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
Protestants because of their Religion The End of the Twelfth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIII The CONTENTS The Protestants make Answer to the Emperor's Demands and by many Arguments prove that they aim more at Piety and Religion in their Actions than at appropriating to themselves Church-lands and Possessions They also refute the Arguments of the King of England The Emperor having punished the City of Ghent orders a Meeting of the Protestants who answer his Letters The Pope sends his Legate Farnese the same who went with the Emperor from Paris to the Netherlands He makes a long invective Speech against the Protestants In the mean time the French King makes a League with the Duke of Cleve to whom he gives his Sisters Daughter in Marriage At this time the Pope was making War against the People of Perusia The King of England turns away Ann the Sister of the Duke of Cleve Some Points of Religion are accommodated in the Assembly of Haguenaw The rest are repriev'd to the Convention at Wormes appointed by King Ferdinand whither Granvell came and made a Speech Campeggio the Pope Legate came after who also makes a Speech The Conference is broken off and all the Negotiation put off till the Diet of Ratisbone Luther makes a smart Answer to the Book of Henry Duke of Brunswick wherein Mention is made of the dear Pall which the Pope of Rome sells The Treaty commences at Ratisbone The Emperor passes over into Barbary Granvell presents the Book called the Interim to the Conferrers The Duke of Cleve marries the King of Navarr's Daughter TO these things the Protestants April the Eleventh make Answer and in the first place say they we return our hearty Thanks to the Heer Granvell who hath always advised the Emperor to Moderation in this Affair a Virtue which deserves the highest Commendation And we pray God to confirm him in this so laudable a Resolution for what can be more glorious than to allay publick Grievances by prudent and moderate Counsels without Slaughter and Bloodshed Now we pray all Men in general not to think that we delight in the Clashings and Dissensions of Churches that we propose to our selves any private Advantage or that it is out of Frowardness that we have separated from other Nations contrary to the inveterate Custom of many Ages It was not out of Wantonness Rashness or Unadvisedness that we have exposed our selves to the implacable Hatred of our Adversaries that we have undergone so much Trouble and Toil so great Charges and Losses and the continual Dangers of so many Years No but when Division in Doctrine broke out in the Church which hath happened oftner than once of old we could not in Conscience resist the Truth for the Favour of Men and far less approve the Actions of those who with great Cruelty persecute the Innocent Nay on the contrary for so many weighty Reasons for such true and holy Causes we are constrained to oppose them and separate from them For it is manifestly known that they defend gross and intolerable Errors not only in Word but by Violence and Force of Arms Now it is the Duty of the Magistrate to protect his Subjects from unjust Force And because we hear that we lie under Suspicion as if we only minded our own Profit and Advantage and not the Glory of God nor Reformation of the Church we beseech the Heer Granvell that he would justify us in that Matter to the Emperor We are sensible enough of the Calumnies of that Nature which are dispersed far and near by our Adversaries with intent to bring our Persons and the true Religion we profess into contempt and hatred But in the Emperors honourable Council whom God hath placed in so eminent a Sphere Truth only should be enquired into and regarded and all false Informations discountenanced For the Reason why they hunt about for Pretexts to load us with that Aspersion and publickly traduce us is because they maintain a weak and unjust Cause because they see their own Errors blamed and condemned by all Men and cannot withstand the pure Light of the Gospel But it suits ill with the Character and Duty of Bishops so to urge and importune the Emperor about Lands and Revenues as if the Christian Religion stood or fell with them when in the mean time they take not the least Notice of those many and enormous Errors and Vices which they themselves cannot dissemble It ought indeed to be their first care to see Religion and the purer Doctrine preserved in their Churches But now their Thoughts are wholly taken up how they may defend their Wealth and Power their Luxury and Splendor They know well enough that the Contest is not about Church-lands and Possessions they themselves know that these are not the things we aim at but they use that as a Cloak and Veil to cover their own wicked Counsels in resisting the Truth that they may inflame the Minds of Kings and Princes to the Destruction of this Religion For no Man of our Profession hath invaded any part of Church Possessions within the Territories and Dominion of another nor deprived any Bishop of ought that was his but the Bishops themselves have slighted their Jurisdiction when the Profits thereof began to fall and indeed they know not how to administer the same Again The Colleges of the Canons Regular still enjoy all they had but they on the other hand have appropriated to themselves the Revenues of many of our Churches and discharge their People from paying us any yearly Rent And whereas they were wont formerly to allow somewhat of their yearly Revenues to the Ministers of the Church and Schoolmasters they are now so far from contributing anything that way that the Cities are necessitated to be at all the Charges And it is not like that these Cities which both lie under heavy Burthens and are exposed to great Dangers do espouse and maintain this Cause meerly for Covetousness sake But our Enemies especially such of them as hunt after Church Preferments maliciously accuse us so to the Emperor We could heartily wish that the Emperor were rightly informed of the present State of Monasteries why monastick Institutions have been change and how these Goods are employed partly for maintaining the Ministers of the Church and Teachers of the People and partly for other pious Uses We would the Emperor also understood how our Adversaries hook in to themselves all Profits and rob and spoil not only Monasteries but other Churches also so that within their Precincts many Churches are wholly slighted and the People degenerate into Paganism But before we speak any more of that Matter we beseech Granvell that in his own excellent Judgment he would weigh these things with himself For grant we might from hence reap some Advantage yet it may easily be imagined that the Controversie proceeds not from this but from a far different and more considerable Cause and that for
be propagated to posterity It is manifest then that Covetousness and desire of Lucre is not to be Objected to us when besides Trouble and Dangers there comes nothing to our share and our Adversaries in the mean time without any regard to the Pope whom they usually magnifie so much make what booty they please of the Church Revenues and besides bestow great Rewards and Gifts upon some that they may obstinately Persecute the true Religion That we also submit the rest of Church-Possessions to the Determination of a Council we hope will be sufficient to justifie us in the Opinions of all Good Men. But that it should be imputed to us by our Adversaries That we do but dissemble and play the Hypocrites as often as we speak of Reconciliation and as if that were only done that we may put a stop to the Emperor's Designs pervert the matters and hinder a lawful Trial as a thing that does very much trouble and afflict us for what can be more wicked and base than to make a blind pretext of Piety and Religion We therefore desire seeing that is a very heinous Accusation that the Emperor would patiently and attentively examine those things which we are to say in our own defence When Ten Years ago our Enemies made a great complaint to the Emperor in the Diet of Ausburg concerning our Churches and that we were enjoined to give an account of our Doctrine Religion and Ceremonies we acted nothing craftily nor in hugger-mugger but in plain Terms gave an open profession of our Doctrine that all might be convinced that it agreed with the Doctrines of the Apostles and we make no doubt but that was a means of bringing many to embrace our Religion when they saw that we taught nothing contrary to the From of the Ancient Church but only shewed and detected the Errors which had slipp'd into the Church For it cannot be denied but that many and grievous Errors had crope in the Doctrine of Repentance was frigid and perplexed not a word preached of Grace received by Christ and the Remission of Sins the Lord's Supper was in a horrid manner and wholly corrupted and contaminated by the Popish Mass for it is known that private Mass is but a new thing introduced partly through Ignorance and partly out of Covetousness because Marriage was denied to Priests there was nothing to be heard but Instances of the foulest Incontinence the Doctrine of the Keys and Power of the Church was altogether slighted and the Pope arrogated all that Power to himself only for the Confirmation of his own Dominion and Rule and loaded the minds of Men with almost infinite numbers of Precepts and Laws which learned and judicious Men often bewailed but no care was had of setting able Men over the Churches What our Opinion was of those many and necessary matters we declared before the Emperor at Ausburg and Books on that Subject written by Men of our Profession are publickly extant Many learned Men also of other Nations confess That they had the Knowledge of the true Doctrine from these Books so that then we shun not the Light. And when a Reconciliation was attempted at Ausburg we acted not Fraudulently nor Craftily but shewed our selves to be desirous of agreement and that if our Adversaries would have received the Principal Doctrines we should not have been very scrupulous nor contentious about indifferent Things And though the Ways then propos'd by us were moderate yet our Treatment was neither too Friendly nor Impartial Nay would to God the Emperor knew how our Adversaries that were Commissionated then behaved themselves for they often protested in the beginning of all Treaties that they would not depart a Hairs breadth from their own Opinion and Doctrine but that all they did was only to bring us over to their Judgment Wherefore they began to speak of Doctrines of the Invocation of Saints of Private Mass and Satisfaction affirming that there was no Error in them That was not then a Conference wherein the Truth was sifted by solid Arguments and testimonies of Scripture but it was a kind of haughty and pompous Confirmation of manifest Errors And because we did not then acquiesce to them they now construe that as if we had only made a shew of Treating about Accommodation not with any real and sincere design of Success but only to shuffle with the Emperor and elude a Trial For so they understand the word Reconciliation as if we should abandon the Truth and approve their Cause But after the Conference at Ausburg these things were no more debated which nevertheless was not our fault for it is our chief desire that good and learned Men may conferr of all these matters and freely give their Judgment concerning them Wherefore we pray all Men not to give credit to this their Accusation for if we shunned the Light or were ashamed of our Cause we might easily forsake it and ingratiate our selves with them but seeing we are convinced that of all Causes this is the most pious and necessary therefore we undergo all this Labour submit to all Losses and Dangers and profess the Doctrine of Christ which we desire to retain and propagate longing for a Reformation of the Church with Peace and Concord and what a Year since we protested at Francfort we now also profess that we will not decline a Conference nor treaty of Reconciliation Which that no Man may be mistaken we so understand that following the Scripture as our Guide Truth may be sought after Error abolished and true Doctrine take place in Churches For otherwise all Labour and Pains will be in vain Christ the Son of God made known to us his Will and Doctrine from the Bosom of the Father He is to be heard and only to acknowledged for our Judge Now all the Emperor's Edicts and Proclamations sufficiently show also that this Affair ought to be orderly and lawfully debated but we do not think that our Adversaries method of proceeding at the Diet of Ausburg has been made known unto him But now what our mind is and upon what Grounds we proceed may be seen in the publick and printed Confession of our Faith which we are certain does agree with Holy Scripture and therefore we cannot forsake it Besides this Doctrine which is the chief and Foundation of all the rest there are some other mean and as it were indifferent things as concerning Ceremonies Ordination of Priests Jurisdiction Visiters Church-Goods matrimonial Causes c. all Controversies as to these may in our Judgment be reconciled if first there were an Agreement about those necessary Points For so long as our Adversaries impugn the chief Matters and go on in a way of Cruelty the difference cannot be removed How in that some endeavour to perswade the Emperor that our Doctrine is blended with many Heresies and Errors they do us an Injury for if they have any thing of that nature to Object unto us they may do it publickly and
had been handed down to them from their Ancestors and successively even to the present time was a thing that could noways be defended nor justified to Posterity That now it manifestly appeared what end the Authors of the Book made at Ausburg had proposed to themselves and what they drove at for that they had endeavoured to deprive Mankind of the chief head of the Doctrine of Justification the very groundwork of our Salvation as also to question the use of the Lords Supper and the Marriage of Priests to teach besides the Invocation of Dead Men and all that depends thereon in short to restore Popery again in its full extent as many Men of Excellent Learning had made it appear that certainly so great Impiety was not to be winked at nor past in silence but earnest and fervent Prayers made to God that he would not suffer the glory of his own Name to be thus polluted That it was indeed a sad and lamentable spectacle to see men violently driven to a false Religion and Idolatry the Ministers of the Church cast into Gaols or with their Wives and Children forced into Exile and some also butchered and killed but it was extreamly grievous that though these things were openly seen especially in Upper Germany yet there were some who had the boldness to say that Religion was not struck at that nevertheless it was no new thing since from the very Creation of the World it had been the condition of Pious and Innocent Men to suffer affliction and that there were many Examples both in the Old and New Testament which declared the constancy of holy Men when Kings and Princes set forth Edicts contrary to the Word of God for that Rule of Scripture always prevailed with them That it is better to obey God than Men That this was not only the Doctrine of St. Chrysostome St. Austin St. Ambrose and others but their Practice also when the Emperours commanded any thing repugnant to the Law of God that their case was now the same that they saw the danger they were in and yet could do not otherwise than they did for that they would suffer any thing rather than applaud to and embrace manifest Errours That it was reported of Gordius the Martyr how that being desired by his Friends as he was going to the place of Execution that to save his Life he would forsake his Opinion he made answer That the Tongue ought not to speak any thing in reproach of him who created it A saying that concerned all Men in general for that it was the Opinion of the Ancient Church and of some of the first Bishops of Rome also that they do not only betray the Truth who teach false Doctrine but those also that dare not openly confess and defend the known Truth That therefore the event of all was to be committed to God and that Men ought not for love or favour or the fear of any danger to turn aside from the profession of the Truth but to have the Example of Daniel always before their Eyes who contrary to the Decree of King Darius prayed to God with his Windows open That he might indeed have done the same privately and closely without any danger but because the open confession of his Faith and the glory of the Divine Majesty required it should be otherwise he had with a great and undaunted mind openly called upon God without any regard to that danger which being laid for him by his Enemies fell afterwards upon their own heads That therefore they begg'd they would not raise Arms nor attempt any Hostility against them who were Members of the true Church but therein follow the Example of the Christian Soldiers of former Ages who would not obey when the Emperours would have employed their Arms against those who professed the Christian Religion as might be made out by the instance of St. Mauritius the Martyr That it was to be found in the Book of Judges how highly God was offended with the Israelites because being terrified by the multitude of the Enemies they assisted not their weaker Brethren which might be a lesson to all that not only Brethren and Associates were not to be deserted but ought also to be relieved and succoured That they made no doubt but that good Men were moved at these things that God lived and was immortal who had often shew'd strength with his Arm in old time and was still able to do it That after all they most earnestly besought them that they would carry these their Complaints to the Emperour King Ferdinand and the other Princes and States and at the same time intercede for them that they might not be reduced to extremity for that they refused nothing that could be lawfully and honestly performed that it was their hearty Request also that they would commend them in their Prayers to God that in imitation of the Ninivites they might from the bottom of their hearts repent of their Sins and send up their sighs unto God that they might undauntedly persevere in the profession of the Doctrine of the Gospel which had now for these thirty years been preached amongst them and set it forth with Pious Lives and Conversations that they might do the Works of Charity to all Men but especially to the Ministers of Gods Church who were now turned out and in exile to their Wives and Children and such other poor People in distress and that they might retain this pure and wholesome Doctrine in spight of the tricks and artifices of those who under the Pretext of restoring of Ceremonies would again let in upon us the sink of Popish Pollutions In the Month of October Francis Duke of Mantua the Son of Frederick took to Marriage the Lady Catharine Daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romans and the Tenth day of November after Pope Paul III. departed this Life in the Fourscore and second year of his Age. The day before he died he discharged the Imposts which he had laid upon Salt and most part of other Commodities to the grievance of the People Some Months before he had solicited the Emperour about the restitution of Piacenza but it was in vain and it was generally thought that if he had lived longer he would have espoused the Interests of the French King for it was believe that he had been hatching Revenge in his mind ever since the Murder of his Son Petro Aloisio His Body lay for three days in State in the Chapel of Pope Sixtus whither the People flocked in great numbers to kiss his Feet which were put out at an Iron Gate as the custom is Before he died a bitter and Satyrical Book came out against him under the Name indeed of one Bernardino Ochino but as it was thought written by other hands with a Prefatory Dedication to Ascanio Colonna whom he had banished This little Book amongst a great many other things which would be too long to relate addressing to him calls
of Leo X. Fol. 93 94. and in the Life of Alfonso Duke of Ferrara Fol. 42. and in truth the Works of all good Authors have many Examples of this Nature Comines is chiefly commended because he Wrote so equally but then he ever pursues this Method as I have said already that he not only sets down what was done but also gives his own Judgment of it and tells us what every one did well or ill and although I would not have done this yet it is the most usual practice of Historians But then that what was done or said by both Parties should be exactly related is not only just and equal and the constant usage from the most Ancient times but also absolutely necessary for without it it is impossible to Write an History Where ever there are Factions Wars and Seditions be sure there are Complaints Accusations and Answers and all places are fill'd with opposite and contradictory Papers Now he that truly relates these as they are doth neither of the Parties any injury but follows the Laws of an Historian For in these Brawls and Contentions every thing which the Parties object against each other is not presently true and certain Where there is Contention Hatred and Enmity it is very well known and experienced how things are managed for the most part on both sides If what the Popes and their Adherents have within thirty six years last past belched out against the Protestants were all true there could be found nothing more wicked and impious than they Paul III. Pope of Rome sent the Cardinal of Farnese his Son in the year 1540. to the Emperor into the Low Countries He gave some Advices against the Protestants which were afterwards Printed and are recited in the thirteenth Book of my History After many other reproachful expressions he saith the Protestants fight as much against Christ as the very Turks do for they only kill their Bodies but the Protestants bring their Souls too to eternal destruction Here then I make a stand and desire to know what could possibly have been spoken more grievous and horrible than this Now if these things had not been related certainly the Protestants would have had just cause of complaint against me But the thing is quite otherwise for neither is it true because the Cardinal said it and if I had passed it by I might justly have been suspected as one that was too much addicted to a Party and so would not tell the Truth I do not doubt but all impartial men will yield that I have in this which I have said clearly given the true Laws of History and I can as little think they will judge that I have broke those Laws the far greatest part of my History being extracted out of Pieces which were Printed before They act therefore very unfriendly or rather injuriously with me who traduce and defame my Writings and the more are they guilty if they understand the Laws of History but if they know them not then I desire they would learn them from what I have written and from other Historians But then when I mention other Historians I do not mean those of our times whose only business it is to extol their own Party with immoderate praises and wonderful commendations and to overwhelm the other Party with slaunders and reproaches for these men are not worthy of the Title of Historians Above six years since John Cochleus Published some Commentaries containing an History of the same nature with mine but then he has stuffed them with horrible unheard of and invented slaunders Cardinal Pole in a Book which he lately Printed calls the Protestant Religion lately established in Germany a Turkish Seed And their Books are generally full of such reflections But what is there like this in my Work In truth I have made it my business to Write in order and as truly as I could the Story of that wonderful blessing God has been pleased to bestow upon the men of this Age And to that purpose about sixteen years since I Collected all that I thought necessary to that Work nor have I since made any headlong haste in the Writing of it but gone leisurely on with a steady Judgment The labour I have taken in this great Work is known to none but God and my self and I had respect to nothing but the glory of God in it and laying aside the Study of the Civil Law which is my profession I accordingly almost spent my whole time upon it so that all things considered I think I may aver that I was drawn to it by an Impulse from God and I will commend my cause to him seeing I have met so ill a recompence from some men for my great labour and pains it being his cause I have defended and I am fully assured he will look upon that Work as a most pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice the conscience of which sustains and comforts me and the more because I see many Learned Men approve and applaud my Work paying me their thanks for it and acknowledging the benefit they have reaped by it Therefore I desire all those who are the hearty Lovers of Truth that they would not believe the slaunders of ill men but kindly entertain my Work and approve my faith and diligence without admitting any suspition of me Lastly I profess that I acknowledge Charles the V. now Emperor of Germany and Ferdinand King of the Romans his Brother to be the supreme Magistrates appointed by God whom I ought in all things to Obey as Christ and his Apostles have commanded excepting only those things which are forbidden by God. SS TD ACERRIMVS E.R. HOSTIS MARTINVS LUTHERVS Nascitur Islebiae X Nov 1483. Monasterium Augustin Ingreditur Ao. 1505. Titulum D is Assumsit A o 1512. Obijt in Patria XVIII o die Februarij 1546. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BEGUN IN GERMANY BY Martin Luther c. BOOK I. The CONTENTS Martin Luther bravely withstands the Venal Indulgences dispersed abroad by Leo X Pope of Rome not only in his Publick Sermons but also in some Theses and Positions which he offered to defend and which he sent to the Archbishop of Mentz The first that opposed them were Tetzel Eckius Silvester Prierias and Hogostrat In the mean time the Pope sends Cajetane Legat to the Emperour Maximilian Luther is Cited to appear at Rome By means of Frederick Elector of Saxony he Answers Cajetane in the Diet of Ausburg Cajetane by Menaces and the Thunder of the Canons endeavours to maintain the Papal Power and Tyranny After the departure of Luther Cajetane sollicites Duke Frederick by Letters but in vain By a new Bull the Pope confirms and publishes the Indulgences in Germany To draw in Duke Frederick he presents him with a Golden Rose The Emperour Maximilian in the mean while dies Many Heads at work about the Succession to the Empire At length Charles Archduke of Austria is chosen Emperour the News whereof is
They who know him familiarly much Extol him and if we consider his Father Philip and Grandfather Maximilian we cannot doubt of the truth of what they say He is but Young indeed but however of years fit enough for Business and Action He will also make use of his Grandfathers Counsellors and some select Princes of Germany I told you before its true that it will be very inconvenient for the Publick if he happen to be long absent from Germany But that shall be provided against by Articles and Conditions made with him beforehand Besides seeing he himself hath large Territories in Germany he must needs come now and then to visit them The Turk must be driven out of Hungary the French of Italy the Church is to be setled and reformed And when I reflect on these things I 'm the less moved at those inconveniences which his absence threatens for the natural Briskness and Activity of his Temper the Love of his Country nay and the Necessity of his Affairs will oblige him now and then to return to us When the Archbishop and Elector of Mentz had made an end of s peaking he prayed the rest to speak their Opinions And his Collegues having spoken in few words put it to the Electoral Archbishop of Treves to speak next for he was had in great Reputation upon account of his Industry and Experience He therefore having in a short Preamble taken notice of a certain Prophet who had foretold that Maximilian should be the last German Emperour Now said he things seem to me almost to tend that way since the Archbishop of Mentz who hath indeed said many things prudently is wholly for having the Government of the Empire conferred upon a Stranger Yet I much wonder that he should prefer the King of Spain before the French King. I am really grieved at the condition and state of Germany for if we walked in the steps of our Fore-fathers we should not stand in need of Foreign Protection but now that we invite in Strangers what do we do but purchase to our selves Servitude but setting aside this Complaint I shall follow the same Order that the Elector of Mentz hath done and shall speak first of our Law and Oath The Reason of the making that Law in my Opinion was Lest if a Stranger should be chosen who had no fixed Residence in Germany the Dignity of the Empire might be by degrees transferred to Foreigners Now if this be the Sense and Meaning of that Law a Spaniard can no more be chosen than a French-Man but if Charles may be chosen because he hath Provinces within the Pale of the Empire the same must hold also in Francis who possesses both Lumbardy and the Kingdom of Arles which are both Parts of our Republick of the two then proposed let us see which is most eligible The Truth is at that Time when France was joyned to Germany which was in the Age of the Franks our Empire was in a most flourishing condition and I am not a little delighted with the Remembrance of those Times as often as I fall upon reading the Histories and Transactions of past Ages Now the very same occasion is again offered unto us which I think ought not to be slighted Foreign Nations also are of the same Opinion the Pope Venetians and all the Princes and States of Italy For the French Nation derives its Original from us uses almost the same Laws and Customs and is very loving and kind to our Countrymen besides its commodiousness for us and Italy because of vicinity If any Troubles arise Armies will presently be in readiness and French Money to pay them And if the Turk invade either Hungary or Italy as I am fully persuaded he will Asia being now in Peace what can be more desired than to have so flourishing an Emperour near us backed by the Forces of both Nations Now though the Spaniards be accounted good Soldiers yet what great Action did they ever atchieve in Italy without the Help of the Germans Besides seeing they are at a very great Distance from us we cannot expect any timely Assistance from them and though they might be willing yet could they not do us any great good for since Spain is exhausted by Colonies and Fleets they constantly send abroad it cannot spare any great Armies from home To this it may be added That we shall have the French for fellow Soldiers and Companions of all our Labours whereas if any thing succeed well with us the Spaniards will take to themselves all the Glory enjoy the Fruits of our Victories and have the Government of our Provinces but no more of this Comparison I now come to the Election If the French King be pitched upon there will be no cause of War in Italy for he hath Milan already and we shall persuade him not to attack Naples the same also will he do with the Netherlands provided they 'll be quiet Now why we should be so much concerned for the Netherlands I see no reason They have indeed been our Neighbours for a long time but they have no League nor Alliance with us and neither think themselves obliged by the Laws of the Empire nor contribute any thing to publick Taxes no more than the English or Scots Since the French King then is very powerful peaceably enjoys Lombardy and is provided of all things necessary He 'll undertake far greater and more glorious Actions I mean a Turkish War and will employ all his force in beating off the Enemy from Hungary and Italy that so he may secure the state of Germany But if he prefer Charles of Spain before him good God! what Commotions will we raise in Italy He will attempt the recovery of Milan occasion a lasting War and while a most lovely Country is thus harass'd the Turks will bend all their force against Hungary Who pray shall resist these Who can fit out a competent Army These are things to be carefully considered and not slightly pass'd over Now it is uncertain what may be the issue of an Italian War For if the French King get the better on 't he will attempt Naples and it is possible that at his instigation the Pope may annul our Election and every one is sensible how great Troubles that may occasion On the other hand if Charles of Spain be advanced we are not to expect that Italy will be restored unto us The Spaniards once in possession will retain it for ever Nor that only but it would be no easie matter neither to get this our Empire out of their hands again What have they not suffered that they might preserve Naples which all Men know how they came by By no means then are they to be called into Italy Let me now say a little of both Kings I make no doubt but Charles is a Prince of a gentle and modest disposition for so many do commend him But since he is but as yet a Youth what Judgment can be
Rome and it was consulted by what means the Bohemians might be made to renounce those Errours which were lately crept in among them And this I suppose is what Luther means when he says there was a Decree made in this Council relating to the Eucharist For most of the Bohemians contended that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper all the Communicants ought to partake of Both the Symbols of the Wine as well as the Bread. And besides what we have mentioned there is no Decree extant of this Council touching that matter But it received its final Determination at Constance in the Thirteenth Session of that Council of which there will be occasion to speak more hereafter While those things were in Agitation in Saxony which were hinted upon in the beginning of this Book several of Luther's Writings viz. that which he dedicated to Sylvester Prierias and his Discourses concerning Repentance Excommunication Indulgences and Preparation to Death were all by a Synodical Decree of the Divines of Lovain and Cologn condemn'd as tending to the encouragement of Impiety and Irreligion and which therefore ought to be burnt and their Author made publickly to recant When this came to Luther's Ear he immediately replies and defends all those principal Points of his Doctrin which had fallen under their Censure and in the Introduction laments the Misery of that state and Condition to which those his Adversaries were now reduced That although some Years ago they had very fiercely opposed Capnion yet he was still willing to put the favourablest Interpretation he could upon all their Actions but now since they went about to expugn the plain manifest Doctrin of the Gospel and were grown even past reclaiming he could not but think That they had justly incurred God's highest Displeasure that if they went on as they had begun and no one had the Courage or Honesty in the least to controul them he expected that by degrees they would suppress all the whole Sacred Volumes and impose on the World in their stead whatsoever they should please to call Expositions of them That whilst he seriously considered all these things with himself they appeared to him to be evident Demonstrations either that the Reign of Antichrist was already begun or that the Prophecyes concerning it were very near their Accomplishment that he could not without Regret behold their Behaviour at this time for it was a clear and certain Token of their lying under the heavy Weight of the Divine Anger that through the whole Course of their Proceedings there was nothing had any firm sound Foundation but they were still wavering in their own Minds and were at one time the Maintainers of that Opinion which at another could not escape the Lash of their unbridled licentious Tongues He rubs up their Memory That it is not long since William Ockam was condemned by the whole University of Paris and his Works were rejected by all as containing things contrary to the true Catholick Doctrin whenas now he was become the very Darling of the Schools and his Name as much cryed up as it was before loaded with Infamy But how low the Credit of that University runs may be gathered by this That its Judgment is had in very little esteem in France it self and is of no Authority at all in any other Country for 't is grown almost into a Proverb among the English That the Paris Decrees never cross the Seas among the Italians That they never climb over the Alpes and among the Germans That they never pass the Rhine In the Censures past upon Picus Mirandula his Enemies could not hide that rancour and Malice which had in so great a Measure byass'd their Judgments for his Books were now hightly prized by all Persons and no one could read any thing of his without being insensibly drawn into a very great Admiration of the most incomparable Parts of the Author Nor had Laurentius Valla himself met with the least better Treatment although Learned and Judicious Men had always an esteem for him and thought themselves very profitably employed as long as they were conversant in his Writings He tells them That in that Controversie with Capnion they had managed their Business in such a manner that they never at any time more openly betrayed their gross Ignorance as well as obstinate Wickedness That the Counsels of God are very wonderful That the Jews were of Old his own peculiar People but when they wilfully shut their Eyes against the Light of the Gospel and despised all the Benefits of Christ they were then deservedly reprobated and the Gentiles imbraced that Grace and Favour of which the first Tenders were made to them That much after the same manner it was now That the Popes and others who were and loved to be called the Dignitaries of the Church and who assumed to themselves the Supreme Power and all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction had in truth nothing but an empty Name whilst there were others who affected none of all that pompous Pageantry who yet had a better Right to all the Honours and Titles which these had so unjustly usurped In short That it never was otherwise but that all Good and learned Men had at all times been thus persecuted by them and yet they never could produce one Example of their having made Good their own Ground or foiled their Adversaries by any solid substantial Argument but rather by mere Tricks and Shifts or else by the dint of Fire and Faggot that thus it was in the Case of John Hus and Jerome of Prague which was such a Piece of Barbarity as their Memories would stink to all succeeding Generations but he could not but be struck with a very great amazment to see their precipitated Folly who notwithstanding all these Warnings would still proceed in those unwarrantable Methods which must of Necessity leave a Blot not only upon their own but upon all the other Universities in Christendom for granting all their former Processes were according to the known established Rules and the Sentences pronounced by them upon several famous Men were well grounded and in due Form of Law yet as to what relates to his Cause and the present Controversie they had done very Injuriously and Spitefully to deal with him in such an unexampled manner if he had offended in any thing they should not immediately construe it in the worst Sense but think with themselves That all Men are subject to Infirmities That in the giving their Judgment upon his Tenets they ought to have shewed a Christian-like Disposition Lenity Mildness and Gentleness but thus without any previous Examination to condemn all at one Dash discovered at once the Distemper of their Minds and the Virulency of their Malice that Aristotle was of great Repute amongst them and that there was nothing which he had said though never so absurd or even repugnant to Christianity it self which they would not defend or at least excuse and palliate by
and of this he prays them to bear him witness Some few Days after he wrote to the Cardinal Albertus Archbishop of Mentz in a very submissive Stile The Substance of his Letter was this That his being impeached before him therefore touched him the more nearly because he supposed it to be done by those who had formerly commended his Works and been the most forward Sticklers for them but whether the Accusation were true or false take it either way they had not dealt very handsomely in it for if it were False they then put the grossest Abuse upon him without any respect to his Character and that sublime Station that he has in the Church He bids him call to mind how David himself was deceived by the Flattery of Siba and that there was scarce any Prince who could at all times stand so well upon his Guard as not to be in danger of being imposed upon by such fawning Courtiers But supposing he was really guilty of the Crimes laid to his Charge yet it had been a much fairer way of proceeding to have shewed him his Error and to have endeavoured to rectifie his Understanding wheresoever they perceived him to labour under any Mistakes that this he had several times beg'd of his Adversaries who still continued Deaf to all his Requests He tells him there were two sorts of Men who generally condemned his Writings one was those never read them and the other such as indeed vouchsafed them the reading but their Minds were prepossess'd with an ill Opinion of him and then whatsoever he said though never so conformable to the Precepts of Christianity must of necessity be misinterpreted by them But if that his more important Affairs could but afford him so much Leisure as to peruse his Books he did not in the least doubt but that he would be of a very different Judgment from his Accusers He intreats him therefore not to believe Calumnies or to entertain any suspicious Thoughts of him but to take a full and exact Examination of the whole Matter since not only his alone but the eternal welfare of all his Followers was nearly concerned in it For because his Desire was to be heard speak for himself and to be instructed by those who were more learned if he could not obtain this Favour the Truth it self would suffer very much by it Confiding therefore in his Candor and Humanity and being also born and bred in that Country which is properly under his Episcopal Care and Government he thought himself in some measure obliged to give him this short Account of his Case The Archbishop answers That he was very well pleased with his Promise Not to be obstinate in the Defence of his Tenets but to be willing to yield to any who should better inform him As for his part though he had a great regard for the concerns of Religion yet he had not hitherto been able to steal so much Time as would serve to read over his Treatises That therefore he could not give any Judgment upon them but referr'd it wholly to those whose proper Province it was and who had already ingaged themselves in that Disquisition That his hearty Wishes were That he and all other Divines would handle Points of Religion reverently modestly and conscientiously without uttering any reproachful Words or harbouring any secret Malice in their Breasts That he heard with great regret with what Heat and Passion some Men of Note and Fame disputed about the Supremacy of the Pope and Free-Will and other such trifling insignificant Questions which are far from being any of the Essentials of Religion That those things began now to be controverted which had been so long received and which were confirmed by the common Consent and Approbation of the whole Church as well as by the Authority of General Councils such is that which relates to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and the manner of communicating therein And because this is done openly and the Ears of the common People begin to be tickled with the Novelty he should not but have very dreadful Apprehensions of what would be the dangerous Consequences of them That he could not see how he or any other Person could raise any useful pious Instructions out of these Points But if Scholars had a mind to debate them friendly and privately among themselves he could not be against it Nor did he blame him for saying That what he taught was no other than the true Doctrin of the Gospel provided there was nothing of Bitterness or Spite in the Assertion and that it was not spoke in contempt of the Authority of the Church For if this publick Declaration of the Truth flowed purely from the gentle impulse of the Divine Spirit it then would baffle all Attempts whatsoever that should be made against it but if that either Haughtiness of Mind or a private Grudge against any one were the Motives in it it then could have no firm Foundation but that and its Author would soon fall together For whosoever abuses the Gifts and Favours of God on him will he assuredly pour out the full Vials of his Wrath. To the same effect on the same day Luther writes to the Bishop of Mersburgh that as to his Doctrin his Conscience bore him witness that it was the same that Christ and his Apostles had taught But because his Life and manners were not in all things answerable to the Purity of his Profession he could even wish that he were silenc'd from Preaching as being unworthy to exercise that Sacred Function That he was not moved either by the hopes of Gain or Vain-glory but that the End to which all his Endeavours were directed was to imprint a-fresh in the minds of Men those eternal Truths which were now almost utterly defaced or else obscured by a gross and wilful stupidity That those who condemn his Writings were hurried on by the violence of their Passions and promoted their own ambitious designs under the specious pretence of upholding the Authority of the Bishop of Rome That a great many Foreigners famous both for Parts and Learning had by their Letters approved of his Works and thanked him for his obliging the Publick with them That this confirm'd him in his Opinion that his Doctrin was Orthodox He beseeches him therefore to shew some Fatherly tenderness towards him and if he had hitherto erred to guide him now into the right way That he could not as yet get his Cause to be heard although he had been importunate in requesting it That he should think it a great happiness to be convinced of any of his Errours and they should find he had been misrepresented by those who had possessed the World with a belief of his Obstinacy The Bishop returns to this That he had been often under a very great concern for him and that he was heartily sorry for his having publish'd a Book concerning the Lord's Supper which had given offence to many That
might severely punish so great a Negligence both by publick and private Calamities That Luther's way was not unlike to the Sect of Mahomet which allows Men to marry several Wives and afterwards to put them away by which Law that villanous Juggler bewitched Men and drew the greatest part of the World over to his Religion That Luther did not indeed expresly allow that but that he absolved all those who had made to God Vows of Chastity from the obligation of the Law exhorted them to Marriage and let loose the Reins to Men's Lusts that so he might allure more People into that Association and Confederacy which he was hatching to the Ruine of Christendom and particularly of Germany That therefore it was their Parts punctually to put into execution the Sentences of the Pope and Emperour that they might avenge the Glory of God wipe off the Reproach that stuck to their Country and remove from themselves an infectious Pestilence That nevertheless such of them as should retract and return into the right way might be pardoned and received again into Favour but that they who obstinately maintained their Errors ought to be punished with the utmost severity that the rest being terrified by such an Example might learn to persevere in the true Faith and Religion That if it should be objected by some That Luther was condemned before he had been heard and that it was Reasonable that he should be tryed before he suffered such men reasoned amiss for that Christ himself had laid down a Rule of Faith and Religion whose Authority we ought to submit unto and not dispute about Articles of Faith nor enquire into the Reasons of this or that Precept That he was to be heard indeed when he was examined Whether in his Sermons he had said so or so or whether he had published this or that Book but that he ought not to be admitted to defend those things which he had broached concerning the Faith and Sacraments for here the Custom and Doctrin of the Church was to be observed and not to be deviated from And since most of his Opinions were already condemned by the Authority of Councils no regard ought to be had unto them That there could not be a greater Injury done to Ecclesiastical Assemblies than to cavil at or reject their Decrees nor could there be any End of Controversies if what Learned and Wise Men had after long and serious Deliberation determined should by every Private Person be questioned and examined That all Societies of Men had certain and fixed Laws which they were bound to observe how much more then ought not that to be done when any thing is established by Publick Authority in the Church That seeing then these Men did not only reject but even burn the Decrees of the Councils and Fathers they ought certainly to be punished as Disturbers of the Publick Peace That in the mean time it was not to be dissembled nor past over in Silence that God who is the Revenger of all Iniquity did in this manner afflict his Church for the Sins of the People but chiefly of the Rulers and Ministers of the Church since the Scripture saith That the iniquity of the people proceeded from the priests For that in Truth for these many Years past the Sins of Rome had been manifold and grievous and that even from the Head down to the inferior Clergy that Evil and Contagion had been propagated that no Man did his Duty all had gone astray and that none were free from Guilt no not one So that all Glory was to be given unto God alone from whom Pardon and Remission was humbly to be implored That since things were then in such a State he would take care That the Court of Rome which perhaps had given occasion to so great Evils should first of all be strictly reformed that so the Cure might begin at the Root and Cause of the Distemper which he thought himself the more obliged to do in that it was most earnestly desired by most Men That for his own part he was against his Will and with Reluctancy promoted to the Chair and would have been far better pleased with a Private Life But that being moved by the Fear of God and present State of Affairs he could not at length decline that burthensome Care That indeed no desire of Dominion and Rule had been a Motive to him to accept of that Charge but only that he might have an Opportunity of consulting and doing what he could for the Publick Good and Welfare of Christendom Now that he did not instantly reform the Vices and Abuses which he plainly saw the Reason was because the Disease which he designed to cure was very inveterate and Complicate also so that he must proceed gently and by degrees lest by attempting too sudden and speedy a Cure he should increase the Distemper For that all sudden Changes were dangerous and it was an old Proverb That he who blowed his Nose too hard would squeeze out Blood. This Writing Luther translated afterwards into High Dutch and illustrated with Marginal Notes wherein he observes That what the Pope said of Proceeding in the Reformation gradually and by little and little ought so to be understood as that for the space of every Step an interval of some Ages ought to be allowed However it was said That his Holiness had but little Thanks from the Cardinals for that he so plainly acknowledged the Corruptions of the Court of Rome Although this be reported to be a common Fetch of the Popes when they would delay or break the Measures of calling a Council or bringing Matters to a Hearing to make fair and large Promises that they may have time to ingratiate themselves with Kings and Princes till an Opportunity offer of Deciding the matter by the Sword for by Promises they raise Hopes and Expectations in Mens Minds and in the mean time take Measures for retaining their Power and Dignity which they know to be indangered by General Councils In the mean time whilst the Legate proceeded in this manner the Princes complained That the Compacts and Agreements which they had heretofore made with the Popes were many ways violated at Rome The Pope being acquainted with this by Letters from his Legate ordered him to tell them That he could not help what had been done by his Predecessors But that he had ever been even whilst he was a Private Man much displeased with that usual way of Proceeding of the Court of Rome and that he had already resolved of himself though no Application had been made to him about it to reform all these things and not to suffer any Man to be wronged far less them whom for Countrys sakehe desired chiefly to gratfie That as to what they demanded That all Law-Suits commenced at Rome might be remitted to Germany he told them That most of the Judges and Advocates had left the City because of the Plague but that so soon as they
they should bid him shew some evident Sign of his Call but that if he could not produce any such thing he should be rejected for that it was God's usual method when he would alter the accustomed and received way to declare his Will by some Sign When the Divisions and Dissensions of Germany seemed to tend to Troubles and Commotions and the Boors had not as yet risen in Arms Luther published a Book wherein he advised all Men to abstain from Sedition for that although some terrible Judgment seemed to threaten the Clergy yet he did not think that any at all or at least such a Calamity would overspread all their Jurisdiction or overturn their Power for that it was a far different Judgment which hung over their Heads and as the Prophet Daniel and after him St. Paul foretold no human force but the coming of our Saviour Christ and the Spirit of God must crush their tyranny That his Opinion was grounded on this which was the cause also that he never greatly withstood them who attempted the matter by force of Arms being assured that they laboured in vain That also though some perhaps of the Clergy might be killed yet that havock was not to reach all That they did indeed now quake and run to and fro and he heartily wished that they might quake more and more if so they might repent of their Sins but that the Wrath of God was kindled and they were troubled at the danger their Lives and Fortunes were in but never thought how they might make their Peace with God nay rather did securely slight such plain Admonitions and in a manner laugh at the denunciation of the Wrath of the Almighty And although they had no great cause to be afraid of Arms yet since the present state of Affairs required Counsel he would freely declare his Judgment And in the first place That it was the Magistrates Duty to endeavor that the People should not suffer any Prejudice through the fault of others and to take care that Religion should not be corrupted by false Doctrins That that was their Duty and that all the Power wherewith God had endowed them should be employed for the Glory of God and the Welfare of the People but that since they acted far otherwise letting and hindring one another and some of them also maintaining erroneous Doctrin they would not escape unpunished That it was not his purpose that the Papists should be suppressed by force of Arms but that the Magistrates should oblige them to their Duty and therein exercise their Power and Prerogative so as neither by lenity nor connivance to confirm their boldness and perversness That as to the Mobile and ignorant Common People they were to be seriously admonished not to stir unless commanded by the Magistrate for all that labour would be in vain and God himself would be the Avenger seeing so great Wickedness was not to be expiated by so slight a Punishment for that Princes acted so slowly and remisly that they suffered so great Indignities and were not moved by those manifest Injuries and Shams of the Clergy God permitted it should be so that he alone might avenge his own Quarrel and pour out all his Wrath upon them That though a Tumult or Insurrection might also break forth and that God should rest satisfied with so easie a punishment yet all that way of acting was not only discommendable but unprofitable also for that in Seditions and Tumults all Reason was banished and most commonly the Innocent were the greatest Sufferers That no Man neither who raised Stirs and Tumults could be excused how just a Cause soever he might have for a Popular Sedition once growing to a Head good and honest Men must necessarily perish with the wicked and bad Men ought then to fix their eyes upon the Magistrate and so long as he stir not nothing was to be attempted privately for that all Sedition was repugnant to the Command of God who hath ordered all the Controversies of private Men to be legally determined But that when Sedition was nothing else but a private Revenge no Man could doubt but that God disapproved and abhorred it That the Sedition and Rebellion which seemed now impendent was raised by the Devil the Enemy of Mankind who not being able to endure the Light of the Truth raised up Stirs by Men that professed the Gospel that so he might bring into hatred and contempt the true Doctrin which for some years had been by the blessing of God restored as if that proceeded not from God which seemed to have given occasion to so many Evils That the very same thing was already confidently objected by the Adversaries but that their Judgments were not to be valued and for his part he utterly despised them That he had never spoken or written any thing which might blow the coals of Sedition That by those who now asked what was to be done then and how long were those Indignities to be suffered while the Magistrate connived at the same This method was to be observed first That they should acknowledge their Sins whereat God being offended had suffered that Tyranny of the Clergy to continue so long and spread so far That this cruel and impious Dominion was the reward of our Wickedness and Crimes from which if we would be delivered we must by reforming our Lives make our Peace with God That in the next place with hearty and sincere Prayers Divine Aid was to be implored against the Popish Kingdom after the Example of David who often prayed God to break the Pride and Power of the wicked That lastly the Doctrin of the Gospel should be preached and the Juggles and Impostures of the Popes made manifest to Christians that their Errors being detected and the Truth known Men might slight and wholly contemn whatever should proceed from them That this was the readiest way to lessen their Power That nothing was to be done by force of Arms for commonly they got strength by Wars but that by comparing the Pope with Christ and his Doctrin with the Gospel it would at length appear how great a Difference there was betwixt the Light of the Sun and Darkness and how great a Blessing God had bestowed upon us in opening to us a way to the Knowledge of him and in removing all Letts and Impediments out of it that then would all their Might and Reputation fall and come to nought as might appear by his own Example who had given a greater Blow to the Popish Monarchy than any armed Force could ever have done That therefore there was no other Sedition or Rebellion to be wished for Since that the preaching of the Gospel now revived by Christ himself was powerful and smart enough to overturn all Popery That they were to fix their Eyes and Thoughts on this That it was not his own Work he was about for no Human Strength nor Wit was sufficient for that and that the progress it had already
For what danger can there be in Germany where all the Princes and Cities acknowledge the Emperor's Authority where the Towns are so well Govern'd that Strangers are secur'd from all Affronts and us'd with all the Civility imaginable As for his saying that those who came to the Council should have as much satisfaction of the Pope in their safe Conduct as was customary to receive and in his Power to give They said they did not well understand the meaning of this Period especially when they reflected upon the Practises of the last Age Christendom they were sure had need of a free and religious Council and to such an one they had formerly appeal'd But now since he declares the Form and Method is not to be stated before-hand and gives broad hints as if the setling of this Point belonged to the Pope they cannot imagine that there is likely to be any liberty there Two years since Clement the Seventh made them a Promise of a Council but clog'd it with ensnaring Conditions And now the main Point that is the setling the Freedom of the Council and the Form and Method of Voting is partly omitted out of design and partly given up to the Pope wherein he affirms to have a Right to intimate Councils and preside in them Now the Pope who hath condemn'd their Religion so often is no less than a down-right Adversary but if he who is an Adversary is allow'd to be a Judge too then the Council can never be free To put it into a right Form there ought to be certain unexceptionable Persons chosen out of the whole Company with the consent of the Emperor and other Kings and Princes and the Controversie refer'd to this Committee to be examin'd and determin'd by them according to the Rule of God's Word For Councils are not the Pope's Court only but others also in publick and elevated stations in a Christian-Commonwealth have an Interest in them For it 's easie to demonstrate both from the Scriptures and the practise of the Primitive Church that formerly Princes and other Persons of Quality were concern'd in the Debates of Councils But to prefer the Pope's Power to the Authority of the Universal Church is an unreasonable and tyrannical Assertion The Emperor therefore and the rest of the States are oblig'd to insist upon their Priviledge in Councils and make choice of proper Persons especially in the present case where the Corruptions of the Bishops of Rome their false Doctrin and unlawful Worship is oppos'd for this is no more than what the Canon-Law it self alloweth And since all Christendom both Church and State are concern'd in this Affair it behoveth the Emperor and other Princes to take care that the Controversie may be fairly determined Formerly several Bishops have been condemn'd by their own Diocess and so have Popes by the Emperor and the Church for persisting in their Errors But at this time of day there was a warm Contest about a great many weighty Points which the Pope does not maintain only by force of Argument but by ungodly and sanguinary Bulls and punishes those with the utmost severity who refuse to obey him Therefore since He is an Adversary and a Party in the Cause depending the universal Church the Emperor and other Princes ought in all Justice to interpose their Authority and prescribe the Laws of Disputation and Voting They now therefore repeat the same request they have always made that the Controversie may be managed without design and a just liberty reserv'd for defence for this is both equitable in its self and likewise agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and the proceedings of the ancient Church If the Differences between them are examined with this Order and Integrity they will assist the Council as far as lies in their Power and have great hopes that Truth will be discover'd this way the Glory of our Saviour promoted and the Church re-establish'd in her former Tranquility But if things are otherwise carry'd there is no question but much greater Disturbances will follow In short they would never omit any opportunity to serve the common Interest of Christendom and as they could not depart from the true Religion so in all other cases they would make it their business to promote an Accommodation The French King who was now resolv'd to march an Army into Italy sent William Bellay Seigneur of Langey Embassador to this Convention at Smalcade This Gentleman had his Audience upon the 19th of December And first he excuses the King in reference to the late Severities 'T is true he had punish'd some of his own Subjects but this was no manner of reflection upon them though some ill dispos'd Persons did not stick to say that by executing those Criminals he had as it were condemn'd their Perswasion before-hand But he desires that they would not take any notice of such extravagant Calumnies but examine the whole matter impartially For there was a great many in Germany who were utterly averse to their Opinion and some others did not altogether approve it nay themselves who are now agreed were not always of the same mind His Majesty is very glad that they are come to an uniformity in Doctrin at the last Neither does he question but that their Modesty and Candour is such that they will not offer to prescribe to any Body nor force people into their Religion against their wills His Majesty uses to speak very kindly and obligingly of them and owns that they have determin'd some things most primitively but wishes there had been more temper shewn in other cases For though he is sensible that Negligence Superstition and a long succession of Ages have given occasion to the bringing of several insignificant and needless Ceremonies into the Church yet he does not understand why they should all be abolish'd upon this account without distinction or publick Authority For Ceremonies add both strength and grandeur to Religion and the Contemners of them have always been punish'd with great severity And since they have joyn'd so unanimously in the suppression of the Boars Insurrection since they restrain and chastise the Anabaptists since they are unwilling to be thought to do any thing without a cause why are they not so kind as to entertain the same opinion of a Prince who is their Friend why do they not suppose that He had very pressing Reasons and absolute necessity to punish those Subjects of his though possibly some of them were none of the greatest Malectors what their Crimes were is not proper to relate in this place For oftentimes it is not convenient to assign the reason publickly why things are done and Punishments are sometimes abated sometimes more rigorously executed according to the nature of the Times Now his Majesty who hath so large a Dominion to Govern is oblig'd to have a regard to the future as well as the present and was to take care that his Clemency did not encourage a great many others to grow wicked
it namely because most of that Court were Roman Catholicks who are bound by Oath in giving of Sentence to observe the Canon-Law as well as the Constitutions of the Empire and that the Methods of these Judges were very singular was known to many others in Germany besides themselves To say they are tied up by Oaths does not clear them from suspicion notwithstanding this Allegation they may be lawfully refus'd which themselves were under a necessity of doing For what could they expect from those of a contrary Perswasion who condemn the Protestant Religion as impious Neither is it at all material that some few of them are delegated by his Majesty and most of them chosen out of the Provinces of the Empire for the main stress of the Cause lies in the Question of their Religion but how they ought to be qualifi'd in these respects the Decree made in the Diet at Ratisbone sufficiently shews Besides most of them are made by the Bishops or by others of their way and Interest Now when these Clergymen call all those Ecclesiastical Causes which relate to Rites and Ceremonies to the Pastoral Office and the Revenues of the Church why does not the Chamber put all those Debates which are of the same kind under the same denomination Therefore what they told him before was no more than truth that if they submit themselves to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber there will be no occasion for a Council and yet the Points contested ought to be decided there For those Gentlemen make no distinction of Causes but try all which are brought before them and are willing that their Ecclesiasticks should have not only their pretended Estates but their wicked Ceremonies restor'd them Now if such proceedings as these stand good all the Protestant Doctrin must be condemn'd They said likewise that their Lawyers were so much overaw'd and apprehensive of danger that they durst not defend their Right much less make any Exception against the Judges who if they were challeng'd kept the Bench notwithstanding and had lately sent back the Hamburgers their Letters of Recusation The reason why they instanced in the Monks and such sort of People was to let his Excellency understand that the Goods and Estates which he mention'd did not belong them but to the Ministers of the Church and were partly to be spent upon pious Uses Therefore in charging them with Rapine and detaining other Mens Goods he did them wrong neither was any thing of this nature ever objected to them before not only by one of his Quality but not by the Emperor himself They wonder he should say it was Violence to take away the Revenues of the Church from the Monks and Priests who contemn the true Religion and obstinately defend plain and notorious Errors For to these Estates which were most of them given by their Ancestors the Clergy had no other right than as they were formerly Ministers of the Church in their Dominions Now when they understood the true Doctrin and their Apprehensions were better inform'd they could not with a safe Conscience tolerate known Errors any longer and being oblig'd to remove these Corruptions they did not think it fit to let those Men enjoy the Profits of the Church who positively refus'd to reform their Religion Now if any are of opinion that they ought notwithstanding to have been tolerated in their Perswasion they are mistaken for they could not grant them such an Indulgence without being involv'd in their guilt for we may deny Christ and the Truth not only in our words but in our actions therefore his Excellency had charg'd them wrongfully in this Point For what a strange piece of imprudence would it be to endanger all their Fortunes their Reputation their Lives their Wives and Children and whatever was dear to them for the gaining such little and invidious Advantages They did not desire to possess other Mens Estates and which were not under their own Jurisdiction and if they were put upon it they could demonstrate by the Canon-Law that the Revenues of the Church did not belong to those who broached and maintain'd false Doctrin neither was worldly Interest propos'd by them in this case but their principal and only aim was That God might not be dishonour'd in their Territories and therefore those who profess'd the true Religion had been depriv'd of nothing Neither did they question but that they should give a better account of what they had taken from the Ecclesiasticks than those who assume the name of the Church to themselves and possess the Revenues of it without any right and spend them without any reason Now if they insist upon the right of Possession that is nothing to the purpose for to go no farther than the Canon-Law when Truth begins to display its light all Claims by vertue of Possession Prescription and Custom are to disappear and give place like so many shadows Therefore their Practices are contrary neither to Law nor Equity but are honest pious and consonant to the holy Scriptures That Objection likewise which his Excellency urgeth that he cannot approve that Men should be outed of their Estates is properly applicable to their Adversaries for when any of their Flock happens to turn to the true Religion he hath not only his Fortune but his life too taken from him That this is no Calumny they appeal to his Excellency who very well knows what Cruelties have been exercis'd and how much Blood hath been shed upon this one account for banishment and the ruine of their whole Families is the gentlest punishment such Converts are favour'd with And whereas he insists farther that an Accommodation would be very feasible if the point of Property was waved they grant the truth of this Allegation but then the strength of it ought to be turn'd upon their Adversaries who unless they valu'd their Wealth their Honour and their Luxury that dissolute and scandalous Life which they lead above any regard to Truth all Differences might be easily reconcil'd but though they are sensible of the Excesses and Prodigality of their Expences yet they will not endure a Reformation which is of so absolute necessity Now what truth there is in the Gentlemen of the Chambers Affirmation where they say they have done nothing contrary to their Office his Excellency may understand by what they have deliver'd to him already For their parts they desire nothing more than a legal Trial and have formerly moved that the reasons of their demurring to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber might be examin'd by Referees Now that the Causes which the Chamber have unjustly decided should be brought about again by the Emperor as his Excellency suggesteth this will be a very difficult matter to effect neither will the Parties who have had Judgment given on their side allow it And because he is desirous to know their Resolution in the present case They declare that they value nothing more than Peace that they have not done any thing
hazards and be at all this Expence to no purpose is perfect distraction But we are convin'd this is a Duty which God requires of us whose Commands ought to be preferr'd to all Secular Interest and we protest before God Almighty That we design nothing but his Service And now having confuted thier Accusations we shall proceed to another branch of our Apology Possibly most People of foreign Countries may think that we have been too nice in quarrelling with those things which have no great malignity in them and which might have passed without notice for Peace-sake especially when the nature of Humane Affairs in such that there will always be some Imperfections in Church and State which must be conniv'd at But the case is quite otherwise for first we are not to conceal our dislike of Errors and wrong Opinions in Religion being commanded by Christ to beware of false Teachers Besides the Contest is not about little Mistakes but concerning the Doctrin of Faith and right Apprehensions of God upon which the due performance of a Christians Duty and of Divine Worship does principally depend now these are points which cannot be passed over in silence but are to be maintain'd in their Purity and diligently taught in the Church But that this part of Truth was perfectly extinct cannot be denied and a new Doctrin introduc'd in its room to the great dishonour of our Saviour We likewise disapprove many other Errors and ungodly Practices in their Worship which some Persons who liv'd long before our time have discover'd and thereupon wish'd for a Council that those things which were amiss might be rectified and the Peace of the Church establish'd But now there is more need of a Council than ever because the same Corruptions remain and have spread their Infection further because they have occasion'd Broils and Divisions in Christendom insomuch that many innocent Persons run the hazard of losing their Lives upon this account For these weighty reasons not only our selves but the Emperor and the rest of the States and Bishops of the Empire voted a Council very necessary for the preservation of the true Religion in the Church for unless such an Expedient was made use of they foresaw the Distractions of Christendom would encrease And while we were big with the expectation of such a Council as this out comes the Pope's Bull with Contents directly contrary to the Decrees of the Empire And because we are not concern'd alone but the whole Christian Church is interessed in it we thought it necessary to set forth a publick Declaration of our Reasons in this Paper why we refuse this Council of the Pope's calling For the right of Voting does not belong solely to the Pope and Bishops but to the Church in which signification Kings and other degrees of Men and Secular Magistrates are included Therefore though the Pope was no Party in the present Debate yet there was no reason to allow him and his Adherents the whole Power of Determining and exclude the other Ministers of the Church But since he is apparently one of the Litigants himself the yielding him such a Priviledge is still more unaccountable and no less than a contradiction to the Laws of God and Nature Now we do not accuse the Pope of small Misdemeanors neither do we quarrel with him only for his Luxury and Lording it over the Church but the main of our charge lieth against his Doctrin his Canons and abominable Worship that is we arraign him for Idolatry and Heresie and when he is impeached of such Crimes as these the Church and not himself is to examine and give Sentence in the Cause according to the Provision which the old Canon-Law it self hath made for this purpose Besides the Pope hath made himself the more suspected not only by being a Party but because he hath condemn'd our Doctrin long beforehand now the case standing thus it 's easie to imagine what sort of Censure will be past upon our Doctrin in a Council of his own packing For we are not to suppose that he will give a liberty of Voting to any Persons contrary to the old customs of his Church And in regard the Bull does not mention in what order and method Debates are to be managed we have reason to suspect every thing For he only summoneth and Mustereth those who are engag'd to him upon many accounts and of whose Trustiness he is sufficiently assur'd He likewise professeth that the reason of his calling a Council is That those Heresies which have lately sprung up may be extirpated And notwithstanding these words will bear a large signification yet there is no doubt but that he meant them of our Doctrin for we have no reason to believe that he would tax his own Errors Nay afterwards he publish'd another Bull concerning the Reformation of the Court of Rome where he owneth in express words That the Council was call'd that the pestilent Lutheran Heresie might be suppress'd At first it 's true he cunningly dissembled his Intentions that he might make the Bull appear plausible but afterwards he discover'd himself It 's plain therefore that he aims only at the subversion of our Religion Now what a madness would it be for us to approve of such a Design as this For this is the thing which he driveth at namely to draw a Confession from those who admit his Bull that our Doctrin is wicked and heretical and when Kings and Princes have own'd this they may be oblig'd to contribute their good wishes and endeavours to the Cause And because the common Interest of Christendom is concern'd in this Affair we intreat all People that they would seriously consider the designing subtilty of this Man for his couching the Bull in such Terms is somewhat admirable and it is a question Whether he intended to fright us from the Council this way or else to ensnare us by approving the Instrument That the Emperor intends the welfare and security of the Commonwealth we do not in the least question and believe that his Majesty does not approve the form of the Bull. But as for the Pope he hath not so much intimated a Council as publickly given Sentence against us Neither will he allow the Scriptures to determine the Dispute but his own Canons and Customs and the Opinions of some modern Councils must overrule all other Pleas whereas it 's one of our principal Assertions That Humane Traditions are to be rejected when they are repugnant to the Word of God. That which is really the Doctrin of the Church we willingly receive but then the Errors and Tyranny of the Pope ought not to be flourish'd over with that reverend Name For first the ancient Church never admitted of any Constitutions which were contrary to Scripture nor yet gave the Pope that unlimited power which he now assumes to himself And secondly These Men who condemn and persecute the Doctrin of the Gospel are none of the Church but Parricides and Sons
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
fair promises of his Zeal and good inclinations towards Religion and the welfare of the Publick That so soon as this came to his knowledge he had thought that so fair an occasion of acting ought not to be slighted especially since the safety and preservation of Germany depended on it That therefore a course was to be taken that those things which had been decreed in the last Dyet and begun should be perfected and accomplish'd And then that care should be taken both that the causes of Division be removed and some obstinate and rebellious persons quelled That for these causes he purposed to hold a Dyet of the Empire and therefore charged and commanded all whom it concerned not to fail to meet at Ausburg the twenty fifth day of June and that nothing should hinder them from coming but sickness and of that also they should make Faith upon Oath And that they send their Deputies and Representatives with full Power and Instructions to treat of all things relating to the Publick that no delay nor hinderance may obstruct the Deliberations THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXII The CONTENTS A Peace is concluded between England and France The Magdeburgers refute the Crimes objected to them and prove them to be the Calumnies of their Adversaries The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans is published which astonished many Whil'st the Dyet is held at Ausburg for continuing the Council of Trent Granvell dies The Emperour takes Tripoly a Town in Africa George Duke of Meckleburg puts all to Fire and Sword in the Country of Magdeburg Duke Maurice and some others also takes up Arms against the Magdeburgers Pope Julius Emits a Bull for calling of the Council Duke Maurice commanding in chief against the Magdeburgers offers them Conditions of Peace The Clergy also publish an odious Paper against them to which they make a large Answer and refute the Crimes objected Osiander broacheth a new Doctrine concerning Mans Justification The Emperour makes a Decree at Ausburg for safe Conduct to be given to those that would repair to the Council Bucer dies Three Suns and as many Moons are seen in Saxony The Pope by a Bull heavily accuses Octavio Farnese and the Emperour publishes also an Edict against him In the mean time the King of France justifies him to the Pope The captive Duke of Saxony helps and comforts the Ministers proscribed by the Emperour The Council of Trent revived and an account given of the form and order of the publick Sessions The manner of framing Articles of Faith is set down The King of France publishes an Edict against the Pope A Relation of the beginning of the War of Parma ABOUT this time the Ambassadours of England and France after long and tedious Debating concluded a Peace and they were the more inclinable to it because both of them perceived the Advantages that some were like in time to make of their Enmity and Dissension Therefore the English restore to the French Boloigne that had been now whole six years almost in their possession at which many wondered though the French paid Money for it and the Scots were also comprehended in this Peace The two Kings having afterward sent Ambassadours mutually to one another confirmed this Peace by new marks of Friendship for the French King was made Knight of the Garter and the King of England one of the Order of France which amongst great Princes is as it were a Badge and Cognizance of Amity The Magdenburghers being severely lashed by the Emperours many Edicts publish again March the Twenty fourth another Manifesto addressed chiefly to their Neighbours First they alleadge that neither by the Law of God nor Man could they be convicted of Rebellion then they declare that they who take up Arms against them make War against Christ himself In the third place they refute the Crimes objected to them and affirm them to be Calumnies of their Adversaries And though say they the Emperour at their instigation hath Outlawed us yet we may truely affirm that we never as yet refuted any Reasonable Conditions provided the Doctrine of the Augustane Confession and the Liberty left us by our Ancestors were allowed us we are still of the same mind nor do we decline the performance of any kind of Duty that either the Emperour or Empire can justly challenge of us and we call God to witness that we have not given any cause of War or Commotions but are above all things desirous to entertain peace with all Men and by the help of the true Religion and Worship to attain Life Everlasting which is indeed the cause of all this hatred that is raised against us Now it is established by Law that as the Inferior Magistrate is not to impeach the right of the Superior so also that if the Magistrate transgress the bounds of Authority and command any thing that is wicked he is not only not to be obeyed but if he use force to be resisted also For that all Power is of God we think no Man will deny and if any Edict or Decree be made against him it is not to be doubted but that they may be rejected and disobeyed Now the Decree made at Ausburg concerning Religion is of that nature and therefore we cannot obey those who forcing it upon us depriveus of the Light of the Gospel and offer us the Idol of Popery that they may draw us into Eternal Damnation Which being so we cannot justly be accused of any Rebellion Besides it is obvious to any Man how unlawful it is to use violence against us since it is not we that are only struck at but that the great design is utterly to destroy the Professors of the true Doctrine and through our side to wound Christ himself and all the Godly for we are all the Members of Christ and therefore what else can they expect who defile themselves by so impious a Crime but the Vengeance of God Almighty In a former Declaration we took notice of some Castles and Villages sezed by us and it is needless here to repeat what was there said for so soon as we have assurance of peace we shall restore them to the Right Owners It is also reported by our Adversaries that unlawful and Promiscuous Lust is tolerated amongst us but it is a most Impudent Lye. We therefore beg of you by all that is sacred that you would not pollute your selves with Innocent Bloud but pray to God with us that he would confound the Bloudy Counsels of the Wicked and if any War happen to break forth that you will not deny your assistance Afterward in the Month of April the Ministers of the Church publish a Paper wherein they exhibit a Confession of their Faith and prove that it is lawful for an Inferior Magistrate to resist a Superior that would constrain their Subjects to forsake the Truth And here they address themselves to the Emperour beseeching him that he would not
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
of Cain In the Primitive times godly Bishops have often refus'd to concern themselves in Councils when they saw they were not call'd for the Defence of Truth but either to establish false Doctrin or to countenance some Persons in their Ambition Thus when Constantine the Emperor summon'd a Council to Antioch Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem though he was not very far distant from the place would not come thither because he understood the Emperor's Inclinations and what the Arian Bishops were contriving So Athanasius though he came to the Council at Tyre yet he stayed not long there because he perceiv'd the Principal Persons of the Council took upon them to be Complainants and Judges too and was also well assur'd that there were Witnesses suborned against him In like manner at Sirmium in Hungary there was formerly conven'd a very numerous Council against Photinus for the Debate was of great Consequence and notwithstanding the Emperor commanded the Bishops to repair thither yet those of the Western-Church did not obey him when they understood the Arian-Faction was encreas'd for they suspected some false Doctrin would be decreed there At this time Hosius a Person of great Reputation was Bishop of Corduba whom the Emperor by the advice of the Arians commanded to go out of Spain to the Council who when he came there he consented to that ensnaring Creed at Sirmium which was afterwards the occasion of horrible Disorders in the Church and Hilary who was not present at this Assembly reproves Hosius for his compliance Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem would never assist at their Meetings who denied Christ to be of the same substance with the Father and is said to be the first Man who appeal'd in writing from the Authority of their Councils There was a Council begun at Millain and the Bishops were call'd thither by the Emperor's order But when Paulinus Bishop of Triers and some few others perceived that Auxentius Bishop of Millain and his Party were projecting things which were not fair They went off and so occasioned the breaking up of the Council Thus those great Men declined going to all suspected Synods that they might not be involved in their guilt And since the Pope giveth pretty plain intimations that this Council is design'd to establish his Power and Greatness we desire all People that they would not blame our refusal of it Moreover we have great reason to dislike the place of the Council for it 's very fit for Mischief and in all respects such as if it was contrived to hinder the freedom of Debates To which we may add that the Calumnies of our Adversaries have given Strangers a very ill opinion of us as if all Probity and Religion was banish'd our Country Now to have Mens minds prepossess'd with such a notion as this may be exceeding dangerous for us Therefore if it was only upon this account it was very proper to have the Council conven'd in Germany that those of foreign Nations might see the customs and regularity of our Churches and Towns and so disengage themselves from their prejudice against the true Doctrin The importance of the Affair likewise obligeth most of us to be in Person at the Council but to go out of our own Country in such numbers would be a great inconvenience to us And since it was decreed in a Diet of the Empire upon such weighty considerations that a Council should be held in Germany we see no reason to depart from what was then resolv'd upon And in regard the welfare of all Christendom is concern'd in this business we entreat all Kings and Princes not to give any credit to our Adversaries but rather use their Endeavours that the true knowledge of God may be recover'd which is the most glorious Action they can possily engage in As for the Pope it 's his Design to run them upon Injustice and Cruelty but they are oblig'd to abhor such Practices above all things For they are places on purpose on that elevated Station that they might promote the Honour of God with greater advantage shew a good Example to their Inferiors and rescue innocent Persons from Injury and Oppression And if ever a lawful Council happeneth to be call'd we will give such a satisfactory account of our Proceedings there as shall be sufficient to convince all People that we have aim'd at and attempted nothing but what was for the real advantage of Christendom In this Convention there was the Elector of Saxony Ernest and Francis his Brother Dukes of Lâ—â—enburgh Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh the Lantgrave Philip Duke of Pomern three Earls of Anhalt and Albert Count Mansfield there were also the Agents of a great many Cities who were sent thither with very large Commissions their Principals being pre-acquainted with the subject of the Debate Before they broke up their Assembly which was done upon the 6th of March they wrote to the French King where in the first place they excuse themselves for not giving his Embassador satisfaction at the last Convention and also gave him their Reasons why they omitted sending an Embassy to him now Then they desired him to continue them his Friendship and since they had made all imaginable Overtures for the composing the Differences in Religion though they had been unsuccessful in thier Endeavours yet they hoped he would oblige them with his Favour for their good Intentions Lastly They acquaint him with their Resolutions concerning the Council and desire to know how his Majesty intends to act in this Affair Upon the 22th of May the King returns them an Answer in which he lets them understand that he was satisfi'd with their Reasons and maketh them large assurances of the constancy of his Friendship and sends them a Paper which he had publish'd to confute the Misrepresentations of their Adversaries And as to the Council he told them That he was still of the same mind of which he had always been that unless it was lawful in its Constitution and Method and coven'd in a place of Security he would never approve it neither did he question but that the King of Scotland his Son in law would be wholly influenced by him This Prince some few days before in the beginning of May return'd into Scotland with his Queen who died there about the middle of June following In the mean time the Pope prorogeth the Council till the first of November the occasion of which delay he charg'd upon the Duke of Mantua who insisted upon a Garrison to secure the Town and demanded a Supply of Monies for that purpose These Terms the Pope said were unexpected and surprizing to him and he was very much afraid lest the greatest part of the Bishops in compliance with his Bull were already arriv'd at Mantua and being denied admittance into the Town might be forc'd to return home This he was extreamly troubled at but should bear it with the more patience because it was not his fault but anothers Not long after the King