Saxon. TheÌ„peroure thanketh the Lantzgraue Spedius a blabbe The Lantzgraue taketh hys leaue of the Emperoure The thyrde session in the Syneode at Trente The oration of the Emperours ambassadour The Popes letters to the Bisshops of Sedune and Chur. The Archebisshop of Collon excoÌ„municated by the Pope TheÌ„peroure commeth to Regenspurg The murther of Diaze vnpunished Adiuision amonges the electours The brute of warre against the Protestantes The falsehod of Marques Albert and Iohn of Brandenburge The Lantzgraue is circumspecte TheÌ„perours letters to the Cities of the ProtestaÌ„tes TheÌ„perours crafte A statute of Trente A decree of oryginal sin The oration of the FreÌ„ch ambassadour Danese He vnderstandith this of the kynge of England The FreÌ„che kynges â—â—quâ—ste An aunswer of them of Strasborough to theÌ„peroure The Pope Tyrante The clergie abused the churche goodes The goodwyll of the ProtestaÌ„tes toward theÌ„peroure An heape of euylles of ciuill warre TheÌ„peroure had secrete talke with Duke Moris Themperours anbassadour to the Swysses The Cyties of Wirtemberge puton armure The oraiion of Balthazar to the soldiours The ProtestaÌ„tes letters to the Uenetians A leage beetwyxte the Pope the Emperoure The church goodes in Spayne to be imployde herein Peace betwixt frauÌ„ce and EnglaÌ„d The Cardinall of Scotland slaine The Popes letters to the Swisses The teares of the Crocodile The Pope attempteth the matter by force of armes The Protestantes Ambassadours to the Swisses The Paulsgraue axeth the cause of the warre A pretence of mouing war The Palsegraue seketh to reconsile the protestaÌ„t to Themperoure Duke of Saxon and the Lentzgraue prepareth to war Their letters to TheÌ„peroure TheÌ„peroure periured The authors of this war TheÌ„perours letters to the Archebishop of Collon TheÌ„perours polycie The Cardinall of Auspurge the firebrand of thys warre Duke Fridericke chosen Emperoure It is lawsul to repulse a violence The iudges of the ChaÌ„ber be Papistes The leage betwixte the thre houses Thintent of the Papistes The ProtestaÌ„tes letters to Iohn marques of braÌ„denburge The Popes bull against the Protestantes The diligeÌ„ce of the Protestantes in leuying theire armye The Lantzgraue sent hys sonne to Strausburg The fyrst enterprise of the Protestantes The Castell of EreÌ„berg Sherteline retireth Donauerde taken Themperours power The duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue ar out lawed by TheÌ„perour The Protestantes accused of treason The Popes letters to the Swysses The Pope bringeth the Emperouro into hatred Mariages in the broyle of warres The number of the fathers at treÌ„t The king of Swecia receyueth the Gospell TheÌ„perours letters to Duke Moris The Protestantes letters to the Duke of Bauer Lightenyng caused of struction at Machlin The Swyses aunswer to the Protestantes The deathe of Diazius is vnpunished The Protestantes proclayme war agaynst theÌ„peroue The crafti 〈…〉 s of themperoure Lybertie is exiled out of the counsell The articles of the Uniuersitie of Louayne TheÌ„peroure woulde not receyue the Protestants letters The table of prescription The Popes armie commeth to theÌ„peroure The Captaynes of the said armie The Capitaines of theÌ„peroures armie The princes of the Protestantes caÌ„pe The Lantzgraue rioeth foorth to espye The Spaniardes inuade the Protestantes caÌ„p The Erle of Bure leadeth an Army to themperour The bould profitable counsell of yâ— Lantgraue The cause of the Protest misery Feare in the Emperours Campe. The Swisses aunswer to the Emperour The Emperour to the Swisses is a Gospeller The ProfestauÌ„tes one against another Force ought not to be vsed in Religion The Protestauntes seÌ„d to the Bohemers The Pope hireth men to poyson other The Protestauntes answer to the table of outlawery The Emperours crafte towarde the Protestants The Emperors decrees made for fear The dissimulation of the Emperour The Duke of BruÌ„swi 〈…〉 a bitter enemy to the protestants The french Ambassador disswadeth the Emperour from this warre The Emperour will coÌ„quer Germany God is not the anctour of wrong The Rable of Papistes The Emperour pretended this war long before The decres of Wormes was the troÌ„pet of this warre The custom of thempire in asseÌ„blees The Protestauntes remoue their Campe. Nuburg reÌ„dred vnto the Emperour Fraunce de 〈…〉 ed to ayde ther Protest Peter strosse disceaued the ProtestaÌ„tes The Prote write to the Swisses gospellers Their aunswer to the ProtestaÌ„tes The Emperours the ProtestaÌ„tes campes nere together Albert of Brunswick hurt Donauerd rendred The duke of Alba rauÌ„teth the LaÌ„tgraue AlteratioÌ„ in Sauonte Duke Maurice consulteth against the Protest Siluer mynes coÌ„mon to the Dukes of Saxon. The vnreasonable request of Duke Mauris counsell Scherteline departeth from the protest auntes The Emperour winneth the Riuer of Thonawe The occasioÌ„ of taking the Emperour loste A warlike pollicie of the Emperour An other pollicie Pestilencein the Emper. Campe. The Lantgraue aunwereth the states of Duke Moris The crueltie wrought by the papistes The Proie benefites to Duke Moris The Proie letters to the cities The Bohemers serued against the Duke of sax on vnwillingly Hussares Ferdinando his depute proclaimeth to Saxonie The Duke of sarons request to hys fellowes Duke Maurice letters to the Electours The Electours countrey â—nuaded The Bohemers slyp away Duke Maurice 〈◊〉 of ali men His excuses Duke Maurice nothing coucious Persecution in Fraunce Tharchebyshop of Collon appealeth froÌ„ the Pope The vnlucky successe of the Protest warre Authoritie caÌ„not beare equalitie The peril of the Protest The Duke of Saxon â—â—acteth mony of the Papistes The Emperours letters to the Duke of Wirtemberg The Dukes letters of submissioÌ„ to Themper The Paulsgraue asketh pardon of Themps Paulus Fagius Ulmes recoÌ„ciled to the Emperour Darmstat wonne Thes of FraÌ„kefurte render to therle of Bure The Electours letters to the states of Duke Maurice The calamitie of Saxony Duke Maurice followeth Doeg The king of Denmarke ayded not that ProtestaÌ„tes 1547. Conditions imposed to that Du. of Wirtemberg Thecities of ProtestaÌ„tes send Ambassadours to that Emperour The Emperour wyll heare no meÌ„tion of Religion Rebellion as Genes agaist that hous of Aurie A decree of the counsell at Trent of iustification The Duke of Saxon be segeth Lipsia Maurice loseth his townes The Bohemers refuse to warre in Saxony Marques Albert sent to ayde Maur. Adolphe substituted to Herman Archebyshop of Collon Herman leueth his byshoprike Gropper had the spoyle of Friderick The death of Henry the eight kyng of England AlteratioÌ„ of Religion Kyng HeÌ„ry banished the Pope but not popery The Duke of Somerset Thomas Cranme primate of England They of Auspurg make their peace with Themperour Sherteline moste hated of Themp. The Electour of BraÌ„denburg intreateth a peace TheÌ„perour leuieth a new army The Elect. of Saxons lettern to theÌ„ of strasburg Mendoza Ambassa from the freÌ„che kyng to Strasburge The death of Nauius Kyng Ferdinando moueth the Bohemers to warre The league of the Bohemers The winig of Roclice Marques Albert takeÌ„ prisoner The Duke of Wirtemtemberg craueth pardon of the Emp. The seueÌ„th Session at Trent of the SacrameÌ„ts Of ecclesiasticall benefices They of
Lordes Supper vnto whome it shall be gyuen from aboue Furthermore that Colledges were fyrst instituted not for Masses but that youth myght there be vertuousely brought vp in learnynge And the landes gyuen to fynde some to teach and some to learne and the reste to the vse of the pore And this vse to haue continewed in maner to the time of Barnarde But aboute foure hundreth yeares syns this Marchaundise of Masses began whiche is vtterly to be taken awaye And albeit the originall thereof were yet more auncient yet is not so great a wickednes to be suffered And in case any busynes shold come therof the same ought not to be ascribed to the doctrine but to the wickednes of them which for their owne lucre will impugne the truthe against their conscience And that we ought not to regard such inconueniences but to procede constantlye what trouble so euer shall come therof for all these thinges were shewed before of Christ Thys yeare Themperours brother Farnando Archduke of Austriche marieth the lady Anne sister to Lewes the kinge of Hongary Emonges so many aduersaries as Luther had Henry the eyghte Kynge of Englande wrote soore agaynst him And fyrst he confuteth his iudgement touching Indulgences and defendeth the Bishops authoritie After he reproueth all his disputations concerning the Sacramentes of the Churche taking the occasion of writing out of his boke intitiled of the captiuitie of Babylon Whan Luther knewe therof he answered most vehemently shewynge that in the defence of this cause he did not one whit respecte the highnes or dignitie of any parson For this cause the Bishop Leo gaue the kynge an honorable title callyng him the defendour of the faith Howe kynge Charles was chosen Emperour it is here to fore declared And wheras euer syns certen priuate dyspleasures did growe betwixte hym and the Frenche kynge it brake out into warres But fyrst in the borders of Spaine and of Flaunders The same tyme the Frenchmen kept Parma and Placence in Italy which the Bishoppe Leo was right sory for And when they had also of late attēpted Rhegium he vtterly forsoke them and entred into league with the Emperour wherof the chief condicions were these That the dignitie of the Churche of Rome should be defended that suche Townes as the Frenchemen of late had taken from him should be recouered that Frances Sfortia that time a banished man should be restored to his fathers seat and to the dukedome of Millan Thus ioyning their powers together they recouered of the frenchmen Parma and Placence and by force toke the citye of Millan and droue the French king out of Lumbardy which he had kept in quiet possession fullye .vi. yeares and afterwardes restored Sfortia by the conduit of prosper Columne Fernando Daualle marques of Piscare And not lōg after these newes wer brought Leo departed not without the suspicion of poysening He was sōne vnto Laurens Medices and had to his great grandfather Cosmus that was that great honor of that house Leo was made Cardinall when he was but .xiii. yeares old he liued not past seuen and forty his successor was Adriane the sixt a Hollāder who had bene tutor to the emperour About the same time Soliman lately created Emperour of Turkes moued warre vpon Lewes king of Boheme and Hungary which had maried the Lady Marye themperours sister and besides many other townes and Castels he tooke Belgrade the chief fortresse of Hungary and placed therin a garrison Whilest Cesar maketh his abode in Flaunders and Germany greate seditions arose in Spaine Wherfore to the intent he might remedye the thing in time hauing first appoynted a coūsel to minister the law and to see to the affaires of thempire he saileth againe into Spaine But before he toke his iorney the states of Thempire were all readye assembled at Norinberge concerninge diuers matters but chieflye the Turkyshe warre And Cesar sending forth his proclamation at the later ende of Marche warneth chiefly all ecclesiasticall parsons to pray and make theyr supplications vnto God Afterwardes the fyrste of Maye was aide graunted to kynge Lewes Themperour in his retourne goeth agayne to see the kynge of Englande whom to haue his assured frende agaynst the Frenche kynge he promyseth to geue hym yerely a hundreth and three and thyrtie thousande Duckates For so muche did the Frenchkynge paye yearely to the kynge of Englande and to his syster Mary the French quene Wherfore vnlesse he mighte be saued harmeles he would attempt nothing against him This treatie was made the thirtene day of Iune in the Castell of Wyndsore .xx. myles from Lōdon And for a more entiere loue and frendship it was agreed that the Emperour shoulde take to wyfe the lady Mary the kynges daughter by his aunte Quene Kataryne and marry her whē time should serue for she was then but seuen yeares of age Whethersoeuer brake of to pay to the other foure hundred thousande crownes The Frenche kynge bendeth all his force towardes Italy to recouer that he had lost you haue heard before of Zuinglius and now Hugh Byshoppe of Constance within whose prouince Zuricke is aduertised the Senate what complaintes he heard of Zuinglius and what a kynde of newe doctrine he had broughte in he defendeth hys cause before the Senate whome he satisfied After the Byshoppe wrote his letters to the College of Canons wherof Zuinglius was one speakyng muche of new doctours that troubled the Churche he exhorteth them to take hede and beware of them And for so muche as Leo the Bishop of Rome and the Emperour also haue by most streigth proclamations condemned thys doctrine he warneth them that they obey the same and neyther alter nor chaunge any thinge till they that haue Authoritie should decree some thinge by a generall counsell this was in the moneth of Maye When this Epistle was read in the Colledge Zuinglius whome it concerned wryteth agayne to the Byshop that he vnderstondeth right well by whose motiou he doeth this He admonisheth him not to folow theyr counsell for the trueth is inuincible and can not be resysted Afterwardes with a longer letter he answereth those whiche styrred vp the Bishoppe to write Then Zuinglius and certein others intreate the Bishop by their letters that he would not hynder the doctrine of the Gospell nor suffer any longer that filthy and sklaunderous life of pristes but permitte them to marrye And of the same effecte he writeth to all the Heluetians admonishyng thē not to stop the course of the trewe doctrine nor to worke any displeasure agaynste maryed priestes for of the single life the Deuill him selfe was author In many of theyr Townes it is the maner that whan they receyue a newe minister of the churche they bidde him take a Leman lest he attempt to defyle honest women whiche custome althoughe it be laughed at of many yet was it wittelye diuised as the tyme serued and in so greate darkenes of doctrine
appeale to a general counsell in the same maye all griefes be decyded and I requyre that the same maye be called so shortlye as may be Where he speaketh of two lightes he followeth herein the wordes of Innocentius the thyrd which applieth the two great lyghtes that God created the one to guyde the day the other the nyght to the byshops and princelyke dignitie But that whiche ministreth Godly thinges to be muche more excellent then that which gouerneth polytike matters only And loke what different is betwyxte the sonne and the mone so great a diuersitie is there betwyxt the office of the high byshop a kinges office Whan Cesar had made this aunswere to Clemēt he wryteth also to the coledge of Cardinalles the sixt day of October signifiyng that he is not a little sory to heare that byshop Clement is confederated with the French kyng who reneweth warre agaīst him afreshe how the bishop hath sent him letters of defiance which he supposeth were writtē by their cōmon assent wherat he marueleth not a little considering there is no kyng that beareth more loue and affection to the churche of Rome than he Witnes Parma Placence whiche being cities of the Empyre and plucked from it of late he hath not withstanding restored to the churche all be it he was by no ryght bounde so to do And the princes and states of Germanye cōplayned vnto him at Wormes of sondry iniuries done by the courte of Rome and required a recompence but he for a singular loue naturall inclination towardes the churche of Rome passed ouer their requestes with deaf eares And where as great sedition and trouble ensued therupon through out all Germanye and the Princes there had appointed another counsel he for the indemnitie of the bishop church of Rome countremaunded the same vnder a great penaltie and to appease their myndes he put them in hope of a general counsell to be holden out of hande Wherfore the byshop hathe done hym great iniury whiche hath done so muche for his sake that he hath by the same meanes lost the good wylles of the princes of the Empire he desyreth them therfore to admonyshe the byshop of his duty that he appointe a counsell and perswade hym to incline his mynde to peace rather then to warre whiche if he refuse and wyll differre the counsell that then they would call it for if the christian cōmon wealth susteyne any losse or dammage eyther for the want of a counsell or for long delaye of the same it ought not hereafter to be imputed to him After the newes came out of Hongary of the great ouerthrowe there the prynces set forward their Ambassade appointed at Spires to the Emperour with the great spede And for the more expedition they intreate the Frēche kyng to graunt them a saufeconduicte to passe into Spayne through Fraunce whiche he graunted prescribing them a certen tyme to passe in and toke an occasion hereby to wryte vnto them the .vj. of Octobre That for the losse of Hongary the death of Lewis the kynge and the daunger that approched Germany he had conceiued an inwarde sorowe in his minde and nothyng lesse lamented that the publique wealth also peryshed through ciuile warres it was not surely lōg of him that Christome is not quiet but this to be the Emperours faulte who refuseth al honeste and reasonable conditions of peace And for so much as he is neither moued with the cōmon losse destruction nor with the moste vnworthy death of his brother in lawe king Lewis nor yet with the miserable estate of his owne sister now a wydowe nor cōsidereth not in what daunger standeth Austriche they shal do wel according to their dutie if they can exhorte perswade him vnto peace to kepe loue amitie with kinges that dwell nere hym and refrayne this vnmeasurable couetousnes for this should be more honorable for hym than if he styll endeuour to get other mens landes and possesse all him selfe alone his progenitours kynges of Fraunce haue often times fought many battelles with the ennemies of christentie the same myght nowe be done with their powers ioyned in one if the Emperour be so mynded wherfore in case they can deuise to bring this thing to passe he wyll bestowe on the Turkyshe warre al his force and him selfe also but if not no man blame hym if he assaye to recouer by force of armes suche thynges as by good wyll he can not for it stādeth him vpon rather to seke for peace which is nerer the Turkes daunger thā he is Whan Cesar was aduertysed of these letters the .xxix. of Nouēbre he writeth to the Princes and first he rehearseth howe mercyfully and gently he vsed the Frenche kynge prysoner howe he set hym at lybertie howe he gaue hym in marriage his eldest syster to hym in degree of succession the seconde And where as he all thynges beyng quyeted as he supposed was takynge his iourney into Italye to the entent he myghte bende hys whole force agaynste the perpetuall ennemyes of the Christiane Religion he breakynge his fidelitie and makynge a league wyth Byshop Clement and certen others and deuydynge emonges them the kyngdome of Naples whiche they had alreadye in hope conceyued to be theyr owne Renewed mortall Warre By meanes whereof he coulde not delyuer the countrey of Hongary from the violent fury of the Turkes being forced to defende his owne limites And where as he pretendeth to lament the death of kyng Lewis and destruction of Hongary it is a playne dissimulatiō to the intent he myght by some meane put to silence such as founde his letters and do constantly affirme that the Turke attēpted this warre through his instigation When he was in Spayne and synce his retourne home also he confirmed by his letters the obseruation of conue nauntes but for as muche as he hath his kingdome liyng in the middes of all Europe he is carelesse and seketh warres contention therby to make his profite Besides the wrytinge before mentioned there came forth in the French kinges name an Apologie in his defence declaring the causes why he stādeth not to the peace of Madrice Wherunto an answere was made in the Emperours behalf at large For as muche as the Turke had Buda with a great parte of Hongary oppressed the people miserably being a great terrour to Germany Certē princes of the Empire consulted at Eslyng to write spedely to the Emperour intreating him to repaire into Germany as shortly as might be in consideration to the great daunger that than hanged ouer the Empire in these letters written the .xix. of Decēbre they make mentiō of the Ambassade that they were determined to haue sent vnto hym but because they should haue trauailed through Fraunce the kynge wold graunt them saufe conduict but only for .iiij. monethes wherof one was past before the Ambassadours should mete together the time wold be much shortned Therfore to
fraunce and germany 123 Originall of the Annabaptistes 127 Oration of the Popes Legates 231 Oration of Themperours Ambassadours 240 Occatiō of taking thēperours losse 267 Oration of the kinge of Poles ambassadour 301 Originall of this order of knight 303 Oratiō of the Princes ambassadors to thēperour thēperours aunswer 377 Oration of the Frēch ambassador 404 P PRinces of necessitie must reforme Rome 3 Popes vnder the Councell 7 Pope Iohn is deposid 8 Pope Prius wishe 18 Picus Myrandula 19 Pope Leo his bull 23 Priestes maried wyues 44 Popes subiect to themperour 25 Pope Clement sendeth Campeius to duke Frederike 45 Phifer compagnion to muncer 55 Phyfers entreprise 56 Preachers ought to be circumspect 59 Prayers for the dead ar superfluous 75 Paccius beheadid 78 Prayers mixed with threateninges 92 Poore Luther maketh many men 95 Persecutiō against the Lutherians 115 Paule was craftier then Clement 117 Persecution in France 118 Pope Iohn a woman 119 Proude Marchantes 115 Popes condempned for heresy 121 Paphūtius perswadeth the priestes 124 Peter wirtē began to preach again 129 Perome besieged 141 Popes haue emperors insubiectiō 149 Pope paule euell reported 154 Presidentes of the Councell 158 Preaching forbidden 173 Perswasions to warre against the Turke 187 Perpiguian besieged 192 Peace is disceptfull 196 Psalmes translated by Marot 201 Philip created king of Spaine 202 Pillugius bishop of Numburg amōges the presidentes 230 Preaching frees 231 Peace betwixt Fraūce England 246 Peter strosse disceaued the protest 265 Penstellens in Emperors campe 267 Persecution in Fraunce 270 Paulus Fagius a man learned and 〈◊〉 loquent 273 Part of the counsell of Trent flit to Bonomie 283 Peter Alois the popes sonne slaine 294 Peter martyr goeth into England 297 Prusse belongeth to Pole 303 Prusse belongeth to themperour 305 Paule geuen to astrology and coniuration 340 Paules ioye in bayne 342 Proclamatiōs against lutheranes 345 Pope Iuly somoneth a counsell 351 Pardons graunted by the Popes legat 385 Pestilence and fiering at Paris 427 Paule the fourth made Pope 450 Port hercules taken by thimperialles 452 Plinabine besieged of Turkes 452 Peter martir goeth to Zurick 469 Papistes in Swicerland made league with king Ferdnando 80 Protestantes assemble at Norunberg 86 Protestantes accused of Sedition 93 Practise of Prelates 117 Practise of the French men 144 Popes ambassadour dispised 147 Popes errours and autority 148 Paule the thirdes crafte 149 Preachers of the gospell brought godly workes to light 150 Popes accused of Idolatry 151 Pope would bie Millian 201 Princes letters to the Pope 208 Popes letters to themperour 215 Pope most desirous of warre 221 Pope cite the Archbishop of Collon 223 Popes letters to the Swisses 247 Protestauntes Ambassadours to the Swissers 247 Protestauntes accused of treason 253 Protestaūtes letters to Iohn marques of Brandenburg 251 Protestauntes aunswer to the table of out lawery 260 Purgations of the Cardinall of Auspurge against suspicions 467 Pope had no cōsideration with themperour against religiō or the liberty of Germany 468 Q QUene Anne loueth the gospell 113 Questions moued to a dombe spirite 115 Quene Marie affiaunced to the emperours sonne 430 Questions of zuinglius 39 Quene of Hungary made regent of flaunders 101 Quene of Anabaptistes behedid 133 Quene Katherine dieth 137 Quene Anne dieth lamentably 140 Quene of Scottes dieth 153 Quene Maries oration to the comons in yelde Hall 430 R ROme the seat of Antichrist 3 Reweline a diuine 19 Reweline dieth 37 Reliques of the holy gost 45 Rome is the treasure house of the hole world 72 Rome is Sacked 74 Religion reformed 76 Religiou reformid at Geneua 76 Rochester and more beheadid 121 Rochester made cardinal in the towre 121 Rotman a Preacher at Munster 127 Rotman became an Anabaptist 128 Rotman desperate 136 Reasons why the protest refuse the counsell 149 Rebellion in Gelderlande 154 Rebellion of Gaunt 168 Rebellion at Genes against the house of Aurice 276 Robert of a Brince wrote against the interim 322 Rewardes for promoters 346 Reseruations graces expectatiue 365 Reformation of the papiste 390 Rebellion in duke Moris campe 40 Renold Poole Cardinall 429 Ridley Latimer burnt in englād 454 Rage of Antichrist 125 Requestes of the princes to the king 398 S SIlens of the bishop of Mentz 1 Siluester prierias his dialogue 2 Siluester prierias themes 2 Scripture and the old writers only are to be allowed 2 Siluester prierias his second aunswer to Luther 2 Shiftes of the Popes 19 Sute betwixt the bushoppe and Swissers vanquished 11 Senate of Strasburg 48 Supper of oure Lorde vnder bothe kindes 18 Sundry plages in Germany 83 Scripture is the touch stone of all doctrine 91 Spirites in the popish kingdome 115 Selling of benetices 119 St. Geneu 〈…〉 a the goddes of Paris 120 Sedition in Munster 131 Symony raigneth in the Church 157 Symony must be taken awaye 181 Syr Henry Kneuet 185 Strife about the Bisshoprick of Numburge 186 Sebastian Scertiline a mā of war 228 Spedius a blabbe 240 Sherteline retyreth 252 Siluer mines comon to the Dukes of Saxon. 266 Scertiline departeth from the prot 267 Sedition at Naples for the Spanish in quisition 291 So I will and do commaunde 303 Sinne against the holy gost 315 Strasborough rue the Interim 326 Strasburgh writeth letter to themperour 331 Skirmishes of the princes with the emperiall 400 Syr Richard Morisme Ambassadour of Englande 403 Serueto a Spanyarde burnt at Geneua 428 Sibylle Duchesse of Saxon depar 431 Sanslorian and Carmillus lead to prison 453 Syr Peter Carrow sir Iohn Chick taken prisoners 469 Swisses made a legue with the french Kinge 32 Solempne buriyng in Fraunce 114 Sfortia Duke of Millane dieth 121 Supper of the Lord vnder both kindes 124 Spoyling and burninges of Marques Albert. 416 T THomas of Aquine Albertus magnus Scolar 3 Thomas of Aquine a Saint eod Thomas of Aquine giueth auctoritie to the Pope eodem Thomas of Aquine died eodem Treaty of warre against the turke eod The popes letters to the Duke of saxō 4 The popes letters to Gabriell Uene 5 The vniuersitie of Wittenberge wryteth for Luther to the Pope 5 The well spring of pardons 7 The Dukes letters to the Card. 8 The vniuersitie of Wittēberg writeth for luther to the duke of Saxon. 9 The pope sendeth a golden Rose to the Duke of Saxon. 10 Themperour Rafe 13 The Duke of Saxon refuseth thēp 14 The birth of themperour 14 The court of Rome is vncurable 17 The part of a true friende 18 The story of Rewcline 20 The Sacramentes 24 The maner of the Coronation 24 Thēperour calleth a counsell imper 25 The lawe of pope Clement 25 The court of Rome an Fraunce 26 The Duke of Saxon incensed against Luther 26 The Bull of Cursing 28 The Constancy of Luther 28 The pope and the coūsell maie erre 30 Treuers other princes threten lut 30 The offence of faith and maners 31 The Counsell of Constance 32 Three Popes deposid 32 Thyrtene townes of Swissers
they coÌ„sult of the Interim The constaÌ„cie of the Ministers Freight caried to prysoÌ„ with others The Duke of Saxon the LaÌ„tgraue led away prysoners Letters of Strasburgh to Themp. Strasburge recitueth that Interim The reformatioÌ„ of the Chamber They of CoÌ„stance geue theÌ„selues to the howse of Austrich Augustus maried a wyfe A coÌ„motion at Burdeux The slaughter that was at Burdeux Fraunces Spier a Lawier His recantation Spier wold receiue no comforte He dieth in dispaire A woÌ„derfull conuersioÌ„ of Uergerius Uergerius vanquisshed with the force of truth Inquisitours agaist Uergerus Uergerius repareth to Mantua He isputont of that counsell Uergerius preacheth that Gospell in Rhetia The abhominable filthynes of an Archebyshop Maried priestes pluct froÌ„ their wyues The inheritour of Scotland led into Fraunce The Empe. sonne commeth into Flaunders He is receyued at MillaÌ„ A meting of Diuines in Saxony 1549. Ciuile warres in Affrica Strasburgs wryteth letters to the Emperour Thei of Maidenburg are made a pray for their god lines Trouble in England The Admi. of England b. headed Thomas Cranmer a furtherer of learning Godlines Bucer and Fagius cominto EnglaÌ„d The byshop of Strasb singeth his first Masse The duke of Swaybrig molested for Religion His playne trouth The Inter. confuted by them of Lubeck and others Adiaphora Melanchton defendeth that Adiaphorist The force of holy water Hallowyng of churches Hallowyng of belles Hallowyng of aultars Luther brought in coÌ„tempt the popysh ceremonies The Popes Legates to that Emperour The Pope graunteth licence to eate fleshe The Archbyshop of Meiz to the councelloure of that Lantgraue The Godly answer of that Preachers An open disputation at Oxforde The king is receiued in to Paris Erecution done in his sight The king coÌ„maundeth to go on procession Ueruine beheaded A coÌ„uocatioÌ„ at Lipsia Rebellion in Englande The French king stealeth fortes King Philip inuested in Flaunders The Senate of Strausburge do coÌ„pounde with their bishop The pearil fear of them of Mayden burge Theyr Purgation Why they caÌ„not get pardon The sayinge of Gordiê° the martyr They betray the truthe that hold it in sylence The deathe of pope paul the third A boke in ItaliaÌ„ against the Pope His Sister a whore made him cardinal The monstrus lechery of the Pope The Popes rauening Paule geuen to Astrology coniuratioÌ„ An assemble of Cardinals to chuse a newe Pope The masters of ceremonis The custody of that CoÌ„claue The othes of the cardinals The maner how to chuse the Pope Thre factioÌ„s of cardinals The cause why Pole was not Pope The yeare of Iubiley Paules ioye was vain 1550. A straunge sight neuer hard of A trouble in the thurch of Strausburg The Protector of englaÌ„d The French kynges Proclamation against Lutheranes Iuly that third Thopenyng of the golden gate A iest of the Cardinall of Auspurge Ganimede nouryshed of Poope Iuly Dute of the Conclaue came most fil thye letters The Emperours letters to the â—ates of th empyre A peace concinded betwixt FraÌ„ce Englande A confession of faith by the Ministers of the Churche there The cleargy of Strausburge renueth their misteries A proclamation againste the Lutheranes A register of the deuines of Louaine To talcke of faith is for bidden Rewards for promotours A proclamation for printers Andwarp astonied at the Emperors proclamatioÌ„ The death of the cardinall of Lorayne The archbyshop of Collon entreth the city with pompe The protestation of D. Moris agaiÌ„st the counsell The knauery of Spanyardes The death of Granuellan Duke Henry besiegeth the Citye of Brunswick Dracutus an archpirate The taking of the city of Africa A goodlye situatioÌ„ of the same The ouerthrowe of the Maidenburgians The princes letters to theÌ„ of Maydenburg A woman in perill for a light worde The proclamation for religion is mitigated Forces bent against Maydenburg An Ambassade againste them of May denburge The answer of the MaydeÌ„burgians The death of Ulriche Duke of Wirtemb A cruell decree against the Magdeburgians Duke Maurice general of this war The causes that the decre is not obserued Pope Iuly somoneth a counsell Thei repare to Trent beÌ„fore contemned Maurice besegeth Maydenburg Hedeck and Mansfeld discomsited by Duke Maurice The Empe. proclamatioÌ„ against theÌ„ of Maydenburge The Lantgraues soÌ„ns sue for their father The Lantgraues purpose His deuise of fleing bewrayde The issuyng out victory of the MaydeÌ„burgians The Duke of Megelb takeÌ„ prisoner Marimilian cometh out of Spayne CoÌ„tentioÌ„ for the Empyre betwirte the Emperour Ferdinando what things offend many Thei of Maidenburg are moued to reÌ„der A writing of the Clergie against the citie Their actes against the Clergie The slaughter of the citezens The answer of that citezens Why that clergle forsoke that citie All Godly folke are afflicted for prosessinge the veritie All thynges must be suffered for the truthes sake God woundeth healeth The prayse of great Otto Folyshe ceremonies 1551. A newe doctrine of Osiander The Duke of Pruisse addicte to Osiander MelanchthoÌ„ best learned and modeste The decree of Auspurg Mony for that warre of MaydeÌ„burg Octauian Farnese cliente to the FreÌ„ch king The death of Bucer Complainte of the Bysh of Strasb WoÌ„ders in Saxonye The Pope accuseth Octauian Farnese The counsel at Trente is cold Erle Hedeck frende to theÌ„ of Maidenb The war of Parma betwixt themperoure and french king The French kings excuse to the Pope The sterse minde of Pope Iulye The confession of Duke Moris by Melanchton The humanity of the Duke of wirtemberge to ward Brentius Duke Moris letters to the Emperour The burnt child the fyre dreades Interrogatories for the Ministers of Auspurge The constancy of the prelates The preachers exiled The French king warreth vpon themperour CoÌ„trarye tales of the King and the Emperour The counsel renued at Trent The French kinges letters to the counsel ReseruatyoÌ„s and graceser pectatiue The sum of mony that is caried to Rome The vniuersity of Parts apealeth froÌ„ the Pope Tharrogancye of Poope Boniface against the king of Fraunce Twelue archbishopriks in Fraunce Theames geuen to the deuines The order of speaking The maner of making the Articles of faith The maner of making the decrees The holy ghoste at the Popes commaundemeÌ„t The French kinges wryting agaynst the Pope A cruell proclamation againste the Lutheranes The wicked lustes of the popes sonne A purgation of the french kyng The cause of dissention be twixt the pope and emperor A decree at Trent of the Lordes supper The safeconduit of the fathers at Trent The Marques of BraÌ„denburge statereth the counsell Duke Moris seaseth vpon the dominioÌ„ of Chats The duke of Somerset apprehended The counsel writeth to that french king Causes of calling the counsell The French disswageth that Swisses froÌ„ the counsell The land of WirteÌ„berge delyuered of Spaniardes Thambassadour of Wirtemberge to the counsell The pacificacion of Maydenburge The noble fame constaÌ„cy of Maiden burge Duke Maurice inteÌ„deth to war vpon the Emper. Iohn Slefdan Ambassadour for Strasburge in
we leaue them in the Breres hath Themperour Maxilimilian deserued thus of vs and of the Empire And if those countreis be ouer runne howe longe thinke you shall our libertie continewe We maye not truste their fayre promises for oftentimes couetousnesses and ambition cary awaye men headlonge from doyng theyr dewtie In times paste there were many noble houses in Fraunce Which nowe be but fewe in nombre for the kinge in maner hathe all in his owne handes They say he is a stouce prince the more like to brynge all to a Monarchie but we seke to maintaine this present state of nobilitie he promiseth great aide agaīst the Turke which in dede is a thinge to be wished for that Germany mighte ioyne wyth Fraunce and Italy but first he wil bend his power againste the house of Burgundy and warre vppon Flaunders and Naples and shall we aide him in these enterprises And least any mā should say I prophecied of dreames and doubtfull matters he is now in leuying his armye Forasmuche therfore as we are letted by oure lawes othe and loue of our natiue country I protest and iudge him vnmete to be elected And nowe to the rest of the parties I suppose that some of you thyncke it vnmete that Charles shoulde be chosen because Spaine is so farre of and that through his absence it should not go well with Germany either for the Turkishe warre or for ciuile dissentions Which thinges I do not onlye graunte to be true but also when I consider depelye I am so moued that in maner I quake for feare for I waye this also If the emperour at any time come into Germany in displesure and bring with him the Spaniardes we shal be in daunger to lose our liberty I consider moreouer that it may be that the Spaniards wil hardly at any time restore vnto vs again this dignitie of thempire And if by their force and power they recouer Millan they will kepe it hereafter to them selues So that almost it semeth better to create one of our owne nation that is fit for it after the example of our elders whiche passinge ouer foreine Princes haue chosen an inhabiter of the contrie This wil not I deny but the state of that tyme was thē farre otherwise and the worlde a great deale better But nowe if the Emperour be of small power thinke you that Austriche and other countries will obey him Or if the Frenche kinge warre vpon Charles as without doubte he wyll do eyther in the lowe countrey or in Italie shall he geue them the lokyng on or shal our new Emperour suffer straunge nations to spoile a great parte of the Empire Yea and as the world goeth now a daies it is to be thought that the Princes of Germany contemnynge theyr Emperour will ioyne them selues some with the house of Austriche and some with the Frenchemen When Fridericke the third was Emperour Charles the Duke of Burgundie warred in Germany And Philip Maria Duke of Millan in Italy and no mā did represse them but the same was to our dishonour Moreouer a greater shame whan the Emperour was beseged in Austriche Yea and driuen then oute of his owne countrey by the Hungarians And yet at the same time dyd the lande of Boheme take his parte and so did also my graundefather Albert Marques of Brādēburge the Duke of Saxonie of the same name If it chaunce so thē you see what is like to ensew at these daies when some princes are addicted to others for stipendes I leaue of to speake howe many incidente causes maye chaunce for the whiche the Princes and Cities maye refuse to shewe their obeidience Moreouer now we are like to haue great tumultes troubles for religiō For ther are spronge vp disputations of indulgences the authoritie of the Byshoppe of Rome and of the Ecclesiasticall lawes whiche seme as yet curable but or euer it be longe they will cause a great Ruine and alteration of the Churche For manye do subcribe and myghtye Nations maynteine the cause the Saxons and the Heluetians neither can this mischief be holpen but by a generall counsell And howe shall an Emperour of small power eyther call a counsell or defende the same especially if other kinges be agaynst it there remayneth the Turkish warre the which we must not onely defende but make also to recouer that is lost and restore Grece vnto libertie for the doynge whereof we haue nede of the aide of many and sundry nations which if the Emperour haue but small power and litle authoritie howe shall he gather greate Armies of mē For which causes I iudge it mete to chose some mightie Prince and Charles of Austriche to be preferred before all other Princes of Germanie And if any incommoditie should put you in feare so to do I thinke it is a great deale lesse then that will be which shall ensew in case the gouernement be committed to anye other For he is bothe a Germayne borne and hath many countries holdynge of the Empire and will not see his owne countrey brought in bondage besydes that he shall sweare neither to alienate nor diminish thempire nor to break or infringe our liberties And albeit these be great causes which I haue here mentioned yet should they not moue me one whit vnlesse his towardnes were wel knowen For he loueth Religion Justice and chastitie he hateth all crueltie and hath a good witte which vertues shall euer admonishe him to mainteine the comonwealth They that know him throughly do muche commende him And if we consyder well hys father Philippe and his graundfather Maximilian we can not doubt of him He is of no great age but yet fitte and ripe to gouerne He shall haue his graundefathers counsellours and certeine Princes of Germany chosen for the purpose And whereas I said before that the worst were if he shoulde be longe oute of Germany we shall condition with him for that matter and for asmuche as he hathe greate possessions in Germany it can not be but that some time he will come see them So shall the Turke be driuen out of Hungary and the Frenchemen oute of Italy the Church shal be refourmed and established and many others holpen which thynges when I cōsyder I care the lesse for his absens for his owne naturall courage the loue of his countrey and the verye necessitie of thinges shall prouoke him to come ofte amonge vs. When the Archebyshop had ended his Oration and had exhorted the rest to speake their myndes the others after they had talked a litle together desired the Archebishoppe of Treuers to succede Who for his syngular witte and experience was of muche estimation And he began his tale of a prophete that sayd Maximilian should be the last Germaine Emperour Nowe saieth he me thinketh it is almost comen to passe forasmuche as my Lorde of Mentz who hath spoken many thinges wittely hath gon aboute to perswade vs to commit the gouernement of the Empire to a
straunger But I maruell muche why he preferreth the Spaniarde before the Frencheman Certes I lament the state of Germany For if we folowe the steppes of oure elders we shoulde nede no forayne helpe But nowe seyng that we seke vpon straungers what other thinge do we then procure our owne bondage But leauynge of this complainte I will folowe the same order that my lorde of Mentz hath done and speake fyrst of the lawe and of oure othe And the chiefe cause and ground of the law I suppose to be this lest if a foreine prince should be chosen that had no certen habitation in Germany the dignitie of thempire shoulde by litle and litle be alieuated to straungers If this be the meaning of the lawe then can no more the Spaniarde be chosen then the Frencheman But now if Charles may be created because he hathe landes lyinge within the Empire of necessitie the same must be of force also in Fraunces which hath Millan and other membres of our common weath Wherefore of two thinges propounded let vs see whether is better Certaynly whā Fraunce was vnited to Germany then did our Empire most florishe in so muche that the remembraunce of that time doth not a litle delite me when I chance to reade the stories therof And now is the like occasion offered vs whiche certainly would not be let slippe Foreyne nations are also of this opinion the bishop of Rome the venetians all the Princes and cities of Italie For the Frenchmen come of the same ofspringe that we do and vse almost the same lawes and maners shewyng all loue and gentlenesse to our men And for the vicinitie therof are very necessary for the Italiās and vs. If any tumult shall arise straight waies shall an armye be ready and Fraunce shall paye their wages And if the Turke shall inuade either Hungary or Italye as verelye I thincke he wil shal it not be a goodly matter to haue so nere and so florishing an Emperoure fournished with the strength of either nation As for the Spaniards though they be accompted warlicke what notable thing did they euer in Italye without the healpe of the Germanes Furthermore because they be so farre from vs We can loke for no helpe at their handes in time And though they would neuer so faine yet can they not healpe vs greatlye For Spaine is so wasted with continual sayling that it can send forth no great nombre of men Moreouer we shall haue the Frenchmen our fellow souldiours and companions of our trauell and paines But the Spaniardes if any thing be wel done will haue al the praise to them selues they will enioye our boaties and rule our countries Then shal we bewaile our bondage all to late But I will leaue this comparison and come to the election If we chose the kynge of Fraunce there shal be none occasion of warre in Italy For he hathe Millan nowe in possession and we shall perswade him that he shall attempte nothinge against Naples nether against the base countreis of Flaūders Artois so that they wil be quiet And yet I see not why we shoulde thincke that these countreis ought to be defended of vs. They be in dede oure neigbours but we haue no league with them neither do they obserue the lawes of thempire nor geue any thing towardes our cōmon charges no more thē doth Englād or Scotlāde Seing than that the Frēch kīges power is greatest that he hath Lūbardy in quiet possessiō is furnished with al thinges necessary he wil attempt greater enterprises more honorable moue warre namely against the Turke bend al his power thither wardes that the cruel enemie expulsed out of Hūgary Italy Germany maye liue at rest But in case we preferre Charles before him O liuing God what tumultes shall we raise vp in Italy He wil recouer Millan that wil be a long warre whilest this goodly coūtrey shal be thus tourmoyled the Turkes will inuade Hungary with theyr whole power Who I praye you shall resiste them Or be able to bringe a sufficient Armie agaynst them These thinges would be consydered more diligently and not passed ouer lightly Nowe what the end of the Italyan warre shal be it is vncerten If the Frenche kynge conquere he will couet Naples and it maye be that the Byshoppe of Rome throughe his impulson will vndo oure Election what trouble will arise thereby euerye manne perceyueth righte well Agayne if Charles get the better hande let vs not loke to haue Italy restored againe the Spaniardes will kepe that to them selues foreuer And not onely that but wyll hardely let out of theyr handes this our Empyre About the kepyng of Naples the possession wherof it is wel knowen how they came by what misery haue they suffered they may not therfore be brought into Italy Now will I speake some thinges of either king I doubt not but king Charles is of a milde and gentle disposition for so is he reported of many but being but a yonge man howe can men discerne such vertues in him as be required in a mightye prynce The common welth had nede of suche a one as besides other thinges could establish reforme the state of the church as my Lord of Mentz here did wittely admonishe This verely can king Fraunces performe best of all men for he hath both a good wit and a good iudgemente hath oftentimes conferens with lerned men of religion and readeth muche him selfe Moreouer the state of this presente time requyreth a Prince and captaine skilfull in warres payneful and lucky But who shall in this behalf take the price away from Fraunces for his vertue is rightwell tried and knowen Of king Charles we haue noue experiment but that his towardnes promiseth some thinge but the other in prowes and dedes of Armes doeth farre excell all his auncestours For he hath latly ouercome in battaill the Swisers a mighty nation and neuer subdued syns Iulius Cesars time A yonge man therefore oughte in no wyse to be preferred before so worthye a Capitayne My lorde of Mentz doeth accompte it a discommoditie if thēperour shold be longe out of Germanye but yet he biddeth vs take no thoughte for that matter But I thinke it a matter full of greate daunger to haue an Emperour absente farre withoute the borders of the Empire For who shall resiste the inuasions of the Turkes Who shall represse the sodayne insurrections and Ciuile vprours And there arise a tempest Who shall saue the Shyppe that wanteth her Master He shal know no certentie of oure affayres beynge absent many thynges shal be told him vntruely he shall haue no Germaines of his counsell but Spaniardes onely he wyll make many decrees and send them vnto vs farre out of tyme and season Afterwardes if he beynge tyckled wyth false complaintes and sklaunders should come into Germany at anyetyme an Armye of foreine souldiours In what state thinke you shall be our wyth Empire then
that such an euyl shold spring in the countrey where he was borne yet did he comfort him self with .ij. things Fyrst for that his truste was that so trifelynge and wicked a doctrine should haue bene dispised of all men Secondely that suche pestilente plante broughte out of an other place should not lightly take roote in that countrie Whiche had alwayes ingendred the roters out of Heresyes But where it hath chaūsed otherwise whether it be by the iust iudgement of God or throughe a certeine negligence and racklesnes of suche as shoulde haue redressed it in tyme. Uerelye they had nede to looke to it lest whilest they worke slowlye herin they appere eyther to haue forgotten their olde vertue or els to approue this wickednes alledgyng amonges other thynges what a shame it were for so stronge and so constaunt a nation to swarue from that religion whiche Christ and his Apostles haue lefte vs whiche so many Martyrs and notable persons which also our forefathers haue kept and obserued at the motion of a sory Frere which hathe folowed and professed the same him selfe many yeres As thoughe we had erred so many hundreth yeres As though Christ which hath promised to be euer amonges vs woulde haue suffered his churche to remayne so lōg in errours As thoughe he were onely wise and styrred vp of God for this intent to open the errour of the whole worlde which thinges are doubtles to all that wise be a very mockerye and be laughed at But they haue a deuilish purpose that vnder the pretence of Christiā libertie they may contemne all lawe rule and aucthoritie and work what outrage they lyst for seyng they haue already cōmitted sacrilege vnreuerently handled the lawes of holy Bishoppes and counsels yea cast they them in the fyre thinke you that they wyll knowe or obey any ciuill Magistrate but as they haue begon to sley Priestes and to enter vpon their possessions so wil they in fine ende theyr mischeuous enterprises with the Princes themselues theyr wiues childrē and families Wherfore he praieth and exhorteth them and for the aucthoritie and office that he beareth as the successour of Peter and Christes vicar also chargeth and commaundeth them that layinge all displeasure a part with newe reconciled mindes they come wholye together and quenche that cōmon and domestical flāme punishing Luther if he do not amende according to that new decre made by thēperor and them Folowyng herin thexample of theyr elders at the coūsell of Cōstance which burned there Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage as they wel deserued whose vertu in case they nowe would imitate God should not faile thē then might they also be in the more hope to giue the repulse to the Turke with all his violence Then wil he bestowe all his treasures yea and hys lyfe also for the flocke committed to his charge the rest as concernynge Luther they shall knowe of hys Legate Fraunces Cheregate Byshoppe of Aprutia vnto whome he prayeth them to gyue credite The ciuill warre that he spake of was betwyxte Rycharde Archebyshoppe of Treuers and Fraunces Sickynge a noble man that fauoured Luther very muche notwithstandynge the cause of that warre was not for Religion but for bicause the Bishop would not suffer two men wythin hys Iurisdiction for whome he became suertie to aunswere to the Law for so mentioneth the writyng wherin Fraunces sente hym defiaunce aboute the latter ende of Auguste Byshop Adrian wrote letters of the same effect to certein others also after he had greatlye detested the doctrine of Luther he required the Senate of Strasbourge that they should suffer no Bookes of his nor of his adherentes to be Printed and that suche as were set forthe already they shoulde not onely suppresse but burne also For he heareth say howe suche maner of Bookes are put in Print by theyr men and the contrary workes refused Whereunto vnlesse they obey he threateneth them with the wrath and vengeaunce of God For although they perseuer neuer so much in the olde Religion yet vnlesse they take from others the libertie to offende and the occasyon of errour let them not loke to scape vnpunished But where he saieth that whilest he was in Spaine he hearde of Luther thus it standeth This Adrian was a poore mans sonne of Utrecht in the egge of Hollande who for his learninge whiche he gote in the Uniuersitie of Louain was called to be Scolemaster to Charles that nowe is Emperour And afterwardes beyng sent Ambassadoure into Spaine he obteyned the Bishopricke of Derthuse of the kyng Ferdinando after whose death when the gouernement came vnto kyng Charles he remayned there as chiefe of his counsel At the same time Bishoppe Leo fell at variaunce with his Cardinals which had conspired his death in so muche as he dispatched so many what with exile and what with imprisonnement that he made one and thirtie newe Cardinals at one tyme partly for his owne defence and partly to get money amonges whom this Adriane was one Who afterwardes whilest the Emperour wēt to be crowned in Germany had the gouernemēt of Spaine in his absens And whan Leo the tenth died wheras Iulius Medices and Alexander Farnesius laboured excendyngly for it Adriane beyng absent and vnknowen was chosen Bishoppe the .ix. daye of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fyue hundred twenty and two Who hearinge thereof wrote letters of thanckes to the Colledge of Cardinalles for the good opinion they had of him And whereas iii. Cardinals were appointed to be sent to him Ambassadours into Spaine he willeth them to spare theyr paynes for so shortly as may be he will come to Rome him selfe He writeth moreouer to the Senate and people of Rome who were not a litel displeased that a straunger shoulde haue that dignitie promisinge them what soeuer pleasure he could shew them And a fewe monethes after chaunsynge on a fayre wynde he taketh shyppynge into Italy and arryueth at Rome in the monthe of August And all beit that at the same tyme Cesar was commynge out Flaunders to appease the rebellyon was arryued in Spaine yet departed he and neuer bad hym fare well but wrote vnto hym gentell letters signifiyng that he had great hast At the which time Soliman Emperor of Turkes had besieged the Rhodes three monethes and in the seuenth moneth when the knightes of the same had defended them selues most valeauntly beyng than destitute of all aide succor he toke it by cōposition the .xxv. of Decēber not onely to oure great losse but shame also At that self same time Cheregate the bishop of Romes Ambassador came to Norinberg and vpon new yeres day he sent frō thens to the Senate of Strasbourgh the Bishoppes letters offering his seruice in case they would writ an answere Whilest many bare grudge towardes Zuinglius diuerse as well within the citie as without preched against his doctrine as wicked and swaruing from the faith especially the
with you Moreouer because we folow not the steppes of Luther but of holy Scripture we ought not to be accompted in that numbre But in as muche as we knowe not what is done amonges you and be complained on to you by malicious parsons as though we had spoken for the aide of certeine cities we protest it to be a false sclaunder Of like sort is that where they say howe we wil sodainly by the so side of a dromme cause men to take Armure and so to surprise Baden and certeine other places Which lies are deuised for this entente and purpose that you might take those Townes and laye in them garuisous against vs. Which thing if it were done they doubt not but that some greater tumult would therby arrise which might kindle amonges vs domesticall and ciuile warre And besydes these there go manye other sclaunderouse reportes of vs as this is one Howe we shoulde teache that Mary the mother of Christe had mo sounes and that the yonger Iames an Apostle died for vs and not Christ him selfe These suche other like thinges would we haue cōfuted at Lucerne but you wold not suffer our men to speake vnto the people What tyme also that Eckins promised to come and shewe Zuinglius his errours we were right glad therof sent not onely him but also others a Safecouduict exhorting him earuestly to come and promisyng to shewe him all fauour Finally as we heare say the plucking downe of Images hath procured vs no finale displeasure But hereof we haue declared the cause and reason before Wherfore seyng we haue doné nothing against the conditions of our league seyng we refuse no perill for the safgarde of oure common countrey and beare you the lyke loue that we haue done alwayes in case you will permitte vs for to do Why suffer we this diuisyon to be made amonges vs It is knowen in what state and condition some of our Auncesters were which content with a poore liuinge that they gote with sore labor for them and their householde were oppressed of the nobilitie with extreme bondage But God looked mercyfully vpon them for they expulsed the tyrrauntes and gote libertie And after they were inriched with the substaunce of suche as they had driuen oute they fortified them selues with a league by the force wherof they were able to defende theyr coūtrey from the inuasions of all forein power and had many times the victory ouer theyr enemies For many they were the sought to seauer and break that societie but yet in vaine And what aide and power oure elders prepared at the same time we doubte not but you haue in remembraunce And these fewe wordes may suffice touching the begynnyng of our league For as for the faith indeuor and diligence that hath bene shewed of vs euer sins in amplifiyng the dignitie of our common countrey nede not to be recited And doubtles the same mynde and good will that we haue shewed euer hitherto remaineth styll in vs. And seynge it is thus it greueth vs exceadingly that you should through the perswasiō of others that seke theyr owne commoditie therby be so incensed against vs. Call rather to your remembraūce what amitie hath bene alwaies betwene vs what time in sundry places aswel at home as a broad we haue abiden the like chaunce of warre and done many thinges ryght worthely Assuredly the memoriall hereof ought not onely to bynd vs but also our posteritie with a most streight bonde of amitie If the cause of Religion or any other facte of oures do offende you why do we not reason the matter quietly and frendly amonges our selues as becommeth felowes and frendes knitte together in a brotherlye league we wyll neyther be frowarde obstinate nor vntractable but as we haue alwayes saide wil be content and glad to be reformed by suche as can teache vs better thinges And for so muche as the profession of the ghospell for sakynge of the Frenche league and moreouer many sclaunders inuented against vs haue torned your good willes from vs and altered your former mindes we must write these thinges of necessitie in defence of oure owne estimation For as we haue often saied vnlesse our errour canne be shewed vs by the Scripture we may not forsake our religiō what force so euer be bent against vs for the same Aboute the middes of February the Senate of Strausburge aunswered the letters that were sente them from the chamber imperiall and confuted all thynges that those three accusers for mo say they can not be founde had charged them with whom they reporte to be troublesome parsons which are fled out of the citie to styrre vp strife contension And therefore require them to gyue no credyte to them but to haue the same opiniō of the Senate as is mete to be had of thē which after the example of theyr elders seke the concorde and wealth of the Empire Also the Preachers thēselues wrote the same time vnto those counselers And in a longe oration declare the reasons of theyr doyng And for so muche as they haue committed nothyng againste Goddes lawe they require them moste humbly to geue no credite to theyr aduersaries nor determine any thing agaynst them before the matter be knowen That time the warre in Italy waxed hote betwixt the Emperor and the Frenche kynge who after he had beseged Pauie all winter aboute the later ende of February was taken in battell and caryed to the Emperour in Spaine In this warre the Bishoppe of Rome Clement was secretly of the Frenche parte but after this chaunge of fortune he gaue vnto themperors Captaines a greate summe of money to paye theyr souldiours Anthony Lena kept Pauie with garnisons of Germanes and Spaniardes The kyng had a wonderfull great armye in so much that the Imperialles beyng in dispaire of Lumbardie consulted howe to conueigh their armye and to kepe Naples but encouraged throughe the oration of Fernando Daualle marques of Piscare they gate the battell and wanne the felde and by takyng of a most mightie kinge they obteined a noble victorie and riche spoiles The Chirstaine was Charles de Lanoy a Bourgonion He pretendyng at the fyrst as if he would haue led the kyng to Naples takyng shypping he chaūged his course and sayled into Spaine that the matter might the sooner be pacified The Battel was foughten the same day that the Emperor was borne on the foure and twenteth of February In the begynnyng of the spring time began a newe commotion in Sueuelande and that parte of Germany that lyeth by the riuer of Thonawe of the bulgare people against the Prelates of the Churche pretendyng a cause as thoughe they would defende the Gospell brynge them selues out of bondage The magistrates promised to heare theyr complaintes and to reforme that was a misse but they perseuered still and encreased dayly And set forth certeine demaundes to the numbre of xii wherin they would be
into his handes The Frenche kyng whiche was retourned home leauing his children for pledges in Spayne sayde the conditiōs of peace were vnreasonable Wherfore sendyng Ambassadours to and fro the byshop of Rome and the Uenetians enter into league with hym the effect wherof is this That for the defence and quietnes of Italy they shall fynde an armye of .xxx. thousand fotemen of men at armes and lyghthorse men syxe thousande They shall also prouide an Nauie of two and thirtye galleys with Shippes of bourthen that what tyme they shall haue vanquyshed the enemy in Lumbardye and Italye they shall muade the kingdome of Nayles both by sea and lande which beyng ones wōne to remayne in the power of the churche of Rome yet so as .lxxv. thousande duckates be payde yerely to the Frenche kyng which claymeth a tytle in it That the dignitie of the house of medicees be maynteyned in the citie of Florence The Frenche kyng leaueth the Duckdome of Myllan to Fraunces Sfortia whome the Emperours men besegyng in the Castell of Millan constrayned to rendre and promiseth him his owne ayde and the Swycers to helpe hym also a wyfe in Fraunce of the bloud royall yet vpon this condition that he shal paye vnto him therfore yeare fyfty thousande crownes and fynde his brother Maximilian whiche is prysoner in Fraunce After this the byshop of Rome wrytyng his letters to the Emperour recyteth his benofites towards hym what goodly offers he refused at the Frenche kynges handes for his sake howe that when the kynge was taken he gaue a hondreth thousande Duckates to his captaynes vpon certayne conditiōs that he hath vttered vnto hym oftentymes the coūsels of his enemies that what time his men dyd besege Frances Sfortia in the Castel of Millan and certen men of great power moued hym to ioyne in league against hym he would not heare them For all the whiche thynges he is full euyll recompensed For his souldiours haue wrought suche iniuries shame and mysery to hym and the churche of Rome as hathe not bene hearde moreouer that neyther the condicions are fulfylled nor his money restored how it appeareth what good wyll he beareth hym whiche woulde not make hym prinie vpon what conditions he concluded with the Frenche kynge that he vtterly reiected his suite intercession made for Sfortia howe he sent the Duke of Burbon frō the siege at Marseilles to reyse vp a newe kynde of warre in Italye for the whiche causes he is of necessitie constrayned to make a league with suche as loue the quiet and wealth of Italy Wherfore if he wyl also be content to embrace peace well and good if not he shal not wāt force and power to defende Italy and the common wealth of Rome In this league was comprysed the kyng of England and with great promyses was desyred to be the protectour therof Unto this epystle Cesar aunsweryng at Granato the .xviii. of September reaccompteth his desertes and benefites done vnto hym Howe that by his sute and meanes he was made byshop of Rome howe before that tyme he gaue hym an yerely pension of ten thousande duckates out of the reuenewes of the Archebyshop of Toledo when he was legate to byshop Leo notwithstandyng that he had conspyred against hym with Albert prince of Carpes to haue dispossessed hym of Naples and Sicily When the Frenche men were dryuen out of Italy by the conducte of Bourbon he could not deny him but that he myght warre in Fraūce or els where to recouer of the Frenche kyng his owne he graunteth the kyngdome of Naples to be holden of hym not withstandynge in case sayeth he you should make any warre there you shoulde thereby lose all your right and tytle for euen for the same causes that the Cliente loseth the benefite graunted for the selfe same also doth the Patrone lose his prerogatiue Before the kyng was taken you entreated of a peace but it was to the intent you might haue inioyed the Dukedome of Millan And therfore the Uenetians and Florentines withdrewe their ayde through your motion from my captaynes against their league For the Frenche kyng confesseth openly howe throughe your prouocation he entred into a newe league before he went out of Spayne And I knowe by certayne reporte that you haue dispensed with him for his othe wherby he is bounden to me Furthermore you haue moued warre before the letters wherein it was proclaymed were vnto me deliuered seking not only to dryue me out of all Italy but also to depose me from the dignitie of the Empyre For all this am I able to proue by the letters of Ferdinando Daualle Marques of Pistare whome you would haue entysed in to your league promising hym the kyngdome of Naples I haue tytle to Millan by mo wayes than one yet for the quiet of Italye I suffered Sfortia to enioye it And whan he was greuously syck I would haue placed in his steade the Duke of Bourbon for that I sawe it pleased you well and dyuers others in Italy And the cause why Sfortia was besieged in the Castel of Millan was that he had committed treason against me by ioynyng in league with you wherof beyng detected he would not delyuer to my captaynes the Castelles of Cremone and Millan neyther make his pourgation nor come to any talke in the matter Your request was that I should forgyue hym altogether whiche I neyther coulde nor in deede ought to doe lest by an euyll example I shoulde gyue an occasiō vnto Clientes to offende against their patrones Touchyng the peace concluded with the Frenche kyng I kept nothing secret from your Ambassadours for the condicions be suche as I would not haue concealed for they tende to a publique peace and to the resistaūce of Christes ennemies But se the vnworthines of that thing Ther commeth more money yearely to Rome out of my Realmes and prouinces than doth from all other nations That is to be proued by the requestes of the Prynces of Germany what tyme they complaynyng greuously of the court of Rome desyred a reformation Whose cōplaint at that tyme I neglected for the zeale I bare to the churche of Rome Whiche thynge considered and for as muche as I haue geuen you none occasion of offence I do instantly requyre you to lay down your armies And I wyll doe lykewyse And seynge we are bothe appoynted of God as two great lyghtes let vs endeuour our selues so as the whole worlde maye be lyghtened through vs and not that by reason of dissention there should aryse an Eclypse Let vs regarde the publique weale and attempt to dryue out the Turkes to quenche the secte and errours of Luther For this appertayneth vnto Gods glorye and hereof ought we to begynne and after to debate other controuersies you shall haue me ready vnto all these thynges which if I can not obtaine but that you wil nedes perseuer to play the man of warre I do proteste here that I
nothyng ought to be taught and such places of Scripture as appeare to be some what obscure can not be better expouÌ„ded than by other more manifest places of the same Scripture therfore wyll they dwell herein endeuourynge that the bookes of the olde and newe Testament may be taught syncerely and playnly For this is the onely meane and waye that is euermore certayne sure And as for mens tradicions they are grounded on a weake foundation The decree of the last assemblie was enacted for peace and concorde but in case this decree should take effecte it would opeÌ„ the waye to muche trouble and displeasure for euen nowe all be it the decree of Wormes was suspended doe some Princes seke to make some of their subiectes to forfyte their goodes for not obseruyng that decree where of men may easely coÌ„iecture what wyll insewe if the same decree shal nowe take place agayne and that some of them wyl vse force and coÌ„pelle men to suche thinges as can not be done with a saufe conscience But that is not well spokeÌ„ that the fourmer decree was penned with suche wordes as many did abuse the same thyng tyl the counsell were called they myght doe what they lyste this is bruted of them chieflye whiche are lytle afrayde of the last iudgement whan all thynges shal come to lyght for their partes they wyll not refuse to aunswer before indiferent iudges to suche as wyll saye that they haue in anye poynte broken the same decree Whiche thynges standyng thus they can not consent to this their decree And howe they wyll aunswere the matter both openly before all men and also to the Emperour hym selfe And in the meane tyme tyll eyther a generall or els a prouinciall counsell of Germany shal be called they wyll do nothyng that shall deserue iuste reproufe Unto this protestation of Prynces certen of the chief cities laying their heades together did subscribe as Strausborough NoreÌ„berge Ulmes Constance Rutelinge Winsseme Meminge Lindane Campedune Hailbrune Isne Wysseburge Norling and Sangall And this is in dede the first original of the name of ProtestauÌ„tes which not only in Germany but also emonges foreyn nations is nowe coÌ„mon and famous Ferdinando was departed out of the assemblie of Princes before thei had protested notwithstanding that the Duke of Saxon and his felowes required him to tary a litle After this the protestantes deuise a certen appellation wherein they doe appeale from the decree made at Spires vnto the Emperour to the next lawful general or prouinciall counsell of Germany and to all iudges that be not suspected and determined also to sende Ambassadours to the Empeperour Not long after this the men of Zurick and Bernes sent forth their armies against their ennemies of the fiue townes that made league with Ferdinando declaryng why they so did by wryting And emonges sondry causes and iniuries whiche they recite this is one that what tyme certen of their Citezens came for money that was dewe vnto them the Snites whypped them naked and the UnterualdiaÌ„s had in despyte hanged vp their Armes and also the Armes of the Cities of Basil and Strausborough vpon the gallous and howe they haue all ioynctely made a league wyth kynge FerdinaÌ„do to oppresse Religion and to roote them out of the couÌ„trey wherby they haue not onlye infringed the lawe of nature but also broken the bondes that were betwene them in conspiring with their moste vtter and mortall ennemie whome to subdue they haue long and many yeares euen froÌ„ the first beginning of their league with one assent ioyned together al their force and power When both armies were ready to ioyne in battel by the mediation of their neyghbours and by them of Strausborough the matter was taken vp FerdinaÌ„do had sent theÌ„ ayde which came as farre as the Rhine emoÌ„ges other thinges it was agreed vpoÌ„ that they should haue no warre for religion and that from henceforth they should absteyne from all opprobriouse wordes vnder a great penaltie The Frenche kynge consyderynge the state of his chyldren whiche he had lefte pledges in Spayne and what euyll successe he had of his warres in Italye hauynge loste bothe his Armie and also his chieftayne Latrechus And more ouer Androwe de Aure of Genes a Captaine of the Sea moste skylfull who about the same tyme that Lantrech the Coronell dyed reuolted from the Frenche kyng to the Emperour restoryng his countrey vnto lybertie he inclined hys mynde to peace Wherfore at Cambrey a Cytie in Artoys mette the Ladye Margaret the Emperoures Aunte and Ales the kynges mother and many other Nobles and emonges others Erarde Marchiane Cardinall and Byshop of Liege whyche concluded a peace in the moneth of Auguste wherein they recite the decree which was made thre yeare before in Spayne agaynste the Lutherians whiche they newely ratified the other conditions were partely altered For the Emperour permitteth the Frenche kyng to inioye Bourgundy in case he haue a sonne by his sister And the kyng paieth vnto the Emperour for the delyuery of his sonnes tweÌ„ty hoÌ„dreth thousand crownes accompting herein the debte dewe to the kyng of Englande Not loÌ„g after the Emperoure imbarked hym selfe in Spayne and arryued at Genes At what time also Soliman the Emperour of Turkes by the prouocation of Iohn Uaynode made by his Ambassadour Hierome Laske a Hongarian a man of an excellent wytte marcheth with an armie innumerable through HoÌ„gary into Austrice and in the moneth of Septembre layeth sege to Uienna the chief citie of that countrey He assayed to vndermyne it and where as he had ouerthrowen the walles he gyueth the assaulte desperatly but seynge the Souldioues of the garnyson whiche were Germaines whose chief captaine was Philip the Palsgrane defendyng the breache moste valiauntly by the space of one moneth about the eight day of Octobre he raised his siege and departed without his purpose many thousandes of meÌ„ in his retourne partely slayne and partly lead away into myserable and vyle captiuitie At his departure he created the Uayuode kynge at Buda This yeare also was Germany sore afflicted with a newe kynde of disease called the Sweathing sicknes Men were sodainly takeÌ„ with a pestilent sweate and within foure and twenty howres eyther they died or amended And before the remedye was knowen many thousandes peryshed It began at the Ocean sea and in a very small tyme spred ouer all Germany and with vnspeakeable spede lyke a fyre conâ—â—med all thynges farre and nere it is called in Germany the English sickenes For in the first yeare of Henry the seuenth kyng of England whiche was the yeare of our Lorde M cccc lxxxvj the same death began in that Ilande and because in a new disease the remedy was not knowen it made a wounderful destruction Moreouer this yere was small plenty of wyne and corne wherfore all those thynges whiche God in his displeasure is wonte to caste vpon vnthankefull people sedition warre sycknes
the wardshyp of his nephewe Albert the sonne of his brother Casimire And they went about to perswade with the Lantgraue that in case he would agree vnto the Emperour Ulriche the Duke of Wyrtemberge should be restored and that an agrement myght be had by the Emperours meanes betwene hym and the Erle of Nassoe for the rule of Chattes In this Assemblie the byshop of Rome had graunted to kyng Ferdinando all maner of Plate and ornamentes of golde and syluer of all the churches in Germany for the Turkyshe warre and also to take a subsydie of the clergie but the Princes woulde not suffer it sollicityng the Emperour to make that decree frustrate The .xviij. of August Erasmus of Roterdame wryteth to Cardinall Campegius from Friburge Howe the Emperours power is in dede great but all men doe not acknowledge this name The Germanes do so acknowledge it that they rule rather thē obey Luthers doctryne is sowen abroade throughout Germany farre and neare in so muche that the chayne of this mischiefe reacheth from the Ocean sea vnto the vttermoste borders of Swycerlande Nowe if the Emperour shall attempt to accomplyshe the byshop of Romes desyre in all thynges it is to be feared lest he shall haue but fewe to commende his doinges Moreouer in what great daunger of the Turke we stande in whose power all the force of Europe is skant able to resyste And what a thynge it is to fyght with vnwyllyng souldiours it is manyfest by mo examples than one The Emperour doubtlesse is of nature inclyned to peace Neuerthelesse by a certen desteny haled and inforced to warres Fraunce and Italy haue bene sore afflicted wyth warre nowe of many yeares But this warre wyll doe more harme than all the reste if it be not well forseen Men are commonly perswaded that all these thynges are done through the instigation and counsell of the hyghe byshop But the feare is lest a great parte of the peril redounde to the Emperour him selfe Thei that loue sectes are in dede worthy of punyshement but yet ought rather a respecte to be had for the preseruation of the common wealth The state of the churche was in tymes past full miserable whan the Arrians Pagans Donatistes and the Manycheis sowed abroade their opinions and also the Barbarous nations made warre Notwithstandyng it waded out of all these daungers at the length For verely tyme it selfe wyl at laste bring remedy also vnto most daungerous diseases The Bohemers were borne with al though they did not acknowledge the byshop of Rome If the same were also permitted to the Lutheriās it were not amisse in his conceipt and all be it this were verye muche yet were it a great deale lesse euyll than warre The seuent daye of Septembre the Emperour sendeth for home to his house all the Pryntes and states catholicke about none And two houres after for the duke of Saxōs and his fellowes and commaunding all others asyde sauyng his brother Ferdinando the byshoppes of Constance and Hispalia Granuellan and Truckesse he speaketh by Fredericke Palsgraue on this wyse how he had trusted assuredly that beyng so frendly and gently warned after their confession exhibited they would haue taken his parte And all be it that his hope was in vaine yet at the request of the Princes he was content that certen should be chosen on eyther partie to conferre and to make an agrement And thus was he brought agayne in to a newe hope of a concorde But nowe he vnderstandeth to his great grief that they dissente from the others in the chiefest opinions whiche is cleane contrary to his expectation for he wold neuer haue thought that they beyng so fewe in numbre wold haue induced suche newe fanglednes against the auncient sacred custome of the whole vniuersal churche or chouse vnto them selues a seuerall religion so farre differinge frō the bishops of Romes religion his from king Ferdinandos al the princes states of the Empire yea from all the kinges and princes of the whole worlde But now for as much as their desire is to haue a generall counsel here to haue a quiet decree made he whiche chiefly coueteth quietnes wyll deuise with the byshop of Rome and other christiā Prynces to haue one called so soone as they can agree vppon a place This wyll he vndertake to brynge to passe but yet vnder this condition that in the meane tyme they shall obserue the same Religion that he and other Prynces doe For to procure a counsell and to suffer this gere to hange waueringe and not to prohibite this newe fanglednes euery man sayeth plainely howe sore and preiudiciall it woulde be to hym and others They make an delyberate aunswere that neyther they haue brought vp newe secte nor swarued frō the Christian churche In that he refused not a counsell they gyue hym great thankes desyryng hym that so shortely as is possible there maye be had in Germany a lawfull and a free counsell as in the laste and former assemblye of Spyres it was agreed vpon But to receiue again the ceremonies of the Romyshe churche ones abolished they can not with a good conscience The Emperour after long consultation aunswereth them agayne by Truckesse that he hath red ouer diligently all their disceptation and fyndeth that they swarue very muche from the Christian churche Marueylyng also at the lyghtnes of the other parte that they would graunte to so muche and agayne at their styffenes that would not take theyr offer And where they craue a counsell by the decrees of the Empyre it can take no place in them which refused the last decree protested against it and appealed from it whiche appellatiō notwithstanding he maketh none accompte of For reason woulde that the lesse parte should be comfourmable to the more But howe small an handfull are they to be compared with the great byshop and hym and with the rest of the Christian Prynces Wherfore he desyreth to knowe whether they wyl maynteyne any further talke or discourse of the matter for he wyll spare no payne nor trauayle to brynge them to an attonement whiche if they shall refuse to doe and yet perseuer in theyr purpose than muste he doe as becommeth the protectour of the churche And because it is now nere night he gyueth them leaue to take aduisement tyll the morrowe The next daye whan all the States were assembled at the howre appoynted Pontane a Ciuilian was set to aunswere for the Duke and his companions If the Emperoure in dede doe vnderstande the whole matter he wyll than geue credite to their fyrste tale and doubt not but that theyr doctryne shall be adiudged by the testimonie of a Godly and a free counsell to be agreable to Gods worde Wherfore it is the lesse to be marueyled that they dyd not receyue suche thynges as were of late offered and graunted That appellation of necessitie was obiected againste that parte of the decree where it made
loke as theyr Duke Ernest would doe so woulde they also Afterwarde they consulted about geuyng theyr voices for sodayne ayde leuieng of money for continuall ayde chousyng of Captaines and receiuing of those that would be of the same league After that they appointed theyr attourneis and aduocates to aunswere for them in the lawe if the Emperour or any other should attempte sute against them And to this parte of defence adioyned them selues George Marques of Brandēburge Norinberge Campedowne Heilprune but the league they refused It was decreed moreouer that open crymes should be punished by eche man in his dominion Before the league was made they toke the aduyse and counsell not only of lawyers but also of the diuines And Luther taught alwayes that they myght not resiste the Magistrate and set forth a boke of the same matter But where as the lawyers in this consultation dyd affyrme howe the lawes did permitte in some cases to resiste and howe it was nowe come to the same point that the lawes made mencion of Luther confessed playnlye that he knewe not this to be lawfull before but for because the Gospell doeth not impugne nor abolyshe the polityke lawes as he hathe alwayes taught And agayne for as muche as in this doubtful and daūgerous tyme many thynges may happen so as not only the lawe it selfe but also the force of conscience and necessitie may dryue vs to take weapons he sayeth howe they make a league in their owne defence whether the Emperour hym selfe or any in his name shoulde moue warre against them In a booke also set forth he declareth firste howe obstinate the Romishe syde was in the conuocation at Auspurge secondly he warneth all men in generall that they obeye not the Magistrate commaunding them to take in hande any suche warre And he reciteth manye and moste detestable errours of the Romyshe doctryne whiche he sayth are mainteined of them that warre in those campes Wherein he sayeth is great wickednes he sheweth also howe greatly mens myndes are lyghtened by the knowledge of the Gospell warnyng men to tempre them selues from entryng in to wycked warres They appoyted an other metynge at Frankefurte the fourth daye of Iune wherein they should determyne whether they of Zurick Bernes or Basyll shoulde be receyued into the league without exception of any opinion or doctrine and the cities make a determinate answer touchyng the preparation for their defence And also an aunswer was framed in the meane tyme by the Duke of Saxon to the Emperours letters wylling them to take Ferdinādo for kyng of Romanes which thynge they wil not graunte to But whylest they were yet at Smalcalde they receyued letters from the Emperoure pourportinge howe the great Turke was comyng with an exceading great Armie to inuade Germany wherfore he charged them without exception to prepare their ayde to resiste They make aunswere howe they wyll after thensample of their progenitours refuse no charge or dutie that they owe to the cōmon wealth But he knoweth what threatning wordes the Marques of Brandenburge spake vnto them at Auspurge in his name and the rest of the Prynces and what thynges were there decreed against them howe they haue both there and synce sewed vnto hym for peace and can get no graunte nor answere Wherfore to sende their ayde agaynst the Turke whan they can obtayne no peace at home but are dryuen to loke dayly for outlawyng and violence were to vnarme them selues and to cut their owne senewes Howe be it if he wyll graunte them peace and quietnes frō the lawe and ciuile warre for Religion vntyll the tyme of the counsell they wyll doe agayne for theyr partes not only in the Turkyshe warre but also in all other affayres that concerne the common wealth that thynge whiche shall be their dutie requesting him to signifie vnto them by the same Ambassadours what his mynde and pourpose is herein In the moneth of Marche Rychard Archebyshop of Treers departed out of this lyfe not without the suspicion of poyson and one of his house being racked for the same through his constance and stoutenes escaped the daaunger This byshop was of great authorite emonges the Electours for his experience and frankenes in speakyng Whan they of Ulmes had asked leaue of the Senate of Strausborough Bucer went thether set an ordre in the churches prescrybing them a forme of Religion by the aduyse and counsell of Oecolampadius and Ambrose Blanrer About this tyme the Lady Mary the Emperours syster which was maried to Lewys kyng of Hongary came into Flaunders whom the Emperour made Regent of all the base countreis in the place of hys aunte Margaret lately departed Clement the seuenth was at sute with alphonse Duke of Farrare for the cities of Rhegio Mutina at the length makyng a compromisse they put it to the Emperours arbitrement who being at the same tyme in Brabant gaue sentence with the Duke of Farrare The Frenche kyng aunswereth to the letters of the Princes and cities of Protestauntes the .xxi. of Aprill How he desyreth nothing more than the concorde of all Europe and is right glad that they do also bende the same waye and couet to haue a counsel for the same appeareth vnto hym to be not only profitable but also ryght necessary And so ofte as he chaunceth into talke of refourming the cōmon wealth He iudgeth alwayes thatthere can be no surer foundation than if that holy spyrit vtterer of all truthe myght in this case be president Whereunto if others would geue lyke consent and a place myght be assigned for the counsell voyde of all daunger and suspicion where as euery man myght speake his minde frely nothyng be chief geuen to affections than in dede there were good hope that all should be well And where as they are carefull lest he should beare them the lesse good wyll by reasons of the sclaunders of their aduersaries they nede not to be afrayde for he is not wont to credit thynges lightlye that are reported of his ennemies but seing there is so great so auncient frendshyp betwene the kynges of Fraunce and Prynces of the Empyre what vngentylnes were this of his allies and frendes to cōceaue a sinistrall opinion especiall and they not harde for how muche he setteth by this olde amitie hereby it is well perceyued that what tyme he hath warre with the Emperour yet haue the Germaynes the citezens of the Empyre free accesse into Fraunce and libertie to passe from thence againe whan their marchaundise busines is done as muche at their owne pleasure as if they were at home in so muche as Fraunce may very well be called the mansion place of the prynces and citezens of Germany And al be it these thynges be cōmonly knowen yet are they not so great but that when occasiō shall serue he wyl do muche more for them in case as they do professe they shall not refuse the decree of a
mother holy churche An therfore the people beleue that there is nothynge more hurtfull and wicked in all the worlde than this kynde of people And it is cōmonly seen there that whan they are burning in flammes of fyre the people wyll gnashe theyr teeth at them and euen in the myddes of theyr tourmentes wyl curse and deteste thē as wicked and vnworthy to loke vpō the sonne And where as the Turkes Ambassadours were at the same tyme in Fraunce and the kyng hymselfe had heard that he was for this same cause brought into hatred and suspicion throughout Germany And that this fyryng had offended manye the first day of February he addressed his letters vnto all the Prynces and states of the Empyre excusyng both the commyng of the Turkes Ambassadours into Fraūce by the example of others whiche haue sent receyued Ambassadours from the Turke in lyke case And also the burnyng of Lutherians saiyng that he was constrayned to be seuere against his owne nature wyll by reason of the rashenes of certen whiche vnder the pretence of Religion intended the destruction of the common wealth and so excuseth the matter as though it had bene for rebellion and not for Religion that these men were executed At the first beginning of the spring tyme the Lantgraue went vnto king Ferdinando as in the yeare before it was agreed vpon for a full reconcilement and there founde he Peter Paule Uerger newly come thither from Rome Who vpō this occasion did his message to the Lantgraue concerning the counsel before mentioned but he taking deliberation made him none other aunswere After that Uerger traueling to the rest of the Princes applied his busines with diligence And a fewe monethes after the Lantgraue Duke Ulriche also went vnto kyng Ferdināde For where as it was conuenaunted that they should both come and aske him pardon commyng at seueral tymes it was easely graunted Howe beit Duke Ulriche was sore offended both with the Lantgraue and also with the Duke of Saxon that they had consented that he shoulde holde his landes of the house of Austriche and was of long tyme doubtful whether he woulde ratifie the peace made or no at the lengthe by the perswasion of his frendes he went to Ferdinando according to the conuenauntes In the moneth of Aprill the Emperour tooke shippinge at Barchin and transported his armie into Barbarie And whan he had wonne the citie of Tunnes and taken the castell of Golete he restored the kynge of that countrey Muleasses being of Mahumetes Religiō whome Barbarossa the Turkes admirall had before expulsed byndyng hym to paye him tribute and after he had fortified the Castell with a strong garnyson he sayleth into Sicilie Unto this warre byshop Paule sent certen Galleis furnyshed by the cōduicte of virginie Ursine also did permit him to take tenthes of the clergie in Spaine Barbarossa through our mens negligence and ignoraunce steppynge asyde escaped And first he fled to Hippon and from thence to Argiers where he repared his nauie and returned to Constantinople In Englande were two notable men Iohn Fysher byshop of Rochester and syr Thomas Moore knyght both very well learned For the fyrst wrote sondrye bookes against Luther and Moore also whilest he was Chauncelour whiche is the chiefest office there extremely punished suche as were suspected to be of Luthers doctrine They neither approued the kings diuorsemēt much lesse the act of Parlamēt which denying the byshop of Romes supremacie affirmed the kyng to be head of the church of Englād wherupōbeing both apprehended wher they perseuered obstinatly ī their opininiō th◠yere in the month of Iuly they were beheaded The byshop of Rome had made Rochester Cardinall whylest he was prysoner in the Towre which thyng was supposed to haue kyndled more hatred against hym Afterwarde about the ende of Octobre Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan died without issewe whiche gaue the occasion of a newe warre as shal be shewed hereafter In the meane tyme the Emperour came out of Sicilie vnto Naples and in his letters written the laste daye of Nouembre to the Protestauntes he sayd in dede that he wold obserue the peace of Norinberge notwithstandyng he was informed howe thei had taken churche goodes and did withholde the same and whan iudgement was geuen that they should make restitution they refused alledging the pacification of Norinberge which appereth vnto hym vnreasonable and can not but discontente and offende hym About this time also went the prince Electour of Saxony vnto kyng Ferdinando in Austriche and hauing dispatched his busines for the whiche he went thether in his retourne home at Prage the chief citie of Bohemy met him the byshoppes Legate Peter Paule Uerger who declared vnto hym his message touchyng the generall counsell whiche the byshop Paule intended as he sayed to holde at Mantua free Godly and lawfull without any condicions whereunto al other Prynces had consented for he had bene with them all namely in Germany Wherfore if he should nowe refuse it men woulde suppose that nothinge could contente hym When both the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando are willyng with the thing and the place and the byshop so ernestly desyreth the same that vnlesse he brynge it to passe he wyll doubtles be wery of his lyfe Therfore nowe the tyme requyreth that he should declare howe muche he loueth the aduauncement of Gods glory and the common wealth willing him not to let passe this presēt oportunitie whiche he should hardely at any tyme hereafter recouer And albeit he woulde nothynge further the counsell yet neuerthelesse should it procede and Christ they trusted would not fayle them Wher vnto the Duke of Saxon sayd whā he had deuised with his fellowes he wold make him an answere requiring him to deliuer vnto him such thinges as he had spoken in wrytinge Wherfore at the kalēdes of Decembre exhibiting a wryting he declareth thinges more at large and otherwyse than he had spoken before howe other Ambassadours were sent vnto other kinges and he vnto king Ferdinando the Princes of Germany how Mantua is the place agreed vpon by the Emperour other kynges that Germany is ful of Sacramētaries Anabaptists and suche other sectes that it is to muche daunger for other nations to kepe a counsell emonges them for they are for the moste parte Franticke and without all reason Agayne such as supposed that the byshop woulde gyue place in his ryght that hath bene of so longe time confirmed to be farre disceaued And they also that beleue howe the Emperour can holde a prouinciall counsell of Germanye agaynste the byshops wyll are as muche abused And where as they talke of a saufe conduicte and pledges for theyr commyng into Italy there is no cause why it should so be For Mantua is a Citie of the Empyre nere vnto Germany and nexte the dominions of the Emperour and the Uenetians wherfore there is no daunger Finally he
sayeth howe he wil go to kyng Ferdinando abiding there for their aunswere He had been before in Saxony and had spokē with Luther at wyttemberge And in his retourne to kyng Ferdinando he met with the Duke comming from thence homewarde The Protestauntes were appointed before to mete at Smalcalde the sixte of December for other matters Wherfore the .xxi. of the same they framed an aunswere for the byshops of Romes Ambassadour whiche they saye is not so exacte as the thynges requyreth yet for as muche as he desyred to haue the same with expedition playne manifest And first howe they haue declared their myndes concerning a counsell both in diuerse assemblies and also two yeare synce to the Emperours and byshop Clementes Ambassadours For they also wyshe to haue a lawfull counsel for the preseruation of the cōmon wealth and common saluation of all men and haue required this of the Emperour ioyntly with other Princes who also thought it nedefull hym selfe doubting not but all good men do desyre suche a counsell as may helpe and profite the common wealth For it greueth many good men that the true and holsome doctrine is through the wicked crueltie of certen men euery where oppressed the members of the churche tone a sondre and open crymes mainteined but suche crueltie becommeth not the Rulers of the churche Wherfore if euer there were any nowe is moste nede of a counsell that bothe the olde accustmed vyces maye be roted out and also vniuste violence and crueltie be restrayned and the churche from henceforth set in due ordre They therfore wyll not fayle the common wealth herein but wyll ryght gladlye come vnto suche a counsell as in sondrye assemblies of the Empyre hath bene agreed vpon Besechyng God that all the doinges there may redounde vnto his glory and the saluation of men And wher as the bishop hath chosen Mantua to be the place they truste assuredly that the Emperour wyll not in this poynte swarue from the decrees of the Empyre and his owne promyse also in as muche as it was prouyded that the counsell should be holden in Germany For where he sayeth it is daungerous keping of the same there the truthe is farre other wyse for what peryll can be there where all the Prynces and Cyties are obedient to the Emperoure onlye Where the Cyties be so ordered that they defende straungers from iniuries and saue them from all peryll Therfore oughte it chieflye to be kepte there to the intent that matters in controuersie might duely be debated that men might frankely speake and iudge vpryghtly and feare no force nor faction but saye theyr myndes freely Two yeares paste Clement the seuenth promysed a counsell with conditions verye captions And nowe the chiefest point is craftely left out touchyng the lybertie of the counsell and more of the treatie and partlye referred to the Byshop of Rome whose office they saye it is to call and ordre the counsell Nowe is the byshop whiche hath so ofte condempned theyr religion and doctrine their opē enemie But in case they should permitte theyr aduersary to geue iudgement than coulde not the counsell be free wherein by the aduyse of the Emperour and other Prynces Mete men should be chosen out of the whole numbre whiche accordyng vnto Gods worde might heare and determine the cause For a counsell is the iudiciall seate not only of the byshop of Rome but of all other states also for it is to be proued by the examples of the primatiue churche and also by holy scripture that Prynces and other states haue in tymes paste been admitted in counselles for the hearyng of matters But wheresome woulde haue the byshoppes power to be aboue the authoritie of the whole churche it is agaynst all reason and full of tyrannye For it belongeth as well to the Emperour and other ciuile states to set in foote in counselles and to chose experte men especiallye in suche causes where the byshoppes errours be impugned that is to wytte false doctrine and Idolatry for this thynge is permitted also by the byshop of Romes lawe And feinge that this is the vniuersall cause of all men and concerneth the whole common wealth it is the Emperours parte and other Prynces to forsee that vpryght iudgement be had For both other byshops of their owne people and also byshoppes of Rome haue in times paste bene condempned for Heresy and obstinacie of the Emperoure and the churche together And at this tyme there is contention of manie weightie matters whiche the byshop doth defende not in wordes only but also by wycked and cruell decrees punishyng most sharpely suche as obey not the same For as muche therfore as he is an aduersary and susteineth the one halfe of the sute the thinge it selfe requireth that the whole church the Emperour other kinges take in hande to prescribe an ordre for the deciding of the matter wherfore as they haue done euer so they requyre nowe also that the matter maye be handled vpryghtlye accordynge to the examples of holye wrytte and the olde primatiue churche And if it so maye be they wyll not be behynde with theyr partes trustynge that truthe shall come to lyghte and the glorye of our Sauioure Christe be aduaunced and tranquillitie be restored to the Churche but if it be otherwyse there is no doubte but greater commotions wyll arryse therof than hytherto hath bene seen for their partes they wil at no tyme neglecte the common wealth And as they can not forsake nor shrynke from the true doctrine so lykewyse in all other matters they will do all thynges for peace and concorde The kyng of Fraūce whiche was fully determined to make warre in Italy sent Ambassadour Williā Bellaye to this assemblie at Smal calde Who the .xix. daye of Decembre had there an eloquent oration And first he excuseth the kynges seueritie in punyshynge certen of his owne subiectes whiche not withstanding was nothing preiudicial or hurtfull to their cause of Religion though some euill tongues dyd reporte so no more than it was displeasure to him what tyme they with all their force did suppresse the rebellion of their commons and punyshed the Anabaptistes doing yet nothing without iust cause wherfore he distrusteth not but they be men of such wysdome and grauitie that they wyll of no lyght reporte conceaue any euill opinion of so noble a kynge that is their frende who was nowe for vrgent causes not here to be spoken of constrayned against his nature to vse extreme punishment lest hauing so large a Realme he should through ouermuche lenitie set open the wyndowe of wickednes to the temeritie of manye And touching their religion and doctrine the kyng wyll not take vpō him the persone of the iudge but in dede lyketh many thinges well the rest he leaueth vndiscussed After this he goeth about to wynne theyr fauour and confuteth theyr opinion whiche had warned them to be ware of forayne
in the meane tyme 〈◊〉 a thousand The kyng the quene with theyr familie serued what tyme they had eateÌ„ wel and that supper was almoste done the king him selfe reacheth bread vnto euerye one with these wordes take eate shewe the death of the Lorde And the Quene geuing the Cuppe sayeth drynke and shewe the Lordes death This done the Prophete before mentioned goeth in to the pulpet and demaundeth of them whether they wyll obey Gods worde Whan they had all sayde yea It is the heauenly fathers commaundement saith he to sende forth preachers of his worde to the numbre of twenty eight whiche going into the foure partes of the worlde may preache the same doctrine that is taught in this Citie Than he reciteth their names and she weth whether eche man shall go Wherfore sixe were sent to Osenbridge as many to WarreÌ„dorfe eight to Soest and as many to Cosâ—elde And than the kynge and the Quene suppe with the rest of the seruitours and the Preachers that were appoynted to be sent forth In supper tyme the kynge ryseth vp and sayeth he hath a little busines that the father hath communded him it chaunced that a souldiour was taken prysoner whome the kyng accuseth of treason as an other Iudas and beheaded hym his selfe After this he retourneth to his supper and telleth merely what he had done After supper these foresaid eight twenty were sent away about nyght and besydes their charges euery man had deliuered him a piece of golde whiche they were commaunded to leaue in suche places as would not admitte their doctrine Whiche should be a token of their destruction and death euerlasting for refusyng of peace and holsome doctrine offered Who setting forth whan euery man came to his place they cried throughout the townes that men shoulde repent and do penaunce or els they should shortly be destroyed they spread their clothes vpon the grounde before the Magistrate and threwe down vpon the same the pieces of golde whiche they had receiued affirming how they are sent of the father to offer them peace which if they wyl receyue thei bid theÌ„ to communicate their ryches But if they refuse so to doe than do they by this sygne witnesse their acte and vnthankefulnes For this is the same tyme that all the Prophetes haue spoken of before wherin God would haue ryghteousnes obserued through out the whole vniuersall worlde And whan the kyng shal accordyng to his duty haue brought the matter so to passe that iustice shall reigne in all places than shall Christ deliuer vp the kyngdome to his father What tyme they had spoken thus they were apprehended and fyrst by gentle meanes and afterwardes by tormentes being examined of their beliefe and kynde of lyfe and the fortification of the citie They make aunswere howe they only haue the true doctrine and that woulde they witnesse and stande to the death For since the Apostles tyme hitherto the worde of God was neuer preached ryghtly neither hath there bene any iustice And that there be foure Prophetes wherof two are iuste Dauid and Iohn Leidane and two vniuste the byshop of Rome Luther who is worse than the other is Being damauÌ„ded why they did expulse the innocent people out of the citie contrary to their fidelitie and promyse taking their goodes their wyues and their childre and by what place of Scripture they could proue and defend this their iustice They say that nowe is the tyme come wherin Christ sayd how the meke should possesse the earth And that after the same sorte in times paste God gaue the goodes of the Egiptians vnto the people of Israell Afterwardes speakyng of the numbre of men and victualles within the citie they affirmed that diuerse and many had aboue fiue wiues Moreouer howe they loked dayly for a greater power out of Hollande and Friselande So sone as they should come the kyng would marche forwarde with his whole Armie to subdue and coÌ„quere the world destroying kinges and Princes for that they had not ministred iustice After their racking whan they perseuered styl in their purpose and would acknowledge no Magistrate besides their owne kynge they were rewarded with the losse of their heades Neuerthelesse one escaped But nowe was the citie on euery syde so narrouly and straightlye besieged that there was no waye to go out Wherfore the citezens fearing famine being carefull for their owne perill thought to apprehende the kynge and sende hym to the byshop bouÌ„de But the king hearing therof chose out twelue amonges them all whiche he thought were moste faithful vnto him and called them Dukes and appointed to euery of them a garde and some part of the towne to kepe lest there should aryse anye tumulte amonges the people Than maketh he promyse to the multitude howe at Easter they should be deliuered both from siege and penurie But vnto the twelue Dukes whiche he chose he promised more ample thinges a great deale telling them howe they shoulde haue the chiefe rule and gouernment namyng also what couÌ„treis townes and Castels he would geue vnto euery one of them He sayd he would only spare the Lantgraue for that he trusted that he woulde take his parte at the length I shewed you before of the assemblie appointed at Confluence in the moneth of Decembre for the states of the prouince of Rhine Unto whom also Friderick the Prince Electour of Saxony annexed him selfe of his owne accorde In this assemblie after consultation had was decreed to ayde the byshop of Munster immediately with thre hundreth horsemen and thre thousande footemen for syxe monethes ouer the whiche garryson and the whole warre also Wiricke Countie Obersted had the charge They decreed moreouer to sollicite the residue of the states imperiall for their ayde And because the Emperour was in Spayne to entreate king FerdinaÌ„do that against the moneth of Aprill he assigne a generall metyng for the same purpose After this they admonishe them that were beseged by their letters earnestly wrytten that they should leaue forsake theire enterprise whiche was so dishonest and wicked as nothynge could be more And vnlesse thei would obey and submit them selues vnto their laweful magistrate they do proteste that the byshop who nowe besegeth them shal not wante the ayde of the whole Empyre This was at the ende of Decembre And at the Ides of Ianuary in the yeare a M D. xxv Thei write again with many wordes in dede but to smal purpose yet so as they coÌ„mended and mainteined their quarel but vnto that whiche was obiected vnto them for makynge of a kynge they aunswered nothynge at all Howe be it in theyr letters to the Lantgraue they go about to excuse the matter speakinge many thynges of the salle and destruction of all wickedmen and of the deliuerauÌ„ce and kyngdome of the Godly in this lyfe And sende him withall the booke of Restauration before mentioned admonyshyng him to amende and that he attempte no
kyng and his two fellowes were caried hither and thither vnto Prynces for a shewe and mockery By the whiche occasion the Lantgraues preachers enter in disputation with the kynge touchynge these opinions chieflye of the kyngdome of Christe of Magistrates of Iustification of Baptisme of the Lordes supper of the incarnation of Christe and of Mariage and by the testimonies of Scripture priuayle so farre that albeit they did not chaūge him wholy which stroue and defended his opinions stifly yet did they turne him cōfounde him so that in fyne he graunted to many things whiche not withstanding he was supposed to haue done to saue his lyfe For whan he retourned vnto him the seconde tyme he promysed if he myght haue his pardon to brynge to passe that the Anabaptistes whiche were in Hollande Brabant Englande and Freselande an exceadyng great numbre shold kepe sylence and obey the Magistrates in all thynges Afterwardes the same preachers reasoned with his fellowes also both by mouthe and wryting of mortification of Christening of Chyldren of the communion of goodes of the kyngdome of Christe What tyme they were brought to Telget the kyng beyng demaunded of the Byshop by what authoritie he durst be so bolde to vsurpe so muche libertie vpon his Citie and people He asked hym again who gaue him that power and aucthoritie ouer the Citie And wher the Byshop made aunswere that by the consent of the College the people he had that rule and iurisdiction And I sayde he was called hether of God At the thirtene kalēdas of February thei were brought again to Munster cōmitted euery man to a seuerall pryson And the same daye also came the Byshop thether accompanied with the Archbishop of Collon and the Ambassadours of the Duke of Cleue The space of two dayes followyng was spent in Godly admonitions that they myght be reduced from their heresy And in deede the kynge confessed his faulte and fled vnto Christe through prayer The other two neyther woulde acknowledge any offence and yet stode obstinatly in their opinions The next daye the king was brought vp to the skaffold and tied to a post There were two hangemen ready and eche of them a payre of tonges read hote at the three first pulles he helde his peace afterwarde callyng continually for Goddes mercy whan he had bene thus turmented an howre and more and at the last was thrust to the harte with a sharpe poynted dagger he left his lyfe and his fellowes had the same punyshement Whan thei were dead they were fastened to grates of iron and hanged out of the hyghest towre of the Citie called saynet Lambertes the king in the myddes a mans height aboue the other two In the moneth of Ianuary of this present yeare died the lady Katherine Dowager whome Henry the eyght kyng of Englande had put away thre yeares before I shewed you in the fourth booke howe Fridericke Duke of Holste was by the helpe of the Lubeckes made kyng of Denmarke After whose death there arrose mortall warre betwene his sonne Christiane that was kinge after him and the Citie of Lubecke But where as the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue Ernest Duke of Lunenburge and the Citie of Breme Hamborough Maydēburge Brunswicke Lunenburge and Hildisseme intreated a peace This yeare in the moneth of February all was pacified Than had Charles Duke of Sauoye a certen space maynteyned warre against the Citie of Geneua beynge ayded by the Byshop of the same Citie or set on rather partely for the profession of the Gospell partly for other matters And the Citie of Geneua was ioyned in league with the Citie of Bernes in Swicerlāde of whome at the length receiuing great ayde they gaue the repulse to their ennemies And they of Bernes marching further subdued al that laye cōmodious for their countrey euen to the loke of Geneua The residue of the Swicers also that bordered vpō Sauoye did the same Whylest this was a working the kynge of Fraunce whiche had longe before purposed to warre in Italye but especially synce the death of Fraunces Sfortia leuieng his Armie in the begynning of the spryng tyme maketh warre also with the Duke of Sauoye his vncle for a controuersie of inheritaunce whiche he said was due vnto him possessed and deteyned by the Duke Who beynge already much inpoueryshed by the Swycers and therfore an vnmete matche for so puissaunt an ennemye was in short tyme dispossessed in maner of his whole Duckdome For the kyng passing ouer the Alpes inuadeth also the countrey of Piedmount and amonges other taketh Turrine the chiefest town in those partes fortifieth it with workes and strength of men by the conduict of Philippe Schabotte Admirall The Duke of Sauoy had marryed Beatriche daughter to Emanuell kyng of Portugall and the Emperours syster Isabel And in the former tyme he addicted him selfe to neyther of them but now where he semed to incline to the Emperour he styred vp the king his nephew by his owne syster Lewesse against him Some reporte howe byshop Clement what tyme he was at Marseilles as in the last booke is recited gaue the kyng this counsell that in case he intended to recouer Millan he should first seke to be lorde of Sauoy and Piedmonte adioyning to the same Howe soeuer it was the kyng in the yeare followyng after a certen newe custome ordeyned through out the Realme of Fraunce legions of Souldiours to the numbre of forty thousande whiche shoulde exercise their weapons and be in a readynes when tyme of seruice came For where as aunciently the kynges of Fraunce haue alwayes maynteined cheualry and their whole force hathe bene horsemen this man would haue also footemen ready monstered that he shold not euermore haue nede of forein souldiours And the kynges purpose was to leade forth his armie and make warre thereby in Lūbardie to the intent he myght recouer the Duckdome of Millā which he had before enioyed syxe yeares together and contented that it was his and the right of his children by Ualentine his grandmother sister to Philippe Uicecounte the last Duke of Millan of that familie And thus the matter standeth The house of Uicecoūtes bare a noble brute in Lumbardie And the first of them is accompted Otho Archebyshop of Millan who in the tyme of Raffe Emperour expulsed the Turrians a noble and worthy familie whome his nephewe Matthewe his brother Theobaldus sonne succeded after hym Galeace Actius Luchine Iohn Matthew the seconde Galeace the seconde Barnabas Iohn Galeace whom the Emperour Wēceslans created the first Duke of Millan He had two sonnes Iohn and Philippe which died both without issewe and one daughter Ualentine Fraunces Sfortia a stoute warriour married the bastarde daughter of Philip and by that occasion vsurped the Dukedome of Millan secludyng Ualētine Philippes syster whome Lewys Duke of Orleaunce brother to Charles the sixt kyng of Fraunce had maried Sfortia had thre sonnes Galeace Lewis
Prynces also to geue their assistaunce after the forme of the league What time these thinges were thus come to light because there was great daunger towarde and the occasion of warre was sought of them the LaÌ„tgraue furthwith wrote his letters to his father in lawe Duke George and declaringe the whole matter as it stoode sheweth how he hath great wrong offered him how he maketh no preparation for warre About the same time Matthias Helbus rode in great post haste through FrauÌ„ce into Spayne to the Emperour Afterwardes the Lantgraue wrote to king Ferdinando and to his syster Mary Regent of Flaunders to the Princes Electours the Dukes of Bauier after the same sorte as he did to Duke George his father in lawe and maketh his purgation Whan the Duke of BruÌ„swicke perceiued that the matter was disclosed and heard of the Lantgraues letters he aunswereth that he hath not susteined wrong at his handes only whiche nowe hath taken his Secretary but also by the Duke of Saxon the last yeare whan by the commaundement of kyng Ferdinando in the Emperours name he went to Duke George of Saxony and againe comming home from Norinberge what tyme the league was made than did he laye wayte for him Unto this the Duke of Saxon aunswereth For as muche as he denied him and his fellowes saufeconduicte whan they went to brunswicke against the lawe and custome of the Empyre he coulde thinke none otherwyse of hym but to be his ennemye he had dyuerse tymes before gone with two or thre with hym disguysed in seruauntes apparell that he should not be knowen through his and his brothers countrey priuely neyther did he whiche knewe this well enough empeche or lette him But after he would haue the passage stopped for hym and his league frendes why should he thinke to haue more libertie with other men than he wyl graunt vnto them Wherfore vpon this occasion they began to write one against an other which not long after ended in most sharpe and bitter inuectiues hauing in dede the beginning of the Duke of Brunswicke whiche after a rare example amonges Princes let passe no kynde of raylyng and opprobrious wordes as bokes set forth in prynte doe declare Whylest these thynges are a workynge dieth Iohn Duke of Cleaue leauyng William his sonne and heyre whome Conradus Heresbachius from his chyldhode had instructed in good letters and maners What tyme they were come to Franckefurte in the moneth of Februarye accordyng to the appoyntment After much sondrye and sharpe debatynge of the matter they concluded at the last the nyntene daye of Apryll vpon these conditions The Emperour to the intent a coÌ„munication of learned meÌ„ may be had coÌ„cerning religion graunteth to the coÌ„federatours of the doctrine professed at Auspurge whiche are nowe in that numbre truce for .xv. monethes and commaundeth that in this meane tyme they be not molested in any case concernyng Religion The peace of Norinberge and the Emperours decree at Regenspurge are also for this tyme ratified And if duryng the tyme of this truce they can not fully agree in Religion yet shall that peace be of force vntyll the nexte assemblie of the Empyre And if perchaunce there be an assemblie before the truce be expyred yet neuerthelesse that peace shall take place vntyll the other assemblye In the meane whyle during the tyme of this truce the Emperour doeth suspende all suites and actions in the lawe commenced againste the Protestauntes and also the outlawyng of the Cytie of Myndin and if anye thynge be otherwyse done he commaundeth it to be frustrate Where it is wonte to be obiected vnto them as though for the profession of this Religion they myght not consiste in iudgement the same shall take place no longer but they shall enioye the benefite of the lawe without exception Agayne the Protestauntes shall moleste no man and durynge this truce shall take none in theyr league yet so as no man susteyne anye wronge in the quarell of their Religion The Emperour shall also forsee that no man be receyued more ouer in to the contrary league The Protestauntes shall permytte the clergie to enioye all those yearelye profites whiche they haue at this daye By the consent of the Emperour a daye shall be assigned at the kalendes of Auguste at the whiche daye should mete at Norinberge the Cathoqliues and ProtestauÌ„tes such as were good men and desirous of peace and not contentions or frowarde Those shal chouse out a certen numbre of diuines whiche quietly and frendly may conferre of religion with them also shal be ioyned others that professe not diuinitie but yet experte men and sobre Moreouer the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando if they lyste maye haue their deputes in this conference and what soeuer shall there be agreed vpon by consent of eyther partie shal be signified to the states that be absent who approuing the same the Emperours Ambassadour also shal ratifie it or els the Emperour him self in the next asseÌ„blie of thempire after he shal haue coÌ„firmed shal coÌ„maund to be kept inuiolate Both parties shal lay away the preparatioÌ„s vnto war he that shal seme to go about any thiÌ„g shal be enforced to shew the cause why he doeth it yet so as no maÌ„ be inhibited to kepe a defeÌ„ce necessary in al other thiÌ„gs the law of theÌ„pire shal be of both parties obserued In this truce are coÌ„preheÌ„ded neither Anabaptists nor others that followe a doctrine coÌ„trary to the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of Auspurg The protestaÌ„tes shal haue in a redines ayde for the Turckish warre that ther be no delay And whan the Princes Electours and other principall states shall at the Emperours commaundement sende their deputes to Woormes at the .xviij. daye of May the ProtestauÌ„tes shall sende theirs also that they may consulte of soden ayde against the Turke and what someuer there shal be agreed vpon by the consent of the more parte to the same shall they also subscribe And if the Turke shall moue warre duryng the tyme of the truce they shall resiste hym with the reste And these thynges to be ratified in case the Emperour within syre months shall allowe the same begynning from the kalendes of May. And in the meane tyme that agrement concerning the truce and not to augmente the league shal be of force And in case the Emperour do not declare his mynde within the same tyme â—yet shall the peace of Norinberge be in as full strength and vertue hereafter as it was before The Emperours depute here was Iohn Archebyshop of Londe for Heldus was gone into Spayne as before is sayde And kyng Ferdinando also sent thether his Ambassadours The Protestauntes were there many and the Duke of Saxon him selfe and the Lantgraue whiche brought with them certen diuines The Palsgraue and the Marques of Brandenburg both Electours did intreate as meanes The Duke of Saxon amonges other thynges protested this at that tyme that he would not attribute to Ferdinando the title of
these matters of the maner of the othe of the nōber also of the disputers and of geuing of voyces they had a longe altercation For when the catholickes perceyued that the counsellours of the Paulsgraue the Marques of Brādenburg electours also of the Duke of Cleaue were inclined towardes the Protestants fearing lest they shoulde be ouer coōmen with voices of a set pourpose differred the matter from day to day tyll such tyme as they had other worde from themperour as herafter I shall declare And the second daye of Ianuary they doe propounde new and straunge condicyons that of the whole nomber ther should be chosē two diuines to reason the matter that the scribes should wryte theyr argumentes and delyuer them to the presydentes that the lesse parte shoulde not bee bounden to followe the opinion of the greater vnlesse themperoure and the states of th empyre shoulde thynke it expediente that the notaryes shoulde not write all the talke of the reasoners but the bare sentences whether they wer agreed vpon or left in controuersie that the decree of Auspurge and such other lyke shoulde neuertheles be of force But the Protestantes agayn require that forasmuche as ther bee .xxii. on bothe partes appoynted to conferre euery man mighte speake hys mynde And that not only the bare sentences but also the Argumentes and reasons with the probations of the same be committed to wrytyng They declare also that it is vnreasonable in this most holy cause of al others to follow the opinion of any part not rather the prescripte of gods worde or to compell any man that he shoulde eyther thynke or speake against it Whilest the time was thus prolonged the Protestantes oftētimes cōplain thereof and desire that the disputation of the doctrine propounded at Auspurge may accordinge to the decree of Hagenawe be forthewith commenced especially consyderyng the same to be a frendly disceptation and not captious to th entent a certen way vnto concorde might be prepared The diuines also which were there very many required the same as Melancthon Capito Bucer Osiander Brentius Caluine Alesius a Scot sent thither by the marques of Brandenburge diuers others vnto whom wer annexed Symon Grineus and Iohn Sturmius At the last aboute the Ides of Ianuary the catholickes choose Iohn Eekius and thothers Melancthon to dispute together And first of all to th entent they might procede in order they Reason of originall synne by course in open consistory but beholde the thirde day after the disputation began Themperours letters wer brought to Granuellan and to the rest of Ambassadours wherin he differreth the whole matter vntill the assemble at Regenspurge commaunding chiefly the Protestantes to come thither Granuellan to repare vnto hym with all syede These letters beyng red in the consistorie the xviii daye of Ianuary Granuellan exhorteth them to obey themperoure and come vnto Regenspurge for he is very desyrous of peace And yf he him self by occasion of talke hath spoken any thyng roughly he desyreth them not to take it in euell part and promiseth to beare hys good wyll towards the publyke weale Whereunto the Protestantes say how they are ryght sory that the disputation had not begō a great whyle souner and that they cānot now procede further therin but for asmuch as themperour doeth so commaund they must obey Wherfore they wyll now retourn home to declare howe all thinges stande and doubte not but their Princes and cities will gratifye thēperour herin Notwithstandyng in case it be longe or euer they come or sende they ar to be holden excused by reason the time is but shorte In thys assemble was also Peter Paul Uerger bishop of Iustinople in worde as for the Frenche kyng but sent in dede by the Bishop of Roome who supposed that he myght serue hys tourne better beynge there in another mans name he made an oration of the vnitie peace of the churche and settyng it foorthe in prynte he gaue it there to dyuers Wherein he goeth about chiefly to proue that we maye not ones thynke vpon a counsell prouinciall for that same Assembly dyd represente a certen shew of the lyke thyng and semed to prepare the waye for the Byshop coulde abyde nothynge worse and Uergerius knewe hys mynde full well By hym therefore and by suche others of the bisshops ministers the thynge was letted and at the lengthe dyssolued For in tractyng of the tyme fyndyng of delayes they seeke startyng holles and wayes to escape In the begynnyng of Ianuary themperoure takyng hys Iorney from Brussels came vnto Mentz the head citie of Lorayne from thence by Spires he goeth to Regenspurge by the way sent those for sayd letters to Grāuellā he traueled by Norinberge whiche citie he had not sene before and was receyued with moste sumptuous preparation The eleuenth day of Februarye Philyp Schabotte Admirall of Fraunce a man of great honour beyng brought into suspicion with the kynge for not acquitinge himselfe in the warre of Sauoye beefore mentyoned after longe and mooche inquisityon of hys demeanoure was condemned of extortyon and treason and depriued of al his honour dignities which he had most ample without all hope of restitution and was committed to prison at Uincen not farre frō Paris William Poiet Chaūcelor of Fraūce gaue this sentence at Mellon at the which Iudgement were all the notable men and Iudges in the lawe in all Fraunce Albeit that sentences geuen after this sort are wont euer to be dissolued or altered yet by the kynges authoritie not longe after he was cleane released as ye shall heare afterwardes About this time also Maurice the son of Henry Duke of Saxonie maried Agnes daughter to the Lantzgraue In the moneth of Marche diuers Princes and states resorted to Regenspurge when themperor had taried for them a certen space Thither came also the Lantzgraue with a great company almost atthende of Marche And the nexte daye wente to themperor with his garde about him of whom he was receiued right gentlye The duke of Saxonie sent thither a most honorable Ambassador and Diuines among whom was Melanchton From the Bishoppe of Rome also came Caspar Contarene a right famous Cardinall There were present the prince Elector of Brandenburg Friderick and Otto Henry Paulsegraues William and Lewis dukes of Bauier Henry duke of Brunswike Charles duke of Sauoie George marques of Brandenburge Philip Duke of Pomerane moreouer the Bishops of Mentz Salisburg Breme Bamberg Spires Auspurge Eistet Constance Hildessene Brixie Passaw Aboute this time came forth and was brought to Regenspurge a boke of Martin Luthers very vehement written in the vulgare tounge against the Duke of Brunswycke In the last boke before this I mētioned of this dukes inuectiues against the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue And where in a booke set forth of late he called the Duke of Saxō Heretike rebel Cain Monster Eesope hauing nether vertu or qualitie of body
wer the letters that were sent to and fro betwene Bellaye and the Marques for this matter but nothyng els was done whan Daualus after moche searche sayd he could not fynd nothing and herin perseuered The king moreouer by his ambassadour complayned to themperour at Regenspurge And whan he receyued not suche aunswer as be wolde he declared manifestly enough that warre wold insue therof It chaunced at the same time that George of Austriche Maximilian his bastarde son Archebishop of Ualencene came out of Spain to retourne into Flaunders Who at Lyons was apprehended cast in prison to reueng Rincon Fregose Aboute the same tyme Fraūces son to Anthony Duke of Lorayne maryeth Christine the daughter of Christierne Kynge of Denmarke Dowager of Millan The Frenche kynge tooke thys displeasauntly and so moche the more for that the yere before the daughter of Lorayne was maryed to Renat Prince of Orenge whiche depended wholy of themperoure Whattyme Themperour helde the counsell at Regenspurg king Fernando besegeth Offen or Buda and layeth to it battery wherein was than the wydowe of Iohn Uaynode with her yong sonne Stephen The infantes tutours and nobles of the realme had desyred the Turkes ayde Wherfore the Turke sendeth thither his liuetenant with an armie whyche came to Offen in Iuly And not longe after commeth he with an other power so wer Fernando his men repulsed Almaignes Bohemers Morauians leuing the siege not withoute a greate ouerthrowe and losse also of Pestum a Towne ouer agaynste Offen the residew wer glad to saue themselues by runnyng away About th end of August the Turke sendeth presentes to the infante Stephen cloth of golde and goodly horses and letteth shew hys mother howe he is desyrous to see the childe requyring her to sende hym vnto hym into hys Tente The woman sore affrayd whan she might not otherwise doe by thaduise of her counsel sendeth hym and hys Norice with him accopanyed with a greate nomber of the nobilitie He receyueth hym right gently and after sendeth word to the quenes counsellours that he woulde haue Buda deliuered vnto him for he sayeth they are not able to kepe it agaynste the enemie and he shoulde be driuen to come oftē hither with an armie which would be both very painful charg able therfore it should be better that he had it in his custodi They being affraid of their owne daunger haue not a word to say Forthwith was the captain of the Ianizarens appoynted to enter the Towne neither could the quene receiue her some again before the thing was accomplisshed Whan they had possessiō of the Towne vnarmed all the citezens they require also to haue the castell deliuered vp in to their handes wherin the quene was than whom the Turke by messagers sent betwene comforteth and permitteth her her son to enioie Trāsiluania Whan she therfore had sodēly packed vp her stuffe was departed being conducted with captaines soldiors of the Turkes Thēperour of Turkes his two sonnes came into Offen the second daye of Septembre And entring into the churche newly hallowed and geuing thankes to his god for that lucky successe he retourneth agayne to his campe leauing his garrisons at Offen at Peste he leadeth home the rest of his armie and by the way deliuereth Lascus whom he leaft prisoner at Belgrade when he went to Offen for the takyng of Fregose Rincon For the Frenche kyng being sore offended with that acte had by his ambassadour Poline signifyed the whole matter vnto Solyman When the sessians were dou at Regenspurge themperour goth streight into Italy end talketh with the bishop of Rome at Lukes whilest his armie toke shipping which he had gathered before of Almaignes Italians and Spaniardes And because winter was now at hand the bishop did what he could to put him in feare of sayling but he although he had heard of the ouerthrow geuen in Hōgary to th end he might vex the Turkes in an other quarter was fully resolued to go foreward and wayinge his Ankers he hoysed sayle in porte Uenery and keping his course by Corsicke and the Ilandes of Baleare the .xxiii. day of October he arriued at Argier a Citie of Barbarie by the Sea coaste The nombre of his footemen was .xxii. thousande hys horsemen were littell aboue a thousande The vantewarde of the Spaniardes led Farnando Gonzago Uiceroye of Sicilie the Battel which was of Germanes the Emperour The reerewarde of Italians and Knyghtes of the Rhodes Camillus Columnas The same daye that Themperoure arriued and the nexte daye after the wether was fayre and the Sea calme But the thyrdde daye there arrose so greate a tempeste and so contynuall a rayne that it letted all warlyke enterprises in so muche that the Emperoure losynge verye manye Shyppes hys munition and all hys other fournyture beesydes two or three thousande of hys menne was enforced to departe without his pourpos and at length retourned into Spayn in the moneth of Nouember Sir Henry kneuet being ther at the same tyme ambassadour for king Henry the eyght lost all that he had and escaped drowning verye narrowely for when his owne Ship was ready to synke he lept out and was receyued vppō an oare into an other shippe by Thomas Kneuet a kinsman of hys who had recouered that shyppe before Thus had our affaires both by Sea and by lande as well in Affrica as in Europe a doulfull ende This yeare was also noysome to Germany by reason of contageous sicknes especially aboute the Rhine amonges others at Strasburge died Capito at Basyll Symon Grineus both men of excellent learnyng th one of them a great diuine thother a philosopher and a great fauourer of the Scripture Themperour at his departure out of Germany tooke order with Fridericke Palatine that he shoulde through the Princes Electours treate with the Duke of Cleaue for restoring vnto hym Gelderlande They sende theyr Ambassadours and admonishe hym boothe of hys owne priuate perill and also of the publicke disturbaunce he sayeth how he is bothe ryght heyre tooke the possession lawfully and is also content the matter be tryed in the law beseching them that they wolde suffer hym to susteyne no wronge but perswade themperours mynde vnto equitie And whan themperour imbarked hym selfe in Italy he leaste Granuellan to sollicite the Bisshop for a counsel and to set order in the comon weale of Senes sore tormoyled with sedition When newes came into Fraunce in December of themperours losse at Argiers ther was many merye harte for many men stamped for the murther of Rincon and Fregose and now they sayde how the tyme was comen to reuenge them King Fernando after this euill lucke losse of Peste and Offen calleth an Assēblie of hys states at Prage the chief citie of Boheme There at the laste amonge other thynges the nobilitie of Austriche the .xiii. day of Decēber putteth vp a supplicatiō to the kyng wherin first to
citie The kinge hym selfe maketh warre on an other syde and marchinge foreward with a strong Armie besegeth Parpignan a Towne of Ruscinon in the mountaynes of Pyrene Moreouer he moueth warre in Piedmount by the conduicte of William Langey and also in the borders of Flaunders by the gouernment of the Duke of Uandome So that he assayled his enemies in fyue sondry places wherby the iudgement of many it had ben better for him to haue set vpon some one prouince with his whole power as th ende also declared for both he attempted Parpignan in vayne and also whan the Duke of Orleans was retourned home the Imperialles recouered all agayne except it were Iuey By this occasion they began to fortifie Andwarpe where before it was easy to bee wonne When the kinge pourposed to haue warres he sente agayne Poline to the Turke to entreate hym that he wolde sende him a uanie into Fraunce but where it was longe or Poline came there Solyman differred the thyng vntil the next yere Duryng this warre the king setteth forth proclamations against the Lutherians Moreouer the parlament of Paris chargeth the Printers vnder a great penaltie that they shoulde neyther prynte nor sell any bookes condempned or suspected namely the booke of Caluine whiche is intituled the Institution of Christiane Religion Further more at the request of the Inquilitour as they terme hym the seuenth daye of Iuly he maketh a decree that the preachers shall admonyshe the people to doe their duty to the churche and if they know any Lutheriane or one that thinketh amisse in Religion to present hym for this is a worke to God moste acceptable And the Ministers of the churche had an order prescribed whiche they should followe in that inquirie For they were coÌ„maunded to inquyre of the promoters whether they knewe any man that would saye how there was no purgatory whan a man is dead to be eyther saued or dampned or that a maÌ„ is not iustified by obseruing of Gods commaundementes that God only must be called vpon not Sainctes that the worshipping of images is idolatry that sainctes worke not miracles that the ceremonies of the churche profite nothing that the lawes of the churche doe bynde no man that the knowledge of the Gospell is necessarye for all men without exception or that it is a fonde parte of the common people to pray to God in Latin how the priest caÌ„ not forgeue sinnes through the Sacrament of penauuce but to be only a minister to pronounce the benefite of God whiche forgeueth our synnes that the church can bynde no man to mortall synne or that it is lawfull to eate fleshe at al tymes This fourme of inquisition was geuen priuately to priestes but openly was set forth a proclamation wherin they were coÌ„maunded to be presented and accused whiche doe neglecte the Rites and lawes of the churche or suche as haue bookes contrary to the christiaÌ„ fayth and eyther geue them others to reade or purposely let them fall in the wayes as they goe that thei may be founde those that assemble in priuate houses and gardens and forge diuises against the lawes of the chruche and they that receyue suche kynde of men into their houses or gardens They that are priuie to any suche thyng are commauÌ„ded to presente them within syxe dayes to the doctours of Diuinitie chosen by the Inquisitour or els to stande accursed The Stacioners were also charged that if they had any thyng eyther prynted or wrytten that were in any point suspected or that swarued froÌ„ the custome of the churche that within syxe dayes they should bryng it before theÌ„ after none excuse to be taken The same daye that this acte was proclaymed they had a generall procession for the preseruation of the realme and of Religion And saynt Genefeua their trusty Goddes was borne about with suche solemnitie as I haue before declared in the nynth booke And in these dayes were certen brent in place Moberte for Religion At the same tyme Fraunces Landrâ—e Uicar of S. Crois in Paris taught the people syncerely and sayde no Masse for that he branke no wyne whether he did it of nature or of purpose I knowe not Against whome the Diuines had conceaued a great hatred And after thei had noted certe in thinges in his preaching they propounde vnto hym these articles The sacrifice of the Masse to be instituted of Christe and is vayleable for the quicke and dead that we must praye to sainctes that they maye be mediatours and aduocates for vs vnto Christe howe the substaunce of bread and wyne is chaunged in the consecration that only preastes may consecrate bread and wyne and that the whole supper of the Lorde apperteineth to them only Monasticall vowes must be kept that by the Sacramentes of confirmation and vnction is receiued the holy ghost by prayer fasting good workes soules are delyuered out of purgatory that the lawes of the churche concerning fastyng and choyse of meates doe bynde the conscience that there is one hygh Prelate and Byshop of the Churche whome al are bounde to obeye by the lawe of God how many thinges must be beleued and of necessitie receyued that are not expressed in the scriptures that the Byshop of Romes pardons doe release the paynes of purgatory that priestes beyng neuer so synfull and vicious doe consecrate the Lordes body that all deadly synne must be confessed to the priest and than to receyue of hym the sacramentall absolution howe man hath free wyll wherby he may doe good or euyll and ryse from synne through repentaunce howe not by fayth only but by charitie and true penaunce is obteyned the remission of synnes how the churche and counsell beyng lawfully assembled can not erre and therfore must be obeyed howe the iudgement and interpretation of Scripture apperteyneth to the churche if any thyng be in controuersye These thynges would they haue him to subscribe to and confirme with his Seale He a fewe dayes after aunswereth generally that it is good and Godly what so euer the holy catholyque churche hathe taught in these matters but they not content with this aunswere attempted greater thinges against him as afterwarde you shall heare In this tyme also one or two Freers of saint Dominickes order preached the Gospell at Metz. But whan the priestes shewed them selues sore offended diuerse citezens made petition to the Senate that they would not forbidde theÌ„ promysing al dewe obedience The ther came also William Farell who taught first priuatly in the citie and afterwardes in a certein Castell without But what tyme the Emperours letters were brought wherin he commaunded that they should alter nothyng in Religion but punyshe the offendours the people were forbodeÌ„ to heare any more sermons vnles the preacher werlicenced by the Byshop and the Senate This sommer an infinite nombre of grassehoppers came flieng into Germany and the hither parte of Italy They were of a wonderfull bignes and where
soeuer they lyghted they eate vp bothe grasse and corne Concerning the Duke of Brunswicke of his moste bitter inuectyues against the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and of the burnyng of certen places in Saxony I haue spoken oftener than once And nowe where he vexed with continuall inuasions and robberies Goslarie and Brunswicke cities of the Empire inlincked with the Protestantes and would not obeye the decrees of the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando who at their request had commaunded him to cease from all violence the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue in the name of al their confederates make warre against him and with in a short space brynge all his countrie into their subiection and his strong castell of Wolsebutell standing not farre froÌ„ the citie of Brunswycke wherein he put all his truste they wanne by composition he taried not long hymselfe but whan they began to inuade he fled with his eldest sonne Charles Uictor to the Duke of Bauier In that forsayde castell were founde sondrie letters wherby it was evident to see what thinge he and the Duke of Bauier the Byshop of Mentz Heldus and diuerse others went about but that shal be after repeted in place conuenient The Protestauntes in a wrytyng set forth declare a Large the causes of this their doinge and shewe howe they dyd not begynne this warre but of necessitie defended their fellowes In the fourmer assemblie at Spier they had intreated kyng Ferdinando that in the Emperours name and his own he would coÌ„maunde him to suffer the Goslarians to lyue in rest by hym Ferdinando followed their myndes who at the same tyme had nede of their ayde agaynste the Turke and sendyng his Ambassadours warned hym sharpely to surcease but he aunswered contemptuously and proudlye and would not leaue whereupon ensued this desension before rehersed for they had shewed kyng FerdinaÌ„do at Spier that vnlesse he obeyed his decree they would not suffer their fellowes to susteyne this wrong At the Ides of Iuly was an other assemblie of the Empyre at Norynberg for so it was decreed at Spier because of the warre in HoÌ„gary Kyng Ferdinando was present and the Emperours deputies were Fridericke the Palsgraue the Bishop of Auspurge Fridericke counte Furstemberge Hugh Monforte Iohn Nauie Ferdinando propoundeth howe the Emperour toke it in very good parte that they sente an army into Hongary who had purposed to haue bene at the same warre him selfe with all his power and therfore had called an assemblie of the states in Spaine but in this coÌ„futation he fell into a great sickenes and so was constrayned of necessitie to differ it tyll an other tyme And whan he was nowe fully resolued of the matter and how to haue sent his force out of Italy and Burgundye before than brake foorthe thenterprises of hys enemyes in so much that he hath cause to feare some perill not only in Iâ—aly but also in Flaunders and Artoys Wherof notwithstanding he hath geuen none occasion who chieflye loueth the comon tranquillitie but as they knowe well enough how thenemies haue euer sins the assemblie at Spier endeuoured to leuie men in Suyserlande in Germany to begin the warres thus is the Emperour against his mind impeached and letted so that he can neyther come hym selfe nor send his force which he hathe nede of for his owne defence neuerthelesse he is fully mynded before the nexte yeare goe aboute to retourne into Germany and accomplishe the warre in hys mynde so long intended And that he will haue on the Sea also a nauie well prepared furnisshed that the Turke beyng assayled with double warre maie not bende hys whole power agaynste Hongary Moreouer whan he cometh into Germany he wil leaue nothyng vnattempted that maye make for the godly and tollerable reconcilemeÌ„t of Relygyon And after complayning that almen did not obey the decree of the last assemblie for some sent no soldiours others sente but not the full nombre som were sent foorth without money there wanted also of the munitioÌ„ furniture that was promysed which thinges for because the captaynes made complaynte of he vewed himself and sawe it was so And for that the whole iorney was letted herby to the detriment daunger of the empire he is commen vnto this assemblie not without his losse hinderaunce to require theÌ„ that in so nedefull a time they would not faile the coÌ„mon wealth Before FernaÌ„do toke his iorney from Uienna to come to the assemblye at Norinberge beeing aduertised of the war of Brunswick he sent a messager to exhorte theÌ„ to surcease And now that he was comen to Norinberge by coÌ„moÌ„ aduise were sent Ambassadours the soÌ„me of whose oration was this that they should not try the matter by force of armes especially at this time for in case they did it were to be feared lest the Turkish war should behindered ciuil warrestered vp in Germany Unto this the Duke and the Lantzgraue made aunswere the .xi. of Auguste oute of theyr campe before the Castell of Wulfebuttel recyting the causes of this enterprised defence declare that the thyng might not otherwise haue ben doon And that albeit they were dryuen of necessitie to take thys warre in hande to theyr greate charges yet haue they neuerthelesse sent ayde to the Turkishe warre fully as moche as they wer boundeÌ„ neyther wolde they fayle also to dooe the lyke hereafter And yf all other men wold doe the same ther should be no nede to feare the dissolution of the armie But the lacke that is in many men is reported by the mouthes and letters of diuers which seing it is so and forasmoche as the Duke of Brunswick coulde by non other meane be quieted contemning both the Emperours and kyng Ferdinando his coÌ„maundement and also the decrees of the Empire they desire them not to misconstre this their doyng for they seeke no man by this warre but him only neyther doe they refuse whan thinges be appeased to sende al their force to the aide of HoÌ„gary as much as they are able to make This assemblie ended the sixe and twenty daye of August a penaltie was set for suche as obeyed not the decree of Spier and certein other thinges for the warre requisite were enacted There were no Prynces there sauinge Walter the Master of Prussia and the Bishops of Bamberge Eistet and Trente and themperours deputes before named You haue harde before of Cardinall Contarene He for hys ambassade had no greate thanke of the Bishoppes and Cardinalles and was charged that he was not vehemente enoughe in resystynge the Lutheranes and that he had almoste brought the common welth of Roome in daunger Where as many blamed hym sore in hys absence Cardinall Fregose only stode in hys defence Retournyng out of Germany into Italy he came to Lukes where the Bisshop Paule attended for the Emperours comming to goe into Barbarye Than going with the Bisshop to Roome he was shortly after created Legate of Bononie where
yeres before as is declared And Sygismunde Kynge of Poole defended hym as hys Cliente And nowe what tyme an other was inuested as I haue sayed the kynges Ambassadoure proteâ—ted openlye that thys creation was vnlawfull neyther that it oughte to bee any derogation to the Kynge hys Master vnder whose defence and protection is the Lande of Prusse Whan the Ambassadours of Hongary had recited theyr misfortune and losse of the yeare paste they requyred ayde of Th empyre For nowe is the matter broughte to the verey extremitie and yf they bee nowe leafte destitute they must nedes doe as men are wont in matters desperat and for the which no man can blame theÌ„ they wil accept right harde conditions yea boÌ„dage it selfe rather that whilest other men sit still loke on they should fal into present destructioÌ„ How the FreÌ„ch kings Heraulte was sent away from Spier with his letters it is before declared whan the ambassadours therfore wer retourned home the oratioÌ„ which they should haue had before the states of germany they set forth in print In the beginning to get good will they say how bothe nations haue one the same originall neither can any thing chaunce vnto germany which apperteineth not as wel vnto Fraunce ThaÌ„ do they coÌ„fute the reportes of their aduersaries as though the king with an other warre should disturbe the coÌ„mon welth haue made league with the Turke vsing a certeÌ„ preface to appeace themperour And affirme how the former warre was begon for that the king could not obteine of the duke of Sauoie his mothers inheritauÌ„ce And this later for the kinges ambassadours which wer slain against the law of all nations And that the king hathe no league nor societie with the Turke but for marchandise coÌ„mon quiet such as the Uenetians PoloniaÌ„s others haue And albeit ther wer any league betwixt theÌ„ it wer not to be reprehended for asmoch as in times past both AbrahaÌ„ Dauid SalomoÌ„ Phineas the children of Tobie captaines of the Machabeis haue done the like After also themperours Honorius CoÌ„staÌ„tine Theodostus the yonger Iustinian the secoÌ„d Palaologus Leo Frederick the first second haue vsed the aide succour of nations of a contrary religioÌ„ And doubtles Fredericke the second was euen vpon the shoulders of the saracens caried again into Italy froÌ„ whence the bisshopes of Rome had expulsed him They know how great powers aide the king hath oftener than once promised to the Turkish warre Hereof also the Bishop and Senate of Cardinalles are good wytnesses The cause whye the Turke inuaded Hongarye was for the contentyon aboute the gouernemente And after was moore provoked by the war in Affricke for the taking of Townes And where of late the Turkisshe nauie came into the Ligurian Sea it is not to be imputed to the kynge neyther maketh it to the pourpose that Poline the kinges seruaunt was in the same For thinteÌ„t of Barbarousse was to searche and take Androwe de Aurie his enemie And when he could not fynde hym he beseged the castell of Nice and that of hys owne determination The kyng in dede hath taken trewes with the Turke lyke as he hath at other tymes shewed them which is honest hurtfull to no man for the which he ought not to be blamed consydering that the greatest men that be haue also lately muche desyred the same The state of the publyke weale is sore afflicted and for that is the kynge right sory And by this meane maie peace be recouered if Themperoure will restore to the Kinge that thinge that is his owne ryghte and in heritaunce Yf they can brynge thys to passe the kinge wyll spare neyther trauell cost nor perill to defende Germanye from all foreine violence In the fourmer bookes you haue hearde how the Duke of Saxon wolde not acknoweledge Fernando to be kynge of Romanes but in thys conuention that matter wente through in the moneth of Maye and the Duke promised to honour hym accordingly Themperour agayne ratifyeth the Marriage conuenauntes betwixte hym and the house of Cleaue whiche euer before he refused permitteth that in case the Duke of Cleaue fortune to dye withoute heyres malles that the Duke of Saxon whiche had maryed hys syster and his heires males should succede him yet vpon thys condicioÌ„ if before that chaunce they shal agree vpoÌ„ religion And for a further bande of amitye Fernando by Themperours consente promiseth to geue his daughter Elenore in marriage to the Duke of SaxoÌ„s eldest sonne yf a reconcilemente in religion may be had before she be marying able This latter thyng was kepte verey secret and closely couered on eyther syde so that neyther the Lantzgraue and hys fellowes knewe anye thynge thereof For the matter was done by a fewe counsellours and Themperoure vsed Granuellane Feruando Hoffeman the Duke of Saxon Pontane and Burcarte The King of DeÌ„marke also sendynge hys Ambassadours fell to a composytion with Themperoure where before he had kepte hys power all the wynter longe for the chaunce that myghte haue happened he semed to forsake the Frenche Kynges frendeshyp for the Turkyshe confederacye for somuch the Ambassadours dyd sygnyfye in famylyar talke with their fellowes Nowe wyll we retourne to the demaundes of Themperoure and Kynge Fernando The matter beyng longe and muche debated the tenth daye of Iune the conuention ended The States of Th empyre albeit they thoughte it muche to bee charged with double ayde yet supposynge that they shoulde the better warre agaynste the Turke yf the domesticall enemie were fyrste broughte vnto hys bewtye graunted to Themperoure monye to fynde foure thousande Horsemen and .xxiiii. thousande footemen for halfe a yere agaynst the Frenche kynge And with parte of that monye Themperouce departeth to hys brother Fernando to thentente he shoulde fortifye suche places as are nere the Turkes And for the Turkishe warre to come they agreed that moneye shouldbe gathered of euerye man throughe oute Germany all men to be seased after theyr landes and goodes and no man to bee exempted and enacted that no man shoulde serue any foreine Prynces especyally the Frenche Kynge and the Magistrate permitted to execut those that were taken with the maner Because the controuersy of relygyon could not in these warlycke affaires bee treated on it is differred tyll the nexte assemblye to bee holden in the moneth of December In the meane season wyll Themperoure appoynte certen good and well learned men to compile some godlye fourme of reformation and also exhorteth the Princes to do the lyke to the ende that throughe a Conference made in the next assemblye somethyng by common assent may be establysshed to be obserued vntyll a generall counsel to be holden in Germany or a prouincial Sinode of the same In the meane tyme let all men be quyet and styre vp no trouble for the dyuersitie of Relygion and that the Churches also of what relygion so euer they bee maye
inioye theyr commodytyes on eyther partie and parte of those goodes to be imployed to the fynding of the mynisters of the Churche of free Schooles and the poore the iudges of the Chamber shall kepe theyr place vntyll the tyme prefixed whan the same shal be expired than shall all be receyued into that nomber indifferently without respecte of relygion The decre of Auspurge and all actions commenced agaynst the Protestantes for doctryne sake the case also of Goslarie and Minden to hang in suspence vntill the nexte treaty The Anabaptistes to suffer punishement long synce for them determined Yet shall the magistrates assigne learned and godlye men to shewe them theyr errour and call them agayne to amendemente The Catholickes mislyked thys decree and resisted it withal theyr force But when the byshopes of Collon Munster held with the Protestantes also the duke of Cleaue and the Marques of Baden referred althinges to thēperours pleasure which after lōg disceptation had deuised thys way as a meane tollerable for both parties They being wel shortned of their nūbre say that certēly they wil not assent to it howbeit they will not prescribe themperour nor resyst hys authorytie but are cōtent to suffer it Friderick the Paulsgraue the Marques of Brandenburge Princes electours had intreated that it might be thus decreed The protestātes desired also that the duke of Brūswickes case might haue ben cōprised in the same decree but it could not be obtayned themperour vrged thē that eyther they should restore him or els permit vnto him the prouince by sequestration til the matter be tryed And therof he treated with the Duke the Lantzgraue when they were present and after theyr departure moche more with theyr deputies The Cities at the fyrst refused the ayde of the French warre by reason of theyr intercourse and trade of Marchandise But what tyme the Prynces had assented and the Frenche kynges cause was full of hatred they subscribed also thoughe sore agaynste they re willes especyally that were nere vnto Fraunce The Ambassadours of the Dukes of Luneburge and wirtemberge refused also but they were admonysshed priuately and chastened in woordes that they alone shoulde not lette the good will of the residewe Whan the Lātzgraue was ready to goe home and came to take hys leaue of Themperoure he had most gentle intertaynement And Themperoure said howe he wolde not trouble hym at thys tyme to serue agaynste the Frenche Kynge for thys cause only that he wolde not bringe hym into hatred but whan thys warre is doone he wyll goe streight waye agaynste the Turke and than wyll he make hym hys lyeutenaunte and generall of all the warre And whan he with a certen modestie excused and abased hymselfe as vnmete for suche a charge you haue done righte well or euer nowe sayeth Themperoure bothe for youre selfe and for the others And we doubte not but that you can doe vs also ryght good seruice with these wordes taketh hys leaue of hym moste Frendely He beyng full of good hope and ioyefull that he had Themperoure so moche hys good Lorde whan he had declared the same to certen of hys Frendes retourneth home Touching the sequestration after longe and moche pleadinge they agreed that all the landes of the Dutchie of Brunswicke should be committed to Themperoure as to the hyghe Magistrate tyll the case were heard and determined eyther frendely or by ryghte and lawe And that Themperour shoulde committe the gouernement of the Contrye eyther to the Paulsgraue or to the Electoure of Brandenburg moreouer to Duke Maurice or the Duke of Cleaue They that shall not abyde thys ordre to suffer the penaltye of breakynge the Publycke Peace That Themperoure doe aduertyse the Duke of Brunswicke to obeye the same yf not to punish him according to the lawes of thempire These condicions at the last Themperour propounded herin perseuered Thā did the protestantes ratifie the same as shal be declared herafter The assēblie being ous finsshed thēperour goeth frō Spier to Mētz Nowe was all his armie assembled in Lorayne vpon the borders of Fraunce And about th ēd of May he had recouered the citie of Lucēburg by cōposition In this warre ther serued thēperour duke Maurice of Saxonie the Marques Albert with ether of them a thousand Horsemen moreouer Counte william of Furstemburge Captayne of the footemen and Sebastian Sherteline all of the Protestantes relygion Whylest Themperour was at Mentz there was takē in Lorayne Huberte Erle Richlynge a Germane that serued the Frenche kynge beyng brought to Mentz he is condēned to suffer The Coūtesse hys wyfe whan she was comen thither and fel downe prostrate at Themperours feete coulde fynde no fauoure And nowe were all thynges prepared for the executiō At the length was procured Maximylyan the sonne of kyng Fernando whom Themperour had lately receyued he in th ende obtayned hys pardon and saued hys life In the meane tyme Barbarousse eyther for that hys bufynes requyred so orheyng perswaded by the kynge or els fearyng leste the Frenche Kyng should conclude a peace with Themperoure retourneth home and what so euer places by the Sea syde apperteyned to Themperoure or thempire he inuadeth and spoyleth But from the Bisshop of Romes landes he refraineth as it is most lyke by the French kinges perswasion Themperours armye marchynge forewarde taketh the Towne and Castell of Lyney three myles from Barrey And from thence goeth to Sandesyre a Frenche Towne standyng vpon the riuer of Marne which was kept with a stronge garrison ouer whom Mounser Landren was Captayne who so valeauntely the yere beefore had defended the Towne of Landersey from Themperour and from Thenglishemen Whilest these thynges are thus a woorkynge Anthony the Duke of Lorayne departeth out of this lyfe not so moch for age as for thoughte and care he tooke for thys nere and almoste domesticall warre whom Fraunces hys sonne succeded whiche had maryed Themperours Nece Christine as before is sayde In thys meane whyle the Kyng of England sendeth ouer the Sea to Caleis the Duke of Northfolke with one Armye who marchynge throughe Bollonois went and beseged Moustrell here Maximilyan Countiede Bure by Themperours accorde serued the Kynge of England And immedyately after sente an other stronge Armye with the Duke of Suffolke who layed sege to Bollogne and thyther came the king in person The Frenche Kynge had appoynted Gouernoure there Mounser Ueruyne a man of honoure Whan Themperour had enuironed Sādesyre with his army he maketh the Batteri the Bretch onse made geueth thassault at that Ides of Iuly but where the townes men stode to theyr owne defence moste valeauntelye Themperialles were repulsed and fyue hondreth Soldiours slaine Fynally in the seconde moneth what tyme Landrey the gouernoure was slayne with the fall of an House and the Gunners wanted pouder the Towne was rendred Durynge thys seege Renate Prynce of Orenge beeynge stryken with a greate Peece
Fraunce shoulde bee theyres or the kynge shoulde be at commaundemente who had three moste myghty enemyes Themperoure the Germannes and the Kyng of Englande ✚ The sixtenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyste ⧠The argument of the sixtenth Booke ¶ The Pope by letters admonisheth taunteth threateneth Themperoure hys sonne and maketh new Cardinalles The clergie of Colon resisteth the Archebishop Master Peter Bruly for preachynge at Tournay was brent quicke Whilest the assemble was at Woormes they of Merindolle and Cabriere named Uandois be sacked and burnt The Pope notwithstandyng the counsell by hym called burned with desyre to make warre agaynst the Protestātes Luther wryteth against hym and paynteth hym in hys collours Grignian is sente to the Protestantes to cause them to approue the counsell The Archbisshop of Colon is cited to Roome Open warre betwixte the Duke of Brunswicke and the Lantzgraue wherin the Lantzgraue had the victory the Palsgraue prince Electour receyueth the Gospell Bruites of warre are sowen agaynst the Protestantes a Colloquie was ordeyned at Regenspurge to dispute of Relygion which broken the Counsell of Trente is publysshed and the sessions beginne in the meane tyme Luther departeth oute of this presente lyfe WHan the warres were hotest the Bysshop of Roome at the eyghte kalendes of Septembre wryteth hys letters to Themperoure wherin he rebuketh hym sharpelye for vsurpinge as he sayeth hys authorytie and intermedlinge with the reformation of Relygion whiche neuerthelesse he dooeth not ascribe to hys owne nature but to the malycyous perswations of such euell men as he hathe lately made league and frendship with he threateneth him with thexamples of Dathan Abiron and Core whiche wolde haue taken vpon them the authorytye of Moyses Aaron And also of Kyng Ozias whom God strake with Leprosie for that he wolde attempte to burne incēse vpon the Aultar he telleth hym playnely that he hath nothing to doe with the reformation of Churches but the same to be longe vnto hys office chyefly whom God hath geuen authorytie to bynde and loose Than proueth he by ensamples that suche Emperours as haue aided the See of Roome and the Bisshoppes therof God hath euer rewarded with great gyftes and benefytes as greate Constantyne Theodose and Charlemaygne Agayne such as haue resisted them to haue ben punnyshed with greate misfortunes as Morys Constans Phylyp Leo Henry the fourthe and Fridericke the seconde whyche came vnto shamefull endes and were some taken some also slayne of their owne chyldren And that for suche disobedience not only kynges and Emperours but also whole nations haue ben plaged as namelye the Iewes and Grekes the one for crucifying of Chryst the sonne of God the others for contemnyng of hys vicar Moreouer he wylleth him to imitate the example of greate Constantyne who refused to be iudg in the Bisshops causes Notwithstandynge he coulde be contente to vse hym as a coadiutour in matters of relygion but herin to be head and gouernour he can not abyde hym Fynally he warneth him frō hence foorthe to treate no more of relygion in the assemblies of Th empyre but referre that vnto hys indgement and that he disanulle and abrogate all suche thynges as he hath through ouer moche fufferaunce already graunted to those rebelles and aduersaryes of the Churche of Rome or els must he be constrained to deale more roughly with him than either hys custome nature or will also can beare Yet wil he not neglect hys dewtie for the example of gods plage vpon Helithe prest is euer before his eyes Hitherto he hath vsed the clementie of a father but if thys will not serue he must feele another waye therfore let him consider whether it shal be more for hys honour to assist his olde age in recouerynge the tranqullytie of the Churche or els to fauour those that seke the desolation of the same It is thought that the Frēch king set hym on to wryte thus extremely who made the matter odious by reason of the Englysh league to incense the bysshop the more for herof cometh it that he wryteth of the Societie of euel mē For they both are wont to swe and craue hys frendship right busyly bothe by letters and ambassadours especyallye in tyme of warre and eche laboureth for hym selfe that they may bee to hym most acceptable Aboute thys tyme Stephen Bisshop of Winchester set foorth a boke agaynst Bucer verey opprobrious and bitter Wherin emonges other thinges he defendeth the sengle lyfe This yere the Bisshop created Cardinalles Christopher Madruce of the Trente and Otto Truckesse Bishop of Auspurge Germanes George Arminiack Iames Anuebald Frēchmen Fraunces Mendoza Bartholomewe Cueua Spaniardes to gratifye the Emperoure Fernando and the Frenche Kynge At the same tyme also he calleth a counsell whyche had ben hindered heretofore by reason of the warres agaynst the Ides of Marche in the yere following And because Themperour and the French king wer now at peace he vttereth greate gladnes and the writte wherewith he reneweth the connsel beginneth of that place of Scripture Letare Ierusalem-In these dayes also cometh foorthe a booke of Luthers touchyng the Lordes supper wherin he reneweth the olde controuersie and speaketh many thynges agaynste Zwinglius and the fellowes of the same doctryne Which was aunswered by them of Zuricke that ryght sharpelye I tolde you before of Clergie and Uniuersitie of Collon howe they with theyr whole force resisteth the Archebisshop in the reformation of religion But where as he procedeth they sendyng agayne Ambassadours letters requyre hym to leaue and attende the decree of the counsell yf not they must cōplayne to the higher magistrate and fynde remedy to quyet theyr conscyence and pacifye Gods wrath They are lothe to take that waye but yf he goo forewarde they muste nedes do it Whan they coulde not thus preuayle the .ix. daye of October they assemble in the head Churche of Collon and there recyte by wrytyng amonges other thynges what hath ben done at Wormes .xxiij. yeres past what Luther by the common assēt of all Princes was condemned of Themperoure what was decreed at Auspurge what at Regenspurge and what latelye at Spyer All these thynges neglected they saye how theyr Archebysshop Herman hathe gon a new waye to worke and hath sent for Bucer an Apostata and twyse polluted with incestuous mariage a sacramentary and a defendour of that opinion and to hym hath committed thecclesiasticall function and hath appointed euery where new preachers lewde and euill persons by them also was a fourme of a refourmation diuised set forth by the princes commaundement All the which thinges they haue euer to theyr powers resisted and ofte desired the Archebisshop that he woulde staye vntyll the counsell or at the leste vntill the conuention of thempire but all was in vayne And nowe forasmuche as the state of the prouince is lamentable
touchyng the rest he will conferre with the Duke of Saxon and hys fellowes The Ambassadours whyche I tolde you before were sente by the Protestantes into Fraunce and Englande doe as they had in cōmission but at the same tyme also Thēperoure sought to make a peace appoynted a daye at Bruges for the Ambassadours of both kinges to mete And the Frenche kynge sente Mounser Annebalde the Amirall and the kyng of England Stephen Bisshop of Winchester But they could not accorde In the meane season the Ambassadours of the Protestantes wrought so moch that bothe the kynges were content to haue a further treaty Therfore they send ambassadours the Frēch kyng to Arde the kyng of Englād to Cales and Guysnes They mete in the mydde waye betwixt Arde and Guysnes the .xxvi. daye of Nouember in tentes pitched in the playne felde And whan the Ambassadors of the Protestants had propounded certen cōdicions of peace the matter was longe and moche debated betwyxt them The Frēch mē wolde haue Bologne restored especially vrged that the Scotes myght be comprised in the peace But both these did the Englishmen vtterlye refuse Than was the matter reported by letters and messagers to eyther kynge but after moche intreaty ther was nothyng fynisshed Wherfore the syxte day of Ianuary the Ambossadours of the kynges and Protestantes depart and retourne home The next daye after the Frenchemen vitayled theyr forte that the kyng had builded nere vnto Bologne When the Englisshemen would haue letted that they fought together and many were slayne on bothe parties and after was the fort vitailed What tyme these āmbassadours of the Protestantes were in Englande the kynge by waye of communication tolde them howe they were lyke to haue a fore and a mortall warre therof was he moste certen He warned thē also to wryte of the same to theyr confederates And after one of hys counsellours whych was than in hygh fauour declared as moche to one of the Ambassadours naming also certē practicioners messagers by whose meanes chiefly the thing was wrought Moreouer the king semed to take in maruelous euill parte that Themperour had the yere before made peace with the French king and was so moch the more offēded for that as he sayd he made warre with the Frenche king throughe his procurement by reason of the Turkisshe league In the moneth of Ianuarye the Protestantes conuented at Frankeforthe there they consulted of the counsell of Trente of augementyng theyr league for the charges of the warre of Brunswicke howe they will not forfake the Archebisshop of Collon howe to solicite Themperour in the assemblie of thēpire that he wyll graunte peace for relygion and refourme the iudgment of the chāber In thys cōuention the Ambassadours of the archbisshop of Collon complayne of the iniuryes of the Clergye and of the commaundementes and citations bothe of Themperour and also of the Bisshop of Roome In the meane season the Paulsegraue prynce electour ordeyned euery where ministers of the church and preachers of the Gospell he permitteth also the whole supper of the Lorde and the Mariage of pristes And the tenth daye of Ianuary in stead of the Popissshe Masse was seruice sayde in the head church of Nedelberg in the Duche tongue Wherfore the Protestantes sending an Ambassade reioyse therat and geuinge him thankes that he aunswered the Archebisshop of Collon his Ambassadours so frankelye they exhorte hym also to procede to professe the doctryne confessed at Anspurge and to doe hys endeuour that in the nexte assemblye at Regenspurge the peace and lawe maye be establysshed Wherunto he aunswereth that he hath bē euer desyrous of peace and wil be so long as he liueth for the Archebisshop of Collō he is right sory that he is thus molested especyally in hys olde dayes Therfore what tyme they shal send their Ambassadours to Themperoure and to the Clergie and Senate of Collon to intreate for hym he wyll also sende hys with them he had trusted these many yeres to haue had some agrement in religion but in as moch as he seeth how the matter is daungerously differred neither is theire any greate hope he coulde no longer delaye the wisshe expectation of hys subiectes Therfore hathe he begonne a reformatyon of relygion whych he pourposeth to anaunce furthermore and to professe it openly At the seuententh daye of Ianuarye at Wesell mete the Ambassadours of the Prynces electours which are named of the Rhine those be Mentz Collon Treuers the Paulsegraue or Coūte Palatyne for the dominions of all these stretche vnto the Rhine The Paulsegraue vrged the Archebishopes of Mentz and Treuers that they wolde sende theyr Ambassadoures with hys and with the Marques of Brandenburges to intreate for the Archebisshop of Collon but they fearynge to get displeasure refused it At thys tyme a rumour was noysed abrode that Themperour shoulde secretly mynde warre Wherfore the Lantzgraue wrytyng hys letters to Granuellā the .xxiiij. of Ianuarie sayeth howe it is reported not onlie in Germany but also sygnyfyed oute of Italye and otherplaces that Themperoure and the Bisshop of Roome make preparation to warre vpon the Lutheranes and wyll maynteyne the counsell and beegynne the warres in the sprynge of the yere and howe they intende to set vpon the Archebysshop of Collon with the force of the lowe contrie of Germany vpon the Saxons out of Boheme to inuade high Almaigne with the power of Italie How Themperour wil also haue ten thousande foote men and certen trouppes of horsemen to garde hym and conduicte him to Regenspurge This brute is not only spread abrode commonlye but is also reported of head Captaynes and Centurions wherof some make theyr boast that they haue receyued money of thēperoure already And seyng Themperoure hathe peace with Fraūce and hath also taken trewes with the Turke as some do affyrme many men doe maruell to what vse and pourpose he shoulde wage men to warre Neyther he nor hys consortes whylest they consyder the peace makyng of Norinberge confyrmed after at Regenspurge Spier and other places can be easelye perswaded to beleue it shoulde bee trew especially synce they haue done ryght good seruice bothe to thēperour and to kynge Ferdinando agaynst the Turke and other enemyes also Howbeit he thought good to declare these thynges frendly vnto hym whych are sygnyfyed to hym and hys fellowes by many letters and messagers For it maye be that the like thinges are reported to Themperoure by malycious persons of hym and hys confederatours whyche maye rayse a suspicion cause trouble and put them bothe to charges he doubteth not but that he wyll make hym an aūwer And in asmuche as he hathe ben euer hitherto a counselloure of peace he desyreth him that from henceforthe also he wolde perswade Themperoure to the same Granuellan wrote an aunswer to thys the seuenth day of February How Themperoure hathe neyther made any compacte with the Bisshop leuyed soldiours nor geuen
two partes the one company was the Dukes of Wertemberg conteining .xxiiij. enseignes of foote men and amonges thē wer many noble gentle men The other was hyred of the Cities When all these were assembled at Ulmes the .xxi. day of Iune they marche to Gunsperge and the nexte daye whan they were mustred encamped in seuerall places Theyr Captaines were Iohn Hedecke Scherteline Balthazar Gutling Sebastian Besserer Mathew Langemantell Iohn Harder and Ioyce Roseberge They doe fyrst bynde the powers of the Cities by an othe as the maner is charging them to follow and obey Scherteline vntill the Princes them selues come that be Captaynes of the confederacie Than going to the Dukesmen when they had done lykewyse they appointe Hedecke their captayne after the same sorte That done Balthazar Gutling a noble mā borne and counsellour to the Duke of Wirtemberge by the consente of the reste speaking to hys princes soldiours My derely beloued fellowes saieth he Sathans Uicar the Bishop of Roome intendeth againe to kindle such a fyre as shall inflame burne all Germany the natyle countrey of vs all and vtterly distroye the same For bothe the wonderfull hatred that he beareth to trew relygiō and also the desyre of vengeaūce for the calamytie receyued in the fourmer yeres by the Almaignes when Rome was taken and sacked doe moue him herunto Therfore hathe he styred vp Charles the most puissaunte Emperoure to attēpt warre against our princes states that ar lincked in a godly league trusting that through violence great crueltie they shall cōpell them to the seruice and obseruaunce of theyr wicked and deuelish religion For it is reported for certentie howe that proude and detestable bōdslaue of the Deuil hath leuied already no small force bothe of horsemē foormen which he wil send to Thēperoure We heare for a treweth also of that approching of Spaniardes But what euilles will enswe to our cōmon countrey by foreine soldiours what distructiō mischief euery man of vnderstanding may easely perceiue Therfore our princes states forasmuch as they knew it to be their dewtie not only to repulse al violence iniurie frō the people of they re dominiōs but also to trauel forsee that they be not desceaued with false religiō run in daunger of euerlasting dānatiō are wholy prefixed through gods help to defend this war which is moued against thē not only beyōde al expectatiō but also contrary to conenauntes promesse And therfore haue hyred you others moe with al the spede that might be but in asmuch as the chieftanes of the leage are yet absent wil be heare within these few dayes the most noble prince of Wirtemberge Duke Ulriche to th entent that in the meane time the whole matter may be gouerned by an order neyther that that enemie may espie any occasiō to hurt vs hath appoynted to be your Captayne Iohn Hedecke a man of a noble house and parentage Wherfore hym you shall obeye and so demeane your selues in all thinges that the same worthye and notable fame whiche oure elders in tymes past haue goten in sondry battels foughtē with foreine nations not without much māhod bludshed may be also bequethed to oure ofspryng and posterytie Al otherthynges we shal committe to almyghtie god who doubtles in this so iuste a cause and godly defencion will prepare suche meanes for vs as vnto his diuine maiestie shal seme good and expedient I told you before howe the Protestantes ambassadours departed from Regenspurge whan there was no longer place of consultation there But now that their armie was leuyed as we haue here shewed they assēbled at Ulmes to consult what is to be donne Wherfore the .xxi. day of Iune they adresse theyr letters to the Duke and state of Uenyse complayning of the iniurie of the Bishop of Roome desyre them that they wold not suffer hys force to passe through theyr dominion and if the Bishoppes power shulde be augmented they shew by the examples of fourmer tyme what they and other people in Italie may loke for They dispatche theyr letters also to the moste of the noble men in Germany and admonishe them that they doe not stop the soldiours that repare vnto them Agayne because they of Rhatia and Tirall were sore vexed for the commyng of foreine soldiours the laste day of Iune they exhort them by their letters not to suffer them to passe and hereunto promise them ayde They are also assistaunce of the Cytie of Norimberge but they saye they cannot for that they haue skante mē sufficient to defend theyr owne frontiers Moreouer they commaund Scherteline the second daye of Iuly to inuade the enemies that wer in mustering vnderneth the Alpes And finally send Ambassadours to the Swisses I shewed you before of the Cardinall of Trente whō Themperoure sent so hastely inpost to Roome Wherfore through his solliciting the league whiche before was conceaued and penned the xxvi daye of Iune is decreed vpon these couenauntes Forasmuch as Germany hathe nowe these many yeres perseuered in great errours in somuch that a great daūger is to be feared therby for theschewing wherof the counsel was called at Trent and commenced the last yere past in the moneth of December and the Protestantes doe reiect the same and saie it concerneth them nothyng therfore hathe the Bishop and Themperoure for gods glory and for the preseruatiō of the publycke weale but chiefly of Germany concluded betwene them selues vpon certen cōdicions And fyrst in dede that Themperoure shall prepare an armye and althynge nedefull for the warre in the moneth of Iune next enswyng and that he be furnished with all thynges and that such as refuse that counsell maynteyne those errours he reduce by forte of armes to the olde relygion and obedience of the holy See but yet that he do endeuour and proue al meanes yf he can bring it to passe without warre That he make no peace nor composition with them that shal be preiudiciall or hurtefull to the churche or relygion The Bisshop besydes those hundreth thousande Dukates whyche he hathe alreadye defrayde shall laye downe as muche more at Uenise whych after hys Lieuetenauntes shall imploye vpon the warres and to no other vse And that yf no warres be he shall receyue hys money agayne Moreouer he shall furnyshe Themperour in this warre with twelue thousand fotemen of Italians and fyue hondreth lyght horsmen at hys owne charges for a halfe yeres space ouer which power he shal place a Lieutenaunt Captaines and Centurions And if it fortune the warre to be finished before the end of syxe monethes to take the commoditie therof It shal be lawfull for Themperoure this yere by the Byshop of Romes permissiō to take the one halfe of the church goodes in Spayne moreouer it shal be lawful for hym to sell as much Abbey landes in Spayne as shal amounte to the summe of fyue hundreth thousande Dukates and all thys only for the mayntenaunce
restrayned wold take them cleane a waye I am constrayned to attempte war that I may reduce them to theyr dewtie And for as muche as I heare saye how they goe aboute all that euer they can to allure you others to their fellowship I commaund you fyrst that throughout your whole prouince you let proclame and doe foresee that no man serue in this war vnlesse he serue me and my captaynes suche as shall haue commission to shewe secondly yf any be gonne foorthe already to serue that you call them againe immediately and commaund them to tary at home and attende vpon our commaundement And suche as will not obey that you punnish them extremelye so demeane youre selfes that I maye perceyue that you loue the quyet of Germany except you thus doe know for certentie that it shal be to your great daunger losse of all that you haue These letters whan the Archebishop had receiued he published in all places and commaunded they shuld be obeied Besydes he gaue commaundement that they shulde praye in Churches that God of hys mercy wolde tourne awaye the greate daunger that nowe hanged ouer Germany At the same tyme the Protestantes sēd their ambassadours to the kinges of Fraunce and England newely reconciled making suite to them for ayde After the Duke the Lātzgraue had wrytten thus to Themperoure priuately as before is sayd at that Ides of Iuly they set forth a publicke writing also wherin they declare howe thys warre is made againste Religion and this to bee Themperours intent that vnder a serten pretence of rebellyō and as though he wolde punnysh but a fewe he myght plucke awaye the fellowes of the league one from an other and so muche the more easelie at the length subuert them all And hereof they bryng manye proues and reporte what kynge Fernando what Granuellan what Nauius and others spake priuately at Regenspurge verelye that the contempt of the counsell was cause of thys warre Moreouer they saye howe Themperoure sent commaundement to them of Rauensburge whyche had lately receyued the doctryne of the Gospell that within a few dayes they shuld for sake theyr enterpryse or els wolde he geue theyr Citie and Landes to be deuyded amonges the Soldiours but the Messager was called backe with the letters by the waye leste it shuld come forthe a brode that the war were agaynst relygion Forasmuch also as the byshop of Rome hath geuē sentēce against I the Archbishop of Collon for the reformatyō of doctrine hath depriued him of hys dignitie for that Thēperoure in a maner doeth threatneth the same doeth not that sufficiētly declare the cause of the war For it is a cōmon brure how theyr drift is that the Cardinal of Auspurg who hath set this matter a fyre shall throughe violence be substituted in hys place It is reported moreouer that when they bee vanquished bandes of Soldiours shal be placed in all partes of Germany whych in Themperours name shall see the decrees of the counsell concernyng relygion maynteyned and put in execution Furthermore it is wrytten by dyuers men howe the Archebysshop of Toledo chiefly and such other prelates in Spayne do geue a great summe of monye to thys warre which they wold not haue donne if it had not ben for religion It is wel knowen also what maner of decree was made at Auspurge .xvi. yeres synce what tyme Themperoure protested that he could not abyde thys secte and doctryne of Luther but that to distroye the same vtterly he wold bestowe all hys force treasure lyfe and blud also For yf they were once oppressed as God forbid than shuld it quickely appere whether they wolde spare thys religion and wolde not rather slaye the ministere of the churche inforce theyr wyues and their children and restore Monkes and Freers and all that relygious rabbell But Themperoure may not lawfully worke force agaynst any state nor bannish any man before his cause behearde nor bryng foreyn soldiours within the bondes of Germany or chaleng to hym self any inherytance or succession belonginge to thempire For he is bounden to these condicions and hath confyrmed them by an othe For yf it were lawful for him to doe otherwise the state of the publycke weale could not long endure And what cause of displeasure shulde haue agaynste them they cannot in the worlde perceiue For touching me saieth the Duke of Saxon what so euer dissention was betwene him his brother Fernando and me it was wholy quenched two yeares paste at Spier and for a nerer frendship the lady Elenore daughter to kynge Ferdinando was promised freely to my eldest sonne so that we could agree in religion The same did Themperoure than cōfyrme what tyme I shoulde retourne home from that assemblie he sent to me into my owne lodging Granuellan Nauius with moste large wordes offered all good wil and frendship to me and my children my whole countrey And what great cryme haue I commytted synce that time that he should intēd this crueltie against me But doubteles the matter is euē so as we haue shewed you before because we refuse the bisshoppes counsell we incurred displeasure But reason wolde that he shulde not imagine these thinges againste the house of Saxon For he knoweth how after the death of Maximilian mine vncle Duke Fridericke hauing the crowne imperiall offered hym through hys voyce and meanes gaue it vnto hym to omitte in the meane tyme many other benefites which the house of Saxon hathe imploied on the house of Austriche And in case he were offended for putting Iulius Pūugius from the Bishopricke of Nunburge I haue in bookes setfoorthe declared my ryght and tytle of Patronage and if Themperour wold appoynte indifferent iudges offered to abyde theyr iudgment Nowe concerning my owne parte sayeth the Lantzgraue I was throughly reconciled to hym fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge And for that I intended a fewe yeares past to haue warred on certen Bisshops and for that afterwardes I did helpe my cosyn the Duke of Wirtemberg to recouer hys owne all thys and what so euer I had haply don besydes agaynste the lawe wrytten or decrees of Thempire eyther priuely or apartely it was for geuen me and wrytinges made therof cōfirmed with handes and seales Therfore can not I deuise or imagin what should be the cause of thys grudge Againe whan I spake with him nowe lately at Spyre he shewed hym selfe so frendelye bothe in wordes and countenaunce that I could perceyue no sparke of displasure And it was couenaunted fyue yere synce at Regenspurge that if he shuld attēpt any thyng herafter agaynst the Duke of Cleaue that I shuld not meddle in the matter After he moued war agaynst him and I kept touche and promise And than what time he receyued the same Duke agayne to hys fauoure whiche was before Uerlone he perdoned all that had serued or assisted hym with ayde But yf he should take in euill parte our absence that we
deserued to thintente we maye haue libertie by them afterwarde to establish the common wealth and doe suche thynges as properly concern our office therfore we straytly charge and commaunde that no man ayde thē in any case neither take theyr parte they that shall doe other wyse shall in curre the daunger both of lyfe and goodes And let such as are happely gon already to serue them retourne as soone as they possible can But let all men geue theyr ayde vnto vs and fynde no let or cauillation throughe any league or priuate conuenauntes For we make all these thinges frustrate Moreour we release all the Nobilitie and commons of theyr dominions of theyr allegeaunce othe wherby they are bounden to them and assure them to be in saftye yf they doe obeye But suche as shall refuse to be punnyshed in lyke sort as they The .xxii. daye of Iuly Gerarde Uelduuiche is sente agayne from Regenspurg to Cōstantinople frō whence he was but lately retourned Thēperour whan nothing could here be determined prorogeth the conuentiō of thēpire vntil the kalends of February in the next yere following of the bishop of Romes letters sent to the Heluetiās I haue shewed you before whiche after the Bishops legate Hierome Franch had receiued he sent them from Lucers and writeth to them also hym selfe the .xxv. daye of Iuly That thre dayes synce were deliuered vnto hym the letters of the Bishop Senate of Cardinalles And albeit they are in a maner of the same effecte as wer hys former letters yet for that they conteyne somewhat more he sendeth them nowe a copie of the same with spede and at the nexte conuention he will shew them the principal And forasmuche as in the same league whyche lately nowe at the ende of Iune the Bishop and Themperoure made there is leafte also aspace for others that will come into the same confederacye moreouer because it was couuenaunted that Themperoure shoulde trye whether that hys aduersaryes and enemyes to the Churche of Roome myghte haply with out warre be reduced to theyr dewetye and amendement the Bishop doeth ernestlye require of them that they wolde pronounce with expresse wordes whether they wil be of thys league and whether they wyll obey the decrees of the Counsell of Trente And where they haue appoynted hym a daye at the nexte assemblie at Baden wherein they will make hym an aunswer to hys former demaundes therefore he hathe nowe wrytten to them also to the entente they maye consulte in the meane season Therefore he dooeth beseche them in the blud of our sauioure Chryste that they wolde dilygently consyder with themselues what a noble and famous acte thys wylbe and howe profytable for them and theyr ofsprynge yf they wolde bothe helpe to quenche this fyre in Germany and approue also the decrees of the Generall counsell Where the bishop vttered the cause of the league summe men suppose it to bee donne of hym for a craftie polycie that he myghte by thys meanes put Themperoure to his narrowe shyftes For it is most certen that he tooke it verey displeasauntely that Themperoure pretended an other cause of warre as shal be declared herafter At thys time Alberte sonne to the Duke of Bauer maryeth the Ladie Anne the daughter of Kyng Fernando and the Duke of Cleaue the lady Marye and other of hys Daughters For when the Duke of Cleaue had longe looked for the Daughter of Nauaire out of Fraunce in vayne as before is sayde the Byshop of Roome graunted hym a lycence to marye an other Wherefore he maryeth these same and bothe mariages were solemnised at Regenspurge in the myddes of the vprores tumultes of warre eyther Maryage did concerne a newe bonde of amitie A daye of syttyng was appoynted for the fathers at Trent as before you haue hearde at the end of Iuly but the matter was defferred till the begynnynge of the nexte yere as in hys place shal be declared There were at Trent besides the Cardinalles the Bisshoppes legate and the Cardinalles of Trent and Pacher a Spaniard foure Archebishops .xxxiii. bishops of them two Frenche fyue Spanishe and one Slauonishe the residew were all Italyans Doctours of diuinitie relygious .xxxv. of others that had not professed religion twelue for the most parte all Spaniardes But amonges those foure Archebishops two of thē bare but the name only Olans Magnus of Upsalya and Robert Uenaut a Scotte And that chaunced thus Whā Gustaue kynge of Swecia nere vnto Denmarke altered relygion which was in the yere of our lord about a M.D.xxxvii Iohn Magnus Archebishop of Upsalya who mislyked that alteration forsaking the countrey fled vnto Roome and came thyther with a meane company Afterward going to Uenyse he became Suffragan to the Patriarche of that Citie But in fyne waxing werye of that state he retourneth to Roome and beyng broughte to an exigente and a verey lowe ebbe what tyme he had solde hys horses and in a maner putte awaye all hys seruauntes the Bishop of Roome placed hym in the Hospytall of the holy ghoste wherin he ended hys lyfe full poorelye there was with hym hys brother Olans Unto whom the Bysshop gaue that Archebishopricke of Gothlande thoughe it were out of the precincte of the Church of Roome and commaunded hym to be at the counsell and geueth hym .xv. crownes a moneth to paye for hys bord the other a Scotte whan he had infourmed the Bishop of the Archbishopricke of Armacane in Irelande he obtayned of hym the name and title therof This Scotte was blynde and yet did not only saye masse but also wold ryde in Post Wherfore the Bishop wolde haue these two in the counsel for ostentation only as though those two nations so farre of the Gothes and Iryshemen did acknowledge hys Authorytie where they in verey dede had nothyng but the Shadow and bare name of the thing It is mentioned before how Duke Moris after priuate talke had with Themperour departed from Regēspurge whan he was cōmen home king Fernando followyng shortly after he goeth vnto hym to Prage After the fyrst daye of Auguste Themperour sendeth to Duke of Moris From Regenspurge a copie of the proscription before rehearsed and writing his letters commen to him to his people he reporteth in a maner the same thynges that are comprised in the table of on Lawerie And because he is allied vnto the outlawes by kinred affinitie so nere that he may haply claime som ryght in theyr landes possessions he chargeth him most ernestly that he assist hym with all his force to wynne theyr countries yea that he get all him self so soone as he can and holde it for his owneryght for els wil it come to passe that all shal be his that can catche it who so euer he be neyther shall the ryght of consinage or compactes profet hym any thynge And agayne for contemnynge hys Emperours commaundemente he shall incurre the same penaltie that the others doe
hand and aduiseth him to consider with him selfe how great is the force of Germany and how muche daunger is in the thing And if perchaūce one or two haue offended there may a meane be founde how to pacifie the matter without warre Wherunto he made this aunswere there nedeth no pacifieng of the matter For he wil conquer Germany or hazard all that euer he hath in the worlde For the power therof is not so great that he nedeth muche to feare it For twenty yeares synce and more hath he layde the foundation of this matter Oftentymes they haue giuen hym ayde in sondry and many warres lately also against the kyng him self They haue bene at great charges in many assēblies of the Empyre Moreouer in sondry warres they haue lost a great number of their mē so is their strength decayed And al theft thinges hath he done for this intent that Germany might he distitute of power voyd of force and strength therfore is this tyme commodious to worke this feate in He that heard this talke of his by the mouth of the Ambassadour an honest man and worthy of credit reported the same vnto vs. Why should he than impute the cause of the war to vs seing he hath intended the same of so long tyme before Whan we were than priuate persones and drowned in the dregges of the Romish Religion And if he had stande to his decrees and conuenauntes than we wold haue done our duty but in asmuch as he hath brokē the same and the chief obedience is dew vnto God let him ascribe the faulte vnto him selfe For considering that he intēdeth destruction both to Religion and libertie he geueth an occasion wherby we may resist him with a good conscience For in this case is it lawful to resist as it is to be proued both by sacred prophane histories For God is not the authour of vniust violence nether are we bounden to him otherwyse than if he fulfyll the conditions for the whiche he was created Emperour He graūteth that he hath agreed with vs priuatly and that is to vs a great pleasure to heare Wherfor thē doth he moue war for those matters for the which once a faithful agrement was made For it can not be proued that we haue committed any rebellion ether before or after the same compositions But thus the case standeth He made a decree at Wormes .xxv. yeares past and set forth a proclamation against Luther and such as imbraced his doctrine appointed moste extreme punishmēt And that same acte now in this warre he intendeth to put in execution His Crown and Scepter we neuer coueted For we are content with our owne landes and reuenewes and praye God that in his feare we may kepe and maynteine the same If it be true that he sayth why haue we so oft geuen him ayd and lately but two yeares synce against the kyng of Fraunce For the whiche desert and benefit he ought in dede to forget al displeasure though no reconcilement had bene made We neuer reported him euil but for the opinion of his vertu haue al ways commended hym highly And as for famous libelles and pictures nether haue our diuines nor yet any others set forth against hym Yea our diuines and learned men haue euer more extolled him with great prayses exhorted the people in their sermons to do the same and praye to God for his preseruatiō Perauenture they haue set forth somwhat against the byshop of Rome but there was no cause why we should inhibie them so to do But how vilaynously and slaūderously Cochleus and Hadamar the White frere of Collon haue rayled against vs our fellowes and diuines euen now at Regēspurg whan the assemblie was holden to appease the controuersie it is manifestly knowen He obiecteth vnto vs conspiracies and conuenticles wherin he doth vs great iniury as in all other thinges For we are borne and bred in Germany where men be far void of suche crafty deuises as haue bene wrought against vs these many yeares past and now first bewray them selues Howbeit that we might defende our selues against vniust violence we made a league and denie it not and did it only to defende our selues and to iniury no mā and wherfore we made it we haue now in two seuerall writinges declared And fiue yeares since saith the Lantgraue when I went through with the Emperour at Regenspurg Granuellan sayd then to me and to my chauncelour how the Emperour was nothing offended with our league but could be content also that we should receiue in to the same as many as we would After he speaketh in darke wordes as though we should haue moued the Turke to inuade Germany But this shall the thing it selfe confute For we haue always giuen ayd against the Turke yea more than euer our progenitours haue done and that at suche tymes as we were not bounden for that the couuenauntes were not kept and whan diuerse others whiche had promysed ayde perfourmed nothing But you haue heard already how he and his brother haue deuised so with the Turke that he might oppresse sodainly vs only and our fellowes He had ayde giuen him lately by a publique decree against Fraunce Than he promysed that whan that warre should be finished he would go streight against the Turke After he made peace with the enemy without their knowledge with whose money he had made warre behold now he bēdeth al his force against vs. Is it not a goodly matter to se the munition brought out of Austriche to the warre in Germany and in the meane season to suffer Hongary to be ouer runne with the Turkes The seditions cōspiracies and treasons wherwith he chargeth vs are none at all nether is ther any other cause of war than the same before rehearsed He sayth he hath graunted vs ouer muche and wynked at our doinges to the grudge of his own conscience but this is fayned also For his desire was long since to haue made warre against vs and could not being impeched hitherto and was of necessitie constrained to differre it till he had quieted the Duke of Cleaue the king of Fraunce and the Turke For what hys mynde hath bene those extreme and moste greuous executions of godly men in his coūtreis do declare And that also he agreed with vs heretofore we now first perceiue that it was done for this intent that being dispatched of other affaires he might entent that being dispatched of other affaires he might intēd this warre only Wherof assuredly I coulde suspecte nothyng sayth the Lantgraue by reason of the great good wyll and humanitie that he shewed me lately at Spier At the which time also Nauis wylled my Chauncelour that in any case this talk might be kept secret Finally the ende of his accusation is to pluck our fellowes from vs. And therfore ascribeth vnto vs Tyranny extortion and disturbaunce of the clergie but vndeseruedly For we punysh extortions and murther in our
dominiōs extremely and therby haue purchased no small hatred to our selues But lately that innocent man Iohn Diazius was so cruelly and detestably murthered as neuer man was from the beginning of the worlde vntyll this day That Fratricide his brother apprehēded and accused Certen Princes made request that so horrible a fact myght be punyshed but what insued therof the matter it selfe declareth He imputeth the cause of all displeasure and trouble vnto vs But his decree of Wormes was cause of all together wherunto our aduersaries cleaued as to a moste sure foundation especially the Duke of Brunswick whiche made a confederacie with diuerse before the conuentiō of Auspurg where as what maner of decree was made it is openly knowen Certenly those cruell and fierce wordes ther pronounced caused vs to make the league and cōfederacie that we are in at this daye The Byshops adherētes haue bene euermore busy with vs in al assemblies and would haue compelled vs to the choise of meates and holy dayes of their owne makyng Moreouer we permitted the Emperour at Auspurg whan he promysed vs faire and largely that he should appoint preachers But it is knowen wel enough how wicked and how ignoraunt men he assigned to that office It is an auncient custome of thempire that whā any Prince is minded to retourne home from thassemblie he may do it by the Emperours leaue How be it my father sayth the Duke of Saxon what tyme he was at Auspurg could not obtaine licence of him to departe and heard it also reported that in case he prepared to goe he should yet be stayed against his wyll And albeit my vncle Friderick had done muche for hym yet would he neuer as long as my father liued confirme hym in his own Dukedome only because of the decree of Wormes and Religion Seing therfore that the cause of this warre is manifestly knowen we desyre all men to geue no credit to the contrary and defende with vs their common and natife countrey As for our own subiectes and clientes whom he hath released of their allegeaūce which they owe vnto vs we doubt not but they wyl do their duty vnto vs as they are bunden The protestaūtes letting slippe that occasiō of fight at Ingolstad as before is sayd and remayning there thre dayes after whan the Emperour in the meane season had fortified his Campe strongly the fourth day of Septēber they remoued thence that they might encountre with the Erle of Bure or stop his passage Notwithstanding that some were against it and said how they nede to go no further to seke the enemy which was in sight and before their eies They pitched the next tyme at Neuburg which they had fortified with a garnison before two days after they marched to Donauerd The tenth day of September they encāped besydes Uending a towne of the Erles of Oeting sending from thence espialles to bring them some intelligence of the Erle of Bure That perceiuing the Emperour sent aduertisement to the Erle who turning out of his way and marching from Norinberg to Regenspurg came to the Emperour at Ingolstad in safitie Wherfore the Protestauntes being frustrated of their hope the third day after returne vnto Donauerde Hether came vnto them Christopher Counte Oldenburg and Friderick Rifeberg with two legions and the Erle of Bichling with fiue enseignes of fotemē In the meane tyme the Emperour remoued his campe to Nuburg And whan no aide came the souldiours of the garnyson rendred the towne The Emperour pardoned them al taking stipulation of them that they shoulde no more weare armure against him Than the report went how the Emperour would to Auspurg Wherfore the Germaines passe ouer Thonawe to let him of his iourney But whan he leauing a garnison at Nuburg marched toward Marxeme they returne back into their former campe I tolde you before how they had sent Ambassadours for ayde both into Fraunce and Englande but that was in vaine And the king of Fraunce in dede excused the matter for that hauing made peace with the Emperour he sayd he could not How beit for that he would not haue the Emperours power increased he desyred Peter Strosse a Florētine a man of war and exceading riche to lende them thre hondreth thousand crownes and to the intent he might the easelier doe it he payeth a great somme of money that he ought him He was content for asmuche as they of Strasburg Auspurg and Ulmes became suerties goeth forth with Iohn Sturmius that was sent Ambassadour into Fraunce to the Princes in their campe at Donauerde Whan he came thither he was honorably receiued and departed in suche sorte as he would assuredly defray the money but when the tyme came that he shuld disburse it he could no where be found in all Fraunce Many men suppose that this was wrought by the policie of the Cardinall of Tournon Who for the hatred he bare to Religiō wyshed all aduersitie to the protestauntes and was than chief in authoritie with the king About th ende of September the protestauntes write again to them of zurick Bernes Basill to the Schafusians and shew them what themperour intēdeth what daunger they shal stand in also in case he get the victory and will them to consider whether it be not wisdome for thē to declare them selues ennemies to the Emperour and byshop of Rome after to inuade the Emperours countrie next thē If they wyll so doe they promyse them all ayde and fidelitie Wherunto they make aunswere Howe not they only but all the rest of the Swysses in lyke case haue a league by inheritaūce with the house of Austriche and Burgundy out of the whiche countreis they haue all their wyne and bread corne Whiche league if they should them selues infringe the Swisses their fellowes whiche be of a contrary Religion should haue iuste cause to assiste the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando and to opē the strayte passages in the Alpes whiche they haue through their great labour shut vp and closed and so ioyne with their ennemies Moreouer wynter is now at hande so that albeit they would neuer so fayne yet can they do no great thing this yeare and if they should leaue their owne countrey naked it is to be feared leste others would take possession in the meane season Therfore it is muche better that they tary styl at home For so shall not their fellowes styre as they haue already declared It is not vnknowen that they beare them ryght good wil and wyshe them to prosper after their owne hartes desyre howebeit they thinke it not mete for thē to enter into so great daunger And therfore desyre them to take it in good parte The Emperour remoueth from Marxeme to Donauerde but fyndyng no place conuenient to encampe in he tourneth on the left hand and the thyrde daye of October marcheth to Monheyme It fortuned than to be a great myste and the escoutes that were sent
is the Emperours minde which maketh the warre Wherfore seing that Religion is assured he seeth no cause why he should not obey themperour in al other thinges For Christ commaundeth to geue both to God and also to the Emperour that whiche is his What trauell and payn he hath taken that this matter might without ciuile warre haue ben pacified it is not vnknowen to the Emperour to kyng Ferdinando and to diuerse others But where as no peace could be graunted and the Emperour sent out streight cōmaundement to sease vpon the landes of Iohn Friderick and that also kyng Ferdinando hauing leuied the forces of Hongary Boheme and Austriche was ready to inuade and would not be intreated but sent in his armie and had taken already certen syluer mynes whiche were common betwene his cosin and hym he was dryuen of necessitie to prouide that they got not the resydue or inuaded further And what his purpose was he first declared boeth to the Lantgraue to the Duke his Cosyn and also to his Sonne And seing it is so he desyreth that no man mistake his doyng nor credit suche thynges as shall haply be reported by hym For in mainteyning of Religion he wylbe constant and hath none other respecte in this thinge than that the landes and dignities of the house of Saxon shuld not come into straungers handes About this tyme began again persecutiō in Fraunce There is a town in those parties called Melda ten miles from Paris the byshop therof in former yeares was Williā Brissonet Who being desirous of purer doctrine appointed good preachers instructours of the people excluding al freers And what tyme for the same cause the diuines of Sorbone procured him some daunger he shewed no constancie but refused his enterpryse Notwithstanding the remnaunt of that doctrine remayned in the mindes of many and this yeare about thre score townes men consulting of the matter chouse them selues a preacher of the worde and assembling in priuate houses whan the Sermon was ended on certen dayes they receiue the Lordes supper after the order of the Gospell and Christes institution This thing could not long be kepte secret especially sythe that dyuerse also came to them out of the countrey Wherfore beyng taken whan they were all together they are put in pryson and after their examination caried to Paris in cartes There receyuing sentence of death and caried home agayne fourtene of them bounden to seuerall stakes were burnte quicke all at one tyme the residewe were whypped and bannished As they were retournyng home warde from Paris one commeth runnyng to them out of the next village and exhorteth them to perseuer to the ende Wherfore beyng apprehended he suffered lyke punyshement as the others did Before ther were brent they were put on the torture to the intent they should vtter the fellowes and followers of theyr doctrine but they could extorte nothyng out of them Many supposed this to be done of pourpose to breake the amitie that was than in knitting betwene the kynge and the Protestauntes Duke Maurice letters of defiaunce to the Duke of Saxon were delyuered in the Campe the syxt daye of Nouember In the fourmer booke I haue shewed you howe the Byshop the .xvi. daye of Apryll gyuing sentence agaynst the Archbyshop of Collon depriued hym of al his ecclesiasticall offices Nowe where he heard fyrst therof for any certentie the fourth daye of Nouember as he hymselfe mentioneth a fewe dayes after settyng forthe a wryting and declaryng the causes why he can not acknowledge the Byshop for hys iudge who is accused already both of heresy and idolatrie he appealeth from that sentence vnto a lawfull counsell of Germany and whan the same shall begynne he sayeth he wyll persecute his suite against the Byshop The Protestauntes Ambassadours whiche I shewed you before were assembled at Ulme aboute the ende of October whan they could not agree in sentences in the moneth of Nouember they went to the Campe at Gienge that the consultation might be the easier There is propounded for so muche as some fellowes of their religiō geue no ayde of their cōfederates they of Luneburg Pomerane certen others and again the rest of the States and cities in Saxonie helpe not muche and nothyng is brought out of Fraunce and by reason that the soldiours doe dayly slippe awaye for the tyme of the yeare and other discommodities the armie is deminished they must chouse one of these thre thynges eyther to geue the battell or departe the field retyring the soldiours into places where they may wynter or els make peace and truce The matter being debated they condescended to make mention of peace and they assigned Adam Trotte who through the cause of the Electour of Brandenburg had accesse to Marques Iohn his brother to breake the matter But where as the Emperour whiche by espiall knewe throughly before all their case and discommoditie and had lately receyued glad tydiuges out of Saxony propounded verey harde conditions it is determined that all the reste of their force beyng led into Saxonie a thousande horsemen and eight thousande fotemen should wynter there in certen places at the coste and charges of the Duke of Wirtemberge and the cities of the vpper partes of Germany After the thre and twenty day of Nouember they retyre makyng fyrst a decree that an other Ambassade should be sent into Fraunce and Englande And at the two and twenty daye of Ianuarye to mere agayne at Frankefurte And thus was the warre gouerned nothyng luckely of the whiche misfortune this was thought to be the the principal cause that the matter was not wrought by the order and wyll of one For where the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue were in authoritie egall it chaunced that many goodly oportunities through disceptation were omitted The same whiche was also decreed of placyng their Soldiours came to none effecte whan many refused to be contributaries any longer After the Emperour had intelligence of theyr departure he maketh forth horsemen immediatly to vnderstande of their iourney And shortly after commaundeth the Duke of Alba and the Erle of Bure to followe and he him selfe also goeth forth with the Horsemen of Germany leauing the fotemen and cōmaunding them to remayne The moste part of the protestātes were already in their campe where they should reste al nyght But the Lantgraue albeit he led the forwarde the same day yet he taried with the Duke of Saxon and either of thē had ten guidons of horsemen only and about fiue hondreth gūners With these they stayed vpon an hill and plāted redy such field pieces as they had with thē And thus abiding their ennemies whan it was almost darke night the Emperour calleth his mē back and than went they also softely forwarde tyll they came to their Campe be besydes Heydenem in the lande of Wirtemberg escapyng moste present daūger For if the Emperour had geuen the charge they whiche were so fewe
not se a bond prepared of a perpetual euer lasting amitie betwene vs It hath bene oftētimes wished for but in these eight hondreth yeares past chaūced neuer so good an opportunitie And this can not they deny which hinder the peace amongest you But by this meane say they we wold procure to our selues lordship to you bondage But the haue we in our letters sent to you the last yeare past sufficiently cōfuted and now take God to witnesse that the king is minded to ioyne with you in moste assured frendshyp If you shal refuse prouoke vs againe to warre through your frowardnes vnto whome shall the faulte of common euilles be ascribed You haue promised the daughter heyre of your Realm in mariage to our king by common assent of parliamēt Writinges were made of the same and confirmed with the common seale of the Realme Many great assuraunces were deuised you were cōtented to put in pledges till they came both to lawfull age These wrytinges of yours are in our custody as a perpetuall witnes againste you At all the whiche thinges Hamelton Erle of Arraine gouernour of your Realme was not only present but President also and chief doer But the same after the Cardinal of Saint Andrewes and certē other prelates of the Clergie had put him in feare and terrour and shewed hym agayne great hope an other waye he broke his faith and conuenauntes In whome assuredly of what so euer euils is chaunceth in the meane tyme the whole blame is to be imputed In that you haue lost so many fortes and Castelles that after the battell foughten you wanted so many thousandes of your men that we haue so farre inuaded your Realme it is chiefly to be ascrybed vnto hym But what ende at the length doe you loke of this obstinacy and vuloyaultie Hauyng the victory we offer you peace We possesse a great part of your kyngdome and yet make England common to you The same that men vanquyshed are wont to suffer as a great ignomie that what tyme they are vnited with the people that haue the victorye they should forsake and lose the name of their owne nation that doe we frely graunte vnto you and refuse not to receiue that auncient name of Britaines common to both nations What thing for the loue of God can of vs be more performed Will not as men iudge this that we haue iust cause to warre whan they shall knowe that so liberall so reasonable and honest condicions could take no place with you We set open for you always to come vnto our frendship neither do we expulse your Quene out of your Realme but wil also establish her and her daughter in England Again we intende not to abrogate your lawes For both Englande and Fraunce and the Emperours countreyes also do vse sondry lawes They that seke to hinder the peace doe put you in suche feare But they prouide only for their owne commoditie and pleasure and care not for your wealth But tourne you awaye your eyes and mynde from them and consider the state of your common wealth You haue a mayde inheritour of your Realme she must doubtles mary at the length Therfore she shall eyther be maryed to one of your owne nation or to some foreine Prince If she mary at home our ryght and title remayneth yet neuerthelesse vnto vs whole and that thinge wyll styre vp ciuile tumultes and dissention If she take a straunger ye shal both haue vs your continual ennemies and in a moste miserable bondage shall ye serue a foreine nation You must seke for ayde that is farre from you And the forces that shall be sent it can not be spoken what hurt they wyll do you and howe prowdely and arrogauntly they wyll deale with you For thus wyl they be perswaded that in their ayde and defence consisteth your whole preseruation What they wyll take from you your Quene and Princes and trāsport her whether they lyste and if they shall haue warre on any syde as it may be they shall they wyll be wholly addicte to defende them and theirs and not care for you but leaue you vnto vs for a pray And if it fortune that they sende no soldiours but cap only They shall prescribe and commaunde you and if any thynge shall be well done wyll haue all the prayse therof But if any misfortune chaūce the whole storme shall lyght in your neckes that lose your lyfe and bloud What daunger also it is to vse foreyne aydes a domesticall example may teache you The Brytaines the people of this same Ilande sente for the Saxons in tymes paste to ayde thē and after by the same were expulsed out of their countrie and dryuen into the mountanes and fennes Some tyme there dwelte betwyxt Englande and Scotlande the Pictes a fierse and a warlyke people whome the Scottes after they had a while defended from the ennemy at the length so oppressed that their name remayneth not at this daye Did not the same happen to the Frenche men by thē of Frankonie to the Grekes not longe synce and to the Hongarians in this our memory whan they vsed the ayde of the Turkes c. Did not the Gothians in tyme paste by the same meane wynne all Italy and the Lumbardes the whole countrie that nowe is called Lumbardie Longe not you and ye wyse be to proue the insolent pryde and arrogancie of the foreyne Soldiour but compare that infinitie Rable of euylles with mariage infinitie and an honourable peace And herein set before your eyes The maner and example of Nations nere vnto vs. The Emperour Charles the fyft by this meane possesseth Spayne and Burgundy The Frenche kynge by the same meane hath annexed litle Brytain vnto the crowne of Fraūce The lyke also doe other nations For there be but two wayes whereby warres are finished that is either by force and victory or els by mariage If you hate force why doe you not admit the other whiche is offered you and whiche once you conuenaunted and graunted to We are not ignoraunte who they be that diswade you from holsome counsel Uerely this do certen of the Clergie and the gouernour of the Realme also But take you hede lest they whiche so ofte haue broken their fidelitie do lose your whole libertie leste they beyng corrupte with brybes as with the hyre and rewarde of treason delyuer vp your Castelles and Fortes to Straungers Whiche thyng whan they shall doe they wyl fayne in wordes that they doe it to the intent that they shall defende them from vs but in very dede that thei being assured through their ayde may them selues brydle you as they lyste And than who seeth not in what case you and your Realme shall stande in O miserable and wretched frowardnes We are inclosed on euery side with the Dccean Sea as with walles ditch most strong If there were only the agrement of mindes amongest vs there
may be deuised But that was yet in vayne Moreouer he releaseth by his letters the Princes bounde and pronoūceth them fre from that bonde Wherfore whan the Lantgraue sawe no hope he was fully prefixed to make an escape if he might and deuiseth sondry meanes with his seruauntes whō he had sent for out of Hesse some of them Gentlemen of good houses But they being afrayd of the daunger sought delayes At the last he perswadeth two Conrade Bredesten and Iohn Rommelie which all the waye from Hesse vnto Machlin layed post horses whiche he might leape vpon and escape But the matter came to light by a certen man of his who had told one Frendely at Machlin that within a fewe houres his maister shuld be at libertie The same going from one to an other was reported to the captaine of the garde in the very same moment and instant that he should haue fled in Than was al that matter dashed and two of his seruauntes were slayne out of hand others taken and beheaded and he him selfe caried to a straiter pryson The Emperour when he knewe therof toke it most displeasaūtly and wryting his letters to Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburg signifieth that this so bolde an enterpryse apperteineth to the iniury of hym and his dominion and saith he wil be sore auenged of them that haue geuen him either aide or counsell herein The copie of these letters they sende to William the Lantgraues sonne and amongest other thynges they saye that in case there be any suche parte played from henceforth they wyl stande no more bounde to them Yet neuerthelesse Duke Maurice seuerally comforted them and to deliuer their father promyseth to spende not only his goodes but his life and bloud also And than sayeth ther shal be a tyme conuenient to yelde him selfe whan the state of thinges shal be suche as the displeasures of certen are lesse to be feared The .xix. daye of December all the fotemen and horsemen of Maydenburge that were not appointed to the watche issue out of the citie at after midnight that they might oppresse the stoute courage of their ennemies in a vyllage not farre of The enterpryse was very daungerous for that they must passe through theyr ennemies campe But yet it chaunsed luckely for before the ennemy could be armed thei had taken the Uillage and set it on fyre in diuers places They had all put ouer their harnesse white shirtes as the maner is in Camisado So many of their ennemies as resisted wer slayn which wer many noble gentlemen Diuerse fought out of the houses but the same being set on fire they were burnt Uery many of the Nobilitie wer taken and immediatly brought into the citie with two hōdreth and lx horses On the morrowe as sone as the daye appeared they retired home warde and by the way met a troupe of horsemen whiche were led by the Duke of Megelburge who at the laste geuing the charge whan the horsemen pressed him before and the fotemen gaue the onset at his back was takē and brought into the citie euen he whiche had first begon the warre In these dayes also came out of Spaine to Auspurg Maximilian of Austriche the Emperours sonne in law created king of Boheme in his absence called home by his father king Ferdinando betwene whom and the Emperour was than a great contention about the succession of the Empire for the whiche cause also the Emperour was sayde to haue sent for his syster Mary who retourned thither in the moneth of Ianuary that she might be a meane where she had departed from thence in September before For the Emperour who knewe what commoditie it were to annexe Germany to his inheritaunce coueted to establishe his sonne whiche should reigne ouer so many large and diuers Regions with this as a sure fortresse But kyng Ferdinādo hauing the same respect thought that nother his nor the expectation and commoditie of his children ought to be diminished herein Moreouer Maximilian who was a Prince of great towardnes could speake sondry languages especially the highe dutche and in Prince like maners excelled was very muche fauoured and beloued of all mē Those letters wherby the counsell was denunciatour as before I haue said the Byshop promulgat at Rome at the latter ende of December In the whiche are many thynges whiche myght offende mens myndes of the which sorte is that he sayth it is his part to gouerne counselles that he calleth hym selfe Christes vicar that he will haue the action continued and not repeted from the beginning that he chalengeth to him self the place and authoritie of the president that he semeth to call thither only mē of his own order These thinges also the Emperour whan the letters were deliuered hym is sayde to haue noted right well to haue required of him that suche thinges as were somwhat rough might be altered fearing as it was thought least the Germaines being affrayde of these thinges as mariners be of Rockes would either refuse the sommoning or els fynde some let or delay in this busines which he with so great labour had brought to passe I wyll not affirme this to be true and suche maner of coūselles ar wont to be kept secret But if it be trwe it is manifest that he obteined nothyng For the same fourme that I spake of the Byshop published not one worde altered Yea there be some that suppose he dyd it of a sette pourpose that he might feare awaye the Germaines from the counsell that they should not come there or if they came he might haue them intrapped by certen snares Certenly Paule the thirde was reported to haue vsed this policie as I haue sayde in the ix boke that after he had learned by his espialles what the Protestauntes could beare and what they refused calling than a counsell he would vrge and propounde those thinges chiefly where with he knewe their myndes to be moste offended as a man may aso perceiue in this bull of Iulius whiche is framed after that same of Paule the thirde In these dayes Duke Maurice and the Electour of Brandenburge offer conditions of peace to them of Maydenburg requyre them to render them selues and shewe their fidelitie vnto them to their Archebyshop Thus if they wyll doe they shal be permitted to haue and retaine the Religiō and doctrine exhibited in times past at Auspurge there shal be nothing deminished of their priuileges lawes and lyberties the fortifications also of the citie and goodes shal remayne safe and no violence offered vnto any man Moreouer they promyse to make intercession to the Emperour that he wyl abolysh the sentence of publication verely vpon these conditions That as other Princes and cities so they also may humbly desire pardon and deliuer him .xvi. pieces of ordenaunce and an hondreth thousand crownes to the end they may inioye their goodes already confiscated And that somme of mony they saye they
could both by giftes and other liberality The Duke of Saxon also prisoner whan he hard therof both comforted them by intermessagers and also holpe them with mony at theyr departure The cause why the Emperor proceded on thys wise against them was thought to be first for that he was stirred vp hereunto of many secondlye for that after inquisition made he found that the preachers were a let that his decre of religion toke not place Finally for that he had heard report of the consent and agrement of the diuines of Saxon Sweuelād and Strausburge And the readiest way was thought to be if they were exiled to the end the fathers at Trent might haue the lesse to do and the victory more easily in case they should hardly haue anye aduersaries to send against them They therfore being thus driuen oute and banished fled partly to the Swisses and partly to other places when the brute of this thinge was blased abrode it made manye men a fraid For that which chaunced there no man douted but the same should also be done in other places but behold whilest all men are in the same feare the french king maketh warre againste themperor and withall taketh certain ships of Flaunders carieth them away into Fraunce and spoyleth them and in Piedemount Turrin surpriseth many Townes and amonges other Cherie San damians by the conduit of Brissake Touching the shippes intercepted the imperials in a writing setforth report that whan themperour loked for nothing lesse than warre and commaunded hys subiectes to sit quiet the french Captaine Poline chaunced vppon them and as though he caried the Quene of Scotlande signified vnto them that for honoure sake after the olde accustomed facion they shuld vaile their bonnets strike saile and hailse her with shoting of their ordinaunce which thing whan they had done beinge vnarmed they were fradulently circumuented and caried awaye Many men had great maruel that the king durst in this so great good fortune and prosperity of the Emperor renounce his frendship yea it is sayed to haue chaunced to the Emperour contrary to his expectation For all be it he warred againste the Duke of Parma yet would he not seme therfore to be enemy to the French men with whome he had made peace seuen yeares before How be it the king for that he sawe howe through the side of Octauius he him self shuld also be wounded for that he had alredy intelligence that the Turkes wer sailing on the Sea Again for that he had intelligēce by intermessagers how Duke Moris was affected for so muche as the Emperoure was thought in that imbecillitye of bodye and disease that retourned ofte to be of no longe life he attempted the thing with a stout courage And in manner about the same time the Turkish Fleete whan it had assailed Malta in vaine surpriseth Tripolis a City in Affricke The blame hereof the Emperoure laying all together in the French King sendeth his ambassadors to the Princes Cities of Germany affirming this to be done through his craft and Policy But the King so sone as be knew therof ercuseth the matter and saith how the cause of the Turkish warre is for that the Emperor restoreth not to them the city of Affricke according to his promes for that King Fardinando doth hold and fortify the Castel of Zolnocke standing at the frontiers of Hongary within the Turkishe dominion for that he denieth to pay him his yearely tribute and attempteth new enterprises in Transsyluania After this he confuteth the Emperours narration wherin is declared how Tripolis was lost through the treason of Aremount the French ambassador with a contrary narration and confyrmeth the same by the letters of the great Turke Whilest these things wer a bruing the day of the consel came the first of Septēbre at the which day were ther present besides the bishops of Italy Spaine tharch bishops of Mentz Treuers to the great ioy gladnes as it appered of al mē not long after came also tharchbishop of Colō For themperor had earnestly moued thē both presētly in the coūsel at Auspurge after also by letters messagers that they shuld be ther for they exceld al others in dignity welth power the most part of that bishops in Germany are cōprised vnder theyr dominiō wherfor thincking to tary lōg they sold altheyr horses reseruing only a few made theirprouisiō for houskepīg a lōg seasō thither came also that bishops of straus Uienne Costintz Chur and Numburge others being let with affaires age or sicknes whan they had obtained licence sente theyr Proctours In the Bishop of Romes name Cardinal Crescēt was there president and had ioyned in commission with him tharchbishop of Sipount and the bishop of Uerona Themperor had sente thither Fraunces Toletane Hugh Earle Mounforte and William Pictaue diuers were there also in the place of king Ferdinando and Hongary Making therfore an assembly in the head church which they call a session the first day of Septembre whan Masse was done and other accustomed ceremonies finished sodēly came in the French Kinges ambassadoure the abbot of Bellosan with letters which were indorsed to the conuention of Trent which after he had deliuered to the bishops Legate and he had red the superscription a question arose why he shuld call it a conuention rather than a counsell and vnlesse he could shew a commission those letters were neither to be red nor yet receiued and where an exceading great clamour was raised especially by the Spanish bishops and he affirmed that his commission was comprised in the letters the bishops Legate ariseth and calleth a side the fathers into the reuestry The matter being decided that the indorsinge mighte be taken in good part they condescended to heare him Therfore whē they had red his letters priuately wherin the king did briefly signify his grief and that he had iniury done him and required them to credite his Ambassadour They all sit downe againe and than reading the letters openly make this answere Where the kinge vnder the name of a conuention doth signify the counsell it is takē of them in good part neither will they therefore conceiue any sinistrall suspicion of so great a king who hath the title of the mooste Christen but in case his mind and wil be otherwise than take they those letters as not wrytten to them After he was commaunded to declare his message Than he reciteth a long oration wrytten And first the king rehearseth what he treated by his ambassadour Paulus Thermes with the bishop and Senate of cardinals and how by all these meanes he hath nothing preuailed notwithstanding that he had opened alwaies vnto peace and saith how bishop Iuly who after thexample of his predecessoures ought to appease the controuersies of Princes hath kindled an exceading great fire at such time as he ought least to haue done it whan doubtlesse the state of the Christen common wealth was
sore afflicted and seing the matter is thus for so much as he dealeth so sharply roughly with him which is theldest sonne of the church he protesteth as he saith is likewise done at Rome first that for the most troublesome tumultes of warre he may not send the bishops of his realme vnto Trent again that he taketh not this for a publike or general coūsel but rather for a certain priuate conuention which is not instituted for the profit of the common wealthe but for the vtilitye of a few Finally that nether he nor any man within his realme can be bounden to the decrees therof but declareth also furthermore that he wil vse suche remedies if the case so require as in a like matter his progenitors haue accustomed he will be euer of a sounde and sincere mind towardes religion and the Church of Rome neither wil he cōmit any thing worthy of iust reprehension but in as much as he is burthened with thiniuries and hatred of certain without his desert he can not otherwise do at this present Therfore let thē take this protestation in good parte and Communicate vnto him the doctrine or testimony of this action to th end he may certify other Princes and people of Christendome concerninge the whole matter But wheras he saith he wil vse the remedies of his progenitoures thus it standeth like as in all other Regions so also in Fraunce if any Bishoppricke or Abbotship be vacant such as are called Chanons or Monkes had fre election to chuse them but the meane benefices which were not electiue as they terme it the Bishops and Patrones bestowed Moreouer all maner of sutes and controuersies touching benefices or matters of the church wer decided within euery prouince But bishops of Rome as Couetousnes increased began to subuert those elections and by reseruatiōs and graces expectatiue as they name them haue deriued all the gaine to Rome and to them selues called also to Rome all sutes euen the fyrst instaunces as they call them And the beginning of this alteration chanced in Fraunce in the time of King Lewes the ninth but he resisted stoutly and in the yeare of our Lord M CC. lxvii made a law that thold custome shuld be reteined nether that any tribute shuld for that cause be paid to the bishop of Rome This law was verely of force many yeares but at the lengthe the violence of the bishops preuailed against it and so far as christendome stretcheth they published those foresaid graces and reseruations and were very chargeable to all men vntill the Synode of Basill toke away this kinde of pillage and restored the aunciente lawes of contributions and elections and prohibited firste frutes to be paid This decre of the counsel the King of France Charles the seuenth by thaduise of his Counsell did ratify and in the yeare M CCCC xxxviii confirmed by Proclamation But Eugenius the fourth pronounced this counsell to be frustrate and of none effect as I said in the first boke and the Bishops that succeded him reiected that decre and said it was Scismaticall and in dede Pius the second sendinge his Ambassadoure to Lewes the eleuenth sonne to Charles the seuenth moued him earnestly to abolish that same confirmation and the king asketh counsell of the Senate of Paris the moost famouse of all Fraunce which in a maner consisteth wholy of lawyers They repeting many thinges of great antiquity declare what the bishops of former time what the Counsels and finally what his progenitors Clodowey Charles that great Phillip Deodate Lewes the ninth Philip le Beau Lewes Hutine Ihon the first and laste what his father and grandfather haue herein determined and except thauncient lawes be obserued it wil come to passe say they that al thecclesiastical ordre shal be brought to confusion and that Fraunce shal be lesse populous whan so many shal run to Rome and shal be so much impouerished that churches and many such other sumptuous buildings in France shal be neglected and fall to ruine And as touching the mony matter vnles your fathers confirmation of the decree at Basill maye be of force there shal be caried yerely out of Fraunce vnto Rome ten C M. Crownes For to let other thinges passe in the time of Pius the second now bishop there haue bene vacant at the least twentye Bishopprickes which haue paid euery one of them aswel for their first frutes as for other charges vi M. There haue fallen abbotships about lx and euery one of them haue paied two thousand of other benefices haue bene void aboue two hondreth whiche haue paid v C. crownes a piece Moreouer within your realme are an hondreth thousand parishes and aboue out of the which an infinite quantity of gold hath bene gathered by that same deuise of the bishop of Rome Walke therfore in your fathers fotesteps swarue not from the decre of Basil Certainly this was the counsell of the Senate but the king being ouercommen with the Bishops either authority or policy would neades abolish the confirmation the chief worker of this matter was Cardinall Baluen in great fauor with the king whom the bishop of Rome had corrupted how be it both the kinges procurer and also the vniuersity of Paris whome it much concerned resisted with a stout courage and appealed frō the bishop to the counsel Afterward Lewes the twelfth had great emnity for the same cause with Iuly the secōd and the matter was brought into the counsel of Laterane and Fraunces the firste that succeded Lewes concluded at the length with Leo the tenth vpon certaine conditions at Bononie after he had taken Millan verely that when a Bishoppricke or Abbotship were vacante the Couent in dede should not haue thelection therof but that the king shoulde within .vi. monethes nominate some man to the Bishop of Rome whome he thought worthy of that office This same therfore is the thing amongs others which King Henry now by his ambassador signified vnto them of a remeady For kings are on this wise wōt to bridle the bishops when they are at dissention with them and so to put in practise the confirmation of the decre of Basil espectally at this time when their thondrebolt is not so greatly feared as it was in time paste And for so muche as the Realme of Fraunce is both most large and rich also Rome can not without great hinderance want the reuenues therof And that which he signified here that he would do the same did he not longe after as you shal hear The same remeadye also in times paste vsed the King of Fraunce Phillip le Beaw against Boniface the eight For wheras he commaunded him to war against the Sarazens and refusing his excuse forbad that he shuld take no mony of the churches within his owne Realme which the King was driuen to do for the necessitye of his warres and vnlesse he obeyed the same did suspend him out of the Church he assembleth all
well acquainted in Germany and that vnderstode the tongue But the Emperour appered to be nothing moued with all these thinges and was wholy addicte to the war of Parma and the treaty of the counsell of Trent About this tyme also Maximilian the Emperours sonne inlawe cōming out of Spaine arriued at Genes with his wyfe and children The Frenche men sayling out of the porte of Marseilles and bording certen of his shippes toke and spoyled the same The cause whereof was said to bee for that those horsemen which king Ferdinando had sent into Italy to receiue and conduicte his sonne comming out of Spayne had ayded Ferdinando Gōzage in a certen warlike exploicte But the Frenchemen before that also vnder the pretence of amitie entring into the hauon of Barcelona had takē away a Galley six shippes of burthē furnished with all thinges necessary for the vse nauigatiō of Maximilian as certenly the imperialls recite in a certē inuectiue wherin they complaine of the iniuries of the Frenchmen the peace broken The Princes had intreated the Emperour in the conuentiō at Auspurg that in case he might not be present at the least he wold not be far from the place of the coūsel Which thing he graūted to do had said vnto thē how he wold remaine vpō the borders of thempire as I shewed you before Wherfore departing frō Auspurge in the beginning of Nouēb he came to Inspruck which is thre daies iourney from Trent This he thought to haue done both for bicause of the coūsell also for the warre of Parma that being so nere al thing shuld be done with more diligence Shortly after about the .xxi. day of Nouēb Iohn Sleidane Ambassadour for the citie of Strasburg came to Trent that he might further the cōmon cause ioyntly with Duke Maurices the duke of Wirtēberges Ambassadours And vnto this citie had ioyned themselues Esting Rauēsburg Rutelinge Bibrach and Lindawe and gaue commission that they should treate also in their names But why they of Frankefort and chiefly of Norinberge sent not it may be doubted Ulmes hadde before chaunged theyr Religion after the prescript of the Emperour From Auspurg and other places were all the preachers bannished lately as I sayde before So that they could not well sende any Howbeit though the same had not chaunced the Senate would haue done nothinge herein but by the Emperours consent In the moneth of Nouember the Byshop of Rome in one daye created .xiii. Cardinalles all Italians For they be wont to prouide such as it were garrysons to defende them selues Whan the .xxv. day of Nouēber was come and the fathers placed in their seates accordingly the decrees were recited That penaunce is a Sacrament instituted of Christe and necessary for suche as after Baptisme fall vnto synne agayne That it is also a seuerall Sacrament from Baptisme and as it were an other table of saluation after the shipwrake hath chaunced That the same wordes of Christe by the whiche he geueth to his Apostles the holy Ghost ought to be vnderstande of the power to forgeue sinnes by this Sacrament That the sinn shuld be forgeuen thre thinges be required contricion confession satisfaction And that contrition is in dede a true and profitable sorrowe which prepareth the man vnto grace And confession or the maner secretly to recite the synnes to the Prieste to bee ordeyned by Goddes lawe and necessary to saluation That all sinnes whiche come to remembraunce and circumstaunces of the same are to be rehersed That confession ought to be euery yeare once at the least and that chiefly in the tyme of Lent That absolution is not a bare ministery wherby the remission of sinnes is denounced but an act iudicial That only priestes though they be neuer so synfull haue authoritie to geue absolution Where as Byshoppes doe reserue vnto them selues certen cases and offences for the whiche other priestes can not assoyle to be well done Although the crime be remitted yet is not the punishement therfore released and that satisfaction consisteth in worke and not in fayth That by such penaunce as eyther God sendeth vpon vs or the prieste inioyneth or els of our owne fre wyll we chose vnto our selues the synnes are clensed concerning temporall punyshement That satisfactions wherby synnes are redemed be Goddes seruice That the prieste hath power to bynde and lowse And therfore may inioyne penaunce to hym that confesseth his synnes And this muche concerning penaunce They decree that extreme vnction is a Sacrament instituted of Christe for that it geueth grace remitteth synnes and comforteth the sycke The vse of this Sacrament to be the same wherof spake Saint Iames the Apostle Those seniours also wherof he made mention not to be aunciēt in yeares but priestes and thei only to be the Ministers of this Sacrament This doctrine they commaūde to be celebrated and obserued Suche as teache or beleue other wyse they deteste and accurse as pestilent and wicked The next daye after the sessions were brought the Duke of Wirtemberges letters to his Ambassadours Whome he commaunded that they should procede and in the assession at the xxv daye of Nouember they shoulde exhibite the confession of the doctrine wryttē When therfore those letters were brought so lyttle tyme to late and that it was a long season to the next sitting and Earle Mounfort was also absente they goe to the Cardinall of Trent and saye they haue certen thynges whiche they should in their Prynces name propounde in the counsell And howe the same should haue bene done in the laste session but that the letters came so late that the occasion was paste Wherfore they requyre that he whiche is a Germayne borne would both for the loue of the countrie and for their Prynces sake also whome he knewe further thē in this case and bring to passe that the fathers being called together they myght declare their message He with moste ample wordes promiseth great beneuolence Howe he wyl preferre the matter to the byshops Legate But sayeth howe it is agreed amonges the fathers that no man shal propounde any thyng openly vnlesse it be first knowen what maner a thyng that should be And how the Frenche Ambassadour was cause of the same decree whan lately in the opē sittyng there was reysed an vnsemely vprore and a very clamorouse outcrie Wherfore he inquireth what should be the effect of their requeste Who for the desire they had to further the matter shewe him the letters of their cōmission Wherby vnderstanding that they should exhibite some boke of doctrine he letteth thē so departe at that time as he put them in hope that within a fewe daies the thing might take effect The next daye he calleth for them againe and saieth howe he hath conferred with the legate of the whole matter for the better credit also shewed him the letters of cōmission But that he is sore offended for that they shoulde thynke to exhibite a
And the kinges of Fraūce for the maintenaunce of religion haue warred many times against thennemies of Christendom The Saracenes Turkes both in Asia Affricke Europe and haue had moste noble victories But after chaunced a time more vnfortunate whan certen Emperours as newly entred and not very Germaines nor worthy of the dignitie haue forsaken that amitie with the kinges of Fraunce and haue induced great calamitie to the common wealth But this sore plage through Gods benefite was healed by the noble house of the Dukes of Lutcemburg out of the whiche haue issued certen Emperours men of great vertue linked moste assuredly to the kinges of Fraunce For the father of themperour Charles the fourth died in battell for the kyng of Fraunce The like good will beare also the Princes of Austriche amongest others Albert the firste who neither for promesse nor threatening of the hyghe Byshops could be brought to warre against Fraunce These thynges he reciteth for this intent that they may see howe euell certen councellours and ministers of the moste puissaunt Emperour Charles the fyfte prouyde for the common wealth whylest they worke not thys thinge only that they plucke a sonder the one from the other these two moste excellent nations but also through their craft and subtiltie haue brought this to passe longe synce that the moste noble Prince kyng Fraunces was iudged an ennemie his cause not harde This do they to their owne priuate gaine but to the exceading great hinderasice of the cōmmon wealth For how harde it were for them during the amitie of the two nations to infringe the libertie of Germany and to buylde vp that their kyngdome it doeth hereof sufficiently appeare for that they being nowe affrayde of the force of Fraunce be not so importune as they were nor doe not so muche vrge that Spanyshe yoke and bondage These be verely they whiche by intreatie and tributes obteyning peace of the Turke vnder the colour of Religion and obedience haue brought in dissentions and factions into Germany who ayded with the power of Germaynes haue warred against Germany whiche haue exacted money of all men and made the State of the Empyre miserable by placing here and there garrisons of Spanyardes by vnarmyng the armaries and openyng the waye to confiscation For the matter is brought to that passe that bothe the seale of the Empyre and the iudgement of the chamber and also the ryght and libertie of assemblies depende only vpon the pleasure of the Byshop of Arras For what example is this or what equitie is it that suche as to get their liuing serue in foreine warres should be therfore executed outlawed and with great rewardes set forth be in daūger of murtheryng to omit in the meane season so many murthers lecherous actes spoylynges and robbinges of townes and especially the handlyng of Religion whiche hath not bene after one maner but diuers according to the tyme. Certenly what so euer hath bene done these many yeares nowe tendeth all to this ende that contrary to the lawes of the Empyre kyng Ferdinando being herunto eyther compelled or els by fayre promesses allured the Prynces also by a certen feare and terrour subdued the Prince of Spayne might be made Emperour And shuld not noble courages wyshe for death rather than to beholde the lyght of the Sun in suche distresse and miseries Assuredly there can no man be imagined so very a coward or so barbarouse whō these thyngs would not moue Wherfore no man ought to maruell that in the ende ther should arrise some Princes and amongest them Duke Maurice thelectour of Saxony which thought it their parts euen with the hazarde of their liues to recouer the libertie of their natife coūtrie And they being of thē selues not able nor of power sufficiēt to sustein such a charge alone haue desired the ayde of the king of Fraūce And he doubtles setting a part the displeasure of former yeares hath not only made thē partakers of al his fortunes but hath also imploied him selfe wholy to the same busines making a league with them wherein amongest other thinges it is prouided that thei may not cōpounde with the ennemie but by the kinges consent Howbeit Duke Maurice although he be tied with that same bonde yet for the weale of his countrie and to followe the mynde of kyng Ferdinando requiring him hereunto hath lately demaunded of the moste christian king how he could be content to haue peace Whiche thing chaunced vnto him in dede som what contrary to his expectation for that considering his benefite is so great he supposed that in matters touching him he shuld not haue sent to him a far of but to haue deuised with him presently Neuerthe lesse because he setteth much more by publique thā by his own priuate profites he would deny nothing to a Prince of his confederacie Wherfore if the woundes of the cōmon wealth may be healed as they ought from henceforth assuraunce made that they breake not out again if the captine Princes may be released vpon suche conditions as be in the league expressed Moreouer in case the olde leagues of Fraunce with the Empire and this new confederacie also made of late with the Princes may so be confirmed that they may take place for euer if these thines I saye may be brought to passe he is so well affected towardes the common wealth that not only he wyll assent gladly to the treatie of peace but also wyl giue God hartie thākes that his aduise and helpe hereunto hath not wanted As touching his priuate matters for so much as the Emperour deteineth many thinges by force and hath made warre vpon no iust cause the king thinketh it reason that he the hath first done wrong should first seke also to make satisfactiō He verely althoug he neither distruste his force nor yet his cause will so demeane him selfe that it may be well perceyued both how desirous of peace he is and how willing also to gratifie Duke Maurice them all Hereunto the Princes aunswere Howe that recitall of antiquitie repeted of fourmer memory cōcerning the coniūctiō of Fraūce and Germany was to them right ioyfull and no lesse pleasaūt to heare that the kyng preferreth the common wealth aboue his priuate cōmodities and is not against but that the Princes confederate may conclude a peace with the Emperour For that it should so be it is for the profite not only of one nation but also of all Europe whiche afflicted with ciuil discorde ten deth to distruction And suche conditions of peace as the kyng requyreth they doubte not but that they may be obteyned For the Emperour both before this tyme and also in this trouble thinketh well of the common wealth and wyll not haue the libertie of Germany deminished There is good hope moreouer that he wyll shortly delyuer the captiue Princes But that both the olde leagues should be renewed and the newe confirmed the king of his wysdome vnderstandeth that
in this same conuention so great a matter can not be finished Neuertheles they wyshe vnfainedly that the same amitie which hath bene alwayes betwene bothe nations may remayne ferme and vnuiolable That suche priuate suites as he hath with the Emperour myght be appeased they both couet chiefly and also wyll refuse no paynes and trauell therin And where as the kyng affirmeth that the Emperour deteineth diuerse thinges that ar his and signifieth plainly that he hath thinges to lay clayme to they thinke it not against reason that he shewe what thing that is For they are mynded to preferre the controuersie to the Emperour be as meanes therin And they desire very much that the kyng would accept these thinges in good part Nowe as concerning the alliaunce betwene the Germaynes FreÌ„che men I haue spoken in the eight booke And that whiche the Frenche Ambassadour speaketh here of the house of Lutcemburge thus it standeth The Erle of Lutcemburge Henry had a sonne named Henry whiche was after made Emperour the seuenth of that name he had a sonne Called Iohn whiche by mariage was made king of Boheme Who aided Philip Ualose the Frenche kyng against the kyng of Englande Edwarde the third goyng hym selfe with hym to the fielde and the battell being foughten where the Englishmen had the victory he was slayne and amonges others lefte a sonne called Charles whiche afterwarde was made Emperour the fourthe of that name father to Wenceslaus and Sigismunde whiche were after both Emperours and this Sigismunde also kyng of Hongary and Boheme the procurer of the counsell of Constance Albert of Austriche of whome he speaketh the sonne of Raffe the Emperour whan he was Emperour he obserued perfit amitie with Philip le beau kyng of Fraunce notwithstanding that the Byshop of Rome Boniface the eight did wonderfully incense him vnto warre Duke Maurice besydes the deliueraunce of his father in lawe vrged two thynges chiefly One that of suche matters as annoyed the libertie of Germany the whiche he hym selfe had recited by name kyng Ferdinando MaximiliaÌ„ his sonne and the intercessours themselues shuld nowe forthwith examine and according to the lawes and custome of Germany determine the same Another was that peace myght be graunted to Religion and that no man should he molested therfore tyl suche tyme as the whole coÌ„trouersie were fully reconciled This way did not thintercessours discoÌ„mend but themperour by his Ambassadours declareth what lacke he findeth therin thought it reason that those which had bene faithfull to him and therfore had chaunced into extreme miserie should be first recompeÌ„sed their losse After much debating what time diuerse pointes were mittigated they agreed at the length that the third day of July the Emperour shuld answer directly that the war should cease in the meane time Wherfore thintercessours wryting their letters the .xvi. day of June exhorte themperour vnto peace Whan that castel of Ereberg was taken and afterwarde Inspruck spoyled I shewed you howe the Princes retorning through thalpes about th ende of May came backe again to Fiessa And marching froÌ„ thence the .xix. day of June pitched their tentes at Eistet which is the Byshops town bordring vpon Bauier and ther the whole army longed sore for Duke Maurice coÌ„ming not without great thought carfulnes Who comming thither at the length sheweth them in what case the matter stode and the laste daye of Iune he retourneth from thence to Passaw by post horses that he might be there at the daye appointed and his fellowe Princes remouing their campe the next morning the fourth day after came to Roteburg whiche is a towne nere vnto Francony by the riuer of Duber But Marques Albert neuerthelesse pursued his enterprise and hauing driuen the citie of Norinberge to make their peace he compelled also the nobilitie and states in these parties to be at coÌ„maundement For albeit he mainteined the common cause at the first as in the writing set forth he professed to do yet was he not of the same league and whaÌ„ the siege of Ulmes was leuied he went about his priuate affaires whether it were for that he would wynne to hym selfe alone what soeuer the chaunce of warre had geuen hym or that he myslyked Duke Maurice his doinge or els moued by the Frenche kynge was bent otherwyse Notwithstanding those that he toke the faith of he commaunded to perfourme the same fidelitie also to his felowes Afterwarde inuading the prouince of the Archâ—bishop of Mentz by the Ryuer Meyne doeth exceading muche harme with burning and spoyling and demaundeth of hym a wonderfull summe of money And where diuers made intercession neither yet could thei agree vpoÌ„ the summe The Archebyshop fyrste synkynge hys great Artylarie in the Rhyne the fyrste daye of Iuly fled awaye to saue hym selfe The selfe same tyme also Marques Albert whiche lefte nothynge vnattempted wylleth the Archebyshop of Treuers to deliuer vnto him the chiefest castell of his dominion whiche is situated where the Riuers of Rhine and Mosell mete vpon an hyghe hyll naturally strong and very commodious And he sayd howe he required this of him in the FreÌ„che kynges name He after he had conferred with his counsell sent him worde that he could not accomplyshe his request herein For as muche as the Princes intercessours in the latter part of their aunswere that they made to the Frenche Ambassadour as before is mentioned sayd howe they thought it reason that the kyng should declare what he required of the Emperour The Ambassadour by the kyng aduertised whan he was with the armie besydes Eistet the .xix. daye of Iune wryteth to them agayne how the kyng hath attempted this war for none other cause doubles but to profit the whole common wealth and chiefly to restore the libertie of Germany sore opressed what tyme certen Prynces had long and muche requested hym to the same And assuredly sought no priuate gayne to him selfe therein and that may the thing it selfe beare witnes For he had taken nothyng at al in Germany where it had not bene harde for him to haue done He permitted the Princes also to warre frely as they list And albeit that in the meane tyme that he hymselfe laye styll with his armie by the Riuer of Rhine his ennemies had inuaded Fraunce yet did he not once remoue tyll he was aduertised by Duke Maurice that suche thinges myght be obteyned by peaceable meanes for the whiche this warre was attempted Whiche thing knowen he was not a litle glad whan he sawe the thinge procede after their hartes desire For his aduise and counsell was first that the Princes should not neglect so goodly an occasion as this was neither disceiue them seluws or by others be abused as they were before Moreouer for so muche as he had shewed so notable a token of his good wyl and fidelitie that the amitie of both nations might assuredly be established to thintent that he himself may afterwardes haue better
eldest sonne of the same name haue wandred vp down at most vncertenty for that they warred against themperor but all his landes and possessions by themperors permission had his sonnes Fridericke and Wuolfgange whiche were of a contrarye Religion Whan they came to the treaty the father accuseth them of moste ingratitude and all be it the Prynces laboured the matter diligently yet coulde there be nothing determined The xxv Booke of Sledaines Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte The Argument of the xxv Booke THe warre beginning in Piedmount Duke Moris and the Marques Albert being at desiaunce loyne in battell wherin Duke Moris was slaine but the Marques lost the field Augustus his brother succedeth Duke Moris Iohn Fridericke maketh reclaime to hys landes At this time are nine martirs executed at Lions The good king Edward of Englād being dead his sister Mary is proclaimed Quene and the Popish bishops restored to their dignity Marques Albert hauing lost the field against Henry Duke of Brunswicke surpriseth the towne of Holse After he is banished A disputation in England about the Sacramente of thaultare The Lady Iane which was proclaimed Quene is beheaded greate execution is done in England The blessed death of the Duke of Saxon and his wife Alberte again exiled worketh greate crueltye Marye Quene of Englande maried to kinge Phillip Cardinall Poole geueth full absolution to England An assemble at Auspurge Many excellente parsonages are condemned in Englande being wholy reconquested to the Pope TO the intent some remeady might be founde for these troubles and tumults in Germany the Emperour in the month of May calleth an assembly of thempire the xiii day of August And whan he had besieged the Citye of Terwen in the dominion of Fraunce from the end of Aprill The xx day of Iune he taketh it by an assaulte spoyleth burneth and raseth it down to the ground The Constable sonne was taken in the same The king of Englande sendinge an honorable ambassade by the space of certaine monthes intreated a peace The same did the bishop of Rome but that was in vain In the month of May Ihon Duke of Northumberlād which after the death of the Lord Protector the Kinges Uncle had the chief gouernment as before is saide marieth one of his Sonnes to the Lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady Fraunces whiche was Nece to Kinge Henrye the eighte by his Sister the Frenche Quene That time was Kinge Edwarde greuouslye sicke Than was it warre also in Piedmont and in the hither partes of Italy For the Emperour purposed to recouer Senes sendinge thither a power from Naples vnder the conduit of the Uiceroy Peter Toletane but wheras he died and the Turkish Nauy to the whiche the Prince of Salerne going out of Fraunce had ioyned him self was sailing on the Seas of Grece and Italy the soldiors retourned home to repulse the neare and domesticall daunger Marques Albert kepinge warre in Franconie Duke Moris and his fellowes send their army thither The Marques therfore leauing a garrison at Schuinfurt and other places whan he had euerye where exacted Monye hasted with greate expedition into Saxony leading away with him many pledges oute of the dominions of Norinberge and Bamberge captiues Whan he was cōmen to Arustet there were the ambassadors of Ihon Fridericke Duke of Saxon to intreat him that he would not hurte his country he promised right gently and kept it After marching into the limites of Erfurde he spoyleth there manye villages Duke Moris amased at his soden comming which had sente his armye into Franckonie as I saide commaundeth all his Nobility after also thother states to put on armure and hyreth as many as he coulde but the Marques passing through his countrye with oute doinge anye hurte whan he came to Halberstat he taketh the gates and imposeth to the Cleargye there a greate summe of Monye after that he burneth and destroyeth the Countrye of Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke beinge aided by Duke Ericke and the Nobilitye of Brunswicke The Duke of Brunswickes armye whiche I saide before was gone into Franckonie by the conduit of Phillip his Sonne whan they had attempted Schuinfurte in vaine and saw ther was pearill at home retourne into Saxonie likewise do the Souldioures of Duke Moris whereof the Earle Hedecke had the leading and ioyn with Duke Moris about Northuse And for so much as the Marques tourned downe into the prouince of Minden Duke Moris thinckinge that he woulde haue gone throughe Hesse and againe made inuasion into Franconie from Northuse marcheth to Embecke that he mighte preuente him Than in the ende ioyninge all his forces together he incampeth in the countrye of Hildesseme at Osterode and the first day of Iuly not only he but also the Chaūcelour of Boheme Henrye Plauie in kinge Fardinandoes name Proclaime warre againste him and sending abrode theyr letters Themperor say they in these former yeares hath by common assent and consent of the princes and states established peace throughe out the Empire and gaue commaundement that what action some euer any man had he should try it at the law and worcke no force nor violence And certainly the state of Germany which hath bene nowe certaine yeares nowe sore afflicted with Ciuill warres doth much require peace and quietnesse Wherfore what time there arose warre lately within the limits of the Empire kinge Ferdinando with the healpe of others indeuoured and toke paines that the warre was appeased And here in at the lengthe had the Princes consentes that were chiefe Captains of the warre and finally through the Emperoures permission concluded peace Wherin it was prouided amongs other thinges not only that nothing be done to the contrary but that suche also as be in dāger shuld be aided and assisted but that same peace did not Marques Albert refuse only but also did wryte openly to certen renowmed princes that the same tēded to the great reproche and dommage of Germany and was more worthye to be called a treason than a peace making By which wordes you declare sufficiently what minde you beare to your natiue country Again whā you had with spoyling and burning distroied the countrye that lieth by the Rhine wheras you had no good successe in Fraunce and themperor had an army prepared throughe intercession you were reconciled to him vpon respect only that he would confirme youre composition with the Bishops of Bamberge and Wirciburge But you straightwaies abusinge this confirmation of themperor who permitted you to shew no violence haue by youre ministers manye times put in feare either prelate with most terrible threatninges saying how you would inforce them by tharmies of the Earles of Mansfeld and Oldenburge to obserue their couenauntes as it is by your own mens letters to be proued And that also you mighte bring this to passe the soldiors which you discharged after the siege
in me I truste that for the vertue that is in them and true Nobilitie they wyll sooner geue credit not so muche to my saying as doyng whiche manifestly appereth and sheweth it selfe than to these sediciouse persones which as certen bellouse seke to reyse vp flame With what intier loue also and good will being absent Imbraced al Germaines for the remembraunce of the moste swete countrie that can both the Ambassadours of many Princes and many also of the Nobilitie declare whiche were than at Rome when I was of Mentz Treuers Collon Saxons of Brandenburg Maydenburge Bauarians of Brunswicke Passawe Osenburg Minden and of Basill For all these at once repared to me as a certen hauen and were faythfully holpen of me in their affayres and certen also through my labour and commendation haue ascheued offices and great promotions Now that same of the Lantgraue and of one Titelman what a fonde diuise is it For neyther had I euer any talke with the Lantgraue and his sonnes of that matter neyther can I remember that I spake one worde of it either at Rome or in Italy Much lesse can I tell what the Ministers of his dominion do teache or reuoke This in dede am I able to saye that to my knowledge there was no suche recantation made at Rome Therfore I doubte not but the Lantgraue when the matter shall so requyre wyll easely confute this same and the other also of my commendation Considering therfore that the artificers of so perniciouse libelles haue shamefully forged all thynges to the ende that the same fyre whiche many yeares since they had layde together myght nowe at the length burne and breake out all at ones it is nedefull that Princes and Magistrates take dilligent hede of them and when at the laste they shall be detected that they set suche an example as may make all others afrayde Finally in case there be any that haue conceaued any euyll opinion of me by reason of these sclaunders I earnestly praye them to laye it awaye and thynke assuredly that synce I am bothe a Germayne borne and come of a noble house I wyll doe nothinge vnworthy the vertue and Nobilitie of my auncesters When he had published this wrytinge the fifte Kalendes of Iune as before is sayde he wrote also priuatly to diuerse Princes to the same effecte and after went againe into Italy what tyme Bona the mother of Sigismunde kyng of Poole retourned home goyng to Naples In the meane season commotiōs were in England many Gentle men for suspicion of conspiracie as it was sayde were cast in prison Wherof some were executed other some fled into Fraunce and amonges them Sir Androwe Dudley brother to the Duke of Northumberland There were two also taken out of my Lady Elizabeth her house At the Ides of May Sir Peter Carrowe who for an insurrectiō had fled certen monethes before reconciled to king Philip and Sir Iohn Cheke whiche was king Edwardes scholemaister retourning out of Germany into Brabant to fetche his wyfe as they were going from Brusselles to Andwarpe by the cōmaundement of king Philip being apprehendetd are caried to London Aboute the ende of Iune not far from London there were .xiii. burnt together at one stake for Religion In the meane tyme Charles Marques of Baden receiueth the doctrine of the Gospel and of his neighbours borroweth ministers to refourme order his churches Before this also had the Senate of Spire taken a preacher or two of the Gospell Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando with his wife the Emperours daughter departing frō Uienne the. xvii day of Iuly came to Brusselles where he had bene long and much desirous to take that iourney Peter Martyr a Florentine of whome we haue spoken before what tyme the dissention about the Lordes supper was kindled againe he in certen bokes was touched by name wēt from Strasburg to Zurick that he might handle that matter frely both in teaching and writing That time Conrade Pellicane died at Zurick And therfore the Senate being requested by the ministers of the churche wryting their letters to the Senate of Strasburg praye earnestly that he might be sent them So he departeth at the third Ides of Iuly not without the sighing grief of many whiche loued him for his incomparable learning his moste exacte iudgement his great gentlenes and modestie and his other vertues At the same time the Archebyshop of Pise Cardinall borne in Sicilie passing by Basil went to themperour at Brusselles being sent frō the Pope where a litle before Cardinal Caraffa the Popes cosin was come to the kyng of Fraunce A reporte had bene and that written that there was moste heinous displeasure betwixt the Pope themperour that the matter tended vtterly to war For amonges other thinges the Pope had taken from the house of Columnois al their possessions in Italy Whiche thing in dede semed to apperteine to the iniury of the Emperour Again it was said how he would not inueste kyng Philip his sonne in the possession of Sicilie and Naples propounding ouer hard condicions for those kingdomes paye tribute to the Byshop of Rome and depende vpon his benefite At the Ides of Iuly Albert Duke of Bauier in the name of king Ferdinando beginneth the counsel at Regensburg declareth that he is occupied with holding assemblees in Austriche and Boheme so that he could not come hither hym selfe at the time appointed and sheweth why he can not be present yet neither For by meanes of Peter Petrouice the kynges cliente who had desired ayde of the Turke all the coūtrie of Transyluania when no necessitie vrged them when they had no iust cause reuolted from the king to the sonne of Iohn Uayuode After that Fraunces Beuecke and George his sonne making a rebellion in Hongary haue by the helpe the aide of the Walachiās taken certen townes and castels Againe that the Turke hath lately sent a gouernour to Offen And that an other also what time they treated of the truce beseged the towne and castell of Zegeste the .xi. day of Iune and began to batter it sore Moreouer to be signified by the letters and messages of many that the gouernour of Bosnia leuieth an exceading great army to inuade Slauonia And also that the president of Grene gathereth no small power at the citie of Sophie intending to marche forward and that the Emperour of Turkes him selfe wyll in haruest next come in to Hongary and wynter there or if he defer it to the next spring that he wil come than with a strong army to wyn Uienne by sege For these causes therfore the kyng can not at this time leaue his countries but is wholy busied occupied in making preparation to resiste And for as much as it is not for the profit of the cōmon wealth to differ the coūsel any lōger therfore hath he appointed him to begin the treaty and to procede till he may come
him selfe And in dede thre yeares since the king sent a noble Ambassade to the Turke for peace or truce and they are yet deteined at CoÌ„stantinople And albeit that truce was taken betwene theÌ„ till thambassadours were retourned home yet the Turkes in the meane season hauing broken their faith haue takeÌ„ many townes castels vpoÌ„ the frontiers And seing now also Zegest of them is beseged it appereth not what peace in very dede is to be loked for at their handes that can be firme tollerable Whiche thing seing it is so for as muche as great daunger hangeth ouer not only the remnaunt of Hongary Austriche but also ouer all Germany to be first nede to consulte imediatly of sending ayde and of coÌ„tribution mony which should be kept in certen places and for this warre when nede is to be defrayed by the publique treasurers And that other kynges and Princes also are sollicited by the kyng for ayde neither wyl he him selfe spare any coste or perill either of him selfe or his sonnes also but since his countries being sore inpouerished with the warres of so many yeares are not able to resiste so great an ennemy it is requisite to contribute thereunto and that spedely Moreouer for as much as in the last assemblee it was decreed also that in this assemblee wayes should be sought to appease Religion the kyng ernestly exhorteth that they would searche diligently whether a reconcilement myght be made and whiche waye They muste also treate of mony and of establyshyng peace in the Empire And the consultation of the Turkishe warre not to be set behinde but to be chiefly of them considered to the ende the present and iminent calamitie may be repulsed About the .xv. day of September the Emperour hauing a fayre wynde and his nauie in a readines taketh shipping to sayle into spayne and taketh with him both his sisters Quene Mary and Elenor companions of his iourney But before he departed he set kyng Philip his sonne in possession of all the lowe countries And to his brother kyng Ferdinando he committed the common wealth of Germany sending letters to the Electours of the Empyre wherby he requireth them that they would acknowledge the same for Emperour of Romaines obey him accordingly The last day of October Iohn Sleidane authour of this worke a man for the singular giftes of the mynde and excellent learnynge all prayse worthy departeth out of this life at Strasburg and is there honorably buried FINIS ✚ An Apologie of Iohn Sleidane FOr as muche as I heare that diuerse men speake nothing frendly of my History and haue small thanke requited me for my exceading great paines I am constreined to set forth this wryting for defence Nowe for what causes I was moued to write this story how I proceded in that same howe I wrote for the displeasure or fauour of no man and couched thinges in order I declared in the preface of the worke And added moreouer that I was very desirous of the truthe and therin so affected that if I knewe any thing to be wrytten vntruely I would scrape it out and admonishe the Reader of myne owne accorde to geue no credit to it Doubtles I would haue thought that all men here with would haue bene satisfied especially since the very reading should proue it true that I said But in as muche as it is reported to me far otherwyse whiche to me was very lothsome and greuous I am driuen of necessitie to adde some thinges to my preface And first in dede euer since the beginning of the worlde it hath bene accustomed that matters as wel ecclesiasticall as ciuile should be coÌ„mitted to wryting Which thing in dede bookes do testifie and the same custome hath alwayes florished chiefly amonges noble free nations especially Grekes and Romaines The chief precept ornament of this kinde of wryting is that it be right and trewe and therfore Tully calleth an history the witnes of tymes and light of veritie the lyfe of memory and maistres of lyfe By the whiche wordes verely he doth both commende it exceadingly and also sheweth of what sort it ought to be and nowe for as muche as in this our tyme hath chaunced so great an alteration of Religion as since the tyme of the Apostles the like hath not bene no smal sturre of ciuile policie hath insued also vpon the same as is coÌ„monly wont to do I verely although not the metest man of al at requeste of certen good men toke vpon me this kynd of wrytinge to the setting forth of Gods glory and with great fidelitie and diligence haue brought it to this our tyme. And that I haue herein geuen nothing to affectioÌ„s and haue vsed my selfe so moderatly in this argument as peradueÌ„ture none other before me hath done that same I trusteâ—l indifferent iudges wil confesse For although I do gladly prufesse this doctrine of the Gospel through the benefite of God restored and reioyce exceadingly to be of that nomber and fellowship yet do I absteyne from al bitternes of wordes and declare simply the whole matter as it was done God also I take to witnes that myne intent hath not ben falsly to hurte any man For what a shameles impudencie were it of those thinges wherof the memorie yet is freshe to set forth any thyng contrary to a truthe Again they that know me throughly haue perceiued I truste no such vanitie in me Notwithstanding in case I haue erred in any pointe I will both acknowledge it willingly being admonished and also as I saide in the preface I wil proteste it openly that the Reader be not abused And as concerning my paynes I suppose verely that in searching out of the truthe no mans dilligence could haue bene no more than myne hath bene and like as many are able this to testifie so I doubte not but the thing also it selfe shall declare And in describing matters of Religion I might not omitte polytique causes For as I sayde before they came in maner alwayes together and especially in our tyme they could not be separated And that they come together this is a sure reason and grounded vppon the scripture To witte that so sone as amonges any people Religion is chaunged by and by arrise offences dissentions debates vprores factions and warres For euen for this cause Christ saith that the sonne is plucked from his father and the daughter froÌ„ her mother Also that his doctrine bryngeth not peace but the sworde and sayeth it shall styre vp fyre also amonges the nere of bloud And this hath bene euer the state of thinges since the worlde was made neither can it be denied and the thing it self speaketh For so sone as in our time gods benefite geuen to maÌ„ and the Gospell began to be preached against the Popes pardons and traditions of men by by the worlde began to reise tumultes and chiefly they of the clergie Upon this very occasion the matter was brought into the
common assemblee of the Empire And where certen Princes and cities receiued also this doctrine the fire went further abroade the matter was handled by diuerse meanes tyll at the laste it ended in warre And in all this same description a man may see what care and diligence the Emperour toke that the dissentiō might be takē vp It is to be sene also what the Protestan̄tes and states haue aunswered and what maner of conditions they haue oftentimes offered But when the matter fel out into warre the handling of it was variable and diuerse And the Emperour in dede that I may bryng of many examples one sending his letters to diuerse Princes and cities after also setting forth a publike wryting declared the cause of his enterprise This wrytinge wherin the foundation of themperours cause consisteth with the aunswere of the contrary part might not be omitted For than I praye you what maner of story were it to be thought whiche raccompteth but the doinges of the one part only And yet howe I haue demeaned my selfe herein howe I haue moderated and tempered my style it may be sene by conferring the dutche with the Latin wherunto I referre my selfe also The warre being now driuen of tyll wynter the Emperour had the vpper hande where the ennemies were gone euery man home These victories and triumphes of his also firste in highe Germany and after in Saxonie I recite faithfully all and this order is kept euery where For neither I take awaye nor attribute to any man more than the thing it selfe requireth permitteth whiche thing fewe men haue perfourmed as it is euident For many in the narrations put also their iudgement as well touching the persones as the thinges And to speake nothing of olde wryters it is knowen howe Platine hath described the Popes liues And a litle before our dayes a worthye knyght Sir Philip Commines set forth a notable historie of his tyme and amonges other thinges he sheweth howe after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundy who was slayne in battell a little from Naunce Lewys the .xii. king of Fraunce toke away from the daughter heire of Duke Charles either Burgundy and also the countrie of Artois And albeit that Commynes was bounde to Fraunce by his othe although he were one of the kinges counsell yet he saieth that this was not weldone of him About the .xxiiii. yeares past the Senate of Uenise appointed Peter Bembus to describe the warres which they had made with the Emperour Maximilian with Lewys the Frenche kyng and with Pope Iuly the seconde with others Which he did comprising the matter in .xii. bokes And amongest other matters he reporteth howe Lewys the .xii. kynge of Fraunce denounced warre to the Uenetians He sayeth howe the Herault of armes after that he came before the Duke and the whole Senate spake these wordes To thee Lawredane Duke of Uenise and to all other citezens of the same Lewys kyng of Fraunce commaunded me to denounce warre as to mē vnfaithfull possessing townes of the Byshoppes of Rome and of other kynges gotten by force and by wronge and sekyng to catche and bryng al thinges of al men disceiptfully vnder your gouernement He him selfe cometh to you armed to recouer the same These wordes would some man saye for as much as they be heinouse against the Uenetians Bembus shoulde haue omitted But he would not so but wrote them out of the cōmon recordes into his boke and added to the aunswer made to the Herault no lesse byting And the workes was printed at Uenise with the priuilege of the Senate Paulus Iouius besides other wrytinges wherin he compriseth the forces of certen noble mē hath not lōg since set forth also two Tomes of thinges done in his tyme But howe frankely he wryteth those that haue red them can testifie Not withstanding that in certen places he doth the Germanes wrong And yet the same worke came forth authorised by sondry priuileges Who so wyll may seke the ninth leafe of the seconde Tome also in the life of Leo the .x. leafe .xciii. and .xciiii. And in the lyfe of Alphonse Duke of Farrare leafe .xlii. All the bokes of good authours be full of examples And Comines is for this cause chiefly commended that he wrote so indifferently But he kepeth this maner as I sayde also before that not only he discribeth the thinges but also addeth his iudgement and pronounceth what euery man hath done be it right or wrong And albeit that I do not so yet is it vsed of many But that whatsoeuer is done on either part should be recited that same is not only reasonable but being frequented in all times is nedefull also For otherwyse can not the History be compiled Where so euer be factions where war and sedition is there doubtles are al thinges full of complaintes accusations and defensions with other cōtrary wrytings Now he that reciteth all these thinges in suche order as they were done doeth iniurie to neither part but followeth the lawe of the story For in those brawlinges and complaintes euery thing is not by by true that one obiecteth to an other When there is grudge hatred and malice amonges them it is knowē and tried howe the matter is vsed on either syde If the euill wordes that Popes and Byshops and suche other lyke haue powred out against the Protestauntes .xxxvi. yeares past were true what thinge could be imagined more wicked than they Paule the thirde being Pope sent his nephewe by his sonne Cardinall Farnese Ambassadour to the Emperour to Brussels the yeare of our Lorde M. ccccc.xl He there gaue counsell against the Protestauntes whiche not long after was set forth in printe and is of me recited in the .xiii. boke of my History After many contumeliouse wordes amonges other he sayth that the protestauntes do resiste Christ no lesse but rather more thā the Turkes do For these sleye the bodies only but they leade The soules also into euerlasting pardition I pray you what more heynouse or horrible thing can be spoken And in case these thinges shuld not haue bene recited then might the Protestauntes haue hed iust cause of complaint against me but the matter is farre otherwise For neither be thinges true because he said so And if I should haue omitted this I might iustly haue commen into suspition as though I handled not the matter vprightly and would gratify more the one part And that it is thus as I haue plainly declared I doubt not but reasonable men will iudge that I haue done nothing contrary to the law of an history and so much the rather for that the moste thinges are taken out of common recordes which had ben setforth in Print before Therfore they do nothinge frendly no they do me plaine wronge which thus do sclaunder my worcke and so much the more wronge if they vnderstand thorder of compiling an history but if they knowe it not I would they should learne of such thinges as we
haue nowe declared and of others that wryte stories But when I speake of Historiographers I meane not those of our time which study only to extoll and highly commend what part they list and ouerwhelme thother with contumelious and railynge wordes They that are of such sort be not worthy to be so called Ihon Cocles .vi. yeares past setforthe Commentaries in a manner of the same argument that mine are but all thynges are heaped vp with such horrible forged and abhominable sclaunders and lyes as haue not bene hard Cardinall Poole in the boke lately setforthe calleth the Doctrine renewed in Germany Turkishe seede Of suche lyke wordes are al theyr bokes full But what like thing is found in all my woorke I haue verely wrytten the wonderfull benefite of God geuen eo thys our time orderly and as truely as I could possible and for the same purpose I gathered .xvi. yeares since what soeuer belonged herunto neither haue I wrytten rashlye but with a sure iudgemente proceaded And what labour and paines this worke hath cost me nexte the liuing God I know For his glory haue I chiefly regarded and leauing the practise of the law I haue applied in a maner all my study herevnto and verely I must confesse that throughe Gods motion I haue ben after a sort drawen vnto this labour And nowe where diuers requite me so vnworthye thanckes for my so greate trauell and paines I wil cōmit to him whose cause chiefly I toke it in hād for I know vndoubtedly that I haue offred vp vnto him a most acceptable sacrifice with the same verely good conscience I comfort and sustain my self especially seing that my labor is commended of learned men whiche bothe geue me thanckes and confesse also that they haue receiued much frute therby Wherefore I desire all louers of the veritye that they wold geue no credit to the sclander of a few certen mē but wold gentelly accept my labors faith and dilligence nether conceiue any sinistre opinion of me Furthermore I protest that I do acknowledge the Emperour and king of Romaines for the high Magistrate whome God hath ordained and to whom in al things that be not against God we ought to obey as Christ and thapostles teach FINIS ¶ A Table containing all the Principall matters in this Boke A A Counsel promised 92 An Apology deliuered but not receiued eodem A beastly cruelty 104 A blasing starre 109 A consecrating of Cardinals 113 Andrew Gritie duke of Uenise 117 A boke of Romish Marchauntes 118 A straunge chaunge eodem Alteration in England for Reli. 125 A Prophet inspired 129 A new king of Anabaptistes 131 A boke of the misteries of the scrip 133 A blinde asse 134 A counsel called 147 An oration against the french king eo A reformation of Collon 141 A sword hallowed 142 A wryting of Auspurge 143 Athanasius Arius and Liberius 148 A propre saying of Ciprian 153 A priestes sonne not enioy his Fathers benefice 155 Auarice and concupiscence let coū 156 Annas Momorancy made Constable of Fraunce 157 A gentleman of Tolowse burnt 158 Andrew de Aury saluteth the king 159 A colledge erected at strasborough 160 A league of the Papistes againste the protestauntes 173 Ambassadors sent to Henry brother to George duke of Saron 176 A Friers wede maketh the deuell a. 177 An assembly at Smalcald 169 A wryting exhibited by the deuines eo A confutation of the .vi. articles 171 An oration of a yong Cardinal 172 A priuy hatred of the french king eod An exceading hot sommer 174 A disputation betwixt Eckius and Melanchthon 176 A great assemble at Regenspurge eo A mean to get mony by pardons 177 A most costly stole or Paile eodem A wollen halter to strāgle the pope 178 A boke presented to the collotors 179 A great tempest destroid his ships 184 An assemble at Spires 186 A soden fear in the french court 88 An army against the Turke eodem Any pleasaunt life is not to be eodem A consolation of the prisoners eodem A counsel called at Trent 198 An assembly at Norinberge 163 Ambassadors to the duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue 194 A rebellion at Rochelle 197 A supplication of the protestaunts 194 A boke called Antididagma 201 An assemble at Spire 202 A league of themperor and the king of England against the french king 203 A boke of Caluine against Sorbo 204 A boke of the relikes of saints eodem A false report of themperors death eo A great assemble of Spiere 206 A straunge tale of the duke of Brū 209 An image buried in the stede of Eue. 209 A decre for religion 212 A peace concluded betwixte themperor and Fraunce 314 An ambassade said to the king 216 A Commention of deuines at Mil. 217 An assembly at Wormes 218 A lamentable departing 219 A soldsoure geueth the Merundo 220 A cruell fact of Miners eodem A terrible example of cruelty eodem A captain defendeth the women eodē A sharp answer of the king eodem A frere obseruant stirreth themperour to warre 221 A skirmish betwixt the Duke 225 A conflict betwixt the Duke eodem A league of them of Strasborow Zuricke and Bernes 85 A confutation of the Protestantes 88 A confession of the Zwinglians 88 A story of the king of Fraunce 101 A controuersy of the bishoppe of Bantberge with the Marques of Brandenburge 103 A bishops office 111 An assemble at Regenspurge 73 An assembly at Spires 79 A treatise of peace betwixt Fraunce England 227 A brute of warre againste the Protestauntes 228 Ambassadors to themperor for tharchbishop of Collon 230 A decre of the Sinode read 231 Alphonse Diaze commeth into Germany 234. Alphonse returneth to Nuburge to kill his brother eodem A communicatiō of the Lantzgraue others 237 A diuision amonges thelectors 241 A statute of Trent 243 A decre of originall sinne eodem An aunswer of them of Strasborough to themperor eodem An heape of euils of ciuel war 244 A league betwixt the Pope and themperor 246 A preatence of mouinge war 247 Albert of Brunswicke hurt 265 Alteration in Sauoy 266 A warlike pollicy of themperor 267 An other pollicy of themperor eodem Aucthoritye can not beare equallitye 271 A decre of the counsel at Trent of iustification 276 A Dolphe substituted to Hermon archbishop of Collon 277 Alteration of Religion 278 Alteration in the Courte of Fraunce 282 A pergidu of the sonne 285 An assembly of the Empyre at vrmes 286 An assemble at Auspurge 291 An holy boxe sent downe from heauen you may be sure eodem A conspiraty against the Popes sonne 294 A reformation of Religion in Englād 297 Albert receiued into the tuition of the king of Pole 3021 A disordained ordre of knightes 303 A composition of peace 305 A counsel called at Trent twise 309 An euil compiled booke ofte corrected 314 Ambrosa Blaurer the chiefest minister of the church 324 At Strausburge the Consull of th 〈…〉 ri◠eodem Augustus married a wife 327 A
Commotion in Kent 430 Cardinall Pole arriueth in England 438 Controuersy for the dominiō of Chatz 452 Cinistre suspition spread of the Cardinal of Auspurge 456 Commotions in England for suspition of a spiratie 469 Cardinals sent from the pope to themperor and Freuch king eodem Counsel begon at Regenspurg 470 Cause why Luther was not punished 41. Complaintes of them of Zurick 51 Cause of them hatred eodem Constancy of them of Zurick 52 Confession of the Protestauntes 88 Conspiraty of the Papistes against the Protestauntes 93 Complaint of the Pope to the kinge of Pole 97 Common wealth hath neade of manye remeadies 102 Contentiō betwene Erasmus and Luther 114 Clement the seuenth dieth 117 Counsel of Constaunce 149 Counsel of Myllen broken of 152 Craft of Popes eodem Cardinall Montaine striken with a fury 300 Cruel actes of Marques Albert. 434 D DUke Fredericke his wisdome 2 Disputation at Lipsia 18 Dissention betwixte Leo and hys Cardinals 38 Decrees of Pius and Iulius 23 Dyssentyon at Basill for Relygyon 80 Daunger of the Turke 85 Duke Ulrich expulsed out of his countrey 113 Disputation with the king of Anabaptistes 136 Duke George of Saxon dieth 176 Doctor barnes burnte in Smithfielde 174 Dure the chiefest Towne in those partes is taken 196 Depensius driuen to recant 20 Duke of Moris maketh lawes for the ministers of the church 202 Duke Moris foundeth three Scholes eodem Duke Moris is beneficiall to the vniuersity of Lipsia eodem Dissention in Scotland 205 Duke Moris serued themperor at Landerssy 206 Duke Moris intreateth a peace 405 Duke Henry and his Sonne yeld them selues eodem Diaze goeth to Maluenda Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepareth to warre Duke Frederick chosen Emperor Donauerde taken Donauerde rendred 265 Duke Maurice consulteth agaynste the Potestauntes 266 Duke Maurice letters to the Electour 269 Duke Maurice blamed of all men 270 Duke Maurice Excuses eodem Duke Maurice nothing couetous eod Duke Maurice followeth Doeg 275 Duke Ericke discomfited 287 Duke Maurice and the elector of Brādenburge intreat for the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice letters to the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice intreateth liberallye to the deuines of Wittemberge 291 Duke of Placence depryued Hierom. 294 Daughter of Nauarre married to the duke of Uandome 321 Duke Henry besiegeth the city of Brūswicke 348 Dracutus an archpirate 348 Duke Maurice general of the war 351 Duke Maurice besiegeth Maidenburg 352 Duke Maurice letters to the Emperoure 363 Duke Morice seaseth vpon the dominion of Chatz 370 Duke Morice entendeth to warre vpon themperor 373 Discipline amongst the fathers 374 Duke Maurice feared of themperours 380 Duke Maurice ambassadoure sente away 381 Duke Maurice letters to hys ambassadours 384 Duke Maurice taketh Auspurge by cōposition 388 Diuers minds in the counsel of Trent 389 Duke Moris goeth to the field 395 Duke Moris letters to the king 399 Duke Moris nie slaine 40 Duke Moris weary of delaies 47 Duke Moris reburneth his fellowes 48 Duke Moris admitteth peace 410 Duke de Anmalle taken Prysonner 44 Duke Morleague wyth the Duke of Brunswicke 420 Duke Maurice wan the field and loste his life 422 Duke Henry of Brunswicke marrieth a wife 465 Duke Frederickes answer 26 Deuines of Paris condempn Luthers bokes 32 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepare them to warre 78 Duke of Saxon Marshall of the Empyre 90 Duke of Saxon letters to the Prynces 98 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue wryte to the French king 166 Death of the french king 282 Daughter of Scotland affiansed to the king of England 308 Death of Sigismund king of pole 305 Duke of Swaybrige molested for Religion 332 Death of Pope Paule the thyrd 336 Disputation at Baden 71 Decre for religion 70 Decre of the duke of Loraine 50 Disputation at Zuricke 44 Decre of the Swices 45 Daniel expounded how 89 Deluge at Rome and in Seland 94 Dombe sprite walking 114 Dukes Confession of the duke of Wittemberge 386 E ECkius boke against Luther 2 Erasmus iudgemente of Luther 16 Eneas Siluius 23 Erkius to Luther 28 Erasmus boke of fre wll 50 Eckius the Popes champion 52 England hath title to Fraunce 74 Erasmus boke against Gospellers 83 Erasmus wryteth to Campeius 90 English Bibles Printed at Parys 160 Ebleb a noble Gentleman dyeth for sorow 29 Execution done in the frenche kynges syght 335 Erle Hedecke frende to them of Maydenburge 361 Erenberge taken away 40 Ecclesiasticall lawes in England 432 England is tourned to her vomyt 439 Emperour sendeth for Luther 28 Emperour wryteth to Luther eodem Emperours letters to the Princes of Germany 65 Ende of the Papistes dectrine 67 Emperoure marrieth a wife 71 Exhortation of the Lantzgrane 57 Excuse of some to the Protestauntes 94. Emperor of necessity graunteth peace to Germany 108 Emperoure goeth into Italy 109 Erroures of the Anabaptist 133 Erroures of the Mūsterians in fayth 135 English ambassadors winter at Wittenberge 139 Emperoure inuadeth the frenche prouince 140 Erasmus death eodem Emperour French king and the pope mete at Nice 59 Emperors and French kings ambassador to the Uenerians 168 Emperors priuate wryting for the protestauntes 183 Emperors letters to them of Collon 203 Emperors answer to the pope 195 Emperors letters to the states of Boheme 283 Emperors sōne commeth into Flaunders and he is receiued at Millan 330 F FRaunce and Germany were vnited 12 Frederick the Paulsgraue sent into Spain 14 Flatterers must be eschued 18 Fraunce is offred to the spoiles 19 Feare for the host 47 Feare in Muncers camp 57 Faith ought not to wauer 65 Faber driuen out of Paris 66 Fardinando forsaking king Lewes 77 Fardinandoes title to Hongary eo Fraunces Sfortia reforced to the dukedom of Millan 83 Florence rendred 90 Florence loseth her liberty eodem Fardinando proclaimed Kinge of Romaines 98 Frances Sfortia marrieth the Emperors Niece 117 Folish pity marreth the city 122 Fredericke forsaketh the bishoppricke 128 From the horse to the asse 130 Franckfurt receiued into the league 139 False doctrine is not to be born wyth 151 Fardinando his army destroyed 154 Fardinandoes request 173 Fiers in Saxony 174 Fardinando besieged Buda 184 Fardinādo defeateth the request of his nobles 186 Frances Lander cōmitted to Pryson his weaknes and recantation 200 Few Spaniardes loue the Gospel 233 Friers be disturbers of peace 236 Friers are vile in life and learnynge 237 Feare in themperors campe 259 Force ought not to be vsed in Religyon 260 Fraunce denied to aid Protestauntes 264 Fardinando Sebastian deputye proclaimeth war to Saxony 269 Fardinando to the Bohemera 283 Fardinando ambassadour to the Bohemers 284 Fardinādo goth which his army to Proge 291 Freight with others caried to prisone 325 Frances Spiera dispaired 327 Fraunces Spiera his recantation his death in despair with comfort 328 Forces bent against Maidenburge 350 Folish ceremonies 358 Fiue of them studentes of Lossaunce french men borne 424 Fiue condempned at London for the Gospel 440 For Churche goodes all coutrouersyes are taken away 461 Fraunce
venery displeased eodem Fredericke Counte Palatines death 465 French king taken prisoner 43 Faith of Abraham obtained greate benefites of God 56 French league against themperor 71 Frenche kinges letters to the Prynces of Germany 73 French kinges inuentions against the Emperour 79 French kinges oration 120 French kinges letters eodem French warreth againste the Duke of Sauoy 38 Frenche kinge kissed the Popes ryght fote 159 French king geueth counsel to the Duke of Wittemberge 166 French kinges answer to themperors letters 199 French king coÌ„pared to the Turk 207 French king hated of all men for the Turkes societe 211 Frowardnesse of the Duke of Brunswicke 225 French king is receiued into Paris 235 French dischargeth his army 410 French kinges Proclamation against condemned of thinquisition 452 G GRece and Bohemes happines 3. Gerson of Paris 8 Gesmer captain of the boures 54 Gods power appeareth in fewest men 56 Gods wrath is slow but yet sore 58 George Duke of Saxon hateth the gospel 67 Godlines is not to be sought for in the Court 68 Great ghostly fathers 89 God bridleth the power of Sathan 134 Great execution done at Gaunt 171 Granuellans oration at Wormes 174 George of Austryche apprehended at Lions 184 God offreth hys worde before he Plageth 185 Gropper commended Bucer 187 Gwelphians eodem Gibellines whiche were names of the Emperiall eodem Geneua 192 Grashopper in Germany and Italy 193 Gropper forsaketh the gospel 202 Greate Princes sue for the Popes fauour 305 Griniam the French ambassador 309 Granuellan his answer to the Lantzgraue 409 General counsel promised 72 Great slaughter 105 Great alteration in England 113 Great assemble at Regenspurge 176 Gonzage gouerne of Millane 501 God is not the author of wrong 263 Gropper had the spoile of Frede. 277 Godly preachers flie 315 Ganimede nourished by the pope 348 God woundeth and healeth 357 Germany the fortresse of Christendom 394 George duke of Megelburge slain 408 Great frendship betwixt duke Maurice and Marques Albert. 422 George Earle of Mount Pelicart marieth the Lantzgraue daughter 453 Gospell is slaundred wyth rebellyon 63 Godly constancye of the Duke of Saxons children 322 H HEbrue bookes of thre sortes 20 How the scripture muste be handled 22 Honoures chaunge manners 23 Henrye King of Englande wryteth against Luther 34 How the yoke of Papistes is to be shaken of 48 Henry Zutphan put to death 50 How the magistrate should deale wyth the Papistes 58 How wicked dominion is to be shaken of 58 Hunting hauking and fishinge prohited 60 How ministers should be ordained 62 Hipocrisy of bishops 75 How scripture should be expounded 82 Hugh Capet Earle of Paris 101 How a free counsell is to be vnderstaÌ„d 111 Hirman Stapred 128 Heldus the Emperoures ambassador 143 Heldus Oration at Smalcald eodem Harlots honored at Rome 157 Hatred betwixt counsellers 170 His arme discomfited 184 Howe the Turkes atcheued the Empyre 187 His death 194 His weakenes before the king 202 Holy men haue had leagues wyth men of contrary Religion 211 Hermon leueth his Bishopprick 277 How miserable is it for the Quene for to marry with a straunger 311 He that doth against his conscience procureth him self hel fire 316 Hallowing of churches 333 Hallowing of Belles 334 Hallowing of altares 334 Hedeck and Mansfield discomfyted by Duke Morice 352 How much the papistes esteme Scripture 383 Heldius answer 147 I IHon Tecel a Dominican Frier set vp conclusyons at Frankfurt 1. Indulgences to be vsed after the Canon law 2. Iames Hogestrate wrote againste Luther 3. Ihon Wickliffe an English man 32 Ihon Husse a Boheme eodem Ihon Husse appealeth froÌ„ the pope eo Ihon Husse and Ierom of Prage burned eodem Iniquity procedeth froÌ„ the priestes 40 It is not lawful for vs to kil any maÌ„ 43 Images burnt at Zurick 48 Ihon Fredericke of Saxon marrieth Sthel of Cleaue 74 Ihon Uaivodes letters to the states of th empyre 76 Ihon Uayuodes ambassadors takeÌ„ 77 Images put downe 80 Images burnt on Ashwedensday eod Inas king of Brittain 114 Idle Nunnes marchant women 120 Ihon Leidan an Anabaptiste 128 Ihon Mathew the high Prophet 130 Iesting punished eodem Ihon Leidan inuadeth the kingdoÌ„ eo Ihon Leidans pompe 131 Ihon Husse at Constance 199 Ihon Caluin and Peter Bruly superintendantz of the Colledge of Stras borough 168 Ihon Isleby chief of the Antimo 172 Inuectiues vnmete for princes 174 Ioy in France at themperors losse 185 Ihon Miners president of the Counsel at Agnes 219 Iustus Ionas asked whether we shall know eche other in the life to come 232 Ihon Diaze a Spaniard 233 Ihon Isseby a Reuolt 310 It is daunger to vse forain aides 311 Ihon Marques of BraÌ„deÌ„burge refuseth thinterim 315 Isseby rewarded of themperor 320 Inquisitions of Uergetius 320 Iuly the third consecrated bishop 343 Interrogatories for the Ministers of Auspurge 383 Ihon Sleidan ambassador for Strausburg to thempire 373 Ihon Frederick demaundeth laÌ„ds and dignities 423 Ihon a Laisco a Polonian 432 Interrogatories Ministred to the Abbot of Newstat 436 Ioy at Rome for Englande reduced to the Romish church 443 Indulgences graunted by the Pope for the conuersyon of England eodem Ihon Fredericke the electours Sonne marieth 451 Ihon Gropper made Cardinall 461 Ihon Sleidane dieth 470 Iudges of the chamber trouble the protestauntes 123 Ihon Laydon parradocsises 131 Iudges of the chambre 144 Ignorannce of the people is gaine full to the priestes 150 Iudges of the chambre shal kepe theyr place 212 Ignoraunce of the people for lacke of teachinges 237 Interim permitteth Priestes to keepe theyr wines stil 313 K KInges of Naples paye Tribute to Rome 11. King Henry the eighte calleth hys mariage in question 113 Kingdoms destroid for Idolatry 185 Kinges of Fraunce moste addict to the Pope 200 King HeÌ„ry banished the Pope but not Popery 278 King Ferdinando moueth the Bohemers to warre 279 King of Fraunces fautour of â—ear 282 King Fardinandoes letters to the Bohemers 286 King Fardinando requyreth mouye of the states 314 King Phillip inuested in Flaun. 337 Kinges haue long armes 279 King Edward sore sicke 408 King Fardinando proclaimeth warre against Albert. 408 King Phillip arriueth in Eng. 437 Kinge Phillippe came to his father to Brurels 453 King Phillip entreth into And. 462 King Fardmando goeth into Boheme 466 King of Denmarke slieth 41 King of England wryteth to the princes of Sarony 44 Kinges sonnes are pledges 69 King of Hongary slain 71 King Henry hated againste the Pope 114 Kinges supper and murder 132 King of England patrone of the Protestauntes league 139 King Edward the .vi. borne 154 King of Englande refuseth the Counsell eodem King of Englande hated of the Pope eodem King of England maried the .vi. wife 187 Kinges purgation 191 King of Denmarke warreth vppon the imperials 266 King of England warneth the Protestaunts of the daunger 227 King of Denmarke aided not the Protestauntes 275 King is apparelled like a deacon 292 L LUthers letters to the Bishoppe of Mentz 1. Luthers questioÌ„s at
Who were outlawed by the Emperour 320 Who impugned the Interim 322 Uergecius vanquished with the truth 328 Uergecius repaireth to Mantua and is put out of the Counsell 329 Uergecius Preacheth the Gospell in Rhetia eodem What thynges offende many 353 Why the Clergie forsake the citee 356 Wonders in Saxonie 360 Wilie begiled 379 Warre in Italie 48 Winchester made Chaunceler 425 Warres renued betwixte the Duke of Brunswick marques Albert. 426 Uercelles surprised 429 Wiat taken and committed to pri 431 Uulpian victualed 452 Uulpian taken raced by the Frenche kyng 453 Whether peace should be giuen to the religion or no. 455 Unconstancie of Clement 53 Uictorie of themperialles eodem Winnyng of Munster 136 Warres of Geneua against the Duke of Sauoy 137 Uenecians league with the Emperour 138 Uenecians Ambassadour to the Turk 169 FINIS ✚ Imprinted at London by Ihon Daie for Nicholas Englande M D. LX. The. 26. daie of September Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Luthers letter to the B. of Mentz B. of MaydeÌ„burgs charge Luthers 95 questions at Wittenberge Luthers exception The B. of Mentz clence Ihon Tecell ft. do concl at frankford Luters letters to Pope Leo. Duke Fredericks wisdom Echins booke against Luth. Siluester priers dialogue Silue priers Themes Luth. answer to Sil. priers Scriptur and choldewriters only to be also wed Iudulgences to be vsed after the Canon lawe The CiuiliaÌ„s vse of citing Silut prier seconde aunswer to Luth. Thomas of Aquine Albertus magnus scollar Thomas of Aquine a salt Thomas of Aquin geueth authoritie to the Pope 1274. Thom. of Aq. died Luth. seconde answer to Siluester prier Rome the seat of Antechrist Grece and Bohemes happines Lut. his forsakiÌ„g of Rome The caus whâ— the By. of Rome is extold Princes of necessitie must reforme Ro. The bishop of Rome bounde as other to Gods commaundement Iames Hogestrate wrote against Luther Thassembly at Ausputge by Maximilian The treaty of warre against the Turke Albert archb of Mentz mabe Cardinall The cause of his Cardinalship Maximilians lettre to Pope Leo coÌ„cerning Luther Luther is cited to Rome The Popes letters to the duke of SaxoÌ„ The Popes letters to Gabriel veneius The vniuersitie of Wittenberg writeth for Luther Luther is called to Auspurg His conferens with Cardinal Caietane Luther appeleth The welspring of Pardons The pope vnder the Coun. Gerson of Paris Pope Iohn is deposed Caietan writeth to the duke of Saxonie The dukes letters to the Cardinall The Uniuersitie of Wittenberge writeth for Lut. New pardoÌ„n Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsell The Pope sendeth a golden Rose to the duke of Saxonie The death of Maximilian The swisses banquished Kinges of Naples paye tribute to Rome An oration of the Archebyshop of MeÌ„iz The oration of the Archbi of Treuers Fraunce and Germani wer 〈…〉 ted Themperour Raffe The duke of Saxo. refuseth to be Emperour Charles is declared Emperour Friderick the Paulsgraue sent into Spaine 1500 The byrth of the Emperor The manes of chosing â—he Emperour Erasmus iudgement of Luther The disputatis at Lypsia 1520 Luters letters to the Pope The court of Rome is vnturable Conditions propounded by Luther Flatterats must be eschewed The part of a true frende Luth. boke to the duke of Saronie Confession of synnes The supper vnder bothe kindes The wishe of Pope Pius The counsell of Latherane The counsel of Pisa The Popes Shifie Fraunce is offered to the spoile At Rome they doubt of the immortalitie of the Soule Luth. Bookes condemned at Louaine Capnio Rewcline Ockam Picus mirandula Lawrence Ualla Aristotle WilliaÌ„ OckaÌ„ The story of Reuchliue Hebrew bokes of thre sortes Luthers letters to the emperor Luth. letters to the archbishop of MeÌ„tz His annswere to Luther How scripture must be hadled Luth. letters to the Bish oy Merseburge His aunswers to Luther The pope curseth Luther The Bulle of Leo. The decree of Pius Iuliê° Aeneas Siluius Honors chaÌ„ge maners Luth. impugneth the popes censure Luth. booke of the captiuitie of Babilou Thre Sacrases Which are properly called Sacrament The maner of the CoronatioÌ„ Themperor calleth a couÌ„sel imperial The Pope was subiecte to themperor The lawe of Clement The courte of Rome in Fraunce The duke of Saro incensed againste Luther The answer of duke Friderike Luthers bokes are brâ—â— Luther burneth the Canon laws Booke burners Catarinus writeth against Lut. The Emperour sent for Luther to Wormes The Empe. writeth to Luther The Bul of cursyng The constaÌ„cie of Luth. Lut. coÌ„meth to Wormes Eckius to Luther Lu. pleadeth his cause before themperour and the whole Empire Iohn .xviii. Pope Cost sell may erre Treuers other Princes threateneth Luther Luthers answer to the Princes The offenca of Faith and maners Actes .v. Luth. sent awaye scom Wormes Iohn Wiclâ—ffe an Englishe man Iohn Husse a Bohemer Husse appealeth from the Pope The CouÌ„sel of CoÌ„stauÌ„ce Iohn Husse Hierome of Praga burned Thre Popes deposed The Diuines of Paris condempne Luth. bokes Thauthoritie of the Diuines of Paris The Swysses make a league wyth the Frenche kynge Thirtene townes of Swysses The libertie of the Swysses Luib is ontlawed by the Emperour Luth. is conuetghed out of daunger Sunday bokes of Luth. Of themasse to be abolisshed The best thiges please fewest men Henry kyng of Englande writeth against Luth. Themperor hath warre with FrauÌ„ce The death of Leo the .x. Adrian succedeth Leo. The Turke taketh Belgrade Commotfôs in Spaine The lady Mart assured to theÌ„peror Who is author of single life Lut. rotaurneth to Wittenberge Luther foreseeth the teni pest coÌ„myng Luther writeth to the Bohemers Many sectes in the popish kingdome Three sectes of the Bohemers Lu. writeth againste the Bishoppes Adrian writeth to the duke of Sa. Reucline dieth The Pope writeth letters to at the princes of Germany 1. Corin. 〈◊〉 Luthers Frere The warre of Treuers The Popes letters to Strasburge The stocke of Aorian Dissention betwixt Leo and his Cardinals A disputatioÌ„ at Zuricke The questions of Zuinglius The request of Adrian to dispatch Lu. Luth. compared with Bahomet Iniquitie procedeth froÌ„ the Priestes The synne of Rome spred ouer al the worlde Lut. expoundeth the Popes saiynge The meane to let couÌ„sels The answer of the prices Why Luth. was not punished The maner of a free couÌ„sell An alteratiû in Denmark The king of Denmarke flecth Cornelles Scepper The beginnyng of the first fruictes and tenthes A Romishe Palle Two freres brent at Brusels The Ceremonies of disgratyng Luth. interpreteth the 〈◊〉 of the Princes The Bible to be preferred before all others Lut. wrot to the Senate of Prage Luther wrot of eschewing the doctrine of men The death workes of Hutten The king of Englande writeth to the princes of Saxonie The answer of duke George Adrian the Pope dyeth Clement succedeth Zuinglius is broughtin hatred The eatyng of Fleshe A new disputatioÌ„ at Zu Priestes maried wiues Pope ClemeÌ„t sendeth Campegius to duke Fri. A decree of the Suyses
The Pope woulde bye Millan Philip created kynge of Spayne A league of themp the king of England against the Frenche kyng The protest ambassad to themperor Themp. viage againste the Duke of Cleaue They of Hildisseme are accused to the emperour Themperours letters to them of Collon The Popes letters to the clergie of Colion The French king fortifyeth Landersey The turkes Nauie arriueth in the prouince The Castell of Nice beseged Batchelaurs Abooke of Caluine againste the Sorbonistes A booke of the relieques of Sainctes Two Cities full of relicies Afalsereport of the Emperours deathe The Duke of Cleaue craueth pardon of themperoure CondicioÌ„ns to him imposed The daughter of Nauaris sent to the Duke of Cleaue Laundersey beseged The preachers of the gospel thrust oute of metz The sege is leuied at Nice Dissencion in Scotland The yonge Quene of Scottes affiaunced to Kynge Edwarde The king of Denmarke warreth vpoÌ„ theÌ„ perialles The duke of Cleaue renounceth the Frenche Leage The departure of the Frenchmen from LaÌ„dersey Duke moris County willyam forsaketh the Frenchking 1544. Thre eclipses of the moone A great Assemble at Spiere The causes of the turkes prosperitie The French king compared to the Turke The Protestantes oration to themperoure The Duke of Brunsewicke accuseth the Protestauntes The French ambassade to the assemble at Spier The French Herault euil receyued at Spier The ambassadors retorne by nighte The princes letters to the Pope The Popes aunswer The meane to heale the comon welth The princes letters to the Swisses The protestantes accuse the Duke of Brunswicks The tenure of his letters The Duke of Brunsewicke conteÌ„neth hys owne religion A straunge tale of the saide Duke An Image buryed in the sleâ—e of Eue. The French victory at Carignane The Duke of Sauoye accuseth the FreÌ„ch king The swysses aunswer the Princes letters Thenglishe Nauie inuadeth scotlaÌ„d The oration of the FreÌ„ch Ambassadours Holy men haue had leagues with men of a contrarye relygyon The duke of Saxon is set throughe with kynge Ferdinando The French king hateâ— of all men for the turks societie The states of thempire decree an aide against the Frenche Kynge A decree for relygion Of the chaÌ„ber Themperoures gentlenes to the Lantzgraue The duchye of Brunsewicke committed to theÌ„peroure Themperoures Iornoy into Fraunce barbarossue retourneth The deathâ— of the Duke of Lorayns The kyngs besegeth Bollogns The deathe of the Prince of Drenge Counte willyam taken prisoner Eperney brunte The feare flyghte of the Parisians Bollon rendred A peace concluded betwixte themperour and Fraunce The condicions of the peace Three moste myghty enemyes of Fraunce The Popes letters to the Emperoure The enemies of the romish church The Pope can abide no superiour Themperoure is the Popes eldest sonne Great princes swe for the Popes fauoure The creatyon of Cardinalies A counsel is called Luthers booke of the Lordes supper The clergie of Collon to the Arche Bisshop They appeale to the Pope and Emperour An Ambassade to the Kynge of Englande Peter brulie 1545. Brulie burnte at Tourney Hys examination A conuentioÌ„ of diuines at mellon The Articles of Lovayne Luther aunswereth theÌ„ of Louayne An AsseÌ„ble at wormes The ProtestaÌ„tes make aunswer The counsel of TreÌ„t vnlawefull The deuise of the popish Princes Grinian the French ambassadour The Ualdois The cruell sentence at Aygnes Iohn Myners The Cardinal of tournon Miners presidente of Aygwes He leuieth a power agaynste the Ualdois The merindolans flee into the woodes A lamentable departynge A soldioure geueth them warnynge A Captayne defendeth the women A cruell fact of Miners Cabrier yelded A terryble example of crueltye The Swisses intreate for the Ualdois A sharpe aunswer of the kynge The confession of the Ualdois doctryne The deathe of Lewes Duke of Bauier Cardinall Farnesius his coÌ„ming to wormes Themperours Ambassadour to the kyng of Poole The kinges aunswer to themperour The pope most desyrous of war A frere obseruaunte stireth TheÌ„peroure to warre Luthers boke against the Pope Luthers themes of thre gouernmentes The wylde beaste Luthers picture against the Pope Luther a prophet The ignoraÌ„ce of Grinian The deathe of Fraunces Duke of Lorayne The birth of CharlessoÌ„ns to kyng Philyp The Duke of Brunsewicke getteth monye of the FreÌ„ch kynge Themperoure taketh truce with the Turke The clergie and vniuersitie of ColloÌ„ against their Archebishop Temperourciteth the archebishop The Pope citeth the archebishop of Colon. The decre of Auspurg The frowardenes of the Duke of Brunswick The warrâ— of Fraunce England The Protestantes send Ambassadours into FrauÌ„ce and Englande The deathe of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce The armye of the Duke of bruÌ„swick The Lantzgraue goeth against him Duke Moris intreateth a peace A skirmishe betwirte the Duke the Lantzgraue The vanitie of the Duke of Brunswick A conflicte betwixte the Duke the LaÌ„tzgraue Duke HeÌ„ry and hys son yelde themselues The deathe of the Cardinall of Mentz CouÌ„te willyam deliuered The Lantzgraues letters to theÌ„peroure Themperoure to the LaÌ„tzgraue A treatie of peate beetwirt frauÌ„ce England 1546. The king of Englande warneth the Protestants of the daunger The Palsegraue ordeineth ministers in hys Churches A brute of war against the Protestantes Granuellan his aunswer to the Lantzgraue Sebastian Scherteline The Protestantes accused of conspiracie The Lantzgraues letters to Nauius The coll 〈…〉 quie of the learned meÌ„ at RegeÌ„spurg Maluenda treateth of iustification Bucers aunswer Pflugius amonges the Presidentes The colloquie dissolued Ambassadours to theÌ„peroure for the archebisshop of Collon Gonzage go uernour of Millane The Popes Legates in the counsell of Trente Preachinge Freers A bul of perdonnes The begynnyng of the counsell The oratioÌ„ of the popes Legates TheÌ„ was 〈…〉 g of Esedras and Nehemias A decree of the Sinode redde The seconde session of the Synode Luther chosen arbiter Luther is sicke Whether we shall knowe eche other in the lyfe to come Luthers last prayer The quiet departure of Luther Luthers birthe Luther sent to Rome Luthers eloquence in the Dutche tongue The inuincible constaÌ„cie of Luther The victory and conquest of the word Iohn Diaze a Spaniard Diaze goeth to Maluenda Fewe Spaniardes loue the Gospell Marquins excuseth Diaze His brother Alphonse coeth into Germany The traytorous mind of Alphonse Alphonse retourneth to Nuburge to kill his brother The murtherer killeth Diaze Cladius Senaclyus Themperours letters for a paracide TheÌ„peroure visiteth the Lantzgraue hys daughter The Lantzgraue commeth to theÌ„peroure The Lantzgraue to theperoure What counsell the Protestantes desyred Freers be disturbers of peace The boke of reformation at Collon The Archebisshop of ColloÌ„ is accoumpted vnlearned The ignorance of the people for lacke of teachyng A communication of the LaÌ„tzegraue and others Freers vile in lyfe and learnyng Diuines stubburne obstinate Themperoure ought to compell the Pope to do his dutie The ende of Scripture The beste thinges please sewest The mynde of the Pauls graue What profit hath theÌ„peroure out of Germany The Lantzgraue is arbiter beetwirte the Dukes of
vnto them the cause of that assemblye And because the Prynces came not them selues whiche the Emperour thought verely they woulde haue done he wylleth them to she we their commission and aucthoritie After he nameth intercessours Lewys the Paulsgraue Iohn Archebyshop of Treuers Lewys Duke of Bauier and William Byshop of Strasborough When they were contente with them they beganne the treaty Thether came also the diuines of the Protestantes a great number Iustus Menius Pistorius Urbanus Regius Bucer Brentius Blanrer Osiander Shirepsius and many others Melanchthō fell sore sycke by the waye These preached at home euery man to their company but chiefly what tyme al the Ambassadours mette together to consulte vpon any matter But Ferdinando whan he vnderstoode it forbade them the Ambassadours agayne shewed hym howe they preached not openly but only priuatly neyther was there anye cause why he should be offended The Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue were about to come in case the talke had gone forwarde and taried vpon the frōtiers to the entent that hearing newes therof they might haue bene there by and by The intercessours requyre the Protestātes to deliuer them in a brief somme the Articles that are in controuersy they say how they did exhibite the somme and confession of their doctrine ten yeares synce at Auspurge an Apologie to the same whiche they sticke vnto and to none other beyng ready to make aunswere if any man fynde lacke therin And for because they knowe not what thynge chiefly their aduersaries do reprehende therin they haue nothyng to exhibyte but the same is rather to be requyred at their hādes to shewe what they suppose to be contrary to Gods worde Whiche if they doe and that the matter come to disputation as was thoughte mete at Franckefurte they wyll not be against a cōcorde They shew them againe within a fewe dayes after that forasmuche as they dwel styll in their confession exhibited at Auspurge they doe fynde in readinge of the treaty there that certen thinges were brought to a conciliation and certen not Nowe that the reste also myght come to a reconcilement they wyll doe their endeuours and desyre them to vtter their myndes herein The Protestauntes agayne saye that there was in dede a talke of certen Articles but nothyng concluded nor anye agrement at al made there Thus the matter being debated to and fro where the Protestauntes requyred that they myght come to disputation and they againe sayd howe it was cōmaunded them by the king and the Emperour that they should procede accordinge to the treaty at Auspurge Kyng Ferdinando the .xvi. daye of Iuly callyng them al before hym forasmuche sayth he as the matter standeth thus that nothyng can nowe be determined and that chiefly for the absence of the Duke of Saxō the Lātgraue an other day must be appointed wher in the Ambassadours learned men of both partes shall mete of lyke number to conferre of the Articles professed at Auspurge And than after a longe controuersie betwyxt the kyng and the Protestauntes for the peace of them and all their confederatours about the restitution of churche goodes and the iudges of the chamber Ferdinando the .xxviij. daye of Iuly maketh a decree and reciting the whole matter appoynted the day for a cōmunication to be at Wormes the. xxviij daye of October vpon condicion that the Emperour be so content The Prynces Electours the Dukes of Bauier and the Duke of Cleaue and the byshoppes of Madenburge Salisburge and Strasburge are commaunded to sende thether their counsellours and the Protestauntes also theirs so that there be eleuen on eyther part And also as many Scribes to wryte diligently what euery man sayeth the conference to be had of the Protestantes doctrine professed at Auspurge and that request be made to the Emperour that he wyll call a counsell of the Empyre And in the meane tyme he commaundeth all men to obserue peace and abstayne from violence vnder a great penaltie appointed by the Emperours commaundemēt Prynces before mentioned at this assemblie were Christopher the byshop of Trent Henry Duke of Brūswycke but he went home before the matter was ended The greatest peace makers in this assemblie were the byshop of Collon and the Paulsgraue Electours and also the byshop of Auspurge For all the reste were extreme agaynst the Protestauntes Duryng this assemblie died Iohn Uaiuode kyng of Hōgary leauing behinde hym a younge sonne Stephen whome Isabell daughter to Sigismunde kyng of Pole had borne hym a lytle before whiche was a cause also that kyng Ferdinādo beyng aduertysed therof by letters hasted homewarde About this time also were certen townes and villages of the Protestantes set on fyre in Saxony there aboutes and burnt vp cleane This wicked acte was sayde to be done by the Duke of Brunswyck as shal be declared hereafter The seconde kalendes of Iuly Robert Barnes Doctour of Diuinitie was brent at London in Smithfield He was for a certen tyme fled out of Englande for the doctrine of the Gospell and what tyme he vnderstode howe kynge Henry gaue his mynde to the knowledge of the truthe he retourned home agayn and was after in the Ambassade sent into Germany and was one of them whiche treated with the diuines at Wittēberge touching the kinges diuorsement as is wrytten in the tenth boke But where as the kyng had exiled the name of the byshop of Rome but kept styl his doctrine this man whiche loued the truthe was chieflye by the meanes of the byshop of Wynchester this daye executed after he had protested hys fayth openly there in the place of execution And with hym also were brent two others of the same Religion And the same daye in the selfe same place were three others hanged vpon the Gallowes that helde with the supremacie of the byshop of Rome so that neyther rāke Papists nor ernest Protestauntes escaped punishement In the moneth of August ended his lyfe at Paris Williā Budey maister of the requestes a man of great learning and worthy to be had in perpetuall memory for this cause only that he and Cardinal Bellaye byshop of Paris did counsell and perswade Fraunces the Frenche kyng to do a moste noble acte that is to appoint great stipendes for the readers of tongues and good artes at Paris For out of this welspryng no mā can beleue what clere and plentiful ryuers flowe out not only into Fraunce but also into other countreis The lyke hath Henry the eight done in Englande both in Cambridge and Oxforde And Buden would be buried without any solemnitie This yeare was notable by reason of an intollerable heate and drought Than also was excellent good wyne In the meane tyme the kyng of Fraunce dispatchyng abroade his letters to all his byshoppes commaunded them to go a procession in all places For albeit he had peace with the Emperour whiche he would not willingly breake yet feared he greatly leste
the olde enemye of mankynde would styre vp warre by his ministers or euer it were longe The Emperour being aduertised by the letters of his brother Ferdinando and the intercessours of the whole matter cōfirmeth the decree of Hagenawe And wryting his letters from Utrecht at the Ides of August exhorteth the Protestauntes to sende their Ambassadours diuines to Wormes at the daye assigned and sendeth saufe conduicte for them all And because of his affayres he can not be there hym selfe he sayeth he wyll sende thether some notable man of his And he doubteth not but the byshop wyl sende thether also to quiet the cōtrouersy He promiseth moreouer an assemblie of thempire whither he will come in parson vnto the which assemblie also the summe of this talke must be referred Afterwardes at the Ides of Octob. in other letters dated at Brussels he maketh Granvellan his deputie giuing him full authoritie at the communication to be had That time was Granvellā at Bizanse in highe Burgundie the towne where he was borne And beynge so occupied with other affayres that he coulde not come thither by the day writyng his letters to the Archebishop of Mentz and to the residew of the Princes appointed to this talke the seconde daye of Nouembre he sendeth before Iohn Nauie of Lucemburge to excuse hys longe tariyng For after he had wronge oute Mathew Helde as is before said he called forth this man as more obsequious and agreable to his maners and placed him in his rome In the meane time themperour calleth a counsell of thempire that in the moneth of Ianuary they should al be ready at Regenspurge After whan Granvellan him selfe came to Wormes accompanied with his sonne the Bishoppe of Arras and certen Diuines of Spaine Muscosa Maluenda Carrobello shewing fyrste his commission and the Emperours letters the xxv daye of Nouembre he made an Oration And excusynge the matter that neither themperour nor king Ferdinando were there he declareth the louing and frendly minde that themperour beareth to the common wealth who wisheth for nothing more earnestly than that this olde feastred strife might be taken awaye wherewith not onely the Church but also the common wealth is sore afflicted For he doubteth not but they them selues see the present calamitie and wil iudge that a reformation of the Churche is necessary Therfore can there nothing concerne their dewties more than throughe godly counsels to remedy this euill that it spread abrode no further For in like case as it is the part of good Citezins to quenche the fyre that happeneth by casualtie so must you do for all the worlde in this case that peace and concorde may be restored Furthermore let them wet with them selues and set before their eies what an heape of euilles haue throughe this dissention as it were ouerflowed Germany For to passe ouer murther and mischief religion is destroyed Charitie out of men herts cleane quenched all reuerence of the olde Catholike churche taken away finally the great misery can not be sufficientlye expressed by any mans eloquence In times past Germany hath florished both in Relion and in all kinde of vertu but nowe it hath very muche degenerated And is accompted the cause and author of all the discommodities of the vniuersall commune weale And vnlesse a remedye be founds for this disease all thinges will go to ruine And for asmuche as themperor hathe appoynted thys disputation to thentente that bothe the truth myght be searched out gods glory auaunced they must bring with them a mynd neyther ambitious nor couetous but godly moderat hauing only a regarde vnto Chryst who now with his armes stretched foorthe as he wold imbrace desyreth the same of all menne This is also the only wish of the high bishop of themperour most August of king Ferdinando Therfore he besecheth them for the death of Christ for all loues that they woulde amende oure lordes coate which is rent torne on euery syde remembryng the name of Christ which was geuen them in holy baptisme remembring also the noble prouince of Germany the natife countrey of them all For except they be reconsyled it is to be ascribed vnto them what mischiefe some euer shall arryse hereafter of this theyr obstioate mynde but yf they wyll handle so weyghty a matter with modestie sobrietie the same shal be bothe to God most acceptable and themperour will also accepte it in steade of a very greate benefyte who wyll afterward do his endeuour that in the nexte assemblie of thempire the matter shal be wholy accomplisshed After the death of Uayuod the tutours and rest of the nobles sent ambassadours to the Turke to commend the childe vnto hym who promiseth to defend him and with all sendeth hym giftes Fernando also when he knew therof sēdeth Hierosme Lascie which certen yeres past had forsaken the Uaynode from Hagenaw to Constantinople that by a fit man he myght appease the Turke After whē he came home he thought it best to make warre before the Quene beyng a wydow and the tutours of the infante were furnished Which knowen the Turke throweth hys Ambassadoure in pryson as moste priuie of Farnando his counsel and also sendeth ayde who not withstanding being letted by reason of the winter came somwhat to late The nexte daye after that Granuellan had hys oration They beegan to deuyse of the notaryes and scribes and on eyther syde were chosen two whyche shoulde penne and kepe althynges diligentelye By the Protestantes were assygned Caspar Cruciger Woolfangus Musculus diuines After the eyght daye yf December Thomas Campegius Bisshop of Feltre the Roomisshe Legate had an oration in the preface wherof speakyng many thynges concernyng peace whych is so greately commended vnto vs of Chryst lamentyng also the state of Germany affyrmeth that serten bisshops of rome but especially paule the thyrde haue done what they can to put of this calamitie from it and for the same cause of late called a counsell at Uicence but when certen monethes passed and no man came he was constreined to differre it tyll an other tyme but themperoure whyche is that eldest and obedient childe of the churche of Roome the Protectour also and the aduocate hathe appoynted this conference as a certen preparatiue to the treatye that shal be at Regenspurge by whose wyll and assent and by the Byshops cōmaundement he is coomen thither to intreat them that they would applye theyr whole endeuours to vnitie concorde for sertaynly the bishop of Rome will do herein what he can sauing his holines The presidents of this assemblie toke order at the beginning that no man should be made priuie to theire talke vnlesse he be of the nomber appoynted and that the actes therof should not bee published till themperoure wer first aduertised of all together moreouer they required that the Protestantes would comprise exhibite in wryting such articles as they wer fully resolued to sticke vnto Of
at the last he departed thys yere in th end of August not without the suspicion of poison Whan his frende Cardinall Fregose was also dead a little before they that knowe him well say that he beleued ryghtly touching mans iustification he was a man excellently learned and wrote a boke of the Magistrates comon welthe of the Uenetians In this same moneth the Chaunceloure of Fraūce williā Poret by the kings cōmaundement who went thā to Perpignan was taken in the night as he laye in his bed carried to prison What time the brute therof came to Paris al men reioised exceadingly For in those foure yeres that he had ben in that office he had offended all sortes of men and from some lady of the kynges courte came this misfortune to him The condēnation also of the Admiral augmēted the hatred as before is said He was in a great in maner an assured hope to bee made a Cardinall therfore two or three monethes before he wold nedes take holy orders which thing notwithstāding som mē saied he did that forasmuch as he was in the hatred of mani he might the better beare it escape the daunger of his life in case that heat should at any tyme breake out boyle ouer This was the third mockeri of fortune that chaunced in Fraūce with in a few monethes together For where these three before mentioned the Constable Admirall and Chauncelour were in the highest degre of dignitye They burned in mutuall mallice declared by theyr ensample the disceiptefullnes vncertentye and slyppernes of woordly thynges At this tyme Otto Henry the Palsegraue embraced the doctryne of the Gospell The same dyd they of Heildessem I tolde you before of the counsell the Byshop sent immediatly letters and Bulles therof to the Emperoure into Spayne Wherunto Cesar aunswereth the fyue and twenty daye of Auguste Fyrst he cōmendeth his endeuour and zeale towardes the common wealth but it greueth hym that the Frenche kyng should be compared vnto him for he is that prodigall chylde but for hym selfe which neuer swarued from his dutie he sayeth he ought more derely to be imbraced for he hath refused no paynes peryll nor coste that a counsel myght once be had that the whole common wealth beyng pacified they myght sette vpon the Turke on all handes Contrary wyse he mynded euer an other waye wherfore he fyndeth some lacke in his letters The other was wonte to make his boaste that he had the Cardinalles at hys becke Wherfore he doubteth whether the thynge be trewe or countreseared But howe soeuer it be he resteth vpon a good conscience both their doinges are openly knowen He hym selfe hath bene ouergentle to hym and fauoured hym a great deale to muche For all the labour he hath taken these many yeares is in vayne he hath ofte bene warned of his dutye sondrye great iniuries haue bene remitted leagues with hym haue often tymes bene remoued but with all these thynges he is waxed worse and vtterly doeth abuse his lenitie and patience Who brake the league and gaue the occasion of warre he hathe declared at Rome What hathe happened since he wyll vtter now also For how frendly desirous of peace he hath bene hereby may easely appeare that after the truce taken at Nice he came into talke with him at Aegnes mortes cōmitted him self vnto him the yeare followyng he passed through Fraunce to the great admiration and not without the reprehension of many For seing he hath oftener than once broken his fayth and is fickell vnconstant in all his counselles it was sure a great daunger to hazarde his persone vpō his fidelitie promesse Moreouer he knoweth for certeintie that thei deliberated to deteine him at the same time And where as many say that for the rebellion of Gaunt he must nedes passe that waie that was nocause at all For that rebellion was stired vp of a very fewe that of the basest sorte of men al the coūtrey remayned in their allegeaunce and fidelitie the quene his sister could haue remedied those matters How beit where he was prefixed to retourne into Germany through Italy he was moued by his intreaty to chaunge his purpose went through Fraūce which thing he is able to proue by his own letters by the letters of his sōnes nobles For he requested this thing of him so ernestly that he rekened he should be dishonoured in case he toke any other way than through Fraunce And what tyme he was with hym in Fraunce he affirmed many times that he wold obserue the truces made But after he began to complayne that Millan was not redred vnto him according to the promesse where not withstandinge vnto the same promesse was added thys condicyon that he should restore hys vncle the Duke of Sauoie and doe serten other thinges And yet syns that tyme hathe he practised agaynste hym in sondry places in Germanie in Italy with the Turke with Iohn Uaiuod and his wyfe the widdow and with certen noble men of Hongatye by whose meanes the Turke had the citie of Offen And yet in the meane season he coulde full well cloake hys mallice promise hym greate frendshyp through a subtill fetche and polycie that he myght tracte the tyme and set vppon hym vnware And than tooke he first occasyon what tyme hys ministers Fregose and Rincon were intercepted In the which thing how he wolde in dede haue satisfyed hym he hymselfe can tell whiche was chosen vmpere in the arbitrement betwene them This therfore dyd he pretende to bee the cause of a newe trouble and disturbaunce of the weale publicke whan he had prefyxed it long before But what Fregose and Rincon attempted by hys commaundemente in Italye and Turkie and what seruyce they had oftetymes donne hym was knowen well enoughe For they wente aboute throughe treason to haue broughte the Christen common welth into great daunger therfore coulde not they inioye the benefyte of the peace Nicene whyche had them selues infrynged the publycke peace Agayne they wente by stealthe and priuelye throughe Lumbardie with a companye of oute lawes whyche is deathe by the custome of the countrye He blameth sore the Marques of Piscare but he offered to abide iudgment And whye he shoulde refuse it and also forsake other satysfactions it is not vnknowne he certenly thinking he had been satisfyed passed ouer into Barbarie and sendynge hys Ambassadoure commended vnto hym the publycke peace and queyet And albeit hee made fayre promises yet did he attempte diuerse thinges agaynste hym in Germany Denmarke other places he intēded also to inuade Nauarre Agayne in the assemblie at Spier he did what he coulde to nurryshe stryfe in religion whilest he promysed seuerally to eyther partye hys amytie and fauour he indeuoured moreouer to diswade the states of the empire from the Turkisshe warre he sollycited the Turke he sent a power into Italye and mooued warre agaynste hym
in Brabant by Martyn Rossenn and in the lande of Luke by the Duke of Orleans beefore the same was proclaymed The reste of hys force hee bent wholy agaynst the Frontiers of Spaine And thys is the fruict that he gathereth of hys dylygence whyche hath geuē hym so moch of his wil exhorted him so oft vnto peace Furthermore where he hath suffered him to deteine the arche bisshop of Ualencene prisoner and certen noble men of Spayne to be outrageously iniuried by Frēche men at Auignion hath in dede bene ouermuche sufferaunce Nowe therfore is he compelled of necessitie to make resistaunce what tyme he had lefte feare of hym by reason of his moste large and ample promyses and also what tyme he had prepared hym selfe for the Turkyshe warre and therfore was resolued to retourne into Germanye The iniurie sure is great and the dammage not smalle that he hathe done vpon his Frontiers but yet is he not moued so muche with all these thynges as for the calamitie of the common wealth For concernyng his owne affayres for as muche as he doeth so ofte breake conuenauntes it is muche better for hym to haue open warre than to truste to any truce or condicions whiche at the fyrst light occasion he wyl abholyshe and make frustrate for peace is oftentimes disceiptful for in the meane season doeth he practyse newe deuyses hurtfull to the common wealthe mayteyne factions and is wholy occupied that when he is wery hym selfe of losse and charges he maye dryue hym than to resiste the Turke And beyng of this disposition hym self he bryngeth vp his chyldren in the same disciplyne Nowe is his ambition and vnmeasurable couetousnes so increased that it can not be hydde His Auncestours dyd vsurpe the Frenche prouince whyche was of the dominion of the Empyre So nowe doeth he possesse Sauoye and a parte of Piedmont and so fortifieth the same that it is verye apparente he entendeth not to restore them And his pourpose was not only to inuade Lumbardy but also Parma and Placence and than Luke and Seine after that also the dominion of the church of Rome to the entent he myght thus haue the waye open to Naples and Sicilie It is no doubt but this is his entente and it maye be easely perceyued by suche thynges as he attempteth and practiseth in Italye To be brief his couetous desyre is conteyned within no certeyn limites but is great and infinite neyther is it to be thought that euer he wyll obserue conuenauntes so longe as any thyng remayneth that he may take a way frō others to conuert to his owne vse For with this disease vice of mind is he caried about as with a Raging tempeste that forgettyng all vertue and Religion he hathe lyncked hym selfe in league with the Turke and doeth participate not onlye his counselles but also his goodes and fortune with the ennemye of our common wealth and nowe also maketh his boaste full stoutelye that Barbarossa shall come into our Seas with a nauie Whether these thynges doe make for the reformation of the common wealth begynning of a counsell he ought of his wysdome to cōsyder his study hath bene euer that there shoulde bee no counsell had for that he iudged it to bee moste profitable so for his owne priuate commoditie Therfore did he this thing wayed and cōsidered deuise an other way to reconcile and appease the controuersie of Religion in Germanye herein had only a respecte vnto Gods glorye and the dignitie of the churche therfore let it be imputed to the kynge that there is no counsell who hath euer impeched the same and not to hym whiche hathe taken in this behalfe so much trauayle and payne Wherfore if his holynes be nowe disposed to helpe the common wealth thus afflicted he ought of dutie to professe him selfe his ennemie who is the authour of all trouble and calamitie who moueth and allureth the Turke to inuade the Christen cōmon wealth who leaueth no waye vnassayed to accomplyshe his ambition and mynde moste desyrous to reuenge For sythe the chief care of Christianitie apperteyneth vnto hym by reason of his office pastorall the thynge it selfe doeth surely requyre that he should no longer suffer hym to cause this vexation and trouble but declare hym selfe to be his vtter ennemye Whiche thyng if he would doe accordyngly it should both be moste accepted of al good men and and also be very profitable to reteyne other kynges in their dutie For to haue a counsell to recouer peace and establyshe the common wealth this is the only remedy wherin if he wyll doe his owne dutie vnfaynedly he wyll not bee behynde with his parte ✚ The fiftene Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fyftene Booke THe Pope could not accorde the Emperour and the kyng Warre waxed hote betwyxt Englande and Scotlande The Frenche kyng appeaseth the rebellion of Rochelle In the assemblie of Norinberge Granuellane demaūded for the Emperour ayde against the frēch kyng who in a certen answere obiecteth to the Emperour many thinges Fraunces Landry is examined Bucer is sent for to Collon to make a reformatiō The Pope would buye Millan he incenseth the Clergie of Collon agaynst the Archebyshop Laundersey is taken and Dure is sacked An assemblie is holden at Spyers and greuouse complayntes made againste the Frenche kyng in so muche that his Herauld was sent backe with threatninges There the Protestantes accused the Duke of Brunswycke and recite an Acte of his doyng with a young damsell The Duke of Sauoye accuseth the kyng The Frenche Ambassadours set forth there an Oration whiche they should haue made in case they had bene admitted to speake in the counsell At this assemblie an accorde was made betwyxt the kyng of Romains and the Duke of Saxon. The The Prynces graunt ayde against the Frenche kyng After the Emperour besiegeth saynt Desier The kyng of Englande with great force taketh Boloigne The Emperour concludeth a peace with the Frenche kynge contrary to mens expectation WHan the warre waxed hote on euerye syde the Byshop at the xxvi daye of Auguste sent Ambassadours two Cardinalles to treate of peace Michaell Uisense a Portugall to the Emperour Iames Sadolete to the king of Fraūce praying them to remitte their priuate miuries for the commō wealthes sake and frame them selues vnto peace He sendeth also three Cardinalles as Legates to the Synode at Trente Paris Poole and Morone The Emperour both answereth the Legate Uisense and also wryteth to the Byshop almoste the same in effecte that he dyd in his former letters How it is vayne to make peace with hym that wyll kepe no conuenauntes Therfore he aduertyseth hym agayne that he would professe hym selfe to be his ennemye For he hath often sayd that he would before auenged on him that should breake the tcuce or make league with the