie their Chief Commander escaped and was not taken then The Duke of Guise obtained a Commission to constitute himself the King's Lieutenant General in France the Eighteenth of March and Oliver the Chancellor obtained before he would pass it a Pardon for all who should lay down their Arms within twenty four hours and return home with only two or three Companions giving them liberty to present what Petitions they pleased in a peaceable way to the King. The Nineteenth of March Renaudie met Pardaillan who was sent with a Party of Horse to take up such as he found in Arms. Pardaillan would have fired a Pistol against Renaudie but it missing Renaudie run him through but was slain in the same moment by Pardaillan's Servant himself His Body was brought to Ambois and hang'd on a Gibbet with this Inscription The Leader of the Rebels Two of his Servants were taken at the same time and some Papers in a private Character which proved to be a Petition on the besalf of the Protestants designed to be presented to the King in an Assembly of the States Begging a Remission of the Severity of the Laws against them and Protesting the utmost Duty and Obedience to him Many of those who were taken were examin'd against the King of Navar and the Prince of Conde Who said They
last interrupted by the Commotions of Germany In order to this the 19 th of November 1559. he Published a Bull for the recalling this Council to Trent at the Feast of Easter of this Year vehemently Exhorting all Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops and Abbats and all others who had the Right or Privilege to Sit and Vote in a General Council by common right or any Privilege or Ancient Custom that at that Day they would be present in the said Council He also Admonished the Emperor Elect and all other Christian Kings and Princes that if they could not be personally present they should send their Ambassadors thither affirming beforehand that he designed nothing by this Council but the Glory of God the Reduction and Salvation of the scattered Sheep and the lasting Peace of Christendom There was soon after a sharp Invective Printed at Ausburg by Paulus Vergerius Bishop of Cabo di Istria in Friule who was a Cardinal and had been imployed by several of the preceding Popes in great Ambassies and had lately left that Church and betaken himself to the Protestans of Germany In it he set forth the Pride Pomp Luxury Ambition Bribery and corrupt Manners of the Court of Rome which he vow'd he well knew and from his heart detested That the Council was not call'd by the Pope to establish the Doctrine of Christ but those Human Inventions which they had brought in contrary to the Commandments of God not to Purge God's fold but to disseminate their inveterate Errors not to restore Christian Liberty but to introduce a misrable Servitude and Oppression on the Souls of Men none but the Bishops and Abbats who should take an Oath prescribed by the Roman Ceremonial Lib. 1. c. III. § XIV being permitted to sit there That all the inferior Clergy and secular Princes had only a right to come be instructed but not to deliberate or vote by which it must needs come to pass that not only all those who had separated from that Church on the account of her gross Errors would not be heard which was promised at first by Paul III. but that also many of the most Skilful and most Learned Doctors of that Church would be excluded from giving any Vote and all Liberty in which only there was any hope of restoring the Peace of the Church would be taken away and a Door opened to let in a Schism which would never have an end The Pope perceiving that this Complaint would irritate the Minds of the German Princes for whose sake the Council was first Indicated sent Ambassadors to them Zachariah Delfino Bishop of Faro and John Francis Comendon Bishop of Zant being by his order directed to all the Princes with Letters of Credence They went first to Ferdinand the Emperor who was then at Vienna from thence they went by his Advice to meet all the Princes of the Augustane Confession who were then Assembled at Naumberg upon the River Saole in Saxony whom they were to treat very gently and modestly studying to avoid whatever might give occasion of Exasperation or Offence by the Counsel of this great and excellent Prince he telling them this was the easiest way to do their Business and to get a Positive Answer He also reminded them of the Conditions upon which the Protestant Princes had in the last Dyet declared they would consent to the Council of Trent That if they hap'ned to be mentioned the Ambassadors might not be destitute of an Answer He also sent Three Ambassadors of his own with them 1. Otho Count of Eberstin 2. Felix Bogislaus Baron of Hassenstein And 3. Christopher Meela Vice-Chamberlain of Bohemia These being admitted the day after their Arrival at Naumburg into the Assembly of the Princes exhorted them to be present in the Council to be shortly holden at Trent that an end might so be put to the lamentable Differences of Religion and the Calamities of Germany When they had deliberated on the Proposal they return'd this Answer That they were very Thankful to the Emperour for his Care of and Love to the Empire As to the Council they did not refuse a Free General and truly Christian Council in which not the Pope but the Word of God should sit as Judge the Oath of the Bishops being discharged and a Liberty allowed to those of the Augustane Confession to Vote But on the contrary they perceived the Pope pretended to continue the Council of Trent and only to allow those Bishops to Vote who were Sworn to him against which they had already Protested in many Dyets of the Empire They concluded with a Promise of a more partiticular Answer when they had consulted the Princes assembled at Newburg they having as yet no Instructions concerning this Point from them or their Deputies And in the mean time they prayed the Emperour that he would preserve inviolably the League of Passaw and the Peace of Religion After this both the Pope's Legates were heard one after another who said very much in Commendation of Pius IV. his great Care of Religion and good Affection towards them That to this end he had recall'd the Council to Trent for the Extirpation of Heresie and Sects in which he promised all things should be transacted with Christian Charity and Brotherly Affection and all should be fully and sweetly heard and Determinations made and Suffrages given with the utmost freedom and liberty Therefore they exhorted them to send Ambassadors with Plenary Instructions and lend their Assistance to the bringing so commendable a Design to its desired end which was the restoring Peace to Christendom They delivered also the Pope's Letters to the several and respective Protestant Princes which being Superscribed with the word Son were all return'd Seal'd to the Legates The last day of the Meeting the Electors and other Princes in the Morning return'd an Answer to the Pope's Legates That they did not acknowledge the Popels Jurisdiction nor think themselves bound to give him any account what they intended in the Business of the Council the Calling and holding of which belonged not to him but they had fully declared their Minds to Ferdinand the Emperour their gracious Lord. That as for them the Legates they esteemed them for their Noble Birth and great Learning and should have shewn them greater respects if they had not come on the Pope's Errand Being thus dismissed they went to Lubeck and sent to Frederick King of Denmark for leave to come to him but had for an Answer That neither he nor his Father had never had any Business with the Pope nor did he desire now to know their Errand And Martinego who was sent to Queen Elizabeth of England was forbidden to come over To give the Reader a certain and clear knowledge of this Meeting at Naumburg The 13th of January Fredcrick the Elector Palatine Augustus Duke of Saxony and Elector Jo. Frederick of Saxony Wolfang of the Palatine Family Ernest and Philip Dukes of Brunswick